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Friday,
January 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Mirage of
Akali unity Regional
SAARCasm |
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Hari Jaisingh
Advantage
of age
Let us
embrace Sinhalese
LOVE to
labour for the honour of romance
1967, Physics: HANS BETHE
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Mirage of Akali unity AKALI unity was a political impossibility some two and a half years ago. Two titans clashed and exchanged harsh words. It was a gigantic war of egos and hence not amicable to an easy solution. Come February 13 and election to the State Assembly and a very faint hope emerges. The intense and deep-seated anti-Congressism of both Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the veteran Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra does come to play. They do not want to be accused of helping the former ruling party for capturing power by default. There is then a silver ray as senior leaders meet and smile together. But it has proved to be shortlived. The Chief Minister has not agreed to present himself before Akal Takht to apologise for the curt dismissal of Jathedar Manjit Singh, one of the issues denounced by Mr Tohra who in turn has offered to appear before the supreme temporal body of the Sikhs if it is so desired. This gesture indicates that the monumental egos have not melted a bit even in the heat of the coming Assembly elections. A united Akali Dal — the
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), the Panthic Morcha and the SAD (Amritsar) — may increase the chances of victory, even if only marginally. Akali disunity may be artificial but it is very much real for the present. There are elements in both parties which will like to sabotage unity efforts partly because they had taken a rigid stand in the past and partly because a reconciliation between the two factions will impinge on their political future. Both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra have their own political calculations and hence the problem. When the election was announced it appeared that the ruling Akali Dal was destined to be the second best. If extra efforts are made for Akali unity and if the CPI-Congress differences persist, the SAD can still give a credible fight to the Congress. Election is all about fighting, and both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra know this very well. As the old saying goes, united they stand and divided they fall. Punjab should evolve a two-party system with sharp ideological differences. The first step in this direction will be for the Akali Dal to break out of the religious confines and develop a strong policy framework and make itself a broadbased organisation. This is not as difficult as it sounds. Be that as it may. The election scene in Punjab is going to be exciting with plenty of fireworks. |
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Regional SAARCasm THE South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit that opened in Kathmandu today is in danger of being dominated by the unhappy developments involving India and Pakistan. However, to say that the summit would have been a success under "normal circumstances" would amount to ignoring the track record of non-achievements of the organisation that was launched in Delhi in 1983. Yes, the build-up of tension between India and Pakistan has cast its shadow on the proceedings in Kathmandu. In the nearly two decades of its existence SAARC has the unique record of somehow running into turbulent weather. Instead of evolving into a forum of regional cooperation it has degenerated into an organisation of bickering among member-nations on trivial issues. It is about time the SAARC countries accepted collective responsibility in the matter of achieving even part of the social, cultural and economic objectives they had set for the region when their leaders assembled in Delhi for drawing up the SAARC charter. To blame continued political bad weather in the region for the non-performance of SAARC will not do. The setting up of the forum was inspired by the thumping success of the European Union in achieving the objectives it had set for itself. Yes, there were the usual differences among the member-countries on certain issues. But their differences were not allowed to derail the very objective for which the EU was formed. Even today some members have reservations about replacing their domestic currencies with the euro. But the euro is now a reality that cannot be wished away because some members still have reservations about switching over to a common currency for the entire European Union. SAARC is made of seven independent and sovereign countries. There are those who blame the persisting hostility between India and Pakistan for the failure of SAARC in emerging as a vehicle of sweeping economic and social reforms in the region. It is a weak charge. Why cannot the remaining five countries take control and give direction to the movement that was meant to change the developmental profile of the region? If there is a will, there is a way. It is also wrong to point a finger at the big brother image of India for the ills that have plagued SAARC since its formation. India as a big brother carries a bigger burden of poverty and related problems than any of the six equal members of SAARC. If regional cooperation means finding a collective way for eliminating these evils from the region, why should India play spoil sport? There is much that the SAARC members can learn from the EU, that has evolved into a forceful entity, capable of challenging the economic might of even the USA. Nearer home, in spite of bilateral differences between some members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, the SAARC neighbours have developed far stronger economic and social muscle than they had without regional cooperation. The on-going summit must emphasise the fact that only a collective agenda for economic change can ensure the end of even bilateral differences, bordering on hostility. Only the hungry fight over crumbs. Why not make them all well-fed through collective action so that they stop fighting and begin to enjoy the fruits of regional cooperation? |
