: P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW 110055 (BHARAT); Email : [email protected] No. Sm1118/2068 (For Private Circulation Only) Paush Shukla 8 Vik Samvat 2068, Yugabda 5113 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 1 January 2012 1. FESTIVALS: Makar Sankranti, the holy day movements. The judge, after reviewing the when the Sun enters the sign of Makara or petition from the state prosecutors and the Capricorn, falls normally on January 14. This most responses against it, dismissed the plea. auspicious festival of the Hindus is celebrated in 3. FDI IN RETAIL UNACCEPTABLE- various parts of the country in different ways. In SARSANGHACHALAK: "Our retail sector Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is referred Uttararayan provides employment to crores of people and it is while in Northern part of the country it is known not strong enough to even compete with the as Sankranti, in Tamil Nadu it is known as Pongal. Bharatiya corporates like Reliance and Tata. Then, Apart from Bharat it is also celebrated in Nepal, how can we expect it to face the economic might Malaysia, Thailand and all other countries where of multinational retailers like Walmart? Foreign Hindus have a sizable presence. Direct Investment (FDI) in multi brand retail at the The birth of Swami Vivekanand on the Sankranti cost of our own people cannot be accepted at all. “ day is an inspiring indication of the passing of the said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri , long night of self-oblivion and birth of an addressing a gathering of professors and lecturers effulgent era of Hinduism. The festival is also the in New Delhi on December 19. The topic of last of six festivals celebrated by HSS and RSS at lecture was ‘Global Scenario, RSS, Bharat & We’. their shakhas. The closing of the function on this Uttar Kshetra Sanghachalak Dr Bajranglal Gupt, occasion is sweetened by the distribution of til-gul Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Kulbhushan Ahuja to the participants. and Sah Prant Sanghachalak Dr SS Agrawal also 2. RUSSIAN COURT REFUSES TO BAN shared the dais. Hundreds of lecturers and BHAGVAD GITA: A Russian court on professors including the Mayor of Delhi Prof December 28 rejected a petition, described by Rajni Abbi, participated in the function. Bharat as "patently absurd", which had sought a In his speech Shri Bhagwat touched many current ban on a translated version of Bhagvad Gita, issues and said the root cause of majority of the bringing cheers to followers in Bharat as well as problems in the world today is selfishness and those across the world. Prosecutors in the Siberian greed of the man. About the Communal Violence city of Tomsk had argued that the Russian Bill, Shri Bhagwat said Bharat has provided translation of "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" promotes shelter to all those who were tortured or "social discord" and hatred towards non-believers. humiliated in any part of the world. Answering a The text is a combination of the Bhagvad Gita, one query regarding the reconstruction of Sri Ram of Hinduism's holiest scriptures, and commentary temple in Ayodhya, Shri Bhagwat said it would by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, not take more than two years for building the founder of the International Society for Krishna temple if the land is provided to Hindus now. He Consciousness, commonly known as the Hare said Bharat has to play a vital role in the global Krishna movement, ISKCON. The prosecutors scenario and we should make ourselves ready to had asked the court to include the book on the bear this responsibility. Quoting Rabindranath Russian Federal List of Extremist Materials, which Tagore who described as a binding bans more than 1,000 texts including Adolf force, Shri Bhagwat stressed the need to create Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and books distributed by leaders with high character like Anna Hazare and the Jehovah's Witness and Scientology Dr Abdul Kalam even up to the village level. 1

4. RIG VEDA TO PARTICLE PHYSICS by G. main particle detectors looking for the Higgs S. Mudur: Physicist Vivek Sharma who was born boson. in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and now leads an "Our curiosity about our origins doesn't change international group hunting for the Higgs boson anybody's life, but there is a satisfaction from sees the search as an attempt to seek out answers understanding such things," Sharma said in a to questions posed in the Rig Veda. telephone interview ahead of the CERN seminar Sharma, who went to a Kendriya Vidyalaya in where scientists presented their latest results from Pune and pursued master's in physics at the Indian the Higgs search. Institute of Technology, Kanpur, says he was "But when we build machines