Education is necessary for building the character of responsible citizens; teaching them moral values and assisting them in determining the right path. Board exams have been designated as the most crucial phase of student life by the education system of India. Getting less mark in board exams haunts a student more than anything else. The motive of board exams was to deliver competitiveness at an immature stage. But, in place of delivering competitiveness, it is delivering fear, a fear of getting bad grades and a fear of a bad reputation amongst colleagues and relatives!
Marks secured by a student of class 10th cannot be the way to measure the ability of a student to understand things. It just shows your strength to memorize things. A three-hour examination can never judge the potential of the future of this country. Getting good marks is all that we call material pressure. These marks do not guarantee success. A report from the Ministry of Education reveals that more than one-third of students who were good in academics have ended up being mediocre in their professional life. No exam can stop a person from reaching heights and being successful. For instance, if you score as low as 50% is boards, you can still get admission in one of the leading IITs of the nation and peruse your goal of becoming an engineer.
In India top educational institutes like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) do not admit students based on marks secured by them in board examination. This itself justifies the fact that board marks are not important. Instead, these institutes conduct examinations like JEE, NEET, CAT etc. which inculcates in students the right competitiveness. Getting 499 out of 500 in board exams is not showcasing the talent but it’s just another example of failing education system. The students, who we call toppers, are just the victims of this failed education system. All students need to embrace the fact that marks don’t define you at all. In a nutshell, 10th boards result are important in life but they are not your life!
On several occasions, veteran BJP leader LK Advani has underlined the importance of strong role of national parties (BJP and Congress) in central governance. He even discussed the idea with Rahul Gandhi during their short meeting at an airport lobby, by sharing his concern for depleting strength of BJP and Congress in national politics after the 2004 elections. That meeting took place years ago, but Mr Advani’s observations seem even more relevant today, specifically for Rahul Gandhi, who should seriously reflect on the role he should play as a de facto leader of the opposition. Congress, after losing two general elections in a row, and now having a handful of state governments across the country, seems to be in disarray. The party’s internal functioning has also suffered due to the lack of vision. The role that the Congress chooses to play now as an opposition entity will have a critical impact on its future, and to some extent, is important for the vitality of Indian democracy.
After 30 years of coalition governments at the centre, Indian polity provided clear verdict to one party in 2014 and repeated it in 2019 with conviction. Both verdicts were quite clear in assigning role of opposition to Congress. The last two elections have provided scattered opposition in parliament and notably reduced the strength of Indian National Congress. The party’s strategy to counter BJP in 2019 failed miserably, and could not even capitalise on whatever anti-incumbency the NDA would have faced. That said, even after reducing to 52 elected representatives in parliament, Congress is still considered highly relevant as a political entity, with national presence and an important voice in smooth functioning of democratic processes. It goes without saying that the efficiency and effectiveness of any democracy depends equally on contributions made by the opposition.
Without mincing any words, one has to admit that Congress under de-facto leadership of Rahul Gandhi has somehow not been able to provide credible and meaningful opposition in the last 7 years of Modi’s Government. This has been acknowledged by leaders within Congress and their current and former allies time and again. After closely reviewing Rahul’s leadership of Congress during challenging times, it seems top leadership of the Congress has lost intent to regain the political prominence they have enjoyed in the past. The disinterest that Congress now demonstrates in undertaking any kind of governance is bad news not only for the Congress but also for the overall health of Indian democracy.
Having been in power for more than 50 years, Congress has somehow never accepted the role of an opposition party with humility. They seem to find the people’s judgement as a punishment, behaving with contempt towards the legislative decisions of the ruling party, without realising that the verdict is given by the people of India, not by the winning party. I distinctively remember Late Rajesh Pilot making a strong appeal to his party leader during a Parliament discussion that Congress should start respecting the role of opposition, carry out its responsibilities with utmost integrity, and do not feel an ingrained detest for opposition role. Whenever they were defeated in elections, Congress has shown a tendency to support the political alliance from outside, to avoid the role of opposition and has governed from back door. On the other hand, Communist parties, BSP and BJP are best examples of how they have used opposition phases to communicate their idea of alternative governance model and ideology rigorously.
Series of incidents in last 6 years show that Rahul Gandhi’s actions and reactions against government have harmed Congress interest more. What is more worrisome is that Congress under leadership of Rahul Gandhi (de facto) seems to be losing its will and ability to govern nation at centre. The shoot and scoot politics of Rahul Gandhi without demonstrating a track record to convince people that he is a viable alternative, has assigned him to the role of a part-time commentator. He is often seen in two roles.
One, the juvenile temptation to support whatever protests are happening across the country. Two, roaming about as the host of a travel show and giving lectures like to the local population as a TedX speaker. His attendance in theParliament, number of questions asked, and debates participated in are way below the national average. What has hurt him more are the utterances that might suit a regional leader, but which do not befit the inheritor of a national party. Coming from a family and party of Nehru and Indira, his comments on Gujaratis in Assam were plain embarrassing. Even during his interviews, he talks in jargon that the populace cannot identify with. If he had some real-life examples to show from his constituency or four terms in office, people would have been easier to convince. Moreover, being a national party, it is expected to of Congress to have strong and consistent views on national security, internal security, sectarian issues, economic roadmaps and reforms.
Rahul’s recent state election speeches in Assam and Kerala, showed how amateurish he was pitting states and region against each other. He is repeating the same approach in Tamil Nadu, using identity politics to fuel distrust against North India and Hindi, which goes against the grain of Congress that Nehru and Indira led. What stands out is that now Rahul is diametrically opposite to Nehru on linguistic divisions and secularism, with the tie up with Badruddin Ajmal of AIUDF being a major setback. This approach might yield short-term returns, but defeats the very identity of Congress being a pan Indian force. It even makes life difficult for local congress leaders to drive their politics.
Rahul’s standing with left-sponsored protest in JNU campus showed his myopic political acumen – he might have managed to embarrass government for a week, but revealed his poor understanding of left aligned student wing ideology, who propagate freedom for Kashmir, provide support to Naxals movements, paint our forces as oppressors, and ridicule Hinduism practices openly. It has become permanent ignominy for Congress, with court implicating student leaders for anti-national actions. Would Rahul have handled the matter any differently if he was in power? Would he have supported separatists and Naxalism? Most likely no. By standing with such groups, Rahul just comes across as a disruptive force, not a constructive one.
Rahul again stepped on the wrong foot by circumventing support to government post-surgical strike and Balakot air strike, which forfeited national security issue to BJP. Having been at the Centre for the longest time, Congress knows sensitivity of security related discussions in public, but they pushed a narrative detrimental to India’s interest. Such naïve reactions are not welcomed by Indian voters.
The stance of Congress on abrogation of Article 370 was also inconsistent (in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and against the expectations of people at large, which costed them, specifically in North India. Congress under Rahul could not manage to lead any big movement for any issue or against government decision(s) meaningfully, the last to their credit is revocation of the Land Acquisition act. Later on, they have lost energy to lead any movement, but half-heartedly supported multiple protests across country such as anti-CAA, anti-triple talaq and anti-farm laws. The key question is why Congress has not led these protests from front? Congress’ reluctance indicates that somewhere leadership knows on these issues they cannot mobilise ground support, so better to join left sponsored protests against government. Poorly calibrated decisions to join forces against CAA and farm laws showed Congress’ inconsistencies towards policy issues and economic reforms, which are today of key value to resurgent young middle-class voters.
