E D I T O R I A L   P A G E

EDITORIALS

Thus spake Kalam
THE ruling National Democratic Alliance’s nominee for the July 15 Presidential election, Mr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was quite impressive during his first encounter with the media on Wednesday. As a learner in the political arena, which he declared as a straightforward person, he handled even difficult and embarrassing questions with the deftness of a hardboiled practitioner.

Contract for cricketers
THE Board of Control for Cricket in India has adopted a path-breaking draft proposal that would reward talent and penalise cricketers who do not put their best foot forward. Better late than never. In Australia the initiative for a better deal for cricketers had come from the players themselves. In India Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev besides others too had spoken out against a system of payment that did not distinguish between senior and fresh players.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Hari Jaisingh
Will Pak come out of its old mindset?
Hard options for India, but open-minded approach will pay
NOW that there are sure signs of easing of tension in the subcontinent, Indian policy-makers ought to assess developments dispassionately with a view to evolving new responses to face old and new challenges in a larger global perspective.

MIDDLE

Is there a devil in every grape?
I. M. Soni
A well-known Indian journalist (he is no more) entertained a guest in a big hotel bar. After having a couple of green snakes, they moved out. The guest graciously offered to walk his host to his home. Reaching home, the host insisted courtesy demanded that he should walk him back to the hotel. The twosome agreed. Out they went again sauntering.

COMMENTARY

A turning point in South Asian history
M. S. N. Menon
THE moment of truth has come for Pakistan. The bomb has just failed it. On what shall it rely now? “If ever there was a turning point in Pakistan’s history, it has now arrived,” says Najam Sethi, Editor of the Pak journal “Friday Times.” True. But it is a turning point for all — Indians, Kashmiris and for all South Asians.

Bandit Queen of Kashmir’s banking industry
Faisal Ahmed
WHEN Haji Bashir Rather gave “a box of cherries” to a friend he met in Jammu, requesting that it be handed over to his wife in the Kashmir valley, the friend muttered he was carrying coals to Newcastle.

TRENDS & POINTERS

Holiday for soldiers but not without irritants
ALTHOUGH tension on the border may have decreased, it has not ceased. Even then the government has sanctioned leave for the soldiers of the Army, making them understandably happy.

• She checkmates boys and sets records

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

EDITORIALS

Thus spake Kalam

THE ruling National Democratic Alliance’s nominee for the July 15 Presidential election, Mr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was quite impressive during his first encounter with the media on Wednesday. As a learner in the political arena, which he declared as a straightforward person, he handled even difficult and embarrassing questions with the deftness of a hardboiled practitioner. But throughout the gruelling session he tried to impress upon one and all that India’s next President would be a person dedicated to employing science and technology for the good of society. He is not just the father of the country’s missile programme. He is a scientific visionary. He would wish to use the position he is soon going to occupy for realising his cherished dream—transforming India into a developed country by 2020. Of course, it is a long and challenging journey, but with Mr Kalam as the moving spirit behind the march forward, the country’s efforts may be more focused on achieving the goal. No doubt, science and technology also has a destructive aspect to it. This, however, broadly relates to defence matters. Mr Kalam looks at India’s position as a regional nuclear power from this angle. And he appears to be quite realistic in view of the geostrategic reality today with China as a major nuclear-armed nation. He stated an unalloyed truth when he emphasised at the Press conference the point that had there been no nuclear deterrent during the India-Pakistan border standoff, the subcontinent would have been on a destructive course by now. What he did not mention was that in the process his vision of using science and technology for faster economic growth of the country would have been shattered.

