Friday, 22 November 2019
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
ASIAN UNION
Amidst
rising India-Pakistan bellicosity, the notion of an 'Asian Union' along the
lines of European Union, is like a salve
on a deep wound that needs radical surgery. Improbable though it is, Asian
Union is not a pipe dream. It will not happen in the next few decades. But in
the next hundred years - who knows?
Dr Beni Agarwal
is a diplomat extraordinaire. India's ambassador to Greece, Lebanon, Bulgaria,
and six other countries; an M Phil from Oxford
a PhD from the US, he was Asst Professor of Political Science at Allahabad
University - which had Harbans Rai Bacchan, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Meghnad Saha FRS,
Dr MM Joshi (BJP President), Rajendra Singh (RSS Sarsanghchalak) and other luminaries in the faculty during his time. He thus
has the academic underpinning and the diplomatic expertise to explore the
concept of Asian Union.
He founded 'Association for Asian Union (AAU),' in 2001.
After working on it for fourteen years,' he concluded that the time was not yet
ripe for it. And so in March 2015 he proposed an “Asian Democratic Union (ADU) - with
Australia and New Zealand as Associates Members and USA, Canada, and other alike countries as
Observers - to promote Human Rights, secularism Peace and Prosperity in Asia
and in the World."
AAU meet
yesterday had many articulate voices. The more eloquent of these were those of HSH
Immanuel, Head of State of the Principality of Monte de Agrella, an independent
state in Europe, Prof Suman Khanna, PhD, Prof Anindita Balslev, PhD (Paris) and
Dr J Patnaik, PhD, Vice Chancellor,
Kalinga University. Under discussion was the name change from AU to ADU.
Manjulika Agarwal and I suggested that the name Asian Union be retained because
it hinted at a broad concept; the sub- text may say AAU's focus will be on Human
Rights, secularism, democracy and prosperity. I think our suggestion was
accepted though a formal word on it is not out.
Dr Agarwal
has an invitation to meet the PM and thus the opportunity to urge the PM to
include AU/ASU in his agenda for peace and prosperity in Asia.
Yesterday
was also Dr Agarwal's 80th birthday. We wish him and AAU/ADU a long, healthy
life of success.
Monday, 29 August 2016
LOKPAL
Much before the Sikhs discovered Hemkunt, it
was known to the ancients as Lokpal, or 'Hemkund,' the snow-lake - Hem (snow),
Kund (lake). They came to it as pilgrims to pray to gods, especially Lakshman,
Lord Rama's younger brother; and for three annual festivals during the summer.
Legend is that Lakshman, mortally wounded by Meghananda, Ravana's son, was brought to Lokpal. Hanuman then flew-in the Dronagiri mountain which had the divine herb 'Sanjeevani Booti.' The 'Booti' was administered to Lakshman and he miraculously recovered fully. Devtas showered flowers in celebration and these fell on the Valley of Flowers and took root there.
In another legend Lakshman was a seven-headed Naag (snake), Ananta-Shesha, in his previous incarnation and meditated under the waters of Lokpal. Lord Vishnu, the protector, rested on Ananta-Shesha.
In yet another legend, Lokpal is the native place of Lord Shiva, the destroyer.
These legends were orally passed down the generations and acquired local color. But they have basis in the Puranas, and in Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.
Now Hemkund has but a small Lakshman temple on the lakeshore with an inarticulate Poojaari and few if any pilgrims.
I suppose that was Lakshman temple's destiny. You can dance around destiny but only for so long as fate permits.
Pooja at the Lakshman Temple, Lokpal lake
Lokpal lake. Lakshman temple is in the
background on the left corner
Hanuman bringing Sanjivni Booti from
Dronagiri Mountain
Vishnu resting on Ananta-Shesha, seven-headed
Naag (snake), incarnation of Lakshmana
Legend is that Lakshman, mortally wounded by Meghananda, Ravana's son, was brought to Lokpal. Hanuman then flew-in the Dronagiri mountain which had the divine herb 'Sanjeevani Booti.' The 'Booti' was administered to Lakshman and he miraculously recovered fully. Devtas showered flowers in celebration and these fell on the Valley of Flowers and took root there.
In another legend Lakshman was a seven-headed Naag (snake), Ananta-Shesha, in his previous incarnation and meditated under the waters of Lokpal. Lord Vishnu, the protector, rested on Ananta-Shesha.
In yet another legend, Lokpal is the native place of Lord Shiva, the destroyer.
These legends were orally passed down the generations and acquired local color. But they have basis in the Puranas, and in Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.
Now Hemkund has but a small Lakshman temple on the lakeshore with an inarticulate Poojaari and few if any pilgrims.
I suppose that was Lakshman temple's destiny. You can dance around destiny but only for so long as fate permits.
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
HEMKUNT
Nestled in the West Himalayas at a height of
15,197 feet is Hemkunt Sahib, one of the five famous Gurudwaras. It is the
highest Gurudwara in the world.