Somewhere, Rahul’s understanding of opposition role is limited to criticising government, ignoring two critical elements – providing alternative idea governance, and building a strong party to channelize the support during elections. Perhaps Rahul can look inwards and learn from Delhi CM, how he went all out criticising Delhi Government under Late Sheila Dixit, but also build strong party cadre and shared alternative model of governance convincingly.
Coming to the internal health of Congress party, today they are running government of their own in only 3 states independently and 1 state in coalition. Rahul’s biggest test about his approach being an opposition leader would be, 1) how well he is taking along his own party leaders and cadre, 2) other opposition parties and lastly, 3) opposition and new voters. With all vague belligerence against government and institutions Rahul’s Congress lost 170 MLAs to other opposition parties between 2016 and 2020 based on ADR report. They have lost more than 30 seasoned leaders across states to oppositions parties.
While losing veterans like SM Krishna, Satpal Maharaj, Vijay Bhahugana, Rao Inderjit Singh and P C Chacko can perhaps be attributed to generational shift and Rahul focusing on bringing in ‘new blood’, if one has to play his advocate, but the exit of young leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hemant Biswas, Ramdayal Uikey and Prema Khandu indicate serious mess within Congress. In all likelihood, this is a strong indicator that Rahul’s politics and agenda is not working on ground, or is not connected to ground level issues. The recent emergence of G23 group comprising senior Congress leaders, seeking internal coherence on important decisions and bringing in mechanism to elect leaders is another embarrassing turn of events.
It is interesting to note that BJP faced the same scenario after two consecutive defeats in 2004 and 2009, when the unrest within party increased and desertion in rank was quite visible. But BJP promptly fixed the issue at the top and brought in new leader (Nitin Gadkari) from outside Delhi to put house in order before taking on government. While there still has been exodus of leaders such as Yashwant Sinha or Shourie, it is not as debilitating as the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia that considerably weakened Congress in Madhya Pradesh.
In upcoming elections Rahul should reflect that Congress is playing second or third fiddle in most states, relegated to the back benches, while once they were ruling those states. The neglect of party at grass root level strongly indicates that Rahul’s Congress has lost the will to govern India again.
जब सूक्ष्म, लघु और मध्यम उद्यमों (MSMEs) और स्टार्टअप्स की बात आती है, तो भारत सरकार द्वारा चलाई जा रही सरकारी लोन योजनाओं की बात अपने आप सामने आ जाती है। इसका कारण यह है कि, केंद्र सरकार हर संभव यह प्रयास कर रही है कि देश के छोटे एवं मध्यम उद्योग मजबूत हो और उनका विस्तार हो, जिसके लिए सरकार द्वारा बिजनेस लोन प्रदान कर प्रोत्साहित किया जाता है।
भारत सरकार चाहती है कि एमएसएमई का योगदान भारत के सकल घरेलू उत्पाद में 2024 तक 50% तक पहुंच जाए, जो वर्तमान 29% है, और वर्तमान में 11 करोड़ से 15 करोड़ भारतीयों को रोजगार प्रदान करता है। यही कारण है कि सूक्ष्म, लघु और मध्यम उद्यम मंत्रालय ने स्टार्टअप्स और छोटे बिजनेस के लिए कई सरकारी योजनाएं शुरू की हैं, जिनका उद्देश्य उन्हें अधिक संसाधन और अधिक विकास को गति प्रदान करने के लिए एक मंच प्रदान करना है।
इस आर्टिकल में स्टार्टअप्स और एमएसएमई के लिए टॉप 5 सरकारी योजनाओं के बारें मे जानकारी दी जा रही है, जिससे बिजनेस के विकास को गति प्रदान करने में मदद मिलेगी।
प्रधानमंत्री मुद्रा योजना
पीएम मोदी ने प्रधानमंत्री मुद्रा योजना शुरू की, जिसमें माइक्रो यूनिट्स डेवलपमेंट एंड रिफाइनेंस एजेंसी बैंक या MUDRA बैंक, सूक्ष्म-वित्त संस्थानों और गैर-बैंकिंग वित्तीय संस्थानों को कम दर पर बिजनेस लोन प्रदान करते हैं, जो स्टार्टअप्स और MSMEs को कम-ब्याज वाले बिजनेस लोन प्रदान करते हैं।
प्रधानमंत्री मुद्रा योजना भारतीय उद्यमियों को सशक्त बनाने के लिए तैयार और संकल्पित धन की अपनी तरह का एक कोष है। MUDRA योजना के तहत 10 लाख रुपये तक के बिजनेस लोन लिए जा सकते हैं।
यह 2015 में लॉन्च किया गया था और 2 वर्षों के भीतर, MUDRA के माध्यम से उत्पन्न बिजनेस लोन और बिजनेस के कारण 1.8 करोड़ से अधिक रोजगार का सृजन हुआ था।14 अगस्त, 2020 तक, MUDRA योजना के तहत 67,000 से अधिक लोन की राशि 48,000 करोड़ रुपये स्वीकृत की गई है।
MUDRA योजना के तहत 10 लाख रुपये तक का बिजनेस लोन तीन कैटेगरी में प्रदान किया जाता है-
कैटेगरी1- शिशु लोन: यह नए बिजनेस के लिए है, इसमे 50,000 रुपये तक के बिजनेस लोन का लाभ उठाया जा सकता है
कैटेगरी2: किशोर लोन: इसमे 5 लाख रुपये तक के बिजनेस लोन का लाभ उठाया जा सकता है।
कैटेगरी3: तरुण लोनः इसमे 10 लाख रुपये तक के बिजनेस लोन का लाभ उठाया जा सकता है।
माइक्रो एंड स्मॉल एंटरप्राइजेज (CGTSME) के लिए क्रेडिट गारंटी ट्रस्ट फंड
CGTSME भारत में MSME मंत्रालय द्वारा शुरू की गई सबसे बड़ी स्टार्टअप बिजनेस लोन योजनाओं में से एक है। इस योजना के तहत, एक करोड़ रुपये तक का बिना कुछ गिरवी रखे बिजनेस लोन पात्र स्टार्टअप्स और एमएसएमई को प्रदान किया जाता है। बिजनेस लोन को माइक्रो और स्मॉल एंटरप्राइजेज (CGTMSE) के लिए क्रेडिट गारंटी फंड ट्रस्ट नामक ट्रस्ट के माध्यम से जाना जाता है, जो MSME मंत्रालय और लघु उद्योग विकास बैंक ऑफ इंडिया (SIDBI) द्वारा संचालित होता है।
जेडईडी प्रमाणन योजना में एमएसएमई को वित्तीय सहायता
मौजूदा और नई मैन्यूफैक्चरिंग इकाइयों के लिए फोकस्ड, जेडईडी या जीरो डिफेक्ट और जीरो इफेक्ट मिशन निर्माताओं को उच्च गुणवत्ता और शून्य दोष के साथ बेहतर उत्पाद बनाने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करना है। फ़ोकस निर्माताओं को विश्व-स्तरीय विनिर्माण प्रक्रियाओं को अपनाने में सक्षम बनाने के लिए है, और यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए टेक्नोलॉजी का उपयोग करते हैं कि उनके उत्पाद कक्षा में सर्वश्रेष्ठ हैं।
