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| Friday,
April 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India    |
Big leap in space Not a quiet border now |
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The fair sex and services
India’s ties with Iran: building
on civilisational links “Angel of Nagpur” launches appeal in Britain
Provincial Hindu Conference
Pandal Completed
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Big leap in space THE sense of euphoria in the country following the success of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle GSLV-D1 on Wednesday is understandable. It is a historic achievement indeed. However, there is need to ensure that one does not go overboard while celebrating, just as it was wrong to feel despondent after the failure of the earlier attempt on March 28. The mission is still in developmental stage and successes and failures have to be taken in our stride. There is no country that has not had a good measure of both in the initial stages. Equanimity in the face of such hits as also the misses should be the watchword. Wednesday's success is only a stepping stone to more such validations that will be necessary before the country can claim to have arrived on the scene. Placing satellites in geosynchronous orbit 36,000 km above the earth is such a complex and costly affair that the margin of error has to be brought down as close to zero as possible. It is a tall order indeed, but the fruits of perfection are many. At stake is a multi-billion dollar commercial satellite launch business. India can give other countries like the USA, Russia, European Union, China and Japan a run for their money in this field, because it can offer its services at much cheaper rates. Even more significantly, India can launch its own INSAT class of satellites at a fraction of the cost it is currently incurring. Its needs have been growing manifold over the years. The satellites are needed not only for civilian purposes, but also for surveillance and communications. More than the cost factor, it is the ability to do so at a time of our convenience that will be enhanced once India starts launching satellites of over 1500 kg that would stay stationary over India. There are four specific reasons which put the achievement in a class of its own. One, it was notched up in the face of stringent American sanctions following the Pokhran-II explosions. Two, the Rs 1,400-crore project has been hamstrung by cost overruns. Three, Russia has been rather ambivalent on the issue of the supply of the cryogenic technology. And four, Indian scientists tried out several unique and cost-effective technologies in this GSLV. The next step will be to make India's own cryogenic engine. Mastering the capability of launching huge satellites comprises only one part of the exercise. Simultaneously, we have to learn to ward off international pressures. There is fierce, cutthroat rivalry in satellite launch business and certain countries think nothing of using questionable means of undermining the position of a potential rival. All such factors will have to be taken into account and neutralised. But for the time being, what is most important is the boost to the self-esteem that the Indians in general and the Indian scientific community in particular have got. |
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Not a quiet border now SUDDENLY the border with Bangladesh has exploded into shooting, killing and high voltage tension. No doubt, normalcy will return soon but the smug complacence of New Delhi will be dead for a long time. India always believed that with an India-friendly Prime Minister in Dhaka and a long period without any “incident”, it can relax. Even the regular infiltration of Bangladeshis along the porous border and with the connivance of the BSF was not officially disapproved. So was smuggling — this time two-way — and much to the profit of the border forces of both countries. Everybody had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and so peace would prevail, or so the Centre thought. But two factors have dashed this over-optimistic thinking. One, Bangladesh will elect its next government in October and the main, if not the only, plank will be the submissive attitude of Prime Minister Hasina Wajed towards India. The second is the hawkish attitude of the chief of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Major-Gen Fazlur Rahman. For several days now, politicians and the media in that country have got into an election mode by mounting a bitter attack on India, which made some dramatic development inevitable. And it came early this week. Villagers, or those not in uniform, began digging trenches. Now trenches do not symbolise peace but defence which goes with an offensive thrust. The BDR men started moving in big numbers and took up menacing positions. On Sunday the Indian border observation post in Pyrdiwah was encircled and the next day hundreds of Bangladeshis came visiting the outpost. BDR men were present and so the BSF jawans felt no threat and were, by one account, unarmed. They were lynched and one surmise is that the “civilians” were actually soldiers in civvies and it was a well-planned and executed operation. It has two advantages. It did not formally link the Dhaka government but projected it as a tough anti-India customer. Even if Mrs Hasina Wajed were in the dark about this operation or is opposed to it, she cannot do anything lest she strengthens the charge that she is unduly obedient to India. The border has come alive and it is better to remember a few historical facts. One, this village is on the Bangladesh side of the border posts set up in 1947, but by mutual agreement in 1960, the BSF is allowed to man an outpost. Two, there are more than 100 Indian villages (enclaves) surrounded by Bangladesh and more than 50 Bangla enclaves. Everyone of them is a potential flashpoint. Then there is the built-in hostility of a small neighbour to a bigger and thriving one. Indian foreign policy and diplomacy must be extraordinarily nimble-footed to tackle these problems. |