However, the question had political connotations and, therefore, a straight answer should have been avoided. Some critics point out that Mr Kalam’s utterances have weakened India’s diplomatic offensive against Pakistan. But the fact is that what he has said is not very much wide of the mark. His remarks need to be understood in a larger context. However, it is also true that New Delhi has been trying to make the world believe that Islamabad is an irresponsible possessor of nuclear power and had resorted to blackmailing tactics by threatening to use this ultimate weapon in the event of a full-scale war with India. The NDA Presidential nominee’s answers on Gujarat and Ayodhya showed that he fully understood the intricacies of the different sensitive problems the country was faced with. He avoided being drawn into a controversy or raising a fresh one. His performance proved that learning how to swim in the sea of politics was not a difficult task for a man of technology of Mr Kalam’s stature. 

Contract for cricketers

THE Board of Control for Cricket in India has adopted a path-breaking draft proposal that would reward talent and penalise cricketers who do not put their best foot forward. Better late than never. In Australia the initiative for a better deal for cricketers had come from the players themselves. In India Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev besides others too had spoken out against a system of payment that did not distinguish between senior and fresh players. What they were pleading for was a graded system of payment based on the performance and seniority of players. The board’s latest proposal cover a wide range of concerns that have been articulated by players and administrators from time to time. The proposals in their present form are interesting. They seek to reward achievement and penalise failure. Under the proposed system the top 20 players in the country would be paid a lumpsum apart from their match fees. In theory, it sounds good, but in the hands of vindictive administrators can work against the interests of players who have a mind of their own or refuse to toe the official line on every issue. It has happened in the past and with the board giving itself the power to reward and punish players through the proposed system of graded payment the possibility of outspoken players being penalised cannot be ruled out. Of course, some past and present cricketers have expressed their support in favour of such a system of payment. The overall thinking, in tune with the global trend, is to treat the game of cricket as a profession. In other words, playing the game becomes a source of livelihood for cricketers who represent their state and country.

The set of proposals that have been circulated for a wider debate also appear to protect the interests of players who are injured while doing duty for the state or country. If an employee is injured at the workplace or while performing duties for his employing institution, the employer picks up the tab for his treatment and rehabilitation. A similar protection would be available to the cricketers. It is indeed true that as of today there is no “job security” for even the most talented players. Take, for instance, the problem that a young cricketer who plays for his state or in the under-19 team may face by neglecting his studies. He faces the double risk becoming overage for qualifying for selection to a professional course of study like medicine or law or engineering. and not securing his place in the team as a professional cricketer. The board should consider introducing the element of “probation” for making a career in the game of cricket less risky. A player who does well say in a specified number of games should be given a regular letter of appointment so that he may know at an early age that his future lies in playing the game of cricket for his state and country. He should then be entitled to emolument and perks that are available to employees in other professions. A system of bonus based on the showing of the team in particular series should provide the right motivation to the players to make winning a habit. The more series the team wins the more money the players would get as special bonus. There is no reason why the scheme of reward and punishment, if implemented fairly, help raise the level of performance of most players.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Will Pak come out of its old mindset?
Hard options for India, but open-minded approach will pay
Hari Jaisingh

NOW that there are sure signs of easing of tension in the subcontinent, Indian policy-makers ought to assess developments dispassionately with a view to evolving new responses to face old and new challenges in a larger global perspective.

Union Home Minister Lal Krishan Advani declared the other day: "Pakistan should first stop cross-border terrorism and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, particularly in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Unless this is done, there is no point in having a dialogue with Pakistan."

In a way, Mr Advani is right. Islamabad needs to put an end to cross-border terrorism showing a total commitment and sense of urgency. Terrorism is not negotiable. The onus is on Gen Pervez Musharraf. He must stop sending armed infiltrators across the border in Kashmir and beyond.

As for the terrorists who are already operating within the Indian territory, it is our responsibility to eliminate them ruthlessly with better intelligence management and coordinated action. Here is the opportunity for the Union Home Minister to pursue his pro-active policy at home and intelligently without picking up wrong persons. Nothing should be done to alienate Kashmiris. The guiding principle has to be: "we care for you".

It is a fact that not enough has been done by General Musharraf to prove his bonafides. He makes certain pronouncements which he does not mean to implement. This is how he has been conducting the relations with India. He has perfected the art of using his diplomatic skills while he puts a fine purdah on his real face.

