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EDITORIAL Soonafter Prime Minister's return to the capital at least two very significant things have happened. First, BJP has succeeded in capturing power in Goa. Although it is a small State but there is much more to it than meets the eye. For one thing, it shows Congress Party in total disarray on the eve of organisational elections where Sonia Gandhi's leadership is being openly challenged. It seems party refuses to learn any lessons from past mistakes and fails to act in time to prevent its balkanisation. For another thing, BJP seems to have given up scruples and opted to swim with the tide rather against it. The tide is in favour of following the dictum of 'All means are fair in love and war'. Causing defections.....more The four day brain storming session of CPM in Thiruvananthapuram has to be viewed in the backdrop of sinking fortunes of the party both at State and national levels. In the latter case, party is derecognised by Election Commission as a national party. This is a great body blow to it in as much as it depicts the party in poor light in public esteem. At the State level, it is in power as the major coalition partner in W. Bengal and Kerala. In both States its supremacy stands threatened with ...more |
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From B L Kak Healthcare system Sun tzu’s war on namka chu, and its forgotten lesson By Avinash Shirodkar Diwali: A unique By Sarvadaman |
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EDITORIAL Soonafter Prime Minister's return to the capital at least two very significant things have happened. First, BJP has succeeded in capturing power in Goa. Although it is a small State but there is much more to it than meets the eye. For one thing, it shows Congress Party in total disarray on the eve of organisational elections where Sonia Gandhi's leadership is being openly challenged. It seems party refuses to learn any lessons from past mistakes and fails to act in time to prevent its balkanisation. For another thing, BJP seems to have given up scruples and opted to swim with the tide rather against it. The tide is in favour of following the dictum of 'All means are fair in love and war'. Causing defections and dividing its own party has been the exclusive preserve of Congress Party till recently. Now it is the turn of BJP to emulate the golden principle of capturing power by causing divide amongst the vulnerables. It is quite another thing how long this arrangement would last. Goa in fact has gained the notoriety of installing 13 Governments in 10 years. The average tenure speaks volumes about the opportunistic politics that remains pronounced in the coastal State. Right now it is advantageous to BJP because it happens during run-up to assembly elections in many States. It is possible that unless Congress puts its act together and restores full inner party democracy rather than sole dependence on dynastic dispensation similar fate awaits it in other Congress ruled States. Second aspect relates to change of guard in Uttar Pradesh. After horrible performance of Kalyan Singh's successor Ram Parkash Gupta which saw BJP's fortunes dwindling in Panchayat elections, a better incumbent in Raj Nath Singh is sent there. Presently, he is in Central ministry but otherwise known for being better player in the art of politics. It has not happened suddenly. The party has been deliberating change for quite sometime. Massive debacle in Panchayat elections in UP proved the clincher. The delay is largely attributed to finding suitable successor who is faster on delivery. It is to be noted that the incumbent has to be acceptable to coalition partners as well. It seems necessary concurrence has been obtained before effecting the change. By far the greatest reason for doing it is the precarious majority to which BJP Government stands reduced after Uttranchal State is formed on November 1 or thereabout. 22 MLAs go to the new State. Incidentally most of them belong to BJP. So some tight rope walk has to be performed to remain in power in the State. This obviously needs all the qualities of head and heart which only a seasoned player can possess. You have to be doing things on priority to win back the confidence of the electorate as a party that is better than others. You also have to keep the flock together in true spirit of coalition culture based on give and take rather than egoistic dispensation. Ram Parkash Gupta had failed the party or one can blame the party for burdening old man with governing the largest State of India that sends 85 MPs to Lok Sabha. Change of guard in UP is considered crucial because any lack-lustre attitude would have spelt disaster for the party. Here one aspect is quite marked. Raj Singh belongs to the upper caste which has remained the mainstay of good showing by the BJP. This vote base faced massive erosion when upper caste votes started drifting toward others even as votes from Dalits and OBCs did not show any improvement. It is precisely to regain confidence of the upper castes that Rajnath Singh has been chosen to form the Government. It has pleased the leadership besides the rank and file. For the time being dissidence that has been troubling the party gets attenuated if not fully controlled. With exit