Join GOW-GRAM YATRA : 108-Day 1 Million 20 thousand kms. Cross-Country Marathon starts rolling on Sept 30, 2009 from Kurukshetra
Posted: 29 Sep 2009 08:51 AM PDT
Vishwa Mangal Gow-Gram Yatra
(World Welfare Cow-Village Cross-Country Marathon)
A Historic Movement for
National and Global Holistic Happiness, Health, Prosperity and Blessedness
(1) The world must appreciate that the pro-Cow movement is not anti-anybody but a rational and respectable movement from every standpoint.
(2-i) Theme: Cow is the mother of the world ("Gaavo Vishwasya Maatarah"), not of any one people or country. Grateful man should say: "Vande Gow Maataram"- Salutations to Mother Cow! After Mother Earth, Mother Cow is the greatest giver on planet earth. In Sanskrit, both Mother Earth and Mother Cow are called "Go" (cow - macro and micro respectively) for good reason. The generous cow gives milk and cream, yogurt and cheese, butter and ice cream, ghee, buttermilk, lassi, Panchgavya, fuel, medicines and so much more. According to Guru Nanak Dev, cow is the right representative of the whole dumb creation and nears the most man's sensibility and power of discretion. This environmentally friendly reason has also in recent times been propagated for cow respect that the cow represents the entire animal kingdom and is man's link to the dumb animals of Creation. In respecting the cow, we are showing respect for all living things, a view that ties in deftly with Ahimsa and vegetarianism. Gandhiji much loved this point of view. The cow represents life and the sustenance of life to the Hindu. Cow is worthy of respect because it is Altruist (Parahitavaadi/ Paraarthavaadi) - it so giving, taking nothing but grass. It gives and gives and gives! The cow is so vital to life, the virtual sustainer of life for humans. In a society if you only had cows and no other domestic animals or agricultural pursuits, you could still survive and the children could survive with the butter, the cream and the milk to feed the children. The Rishi tradition recognized the Panchgavya (an Ayurvedic blend of five products obtained from the cow, i.e. milk, curd, ghee, urine and cow-dung juice) as a panacea and made its intake essential prior to performance of daily Yajna. The Rishi-Krishi culture calls cow & progeny "Aghnya" (i.e., not to be killed) for all good reasons. The cow is a complete ecology, a gentle mammal, icon and hallmark of abundance. She is virtual wish-giving Kaamdhenu and "Akshay Paatra" (Inexhaustible Container/Pot) to man. Bullock is efficient & compatible driving force for potential Green Revolution (proliferation of organic farming, bio-diversity, bio-fertilizers & bio-pesticides; no place for chemical fertilizers et al here) on 400 million acres of land in Bharat as indispensable Friend of Small Farmer. Cow is originator of Ksheersaagar (Ocean of Milk/a flood of milk) and initiator of White Revolution (Operation Flood/national milk grid based on proliferation of Gokuls; no place for oxytocin injection here). Her Dohan (Dohan means milking only two mamillae of cow; the other two are for the calf) is allowed, but no Shoshan (exploitation) is allowed. As is the case with Mother Earth, if we lovingly approach her, she can lovingly provide for our needs, but if we indulge in 'greed', there will be curses on humanity and retaliations and boomerangs in forms of ecological & environmental disasters and intercontinental diseases causing mass deaths. It is a great sin to look upon cow and her progeny as mobile hamburger. The altruistic job of this picture of piety must not go thankless. Man should understand and appreciate the divine nature of cow and its exalted status as the micro form of Mother Earth. It is believed that the cow with hump and Galkambal embodies 330 million Devtas (Deities = dimensional manifestations of cosmic divine energy to address various purposes) and is a great gift of God to act as a motherly benefactor to mankind. It is not considered an 'animal' but a 'sacred mammal' and member of family in our Dharma and Culture and for very good reason. Gow-Mata's (Mother Cow's) altruistic qualities, very much like those of "Dharitri Mata" (Mother Earth), are those that man can emulate. Succinctly (Sankshipt) speaking, Cow is the Axis (Aksha) of holistic (Saakalyavaadi; Poornataavaadi) & syncretic (Samannwayvaadi) Rishi & Krishi Culture (Kulaachaar).
(2-ii) During the golden period of Bharatiya history, says the 'Golok Khand', one was designated Upnand who owned 500,000 cows, Nand was one who maintained 900,000 cows, Vrishbhaanu was one who maintained 1,000,000 (One Million) cows, Vrishbhaanuvar was one who maintained 5,000,000 (Five Million) cows, Nand Raja was one who maintained 10,000,000 (One crore/Ten Million) cows. During the times of Bhagwan Mahavir over 2,500 years ago, Jain Shraavaks (mendicants/ monks) maintained 53 Gokuls in the periphery of Shravasti city. A Gokul was defined as a place that housed 10,000 cows. Anand - a millionaire - received initiation and vows of Shraavakhood from Lord Mahavir, and one of the oaths was to maintain 8 Gokuls.
(2-iii) Village is the soul of Bharat, farmer is its light and cow is his life. But today farmers' overdependence on chemical fertilizers and machines has led to the neglect of indigenous cows and bulls. The food they produce has become toxic, the soil has turned infertile, the ever-increasing loans drive them to commit suicide (Over 185,000 farmers committed suicide all over India in last 15 years) and young farmers are migrating to towns. The answer to all these problems is to return to the cow-centred way of life. This Yatra is
a wake-up call given by spiritual leaders of the nation to save the cow, save the village, save the nature, save Bharat and the world through a positive action.
(2-iv) Even, people in general in Bharat and abroad appreciate the great value of Go-Ras (cow-milk) and consider its total deprivation as suicidal. The famous Yaksha-Yudhisthir Question-Answer episode in the Mahabharata declares unadulterated cow-milk as virtual Amrit (nectar/panacea) on Earth. The Mahabharata also records Bhagwan Krishna and the Pandav brothers including Dharmaraj Yudhisthir as loving cow-milk and butter and Duryodhan as loving buffalo milk. Before the first world-war (1914 CE) army recruitment in Bharat required minimum 45" chest measure. But as more and more cows were slaughtered, reducing thereby milk and ghee availability to the people, the construction and physique of the Bharatiyas deteriorated and as a result today the army has to accept recruits with minimum 29" chest.
(2-v) It is about time the billion strong nationalist Pootraroop Samaj of Bharat asserted the three-point national agenda of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, i.e., (1) Protection of Dharma (the righteous, holistic and syncretic sustaining principles of the people and the country), (2) Protection and promotion of Govansh (Cow & its progeny) and (3) Protection of the Poor and Modest. This was verily the national agenda of Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, Sant Vinoba Bhave and other national heroes as well.
(3) Resolve : Saving the cow is my sacred duty ("Mama Dikshaa, Gow Rakshaa")
(4) Slogan : Cow saves those who save her ("Gaavo Rakshati Rakshitah")
(5) Goal : Gopaalan (cow tending) will lead to Graamoday (holistic development and affluence of Villages), Gramoday will lead to Raashtroday (holistic development and opulence of the Nation) and welfare of the world.
(6) Medium : Gow-Mata (Mother Cow)
(7) Message:
* Save the Village; make it a basic unit of Ram Rajya (maintain the holistic rural charm combined with urban amenities and Gram Swaraj). Reassert the soul of Bharat.
* Back to Mother Nature. Ensure holistic worldview and paradigm.
* Save Govansh (Mother Cow & her progeny). Cow is the real asset of India and the movement for its survival would be the second freedom struggle. We don't have Poorna Swaraj as yet including cultural Swaraj et al.
(8) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YATRA:
(8-i) Grand Inauguration & Flag Off of the 108-day long Yatra with Vijaya Dashami blessings on Ashvin Shukla Ekadashi, Vikrami Samvat 2066 (Yugabda 5111) (Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 3.30 p m) Theme Park, Kurukshetra, Haryana, Bharat. People will take oath to protect cow.
(8-ii) Grand Finale with Makar Sankranti blessings at Nagpur on January 17, 2010. The closing function is not to wind up the cow protection movement, but it will carry forward the movement with more vigour. Cow should get rights to live naturally and die without any anxious moments.
(8-iii) The organisers of the Yatra cordially invite one and all, including friends and family members, to witness and participate in the historic event and register their steady support for the holistic futuristic cause.
(8-iv) The following distinguished Saints, Scientists and Experts from different disciplines will Bless the Inaugural Ceremony and flag off the Yatra at "Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra":
*Jagadguru Sankaracharya Jyotishpeethadhishw ar Swami Vasudevananda Saraswatiji Maharaj
*Jagadguru Madhwacharya Pejawar Mathadhish Swami Vishweshteerthaji Maharaj
*Jagadguru Sankaracharya Gokarnapeethadhish Swami Raghaveshwara Bharathiji Maharaj
*Gourishi Swami Dattasharananandaji Maharaj [maintains 250,000 (2.5 Lakh) cows at his Ashram at Pathmeda, Rajasthan]
*Pujya Didi Ma Sadhvi Ritambharaji
*Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswatiji
*Pujya Swami Jnananandaji
*Pujya Acharya Baldevji
*Mahant Mandas Maharaj Ji (Maharshi Valmiki Ashram, Haridwar)
*Sant Jnandas Ji Maharaj (N.S.Guru Ravidas Sampradaay)
*Ven. Dr. Virendra Heggadeji, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Karnataka
*Ven. Rinpoche Lochen Tulkuji
*Bhikku Vishwa Bandhuji
*Chhote Miyan Moinuddin Sabariji
*Nawab Mazada Ali Khan Hussein Tikariji
*Dr. A. Maisy
*RSS Sarakaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi
*Kalyan Ashram President Shri Jagdevram Oraon
*Jalpurush Shri Rajendra Singhji
*Padmashri Kutti Menonji (Gandhian & Organic Farming Expert)
*Film Star Shri Vivek Oberoiji
*Sardar Joginder Singhji (Ex-CBI Director)
*Dr Shirley Tellesji (Yoga Scientist)
*Smt. Santosh Yadavji (First woman in world to climb Mt. Everest twice & first woman to climb it from Kangshung Face)
(9) Motto : Gow Samrakshan (Cow Protection). The Yatra would spread the message of cow protection and promotion of Indian breeds of cow and unite people in the movement.
(9-ii) Out of the 70 distinctive Indian breeds/species of cow (the hump, Gal-Kambal, long ears and bushy tail distinguish the Indian cow), 37 have been mindlessly slaughtered into extinction by the beef exporters and eaters that consider it a mobile hamburger, and some of the surviving 33 breeds are on the verge of extinction.
(9-iii) The foreign rulers of pre-independence India had opened some 300 abattoirs in the country. The 'secular worthies' of independent (?) 'India that is Bharat' today are running over 36,000 'approved' slaughterhouses (official number), of which 10 are highly automated including the Alkabir (Hyderabad, Andhra), Frigorifico Allana (Aurangabad) , Hind Industries (Aligarh), Allana Sons (Delhi, Andhra, Maharashtra) , Deonar (Mumbai), Kolkata Abattoir, etc., where everyday 250,000 animals and 20,000 cows & her progeny are hacked for export and domestic consumption. They employ inhuman processes and tortuous ways of getting meat and skin. The unapproved slaughterhouses are over 30,000 in the country that also slaughter cows in thousands. This evil design and its daily religious execution have reduced the cow population by over 80% in the so-called "Swatantra Bharat". More cow slaughter takes place in two states, namely, the communist dominated states of West Bengal and Kerala. Cows are routinely shipped to these states for slaughter, even though it is forbidden to transport cows for slaughter across provincial borders.
(9-iv) The root causes of all this are (1) The Government policy to promote slaughter of Govansh (the advisers and babus trained in Macaulayite and Communist ethos misguide the Government and its Ministers; 'Vote Bank' politics is also responsible) , (2) Thinking of animal killing and agriculture experts [Their logic: Killing the retired or non-milch ones (it is immaterial to these so-called 'experts' if this utilitarian bovine is sentient and has the power of discretion to a respectable degree, and, nonetheless, gives commercially valuable bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, bio-gas, medicines, et al, in forms of dung and urine till the end of its life) would provide beef for the beef-eaters and at the same time spare fodder for the milch ones; the extension of this logic would one day convince man to kill his/her 'retired' parents and other 'unproductive' members of family and himself/herself would in turn have to deservingly await butchering by his/her children motivated by 'profit', who might at least deliver some commercial dialogue like: "My dear parents, I owe you much and I love you, but I am sorry, this knife does not recognize you!"), (3) Thinking of Forest Officers (Their logic: Govansh damages the forest by grazing it. It should therefore be kept confined to cowsheds.), (4) Thinking of Finance Authorities (Their logic: Beef export brings in foreign exchange. Non-milch cows are a liability on the country's resources. Its killing is financially profitable. Consequently, therefore, slaughter of Govansh is in national interest. The Hindu thought to stop slaughter of Govansh is anti-national. They succeed in convincing the government leaders and officers through all sorts of misplaced and misdirected facts, figures and statistics), (5) Result of bureaucratic wrong thinking (When the brethren that agreed with our school of thought, come to occupy the seats of power, fail to stop slaughter of Govansh due to their being under pressure from bureaucrats) , (6) The true tender and protector of Govansh - the Kisaan (farmer) himself is now off track (Today we see the dangerous consequences of the thinking of all the above-mentioned bureaucrats, pseudo-experts and leaders-turned- dealers. The soil-fertility standards of the country are declining by the day. The soil that once produced golden crops, now gives cheerless and dismal performance. The bureaucrats projected a dreamy picture of agriculture before the farmers. As a result he took his traditional farming practices to be totally wrong and began to farm according to foreign agricultural science. The government projected this ideal before them. As a result, the Govansh became irrelevant for westernised modern practices of agriculture. The thinking of the farmer also changed. He also began thinking in milch and non-milch terms. Consequently, today no Govansh is visible at farmers' homes. The true Govansh tender no longer remained so), (7) Cow tending at every home stopped (Due to the misdirected and misplaced thinking of the national policy makers, the practice of tending cow virtually in every home of the country has vanished), (8) Protest by society (Macaulayite 'education' has made cow irrelevant and useless in modern man's worldview. In ancient Bharat, the State encouraged and cooperated in cow-tending in view of the importance of Govansh in agricultural work, its tending in every home for health & nutrition purposes, its importance for religious and purposes of hygiene, and its importance for preservation of environment and ecology. Every citizen of the country understood and appreciated the importance of Govansh. Now, unfortunately, the cow is out of sight from the farm lands and homes, and, therefore, out of mind of individuals and society. The misdirected government thinking and the compartmentalised western worldview and paradigm only are responsible for the slaughter of Govansh.)