Unfortunately, even American leaders often fall into his trap. US policy -makers know how to play India against Pakistan and vice versa. They strike different postures at different times for different purposes. The recent visit of two US functionaries, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, to the subcontinent amply shows that American policy-makers love to speak in two voices— one for the consumption of the Pakistanis across the border and the other to placate the Indians.

The Western powers, for that matter, have been indulging in such games for the past several years. That is why they are invariably suspects in the eyes of the Indians.

Still, it needs to be emphasised that New Delhi cannot afford to be rigid in its approach and postures towards Islamabad. It has to combine firmness with flexibility to derive the maximum advantage from the complex global setting.

So, the first mantra has to be: never shut doors on talks, howsoever grave might be the provocation.

Second, set a specific and focused agenda for dialogue to avoid a repeat of the Agra summit fiasco.

Three, India should opt for a step-by-step approach to bilateral talks, that is, it should tell the Pakistani ruler that the first phase of dialogue must be confined to discussing the ways and means of ending cross-border terrorism in tune with the American target of eliminating global terrorism. It may be worthwhile to know the steps Pakistan has taken to stop armed infiltration and dismantle the training camps for terrorists in PoK.

Four, at the second stage of the dialogue the two sides can take up other issues for normalising ties and creating a proper atmosphere to tackle some of the outstanding issues. These steps, if taken in right earnest, can go a long way in building bridges of confidence and strengthening economic, cultural and people-to-people bonds. Viewed in this light, Pakistan's offer of duty exemption on 600 Indian items is a positive gesture.

It is necessary for the leaders in the subcontinent to come out of the old mindset and recast the subcontinental relationship in tune with the changes taking place in Europe and elsewhere. The most daunting task before them is to shift the focus away from communalised politics to the building of economic relations which has to be the basis for the evolution of a new-look poverty-free and development-oriented South Asia.

The scope for such cooperation is tremendous. Privately, most Pakistani leaders acknowledge the importance of meaningful economic cooperation. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif talked on the subject passionately when I met him in Islamabad after his massive victory in the last elections. But soon he too became a prisoner of the military establishment, which generally calls the shots and stalls the process of normalisation between the two countries.

It is a pity that amidst Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and its old games of selling truth as lies and lies as truth, even basic facts—historical and otherwise— become the casualty in the subcontinent's turbulent politics. Any number of examples can be cited concerning distorted utterances and declarations by Pakistani leaders. Even the UN resolutions are used out of context to mislead the world community.

When Islamabad harps on a plebiscite to settle the Kashmir imbroglio, it conveniently forgets that this proposition is linked with Pakistan withdrawing its forces from occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan has also been active in training, funding and sending foreign mercenaries and armed infiltrators across the border.

What sorts of "freedom fighters" are they? How can the civilised world close its eyes to the ongoing proxy war in the name of Islam? Has the military regime not yet learnt any lesson from the Pakistan-sponsored Taliban regime in Afghanistan? President Bush will have a lot to explain.

The main item of Pakistan's export for the past 15 years or so has been subversive groups across the border. The worst sufferer of cross-border terrorism has been India, especially the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Do the Kashmiri Pandits not deserve even crocodile tears from the democratic West? Are they not human beings so as to draw legitimate response from the Human Rights Commission? Does the conscience of liberal politicians and intellectuals in the West prick when the Hindus, the Sikhs and the Buddhists of Jammu and Kashmir are massacred by Pakistan-sponsored militants.

The moot point is: why can't world leaders see through the blatant lies of General Musharraf at world fora? Even at the Almaty conference he got away with half lies and quarter truth. What a shame!

Of course, facts are sacred. They cannot be used selectively. They have to be seen, assessed and appreciated in totality. Otherwise, the whole purpose of justice and fairplay will be defeated.

What is regrettable is the inability of Indian diplomats and policy-makers to use facts effectively to expose Pakistani games. The trouble with most officers is that they thrive on ignorance. They hardly do homework in a historical perspective of seeing facts on today's complex global canvas.

