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EDITORIAL

TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE

India has firmly ruled any tripartite talks on Jammu & Kashmir issue involving Pakistan and Hurriyat. A clear line has been drawn for talking to all shades of opinion even if they be militants as they are all sons of the soil. True, some of them have been swayed in the past towards Pakistan. Now that they have begun to see the consequences of dancing to the tunes of His Masters Voice from across the border, many of them are prone to think of peace. How it is to be brought about within the State is strictly an internal affair of India. In fact, Government .....more

BCCI ACTS

Board of Control for Cricket in India and its Disciplinary Committee has announced some token punishment for the cricketers involved in match-fixing. The maximum punishment is for Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma on whom life-ban is imposed. Others have been given mild punishment of five year ban while Nain Mongia has been spared. Besides, no benefit ..more

Pakistan: In possession
of fanatic groups

By Major Kulbir Singh
Everyone was apprehensive when he arrived. In Pakistan his self styled (more created by the need of hour) charisma displayed...more

Pandits, not Pakistan,
are the third party!

By Dr R L Bhat
Except for the Islamic connection Pakistan does not really have a locus standi in Kashmir, Pakistan is an Islamic State ....more

Significance of school inspection, supervision
& guidance

By R R Dubey
Teaching is a non-profiteering activity which is joyfully undertaken in view of professional commitments and moral ethics. It is a .....more

Peace process in Kashmir

By Prof M R Puri
We all know about the troubles in Kashmir. The problem has been with us ....more

EDITORIAL

TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE

India has firmly ruled any tripartite talks on Jammu & Kashmir issue involving Pakistan and Hurriyat. A clear line has been drawn for talking to all shades of opinion even if they be militants as they are all sons of the soil. True, some of them have been swayed in the past towards Pakistan. Now that they have begun to see the consequences of dancing to the tunes of His Masters Voice from across the border, many of them are prone to think of peace. How it is to be brought about within the State is strictly an internal affair of India. In fact, Government has gone out of the way to take all vital initiatives for talking to swayed elements so that people of this wretched State can breathe freely after 12 turbulent years. It has been made amply clear that such talks are unconditional and within the framework of 'humanity'. This is the extreme to which a sovereign country can go and that too for talking to local people and see how far their grievances could be redressed and opinions accommodated. This latest initiative taken by India in fact stems from the overwhelming desire of the people of the troubled State for peace and prosperity. The inputs available with the Government are clear that people are fed up with Pak-sponsored terrorism and that they are yearning for seeing an end to turmoil and bloodshed.

As regards talking to Pakistan, ground work and guidelines are already provided in Shimla Accord of 1972 and Lahore Declaration of Feb 9, 1999. Both these accords with Pakistan reject third party mediation/involvement and there is definite clause to the fact that all problems between India and Pakistan would be resolved bilaterally. Shimla Accord was ratified by Pak National Assembly and to that extent all successor Governments in Pakistan are bound by it. It had changed old ceasefire line and the modified de facto border was re-christened as Line of Control. New maps were prepared and this line properly and scientifically delineated. It was also decided that nothing would be done to disturb this line and Pakistan would respect it until final solution is bilaterally worked out. There have also been several Secretary level bilateral rounds. Lahore Declaration created independent groups to arrive at amicable settlement including one on Kashmir. To that extent Kashmir was not treated as Core Issue but one of the issues. All Groups thus formed were to work independent of each other. Kashmir being quite an emotional and ticklish issue could definitely consume more time. That is why all issues were segregated. Now Pakistan is harping on either third party mediation and tripartite talks. It is conveniently ignored that Hurriyat is not the only body in Jammu & Kashmir. There are many more whose opinions cannot be ignored. There is the ruling National Conference. There is the Ladakh Budhist Association clamouring for UT status. There is the demand for separate Jammu State. Within the valley Hurriyat which represents 23 outfits/parties is a divided house each moving in different direction. Moreover, it has its influence in some parts of valley and not the entire valley One can definitely not ignore KPs organisations. KPs incidentally have been the victims of ethnic cleansing at the hands of those who are now in the Hurriyat amalgam. It therefore reflect bankruptcy of perceptions and deeds on the part of Pakistan to imagine that only Hurriyat represents J&K State. So it asks India to let the Hurriyat delegation visit Pakistan. In fact, Hurriyat has always been closer to Pakistan and derived its inspiration from her. This means Pakistan wants to involve in talks only Hurriyat whose leadership at one or the other time has been favourable to it ignoring all other representative bodies in the State. No sane Government can subscribe to such course.

