An Empty Pitcher Makes Noise

by Amardeep Singh

Life would be boring without jokes. We all crack jokes. In India, most of the jokes, for some years now are being cracked on the Sikhs. There are these 12 o'clock jokes, Banta Singh-Santa Singh jokes, Giani Zail Singh jokes, Baldev Singh jokes, Khalistan jokes. The list is endless.

Picture yourself as a Sikh and look for an honest response from within yourself. Would you be able to handle these day in day out of cracks targeted at you by colleagues/friends/the unknown person standing next to you/anyone and everyone taking the liberty. I know your immediate reaction. "Sure man, it's only a joke." You are absolutely right, it is only a joke. However when a joke enters the bloodstream as a cancerous virus and you get targeted daily, right from your childhood, let me tell you, as much as you believe you can, the fact is you will not be able to handle them.

On the other hand, look at the Sikhs. Have you ever seen anyone of them getting irritated with these digs & cracks on them. You wouldn't have. Ever thought why they don't get effected? Well the answer lies in a couplet by Saint Kabeer :

Kaho Kabir chucha ghat bole. Bhariya hoe so kabahu na dole.
Says Kabeer, an empty pitcher makes noise. But that which is full, makes no sound.

Sikhs by nature are self-respecting, courageous, hardworking and enterprising. Look into their short span of history and you will find their pitcher is full of sacrifices and hard work which has contributed so much towards the nation building. If not for them, the course of Indian History would have been very different. That's what makes them the SPIRIT BORN PEOPLE and gives the ability to simply ignore the digs targeted at them. Volumes could be written on the contributions made by the Sikhs, who constitute less than 2% of Indian population. I am listing below just a few, which should make my friends start thinking.

Sikhs have always believed in the right of an individual to practice a religion of his own choice and have always fought against tyranny. Jahangir, the 4th Mughal ruler wrote in his memoirs, Tuzak-i-Jahangiri about Arjan Dev, the 5th Sikh Guru, ".for a long time the thought had been presenting itself to me that he should be bought to the fold of Islam.". In 1606, when the Guru refused the forceful conversion, he was put to death by boiling in a cauldron and sitting on a hot iron plate.

Aurangzeb, the 6th Mughal ruler was a fanatic ruler who desired to convert every Indian to Islam. Tyrannized by his forceful conversions, a delegation of Kashmiri Brahmins in 1675, approached Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs. He offered to sacrifice his life for their cause. This was a unique & unparalleled sacrifice in the annals of human history. He laid down his life in defense of religious tolerance, of freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience. He gave his life so that the Hindu's right to wear the sacred thread is not violated despite the fact that Sikhs themselves did not believe in these rituals. This was a martyrdom for the defense of basic human values.

For about 7 centuries, since the invasion of Mahmud Ghazni in the 10th century, many ruthless invaders played havoc with the life of Indians. Recurring defeats had sapped the psychic energy of the Indians so much that they had resigned themselves to their fate. It was Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs who imbibed the fearlessness amongst the Sikhs to fight against all odds. He wrote to Aurangzeb saying "when all means have failed, it is right to pick up the sword". In the year 1699 he proclaimed, "call me by the name of Gobind Singh, only if i succeed in making the sparrows (Indians) fight against the Hawks (mighty foreign rulers) and am able to make one Sikh fight against an army of one Lakh". He set himself against oppression and intolerance. He did not fight against any territory or worldly power, or against any religion or sect. He made nationalism the religion of Sikhs. Apart from the numerous Sikhs who lost their life in defense of the country under him, his 2 sons were martyred on the battleground, while the other 2 preferred to be bricked alive than give up their esteem. In 1709 he left this world with a lifetime of heroic events which changed the History of India.

Bulle Shah, a celebrated Sufi Muslim Saint has said, "I neither say of the past, nor of the future, but i talk of the time of Guru Gobind Singh & declare openly. That but for him, all the Indians would have been circumscribed and converted to a foreign culture and religion".

In 1710, Banda Singh Bahadur was the first Indian to re-establish Indian rule after 7 centuries of foreign rule in India, post a fierce battle with the forces of Aurangzeb, although this was short lived.

Between 1713 and 1801 the Sikhs were homeless and living as Guerillas, demonstrating heroic acts of courage at every possible instance. The tyrant rulers had put a reward of Rs. 25/= for every Sikh head and Rs. 100/= for every Sikh caught alive. Those caught alive would be cut to pieces. Many new vocabulary (of which many jokes against Sikhs are made nowadays) were given currency among the Sikh guerillas which showed with what brave face and heart they had accepted the challenge of their persecutors.

In 1738 Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler invaded India from Kabul and went on a rampage upto Delhi. He returned to Persia in summer of 1739 and carried back a huge booty of looted wealth, Kohinoor diamond, women, artisans and slaves. To avoid the summer heat, the convoy would rest during the day and travel in the night. At the peak of the day heat at 12 noon, the Sikh guerillas started attacking his convoy right from Punjab up to the Indus. They freed many women, artisans, slaves and deprived him of large amount of wealth. The women were escorted back to Delhi by the Sikhs. It was for this heroic act, which no one else dared, of fighting against the might of Nadir Shah by a handful of Sikhs and freeing the women, that the Sikhs started getting seen as people who go mad at 12 Noon and therefore the 12 o' clock jokes of nowadays. When Nadir Shah asked Zakhariya Khan " who these barbarians where and where they lived", Zakhariya replied " they are the followers of Nanak & live on saddles of their horses".

Post the return of Nadir Shah to Persia, Zakhariya Khan went on a rampage against the Sikh movement and killed 10,000 of them in a few days.

