Monday, May 31, 2010

Localities in Jammu

Localities in Jammu


Raghunath Bazar, Raghunath  Pura, Pratapgarh  Mohalla, Kaleethian Mohalla, Hari Market, Gumut Bazar, Residency Road, Christian Colony, Shahidi  Chowk, Wazarat Road, Gujjar Nagar, Circular Road, Mohalla Dalpatian, Talab   Khatikan, Rajinder Bazar, Panj Bakhtar Road, Kanak Mandi, Ghaas Mandi Chowk, Mohalla Darugiran, Lukhdatta Bazar, Pir Mitha, Dhakki Sirajan, Malhotra Street, Citi Chowk, Old Hospital Road, Purani Mandi, 

Patel Bazar, Raj Tilak Road, Link Road, Jain  Bazar, Mast Garh, Julaka  Mohalla, Chowk  Chabutra, Dhounthli  Bazar, Panj  Tirthi, Mubarak  Mandi, Pucca  Dunga, Kaali  Janni, Gali Khilona, Mohalla  Afghana, Tange Wali  Gali, Kachhi Chhawni, Mohalla  Utsav, Mohalla  Narayanian, Exchange Road, Palace Road, Rani  Talab, Parade, Moti Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Mohalla  Paharian, Fatu  Chogan, Shalimar Road, Doctor  Lane, Dogra  Hall, Indira  Chowk, Bus Stand, K.C. Chowk, B.C. Road, Rehari, Rehari  Chungi, Mahesh  Pura, Resham Garh Colony, Bakshi  Bazar, Shakti  Nagar, Shiv  Nagar,

Subash  Nagar, Patoli, Sarwal, Toup Sherkhania, Ploura, Akhnoor Road, Muthi, Ban Talab, Jaani Pura, Rehari  Colony, New Plot, Roop   Nagar, Rai Pur, Kot Balwal, Barnal, Damaana, Bori, Talab Tilo, Canal Road, Bhagwati  Nagar, Mohinder Nagar, Nitco  Lane, Rama Lane, Krishna Nagar, Jewel  Chowk, Vivekananda  Chowk, Dogra Chowk, Amphala/ Amb phala, Manda, Nagrota, Jagti  Nagrota, Sidhrha, Bahu Fort, Gorkha  Nagar, Kasim Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Narwal, Transport Nagar, Panama Chowk, Railway Road, Balmiki Chowk, Bahu Plaza, Vikram Chowk, University Lane, Nehru Market, Ware House, Police Line, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Shastri  Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Nanakpura, Preet   Nagar, Shiva Chowk, Channi Himmat, 

Channi  Rama, Malik Market, Sunjwan, Bhatindi, Gujjar Colony, Dili, Sainik Colony, Chawadi, Greater Kailash, Marble Market, Nai Basti, Satwari, Gadi Garh, Airport  Road, Chatha, Meera Sahib, Simbal  Camp, R.S. Pura, Digiana, Jeevan  Nagar, Gangyal, Kunjwani, Ekta Vihar, Apna Vihar, Kalu Chak, Bari  Brahamana, Saror, Taror, Jakh, Vijay Pur, 

Peer Baba Jammu- Peer Budhan Ali Shah

Peer Baba:: Behind the Civil Airport is the famous durgah of the Muslim saint, Peer Budhan Ali Shah. On Thursdays, Hindu and Sikh devotees who visit this shrine, vastly outnumber the Muslim devotees.

Pandit Shambhoo Sopori ‘Masterjee', a musician with phenomenal energy, artistic qualities, devotion, dedication and perfection, is a legendary name in the musical world of Jammu and Kashmir

Pandit Shambhoo Sopori ‘Masterjee', a musician with phenomenal energy, artistic qualities, devotion, dedication and perfection, is a legendary name in the musical world of Jammu and Kashmir 

Popularly known as ‘Masterjee', a musician with phenomenal energy, artistic qualities, devotion, dedication and perfection, he is a legendary name in the musical world of Jammu and Kashmir . He is the most loved and respected musician of the state, and has been the guru of thousands of students and Hindustani classical music grew with him in the valley. Sitar, Santoor and classical vocal are his forte. 

A large number of professionals, music performers and teachers are his taught. To name a few: Prof. Jai Kishori Kaul, Mr. O.N.Raina, Prof. Usha Bagati, Prof. Hawa Bashir, Prof. Rifet Jabeen, Dr. Rajkumari Magazine, Dr. B.L.Koul and the ‘Melody Queens' of Kashmir - Shamima Dev Azad and Kailash Mehra. 

Even the Maharani Yashoraj Laxmi ji of the Royal family of J & K State is Pandit ji's disciple. The more said about him is less. Every word said about him stands testimony and no one can deny the fact that he is the father of music in the valley. 

He introduced Hindustani Classical Music as a subject initially in S.P.Higher Secondary School for boys and later on in the Girls College at Maulana Azad Road and paved the way for the musicians to grow and make music a source of lively hood. It's due to the pioneering and dedicated efforts of Pandit ji that musicians got a prestigious status in the valley. 

Sangeet Maha Vidyalaya, the School purely of Indian Classical Music that Pandit ji started in the valley was the only source of holding Hindustani classical (vocal and instrumental) and Indian dance concerts in the valley which featured the recitals of luminaries like Ustad Amir Khan Sahib, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Naseer Aminuddin Khan Dagar, Dr. Parvatikar, Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahib, Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar, etc. 

The school even presented Carnatic Instrumentalists and Vocalists before the students and the general public. However in spite of his busy schedule, as for the family sanskara, Pandit ji also lived in the company of Saints and Sufis and would perform for them along with his youngest son Bhajan Sopori. Some of them were Swami Parmanand ji, Swami Nand Bub, Swami Laxman Joo, Swami Kral Bub, Soan Saeb Badasgom, Faqir Aahad Saib and many others. 

Pandit ji has been the pioneer in putting some of the Muqams in the notations to ensure its preservation. 


Bhaderwah and Kishtwar culture like HP folks -drums flutes, bagpipers and bugles

Bhaderwah and Kishtwar culture like HP folks - drums, flutes, bagpipers and bugles


Villagers in new bright coloured attire throng in huge numbers with music of all hues viz drums flutes, bagpipers and bugles etc for which Bhaderwah and Kishtwar culture likewise HP folks occupy a specific and unique placement in the northern part of India. 

The entire stretch connecting, enroute Kishtwar road, a smaller stretch of barely 16 kms is in a bad condition. The road meanders in the form of turns and twists. In order to enhance tourists/ pilgrims in- flow, the road warrants improvement. The black-topping through out the stretch is of utmost importane to boost ameliorate tourists/pilgrim influx.

Efforts have to be taken to upgrade the facilities. The public facilities all along the route like accomodation, medical and toilet facilities have to be put in place so that the pilgrim do not face hardships.

(The author is Dy. Conservator of State Forest Department.)

Tours to the Amar Mahal Palace situated near Ramnagar

Tours to the Amar Mahal Palace situated near Ramnagar


Tours to the Amar Mahal Palace situated near Ramnagar is a special treat for tourists who travel to Jammu, as it showcases Pahari paintings and other ancient artifacts that shed light on the lifestyle of the rulers of Kashmir. 


The Dogra rulers patronized the Pahari paintings in ancient Jammu. This travel destination was the residential palace of Raja Amar Singh at one point of time in history.



