‘ARYANS’, ‘DRAVIDS’AND ‘NAGAS’---SOME LIES, SOME MYTHS AND SOME LEGENDS-PART ONE

Who are Dravidian people? Are they ethnically same? Do they owe their origin to South India? Strange questions I ask and strange answers I will give. I will quote from known written sources but deduce based on what the ORAL HISTORY of the people would dictate to me. Firstly, DRAVIDIAN PEOPLE are neither one nor ethnically same. The origin of the word is interesting. As I Go through WIKIPEDIA article, it makes certain amusing observations. These are:-

-The word first time finds mention in SANSKRIT TEXTS in and around seventh century AD. It was used by KUMARILA BHATTA in his book TANTRIKAVARTTIKA. It is alleged the word was used to describe TAMIL LANGUAGE. It was an Englishman, namely, Robert Caldwell, who used this phrase to describe people of South India. He coined the term DRAVIDIANS in the 19th Century. How ironic—there are people in South India whose ancestors coined this dergatory term to describe lowly people but today they as descendants of 'ANCIENTS GREATS' are also clubbed into the same category.

-The Origin of the word DRAVIDA is attributed to the Sanskrit word “DRAMILA” or “DAMILA”, which later corrupted to Tamil or Tamil speaking people. It has been done by Linguists and they have gone to the extent of equating these words with TAMIL or TARMIZ. However, I have a different definition. I personally feel the word has been coined out of old Sanskrit and ancient PERSIAN words. There is a Persian word “DRI-CHE-SHAK”, meaning undoubtedly or without doubt. Here, DRI stands for WITHOUT and ‘SHAK’ for ‘DOUBT’. Even in SANSKRIT the word ‘DRI’stands for “LACKING- IN”. The word DRAVID is made of two Sanskrit words “DRI” and “VID”. DRI, as explained, would stand for ‘Lacking-in or poor’ while “VID” means KNOWLEDGE. Thus DRAVID was a person who did not have the knowledge. It was used to refer to people who were considered INFERIOR---as till a few years back or even today, NON-ENGLISH speaking people are viewed. It was not referring to a race or one ethnicity but was used as a derogatory term.

-Robert Caldwell, a renowned linguist, in his book “Grammar of the Dravidians or the People of South India, published in 1856, recognized 73 Dravidian languages spoken from South India to Baluchistan(PAKISTAN),Western Iran, Afghanistan and Urals. It is now believed they were the people who established Pre –Aryan or the HARAPPAN civilization .I call it the civilization of NAGA people who were the worshippers of lord Shiva. The VEDIC knowledge belongs to them which had been usurped by the ARYANS because by that time, say around 1900 BC to 2800 BC NATURAL UPHEAVALS had devastated the NAGA CIVILISATION. Anyway at this stage, dates are not important.

The more I dig into VEDIC and ARYAN myths and legends, the more I am astonished at the written volumes of BRITISH-INTERPRETTED accounts of ancient Indian History. I do not blame the BRITISHERS for this gaffe but the obedient servants of HIS MASTER’s VOICE---the genre of modern Indian historians of colonial and post-colonial era. My pointer is towards the callous neglect of the ORAL HISTORY while interpreting ancient Indian history. There was a need for a deliberate effort to establish a linkage of ORAL HISTORY with the archaeological sites. The BRITISHERS couldn’t have done this. They did not understand the local facts of customs, traditions, folklores, food habits and the development of language and local dialect to include, sayings, maxims, phrases and the grammar. Let me explain my point regarding the impact of historical events on language, dialect, customs, traditions and children games. I will do so with some examples from rural Punjab of yesteryears to show as to how do games, phrases and idioms evolve?

There was a game in rural PUNJAB, some 3-4 decades back, which the young children used to play. In this game, they drew out a square on the ground. Divided it into five rectangles from top to bottom. The third and fifth rectangles were further subdivided vertically into two equal rectangles each. The own side of the side is called ‘GHAR’ (Home). The far side is called ‘SAMUNDAR’ (THE SEA). And then they throw a dice sequentially from the HOME SIDE rectangle first and go towards the SEA SIDE rectangles step by step. Each time they have to go hopping on one leg to the rectangle where the dice is lying and push it out of the square. It is done in turns. Should the dice go out sideways or land in the opponent’s square—the player is considered out. Should you successfully bring the dice out of the square---you own the rectangle where you had thrown the dice. There are two players or two teams. It is called “ADDEE –CHHARAPPA”, meaning “HEEL- HOPPING”. Now, how would you interpret this game? If I write it, for your convenience as “ADDEE-CH-HARAPPA”, then, what would you say? Let me translate it for you: HARAPPA UNDER MY HEEL. Are you raising your heckles? Why not? This is what the game means—if you follow its basic characteristics.

Go to SANGHOL—an archaeological site of HARAPPAN period---near Chandigarh, some 60 kms South West of it on the road to Ludhiana. They say it lay on the banks of river SATLUJ when it was a tributary of river SARASWATI. The excavations reveal that it was a well planned city—which one day, some distant time in the past, just banished. The folk lore says that it was the outcome of the curse of a woman of the village. They tell you the story of the curse of a widowed girl of the village who, being harassed and troubled, wanted the TOWN to cave in---or in typical Punjabi word---“NIGGHAR JAAVE”. And Lo! It caved in one evening with the sound “GARH—GARH—GARH---GARH---GARH”. Is the name “GHAGGAR”—the name of the dry stream—alleged to be ancient SARASWATI CHANNEL based on this sound “GARH ---GARH---GARH”? Just think about it? Go to Ropar, some 50 Kms WEST of Chandigarh on the road to Jalandhar/Hoshiarpur. It is on the banks of river SATLUJ as it comes out of the Shivalik Hills. The excavations, there too, tell a similar story. How about Chandigarh itself? The museum in the Punjab University tells the story of its linkage with Harappa sites. In India, the story of our historical evolution has been greatly mystified in our attempt to glamourise our past based on certain epochal stories. We tend to be emotional in claiming everything as indigenous. Let me illustrate this in succeeding paragraphs.

Take the case of evolution of Hinduism. I t must be understood that unlike other religions, it was not founded by any MESSIAH, PROPHET or a SAINT. It evolved itself by the confluence of various TEMPORAL PHILOSOPHIES, both indigenous and external. It graduated from geographical identity to religious identity over 1000 years. Primarily, it emerged with the synthesis of two diametrically opposite philosophies---SHAIVISM and VAISHNAVISM. While SHAIVITES were NON-VEGETERAIANS; VAISHNAVITES are VEGETARIANS. Even today KASHMIRI PANDITS—the Staunch SHAIVITES ---eat MEAT and that too ‘HALAAL’ and not JHATKA’. ‘Shaivites’ had Lord Shiva as its presiding deity; Vaishnavites had Lord Vishnu. ‘Shaivites’ believed in LIVING LIFE HAPPILY TODAY---thus their guiding principle was: EAT, DRINK and BE MERY. Vaishnavites believed in the betterment OF FUTURE through ‘GOOD DEEDS TODAY’.

SHAIVISM is indigenous and VAISHNAVISM is imported. In the times bygone, both of them were competitive temporal philosophies. In the history of ‘Chalukyas’, a dynasty ruling in the peninsular India around 1000-1200AD, there are instances of kings patronizing SHAIVISM and prosecuting the Vaishnavites. It is alleged that one of the Chalukya kings, namely Kullothunga Chola II, had removed the statue of Lord Vishnu from the SHIVA shrine at CHIDAMBRAM. History and EPOCHS tell us that LORD SHIVA had been the most revered deity of ancient India. The mythical RAVANA of RAMAYANA was worshipper of LORD SHIVA. Balmiki, who wrote, original RAMAYANA was a CHANDAL—who were SHIVA followers. But, over a period of time the competition between SHAVITES and VAISHNAVITES has gone and both of them merged to create HINDUISM---which further gave birth to Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Both of them had so well meshed into one another, today, that it laid the foundation of the basic two TENETS of TOLERANCE and PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE of Hinduism. Their merger gave rise to the concept of COLLECTIVE WISDOM and MULTIPLICITY of GODS---so as to give freedom of choice in religious matters. They had merged so well that each lost its individual identity. The emergence of HINDUISM, around 530 AD, did exactly the same to INDIA what GLOBALISATION was doing to the WORLD, today. I may add here that the emerging “INDIANISM or INDIANESS” of today, might have the finer characteristics of al prevailing major religions in India, as did HINDUISM in the 6th Century AD. Geography and climatic environments do play their part in shaping the course of history as for as traditions, customs and lingual peculiarities are concerned. The point is we have to study our history in unison with ORAL TRADITIONS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES and AVAILABLE WRITTEN RECORDS.

The excavations of the archaeological sites and historical monuments do not tell the true tale of our HISTORY unless we take into account the folklores, food habits, dresses, traditions, customs and lingual dialects. All this make oral history besides some written accounts. Purely basing your judgment on the artifacts discovered gives out only a disconnected and disconcerted story. Most of the ancient Indian History has been interpreted on the bases of potteries and metal works and ‘periods’ have been assigned by a process of elimination. This is amongst the reasons that after the excavations at HARAPPA—the ancient history has fallen prey to the reasoning and argument whether HARAPPA was PRE-VEDIC / ARYAN or POST VEDIC. Equally ironical is the fact that it has been dubbed as INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION—whereas it might be SAPTA SINDHU or NAGA CIVILISATION.

Who were Aryans? I agree with ROMILLA THAPAR on their LINGUAL IDENTITY. I am not going to indulge in the debate whether they were indigenous or from outside. Before I go further, let me ask you some pertinent questions. Who are the ENGLISH SPEAKING people of modern India? Are they ethnically one? Are they fair complexioned or dark complexioned? “What silly questions”, some of you would say? Yes, they are very very silly and stupid questions. Frankly speaking, they are as stupid as has been the case of the ARYANS identity with some superior ethnicity or VEDIC KNOWLEDGE. How did English language come to India? It was not of Indian origin. Today, a major chunk of URBAN India, reads, writes and may be, speaks English. It does not make them ethnically one. Linguistic uniformity does not represent ethnic connectivity. Same is true of ARYANS. It only speaks of their Lingual affinity and not of racial. I would say same of the word, “DRAVID”.

Let me emphatically state that there were no ETHNIC identities of the words ‘ARYANS’ or ‘VEDIC’ and ‘DRAVID’. The DRAVIDS do not have even the lingual similarity. They might include ‘EARLY ARYANS’, ‘NAGAS’ and various nomadic tribes who lived in the forests of a region EAST of ‘SARASWATI-SINDHU’ basin. As I have stated above, ‘DRAVID ‘was a word concocted by SANSKRIT speaking ARYANS to represent NON-SANSKRIT SPEAKING people. It had the similar connotation as the ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE of today have towards NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING native PEOPLE. It had some derogatory and disrespectful implications—like CRUDE, BARBARIAN or an uneducated person might be referred to. I will come back to it a little later.

‘Aryan’ is a word used for people who spoke probably, a crude dialect of a language now recognized as SANSKRIT. They were the people who branched off from a tribe which migrated to ancient PERSIA from steppes of Central Asia. ‘Crude Sanskrit had many similarities with ancient Persian language AVESTAN. SANSKRIT was reformed and perfected around FIRST CENTURY AD by PANINI---“SAMAST KRIT---meaning PERFECTED”. It is after this that dissimilarities might have cropped up in the two languages. Modern day IRAN (ancient PERSIA) derives its name from the word ARIANA. It was in the 19th Century and early 20th Century that the word was glamorized, by GERMAN SCHOLARS who, too, claimed to be descendants of the same tribe. It was thus accorded an ethnic supremacy—which was exploited by HITLER to discredit Jews and other European people.

