2009 01 Our News Folio Koshur Samachar

From The Capital

Paschim Vihar Office-Bearers

Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Association, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, has elected the following office-bearers: President: Shri Pran Nath Kaul; Vice President: Shri CL, Kaul & Shri Inder Mohan Ticku, General Secretary: Shri Naresh Sapru; Joint Secretary: Shri Ashwani Dhar, Treasurer: Shri S.K. Raina and Cultural Secretary: Smt. Rajni Raina.

Members: S/Shri AN. Kaul, TN. Kachroo, P.L. Kaul, Bushan L. Bhat, S.K. Ogra, R.K. Fotedar, O.P. Kaul, Bansi Lal Safaya, Panjak Raina, Hira Lal, Ashoney Pandita, Ravinder Bhan, Ramesh Kaul, S.K. Bhan, Kishore Tickoo and Kapil Shishoo.

From Jammu

If 'War' is the option India should go for it

Condemning the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Panun Kashmir, an organization of Kashmiri Pandits, has said that if the Government of India finds no alternative other than 'war' to fight terrorism, they must go for it.

"Panun Kashmir has already declared Pakistan an epicentre of terrorism but the Central Government seems to have woken up now to the grim reality after the Mumbai terrorist attacks but unfortunately, this realisation still seems to be cosmetic," Chairman of Panun Kashmir Ajay Chrungoo and AKPSC president O.N. Trial told reporters in Jammu. "It is time that this realisation becomes comprehensive enough to grasp the real dimension of the war unleashed by the Islamic fundamentalists," Dr. Chrungoo said.

He added that not only the operatives but also the ideology of terrorism required to be curbed "Proxy war and peace process cannot go together," he claimed.

"The idea of 'India' was destroyed in Kashmir by throwing our community out of their homeland," asserted Dr Chrungoo and said, "Kashmir has to be a part of India and only then can Islamic fundamentalism be defeated.

He said the most crucial component of war against terror in India should be to rise and defeat the demographic assault which has been an inalienable component of Islamic terrorism. The comprehensive reversal of genocide of Kashmiri Hindus should constitute the cardinal objective of war against terror, he added. He said India should categorically say Pakistan that it has no role in Kashmir which is our internal matter.

"The Mumbai terrorist attacks are once again a grim reminder to all of us that the war unleashed by the Islamic fundamentalists is both ruthless and relentless."

Resist Corruption

India is the twelfth largest economy. India is not a poor country. but with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, something is seriously wrong. Where does all the money go? This is where corruption comes in. Described as seeking illegitimate personal gain, through bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft and embezzlement, corruption is our worst enemy. India has already been ranked 74th (out of 180) on the worldwide Corruption Perceptions Index. Before matters go from bad to worse, we must eradicate corruption.

Fighting legal battles is a major headache. Witnesses don't speak up. Judges are partial Trials continue for ever and the 'police wallahs' are anything but helpful. In such a scenario, warming the pockets of authorities helps to move on. But before we give in to the system, we must take a moment and think: Are we correct or is it that we have all lost our conscience: From netas to babus to S.H.Os, to peons to judges, everyone is corrupt. Money talks.

Corruption is a vicious cycle. Corruption starts from us. It is we who seem to have lost our sense of shame, we who are literally feeding the system. How much longer can we blame the authorities?

Corruption must go. And we have to send it away. It's time we listened to our tiny chirping 'Jeremy-cricket' conscience. It's time we stopped getting tempted. It's time we said 'NO'. If every one of us approaches proceedings in a fair way. What choice will authorities have but to accept our decision? We have to change our perceptions and actions. We have to make a difference. We have to resist and reject corruption.

Our 'NO' counts.

(Aina, a student of 8th standard, Modern School, BaraKhamba Road, New Delhi, is the grand daughter of Smit RD Jogi and Prof. JL Jogi. She wrote this piece in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed on December 9)

Reminiscences

By R C Kaul, (Pamposh)

August 30, 1985, corresponding to the holy festival of Rakhsha Bandan (Shrawana Poornima) was an auspicious day for the Kashmiri Pandit biradari in general and the residents of the Chinar Enclave (Qayoom Colony), particular, when the construction of the Shiva Jee Temple started in Chinar Enclave, Rawalpora-A, Srinagar. The construction plan and its execution would not have crystallised but for the liberal donations and subscription by the members of the Kashmiri Pandit biradari and other Hindu devotees.

A piece of land for the purpose was donated by Dr. Hira Lal Dhar, son of Pt. Sham Lal Dhar, on the request of Late Lalita Jee Dhar, wife of Dr. Hira Lal Dhar. Smt. Lalita Jee was eager that the manor's main gate should be named as a memorial to her father-in-law, Pandit Sham Lal Dhar. Her I wishes were accepted by the management committee of the said Darbar and it was decided to undertake this project. Some targets could not be fulfilled due to militancy in January, 1990., Actually the construction of the first and the second storeys was completed in January, 1990.

The Shiv Jee Temple, which was completed in all respects, was dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was a kacha Road leading to the colony, full of orchards from the main road. The area of the colony was surrounded by 13 big spacious chinar trees and trees of general variety of fruit trees in the Shivjee Bagh and other sides adjacent to the colony. The eastern end of the Shivjee Bagh was fenced with iron-wire and it was touching the main kacha road of the colony. There was a big old tree standing in the middle edge of the Shivjee Bagh. Half of the tree was in the Bagh and the other half was on the road.

The Mahashiv Lingam was installed in the said temple on the auspicious day of Vaishakh Poomima 2044 Vikrami, corresponding to May 13, 1987, amidst recitations of Vedic shalokas and a mahayagya The late octogenarian saint and scholar of Shaiva philosophy Shiv Swaroop Pandit Jee Maharaj Shri Raghu Nath Kukiloo graced the occasion performed the installation ceremony.

I pray to God that Kashmiri Pandits may have their own authorised international-cum-all India KP Shrine Board temple committees at Jammu, Delhi, Bombay or other Places. These may be duly affiliated with the Board

(The writer is the founder President of Darbar-in-Exile and lives in Rohini, Delhi)

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Courtesy:  January 2009, Koshur Samachar