Intervention, religion & terrorism NOW that the USA is deeply involved in its elimination, terrorism is undoubtedly the world's problem number one. Not that the problem did not exist before September 11, but then the world community did not possess the advantage of having certified American eyes to see the highly motivated gun-toting followers of Osama bin Laden and the likes of him in true colours. The change in the setting has indeed been both baffling and heartening. Even hardcore Pakistani elements who were, till the other day, active partners in promoting terrorism in Afghanistan and across the border in Jammu and Kashmir have been made to eat the humble pie. They are crawling, so to say, when asked to bend by Uncle Sam. This has been a major gain of today's unipolar world. The Americans call the shots and the world obeys. Even the one-time hardcore promoter of terrorism, General Pervez Musharraf, has learnt to listen to President George W. Bush with regard to cracking down on Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Amidst these changing equations, New Delhi need not grudge if General Musharraf earns some compliments from the US President. Apparently, President Bush wants Pakistan's Chief Executive to do the dirty job for which he and his predecessors in the military establishment and the ISI have been responsible. The name of new diplomacy is: curb terrorism with a smile. It is just a beginning. A lot of dirty linen will have to be washed globally. Many heads may roll. New equations are sure to emerge. The world will also find new meanings for old jargons and come to terms with old players who had posed a direct threat to peace and stability we all wish to evolve. While the US-led global alliance is still grappling with the problem of terrorism, one primary issue must not be lost sight of. Shadow-boxing cannot take democratic outfits anywhere. We need to have a close look at the wheels within wheels so that we understand what is what and who is what. As one looks at things dispassionately, the real issue today is whether a country or a group of people has a right to intervene in the affairs of another nation in the name of religion. The attack on the World Trade Center in New York was such an event. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is another case of a similar nature. It is a pity that the real issue of religion-based intervention is not being discussed by global powers at present. Instead, the focus is on the method of intervention, that is, on terrorism. The reason for this is not far to seek: the world's only super power is not willing to give up its right to intervene. Let us call it the right of the mighty. Indeed, we have virtually lost count of America's interventions in the affairs of other nations. Certain US interventions may surely be justified. For example, its war on some devilish facets of Iraq. Some such interventions are, however, not justifiable. For example, its attack on Vietnam. The moot point is: Interventions in the name of religion per se cannot be justified. Hence such moves are not acceptable. Of course, the USA is not claiming intervention as a matter of right, but Islamic fundamentalism does. This is a new development, a new claim. True, the world cannot accept terrorism as a state policy. The days of gun-boat diplomacy are over. There was a time when Britain and other colonial powers launched gun-boats to punish the natives. Those times are left behind in our march towards more civilised forms of existence. We have moved away from the law of the jungle by imposing some curbs on wayward human behaviour. Today no one can claim absolute freedom. Britain opposed the French Revolution and its revolutionary ideas. It went to war against France over the issue. The Marxist revolutionaries also thought that they had the right to bring about a revolution through violence. The capitalist world opposed them and it fought a successful cold war for nearly half a century. Islamic fundamentalists are the new elements to the world's allegiance. They say that the western civilisation is going the wrong way. Maybe, in certain aspects. But can we accept this proposition in totality? We do not. In any case, there will always be different opinions on this matter. Western critics say that Islamists are backward-looking, that they refuse to move with the times, that they have no blueprint for a new civilisation or world order, that Talibanism — the alternative model they offer to the world — is pure and simple barbarism. It is abominable. Let us look at various facets dispassionately and objectively. The issue is whether the Muslims can go to the assistance of their so-called oppressed brothers in different parts of the world in the name of their Ummah (Islamic brotherhood). They claim this as a right. With over 120 million Muslims in India, this country cannot permit an interventionist role for Islam or for groups of fundamentalists in the affairs of this country. Or, for that matter, in any other country. That, I believe, is