[South Asia, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan are under perpetual terror attacks and unceasing violence. Prime Minister Modi called up his Pakistani counterpart Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, December 16, 2014, to express his deepest condolence after Peshawar School 'dastardly terror attack' that left 141 children dead. Mr. Modi seems to have also offered working together for peace and stability in the region whereas the former Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf in a rash Television interview, seemed spewing venom against RAW, an Indian spy agency - as Mr. Musharraf claimed - 'may have helped, TTP - Tehrik Taliban Pakistan attack the school'. However, the agency which has earned notoriety in the region, is also blamed from some quarters for the June 1, 2001 Nepal Royal Palace Massacre (there is no mentioning at all in a book: Missioin R&AW - 2014 published by a former RAW officer R. K. Yadav. RAW is also blamed for Bangladesh turning into a battlefield). The former Pakistani military ruler Mr. Musharraf has written in his book: 'In The Line of Fire: A Memoir - 2008' that he ousted Nawaz Sharif in that the latter had become very yielding to then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.]
By B. K. Rana
Christmas today, December 25, 2014 - and with great joy Christian communities around the world are celebrating this annual festival. The Himalayan Voice would also like to wish a Merry Christmas to all of its readers and well wishers as well.
Christmas is also called the festival of peace so - let peace prevail on the earth. Albert Einstein once wrote "Christmas is festival of peace. Every year it comes in its own good time. But peace inside and among us can come only through persistent effort."
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis told ‘Iraq and Syria have suffered too long’. Likewise, delivering her Christmas message, Queen Elizabeth of England also said today, "Sometimes it seems reconciliation stands little chance ... but the Christmas truce reminds us peace and goodwill have lasting power."
On this day December 25, 1924, the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born in Gwalior, India. On the occasion of his 91st birthday Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent him a bouquet of flowers from Islamabad. It is a nice gesture from Pakistan as the bilateral relations between these two countries have remained strained for so long. Mr. Sharif had paid a courtesy visit to Vajpayee while he was in New Delhi for Narendra Modi's lavish prime ministerial swearing-in ceremony May 26, 2014. To foster peaceful and friendly relations, on February 19, 1999, Prime Minister Vajpayee had travelled from Delhi to Lahore on a bus to be received by his counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the Wagah border. That was so sweet an endeavour.
South Asia, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan are under perpetual terror attacks and unceasing violence. Prime Minister Modi called up his Pakistani counterpart Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, December 16, 2014, to express his deepest condolence after Peshawar School 'dastardly terror attack' that left 141 children dead. Mr. Modi seems to have also offered working together for peace and stability in the region whereas the former Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf in a rash Television interview, seemed spewing venom against RAW, an Indian spy agency - as Mr. Musharraf claimed - 'may have helped, TTP - Tehrik Taliban Pakistan attack the school'. However, the agency which has earned notoriety in the region, is also blamed from some quarters for the June 1, 2001 Nepal Royal Palace Massacre (there is no mentioning at all in a book: Mission R&AW -2014 published by a former RAW officer R. K. Yadav. RAW is also blamed for Bangladesh turning into a battlefield). The former Pakistani military ruler Mr. Musharraf has written in his book: 'In The Line of Fire: A Memoir - 2008' that he ousted Nawaz Sharif in that the latter had become very yielding to then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Today, December the 25th, the Indian Human Resource Ministry reportedly wanted to mark as both former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and 'educationist and politician notable for his role in the Indian independence' Madan Mohan Malviya's birthdays also as 'Good Governance Day' in the country. These both sons of Bharat, so to say India, were born today and they both are awarded today the highest civilian award - 'Bharat Ratna' - Jewel of Bharat. The Indian President Pranav Mukharjee tweeted he was ”pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee".
The 'Bharat Ratna' is awarded to those people of India who have extraordinarily contributed
to the greater cause of the country. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should
have been awarded with 'Barat Ratna' already long ago but the partisan
politics barred him from receiving it. The Congress lead UPA government, however, awarded
'Barat Ratna' last year a highly celebrated sportsman Sachin Tendulkar but not this great statesman of South Asia. The BJP had strongly criticized the government decision.
Nonetheless, there was government holiday in India today for Christmas but the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi kept himself busy at his constituency in Varanasi to mark
December the 25th as 'Good Governance Day' in the country. Therefore, employees from across the
government departments naturally should also have been busy for the programme. The Christian population in 2001 was 24,080,016 or 2.3 % of the total population. Why would India have a desire for marking December the 25th the 'good governance day'?