Hemkunt Sahib is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth and the last Sikh Guru.
In Dasam Granth Guru Ji says that in his previous life he did intense meditation at Hemkunt Parbat Sapat Sring, the "lake of ice" and "mountain" adorned with "seven peaks" - the place where King Pandu, the forefather of the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, did yoga - until the Guru ji merged with God. But then God sent him to the world to teach the true religion to people and rid them of evil ways. He was thus born to his earthly parents who had served God well.
In late 19th century Sikhs began to search for 'Hemkunt.' In 1934, Sant Sohan Singh, a retired granthi of Indian army, found 'Lokpal,' a lake high in the Uttarakhand Himalayas that matched Guru Ji's description of 'Hemkunt.' He convinced Bhai VirSingh, the eminent Sikh intellectual and scholar, that Lokpal was Hemkunt. Bhai Vir Singh gave 2,100 rupees to build a Gurudwara on the shore of the lake. In 1937, a 10 X10 feet stone hut was built on the lakeshore and Guru granth Sahib was installed.
Building of a new Gurdwara began in 1968 and in 1994 Guru Granth Sahib was installed below a brass canopy in the upper story of the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara is in the shape of an inverted lotus - but many see the shape as that of a star - with openings on five sides to welcome people from all directions and all faiths.
Hemkunt Sahib opens only for four-and-half months, 25 May to 10 October, in a year. But more than 200,000 pilgrims come to it every year.
Hemkunt is the place to be for the devotee.
But "It is impossible to be here when you think there is somewhere else to be" - Guru Gobind Singh
Hemkunt Sahib is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth and the last Sikh Guru.
In Dasam Granth Guru Ji says that in his previous life he did intense meditation at Hemkunt Parbat Sapat Sring, the "lake of ice" and "mountain" adorned with "seven peaks" - the place where King Pandu, the forefather of the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, did yoga - until the Guru ji merged with God. But then God sent him to the world to teach the true religion to people and rid them of evil ways. He was thus born to his earthly parents who had served God well.
In late 19th century Sikhs began to search for 'Hemkunt.' In 1934, Sant Sohan Singh, a retired granthi of Indian army, found 'Lokpal,' a lake high in the Uttarakhand Himalayas that matched Guru Ji's description of 'Hemkunt.' He convinced Bhai VirSingh, the eminent Sikh intellectual and scholar, that Lokpal was Hemkunt. Bhai Vir Singh gave 2,100 rupees to build a Gurudwara on the shore of the lake. In 1937, a 10 X10 feet stone hut was built on the lakeshore and Guru granth Sahib was installed.
Building of a new Gurdwara began in 1968 and in 1994 Guru Granth Sahib was installed below a brass canopy in the upper story of the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara is in the shape of an inverted lotus - but many see the shape as that of a star - with openings on five sides to welcome people from all directions and all faiths.
Hemkunt Sahib opens only for four-and-half months, 25 May to 10 October, in a year. But more than 200,000 pilgrims come to it every year.
Hemkunt is the place to be for the devotee.
But "It is impossible to be here when you think there is somewhere else to be" - Guru Gobind Singh
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
VALLEY OF FLOWERS
Returning after climbing Mt Kamet (25,447
feet), Frank Smythe, the British climber, was lost. Then he stumbled on a
valley laden with flowers.The scene was surreal. The year was 1931.
In 1937, Smythe came back to the Valley "flower-hunting." And he "came face to face with . . . the most beautiful [flora] I have ever seen . . . I had not seen this [flora] before, nor did I see it [ever] again." And he saw many other rare flowers that he had never seen before, and never saw after. In 1938 he published a book, 'Valley of Flowers,' about the valley and its flora. That book made VALLEY OF FLOWERS (VOF), little known till then, famous.
Although VOF is popularly linked with Frank Smythe, it was, since ancient times, the summer grazing ground for migratory pastoralists, and a haven for meditation for Yogis, like Yogi Yogesh Mota.
The British discovered VOF, or Pushpawati valley, in 1862 when Colonel Edmund Smythe of the Indian Army, an explorer, visited the valley.
The 87.50 sq km VOF is at an elevation of 10,098 to 12,000 feet in the West Himalyas in Uttarakhand, 520 km from Delhi. A 503 km drive from Delhi brings us to Govindghat, height, 5500 feet. From there a 14 Km trek brings us to Ghaghariya, height 10200 feet, which is the camp for VOF and Hemkunt treks. Ponies are available for this trek.
The part of the VOF we visit is 8 km long and 2 km wide. On the first day we go the nearer part of the VOF, 03 km (06 km return) trek from Ghaghriya. On the second day, we trek deeper into the VOF, 08 km (16 km return) from Ghaghriya. On the second day we see the grave of Miss Joan Margarate Legge, a botanist, who was deputed in 1939 by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to study the flora of VOF. When traversing a rocky slope to collect flowers, she slipped and fell and died. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The inscription on Legge's headstone:
"I will lift mine eyes unto the Hills
from whence cometh my help"
VOF is a National Park since 1982 and a World heritage Site since 2005. It is home to 521 alpine plants that exclusively grow in VOF. Several of these are medicinal plants. It is also home to rare and endangered fauna.
