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EDITORIAL Encounters, ambushes and number of casualties apart, as far as people of the valley are concerned it has been a day of crowding the markets as never before during the 11 turbulent years. Same is true of the other militancy-infested districts this side of Banihal. People ventured out in large numbers largely because they had no fear of crackdowns, searches or any type of harassment from the security forces. Business houses did brisk business as if it was Eid purchases. There were indeed cheerful looks full of expectations from the month-long ......more Yet another split in the former Janata Party or Dal is self-revealing. It has been a party of splits, amenable to temptations, personal equations, egos, personality cult. The party that once dreamt of providing viable alternative to the Congress continues to remain in focus neither due to policies nor the personalities but only for recurring splits. This time round Ram Vilas Paswan upstages his arch rival in the JD (U) by announcing formation of Jan Shakti. It is good that Paswan has not retained the ignominous label....more |
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From B L Kak Stained verdict for Discipline in education Gratuitous Gift from US |
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EDITORIAL Encounters, ambushes and number of casualties apart, as far as people of the valley are concerned it has been a day of crowding the markets as never before during the 11 turbulent years. Same is true of the other militancy-infested districts this side of Banihal. People ventured out in large numbers largely because they had no fear of crackdowns, searches or any type of harassment from the security forces. Business houses did brisk business as if it was Eid purchases. There were indeed cheerful looks full of expectations from the month-long respite during Ramzan ceasefire announced by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee. This reflects peoples mood for peace, tranquility and the resultant prosperity. Much more than that people who remain the ultimate arbiters of their destiny and that of the destiny of the State and the country want ceasefire not only to hold but also get reciprocated from those who have rejected it. Since it is peoples will that ultimate prevails, there is no denying the fact that those who continue to wield guns will be forced to have second thoughts about the mindless and reckless blood spillage. After spending a month in most conducive environs and breathing fresh air, their stance against the forces of anarchy and mayhem let loose in the State by Pakistan would get tremendous boost. There will be definite pressure on Pakistan and request to the Government to extend the ceasefire. The only fear in their mind is that ceasefire happens to be unilateral which in layman's language means one-sided. There is thus the danger of a bomb exploding here and there and in the process disturb the peace being relished by them. There could be random shootouts in which the innocent could lose life or get disabled. These apprehensions nursed by them are indeed genuine. This reinforces their silent appeal to Pakistan and those operating within at her behest to give peace a reasonable chance. There is the prominent leader of Kashmir People Nationalist Party now based in Canada and who attended the recent two-day conclave in Delhi who has asked Pakistan to rein in several terrorist outfits which operate from Pakistan and continue to disturb normal life of the people in Jammu & Kashmir State. He is right on course in as much as he describes such outfits operating at random when left hand does not know the right hand. Gen Musharraf likes to call them jehadis as discernible from terrorists. If the General stops them there is the inevitable prospect of such terrorists recoiling on Pak rulers as they wield sophisticated arms and are fully indoctrinated with heavy dose of fundmentalism. But then it has to be stopped. Then and then alone peace has a reasonable chance of success. As stated by outgoing DGP Gurbachan Jagat, the challenge in the State is from foreign mercenaries who have been sustaining the insurgency at high pitch. Pakistan indeed can choke their supply routes which inter-alia means preventing infiltration from their side of the LoC or IB. Mohammed Mumtaz Khan's analysis is correct that without keeping Kashmir on the boil, Pak rulers have no issue to create mass hysteria. By becoming instrumental in lasting ceasefire, Pak rulers fear loss of face. But the massive welcome received worldwide for the unilateral ceasefire has put tremendous pressure on Pakistan. Mumtaz Khan is also right that Pakistan has enough of internal problems and it is time that its rulers address to them rather than engage in frivolous pursuits. Another aspect relates to the former Prime Ministers, four of them, who have backed incumbent Prime Minister on the ceasefire. Normally, it has been their consistent wont to criticise even good things done by NDA Government. In ceasefire they have the hope of peace dawning in the troubled State. Although road is sticky but then given the backing by the entire