Sunday, May 30, 2010

Matrimonial disputes---IPC 498A, IPC56 (B, C)--liberated housewife, decides to play The Abused Housewife in the Indian courts

Shibu dubai says....

In any matrimonial disputes among the NRIs, the trouble starts once the innocent Gaunvali Bibi manages to get a job. The wealth accumulated from that point onwards becomes 'My Income and Your Income'. Until then, it is family wealth. 


Once the lady gets a job, her simple arithmatical mind, gets liberated, and the real pressure starts coming from her parents and relatives, the comforts delivered by Petro-dollar becomes too dear to be untapped for the girls parents, and thus the matter gets worse. Once the matter reaches a boiling point, tussels begin, and suddenly the liberated housewife, decides to play The Abused Housewife in the Indian courts.

To make matters worse the girls previliged parents decide to meet Lawyers and the Lawyers fill them with a concentrated syrup of IPC 498A, IPC56 (B, C) Etc. This virtually, in slapped onto the Husbands's frail and old mother as well to hit him harder. 


Finally the Liberated women manages to get the most from the Indian Women organisations, and a good sum of money as compensation, enough to enjoy and to get her going during old age. As far as her parents are concerned, they milk her at the cost of their own grandchildrens joy.

A mammoth Mahabharata series begins admirably --- M. Veerappa Moily is Union law minister THE MAHABHARATA: Volume 1 Translated by BIBEK DEBROY

A mammoth Mahabharata series begins admirably


M. Veerappa Moily is Union law minister THE MAHABHARATA: Volume 1 Translated by BIBEK DEBROY Penguin Pages: 536 Rs 550


THE Mahabharata, together with the Ramayana, is one of the greatest stories ever told.
These two epics have influenced norms, values and culture not just in India, but elsewhere in Southeast Asia too. Hinduism is difficult to pinpoint and define. Nor is Hinduism only manifested in Sanskrit texts, a point Wendy Doniger makes in her recent The Hindus: An Alternative History (2009). The Sanskrit corpus itself is huge, spanning the Vedas, Vedanta, Vedangas, Smritis, Puranas and the Dharmashastras, not to speak of classical Sanskrit literature. However, popular attitudes are often shaped not by the Vedanta literature, or even the Gita, and the speculations of religious philosophers, but by the stories recounted in the two epics and the Puranas. It is said that even before Valmiki could pen his Ramayana in Sanskrit, many folk Ramayanas had been orally passed from one generation to the next. The imagery of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata recurs in our everyday life and jargon.


The Valmiki Ramayana, thus, isn't the only Ramayana. I myself have written an epic poem Sree Ramayana Mahanveshanam in Kannada, which has now been translated into English and other languages. If we wish to communicate our history, myths and culture to the rest of the world, English naturally becomes the medium. It is easy to blame westerners for having got the nuances wrong, but the appropriate response would be for us Indians to do the rendering, instead of waiting for modern-day Max Muellers.

The Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana now has an authenticated and critical edition, brought out by the Oriental Institute in Baroda. And the Vedavyasa Mahabharata too has an authenticated and critical edition, brought out by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune.

It is somewhat surprising that English translations of these texts are not yet available. Abridged translations often fail to capture the nuances and the emotions of all the characters.

An unabridged translation of the Mahabharata is therefore welcome and it is surprising that Bibek Debroy, who is known more as an economist (though I have personally known him as one interested in law reform), should have embarked on this venture. It is another matter that he has already translated the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and the Gita.

This is the first of 10 volumes and covers the period from the beginning to the Pandavas' obtaining their share of the kingdom. Volume 1 thus covers most of Adi Parva and runs into almost 500 pages. From this, one can gauge the size of the entire Mahabharata and the scope of the endeavour Debroy has embarked on. There is also an excellent introduction that sets the background.

We all have our favourite version of the Mahabharata, translated into English in unabridged form. For many of my generation, Rajaji's versions of both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata must figure on that list, because of easy-to-read English. Debroy's translation is easy and smooth as well, compared with the 19th century translations of K.M. Ganguli and M.N. Dutt (which predated Bhan darkar's Critical Edition) or even the half-complete University of Chicago version (which was based on Bhandarkar). I only hope Debroy can speed up his translation, so that we do not have to wait five years for all of the 10 volumes to be available.

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the epics. Gurcharan Das authored a book based on the Mahabharata. There is the Clay series, based on vernacular versions of the Mahabharata, now funded by N.R. Narayana Murthy. There has been my effort as well as the present one by Debroy. I am not sure why this should suddenly happen.

Although the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have always been of interest, much before the TV serials happened, the last time there was this great enthusiasm seems to have been in the second half of the 19th century. Nor is it obvious to me why there should be this interest on the part of those who are not quite run-of-the-mill Indologists or Sanskrit scholars. 

Whatever be the reason, an accurate rendering of our history and culture is welcome, because it neutralises attempts by right-wing fundamentalist groups to hijack what they perceive to be their version of Hinduism. When we scan the Vedas and epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, we find a thread of secular ethos. 

In fact, even the Sapta Rishis who composed the Vedas and the authors of Ramayana and Mahabharata do not belong to the Brahmin varna. They actually belong to Shudra and the lower classes of the society. It is a paradox that we find a reversal of secular ethos to the detrimental of the philosophy of unity in diversity.

According to the poet A.K. Ramanujan, a translator has to obey three sets of conflicting allegiances: to the reader, to the culture of the original text and to the text's historical context or tradition. 

Debroy, in his acknowledgment and introduction, says, "Most people thought I was mad, even if they never quite said that." I had a similar feeling when I embarked upon Sree Ramayana Mahanveshanam, which is my own version of the Ramayana. On venturing into the voluminous poem, I felt like being in the midst of a dark ocean the shore of which I would not find. Having gained confidence, I have now started another epic poem, on Draupadi, called Sreemudi Parikramanam. All big ideas will find their own destiny. Hence I am confident that the journey undertaken by Debroy in translating the other parvas will find a happy climax.

Initially, I was surprised that a creative writer like Debroy had ventured upon a translation of epic dimensions.

It requires absolute concentration, discipline and restraint. Having read his book, I must say that the author has conformed to all parameters and excelled as a model translator. He has really carved out a niche for himself in crafting and presenting a translation of the Mahabharata, which is the need of the century. The presentation of a family tree and also the Bharatavarsh (6th century BCE) reflects his insistence on historical authenticity.

I wish that Debroy emerges in the scholarly world of this country to present our past. The book takes us on a great journey with admirable ease.

M. Veerappa Moily is Union law minister THE MAHABHARATA: Volume 1 Translated by BIBEK DEBROY Penguin Pages: 536 Rs 550

Tripurasura’s Past life

Tripurasura’s Past life


Tripurasur was the son of Sage Gritsamad. One day the sage sneezed and from this was created a young boy who the Sage brought up as his own son. The sage taught the boy the Ganana Twam, Ganesh Mantra. Equipped with this mantra the boy meditated intensely on Lord Ganesh who ultimately blessed him. He was given three pura-s of gold silver and iron. Since he was the owner of these three pura-s he was given the name Tripur. Ganesh also bestowed on Tripur to be the most powerful, who none but Lord Shiva himself could destroy and after being destroyed by Lord Shiva he would attain mukti-salvation.

