Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.9 No. 47 March 25-31, 2017 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
56% Americans
disapprove of GOP
Farewell to DCG Mohapatra reflected
healthcare plan: Poll
New York: The majority of American voters,
his popularity in community
56%, disapprove of the Republican health care
plan to replace Obamacare, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.
Only 17% of voters approve of the plan and
26% are undecided. The question "There is a
Republican health care plan to replace
Obamacare, known as the American Health Care
Act. Do you approve or disapprove of this
Republican health care plan?" did not go into
specifics of the plan.
"Replacing Obamacare will come with a price
for elected representatives who vote to scrap it,
say many Americans, who clearly feel their
health is in peril under the Republican alterna
tive," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the
poll. Most voters, 61%, also disapprove of the
way President Donald Trump is handling health
care. The President and Republican leaders are
With musical bands, the outgoing Deputy Consul General Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra was led into the grand hall of Royal Alberts
scrambling for a deal on landmark legislation to
Palace in Fords,NJ, for a farewell reception. (Left) Dr Mohapatra addressing the audience. (Photos: Ashok Ojha)
repeal and replace Obamacare. Republicans can't By Ashok Ojha/SATimes Replying to the felicitation bestowed The outgoing officer named a number
lose more than 21 members of their party and upon him, Dr. Mohapatra said, My first of organizations that partnered with
still pass the bill, since no Democrats are expect Edison (NJ): It was one of the most spec assignment after moving to New York him in improving the image of his office.
ed to support it. One out of every seven tacular farewell parties in living memo was to oversee the arrangement for the My relationship with the FIA helped me
Americans 14% believes they will lose their ry organized for an outgoing official of visit of Prime Minister Modi at the extend quick support to people in dis
health insurance under the Republicans' replace the Government of India. Madison Square Garden in September tress, he said highlighting the impor
ment plan. Led by bagpipers musicians of an Irish 2014. tance of a cordial relationship with the
And the plan doesn't enjoy majority support band and Indian drum players, Dr. The audience at the event had over local community.
among Republicans, with only 41% backing the Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Deputy whelmingly responded to a suggestion One of the significant activities initi
bill. Nearly half of voters, or 46%, say they will Consul General of India in New York, by PM Modi about unpopularity of the ated by the Consulate was holding open
be less likely to vote for their US senator or rep was ushered by dozens of community Indian Consulate. I told myself how houses twice a month, which proved to
resentative if he or she votes to replace leaders into Royal Alberts Palace in important it was to work hard for be a successful initiative for solving
Obamacare with the Republican health care Fords, New Jersey for the farewell improvement of the image of my office. problems faced by the members of the
plan. Nearly one in five say they will be more reception organized by a host of social Dr. Mohapatra vowed to help each and Indian community, he said.
likely to vote for their lawmaker if he or she sup and cultural organizations based in the every complainant reaching his office A number of community leaders repre
ports the replacement plan. And 29% said they Tristate area. since then. He oversaw the overhauling senting AAPI, AIA, Maheshwari Samaj
vote won't matter. The felicitation and honor on Tuesday of procedures for issuing passports and and others spoke on the occasion.
Most men, 56%, disapprove of the plan as do proved his popularity in the community, visas to qualifying applicants. He trav Among them were Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Dr.
most women, also 56%. While more than half of as he was instrumental in initiating a elled frequently around the 10 US states Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Jitendra
white voters disapprove of the plan, even more number of programs that bridged the under the jurisdiction of the Consulate Muchchal, Srinivas Gangani, Rahul
nonwhite voters 64% disapprove. Overall, gap between the Indian Consulate and General in New York in order to develop Walia, Malini Shah and HarshVardhan
58% of independent voters disapprove of the the community since he took over his close ties with the IndianAmerican com Singh. Andy Bhatia, president, FIA, con
replacement plan. job in New York. munity. ducted the event.
4 March 25-31, 2017 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info
INOC lauds Congress win in Punjab, Midlands. Masood is believed to have lived at
various times in Rye, Crawley in West Sussex
ing that President Donald Trump continued
with his preelection rhetoric that has wors
ened the atmosphere in the country.
peeved by Yogi Adityanath as UP CM
and Eastbourne, in East Sussex. He also
appeared to have been convicted of a knife Congressman Raul Grijalva from Arizona
crime in 2003 in Eastbourne. said to single out and to victimize and demo
New York: We are indeed shocked that the RSS will be on full display soon. nize people because of their religion, country
Yogi Adityanath, whose virulent public pro In its press release, INOC quoted a New
Trump campaigns ties to Russia of origin and skin color is unAmerican. We
nouncements often borders on contempt York Times report that Yogi Adityanath
under FBI probe have to be honest about the situation that we
for the minorities in India, is anointed by rose to prominence as part of the campaign are dealing with today. We cannot allow
Continued from page 1
the Narendra ModiAmit Shah combine as to rebuild the Ram temple, and has repeat racial identity and religion a dividing issue in
to support claims by the President that he
the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said edly been charged with fanning religious this country. We need to stand firm. We need
was wiretapped on the orders of predecessor
Harbachan Singh, the SecretaryGeneral of tensions. INOC has urges NRIs in America to defend the nation that we are part of, he
Barack Obama.
Indian National Overseas Congress, USA. to strongly express their disapproval of the said. IndianAmerican Congressman Raja
Meanwhile, President Trump has demand
George Abraham, Chairman of the INOC, selection of a Hindutva extremist to be the Krishnamoorti called for a joint effort to
ed that House Republicans vote on Friday on
added, It is a recipe for disaster for Uttar leader of the most important state in India. fight a common threat. We need to get to
a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable
Pradesh; however, it is part of a carefully Opposing Trumpism in America while the root cause of what is going on. We may
Care Act, also known as Obamacare, a media
calibrated plan by the BJP to further sow remaining silent on the fundamentalist have come on different ships in the history
report said.
the seeds of polarization and conflict to ascendance in India would tantamount to of our country but we are on the same the
According to the Office of Management
profit from especially looking at the upcom nothing less than duplicity, their statement boat now, he said.
and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Trump
ing Parliamentary election. The real face of added. The most important values are treating
is prepared to leave the current healthcare
system established by former US President each other with dignity with respect regard
Barack Obama in place if his bill does not less of race and religion and empathetic to
gain enough support in Congress, Efe news increased visibility, said Congressman Ro
reported on Thursday. Khanna from California.
