EDITORIAL

The last
'gentleman' going?

You may never have suspected it but 'gentleman' is actually the last relic of the stark racialism of the Roman Empire that not only survives into the equal society of the twenty-first society, but is a revered and respected designation. A rough transliteration of the French gentilhomme, it referred in the Roman law to the people who were derived of a stock or gens, meaning that they had a family with name, without any streak of slave-blood in their ancestry. Romans knew two types of people citizens and slaves and gentlemen were of the citizen stock. Somehow that description of inequalities came to be treated as the most honourable of designations and mindsets, standing for honour, equality, and truth, not to forget an essential perception of fairness in all dealings. How iniquitous and enslaving those 'gentlemen' actually proved is written all over last three centuries of the history of the world. Indeed, much of the colonial enslavement stems from a misinterpretation of the term 'gentleman' which became the role model for all things fair and frank when, in fact, there was little to be called fair in the acts and modes of those 'gentlemen' who descended so surruptiously upon the world and stole everything there was.

They stole not only all the glories of this land but also reduced it to a penury that the medieval invaders had failed to accomplish inspite of their depredations, yet we called them gentlemen. Not a single British soul worth his name spoke of the gross inequalities they subjected this whole world to, duirng the two centuries of the British Raj yet we accepted them as paragons of fair-deal. Gandhi, Nehru and all the maharathis of the freedom struggle made stringent appeals to the British law against the unlawful treatments they and their .... .more

 Afghanistan:
Emerging scenario

By Gurmeet Kanwal

Lack of success in the early reso-lution of the present imbroglio in Afghanistan will have adverse repercussions. ....more

TALES OF TRAVESTY
Election stir begins in J&K

By: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Hizbul Mujahideen, a separatist militant outfit, makes a statement, even though promptly denied by ....more

Why development councils for migrant camps?

By A.K.Dewani

It is high time that KPs should now come down to specifics in getting their problems handled and solved. ........more

Is world getting divided?

By S D Sharma

The tragic event of 11th of Septem-ber 2001 made every intellectual to think what course, the ....more

Academic Pulse
Are women colleges really empowering women

By Prof. S. K. Bhalla

The tragic event of 11th of Septem-ber 2001 made every intellectual to think....more

Maintain communal harmony

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

The Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has rightly termed that terrorism is not Jehad. Likewise the ......more

EDITORIAL

The last 'gentleman' going?

You may never have suspected it but 'gentleman' is actually the last relic of the stark racialism of the Roman Empire that not only survives into the equal society of the twenty-first society, but is a revered and respected designation. A rough transliteration of the French gentilhomme, it referred in the Roman law to the people who were derived of a stock or gens, meaning that they had a family with name, without any streak of slave-blood in their ancestry. Romans knew two types of people citizens and slaves and gentlemen were of the citizen stock. Somehow that description of inequalities came to be treated as the most honourable of designations and mindsets, standing for honour, equality, and truth, not to forget an essential perception of fairness in all dealings. How iniquitous and enslaving those 'gentlemen' actually proved is written all over last three centuries of the history of the world. Indeed, much of the colonial enslavement stems from a misinterpretation of the term 'gentleman' which became the role model for all things fair and frank when, in fact, there was little to be called fair in the acts and modes of those 'gentlemen' who descended so surruptiously upon the world and stole everything there was.

They stole not only all the glories of this land but also reduced it to a penury that the medieval invaders had failed to accomplish inspite of their depredations, yet we called them gentlemen. Not a single British soul worth his name spoke of the gross inequalities they subjected this whole world to, duirng the two centuries of the British Raj yet we accepted them as paragons of fair-deal. Gandhi, Nehru and all the maharathis of the freedom struggle made stringent appeals to the British law against the unlawful treatments they and their nation was being meted out, yet no sign of that famous British sense of justice prevailed over the exploitative law and its lords. Those yokes were thrown away by the dint of sheer force of righteouness fifty years ago. One cannot say if prevarication and intrigue were the characteristic of the original gens-men of Roman conception, but the 'gentlemen' of our world have made trickestry an essential ingredient of their 'gentility'. It is there to be seen in the subtlety that goes by the name of internationalism.

