E D I T O R I A L   P A G E

EDITORIALS

Overdue labour reforms
PRIME MINISTER Atal Behari Vajpayee’s appeal to all major political parties to evolve a consensus on labour reforms is timely. His request at Wednesday’s Trade and Advisory Council (TAC) meeting in New Delhi comes close on the heels of the Second National Labour Commission’s submission of report to the Centre. His remarks that the Union Cabinet has decided to “vigorously pursue” the long-delayed labour reforms should be seen in the context of successive governments’ failure to pursue things to their logical conclusion despite the benefits these reforms are expected to bestow.

African unity to union
ON Tuesday the Organisation of African Unity was given a ceremonial burial at Durban. From its ashes was born the African Union. The OAU was formed to help the African nations fight colonial rule. It was the torchbearer of the continent's movement for independence from oppressive white rule. The difference between unity and union is obvious. When the African nations were not masters of their destiny there was need for unity against colonial rule.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Hari Jaisingh
Saving polity from mafia power
The EC and apex court give the right lead
THE criminalisation of politics has been a major problem before the nation at least for the past three decades. Still, political parties have virtually been looking the other way whenever the issue of putting an end to criminalised politics has come up for action.

MIDDLE

Women, as shoppers
M. K. Agarwal
IT is found that men, when idle, don’t often know what to do with themselves. They may go to the theatre, visit the library, take to the peg, stand at the street corner, or just feel lost. Women, however, have no such problem — they can merrily do some knitting, engage the maidservant in gossip, exchange news of the day with the housewife next door, or, best of all, go for shopping. The last-mentioned pursuit is exactly after their heart.

COMMENTARY

Nepal must give up extremist paths
M. S. N. Menon
ELEVEN governments in 12 years! This is a record. Only the factious Nepalese could have achieved it. Democracy was introduced into Nepal only 12 years ago. Today Maoist violence threatens to extinguish this little flame. The parties and politicians have no time to preserve it. They are busy with their squabbles. Their main preoccupation is, who occupies the seats of power.

TRENDS & POINTERS

‘Swayamvars’ with a difference
AS per Hindu mythology, royal families organised “Swayamvars” where a princess could choose her husband from a host of renowned warriors. The Rajput community has made a bid to reintroduce the centuries-old concept. But with a difference. Here both girls and boys are given a fair chance to choose their life partners.

Stitching his way to record books
STRANGE are the ways people adopt to see their names in record books. Imagine a person making 35 coats which can be worn in 9,800 different ways; threading a needle with a miniature kite and passing around 384 threads through a needle’s-eye.

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

EDITORIALS

Overdue labour reforms

PRIME MINISTER Atal Behari Vajpayee’s appeal to all major political parties to evolve a consensus on labour reforms is timely. His request at Wednesday’s Trade and Advisory Council (TAC) meeting in New Delhi comes close on the heels of the Second National Labour Commission’s submission of report to the Centre. His remarks that the Union Cabinet has decided to “vigorously pursue” the long-delayed labour reforms should be seen in the context of successive governments’ failure to pursue things to their logical conclusion despite the benefits these reforms are expected to bestow. Unfortunately, even though the present government, Mr Vajpayee in particular, is committed to labour reforms, no headway was possible because of entrenched vested interests in trade unions and the negative attitude of the then Labour Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav. Mr Yadav’s stand was deplorable because the then Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, had incorporated the proposed changes in his Budget speech last February, which were to be implemented by Mr Yadav. The one-year delay in carrying out the required amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA) is inexcusable. Anyway, after the full endorsement of the proposals by the Group of Ministers, Mr Yadav had no alternative but to support reforms at the Cabinet meeting. There is a whiff of fresh air now in New Delhi’s Shram Shakti Bhavan with Mr Sahib Singh Varma as its head. Mr Vajpayee’s task has become easier. But then, all political parties should join hands with him to usher in the much-needed reforms.