As per a SAALT report Power, Pain,
IT industry need not fret over H1B Potential, which documents 207 incidents of
visas: Sushma Swaraj hate violence and xenophobic political rheto
Continued from page 1 ric aimed at South Asian, Muslim, Sikh,
65,000. In 2000 it was raised to 1,95,000 Hindu, Middle Eastern, and Arab communi
for three years. In 2004 the number of these ties, there is a 34 per cent increase in less
visas was again reversed to 65,000 by the than a third of the time covered in its 2014
US. So there has been a flipflop on this poli report.
cy even before Donald Trump government," SAALT stands ready to work with
she said. Congressional leaders to fight hate violence
Warm reception to Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Secretary (CPV and OIA), The Minister also informed the house that and xenophobic political rhetoric impacting
visiting New York, and sendoff to Manoj Kumar Mohapotra, Deputy Indian Consul the visa facility extended to the spouses of our communities nationwide, said Suman
General in New York. Seen in the picture Prem Bhandari , Ravi Batra, Ranju Batra, Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT.
the Indian professionals has not been with
Dr Raj Bhayani, DCG Manoj Mohapotra, Amb. Mulay, and Jagdish Sewhani. (Source: PTI)
drawn by the US so far. On illegal immi
By Shivaji Sengupta
T
hese days, the media is agog
w ith President Donald
Trump's mistrust of his own
Donald Trump: Bureaucracy,
government's bureaucracy, espe
cially when it has expressed diffi
cult ies in carry ing out the
Presidents Executive Orders. Nay
politics and the Deep State
sayers will point out that Trump policy, including career public ser
dislikes and criticizes whenever Every head of state, a prime vants. In other words, Lofgrens
people or institutions oppose him. perspective is somewhat akin to
This is true, but Trump's issues
minister or a president, mine, as described above, except
with his bureaucracy actually rais must learn to work within that I wouldnt include the private
es some fundamental aspects of sector in it. Private sector influence
governance itself. the parameters of is the work of lobbyists.
I am not thinking about "Deep What we, the public, will do well
State," which New York Times governmental framework. to understand is that every head of
explains somewhat controversial
ly as a network of civilian and
The Trump administration state, be he or she a prime minister
or a president, must learn to work
government of ficials who control through its over-reaction within the parameters of govern
or undermine democratically elect mental framework. As the New
ed governments. What the Times to the Washington bureau- York Times noted, the Trump
could have said is that Deep State
runs the government at the behest
cracy may risk making administration through its over
react ion to the Washington
of the President, but sometimes is those very problems worse bureaucracy may risk making
capable of undermining it. those very problems worse that it
These of ficials are not elected. that it is trying to combat. is trying to combat. To accuse them
Those at the top have risen to posi of leaking information, publicizing
t ions of considerable power duty! view about them. According to gan among these bureaucrats. The internal conflicts and politicizing
through the civil ranks. Since they This is not peculiar to America. It Time magazine, it is an organized reason the public knows so little institutions such as the intelligence
are not elected, they cannot be happens in Europe, Britain and resistance within the government, about them is because they operate agencies, might force them to
fired (though they can be trans India. In Britain and India, it is working to subvert his presidency. under the radar, quite happy to become truly secretive and coer
ferred). In fact, their permanence called "the Stee l Frame." They blame career bureaucrats, yield to the elected officials all the cive in the way they try not to.
affords them immense knowledge T here are famous many of whom they see as being publicity. David Gergen, the CNN American bureaucrats are not (yet)
instances of cabinet minis loyal to former President Barack commentator, weighed in on this:
T
style. They belong to dif fer ters or even the Prime Obama, for leaking damag ing This is a dark conspiratorial view and Pakistan where apparently
M
ent departments such as Minister being frustrated by their information to the news media. that is being pushed by Steve they literally run the country!
M
Chief Secretary (a Secretary there, T he fact that the term Deep Bannon, his allies at Breitbart and
CO
Sena MP defends
colleague, Air
Key to reviving Punjab lies in
India to FIR
New Delhi: Air India said it will file an FIR
revitalizing its industrial cities
By Amit Kapoor
against Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad for
assaulting a staffer after he was forced to
he conversation around BJPs electoral
T
travel economy class though he had a busi
win in UP has completely overshadowed
ness class ticket.
the political scenario in the state of
Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar
Punjab. Political commentators attribute this
told IANS: "We have formed a committee to
to Punjab's small electoral share compared to
examine the whole incident. As soon as the
UP, but there is more to it than mere arith
report comes, the management will decide
metic.
the next course of action. We are planning
Only a few decades ago, Punjab was a poster
to file an FIR today."
boy for development a state that was the
Air India has begun contacting passen
centrestage of the Green Revolution and
gers on the flight as some of them may have
whose cities were fast industrializing.
videoed the incident or clicked pictures dur
Ludhiana was a production hub for cycles;
ing the fracas between Gaikwad and the air Only a few decades ago, Punjab was a poster boy for development.
Jalandhar had a thriving sports goods indus
line officials.
try and Amritsar had its textile industry. Punjab were a driving force behind Punjab's nomic policies followed by the state leader
Meanwhile, Arvind Sawant, a Sena leader
Punjab's economic size made it hard to be erstwhile growth, it should be instructive to ship. Punjab's agricultural sector is riddled
and MP from south Mumbai, defended
sidelined. Now, the state and its cities have delve into the reasons for their decline. with controls and huge subsidies, which
Gaikwad and described the assault as a
fallen into Detroitlike insignificance. First, was the availability of cheaper imports makes the state's fiscal situation highly
"reaction to rude and insulting behaviour of
Industries have chosen to exit the state. of manufactured and intermediary goods from unmanageable. The state provides free elec
Air India officials".
Between 2007 and 2014, about 18,770 facto China. For instance, Jalandhar, which was a tricity to its farmers. To compensate for this
"Gaikwad is a professor by profession and
ries have closed down. As a result, employ global supplier of sports goods, lost its com subsidy, arcane duties and cesses are imposed
he is known for his peaceful demeanor.
ment and economic growth have fallen below petitive edge to cheaper Chinese products. on electricity provided to industries. This
Although Gaikwad was quite polite during
the national average. Moreover, the rising Similarly, the cycles industry in Ludhiana lost makes operations unreasonably expensive.
the argument, the Air India officers were
menace of drugs has added to the woes. its place to cheaper imports of cycle compo The newlyelected Congress government
rude," he said.
