Wednesday, June 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India





National Capital Region--Delhi

E D I T O R I A L   P A G E


EDITORIALS

This is the right choice
P
ROF A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is the ideal candidate for the country's highest office as any proud Indian can think of. He is an enviable symbol of modern India both in terms of the country's missile muscle and its socio-economic vision for tomorrow. A non-political person, he is a scientist par excellence. What is remarkable about him is that he is a home-grown scientist, having risen from the grassroots in Tamil Nadu to accept the most challenging assignment, the development of missile power.

Bureau of inefficiency?
I
T is not official yet, but the volume of evidence suggests that the CBI should henceforth be called the Central Bureau of Inefficiency. Don’t blame it all on the stars. The chargesheet against the Hindujas in the Bofors case was quashed by the Delhi High Court because the CBI did not follow the prescribed procedure laid down by the Supreme Court. A self-respecting individual would have jumped into the highly contaminated Yamuna after the damning observations of the court.


EARLIER ARTICLES

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Measured response
T
HE Indian decision to lift the six-month-old overflight ban on Pakistani aircraft is a well-calibrated response to Gen Pervez Musharraf’s promise to permanently end infiltration of terrorists into India. The small step taken on the eve of the arrival of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld becomes much larger when seen along with the simultaneous decision to return to base the units of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy which had been patrolling the Indian Ocean.

OPINION

Musharraf’s promises & US efforts
The precautions India must maintain

Harbhajan Singh
M
R Richard Armitage, the US Deputy Secretary of State, is reported to have been assured by General Musharraf that he will stop cross-LoC movement of terrorists and the same has been conveyed to the Indian leadership. Some discussions are being held by the media as regards joint patrolling and modalities of monitoring the movement. Let it be said at the very outset that the idea of joint patrolling is a political ploy for India to come up with some positive idea to mitigate the feeling created that India has a negative attitude.

MIDDLE

Computer correct
Shriniwas Joshi
W
HEN my brother’s friend J. Subhramanyam alias Subbu, whose long stay in this part of the country had made him acquainted with the words of languages spoken here, invited him to Chennai to spend a few days with him, he immediately computer-typed a letter in Hinglish to him. It was personal and carried his “elated-downcast reflection” on the exciting invitation.

DEBATE


In response to Mr Chandra Mohan’s article “Where did we lose that proud Punjabi spirit?” on June 3, 2002, The Tribune has been receiving a number of articles on this issue. We are carrying today a representative of the views as part of The Tribune’s efforts to promote a healthy debate among our readers and strengthen the Punjabi spirit.

Strengthening the Punjabi spirit
Darshan Singh Maini
W
HEN we talk of the spirit of a people, we mean its corporate consciousness in which racial energies, the soil and the airs are so structured as to keep it alert and ready in moments of crises, wars and natural calamities. Thus, the Punjabi spirit which is best vindicated in action is basically in love with life, dear life, and is roused to its full pitch and plume when it is under siege.

We must change our mindset
Rattan Singh
T
HERE was a time when Punjab used to be described as vibrant, strong healthy, hospitable, hard working, bravest of the brave, patriotic and progressive. All this was a true reflection of Punjab.

Crux of the problem
Mohinder Singh
M
R Chandra Mohan’s article “Where did we lose that Punjabi spirit?” (June 3), is an eye-opener. He feels hurt in saying, “Begging did not stop at one round. The moment ‘kamandal’ round 1 got filled, out began round 2 . A new cause, a new style. The chain became endless.”

TRENDS & POINTERS

Scientists treat hemophilia A in mice
S
CIENTISTS at the University of North Carolina have successfully treated mice with hemophilia A using a new approach to gene therapy — RNA trans-splicing. The experimental procedure repairs a mutated section of the gene responsible for hemophilia A, a hereditary bleeding disorder.

  • Abused women suffer long-term ailments

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS


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This is the right choice

PROF A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is the ideal candidate for the country's highest office as any proud Indian can think of. He is an enviable symbol of modern India both in terms of the country's missile muscle and its socio-economic vision for tomorrow. A non-political person, he is a scientist par excellence. What is remarkable about him is that he is a home-grown scientist, having risen from the grassroots in Tamil Nadu to accept the most challenging assignment, the development of missile power. He has confidently led India's technological march to take the country to the select missile club of the world. More than his reputation as the father of the country's missile programme, what is noteworthy is his broad vision to make India a formidable economic power as well. This was very much in evidence when he shared his "second vision" for India during his keynote address at the 117th anniversary celebration of The Tribune in Chandigarh on February 22, 1998. He then talked about how technology could work wonders in improving our productivity, strengthening the economy and taking India forward to gain the status of a developed country. He also made it clear that in achieving the second vision, industry had to be a major partner in progress. This requires taking research from laboratories and development centres to industry.