सरकार अपने उत्पादों में शून्य दोष सुनिश्चित करने के लिए वित्तीय सहायता और टेक्नोलॉजी और उपकरण दोनों प्रदान करेगी।
टेक्नोलॉजी उन्नयन के लिए क्रेडिट लिंक्ड कैपिटल सब्सिडी
सरकार को स्पष्ट रूप से पता है कि टेक्नोलॉजी एक ऐसा उपकरण है जो वैश्विक प्रतियोगियों के साथ प्रतिस्पर्धा करने के लिए भारतीय स्टार्टअप और एमएसएमई को प्रेरित कर सकता है।
यह क्रेडिट लिंक्ड कैपिटल सब्सिडी फॉर टेक्नोलॉजी अपग्रेडेशन (CLCSS) योजना के निर्माण का कारण है, जिसमें सरकार MSMEs को अपनी टेक्नोलॉजी को उन्नत करने और अपने व्यवसाय के लिए अत्याधुनिक तकनीकी मंच को लागू करने के लिए वित्तीय मदद प्रदान करती है।
CLCSS के तहत, भारत में स्टार्टअप और MSMEs के लिए टेक्नोलॉजी के उन्नयन के लिए 1 करोड़ रुपये तक के निवेश के लिए सरकार 15% सब्सिडी प्रदान करती है। इस योजना के तहत 7500 से अधिक उत्पाद / सेवाएँ शामिल हैं।
MSMEs के लिए डिज़ाइन के लिए डिज़ाइन क्लिनिक
डिजाइन और नवाचार किसी भी क्षेत्र के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है, और प्रत्येक स्टार्टअप और एमएसएमई को अपने आला की समस्याओं को हल करने के लिए एक डिजाइन-केंद्रित दृष्टिकोण होना चाहिए। छोटे बिजनेस को अपने उत्पादों के लिए नए डिजाइनों का प्रयोग करने और उन्हें प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए, MSME मंत्रालय ने इंडिन के लिए एक डिज़ाइन क्लिनिक बनाया है।
प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी द्वारा बुधवार को ‘परीक्षा पर चर्चा‘ कार्यक्रम के तहत वीडियो कान्फ्रेंस के जरिये छात्रों, अभिभावकों और शिक्षकों से संवाद किया। संवाद के दौरान पीएम ने छात्रों से कहा कि आपको भले कुछ विषय मुश्किल लगते हों, ये आपके जीवन में कोई कमी नहीं है। आप बस यह ध्यान रखिए कि मुश्किल लगने वाले विषयों की पढ़ाई से दूर मत भागिए। पीएम ने यह भी कहा कि आप जो पढ़ते हैं, वो आपके जीवन की सफलता, विफलता का पैमाना सिर्फ यही नहीं हो सकता। आप जो जीवन में करेंगे, वो आपकी सफलता और असफलता को तय करेंगे। आज मैं आपको एक बड़े एक्जाम के लिए तैयार करना चाहूँगा। ये बड़ा एक्जाम है, जिसमें शत–प्रतिशत मार्क लेकर पास होना ही है। यह है अपने भारत को आत्मनिर्भर बनाना। बता दें की प्रधान मंत्री मोदी वर्ष 2018 से परीक्षा से पहले छात्रों से चर्चा करते रहे हैं, जिससे परीक्षा के तनाव को दूर करने में मदद मिलती है।
प्रधानमंत्री के द्वारा परीक्षा से पहले छात्रों के साथ बातचीत बहुत ही सराहनीय कदम है। हम अक्सर देखते हैं कि किस तरह परीक्षा के समय आते ही छात्र बहुत ही तनाव में हो जाते हैं। उन्हे परीक्षा में फेल होने का डर सताने लगता है। उन्हे अच्छे नंबर से पास करने की उम्मीद और आशा अवसाद में होने पर मजबूर कर देता है, क्योंकि उन्हें अपने परिवार वाले के उम्मीद पर खरा उतरने का दबाव होता है। उन्हे इस कदर परीक्षा में पास होने का दबाव बनाया जाता है कि वे समझते हैं कि अगर मैं परीक्षा में अच्छे नंबर से पास नहीं होंगे, तो मेरी जीवन बेकार हो जाएगी। यह भी सत्य है कि बच्चों पर दबाव कारण अकेला परिवार नहीं होता है। इन सबका ज़िम्मेवार कहीं न कहीं ,किसी न किसी रूप में समाज भी होता है। हम समाज को देखकर अपने बच्चों पर भी अनावश्यक दबाव बनाते हैं कि फलां व्यक्ति का बच्चा इतना परसेंट से पास हो गया उसे बहुत अच्छी कौलेज में एडमिशन मिल गया है। इसी तरह हम अपने बच्चों से उम्मीद करते हैं ऑर बच्चे पर प्रेशर देते हैं ऑर वह बच्चा दबाव को झेल नहीं पाता है ऑर परीक्षा में फेल होने पर वह आत्महत्या तक कर लेता है।
हम यह नहीं कह रहे हैं कि हम समाज के साथ नहीं चले, उसके तौर तरीके को नहीं अपनाएं। हमें समाज में रहना है क्योंकि मनुष्य एक सामाजिक प्राणी है। हम समाज के बिना अपने आप को कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकते हैं लेकिन समाज के सभी बच्चे एक जैसे तो नहीं होते हैं न और एक जैसे होने भी नहीं चाहिए। सभी बच्चे अलग होते है, उनमें अलग प्रकार की खूबियाँ होती है। कोई पढ़ाई में तेज होता है, तो कोई खेल में, तो कोई संगीत में, तो कोई कलाकारी में। माता पिता और समाज को यह समझना पड़ेगा कि परीक्षा का अंक किसी भी बच्चे का भविष्य तय नहीं कर सकता है। और मार्क्स उसकी काबिलियत को प्रदर्शित करने में सक्षम नहीं है। हमारे सामने ऐसे कई उदाहरण हैं कि जिनके परीक्षा में बहुत कम अंक मिले, लेकिन जीवन में बहुत बड़ा काम किया है। महान वैज्ञानिक न्यूटन को कभी भी 30 प्रतिशत से ज्यादा मार्क्स नहीं आए हैं। जीवन की काबिलियत को मापने का पैमाना मार्क्स नहीं हो सकते हैं। इसलिए हमें यह धारणा को बदलना होगा और बच्चों पर अनावश्यक परीक्षा के तनाव को दूर करने में सहायता करनी होगी।
‘परीक्षा पर चर्चा’ कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से पीएम मोदी ने छात्रों को तनाव को कम करने की सलाह देते हुए यह कहा कि समस्या तब होती है जब हम एक्जाम को ही जैसे जीवन के सपनों का अंत मान लेते हैं, जीवन-मरण का प्रश्न बना देते हैं। एक्जाम जीवन को गढ़ने का एक अवसर है, एक मौका है उसे उसी रूप में लेना चाहिए। हमें अपने आप को कसौटी पर कसने के मौके खोजते रहना चाहिए, ताकि हम और अच्छा कर सकें। हमें भागना नहीं चाहिए। छात्रों के साथ इस संवाद कार्यक्रम प्रधान मंत्री मोदी का बहुत ही सार्थक पूर्ण प्रयास है, जिससे परीक्षा देने वाले छात्र के मन में अनावश्यक डर को दूर करने में मदद मिलेगी ऑर भविष्य में तमाम कठिनाइयों से लड़ने में सहायक सिद्ध होगी।
Film and television actors joined Animal Equality in challenging people to take up the 21 days plant-powered challenge to save animals, environment and health
We’ve all heard of hollywood celebrities supporting different social causes and in India it is now becoming more common for celebrities, public figures and influencers too. Celebrities have the power to influence the public and their stand plays a significant part in spreading awareness about a cause. One such cause many celebrities and public abroad and in India are supporting is that of farmed animal protection. The cause not just saves animals but also helps avert the ill effects of factory farming and slaughterhouses on the environment and consumer health.
