Sunday, October 14, 2012

 

Ashwin Shukla 1 Vik Samvat 2069. Yugabda 5114, October 16, 2012





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1.                  FESTIVALS: Deepawali or Diwali, the Kartik Amavasya falling on November 13 this year, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is worshipped on this day. In West Bengal, this festival is celebrated as Kali Puja. In the South, Naraka Chaturdashi, a day before Deepawali commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a powerful king of Assam, who imprisoned thousands of inhabitants. It was Krishna who was finally able to subdue Narakasura and free the prisoners. Another story of king Bali is attached to the Diwali festival in South Bharat. Bali was a benevolent demon king. Lord Vishnu came as the dwarf mendicant Vamana, to dilute Bali's power. After tricking him by his gift of three steps of land, Vamana pushed him into the nether world with his foot.

2.                  UK REACHES OUT TO GUJARAT: British deputy foreign minister Hugo Swire has asked the British high commissioner in New Delhi to visit Gujarat and to meet the chief minister and other senior figures in the state.
The British decision to re-engage with Gujarat can mean that Modi's status as a "pariah" in the West may be set to change as the UK was one of the first nations to impose a travel ban on the CM. Since 2010, the UK intensified its engagement with Bharatiya states, except Gujarat which remained out of bounds despite the state moving forward, not just economically, but also in science and education. Gujarat's emergence as a preferred investment destination, the advocacy of the influential Gujarati community in the UK and the state's success in forging relations with Israel, China and Japan could have influenced the British decision as well.
3.                  Kashmir a part of bharat: Krishna at UN: Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of Bharat and the people of that state have chosen that destiny for themselves, Bharat told the UN general assembly in New York on Oct 1. Bharatiya foreign minister SM Krishna brought up Kashmir in his speech in response to remarks by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari saying the issue was a symbol of the UN’s failure.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have chosen and reaffirmed their destiny repeatedly through Bharat’s well established democratic processes,” said Krishna. Zardari had said in his speech to the UN on September 26: “Kashmir remains a symbol of failures, rather than strengths of the UN system.” “We will continue to support the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully choose their destiny in accordance with the UN Security Council’s long-standing resolutions on this matter,” Krishna added.
4.                  'I want bharatiya kids to study physics and astronomy': said Dr Manda Banerji, a bright young scientist who came to Britain from Kolkata in 2000 to study for her graduate degree at Cambridge University. Banerjee, who obtained a PhD from University College London, discovered a new population of enormous, rapidly growing super massive black holes in the early Universe. The largest of these is called ULASJ1234+0907-named after its position.
It took light from this cosmic monster 11 billion years to reach the earth. With the universe being 13.8 billion years old, "what we are seeing is very early universe - 2 or 3 billion years after the Big Bang (which created the universe)," Banerji said.
As these largest of the black holes grow (by feeding on stars and other cosmic objects), the theory is that they cause violent collisions between galaxies, throwing up huge amounts of dust and possibly triggering the formation of solar systems. "What we don't understand is how galaxies are formed," says Banerji. The problem is that these collisions produce so much dust, the black holes become enveloped in them, making observation difficult. But the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) used by Banerji and colleagues cut through the dust to accurately locate super massive black holes for the first time. Banerji conducted the research, using cutting-edge telescope technology, leading a team of scientists at Cambridge. The team is publishing their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
5.                  SHIVRAJ SINGH CHAUHAN IN US: During an eight-day tour of the USA to meet officials of the World Bank and other organizations, Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan gave an impressive account of his governance to the audience of over 350 at a reception organized in his honor by Friends of India Society International and Overseas Friends of BJP at the India House in Schaumburg on October 6.
Today, growth rate of MP is 11.5% against the national growth rate of 6 to 7% per annum. “I believe it is the duty of the government to provide adequate facilities and create proper environment to grow richer. We are connected to every village by road and electricity. We have brought 220 thousand hectare land under irrigation. Our aim is to have an integrated 12% growth across MP. We have made it a State policy to create environment for Women Empowerment. We have set up programs of help towards their education, including uniform, books and transportation. Help is even available for their marriages In local and state governments 50% seats are reserved for women. In terms of political participation we encourage them to contest in elections. Elders are not ignored. We have provisions for midday meal for them," he alluded.
In US he held parlays on issues like health, education, drinking water and rural development and transport. He made a presentation in Stanford University on women's empowerment. He met the International Finance Corporation (IFC) representatives regarding infrastructure, non-conventional energy and public-private partnership in urban projects. The chief minister also addressed the US India Business Council (USIBC) at the Michigan University on the possibilities of investment in Madhya Pradesh. He paid a special visit to the memorial of Swami Vivekananda at Art Institute, Chicago.
6.                  bHARAT warns against use of terrorism as state policy: "The fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting and fought across all fronts," said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani speaking on "Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism" in the sixth committee of the UN General Assembly at United Nations on October 9. "The international community cannot afford selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or in dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism," the former deputy prime minister said without referring to any country. Speaking as a member of the Bharatiya delegation, he said: "Terrorism is a Frankenstein's monster," and "resort to the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy is short-sighted". Noting that "Bharat has faced the scourge of terrorism for over two-and-a-half decades," he called on member states to step up their collective efforts with real cooperation to confront the scourge of terrorism squarely and decisively.
7. RSS COMMITTED TO BUILD RAM MANDIR AT AYODHYA: DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:.The RSS Sarsanghchalak  Dr. Mohan Bhagwat was addressing a programme at Ranchi on October 4 and also answering pre-arranged questions through SMSes and emails.    Asked whether the Ram temple would be constructed at Ayodhya, Bhagawat reiterated the RSS’s commitment to its construction, but reminded that the case was pending in court. He also favoured an enactment in the Parliament to pave the way for construction of the temple. “We believe that the temple would be constructed after proper legislation is introduced and a consensus is achieved and for that Sangh is in no hurry,” he added. On reports of Hindus in Pakistan crossing over to Bharat following alleged persecution there, Bhagawat asked the people to treat them as guests and send them off when conditions became conducive in their country. On infiltration by Bangladeshies, Bhagawat blamed it on vote bank politics.
“This can be stopped if bribes are not taken for enrolling Bangladeshis and giving them ration cards and enrolling them in voters list,” he said.
Responding to a query put by a few Muslims present in the auditorium why RSS was not popular among them, Bhagawat welcomed them and invited them to join the RSS.
