There are many reference of the importance of Agnihothra and protection of Cows in Vedas. Few Manthras from Atharv Veda is appended below.
AV7.73 – मनुष्यकर्तव्योपदेश:अग्निहोत्रऔर गोपालन
1-5 अश्विनौ; 6,7 सविता, 8,11 अघ्न्या; 9,10 अग्निर्देवता
1.समिधोअग्निर्वृषणा रथी दिवस्तप्तो घर्मो वामिषे मधु |
वयंहि वां पुरुदमासो अश्विना हवामहे सधमादेषु कारव: || अथर्व 7.73
प्रात:कालीन प्रकाश के रथ पर प्रकट सूर्योदय और यज्ञ सेदिनचर्या आरम्भ कर के, हम दोनो ( पति पत्नि) गौओं के धारोष्ण अमृतको दुह कर दोनो (परिवार और समाज ) की इच्छापूर्ति और प्रदूषण के दमन के दोनो पुण्यकार्यों में हर्षित होते हैं.
With the dawn of the day heralded by the chariot of light and our offerings in fire for the morning agnihotra, we the twins (Husband and wife) actively participate in milking the warm nectar of cows, for fulfilling our desires andthus performing our duty.
2.समिद्धोअग्निरश्विना तप्तो वां घर्मं आ गतम् |
दुह्यंतेनूनं वृषणेह धेनवो दस्रा मदंति वेधस: || अथर्व 7.73.2
इन दोनो शुभकार्यों (अग्नि होत्र और गोदोहन) केद्वारा प्रदीप्त तेजस्वी ऐश्वर्ययुक्त दोनो पराक्रमी (नागरिक और-दस्रा वेधस:- सैनिकजन ) के द्वारा रोगनाशक पर्यावरण औरगोदोहन में बुद्धिमान जन हर्षित होते हैं.
By the two actions of (Agnihotra in the morning and milking of the cowshere) you are bringing to all the common men and soldiers,warmth of well being (nutritive food from cow) and clean environment (by performing Agnihotra).
3.स्वाहाकृत: शुचिर्देवेषु यज्ञो यो अश्विनोश्चमसो द्वपान: |
तमुविश्वे अमृतासु जुषाणा गन्धर्वस्य प्रत्यास्म्ना रिहन्ति || अथर्व 7.73.3
दोनो चतुर ( पतिपत्नि) के आलस्य त्याग कर स्वाहाकृत सुंदरस्वच्छता प्रदान करने वाला यज्ञ मेघ औरमुख द्वारा ग्रहण करने योग्य अमृत प्रदान करता है जो दोनो रक्षणीय और प्रशंसनीय हैं.
These two morning actions Agnihotra and milking the Cows by you two (the husband and wife team) by giving up your laziness, bring delight to the perceptive folk (Gandharwas of world) by helping rain clouds ( by Agnihotra) and providing food (through Cows).
4.यदुस्रियास्वाहुतंघृतं पयोSयं स वामश्विना भाग आ गतम् |
माध्वीधर्तारा विदथस्य सत्पती तप्तं घर्मं पिबतं रोचने दिव: || अथर्व 7.73.4
जैसे गौओं से प्राप्त दोनो दुग्ध और घृत, दोनो चतुर पति पत्नि के पराक्रम से प्राप्तहो रहा है,वैसे ही सत्पुरुषों की रक्षा के लिए मधुविद्या(वेदों का सब समाज मे सामंजस्य स्थापित कर के आपसी व्यवहार का उपदेश) जानने योग्यहै. इन दोनो का सूर्य के प्रकाश में ऐश्वर्ययुक्त और प्रकाशमान जीवन प्राप्त करो.
Just as the twins of milk and ghee are made available from cows, by the efforts of this clever twin (the team of husband and wife) for the preservation of society, the wisdom of Vedas teaches all to live together in peace andharmony, bask in glory of the twins of prosperity and an open free society and enlightened life.
5.तप्तो वा घर्मो नक्षतु स्वहोता प्र वामध्वर्युश्चरतुपयस्वान् |
मघोर्दुग्धस्याश्विनातनाया वीतं पातं पयस उस्रियाया: || अथर्व 7.73.5
चतुर दोनो (पति पत्नि) ऐश्वर्ययुक्त हिंसा रहित प्रकाशमान (वैदिक याज्ञिक जीवन शैलि का उपदेश) गोदुग्ध गरम दुग्ध औरतपाया हुवा गोघृत दोनो स्वास्थ्य और यज्ञ युक्तजीवन शैलि दोनो से ईश्वर ज्ञान और समाज की रक्षा दोनो को प्राप्त करो.
The clever twins (team of husband wife) lead a life of love and peace insociety. Twin strategy of Vedic life style of agnihotras and wisdom for seeking blessings of Divine and protection of environment are provided by Cow enabled twins of warm milk and heat clarified ghee.
6.उपद्रव पयसा गोधुगोषमा घर्मे सिञ्च पय उस्रियाया: |
विनाकमख्यत्स्वविता वरेण्योSनुप्रयाणमुषसो वि राजति || अथर्व 7.73.6
इस प्रात:कालीन वेला में सविता देव ने वरणीय सूर्य द्वारा अंधकार रहित प्रकाश से स्वर्गस्थापित कर दिया है. हे गोधुक् गौ को दोहने वाले, तुम शीघ्र आकर धारोष्ण गोदुग्ध प्रदान करो.
By the grace of Savita Dev, morning sun has banished the darkness of night and established the glory of day light. O care taker of Cows, hurry up to provide us with fresh from cow’s udder raw warm milk
7.उप ह्व्ये सुदुधां धेनुमेतां सुहस्तोगोधुगुत दोहदेनाम् |
श्रेष्ठंसवं सविता साविषन्नोSभीद्धो घर्मस्तदु षु प्र वोचत् || अथर्व 7.73.7
सुख से दुहानेवाली इस गौ को बुलाता हूं. सधे हुए कुशल हाथों से गौ का दोहन हो. सब को उत्तम प्रेरणा देने वाली वृत्तियों से धारोष्णदुग्धादि पदार्थ हमें उपलब्ध हों.
We reckon with cows of friendly temperaments. Trained skilled hands are employed to milk the cows. All round wisdom and cooperation in the efforts of maintaining good cow ensure healthy clean raw milk to the community.
8.हिङ्कृण्वती वसुपत्नी वसूनां वत्समिच्छन्ती मनसा न्यागन् |
दुहामश्विभ्यांपयो अघ्न्येयं सा वर्धतां महते सौभगाय || अथर्व7.73.8
(पञ्च्गव्यद्वारा) श्रेष्ठ धनों को पुष्ट करने वाली गौ, हृदय से बछड़े की कामना करती हुई रंभाति हुईहमारे महान सौभाग्य के लिए हमारे (घर में) नित्य विराजमान हो.
Best riches in life are provided by panchgavy( Five products from cow namely Milk, curds, butter, Urine and Dung). We pray that for our good luck and well being cow may always stay in our home.
9.जुष्टोदमूमा अतिथिर्दुरोण इमं नो यज्ञमुप याहि विद्वान् |
विश्वा अग्ने अभियुजो विहत्य शत्रूयतामा भराभोजनानि || अथर्व 7.73.9
विद्वान यज्ञाग्नि का प्रिय अतिथि कीतरह प्रेम पूर्वक पोषण और सत्कार करते हैं. जिस से वह हमारे (पर्यावरण प्रदूषण)रूपि शत्रुओं का विनाश करती है.
For protection from harmful environments and negative mental attitudes, wise men nurture , love and feed the Agnihotra fire like welcome guest.
10.अग्ने शर्घ महते सौभगाय तव द्युम्नान्युत्तमानि संतु|
संजास्पत्यं सुययमा कृणुष्व शत्रूययतामभि तिष्ठा महांसि || अथर्व 7.73.10
यज्ञाग्नि हमदोनों (पति पत्नि) महान सौभाग्य के हेतु, हमें तेजस्वी, उत्साहवान और सुदृढ़ बनाकर शत्रुता पूर्ण आचरण करने वालो को हमारे मुकाबले में शिथिल करे.
Fire of Yagnas brings all the best bounties in life and provides with cheerful positive temperaments.Yagnas also weaken the forces opposing our well being.
11 सूयवसाद्भभगवतीहि भूया अधा वयं भगवंत: स्याम|
अद्धितृणमघ्नये विश्वदानी पिबं शुद्धमुहकमाचरंती || अथर्व 7.73.11
(हमारीगौमाता) सुंदर यवादि खाती हुई भाग्यवती हो जिस से हम भाग्यशाली बनें. हमारी सदा (गोचर में) तृणादि खाती और शुद्ध जल का पानकर के विचरे.
Our cows may always self feed in pasture to get green nutrition, and get excellent water to drink to bring good luck to our life.
By Subodh Kumar
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Open Letter of Indian Dalit Christians to Pope Benedict XVI
R L Francis
27 December 2011
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you - St Matthew 7.7
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Secretariat of State
00120 Vatican City State - Europe
Wish You a Merry Christmas and New Year
Your Holiness
The debate related to the status of Christians in India is going on and you are already aware of it. There are two points to this wide ranging debate. First, social, economic and political status of converted Christians; and second, growing tensions in different parts of the country due to conversion-related activities. The second has more to do with the way the Catholic Church opts to function in the country.
According to official estimates of the government, there are 30 million Christians in the country and 70 percent of this population has directly come from socially and economically downtrodden community popularly known as “Dalits”. However, as per unofficial figures, the population of minority Christians is not less than 60-70 million. Irony is that; these people have been constantly suppressed and exploited even under the structure of the Catholic Church being led by you (Pope). They are ridiculed for their sacrifices made hundreds of years ago for the church. They don’t command equal status in the existing structure of church and this has made the sacrifices futile.
Christianity stresses on the fact that God has created people in his own image and this has become the founding stone of equality of human values in Christian society. But, they are continuously meted out differential treatment in the name of caste and birth. In order to catch your attention towards these core issues, I am writing this letter to you. I am going to discuss first core issue.
Ideology of Church
Theoretically, there is no place for non-equality and racism in Christianity and when it is attached with identity of the Catholic Church; the concept of caste automatically vanishes like camphor as the word ‘Catholic-means-Universal’. There is only one head of this universal community of people and that is none other than representative of Vicar of Christ which is responsible for recruitment of Bishops in order to guide their disciples.
In that way, Holy Father/Pope, ‘you’ are responsible for maintaining the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ on the earth. Now you should explain to me where is the place of dirty ideology like casteism and racism in this ‘Kingdom of Heaven’?
Deprived class in Indian church
Downtrodden class in India has always been victim of unequal treatment, casteism and social exploitation. In order to seek solace and relief from their pathetic condition, they are still coming under the aegis of church for the last 3 or 4 centuries. But, here, too, they have been exploited in the name of caste and race. The hope with which they had come to Christianity seems to have been forfeited. On the contrary, they are now entangled in even deeper quagmire of inequality.
Church moving opposite to ideology of Christianity
Catholic Church has completely failed in its duty to provide equality and justice to that majority of converted people under the structure controlled by you (Pope). The resources have been captured by upper-class Christians. After independence of India, the Catholic Church has immensely progressed which is reflected in the heavy increase in the number of schools, colleges, social institutions, new diocese, Fathers, Bishops, nuns and their followers. However, despite this entire progress, one thing that has not changed - the status of converted Christians.
Converted Christians are the backbone of the Catholic Church in India, but their participation in the structure of Catholic Church is zero. Bishop, Father and Cardinal from this class are rare to find and those who somehow managed after hard-fought struggle are standing marginalized in society. They are being treated differently by their upper-class brothers (Bishops and Fathers).
Thousands of organizations related to education, health and non-governmental organizations are being run by church and right to run these institutions has been conferred by Indian constitution. The structure of church being run under Vatican (you) has failed to do justice to converted Christians. Understanding the gravity of the situation Pope John Paul-II had severely criticized the attitude of unequal treatment and discriminatory approach in the church. In 2003, he had said that Bishops were appointed to look after lambs and it is their duty to abolish any kind of discrimination prevalent in the Catholic Church.
Betrayal of faith
There is widespread anger among converted Christians against the policies adopted by the church. They have started demanding their rights within the existing structure of church. The response of church has been abysmal in this regard. The church leadership has termed this anger unjustified. Instead of addressing the genuine concerns of converted Christians, they have shied away from their responsibilities and are trying to shift it on the Government of India. This is being done in order to fulfill their own ulterior motive. By doing so church is pushing these people in the same quagmire of caste system.
When Indian constitution was being framed, constitution makers advocated reservations for the dalit class who were victims of caste oppression in the prevalent Hindu system. Majority of Hindu people sacrificed their right to equality in favour of their dalit brothers as a compensation of injustice meted out to them.
Your Holiness, do your representatives have the moral right to betray the faith of those who had blindly believed in the church and its promises? They have given their whole life to the church. The story is similar to the poor widow about whom Jesus had said to their disciples, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12: 41-44) We Dalit Catholics had also left the facilities (reservation) given by the Indian government.
Church should compensate
Church is now blaming others for its failures. When the Indian constitution was being framed, these converted Christians remained in the fold of the church and did not switch their loyalties. Within the framework of the constitution, minorities were given special rights and privileges that were unthinkable even in USA and Europe. Taking benefit of these rights, the church has enlarged its empire but seems to have forgotten converted Christians. Church leadership is stifling the just demands of their own people who are the backbone of the Catholic Church in the country.
Now, church leadership has no moral right to bring the converted people in the realm of the same caste system that has oppressed them for centuries. Had they not gone in the fold of the church and continued with the Hindu system they, too, would have enjoyed benefits bestowed upon them by the Constitution of India and progressed like their other Dalit Hindu brothers in the same fashion.
After the Government of India, the church is the only organized entity that can make available jobs, but the participation of converted Christians is very low and maximum they can get is post of driver, cook, clerk, peon and gatekeeper. These jobs, too, can be availed on the mercy of Bishops and their condition is no better than slave laborers. I demand from the church that they should compensate for the injustice and exploitation meted out to millions of converted Christians. Vatican had done this in the past and it can also be done here.
Church should change its policy
Church has always preferred safe trade. It has established thousands of schools, colleges and other institutions. This has benefited a lot to the church leadership, but the majority of converted Christians have been largely deprived. Even in the field of education where church has practically monopoly, it has failed to benefit converted Christians. We will not stop just after getting few benefits, but Dalit Christians want their due share in the existing structure.
Hindu society is changing very fast. Doors of temples are being opened for Dalit Hindus and many programmes are being run to abolish ignominious caste system, whereas Christianity has not been able to do minor changes in its structure. Hindu dalits are constantly moving on, but this is not the case with converted Christian society. Church administration being led by you is pushing them back. Perhaps their thinking is to assimilate converted Christians among 300 million Hindus. They believe that this will make the task of church leadership easier. Why it is that church leadership always seeks solution in putting converted Christians in the list of Hindu dalits?
It is the duty of church leadership that process of development should be smooth. It is good to have institutions/policy made for the welfare of people. However, it is even more important who are implementing them. Converted Christians should get share proportionate to their population. Unless and until this happens, their position in the society will remain the same and their problems will persist.
Your Holiness, in the first point I have tried to elaborate the first point related to the problems faced by converted Christians. In India, the relationship between Catholic Church and its followers is not based on democratic set-up. Inside the church, upper-caste Christians have more opportunity to progress than converted Christians. Considering the status of these people, some fundamental structural changes are needed. At present, Bishops are the “key power” and they are appointed by the Vatican and that is why they feel themselves more responsible towards Vatican and less towards Kalisia. Most of the Catholics are of the view that Bishop should be elected by Kalisia and not by the Vatican so that they could be made more responsible towards their people.
Evangelization and escalating tension
Recently, for the sake of safety and security of Christian society, you have appealed to Hindu society that they should stand-up against condemnable hate propaganda against Christians and should pave the way for religious freedom. Your concerns are genuine as tension between Christians and people from other faiths has escalated over the years and at some places it has even taken violent turn. Be it ignominious incident of burning of Graham Staines with his two children in 1999 or Kandhamal riots or violence at some other place. Indian society has always opposed violence on the name of caste or religion. Indian government has acted swiftly whenever such incidents have taken place. Perpetrators of crime have been punished. Government has also constituted various commissions in this regard and their reports have been startling.
India has always been a glorious symbol of tolerance and has shown respect for all religions and faiths with the feeling of amicable co-existence. There is no place for non-tolerant faith among majority of Hindu community. Every citizen respects fundamental right of religious freedom of other people.
Many commissions constituted by government in the wake of violent instances against Christians have also indicated towards imperialistic nature of church. There is an urgent need for introspection on the method of propagation of Christian faith as they have become instruments of growing tension with people of other faiths. We can stop this by changing the current practices by the church and help create amicable atmosphere.
Freedom of church in India
Indian church and Christians have rights that are not even available to European church. In matters related to Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other religions there is some government intervention. For example, properties of religious institutions of Muslims are looked after by Waqf board. Similarly, religious properties in Sikhs are also managed according to Indian law. Government has direct control over the income of big temples and this money is spent on upliftment of deprived class.