The strong antiincumbency shown in the nents from China. The second reason is the needs to reverse all these policy errors to
"They insulted him and used abusive lan
recent elections reflects the desire for change loss of competitive advantage to Punjab's revive Punjab's growth story.
guage. One cannot expect us to keep quiet
among the people of Punjab and, hopefully, neighboring states. Tax structures are more Since agriculture is no longer the mainstay
in such a situation. We at Shiv Sena do not
the Amarinder Singhled government will live attractive in Himachal Pradesh. of its economy, the best approach that the
tolerate injustice. We do not see anything
up to the expectation of the electorate. The state has been offering a tax holiday to incoming government can take is to revive the
wrong in Gaikwad's reaction," Sawant told
Reviving the state needs to begin at the level industries since 2003 along with other sops. state's basic units of economic power: its
IANS. The incident happened when flight
of its cities as they have the potential to Also, industrial power is much more abun cities. Reviving the industrial clusters that
AI852 from Pune landed at Delhi airport
become engines of growth and prosperity. dantly available and considerably cheaper in once thrived in the cities of Punjab is its best
around 10.30 a.m.
Since industrial clusters across the cities of Himachal Pradesh. Third is the flawed eco bet in a failing economy.
Seasons March 25-31, 2017 15
CHINA
A herdsman transfers sheep to spring pastures in Ili Kazak Autonomous Pre-
fecture, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March
9. Local herdsmen started to move their herds from winter pastures to spring
pastures, as the weather grew warm.
KOLK ATA
G irls perform at a cultural program during Basanta Utsav (literally, spring
festival that coincides with Holi) in Kolkata on March 12.
16 March 25-31, 2017 BOLLYwOOD
Aishwarya Rai give him a taste of all things desi and be his
tour guide, Jacqueline said in a statement.
Bachchans
The actress also plans to curate a special
menu comprising of Maharashtrian, South
father no more
Indian and Gujarati delicacies at her newly-
launched restaurant. The A Flying Jatt ac-
tress also wants to take him to meet under-
Karan was
Khushbu
expressing his
views at the
being considered for
India Today
conclave. Rajinikanths next
A ctress Khushbu Sundar might land a
pivotal role in superstar Rajinikanths
yet-untitled next outing, a source said.
Khushbhu and Rajinikanth, in their hey-
day, have starred in Tamil films such as
Mannan, Pandian and Annamalai.
Its true that Khushbhu is being consid-
ered for one of the leading roles. The mak-
ers have even initiated talks. However, she
hasnt officially signed the project yet. One
A happy marriage in
of the reasons being a Telugu project with
Pawan Kalyan and she fears the dates for the
both the projects will clash, the source said.
A
you know it all. If you preserve this energy, evant. If I am crossing your mind at any
ctress Reese Witherspoon is report- Reese is furious that Nicole hasnt done
you can use it to learn. True knowledge in point of the day, I am relevant. So why I
edly furious with once best friend and more to support Big Little Lies. All shes
acquired by being on the threshold of igno- should be upset? My father says one day,
colleague Nicole Kidman. talked about in interviews is Lion. Had Re-
rance, Alia said at the India Today Conclave. the flowers will stop coming and youll be
Gossip platform New Idea has claimed ese known that Nicole would put the show
She added: If I dont know about any singer upset. I say one day, the jokes will stop
there is no love lost between the Oscar- so far on the backburner, she would have
of the 1970s, I think it is ok. Problem is that coming, and then Ill be upset, she said.
winning actresses after a fallout over their cast some random, said a source.
new TV show Big Little Lies, reports dai- The magazine said the frosty relations
lymail.co.uk. between the pair manifested themselves at
The publication claims Witherspoon
is unhappy at her Australian co-star Kid-
the Oscars last month. You could cut the
tension with a knife at the Oscars. When Anushka Sharma
scared SRK at his house
mans failure to promote the HBO series in Nicole was telling her people to keep Re-
the run up to its debut in February, claim- ese away from her - theres no love lost at
ing Kidman used too much of her airtime all, added the source. The show is aired in
to discuss her latest Hollywood hit Lion. India on Star World Premiere HD.
A nushka Sharma got her first co-star
Shah Rukh Khan to help her promote
her forthcoming production Phillauri
when she landed up at his residence Man-
nat here to scare him.
Anushka plays a friendly ghost named
Shashi in the forthcoming film, and to fit
the theme, she made a promotional video
with her Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Jab
Tak Hai Jaan co-star at his house.
I am making this video because people
nowadays have become a lot more supersti-
tious and feel that they are surrounded by
supernatural beings... There are no ghosts
actually, Shah Rukh says in the video, before
getting interrupted by Anushkas voice.
He poses as if he is scared, and then
Anushka introduces herself as Shashi, say-
ing she is a big fan of King Khan.
Shah Rukh then requests fans to watch
the film, which will release on March 24.
Directed by Anshai Lal, Phillauri also
features Diljit Dosanjh, Suraj Sharma and
Mehreen Pirzada. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh
Witherspoon is unhappy at Kidmans failure to promote and Anushka will return to the silver screen Anushka is busy promoting
their TV series Big Little Lies. together with Imtiaz Alis The Ring. her film Phillauri.
Religion
Quest for
18 March 25-31, 2017
Ramayan
country. Its natural beauty abounds. Each from sea level, we climbed almost 7000
and every inch of its land is decorated by feet. Next day morning, we traveled down
nature with thick dark nourished trees and by about 4000 feet to Ravana Cave, the site
bushes, exquisitely colored flowers, and of Ravans Underground Palace that either
in Lanka
ripe bright-colored fruits and vegetables. is buried under a 650-700-step mountain
We traveled from Colombo to Kandy and or was carved out in the stone.
then traveled to Ashok Vatika where Ravan Ravanas Falls are a short drive further.
held Sita captive. Beside it, there are two In caves behind these falls, he held Sita be-
deep footmarks described as Hanumans. fore transferring her to Ashok Vatika.
Vishnu on Sheshnag
at Colombo City
Museum
The Vedas: Eko Ham Bahu Shayam was presented in classical
dance form in Delhi on March 18 to highlight the
significance of Vedas in daily life.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED March 25-31, 2017 19
By Amulya Ganguli
D
id the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
desist from naming its Chief
Ministerial candidate for UP before the
Love jehad to sabka vikas:
assembly polls because it wanted to spring a
nasty, or pleasant, surprise depending on
one's point of view on an unsuspecting pub
lic? For some, the earlier deafening silence
Can Modi tame Yogi?
on a possible Chief Minister might have been morphosis of this magnitude, there has also
a deceitful ploy considering that as virtually been a manifold increase in Modi's clout
the sole ef fective campaigner, Narendra after UP's overwhelming verdict in the BJP's
Modi gave the impression that he remains favour.
focused on development notwithstanding a As the master of all he surveys at the
few sops to the Hindutva brigade as in the moment, he can take the party and the coun
'kabaristhanshamshan ghat' controversy try in almost any direction that he wants.
