1. FESTIVALS: Navratri,, meaning nine nights, is celebtrated during first 9 days of Aashwin shukla pakshaa ( starting Oct 8 this year ) when 9 forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped. It is also known as Sharad Navratri as it falls in Sharad ritu.
The last 4 days of Sharad Navratri are Durga Puja in West Bengal and also in erstwhile East Bengal (Bangladesh) where decorated life-size clay idols of the Ma Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura are set up in temples and other places. They are worshipped for five days and immersed in the river.
In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance. In Southern Bharat, people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu. During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity.
During Navratri a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe and lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti. During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Poojan, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped.
2. THAKUR RAMSINGHJI IS NO MORE: Veteran Sangh Pracharak Thakur Ramsingh passed away at Dayananda Medical College, Ludhiana on September 6. He was 96. Active as a warrior for all his life he was unwell for the last one month.
His body was kept at Madhav Sadan, the Sangh Karyalaya in Ludhiana, to enable the local swayamsevaks to pay their homage and later, he was cremated at his native village, Jhandavi.
Born on February 16, 1915 at Jhandavi village under Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh Thakur ji became a swayamsevak in 1941 while doing MA (History) from FC College Lahore. He topped the college in final year exams of MA in 1942 and got a gold medal for it. With such extraordinary talent, the college principal had then offered him the lecturer ship in the same college. Instead, he became a Sangh Pracharak politely rejecting the offer. First, he worked in the then undivided Punjab, then in Assam for 22 years and then again in Uttar Kshetra comprising of Delhi, Punjab Haryana, Himachal and J&K. Thakur Ramsingh was given the responsibility of Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojna in 1988. All his activities in Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojna were focused on knowing the real history of the country. He inspired many historians, scholars and senior workers for this objective and very shortly expanded the work in different parts of the country.
3. TRIBUTE FROM SARSANGHACHALAK SHRI MOHAN BHAGWAT: "The late Ramsinghji was the oldest Paracharak among all Sangh Pracharaks today. Till one year back, he was active like a young person. But with his death it has once again been proved that the death and birth are not in the hands of the man.
How the life should be is decided through one’s purusharth (deeds). The example of late Ramsinghji is before all of us. His courage, self-confidence, commitment to the unity and integrity of the country, hard work, simplicity, determination, etc. need to be emulated. His life is a message for all of us as to how to live a meaningful life imbibing all these qualities. Due to his lifelong tapasya and dedication he undoubtedly deserves uttam gati. Following his ideals in practical life by all of us will be the best tribute to such a great soul. I pay my humble tribute to Ramsinghji individually as well as on behalf of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh."
4. KERALA’S FUTURE, BALAGOKULAM—DR PHILIPHOS MAR CHRYSTHOTHAM: Balagokulam recently held ‘Krishnayanam 2010’ at Thrissur, which was attended by 25,000 children from all over the globe. The highlight was ‘Bharat Darshan’, a dance based sound and light show participated by 1000 children.
Speaking at a get-together at Kulanada Devi Temple, Pandalam, after garlanding the statue of Lord Krishna, Dr Philiphos Mar Chrysthotham, the Senior Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church said practising the teachings of Lord Krishna would rescue the society from present day erosion of moral and ethical values. "Society is losing social values and running after material comforts. Man has misused, for his greed and destruction of human race, what all God had created for his good. For regaining the lost goodness, we have to love each other and understand other’s pain."
"For the first time, in my long life I am seeing children, worshipping their parents, by offering flowers at their feet. This reflects the stern efforts of Balagokulam to preserve and develop Bharatiya samskar. The future of Kerala is not in the hands of VS Atchudanandan or Oomen Chandy, but in these children growing through Balagokulam," he concluded.
Balagokulam Adhikari EM Gopalakrishnan presided over the meeting. RSS Kshetra Bauddhik Pramukh J Nandakumar delivered the keynote address. Swami Yogavruthanand of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Mutt, was the chief guest.