(9-v) The agonies of cows start long before they are dead. They are brought to the abattoirs in trucks, from far away places. For economy, over 30 cows are stacked up in each truck. Nobody cares to give them food or even water while in transit. They are packed so tightly in the truck, that they are hurt by each other. By the time they arrive, they are no more capable of standing on their own feet. Their tails are cut and chilli powder is rubbed into their eyes to make them move. They are brought into the final ground, where at least a thousand mute creatures are stored. This is their last open air. They are kept here for four days, hungry and thirsty. Then their legs are broken and eyes poked, so that a 'certificate' can be obtained about their uselessness. The hunger and thirst of four days cause the hemoglobin to move from blood in to fat. The meat with higher haemoglobin fetches better prices. Now these mute creatures that cannot raise a protest are pushed into washing showers. Extremely hot water (200 degrees!) is sprayed on them for five minutes, to soften their skins, so they will be easy to remove. The unfortunate creature faints at this point, but it is not dead yet. Now it is hung upside down with one leg, on a chain-pulley conveyor. Then half of the neck is slit. This drains the blood, but does not kill the animal. After death, the skin swells thick, which sells for a poor price. But the skin of a live animal is still thin, which has better economic value. On one side the blood is dripping from the neck, and on the other side a hole is made in stomach, from which air is pumped inside. This causes the body to swell, making it easier to peel the skin. After removing the leather, the animal is cut into four pieces: head, legs, body, and tail. The machines remove bones, and pack small pieces of meat into cans for shipping. Most of the importers are Gulf Countries.
(9-vi) The Yatra calls upon cow lovers to join the world's biggest movement. The Yatra also asks the cow lovers to remain prepared for any sacrifice to put a halt to the devilish practice of cow slaughter. Gow Yatra would not stop until the slaughter of cows and crossbreeding come to a halt.
(10) The countrywide Marathon with Gow-Mata as the presiding deity will cover 20,000 kms. 15,000 tributary Yatras originating from villages, blocks, sub-divisions, district centres covering 10 lakh (1 million) kms will welcome the principal marathon when it negotiates through their area. There will be Five Conferences per day - Four at day-transit cities/towns and a mega one in the evening at a place that will host the Yatra overnight. The programme highlights will be Prayers, messages, processions, cultural activities – all in a festive mood. Distinguished Saints, Acharyas, Kathakars, Scientists, Agriculture Experts, Environmentalists, Panchgavya Vaidyas, Veterinary Scientists, Water-Harvesting Experts and Rural Development Activists will address 400 mega congregations enroute for public awakening to be grateful to altruist cow as she & her progeny have long been doing a thankless job and now must be given all respect and protection. Public response will be solicited to address the sorry state of affairs of Govansh. Virtually all the 600,000 villages of Bharat and over one billion people will put their hands to the wheels of the 1 Million 20 thousand kilometers of Yatra - most of them directly and the others by proxy (Paroksh). (See enclosed hereby the Main Yatra route with centres for rendezvous with the public. One should feel blessed if one's native place figures on this list).
(11) Objectives of the Yatra -
Immediate Purpose of the Journey
(11-i) Abhay Dham (Fearless Abode, i.e., Home of Gopaalak/Cow-tender) ;
(11-ii) Abhay Graam (Instituting Fearless Villages - with 70% of families being Gopalaks).
(11-iii) Formation of representative Committees for cow protection, with members from all religious folds.
(11-iv) Go Banks : Starting safe havens for cows at Tehsil and District levels that would take care of stray and abandoned cows; preventing such cows from being sent to slaughterhouses.
(11-v) Declare Cow a National Mammal: Over 500 million people to participate in the greatest ever signature campaign (10 Signature Collectors per 10,000 people) calling for the end of cruelty to cow and declare it a National Mammal.
When the Bharatiya Kisaan (farmer) gives a "Vachan" (word), he keeps it and doesn't break the commitment. His/her signature would mean that he/she would never sell or give Govansh (cow & its progeny) to any abattoir/slaughter house/butcher under any circumstances. Only this Vachanvaddhataa (standing firm on promise, come what may) would complement the laws for cow protection. Otherwise, mere laws on paper may not be enough.
The crores of signatures with a Memorandum will be presented to the President of Bharat on January 31, 2010 at New Delhi.
(11-vi) Demand for a separate ministry to handle the issues related to cow.
(11-vii) Demand the state governments to take responsibility of cow protection and development activities.
(11-viii) Have a Central Law for protection of Govansh.
(11-ix) Cow Literacy Movement on the lines of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
(11-x) Govansh-based Employment prospects, Good Health and promotion of organic farming and bio-diversity.
(11-xi) Govansh to proudly reclaim its respected key status in GDP & GNH (Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Happiness)
(11-xii) Total ban on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
(11-xiii) It is not only a movement to arrest slaughter of Govansh, but also arrest steady decline in national health, arrest growing barrenness of agricultural lands and poisoning of ground water tables due to chemical fertilizers & pesticides, address unemployment problem and uphold the Deva Sanskriti (Divine Rishi & Krishi Culture of holistic and syncretic Aahaar, Vihaar, Aachaar, Vichaar).
(11-xiv) Gaiyya Bachegi To Desh Bachega (If Cow survives, the country will register integral growth and blessedness) .
(11-xv) Demand government action for protection and growth of the remaining 33 breeds of indigenous Bharatiya cow and protection of its purity by stopping its cross breeding.
(11-xvi) Demand to ensure wide range of cow-based employment for the youth and propagate among them the "Look Village, Look Agriculture Policy".
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Long Term Purpose of the Journey
(11-xvii) Conserve Gochar Bhoomi (grazing lands/meadows/ pastures) , reclaim it from encroachers, extend it as may be necessary and feasible.
(11-xviii) Show the path of organic farming and check farmers’ suicide. (Over 185,000 farmers committed suicide all over India in last 15 years)
(11-xix) Stop uncontrolled migration of villagers to towns and cities.
(11-xx) Educate the farmer that cow is not giver of milk alone. It is important that it is the farmers’ responsibility to care and protect the cow.
(11-xxi) Educate the farmer about the gains of using oxen for farming and positive effects of organic farming. (For 400 million acres of small land holdings of small farmers in plain, hilly, mountainous and forest regions of Bharat, oxen is still the only means to till these small patches of land and maintain bio-diversity)
(11-xxii) Set up Grass Banks
(11-xxiii) Forming Gochar Bhoomi Praadhikaran (Grazing Lands/Meadows/ Pastures Authority)
(11-xxiv) Sensitise the society to the menace of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides/insectic ides and replace it by home-made preventive combinations prepared from cow urine and dung. Reassert bio-fertilizers/ manure/compost/ pesticides based agriculture (farming, crop-growing, gardening)
(11-xxv) Develop products related with cow. Create market for products from cow milk, urine and dung.
(11-xxvi) Conduct serious research on the above.
(11-xxvii) Initiate Gow-Premi (Cow Loving) Families
(11-xxviii) Encourage Farmers/Planters/Cultivato rs/Growers to adopt, breed and cherish the cow that will lead to green revolution and white revolution
(11-xxix) Gow-Samvardhan -
Promotion of "Micro Go" (Mother Cow): Advance cow to again become the central figure in rebuilding and restoring villages, agrarian economy, including agro-based cottage industries, bio-diversity, agriculture related handicraft, et al
Promotion of "Macro Go" (Mother Earth) : To sensitize the people about the holistic, environment & ecology friendly equation and management of the "Panch-Ja", viz., Jal (water resources), Jungle, Jaanwar (animal kingdom), Zameen (land) and Janata (people) for the good of all.
(11-xxx) Cow-based hale and hearty, wholesome, nature & life friendly non-violent and non-exploitive way of life & living will make man happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed.
(11-xxxi) Cow products in forms of milk, butter, ghee (clarified butter), curd, Lassi, butter-milk, medicines will benefit and enrich the people and make them self-reliant with sense of fulfillment and high self-esteem.
(12) Divine Resolve : HH Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Gokarnapeeth Shree Shree Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji, Shree Ramachandrapur Mutt
(13) Divine Inspiration : HH Go-Rishi Shree Shree Dattasharanananda Swamiji Maharaj of Gopal Govardhan Goshala, Pathameda, Rajasthan who maintains 250,000 (2.5 Lakh) cows at his Ashram.
(14) Promotion :
* HH Sri Sri Ravishankarji Maharaj (Art of Living)
* HH Swami Baba Ramdevji Maharaj (Yogacharya)
* Shrimad Acharya Muni Vidyasagarji Maharaj (Digambar Jainacharya)
* Shrimad Vijay Ratan Sunder Surishwarji Maharaj (Jainacharya)
* Ven. Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche (Prime Minister of the Tibetan Govt. in Exile)
* HH Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (M.A. Math)
* Shrimad Acharya Mahapragya Ji Maharaj (Head of Jain Swetambar Terapanth)
* HH Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji Maharaj (Arsha Vidya Gurukulam; President, Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha)
* Ven. Shree Morari Bapuji Maharaj (Manas Atirathi)
* HH Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji Maharaj (Spiritual Head of Namdhari Sikhs)
(15) Organisers of Vishwa Mangal Gow-Gram Yatra :
Honorary President (National) of Yatra:
- Dr. Pranav Pandya, MBBS, MD (Med.)(Director, Brahmavarchas Shodh Sansthan, Gayatri Teerth - Shantikunj, Haridwar)
Working President (National) of Yatra:
- Dr H.R. Nagendra, Former NASA Scientist (Vice-Chancellor of S-VYASA University, Bangalore)
(16) Support from : All cow lovers
(17) Cooperation Solicited -
* Cooperate with Tan-Man-Dhan (Manual-Intellectua l-Cash and/or Kind - whatever of your assets you can afford to the cause of Gow-Mata and receive her blessings)
* Encourage acquaintances, friends, kith & kin to join the countrywide movement
Sign the Resolution, help get signatures, devote time for signature campaign.
(18) Yatra Routes and date-wise list of Overnight Transit Camps all over the country -
Please see pdf files attached above. You may feel fortunate if your native place in Bharat hosts the Yatra.
(19) For more details, please visit the website: www.gougram. org
(20) For any information, you can contact the following address:
Vishwa Mangal Gow-Gram Yatra
Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Sansthan
Eknath Bhavan, #19, Gavipuram Circle,
Kempegowda Nagar,
Bangalore – 560 019, Karnataka, Bharat (India)
Phone : (00-91)(080) 32922900, 26612669
Telefax : (00-91)(080) 26608645
Mobile : 09632485704, 09449595206
E-Mail : yatra@gougram. org
Website: www.gougram. org
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Don't beat a dead horse
By Sushil Vakil
It seems India is still depending upon the US to help the country fight terrorism. The recent visit of Home Minister P Chidambaram to US to have a first-hand experience of how its financial city is protected by security agencies from terrorist attacks is a clear indication. Though home minister P Chidambaram had been invited by the US to have in-depth discussions to find ways of how New Delhi and Washington could cooperate more to combat terrorism yet the Washington officials used the opportunity to convey their own concerns, one being India's over indulgence in Afghanistan. Keeping in view Washington's partisan role India must stop running to US since its officials are not going to reveal anything new other than what India knows already. As a matter of fact US is looking after its interests only and we have to take care of us.
Mr Chidambaram was briefed by officials from FBI, intelligence and security agencies and New York Police about the measures being taken by them to prevent any Mumbai-type terrorist attacks. From walking at the Penn Station, which handles thousands of train passengers every day, to a briefing by the New York Police, which had made several changes in its counter-terrorism measures post-26/11 attacks, Chidambaram and his team of officials got to know how a mega city like New York can be protected from terrorists without causing much inconvenience to its residents. Incidently, in India, it is not the police officials who need awareness but our leaders to undergo a change of mindset. Let the police function in its own way.
Everything is OK. But can anyone ask the flamboyant Indian Home Minister as to how many times he has visited the CST or Churchgate stations handling millions of people every day and night in Mumbai to review the security arrangements. Had he visited the stations earlier the things would have been easier to understand and order the upgradation. But it was not to be so, as the tour was more of a foreign jaunt rather than an on spot study. By his visit we can't expect any changes unless we act on our own and leave dependency on others. He should think of ways and means to vastly improving the security measures in India. Remember, after 9/11 there have been no terrorist strikes in the US.
Unarguably, India stands to gain nothing as far as our leaders believe in 'be patient, the apple will fall in your lap policy.' No doubt, India and US have a collaboration against the use of Pakistani soil for cross-border terrorism but despite that, Washington shows lukewarm response to New Delhi's plea to pressurise Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks. However, for the sake of milking US funds, Pakistan is sometimes showing action but in reality, the terror masterminds roam freely on its soil.
It is unfortunate that instead of tightening our own security network, not only in Mumbai but in other states too, our HM had to rush New York to review their security arrangements. Does our police force lack will, vigil and action? No. They lack modern arms and ammunition and powers to take decisions independently. They are always working under pressure and at the beck and call of politicians. Before laying their hands on any accused belonging to a particular caste, colour or religion they have to get clearance from top to bottom. This is happening nowhere but in India only. Still our HM expects our police to work like their counterparts in US. Mr Chidambaram appears to be more interested to retain his chair peacefully, than taking up the pain to combat terrorism, both internal and external.
