Saviour of Kashmir

Sir,

A few days ago an article about Brigadier Rajinder Singh was published in this paper (Oct 27) . The article was well written and based on facts. Brig Rajinder Singh laid his life to save Kashmir from a sure capture.

I think three incidents played a crucial role in saving Kashmir. First was the decision of Brig. Rajinder Singh to give battle to the enemy radiers at Uri. The second was the role of Shaheed Maqbool Sherwani and third was the bravery displayed by Indian Army at Badgam, Pattan and finally at Shalteng. Brig Rajinder Singh had not blown strategic bridges at Uri and given a tough battle to the tribesmen supported by Pakistan army. Their bravery unnerved the enemy, otherwise they would have easily reached Srinagar unopposed and captured the Valley. It would have become next to impossible to dislodge them from Kashmir valley. The lightening decision taken by Brig Rajinder Singh without caring for his safety speaks volumes about Dogra valour. We should be all proud of it and must always salute this great solider. May his sacrifice make us more braver.

Yours etc...
Rajinder Kaul
Lower Barnai
Jammu

Kandi belt

Sir,

Apropos your very obsorving article 'Agriculture of Kandi belt' by Prof R D Gupta who has dealt with the subject thoroughly. Infact, he has reminded us about the original crops of the Kandi belt which I feel, if revived, will not only provide more nutritional value to our undernourished people of the Kandi belt but will also give better yields under the present rain fall conditions as we have noticed a gradual decrease in rain fall in Shivalik Kandi with the result as mentioned by the Author, the farmers and leaving their field uncultivated.

On the concept of Agro-forestry, various systems viz Agriculture-Horticulture, Silviculture-Fish culture and Herbal plantation were introduced in the Carpart water shed project at Badhori under the advise of Dr. R D Gupta which has yielded good results. Infact, the models created in the project area can be beneficial to the Shivalik Kandi farmers as due to poor and erratic monsoon the yield of main crops like wheat and maize are not remunerative now farmers should therefore follow various systems of Agro-Forestry including Herbal plantation in the Kandi.

Yours etc...
Maj Gen
Goverdhan Singh Jamwal,
Jammu

Netaji

Sir,

The newsreport titled, "Man before death claimed he was Netaji (DE, Oct 30)'' has brought again to the focus the last days of Netaji. Netaji as we all know had a magnetic effect on the multitude of our country. He was revered by the youth for his bravery and patriotism. The last days of Netaji are shrouded in mystery. We are not sure what happened after the plane he was in, crashed.

Many believe that his ashes and preserved in a temple in Tokyo. Many have contested this line. Now again a man who died at the age of one hundred twenty five years is claimed to have told that he was the real Netaji. His body mercifully has been buried. If need be it can be exhumed and than a DNA mapping or someother relevant test may reveal something.

But the nation has a right to know the whole story, the true story.

Many commissions have been formulated in the past. But the commonman wants to know what happened to Netaji and there he cannot be denied the right that is his, by law and by ethics of a civilized state.

Yours etc...
A K Manhas
Kacchi Chawni
Jammu