like the Large drawn to experimental particle physics after Hadron Collider (the particle accelerator at CERN learning Rig Veda hymns from his mother, a where proton-proton collisions are used to search Sanskrit scholar. The ancient text has a hymn on for the Higgs boson), it requires us to invent new creation that speculates on the origin of the technologies that can change people's lives," he universe and describes a period when "all that said. existed was void and formless". The World Wide Web was created at CERN to "It was a shock, it left an impression in my mind. help physicists move data around between Thousands of years ago people were different computers in a seamless fashion. "It's a contemplating our origins," said Sharma, a great example of how something that is good for professor at the University of California, San physicists turned out to be fantastic for the Diego, and head of a Higgs search team at CERN, public," Sharma said. the European research laboratory. New technologies and ideas that are born in He was still a high school student but began experimental physics laboratories may have thinking how modern technology might be used to implications in information technology and probe creation. The Higgs boson, the subatomic medicine. "Our goals are esoteric, but what particle that Sharma and his colleagues are looking sometimes comes out benefits the public," he said. for, was predicted in the 1960s to explain the Sharma, whose routine in recent years has been origin of mass. A discovery of the Higgs boson is eight weeks at CERN and 10 to 15 days with his important for physicists because it is the last wife and 7-year-old daughter in San Diego, is also missing, or unseen, piece of a bedrock theory of keen on drawing more students to physics. physics called the Standard Model that explains all His homepage has a link to a talk he once the forces and particles in nature except gravity. delivered to prospective students and their parents. Sharma moved to the US in 1984, treating higher "The popular belief that physicists do not make studies in the US as a route to plunge much money is totally false," the link says. intoexperimental physics requiring expensive "Physics majors make more money than chemistry machines ' particle accelerators ' but spent five or bio majors." (www.telegraphindia.com – Wed, years at CERN in the early 1990s where he Dec 14, 2011) discovered two new subatomic particles, including 5. SSV-2011 OF HSS MAURITIUS: Hindu a cousin of the proton, but five times heavier. Swyamsevak Sangh Mauritius, successfully His enthusiasm for experimental physics emerges conducted ‘Sangh Shiksha Varga – 2011’ (Sat. 26 in his talks ' whether delivered to fellow-physicists Nov. to Sun. 3 Dec. 2011) at D.A.V. College or aspiring students. It also appears to temper any Morceliment Saint Andre. There were 52 emotions that might spring each time particle Swyamsevaks, 42 Sevikas along with 9 Shikshaks detectors at CERN spot signals resembling traces from 25 places. of the Higgs boson. The shareerik was daily three and half hours "Experiments will ultimately tell us what is right different physical training which included dand, and what is wrong," he said. In the coming niyuddha, yogasana, padavinyaas, Various Shakha months, Sharma and his colleagues will refine Khel, Yogachap, Samata, Achaar Paddati and their analyses and combine the data from the two Vyayamyog. 2 Apart from daily charcha & Baudhik Sessions demanded a ban on fighting election by the Indian there were special sessions for Management Skill National Congress (INC) in the polls to come. Games, Business Skill Games, Quiz Competition In its memorandum VHP said that the religion- on Ramayana, Traditional Ramayana chanting based reservation is not only prohibited by programme, Treasure Hunt etc. Articles 15(1) and 16(2) of the constitution and A sanchalan was held with Ghosh for all violative of articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the same Shiksharthis in nearby town “Triolet”. Samarop too but also divide the country. Programme was held on Sat. 3 Dec 2011 and 8. HSS NEW YORK SAKHI SAMELAN: HSS, around 200 parents were present from the Shivaji shakha, Westchester NY conducted “Sakhi beginning. Samelan” on the 4th of December wherein nearly 6. SIXTH ALL BHARAT KHELKOOD 30 sevikas from NY vibhag got together. It was COMPETITION COMMENCES IN PUNE: fun filled day learning, playing and knowing each Sixth Khel Kood competition organised by All other. Yoga, rapid games, Balagokulam Radio Bharat Vanavasi Kalyan Aashram was inaugreted commercial game, shakha geet ‘Charaiveti by Rashtiya SwayamSevek Sangh (RSS) Charaiveti’, and a bauddhik on motives behind Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagavat on Dec 29 in having HSS and RSS by NY Vibhag Karyavah Pune Maharashtra. Talking about need to Rudra Upadhyaya were highlights of the incorporate Vanvasis in main stream society Dr. sammelan. The granddaughter of Mausiji (Dr. Bhagwat said, “Vanvasi people are not lacking in Sanjivani Bakhare) shared with the participants their capability but they should be recognised in her childhood experiences with Mausiji; the society. It is important.” importance Mausji laid on educating women and 2000 players from 32 states of the country and making them self-independent. Nepal have participated in this 4 –day competition. 