Another aspect that has been made clear by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman is that only observance of restraint on LoC is not enough. Pakistan must urgently address to various concerns of not only India but also international community. These concerns are coss-border terrorism, infiltration of mercenaries into India besides aiding and abetment of violence. Pakistan has to stop all this non-sense to make any sense of dialogue. Yes, India is prepared to move two steps forward for every single step taken by Pakistan. But being a regular saboteur of all international and bilateral agreements it cannot allow Pakistan to take Indian magnanimity and benevolence for granted. Desire for peace as manifested by unilateral ceasefire does not stem from weakness but concern for peace. It is this aspect that must be addressed by Pakistan so that people of Jammu & Kashmir can live in peace. It is to be noted that Pakistan has only asked its troops on LoC to observe maximum restraint, whatever it means. It has not done or stated anything to withdraw large numbers of mercenaries infiltrated in the State nor given any commitment to cease further terrorism. So India which has been cheated several times by Pakistan would definitely like the latter to take more steps to show its sincerity for peaceful and bilateral resolve of the ticklish issue of Kashmir. Until that happens there is no question of bilateral or trilateral talks. What India is doing right now is to involve Kashmir groups in constructive pursuits so that people can live in atmosphere of peace. Ultimate delineation of borders would be definitely between India and Pakistan. But stage for that has to cross through many topsy-turvy curves under the theme of 'Track-II' diplomacy. First priority thus is to restore peace in the State. Other things would follow. Pakistan must give enough of indication through concrete steps to facilitate such peace.

BCCI ACTS

Board of Control for Cricket in India and its Disciplinary Committee has announced some token punishment for the cricketers involved in match-fixing. The maximum punishment is for Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma on whom life-ban is imposed. Others have been given mild punishment of five year ban while Nain Mongia has been spared. Besides, no benefit match or other retirement benefits available from BCCI would be given to the match fixers. This is probably the extreme to which BCCI can go. This itself stands challenged by those punished in as much as they intend going to the Court. Since not enough evidence that can withstand legal scrutiny is available even as per CBI, for all one knows most of them could undo BCCI punishment. In any case those who fixed the matches are in their twilight hours as far as the game is concerned. By any reckoning such mild punishment for those who have brought bad name to the country, to the game and cheated the cricket fans by underplaying for monetary consideration have to be given examplary punishment. As Indian laws are silent on any action against fixers, it is the Income Tax Department that can play substantial role. If Laloo can be sent to jail for disporportionate assets, there is no reason why all such players who possess vast wealth and fixed assets cannot be dealt with accordingly. IT have already raided their premises, sealed their bank accounts, opened their lockers and carried out other surveys. They have admitted having come across undisclosed assets. It is the greyest area which must be pursued vigorously so that all the ill-gotten money garnered by them through match fixing is taken away under IT laws. Another grey area is the evidence of mafia dons having very close contacts with these fixers. This needs to be pursued to its logical end. However there is a fit case under Anti-Corruption Act against Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma, both being public servants.

Pakistan: In possession of fanatic groups

By Major Kulbir Singh

Everyone was apprehensive when he arrived. In Pakistan his self styled (more created by the need of hour) charisma displayed by him, when he took over, made him an early symbol of pride. He was recognised as the Messiah, but today behind his smiling image lurks a dirtier picture. Gen Parvez Musharraf thought himself to be an enlightened ruler, the benevolent ruler who could possibly change his country's face but the truth is that the Lion of Judah is living in a self created imagery of positiveness ignoring both the crucial needs of the people, who are living in abject poverty. Though Sworn to silence, the other Generals are tattling about each other and the power game are being silently played and to the entire fiasco, the fanatical groups who are the "Demon knight's hold the key. They are dangerous, ruthless and ever punishing and who else than Pakistan military knows best. Cracks are beginning to appear as the furrows on General Musharraf's forehead deepen.