There are no two opinions that despite India's continued appeal to the US to exert pressure on Pakistan to take firm action towards dismantling of the terror infrastructure in that country, Washington has never taken any pains. Instead of intervening US has been always asking India to maintain restrain. The persuasion was quite visible when India moved its forces near borders to attack Pakistan to avenge terror attack on its Parliament.
Strangely, India is looking for favour from a country which is arming our hostile neighbour to the teeth. On the one side US officials are briefing India how to prevent terror attacks while on the other it is arming Pakistan with modern war gadgets. Despite knowing the fact that most of the supplied equipment is landing into the terror hands and is used against India, the US Congress has approved an aid of $2.3 billion for Pakistan. Besides sanctioned aid the country has sought approval for the coming fiscal also. The liberal aid is being showered amidst the suspicion that funds given in the past have been diverted to other activities. This has been confirmed by former president Pervez Musharraf himself during his recent visit to US.
India broke off peace talks with Pakistan following the attacks from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group. More than a year has passed yet Islamabad is not moving fast enough in pursuing those responsible. Whatever action has to be taken to control terrorism should be taken by India only and without seeking clearance from US and others. We should have such good defence mechanism that terrorists will fail if they try again. We should focus our energy positively and ensure we build our defences and deterrents. Surely, there is no need to beat a dead horse.
It seems India is still depending upon the US to help the country fight terrorism. The recent visit of Home Minister P Chidambaram to US to have a first-hand experience of how its financial city is protected by security agencies from terrorist attacks is a clear indication. Though home minister P Chidambaram had been invited by the US to have in-depth discussions to find ways of how New Delhi and Washington could cooperate more to combat terrorism yet the Washington officials used the opportunity to convey their own concerns, one being India's over indulgence in Afghanistan. Keeping in view Washington's partisan role India must stop running to US since its officials are not going to reveal anything new other than what India knows already. As a matter of fact US is looking after its interests only and we have to take care of us.
Mr Chidambaram was briefed by officials from FBI, intelligence and security agencies and New York Police about the measures being taken by them to prevent any Mumbai-type terrorist attacks. From walking at the Penn Station, which handles thousands of train passengers every day, to a briefing by the New York Police, which had made several changes in its counter-terrorism measures post-26/11 attacks, Chidambaram and his team of officials got to know how a mega city like New York can be protected from terrorists without causing much inconvenience to its residents. Incidently, in India, it is not the police officials who need awareness but our leaders to undergo a change of mindset. Let the police function in its own way.
Everything is OK. But can anyone ask the flamboyant Indian Home Minister as to how many times he has visited the CST or Churchgate stations handling millions of people every day and night in Mumbai to review the security arrangements. Had he visited the stations earlier the things would have been easier to understand and order the upgradation. But it was not to be so, as the tour was more of a foreign jaunt rather than an on spot study. By his visit we can't expect any changes unless we act on our own and leave dependency on others. He should think of ways and means to vastly improving the security measures in India. Remember, after 9/11 there have been no terrorist strikes in the US.
Unarguably, India stands to gain nothing as far as our leaders believe in 'be patient, the apple will fall in your lap policy.' No doubt, India and US have a collaboration against the use of Pakistani soil for cross-border terrorism but despite that, Washington shows lukewarm response to New Delhi's plea to pressurise Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks. However, for the sake of milking US funds, Pakistan is sometimes showing action but in reality, the terror masterminds roam freely on its soil.
It is unfortunate that instead of tightening our own security network, not only in Mumbai but in other states too, our HM had to rush New York to review their security arrangements. Does our police force lack will, vigil and action? No. They lack modern arms and ammunition and powers to take decisions independently. They are always working under pressure and at the beck and call of politicians. Before laying their hands on any accused belonging to a particular caste, colour or religion they have to get clearance from top to bottom. This is happening nowhere but in India only. Still our HM expects our police to work like their counterparts in US. Mr Chidambaram appears to be more interested to retain his chair peacefully, than taking up the pain to combat terrorism, both internal and external.
There are no two opinions that despite India's continued appeal to the US to exert pressure on Pakistan to take firm action towards dismantling of the terror infrastructure in that country, Washington has never taken any pains. Instead of intervening US has been always asking India to maintain restrain. The persuasion was quite visible when India moved its forces near borders to attack Pakistan to avenge terror attack on its Parliament.
Strangely, India is looking for favour from a country which is arming our hostile neighbour to the teeth. On the one side US officials are briefing India how to prevent terror attacks while on the other it is arming Pakistan with modern war gadgets. Despite knowing the fact that most of the supplied equipment is landing into the terror hands and is used against India, the US Congress has approved an aid of $2.3 billion for Pakistan. Besides sanctioned aid the country has sought approval for the coming fiscal also. The liberal aid is being showered amidst the suspicion that funds given in the past have been diverted to other activities. This has been confirmed by former president Pervez Musharraf himself during his recent visit to US.
India broke off peace talks with Pakistan following the attacks from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group. More than a year has passed yet Islamabad is not moving fast enough in pursuing those responsible. Whatever action has to be taken to control terrorism should be taken by India only and without seeking clearance from US and others. We should have such good defence mechanism that terrorists will fail if they try again. We should focus our energy positively and ensure we build our defences and deterrents. Surely, there is no need to beat a dead horse.
Monday, September 21, 2009
PM in Menon line vs Airbase on China border
PM in Menon line vs Airbase on China border
Posted: 20 Sep 2009 04:27 AM PDT
PM in the role of Krishna Menon, this is a wrong signal. India’s airbase is now on China border. It is a right step to correct the mistake of 1962. At that time India did not use its air force. There was no co-ordination between our three wings: Air, Navy and Army.
Dhritrashtra Nehru’s heir P M Manmohan Singh being in the role of comrade Krishna Menon says on Sept 19, 2009: Don't believe everything you see on TV or read in the papers, certainly not when it comes to China.
Hindi chini bhai bhai’ slogan was given in 1962. Due to Panchsheel agreement our Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru became Dhritrasthtra. Chinese soldiers entered in the laddakh and our soldiers were defending with canvas boot that slid on the snow. Our soldiers did not have even snow glasses which led to snow blindness. Still friend of Kaul comrade V K Krishna Menon was saying “Oh! They are not going to fight” On September 8, 1962 Chinese has intruded into Indian Territory south of MacMahon line.
Now at an iftar party in his house, the PM said he saw no evidence of increased aggression by Chinese troops into Indian Territory. The government has always maintained that the differing perceptions of the line of actual controlled to Chinese patrols going awry. He added that Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan had come to meet the national security adviser, MK Narayanan, on Sept 17, 2009. According to the PM, the envoy had very "good discussions" with him.
Government sources also added that the "disclosure" notification filed by China in the ADB on Arunachal Pradesh would have no impact on the project, or the funding.
There has been a spate of media reports about repeated Chinese incursions into Indian Territory in both western and eastern sectors, from Leh to Arunachal even in Sikkim. While the government blames the media, its government officials, in the security and armed services who have been leaking these stories, including photographs of Chinese characters spray-painted on rocks.
India did not use its air force in 1962 Indo China War. There was no co-ordination between our three wings: Air, Navy and Army.
AIR Leh goes hi-tech
Leh in J&K, has the world's highest radio station. The old All India Radio station-Leh has undergone a technological up gradation on May 29, 2008.
"India could have won 1962 war"
There is a report, published in The Hindu on Oct 09, 2006. India could have defeated China in the 1962 war had its air force been used, former Air Vice-Marshal A. K. Tewary said.
He claimed that the then political-bureaucratic combine sought U.S. Air Force's help and did not even consulted the IAF chief. ``In the final analysis, the use of combat air power would have turned the tables on the Chinese and the 1962 war could well have been a debacle for China," Air Vice-Marshal Tewary said in an article in `Indian Defence Review.'
Quoting top military and bureaucratic leadership of that time, he said the "costly and catastrophic omission" of not using the IAF was a result of several factors that ``impinged on the decision-making process at the highest level," including the "influence" on Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, of Prof. P. M. S. Blackett, the then Advisor for Defense , as well as the counsel of the U.S. Ambassador John K Galbraith who "over-estimated the capability of the Chinese air force in the absence of proper air defense infrastructure in India."
Another factor was the analysis of then Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) B. N. Mullick, a close confidant of Nehru, that Chinese bombers would bomb Indian cities in response to the use if IAF's combat jets, he said.
The former Air Vice-Marshal said "since IB did not have the firsthand knowledge [on Chinese air force capabilities], they sought help from `our good friends' [CIA]," which exaggerated the threat perception.
He quoted top defense analyst George Tanham and said that while the political-bureaucratic combine "pleaded to U.S. President John F Kennedy for 12 squadrons of Star fighters [F-104] and four squadrons of B-47 Bombers as an immediate USAF help to stem the Chinese advance, they did not deem it fit to even consult the Indian Air Force chief,"
The IAF officer said the then Army commander responsible for NEFA, Lt. Gen. B. M. Kaul, had conceded in his book that "we made a great mistake in not employing our air force in a close support role during these operations."
He also quoted late National Security Advisor J. N. Dixit, who was then Under Secretary in the China Division of the External Affairs Ministry, as saying that by the time Nehru was coming round to the suggestion for use of air power, the Chinese had declared a unilateral ceasefire.
Dixit, the IAF officer said, had pointed out that the Chinese logistical arrangements and supply lines were too stretched and that it did not have sufficient air power in Tibet at that point of time.
"India's air strikes would stop the Chinese advance and neutralise the military successes which they had achieved," Dixit had said, adding that this suggestion was rejected on the grounds that it had come from officers who were not military experts.
By Premendra Agrawal
Posted: 20 Sep 2009 04:27 AM PDT
PM in the role of Krishna Menon, this is a wrong signal. India’s airbase is now on China border. It is a right step to correct the mistake of 1962. At that time India did not use its air force. There was no co-ordination between our three wings: Air, Navy and Army.
Dhritrashtra Nehru’s heir P M Manmohan Singh being in the role of comrade Krishna Menon says on Sept 19, 2009: Don't believe everything you see on TV or read in the papers, certainly not when it comes to China.
Hindi chini bhai bhai’ slogan was given in 1962. Due to Panchsheel agreement our Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru became Dhritrasthtra. Chinese soldiers entered in the laddakh and our soldiers were defending with canvas boot that slid on the snow. Our soldiers did not have even snow glasses which led to snow blindness. Still friend of Kaul comrade V K Krishna Menon was saying “Oh! They are not going to fight” On September 8, 1962 Chinese has intruded into Indian Territory south of MacMahon line.
Now at an iftar party in his house, the PM said he saw no evidence of increased aggression by Chinese troops into Indian Territory. The government has always maintained that the differing perceptions of the line of actual controlled to Chinese patrols going awry. He added that Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan had come to meet the national security adviser, MK Narayanan, on Sept 17, 2009. According to the PM, the envoy had very "good discussions" with him.
Government sources also added that the "disclosure" notification filed by China in the ADB on Arunachal Pradesh would have no impact on the project, or the funding.
There has been a spate of media reports about repeated Chinese incursions into Indian Territory in both western and eastern sectors, from Leh to Arunachal even in Sikkim. While the government blames the media, its government officials, in the security and armed services who have been leaking these stories, including photographs of Chinese characters spray-painted on rocks.
India did not use its air force in 1962 Indo China War. There was no co-ordination between our three wings: Air, Navy and Army.
AIR Leh goes hi-tech
Leh in J&K, has the world's highest radio station. The old All India Radio station-Leh has undergone a technological up gradation on May 29, 2008.
"India could have won 1962 war"
There is a report, published in The Hindu on Oct 09, 2006. India could have defeated China in the 1962 war had its air force been used, former Air Vice-Marshal A. K. Tewary said.
He claimed that the then political-bureaucratic combine sought U.S. Air Force's help and did not even consulted the IAF chief. ``In the final analysis, the use of combat air power would have turned the tables on the Chinese and the 1962 war could well have been a debacle for China," Air Vice-Marshal Tewary said in an article in `Indian Defence Review.'
Quoting top military and bureaucratic leadership of that time, he said the "costly and catastrophic omission" of not using the IAF was a result of several factors that ``impinged on the decision-making process at the highest level," including the "influence" on Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, of Prof. P. M. S. Blackett, the then Advisor for Defense , as well as the counsel of the U.S. Ambassador John K Galbraith who "over-estimated the capability of the Chinese air force in the absence of proper air defense infrastructure in India."
Another factor was the analysis of then Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) B. N. Mullick, a close confidant of Nehru, that Chinese bombers would bomb Indian cities in response to the use if IAF's combat jets, he said.
The former Air Vice-Marshal said "since IB did not have the firsthand knowledge [on Chinese air force capabilities], they sought help from `our good friends' [CIA]," which exaggerated the threat perception.
He quoted top defense analyst George Tanham and said that while the political-bureaucratic combine "pleaded to U.S. President John F Kennedy for 12 squadrons of Star fighters [F-104] and four squadrons of B-47 Bombers as an immediate USAF help to stem the Chinese advance, they did not deem it fit to even consult the Indian Air Force chief,"
The IAF officer said the then Army commander responsible for NEFA, Lt. Gen. B. M. Kaul, had conceded in his book that "we made a great mistake in not employing our air force in a close support role during these operations."
He also quoted late National Security Advisor J. N. Dixit, who was then Under Secretary in the China Division of the External Affairs Ministry, as saying that by the time Nehru was coming round to the suggestion for use of air power, the Chinese had declared a unilateral ceasefire.
Dixit, the IAF officer said, had pointed out that the Chinese logistical arrangements and supply lines were too stretched and that it did not have sufficient air power in Tibet at that point of time.
"India's air strikes would stop the Chinese advance and neutralise the military successes which they had achieved," Dixit had said, adding that this suggestion was rejected on the grounds that it had come from officers who were not military experts.
By Premendra Agrawal
Package for a price
Package for a price
Posted: 19 Sep 2009 06:08 AM PDT
By Sushil Vakil
After much dilly-dallying the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the implementation of a special package for the Kashmiri Pandits living in exile for the last two decades. As a matter of fact, the relief and rehabilitation package was first unveiled by Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh himself when he visited the state last year. However, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Finance Minister informed the state Assembly last month that the government will provide 15,000 jobs in public and private sector, and financial package of Rs 7.5 lakhs for renovation and reconstruction of houses to Kashmiri Pandits who are willing to return to valley. So far, all was well but the condition-after return to valley- has raised many eye brows and attracted all round criticism.