the real issue before the world. Our objection to the Taliban intervention was not merely because of their terrorist methods which, in any case, we cannot accept. What is, however, equally disquieting is their assumption that they have a right to intervene in other countries on behalf of the Muslim brotherhood. This is how they have intervened in Jammu and Kashmir, Chechnya, the Philippines and so on. It is a new theory. It is a new claim. If we concede it, it can have the most dangerous consequences for the civilised order. Imagine what will happen if European powers decide to intervene on behalf of Christian minorities in the affairs of developing countries in the name of Christianity? India did not intervene in South Africa where people of Indian origin were oppressed. In Fiji, too, where Indians were being denied their political rights, this country preferred to keep aloof. Even in African countries, the nation's response is one of pursuing matters at the diplomatic level even if Indians happen to suffer from various disabilities. We did not allow ourselves to go berserk in the name of religion, caste, community or nationality because we believe that India cannot arrogate to itself the right of direct intervention in such cases. There are peaceful ways to achieve the objectives. Then, there is the United Nations. It is a different matter that the USA is still the only country which feels free to intervene whenever it feels its interests are in jeopardy. It is necessary that the people's faith in peaceful means is kept alive. The world community has an obligation in this regard. It must show concern for the victims of arbitrariness, but stopping short of direct intervention. It is no secret that the world looked the other way for a whole decade or more when Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and foreign mercenaries intervened in Jammu and Kashmir to wage war against India in the name of Islam. The Pakistanis justify their overt and covert activities in Jammu and Kashmir on another ground — linking the Kashmir crisis to Partition based on the two-nation theory. This impracticable theory was buried immediately after Partition when a majority of the Muslims in undivided India decided to remain part of a secular India. The birth of Bangladesh in 1971 also nullified Jinnah's theory. This rendered meaningless the UN resolutions on Kashmir which Pakistan quotes without looking at this reality as also the change in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Be that as it may. The West woke up to the new menace only when the terrorists struck in America. It refused to respond to Indian pleas on terrorism. Even the worst forms of atrocities and killings were carried out by the militants at the promptings of the ISI in Islamabad. This does not speak well of the global system we have created, and the unequal world we happen to live in. The new situation demands new responses. At the philosophical level, the world community must address the question of whether countries like Pakistan and Talibanised Afghanistan that was there till the other day or the sponsored terrorist outfits have had the right to intervene in the affairs of other countries in the name of religion. The question is fundamental. The answer must be all-embracing and foolproof so that the democratic polity like the one in India does not suffer silently for years together without the western world caring to shed even crocodile tears. The September 11 shock wave has changed all that. Still, the real issue raised in the article remains unattended to. It is time we invoked the conscience of humanity and sought the right answers to the right causes. |
Advantage of age AWAY from the family, I was alone and lonely. Missing the two grandchildren, in particular. I dialled my son’s number. His daughter picked up the phone. Almost instinctively, I said: “Nannu! I am missing you.” “Then come Dadu!” was the brief but prompt response from the little lady. “I have to go to school. You bring your office to Delhi,” ordered the little one. Thanks to the holiday habit. The Christmas break was approaching. The schools were going to be closed. I went to Delhi. Attended a wedding. On Sunday afternoon, the family drove back. The grandchildren accompanied us. The morning was cold. But the day promised to be bright and sunny. Soon, the sun was up. It was pleasant. The colourful chrysanthemums in the posts lent colour to the surroundings. Madhav and Nandisha, our grandchildren, were out in the lawns. It was fun to play and prattle with them. The gardener was ready to mow the small lawn. As the machine started to rattle, Madhav walked up to me and asked in his lisping tone — “Dadu! Tiya (Siya) Ram is giving a hair-cut to the grass?” “Yes! Darling.” “Why?” “Why does Papa take you to the barber?” I asked him. “Then you should take the grass to the barber,” he ordered. I had no answer. The day was eventful. I had to take the duo to the market. To get them the crayons, painting books and colour boxes. Then the little girl wanted a piggy bank and the boy was looking for the fast moving cars. He seemed to remember the names of expensive ones only. And for obvious reasons, I had no choice. Back home, the two had got down to the job. The girl was gathering the available coins to fill up her empty box. The boy was busy playing and pushing his cars. An hour later, it was all quiet. Not a whisper was audible. Surprising. But true. I was curious. Came out of my room. I was happy to see that both were busy. Painting. In the two corners of the room. As if in their school. Totally disciplined. However, the execution was faster than