Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Introducing Sports
lilie'
Vol III No 21 5-19 Nov 1988 (Fortnightly) New Deihl Rupees Two
Congress(I) Election
Campaign Launched
In This Issue
Page
National Integeation:
A Dilemma
3
Crusade For Justice 4
Sufism And
Communal Harmony 5
Right Time To Make
''l'eace With China
6
Pro~~, Press, People 7
Is TJ:ie Government
Taking Revenge 1
8
The Lessons
From Bidar
11
Short Story: Curse 14
Sports: India Vs Sri
Lanka
16
Plus: Our Regular
Features
Punjab
Media
o make full use of media, its
director general with some
objectivity . has already been
removed. Anyone who cares can
. see a definite shift and line in the
media coverage. Ruling parties'
activities are covered as State
Give Life
To This Man
By Baiju
'<i
Judiciary Is ParCial
OPEN FORUM
Letters _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _----'-_ _
Ridiculous!
TK Vijayan
Man-made Or
God- _made?
M anaging 'Editor
Am.rl~~ ingh
.
"
;'General Manag er
l.t. Col. Manoh ar Singh
(RetdY'
'.
" Editors
A.S. Narang
'Qlan':Singh Sandhu
-----..- - ..
~I
Home 9f The
Homeless
.'
lessed are the old . They
live long enough to witness their progony prosper
and flourish. Still blessed are
the rare ones who suffer no
'li!ment of old age. And of :
I and you are all too young to put our feet up. -Mrs. Thatcher at
the Conservative Party conference.
"
Why should the Front break up over the (8engallamp) issue?- Saroj
Mukherjee.
He (Mr Devi Lal) does not recognize me as (Lok Dal) presidenl.H.N. Bahuguna.
Sn
earned'
we
,memorY .
II
I
The drug was still clearly being used by other winners besides
Mr (Sen) Johnson at the Olympics. Some of those deep voiced ladies
on the rostrum most visibly needed a shave.- The Economist.
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VIEWPOINT
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IF@]fIDl!!J~
8 ~.
National
Integration: A
Dilemma
n..
fF@~!Jil~
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ruling party is interested in keeping the pot boiling till the next General Elections. The meaningful
Sikh leaders have often
demanded that full justice should
be done with the Sik~s. Inspite of
repeated pressure from highly
By Lt. Col. Manohar Singh (Retd)
in brief the description of the battle intellectual c.lass and civil liberties
of -Crusade against injustice- ,organizations for maintaining '
athedar Jasbir Singh pur Sahib Resolution, which is
during the last few years in human rights, no action has boen
Rode, former Jathedar of under the consideration of the
Punjab. let us examine, how nor- taken against the culprits of antiAkal Takht after entering Government. Where was then the
malcy can be restored in Punjab? Sikh riots of November 1984,
Darbar Sahib on October n.eed for raising the point of KhiilIt ia quite obvious that instead 01 . wherein not less .than 4000 Sikh
were massacred for no fauh. The 10, 1988, declared that he would istan. Jathedar Sahib would be
removing the troublesome irritants Sikhs have, therefore, launched a seek the opinion of tne 'Sangat' fully justified to obtain opinion
of the Sikh, the policy of the gov- peaceful crusade. against this about the -political goal of the about the implementation of the
emment has been to divide the
community . t diff
tf r
injustice. let the government creat Sikhs: whether it was 'Khalistan' Anandpur Sahib Resolution, the
In 0
eren ac Ions an atmosphere of confidence or the Anandpur Sahib resolution. Punjab Accord, actions against the
and keep the meariingfulleaders
Sahib
should guilty of the massacre of Novin detention under NSA, Out- instead of heaping upon them .Jathedar
appreciated
the' ember 1984, release of Jodhpur
have
wardly, it is being claimed from more and more draconian laws.
overall
prevailing detenues and monetary compenhouse-tops that after longowal
political
situation
in the sation, rehabilitation of November
there is no Sikh leader to be talked
country
and
in
th~ 1984 widows and orphans, and
to. How far ridiclous is tbis claim
neighbouring
ones
before
deciding
ending of terrorism and stopping
ConiinUed toni pag",
is known to everybody. 'The latest
verion of Mr. S.S.Ray is that Akali activities and State affairs are p~ to seek Sikh 'Sangats', opinion on killings of Sikh youths in take
leaders would not be released in jected as party affairs. Negabve the most touchy point to which the police encounters, etc. It W9U1d be
the near future, as their presence aspects of opposition pOlitics are entire Indian population is allergic. doing great disserVice not only to
has been infuriating the Sikh over-played and positive aspects Since the enemy of Khalsa Panth the Sikh community bUt to the
started circulating this point that whole c;ountry by discussing any- .
masses. Are the authorities so are just ignored . .
the
Sikh community was deter- - thing about Khabtan, as this is
Signals
are
clear.