But, government has no intervention in matters pertaining to Christians. Bishops are appointed by you and Vatican and Fathers/Bishops has ownership over huge assets and resources of church. Even in Europe many countries have control over the properties of church. India is one country where church enjoys immense religious freedom.
Introspection of evangelization policy is necessary
Recently, Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue has raised few questions about status of religious freedom in India. The indication was towards anti-conversion law made by few states in India. Church is facing difficulty after enactment of this law. They should understand that Indian constitution allows anybody to follow faith of his/her choice and even allows propagation of religion. But nobody can justify conversion of scheduled caste and tribes under the garb of social service.
There is a thin line between propagation of one’s faith and conversion. If state gives absolute freedom to those who have sole motive of conversion, then it is the duty of the state to intervene in the matter. This becomes all the more important considering wherever conversion has taken place in large number social tension has increased.
This year Vatican had convened a meeting of various heads of faiths in Assisi of Italy on October 27. In this meeting, Indian representation had tried to attract the attention of Vatican towards conversion. As a matter of fact, if Vatican really wants amicable solution to various problems faced by Christianity then it is the church that will have to play larger role in the process.
Development of converted Christians should be goal of church
Your Holiness, theoretically Christianity advocates equality but in practice reality is starkly different. Discriminatory caste policies of the Catholic Church fail the basic motive of Christianity. In reality, condition of converted Christians worsens after conversion. Church should bring a White Paper on the matter of how much church has progressed after independence and how much progress converted Christians have made during the same period.
Church receives huge donations in the name of social service and development of disciples of the faith, but hardly anything has changed on the ground. This is certainly a food for thought that where this money goes?
Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM), an umbrella organization of Dalit Christians, is of the view that church officials don’t want to leave any benefit currently enjoyed by them at any cost. They are not at all concerned with the betterment of converted Christians. This is why there is no hint of betterment of the status of this community even in the distant future. The current system harbours inequality. That is why it will be wrong to expect that things will change in the near future.
Converted Christians are looking towards you with a lot of hope and we request you to take concrete steps for change in the fundamental structure of church.
Yours in Christ
R L Francis
The author is president, Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM)
27 December 2011
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you - St Matthew 7.7
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Secretariat of State
00120 Vatican City State - Europe
Wish You a Merry Christmas and New Year
Your Holiness
The debate related to the status of Christians in India is going on and you are already aware of it. There are two points to this wide ranging debate. First, social, economic and political status of converted Christians; and second, growing tensions in different parts of the country due to conversion-related activities. The second has more to do with the way the Catholic Church opts to function in the country.
According to official estimates of the government, there are 30 million Christians in the country and 70 percent of this population has directly come from socially and economically downtrodden community popularly known as “Dalits”. However, as per unofficial figures, the population of minority Christians is not less than 60-70 million. Irony is that; these people have been constantly suppressed and exploited even under the structure of the Catholic Church being led by you (Pope). They are ridiculed for their sacrifices made hundreds of years ago for the church. They don’t command equal status in the existing structure of church and this has made the sacrifices futile.
Christianity stresses on the fact that God has created people in his own image and this has become the founding stone of equality of human values in Christian society. But, they are continuously meted out differential treatment in the name of caste and birth. In order to catch your attention towards these core issues, I am writing this letter to you. I am going to discuss first core issue.
Ideology of Church
Theoretically, there is no place for non-equality and racism in Christianity and when it is attached with identity of the Catholic Church; the concept of caste automatically vanishes like camphor as the word ‘Catholic-means-Universal’. There is only one head of this universal community of people and that is none other than representative of Vicar of Christ which is responsible for recruitment of Bishops in order to guide their disciples.
In that way, Holy Father/Pope, ‘you’ are responsible for maintaining the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ on the earth. Now you should explain to me where is the place of dirty ideology like casteism and racism in this ‘Kingdom of Heaven’?
Deprived class in Indian church
Downtrodden class in India has always been victim of unequal treatment, casteism and social exploitation. In order to seek solace and relief from their pathetic condition, they are still coming under the aegis of church for the last 3 or 4 centuries. But, here, too, they have been exploited in the name of caste and race. The hope with which they had come to Christianity seems to have been forfeited. On the contrary, they are now entangled in even deeper quagmire of inequality.
Church moving opposite to ideology of Christianity
Catholic Church has completely failed in its duty to provide equality and justice to that majority of converted people under the structure controlled by you (Pope). The resources have been captured by upper-class Christians. After independence of India, the Catholic Church has immensely progressed which is reflected in the heavy increase in the number of schools, colleges, social institutions, new diocese, Fathers, Bishops, nuns and their followers. However, despite this entire progress, one thing that has not changed - the status of converted Christians.
Converted Christians are the backbone of the Catholic Church in India, but their participation in the structure of Catholic Church is zero. Bishop, Father and Cardinal from this class are rare to find and those who somehow managed after hard-fought struggle are standing marginalized in society. They are being treated differently by their upper-class brothers (Bishops and Fathers).
Thousands of organizations related to education, health and non-governmental organizations are being run by church and right to run these institutions has been conferred by Indian constitution. The structure of church being run under Vatican (you) has failed to do justice to converted Christians. Understanding the gravity of the situation Pope John Paul-II had severely criticized the attitude of unequal treatment and discriminatory approach in the church. In 2003, he had said that Bishops were appointed to look after lambs and it is their duty to abolish any kind of discrimination prevalent in the Catholic Church.
Betrayal of faith
There is widespread anger among converted Christians against the policies adopted by the church. They have started demanding their rights within the existing structure of church. The response of church has been abysmal in this regard. The church leadership has termed this anger unjustified. Instead of addressing the genuine concerns of converted Christians, they have shied away from their responsibilities and are trying to shift it on the Government of India. This is being done in order to fulfill their own ulterior motive. By doing so church is pushing these people in the same quagmire of caste system.
When Indian constitution was being framed, constitution makers advocated reservations for the dalit class who were victims of caste oppression in the prevalent Hindu system. Majority of Hindu people sacrificed their right to equality in favour of their dalit brothers as a compensation of injustice meted out to them.
Your Holiness, do your representatives have the moral right to betray the faith of those who had blindly believed in the church and its promises? They have given their whole life to the church. The story is similar to the poor widow about whom Jesus had said to their disciples, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12: 41-44) We Dalit Catholics had also left the facilities (reservation) given by the Indian government.
Church should compensate
Church is now blaming others for its failures. When the Indian constitution was being framed, these converted Christians remained in the fold of the church and did not switch their loyalties. Within the framework of the constitution, minorities were given special rights and privileges that were unthinkable even in USA and Europe. Taking benefit of these rights, the church has enlarged its empire but seems to have forgotten converted Christians. Church leadership is stifling the just demands of their own people who are the backbone of the Catholic Church in the country.
Now, church leadership has no moral right to bring the converted people in the realm of the same caste system that has oppressed them for centuries. Had they not gone in the fold of the church and continued with the Hindu system they, too, would have enjoyed benefits bestowed upon them by the Constitution of India and progressed like their other Dalit Hindu brothers in the same fashion.
After the Government of India, the church is the only organized entity that can make available jobs, but the participation of converted Christians is very low and maximum they can get is post of driver, cook, clerk, peon and gatekeeper. These jobs, too, can be availed on the mercy of Bishops and their condition is no better than slave laborers. I demand from the church that they should compensate for the injustice and exploitation meted out to millions of converted Christians. Vatican had done this in the past and it can also be done here.
Church should change its policy
Church has always preferred safe trade. It has established thousands of schools, colleges and other institutions. This has benefited a lot to the church leadership, but the majority of converted Christians have been largely deprived. Even in the field of education where church has practically monopoly, it has failed to benefit converted Christians. We will not stop just after getting few benefits, but Dalit Christians want their due share in the existing structure.
Hindu society is changing very fast. Doors of temples are being opened for Dalit Hindus and many programmes are being run to abolish ignominious caste system, whereas Christianity has not been able to do minor changes in its structure. Hindu dalits are constantly moving on, but this is not the case with converted Christian society. Church administration being led by you is pushing them back. Perhaps their thinking is to assimilate converted Christians among 300 million Hindus. They believe that this will make the task of church leadership easier. Why it is that church leadership always seeks solution in putting converted Christians in the list of Hindu dalits?
It is the duty of church leadership that process of development should be smooth. It is good to have institutions/policy made for the welfare of people. However, it is even more important who are implementing them. Converted Christians should get share proportionate to their population. Unless and until this happens, their position in the society will remain the same and their problems will persist.
Your Holiness, in the first point I have tried to elaborate the first point related to the problems faced by converted Christians. In India, the relationship between Catholic Church and its followers is not based on democratic set-up. Inside the church, upper-caste Christians have more opportunity to progress than converted Christians. Considering the status of these people, some fundamental structural changes are needed. At present, Bishops are the “key power” and they are appointed by the Vatican and that is why they feel themselves more responsible towards Vatican and less towards Kalisia. Most of the Catholics are of the view that Bishop should be elected by Kalisia and not by the Vatican so that they could be made more responsible towards their people.
Evangelization and escalating tension
Recently, for the sake of safety and security of Christian society, you have appealed to Hindu society that they should stand-up against condemnable hate propaganda against Christians and should pave the way for religious freedom. Your concerns are genuine as tension between Christians and people from other faiths has escalated over the years and at some places it has even taken violent turn. Be it ignominious incident of burning of Graham Staines with his two children in 1999 or Kandhamal riots or violence at some other place. Indian society has always opposed violence on the name of caste or religion. Indian government has acted swiftly whenever such incidents have taken place. Perpetrators of crime have been punished. Government has also constituted various commissions in this regard and their reports have been startling.
India has always been a glorious symbol of tolerance and has shown respect for all religions and faiths with the feeling of amicable co-existence. There is no place for non-tolerant faith among majority of Hindu community. Every citizen respects fundamental right of religious freedom of other people.
Many commissions constituted by government in the wake of violent instances against Christians have also indicated towards imperialistic nature of church. There is an urgent need for introspection on the method of propagation of Christian faith as they have become instruments of growing tension with people of other faiths. We can stop this by changing the current practices by the church and help create amicable atmosphere.
Freedom of church in India
Indian church and Christians have rights that are not even available to European church. In matters related to Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other religions there is some government intervention. For example, properties of religious institutions of Muslims are looked after by Waqf board. Similarly, religious properties in Sikhs are also managed according to Indian law. Government has direct control over the income of big temples and this money is spent on upliftment of deprived class.
But, government has no intervention in matters pertaining to Christians. Bishops are appointed by you and Vatican and Fathers/Bishops has ownership over huge assets and resources of church. Even in Europe many countries have control over the properties of church. India is one country where church enjoys immense religious freedom.
Introspection of evangelization policy is necessary
Recently, Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue has raised few questions about status of religious freedom in India. The indication was towards anti-conversion law made by few states in India. Church is facing difficulty after enactment of this law. They should understand that Indian constitution allows anybody to follow faith of his/her choice and even allows propagation of religion. But nobody can justify conversion of scheduled caste and tribes under the garb of social service.
There is a thin line between propagation of one’s faith and conversion. If state gives absolute freedom to those who have sole motive of conversion, then it is the duty of the state to intervene in the matter. This becomes all the more important considering wherever conversion has taken place in large number social tension has increased.
This year Vatican had convened a meeting of various heads of faiths in Assisi of Italy on October 27. In this meeting, Indian representation had tried to attract the attention of Vatican towards conversion. As a matter of fact, if Vatican really wants amicable solution to various problems faced by Christianity then it is the church that will have to play larger role in the process.
Development of converted Christians should be goal of church
Your Holiness, theoretically Christianity advocates equality but in practice reality is starkly different. Discriminatory caste policies of the Catholic Church fail the basic motive of Christianity. In reality, condition of converted Christians worsens after conversion. Church should bring a White Paper on the matter of how much church has progressed after independence and how much progress converted Christians have made during the same period.
Church receives huge donations in the name of social service and development of disciples of the faith, but hardly anything has changed on the ground. This is certainly a food for thought that where this money goes?
Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM), an umbrella organization of Dalit Christians, is of the view that church officials don’t want to leave any benefit currently enjoyed by them at any cost. They are not at all concerned with the betterment of converted Christians. This is why there is no hint of betterment of the status of this community even in the distant future. The current system harbours inequality. That is why it will be wrong to expect that things will change in the near future.
Converted Christians are looking towards you with a lot of hope and we request you to take concrete steps for change in the fundamental structure of church.
Yours in Christ
R L Francis
The author is president, Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM)
TRUTH TRIUMPHED FALSEHOOD FAILED
कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम्
GLOBAL JOY AS SIBERIAN COURT DISMISSES CASE FOR BAN ON YOGESHWAR KRISHNA'S GITA
AUM
GLOBAL JOY AMONG DEVOTEES OF YOGESHWAR KRISHNA
By Chitranjan Sawant
My joy is unbound when I read on the news wire that the Tomsk Court in Siberia, Russia has dismissed the State Prosecutors"plea to ban the Bhagwad Gita As It Is as a piece of extremist literature that promotes social dischord and hatred.The case had been going on since June 2011 but as the day of judgement neared the anger mixed sadness reached the boiling point among the Hindus all over the world. Now we feel relieved that one of our most sacred scriptures that ranks next to the Vedas has come out shining like Sun.
ORTHODOX CHURCH PLAYED DIRTY
Ah! It was the Russian Orthodox Church that was the moving spirit behind the court case filed by the State Prosecutors in the far off Siberia. It was a dirty and tactical move of the Russian Orthodox Church. The evil design was to obtain an anti ISKCON judgement and have the Gita banned quietly away from the glare of media publicity. Thus they would have achieved their aim of limiting the spiritual activities of the ISKCON movement and also spread their form of Christianity. They failed miserably.
The TRUTH is onthe side of Yogeshwar krishna's Bhagwad Gita and the Hindu missionary spirit of ISKCON founded by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhpada, founder of the Hare Krishna movement. TRUTH wins aways and everytime. The Mundak Upanishad says:
"SATYAMEV JAYATE NANRITAM, SATYEN PANTHA VITATO DEVYANAH"
The Truth wins and not the falsehood. The good and the learned people find their path smooth and widened through TRUTH. Indeed it has happened in the present case of wily elements that thought and worked like Rakshasas.
THANKS TO RUSSIANS AND INDIANS
As a devotee of the Vedic Dharm, I feel it is my duty to thank the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of India for having walked an extra mile to ensure that the process of law was not abused and misused. Shri SM Krishna, Minister of External Affairs, Govt of India had stated categorically that the case for ban filed in the Tomsk Court was "patently absurd". He pursued the case and met the Russian ambassador in India, Mr Kadakin, an Indologist, to ensure that the ruffled feelings of the global Indians are not aggravated by an adversial judgement of the court. Both played their roles well and the result is heartening.
It may be mentioned that the same evil men had tried their dirty plans in courts of Moscow but had met with failure. In India a dismissed case is not permitted to be revived in another court of law of the same level. Of course, an aggrieved party may go in appeal to a higher court.
Sadhu Priya Das Chairman of the newly formed Hindu Council of Russia has expressed his deep sense of satisfaction at the final outcome.
We are thankful to Ishwar and the Hare krishna movement for the good tidings. AUM.
Mobile- 9811173590 Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Monday, December 26, 2011
SHRADDHANAND SANYASI ATTAINED MARTYRDOM 85 YEARS AGO
AUM
SHRADDHANAND SANYASI MARTYRDOM 85 YEARS AGO
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Swami Shraddhanand was at the pinnacle of achievements in the realm of spiritualism, social service, Vedic education, national cohesion, Shuddhi or homecoming of Aryas( Hindus) who had been forcibly converted to Islam and above things mundane the Unity of people of India to attain Swaraj or political independence from the British paramount power when like a Kshatriya he attained martyrdom. His mission of carrying the wisdom of Vedas far and wide did not remain unfulfilled. His disciples in large numbers who graduated from Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar did shine like bright stars in the firmament of Hindi journalism, research in the Vedic studies and above all in keeping the flag of OM flying.
GURUKUL KANGRI
The singular achievement of Swami Shraddhanand that attracted attention of saints and statesmen, educationists and scientists alike is the Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar. The august institution took off as an experiment in imparting education in Vedic studies and sciences in Hindi medium in rented rooms at Gujaranwala town in the Punjab, now in the alien land of Pakistan, in the year 1900. Lala Munshiram, as Swami Shraddhanand was known then, had his heart and soul in a Gurukul located in sylvan surroundings away from the hum and drum of urban society. His dream came true when Munshi Aman Singh donated his entire Kangri village on the banks of the Ganga river plus a lot of agricultural land to sustain the Gurukul. The new institution moved from Gujaranwala to Haridwar lock, stock and barrel. The new experiment began here and achieved a roaring success.
The Gurukul became the flag ship of Shraddhanand’s fleet. Its name and fame spread far and wide. Came Governor of the then United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, preceded by Collector and Commissioner to see for themselves what the giant-like man with a cool head and fearless mien was up to. Reports of sleuths had indicated that revolutionary activities against the Raj were afoot. Sir Ramsay Mcdonald, leader of Opposition in the House of Commons and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, came calling. They were all so impressed that they wished more experiments of this nature were undertaken to counter the adverse effect of Macaulay’s Minute.