the acquisition. It had virtually taken them no time to fill up the copies. The colours had been effortlessly splashed. There was virtually no pattern. At least to look at. “What have you made?” I asked my grandson. “Dadu! This is Madhav’s painting Mam. She is very fat. She takes a bite from every launch-box in the class,” was Nannu’s quick response in her broken English. It was evening. The boy was now in no mood to continue with the painting. He packed up everything. Neatly. Put his table in order. Came out of the room. Walked up to the stairs. Shouted for his “Bua.” She came down. Walked with him to the room. Humming softly the old tune — “Mujhe rang de... Mujhe rang de basanti chola....” The little girl Nannu was watching her Bua intently. After a while, she got up and handed her a crayon. And said, “Yeh Lo Bua! Saara time maangti rehti
ho. Come on Aunt. Have this crayon. You are all the time asking for one thing or the other.” Poor aunt had never even thought that the words of the song could mean asking for “colour”. All this in just a day. Individually, all small things. May not mean much to most. But for grandparents, the little things are a source of pure joy. The little ones make everything grand. By their innocence as well as ignorance. At the end of the day, I was sure that age too has attendant advantages. Notwithstanding the fact that each one has to sleep with a grandparent. Truly, some come only with age. |
Let us embrace Sinhalese CAN India be of help to resolve the ethnic conflict of Sri Lanka? Yes, by embracing the Sinhalese. Unless we win over the Sinhalese, unless we dispel their fears about India’s intentions, we cannot bring about a reconciliation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. But how do we dispel their fears? By accepting that we are Buddhists as much as we are Hindus. The time has come to close the mental gap between the Hindus and the Buddhists. The decision to build a 48 km-long bridge between India and Sri Lanka is thus of utmost importance. It can be a powerful symbol. It is welcome because the idea has come from the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe. There was an innate sense of grievance against India among Sinhalese Buddhists because they were under the impression, obviously erroneous, that Buddhism was “driven out” of India, that Hindus were hostile to Buddhism. Nothing can be more ridiculous. Among the first disciples of the Buddha were Brahmins, and the Buddha died at the ripe old age of eighty venerated by both Brahmins and the Kshatriya rulers. If there was a struggle for pre-eminence between the Hindus and Buddhists after the death of the Buddha, it was only natural, but it never amounted to persecution. In any case, Buddhism was the dominant religion from the time of the Ist Buddhist Council of Ashoka (3rd C BC) to the revival of Hinduism under Shankara (8th C AD). Thus, for about a thousand years, Buddhism remained a dominant factor in Indian life. It has left a deep impress on the life and soul of India. The decline began not in India, but in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Afghanistan, a Buddhist country, was conquered by Islam in the 9th century AD. By the 10th century, Islam made a clean sweep of the whole of Central Asia, yet another region of Buddhist dominance. By the time Islam entered India, Buddhism was already on its last legs. How this came about is a long story. I have no intention to go into it here. Suffice it to say, it was not because of persecution. Rather it was because of its growing corruption and the challenge posed by the Bhakti movement. Why am I going far back into history? Because I have a purpose: I believe it is time for Hindus and Buddhists to bridge their mental gap and provide a unified vision to the future of man. This is why I welcomed the “Look East” policy of the Government of India, the purpose of which, I believe, was to bring the Buddhist nations closer to India. I believe the Sinhalese and the Tamils are tired of war. Half a century has been wasted in this bloody war of attrition. But it has not brought about a change of heart on either side. But in 50 years, the world has changed. It has made up its mind against ethnic separatism. More so, against terrorism as a means to achieve self-determination of nations. No re-drawing of boundaries through blood — as President Clinton said. Today the United Nations is against terrorism of all kinds and is committed to wage a war against it. The LTTE is already declared a terrorist organisation. Not these alone. Today, most of the nations are multi-national. Mono-cultural societies are becoming rare. International migration is increasing. About 150,000 people are said to be migrating yearly officially. Two countries which matter in the world — the USA and the UK — are multi-cultural. They have their racial problems. But they cannot go back on what they have done, for the consequences can be so great that it cannot even be thought of. The Sinhalese must draw the proper lesson from this. They will have to come to a policy of live and let live. We cannot find fault with the Sinhalese if they oppose the division of their country, for we are also opposed to the division of India along ethnic lines. What is more, India cannot possibly allow the LTTE, which has links with our own secessionist outfits, to succeed in dividing Sri Lanka. The danger to our own territorial integrity then must be obvious to even an Indian with the meanest intelligence. And, worst of all, instead of one, we will have two hostile states to contend with, for we cannot expect either the Sinhalese or the Tamils to be friendly