Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

PERISCOPE ON PAKISTAN
ISI’s "Indigenous boys"
and "Self-determination"

When President-General Pervez Musharraf told corps commanders at the Pano Aqil cantonment that he intends to maintain a minimum deterrence both in the nuclear as well as the conventional military strength he was not referring to the worst kept Pakistani secret – the use of jehadi terrorists who are part of the ISI’s own forward echelon........more

Managing degraded
lands in J&K

By R D Gupta

Campaign for Dogri’s
inclusion in 8th schedule

By D C Prashat, Ex MP

EDITORIAL

Small egos and Jammu

Strange is the behaviour of some Jammu leaders of the coalition partners of the State Government. It is difficult to say whether they are friends or foes of the ruling dispensation of which they are a part. That many of them should have stayed away from their own Government's first-ever rally in Jammu city to mark the completion of its one year in office defies logic. Particularly inexplicable is the absence of two young Congress legislators Yogesh Sawhney and Raman Bhalla, both of whom belong to Jammu city, from the meeting held at Zanana Park. Mr Sawhney chose to stay away although he was present in the city and the venue of the meeting was part of his Jammu East constituency. Mr Bhalla, on the other hand, had, indeed, taken a calculated decision to be a fence-sitter. His publicised grouse for keeping away was 'lack of development works and job opportunities for the youth of Jammu'. Such lofty claims would have been highly commended had they been motivated by the genuine desire for boosting the profile of their region. In reality, regrettably, they are nothing more than an eyewash. In the name of Jammu, they have just conveyed their own personal resentment over their continued exclusion from the State Ministry. Quite a few of their colleagues, notably Mrs Suman Bhagat, have also acted likewise. She is apparently not satisfied that she has been made chairperson of a board with a ministerial rank. She expects more. How else can one explain their conduct when viewed in the light of the fact that almost all Congress ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma were present on the occasion. Does it not create an anomalous situation for the Congress? The party legislators have overtly and covertly condemned the Government which their own ministers have hailed as the harbinger of change in the State. Two party aspirants from the city need to realise that their aim to become ministers will not be achieved by such negative tactics. With the Deputy Chief Minister himself representing a city constituency, it clearly shuts door on both of them unless they prove themselves to be exceptionally talented politicians and legislators worthy of emulating Mr Mangat Ram Sharma.

Clearly the newly-formed People's Democratic Forum suffers from the same malady. It could not bring around two of its legislators namely, Mr Babu Singh and Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, who along with the others had announced their decision to boycott the rally on the plea that they were not being taken into confidence by the Government? Is this not ironical? Have not they by their statement indicted their own ministerial colleagues in the fledgling Forum all of whom attended the rally led by their convener Hakeem Mohammad Yasin? Have they been kept in the dark by their own comrades in arms? Does this leave any doubt that so far as legislators are concerned the dividing line between the 'bad' and 'good' treatment of Jammu region is how have they themselves been treated? The picture would be painted rosy by a legislator who becomes a minister and black by one who does not get promoted. How does this help the cause of Jammu region?

To make matters worse, coalition partners don't fight shy of taking on each other also in the public. For instance, the Deputy Chief Minister has seldom failed to take a dig at National Panthers Party supremo Bhim Singh who in turn revels in making frequent attacks on the Mufti Government. At the rally also, the veteran Congress leader patted his young ministerial colleague Harshdev Singh, a NPP leader and nephew of Prof Bhim Singh, for his good performance. In the same breath, he did not forget to accuse the Panthers Party chief of often talking out of turn. His provocative remark 'yeh ladka to bada kam kar raha hai, par iska chacha kabhi kabhi aise hi bol deta hai (this boy is doing very well but his uncle occasionally speaks out of turn) is likely to have an echo in the days to come. Admittedly, the coalition partners and their members have the right to air their views. However, they will do a great service if they stubbornly resist the temptation of linking the fate and fortune of a region --- in this case Jammu --- with their own egos and ambitions. How can they be part of the ruling dispensation and yet charge it with being unfair to an entire region because their own personal lust for power has not been satisfied? Disgruntled members of the coalition parties from Jammu region must realise that their misplaced enthusiasm causes immense damage. Willy-nilly they become tools in the hands of the vested interests which are anyway out to distance Jammu from Kashmir and deny the region its due role in the affairs of the State as a whole. In this respect, they would do well to draw a lesson from the Ladakh Union Territory Front. The LUTF is behaving like a highly disciplined member of the Government ever since joining it. No more is the powerful Buddhist body harping on its demand for separation of Ladakh from the State. Instead, it has adopted a realistic stance. It is quietly using its presence in the coalition government as an opportunity to improve the economic conditions of Leh.

