Jyeshth Shukla 4, Vik Samvat 2071. Yugabda 5116: June 1, 2014


1. FESTIVALS: Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2. 13-YEAR-OLD FROM AP BECOMES YOUNGEST GIRL TO SCALE EVEREST
3. DAWN OF HOPE BEGINS 4. 3rd YEAR TRAINING CAMP OF RSS
5. 18-YEAR-OLD BHARATIYA STUDENT CHOSEN FOR ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 6. VIJNANA BHARATI ORGANISED SCIENCE FAIR AT HYDERABAD
7. HINDU FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES TEACHERS 8. PINAKA ROCKETS
9. BHARATIYA AMERICAN WINS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEE 10. LOOTED STATUES COME HOME
11. DRDO GETS SUPERSONIC MISSILE SIMULATOR 12. GUJARAT'S 'RANI KI VAV' TO BE DIGITALLY RECREATED IN UK
13. 9 BHARATIYA FIRMS IN FORBES’ MOST INNOVATIVE GROWTH COMPANIES LIST 14. 400-YR-OLD STOLEN IDOLS REAPPEAR POST-QUAKE
15. RSS PRACHARAK CHANDRASHEKAR BHANDARI TO RECEIVE KARNATAKA STATE GOVT AWARD 16. BRITISH MP COMPLAINS TO ‘HINDU PHOBIC’ BBC COVERAGE
17. VETERAN PRACHARAK ANANT RAMCHANDRA GOKHALE IS NO MORE 18. BOOK ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN AHMEDABAD RIOTS IS ‘SET ASIDE’ BY PUBLISHER
19. PANDHARPUR TEMPLE ALLOWS WOMEN, MEN OF ALL CASTES AS PRIESTS 20. BHARATIYA AIRPORTS NOW AMONGST WORLD'S BEST SERVICE PROVIDERS
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Articles:

THE TRENDSETTER: NEW DRIVERS OF DEVELOPMENT

ARTICLE 370 – A PERSONAL VIEW

SOME SALIENT FACTS ABOUT ARTICLE 370


1. FESTIVALS: Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri takes place on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya corresponding to June 29 this year. On this day Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra and Subhadra come out of their abode and proceed to Gundicha Mata temple. After resting eight days in Gundicha temple, Bhagwan Jagannatha returns to his main abode. This day is known as Bahuda Yatra or Return Yatra and is observed on Dashami Tithi. During Bahuda Yatra Lord makes a short stoppage at Mausi Maa temple which is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini. Ratha Yatra is also observed at all major temples world over. -Top


 
2. 13-YEAR-OLD FROM AP BECOMES YOUNGEST GIRL TO SCALE EVEREST: Malavath Purna, a tribal student from Nizamabad district in Andhra Pradesh, created history on May 25 by becoming the youngest girl in the world to scale the Mount Everest. She pitched the Bharatiya flag at 6.00am and was closely followed by Sadanapalli Anand, a 17-year-old student from Khammam district.
This is the first time that two poor tribal students from remote areas of Andhra Pradesh braved one of the world's most unfriendly terrains.  Anand and Purna are both students of Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Schools  (APSWRS). Purna is a student of class IX in Thadwai APSWRS. Her parents are daily wage workers. Extremely good in studies and extracurricular activities, she grabbed the opportunity by undergoing a four-stage screening test. During the training programme, Purna got 'A'  grade by climbing Kanchenjunga and she was finally selected  for the Everest. She along with Anand began the hike on April 4 from Kathmandu.  
"We are happy that she has set    the world record. We know she will go places. She is not only bright  in academics,   but    also  in    adventure," Purna's  parents   said. -Top

 
3. DAWN OF HOPE BEGINS: When Narendra Damodardas Modi took oath as Pradhan Mantri at the bustling forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, the 26th May, it was a historic occasion for the man of the moment, the BJP, and most importantly, for Bharat. In his first message to the nation after taking oath, Modi said, “On 16th May, 2014, the people of Bharat gave their verdict. They delivered a mandate for development, good governance and stability.”
He went on to add, “As we devote ourselves to take Bharat’s development journey to newer heights, we seek your support, blessings and active participation. Together we will script a glorious future for Bharat. Let us together dream of a strong, developed and inclusive Bharat that actively engages with the global community to strengthen the cause of world peace and development.” -Top

