The mystique and magic of swastika

IT was enlightening to go through the article "The mystique of swastika" by Shiv Darshanlal Sharma by (May 23). The author, in fact, has stumbled about the Nazi swastika (the one adopted by Adolf Hitler as the party emblem) and interpreted the same as the "setting sun." As per the Rig veda and its related vedantic vallis, there exist two swastikas, both equally significant and inter-related.

The swastika taken to account represents solar power. It certainly is an undisputed fact that the cult of Sun worship is the oldest one. Spiritualists and even scientists believe the sun to be the "Source of Life" on earth and are also aware of the fact that the Solar energy in the absence of the lunar aspects remains incomplete or ineffective. This is why all the Astrological and Astronomical calculations are basically founded on these aspects.

The Magi’s ability to detect the birth and the birth place of Jesus by the appearance of the star in the sky substantiates the significance of the lunar swastika in astronomical calculations. It was the lunar swastika that was adopted as the Nazi emblem by Hitler and not the solar one.

The oldest centre of sun worship cult still exists in India and this practice is still carried out. In Ladakh, on the bank of the Sindh river (about 20 km from Leh), sun worship is performed by Ladakhi Buddhists (particularly Lamas) these days. The name of the Gompa is Hamis — a misnomer for Samash (the sun). This is the place where Sindhu became Hindu and further Hindustan.

CHARLES H. MASSEY
Sangrur

Individual as resource

In his article "Individual as a resource" (May 16), A.P.N. Pankaj, has stressed upon the development of an individual to make the organisation effective. Perhaps we have not realised as yet that organisations and institutions are always more important than individuals. An individual, howsover great he may be, should not be permitted to personify an institution. In a democratic system, all individuals, big or small, have to subordinate their will to the social, political and economic institutions in the society.

This is where the Indian system differs from western democratic systems. The western world may not have produced a Gandhi or a Gautam. But they have most certainly developed a mental discipline where individual ego is always suppressed in the interest of the society. Contrary to this, just look to our own institutions. The less we talk of them, the better would it be!

K.M. Vashisht
Mansa

II

Every retired person will realise the truth each word of this statement mirrors — "By the time an individual is at the exit gate of the organisation he, notwithstanding all the positions, promotions, perks and pay packages the organisation gave him, is already an unhappy man." The reasons assigned for this unhappiness are very much valid: "The individual does not know what to do with his remaining years since the communication with the world outside the organisation, including family, had ended long before."

This is all because the organisation concentrated on the development of the individual as a resource to the organisation and not as a resource to society. It hits the retired defence personnel harder as they retire at a comparatively younger age. As the discipline oriented culture in defence services is different from the one which prevails in civil, they find themselves totally misfit and unable to adjust in a corrupt and indisciplined environment.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana

Redefining republic

This refers to "Time to redefine the Republic" by Sai R. Vaidyanathan (May 2). Keeping in view the changing scenario of world economy we should build a political system that ensures that parliamentary elections are not held before five years. I would like to suggest to our national leaders and policy makers that party defections should be constitutionally banned. An MP who contests parliamentary election on the ticket of a particular political party should have only two choices - either he or she stands with the party or quits his or her seat. Defections on the floor damage the national character of our politicians. As the regional parties have gained more strength on the national political scene, in future we cannot expect a single party government at the centre. This has happened because the national parties have failed to fulfil the aspirations of people of various regions, particularly minority communities.

Democracy can only survive if national and regional leaders think and act in the interest of the country and the people.

AMARJIT WARAICH
Patiala

Iris Chang

"She helped to unfold history’s worst carnage" by Mohinder S. Dhillon (May 23) was a thought provoking and shocking article. Iris Chang, a journalist, has done a remarkable job in disclosing the atrocities Japanese soldiers committed against Chinese women. Even pregnant women were not spared. Young and old women and even small girls- were raped by soldiers of the Japanese army. Beautiful girls were forced into prostitution. Chinese people can never forget the carnage. Within seven weeks 80,000 to 1,20,000 women were raped and murdered. Thousands of Chinese with their wrists bound behind their backs, were buried alive.

I would like to convey my thanks to Iris Chang for writing this bold book, disclosing the henious crimes committed by Japanese soldiers on innocent people. They should beg pardon from the world for their inhuman acts.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA
Rohtak

Happiness

Apropos of Amar Jit’s write-up "Goals of happiness" (May 16), happiness has been defined differently by different persons. Some say happiness lies first of all in good health. Others say the secret of happiness is

Seeing one’s work as service.
A pure beart empty of malice and self seeking.
Reverence for all life.
Laughing with others, not at them.
Doing joyfully and willingly whatever needs to be done.
Desire to learn rather than to teach.
Innocent enjoyment of simple things.
Love and relinquishing the sense of "I" and "mine".

To be happy, we should, therefore, fix worthwhile goals that emanate largely from secrets of happiness given above, as also from the mental qualities of contentment, confidence, serenity and beneficence.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Leadership

"The theme of leadership" by K.S. Bajwa (May 9) was a thought-provoking piece. Field Marshal the Viscount Montogomery of Alamein K.G. feels, "The beginning of leaderships is a battle for hearts and minds of men".

A successful and good military leader or commander must understand the human approach to war. "It is the human beings men and women, who are the factors of reality in the world in which we live; once you can win the hearts and the respect, of those who work for you, the greatest achievements become possible". Therefore, a general must know his soldiers and be recognised by them.

Field Marshal Montogomery further states, ‘The true attributes of leadership can be boiled down to character, decision and action’, which unfortunately are not always popular with Indian political leaders today.

Indeed it is by such "captaincy" that "wars are won in the hearts of men".

ROSHNI JOHAR
Shimla

Incompatibility

This refers to the write-up "... and never the twain shall meet" by G.K. Sharma (May 23). The writer has presented a wonderful scenario of his married life with a bit of exaggeration. His intentions of jotting down his views may be in a lighter vein. "It takes two to make a marriage a success and only one a failure." But he seems to be violating this well known saying. Sharma has left no stone unturned to prove that he is the only one to make his marriage sail through thick and thin.

The happiness of married life depends upon making small sacrifices with readiness and cheerfulness and these sacrifices are made by both partners. The degree may vary. Happy marriage is based on mutual understanding and not on the dominancy of one partner over the other. This article is on the verge of claiming that the writer is dominated by his wife. No doubt, he appears to be a very compromising and adaptable personality.

The reasons for the twain never to meet are his wife’s peculiar qualities, but he has made no mention of any of his flaw, as if he was a perfect man. Marriage is a book of wich the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters in prose. This may not be possible in the rarest of rare cases, but it seems to be relevant in the writer’s case. It is not lack of love but lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages. There seems to be lack of friendship in case of the writer’s marriage. He and his wife haven’t followed the pledge to swim and sink together.

Goethe has very well declared, "A wife is a gift bestowed upon man to reconcile him to the loss of paradise." It may substantiate vice-versa too. The differences are inevitable. But these differences can be complemented to lead a successful and prosperous married life.

VANDANA
Nakodar

Discipline thyself

In the article "Self-discipline at work" by Taru Bahl (April 25) preaches a gospel of action by shunning inaction which leads to stagnation as a man of inaction declines physically, mentally and morally. Success always licks the feet of those who work ceaselessly and tirelessly as there are no shortcuts to success. The writer has rightly cautioned the day-dreamers by saying that dreams can be realised only if they have the cementing force of will power and dedication. An action plan, coupled with self-discipline can unlock the greatest riddles of human existence.

ANJANA SABHARWAL
Ambala