Turmoil in Nepal spells trouble for India

By Tukoji R. Pandit

Ever since Maoist rebels called off a seven-month cease-fire on August 27, things have looked perilous in Nepal. The rebels reportedly used the lull in the fighting to rearm, re-train and recruit volunteers. An Army colonel who was to mount an anti-Maoist operation and a former Minister who was the Government negotiator in the failed peace talks have been killed. The ancestral home of a Minister was set on fire. Two banks were robbed and the nation had a three-day strike on the call given by rebels.

The Maoist guerillas have a list of 217 VIPs they want to kill. Peace talks with the rebels are off. Kathmandu, till recently the number one destination of Nirvana seeking backpackers and Indians with a yen for gambling in casinos, is becoming a dangerous city. The tourism industry of Nepal, its biggest foreign exchange earner, is in trouble like the country itself.

Nepal would, in fact, appear well set for a plunge into a dangerous civil war as Maoist rebels arrive in the capital, Kathmandu, fully armed with their merchandise of terror and death. Should they be able to dig their feet deep into the Nepalese capital and its nearby areas, the consequences will be not only serious for the only Hindu kingdom of the world but also for India. Nepal would then become an easy launching pad for export of all kinds of terror and mayhem into India by countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.

Beyond sending some military equipment and, as reported in a section of the media, military experts (along with the US) to Nepal it is not clear what else New Delhi is doing to help Nepal in its hour of crisis. Events in that landlocked country certainly deserve to be taken seriously by India for its own good. Of course, any excessively overt show of interest in Nepal by India would further infuriate the well-entrenched anti-India lobby in Nepal as well as the Maoists who have been making common cause with their Indian counterparts operating in the neighbouring Indian State of Bihar and beyond.

It can be said that militants in India and Nepal have been in touch with each other for long, coming and going at will without being hurt too much by security forces in either country. Also, the terrorists coming into India from Pakistan have not felt handicapped by the difficult terrain along the line of control in Kashmir as well as the international border.

But if all this is topped by the installation of a regime in Nepal that swears by violence, as the Maoists do, the security scenario in India will become that much difficult. It can be assumed that an avowed unfriendly country like Islamabad will act in double quick time to cultivate such a regime in Nepal where the ISI has already established a broad base for launching anti-India activities.

Much of the trouble in Nepal can be traced to the long neglect of development of the impoverished country by its royalty as well as the (unstable) democratic forces which have been in power for about 14 years. But the phenomenon of neglect of the poor is nothing new in the subcontinent. A great many poor Indians believe that nothing much has been done for them since the country became free in 1947. And there are militant groups who are active in many parts of the country in the name of bringing about some kind of a proletariat rule in India.

In Pakistan, the gulf between the rich and the poor is perhaps wider than in India. But the numerous militant groups that operate in Pakistan are more keen to establish a rule of the 'pure' than in emancipation of the under privileged.

Nepal would seem to be different case. Many observers believe that the Maoists in that country have a very large support base, probably close to half its 26 million population. It is important to note that well over 40 percent of the population in Nepal lives below the poverty line.

Beyond the big cities and the capital, much of the countryside and the remote provinces are already said to be under the control of the rebels who find ready acceptance among the populace. But the rebels did not acquire this hold over a vast territory overnight. Obviously, the rulers in Kathmandu had allowed things to drift even after signs of an impending Maoist onslaught had appeared on the horizon.

Nepal has, of course, been simmering for many, years. At one time the Ranas held the King as virtual hostage. Then two years ago, the Royal Palace was witness to one of the most gruesome sights as a fully sozzled but jilted heir to the throne wiped out nearly his entire family. In 1989 the role of the monarchy in governing the country was curtailed as a new constitution saw the birth of Parliamentary democracy in Nepal.

It was a cherished dream of most Nepalese, but the dawn of democracy in the country only made people more disillusioned as the elected politicians showed little or no appetite for good governance and co-existence. The poor in Nepal continued to be neglected by the rules in Kathmandu. The situation was ripe for Maoists to exploit. And they did. It has not mattered to the poor in Nepal that the kind of Stalinist society the Maoists want to establish has been rejected by nearly country that experimented with it after the last World War.

The failure of the elected representatives to pay attention to the poor is what the Maoists in the country were awaiting. These representatives, not unlike their Indian counterparts, spent much of their time in quarrelling with each other for the spoils of office. Ministers came and went with amazing speed.

Though the ruling monarch might have also tried to fish in troubled waters, the fact is that in 13 years since the introduction of the new constitution, Nepal had 13 Prime Ministers. It was in 1996 that Nepal had joined the ranks of a growing comity of nations where guerillas were operating with the intention of regime change. The on going 'war' since then has taken a toll of 8000 lives, mostly in remote and rural areas. But now the 'war' has virtually entered Kathmandu to send alarm bells outside Nepal too.