relating to the Samajwadi Party's alleged par It has to be remembered that in the last
tiality towards the Muslims. few months, Modi succeeded in clipping the
To critics such as these, the choice of Yogi Yogi's wings in respect of the latter's ghar
Adityanath perhaps the most trenchant of wapsi and love jehad programs. One doesn't
the saf fron hardliners as UP's Chief hear any more of these provocative cam
Minister is also a message to the BJP's core paigns to reconvert Muslims and stop Hindu
constituency of communalminded Hindus Muslim marriages. Modi also virtually called
that for all the talk about 'sabka saath' and the gau rakshaks or the cow vigilantes anti
'sabka vikas' or development for all, Modi's socials.
heart remains in the right place. Considering that all these operations had
The jury will be out till it becomes clear the blessings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
whether the BJP is playing a double game. Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ostensible mentor,
However, to give it the benefit of doubt, it Modi's boldness in reining them in is obvi
has to be admitted that so far the party's ous.
emphasis has remained on development with In this respect, he is way ahead of Atal
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, centre, with Deputy Chief Ministers Behari Vajpayee, the tallest leader in the BJP
even the Yogi articulating the key word,
Keshav Prasad Maurya (left) and Dinesh Sharma in Lucknow. (Photo: IANS) before him, who shied away from taking on
vikas, in his first few comments after his
selection was announced while the central hate speeches figure prominently in Google thousands, in Manmohan Singh's words, into the RSS in a frontal confrontation.
observer, Venkaiah Naidu, repeated it thrice searches, to change his saffron stripes, it will an "avatar of modernism and progress", to Even so, any ef fort to bring Yogi
to remove all misgivings. be an extraordinary achievement. quote Congress M.P. Shashi Tharoor, then so Adityanath in line will be Modi's biggest test.
There is little doubt, however, that the Perhaps Modi believes that if he himself can the Yogi. If he succeeds, it will be like inducing Hitler
choice of Yogi is one of the most audacious can change from being a textbook fascist, as It is also undeniable that if anyone can to embrace the Jews or Abu Bakr alBaghdadi
of gambles by Modi, far more than the sociologist Ashis Nandy said, or a modern bring about such a seminal transformation, it of the ISIS expressing love for infidels.
demonetization venture. If the prime minis day Nero, in the Supreme Court's view, or a is Modi. It's not only that there is no one else Modi, therefore, can be said to have
ter can make a person, whose antiminority person who "presided" over the killing of in the BJP who is capable inducing a meta embarked on his most daring mission.
I
t was a spectacular celebration. Hamein banaya tha. ments, pitched his tent in the
The beating of drums, sprin (After men had completed mak Congress park as its permanent
kling of colors, group songs, ing their God. vote bank. In the 1980s, V.N.
dancing continued well after dusk. Look, they screamed, it is He who Gadgil, General Secretary of the
As I watched from my window, a made us)" Congress, took me into confidence.
thought crossed my mind: Why had Juggle around with this couplet "Muslim appeasement is beginning
we not been invited? Ours is the and you get a fair idea of how to rankle with the Congress' Hindu
only Muslim home in the colony, Muslims are themselves responsi base." This "appeasement" was
but a pride of place has always ble for the rise of the Bharatiya exposed by the Sachar Committee
been accorded to us in all celebra Janata Party (BJP). First they help Report in 2005. Successive
tions, including Holi. We have strengthen the BJP, then they cry: Congress governments had
inherited this knack of integration We are afraid. brought Muslim socioeconomic
from our elders. The Mahant of Basically, the Muslim is not at status down even below the Dalits.
Basically, the Muslim is not at fault.
Shiv Sharan Das temple in Lucknow fault. The Congress is from the Some appeasement.
The Congress is from the very beginning.
always made special "bhang"free very beginning. When it agreed After the Muslim vote defected en
"thandai" for my father on Holi. are the ogres imagination conjures my village near Rae Bareli, where with Lord Louis Mountbatten and masse from the Congress following
I called up the President of the up. my sister keeps a television with its Mohammad Ali Jinnah to Partition the demolition of Babri Masjid in
Residents Welfare Association Yes, one is afflicted by deep anxi tube burnt out no images only the country on religious lines, it 1992, a seering truth has settled in
(RWA) to register my protest. He ety, but Narendra Modi's extraordi sound. It is surrealistic. We heard had diluted its own stand on the the Muslim mind. The Congress had
was vacationing at Corbett Park. nary victory is only a fraction of the the election results in stupefied, twonation theory Hindus and cheated the community from day
T here had been deaths in the problem. The anxiety is accentuat stunned silence. My cousin Asghar Muslims constituted two separate one. So he left the Congress but
neighborhood; RWA had therefore ed by the context in which politics broke the silence. nations. Once you created Muslim having done so, where should he
not organized a Holi celebration. It is unfolding. Spaces for open dis "The state of the Muslims in the Raj (Pakistan), India had glided go? Rank casteist parties
was private initiative some cussion political, social, economic country is just like your television, seamlessly from British Raj to Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan
friends had come together for the and cultural are shrinking. In any Suraiya blind but noisy." Hindu Raj. Samaj Party (BSP) opened their
festivities. We know them well, but case they are all in the hands of Suraiya asked: "How have the I have argued this case in my doors. In a daze, the Muslim walked
they probably did not include us in philistinism and propaganda. This Muslims fared?" book: "Being the Other: The Muslim in as an enabler of casteist power.
their list of revelers because they afflicts not all of the media, but a Asghar: "They have helped the in India". A fair bargain could have There was nothing in it for him.
thought we may not be in the cele large chunk of it. A creeping voice BJP win and now they are terrified been struck with the Muslim even And now, Congress, SP, BSP are all
bration mode or in depression at lessness therefore is our anxiety. at the outcome: at that stage, avoiding all the fallen icons, piled up in a lifeless
the turn of political events. Such I was with family in Mustafabad, Khuda ko aihle Jahaan hypocrisy about secularism. heap. Where should the Muslim go?
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
20 March 25-31, 2017 BOOKS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
P CAPTAIN
Chief Minister, Amarinder
Singh told Congress Vice
he would not consider the case of
his fathers friend, Khushwant
well as for making him the Chief
Minister (in February 2002),
president Rahul Gandhi in 2015
that he was ready to quit and float
AMARINDER Singh writes. Published in the last
week of February by Hay House
states the biography, based on
scores of interviews spanning
his own outfit if he was not
appointed state party chief. An SINGH: India, it is the authorised biogra
phy of the Punjab Chief Minister
over five years.
The situation, according to the
authorized biog raphy of and, therefore, clearly implies that biography, deteriorated further in
Amarinder Singh claims that even The Amarinder Sing h has duly one closeddoor meeting at 10,
though Sonia Gandhi was open to approved all the incidents and Janpath, in late September 2015
bringing Singh back at the helm Peoples facts that find mention. when the Congress Vicepresi
in Punjab, Rahul Gandhi was dead By the end of 2014, several dent did not bestow the respect a
against taking away the baton
from Pratap Sing h Bajwa.