Highlighting the fact that India has the world's largest force of trained manpower—scientists, technologists and skilled workers —, he said: "These three core competences could be used as our strength and our economic entities to give us the status of a developed nation." When Professor Kalam talks of science, he speaks of knowledge without barriers. And when he talks of technology policy, his main emphasis is on ensuring the right mix between mass production technologies and the production by the masses, bringing about the maximum development with the capital outlay and identifying the sluggish technology and initiating the modernisation process with a view to adopting instruments which are internationally competitive. These words of wisdom stand the test of pragmatism.

It is gratifying that after much dithering amidst pulls and counter-pulls, the NDA government headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has at last decided on Professor Kalam to succeed President K. R. Narayanan. We hope the Congress and the Left parties will for once graciously endorse his candidature. Professor Kalam must not be seen as a candidate belonging to the minority community. He is one of the few talented Indians cast in the best of the country's traditions of secularism and liberalism. The country has already honoured Dr Kalam with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. Indeed, the time has come for India to come out of the majority- minority syndrome. Every Indian must be judged on the strength of his character, competence and commitment to the people and the nation as a whole. The strength of modern India has to be built on these yardsticks and the best of traditions which have kept the Indian civilisation going for centuries together . By opting for Prof A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the NDA leaders have redeemed the people's faith in the basic strength and fabric of this country which is rooted in the liberal philosophy and secularism. We also hope that once elected formally, Professor Kalam will be in a position to guide the destiny of the nation as a whole and enlighten it so that the country does not get bogged down in narrow angularities of caste, colour, community, region and religion. Professor Kalam is expected to join the ranks of some of the best Presidents the country has had during the past 52 years. His presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan at this critical juncture sends the right message at home and abroad. 
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Bureau of inefficiency?

IT is not official yet, but the volume of evidence suggests that the CBI should henceforth be called the Central Bureau of Inefficiency. Don’t blame it all on the stars. The chargesheet against the Hindujas in the Bofors case was quashed by the Delhi High Court because the CBI did not follow the prescribed procedure laid down by the Supreme Court. A self-respecting individual would have jumped into the highly contaminated Yamuna after the damning observations of the court. Unhappily, institutions are made up of a group of individuals who believe in passing the buck rather than setting the house in order. It is now time for the members of the public to ask questions because it is their money that goes into sustaining institutions like the CBI. Not a single conviction in the Jain hawala case! Why? The list of names against whom charges were framed reads like a veritable who’s who of Indian politics. The failure of the hawala case did not mean that those named by the CBI were innocent. It meant that the investigative arm of the Indian police force had failed once again to present a loophole-free case before the trial court. The story of the St Kitts investigation had a similar happy ending for those whom the public thought would pay the price for abusing the high office they held for settling petty political disputes. In the JMM bribery case former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao was the main accused - his name figured in other cases as well - and yet he escaped punishment thanks to the inept handling of the case.

The Bofors case has become a big joke. It all started in 1986 when India signed a deal for purchasing 155mm Howitzer guns for Rs 1,437 crore. In 1987 Swedish Radio said that Bofors had paid bribe to secure the contract. The CBI registered a case in 1990 against Pitco, a company owned by the Hindujas, a Panamanian company Svenska, whose Swiss account was controlled by Win Chadha and a mysterious company called AE Services. A year later the Delhi High Court quashed the chargesheets for much the same reasons that have resulted in the present case against the Hindujas being dropped. On that occasion the apex court turned down the lower courts order and directed the CBI to proceed with the case. Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi was among the main suspects along with the Hindujas and Rajiv Gandhi, Chadha and the then Defence Secretary B. K. Bhatnagar. Three of them are dead - namely Rajiv Gandhi, Chadha and Bhatnagar. Quattrocchi is living in Malaysia, beyond the reach of the so-called long arms of the Indian law. And now the Hindujas too have been set free by the Delhi High Court. Why waste the tax payers’ hard-earned money on a case that has even outlived its political utility - it helped Mr V. P. Singh become Prime Minister on the promise that he would take 15 days to put the guilty in jail? And the next time when the politicians demand a CBI enquiry into an incident like the one that has turned Gujarat into a veritable battlefield of communal hatred they should be shown the dismal track record of, the investigation agency.
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Measured response