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Seeing Punjab in a new perspective THOSE who have personally experienced terror-stricken Punjab and other parts of the region bleeding at the hands of the trigger-happy during the militancy-infested days of the eighties and the early nineties will hardly welcome the return of Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, who once headed the dreaded Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). A typical reaction has come from the residents of Dasuya town in Hoshiarpur district, especially from the relatives of those who lost their dear ones in KCF attacks between 1984 and 1991. They have particularly resented the “stagemanaged VIP treatment” meted out to the one-time KCF chief, who is now homesick and presumably wishes to come back to the country’s democratic umbrella. We have carried in detail how Zaffarwal’s arrest was organised by the police with some prior understanding of the state’s political bosses. It was not an easy task. A lot of efforts had gone into the whole operation for months together. There can be legitimately two ways of looking at the latest turn of events. One, a tit-for-tat approach. That is, neither to forget nor to forgive a “sinner” for his past misdeeds. Two, a humane and reformist approach which allows the person to change course, repent his past inhuman acts and embrace the civilised order within reasonable parameters of the existing law and order machinery. I shall not go into Punjab’s, nay, India’s tradition in such cases of dreadful aberrations. Our readers are all familiar with the soul-stirring messages of our great Gurus, saints, swamis and fakirs. Everyone accepts or rejects divine thoughts according to his personal perceptions and mental grooming. All the same, it is necessary not to put a premium on communal contortions and religious jingoism. In the present setting, one unknown factor is the “politics” of the ruling elite. The latter would hardly be prompted by divine thoughts or a reformist zeal, though there may be exceptions. In any case, however, we have to accept certain developments in good faith rather than with pre-conceived ideas. Therein lies the challenge posed by the Zaffarwal phenomenon. Looking at the phenomenon critically, it is apparent that Punjab has come full circle. The latest event confirms the triumph of a democratic, civilised and humane order in Punjab — away from rule by the gun, which bruised and battered the state for over a decade. This is not a small achievement. In the larger national framework, it must be said that if the problem of terrorism and militancy is handled with tact and firmness, then democratic forces can definitely succeed in prevailing over the dark forces of violence. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was understandably reluctant to have Zaffarwal surrender before him. It could have been politically embarrassing, especially in view of the reaction of sections of Punjab society aggrieved by terrorism. He, therefore, did the next right thing: allow the law and order machinery to work on its own and with understanding. If a militant of yesteryears undergoes a change of heart and wishes to return to the mainstream, even due to weariness, he should be welcomed, though with a degree of caution and sensitivity. Looking back on Punjab’s militancy, it cannot be denied that terrorism in the state was at least partly the offshoot of political oneupmanship and the games some overambitious politicians played to promote their interests. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was basically a religious person who was used by certain political masters of his times as part of their petty gameplans. The net result was that Bhindranwale, over a period, grew larger than life — too big even for his patrons-in-chief to tolerate. In the pursuit of narrow political interests, accepted norms and conventions were put aside and divisiveness became an instrument of governance. Misunderstandings, intrigues, suspicions and confrontations among the Hindus and the Sikhs were allowed to rise to dangerous levels. The 1984 riots in Delhi and other parts of the country were part of this shocking game. This is one of the darkest periods of modern Indian history. It may also be worth remembering that when social and economic discontent gets translated into communal grievances, the whole setting becomes explosive, making demons out of friends and heroes out of murderers. In certain cases criminality puts on the cloak of religion as happened in Punjab in the eighties. It led to a fanatical phase of fundamentalism which, looking back, sapped the fibre of Punjabi society. I am recalling this point to underline the disastrous effect the blind game of competitive politics inflicts on the system. The people of Punjab are worldly wise, pragmatic, down-to-earth, forward-looking, pushy as well as highly religious. They do not subscribe to the cult of violence as a matter of faith. In the noble tradition set by Guru Nanak Devji, Guru Gobind Singh and the other eight Gurus the Panth has always stood for justice, fairplay and human values in