Political parties will have to realise that the IDA has become dated and ill-served the needs of a free and competitive economic regime. Excessive job security has affected worker productivity and efficiency. It impaired discipline in every critical sector of the workforce. Trade unionism has become the bane of several industries. Cast-iron guarantees of a “life-time job security” has led to irresponsible behaviour by workers and trade union leaders. The proposed changes in the IDA make sense in the altered economic situation following globalisation and liberalisation. Indeed, it should have been high on the agenda of Dr Manmohan Singh when he introduced reforms in the early 90’s. Strangely, the Congress party is opposing the very same labour reforms it had once proposed. The changes mooted in the IDA would, among others, empower an employer with up to 1,000 workers on his payroll (compared to the one having less than 100 workers in the existing provision) to close down his unit or to retrench or lay off the workforce without seeking prior governmental approval. To protect workers’ interest, the quantum of compensation to be offered to employees has now been tripled from the present 15 days wages for every completed year of service to 45 days as separate solatium. Employers who violate the Industrial Relations Act can now be jailed for six months. Welcome though, these changes should be accompanied by suitable changes in the Indian Contract Labour Act. Stifling labour laws would jeopardise the interest of the working class. Also, labour reforms would be realistic and meaningful if the interest of both the organised and the unorganised labour is taken care of. According to an estimate, the present laws protect only 12 million organised workers out of a workforce of over 370 million. It is imperative to amend the labour laws so that we create employment and not merely protect current employees. Owing to bad laws, our workforce has become cheaper and is not able to integrate itself with the globalised market. The employees’ wages should be commensurate with their skills, qualifications and experience. Labour reforms would be meaningless if they do not recognise this fundamental principle.

African unity to union

ON Tuesday the Organisation of African Unity was given a ceremonial burial at Durban. From its ashes was born the African Union. The OAU was formed to help the African nations fight colonial rule. It was the torchbearer of the continent's movement for independence from oppressive white rule. The difference between unity and union is obvious. When the African nations were not masters of their destiny there was need for unity against colonial rule. A free Africa has now decided to form a union for implementing the shared goal of economic emancipation. The long-term objective may be to fashion AU on the model of the European Union. However, without addressing the immediate concerns the long-term goal cannot be achieved. Tomorrows are built on the foundations of todays. And the today of Africa is wobbly, sapped of the vital economic energy for growth by the white gold diggers. Nevertheless well begun is half done. Since South Africa is the most stable economy among the 53-nation union, it was asked to play the role of leading the AU. Turning fine words into deeds is not going to be easy. But if the fundamental rules are right, even the odd failure offers lessons in how not to approach a problem. The first commandment that the AU adopted made it clear that "anybody who comes to power unconstitutionally cannot sit with us". The message was directed towards the potential Idi Amins. At the same time the AU will have to hide Libya's Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The new union expects to reach out to the global community with its agenda for strengthening democratic functioning and preparing a roadmap for the economic regeneration of the continent. The blueprint has to be convincing for getting international funds for rebuilding the brutalised economy of Africa. The continent's commitment to democracy may in the end play a major role in getting foreign donors interested in its development projects. A decade ago there were only four countries where multi-party elections were held. After 1990 their number increased to over 40. The real challenge facing the African nations is the AIDS pandemic. South Africa alone has the highest number of HIV positive cases and the situation in other countries is far from happy. The spread of AIDS has to be checked for the success of the economic agenda of the AU. The protection of human rights too must engage the collective attention of the AU members. Yesterday's victims are today's violators of human rights. The situation in Zimbabwe is scary for the minority white population and President Robert Mugabe's stand is hardly reassuring as far as the minorities are concerned. Starvation deaths due to the perennial shortage of food too is going to test the political skills of the AU nations. It is understandable for the African leaders to be seen as part of the new era. However, they must also make an effort to get out of the rut that has seen rulers becoming tyrants and exploiting their own people as also causing tensions with the neighbours. The situation in Congo and Rwanda is very tense. The AU will have to take tough decisions for setting the house in order. Only then should it expect the global community to show an interest in the continent's economic progress.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Saving polity from mafia power
The EC and apex court give the right lead
Hari Jaisingh

THE criminalisation of politics has been a major problem before the nation at least for the past three decades. Still, political parties have virtually been looking the other way whenever the issue of putting an end to criminalised politics has come up for action.

The question often comes alive at the time of elections. Everyone goes by the existing law which allows candidates with a criminal background and even history-sheeters to contest elections as honourable persons.

How can we improve the quality of our democratic polity if persons with doubtful credentials are allowed to contest elections freely and fearlessly? Who is to blame? Well, mainly the political parties which allot tickets to candidates with a shady past. Perhaps the political parties go by their muscle and money power.

There are reportedly 700 legislators, including 40 MPs, with criminal antecedents. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have a notorious record on this count. As many as 965 candidates—17 per cent of the 5,539 contestants in the last UP Assembly poll—had a criminal record. As many as 582 out of the 11,500 candidates in the poll fray for the municipal wards and municipal councils of the five municipal corporations in Bihar held in April, 2002, had doubtful credentials. Things are equally depressing if we look beyond UP and Bihar.