Eversince its foundation in 1947, Pakistan has been plagued by the failure to establish strong democratic institution. The reason is not at all difficult to establish. From 1951, onwards, when the country had become a United States Pawn in the cold war era, Washington felt that the army was the best guarantor of its interests in the region. Gen. Ayub Khan's dictatorship (1958 - 69) was openly backed by the United State Department, till it was swept aside by a popular uprising that lasted three months. Then came Yahya Khan, who ensured that Pakistan was cut to size as the demented desperado power drunk ensured Pakistan's disintegration. Gen Zia-ul-Haq's devilish regime (1977-1988) was spawned by the Pentagon and Defence intelligence agencies, eager for a Proxy war to take on the Russians in Afghanistan.

Underneath, the terrible chicanery constructed by gun rattling men, the country continues to rot. The country's largest city, Karachi has been in a State of virtual civil war, for an entire decade now. On one side are the Urdu speaking children of the refugees who trekked to the new Muslim homeland by the Qaid in 1947. Their organisation, the MQM (Mohagir Qaumi Mahaz) has waged a war. On indigenous Sindhi's as well as the Government several thousand on both sides have died in armed encounters.

The strength of religious extremism, till now, has come from State patronage rather than popular support. The groups that are paralysing country were the creation of Zia who received political, military and financial support from the US and Britain throughout his eleven years as a dictator. The west needed Zia to fight the Afghan war against the former Soviet Union, nothing else mattered. The CIA turned a blind eye to the sale of heroin, supposedly to fund the Afghan war.

It was during this period (1977-88) that a network of madrassas was established throughout Pakistan. These Madrassas had a one single function. They were nurseries designed to produce fanatics. As they (fanatics) grew older they were instructed in the use of sophisticated hand weapons and taught how to make and plant bombs. ISI agents provided training and supervision. The promising ones want to wage the holy war in Afghanistan now, they turned their eye of Kashmir.

Pakistan's oldest Islamic party Jamaat-e--Islami grew in influence during Zia years. Its leaders assumed that they would run the schools. But as the dollars arrived in unaccounted kit bags in plenty, different Islamic factions emerged and began to compete with each other for mastery in these schools and a division of the spoils in dollar filled kit bags. The ISI became the arbiter of the intra, religious dispute and favoured some groups against the other.

The result was birth of madness and insanity. The twisted and self destructive character of the groups that has been mushrooming is hardly in doubt. Every faction now lays, claim to Islam, a moral and political claim to Islam. Disputes are no longer settled through discussion, but resolved by machine guns and massacres, wonder how Hizb Supremo Salahuddin was spared of this predicament.

For example the Lashkar -i-Toiba (soldiers of Medina) is a creation of the ISI. Its political wing Ahle Hadis, wants the Saudi model implanted in Pakistan but without the monarchy. They have supporters and mosques throughout the world including the western power Giants whose aim is to supply cadres and money for the world wide Jehad. Its the leading group in the Jehad to liberate Kashmir. Harkat-ul-Ansar (volunteers movement) once funded by the US and backed by the ISI was declared a terrorist Organisation by the US Government. It promptly changed its name to Harkat Ul Mujahideen. Saudi terrorist Osama Bin Laden, continues to maintain close contact with the ISI and his supporters have warned the Pakistan Government that any attempt to abduct him or ban his organisation would lead to an immediate civil war in Pakistan. They boast that the Pakistan army will never agree to be used against them.