THE Indian decision to lift the six-month-old overflight ban on Pakistani aircraft is a well-calibrated response to Gen Pervez Musharraf’s promise to permanently end infiltration of terrorists into India. The small step taken on the eve of the arrival of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld becomes much larger when seen along with the simultaneous decision to return to base the units of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy which had been patrolling the Indian Ocean. The measures signify a softening in New Delhi’s attitude towards Islamabad and mark the first step towards military de-escalation. As India has taken pains to explain, this does not mean that Pakistani airlines could land in New Delhi and restart passenger services. A Foreign Office spokesperson was categorical that we have a menu of options and our response will be in sequence. That means that Pakistan will not only have to do what it has promised to do, but also to ensure that the mischief is capped permanently. Pakistan has responded cautiously to the Indian concession by saying that a “lot more needs to be done to ease tension between the two nuclear armed neighbours”. The reference to nuclear weapons is deliberate. Yet, India has made this concession knowing full well the internal compulsions of the hapless General. For form’s sake, he has kept up his war hysteria, but the reality is that he is under tremendous international pressure to deliver.

Since India has also formalised a decision to appoint Mr Harsh Bhasin the next High Commissioner to Pakistan, it is obvious that General Musharraf has privately agreed to do India’s bidding. But the big question remains: can he be depended on? So many pledges made by Pakistani leaders in the past have been broken that the latest promises do not evoke much confidence. India will have to watch the ground situation extremely carefully, lest it is taken for a ride yet again. For instance, the brutal assault on an Indian diplomat was highly provocative. It has been pointed out by many analysts that not all jehadis are in control of General Musharraf. India also knows this fact. But it can, and must, dismantle the terrorist training camps in territories under its control. And two, it has to return the 20 men wanted by India. Of them, 14 have Interpol red alerts against them and the Pakistani government cannot feign ignorance about them. Mr Rumsfeld, and Pakistan too, want India to de-alert its army and the air force. While the lifting of diplomatic sanctions is pragmatic, any military de-escalation will not be in order at this stage. Pakistan must establish its sincerity in the months to come.
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Musharraf’s promises & US efforts
The precautions India must maintain
Harbhajan Singh

MR Richard Armitage, the US Deputy Secretary of State, is reported to have been assured by General Musharraf that he will stop cross-LoC movement of terrorists and the same has been conveyed to the Indian leadership. Some discussions are being held by the media as regards joint patrolling and modalities of monitoring the movement. Let it be said at the very outset that the idea of joint patrolling is a political ploy for India to come up with some positive idea to mitigate the feeling created that India has a negative attitude. Practically speaking, it is just “kite flying”. It is unimaginable for Pakistan to agree to joint patrolling in J&K when the two sides have been shooting at each other for 50 years and the Pakistan side is an active abetter in facilitating the infiltration.

There are three areas where steps need to be taken to “turn off the tap” of terrorism in any meaningful manner and progress monitored/checked. Mere monitoring of the cross-LoC movement will not suffice. There are three areas/places to be dealt with. (a) The source — the terrorist camp — headquarters and holding areas in Pakistan/PoK. (b) Holding areas close to the LoC and movement across it. (c) Inside J&K.

To “turn off the tap” of cross-border terrorism in J&K effectively, it is essential to dry the source. Pakistan has to arrest terrorist leaders ensconced safely there, close down their offices and training camps and ensure that the inflow of funds to their organisations is stopped. The international community needs to oversee and effectively monitor these actions on a continued basis. The Al-Qaeda cadres which have moved out of Afghanistan have not just melted away inside Pakistan. They continue to be in groups here and there; in PoK or elsewhere. General Musharraf’s effective action to “dry the source” is of critical importance, which will show whether or not he is serious about permanently ending terrorist influx into J&K. Just lessening of the movement across the LoC is a ruse and trick to get the USA off its back and gain some respite from Indian troop deployment.