8. Strive for sustainable development model: Bhayyaji Joshi: “Instead of blindly aping the western model of growth and progress, we should strive to evolve a model of development which would ensure a sustainable, all-round, and total development of mankind without disturbing the environmental balance. Organizations like Swadeshi Jagarana Manch (SJM) should take an initiative in this regard”, appealed RSS Sarkaryawah Shri Suresh alias Bhayyaji Joshi, at Nagpur on October 5.
Bhaiyyaji was addressing the inaugural session of the SJM’s three-day National Conference at Nagpur, which was presided over by the noted philanthropist and social worker Prabhakar alias Bhayyasaheb Mundle. Former Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti Vandniya Pramilataiji Medhe was specially present on the occasion.
Addressing the 600-odd delegates drawn from all over the country Bhayyaji Joshi in his hour-long speech made a clear cut distinction between the concepts of growth, progress and development. While the two were related to mere physical and material growth, the concept of development had the most important element of totality, which was the expression of love and compassion emanating from the heart of an individual, he added.
Stating that the western nations had set up certain parameters to measure the status of development and divided the countries of the world into developed, developing and under-developed, Bhayyaji raised a question mark over this very classification. Who decided the criteria for this classification, he wanted to know. They did not stop at just dividing these countries on their own parameters, Joshi said that these nations compelled the world to accept their notions of development which laid the entire stress on material progress and acquiring immense wealth.
Objective of development: He said that the objective of development should be total unfolding of the personality of an individual and the society to which he belonged. The western concept of development caused an immense degradation of natural resources and posed a serious threat to our environment, he said. However, he advised the audience against rejecting all that is western and just bask in the glory of our past. This would do no good either. We must take their values of social commitment, preserving national interest and honor and facilitate exchange of ideas for mutual development.
Integral Humanism has the key: Referring to late Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay’s philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism’, Bhayyaji Joshi said that we should try to impress upon the humanity to think for the posterity while going for development. He insisted on development encompassing all aspects of human life.
Utilize talent properly: Stating that Bharat produced a talent in software industry, he said that most of this talent is utilized in the western companies and firms mainly because they lack the proper guidance and education on nationalism and commitment to the society. He said that the practice of equating individual success and excellence with that of the nation would send wrong signals as this would give rise to personal ego instead of national pride. We must save ourselves from such degeneration, he cautioned.
Ill-effects of copying western models: About ‘Green Revolution’ and ‘White Revolution’ Bhayyaji said that in implementation of these models caused thoughtless exploitation of our land and animal resources. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increased the production of food grains but the soil lost its fertility. Similarly, in extracting more and more milk we corrupted our indigenous cow breeds he added. Moreover, in spite of good production of food grains a large number of people remained hungry and the problem of malnutrition still persisted. The production of milk increased but large number of children were still starved for milk today. The technology used in these experiments was foreign one and unsuitable for fulfilling our needs, he said.
Bharat can lead the world in the field of bio-farming and water conservation, and Bharat should take initiative in this sector by instituting some concrete projects, he suggested.
Need excellent infrastructure: Suggesting that the country must have excellent infrastructure for development, Bhayyaji underlined the need for exposing the talents for conducting indigenous research taking into consideration the needs and requirements and availability of resources in the country. Have full faith in the young generation, he exhorted the SJM activists. We must understand our duties and carry them out in right earnest to rid our country from the cancer of corruption.
9. Kedarnath Sahni passes away: Veteran BJP leader and former governor of Sikkim and Goa, Kedar Nath Sahni, passed away after a brief illness on October 3. He was 85. Sahni was born in Rawalpindi and his family shifted to Bharat after partition.After being a pracharak of RSS he mainly worked in Jan Sangh and BJP; became the CEC of Delhi in 1977. He also served as deputy Mayor from April 9, 1959 to April 5, 1960 and as Mayor of Delhi from April 10, 1972 to February 28, 1975. He had visited many countries including Kenya, UK, and USA for the work of Overseas Friends of BJP – OFBJP.
10. GLOBAL INTEREST REVIVE 'FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE' SANSKRIT: Cao Yan, a 36-year-old teacher from China, came to Bharat last year on a mission to decode ancient Buddhist literature. When asked why, he replied: 'Aham tatra gatvaa chhatraan pathayishyaami (I will go back and teach students).'
For those wondering which language Cao Yan was talking in, it's Sanskrit, which he has picked up in the year-long training he received under retired professor Pushpa Dikhshit, an eminent Sanskrit scholar based in Chhattisgarh.
Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan has 33,668 students enrolled in its centre for a non-formal certificate programme. Cao is not the only one interested in learning the 'forgotten language'. Professionals are learning Sanskrit to read ancient texts and use the knowledge in their current profession. 'I teach Buddhist philosophy (in China).
A lot of Buddhist scriptures were originally written in Sanskrit. So it was necessary for me to learn Sanskrit to be able to research and teach other students in this field,' Cao, who teaches at Wuhan University in China, said. Nearer home, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is witnessing a turnaround in its fortunes. Established in 1972 by the ministry of human resource development, it's a deemed university with 11 campuses across the country. Last year, 33,668 amateur Sanskrit learners enrolled in its 1,156 centres for a non-formal certificate programme.
11. HistoRy must not repeat - Air Force chief has raised valid points on 1962: It is reassuring to know that Bharat is now effectively prepared to tackle external aggression of the kind that China launched against it in 1962.
On October 5, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said the Indian Air Force was fully equipped to counter any similar adventure by a foreign power. In 1962, the Chinese had very cunningly launched their armed march into Bharat through the Thagla Ridge into what was then the North-East Frontier Agency on a Saturday, knowing fully well that the Indian Armed Forces personnel would not mount a counter-strategy unless they received clearance from the political higher-ups in New Delhi. That would take at least 48 hours to come — if it came at all, given the soft corner that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Defence Minister Krishna Menon had for China. The Chinese strategists were right, and by the time New Delhi made up its mind a lot of damage had been done. Even the late counter-measures, it seems in retrospect, were less than full-hearted. Nehru was reeling from the shock of the ‘betrayal' by the Chinese — many believe that he and the nation would have been saved the humiliating moment had the Prime Minister only listened to sane advice that had forewarned him of China's malicious designs. All this is past now, yet the political leadership of today still remains rooted to the idea that Bharat should not ‘unnecessarily’ antagonise the Chinese. If that means glossing over their various repeated incursions into Bharatiya territory from the North-East and other provocative actions like issuing stapled visas to Bharatiya citizens from the North-East, then we have not learned anything.
