Saundarya Lahiri A Critique

Dr. Chaman Lal Raina

Saundarya Lahiri
Verse Translation in
Hindi and Kashmiri
By Prof. O N Chrungoo
Pages 103
Cost Rs. 25/-
Publisher -Shoba Prakashan
The Saundarya Lahiri is the magnum-opus about the Shakti- cult of Indian ethos, authored by the Adi-Shanker, the great Commentator of the Vedanta Saundarya Lahiri is the synthesis of Kashmir Agamas and the Southern thought of the Divine mother. A realization about the ‘Motherhood of God’ is vivid in the Saundarya-Lahiri. Absolute is not abstract alone, it is both static and dynamic It is ‘Poorna’- the complete and whole.
The ‘Poorna’ is the attribute of the Mother-creatrix which resembles the fullmoon in the manifest cosmos, as adored in the Lalita Sahsranama. The ‘Poorna’ is be adored, seen and understood is its full bloom, that is why the ‘Poorna-Prakrti’ is adored in the Shakta Sahsranama of Kashmir as well. A clean view is seen in the Bhawani, Shri Ragnya Shri Jwala, Shri Tripura- Sundiri, Sahsranama Tripura-Sundari is the central nerve of the Divine force of the manifestation in purest form of beauty in existence and in transcedence. Adi Shankara has developed this ‘Lahiri- Wavelet’ in the aesthetic form to be adored by the devotees after visiting Kashmir Saundarya is apparent in nonmeni festiation and hidden in the Yoga. Many translation and commentaries have been written and authorised by the devotees, till this date. Fine expressions are found in these works. Kashmir has been gifted with the Saints and Sages Yogis and poets, philosophers and literary critics but the central theme of all such works is in the recognition of Self- known as the Pratybignya of the Kashmir Trika Philosophy.
Shiva is transcendent, while Shakti is apparent in the form of physical mother. The higher realization sees the ‘Beauty Par-excellence’ in the benign face of the Divine mother’
‘’Striyam Samasta Tav Devimedha’ (Durga Sapteshati) Professor O.N.Chrungoo has been bestowed with the Divine grace of the Tripura Sundari, and has been charged to transcreate the Lahiri in Simple, but vivid words adored with beautiful idom and traditional notes of music. A wonderful work! Only a devotee can do this tranlation of the work. Of course, professor Chrungoo has studied the various translations of the ‘Saundarya-Lahiri; but the poet has been infused with the strength of dedication to offer at the Divine feet of the Mother in Chakra form. I as a student of indology, do feel the importance of the poetic transcreation by Prof O.N.Chrungoo, so that it could be put into music by the talented youth of Kashmir, and read as a receiving vibration to build-up a relationship with the Mother of the unvierse.
I appreciate this work

(The author’s is adjunct Professor of Religion and Sanskrit, Florida International University, USA)

Short stories that Depict life

O P Sharma

Retu Da Ghar ( House of Sand) , a collection of short stories in Dogri by Nirmal Vikram, published by Aarhit Prakashan, Krishna Nagar, Jammu; 2006, Pages 107 and Price Rs 200.