9. HUM HINDUSTANI-KASHMIR Players will explore their talent in football, Kho- HINDUSTAN KA: “Scrap Article 370, ensure Kho, Kabbadi, atheletics, shooting and marathon. employment to Kashmiri youth, retrieve areas All Bharat level sports event,"Akhil Bhartiya forcefully occupied by Pakistan and China in Khelkhud spardha" is organised every 4 years. The Kashmir”. These are not the demands voiced by main aim of Khelkhud competition is to give some hardcore Hindu organization or leaders. sports exposure to all vanvasi youth. They were raised publically by the Muslims of Sports Authority of is in close contact with Bharat including J& K on December 18, 2011 at these competitions and supports the best talents for Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi. excellent performance. Bharat’s long distance The occasion was culmination of “Hum runner Kavita Raut and archer Limba Ram are the Hindustani-Kashmir Hindustan Ka”, a unique few names who got in national and international campaign launched some three months ago by sports through Khelkhud competition. Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an organization 7. ROLL BACK COMMUNAL ORDER, of nationalist Muslims of India. During the 3 - DEBAR CONGRESS(INC), SAYS VHP: A month campaign the MRM activists conducted High level delegation of Vishwa Hindu Parishad prayers in mosques, convened seminars and (VHP) comprising the Int'l Vice President shri meetings all over the country. It concluded on Dec Om Prakash Singhal, the newly elected 18 when nearly 10,000 Muslims from 23 states international Secretary General Champat Rai met and 175 districts of Bharat participated braving the the chief Election Commissioner of Bharat ia on chilling cold and dense fog to raise these demands. Dec 29 demanding withdrawal of order issued by They came from all directions carrying the the under secretary to the Govt. of Bharat national tricolors and placards displaying their regarding sub-quota for minority communities just demands to scrap Article 370, take back the areas before the date of declaration of election in the of PoK and CoK and ensure peace and progress of five prominent states of the country. VHP also the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

3 10. THIS SMALL FARMER HAS OVER 350 Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and many other VARIETIES OF PADDY - Kestur Vasuki: SR States which has helped him collect more than 300 Srinivasamurthy, a 38-year-old farmer of local varieties of paddy to augment his mission to Siddanahundi near southern city of Mysore, is part grow more without bothering about fertilisers or of a silent revolution in farming sector. This pesticides. On his exploratory journey this farmer, farmer who has proved that farming is a profitable a graduate in Arts, learnt different agricultural venture is practicing natural and organic farming techniques to overcome drought and severe natural as his mantra. vagaries. This farmer who has collected more than 350 “I heard that our country had more than 2 lakh varieties of paddy from across the country has desi paddy verities which have vanished from the been part of a mission to provide desi varieties to agriculture scene giving way to new and very few the farmers at affordable rate. Srinivasamurthy is a varieties which are controlled by a few. I learnt in small farmer and has been traveling, learning and Puri Lord Jagannatha Temple that the deity has collecting desi varieties of paddy from many been offered every day one variety of rice as part States of Bharat. He has been inspired by the fact of the ritual. This has made me go mad with that the Puri Jagannath Temple which offers 365 understanding diversity in agriculture. I have now varieties of rice in a year, has made him study and collected seeds of so many varieties and giving collect some of the paddy varieties as part of his them to only farmers. I strongly believe that all BT promotion to protect desi paddy varieties across and other crops won’t help us but we need our the country. Srinivasamurthy is also opposed to own desi varieties. This has to be part of our food BT crop and is aware of its implications on the security,” said Srinivasamurthy. farming sector. He has many varieties of paddy which are unique Talking to