Ghosts that haunt

Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two Japanese cities every child knows. So far the only sufferers of the nuclear holocaust in the world. The Americans --- as haughty then as now --- had bombed them virtually out of sight in 1945. Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima is, therefore, one of the most qualified persons to speak on why nuclear war is bad for the globe. Somehow, he is worried that India and Pakistan may fight one such big battle despite being aware of its dangerous consequences. He has an idea which he feels can avert the situation. He has extended a joint invitation to both Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to visit his city to 'see with their own eyes what nuclear weapons have in store for humanity'. According to his estimates, a nuclear exchange between the two South Asian neighbours would result in deaths 'as high as 1.2 billion'. The Mayor wants to create a strong public opinion across the globe, especially in South Asia, in favour of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). One can only wish him good luck. One is not sure whether he is aware that Mr Vajpayee's favourite poem is the one against the war. He also does not seem to know either that Gen Musharraf is not a poet but a soldier. That is why perhaps he can't realise why Mr Vajpayee keeps pleading against an armed confrontation. Or, why the Pakistan President and his associates keep creating nuclear scare. Only if the Hiroshima Mayor had understood this important difference between the leaders of the two countries, he would have possibly prescribed different remedies.

It is not at all our intention to ridicule the Mayor's gesture. He is well meaning. Although he heads a city government, he has taken up a cause for disarmament which normally the national governments should have been doing. Not many people want others to learn from their own bitter experiences. Viewed from that angle, his effort is, indeed, praiseworthy. He should not lose heart. He should keep trying to realise his dream. Some times even a small idea can do wonders and move the world.

PERISCOPE ON PAKISTAN
ISI’s "Indigenous boys" and "Self-determination"

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa in an article in FRIDAY TIMES reveals that the Islamic fundamentalist seminaries from which the terrorists are drawn are front organizations of the ISI created to take the initiative away from the so-called "indigenous" Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and put in the context of what Musharraf said, conduct a proxy war against India from behind the nuclear shield.

She wrote: "A number of military officers, with whom the whole militancy/freedom movement issue was discussed, were of the view that Islamabad did manipulate an indigenous movement that was started in December 1989 by the J&K Liberation Front. In fact the time the Pakistan Army had continued to provide some logistic support to the JKLF until it was decided to plant GHQ's own boys by throwing in religious organizations".

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa added: "As a Pakistani one had felt quite noble about tagging the cause of Kashmir, until a recent meeting with some Kashmiris. Listening to their perspective I had a rare opportunity to understand the subtleties of the situation from people that have spent a major part of their lives in the battleground of Kashmir.

"Pakistan's moves, on the other hand, have been no different. The military's obsession with Kashmir forced it to adopt un-viable policies such as creating and planting militants and militant organisations in Kashmir.

"In the early 1990s, it was possible to re-deploy jehadis from Pakistan and all over the Muslim world. These men were motivated by, what was considered, a higher religious ideological zeal. Considering that the JKLF stood for an independent state of Kashmir rather than accession to Pakistan, supporting this outfit at best was a stopgap arrangement for Islamabad rather than a permanent solution. This, in the eyes of most Kashmiris was the unkindest thing Pakistan could have done - turning a secular Kashmir cause into something else - a religious movement.

"The Kashmiris I heard pouring out the pain, anguish and frustration were concerned that the jehadis had actually contributed towards hijacking the movement and, giving it a colour that it did not have originally.

"The killings of all those innocent people, especially youngsters, who are sacrificed for some vague religious ideals or sacrificed by the militants because they chose to opt out, add to the bloodshed caused by the Indian Army. The problem is that a number of Kashmiris finds it hard to distinguish between the two. However, the Kashmiri leadership is equally to be blamed for allowing the movement to be hijacked."

