Excelsior... Nation

Bitta opposes FDI in print media

CHANDIGARH, July 5: All India Anti-Terrorist Front President Maninderjit Singh Bitta today strongly opposed the Centre’s recent proposal to allow 26 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Indian newspapers and periodicals saying that it would help "foreign agencies in exposing security cover at different levels in the country."

The step of the Government would have an adverse affect on the country as it would weaken it’s fabric, he told a press conference here.

He said that his Front would stage demonstrations across the country to oppose the decision of the Government and added that he would meet all MP’s in Delhi to impress upon them to oppose the move in the Parliament.

He urged political parties to jointly oppose the FDI in print media as it is "detrimental for the security of the nation."

Strongly denouncing the demand for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir made from certain quarters, Bitta said that the only solution for the prolonged problem in that state is to follow the policy of "bullet for bullet."

He said that polls in J and K should be held under the security cover of military.

Advocating an all out war against Pakistan on terrorism issue, he said that the NDA Government should act rather than giving statements only.

Bitta said that the Central Government must ensure steps to destroy numerous training camps for terrorists being run in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"If the present Government failed to destroy training camps of terrorists then it would make it clear that the Government is not sincere in it’s programme to stop terrorism," he said.

He said that his front would observe anti-terrorist day on September 11 the day us was attacked by terrorists.

Bitta said that a function would be organised in November in Delhi by the front to honour the services rendered by some personalities, including Nelson Mandela and K P S Gill, for ensuring peace.

He said that the front would organise series of camps in J and K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat to make youth aware about how to protect the frontiers of the country during situation of crisis.

He claimed that senior Army and police persons like V P Malik, K P S Gill and Kiran Bedi would deliver talks in these camps.

He said the choice of A P J Abdul Kalam for the post of president is appropriate as he is non-political personality. (PTI)

After Ambani, doctors enlighten the masses
on brain stroke

MUMBAI, July 5: A brain stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world and is primarily responsible for adult disability in India, say some of Mumbai’s leading neurologists.

This disability has come into sharp focus following the hospitalisation of Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Dhiurubhai Ambani, early last week, after he suffered a brain stroke.

Dr Shirish Hastak, noted neurologist and co-ordinator of the ‘stroke unit’ at the city’s Lilavati Hospital, while speaking at a discussion here on, "what is a brain stroke", today said that as per World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, 619,000 deaths occured in India, annually, due to a brain stroke and 1,880 people died per day due to the same. Now, after more than a decade, the numbers had surely crossed the nine lakh mark.

But Dr Hastak offered hope to the public saying, "such a stroke is preventable. Awareness is the key."

A stroke or a "brain attack" is a block or rupture of blood vessel inside the brain. It occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or artery, or when a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When a brain attack occurs, it kills the brain cells in the immediate area. These cells usually die within minutes to a few hours after the stroke starts. Doctors call the dead cells as "infarct", the neurologist explained.

The immediate symptoms are — sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble in speaking or understanding, change in speech, sudden loss of vision, sudden trouble while walking, dizziness, loss of balance or co-ordination. Another noted neuro expert Prof Dr P M Dalal today revealed that the there were certain controllable and uncontrollable elements behind a brain stroke. High blood pressure, excess blood sugar, high cholesterol and smoking were some of the controllable elements while the uncontrollable factors were genetic and the age factor. To some extent, if people were to give attention to the controllable factors, the impact of uncontrollable factors could be reduced. "The stroke rate comes down by one-third in those individuals who manage to control some of the risk factors", Dr Dalal said. This type of stroke was one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems, he added.

Both the medical experts also stressed on the need for many more stroke units in the country, as well as training to primary health care teams in the diagnosis of a brain stroke, in the absence of CT scan facilities.

At present, there are only six stroke units in the country and the one at leelavati hospital is the only one in western India. "such centres provide good medical care and would prove an effective way to bring about a change in the mortality rate", the two doctors said.

The clot burster or the TPA intravenous drug is given to a patient, who visits the doctor within three hours of suffering an acute stroke. But, Dr Hastak said, the drug was extremely costly and only one percent of Mumbai’s total population could afford it. There were other therapy treatments available. Almost all the drugs needed to tackle the disability were available in India, but the main problem was that patients do not know they had suffered brain attack in the first place.