When ‘Harappa’ and ‘Mohan Jodaro’, both in Pakistan, were excavated around early 20th Century, a myth was woven around the supremacy of ‘Aryans and Vedic’ people, based on the architectural greatness of these two towns. In the absence of any available written historical records, it was assumed that crude and brute people of India could not have such an advanced civilization in the past. No attempt was made to seek a connection with ORAL HISTORY of the land. Thus a theory of ARYAN INVASION and CONQUER of INDIA was forwarded and accorded legitimacy. Thus was created a myth of VEDIC PEOPLE and INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION. To this, confusion was added by some INDIAN SCHOLARS who claimed INDIA as the origin of VEDIC or the ARYAN PEOPLE. Both were eccentrically wrong.

The word VEDIC or VEDAS has it roots in a SANSKRIT word ‘VID’, which means knowledge and education, as explained previously. Thus, the VEDAS do contain KNOWLEDGE but it PRE-EXISTED the arrival of ARYANS. The four VEDAS have their amplifications given in BRAHMANAS, PURANS, UPNISHADAS and ARYANIKAS. This knowledge belonged to people who lived in the region called SAPTA SINDHU and ALP-GANHSTHAN (AFGHANISTAN). They were neither ARYANS nor DRAVIDS—they were SAIVITES—or the followers of Lord SHIVA or what I would say “NAGA PEOPLE”. Mythology tells us that NAGAS owe their origin to RISHI (SAINT) KASHYAP. These RISHIS used to live in the forests with their families---the ARYANAKAS are the explanatory notes by them on various forms of VEDIC LITERATURE. Rishi KASHYAP or KASHPYO in GREEK is reported to have given his name to CASPIAN SEA and KASHMIR. There are different mythological stories to be told but at some other times. Here, suffice to say the descendants of KASHYAP still exist as a CASTE amongst Hindus. They claim themselves as KASHYAP RAJPUTS but worked as WATER BEARERS or PLANQUIN BEARERS in the good old days.

The Naga civilization was spread from modern day Afghanistan to East up to Assam and Kashmir in the North to Karnataka in the South. They generally lived along the water bodies such as lakes and rivers, that is why also called ‘WATER PEOPLE’. Bulk of the civilization was around rivers SARASWATI -SINDHU and their tributaries. Ninety percent of the HARAPPAN sites are located in this region. These people had trade links with the west right up to Greece, Mesopotemia and River Oxus or AAMU River.

They had their own script---closer to BRAHMI or PRAKRITI which resembles more with Indo-Dravidian or Tamil or South Indian Language. Some 434 characters have been identified. It needs to be deciphered. Efforts are on to do so. The seals recovered at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro tell the tale of family histories. Most prominent one is of a UNICORN BULL—not a known animal species these days. I will come back with some detailed interpretations of these seals.

----TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWO
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4500 BC-A GREAT UPHEAVAL THAT CHANGED SOUTH ASIAN HISTORY?

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS!


Prior to the great NATURAL UPHEAVAL of 4500BC, which changed the landscape, what would have been the history of region that is called SOUTH ASIA and AFGHANISTAN today? We can only make certain assumptions based on archaeological studies, archaeological sites and folklores or what they say is the oral history.

The oral history is not only folk songs but the language, the dresses, the lingual dialects, typical traditions, the special food habits and many more things which leave their SIGNATURES on HUMAN STORY without finding a mention in written form or chronicled by those who marvel at history. HISTORY IS NEVER WRITTEN FOR THE PURPOSES OF SOME "TRUTH MISSIONS "OF THE FUTURE. IT IS WRITTEN TO DENIGRATE THE VANQUISHED AND GLAMOURISE THE VICTOR.

I rarely believe the written words of historical write-ups because they are not only sing-song melodies in honour of the VICTOR but also they only highlight the ONE-SIDED-STORY. Look at it: HITLER IS DEMONISED after the Second World War but he was as good or as bad as BUSH was in IRAQ in 2003. And of the two similar acts, one was villain and the other is a hero. As and when the world history is rewritten dispassionately, it might turn out that HITLER was a MESSIAH of AFRO-ASIAN nations, who could shed the YOKE of COLONIALISM in the wake of SECOND WORLD WAR STARTED by HITLER. Pick up any HISTORICAL BOOK, you will find it GLAMOURISED by the victors, for, vanquished have no glory. I discount written history.

This land called SOUTH ASIA and modern AFGHANISTAN was the cradle of a great NAGA CIVILISATION lost to mankind during the great NATURAL UP- HEAVAL of 4500 BC--some 6500 years before. It was more advanced and knowledgeable than the marauding hordes of so called ARYANS who came EAST in search of PASTORAL LANDS and livelihood. They were not INVADERS but usurpers of a great civilisation devastated by a NATURAL CALAMITY in and around 4500 BC.

Nagas, not the inhabitants of modern day Nagaland, were the worshippers of LORD SHIVA. They followed SHAIVITE CULTURE--which was not the part of VEDIC CULTURE or the VAISHNAVITES. Their confluence, along with BUDDHISM and JAINISM, gave birth to what you call today HINDUISM. It was born around 530 AD--exactly 5000 years after the great UPHEAVAL.(You might like to know as to how the word HINDU and its RELIGIOUS CONNOTATION CAME ABOUT. Kindly read my blog on HINDUISM. The link is :- http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/is-hinduism-an-evolved-euphemism-for-a-people-or.htm)

Two of the modern HINDU GODS are of DARK COMPLEXION. Did you ever wonder as to why? It is my belief that they were NON-ARYANS and NON-VEDIC but were assimilated into VEDIC and ARYAN PHILOSOPHY because of the richness of their SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS. They are Lord SHIVA and Lord KRISHNA. Kindly do not think they were DRAVIDIANS. It is a derogatory term concocted by ARYANS. Its root are two SANSKRIT words "DRI" & "VID". "DRI" stands for "POOR" or "LACKING" ,as in 'DARIDRA', and "VID" is KNOWLEDGE or EDUCATION. So, the word DRAVID was concocted to show the NATIVES as POOR or LACKING in KNOWLEDGE. They were considered as INFERIOR. This was done to subjugate the natives. The Naga people were of not of fair complexion due to climatic and geographical pecularities--they might have had semi-dark or brown complexion as is today. But Aryans coming from the COLDER REGION were of WHITISH COMPLEXION. Therefore, they could not have had brown or Semi-dark complexioned gods as are LORD SHIVA and LORD KRISHNA. My belief is that they belonged to NAGA race.

Nagas, according to mythology, were the descendants of KASHYAP RISHI--A sage whose second wife was called KUDRU. It is said KUDRU gave birth to creatures who were "half-humans and half-snakes". It is a poetical description--I reckon they had ROUND and SPHERICAL EYES and were VERY REVENGEFUL in attitude and such they were called NAGAS or SERPANT type. Their presiding deity Lord Shiva, has a curling COBRA around his neck-----this, too could have given them the name NAGA. Kashyap's son NEELA NAG was their king and they mostly lived around water bodies--like lakes or ponds and rivers. We know all civilisations prospered around great rivers. River JHELUM (VITASTA--Vedic name) in KASHMIR and SARASWATI Rivers were their famous abodes. 75% archaeological sites of ancient India have been found around the submerged and lost channel of MYSTICAL SARASWATI which sprang from HAR KI DOON in Uttaranchal, ran along the course of a modern day GHAGHAR in HARYANA and RAJSTHAN, and then drained out into the sea near LOTHAL in GUJRAT.

The name KASHMIR is derived from KASHYAP--from KASHYAP MAR--because saint KASHYAP had helped his son NEELA NAG to eliminate a great tyrant JALODHAV or JALDEV who had troubled NAGAS in modern day Kashmir. It is a nice story. Some of you who are interested to know this might like to read my blog on Kashmir. Prior to this it was called "SATI DESH'--after the name of SATI--- the consort of Lord Shiva.The link to my blog on KASHMIR is:-
http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/04/kashmir-a-curse-and-cure-of-its-history.htm

Nagas were NON VEGETARIANS. They believed in eating meat dishes and drank alcohol without inhibitions. Even today the PANDITS (so called HINDU HIGH PRIESTS) of KASHMIR eat MEAT and IF YOU PLEASE, THEY RELISH 'HALAAL' and NOT 'JHATKA' . The last one might be the environmental impact of last 650 years. But these PANDITS are the descendants of KASHYAP's NAGAS. The NAGAS were 'happy -go- lucky' people and they believed in DANCE and MUSIC. The finding of dancing girl at HARAPPA bears testimony to this. Lord Shiva was known for his dance and music--even in his anger he resorted to TANDAV NRITYA. They were, therefore, NON VEDIC and NON ARYANS. The NAGA civilisation was scattered along and between the GREAT INDUS (SINDHU) and GREAT SARASWATI. It later spread to EAST and SOUTH. This land was also called SAPTA SINDHU---THE SEVEN RIVERS. You wil find Lord SHIVA temples from modern day Pakistan in the west to North East in the EAST and from KASHMIR in the NORTH to MAHARASHTRA in the South.

This great civilisation of NAGAS finds a mention in VEDIC literature too, though in a disdainful manner. You might have heard that at the end of MAHABHARTA --the great grandson of ARJUNA, PARIKSHAT was killed by a NAGA prince called TAKSHAK. Though mythology says it was a serpent. But if you go before this period into KRISHAN LILA--you hear of how Lord Krishna had overpowered a "Naga Rogue" called KAALIA. I do not believe they were not HUMANS. They were demonized by the victorious Vedic people who wanted to establish the superiority of their own culture. TAKSHILA in Pakistan was a great city of learning and it belonged to Nagas. Later, BUDDHISTS made use of that knowledge. Today, it is in ruins and being robbed off its HISTORICAL SPLENDOUR by ILL-INFORMED and uncouth Pakistani Government.

Let me also tell you that SAPTA SINDHU LAND was the HEAVENLY DESTINATION for outsders as USA is today or MAY BE CHINA and INDIA would be in years to come. History always reverses its course after a given period. Therefore, people from the steppes of CENTRAL ASIA came in as migrants--looking for occupational opportunities. They came and got merged. The cities of the region of SAPTASINDHU, along SARASWATI and SINDHU Rivers, offered great opportunities to every one. It was the land of plenty. And then suddenly---

---The GREAT UPHEAVAL of 4500 BC took place. River SARASWATI disappeared along with its flourishing cities--whether it was HARAPPA, LOTHAL, PEELI BANGA, SANGHOL (Indian Punjab), Ropar (Indian Punjab) or many more such sites. Even modern day CHANDIGARH is set up on the great ruins of NAGA CIVILISATION. Punjab University has certain artifacts which were picked up when CHANDIGARH was established in the 50's. Archaeologists believe it could be on a long lost Harappa culture. Remember just 10 kms to the east flows the GHAGHAR--which was considered to be main channel of SARASWATI. Some 45 Kms WEST of it is ROPAR on the banks of river SATLUJ--which was once the tributary of river SARASWATI along with River YAMUNA. SANGHOL--another archaeological site is some 50 Kms away towards SW of Chandigarh.