 
4. 3rd YEAR TRAINING CAMP OF RSS at Nagpur is being attended by 717 swayamsevaks in the age group of 18-40 from all over the country. RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr Krishna Gopal, while inaugurating the camp on May 19 in Nagpur said that the stream of volunteers trained there has spread the work of RSS in their respective regions in the country and even abroad bringing various cross sections of the society together under the Hindu identity. He said this happened to be the karma bhoomi of RSS founder Dr Hedgewar, and his successor Shri Guruji, who toiled hard and braved many adverse conditions to nurture the RSS in entire country and outside Bharat. It is for this very reason, Nagpur is considered as an important pilgrim centre for every swayamsevak. This is the place where the swayamsevaks are groomed to shoulder various responsibilities in the social life of the country and dedicate themselves in the man-making and nation-building mission of RSS. -Top

 
5. 18-YEAR-OLD BHARATIYA STUDENT CHOSEN FOR ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION:  Zareen Cheema was barely eight when she first saw photographs of aurora australis in all its glory. Since then, it has been her dream to see the phenomenon in person. That desire paved the way for the now 18-year-old's selection as the only Bharatiya student in the December expedition to Antarctica.
'Students on Ice', a research-based expedition to the icy continent, aims at educating students about global issues such as climate change. The Pune girl is also the youngest and among the 44 Bharatiyas out of 705 people selected from around the world in Round 2 of the one-way manned mission to Mars, popularly known as Mars One. -Top

 
6. VIJNANA BHARATI ORGANISED SCIENCE FAIR AT HYDERABAD: Bhagyanagar unit of Vijnana Bharati organised a science camp at Saraswati Sishu Mandir, Badangapet for children studying from 6th to 12th standard from May 16 to 18. Inaugurating the camp, Shyam Prasad, coordinator, Vijnana Bharati, Andhra Pradesh stressed on the importance of developing scientific solutions to medical health care and looking at job creation. The students had the opportunity to experiment with more than 50 experiments on physical sciences. The topics covered were sound, optics, magnetism, electronics and Thermodynamics. -Top

 
7. HINDU FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES TEACHERS: Teachers from the Simi Valley, Moorpark, Conejo Valley and Oak Park school districts in California USA were recognized on Teachers Appreciation Day on May 10 in Simi Valley on behalf of Hindu Education Foundation. While Dr. Amrit Ram from SVYASA Yoga University, presented a demonstration on Yoga , Chetan Gandhi, a Hindu minister and councilor, discussed the significance of a teacher and yoga in enhancing the quality of life for individuals. Students presented a mosaic of cultural programs with elements from Bharatiya classical dance, martial arts, folk dances and yoga. About 100 people attended the event. -Top

 
8. PINAKA ROCKETS: Bharat on May 29 successfully test-fired the indigenously-built Pinaka rockets from a defence base in Odisha. Three rounds of rockets were fired from the multi-barrel rocket launching system (MBRLS) at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) in Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, around 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. Capable of firing 12 rockets in a single salvo with 1.2 tonnes of explosives within 40 seconds, the Pinaka system has already been inducted into the armed forces and was used in the field during the 1999 Kargil war. -Top

 
9. BHARATIYA AMERICAN WINS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEE: Akhil Rekulapelli, a 13 year-old eighth grader from northern Virginia’s Loudoun County, is the winner of the 2014 National Geographic Bee. Rekulapelli emerged as the victor of the Bee’s 26th annual iteration on May 21, beating out competitors from each state and territory in the US. His win as the national Geographic Bee champion continues a streak of Bee dominance displayed by Bharatiya American students, who have also regularly topped the Scripps National Spelling Bee in recent years, too. Rekulapelli will represent the nation at the International Geographic Bee, which will take place in Monaco later this year. -Top