Diplomacy is not a matter of smile and handshakes. Nor can it revolve solely around cocktail and goody goody conversation.

Indian diplomats ought to be well-versed with the ground realities and historical facts on turbulent India-Pakistan relations. Moreover, they should pursue India's foreign policy objectives aggressively but in a dignified manner.

During my travels abroad, I have seen that most Indian officials are not well-targeted, nor are they well-focused on basic national interests. Some young officers are surely bright and brilliant. But exceptions do not make rules. Equally vital are communication skills. Even bright junior officers sometimes do not speak out for fear of inviting the wrath of their seniors. In other words, the right setting has to be created for pursuing foreign policy goals. This calls for a new orientation and a thorough overhaul of the system in the conduct of foreign policies and postures.

Incidentally, the US establishment needs to see Kashmir as part of India in a more honest perspective. Take the recent opinion poll conducted by a British agency, FACTS Worldwide. It records the people's desire to end militancy in the state. A whopping majority of 86 per cent wants an end to militancy and infiltration of militants from across the border. They have also said that foreign mercenaries are damaging the Kashmir cause and that they do not want the Kashmiri public to be divided on the lines of religion and ethnicity.

It is reassuring that the people of the state believe that the unique cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir—Kashmiriyat— should be preserved as part of a long-term solution. What is more, 61 per cent of the population has expressed clear desire to remain Indian citizens.

Since the opinion poll has been conducted by a British company, it must have been professionally handled for accuracy and fairplay. I don't know how exhaustive and comprehensive the poll sample was. I am also not clear about the real intentions behind it. I can, however, say from my studies and observations that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would like to remain with India.

Looking back, the people of Kashmir are a racial mix — Aryans, Mongols, Afghans, Persians and others. The Pandits are of Aryan stock and are considered non-martial. The Gujjars and the Bakerwals are nomadic and are mostly Muslims. The Gujjars are tall and could have come from the Caspian region. The Dogras are Rajputs, having greater affinity to the people of Punjab. Finally, the people of Ladakh are Buddhists and they are mostly of the Tibetan origin.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir, for that matter, has three distinct ethnic groups. A number of critics ask: why was the state not trifurcated during the reorganisation of states on the basis of language? Perhaps this was yet another concession to Sheikh Abdullah by Jawaharlal Nehru? It is no use going into the ifs and buts of history. What is needed is a new bold approach to solve Kashmir and other problems in a terrorism-free atmosphere in the subcontinent.

Everything needs to be viewed with an open mind, including the oft-repeated suggestion to settle for the present Line of Control as the international border. But, then, the course of future events depends on whether Pakistan's military regime is prepared to discard terrorism as an instrument of its foreign policy. In the circumstances, India has no choice but to carry on with the normalisation process while keeping the powder dry.

MIDDLE

Is there a devil in every grape?
I. M. Soni

A well-known Indian journalist (he is no more) entertained a guest in a big hotel bar. After having a couple of green snakes, they moved out. The guest graciously offered to walk his host to his home.

Reaching home, the host insisted courtesy demanded that he should walk him back to the hotel. The twosome agreed. Out they went again sauntering.

The rounds of courtesy went on and on. They had started parting at midnight but parted finally at 3 a.m.!

The liquid fire is ill-famed but it seldom gets its due credit. The glow, the warmth that greases human relationship culminating into flow of amiability is often blinked away.

Other plus points are: it changes indifference into love, increases desire and makes even a dull Jack a jolly one. One for health, two for love, and more for stupor.

There are other facets of this water that blushes. It displays little spots of soul and its deformity. Wine, says Syrus, has drowned more than the sea.

Moderation is the key to its enjoyment. The first glass is for savouring; the second for good company, and the third for wit.

Dorothy Parker, after a strong punch, said of a contemporary: she can speak 14 languages but cannot say ‘no’ in any one of them.