Mr Ramsay Mcdonald saw in Munshi Ram Ji an image of Christ or St Peter who had a motivational hold on the new generation of Brahmcharis and the Acharyas of yester years too. When the White Hall of London was so favourably disposed towards the Gurukul, the Viceroy’s Hose in New Delhi just towed the line.
Notwithstanding the teething troubles, Mushi Ram, the Acharya had a deep sense of satisfaction when the first batch of Brahmcharis, including his two sons- Harish Chandra and Indra, graduated. In his Dikshant or the convocation address the Acharya drew their attention to the dream of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in rejuvenation the Aryavart through the youth well versed in the Vedas. The Acharya exhorted the fresh graduates to carry on the mission of Dayanand and stick to the Ten Principles of the Arya SamaJ.
The Gurukul has been carrying on from generation to generation and has crossed the Century mark. The well wishers of the Gurukul and votaries of the Arya Samaj have appreciated the progress with a deep sense of achievement.
A CRUSADER FOR SWARAJ
Swami Shraddhanand was a crusader for Swaraj through and through. It was rather reluctantly that he joined a political party, the Indian National Congress, because he thought that it might interfere in his Spiritual and Educational experiments for the greater good of the greater number. And yet he was in the forefront leading a crowd of protesters in Delhi against the British government’s high handedness. When an armed detachment of Manipuri soldiers under the British officers’command wanted to disperse the freedom fighters by using force of bayonets, it was our Shraddhanand Sanyasi in his ochre robes who stepped forward undaunted by bayonets and bullets, bared his chest and asked the soldiers to fire at him first before opening fire on the protesters. Wisdom dawned on the British officers and they ordered soldiers to unfix bayonets and fall back. A possibility of an ugly situation was averted. The protesting masses comprising Hindus and Muslims applauded the Arya Sanyasi.
On 4th April 1919 a large crowd of Muslims assembled in the Jama Masjid, Delhi to mourn the dead freedom fighters in police firing elsewhere in Delhi The prominent leaders came to Swami Shraddhanand to invite him to address the mourners in the mosque. The Arya Sanyasi began his address with a Ved mantra and concluded with AUM SHANTIH SHANTIH. The congregation responded with AMEEN.
THE SHUDDHI MOVEMENT
Long ago under the oppressive rule of Sultans and the Mughals like Aurangzeb, Many thousand Malkana Rajputs had been forcibly converted to Islam. Now, influenced by the Vedic preachings of Swami Shraddhanand the Muslim Malkana Rajputs voluntarily wished to return home to the Vedic Dharm. The Arya Sanyasi agreed. Maharana of Mewar also encouraged the home coming and agreed to share puffs at the Hookah with the returnees Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya aso gave an active encouragement. Thousands of Muslim Malkana Rajputs were reconverted to the Vedic Dharm and warmly welcomed by all present. It is said that Gandhi Ji was among the few prominent Hindu politicians who demurred. He did not matter to the movement of Shuddhi.
One Asghari Begum of Karachi along with her children came to Delhi on her own and requested Swami Ji to reconvert her to the Vedic Dharm. The Swami, undaunted by a hostie Musim crowd of goons did convert Asghari Begum and named her Shanti Devi. Court cases were filed by wily politicians and Muslim riff-raffs but they all had to bite the dust. Reconversion to the Vedic fold stood confirmed. The Muslim population sought to seek revenge and assassinate the valiant Arya Sanyasi.
THE MATYRDOM OF SHRADDHANAND
On 23rd December 1926 Swami Shraddhanand came from an election tour and was laid up with high fever due to pneumonia. His secretary and sewak were with him at the Naya Bazar, now Shraddhanand Bazar, residence. A bigot with a sinister intention came over and wished to be converted from Islam to the Vedic Dharm. He was refused permission by the Secretary to meet Swami Ji as the latter was unwell. When Swami ji heard that he wished to forsake Islam and be ordained as a Vedic Dharmi, Swami Ji told his secretary to let him come in. After a few minutes chat, the new comer asked for a glass of water. As the Secretary went out of the room to arrange for water, the new comer whipped out a revolver and fired two shots at Swami Shraddhanand at point blank range and the great Arya Sanyasi succumbed to shots. The secretary returned running and the assassin fired a third shot that hit the secretary but he grabbed the killer and held on to him until the police arrived. That killer was brought to trial, found guilty and hanged by the neck till death.
Swami Shraddhanand ived as a Karmayogi and died doing his karma. The entire nationwas shocked. Lakhs of men and women turned out to attend the funeral and had a mixed feeing of grief and anger.
Swami Shraddhanand is no more with us but his mission of education through Gurukulas and the Shuddhi are going on unchecked. Swami Ji’s disciples and disciples’ disciples on whose shoulders mantle of Vedic responsibility fell are at it doing the job with dignity.
UPVANOM 609, Sector 29, NOIDA -201303, INDIA Mob. 9811173590
Email: upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Thursday, December 22, 2011
russian orthodox christian church scared of gita
AUM
CHRISTIAN CHURCH BEHIND BAN MOVE ON Bhagvad Gita
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
TRUTH is a bitter pill and is difficult to swallow by weak-kneed government of India. The Prime Minister of India had paid a four-day visit to Russia last week but did he raise the issue of proposed ban on the GITA by a court of law in Siberia? He is mum on the issue so far. Generally speaking, he is mum on issues that involve good of the majority of Indians. He speaks about minorities only announcing that Muslims have the first right on the wealth of India. Is it because he himself belongs to a minority community and has never thought of backing important issues pertaining to the majority community. He may be ignored because he is only a de jure prime minister and he is remote-controlled by another centre of power.
Sonia Gandhi, a practising Roman Catholic Christian and the real controller of the decision making process being President of the Congress Party, has chosen not to say anything on the proposed legal ban on Bhagwad Gita in Russia? Why?
AMBIGUOUS RUSSIAN STAND
The Russian Ambassador in India regretted the controversy on Bhagwar Gita and attributed the legal issue to some mad men. He might have drawn some comfort by issuing this statement that is not the whole truth. The State Prosecutors had filed this case of imposing a ban on one of the most important religious scripture of the Hindus all over the world. Gita stands next to the Vedas. Yogeshwar Shri Krishna, a student of a Gurukul, had said everything in the Gita that concerns a man’s life, problems and solutions. It is one of the scriptures that lead human beings to a state where one gets peace – physical, mental and spiritual. A genius like Einstein derived Peace and tranquillity to soothe the troubled mind.
One wonders how a scripture can be called a piece of literature that promotes Terror? There is no doubt that the move to get a legal ban on Gita through a court of law is the product of a Satanic mind that wishes to absolve the State and the kremlin of any blame. On the face of it the Russian State is a secular one but in actual practice it is the Russian Orthodox Church that is trying to control lives of Russian people and have them driven like a flock of sheep with no intellectual or spiritual freedom to draw sustenance from scriptures like the Bhagwad Gita. The Shepherd feels threatened that his flock of sheep will go elsewhere for spiritual advancement and not remain in stagnant waters of the Russian Orthodox Christian Church.
Has the Kremlin said anything about the mad men filing a case against a Hindu scripture in a Siberian Court? No, not a word. Has Putin, the iron man of Russia, spoken on the subject condemning mad men who are the State Prosecutors? How will the executive head of the government condemn the State Prosecutors of his own government? Apparently, the whole case is a well planned Russian conspiracy against the scripture of the Hindu Dharma. The Hindus of the world will oppose this move tooth and nail even if it comes to closing down the Russian embassy in New Delhi.
The Russian Ambassador is just hiding this conspiracy of the Kremlin with a fig leaf. Russia stands exposed before the world as a State that discriminates against its own citizens professing the Hindu Dharma No prosecution can be launched in Siberia unless it has the nod of Moscow. The Russian government is not meek Manmohan govt in New Delhi where the right hand does not know what the left is doing.
RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM
If the Russian Ambassador is serious about his statement that the prosecution case against Bhagad Gita is a handiwork of mad men, et him write to the Kremlin to issue orders to the State Prosecutors to withdraw the said case forthwith and make the final outcome public. Let him assure the govt and the people of India that a dateline to complete the legal process of withdrawal of the case has been fixed and shall be adhered to under all circumstances A failure on his part to do so would just mean that he is just playing Russian Roulette where the age-old friendship between India and USSR, now Russia may be the first casualty.
The next step for the Russian State should be to rein in the Russian Orthodox Christian Church and not let them run amuck. It is a well known fact that the white Russian men and women, young boys and girls are spiritually a devotee of Yogeshwar Shri Krishna and they draw comfort from the advice given by Shri Krishna to warrior Arjuna on the battle field of Mahabharat prior to sounding of the conch shells and shooting of the first arrow. The troubled minds of Russians find PEACE from the Gita and also by visiting temples of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). What provides peace of body, mind and soul can never be termed as a piece of literature that promotes Terror.
The diplomats are running away from reality. Because Reality Bites. The Russian Orthodox Christian Church is unprepared to face the Truth. They have failed to answer the nagging doubts of the young inquisitive minds, the scientific minds. The youth cannot be controlled by fables and half truths that the pre-communist regime generation was fed on. The Communist regime was more than harsh in closing down churches and the State came down on the Orthodox Christians with a heavy hand. The Christians were hounded out mercilessly and the churches were locked p as long as the USSR lasted. With the falloff the Communist regime the revival of the Russian Orthodox Church was done with a greater vengeance. The Communist icons were pulled down. Anything that was even remotely connected with communism was not only shunned but thrown overboard to be drowned in the Volga or the Caspian Sea. The hold of the Russian Orthodox Church on the people of Russia and later on the State of the Russian Federation increased and strengthened day by day Now the same church that was hunted by the Communists has now appeared in a new Avatar of a hunter chasing everything non-Christian for a kill.
The religious scripture of the Hindus, Bhagwad Gita is now being targeted by the Russian Orthodox Christian Church as the latter feels threatened by the former. May I invite the wise men and women of Russia to cast aside their blinkers and see the sunlight. Let the TRUTH be accepted by one and all by casting aside fake fig leaf of a legal case that is a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
UPVANOM 609, Sector 29, Noida – 201303, INDIA. Mobile : 9811173590.
Email: upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
CHRISTIAN CHURCH BEHIND BAN MOVE ON Bhagvad Gita
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
TRUTH is a bitter pill and is difficult to swallow by weak-kneed government of India. The Prime Minister of India had paid a four-day visit to Russia last week but did he raise the issue of proposed ban on the GITA by a court of law in Siberia? He is mum on the issue so far. Generally speaking, he is mum on issues that involve good of the majority of Indians. He speaks about minorities only announcing that Muslims have the first right on the wealth of India. Is it because he himself belongs to a minority community and has never thought of backing important issues pertaining to the majority community. He may be ignored because he is only a de jure prime minister and he is remote-controlled by another centre of power.
Sonia Gandhi, a practising Roman Catholic Christian and the real controller of the decision making process being President of the Congress Party, has chosen not to say anything on the proposed legal ban on Bhagwad Gita in Russia? Why?
AMBIGUOUS RUSSIAN STAND
The Russian Ambassador in India regretted the controversy on Bhagwar Gita and attributed the legal issue to some mad men. He might have drawn some comfort by issuing this statement that is not the whole truth. The State Prosecutors had filed this case of imposing a ban on one of the most important religious scripture of the Hindus all over the world. Gita stands next to the Vedas. Yogeshwar Shri Krishna, a student of a Gurukul, had said everything in the Gita that concerns a man’s life, problems and solutions. It is one of the scriptures that lead human beings to a state where one gets peace – physical, mental and spiritual. A genius like Einstein derived Peace and tranquillity to soothe the troubled mind.
One wonders how a scripture can be called a piece of literature that promotes Terror? There is no doubt that the move to get a legal ban on Gita through a court of law is the product of a Satanic mind that wishes to absolve the State and the kremlin of any blame. On the face of it the Russian State is a secular one but in actual practice it is the Russian Orthodox Church that is trying to control lives of Russian people and have them driven like a flock of sheep with no intellectual or spiritual freedom to draw sustenance from scriptures like the Bhagwad Gita. The Shepherd feels threatened that his flock of sheep will go elsewhere for spiritual advancement and not remain in stagnant waters of the Russian Orthodox Christian Church.
Has the Kremlin said anything about the mad men filing a case against a Hindu scripture in a Siberian Court? No, not a word. Has Putin, the iron man of Russia, spoken on the subject condemning mad men who are the State Prosecutors? How will the executive head of the government condemn the State Prosecutors of his own government? Apparently, the whole case is a well planned Russian conspiracy against the scripture of the Hindu Dharma. The Hindus of the world will oppose this move tooth and nail even if it comes to closing down the Russian embassy in New Delhi.
The Russian Ambassador is just hiding this conspiracy of the Kremlin with a fig leaf. Russia stands exposed before the world as a State that discriminates against its own citizens professing the Hindu Dharma No prosecution can be launched in Siberia unless it has the nod of Moscow. The Russian government is not meek Manmohan govt in New Delhi where the right hand does not know what the left is doing.
RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM
If the Russian Ambassador is serious about his statement that the prosecution case against Bhagad Gita is a handiwork of mad men, et him write to the Kremlin to issue orders to the State Prosecutors to withdraw the said case forthwith and make the final outcome public. Let him assure the govt and the people of India that a dateline to complete the legal process of withdrawal of the case has been fixed and shall be adhered to under all circumstances A failure on his part to do so would just mean that he is just playing Russian Roulette where the age-old friendship between India and USSR, now Russia may be the first casualty.
The next step for the Russian State should be to rein in the Russian Orthodox Christian Church and not let them run amuck. It is a well known fact that the white Russian men and women, young boys and girls are spiritually a devotee of Yogeshwar Shri Krishna and they draw comfort from the advice given by Shri Krishna to warrior Arjuna on the battle field of Mahabharat prior to sounding of the conch shells and shooting of the first arrow. The troubled minds of Russians find PEACE from the Gita and also by visiting temples of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). What provides peace of body, mind and soul can never be termed as a piece of literature that promotes Terror.
The diplomats are running away from reality. Because Reality Bites. The Russian Orthodox Christian Church is unprepared to face the Truth. They have failed to answer the nagging doubts of the young inquisitive minds, the scientific minds. The youth cannot be controlled by fables and half truths that the pre-communist regime generation was fed on. The Communist regime was more than harsh in closing down churches and the State came down on the Orthodox Christians with a heavy hand. The Christians were hounded out mercilessly and the churches were locked p as long as the USSR lasted. With the falloff the Communist regime the revival of the Russian Orthodox Church was done with a greater vengeance. The Communist icons were pulled down. Anything that was even remotely connected with communism was not only shunned but thrown overboard to be drowned in the Volga or the Caspian Sea. The hold of the Russian Orthodox Church on the people of Russia and later on the State of the Russian Federation increased and strengthened day by day Now the same church that was hunted by the Communists has now appeared in a new Avatar of a hunter chasing everything non-Christian for a kill.
The religious scripture of the Hindus, Bhagwad Gita is now being targeted by the Russian Orthodox Christian Church as the latter feels threatened by the former. May I invite the wise men and women of Russia to cast aside their blinkers and see the sunlight. Let the TRUTH be accepted by one and all by casting aside fake fig leaf of a legal case that is a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
UPVANOM 609, Sector 29, Noida – 201303, INDIA. Mobile : 9811173590.
Email: upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Contribution of Swamy Shradhanand to Kerala's Socio-religious-reform Movements
23 rd Dec is the martyrdom day of great educationalist, veteran freedom fighter and Vedic scholar, Swamy Sradhanand who was closely connected to socio-religious - reform movements in Kerala. But the glorious role played by him in Kerala during the first quarter of last century is missing from our history books. Mahatma Munshi Ram was born at Talwan Village in Jalandhar (Punjab) on February 2, 1856. The magic of great social reformer and vedic scholar, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi totally changed a spoiled young Munshiram (later Swamy Shradhanand) into an Arya Missionary and a national leader. He actively participated in freedom struggle and motivated many revolutionaries to fight against the alien rulers. He was the Chairman of reception committee of Amritsar Congress session in 1919 just after Jalyanwala Bagh massacre and successfully conducted this session. He established Gurukul Kangri with one teacher (himself) and two students (his two sons) which is now a famous university. He was the first non muslim to deliver sermon from the rampart of Jama Masjid of Delhi.
Above all he was a preacher of vedic dharma. He spearheaded the shudhi movement which resulted the return of thousands of converted Hindus to vedic religion. During the 1921 Malabar rebellion he came to Kerala for rescue works and brought back thousands of forcible converted Hindus to their parent religion. The Arya Samaj at Ponnani in Malappuram district was the main re-conversion centre during 1921 rebellion. Swamiji and his brave followers risked their life and gave a strong presence in Ponnani, the so called Mecca of Kerala to succor the poor Hindus. The hapless Hindus were massively converted by force there. At present also Ponnani is a main conversion centre to Islam. The landed property and buildings of erstwhile Arya Samaj at Ponnani is now encroached by some one. When new Khilafat commemorative buildings are coming up in many parts of Malappuram district, there is no one to take up the case of this encroached historical Arya Samaj property which stood great relief for riot victims.