It is evident and clear in the sport that is called the gentleman's game. And, people have been entertaining the same misconceptions about it as they entertained about the Britishers and their sense of justice and fair play. There have been allegations that the Denness ruling against the Indian cricketers in South Africa was a 'reaction' against the BCCI's decision that the Indian team would play only as many matches in England in the coming summer as the English team presently on Indian tour plays here. Others point to the England cricket establishment's dislike of Jagmohan Dalmia the present BCCI president. The recent incursion of the English cricket establishment in the ICC-BCCI controversy over the Denness-decisions appears as a pointer to this. Still others see in the decisions clear racial thinking that they say has been the name of the game all along. Nobody saw in this decision any honour, any fairness, any indication of the justice and equality of treatments and assessments. In fact, the ICC rulebooks by which the game of cricket and its controversies are regulated represent the other aspect of those patent arrogances that we saw the designation gens-men really stood for. In the colonial mode it was the 'king is always right' and here it is that the dictator of the game is beyond reproach. India set that kingly prerogative right with here righteous struggle. India may again correct the autocratic attitude in the gentleman's game with the commission of enquiry that has finally been agreed upon after India's stand. Yes, those struggles against un-fair gentlemen would never cease.

Afghanistan: Emerging scenario

By Gurmeet Kanwal

Lack of success in the early reso-lution of the present imbroglio in Afghanistan will have adverse repercussions for India. Though the US strikes have been carefully calibrated to ensure that ordinary Afghans are not targeted and a major humanitarian catastrophe is averted, there will still be a fairly large exodus from Afghanistan. While most of these refugees will tend to migrate into Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs), some of them will eventually trickle into India. The number of Afghan refugees-in India already number about 50,000 and India can ill afford another major influx.

The fall of the Taliban will impel Pakistan to divert at least part of the retreating militiamen to India so that they do not indulge in enforcing their peculiar brand of fundamentalist Islam in Pakistani territory. The diversion of 1,500 to 2,000 additional trained fighters into Jammu and Kashmir will require the Indian Army to induct an additional 20,000 to 30,000 troops to stabilise the situation as the empirical ratio of Army troops to militants to maintain a semblance of normality is 20:1. Also though Indian Muslims are predominantly secular, some fundamentalist leaders are bound to exploit inflamed sentiments and riots may break out in the traditional trouble spots of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bhiwandi and Aligarh, among other towns in northern India.

Handing over power to the Northern Alliance by itself is not acceptable to most of the contenders as the alliance is not truly representative of the ethnic composition of Afghanistan. It comprises mainly ethnic Tajiks and Uzbeks and has almost no representation from the dominant Pashtun community. Even if the alliance military commanders are able to engineer some defections and add some Pashtun warlords to their coalition, they will be few in numbers and will lack the authority to represent the proud Pashtun community. Hence, the US and its allies are working towards installing a grand coalition of national reconciliation led by the former King Zahir Shah after Kabul is liberated. King Zahir Shah, who appears to have given his consent to return as a titular head of state, is widely expected to convene a loyal ‘Jirga' (Supreme Council), to decide on the structure of a new Government.

All the elements comprising the newly constituted United Front and the deposed Government of Burhanuddin Rabbani, which is still recognised by the United Nations (UN) as well as India, are likely to be accommodated in the grand coalition. Once Kabul comes within reach of the United Front, more Pashtun warlords can be expected to defect to it, giving the Front adequate Pashtun representation. The UN will have to play a major role if the new coalition is to succeed in governing Afghanistan effectively and in supervising the dismantling of deeply entrenched jehadi structure. The economic reconstruction of Afghanistan will have to be carefully planned and systematically executed so that the Afghans can be gradually weaned away from the present Kalashnikov and madrasa culture supported by a poppy-dependent economy to more productive and less destructive means of livelihood.

However, the United Front is unlikely to be able to drive the Taliban militia out of Afghanistan completely without substantial help from US ground troops. As the US is unwilling to commit its troops to large-scale conventional operations, all indications are that the Taliban is likely to remain in control of its strongholds around Kandahar and the areas of Jalalabad and Khost where the close proximity of a porous border with Pakistan and the strong support likely to be provided by the sympathetic Pashtun population of NWFP may help it to hold out for a long drawn civil war.

In the worst case scenario for Pakistan, if the Taliban is completely defeated and evicted from Afghanistan, Pakistan will have to contend with approximately 30,000 to 40,000 fully armed and trained militiamen on its soil, including about 5,000 Arabs who are either fugitives from justice in their countries or have chosen to disclaim their national identities and now claim to belong to a sovereign Pan-Islamic nation. As these virulent hordes prepare to take revenge, they will further pollute the already Talibanised Pakistani polity and give a fillip to the nascent separatist movements in NWFP and Baluchistan. The MQM may also exploit the situation to its advantage and create disturbances in Sind.