Nirmal Vikram 's presentation in Dogri of short stories in the book entitled " Retu Da Ghar" which has been well received in the literary circles. Sixteen selected short stories, written by her in a lucid style make an absorbing reading.
The stories in this maiden literary venture include:. Retu Da Ghar, Rishte, Mako du, Sukhna , Tusay Mera Kay Sochya ?, Bebasi, Katal, Faisla, Trae Kasama, Tera Khuda Kaun ? Atamhatya.
The main themes of the stories are real social issues and human feelings which make their reading interesting and educative . Writer, who has been associated with the literary activities, has made bold attempt to come out with this 107- page book in Dogri. She has dedicated this work to the friends and associates who inspired and persuaded her to make presentationt of this book public. It is her maiden publication-a good beginning indeed.
It is a matter of pride that she has given in some stories an insight into deep human sentiments and social issues. The spectrum of her creative venture is wide-ranging and covers almost all spheres of life.
Real-life stories
The characters in her stories are real life men and women coming from different segments of social status and setting. Though mainly belonging to Duggar social millue, the characters do have, by and large, universal appeal and characteristics. This add to the merit of Nirmal Vinod's stories which are down to earth in their overall approach and treatment.
As Nirmal Vikram has flair for writing and her association with the media-print and electronic, this has brought about maturity of thoughts. Her style is direct, simple and proper use of Dogri idioms, set her apart as a Dogri writer.
Nirmal Vikram's depictions reflect on issues concerning females. She has struck a delicate balance in raising the issues without being herself a feminist. As a writer, she is eager to present the social problems through “living characters in her short stories, but not getting too much involved or prejudiced”.
Distinct Style
After the recognition of Dogri language in the Indian Constitution, the writers do have wide-window of opportunities for higher readership and at the same time there is great challenge of competition. So, the writers have to tread their path more cautiously and bring more professionalism for excellence and quality products.
Nirmal Vikram has vast field ahead and the present book under review indicate her latent talent which can, if optimally explored, can open new literary horizons for her. Through her maiden publication, she has certainly moved a step up the literary ladder of Dogri literature.
New Horizones
The book has been priced on the high side but considering cost of production and other overhead charges, it is understandable. The publishers have to make special endeavors for widening the network of sale and distribution and special efforts must be made so that this book reaches maximum number of readers.
Renowned Dogri writer Ved Rahi, has penned foreward " Nami Soche De Pongar' (A sprouting of new ideas).
This book of Dogri short stories is a contribution to Dogri language and literature. Everybody acquainted with Dogri language must read and appreciate this creative work of Nirmal Vikram. This book must adorn the shelves of libraries in each and every education institutions in Dogri speaking areas and also it should be a prized possession of all the Dogras

Insight into Dogra identity..............................

O.P. Sharma

The entire north-west of the Indian sub-continent was, in the autumn of 1947, aflame with communal riots. In October 1947, the disturbances spread to the State of Jammu and Kashmir also. The Gilgit area of the State had an overwhelmingly Muslim population, made up of turbulent hill-men. The position was complicated by the existence of the semi-feudal principalities of Chitral, Hunza, Nagar etc which had been brought under Dogra rule in the 19th Century.
In July 1947, Gilgit was still being administered by the Government of India, to whom it had been made over by the State Government on lease for 60 years. The departure of the British from India being imminent, it was decided to terminate this lease and hand Gilgit back to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Late in July 1947, the State Government appointed Brig Ghansara Singh, one of the most senior officers of the State’s Force, to be the Governor of Gilgit. He flew to Gilgit on 30 July 1947 and took over the administration from Lt Col Bacon, the British Political Agent, on 01 August 1947.
The local people, even though overwhelmingly Muslim, joyously welcomed the return of the Maharaja’s administration after the period of British rule. Of the subordinate chiefs under the Governor of Gilgit, namely, the Mir of Hunza, the Mir of Nagar, the Raja of Punial, and the chieftains of Koh Ghizar, Yasin and Ashkoman, only the Mirs of Hunza and Nagar were hostile. Their hostility proved very damaging, for three-fourths of the men of the Gilgit Scouts came from Hunza and Nagar, and Subedar Major Babar Khan of the Scouts was the uncle of the Mir of Nagar and had married the sister of the Mir of Hunza. The two British officers of the Gilgit Scouts whose services had been retained by the State, namely Major WA Brown and Captain Matheson, proved themselves inveterately hostile to Jammu & Kashmir State and took the leading part in the pro-Pakistan treachery at Gilgit. The predominantly Muslim civil employees of the Government of Gilgit were also pro-Pakistan and they backed the demands of the Scouts for special rates of pay and other concessions for serving the Jammu & Kashmir State soon after Brig Ghansar Singh took over charge. It should be noted, however, that the Gilgit Scouts and the local people were still free from the violent communal passions then sweeping through the Punjab and did not favour killing or converting by force the non-Muslim at Gilgit.
Not so the State’s own Muslim troops. Gilgit area was garrisoned by 6 J & K Infantry, less about two companies with Headquarters at Bunji about 54 kms from Gilgit on the road to Srinagar. Commanded by Lt Col Abdul Majid Khan, the battalion was composed of Muslims and Sikhs in almost equal proportions. The Sikhs, according to the Commanding Officer, were raw recruits and were not fit for active duty for the next 5-6 months, till they had fired their musketry course. The Muslim companies had men from Punch and they having heard all about the horrible communal killings in the Punjab, were in a violently communal frame of mind.
Wild rumours raged in Gilgit in the last week of October when the tribal invasion of Kashmir began. The common people remained friendly, but there was clear evidence that Major Brown and Sub Major Babar Khan of the Scouts were planning some trouble. Some locals advised the Governor to call up 6 J&K Infantry from Bunji, but Brig Ghansara Singh realised that State Force’s Muslim men were as disaffected as and more violent than, the Scouts. The Sikhs of 6 J&K Infantry could not be called due to the opposition of Lt Col Abdul Majid Khan, the Commanding Officer.