5. BRAHMOS TEST-FIRED CREATES WORLD RECORD: Defence scientists created a world record on September 5 by flight testing the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos off the Orissa coast. It was for the first time that a cruise missile was tested at supersonic speeds in a steep-dive mode.
The missile was test-fired from the integrated test rang launching complex-3 (LC-3) at Chandipur around 11.35 am. The missile was tested by the armed forces from a mobile autonomous launcher. A scientist, who witnessed the test, said the advanced version of BrahMos Block-II was test fired this time.
With this launch, the army's requirement for land attacks with block-II advanced seeker software with target discriminating capabilities has been fully met. This version is ready for induction.
6. "SAFFRON TERRORISM" A CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HINDUS-BHAIYAJI JOSHI: "There are various challenges before the country today. But there are some forces which do not want it to address them effectively. Earlier, they raised the issue of ‘Hindu terrorism’ and now they come out with a quite new theory of ‘saffron terrorism’. I feel it is a ploy to divide the Hindu society as was done by the Britishers," said RSS Sarkaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi while speaking at a function organised in Indore on August 27 to present Bapurao Lele Memorial Journalism Award. The function was attended by Vice Chancellor of Kushabhau Thakre University Dr Sachhidanand Joshi, State Commerce and Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Mayor of Indore Krishna Murari Moghe.
This year’s Bapurao Lele Memorial National Journalism Award was presented to senior journalist and former editor of Swadesh Jai Krishna Gaur. Asharani Vohra Memorial National Woman Journalism Award was presented to Kerala’s famous journalist and social activist Leela Menon. Photo journalist of The Indian Express Shekhar Soni was felicitated with Dada Sahab Apte photo journalism award.
An award initiated in the memory of former editor, Panchjanya, late Ram Shankar Agnihotri, was jointly presented to Sharad Joshi of Swadesh (Ratlam) and Tushar Kothari, Bureau chief UNI. One more award was presented in the memory of noted poetess Subhadra Kumari Chauhan jointly to Smt Veena Nagpal of Dainik Bhaskar and senior journalist Smt Nirmal Bhuradia of Nai Dunia.
7. HOMI SETHNA, NUCLEAR LEGEND, PASSES AWAY: Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman and one of the guiding lights behind Bharat's first nuclear test, Homi Nusserwanji Sethna, died on September 5 at his Walkeshwar residence in Mumbai after a prolonged lung ailment. He was 87 years of age.
8. ISRO SUCCESSFULLY TESTS PROPELLANT SYSTEM OF GSLV-M III: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully tested the propellant system of the body's soon-to-be launched mega vehicle, in the Tamil Nadu's Mahendragiri district on Sept 9.
In a landmark experiment, a team of eminent scientists and experts from ISRO carried out the static testing of the liquid core stage of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-M III).
Lasting for 200 seconds, the test was deemed a 'success' by the ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan.
9. GANESHOTSAV AT ILLINOIS STATE UNIV: Hindu Yuva at Illinois State University organized Ganesh Utsav ISU on September 11. This was the first time that Ganesh Puja was conducted on the campus.
After the Puja and Arati Midwest sambhag karyawah, Murliji Reddy explained the various HSS activities and Sewa karya in the US and how swayamsewaks are contributing to motherland even being far away from it. Midwest Sambhag Sahsanghchalak Srinaraynji Chandak and Smt. Ashaji Chandak were present on the occassion. Chandakji explained aspects of community involvement and how it can benefit the students personally and lead to service towards motherland.
The students enjoyed the discussion and were amazed with the work of HSS in the US.
10. DRDO DEVELOPS SPACE FOOD FOR ASTRONAUTS: The Mysore-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed dried and packaged food for astronauts.
These formulations were displayed at the four-day Space Expo-2010 organised by ISRO and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Bengaluru on Augugst 29. The exhibition focused on the commercialisation of space, remote sensing and navigation. The food laboratory has also designed special containers for these processed food items.