Between 1748 & 1765, Ahmad Shah Abdali the ruler from Afghanistan rampaged India 9 times. Again the Sikhs attacked his returning convoys during the peak summer heat and freed 2200 women and escorted them back to their homes. Yet again a heroic act at 12 noon, which unfortunately the others perceived as a maddening act and therefore further strengthened the 12 noon syndrome. These acts of Sikhs aggravated Ahmed shah Abdali, who swore to take revenge at an appropriate time. During his 6th invasion he caught the Sikhs unaware and 25,000 of them were killed in a few days. But the spirit of the Sikhs remained high as one Nihang Sikh of that time commented "only the soft and unbaked ones of us have fallen off".

Finally, Sikhs under Ranjit Singh, in 1798 bought to an end the 800 years of foreign invasions into India through Khyber pass, by bringing it under their control. This was the best gift the Sikhs gave to the nation which finally allowed the rest of India to breathe in peace. Hari Singh Nalwa, who manned the Khyber pass for years became a household name in Afghanistan. Even today, the Afghani mothers put their children to sleep with the threat of Hari Singh Nalwas name.

It was Ranjit Singh who bought back to India, the world famous Kohinoor diamond, which was looted by Nadir Shah earlier.

If not for the Sikhs, who captured Kashmir in 1819, today it would have been a part of Afghanistan.

Ladakh, which earlier was a part of Tibet, owes its existence on the map of India to Zorawar Singh, who captured it in 1836.

Sikhs were the last to surrender to the British in the sub-continent and were the first to raise arms against them.

After 2 bloody Anglo-Sikh wars did British manage to annex Punjab as the last kingdom on the map of British-India Empire. It is an irony of fate that the Sikhs had to fight against their own countrymen as British forces in saving Punjab from British annexation. It was not due to lack of soldiers courage & conviction that the wars against British were lost, but a treachery by Gulab, the Dogra primeminister under Ranjit Singh, who joined hands with the British in exchange for the title of Kashmir on winning the war. British records say about the Sikhs ".such a mass of men, fierce and untamed in their dying struggle, who fought like Lions and ran right on the bayonets and struck on their assailants when they were transfixed".

Inspite of the loss of empire to British, the spirit of freedom amongst Sikhs was soaring high. Whereas the British would daily fire a canon at 12 noon by the East India Co. time, which was the Calcutta time, the Sikhs on the other hand refused to recognize the British time. There is a one and a half hour time difference between Calcutta and Lahore time and therefore the Sikhs maintained their firing of the Canon at 12 noon Lahore time. Amongst the general public there was a confusion as to which canon denoted the 12 noon and therefore at the fire of the first canon the public would say "12 o clock of British" and on the second fire, an hour and a half later, they would say "12 o clock of Sikhs." Soon the spirit of defiance and freedom was forgotten by fellow Indians and they started linking the madness demonstrated by them during Nadir Shah and Abdalis invasions at 12 noon to the act of defiance during British period and there took place the 12 o clock jokes.

Much before 1919, when Mahatma Gandhi issued the call for satyagraha (boycotting English goods), the Sikhs under Baba Ram Singh had started the boycott movement in the year 1863. Eighty two Sikhs were tied to canons & blown apart by British.

Sikhs were the only Indian community to be internationally acclaimed as early as 1897, for their heroism and valour. Where in the history of warfare can you find the instance of heroism as demonstrated by 22 Sikh soldiers manning the signal post of Saragahi in Nort-West province with no ammunition back up. All the 22 of them fought till the last bullet had been fired against an Afghan army of 7000 warriors. The 22 soldiers then charged with their kirpans to be eventually cut down to pieces. The easier way out would have been to surrender but the spirit of Sikhs has always made them do what Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru had said, "Grant me this boon, O Lord, at last when the end of life is near, I may die fighting in the battlefield for the sake of righteousness".

The first battle for freedom from British was won by Sikhs, when after loss of many lives in 1929 they were able to take over the charge of their shrines from British. On this victory Mahatma Gandhi sent a telegram saying " THE FIRST DECISIVE BATTLE OF INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA WON - CONGRATULATIONS".

Where in the world can you find an act of sacrifice like that of Sikhs in 1922, willing to offer lives of their wives, children and themselves by lying on the rails to stop a train of freedom fighters who only had to be fed because they were hungry. The train finally stopped after killing a few Sikhs.

Not many can claim the valor with which Bhagat Singh offered himself at the altar of Indias' freedom in 1931.

There is not another instance of bravery as shown by Udham Singh in 1940, when he went to London and shot dead Sir Michael O' Dwyer at a public meeting, as a revenge for the Jallianwala massacre.

Out of 42,000 recruits in the Indian National Army under the command of Subhash Chandra Bose, 28,000 soldiers contributing 67% of strength, were Sikhs.

Contribution of Sikhs who are less than 2% of Indian population , in the freedom struggle of India against the British.

PUNISHED	TOTAL	SIKHS	% OF SIKHS
Hanged	121	93	77%
Life Imprisonment	2646	2147	81%
Jallianwala Bagh massacre	1300	799	62%

Book source : "History of Indian National Congress".

Partition of India in 1947 brought innumerable death to Sikhs and was the greatest disaster known in the Indian history. Surely the Sikhs paid the heaviest price for the freedom of the country.

Punjab lost its most fertile part to Pakistan during the partition. However, today due to hard labor of Sikh farmers, the Punjab in India produces much higher quantities of food grain than the fertile Punjab in Pakistan. Punjab contributes 40% of rice and 51% of wheat into the central pool of food grains in India.

Post partition, many of the landless Sikhs who settled in the jungles of Terai in Uttar Pradesh have today made the area as fertile as Punjab.

Contribution of Sikhs towards the Indian Defense Services is the highest with respect to their 2% population size. This community has also won the maximum number of gallantry awards since independence - 5 Param Vir Chakras (PVCs), 40 Maha Vir Chakras (MVCs), 209 Vir Chakras (VrCs).