Of fusses and elusions

Asif Anwar Alig

Biographies of the political figures are usually plagued with eulogies and brinkmanship. Such rueful phenomenon savours in this hurriedly written biography of India's first women president Pratibha Devi Singh Patel. The political biography, though, could have been a well presented documentation of the life of the first women president of India if M. H. Syed could have done some homework. His approach needed to be free of delusions before penning this book.
The focus of the biography, as presented on the flap, is not able to sustain interest of the readers while one reads it, who instead winds it up with disinterest. The book is more of a ceremonial writing --- let the president seek attention of the author --- than a biography donning into her life story. The claims put in by the biographer in the title page of the book contradict with the text that follows as the biography has been rather "filled" instead of sketching Pratibha Devi Singh Patel as a leader whose caliber, whatever it might be, groomed her to become the constitutional head of the world's second largest democracy.
Broadly divided into ten chapters with a chunk of non-appreciable sub chapters, the book doesn't enchant the mood and interest of an audience as the theme presented is hugely distorted rather digressed. It is a compilation of selected articles and unnecessary references. The researched biographical noting is missing. Ironically the actual motive of the book is severely ignored and the repetition of statements is rampant that ultimately grades this biography into an ordinary one.
Though there are preliminary information about Ms. Patil; explaining her childhood, education, political career, social activities, struggles etc. this book doesn't end into the category of a biography. The author hastily recounts her personality in a few pages and the book moves forward detailing the attributes of her place of birth, the qualities of her descent and caste. Who are the prominent personalities from her caste? Ironically it gives enough space to the people from her caste and region that makes no sense on why such stuffs are the part of a biography. Is it necessary to sketch the personalities associated in her political circle; her opponents, colleagues, mentors is an unanswered question and the readers are in illusion whether the book is a biography or a mixed bag of vaguely presented political satire just to fatten its size --- ultimately demeaning her personality? First few pages of the book hark one not to go through it to later pages.
The biographer gives inputs about her ancestors and creed through recounting other's success stories as if this biography is a textbook of history. Such information is gathered quotes from either the textbooks of history or various encyclopedias. As a literature in hurry --- though this metaphor is exclusive for journalism --- the biography has useless stuff explained unconvincingly.
The intended information could have been thoroughly expressed in some more pages but the author has hardly bothered for his focused area. Rather his intention seems to fatten the book's size just to present it like a hot cake. The biography could have been a successful reading material if it would have been published in a booklet instead of adding on extra pages putting into useless information for showpiece.
The last portion of the book is entirely a global and separate entity that lists the women presidents around the world. Their achievements are explained minutely. The question arises whether a work of biography should have such components in one of its core chapters. The chapter lists women presidents of different countries of the world and a detailed biographical note on them.
The prominent names listed by the author are Agatha Barbara of Malta, Carmen Pereira of Guinea-Bissau, Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka, Corazon Aquino of Philippines, Dalia Itzik of Israel, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot of Haiti, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo I of Philippines, Isabel Martinez de Peron of Argentina, Janet Jagan of Guyana, Lidia Gueiler Tejada of Bolivia, Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson of Ireland, Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, Micheline Calmy-Rey of Switzerland, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Mireya Moscoso of Panama, Nino Burjanadze of Georgia, Sukhbaataryan Yajmaa of Mongolia, Tarja Halonen of Finland, Vaira Viie-Freiberga of Latvia, Vigdis Finnbogadottir of Iceland and Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua. Was it mandatory to explain these details?
The history defining the women presidents around the world is informative. But a question arises on whether adding biographical notes of the women presidents, their roles in their respective countries as nation builders and their achievements were the need of a biography that is exclusive for India's first woman president Pratibha Devi Singh Patel.
The book is a roughly sketched mixture of historical notes, collection of irrelevant articles summoned in one book aimed at gaining favouritism. Any sensible reader would rather mark it a collection of haphazardly collected stuffs put into one. The book can't be categorized as a biography of the constitutional head due to its immature presentation and urchin focus.