It often turns a good natured man into a devil and makes him believe in the words of Montaigne that there is a devil in every berry of grape.

There is yet another side to it. Spirits have caused humour in various walks of life, especially in marriage.

Two friends had a gala evening at a bar. They left it in the wee hours of the morning. Two days later, they met again. One asked: what happened to you after we parted? “I was caught by the police for drunken driving.”

“You were lucky. I reached home!”

One friend from the fizzy fraternity on cloud nine, reached home late at night (read early morning) when natural furies were at their worst.

He started knocking at the door but there was no response from inside the house. He persisted. No response.

A neighbour passed that way, stopped and asked why he was standing outside his own house knocking at the door in the furious storm?

The slurring husband replied “You call this a storm?” and added, “The real storm is inside in the house!”

A gentleman goes for a shave. The barber lathers his chin and cheek, and goes ahead to give him a smooth and silky face.

But his hands shake because he had one too, many the previous night. The poor gentleman facing the razor gets a few nicks. Drops of blood ooze out.

Alarmed, he observes: “Have you noticed what excessive drinking can do?”

Unnerved, the shaver replied, “It so tenders the skin that it nicks easily.”

COMMENTARY

A turning point in South Asian history
M. S. N. Menon

THE moment of truth has come for Pakistan. The bomb has just failed it. On what shall it rely now?

“If ever there was a turning point in Pakistan’s history, it has now arrived,” says Najam Sethi, Editor of the Pak journal “Friday Times.” True. But it is a turning point for all — Indians, Kashmiris and for all South Asians.

Pakistan’s history was heading towards a nuclear war and annihilation. We have just escaped from being vapourised.

Sethi says: “The world wants General Musharraf to take an about- turn on his Kashmir policy as he did in Afghanistan.”

To turn-about or stand still — that is his dilemma. Not his alone, but also of the Pakistan army and the Pakistan nation. Events have provided the answer.

What was it? I believe that it must have been the destruction of the Hindu temples. Destruction of temples like Somnath must have been like a primordial event. It was neither forgotten nor forgiven.

It is no use saying that there is no sanction for this in the Koran. Far too often our Muslim brothers resort to this device: of quoting religious Islam to justify the wrongdoings of historical Islam. History judges men by their actions, not by what is written in their scriptures.

The crisis in the South Asian subcontinent has proved one thing: the world community is too scared of a nuclear war to allow it to happen. Today we know that the fallout of a nuclear war cannot be contained. It can spread around the world. It is thus a crime against humanity to start a nuclear war. But America is perhaps not ready to declare it a crime against humanity. Not yet. But it has to be done.

So what is the upshot? Simply this, that the nuclear bomb is useless. It has ceased to deter because it cannot be used. And if used. Pakistan will be called upon to pay the price. Pakistan must accept this reality. Yes, it can fall into the hands of mad men. But, then, it becomes a matter of concern for the entire humanity. Not for India alone.

What then is the course before Pakistan? It is said that the concept of Pakistan was given by Mohd Iqbal. But Pakistan failed to observe his other injunctions. In a series of lectures in 1929, Iqbal exhorted the Muslims to create a new society through a reinterpretation of Islamic thought in the light of modern experience. But this words fell on deaf ears. The Indian Ulemas were the most conservative. They even called him a kafir! This is truly the “unfinished business” of Pakistan. Pakistan must move forward.

If then it is a turning point for Pakistan, it is no less so far India — for all South Asian peoples. The Hindus are a tolerant people. This grew out of their freedom, which is the basis of Hindu civilisation. We have allowed different views to flourish in the hope that they will take us nearer to the truth. As a result, ours is the richest and greatest civilisation. We have vested interest in keeping it that way. We cannot anyone permit to take our civilisation along narrow channels. Alas, such a threat has emerged! We must defeat these forces.