Evidently, the package lacks empathy as the return this time around wouldn’t only make Kashmiri Pandits vulnerable to militant attacks but lead to another uprootment. Moreover, the ground level conditions suggest that there has been no significant decline in terrorist violence and infiltration from Pakistan side. The revival of militant attacks have not only sent disturbing signals to security brass only but to higher echelons of power as well.
The conditional package has created a realization among Kashmiri Pandits that the state government is not sincere in implementing the scheme conceived by the Centre for mitigating the sufferings of the community but is playing political games. Almost all the Kashmiri Pandit organizations have turned down the package as they don’t want it to be linked with return. They have also refused to cooperate with the Apex Committee formed on September 15 to monitor the effective implementation of Rs 1,618 crore taking it as a process of political blackmailing.
Kashmiri Pandits aver that instead of constituting Apex Committee the Government should be sincere in implementing employment package with age relaxation and enhancement of cash relief etc. to regain the confidence of the community. There is no denying the fact that many of the Kashmiri Pandits, are living in a pitiable condition in camps in Jammu, Delhi and some other places. Keeping in view the above facts the government must desist form such policies and show a humane approach to the problems of the displaced Pandits who are leading an exiled life for the last more than 20 years now.
It is unfortunate that Pandits are on roads for last several weeks protesting against the Government’s apathy towards employment, relief etc but there was no one from the government side to visit them and work out an amicable solution. Amazingly, instead of settling their problems of unemployment and enhancement of cash relief etc. the Government has constituted the Apex Committee to turn the attention from real issues. The Government must display sagacity by fulfilling the just demands of the community. This will be first confidence building measure towards the return of exiled people.
Not surprisingly, while many KP organizations including Panun Kashmir, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference and others have disassociated themselves from the Apex Committee a plethora of other small groups are vying with each other for getting on board. The rat race for the political upmanship is likely to wreck the interests of the community.
Again, it is unfortunate that Delhi based mainline KP organizations, All India Kashmir Samaj and Kashmiri Samiti have not held any demonstration or strike in the capital city to express solidarity with hundreds of youth holding dharnas and demonstrations across Jammu. Instead of expressing their support and sympathies with their brethren fighting for community cause in Jammu they are paying courtesy visits to HM officials to fix meetings and photographic sessions. It is high time that all KP organizations come under one banner and ask for immediate relief. Otherwise the state government would, as usual, take the undue advantage of infighting among the KP leaders.
There is no denying the fact that Kashmiri Pandits’ present plight is due to the negligence of state government. If the state government has audacity to rehabilitate and resettle the militants and their families why it is dithering in rehabilitating the patriotic Kashmiri Pandits who are languishing in camps outside the valley.
This is the right time for all Kashmiri Pandit organizations to work in unison and coerce upon the centre and state government that the economic package be given to the displaced Pandits at present place and treat the return as a separate issue.
The great austerity drama
Posted: 19 Sep 2009 06:06 AM PDT
will the austerity drive adopted by the UPA Government truly inspire its politicians and bureaucrats to curb the menace of corruption rampant in all Government departments and increase accountability of those in authority?
By Sunita Vakil
Steele once famously declared that simplicity, of all things, is the hardest to be copied. Now that the UPA Government has woken up to the virtues of leading a simple life, one can only wonder whether our imperiously extravagant leaders, who have been basking in luxury at the cost of the exchequer, will switch their style of functioning and practice austerity measures initiated by the congress. It also remains to be seen for how long the UPA's austerity brouhaha lasts. The absurd austerity moralising by the Finance Minister seems to be just a token gesture for public consumption. There is no gainsaying that politicians are just paying lip service and hoodwinking people with such tactics. It speaks a lot about UPA's hypocrisy and tokenism that its leaders have done little to keep its non-plan spending under check. Recent hike in salaries and subsidies have taken the fiscal deficit to an alarming level on top of that, the cabinet's decision last week to increase the dearness allowance by 5% will cost the taxpayer Rs. 2300 crore per year, which comes to nearly 10 times the money saved on travel expenses of ministers. The media attention that the Congress leaders are enjoying for travelling economy class is not amusing, while the cost they save is negligible. Will the drought conditions ease if they travel by a lower class? Indeed, all the major news channels can't get enough on the austerity measures being enforced by the Government. But it is a sheer mistake to expect austerity from our Ministers. Media may have made heroes out of our politicians by cheering them for their "sacrifices" but frankly, whom are they trying to impress by making a show of shunning luxury? It may be true that they have decided to travel in economy class and stay away from five star hotels. But it is also true that they spend crores on renovating their bungalows every year. What about the money they spend on getting statues erecting in their states? It is for a fact that a majority of them live in palatial bungalows with many perkes besides their salaries and yet leave unpaid bills running into crores. And they even refuse to vacate Government accomodation when voted out of power. Besides, they do not refrain from throwing lavish birthday bashes and consider it their birthright to use official vehicles for running personal errands. It isn't just the truth of Steele's saying that is being brought home by such tokenism. It is also that the whole exercise seems to be a joke as the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats can never truly be motivated to give up their VIP privileges and stop misusing taxpayer's money. As things stand, there seems to be many a slip between preaching and practising.
While many believe that the call for austerity is a drought induced reflex, others hold the view that the elections that are to be held on October 13 in Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra as the reason for this political stunt to earn brownie points for the Congress. Whatever the case, austerity has suddenly become the buzzword at all levels of the Government with every Congress man in a bind to prove himself more loyal than the king. The austerity drive seems to have gained momentum with the number of followers increasing. Congress MPs who have realised by now that the party prizes "simplicity" after two of its ministers were publicaly hauled up for their lavish spending, are making it a point to join the great austerity race, particularly when there are TV cameras about. Even knowing that old habits die hard, one vehemently hopes that the drive will be transformed into a habit.
Indeed, this is not the first time that the austerity theme has been played. The political establishment occasionally exhibits bouts of austerity. In the 1965 war with Pakistan, a devastating drought following year prompted prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to call on people to miss a meal & cut down on wedding costs to tide over food shortage. Then again, Indira Gandhi's "Garibi Hatao" campaign urged politicians to avoid wasteful expenditure. The pre-independence Congress leaders also practised austerity in & out of jail during the freedom struggle. For Mahatama Gandhi, the epitome of simplicity, austerity meant living a simple life for the welfare of poor & not an election slogan. Former President Mr APJ Abdul Kalam maintained his frugal life-style even while living in Rashtrapati Bhawan. That said, never before has a call for austerity generated so much hype as we witness today as the main focus is on economy travel. The Congress needs to rethink the consequences of austerity measures initiated by Sonia Gandhi & Pranab Mukherjee. By choosing to fly the economy class & travel by train, Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi end up causing enormous trouble to the common man who is put to great inconvenience. This will lead to increased government spending on their security. Infact, Rahul Gandhi's train travel in Shatabdi has actually cost much more than a few thousand saved on travel. Further if the seats next to these high profile VVIPs need to be kept vacant, what is the purpose of austerity measures? If the government is serious about curbing lavish expenses, why don't our leaders shun their paraphernalia during their travel & downgrade their security, which is anyway more a status symbol than a necessity? But nothing undermines the campaign more than the propensity of the UPA leaders to make a fetish of their simplicity by making a great show of austerity.
In the larger reckoning, travel by economy or business class is really a non-issue. Instead of indulging in such gimmicks, the Congress should fix targets to cut down non plan expenditure. Resorting to piecemeal austerity will not help much other than making the UPA's senior leaders objects of ridicule. The Congress can concentrate on combating drought & control the spiralling prices on a priority basis. Working towards eliminating corruption & increasing the accountability of public servants is the need of the hour. Wastage of public money can also be curbed by scaling down the security of our VIPs and reducing the number of vehicles accompanying them. To be truly austere, politicians should curb their tendencies to hold public functions, attend inaugural and foundation laying ceremonies and other lavish but worthless exercises. These will help save more taxpayer's money than any number of economy travel measures.
Surely, the condition of the common man has not improved in 60 years. The corruption perpetuated by the Government officials as well as politicians has driven the common man to poverty and suicide.
No doubt the Government allocates funds for plenty of programmes in the budget but they do not reach their intended target. Even Rajeev Gandhi has stated that only 17 paise of every rupee spent by the Government on development projects reaches its intended recipient. That was two decades ago. But things have not changed since then. Its time for the UPA to walk the talk.
Posted: 19 Sep 2009 06:08 AM PDT
By Sushil Vakil
After much dilly-dallying the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the implementation of a special package for the Kashmiri Pandits living in exile for the last two decades. As a matter of fact, the relief and rehabilitation package was first unveiled by Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh himself when he visited the state last year. However, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Finance Minister informed the state Assembly last month that the government will provide 15,000 jobs in public and private sector, and financial package of Rs 7.5 lakhs for renovation and reconstruction of houses to Kashmiri Pandits who are willing to return to valley. So far, all was well but the condition-after return to valley- has raised many eye brows and attracted all round criticism.
Evidently, the package lacks empathy as the return this time around wouldn’t only make Kashmiri Pandits vulnerable to militant attacks but lead to another uprootment. Moreover, the ground level conditions suggest that there has been no significant decline in terrorist violence and infiltration from Pakistan side. The revival of militant attacks have not only sent disturbing signals to security brass only but to higher echelons of power as well.
The conditional package has created a realization among Kashmiri Pandits that the state government is not sincere in implementing the scheme conceived by the Centre for mitigating the sufferings of the community but is playing political games. Almost all the Kashmiri Pandit organizations have turned down the package as they don’t want it to be linked with return. They have also refused to cooperate with the Apex Committee formed on September 15 to monitor the effective implementation of Rs 1,618 crore taking it as a process of political blackmailing.
Kashmiri Pandits aver that instead of constituting Apex Committee the Government should be sincere in implementing employment package with age relaxation and enhancement of cash relief etc. to regain the confidence of the community. There is no denying the fact that many of the Kashmiri Pandits, are living in a pitiable condition in camps in Jammu, Delhi and some other places. Keeping in view the above facts the government must desist form such policies and show a humane approach to the problems of the displaced Pandits who are leading an exiled life for the last more than 20 years now.
It is unfortunate that Pandits are on roads for last several weeks protesting against the Government’s apathy towards employment, relief etc but there was no one from the government side to visit them and work out an amicable solution. Amazingly, instead of settling their problems of unemployment and enhancement of cash relief etc. the Government has constituted the Apex Committee to turn the attention from real issues. The Government must display sagacity by fulfilling the just demands of the community. This will be first confidence building measure towards the return of exiled people.
Not surprisingly, while many KP organizations including Panun Kashmir, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference and others have disassociated themselves from the Apex Committee a plethora of other small groups are vying with each other for getting on board. The rat race for the political upmanship is likely to wreck the interests of the community.
Again, it is unfortunate that Delhi based mainline KP organizations, All India Kashmir Samaj and Kashmiri Samiti have not held any demonstration or strike in the capital city to express solidarity with hundreds of youth holding dharnas and demonstrations across Jammu. Instead of expressing their support and sympathies with their brethren fighting for community cause in Jammu they are paying courtesy visits to HM officials to fix meetings and photographic sessions. It is high time that all KP organizations come under one banner and ask for immediate relief. Otherwise the state government would, as usual, take the undue advantage of infighting among the KP leaders.
There is no denying the fact that Kashmiri Pandits’ present plight is due to the negligence of state government. If the state government has audacity to rehabilitate and resettle the militants and their families why it is dithering in rehabilitating the patriotic Kashmiri Pandits who are languishing in camps outside the valley.
This is the right time for all Kashmiri Pandit organizations to work in unison and coerce upon the centre and state government that the economic package be given to the displaced Pandits at present place and treat the return as a separate issue.
The great austerity drama
Posted: 19 Sep 2009 06:06 AM PDT
will the austerity drive adopted by the UPA Government truly inspire its politicians and bureaucrats to curb the menace of corruption rampant in all Government departments and increase accountability of those in authority?
By Sunita Vakil
Steele once famously declared that simplicity, of all things, is the hardest to be copied. Now that the UPA Government has woken up to the virtues of leading a simple life, one can only wonder whether our imperiously extravagant leaders, who have been basking in luxury at the cost of the exchequer, will switch their style of functioning and practice austerity measures initiated by the congress. It also remains to be seen for how long the UPA's austerity brouhaha lasts. The absurd austerity moralising by the Finance Minister seems to be just a token gesture for public consumption. There is no gainsaying that politicians are just paying lip service and hoodwinking people with such tactics. It speaks a lot about UPA's hypocrisy and tokenism that its leaders have done little to keep its non-plan spending under check. Recent hike in salaries and subsidies have taken the fiscal deficit to an alarming level on top of that, the cabinet's decision last week to increase the dearness allowance by 5% will cost the taxpayer Rs. 2300 crore per year, which comes to nearly 10 times the money saved on travel expenses of ministers. The media attention that the Congress leaders are enjoying for travelling economy class is not amusing, while the cost they save is negligible. Will the drought conditions ease if they travel by a lower class? Indeed, all the major news channels can't get enough on the austerity measures being enforced by the Government. But it is a sheer mistake to expect austerity from our Ministers. Media may have made heroes out of our politicians by cheering them for their "sacrifices" but frankly, whom are they trying to impress by making a show of shunning luxury? It may be true that they have decided to travel in economy class and stay away from five star hotels. But it is also true that they spend crores on renovating their bungalows every year. What about the money they spend on getting statues erecting in their states? It is for a fact that a majority of them live in palatial bungalows with many perkes besides their salaries and yet leave unpaid bills running into crores. And they even refuse to vacate Government accomodation when voted out of power. Besides, they do not refrain from throwing lavish birthday bashes and consider it their birthright to use official vehicles for running personal errands. It isn't just the truth of Steele's saying that is being brought home by such tokenism. It is also that the whole exercise seems to be a joke as the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats can never truly be motivated to give up their VIP privileges and stop misusing taxpayer's money. As things stand, there seems to be many a slip between preaching and practising.