Animal Equality, an animal protection organisation based in Pune announced a ‘21 days Plant-powered challenge’ initiative in which public figures take the plant-powered challenge and share their experience; while others who are already plant-powered (vegan) share their journey, tips, etc. The challenge is given through a video which is published on the social media accounts of the celebrities and Animal Equality. So far, actor Sadaa Sayed from Telugu film, ‘Jayam’, Aaditi Pohankar from the webseries, ‘She’ and Krishna Bhawardwaj from TV series, ‘Tenali Rama’ have presented the challenge.
Amruta Ubale, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Animal Equality says, “Since Sadaa and Aaditi are already following a plant-based diet, they shared their inspiration behind going plant-based, tips and insights. And Krishna took the challenge himself in which he tasted different plant-based dishes and vowed to go plant-based for 21 days.”
Sadaa shared that she turned vegetarian in her childhood and when she learnt about the cruelties inflicted on cows and buffaloes for dairy on social media she eliminated dairy too from her diet. She further shared how she replaced milk with soy milk in her tea and within a few weeks she saw benefits like her persistent acne clearing up.
Aaditi shared that she went plant-based because of her connection to animals which was evident since her childhood. She adds that animals are sentient beings capable of expressing themselves and it is easy to go plant-based in a country like India which has a variety and abundance of plant-based foods. She went plant-based after a knee surgery and saw its benefits and has been one since 4 years. While sharing what she eats in a day she added that a plant-based diet has helped with her fitness and skin and hair.
Krishna took the challenge from Animal Equality and tasted plant-based tea, chicken nuggets, pizza, blue berry cake and shared that they taste similar to its counterparts and some in fact taste better and are healthier. He adds if you add plant-based alternatives one will not miss out on anything. He further adds that by going plant-based we are helping animals and the society
Because of the multitude benefits of a plant-based diet, many public figures like Bill Gates and Leonardo Di Caprio have invested in plant-based meat. Recently the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare’s Eat Right India campaign asked Indians to choose plant-based foods to help fight climate change, citing sustainable living.
Plant-based diet saves animals
Animals in factory farms are separated from their mothers on the very day they are born. At the farm they are beaten, thrown and tortured during handling. They are fed antibiotics and hormones to increase their productivity. The animals are given little to no medical care. Male animals are sold for slaughter and the females are sold for slaughter as soon as their egg or milk output capacity reduces.
Plant-based diet saves health
World Cancer Research Fund states, “Basing your diet on plant foods is a great first step to eating well and reducing your cancer risk.”
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (world’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals) states, “Appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”
Plant-based diet saves environment
In a special report published in 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN climate body, found that plant-based diets are a “major opportunity” for mitigating climate change, and recommended that countries reduce meat consumption. Findings from a study at Oxford University; concluded that the single best way a person can reduce their impact on the environment is to follow a vegan diet.
Over the past few days, the Pakistani airspace is replete with military planes, visibly logistics, transport, special carriers, and reconnaissance aircrafts belonging to the Pakistan Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force.
The ‘Aces Meet 2021’, a joint military exercise between the air forces of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States is underway at Mushaf Air Base in Punjab, Pakistan. This exercise would continue till 10th April 2021 and aims to provide an ‘exchange of experiences and expertise in the fields of planning, combat readiness, and support in air operations.
Although joint military exercises are a common fashion, Saudi Arabia has attached great importance to this particular exercise. This may seem anomalous considering Riyadh’s recent overtures towards closer cooperation with New Delhi, particularly in defence, including the Indian Army General M.M. Naravane’s visit to Saudi Arabia, its interest in buying weapons from India, and the scheduling of a joint bilateral exercise. It is easy to partner with India by hitting the right notes on its sensitivities. The Kingdom has extended measured yet unprecedented support to India, but this might merely be an effort to add New Delhi to the list of defence partners. Nevertheless, it fancies the interests of both nations.
Attempts made by the world’s largest arms importer to diversify its vendors and patrons are quite standard since Saudi Arabia is the cytoplasm to facilitate the immense strategic ambitions of various States in this region and successfully incorporating its own into them.
Therefore, a close analysis must sharply consider the wider goals of the regime. Both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are radical states, aiding and financing international terrorism, and enjoying special alliances with the USA and Britain vis-à-vis securing the regional interests of these Western ‘utopians’. Particularly through Chapter 7 in his book “The Ultimate Goal”, former R&AW Chief Mr. Vikram Sood gives exclusive insights into how the West had been effectively nurturing Islamists via countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the name of freedom and democracy.
I have made the following observations that point towards something possibly significant: The PAF Mushaf Air Base is located in Sargodha, where the ‘Aces Meet 2021’ military exercise is currently in process. The Pakistani aircrafts have been flying around Sargodha to Rawalpindi. On 5th April 2021, a distinct Lockheed C130H Hercules military transport aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force tagged ‘RSF9963’ landed before Sargodha, in Sillanwali at around 01:00 hrs local time.
Miles ahead of Silanwali lie the Kirana Hills, where Pakistan happens to store their nuclear arsenal and missiles such as the Chinese M-11 (aka DF-11) Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM).
Hours after the landing, an unknown Pakistani aircraft tagged ‘PAF029’ took off from the same location in Silanwali. With a speed of 314 knots (approx. 581.5 kmph) at 22000 feet, the aircraft could mostly be a VIP transport aircraft such as the Boeing 707, Citation V, or an Airbus A310.
Around 17:00 hrs local time, the RSF9963 was already airborne and had left Sillanwali for King Abdulaziz Airbase. The RSF C130 topped 330 knots at 19000 feet while going to Pakistan whereas while travelling back its speed the same geometrical altitude capped around 210 knots, indicating load carriage.
It further flew to an extremely isolated location near Ti’af, in western Saudi Arabia. Hours later, another Lockheed C130H Hercules tagged “RSF8116” landed around that area.
According to Arab News, Saudi Arabia has identified two possible sites for power stations, on the eastern Gulf coast at Umm Huwayd and Khor Duweihin. Some reports say that at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the Saudi government is constructing a small nuclear research reactor. Considering that efforts to develop a nuclear bomb are kept in extreme secrecy and any hint could invite harsh reactions particularly from the sharp-eyed West, this could only mean the following: Either the western nations are surprisingly ‘satisfied’ with the civility of this program, and are hence silently promoting it or that this might be the glorious diversion tactic, on the lines of which, Iran has trudged the nuclear path.
Countries such as Iran have tried to simultaneously develop a secret nuclear bomb while portraying to the world their ‘peaceful’ reactors elsewhere, supposedly built for civilian purposes. Riyadh would be concentrating its weapons programme in the West Gulf and the Central Arabia regions or acquiring and storing them here. The argument is further strengthened by the possible role of and interests held by China, Israel, the US, and Pakistan. Notably, Riyadh has been systemically acquiring skills such as uranium exploration, nuclear engineering, and ballistic missile manufacturing that would position it to develop its weapons.
China has exponentially increased its interest in the Middle East, beyond the lucrative oil. In August 2017, Saudi Arabia and China agreed to cooperate on nuclear energy in areas of exploring and extracting uranium and setting up joint nuclear plants. According to “classified analysis”, Saudi Arabia is working with China to build industrial capacity to produce nuclear fuel that could later be enriched to weapons-grade level. The Kingdom has planned 16 ‘commercial’ nuclear power reactors by 2030 with China. Despite Beijing’s cozy relations with Tehran, if Saudi Arabia has approached China, it shows its desperation and lack of acquiring partners in this regard. This may also be China’s entry into the Middle Eastern double games. Additionally, Saudi Arabia continues to have an arsenal of Chinese long-range missiles, and its interest in developing its ballistic missile programme with China is well known considering it also has the DF-5, DF-21, and maybe DF-11 missile systems.