Are we really concerned about this sickening state of affairs? Why does not the blood of our leaders who swear by principles and morality boil? Why are they so casual about this problem?

I was highly disappointed at the way the country's 21 major national and regional political parties rejected the Election Commission's order that asked candidates to disclose their criminal antecedents in the form of an affidavit along with their nomination papers.

Of course, the Election Commission was only following the directions of the Supreme Court. It made it clear that non-furnishing of complete information by a candidate would be considered violative of the court directive. The information sought is

(a) the details of candidates' involvement in any criminal case;

(b) any pending criminal case six months before filing of nomination;

(c) assets of candidates, their spouse and dependents ;

(d) liabilities and debts in government and public institutions.

This has to be seen as basic information. It is a pity that our leaders should have been indifferent to this crucial matter all these years. The question here is not of jurisdiction or of the legislature versus the judiciary. The judiciary legitimately intervenes if the legislature and the executive fail to perform their constitutionally-assigned duties. Call it judicial activism. But it needs to be appreciated that power vacuum cannot remain for long.

In this particular case, the failure of Parliament has been glaring. True, the 21 political parties have, at long last, woken up to the gravity of the situation and have decided to introduce a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament to replace the Election Commission's guidelines to check the criminalisation of politics and corruption in public life. Also heartening is Mr Arun Jaitley's emphasis on total electoral reforms.

While this is a welcome sign, nothing can be more shameful than the political parties formally rejecting the EC's order. This will not be acceptable to the people who have got increasingly fed up with the present drift.

In this connection, the stand taken by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) needs to be appreciated. It has supported the directive given by the apex court for electoral reforms and the steps taken by the EC in this matter. This is a graceful way of responding to a very dicey situation in which criminals have their way to get into the poll fray.

It is absurd to suggest that the people have no right to know about the personal affairs of their Members of Parliament or MLAs. They have every right to get correct information about the persons they have to elect as their representatives who frame laws to govern the largest democracy of the world. This is how we can ensure transparency and accountability in our legislative bodies and Parliament. This is essential if democracy has to reflect the aspirations of the people.

Any exercise to cover up the credentials of candidates is not only undesirable but also becomes counter-productive in the long run. What is disquieting is the attitude of the NDA government which has given the impression that it is interested in postponing the implementation of the court judgement. The all-party meeting was obviously prompted by this consideration. Some politicians have been stressing that it is the legislature and not the courts which should spearhead the move for electoral reforms. This is surely an ideal course. But, as pointed out earlier, it is the failure of the legislature and the executive to protect the public interest from being harmed which prompted the judiciary to intervene.

The Supreme Court has set the record straight. It enjoys ample powers under Article 32 of the Constitution to issue the necessary directions to the executive to subserve public interests. After all, a fair election must also look transparent.

A procedure which makes candidates disclose their current assets and past criminal records can only ensure transparency as it gives voters the necessary information to exercise their choice in favour of clean persons.

The people have the right to information. This needs to be exercised vigorously. The current air of secrecy has to end. Secretiveness, for that matter, is the antithesis of democracy. In India, the political class has made a virtue of it. As things stand, honesty is at a discount.

It needs to be appreciated that crime and money-oriented tendencies of big and small political parties and politicians negate the democratic norm of social, economic and political justice and equality of status and opportunity enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution. The economics of politics and electioneering processes have actually weakened the political will to make the democratic structure a mirror of the common man's aspirations.

In essence, the existing electoral system, in the first place, has made politics increasingly a slave of moneybags and muscle power.

Second, the growing influence of easy money and criminals has adversely affected the quality of legislators and parliamentarians.

Third, crime-cum-money politics has loosened the bonds of fair play and justice in the polity.

Four, black money politics has established the nexus of politicians with smugglers, bootleggers and underworld dons. In fact, if we do not break this nexus we shall see more and more of criminals or persons with criminal records getting into the sacred chambers of legislatures.

Five, the crime and money factor is gradually shaking the faith of educated and honest Indians in the democratic system. This erosion of faith in the viability and vitality of the electoral system could be dangerous if corrective measures are not initiated urgently. In this context, a balance between power and accountability has to be worked out on a priority basis. This is what the Election Commission under the Supreme Court's directive has done. There should be no wavering or dithering in this regard.