This boon made Tripur proud and he brought havoc in the entire world. He conquered the Nether world and then proceeded to takeover Heaven. He defeated Indra the king of heaven. His aggression made Lord Brahma hide in a lotus and Lord Vishnu in the Shirsagar. He soon also took over Lord Shiva’s Kailash Parvat and thus became the King of all the three worlds. The gods wondered on how to vanquish Tripurasur. Lord Narada told them that, since he had been granted a boon by Lord Ganesh himself it would be very difficult to vanquish him. He advised them to meditate on Lord Ganesh. Pleased Lord Ganesh decided to help the Gods.

Disguised as brahmin he visited Tripurasur and told him that he was a very enlightened Brahmin and could make for him three flying planes. Riding these he woud be able to go anywhere he wished within minutes. The planes could only be destroyed by Shiva. In return Lord Ganesh asked him to get him the statue of Chintamani which was at the Kailash Mountain. Lord Shiva refused to give the statue to Tripurasur’s messenger. The angry Tripurasur himself went to get the statue. A fierce battle started between him and Lord Shiva. He destroyed everything that belonged to the Lord Shiva who too retired to the Girikandar.

Lord Shiva too realized that he was unable to destroy Tripurasur because he had not paid his respects to Lord Ganesh. He recited the Shadaakshar Mantra to invoke Ganesh. On doing so from his mouth emerged Gajanan to grant Shiva a boon. Shiva continued his invocation of Ganesh who ultimately directed him on how Tripurasur could be killed. Lord Shiva was asked to recite the Sahastranam and then direct an arrow at the three pura-s of Tripurasur.

Lord Shiva followed these instructions and finally vanquished Tripurasur.

The place where Lord Shiva invoked Lord Ganesh he also created a temple for him. The town surrounding this temple was called Manipur. The village Ranjangaon is considered to be the place where Lord Shiva himself sought the blessings of Ganesh and ultimately destroyed Tripurasur.

Mahamada (Incarnation of Tripurasura the demon) = Dharmadushika (Polluter of righteousness)
Religion founded by Mahamada = Paisachyadharama (demoniac religion)

"new Benjamins" is NOT ENOUGH in the war against Counterfeiting


Members of Board,
Federal Reserve
Government of United States of America,
USA








Dear Members of Board,



In connexion with the launch of "new Benjamins" aimed to deter counterfeiters, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said- "As with previous U.S. currency redesigns, this note incorporates the best technology available to ensure we're staying ahead of counterfeiters,"

The $100 note, last redesigned in 1996 is being released in February 2011 as "new Benjamins". You are certainly incorporating the best technology but this technology is only to stay ahead for a few more years or decades. It doesnot incorporate latest conceptual technology to extinguish the possibility of catching up. I suggest you can incorporate my invention and you will not be requiring any Redesign thereafter to stay ahead of counterfeiters as the counterfeiters will have no option but to be out of business.

Counterfeit currency is a big bane of the money economy and a huge headache to the governments that have to defend their currency against the counterfeiters. Unfortunately, counterfeiters are not some small groups of crooks out to make a fast buck anymore; they are often sophisticated organizations with deep pockets having links to drug trade, money laundering, illegal trade in weapons, & terrorism; and apparently some rogue governments are involved too for their own hidden agenda. The national currency of United States is the de facto world currency and therefore a ready & lucrative target  for counterfeiting attacks. I am sure that you too must surely be exercised over this intractable problem.

Counterfeiting is an intractable problem because even as more & more subtle and sophisticated security features are incorporated by the Currency Presses, it provides only a short term protection. The counterfeiters very soon catch up as access to technology has become ubiquitous.  To put it bluntly this race cannot be won through routine responses. It demands a totally refreshing approach that would simultaneously resolve two issues. Suggestions have been around to dematerialize currency like shares & depository certificates. While this has some merit, the alternative of electronic currency suggested cannot be implemented throughout the world due to the digital divide, problem of Scale & Speed of transactions.  More importantly, people still want a currency that they can physically touch, count and hold. They are not ready for any abstractions. Therefore, the physical currency in my opinion is here to stay in foreseeable future.

We have thoroghly checked up with latest Patent list also on google patents. None of the patents registered offers Foolproof solution. Counterfeiting implies identifying features and copying them to produce currency notes that are indistinguishable from the ‘original’.  The concept & the features thereof I have invented and wish to propose are totally out of box & revolutionary because NO solution ever lies in the problem. In Counterfeiting we have been TOO DEEPLY FOCUSSED on the problem and therefore are not able to see the solution. This is the problem with Experts. My strength lies precisely in the fact that I am totally an outsider and therefore not constrained by the blinkered vision of the insiders. I can guarantee only one assurance, this invention once implemented will make Counterfeiting passe and a cured migraine to the civilised societies in the world. As a natural outcome, the rogue states and organised underworld fatal chop at their jugular and businesses don't run once they are starved of funds.

I am interested in making  a presentation of the entire new concept to your august office. 

Before closing this letter, let me take this opportunity of introducing myself in brief. I am an INDIAN, an MBA from prestigious IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) with over 25 years rich experience in the industry. 
I am giving herebelow two links showing that I was extensively interviewed by leading newspapers all over in early 2004 & I had started the talk on then new phenomenon of Outsourcing.
    
1- HR outsourcing: New mantra for Indian Cos 
2- US, UK techies seek jobs in India 


I am confident that there cannot be a better Foolproof Mechanism as I am offering the Ultimate one.

I have not gone in for getting the patent from USPTO so far. I simply wish to know how your august office can take care of the Intellectual property rights / compensation in case you accept and decide to implement the concept presented by me. I want to make a presentation to the board with an assurance that FED will guarantee me with Intellectual Property protection.

Stone Inscriptions of Chola Times Found


KANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, May 22, 2010: Stone inscriptions dating back to the 10th and 11th century AD found recently in a nearby village have thrown light on the way records of properties were maintained during the Chola times. The stones were found last week during digging at the Sirukarumbur hamlet, tucked away from the main road 15 miles from here. 

Sirukarumbu, then named Rajarajaseri, seems to have been a bustling and active land of cultivation,as many stone inscriptions were discovered scattered around the mound behind twin temples of the village. The twin temples, whose history is scarcely known, have the deities of Sundarakamakshi and Thripurandeswarar (forms of Lord Shiva). 

The stones disclosed the many agreements reached between different groups of people for endowments and upkeep of the temple. The inscriptions also revealed that there were chola bronze images, consecrated and worshipped. The inscriptions were the way the people of Chola times maintained their solid land and property records, Dr. R. Nagaswami, well-known archaeologist and former director of state Archaeology department, told a news agency. 

One of the stone documents recorded that a bronze Deity of Umaparameswari, consort of Lord Nataraja, was installed and worshipped by the villagers in the year 1013 AD, the 28th year of the reign of Rajaraja Chola-I, in the temple.

COMPARATIVE SOCIAL INDICATORS- India and Pakistan-1

jairam says:
what are you trying to say ,what is the final CONCLUSION ,are you trying to tell that pakistan is better than India ? the world knows what is India and pak.


in your comparsion what you have posted see what he says .


COMPARATIVE SOCIAL INDICATORS
(Most Recent Estimates)
India
Pakistan
Life Expectancy (in years)
60.7
61.8
Adult Literacy (in percent)
50.6
36.4
Female Literacy (in percent)
36.0
23.0
Gross Enrollment Ratio (combined – in percent)
55.0
37.0
Access to Health Services (in percent)
85.0
55.0
Daily Caloric Supply Per Capita
2,395
2,316
Underweight Children Under Five (in percent) 
53.0 
40.0
Infant Mortality (per ’000 births) 
81.0 
89.0
Total Fertility Rate 
3.8
6.2
the other comparison is 10 years old ,have seen the recent once.
15 years is a lot of time go and see the latest comparison my friend.



