\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Chaitra Krishna 11, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 1 April 2019
1. FESTIVALS: Mahavir Jayanti, the 2617th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir, 24th and the last Tirthankaris observed by Jains as birth anniversary of sage Mahavir. Mahavir, also known as Vardhamana, established core tenets of Jainism. Mahavir was the 24th and the last Jain sage. The 2617th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir is on 17 April this year. The celebration lacks much pomp and show and is mainly observed with reverence to Bhagwan Mahavir, with anointment of his statues, prayers and meditation. Mahavir Jayanti is grandly observed in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. For the purpose of achieving spiritual peace and enlightenment, Bhagwan Mahavir emphasized on taking five vows. They are ahimsa or non violence, Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity) and Aparigraha (non attachment).-GoTop
2. bharat tests its 1st anti-satellite missile system: codenamed Mission Shakti: Bharat has entered an elite club of nations that are capable of knocking off satellites in space, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi announced on March 27 after a DRDO missile tested off the Odisha coast successfully hit a low orbit satellite. In his address, PM Modi said that `Mission Shakti’ was a difficult target to achieve but was completed within three minutes of the missile launch. “Today is 27th March. A while ago, Bharat achieved a historic feat. Bharat today registered itself as a space power. Till now, 3 countries of the world—America, Russia & China—had this achievement. Bharat is the 4th country to have achieved this feat,” he said. “The ASAT missile will give new strength to Bharat’s space programme. I assure international community that our capability won't be used against anyone but is purely Bharat's defence initiative for its security,” he said.-GoTop
3. 10th Chamanlalji Memorial Lecture: “The emerging science of consciousness represents the frontier of knowledge whether you look at it from the viewpoints of neuroscience, physics, computer science or epistemology. This is the very heart of the Vedic atma-vidya, and it is most likely that it will facilitate further progress in these fields and consequently change world society in ways that be scarcely imagined”, said Professor Subhash Kak, renowned scholar and Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University, USA while delivering the 10thChamanlalji Memorial Lecture on March 25. The Lecture, “Indian Foundations of Modern Science” was organised by the International Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS). Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Harsh Varshan and Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar were also present. Shyam Parande, general secretary of Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad, introduced the topic of discussion and ICCS activities.
Prof Kak said the political and elites in the West concede religiosity and some philosophy to Bharat but not science. If Bharatiyas themselves are not aware of their contributions to science, it is because their school and college curricula are hopelessly out of date. “Textbooks only speak of the geometry of the Vedic altars, the invention of zero, Yoga psychology, and Indian technology of steel-making that went into the manufacture of swords. But if you read scholarly books you find that early Indian contributions to science are more impressive than that of Greece (or Europe)”, he said.
He said the discovery of infinite series and calculus by Newton and Leibniz heralded the Scientific Revolution that was to change the world. But new research has shown that over two centuries ago, the Kerala School of Mathematics had already developed calculus and offer some historians suggest that this and advanced astronomical knowledge from Kerala went abroad via the Jesuits and provided the spark for its further development in Europe. Similarly, Ayurveda texts include the notion of germs and inoculation and also postulate mind-body connection, which has become important area of contemporary research. Bharatiya medicine was strongly empricial; it used Nature as a guide, and it was informed by the sense of skepticism. In the West, the notion of skepticism is usually credited to the Scottish philosopher of science, David Hume, but scholars have been puzzled by the commonality behtween his ideas and the earlier Indian ones. Recently, it was shown that Hume almost certainly learnt Bharatiya ideas from Jesuits when he was at the Royal College of La Fleche in France.