The question here is not one of saving a constitution, but of saving the nation and making the polity transparent, functionally efficient and democratically more liberal, just and caring for the common man.

What we are seeking is not a goody-goody instrument of governance, but a dynamic, forward-looking system. As a catalyst, it should be able to set the pace for qualitative and responsive management of a turbulent polity that India is and simultaneously ensure individual freedom so that there are more participative democratic structures at all levels. At stake is the rekindling of the ordinary citizen's hope in democratic institutions, beyond the once-in-five-years voting privilege.

Not that India does not have sufficient resilience. It has enough resilience and an infinite capacity to absorb shocks. The very strength of the Indian civilisation, for that matter, lies in its ability to withstand the onslaughts inflicted on the body politic by known and unknown villains.

The failure, in a way, is mainly political. As Justice B. Lentin, former Bombay High Court Judge, once put it: "The Constitution has not failed the people, nor have the people of India failed the Constitution. It is only the unscrupulous politicians who have failed both." Herein lies the challenge.

The mushroom growth of unscrupulous politicians is in itself a result of bad laws and the faulty electoral system that put a premium on moneybags and mafia power. The time has come to take hard decisions promptly like the ones initiated by Election Commission and blessed by the apex court.

MIDDLE

Women, as shoppers
M. K. Agarwal

IT is found that men, when idle, don’t often know what to do with themselves. They may go to the theatre, visit the library, take to the peg, stand at the street corner, or just feel lost. Women, however, have no such problem — they can merrily do some knitting, engage the maidservant in gossip, exchange news of the day with the housewife next door, or, best of all, go for shopping. The last-mentioned pursuit is exactly after their heart. It gives them time “out”, a break from the tedium of home, and unbounded pleasure of saving money while spending it, when, occasionally, by their cleverness, they are able to “steal” a bargain.

It is further found that men are rather laid-back in the matter of shopping. They lack patience, tolerance, and that relaxed mood and easy attitude, which are the basic requirements of shopping, to be indulged in as an art. So specific are most men about their demands that once the item of their choice has been spotted, their mind is made up. Suggest haggling to them and they are simply flummoxed. Their immediate instinct is to grab the piece before another eager hand pinches it, pay up and run out.

In sharp contrast, women are more collected and methodical in their approach. Their first reflex is window-shopping i.e. moving around the corridors of a market without buying. With an icecream cone to lick on, in their hand, they amble along leisurely — peeping animatedly into the windows, gathering information and preparing notes. The second step is to visit the shops they have short-listed, study carefully the design, style and fashion of the product, and check on its quality and price. After they have ascertained what is available where, and at what price, they are ready to take the great and final step of buying. The concluding part of the expedition carries its own thrill, for it brings out the best of bargaining skills and gift of repartee of women.

Teleshopping and buying on the net are becoming popular these days. Women may take these routes for routine items like butter, cheese, sugar, pulses, stationery, etc.... But where appraisal, comparison and selection are involved, they find there is no substitute for a personal visit to the bazaar. The feel and touch of the article, and its examination from different angles are most rewarding; in the case of apparel, even a trial may become necessary. Then, only in the fashion gallery, can they have their tryst with branded jewellery, celebrity tastes, designer creations, and those exquisite models to get to appreciate and learn how to dress in style and bring out their figure to its best advantage. The lingerie (like the bras, chemises, and panties), which is the ultimate wear in femininity, and the source of that close and intimate comfort, can be picked up only after careful inspection.

Not only this, women are also most careful to scout for the gala sales, bargain offers, annual clearances, festival bonanzas, gift coupons, off-season discounts, and other such attractions. They are not the one to miss these offers; rather they are at once keen to take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts. Many a time it may happen that the stuff they buy is not immediately wanted, but the temptation of acquiring a goodie at a throw-away price is not easy to resist.

Besides the above, there are fantastic exchange offers — “Replace your old washing machine with a new model”, or “bring your black and white TV and carry a coloured one of your choice, etc. Fabulous, indeed! Women know full well what new gadget needs to be acquired, and an old one, discarded or replaced. It is a pity, though, that no offer has yet been made to replace a battered, faded and second-rate husband with a modern, richer and more handsome one. The entrepreneurs could hope to have a roaring business, for, sure enough, there would be a beeline of anxious women, wanting to barge in, before the stock is out.