During the emergency of 1975 imposed by Indira Gandhi, no organized protest was made across the country by any section of community, except for the Sikhs who conducted daily morchas, involving 40,000 arrests.

You will never find a Sikh ever begging on the roads, in spite of being uprooted & made homeless many a times, they have demonstrated the ability to rise back from the scratch. Each one of them actively contributes towards the nation building. Almost 30 years ago, Professor Milton Friedman (Noble Prize Winner) an American Economist, on his visit to India had humorously remarked, "Lease out India to the Sikhs for a while and there will be no problem of development". Could there be any greater compliment to the Sikh spirit and enterprise.

In spite of endless contributions made by Sikhs towards the nation building, our friends find them to be a laughing stock. Well, it makes no difference to the Sikhs as their pitchers are filled with unparalleled acts.

As a nation we may lack the sense of humor but Sikhs are a rare species, with a great sense of humor. This is the community which has learnt to fight, succeed and laugh.

It is time for my friends to do a bit of introspection.

Plight of Sikhs: Are deprived of rights in J&K

PARDEEP SINGH BALI

What could be more hurting for a community to be treated as second class citizens in their own state, especially for a minority, which survives upon the patronage of the state government?

Unfortunately, Sikhs- chief minority community in Jammu and Kashmir are boring brunt of indifferent attitude of the successive state governments, wherein they are being snubbed in every front by the state government, spanning from education, job opportunities, promotions, representation in Legislative Assembly and Council. And even though, their recurring demand of introducing Punjabi language in Kashmir University could not reach deaf ears of those at the helm of affairs, which shows how concerned state is for minorities.

One can make it from the apathetic approach of the state government towards Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir that not even a single representative from the Sikh community was inducted into the government in the reshuffle held recently under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, wherein representatives from Gurez, Banihal, Doda, Kishtwar and Zanaskar got place. Unfortunately, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, a Congress MLA from Dooru in South Kashmir, was brought back after he was reportedly discharged of all the charges by a CBI court in connection with the 2006 sex scandal.

After Micky Singh, Majeet Singh and Harbans Singh, no efforts were made to include any Sikh representative in the ministry by any political party. Ironically and regrettably, owing to indifferent attitude of the various political parties in the state towards minorities, Sikhs are not even participating in the state politics at any level. But somewhere political parties chose their own candidate to appease minorities at the time of elections. One can say political parties chose their puppet, who instead of doing anything for the community, works for the welfare of the party and gets flourished at personal level. There are few names like Hardeep Singh, Channi Singh and Jagmohan Singh who are ambitious to enter politics, but are being only used by the political parties to get their work done.

Not only this, Sikhs are feeling cold-shoulder over the similar treatment received from all sides, for instance, recently Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar in March administered oath to newly appointed judges in the state, where out of five judges, not even a single Sikh judge was considered capable to hold the position. I have seen huge number of Sikhs in the field of law, but for what they are loitering around the courts, only for those little remunerations. I cannot deny the fact that others are also living the same condition, but here lies the difference; others have hope that they will rise up if got talent because have acquaintances with higher-ups, but Sikhs have no hope of as such, neither have any connections at higher level, they are striving and will struggle around sadar and session courts, like some hapless LLB pass-outs from majority community.

Moreover, rising competition and dearth of appropriate number of seats in the higher education at University level created confusion for the students and to add on, reservations for blue eyed candidates, besides genuine reservations of SC ST OBC and RBA make things difficult for the Sikh students to get admission at University. Under compulsions, Sikh students have to move out of the state to further their studies. Therefore, the condition of the student fraternity is going bad to worse, mere 20-30 percent of Sikh students are pursuing higher education in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas huge chunk of students are studying out of state.

Punjabi Language, which is taught in over 5-6 colleges across the Valley, with over 200-250 students is still not introduced in Kashmir University. These students are helpless to move out to further it.

Returning back to the state after completion of degree, the qualified Sikh youths are craving for pity jobs, which are also distributed among various reserved categories. The state-of-affairs of the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir is as such that they are forced to do unskilled work or get into private jobs on far low profile than their qualification. While as, most of these young students prefer to work outside, because of lack of opportunities in the state, thus adding to the already declining rate of the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Time and again, various Sikh organizations have put forth their demands and had also submitted memorandum carrying their demands to the respective/successive governments of the state, but every time demands are kept in cold-store.

I feel that despite part of Jammu and Kashmir, Sikhs are kept unknown to their rights and if they raise any demand, it remains unheard. Recently some issues pertaining to minorities were discussed with Chief Minister, in which, amendment in National Commission of Minorities (NCM) Act 1992 was sought, to make it applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, which is otherwise applicable across the India.

Likewise, Anand Karaj Marriage Act 1909, which was recently nodded by both houses of the parliament is still not amended in Jammu and Kashmir and thus deprives Sikhs to register their marriage according to their law.

Besides these two immediate amendments, the state government needs to chew over various other issues concerning minorities in the state in order to make them realize that they are part of the Jammu and Kashmir and are not second class citizens. There are very few demands concerning Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir, I may opine few like Formation of Minority commission by amending NCM Act, 1992 to mitigate Sikh problems, which will provide avenues to deserving youth and will help them to compete in various state level exams, sufficient representation to Sikhs in legislative assembly, legislative council, public service commission, SSRB, Judiciary and other statutory bodies and moreover special scholarship to the poor students of the community.

This is the high time for the state government to moot over the demands of the Sikhs, otherwise if the tendency of moving out of Sikh youth remained same, it would be too late for J&K government to bring them back. It is seen that successive governments are taking Sikhs for granted and are not taking their demands seriously. The plight of the Sikhs is that they are reclusive in Jammu and Kashmir and unfortunately for this reason they are deprived of their rights.