"But, we are trying to focus on the awareness level now, we can then only talk about treatment. I had a patient recently, who told me that he had experienced blurred vision suddenly some months ago . He went to an eye doctor who told him he was perfectly all right. Just within few months, he suffered an acute stroke and he came to our stroke unit", Dr Hastak recalled. (UNI)

‘ The joy of cancer’ determination to turn
death sentence around

NEW DELHI, July 5: Can having cancer, or any other life-threatening disease, really be a joy?

Most people would say it was not possible, but Anup Kumar, faced with a lung cancer, found joy not only in winning his battle but also in sharing the experience in his autobiographical book ‘The joy of cancer.’

Inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s famous words, "Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be?" Kumar shows the want to help other sufferers "live life to the fullest... Reason with cancer cells. Make peace with them."

"It was ironical that in the face of death, I began, for the first time to really live,"according to Kumar whose cancer when diagnosed had already advanced to the last stages. He was told that he had only four months to live.

‘The Joy of Cancer’, published by Rupa Co., is the outcome of the emotional and physical anguish that followed. But much more, it is about the power of the human mind and body to turn a death sentence around. The book, written by the nuclear physics post-graduate from St Stephens College, will be released by Congress MP and film actor Sunil Dutt on Saturday here.

The intimately autobiographical book sometimes using the written thoughts like a confession, achieving catharsis just by speaking about the intensely personal details of a destructive, destroying illness.

Yet in the mindset of his own battle, the author demystifies the disease, removing the psychological dread associated with cancer. He lays the disease out in the open. There is no whispering in dark corners, no pitying glances, no self-pity.

The book, is a confirmation of life, a rare statement of courage. It is not a happy book. Though there is intense suffering. There are moments when Kumar is obsessive about his disease, others when the depth of his emotions makes one turn one’s eyes way. And yet others when one feels humbled in the face of such positive determination. Because the book is about the determination to win.

"It is your body. It is your mind. It’s your cancer. It’s your battle. Only you can have the answer to how you can win." Kumar says. Kumar, who is now heading the Corporate Communication Department of a leading industrial organisation, takes the reader step by step through his own personal war, his will to live, describing in detail the seven-point battle plan to fight cancer based on his own experience and on talks and discussions with other patients.

Starting with a chapter titled ‘accepting your cancer’, where he admits to himself that he "was a cancer patient... No amount of rage or grief could change things around," the battle-plan moves to choosing your doctors, treatment and thinking positive.

Setting goals and visualising your ways to health, harnessing the support of family and friends and controlling your diet are the few crucial components of the plan.

It is said that only real experts on cancer are cancer patients themselves. They will tell you things the doctors won’t. For instance, how do you accept the presence of cancer in your life? how do you conquer fear? what exactly are the side effects of chemotherapy? what precaution should you take? the joy of cancer answers all these questions and more. The author provides a set of guidelines, almost a manual.

Kumar offers hope, introspects his own experience and reaffirms his faith in himself. And although he feels "alone and scared of what (lies) ahead," his very positive attitude, his belief that there is a time after cancer, makes the book a special reading and learning experience.

He also explores myths linked to the dreaded disease, offers advice to families and friends in the book. The last part of the book contains a wealth of information on the kinds of cancer, the side effects of various forms of treatment, the new therapies available today and those that will be available in the near future. There is also a list of cancer support societies, clinics and hospitals all over the country and their addresses and a list of informative websites and books on the disease. (UNI)

Cerebral malaria causes panic in Mayurbhanj

BARIPADA, July 5: Cerebral malaria has spread alarmingly in the tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district of north Orissa claiming 21 lives so far this year, official sources said here today.

During the last three years, nearly 14 in every 1000 population had been affected by this viral disease. But this year, the situation has aggravated with reports of deaths from the remote villages creating panic among the tribals.

As many as eleven people have died in Badjor village in last two weeks and hundreds of tribals were affected by this mosquito bitten fever.

In 1999, about 29,794 malaria cases were detected in the district of which 26,544 were found with P Falciparum cases leading to death of 18 people.

Similarly 31,161 malaria cases were detected in the subsequent years out of which 27,956 had been affected by P Falciparum. Among the affected people 20 succumbed to the disease.

In 2001, the number of affected people came down to 23,536, of them 21,201 cases were diagonised as P Falciparum.

Since 1977-78, the simlipal hills range, its fringe areas and the foothill villages have been identified as "high risk areas" for celebral malaria.