 
10. LOOTED STATUES COME HOME: Sandstone figures packed into crates returned to Cambodia on May 28. The Kingdom welcomed the repatriated 11th-century statues with little fanfare, a remarkably placid homecoming given the lengthy legal battle with auction house Sotheby's and the enlivened conversation with a California art museum that led to their return.
The Duryodhana and the Bhima, which depict opposing Hindu warrior figures that were locked in a mythic battle, were displayed at the Prasat Chen Temple in Siem Reap before being hacked from their pedestals and moved through the antiquities black market in the 1970s. Over the past three years, Cambodian officials and art researchers have traced seven of the Prasat Chen's nine statues to collections in the US. -Top

 
11. DRDO GETS SUPERSONIC MISSILE SIMULATOR: Bharat has joined an exclusive club of four countries that can test payloads for missile and rocket technology by simulating a flight environment on the ground. Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), a DRDO lab in Chandigarh, has indigenously developed the facility known as the Rail Track Rocket Sled Penta Rail Supersonic Track. It is a 4km track where trials are conducted. Some confidential tests have already been conducted on this range, which include recovery of crew capsules in manned space mission. -Top

 
12. GUJARAT'S 'RANI KI VAV' TO BE DIGITALLY RECREATED IN UK: One of Gujarat's monuments — Rani ki Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) — is among five international heritage sites to be replicated digitally using latest technology in Scotland. It is part of a project called The Scottish Ten — an ambitious five-year-programme to create accurate digital models of Scotland's five UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites and five international heritage sites in order to better conserve and manage them. A team from Historic Scotland and Glasgow's School of Art travelled to Gujarat's Patan town last August and digitally imaged every corner of Rani ki Vav.
The Vav is not widely known outside Bharat and currently sits on the UNESCO tentative World Heritage List. By digitally documenting stepwell for the project, Scotland hopes to bring the site to a much wider audience and raise both its national and international profile. -Top

 
13. 9 BHARATIYA FIRMS IN FORBES’ MOST INNOVATIVE GROWTH COMPANIES LIST: As many as nine Bharatiya firms have made it to the Forbes World’s 100 most innovative growth companies list. Godrej Consumer Products is ranked 31st globally with an enterprise value of $4.25 billion (Rs 24,850 crore) and an innovation premium of 58.7%. Other Bharatiya firms on the list include ABB India, Marico, United Breweries, Siemens India, Asian Paints, Nestle India, Colgate Palmolive India and Divi’s Labs. ABB India is ranked 37th, with an enterprise value of $2.7 billion (`15,787 crore) and innovation premium of 56.4%. The list has been made on the basis of innovation premium, a measure of how much investors have bid up the stock price of a company above the value of its existing business, based on expectations of future innovative results (new products, services and markets).-Top

 
14. 400-YR-OLD STOLEN IDOLS REAPPEAR POST-QUAKE: Even as panic-struck people were making frantic efforts in Bhubaneswar to get out of their residential buildings when the earthquake struck on May 21 night, some miscreants while trying to shift nine antique idols hidden at a place to an undisclosed location dropped them near Phirphira Bridge.
The idols of Lord Radhakrishna worth crores of rupees, said to be of 400-year-old, were stolen from the Shree Kishore Jew temple in Niali area in Cuttack on May 6. The idols had fallen on the road after the bag tore off while those were being carried by the culprits on a bike minutes after the earthquake. -Top

 
15. RSS PRACHARAK CHANDRASHEKAR BHANDARI TO RECEIVE KARNATAKA STATE GOVT AWARD: Noted writer, veteran scholar, Senior RSS Pracharak Chandrashekar Bhandari is to receive Karnataka state Govt’s reputed Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Award for Best Translators for the year 2011 for his translation work on Dattopant Thegandi’s Book ‘Saamajika Kranti Surya Dr BR Ambedkar‘, a book on Dr BR Ambedkar.
79 year old  Chandrashekar Bhandari is known for his great contributions for RSS and related publications. He has penned several books, translated books and poems  and also himself composed several patriotic poems. Among his poems, ‘Dharegavatariside Swargada spardhiyu sundara taynelavu’, was selected by state govt and adopted as a patriotic song for upper primary schools. Shri Bhandari who is a prachark for last 54 years now has the responsibility of Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishat for Karnataka.  -Top