During the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore which was so refreshing to both countries, but definitely an alarming one for Parvez Musharraf and his gangsters, had made the undergrounds to think a lot as regards their future. The Indian Prime Minister had demanded as a gesture of goodwill from Pakistani side to disarm the Lashkar boys. But when a leader of the group was informed of this request by Pak Officials he replied; 'Try and disarm us if you can, if you do we will have to do now, what we were planning to do in two years time. Its up to you." It is this desire for a head on clash, this urge towards an explosive encounter, even if they in turn lose everything that makes the new wave of Islamic warriors in Pakistan extremely dangerous. Mercifully for Pakistan, they still constitute a minority in the country but this equation could change. A living and dreaded example of this is the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Musharraf's ideas and intentions are right but good intentions alone cannot change Pakistan. The Army is no longer an unified institution. Well organised and strictly Islamic Zealots have penetrated its core. The Sipah-e-Sabha, the Sipah-e-Mohammad the Lashkar-i-Toiba and Harkat Ul Mujahideen are all hungry for power. The preferred made is the Taliban. If such a faction were even to take over the Pak army's the possibility is not as remote as it seemed a few years ago especially the nuclear weapons it would dearly acquire a frightening new significance. The General's spirit and soul is in possession of these Demon Knight's moving around with guns, missiles and rockets. Any move against them would invite trouble for Pakistan as an existing country.... a fatal and destruction oriented trouble and the order is unlikely to change..... forget about the democracy for the time being.

Pandits, not Pakistan, are the third party !

By Dr R L Bhat

Except for the Islamic connection Pakistan does not really have a locus standi in Kashmir, Pakistan is an Islamic State and the Valley of Kashmir is a Muslim majority province of the J&K State. Apart from that circumstance, there is no reason legal, political or social for Pakistan to seek a say in the affiars and fate of Kashmir. All Pakistani actions over the past fifty years, from the tribal invasion to jehadi lashkars, are stark aggressions in the terms of international relations. All are motivated by the religious fervour. The only justification that even Pakistan has given is 'aiding the brethren in faith'. In fact, it was not a dispute that India took to UNO but a specific plaint that Pakistan had invaded her territory and be restrained.

It was that aggression and occupation, in true medieval style in the wee hours of independence, that forced Kashmir to accede to India. Even if it is granted that Kashmiris have some genuine grouses with India- to which they acceded, of their own will, at the hands of their tallest leader- Pak occupation of a third of her people and territory cannot be justified on any account. Indeed, the Pak fiddle bearers in Kashmir- from Amanullah Khan to Hurriyat concoction, on to Salahuddin of the Jehadi Council- realize the indefensible position of Pakistan in Kashmir. The best these apologists of Pakistan can put forth is a 'promise' that 'Pakistan will relinquish its hold at the opportune time' or that 'we'll deal with Pakistan later'.

Now that is a tacit acceptance of the fact that Pakistan does not have any claim here that she is a usurper. It is pertinent to note here that people generally get into confusion regarding the Indian versus Pakistani 'claims' on Kashmir. It has become a frequent practice now, with the foreign media-- and others too who pretend to be 'impartial' on Kashmir- to refer to 'Indian occupied' and Pak occupied' Kashmiris. Whatever be the admissibility of the 'right' of Kashmiris- that is the Kashmiri Muslims- to revise or renegotiate the accession status now, it remains an incontrovertible fact that Kashmir as a part of the State of J&K acceded to India as per the provisions of the legitimate, and in force, law that governed the freedom of the subcontinent.

In fact that is what the UN Security Council resolution of August 13, 1948 held about Kashmir. It asked Pakistan to remove all its forces and machinery and also ''secure the removal of the tribals and other Pakistani nationals from the territories of the State' prior to any final settlement. While the settlement was left to be arrived at, the resolutions were clear on the Pakistan's obligation to 'evacuate the territory' of Kashmir. That was the reason why Pakistan did not accept those resolutions, even though she would now swear only by them. Remember that was Jinnah's Pakistan still guided and lead by the quid-e-azm. She, in fact, had been looking for a religious precipitation and kept wriggling out of any settlements.