The LoC is drawn mostly across mountainous terrain varying from low hills to snow-capped mountains, from Akhnoor to Poonch to Uri, Kargil and Siachin. The area is very rugged, interspersed with ravines, cliffs, rivulets and jungles. A great portion is snow-bound too. If it were possible to effectively monitor cross-border movement, the terrorist problem would have been tackled long ago! The fact is that it is not practicable to place soldiers at every yard of the LoC 24 hours a day.

Cross-border movement is being checked by patrolling, laying ambushes, planting mines and through advance intelligence. Hitech surveillance devices like listening/infrared devices and air-surveillance can no doubt augment conventional ground measures and need to be used to the extent available. Coupled with this is the very important role played by the monitoring of radio communications of terrorists, which often gives information of likely infiltration/exfiltration. Notwithstanding this, it needs to be realised that the Americans could not check infiltration in Vietnam in spite of using a number of unique means like defoliaging areas, sensors to detect human sweat levels of infiltrators and the Israelis are unable to seal off their borders. Human intelligence still remains the most effective means to nab large numbers. Our intelligence agencies need to develop sources in villages/habitations on both sides of the LoC to get advance warning of infiltration. Our Army is ready to deal with infiltration once information is available. Movement of troops by foot on mountainous tracks is too slow and time-consuming.

Pakistan had sent in large numbers of infiltrators across the LoC (then called LC) during the 1965 war and they had even set up a “government” in the Rajauri area. This operation failed primarily due to the lack of support from Kashmiris. It was a Bakarwal who gave the first information of their whereabouts in depth areas. The situation today is much different. The terrorists are much better armed, highly trained, motivated and well organised. Even the local terrorists are a force to reckon with. Large caches of arms and equipment have been reported all over and attacks launched in the valley, in the Rajauri area, as far in depth as Doda, and in major cities like Srinagar and Jammu. Even if there is reduction in infiltration, the terrorists already in J&K can pose a considerable danger. It is, therefore, so essential to ensure that the population on our side of the LoC is not alienated, so that the terrorists get little help, sanctuary and information about security forces from the locals.

Terrorism cannot sustain itself without local support, and it is difficult to fight terrorism without cooperation from the locals. Bold and immediate steps need to be taken to reach out to the common man in J&K. To take advantage of the possible lessening of cross-LoC infiltration, the security forces also need to step up their operations against indigenous terrorists.

The statement made by Mr Armitage that General Musharraf has agreed to “turn off the tap” of terrorists permanently has to be taken with quite a pinch of salt. We need to see the progress on the ground over a sustained period. The USA’s immediate interest lies in having a couple of Pakistani divisions operating against Al-Qaeda in the Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan to nab the terrorist network’s key leaders. Due to pressure on President Bush as a result of the reports that his administration did have reasonable information and still failed to avoid September 11 terrorist acts, the USA would like to successfully wrap up its operations against Al-Qaeda with speed. The Americans would, therefore, like to defuse the situation along the Indo-Pak border so that Pakistan does not have to move any forces from operations against Al-Qaeda. India should go along with this after watching the situation for a while, as it has achieved the immediate aim of General Musharraf agreeing to stop cross-LoC movement and hopefully this would result in reduced violence in the period prior to the elections in J&K. Once the elections are over and if terrorist activities go up, India can again up the ante and take limited action across the LoC. The period October-December is also good for campaigning if the need arises.

Indian forces should be kept along the border for four or five months more. However, as a quid pro quo, India could pull back part of its forces some distance from eyeball-to-eyeball deployment, if General Musharraf shows progress on the ground. However, the troops going back to the barracks, in particular the formations which have permanent locations east of Delhi, has to wait till almost the onset of winter. The Indian leadership has to keep the heat on since General Musharraf has proved to be such a slippery customer. We should not be taken in by a mere statement. Mobilising forces is a time-consuming and costly venture. We must derive long-term benefits from this.

The media also needs to play its part by focusing on such a policy and not indulge in throwing up red herrings based on the statements of General Musharraf while discussing crucial issues dealing with national security.

The writer is a retired Lieut-General.

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Computer correct
Shriniwas Joshi

WHEN my brother’s friend J. Subhramanyam alias Subbu, whose long stay in this part of the country had made him acquainted with the words of languages spoken here, invited him to Chennai to spend a few days with him, he immediately computer-typed a letter in Hinglish to him. It was personal and carried his “elated-downcast reflection” on the exciting invitation.