Pakistan may find itself facing a major internal instability a civil war situation- which its divided army were unable to control. Some analysts have put forward the alarmist view that Pakistan may even break up. However, the likelihood of a civil war is slim and the US and its allies will not allow the stability of a nuclear-armed Pakistan to be seriously undermined. Pakistan is likely to be faced by a long spell of instability on its western border due to the active presence of large numbers of armed Taliban militiamen and the support that the Pashtuns, in particular, are likely to provide. However, demands for the formation of Pakhtoonkhwa will become more strident and there may be widespread unrest in Baluchistan and Sind.

The most likely scenario is that of the United Front, supported by the US, will gain control of most of Afghanistan except the Jalalabad-Khost-Kandahar belt, which may remain in the Taliban’s control, though not as a continuous belt. In such a situation, the Western border of Pakistan will remain active for many years. Pakistan will find it difficult to maintain its territorial integrity and ward off threats of the formation of Pakhtoonkhwa, a state comprising the Pashtun population on either side of the Durand Line. The military-rulers of Pakistan will also be faced with the further Talibanisation of the Pak polity and the army. General Pervez Musharraf's already shaky control over the army is unlikely to survive the fall of the Taliban. General Musharraf is likely to be replaced as soon as Kabul falls. The military regime that may replace Musharraf is likely to be even more anti-India in its stance.

TALES OF TRAVESTY
Election stir begins in J&K

By: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Hizbul Mujahideen, a separatist militant outfit, makes a statement, even though promptly denied by some of its leaders, expressing its inclination to negotiate with New Delhi about the possibilities of its participation in a political or election exercise being envisaged for Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti Mohd Sayed, Chief of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), makes an unlikely to be conceded demand that Governor's rule be imposed in the State before the ensuing Assembly elections. Omar Abdullah, son of the incumbent Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and himself a Union State Minister, makes no secret of his desire to lead a National Conference Government in the State with his father finding an equally respectable slot at the Centre.

As Jammu and Kashmir soon enters the election year, political groups and leaders of various shades and hues have begun issuing statements which are either addressed to the electorate or target the potential rivals. Needless to add that in both the instances the motivation comes from a lurking bid for power.

Even though the Hurriyat Conference, bound by its commitment to Islamabad, finds itself unable to openly bid for power, it is no secret that some of its top leaders have spent a lifetime waiting in the wings to take over the office of Chief Minister in Srinagar. The most striking example is that of Mr Abdul Gani Lone who was tipped as a future Chief Minister way back in the early 1970s but the return of Sheikh Abdullah led him on a different course and his recourse to separatist politics coupled with continuing militancy facilitated unchallenged rule of National Conference headed by successive generations of Abdullah dynasty. Today, while most of the ageing Hurriyat leaders are running out of time and are desperate for a breakthrough, the more recent socalled separatist entrants in the political fray like for example the Hizbul Mujahideen have developed ambitions of becoming direct players in any future political bargaining instead of allowing the Hurriyat leadership to derive mileage by claiming to be their representatives.

As for Mufti Moh. Sayed's People's Democratic Party, the lesser said the better. Mufti Saheb has always shown an aptitude to wield power whether he was in the Indira Gandhi Congress or the V P Singh Janata Dal. Infact, he played the big gamble of walking out of Congress to float a regional party in the ardent hope that this move would throw him up as a natural alternative to Farooq Abdullah. But now, anticipating remote prospects of he himself being voted to power, Mufti seems to be preparing ground to accuse Farooq Abdullah of rigging the election if it is not held under the Governor's rule.

Also waiting in the wings is Shabir Shah whose lack of decisiveness has been his handicap. In other words, he is willing to strike but unwilling to hurt which means that he is tempted by the idea to take over the reins of power but he wishes to evolve a formula whereby he can achieve this without antagonising the separatist factions. Shabir Shah has already lost precious time and unless he makes up his mind fast, the public enthusiasm over his "Nelson Mandela" projection may soon start waning away.

After four weeks from now, when Jammu and Kashmir enters the election year, it would be interesting to watch how many of the other political aspirants and political groups feel lured by the olive branch and come forward to try their fortunes at the hustings. Meanwhile, one thing is absolutely clear. As of today, the election boycott by any of the separatist or non-separatist outfits would be construed as a tacit ploy to shy away from an open test of popularity through secret mandate. In the process, this would also imply a comfortable return to power by National Conference headed by Farooq Abdullah or the next Abdullah scion Omar Abdullah.