 
16. BRITISH MP COMPLAINS TO ‘HINDU PHOBIC’ BBC COVERAGE : Recently, while covering Bharatiya elections on  BBCs Newsnight programme on 16th May,   well known Hinduphobe William Dalrymple went to its extremes labeling BJP prime ministerial candidate Naraendra Modi as  mass murderer. British MP from Withham and Prime Minister’s UK Indian Diaspora Champion Priti Patel wrote a strong letter condemning the attacks on Modi to the head of the BBC Lord Tony Hall Director General of BBC. She mentioned that many in the British Bharatiya community, particularly those of Gujarati origin, were offended by the reporting about Prime Minister-elect   Narendra Modi. From the beginning of the broadcast, Modi was portrayed by the presenter, Yalda Hakim, as a “controversial figure.”  Modi’s  political  opponents  have portrayed him as being  ’controversial’, so by using  this reference,  the BBC, who should  be impartial, is giving  acceptance  to the political  position  of Modi’s  opponents   rather  than reporting  objectively.  The term ‘controversial’  could  be used  to describe  a large number of politicians,  which  is why  many  people  in Britain’s  Bharatiya community   believe  its use purely  in relation  to Modi in the news item was unbalanced. -Top

 
17. VETERAN PRACHARAK ANANT RAMCHANDRA GOKHALE IS NO MORE: Veteran Sangh Pracharak Anant Ramchandra Gokhale, passed away at Lucknow, on May 25. He was 96. He was unwell for some time.
Popular as Gokhaleji among the swayamsevaks, he lived a highly disciplined life and set many precedents before the swayamsevaks through his daily conduct. Despite growing age and weakness he was reluctant to get anybody’s help from cleaning the room to washing his clothes.
Born in 1918 at Khandava of Madhya Pradesh, he came in contact of RSS and became swayamsevak in 1938 at Dhantoli Shakha of Nagpur, and came in contact with Dr Hedgewar at Reshim Bagh Shakha the same year. He finally came out as Sangh Pracharak in 1942. He played a key role in the activities of Sangh along with eminent and committed swayamsevaks like Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Sunder Singh Bhandari, Barister Narendrajit Singh, etc.  -Top

 
18. BOOK ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN AHMEDABAD RIOTS IS ‘SET ASIDE’ BY PUBLISHER: A letter written by Dina Nath Batra, whose civil suit led to the pulping of Wendy Doniger’s book on Hinduism, has now led to the “setting aside” of a publication on violence against women in communal riots in Ahmedabad.
Publisher Orient Blackswan, which recently released Communalism and Sexual Violence: Ahmedabad Since 1969 and put it up for sale on its website in April 2014, has written to author Dr Megha Kumar saying the book needs “comprehensive assessment” and should be set aside “for the present”.
In the letter dated May 16, Orient Blackswan told Kumar, an Oxford-based Rhodes scholar, that Batra’s lawyer had written to them in April complaining that another book published by them and in print for more than 10 years, the popular textbook Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India by Sekhar Bandopadhyay, was defamatory and derogatory to the RSS.
In the light of that notice, Orient Blackswan wrote, a “pre-release assessment of books that might attract similar reactions” was being undertaken, suggesting that Kumar’s book had not been released so far. The publisher cited worries of legal proceedings and also of exposing “staff and families” of authors and publishers to “the risk of violence, endangering their life and safety”. -Top