Our policy-makers will do well to carefully read journalist and author Bertil Lintner's absorbing book, Great Game East: India, China and the struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier. This is an important account because it deals not just with the territorial differences that exist between India and China but also the very important subject of insurgency that assails the North-East. More than anything else, it is the insurgency that is of the greatest worry, because the fact is that Beijing has been for years patronising insurgents from the region who are engaged in subversive activities against India. Yet, it is always an Armed Forces official and not the Government that calls a spade a spade. Now, regarding Air Chief Marshal Browne's belief that, had Bharat deployed its air power during the 1962 war, the outcome could have been different, experts alone can debate the issue. But one thing is clear: We did not use air power because Nehru apparently did not favour it. (The Editorial, 8 October 2012, The Pioneer)
12. Protect environment: RSS SARASANGHCHALAK Shri Mohan Bhagwat on Oct 3 questioned the idea that development has to be anti-environment, he asked the people to be judicious and wise when they pursue progression, which should be in accordance with nature and not against it. “Be a world family, not a world market”, he said. Development should be handled correctly. He was speaking at function — Bharatiyata Aur Adhunik Chunautiya — organised by the Deendayal Smriti Vyakhyan in New Delhi.
He further went on to invigorate the youth. “The nation should be the priority not personal careers, only then can we hope to build a successful and powerful nation,” he said.
While launching a scathing attack on the blind aping of the West, Bhagwat made it clear that his stand was not against the expansive culture. “Instead, the people should lead a swadeshi life albeit in the right manner. What can be produced in the country should not be bought from abroad and what is bought should be done very judiciously”, he said. NDA convener and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav was amongst the many present at the seminar.
13.  Nuclear-capable Prithvi II test-fired: Sharpening its missile prowess, Bharat on October 4 successfully test-fired its nuclear- capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km from a test range near  Balasore (Odisha) as part of a user trial by the army. Describing the trial of the indigenously developed strategic missile as "fully successful", Integrated Test Range Director MVKV Prasad said, "All the mission objectives were accomplished." The state-of-the-art Prithvi is the first ballistic missile developed under the country's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMPD) and is capable to carry 500 kg of both nuclear and conventional warheads with a strike range of 350 km.
14. Nuclear-capable Dhanush successfully test-fired: A day after the launch of Prithvi-II, Bharat successfully test-fired nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile for its full range of 350 km from a naval ship off Odisha on October 5. The surface-to-surface Dhanush, a naval variant of Prithvi-II, was fired by the personnel of Strategic Forces Command (SFC) at 11.25 a.m. as part of regular training. The missile rose from the ship and splashed down near the pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal with an accuracy of less than 20 metres. All the mission objectives were met in a flawless performance. All the radars, telemetry stations and electro-optical systems tracked and evaluated the performance of the missile in real time.
15.  IAF PUTs women pilots in combat mode: Flight Lieutenants Alka Shukla and M P Shumathi were trained at the Yelahanka station in flying twin-engine Mi-8, a utility and medium-size assault helicopter. Women pilots in Bharatiya  Air Force were only asked to operate single-engine helicopters such as Cheetah and Chethak, used only on non-combat missions. For Alka, this opportunity came her way after she spent over three years in a Chetak helicopter unit in West Bengal, performing casualty evacuation operations in Sikkim and Bhutan. Thrilled Alka said , “ I'm being trained in hovering above to enable troops slither down the ropes. This manoeuvre was similar to the ones carried out during the 26/11 strikes in Mumbai," she said.
16. IDU-MISHMI FOLKTALES BOOK RELEASED BY SIRAM: A book titled, “Quickwitted Anno and other Tales” on Idu Mishmi Folktales of Arunachal Pradesh, narrated by Mishimbu Miri and published by RIWATCH was released by Education Minister Bosiram Siram in a brief but befitting function here on October 9.  
The book containing 10 selected stories, specially chosen for young readers, edited and brought alive by Vaijayanti Sawant Tonpe, former editor of Children World, with her imaginative Pen has made the book quite reader friendly. The book has 13 illustrations and charming cover page drawn by Indrim Boo, an Arunachalee professional artist working in Delhi.
Appreciating the all out efforts of RIWATCH and congratulating the author, Education Minister said “Books on our traditions, our environment, and our neighborhood is the need of the hour. Our people know Taj Mahal but do not know about Tawang Monastery”. He insisted, we must bring different aspects of our ethnic life to academic forefront. It is the first time, a book of Idu Mishmi folktales is coming out for young readers. RIWATCH has been established to provide an appropriate platform for research scholars to do research on cross cultural studies to bring out fine components of values of our age-old cultural traditions. The programme was attended by RIWATCH Functionaries Dr.Joram Begi, Vijay Swami, G. Padu, Jt Director, H & T Education, Sokep Kri, Gazetteer Arunachal, Gyati Rana, Publicity Secretary (IFCSAP) and others.
17.  SEWA INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA GET AWARD: Sewa International Australia which runs two Senior Centres in Melbourne got the first Award among all the six Senior Citizens Association of Melbourne associations with membership well over 600 members and received a certificate of appreciation.  It was mentioned to the audience that SEWA is the only association which runs two Centres under the name of Bharatiya Senior Citizens Forum in Melbourne, without charging any contribution from the members. It is the only association that renders full service to the seniors with special emphasis on disablled elderly persons. Its entire activities are arranged on voluntary basis. Credit goes to the volunteers of SEWA and members of the Forum.
18. Gobar economy: The Holy Cow Festival inaugurated at Iskcon Temple, New Delhi by Maneka Gandhi examined various aspects of the revered animal. At a seminar on the premises, experts and researchers spoke about the health, wealth and cultural aspects of the cow.
“Ours is a Vedic culture, a Vedic civilisation. Many others, came into being, lived their lives and vanished. But ours continued. Ever wondered why? Its because we are a cow central civilisation, shared Dr Sahadeva Dasa, who spoke at the seminar. Dr Sahadeva has written books like Cow and Humanity, Made for each other, Cows are cool–love ‘em and To kill cows is to kill humanity.
19. Finally, Dalits worship at century-old Kalapatti shrine: For the first time, a large number of Dalits entered the 100-year-old Mariamman Temple at Kalapatti in Coimbatore on September 30. The Dalits were denied entry into the temple even after it came under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department, in 1976, according to MP P R Natarajan. Around 400 members of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, Aathi Thamizhar Peravai and Adi Thamizhar Viduthalai Munnani entered the temple and worshipped there. September 30 was chosen as the day of entry as it was the memorial day for Srinivasa Rao of Keel Thanjavur, who fought for the rights of Dalits to enter temples.
20.  BHARATIYAS founded most high-tech startups in US: High-tech startups founded by immigrants from Bharat have grown phenomenally in US amidst a decline in immigrant entrepreneurs considered a critical source of fuel for the US economy, according to a new study. According "America's New Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Then and Now", a Kauffman Foundation survey published on Oct 2; Bharatiyas founded more of the engineering and technology firms than immigrants born in the next nine immigrant-founder countries combined. While immigrant entrepreneurship has stagnated, the rates of Bharatiya and Chinese startups have increased, the survey found. In 2005, Bharatiyas and Chinese entrepreneurs accounted for 26.0 percent and 6.9 percent of immigrant-founded companies, respectively.
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Visitors: Deepak Sharma – Mauritius, Pravas: Dr. Ram Vaidya sahsamyojak Vishwa Vibhag will tour Spain.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Do not look back to see who falls—forward—onward! Thus and thus we shall go on, brethren. One falls, and another takes up the work. -- Swami Vivekanand
JAI SHREE RAM