While many believe that the call for austerity is a drought induced reflex, others hold the view that the elections that are to be held on October 13 in Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra as the reason for this political stunt to earn brownie points for the Congress. Whatever the case, austerity has suddenly become the buzzword at all levels of the Government with every Congress man in a bind to prove himself more loyal than the king. The austerity drive seems to have gained momentum with the number of followers increasing. Congress MPs who have realised by now that the party prizes "simplicity" after two of its ministers were publicaly hauled up for their lavish spending, are making it a point to join the great austerity race, particularly when there are TV cameras about. Even knowing that old habits die hard, one vehemently hopes that the drive will be transformed into a habit.
Indeed, this is not the first time that the austerity theme has been played. The political establishment occasionally exhibits bouts of austerity. In the 1965 war with Pakistan, a devastating drought following year prompted prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to call on people to miss a meal & cut down on wedding costs to tide over food shortage. Then again, Indira Gandhi's "Garibi Hatao" campaign urged politicians to avoid wasteful expenditure. The pre-independence Congress leaders also practised austerity in & out of jail during the freedom struggle. For Mahatama Gandhi, the epitome of simplicity, austerity meant living a simple life for the welfare of poor & not an election slogan. Former President Mr APJ Abdul Kalam maintained his frugal life-style even while living in Rashtrapati Bhawan. That said, never before has a call for austerity generated so much hype as we witness today as the main focus is on economy travel. The Congress needs to rethink the consequences of austerity measures initiated by Sonia Gandhi & Pranab Mukherjee. By choosing to fly the economy class & travel by train, Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi end up causing enormous trouble to the common man who is put to great inconvenience. This will lead to increased government spending on their security. Infact, Rahul Gandhi's train travel in Shatabdi has actually cost much more than a few thousand saved on travel. Further if the seats next to these high profile VVIPs need to be kept vacant, what is the purpose of austerity measures? If the government is serious about curbing lavish expenses, why don't our leaders shun their paraphernalia during their travel & downgrade their security, which is anyway more a status symbol than a necessity? But nothing undermines the campaign more than the propensity of the UPA leaders to make a fetish of their simplicity by making a great show of austerity.
In the larger reckoning, travel by economy or business class is really a non-issue. Instead of indulging in such gimmicks, the Congress should fix targets to cut down non plan expenditure. Resorting to piecemeal austerity will not help much other than making the UPA's senior leaders objects of ridicule. The Congress can concentrate on combating drought & control the spiralling prices on a priority basis. Working towards eliminating corruption & increasing the accountability of public servants is the need of the hour. Wastage of public money can also be curbed by scaling down the security of our VIPs and reducing the number of vehicles accompanying them. To be truly austere, politicians should curb their tendencies to hold public functions, attend inaugural and foundation laying ceremonies and other lavish but worthless exercises. These will help save more taxpayer's money than any number of economy travel measures.
Surely, the condition of the common man has not improved in 60 years. The corruption perpetuated by the Government officials as well as politicians has driven the common man to poverty and suicide.
No doubt the Government allocates funds for plenty of programmes in the budget but they do not reach their intended target. Even Rajeev Gandhi has stated that only 17 paise of every rupee spent by the Government on development projects reaches its intended recipient. That was two decades ago. But things have not changed since then. Its time for the UPA to walk the talk.
INDUS SAGA
Indus Saga
Posted: 18 Sep 2009 11:02 AM PDT
We are Indians and the nation Hindustan or India, and our Dharma Hindu because there is a river Sindhu also known as Indus. All these names describing our identity are derived from Sindhu and Indus. Sindhu is one of the most revered seven rivers Hindus worship, the other six being-Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Brahmaputra and Kaveri.
No other river on earth can claim this unique distinction as Sindhu. Five thousand year civilisation, culture, tradition and an entire life style is identified with Sindhu. The people living across it were called Sindhu-*Putras * or Hindus as the Greek could pronounce 'S' as 'H' only.
Sindhu's roar is described in the Rig Veda like this,' His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth; he puts forth endless vigour with flash of light…Even as cows with milk rush to their calves, so other rivers roar into Sindhu. As a warrior king leads other warriors, so does Sindhu lead other rivers.' Sanskrit scholars say that Sindhu is used more than thirty times by the vedic seer in the Vedas while Ganga finds much less mention- just five times.
Like Himalayas, Sindhu is a blessing to the mother earth and her children. The only two rivers described as 'He' rivers buy the Vedas because of their ferocious flow, 'sky reaching' roar of the water and sea like vastness are Brahmaputra and Sindhu. Rishis of the yore named ocean or *Sagar* as Sindhu also –describing the sea as vast and deep as our river Sindhu!! There can't be a greater tribute to the glory and power of this river that has given a name to our civilisation and nation both.
Sindhu or Indus is one of the mightiest rivers of our planet with an astonishing length of 2900 km. Rising in south-western Tibet, at an altitude of 16,000 feet, Sindhu enters the Indian territory near Demchok in Ladakh.The author had the good fortune to lead the first ever Indus expedition in the independent India which traversed from the point Sindhu enters in Ladakh (L.A.C.) and driving along its majestic flow till Batalik where it flows down placidly into the presently Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The total length that Sindhu travels within the present Indian boundary ( L.A.C. to L.O.C.) is app. 550 kms.
Sindhu is divine with an indescribable beauty and charm. Its water, till Zanskar meets it 30 kms down Leh, is transparently pearl blue and Budhist devotees believe it is pure Manasarovar water since till here no other river mingles with it .The source of Sindhu is in the Nyari province of western Tibet in the Kailas Manasarovar region, which is also a source to Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali. According to the ztibetan scriptures as well as Vedic ones, Sindhu is a Lion river, while Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali are respectively Elephant, Horse and Peocock rivers. According to the famous swami Pranavananda ji, who traveled Kailas region 51 times and wrote the most scientific and a reference book for the pilgrims as well as geologists, even the source of Ganga is in Manasarovar from where a small hidden channel reaches Gangotri.
On the Tibetan side yogi Milarepa's cave is situated on the Sindhu banks and on Indian side ancient Buddhist monasteries like Hemis,Thikse Gompa,Stok Palace,Alchi Gompa are situated. Buddhist Lamas consider the holy water of Sindhu bestowed with miraculous curing affects and during winter when the water is crystal clear, they preserve it in bottles to be used for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Sindhu represents the age-old civilisational flow of our nation. It has been a witness to ups and downs and victories and defeats of Sindhu *putras*since the days of Alexander who returned from its banks till the Kargil victory.
It's a unique symbol of friendship between people of three countries India, Pakistan and China (Tibet), enriching all without any discrimination or prejudice. When it reaches the present region of Pakistan, the vastness and the spread becomes unbelievable. Three years before while returning from USA in the Prime Minister's special plane, our pilot captain Patil showed me the great expanse of the river flying over Bahawalpur area in Pakistan. It was like an ocean and seemed a seamless, endless empire of liquid silver as the grey lights of the pre-dawn moments reflected in its water on that Vijayadashmi day. It was mesmerizing experience, unforgettable and rare. Ironically we do not have much literature on Indus River. Though the civilisational aspects of the Indus valley and Harappan era are found in ample.I remembered while searching books on the river Indus in 96-97, in course of preparing for the festival at Leh, I couldn't find a single book that would describe the river's history and geography, until I stumbled upon a fabulously produced book by Imran Khan, famous cricketer turned politician of Pakistan. It's a magnificent saga of Sindhu written with verve and passion by Imran Khan with equally beautiful photographs shot by famed lens man of New York Times Mike Goldwater. When I wrote to Imran detailing about my concept of a festival to celebrate Indus in Ladakh, he gave a very polite and encouraging reply offering all help in this regard.
I have had the good fortune to see Sindhu in India almost in every season and in different moods. The sounds of silence on its banks, the silvery dark placid flow like a grand master of time and space contemplating for the next creation, and in January when Sindhu looks static under a white chador, letting you cross his expanse on foot and even on lorries and Maruti Gypsies, while underneath the magical heavenly flow moves on as silently as the walk of a star in the endless space.
The drive along the Sindhu is the most enchanting and rewarding one, because you never know what surprise is waiting just after the next curve. A divine feast of colours like blue, deep sky blue, gray, off-white and sometimes shining sandy hues mingling with the sand dunes on the banks, sure reminders of the existence of sea millions of years ago in this part of our geography. When the sun walks west, the shades too change to a mellow orange, golden like liquid gold, fiery reddish and dark chocolate, turning finally into a silver gray and inviting black.
The Sindhu saga is as endless and mesmerizing as his eternal flow.
The spirit and the message of Sindhu are simply love and friendship. While it represents India's culture and civilization, it is also a symbol of social harmony and a salute to our brave soldiers. The charm and innocence of te Bddha land-Ladakh, the intermingling of various faiths, the patriotic fervour of the Ladakhi people,chants of O Mani padme Hum... all this is so close yet, not so finely registered in our mids. Many of us still think Sindhu is in Pakistan. How many of us Indians know that this river is just an hour's flight from Delhi , and we need no visa or passport to offer our tributes, how many wish to go to the banks of this great river, that gave us our identity ?
( tarunvijay@vsnl.com)
(Tarun Vijay was the founder convenor of the Indus Festival in Leh,and led Indus Expedition in 2000).
*From our scriptures** *
In the Mahabharat, the Sindhu is reverentially mentioned along with other two holy rivers, the Ganga and Saraswati. References to the Sindhu are also seen in many ancient literary works like those of Kalidasa, Bana, Panini. The fame of the mighty Sindhu had spread even beyond the subcontinent and it found reflections in the literary works of the Greek and Roman empires. It finds mention in some of the earlier literature of India. Kalidasa says in the Raghuvansha that on the advice of his maternal uncle Yudhajat, Rama conferred Sindh on Bharata. Rama's ancestor Raghu's triumphant horses had relaxed on the bank of the Sindhu.
Another great Sanskrit poet, Bhasa, had done a whole play, "Avimark" on the romance of Prince Avimark with Princess Kurangadi of Sindhu-Sauvira.
The Bhavishya Purana says that Shalivahana, the grandson of Maharaja Vikramaditya of Ujjain, established law and order in 'Sindhusthan" and fixed his frontier on the Sindhu.
Anshnath, the eleventh Jain Tirthankar, was a Sindhi. He died in Bengal. The Jaina Dakshinya Chihna (eight century) speaks of Sindhis as "elegant, with a lovely, soft and slow gait. They are fond of songs, music and dance and feel affection for their country".
There is a legend that the great Buddha had graced Sindh with his visit. Finding the climate extreme, and the area dry and dusty, he had permitted the bhikshus to wear shoes here. He had also permitted the use of padded clothing, forbidden elsewhere. Here Sthavirtis, the Prince of Rorik or Roruka (Aror or Alor, near modern Rohri) became his disciple.
When the Buddha went round his native Kapilavastu in a chariot, it was mentioned that the "four auspicious horses, of lotus colour, had come from Sindhudesh".
To this day, historic Buddhist stupas are found in Sindh. The Divyavadana (Tibetan version) reports: "The Buddha is in Rajgriha. At this time, there were two great cities in Jampudvip (north India), Pataliputra and Roruka. When Roruka rises, Pataliputra declines; when Pataliputra rises, Roruka declines". Here was Roruka of Sindh competing with the capital of the Magadha empire. When Bimbisar was the king of the Magadha, he sent Rudrayan, king of Sindhu-Sauvita, a rare portrait of the Buddha. The two powerful ministers of Sindh at the time were Hiroo and Bheru, their names still common amongst the Sindhis!
Chandragupta Maurya first won Sindh and then Punjab. It was from this base that he displaced the Nandas, occupied Pataliputra and established the great Mauryan empire.
Sindh was part of Dasaratha's empire. When Kekayi goes into a sulk, Dasaratha tells her, "The sun does not set on my empire. Sindh, Sauvira, Saurashtra, Anga, vanga, Magadha, Kashi, Koshal -- they are all mine". When Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, Rama sent the vanaras (monkeys) to look for her, among other places, in Sindh with its "remarkable swimming horses".
Kashmir's ancient royal history Rajatirangini has many references to Sindh and the Sindhis. Kuya's son Sindhu rose to lead the elephant brigade of Kashmir. He was advisor to Queen Dida. A top honour was "Sindhu Gaja", Elephant of Sindh. *Indus in India* After flowing eleven miles beyond Leh, Sindhu is joined on the left by its first tributary, the Zanskar, which helps green the Zanskar Valley.Manyinteresting mountain trails beckon the mountaineering enthusiasts to the Zanskar Valley. The Sindhu then flows past Batalik. The mighty Indus when it enters the plains is joined by its famous five tributaries the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej giving Punjab-"Land of five rivers"- its name.
Rafting in the Indus has also become an attractive feature for tourists.
http://tarunvijay.org/?p=141
Posted: 18 Sep 2009 11:02 AM PDT
We are Indians and the nation Hindustan or India, and our Dharma Hindu because there is a river Sindhu also known as Indus. All these names describing our identity are derived from Sindhu and Indus. Sindhu is one of the most revered seven rivers Hindus worship, the other six being-Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Brahmaputra and Kaveri.
No other river on earth can claim this unique distinction as Sindhu. Five thousand year civilisation, culture, tradition and an entire life style is identified with Sindhu. The people living across it were called Sindhu-*Putras * or Hindus as the Greek could pronounce 'S' as 'H' only.
Sindhu's roar is described in the Rig Veda like this,' His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth; he puts forth endless vigour with flash of light…Even as cows with milk rush to their calves, so other rivers roar into Sindhu. As a warrior king leads other warriors, so does Sindhu lead other rivers.' Sanskrit scholars say that Sindhu is used more than thirty times by the vedic seer in the Vedas while Ganga finds much less mention- just five times.