As for our minorities, they have failed to understand the nature of the Indian civilisation and how to live within its parameters. Ours is a multi-cultural society, not a monocultural one, as is the case with most Islamic and Christian countries. How to live in a multi-cultural society — this we failed to grasp. All our problems arise from our ignorance of our obligations in a multi-cultural society.

Men do forget mutual injuries. The Japanese have learned to live with Hiroshima. The Germans have almost forgotten the bombing of their cities by the Allied forces. Yes, men do forget the wrongs of history. Hindus and Muslims too, can forget the wrongs. But the healing balm is missing in our case. I think India and Pakistan must go ahead with their economic cooperation. They must revive SAARC and they must promote the gas pipeline project. We must create inter-dependence. This will provide the balm to heal the old wounds.

The gas pipeline project will benefit Afghanistan and the whole of South Asia. It has an annual capacity of 15 billion cu. metres of gas. It can be doubled. It can boost power, transport and chemical industries, thus bringing about radical changes in employment and life styles. It is also proposed to construct a highway and a power grid along the same route. These will integrate the economies of South Asia and Central Asia. This will give Central Asia its first opening into the sea.

The success of this project will depend on (1) the stability of Afghanistan (2) consolidation of Pakistan politically and economically and (3) reconciliation of India and Pakistan.

Kashmir too cannot stand aside from this change in the course of history. The MORI poll, carried out recently, showed that there is a change in the attitude of the J&K people. About 85 per cent are opposed to cross-border terror. About 61 per cent want to remain with India. These mark the turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.

Bandit Queen of Kashmir’s banking industry
Faisal Ahmed

WHEN Haji Bashir Rather gave “a box of cherries” to a friend he met in Jammu, requesting that it be handed over to his wife in the Kashmir valley, the friend muttered he was carrying coals to Newcastle.

Cherries abound in the valley and are taken to the plains for sale. The unsuspecting friend did not know he had become a link in a fake currency chain.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Rather and his cohorts were running a fake currency racket. Rather had actually given his friend a box of high quality paper bought in Kolkata on which he printed fake Indian currency.

Business would begin normally at the state cooperative bank in the Ganderbal area of Srinagar district. A woman, Shamshada Khan, managed the branch.

The entire business community in Ganderbal believed Khan to be a “dynamic” bank manager because she granted overdrafts to entrepreneurs in need. She had all the attributes of an “aggressive” and “dynamic” banker.

This perhaps was the reason she was retained at the branch for a decade. Thrice her transfer orders were cancelled on popular demand from the bank’s customers.

She had also done wonders for the branch. From a measly start of a few hundred thousand, she had pushed the branch’s business to about Rs.700 million.

Her superiors were impressed when they found that Khan had granted loans of about Rs.100 million in just a few months to small transport operators.

Then Rather lost his cool in an unguarded moment of anger. He had a tiff with an accomplice from the apple-growing town of Sopore who used to circulate fake Rs.500 notes in north Kashmir.

The accomplice approached the BSF in Sopore and told them that Rather was faking Rs.500 notes at his home at Ganderbal by using a computer, a high quality scanner and the fine paper he bought from Kolkata.

Initially the BSF officers took the information lightly as their source led them to the recovery of just Rs.29,000 from two residents of Sopore.

But the interrogation of the arrested men took the BSF to Rather’s Ganderbal home. Rather took less than an hour to confess and led the BSF to the residence of Shamshada Khan on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The investigators found that Khan had maintained a careful façade of simplicity, wearing ordinary clothes to work and taking the bus because she did not even own a car.

But that façade was shattered once they entered her home. Inside its walls, the queen within emerged. She owned designer jewellery and clothes and had bought prime land worth Rs.10 million in her neighbourhood, said a BSF officer.

The raiding party recovered Rs.500,000 from her house, all in fake currency notes of Rs.500. She took the BSF to her bank branch, which was opened under tight security. The investigators found another Rs.2.3 million from the drawers at her desk.