COMPARATIVE SOCIAL INDICATORS- India and Pakistan-1

jairam says:
what are you trying to say ,what is the final CONCLUSION ,are you trying to tell that pakistan is better than India ? the world knows what is India and pak.


in your comparsion what you have posted see what he says .


COMPARATIVE SOCIAL INDICATORS
(Most Recent Estimates)
India
Pakistan
Life Expectancy (in years)
60.7
61.8
Adult Literacy (in percent)
50.6
36.4
Female Literacy (in percent)
36.0
23.0
Gross Enrollment Ratio (combined – in percent)
55.0
37.0
Access to Health Services (in percent)
85.0
55.0
Daily Caloric Supply Per Capita
2,395
2,316
Underweight Children Under Five (in percent) 
53.0 
40.0
Infant Mortality (per ’000 births) 
81.0 
89.0
Total Fertility Rate 
3.8
6.2
the other comparison is 10 years old ,have seen the recent once.
15 years is a lot of time go and see the latest comparison my friend.



Who says that India is a poor country? — Revelation of Swiss bank accounts

Who says that India is a poor country?
IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN SAVE INDIA?
— Revelation of Swiss bank accounts

Recently, due to international pressure, the Swiss government agreed to disclose the names of the account holders only if the respective governments formally asked for it. Indian government is not asking for the details…….any marks for guessing why?

We need to start a movement to pressurize the government to do so! This is perhaps the only way, and a golden opportunity, to expose the high and mighty and weed out corruption!

Please read on……and forward to all the honest Indians to…..like somebody is forwarding to you……..and build a ground-swell of support for action! Is India poor, who says? Ask the Swiss banks. With personal account deposit bank of $1,500 billion in foreign reserve which have been misappropriated, an amount 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt, one needs to rethink if India is a poor country?

DISHONEST INDUSTRIALISTS, scandalous politicians and corrupt IAS, IRS, IPS officers have deposited in foreign banks in their illegal personal accounts a sum of about $1500 billion, which have been misappropriated by them. This amount is about 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt. With this amount 45 crore poor people can get Rs 1, 00,000 each. This huge amount has been appropriated from the people of India by exploiting and betraying them. 

Once this huge amount of black money and property comes back to India, the entire foreign debt can be repaid in 24 hours. After paying the entire foreign debt, we will have surplus amount, almost 12 times larger than the foreign debt. If this surplus amount is invested in earning interest, the amount of interest will be more than the annual budget of the Central government. 

So even if all the taxes are abolished, then also the Central government will be able to maintain the country very comfortably. Some 80,000 people travel to Switzerland every year, of which 25,000 travel very frequently. ‘Obviously, these people won’t be tourists. They must be travelling there for some other reason,’ believes an official involved in tracking illegal money. And, clearly, he isn’t referring to the commerce ministry bureaucrats who’ve been flitting in and out of Geneva ever since the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations went into a tailspin!

Just read the following details and note how these dishonest industrialists, scandalous politicians, corrupt officers, cricketers, film actors, illegal sex trade and protected wildlife operators, to name just a few, sucked this country’s wealth and prosperity. This may be the picture of deposits in Swiss banks only. What about other international banks?

Black money in Swiss banks — Swiss Banking Association report, 2006 details bank deposits in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries: 1/2

Country Deposits
India $1456 billion
Russia $470 billion
U.K. $390 billion
Ukraine $100 billion

Now do the math – India with $1,456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world combined. Public loot since 1947:

Can we bring back our money? It is one of the biggest loots witnessed by mankind — the loot of the Aam Aadmi (common man) since 1947, by his brethren occupying public office. It has been orchestrated by politicians, bureaucrats and some businessmen.

The list is almost all-encompassing. No wonder, everyone in India loots with impunity and without any fear.

What is even more depressing is that this ill-gotten wealth of ours has been stashed away abroad into secret bank accounts located in some of the world’s best known tax havens. And to that extent the Indian economy has been stripped of its wealth. Ordinary Indians may not be exactly aware of how such secret accounts operate and what are the rules and regulations that go on to govern such tax havens.

However, one may well be aware of ‘Swiss bank accounts,’ the shorthand for murky dealings, secrecy and of course pilferage from developing countries into rich developed ones. In fact, some finance experts and economists believe tax havens to be a conspiracy of the western world against the poor countries. By allowing the proliferation of tax havens in the twentieth century, the western world explicitly encourages the movement of scarce capital from the developing countries to the rich. 

In March 2005, the Tax Justice Network (TJN) published a research finding demonstrating that $11.5 trillion of personal wealth was held offshore by rich individuals across the globe.

The findings estimated that a large proportion of this wealth was managed from some 70 tax havens. Further, augmenting these studies of TJN, Raymond Baker — in his widely celebrated book titled ‘Capitalism’s Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free Market System’ — estimates that at least $5 trillion have been shifted out of poorer countries to the West since the mid-1970.

It is further estimated by experts that one per cent of the world’s population holds more than 57 per cent of total global wealth, routing it invariably through these tax havens. How much of this is from India is anybody’s guess.

What is to be noted here is that most of the wealth of Indians parked in these tax havens is illegitimate money acquired through corrupt means. Naturally, the secrecy associated with the bank accounts in such places is central to the issue, not their low tax rates as the term ‘tax havens’ suggests. Remember Bofors and how India could not trace the ultimate beneficiary of those transactions because of the secrecy associated with these bank accounts?

Who says that India is a poor country? — Revelation of Swiss bank accounts

Who says that India is a poor country?
IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN SAVE INDIA?
— Revelation of Swiss bank accounts

Recently, due to international pressure, the Swiss government agreed to disclose the names of the account holders only if the respective governments formally asked for it. Indian government is not asking for the details…….any marks for guessing why?

We need to start a movement to pressurize the government to do so! This is perhaps the only way, and a golden opportunity, to expose the high and mighty and weed out corruption!

Please read on……and forward to all the honest Indians to…..like somebody is forwarding to you……..and build a ground-swell of support for action! Is India poor, who says? Ask the Swiss banks. With personal account deposit bank of $1,500 billion in foreign reserve which have been misappropriated, an amount 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt, one needs to rethink if India is a poor country?

DISHONEST INDUSTRIALISTS, scandalous politicians and corrupt IAS, IRS, IPS officers have deposited in foreign banks in their illegal personal accounts a sum of about $1500 billion, which have been misappropriated by them. This amount is about 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt. With this amount 45 crore poor people can get Rs 1, 00,000 each. This huge amount has been appropriated from the people of India by exploiting and betraying them. 

Once this huge amount of black money and property comes back to India, the entire foreign debt can be repaid in 24 hours. After paying the entire foreign debt, we will have surplus amount, almost 12 times larger than the foreign debt. If this surplus amount is invested in earning interest, the amount of interest will be more than the annual budget of the Central government. 

So even if all the taxes are abolished, then also the Central government will be able to maintain the country very comfortably. Some 80,000 people travel to Switzerland every year, of which 25,000 travel very frequently. ‘Obviously, these people won’t be tourists. They must be travelling there for some other reason,’ believes an official involved in tracking illegal money. And, clearly, he isn’t referring to the commerce ministry bureaucrats who’ve been flitting in and out of Geneva ever since the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations went into a tailspin!