which terrorism has no place. Guru Gobind Singh actually raised his sword against the tyrannical order of his time. The Sikh tradition is sublime, humane and service oriented. It particularly seeks the uplift of the humble and the downtrodden. During the days of terrorism, this message got lost. But the overseas sponsors of terrorism have now found to their chagrin that they cannot sustain their violent operations and divide the Hindus and Sikhs for long. Certainly not forever well-knit members of families and the community as a whole. A common heritage and values bind the Sikhs and Hindus in a silken thread. That is one of the main reasons why for all its initial vigour, militancy has had a limited life in Punjab and has an even more limited future. It needs to be acknowledged that the Khalistan concept could not click primarily because the traditional identity of Punjab has a built-in resilience that will survive all vicissitudes. It is, of course, fashionable for a group of Khalistanis settled abroad to talk big and indulge in day-dreaming. But with the return of Wassan Singh Zaffarwal to his home state, many more Zaffarwals may be waiting in the wings to unite with their families and start a new life as citizens of this great nation. Of course, the law has to take its course. Acts of omission and commission of the past cannot be overlooked. In the final analysis, however, what makes a difference to the polity is its ability to accommodate and absorb change and to transcend the past in the interest of the future. Zaffarwal’s return is likely to send the right signal to other militants living abroad. It is possible that we might see the “homecoming” of some other hardcore terrorists. The real challenge , however, imposed by Pakistan-based extremists who have stated that they will not follow the path of Zaffarwal. But there are indications that some of them as well are having second thoughts and wish to cross over. It is no secret that Pakistan has been a breeding ground for terrorism in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The time has come for the Pakistani authorities to see the writing on the wall and wind up their training camps for terrorists. It is alright to talk big at the prompting of the ISI and its agents, but it must be said that the militants’ honeymoon with Islamabad is bound to have a bitter end sooner or later. They must take the path shown by Zaffarwal and rediscover their real, native roots. The Babbar Khalsa International, the Dal Khalsa International and other protagonists of Khalistan have to see the future of Punjab in a new perspective. They cannot go against the tradition and heritage of the great Gurus. Nor can they win the hearts of the people by riding the ISI piggyback. Democracy represents the will of the public. It is a live medium in which people of all shades, castes, communities and opinion can participate and interact on an equal footing and evolve their own plans and policies in a peaceful and constructive manner. Indeed, the democratic path is still the best option available so far. There is ample place for voices of dissent in a democratic set-up and India is a living example of such a variegated democracy, notwithstanding many flaws. Punjab, however, continues to be a testing place. Apart from the challenge posed by the Zaffarwal phenomenon, on test in the state are also the instruments of governance, community relations and the politico-administrative system as a whole. There are a number of serious gaps in the quality of governance in the state. The administrative structure is both flawed and non-responsive. It is overpoliticised and the bureaucrats have failed to provide the needed sense of direction and urgency for a quantum leap forward in critical areas of social and economic growth. The state needs a new deal and proper understanding of its problems. We expect Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and other political leaders like Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress to constantly keep in mind the lessons they ought to have learnt from the days of militancy. It may be asked: have relevant lessons been learnt at all? Going by the response system, I am not quite sure on this count. Otherwise, adhocism would not be ruling the roost at all political levels. Political management ought to be made of sterner stuff in Punjab. It is worth remembering that when the “substance” gets buried under doublethink, doublespeak and doubleact, the loss of purpose, vision and direction is but natural. In the present setting, Punjab cannot afford the fracturisation of its polity. We expect political leaders to remember the brotherhood which binds the Hindus and Sikhs together with a common heritage of tradition, history, culture and family relations. This brotherhood needs to be strengthened further. Every action or non-action has to be tested on the touchstone of Punjab’s rich common heritage. The time has come to explore the power of those values which hold the key to a civilised, humane and peaceful life. |