Prof Kak further said there are also indirect ways that Bharatiya ideas led to scientific advance. Mendeleev was inspired by the two-dimensional structure of the Sanskrit alphabet to propose a similar two-dimensional structure of chemical elements. JC Bose is considered as the true father of radio science. He also discovered millimetre length electro-magnetic waves and was a pioneer in the fields of semiconductor electronics and biophysics. “Digital computer theory is normally traced to the mathematical logic of George Boole, Charles Babbage, and Augustus de Morgan in the UK to the middle of the 19th century. But Boole’s wife Mary, who was a wellknown science writer in her own right, hinted that their work was based on Navya Nyaya which Mary’s uncle George Everest, a longtime Surveyor General of India, had learnt from local scholars”, he added. He said Erwin Schrodinger, a founder of quantum theory, credited ideas in the Upanishads for the key notion of superposition that was to bring about the quantum revolution in physics that established new foundations for chemistry, biology, and electronics technology and the new world of computer hardware. -GoTop
4. Hinduism in focus at CNN Town Hall: CNN held a Town Hall with Tulsi Gabbard – the first Hindu American to be elected to US Congress and to run for President – on March 10 that brought Hindus and Hinduism to the American public in a bold and historic way. Asked about her religion and spiritual beliefs, Gabbard highlighted the inspiration her Hindu faith has brought her several times, as well as the Hinduphobia she has faced in her time in office. “From a growing number of temple desecrations to bullying and even murder, Hindus have seen violent attacks against their community increase substantially,” Hindu American Foundation Executive Director Shukla said. “Hinduphobia is also seen in less overt ways, such as when anti-Hindu activists insist that public school children should be taught that ‘Hinduism is an evil construct’ or when an American media outlet publishes a piece that profiles and targets donors to Gabbard’s campaign with ‘Hindu sounding names’ and insinuates dual loyalty to India over the US,” Shukla added. -GoTop
5. Demise of an ideal political personality: Rashtriya Swayamsevak sangh: The former Gomantak and Goa Sanghachalak, Mukhya Mantri Manohar Parrikar has unfortunately lost the prolonged battle against illness. He was a former Raksha Mantri of Bharat and also held many other posts that he brought honour and glory to. He was diligent, committed and focused in his goals. Due to divine ordainment, his voice has been silenced forever.
Whether it was Sangh activities in Goa, or the lofty goal of development of common people, Manohar Parrikar was a leader who dedicated his everything to both causes with equal diligence. He took upon the responsibility of Raksha Mantralaya keeping national interests in mind and guided the defence establishment in a new direction. Amiable, studious, strong-willed, work-oriented and someone who had no other thought in his mind except national interest, Manohar Parrikar was, indeed, a rare public figure. We have lost one of the best sons of Bharat Mata. We will always remember him as an ideal social, political worker and dedicated karyakarta.
May his family, friends and colleagues be granted the strength to bear the loss of his untimely passing. May the departed soul attain sadgati. This is our prayer to the Almighty.
Our humble homage.
Dr. Mohan Bhagwat
Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi -GoTop
6. Eye-Catching hindu Temple in South Iran: Located near the center of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, Hindu Temple is one of the historical monuments built in 1892 through the offers of Indian merchants. The design of this temple is completely inspired by Bharatiya architecture and is clearly distinguishable from other buildings of the city. -GoTop
7. Shivaji Maharaj America Parivaar Celebrates Grand Shiv Jayanti Program, Honors National Heroes: Shivaji Maharaj America Parivaar celebrated its grand Shiv Jayanti festival on March 9 in Long Beach, California, with the theme of “Unity and Leadership Without Boundaries.”An hour-long play depicting the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was one of the featured items of the program, for which Pradnya Kuwadekar from LAFTA (Los Angeles Film, Theater and Arts, a non-profit organization) wrote the script, choreographed and directed the play featuring 64 artists. The celebration of the birth of Shivaji was enacted in the form of a traditional Bharatiya dance. This was followed by a series of skits that showed Veermata Jijabai telling child Shivaji stories of other heroes, the respect that Shivaji Maharaj had for all women, how he won key battles and, finally, how he established ‘Hindavi Swarajya’. The play ended with a celebration of the coronation ceremony. The act received a standing ovation from the audience, members of whom were packed on two levels of the auditorium. Atul Patil played the role of Raje Shiv Chhatrapati. A high-energy dance drama by the Savithri Arts Academy was also presented, choreographed by dancer Kalaimanani Dr. Sinduri Jayasinghe. Thirty dancers depicted the stories of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through the ancient dance form of Bharat Nathyam.-GoTop
8. HSS USA Activities: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (“HSS”) concluded its Twelfth annual Health for Humanity Yogathon also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna, on January 27, 2019. Sixty-two elected officials including New York State Senate, State Governors of Arizona, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and 55 mayors from across the US proclaimed and actively supported the Yogathon. Throughout the United States, 101 schools participated in the Yogathon activity. This included, 13,578 students performing a total of 98,091 Surya Namaskars.