FRIDAY TIMES article posits the rationale for the proxy war thus: "Of course, Pakistan's policy of planting its 'own boys' is justified from the standpoint of pragmatic policy-making and realpolitik. How could Pakistan allow in the 1990s for someone to hijack the fundamental objective of its Army? How could the Army, in turn, betray its raison d'etre? How could the Army in 1989, or later, explain to the public and its own men that it had changed its mind on the accession of a. territory without which, as it was explained for years, Pakistan would be highly insecure and militarily vulnerable?

"The militants motivated by religious ideology were the only ones that had an equally strong commitment to the idea of accession of Kashmir to Pakistan. They believed that the ultimate accession of the disputed territory to Pakistan would allow its armed forces to consolidate its strength and also create the space that would then be used to launch a religious revolution globally. Supporting the Army's war in Kashmir was, hence, a quid pro quo between the state forces and the non-state actors.

"While the policy reaped limited tactical dividends for Pakistan, it had negative implications for the Kashmir movement that was originally aimed at redressing the problem of the oppressive rule of India's Central government. The movement certainly became dubious after the developments of September 11, 2001. While some would like to argue that the events of 9/11 were a sudden development, the fact is that the Pakistan Army and the militants' support for religious wars had caught international attention even before 9/11 took place. The mere fact that a number of those, who were fighting in Kashmir, were also waging war in Chechnya, Indonesia and other places, did not reflect well on the entire struggle."

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa concludes: "The Kashmir movement should have been allowed to grow as a strong political movement with no links to Pakistan or organisations with links with the GHQ. In fact, adhering to the principle of 'better late then never’ the Kashmiris should be allowed to take the ownership of their struggle. Any force, be it state or non-state actors, that continues to manipulate the movement appears to be driven by its own interests rather than the betterment of the Kashmiris.

NEWS article by Dr Moonis Ahmar : "The country (Pakistan) which was formed on the basis of religion (Two-Nation Theory) could not provide basic social justice to its people resulting into the break-up of Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh. West Pakistan, which became a successor state of Pakistan also, could not cope with ethnic and sectarian cleavages while the common people remained a victim of the politics of expediency pursued by either by military, bureaucracy or the other segments of the ruling establishment, particularly feudal.

Stressing that "Kashmir is much too vital for Pakistan's strength and even surviva1 to be sidelined or its settlement put on hold", Inayatullah, in an article in DAWN cautions: "Other desirable objectives too of course, should be pursued vigorously as it makes sense to become peaceful-neighbours and jointly seek love and shanti in this strife-ridden part of the world."

DAWN article by Inayatullah : "Now the very nice Mr Jethmalani says after , entering Pakistan that he very much appreciates the initiatives taken by the Musharraf government. Musharraf according to him ‘should not be blamed for whatever infiltration is taking place at the moment as he does not have control over a number of militants operating in our part of Kashmir’. So who then is to blame if not the Pakistan government?

"And if the Pakistan government is thus cleared of the charge by him then who indeed is to be accused? The people of Pakistan? If Musharraf’s and his government's conduct is alright why then hesitate to talk to the government of Pakistan? Viewed in this context what indeed is the meaning and value of Jethmalani's or even Vajpayee's wonderfully heart-warming messages to the people of Pakistan?" (adni)

Managing degraded lands in J&K

By R D Gupta

At present about 32 percent of the total geographical area (2, 22236 square kilometer of Jammu and Kashmir is highly degraded due to water erosion, chemical and physical degradations. Apart from this, 57 percent is not suitable for cultivation. Moreover, the productivity of the existence agricultural lands especially those growing rice, maize and wheat has either become static or decreased. This will not suffice the food, fodder and fuel to the ever-burgeoning human and animal population. To meet the targeted production of the next few decades, management of land resource is, therefore, the need of the hour vis-a-vis to know the realistic estimates of problematic soils and their reclamation.

Causes for bringing out land degradation

Soil erosion, imbalance use for fertilizers, unchecked commercial establishments, unscientific cultivation, the ever burgeoing human and animal population, soil salinization and alkalization, acidification and water logging are the main factors, causing land degradation.