INDIAN GDP

India has come a long way from 1991, when the Prime Minister admitted while presenting the annual Budget that the crisis in the economy was both ‘acute’ and ‘deep’. The financial crisis back then forced the government to loosen stiff regulations hampering economic growth and initiating reforms in various sectors.

These reforms helped kick-start a nearly dormant economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) jumped to 9% in 2005-06, up from 5.57% in 1990-91. The projected growth for 2006-07 is 9.2%, making it the second year running into a 9% growth.

The rising GDP has turned India into one of the fastest growing economies in the world. But to really get into the big league, it must grow at 10% in the coming years. The question now being asked is: Is this growth possible? Financial pundits assert that this can happen, provided certain policies and processes are put into place urgently.

Inclusive Growth:

India’s growth has benefited its prospering middle class. Engaged largely in the fast growing services sector, they are both contributing to India’s success and also enjoying its benefits.

But this growth story has an ominous side as it has left behind a large majority of Indians. According to a recent survey, one out of every five poor people in the world is an Indian. This skewed economic ratio must be addressed, as any growth that is not inclusive can never sustain itself on a long-term basis.

In this context, one of the biggest sufferers is rural India as it lacks the basic social and infrastructure services in healthcare, roads, education and drinking water.

Agriculture:

Sluggish development in rural India is aggravated by the near-stagnant growth of agriculture. Although services and manufacturing industries are driving economic growth, 60 % of India’s labor force is still dependent on agriculture. Agriculture also remains the single largest contributor to the country’s GDP. If a sector so critical to the economy grows at an insignificant 2% where other sectors like services and manufacturing clock over 10%, then it is clear that this sector requires a major overhaul.

Currently, agriculture is too heavily dependent on monsoons. India’s GDP tumbles every time there is an erratic monsoon. India also has one of the highest wastages in the world, touching nearly 90% in some cases.

In addition, external factors like global climactic changes also play havoc with agricultural productivity. To quote an example, every 1 degree rise in temperature above normal in the second half of December causes a wheat yield loss of approximately 315 kg per hectare. There are also other culprits like soil degradation.

The proposed entry of foreign biggies like Wal-Mart, along with Indian hotshots like Reliance, in organized retail is expected to benefit agriculture. They could explore ways to enhance productivity by reducing inefficiencies & wastage during transportation. And as these retail outlets integrate their supply chains, farmers are expected to get a better price for their products.

Apart from allowing FDI in retail, drastic initiatives in areas such as land reforms, irrigation, knowledge enhancement and effective credit are required to jump-start the sagging agricultural growth.

Infrastructure:

Many international business rating agencies and businessmen highlight weak infrastructure as the key impediment for India's growth. According to estimates, poor infrastructure adds 3-6 percent to the Indian manufacturer’s cost of doing business.

The growth that has occurred to date has happened in spite of poor infrastructure. But for this momentum to continue, India needs better highways, ports, railways, airports and most of all, urban infrastructure that meets world-class standards.

Public-private partnership can come together to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure that will push sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and retail to reach their true potential.

Education:

India’s population potential is tremendous. But paradoxically, in a country of 100 billion, lack of skilled manpower may yet prove to be the biggest hurdle in attaining double-digit growth. The reason: Educated people do not necessarily translate into employable people. Estimates indicate that only one out of every 4 engineers passing out in India is employable. And this shortage of skilled manpower is pushing salaries northwards, gradually eating away at India’s cost-advantage.

The government has come up with some innovative schemes to bridge the gap. It plans to launch ‘Finishing Schools’ for graduate engineers. Working in collaboration with IITs and other reputed colleges, these ‘finishing schools’ will admit students graduating from engineering colleges and attempt to enhance their conceptual knowledge.

This is a welcome step, but the problem requires a long-term solution. The availability of highly skilled manpower at a reasonable cost gave India a distinctive advantage. People are the biggest asset of any country. India must invest in its people, or there will be a serious repercussion on its long-term growth prospects.

State Role:

BBC World had recently commissioned an international poll involving approximately 10,000 people in 10 countries across the globe. The respondents were questioned on who they believed would be the world’s top economies by 2026. A quarter of the respondents answered that India would emerge as the third biggest economy by 2026, after China and U.S.A. The poll is an indication of the general optimism the world has about India’s growth story. The potential is there, but a lot of work is needed to realize it.

An emerging economy requires strict fiscal discipline where there is no room for short-run subsidies and government handouts. Still, indulgences like serious under-pricing of water and electricity, subsidized fuel and an aversion to tax the wealthiest farmers remains a chronic problem. And this shows up adversely in the fiscal deficit, as India has the highest fiscal deficit amongst major emerging markets. Worse, India is probably the only emerging market to have witnessed a relatively smaller correction in its deficit over the past five years.

Because India is a democracy, good economic sense sometimes get sacrificed for vote-bank-driven politics. But if India is to reach double-digit growth, policy decisions must be made on sound economic ground and not for political gains.

The elephant has now learned to dance – but can it rock ‘n’ roll? The answer is blowing in the wind.

The Day

The Day

 “Non cooperation movement”, yes I still remember, I was preparing for my 10^th class exams, when the short circuit chaos distracted me, I went out to see what the matter was. GO INSIDE, my father shouts at me, it’s a Fidayeen attack, all my nerves squeezed and I glued to the place where I was preparing.

It was 2002, ninth day of the cremation of my paternal grand mother, and my place was stuffed with mourners, as tomorrow is the 10^th day, as per Sikh rites, we observe ten days in the loving memory of deceased, so for that we had brought Guru Granth Sahib at our place, so every body was busy listening to last rites in the loving memory of my loving grand mother.