On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, HSS Balagokulams held activities for children of making Shivalingms from clay, chanting of Nirvana Shatakam and by visiting temples. Hindu Yuva hosted an exhibition on Hinduism at 'Discover India' event in Follinger Auditorium at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with the Indian Graduate Students Association UIUC. The Hindu Youth for Unity, Virtues, and Action organized a vigil for the policemen who were killed as a result of a terror attack at the Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama, Bharat, on Valentine’s Day. HSS Volunteers nationwide participate with the local community organizations to hold a vigil and to pay respect to the martyrs of this terror attack.
Hindu YUVA and HSS organized their annual YUVA Sangam on Feb 17th and 18th at Radha Madhav Dham, Austin, TX in order to bring together all the yuvas from the South West Sambhag. Total of 48 yuvas (34 sevaks and 14 sevikas) took part in the YUVA Sangam, bonded together and shared their experiences over the course of the one and a half days. There were 10 undergraduate, 21 graduate (master’s and Ph.D. students) students from University of Houston, UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT Arlington, UT San Antonio, and Texas A&M, 17 working professionals from Dallas, Autin, Houston, San Antonio.
Annalakshmi Sewa, February 2019. When entire Seattle was covered in snow for 8 inches, HSS volunteers took extreme opportunity to cook food at home and serve 100+ homeless people at CFC Shelters, Bellevue. On February 24th, 2019, adult, youths and young adult HSS volunteer from North Carolina took an initiative to clean up the local Park, as a part of local sewa project. -GoTop
9. Saat Samundar Paar..!bharatiya Navy’s journey of courage and bravery while rescuing and helping Mozambique: As Mozambique gets severely hit by cyclone Idai, the Bharatiya Navy rowed its ships INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi and INS Shardul for rescue. Becoming the first responder Bharatiya Navy did abide to the promise of helping those in need of it. As part of its relief operations in cyclone-hit Mozambique, the Bharatiya Navy has rescued more than 192 people and provided assistance to 1,381 people in medical camps set up by it. Cyclone Idai made landfall in East and Southern Africa around March 15 causing widespread destruction and loss of human lives in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. "As on March 26, the Bharatiya naval crew had rescued more than 192 people. Medical assistance has been provided to 1,381 persons in medical camps set up by the Bharatiya Navy," the Navy statement said. Bharat's Chetak helicopter undertook several sorties to facilitate aerial survey by disaster management officials of Mozambique to rescue people in coordination with local authorities and for dropping food and water packets in the cyclone-affected areas. -GoTop
10. “RSS : A View to the Inside” awarded: Tata Literacy awarded ‘The best book of year Rs. 3,00,000award in Non fiction category to “RSS : A View to the Inside” written by Shridhar Damle and Dr. Walter Andersen. Retired Journalist Shridhar Damle is a researcher with Master degrees in History and Poltics, while Dr. Walter Andersen who did Ph D. on Jana Sangh, is Dean, South Asia in Johns Hopkins University, Washington D. C. Damle’s and Andersen’s previous book “Brotherhood in Saffron” is considered to be an authentic book on RSS among academics and journalists .
Their new book “RSS : A View to the Inside” presents an objective presentation of how RSS and Parivar organizations, view current sensitive issues like Economy, Muslims, Ram Janma Bhoomi, Kashmir, Ban on Cow slaughter, Education etc. and their interactions with BJP, especially the Modi Govt. The book also elaborates in detail about Hindutva, Seva works, and Swayamsevaks’ work abroad. The book presents five decades research of the authors substantiated by authentic documents and 150 pages foot notes. -GoTop
11. International Gandhi Peace Prize for Ekal Abhiyan Trust: Ekal Abhiyan Trust has won the International Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2017 for the contribution in providing education to rural tribal children in remote areas, rural empowerment, gender, and social equality. Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind along with Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi presented the Gandhi Peace Prize on February 26.