Hi Subbu,
Ah yes, there Marina of Chennai! the chat-pata special Dosas and Vadas! out of this world company of yours! and here that kaatne wali chill of Shimla? dil to bahut chahta hai yaar! But, pyare, U know it — though I am the boss of my life and I have permission of your Bhabhi to say so, I had taken saat pheres with her. At that time Pandit ji told me to be pichhu in four and aage in three only. That back gear of that time at Vivah-mandap has turned this “man-about-town” to “mouse-around-house” in tees lambe saal of happy wedded life. There is nothing chhupa hua from U, Subbu. Yaar, tu to jaanta hai, I am “do it yourself” mitra of yours married to “get it done” type of Femina. I have jaante boojhte hue bhi put my liberty at stake in pursuit of happiness. But I am also pakka sure that I’m not alone in facing this type of sangeet, I see a good number of my friends whose wives are always challoo in mending ways of their patidevs rather than mending their socks. So, if U really want me to be in Chennai, lift the chonga and telephone to my good, better, best, “bester” half and if she says YES, it can never be NO.

My namaskar to parjai ji and sweet puchi puchi to Meenakshi!

Sincerely yours,
Devendra

He then told his school-going daughter to get the letter ‘Spelling and Grammar’ checked from under the “Tools menu and e-mail it to his friend. This is what Subbu got:

Hi Subs,
Ahs yes, there Marina of China! The chat patter special Douses and Vaduz! Out of this world company of yours! And here that keratin wails chill of Shamble! Dil to bah chat hai yak! But, pyre, U know it — though I am the boss of my life and I have permission of your no spelling suggestions to say so, I had taken Sata pharos with her. At that time Pandit Jif told me to be pitch in four and cage in three only. That back gear of that time at Vive mandate has turned this “man-about-town” to “mouse-around-house” in tease lamb salad of happy wedded life. There is nothing cheap hula from U, Subs. Yak, tu to jaunt hai, I Am “do it yourself” mirth of yours married to “get it done” type of Famine. I have janet bought hue hi put my liberty at stake in pursuit of happiness. But I Am perk sure that I’m not alone in facing this type of Sangyo. I see a good number of my friends whose wives are always Chloe in mending ways of their passives rather than mending their socks. so, if U really want me to BE in China, left the Tonga and telephone to my good, better, best, “bestir” half and if she says Yes, it can never be no.

My namesake to Prague Jif and sweet push push to Mankato!

Sincerely yours,
No spelling suggestions.


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Strengthening the Punjabi spirit
Darshan Singh Maini

WHEN we talk of the spirit of a people, we mean its corporate consciousness in which racial energies, the soil and the airs are so structured as to keep it alert and ready in moments of crises, wars and natural calamities. Thus, the Punjabi spirit which is best vindicated in action is basically in love with life, dear life, and is roused to its full pitch and plume when it is under siege.

That, indeed, is the history of this land of the Vedas, of the Sikh Gurus, of Bhagat Singhs and their kind. The primordial roots sustain it, and there are periods of fall and decline, of renaissance and resurgence.

It's in these terms that I wish to offer some variations on the Punjabi spirit in its varied aspects and attitudes.

Before I touch on these archetypal patterns in the dynamics of this spirit, it may be understood that whilst pride in one's name, identity and heritage is a people's prerogative, its abuse in the name of one ideology or another almost always leads to some kind of fascism. The arrogance of race and origin, then, becomes a disease of the corporate sensibility.

Thus, any type of excess leads to degeneration and decay. The Punjabi pride can, at times, turn into hainkar or dramatised self-conceit. We have to be vigilant in this regard. The martial spirit demands a corresponding magnanimity and chivalry.

Since the space here militates against large sociological and historical formulations, I would be content to sum up the leading traits of the Punjabi spirit which reveals, among other things, a life of purposive action and sacrifice, joie-d'vivre or spiritual gaiety, Sada Vigas or the spirit in perennial upswing, wanderlust or love of movement (which has taken the Punjabis to far-off lands in search of the good life), love of adventure and risk, openness of heart and hand a Dionysiac revellery to the tunes of drum and dance.

This is not an index of constitutive hedonism, but a mark of the Punjabi love of life's largesses.

Students of comparative cultures would agree that such traits are to be found in the earlier Greeks also. An extravert people, a cultivating of body culture, and living in tune with the spirit of nature — such, such are the instinctive paradigms of the Punjabi spirit.