 
19. PANDHARPUR TEMPLE ALLOWS WOMEN, MEN OF ALL CASTES AS PRIESTS: The temple administration of this 900 year old temple in Maharashtra has interviewed women and those from outside the Brahmin community for appointing them as priests. The Vitthal Rukmini Temple Trust (VRTT), which functions under the Maharashtra government, has made the radical move possible. "For the first time, a temple is throwing open its doors to everyone. We thought it was time now for us to set an example. No group should claim monopoly for serving as priests in the temple," Anna Dange, chairman of the trust, said. "Thousands of people converge here every year. People love Vitthoba and Rakhumai [as lord Vitthal and his consort Rukmini are called locally]. The Gods did not discriminate between people; it's time we followed suit."  -Top

 
20. BHARATIYA AIRPORTS NOW AMONGST WORLD'S BEST SERVICE PROVIDERS:  New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and Mumbai's Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) have found place in the top five of the best service quality providers in the world.
While IGIA has been adjudged as the second best in the 25-40 million passengers per annum (MPPA) category in the world in the Airports Council International's (ACI) airport service quality (ASQ). CSIA is the fifth best in the list.
Even Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has won the second best service quality award in the 5-15 MPPA category  .-Top

 
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will tour Australia and Malaysia in June. Visitors: Saureen Shah USA, Ashwin and Hemant – Mauritius. -Top

 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: For each and every person, our Lord and Master provide sustenance. Why are you so afraid, O mind? The flamingos fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind. Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought of this in your mind? - Guru Nanak  -Top
 JAI SHREE RAM