Swamy Shradhanand was also the inspirational force for upliftment of so called lower casts in Kalpathi village of Palakkad district. When these downtrodden people were denied their right to take part in yearly conducted Kalpathi Ratha Yathra, Swamiji took up the matter in the Court of Law and obtained a Judgment from Madras Court in their favour before the start of that year’s Rath Yathra. He also actively participated in Vaikkom Sathyagrah. But it is very unfortunate that the contribution of Swamiji and other Arya Missionaries like Pt. Rishi Ram are missing in our history books. Even a photograph of Pt. Rishi Ram who established Calicut Arya Samaj also not available now in any historical libraries of Kerala. When there was a mass function to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Vaikkom Sathyagrah with much fanfare, there were not even a mention of Swamy Sradhanand and his colleagues. This is a great insult to those brave souls like Swamy Shradhanand who was behind the socio-religious reform movements in Kerala.
He established Bharatheeya Hindu Shudhi Sabha alongwith Pt.Madan Mohan Malavia in 1923. The shudhi movement spearheaded by Swamiji brought back lakhs of converted Hindus to Vedic Religion. This enraged the muslim extremists. As a result of that he succumbed to the stabbing by a fanatic Muslim named Abdul Rasheed on 23rd Dec 1926. The British court sentenced Rasheed with death penalty. It was very unfortunate that Mahatma Gandhi (whom the honour ‘Mahatma’ was given my Swamy Shradhanand) sought relaxation for death sentence given to Abdul Rasheed from British authorities. But same Gandhiji refused to take up a similar case for great freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Rajguru. But the British authorities did not care Gandhiji’s suggestion and hanged the assassin of Swamy Shradhanand as per the court verdict.
Now Kerala is passing through a tough time. Mass conversion like love jihad etc.is going on in different parts of Kerala. In these circumstances let us pay homage to this immortal Arya Missionary and dedicate ourselves for the cause of propagation and protection of vedic dharma!
Om krinvantho vishwamaryam!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
CORRUPTION IN CHINA
AUM
CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HUNTS CORRUPT CADRES
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely It was true in the past, it is true in the present and it will be true in the future too. One needs no Yudhishthir in the Dronacharya’s Gurukul to memorise and practise this emphasis on the Truth. The sociologists and political science scholars know it but fee helpless in eradicating corruption from the powerful ruling party and the govt run by the party. In China the problem assumes a larger than life image because there is no opposition party to point out cases of corruption. The constitution of the People’s Republic of China lays down that there will be just one political party in the country and it is the Chinese Communist Party.
SELF POLICING SELF CLEANSING
The Chinese Communist Party has an overwhelmingly large membership and its cadres assume power and are backed by the State. It is, therefore, necessary for the party hierarchy to ensure Equality before Law and Integrity from the top echelon to the grass roots. Since an average villager, a farmer or an artisan comes in contact with the Communist officials running the show at the village or district level, it is important that they be given clean and impartial administration. If an official or a cadre member seems to be getting rich overnight, he or she has to be probed and action taken as per law.
Hu Jintao is the President and Head of State of China. Besides that and what is more important is his position as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He said at the 90th founding day of the Chinese Communist Party that the Party will intensify its efforts to combat corruption which is crucial in gaining popular support for the party and ensuring its very survival. “If not effectively curbed, corruption will cost the Party the trust and support of the people” Hu Jintao added.
It is a good idea to share the experiences of the party officials chosen to check corruption at the village level. The discipline watchdogs of the CPC are hated and feared by the corrupt officials. The discipline watchdogs are a driving force in ridding the party of graft, official abuse and corruption of sorts. Tian Zhirong is one of the crusaders against corruption. He took his work seriously and achieved good results. He earned a promotion to the post of party chief of Fengzhuang town in Shaanxi province. He records that when he visited places affected by corruption and recorded evidence impartially, some unsocial elements threw stones into his room to frighten him. The goons of the corrupt used to browbeat his wife when she was alone cooking in the kitchen. At times she urged him not torub the corrupt powerful and remain out of harm’s way but he went ahead and discharged his duties without fear or favour.
His salary is Renminbi 3,000 per month. Once while investigating a case of corruption, the affected official quietly slipped 2,000 Yuan into his room. A lot of money indeed. Tian Zhirong deposited the amount in public accounts and gave his findings unaffected by the attempted bribery.
Tian observed that the biggest challenge for a discipline supervisor is Conquering Himself.
Pooling together experiences of discipline watchdogs one finds that the corrupt officials entertain the high visiting officials in every possible way. Wine and dinner plus looking after the creature comforts of the visiting dignitary has now become a tradition that needs tobe erased from the book of hospitality. The honest Inspecting Teams prefer to dine in the community kitchen where alcohol is prohibited. They just spend 20 yuans on a meal and save the public money. The conduct of this nature inspires confidence among the complainant and he expects justice to be done and the corrupt punished.
When and where the discipline supervisors how zero tolerance for corrupt practices the image of the communist party improves One, however, wonders what the ratio of the Honest discipline Watchdogs to the Dishonest ones is. The only way to find out the rea state of affairs is to see if the common man is happy or unhappy. A pertinent observation of honest watchdogs is: As long as influential officials are overwhelmed by Lust and animal passions, corruption will not only exist but flourish. The aim of watchdogs is to minimise cases of corruption as far as possible. They realise that complete eradication may not be feasible under the present circumstances.
ENLIGHTENING STATISTICS
In the year 2010 China investigated 2723 corrupt officials at or above county level that is equivalent to a district in the Indian context. 188 were of the Prefecture level and six at the ministerial level. It is heartening to note that in July this year two deputy mayors of Hangzhou and Suzhou were executed for corruption, read bribery. Xu Maiyong accepted a bribe of 145 million Yuan and also embezzled public money for promoting self interests.
Liu Zhijun, the Minister for Railways was removed from his high post in February this year as he was implicated in corruption and “severe violation” of discipline.
Generally speaking such statistics were not released by China before but they are doing so now to prove to the common man in China that both the Party and the government are serious on curbing corruption and that no one , howsoever high he or she may be, would be spared. Indeed it is a matter of credibility of the Communist Party of China and the leadership is committed to providing a corruption free administration to the citizens of the Middle Kingdom that China was known as in times gone by.
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, Noida – 201303 INDIA Mobile :9811173590
Email : upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantgchitranjan@gmail.com
CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HUNTS CORRUPT CADRES
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely It was true in the past, it is true in the present and it will be true in the future too. One needs no Yudhishthir in the Dronacharya’s Gurukul to memorise and practise this emphasis on the Truth. The sociologists and political science scholars know it but fee helpless in eradicating corruption from the powerful ruling party and the govt run by the party. In China the problem assumes a larger than life image because there is no opposition party to point out cases of corruption. The constitution of the People’s Republic of China lays down that there will be just one political party in the country and it is the Chinese Communist Party.
SELF POLICING SELF CLEANSING
The Chinese Communist Party has an overwhelmingly large membership and its cadres assume power and are backed by the State. It is, therefore, necessary for the party hierarchy to ensure Equality before Law and Integrity from the top echelon to the grass roots. Since an average villager, a farmer or an artisan comes in contact with the Communist officials running the show at the village or district level, it is important that they be given clean and impartial administration. If an official or a cadre member seems to be getting rich overnight, he or she has to be probed and action taken as per law.
Hu Jintao is the President and Head of State of China. Besides that and what is more important is his position as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He said at the 90th founding day of the Chinese Communist Party that the Party will intensify its efforts to combat corruption which is crucial in gaining popular support for the party and ensuring its very survival. “If not effectively curbed, corruption will cost the Party the trust and support of the people” Hu Jintao added.
It is a good idea to share the experiences of the party officials chosen to check corruption at the village level. The discipline watchdogs of the CPC are hated and feared by the corrupt officials. The discipline watchdogs are a driving force in ridding the party of graft, official abuse and corruption of sorts. Tian Zhirong is one of the crusaders against corruption. He took his work seriously and achieved good results. He earned a promotion to the post of party chief of Fengzhuang town in Shaanxi province. He records that when he visited places affected by corruption and recorded evidence impartially, some unsocial elements threw stones into his room to frighten him. The goons of the corrupt used to browbeat his wife when she was alone cooking in the kitchen. At times she urged him not torub the corrupt powerful and remain out of harm’s way but he went ahead and discharged his duties without fear or favour.
His salary is Renminbi 3,000 per month. Once while investigating a case of corruption, the affected official quietly slipped 2,000 Yuan into his room. A lot of money indeed. Tian Zhirong deposited the amount in public accounts and gave his findings unaffected by the attempted bribery.
Tian observed that the biggest challenge for a discipline supervisor is Conquering Himself.
Pooling together experiences of discipline watchdogs one finds that the corrupt officials entertain the high visiting officials in every possible way. Wine and dinner plus looking after the creature comforts of the visiting dignitary has now become a tradition that needs tobe erased from the book of hospitality. The honest Inspecting Teams prefer to dine in the community kitchen where alcohol is prohibited. They just spend 20 yuans on a meal and save the public money. The conduct of this nature inspires confidence among the complainant and he expects justice to be done and the corrupt punished.
When and where the discipline supervisors how zero tolerance for corrupt practices the image of the communist party improves One, however, wonders what the ratio of the Honest discipline Watchdogs to the Dishonest ones is. The only way to find out the rea state of affairs is to see if the common man is happy or unhappy. A pertinent observation of honest watchdogs is: As long as influential officials are overwhelmed by Lust and animal passions, corruption will not only exist but flourish. The aim of watchdogs is to minimise cases of corruption as far as possible. They realise that complete eradication may not be feasible under the present circumstances.
ENLIGHTENING STATISTICS
In the year 2010 China investigated 2723 corrupt officials at or above county level that is equivalent to a district in the Indian context. 188 were of the Prefecture level and six at the ministerial level. It is heartening to note that in July this year two deputy mayors of Hangzhou and Suzhou were executed for corruption, read bribery. Xu Maiyong accepted a bribe of 145 million Yuan and also embezzled public money for promoting self interests.
Liu Zhijun, the Minister for Railways was removed from his high post in February this year as he was implicated in corruption and “severe violation” of discipline.
Generally speaking such statistics were not released by China before but they are doing so now to prove to the common man in China that both the Party and the government are serious on curbing corruption and that no one , howsoever high he or she may be, would be spared. Indeed it is a matter of credibility of the Communist Party of China and the leadership is committed to providing a corruption free administration to the citizens of the Middle Kingdom that China was known as in times gone by.
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, Noida – 201303 INDIA Mobile :9811173590
Email : upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantgchitranjan@gmail.com
Sunday, November 20, 2011
MARITAL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON COUPLE
AUM
MARITAL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON COUPLE
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Vedic Vivah or taking marriage vows as per the Vedas, most ancient scripture in the library of Mankind, lays the foundation of a happy married life. The bride and the groom take SEVEN steps together and take a vow with each step. The seventh and the last step vow is: Now after taking nuptial vows WE ARE FRIENDS. SAKHA is the word in Sanskrit language. Friendship is between the equals and when the husband and wife treat each other as Equals, they will never denigrate each other.
When LOVE between the husband and wife recedes or takes a back seat in life, it is time for the THIRD PERSON; male or female to enter into the life of the wedded couple. That indeed is the beginning of the end of a happy married life. The mistress gains ground day by day in the husband’s love life. Or the wife's young lover becomes supreme in the life of the woman. However, it is essential that the THIRD PERSON must be banished as early as possible lest the marriage is on the rocks.
SCHOOL FOR WIFE
When I mentioned to my wife that in China new and expensive schools have been opened to train wives on” How to WIN HUSBAND BACK from the Mistress, oh! she lamented and opined; why not train Husbands how to keep the flame of Love alive in the wife. A husband needs training too. I think my wife has a point. A happy married life is lived by the couple, not by wife alone. Remember the VEDIC vow: we are FRIENDS or Sakha.
Let the new enterpreneurs in China open training schools for husbands on HOW TO WIN WIFE BACK. The booming economy of China has put a lot of money into the hands of male entrepreneurs and among other hobbies and recreations that they pursue, having a mistress is becoming more popuar than what society can digest. It is a scandal that has REACHED A POINT BEYOND WHICH THE MARRIAGE BASED SOCIAL STRUCTURE CANNOT TAKE. The sociologists are keen on finding a solution within the present set up of the social order. It is, however, defying solutions at this point of time.
It is the legacy of Chinese Emperors to have many pretty women in their Harem in the forbidden city. The male population of China that has become very rich with the economic boom now wish to have a Mistress in every city that they visit in connection with business. May I remind Males with Mistresses that history is also full of true stories of Empresses or Dowager Empresses who kept a Male Harem to pick and choose the man to sleep with. And the choice invariably fell on a new fellow to make the dowager empress happy and satisfied in bed. A failure to achieve the desired result cost the unfortunate male his head. The same situation may arise again. History repeats itself.
SEX IN MARRIAGE
It is a matter of human nature that Sex is important in life. In the marital life Sex is more important. Some psychologists believe that marriages are made or unmade in bed. In other words, the husband and wife must keep each other sexually satisfied and happy. Let no partner ignore the other partner.
Companionship heightens Love and Love demands togetherness. When the couple are together, they are bound to sleep in the same bed. Sex is a natural corollary thereafter.
If the husband and wife look after each other and take care of needs mutually the marital life will succeed. Mistress will have no place in the life of a happy couple.
SCRIPTURES ON MARITAL SEX
One may be wondering how deep will the religious injunctions penetrate in marital sex? Well, to fathom the depth, please dive deep and all pearls will be yours. Pearls of Wisdom are there for one who cares to see and find. Let me quote an example from the Satyarth Prakash, the Magnum Opus of the great and renowned socio-religious reformer of the 19th century India. He was so much concerned about the heath, happiness and moral conduct of his countrymen that he devoted all his time and energy to the cause of the country and countrymen and even staked his life for it. Swami Dayanand Saraswati wished the Aryas(Noble men and women) to rise and grow in numbers, in health and in happiness that he prescribed the right way and method of having SAMBHOG or marital sex If the male died and the family wished to have an heir, the Swami recommended the Vedic way to go about it, NIYOG. A good male with intelligence, knowledge and prowess was chosen to have a go at it with the consent of the widow and procreate successfully. This was for the Nation too, without malice or sexual pleasure for the sake of sex. Indeed the Niyog was not popular and invited criticism too. However, the same aim is achieved by many in the society, albeit surreptitiously.
The noble aim of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in writing in depth on the art of copulation in the Satyarth Prakash was to wean away the youth, both boys and girls, from the influence of cheap, dirty and erroneous booklets on sex and lead them to the right path of procreation in a healthy environment. Sex is an important aspect of human life. However, thinking human beings sublimate it and rise above the animal passion and channelize it towards the right goal: to beget a son or a daughter. The great Reformer and inspirer of the Vedic Renaissance was very concerned about the quality of our future generations. He advised the husband and wife to have sex in a manner that the semen of Brahmacharya should be utilised to beget a child and must not be allowed to go waste. A child thus born will be asset to the family and to the Nation.”They (husband and wife) should never waste their reproductive elements perfected and preserved by the practice of Brahmcharya because the children born of the union of such reproductive elements are of a very superior order.”
As discussed heretofore the happiness in marital life depends on the physical, mental and spiritual compatibility of the husband and wife both. The aim of begetting good and smart children cements the marital bond and never lets the couple separate or fall asunder. That is what a Vedic Vivah is all about. Let me wish the bride and the groom health and happiness in their marital life. AUM
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA- 201303 INDIA. Mobile – 9811173590
Email – upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
MARITAL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON COUPLE
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Vedic Vivah or taking marriage vows as per the Vedas, most ancient scripture in the library of Mankind, lays the foundation of a happy married life. The bride and the groom take SEVEN steps together and take a vow with each step. The seventh and the last step vow is: Now after taking nuptial vows WE ARE FRIENDS. SAKHA is the word in Sanskrit language. Friendship is between the equals and when the husband and wife treat each other as Equals, they will never denigrate each other.
When LOVE between the husband and wife recedes or takes a back seat in life, it is time for the THIRD PERSON; male or female to enter into the life of the wedded couple. That indeed is the beginning of the end of a happy married life. The mistress gains ground day by day in the husband’s love life. Or the wife's young lover becomes supreme in the life of the woman. However, it is essential that the THIRD PERSON must be banished as early as possible lest the marriage is on the rocks.
SCHOOL FOR WIFE
When I mentioned to my wife that in China new and expensive schools have been opened to train wives on” How to WIN HUSBAND BACK from the Mistress, oh! she lamented and opined; why not train Husbands how to keep the flame of Love alive in the wife. A husband needs training too. I think my wife has a point. A happy married life is lived by the couple, not by wife alone. Remember the VEDIC vow: we are FRIENDS or Sakha.