Lesson from 1962: Bharat must never lower its guard

Shyam Saran
The 50th anniversary of the 1962 Sino-Bharatiya border war should be an occasion to look to the future rather than commiserate about the past.
The 50th anniversary of the 1962 Sino- Bharatiya border war should be an occasion to look to the future rather than commiserate about the past. It seems odd that the 50th anniversary appears to be generating more commentary and reminiscences than the earlier decadal anniversaries, despite the longer passage in time. Since time is said to be a great healer, why do the wounds of the past continue to fester?
All history is viewed through the prism of our present. The 1962 war is no different. It has acquired a contemporary salience precisely because rising China looms larger on our radar screen than ever before. As the respective economic and military capabilities of Bharat and China continue to expand outwards, beyond their frontiers, it is inevitable that they will bump against each other, particularly in Asia. This may sharpen the sense of rivalry between them. The 1962 border war becomes a metaphor for this competition and possible conflict.
While this may be understandable, it is necessary to break out of this tendency to look at Bharat-China relations narrowly through the military prism. This reduces the competitive dynamics to a numbers game, counting military capabilities and limits the possibilities for significant and substantive opportunities for collaboration, both in bilateral as well as multi-lateral context.
A lesson of the 1962 war is that Bharat must never let down its guard. It must deploy sufficient military and logistics capabilities to deter any 1962-style surprise attack. We are better prepared than ever before, but this is not a static. We need to have the ability to respond effectively as China upgrades its own capabilities and logistics in Tibet. We need to maintain our current edge in the maritime domain. Our recent Agni-V test and the development of submarine-based nuclear forces have imparted greater symmetry between Bharatiya and Chinese nuclear deterrence capabilities. But it is important to locate these efforts in a broader strategy for managing Bharat-China relations in all its dimensions.
What are the elements of such a strategy? We must acknowledge that adversarial elements currently dominate in Bharat-China relations. China will continue to constrain Bharat through proxy powers such as Pakistan and through exploiting apprehensions our immediate neighbours have of Bharatiya dominance. Our counter to this must be a better management of our own periphery, extending assurance where possible, giving our neighbours a stake in our own prosperity and leveraging the considerable cultural affinity we share with them. It is pointless bemoaning Chinese inroads in our neighbourhood, if we leave wide open spaces for them. After all, do we not try and leverage similar opportunities in China's neighbourhood — as we must?
Beyond this, we should seek to expand possible convergences with China so that adversarial instincts on either side are contained and, in time, diminished in their intensity. Bilateral trade between the two sides has been growing rapidly, soon to cross the $75-billion mark. True, the trade balance remains heavily in China's favour, but that would matter less in a broader economic relationship that encouraged trade in services, in which Bharat has strengths, and investment, where Bharat could prove an attractive destination for Chinese capital. Over the past couple of decades, China's frenetic investment in infrastructure has left it, today, with a huge excess capacity in this sector. This coincides with our own requirements for infrastructure investment of a trillion US dollars over the next decade or so. Is a long-term strategic partnership with China in Bharat's infrastructure development possible? There will be security concerns, particularly in certain strategic sectors such as high-end telecommunications or port development close to our naval bases. However, if Bharat were to clearly define such sensitive areas, where foreign investment would be restricted, without being China-specific, there could be a vast area where Chinese capital and affordable equipment and technology could help realize Bharat's own dream for building world-class infrastructure.
On the political side, both Bharat and China are emerging powers, with convergent interest in the reform of global governance and international institutions, so that their growing footprint and influence are acknowledged and they can participate more fully in decision-making in those institutions. The two countries have a long-standing record of working together effectively in WTO and climate change negotiations. In the G-20, there is now regular consultation and coordinated diplomacy in evidence on issues such as financial and banking reform and a restructuring of the Bretton Woods institutions. BRICS has emerged as another emerging countries' platform, where Bharat and China can work together in pursuing collaborative projects such as the proposed BRICS Development Bank. These actions have remained ad hoc, without an overall framework of strategic cooperation. Fashioning such a framework together would strengthen each others' hand in shaking loose the entrenched practices of the Western-dominated economic order. It would also help in shaping the architecture of a new order that is more responsive to our interests.
Any credible prospect for Bharat  - China relations to transcend their current adversarial character demands the mutually satisfactory resolution of the boundary issue between the two nations. The events of 1962 do hold lessons for Bharat. An important factor which triggered the open hostilities was the revolt in Tibet in 1959, the escape of the Dalai Lama to Bharat and the heightened Chinese concern over its threatened control over the newly-occupied territory. A border dispute which had hitherto spawned only small scale skirmishes became part of a larger threat to China's newly-defined territorial integrity. Bharat failed to take measure of this change in Chinese threat perceptions. By the same token, it is likely that any prospect for a border settlement may well be linked to what happens in Tibet, which remains a region of ethnic tensions and potential large-scale violence. A Bharatiya strategy for seeking an early resolution of the border may need to include some understanding with China over managing the issue of Tibet. There are signs that China is beginning to acknowledge that its twin policy of material inducement and political repression have failed to diminish Tibet's cultural and ethnic identity. There is growing restiveness among Tibetan youth both on the Chinese and the Bharatiya side. Bharat could play a role in encouraging a more accommodating Chinese polity towards Tibet and conveying what is obvious to any objective observer that His Holiness the Dalai Lama may offer the best and perhaps the only prospect for reconciliation of Chinese sovereignty with the Tibetan people's deep rooted attachment to their unique culture and religious values. This was tried before in the early 1980s, inspired by a more far-sighted Chinese leader, Hu Yaobang. It achieved positive results, including the commencement of a dialogue between HHDL's personal representatives and the Chinese government. The senior most Chinese leader at the time, Deng Xiaoping, reportedly expressed his willingness to consider all issues other than Tibetan independence in these talks. This phase was short-lived and after Hu Yaobang's departure, the old repressive polices came back with renewed rigour. With a major leadership transition underway in China, it may be worthwhile for Bharat to explore whether the time is ripe to engage in a discreet dialogue over Tibet and thereby set the stage for a border settlement. The psychic charge that the 1962 war continues to generate to this day in Bharat may then finally begin to lose its intensity in our collective consciousness.
(Shyam Saran is a former Foreign Secretary. He is currently Chairman, RIS and Senior Fellow, CPR.) — Times of India, Oct 11, 2012,

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Monday, October 1, 2012

 

Ashwin Krishna 1 Vik Samvat 2069. Yugabda 5114: October 1, 2012



: P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT);    Email: vishwav@bol.net.in
No. Sm1213/2069 (For Private Circulation Only)    Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 


