Monthly Archives: August 2018

Srinagar, November 16

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15 Corps Lt Gen AK Bhatt on Friday felicitated the players who won medals at the recently concluded World Kickboxing Championship in Argentina.

Hashim Ashraf and Aabid Hamid of Army Goodwill School, Hanzik; and Abrou Bashir and Irshad Ahmad Ganie of Army Goodwill School, Bandipora; achieved a tremendous feat by bagging top medals. Aabid bagged the gold medal by outperforming his opponents. In the closely contested finals, Hashim, Abrou and Irshad bagged silver medals after losing by slender margins.

During the felicitation ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment, Lt General Bhatt interacted with the players and their parents, an Army statement said. “The Chinar Corps commander also assured them continued support from the Army to help them achieve greater laurels,” the statement added. — TNS

India has invested $2 billion in the development of Afghanistan and committed another $1 billion in aid. All it has got in return is the goodwill of Afghans. India does not exercise any influence in shaping policy like Pakistan does. It is true the road to peace in Afghanistan runs through Rawalpindi.

IMRAN Ahmed Khan Niazi got a second chance to redeem himself as Prime Minister with the Asia Bibi judgment. This is an opportunity he grabbed with a state-of-the-nation address where he put the mullahs opposing the judgment on notice. In September, the newbie PM had muffed up the first opportunity by giving in to demands of the mullahs to exclude a noted economist but an Ahmadi from his economic advisory council. In the Asia Bibi case, the mullahs might have left their flanks open by calling for the murder of Supreme Court judges and urging all ‘Muslims’ in the Pakistan army to revolt against the apex court’s judgment. With the army apparently by his side, Imran Khan, on the other hand, had secured his flanks.

If the desultory action by the zealots in the bazars of Pakistan is an indication, Imran might have the upper hand so far. His stern and unyielding address with smart juxtaposition of Islamic ideals may have struck the right note with the masses. In one stroke, Khan endeared himself to the West, but also assuaged Beijing’s concerns about the overflow of radical Islam from Pakistan into Xinxiang province after the operationalising of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Khan’s backing for the legislature has important lessons here in India where the Supreme Court’s handling of Sabarimala and Ram temple cases is being questioned on the streets. In both cases, the protagonists are hamare log. But Khan has drawn a clear line between dissent and hooliganism by observing that ‘the thugs cannot hijack this country in the name of Islam and they will be treated accordingly if they mess with the state’. Since the mullahs are the Pakistan army’s strategic assets much like gau rakshaks are indispensible for the Hindutva forces here, it remains to be seen if Imran’s divorce from them is irrevocable. But the stirrings of a ‘Naya Pakistan’ are in the air. If Imran stays the course , not only Pakistan, but also the region will benefit.

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 28

Amid the euphoria of groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor by Imran Khan, India has dismissed remarks made by the Pakistani Prime Minister on Kashmir. New Delhi underlined that the Kartarpur corridor opening is a religious issue between the two countries and must not be given an overarching political context.

“It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise the long-pending demand of the Sikh community to develop Kartarpur corridor by making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

Earlier during the ceremony in Kartarpur in presence of his Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, Indian government representatives and Union Cabinet members Hardeep Puri and Harsimrat Badal, Punjab Minister Navjot Sidhu and invited Indian media delegation among others, Imran Khan brought up the Kashmir bogey. “The only issue between us is Kashmir, all it needs is just two capable leaderships to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationships get strong,” said the cricketer-turned-politician and now Pak PM.

“Pakistan is reminded that it must fulfil its international obligations and take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and all kind of support to cross border terrorism from territories under its control,” added Raveesh Kumar in his response.

This after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Hyderabad categorically rejected a fresh offer from Pakistan to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the SAARC summit to be hosted by Islamabad. 

The Kartarpur corridor groundbreaking happening just two days after the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks and ahead of the G20 summit where PM Modi is expected to flag issue of terror financing and safe havens and Pakistan’s grey listing by Financial Action Task Force to world leaders, including Donald Trump, means India would continue with its sharp attacks on Islamabad regardless of the new found warmth generated among the Sikh community on both sides of the border.