River Yamuna and river Sutlej were the great tributaries of SARASWATI. After the UPHEAVAL they took a different turn to the EAST and WEST respectively. SANGHOL was located on the original path of River SATLUJ. Both Yamuna and Sutlej Rivers joined SARASWATI south of modern day PATIALA--some 60 Kms south of it. This UPHEAVAL WEAKENED and destroyed bulk of NAGA CIVILISATION. But the migrations from the WEST continued--and they were people of a LINGUAL FRATENITY---SANSKRIT------it was not a race but SANSKRIT speaking people who came to this land. They are called Aryans or VEDIC. They did not come as CONQUERERS or IN ONE GO--they came in a trickle and got spread. They picked up the knowledge from the NAGAS and assimilated into their own. It is something like the SILLICON VALLEY of USA today. It is humming with IT Indians there. Who knows 1000 years later what would be the demography?

Naga script is of some 434 characters--it has not been deciphered--it will unfold many myths once it is deciphered and one of them is on VEDIC KNOWLEDGE--It is mostly PLAGIARISED from LONG LOST NAGA CIVILISATION. I request you all to read JOHN KEAY's HISTORY of INDIA--though he does not come to any conclusion but he does make a point on the meaning of word ARYANS.

The incoming ARYANS--the estranged brethren of ancient PERSIANS settled around AFGHANISTAN (ALPGANSTHAN--old Sanskrit name) and the ruins of River Saraswati. Dr Rajesh Kochhar--ex Surveyor General of India and a renowned Archaeologist --in his book VEDIC HISTORY of INDIA --says there are similarities in the VEDIC PEOPLE and Ancient PERSIANS. The two languages, SANSKRIT and AVESTIC ZENDA have many commonalities.

Now I come to the enactment of two EPICS---RAMAYANA and MAHABHARTA.There are theories on their dates of occurrence and regions where they were enacted. Ok I will discuss it later in some other blogs but I leave you with pinching thoughts:

(a) MAHABHARTA might have occurred around 1000BC--KALHANA's RAJTARANGINI and NEELAMAT PURAN needs to be read.

(b) Ramayana, if it occurred before MAHABHARTA as is the general HINDU belief, then, it was enacted in present day AFGHANISTAN. The warm water port of GWADAR might have had the original Lanka. Look at some facts--

-----RAVNA MANDIR at JODHPUR; MANDODARI's village in RAJSTHAN;

------LAHORE in PAKISTAN was established by Lord RAM's elder son LUV.

------KASOOR again in PAKISTAN was set up by KUSH--SITA's second son.

-----SITA took her last breath at RAM TIRATH, near AMRITSAR in PUNJAB.

------BALMIKI who wrote original RAMAYANA lived at RAM TIRATH.

------RAM TIRATH was then along the river RAVI--one of the seven rivers
of SAPTA SANDHU.

-----The story of UTTARAKHAND in RAMAYANA was added later by BALMIKI.

----- If BALMIKI is the originator---how could he know about a place near
modern AYODHYA--He could have never gone there---the area was totally
undeveloped?

------Aryans as they went EAST from WEST they took the names of
GEOGRAPHICAL Places with them--right upto KAMPUCHEA, MALAYASIA,
THAILAND and INDONESIA. Do you know about the AYODHYAS there?

----River SARASWATI had disappeared much before the arrival of ARYANS
into SAPTASINDHU region---they began coming around 5000BC. By 1900-
2000 BC they had fully grown into a NEW and a RICH CIVILISATION over
the RUINS of NAGA CIVILISATION. The VEDIC SARASWATI is in
AFGHANISTAN--the river HEMLAND. Dr Rajesh Kochhar calls the mystical
SARASWATI as VANASUR SARASVATI.\

----They assimilated the NAGA KNOWLEDGE into their own and presented
it as VEDIC KNOWLEDGE. It could happen to IT KNOWLEDGE of India of
21st century.

(c) Ramayana, as an episode, might have happened around 1500 to
1900 BC at a very small scale. Rest might be glamorization by poets and
authors. Everyone has picked up the threads from BALMIKI who lived at
RAMTIRATH.

DISCLAIMER This is only my EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE based on some studies of HISTORICAL BOOKS and visit to HISTORICAL sites. If you do not agree. FINE. But do think about it. Do not believe in REGIMENTED and RITUALISED KNOWLEDGE. I can talk about more things on RAMAYANA and MAHABHARTA but suffice for the day.
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WHEN THE STORM BLEW AWAY-5(WOM-1)

Jaipur blasts incident of May 2008, is the symbol of a malaise which afflicts the nation but it has been refusing to accept since 1988. This began in the aftermath of an Exercise 'ZARB-E-MOMIN' ( STRIKE OF THE PURE) by late General Zia-ul-haque of Pakistan. This was an exercise to test his concept of strategic depth for Pakistan by extending the war into Indian borders by covert means and extend her Western borders by making 'Afghanistan a Surrogate'.
With this he had launched WOM ---WAR BY OTHER MEANS on India. But no one till date in India accepts this as war---from Indian public, misled by peacemakers to political leaders through military leadership----who thinks militancy is not their job. Everyone is confused and therefore a cohesive response to DESIGNER WAR LAUNCHED ON INDIA by PAKISTAN military since 1988, is lacking. Army wants to prepare for the actual war and want this job of internal security to be assigned to some one else.They are confused by their stratified thinking.
In real terms, there was nothing known as 'internal or external security'--it is only 'National Security'. Such divisions are only academic definitions. WHICH IS THE OTHER 'ACTUAL WAR' ARMY IS WANTING TO PREPARE AND FIGHT, IF INDIA WOULD LOSE THE CURRENT WAR? WHAT GOOD WILL BE ALL THOSE BOFORS and T-92 or 'ARJUNS' Tanks if India breaks up a LA-SOVIET. How? Let me give you an account of what has the war become? If need be, I will come back with analysis of SOUTH ASIA in the next instalment.
Forget, my friend, this IPL tamasha! IF YOU ADD SUGAR TO POISON IT DOES NOT BECOME SWEET DISH---Pakistan remains what it was in 1948 or 1965 or 1971/72 or 1999 or 2001--Agenda of 1947 is deeply entrenched into their minds, To this agenda, is added the humiliation of 1971 and the frustration of 1999. Unfortunately, PAKISTAN had understood the modern nuances of 'WOM'earlier and faster than us.

Rapid progress in Nano-technology, space research, robotics, computers, genetic engineering, chemical, physical and biological sciences have revolutionized communications and energized the weapon systems, whose synergistic impact questioned the old form of war and war – making. Everything from philosophy to doctrines; tactics to strategy; battlefield- fronts to battlefield- rears; combat soldiers to non-combat operators, there is a virtual shift from old form of war. Enhanced ranges, deadly lethality and perfect accuracy describe the modern world arsenal. Smart ammunition, with their mid-course and terminal guidance, has made the old dud-ammunition look ridiculous. There is a fusion of the battlefield and the rear areas, leading to extended frontiers, of war but sychronised and integrated fronts.
Now look at the other side of the coin. Nuclear devices, Ethno- bombs and chemical agents spell as much danger to the white-collared gentlemen in the rear as to the men donned in greens on the front, implying there is no shield from their deadly effect for any one. In a given geographical area, users may suffer as much damage as the target. Consequences of a nuclear conflagration are un-imaginable. World is now getting to the view that there are no winners in a nuclear war. Theories are being advanced which speak of war by other means (WOM) at the regional and local levels. Implicit in the WOM theory of war is a fact, where war is no more merely seen as a ‘Bull-Fight’ of the two opposing armies in the ringed arena of national borders. It is the military truism for the first few decades of the third millennium. Also, alluded to it is a corollary that future war would no more remain the sole domain of soldiers in olive green (OG). There are soldiers of different hue and cry who would play more vital role than the conventional soldiers.
Think of ‘Smart Solders’ (Computer boys, scientists and technicians); Irregular Soldiers’ of private armies call them terrorists, militants, insurgents, fifth columnists-what have you; ‘Cyber-Soldiers’ info-manipulators, software experts, spin doctors and media barons and defence analysts. Thus, the conventional soldiers have their roles considerably reduced. This is the reason most armies of the world have been cutting their flab. The trend is for lean and thin armies of quality for a future envisaged role rather than heavy weight armies of quantity and numbers. All this owes itself to the changing nature and form of war.


In the functional form, the war in the Twenty First Century is being viewed as a synchronised module of three acts- stage play rather than here-to-fore known one act-play of uniformed soldiers monkey-dancing across the borders. This monkey dancing has been relegated to the last act of the synchronised module, which neither may nor may not be necessary. Postulating his theory on the ‘Brain-Force-wars’ of the third wave civilization in the Twenty-First-Century, Alvin Toffler paraphrases them as ‘Niche wars’ or the ‘Designer wars’. Invite you to read his book, "WAR AND ANTI WAR". The first two acts of these Designer wars are more important than the third act because of their low costs. The first act is of ‘Info War’- a constant dia-tribe against the potential adversary to show him in the poor light. Information will be controlled, manipulated, twisted and distorted to show the adversary as the mother of all wordly evils-a ‘rogue state’ which ought to be punished. Remember Saddam Hussein of Iraq in 2001.
Cyber- soldiers and the Spin doctors have a tailor- made role to emotionally agitate the world public opinion. Electronic and print media is the stage (Read Battlefield) on which this show is enacted. Near authentic visual clips and in-person detail of gory tales of woes are planted in the media to hypnotise the targeted audience. World will; be shown what is intended to be shown. Visibly disgusting; apparently shocking and morally unbelieveable episodes, spun out of the fertile but imaginative minds of Spin doctors, will rake the moral consciousness of even the alleged accused. It is part of history now as to how the young daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador to USA in 1990 was doctored to narrate to the US senate an imaginary tale of rape and molestation by Iraqi soldiers. The whole world cried action against Iraq.

The second act of the Designer-War-module is the ‘Bleeding and Squeezing’ show. It may follow two courses, either concurrently together or separately or even singly. The first course could follow aggressive ‘Economic-War’ in the form of trade embargo’ choking off development funds or levying economic sanctions. The second course would be to initiate covertly a ‘Bleeding War’ to destabilise or even balkanize the adversary. National vulnerabilities of the adversary in the form of ethnic and racial cleavages, religious divisions; regional dissimilarities, lingual heterogeneity; economic imbalances and the cultural-chasm would be exploited to create a condition of anarchy and chaos. Separatists movements will be encouraged.

The final act of the ‘Designer war’ is the quick surgical operation, using both smart-soldiers and conventional soldiers to inflict ultimate unacceptable damage to force the adversary to capitulate. This act, may or may not be enacted if ‘Act-one and ‘Act-Two have already produced the desired results. The 100 hours ground battle in the Gulf War was the culmination point of this nature of the ‘Designer-War’. ‘Act-Two’ was partially enacted as ‘Act-One’ had produced a very favourable world opinion for a quick surgical operation. The promised mother of all battles of Saddam Hussein turned out to be a damp squib. On one side was the high-tech army of Third Wave civilization which was lean and efficient. On the other side was a low-tech army of Second wave- civilization which was all flab and human mass. It was the brain versus the brawn or the quality versus the quantity. The brain won, the brawn disintegrated.