11. SUSWAGATAM 2010 AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY: Hindu YUVA at the university began Suswagatam to help new students by providing airport pickup and temporary accommodation; by helping to complete university formalities and in course registration; by familiarizing them with campus and surrounding areas; and by helping them find permanent accommodation
A total of 68 students registered with Suswagatam. The local families took great care of them and some of the students attended the Sunday shakha as well.
12. BHARAT DAY AND RAKSHABANDHAN AT VANCOUVER - Hindu Sikh Forum of North America organized the day as a ‘Mela’ at the Surrey Mandir, which is the largest mandir in Greater Vancouver Area. The event was attended by thousands. There are at least 300,000 people of Bharatiya origin but the day was never observed in such a big way before.
For the first time our Vivekanand Balagokulam Shakha participated in the stage cultural program. Our Sevikas choreographed a dance type presentation that showcased all the Shareerik activities of the Shakha.
The Sangh utsav of Raksha Bandhan was celebrated within the Vancouver Shakha and as a small community outreach within the Mandir Campus. Pawanji and 3 children together presented a baudhik on Raksha Bandhan and how it has been celebrated since ancient time and uniquely in different parts of Bharat. Raksha was first tied to Bhagwa Dhwaja and then Swayamsevaks and Sevikas tied it to each other.
13. ABVP SWEEPS DUSU POLLS, WINS 3 SEATS: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad candidates on September 4 won the posts of president, vice president and secretary of Delhi University Students Union. A total of 11 candidates contested for the post of president while 30 vied for the posts of vice president, secretary and joint secretary.
14. HINDU NIWAS AT AUCKLAND: A new initiative at the Hindu Heritage Centre, Auckland, inaugurated in May this year, is “a home away from home” that provides accommodation to seniors, at-risk women and children, socio-economically deprived families, and respite for caregivers, international students and visitors to Auckland. It is equipped with 63 beds, with common kitchen facilities.
Hindu Niwas works collaboratively with a wide range of Bharatiya and other ethnic organisations to serve communities from a number of countries. It works with government service providers in social services and health sectors and is registered with Work & Income New Zealand.
15. 'SPIRITUALITY COULD BE BHARAT'S GREATEST EXPORT': Rajan Zed, president, Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA), on September 7 said that Bharat is a storehouse of ancient wisdom. It was time now to tap into this giant resource. Bharat has a rich, diverse and long stream of spiritual and philosophical thought enveloping several faith traditions which it needed to share. World needed to understand the true nature of reality, meaning and structure of life, and riches and complexity of profound wisdom embedded in Bharat's philosophy and spirituality, Zed added.
16. HSS SANGH SHIKSHA VARG, NYERI KENYA: Sangh shiksha varg (Instructor training camp) of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh was scheduled in Nyeri town from 21st Aug 2010 to 28th Aug 2010. On 27th August 2010, when the promulgation of the new constitution was being celebrated by President, Mwai Kibaki, at the Uhuru Park in Nairobi, a function was held at Kamakunji Grounds in Nyeri Town, opposite to the sangh shibir sthaan. It was a sheer delight for the residents of Nyeri town, as Hindu swayamsevaks marched alongside with the Kenya Police Band, Kenya Administration Police, Kenya Prisons and Kenya Scouts. During the function following the march, Minister, Mr. Kagwe said that as Bengaluru is the IT hub of Bharat, Kenyans should make, Nyeri, the IT hub for Kenya. The function had started with the Christian and Muslim prayers and concluded with Hindu prayer Om Bhurbhuva swaha by Mrs. Parul Rakshit Joshi, Principal, Temple Road Secondary School, Nyeri,
Thereafter some prominent Hindus were invited to the Provincial Commissioner, Japhet Rugut’s residence for lunch, where Mr. Rugut emphasized on participation of Hindus in the entire function. With the new dawn, let us all work hand in hand for betterment of the nation and the humanity on whole, putting aside our caste, creed and color, he said.