I was busy in preparing for the final exams of my matriculation as for the whole year; I haven’t touched my books, not only me but nobody in my home. As this year was the worst of my entire life, whole year went in confusion.

With due respect to all my subjects, I was very weak in history, so despite of it being my last paper I went on its intensive preparation, ‘Khilafat and Non cooperation movement’ was the topic I was running through, I was disturbed and confused with the disturbances of the entire year, yet I was making my mind for cooping up, the scene starts and the disorder was clear outside, In a mean time the chaos with firing sound reverberate outside  unexpected and unprecedented, it frigid me, I was no more in a condition to think anything.

In haste I went outside to get to know about family and others present on the spot, it was disgraceful to learn that my first cousin brother, Lucky was out for playing, which had already created havoc for the family, in addition to it all the relatives were out side gate waiting for its opening.

For the sake of Lucky all the members of the family had put their lives on stake, without thinking for another second, it was all mayhem as at the distance of around 50 – 60 meters, fidayeen was firing indiscrimately, whereas all my family members were confronting him face to face.  

I consider my self the most coward person, one can say the most pacifist one, I hate this word but I know its true, when all my family was on stake I was peeping for them from the grid of windows, I was looking for a chance to get over to Lucky.

The moment went in frictions at our place, don’t know what was it, kindness of fidayeen or mercy of God, everything was fine at our place, but unfortunately my dad received some splinters of bullet, which fidayeen fired aiming wall near my place.

Some thing gloomy is still striking my mind that, I was not aware with it until dad was brought back with their knees banded with white bandages, doctor have advised them not to work for three months, and on the next day it was 10^th. Every thing was like scattered and aimless, somehow dad at that moment stands with the situation and managed to observe the day.

It was all calm during night as both the ends stopped firing, neither police was firing nor was fidayeen, shockingly even after using crates of ammunition police was yet to locate him,,, it was so calm as nothing had happened, rumors had made its space, some say that fidayeen is hiding in the immediate next building to ours and some say he has been killed, so all in chaos night spent.

Sunday, I woke up and went out to get some fresh air, oh I forgot to mention that I too have very poor memory, same was the situation at that time I woke up causally and directly went out, as I stood out in veranda, sound of indiscriminate firing once again hold the momentum, I was thinking at my own, isn’t is something acquaint. I smiled and went back to my hide out blanket to take some more timely nap. For my family it was the toughest year as I say, all went like anything and we did last rites of grand mother under sheer fear.

After, fidayeen was killed people made their interpretations, especially our relatives, same old orthodox beliefs, some said that my grand mother saved us and more interesting part was that when I heard some women folk talking and saying fidayeen was kind enough.

Till date I still shrugged when ever I listen to any sound of fire, it reverberates in my ears like some body has fired it near to me.

“I am thankful to almighty God for saving all of us from that inexplicable day, our family use to talk about that incident but when ever I thought of it……..

Post title I, ME and MYSELF

My school days, I was not less than the character of ‘Taare Zameen Par’, words deterred my vision of attaining valuable knowledge, sitting back in the corner I always tried to escape from inquisitive teachers, and notorious students who used to call me by numerous names, I will say nicknames. The teachers were always in the hunt of students like me, and I was one of the easiest preys to them, it was not like that I was bad in studies, the reason was that I had phobia of facing teachers. New Convent School, the most reputed school in Kashmir, where students from well off families attain education. Still the school has very good reputation and is counted in top schools of valley. During my elementary schooling, I was very shy, with very less friends, not much effort to fall in competition, this competition word was something alien for me as I never put competition in my life’s dictionary. When students vie hard for positions, my funda was to contend with passing marks, but I can say that god was always kind to me as I always stood as per expectations of my parents. Slowly and steadily I kept on moving, from one grade to another,.. during schooling when students go off their schools and classes, It was record that I had never skipped my classes, I still remember that I was very poor in science as per my teachers but I was the best student of mathematics and Hindi, were I had marked my intellect. It is quite obvious that after qualifying matriculation, students mostly visit to their schools twice or thrice, but the haunting school never witnessed my presence after my being passed out. After attaining good numbers in 10th standard, I joined SP higher secondary with science stream aiming to be the doctor of future, ha ha ha.. very less I knew that being in science is not enough to be a doctor….desperately disregarding my so called dream of being a doctor I unveiled my real façade as I never entered in class during two years. There I cherished all the moments which are unforgettable ones of my life. Being in the company of good bunch of friends I used to venture out of school. But the restlessness of qualifying 12th was always haunting me. During my 12th I still remember, I completed my syllabus from Jammu, but it was equivalent to zero as they only provided me notes and nothing else. I worked hard but not as I can, qualified 12th and opted to join SP College for further studies, there some changes occurred in me as I start thinking out of boundaries and tried new facets of life. Here in College I participated in every function where I felt that my wings are unfolding, part I, second and third went like anything, students, whether junior, senior or class mates, named Bali, now people knows me with the name of Bali, this name sounds weird but it is kinda crazy and stylish name in Kashmir. Teachers were cooperative, I am not in PR so no more praise of teachers but they were really admirable. College time was most memorable time I had spent, that’s why even after four years, I have been to my college after every month or twice a month. Little I knew that my destiny will drag me to further studies in Kashmir University, where very serious students are seen. Following the trend I also tried to rescue from Kashmir in order to join management at Jammu, but destiny had something else for me as I joined Kashmir University, Department of Media Education and Research Center (MERC)………. It was something which unconventionally came to my kitty.. very little interested in what I had done I kept on going without thinking for any other reason why not to do.. coming into Media was more a chance as I was not intended to join it. Likewise every average student I also passed my graduation and applied for post graduation course, my aim was to join any MBA college in Jammu, so I took entrance test of Mass communication very casually. On the day of preliminary exam I found toppers of college, thoroughly taking notes, I was like zero all was what I knew, nothing special was prepared for exams. Unfortunately or fortunately I qualified that exam and was now among those 147 students who have registered their berth in mains. Out of 15000, students only 147 could make it and I was one among them. On mains 147 students all looking more than normal,, vying for just 20 seats.. I laughed and shrugged my shoulders…huh..what a little competition still I was envisaging that MBA college, I sat in examination hall,,,, all questions were easy to attempt…. Ha ha ha ha.. my name was in the list without any serious attempt. Usual formalities was done, first day it was all boring no friends, no acquaints,, it was hell for me.. sitting alone.. eating alone.. huh oh god were I had been I was thinking, but with passing months we all classmates came close and the moment when we left department no one was ready to leave. Every moment in the department was unforgettable, but the time spent together at Tangdhar was the most memorable for all of us.