But imagine a condition where technological parity existed. Say, the erstwhile Soviet Union and the USA; was the third act of the designer war possible? It would not have been allowed by the world body as it had allowed in the case of Iraq. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union the geo-strategic environments have undergone a change. As the 20th Century came to a close, USA was the only ‘Ring Master’ in the world 'Circus of Nations'. It enjoys the freedom of action which no other nation does. It manipulates its freedom of action as it did in the case of IRAQ. Accusing SADDAM HUSSEIN of possessing WMD(Weapons Of Mass Destruction), it moulded the world public nation and destabilised a harmonious and stable IRAQ. Therefore, except the world ‘Ring-Master’ no other nation enjoys the freedom of pursuing its national interests across the borders. Perhaps the votaries of hot pursuit in India ought to understand this.
It would be apparent now that the Designer War aims at graduated escalation of conflict. Though each act of the module is aimed at virtual capitulation of the likely adversary, yet the real capitulation will come through second or third act. Thus, in all situations, the introductory act is a pre-requisite, where battlefield is the world media. But in most cases, either the second or the third act may be omitted. The omission or non-omission is subject to the non-availability of time to wage a protracted ‘Bleeding War’; degree of success achieved in the introductory act and finally the existing technological parity or disparity. If there was near parity in the technological quality of available weapon systems, then third act definitely will not be enacted. In such a case the Designer war may be kept limited only to the Bleeding war phase.
If there was total disparity the Bleeding War phase may only be partially enacted or totally omitted. Also, the success of introductory act is directly related to the third condition of technological parity or disparity. In the age of manifold lethality of nuclear weapons, the last thing the world wants to see is a world wide nuclear conflagration, where there will be no winners. All the same the basic reasons behind NPT (Non-proliferation Treaty) or the CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban-Treaty) is not to rid the world of such deadly arsenal of mass-destruction but to allow Nuclear-Heaves a clear monopoly and a basic edge in the ‘Designer-War’ of the future. Albeit unsaid, implicit in these treaties is a clumsy attempt to keep the world unipolar and prevent it from becoming multy-polar.
The theorists of the Designer War in USA had clearly foreseen its implications in the mid-eighties and set upon to fool the world through NPT and START (Strategic arms reductions talks). They insisted on Non-proliferation but not on total destruction or total disarmament. In any case, in the world of today, to talk of total destruction and total disarmament is to fool you. We must know the knowledge and expertise to produce these weapons exists and will be safe-deposited. Therefore, what is the guarantee that they can not be assembled again even if total disarmament was carried out?
All the same, in a way, the availability of nuclear weapons have made the wars of active and naked-aggression, as in the case of Hitler’s war, a totally redundant phenomenon. Come what may, nuclear weapons have come to stablise outward peace in the world. Clandestinely and covertly, nations after nations, yearn for this capability to reduce the threat of naked aggression. If they do not, they will be subjected to a similar humiliation as was Iraq of Saddam Hussein. Whether the five nations of The Nuclear Club accept or do not accept the nuclear-status of the new member, it is immaterial. The fact remains the new member will have a proportionate deterrence to discourage naked aggression.
Thus, as the ‘Nuclar-Haves-Club’ enlarges itself, ‘Active and direct wars’ will be replaced by ‘Bleeding Wars’, where there will be no monkey-dancing across the borders. But a sole thrust will be on exploiting sensitive vulnerabilities deep inside the enemy territory. ‘Fronts’ and ‘Rears’ of the battlefield, as known to mankind, will soon disappear. The condition of ‘ugly-peace’ or ‘ugly-stability’ brought about by proliferating nuclear weapons, will make Bleeding war the only tool of Clavsewitzian concept of war as the other extension of political ambition of a nation. Bleeding War is going to be the order of the day in the first and second or even third decade of the Twenty First Century. Nations after nations are going to fall prey for it. Emphasis will shift to war by other means or WOM and Bleeding Wars will be the results. Internal vulnerabilities of nations will provide adequate spark for ignition by interested adversaries and become the battleground of this new war. Jaipur is the link in this chain.
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PURE FRIENDSHIP COMES WHENCE EGOS BLEED

By chance, we meet and click together,
Memories of the day are fresh as ever!
Jointly we planned a voyage of dreams—
To encounter the odds in our life together.

If you said ‘stop’, we stopped together,
If I said ‘laugh’, we laughed together;
Social codes, though, differently planned—
To dash the hopes of a joint endeavour.

“Go, dear friend!”, we then, did crow-
“Life is a bundle of ecstasy,and sorrows;
Hope drives mankind, hope sustains life,
Certainly, we’ll meet somewhere tomorrow.”

Tears came down as we painfully broke,
The Sun in the distance emitted rays of hope;
Life has moved over ‘roughs’ and ‘troughs’-
Never did we know we could singly cope.

We had, then, made promises together-
“Let us be friends, in life, for ever.”
Miles and miles we have drifted, today-
As I review the dream that was never.

You said and forgot and forgot for ever,
I had heard and learnt and learnt for ever;
Goodness must be taken, evil discarded –
While one moves with rogues and clever .

“As friends”, you said, “We must not explain,
Whatever one says is the truth contained”;
No doubts, friend! This laid the foundation--
Of mutual confidence without any strain.

‘Friend or a foe’, greet with a smiling face-
The spirit defined you in up and down phase;
Wonder! If you feel now, cut above the rest-
For, you certainly show some inhuman graces.

Other day I felt, dear, humiliated so much,
When you boasted of a “MIDAS” touch;
Humbly, I remind you of our golden rule--
“Greatness must show, not claimed as such.”

I know not for sure, I do have a hunch—
People around you, must be sycophants;
True friends emerge when crisis befall-
Fair-weather-birds, fly away in a bunch.

I do plead to you, as it is time to plead –
For, a friend in need is a friend indeed!
Live your dream but trust people with care-
"For, pure friendship comes whence egos bleed.”



A FRIEND IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS US BUT LOVES US ANYWAY-------Jerome Cummings
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THE UNBOUND LOVE DEFINED

Who am I?
Who areYou?
In my eyes--
Find the clue.
Within me-
Without you;
You are me-
I am you .

In my heart-
You reside;
I am a part-
Of your inside;
So tied & wired ,
With each other,
People inquire-
Who is a Prisoner?

Years ago,
We did defy-
The social 'logo'-
And family cry;
On love's wings-
We did fly,
Hearts slinged-
With Groggy eyes.

Hand in hand-
As we move,
A resolute stand-
Does always prove:
That Unbound love-
Is the only glue-
That unites the 'doves'-
Life long through.
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SIACHEN GLACIER--A NATURE's OPEN PRISON!

I wrote this poem in the winters of 1986-87. Explanatory notes are at the end of the poem.The height of SIACHEN GLACIER varies from 12000feet above sea level at Base Camp,snout of the glacier, to 21,000 feet at INDRA COL. The base of Indra Col is at 20,000 feet. Rarified air above 9000feet leads to breathing problems. Pluminary oedema is the most common disease for everyone followed by extreme cold injuries, such as frost bite, chill blains & hypoxia etc.

*************************************************************************************************************
SOLDIERS AT SIACHEN-PRISONERS OF NATIONAL UNGRATEFULNESS!


Nestled amongst Himalayan peaks--

‘Soltoro’ on west, ‘Karakoram’ on East;

Icy bed of a great glacier runs,

This ‘Valley of Roses’,called Siachen .



‘Sia-la’ in North, ‘Bilafond’ in Centre;

‘Old Silk Route’ through them entered;

To those trekkers of years begone –

Bartering ‘goods’ was purpose known .



From glacier ‘base’ to Indra Col ,

Sheet of whiteness upwards rolls;

Littered with snow, nasty winds blow,

At its snout River Nubra flows .



Nature at its best, free of any pest !

Hefty black crows do have their nest;

Oh, surround this vale, snow-crapped hills;

What a natural prison , devoid of grills !



No fenced–walls and no solitary–cells,

Open compound , without alarm bells;

No tough jailor with barking guards;

Yet prisoners of national ego, do not dart.



Rough is life on glacial surface –

Lots of folds with deep crevasses;

A careless step at this place –

One will disappear without a trace.



Tied with ropes, many dare do walk!

Crawling and panting on non-existing paths-

Laden 'human–mules', carry survival stocks;

Occasionally supplanted by a helicopter drop.



Morning comes, hopes grow ;

Evening shatters Life’s glow ,

Silently curse men their lot --

What crime had them brought?



Memory gets normally impaired,

Eating becomes sometime affair;

Emotional tension abounds in lads,

Some lose nerves and go mad .



Isolation sparks nasty illusions;

Ever-bad-weather adds to confusion !

Sub zero mercury; high speed blizzards-

Even ‘toughies’ sulk under such like hazards .



Bankrupt thoughts! No dreams ever errupt !!

Life, there, goes on in aimless context ;

Men do work like programmed machines ;

‘Death’ and ‘injuries’ are normal routine !



Silent eyes! no questions bespake,

Ever and always towards sky they gaze;

Through clouds some ‘drop’ may come!

Perhaps, a letter from near and dear ones!



‘No Bath’, they must be crazy;

‘No Shave’, Aren’t they lazy?

‘Head to toe’ what clothes they wear ?

No zoo can boast of animals rare ?



Each one counts each one’s days,

No one wants a prolonged stay;

Yet time for them moves very slow,

Each day seems, years in a row .



Some lucky ones go on ‘parole’!

Some spend time singing ‘carroll’.

Self-pride and the 'Regimental image',

Make ‘some’ bear nature’s rage.



Everyday here, as machine guns rattle;

Thundering noise dampen human mettle:

Purposeless fighting thus goes on –

Where not a blade of grass grown.



Leaders across borders make tall claims,

Honours bestowed on heroes of Siachen fame!

‘Sense of reality’ though seemed to be lost,

Amidst emotional minds and prestigious boasts.
******************************************************************

EXPLANATORY NOTES!


1. This is a poem on the plight of soldiers on the Glacier. Siachen Glacier is the second largest glacier in the world. It is 105 km long and 8-10 kms wide. (Lambert Glacier in Australia is the largest. It is 406 km long). The posting on the glacier gives a feeling of jail because the soldiers posted there have no connection with the outside world. In the winter of 1986-87, the living conditions were aweful. These were the initial years of SIACHEN OCCUPATION. Temperature would go down as low as minus 50 degree celsius and wind speeds touch as high as 150-200 knots. It was difficult to shave and was a horrendous experience to attend to nature's call. Appetite banished; sleep was disturbed . These conditions apply even today. Memory is affected and people behave in an abnormal manner. Isolation and extreme cold, coupled with high speed winds, create psychological disorders. It is a fallacy that Siachen has a strategic significance. Vested interests have fooled the authorities and the general public. The cost of occupying Siachen Heights is explosive. In 1986, a single ‘Chapati’ a soldier ate, cost the nation Rs 80/-. During the same period, the cost of maintaining a force of half an infantry battalion (Approximately 450-500 men) worked out to Rs two crores per day. And 22 years later, it must have touched some 30-40 crores per day, i.e. a staggering figure of Rs 10950 crores to Rs 14600 crores per year, which is almost 8 to 10 percent of annual defence budget. Think of it, India needs only Rs 28000 crores for the construction of GOLDEN QUARDILATERAL.But annual expenditure on SIACHEN OCCUPATION is just half of this. Economically, the nation has been bleeding since 1985. Further, if 70% of the defence budget goes for pay and allowances; 10 % for Siachen; 10-12% for maintenance of defence assets and about 2% for defence production and research, then it leaves only 6-8% for up-gradation and modernization of armed forces. Poet feels Siachen was a deliberate ploy by Pakistan to bleed India economically. When ‘Zia' said, "--Not a blade of grass grows", he actually taunted at its so-called strategic significance. Those who know the geography would not agree more.Just for the information of general reader--Karakoram pass from Indra Col, the northern most point on the glacier is some 80 miles crow flight, due East, over most hostile terrain and the KHUNJERAB PASS, through which the so called KARAKORAM HIGHWAY passes and links China to POK, is 120 miles crow flight to the North West of indra Col.( I was located at the base of Indra Col in 1986-87 winters)

2 References.



2.1 Line 2 ‘Soltoro’. A ridge line that takes off at Point NJ 9849 and runs North along the Western edge of Siachen Glacier. It separates POK from Indian Kashmir and is also called AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line).



