450 government schemes named after Nehru-Gandhi clan
By Pallavi Ghosh , CNN-IBN
PRESIDENT Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders paid homage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth.
Rajiv Gandhi’s widow and Congress president Sonia, their son Rahul, daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra paid tribute to the slain leader at Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial Veer Bhumi in the national capital.
Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Sadbhavna Diwas (harmony day) and Akshay Urja Diwas (energy day) in the country.
The ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) will be re-christened after Rajiv Gandhi said the minister in charge of the scheme. “We shall create a Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra. On the basis of this organisation people will be able to sit down and hold discussions,” said C P Joshi.
That is not the first thing to be named after the man who at 40 years of age had become India’s youngest prime minister in 1984 after his mother and the then-reigning prime minister Indira Gandhi fell to assassins’ bullets.
A RTI application reveals that 450 government programmes, schemes and institutions are named after the Gandhi-Nehru family, of which 200 are named after Rajiv Gandhi.
There is politics behind the name-game.
Recall value for one and of course, mending bridges are two significant gains achieved by naming projects after chosen leaders.
Speculation of the NCP leader Sharad Pawar-Sonia Gandhi rift was washed away with Pawar proposing and standing for naming the grand Worli sea link in Mumbai after Rajiv.
”The credit for imbibing scientific temper in the younger generation goes to Rajiv Gandhi,” Pawar said while recommending the naming.
As per the RTI filed: 12 Central Government programmes and projects are named after Rajiv Gandhi. 52 State government programmes, 98 universities and educational institutions; 6 airports and ports, 39 hospitals, 74 roads, buildings and places and 15 national parks and sanctuaries have been named after Rajiv Gandhi.
All this naming after Rajiv Gandhi did give BSP leader Mayawati an opportunity to attack the Congress which was gunning for her over the Maya statues mushrooming in UP.
In a reply to SC, Mayawati argued that if the Congress could do it, so could she. But the Congress does realise that in this age of branding it helps to have populist programmes names after one’s leaders.
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation also distributed awards to recognise the excellence achieved by Indians in different fields. Rajiv Gandhi, the seventh prime minister of India had afterall led the Congress party to a major election victory in 1984, amassing the largest majority ever in Indian Parliament. Congress had then won 411 seats out of 542. Rajiv is also credited for beginning the dismantling of red tapism, ending the Licence Raj which had involved government quotas, tariffs and permit regulations on economic activity.
Congress does not fail to remind India and recall that Rajiv Gandhi had initiated the modernisation of telecommunications industry, expanded science and technology initiatives and improved relations with the US.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Kerala: Another Kashmir in the making
KERALA is another Kashmir in the making. A booklet, Kerala’s Radical Turn, published by India Foundation, New Delhi, has highlighted the similarities between present day Kashmir valley and Kerala in detail.
Beginning from the entry of Islam to Malabar of Kerala, forcible conversion of Hindus into Islam by Tippu Sultan of Mysore, violent attacks of Moplahs on Hindus to the present day violent activities by radical Muslims, the booklet also discusses in detail the UPA government’s attempts to deploy more Muslim-police in Muslim concentrated areas of the state.
The booklet, which prominently contains three articles—Islam in Kerala by TG Mohandas, Kerala-Waiting for the Big Role by Girish P, and In a Pluralistic Part of India Fears of Rising Islamic Extremism by Emily Wax, highlights the present day picture of Kerala and asks for immediate measures to arrest the growing Islamic extremism.
“Politicians are afraid of antagonizing Muslim vote bank. Result? There is no policing worth its name in Muslim dominated areas. It is a letter from the Internal Security Department of the Union Home Ministry. Malappuram, in this letter, is the Muslim majority district. Beemappalli is an area thickly populated by Muslims near Thiruvananthapuram air port. All foreign goods including drugs are openly sold there. Even the District Collector is not permitted to enter the area unless sanction is obtained from Muslim leaders. Pulled and pressurized from all sides, the Home Minster of Kerala, Shri Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, admitted openly that the PFI/NDF activists are directly implicated in 22 murders in the state. The situation is going to be worse by the Union Government’s instruction to deploy more Muslim-police in Muslim concentrated areas. This is being done in the name of Sachar Committee, while Sachar has not made such a recommendation,” said Shri TG Mohandas in his article.
“Many of the international jihad mongers regularly visit Kerala, especially Kozhikkode and Malappuram. The speeches made are highly anti-national, communal and vituperative. The world (in)famous terror cleric Yusuf-ul-Qaradawi tops among the foreign speakers. This man openly supports separatists in J&K by calling them Freedom Fighters. The book, Qaradavi’s Fatwas in two volumes was published by Islamic Publishing House in Malayalam. Another book, Al Iqwanul Muslimoon (meaning Muslim Brotherhood) in Malayalam is running the second edition now. It declares in unequivocal language “…Jihad is our path. Death in the path to Allah is our greatest wish.” This, briefly, is the ideological mindset being nurtured and nourished in the brains of the present day Muslim youth of Kerala,” the booklet says.
Beginning from the entry of Islam to Malabar of Kerala, forcible conversion of Hindus into Islam by Tippu Sultan of Mysore, violent attacks of Moplahs on Hindus to the present day violent activities by radical Muslims, the booklet also discusses in detail the UPA government’s attempts to deploy more Muslim-police in Muslim concentrated areas of the state.
The booklet, which prominently contains three articles—Islam in Kerala by TG Mohandas, Kerala-Waiting for the Big Role by Girish P, and In a Pluralistic Part of India Fears of Rising Islamic Extremism by Emily Wax, highlights the present day picture of Kerala and asks for immediate measures to arrest the growing Islamic extremism.
“Politicians are afraid of antagonizing Muslim vote bank. Result? There is no policing worth its name in Muslim dominated areas. It is a letter from the Internal Security Department of the Union Home Ministry. Malappuram, in this letter, is the Muslim majority district. Beemappalli is an area thickly populated by Muslims near Thiruvananthapuram air port. All foreign goods including drugs are openly sold there. Even the District Collector is not permitted to enter the area unless sanction is obtained from Muslim leaders. Pulled and pressurized from all sides, the Home Minster of Kerala, Shri Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, admitted openly that the PFI/NDF activists are directly implicated in 22 murders in the state. The situation is going to be worse by the Union Government’s instruction to deploy more Muslim-police in Muslim concentrated areas. This is being done in the name of Sachar Committee, while Sachar has not made such a recommendation,” said Shri TG Mohandas in his article.
“Many of the international jihad mongers regularly visit Kerala, especially Kozhikkode and Malappuram. The speeches made are highly anti-national, communal and vituperative. The world (in)famous terror cleric Yusuf-ul-Qaradawi tops among the foreign speakers. This man openly supports separatists in J&K by calling them Freedom Fighters. The book, Qaradavi’s Fatwas in two volumes was published by Islamic Publishing House in Malayalam. Another book, Al Iqwanul Muslimoon (meaning Muslim Brotherhood) in Malayalam is running the second edition now. It declares in unequivocal language “…Jihad is our path. Death in the path to Allah is our greatest wish.” This, briefly, is the ideological mindset being nurtured and nourished in the brains of the present day Muslim youth of Kerala,” the booklet says.
Osama's hidden supporters in India
UPA protecting the culprits of terror on India
By M D Nalapat
DAYS after the terror attack on Mumbai that took place on 26-28 November 2008, this columnist was informed by elements in the intelligence community that the operation had been conducted by the ISI, and that serving—in addition to retired—officers of the ISI and other military formations in Pakistan had provided the training and logistics for the youths recruited to carry out the attack. The US-approved Chief of Army Staff, Pervez Ashfaq Kayani, had demanded of the ISI that the organisation “do something” to reduce the rate of growth of the Indian economy. In particular, Kayani wanted to reduce the growing commerce between India and the US-EU combine.
The ISI's reply was the Mumbai terror attack, which was carried out in collusion with elements in the Maharashtra establishment and with the help of sleeper cells within the hotel industry that had been activated in the months prior to the assault. That there was high-level complicity in the 26-28/11 attack became clear when none of the many leads that pointed to the involvement of local Al Qaeda-ISI supporters was ever followed up.
A check of flight records would have shown the number of visits made by friends and relatives of senior police and other officials in Maharashtra to Dubai and London (the two locations favoured by the ISI for meetings with their agents in India). None of this data was ever examined. Indeed, despite clear evidence that the ISI was behind the attack, incoming Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram meekly followed the Washington line (that the Pakistan state was not involved) and the Maino line (that there was zero local involvement in the planning and execution of the crime. It was only after the Obama administration gave permission to Chidambaram via the Headley confession that the Home Minister became more outspoken about the ISI hand. In contrast, on December3, 2008 itself and subsequently, this columnist revealed details about ISI involvement in his column in www.upiasia.com and elsewhere, to indifference from the Union Home Ministry which then—as now—was (and is) more intent on identifying and taking action against threats to the primacy of Sonia Gandhi than it is about national security.
It must, however, be admitted that Chidambaram has shown more class than his predecessor Shivraj Patil in his genuflection before the Mainos. The hapless Patil would be woken up at odd hours and ordered to fix up a programme in non-descript locations within the country, so that Sonia Maino could “accompany” him in his special aircraft.The reality—as everyone knew but none in the “free” media reported—was that Patil's only role was to act as a peon dancing attendance on the Madame as she burnt through the national exchequer on her perambulations.These days, more than the state, it is individual corporate houses that have the honour of paying for the flying visits of "Madame" and her relatives, no doubt in exchange for goodwill that will come in handy in an administration where only Manmohan Singh is loyal to the PM, all the others in the team reporting to the UPA Chairperson.
Chidambaram has demonstrated his fealty to the Maino agenda by seeking to ensure that the regulatory environment in India be so toxic that growth slows to the “Nehru Rate of Growth” of 2.5 per cent per annum in place of the 12-15 per cent that the country is capable of. The Union Home Ministry has a simple solution for the security issues plaguing the country. If some terrorists use mobile phones, make it a nightmare to get a mobile phone connection. If the internet is occasionally being misused for commiting acts of terror, deny millions of Indians access. It is no accident that internet speeds have slowed and mobile services have become worse and more expensive since Chidambaram took over as Home Minister in 2008. Every facet of a modern economy (such as freedom of movement and assembly) is being constricted by regulations crafted by the Union Home Ministry on the direction of Chidambaram (who himself follows the orders of "Madame" in a way that has earned her trust).
Not that this is a surprise. It was during Chidambaram’s turn in the Union Finance Ministry (2004-8) that all manner of dubious financial entities from NATO countries were enabled to trade in India, and even buy up Indian entities (although concealing such takeovers by retaining the old name and logo). Because of the free pass given by Chidambaram to the very entities that collectively caused the 2008 international financial collapse, these have made billions of dollars in hidden and stated profits from their operations on India, mostly through speculation in commodities that are essential to the common man.
Because of corporate rivalry aimed mainly at derailing Ratan Tata, the Niira Radia tapes got released.The individual within the government who connived at the release of the Radia tapes enjoys the confidence of a charming lady who has great sway within the Union Finance Ministry, and has given the lucky official yet another extension of his many services to “Madame 2” and The Madame herself.
Because of an investigation into fraud launched by the UK authorities against a fly-by-night company, the CWG scam came to light. And by a fortuitious bit of inadvertent publicity, the Hassan Ali scandal got exposed. As yet, of course, no one has been told of the senior politicians who have been given largesse by another scamster, Abdul Karim Telgi. The names include many prominent in both the ruling as well as opposition parties, which is why they are still being kept as hidden as the names of the Big Fish who used Hassan Ali to secrete funds abroad. More than Income-tax, more than the Enforcement Directorate, what is needed is for the Research & Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat to interrogate Hassan Ali, for the channels that he has used to spirit cash abroad are the same as those used by enemies of India to plan attacks on this country.