with us. Mrs Kumaratunga is ready to share power with the Tamils under a new constitution. But the LTTE has already rejected it. It continues to stand by its demand for an independent Eelam. But it will not find any support for Eelam today in the world. And for another reason too. The LTTE leaders have been compared to fascists. They have no commitment to democracy. And they have a record of murdering their opponents. India and Sri Lanka have already achieved much by way of economic liberalisation. But they have a long way to go to become an example for others in bilateral cooperation. It is, therefore, necessary to pursue the objectives of the treaty on free trade with much greater vigour. Indian investment in Sri Lanka already covers a wide range of industries. As for trade, Sri Lanka has a legitimate grievance against the continuing imbalance in trade. Tea export is common to both. With a share of 67 per cent of the world trade in tea, it is time they joined forces to take maximum advantage of their near monopoly. The idea of building a bridge between India and Sri Lanka is a brilliant tourist thought. I can visualise a chain of restaurants, motels and hotels, as also water sports facilities all along the long bridge. As part of the tourist circuit of Ooty, Kodaicanal, Kovalam and Colombo, it can give a great boost to tourism of South India. |
LOVE to labour for the honour of romance
HAVING problems with your love life? Parental objections? No place to meet your girlfriend? Boyfriend ditching you for another one? Well, there is no need to panic now. Help is at hand. The Lovers Organisation for Voluntary Exhibition (LOVE), set up in Kolkata, tackles all sorts of problems faced by young lovers and fights for their cause. The brainchild of Rupak Manash, LOVE’s central office comprises a modest room in Garia, South 24 Parganas. Enrolled in its list are over 700 “couples only” members. The initial figure was just 50 six months ago. More takers are expected, stirred as they might be because of the prospects of a future “Free Lovers Zone” which the organisation wants to be established to enable the romantic pairs to have a sweet time together openly in a hassle-free environment. Awareness and implementation of the Protection of Love Act, and promotion of inter-community, inter-caste and inter-religious marriages to wipe out class, caste, creed and religious differences are some of its other demands. LOVE aims at creating a homogenous society, advocates free sex education for all and wants to launch sex awareness campaigns. It has petitioned the Mayor of Kolkata regarding the creation of a “Free Lovers Zone” and though the Mayor has gone on record acknowledging its importance, nothing much has been done about it so far. Young lovers complain that unlike Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi or Bangalore, where there are sea beaches, India Gate or low-cost pubs, Kolkata offers no such outlets for lovers. Further, they allege harassment by the police when they find some place to relax on benches near the lakes in south Kolkata, Maidan or the lawns of Victoria Memorial. The problems include demand for bribes to ensure no disturbance or the threat to book them under the Immoral Traffic Act even if the twosomes are merely talking or holding hands. Restaurants, clubs and discos are mostly out of the budget of the lovers belonging to the middle class and they are forced to face the Hazards of meeting in the open. The office-bearers of LOVE say that action can be taken under the Protection of Love Act for breach of promise. They hope to make lovers aware that now if a boyfriend or girlfriend ditches his or her partner after going steady for years with a pledge to marry, such a person can be sued for breach of promise.
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God is the state of rising above the level of satisfaction and dissatisfaction and settling down in one's own original position. — Mahatma Mangat Ram ji Maharaj, Shri Samata Vilas *** You cannot teach a child anymore than you can grow a plant. All you can do is on the negative side you can only help. *** You have to grow from inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. *** Everything can be sacrificed for truth. But truth cannot be sacrificed for anything. *** The search for truth is the expression of strength, not the groping of a weak, blind man. *** God has become man! Man will become God again. *** It is child’s talk that a man dies and goes to heaven. We never come nor go. We are where we are. All the souls that have been, are, and will be, are on one geometrical point. *** Man never dies, nor is he ever born! Bodies die but he never dies. *** No one is born into a religion, but each one is born for a religion. *** There is really but one Self in the universe, all else is but its manifestations. *** If I know one lump of clay perfectly, I know all the clay there is. This is the knowledge of principles, but their adaptations are various. When you know yourself you know all. *** Of all the scriptures of the world it is the Vedas alone that declare that even the study of the Vedas is secondary. The real study is “that by which we realise the Unchangeable”. And that is neither reading, nor believing, nor reasoning, but superconscious perception, or Samadhi. — From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. V. “Sayings and Utterances”. *** One who holds grain or money, and enjoys all luxuries of life and remain indifferent to those who are poor and suffering from starvation, will never find a true friend. — Rig Veda, 10.117.2 |
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