Book Review

O P Sharma

An authentic book, on various aspects of Value Added Tax (VAT) in Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Arun Kumar Gupta and Hardeep Aggarwal, both eminent practising Chartered Accountants, has hit the market recently. The VAT regime is applicable, fostering a single taxation system, all across the country now with UP State too adopting it.
Under the taxation reform scheme, the Jammu and Kashmir state too adopted VAT system in line with other parts of the country. The VAT is applicable in the State since April 1, 2005 after the J&K State legislated its own Vat Act, 2005 which is broadly in consonant with rules elsewhere in the country.
To create awareness about various features and its essential rules, certainly there was urgent need for literature on the subject. This publication has fulfilled the long-felt demand for a hand book on VAT regime.
Basic Knowledge
For the success of the VAT system, it is imperative that not only professionals, concerned dealers or businessmen but general public understand these tax laws and implement them in letter and spirit.
The awareness about the new tax regime is vital for those connected with trade, business, industry, the tax authorities as also the general public. This book is useful endeavour in this direction.
In fact, it is improved and revised version of the first edition.
There are additional features having components like ‘guidance on various topics like returns, assessments, appeals and other things under the Act, like assessment procedures, issuance of Tax Clearance Certificate and other important matters, the two tax experts have brought to the fore.
Main Merits
The merit of the new publication is that it has been written in a more reader-friendly manner of simple language, in lucid style, practical nature with illustrations, examples and detailed information about the VAT system. There are charts and examples.
Detailed information about the VAT, its broad concept, procedure of maintenance of essential account records, returns and items taxed under the Act as also proceedure for audit, which is mandatory for dealers having turnover of Rs 40 lakh and above.
Reader-friendly style
In his foreword, Bashir Ahmed, J&K Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, has rightly observed that “the present book will be helpful to the tax authorities, dealers, tax professionals and the public at large”.
CA. R K Gupta, Chairman, J&K branch of Northern India Regional Council of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has made the observation: “the authors have clarified the VAT Act by way of flow charts resulting in better and clear understanding of sections of the VAT Act”.
Prize Possession
This 278-page hand book on VAT has comprehensively dealt with the VAT system and its basic features and is very useful for the general public as also the professionals, tax authorities, businessmen or dealers. This important publication is, indeed, a prize possession for all members of civil society.