1. FESTIVALS: Ganeshotsav, the ten day festival, starts on the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, the Bhaadrapad Shukla Chaturthi, corresponding to September 19 this year and culminates on Anant Chaturdashi, the 29th September this year. The festival is celebrated all over Bharat and also outside Bharat.
In USA Milwaukee, Columbus in Ohio, Krishnadevrai shakha at Irvine CA observed Ganesh pooja programs where children were taught to make Ganesh moorthi of clay, paint and decorate it and perform pooja etc. At places Lezim processions were taken out and Prasad distributed. Joyful celebrations were also reported from Delhi, Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad), Tamilnadu and Karachi where over 1000 people participated in the Ganesh pooja at local Swaminarayan temple, Gitananda Ashram temple in Italy, Bharatiya Embassy at Tokyo  etc.
2. FORMER RSS SARSANGHCHALAK KUPPAHALLI SITARAMAIYA SUDARSHAN, polularly known as Sudarshanji, passed away in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on September 15. He was 81. He was cremated in Nagpur the next day.
Born on June 18, 1931 in Raipur, Sudarshanji did his Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications (honours) from Sagar University. He joined the Sangh shakha at the age of 9 years and become a Pracharak in 1954. His first posting as Pracharak was in Raigarh district. In 1964, he was made Prant Pracharak of Madhya Bharat at a fairly young age.
He became the fifth Sarsanghchalak on March 10, 2000 succeeding Prof. Rajendra Singh who was popularly known as Rajju Bhaiya. Due to ill health, he stepped down as RSS chief in 2009 and handed over the charge to Shri Mohan Bhagwat.

 
We offer our heartfelt Shradhhanjali at the sudden demise of Pu Shri Sudarshan ji on September 15 and pray at the feet of SriParmeshwar to bestow sadgati to the departed soul.
 