of Kalyan Singh, it is obvious that OBC vote is hard to come, more so because Mulayam Singh notches up the lion's share. The fact that it is total caste politics in UP and Bihar motivates BJP to restore its original upper caste leanings that automatically get translated into votes. If OBC/Dalit/Muslim votes get divided amongst Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj and Kalyan Singh's outfit even as upper castes do not drift towards Congress, it subserves electoral interests of BJP. There are many other crucial decisions both at party and NDA Government level that have been waiting for PM's return. One really does not know but promise made by Prime Minister to Mamata Banerjee for partial roll back of petro products hikes could become crucial if Mamata insists on it. Given the mounting warlike games in the Gulf region and peace process as good as abandoned there is no immediate prospect of crude oil prices sliding down. In fact, further increases are possible if situation becomes more volatile leading to escalation in war games. There also have been challenges from regional satraps who are all set to form a formidable bloc within the governing apparatus. This includes Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena, DMK and possibly Trinamool Congress as well. This is a proposition that poses serious challenge to the supremacy of BJP as the big brother. BJP shall have to do some quick arithmetic to remain in pilot's seat. It is safe to surmise that the speed with which action in Goa and UP has been taken, BJP both at Central and State levels could be expected to do much more to consolidate its position for the ensuing assembly polls starting early next year in at least five States. Above all, it is equally possible that Raj Nath's despatch to assume command of UP is harbinger to calling early elections in the State because of razor thin majority in the balkanised assembly. The four day brain storming session of CPM in Thiruvananthapuram has to be viewed in the backdrop of sinking fortunes of the party both at State and national levels. In the latter case, party is derecognised by Election Commission as a national party. This is a great body blow to it in as much as it depicts the party in poor light in public esteem. At the State level, it is in power as the major coalition partner in W. Bengal and Kerala. In both States its supremacy stands threatened with public disenchantment of its policies. There is visible flight of industry from both these States due to reckoning labour problems and leftists leanings. This in turn has resulted in unemployment getting accelerated. While the poor have become poorer, the rich avoids the States. On the law and order front CPM led Governments have not done any justice to itself or the people it has sworn to serve. Law and order being State subject is obviously the responsibility of the State Government. Finding its fortunes dipping fast CPM cadres and workers have started strong arm tactics to browbeat the hapless citizens into abject surrender. They seek votes not on the strength or programmes, policies and performance but on the basis of 'might is right'. This stands duly manifested in constituencies where CPM was recently defeated during by-elections. This has affected party's image badly. It is precisely because of above factors that the party has opted for tactical transformation. First, it is now ready to share power at the Centre with anyone against BJP. Second, party now accepts foreign investments in the core sectors. This is anti-thesis of communism. Third, party is ready to form another coalition Government at the Centre. Fourth, it is for giving compensation to land-lords wherever landlordism is abolished. One wonders with these changes how the party is any different either from the Congress or for that matter from BJP. |
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From B L Kak Confrontation between Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, and former Prime Minister, Ms Benazir Bhutto, has taken a new turn, with the latter intensifying her propaganda drive against the former. Ms Benazir, who is the esprit de corps of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has prompted Amsterdam-based Amnesty International to make adverse remarks against "grave" violations of human rights in several parts of Pakistan since the military takeover in the country in October 1999. These remarks have come at a time when Amnesty International has launched a worldwide campaign against torture, calling for an end to the sort of State-sanctioned beatings, rape and violence routinely meted out in more than 150 countries. These countries, according to the human rights group’s report, also include China, Pakistan and India. Amnesty International said in its report: "People are beaten with fists, sticks, gun butts, makeshift whips, iron pipes, baseball bats, electric flex. Victims suffer bruises, internal bleeding, broken bones, lost teeth, ruptured organs and some die". According to the data provided to Amnesty International by Ms Benazir Bhutto, the "worst economic conditions" in Pakistan since the military takeover on October 12 last year forced as many as 724 people to commit suicide. Ms Benazir’s note said that as many as 383 people had committed suicide in