Kashmir history revisited

L. B. Zutshi

Kashmir is not just, only
Book Review
Book - Nilmat Purana (Urdu)
Author - Arjan Dev Majboor.
Publisher - J&K Academy of
Art Culture & Languages
Page 360
Cost: Rs. 130
Year of publication 2007
A geographical expression, a beautiful place and a political problem but it also reminds us of a distinct people with a historical past, a cultural identity and a well knit society having its distinct Tirthas (sacred places) rituals and ceremonies. All this tale of the blessed Vale from its legendary inception, and of its people, its culture, and its places has been told to us in her ancient text of Nilmat Purana.
Though Nilmat Purana is a pre historic text, yet just because of its non - availability in the commonly known language of Kashmir i.e. Urdu, it remained so far out of reach of common Kashmiri. Now with its translation into Urdu by a well known poet and author of Kashmir, Arjan Dev Majboor has rendered a great service to the cause of Kashmir’s history and culture and has thus repaid a debt to his mother land and its people. By undertaking this work at this stage of his life Majboor Sahib has in fact displayed his acute passion and love for Kashmir.
Nilmat Purana is an exuberant history of Kashmir, its sacred places, rituals and ceremonies. It only required an author of keen historical perception and investigative sense like Arjan Dev Majboor to write such a text, so as to bring home to average reader the inter connections that so vividly mark the evolution of various human societies and cultures.
This book in the present form is not merely a rendering or simple translation of the original text, but the author in the first two introductory chapters has from the analytical point of view of a historian linked the past with the present by citing various presently held rituals and ceremonies with past events and happenings. Investigative spirit of Majboor has in fact taken him to most of the Kashmir’s sacred and historical places. His investigative and historical forays into the Kashmir’s past have lent him a clarity, which he has often displayed with total assertion.
Majboor Sahib in his introductory chapters to the book has summated the recent and pre historic events, that have, over the generations gone on to make the preculiarities that mark Kashmir as a distinct nationality.The various influences from China, Central Asia and India have been laid bare and he has aptly and admirably linked Kashmir’s history and culture as is known today with geographical and cultural past as is depicted in the Nilmat Purana.
In writing this book Majboor has a distinct advantage, that of being a prominent Kashmiri poet and author, for his knowledge of the present day prevailing ceremonies, rituals, folklore and oral tradition has been ably used to tie a knot between present and past, which otherwise is a difficult proposition for a non-Kashmiri.
Investigative references of Majboor to some of the present day rituals and ceremonies like ‘Yaksha mavas’ Gada batta;, ‘vyog’ etc and their linkages with historical accords and events of the pre historic times is only the product of an ingenious and investigative mind.
This is a book that in fact tells us interesting stories and strange ironies, its very first chapter is emphatic on our cultural achievements and values, and this account is a continuation of the process started by Ved Kumari Ghai, who was the first to translate this text and bring it before the public in an open form. Such efforts should always move youngers to bigger works on such issues, for we belong to a common heritage, wherein the fratricidal conflicts of the present day have no place, because we are all brothers and not cousins owning a common past. It is a travesty of history that such conflicts like the present one going on in Kashmir has forced a man like Majboor to live in exile and away from his motherland.The cover of the book rightly displays the eternal spring (Neelnag) Verinag considered as the source of Vitasta (Jehlum), which eternally flows from Kashmir’s past to its future unmindful of the turbulence that is occurring on its banks. It was probably on the banks of this famed spring that the famous Neelmat Purana was conceived or written. The J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages has really rendered a great service to the Kashmiri cause by publishing this book. The book has been printed legibly and consists of about 250 pages. The book is genuinely going to prove of immense help to all students and scholars who wish to learn about Kashmir.