Like Himalayas, Sindhu is a blessing to the mother earth and her children. The only two rivers described as 'He' rivers buy the Vedas because of their ferocious flow, 'sky reaching' roar of the water and sea like vastness are Brahmaputra and Sindhu. Rishis of the yore named ocean or *Sagar* as Sindhu also –describing the sea as vast and deep as our river Sindhu!! There can't be a greater tribute to the glory and power of this river that has given a name to our civilisation and nation both.
Sindhu or Indus is one of the mightiest rivers of our planet with an astonishing length of 2900 km. Rising in south-western Tibet, at an altitude of 16,000 feet, Sindhu enters the Indian territory near Demchok in Ladakh.The author had the good fortune to lead the first ever Indus expedition in the independent India which traversed from the point Sindhu enters in Ladakh (L.A.C.) and driving along its majestic flow till Batalik where it flows down placidly into the presently Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The total length that Sindhu travels within the present Indian boundary ( L.A.C. to L.O.C.) is app. 550 kms.
Sindhu is divine with an indescribable beauty and charm. Its water, till Zanskar meets it 30 kms down Leh, is transparently pearl blue and Budhist devotees believe it is pure Manasarovar water since till here no other river mingles with it .The source of Sindhu is in the Nyari province of western Tibet in the Kailas Manasarovar region, which is also a source to Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali. According to the ztibetan scriptures as well as Vedic ones, Sindhu is a Lion river, while Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali are respectively Elephant, Horse and Peocock rivers. According to the famous swami Pranavananda ji, who traveled Kailas region 51 times and wrote the most scientific and a reference book for the pilgrims as well as geologists, even the source of Ganga is in Manasarovar from where a small hidden channel reaches Gangotri.
On the Tibetan side yogi Milarepa's cave is situated on the Sindhu banks and on Indian side ancient Buddhist monasteries like Hemis,Thikse Gompa,Stok Palace,Alchi Gompa are situated. Buddhist Lamas consider the holy water of Sindhu bestowed with miraculous curing affects and during winter when the water is crystal clear, they preserve it in bottles to be used for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Sindhu represents the age-old civilisational flow of our nation. It has been a witness to ups and downs and victories and defeats of Sindhu *putras*since the days of Alexander who returned from its banks till the Kargil victory.
It's a unique symbol of friendship between people of three countries India, Pakistan and China (Tibet), enriching all without any discrimination or prejudice. When it reaches the present region of Pakistan, the vastness and the spread becomes unbelievable. Three years before while returning from USA in the Prime Minister's special plane, our pilot captain Patil showed me the great expanse of the river flying over Bahawalpur area in Pakistan. It was like an ocean and seemed a seamless, endless empire of liquid silver as the grey lights of the pre-dawn moments reflected in its water on that Vijayadashmi day. It was mesmerizing experience, unforgettable and rare. Ironically we do not have much literature on Indus River. Though the civilisational aspects of the Indus valley and Harappan era are found in ample.I remembered while searching books on the river Indus in 96-97, in course of preparing for the festival at Leh, I couldn't find a single book that would describe the river's history and geography, until I stumbled upon a fabulously produced book by Imran Khan, famous cricketer turned politician of Pakistan. It's a magnificent saga of Sindhu written with verve and passion by Imran Khan with equally beautiful photographs shot by famed lens man of New York Times Mike Goldwater. When I wrote to Imran detailing about my concept of a festival to celebrate Indus in Ladakh, he gave a very polite and encouraging reply offering all help in this regard.
I have had the good fortune to see Sindhu in India almost in every season and in different moods. The sounds of silence on its banks, the silvery dark placid flow like a grand master of time and space contemplating for the next creation, and in January when Sindhu looks static under a white chador, letting you cross his expanse on foot and even on lorries and Maruti Gypsies, while underneath the magical heavenly flow moves on as silently as the walk of a star in the endless space.
The drive along the Sindhu is the most enchanting and rewarding one, because you never know what surprise is waiting just after the next curve. A divine feast of colours like blue, deep sky blue, gray, off-white and sometimes shining sandy hues mingling with the sand dunes on the banks, sure reminders of the existence of sea millions of years ago in this part of our geography. When the sun walks west, the shades too change to a mellow orange, golden like liquid gold, fiery reddish and dark chocolate, turning finally into a silver gray and inviting black.
The Sindhu saga is as endless and mesmerizing as his eternal flow.
The spirit and the message of Sindhu are simply love and friendship. While it represents India's culture and civilization, it is also a symbol of social harmony and a salute to our brave soldiers. The charm and innocence of te Bddha land-Ladakh, the intermingling of various faiths, the patriotic fervour of the Ladakhi people,chants of O Mani padme Hum... all this is so close yet, not so finely registered in our mids. Many of us still think Sindhu is in Pakistan. How many of us Indians know that this river is just an hour's flight from Delhi , and we need no visa or passport to offer our tributes, how many wish to go to the banks of this great river, that gave us our identity ?
( tarunvijay@vsnl.com)
(Tarun Vijay was the founder convenor of the Indus Festival in Leh,and led Indus Expedition in 2000).
*From our scriptures** *
In the Mahabharat, the Sindhu is reverentially mentioned along with other two holy rivers, the Ganga and Saraswati. References to the Sindhu are also seen in many ancient literary works like those of Kalidasa, Bana, Panini. The fame of the mighty Sindhu had spread even beyond the subcontinent and it found reflections in the literary works of the Greek and Roman empires. It finds mention in some of the earlier literature of India. Kalidasa says in the Raghuvansha that on the advice of his maternal uncle Yudhajat, Rama conferred Sindh on Bharata. Rama's ancestor Raghu's triumphant horses had relaxed on the bank of the Sindhu.
Another great Sanskrit poet, Bhasa, had done a whole play, "Avimark" on the romance of Prince Avimark with Princess Kurangadi of Sindhu-Sauvira.
The Bhavishya Purana says that Shalivahana, the grandson of Maharaja Vikramaditya of Ujjain, established law and order in 'Sindhusthan" and fixed his frontier on the Sindhu.
Anshnath, the eleventh Jain Tirthankar, was a Sindhi. He died in Bengal. The Jaina Dakshinya Chihna (eight century) speaks of Sindhis as "elegant, with a lovely, soft and slow gait. They are fond of songs, music and dance and feel affection for their country".
There is a legend that the great Buddha had graced Sindh with his visit. Finding the climate extreme, and the area dry and dusty, he had permitted the bhikshus to wear shoes here. He had also permitted the use of padded clothing, forbidden elsewhere. Here Sthavirtis, the Prince of Rorik or Roruka (Aror or Alor, near modern Rohri) became his disciple.
When the Buddha went round his native Kapilavastu in a chariot, it was mentioned that the "four auspicious horses, of lotus colour, had come from Sindhudesh".
To this day, historic Buddhist stupas are found in Sindh. The Divyavadana (Tibetan version) reports: "The Buddha is in Rajgriha. At this time, there were two great cities in Jampudvip (north India), Pataliputra and Roruka. When Roruka rises, Pataliputra declines; when Pataliputra rises, Roruka declines". Here was Roruka of Sindh competing with the capital of the Magadha empire. When Bimbisar was the king of the Magadha, he sent Rudrayan, king of Sindhu-Sauvita, a rare portrait of the Buddha. The two powerful ministers of Sindh at the time were Hiroo and Bheru, their names still common amongst the Sindhis!
Chandragupta Maurya first won Sindh and then Punjab. It was from this base that he displaced the Nandas, occupied Pataliputra and established the great Mauryan empire.
Sindh was part of Dasaratha's empire. When Kekayi goes into a sulk, Dasaratha tells her, "The sun does not set on my empire. Sindh, Sauvira, Saurashtra, Anga, vanga, Magadha, Kashi, Koshal -- they are all mine". When Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, Rama sent the vanaras (monkeys) to look for her, among other places, in Sindh with its "remarkable swimming horses".
Kashmir's ancient royal history Rajatirangini has many references to Sindh and the Sindhis. Kuya's son Sindhu rose to lead the elephant brigade of Kashmir. He was advisor to Queen Dida. A top honour was "Sindhu Gaja", Elephant of Sindh. *Indus in India* After flowing eleven miles beyond Leh, Sindhu is joined on the left by its first tributary, the Zanskar, which helps green the Zanskar Valley.Manyinteresting mountain trails beckon the mountaineering enthusiasts to the Zanskar Valley. The Sindhu then flows past Batalik. The mighty Indus when it enters the plains is joined by its famous five tributaries the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej giving Punjab-"Land of five rivers"- its name.
Rafting in the Indus has also become an attractive feature for tourists.
http://tarunvijay.org/?p=141
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Abandoned
Sangh Parivar - Vasudhaiva Kutumbhkam
Posted: 14 Sep 2009 09:38 AM PDT
They were fiercely angry and threw the slaughtered cow’s head at the temple gate to underline the seriousness of their threat — no temple in this locality. The leader of the crowd that had gathered at Shah Alam immediately after the Jumma namaz shouted religious slogans and their leader Haji said there would be bloodshed if the temple relocation continued.
And the government decided to halt the temple construction.
What was the reason for opposing the temple? Shazwan Mustafa Kamal reported in Malaysia Insider, "A group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 have threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple. The 'residents' said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90% Malay-Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives. They claimed that the "noise" from the temple would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims.'’
So much for a country which prides itself with an ad-tag "Malaysia-truly Asia" to lure Indian travellers, mostly Hindus.
Hindu money is welcome but no respect for their religion, that’s the "truly Asian" message of a land that is educated, rich and shows a modern face among the Muslim-majority countries.
But did you hear any protest against such blatantly state-supported assaults on Hindus from the world’s biggest Hindu majority nation?
Those who spoke about a cartoon in Denmark and a young brat in Canada chose to wear silence on the continued assaults on the Hindu rights in Malaysia. And else where.
The media that were too moralistically enthused to take up the "lies" of a Emraan Hashmi, didn’t even bother to have a news item for cow-head warning to the Hindus or to organize a small, non-primetime chat on why Hindus have become a soft target from Coimbatore to Kualalumpur and Kathmandu to Jeddah.
Once there was a constitutionally declared Hindu nation on this earth that allowed the biggest mosque facing the Royal palace and allowed conversions too. Yet its demise was meticulously organized amid a secular fanfare and now we saw beating of the Pashupatinath temple’s Hindu priests.
The last six decades have seen a continuous fall in the esteem and power of the Hindus as Hindus, that remains to be analysed in an atmosphere that celebrates the "Hindu harvesting".
From a bird’s eye view, look how it has happened and ask yourself, why? Hindus were pushed out from Kabul to Rawalpindi, and from Karachi to Lahore for no fault of theirs. It was a partition decided by the British Empire and conceded by the Gandhis who feared more Jinnah’s direct action massacres if stood firm on an undivided motherland. Post-partition, Hindus faced the worst-ever ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and half a million Hindus were forcibly exiled leaving behind their age-old homes, temples, orchards and an entire world of life.
Those who still chose to remain in the newly created Pakistan faced extinction, humiliation, with government jobs barred and a virtual exile from politics.
Their girls are raped and forcibly taken away, temples desecrated, crematoriums denied, and festival celebrations curtailed. A factsheet of Hindu human rights abuse was prepared by the Hindu American Foundation and its 2008 report says: “Despite a change in the government in Bangladesh, 270 acts of murder, rape and temple destruction were recorded in only the first six months, while the disproportionate enslavement of Hindus in bonded labor and kidnappings with forced conversions to Islam of Hindu women were reported again in Pakistan. Malaysia was censured for violent suppression of Hindus, and Russia made the list for the first time as well. In 1947, Hindus constituted nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s population. By 1991, 20 million Hindus were “missing” from Bangladesh. Today, Hindus comprise less than 10% of the population. ”
The only reason for this putting them to such a barbarism is their Hinduness. Just that, sir. The Hinduness that teaches pluralism, sustains democracy and guarantees unimaginable levels of personal and intellectual freedom.
The Foundation's 2008 Hindu Human Rights Report details violations against Hindus in areas where they are minority — namely in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to Pakistan and the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. The report provides detailed accounts of human rights violations are in the areas of violence against women, murder, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement, discrimination and forced conversions.
The sadder part of the story is the lack of space for a Hindu hurt. You got to be a non-Hindu to find a hearing and a media attention.
That the oldest way of living, a Dharma which can never be a synonym for religion, believing in the wonderful concept of individual freedom and plurality is not only facing serious onslaughts from various state powers and hate-campaigners, but its hurt is also ignored by the influential Hindu leaders in the various fields of life is an understandable irony.
A Mittal or an Ambani can make billions yet would hardly be seen to help a Hindu cause. A Shah Rukh can wear his religion up his sleeves and be praised for that but none would hear that a Sachin or an Amitabh expressed concern at the growing assaults on Hindus in the northeast or elsewhere. They feel it will damage their secular credentials. But how? Secular credentials should be hurt most when someone instigates one community against another on communal basis. To assert and protect your own way of life, which is so precious and ancient and the only living tradition for the last thousands of years must be a matter of pride rather than shame.
An abandonment of the Hindu cause by the influential sections of the Hindus has affected the attitude of those too who were supposed to be championing the cause of the Hindu hurt in politics. The pressures of neo-secularism seem to be working on their decision-making and stand. Moreover, they have failed to establish a respectable hallmark of public behaviour and political moral through their own example hence lost the credibility too for galvanizing public support behind them for taking up such issues. Hence the continuous reduction of the Hindus demographically in the entire south Asia doesn’t bother anyone and the mention of it draws secular whipping. Leaders in politics have virtually abandoned the responsibility to take up Hindu cause that has often resulted to turn Hindu assertion as an invitation to delisting and ideological apartheid from the controllers of state power and secularized social segments.
Malaysian Hindus' plight is just a small example of a diminishing Hindu political power. After the Cholas, Pandyas, Sri Vijaya and the Vijayanagar glory to Shivaji’s Hindavi Swarajya, we are here to witness Hindus beaten up in Nepal and Malaysia. And their holy books torn and dust-binned at Jeddah airport.