Let the new enterpreneurs in China open training schools for husbands on HOW TO WIN WIFE BACK. The booming economy of China has put a lot of money into the hands of male entrepreneurs and among other hobbies and recreations that they pursue, having a mistress is becoming more popuar than what society can digest. It is a scandal that has REACHED A POINT BEYOND WHICH THE MARRIAGE BASED SOCIAL STRUCTURE CANNOT TAKE. The sociologists are keen on finding a solution within the present set up of the social order. It is, however, defying solutions at this point of time.
It is the legacy of Chinese Emperors to have many pretty women in their Harem in the forbidden city. The male population of China that has become very rich with the economic boom now wish to have a Mistress in every city that they visit in connection with business. May I remind Males with Mistresses that history is also full of true stories of Empresses or Dowager Empresses who kept a Male Harem to pick and choose the man to sleep with. And the choice invariably fell on a new fellow to make the dowager empress happy and satisfied in bed. A failure to achieve the desired result cost the unfortunate male his head. The same situation may arise again. History repeats itself.
SEX IN MARRIAGE
It is a matter of human nature that Sex is important in life. In the marital life Sex is more important. Some psychologists believe that marriages are made or unmade in bed. In other words, the husband and wife must keep each other sexually satisfied and happy. Let no partner ignore the other partner.
Companionship heightens Love and Love demands togetherness. When the couple are together, they are bound to sleep in the same bed. Sex is a natural corollary thereafter.
If the husband and wife look after each other and take care of needs mutually the marital life will succeed. Mistress will have no place in the life of a happy couple.
SCRIPTURES ON MARITAL SEX
One may be wondering how deep will the religious injunctions penetrate in marital sex? Well, to fathom the depth, please dive deep and all pearls will be yours. Pearls of Wisdom are there for one who cares to see and find. Let me quote an example from the Satyarth Prakash, the Magnum Opus of the great and renowned socio-religious reformer of the 19th century India. He was so much concerned about the heath, happiness and moral conduct of his countrymen that he devoted all his time and energy to the cause of the country and countrymen and even staked his life for it. Swami Dayanand Saraswati wished the Aryas(Noble men and women) to rise and grow in numbers, in health and in happiness that he prescribed the right way and method of having SAMBHOG or marital sex If the male died and the family wished to have an heir, the Swami recommended the Vedic way to go about it, NIYOG. A good male with intelligence, knowledge and prowess was chosen to have a go at it with the consent of the widow and procreate successfully. This was for the Nation too, without malice or sexual pleasure for the sake of sex. Indeed the Niyog was not popular and invited criticism too. However, the same aim is achieved by many in the society, albeit surreptitiously.
The noble aim of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in writing in depth on the art of copulation in the Satyarth Prakash was to wean away the youth, both boys and girls, from the influence of cheap, dirty and erroneous booklets on sex and lead them to the right path of procreation in a healthy environment. Sex is an important aspect of human life. However, thinking human beings sublimate it and rise above the animal passion and channelize it towards the right goal: to beget a son or a daughter. The great Reformer and inspirer of the Vedic Renaissance was very concerned about the quality of our future generations. He advised the husband and wife to have sex in a manner that the semen of Brahmacharya should be utilised to beget a child and must not be allowed to go waste. A child thus born will be asset to the family and to the Nation.”They (husband and wife) should never waste their reproductive elements perfected and preserved by the practice of Brahmcharya because the children born of the union of such reproductive elements are of a very superior order.”
As discussed heretofore the happiness in marital life depends on the physical, mental and spiritual compatibility of the husband and wife both. The aim of begetting good and smart children cements the marital bond and never lets the couple separate or fall asunder. That is what a Vedic Vivah is all about. Let me wish the bride and the groom health and happiness in their marital life. AUM
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA- 201303 INDIA. Mobile – 9811173590
Email – upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Monday, November 14, 2011
CHINA OFFERS LOLLIPOPS TO INDIA BUTEMBRACES PAKISTAN
AUM.
CHINA SHOWS INDIA LOLLIPOP EMBRACES PAKISTAN
By Chitranjan Sawant
Chinese PLA and Indian Army are likely to hold joint military exercises towards the end of 2012. Fine. China is holding joint military exercises with Pakistan near Islamabad close to the Indian borders this year in 2011. The scale of the latter is fairly big and that of the former may pale into insignificance unless the Dragon takes corrective measures to offer flowers of friendship to the Elephant. The Chinese troops are already stationed in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir in appreciable numbers. The pretext is to provide relief to the quake-hit region but in reality it is to augment the Pakistan's defences and make a quick deployment of Chinese land forces across Pakistan up to the Gwadar port in Baluchistan province. The large size port where some of the biggest ships and tankers may berth, unload and load fresh cargoes is being built by China. There is no such long term cooperation between the two armies favouring India. The Chinese monopoly of building many big ports in different countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka besides Pakistan is seen by strategists as a master military plan of China to encircle India and paralyse her sea power at a short notice
FRIENDS VERSUS ACQUAINTANCES
Let us not be trapped by the Dragon and be taken in for its exhibition of skin-deep acquaintance and lower our guards. A word of caution to the Indian diplomats and politicians will be in order at this point of time. Please do not be carried away by the Chinese smiles and take it as a prelude to a kiss of friendship. It will be a fatal mistake like that of Nehru in 1962 when he was lured by sweet talks of Chou Enlai and lost both troops and territory besides facing ignominy of a humiliating defeat in NEFA, present Arunachal Pradesh.
The Chinese diplomacy at a higher plane is just placating India with a minor military exercise to offset the hurt caused by a major military handshake between Beijing and Islamabad. Both China and Pakistan are on record to say that there all-weather friendship is time tested. They have stood by each other through thick and thin. However, it would be pertinent to recall that in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Pakistan kept on looking across the Himalayas towards China hoping that the Dragon would breathe fire to browbeat the Elephant but was deeply disappointed when the Dragon kept itself within its international borders. At the same time it would be an ostrich-like thinking that India faces no danger from China when the latter has gifted some military hardware, including fighter jets to Pakistan. Further the whole world knows that detonating an atomic device close on the heels of Indi was beyond the capabilities of Pakistan if China had not helped her beyond limits of proliferation of atomic power for making bombs and instruments of aggression.
On the other hand India neither asked for nor received any military hardware from China. The military parade of China on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China proved to the world that China is no more a sleeping giant as was predicted by Napoleon Bonaparte who had cautioned the global population that the day China wakes up, the world would be sorry. Who knows it better than India, a country with a bad taste in the mouth after suffering a major defeat at the hands of the Chinese in 1962. In the Chinese scheme of global diplomacy and show of military power, India is on the periphery as a nation divided against its own people. By the way, in the said debate that ensued in New Delhi after the Henderson-Brooks report was submitted that Indian troops were ill trained, ill clothed and ill armed when they went into battle.
China and Pakistan never fought a war against each other. The only hitch in developing a strong friendship between China and Pakistan is: Chinese love to eat pork and Pakistanis detest the sight of it. Can a pork eater and a pork hater embrace each other after a sumptuous pork meal consumed with relish by the Chinese guests? One wonders what the outcome would be. And yet the Chinese and Pakistanis are friends because they have a common enemy-India.
INDIA-CHINA MILITARY EXERCISES
How strange but how true that India and China did not hold joint military exercises during Nehru-Chou days of Hindi-Cheeni Bhai-Bhai. The emphasis was on the Panchsheel or Peaceful Co-existence. It was in 2004 that the first bilateral military exercise was held in Kunming, China. The Chinese govt hosted the Indian Army contingents on its soil for the first time that year. India reciprocated in 2008 by holding the Hand-in-Hand exercise, as the war game was named, at Belgaum in 2008. Now in late 2012, perhaps in December it should be held in China. The exact date and place will be decided later. In the intervening years the military contact was frozen after China vetoed grant of Visa to Lt Gen BS Jaswal, the then Army Commander Northern Command for flimsy reason that the General was commanding forces in the so called disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. There was a thaw in the cold relationship after a delegation of the People’s Liberation Army paid an official visit to India.
Perhaps it would be a little premature to say what the level of the 2012 joint exercises would be. Nevertheless, we should hope that holding a military to military contact between the two countries would be a step forward that would spell peace and tranquillity on the borders and among the troops of both countries standing eye ball to eyeball at many places and mountain passes. The previous two joint military exercises, one at Kunming and the other at Belgaum were just to assure each other that our intentions were pious. That is all; because there was no strategy worth debating or large scale logistics involved to pose a challenge of Himalayan dimensions.
It would be appropriate to hold the joint exercises at a higher level and on a larger scale so that the general officers are set thinking about each other’s strategy and the larger question of maintenance at high altitude and means of transportation as well as effectiveness of personal weapons of Jawans and booming of big guns come into play. The taste of pudding lies in eating it and unless the spirit of friendship of higher command is time-tested, small war games would just be like offering lollipops to future adversaries.
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, Noida -201303, INDIA. Mobie : 9811173590
Email- upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmai.com
Friday, November 11, 2011
anand means perfect biss
AUM
ANAND MEANS PERFECT BLLISS
By Chitranjan Sawant
TO BE or not to be in a blessed state has never been the question before an average human being except the likes of Shakespeare’s creation called Hamlet. To be in a blessed state is to be more than happy. Indeed, happiness is a state of mind whereas being in a blessed state encompasses both body and soul. The Vedic word for the state of blessedness is ``ANAND’’.
No wonder the social and religious reformer of the 19th century India, Swami Dayanand Saraswati always addressed his disciples and friends in letters using the words ``Anandit Raho’’ or be in a state of blessedness. This was his way of writing to the high and mighty as well as the commoners. Shriyut Mulraj, Jiwandas, Saindas etc of Lahore, Pandit Shyamji Krishna Varma of Mumbai, His Highness Maharana Sajjan Singh ji, king of Mewar,Udaipur were equally blessed by the Maharshi in his correspondence with them. About himself too he would mention in the letters ``main anand mein hoon.’’ (I am in a state of blessedness). Of course, it is ``Anand’’ that the soul or the Jeevatma longs for.
With a view to achieving the state of blessedness, one has to strike the happy balance of ``Prarthna (prayer)and purushartha (action). The twain shall meet, if one strives for it. In the Vedic sandhya, right at the end, the devout soul with a sense of `Samarpan’, which is more than a willful surrender to the wishes of the Almighty, prays for realization of the ultimate goal – Moksha – and affirms his will to work for it through the prescribed path of Karma (action). While doing one’s duty one is fortified by devotion to Ishwar (God) through recitation of and meditation on the meaning of the mantras.
"Charaiveti Charaiveti’’ – move on and on – that is the Vedic command to all humans wherever they are. If one halts for good, one is as good as dead. An individual whose body has not been abandoned by the soul should pulsate with energy for lively action. It should be right action for the right cause. The right goal is achieved through the right means.
All our actions will be well intentioned if we are guided by a feeling of friendliness towards one and all without any discrimination in thought and action. ``Mitrasya Chakshusha Sarvani Bhutani Samikshantam’’ – look at and behave with all living beings as FRIENDS. If you befriend one and all you rise above avarice, anger, animosity and similar negative feelings. One will not do to a friend what one will not do to one’s self. Thus the state of blessedness will descend on the door of the good. It is the ideal condition when all human beings will be free from strife.
Agony will yield to Ecstasy.
With a view to achieving that state of blessedness one should strive to have an enlightened mind in a healthy body and play the role of an active member of a vibrant social order. The totality of this happy combination will result in social efficiency. For a healthy body adequate and regular exercise coupled with a balanced diet is recommended. PRANAYAM or conscious control of inhaling, holding on and exhaling process contributes a lot in restoring respiratory system and consequent blood circulation to a state of perfect health. One should seek and be blessed by a good guru and get going with the pranayam practices. Regular morning walks and allied aerobic exercises may supplement the PRANAYAMIC ones in one’s quest of state of blessedness.
"Are you fond of good food?’’ Who isn’t, that is a counter question. The well fed men and women should never lose sight of the age old saying: ``eat to live and don’t live to eat.’’ An observance of this time tested observation will go more than half way in solving the chronic over weight related problems, preventing achievement of the state of blessedness. Dhanwantri, the celebrated Vaidyaraj of yore had opined ``hit bhook, mit bhook, rit bhook’’ that is eat what promotes health, eat that much that your body needs and eat what you earn by the sweat of your brow.
Indeed propitiating the palate has no place in our quest of blessed state. Food for thought of course is of prime importance in this context. Healthy literature promotes a healthy mind.
"Porno’’ has no place in our quest, notwithstanding the Freudian emphasis on sex as a dynamo producing energy for all types of human actions. Those who subscribe to CHARVAK’S theory of heavy borrowing to fund a luxurious living come to grief. A grieving man is by no chance a Blessed Man.
Let us develop a healthy mind in a healthy body and live in a state of perpetual fearlessness – ABHAYAM. Let us enlist the support of the family and the common man in the society to achieve the blessed state. We may, therefore, enjoy its fruits with the blessings of God – SACCHIDANAND.
UPVAN , 609, Sector 29, Noida -201303. INDIA. Mob. 9811173590
Emai: upvanom@yahoo.com or sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Thursday, November 10, 2011
ARE WAR CLOUDS GATHERING ON OUR BORDERS?
AUM
SINO – PAK GOVT CONTROLLLED MEDIA MYOPIC
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Indian press enjoys freedom of thought and expression like in any other democratic country. The world media acknowledges it and gives credit to the Indian constitution and its implementation in word and spirit. Both China and Pakistan are jealous of the state of the Indian press and its global appreciation. Breathing free and fresh air is a privilege alien to China and Pakistan. The free world knows it too well that China is a communist totalitarian country and Pakistan is a terrorist state ruled by the army in turmoil. China has a one-party political system where the Communist Party of China is like a god because the communist-atheist regime knows no other god. Pakistan has rarely tasted the forbidden fruit of Democracy as it has all along been ruled by the army which knows only one rule: might is right.
JOINT JINGOISM OF GENERALS
What has provoked a rather unsavoury debate in columns of the print media and caused chats on TV to be lively beyond belief is the projected joint military exercises of the PLA of China and the Army of Pakistan near Islamabad and touching borders with India. Naturally the Indian press reacted and wrote about it truthfully analysing facts objectively. The high ranking military officers who lend a guiding hand to the Press in China and Pakistan were more than upset on reading reports and analyses in the Indian media on the so called joint military exercises ostensibly aimed at curbing terrorism but in fact assessing their plans for military encirclement of their common adversary, India. Their aim is to browbeat the Indian armed forces with their latest weapon systems, armaments, equipment and ballistic missiles.
People’s Republic of China has its one point agenda to encourage Pakistan and aid it militarily and monetarily to keep India bogged down in the regional marshy land; thus keep itself free to engage America to gain the status of a global power. Among the TEN Principles of War the first one is: AIM. Then comes Maintenance of AIM. China is absolutely clear about it and has been working on it for a fairly long time. The disenchantment of America with the duplicity of Pakistan and its consequent alienation has brought China and Pakistan still closer to cement their time-tested collaboration.
The year 2004 saw the first joint jingoism of generals of the two armies in the form of a military exercise on the soil of China. It was given the name YOUYI-I (Friendship One) and was rated as successful. The Chinese army generals called the shots and even the name was given in Chinese – YOUYI. Of course, there were no independent military observers. The examinees also doubled up as examiners. This year’s YOUYI is the Fifth in the series and the Indian Military has to observe it as closely as possible and draw deductions.
INDIAN REACTION FLAWLESS
The China Daily, an official mouthpiece of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China has reacted rather sharply to the objective reporting of the Indian media. The widely read newspaper said in no uncertain language that the reaction of the Indian scribes was a” Frenzy” and the Indians always wear blinkers when they view the Sino-Pak friendship. In their misplaced enthusiasm to castigate the Indian journalists they admitted that additional army battalions of the People’s Liberation Army have been deployed in the territory of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Of course, they used the fig leaf of humanitarian aid to cover their naked body of military aggression against India in the northern areas of Jammu and Kashmir, an integral part of the Union of India.
Fu Xiaoqiang, a noted critic on matters military also used the word FRENZY to describe the in depth analysis of the geo-military situation on the borders of India and Pakistan. He said that the charges levelled against China for harbouring hostile plans against India were absolutely baseless. Fu used another fig leaf to cover his country’s naked aggression -agenda by saying that the two countries, China and Pakistan were getting together to act against Terrorism gaining ground in the area. He conveniently ignored the hard realities that it is Pakistan that is nurturing Islamist terrorism. The Pakistan Army Chief has gone on record to say that the Pakistan Army will never kill the Taliban as they were brothers and the Taliban would defend the flanks of the Pakistan Army when it goes to war with India. Thus Pakistan is playing the double role of a thief and the Police. China chose to turn Nelson’s eye to this hard reality of Pakistan’s duplicity.