A Look Back & Ahead

O P Sharma

Journalism is a potent instrument of socio-economic transformation and the recent technological advances have made it more powerful. The print media has retained its supremacy despite the onslaught of electronic media: Television, Radio and Internet across the globe.
Journalism has contributed to spread of literacy which in turn got strengthened with increasing readership, viewership and circulation ofthe mass media.
The history of Journalism, its growth and development in India, over the years, is both interesting and instructive. Despite its going through phases of daunting challenges and acute difficulties, it played its pivotal role in creating awakening in the society. It galvanised the Indian people and lent its solid support during the freedom struggle in the pre-Independence period and later in the nation-building.
Basic Principles
During the freedom struggle, the press suffered a lot but kept the torch of freedom struggle afloat till India won freedom from foreign yoke.
The 367-page book has detailed history of press in India and the author has made an objective analysis of the newspapers, the personalities and events over the years. It has deliberated upon the criteria of good newspaper, what makes a good journalist and journalism as a career.
The chapter on origin and development of Press in India has been vividly put in new light.
Another feature of this book is its focus on the “ American and British Journalism: Synoptic View” spread over 30 pages to give its parallel study of journalism in India.
Significant Features
A plus point is that author has devoted nearly 130 pages to main regional languages press which besides playing crucial role in the pre-independence era and its fast growing pace with more active participation in the affairs of this nation. The regional press has deeper out-reach in the areas of their influence and its study is really purposeful.
Yet another area of interest picked up by the author is media laws from Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 to different press laws. While a brief discussion on both Press Commissions, Press Council of India, training of media-persons, Registrar of Newspapers for India and other matters has been made.
Right Spirit
Rightly, a full chapter is on “ Ethics, Laws and Codes of Media and for Advertising” as well. Electronic media laws covering Government’s news policy for broadcast, its codes for Radio and Doordarshan are in place. Apart from it, codes for commercial broadcasting and advertising as well as Cable TV Regulation Act, 1995 have also been framed. Few famous cases of sedition also find mention in the book.
Foreword of this volume has been written by Prof Jai Narain Sharma, Department of Gandhian Studies and Punjab University, and Director, Gandhi Bhavan, Chandigarh.
Call of Duty
True, Journalist requires the courage of a disciplined soldier, an explorer’s curiosity like that of a cat, vision of an ascetic, mission of a true missionary fired with the high spirit of serving the society by subordinating personal goals. It is doubtlessly a demanding profession with lot many odds and hazards ever ready to continuing with the call of duty and assiduously and presented as sacred facts.
Dr K C Sharma, who has authored this book, have had wide-range of interests and experiences. He is among the core faculty in Journalism and international trade with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans’ College at Chandigarh and holds that journalism was his “first love”.
Opinion Makers
In the preface he observes that journalism has acquired, unquestionably, the status of being an art and profession. He has laboured hard to re-write the history of journalism from earliest to the present day.
A heartening trend in recent past has been that more and more books on various aspects of journalism with Indian perspective are being written by eminent authors and being put out by enterprising publishers. It is really a welcome sign and augurs well for fast growing mass media in the country.
The book is good study material for students of journalism and all those in the profession, especially the youngsters entering the portals of print as also electronic media. This work isgood for politicians, administrators and academicians as well as general public for better understanding the under-currents of all round development of the media.The publisher and author as also printer have done a fine professional job.
With an exhaustive bibliography and an index, the book is an authentic resource material for future work on history, growth and development of journalism in the country. The book is really a pride possession for any individual and a valuable asset for the libraries across the country.

Randomly Around Kashmir

Dr. K L Chowdhry

Dr. K L Chowdhry

Name of the Book:- Randomly Around Kashmir
Author:- Dr R L Bhat
Publisher- Dr. R L Bhat Publicatios, Bohri Jammu
Published- 2008
Pages- 196
Price- Rs. 100