He was known for doing new experiments in the Sangh. It was during his tenure of Sharirik Pramukh that the training of kharag, shool, chhurika etc. was replaced with niyuddha, yogasan, and sports. Similarly, the bauddhik activities at the shakha also got new dimension during his tenure as Akhil Bharatiya Bauddhik Pramukh.
He was in Raipur on his routine pravas. After morning walk he started doing pranayam and in that position he suddenly passed away. As per his wish, his eyes were donated to Madhav Netra Pedhi.
His body was then taken to Nagpur in the evening by a special aircraft provided by the Chhattisgarh Government. With the waves of emotions, senior RSS, BJP and leaders offered their tribute at Reshimbagh. Prominent among them were Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti Shantakka,  Swami Akhileshwarananda, veteran VHP leader Shri Ashok Singhal, senior BJP leaders Shri LK Advani, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Chief Ministers of different states including Shri Narendra Modi , Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan , Shri Jagdish Shettar , Dr Raman Singh who offered  tributes and remembered his  contributions.  
Many religious leaders from Muslim, Christian and Buddhist sects were also present to pay tribute. Jamat Ulema-e-Hind’s President Maulana Kazmi and Minority Commission’s Shri Siddiqui made a point to visit Reshimbagh to pay homage. Many dignitaries from Tibetan Government in Exile were present, as Sudarshanji was active in gathering support to the Tibetan independence struggle.
Shraddhanjali programs and messages
Condolence meeting in Nagpur was held at Reshimbag on Sept 26th. “Late Sudarshanji was a perfect confluence of knowledge, devotion and duty. He guided and let not only we swyamsevaks but also the entire society by example”, said Dr.  Mohan Bhagwat. Stating that his death was a personal loss to him, the RSS chief confessed that he used to approach Sudarshanji whenever he wanted some clarification or guidance. He said he took the reins of this biggest organization from Sudarshanji and he was assured that he would get the necessary guidance in times of crises. Now his demise has created a big void in my life. Condolence messages from Dr Pranav Pandya of Gayatri Parivar and Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Jain Muni Vijay Ratnasundar Surishwar Maharaj of Sakal Jain Samaj,  Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Bhadant Sadanand Mahasthvir Sanghnushasak were read out on the occasion.
Sudarshanji’s ashes were immersed in Ganga at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar on September 25 in the presence of huge gathering of swyamsevaks.
Baba Ramdev: Sudarshanji was a father figure to me. He dedicated himself to the nation till he breathed his last.
Swami Satyamitrananda Giri: Sudarshanji was a modern saint who thought only for the nation and welfare of the humanity.
Shri Bani Deshpande and Roza Deshpande -daughter of the late communist ideologue Sripad Amrit Dange: Our friendship was not for political reason. Sudarshanji used to discuss with us the issues of science and Vedant for hours.
PCLM president RL Francis: Sudarshanji always advocated for social justice. He was a strong supporter of maintaining peace and harmony among all religions.
Arch Bishop Mar Aprem at Trichur, Kerala : ’Sudarsanji is the person who was the model for all the leaders who realizes the value of Communal harmony.
Vaikunt Samaroh was held at Mysore on September 26 where RSS sarkaryavaha Bhayyaji Joshi, K.Suryanarayan Rao ji and swayamsevaks, family members were present.
3. 9TH WORLD HINDI CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN SOUTH AFRICA: The three day long 9th World Hindi Conference concluded in Johannesburg city of South Africa. Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur felicitated several Hindi scholars, writers and laureates, who had gathered from different parts of the world for their contribution towards the language. The conference was jointly inaugurated on September 22 by Kaur and the Finance Minister of South Africa, Pravin Gordhan. According to M. Ganapathi, Secretary West (Ministry of External Affairs), "The main aim of the ninth World Hindi Conference is to promote Hindi language and widen its reach. Other than this were , use of Hindi in information technology; making Hindi as a language of knowledge;  science and employment and to attract and encourage the youth to learn Hindi language."Ganpathi further said, "We would want Hindi to be the seventh official language in the United Nations. “
The programme of the three-day conference included nine academic sessions, cultural programmes and exhibitions on various aspects of Hindi including IT applications in the field of Hindi.
4. 'DHARMA, DHAMMA HAVE SIMILAR ROOTS' – DR MM JOSHI: Former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi has said that Dharma and Dhamma have similar roots. "Dialogue between Sanatan Dharma and Buddhism is the need of the hour. It will pave way for a balanced global development," said Dr. Joshi while addressing the concluding session of the two-day International Dharma-Dhamma Convention organized at Vidhan Sabha building Bhopal on September 23.
Joshi said the convention should send a message of controlling desires as unending desires are the root cause of man's miseries. He said that all the religions including Sanatan Dharma, Buddhism and Jainism call for unity, harmony and service.
Vedacharya Dr David Frawley (Vamdev Shastri) said that ancient knowledge will be taught in modern context at Sanchi Buddhist University. Dr Rammohan informed about Sanchi Declaration and research papers presented during the plenary session.
About 235 delegates from 19 countries participated in the convention jointly organized by Madhya Pradesh government, Center for study of religion and Society, SriLanka Mahabodhi society and India Foundation, New Delhi.
On September 22, at Sanchi, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone of Sanchi University of Buddhist and Indic Studies. He said at this occasion that there was a need to revive the Buddhist and Indic value systems which paved way to modern concepts of human rights and fundamental freedom.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley, Governor Ram Naresh Yadav, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar and 12 countries’ saints and scholars were present on the occasion.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley described the occasion of Sanchi University’s foundation laying ceremony as a moment of happiness and pride for him. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said a grand temple of Sita should be built at a place where Sita underwent agnipariksha (trial by fire) in Sri Lanka and that his government was ready to extend assistance
5. Judge of Appeal in Singapore: A Bharat-origin judge has been named as the new chief justice of Singapore, making him the first from the community to head the courts. Sundaresh Menon, presently Singapore's Judge of Appeal, will assume the office of the chief justice from November 6. He would take over from Justice Chan Sek Keong, (Anderson School, Ipoh) who retires at the age of 75 Justice Menon said: "I am greatly honoured and privileged to be entrusted with this awesome responsibility; and humbled by the calibre of those who have been so entrusted before me". Menon, 50, obtained his Master of Laws from Harvard University, after graduating with First Class Honours in Law from the National University of Singapore.
6. NUCLEAR-CAPABLE AGNI-III TEST-FIRED: Two days after the successful trial of highly advanced Agni-IV ballistic missile with a strike range of about 4000 km ,  Bharat testfired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a strike range of 3000 km on September 20.The indigenously developed surface-to-air missile, which can carry a warhead of 1.5 tonne protected by a carbon all composite heat shield, took off at 1315 hours from a mobile launcher at launch complex-4 of Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast, defence sources said.
"It was the fifth test in the Agni-III series carried out to establish the 'repeatability' of the state-of-the-art missile's performance," a DRDO scientist said.
The missile is equipped with hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computers. The electronic systems are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects, a DRDO official said.
7. Kashmiri Pandits observe Balidan Divas: Various functions were organized by Kashmiri Pandits at different places in Jammu on September 19 in connection with observance of Martyrs' Day.
This day is being observed by the Kashmiri Pandit community as the Balidan Divas since 1990 in commemoration of the martyrdom of Pandit Tikalal Ji Taploo and also the persecution that was inflicted upon the Kashmiri Pandit community in the valley of Kashmir. The Kashmiri Pandit community was made the selected victim of terror and terrorism, murder and mayhem on a large scale resulting in their mass exodus from the valley.
The Joint Forum of KP Organizations organized a protest demonstration at outside the Raj Bhawan, Jammu. The protesters carrying placards and posters raised slogans against terrorism and apathy of the government towards the Kashmiri Pandits.
8.  IAF CHIEF INSPECTS 1ST INDIGENOUS AEW&C JET: “ The success of this program will put our country into the elite group which can develop and deliver such complex state of the art systems," said Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, DG DRDO. He was speaking at a function organised to commemorate the formal receipt of the AEW&C Bharat aircraft by Centre for Airborne System (CABS). Dr Saraswat congratulated the AEW&C team from DRDO, IAF, CEMILAC, DGAQA, and the EMBRAER team for this significant achievement.
The indigenous AEW&C System based on projections by the IAF and built on the EMB-145I by DRDO has incorporated more operational capabilities than contemporary systems of its class."
Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force was the chief guest in the function in which the aircraft was formally received in CABS. Speaking on the occasion, he said he was personally very satisfied with this significant milestone in the programme which was not, and still is not, an easy programme.
9. Hindu SANGAM SACRAMENTO, CA: First ever Hindu Sangam in Sacramento under the banner of “Annapoorna” was organized, in which 15 Hindu organizations, including 3 temples, of greater Sacramento area participated. Annapoorna is an initiative of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), USA and was started in 2005.  This was the whole day event on Sep 15th 2012 at Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir. More than 400 people participated in the event exceeding the expectation; the estimate was for 250 to 300 people.
In his keynote address US HSS Sanghchalak Ved Nanda spoke about the “need of organized Hindu Society and how to achieve that”. He also said we were the first one to say Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah & did add all not only ecology but whole universe in our thoughts.
10.  NOW JAPANESE ARE WALKING UP TO JAIPUR FOOT: After the amputees from war-ravaged nations and the handicapped from poor countries, now the technically advanced Japanese too are coming in to fit on the simple and user-friendly Jaipur Foot.
Four Japanese, three of them women, flew into the Pink City recently to get equipped with the artificial limb at Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) here. There was neither any waiting period nor the long-winded processes. Saki Tabaku (20), Fumiko Takado (38) and Hitomi Onishi (35) could walk in a few minutes after they were fitted with Jaipur Foot and Jaipur Knee.
The Japanese were inspired to try out the Jaipur Foot by the Japanese researcher Ken Endo who holds a doctorate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Mr. Endo is presently working as a research associate with Japanese multinational Sony Computer Science Laboratory in Tokyo. MIT has collaborated with BMVSS on developing prosthesis and Mr. Endo has been part of the project. “They were surprised at the speed with which the artificial limbs could be fitted on them as the process would have taken about a month in Japan,” Mr. Endo said. A similar prosthesis in Japan would have cost Rs.6 lakh, while the Jaipur prosthesis cost Rs.2,200 only, he observed. However it was news for Mr. Endo as well that the prosthesis is given free of cost to the poor patients.
BMVSS founder and chief patron D.R .Mehta hailed the visit of the Japanese as recognition for Bharatiya technology from a much advanced nation like Japan.
11. HINDRAF LEADER'S TRAVEL BAN LIFTED: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi Chairman P. Waythamoorthy has been struck off the Immigration Department's blacklist.
"This means he is now free to travel around the world," Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday.
He said the travel ban had been lifted following a request by the police. Three days after the Hindraf protest in November 2007, Waythamoorthy left the country for the United Kingdom. His passport was revoked in March 2008 and he applied for political asylum in Britain.
Waythamoorthy remained in self-imposed exile there until last month, returning to Malaysia by crossing the border from Singapore.
12. MUSLIMS WELCOME RSS PRACHARAK’S BHARAT PARIKRAMA YATRA: RSS Pracharak Sitaram Kedilaya’s Bharat Parikrama Yatra received a warm welcome at a Muslim Institute in Netoor panchayat -the rural side of Kochi city in Kerala. RSS Pracharak 'The heart of the Bharat is lying at our village, where all the culture of mankind is deep rooted. I think every religion teach us to love the nature” this was the message by RSS Pracharak Sitaram Kedilaya to the Villagers of Netoor in Kerala.
In reply the Yathim Khana (a Muslim Institute) administrator Hamsa said clearly that the Holy book Khuran says those people who look to other religious temple or worshipping place with a cruel eye or with a bad intention, he is not Islam..”

