DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020 (PAGE 7) Extend helping hand to migrant workers Vedic Culture New Paradigm Post COVID-19 Ranjit Parihar insecurity among them is migrant labourers were killed extremely high as the lockdown and four others injured when a Brig Anil Gupta sound system of governance dients which purify the atmos- supported the resolution, the greeting maintaining the requi- ith locked has brought several activities to bus ran over them at Sahranpur even though hereditary system phere and keep infections away. highest number of co-sponsors site distance.Persons greeting down over the coro- he chanting of Vedic a grinding halt. in Uttar Pradesh, late on prevailed. The Gurukul system This is also a gift of the Vedic for any UNGAresolution so far. each other place their palms Wnavirus and no way In number of case Lakhs of Wednesday night. The group of prayer 'Shanti Paath' of education, though not univer- period which if promoted like While addressing the UN together, fingers pointing to earn money, migrant workers (Prayer of Peace) from migrant workers returning to workers were walking back to T sal, was aimed at holistic devel- Yoga could change the way of General Assembly on 27 Sep- upward, and say namaste with a face a grim choice either walk their homes from different parts their village in Gopalganj in Yajurveda at White House to opment of Shishyas which life of many. tember 2014, PM Modi advo- bow. "Namaste" is a combina- home or die hungry. Millions of of the country were over- Bihar from Punjab after the clo- seek mental peace and solace made them great warriors and The word 'yoga' is derived cated promotion of Yoga inter- tion of words derived from San- migrant workers have been left during the horrifying period of charged by transporters.Major- sure of the factory where they kings. Meditation was the from Sanskrit which means to nationally and stated, "Yoga is skrit that mean "I bow to you." jobless and penniless by the full worked. lockdown forced due to COVID ity of workers despite working means to achieve inner peace. join or to unite.Yoga is a phys- an invaluable gift of India's It is a noncontact form of greet- shutdown in the country that has in factories were not paid wages It is sad to see a young moth- pandemic is an indication of Many of the things being ical, mental and spiritual prac- ancient tradition. It embodies ing, as opposed to hugging or sparked an exodus from major adding woes to them . er with her belongings in one shape of things to come in the promoted now worldwide as tice which originated in India. unity of mind and body; thought shaking hands. It is quite prop- cities. What is tragic is that many hand and a small child in other post covid era. The way Coro- new norms of living to avoid Yoga which was not very pop- and action; restraint and fulfil- er if a person from a different In several areas, they are not have lost their lives while walk- walking 1,600 km to reach her na is going to affect almost being affected by corona were ular internationally and was ment; harmony between man culture uses this form of saluta- getting enough food or are liv- ing back home. Last week, 16 destination. It is shameful that every human being, the degree the usual norms during the desisted by some labelling it to and nature; a holistic approach tion to another person, Hindu or ing in precarious and hazardous migrants were run over by a the country’s labour class is suf- of affect varying from individ- Vedic period as very strict be religion specific has now to health and well-being. It is non-Hindu.Although a simple ual to individual or society to norms of hygiene were fol- become popular worldwide due not about exercise but to discov- expression of greeting, namaste society, undoubtedly seeking lowed. Like we are now being to the effort of PM Narendra er the sense of oneness with carries a profound spiritual mental peace and inner strength told to not to touch our eyes, Modi who succeeded in United yourself, the world and the meaning that is derived from the is going to become a norm than nose etc without washing hands Nations Organisation (UNO) nature. By changing our Vedantic ideal of recognizing an exception. The ancient Vedic in Manusamriti (4/144) it is General Assembly 2014 declar- lifestyle and creating con- the divine in everything and in culture is best suited to meet this written "Without a reason don't ing 21 June as The Internation- sciousness, it can help in well- every being. This ideal of the requirement. Another fact that divinity of soul, in a spiritual supports the argument is lesser sense, unifies all of humanity. number of cases in the countries Thus, though recognised