R L Bhat has a vast canvas; name any topic, think of any discipline and he has something valuable to say, something to make you sit up and think. Therefore don’t ever be misled into believing the essays are just random thoughts of a random mind, when in fact it his versatility pouring out in that randomness. There is a loose interconnectedness in his essays under the randomly title and yet it is difficult to classify them, as he has attempted to, into Randomly Kashmir and Randomly India and, further, under various subtitles which hide the universal theme of many essays there.
More importantly, Dr R L Bhat has a great sense of history; yet, it may sound a bit far fetched to label him as a historian, with a deep urge to set the facts right wherever they have been wronged. And wronged they are being, so blatantly, so cunningly, every day. In that sense his Randomly collections are documents of great relevance to contemporary historians and to posterity, for what they unfold, in lucid language, in a distinctive randomly style, with a heavy sprinkling of wit and humour, sarcasm and satire, anger and rage. They bring him out as a student and a researcher of historiography, delving deep into the past to juxtapose facts from there against the fiction that is being manufactured by our compulsive ‘intellectual- liberal’ elite. He rues the degeneration of social mores and cultural values, he is angry at the corrupt administration, he is sad for the suffering masses. He is deeply and painfully concerned about the transformation and the transmutation of the concept of nationhood, of the double standards of the politicians and rulers, of the sinister virus of minorityism, of the mushrooming ethos of India-bashing. His is the concern for a nation going deep down the gutter and he comes down heavily on the communists and communalists alike on pseudo-secularists and fanatics, and above all on the historians out to reconstruct history to suit their theories and dash facts to the ground.
In Randomly Kashmir, RLB beautifully analyses the mass hysteria that go with the most terrible historical aberrations of mankind like the tacit approval of Hitler’s policies and atrocities by the Germans, the backing of Christian masses for the crusades and, in a similar vein, the undying enthusiasm of Kashmiris thronging the processions of the militants and being mute spectators to the genocide and ethnic cleansing of their Pandit neighbors and friends, thereby unwittingly approving the atrocities and being indirectly culpable in thought if not deed.
R L Bhat did not lose any opportunity to highlight the trauma and travails of the exiled Pandits and their rights violations at the hands both of the terrorists and the administrative machinery alike.
He poignantly, and poetically, describes their existential crisis thus: ‘what if they are neither citizens nor non-citizens, nether something nor nothing, neither noticed nor unnoticed, in their own land, in their own State, by their own Government.’ At the same time he does not let them off the hook, nor their numerous leaders, for being in, what he calls, a self-emasculation mode, for the dissensions and divisions in the rank and file of the ‘migrants’, for the mushrooming organizations with their cacophony, making trivial demands in preference to the larger issue of their right to return to homeland; so that not only the State and the Central Governments but even the ‘migrants’ themselves ‘confuse the issues arising out of the problem as the problem itself.’ He ridicules others who lay the blame on unemployment and the usurpation of jobs by poor Pandits, when in fact it is pure and undiluted Jihad, a religious and fundamentalist crusade attested to by, no less than, Abdul Majid Dar, the deputy to Sallahudin, who explained, through a series of write ups in the local Chattan, the ‘intellectual reasons’ for terrorism as nothing but Islam. Alas, he was eliminated years later when he hedged his bets on ceasefire and peace!
Some of the essays are a must read for everyone but one in particular is the outstandingly eloquent explanation of the much debated and much confused Article 370 and Autonomy under the title “Accession, Autonomy and Kashmir”. In the two subsequent essays RLB rightly describes the special status to J&K as an ‘iniquitous deal in the constitution of India’ for providing, what he terms an ‘exalted citizenship’ to the State of J&K at the expense of the Indian nation. What baffles him is the paradox of the State enjoying maximum powers and asking for more when there is nothing more to give!
There is a lot more in these essays but for the paucity of time I have not been able to catch up. I have not gone through ‘Randomly India’ in any detail and leave my comments to a later date.I congratulate R L Bhat for compiling his pieces and thank him for gifting the two compilations to an admiring reader.

Emerging New Trends in Media

O P Sharma

Name of Book Journalism and Electronic Media
Author S K Bansal
Publisher APH Publishing Corporation,
Ansari Marg, Darya Ganj,
New Delhi;
Year 2007,
Pages 256
Price Rs 595.