It is a pity, therefore, to see the Punjabi spirit in eclipse today. Dramas of corruption and venality in high places lately have agonised the moral imagination. Our virtues seem to have become our foes.

For instance, the Punjabis are the most modern people in India, but unfortunately their 'modernity' has taken a wrong, crooked route. The Punjabi weddings, to take up one example, often verge on vulgarity, if not obscenity in their display of wealth.

However, this very spirit has also an extraordinary potential for recovery. Punjab, India's “bread-basket” and a sentinel on our northern borders has a historic role to play. No wonder, the great Punjabi poet, Prof. Puran Singh, once said: “To be born in the Punjab is rare destiny”.

Max Weber talked of “disciplined deprivation” of pleasures in relation to the settler American communities — all with a view to ensuring a sunshine future for the coming generations. The Punjabis would do well to ponder the issue, and imbibe that lesson.

The writer is a scholar of repute.
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We must change our mindset
Rattan Singh

THERE was a time when Punjab used to be described as vibrant, strong healthy, hospitable, hard working, bravest of the brave, patriotic and progressive. All this was a true reflection of Punjab.

Please ponder over and compare our Punjab today. The social fabric of our Punjab has been going downhill. It has really touched the bottom. Shall we allow this to continue?

I am certain no Punjabi, worth his salt would like this to happen. Then, what should we do? Keep quiet? No, no, please, we must wake up from our stupor and cry halt to this process of degradation. We need to search our souls and join in a campaign to find out the true spirit of the Punjabis.

Our anakh, this essential spirit must be restored. This can happen only if we change our mindset. Give up the begging bowl attitude and instead instill the habit of not accepting anything that has not been earned by our own sweat and blood. The mantra is not to accept anything that is free.

Our past heritage is very great. After the raj of the great Maharaja Ranjit Singh, we became disunited and the British became the rulers of Punjab. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had his far-flung domain which included the present Afghanistan. His death led to the disunity of Punjab and consequent capture by the British.

We continued our struggle for freedom and the Kuka movement with its hundreds of martyrs. Then followed the Gadar movement which was born in California. This brought great political awareness and made the Congress very popular and very flourishing in Punjab under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai.

This followed with the saga of the great Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his Comrades. This gave birth to the Indian National Army (INA) movement founded by General Mohan Singh in Singapore in 1942 which later on was taken over by our Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. It was disunity, which brought about the fall of Punjab and unity, which gave us freedom in 1947.

Our political leadership has virtually failed us by doling out minor favours. They have snatched away our personal dignity and anakh. If we did not possess dignity and anakh, we would have become beggars after the partition of India in 1947.

Slowly but surely over the years, we have willingly fallen prey to subsidies and other sops which had the effect of being drugged. The time has come for us to fight the menace of corruption unitedly. Captain Amarinder Singh has given us a new start but without our whole-hearted support, corruption cannot be weeded out.

It is easy to blame the politicians but we must realise and accept the responsibility to a great extent on our shoulders. The bureaucrats, industrialists, farmers, traders and workers have unfortunately adopted an attitude which is wholly unexplainable.

Wake up, my dear Punjabis! Follow the great teaching of the great Gurus and bring about the unity of purpose which will usher in happiness and prosperity for the Punjabis.

The writer is President of the Indian National Army.
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Crux of the problem
Mohinder Singh

MR Chandra Mohan’s article “Where did we lose that Punjabi spirit?” (June 3), is an eye-opener. He feels hurt in saying, “Begging did not stop at one round. The moment ‘kamandal’ round 1 got filled, out began round 2 . A new cause, a new style. The chain became endless.”

Where did that begged or borrowed money go? Spent partly on so-called development during the last year of the term of rule, with an eye on the elections. Leave aside the portion not spent because of free supply of water and electricity. These freebies instead of judicious increase in wheat/paddy rates seems to have changed the psyche of the holder of the begging bowl which can be drawn parallel to the one ‘kamandal’ round 1 and 2 and here is the answer that ‘here we lost that proud Punjabi spirit’ at the grassroot level.

Thus, the tangle of the freebies is a barrier in the way of the present rulers to extricate the state from the problem in apprehension of giving a tool to the party donating the freebies.