The Pioneer, this dynamic young to many States. His technique for many desi farmer believes that protecting desi seeds would varieties is helping farmers across the country to promote sustainable agriculture in all odds. He protect and promote desi varieties which cherishes said, “I have been practicing natural farming and his mission. He has also been guided by an NGO organic farming. We have to protect our own desi Sahaja Samruddi to promote natural farming. varieties of seeds. Many have vanished because of Srinivasamurthy strongly believes in de-control of the onslaught of the sustainable campaign by the seeds from multinational companies and proves a vested interests in promoting their product. I have point in Bharatiya agriculture which is been collecting and growing desi seeds promoting predominantly guided by industrial policy. Today our own varieties across the country.” he has many rare varieties such as, Sastikasali, Srinivasamurthy’s small farm today is a bio believed to be a cure for infertility, Bolga, Madras diversity hotspot where one can see more than two Sanna, Doddigya, Bheema Saale, Solari, Ratna hundred varieties of paddy seeds meeting growing Chudi, Aanekombina Battha, Atikarya and other demand by the farmers from Karnataka and other varieties to promote desi dynamics in natural States. This farmer who has been collecting paddy farming.: Pioneer, December 26, 2011. varieties since 2007 has got native seeds 11. GURUJI’S THOUGHTS WILL BRING developed in his one-and-a-half acre farm and has HARMONY IN INDIA: S GURUMURTHY: answers to all queries by the farming sector. He “If we understand Hindutva as described by Guruji has varieties which could withstand severe Golwalkar and practice it the way he explained, summer to heavy rains, has all answers which we can bring real harmony between communities”, would surely bring smiles on the farmers’ face. told Eminent Economist and thinker S His journey of exploration to find paddy varieties Gurumurthy. He was talking in a lecture organised across the country began in 2007 as he believes by Mythic Society in Bangalore as part of Sri that protecting desi varieties would help bring Noor A Alikhan Endowment Lecture Series. “A cheers in Indian agriculture. He has travelled to renascent India can be achieved if we follow the Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, way Guruji showed. It is not uniformity that we 4 need, it is unity in diversity that can take India to a ‘Run for a Child’, to create awareness about Child greater hinght”, Gurumurty added. healthcare, nutrition and Child education. With 12. DEVELOP DEFENCE INFRA- just a delay of 90 seconds, team secured second STRUCTURE IN BORDER STATES: place in the Men’s 35km section of Marathon Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra relay. Khanduri has cautioned the Centre against the This was the maiden Marathon race for these tardy development of defence infrastructure in youth hailing from the dense forest area of States bordering China. He said connectivity in Titimati of Virajpet Taluk in Kodagu district, most of the border States has been neglected and Karnataka. Of this 8 membered team, Maada, a thus poses a grave security hazard. “Reaching student of class 12 is a known sprinter. Others, some border posts in Bharat still takes two to three Vishwanath, Harish, Papu, Raju PN, Suresh, days. Comparatively China has gone far ahead Timmayya, and Venkatesh are coolie workers with deployment of big vehicles, helipads and having high athletic skills. extensive border road network in its area,” 15. BHARAT, THE LARGEST MILK Khanduri said. He was speaking during the Field PRODUCING NATION: Bharat continues to be Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw Memorial Lecture on the largest milk producing nation in the world with ‘Bordering States: The Bulwark of National close to 17% of global production with 121m Security’ in Delhi on December 17. The lecture toones in 2010-11, National Dairy Development was organised by the Conclave of Defence Board (NDDB) said in Ahmedabad on December Services Veterans. 20. NDDB Chairman Amrita Patel said higher Shri Khanduri also emphasised on constituting a GDP growth, increased incomes in rural areas centralised branch of intelligence agencies which through schemes like MGNREGA and a growing is specialised in collecting vital information population are contributing to a rapidly growing regarding infiltration, fake currency, explosives demand for milk. and drugs along the borders. 