13. CHICAGO BHARATIYA GIRL GROOMS ORPHANS AND KIDS OF SEX WORKERS IN INDIA:  Grooming of children to respect parents, guests, teachers and volunteering in society is essentially an Indian tradition with parents. Most Indian parents do it whether they live in India or abroad. The first lesson they give to their children is – Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, and Atithi Devo Bhava.

But there are less fortunate children, who are orphaned, or abandoned by their parents in India because of poverty.  Many of these children live in squalor on streets. There are also children of sex workers, who are not lucky enough to have enough motherly care. All these children are neglected and left to fend for themselves.
Priyanka Bhargav, a young college student from South Barrington, IL, is sensitive to the travails of these neglected children and abandoned women.
Priyanka was born in India, but immigrated to the US as a baby.  She feels that she is lucky, to be groomed by her parents in the traditional way of Indian values.  She particularly attributes her sensitivity to poor children, to her father Yogesh Bhargav.  While she has absorbed the essence of the first lessons she has received from her parents, she has taken volunteering very seriously.
She attributes her strong sense of volunteerism to her exposure to Hindu Swayam Sevaksangh (HSS)-USA.  As a child, she was introduced to HSS by her parents.
Priyanka has just returned from Pune, India, where she volunteered to take care of less fortunate orphaned slum children, children of sex workers and even the abandoned women.  She participated in a 10-week summer Yuva for Seva project of Sewa International-USA.
Speaking to India Tribune, Priyanka pours out her heart having worked with these hapless orphaned children, children of sex workers and abandoned women. She says: “I was in Pune for my project.  I worked with an organization called Chaitanya Mahila Mandal, which works with women, who have gone through terrible things. They include the women, who are forced into flesh industry, the women, who have gotten pregnant and then abandoned, the women, who have been abused physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually, and even the women, who have been abandoned by their parents.”
Priyanka says that Aashray is a rehabilitation and counseling center for these women where they can stay free of cost up to three years.  The aim of the Aashray is to make these women self-dependent and to rehabilitate them.  She says “I worked with these women, teaching them yoga, games, bhajans and English.  They also participated in discussions on various topics.”
She says she was touched by the children, whose mothers were being forced into the flesh industry.  “There is a night crèche for these kids, who would otherwise be drugged and put to sleep or be forced to watch their mothers. In the night crèche, I taught the children songs, slokas, bhajans, English alphabets and numbers.  I even taught them some games. For them, I created ‘alphabet flashcards’ with a letter on one side and two words with pictures that start with that letter.  I also made motivational posters to be displayed on the walls of the crèche,” she adds.
She has created various fundraising documents for Chaitanya Mahila Mandal, which will be uploaded on to their Web site www.cmmpune.org and a volunteering document that would enable one to donate money, resources, time or all the three.
Priyanka says that she has been trying to volunteer with Yuva for Sewa for the past two years and was finally able to do so this summer. “I have always been passionate about helping out my community in India, my motherland.  I wanted to volunteer in India.  Visiting India with my family as a tourist has been fun, but I wanted to see a different side of India, the side I often hear about a lot, but never had a chance. Therefore, when I got a chance, I made full use of it,” she says with conviction.
She says her experience in India in helping the women, who have been abused, trafficked or abandoned by their husbands and families, had been very painful and life-changing.  “Navigating a city that I had never been in before, communicating in the languages I did not know well, and adapting to living conditions in an Indian hostel had been very challenging. This experience had broadened my view about the world,” she says.
Asked how she felt working with women who were in flesh trade, Priyanka says:  “I feel sorry for them.  Given an opportunity they would all like to get out of it.  But it is a vicious circle.  Some women are bought by brothel-keepers. To win freedom, these women have to pay back these brothel-keepers.  To pay back the money, these women have to keep on selling their bodies.  When they sell their bodies, they get sick.  To get treated they have to spend money.  Therefore, the debt never gets reduced. Often it gets mounted.  So they live in perennial debt and die in debt.”
Priyanka condemns the system and pities these women and their children for being trapped in the vicious circle for no fault of theirs.  The social organizations like Chaitanya Mahila Mandal and Aashray are helping them.  But they are very few and the need is more.
Priyanka says that she was one of the six girls and three boys chosen by HSS-USA to volunteer with Yuva for Sewa in various Indian cities. One of the volunteers was an American girl. Priyanka says that their experience has been no different from hers.  Given an opportunity, she wants to go to India once again and work for the upliftment of these neglected children and unfortunate women.-  J.V. Lakshmana Rao (IndiaTribune Oct 1, 2012)
14. SUNITA WILLIAMS TAKES OVER COMMAND AT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: Just after the Soyuz spacecraft separated from the space station on September 16, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams took over command of Expedition 33 at the station from Commander Gennady Padalka, becoming the second woman in history to do so.
Williams will be sharing the Space Station with veteran Russia cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide until mid-October, when three more astronauts, including NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, will arrive and round out the full crew of Expedition 33.
"I would like to thank our (Expedition) 32 crew mates here who have taught us how to live and work in space, and of course to have a lot of fun up in space," Williams told Padalka during a change of command ceremony.
15. DELHI UNIVERSITY'S ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AMONG WORLD'S BEST: The QS World University Rankings has ranked Delhi University among the 100 best places to study English. Even as Bharatiya institutions of higher education have drawn flak for failing to make the top 200 in overall university rankings, DU's English department features in the 51-100 group in QS' annual survey.
English (or language) departments of three other Bharatiya universities have made QS' list by subject Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Calcutta and University of Hyderabad. But unlike DU's department, they are in the 151-200 ranks group.
In English teaching, DU is in the same league as Pennsylvania State University, St Andrew's University and University of Sussex — all in the 51-100 category. DU's English is better than that of Purdue University, Nottingham University and University of Liverpool.
16.  BANGLADESH PARLIAMENT PASSES HINDU MARRIAGE LAW: Bangladesh’s parliament has passed a landmark bill aimed at protecting the rights of the Hindu community members, especially women from marriage-related cheating.
The law would authorise the government and the local government authorities to appoint a marriage registrar to be known as Hindu Marriage Registrar at every ward of the City Corporation and municipality. The bride would have to be minimum 18 years old and the groom 21 years, the report said.
17. DEFINE US BY ETHNICITY, NOT RELIGION: ASSAM MUSLIMS:  After the violence in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), heated discourses on the Muslim community have become common in the state. Sadou Asom Goria Moria Deshi Jatiya Parishad (SAGMDJP), an organisation representing indigenous Assamese Muslims, on Sunday said that their community members wanted to be identified by their ethnicity and not by their religion.We belong to the Goria, Moria and Deshi ethnic groups of the Assamese Muslims. It is another fact that our religion is Islam, but we have our own ethnic identities.These communities have evolved distinct identities because of their ethnicity.We want these communities to be identified and referred to by their ethnic identities and not by religion, SAGMDJP president Sahiruddin Ali Ahmed said in a public meeting on September 16. (Times of India, Sept 16.2012 )                  
18.   ALUMNI OPEN PURSE TO HELP IIT-D BUILD RESEARCH SCHOOLS: The highly successful alumni of IIT-Delhi are helping the institute look beyond government funding for several ambitious research projects.
Currently, two complexes are being built in IIT-Delhi with 100 per cent alumni funding. The first is Amarnath and Shashi Khosla School of Information Technology, named after parents of  US-based venture capitalist Vinod Khosla.
Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, funded by alumnus Anurag Dikshit through the UK-based Kusuma Trust, named after his mother, is another project coming up on the campus.
Patanjali Keswani, managing director of Lemon Tree Hotels and an alumnus, recently announced Rs 20 crore for GH Keswani Research Centre at the institute.
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr.Sadanand Sapre, sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag returned from his tour to Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Visitors:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: All who have actually attained any real religious experience never wrangle over the form in which the different religions are expressed. They know that the soul of all religions is the same and so they have no quarrel with anybody just because he or she does not speak in the same tongue. – Swami Vivekananda
JAI SHREE RAM