nation, some breakthrough is possible. None should think that the issues at stake can be sorted out overnight or during the month of Ramzan. No, it is a long route. Only first step is initiated and unless there is element of reciprocity and mass backing by the affected people and the country, no Government could allow the enemy to regroup and restrike more ruthlessly a month hence. Even people of the State are aware that for lasting peace, it has to be ceasefire from both sides. Union Home Minister L K Advani terms the ceasefire decision a calculated risk and confirms that hostile actions by Pakistan on LoC and International Border are not covered by it. It is a ceasefire as far as pro-active role of security forces within the State is concerned. This is a reassurance to the likes of Bal Thackeray and others that security forces remain on full alert and any attempt to smuggle in men and material would be delat with as hithertofore. In fact, security forces are under more strain now to afford protection to the people within as also foil enemy attempts to infiltrate from the borders. Be it State police, para-military forces or the army all are watchful to neutralise external attempts to disturb internal ceasefire. This stands duly manifested in that Samjhauta Express scheduled to arrive from Lahore at 1200 hours reached the border point at 1800 hrs, dark enough for any terrorist to detrain or unload weapons from the very slow moving train. The train was halted by the alert BSF and not allowed to move in. By and large, overall reaction within the State as far as people are concerned has been good. This mood needs to be sustained. Anyone who disturbs this mood gets alienated from the people. Pakistan will be well-advised to read the writings on the wall and reciprocate the ceasefire so that people of this wretched State can continue to beathe freely. Yet another split in the former Janata Party or Dal is self-revealing. It has been a party of splits, amenable to temptations, personal equations, egos, personality cult. The party that once dreamt of providing viable alternative to the Congress continues to remain in focus neither due to policies nor the personalities but only for recurring splits. This time round Ram Vilas Paswan upstages his arch rival in the JD (U) by announcing formation of Jan Shakti. It is good that Paswan has not retained the ignominous label of 'Janata Dal'. If one goes by the track record this outfit should have been christened as the JD (P) and claimed itself as the real Janata Dal. Not so with Paswan. In a well calculated stroke he erases this label and comes out with more acceptable one in 'Jan Shakti'. The fact remains Paswan has a mass base amongst SC/ST and he has always been in the forefront to serve and attract minorities, other backward classes besides the down-trodden. He is also youthful and pro-labour/pro-employees that makes him acceptable to wide cross-section of Indian society. He is quite forthright that his new outfit remains part and parcel of the NDA. One need not go into what happens to whatever is left of the JD (U) under Sharad Yadav. Perhaps, Prime Minister keeps him also in happy frame of mind in the Civil Aviation slot. When compared to other Dalit leaders or parties like Mayawati, Kanshi Ram, Prakash Ambedkar, R S Gavai, Mukul Wasnik or Selja Kumari, Ram Vilas is more buoyant, dynamic, flexible and youthful to capture the imagination of his pro-downtrodden agenda. As regards its affect on BJP, it could not have wished for a better division. More the splits and smaller the supporter the better for the big-brother in the NDA. Further, anyone who can cause visible erosion to the traditional vote pockets of BSP, SP, RPI etc is advantage BJP in the most crucial assembly elections in six States including Uttar Pradesh. With Bangaru Laxaman within and Paswan doing it outside, Jan Shakti not only earns BJP's gratitude but also full support in spreading the agenda as enunciated by Paswan which says, ''People from all religions and castes, including equality for women, will be looked after and welcomed''. He has also vowed not to allow the torch lit by Baba Ambedkar to extinguish. |
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From B L Kak Central Hall of Parliament has for the past three days become the venue for animated whispers and discussions vis-à-vis the proposed political set-up in Jammu and Kashmir. Significance is attached to the sudden spread of reports-some describe them as ‘rumours’-with regard to "secret" activities aimed at wooing segments of Kashmiri opposition and militant groups to form a new Government as part of the process being initiated to resolve the Kashmir crisis. And if these reports are to be believed, a quiet exercise has already been initiated with a section of Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC). This section is led by Mr Abdul Ghani Lone, senior Hurriyat leader and founder president of the People’s Conference. A Lok Sabha member, who is considered to be close to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, had quite an interesting piece of information in the course of his informal chat with a couple of scribes in Parliament’s Central