16. COURT ASKS WEBSITES TO REMOVE 13. BHARAT-BORN NOBEL LAUREATE OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT BY FEB 6: VENKY GETS KNIGHTHOOD: Venkatraman Setting a deadline for 22 social networking sites Ramakrishnan, Bharat-born US citizen whose including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft pioneering work in molecular biology won him the to remove all "anti-religious" or "anti-social" 2009 Nobel Prize in chemistry, has been honoured content, a Delhi court on Saturday directed the with a knighthood by the royal establishment, UK companies to file compliance reports by February in a rare recognition of achievements by foreigners 6. Additional Civil Judge Mukesh Kumar, who based in Britain. Ramakrishnan, known to most as had on December 20 in a ex-parte order issued Venky, is based at the MRC Laboratory of summons to the social networking websites, Molecular Biology in Cambridge. He has been granted around one and half month for compliance conferred knighthood "for services to molecular of his order. biology" in the New Year Honours List 2012. 17. VAJPAYEE TURNS 88: Former Prime 14. TRIBAL YOUTH WIN INTERNATIONAL Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee completed 87 on MARATHON: Running barefooted, an 8 December 25. A host of senior leaders, including membered team of tribal youth of Vanavasi Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, greeted him on Kalyan Ashram recently won Runner-Up award the occasion. BJP observed Vajpayee's birthday as in reputed Bangalore International Midnight good governance day. "Greetings and well wishes Marathon. In an event where nearly 8500 athletes are coming from all over the country for Atalji. He participated, this VKA team stood against all odds is the tallest leader of the BJP and is our source of and won this prestigious Marathon. Midnight inspiration. Though he is not able to work International Marathon, first of its kind in the actively, his presence is still a source of inspiration world, was organised on December 10th by Rotary for all party workers," BJP spokesperson Prakash Bangalore’s I.T. Corridor unit, with a motto of Javadekar said. 5 18. GURU PUJA UTSAV was conducted at presented a paper on ‘Thirukural & Thiruvalluvar Bloomington shakha on 17th Dec. 2011. Total 25 in the eyes of Japan’. Muthu, now 91years young, Swayamsevaks and sevikas participated in the of Omalur off Salem, Tamilnadu came in contact utsav and did the Gurupujan. Dharmendra ji with Sri Shuzo Matsunoga after the Conference Nimavat (Springfield, IL Shakha coordinator) was who translated the English version of G U Pope’s the pramukh vakta for the Utsav. Hemant ji Kale Thirukuraal (aphorisms) as guided by Muthu Ji. conducted the whole program. An inspiring video Shuzo also translated various books of on the HSS work in US was shown. Shkha Subramania Bharathi (Kuil Paatu), Naaladiar, mukhya shikshak Pankaj Garg sang the vaiyaktik Vallalarr poems, Manimegalai and Silapathigaram geet “Vishwa Guru Tav archana into Japanese language. mein...”Dharmendra ji in his baudhik emphasized The Government of Japan has included this on the point of why Bhagwa Dhwaj as Guru and Thirukural as a lesson in the text book at college Guru Poojan as a concept in Hindu Dharma. level. To cap it all, when the Japanese 19. RASHTRAPATI NOD TO MP COW Government proposed to release a postal stamp to SLAUGHTER BILL: Rashtrapati Pratibha Patil honour Shuzo Matsunoga for his works, he has given her assent to the Madhya Pradesh humbly refused and said, “To translate this tamil Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (amendment) Bill literature into Japanese language, Muthu from 2010 meant to raise the quantum of punishment Salem has helped me. So the credit goes to him”. for offenders and shift the burden to prove On his recommendation the Japanese Government innocence to accused. Under the amended Bill, the released a postal stamp on Muthu (Salem) for 80 punishment for cow slaughter will be at least a Yen (Rs.27/-) in 2007. year and maximum seven years along with fine of Shri Ravikumar of Vishwa Vibhag during his Rs 5,000. Earlier, the punishment for such an recent tour of Tamilnadu, met Muthu Ji. Muthu ji offence was three years of imprisonment or fine of lauded RSS for its social service and patriotic Rs 10,000 or both. The amended legislation has fervor. also made the provision of punishment for 22. 555 ODISSI DANCERS PERFORM offences like storing or transporting beef with a TOGETHER: Odissi dancers from across the minimum term of six months, which can be globe presented a spectacular show together in the extended up to three years. biggest ever assembly at the opening of 20. SURYA KUMBHA IN SURINAM: Desi International Odissi Festival in Bhuvaneswar on Botras, the President of the South American December 23. Creating history of sorts, the country Surinam will inaugurate the celebrations colourful mega dance show by 555 performers of Surya Kumbha on January 15 which will together on a single platform heralded the eight- culminate on February 1. Intellectuals from Bharat day event aimed at finding a place in the Guinness