Just read the following details and note how these dishonest industrialists, scandalous politicians, corrupt officers, cricketers, film actors, illegal sex trade and protected wildlife operators, to name just a few, sucked this country’s wealth and prosperity. This may be the picture of deposits in Swiss banks only. What about other international banks?

Black money in Swiss banks — Swiss Banking Association report, 2006 details bank deposits in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries: 1/2

Country   Deposits
India        $1456 billion
Russia     $470 billion
U.K.         $390 billion
Ukraine   $100 billion

Now do the math – India with $1,456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world combined. Public loot since 1947:

Can we bring back our money? It is one of the biggest loots witnessed by mankind — the loot of the Aam Aadmi (common man) since 1947, by his brethren occupying public office. It has been orchestrated by politicians, bureaucrats and some businessmen.

The list is almost all-encompassing. No wonder, everyone in India loots with impunity and without any fear.

What is even more depressing is that this ill-gotten wealth of ours has been stashed away abroad into secret bank accounts located in some of the world’s best known tax havens. And to that extent the Indian economy has been stripped of its wealth. Ordinary Indians may not be exactly aware of how such secret accounts operate and what are the rules and regulations that go on to govern such tax havens.

However, one may well be aware of ‘Swiss bank accounts,’ the shorthand for murky dealings, secrecy and of course pilferage from developing countries into rich developed ones. In fact, some finance experts and economists believe tax havens to be a conspiracy of the western world against the poor countries. By allowing the proliferation of tax havens in the twentieth century, the western world explicitly encourages the movement of scarce capital from the developing countries to the rich. 

In March 2005, the Tax Justice Network (TJN) published a research finding demonstrating that $11.5 trillion of personal wealth was held offshore by rich individuals across the globe.

The findings estimated that a large proportion of this wealth was managed from some 70 tax havens. Further, augmenting these studies of TJN, Raymond Baker — in his widely celebrated book titled ‘Capitalism’s Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free Market System’ — estimates that at least $5 trillion have been shifted out of poorer countries to the West since the mid-1970.

It is further estimated by experts that one per cent of the world’s population holds more than 57 per cent of total global wealth, routing it invariably through these tax havens. How much of this is from India is anybody’s guess.

What is to be noted here is that most of the wealth of Indians parked in these tax havens is illegitimate money acquired through corrupt means. Naturally, the secrecy associated with the bank accounts in such places is central to the issue, not their low tax rates as the term ‘tax havens’ suggests. Remember Bofors and how India could not trace the ultimate beneficiary of those transactions because of the secrecy associated with these bank accounts?

Why should India compete with Pakistan? Why should India bother about Pakistan?

India: Manages its own finances ever since Independence.

India: Civilian rule ever since Independence.

India: More number of Muslims in India than in Pakistan.

India: More Mosques in India than in Pakistan.

India: Has had a Muslim as a President.

India: Percapita income of Indian muslims is more than average Pakistani.
1 USD = 52 INR, 1 GBP =72 INR.

India’s defence outlay, paid from its own budget, no gifts or funding from Russia or US or heaven and is less than 25% GDP.

Pakistan: Needs constant US budgetary Support, besides IMF various loans . .
several times gone to the brink of bankruptcy, resurrected by the US aid.

Pakistan: Under military dictatorship most part since Independence

Pakistan: Islamic State, hence no rights for other religions.

Pakistan: 1 Babri Masjid destroyed in India but hundreds of temples destroyed in Pakistan. Babri Masjid itself was built after demolishing a temple . .

Pakistan: Afghan Taliban, developed + trained by ISI. Funded by US CIA. Where did India come into this picture????

Pakistan: 1USD = 81 PKR, 1GBP = 111 PKR

Kashmir: Percapita income of Indian Kashmiri more than Pakistani Kashmiri.

If Indian muslims decide to keep their children away from public schools and instead send them to Madarassa (India offers Mandatory, free, public schools with free meals) who is responsible for the illiteracy of the Muslims???

If Indian muslims, do not integrate with the rest of the population, refuse to learn the local language and live in their own towns and make them their ghettoes, send their children only to madarassa and not to school, why cant the local mosques teach them . . we are Indians and we should learn and try to aspair???

Indian Muslim population has risen 10 folds in population percentage . . .since India’s Independence.

The Questions for you, MM are . .

1. Why should India have an inferiority complex in relation with Pakistan?

2. Why should India compete with Pakistan? Why should India bother about Pakistan?

3. What is India going to gain out of Afghanistan?? Get a share of the opium produce???

4. India can live without begging from America for alms . . Can Pakistan do??

5. Indian Security Forces killed 9 terrorists and caught 1 alive in a surprise terrorist strike . . In Lahore on a “presidential security” convoy, 14 teroorists kill 6 police officers and WALK (not even run) away from the scene . . . How can you compare Indian security agencies are a failure but the Pakistan story is a success . .

Mate, open your mind and dont be afraid to face the reality . . The world will not become dark just because you ve closed your eyes . .

I am not a Pakistan Hater but a Clear thinker . .

NB: To be frank, i dont mind giving away Kashmir to Pakistan, We are just wasting millions of our own money (not borrowed from US or Saudi Arabia or Israel for that matter) to no avail . .mebbe you can accept the remaining millions of your islamic brotherhood from India as well . . coz a lot of them think they are Pakistanis because they are muslims . . I would not want to hold any Muslim in India against their wishes . . besides that was the reason for the creation of Pakistan . . A thriving Vibrant Prospering Islamic Nation

If Indian muslims decide to keep their children away from public schools and instead send them to Madarassa (India offers Mandatory, free, public schools with free meals) who is responsible for the illiteracy of the Muslims???

If Indian muslims decide to keep their children away from public schools and instead send them to Madarassa (India offers Mandatory, free, public schools with free meals) who is responsible for the illiteracy of the Muslims???




India: Manages its own finances ever since Independence.

India: Civilian rule ever since Independence.

India: More number of Muslims in India than in Pakistan.

India: More Mosques in India than in Pakistan.

India: Has had a Muslim as a President.

India: Percapita income of Indian muslims is more than average Pakistani.
1 USD = 52 INR, 1 GBP =72 INR.

India’s defence outlay, paid from its own budget, no gifts or funding from Russia or US or heaven and is less than 25% GDP.

Pakistan: Needs constant US budgetary Support, besides IMF various loans . .
several times gone to the brink of bankruptcy, resurrected by the US aid.

Pakistan: Under military dictatorship most part since Independence

Pakistan: Islamic State, hence no rights for other religions.

Pakistan: 1 Babri Masjid destroyed in India but hundreds of temples destroyed in Pakistan. Babri Masjid itself was built after demolishing a temple . .

Pakistan: Afghan Taliban, developed + trained by ISI. Funded by US CIA. Where did India come into this picture????

Pakistan: 1USD = 81 PKR, 1GBP = 111 PKR

Kashmir: Percapita income of Indian Kashmiri more than Pakistani Kashmiri.

If Indian muslims decide to keep their children away from public schools and instead send them to Madarassa (India offers Mandatory, free, public schools with free meals) who is responsible for the illiteracy of the Muslims???

If Indian muslims, do not integrate with the rest of the population, refuse to learn the local language and live in their own towns and make them their ghettoes, send their children only to madarassa and not to school, why cant the local mosques teach them . . we are Indians and we should learn and try to aspair???

Indian Muslim population has risen 10 folds in population percentage . . .since India’s Independence.

The Questions for you, are . .