“It’s a step towards peace which our region needs. Barbed wire at borders is measure by a sovereign state to check/deny illegal crossings. Corridors & Gates are for legal peaceful visitors. So is the case for all our neighbors,” said the Pakistani Army Chief on the corridor ground breaking occasion.

New Delhi, November 25

As India and Pakistan prepare to lay the Kartarpur corridor project foundation, Islamabad hopes it will send a message globally.

Ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 28, his Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhary today said the step proved that Islamabad meant peace.

In remarks alluding to the Modi government’s U-turn on proposed talks in September in New York, Chaudhary tweeted: “Pakistan, through its conduct, has once again showed who stands for peace in South Asia and which force is not sincere.” 

Meanwhile, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who, along with Cabinet colleague Harsimrat Badal, will attend the ceremony, hailed the movement forward. Calling it “one pilgrimage every Sikh longs for”, Puri tweeted: “I feel blessed that I will be able to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib.”

The American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has also welcomed the move to open the corridor. However, sounding a cautionary note, it said no individual should take undue credit, referring to leaders across parties in Punjab and the Centre patting their own backs. — TNS

Any kind of fundamentalism is inconsistent with the message of Guru Nanak, who preached all religions had merit and it was necessary to learn from each other for harmonious living.

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 22

Societies worldwide are facing the challenges of terrorism and environmental degradation. What can we draw from the teachings of Guru Nanak to tide over these?

Three things in Guru Nanak’s life are very important. First is his emphasis on gender equality. Guru Nanak wanted men and women to be treated equally and his message was “so kyun manda aakhiye jit janmain rajjan”. Today in our own country atrocities against women and children are on the increase. It is, therefore, necessary to take Guru Nanak’s message to all nooks and corners of the country to emphasise the need for paying adequate attention to the wellbeing of our women and children.

Guru Nanak laid great emphasis on the protection of environment —water, air and Mother Earth. We end Japuji Sahib with a reference to the need to protect environment. The challenge is to live in harmony with nature.

Thirdly, the Guru emphasised the need for inter-faith harmony and sustained dialogue among religions and religious communities. He travelled the world to promote the culture of dialogue among various religious groups, whether it was the yogis of the Himalayas or the maulvis of Mecca.

His message is that all religions have merit and it is necessary to learn from each other to ensure harmonious living. This message of Guru Nanak is as relevant today as it was when he lived.

The Guru preached a world without boundaries but we are living in a world increasingly defined by boundaries. Is this why the world is moving away from his teachings?

Well, the world will have to come back to the path shown by Guru Nanak Dev ji. It is true there is so much strife in our country, so many religious disputes and caste rivalries. These are not conducive to harmonious living and, therefore, the message of Guru Nanak of promoting inter-faith dialogue and harmony is paramount. Guru Nanak said ‘naa koi Hindu naa Musalman’. Everyone is to be judged by what one does in his life.

Guru Nanak lived for the poor and shared his earnings. But world is becoming increasingly self-centred…

The basic message of Guru Nanak is equity and equality. Therefore, equitable distribution of income and wealth is an integral part of the teachings of Sikh Gurus. Equitable distribution of income, dealing constructively with social and economic inequalities, is integral to the message Guru Nanak gave to the world.

Radicalism has been on the rise across the world. Is there a lesson to be drawn from Guru’s teachings?

All sorts of fundamentalism are inconsistent with the message of Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus. Caste barriers were decried by the Guru. He emphasised equality of human beings and, therefore, the need for promoting inter-faith dialogue.

So you are saying that inter-faith dialogue is the best solution to religious fundamentalism?

Yes, that is the only solution.

Guru Nanak established the city of Kartarpur where there was harmony of every kind. Do you think such a society is possible today?

I think technology has brought new challenges. I don’t believe we can reverse the march of technology, and with technology comes growing urbanisation. I don’t think we can bring back the type of model Guru Nanak Dev ji showed and worked on in Kartarpur. But his message of ‘kirat karna, wand chhakna, naam japna’ is as relevant in modern society as it was during Guru Nanak’s time. The basic message is still valid for the wellbeing of humankind.

The youth appear to be increasingly losing touch with religion and spirituality… your thoughts?

My message to the youth is they must get away from the path of drugs, which is destroying the vitality of the youth of Punjab. The path shown by Guru Nanak can lead us to a life of piety and self-control, which is essential for harmonious living.