Soil erosion

The Jammu and Kashmir State having steep to very steep slope its whole of the land resources, barring plains of Jammu and Kathua districts are subjected to severe soil erosion, resulting into colossal loss of soil. Soil loss is, however, more in Shivaliks including Kandi belt and Karewas of Kashmir. It is less that 1 tonne per hectare per year in soils with thick vegetation, whereas its average figures for karewas and Shivaliks are 128-t and 98t per year.

Entire area of Kandi belt of Jammu and Karewas and side valleys of Kashmir have suffered badly with sheet, rill and gully erosion. The foot hills of Pir Panjal Himalayas and north Kashmir ranges have been eroded to such an extent that their top rich soil has since been washed away leaving behind unproductive mass of stores, gravels and pebbles. There is heavy formation of gullies in addition to rills. The cold arid region of Ladakh and Warwan region of Doda district have also a serious problem of soil erosion. The frequent occurrence of "U" shaped gullies in Ladakh region reflect the active nature of soil erosion.

Most of the eroded Soil gets washed into the sea but some of it also gets collected behind dams reducing their life span. It also gets deposited in tanks, lakes and river beds, causing floods. Too much of Soil's deposition on the lakes causes eutrophication. The precious plant nutrients which the top soil carries away are worth crores of rupees. Every year the capacity of the State to grow food, fodder and fuel is being declined by the degradation of land and loss of soil fertility. It is due to loss of organic and mineral matter which make them fertile and are mostly not replenished. So if immediate action is not taken by the Government and other organisations to prevent the soil loss, the left over agricultural land will soon do away with eventually suffering the increasing human and animal population with shortage of food and fodder.

Unchecked Commercial Establishments

Although no major industrial activities occur in the State on the scale as are found in other States of the country yet small scale enterprises generate sufficient wastes having great impact on land degradation. Establishment of Khanmoh industrial estate and Bharat Gas Petroleum are the glaring examples which have brought a havoc in destroying the saffron growing farms in Pampore, Kashmir. In addition to this, the soap factories, joinery mills and Khrew and Wuyen cement factories have rendered the condition all the more abysmal. This way the land under saffron cultivation is fast shrinking. In Pampore alone there are about 30 to 40 stone crushers interspersed with saffron growing fields and on the roads. The dust from these crushers and cement factories fills the air and settles on the Soil and saffron leaves, impairing thereby photo synthesis, rendering plant growth inactive and ultimately reduction in saffron productivity.

Another example is the presence of brick Kilns which can be seen along the National Highway from Jammu to Pathankot, Jammu to Akhnoor and in Ranbir Singh Pura area. Although brick kilns do not harm much the fertility of the Soil as the chemicals and fertilizers do yet scraping off the top layer of the Soil for using to build bricks, robs of its fertility. Moreover, due to more heat the microbial activities of the adjoining fields are damaged.

Population Explosion.

With the increasing population of human beings from 59,87,389 during 1981 to 100, 69,917 during 2001 their basic needs of life have grown such as shelter, food and clothing. A number of houses, colonies and other public places have been constructed for shelter which has been done from land itself.

The author recollects those college days during his four years B.Sc. Agri. course (September 1961 to 1965) when on the way from R S Pura to Rani Bagh (Near aerodrome) no houses were seen on either sides of the road, rather there were agricultural fields which have now turned into houses, schools colleges and colonies. In the Bari Brahmna and Gangyal area small scale factories have come up out of agricultural land. The areas of Kandi like Ambgarota, Bhalwal, Chinor, Kot, Kaleeth and Akhnoor once great producers of gram, sesame, moth and kulth have now covered with central Jail, Engineering, and Ayurvedic colleges and other establishments. Agricultural lands are also soiled off for commercial purposes by owners, Government and private dealers without giving a single thought to the outcome of such lackadaisical attitude.

Faulty Agricultural Practices.

It refers to cultivate land by the farmers without taking into account the prescribed limits. For example, the prescribed limit of slope for cultivating land in hilly terrain is 15 percent at the most but the farmers are cultivating the land having slope upto 40 percent or more. This has aggravated the Soil erosion. Such agricultural practices can be seen near Potato Research Station, Sanasar, Batote and Nashri.