The
election
sure that by keeping in jail leaders like Mr Badal and Mr Tohra the campaign has been launched and mined to divide the country to . bound to be exploited by the anti- )
government would be able to con- launch~d in a dangerous and create Khalistan, the whole c;ioun- . Sikh elements and opportiJnists as.
tain the growing bitterness among naked way. The aim is just to get try had developed distrust and and when required 10 serve their
the Sikh and anti-social activities .power what ever cost nation or hatred for the Sikh community. It purposes. In fact people . are
already suspecting the governof the outlaws? If they think so, people have to pay for that. Now is a fact that Sikh community
such
have
never
thought
of
creat~
me
nt's hand in the move of Jathit
is
for
the
people
to
react
and
they are sadly mistaken.
prove that they can understand the ingKhalistan, but here projected edar Sahib in the Darbar Sahib,
Draconian Laws .
its demands through the AnandConIitKHHl on page 11
game.
t has been further noticed that
instead of assuaging the severely hurt feelings pf the Sikh,
more and more stringent lawa are
being passed. In this way it is not
the terrorists but the Sikhs who are
being isolated. With the advent of
harsh laws the minorities would be
the worst suffererS. In all fairries~,
before moving the Bill concerning
misuse of religious places, the
For: Scandinavian
For: Designing of Office,
authorities should have discussed
and Chesterfield
Residences,
Hotels,
the implications of the Bill with the
Furniture
Showroom
'etc.
concerned leaders of the minority
communities. But that did not
happen. Unfortunately, there is a
brute mejority of the ruling party in
the Parliament and whatever Bill
is proposed it has been passed,
except the Defamation Bill, which
has to be withdrawn by the government due to a very strong and
united opposition from the medi. amen. Now, the latest strategy of
the government is to ban the
communal and scessionist organisations, they won't be allowed to
participate in elections. Somehow,
the monorities will have to bear the
brunt, because they are branded
as communal. No doubt, there
should be no place for scessionists in the country, but the position
of communal parties like Akali
party, Muslim league and R.S.S.,
Experts in
etc, is quite different. Believe it or
White Cidar
Turnkey
not, the Akali party is an organiand Teak wood '
Projects
zation representing a sizable
Oriental and modern
chunk of minority opinion. If this
furniture made customdesigned.
organization is ignored through
Carved furniture '
such dubious sort of legislation,
in antique finish .
there would be no the solution to
Carved doors etc
Punjab problem. Punjab needs a
a speciality
political solution very badly. How
sad it is that inspite of many
announcements made directly or
(A Dr. Bhagat Singh Rekhi Enterprises)
through Mr S.S. Ray for early solu136Begam
Pur,
Near Malviya Nagar, NewDelhi-l10017. Ph: 6444814, 6415263
tion of the problem, no positive
outcome has appeared on surface
Ref.: A.S. Rekhi '
so far. A general belief is that the
Crusade Against
Injustice . B~G.S.Chadha
here is a popular proverb
justice delayed is justice
denied'. But as remarked
by Lt. Gen. J.S. Aurora in
his write up captioned -Justice
denied- (Times of India, 21 October 1988) the canard of government's attitude, so far as the Sikh
community is concerned, has
. been blatantly exposed. The history of the last four years is full of
dreadful events which are con. stantly dragging away Sikhs from
the national manistream. Contrarily, it is they who are being
blamed for not joining the mainstream. ' Only God knows whaf
they mean by such high sounding
words lik'e, secularism, communalism and mamstream. Again, who
is ' communal and who is not is
totally within the discretion of the
people in power. What is provided
in the Constitution so 'far as free ....
. dom of expression is concerned
seems to be nobody's concern
Our Constitution permits every citizen to profess, practice and propagate, any religion. For a pretty
long time all the religious communities,' were enjoying this' fundamental freedom. Why suddenly a
sense of domination over minorities cropped~p in the minds of the
. majority community. Staunch
Hindu leaders like Balasahib
Deoras came out with venomous
slogans like -Hindu Rashtra-. A
feeling was spread among the
majority community members that
,they were being -pilloried in their
own country, though it is unbeliev~
able that anybody can pillory a
community which Is 30% of the
total population. Is it not a fact that
such spiteful feelings are being
spread to frighten the minorities?