2.2 Line 2. ‘Karakoram’. It is a pass East of the Northern most but Eastern Edge of Siachen Glacier. The ridge line from Karakoram Pass, separates Chine from India (Kashmir). The area East of the Siachen Glacier is Aksai Chin which is under Chinese occupation since 1962. The Karakoram Pass joins Aksai Chin Area of Kashmir with Chinese province of Sin Kiang. Today it is only the Siachen Glacier corridor which joins the Indian ashmir with the Chinese province of Sinkang but it is all glaciated on both sides of Indira Col---a northern most point on the Glacier and one of the most hazardous and rugged terrain any where in the world. Even Siberia and Antartica do not match this corridor in its ruggedness and degree of difficulty.



2.3 Line 4. ‘Siachen’. In local dialect, ‘Sia’ stands for valley and ‘Chen’ denotes roses. But this is a misnomer.At Indira Col, the ice is so hardened that hardest stones, too ,would not be as hard. It is million of years of hardened ice. It is only at the base of Siachen Glacier,called 'Snout' where River Nubra takes off that one finds rose-wood shrubs. This glacier takes its name from the Nubra Valley where the Rosewood shrubs abound.



2.4 Line 5. ‘Siala’. A pass on the Northern most point on the Siachen Glacier at the junction of Soltoro and the Boltoro ridge lines. Boltoro ridge line takes off North est from here towards Khunzerab pass, through which runs the famous Karakoram highway from Chinese province of Sin-Kiang to Gilgit under Pakistan occupation. In local dialect ‘Sia’ stands for the valley and ‘La’ for the pass. It is a gateway to Siachen valley (i.e In fact Nubra Valley).



2.5 Line 5. Bila Fond. Mid way between point NJ 9849 and Indira Col on the Soltoro Ridge line, is the famous pass of Bila Fond. This part of the glacier was in news in 1987 because of Pakistan’s desperate efforts to get on the Soltoro Ridge line which is effectively dominated by Indian troops from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col.(Subedar later hony CaptBana singh got his PVC for defending this post.)



2.6 Siachen Dispute. The whole Siachen dispute hinges around Map Pt NJ 9849. In 1949 when Karachi agreement was arrived at, the ceasefire line ended at Pt NJ 9849. It was very difficult to survey the line beyond this by both India and Pakistan as the most hazardous and a glaciated area lay ahead. The present dispute is all about the way the cease fire line should run beyond point NJ 9849. India interprets it as running North from this point all along the Soltoro Ridge line. Pakistan sees it as running North East from this point to Karakoram Pass. If this is conceded then Siachen goes to Pakistan and it gets linked to Aksai Chin area under Chinese occupation. Soltoro Ridge Line is occupied by Indian Army from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col and this is also called AGPL.





2.7 Line 12. 'Snout’. Base of the Siachen Glacier, which is its protruding nose.



2.8 Line 14. "Hefty Black Crow ---------”. Other than the Soldiers, only other creatures who live here are crows which are almost double the size of normal crows. They have been there from time memorial.



2.9 Line 20. ‘Dart’. Run away.



2.10 Line 22.'Crevass’. An opening in the snow which is a deep abyss.



2.11 Line 57.‘Go On Parole’. Medical evacuation of patients.



2.12 Line 58 ‘Carrol’. Religious hymns.



2.13 Line 67.‘Sense of Reality’. Practical wisdom and pragmatism.

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SAND DUNES OF MIND!

Ladies and gentlemen, of a great esteem;

Welcome aboard the ‘thought-machine’!

Thoughts,dear,are the sand-dunes of mind-

Keep shifting their base from time to time.



Your eyes do observe what is directly in line,

The brain shapes it into a ‘thought’ sublime;

Process repeats like a programmed machine,

Images germinate, though, as a normal routine.



We shall soon embark upon a tour of history,

Our pro-active minds will unveil its mysteries;

Kindly have a glance at the menu in your tray-

Where, we also have two imagess on display!



Right, these images are two statements in stone-

Of two themes on life, without flesh and bones;

While one defines love of a king in its pristine form-

The other is an embodiment of ‘thinking storm’.



Well! unique in concept, both have no peers--

Though separated by time by two hundreds years;

Dignified and graceful,they have their own shine--

Undobtedly,the classy ideas from the womb of times!










First snap displays ‘Taj Mahal’s’ grandeour,

Which graces the list of world’s seven wonders;

On the banks of river Yamuna,it stands so fast,

River might be polluted, its splendour does last.



A number of buildings make Taj Mahal complex-

From a 'marbled mausoleum' to 'red stone' mosque;

A thousand elephants were used to cart the stores,

Artisans came from Baghdad, Bukhara and Lahore.



Built slowly over two decades by 22000 workmen-

It commemorates a queen who bore 14 children;

She died in child-birth, when she was thirty nine-

In 19 years of marriage, she conceived 14 times.



Was it royal love or simple lust of a Moghul king?

When history is doctored, do we ought to cling?

Tragically, another gory fact we ought to know--

To guard exclusivity,craftsmen‘s hands had to go.



The King and the queen,no doubts, are immortalised,

Today, land-sharks want the place to be commercialised !

Some times back there was a plan to build a ‘Taj corridor’-

Supreme Court stalled the project of multi-million crores.























The second snap on your screen is a statue in bronze-

It was sculpted as ‘The Thinker’ by Auguste Rodin;

It evokes many visions though eyes do not blink;

Also,very pensive mood does force you to think .



Born in 1840, ‘Rodin’ was past forty two years-

When ‘The Thinker’, ‘Adam and ‘Eve’ did appear;

At the age of twenty-four he had married ‘Rose;

At forty three, love banished and it led to divorce.



‘Balzac‘ and ‘The Kiss’ were his other creations-

Then, ‘Walking man’ too, created a sensation;

Rolling in fame he discarded two more wives!

‘Rose’ came back, months before they both died.



‘Rodin’ is an example as to how a ‘thinking man’-

Makes gem for the society but lacks maritial elan;

As name and fame comes, one craves for more-

And treats one’s ‘lady-love’ as a disposable whore.



These are the thoughts which comes to my mind-

Realities of historical myths we ought to unwind;

Don't you blindly accept what history books say ?

Glamourised tales always, real truth they betray.



'Taj' and the 'Thinker' are the product of selfish deeds,

Both of them used women for their sexual needs;

If 'Rodin' ditched three women for name and fame-

'Mumtaz's' 14 children over 19 years, who will explain?



Strange but true, both were married for 19 years-

'Rodin' to 'Rose' and 'Shahjehan' to 'Mumtaz', dears!

And when success smiled, Rodin left the lady in learch;

To build a monument for the queen, the king did splurge.

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WHEN THE STORM BLEW AWAY-1 (A Serialised Story in Five Parts)

WHAT STORMS DO?

The sky was dark. In fact, it was pitch dark. One could hardly see 20 feet away. Air was still—absolutely still—not even a leave stirred. There was an uneasy calm in the atmosphere. It was not evening but 10 AM in the morning. The overcast sky had made the scene very scary—nay, very very scary.

Amit, sitting in the balcony of his house, could feel the pulse of a ravaging storm that was undoubtedly imminent. To be very frank, in the months of May and June, storms are a regular feature in North India. They occur with regular periodicity with devastating effect. They are the harbinger of death and destruction. Storms are often followed by lightening showers which provide relief and succor to the people.

Irony is before the relief and succor, there is a naked dance of devastation, unleashed by dust storm. Trees are uprooted. Houses collapse. Roofs are blown away. Electricity .poles and old trees are a mangled mesh on the roads, blocking the traffic. Water pipes get choked. In a nutshell, it takes a while before normalcy returns. You need effective administration to do this. Once the normalcy returns, everyone forgets about the nasty storm and its devastation. Human memory is not only short lived but it also jumps from one crisis to another.

Amit suddenly realized that the incoming storm might cause heavy damage to open windows and doors of the house. As he got up to shut the doors and windows, he noticed his grandma standing in the terrace, next to him, and gazing at the dark clouds. She was completely immersed in her thoughts. Amit yelled, “Get inside, grandma! Get inside. A heavy and a severe storm is likely.”

“You know Amit, Storms are known to cause damages but there is one thing very funny about them”, Grandma responded.

“What is it, grand ma?” Amit shot back.

“You see the people who weather the storm, do not enjoy the peace, harmony and serenity that follows it. Invariably, the people who enjoy the good times following a storm, are those who desert and hide in the safe heavens when storms unleash their wrecking fury.” Grandma sermonized.

“Well, grandma! You are getting philosophical and hyper sensitive. I reckon it is their practical wisdom, grandma.” Amit dismissed grandma’s theory.

“Practical wisdom? My foot! It is sheer dereliction of human, social and official duty—whoever you are. Their enjoyment rests on the sacrifices and blood of those brave people who give their lives away to checkmate the storm?” Grandma chided Amit.
“Fine, grandma! No more harangues and pontification. Let us stop this session on moral values and ethics. Let us worry about the imminent danger of a weather-storm which is due any moment.” Amit tried to deflect his grandma’s mind.

“Oh, I see! You are trying to classify ‘Storms’!! ? What did you say –“Weather Storm? You mean to say it differs from Social and Political storms? Does it? No, my son the end result of all storms is same. They all affect human lives. They all leave debris behind. They only bring misery and pain to those who dare to combat them. In their aftermath---the cowards, who escape to avoid its fury----come back later to enjoy the benefits of harmony & peace?” Grandma retorted.

“Grandma, you are unduly getting emotional on a non-issue. Remember, what you always sermonize me? You always caution me that EMOTIONS MAKE ONE BLIND. Overpowered by emotions, one loses control of one’s rationality because mental faculties have their shutters dropped. Hope you are not its victim.” Amit hit back with an equal punch.

“No, it is not emotional outburst. It is my visualization of the times ahead on the social, political and national platform. You see-----“, “Stop it Grandma”, Amit Interrupted and pulled his grand ma inside the room.

By now, a very fast wind was blowing. Laden with dust particles, it was hitting the eyes in such a manner that it had begun to obscure vision. Open doors and windows of the house were banging against each other to produce deafening sound. On top of this the whistling sound of the wind was ripping apart the ear-drums. Storm was growing in intensity every second. Amit was running around the house to shut open windows and doors but dust in the air and poor visibility was making his task difficult. He was moving around almost with closed eyes.

In this melee, while he was closing the windows of the drawing room, a strong puff of wind hit his face and he lost control which sent him flying over the sofa. The window pane hit the iron grill in a lightening speed and glass was broken. It made a big banging sound. Shattered pieces of glass were all over the body of fallen Amit, causing multiple cuts and bruises on his arms, hands and face. As he was slowly getting up, taking care not to touch the scattered glass pieces, he found his grand ma standing some feet away an asking,” Have you been hurt, Amit?”

“Yea, grandma! Didn’t you just now say that those who weather the storm invariably get hurt? But, thanks God, it seems only a superficial injury—my eyes and head have escaped the disaster.” Amit responded.

“What happened?” Mrs. Raj Rathaur, Amit’s Mother, came rushing into the drawing room from the kitchen.

“Amit fell down while closing the drawing room windowpanes. He has been hurt.” Amit’s grandmother informed her daughter- in- law.