Hall on Tuesday (Nov. 28): Intervention by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, which culminated in the grant of permission to the Hurriyat leader, Mr Abdul Ghani Lone, to visit Pakistan in connection with the marriage of his son, was certainly based on specific calculations. And one such calculation, the MP pointed out, was the product of the undisclosed strategy of at least three leaders of the Hurriyat Conference to help Mr Vajpayee accomplish his target in Kashmir, namely, bringing the militant leaders to the negotiating table for resolving the crisis in J&K. The MP, who pleaded anonymity, divulged that Mr Abdul Ghani Lone had, on the eve of his journey to Pakistan, a clear hint about Mr Vajpayee’s plan for cease-fire against militants in J&K during the month of Ramzan. The MP explained that if there was any doubt about it, it was set at rest by Mr Lone himself during his stay in Rawalpindi with his "quick" reaction in support of Mr Vajpayee’s unilateral cease-fire offer. According to the MP, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is in the possession of evidence, suggesting "a definite change" in Mr Lone’s attitude towards New Delhi. The evidence also suggests the growth of Mr Lone’s "desire" to give a new direction to Kashmir politics. In other words, his "desire" to be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever the ambition or the re-structured strategy of Mr Abdul Ghani Lone and his company, there is no doubt that any major change or changes which the powers-that-be in Delhi would like on the Kashmir scene cannot be smooth without the active cooperation and support from the present Chief Minister of the State, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and his National Conference party. Some Kashmir-watchers attach importance to Prime Minister’s "friendlier" attitude towards the J&K Chief Minister. In recent days, Mr Vajpayee has taken some senior bureaucrats by surprise with his insistence on the need to be in constant touch with Dr Farooq Abdullah. Mr Vajpayee has, according to highly-placed sources, already been informed that Dr Farooq Abdullah, too, is a "changed" person-in other words, he is no longer adamant to operate only on the Kashmir scene; he has been found willing to work on the national scene as well. More important than this are the inputs supplied to the Prime Minister, cautioning him against taking or encouraging any move which can, in the process, hurt the "inflated ego" of Dr Farooq Abdullah and provoke him to throw cold water on the exercise intended to woo various militant leaders and organisations in favour of India in Kashmir. Dr Farooq is not an ordinary politician. He may be a controversial ruler, but there is no denying that his consent and cooperation cannot be underrated or ignored if the Prime Minister, who has of late been directly monitoring and handling the J&K affairs, wants to accomplish the target, namely, resolving the Kashmir crisis and befriending leaders of major opposition groups in Kashmir. |
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Discipline in education via
teachers Discipline means living in an organised manner in accordance with the laid down norms. The universe would cease to exist if there was no world order. Even the planets are encircling the sun only on a well defined route, so why should the man, being an integral part of the universe, not regulate his conduct and movements. Discipline in larger sense The world discipline is generally understood as being confined to physical discipline. A man may be outwardly discipline but there is no guarantee that his outward show of discipline means that he is disciplined inwardly. Discipline is more of an inward attitude. Bodily discipline is not an end in itself. It is the mental discipline which has to be taken care of. When you are mentally disciplined you are morally correct. Also when we discipline ourselves inwardly we improve the quality of our character. Discipline and character are interlinked. Discipline give freedom of thought and action. Freedom here does not mean that you do what you feel like doing. The real freedom lies in one's ability to act as per one's own judgement and not as per the dictates of circumstances. And this is only possible when we raise ourselves to a higher level of consciousness through our disciplined self effort. Education in its entirety There is a common belief that education means literacy. This is a narrow definition of the word education. The Indian thought on education has always been that education is not indoctrination. Education is also not considered only as a means of earning a livelihood though education is required for securing jobs. Education is that which has elevation of mind as its aim. Education is that which draws out latent faculties of power of mind. Literacy is only the starting point of education and end of education is character. Indian saints, mystics, philosophers, have expressed very strong and positive views on education like education is that which deepens our insight, widens our horizon and makes our outlook meaningful. Our great educationists say that education is that which draws us away from fixity