The Nepalese Army and the police have been pressed into service to combat the rebels. These forces lack modern and the sophisticated equipment. But much faith seems to have been put in their numerical superiority: 68,000 soldiers and 57,000 policemen. In contrast, the rebel forces are said to consist of 500 commandos, 8000 regular troops and anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 trained militants.

The numerical advantage becomes meaningless as the guerillas employ the hit and run tactics and use the element of surprise to inflict casualties on intended victims, uniformed as well as civilians. India knows only too well what the guerilla type war means and how inadequate the numbers look in combating them.

That leaves dialogue between the rulers and the rebels as the only route for restoring peace and order in Nepal and saving the once peaceful Kingdom from havoc the fallout of which will hit India hard. The rebels have not shown sufficient keenness to participate in the dialogue process. But they might have been encouraged to take a haughty stand in the face of constant jockeying or power among the elected representatives and reports of palace 'intrigues' and 'ambitions'. The outcome of dialogue process in such circumstances will always look doubtful—as the last failure of the cease-fire has shown.

(Syndicate Features)

Sufferings of saffron

By R D Gupta

Saffron (Crocus Sativus), the socalled red gold of Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas, is of much economic importance. In Kashmir saffron is a legendary crop of the well drained plateau of Pampore. In Jammu, it is grown in Kishtwar area of Jammu District.

The crop is valued for its dry stigmas obtained from flowers which actually constitute the saffron. It is lauded as a flavouring, digestive, sedative, dye, hangover cure, exhilarant, the present uses of saffron are largey culinary. Saffron is a stimulant, warming in effect and dry in action. It assists in urinary, digestive and uterine troubles. It too has several uses in pharmacy as coulouring and flavouring agent as well as abortifacient. Held in reverence by Jains, Hindus, Buddhists, saffron Sas was also used in the form of perfume strewn in Greek and Roman halls, theatres and baths.

In Kashmir, the saffron growers are generally called ''Kong Zamindars''. It is because in Kashmiri, the saffron is known as Kong. Although saffron is perhaps the constiliest spieces in the world, but it is facing some problems. Various reasons are amenable for this dismal state of affairs. Some say that terrorism in Kashmir has severely affected production of saffron which evinced a decline of more than 50 percent during militancy peak period from 1990 to 1998. During 1998-99 its total production diminished from several thousand kg to 500 to 600 kg as compared to previous years.

There are still others who were of the opinion that the changed weather conditions viz.low rainfall and more sunshine even during winters for the last 8 to 10 years, are responsible for bringing low yield of the saffron. Some of the saffron growers are, however, sanguine to get higher yield this year due to timely rains occured this year. Even apple and walnut growers are very happy and hopeful to obtain more yield of these fruits.

Saffron growes from Pampore regret the Government does not buy saffron directly from Kong Zamindars and as such they are exploited by the dealers having trading licence.

Most of the growers producing saffron have very small land holdings which are capable to yield very less quantity of saffron

Establishment of Industrial estate at Khonmoh, Installation of Bharat Gas Petrol Pump spreading at an area of 50 ha in saffron Karewas, the soap factories and joinery mills have resulted into the reduction of the saffron growing fields.

All the more destroying saffron fields in Pampore area these days, is the mushroom growth of stone crushers, stone quarries and cement factories built in the close vicinity of saffron growing fields. In Pampore alone there are about 30 to 40 stone crushers interspersed with the fields of saffron and on the edges of the road. Dust created from the stone crushers and cement factories not only pollute the atmospheric air and soil but also the saffron leaves. Dust accumulated on the saffron growing leaves impairs photosynthesis process, thereby rendering plant growth in active and eventually lessening saffron production. Quality also gets ruined.

Saffron corns are prone to diseases like galdiolus dry rot and gladiolus scab. These are also threatened by mice and birds particularly sparrows.

Sometimes the saffron is adulterated with turmeric, marigold, maize tassels, and even bits of wax and molasses. But according Kong Zamindars, they always sell purest saffron to traders. Quality control on their part is undoubtedly, assured as they fear that even a minor step in wrong direction on their part would crueally retard back. There is general grouse among saffron growers that the middle men and traders dye floral parts to make them akin to saffron flowers for mixing them with real saffron.

Despite so much public demand of saffron its cultivation has yet to get the status of industry which is the need of the hour. The Government should take necessary steps in declaring the saffron cultivation as an industry.

Research is needed to probe into the effect of dust accumulation on saffron leaves in relation to its productivity. Research is also required to assess the effect of accumulated dust on soil properties. Kong Zamindars appreciate and express sincere thanks of SKUAST Srinagar for the research centre established at Konibal Pampore in the heart of saffron growing belt to conduct research for increasing saffron production. However, it is the dire need of the hour that all scientists (Plant breeder, plant pathologist/entomologist, soil scientist and agronomist) must work together to exploit maximum potential of saffron.