“So many times, Amit, So many times I have told you to be careful. But no, you are always in a hurry. You are 30 years old, working out a career in journalism, when will you grow up, Amit? Look at it what have you done to yourself?” Amit’s mother scolded him.

“Come on, mom! I was only trying to do your job. The damn wind was so intense and hurting to the eyes that I lost my grip on the latch and the window banged the iron grill with a lightening speed” Amit tried to explain.

“I knew it, Amit, I knew it. You will not admit your fault. This is what is wrong with your damn generation: you people seem to be ready with justifications and excuses at the drop of a hat. Too damn obsessed with self-righteousness. I do not like it; just don’t like it.” Mrs. Raj Rathaur burst out angrily.

“Come on, Raj! Do not behave like the boss of a HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION: always missing the woods for trees. You are not appreciating as to how much damage Amit has saved to our house. You are only concerned about the breaking of one glass of your window. Exactly like these human rights organizations—just obsessed with only finding faults. The fault might not be entirely of Amit. In rush of things, when deadlines are to be met, some mistakes do occur inadvertently.” It was grandma scolding his daughter- in- law.

“But mummy1 you see his arrogance? He tells me that he had been doing my job. Do you think it was only my job to do al house-hold jobs such as closing of doors and windows; making of beds; cooking; cleaning the house; dusting so on and so forth? Is it my job alone to keep everything in the house in order? Don’t you think, we all who live in this house, have a collective responsibility?” Raj vehemently protested.

“No. it is not your job alone. All of us must share the responsibilities equally. But you must understand in the course of discharge of one’s duties and responsibilities mistakes do occur. After all we are all human beings prone to errors of judgment. Think of it this way if afraid of committing mistakes people shy away from their responsibilities how much damage could be caused to us. The SWEET mistake might have probably saved us a catastrophe. Same way, Amit too was trying to discharge his duty when he decided to close all window sand doors before the storm. If he won’t have done so, a lot of dust and muck would have made a mess of your house. It would have damaged more windowpanes. Please understand and appreciate his efforts rather than crying hoarse with his one unintended mistake” grandma moralized.

“But mummy, we can not condone wrongs. It leads to a bigger wrong later--------“Mrs. Raj Rathaur was trying to justify when Amit yelled in anger.

“To hell with your “RIGHTS” and WRONGS? If you are so peeved at my inability, why do you want me to do a job for you when I can only commit mistakes? Do it yourself, then. Stop talking of your moralities and ethics—also do bother to care for my cuts and bruises You are just not concerned about my bleeding face and aching arms.” saying this Amit walked away in protest, murmuring to himself, “I will never do anything in this house, even if you beg me.”

He took out his mobile and dialed a number. He checked about the confirmation of his air ticket from New Delhi to Kolkotta. He was scheduled to go this Wednesday to report on a very important court case of alleged encounter between a terrorist couple and CAT SQUAD of Punjab police. He was covering the case for his news channel. He calculated that he might have to leave on Monday itself to be able to tie up certain details at New Delhi. He had only one day left to go. Amit decided to get some medical attention from a doctor after the storm had subsided. He was now thinking of the case of late BASHIR KHAN and his wife SABINA BAI –the alleged terrorist couple killed by Punjab police in an encounter on May 17, 1993. On Wednesday, the trial court was to deliver the judgment. This case had whole nation glued to it. The media was hyperactive. Policemen had become the villains in the media trials of the case. But Amit decided to wait for the judgment day before making any final comment in his report.

(Author’s note:- This is part one of this serialized story. It will run into ten sections)
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WHEN THE STORM BLEW AWAY-2

THE JUDGEMENT DAY

Mercury bulbs of the cameras were flashing; microphones were buzzing with glamorous men and women from electronic and print media safe-depositing the sound bytes of legal luminaries into their dicta-phones. Clearly there was divided opinion. Some favored the defendants; while some others were highly critical. There were people amongst the legal luminaries who longed to publically hang the accused; others were equally vocal to allow the accused to be honorably acquitted and be bestowed upon with national awards.

The court room was totally full, packed to the utmost capacity. It was crowded with the big names of print and electronic media along with lawyers in their black aprons who were the most wanted commodity by the media. Anybody and every body in the legal profession was having potshot on the case. It was a unique case where the men who saved the integrity of the nation by risking their own lives were charged with the murder of those who threatened the nationhood. Charged emotions on both sides of the fence aroused interest of the common man, too.

Amit Kushwaha was totally confused. This was his first independent assignment as a journalist after he had graduated from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. He had been strictly instructed by his boss to go for the facts and truth—no emotional frills. He didn’t know what was the truth—whom to believe. While his conscience cried for the blood of those who carry out cold blooded murders; his brain argued as to how come the 'security forces or the men of the law enforcing agencies' be dubbed as murderers when the nation itself bestows upon them “THE RIGHT TO KILL, IF NATIONAL SECURITY IS THREATENED”. “What is the dividing line? Is it overlapping or very subtle and thin?” he put these questions to self.

Amit worked for DNN (Delhi News Network). His immediate boss was Rajesh Rathore, a doyen of news makers, who had earned a name for his unbiased and truthful reporting. He always looked beyond the facial expressions of people in front of the camera. He anchors, every Sunday at prime time, a very popular TV show on DNN, called “Spine Less Wonders of India”. In this programme, he highlights the ills of Indian Democracy and its shallow claims of self-greatness. He had once stated that the people, who had been born in India in the immediate aftermath of Independence, say between 1947 to 1960, abound in SLAVE MENTALITY and were no good to lead India. In fact, he continues to emphatically state todate that generations born in the two decades of FIFTIES & SIXTIES are “Confused Generations” and they lack not only in self discipline but also moral integrity, consequently accounting for all the ills of modern India. National Interests to them are like tissue papers to be used for personal advancement or for votes. He had, in his inner circles, often known to have quoted a CIA representative in PAKISTAN in early eighties, who had made very funny remarks about Indians to Brigadier Yusuf Mohammed (retired) of Pakistan Army. According to Brigadier Yusuf Mohammed, as quoted in his book, “Bear Trap”, the CIA representative, when questioned by him (Yusuf) as to how Indians were supplying arms for the MUJAHIDEENS in AFGHANISTAN because Indian Government was, then, supporting Russians and Afghan Governments in the Eighties, had stated:

“-------Indians are bast***s, they can sell their mother for money.”
Rajesh Rathore was a great critic of political leaders and the mess they had made of the Indian Democracy. He was equally scathing on his own breed, too. He opined that most of the media men worked for vested interests. He thought that bulk of them were committed to their benefactors and lobbied for them. He always cautioned people on the PLANTED STORIES both in the print and electronic media. Rahesh held a view that all those sting operations on corruption and flesh trades were actually aimed at trapping the persons to later blackmail them. He invariably cited examples on various media disclosures of sex scandals and corruptions, where there was no follow –up action and the issues died natural death. He highlighted the importance of follow-up action to pin down the culprits and wrong-doers. In this case, he often quoted the Yamini Lal Murder case, which was kept alive by the active media and all attempts to bludgeon it into silence were foiled. He was, therefore, a great advocate of media’s power to build strong and a vibrant India by supporting Indian National interests at all costs and nothing else.
Therefore at times, he too, would compromise his journalistic ethos if it conflicted with national interests. He would impose restrictions upon himself when he found a portion of the truth could endanger national security. People, often criticized him for this. He cared too hoots for such criticism. He used to dismiss criticism by saying, “I know my duty. I do not need lessons on TRUTH from the Gods of FALSEHOOD.” On innumerable occasions, Rajesh had cautioned his new disciple, Amit Kushwaha, “ Do not go by what people talk in front of camera. As a society, we are hypocrites. In public, we would preach moralities; in private, we would flaunt them. There are no exceptions to this. Look beyond the obvious. But, remember the golden principle of NATIONAL INTEGRITY that the truth ought to be told in MEASURED TONES when it affects the national interests. Americans do it--they did it in both the GULF WARS--CNN gave the pictures of the wars to the outside world what the AMERICANS wanted the world to know. Britain did it during the second world war--it had broken the GERMAN SECRET CODE and it had known about impending JAPANESE attack on PEARL HARBOUR. Had they cautioned the Americans, the PERAL HARBOUR tragedy could have been avoided but USA would not have joined war on behalf of the allid forces? Even our scriptures sanctify the manipulation and orchestration of the real TRUTH for a BIGGER national cause. Lord KRISHANA along with YUDHISTERA had resorted to a bit of ORCHESTRATION of real truth when informing DRONACHARYA about the alleged death of his son ASWATHAMA.”

In the case of his current assignment, Amit was desperately trying to emulate the teachings of his mentor and guide. He had to do a good job of this because first impression was the last impression. But, more he immersed himself in the case, more he was grounded—unable to take off in any direction. In a state of utmost confusion, he spotted Sh Pritam Khullar of “The Tribune” –a Chandigarh based daily newspaper of North India. Pritam Khullar was a leading light of this Daily and he was known for his incisive analysis of such cases. Fortunately for Amit, he was known to his father and he was a frequent visitor to their home. Pritam and Amit’s father had served together in the army in their young days. Their friendship flourished since then. He had seen Pritam uncle and his dad getting involved in heated arguments over the deteriorating state of the officer class of the army. His dad will often chid Pritam, “ what do you expect when good fellows like you run away from the field like cowards, the downslide has to take place.” Pritam uncle would invariably retort, “ We had left some good fellows like you behind to look after the fort but what can we do if you become spineless wonders and YES MEN of the SELF SEEKERS.” At this, his mother, would invariably intervene to change the topic or give the final call for dinner. Notwithstanding their shouting bouts, their friendship never tasted mutual bitterness or animosity.

As soon as Amit saw his Pritam Uncle outside the court room, he almost shouted “Eureka” in euphoria. He rushed to him and explained his dilemma. Pritam Khullar curtly told him, “ Didn’t IIMC teach you the finer points of journalism? Well! in army they say before you fire to kill, get your weapon caliberated and get requisite ammunution to load. It is the judgement day. Let the judge pronounce his verdict. Wait for it. What is the hurry.” Amit could not agree more. Yes, it was the judgement day.

Amit had known the incident had taken place when he was just a college student. He had only superficial idea of the case. It was more than three years now when it was to be concluded. But the media had been carrying out the trial since the closing year of the last decade of second millenium. All these years media had taken upon itself the role of a ‘Trial-court’; ‘prosecution’ and the ‘defence’, all combined in one. Thus,media had many versions of its judgement—it was written in the ink of the side it represented. In short, media had its cake and it ate it too. “Now let us wait for the legal verdict. Why run around ? the judge will be in the court any time”, Amit counseled himself. And sure, the frantic hustle-bustle in the court-room suggested that the Trial Judge had come into the court room.