When Anna Hazare gets over the thrill of being a celebrity, he needs to ask why there has thus far been only one “Radia tape”, when the Income-tax department has hundreds of recordings that contain information even more damaging to the security of the country than the tapes that were leaked on behalf of a powerful corporate. He should ask that any department of the government that keeps such information hidden from the public should be subject to criminal prosecution. Of course, in Maino Bharat Mahan, it is those who disseminated the leaked Radia tapes who were subject to harassment, not the many officials hiding away crucial information about crimes committed by VVIPs. This country needs at least a hundred “Radia tapes” to get leaked, and it calls for at least a dozen Hassan Alis to be questioned and prosecuted. What is taking place now—and that too under the prodding of the magnificent Supreme Court bench of Justices JS Singhvi and Ashok Kumar Ganguly—is just the tip of the mountain of corruption that defines governance in India.
Those who loot the exchequer, those who secrete vast sums of money abroad, are the support network for the followers in India of Osama bin Laden. Because of their access to narcotics cash and to the havala channels used in the narco trade, these facilitators of terrorism in India have access to the powerful in not simply the government or political parties, but in the media as well.
Rather than choke transparency the way Chidambaram is seeking to do, rather than cover up the way Pranab Mukherjee seems determined to do, there is need for whistle-blowers within the system to make public the facts in their possession about wrong-doing. Those within the different wings of government who disclose such facts—even anonymously—would be committing a great public service. Those in banking and financial institutions who (secretly) report on the dubious transactions of the powerful are doing immense good to the nation by their courage.
The Network of Corruption within India is the biggest facilitator of the Network of Terror. Those who escaped accountability for their involvement in the Mumbai attack will be gearing up for the next big strike. Each citizen needs to know that he or she must expose to the people facts that come to their attention about graft and misfeasance. India is a country where the Chief Minister of a big state parked his funds with a gangster residing in Dubai and Karachi. As yet the MEA has not questioned the Dubai authorities about why they are conniving at the activities of this gangster by giving him shelter. Is the MEA’s silence because the gangster is close to two members of the Union Cabinet?
There is enough that this known to the agencies of government about the network of greed that is selling the country out.Those at the top are covering up such crimes. Those at other levels need to come forward and speak out, so that India may be saved from a fresh millenium of slavery.
By M D Nalapat
DAYS after the terror attack on Mumbai that took place on 26-28 November 2008, this columnist was informed by elements in the intelligence community that the operation had been conducted by the ISI, and that serving—in addition to retired—officers of the ISI and other military formations in Pakistan had provided the training and logistics for the youths recruited to carry out the attack. The US-approved Chief of Army Staff, Pervez Ashfaq Kayani, had demanded of the ISI that the organisation “do something” to reduce the rate of growth of the Indian economy. In particular, Kayani wanted to reduce the growing commerce between India and the US-EU combine.
The ISI's reply was the Mumbai terror attack, which was carried out in collusion with elements in the Maharashtra establishment and with the help of sleeper cells within the hotel industry that had been activated in the months prior to the assault. That there was high-level complicity in the 26-28/11 attack became clear when none of the many leads that pointed to the involvement of local Al Qaeda-ISI supporters was ever followed up.
A check of flight records would have shown the number of visits made by friends and relatives of senior police and other officials in Maharashtra to Dubai and London (the two locations favoured by the ISI for meetings with their agents in India). None of this data was ever examined. Indeed, despite clear evidence that the ISI was behind the attack, incoming Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram meekly followed the Washington line (that the Pakistan state was not involved) and the Maino line (that there was zero local involvement in the planning and execution of the crime. It was only after the Obama administration gave permission to Chidambaram via the Headley confession that the Home Minister became more outspoken about the ISI hand. In contrast, on December3, 2008 itself and subsequently, this columnist revealed details about ISI involvement in his column in www.upiasia.com and elsewhere, to indifference from the Union Home Ministry which then—as now—was (and is) more intent on identifying and taking action against threats to the primacy of Sonia Gandhi than it is about national security.
It must, however, be admitted that Chidambaram has shown more class than his predecessor Shivraj Patil in his genuflection before the Mainos. The hapless Patil would be woken up at odd hours and ordered to fix up a programme in non-descript locations within the country, so that Sonia Maino could “accompany” him in his special aircraft.The reality—as everyone knew but none in the “free” media reported—was that Patil's only role was to act as a peon dancing attendance on the Madame as she burnt through the national exchequer on her perambulations.These days, more than the state, it is individual corporate houses that have the honour of paying for the flying visits of "Madame" and her relatives, no doubt in exchange for goodwill that will come in handy in an administration where only Manmohan Singh is loyal to the PM, all the others in the team reporting to the UPA Chairperson.
Chidambaram has demonstrated his fealty to the Maino agenda by seeking to ensure that the regulatory environment in India be so toxic that growth slows to the “Nehru Rate of Growth” of 2.5 per cent per annum in place of the 12-15 per cent that the country is capable of. The Union Home Ministry has a simple solution for the security issues plaguing the country. If some terrorists use mobile phones, make it a nightmare to get a mobile phone connection. If the internet is occasionally being misused for commiting acts of terror, deny millions of Indians access. It is no accident that internet speeds have slowed and mobile services have become worse and more expensive since Chidambaram took over as Home Minister in 2008. Every facet of a modern economy (such as freedom of movement and assembly) is being constricted by regulations crafted by the Union Home Ministry on the direction of Chidambaram (who himself follows the orders of "Madame" in a way that has earned her trust).
Not that this is a surprise. It was during Chidambaram’s turn in the Union Finance Ministry (2004-8) that all manner of dubious financial entities from NATO countries were enabled to trade in India, and even buy up Indian entities (although concealing such takeovers by retaining the old name and logo). Because of the free pass given by Chidambaram to the very entities that collectively caused the 2008 international financial collapse, these have made billions of dollars in hidden and stated profits from their operations on India, mostly through speculation in commodities that are essential to the common man.
Because of corporate rivalry aimed mainly at derailing Ratan Tata, the Niira Radia tapes got released.The individual within the government who connived at the release of the Radia tapes enjoys the confidence of a charming lady who has great sway within the Union Finance Ministry, and has given the lucky official yet another extension of his many services to “Madame 2” and The Madame herself.
Because of an investigation into fraud launched by the UK authorities against a fly-by-night company, the CWG scam came to light. And by a fortuitious bit of inadvertent publicity, the Hassan Ali scandal got exposed. As yet, of course, no one has been told of the senior politicians who have been given largesse by another scamster, Abdul Karim Telgi. The names include many prominent in both the ruling as well as opposition parties, which is why they are still being kept as hidden as the names of the Big Fish who used Hassan Ali to secrete funds abroad. More than Income-tax, more than the Enforcement Directorate, what is needed is for the Research & Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat to interrogate Hassan Ali, for the channels that he has used to spirit cash abroad are the same as those used by enemies of India to plan attacks on this country.
When Anna Hazare gets over the thrill of being a celebrity, he needs to ask why there has thus far been only one “Radia tape”, when the Income-tax department has hundreds of recordings that contain information even more damaging to the security of the country than the tapes that were leaked on behalf of a powerful corporate. He should ask that any department of the government that keeps such information hidden from the public should be subject to criminal prosecution. Of course, in Maino Bharat Mahan, it is those who disseminated the leaked Radia tapes who were subject to harassment, not the many officials hiding away crucial information about crimes committed by VVIPs. This country needs at least a hundred “Radia tapes” to get leaked, and it calls for at least a dozen Hassan Alis to be questioned and prosecuted. What is taking place now—and that too under the prodding of the magnificent Supreme Court bench of Justices JS Singhvi and Ashok Kumar Ganguly—is just the tip of the mountain of corruption that defines governance in India.
Those who loot the exchequer, those who secrete vast sums of money abroad, are the support network for the followers in India of Osama bin Laden. Because of their access to narcotics cash and to the havala channels used in the narco trade, these facilitators of terrorism in India have access to the powerful in not simply the government or political parties, but in the media as well.
Rather than choke transparency the way Chidambaram is seeking to do, rather than cover up the way Pranab Mukherjee seems determined to do, there is need for whistle-blowers within the system to make public the facts in their possession about wrong-doing. Those within the different wings of government who disclose such facts—even anonymously—would be committing a great public service. Those in banking and financial institutions who (secretly) report on the dubious transactions of the powerful are doing immense good to the nation by their courage.
The Network of Corruption within India is the biggest facilitator of the Network of Terror. Those who escaped accountability for their involvement in the Mumbai attack will be gearing up for the next big strike. Each citizen needs to know that he or she must expose to the people facts that come to their attention about graft and misfeasance. India is a country where the Chief Minister of a big state parked his funds with a gangster residing in Dubai and Karachi. As yet the MEA has not questioned the Dubai authorities about why they are conniving at the activities of this gangster by giving him shelter. Is the MEA’s silence because the gangster is close to two members of the Union Cabinet?
There is enough that this known to the agencies of government about the network of greed that is selling the country out.Those at the top are covering up such crimes. Those at other levels need to come forward and speak out, so that India may be saved from a fresh millenium of slavery.
Hebalkar highlights similarities between South American and Indian cultures
Prof SW Bakhle Memorial Lecture in Nagpur
From Our Correspondent
NAGPUR: Delivering Prof SW Bakhle Memorial Lecture on the occasion of Foundation Day of International Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS) Nagpur, noted historian and erudite scholar Dr Sharad Hebalkar hinted upon a lot of similarities between the South American and Indian cultures.
Though India and South America are separated geographically by a distance of 16,000 km as the crow flies, and by 18,000 km by the sea route, there are striking similarities between the two cultures in their attire, hair styles, traditions and archaeological evidences, Dr Hebalkar said with his presentation of photographs taken during his recent visit to six nations of that southern continent.
Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University Dr Vilas Sapkal, ICCS president Virag Pachpore, secretary Vijay Bhagdikar, director Research Dr Vinod Indurkar and vice-president Dr Vinayak Deshpande were also present on the dais.
Giving example of Manaus janjati of South America Dr Hebalkar said there are striking similarities between them and the Khasi janjati of Meghalaya in relation to their dress and dance, mode of worship, deity, housing pattern etc. The Manaus are idol worshippers and worship Sun and the Earth Gods. After studying various janjatis of South America it was found that their concepts relating to cosmology and cosmogony, concepts of God, creation etc. are akin to those of Indians.
These similarities are now archaeologically proved, the scholar said adding that the recent archaeological evidences indicate towards a regular contact between the two peoples by sea route. The Indian sailors sailed over the mighty Pacific and Atlantic and reached South America carrying with them the culture of India. The modern archaeologists attribute these similarities to migration of the Asian Man to South America, he added.
Dr Hebalkar also gave examples of Peru and Bolivia and narrated his experiences of the recent visit he paid to these countries to prove his point forcefully. The presentation showed his tremendous study and authority on the subject.
In his address chief guest of the function Dr Vilas Sapkal suggested that ICCS and Nagpur University can work in collaboration in the field of research in ancient traditions and cultures. He appreciated the work and scholarship and contribution of ICCS in exploring the similarities of cultures of the world.
Dr Sapkal also unveiled the portrait of the late Dr SW Bakhle, the founder president of ICCS, on this occasion.
Earlier, president of ICCS Virag Pachpore gave introductory remarks about the activities and presented an overview of the ICCS. Vice president Dr Vinayak deshpande spoke about Dr SW Bakhle and his contribution in establishing ICCS. He described Dr Bakhle as an authority on Philosphy. Dr Leela Deshpande also shared her memories about Dr Bakhle.