Khan’s modus operandi was simple. In tandem with a cashier, she would withdraw normal cash from the bank’s vault each morning. Whenever a heavy payment showed up, the cashier would augment the payment with fake notes from Khan’s drawer, in which she always kept a sizeable supply of counterfeits provided by Rather.

“She has confessed to being part of the currency racket for over two years, during which she circulated fake notes worth more than Rs.40 million to the bank’s customers. As the notes were always fresh and issued at the bank’s counter, the customers had little reason to complain,” said an officer who interrogated Khan.

“The forgery was very neat. Except to an expert, these notes look genuine.”

Rather’s neighbours said his fortunes turned after he returned from a pilgrimage. He pretended to be dealing in Kashmir arts and justified his frequent visits to Kolkata saying he had valuable customers in West Bengal.

Khan, her cashier and Rather have no idea about the exact amount they have flushed into the market. “They give a rough estimate of about Rs.40 million, but we believe it is much more. Investigations are going on,” said an official.

In Ganderbal, the branch Khan headed has been closed for a week. Depositors have made a rush on the branch, demanding that their savings be returned.

The bank’s management has little idea about the quantum of Khan’s fraud, which is now believed to have included every segment of banking — loans, bank guarantees and fixed deposit receipts.

This “dynamic” and “aggressive” banker’ has jeopardised the future of an entire bank in the valley. IANS

TRENDS & POINTERS

Holiday for soldiers but not without irritants

ALTHOUGH tension on the border may have decreased, it has not ceased. Even then the government has sanctioned leave for the soldiers of the Army, making them understandably happy.

R.N. Singh, a non-commissioned officer, said, “I’m very happy that I can go home and meet my family. I have been posted on the border for the past one year and not taken any holiday since the last six months.” But all of them faced trouble at Jaipur railway station. They had to stand in long queues for hours to get reservation done. Thanks to mismanagement, travel from one counter to counter, before undertaking any journey was irritating and tiring experience both for the jawans and the officers. Gurdeep Singh, Organiser of Mandal Railways, said: “The Defence Ministry did not tell us about the leaves of the soldiers. If the crowd continues to pour in like this, we will fix another counter for reservation and this will take some time.”

Earlier, owing to continued tension at the border, the leave of the soldiers was cancelled and they were recalled from their homes. During that period, from May 21 to May 31, the total number of telegrams sent from Jodhpur alone were about 30,000. However, in spite of every inconvenience, the joy and happiness of going home is worth all the trouble. ANI

She checkmates boys and sets records

Koneru Humpy is creating records of all sorts these days. She is Asia’s youngest international woman master and the first girl to win Under-14 Boys national title. Earlier, she became the first Indian girl to win Under-12 boys Asian chess championship.

Humpy also became the youngest hat-trick winner of Under-10, Under- 12, Under- 14 world Chess championships, besides being the country's youngest woman Grandmaster. Then she went to win the world chess title. She has also achieved the status of winning the Hotel Lipa Grand master tournament and First Saturday Grand Master Tournament in Hungary and third Saturday Grand master in Yugoslavia. She achieved Men’s International Title (2001-2002) thereby becoming the youngest woman player to achieve the Men’s G.M. norms.

Her quest for excellence has also positioned her as the Girl’s World Junior Chess Champion at Athens, Greece (2001-02). A girl of tenth standard, Humpy attributes this to her father and coach Koneru Ashok, who is an ex-state level champion and a professor of chemistry in Vijaywada College.

Ashok said, “It is all due to Humpy’s hard work support given by Bank of Baroda. The Andhra Pradesh government has also encouraged her a lot”. Humpy says, “I want to improve my rating to 2600 from the current 2486 and want to win women’s world title”. ANI

SPIRITUAL NUGGETS

Silence has three gates to pass..... the outer part of the mind - talking; the inner part of the mind-thinking; and the innermost part of the mind — feeling. And when you have passed all these three, then there is silence. And that silence is the door to the Divine.

— Osho, The Sound of One Hand Clapping.

***

— Chhandogya Upanishad, IV, v,5