Now, It all depends on the non-political strongholds of the Hindu pantheon to reassess and assert again to help the rise of a genuine Hindu power to safeguard pluralism and an ancient lifestyle that ensures respect for a different viewpoint.
Comments(124) Share
Posted: 14 Sep 2009 09:38 AM PDT
They were fiercely angry and threw the slaughtered cow’s head at the temple gate to underline the seriousness of their threat — no temple in this locality. The leader of the crowd that had gathered at Shah Alam immediately after the Jumma namaz shouted religious slogans and their leader Haji said there would be bloodshed if the temple relocation continued.
And the government decided to halt the temple construction.
What was the reason for opposing the temple? Shazwan Mustafa Kamal reported in Malaysia Insider, "A group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 have threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple. The 'residents' said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90% Malay-Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives. They claimed that the "noise" from the temple would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims.'’
So much for a country which prides itself with an ad-tag "Malaysia-truly Asia" to lure Indian travellers, mostly Hindus.
Hindu money is welcome but no respect for their religion, that’s the "truly Asian" message of a land that is educated, rich and shows a modern face among the Muslim-majority countries.
But did you hear any protest against such blatantly state-supported assaults on Hindus from the world’s biggest Hindu majority nation?
Those who spoke about a cartoon in Denmark and a young brat in Canada chose to wear silence on the continued assaults on the Hindu rights in Malaysia. And else where.
The media that were too moralistically enthused to take up the "lies" of a Emraan Hashmi, didn’t even bother to have a news item for cow-head warning to the Hindus or to organize a small, non-primetime chat on why Hindus have become a soft target from Coimbatore to Kualalumpur and Kathmandu to Jeddah.
Once there was a constitutionally declared Hindu nation on this earth that allowed the biggest mosque facing the Royal palace and allowed conversions too. Yet its demise was meticulously organized amid a secular fanfare and now we saw beating of the Pashupatinath temple’s Hindu priests.
The last six decades have seen a continuous fall in the esteem and power of the Hindus as Hindus, that remains to be analysed in an atmosphere that celebrates the "Hindu harvesting".
From a bird’s eye view, look how it has happened and ask yourself, why? Hindus were pushed out from Kabul to Rawalpindi, and from Karachi to Lahore for no fault of theirs. It was a partition decided by the British Empire and conceded by the Gandhis who feared more Jinnah’s direct action massacres if stood firm on an undivided motherland. Post-partition, Hindus faced the worst-ever ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and half a million Hindus were forcibly exiled leaving behind their age-old homes, temples, orchards and an entire world of life.
Those who still chose to remain in the newly created Pakistan faced extinction, humiliation, with government jobs barred and a virtual exile from politics.
Their girls are raped and forcibly taken away, temples desecrated, crematoriums denied, and festival celebrations curtailed. A factsheet of Hindu human rights abuse was prepared by the Hindu American Foundation and its 2008 report says: “Despite a change in the government in Bangladesh, 270 acts of murder, rape and temple destruction were recorded in only the first six months, while the disproportionate enslavement of Hindus in bonded labor and kidnappings with forced conversions to Islam of Hindu women were reported again in Pakistan. Malaysia was censured for violent suppression of Hindus, and Russia made the list for the first time as well. In 1947, Hindus constituted nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s population. By 1991, 20 million Hindus were “missing” from Bangladesh. Today, Hindus comprise less than 10% of the population. ”
The only reason for this putting them to such a barbarism is their Hinduness. Just that, sir. The Hinduness that teaches pluralism, sustains democracy and guarantees unimaginable levels of personal and intellectual freedom.
The Foundation's 2008 Hindu Human Rights Report details violations against Hindus in areas where they are minority — namely in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to Pakistan and the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. The report provides detailed accounts of human rights violations are in the areas of violence against women, murder, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement, discrimination and forced conversions.
The sadder part of the story is the lack of space for a Hindu hurt. You got to be a non-Hindu to find a hearing and a media attention.
That the oldest way of living, a Dharma which can never be a synonym for religion, believing in the wonderful concept of individual freedom and plurality is not only facing serious onslaughts from various state powers and hate-campaigners, but its hurt is also ignored by the influential Hindu leaders in the various fields of life is an understandable irony.
A Mittal or an Ambani can make billions yet would hardly be seen to help a Hindu cause. A Shah Rukh can wear his religion up his sleeves and be praised for that but none would hear that a Sachin or an Amitabh expressed concern at the growing assaults on Hindus in the northeast or elsewhere. They feel it will damage their secular credentials. But how? Secular credentials should be hurt most when someone instigates one community against another on communal basis. To assert and protect your own way of life, which is so precious and ancient and the only living tradition for the last thousands of years must be a matter of pride rather than shame.
An abandonment of the Hindu cause by the influential sections of the Hindus has affected the attitude of those too who were supposed to be championing the cause of the Hindu hurt in politics. The pressures of neo-secularism seem to be working on their decision-making and stand. Moreover, they have failed to establish a respectable hallmark of public behaviour and political moral through their own example hence lost the credibility too for galvanizing public support behind them for taking up such issues. Hence the continuous reduction of the Hindus demographically in the entire south Asia doesn’t bother anyone and the mention of it draws secular whipping. Leaders in politics have virtually abandoned the responsibility to take up Hindu cause that has often resulted to turn Hindu assertion as an invitation to delisting and ideological apartheid from the controllers of state power and secularized social segments.
Malaysian Hindus' plight is just a small example of a diminishing Hindu political power. After the Cholas, Pandyas, Sri Vijaya and the Vijayanagar glory to Shivaji’s Hindavi Swarajya, we are here to witness Hindus beaten up in Nepal and Malaysia. And their holy books torn and dust-binned at Jeddah airport.
Now, It all depends on the non-political strongholds of the Hindu pantheon to reassess and assert again to help the rise of a genuine Hindu power to safeguard pluralism and an ancient lifestyle that ensures respect for a different viewpoint.
Comments(124) Share
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sangh won't enter politics. BJP capable of settling its problems Jinnah Responsible For Partition—Mohan Bhagwat
Sangh won't enter politics. BJP capable of settling its problems Jinnah Responsible For Partition—Mohan Bhagwat
Posted: 10 Sep 2009 10:04 AM PDT
The RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat has clarified that the Sangh will not directly involve itself in politics and that it was for the BJP to settle its problems. On Jinnah controversy, Shri Bhagwat said that the Sangh considered Jinnah responsible for the Partition of the country. To clarify the Sangh stand Shri Mohan Bhagwat addressed a press conference in the capital on Friday (August 28, 2009) evening. Earlier, addressing a press conference in Jammu on August 21, 2009, the Sarsanghachalak said: "If Hindus become united, India will become strong and glorious."
Sangh not for politics
ON Shri Arun Shourie's suggestion that ‘RSS should take control of BJP’, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said in a press statement issued in New Delhi on August 25 that ‘the RSS after elaborate discussion has decided its goal of man-making and social organisation. Running a political party is not the task of the Sangh. It is the duty of the BJP to run it properly, remove the shortcomings, if any, and take it forward. The Sangh can only provide them any suggestion or help if they ask for it. The Sangh extends such help to all other organisations. The Sangh will continue to do its work of social organisation that it has been doing.’
Posted: 10 Sep 2009 10:04 AM PDT
The RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat has clarified that the Sangh will not directly involve itself in politics and that it was for the BJP to settle its problems. On Jinnah controversy, Shri Bhagwat said that the Sangh considered Jinnah responsible for the Partition of the country. To clarify the Sangh stand Shri Mohan Bhagwat addressed a press conference in the capital on Friday (August 28, 2009) evening. Earlier, addressing a press conference in Jammu on August 21, 2009, the Sarsanghachalak said: "If Hindus become united, India will become strong and glorious."
Sangh not for politics
ON Shri Arun Shourie's suggestion that ‘RSS should take control of BJP’, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said in a press statement issued in New Delhi on August 25 that ‘the RSS after elaborate discussion has decided its goal of man-making and social organisation. Running a political party is not the task of the Sangh. It is the duty of the BJP to run it properly, remove the shortcomings, if any, and take it forward. The Sangh can only provide them any suggestion or help if they ask for it. The Sangh extends such help to all other organisations. The Sangh will continue to do its work of social organisation that it has been doing.’
THE FACTS
Hindus abandoned in Malaysia, Nepal, India and elsewhere M
Posted: 09 Sep 2009 10:40 AM PDT
Monday September 07, 2009
Times of India
They were fiercely angry and threw the slaughtered cow’s head at the temple gate to underline the seriousness of their threat — no temple in this locality. The leader of the crowd that had gathered at Shah Alam immediately after the Jumma namaz shouted religious slogans and their leader Haji said there would be bloodshed if the temple relocation continued.
And the government decided to halt the temple construction.
What was the reason for opposing the temple? Shazwan Mustafa Kamal reported in Malaysia Insider, "A group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 have threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple. The 'residents' said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90% Malay-Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives. They claimed that the "noise" from the temple would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims.'’
So much for a country which prides itself with an ad-tag "Malaysia-truly Asia" to lure Indian travellers, mostly Hindus.
Hindu money is welcome but no respect for their religion, that’s the "truly Asian" message of a land that is educated, rich and shows a modern face among the Muslim-majority countries.
But did you hear any protest against such blatantly state-supported assaults on Hindus from the world’s biggest Hindu majority nation?
Those who spoke about a cartoon in Denmark and a young brat in Canada chose to wear silence on the continued assaults on the Hindu rights in Malaysia. And else where.
The media that were too moralistically enthused to take up the "lies" of a Emraan Hashmi, didn’t even bother to have a news item for cow-head warning to the Hindus or to organize a small, non-primetime chat on why Hindus have become a soft target from Coimbatore to Kualalumpur and Kathmandu to Jeddah.
Once there was a constitutionally declared Hindu nation on this earth that allowed the biggest mosque facing the Royal palace and allowed conversions too. Yet its demise was meticulously organized amid a secular fanfare and now we saw beating of the Pashupatinath temple’s Hindu priests.
The last six decades have seen a continuous fall in the esteem and power of the Hindus as Hindus, that remains to be analysed in an atmosphere that celebrates the "Hindu harvesting".
From a bird’s eye view, look how it has happened and ask yourself, why? Hindus were pushed out from Kabul to Rawalpindi, and from Karachi to Lahore for no fault of theirs. It was a partition decided by the British Empire and conceded by the Gandhis who feared more Jinnah’s direct action massacres if stood firm on an undivided motherland. Post-partition, Hindus faced the worst-ever ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and half a million Hindus were forcibly exiled leaving behind their age-old homes, temples, orchards and an entire world of life.
Those who still chose to remain in the newly created Pakistan faced extinction, humiliation, with government jobs barred and a virtual exile from politics.
Their girls are raped and forcibly taken away, temples desecrated, crematoriums denied, and festival celebrations curtailed. A factsheet of Hindu human rights abuse was prepared by the Hindu American Foundation and its 2008 report says: “Despite a change in the government in Bangladesh, 270 acts of murder, rape and temple destruction were recorded in only the first six months, while the disproportionate enslavement of Hindus in bonded labor and kidnappings with forced conversions to Islam of Hindu women were reported again in Pakistan. Malaysia was censured for violent suppression of Hindus, and Russia made the list for the first time as well. In 1947, Hindus constituted nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s population. By 1991, 20 million Hindus were “missing” from Bangladesh. Today, Hindus comprise less than 10% of the population. ”
The only reason for this putting them to such a barbarism is their Hinduness. Just that, sir. The Hinduness that teaches pluralism, sustains democracy and guarantees unimaginable levels of personal and intellectual freedom.
The Foundation's 2008 Hindu Human Rights Report details violations against Hindus in areas where they are minority — namely in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to Pakistan and the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. The report provides detailed accounts of human rights violations are in the areas of violence against women, murder, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement, discrimination and forced conversions.
The sadder part of the story is the lack of space for a Hindu hurt. You got to be a non-Hindu to find a hearing and a media attention.
That the oldest way of living, a Dharma which can never be a synonym for religion, believing in the wonderful concept of individual freedom and plurality is not only facing serious onslaughts from various state powers and hate-campaigners, but its hurt is also ignored by the influential Hindu leaders in the various fields of life is an understandable irony.
A Mittal or an Ambani can make billions yet would hardly be seen to help a Hindu cause. A Shah Rukh can wear his religion up his sleeves and be praised for that but none would hear that a Sachin or an Amitabh expressed concern at the growing assaults on Hindus in the northeast or elsewhere. They feel it will damage their secular credentials. But how? Secular credentials should be hurt most when someone instigates one community against another on communal basis. To assert and protect your own way of life, which is so precious and ancient and the only living tradition for the last thousands of years must be a matter of pride rather than shame.
An abandonment of the Hindu cause by the influential sections of the Hindus has affected the attitude of those too who were supposed to be championing the cause of the Hindu hurt in politics. The pressures of neo-secularism seem to be working on their decision-making and stand. Moreover, they have failed to establish a respectable hallmark of public behaviour and political moral through their own example hence lost the credibility too for galvanizing public support behind them for taking up such issues. Hence the continuous reduction of the Hindus demographically in the entire south Asia doesn’t bother anyone and the mention of it draws secular whipping. Leaders in politics have virtually abandoned the responsibility to take up Hindu cause that has often resulted to turn Hindu assertion as an invitation to delisting and ideological apartheid from the controllers of state power and secularized social segments.
Malaysian Hindus' plight is just a small example of a diminishing Hindu political power. After the Cholas, Pandyas, Sri Vijaya and the Vijayanagar glory to Shivaji’s Hindavi Swarajya, we are here to witness Hindus beaten up in Nepal and Malaysia. And their holy books torn and dust-binned at Jeddah airport.
Now, It all depends on the non-political strongholds of the Hindu pantheon to reassess and assert again to help the rise of a genuine Hindu power to safeguard pluralism and an ancient lifestyle that ensures respect for a different viewpoint.