Be that as it may, one point is clear, that Pakistan does not have any right or say in Kashmir- neither de jure, nor morally, nor politically. When the Hurriyat leaders carp on inclusion of Pakistan as a party to the Kashmir dispute they are only repaying their own debts to Pakistan. Yes, paying their personal debts with the fate and future of the people of Kashmir. As Srinagar-based weekly, Chattan said in a recent analysis (14-10-00), the prominence as well as leadership of the Hurriyat people is all of Pakistan's courtesy. They are there,because Pakistan props them and keeps them afloat, now with dinners in the Pak embassy, now with spectacles like OIC, always with publicity, and men and materials through dozens of outfits, innumerable conduits.

No wonder they would not sit back and see that they are actually speaking against their 'cause' when they demand the inclusion of an aggressor and illegal occupier of their own territory as a party to any settlement with the Indian government. They illogicality of the situation becomes striking once you take away the common denominator of Islam. Yes, the demand for Pakistan's inclusion in the 'talks' on Kashmir is in ironical negation of the very principles of the so-called tehrik-movement- in Kashmir.

On the other hand, there isa section of people who have a claim to Kashmir before any Pakistani, Afghani, Sudanese or any body else. That is the Pandits of Kashmir. Yes, there is a third party to the Kashmir dispute and that is these non-Muslims of Kashmir. They are the aborigines of Kashmir. Theirs is the legacy that defines Kashmiriat. Theres, the culture that gives Kashmir its distinctive flavour and identity. Afghan topee is not the culture of Kashmir nor the chogas that have now become current thanks to the terrorists' dictats.

Kashmiriat is not the promotion of Urdu, a language foreign to each and every Kashmiri. The idiom that the Pak-proposed groups spew forth is not the Kashmiri vintage. The distinctive elements of Kashmiriat come from Kashmiri Pandits; are preserved by them. Prior to the forced Islamisation of Kashmir, of the Pak-Afghan variety, that distinctiveness was a shared value among all Kashmiris. to take just one poignant example, the 'hal' symbol of National Conference, as well as its strikingly red flag come from the late D P Dhar and his associates in the nascent leftist movement of 1930s that finally merged with the Muslim Confernce to merge as the National Conference.

Kashmiriat was the characterisation of that milieu in which the Hindus and Muslims were co-partners. Today, the illegitimate power of guns has forced that 'part of Kashmir' out of the valley, while the Pak-prompting is making its mouthpieces raise the 'inclusion of Pakistan' to shrill crescendos. Amid the blasting guns and Hurriyat bombast, the claims of that inalienable part of Kashmir are threatened with exclusion, while it is ultimately their fate and future of this minority of Kashmir that will be most affected in any dispensation on Kashmir. That claim cannot be- must not be-ignored in Kashmir.

Kashmir needs to be talked over, needs be settled, but it will have to be full Kashmir, all parts of it, the Kashmiri Muslims as well as the Kashmiri Hindus. Incidentally, Pakistan does not hold any parts of Kashmir province as such under its occupation. It holds vast chunks of the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, about a fourth of the total area, but none of what is known as the valley of Kashmir. There are only two sections there- the Muslims and the non-Muslims of whom the Pandits form the overwhelming part. These are the 'parties' to Kashmir 'dispute'- India, Muslims and non-Muslims of Kashmir.

Whatever grievances the majority community may have, the minority community too has a right to have its apprehensions heard and to secure guarantees for its rights. It is not only undemocratic but outright unjust to subsume this important segment of the populace of Kashmir within the majority say, especially because they lay their fears and deprivations at the door of the majority itself. Equally important is the fact that the political inclinations of this segment of Kashmir are diametrically opposed to those of others in Kashmir. In that their views are un-coloured by the terrorists' fear, they represent the elements of sanity in the present day Kashmir (probably, not unreciprocated by many in the majority itself). But mind their claim rests primarily on their own being, their being the citizens of the valley.