Maharaja meetings between Amarinder
Singh and the Congress top brass
senior leader like Amarinder
Singh deserved. Rahul Gandhi
Tensions reached a high point in is an yielded no result. was reminded by Sonia Gandhi
October 2015 in the capital when During this period of uncertain that he was talking to his fathers
Rahul Gandhi asked Amarinder unauthorized ty, his team also flirted the idea of friend, after which he calmed
Singh if he was floating his own him becoming part of the down. Besides tracing the career
party to which Singh replied: biography Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and graph of Amarinder Singh, the
What youve heard is absolutely when this too did not work, he book provides meaning ful
correct, biographer Khushwant flexed his muscles further. Singh insights into crucial events that
Singh, not to be confused with the as the Punjab Pradesh Congress totally on regaining his lost berth then went on to question the lead have made an immense impact on
late literary giant, quotes him as President on November 27, 2015. as the Punjab Congress chief, ership ability of Rahul Gandhi that state and its neighbouring
saying in Captain Amarinder He was sworn in as the Chief which would eventually help to time and again but the Congress areas over the past few decades.
Singh: The Peoples Maharaja. If Minister on Thursday after the again catapult him into the Chief high command seemed to be Often confused with late writer
I do not fit in your scheme of Congress romped home with 77 Ministers chair. But the Congress shutting its eyes, the ground reali Khushwant Singh, who wrote the
things, I will need to find an alter seats in the 117member assem high command turned a deaf ear ty notwithstanding. muchacclaimed 1956 historical
native. I live in Punjab; the Akalis bly. Bajwa represented Gurdaspur to his claims, pushing the Punjab After his pride had been hurt, he novel Train to Pakistan, biogra
have ruined Punjab and I have to in the Lok Sabha from 2009 to unit of the party towards faction was advised by his supporters to pher Khushwant Sing h is the
look for my own path if you dont 2014. He was earlier a member of alism as Singh and Bajwa began float his own party, but Singh held author of three books: the best
have a plan for me, the biography the Punjab assembly and was ele flaying each other in the media. Sonia Gandhi in high esteem. selling Sikhs Unlimited (2007), a
quotes Amarinder Singh as telling vated to state party chief in March Amarinder Sing h, who had The reverence is not just an travelogue featuring extraordi
Rahul Gandhi. 2013. enjoyed a very cordial relation outcome of she being an exPrime nary Sikhs; the g ripping
Rahul Gandhi, on his part, said Even after Amarinder Singhs ship with Sonia Gandhi, suddenly Ministers wife or his schoolmates Turbaned Tornado: The Oldest
that if this step was taken both victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha felt coldshouldered by the Gandhi wife but more so for her ability to Marathon Runner Fauja Singh
the Cong ress and Amarinder election from Amritsar where is family. Rahul Gand hi, whom lead the party. Referring to her as (2011); and the widelyacclaimed
Singh would be the losers. So be resounding ly de feated Arun Amrinder Singh would frequently Mrs Gand hi, he frequently nove l Maharaja in Denims
it, contended Singh. Eventually, Jaitley despite the Narendra Modi take out for outings whenever he expresses gratitude to her for (2014), a story set in Chandigarh.
Amarinder Singh was appointed wave of that year his focus was visited Doon School to meet his allowing him to lead the Congress Source: IANS
TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIASPORA March 25-31, 2017 21
ExSri Lankan
minister fasts, 'Pakistan to blame
seeks release
Colombo: Sri Lanka's former
Housing Minister Wimal
for violence in
Weerawansa, currently in prison on
Pujara gains No.2 slot; Jadeja pips Ashwin Third Test: Handscomb, Marsh
Dubai: Indian players continued
to rule the International Cricket
landmark as his tally of 899 rat
ing points puts him on the brink
carry Australia to safety
Council's (ICC) Test rankings as of becoming only the second Ranchi: The middle order duo of unbeaten on 72. Marsh produced
Ranchi doublecenturion India bowler after Ashwin to Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb his own impersonation of a stone
Cheteshwar Pujara gained four touch the 900point mark. produced some gritty batting to wall at the other end, taking up 197
spots to a careerbest No.2 spot Ashwin, who had a highest rating he lp Australia salvage a draw deliveries enroute to an extremely
while his teammate Ravindra of 904 points, has slipped 37 against India in the third cricket patient 53 before falling to an
Jadeja consolidated his stay on points behind Jade ja to 862 Test match at the Jharkhand State excellent catch by Murali Vijay off
top of the bowler's list after push points after finishing with only Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium Ravindra Jadeja's bowling around
ing fellow tweaker Ravichandran two wickets in Ranchi. here. Handscomb and Marsh forged nine overs from the close.
Ashwin to the No.2 spot. India pacer Umesh Yadav also a brilliant 124run fifthwicket Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin
Jade ja, who g rabbed nine gained three places to find him stand as Australia ended their sec got rid of Glenn Maxwell a couple of
Australian wickets in the drawn self at a careerhigh No.26 while ond innings at 204/6 and denied overs later, but that proved to be
third Test, gained seven points South Africa spinner Keshav the hosts any chance of gaining a 2 the last bit of meaningful action in
after starting jointfirst with Maharaj has risen 15 places to 1 lead in the series. the match as Matthew Wade joined
Ashwin at 892 points. The left reach a careerbest 37th spot The Indians had declared their Handscomb to bat out the remain
arm spinner has become only the after taking eight wickets against first innings at 603/9 on the fourth ing overs. For India, leftarm spin
third Indian player after Ashwin New Zealand in Wellington while day for a lead of 152 runs in ner Jadeja was the pick of the
Cheteshwar Pujara.
and Bishan Bedi to top the bowl Mustafizur Rahman of response to Australia's first innings bowlers with figures of 4/54 while
ing charts on his own. 124 and four for 52 in Ranchi, Bangladesh jumped 20 spots to total of 451. Handscomb consumed Ashwin and pacer Ishant Sharma
Jadeja, who grabbed five for has also closed in on a major be positioned at No.47. 200 de liveries and remained clinched a wicket each.