However, the situation remains unchanged even now. Of one section of APR (Armed Police Reserve) constables deployed on anti-poaching duty in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR), six constables reportedly suffered from celebral malaria recently. Constable Dhananjoy Marandi, however, died on june 18 last. As a majority of people from the simlipal park frequently suffered from celebral malaria, the STR authorities have decided to provide each of the staff stationed inside the reserve with medicated mosquito nets that could repel the P Falciparum parasites.

Official sources have suggested holding of an east zone border meeting at Baripada in Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district to devise an effective strategy for the P Falciiparum containment programme for the four contiguous states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal.

A similar meeting held at Bariapada in December 1978 was attended by the health officials of the neighbouring states. As the spread of the P Falciparum parasites transcends geographical boundaries, the urgency for such a regional meeting hardly needs to be over-emphasized, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the District’s Malaria Department has strengthened the spray of the highly effective icon pyrethoid in fifteen of the total 26 malaria-prone blocks in the district. Supply of both preventive and curative drugs through the Drug Distribution Centres (DDC) have also been stepped up, official sources said.

Malaria-prone Mayubhanj district has also been brought within the ambit of Enhanced Malaria Control Programme (EMCP) in a bid to reduce incidence of malaria in the tribal dominated district. (UNI)

Patience is the hallmark of a good musician : Shiv Kumar

DEHRA DUN, July 5: Santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma believes patience is a virtue which every musician must possess in abundance.

He feels it is a virtue which holds every musician in good stead and may come in handy any time.

Perhaps that is the reason why he could easily field questions by 30-odd students for more than three hours at a workshop during the Spic Macay silver jubilee national convention here.

Ask him how he managed to convince the students, whose queries ranged from why MTV was not popular among elders to why their parents won’t allow them to listen to western music to formation of a symphony, Sharma says, "patience is one virtue which every musician must have loads of... It would always make things easy for the person. It helps during training."

One of the oldest patrons of Spic Macay, Sharma has been involved with several training programmes for students to promote Indian classical music.

"Youngsters should not be compelled to learn music... They should be just shown the right path. If they have it in them, they will follow it," Sharma told UNI.

The maestro, born on January 13, 1938 in Jammu, started training as a vocalist at the early age of five under the tutelage of his father Pandit Umadutt Sharma who was an exponent of the Benaras Gharana and a distinguished state musician in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharma was also trained in ‘Tabla’, ‘Sarod’, harmonium and violin. But it was only at the age of 14 that Sharma was introduced to Santoor, a Kashmiri folk instrument.

"My father had done a lot of research on santoor, which accompanied sufi music, and he wanted me to pursue it... Though i had been trained in other genres too, it was a tough task," reminisces Sharma about his introduction to the instrument which he later elevated to the status of classical repertoire.

"But it was only because i chose to learn music that i was trained by my father... I was not forced into it... It has to come from within and I advise all youngsters to keep that in mind," says the maestro.

Sharma gave his first public performance in 1955 at Mumbai. He modified the santoor, a trapezoid-shaped instrument from the dulcimer family with 116 strings, to suit his individual playing style.

He achieved this by increasing the number of bridges to get wider range of octaves, and changed the system of tuning and structural configuration of the strings to allow for more precision in note reproduction.

"Initially I had to make changes to the instrument. Modify it to play classical music on it... To get smoother gliding action between notes... And suit the full range of classical Gandharva music," explains Sharma about the santoor, which in Sanskrit is known as the ‘Shata Tantri Veena’ meaning the hundred-stringed lute. The maestro’s father had wanted Sharma to dedicate his life to promoting the instrument.

"My father gave me training in other genres of classical music and that made all the difference in my career... It helped me strike a balance between rhythm and melody, two very essential components in classical music."

"I could bring synthesis and strike a balance between the intricate as well as the aesthetic components of music because of my training that was based on various disciplines of music.. I was fortunate that way. The same applies to other cultures and their art forms... We should be receptive to all kinds of music," says Sharma.

It is this outlook towards other civilisations that makes Sharma appreciate their art forms.

"Why should we brand any music as bad and ban people from listening to it... This is wrong, in fact, people should be exposed to all kinds of music, literature, poetry from across the globe... This makes them more appreciative of their own roots," he observes.

He allays all apprehensions about cultural hegemony of western music with this reason.

And to drive the point home, Sharma says, "our cultural roots run so deep that nothing can come near it... It has stood the test of centuries and continues to do so. Our music is emotional and spiritual... It’s like meditation — unifies with the divine — and can’t be found in any music other than ours."