As a tribute to the ideals espoused by Shri Gandhi, the Govt of Bharat launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Shri Mohandas Gandhi. This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. The award carries INR 1 Crore (10 million), a plaque and a citation. -GoTop
12. New normal: India’s highlighting of maltreatment of Pakistani minorities is the right step: After India signalled a change in its security red lines following the Balakot surgical strike against a Jaish-e-Muhammed terror training camp deep inside Pakistan, New Delhi now appears to be making another break with the past. It has flashed the deplorable case of two teenaged Hindu sisters who were abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men in Pakistan’s Sindh. It all started with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj highlighting the plight of the two girls on social media. This saw a response from Pakistan’s I&B minister Fawad Chaudhry that led to a heated exchange. The Indian government also sent an official note to the Pakistan foreign office, demanding suitable remedial action to protect minorities in that country.
This is a new streak as India has traditionally struck a defensive stance on human rights issues. This has allowed countries like Pakistan to forcefully and repeatedly raise questions in international fora about India’s track record in protecting minority Muslims here, when the reality is that the situation is far worse for minorities (some would argue even the majority population) in countries like Pakistan and its all-weather friend China. In fact, what happened to the Sindh girls is shockingly quite common in Pakistan. Hindu and Sikh girls are frequently abducted and married to Muslim men with authorities looking the other way. And given the hold of Islamist forces in Pakistan, no political office is willing to take on such criminal practices.
This was also exemplified by the recent murder of a university professor in Pakistan’s Punjab province by a student over blasphemy. The professor was reportedly planning a mixed gender event which the student found ‘un-Islamic’. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have long provided cover for mob lynchings against liberals and minorities in that country.
Against this backdrop, India shouldn’t hesitate in calling out Pakistan on its own human rights record. In fact, there’s also a case for doing the same with China. The latter’s treatment of Uighur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists has been appalling. Moreover, China does India no favours in the international arena as exemplified by its repeated blocking of UN sanctions against Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar. Of course, human rights violations must be taken seriously whenever and wherever they occur. But if Pakistan and by extension China want to make this a political issue to target India, then New Delhi shouldn’t dither in showing them the mirror and asking for accountability.(Editorial, Times of India, March 26, 2019) -GoTop
13. Pakistan approves plan to open ancient Hindu temple corridor in PoK: The Pakistan government on March 25 approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to a media report. The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations. Established in 237 B.C. during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, the 5,000-year-old Sharada Peeth is an abandoned temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning. Between the 6th and 12th centuries C.E, Sharada Peeth was one of the foremost temple universities of the Indian subcontinent. -GoTop
14. bharatiya philosophy has great influence on me – Robin Sharma: Author of the bestseller The Monk who Sold His Ferrari, Robin Sharma, has said Bharatiya philosophy and values have great influence on him and his success as an author. “My father is from Kashmir so I was raised with Indian values. In fact, our home was filled with books on Indian philosophy. I adore the country for its varied cultures, art, food and people. So when I came down to Mumbai, it will it always feels very very special for me stop,” he said. -GoTop
15. When ‘Mother of Trees' blessed rashtrapati Kovind ji: 106-year-old Saalumarada Thimmakka, who has earned the sobriquet of 'Vriksha Mathe (Mother of Trees)' for planting 8,000 trees including over 400 banyan trees in Karnataka, was honoured with the award of Padma Shri on March 16 in Rashtrapati Bhavan. When Thimmakka, dressed in a light green sari, with a smiling face and 'tripundra' on her forehead, approached the dias to receive the award, Rashtrapati Shri Ram Nath Kovind, 33 years younger to Thimmakka, asked her to face the camera, the centenarian touched his forehead to bless him. Her innocuous move brought a smile on the faces of the Rashtrapati, Pradhan Mantri and all the guests who burst into a rapturous applause for her.