Imbalanced use of fertilizers

Imbalanced use of fertilizer impairs the Soil fertility. Many farmers of hilly areas either do not use fertilizers or use only urea (Nitrogenous fertilizer) to maize and other crops. This has widened the NPK ratio than the recommended of 4: 2: 1 which in turn have converted some soils into acidic continuous use of urea also creates health problems both in human beings and animals, while its excessive amount finds its way into food and fodder crops.

Water Logged Soils-

This problem is quite prevalent in plains of Jammu and Kashmir districts and parts of Kathua. In Jammu plains it is due to faulty irrigation. In fact during last 3 to 4 decades ground water level has risen in certain pockets particularly along the Indo Pakistan border from National Highway towards south and south western sides. These areas now have become monocropped (only rice is grown). In Kashmir valley, Sonawari area is under permanent water logged conditions. Apart from this, there are terraced paddy fields in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Udhampur districts having assured irrigation water supply where only paddy is grown.

Salt affected Soils

Although exact area under saline and sadic soils has not been demarcated so far yet sporadic studies have confirmed their presence. In Jammu district alone, salt affected soils are found in Jammu, R S Pura, Akhnoor and Bishnah tehsils to the of about 10,000 hectare. These soils are also present in cold region of Ladakh especially Changthang area of Leh district.

Acidic Soils

Hitherto there was a thought that acid soils are not present in Jammu and Kashmir but this was wrong notion. These are present both in cultivated and uncultivated areas. Recent study indicates that in Jammu region acidic soils are present in all districts of the region, having pH range between 4.0 to 5.0, 5.1 to 5.5 and 5.6 to 6.0. Such soils are harmful to crop production like salt affected soils.

Management

Management of land and soil resources on scientific lines are necessary not only to sustain productivity but also to check its exploitation for further degradation and loss. Following practices are immediately required to accomplish this task:-

* Arable lands of Shivaliks and Karewas can be checked by training water channels and dry Nallah beds and reducing the speed of water snow melt through check dams.

* All soil and water conservation measures like bunding, terracing, land levelling and gully plugging be followed to control further loss of soil from eroded lands.

* Vegetative covers/barriers, live bunds, ridges and furrows are the effective ways to control run off loss and conserving soil.

* Suitable drainage conditions be provided in water logged soils to put them under double cropping. Use of gypsum or gypsum + green manuring be made for amelioration of salt affected soils and timing for acidic soils.

* The degraded lands have to be regenerated by reducing overgrazing after providing alternative source of fodder.

Suggestions

* Protection of land from deterioration in quality due to imbalanced use of fertilizer switch can be done through soil testing.

* Educating the people about soil and water conservation programmes and also about land as precious resource and its sustainable use for the posterity.

* Nourishing the land through conservation of rain water, recharging of ground water and its judicious use.

* Nurturing soil health through recycling of organic residues and use of integrated plant Nutrient Management.

* Preventing and combating soil degradation and pollution caused by pesticides through integrated Pest Management.

* Improving productivity of land through growing of leguminous crops, crop rotations and diversification introducing legumes and high yielding varieties of grasses.

* Adopting an integrated watershed development approach, and

* Working out of erodibility indices of soils and land use capability classes.

Campaign for Dogri’s inclusion in 8th schedule

By D C Prashat, Ex MP

Demanding inclusion of Dogri in the eighth schedule of the Indi-an constitution is a matter of pride and an article of faith for the Jammu people. But, firstly we should know what is Dogri and its salient features so that we can strongly propagate the cause of Dogri to bring the prestige and self-respect of the people of Jammu. This will also enhance the capability of the students of this region who want to appear in the IAS etc. examination for their inclusion in the most powerful and respected administrative cadre of the executive of the Indian Union. Dogri's inclusion in the eighth schedule shall provide them with a subject that is Dogri literature. Being a local language it will boost Jammu students' capability to qualify in IAS cadre as Dogri will be, generally, their natural subject and intrinsically easy for them.

We should also know Dogri's place in the Indian languages and what is the source of its origin. We should also know whether this language belongs to the family of Sanskrit. For, these salient points, will add to the cause of Dogri when it is debated in our Parliament. The Home Minister has to defend Dogri's inclusion in the eighth schedule for which reason the elaboration of these points is extremely important. For this the Home Minister needs to be briefed earlier for Dogri's linguistic features are great and large in numbers.