Are lack of jobs and economic strife also reasons why youth are unable to turn to spirituality?

Joblessness is a major problem affecting our young. This problem must be tackled frontally.

What does religion mean to you personally?

It means being a good citizen, trying to do my duty and leading a life of dignity and self-respect.

Do you think religious identities and religious symbolism are important?

Well, we cannot wish away symbolism but it need not be used to promote destructive ends.

Sikhism has spread worldwide because of the Sikh diaspora. What would you say to the Sikhs living outside India?

The Sikhs are today an international community, found in every part of the world. And where there is a Sikh, there is a gurdwara. Gurdwara is also a place where the tradition of langar, feeding the hungry regardless of their religion and caste, is still practised. To the Sikhs living outside India, my message would be that they have an obligation to be good Sikhs and good citizens of the countries to which they have migrated because their conduct will influence people’s judgement about the community. And, therefore, it is very important for the diaspora, the Sikhs in particular, to set an example of nobility and good living, practising teachings of the Gurus.

It is also necessary in our own country to ensure that our religious institutions are not misused to promote religious hatred.

What according to you is the role of the SGPC?

The SGPC is the supreme religious institution of the Sikhs. It must, therefore, guide the Sikh community to follow the righteous path shown by our Gurus.

Punjab has just seen an attack on Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar on the eve of the 550th Parkash Utsav. Do you see this as an attempt to revive militancy in the state?

Terrorism is the enemy of humanity and, therefore, it is the responsibility of all to work for its elimination. No problems are solved by resorting to terrorism and it is, therefore, necessary that all our institutions — political, religious and social — are mobilised to deal with the scourge of terrorism.

Punjab has suffered a great deal in the past and it will be a very sad day if terrorism takes root in Punjab again.

Politics is being played out even on Parkash Utsav. The SGPC and the Punjab Government are organising their own functions. All this when the Guru preached unity…

My feeling is that all segments of the Sikh society and other religious communities, whether Hindus or Muslims, Guru Nanak was common to all. Guru Nanak’s message has universal validity and this must be an occasion to unite all communities in promoting the cult of good and honest living among our people.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 12

Five schools in the state have been identified for establishing Cadet Training Wings (CTWs) that will train and prepare students to become commissioned officers in the armed forces.

Under the programme, envisioned to increase the contribution of the state to the armed forces’ officer cadre, the schools will be responsible for academics up to the Class XII level, while special instructors under the supervision of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) at Mohali will conduct structured leadership and personality development capsules at the schools for potential students.

Expenses for running the capsules, which will mirror the training at AFPI, will be borne by the government.

The shortlisted schools are the Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Patiala, Punjab Public School, Nabha, Army Public School, Beas, Doon International School and YPS, both in Mohali. A dozen schools had applied for the programme.

Three training nodes to coordinate the activities are being set up.

“Keeping in view the administrative limitations, only five schools will be covered under the programme in the first phase. More schools will be brought on board gradually,” said AFPI Director, Maj Gen BS Grewal.

“While final approval and release of funds from the government is awaited, we have begun preliminary work and interaction with the schools is underway,” he added.

The AFPI was set up in April 2011 to arrest the declining trend of the youth from the state joining the armed forces as officers.

Prior to this, Punjab was sending only six to eight boys to the National Defence Academy per batch, but now this number has doubled. In June this year, 17 out of the 29 cadets from the sate who passed out of the Indian Military Academy were from AFPI.

Over 110 AFPI cadets have been successful in joining various service academies and the tally for 2018 will be 26.

The state government had initially wanted to set up three more institutes on the pattern of the AFPI, where all boarding lodging and training expenses for the two-year fully residential programme are borne by the state. However, financial constraints warranted a re-think and the government went in for the CTWs instead where existing infrastructure of the schools would be used.

Leadership and personality development 

• The shortlisted schools are Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Patiala; Punjab Public School, Nabha; Army Public School, Beas; Doon International School and YPS, both in Mohali.
• The schools will be responsible for academics up to the Class XII level.
• Special instructors under the supervision of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) at Mohali will conduct structured leadership and personality development capsules at the schools for potential students.