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Entries invited for Bharat Vikas Parishad Utkrishtata Samman
BHARAT Vikas Parishad has invited entries for the annual Utkrishtata Samman to be given to an individual or organisation for outstanding services in the field of village development. The last date of receiving the nominations is May 30. The Award selection committee is headed by former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Shri RC Lahoti. The other luminaries in the Committee include former Governor Shri Rama Jois and former Governor Shri Jagmohan. The award consists of a sum of Rs one lakh, a citation and a memento. Established in 1963, the Bharat Vikas Parishad has over 1000 branches with a family membership of 43000 all over the country (FOC)
From Our Correspondent
NAGPUR: Delivering Prof SW Bakhle Memorial Lecture on the occasion of Foundation Day of International Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS) Nagpur, noted historian and erudite scholar Dr Sharad Hebalkar hinted upon a lot of similarities between the South American and Indian cultures.
Though India and South America are separated geographically by a distance of 16,000 km as the crow flies, and by 18,000 km by the sea route, there are striking similarities between the two cultures in their attire, hair styles, traditions and archaeological evidences, Dr Hebalkar said with his presentation of photographs taken during his recent visit to six nations of that southern continent.
Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University Dr Vilas Sapkal, ICCS president Virag Pachpore, secretary Vijay Bhagdikar, director Research Dr Vinod Indurkar and vice-president Dr Vinayak Deshpande were also present on the dais.
Giving example of Manaus janjati of South America Dr Hebalkar said there are striking similarities between them and the Khasi janjati of Meghalaya in relation to their dress and dance, mode of worship, deity, housing pattern etc. The Manaus are idol worshippers and worship Sun and the Earth Gods. After studying various janjatis of South America it was found that their concepts relating to cosmology and cosmogony, concepts of God, creation etc. are akin to those of Indians.
These similarities are now archaeologically proved, the scholar said adding that the recent archaeological evidences indicate towards a regular contact between the two peoples by sea route. The Indian sailors sailed over the mighty Pacific and Atlantic and reached South America carrying with them the culture of India. The modern archaeologists attribute these similarities to migration of the Asian Man to South America, he added.
Dr Hebalkar also gave examples of Peru and Bolivia and narrated his experiences of the recent visit he paid to these countries to prove his point forcefully. The presentation showed his tremendous study and authority on the subject.
In his address chief guest of the function Dr Vilas Sapkal suggested that ICCS and Nagpur University can work in collaboration in the field of research in ancient traditions and cultures. He appreciated the work and scholarship and contribution of ICCS in exploring the similarities of cultures of the world.
Dr Sapkal also unveiled the portrait of the late Dr SW Bakhle, the founder president of ICCS, on this occasion.
Earlier, president of ICCS Virag Pachpore gave introductory remarks about the activities and presented an overview of the ICCS. Vice president Dr Vinayak deshpande spoke about Dr SW Bakhle and his contribution in establishing ICCS. He described Dr Bakhle as an authority on Philosphy. Dr Leela Deshpande also shared her memories about Dr Bakhle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entries invited for Bharat Vikas Parishad Utkrishtata Samman
BHARAT Vikas Parishad has invited entries for the annual Utkrishtata Samman to be given to an individual or organisation for outstanding services in the field of village development. The last date of receiving the nominations is May 30. The Award selection committee is headed by former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Shri RC Lahoti. The other luminaries in the Committee include former Governor Shri Rama Jois and former Governor Shri Jagmohan. The award consists of a sum of Rs one lakh, a citation and a memento. Established in 1963, the Bharat Vikas Parishad has over 1000 branches with a family membership of 43000 all over the country (FOC)
Corruption trail of Gehlot and his family
By Lokpal Sethi in Jaipur
UNEARTHING of one after another documents in the second week of April,have exposed the misdeeds of son, son-in-law and daughter of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who over the years had successfully cut out his image of a Gandhian. His simplicity and spartan lifestyle, never allowed his detractors to doubt his integrity and honesty. Now his Gandhian mask has been dented as documents reveals that he had helped his kin to amass huge wealth.
This all started some time in January when Rajesh Yadava, young Collector of Ajmer, in his capacity as chairman of Urban Improvement Trust, allotted a prime piece of land, market values of which was estimated around Rs 200 crore at a throw away price of about Rs 65 lakh to a controversial housing society. This was done at the behest of Vaibhav Gehlot, a brief less of lawyer of Rajasthan High Court and only son of Ashok Gehlot. In fact junior Gehlot camped in Ajmer for several days to ensure the smooth transaction of the land. As this housing society was in limelight for wrong reasons during the past many years, allotment of nearly 26 bighas of land to it became known immediately
As budget session of the Assembly was to start in couple of weeks, Gehlot was sure that main Opposition, BJP would attack on him for this scandal , he ordered to cancel the sale to pre-empt any move from other side on this issue. Infact Devkrishan Devnani,BJP legislator from Ajmer had already given a notice of call attention motion. But it went unnoticed that Gehlot delayed the action calculatively, giving enough time to the management of the society to obtain stay order from the court.
For the first time ruling party did not allowed to run the Assembly over a petty issue and one month session was abruptly ended just in 12 days. This was done under a strategy not to allow the Opposition to raise this issue and other deeds of his kin in the house
But at that time Gehlot was hardly aware that Opposition would soon unearth more skeletons from his cupboard and he would have to face one of the worst political situation in his thirty year long political carrier.
Some documents were in circulation in second week of April, which were showing how favour was done to certain companies by the Gehlot government which had made junior Gehlot as its legal consultant. On April 14 a private TV channel blow the lid by splashing these documents which revealed how these companies were given preferential treatments in allotment of projects worth several hundred crores.
As this was not enough, Kirit Somaiya, national secretary of BJP and in-charge for Rajasthan, through RTI, obtained details of allotment of a project to a Mumbai based Kalpataru Group, owned by Moftraj Munot, in which Gehlot’s daughter Sonia and son-in-law Gautam are in its board of directors.
With the making of these documents public by the BJP, Gehlot had no explanation but to admit that he had relations with Munots, who belong to Pipar City , near Jodhpur, the home district of Gehlot. But he tried to prove that despite his closeness to Munots, he has not done any favour to their companies.
Just before the Assembly elections, Om Metals, a Jaipur based company, having many businesses, hired the services of junior Gehlot as legal consultant, whose practice as lawyer never took off. Kotharis, owner of the company were sure that it would be the turn of Congress to rule the State for next five years, so they had already made their moves in the right direction to get close to Ashok Gehlot.
According to these documents, in May 2010, the company was awarded a contract worth Rs 457 crores to build a dam on river Kalisindh near Kota . According to Om Birla, BJP legislator from Kota, original cost of the project was only Rs 200 crore. But technical specifications were changed to increase the cost of the project and at the same time some term of the bid were changed , to suit Om Metals to get the contract.
Though main business of the company was to build hydro power projects, it was also awarded a contract of Rs 250 crore to build a State highway between Jaipur and Bhilwara. The company is also perusing several other mega projects including a high rising building close to the State secretariat in the capital.
In July 2009, one Triton Hotels and Resorts, hired the services of Vaibhav. With in a month company was alloted nearly 10,000 meters of agriculture land on Jaipur – Delhi national highway, to convert it for commercial use. Normally this kind of conversion is not very easy. It take years to get the land and that too after heavily paying to government babus.
Around that time Vaibhav also sold 50 per cent stake of his small time taxi company Sunlight Tours and Travels at an unspecified amount to Ratan Kant Sharma, one of the director of Triton Hotels and Resorts.
Though junior Gehlot was just a legal consultant to the company , he was often seen at the site, where five start hotel was coming up. “ That showed the deep interest of Gehlots in the project” says Dr. Hari Singh, vice president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee and a known baiter of Gehlot in the party
Sonia, Gehlot’s architect daughter, during her professional studies in Pune and Mumbai had stayed with Munots in their Mumbai house. After her studies, she was employed by Kalpataru Group. After her inter caste marriage with Gautam Ankhad( Jain), she settled in Mumbai
Kalpataru Group floated another company Shouri Constructions, which owned certain properties in posh Lal Baug area of Mumbai. Sonia and Gautam were made directors of this company and were given a up market flat, costing about Rs 8 crore to the couple just for Rs2.6 lakh. For unknown reasons Sonia resigned as director of the company in February. Moftraj’s son Parag and Gautam continued as directors of the company..
In his second inning as Chief Minister, Kalpataru Group was awarded several projects in Rajasthan . Controversial Jal Mahal project was also allowed its expansion.
As per the documents, Shubham Logistics, a subsidy of Kalpataru Group, enterd into an agreement with profit making State Warehousing Corporation through Swiss Challenge method to utilise land belonging to the Corporation
According to Somaiya, then came the Adrash Society and 2 Scam. Munots used their closeness with Gehlot to persue the Maharashtra government to made them available a prime piece of defense land in Kadiwali for its Neo Pharma Ltd. Gehlot and two Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmuch and Ashok Chavan were part of this scam. Defense land was forcibly acquired by Collector of Mumbai and than was sold to Neo Pharma as per the complaint lodged by Col Vineet Singh the then Public Information Officer of Defense Ministry posted at Mumbai.
Last year, when Gehlot made several trips to Mumbai, hush talks were going in corridors of power that he was trying to help Munots to get this land.
During the first term of his father as Chief Minister, junior Gehlot never projected himself as son of big man. But in the second inning, he is no more a shy person . He has become high flyer and could be seen mingling with big guns of the corporate sector.
UNEARTHING of one after another documents in the second week of April,have exposed the misdeeds of son, son-in-law and daughter of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who over the years had successfully cut out his image of a Gandhian. His simplicity and spartan lifestyle, never allowed his detractors to doubt his integrity and honesty. Now his Gandhian mask has been dented as documents reveals that he had helped his kin to amass huge wealth.
This all started some time in January when Rajesh Yadava, young Collector of Ajmer, in his capacity as chairman of Urban Improvement Trust, allotted a prime piece of land, market values of which was estimated around Rs 200 crore at a throw away price of about Rs 65 lakh to a controversial housing society. This was done at the behest of Vaibhav Gehlot, a brief less of lawyer of Rajasthan High Court and only son of Ashok Gehlot. In fact junior Gehlot camped in Ajmer for several days to ensure the smooth transaction of the land. As this housing society was in limelight for wrong reasons during the past many years, allotment of nearly 26 bighas of land to it became known immediately
As budget session of the Assembly was to start in couple of weeks, Gehlot was sure that main Opposition, BJP would attack on him for this scandal , he ordered to cancel the sale to pre-empt any move from other side on this issue. Infact Devkrishan Devnani,BJP legislator from Ajmer had already given a notice of call attention motion. But it went unnoticed that Gehlot delayed the action calculatively, giving enough time to the management of the society to obtain stay order from the court.
For the first time ruling party did not allowed to run the Assembly over a petty issue and one month session was abruptly ended just in 12 days. This was done under a strategy not to allow the Opposition to raise this issue and other deeds of his kin in the house
But at that time Gehlot was hardly aware that Opposition would soon unearth more skeletons from his cupboard and he would have to face one of the worst political situation in his thirty year long political carrier.
Some documents were in circulation in second week of April, which were showing how favour was done to certain companies by the Gehlot government which had made junior Gehlot as its legal consultant. On April 14 a private TV channel blow the lid by splashing these documents which revealed how these companies were given preferential treatments in allotment of projects worth several hundred crores.
As this was not enough, Kirit Somaiya, national secretary of BJP and in-charge for Rajasthan, through RTI, obtained details of allotment of a project to a Mumbai based Kalpataru Group, owned by Moftraj Munot, in which Gehlot’s daughter Sonia and son-in-law Gautam are in its board of directors.
With the making of these documents public by the BJP, Gehlot had no explanation but to admit that he had relations with Munots, who belong to Pipar City , near Jodhpur, the home district of Gehlot. But he tried to prove that despite his closeness to Munots, he has not done any favour to their companies.
Just before the Assembly elections, Om Metals, a Jaipur based company, having many businesses, hired the services of junior Gehlot as legal consultant, whose practice as lawyer never took off. Kotharis, owner of the company were sure that it would be the turn of Congress to rule the State for next five years, so they had already made their moves in the right direction to get close to Ashok Gehlot.