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THE TRENDSETTER: NEW DRIVERS OF DEVELOPMENT
The biggest drawback with the present model of development is that it has failed to ensure public participation in planning and execution of development projects. This is the reason majority of the projects fail to cater to the needs of the target audience. In order to change the situation and also to bring Bharatiya model of development in reality with active participation of people, Pune based YOJAK Centre for Research and Strategic Planning for Sustainable Development has come out with a unique idea, which can really reshape the destiny of villagers. With the help of some voluntary organisations in Central India’s Maharashtra and Gujarat regions it has created a band of educated youth who instead of migrating to cities for jobs owned the responsibility of developing their respective villages. During the last three years, YOJAK and its associated voluntary organisations have mobilised over 2,300 youth, mostly Vanvasis, to take up this challenge. The man leading this silent revolution is Dr Gajanan Dange, national president of YOJAK.
The Vanvasi region of Central India, beginning from Southern Gujarat to West Bengal, is among the highly underdeveloped regions. About three years back, YOJAK started a project, Madhya Bharat Vananchal Samriddhi Yojna, to change the development scenario in this region. Mobilising and empowering some voluntary organisations, it started studying the existed methods of development including their impact on natural resources. The second aspect of the study was how to take corrective steps that can meet the local needs. Third was implementation of the new sustainable approach. Following the ideals of Pandit Deendayalji, who said development should be based on janchetana (local conscience) and the government’s role should be of just a guide, motivator and supporter, YOJAK emphasised on this Bharatiya concept of development purely focusing on the needs and aspirations of the people of this region.
The model is being implemented with the help of voluntary organisations working on ground by mobilising local youth through Yuva Chetna Jagran Programmes. Before organising such programmes, the organisations' activists met local youth and motivated them to join the programme. During discussions they also tried to know what corrective steps they want in their areas. During the study it was found that majority of the educated youth want to stay in their respective villages, if provided better knowhow and help to live a meaningfullife. In order to help the selected youth understand the whole concept, the first Yuva Chetna Jagran Programme was organised at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Nandurbar, Maharashtra, on October 1, 2013. The programme was held with the help of five organisations—Dr Hedgewar Sewa Samiti, Deendayal Vanvasi Sewa Sanstha, Eklavya Adivasi Sewa Sanstha, Bahuddeshiya Birsa Munda Adivasi Sewa Sanstha and Vanvasi Utkarsh Samiti. Prior to the programme, all these organisations had deeply studied Nandurbar region for several months.
A total of 1,500 youth had expressed their desire in writing to stay in their villages and sought guidance for taking up activities. Finally, 1,003 youth turned to the programme on their own expenses. They were first apprised of the work being done by the associated voluntary organisations. Then they were told that the problems which they find are basically the problems of all 6 lakh villages. In the third session they were apprised of the successful projects of rural development going on in their regions. They were also told about the availability of technology for resolving their problems. At a session they were administered an oath for taking up developmental activity in their villages. In the last session, their responsibility towards their villages and family was reintegrated through 'Kartavya Bodh'. The participants returned home with renewed vigour and hope.
Another similar function was held in Songarh in Tapi district of Southern Gujarat on March 13, 2014. Hosted by Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust, Surat, the function was supported by Dang Vikas Parishad, Sarvamangal Trust and Manasi Vikas Sanstha also. It was attended by 1,300 youth.
At both the events, an exhibition was organised highlighting the local knowhow. Basically, the instruments which can reduce the drudgery in farming activities were prominently displayed. The exhibition also displayed how the indigenous seeds can be preserved and used.
Both these events were also attended by some achievers who have done wonderful work for rural development. In Nandurbar, the villagers who stopped a river at 18 places and changed the farming system in the entire area were invited. Similarly, in Songarh a community representative who is managing forest based livelihood programme was invited. Many similar successful experiments were displayed before them.
After analysing the information provided by the youth during the events, YOJAK started work on providing them technological support through local partners. Every individual case is being studied by experts. If somebody is involved in cotton production, he has to be helped in that way. “Since the Kharif season is beginning from June we have started imparting them training as to how they can increase production. The work has begun at rapid pace,” points out Dr Dange.
“An army of 2,300 youth has already started fighting against the faulty model of development. They are serious to take it to new heights. They are visiting the projects already going on in their regions to have first hand and practical knowledge. In Nandurbar, the youth were apprised of the work being done in Baripada Village where the villagers preserved a forest of 1,100 acre. Now youth from eight villages have visited that village to see and study the work. This shows the post programme enthusiasm among these youth.
When asked how the idea of starting this experiment clicked, Dr Dange says: “While visiting village to village in central India during the last several years we realised that participation of people in present process of development is very less. It is due to the lack of ownership spirit among local people that the impact of majority projects is minimal. We met many officials who too are worried over it. Our overall objective is to increase the people's participation in development process.”
The experiment has given a new dimension to rural development process, where the people think they should not continue to depend upon the government agencies for resolving their issues rather they have to be drivers in development. This can go a long way in curbing migration from rural areas to cities in search of jobs. (Organiser Weekly, June 8 2014) -Top
ARTICLE 370 – A PERSONAL VIEW
Markandeya Katju
A Kashmiri political leader recently gave a veiled threat that if Article 370 of the Constitution is repealed Kashmir will secede from India. Another Kashmiri political leader said that amnesty should be granted to stone pelters in Kashmir. All this has been shown recently on television.