His lordship, Shri Shashank Sen Gupta occupied his chair exactly at 10A.M. He cursorily looked at the accused. Five members of the erstwhile MISSILE SQUAD—the CATS—of Punjab Police stood in total silence in the accused box, blankly staring at his lordship. They were convinced that they had committed no crime. They were made victim of a political drama whose script they did not understand. They vouched for their selfless devotion to duty and invaluable service towards resolving a problem in Punjab which had cancerous manifestations. They were bitter with so called Human-rights organisations and civil rights enthusiasts. In fact, during the trial, Mr Sanatan kumar Singh, Superintendent of police (SP) in charge of operations of Bhatinda district in Punjab, the prime accused in the case, had submitted an affidavit to the learned judge. In the said affidavit, he had raised questions on the motives and intentions of these so called civil right and human right organisations. In a lengthy statement, he had questioned their sources of funds and their lavish life-styles. He had asserted that in the name of being a NGO(Non-government Organisation) with social objectives, they were actually money-making organisations with ulterior motives of the foreign institutes who fund them. To quote a most cited para:-

“------My Lordship, where were the POACHERS when civil rights and human dignity of the general public were trampled under the feet by the likes of gun-toting BASHIR KHAN and his hoodlums? Where were these Ladies and gentlemen of human rights when Bashir Khan and his gang pulled out 30 men, women and children from a bus near Bhucho Mandi and gunned them down in a cold blood. I did not see the great exponents of civil liberties and human rights, Madam Varuna Raut and Shiksha Rajawad , to come and shed tears for those seven innocent children between the age group of one to five. Why don’t they register cases and provide evidence against the likes of Bashir Khan for such heinous crimes? Their motives are suspect. They can only voice against those who respect law. They will not do anything to assist law in providing evidence against known criminals. To them, human rights violations is a one way street-------------.”

No doubts, Mr Sanatan kumar had vigorously questioned the motives of “PEOPLE’s ORGANISATION AGAINST CIVIL and HUMAN RIGHTS EMBELLISHMENTS by a REPRESSIVE STATE” or POACHERS for short. He had articulated his plea that they have been falsely implicated in a murder case where as it was a plain and simple ENCOUNTER between terrorists and his MISSILE SQUAD. He had forcefully stated that the terrorist and his wife were killed in a fire-fight which ensued when the CATS raided their hideout. It is incidental that CATS suffered very minor casualities. It was and must be the measure of their trining, efficiency and motivation. Just because there was no death amongst the CATS , the shoot-out can not be termed as fake . He had vehmently asked the court IF IT WERE MANDATORY FOR THE SECURITY FORCES TO SUFFER FATAL CASUALITIES WHILE INDULGING IN A FIRE FIGHT WITH TERRORISTS ? He was apprehensive of the real motives of the POACHERS and its head, Mrs Varuna Raut, who was internationally renowned for her book, “The Land of Silly Gods”.

It was a fact that Sanatan and his men were booked on a case filed by Shiksha Rajawad on behalf of POACHERS. Shiksha was not only a friend of Varuna but a renowned criminal lawyer of Kolkotta. She had been trained by another great name in legal circles, Mr. Sham Jootewala, who boasted of getting people acquitted from the sure shot death sentence. His legal acumen was unmatched. Shiksha was her very able disciple. She alongwith Varuna made a great team of POACHERS who allegedly helped out the underprivileged and the poor. Security forces dealing with militancy and terrorism from North East to J&k and Punjab, were engaged in number of legal cases by them for violations of human rights.

Sanatan’s affidavit to the trial judge had started a moral, ethical,legal, political and social debate amongst the intellectuals all over India. Intelligentia willingly and vigorously participated in this debate . And why not? They were the conscience keeper of the biggest democracy in the world. Sitting in the convention halls of FIVE STAR HOTELS or the air conditioned studios of major news channels they had lambasted or glamorised SANATAN KUMAR and his accomplices. Speaking with immaculate accent and dead-sure assertion they would claim to represent the common man of India. But did they really know the pulse of the common man in India? Perhaps not; may be ‘Yes’. Leaving aside the people of Punjab, people in other states barely knew the details of the case. Yet the news channels would demonstrate through their repetitive play of same video clip, as if the whole nation had been galvanised. Facts spoke otherwise.

A rickshaw –puller in New Delhi, when questioned by Miss Jasmine Bhalla of Sahara Samay news channel had responded, “ What is this case? I have no idea. Watching TV ? Who has the money to buy this gadget? What? Reading a news paper? Why should I be plying a Rickshaw madam, if I could read and write? Also, who has the time to follow this time-wasting pastime? To buy a TV or a News paper I must have money. I do not have , so I can not indulge in these luxuries. Let those who have the money, waste it on these frivolous issues. We don’t care—really don’t care, Madam.”

A college student in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, when confronted by Mr. Ram Moorthy of THE HINDU newspaper had asked back, “ Yes, what is the case, I know nothing”. Ram Moorthy explained to hin certain facts . The Student, Mr. Tk Kanan, then responded, “ Oh! I see. But why are you so peeved at these policemen? What do you expect the police to do? As you have said these terrorists had killed some 30 innocent children,women and men in a cold blood shoot out , why is it not being investigated by these POACHERS? Weren’t they murderers at large? What about the human rights of those 30 people? You said there was no evidence but for the boasting claim made by the terrorist organisation, to which Bashir khan and his wife belonged. Did the couple ever refute this allegation? Do you think any criminal will leave any evidence for the law enforcers to get them convicted? Why should the Punjab police persons go to KOLKOTTA to raid their hideout? Did they have personal enmity? Operation must have been planned at highest level as two states were involved. Why only target these five people? Why not all those who have tasked the security forces to tackle militancy, terrorism and insurgency? Do you think these five people dreamt of the anti-national activities of this couple? There ought to be some information on their activities. How come a fugitive from law in Punjab was living a comfortable life in KOLKOTTA? I am not convinced by this fuss by your so called POACHERS?”

A school teacher in Assam had told Mr. Dipankar Roy of “THE EASTERN CLARION” Daily from Jorhat that lmedia must leave it to the court to decide. He said to Roy, “ Why are you wasting your time? Does it have any value? How would my opinion influence this case? Should the criminal or terrorist cases be decided by voting by the public? If media and public has to decide cases like this, then why waste money on courts? I am afraid media is unnecessarily trying to influence the judge of the trial court by cluttering his mind with orchestrated public opinion. You are adulterating the justice by influencing the mind of the judge. Such mind adulteration is not good for the legal landscape of the nation. Media trials must stop for justice to prevail.”

The best comments had come from a college girl at TARNTARAN in Punjab. In a quisitive response to Gurvinder Thukral’s query , Manjit kaur had reacted, “ Did you ever rape your sister?” Gurvinder Thukral, a reputed journalist, working for Chandigarh based Daily, "THE TRIBUNE" ,was shocked and immoblised to hear such a response to his simple question by a brash young girl. Nonplussed and agonised, Gurvinder had replied to Manjit, “ Miss! Your question is not only irrelevant but also unthinkable.” This had further infuriated the young lass and she had exploded, “ What did you say? It was unthinkable? Kindly tell me what was thinkable? Was it thinkable to learn that the Prime Minister of India had allegedly accepted a suitcase full of cash as bribe? They say it was Rs One Crore. Was it thinkable for a serving minister at the Centre to be raided by the CBI in his home town in Himachal Pradesh and come out with a bounty of Rs 3.5 crores? Did you ever think that an honourable serving judge of the Supreme court could be accused of having misappropriated government funds while serving chief justice of a High Court? Could you ever think that a Session Judge would have links with the underworld in Mumbai? Could you ever imagine warrants of arrest issued against DIG/IG/ ADGP and DGP of police for corruption? Sir, this is India in the year 2000 AD. Please imagine what you could not even visualise in your wildest dreams. Kindly do not dismiss it as a trash from a young college lass. It is people of your generation who sing songs on false moralities. It is your generations who are responsible for the sorry state of affairs India is in. It is your generation which produce BASHIR KHAN and SANATAN KUMAR SINGH. There is no difference between the two. Both of them have raped their CONSCIENCE; one for riches and money, the other for glamour, honour and awards. And you people—the media men—are painting them as HEROES and VILLAINS—depending on what your own inclinations, perceptions and preferences are. The fact is both are evil in its most lethal form.” Gurvinder Thukral was shaken and stunned. His 20 years in journalism were reduced to zero by an angry young girl from a remote town in Punjab. He really resnted that day of having asked this question on the case from this young girl.

To Gurvinder Thukral there was a food for thought. A question rang in his mind: was the media, both electronic and print, really responsible for creating “HEROES” and “VILLIANS”? He pondered over this time and again—mulled over the questions many a times and then said to himself, “ Yes! How true this young Lass was!!” Thereafter, Gurvinder had written a big article ventilating these sentiments. In the concluding part of the article, Gurvinder had said, “ ------------Some one ought to listen to these young people. But the question that begs my mind is: ‘WHO is this person?' I have no answer.” Amit kushwaha had read this piece by Gurvinder Thukral and he was quite impressed with his plain speaking. He was now busy recollecting in his mind the fine points he had raised. He was oblivious of the fact that the judge had already entered the court room.

---------To be continued in Part 3"THE CONFUSED GENERATIONS"
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WHEN THE STORM BLEW AWAY-3

CONFUSED GENERATIONS versus SKYWAVES GENERATIONS!


Amit had not only read this article by Gurvinder Thukral but had also made a photo copy of the same and kept in his ‘TREASURE FILE’ of noted articles. He was at IIMC, New Delhi when this article had appeared in THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE of January 2000. Amit was not sure of the date as he had forgotten to put it on his photo copy. In the institute, he had not only witnessed heated debates but also actively participated in them on the lopsided thinking of what Gurvinder called “CONFUSED GENERATIONS” .

Gurvinder had argued that the post Second world war, the sudden collapse of the COLONIALISM had created a euphoria of self- greatness in the developing world. Anti-colonial leaders of AFRO-ASIAN region had niether considered nor planned a strategy to move ahead beyond freedom and independence. When the colonialists departed , there was sudden vacuum in experienced administration and management. There was thought-bankruptcy on the future guidance, directions and movement of society and the polity. In a fit of things, old was sought to be discarded because of its colonial connections but there was no real ideas ever espoused as to how to move forward with a new identity. Thus, new nations and polities either adopted ‘Hit and Trial Method’ or left it to their ‘Bigger- than -Life- Leaders’ to chart out a course of action. Most of these leaders were despotic and one-track minded and so on their whims and fancies, the grappling in the dark began. The 20th Century decades of Fifties and Sixties were decades of “ Confusion and Chaos” in the Afro-Asian nations. India was no exception despite the towering personality of Nehru and his elk in the freedom movement.

The generations born in the aftermath of the Second world war had to rear themselves up on a system set up by the colonialists but run by the impractical yet idealistic nuances of leaders with nationalistic fervour. Therefore, there was a huge gap on what was practically admissible and what the theorists of idealism wanted. This led to dilution and adulteration of social, political and moral ethos. Thus, the children who grew in these environments were practically torn between the two extremes of what the heart wanted but the head did not approve of. This inner conflict led to mental confusion through out. Most of them were mental slaves of old values while putting up a façade of a free person. Mental inhibitions had closed their minds to what is new and desireable. They were out of sync with the fast paced growth in the developed world. They continue to be so even in a world flatened by technology and communications. Gurvinder was more harsh with the development in India. He wrote an auxillary on the CURSED GENERATIONS OF INDIA. He had advised the CONFUSED GENERATIONS to stop moralising the young and let them get on with their task. In fact , he had said , “---the young ones know what is to be done to take India forward. Retire, you old fogies! Hand over the reigns of power to the young.”