Not all women are alike in their preferences and palette of options. Some like to go only to the fashionable mall or the most chick boutique; they may consider shopping in their own vicinity rather undignified. Many, of course, find the ambience of the neighbourhood market very soothing; this is the place to get hold of wire sponges to cleanse the kitchen utensils, plastic clips to dry the laundry, or some shining tinsel for the kid. Then there are those opulent, exuberant women who go hunting for the foreign goods, especially the beauty aids, to refine and define their features, while the less fortunate ones are content with looking for the local makes. However, these individual biases and predilections do not, in any way, detract from the basic assertion: namely the fascination the female species, in general, have for shopping. If the way to a man’s heart, according to an old axiom, lies in appeasing his taste buds, that to a woman’s is through the satiation of her shopping instinct.

Before parting, a word of advice to men! They must be careful never to ask the wife where the money has gone; it would be so very mean and boorish on their part. They would do well to remember these lines of Robert Frost: “Never ask of money spent/Where the spender thinks it went/Nobody was ever meant/ To remember or invent/What he (she) did with every cent.”

COMMENTARY

Nepal must give up extremist paths
M. S. N. Menon

ELEVEN governments in 12 years! This is a record. Only the factious Nepalese could have achieved it.

Democracy was introduced into Nepal only 12 years ago. Today Maoist violence threatens to extinguish this little flame. The parties and politicians have no time to preserve it. They are busy with their squabbles. Their main preoccupation is, who occupies the seats of power.

Nepal’s problem has nothing to do with the political and economic system it has adopted. Instead, it has everything to do with the insatiable ambitions of its politicians.

The malady is old. It was recognised by Plato. Which is why he put the law above man. But that has not helped, for man subverted the laws. He put himself above the law.

The problem of poverty is universal. Nepal is not the only poor country. Its causes are many. And its remedies are many. But violence can never bring about a solution to this problem. It can only worsen the human condition.

Similarly, socio-economic systems cannot offer the final solution to human misery. It was believed that democracy was superior to the monarchical system. That was a myth. It was not the system which made democracy superior, but the nature of the people who practised democracy. More so, the nature of the ruling class. It is not the doctrines of a religion which made it superior, but the nature of its followers. In Nepal, the change from monarchy to democracy only made matters worse. The wrong-doings of the king were followed by many more wrong-doings of men in politics.

Am I advocating a return to monarchy? Not at all. I am advocating what Gandhiji used to say: that the solution to human problems lay in the transformation of the nature of men. His “Experiments with Truth” was all about this.

Nepal is facing today two crises simultaneously: a constitutional crisis and a security crisis. Sher Bahadur Deuba’s expulsion from the party showed the extent of factionalism in Nepalese politics. At the back of it all is G. P. Koirala. He opposed the extension of the Emergency because, he says, it would make the king and the army stronger.

One can understand his antipathy towards the monarchy (he is anti-monarchy), but how is one to explain his lack of concern for the army? He says the army is under the king. Such is the besotted logic of the man. He was so blinded recently that he alleged that the king and India were at the back of the Maoists! And yet this man owes so much to India for his rise to power.

Today Koirala is for a dialogue with the Maoists. Earlier he charged Deuba with betrayal of the nation for the same reason — for wanting to have a dialogue with the Maoists. Today, Deuba is committed not to negotiate with the Maoists unless they surrender.

What should be India’s stand? India can never allow the Maoists to gain power through violence. Nor can it allow the Communists to gain power through the ballot. It is true, the Communist Party no more supports violence. But it remains hostile to India. It is on the side of China.

Election is to be held in November next. It is feared the Communist Party may well come to power with the support of the Maoists.

India cannot allow a communist government in Kathmandu. We have already two enemies as neighbours — Pakistan and Bangladesh. We cannot add one more.

India’s is still the primary responsibility for the defence of Nepal. It must, therefore, provide all the assistance that Nepal wants. And it must coordinate its assistance with that of America.

I can already hear some objections. But look at history. Communism enjoyed electoral legitimacy in Russia. And Nazism was not without support in Germany. Did that prevent the rest of the world from waging World War II against the Nazis and a cold war against the Communists? We must support the Nepal monarchy just as America supports the monarchies of the world in its own interests. It was one of the great errors of Nehru to antagonise the Nepal monarchy. It drove the king to the Chinese camp.

The Maoists of Nepal are not only opposed to the monarchy, but also to the multi-party system. But our President K. R. Narayanan says: they are the twin pillars supporting Nepal’s democracy. We must support both. There should be no ambiguity about our commitment.