Knowingly, Saudi Arabia had aided Pakistan’s nuclear programme which was hailed as the first in the ‘Islamic world’, thereby giving Islamabad an important role as a security provider to the Arabs. Various reports have conjectured Pakistan helping Saudi Arabia in procuring nuclear weapons and that some of them have already been shipped. In fact, the Saudis might believe in having moral rights and diktat over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, as they are the de facto ‘leader’ of the Muslim world order. This has always been Pakistan’s dilemma on lending the sole designation to the Kingdom while not disappointing the Iranians, thereby it has ‘mis’managed to suitably please none.
In March 2006, a German magazinereported that Saudi Arabia had received assistance from Pakistan to acquire nuclear missiles and warheads. Satellite photos allegedly reveal an underground city with nuclear silos containing Ghauri rockets in Al-Sulaiyil south of Riyadh.They may be exploring stealthy storage points now. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has probably realised the lack of activity from its junior partner Pakistan and its policy of keeping the interests of its elites over the ‘Ummah’. He realises the importance of being self-sufficient in security issues. Also, his recent snubbing of Pakistani leadership and ‘orders’ to return loans has made Islamabad run for Riyadh to keep the friendship afloat, especially after Pakistan impatiently deepened relations with Turkey. This situation is particularly dangerous as Saudi may go to any extent to ask for something to keep the trajectory going. The Chinese might keep the Western intelligence agencies busy on its nuclear plants and missile factories near Al Watah in Saudi, while Pakistan supplies nuclear bombs or DF-11 missile parts: the indicator points at RSF9963 and Ti’af.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have a common consensus towards their nemesis Iran. Though Mossad has successfully kept Tehran at bay over its vicious nuclear programme, a contingency plan of arming the enemy of a historical ‘enemy turned friend’ is feasible especially over shared interests. Israeli writer Ami Dor-on had said that “the joint intention is to make sure that Iran will not be the only country in the region that possesses such weapons which threaten the security and safety of the Kingdom.” Though feeble, possibilities exist.
The ‘unwavering’ New York Times had published a report titled “U.S. Examines Whether Saudi Nuclear Program Could Lead to Bomb Effort”. Such reports have been excessively used by the CIA for narrative building, winning bargaining chips, and whitewashing the underlying facts. Washington and Moscow are in talks with Riyadh for cooperating in nuclear technology, even trilaterally. Besides, U.S President Joe Biden has hurt its “ally” far too much by revoking the ‘terrorist’ designation of Houthis, signalling a return to the JCPOA, imposing sanctions on the aides of Crown Prince MBS over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, and suspending arms sales worth billions to Riyadh as well as Abu Dhabi. These actions seem like a certification to the Biden administration’s ‘human rights approach’, driven by a reversal of former President Donald Trump’s policies due to personal aversions and a desire to bring Tehran to the table.
Also, Saudi has not responded with very strong words. Possibly carrying Chinese missile parts over which the US has voiced concern since long, from an exercise in which it reports attendance might be a subtle warning. If Washington D.C is firmly concerned about its partnership with Riyadh, this cannot go without giving latent concessions and what may happen here is extortion, for Iran is close to reaching its destination if there is a return to the 2015 nuclear deal. In an interview to ‘60 minutes’, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had hinted, “Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.”
‘The Saudi calculation likely stems from the view that nuclear energy is a powerful geopolitical instrument in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Iran are on opposite sides of conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and Riyadh is concerned by Tehran’s influence in other Middle Eastern nations such as Iraq and Lebanon. Moreover, the Kingdom can no longer count on Washington’s willingness to counter Iran, and might well have determined that it will have to deter Iran on its own. Therefore, until the Iranian nuclear program is permanently terminated, the Saudis will most likely keep the option open to produce their fuel, thereby providing a pathway to a weapon.’
Noting these various reports, analyses, and conflicting arguments, though it is over conclusive to point fingers, yet the presence of various ‘sources’ and possibilities is a common intelligence tactic to wade away uncertainties or rather create them so that the accurate facts remain inconspicuous and the underlying complexities create unclarity. But this itself is enough to generate apprehensions and a likelihood for the existence of a weapons programme.
The RSF9963 certainly carries lethal mysteries if not lethal weapons.
Ever seen something similar online? On your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram feed? On news channels and news articles? On T-shirts and “lifestyle” magazines? I bet you have, prominently and often. I bet you have heard it just as often in comedy shows, TV shows, movies, HR events, hell, even at family gatherings. Casually stating such an all-encompassing accusation is considered nothing but safe and innocuous small talk, doesn’t cause a scandal or offend anyone (outwardly at least), and is guaranteed to elicit polite laughter. Such statements and the attitude behind it have been NORMALIZED in society today. In this day and age, those very sections of society that loudly proclaim “SPEECH IS VIOLENCE”, have no qualms verbally bullying and making fun of an entire half of humanity.
Toxic Masculinity, manspreading, mansplaining, patriarchy and a bunch of other colourful, ‘woke’ terms are what is now used to describe me and my gender. So, are men being oppressed and victimised? Are men’s trials and tribulations not worthy of society’s empathy and support? I believe, and suspect most so-accused ‘toxic, patriarchal masculine’ men do as well, that while I don’t know the answer, I do know this question itself is irrelevant to us. Let me explain what I mean by that. The vilification of men today seems to stem from a neo-Marxist world view where men dominate societal hierarchies (financial, political, entrepreneurial etc) and therefore wield disproportionate power over other groups below them in the hierarchical pyramid. The glaring flaw in this argument, as put forth multiple times in public domain, so very eloquently by the inimitable Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, is that almost all stable, long-term hierarchies are built not on power but COMPETENCE. And that fact brings me to what I meant when stating that the very question, “ Are men oppressed and victimised today? “ holds no actual relevance to us men today.
To lay out Dr. Peterson’s point in simple terms, “What you acquire depends on what you bring to the table.“ Talking specifically about the male gender, all through mankind’s history, the main driver for all achievements and progress has been ambition backed by competence. That, roughly speaking, is the nature of men – we do things. As the traditional masculine role has historically been that of the ‘provider’, we are kind of evolutionarily hardwired to solve problems and provide results. We have experienced and appreciated this first-hand in our previous generations, what our parents or grandparents went through to ensure we today live in the best time ever for humanity to exist. As refugees fleeing from a war-torn zone, both my grandparents started their new lives, a rebirth for all practical purposes, in utter grinding poverty. Nowhere to sleep, not enough to eat, not able to afford an education; now there was legitimate oppression and victimization. And yet, they refused to be oppressed or become victims.
The core teaching in the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, the revered spiritual text in Hinduism, is where God (Krishna) tells Man (Arjuna), “You only have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.“ In plain speak, to work is Man’s job, and rewarding it is God’s. Pick up any rags-to-riches story, any motivating tale of overcoming insurmountable odds – you will find a near-obsessive single-minded pursuit of the goal without any distraction. And that’s what I learnt means to be a man. You pick up the burden of your responsibilities, you do your duty, you give your everything and you work on providing the solution to problems.
That’s the competence Dr. Peterson talked about and that’s the hallmark of what it means to be a true man. Therefore, on that principle, even if the male gender is maligned and put under attack in today’s society, know that it is we men ourselves who are responsible for tackling it and making things better. Why? Because that is what men do, we forge our own destiny. As the saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade“. So, if the world points to us saying “all problems begin with MEN”, then by improving our competency, let us irrefutably prove that “all solutions to them too can come from MEN“.