Over the last decade or so, there has been a systematic campaign to exclude the Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir scenario. Much has been written about the fact that vast sums are being made available to buy their properties so that they are practically ousted from the Valley. On the administrative level, denying them their share in State employments and funds is nothing short of a foul conspiracy. While appointments and allocations are done on the basis of population taking the Pandits along with the Muslims to reckon the population and shares for Kashmir. After funds and positions that may accrue to this segment go to Kashmir, they are ultimately denied any share in it.

On the political level, while the powers that be are now ready to run to every gun-trotting militant in his hideout, this important and visible section of the Kashmiri populace is simply getting overlooked. Certainly we are living in a democratic setup that prides itself on justice and equity. Or, are we ? Going by the manner in which the rights as well as grievances are being appropriated with the power of violence by sections of the people especially in the State of J&K it would appear that rights per se do not matter. Shall this travesty be allowed to continue or be countered ?

Today, the theme and thrust of Kashmir has been virtually hijacked by the terrorists and their thinly veiled spokesman masquerading as the Hurriyat. In the mists of terror sight is often lost of the fact that after all, the Hurriyat has a very narrow base in Kashmir and that Farooq Abdullah still continues to have the largest support there. The eager-for-solutions people are rushing into Hurriyat compounds with closed eyes when they insist that this is the lone group speaking for Kashmir.

In their mad rush, they plaintly ignored the claims of other groups, other peoples and parties to the land and rights of Kashmir. The most prominent of them-probably, the most neglected too-- are the Kashmiri Pandits. They are inseparable from any solution of Kashmir, any dispensation on Kashmir. Indeed any settlement on Kashmir shall remain incomplete unless this minority of Kashmir is taken into account, for it will affect them the most-socially, economically and politically.

Significance of school inspection, supervision & guidance

By R R Dubey

Teaching is a non-profiteering activity which is joyfully undertaken in view of professional commitments and moral ethics. It is a spontaneous action of the teacher who invests maximum interest while attending the class-room with the back-ground of richer contentivity, teaching technology and advance preparedness. Consequently, he derives most of the pleasure and joy in making his substantial contribution for the welfare of the society in general and shaping future of the children under his custody in particular. In order to achieve ultimate goal of success in the academics, teaching is an instrumental approach to gear up the innate potentialities of the child as well as help channelising his energies. An effective class-room can develop erudition among students through positive approach of the teacher. No doubt, the task is quite valuable and matchless yet it is not so easy to focus the academic reflexion in the class-room on one hand and evaluate the same simultaneously on the other hand. Therefore, there is urgent need of sovereign inspecing authorities to assess the performance of the teacher and guide him accordingly. Thus, inspection comprising supervision & guidance is also an obligatory component of teaching-effectiveness.

Since old times, the term inspection has become very familiar, borrowed in education from Military or Police service in order to review the work under controlled environment pointing out weaknesses on spot with a token of punishment recommended to a specific degree. However, with the advent of time, this has now been replaced by the term supervision in administration which according to New Webster Dictionary means to oversee, direct or manage a school system as an Incharge of the project, course or teachers-team. Therefore, it has become necessary for the supervisory authority to witness and guide the teacher in order to improve his class-room work after visualising one's teaching behaviour, managerial skill, content-analysis, teaching methodology and watching activity based teacher-pupil interest.

The Inspection & Supervision authority needs to check personal duties & responsibilities of the head of the institution with regard to the provision of material facilities, budgeting, financing, distributing books & Uniforms besides supervising teaching-learning. situation by visiting class-room, suggesting revision of curriculum where deemed necessary, examining home-work of the students in various subjects, inspecting teacher's diaries & conducting teacher's conferences. The faults of the teacher should not be pointed out before the students. These may be discussed with the teacher after the period is over in a very friendly environment, avoiding teacher to be rash, offended or harrassed.