O
eading physicist Stephen
W
iPad tablet with a brighter
Because 789. Whether the journal Frontiers in Physics.
ustralia's Great Barrier screen on Tuesday, available to
A
this pun makes you The results indicate that apart
Reef can be order from Friday and with a
giggle or groan in pain, your from the delivery of informa
saved only if $329 start
reaction is a consequence of the tion, something else is happen
urgent steps are ing price
ambiguity of the joke. Thus far, ing on a cognitive level that
taken to reduce that is the
models have not been able to makes the joke as a whole funny
g lobal warming, a lowest ever
fully account for the complexity whereas its deconstructed com
new research for a full
of humor or exactly why we find ponents are not, and which
revealed on Thursday. sized tablet
puns and jokes funny but makes a quantum approach
Attempting to stop f r o m
researchers now suggest a novel appropriate to study this phe
coral bleaching Apple.
approach: quantum nomenon.
throug h any other Apple also said its smaller
theory. For decades, researchers have
method will not be suf per iPhone SE model will be avail
In a paper, they have outlined tried to explain the phenome
ficient, according to the atures." able in 32 and 128 gigabyte
a quantum inspired model of non of humor and what happens
research, published in Pratchett said he remained (GB) versions, replacing the 16
humor, hoping that this new on a cognit ive leve l in the
the journal Nature. optimistic the reef could recover, GB and 64 GB models.
approach may succeed at a moment when we "get the joke".
It said bleaching events should but the "window of opportunity" The hardware updates are
more nuanced modeling of the During the buildup of the joke,
no longer be studied individual to curb emissions was closing. incremental improvements that
cognition of humor. we interpret the situation one
ly, but as threats to the reef 's "It's the number one thing we were announced w ithout a
"Funniness is not a preexist way, and once the punch line
survival, the BBC reported. need to think about now to save major media event. Apple is
ing 'element of reality' that can comes, there is a shift in our
The bleaching or loss of algae the reef," he told the BBC. widely expected to unveil an
be measured; it emerges from understanding of the situation,
in 2016 was the worst on The reef a vast collection of update to its flagship iPhone
an interact ion between the which gives it a new meaning
record. "Climate change is the thousands of smaller coral reefs this fall that might have new
underlying nature of the joke, and creates the comical ef fect,
single greatest threat to the stretching from the northern tip features such as wireless charg
the cognitive state of the listen the authors noted.
Great Barrier Reef," said co of Queensland to the state's city ing, 3D facial recognition and a
er, and other social and environ Although much work remains
author professor Morg an of Bundaberg was given World curved display.
mental factors," explained Liane before the completion of a for
Pratchett, from Queensland's Heritage status in 1981. The new iPad model starts at
Gabora from University of mal quantum theory model of
James Cook University. The UN says it is the "most bio 32 GB of storage and replaces
British Columbia, corresponding humor, the findings provide an
"It all comes down to what the diverse" of all the World the iPad Air 2. It will be slightly
author of the paper. exciting first step and opens for
governments in Australia and Heritage sites, and of "enormous less expensive than the smaller
This makes the quantum for the possibility of a more
around the world do in terms of scientific and intrinsic impor iPad Mini 4, which starts at
malism an excellent candidate nuanced modeling of humor,
mitigating further rises in tem tance". $399 for a 128 GB model.
for modeling humor, Gabora the team said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info LIFESTYLE March 25-31, 2017 27
5168271010
Courtesy: cleveland.com
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY March 25-31, 2017 29
MARCH 2531, 2017 ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
ARIES: Learn from past mistakes and keep LIBRA: Selfconfidence & discipline will 25th March, 2017 interact with important people who would
longterm interest in mind at professional be required to bring positive results in Ruled by number 7 and the planet also help you in your career. Your contacts
front. Entertainment will be a real fun pro competitive examinations. Encourage Neptune. You are intelligent, sensitive, with the public will be lively and challeng
vided all the members of the family join you. Do children to engage themselves in household activi adaptable, independent and kindhearted ing. Your earnings would improve but it
not make rash decisions, especially when negotiat ties in their spare time. Investment is recommend person. You can easily charm others with would be essential for you to save. Your
ing major financial deals. Use your discretion ed but after a proper advice/guidance. Avoid tem your words and actions. You enjoy a special beloved would be in a highly romantic
power in love this week. You need to remain calm per flair up especially in romance. If possible try
respect in your group, but you need to con mood and the two of you would have good
& tensionfree to enjoy a sound health. Some to make your life a tree, giving shade to others
trol your tendency to behave spendthrift, time together. Renovation, construction and
arrangements before you go on an overseas trip while personally enduring the scorching heat.
reckless and stubborn at times. You would pilgrimage would also interest you later this
will save your time, effort and give you peace of Success would bring unlimited joy. If youre plan
get great deal of satisfaction from the work year. The months of September, December
mind. If youre planning a property, be sure to ning a vacation, be sure to consider your work
that you do this year. Your coworkers and and May would be highly eventful.
consider the legal aspect. High time to get ready does not effect. Dont shift from your rental house,
to face the life of adventure & risk and dont give its not the right time to shift on your own proper
colleagues would be helpful and some of
unnecessary importance to minor hurdles. ty. Avoid running away from a situation rather them would become your best friends. Your 29th March, 2017
TAURUS: Make sure you dont hire for the face it to bring something good out of it. job would bring you good profits, but you Influenced by number 2 and the Moon,
sake of hiring. Make sure you do some SCORPIO: You need a careful planning and would have trouble in collecting your gains. you are active, imaginative, simple, trust
thing exciting and different with people at will have to chalk out new strategies at Romantic entanglement would be pleasant worthy and impressive person. You value
home. Dig deep beneath the surface to find out professional front. Engaging yourself in and chances to enter into a matrimonial relationships more than anything else in
more about the investment scheme that seems to praiseworthy things would add to familys reputa alliance would be strong. Expect gifts and life. You often devote more time and atten
be attracting you. However consult experts before tion. Investment needs to be made keeping long goodies both in cash and kind. The months tion in looking after the needs of others
making any commitment. Behave properly while term perspectives in mind. Avoid making false of December, March and August will espe than doing things for selfgain. You are cre
going out with love companion. It is time for you promises especially in love life otherwise it would cially improve prosperity. ative and honest, but you need to control
to enjoy a short pleasure trip to recharge body only create problems. You need to relax and get your tendency to behave moody and care
Minor preparations before you travel overseas involved in hobbies that you enjoy doing the most. 26th March, 2017 free at times. This year you need to be
will make your trip a lot smoother. Shopping for a A systematic approach to plan your journey will Influenced by number 8 and the planet more particular about your health and diet.
commercial real estate loan can be tricky. You will benefit you in future. You might be facing problem Saturn. You are authoritative, practical, sys Long pending legal matters would be sorted
have to constantly adjust opinion in public. if you invest on long term plans. If you want to tematic, friendly and sober person. You are out to your satisfaction. Your rapport with
GEMINI: Keep business interests supreme really benefit make sure you carefully listen & fol fond of adventure and you have no prob important govt. authorities in various
while hiring professionals. Performing rit low friends advice.