Terrorism, in my humble view,
is a product of either interminable
injust..ice of indis.criminate oppression perpetrated ona particular
. section of society. In a democracy
constitutional measures are provided to press the government for
the redressel of tne grievances of
complaints, but a moot point is
how far and to what extent the
concerned administration is prepared to yield. Many a time it has
been noticed that without applying
muscular force you cannot bend
the authorities even for legitimate
demands, though principles of
democracy do not permit such an
odiou.ll step Le. violent measures.
It is n~. denying a fact that during
the pre-partition era of British
regime, all the movements of
Akalis were non-violent. Even they
had strictly followed this principle
of non-violence in their morchasfor asserting their claim for the linguistic state. For pretty long time
the 'Dharam Yudh' morcha was
also followed on non-violent basis.
How and why it has taken a
sudden and surprising turn
through Bhindranwale and his
tribe is shrouded in mystry. This is
An Itnportant Move
Election Campaign
Launched
as
vibGYOR
..........................
W
FII.
~...........................................................
tI
[F@f]]C1!JOO
..ur.~.
By
be concluded
....
~GDOtl~ ..............................................O.U.R.T.IM.ES.
Right Time
To Make Peace
With China
N
OW that the Prime Minis
ter has decided to go to
China, perhaps befor_e
the year is out, it is time
to take a look at what such a visit
can and cannot achieve . The
somewhat facetious statement put
out by M L Sondhi, among others,
suggesting that he should not go
should be dismissed out of hand.
It is right that Rajiv Gandhi
should go to China. The symbolism of the visit, rather than any
specific results it might achieve,
will be the most important gain.
First, it will &ignify Indian seriousness in achieving an ultimate resolution of the border problem .
Second, the political thrust Rajiv
and the Chinese leaders can give
to a basis-a set of principles, for
instanca:--for setting the most
contentious issue between the two
countries would be a valuable contribution.
But beyond these aspects, a
Prime Ministerial visit will help
India assess at first hand the thinking of the Chinese leadership on
the time frame for a border settlement. In other words, how do the
Chinese place their relations with
India in their order of priorities?
There is no substitute for a toplevel meeting to find out the
pnswer to a question which will
decide the shape of things in a
crucial area of Indian foreign
policy. The proverbially inscrutable
Chinese are not inscrutable when
they want to make their point.
By S. NihalSingh
interest.
Civilization Vs Hanging
Courtesy: MID-DAY
M.E.DI.A.W.A.TC.H_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-
,,N
0, dear Rushdie,
_we do not wish
to build a re- pressive India.
On the contrary we are trying our
best to build a liberal India where
we can all breathe freely. But in
order to build such an India, we
have to preserve the India that
exists. That may not be a pretty
India. But this is the only India we
possess", this is h9W Th9 Tim9s
-of India- answered 'Mr Salman
Rushdie. v.~, Indians, as it -is
widely known, are not that much
educated. We are yet to think
above our religion, caste, creed or
colour. We are still experiencing
Bangalore type riots. No, Rushdie,
no. We are not at all civilized to
read your Satanic Verses.Only a
handful of persons in our country
must have read the book, still it
.......
_ -has made so much noise. The
news about the Verses have
occupied even one-third of some
of our national dailies. We have
ignored all our serious national
problems and went after the book.
It was a time when several parts
of the country were under unprecedented floods. It was a time when
terrorists were killing scores of
people everyday. It was a time
when Indian troops were getting
into trouble in a small neighbouring island country. Above all, it
was a time when national opposition parties were being united.
The press had only little to say
~~ut all these. It was only the
book which caught their attention.
What is there in that book? Why
did our press give that much
, importance to this particular book?
Does this book contain something
more than Koestler's Lotus and
Robot, V.S. Naipaul's India: A
Wounded CivilizationAubrey
Menon's Raman Rerold. Ved
Mehta's Mahatma Gandhi and his
Apostles.etc?
he book has even reminded
the Oraaniser(23 Oct 1988) of
the storY of Raj Pal, the publisher
of Rangila Rasul, in 1929 in
Lahore. "The Islamic zealots here
consider themselves the inheritors
- of Aurangzeb's mission, creators
of Mulk-e-Khudadad (God-given)
, state of Pakistan and even dream
day and night of converting the
whole of India into Darul-Islam", a
book really made the Organiser
think a lot!
But theHadience takes a different point of view: "As the ban was
~mposed, ther~ was an explosion
In the West equally echoed in the
East. An anti-Islamic tirade was let
loose. The -novel was praised.
Some Western writers and even
associations urged the Government of India to lift the ban.
"The Indian national press,
except a few, played a role that
only protrays their anti-Islamic,
undemocratic and elitist character.