After all, notice how words relevant to solutions, MANage, MANoeuvre, MANmade, all happen to begin with MAN?
मादक द्रव्यों के दुरुपयोग को पथभ्रष्ट व्यवहारों के साथ हीं सामाजिक समस्या के रूप में भी देखा जा सकता है। अनेक पश्चिमी देशों में मादक पदार्थों के दुरुपयोग को काफी समय से एक महत्वपूर्ण सामाजिक समस्या के रूप में स्वीकार किया जा रहा है लेकिन भारत में पिछले तीन दशकों से नशीली द्रव्यों का सेवन बड़ा ही सामाजिक खतरा बनता जा रहा है। अवैध मादक द्रव्यों का उपयोग आज सड़क पर घूमने वाले आवारा छोकरों तथा निचले वर्गों तक ही सीमित नहीं रह गया है, बल्कि मध्य एवं उच्च–वर्ग के अधिकाधिक युवा भी मादक पदार्थों का उपयोग खूब कर रहे हैं, जिससे सामाजिक स्तर पर दुखद परिणाम देखने को मिल रहे हैं।
इस तरह के पदार्थों के सेवन से शरीर और मन पर बहुत ही बुरा प्रभाव होता है। मेडिकल साइंस के अनुसार जैसे ही कोई व्यक्ति नशीली पदार्थों का सेवन करता है शरीर के तंत्रिका–तंत्र की गति तेज हो जाती है। और नयी ऊर्जा का आभास उत्पन्न होने लगता है। व्यक्ति जागृत अनुभव करने में सक्षम होता है। यह उत्तेजक पदार्थ अवसादों के विपरीत प्रभाव देता है। जब उत्तेजकों का असर दूर होता है तो उपयोगकर्ता को बीमार तथा शरीर में शक्ति क्षीण होने जैसा महसूस होता है। इस तरह के पदार्थों के निरंतर सेवन से उपयोग कर्ता पर अत्यंत नकारात्मक प्रभाव पड़ने लगता है। फिर इसकी आदत बनती जाती है। इन मादक पदार्थों को सूंघा या फूंका जाता है। तथा उपयोगकर्ता को यह तुरंत असर दिखने लगता है, जिससे परिणाम स्वरूप मानसिक क्षति का होना भी हो सकता है। जब इसे सूंघते हैं तो शरीर ऑक्सीज़न से वंचित हो जाता है जिसके कारण हृदयगति तेज हो जाती है।
मादक द्रव्यों का इस्तेमाल युवा पीढ़ी आसानी से करने लगती है, जो कुछ बड़े शहरों के उच्च–आय वर्ग की एक छोटी आबादी के युवाओं के बीच कभी–कभार उपयोग के रूप में शुरू किया था। लेकिन आज समाज के हर वर्ग में घुसपैठ कर चुका है। भारत में निर्मित औषधियाँ, हेरोइन एवं एल्कोहल आदि सर्वधिक दुरुपयोग किए जाने वाले मादक पदार्थों में से है। लगभग 500 अरब डौलर के आसपास के व्यापार के साथ यह विश्व का तीसरा बड़ा व्यवसाय है। भारत में सांस्कृतिक मूल्यों में परिवर्तन देखने को मिल रहा है। एक ओर गरीब वर्ग आर्थिक कमी से पीड़ित है वहीं दूसरी ओर इस तरह के नशीली दवाओं का सेवन उच्च वर्ग में तेजी से परिवर्तित हो रही है। विगत कुछ दशकों से भारत में शहरीकरण में वृद्धि के कारण उनकी पारंपरिक संस्कृति एवं जीवन शैली के धीरे–धीरे कमजोर पड़ने के कारण यह स्थिति बन रही है। किसी भी व्यक्ति को अपने विचारों को शांत करने तथा जीवन की परेशानियों से निबटने के लिए मादक पदार्थों का सहारा लिया जा रहा है।
नशीली पदार्थों का दुरुपयोग मानवता के प्रति एक बढ़ता हुआ खतरा बन चुका है। उपयोगकर्ता अपने अवसादों, कुंठा तथा क्रोध के लिए त्वरित उपचार प्राप्त कने के उद्देश्य से इन मादक पदार्थों का सेवन करते हैं। और शारीरिक, आर्थिक, भावनात्मक के साथ-साथ सामाजिक रूप से भी पीड़ित हो जाते हैं। सन 1991 से हर वर्ष 26 जून को मादक पदार्थ तथा अवैध तस्करी के अंतराष्ट्रीय विरोध दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है। ताकि मादक पढ़ार्थों के उपयोगकर्ता के साथ-साथ उन सभी लोगों के बीच जागरूकता उत्पन्न किया जाय जो मादक पदार्थों के विरुद्ध संघर्ष करने में सहयोग देते हैं।
मादक पदार्थों का सेवन के रोकथाम, उपचार इन सभी के लिए एक सकारात्मक एवं जीवन –समर्थक अभियान की आवश्यकता है। परिवार के साथ –साथ स्वयंसेवी संगठन भी व्यसन मुक्ति के लिए महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकता है। माता –पिता बच्चों के साथ खुलकर बात –चित करें, उनकी समस्या गंभीरता से सुनें और उन्हे यह बताने की कोशिश करें कि जीवन में समस्याओं से कैसे निपटा जा सकता है और स्वयं मादक पदार्थों का सेवन न कर बच्चों के सामने उदाहरण प्रस्तुत करें । चूंकि व्यसन रातों –रात नहीं पनपता है ऑर इसमें गतिविधियों तथा शौक़ों में रुचि का घटना, गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार अपनाना, आवेगपूर्ण आचरण आदि लक्षण उत्पन्न होने की प्रक्रिया शामिल है। अतः माता –पिता चौकन्ने रहते हुए इन प्राथमिक संकेतों को पहचान कर तथा सुनिश्चित कर अपने बच्चे को इस आदत से दूर रख सकते हैं।
With the nod of Chief Minister of Jharkhand Sri Hemant Soren for withdrawal of cases related to FIRs lodged against Pathalgadi offenders, an obnoxious statement has been asserted by the incumbent government, which emphasizes on the principle of legitimizing and pardoning the perpetrators of heinous offences. The resolution contemplates withdrawal of cases against Pathalgadi supporters for offences under section 121, 121A, 123, 124A, 385, 302, 376 of IPC and other serious charges, which has been registered against them.
Legitimizing heinous offences under the garb of freedom of speech and expression and old customs has become fashion and forte of the Hemant Government.
Let us examine the custom of tribals performing Pathalgadi and the propaganda of the supporters of Pathagadi before entering into the merits of the argument of withdrawal of cases registered against Pathalgadi supporters.
Aboriginal custom Pathalgadi illustrates of erecting stones plaques on the tomb of tribal people in Jharkhand. The same was performed to pay their homages to the ancestors and also for making and registering important decisions of the family in the said stones. Additionally and more popularly, Pathalgadi were performed in the villages by villagers to demarcate the ownership of the land and also the boundaries of the villages. With the efflux of time, the custom being ancient one, most of the tribals discontinued the customs in wake of modernization and other reasons. In fact, there is no document available on public forum in Jharkhand to recognize Pathalgadi as a custom of tribals. A discontinuation to custom and its usage brings an end to a custom. The co-habitants of village i.e. sadans (local non- tribals) also performed Pathalgadi, only with an idea of demarcation of villages which also has been relinquished by them, a long back.