SUDARSHAN: A LEADER WHO BROKE BARRIERS
Tarun Vijay

Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief KS Sudarshan, who passed away on Saturday, broke the barriers of past burdens, dogmas and ritualism and often faced severe criticism from various quarters. But once he took a stand, no one could make him go back on it.
Sudarshanji was like a family member. Sharing the good times and bad, standing with us like a father figure and trying to help. For him scholarship, organisational burden and national policies came after human relations. An emotional person, he would often engage visitors in long chats, and it was a great experience to listen to his words of wisdom on science, spiritualism, metaphysics, environmental issues and almost anything under the sun.
Even when he was the global chief of the world's largest Hindu organisation, he remained the most accessible person on earth with whom we could discuss, criticise, vehemently oppose organisational decisions, even express disagreement on what he said or wrote, and yet be without the  fear of any 'disciplinary action'.
He was, after all, a father figure to us. A mentor who never got angry but who tried to shape us through love and persuasion.
He was us.
Yet he never trod the beaten path.
His first address to the nation, a press conference in Nagpur after assuming charge as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, was on the economic situation and the need to assertively follow a policy that would help indigenous industry grow, provide more employment to the skilled and unskilled labourers and blue collar workers. Contact Raman Singh (chief minister of Chhattisgarh) and get information on what he has done to produce bio-fuel and publish a detailed report, he would say.
His long discussions with the then petroleum minister Ram Naik resulted in the central government's policy on bio-fuel.
In RSS karyalayas (office cum residence), he made it an unwritten rule followed by all to only fill as much water in the glass as one is sure to drink. 'Don't waste water, don't fill up the glass only to throw it into the washbasin. Water is sacred and scarce,' he would urge.
He tried to persuade everyone he met to stop ostentatious marriages. Don't go in for such celebrations, it's a mockery of India's poor millions and a blot on Hindu society. And so was his mission to fight female foeticide. We worship Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati as stone idols but kill them in the womb, he said in a speech.
He praised Indira Gandhi for her role in the 1971 war and invited a huge load of criticism from those who thought we ought to be hateful and hard-hitting on the Congress. He hated the hate element in Indian politics and tried to reach out to everyone as an Indian.
The business of enlisting, de-listing and blacklisting is a Communist preserve, he would tell us, why should a Hindu fall into that abyss and still hypocritically keep on chanting the story of Charvak, the atheist who was given an exalted position of rishi in spite of being an exponent of a philosophy that negated Vedic principles.
Very often, whenever he happened to be in Delhi  ], he would come to the offices of Panchjanya and Organiser and discuss several contemporary issues with the editors. His knowledge of global affairs and their likely impact on India was awesome. His friends' circle included diplomats, scientists, Vedic scholars, environmentalists and economists espousing the cause of Swadeshi.
He was fond of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poems and would recite many of them verbatim at several meetings. So when a daily newspaper published his interview that created awkwardness between him and Vajpayeeji, he felt sad about it. And it goes to the credit of both leaders' maturity that the bad blood was removed and relations normalised.
His knowledge of Islam was so astounding and correct that he surprised the Islamic ulema and maulanas, whom he loved to engage in conversations. He wanted to reach out to Indian Muslims and inspired many such organisations and efforts. Perhaps he was the only Hindu leader of his stature who never forgot to send Eid greetings to his Muslim friends every year.
He would often come to our home, chat with the kids as if he was of their age and watch some interesting programmes, essentially non-political, on television. He was very happy when our daughter was born and came home to name her and be a part of the annaprashan ceremony.
At a later stage, when he relinquished the post of RSS chief, he would often feel sad and lonely and recite Atalji's poems -- on the resolve to face odd situations with firmness. About his failing health, he would say: 'I forget the names of my close associates, it's a terrible thing.' And would often go back in time, recalling his Jabalpur days, his roots in Tamil Nadu, and the plight of Hindus due to their own mistakes.
Once he told us that a great astrologer in Tirupati (now no more) had divined his past and said he was a Sri Lankan Tamil in his previous birth. We all laughed.
Sudarshanji wanted to restore the glory of Hindus the world over and would often say, 'The time is very near when Hindu society will unshackle the colonial mindset and acquire its destined place in the comity of nations. No one can keep Hindus subjugated and a slave of political expediency for long.'
An ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo, he would declare with a great confidence -- a new India will rise, and soon. Happier, mightier and wealthier. Hindus are born with the divine gift of science and mathematics; no one can beat them in scientific pursuits. It's in our genes.
He would get enraged on seeing the plight of Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and even in India due to political vote-banks and sham secularism. The leaders are spineless, they do not feel the pains and sorrows of Hindus, he would lament. Every party has a Hindu leadership, why don't they feel anguish on seeing how Hindus are being persecuted all over South Asia, he would ask. We must work with the Hindus of other political groups and shouldn't be confined to the Bharatiya Janata Party  alone, but are other groups willing to receive us, he would question.
He broke the barriers of past burdens, dogmas and ritualism and often faced severe criticism from various quarters. But once he took a stand, no one could make him go back on it.
He was like a family member to us. And to many, many Swayamsevaks all over the nation. I regret not being able to have his best speeches and interviews published in his lifetime, although a publisher had made such an offer years before. But his memory will always keep us moving towards building a greater and happier Bharatvarsh that is India.( www.rediff.com September 17, 2012 ) --Tarun Vijay is a Bharatiya Janata Party member of the Rajya Sabha

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