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The fair sex and services IT was one of the golden principles in services that there should be a decent interaction with fair sex on all social occasions and going “stags” (married bachelor) was looked down upon as something socially derelict or “not done”. The presence of women was expected to lend grace to the occasion as it promoted respect for the fair sex around which revolved some important parameters of decency. Very often the appointment on a gubernatorial post or departmental head was governed by the totality of impact that the husband and the lady created together to suit themselves for the apex role. All this and much more has received a dent recently over some instances on the part of some self-styled macho-men who went beyond the hallowed circle and created problems for the healthy growth of relations between the sexes. How to show deference to the presence of women or wives in all social interaction has been a part of the etiquette taught in good schools and training academies. During our training for one of the all-India services we were told to carry three visiting cards while visiting fellow officers and their wives. In the event of the officer and wife being absent the male left two cards behind, one for the gentleman and one for the lady. Irrespective of your rank or status you were supposed to stand up to greet a woman entering the room. You were to open the door for the lady and also shut it for her while she entered a carriage. The service among the guests was to start with “ladies first”. During one of mess nights we were put on the mat for not escorting the wife of the chief guest to the dining table and not starting conversation with her. Certain amount of chivalry was not only expected but instilled in you. While dealing with women you were to take the “decent initiative” — a dicey dictum today. The “decent initiative” has gone through a lot of contortions in the recent times. It has taken the form of sexual harassment in some cases, of indecent innuendoes and “getting physical” in some other, while stealing the affections of a fellow officer’s wife in some other. A recent circular on sexual harassment of women at workplace has a touch of “genius” (or ingenious) as it enlists a variety of situations of aberrant behaviour which can construe sexual harassment of women. Such rearmament of the fair sex on work place can surely put some of the macho-men in trouble, majority of whom could be office bosses — a class generally susceptible to indecent initiatives. A thought that often struck me is that ever since we have started talking of the new woman — an emancipated, educated, self-reliant citizen, she has ceased to be an object of special protection. It is pity that we have to enact a special code to save her from harassment. The new outdoor role that she has embarked upon has taken away some of the graceful privileges she enjoyed as one of the “ladies first” categories in the yesteryears. Today she is fighting for “equal opportunities” or “equality of sexes” and has given up her former “superior” stance in favour of something retrograde. Her transformation from a “protected species” to an “endangered” one to me appears to be an apostasy, a negative development unless some of us think otherwise. |
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India’s ties with Iran: building
on CIVILISATIONAL link between India and Iran — that is what has been in focus throughout Mr Vajpayee’s visit to Iran. But, is it that important? Yes, indeed, for it has added depth to our relations and made it “special”. It is said that the Aryans and Iranians were cousins, that they had common gods and that they fell out over the habit of drinking soma, prohibited in Zoroastrianism. Darius conquered Punjab in 512 BC. It was his richest province. And Indians fought in the army of both Darius and his son Xerxes. Xerxes invaded Greece in 480 BC to revenge Iran’s defeat at Marathon. His army consisted of Indian warriors, says Herodotus. Indo-Iranian relations reached their apogee during the reign of the most famous Sasanian king, Naushirwan (531-579 AD). He established a major centre of learning at Jundi-Shahpur, and invited Indian scholars to teach there. But what has all this to do with modern Iran? Much, as you will see. Arabs invaded Iran in 651 AD. On this, one historian says: while Iran could revive after Alexander’s conquest, it could not after the Arab invasion. Such was the scale of destruction inflicted on Iran by the Arabs. No wonder, the Iranians have continued to hate the Arabs. Firdousi, of the “Shahnama” fame, used to call them “devils”. But the Arabs readily accepted the culture of Iran, because they had none of their own. That seemed to appease the Iranians. But Iran has always been uncomfortable with Arab Islam. Which is why it embraced Sufism. Sufism has more to do with Zoroastrianism and Vedanta. Hence the Indian connection. Sufi mysticism has been rightly regarded as the supreme manifestation of the Iranian mind in the spiritual sphere. The glory of Iran lies in its literature — in its poetry, in particular. And these were inspired by Sufism. This mystic spirit burst into the rapturous ghazals (odes) of Hafiz, which have no comparison. It was Iranian Sufism which mellowed the stern character of Islam. And it was this kind of Sufism which exercised a powerful influence on northern India, not Arab Islam. What makes an Iranian proud is the fact that he is a legatee of a great past — of an empire which dominated the world for centuries, not because the Arabs defeated his ancestors and imposed Islam on them. This encourages a higher self-esteem, moderation, caution, civilised behaviour. Only two other Muslim countries can claim such an illustrious past — Egypt and Iraq, which in some way influenced the whole Western hemisphere. It is their past which acts like a dyke against the flood of fanaticism that swirls around these countries. In fact, the Iranians tend to be modern. They are thus close to the Indian ethos. They will always be in the way of fundamentalism. In going to Persepolis and Shiraz (where he visited the tomb of Hafiz), Vajpayee had one