Sindh, 241 in Punjab, 61 in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and 39 in Baluchistan due to unemployment and termination of services. Ms Benazir’s note, while alleging that the mass termination of services, downsizing, price hike and unemployment created an anarchic situation in Pakistan, said that the Musharraf regime had failed to conduct even-handed accountability and the increased gas and electricity tariffs, furnace oil prices, telephone call rates and the implementation of the anti-people conditions of the IMF and the World Bank exposed the intentions of the rulers. True, Amnesty International’s report has referred to certain incidents of torture and sexual abuse of prisoners in Pakistan and in parts of India, including Kashmir. But the report has highlighted horror-filled incidents in several other countries. The report said that no individual was safe from violent abuse in today’s world, be it the Tibetan activist or Algerian war veteran, the American Indian or Chechan nationalist. According to Amnesty, while rape and sexual abuse of prisoners is also widespread, anyone, anywhere can be "a victim of torture-regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or political persuasion". In fact, Amnesty’s report divulged that the human rights group had received reports of abuse by State agents in more than 150 countries since 1997, with criminals or suspects making up the majority of victims. The report also revealed that electric shocks were reported in more than 40 countries, beatings on the soles of the feet in more than 30 countries and mock execution or death threats in over 50 countries. According to the report, in more than 70 countries, torture or ill-treatment by State officials was widespread and in over 80 countries, people reportedly died as a result. The report said: "Many if not most of the victims of police brutality in Europe and the USA are black or from other ethnic minorities. Indigenous Americans and Australians are frequently victims of torture or abuse in custody". The report has referred to immigrants and said that they too "are easy prey". Amnesty International says that in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, foreign nationals have died during deportation, apparently as a result of "excessive use of force by police or dangerous methods of restraint". And Amnesty has let it be known: "Migrant workers accused of criminal offences in Saudi Arabia are more likely to face amputations or flogging than Saudi nationals. And in Japan, foreign workers who have overstayed their visas have been beaten and humiliated". |
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Sun tzu’s war on namka chu, and its forgotten lesson By Avinash Shirodkar Thirty eight years ago on October 20, 1962, the Chinese Army’s victorious assault routed the Indian Army in the valley of a small Himalayan rivulet called Namka Chu in Kameng sector of the then NEFA (now known as Arunachal Pradesh). The fight of and for the Dhola post on the Namka Chu was over in less than half a day. It was a prelude to an unprecedented military deluge. It left people wondering as to what was the secret of the successful Chinese military operation, and what were the reasons for the complete failure of the Indians. As natural corollary, one had to turn the pages of history and the search led inevitably to The Art of War by Sun Tzu, who, according to tradition, legend and history, was a celebrity in 6th century BC in King Ho Lu’s Chi state. The Art of War is believed to be the oldest military treatise in the world. The 20th century Chinese Army led by Mao Tse Tung is often referred to as the torch bearer of Sun Tzu’s philosophy and strategy. It is also said that the Chinese owed their success to The Art of War of Sun Tzu, which had been followed, adopted, adapted and put into practice with precision and efficiency in the battle for the valley of Namka Chu. However, with regard to time and space, Sun Tzu and Namka Chu have nothing in common. While Sun Tzu is an animate being, a man. Namka Chu is an inanimate object, a rivulet. Yet there does exist a link. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War appears to have been put into practice in the battle of Namka Chu. The link between Sun Tzu and Namka Chu is still alive as the Sino-Indian border dispute remains unresolved. The political relations between China and India continue to revolve round the livewire called McMohan Line and Aksai Chin. Hence the reminiscence of the 1962 war with special reference to the Namka Chu sector. I perceive a direct application of the theory (that is, The Art of War) of Sun Tzu on the Namka Chu. An important aspect of Sun Tzu and Namka Chu is that it was essentially a land war wherein no air force had any direct role to play. Hence any future inclusion of the air force is likely to substantially change the combat scenario of the application of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War on the Namka Chu. Thus, in October, 1962, in the valley of this small rivulet in the remote Kameng sector of NEFA, was written a chapter of Indian military disaster and political humiliation with the blood of some of the crack units of the Indian Army lacking only in professional leadership. The leaders’ virtue lay in succumbing to