of our limitations. A Greek philosopher has said that educated man are as much superior to uneducated men as the living beings are to the dead. Tagore held the view that education must include development of man's spiritual powers and help to build a harmonious self confident personality. Sri Aurobindo the great mystic philosopher of India said that life is a school and education is lfie long learning. Indian views on education has always been that it is meant to enrich one's life to enable a man to becomes better at social, secular and spiritual levels. The Gurukula system of education was aimed to achieve this end. However the education system which we are following in our country today is basically aimed to prepare students to pass examinations for obtaining the degrees which enables them to become suitable for jobs. In the process the emphasis is more on knowing the facts rather than on the development of all round personality of pupils. Hence the need for introducing values education is being felt in our education system. Teachers - A vital link between education and pupils Teachers have not only to enforce discipline in class rooms but they have also to contribute towards character building of their students. Discipline for a teacher means effective class management. A teacher has to remember that WHERE THERE IS LOVE THERE IS NO INDISCIPLINE. Teacher has to love his students equally without tilting towards those who are bright and intelligent. Teacher is a parent substitute of a student and he or she must treat all children alike like a parent. To extend love for the students should not mean lack of firmness. Teacher has to be firm as well while dealing with his students. Teachers must acquire certain qualities which would make him as effective teacher. Teaching is a misison and teachers must feel enthusiastic about teaching. Even if a teacher considers that the society is bad, he must first make himself a person who is a good human being. If a teacher is a good human being he shall always be remembered by his students. It is said that only those who have studied can teach. So a teacher should not be satisfied with his State of knowledge and must always raise his level of understanding by deep study. Life is a school holds good for a teacher more than any other person. A teacher must be a thinker. Only a thoughtful person can become a good teacher. When you are thoughtful you broaden your vision and adopt a positive approach towards life. Great teachers are those who make you want to learn. They attract ignorant students towards them and transform them by their teaching. Teacher is a role model for his students and as such he should demonstrate virtues. In fact a teacher should be an abode of virtues. Teacher will only realize his worth as a teacher when he develops himself intellectually and morally. Some teachers take up teaching not as per their choice. Even then once you accept yourself to be a teacher, you should feel very enthusiastic about the fact that you would be imparting knowledge. An inspired teacher is an asset to the society. Teachers' learning process only begins after becoming a teacher and not before. A teacher must love his work irrespective of the working conditions, teacher should transmit love and should believe in self education. Desire to learn and desire to teach should be the motto of a good teacher. You teach best when your desire to learn is optimum. A teacher should become a saint like our saints who have become world teachers. This should be the ultimate aim of those who teach. |
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Gratuitous Gift from US The news has trickled from Washington that the US intelligence agencies are likely to disclose to their Indian counterpart a 1000-page six-volume manual allegedly used by the Bin Laden sponsored groups to train hundreds of recruits in terrorist camps in Afghanistan. They are to launch anti-American terrorist operations and also forays into the Indian part of Jammu and Kashmir State. Washington has a sound reason to justify the passing of sensitive information to the Indians. The two countries have been hobnobbing with the idea of containing terrorism springing from Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They would oblige India with the sensitive material leaked to her. But the fact of the matter is that India has been regularly providing input to the American foreign office and her intelligence agencies in regard to terrorist activities in the region. She obtained valuable and precise information from foreign mercenaries and the jihadis captured by the security forces in Kashmir. The fund of information provided by the Indians is sizeable and sensitive. The Indian official circles disclosed to the press that this types of information had been placed before the Americans. But the U.S. always took the stand that she would not declare Pakistan a terrorism sponsoring State for want of adequate evidence Now Washington is prepared to tell the whole world how terrorism is being sponsored, abetted and supported I n Afghanistan and Pakistan and how cross-border terrorism is now the recognised strategy of Islamabad in the case of