as practising Buddhism. Bud- Hindu way of greeting, dhists till date religiously fol- Namaste can have universal low many dictums of Vedic cul- acceptance due to its spiritual ture and hence live relatively component. happy. Our neighbour Buddhist We are fortunate that we are nation Bhutan measures led at this crucial juncture also nation's wealth not as Gross by none other than Narendra Domestic Product (GDP) but as Modi. As the world is accepting Gross National Happiness. new ways of living to avoid Vedic culture is not religion spread of corona, PM Modi specific but a way of life. It was should take lead to promote the the daily routine and rituals Vedic way of life sans any reli- during the Vedic Period. The conditions. Many have lost their goods train when they were fering in this way which shows gious component. There are lives as they tried to make their Vedic period or Vedic age, is the making their way to humanity is dying . numerous pluses of Vedic way way home from the urban areas period in the history of the Aurangabad railway station in Despite Government efforts of life which the global commu- where they were left without northern Indian subcontinent the hope of catching a train back things are not in control. We all nity would adopt happily as work. Both Central and state between the end of the urban home in Madhya Pradesh. together should come forward they did while accepting Yoga. governments have been accused Indus Valley Civilisation and a Reports said that they were tired to change things on ground The trials have already begun of of not doing enough to alleviate and were sitting on the track. .Despite appeals made by Prime second urbanisation which an Ayurvedic drug for treatment their plight. began in the central Indo- The sight of ‘rotis’strewn on Minister Narendra Modi and of Covid-19. An ayurvedic drug At the moment, many such the railway track where the Chief Ministers of the States to Gangetic Plain c. 600 BCE. To in India called ZingiVir-H has pictures and scenes are coming some it may sound weird that migrants who had fallen asleep stay where they are, migrant gotten the go ahead for clinical in between the lockdown imple- due to exhaustion while on their labourers are on the move as the when the world is thinking of trials with patients tested posi- mented in the country and the life at moon, the reference is way to Madhya Pradesh were Government relief could not touch your own indriyas (eyes, al Day of Yoga.21 June was sug- being. Let us work towards tive for corona. If this experi- exodus of workers, which are crushed to death showed a heart- reach to deserving . being made to the BC era. Yes, nose, ears etc).As regards fre- gested as the date by PM Modi adopting an International Yoga ment succeeds, it would shaking the heart. Migrant the after effects of corona wrenching and harsh reality. Need of the hour is that Gov- quent washing of hands, Pad- since it is the longest day of the Day." The world was awakened become easier to sell the idea of workers recently migrating to The following day, five ernment of India keeping all the which would cripple many mashristi(51/88) states"Wash year in the Northern Hemi- and the UN going through its Vedic culture as the new norm their homes from different parts economies, make many indi- migrant workers were killed things aside firstly ensure trans- your hands, feet, mouth before sphere and shares a special sig- routine process declared the in post Covid-19 era.India of country are showing their and 13 others were injured, portation and food for poor viduals jobless and turn poor you eat". Another common nificance in many parts of the International Day of Yoga in through its various organisa- helplessness that due to the clo- many rich households would when a truck they were travel- migrant workers so that they thing being insisted now is world. It is being celebrated December that year. tions particularly the Indian sure of business, they had to ling in overturned at Madhya could reach to their destination need the internal strength and avoid re-use and frequent every year since then with Despite objections by vari- Council for Cultural Relations return home and there was no peace to overcome the trauma. Pradesh's Narasinghpur district. safely .Special free trains and change of clothing particularly increasing number of nations ous religious heads, it has now (ICCR) should take the lead to money left to return home. The truck was carrying man- buses should be arranged to pick There is likely to be a paradigm after you return home from a joining the celebrations.Inter- been accepted that Yoga as prac- promote Vedic culture world- Due to the lockdown, busi- goes from