political pressures and the entire 1962 military operations of India floundered on the unhappy beginning at Namka Chu. Namka Chu was not only a battle ground; it was a theatre on which was applied The Art of War at a micro level. Namka Chu, seen in historical perspective, perhaps was a case of historical inevitability in which the role of force in history stands vindicated. Force may or may not be used. But force in a metaphorical sense is war and war must be thoroughly studied irrespective of whether it is fought or unfought. Here lay the crux. Here also lay the failure of the Indian, who fought a war but never cared to develop a war psychology. However, it did not visualise the result, the outcome and the future. Nyamjang Chu and Namka Chu, Dhola and Dirang Dzong, Tsangdhar and Tseng Tsong were to be held for political reasons irrespective of military reality or utopia. Namka Chu, apart form proving Sun Tzu, increased his status, stature and prestige. Sun Tzu: "One who remains ignorant of his enemy’s situation is completely devoid of humanity. Such a man is no General; no support to his sovereign; no master of victory. What is called ‘foreknowledge’ cannot be elicited from spirits, not from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor from calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation. Of all those in the army close to the commander, none is more intimate than the secret agent. There is no place where espionage is not used. Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move." Did the Indians possess any intelligence referred to as "foreknowledge"? Did they have any individual(s) which could provide with accurate or even tentative information about the command, control, communication, deployment, disposition or dispersal of the Chinese troops and formations? From all contemporary literary, verbal as well as miscellaneous accounts, the off-repeated aphorism. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed" seemed to have been absent in thought, deed, belief and action of the Indian military. Intelligence - rather the military intelligence - and the coordination as well as cooperation between the civil and the military was rather poor. India’s poor record of tracking the enemy position has been vividly described by Neville Maxwell in his book, India’s China War (page 335): "Kaul could no longer dismiss reports of the strength of the Chinese positions, the power of their weapons and the ease with which they were reinforcing... he could see all.... with his own eyes since the Chinese made no attempt to hide their weapons or disguise their strength." This was around October 10, 1926, hardly 10 days before the Chinese assault. How could India hope to "throw the Chinese out" from the Namka Chu at this late detection of Chinese strength? Indian general(s) certainly was/were "no support to his sovereign; no master of victory". Quite the opposite. The Indian General on the Namka Chu stood exposed as the harbinger of defeat, a liability to his sovereign. It would, however, not be correct to blame the Indian Army for this sorry state of affairs. The role of the civilian intelligence of India too deserves to be looked into. Since the Indian Army did not have an exclusive military intelligence unit, the civil intelligence ruled the roost and was primarily responsible for collection and collation of all matters, information and intelligence origination from the Sino-Indian border area. Interestingly enough, the Sino-Indian border appears to have been perceived by New Delhi as comparatively less important even in 1961-62 vis-a-vis the western India-Pakistan border. China was important to New Delhi, but Pakistan was dangerous. McMohan Line or the Aksai Chin were both problems, but they could be resolved under the banner of Panchsheel and the slogan of "Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai". Tibet was China’s internal problem. But Kashmir had found a pride of place in the United Nations owing to Pakistani intransigence and illegal occupation of Gilgit. etc. INAV |
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Diwali: A unique festival of lights By Sarvadaman The word Deepavali is a Sanskrit word made up of two simple words-'Deepa' meaning light and 'Avali' meaning a row. Thus the word means a row of lights. This day also marks the beginning of a year according to the Vikrama Era. Deepavali also goes by another name Naraka Chathurthi - the day on which Narakasura was put to death by Lord Krishna. This falls on the 14th day of the dark phase of the Tamil month Thula. Diwali is celebrated differently in different parts of the country. But new clothes, sweets and crackers are a common feature for all the regions. In North India, the literal meaning of Diwali is brought out in the observance of the festival by the display of a row of lights in front of houses. In addition, the houses are cleaned and white washed or mud washed a few days before the festival and at night the house tops are lighted up with rows of earthern lamps. In some parts of this region, Diwali is known as Kala Ratri, the most dreaded of all nights. For, superstition insists that evil spirts hover around homes on this day. And so, lamps are lit to keep them away. Goddess Kali is also worshipped and propitiated with secret