According to these documents, in May 2010, the company was awarded a contract worth Rs 457 crores to build a dam on river Kalisindh near Kota . According to Om Birla, BJP legislator from Kota, original cost of the project was only Rs 200 crore. But technical specifications were changed to increase the cost of the project and at the same time some term of the bid were changed , to suit Om Metals to get the contract.
Though main business of the company was to build hydro power projects, it was also awarded a contract of Rs 250 crore to build a State highway between Jaipur and Bhilwara. The company is also perusing several other mega projects including a high rising building close to the State secretariat in the capital.
In July 2009, one Triton Hotels and Resorts, hired the services of Vaibhav. With in a month company was alloted nearly 10,000 meters of agriculture land on Jaipur – Delhi national highway, to convert it for commercial use. Normally this kind of conversion is not very easy. It take years to get the land and that too after heavily paying to government babus.
Around that time Vaibhav also sold 50 per cent stake of his small time taxi company Sunlight Tours and Travels at an unspecified amount to Ratan Kant Sharma, one of the director of Triton Hotels and Resorts.
Though junior Gehlot was just a legal consultant to the company , he was often seen at the site, where five start hotel was coming up. “ That showed the deep interest of Gehlots in the project” says Dr. Hari Singh, vice president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee and a known baiter of Gehlot in the party
Sonia, Gehlot’s architect daughter, during her professional studies in Pune and Mumbai had stayed with Munots in their Mumbai house. After her studies, she was employed by Kalpataru Group. After her inter caste marriage with Gautam Ankhad( Jain), she settled in Mumbai
Kalpataru Group floated another company Shouri Constructions, which owned certain properties in posh Lal Baug area of Mumbai. Sonia and Gautam were made directors of this company and were given a up market flat, costing about Rs 8 crore to the couple just for Rs2.6 lakh. For unknown reasons Sonia resigned as director of the company in February. Moftraj’s son Parag and Gautam continued as directors of the company..
In his second inning as Chief Minister, Kalpataru Group was awarded several projects in Rajasthan . Controversial Jal Mahal project was also allowed its expansion.
As per the documents, Shubham Logistics, a subsidy of Kalpataru Group, enterd into an agreement with profit making State Warehousing Corporation through Swiss Challenge method to utilise land belonging to the Corporation
According to Somaiya, then came the Adrash Society and 2 Scam. Munots used their closeness with Gehlot to persue the Maharashtra government to made them available a prime piece of defense land in Kadiwali for its Neo Pharma Ltd. Gehlot and two Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmuch and Ashok Chavan were part of this scam. Defense land was forcibly acquired by Collector of Mumbai and than was sold to Neo Pharma as per the complaint lodged by Col Vineet Singh the then Public Information Officer of Defense Ministry posted at Mumbai.
Last year, when Gehlot made several trips to Mumbai, hush talks were going in corridors of power that he was trying to help Munots to get this land.
During the first term of his father as Chief Minister, junior Gehlot never projected himself as son of big man. But in the second inning, he is no more a shy person . He has become high flyer and could be seen mingling with big guns of the corporate sector.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A bill to derail Indian Society ?
By Dr Pravin Togadia
I am not speaking of Kaamsutra or Midnight Rendezvous. Government of India is said to be introducing a bill that makes sex at 12 for girls legitimate. Kids under 14 are not allowed to work per Child Labour Law; kids under 18 are not allowed to vote with the logic that they are not capable to know right or wrong and kids under 18 are not allowed to watch ‘A’ category films because they can affect kids impressionable minds. But the government feels that girls at 12 are mature enough to not only have sex but also to select the partner only two years older to them for it.
The riddle of this bill does not stop here. The bill proposes that girls at 12 are allowed to have ‘Non-Penetrating’ sex. Meaning the government believes that a girl at 12 is mature enough to kiss, cuddle, caress and be kissed, cuddled and caressed but have control to say no for penetrating sex to the boy who is 14 to 16. Meaning the government also believes that the boy at 14 to 16 is mature enough to kiss, caress and cuddle a girl, then control himself and stop before penetrating. You thought that I was joking? No. This is the bill government of India is said to be proposing in this session.
As a doctor we are taught physiology and psychiatry both. I know that certain feelings get aroused when girls and boys reach certain age of puberty. I know they are natural. Do we allow all natural feelings and acts legally and as a social norm? A rapist also has natural feelings of sex in his mind and body. Anger, jealousy, hunger, sex, greed are natural feelings. If government starts allowing all such feelings and the ensuing actions under law then government would have to legitimise rape, murder, loot etc.
Logic that anyways today’s kids are exposed to sex at early age and they practice it - so legitimise it - is a logical fallacy? I am not even speaking of moral and immoral here. Accepting the natural feelings clinically of girls and boys of that tender age, even as a doctor, I am stunned by the sheer apathy of the government towards well-being of Indian girls. Child Marriage Act was made to avoid child mortality because a girl before 18 is not bodily and mentally prepared to bear a child. Strangely, the TV panelists who shout against marriages of girls under 18 in tribes and some communities; are the same people who are propagating sex at 12 for girls assuming that if the girl says no the boy will stop at a particular stage when necking each other or even hoping that such a kid girl can exercise control to say no or she would know when and where to stop that boy. As a doctor anyone can tell that certain chemicals are created during kissing and cuddling that have overpowering effect like a trans; and government wants kids to practice restraint at that stage in that gullible age. Even the grown ups trying to impose such bills onto Bharat, can not vouch that they can practice such a restraint in sex.
The serious issue is the ongoing conspiracy to break Hindu family system and tear into the strong fabric of family. Net, drugs and sex addicts is not Bharat; Bharat lives in villages and little towns. Urban phenomena of relationships is yet to penetrate rural Bharat; but with this bill and with the purposely created debates on this bill, government wants to instigate girls at 12 - who are not allowed to marry till 18
(If the new bill goes through then 21!) - to go berserk. I am sure the TV panelists will give examples from Hindu mythology from which they do not even understand the metaphors.
Has the government invented a removable male organ like nut and bolt so that the boy can keep it at home while kissing and cuddling such a little girl? Sounds crude and shocking? Then the proposed bill is yet more shocking and has no provisions to protect girls. Bharat is not the West with stricter laws - when She says no, it is rape. Girls in Bharat are not sitting on the streets for anyone to kiss and cuddle. Any boy of 14 - 16 may kiss her and then say it is allowed in law and the girl - scared and embarrassed for not being able to protect family pride, may commit suicide. Imagine the spate of rapes and unwed mothers arising out of this as no girl of that age has mental and physical strength to stop sexual aggression at a particular stage. Not only girls, even the parents’ suicides will go up because the stress will be so high worrying if their little kid daughter or boy are safe.
Marriage, family and children are symbols of Bharat’s strong culture. Those who broke temples, then broke Bharat for Pak and now are constantly making Jehadi and other attacks on Bharat’s economy and systems, are now all set to break families in Bharat. Freedom of expression, love or sex are vague concepts. Because the government is under pressure to sell condoms and anti-pregnancy pills of foreign companies, we can never allow such ‘rapist’ bill to loot our daughters and sisters. Not only girls, even boys would get distracted from their goal of studies, sports and arts at that tender age. Orkut, You-Tube, Face-Book or any other net places are already doing such distracting agent’s job; now even Govt of India is coming ahead to break peace and tranquility in families of Bharat so that the youth can go berserk and rebel. This sure will help the West because then the budding scientists, artists and sportsmen would be nipped in the bud and get swayed to early immature sex, diseases and mental stress leading to total failure in life.
Bharat will stand up democratically against such a dirty conspiracy. Those who propose or propagate such a demeaning bill: Let their 12 yr girl tell them, "Mom, I had sex; but it hurts as he did not stop" - then the rapists of Bharat’s families will realise what hit them.
(The writer is a renowned Cancer Surgeon and International Secretary General of VHP. Contact: drtogadia@gmail.com)
I am not speaking of Kaamsutra or Midnight Rendezvous. Government of India is said to be introducing a bill that makes sex at 12 for girls legitimate. Kids under 14 are not allowed to work per Child Labour Law; kids under 18 are not allowed to vote with the logic that they are not capable to know right or wrong and kids under 18 are not allowed to watch ‘A’ category films because they can affect kids impressionable minds. But the government feels that girls at 12 are mature enough to not only have sex but also to select the partner only two years older to them for it.
The riddle of this bill does not stop here. The bill proposes that girls at 12 are allowed to have ‘Non-Penetrating’ sex. Meaning the government believes that a girl at 12 is mature enough to kiss, cuddle, caress and be kissed, cuddled and caressed but have control to say no for penetrating sex to the boy who is 14 to 16. Meaning the government also believes that the boy at 14 to 16 is mature enough to kiss, caress and cuddle a girl, then control himself and stop before penetrating. You thought that I was joking? No. This is the bill government of India is said to be proposing in this session.
As a doctor we are taught physiology and psychiatry both. I know that certain feelings get aroused when girls and boys reach certain age of puberty. I know they are natural. Do we allow all natural feelings and acts legally and as a social norm? A rapist also has natural feelings of sex in his mind and body. Anger, jealousy, hunger, sex, greed are natural feelings. If government starts allowing all such feelings and the ensuing actions under law then government would have to legitimise rape, murder, loot etc.
Logic that anyways today’s kids are exposed to sex at early age and they practice it - so legitimise it - is a logical fallacy? I am not even speaking of moral and immoral here. Accepting the natural feelings clinically of girls and boys of that tender age, even as a doctor, I am stunned by the sheer apathy of the government towards well-being of Indian girls. Child Marriage Act was made to avoid child mortality because a girl before 18 is not bodily and mentally prepared to bear a child. Strangely, the TV panelists who shout against marriages of girls under 18 in tribes and some communities; are the same people who are propagating sex at 12 for girls assuming that if the girl says no the boy will stop at a particular stage when necking each other or even hoping that such a kid girl can exercise control to say no or she would know when and where to stop that boy. As a doctor anyone can tell that certain chemicals are created during kissing and cuddling that have overpowering effect like a trans; and government wants kids to practice restraint at that stage in that gullible age. Even the grown ups trying to impose such bills onto Bharat, can not vouch that they can practice such a restraint in sex.
The serious issue is the ongoing conspiracy to break Hindu family system and tear into the strong fabric of family. Net, drugs and sex addicts is not Bharat; Bharat lives in villages and little towns. Urban phenomena of relationships is yet to penetrate rural Bharat; but with this bill and with the purposely created debates on this bill, government wants to instigate girls at 12 - who are not allowed to marry till 18
(If the new bill goes through then 21!) - to go berserk. I am sure the TV panelists will give examples from Hindu mythology from which they do not even understand the metaphors.
Has the government invented a removable male organ like nut and bolt so that the boy can keep it at home while kissing and cuddling such a little girl? Sounds crude and shocking? Then the proposed bill is yet more shocking and has no provisions to protect girls. Bharat is not the West with stricter laws - when She says no, it is rape. Girls in Bharat are not sitting on the streets for anyone to kiss and cuddle. Any boy of 14 - 16 may kiss her and then say it is allowed in law and the girl - scared and embarrassed for not being able to protect family pride, may commit suicide. Imagine the spate of rapes and unwed mothers arising out of this as no girl of that age has mental and physical strength to stop sexual aggression at a particular stage. Not only girls, even the parents’ suicides will go up because the stress will be so high worrying if their little kid daughter or boy are safe.
Marriage, family and children are symbols of Bharat’s strong culture. Those who broke temples, then broke Bharat for Pak and now are constantly making Jehadi and other attacks on Bharat’s economy and systems, are now all set to break families in Bharat. Freedom of expression, love or sex are vague concepts. Because the government is under pressure to sell condoms and anti-pregnancy pills of foreign companies, we can never allow such ‘rapist’ bill to loot our daughters and sisters. Not only girls, even boys would get distracted from their goal of studies, sports and arts at that tender age. Orkut, You-Tube, Face-Book or any other net places are already doing such distracting agent’s job; now even Govt of India is coming ahead to break peace and tranquility in families of Bharat so that the youth can go berserk and rebel. This sure will help the West because then the budding scientists, artists and sportsmen would be nipped in the bud and get swayed to early immature sex, diseases and mental stress leading to total failure in life.