Will such an election thus represent the true aspirations of a disillusioned common man? That is the actual question. Will Umapathy feel less disenchanted after the elections? That is the actual question. Or will the unequited voter once again be a victim of the poetic tragedy "Woh Shehr Mein Mohtabir Meri Gwaahi Se Hua, Phir Is Shehr Mein Na-Mohtabir Usne Mujhe Kiya!"

Why development councils for migrant camps?

By A.K.Dewani

It is high time that KPs should now come down to specifics in getting their problems handled and solved. The community leadership has done enough experimentation during the period of turmoil of over a decade now. Specifics have to be identified carefully so that approach to solutions, is pragmatic, logistic, system based with all the required legal authenticity besides being aminable to transparency, accountability and evaluation. Random and casual approaches resorted hitherto have to be halted as these have caused more harm than good. The community is nowhere on a path which could have even a small sembalance of movement towards accomplishment of the desired objectives.

Obviously, the gamut of issues cannot be brought down to the specifics, in one go. The matters shall have to be priortised and settled in phased manner or even simultaneously through the mechanism of assigning these to the Task Forces to be set up for the purpose. Thus the intellectuals and the activists should join to invoke their faculties to describe the required action plans. Beginning shall have, however, to be made from the issues which are urgent. These can without any reservations be identified as remedying the difficult and inhumane conditions in the migrant camps.

Inspite of some small improvements, brought about by people with noble hearts of various political and non-political set ups, the condition of these places has not shown any perceptible change during all these years. One is not surprised to find that the polluted environment is developing symptoms of far reaching consequences inclusive of behaviourial disorders. The situation is further aggravated when the Government machinery both at State and national level are not effectively dealing with their problems. Instead, the so called well wishers as also Government are using these places to further their vested interests. In the process, the energies of these people are getting adverse diversion. Infights galore. The tolerence is completely lost and positive minds face leg pulling. The results are obvious. The migrants are ruthlessly tossed away when they approach the authorities for redressal of their greviences which may even be easy and of small dimensions. A class of touts has emerged with their usual tentacles. Instances are not wanting where even the destitute migrants have to bear a cut from their normal monthly relief payments. The selfish mottos are so high that co-operated efforts for a better living seems to be a far cry. In this dispensation common cases get a serious jolt, generally on the pretext that the community has lost leadership. Authorities even at the highest level both in Jammu and in Delhi have been generally noticed to ignore the urgent and humanitarian demand of these migrants. They are asked to go and come back with representatives acceptable to the camps with full faith. The situation thus faced by this community of elites is really disgusting and things are moving from bad to worse at a highly accelerated pace. This type of bankruptcy is certain to take us to a dead end very fast unless arrested without wasting any fruther single moment.

Feeling the pulse there is as an apparent need to create a class efficient and effective elected representatives of every migrant camp, the elections being most democratic and transparent way through a mechanism acceptable to the Government as also to the migrants. These elected representatives should be then bound in a local self administrative set up through the modem of a well designed MIGRANT CAMPS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (MCDC) with full legal backing atleast for the period till this unfortunate segment of Indian population is able to go back to their places of origin. As far as the migrants not living in the camps and known as non camp migrants, the respective civic bodies responsible for providing the basic amenities are already taking care of these areas. Any how constitution of development committees of such concentrated migrant populated areas could also be considered.

It is in this arrangement alone that the solution to the civic problems with peoples participation can be found. The State Government has already made a beginning in this behalf. Its migrant relief organisation has recently conducted elections and thirty six elected representatives from different camps have emerged who have been formally introduced to the community through media. This process though designed to be set up camp development committees will not be able to meet their objectives unless a proper form as MCDC is given to them. This has essentially to be a non-political activity confined to the development of proper and sufficient civic amenities. The MCDC can have elected member(s) from every camp which can thus develop into a fully competent local self Government agency in keeping with the relevant legal frame work. The State Government has an authority to declare any area as a municipality and there should not be much bureaucratic hassels in doing so. Moreso, when they have themselves set the ball rolling. The Chief Minister of the State, who has been all along favouring decentralisation of authority and people’s participation for developmental purposes should intervene personally to help this unfortunate lot of our people.

While moving fast in this direction it is reiterated that the sociopolitical organisations operating under what so ever banner should involve themselves only if and when required. Primarily the task should be left to be accomplished by the elected representatives of camp development committees through a modality to be carefully evolved for the purpose by them. The community leadership should resist temptation of drawing political mileage from such welfare concepts/moves.