Social Networking sites go speculative over new controller JKPSC

PS BALI

The transfer of Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, Secretary and controller J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) in the recent met State Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Omar Abdullah has raised many questions and speculations about his replacement. When the government is mooting over the replacement, the aspirants of various examinations under Commission are arguing over the competence of new controller. The replacement of Bukhari is the ‘hot bread’ among the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) aspirants, especially on various Social Networking Sites and Blogs, where the long streak of comments following the question about his replacement is visible. Many comments read “we will miss MA Bukhari, not because who he was, but for what he has done for Commission.” However, arguments also heated up over the appointment of new controller. Social networking sites, especially Twitter and Facebook are flooded with arguments regarding new controller. “At the time of joining of Bukhari, commission was obsolete without much to do, but under his control, JKPSC conducted CCE for three consecutive years, besides other examinations with satisfactory results”, commented aspirants. Followed “now the new controller has to further the system without much hassles, but we wish he aspires to make JKPSC functioning smoother.” According to official sources, government is mooting over the new controller of JKPSC and many competent people have been located, but the final name is yet to be decided. MA Bukhari, who served in JKPSC as a secretary and controller for more than two years, brought revolutions in the commission by making Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), besides departmental examinations a regular feature, aspirants reminded. Since his appointment as Secretary and Controller of JKPSC, the commission has smoothly and successfully convened many coveted examinations of the state. At the time of joining JKPSC, the commission was not in ‘Good Books’ of the aspirants, which was challenging for Bukhari, but to make obsolete Commission to run optimistically, Bukhari worked day and night, in which Bukhari succeeded to a great extend and made CCE and other examinations a “talk of the day”, shared aspirants on Twitter. Bukhari who is now transferred and posted as Secretary to Government, Information Technology and Science &Technology Departments expressed satisfaction and said that it was his job to run commission, but “without assistance and cooperation of other members this milestone of making examinations a regular feature was not possible,” said Bukhari.

Baisakhi

Baisakhi or Vaisakhi Festival is celebrated as the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth. History of Baisakhi traces its origin from the Baisakhi Day celebrations of 1699 organized by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to form Khalsa - Brotherhood of Saint Soldiers to fight against tyranny and oppression.

Story of Baisakhi
The story of Baisakhi Festival began with the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru who was publicly beheaded by the Aurungzeb, the Mughal ruler. Aurungzeb wanted to spread Islam in India and Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up for the rights of Hindus and Sikhs and the Mughals therefore saw him as a threat.

After the death of Guru Teg Bahadur, his son, Guru Gobind Singh became the next Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh wished to instill courage and strength to sacrifice among his fellow men. To fulfil his dream, Guru Gobind Singh called on the historic Baisakhi Day congregation of Sikhs at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur on March 30, 1699.

When thousands of people assembled for Guru’s blessing, Guru Gobind Singh came out of the tent carrying an unsheathed sword. He gave a powerful speech to infuse courage amongst fellowmen. At the end of the speech he said that every great deed was preceded by equally great sacrifice and demanded that anyone prepared to give his life come forward. On the Guru’s third call, a young man offered himself. The Guru took the man inside a tent and reappeared alone with a bloodied sword. Guru Gobind Singh asked for another volunteer. This was repeated another four times until a total of five Sikhs had gone into the tent with the Guru. Everyone present was worried and though that Guru Gobind Singh has killed five Sikhs. At this point Guru presented all the five men before the people. Every one present was surprised to see all five men alive and wearing turbans and saffron-coloured garments.

These five men were called Panj Piara or 'Beloved Five' by the Guru. The Guru blessed them with a Pahul ceremony. In an iron vessel, the Guru stirred with a sword called Khanda Sahib, the batasha that his wife, Mata Sundari Ji had put into water. The congregation recited verses from scriptures as the Guru performed the sacred ceremony. The water was now considered the sacred nectar of immortality called amrit. It was first given to the five volunteers, then drunk by the guru and later distributed amongst the crowd. With this ceremony, all those present, irrespective of caste or creed, became members of the Khalsa Pantha (the Order of the Pure Ones).

The Guru regarded the Panch Piaras as the first members of the Khalsa and the embodiment of the Guru himself. With the constitution of the Panj Pyare the high and low castes were amalgamated into one as among the original Panj Pyare, there was one Khatri, shopkeeper; one Jat, farmer; one Chhimba, calico printer; one Ghumar, water-carrier; and one Nai, a barber. The Guru gave the surname of Singh (Lion) to every Sikh and also took the name for himself. From Guru Gobind Rai he became Guru Gobind Singh. This was seen as a great step in national integration because society at that time was divided on the basis of religion, caste and social status.