An objective military analysis of the joint jingoism of generals is not to assess their preparedness for a war on terror but to see how prepared Pakistanis are in waging a low intensity conflict bordering a limited war in the Indian sub-continent. The plea taken that the two armies would share their experiences and exchange information against top terror leaders and organisations like the Haqqani network are just some of the many plans of Deception that they wish to master together. After all it was Sun Tzu, the master strategist of China who wrote in his treatise, ART OF WAR that War is nothing but Deception.
Mobie : 9811173590 Email : upvanom@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 6, 2011
INDIA-CHINA WAR - 1962 - WHY DID INDIA LOSE?
Home | News | Remembering a War
Oct 22, 2002
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The Rediff Special/Brigadier (retd) Chitranjan Sawant, VSM
In the summer of 1996, more than 35 years after the 1962 war with China, I had an opportunity to stand on the Chinese side of the Dhola ridge and see our own battleground in NEFA [the North East Frontier Agency, now Arunachal Pradesh].
This was the same Dhola ridge from where the People's Liberation Army of China had attacked the Indian forward positions and rolled down Sela-Bomdilla till the foothills near Tezpur on October 20, 1962.
I was visiting Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, as an independent producer of TV documentaries on Tibet. Having seen NEFA from the Indian side, I asked my hosts if I could have a view of the area from the Chinese side.
There was stunned silence in the banquet hall where the Chinese and Tibetan administrators had hosted a dinner for me. Finally, the Tibetan head of administration, on a cue from his Chinese adviser, said: "Brigadier, you may see, but not shoot." I accepted his suggestion, and next morning Chinese army Mitsubishi Pajeros took me and the crew to the area.
Tough terrain indeed. But not tougher than the one on our side, was my silent verdict after a mental comparison. The altitude was high without causing respiratory complications because of thick foliage. And exactly like on our side, local cowherds tended to their flock unawed by our presence.
The Chinese military intelligence officer (so I presumed) who doubled as a liaison officer appreciated my desire to take a close look at the imaginary international border and touch the Indian soil with reverence. "Sying-sying," he said in Chinese mandarin, indicating his okay, and I lost no time in taking a military look at the massive Dhola ridge from where officers and men of the People's Liberation Army descended on the Indian territory using ropes, bypassing our formidable infantry positions and attacking the nerve centre, headquarters of the 7 Infantry Brigade.
The brigade commander, Brig John Dalvi, was literally caught with his pants down. The PLA had taken its first VIP red-tab prisoner of war.
Many more other ranks (junior commissioned officers and jawans) were to fall into their net later. It was indeed a disgraceful show and serving subalterns and captains like me felt let down by those who mattered in the military and civilian set-up.
On the ground hallowed by selfless sacrifice made beyond the call of duty by many of my brothers-in-arms, I stood in silence for more than the customary two minutes. Many images flashed across my mind as I recalled the dramatis personae, both the living and the dead. They seemed to communicate moments of agony and ecstasy depending on courage or cowardice. There were examples galore of both.
Sipahi (later Naik and in present folklore Captain) Jaswant Singh of the 4th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles manned a post with his light machine-gun on a road bend near Sela top. In that bitter snowfall, when the Chinese attacked his post, wave after wave, he stood his ground with grit and determination. His fellow soldiers fell fighting. Outgunned and outnumbered, he still kept the enemy at bay until he finally succumbed to his injuries.
His body was never found, but his memory remains fresh in folklore. Every evening, successive units at the post prepare a bed for him and food is served for his soul, and the local hill population describe him as 'Captain sahib'. I am told that even now his paltan (battalion) refuses to suffix 'the late' to his name.
Then there was Captain (now a retired colonel) S N Tandon, who won a Vir Chakra for gallantry. He and I were gentlemen cadets in the Naushera company of the Indian Military Academy in 1959. He confided in me in the late 1960s that when the soldiers of the PLA captured him as well as his commanding officer, the latter started crying, moaning that he would never be able to meet his wife and children in this life. Tandon being a bachelor had no such emotional outburst.
The Chinese commissars, Tandon told me later, devoted a lot of time and energy to brainwashing Indian officers and men in the PoW camps. But this did not cut much ice because of family loyalties, and most of them remained steadfast and committed to the Indian values of life.
My reverie was broken by my film crew, who pointed out that it was getting late and time to return to base.
Where did you face us in 1962, asked Mr Qiao, one of the Chinese officials, in a light-hearted manner. "Here, there, and everywhere," I replied, and we all laughed it away.
Tomorrow would be another day, I said to myself, and tried to sleep.
But sleep eluded me that night. The 1962 debacle of our army kept haunting me. Jawaharlal Nehru's words that China had stabbed India in the back by launching a dastardly attack crisscrossed my mind many a time. Now, four decades after the bitter war, I was their guest.
The Chinese always kept emphasizing that they were not the aggressors. Chou En-lai, the then Chinese prime minister, and other Chinese decision-makers had taken Nehru's off-the-cuff statement made in Madras on October 12, 1962, that he had "ordered the Indian Army to throw the Chinese out" very seriously.
The PLA in Tibet, where they were entrenched since 1950, mobilized to launch a pre-emptive attack on NEFA.
In an academic discussion with my Chinese hosts, I asked them: "Didn't you fire the first shot?" The Chinese hosts replied that after Nehru's provocative statement amounting to a declaration of war, a self-respecting nation like China could not have waited to be attacked.
I recall that the Americans were very sympathetic to the Indian Army's debacle in NEFA and were convinced that China was the aggressor. If memory serves me right, the Americans used the term 'Himalayan Pearl Harbour' to describe our discomfiture as akin to their own.
The other view was that we Indians got what we had asked for. The author of India's China war, Neville Maxwell, exonerated the Chinese and said blaming them was 'a soothing fantasy' for the Indians.
When I look back over these 40 years of my own experience in the Indian Army as a student of military history, I feel that the last word on the subject has not been said. Perhaps a latter-day historian with an unbiased mind and access to declassified war diaries may arrive at this image-shattering deduction: the unpronounced rivalry between Nehru and Chou En-lai to play a dominant role in Asia was the root cause of the military conflict in 1962.
Of course, undefined and undemarcated borders in the high Himalayas were a British legacy that the independent Indian government carried forward. The British imperial military power could sustain the theory of undefined borders and make inroads into Tibet. But independent India, without the backing of a mighty military machine, found the vagueness of borders a heavy burden, which was difficult to carry and not easy to shake off.
The Chinese were gaining strength day by day after October 1, 1949, when New China was born. Consequently, when the PLA moved into almost independent Tibet in 1950, the Indian foreign policy makers did not even whimper, let alone think of an intervention. The remnants of the Indian mission and post office in Lhasa were wound up post-haste.
The Indian Tri-colour was never to flutter in the Lhasa breeze again.
Reverting to the military operations in NEFA, we find that the 4th Indian military division degenerated into a complete rout without giving a sustained battle to the intruding Chinese. When the PLA launched its first wave of attacks on October 20, 1962, some Indian Army units in Walong on the far eastern side did offer determined resistance. But on the Dhola-Sela-Bomdilla axis it was a complete rout.
In all fairness to the Chinese, it must be mentioned that they had offered a ceasefire and a negotiated withdrawal from Indian territory when they met stiff resistance in the Walong sector. But the Indian Army and political leadership --- wishing "to throw the Chinese out" --- found that a humiliating proposition. But throwing the Chinese out remained wishful thinking.
On November 15, 1962, some Indian Army units launched a counter attack and gained limited success. There was a short thaw in the battle. Then the PLA inducted more men and new guns to renew a determined onslaught, which totally routed the Indian side. The magnitude of their attack had to be seen to be believed.
Rumours in the Indian rank and file aided the Chinese more than their own military tactics. A mere whisper of Chinese soldiers being seen in the vicinity would send rank and file running for cover where none was available. To our eternal shame, the commanding general and his colonels, leave alone the jawans, deserted their posts and gave the Chinese army a free run up to the foothills near the town of Tezpur. Disabled jawans who had lost their limbs in snow and literally walked into Chinese PoW camps cursed themselves and their officers for the sad state.
But military strategists all over the world appreciated that the Indian jawans even while retreating from battle, never abandoned their rifles. An unprepared army, ill-armed, ill-clad, and ill-trained for mountain warfare, had been ordered to give battle to seasoned PLA officers and men who had more than a decade's experience of mountain warfare in Tibet.
The majority of the Indian soldiers did not have suitable winter clothing and proper footwear for snowbound battlefields. Ammunition was in short supply because quite a few ponies carried commodes for officers instead of ammunition for soldiers. The command and control from corps headquarters downwards was non-functional.
Lieutenant General B M Kaul, commanding general of the newly raised 4 Corps at Tezpur, had never commanded an active fighting outfit notwithstanding his Sandhurst training. Instead of planning military strategy at Tezpur or in forward areas, he wasted crucial days in Delhi nursing a sore throat.
While the military situation of the Indian Army was in such a mess, the Chinese once again caught us by surprise by declaring a unilateral ceasefire as they had no visible Indian units to fight. In one stroke they scored a military-cum-diplomatic victory.
I shall be failing in my duty, however, if I do not pay tribute to the gallantry of those who fought till the last round and last breath. Among them stands tall Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, commander of the Sela Brigade, who gave a bloody nose to the Chinese even after being cut off from his division headquarters at Bomdilla. He made the supreme sacrifice in action.
Subedar Joginder Singh too went beyond the call of duty, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and saving the lives of his men. The nation honoured him with the Param Vir Chakra, the country's highest gallantry award in war, posthumously.
They who died for the country still live in their countrymen's memory. We salute our martyrs, cherish their memories, and encourage our young ones to emulate them.
Brigadier (retd) Chitranjan Sawant is a Sinologist and a qualified interpreter of Mandarin. He was deputed by the Government of India to study the Chinese language and affairs in California after the 1962 Sino-Indian war, when he was posted in the Ladakh sector. He has visited China and Tibet thrice and produced television documentaries.
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Oct 22, 2002
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The Rediff Special/Brigadier (retd) Chitranjan Sawant, VSM
In the summer of 1996, more than 35 years after the 1962 war with China, I had an opportunity to stand on the Chinese side of the Dhola ridge and see our own battleground in NEFA [the North East Frontier Agency, now Arunachal Pradesh].
This was the same Dhola ridge from where the People's Liberation Army of China had attacked the Indian forward positions and rolled down Sela-Bomdilla till the foothills near Tezpur on October 20, 1962.
I was visiting Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, as an independent producer of TV documentaries on Tibet. Having seen NEFA from the Indian side, I asked my hosts if I could have a view of the area from the Chinese side.
There was stunned silence in the banquet hall where the Chinese and Tibetan administrators had hosted a dinner for me. Finally, the Tibetan head of administration, on a cue from his Chinese adviser, said: "Brigadier, you may see, but not shoot." I accepted his suggestion, and next morning Chinese army Mitsubishi Pajeros took me and the crew to the area.
Tough terrain indeed. But not tougher than the one on our side, was my silent verdict after a mental comparison. The altitude was high without causing respiratory complications because of thick foliage. And exactly like on our side, local cowherds tended to their flock unawed by our presence.
The Chinese military intelligence officer (so I presumed) who doubled as a liaison officer appreciated my desire to take a close look at the imaginary international border and touch the Indian soil with reverence. "Sying-sying," he said in Chinese mandarin, indicating his okay, and I lost no time in taking a military look at the massive Dhola ridge from where officers and men of the People's Liberation Army descended on the Indian territory using ropes, bypassing our formidable infantry positions and attacking the nerve centre, headquarters of the 7 Infantry Brigade.
The brigade commander, Brig John Dalvi, was literally caught with his pants down. The PLA had taken its first VIP red-tab prisoner of war.
Many more other ranks (junior commissioned officers and jawans) were to fall into their net later. It was indeed a disgraceful show and serving subalterns and captains like me felt let down by those who mattered in the military and civilian set-up.
On the ground hallowed by selfless sacrifice made beyond the call of duty by many of my brothers-in-arms, I stood in silence for more than the customary two minutes. Many images flashed across my mind as I recalled the dramatis personae, both the living and the dead. They seemed to communicate moments of agony and ecstasy depending on courage or cowardice. There were examples galore of both.
Sipahi (later Naik and in present folklore Captain) Jaswant Singh of the 4th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles manned a post with his light machine-gun on a road bend near Sela top. In that bitter snowfall, when the Chinese attacked his post, wave after wave, he stood his ground with grit and determination. His fellow soldiers fell fighting. Outgunned and outnumbered, he still kept the enemy at bay until he finally succumbed to his injuries.
His body was never found, but his memory remains fresh in folklore. Every evening, successive units at the post prepare a bed for him and food is served for his soul, and the local hill population describe him as 'Captain sahib'. I am told that even now his paltan (battalion) refuses to suffix 'the late' to his name.
Then there was Captain (now a retired colonel) S N Tandon, who won a Vir Chakra for gallantry. He and I were gentlemen cadets in the Naushera company of the Indian Military Academy in 1959. He confided in me in the late 1960s that when the soldiers of the PLA captured him as well as his commanding officer, the latter started crying, moaning that he would never be able to meet his wife and children in this life. Tandon being a bachelor had no such emotional outburst.
The Chinese commissars, Tandon told me later, devoted a lot of time and energy to brainwashing Indian officers and men in the PoW camps. But this did not cut much ice because of family loyalties, and most of them remained steadfast and committed to the Indian values of life.
My reverie was broken by my film crew, who pointed out that it was getting late and time to return to base.
Where did you face us in 1962, asked Mr Qiao, one of the Chinese officials, in a light-hearted manner. "Here, there, and everywhere," I replied, and we all laughed it away.
Tomorrow would be another day, I said to myself, and tried to sleep.
But sleep eluded me that night. The 1962 debacle of our army kept haunting me. Jawaharlal Nehru's words that China had stabbed India in the back by launching a dastardly attack crisscrossed my mind many a time. Now, four decades after the bitter war, I was their guest.
The Chinese always kept emphasizing that they were not the aggressors. Chou En-lai, the then Chinese prime minister, and other Chinese decision-makers had taken Nehru's off-the-cuff statement made in Madras on October 12, 1962, that he had "ordered the Indian Army to throw the Chinese out" very seriously.
The PLA in Tibet, where they were entrenched since 1950, mobilized to launch a pre-emptive attack on NEFA.
In an academic discussion with my Chinese hosts, I asked them: "Didn't you fire the first shot?" The Chinese hosts replied that after Nehru's provocative statement amounting to a declaration of war, a self-respecting nation like China could not have waited to be attacked.
I recall that the Americans were very sympathetic to the Indian Army's debacle in NEFA and were convinced that China was the aggressor. If memory serves me right, the Americans used the term 'Himalayan Pearl Harbour' to describe our discomfiture as akin to their own.
The other view was that we Indians got what we had asked for. The author of India's China war, Neville Maxwell, exonerated the Chinese and said blaming them was 'a soothing fantasy' for the Indians.
When I look back over these 40 years of my own experience in the Indian Army as a student of military history, I feel that the last word on the subject has not been said. Perhaps a latter-day historian with an unbiased mind and access to declassified war diaries may arrive at this image-shattering deduction: the unpronounced rivalry between Nehru and Chou En-lai to play a dominant role in Asia was the root cause of the military conflict in 1962.
Of course, undefined and undemarcated borders in the high Himalayas were a British legacy that the independent Indian government carried forward. The British imperial military power could sustain the theory of undefined borders and make inroads into Tibet. But independent India, without the backing of a mighty military machine, found the vagueness of borders a heavy burden, which was difficult to carry and not easy to shake off.
The Chinese were gaining strength day by day after October 1, 1949, when New China was born. Consequently, when the PLA moved into almost independent Tibet in 1950, the Indian foreign policy makers did not even whimper, let alone think of an intervention. The remnants of the Indian mission and post office in Lhasa were wound up post-haste.
The Indian Tri-colour was never to flutter in the Lhasa breeze again.
Reverting to the military operations in NEFA, we find that the 4th Indian military division degenerated into a complete rout without giving a sustained battle to the intruding Chinese. When the PLA launched its first wave of attacks on October 20, 1962, some Indian Army units in Walong on the far eastern side did offer determined resistance. But on the Dhola-Sela-Bomdilla axis it was a complete rout.
In all fairness to the Chinese, it must be mentioned that they had offered a ceasefire and a negotiated withdrawal from Indian territory when they met stiff resistance in the Walong sector. But the Indian Army and political leadership --- wishing "to throw the Chinese out" --- found that a humiliating proposition. But throwing the Chinese out remained wishful thinking.
On November 15, 1962, some Indian Army units launched a counter attack and gained limited success. There was a short thaw in the battle. Then the PLA inducted more men and new guns to renew a determined onslaught, which totally routed the Indian side. The magnitude of their attack had to be seen to be believed.
Rumours in the Indian rank and file aided the Chinese more than their own military tactics. A mere whisper of Chinese soldiers being seen in the vicinity would send rank and file running for cover where none was available. To our eternal shame, the commanding general and his colonels, leave alone the jawans, deserted their posts and gave the Chinese army a free run up to the foothills near the town of Tezpur. Disabled jawans who had lost their limbs in snow and literally walked into Chinese PoW camps cursed themselves and their officers for the sad state.