Having poems and stories in possession of Dogri is not a sufficient ground for its affirmation as a full-fledged language and it is not a logical basis and this does not coincide with Articles 345 to 348 which deal with languages. The eighth schedule though provides a simple alphabetical list of eighteen languages as recognized by the Indian Constitution.

Dogri, of course, is undisputedly a very rich language in the lineage of ancient languages' word list. Except Latin, Dogri language has certain words which no language of the world has in its lexicon. This is the view of late Professor Dr Sidheshwar Verma who was a genius in the languages of the world and a scholar par-excellence of international repute. He had taught in the then Prince of Wales College, Jammu for long. He was very appreciative of the nuances of Dogri language. Incidentally, he knew over one hundred languages of the word.

He affirmed that Dogri is a full fledged and independent language having highest linguistic terminology which no other Indian language has in its possession except Sanskrit. Dr Verma out rightly dismissed Sir George Grierson's contention in his Linguistic Survey of India that Dogri is a dialect of Punjabi ! Dr Suniti Kumar Chatterji, the then Chairman of the Sahitya Academy who enjoyed international distinction and respectability, after understanding Dr Verma's opinion, had listed Dogri in the Sahitya Academy's list of approved languages.

In the pre figurements of languages Dogri is fore runner rather plays first fiddle. Its very third word is doubled and is called a doublet. Syncopation and denazalization is its inherited specialty. It is unique and sole occurrence that Dogri contains eight different words like samdhiyan for wood for religious purposes, basathiyan for wood for cooking-similarly balan is the wood in big pieces and churu mukru in small pieces, lakkad is the wood used for the last rights of the deceased and banyaaliyan is wood used during marriage ceremonies.

There are equal number of words used for the refuse of the different creatures like for the cow it is goa, for rat it is jhingan, for the goat it is meangan, for the elephant it is laten. Similar is the case of large number of words for different diseases. Seldom a language has such a large number of words and a language rarely retains them. It is amazingly a rare and exclusive usage of certain words which the Dogra ladies have kept only for their personal domain like kodder, syapa and mondri. There are words which are meant for exclusive usage of the men. Last but not the least our Dogri language has its own mantras which are put to use by Dogra women during religious ceremonies Alas, this rare phenomenon is now coming to close in the Dogra homes.

The list of doublets in Dogri is extremely large to the extent that it could be about eighty percent. Of these uncounted doublets in Dogri like nher-gufaar, oter-khatter, kharaa-khutta jeen-maran, joan-jatti an so on. Another property of shortening of the words in Dogri is also very interesting and such words as example are Oot-Uttunun (for camel), haathi-hathnun, Ghora-ghoru, bakra-bakkru and even chhillu in the third form, kurta-kurtu and geet-geetru.

Dogri had another edge on other languages of the country when a Tokyo born young lady came to Jammu 1962 to conduct a research work in the Dogri Folk Tales. There was not much in modern literature in Dogri then on this line. She decided to take up folk tales for her research because she had brought forty Dogri Folk tales with her, surprisingly, from USA. She spent six months in Jammu to collect folk tales which were available also in remote rural areas. More than six hundred tales were collected.

With the help of superior tape recorders etc she collected the folk tales even from the Jammu hinterlands. I remained with her throughout tour visiting even minor villages in Udhampur district. Prof. Mohinder of Science College Jammu provided commendable assistance in translation of Dogri folk tales collected then. The lady made ready her dissertation for which she had to travel to Burma, Pakistan, Egypt and a few Arab countries too. She was first scholar to receive Ph.D in Dogri. It was a matter of great rejoicing as a foreigner had worked hard to receive a doctorate in Dogri in early sixties of the twentieth century from Pensilvania University.

Jammu's newspapers had been carrying on articles on Dogri's inclusion in the eight schedule of the constitution for the two decades or more. Some were suggestive. It is the foremost duty of Dogri writers to comment on or to reply the criticism against the inclusion of the Dogri language in the eighth schedule through newspapers that go to every nook and corner of Jammu region. It is ultimately the will of the people that is going to press home the point of Dogri's inclusion in eighth schedule. Dogri writers and Jammu's intellectuals must draw support from the masses for this sacred cause.