This provides the teacher an opportunity to realise/visualise academic competencies having strengths as well as imbalances in the delivery of his lesson and this will also help him with suggestions for further improvement. The term inspection & supervision has got a wider connotation giving a significant place to the moral role of the public. As per the report of UNI, dated August 18/2k, one of the Rajya Sabha members laments due to lack of toilets and drinking water facility in Delhi Schools, for which administration can be more stronger if the public also join hands for the welfare of the schools in their locality. In our State also, Minister of Education has assigned a responsible position to the Village Education Committee members to wait and watch the school activities after noticing the loopholes which may have become obstructions in the smooth functioning of the local schools. These members can contact the inspecting authority directly or indirectly to brief down the provisions for which the school is lagging behind and also can give remedial suggestions on such issues. We can expect best results only when each and every individual takes keen interest for the betterment of the school existing in his locality.

The primary, middle & secondary schools which from a sizeable segment of the entire spectrum of education needs to be inspected & supervised effectively by our Administrative Officers viz: CEO, Dy. CEO & ZEO. The Tour Programme of each ZEO needs to be revamped with cognizance of the Dy. CEO and CEO. As the State Government has recently decided to station the Dy. CEOs separately alloting a suitable number of Zonal Officers under him, he must wet tour programmes of all such Zonal Officers under his jurisdiction on the Ist day of each month and must send it on the other day to the concerned CEO While granting approval with some modification or change if needful. The tour must begin from the 3rd day of every month. However, the higher level meetings & emergencies should be kept on priority with the immediate information to the CEO of the concerned district.

The Chief Education Officer needs draft its tour programme for visiting High Higher Secondary Schools besides that of Primary Schools, Mobile Schools which are already visited by the ZEOs. This will also help to supervise the ZEO's field work.

CEO or Dy. CEO will inspect High or Higher & Secondary schools within his jursidiction as per his power vested in him admissible under rules strictly in the light of the touring programme. One school in a day with one other (Primary Middle School) for the sake of ZEO's supervision shall be the minimum exercise. He will go to primary or middle school for an hour or two and get the logbook examined by him besides evaluating the overall performance of the students in studies. The inspecting officer needs to send two types of response sheets after assessment of the school activities viz; 1) Informative Report 2) Descriptive Report. The Informative Report must reflect the complete data of the school whereas the descriptive report will with the performance of every teacher in each class-room as well as in organising school activities. The informative report will include information about the school with respect to staff, accommodation, furniture, teaching aids & other activities as a ready reckon of the school. The Informative Proforma will be submitted to the Director School Education, Jammu for wetting purpose, thereupon, to be supplied to each of the High/Higher Secondary School. This proforma will be filed by the head of the institution and copy of the same will be handed over to the inspecting authority at the time of the inspection who will send this report to the concerned District Education Planning Officer for further transmission to Chief Education Officer after his analytical observation. The concerned CEO will issue the instructions accordingly and take up the priorities in this behalf with the related agencis.

The descriptive Report, in addition to it, will be based on the assessment to be made by the inspecting authority for the detailed School activities. Thus, the inspection and supervision will gear up the exposition of the talent lying in the teacher as well as in the learner and shall be an instrument to encourage, motivate & appreciate the teacher for further improvement.

Professor Mohiudin has rightly remarked supervision as over seeing of work done by teaching staff & students with regard to school activities and not a check to find faults of others. Therefore, it is the duty of all the Indians to involve themselves for the welfare of children and make each school an example of excellence.

Peace process in Kashmir

By Prof M R Puri

We all know about the troubles in Kashmir. The problem has been with us since 1947. We have gone through three full scale wars. But the recent phase of proxy war launched by Pakistan has been the worst. Nearly a decade of violence has traumatized Kashmiri society.

I was in Srinagar from 1958 to 1966 as Head of the Post Graduate Department of Maths of Kashmir University, situated on the Nagin Lake near the holy Hazratbal shrine. The atmosphere on the campus was most peaceful and friendly. Can you believe that even on Fridays, we had no special break for Jumma prayers. No body objected. The teachers and the students alike believed that work is worship.