lems in accepting challenges, but you need departments would improve and you would
uals/auspicious ceremonies at home prove SAGITTARIUS: To achieve a desirable out
to check your tendency to behave impatient, be rewarded for your hard work with pro
high beneficial. Avoid overspending in order to come at work you must get the support
spendthrift and jealous at times. motion or an increment. Matrimonial
impress others. If possible, spend quality time with of team members. Have fun in the compa
T his year you can expect exce llent alliances for some. You need to prepare
love partner to know & understand each other bet ny of relatives. You seem to know exactly what
rewards for your work. You would celebrate yourself for a better future by investing in
ter. Knowing your calories would enable to keep people need and want from you, but dont try to be
yourself fit. Traveling with kids can be a challenge, too lavish in your spending. If possible, give the
your success in a special way, and spend additional education and training. The
try to reduce the stress and nerves. Your plan for a gift of time to beloved/lover. Chances of recover more on comforts and entertainment. Your months of October, March and August will
personal loan might not work out. Make sure you ing from physical illness are on the card. income would rise, and you would make prove to be highly eventful.
are not very busy in own af fairs otherwise Vacations are at a premium, if you consider them. some good longterm investments. You
chances of people losing interest in you are high. You will have to go out of the way to buy your would establish a better understanding with 30th March, 2017
CANCER: Time to put thrust on looking dream house. If possible, just motivate others to your beloved, which would make every Influenced by number 3 and the planet
for selfdriven people who could take make their life worthwhile by involving them moment that you spend together a truly Jupiter. You are ambitious, dignified, philo
business to newer heights. You succeed selves in some charitable work. memorable one. Health of your parents sophical, and religious individual. You are
in making new acquaintances provided you partic CAPRICORN: You will have to take some might cause concern and anxiety. Spiritual selfreliant and possess enormous leader
ipate in social /family function. Be sure where you calculated risks to conquer challenging gains for some later in the year. The months ship qualities and you like to take your own
put hardearned money because only wise invest situations at workplace. An auspicious of September, January and July will be decisions, but you need to check your ten
ments will fetch returns. Avoid revealing personal week for family functions and important cere result oriented. dency to be jealous, over ambitious and self
& confidential secret to lover/beloved. Time to monies. You are likely to make good money, but centered at times. This year you would
understand body and at the same time avoid the the rise in expenses could make it difficult to save. 27th March, 2017 change plans more often than usual. You
food that does not go well with it to keep ailments Dont give into unnecessary demands of romantic Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. would be working closely with known peo
a bay. partner. Make the best use of your energy to enjoy You are energetic, dashing, courageous, ple who would influence your decisions.
Excitement for a vacation is not enough, planning a sound health. Planning for traveling requires
enthusiastic and remarkably brilliant. You Both your earnings and your expenses
is also required. Plan your budget first, and then advice of persons whom you travel with. First
have high tastes and people who are intelli would be high. It is a period to spend as per
try for a property. You need to sincerely devote resolve the legal issues then mortgage your prop
gent and sophisticated appeal to you. You your budget. Frequent and fruitful journeys
yourself to excel in whatever you do. erty. You need to exploit your active, pioneering
are very fond of cleanliness and hygiene, are likely to keep you on the move. Later in
LEO: This week much of professional suc and exploring nature to your benefit.
but you need to control your tendency to the year, influence of a spiritual person
cess depends on senior colleagues cooper AQUARIUS: Use sharp thinking and abili
ation. Gracefully accept the invitation with ty to formulate quick strategies to bring
behave dictatorial, aggressive and moody at would be a source of inspiration in your life.
family, if you are invited to somewhere you positive results. A week for renewal of times. This year there would be a steady Health would definitely need more atten
havent been. Finances will definitely get a boost. bonds and family ties.Instead of wasting time, bet rise in your career graph. Your earnings tion, especially for those suf fering from
But at the same time there will be rise in expenses ter to get involved in something to improve your would exceed your expectations and keep asthma, bronchitis and high blood pressure.
too. Shortlived romantic opportunities could financial position. you very satisfied. Later in the year, you are The months of December, April and July will
come your way. Health will be fine despite some Make sure you dont get sentimental on likely to get involved in construction or ren prove to be significant.
mental pressures. It is advisable to be careful lover/beloveds comments. To counterattack your ovat ion for yourse lf or for others.
regarding your safety, while traveling. Consider a stress you will have to go in shelter of spirituality. Matrimonial alliances for some around the 31st March, 2017
friend of yours when you plan to buy an office. It It is important to delve into your desires before yearend. Judicial matters might not bring in Ruled by number 4 and the planet Uranus.
is time for you to focus attention to achieve higher you plan to travel. Preparations are must before the desired results, therefore avoid getting You are bright, energetic, active, methodical
goals. you plan for a new house. If possible, make people involved in legal complications. Children and systematic person. You are fond of
VIRGO: Make sure you work in close coop realize that the path of truly successful & signifi will be supportive and bring in some happy good, respectable lifestyle and you specially
eration with seniors to bring desired cant life is through friendship and acts of generos and goo d news later in the year. T he enjoy building new contacts and relation
results at workplace. Benefit from the free ity & selfsacrifice. months of November, March and June will ships, but you need to check you tendency
time by enjoying some lovely moments with fami PISCES: Remain selfconfident & deter especially prove to be significant. to behave stubborn, destructive and vindic
ly members. You will be presented with many new mined. This is the secret mantra of suc tive at times. This year you would be able
financial schemes. However you must weigh them ceeding at work.
28th March, 2017 to make your point heard without being
considering all pros & cons before making any If possible undertake the projects that would ben
Governed by number 1 and the planet pushy or forceful. Financial gains and other
commitment. Romantic partner seeks a firm com efit the whole family. The secret mantra of earning
Sun, you are creative, hard working, warm rewards would be plenty but working under
mitment in love. Channelizing energy for self your profits: invest wisely. You need to hold
hearted and sincere by nature. You are extreme stress levels would show on your
improvement would immensely benefit you. romantic emotions and shouldnt do anything
admired by people around you for your abil health. Children would be interesting and a
Vacations are meant to be fun filled and relaxing making you repent later. Time now to realize that
but hectic schedules may ruin it. Being an oppor drinking/taking wine is a deadly enemy of health
ity to take quick and courageous decisions, major source of your happiness. For those
tunity seeker is not good for you, as you want be and retards efficiency. When preparing to travel but you need to check your tendency to who have been unsuccessful in finding a life
getting the correct value for your property. You with a family be humble and patient. Put together behave reckless, impatient and shorttem partner till now should rejoice, as a matri
will have to be original in your conversation a few ideas to help you in purchasing a lodge. pered at times. This year improvement in monial wedlock seems later in the year. The
because putting up an act would take you Avoid picking up an argument at any cost espe your work atmosphere would be there, giv months of November, February and May
nowhere. cially over petty issues. ing you lot of job satisfaction. You would will prove to be eventful.