With promulgation of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Area) Act, 1995 (PESA Act), misconstruing the provisions of the Act and customs, the soul of Pathalgadi was distorted and re-introduced to fit an oblique political motive by an Voluntary retired IAS officer Late BD Sharma who was charged of serious corruption cases. It is also a matter of fact that neither BD Sharma belonged to tribal family nor a permanent resident of Jharkhand. The distorted version of Pathalgadi does not welcome any outsiders, this person, being an outsider re-introduced a custom which does not welcome outsiders, giving an evil shape to the customs. Isn’t hypocrisy died at that juncture?
In 2017-18, a baptized tribal from Gujarat, Yusuf Purty and his associates pledged also propagated the distorted version of Pathaldadi in order to incite and provoke violence mainly with the sole aim to throw challenge to the sovereignty of the country. The distorted version of Pathalgadi were performed in the districts of Khunti, Seraikella, Singhbhum and many other districts of Jharkhand erecting the structured stone at various villages, inscribing therein that stone creates demarcation and has been laid down in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, reference were made to PESA Act, Schedule V, Article 13(3), Article 19 and Article 244(1) of Constitution of India.
The dictum were that beyond the stone planted for demarcation, only the rule of tribal Gram Sabha shall be followed and in accordance with Article 19(5)(6) of COI, entry of outsiders not having primitive faith shall be prohibited including Central or State authority. The leaders promoted and propagated the idea of destroying the individual identity card, ration card, BPL Card, Bank Pass Book and other documents amongst the tribals. The villagers were compelled to destroy these items failing which there were threatened to be eliminated and socially boycotted, resulting to mass exodus in the affected villages. One who opposed the idea were butchered, murdered and women being raped also. It subjugated the idea of creating their own law, their own Army, their own bank, own judiciary and also their own mechanism to run the system, meaning thereby under the garb of the protection of the Constitution of India the supporters challenged sovereignty of India and attempts were made to destroy the ideals of Constitution of India and create a civil war like situation. It justified killings and rapes on account of violation of Pathalagadi rules.
Few disturbing incidents require its place in this article to understand the ramifications and repercussions of this seditious movement. On 19th June, 2018 five girls were gang raped at Kochang Bazar Tand, Khunti, who came along with Sister Ranjeeta and Sister Vinita of an NGO, ‘Asha Kiran’. An NGO purportedly espousing their cause against human trafficking. These five victims were part of Nukkad Natak Team came to perform and spread awareness against human trafficking. Both Sisters of Asha Kiran went to the school run by R.C. Church and soon after, the five victims were abducted with the aide of Father Alfanso Aind and gang raped.
Furthermore, the victims u/s 164 Cr.P.C. stated that “the wrong doers warned them that since you are agents of the Government and you have violated Pathalgadi rule by entering into the premise, therefore, you all must face the consequences and thereafter they were brutally raped, filmed and their private parts were stabbed by wooden sticks. When the victims came back from the place of incident the Father of the church namely Alfanso Aind threatened them of not disclosing the incident to anyone otherwise they would be eliminated. The incident was condemned by Sri Kariya Munda, then Member of Parliament of the said constituency and former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. On 27th June, 2018, the house of Sri Kariya Munda was raided and three police personnel were abducted by the supporters of Pathalgadi. The main accused were Emil Waltor Kandulna, J. Vikash Kora mostly coming from Christian community.
In the case of gang rape committed at Kochang Bazar Tand, the Sessions Court of Khunti vide order dated 8th May, 2019 found guilty and convicted Fr. Alfanso, Johan Jonas Tiru, Junas Munda and three other accused who all comes from Christian community.
In the case of ransacking of house of Sri Kariya Munda, quashing petition was filed by the aforesaid accused, which was dismissed by the Hon’ble Jharkhand High Court vide order dated 22nd July, 2019. Appeal were preferred before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the matter was taken on 27th January, 2020 and plea has been taken by the accused that the present government has brought an resolution withdrawing all the cases in relation to Pathalgadi. Most of accused hailed from Christian Community.
The Hemant Government announced of withdrawing of criminal cases related to Pathalgadi movement and within a fortnight i.e. on 19th January, 2020, seven tribal villagers were beheaded and brutally murdered by Pathalgadi supporters for opposing their idea of Pathalgari in Burugulikela village of West Singhbhum district. On 23rd February, 2021 Pathalgadi bid was made outside Jharkhand High Court premises by as many as hundred supporters, however, the same were stopped by police personnels. The stone erected stated that 12 districts including the State capital Ranchi comes within Scheduled Area and executive power of State of Jharkhand does not extend to scheduled area and therefore, there is no right to freedom for general public in these scheduled areas and the law of the Gram Sabha shall be followed.
Going into the old rituals and customs of performing Pathalgadi one can understand that the same was performed by the tribals for demarcation of ownership of their land and their villages. It was also utilized for paying homages and respects to their ancestors. Preserving and protecting the rituals and customs of the tribals is also an essence of the Constitution which cannot be denied, however, giving a complete misinterpretation to the old forgotten customs and the constitutional provisions, a challenge has been thrown to the sovereignty of the nation. Even going by the idea of these purported supporters of Pathalgadi one would decipher that Pathalgadi is performed to preserve and protect the culture of the tribals, then how would the Church and missionaries come within the purview of the culture of the tribals and are to be referred as primitive culture? Since, churches and missionaries are alien and not a subject matter to the customs and traditions of tribals.
Interestingly most of the supporters are Christians and a culture alien to the land is not being opposed by the Pathalgadi supporters, which itself indicates that missionaries are working hand in gloves in creating a civil war like situation in State of Jharkhand? The Soren Government who has tasted the success in 2019 Assembly elections had the fortune and support of these Pathalgadi supporters who has nexus with missionaries and Maoists. The whole idea behind Pathalgadi is to throw challenge to the sovereignty of the nation. The act of withdrawing these contemptuous and seditious cases which are heinous in nature and runs from abducting police personnel to ransacking house of public representative to gang rape and gruesome murder would be pardoned with a stroke of signature of the Chief Minister. However, the conscious application has to be made by the Public Prosecutor and superintendence decision has to be taken by the Sessions court u/s 321 of Cr.P.C. The cases which cannot be compounded/ compromised under Section 320 Cr.P.C are withdrawn, under what authority of law?
In assessment, I find substance in suggesting that Pathalgari movement was an alternative attempt of resurgences to Maoist movement, on account of success of anti-maoist operation. Huge funds were pumped in, with unknown source of income. Ideally, Maoist and Missionary funds were diverted to ignite the movement.
In conclusion, it is pertinent to refer the recent constitutional bench judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court observed in Chebrolu Leela Prasad Rao vs State of A.P., the power guaranted under the provision to Fifth cannot override the fundamental rights of other citizen. So what were the reasons to misconstrue and misinterpret the provisions of the Constitution to suit the version of seditious act? Law not being a general subject, question must be asked as who were behind erecting the stones mentioning provisions of law? No to demean anyone, it is nearly impossible for general rural masses to mention the law, leaving behind giving interpretation of law.
In withdrawal of criminal cases, the dictum of Sheo Nandan Paswan case passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, has not been followed by the State Government. The power of withdrawal of criminal under Cr.P.C has been entrusted into the wisdom of Public prosecutor and not the Government per see. The withdrawal of cases seems more of a political stunt than anything more. It is worthwhile to mention that more than 1800 cases of rape have been registered in the reign of Soren Government. I would not be surprised if the present government also withdraws these cases. With the decisions of withdrawal, bloods are on the hands of Soren Government. The victims will never forgive the present regime.