and other parts of the world will participate in the World Record. The dancers from Bharat and celebrations. abroad in traditional colourful Odissi attire 21. POSTAL STAMP BY JAPANESE performed during the grand festival organised by GOVERNMENT HONOURING MUTHU JI: Odisha's Tourism and Culture department in Bharadwaj, a youth from Kanchipuram, association with Odissi Research Centre (ORC) Tamilnadu went to Japan in the 10th century. To and US-based Indian performing Arts Promotion the Japanese he was ‘Baramon’. Today everything (IPAP). with which the Japanese rightly feel proud of as 23. BHU TO HAVE CENTRE FOR their ancient heritage and culture was given to MALAVIYA STUDIES: Prime Minister Dr. them by this monk. The Japanese have three Manmohan Singh announced on Dec 27 that a scripts - one of them based on Tamil and Sanskrit. centre for Malaviya studies will be set up at the A Japanese delegate Shri Shuzo Matsunoga Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Addressing a participated in the Fifth World Tamil Conference function in New Delhi to commemorate the 150th held at Thanjavur in 1981 (30 years ago). He birth anniversary of Mahamana Madan Mohan 6 Malaviya, he said a digital collection of passing it most creditably. Here was the highest Malaviyaji's writings would also be compiled for edifice of our democracy, the repository of a the first time. Lauding Malviyaji’s efforts in whole people's political trust, doing itself and the building the , Dr. Singh nation proud. said Malaviyaji wanted to blend the best of Third, we could now look forward to a brand new Bharatiya learning with the modern scientific ideas institution ranking high, with Parliament and the of the west. judiciary, comprising some nine individuals of 24. VHP ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM: Vishwa credit selected by a panel of the elected and the Hindu Parishad has announced on Dec 18 a new 'selected' dignitaries, who would put corruption team of office bearers at VHP international meet at among public servants on notice. Here was a new Kochi- Kerala. G.Raghava Reddy-new VHP vision, a new energy, being gifted by the departing International President, Dr - year to the new one just dawning. International Working President, Ashok These were notable achievements; in fact, they Chowgule - Working President VHP External, were huge fulfilments. Although compromised by Chmapat Rai, Delhi; International, General disappointment over the defeat of the proposal for secretary. Man and S Vedantumji a constitutional amendment that would have put will Giude VHP as Advisor. the lokpal beyond any facile tinkering, they were 25. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: something of which one could say 'Nothing less is Dr.Sadanand Sapre, sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag deserved by the people of India; and nothing else will return Bharat completing his tour to Malaysia, can be expected by representatives of the world's Singapore and Myanmar. Visitors: largest democracy'. THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The end is the But the spectacle of the Bill collapsing in the beginning of all things, suppressed and hidden, Rajya Sabha under the weight of polemics and awaiting to be released through the rhythm of pain worse, is a huge disappointment; in fact, it is a and pleasure. – J. Krishnamurti. disillusionment. JAI SHRIRAM Here was a golden opportunity for Parliament to rise to the occasion, to equal the people's expectations of it - squandered. AT THE RAINBOW'S END There was a great deal of posturing in the House India's future does not depend on the Lokpal Bill. on Thursday. There was a great deal of offending The fact that the enactment of the draft seems to and defending. The past was raked up, intentions have gone into a coma does not mean the country were questioned, old wounds opened, new ones has slipped into unconsciousness. Yet, that Bill is inflicted. an important and crucial framework for our moral But the whole thing - the debating of the Bill's self-confidence and for our self-pride as a people. clauses, the disputing of its motives, the When the Lok Sabha passed the Bill, I was rubbishing of the Anna Hazare campaign, the delighted; in fact, elated for three reasons: first, a valourising of Parliament's legislative supremacy, national surge, an upsurge of sentiment against the all of that seemed to flux into a common crucible - abominable phenomenon of corruption had at last an acknowledgment of the need for a lokpal. No reached the law-making body of the country and one, except Ram Vilas Paswan asked, in all crystallised into a legislative text, howsoever honesty, if we really need a lokpal. Barring that, imperfect. Here was a people's movement the need for a lokpal was as much of 'a given' as coalescing with the