Is world getting divided?

By S D Sharma

The tragic event of 11th of Septem-ber 2001 made every intellectual to think what course, the civilised world must take to combat international terrorism: military or moral?

In early days of terrorism in India, people condemned this evil in the severest terms. Their approach was more moral and less military which intensified the situation, every time. Being the land of Budha and Mahatma Gandhi non violence policy prevailed.

Now the international intellectual community seems to be divided on the issue of combat, advocates of non-violence and human rights asking terrorists to put forth their demand in a democratic manner after shedding the terrorist approach, the others asking the civilised nations go American way and wipe out this evil militarily because it is the only language they understead. Terrorists on the other hand locate the legitimacy of their acts in their religious commands and try hard to secure polarisation.

The heinous act at Manhattan and Pentagon which roasted thousand of innocent lives including women and children presented the most horrible scenes in the history of man. This act also turned W.T.C. towers into mountain of mangled steel and rubble.

Though it was widely condemned all over the world, this was not enough. Were these innocent people any way responsible for the American foreign policy? It is alleged that America has for over last fifty years perpetrated unacceptable injustice to Muslims but the allegation seems to be utterly false because the sympathisers of terrorists tell a different story to justify their act in Kashmir, Chechenya, Kosovo or Philipines. All the heinous acts whether perpetrated against one nation or the other point to one and the same objective; the global Islamic sovereignity.

Now that the civilised nations stand pledged to combat terrorism collectively, every logistic support is being extended to the USA led coalition. Observing the division line between the civilised and uncivilised world very distinct and clear, president George W Bush announced at the top of his voice, "we will not make any distinction between the terrorists and their harbourers. Either they will be brought to justice or justice will be brought to them".

Military action against the terrorists started on seventh October 2001 which evoked a quick and severe anti action reponse from accross the Muslim world desite the assurance given by the campaigners that the air strikes are precisely targetted against the Talibans and Al-Qaeda net work only. They also assured that the collateral damages will be minimised.

President Bush hinted that, war can last longer at many fronts viz military, economic, political and diplomatic visible and invisible fronts but pledges proves weaker as the time passed by. The dire need of timely use of air space and air bases of Pakistan made America yield a little and give a long rope for continuation of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the land where once the lions and goats together drank water at the same spot of the river.

Compulsions are compulsions, if diplomatic on one side the economic may be on the other. George W Bush knows that the Pakistan's play back terrorist activities which are responsible for atrocities on innocent people who are killed one way or the other.

The objectives are one and the same. Pakistan trained the Talibans to capture Afghanistan and carry out the mission well planned in Pakistan. So the justice is that the studens as well as the teachers both are equally responsible for the 11th Sept event but the modern American code is, students we can sacrifice but teachers are teachers they are to be spared, for, American politicians have great regard for teachership. After all they have once educated Pakistan against Soviet Union.

Terrorist activities here continue unabated and the front line news papers give coverage to the related events. This media role too have not been often able to rouse the slumbering human rights advocates or the awakening Muslim clerics who at the shrillest of their voice say, "the verses of holy Quran are specific and unambiguous in their command that in Jehad you cannot kill the innocent women or children. You cannot even destroy the greenery". This Jehad is meant to defeat the evil designs of the opressors, the perpetrators of death and devastation on innocent people. There are also verses contained in holy Quran about the punitive action against the perpetrators.

How nice would it have been if these clerics would have issued the writ about Jehad against those who perpetrated havoc on innocent people at Manhattan. Now if America having every legtimate right of a punitive action is pounding bombs on those who are held responsible for these barbaric acts, why should people see any evil in this action. She is committed to minimise the collateral damages also.

President of Pakistan claims that terrorist Organisations based in Pakistan which operate and carry out their activities in Kashmir do not fall in the list issued by Pentagon.

It is astonishing as to how these organisations are kept aside. These mushroomed organisations are destined to be included whereever and whatever form it assumes. It cannot be glorified and justified as "Freedom Movement" You kill one terrorist here, another will be asked to take his place. You would blow one training camp, another will appear at other place.

Your material approach would but provide the world a timely relief and not any perpetual one, if you want peace to prevail all over the world you are requred to focus your attention on the intellectual front also. It is in the mind set of a population that a conflict lives, we see the effect of it on the physical plane and not the real breeding place. The conflict is nourished at its breeding place by education. So it is education, a positive scientific and rational one which can provide the mankind a perpetual peace by eradicating the evil of terrorism. If any one pollutes this education, and distributes it at vacant places, barbarism and terrorism grows rapidly. It is most important to clean this breeding place and get it occupied by the scientific education so that terrorism is eradicated once for all.