17. BHARATIYA SCIENCE SCRIBE WINS AGU JOURNALISM AWARD: Eminent Bharatiya science journalist Pallava Bagla has been chosen for the prestigious David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism for his articles on the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers. The prestigious award, given by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), recognised Bagla's contribution in addressing serious issues linked to earth sciences.
In a statement, the AGU said the first of Pallava Bagla’s two articles, 'No Sign of Himalayan Melt Down, Indian Report Finds', published in the journal 'Science', explores dissent among glaciologists regarding the claim by UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that Himalayan glaciers would imminently disappear.
The second article, 'Himalayan Glacier Deadline 'Wrong', published by BBC News, reports on an apparent typographical error in the IPCC claim which appears to explain the panel's controversial 300-year acceleration of when Himalayan glaciers are expected to vanish.
18. ENACT A LAW IN PARLIAMENT FOR SRI RAM TEMPLE: Indraprastha Vishwa Hindu Parishad organised a workshop in New Delhi on Sri Ramjanmabhoomi issue on September 4. Speaking on the occasion central secretary of VHP and national spokesperson Dr Surendra Jain said the Hindu society would accept nothing but Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya. He appealed to the government to enact a law in the Parliament allowing the construction of Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya as was done in case of Somnath temple in Gujarat.
Baldevbhai Sharma, editor, Panchjanya, described Sri Ram as the identity of Bharat and said the reconstruction of His temple at His birth place would further strengthen this identity. Presiding over the workshop senior saint Swami Raghvananda Maharaj, president, Sanatan Dharma Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, said the reconstruction of Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya would energise the whole nation.
19. WORKSHOP ON VEDIC MATHS AT HONG KONG: A workshop on Vedic Maths was conducted by Ravi Kumarji at West Island School on 1st September 2010. It was enthusiastically attended by about 70 to 80 students from grade 8 to grade 13 students along with faculty teachers and principal of school.
It started with the topic “Contribution of Bharatiyas in mathematics, Science, and Health”. How Vedas, which are mother of all known sciences, explained science in their scriptures. How Zero (Shunya) which was invented in Bharat was introduced to west through Arab. How European languages adopted Sanskrit words in their expression.
Shri Ravikumar also spoke briefly on 10,000 year old Panchang (Calander) which was invented in Bharat. A precise panchang requires use of very high standard of mathematics. There is no doubt Hindus developed and used Maths since Vedic era.
20. CHANDRAYAAN-2 TO GET CLOSER TO MOON: Bharat's second mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-2, a Rs 425 crore project, took a definite shape with ISRO on August 30 announcing details of payloads or scientific instruments to be flown on the orbiter and the rover. Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in 2013 from Sriharikota.
Hovering 100km above the moon, Chandrayaan-1 had confirmed water ice last year. Chandrayaan-2, equipped with an array of payloads, will probe closer and deeper for several things on the lunar surface, including water.
The mission would carry five payloads on the orbiter that goes around the moon and two scientific payloads on the rover, which will travel on the moon's surface.
21. BHARAT TO TEACH MATHEMATICS TO STUDENTS OF LONDON PRIMARY SCHOOL: In a first of its kind in the UK, a primary school in London is reportedly outsourcing teaching to Bharat to lead mathematics lessons for 11-year-olds, because Bharatiya tutors are cheaper to hire than home-grown teachers.
The Ashmount Primary school in Islington is using call centre-style staff in Bharat to lead mathematics lessons, which cost 12 pounds an hour for each pupil, as a cheaper alternative to employing one-to-one tutors for children falling behind in the subject. A private tutor in London reportedly costs around 40 pounds an hour.
The service involves each pupil logging on to a special website and talking to a tutor via a headset.
22. BHARATIYAS EARN LAURELS IN CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL EXAM: As many as 21 Bharatiya students have become the world toppers in International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE class X) and Advance Subsidiary (AS - class XI) exams held across 160 countries in June 2010. Nearly 1.4 million students appeared in the exams all over the world. CIE is an international board for school education and is conducted in around 250 schools in Bharat.