rites at midnight during Diwali. In Punjab, the Sikhs attach special significance to this festival. The Golden Temple at Amritsar is profusely lit on Diwali day and thousands of Sikhs come to have a dip at the Darbar Sahib Tank. According to them, during the reign of Aurangzeb, Hindus were denied the freedom of celebrating their festival publicly and Man Singh, a Sikh from Amritsar, asked the Emperor for permission to illuminate the Golden Temple and make merry on Diwali Day. Aurangzeb agreed on condition that a lakh of rupees be paid after the celebrations were over. The promise could not be fulfilled and the Emperor's messengers contacted Man Singh and told him that Aurangzeb did not really want the money but only wanted to meet him again. Man Singh came to Delhi where he was murdered by the Emperor's men. The Sikhs have started celebrating the festival with greater enthusiasm after that. For Bengalis, Diwali means Kali Puja. In some parts of this region, people worship their ancestors as they are said to visit their houses on this day. Lights are therefore lit to light up the lost souls on earth. It is customary for an Akash Deepa (Beacon of Heaven) to be placed high over all the other lights on the roof top of every home. According to the Jains, Diwali falls on the death anniversry of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism who discarded his body and attained Nirvana on this day. In Maharashtra, children build mud forts. They are symbolic of Shivaji's historial achievements. He is said to have set forth on an expedition every Diwali and Captured forts. In South Indian homes Deepavali is celebrated only for a day whereas it lasts longer in other parts of the country. Here we do not find any row of lights to brighten up the night but the houses and profusely lit on the day of Karthiga. The head of the family remains at home on this day and actively participates in the festival on this day by wearing new clothes and bursting crackers inthe company of youngsters. On Deepavali day South Indians consider on oil-bath as sacred as a bath in the Ganges. Likewise Nepalese celebrated Dussera and Diwali in just the same manner as Indian do. For them, Diwali is the biggest festival. The celebrations lasts for five days and is known as Panchak. The Nepalese observe the Diwali as a cycle of animal festival. The first day of the Panchak is known as Crow's Day. This dalls two days before Diwali is celebrated elsewhere. Every house holder worships the Crows with ceremony, feeding them with sumptous dishes which are placed in conspicuous places, so as to attract the bird's notice. The Second day - 'Dog's day -- is dedicated to the worship of the dogs with special rites and they are feasted with cooked rice, meat and milk. The third day which coincides with Diwali, is set apart for the worship of the cow and is called the Cow-worship day. Cows are specially venerated as the very incarnation of Goddess Laskshmi. The fourt day, known as bullock's day is set apart for the worship and feasting of bullocks and other domestic animals of the household. The fifth day is the crowning day of the Panchak which is sacred to the worship of brothers by their sisters who put the tilak (Sandal paste) on their foreheads and floral wreaths round their necks and offer them presents of sweets and clothing. In Malaysia and Burma soft music pervades the homes and the lights are lit in copper or brass vessels on Diwali day. In Burma, the festival is known as Tangeeju and is observed during November, that is, about the same time as in India. The Burmese believe that Lord Buddha had on this day descended on the earth after having received enlightment. Therefore almost every house in Burma is illuminated on this day. There are displays of fireworks and people go out in colourful costumes to amuse themselves. In China, a similar festival goes by the name (Feast of Lights'). In Bali, the festival has more significance. The homes are lit up day and night and they conduct a strange kind of dance drama. To them, it is atime when men seek the company of women and the atmosphere is filled with the talk of marriages. Diwali is a national festival in Ceylone and the Ceylonese offer devotion to lights as the symbol of Lakshmi. Sumatra and Java also celebrates this festival and at about the same time as in India. Houses are decorated and illuminations made with joyous enthusiasm. Similar celebrations are also made in the Indonesian island of Bali where even the Muslims participate in the festivals. Notwithstanding all variations in its celebrations in different countries, there is a common bond of festivity found in them in that every one is filled with exuberance and buoyant spirits. That is supposed to be the messenger of prosperity and happiness. Since the festival represents our national culture and promotes communal harmony. I feel that our Central Government should declare Diwali as our National festival to accelerate the process of national integration which is main need of the hour. By doing so the people of different shades of opinion of this country would come closer together and be unified by common bonds and thus usher a new era of mutual understanding and harmony which is imperative for Nation building. |
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