Guru Gobind Singh also bestowed on Khalsa, the unique Sikh identity. He directed Sikhs to wear five K's: Kesh or long hair, Kangha or comb, Kripan or dagger, Kachha or shorts and a Kara or bracelet. Guru Gobind Singh also discontinued the tradition of Gurus and asked all Sikhs to accept the Grantha Sahib as their eternal guide. He urged them to come to him with their hair and beard unshorn to get baptized by the sword.

Female Foeticide : A Hall of Shame

More than a hundred million women are missing because their parents wanted a son.

Female foeticide is a process of aborting perfectly healthy female foetuses after about 18 weeks (or more) of gestation just because they are females. The same foetuses would've been allowed to live if they were males. There is no question that female foeticide is not just unethical but it is downright cruel as well.

Despite a law banning sex selective abortion is in force for a decade, as many as half a million female foetuses are aborted each year in the country. Gender discrimination in our society is so entrenched, that it begins even before a girl is born. Baby girls are throttled, poisoned or drowned in a bucket of water.

A baby girl tied in polythene bag and dumped in a public dustbin left to be torn away by wild stray dogs. An incident that took place nowhere else but in the very capital of our country.
To cite a couple of more examples, of many, the recovery of pieces of bones of newly born female fetuses from a hospital backyard in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh in February 2008. And bodies of more than 100 fetuses found outside an abortion clinic in Pattran town in Punjab in August last year were both deplorable.

Though India has a history of skewed female sex ratio, what the country is witnessing today is the systematic extermination of the female child, with the ultrasound machine serving as an instrument of murder.

Clinics offering ultrasound scanning facility have mushroomed throughout the country, and despite making pre-natal sex determination a penal offence, doctors and parents alike rampantly violate this law. A survey in Maharashtra showed that an alarming 95% of the amniocentesis scan were being carried out for sex determination.

In India, the 2001 census reveals that the overall sex ratio is 933 females for every 1000 males, showing a marginal increase of 6 points from the 1991 census of 927. However, this is a very sorry state indeed and we are doing much worse than over a hundred years ago when the sex ratio was 972 in 1901, 946 in 1951 till the 933 today.

More and more baby girls have either been aborted or killed as infants since 1961 and that this trend continues strong even today. Indeed, an improvement in the child sex ratio has only been marked in one state, Kerala, and two Union Territories, Lakshwadeep and Pondicherry. Everywhere else, there is a decrease in the number of girls.

The greatest offenders in this area are the northern and the western states, with Punjab and Haryana leading the pack. In Punjab, the child sex ratio has decreased by 77 points to a new and horrifying low of 798 females to a 1000 males, and Haryana has seen a decrease of 60 points, meaning there are now only 819 females to a 1000 males. Other offenders high on this list are Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh and Gujarat.

This is not so much a legal problem as it is a social disease. The son-centric model of our society forms the foundation of the practice of female feticide and infanticide. Girls are made to face discrimination before birth, at birth, and throughout their lives at the hands of their families. Even those girls who are allowed to live get second-class treatment. They are denied adequate medical and health care facilities, they are denied adequate nutrition, and they are denied educational facilities. They are often subject to physical and sexual abuse.

This is not so much a legal problem as it is a social disease. The son-centric model of our society forms the foundation of the practice of female feticide and infanticide. Girls are made to face discrimination before birth, at birth, and throughout their lives at the hands of their families. Even those girls who are allowed to live get second-class treatment. They are denied adequate medical and health care facilities, they are denied adequate nutrition, and they are denied educational facilities. They are often subject to physical and sexual abuse.

Unfortunately, various schemes to counter this situation brought out by many states as well as at the central level have been ineffective in reducing the extent of this problem. Removal of this practice must involve:

• Focus on the humanist, scientific and rational approach and a move away from the traditional teachings which support discrimination.
• Empowerment of women and measures to deal with other discriminatory practices such as dowry, etc.
• A strong ethical code for doctors.
• Simpler methods for complaint registration for all women, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
• Publicity for the cause through the media and increasing awareness amongst the people through NGOs and other organizations;
• Regular appraisal and assessment of the indicators of the status of women such as sex ratio, female mortality, literacy and economic participation.

Infanticide is a crime of murder and punishment should be given to both parents. There ought to be stricter control over clinics that offer to identify the sex of a fetus and stronger check on abortions to ensure that they are not performed for the wrong reasons. Doctors must also be sensitized and strong punitive measures must be taken against those who violate the law.

It has been calculated that more than a hundred million women are missing because their parents wanted a son. We have made significant scientific and technological progress and we churn out some of the brightest minds every year in every area possible. But if we can’t check female feticide all this progress is absolutely worthless.

How can a society expect to survive without women? Indeed various studies have shown that having far fewer women in a society leads to increased violence in a society, particularly against women. If the macabre practice continues, it would spell doom for both sons and daughters and will have a disastrous impact on the future generations.