30 March 25-31, 2017 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Part two of the discourse 'Don't stop until the goal is reached'
I
f we find that we are not mak
ing internal progress in medi Let us take stock of where we Sant Darshan Sing h Ji is
tation, we need to look to the are in our meditations and our describing that love as perennial
failures in our ethical living that ethical life, and resolve to not fountains of eternal bliss. The
we record on our introspection stop, but keep moving forward. image of a fountain is that it is
diary. The diary is a record of We will find that we will gain continually flowing. The water in
impediments to our inner more and more spiritual wealth. a fountain never runs dry. It goes
progress. Do we think we can We will go from just collecting on gushing continually. So it is
make inner headway to the king mere trees, to collecting spiritual with the love of God. It is always
dom of God, if we are thinking or sandalwood, spiritual silver, spir flowing. It will flow eternally.
saying violent words or commit itual gold, and ultimately the What a wonderful destiny for our
ting acts of violence? Do we spiritual diamond of becoming soul! Once we are connected to
think we can merge back in God one with God. that fountain through a living
if we are hurting Gods crea Master, our soul can drink of that
tures? Do we think we can merge Hazur was a living example of bliss for all times to come. We
back in God if we are egotistical one who did not stop until he can do so by meeting the Master
and think we are better than all reached his goals. I would like to outwardly and experiencing his
the rest of Gods creation? The take up a poem of Sant Darshan divine darshan. We can also do
introspection diary shows us Singh Ji that he wrote in praise so by meeting the Master within
where we are blocking our spiri of Hazur in the 1950s. From through meditations. The inner
tual progress. The goal is to weed these verses, we can get a form of the Master is so radiant that we no longer suffer. Instead, with the Light and Sound of God
out those hindrances that stand glimpse of how Sant Darshan and loving that we want to stay we are lost in the ecstasy of at the time of initiation, he gave
between us and God. Those hin Singh Ji revered him and the immersed in that form for all Gods love. people a way to rise above body
drances are the minds efforts to wondrous qualities he found in times to come. The bliss without consciousness.
slow down our progress. We him. is great, but the bliss within is far The Master removes our pain
need to keep a vigilant watch on greater. We can experience those by bathing us with so much love By doing so, they realized they
the many ways in which the mind The first verse says: fountains of bliss when we medi and grace that we are no longer were not the body, but the soul
distracts us from spiritual You have set afloat the peren tate and go within. aware of it. We become oblivious that inhabits the body. T hey
progress. By doing so, we are nial fountains of eternal bliss and to the slings and arrows of life. could journey to wondrous spiri
clearing the pathway to go deep everlasting ecstasy. If we were to not stop but move They may still come our way, but tual realms within. Through med
er into the forest. You have brought forth fra forward, we would ultimately we are so intoxicated that we itation, they could cross the
grant roses where there were come to the radiant form of the lose awareness of even our body. astral, causal, supracausal, and
The Masters want us to move prickling thorns before. Master. Then, that form would Thus, we are so filled with love pure ly spiritual realms. T his
forward in two areas. They want guide us into higher and higher that instead of the thorny pains inner journey brings confirma
us to put more time and more In this verse, Sant Darshan regions where we would experi and sorrows, we experience the tion that there is no death. Death
accuracy into our meditations. Singh Ji Maharaj is describing ence those fountains of bliss. If beauty of the rose garden. is just like taking of f a layer of
They also want us to weed out what it was like to be in the pres we know this bliss is waiting for clothing to reveal one below it.
any failures in ethical virtues ence of Hazur. Sant Darshan us, why would we want to stop If we knew that freedom from We realize that the body is only
that bar our way to moving for Singh Ji is describing the incredi before bathing in those fountains pain and sorrow was awaiting us an outer coat for our soul. When
ward spiritually. It is a twostep ble ecstasy and bliss he experi of divinity? within, why would we stop until we remove it, we have our astral
process. Clear the pathway by enced when in the presence of we reached that painfree state? body, our causal body, and a thin
weeding out failures in ethical Hazur, both outwardly and with The next line of verse says: veil over the soul in the supra
virtues on our introspection in during meditations. Although You have brought forth fragrant In another verse of this poem, causal region. When we reach
diary and then move forward in we may not have met Hazur, we roses where there were prickling Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj the purely spiritual region of
our meditations. can relate to what he is saying by thorns before. Sant Darshan says: Sach Khand, then all layers are
remembering t imes we have Singh Ji is saying that in the You have taught us the lan removed and we experience our
If we find that we are commit been in the presence of Sant presence of Hazur, all the thorns guage of love which is both selves as pure soul, free of all
ting the same failures we have Kirpal Singh Ji or Sant Darshan of life grew into fragrant roses. unspoken and unwritten. coverings. It is at this stage that
been making for years, then we Singh Ji. W hat he is describing is the You have solved for us the we merge back in God.
are stagnating. We need to make power of a true Master. When we mystery of life and death.
ef forts to take a good look at How is it possible for people to come into his presence, all the (To be continued....)
where we are and resolve to do get so much bliss from being problems and pains of the world Sant Darshan Sing h Ji is
better the following day. If we around another human being? disappear. Problems may be describing how Hazur has Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
hurt other peoples feelings by The truth is that the bliss is not there, but we do not feel them. enabled us to solve the greatest is an internationally recognized
our harsh words twenty times a coming from the human form of Instead, we experience a deli mysteries of life. There is hardly spiritual leader and Master of
day, then let us reduce that num the Master. It comes from the cious nectar and wondrous fra a person who has not at one time Jyoti Meditation who affirms the
ber to nineteen the following God power that radiates through grance of love. The Master can or another pondered over the transcendent oneness at the heart
day. Then, let us go further to that form. God is love, and our turn thorns into roses just by his question of life and death. Many of all religions and mystic tradi-
reduce that failure to eighteen soul is love. When we come into loving glances, his sweet words, wonder why we are here and tions, emphasizing ethical living
the next day. Then, day by day, the presence of a Master, that or his gentle touch. We may be in where we go when we die. Hazur and meditation as building blocks
let us continue to decrease the love radiates from God through the thick of terrible suffering, but enabled people to solve this mys for achieving inner and outer
failures until we reach zero. the vehicle of the Master and is the Masters love is so embracing tery. By putting people in touch peace. www.sos.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 25-31, 2017