It is time we denied ourselves of the freebies in lieu of quality i.e. continuous supply at an affordable rate and observance of austerity at all levels of power supply. Instead of accepting freebies and subsidies, we should ask for remunerative price of our food produce based on the cost and get a criteria fixed like say, DA to employees.

The suggestion will go a long way to allay the apprehensions of Mr Chandra Mohan and help retrieve the situation. He says: “As a Punjabi of the old school, I would not relish making the souls of my forefathers hang their heads in shame. Time to get into the recovery trail is still available. But then, just vision the smiles that our endeavours bring to our children and then, their children. They will bless us for the legacy of the happier world that we leave behind.”

Remember, we the Punjabis, are not beggars and we don’t come under the category that ‘Beggars are not choosers’. We had always been choosing our fate but we have been confronted with various problems and miseries mainly due to the wrong choice of our leaders or their betrayal.
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TRENDS & POINTERS

Scientists treat hemophilia A in mice

SCIENTISTS at the University of North Carolina have successfully treated mice with hemophilia A using a new approach to gene therapy — RNA trans-splicing. The experimental procedure repairs a mutated section of the gene responsible for hemophilia A, a hereditary bleeding disorder.

Dr Hengjun Chao, a research assistant professor at the UNC School of Medicine, has presented the new research at the Presidential Symposium of the American Society of Gene Therapy Annual Meeting.

Hemophilia A is a sex-linked congenital disease, occurring in one out of 5,000 to 10,000 males in all populations and is caused by a defect in coagulation factor VIII. The mutation renders the factor VIII gene non-functional resulting in recurrent, non-predictable, spontaneous bleeding into major joints and soft tissues.

Currently, the disorder is treated with injections of factor VIII protein in response to bleeding incidents. Conventional approaches to gene therapy have not proven successful against hemophilia A, partially due to difficulties involved in packaging and delivering the large factor VIII gene.

“Preliminary data using the hemophilia A mice is very encouraging. After using the new approach in the mice, factor VIII levels in the blood rose from lower than one per cent to a maximum of 20 percent of normal factor VIII activity. These levels of activity corrected the bleeding tendency of the

hemophilia A mice, thus protecting the mice from a trauma challenge, which is usually lethal to untreated hemophilia A mice”, said Chao.

“If the technology is proven effective in humans, it would provide a more permanent treatment for hemophilia A”, he added. ANI

Abused women suffer long-term ailments

Long term physical and mental ailments dog women who suffer domestic abuse as compared to women who have never been abused, reported the Archives of Internal Medicine journal.

Abused women suffer from neurological, gynecological and stress-related health problems 50 per cent to 70 per cent more often than never-abused women reported researchers from Johns Hopkins

University School of Nursing after checking 2,005 well-educated, middle-class working women.

Headaches, back pain, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary infections, appetite loss and abdominal pain are just some of the symptoms shown by these women. Significantly higher rates of gynecological, chronic stress and central nervous system problems were reported by those who had been abused. ANI
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When you chant and meditate,

when you offer sewa (service)

when you contemplate

and perform worship,

you are stepping into the fulness of God's love.

One of the most magical thing that happens when you apply yourself to spiritual practices is that you experience great love surging within yourself for no apparent reason.

This love is totally free.

It has no motive.

It is as though this pure love loves itself.

Very naturally then you will be inclined to let your own goodness shine forth.

Singing God's glory not only keeps you away from worry,

It also erases demeaning thoughts you may hold about yourself.

A singing heart experiences God's beauty.

With the awareness of God's constant presence in your life, you are able to approach each person and each situation in a unique way.

Every time it will be different,

Every time it will be new and everytime it will be mysterious.

Love and nothing but love radiates from your heart as you meet each person with love, and each situation with the greatest understanding.

— Swami Chidvilasananda, Gems from the magic of the heart

***

Nature cure implies an ideal mode of life and that in its turn presupposes ideal living conditions in towns and villages. The name of God is, of course, the hub round which the nature cure system revolves.

— Harijan

***

Nature cure... means regulation of one's life in accordance with the laws of health. The man who accepts nature cure never begs. Self help enhances self respect. He takes steps to cure himself by eliminating poisons from the system and takes precautions against falling ill in the future.

— Harijan

***

The man who eats to live, who is friends with the five powers — earth, water, either sun and air and who is servant of God, the creator of all these, need not fall ill.

— Harijan
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