For this purpose, the open debates need to be conducted on a large scale on the issue like (a) common ancestry based on the theory of evolution (b) Religions in the scientific perspective (c) Unity in Diversity (d) value of life that makes man civilised etc.

Though this is a very lengthy and continuous but most effective process. It requires moral courage and straight forward-ness on the part of the states to wage an intellectual war. Diplomacy or appeasement has no role to play at this front.

Undeer the present circumstances the world is getting gradually divided. The line is very distinct and clean. It is a division between the hard liners and the moderates, the advocates of fear psychosis and the believers in perservance, the people having faith in democracy and freedom of thought and the people having faith in violence to achieve political ends. It is also a division between the blind faith and the scientific temperament.

What is required from the civilised nation, it is provision of a chance for better understanding and evolution of an international concensus that can guarantee the freedom of thought, faith and expression. It should not spare any room for tactical conversions from one faith to another no place for the controversial terms blasphemy and infidelity that yield venom.

The religious preachers are required not to let their faith be hijacked by the extremists with the political agenda so that co-existence agenda is got back on the right tracks to save the mankind.

Academic Pulse
Are women colleges really empowering women

By Prof. S. K. Bhalla

The tragic event of 11th of Septem-ber 2001 made every intellectual to think what course, the civilised world must take to combat international terrorism: military or moral?

In early days of terrorism in India, people condemned this evil in the severest terms. Their approach was more moral and less military which intensified the situation, every time. Being the land of Budha and Mahatma Gandhi non violence policy prevailed.

Now the international intellectual community seems to be divided on the issue of combat, advocates of non-violence and human rights asking terrorists to put forth their demand in a democratic manner after shedding the terrorist approach, the others asking the civilised nations go American way and wipe out this evil militarily because it is the only language they understead. Terrorists on the other hand locate the legitimacy of their acts in their religious commands and try hard to secure polarisation.

The heinous act at Manhattan and Pentagon which roasted thousand of innocent lives including women and children presented the most horrible scenes in the history of man. This act also turned W.T.C. towers into mountain of mangled steel and rubble.

Though it was widely condemned all over the world, this was not enough. Were these innocent people any way responsible for the American foreign policy? It is alleged that America has for over last fifty years perpetrated unacceptable injustice to Muslims but the allegation seems to be utterly false because the sympathisers of terrorists tell a different story to justify their act in Kashmir, Chechenya, Kosovo or Philipines. All the heinous acts whether perpetrated against one nation or the other point to one and the same objective; the global Islamic sovereignity.

Now that the civilised nations stand pledged to combat terrorism collectively, every logistic support is being extended to the USA led coalition. Observing the division line between the civilised and uncivilised world very distinct and clear, president George W Bush announced at the top of his voice, "we will not make any distinction between the terrorists and their harbourers. Either they will be brought to justice or justice will be brought to them".

Military action against the terrorists started on seventh October 2001 which evoked a quick and severe anti action reponse from accross the Muslim world desite the assurance given by the campaigners that the air strikes are precisely targetted against the Talibans and Al-Qaeda net work only. They also assured that the collateral damages will be minimised.

President Bush hinted that, war can last longer at many fronts viz military, economic, political and diplomatic visible and invisible fronts but pledges proves weaker as the time passed by. The dire need of timely use of air space and air bases of Pakistan made America yield a little and give a long rope for continuation of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the land where once the lions and goats together drank water at the same spot of the river.

Compulsions are compulsions, if diplomatic on one side the economic may be on the other. George W Bush knows that the Pakistan's play back terrorist activities which are responsible for atrocities on innocent people who are killed one way or the other.

The objectives are one and the same. Pakistan trained the Talibans to capture Afghanistan and carry out the mission well planned in Pakistan. So the justice is that the studens as well as the teachers both are equally responsible for the 11th Sept event but the modern American code is, students we can sacrifice but teachers are teachers they are to be spared, for, American politicians have great regard for teachership. After all they have once educated Pakistan against Soviet Union.