Telangana to Agra in workers from on way so that shift in our way of life with glit- visit outside.In the same scrip- national days are occasions to tised internationally is devoid of wide and through the UN. If nesses and industries have been Uttar Pradesh. On Wednesday they may not die in inhuman ter, extravagance giving way to ture shloka 51/83 says "Don't educate the public on issues of any religious content but at the needed a separate vertical of closed and workers want to go night 14 migrant workers were way which is a blot for human- simplicity and purity. use the cloth (like towel) used concern, to mobilize political same time it is not only for phys- International Promotion of back to their homes. As no trans- killed in two separate accidents ity and Government Keeping It is very interesting to know by another person for drying will and resources to address ical fitness but also helps in Vedic Culture be added to the portation is available, they are in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar aside political grudge all the that some elements of the cul- yourself after a bath." The global problems, and to cele- attaining inner peace. Attainment existing organisation of ICCR walking back with small chil- Pradesh. 8 migrant labourers political parties , NGOs social ture of the Vedic Age have sur- Mahabharat teaches "Use dif- brate and reinforce achieve- of inner peace is an individual to provide it the necessary dren and the Government is see- were killed in a road mishap in and religious organizations vived over a period 3,000 years ferent clothes while sleeping, ments of humanity. The exis- requirement and is not religion impetus and funds. When India ing all this with open eyes. Madhya Pradesh. The incident should come forward and In some cases people have and continue to be a part of Indi- while going out, while visiting tence of international days pre- specific. Yoga has now emerged advocates Vedic way of life it is took place at Guna late last extend their help to needy poor shown cruelty by forcefully an culture even today. Vedic place of worship". In Vish- dates the establishment of the as one of the elements of India's not doing with a view to pro- night. While 8 migrant labour- migrant workers who are in dis- vacating workers from rented period saw the emergence and nusamriti shloka 64 preaches United Nations, but the UN has multifarious soft power. mote a particular religion but to ers were killed, at least 50 were tress at the time of disaster due house as they were not in posi- exploitation of technology with "Clothes once worn should not embraced them as a powerful Namaste, Namaskar or promote the culture that con- injured in the accident. Reports to covid 19 so that humanity tion to pay rent despite appeal the discovery of Iron. Many be worn again before washing." advocacy tool. Thus by declar- Namaskaram, the Hindu way of ceived the idea of Vasudhaiva said that the truck in which they could be saved .It is the not duty crafts developed during this by Prime Minister to exempt were travelling in collided with of Government only every cit- Aren't these going to be the ing International Day of Yoga, greeting has already gained Kutumbakam (world is one them from it . Ever since the period and growth of popula- norms in the post Covid - 19 the world body created aware- wider acceptance and global family). a bus at Guna. izen should shoulder responsi- tion and surplus of food grain lockdown was announced, the era? The material (samagri) ness globally of the multiple recognition. Social distancing (The author is a Jammu based veteran, The migrants were on their bility as it is a world wide pen- due to extensive farming led to migrants have been the hardest used for Havan (fire worship) in benefits of practising Yoga that would be the norm post corona political commentator, columnist, security way home to Uttar Pradesh. The demic and we all together can urbanisation. The period also hit. They have had to struggle to Indian Households including may help in addressing many and Namaste is considered the and strategic analyst.) second incident took place at fight against it. witnessed the emergence of get back to their homes. The incense sticks use many ingre- global problems. 