23. GUJARAT TOPS JOB PLACEMENT LIST: Gujarat has topped the list of 35 states and union territories in providing maximum number of job placements through employment exchanges, accounting for 5.50 lakh of the 8.30 lakh job offers facilitated by the government agency.
Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge told the Rajya Sabha that in the last three years -- from 2007 to 2009 -Gujarat had managed to place 1,78,000, 2,17,000 and 1,53,000 workers, respectively, through employment exchanges.
None of the states were in the striking distance. The second best, however, was Maharashtra that had managed to place nearly 8,000 in 2007; 11,000 in 2008 and 24,000 in 2009. Though Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala were among the top five states that had highest number of people registered with employment exchanges, their placement records remained dismal.
24. CHURCH-RUN COLLEGE REFUSES TO REINSTATE KERALA PROFESSOR: The management of Newman College of Thodupuzha, run by Kerala's Catholic Church, has refused to reinstate Prof TJ Joseph, victim of a brutal Taliban-model Islamist attack, in service, totally disregarding the instructions from the State Government and the Mahatma Gandhi University to which the college is affiliated, to revoke the decision.
The college management in the week ending 4th September dismissed Prof Joseph from service, with effect from September 1, for preparing a question paper that allegedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad. The Kothamangalam Diocese issued a circular justifying the decision of the management.
25. BHARAT INC. UPBEAT ON RECRUITMENT: The majority of employers in the country anticipate the creation of new jobs in the coming months of this year, according to a survey released on September 7. Painting a robust hiring scenario in the country, a survey by global staffing firm Manpower showed that employers are planning to hire at a robust pace this year.
Manpower's employment outlook survey stated that globally, Bharat is the most optimistic in terms of recruitment intentions for the fourth quarter, after China and Taiwan.
26. SECOND DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF SWAMI LAXMANANAND SARASWATI was observed all over Orissa as Balidan Divas on September 2. Various activities were conducted across the State to pay tribute to the saint who had dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of Vanvasis. Thousands of people thronged Jaleshpata and Chakapada Ashram in Kandhmal district to pay homage to Vedanta Kesari Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati who was gunned down on Janmashtami day in 2008. Seven days Bhagavat Yajna was conducted in Jaleshpata Ashram while Ashta Prahari Sankirtan was organised in more than one thousand villages of Kandhmal district.
27. SACRIFICES NEEDED FOR NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION – DATTATREYA HOSBALE: Inaugurating the Vidyarathi Seva Trust of the ABVP at Kochi on August 29, RSS Sahasarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosbale said sacrifices and service attitude are needed for national reconstruction and called upon the youth and students to come forward in massive numbers, for this initiative. Leading Malayalam writer C Radhakrishan, Padmasri P Parameswaran, ABVP leaders PR Babu, Dr NC Induchoodan, PR Krishnaprasad also spoke on the occasion.
28. GUJARATI ONLY REGIONAL LANGUAGE IN US CENSUS: The US census reveals that the number of Gujarati-speaking people in the US is steadily rising, and the figure now stands at 287,367. Gujarati is the only regional language of Bharat which featured in the US census, the national languages being Hindi and Urdu.
The survey shows how the number of Gujarati-speaking people has been rising since the 19th century, though much of the immigration happened over the past three decades. For the Gujarati-speaking people, New York is the number one cluster — other metros being Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
29. FAILURE OF WESTERN MODEL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY BHARATIYA MODEL—KN GOVINDACHARYA: With strong and unshakeable faith in Bharatiya thoughts, traditions, culture and peculiarities the planners of new Bharat can turn the present crisis of recession into an opportunity, opined K N Govindacharya, noted Swadeshi thinker and ideologue while speaking at a two-day UGC-sponsored national seminar on "Global Recession and its Impact on India" at VMV Commerce College, Nagpur on September 3.