Terrorist activities here continue unabated and the front line news papers give coverage to the related events. This media role too have not been often able to rouse the slumbering human rights advocates or the awakening Muslim clerics who at the shrillest of their voice say, "the verses of holy Quran are specific and unambiguous in their command that in Jehad you cannot kill the innocent women or children. You cannot even destroy the greenery". This Jehad is meant to defeat the evil designs of the opressors, the perpetrators of death and devastation on innocent people. There are also verses contained in holy Quran about the punitive action against the perpetrators.

How nice would it have been if these clerics would have issued the writ about Jehad against those who perpetrated havoc on innocent people at Manhattan. Now if America having every legtimate right of a punitive action is pounding bombs on those who are held responsible for these barbaric acts, why should people see any evil in this action. She is committed to minimise the collateral damages also.

President of Pakistan claims that terrorist Organisations based in Pakistan which operate and carry out their activities in Kashmir do not fall in the list issued by Pentagon.

It is astonishing as to how these organisations are kept aside. These mushroomed organisations are destined to be included whereever and whatever form it assumes. It cannot be glorified and justified as "Freedom Movement" You kill one terrorist here, another will be asked to take his place. You would blow one training camp, another will appear at other place.

Your material approach would but provide the world a timely relief and not any perpetual one, if you want peace to prevail all over the world you are requred to focus your attention on the intellectual front also. It is in the mind set of a population that a conflict lives, we see the effect of it on the physical plane and not the real breeding place. The conflict is nourished at its breeding place by education. So it is education, a positive scientific and rational one which can provide the mankind a perpetual peace by eradicating the evil of terrorism. If any one pollutes this education, and distributes it at vacant places, barbarism and terrorism grows rapidly. It is most important to clean this breeding place and get it occupied by the scientific education so that terrorism is eradicated once for all.

For this purpose, the open debates need to be conducted on a large scale on the issue like (a) common ancestry based on the theory of evolution (b) Religions in the scientific perspective (c) Unity in Diversity (d) value of life that makes man civilised etc.

Though this is a very lengthy and continuous but most effective process. It requires moral courage and straight forward-ness on the part of the states to wage an intellectual war. Diplomacy or appeasement has no role to play at this front.

Undeer the present circumstances the world is getting gradually divided. The line is very distinct and clean. It is a division between the hard liners and the moderates, the advocates of fear psychosis and the believers in perservance, the people having faith in democracy and freedom of thought and the people having faith in violence to achieve political ends. It is also a division between the blind faith and the scientific temperament.

What is required from the civilised nation, it is provision of a chance for better understanding and evolution of an international concensus that can guarantee the freedom of thought, faith and expression. It should not spare any room for tactical conversions from one faith to another no place for the controversial terms blasphemy and infidelity that yield venom.

The religious preachers are required not to let their faith be hijacked by the extremists with the political agenda so that co-existence agenda is got back on the right tracks to save the mankind.

Union Human Resource Devlop-ment Ministry has declared Year- 2001 as the year of Women Empowerment with the expectation that a series of purposefully serious initiatives undertaken by different agencies will help in creating a lasting awareness among women regarding their pivotal place in our set-up. Our educational institutions especially Degree Colleges in a spree to hog the media limelight as usual uptill now have organised a few programmes in this behalf with the resultant superficial empowerment in sight in a wafer thin creamy layer of city- bred women folk. A programme was organised in Government College for Boys, Udhampur sometime past followed by one or two such glitzy shows in two Women Colleges operating in Jammu city.A few years back the then Principal of Govt, College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu had instituted a Running Trophy for the winner team for the yearly debating competition veering round issues regarding women but after her retirement the practice was abandoned because by that time women empowerment was complete and moreover our academically healthy activities are made operational as per the moods of those who manage the affairs at the level of Colleges.

A heart to heart interaction with girl students in Women Colleges will convince an intelligent guy that a majority of them hail from semi-urban and rural areas where the age old practices, rituals and superstitions act as a dampening influence in their empowerment which as per Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary means " to give somebody the power or authority to act". They all (now city dwellers may also be included) are witness to male chauvinism and aggressiveness as also many of them are in the Colleges to keep themselves listlessly engaged till they are suitably married. Owing to societal taboos very few girls get an opportunity to study out of J&K State those spheres which are the sole preserve of boys.

Frankly writing the type of education being imparted to women here as in other parts of India doesn’t prepare them to be bold, assertive, independent, strong willed, courageous, fearless, and above all free and frank. Majority of people club complete women empowerment with mere employment and participation of a few in state and national level competitions though it is a part of the whole process. Empowerment does not mean only admitting girls in Schools, Colleges, Universities, teaching them the routine courses of study and after passing the examination awarding them the degrees.