major objective: to send a message across to the Iranians on what it is that unites the Indians and the Iranians. We have been together before Islam and we are together again today. “The depth of the relationship between India and Iran makes it special”, says Vajpayee. Islam is thus not a monolith as is believed by some in India. And we are not to take the OIC as a monolith, either. Egypt, Iraq and Iran will always be different. That is what is important to India — that they will not throw their weight in favour of fundamentalism. That Iran could bounce back to sanity in just a few years is a matter of reassurance that these countries, with memories of a great past, will not lose their head over religious fanaticism. But the coming together of Iran and India has taken a long time. Perhaps Iran is to be blamed for this. The Shah of Iran saw himself as a rival of India, perhaps under American influence. And the American link kept him closer to Pakistan. Iran thought that Pakistan was its “natural ally”, till it discovered the antipathy of Pakistanis (predominantly Sunni) towards the Shia community. There was little link between India and Iran then. Today Iran and India see a great danger to peace and tranquility in this region if fundamentalism and Talibanism are not
extirpated. Hence the “Teheran Declaration” by India and Iran to work together to defeat Talibanism. Such an open declaration of challenge was least expected. It is true that Moscow, Delhi and Teheran are already working together to help the Northern Alliance. But the efforts have been woefully inadequate. Now Teheran has persuaded the Uzbek warlord Dostum to join the battle against the Taliban. And Iran has been able to persuade the European Union to step up its help to the Northern Alliance. In view of the significant welcome accorded to Ahmed Shah Masoud, commander of the northern forces, it is clear that the EU assistance will be substantial. Be that as it may, there are other significant developments. Russia and Iran have signed a military pact. It is just short of a strategic agreement. Russia is already providing sensitive technologies to Iran. For example, missile technologies. The point is: a new relationship has emerged between Teheran and Moscow. India’s main interest in the region is to see that secular governments are not overthrown. All the central Asian states are secular. But they are under pressure from the Taliban. Both Moscow and Teheran have a common interest in maintaining the status quo. The Teheran Declaration — the highlight of Vajpayee’s visit — will mean enhanced bilateral cooperation between India and Iran, establishment of a broad-based government in Kabul (the USA supports this idea) and shared concern over international terrorism. This could be a turning point in their relation, as President Khatami declared. The days ahead are, however, dangerous. A CIA study says that Pakistan is unlikely to recover from decades of political and economic mismanagement, divisive politics, corruption and ethnic violence. If this is the prospect, India, Iran and Russia must be ready to meet the dangers. Iran was one of the countries which strongly opposed the destruction of the Bamiyan statues. But, then, it does not believe that the fundamentalists are bothered about their country’s pre-Islamic past. Which explains why Teheran did not invite Pakistan for a conference on Asian civilisations last February. India is a major importer of oil from Iran. But it also wants gas, of which Iran has a huge reserve. But how is it to be transported to India? For the past 15 years or so, the matter has been under discussion, first with Oman and now with Iran. No final decision has emerged. Pakistan is in the way. Iran prefers an overland pipeline through Pakistan. It is cheaper. But India has its reservations on the security of the pipeline, although Pakistan is ready to give guarantees. The matter is, therefore, under further discussion. It is a pity that Pakistan cannot see the advantages of this project. It will provide Pakistan $ 700 million to $ 800 million as transport fee yearly. What is more, meet its own demand for gas. The alternative is to construct a pipeline of its own. But in that case, the cost will be high. Only sale to India can bring down the price. But Pakistan chooses to remain cussed. In doing so, it is hurting the economy of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. |
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“Angel of Nagpur” launches appeal in Britain A 29-year-old Englishwoman, known as the “Angel of Nagpur” who has sacrificed everything to help lepers of the Indian city, has launched an appeal for funds to help victims of the disease in Britain. Marathi-speaking Leah Pattison is known as the “Angel of Nagpur” for her selfless efforts to improve the lives of disfigured and blind lepers who are sometimes found begging on the streets of the Maharashtra city. Now she is trying to raise £ 25,000 from friends and family to start a clinic in the Dattapur Leper Colony outside Nagpur. During the six years she spent in and around Dattapur, she herself contracted leprosy and so has first hand experience of the agonies experienced by the men and women she wants to help. The START charity, which Pattison founded with the help of her mother, Sandra, and architect father, Derek, has so far managed to raise £ 3,500. Additional funding has been promised by supporters who live in and around her home village of Weirdale, 20 miles from Durham city. Six years ago, after graduating from Liverpool University, Pattison told her parents she wanted to take a year off to