He said that the Bharatiya planners, who have received their training in western style and who have more faith in western values and ethos will not be able to convert this recession into an opportunity. So, what is needed is a change in their attitude.
Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University, Rajan Velukar, and Vice-Chancellor of Datta Meghe Deemed University of Medical Sciences Dr Ved Prakash Mishra also spoke on the occasion. Noted VHP leader and President of the College Committee Chandrakantbhai Thakkar was prominently present on the occasion.
30. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Ravikumar, sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag is traveling in Argentina and Chile. Visitors : Milind Shankhai – USA, Rajen Mistry & Sewa International group on Gangotri trek – UK, Brahmadeo ji Upadhyay – Netherlands, Sanjeev Bhakri – Australia.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: By practicing prayaschitta, repentance, a soul gets rid of sins, and commits no transgressions….By begging forgiveness happiness of mind is obtained and there is a kind disposition towards all living beings; by this kind disposition one obtains purity of character and freedom from fear. – Bhagwan Mahavira.
JAI SHREE RAM
DON’T TURN BACK THE CLOCK IN J&K
Jagmohan
One of the tragic pointers of Indian history is that more often than not Indians have themselves proved to be their worst enemies. This stands reinforced by what the negative forces in our country did in early 1990.
It should be clear from the analysis of major events connected with Kashmir’s post-1947 history that there is an overwhelming need to learn from each and every lapse and evolve a new framework of thought and action. Unfortunately, no one is attending to this need. With regard to the stone-throwing mobs that are now daily appearing on the streets of most urban centres of the Valley, old attitudes rooted in superficiality and “short-termism” are once again at display. So far, about 69 persons have died. But there is no sign of a sustained crackdown on the ringleaders, financers and those who are spraying the virus of militant fanaticism in the Valley.
What is worse, another “appeasement card” is being put forward in the form of a political package and additional autonomy, without bothering to consider that in the long run such a package and such an autonomy could provide stronger muscle to the forces of subversion and separatism in the Valley. Further, no one is showing any inclination to raise certain basic and pertinent questions in this regard.
Are the Kashmiris, like the citizens of the rest of India, not already free under the Constitution of India? Do they not have all the fundamental rights which individuals in modern liberal democracies enjoy? Has their identity, culture, religion or language been undermined in any way by the constitutional arrangements that have been in operation for the last several decades? How would a common Kashmiri be benefited by changing the nomenclature of chief minister to Prime Minister or of governor to Sadar-e-Riyasat, or by ousting the jurisdiction of Supreme Court, the Election Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India? What would happen if the so-called pre-1952 position is restored and only defence, foreign affairs and communications are kept within the jurisdiction of the Union Parliament/government and all the remaining items are assigned exclusively to the state legislature/government? How would the state government then meet its requirements of finances which at present are provided by the Union government to the tune of 74 per cent of its needs? Could the “nuts and bolts” of objective reality and the need to have smooth and workable relationship between the state and the Union be dispensed with?
To these and allied questions, no satisfactory answers can be provided by the proponents of autonomy and the “political package”. They merely harp on the promises supposed to have been made to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, forgetting that what matters is not the individual but the state government without whose concurrence nothing was done. They take advantage of the widespread ignorance that prevails in the country about the rather complex manner in which constitutional relations between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union have evolved. They hide the fact that Jammu and Kashmir already enjoys, albeit unjustifiably, far more powers than are available to other states of the Union. They also forget that at the time of the 1975 Kashmir Accord, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had made it clear that “the clock could not be put back”, and that the “provisions of the Indian Constitution applied to the state of Jammu and Kashmir ‘without adaptation or modification’ were unalterable”.
The only concession made in 1975, in the spirit of bonhomie, by the Government of India was to consider changes in the “adapted and modified” provisions, if a specific proposal in this regard was received from the state government. But neither the government of Sheikh Abdullah nor that of Dr Farooq Abdullah could send any proposal, primarily because the changes earlier made were all necessitated by practical consideration.