Some of them openly lampooned
"".
National Integration
CENTRES'
Is The Government
established tradition and an abject
confession of failure (or gulit?) by
the government of India.
Worse was authorities' attitude
towards victims and their rehabilitation. which continues till day.
By November 4, 1984, thou
sands of citiznes (Sikhs) of Delhi
became refugees in their own city
(in their own country). Almost all
these camps were overflowing
without any basic facilities. Though
the camps were organised but
general official attitude, as
observed by a number of volunteer
organisations, was.that; "the Sikhs
deserve it because they were killing Hindus in Punjab'" The police,
the officials in Delhi Administration
and above all the Home Department of the Central Government
turned a Nelson'e eye. What was
official attitude towards relief and
tells Baiju
have been second to none. During
the Indo-China and Indo-pak
wars, I have seen the Sikh youths
doing jobs with the jawans. The
jawans often 4sed their vehicles,
and whatever they
tractors
had, and if you make mention of
payment to them, they used to get
annoyed and the Sikh women
were so anxious to serve the
jawans with milk, curd, etc. They
celebrated the victory and
mourned the deaths of the
departed friends and Sikh girls put
Why some people are becoming Since 1984 about 4000 Sikhs
have been killed In different
terrorists?
parts of the country and what
Because of the policy of the gov- has been the attitude of the
ernment. They become violent government? Old the government mind to punish ,the culagainst violence.
prits? Did 'It do anything to
Some people believe that the ensure that this would not be
Sikhs are not patriots. Are they repeated?
correct?
There are right-th king people
No, they are not at all correct. They even now.
are mistaken. In fact the Sikhs are
the people who are more patriotic In the Government?
than the others.
You see, all the programmes of No. Outside the Government.
Amongst the majority.communthe Congress had been executed
by the Akalis during the freedom ity itself. Why go far, even Mr
struggle. As far as the nation build- Marwah the Police Commissioner,
ing process is concerned, they once said that the terrorism is the
c
~
By A.S. N
rll&
[F@Jl1J[!:!]OO
........................................................................
Was this anomie not the cause of
the convulsion through which we
were living? To blow up this aspect
of the problem at this hour of
misery of a section of people by
officials was like the proverbial
story of one who has a log in his
"The role of the administration was 5000 for damaged houses. Most
eyes but accuses another who has
very inadequate and if the various of the cases of persons killed have
a speck. Official sources had
voluntary agencies had not started been settled but about the injured
announced by November 25 that
providing relief on their own, many and damage to property, there
over 318 crores had been distribof the victims of the violence would were several complaints of arbiuted among 7000 people. By the
not have been clothed, fed or trary decision and low rate of comfirst week of December the Punjab
treated for the injuries and illness." pensations. Moreover, the officials
National Bank had sanctioned
Added to this, the authorities were had not even printed enough claim
loans worth Rs 15.15 crores for
in a hurry to dismantle the camps forms. A voluntary organisation
transport, retail trade,small busiand drive these hapless human had to step in to print and make
ness repairs, etc. However, the
beings back into the darkness. It available the forms to the victims
victims have complained that high
may be recalled here that NEM in the camps.
intetest rates were being charged
intervention through a writ petition
for the loans~'
in De lhi High Court against Delhi
"To add insult to injury, officials
n spite of all that all is not lost.
Adm inistration prevented the in charge of relief and rehabilitaThere
was and there is a silver
inmates of the relief camps in the tion began to accuse members of
capital being forced to leave if they the Sikh community of filing false lining to the dark cloud. That is the
did not want to do so.
declarations and cornering the admirable efforts of sections of cit"Government compensation benefits meant for the suffering izens who rose to the occasion
was at the rate of Rs 1O,OOOto the people from the government. It with a deep humanist urge arid
families of dead persons (and might have happened here and commitment to human values.
lesser amount to the injured there. Are we not all part of a sick Many not only risked their lives but
person), Rs 10,000 for completely society where corruption and some actually lost their lives for the
destroyed houses, Rs 1 noD to Rs deceit are everyday occurrences? ~ause . The crowning example of
aking Revenge?
them. To crown it all, the
I<>rra,,,,,,, of the Home Depart-
'D<:r,nn"pn
Ba2ebb8
"The Government
Itself Is Guilty"
Comrade Attar Singh tells Neera Swaroop
Yes, of course.
FII .
RELIGION
[F@)OOCYlOO
....... ......................................................................
...
t-----
SLIDING SYSTEMS
Manufacturers Of:
10
re'
I
An
Important
Move
Continued from page 4
11
"".
~GDUY~~
........................................
