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Elections and KPs

Sir,

Certain fundamental rights have been enshrined in the Constitution of India. Right to franchise is one of them, by availing of which we send elected representatives to the State legislature and the Parliament of India. Elected representatives mean those who are perfectly known to the electorate and have stood upright by the test of time. One finds logic when much is talked about free and fair elections but fails to understand whether these hold any meaning for the displaced lot of this State. Making arrangements for casting of votes through EVMS is OK. Election Commission of India was perhaps left with no better alternative under the provisions of the law of land. But, certain questions remain unanswered. Does right to franchise supercede the right to live of a person? Does merely casting a vote in favour of somebody constitute right to vote or has this right some broader contours?

While delving deep into this aspect, it can rightly be said that his nation has failed in its duty to devise a mechanism for ensuring effective participation of this hapless lot in the democratic exercise of the nation. To whom shall a person away from his constituency for the last 12 years, vote? Most of the faces in the poll fray shall be unknown to him.

On the one hand when every effort is being put to involve persons of separatist standards in coming poll process no such concern exists for the nationalist forces in this State. Election Commission too is applying different yardsticks. While as it is satisfied with the installation of EVMS for displaced people of this State at the same time it is highly worried about a few hundred voters of Gujarat who stand displaced. The whole election process is thought to be deferred till they return to their homes. KP leadership has called for boycott of elections. It needs to be taken in right perspective and not to be mistaken for one as given by the separatist forces. While the former is a protest against the mere cosmetic arrangements made for their participation, thereby depicting an urge to meaningfully and actively participate in election, the latter is categoric negation of democratic norms.

Yours etc...
Kuldeep Koul
Barnai,
Jammu.

Selection of PSC men

Sir,

Public Service Commission, Service Selection Board and Competitive Authority Examinations are bodies meant for selection of candidates on the basis of merit. The people responsible for selection in these organisations should be morally sound with honest background so that they are able to do justice to their assigned jobs. Therefore, the Govt. should select the various functionaries of these organisations after verifying their background, the selection process should be made more transparent so that chances of mal practices are minimised. Mal practices done by ex-chairman Punjab Public Service Commission should serve as a lesson to our Govt. and corrective steps should be taken accordingly.

Yours etc...
Ajay Kumar Gupta
Gandhi Nagar
Jammu

Moghul Princess and Rakhi Festival

Sir,

Moghul Princess Jahan Ara and Roshan Ara, daughters of king Shahjahan, never missed the Rakhi festival. The king who held too much paternal affection for his two daughters did not disapprove their wish to celebrate a Hindu festival in the Muslim royal Harem. The day was a big rejoicing cum gala occasion for the royal princes especially for Jahan Ara whose palace in the fort used to receive, special jollity on the day. The prince Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb and Murad taking seats on beautifully decorated elephants visited separately the sister's palaces.

Pandit Jagan Nath whom the king had bestowed the title of Raj Pandit was allowed to visit Jahan Ara's Palace with Dara. The princess did not observe purdah from him. The occasions have been described by him in his reminiscence. He says when Jahan Ara tied rakhi around wrist of Dara Shikoh, I was standing close to main servants - Qanizes. Dara presented jewellery in gold plates containing diamonds, sapphiras and other emeralds, ruby and ornaments.

Jahan Ara looked at Pandit Jagan Nath and called him to her side. He turned pale in fear. He approached the princess with measuring steps. She asked him to sit and open his arm. He did it. The princess tied a rakhi around his wrist. He trembled and stood up. He asked Qanizes to give him ten gold ashrafis and put those in a silver bowl. He offered to the royal sister who touched the container with her forehead and then filled it with jewels with words "accept sister's offer".

Aurangzeb remained in the palace of princess Roshan Ara with whom he was too much adhered to. She worked as under cover lady providing him every indoor information. Dara Shikoh remained with Jahan Ara for the whole day.

Celebration of Rakhi festival continued unabated in royal harem till fall of Shah Jahan who became a prisoner in the fort palaces at Agra. Jahan Ara preferred to remain with her father as a prisoner till he (King) fell in the jaws of death.

Jahan Ara was the most favourable and dearest child of Mumtaj. Shah Jahan too loved her. After death of Mumtaj he used to consult her in family matters. Once Jahan Ara fell in love with a Teeshazari prince of Rajasthan who was playing Shatranj with the king while Jahan Ara fell in love with the prince. This remained as a guarded secret for some time but it came with knowledge of Dara who tried to convince her that her infatuation was mere a vision because the prince was too inferior with a rank of Teeshazari and belonged to other religion. This is a long story. Her passion (Ishaq) diminished with the prayers of Muslim saint Mullah Shah of Srinagar at Pari Mahal (Peermahal) and partly by Pandit Raj Jagan Nath who related Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta to her.

When Shah Jahan died Aurangzeb called her back to the royal place but the bold spirited princess stood to her guns and refused the brothers' offer. She had much troublesome period till her death in the fort.

Yours etc...
D C Prashant
Ex M.P Jammu