Kashmir. Does the US want to make India the cat's paw to punish Pakistan and Afghanistan? The leaking of the manual appears to have been contrived in a manner as to give an impression to the Indians that in case they decide to take punitive measures against Pakistan, the US would not raise an eyebrow. It may also mean sending a message of warning to Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly at a time when the Taliban have launched a joint attack with Pakistan army on the eastern province of Kunduz in Afghanistan under the control of the Northern Alliance forces of Ahmad Shah Masud. We don't think this gimmick will work. India is not going to attack the training camps because she is y et to learn how to deal with the Islamic jihadis: she may have good experience of fighting battles and winning wars. That is a different matter. Islamabad is not going to pay two hoots to any warning on her Afghanistan and Kashmir strategy. She knows that the US wants the Northern Allies forces to be pushed as far away in the north as is possible so that the contemplated route for carrying Turkmen gas from Daulatabad fields to Karachi via Heart and Kabul is secured through an agreement between the American big oil cartels like UNO and the Taliban. Earlier, contacts between the representatives of UNOCAL and Taliban failed to bring about an agreement that would have resulted in the oil cartel taking up the work of survey and laying of the pipeline. As such, the US declined recognising Taliban or supporting its claim as the true representative of Afghan people in the UN. Information contained n the six-volume manual may not be all that is unknown to the Indian intelligence agencies. In most instances, it may be the rehash of what India has already conveyed to the US and the European Union. Naturally India will neither be thrilled nor become euphoric about it. But with the acknowledgement coming, as it does, from the United States, India has a strong position to ask Washington to declare Pakistan and Taliban controlled Afghanistan as terrorism sponsoring states. This should be followed by imposing sanctions and also an embargo on the sale and supply of war material to her. It has to be noted that the news of the US likely disclosing the sensitive information to India came close on the heels of Russian President Putin's visit to India and the signing of several Indo-Russian agreements. While Putin was still in India and Indo-Russian cementing of ties was receiving the hype, Karl Inderfurth, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia came out with a statement recognising that Pakistan was sending the armed groups across the border into Kashmir to fight the Indian security forces. These two developments indicate Washington's desire that India maintain the new-found cordiality with the US. If Washington understands that a big countries like India are within their right to maintain good relations with other powers, and that these relations in no way jeopardise their understanding with the US, we should call it maturing of the US understanding of the Indian sub-continent. India had been insisting on that while Washington stuck to the maintaining of parity. Undoubtedly, Kashmir has been of much significance in the context of Indo-US relations during past one decade. Washington says that it considers Kashmir a disputed territory. She has mounted pressure on India to respond to the ground realities. Even as of today, Washington says that she is working silently for the resolution of the tangle. We know for certain that among other steps contemplated by the US think-tank on Kashmir, one is to\ stress upon New Delhi to hold talks with Kashmiri dissidents. Kashmir insurgency leaders are constantly in touch with the Pakistani mission officials in New Delhi. The ex-Hurriyat chief flew to New Delhi and was reported to have been locked with the Pakistani ambassador for more than six hours. Washington is fully aware of these parleys and the corollary thereof. Now in the light of six-volume manual that the American are passing on to the Indians, it would be in fitness of things as well as logical to ask the Kashmir insurgency leadership and the Hurriyat top echelons to stop meeting with the Pakistani mission officials and instead travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan to meet with and talk to the Islamic radical organisation leaders to discuss Kashmir jihad in full and its fallout in the whole region. The most prominent among the leaders of religious orgnisations they would be meeting, would be Qadi Hussain of Jamaat-e-Islami, Fazlul Rahman Khaleel of Harakatul Mujahideen, Prof. Mohammad Saeed of Lashkar-e-Tyyaba, Maulana Azhar Masud of Jaysh-e-Muhammad, Mulla Omar of Taliban and Osma bin Laden of Al Qaida. The Kashmiri delegation should be provided with a copy of the six-volume manual obtained by the Americans and asked to discuss its implications in Kashmir. This will help Kashmiri dissident leadership to understand to what extent they are free in giving direction to armed insurgency in Kashmir and to what extent are they controlling the situation at home to make it normal. |
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