Mail

Army picket at Dhosa

Sir,

Kindly refer to the news published in the local news paper of Excelsior etc. about the killing of two innocent Gaddies at the hands of militants at Dangsani Dhaar situated above mountain terrain of Dhosa village.

This killing as per news papers has flared up communal tension, particularly, in the villages of Dhosa dominated by Hindu community and also in Bharthi village dominated by Muslim community where some houses were gutted in reaction.

In order to get immediate control over this communal tension on permanent basis, it is quite imperative to ensure a permanent Army Picket either at Dhosa village or at Bharthi village as the matter is quite of a serious nature and requires immediate measures for checking up its further escalation otherwise in the peaceful area so far.

The prominent people of the area are demanding an Army picket or Police Chowki at Dhosa or Bharthi village at the earliest.

Yours etc...
Residents
Through H L Hitaishi,
Ex Mos, President
J&K Anusuchit Parishad.

George's reinduction

Sir,

About 6 months back, our then Defence Minister Mr. George Fernandes gave his resignation from his post in wake of Tehelka Expose. At that particular time he made a statement that he would not join the ministry until all and the charges against him will not be cleared.

But on 15th of October, this year he was again sworn in as the Defence Minister of our country and that too when the enquiry of Venkataswami Commission has not been completed. Is this all a political stunt or our country really needed him as the NDA has given the clearance that after 11th Sept. episode of America, our nation needed a full time Defence Minister? But this does not seem to be convincing and even if this is the real answer then why only Mr. Fernandes?

It's not a matter of political turmoil nor the question of charge of Defence Ministry, but it is a question of morality and ethics. Our Prime Minister could have waited for the Venkataswani Commission to present their report and until that he should have given this portfolio to some other person in case Jaswant Singh could not handle it.

Yours etc...
Suvidha Khanna
M.Com (Ist Semester)
Jammu University.

More facts about Amarnath

Sir,

In continuation of my earlier letters published in September pertaining to the Discovery of Lord Shivas cave temple and article on the same by Mr. Pervez Dewan Commissioner-cum-Secretary Tourism J&K Government in your esteemed paper of 9th Sept. 2001. The contention of the author that Amarnath Ji Cave got lost for thousands of years is unfounded.

It is very clearly mentioned in verse 267 Book I of Kalhanas Rajtarangni that Pilgrims used to proceed to Amreshvara (Amarnath Ji Cave) along the traditional route via Shushrannagm (Sheshnag) and Panjtarangini (Panjtarni) in the middle of 12th century.

Zain-ul-Abdin the pious Muslim king of Kashmir has visited Amarnath Ji Cave by middle of 15th Century has been recorded by his chronicler Jonaraje.

According to Vigne in his book" Travels in Kashmir, Ladakh and Iskardu 1842" has indicated that Dr. Francious Buanier who accompanied Emperor Aurangzeb to Kashmir in 1663 intended to visit from Bernier's discription must have been Amarnath Ji Cave but was prevented.

Vigne after his return from Tibet and Ladakh sometime in 1840-41 during the rule of Sher Singh son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab tried to visit Amarnath Ji in late season which forced him to retreat from Vayar Janna ( Vowjan) due to bad weather.

Secondly, the recently discovered Shiva's Cave temple near Mapat Gund below Astanmarg could not have been the base camp for Amarnath pilgrimage as suggested by Pervez Dewan as it is not located along the traditional approach to Amarnath Ji Cave via Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni as mentioned in Bringesh Samhita and Amarnath Mahatmayas. The performance of ablutions at these and other places was a must for Amarnath Ji Yatra. The said temple near Hapstgund could have been a halting place on the return journey route (abandoned since the beginning of 20th century) via Amar Veth (Amarnath Nar), Poshpathri, Hatiara Talab Sachkach (Sasskat pass), Astanmarg and Zanin. This route was given up due to being the most difficult, dangerous and prone to accidents.

Vivekananda along this route in 1895 and referred in his narrative the Hatyara Talab as celebrated lake of death.

Your etc...
M M Munshi
24 A/C Gandhi Nagar
Jammu.

Regulate Maharashi's channel

Sir,

Kudos to your Editorial "Regulate the Cable" dated 15.10.01 it seems we, Indians, as a whole are lifeless people, tolerating every thing, big or small. From terrorism (blasting of Assembly House while in session,) to the devouring up ration articles meant for flood, draught, quate victims or even for school children.

Though full charges are regularly paid, the Cable walas are playing with our sentiments and we go on watching it patiently. Almost all drawbacks are pointed out in your esteemed editorial a small but valuable instance is added here:

There is a regular 24 hour channel, telecasting Maharashi Mahash Yogi's Veda vision and demonstrations on Transcendental Meditation (TM) and other high spiritual teachings by the Maharashi himself besides by about 500 highly learned and spiritually advanced scholars round the clock and round the globe. Jammu Cable service provides 'Siti Cable network' earlier broadcast this channel round the clock. But alas; it has been discontinued since last two three months for reasons best known to them and scores of viewers have been deprived of this 'Spiritual Food'.

Regular requests to the cable walas bore no fruit. Instead they broadcast most vulgar and obscene channels for the preverted. The Maharashi Channel known as Veda Vision, if broadcast through other channels in this country, " is sure to revolutionise our entire nation and get humanity accomplished in quiet a smooth way" as envisaged by our Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Ji in some of his utterances.

Your etc...
N N Sathu
407, Ambphalla,
Jammu.