Constitution's rubric to rid the need for checking corruption. India's body politic of its most poisonous toxin. So, what happened? Second, Team Anna's campaign had put the There will never be a satisfactory or convincing institution of Parliament to the test. It had placed answer to that question. the onus for change onto the shoulders of elected The puzzlement and utter dejection writ on the MPs. Parliament was now passing that test, and earnest face of its chairman, and our Vice- 7 President, the good and high- minded Hamid February next year to respond. But, since the Ansari, was, at that moment, the face of India. Government does not have a specific policy on the What is important now and vital, in fact, as much matter, and has traditionally dealt with such issues to the future of parliamentary credibility as to that on a case-by-case basis, it has led to enormous of civil society-powered popular campaigns is dissatisfaction and resentment among those that: affected. This lack of definite policy guidelines on - The Rajya Sabha's failure to pass the Bill be the matter, especially with respect to people of taken as a reverse, but not an irreversible defeat. Indian origin regardless of their religious - The momentum for giving the nation a lokpal not affiliation, cannot continue to remain. The be allowed to slow down. situation also leaves many asylum-seekers with no - The campaign be given, by the campaign leaders, other choice but to slip through the cracks in the not 'more of the same', but a gear-shift into a fresh system and settle in the country illegally — a powering that takes the campaign into (a) a situation that neither benefits the individual nor heightened awareness generation and (b) the state. For centuries, India has been home to negotiation with MPs from all parties, without entire communities of refugees — from citizens of mixing up its high-minded objective with electoral erstwhile East Pakistan who feared that they misadventures. Trying to telescope the lokpal would be butchered by the Pakistani Army to campaign with UP's electoral fortunes will be like Afghan nationals who wished to escape their war- forcing a rainbow into a dust-storm. ravaged country to Tibetan exiles. Yet it has been - The campaign be taken by the ruling political only in the recent past that the Government has combination into a working session with other signed a handful of bilateral agreements that parliamentary parties in a manner that ensures its provide a legal framework for the problem. passage in the next session of Parliament. However, most of them have been ineffective, as No one has doubted or disputed Parliament's the Sirimavo-Shastri pact that was signed between prerogative to legislate transformationally. No one the Governments of India and Sri Lanka in 1964 to should have to doubt its desire to do so with help that country’s embattled Tamil community sincerity. No one has doubted or disputed Team has shown.More recently, the Government has Anna's prerogative to campaign inspirationally. introduced laws that allow special benefits No one should have to doubt its wisdom to do so regarding travel and work within the country to with patience. those who are officially recognised as ‘Persons of (Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a former administrator, Indian Origin’, and has offered the title of diplomat and governor.) --Hindustan Times, ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ to some non-resident December 31, 2011. Indians. However, neither of these measures has satisfied the aspirations of the vast Indian PERSECUTED HINDUS Diaspora that wishes to maintain ties with its Bharat must shelter those who seek asylum homeland, nor have they benefitted the large number of Hindus who have periodically sought The recent case of a group of Pakistani Hindus refuge in this country. The Ministry of Overseas who entered the country on month-long pilgrimage Indian Affairs must take the lead in formulating a visas but have since then sought political asylum policy to find a desirable way out. The Ministry is citing religious persecution back home has brought in the best position to do because it interacts India’s immigration and citizenship policies under directly and regularly with overseas Indians and the spotlight. In response to a public interest understands their issues better. No doubt, the litigation, the Delhi High Court has stayed the Government has to tread carefully keeping in mind imminent deportation of the 151 Pakistani Hindus the various legal tangles as much as the underlying whose visas expired months ago and asked the emotions. But these complications have to be Union Government to explain why they should not resolved some day. – Editorial, The Pioneer, be offered refuge. The Government has time till December 23, 2011. 8