1. Why should India have an inferiority complex in relation with Pakistan?

2. Why should India compete with Pakistan? Why should India bother about Pakistan?

3. What is India going to gain out of Afghanistan?? Get a share of the opium produce???

4. India can live without begging from America for alms . . Can Pakistan do??

5. Indian Security Forces killed 9 terrorists and caught 1 alive in a surprise terrorist strike . . In Lahore on a “presidential security” convoy, 14 teroorists kill 6 police officers and WALK (not even run) away from the scene . . . How can you compare Indian security agencies are a failure but the Pakistan story is a success . .

Mate, open your mind and dont be afraid to face the reality . . The world will not become dark just because you ve closed your eyes . .

I am not a Pakistan Hater but a Clear thinker . .

NB: To be frank, i dont mind giving away Kashmir to Pakistan, We are just wasting millions of our own money (not borrowed from US or Saudi Arabia or Israel for that matter) to no avail . .mebbe you can accept the remaining millions of your islamic brotherhood from India as well . . coz a lot of them think they are Pakistanis because they are muslims . . I would not want to hold any Muslim in India against their wishes . . besides that was the reason for the creation of Pakistan . . A thriving Vibrant Prospering Islamic Nation

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhaya ---by Raghunath Thakur

Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhaya

by Raghunath Thakur

The Northern most region of India, mostly covered by Himalayas, in which our State also falls, is known as the abode of many Gods -Goddess, Devi- Devatas, Reshis-Munis and Peers-Faqirs, and more particularly of Shiv-Parvati (Shiv Shakti). Wherever they stayed, lived and worshiped have become the Shrines a source of Spiritual powers, the ray of hope for the sufferers of the present age. In fact, India as a whole, is a land of Shrines belonging to different faiths which protect the places and the devotees and fulfill their unaccomplished desires and needs. God has kept His Symbolics everywhere to ameliorate the sufferings of the humanity through the spiritual powers these symbolics possess.

The newly created District Kishtwar, like other Districts, is also known as the land of Shrines and pilgrimages of different faiths, the most renowned are Sarthal Devi Shrine of Kali Mata, Chandi Mata Shrine in Machail Padder and Shrines of Shah -I - Asrar Sahib in proper Kishtwar and so many.

There is also a famous Holy Shrine, known as SHRI HUDH MAT ATRISINDYA MATA, located at a height of about 12000fts from the sea level near the famous BRAHAMA PEAK, said to be the abode of Lord Brahma in Nanth Nallah village of Dachhan, which is unknown to the devotees and the world. No mountaineer has so far dared to scale this Peak. One side of this Peak is always covered with snow and clouds. 

About two-three kms away from the Holy Shrine, there flows TRISINDHY A stream (NADI) miraculously thrice a day from the top of a hill and stops naturally; which means that it is not a regular flowing Stream (Nadi) like other Streams (Nadi-Nallahs) and mostly remains dry. The volume of the water is so much that a water mill can easily function. There is neither any lake nor any pond on the top of the hill where from the water flows. "TRISANDHYA" means three times of worship as per Hindu Mythology i.e early morning, noon and evening prayers. "HUDH", by the passage of time, is the distorted form of "HUTT", a Hindi word, which means to offer in the shape of AHUTI (Offerings): To offer completely: Essential material for Havan: to Sacrifice oneself for Good cause. Since Mata Parvita Sacrificed her self for good cause i.e for the Honour and respect of Lord Shiva, her Husband and for herself also by jumping in the Havan Kund so she is called as Hudh Mata-Sati Mata

The astonishing fact is that water recedes flowing from the bottom of the Stream for two-three hours. After sometime it starts decreasing. After two-three hours even a single drop of water is not seen and those who are unlucky not to see it do not get such chance. At some occasions the water does not flow at all as per its routine. 

In that case the pilgrims believe that TRISINDHY A MAT A is not pleased to give Darshan to them and they return sadly and disappointed without having a bath and those who get chance of bathing believe that their Yatra has been accomplished/accepted. It is a miraculous Darshan perhaps very very rare in the State or in the country. The Author had the opportunity of visiting the Shrine twice, Firstly in 1987 and Secondly in 2004. 

In 1987, TRINSANDHAYA MATA was pleased to give Darshan as it flowed at its usual time and had a bath in the pious water. But in the year 2004, despite waiting for two days he had to return disappointed and empty handed without having any darshan of the flowing Nadhi and a pious bath as the TRISANDHAY A Nadhi did not flow as usual. However, he had the darshan of a live snake which is always seen near the Shrine or in the temple during yatra days. Pears of pigeons are also seen near the cave with whose darshans the devotees feel delighted.

Due to lack of Motorable road connectivity from Patrimhalla to Dachhan, the Shrine has remained unknown to the rest of the State/Country and the World. and does not find place in the Religious Tourist Map of the Country. The local administration has not done any positive thing for the exploration and publicity of this shrine. If the devotees come to know about this miraculous Shrine, they will certainly prefer to see this Shrine and perform this Yatra and have a dip in the pious waters of TRlSINDHYA NADI. The abundant tourist potentiality of the area has remained unnoticed and un exploited so far.

Pilgrims have to travel about 50/60 kms on foot to perform the Yatra. If Patimhalla Dacchan Motorable road is constructed, it can reduce the journey by 50% and the devotees shall have to travel only 25/30 kms on foot. We hope that there will be great rush of pilgrims to this Shrine also which can be a boon for the Tourist Industry of the State and this can bring the Shrine on the Religious Tourist Map of the Country. It can change the socio-economic condition not only of the inhabitants of the area but of the State as a whole.

Rethinking Kashmir Politics---Dr. Yoginder Sikand-the political project of Kashmiri nationalists-of a separate, independent state of Jammu and Kashmir-has absolutely no takers among the Hindus (and other non-Muslims) of the state

Rethinking Kashmir Politics
Dr. Yoginder Sikand-
the political project of Kashmiri nationalists-of a separate, independent state of Jammu and Kashmir-has absolutely no takers among the Hindus (and other non-Muslims) of the state

Many Kashmiri Muslims vociferously insist that the demand for independence of Kashmir has nothing to do with religion. Instead, they argue, that the conflict in and over Kashmir is essentially 'political'. What is conveniently ignored by those who make this claim is that religion and politics, particularly in the case of the Kashmir dispute, involving as it does the rival claims of Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-dominated India, can hardly be separated. 

As the current spate of violence in both the Hindi-dominated Jammu division and the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, triggered off by a controversial decision of the state government to allot a piece of land to a Hindu temple trust, so starkly indicates, religion and communal identities defined essentially in religious terms have everything to do with the basic issue of Jammu and Kashmir and its still unsettled political status. Kashmiri nationalists, in contrast to hardcore Islamists and the Hindutva brigade, quickly dismiss this point, finding it, perhaps, too embarrassing, afraid of being labeled as religious chauvinists or 'communal'. But, no longer, it seems, can the crucial role of religion in shaping the contours of the on-going conflict in and over Kashmir be denied.

That the on-going BJP-inspired agitation in Jammu has marshaled considerable support among the Hindus of Jammu clearly indicates that the political project of Kashmiri nationalists-of a separate, independent state of Jammu and Kashmir-has absolutely no takers among the Hindus (and other non-Muslims) of the state. Kashmiri nationalists insist that in the independent Jammu and Kashmir of their dreams, religious minorities-Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists-who would account for almost a fourth of the population, would have equal rights and no cause for complaint.