TH.E. .
G.O.O.D.E.A.R.TH.
Liberation
Conrinued (rom page 10
4\~
..
tie his father~" the same m.anner. forgive divine" is unintelligible, parWhen this was done, he asked his ticularly the latter part. Today, I am
fathel; "Father, open the knots of quite clear that forgiveness is libthe King ." The father was natur- eration itself and one cannot
By N.K. Ray
ally furious and said how he cO'Jld develop this forgiveness unless he
or generations rains have
There have been attempts to do that when he was tied down has the "Khima Sigar:' (make-up of
been the single most convert brackish and saline water himself. The boy asked the King to forgiveness) granted in grace.
, NATIONAL
important factor affecting into drinking water by methods like untie his father and the King also What I had said in the beginning
FORTNIGHTL Y
the various facets of life in solar distillation and a new pro- replied in helplessness. The boy to describe the confines of liberathen
asked
the
servants
to
untie
tion
oriented
life
should
now
be
FOCOSSING
our country, the destinies of mil- cess called reverse osmosis.
lions of farmers and all those'
Solar distillation of saline brack- them both and addressed them clearly manifested in the pursuit of
ON
depend on their endeavour. On ish water is a very slow process thus :"Look , your majesty, my Guru's commands .
a Minority Rights '
the one hand, there is the question and there is likelihood of contam- father Pandit is himself in a bandhe
han
of
haughtiness
of
the
post
,0
Civil Liberties
Sat
Santokh
Daya
Dharm
Sigar
of timely arrival of the ~ easonal ination from the wind-blown dust
rains; on the other hand the unex- particles. Moreover, the initial holds what can he teach you? And Banavo.
o Equality For
pected or incessant deluge caus- investment for the plant is also you, King, you are in the band han
\Vom~n
(Dress yourselves with truth , coning devastation not only on down very high. Maintenance has to be
of the haughtiness of your position.
a Democratic
tentment, compassion and ju stice)
stream of major rivers and the frequent and costly. Reverse
You cannot learn anything
plains but also in cities and towns. osmosis projects have been
Values
because of this bandhan".
Today when I realise that Kam
There have been a number of evolved by mainly Bharat Heavy
o
Environmental.
..
We all are, therefore, tied down
Arth Dharam Moksh as also Paarvery serious drought situations in Electricals Limited.
in bandhan of our own making, of
ProteCtion
the country on account of the rain
Collection of rain water in an hatred, of backbiting, of vanity, of jaat and Kamdhen are all at the
SUBSCRIPTION
playing truant and we witnessed open tank on ground level or more anger, of greed, of wealth, of posi- command of one who recites the
one of the most severe of these preferably on the roof top is obvi- tion and so on. Foolishly, we
RATES
Lord's name, I also realise that the
only last year. About 50 per cent ously a simple method but here cannot even realise that these
whole world is mine: all humanity
of the land area was affected and again building of the tank involves kinds of bandhan, contrary to our
is mine. I rejoice at the happiness >Ltl,fe Donor SUbSCliptiPll .
both humans and cattle were high initial investment.
'. . . .. Rs. 1000.QO . .'
thinking, positively give us pain . of all and am pained to see somereduced to a miserable plight.
Under a project by Mahiti Centre And the opposite of all these attri- one in pain . Then I feel "Je dharti
J,ve Year SubsCri})t~Qn
The idea of proper storing of rain Ahmedabad, an experiment was butes positively contributes to our
<: Hs. 200.00 >')' .'
sab kanchan kar deeje bin nawen
water has been engaging the conducted by lining of ponds with happiness. I have been saying,
SubsCrlptibb: ..
awar na bhaya ram". This feeling
attention of our water scientists. plastic agrifilm. There were pro- talking and preaching that even If
of liberation is Grace of Guru
R$>50.00
.,
Small attempts were made earlier blems encountered by the exper- the husband and wife wish to live
Granth Sahib although I have a
perhaps by some individuals to imented project. One difficulty was peacefully at home, they need to
long, long way to go, I am constore rain water and utilise during that the pond of wells were of mud put into practice the Guru's comvinced that Guru Granth Sahib is
' t H'11 :'1 1'1. 0'.'4'4 .
the dry season. The problems and so the lining collapsed quickly mands. How can you live at peace perfectly capable of rem oving
:.OE
-:"ir:::~. :.'-:' ~:::} ',' y ,.'. : ~.