In the light of preponderance of fog about the truth on the case he was currently handling, Amit wondered if it had something to with the moralities of ‘Confused Generations’. He opened his brief case; took out his “Treasure File” and pulled out this article by Gurvinder Thukral on the ‘Confused generations’. He began to read. It read:-



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THE AGE OF SKY WAVES GENERATIONS

By

Gurvinder Thukral



“Did you rape your sister?” , a young college girl from TARN TARAN in punjab had fired this bullet at me from a very close range and I dropped dead in my thoughts. She had incapacitated my mental faculity with one simple shot. I was not only stunned but also mentally immobilised. In response, I could only utter, “ Miss! Your question was irrelevant and unthinkable---------.” It was a very meek response to a very powerful burst of anger but it was adequate to ignite the volcano in her. She discoursed me on how ‘unthinkable” has become “thinkable”. She was absolutely right. We are confused. My generations are confused as to what we really want in life. We are confused whether we want our children to be modern and forward looking or we want them to be entangled in the web of old moralities----- designed for some other age; some other centuries and some other people , long gone from the surface of this earth. In the name of religion we regiment their minds on true and false gods. We bind their mental processes into “THINKABLE” and “UNTHINKABLE” human acts. We preach something else; we do something else.

All religions forbid violence but it is the die-hard followers of these religions who kill and prepetuate violence. Do I take it that the teachings of all religions are false, fake and man-made sermons? In pursuit of the ‘Hitlerite’ principle of "SELF- EXCELLENCE or WE-THE-BEST”, we ridicule others. We sit on judgement on their beliefs, faith and their way of life. We want them to follow what we think is right. We want to impose UNIFORMITY on all and sundry. This is the basic cause of all human conflict. “ Be-like-us-or-Perish” philosophy of all religions, polities and societies has been the cause of man-made destruction, devastation and damages down the centuries.This has become more pronounced in the aftermath of second world war—the war to end all wars. In their single minded pursuit of an objective of enforcing self-perceived uniformity, all social, political, economical and religious philosophies unleash violence on their opposing philosophies. There are no exceptions. Although, percepts and contexts might differ but the the contents of end-product, the violence, do not. The architect of racial abuse of THIRD RIECH, ADOLF HITLER, might have died half a century back but his clones dominate the earth under different skins, colours and names. Killers roam the earth like never before.

How do pure, simple and sensitive children turn into desensitised monsters--- oggling venom and practicing extreme violence. Is it due to eloping old moralities? Is it a transitional phase? Does it have a more sinister face for the future? Will there be a turn about to the past? What is the future of humanity—nay, our golden earth. These are questions---questions desperately asking for answers. Who will provide answers? If you take my advice, the answer to your last question is very simple i.e Leave it to the emerging generations. Do not stuff them with OLD, OUTDATED and OUT MODED moralities to confuse them—like our generations are. They will find a way out with new moralities and new social, political, religious, economical and global doctrines and strategies. How do I explain this to you?
Let us be clear—the world is flat and getting flatened everyday more vigorously—with undulating surfaces getting evened out with great pace. Therefore,when such a process is on, how can you protect your specific old identity. The more you resist, the more damage is caused to your social, political and individual self, for, you are up against the tide of the times, whose final bell had been rung when USSR collapsed. The age old maxim, “ SWIM WITH THE TIDE” is your saviour. In other words, accept the reality that old was no more gold. It ought to be consigned to the archives section of human history. Such efforts need more emphasis in the Third World and developing nations. They are more emotionally stuck with their past and not ready to discard it easily.

Let me illustrate this with the examples from our own national life. No doubts, India is in the forefront of this turf war between the old and new. Trouble is with its ageing generations of 'Confused Decades'. They want to cling on to past—which they never understood and followed, but suddenly realised its virtues. They, in their old age, have found the significance of joint family systems and its accompanying moralities. Their self interests have suddenly pitch forked to the top of their brains, the greatness of old social ethos and values. While they harp on them and swear by them, new social and political values as befitting the flatened world are emerging. These new values are reshaping the frontiers , definitions and scope of such terms as honesty, integrity, nationalism and social parameters.
‘Continent Hopping’ global citizens understand these new values whereas old, faded and jaded do not understand them. The difference is : while my generation keeps crying on as to what has gone wrong, the new generation simply says, “ Change the course and ‘Move On”. There is a mismatch in our thinking. Younger generations think we do not practice what we preach. They do not trust us because what act we publically put up or swear by we flounder it in private. We tell a child, do not tell lies. But the very moment when the door-bell rings we ask the same child to tell the visitor that papa was not at home. We do not have the courage to face awkward and difficult situations. We endlessly criticise corruption but we shamelessly accept DIWALI and X-MAS gifts from strangers as recognition of our authority and status. Like chivalary, corruption, too, begins at home. A new trend has begun. Parents go out of their ways to ensure their children do well in school and college examinations. They teach them copying and unfair means. They bribe teachers, examiners and supervisors.

We fix quotas and reservations in the name of social upliftment of down trodden. But who has benefitted in the last 50 years? Reservation has become an INDUSTRY. Government jobs, education and professional institutes are all inflicted by them. What competent professionals would the third rate candidates become in these automated factories? Incompetent doctors, half-wit engineers and inefficient bureaucracy from these privileged reserved classes lay the foundation stone of corruption. When incompetent , undeserving and self-oriented people of low personal values get into position of authority, they have only one agenda to pursue i.e to seek self advancement. Their logic is simple and understandable: “Seen enough of poverty and miseries, it is my chance to alleviate my sufferings and of my family, let moralities be damned.” How can you remove corruption?

We have legalised corruption. Why do we crib about it now? In the process we have sowed the seeds of terrorism and militancy. When we deny the deserving candidates their place in educational and professional institutes, aren’t we practising discrimination? When we tell the youth that there was no place for them in the govt job because they were born in the upper class, aren’t they being denied their fundamental right of equal opportunities? Won’t it cause frustration? Simple, when we deny desrving persons their place, do we expect them to sing songs in praise of constitution? This constitution needs to be changed, it is discrimnatory. The fore fathers of the constitutions were not wrong. They gave 50 years for these classes to come up. But the policy was not allowed to be properly implimented by the power brokers in these lower castes. They wanted to keep their flock together by keeping them illiterate, uneducated and uninformed. Same thing happened to minorities. But the leaders of CONFUSED GENERATIONS are extending these provisions beyond 50 years because of lack of vision. Today, every one who has some clout is getting its quota of reservation. It is a big sham.

How ironic it is, we want to undo the injustice of thousand of years of class and social deprivation, but we repeat the same mistake that MANU is being accused of. We are creating new privileged classes at the cost of competent people. What is the fault of the generations born in the modern times? Is it a good logic to make them pay for the excesses of their ancestors? Who should be held responsible for the past 50 years? Reservation is a retrograde step. It is moving us back by thousands of years. How can you remove the caste system from the society when you sanctify it through the provisions of your constitution? Haven't you legalised the most abohored Caste-system? On one side we want to remove it, on the other side, we keep it alive and prepetuate it throught the law. This is our confusion.
“India is one”, we all say. But you can not buy agricultural land in Maharashtra, if your ancestors were not farmers. You can not buy property in J&K. You can not buy land in Himachal Pradesh & Uttaranchal. There are so many inequities in our so called EQUALITY FOR ALL. We are for sure a confused lot of people. We can not move forward unless we sort out this confusion. My simple question is who has benefitted by this CONSTITUTIONAL DENIAL— which you call reservation or article 370 or simply protection of Hill State and interests of the FARMERS.

The age old maxim, “ Do not give fish to eat to a hungry man but teach him how to catch fish” is either not known to our leaders or it has been glossed over in a competitive politics of expediency. Democracy in our case has become a curse because we are doing only the wrong things what the democracy can ill-afford. In the 50 years of this democracy, we might have created a few feudal lords amongst the lower castes, but general profile of the society has not changed. Perhaps, it was a noble dream of the forefathers of the constitution to rid the society of its caste system. Their motives are well understood but this open ended provision has created another more dangerous evil for the society. Corruption flows out of the constitutional longivity of reservation. Consequently, militancy and terrorism are born out of its corrollary of “CONSTITUTIONAL DENIAL OF EQUALITY” .

No modern nation seeking rapid growth and development can move back into times to correct a social wrong by applying corrections to its past history. This is what Indian constitution is doing? History can not be changed. It must be made to change course by modern dynamism. Such historical corrections, provide analogies for the justifications of more dangerous historical blunders. Demolition of BABRI MASJID on 06 december 1991 was a similar folly. History must be accepted as it is.Change its future course by not correcting it but by breaking free of it. Those who defy history and tend to correct it, undoubtedly become its victim. India ,certainly in recent times, has become a victim of its own history. If it moves forward three steps every day it is pulled back two steps next day.

When this young girl from Taran Taran in Punjab asked me if I had raped my sister, she might not have literally meant it. What she probably equated the word “SISTER” was with our high portals of self-acclaimed “MORALITIES”. And we rape them everyday in the name of law and constitution. We do so when in search of honour and glory, in pursuit of riches and comforts. We do it in a bid to create a public image. We create an aura of self greatness about ourself.

We do it as public servants; we do it as men of media; we do it as politicians; we do it as judges; we do it as parents; we do it as men and women; we do it as religious people; we do it as businessmen; we do it as administrators; we do it as law enforcers; we do it as defenders of our borders; we do it as legal practitioners; we do it as champions of human rights and civil liberties; we do it as teachers and preachers; we do it as ministers and men of authority; we do it as common people and we do it as previleged people. We do it and we do it. Every day we preach to each other; we sermonise each other; we debate and discuss but every day we forget what we had said. We excel in moralising but we fail in practising our own philosophies. We take pride in our history one moment and condemn it the very next moment. We make bagful of promises to all and sundry but we fulfil none. This is the bane of our society—theorists par excellence but the poorest practioners of theories. This is our modern dilemma. It is because of our social hang-up of the past. Our moralities are of old joint family system which has been ripped apart. These moralities keep humming our heads like a melodious symphony. Enchanted and mesmerised by them we close our eyes and go to sleep. We are totally oblivious of strides the others are making in the social reforms and national security.
People born in the confused decades of fifties and sixties of 20th century are caught in this hang fire of social confusion. They can not come out of this CHAKRAVYUH (Encirclement). We need an ABHIMANYU to break this 'Confusion Aided Encirlement' (CAE). Mercifully, our SKY WAVE GENERATIONS (SWG)----the children born in the era of 'Space Age', say after Niel Armstrong put his foot on the moon ------- have broken free of this CAE. We must trust them and fully supprt them. Our hopes lie with SWG. The young girl was right .We must think of the UNTHINKABLE. We must not shackle ourselves into known and unknown truth. We must not reject the new customs and new values. Accept them. If kissing in the public is no more a taboo, do not keep making it a horrendous sin. If love marriages are becoming a fashion, acknowledge it. If Valentine's day is a bigger festival than your RAKSHA BANDHAN then, so be it. Let the SWG hold the banner and march forward. Let my generation gracefully retire—even if we do not like the type of change and the direction of change. SWG knows what it is doing---it is their future—let them build their own moralities. Burry the past for ever. Let us make a break with history. My bet and hope is on SWG. I hope so. I can only hope.”





Amit kushwaha had liked this plain speaking by Gurvinder Thukral. He knew the present case has some rough edges but its answers lay in breaking the CAE about the real truth. Will he be able to this? Could he think of the unthinkable about the case? He was happy he had not formulated any personal opinion about the case so far. He refused to join either of the two clubs—one supporting POACHERS , other standing by the prime accused Mr. Sanatan kumar, ex-SP (operations) of Bhatinda police in Punjab. He had liked Pritam khullar’s advice, too, who had told him to wait for the judge to give his verdict. What mattered to him was the truth. And the truth was far away. Amit lost in these thoughts when his lordship, Shri Shashank Sen Gupta, had begun to read his judgement. Amit was shaken by the person sitting next to him. He regained his posture and started listening to the honourable judge very attentively to filter out truth from judicial pronouncements.Was it possible?



-----to be continued in Part -4 “ THE JUDGEMENT”
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