The State Autonomy Committee Report (1999), sent to the Union government 24 years after the Kashmir Accord, is nothing but a broad repetition of what was said on behalf of the National Conference in 1975. It ignores the huge volume of water that has since flowed under the bridges of Yamuna and Jhelum, and does not indicate how the changes that are being advocated now would improve the lot of the common man and how the expenditure on the state Five-Year Plans would be met. Nor does it care to explain how certain security and other contingencies would be dealt with? What, for instance, would happen if Article 356 is not applicable and if the state refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of the Union in respect of defence, foreign affairs or communication? Would this not cause an intractable constitutional deadlock?
The acceptance by the Union government of any of the phoney ideas contained in the aforesaid report would add another blunder to the series of blunders committed in the past, which have so far cost the nation over 50,000 lives, besides several thousand-crores of hard-earned taxpayers’ money.
While it is not likely to make even a slight dent in the criticality of the present situation, it could strengthen the forces of disarray in the Valley, give rise to fresh agitations in other regions of the state and become a precedent for separatists in other part of the country to quote and demand. Even otherwise, the unfortunate history of Jammu and Kashmir in the post-1947 period warns us in no uncertain terms that the decision taken under momentary pressures and on short-term considerations have proved disastrous in the long run. Too many infections have already accumulated in the body politics of Jammu and Kashmir. If we do not have the skill or will to drain them out, let us at least not add more to them.
The need of the hour is that we should make a new beginning, educate our brothers and sisters in Kashmir about the true position in respect of their political, social and cultural freedoms and tell them that we as fellow countrymen have already helped them to the tune of `95,000 crores from 1989-90 to 2009-10, and would continue to discharge our obligations in this respect in future to make them a happy and prosperous community of the Union. – ( Jagmohan is a former governor of J&K and a former Union minister – Deccan Chronicle September 8, 2010.)
LEARNING ABOUT RELIGION IN A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY
(Martin Stern on a lesson he learned about other faiths as a young student on a trip to India - Leceister Mercury)
As a backpacking student on the train from Amritsar to Delhi, I sat in my shorts, with my nose buried in a book. The compartment door opened and a small lady in a sari entered with a large suitcase, which she tried to put in the luggage rack. Of course, I lifted it for her and reburied my nose in the book.
Then her husband came in. By this stage I'd probably forgotten about the suitcase, but he engaged me in conversation and before long invited me to stay in his family's home for the few days I intended to spend in Delhi.
Can you imagine the converse happening to an Indian student in Britain? So for three days I lived with a Hindu family. My uncle served with the British Army in India during the Second World War and from him I knew that Indian people generally had higher standards of personal hygiene than the British soldiers. Now I learned it in practice and enjoyed a daily shower or two.
My childhood Sunday School classes conveyed a dim view of polytheism, so I arrived in India prejudiced against Hinduism.
In Amritsar, after experiencing the Golden Temple, I visited a Hindu one where friendly young Hindus took me round. What I took to be representations of Gods behind a window were, they insisted, the actual Gods. With hindsight they were having fun with my prejudices and watching me with quiet amusement.
Most often when we think we understand another person's religion we misunderstand it. An attitude of humility and preparedness to learn is appropriate when we face the beliefs others that have developed over thousands of years from source texts accepted as guidance by entire peoples. Long hard study can equip us with knowledge, but there will always be far more which we do not know.
With my Christian background it was natural to me to think of a kind and generous action such as that of my hosts as "a Christian thing to do". This popular expression is not the real view of Christianity, as the tale of the Good Samaritan teaches that even a religious adversary may give us a big lesson in human decency. But for me the experience was part of a healthy culture shock. Here were people who did not know me and did not share my beliefs. They offered me hospitality in their family home and for no apparent reason showed me the utmost kindness and generosity, teaching me some good rules of conduct by example. And they were undoubtedly Hindus. It is a lesson I have never forgotten.
(Source: http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/ leicester-mercury/mi_8142/is_20100817/learning-religion-spirit-humility/ai_n54837255/ )