come by way of high cost of con- during the heavy rains. The slope with your wife, if your vanity also
one's ego : Haumaindeerag Rag
struction of the storage tanks and of earth has to be found optimum binds you? How can the parents
Hai Daru bhi is mae, Kirpa kare je 24 hours can remove Ego. And if
proper maintenance of the tank depending' on various conditions expect love from their children, if
aapni tan gurka shabd kame. The Ego, the greatest Band han , is
and its contents. This is one area like type of soil and intensity of rain they do not get rid of the
Kamai of Gurshabd, which I removed man is free . Man is libwhere great attention is required, so that the soil placed on top of attachment-oriented expectation? understand to mean the living of
erated. That is why Guru says ;
as otherwise the stored water can lining will remain in position. The I used to think, when I was a child, the dictates of the Master :, dayJeevan mukat so aakhiye harjive
do more harm than help in so far use of brick cover on agrifilm may that this idiom "To err is human,to to-day life with.Gursh abd ill heart
maraya.
as during the long period of stag- give better results according to ~_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
nation it is likely to develop and some studies.
maintain a variety of harmful bacExperiments are also being
teria and other organisms.
conducted to ascertain the right
The storage of rain water technology for placing and joining
become a significant issue espe- the sheets by various methods like
cially in areas where there is no heat sealing use of self adhesive
~rom
source of underground potable tapes and hot bitumen.
water or where potable water may
The water stored in such filmbe available but tapping it may not lined ponds is to be filtered by
be an affordable proposition from passing through both a leaf filter
the point of view of village econ- as preliminary and also sand filter
omy. Another region is that where for final filteration. This gives potrainfall is erratic and insufficient. able water. Plastic pipes can be
The run off water collected in the used for connecting the raw water
ponds during the rainy season will pond to the pump and from the
already have become saline and pump to the filteration units. From
undrinkable by February-March, the filtered water tank pipes or
the beginning of the summer hand-pumps can be used dependseason. Later it dries up com- ing on consumption .
pletely.
There are some villages where
The Gujarat Experiment has
there might be a source of water been taken up jointly by the Mahiti,
supply which is near perennial but Indian Petro-chemicals Limited
. the source may be utilised'for var- and various technical groups, vilious purposes like drinking, lage and mandai bodies. They had
bathing~~nd washing of clothes selected an area called Bhal in the
leading to all sorts of health pro- coastal region of Ahmedabad
blems. "
Kheda and parts of Bhavnagar
Field studies have shown that characterised by endemic scarcity
groups of people migrate from of water. The region was identified
their original habitations to other as early as 1980 by the group for
areas during the period of water work on alternative drinking water
scarcity, something like November supply. The cardinal principle realto July. People in many villages of ised and incorporated is the simulthe country suffer from water taneous
development
of
borne diseases for lack of safe community functioning in a coodrinking water. Even cooking, and perative and self-reliant manner so
dietary habits are affected by the as to develop a scientific attitude
availability of precious drinking towards understanding and solving problems.
water.
~@Wf ..
A
'.Year
.'Sw:jid~O:d;;~~~J;~~ia .
Satkar Financial
Corporation
2651 Kucha Chelan
Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002
Tele. Nos. 275595, 267628
12
Dear Mr President:
approaching you in the hope that you will kindly give due
consideration to our appeal for clemency, for Sardar Kehar
Singh and Satwant Singh, found guilty of assassinating the
late Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi on 31st October
1984. As a wise and noble head of our country you can well
appreciate the surcharged atmosphere under this unfortunate
act was done. Enraged by deep religious sentiments their spirit
of revenge clouded their sense of duty and responsibility. We
in no way minimize the gravity of the offence, but being conscious of the fact that how much bittemess has already been
created by subsequent events we should not add to it. Unfortunately, objectivity and rationality have ceased to exist. Only
a magnanimous gesture may bring about some sanity.
We earnestly request you to consider our appeal favourably and reduce the death penalty to life imprisonment in both
cases. We sincerely feel that this kindness will be appreciated by all right thinking people.
As far as the widows of the revolt from inside that 'why tbey
November 1984 riots are con- have to accept rations, why they
cerned what was the govern- can't earn more, and even why
ment's attitude and what the this plight engulfed them'.
government Isdolngto rehabilItate them?
There have been . so many
voluntary organisations In the
Well, in fairness to the governfield. Does the government
ment, we must say that some of
cooperate with these organisathem in the administration have
tions?
also been realistically and enthusiastically worked on the policies
Well, I will see it in the other way
settled by the government.
that the voluntary associations
cooperate with the government a
The government hasn't given
lot. Every opportunity is taken by
anything to them?
the associations to stick in letter
and spirit to what the government
No, it hasn't. Thagovernment has
wants .to be done.
only provided 60 percent jobs in
Tilak Vihar and an equal percentDo the widows have any
age in Gadi and the rest they have
revenge?
been promising. Now they have
started giving some pension either The circumstances have been so
to those who lost their sons or harsh for them. They . have to
others who have not been able to remember ordinary men of flesh
get jobs.
and blood with their children
Are the widowS happy to
receive these aids?