The other genre of music which fascinates the maestro is composing for films which most of the classical fraternity has stayed away from. Sharma teamed up with flute maestro Hari Prasad Chaurasia and composed musical scores of movies like ‘Silsila’ and ‘Chandni’. In 1967, the duo paired with slide guitarist Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra to produce a thematic album — ‘the call of the Valley’.

"I like composing for films... But because I wanted to establish Santoor and classical is my first priority .. I took up movies later in my career, " says Sharma.

Though he is not composing music for any film at the moment, there is "a very special project" he is busy with these days —his biography. The book, being penned by Ina Puri, is expected to hit the stands in September.

"I am looking forward to its release and see how people receive it."

Though Sharma has been honoured with many prestigious awards he thinks much more needs to be done to make Indian classical accessible to people across the globe.

"The internet is a powerful tool in making music accessible to people in far off places... I am planning some things on the net... Let’s see how they shape up." (UNI)

France revises its travel advisory

NEW DELHI, July 5: With the further easing of Indo-Pak tensions, France has become the first country to revise its travel advisory which no longer urges its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to India.

The US and other key allies have dropped their month-long warning to their citizens to leave India but continue to advise them to defer travel to this country, contending that the risk of a conflict between the two neighbours "remains serious".

"In view of the evolution of the situation on the Indo-Pakistan border, travel to India can be again considered," the latest French Advisory said.

"It is, however, advisable to avoid in any case, the border regions between India and Pakistan, from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat, and to be cautious in the other regions of north India," it said.

The French nationals and their families presently in India have been advised to keep themselves informed of the political situation in the region, it said.

In its revised travel announcement for India issued on June 26, the US State Department said a very high level of tension between the two countries "has subsided somewhat," but said the "risk of renewed high levels of tension cannot be ruled out". The department advised American citizens to defer all but essential travel to India.

There are an estimated 60,000 americans in India, including diplomats and their families. They were advised may end to leave India in the wake of heightened Indo-Pak tensions and fears of a war.

Advisories have been issued on similar lines by Britain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and some other countries.

Britain has advised its citizens against holiday and non-essential travel to India "for the time being". Those residing in the country should consider their need to remain.

As stipulated earlier, British nationals have been strongly advised against travel to Jammu and Kashmir.

"The risk of conflict between India and Pakistan remains serious. The situation could deteriorate at short notice. In that event, there could be significant difficulty in travelling to safety," the British travel advise said.

It said those British nationals who choose to remain should monitor developments closely and be ready to respond rapidly to further advice. There are about 42,000 British nationals in India which includes about 10,000 tourists or those on a short stay.

Japan discontinued its earlier recommendation asking all Japanese nationals, except those who have compelling reasons to stay back, to leave India.

It said "those Japanese nationals who have remained in or are returning to India are advised to be prepared for swift evacuation in case of emergency and to keep in touch with the Japanese Embassy or the consulates general to seek most updated information".

With this new advisory, those Japanese expatriates who left India in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan could now come back, it said.

Advisories have been issued on similar lines by Britain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and some other countries.

Britain has advised its citizens against holiday and non-essential travel to India "for the time being". Those residing in the country should consider their need to remain.

As stipulated earlier, British nationals have been strongly advised against travel to Jammu and Kashmir.

Japan discontinued its earlier recommendation asking all Japanese nationals, except those who have compelling reasons to stay back, to leave India.

It said "those Japanese nationals who have remained in or are returning to India are advised to be prepared for swift evacuation in case of emergency and to keep in touch with the Japanese Embassy or the Consulates General to seek most updated information".

With this new advisory, those Japanese expatriates who left India in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan could now come back, it said.

Tokyo’s announcement said its advise to Japanese nationals to leave the entire Kashmir region remains unchanged.

It has asked those expatriates staying in areas close to the Indo-Pakistan border to evacuate to safe areas, unless they had some compelling reasons to stay on.

The Australian travel advisory says those citizens who choose to remain in India should register with the High Commission here and closely monitor developments that might affect their safety and "maintain a high level of personal security awareness".

Brushing aside as "not warranted" travel advisories by the US, Britain and some other countries urging their citizens to defer visits to India, Government has said foreigners are welcome to return to the country which is a "perfectly safe and secure place" for them.

"India always has been and it will continue to be a safe and secure place not only for people visiting the country but also for those wanting to do business or stay here with their families," officials said.

Observing that there has been no disruption at any time to the lives of any foreigner here regardless of the country to which he belongs, they contended "they have to see the facts which speaks for themselves". (PTI)