[Disclaimer: Long Post Alert, Please use your free time to indulge, every day is a new discovery in ones life, Hope you find something unique in this too. Each of the information provided in this article is in public domain, it’s just that they are at 1000 places. Articles are usually well researched with all the links embedded. Please feel free to point out any error. In the end, we are human and the saying in Latin goes “errāre hūmānum est”,!! Enjoy ]
Why this Article?
Now when I say Darjeeling, Its not just the hill station, It constitutes the Doars, Terrai, Siliguri too. If we check the following image. Darjeeling shares almost a 100 kms borders with Nepal, 19 Kms with Bangladesh and some 30 kms with Bhutan. We are gateway not only to strategic state of Sikkim (Doklam Yaad aya), but also to 7 sisters of North East. We are gateway to 3 Countries, two of which are completely landlocked.
Darjeeling and territories around it
We are such a strategic area for our country for a fact that few months ago, one over jealous, tax money pampered Jihadi+Commie called Sharjeel Imam, mentioned this land mass of Siliguri Corridor as ‘chicken neck’. Now will you leave this Area which is so important to the country in the hands of the administration of Bengal, which is already in a dire state of disarray? PM Modi and his advisors should seriously take a note on this.
Source : ensembleias.com
For the Uninitiated…
Darjeeling District, A quaint little area on the foot hills of Himalayas is very-very dear to its 18 lacs odd people who resides there or few young ones who are now expats like ‘yours truly’. With demographics comprising 90% Nepali with different ethnicity one wonders how this beautiful district fell under West Bengal in the first place.
North Eastern India has always been neglected by the rest of country. Until few years ago, people still could not locate towns from NE on the map of INDIA, Darjeeling is no exception. Being an expat living elsewhere I know the issues hands on. When asked we proudly replied, ‘ I am from Darjeeling’, the queen of the hills’. Pat came the counter, is it in Nepal?
Surprising considering the fact, Darjeeling was the go-to, location of many Bollywood movies since the late 40s. And we grow the best Chai in the planet, majority of the varieties are exported and don’t even see local market in India.
Talking of Chai! Chaiwala PM! I thank him from the bottom of my heart. Nobody- I mean no Prime Minister in the history has opened up North East to the rest of India like this PM. PM Modi is the reason that rest of the population knew there are places called Tawang or Ziro or Mirik in India too. He literally brought North East to the main stream. In return people of North East also paid back handsomely, by giving him the fastest ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ to India. His prominent election quote before the historic 2014 election.
Eminent Patrakar has in the past labelled North East as ‘Tyranny of distance’ when he was asked why news flow from NE was not consistent in National Main Stream Media. I don’t blame them, it’s a fact, NE had been ignored for centuries.
Reign of 6 Century long mighty Ahom dynasty is given very little or no importance in our school books, instead a 200 year old of plundering, tyranny and forced conversion of Mughals is the de-facto history, out of our 5000 years old civilization.
And this ignorance of rest of India towards North East is evident in each of its small place of interest. Darjeeling is no exceptions. Very few know that Darjeeling and its people’s demand for a separate state or administrative division is more than 100 years old.
Darjeeling, unfortunately for us locals, currently is part of West Bengal, We don’t have anything common with Bengal. Darjeeling Doars region which constitutes majority of the North Bengal has no shared history with Bengal. The culture, language, customs nothing!!! This had been there for the centuries. Only common thing that we Darjeeling people shared with Bengal during the British Raj was a common Governor that too prior to 1935. Many doesn’t know that after the partition of Bengal in 1905, administration of Darjeeling-Doars was transferred to Bhagalpur division of Bihar Presidency, which remained with it for next two years till 1907. Following which there was a demand for a separate administrative division (akin to today’s State) for Darjeeling –Doars by a group named Hillmens Associations sometime in 1907. Which makes this demand of a separate Statehood the oldest in India than any other State. Please understand the emphasis on the word ‘State’ and not another separate ‘Republic’ out of the dominion of India, before calling us Gorkhas separatists.
Let’s delve in a bit of history in detail! Dorje-Ling literally ‘Place of Thunder’, and its nearby area have existed since centuries, Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple located along the banks of River Rangeet, has many mythological episodes of the Mahabharata attached to it.
But to prove the point, we just need to go back in time after the 17th century when European colonial powers were getting their grip on Indian sub-continent and South East Asia.
Darjeeling was part of Kingdom of Sikkim under Chogyal Dynasty. Late 18th century ambitious Gorkha King of Nepal were on a 25 years campaign of conquest and expansion. By early 19th century the Gorkha Kingdom reached its height extending from Kumaon and Garhwal in the west to Sikkim in the east to border town of Kyirong and Kuti of southern Tibet. They ruled over this area for over 40 years right from 1775 to 1815.
During the colonisation of India, Kingdom of Sikkim had sided with the British East India Company, which angered the Nepalese Gorkha King. The Gorkha army invaded Darjeeling in the 1790s and captured the then Sikkimese Kindom capital of Rabdentse, and annexed territory right till the banks of Teesta River. In 1814 when the Anglo Gorkha war broke out. Fight between the Gorkha Kingdom of Nepal and British East India Company resulted in victory for British. After two years of skirmishes signing of Treaty of Sugauli took place in the winter of 1815, which was later ratified and finalized in March 1816. Under the treaty, about one-third of Nepalese controlled territory was lost including Sikkim, Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdom to the British.
On 10 February 1817, the British returned the land area between the Mechi and Teesta to the Sikkimese Chogyal under the Treaty of Titalia, a place in present day Bangladesh, in return British were given trading rights up to the border towards the Tibet.
In early 1829 border dispute between Nepal and Sikkim arose again. Then British Governor-General, William Bentinck, sent two officers, Captain George Lloyd and J. W. Grant, to mediate the dispute. On the journey two officers stayed at Darjeeling for six days. Capt Lloyd was mesmerized by the place. On 18 June 1829, Lloyd communicated to the Governor General for possibility of using Darjeeling as a military outpost and trading hub due to its strategic location. It didn’t took time to convince William Bentinck and in return he sent Captain Herbert, then Deputy Surveyor General to Darjeeling to examine the area. After the survey the Directors of the British East India Company approved the project and General Lloyd was given the responsibility to negotiate a lease of the area from the Kingdom of Sikkim.
The lease deed was granted on 1 February 1835 after a survey which mentioned Darjeeling as a worthless uninhabited mountain. Lease was granted for free until 1841, later the British government granted the Chogyal of Sikkim an allowance of Rs. 100,000 per annum as compensation, and raised the grant by Rs. 6,000 per annum in 1846.
Darjeeling was part of Sikkim Kingdom leased to British East India Company and never part of Bengal Presidency. Point to be noted that Sikkim Kingdom joined Indian dominion only on 16 May 1975 way past the date of Independence in 1947.
Source : WikiMedia Commons
Come 2021, after a dud year of 2020 pandemic of Corona Virus, we have election in Bengal. PM Modi led BJP along with his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah, which had no real presence in Bengal, is making a positive in roads. Lets hope he wins despite the current dispensation of Darjeeling which is riddled with factions of many kind. Sad that all the past leaders of the hills had no real directions (warrants another article on this) whatsoever regarding the home-land for the Gorkhas.
Leaving this piece of strategic land mass of Siliguri Corridor so called ‘Chicken Neck’ in the hands of Commie and TMC gang would be a very dangerous for sovereignty of this Great Country.
Jai Hind! Jai Gorkhaland!
Special Thanks to : thedarjeelingchronicle.com darjeelingtimes.com Sailen Debnath-The Dooars in Historical Transition Atis Das Gupta-Ethnic Problems and Movements for Autonomy in Darjeeling Frommers India (2008) Alistair Lamb – British India and Tibet, 1766-1910