Bharat will stand up democratically against such a dirty conspiracy. Those who propose or propagate such a demeaning bill: Let their 12 yr girl tell them, "Mom, I had sex; but it hurts as he did not stop" - then the rapists of Bharat’s families will realise what hit them.
(The writer is a renowned Cancer Surgeon and International Secretary General of VHP. Contact: drtogadia@gmail.com)
No place for minorities in Pakistan
The assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, minister for minority affairs of Pakistan, has posed a few questions for the world community. The persecution of minorities in that country is unabated and calls for immediate intervention from the world powers. A couple of months ago, Salman Taseer, governor of the Pakistani Punjab State was also murdered - for his liberal views against the stringent blasphemy law - in broad daylight. More unfortunate aspect of Salman’s murder is: his bodyguard, who killed him, is showered with flower petals by the onlookers, whenever he is brought to the court for hearings.
The draconian blasphemy law has been invariably being used to suppress and blackmail the minorities in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a Christian and one of the most vocal critics of the said law, had been receiving threats from the ultras for quite some time but valiantly kept on defying the diktats of the extremists; but eventually, he had to pay the price of his fighting for the rights of the minorities of his country, with his life.
The suppression of minorities in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon; it started immediately after the state of Pakistan was created. Although, the creator of that country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared in the first session of the Constituent Assembly that he wanted the country to become a secular state, yet, the successive military and civilian regimes of that country could not give secular character to the political system.
Hindus in the states of Sindh and Balochistan are incessantly being persecuted and their lives, property and dignity are constantly threatened by the zealots. The state of Sindh, in the aftermath of the partition of the country, used to have a sizeable population of Hindus, but due to the religious persecution, the community has been reduced to very small numbers in the said state; most of it has been migrating either to India or has been forcibly converted. Every now and then, the community faces the attacks of the religious bigots and lives under the constant threat of terror. Recently, a group of Hindus coming back from the famous historical shrine of Hinglaj Devi in Balochistan, was waylaid and murdered. The unfortunate fact is, the authorities remain mute spectators and as the reports trickle in, many a times tacitly support the attacks on the community.
The intolerance of the Pakistani state is not restricted to the minorities belonging to the other faiths only; even the Ahamadiyas - actually a sect belonging to the majority community of Pakistan - are not allowed to live in peace and are constantly being harassed. Their story of woes started with General Zia ul Haq - the erstwhile military dictator of Pakistan - declaring them non-Muslims, in the decade of seventies. Intermittent attacks by the armed extremist groups on the hapless Ahamadiyas keep on taking place in that country and the successive governments have miserably failed in providing any protection to the said community.
The ugly face of the religious persecution was seen again in the Ourkazai tribal agency of the NWFP of Pakistan. The members of the Sikh community were issued notices to pay Zaziya or face death by the Talibani militia. Although, the threats were coming thick and large for quite some time, yet, the government did nothing to save the lives and the property of those Sikh masses, who opted to stay back - at the soil of their birth and their forefathers - in the aftermath of the partition of the country. Many innocent Sikh lives were taken by the religious zealots and the rest of Pakistan and the world community kept on watching the massacre as mute spectators.
The Christian minority, which is largely scattered in the Punjab province of Pakistan, is on the receiving end of the constant attacks by the extremist groups. Whenever any incident which is considered to be provocative - by the fundamentalists of Pakistan - occurs in any western country, the Churches and the houses of the Christian minority become targets of the radical forces.
Late Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a vociferous critic of some of the provisions of the Blasphemy law, was a dominant voice of the Christian community of Pakistan; his assassination should not only be condemned unequivocally by the world leaders, pressure should be brought on the Pakistani regime to protect the lives, property, dignity and the institutions of various minorities living in that country.
The complicity of the government of Pakistan and its agencies like ISI - in attacks on the minorities - is glaringly evident, therefore, trade embargoes against the state which has been sponsoring terrorism from the very first day of its creation, should be brought and the UN should depute the emissaries of UNHRC in Pakistan to safeguard the lives and the properties of the terrorised minorities.
The draconian blasphemy law has been invariably being used to suppress and blackmail the minorities in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a Christian and one of the most vocal critics of the said law, had been receiving threats from the ultras for quite some time but valiantly kept on defying the diktats of the extremists; but eventually, he had to pay the price of his fighting for the rights of the minorities of his country, with his life.
The suppression of minorities in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon; it started immediately after the state of Pakistan was created. Although, the creator of that country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared in the first session of the Constituent Assembly that he wanted the country to become a secular state, yet, the successive military and civilian regimes of that country could not give secular character to the political system.
Hindus in the states of Sindh and Balochistan are incessantly being persecuted and their lives, property and dignity are constantly threatened by the zealots. The state of Sindh, in the aftermath of the partition of the country, used to have a sizeable population of Hindus, but due to the religious persecution, the community has been reduced to very small numbers in the said state; most of it has been migrating either to India or has been forcibly converted. Every now and then, the community faces the attacks of the religious bigots and lives under the constant threat of terror. Recently, a group of Hindus coming back from the famous historical shrine of Hinglaj Devi in Balochistan, was waylaid and murdered. The unfortunate fact is, the authorities remain mute spectators and as the reports trickle in, many a times tacitly support the attacks on the community.
The intolerance of the Pakistani state is not restricted to the minorities belonging to the other faiths only; even the Ahamadiyas - actually a sect belonging to the majority community of Pakistan - are not allowed to live in peace and are constantly being harassed. Their story of woes started with General Zia ul Haq - the erstwhile military dictator of Pakistan - declaring them non-Muslims, in the decade of seventies. Intermittent attacks by the armed extremist groups on the hapless Ahamadiyas keep on taking place in that country and the successive governments have miserably failed in providing any protection to the said community.
The ugly face of the religious persecution was seen again in the Ourkazai tribal agency of the NWFP of Pakistan. The members of the Sikh community were issued notices to pay Zaziya or face death by the Talibani militia. Although, the threats were coming thick and large for quite some time, yet, the government did nothing to save the lives and the property of those Sikh masses, who opted to stay back - at the soil of their birth and their forefathers - in the aftermath of the partition of the country. Many innocent Sikh lives were taken by the religious zealots and the rest of Pakistan and the world community kept on watching the massacre as mute spectators.
The Christian minority, which is largely scattered in the Punjab province of Pakistan, is on the receiving end of the constant attacks by the extremist groups. Whenever any incident which is considered to be provocative - by the fundamentalists of Pakistan - occurs in any western country, the Churches and the houses of the Christian minority become targets of the radical forces.
Late Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a vociferous critic of some of the provisions of the Blasphemy law, was a dominant voice of the Christian community of Pakistan; his assassination should not only be condemned unequivocally by the world leaders, pressure should be brought on the Pakistani regime to protect the lives, property, dignity and the institutions of various minorities living in that country.
The complicity of the government of Pakistan and its agencies like ISI - in attacks on the minorities - is glaringly evident, therefore, trade embargoes against the state which has been sponsoring terrorism from the very first day of its creation, should be brought and the UN should depute the emissaries of UNHRC in Pakistan to safeguard the lives and the properties of the terrorised minorities.
Seminar on ban on conversion in Bengaluru
Proselytisation is a violence on human dignity - Danie Periera
"WE are born in Bharat and with due regards to my elders and the society I like to declare that I am a Hindu Christian. The organisations, individuals, group of evangelists, trusts or the missionaries which are converting the Hindus to Christianity through illegal and unfair means are nothing but traitors, as they are weakening the very back bone of this country," said Shri Danie Periera, a converted Christian who runs educational institutions in Karnataka. He was speaking at a seminar organised by Varthamana in Bengaluru on March 11 on the topic of ‘Ban on Conversions - Problems and Possible Solutions’.
Raising his voice against conversion, he said the Christian missionaries are using foreign funds for conversions. "I endorse the words of the great saints that this land is my mother and I am her child," he said. He said those who are indulging in conversions can go to any extent to take advantage of the situation.
Supreme Court advocate Shri Sathish Chandra said Christian missionaries normally come up with three points to counter the allegations on conversion-right to propagate Christianity under Article 25(2), percentage of Christians is stagnant at 2.8 per cent, and Christians are serving the society by running schools, colleges, orphanages, hospitals, etc, so they should not be questioned. He said it is completely wrong on the part of the missionaries to claim that they have legal support to conversion. He said the actual population of converted Christians in India may have crossed 11 to 12 per cent.
Noted writer, thinker and retired scientist of NASA, Dr NS Rajaram said the Christians cannot be called a minority in India and should be treated as a worldwide Christian community just as any multinational company starting its operation in India cannot be isolated from their main office. He said ‘conversion to Christianity is what jehad is to Islam.
President of Madiga Dandora Dalit community Shri M Shankarappa requested the upper caste Hindus to extend friendly gesture to the low caste Hindus who are basically trapped by the evangelists on the promise that they will get respect with them. Shri M Chidananda Murthy urged the Karnataka Government to enact anti-conversion law immediately on the lines of Madhya Pradesh.
Sri Mahanta Linga Swamiji of Vibhutipura Mutt said those who are getting education through Christian schools are either looking down at the Hindu way of life or getting converted to Christianity, which is a national disaster. Karnataka ST Board chairperson Smt Mangala Sridhar and noted writer Shri SL Byrappa who presided over the seminar, also spoke on the occasion.
(By R Guru Prasad)
"WE are born in Bharat and with due regards to my elders and the society I like to declare that I am a Hindu Christian. The organisations, individuals, group of evangelists, trusts or the missionaries which are converting the Hindus to Christianity through illegal and unfair means are nothing but traitors, as they are weakening the very back bone of this country," said Shri Danie Periera, a converted Christian who runs educational institutions in Karnataka. He was speaking at a seminar organised by Varthamana in Bengaluru on March 11 on the topic of ‘Ban on Conversions - Problems and Possible Solutions’.
Raising his voice against conversion, he said the Christian missionaries are using foreign funds for conversions. "I endorse the words of the great saints that this land is my mother and I am her child," he said. He said those who are indulging in conversions can go to any extent to take advantage of the situation.
Supreme Court advocate Shri Sathish Chandra said Christian missionaries normally come up with three points to counter the allegations on conversion-right to propagate Christianity under Article 25(2), percentage of Christians is stagnant at 2.8 per cent, and Christians are serving the society by running schools, colleges, orphanages, hospitals, etc, so they should not be questioned. He said it is completely wrong on the part of the missionaries to claim that they have legal support to conversion. He said the actual population of converted Christians in India may have crossed 11 to 12 per cent.
Noted writer, thinker and retired scientist of NASA, Dr NS Rajaram said the Christians cannot be called a minority in India and should be treated as a worldwide Christian community just as any multinational company starting its operation in India cannot be isolated from their main office. He said ‘conversion to Christianity is what jehad is to Islam.
President of Madiga Dandora Dalit community Shri M Shankarappa requested the upper caste Hindus to extend friendly gesture to the low caste Hindus who are basically trapped by the evangelists on the promise that they will get respect with them. Shri M Chidananda Murthy urged the Karnataka Government to enact anti-conversion law immediately on the lines of Madhya Pradesh.
Sri Mahanta Linga Swamiji of Vibhutipura Mutt said those who are getting education through Christian schools are either looking down at the Hindu way of life or getting converted to Christianity, which is a national disaster. Karnataka ST Board chairperson Smt Mangala Sridhar and noted writer Shri SL Byrappa who presided over the seminar, also spoke on the occasion.