Some even boast, without adducing any evidence, of commanding the support of the non-Muslims of the state for their project. At the same time as they roundly berate the Dogra Raj as a long spell of slavery for the state's Muslims, they insist that the boundaries of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, as constructed by the same Dogras, against the will of the Kashmiri Muslims, be considered as sacrosanct, as setting the borders of the independent country that they demand. If, as they argue, Dogra Raj was illegitimate, then surely there is nothing holy about the state boundaries as laid down by the Dogras, bringing Jammu and the vastly different Kashmir Valley in a forced union. 

If, as they rightly insist, Kashmir was conquered against its will by the Dogras of Jammu, there is no reason why the forced union of the two should continue in the independent Jammu and Kashmir that the Kashmiri nationalists dream of, particularly given the Jammu Hindus' resentment of alleged Kashmiri hegemony, a sentiment shared even by many Jammu Muslims.

Kashmiri nationalists, however, would refuse to recognize this basic contradiction in their argument. The reason is obvious: To do so, to recognize that the Jammu's Hindus (and Leh's Buddhists) would resist, even to the point of violence, the agenda of an independent Jammu and Kashmir would clearly indicate the obvious, but embarrassing fact, that this agenda represents the aspirations and interests largely of Kashmiri Muslims, and is a means to legitimize Kashmir Muslim control over the rest of the state. 

The analogy with pre-Partition India is useful. The Muslim League insisted that because the Hindus of India were in a numerical majority, a united, independent India, no matter what safeguards it gave and promises of equality it made to the Muslims, would be dominated by the Hindus, and would, for all its secular and democratic claims, be untrammeled Hindu Raj. Hence their demand for a separate Pakistan. 

The Hindus of Jammu and the Buddhists of Leh find themselves in precisely the same position as did supporters of the Muslim League in pre-Partition India, only now the actors have reversed their roles. Kashmiri nationalists insist they want an independent, united Jammu and Kashmir, just as the Congress did when it talked of a united and free India. And, like the Congress did with the Muslims, they promise the non-Muslim minorities of Jammu and Leh that their rights would be fully protected in this state of their dreams. Yet, just as many Muslims refused to accept the promises of the Congress, fearing that they would never be honored, the non-Muslim minorities in Jammu and Kashmir refuse to buy the arguments of the Kashmiri nationalists, which they rightly see as a thinly-veiled guise to justify Kashmiri hegemony. 

I have heard Kashmiris, including some of my closest friends, come up with the most ingenious arguments to counter the above point. 'Kashmiriyat, the teachings of love and peace of our Sufis, unite us all and would ensure that non-Muslim minorities will be safe and protected in a free Jammu and Kashmir', some of them say. A laughable claim, unless all Kashmiris suddenly decide to shun the world and trod the mystical path, an unlikely prospect. Sufism is in a rapid state of decline in Kashmir and elsewhere, as is the case with all other forms of mysticism. 

Then there is another bizarre argument, which I heard, among others, from none less than one of the chief ideologues of the Jamaat-e Islami in Kashmir and a fervent backer of Kashmir's accession to Pakistan, which runs like this: 

Islam lays down the rights of non-Muslims and insists that Muslims should respect them. The Prophet Muhammad himself did so. So, if Jammu and Kashmir gets freedom and becomes a truly Islamic state, the non-Muslim minorities will have full freedom and equality. That the Islamists whom he led had hardly done anything to promote anything even remotely approaching that sort of confidence among the state's minorities-in fact doing almost everything to completely alienate them-did not even cross his mind. 

The late Sadullah Tantrey, once head of the Jammu branch of the Jamaat-e Islami, even went on to insist, in all seriousness, that 'Indeed so happy will the non-Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir be in this independent Islamic state that even Hindus from India would line up to settle in the state.' I squirmed in my seat as he went on, stunned at his evident ignorance or hypocrisy or, as seemed more likely, both. 

I itched to tell him, as I sat before him in his house in Gath, up in the mountains of Doda, that the 'Islamic state' hardly outlived the Prophet Muhammad and has been completely extinct ever since; that the fate of minorities in scores of Muslim countries, even those like Saudi Arabia that claim to be 'Islamic', was deplorable, that even Jinnah had promised full equality to the non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan but that had not prevented them from being reduced to virtual second-class citizens, and that, simply put, he was lying or else living in a fool's paradise. I kept my mouth shut, however. After all, I was there to learn what his views were, not to preach.

Clearly, any forced union of the disparate nationalities in Jammu and Kashmir in the form of a separate, independent state that Kashmiri nationalists champion (as now do even some Kashmiri Islamists, former passionate advocates for union with Pakistan, who, flowing with the tide, have realized that their earlier stance has increasingly few takers among Kashmiris, given their mounting disenchantment with Pakistan) would be a sure recipe for civil war. The current agitation in Jammu is ample evidence of that. It is time, therefore, that pro-'Azadi' Kashmiri leaders admit this publicly. 

This is not, however, to plead the case for the division of the state, as the RSS has been advocating, for surely that would further harden communal boundaries and rivalries in just the same way as would the project of an independent Jammu and Kashmir. Rather, it is to recognize and publicly acknowledge the very plural character of Jammu and Kashmir, and the concerns and sensitivities of all its peoples, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others.

Links in Jammu and Kashmir

REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES and  OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR 
Jammu & Kashmir

ICSI: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Statutory Body Under Act of Parliament provides Company Secretary Course or CS course. Company Secretary means a member of ICSI or Institute of Company Secretaries of India.


Company Law Board 


Ministry of Finance 


High Court of Jammu & Kashmir


The Official Website of Jammu and Kashmir Government, India.

Amarnath


Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi 


Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine

Letter of L K Advani Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha regarding pilgrims going on Amarnath ji Yatra

Letter of L K Advani Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha regarding pilgrims going on Amarnath ji Yatra issue relating to the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board


L K Advani
Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha 


Dated: August 13, 2008

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with a deep sense of disappointment that I am writing to you with regard to the issue relating to the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board for the purposes of providing facilities to the pilgrims who visit the holy shrine each year. It appears that the government is completely out of its depth in dealing with this issue. We are also convinced that the government is not very serious about finding a solution to this problem. 







The people of Jammu division have suffered from a gross discrimination in the matters relating to the governance of the State. The census is not fairly and regularly done. The delimitation is deferred; there is discrimination in the matter of public employment, disbursal of funds and development of the region. They are told on each occasion that the Kashmir valley has a 'psyche' and therefore the government is to submit to that 'psyche' and if fairness is shown to the people of Jammu, the 'psyche' of the valley will be hurt. Recent events have shown that the people in Jammu are now determined to assert in order to claim their fair share in the matter of both governance and development of the region.


Let it be clearly understood. The problem in J&K today is not Hindu versus Muslim; nor is it even Jammu region versus the Valley. It is essentially nationalists versus the separatists. The people of Jammu supported by the rest of the country, strongly feel that the revocation of the Cabinet order with regard to Amarnath was purely under separatist pressures. There is a huge sense of hurt and injury in Indian public opinion which has resulted in the nationalist opinion being alienated because the separatists have to be pleased.





The protest of the people of Jammu has been nationalist; they hold the national flag to their heart, even when they protest. They raise slogans in support of our motherland and also the Indian army. It is for this reason that both the army and security forces are finding it difficult even to enforce the curfew. Can this group of nationalists be equated with the separatists who foment trouble in our country. This precisely is the mistake that the government is committing.


A question is being raised as to how the current problem is to be resolved. If the government is really serious about resolving the problem it must just act straight. Follow the law and follow the judicial orders and you will reach the correct solution.