see the world. Her first port of call was India where her father had friends from his university days. They in turn introduced her to an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, a revered, elderly Nagpur doctor known simply as “Sharmaji” and the rest, as the Pattison family says, is history. “This is what happens when you finish university and take a year off,” her Mother Sandra said. “Trouble was that a year became two years, then three, four and six. This (leprosy) began when she was 23.” Four years ago, Sandra received a telephone call from Nagpur. It was her daughter on the line. “Mum, I’m afraid I’ve got bad news. I’ve got leprosy,” Pattison said. Now fully cured and newly qualified as a paramedic, Pattison has found her vocation in caring for Dattapur’s women leprosy patients. In one recent letter to her mother she describes how women were expected to care for their husbands if the men contracted leprosy. But if the husbands and fathers discover their wives and daughters have been infected, the women end up being abused, mistreated and ultimately evicted from the family home. Some women lepers have been doused in petrol and burnt to death. Others drift into old age without hands or feet as they become more disfigured and blind. While Sandra tries to collect funds in England, Leah and fellow Indian paramedic Usha Patil roam the streets and alleys of Nagpur, inspecting up to 70 houses a day for early signs of infection among local families. “What we want now is funding to start a clinic and train three more paramedics,” said Sandra. The initial start up will cost about £ 25,000 and that includes training for three more paramedics. After that it will cost £ 10,000 to £15,000 a year to run the clinic. “If we’re going to do it, we’ll do it small, but we’ll do it well and all offers of help are welcome,” she said.
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Poem that
Einstein wrote “Oh my! That Johnnie boy!/So crazy with desire/While thinking of his Dollie/His pillow catches fire.” Believe it or not, Einstein himself wrote this poem in 1900, to Mileva Maric. It’s one of a thousand tidbits Caltech (the California Institute of Technology) has collected on the Great Man for its Einstein Papers Project. The idea is to trace the evolution of the thoughts that led to the great insights, especially that space, time, energy and matter are all aspects of the same thing. The 20-year effort has produced 55,000 documents so far, detailing everything from the books he liked as a child, to his love affairs (“women were drawn to him like iron filings to a magnet,” says one biographer) to the fact that the doctor who did the autopsy on Einstein stole the world’s smartest brain and never gave it back.
Guardian
Dual protection According to Family Health International (FHI) couples need to go in for “dual protection” to prevent both pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. For achieving “dual protection”, couples should use two contraceptive methods — one of which is effective for pregnancy prevention and the other, like a condom, which prevents infections, including HIV. Or condoms can be used for prevention of both pregnancy and infection. According to Dr Willard Cates, FHI President and an expert on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, “whether the major goal is to prevent pregnancy, infection or both will undoubtedly influence the selection of an approach.” The most reliable form of “dual protection” obviously is when neither of the partners is infected, they remain faithful to each other and they use effective contraception.
WFS
Where are your pets A Doomsday Book for cats and dogs? The California state government wants to know where your pets are. Bill 326 will require Californian pet owners to stick a microchip under the skin between their pets’ shoulders. Information on the chip will reveal their owners’ name, phone number and address. Those owners who resist will face criminal penalties. Actually the microchip is no way new, but making it mandatory with criminal penalties is. And thousands of Californian cat fanciers are up in arms. “It’s one more way we’re getting used to surveillance,” says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego. State senator Jack O’Connell says the idea isn’t Big Brother, but simply using technology to rescue tens of thousands of lost animals and save millions of taxpayer dollars on animal shelter operations.
Guardian |
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SPIRITUAL NUGGETS Truth is high; higher still is good character. *** To grab what is another's is evil. *** Know people by the light of God within them. *** In sweet speech and humility lie the essence of merit and virtue. *** Greed is bad for the mind; Tongue should not utter falsehood; Ears are not to listen to slander; Eyes are not to covet the beauty of other's wife or wealth. *** We should treat womenfolk with due respect. *** One should take pleasure in doing the work oneself. *** Evil deeds and habits form a chain round our neck; It can be snapped by the acquisition of good habits. —Sri Guru Granth Sahib, M.1, pages 62, 141, 349, 470, 472, 473, 474, 595. *** Mind is to be known as the eleventh, belonging by its nature to both (organs of sense and organs of action); in conquering this, the two sets of five become conquered. —Manu Smriti, II.92. *** O Holy man, subjugating the mind is more difficult than drinking up the ocean, or uprooting the mighty mountain Sumeru, or feeding on fire. —Sri Rama to Vishvamitra. Quoted in Panchadashi, VII. 121 |
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