177 nations better and appropriate form of [email protected] Sahranpur in Uttar Pradesh. Six [email protected] Chitral- Lynchpin of New Great Game Satish Singh Lalotra affiliation with it. At the same time it is in will go a long way in uplifting the overall ry. Chitral was typically the last Indian out- with their Pashtun tribal mates in and covert signatures of having recorded history that the Mehtar (Ruler) of standard of living of the locals. In fact the post during the British India and coveted by and for eons ,with their territo- steered the entire episode. Moreover since or other people, Afghanistan, Turk- Chitral was a regular contributor of revenue prince wants to turn Chitral into Gawadar both the Czarist Russia as well as Victorian rial boundaries blurred by long lasting blood Chitral provides an easy route of ingress and menistan, Persia and other names to the Dogra empire as a tribute since the late of the north waiting only to be exploited of England to assuage their expansionist relations across the Durand line. Readers egress of all foreign militants to Indian hin- 'Fof might breathe only 1860s confirming thereby the suzerainty of its potential. Geopolitical aspirations. would recall well that one of the most press- terland ,it would be in all fairness of things as a mark of remoteness. But to me they are Dogras over Chitral. Chitral is situated on the If one casts his eye on the map of KPK It is in recorded history that when the ing needs of Britain during the 1890s was for India to factor in this area in its overall pieces on a chess board upon which is being river Chitral river having an area of a total () he will notice that shadow boxing began between the two great to demarcate the erstwhile British India from containment policy in cohort with the new played a game for the dominion of the world- of 57 Sq kms at an altitude of 1494 Chitral which forms part of it ,and now part super powers of that time viz Russia and Eng- Afghanistan in order to create an outer Afghan govt. During the height of Taliban -- Lord Curzon. (Former Governor General mts/4902ft above the Msl. Chitral typically of Pakistan is separated from Tajikistan by a land to expand their tentacles into this vast boundary of defence called as the Durand conflict in 1996, India was actively provid- of India)' falls under the area of Dardistan,which mere 5-10 km of a narrow strip of land landmass of central Asia, the rival empires line( Named after the then British foreign ing medical assistance to Afghan Northern What prophetic words from a former includes smaller principalities like, Punial, through the corridor. Chitral's close lay about 2000 miles away .But by the time secy Sir Mortimer Durand) separating the Alliance fighters via a small hospital estab- Governor General of India ,which holds true Nagar, Hunza,Yasin, Tangir, Gor, Mastinj, proximity to china, Afghanistan and Tajik- this rivalry ended in the third decade of the war like Pashtuns from from India. But lished at Farkhor in Tajikistan,where the Lion even today after a gap of about 130 years. Chilas etc to name a few. Chilas was the istan certainly makes it a hot spot in central 20th century some Russian outposts lay just unfortunately even after the passage of 130 of Panjshir valley Ahmed Shah Masood also With the sudden and dramatic collapse of largest of principalities of Dogra empire Asia. If Pakistan negotiates with Afghan- 20 miles north of Chitral. The same impor- years ,the Durand line has failed to fulfill its was evacuated in 2002 after a suicidal communism in 1991 ,and the breaking up of which lay astride River Indus and Nanga Par- istan to find out a passage into Tajikistan, tance has been accorded to Chitral by the role of a deterrent in the region notwithstand- attempt on his life. India thereafter decided the Soviet union/USSR ,there sprang up bat. Various punitive expeditions were then Chitral's Geostrategic importance present think tank of US, since it underpins ing the changed geopolitical situation in this to have a permanent presence in that area, almost overnight five entirely new countries launched in the life time of Maharaja Gulab increases manifold. Tajikistan is a potential Afghanistan's look east policy particularly region. and proposed to improve upon a dilapidated ….eight if you include the Caucasus region. singh and Ranbir singh under able command- market for Pakistani goods, whereas Pak- towards India. The physical continuity of With Chitral sitting bang on the Durand air base with Tajiki authorities. At first even those with the long experience ers like General Bhup Singh, Sant Singh, line and US already in the throes of a planned It was a long outstanding desire of India of central Asia had difficulty in familiarizing Dewan Hari Chand, Wazir Zorawaru and withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, to have a footprint in central Asia which themselves with the new geographical and Colonel Baz Singh from 1851 onwards till It was a long outstanding desire of India the vacuum thus created by this withdrawal seemed now feasible. The airbase was final- political jigsaw puzzle, not to mention get- 1867, till