There is an Act of the Jammu & Kashmir legislature, called 'The Jammu and Kashmir Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000'. This Act which provides for the constitution of the Shrine Board, also defines the duties of the Board. 

Section 16 of the Act reads as under:
16. Duties of the Board
Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any bye-laws made thereunder, it shall be the duty of the Board :-

(a) to arrange for the proper performance of worship at the Holy Shrine;

(b) to provide facilities for the proper performance of worship by the pilgrims;

(c) To make arrangements for the safe custody of the funds, valuables and jewellery and for the preservation of the Board Fund;

(d) To undertake developmental activities concern the area of the Shrine and its surroundings;

(e) To make provision for the payment of suitable emoluments to the salaried staff;

(f) To make suitable arrangements for the imparting of religious instructions and general education to the pilgrims;

(g) To undertake, for the benefit of worshippers and pilgrims:

(i) the construction of buildings for their accommodation;

(ii) the construction of sanitary works;

(iii) the improvement of means of communication.

(h) To make provision of medical relief for worshippers and pilgrims;

(i) to do all such things as may be incidental and conducive to the efficient management, maintenance and administration of the Holy Shrine and the Board Funds and for the convenience of the pilgrims.



It is clear that it is the duty of the Shrine Board to provide facilities for performance of worship by pilgrims, development activities around the Shrine, to undertake construction of buildings for accommodation of the pilgrims to provide sanitation facilities to the pilgrims; to provide for communication, medical relief etc to the pilgrims. It is the duty of the State to enable the Shrine Board to become effective in order to discharge its duties in an effective manner.

This Act is in consonance with the secular polity of India. The government does not run religious institutions nor does it manage them. This function is best left to the institutions of every religious denomination. This mandate emanates from the provisions of Article 26 and 27 of the Constitution which are reproduced hereunder :-

Article 26 




Freedom to manage religious affairs:

Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right

(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;
(b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
(d) to administer such property in accordance with law.

Article 27





Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.

No person shall be compelled to pay any taxes, the proceeds of which are specifically appropriated in payment of expenses for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religious denomination.

All faiths deserve equal respect. And the State should not discriminate between followers of different faiths. This is the meaning of Indian secularism. It enjoins on us to create proper amenities, with necessary infrastructure, at the pilgrimage centres of all communities. There can be no double standards in this matter.








The mandate of Article 26 is that it is for the religious denomination to establish and maintain its religious places and to manage the affairs of their religion. It is entitled to acquire movable and immovable properties and administer them in accordance with law. It is precisely on account of the mandate of Article 26 that the SGPC manages the affairs of Sikh religious institutions, the Wakf Board look after the affairs of Muslim religious institutions and Shrine Boards as also the various religious endowments are managing Hindu religious institutions under various statutory enactments. 

The spirit of Article 27 makes it clear that a secular State does not spend the taxpayers' money on religious purposes. It is the contributions of that particular religious denomination which will be used for running the affairs of the religion's activities. It is precisely for this reason that the Jammu & Kashmir Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board set up under the Act requires to be strengthened so that the Shrine Board itself can discharge the functions of providing facilities to the pilgrims and managing the religious shrine. This duty is necessitated because of the climatic conditions at such heights where the Shrine is located. It is the duty of the State to allocate land to the Shrine Board so that the provision of facilities can be made by the Board. 

Any decision of the government the effect of which is that the Shrine Board will not provide these amenities and that they would be provided by the Tourism Department of the government is both contrary to the letter and spirit of Article 26 and 27 of the Constitution as also 'The Jammu & Kashmir Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Act, 2000'. Since the State of Jammu and Kashmir was not allocating any land to run the functions of the Shrine Board effectively, a writ petition was filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in which the High Court passed a detailed judgement on 15-4-2005 wherein a Single Judge of the High Court issued certain directions to the government. With regard to the provision of amenities the High Court Single Judge held that:


"Since the Board intends to upgrade the infrastructure across the tracks and at different places, the State shall immediately permit the user of land by the Board if already not allowed to carry on developmental activities for the benefit of the Yatra. I am informed that the Forest department has already granted permission to the Board for this purpose. Let necessary steps in this regard be taken immediately before the Yatra commences this year. The effective steps are to be taken by the concerned State authorities for effective implementation of the decision of the Board and no interference is caused by any of the State agencies on implementation of the decision of the Board."

An appeal was filed by the State of Jammu & Kashmir against this order of the Single Judge. But this part of the judgment was not stayed by the Appeal Court. On 17/5/2005 the Division Bench of the High Court passed an interim order wherein it issued certain directions with regard to the Yatra. A fear was expressed that the Shrine Board would transfer land allotted to it for user of the third parties. The Division Bench clarified this and stated as under in its interim order :

"The land to be allotted by the Board would be only for the purposes of its user and would remain allotted for the duration of the yatra. The board shall also identify the sites to be allotted for the purposes of 'Langar', erection of detachable pre-fabricated huts and toilets etc. which would not be permanent in nature and which are liable to be removed after the yatra is over. The Board shall identify the person/agency to whom the site would be allotted so as to enable the State Government to screen the activities of such person/agency"

It is thus clear that to discharge its obligations under the Act, the State Government has to allocate land to the Shrine Board. The Shrine Board can allot it further to third parties only during the tenure of the yatra for the purposes of erecting temporary and pre-fabricated structures for providing amenities to the pilgrims.

The above is the present state of the legislation and the judicial orders. Can any body dispute that a law passed by the State Assembly should not be implemented ? Does the Govt.of India or the Governor of the State have an option not to implement the judicial orders? 





A joint reading of the legislation and the court orders leads to a clear conclusion. The duty of providing amenities to the pilgrims is of the Shrine Board. The government has to give land to the Shrine Board for user. The Shrine Board may request others to put up temporary structures during the tenure of the yatra. The revoked Cabinet order precisely sought to implement the legislation and the judicial directions.


The decision of the Governor to return the land allotted to the Shrine Board back to the government is contrary to the provisions of 'The Jammu & Kashmir Shrine Board Act'. The Governor as the Chairman of the Board has no power to alienate the rights of the Board. He acted contrary to the law by not consulting the Board. Land given to the Board was pursuant to the direction of the High Court. The decision to cancel the land allotment to the Board is a violation of the High Court orders and amounts to contempt of the orders dated 15.4.2005 and 17.5.2005.

Is it the Govt.of India position that because of separatist pressures the legitimate court orders and the legislation cannot be implemented?

Is it the Government's perception that the pilgrims going on Amarnath ji Yatra will not be or cannot be allowed amenities and that the State would manage the affairs of the religious place rather than a legally empowered Shrine Board. It appears that the Government of India has misread the nationalist mood of the people of Jammu which is also supported by strong public opinion in the country. This is the first time in history that the Government has succeeded in even alienating nationalist opinion. The court orders need to be complied with. The mandate of the legislation has to be obeyed. The constitutional right to religion of the pilgrims has to be made effective. The myopic attitude of the Government and its snail like speed in finding a solution has allowed the situation to escalate.

I feel greatly saddened by the loss of so many lives, be it in Jammu or in Kashmir Valley. The Government should, at least at this late hour, recognise the gravity of the situation and speedily take a just and fair decision, rather than adopt a do-nothing policy.

We urge the government to act immediately and to restore the original Cabinet order, which sought to enforce both the law and the judicial orders.

With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(L. K. ADVANI)

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