Technical advances and management methods have enabled the media—print as well as electronic- to scale new heights in quality, speed, contents and reach out. In the recent past revolutionary changes have been witnessed in the radio, television, internet and even in the newspapers and magazines.
Broadcasting, telecasting, almost instant transmission of messages through satellite system and high-speed, mass printing techniques have made the flow of information and ideas. The media has acted as a powerful instrument of social change and ushered in a new era of instant and vast information world-wide. This has really turned the world now into a global village.
Yak Book Channel, a leading publishing house, gave me this book which made an absorbing and rewarding reading. It will be of interest for professionals in media—print and electronic.
Deep Insight
This 256-page book on “ Journalism and Electronic Media” has given a deep insight into the medium as well as messages, functioning of the press and electronic media, its role in shaping the public opinion and securing people’s active participation in democratic system and also development process.
The author, S K Bansal is a veteran mediaperson and a prolific writer, has made significant contribution in the field of communication and Information Technology. In a democratic system the role of media is pivotal indeed and India, the largest democracy in the world has come a long way in ensuring sustained development of the modern media.
Perspective Study
A chapter has been devoted to electronic media in women’s development, a full-scale discussion on television and social change; viewpoint on revolution of Information Technology, deliberation on broadcasting and telecasting.
A notable feature is detailed discourse on feature films and also promotion of music which are potent instrument of Education, entertainment and information.
The evolution of communication, its backdrop, norms and codes as well as role and responsibility has been discussed in separate chapter.
Professional Outlook
It would have been good for budding journalist to be acquainted the with a brief history of the media in the country, its past performance as also its vision and agenda in the proper perspective. The author should have taken up vital issues concerning the media especially the health growth, adherence to code of ethics and other related matters like autonomous status to Prasar Bharti and question of FDI in Indian media.
The book under review contains some very informative material and its reading will be beneficial for the common people, particularly for youth entering the portals of journalistic profession in print, radio or television medium.
The political leaders, legislators and social activists have to be well acquainted with the functioning of the media so that it is put to optimal use to enlighten the masses about public affairs and upholding our valued democratic system and cultural heritage. This book must be on the shelve of libraries in public and educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir particularly for students of Journalism.

Kaleidoscopic view of Urdu Ghazals

O P Sharma

This 433-page book details growth of Urdu Ghazal over the years in the country. Alamdar Hussain Shah whose pen-name is Alamdar Adm, has undertaken the arduous task of writing about popular genre of Urdu language;Ghazal covering a long period and touching almost all the famous Urdu poets.
This is, in fact, author’s authentic research work done under the supervision of Prof Nusrat Ara Choudary, which got him Ph D degree from University of Jammu in 2007.
Scholarly Work
Prof Zahur-ud-Din, a renowned Urdu writer and former Head of Urdu Department, University of Jammu, in his foreword has a high opinion about this research work completed by Dr Shah, which according to him is a laudable contribution to Urdu language and its literature.
Rajiv Gupta, Managing Director, Yak Publishing Channel of Jammu, too has made bold and imaginative step by bringing out this well-researched publication. It is noteworthy that Urdu being official language of Jammu and Kashmir State needs promotion.
Long Journey
Dr Shah hails from Bandi Chechian in Poonch district and did MA in Urdu creditably from the Jammu University. He fully devoted all his time and energy during studies to literary and cultural activities.
“ Urdu Ghazal Ki Tareekh Aur Tanqeed” is an indepth study of the subject written in easy-to-understand language and interesting style surveying the Urdu literature’s most appealing genre, Ghazal.
The author has devoted his full attention in giving various features of Ghazals over the years, its main merits and also literary significance. What is Ghazal, its main importance and most prominet stalwarts of Urdu poetry from yester-years to present times. The whole journey of Ghazals is, in fact, evolution and advancement which has been well told by the author in a direct and simple style explaining the literary compositions’s flight of imagiination deep emotions.
Literary Heritage
Urdu Ghazal forms an integral and rich part of our literary and cultural heritage. In some quarters, concern have been expressed that Urdu language is on the decline course. While all concrete and timely steps must be taken for promotion of this language, it can be asserted that the language will go on.
As long as immotal Ghazal writers likeGhalib, Daag, Iqbal, Jigar Moradabadi, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Firaq, Sudershan Faqir, Bashir Badar, Nidha Fazli coupled with everlasting Ghazal singers like Begum Akhtar, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Jaggit Singh, Abida Parveen, among others live in the hearts of millions of peoples in India, Pakistant and elsewhere, the Urdu language will not evaporate.
“Urdu Ghazal Ki Tareekh Aur Tanqeed” makes an absorbing reading and one gets a deep insight into Urdu literarature and particularly its genere of Ghazal. Both the author Dr Alamdar Hussain Shah and the Yak publishing Channel, Jammu deserve appreciation for this authentic and interesting book.
This scholarly book though priced high but it is certainly a pride possession as the readers will be benefitted by knowing about the informative story of Ghazals. The addition of this book in public and private libraries will be valuable indeed. It will make profitable reading by academicians, students and even the common masses.