We need a special kind of course content - one for the boys and other for girl students for Women empowerment is impossible without active involvement of men folk. The boys must be taught the singular need not to be overbearing and dictatorial in their general stance and appreciate the concerns of womenfolk through specially designed course material. The girl students on the other hand through a properly selected reading material derived from various sources may be impressed and ultimately made to cultivate an attitudinal change towards problems affecting their immediate family and society in general. The lessons of gender equality can be taught well in educational institutions by teachers well versed in this special lore and themselves being liberated persons in the real sense of the term. Majority of women are still the victim of apathy and indifference on the part of males and this has been going on for centuries. We need to redesign our text books in such a manner that the message of real egalitarianism is clearly brought home. For this a time-bound action plan is also needed.

Only fully sensitized young women in our educational institutions can dream of their betterment. Organising a programme or two for according lip- service to the whole concept will do more harm than good. For this we need a complete overhaul of our educational programmes and consquent reconnaissance which shall always remain a casualty in our country because we are a nation of gilb- talkers who shall never jettison ineffective rhetoric.

Maintain communal harmony

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

The Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has rightly termed that terrorism is not Jehad. Likewise the attack on World Trade Centre, New York and Pentagon Washington too cannot be termed as Jehad. But an act which is against Islam and humanity. It has been observed by the intellectuals and scholars that the cowardly and ruthless killings of Sikhs of Chitti Singh Pura, Srinagar, J&K on June 20-21 1999 materminded by Osama bin Laden and other groups of terrorists were against President Clinton's visit to India. According to Osama bin Laden the terrorism and brutal killings of persons of aircrafts, World Trade Centre and Pentagon was the revenge of what America did in Iraq, Vietnam and Saudi Arab.

At present, the whole world is in the grip of terrorism tension, unnecessary competition of life and religious fundamentalism. Moreover, due to economic crises and imbalances, wrong preaching and interpretation of religion for dirty politics and self interest and wrong educational system etc. the world has come nearer to brink of disaster. The terrorism is increasing day by day by changing its shape and trends. In order to end the terrorism and communal disturbance, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji composed Shree Guru Granth Sahib which is in composite culture. Moreover, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji got laid down the foundation stone of Sri Darbar Sahib, Golden Temples Amritsar by Sian Mian Mir of Muslim community. Similar teachings by various saints time and again were aimed at maintaining communal harmony, which is need of the hour.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had gone of Masjid in Makka to educate the Moulvi of the Masjid (Mosque) to realise that God or Allaha is every where and every corner of Makka but not only is one side of the Masjid.

There are three questions before the world which need clarification. Firstly whether the sinful and anti Islam acts of Laden is Jehad or not? Secondly, whether Laden is a holy and religious person or not ? Thirdly whether the American attack on said places is justified? As regards first question, the anti Islam acts of Laden is not Jehad and legal as it is clear from the case of demolition of Lord Budha's statue by Laden and Talibans in Afghanistan, killings of two innocent Sadhus Mahant Narotam Dass and Baba Devi Dass Ji of Kali Mandhir, Dhundak, Poonch, killings of WTC and Pentagon, America, Chitti Singh Pura Srinagar and 20 persons of Christian community in Pakistan on Sunday, 28th of October, 2001. As regards, second, Osama-bin-Laden is not a religious persons as it is evident from the Quaran which preaches that the holy and religious persons do not commit innocent killings. As regards third, the American attack on Afghanistan is justified and legal. No one in the world can challenge it in the court of law as it was necessary to protect humanity. The following suggestions may be taken into consideration to maintain peace and protect humanity and innocent persons.

The America should stop bombing during the month of Ramzan as the people remain busy in fast and prayer (Bandgi). This would help America in ending the world terrorism, arresting Laden and destroying the said places. However, if circumstances do not allow it, at least innocent people must be protected.

The terrorists involved in the case of WTC and Pentagon should be interrogated and investigated thoroughly for the case of Chitti Singh Pura. All the secrets agencies of the world should take note of its. The people having any relationship with Laden for any purpose should not come under the influence of Laden and his groups. They should keep patience and maintain peace, communal harmony etc.

All political and religious leaders and social and human rights organisations should stop spreading terrorism for their own interest and dirty politics. Religious leaders and under the influence of political leaders.

There is no need of having conclusive proof to arrest Laden as he is the leader of all terrorists of the world and every act of terrorism is according to him, and he has knowledge of these things.



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