(By R Guru Prasad)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bali preserves its unique Hindu tradition
For one full day, Balinese and the tourists are urged to remain silent and engage in introspection.
The resort island of Bali fell quiet over the weekend as the authorities shut down its airport and seaports, and switched off all radio and television transmissions.
Its streets, normally jammed with tourists, were deserted as security guards patrolled the island, ensuring that locals and foreigners alike stayed indoors, and even exhorting them to turn off their lights.
The authorities closed down Bali not to stamp down on political unrest, but to mark the Annual Day of Silence, a Balinese Hindu holiday called Nyepi that ushers in the New Year. For a full 24 hours starting at 6 am Saturday (March 5), Balinese Hindus were urged to remain silent and engage in introspection. Bali, which first became known as a destination among hippies from the West a couple of generations ago, tuned in and dropped out, at least for the day.
"Have a quiet time! Enjoy the silent day!" Wayan Sutama, 51, a traditional security guard called a pecalang, called out to a group of potentially unquiet Australians gathered on a terrace overlooking the beach here. With a half-wary smile, he flashed them a thumbs-up.
In Kuta, a rowdy beach resort on the southern tip of the island, only roosters and pigeons, usually drowned out by the din, could be heard on Saturday. The pecalang peered down side streets in search of transgressors but found only other pecalang looking back, or the occasional stray cat.
As the last redoubt of Hinduism in Indonesia, the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population, the island of Bali has been attracting increasing numbers of outsiders in recent years, thanks to its booming tourism industry. While Hollywood romanticised Bali in the recent movie Eat Pray Love, Indonesians, mostly Muslims from the islands of Java and Sumatra, have been gravitating here looking for jobs.
The tension between local tradition and outside forces is perhaps at its most intense in Kuta, where Islamic extremists bombed a nightclub in 2002, killing 202 people, and bombed three restaurants in 2005, killing more than 20 people.
In reaction, officials in Bali have been reinforcing local customs, especially those surrounding Nyepi. Three years ago, they began sealing off Bali from the rest of Indonesia for 24 hours after tour organisers were caught smuggling in tourists on the Day of Silence as part of ‘Nyepi packages.’ At the same time, the authorities banned radio and television, starting with local broadcasters and, last year, extending the ban to all satellite transmissions.
"The lesson from the Bali bombings was to return to our traditions and not be too influenced by outsiders," Sutama said. He and another pecalang, Nengah Renda, 51, spoke as they faced a memorial for the bombing victims on Kuta’s main commercial strip; behind them, a lingerie shop called 69Slam featured an image of a woman with a man on all fours attached to a dog leash.
The day before, in one of the many local temples squeezed between shops in Kuta, the residents of a neighbourhood called Pande Mas had been putting the final touches on their ogoh-ogohs, effigies 20 feet tall representing evil spirits that would be burned later.
Purify minds
"After chasing away the evil spirits, we have Nyepi to purify our minds, to reflect on what we did in the past year and to engage in introspection," said Made Mastra, 52, the neighbourhood chief. "Then we will be clean to enter the new year."
Neighbourhood boys, who can often be seen rubbing shoulders on Kuta’s streets with Australian, Asian and European tourists, were required to make their own ogoh-ogohs. On Saturday, a group of boys, led by Wayan Putra Setiaman, 14, said they would obediently stay home, not daring to step outside lest they be caught by the pecalang.
They would not be allowed to use their television sets.
"But we can send SMSs to our friends as long as we’re quiet?" he said, zeroing in on a subject under debate among the pecalang.
How about video games? "Yes," he said. "No!" said another boy, Wayan Wima Putra, 10, said, tapping the older boy across the chest.
"No," the older boy corrected himself, explaining that video games connected to television sets were forbidden but that portable ones were OK.
Even as Bali has reinforced its traditions, some outsiders said it had lost a bit of its legendary openness. Ucok, 41, the manager of a tattoo shop who moved to Bali from Sumatra 15 years ago, said he and other Muslims felt a little ‘discrimination.’
"Since the bombing, the locals are more suspicious towards Muslims," Ucok said, adding that outsiders would nonetheless keep coming here. "Bali is like sugar. Ants come to it."
Made Darsana, 59, the deputy chief of one of Kuta’s three subdistricts, said outsiders were occupying an increasingly larger share of the population.
On Saturday, Darsana and a dozen pecalang were taking a break from their patrol at a temple where they quietly shared fried rice. Darsana, who spoke English with an unmistakably American accent, explained that he learned English about 40 years ago from an American Indian named Joe. Joe was among the hippies who discovered Bali, back in the day when Kuta had perhaps a single guesthouse, Darsana said.
"Life isn’t about material things, about tall buildings," he said. "It’s about being one with the world. That’s the core teaching of Hinduism. I didn’t know this when I was younger. You learn these things as you live. Been there, done that."
With development and the influx of outsiders, Bali’s environment has been irreparably damaged, he said. Outsiders now owned almost all the major businesses in Kuta.
"It’s sad," Darsana said. "We now have only our culture."
His smile and constant cheerfulness, though, belied his expression of loss. Despite the Day of Silence, Darsana grew increasingly loquacious as he reminisced about his hippie youth - hanging out with Joe, mastering the surfboard as well as the bong, taking a three-day drive all the way to Jakarta.
"And my girlfriend was in the back," he added, to roars of approval from the subdistrict chief as the other pecalang nearby immediately chided him in unison, "Shhhh!"
Sheepishly, Darsana mentioned that, at night, he himself would make sure that his neighbours turned off any electric lights or candles. Only nursing mothers or the sick would be allowed to leave their lights on.
"It’s going to be like Kuta in the 1960s," he said. After a long pause and perhaps some memories left unmentioned, he added. "Been there, done that."
http://www.deccanherald.com)
(Courtesy: Norimitsu Onishi, The New York Times, March 8, 2011.)
The resort island of Bali fell quiet over the weekend as the authorities shut down its airport and seaports, and switched off all radio and television transmissions.
Its streets, normally jammed with tourists, were deserted as security guards patrolled the island, ensuring that locals and foreigners alike stayed indoors, and even exhorting them to turn off their lights.
The authorities closed down Bali not to stamp down on political unrest, but to mark the Annual Day of Silence, a Balinese Hindu holiday called Nyepi that ushers in the New Year. For a full 24 hours starting at 6 am Saturday (March 5), Balinese Hindus were urged to remain silent and engage in introspection. Bali, which first became known as a destination among hippies from the West a couple of generations ago, tuned in and dropped out, at least for the day.
"Have a quiet time! Enjoy the silent day!" Wayan Sutama, 51, a traditional security guard called a pecalang, called out to a group of potentially unquiet Australians gathered on a terrace overlooking the beach here. With a half-wary smile, he flashed them a thumbs-up.
In Kuta, a rowdy beach resort on the southern tip of the island, only roosters and pigeons, usually drowned out by the din, could be heard on Saturday. The pecalang peered down side streets in search of transgressors but found only other pecalang looking back, or the occasional stray cat.
As the last redoubt of Hinduism in Indonesia, the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population, the island of Bali has been attracting increasing numbers of outsiders in recent years, thanks to its booming tourism industry. While Hollywood romanticised Bali in the recent movie Eat Pray Love, Indonesians, mostly Muslims from the islands of Java and Sumatra, have been gravitating here looking for jobs.
The tension between local tradition and outside forces is perhaps at its most intense in Kuta, where Islamic extremists bombed a nightclub in 2002, killing 202 people, and bombed three restaurants in 2005, killing more than 20 people.
In reaction, officials in Bali have been reinforcing local customs, especially those surrounding Nyepi. Three years ago, they began sealing off Bali from the rest of Indonesia for 24 hours after tour organisers were caught smuggling in tourists on the Day of Silence as part of ‘Nyepi packages.’ At the same time, the authorities banned radio and television, starting with local broadcasters and, last year, extending the ban to all satellite transmissions.
"The lesson from the Bali bombings was to return to our traditions and not be too influenced by outsiders," Sutama said. He and another pecalang, Nengah Renda, 51, spoke as they faced a memorial for the bombing victims on Kuta’s main commercial strip; behind them, a lingerie shop called 69Slam featured an image of a woman with a man on all fours attached to a dog leash.
The day before, in one of the many local temples squeezed between shops in Kuta, the residents of a neighbourhood called Pande Mas had been putting the final touches on their ogoh-ogohs, effigies 20 feet tall representing evil spirits that would be burned later.
Purify minds
"After chasing away the evil spirits, we have Nyepi to purify our minds, to reflect on what we did in the past year and to engage in introspection," said Made Mastra, 52, the neighbourhood chief. "Then we will be clean to enter the new year."
Neighbourhood boys, who can often be seen rubbing shoulders on Kuta’s streets with Australian, Asian and European tourists, were required to make their own ogoh-ogohs. On Saturday, a group of boys, led by Wayan Putra Setiaman, 14, said they would obediently stay home, not daring to step outside lest they be caught by the pecalang.
They would not be allowed to use their television sets.
"But we can send SMSs to our friends as long as we’re quiet?" he said, zeroing in on a subject under debate among the pecalang.
How about video games? "Yes," he said. "No!" said another boy, Wayan Wima Putra, 10, said, tapping the older boy across the chest.
"No," the older boy corrected himself, explaining that video games connected to television sets were forbidden but that portable ones were OK.
Even as Bali has reinforced its traditions, some outsiders said it had lost a bit of its legendary openness. Ucok, 41, the manager of a tattoo shop who moved to Bali from Sumatra 15 years ago, said he and other Muslims felt a little ‘discrimination.’
"Since the bombing, the locals are more suspicious towards Muslims," Ucok said, adding that outsiders would nonetheless keep coming here. "Bali is like sugar. Ants come to it."
Made Darsana, 59, the deputy chief of one of Kuta’s three subdistricts, said outsiders were occupying an increasingly larger share of the population.
On Saturday, Darsana and a dozen pecalang were taking a break from their patrol at a temple where they quietly shared fried rice. Darsana, who spoke English with an unmistakably American accent, explained that he learned English about 40 years ago from an American Indian named Joe. Joe was among the hippies who discovered Bali, back in the day when Kuta had perhaps a single guesthouse, Darsana said.
"Life isn’t about material things, about tall buildings," he said. "It’s about being one with the world. That’s the core teaching of Hinduism. I didn’t know this when I was younger. You learn these things as you live. Been there, done that."
With development and the influx of outsiders, Bali’s environment has been irreparably damaged, he said. Outsiders now owned almost all the major businesses in Kuta.
"It’s sad," Darsana said. "We now have only our culture."
His smile and constant cheerfulness, though, belied his expression of loss. Despite the Day of Silence, Darsana grew increasingly loquacious as he reminisced about his hippie youth - hanging out with Joe, mastering the surfboard as well as the bong, taking a three-day drive all the way to Jakarta.
"And my girlfriend was in the back," he added, to roars of approval from the subdistrict chief as the other pecalang nearby immediately chided him in unison, "Shhhh!"
Sheepishly, Darsana mentioned that, at night, he himself would make sure that his neighbours turned off any electric lights or candles. Only nursing mothers or the sick would be allowed to leave their lights on.
"It’s going to be like Kuta in the 1960s," he said. After a long pause and perhaps some memories left unmentioned, he added. "Been there, done that."
http://www.deccanherald.com)
(Courtesy: Norimitsu Onishi, The New York Times, March 8, 2011.)
Baba Ramdev in Kohima
Yoga is nothing but a pure science
By Jagdamba Mall
NOTED Yogaguru Baba Ramdev was recently on a tour of north-eastern states. At a camp organised in Kohima, Nagaland, he displayed over twenty exercises for gymnasts and body-builders, few of which were really very difficult which only regular practitioner could do. He displayed Suryanamaskars, over 50 asnas and a set of eight pranayams in correct sequence.