But military strategists all over the world appreciated that the Indian jawans even while retreating from battle, never abandoned their rifles. An unprepared army, ill-armed, ill-clad, and ill-trained for mountain warfare, had been ordered to give battle to seasoned PLA officers and men who had more than a decade's experience of mountain warfare in Tibet.
The majority of the Indian soldiers did not have suitable winter clothing and proper footwear for snowbound battlefields. Ammunition was in short supply because quite a few ponies carried commodes for officers instead of ammunition for soldiers. The command and control from corps headquarters downwards was non-functional.
Lieutenant General B M Kaul, commanding general of the newly raised 4 Corps at Tezpur, had never commanded an active fighting outfit notwithstanding his Sandhurst training. Instead of planning military strategy at Tezpur or in forward areas, he wasted crucial days in Delhi nursing a sore throat.
While the military situation of the Indian Army was in such a mess, the Chinese once again caught us by surprise by declaring a unilateral ceasefire as they had no visible Indian units to fight. In one stroke they scored a military-cum-diplomatic victory.
I shall be failing in my duty, however, if I do not pay tribute to the gallantry of those who fought till the last round and last breath. Among them stands tall Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, commander of the Sela Brigade, who gave a bloody nose to the Chinese even after being cut off from his division headquarters at Bomdilla. He made the supreme sacrifice in action.
Subedar Joginder Singh too went beyond the call of duty, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and saving the lives of his men. The nation honoured him with the Param Vir Chakra, the country's highest gallantry award in war, posthumously.
They who died for the country still live in their countrymen's memory. We salute our martyrs, cherish their memories, and encourage our young ones to emulate them.
Brigadier (retd) Chitranjan Sawant is a Sinologist and a qualified interpreter of Mandarin. He was deputed by the Government of India to study the Chinese language and affairs in California after the 1962 Sino-Indian war, when he was posted in the Ladakh sector. He has visited China and Tibet thrice and produced television documentaries.
Channels:
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Shopping:
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Astrology | Auto | Contests | Destinations | E-cards | Food | Health | Home & Decor | Jobs/Intl.Jobs | Lifestyle | Matrimonial
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© 1996 - 2002 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE NAVY
Namaste Arya Vrind!
The American Admirals are losing sleep because of DUNG FENG, the new missile developed and produced by China. This missile can destroy the biggest aircraft carrier in the China Sea. We in India see our cabinet ministers staging a new Mahabharat. No one cares for the defence of Bharat because Bharat is NOT the motherland of their mentor. Just imagine, our defence forces have not been given a new powerful gun after Bofors. That was almost a quarter of a century ago.
The present article is NOT to praise our potential enemy across the Himalayas but to give a wake up call to the corrupt Manmohan govt.
Please thump the table of your MPs and MLAs and ask them to wake up to the lurking dangers.
LET 1962 NOT REPEAT ITSELF!
Long years ago we were taught by our British masters: RULE BRITANNIA, BRITANNIA RULE THE WAVES, BRITONS WERE NEVER SLAVES.However, it is no longer true. The People’s Republic of China has replaced Britannia.
Napoleon had once said;China is a sleeping giant,the day she wakes up,world will be sorry. How prophetic his words were.
The booming economy made China take stock of the global military situation. Again Mao’s maxim was recalled “Power comes out of the barrel of a gun. It is the party that controls the gun”. So the Chinese bought big guns from wherever they could. They manufactured big guns too.
China made more Kalashnikovs than what the inventor in Russia could have ever imagined. Modern fighter jets and war vessels were either bought off the shelf or manufactured in China. The soldiers, sailors, airmen and arms factory workers were encouraged by citing the example of the Chinese forebears who made the Great China Wall, the only man-made object seen from outer space. Mobilisation of Man power is an art and the Chinese leaders, both civil and military, are consummate artists.
The PLA had a good land army and its modernisation was undertaken. The PLA Air Force was given fast and hard hitting fighter jets and the pilots were trained meticulously. The PLA Navy was the Achilles heel and the traditional weakness had to be rectified. Once a dowager Empress withdrew a huge sum from her own treasury to build a strong navy to fight against the oppressive British intruders but built a ship like palace in a big lake where she spent her summers playing Ma-jong.
The rag-tag Chinese Navy was no match to the professional British Navy and there are no prizes for announcing the result of the naval engagements. Now the Chinese leadership is determined not to let history repeat itself.
NEW MINDSET
The Chinese nation was encouraged to have a new mindset-Rule China, China rule the waves. The youth was given incentive to join the Navy and see the world. So world class war ships were purchased to keep the Red Star flag fly on the high seas. Naturally the initial stage saw a coast-hugging Navy but no one was disheartened.
Efforts, patience and perseverance paid rich dividends. The booming Chinese economy did not let the policy planners fall short of cash to buy the latest armaments. The site was fixed on the underwater warfare to scare the potential enemy away from the Chinese territorial waters. With the growth of a coast-hugging Navy into a blue water Navy going into deep oceans, the Chinese admirals developed self-confidence. They ventured up to the Middle-East with the purpose of defending their economic interests and merchant ships laden with the Chinese goods.
FAR SEA DEFENCE
Leaving the South China Sea and venturing in to the Pacific Ocean required new strategy. The new name of the game was FAR SEA DEFENCE. After all China was in the process of emerging as a world economic power. Its goods were marketed all over the world. The merchant ships had to be protected by the Chinese Navy across the Malacca Straits right up to the Gulf of Aden.
An extended Economic Zone in the Pacific Ocean brought China and the United States of America face to face on high seas where situation could develop into an explosive one and anything could happen. China let it be known to the world that it would brook no interference by another sea power in the South China Sea, come what may.
The most concerned nation following the development of the Chinese Navy is America. It is not alarmed, though. Nevertheless, the American admirals commanding fleets of the US Navy have taken note of the dramatic development of the Chinese Navy.
The Americans had been maintaining their superiority so far all over the high seas and oceans and they had no plans to play a second fiddle. Admiral Robert Willard, leader of the US Pacific Command testified before the Congressional Committee on Defence and said “the recent Chinese Navy developments are pretty dramatic”.
The higher echelons of command have let it be known to the world that the Chinese Navy intends to display an aircraft carrier group in not too distant future. The authorities in Beijing have made enquiries in Moscow about buying Navy fighter jets for it proposed aircraft carrier. By the way, the Chinese Navy does not have even one at present whereas the US Navy has 13 of them.
SUBMARINE FLEET
The Chinese modernisation plan of its Navy and building a sophisticated submarine fleet will curb the freedom of action of the US Navy in the Pacific Ocean. The Yalong Bay in the South of the Hainan boasts of an underground submarine base. The Chinese Navy is proud of it and looks upon its submarine fleet as the Defender of the Nation as well as the dissipater of the enemy fleet.
It is understood that the Chinese Navy has 60 plus submarines poised to aim, shoot and kill a man of war of an enemy country. Generally speaking, the military strategists were of the opinion that China was 20 years behind America in armaments, guns, fighter jets and war ships. However, it is the considered opinion of the up-to-date strategists and planners that China is fast catching up. The warning bell has already rung and it is for the US Navy to take note of the growing prowess of the Chinese Navy.
Taking stock of the battle ships of the two powers who are likely to be adversaries in future, one finds that America has 286 of them whereas China has 260 vessels of which 75 are most modern. One should not forget the strength of a nation’s war fleet is built around an aircraft carrier group where America rules the roost but China draws a blank. America has 3700 naval aircraft but China is still looking around to buy some.
Let us take a look at the budgeted military spending of the two countries. The Chinese military budget for 2010 is 78 billion dollars of which a little over one-third would be earmarked for the Navy, now a privileged service. The expenditure may go up to 105 to 110 billion dollars. On the other hand the military budget of USA is 548.9 billion dollars. America indeed is far ahead. The quality of its weapon system is much superior to the Chinese armaments.
USA provides a defence umbrella to many countries of South Asia and South-East Asia. They are a little scared of the growing strength of the Chinese Navy. There is an urge to America by the free Asian nations to maintain its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and keep the war vessels flying the Red Star flags under surveillance and military check.
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The American Admirals are losing sleep because of DUNG FENG, the new missile developed and produced by China. This missile can destroy the biggest aircraft carrier in the China Sea. We in India see our cabinet ministers staging a new Mahabharat. No one cares for the defence of Bharat because Bharat is NOT the motherland of their mentor. Just imagine, our defence forces have not been given a new powerful gun after Bofors. That was almost a quarter of a century ago.
The present article is NOT to praise our potential enemy across the Himalayas but to give a wake up call to the corrupt Manmohan govt.
Please thump the table of your MPs and MLAs and ask them to wake up to the lurking dangers.
LET 1962 NOT REPEAT ITSELF!
Long years ago we were taught by our British masters: RULE BRITANNIA, BRITANNIA RULE THE WAVES, BRITONS WERE NEVER SLAVES.However, it is no longer true. The People’s Republic of China has replaced Britannia.
Napoleon had once said;China is a sleeping giant,the day she wakes up,world will be sorry. How prophetic his words were.
The booming economy made China take stock of the global military situation. Again Mao’s maxim was recalled “Power comes out of the barrel of a gun. It is the party that controls the gun”. So the Chinese bought big guns from wherever they could. They manufactured big guns too.
China made more Kalashnikovs than what the inventor in Russia could have ever imagined. Modern fighter jets and war vessels were either bought off the shelf or manufactured in China. The soldiers, sailors, airmen and arms factory workers were encouraged by citing the example of the Chinese forebears who made the Great China Wall, the only man-made object seen from outer space. Mobilisation of Man power is an art and the Chinese leaders, both civil and military, are consummate artists.
The PLA had a good land army and its modernisation was undertaken. The PLA Air Force was given fast and hard hitting fighter jets and the pilots were trained meticulously. The PLA Navy was the Achilles heel and the traditional weakness had to be rectified. Once a dowager Empress withdrew a huge sum from her own treasury to build a strong navy to fight against the oppressive British intruders but built a ship like palace in a big lake where she spent her summers playing Ma-jong.
The rag-tag Chinese Navy was no match to the professional British Navy and there are no prizes for announcing the result of the naval engagements. Now the Chinese leadership is determined not to let history repeat itself.
NEW MINDSET
The Chinese nation was encouraged to have a new mindset-Rule China, China rule the waves. The youth was given incentive to join the Navy and see the world. So world class war ships were purchased to keep the Red Star flag fly on the high seas. Naturally the initial stage saw a coast-hugging Navy but no one was disheartened.
Efforts, patience and perseverance paid rich dividends. The booming Chinese economy did not let the policy planners fall short of cash to buy the latest armaments. The site was fixed on the underwater warfare to scare the potential enemy away from the Chinese territorial waters. With the growth of a coast-hugging Navy into a blue water Navy going into deep oceans, the Chinese admirals developed self-confidence. They ventured up to the Middle-East with the purpose of defending their economic interests and merchant ships laden with the Chinese goods.
FAR SEA DEFENCE
Leaving the South China Sea and venturing in to the Pacific Ocean required new strategy. The new name of the game was FAR SEA DEFENCE. After all China was in the process of emerging as a world economic power. Its goods were marketed all over the world. The merchant ships had to be protected by the Chinese Navy across the Malacca Straits right up to the Gulf of Aden.
An extended Economic Zone in the Pacific Ocean brought China and the United States of America face to face on high seas where situation could develop into an explosive one and anything could happen. China let it be known to the world that it would brook no interference by another sea power in the South China Sea, come what may.
The most concerned nation following the development of the Chinese Navy is America. It is not alarmed, though. Nevertheless, the American admirals commanding fleets of the US Navy have taken note of the dramatic development of the Chinese Navy.
The Americans had been maintaining their superiority so far all over the high seas and oceans and they had no plans to play a second fiddle. Admiral Robert Willard, leader of the US Pacific Command testified before the Congressional Committee on Defence and said “the recent Chinese Navy developments are pretty dramatic”.
The higher echelons of command have let it be known to the world that the Chinese Navy intends to display an aircraft carrier group in not too distant future. The authorities in Beijing have made enquiries in Moscow about buying Navy fighter jets for it proposed aircraft carrier. By the way, the Chinese Navy does not have even one at present whereas the US Navy has 13 of them.
SUBMARINE FLEET
The Chinese modernisation plan of its Navy and building a sophisticated submarine fleet will curb the freedom of action of the US Navy in the Pacific Ocean. The Yalong Bay in the South of the Hainan boasts of an underground submarine base. The Chinese Navy is proud of it and looks upon its submarine fleet as the Defender of the Nation as well as the dissipater of the enemy fleet.
It is understood that the Chinese Navy has 60 plus submarines poised to aim, shoot and kill a man of war of an enemy country. Generally speaking, the military strategists were of the opinion that China was 20 years behind America in armaments, guns, fighter jets and war ships. However, it is the considered opinion of the up-to-date strategists and planners that China is fast catching up. The warning bell has already rung and it is for the US Navy to take note of the growing prowess of the Chinese Navy.
Taking stock of the battle ships of the two powers who are likely to be adversaries in future, one finds that America has 286 of them whereas China has 260 vessels of which 75 are most modern. One should not forget the strength of a nation’s war fleet is built around an aircraft carrier group where America rules the roost but China draws a blank. America has 3700 naval aircraft but China is still looking around to buy some.
Let us take a look at the budgeted military spending of the two countries. The Chinese military budget for 2010 is 78 billion dollars of which a little over one-third would be earmarked for the Navy, now a privileged service. The expenditure may go up to 105 to 110 billion dollars. On the other hand the military budget of USA is 548.9 billion dollars. America indeed is far ahead. The quality of its weapon system is much superior to the Chinese armaments.
USA provides a defence umbrella to many countries of South Asia and South-East Asia. They are a little scared of the growing strength of the Chinese Navy. There is an urge to America by the free Asian nations to maintain its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and keep the war vessels flying the Red Star flags under surveillance and military check.
By Brigadier(Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
ब्रह्मचर्य का महत्व
Anna Hazare at the age of 74, undertook a fast till death, and was in control of his body & mental functions till thirteenth day when he finally agreed to break his fast. Modern allopathic science considers this impossible. In fact it prompted MP Shri Lallu Yadav ji during lok sabha debate on Jan Lok pal Bill, to ask for medical research /investigation on Annaa’s Fast. The insinuation being that it could be a fraud. He wondered, how can a human body survive just on water for such a long period?
Many years ago, Shri D.R. Karthikeyan a former Director of CBI had presented on stage in Sai auditorium Delhi, a Yogi who had accompanied Shri Karthikeyan on a Man Sarovar Yatra. This Yogi clad only in just one dhoti, barefooted completed his ManSarovar Yatra without eating any food. It was claimed that this yogi would just sit before the SUN in meditation and derive all the sustenance that his body required from solar radiations.
There are known to be living in India at present, many an ascetic with records of going without food for up 100 days at one stretch. It is also reported that with the cooperation of such Indian ascetics NASA of USA has carried out scientific studies to help with astronauts’ nutritional requirements in space travel.
Our ancient scriptures are full of anecdotes like Rishi Vamilki, who in his penance sat for such a long period, that his body was completely hidden in a mound of white ant hill that grew over his motionless fasting body.
Dr Ramesh Trehan said on TV that when he expressed his anxiety about Anna ji’s health during his fast, Anna ji assured him that nothing would happen to him, as this was the power of Brahmcharya. For skeptics veracity of this statement has been amply proved by Anna’s confidence in undertaking his fast.
Western education has always thrown scorn at the Indian concept of Brahmacharya. In ancient Indian traditions in society Brahmcharya was promoted during formative years of life of a growing child by his educational atmosphere, in a gurukul. Our Indian education system based entirely on western ideas has no place even to mention the word Brahmcharya, let alone teaching and promoting it. But in the Indian psyche significance of Brahmacharya lingers on.
So called ‘modern’ life style and environments also do not make it any the easier to follow the tenets of brahmacharya.
However whatever the allopathic science may say, there is an emerging convergence of modern researches that will ultimately force modern medical science to endorse the Indian concept of Brahmcharya.
According to Vedas; ब्रह्मचर्येण तपसा देवा मृत्युपाघ्नत AV11.5.17, death is controlled by hard observance of brahmacharya . This has been demonstrated to be true beyond any doubts by Anna ji’s fast.
Famous mantra in Sandhya seeks a long life in a healthy self reliant body is found to be entirely in agreement with latest modern science researches regarding importance of ‘VITAL FLUID’ in human body.- तत् -चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्तात्-शुक्रमुच्चरत्1| पश्येम शरद: शतं1, जीवेम शरद: शतमँ शृणुयाम शरद: शतं, प्र ब्रवाम शरद: शतम्-अदीना:स्याम शरद: शतं, भूयश्च शरद: शतात् || Yaju 36.24.
This Ved mantra is talking about शुक्रमुच्चरत्- the essentiality of upwards rising of शुक्र- the Vital body fluid to ensure proper functioning of all our faculties of seeing, speaking and hearing. In yoga this is achieved by becoming ऊर्ध्वरेता.