The ration that they are given is
not taken willingly or gladly. With
the ~e of time they find really
it is begging and sometimes they
-Sikh Forum
Dear Mr President:
~m aw~re that Presidential ~rdon, in fact, is what the CabiInet decides on the mercy petillOn of the condemned prisoner.
Nevertheless, the President's office has such enormous moral '
authority arid prestige that it can, at least on matters like Presidential pardon, assert itself.
The mercy petitions of Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh have
been rejected by the government, and both these men are due
to be hanged any day now. I am requesting you to exercise
your moral authority and the prestige of your office to save
.
their lives.
I have be.en a life-long opponent of capital punishment, and
even during my brief stint in government pleaded in the Cabinet on behalf of those who were condemned to death by the
courts. My appeal to you on behalf of Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh is in pursuance of my conviction that the state
should not commit judicial murder, which is what a death sentence is.
However, there is one more reason behind this appeal. The
Sikhs as a community have paid a very heavy price during
the last four years and more. In October-November 1984, at
least 4,000 innocent Sikhs lost their lives for no fault of theirs
and only a month ago, in Bidar, Karnataka, six young Sikh~
were killed for no rhyme or reason.
The execUtion of Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh will solve
nothing, not even in terms of the state having its revenge. If
anything, it will add to the bitterness that already prevails in
Punjab.
On the other hand, if you wefe to invoke the power and m;!jesty of your office and save the lives of these two persons,
you may set in motion a process that could help in bringing
about reconciliation in Punjab and end the violence that stalks
our land.
I am sure you will show the requisite statesmanship and
assert your Gandhian hertiage to save the lives of Kehar Singh_
and Satwant Singh.
~George
Fernandes
13
rll.
IF@lX1CYJOO
SHORT STORY
&a28&&8 ....................................................................................
Continued from last issue
By BalraJ Verma
"This other Clark. the dancer I , ' "With your health. figure. perso- is completed, I'll fold it carefully
mean. was your husband's sub- nality and status ....."
and methodically. Then I'll cover
ordinate. wasn't he?"
my soul with it so that, with the
"And why didn't you add ,my help of its warmth, I may be able
"Yes. he was. I must say you age? I think fortieth year in a man's to spend many a dark and dreary
are very sharp. You think very age marks the old age of youth. night ahead of me."
fast. "
"A youth of old age," she added
"So you are not ,as weak as
"On seeing you. and so closely. mischievously.
Clark. He had possessed me fully
anybody can lose his power of
in our very first meeting," she said,
"Man should marry at the proper with a smile.
thinking."
age. I failed to do that. Now it is
obvious that...."
"I'm very beautiful. eh?"
"Well, I too am quite that way.
Every pore of mine is lusting for
"What is obvious?"
"I won't put it.like that. Beauty is
your body. But I'm neither a thief,
there. no doubt. But above beauty
nor a dacoit. I've never outraged
"Who would like to marry his any woman."
is character. You have a very special character. Of course I must daughter to a man of my age?
confess that you top the list of all When it "Yas time I chose the
"When you too .. .. ."
the beauties I have had the priv- wrong woman. Failing to get her
I didn't compromise, like most of
ilege to know."
"I'm healthy. alert-minded and.
the people."
in my own humble way. quite a
"I'm afraid you are spoiling me."
reasonable man. I shall not tell lies
"Your choice couldn't be wrong. unnecessarily. I've fulfilled physi"I don't tell lies unnecessarily.' But it is strange that covering such cal demands of dozens of women.
a long passage of life you didn't But I have tarnished my soul. Nor
Every man deems it his right to run into another woman. Person- have I ever allowed any woman to
mouth sweet lies. But how queer ally speaking, no woman can dis- get on my nerves. As regards faIit is. We have been talking so long like you."
ling in love. I've already told you
and I've not cared to ask your
that the one woman whom I
"If I propose to you?"
desired did not or could not love
name."
me. It was a sheer chance. As for
."My position is diff.erent. I'm a love making. I have ever been an
"I think this information is rather
unnecessary. Anyhow. they call w~dow and respo~slbl.e for my adorer of beauties. Still I won't preme Joginder Pal."