Again, I was there from 1973 to 75 as Director of Colleges this time. I had the honour to work with Lone Sahab first. He was my Education Minister. After he resigned I had the privilege to work with Mufti Sahab who took over from Mr Lone as Education Minister. They had visibly different temperaments that explains why they are in different streams of Kashmir Polity today. Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat who is presently chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, was Professor of Persian then in Govt College Baramulla. I had very cordinal relations with Geelani Sahab and always felt happy to oblige him. Human equations were perfectly smooth and easy at that time. We all know the situation today.

I think Pakistan played the most cruel joke with the peace loving people of Kashmir by inflicting a proxy war on them which has caused untold misery and given a jolt to human relationships.

Several attempts have been made from time to time to diffuse the situation in the Valley by well meaning individuals and organisations. Some bold steps have also been taken. One such bold step was taken by Prime Minister Rao in 1996 when after the militancy had been sufficiently contained GOI decided to hold elections in the State for renewal of the democratic process. A democratic Government was put in place.

Mr Baker, United States Ambassador in India at that time was invited by the University of Jammu to give a talk on Indo-Pak relations. After the talk, questions were invited. Some one from the audience asked: "Mr Ambassador, now that a democratic Government duly elected by the people has been installed in the State, will you please ask your Government to advise Pakistan to give peace a chance here", The Ambassador replied, "Certainly, in fact, we have always been doing that. "The renewal of the democratic process, though fruitful in many ways, did not silence the gun. The problem in Kashmir has persisted. Peace efforts have also continued.

Last week, a Mumbai based NGO international centre for Peace Initiatives, supported by Chr Michelson Institution, OSLO Norway, organised a two day symposium on 25th and 26th November 2000 in Delhi on the theme "Next steps in Jammu and Kashmir: Give peace a chance". This peace initiative had been taken at the most appropriate time when PM Vajpayee's unilateral ceasefire provided a turning point in the Kashmir situation. The participants represented a broad spectrum of public opinion of Kashmir, Jammu and POK through its foreign based nationals who attended the conference. There was a lone participant from Pakistan, Mr Mukhtar Ahmed Ali of Area Study Centre, Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad.

Though the friends from Kashmir began their speeches narrating their tales of sorrow and sufferings and excesses of the security forces, everyone of them including the APHC chairman Mr Yaseen Malik ended by welcoming the ceasefire and what is more important they expressed their faith in the sincerity of Prime Minister Vajpayee. It was stressed that the next step in J&K had already been taken by Prime Minister Vajpayee and all that remained to be done was to appeal to Pakistan and the insurgents to respond positively to this step. If they did that and provided some breathing time, the next step of ‘talks’ would become inevitable.

The broad consensus that emerged at the symposium was that ceasefire, confidence building measures, talks: these were the next steps in J&K to give peace a chance. Once the talks started, they would generate their own momentum and if Pakistan showed the necessary patience, hopefully a situation might emerge which could be termed as victory of sanity and defeat of none. They symposium ended in this optimistic note.

As an appendix it is worthwhile mentioning a few facts:-

A new dimension was added to the deliberations by Dr Hari Om and Thakur Gulchain Singh. They laid emphasis on the association of the people of all the three regions of the State with the peace process. This view point was noted and taken care of in the recommendations of the four working groups that were set up on the second day of the seminar to consider in detail various aspects of the issue.

The British parliamentarian Lord Auebury also suggested in his presentation that an intra-region dialogue should be held in the State before the peace process began.

Intellectuals from PoK now settled in UK, Canada and USA went a step further and in private conversations expressed a desire for re-unification of J&K State as it existed before 1947 so that groups representing different sections of population, faiths and political views could sit together and discuss the future of their State.

Vajpayee's offer of unilateral ceasefire is a continuation of his Lahore visit in quest of peace. It has added new dimensions and new players to the Kashmir imbroglio who in turn have thrown up new possibilities of its peaceful resolution. If the parties concerned grasp the opportunity and start the dialogue, it will be the best gift of the sub-continent to President Clinton before he relinquishes his Presidency in January, 2001.
 



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