As the Nepali political class has been found unreliable, people have increasingly come to repose their faith on the monarchy. And on India. Being a man with a business background, King Gyanendra is a pragmatic man. He has given an assurance that he will not allow the soil of Nepal to be used against India. Nor will Nepal try to “balance” India on one hand and Pakistan and China on the other. We hope the King will adhere to his words.

Perhaps the Maoists did not anticipate the events of September 11, and America’s determination to organise the world against terrorism. Little did they realise that the world would reject violence as a means of the political process. Not even for the sake of self-determination. We know today that violence not only retards the natural process, but also dehumanises the people.

The insurgency has already ruined the Nepalese economy. Tourism, the mainstay of the economy, has been destroyed. Nepal wants the leave travel concession enjoyed by Indians (government employees and some private sector employees) to be extended to cover Nepal. This can be done. But such huge concessions are not made except to the closest of allies.

True, relations between India and Nepal are of a “special” nature. Already over 45,000 Gorkhas serve in seven Gorkha regiments and many more thousands in other units of the Indian Army. There are 110,000 retired Nepalese soldiers who live in Nepal on Indian pensions. Almost a third of the 2.30 crore people of Nepal work in the formal and informal sectors of Indian industry.

This is just to give a few instances. But over the years, the people of India and Nepal have drifted apart for various reasons. Most of them for illogical reasons. While India continues to maintain its “special” relations with Nepal, Nepal has shown least sensitivity to India’s concerns. It has been a one-way traffic.

To give a few instances: Nepal has failed to criticise the cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. To Nepal, J&K remains the “Indian administered region” — not an integral part of India. And reports in Indian media on ISI activities in Nepal are described as “Indian conspiracies” in the Nepalese press.

It is time the Nepalese recognised what is their true interest. It is not in their interest to support either the Maoists or the Communists. This will bring on them avoidable suffering. They have the example of Afghanistan.

TRENDS & POINTERS

‘Swayamvars’ with a difference

AS per Hindu mythology, royal families organised “Swayamvars” where a princess could choose her husband from a host of renowned warriors. The Rajput community has made a bid to reintroduce the centuries-old concept. But with a difference. Here both girls and boys are given a fair chance to choose their life partners.

Termed as “parichay sammelan”, the social congregation provides a platform where the to-be-couples introduce themselves and make their life-time decisions. The sole objective is to restore supremacy of women in society, which prevailed in the pre-medieval era. Also, the practice is encouraged to do away with wasteful expenditure in hiring huge shamiyanas and pandals, besides making lavish arrangements for food and beverages.

The President of the Parichay Sammelan’s organising committee, Dr M.S. Natahwat, said: “We are trying to restore supremacy of women in our society which prevailed earlier. Though it’s difficult to reform the age-old traditions, we have received considerable response from members of the community”. He further said: “Our aim is to solemnise marriages with least possible expenditure. But the problem is that elders in our community are allergic to the concept. They want to maintain the age-old traditions and customs. They are deadly against it saying it brings bad name to the community at large”.

One more factor has drawn the community to the concept. Girls outsmart boys in academics and in other trades as well. And it becomes rather difficult for them to find a suitable match. Prem Kanwar, chief of a women’s wing, said: “It’s a reality that girls are marked high in education than the boys. And they are unable to find a suitable match. But at our platform they are provided access to boys of different qualifications some of whom match their academics and interests”. ANI

Stitching his way to record books

STRANGE are the ways people adopt to see their names in record books. Imagine a person making 35 coats which can be worn in 9,800 different ways; threading a needle with a miniature kite and passing around 384 threads through a needle’s-eye.

Yes, here is the person, Pawan Kumar Kailey, who has achieved these feats and got his name registered in the Limca Book of World Records.

Finding a berth in the Guinness Book of World Records is still awaited by him. Amazingly, the officials of the Guinness Book of World Records came across a massive logistics problem. In order to inspect Kailey’s artistic works, they would have to stay in Jalandhar for at least three months even if Kailey showcased his unique suits and trousers for nine hours at a stretch every day. Kailey owns a small tailoring shop in Goraya town in Jalandhar district. But his enthusiastic drive towards making a difference makes him stand out from the rest. ANI

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

The planets, medicines, water, air, clothes, all are good or bad things according as their company is good or bad; men of distinction can observe this distinction.

— Shri Ramacharitamanasa, Bala Kanda

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— Manu Smriti