'
wldowh~od. ConSidering what ' tend that any arrow of Cupid pierClark did. for us. I me.an Onasus ced my heart so deep that it turned
and me. it would be Sinful for me into a lifelong memory. Unlike the
"How long do you intend to stay
to
marry anyone else:
traditional Majnun. I've had never
here?"
made one-sided love. One-sided
"I don't follow you."
liking I've often had. But such sen"As long as it is required. But at
the moment it is a schedule of ten
" .
.
timents are superficial and lack
It IS a long story w~lch I shall . nerve. It is sheer folly to keep
weeks only. I do hope G.R.L. macdecking with memories an
hinery would be fitted within this relate at another time.
attachment that can't be consu'mspan. Work is going on speedily."
"In yor black dress you look like mated. But why am I telling you all
a convent nun."
this? You please go to sleep. You
"What. according to you. are the
facinate me. Just with a view to
future prospects of G.R.L.?"
"I'm no nun. I have donned the getting a glimpse of you I've been
robe
of widowhood, no doubt. But eating James's 'Pakoras' for the
"In their field they are ahead of
Clark
was neither the first nor the last ten days whereas I'm not at all
all others over here. After the
fond of fried stuff. But I'll never play
installation of new machinery they last man in my life:
Clark even if my infatuation for you
would embark on the national
"You are very frank and fearless unhinges me."
scene."
woman, I must say."
14
To be conduded
WOMEN
like to mirror the problems that
preceded or succeded the Cup.
There were many-some on the
field and some cff the fil:lld.
Before the start of the first Asia
Cup in April-84 in Sharjah, Pak
cricket had to pass through a
series of crisis. It started with a
turmoil over the selection on certain favourite players at the cost of
experienced players. Resultantly,
two selected players made a fuss
Contined from page 76
of the affairs and almost dropped
PHOTO: R. GUPTA
out. Another two Pak players
returned back from the Airport
since their wives were not allowed
to accompany them. Nevertheless, all of them had to turn up,
persuaded by a mixture of threats
- and compromise.
As for the Indian team, it was
handicapped by the absence of
Kapil Dev, who had gone to US to
undergo a knee operation. Matters
were made even worse by the
exclusion of both Mohinder Amarnath and K. Srikkanth. In fact,
Gavaskar returned at the helm of
affaris to lead a very neW-look
side.
New-comers like Chetan
Sharma and Manoj Prabhakar
bowled magnificently and succeded in containing the opposition.
On the other side, new pair of
openers namely Surinder Khanna
and Gulam Parkar batted quite
competently and allowed Sunil
Gavaskar the lUXUry to bat lower
down. In fact, Surinder Khanna,
the wicket keeper-batsman, batted
so well that he won the Man of the
Match award in both the matches
as well as the Man of the Series
award.
India Vs
Sri Lanka
of
Srikkanth
Dilip Vengsarkar' may prove a
better ~ opener? Vengsarkar hid
. --~-- ----
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Sports
Sa2ebbe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Goodbye Sommayya
aneypande Sommayya,
Indian hockey captain in the
Seoul Games has decided to quit
big time hockey. 'It was a great
honour to play for the country and
also lead the team in international
tournaments for short spells', he
said in his letter to the president of
the Indian Hockey Federation.
Requesting to be overlooked for
national squads henceforth, he is
believed to have cited personal
reasons for his decision.
Sommayya who has donned
national colours for the last eight
years made his Olympic debut in
Moscow, when India won the gold
after a stretch of 16 years. He has
beeen rated as one of the best left
halves of India whose place in the
side has been almost a certainity.
India Vs
Sri Lanka
By Navin Chand
Arsha.d Ayub
l hlrd was to be played thjs year in
March in Bangladesh but was
postponed due to prevailing political crisis in that conutry. Now it is
bei ng played in OctoberNovember amongst four countries,
namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and the host Bangladesh. This
wo uld be the first time when all the
four countries are participating in
Asia cup-Bangladesh was missing in the inaugural and India did
not participate in the last one.
Dilip Vengsarkar is leading
Indian challenge to recapture the
trophy it won in the inaugural tournament while the defending
champions Sri Lankan team will
be led by Ranjan Madugalle. Lankans had won the cup in' 1986.
Being a captain of a Pak cricket
team is a hazardous occupation
but with the retirement of the
Pathan;.knran Khan, Javed Miandad is the obvious choice. About
host Bangladesh, little is known
outside since they don't have the
Test-status.
As for Indian chances of winning
the cup once again, one would like
to assess it in the light of its performance in Champions Trophy
Sharjah where it suffered two
heavy defeats at the hands of Pakistan and West Indies whil~ its solitary victory was more by chanCE>
16
't'
-I. Gupta
Sommayya
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