In between, he narrated the significance of Yoga, pranayam and meditation. He said in the beginning when he was coming here, many of his well-wishers advised him to be very alert and careful for his security because Nagas were, as advised, ferocious and very violent in nature, but I am surprised to notice that Nagas whomsoever I have met were not so as I was told. "Naga log bahut sunder hain, kewal bahar se hi nahi bheetar se bhi. Inka man bahut saaf hai (Nagas are very beautiful not only from outside but also from inside. They are very honest people). He said Haipou Jadonang was a Naga who challenged the British Empire. He fought for the freedom of the country along with whole nation because of which Britishers hanged him. He lauded the sacrifices made by Rani Maa Gaidinliu for Bharatmata. Baba showered his blessing and praised the scarified made by three Naga jawans of Indian Army who were martyred during the Kargil war. He said there is no difference between Nagas and other Bharatiyas in other part of the country.
Baba Ramdev has branches of Patanjali Yog Trust in over 200 countries of the world where people are practising yoga in their daily life. He said he had two life missions-(i) to make Bharat and the world free from diseases and most healthy through the teaching of yoga and (ii) to make Bharat richest and strongest and corruption-free in the world through his Bharat Swabhiman Yatra.
In an indirect reference to secessionist uprising in Northeast region, Baba said the country’s international boundaries were completely secured and well-guarded by 21 lakh Bharatiya forces. Indian economy would be ten times more than USA if all the Rs 400 lakh crore black money deposited by corrupt politicians, corporate houses and high officers in foreign banks is brought back. With a special reference to religion he said there is full freedom to practice any religion. Nobody hinders in the practice of any individual’s way of worship. Thus, everybody is free to become richest through righteous means and everybody is free to practice his religion. "What more freedom an individual or a community needs?" Baba asked.
In Baba Ramdev’s context, many find similarity in the stand taken by church against scientists like Darwin, Galileo, Archimedes, Einstein, Nobel Laureate Philosopher Bertrand Russel and many more whatever might be the reason. Nagas got themselves deprived of an opportunity to learn the Yoga therapy that, too, taught by internationally famous and highly revered Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev. This parochial mindset hinders the development of Nagas in Nagaland and other neighbouring states. It also hinders the cultural exchange and social assimilation. The parochialism leads Nagas to total isolation which is not good for a healthy and developing society.
By Jagdamba Mall
NOTED Yogaguru Baba Ramdev was recently on a tour of north-eastern states. At a camp organised in Kohima, Nagaland, he displayed over twenty exercises for gymnasts and body-builders, few of which were really very difficult which only regular practitioner could do. He displayed Suryanamaskars, over 50 asnas and a set of eight pranayams in correct sequence.
In between, he narrated the significance of Yoga, pranayam and meditation. He said in the beginning when he was coming here, many of his well-wishers advised him to be very alert and careful for his security because Nagas were, as advised, ferocious and very violent in nature, but I am surprised to notice that Nagas whomsoever I have met were not so as I was told. "Naga log bahut sunder hain, kewal bahar se hi nahi bheetar se bhi. Inka man bahut saaf hai (Nagas are very beautiful not only from outside but also from inside. They are very honest people). He said Haipou Jadonang was a Naga who challenged the British Empire. He fought for the freedom of the country along with whole nation because of which Britishers hanged him. He lauded the sacrifices made by Rani Maa Gaidinliu for Bharatmata. Baba showered his blessing and praised the scarified made by three Naga jawans of Indian Army who were martyred during the Kargil war. He said there is no difference between Nagas and other Bharatiyas in other part of the country.
Baba Ramdev has branches of Patanjali Yog Trust in over 200 countries of the world where people are practising yoga in their daily life. He said he had two life missions-(i) to make Bharat and the world free from diseases and most healthy through the teaching of yoga and (ii) to make Bharat richest and strongest and corruption-free in the world through his Bharat Swabhiman Yatra.
In an indirect reference to secessionist uprising in Northeast region, Baba said the country’s international boundaries were completely secured and well-guarded by 21 lakh Bharatiya forces. Indian economy would be ten times more than USA if all the Rs 400 lakh crore black money deposited by corrupt politicians, corporate houses and high officers in foreign banks is brought back. With a special reference to religion he said there is full freedom to practice any religion. Nobody hinders in the practice of any individual’s way of worship. Thus, everybody is free to become richest through righteous means and everybody is free to practice his religion. "What more freedom an individual or a community needs?" Baba asked.
In Baba Ramdev’s context, many find similarity in the stand taken by church against scientists like Darwin, Galileo, Archimedes, Einstein, Nobel Laureate Philosopher Bertrand Russel and many more whatever might be the reason. Nagas got themselves deprived of an opportunity to learn the Yoga therapy that, too, taught by internationally famous and highly revered Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev. This parochial mindset hinders the development of Nagas in Nagaland and other neighbouring states. It also hinders the cultural exchange and social assimilation. The parochialism leads Nagas to total isolation which is not good for a healthy and developing society.
Forcible Conversion of Tutsa janjatis to Christianity by NSCN (K)
Janjati Manch writes to PM
By Jagdamba Mall
JANJATI Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to protect the Tutsa people of Kothung village of Tirap district including Lazu circle and whole of Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. In a letter dated February 14, 2011 addressed to Prime Minister, Shri BB Jamatia, the president of the Manch said, "One Wangdong Chaktey, a self-styled Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) UT/III of Government of People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN-NSCN-K) served a threat letter dated January 4, 2011 to the president, Central Rangfra Administrative Council (CRAC), district Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. NSCN-K has ordered vide this letter to stop by January 9, 2011 and there after all the socio-cultural and faith promotional activities of Rangsomhum (Rangfra temple) of Kothung village of Tirap district including Lazu circle and whole of Changlang district." NSCN-K has warned that non-compliance of that order would invite a dire consequence.
The NSCN-K official Wangdong Chaktey has ordered that no Rangsomhum could be constructed in any village of that area. Neither, the followers of Rangfra faith can take any religious and cultural activity anywhere. Shri Jamatia says further that when Shri Wangjam Chaktey and Shri Kamjam Hangphuk, the priest and secretary respectively of Rangfra Administrative Council (RAC) of Kothung village could not comply with orders of NSCN-K, they were summoned to their designated camp located in nearby jungle. There, the priest Wangjam Chaktey, 75, was tied in a post and tortured for four hours from 11 am to 3 pm on January 11. Earlier, the same militant official of NSCN-K had issued similar threat letter on October 30, 2010 to stop all the religious activities of Rangfra religion. Again on February 1, Kamjam Hangphuk was kidnapped and retained in their designated camp for six days till February 6. He was thoroughly beaten there and was released only when 65 thousand in cash was paid and a pig worth rupees ten thousand was given to him. This is with an intention of converting the followers of Rangfra religion into Christianity and integrating Changlang and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh into their proposed "Greater Nagaland".
The Manch president has drawn the attention of Prime Minister stating that armed groups in hundreds, brandishing lethal weapons are roaming in the villages since November 2010, creating tension and fear psychosis among the common masses especially the villagers because of that they could not celebrate their festivals. Some remote villages are completely under control of the factions with instances of villagers not being allowed to move out of their villages and their mobile phones seized. And with the latest spurt of armed conflicts, the villagers have not been able to move out to clear their jhum fields causing serious concern among people. The hardest hit is Khonsa, the district headquater of Tirap which is under control of cadres of the two waring factions - NSCN-IM and NSCN-K.
The letter to Prime Minister describe that on January 14, Chief of Ozakho village - Awang Wangsu, the lone son of his parents was shot dead. A decade ago, his father was also killed by militants of one of the factions. Hence, the entire generation of the Chief of Ozakha village has become extinct due to the armed conflicts. A number of Govt. officers have also been receiving intimidations and threat letters leading to hampering of many developmental activities. While taking into account the intensity, magnitude and movement of the latest turn of events, it is apprehended that the war of supremacy between two factions will become more vigorous with potential of damaging the prospect of peaceful survival of innocent people of these two districts - Changlang and Tirap which have become the battleground of NSCN-IM and NSCN-K.
Drawing attention further Shri Jamatia, narrates that under the protective cover of NSCN-IM in their area of operation and NSCN-K in its area of control, the Naga Christian missionaries are masquerading as peace-makers with Bible in one hand and AK-47 in the other. It may be noted that the Naga Christian missionaries are in both the factions working for the extension of sphere of "Nagaland for Christ". The official logos of both the factions bear prominently the slogan "Nagaland for Christ" signaling that Christianity is the only recognised religion in the area of their control.
It is requested through this letter that criminals be arrested immediately along with all the armed cadres responsible for creating panic in the area and punished as per the law of the land so that peace prevails there. Also appropriate security be provided to office bearers of Rangsomhum in all the villages. It is also requested to check the conversion crusade and missionary menace of Naga missionaries sponsored by different Naga churches of Nagaland who are moving freely under the protection of armed terrorists of NSCN-K and NSCN-IM. NSCN-IM and NSCN-K are two rival factions of Naga terrorists but when it comes to the question of conversion, they are one and the same because church acts as the Godfather of both of them.
By Jagdamba Mall
JANJATI Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to protect the Tutsa people of Kothung village of Tirap district including Lazu circle and whole of Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. In a letter dated February 14, 2011 addressed to Prime Minister, Shri BB Jamatia, the president of the Manch said, "One Wangdong Chaktey, a self-styled Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) UT/III of Government of People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN-NSCN-K) served a threat letter dated January 4, 2011 to the president, Central Rangfra Administrative Council (CRAC), district Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. NSCN-K has ordered vide this letter to stop by January 9, 2011 and there after all the socio-cultural and faith promotional activities of Rangsomhum (Rangfra temple) of Kothung village of Tirap district including Lazu circle and whole of Changlang district." NSCN-K has warned that non-compliance of that order would invite a dire consequence.
The NSCN-K official Wangdong Chaktey has ordered that no Rangsomhum could be constructed in any village of that area. Neither, the followers of Rangfra faith can take any religious and cultural activity anywhere. Shri Jamatia says further that when Shri Wangjam Chaktey and Shri Kamjam Hangphuk, the priest and secretary respectively of Rangfra Administrative Council (RAC) of Kothung village could not comply with orders of NSCN-K, they were summoned to their designated camp located in nearby jungle. There, the priest Wangjam Chaktey, 75, was tied in a post and tortured for four hours from 11 am to 3 pm on January 11. Earlier, the same militant official of NSCN-K had issued similar threat letter on October 30, 2010 to stop all the religious activities of Rangfra religion. Again on February 1, Kamjam Hangphuk was kidnapped and retained in their designated camp for six days till February 6. He was thoroughly beaten there and was released only when 65 thousand in cash was paid and a pig worth rupees ten thousand was given to him. This is with an intention of converting the followers of Rangfra religion into Christianity and integrating Changlang and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh into their proposed "Greater Nagaland".
The Manch president has drawn the attention of Prime Minister stating that armed groups in hundreds, brandishing lethal weapons are roaming in the villages since November 2010, creating tension and fear psychosis among the common masses especially the villagers because of that they could not celebrate their festivals. Some remote villages are completely under control of the factions with instances of villagers not being allowed to move out of their villages and their mobile phones seized. And with the latest spurt of armed conflicts, the villagers have not been able to move out to clear their jhum fields causing serious concern among people. The hardest hit is Khonsa, the district headquater of Tirap which is under control of cadres of the two waring factions - NSCN-IM and NSCN-K.
The letter to Prime Minister describe that on January 14, Chief of Ozakho village - Awang Wangsu, the lone son of his parents was shot dead. A decade ago, his father was also killed by militants of one of the factions. Hence, the entire generation of the Chief of Ozakha village has become extinct due to the armed conflicts. A number of Govt. officers have also been receiving intimidations and threat letters leading to hampering of many developmental activities. While taking into account the intensity, magnitude and movement of the latest turn of events, it is apprehended that the war of supremacy between two factions will become more vigorous with potential of damaging the prospect of peaceful survival of innocent people of these two districts - Changlang and Tirap which have become the battleground of NSCN-IM and NSCN-K.