Thimmakka's story is of grit and determination. She reportedly wanted to commit suicide in her 40s as she could not conceive, but with the support of her husband, she found solace in planting trees. The couple arduously worked in the fields during the day, planted trees and cared for them. From 10 plants in the first year, they kept planting more saplings in the later years. Born in Hulikal village in Karnataka, Thimmakka has planted over 8,000 trees during a period of 65 years. -GoTop
16. Ramappa Temple named for World Heritage site tag: The 800-year-old Warangal-based Ramappa Temple, the only temple in the country named after its sculptor Rampapa, has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage site selection process for 2019. It is Bharat's only entry this year. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has written to the UNESCO for its nomination. Located in Palmapet in Mulugu district, the Ramappa Temple, also known as the Ramalingeshwara Temple, dates back to 1213 AD during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva. “The temple roof (garbhalayam) is built with bricks which are so light that they can float on water. Also, it is built on the sand box technology, which made it resistant to earthquakes and other natural calamities,” said the ASI official. On every Shivratri festival the temple witnesses the huge congregation of devotees.-GoTop
17. Inland waterways become part of Nepal-bharat trade and transit treaties: Bharat has agreed to incorporate Nepal’s proposal to extend inland waterway facilities up to its nearest navigation points in the bilateral trade and transit treaties for third country trade via Bharat. An understanding to this effect was made during a joint meeting of senior officials from Bharat and Nepal, which concluded on 19 March in New Delhi. “Bharat has agreed to incorporate inland water facilities in separate Trade and Transit Treaties, paving the way for us to navigate inland water facilities from Haldia to Nepal border via our two rivers. This will diversify our transit facilities, as we are currently completely dependent on land transit,” Nepalese Commerce Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari said. -GoTop
18. Justice PC Ghose Takes Oath As bharat's First Lokpal: Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose took oath as the first Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman of Bharat on March 23. Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind administered him the oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in the presence of Upa-Rashtrapati Venkaiah Naidu, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of Bharat Ranjan Gogoi. Justice Ghose, 66, was selected by a panel led by Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi weeks after the February-end deadline set by the Supreme Court. He was the member of the National Human Rights Commission when his name was announced for the post of Lokpal chairperson. As Lokpal of the country, Justice Ghose has the power to probe into allegations of corruption against sitting and former ministers and parliamentarians. His appointment comes five years after the Lokpal Act was approved by the President on January 1, 2014.-GoTop
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors: Sanjay Tripathi - USA, Teyasuvi Shukla - Thailand
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Terrorism has no religion because no religion in the world preaches violence. – National Investigation Agency (NIA) special judge Jagdeep Singh in his judgment dated March 30, 2019 on Samjhauta blast. -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
A requiem for a true Indian
VK Bahuguna
Erudite and brilliant politicians like Manohar Parrikar are born once in a century. They are the saving grace for their class as public hopes and aspirations hinge on them
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died on March 17 after battling pancreatic cancer for more than two years. A pall of gloom descended over the country as soon as President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted about his sad demise. The entire nation is mourning his untimely death at a comparatively young age of 63, leading to an outpouring of condolences from people from all walks of life and even his political opponents. For he represented what politics needs most today, an honest sense of mission.
In an era when all and sundry join politics after failing in many ventures, Parrikar, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak and a brilliant IITian, was pushed into politics in 1988 when he was asked to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Ever since he joined politics, he followed his conviction of becoming a true servant of the people by practising what he believed. He was a staunch nationalist and a true patriot with a secular mind, groomed in pure Indian culture of respecting the feelings of all religions, caste and creed without any trace of bias and hatred against anyone.
