A holy person
Sir,
In the Sunday
Edition of this paper (6th Jan) an article about
Swami Nand Bab Ji was published. The author C L
Trisal had done a good job in writing this
article about one of the most famous saints of
the State. These articles remind us in general
about our past and gone by histories and
particularly about our saints.
The article made
some references to Mata Sati Ded and Dekided (who
was Sati Ded's daughter). As far a Mata Sati Ded
is concerned she lived at Shalla Kadal and not at
Tankipora as mentioned by the author. Incidentaly
she was daughter of Tickoo's. Mata Sati Ded was
my father's cousin. As rightly written by Mr.
Trisal Mata Sati Ded already had a premonition
about the incoming Exodus, as mentioned through
the verse written by C L Trisal 'Batni Watnuk Lol
Ma Oai'. But the actual verse is ''Hai Batakoori
Watnuk Lol Maa Yeiy, Maaj Kasher Hai Gachi Lati
Monji''.
The sacred and
spiritual relations between Swami Nand Bab and
Mata Sati Ded were intense but hidden from public
glare. The daughter of Sati Ded, Deki Ded herself
donated all her property to Swami Nand Bab Ashram
constructed at the same site in her presence
before she attained Nirvana. In the end it is
pertinent to mention here that such articles on
eminent saints of the State create an awareness
about the spirituality of such people and help
light a flame of Bakhti and devotion in the
people.
Yours etc...
G L Tickoo
Vishal Nagar,
Talab Tillo
Jammu
Thatri needs development
Sir,
Carved out of
erstwhile Tehsil Bhaderwah; the hilly rural
Tehsil Thathri inhabited by sixty thousand souls
corresponds to the natural boundaries of
Chirallah Forest Range. The comprises of 20/25
kms long and 3/4 KMs wide fertile plateau of
Halqa Drab (Thalela to Badanuthri), beautiful
valleys of Bhallara, Chirallah and Jai. It has so
many scenic and virgin Tourist spots such as,
Satdal, Bhallara Bungla, Subardhar, Rohudal,
Mindha, Rohushiradhar, Jantrone, Champahandhar,
Bhogtrag, Gullukud Lamote etc etc. Places of
pilgrimages like Asthan Sharif Nallah Bungla,
Shrines of Nags and Nagnis, Shaktisthals of
Chamundan Durga and Kali Matas, Smadhis of Baba
Budhi Dass (Jangalwar) and Sidh Baba Lal Dev Ji
(Kundhi) need no mention where thousands of
pilgrims satisfy their mundane desires and get
spiritual bliss. Every tourist spot is inhabited
by some deity, as such, a place of pilgrimage and
tourism.
Apart from its
Tourists and Religious importance this area is
very rich in forest and natural wealth, with
enormous potentialities for power generation
(Micro-hydel power projects), agriculture,
apiculture, floriculture, horticulture, medicinal
herbaria, pisciculture, animal husbandry etc.
etc.
But, despite all
these bounties of nature, this Tehsil has been
relegated to utter backwardness and the people
are languishing below poverty line for want of
their representation in the State Legislature and
step-motherly treatment of successive Govts.
since independence.
This Tehsil has
been tri-sected into three assembly
constituencies and funds of Thathri Block are
utilized in Doda and Kishtwar Tehsils. Whatever
nominal numbers of schools, Dispensaries,
Electric installations, PHE water supply schemes
established are non-functional for want of staff,
medicines infrastructure, superior supervision.
The road
connectivity; the prime factor for development is
totally lacking. The single Chirallah-Kahra road
would have provided road connectivity roughly to
whole Tehsil and served as the alternate highway
for Tehsil Gandhoh passing through the beautiful
Tourist spots was started in 1980 under single
line administration but only 4 KMs upto Thealela
has been rendered traffic-worthy and nominal
earth work done of 5 Kms upto Puneja during 27
years. Thanks to present Chief Minister the work
on this road has been started now.
Realising the
causes of their poverty and backwardness public
has constituted Tehsil Thathri Development Forum
(TTDF) to fight for their genuine cause with
following demands:-
Separate Thathri
Assembly Constituency, Representation is both
houses of legislature. Road connectivity to all
villages. Trifurcation of the biggest Thathri
Block into Thathri, Chirallah and Kahra Blocks,
Degree college ITI etc. Development of mundane
and religious tourism. Sustainable development
through proper water and land use is to be given
top priority. The present Government it is hoped
will give a deep through towards the development
of Thatri region.
Yours etc...
O P Thakur
Janipura
Jammu
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