The Bharat Ratna Mr. Vajpayee, referring to the Pokhran - II nuke-test of May 11, 1998 in the embedded video above, talks of security of the nation and an honest friendship with Pakistan also and further adds his Lahore bus tour was two sides of a coin. He also underlines in his address to the parliament that 'security enhances social justice' in the country but India has to walk long to achieve it - so to say, achieving social justice in the country. The Dalits and Adivasis are horribly suffering from social injustice in India and without addressing this issue, no government would literally be able to deliver 'good governance' in the country. The Khap Panchyats, like mediaeval tools, are still wreaking havoc in rural India. A woman who was sexually abused by her own father-in-law is now punished by a Khap Panchyat in Badmer, Rajasthan that her nose will be chopped-off as she had lodged a petition against her abuser. This is ridiculous and 'Manusmriti' or the 'Laws of Manu' is still prevalent in over 80 % population Hindu India.
Prime Minister Modi often talks of Hindu sacred scriptures: such as Ramayana, Mahabharat, Geeta, Shrutis, Smritis, Puranas and 'Rishis and Munis' - saints etc. and believed-to-be many such ancient people also. Only last October at a public programme in Mumbai, he gave a bizarre explanation on Mahabrata's Karna, who according to the myth, was not born from his mother, Kunti's womb. The prime minister was suggesting that 'Rishis and Munis' had knowledge of genetic science ! While speaking further, he also added that Ganesh had undergone plastic surgery to have an elephant head ! This is absolutely wrong to believe that any genetic science existed in the Puranic age so scientists have now asked him question why he would have needed to talk that way ? Following him, a scientist of the country, Defence Research and Development Organiztion - DRDO Chief Avinash Chander "invoked mythology to explain the importance of intelligence network". These are all bizarre assertions. So, where is India heading towards ? Have we found any epigraphical or archaeological evidence for the stories, events, battles etc. described in the Puranas - the mythologies ?
December 25th is an important day for the Dalit World also as it is known for them as 'Manu Smriti Dahan Din' (Manusmriti - the Laws of Manu - Burning Day) and Dalit struggle against Brahamnism - Brahman supremacy in the Hindu worldview. On December 25, 1927 Dr. Ambedkar and his people had burned down the 'Manusmriti'. The Laws of Manu is a common social practice in the Indian sub-continent according to which Khap Panchyats offer more importance on the so-called upper-caste peoples like Brahmans or Chhetris and male folks only. The social evils that have permeated through the ancient 'Laws of Manu' in India and Nepal also must be eradicated in the first place in order for delivering good governance in the country.
And re-converting people into Hindu faith will certainly not solve the problems, backwardness and impoverishment in both India and Nepal. Only scientific approach would help.
Prime Minister Modi often talks of Hindu sacred scriptures: such as Ramayana, Mahabharat, Geeta, Shrutis, Smritis, Puranas and 'Rishis and Munis' - saints etc. and believed-to-be many such ancient people also. Only last October at a public programme in Mumbai, he gave a bizarre explanation on Mahabrata's Karna, who according to the myth, was not born from his mother, Kunti's womb. The prime minister was suggesting that 'Rishis and Munis' had knowledge of genetic science ! While speaking further, he also added that Ganesh had undergone plastic surgery to have an elephant head ! This is absolutely wrong to believe that any genetic science existed in the Puranic age so scientists have now asked him question why he would have needed to talk that way ? Following him, a scientist of the country, Defence Research and Development Organiztion - DRDO Chief Avinash Chander "invoked mythology to explain the importance of intelligence network". These are all bizarre assertions. So, where is India heading towards ? Have we found any epigraphical or archaeological evidence for the stories, events, battles etc. described in the Puranas - the mythologies ?
December 25th is an important day for the Dalit World also as it is known for them as 'Manu Smriti Dahan Din' (Manusmriti - the Laws of Manu - Burning Day) and Dalit struggle against Brahamnism - Brahman supremacy in the Hindu worldview. On December 25, 1927 Dr. Ambedkar and his people had burned down the 'Manusmriti'. The Laws of Manu is a common social practice in the Indian sub-continent according to which Khap Panchyats offer more importance on the so-called upper-caste peoples like Brahmans or Chhetris and male folks only. The social evils that have permeated through the ancient 'Laws of Manu' in India and Nepal also must be eradicated in the first place in order for delivering good governance in the country.
And re-converting people into Hindu faith will certainly not solve the problems, backwardness and impoverishment in both India and Nepal. Only scientific approach would help.
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