Onset of Baisakhi; Canals yet to be cleaned up

photo by Sansar Singh



Irrigation Department apathetic
PS BALI
Jammu, Apr 5
What could be more apathetic on the part of Irrigation Department that the canals, which are thrown open with the onset of Baisakhi every year, are yet to be touched for de-silting and cleaning.
Contradicting tall claims of the Irrigation Department of performing their duty with devotion and integrity, most of the canals in the Jammu are craving for attention of the Irrigation Department.
With the continuous negligence of the Irrigation Department, the canals are turning into dumping site.
Regretting over the working of the Irrigation Department, the local residents rued that just a few days are left for Baisakhi, no work of clearance on this canals yet has been initiated.
“Every year, these canals are being cleaned and de-silted properly before throwing water into it, but this time the situation is not same as 5-6 days are left, but no work has been initiated,” said Atul Malhotra, a resident of Resham Ghar.
He lamented that with such attitude of the concerned authorities, it seems that this time the water will be released without cleaning of the canals, thus making water of no use for the agriculture and other purpose, as would be filled with dirt.
However, official sources claimed that the process of cleaning of canal is under progress at some areas, but due to apathy of the concerned authorities, there is no supervision from the higher officials. Moreover the residents maintained that the working agency is just mowing weeds from sides of the canal and the actual waste is not properly removed.
“Though the work over canal has been initiated, but the concerned authorities are only mowing weeds and picking some waste from the sides of the
canal, which is sheer wastage of money,” maintained Balbir Singh, a resident of Sehora.
He regretted that the government is spending huge money for cleaning and hygienic purposes, but the lethargic approach of the departments causes suffering and inconvenience to the people.
“JCBs are installed for the clearance, but the problem is that the department lacks sufficient manpower, and those at work are lethargic to understand their responsibility,” said an official in Irrigation Department, wishing anonymity. He added that normally every year canal cleaning process is complete before Baisakhi, but this time the situation seems different.
Denying the allegations, Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, Avinash Sharma said that the machinery is being put onto work and within a day or two canals would be cleaned up.
“We are already done with the process of de-silting, but at some places where the road widening project is undergoing, we are waiting for signal from PWD,” he said, adding that although the working is complete, but due to the lack of civic sense, we are facing huge quantity of polythene thrown by people to be removed, which would otherwise be washed away with the flow of water.
Admitting that the Department lacks sufficient manpower, Chief Engineer said that they are dependent on Service Selection Board (SSB) for the recruitment of permanent employee. He further claimed that some distributaries are under jurisdiction of Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex and they are responsible for their clearance.

Have you ever felt like you belonged with someone no matter what they put you through?

Well I have, I fell in love and never regretted my time with her. The only time she truly hurt me was when she broke my heart and left me in secluded. After her, I never smiled or laughed or had any desires or dreams. When she left I was in so much shock I just went numb and nothing mattered, it was the time when I was in desperate need of her, but Alas! She was nowhere.

I thought I could go back to how it used to be and that girl would just be a memory. But soon I came back to my senses. I cried more then
I have ever cried, I was so sad and depressed. I had the worst craving in my heart.
I crave to have dreams, desires, and goals again. The kind I had experienced with her. I craved her, and I still do. I crave her touch, how she would hold me when I was upset and whisper that it would be okay.
I crave her comfort and support, her love and laughter, her jokes and dreams of us and the promises we made. I crave her voice, her smile, her eyes, and her personality.
I crave her happiness, I crave her. But she doesn't want me anymore, at least that's what I think but I always hope that I'm wrong. What keeps me going is that hoping that she will be mine again. Hoping and dreaming those promises will come true.
Hopefully this it isn't for good and no one will replace her. I want to be with her, no one else can have my love as my partner, my equal, my other half.
She is my best friend and the only one that I care for. I love her so much. I finally realized that only I want her to be happy. When we last met, I tried to read her eyes, though could not succeed to get what I always wanted. I endeavoured to palinode everything for her smile, she smiled, but not me.
There is so much more to say but I can't write it all down.

A child labour: deprivation of dignity

PS Bali

Child labour as defined by International Labour Organisation (ILO) is putting children of under-14 years of age in various type of work that deprives them of their childhood and their dignity and hampering their access to education and acquisition of skills.

Child labour in simple is putting children in hard physical employment, which neither suits his age, nor his potential to carry out work effectively. Moreover, deprives children from basic education. As child labour is crime and a sheer violation of fundamental rights of the children, but is practiced every where.

The magnitude of child labor is as such that it is widely prevalent in some form or the other, all over the world and in India it is on rampant. The term is used for domestic work, factory work, agriculture, mining, having own work or business’ like selling food and doing odd jobs, though helping parent’s in home made jobs is not among child labour practice.

It is more in rural areas than in urban, due to poverty and illiteracy in rural areas. Industrialists and factory owners hire small children and put them in hazardous jobs, which are totally unfit for their health and strength.

In India, the main cause behind the spread of child labour is poverty, vested interests and illiterate parents.

In India, half of the population is Below Poverty Line (BPL), which induces parents to send their child to work and not to school, in order to have some support in the family income.

Moreover, low level of parental education is also cause of spread of child labour, they cannot distinguish between good and bad for their children, for them basic of life is to earn money. And third and most heinous is that of vested interests, where some industrialists for the sake of cheap labour hire children. They put children in unhealthy jobs with minimum wage as compared to the adult for same work.

Although, different rules have been made in different countries to fight this crime, even constitution of India has a framework within which ample provisions exist for the protection, development and welfare of children. There are a wide range of laws that guarantee children their rights.

Article 24 includes prohibition of employment of children in factories, means that no child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.

Article 39 (f) states that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.

Article 45 provides for free and compulsory education for children from six years of age upto 14. Even though, Article 21-A was also incorporated among fundamental rights to ensure elementary education of every children.

As it is a universal problem, as a citizen it is duty of all to eradicate child labour from its roots.

NGOs can play a major role in eliminating child labour from the societies, they are empowered to aware masses about the ill effects of the child labour, as government does not have the infrastructure to reach every section of the society and particularly the in remote areas. Thus, NGOs can act as a bridge between hard-to-reach areas and the government.

However, the role of media in elimination of child labour is one of the most important components of the process of total human development. The media should expose defaulting firms or business houses that secretly employ children and violate laws relating to child labour.

At last but not the least, the government can provide certain monetary incentives to the families that live Below Poverty Line (BPL) to avoid child labour so that their children can be sent to school.

Although, besides government various agencies including NGOs are working to bridle this menace but due to lethargy in the implementation of proper planning at the root level, all goes vain. The need of the hour is to expand the machinery for enforcing the various laws on child labour. There is a plethora of laws but nothing can eradicate child labour unless there is awareness among parents and children, which will go a long way in saving the future of millions of working children in India.