Drawing attention further Shri Jamatia, narrates that under the protective cover of NSCN-IM in their area of operation and NSCN-K in its area of control, the Naga Christian missionaries are masquerading as peace-makers with Bible in one hand and AK-47 in the other. It may be noted that the Naga Christian missionaries are in both the factions working for the extension of sphere of "Nagaland for Christ". The official logos of both the factions bear prominently the slogan "Nagaland for Christ" signaling that Christianity is the only recognised religion in the area of their control.
It is requested through this letter that criminals be arrested immediately along with all the armed cadres responsible for creating panic in the area and punished as per the law of the land so that peace prevails there. Also appropriate security be provided to office bearers of Rangsomhum in all the villages. It is also requested to check the conversion crusade and missionary menace of Naga missionaries sponsored by different Naga churches of Nagaland who are moving freely under the protection of armed terrorists of NSCN-K and NSCN-IM. NSCN-IM and NSCN-K are two rival factions of Naga terrorists but when it comes to the question of conversion, they are one and the same because church acts as the Godfather of both of them.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda, an eternal source of inspiration
By Santosh Rastogi
IF there is a question as to who is the greatest inspirator of modern India, I don’t think there would be two answers. Just like a thunderbolt, Swami Vivekananda appeared among the comity of Indian great men to shred light for the benefit of the whole world, and left the stage without completing even 40 years. Still he left behind enough energy and inspiration for so many generations to come.
He lived among us at a time when India was preparing for the final push against the foreign rulers towards the end of the millennium long slavery. At that time, vast majority of the people were living under the grip of superstitions and gross poverty. It looked as if weakness and slavery have become part of their blood. People lived cursing their fate. For most of them, anything foreign was great. There were no original leaders to be seen. It was at this juncture, Swami Vivekananda rose like a Sun from India’s east horizon. The clouds generated by that Sun rained down the much needed nectar of spiritual inspiration across the vast barren lands of India. Thousands of hearts blossomed by the touch of his gentle rays. The land which was being looked down upon as a wasteland by the world, all of a sudden turned into a beautiful garden. Thousands of seeds which were lying hidden under it’s soil, sprouted and grew to become fruit bearing trees. Once as he himself described about incarnations, a great tidal wave of spirituality, a spiritual tsunami hit the Indian shores and filled the dried ponds, wells and all water bodies to their brims. When we study the lives of the leaders of freedom movement, we understand that it was none other than Swami Vivekananda who was the real inspiration behind them. From Subhas Chandra Bose and Gandhiji to Dr Hedgewar and Arobindo Ghosh. From Swami Rama Thirtha to Swami Chinmayananda. From C V Raman to Jamshedji Tata. That unparalleled inspiration keeps flowing like a continuous stream and touches thousands of hearts even today.
His magnificent personality was a right mix of the greatness and depth of India’s ancient wisdom, and the creative energy of modern day youth. The rest of the world at that time was in a state of ‘shock and awe’ at the sight of the materialistic advancement and military prowess of the west. Swamiji stood like a lighthouse in front of them holding the eternal promise of the Vedic wisdom of India. His personality was akin to those wise men from Puranas and epics. Great thinkers and intellectuals felt themselves like dwarfs in front of this giant.
Budhism was the first missionary driven religion in the world. But because of the millennium long foreign slavery and the indifference towards self propagation, there were no serious and organised efforts from India to spread it’s religion and philosophy after Budhism. At the same time foreign missionary driven religions engulfed the world within the short time span of few centuries. While proclaiming about god as the ‘ultimate truth’ and ‘ever blissful consciousness’ etc, infact Hinduism as a religion had actually forgotten its basic duty of providing love and care to the large sections of its followers. Swami Vivekananda made up for that deficiency by establishing the spiritual oriented service organisation called Sri Ramakrishna Mission. This Hindu missionary organisation was successful in distributing the much needed spiritual solace to those unfortunate, poor and illiterate masses.
‘Service to Man is Service to God" became the national mantra of India. Thousands of similar social initiatives were founded following this. That trend continues even today. We saw great humanitarians like Baba Amte, Nanaji Deshmukh and Eknath Ranade being nurtured by this life giving flow of inspiration. Today we see that Vivekananda Kendra in one of the few nationalist organisations working to connect those Indians living in the North Eastern states to our national main stream. While being addressed as a "Yogaarooda’ and ‘Brahmajnani’ etc, even the adjective "Patriot Saint of India’ was equally befitting for his personality. Even while teaching the deeper truth that, this worldly life is nothing but an eternal flow to merge with the absolute, he consistently upheld the importance of three milestones in that progress of human life - the Individual, Family and Nation.
Today, a century after his demise the world look at India with awe and respect. It is considered as the invaluable treasure house of spiritual knowledge. People all over the world move towards a path of sustainable development which gives equal importance to spiritual well being along with material prosperity. Everywhere we see the enthusiasm to learn the techniques of inner world - ayurveda, yoga, meditation and so on. The message of east has found its place in the western minds. He had gatecrashed into their fortresses of ego by his famous speech delivered at the Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893. His success in the west triggered a great flow of seekers from west to east in search of great masters. Even today ripples of that flow reaches upto the remotest and inaccessible caves of Himalayas. About a century later on another September 11, another group of youths visited the west and delivered the message of their belief. It was another face of religious indoctrination. Again it triggered a flow of humans from west to east. But this time it was armed combatants searching for the master minds of terror in the remotest caves of Hindukush ranges. These two events in contrast reminds us the importance of India’s culture and civilization for the peaceful existence of the humanity as a whole.
India celebrates his birth day on Jan 12 as National Youth Day. We don’t see a greater ambassador to represent India’s youth. His 150th birth anniversary is in 2013. Year long programme are being planned by various organisations including central and state governments to commemorate this event in a grand manner. Sri Ramakrishna Mission is celebrating it as a four-year programme starting from January 12. Some of the ambitious programmes being envisioned are establishing study centers at 150 universities, adopting 150 villages for overall development, movies and tv serials in multiple languages aiming international audience, making available lakhs of copies of books on Swamiji’s life at subsidised price and so on. His birth centenary celebrations gave us a world class memorial at Kanyakumari and lead to the founding of a nationalist service organisation like Vivekananda Kendra. Millions of people across India participated in that effort at that time by making contributions from one rupee onwards. If a proper vision is presented and people come forward with the same enthusiasm, we will be able to offer a much greater token of respect at his lotus feet this time too. We have enough time to plan for this event. Will we do that?
By Santosh Rastogi
IF there is a question as to who is the greatest inspirator of modern India, I don’t think there would be two answers. Just like a thunderbolt, Swami Vivekananda appeared among the comity of Indian great men to shred light for the benefit of the whole world, and left the stage without completing even 40 years. Still he left behind enough energy and inspiration for so many generations to come.
He lived among us at a time when India was preparing for the final push against the foreign rulers towards the end of the millennium long slavery. At that time, vast majority of the people were living under the grip of superstitions and gross poverty. It looked as if weakness and slavery have become part of their blood. People lived cursing their fate. For most of them, anything foreign was great. There were no original leaders to be seen. It was at this juncture, Swami Vivekananda rose like a Sun from India’s east horizon. The clouds generated by that Sun rained down the much needed nectar of spiritual inspiration across the vast barren lands of India. Thousands of hearts blossomed by the touch of his gentle rays. The land which was being looked down upon as a wasteland by the world, all of a sudden turned into a beautiful garden. Thousands of seeds which were lying hidden under it’s soil, sprouted and grew to become fruit bearing trees. Once as he himself described about incarnations, a great tidal wave of spirituality, a spiritual tsunami hit the Indian shores and filled the dried ponds, wells and all water bodies to their brims. When we study the lives of the leaders of freedom movement, we understand that it was none other than Swami Vivekananda who was the real inspiration behind them. From Subhas Chandra Bose and Gandhiji to Dr Hedgewar and Arobindo Ghosh. From Swami Rama Thirtha to Swami Chinmayananda. From C V Raman to Jamshedji Tata. That unparalleled inspiration keeps flowing like a continuous stream and touches thousands of hearts even today.
His magnificent personality was a right mix of the greatness and depth of India’s ancient wisdom, and the creative energy of modern day youth. The rest of the world at that time was in a state of ‘shock and awe’ at the sight of the materialistic advancement and military prowess of the west. Swamiji stood like a lighthouse in front of them holding the eternal promise of the Vedic wisdom of India. His personality was akin to those wise men from Puranas and epics. Great thinkers and intellectuals felt themselves like dwarfs in front of this giant.
Budhism was the first missionary driven religion in the world. But because of the millennium long foreign slavery and the indifference towards self propagation, there were no serious and organised efforts from India to spread it’s religion and philosophy after Budhism. At the same time foreign missionary driven religions engulfed the world within the short time span of few centuries. While proclaiming about god as the ‘ultimate truth’ and ‘ever blissful consciousness’ etc, infact Hinduism as a religion had actually forgotten its basic duty of providing love and care to the large sections of its followers. Swami Vivekananda made up for that deficiency by establishing the spiritual oriented service organisation called Sri Ramakrishna Mission. This Hindu missionary organisation was successful in distributing the much needed spiritual solace to those unfortunate, poor and illiterate masses.
‘Service to Man is Service to God" became the national mantra of India. Thousands of similar social initiatives were founded following this. That trend continues even today. We saw great humanitarians like Baba Amte, Nanaji Deshmukh and Eknath Ranade being nurtured by this life giving flow of inspiration. Today we see that Vivekananda Kendra in one of the few nationalist organisations working to connect those Indians living in the North Eastern states to our national main stream. While being addressed as a "Yogaarooda’ and ‘Brahmajnani’ etc, even the adjective "Patriot Saint of India’ was equally befitting for his personality. Even while teaching the deeper truth that, this worldly life is nothing but an eternal flow to merge with the absolute, he consistently upheld the importance of three milestones in that progress of human life - the Individual, Family and Nation.
Today, a century after his demise the world look at India with awe and respect. It is considered as the invaluable treasure house of spiritual knowledge. People all over the world move towards a path of sustainable development which gives equal importance to spiritual well being along with material prosperity. Everywhere we see the enthusiasm to learn the techniques of inner world - ayurveda, yoga, meditation and so on. The message of east has found its place in the western minds. He had gatecrashed into their fortresses of ego by his famous speech delivered at the Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893. His success in the west triggered a great flow of seekers from west to east in search of great masters. Even today ripples of that flow reaches upto the remotest and inaccessible caves of Himalayas. About a century later on another September 11, another group of youths visited the west and delivered the message of their belief. It was another face of religious indoctrination. Again it triggered a flow of humans from west to east. But this time it was armed combatants searching for the master minds of terror in the remotest caves of Hindukush ranges. These two events in contrast reminds us the importance of India’s culture and civilization for the peaceful existence of the humanity as a whole.
India celebrates his birth day on Jan 12 as National Youth Day. We don’t see a greater ambassador to represent India’s youth. His 150th birth anniversary is in 2013. Year long programme are being planned by various organisations including central and state governments to commemorate this event in a grand manner. Sri Ramakrishna Mission is celebrating it as a four-year programme starting from January 12. Some of the ambitious programmes being envisioned are establishing study centers at 150 universities, adopting 150 villages for overall development, movies and tv serials in multiple languages aiming international audience, making available lakhs of copies of books on Swamiji’s life at subsidised price and so on. His birth centenary celebrations gave us a world class memorial at Kanyakumari and lead to the founding of a nationalist service organisation like Vivekananda Kendra. Millions of people across India participated in that effort at that time by making contributions from one rupee onwards. If a proper vision is presented and people come forward with the same enthusiasm, we will be able to offer a much greater token of respect at his lotus feet this time too. We have enough time to plan for this event. Will we do that?
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