My own view is that whether Article 370 is deleted or not, whether stone pelters are granted amnesty or not, Kashmir ( or any other state in India) must never be allowed to secede from India.
In this connection, it may be pointed out that Article 1(1) of the Indian Constitution states that India is a ‘Union of States’. Thus, India is not a confederation but a union of states. Hence no state has a right to secede from it, and the union is indissoluble.
If Kashmir has the right to secede, then Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamilnadu, etc., may also claim the same right. What then will happen to India ? It will be broken into pieces. This must never be allowed.
When the southern states of USA claimed the right to secede, and in 1861 formed their own government (the Confederate States of America) President Abraham Lincoln declared that they will not be allowed to secede, and he went to war on this issue. Similarly, we must never allow any state in India to secede, and must maintain our unity at any cost.
As regards the Kashmir problem, I have said several times that the only solution to the Kashmir problem is reunification of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh under a strong, secular, modern minded government which does not tolerate religious extremism of any kind.and works hard to abolish poverty, unemployment, lack of healthcare, good education etc., for the masses and raises their standard of living.
SOME SALIENT FACTS ABOUT ARTICLE 370
M G Vaidya
1.       Article 370 is a part of our Constitution.
2.       It is included in part XXI, the title of which is “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions”.
    The heading of Article 370 is worded as “Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir”.
    Our Constitution came into effect from 26th January 1950. The special provisions envisaged by Article 370, have been amended from time to time. The erosion has started from 1954. 1954 is important because in 1953, Shaikh Mohmed Abdullah, a very close friend of our first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested and put behind bars. Of course all these amendments were endorsed by the J&K State assembly.
    The following changes were made by these provisions:
(a)    In 1954, the laws and rules of departments of Customs, Central Excise, Civil Aviation and Post & Telegraph were made applicable to the State.
(b)   In 1958, the Centre could appoint IAS and IPS officers in the State. So also the State came under the authority of the CAG.
(c)    In 1959, the Central Census law was applied.
(d)   In 1960, the Supreme Court got the appellate power to review the judgments of the J&K High Court.
(e)   In 1964, Articles 356 and 357 were made applicable to the State. We all know that the Article 356 empowers the President, in case of Constitutional breakdown in the State, to assume all or any of the functions of the Government. It means that the Presidential rule will be there. And Article 357 gives to the President’s nominee i.e. the Governor to exercise the powers of the State Legislature also.
(f)     From 1965 all the Central laws pertaining to labour unions, Social Security, Insurance etc were made applicable to the State.
(g)    In 1956, the people of the State got the right to send their elected representatives to the Lok Sabha.
(h)   In 1966 itself the State Assembly made an amendment in the Constitution of the State by which, the titles of Vazir-e-Azam and Sadar-e-Riyasat were changed to the Chief Minister and the Governor as in other States.
(i)      In 1969, in cases related to the election, the Supreme Court got the appellate authority over the decisions of the State High Court.
(j)     In 1971, the State High Court got the powers conferred by Article 226 of our Constitution which enables it to hear the writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari or any of them, for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by Part III.
(k)    From 1986, Article 249 was made applicable to the State. This Article gives power to the Indian Parliament ‘to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest’.
It is true that since last about 28 years no erosion of the Article 370 was effected. WE can infer from a letter that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to Pt. Premnath Bajaj, an important personality in J&K, on 21st August 1962, that Panditji was in favour of completely abrogating the Article. The letter purports to say that in spite of the Article that gives special status to J&K, much has been effected; and even that which remains to be done will be done. In this matter the main problem is of sentiments.
Some other facts are also to be noted:
The article itself contains the provision to completely annul the Article. Sub section 3 of the Article 370 says -
“Notwithstanding anything in the forgoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative only with such exceptions and modifications from such date as he may specify.”
 It is true that there is a proviso viz. “the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.” But is the Constituent Assembly of the State in existence? How can a dead institution give its approval? Besides Art 370 is a temporary provision and therefore should not be made a permanent feature.
It is to be admitted that Article 370 has became a sentimental issue, for the leaders of the Kashmir Valley. But the State consists of other two regions also viz. a) Jammu and b) Laddakh. The sentiments of the people of these two regions should also be respected.
These two regions don’t want the Article 370. So let the State be trifurcated into three units viz. (1) Jammu, a separate state and (2) Laddakh getting a union territory status and (3) Valley The population of the Jammu region is almost equal to that of the valley. The area of Jammu is more than that of the valley by 11000 sq. kms. The population of this new State of Jammu will be more than that of any of the six states of the North-east. Let the State assembly pass a resolution to this effect, and let the valley satisfy itself with Article 370 as it stands today.
I can realize that this involves a long process. But let the State Assembly pass at least the 3 laws at the earliest, I mean before the State Assembly elections.
1) More than 2 lac people of Jammu region have a right to vote for the Lok Sabha, but not for the State Assembly. It means that they are citizens of India but not of the J&K. This absurdity must be immediately removed.
2)Immediate efforts be made to rehabitate the Kashmiri Pandits. It is a shame on all people of the valley and they must hang their head in disgrace that the Pandits were not allowed to live in their ancestral houses by the majority, I mean Muslims. Immediate dialogue be started with the Pandits.
I hope the new Central Government will move with alacrity in this matter. (Writer is veteran RSS thinker)-Top

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