VOF is truly a slice of paradise on earth; the garden of the Gods.
Valley of
Flowers - seen by an artist's eye
Valley of
Flowers - seen by camera's eye
Valley of
Flowers - seen by camera's eye
In 1937, Smythe came back to the Valley "flower-hunting." And he "came face to face with . . . the most beautiful [flora] I have ever seen . . . I had not seen this [flora] before, nor did I see it [ever] again." And he saw many other rare flowers that he had never seen before, and never saw after. In 1938 he published a book, 'Valley of Flowers,' about the valley and its flora. That book made VALLEY OF FLOWERS (VOF), little known till then, famous.
Although VOF is popularly linked with Frank Smythe, it was, since ancient times, the summer grazing ground for migratory pastoralists, and a haven for meditation for Yogis, like Yogi Yogesh Mota.
The British discovered VOF, or Pushpawati valley, in 1862 when Colonel Edmund Smythe of the Indian Army, an explorer, visited the valley.
The 87.50 sq km VOF is at an elevation of 10,098 to 12,000 feet in the West Himalyas in Uttarakhand, 520 km from Delhi. A 503 km drive from Delhi brings us to Govindghat, height, 5500 feet. From there a 14 Km trek brings us to Ghaghariya, height 10200 feet, which is the camp for VOF and Hemkunt treks. Ponies are available for this trek.
The part of the VOF we visit is 8 km long and 2 km wide. On the first day we go the nearer part of the VOF, 03 km (06 km return) trek from Ghaghriya. On the second day, we trek deeper into the VOF, 08 km (16 km return) from Ghaghriya. On the second day we see the grave of Miss Joan Margarate Legge, a botanist, who was deputed in 1939 by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to study the flora of VOF. When traversing a rocky slope to collect flowers, she slipped and fell and died. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The inscription on Legge's headstone:
"I will lift mine eyes unto the Hills
from whence cometh my help"
VOF is a National Park since 1982 and a World heritage Site since 2005. It is home to 521 alpine plants that exclusively grow in VOF. Several of these are medicinal plants. It is also home to rare and endangered fauna.
VOF is truly a slice of paradise on earth; the garden of the Gods.
Valley of
Flowers - a flora seen by camera's eye
Thursday, 11 August 2016
ORGAN DONATION DAY, INDIA, 13 AUGUST
Be the reason someone lives
- donate organs.
More than 500,000 Indians
die every year from organ failure. One
person can save more than eight lives by donating his organs: kidneys, livers, Bone marrow,
hearts, lungs, cornea, pancreases and small bowels.
But supply of organs is, and will always
be, short of the demand. Hence the organ black market. Therefore, an organs market, howsoever deplorable, has
been justified thus: the organ recipient gets life, the transplantation team
gets money, but the donor gets nothing. Why shouldn't he also get some benefit?
"To the multitude facing death
through organ failure, the organ transplantation technology has come as a true
gif of life. But the technology has raised in its wake, as does every new
technology, a number of questions to which there are no easy answers. Moreover
the questions are not just medical, but medico-socio-legal.
. . . transplantation is not a legal
problem; therefore laws are not its solution. Though laws are required to
regulate it.
Who should get the scarce organs? First in
the queue, or the one who will benefit
the maximum, or the one who can pay the most . . . Should non-compliant
patients, or ones with failed transplantation be eligible for the scarce organs
. . ."
--- Sadhana Kala's, The Indian law Institute (Deemed University)
published paper: 'Socio-Medico, Legal Aspects of Organ Transplantation.'
(14.139.60.114:8080/jspui/bitstream/.../059_Socio-Medico,%20Legal%20Aspects.pdf)
Sunday, 7 August 2016
HIROSHIMA
Today, 06 August, was perhaps the
blackest day in human history: on this day 71 years ago, the US dropped an
atomic bomb (Little Boy) on the city of Hiroshima, Japan; three days later, on
09 August, it dropped another atomic bomb (Fat man) on the city of Nagasaki,
Japan. The two bombs killed at least 129,000 people; killed another 120,000
within the next two months; and ushered in the age of nuclear weapons and of
MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction).
There is no Remembrance Day for the three-hundred thousand killed and
maimed by the atomic bombs; though Hiroshima holds a Peace Memorial Ceremony at
the Memorial Cenotaph in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on every 06 August.
The 'West'
dominated media has no time to remind us of this massacre of humanity. And
human memory being fickle, we have forgotten the great tragedy.
So let's join today to pay homage to the thousands of innocent civilians killed on that black day.
Amen.
For the first time, representatives from the
U.S. joined others from more than 70 nations at the Dome.
Remembrance for Hiroshima victims
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