शुक्रात्सप्तदश: यजु 13-56, Excellence of seventeen faculties in humans is supported by Shukra .पाँच ज्ञानेन्द्रियां , पाँच कर्मेंद्रियां, पाँच प्राण,तथा मन व बुद्धि इन सत्रह तत्वों को शुक्र उत्तम बनाता है.Five gnanendriyas are Eyes, Ears, Nose , tongue and skin, These are acted upon by 5 tanmatras- being five subtle rudiments of matter, light, sound, taste, smell, consciousness/touch, 5 karmendriyas are 5 organs of action being Speech, Hands, feet, excretion, procreation –genitals. And finallyमन man the organ of thought andबुद्धि buddhi organ of understanding/wisdom.
These are the total of seventeen entities whose excellence in performance is made possible by shukra, according to Vedic wisdom. This is the science behind the Vedic ideal of ऊर्ध्वरेता Oordhwareta- guiding the शुक्र shukra to move upwards in human body, because most of these 17 essential entities are situated in upper part of human anatomy.
Medical science talks about three different terms for this vital body fluid called शुक्र in Vedas. These terms are Prostaglandin, Semen and Brain Cells grey matter. For all these three Ayurved also has only one term ‘vital fluid’ शुक्र. रेतस् and वीर्य are two terms used to describe different properties/ functions of शुक्र the vital fluid in human body.
But the most interesting part is the finding of modern science about chemistry of the constituents of all these three –Prostaglandins, Brain cells and Semen. DHA (Decosa Hexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Ecosa Pentaenoic Acids) are the main constituents of all these three. The constituents remain common but due to different functions in the human body they are given three different names. This shows the similarity in concepts of Ayrveda with modern medical science. The only bold step logically expected from modern science by convergence of their thoughts is to finally endorse significance of Brahmacharya.
But there happens to be a heavy burden on modern society of commercial interests in the form of media, fashion, advertising, that depend on promotion of strategies that do not promote ideas of Brahmacharya. Only a very strong public awareness and emerging will, can promote Brhmcharya in society.
Some of the latest modern researches on this subject are being cited below in support of the above presentation.
1.Prostaglandins were first discovered and isolated from human semen in the 1930s by Ulf von Euler of Sweden. Thinking they had come from the prostate gland, he named them prostaglandins. It has since been determined that they exist and are synthesised in virtually every cell of the body.( This is precisely how production in human body of शुक्र is described in Ayurveda.)
Functions of Prostaglandins - some basics
They have a variety of physiological effects on the body including:
- Activation of the inflammatory responses at the sites of damaged tissue, and production of pain and fever. When tissues are damaged, white blood cells flood the site to try to minimise tissue destruction. Prostaglandins are produced as a result.
- Blood clots form when a blood vessel is damaged. A type of prostaglandin called thromboxane stimulates constriction and clotting of platelets. Also the opposite happens and prostaglandin 12 (PG12) is produced on the walls of blood vessels where clots should not be forming. (The body is very, very clever. It knows what to do, where to do it and when.)
- Certain prostaglandins are involved with the introduction of labour and other reproductive processes, and the role of fertility. PGE2 causes uterine contractions and has been used to induce labour.
- Prostaglandins are involved in several other organs and systems such as the gastrointestinal tract, cell growth and the immune system response.
DHA, also called Docosahexaenoic acid, is a fatty acid abundantly present in the brain and in semen. Low levels of
2. Brain health /memory ;
DHA are associated with low levels of serotonin in the brain, which is thought to be an important cause of depression. Like the other ingredients in this formula, DHA is being investigated as a possible treatment for combating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
3. Sperms affect on Eyesight
Fatty acid composition of erythrocytes and sperm, along with the functional characteristics of sperm, are involved in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Sperm and retinal cells share important homologies. Both are rich in the highly polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6[n-3]), and both contain a structural component called the axoneme. Low concentrations of DHA in the retina of monkeys are known to cause visual impairment. Because blood levels of DHA in retinitis pigmentosa patients are less than normal, reduced DHA in the retina might contribute to the visual impairment characteristic of this disease. This study was conducted on the hypothesis that the sperm of retinitis pigmentosa patients might be abnormal and that these abnormalities might infer similar lipid and structural abnormalities of the retina. METHODS: The lipid composition of erythrocytes and sperm (fatty acids and sterols) and sperm function were analyzed in 26 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and in 8 healthy men. RESULTS: The sperm of patients with retinitis pigmentosa had a much lower DHA concentration, a lower desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio, reduced motility, abnormal structure, and lower sperm counts compared with that in normal subjects. Usher's II patients exhibited the most pronounced reductions of DHA in sperm. Sperm DHA concentration was positively correlated to sperm motility, to sperm count, and to the desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio. Lower erythrocyte DHA was also observed in retinitis pigmentosa patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the sperm of patients with retinitis pigmentosa, particularly those with Usher's II, have an abnormal lipid composition that is associated with reduced motility. The possibility exists that these patients might have similar abnormalities in the DHA biochemistry of the retina. Sperm biochemistry and function may be a marker for this disease. A clinical trial of DHA in retinitis pigmentosa is suggested for future study.
4.Longevity- health, brain and semen
DHA, also called Docosahexaenoic acid, is a fatty acid abundantly present in the brain and in semen. Low levels of DHA are associated with low levels of serotonin in the brain, which is thought to be an important cause of depression. Like the other ingredients in this formula, DHA is being investigated as a possible treatment for combating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
5.Intelligence and Semen correlation
A positive association between general intelligence and semen quality in male humans. Specifically, in a sample of 425 Vietnam-era veterans, we found positive correlations between a g factor (representing general intelligence, extracted from factor analysis of five well-validated cognitive tests) and three independent measures of semen quality: sperm concentration (r = 0.15, p = 0.002), sperm count (r = 0.19, p = 0.001) and sperm motility (r = 0.14, p = 0.002). None of these correlations were mediated by age, body mass index, combat experience in Vietnam, use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or hard drugs or days of sexual abstinence before collection of the semen sample. We argued that although these correlations were small in magnitude, they might be theoretically important for understanding the evolutionary genetics of human phenotypic variation.
From an adaptationist viewpoint, there is little reason to expect a correlation in functional efficiency between two such disparate traits: intelligence depends mainly on brain function and neural development, whereas semen quality depends mainly on testicular function and spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, we hypothesized that there may be pervasive positive correlations among the functional efficiencies of many organ systems because different organs are influenced by overlapping sets of genes. Since most genes are pleiotropic (affecting several traits in parallel), most mutations are likely to have pleiotropic effects in disrupting several traits in parallel. Potentially, such pleiotropic mutations could produce positive genetic correlations in the functional efficiencies of different organ systems, yielding positive phenotypic correlations in different components of fitness, such as intelligence and fertility.
However, in that paper we did not explore the specific biochemical pathways in brain and semen that might be disrupted conjointly by such pleiotropic mutations. Here we address this gap by reviewing some evolutionarily conserved processes that underlie both neuron function and sperm function, focusing especially on the roles of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), exocytosis and receptor signaling. The genetic, biochemical and physiological overlap between brain function and semen function illustrates why pleiotropic mutations may create a general ’fitness factor’ across many phenotypic traits—not only in humans, but in all organisms subject to a balance between harmful mutations and purifying selection.
By Kewal Ahluwalia
Many years ago, Shri D.R. Karthikeyan a former Director of CBI had presented on stage in Sai auditorium Delhi, a Yogi who had accompanied Shri Karthikeyan on a Man Sarovar Yatra. This Yogi clad only in just one dhoti, barefooted completed his ManSarovar Yatra without eating any food. It was claimed that this yogi would just sit before the SUN in meditation and derive all the sustenance that his body required from solar radiations.
There are known to be living in India at present, many an ascetic with records of going without food for up 100 days at one stretch. It is also reported that with the cooperation of such Indian ascetics NASA of USA has carried out scientific studies to help with astronauts’ nutritional requirements in space travel.
Our ancient scriptures are full of anecdotes like Rishi Vamilki, who in his penance sat for such a long period, that his body was completely hidden in a mound of white ant hill that grew over his motionless fasting body.
Dr Ramesh Trehan said on TV that when he expressed his anxiety about Anna ji’s health during his fast, Anna ji assured him that nothing would happen to him, as this was the power of Brahmcharya. For skeptics veracity of this statement has been amply proved by Anna’s confidence in undertaking his fast.
Western education has always thrown scorn at the Indian concept of Brahmacharya. In ancient Indian traditions in society Brahmcharya was promoted during formative years of life of a growing child by his educational atmosphere, in a gurukul. Our Indian education system based entirely on western ideas has no place even to mention the word Brahmcharya, let alone teaching and promoting it. But in the Indian psyche significance of Brahmacharya lingers on.
So called ‘modern’ life style and environments also do not make it any the easier to follow the tenets of brahmacharya.
However whatever the allopathic science may say, there is an emerging convergence of modern researches that will ultimately force modern medical science to endorse the Indian concept of Brahmcharya.
According to Vedas; ब्रह्मचर्येण तपसा देवा मृत्युपाघ्नत AV11.5.17, death is controlled by hard observance of brahmacharya . This has been demonstrated to be true beyond any doubts by Anna ji’s fast.
Famous mantra in Sandhya seeks a long life in a healthy self reliant body is found to be entirely in agreement with latest modern science researches regarding importance of ‘VITAL FLUID’ in human body.- तत् -चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्तात्-शुक्रमुच्चरत्1| पश्येम शरद: शतं1, जीवेम शरद: शतमँ शृणुयाम शरद: शतं, प्र ब्रवाम शरद: शतम्-अदीना:स्याम शरद: शतं, भूयश्च शरद: शतात् || Yaju 36.24.
This Ved mantra is talking about शुक्रमुच्चरत्- the essentiality of upwards rising of शुक्र- the Vital body fluid to ensure proper functioning of all our faculties of seeing, speaking and hearing. In yoga this is achieved by becoming ऊर्ध्वरेता.
शुक्रात्सप्तदश: यजु 13-56, Excellence of seventeen faculties in humans is supported by Shukra .पाँच ज्ञानेन्द्रियां , पाँच कर्मेंद्रियां, पाँच प्राण,तथा मन व बुद्धि इन सत्रह तत्वों को शुक्र उत्तम बनाता है.Five gnanendriyas are Eyes, Ears, Nose , tongue and skin, These are acted upon by 5 tanmatras- being five subtle rudiments of matter, light, sound, taste, smell, consciousness/touch, 5 karmendriyas are 5 organs of action being Speech, Hands, feet, excretion, procreation –genitals. And finallyमन man the organ of thought andबुद्धि buddhi organ of understanding/wisdom.
These are the total of seventeen entities whose excellence in performance is made possible by shukra, according to Vedic wisdom. This is the science behind the Vedic ideal of ऊर्ध्वरेता Oordhwareta- guiding the शुक्र shukra to move upwards in human body, because most of these 17 essential entities are situated in upper part of human anatomy.
Medical science talks about three different terms for this vital body fluid called शुक्र in Vedas. These terms are Prostaglandin, Semen and Brain Cells grey matter. For all these three Ayurved also has only one term ‘vital fluid’ शुक्र. रेतस् and वीर्य are two terms used to describe different properties/ functions of शुक्र the vital fluid in human body.
But the most interesting part is the finding of modern science about chemistry of the constituents of all these three –Prostaglandins, Brain cells and Semen. DHA (Decosa Hexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Ecosa Pentaenoic Acids) are the main constituents of all these three. The constituents remain common but due to different functions in the human body they are given three different names. This shows the similarity in concepts of Ayrveda with modern medical science. The only bold step logically expected from modern science by convergence of their thoughts is to finally endorse significance of Brahmacharya.
But there happens to be a heavy burden on modern society of commercial interests in the form of media, fashion, advertising, that depend on promotion of strategies that do not promote ideas of Brahmacharya. Only a very strong public awareness and emerging will, can promote Brhmcharya in society.
Some of the latest modern researches on this subject are being cited below in support of the above presentation.
1.Prostaglandins were first discovered and isolated from human semen in the 1930s by Ulf von Euler of Sweden. Thinking they had come from the prostate gland, he named them prostaglandins. It has since been determined that they exist and are synthesised in virtually every cell of the body.( This is precisely how production in human body of शुक्र is described in Ayurveda.)
Functions of Prostaglandins - some basics
They have a variety of physiological effects on the body including:
- Activation of the inflammatory responses at the sites of damaged tissue, and production of pain and fever. When tissues are damaged, white blood cells flood the site to try to minimise tissue destruction. Prostaglandins are produced as a result.
- Blood clots form when a blood vessel is damaged. A type of prostaglandin called thromboxane stimulates constriction and clotting of platelets. Also the opposite happens and prostaglandin 12 (PG12) is produced on the walls of blood vessels where clots should not be forming. (The body is very, very clever. It knows what to do, where to do it and when.)
- Certain prostaglandins are involved with the introduction of labour and other reproductive processes, and the role of fertility. PGE2 causes uterine contractions and has been used to induce labour.
- Prostaglandins are involved in several other organs and systems such as the gastrointestinal tract, cell growth and the immune system response.
DHA, also called Docosahexaenoic acid, is a fatty acid abundantly present in the brain and in semen. Low levels of
2. Brain health /memory ;
DHA are associated with low levels of serotonin in the brain, which is thought to be an important cause of depression. Like the other ingredients in this formula, DHA is being investigated as a possible treatment for combating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
3. Sperms affect on Eyesight
Fatty acid composition of erythrocytes and sperm, along with the functional characteristics of sperm, are involved in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Sperm and retinal cells share important homologies. Both are rich in the highly polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6[n-3]), and both contain a structural component called the axoneme. Low concentrations of DHA in the retina of monkeys are known to cause visual impairment. Because blood levels of DHA in retinitis pigmentosa patients are less than normal, reduced DHA in the retina might contribute to the visual impairment characteristic of this disease. This study was conducted on the hypothesis that the sperm of retinitis pigmentosa patients might be abnormal and that these abnormalities might infer similar lipid and structural abnormalities of the retina. METHODS: The lipid composition of erythrocytes and sperm (fatty acids and sterols) and sperm function were analyzed in 26 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and in 8 healthy men. RESULTS: The sperm of patients with retinitis pigmentosa had a much lower DHA concentration, a lower desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio, reduced motility, abnormal structure, and lower sperm counts compared with that in normal subjects. Usher's II patients exhibited the most pronounced reductions of DHA in sperm. Sperm DHA concentration was positively correlated to sperm motility, to sperm count, and to the desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio. Lower erythrocyte DHA was also observed in retinitis pigmentosa patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the sperm of patients with retinitis pigmentosa, particularly those with Usher's II, have an abnormal lipid composition that is associated with reduced motility. The possibility exists that these patients might have similar abnormalities in the DHA biochemistry of the retina. Sperm biochemistry and function may be a marker for this disease. A clinical trial of DHA in retinitis pigmentosa is suggested for future study.
4.Longevity- health, brain and semen
DHA, also called Docosahexaenoic acid, is a fatty acid abundantly present in the brain and in semen. Low levels of DHA are associated with low levels of serotonin in the brain, which is thought to be an important cause of depression. Like the other ingredients in this formula, DHA is being investigated as a possible treatment for combating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
5.Intelligence and Semen correlation
A positive association between general intelligence and semen quality in male humans. Specifically, in a sample of 425 Vietnam-era veterans, we found positive correlations between a g factor (representing general intelligence, extracted from factor analysis of five well-validated cognitive tests) and three independent measures of semen quality: sperm concentration (r = 0.15, p = 0.002), sperm count (r = 0.19, p = 0.001) and sperm motility (r = 0.14, p = 0.002). None of these correlations were mediated by age, body mass index, combat experience in Vietnam, use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or hard drugs or days of sexual abstinence before collection of the semen sample. We argued that although these correlations were small in magnitude, they might be theoretically important for understanding the evolutionary genetics of human phenotypic variation.
From an adaptationist viewpoint, there is little reason to expect a correlation in functional efficiency between two such disparate traits: intelligence depends mainly on brain function and neural development, whereas semen quality depends mainly on testicular function and spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, we hypothesized that there may be pervasive positive correlations among the functional efficiencies of many organ systems because different organs are influenced by overlapping sets of genes. Since most genes are pleiotropic (affecting several traits in parallel), most mutations are likely to have pleiotropic effects in disrupting several traits in parallel. Potentially, such pleiotropic mutations could produce positive genetic correlations in the functional efficiencies of different organ systems, yielding positive phenotypic correlations in different components of fitness, such as intelligence and fertility.
However, in that paper we did not explore the specific biochemical pathways in brain and semen that might be disrupted conjointly by such pleiotropic mutations. Here we address this gap by reviewing some evolutionarily conserved processes that underlie both neuron function and sperm function, focusing especially on the roles of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), exocytosis and receptor signaling. The genetic, biochemical and physiological overlap between brain function and semen function illustrates why pleiotropic mutations may create a general ’fitness factor’ across many phenotypic traits—not only in humans, but in all organisms subject to a balance between harmful mutations and purifying selection.
By Kewal Ahluwalia
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