the time all these principalities were will certainly prove to be a dangerous cock- ly fructified in 2005 by the BRO (Border ting their tongues around such Romanization brought under the overall suzerainty of the to have a footprint in central Asia which tail ready to be filled in by renegade elements Roads Organization). The Farkhor air base in as Kyrgyzstan. In fact it had been so much Dogra empire. of the region. The Chitralis in cohort with the Tajikistan about 130 kms from its capital simpler when the entire region was just called Cut to the modern times, and Chitral Taliban easily fit the bill for filling this vac- Dushanbe is maintained jointly by the Indi- Soviet central Asia. Asingle visa if you could assumes massive Geo strategic importance seemed now feasible. The airbase was uum off course with dangerous conse- an air force and the Tajik air force and is get one, took you from Baku to Bokhara, ,which relatively underscores its importance quences. The latest Taliban -Afghan talks India's first military air base in the central from Tbilisi to Tashkent with Moscow and as a lynchpin on which revolves the complete finally fructified in 2005 by the BRO having stalled due to prisoner swap deal rings Asian region forming part of the grand strate- Leningrad thrown in. The actual' Great Game stratagem of the new Great Game. To those ominous bells for the entire area that can gic Indian design with routine flights of ARC 'was a term used by the British empire to of us who are not aware of the critical impor- (Border roads organization). The Farkhor have a cascading effect on peace and stabil- (Aviation research center ) operating from it. describe the Russo-British power struggle tance of Chitral the more said about it is in ity in the entire region of central Asia to This air base has catapulted India into the for supremacy on the chessboard of fact less. consists of about include Chitral. The fact that the casus belli thick of action obtaining in that region. The Afghanistan and central Asia -Acontest with 20%of KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and its air base in Tajikistan about 130 kms of prisoner swap in this peace deal has an Chabahar port in Iran developed by India pro- few players ,mostly limited to intelligence potential is backed by its mega reserves of upper hand oblivious to the gains accruing vides us surface transport access to Farkhor forays and short wars fought on horse backs granite, gemstones and metal works which from its capital Dushanbe is maintained out of the deal ,gives further credence to the airbase via Afghanistan for contingencies with rifles and with those on the chessboard amounts to appx Rs 177 Billion . In addition logic that renegade elements call the shots, like the hijacking of IC-814 aircraft .The as bystanders or victims. As opposed to the to the above Chitral has got enormous and will unite with the neighboring such ele- Farkhor air base in Tajikistan would give above, the new 'Great Game' as the name amounts of hydropower ,tourism and miner- jointly by the and the ments waiting in the wings to partake in the Indian military the required depth and range envisages is a term used to describe the con- al potential waiting to be exploited by a spoils of an already unstable region. The in seeking a larger role in the Indian subcon- ceptualization of modern Geopolitics in cen- resourceful entrepreneur . It boasts of high- Tajik air force above fact is backed by historical evidence tinent and is a tangible manifestation of tral Asia as a competition between regional est literacy rates in KPK, a cause of heart burn when during the 1947/48 Kashmir operations India's move to project its power play in Cen- and world powers for influence, power, mon- for other similar regions of Dardistan. As per istan is a potential buyer of cheap raw mate- Chitral with Afghanistan spilled over to socio the Mehtar (ruler) of Chitral Muzaffar Ul- tral Asia of which Chitral is a part and par- ey profit and hegemony. the present Prince of Chitral, Shahzada rials and minerals from Tajikistan .Further- -cultural mix with its bigger cousin ,result- Mulk was the first one to raise the flag of cel . The control over energy resources of the Iftikharuddin, Chitral has a reservoir of more if Pakistan allows India to trade with ing in centuries old relations cemented by Jihad to liberate Kashmir from the Dogras In all its fairness and not withstanding the former Soviet union and export run out of the about 45 Billion meteric tons of granite Tajikistan through the it would familial bondings which remain as strong and Chitrali Lashkars were swelled by trib- above prognosis looming large in front of our Eurasian hinterland