Posted: 09 Sep 2009 10:40 AM PDT
Monday September 07, 2009
Times of India
They were fiercely angry and threw the slaughtered cow’s head at the temple gate to underline the seriousness of their threat — no temple in this locality. The leader of the crowd that had gathered at Shah Alam immediately after the Jumma namaz shouted religious slogans and their leader Haji said there would be bloodshed if the temple relocation continued.
And the government decided to halt the temple construction.
What was the reason for opposing the temple? Shazwan Mustafa Kamal reported in Malaysia Insider, "A group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 have threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple. The 'residents' said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90% Malay-Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives. They claimed that the "noise" from the temple would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims.'’
So much for a country which prides itself with an ad-tag "Malaysia-truly Asia" to lure Indian travellers, mostly Hindus.
Hindu money is welcome but no respect for their religion, that’s the "truly Asian" message of a land that is educated, rich and shows a modern face among the Muslim-majority countries.
But did you hear any protest against such blatantly state-supported assaults on Hindus from the world’s biggest Hindu majority nation?
Those who spoke about a cartoon in Denmark and a young brat in Canada chose to wear silence on the continued assaults on the Hindu rights in Malaysia. And else where.
The media that were too moralistically enthused to take up the "lies" of a Emraan Hashmi, didn’t even bother to have a news item for cow-head warning to the Hindus or to organize a small, non-primetime chat on why Hindus have become a soft target from Coimbatore to Kualalumpur and Kathmandu to Jeddah.
Once there was a constitutionally declared Hindu nation on this earth that allowed the biggest mosque facing the Royal palace and allowed conversions too. Yet its demise was meticulously organized amid a secular fanfare and now we saw beating of the Pashupatinath temple’s Hindu priests.
The last six decades have seen a continuous fall in the esteem and power of the Hindus as Hindus, that remains to be analysed in an atmosphere that celebrates the "Hindu harvesting".
From a bird’s eye view, look how it has happened and ask yourself, why? Hindus were pushed out from Kabul to Rawalpindi, and from Karachi to Lahore for no fault of theirs. It was a partition decided by the British Empire and conceded by the Gandhis who feared more Jinnah’s direct action massacres if stood firm on an undivided motherland. Post-partition, Hindus faced the worst-ever ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and half a million Hindus were forcibly exiled leaving behind their age-old homes, temples, orchards and an entire world of life.
Those who still chose to remain in the newly created Pakistan faced extinction, humiliation, with government jobs barred and a virtual exile from politics.
Their girls are raped and forcibly taken away, temples desecrated, crematoriums denied, and festival celebrations curtailed. A factsheet of Hindu human rights abuse was prepared by the Hindu American Foundation and its 2008 report says: “Despite a change in the government in Bangladesh, 270 acts of murder, rape and temple destruction were recorded in only the first six months, while the disproportionate enslavement of Hindus in bonded labor and kidnappings with forced conversions to Islam of Hindu women were reported again in Pakistan. Malaysia was censured for violent suppression of Hindus, and Russia made the list for the first time as well. In 1947, Hindus constituted nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s population. By 1991, 20 million Hindus were “missing” from Bangladesh. Today, Hindus comprise less than 10% of the population. ”
The only reason for this putting them to such a barbarism is their Hinduness. Just that, sir. The Hinduness that teaches pluralism, sustains democracy and guarantees unimaginable levels of personal and intellectual freedom.
The Foundation's 2008 Hindu Human Rights Report details violations against Hindus in areas where they are minority — namely in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to Pakistan and the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. The report provides detailed accounts of human rights violations are in the areas of violence against women, murder, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement, discrimination and forced conversions.
The sadder part of the story is the lack of space for a Hindu hurt. You got to be a non-Hindu to find a hearing and a media attention.
That the oldest way of living, a Dharma which can never be a synonym for religion, believing in the wonderful concept of individual freedom and plurality is not only facing serious onslaughts from various state powers and hate-campaigners, but its hurt is also ignored by the influential Hindu leaders in the various fields of life is an understandable irony.
A Mittal or an Ambani can make billions yet would hardly be seen to help a Hindu cause. A Shah Rukh can wear his religion up his sleeves and be praised for that but none would hear that a Sachin or an Amitabh expressed concern at the growing assaults on Hindus in the northeast or elsewhere. They feel it will damage their secular credentials. But how? Secular credentials should be hurt most when someone instigates one community against another on communal basis. To assert and protect your own way of life, which is so precious and ancient and the only living tradition for the last thousands of years must be a matter of pride rather than shame.
An abandonment of the Hindu cause by the influential sections of the Hindus has affected the attitude of those too who were supposed to be championing the cause of the Hindu hurt in politics. The pressures of neo-secularism seem to be working on their decision-making and stand. Moreover, they have failed to establish a respectable hallmark of public behaviour and political moral through their own example hence lost the credibility too for galvanizing public support behind them for taking up such issues. Hence the continuous reduction of the Hindus demographically in the entire south Asia doesn’t bother anyone and the mention of it draws secular whipping. Leaders in politics have virtually abandoned the responsibility to take up Hindu cause that has often resulted to turn Hindu assertion as an invitation to delisting and ideological apartheid from the controllers of state power and secularized social segments.
Malaysian Hindus' plight is just a small example of a diminishing Hindu political power. After the Cholas, Pandyas, Sri Vijaya and the Vijayanagar glory to Shivaji’s Hindavi Swarajya, we are here to witness Hindus beaten up in Nepal and Malaysia. And their holy books torn and dust-binned at Jeddah airport.
Now, It all depends on the non-political strongholds of the Hindu pantheon to reassess and assert again to help the rise of a genuine Hindu power to safeguard pluralism and an ancient lifestyle that ensures respect for a different viewpoint.
Monday, September 7, 2009
NO JINNAH FOR INDIA
No Jinnah for India
Posted: 04 Sep 2009 09:36 AM PDT
In the collective conscience of India, Mohammad Ali Jinnah is a hate figure like Mohammad Ghori, Mohammad Ghaznavi, Babar and Aurangzeb. Jinnah is disliked more because his actions are fresh in memory, and millions of victims of his hate campaign are still alive.
There have been many attempts to whitewash the crimes-rape, rapine, forced conversion, loot and pillage of temples and mass slaughter of Hindus by the invading Muslim marauders-by Marxist historians like Romila Thapar, RS Sharma and Irfan Habib but no historian worth the name in India dared paint Jinnah a paragon. Because it is an impossible, thankless task.
Every nation has its unique ideas of history, sense of fair play and common memories of friends and enemies. So in Britain one cannot think of making a legend of Napoleon or in the US lionising the actions of Jefferson Davis. These things often may not stand academic scrutiny. It is so because trying to overturn these aspects is to insult the mass conscience. What historians and academics can attempt perhaps becomes taboo for politicians. So wise men avoid treading the area where only fools rush in. It is a matter of inference whether at the formative stage of his politics Jinnah was secular or that in one of his speeches after the formation of Pakistan he became generous and extended an olive branch to the beleaguered minorities in that hot bed of fanatic intolerance. After all, a tree is known by the fruit it bears.
Jinnah to a student of history comes out as the person who effectively and forcefully articulated the insidious thesis of two nation and injected the poison of communal canker and riots in India. He destroyed with lavish conspiratorial assistance from the British the long history of Hindu-Muslim unity displayed repeatedly during the country’s First War of Independence in 1857 and during the fight against the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Jinnah became the architect of Partition. Not once but repeatedly he used direct action-a vicious, vituperative call for mass murder-as a weapon of blackmail to get his way. He did this brutally instigating the massacre of millions of innocent Hindus. His devious ploy was to prove that the Hindus and the Muslims cannot live together. In this, he ensured his leadership by becoming a willing stooge of the British. When India fought the British, he sabotaged the movement by trying to keep the Muslims away from the national mainstream. Jinnah’s 1916 Lucknow Pact with the Congress was a communal charter, which formalised the appeasement Congress strategy, which finally made the Indian Muslim a bargaining chip. He conceived the divisive Muslim attitude of special status instead of equal rights for all. Appeasement led to separatism.
Jinnah cruelly and constantly insulted and heaped abuses on Gandhiji, Nehru and other Congress leaders for their correct and nationalist stand of not accepting Muslim League as the sole representative body of the Muslims. The Congress proved in polls after polls before Partition that it enjoyed the support of more Muslims than Jinnah. A frustrated, piqued and egoist Jinnah characterised Congress a Hindu party, Gandhiji, Nehru and other Congress leaders Hindu leaders and the Congress Muslim leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as slaves of the Hindus. Even if the Congress wanted, the nation would not have accepted Jinnah as the first prime minister of India. Jinnah playing in the hands of the British not only betrayed the freedom movement but hastened and forced the Partition wading over the rivers of blood of innocent women and children and heaps of dead bodies of countless number of Hindus and Muslims. Such a political cynic should be counted among the barbarians history has witnessed. Their names are not celebrated as emancipators of human race.
Pakistan has a mission to salvage the Jinnah image because he happens to be the father of that country. After ignoring the Jinnah legacy for decades, in 1976 in the centenary year of his birth, Pakistan unleashed a huge image-building exercise for Jinnah, releasing a large cache of money for sponsoring studies, researches, seminars, workshops and books on Jinnah. A large number of western scholars got interested and produced well-documented biographies on Jinnah. Scholars from US, Europe and Asia joined the bandwagon. In India track-II diplomacy is a lucrative pastime. There is a very sophisticated and influential Pak lobby in India. From time-to-time they advance out-of-the-box ideas and nurture the pestering sore. And the Indian media gives more coverage to Pak-related stories than that to national interest stories. In recent years in India also a number of books on Jinnah have been published. Only time will tell if these efforts will succeed in de-demonising Jinnah in Indian public perception. Pakistan has another problem. It does not have many national heroes. Pakistan’s eagerness to project Jinnah as a great leader like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela etc. is understandable. But that will not change Jinnah’s image in India. Every exercise in that direction is destined to be doomed.
Posted: 04 Sep 2009 09:36 AM PDT
In the collective conscience of India, Mohammad Ali Jinnah is a hate figure like Mohammad Ghori, Mohammad Ghaznavi, Babar and Aurangzeb. Jinnah is disliked more because his actions are fresh in memory, and millions of victims of his hate campaign are still alive.
There have been many attempts to whitewash the crimes-rape, rapine, forced conversion, loot and pillage of temples and mass slaughter of Hindus by the invading Muslim marauders-by Marxist historians like Romila Thapar, RS Sharma and Irfan Habib but no historian worth the name in India dared paint Jinnah a paragon. Because it is an impossible, thankless task.
Every nation has its unique ideas of history, sense of fair play and common memories of friends and enemies. So in Britain one cannot think of making a legend of Napoleon or in the US lionising the actions of Jefferson Davis. These things often may not stand academic scrutiny. It is so because trying to overturn these aspects is to insult the mass conscience. What historians and academics can attempt perhaps becomes taboo for politicians. So wise men avoid treading the area where only fools rush in. It is a matter of inference whether at the formative stage of his politics Jinnah was secular or that in one of his speeches after the formation of Pakistan he became generous and extended an olive branch to the beleaguered minorities in that hot bed of fanatic intolerance. After all, a tree is known by the fruit it bears.
Jinnah to a student of history comes out as the person who effectively and forcefully articulated the insidious thesis of two nation and injected the poison of communal canker and riots in India. He destroyed with lavish conspiratorial assistance from the British the long history of Hindu-Muslim unity displayed repeatedly during the country’s First War of Independence in 1857 and during the fight against the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Jinnah became the architect of Partition. Not once but repeatedly he used direct action-a vicious, vituperative call for mass murder-as a weapon of blackmail to get his way. He did this brutally instigating the massacre of millions of innocent Hindus. His devious ploy was to prove that the Hindus and the Muslims cannot live together. In this, he ensured his leadership by becoming a willing stooge of the British. When India fought the British, he sabotaged the movement by trying to keep the Muslims away from the national mainstream. Jinnah’s 1916 Lucknow Pact with the Congress was a communal charter, which formalised the appeasement Congress strategy, which finally made the Indian Muslim a bargaining chip. He conceived the divisive Muslim attitude of special status instead of equal rights for all. Appeasement led to separatism.
Jinnah cruelly and constantly insulted and heaped abuses on Gandhiji, Nehru and other Congress leaders for their correct and nationalist stand of not accepting Muslim League as the sole representative body of the Muslims. The Congress proved in polls after polls before Partition that it enjoyed the support of more Muslims than Jinnah. A frustrated, piqued and egoist Jinnah characterised Congress a Hindu party, Gandhiji, Nehru and other Congress leaders Hindu leaders and the Congress Muslim leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as slaves of the Hindus. Even if the Congress wanted, the nation would not have accepted Jinnah as the first prime minister of India. Jinnah playing in the hands of the British not only betrayed the freedom movement but hastened and forced the Partition wading over the rivers of blood of innocent women and children and heaps of dead bodies of countless number of Hindus and Muslims. Such a political cynic should be counted among the barbarians history has witnessed. Their names are not celebrated as emancipators of human race.
Pakistan has a mission to salvage the Jinnah image because he happens to be the father of that country. After ignoring the Jinnah legacy for decades, in 1976 in the centenary year of his birth, Pakistan unleashed a huge image-building exercise for Jinnah, releasing a large cache of money for sponsoring studies, researches, seminars, workshops and books on Jinnah. A large number of western scholars got interested and produced well-documented biographies on Jinnah. Scholars from US, Europe and Asia joined the bandwagon. In India track-II diplomacy is a lucrative pastime. There is a very sophisticated and influential Pak lobby in India. From time-to-time they advance out-of-the-box ideas and nurture the pestering sore. And the Indian media gives more coverage to Pak-related stories than that to national interest stories. In recent years in India also a number of books on Jinnah have been published. Only time will tell if these efforts will succeed in de-demonising Jinnah in Indian public perception. Pakistan has another problem. It does not have many national heroes. Pakistan’s eagerness to project Jinnah as a great leader like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela etc. is understandable. But that will not change Jinnah’s image in India. Every exercise in that direction is destined to be doomed.
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