Parrikar’s simplicity, humble nature, honesty, straight forwardness and good ethics of governance, including his no-nonsense attitude in administering what he believed, is necessary for the larger good of people and was writ large on his smiling face all the time. People will never forget the Chief Minister and the workaholic presenting the budget in the Goa Assembly on January 30 this year with a nasal tube on, a cap and assisted by his staff. During his political sojourn, he exuded hope and unbound energy in his personal gaiety which made him immensely popular all over the country.
He outgrew his tiny State of Goa and became a colossus in Indian politics. He served Goa with full dedication and made it a very well-administered State by setting personal examples like riding pillion on scooters, standing in queue at the airports, shops and collecting his own baggage from the airport belt and elsewhere. These were some of the high marks of his belief in disdainfully trashing the thriving VIP culture in our country. He fought his pancreatic cancer, which was detected in an advanced stage, with courage and fortitude not seen in ordinary mortals, and till his last breath was fully engaged in running the state administration.
Parrikar was the saving grace of Indian polity in which many politicians have scant regard for probity and genuine welfare of people and the country. His death has created a big void which will be difficult to fill. Erudite and brilliant politicians like Manohar Parrikar with exceptional charisma are born once in a century. They are the saving grace for their class as people’s hopes and aspirations hinge on them rather than on lesser mortals in their fraternity.
This writer had a personal encounter with his simplicity and ethics in 2003 when Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa and the then Environment and Forest Minister, TR Baalu, took the Ministry’s statutory body, Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), to Panaji for deciding the mining cases of Goa. This was a rare occasion when this committee held its meeting outside Delhi.
This writer was the Member-Secretary of FAC by virtue of working as Inspector-General of Forests in the Ministry. The then Director-General of Forests and other members were having dinner in the hotel garden in Panaji when we noticed one informally dressed man coming towards us along with one of his colleagues and before we could guess who he was, he walked straight to us and shook hands with all of us even as he said as the Chief Minister of Goa, he had come to welcome us to his State. He was none other than Manohar Parrikar, accompanied by his Forest Minister Vinay Tendulkar. We could never imagine that the Chief Minister of a State would walk in his Kolhapuri slippers with his untucked half-sleeve shirt and of course, without the customary security of a VIP. He never talked about any proposal of the State and was with us for half an hour, having just a glass of water.
Parrikar will be remembered for a long time for his foresight in turning the destiny of India’s politics and that of the BJP’s by proposing the name of Narendra Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the BJP’s September 2013 National Executive meeting in Goa. It has been a history since then. As soon as the BJP won the 2014 election, he was uprooted from Goa and made the country’s Defence Minister, an anointment which spoke how the Modi-led team held him in high regard for his integrity and simplicity. But all the while, his heart was in Goa where he eventually went back ultimately in 2017 as the Chief Minister.
As Defence Minister, he was responsible for bringing professionalism, removing decision paralysis in procurement and transparency in the overall working of the crucial Defence Ministry. He will be remembered by ex-soldiers among others for allowing one rank one pension for the defence personnel.
The Rafale procurement was one that he very deftly handled, including killing the note engineered by his then Defence Secretary. The deal was sealed ultimately. However, he will be most remembered for providing astute leadership during the 2016 surgical strikes by the Indian Army across the Line of Control against Pakistan-sponsored terror camps. Parrikar had personally monitored the surgical strikes. His conviction as the country’s Defence Minister can be best explained in his own words. He once said, “I gave instructions to the armed forces personnel to shoot at any one possessing an AK-47 machine gun as it is obvious that they do not have any good intentions.” It is this conviction that made Prime Minister Modi’s task easy to conduct the surgical strike. His death is an irreparable loss for the country and more so for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party. His successor to the Goa Chief Minister’s chair, Pramod Sawant, will have very large boots to fill. Apart from other achievements, this four-time Goa Chief Minister brought the State’s Christian lobby in the BJP’s fold, which is not a mean achievement. It was also his charismatic personality that was largely responsible for arresting the infamous Aayaram-Gayaram political culture in Goa for a while. The entire country is in shock and tears on the departure of this prodigious son of India. Rest in peace Manohar Parrikar. (The writer is a retired civil servant). The Pioneer, March 20, 2019. -GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan vishwav@bol.net.in