is quickly becoming one worth about 500-1000billion dollars. He fur- render the area into a transit economy .If Pak- even today. Hence any small or big upheaval als from across the range . The country ,the only way forward for India is to of the central issues in post cold war politics. ther says that Chitral can earn alone from istan manages to build a road access to in Afghanistan casts its shadow on Chitral too Chitrali body guards under the Chitrali prince go back to the drawing board of the late 19th As I write this article ,things have gone bal- Granite an amount of 15 Billion dollars from Afghanistan running through the Wakhan with ominous repercussions. As we all know subjugated the fort of Skardu after laying a century irrespective of the time line ,draw listic in general area Afghanistan/Khybe its reserves,and 30 billion dollars from its corridor they can have an alternate route that Afghanistan is in the throes of a tecton- siege resulting in its downfall. Though Chi- some lessons which were learnt by the British Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) with the US having marble reserves , and because of its sobriquet available for China and Afghanistan, which ic geostrategic shift with US already having tral is very far off from Indian borders ,its namely….Have friendly relations with the announced its withdrawal of forces ,and as a Marble city a total of 20 marble facto- will further strengthen not only trade rela- commenced its withdrawal of forces from ominous shadow still lurks around casting an Afghan govt of the day, endear the local signed a US-Taliban peace deal in Doha ries can be established with each earning 600 tions with Tajikistan, Afghanistan and China that endemic warring nation, hence it is but evil eye on India's northern frontiers. Since Afghans by continuing the developmental /Qatar in February this year. Historically Chi- million dollars annually. According to the ,but also open up a viable new chapter in natural that Chitral too would be sucked into Chitral being in KPK and also closely linked works in their country and finally help the tral never formed part of the Dogra rule Prince of Chitral, there are dozens of hydro- Sino-Pak military relations. In fact Chitral the whirlpool of international politics. The with Afghanistan in every way ,India's posi- Afghan forces militarily by joint training in ,except that Maharaja Gulab singh the 1st electric power projects that can be construct- typically falls under the cross roads of Chi- three main elements of withdrawal focuses tion on Afghanistan has always been that it combination with keeping a hawk's eye on empire builder of the Dogra dynasty ed which can provide 10,000 to 12,000 MW na, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, on firstly.. orderly withdrawal of US led doesn't have to do anything with Taliban the fast evolving situation on the Durand line launched in a routine manner punitive expe- of electricity garnered from rivers .Mr with CPEC(China Pakistan economic corri- forces with minimum of confusion ,second- ,though some experts argue that India should by sharing joint info with its Afghan coun- ditions for conquest of Dardistan which was Shahzada Iftikharuddin the only MNAelect- dor) running close by, thus gaining gigantic ly to prevent Afghanistan from becoming an have an open contact with Taliban as they are terparts on a routine basis to thwart any threat necessary for the defence of north western ed on a ticket of All Pakistan Muslim league importance for all the nation states hugging international haven for terrorists ,and lastly the part and parcel of the peace process there. emanating from this most volatile area of the frontiers of his kingdom. Since Chitral (APML) has in an exclusive interview it. Chitral's close proximity has always been permanent ceasefire between the Taliban and Though Taliban has never ever criticized earth. formed part of Dardistan which extends to recently stated that Rs 4 billion is being spent a great factor of influence over Afghanistan's Afghan led forces. As mentioned above Chi- India in the past it would do well for us not (The writer of the article is a retired army officer from present day ,Skardu the people living on Lowari tunnel in addition to Booni- interior political environment, since the ear- tral being part of Malakand division of to forget issues like the hijacking of IC-814 the Indian army) in these part of Dardistan naturally had an Buzund and Booni Shandoor roads ,which ly days of the Great Game in the 19th centu- KPK,has traditionally been brother in arms Flight to Kandahar in 1999 ,which had overt [email protected] (The views expressed by the authors are their personal)