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 P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW 110055 (BHARAT); Email: [email protected] No. Sm1519/2072 (For Private Circulation Only) Pausha Krishna 7, Vik. Samvat 2072. Yugabda 5117 Tel: 91-11- 23517373; 1 January 2016 1. FESTIVALS: Republic Day: Bharat became a Mahajan called the participants “Bharat’s cultural republic on 26th of January 1950 with ambassadors”. She noted that people of Bharatiya- promulgation of her carefully drafted Samvidhan origin were members of many parliaments world by the Constituent Assembly. A magnificent over, and they are raising people’s issues in those parade on Rajpath stretching from Rashtrapati houses. She added whenever Bharatiyas went to Bhavan to Gate is the main attraction of the other countries, they didn’t go with the intention day. The parade consists of columns from the of enslaving others, but went to give the message three wings of armed forces, achievements of peace and universal brotherhood. Rashtriya reflected in the tableaux from various states and Swayamsevak Sangh Sarakaryavah Suresh entertaining presentations by school children. The Bhaiyyaji Joshi said on the occasion that an day is celebrated with flag hoising and Rashtragan “awakened” Hindu community can lead the entire in various institutions, schools, offices, residential world on a path of happiness, peace and harmony. complexes and establishments with fervor and joy. He said that we are treading the path from self to 2. VISHWA SANGHA SHIVIR 2015 was held ‘we’. Journey from self to family, family to in the beautiful surrounding of the sprawling society, society to humanity and ultimately to campus of Emerald Heights International School Paramatman is quite long. We are the guide of this in the historic city Indore of Madhya Pradesh from journey. 29th December 2015 to 3rd January 2016. Theme of An exhibition portraying Bharatiya culture was the Shivir was ‘Vayam Vishwam Jagaryem’ – Let inaugurated by the Videsh Mantri Sushama Swaraj us Awaken the World. 746 participants from 45 praising and saying countries attended the Shivir. Notable numbers that it will make new generation familiar with rich among them were about 120 from UK, 82 from Bharateeya samskriti in foreign lands. US, the biggest ever till now, 42 from Kenya, 32 America zone Sanghachalak Prof Ved Prakash from Thailand, 64 from Nepal, 45 from Srilanka, Nanda, US HSS Karyavah Yelloji Mirajkar, HSS and 25 from South Africa. Participation was UK Sanghachalak Dheeraj D Shah, , Dr. Manohar mostly by whole of the families. Although there Shinde, Dr Bhishma Agnihotri, Dr. Jatindra were many activities common for all, yet much of Kumar from US, Arun Kankaniand Prof Sreenath the camp proceedings were conducted for men, from Sewa USA, HSS Hongkong SahSanghchalak women folk and children separately. Men and Nirmal Laungani, Shri Pravin Patel from New women were provided separate accommodations. Zealand, Nairobi HSS Sanghachalak Raghupati Some families carried kids as small as 1 year. Shetty and Shantibhai Shah from Kenya, Dr Ladies were active in Sevika Samiti activities Vidula Ambekar, Ms. Anjali Patel from US, Kitti while children’s activities were conducted in the Navani from Thailand, Myanmar Sanghachalak campus of Nursery School. Games and other Bajrang Sharma, Swami Aksharanand from activities of children’s interest were specially Guyana, were some of the distinguished devised for the camp. participants in the Shivir. Inaugurating the Shivir in the evening of Many of the Shivir participants came to Bharat for December 29, Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra the first time. Some of them are fourth or fifth 1 generation Bharateeyas in their countries of programme featured Mallakhamb. On first of residence. Many participants came weeks earlier January the Shivir participants presented and went on Bharat Darshan while many of them entertaining items of their countries of residence. have stayed back and are visiting places of interest Sarasanghachalak Shri , and pilgrimage. Many of the participants are Sarakaryavah Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, visiting their near and dear ones while many of Sahasarakaryavah V Bhagayya and Dattatreya them are enriching their knowledge of their Hosbale, Dr. Shankarrao Tattwavadi, HSS Global forefathers’ land by various other means. Co-ordinator Saumitra Gokhale, joint coordinators Mornings in the shivir began with Isha-chintan Ravi Iyer, Dr. Ram Vaidya, Seva International Co- followed by Yog and Shareerik, Aavartan dhyan ordinator Bharat Shyam Parande, Akhil Bharatiya and prarthana. Evening shakhas were held Prachar Pramukh Dr. Manmohan Vaidya, ABVP separately for swayamsevaks and sevikas. organizing general secretary Sunil Ambekar, were There were daily two interactive sessions, one in among the resource persons for various sessions the morning and one in the evening, in Hindi as and also helped in smooth functioning of the well as in English. There was an inspring lecture Shivir and proper hostage of the participants. by RSS Sarasanghachalk Shri Mohan Bhagwat on Important visitors to the shivir were External the life of Shri Balasaheb Deoras, the third Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh Sarasanghachalak of RSS. He mentioned that Mukhya Mantri Shivrajsingh Chauhan, Bharatiya those who never saw Dr Hedgewar could see him Janata Party (BJP) president , BJP in Balasaheb Deorasji. One session was conducted Akhil Bharatiya Sangathan Mantri Ramlal, Shri by Pramukh Sanchalika Dinesh Chandra ji and Champatrai from VHP, Shantakkaji on nature worshipping the Hindu way Chamu Krishna Shastri from Sanskrit Bharati, of Life, and one by Akhil Bharateey Saha Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram general secretary Karyavahika Alka Inamdar. Saha Sarakaryavah Chandrakant Devand Atul ji Jog , Sardar Dr. Krishna Gopal said that ancient civilizations of Gurucharan Singh Gill from Sikh Sangat. Egypt and Mesopotamia are nowhere to be seen Addressing a public program at the shivir venue today but Bharatiya civilization is still alive and on 2nd January, RSS Sarsanghachalak Mohan the lifeline of this is the spirituality of this country. Bhagwat said that it is but natural swayamsevaks In one of the sessions, Akhil Bharatiya in-charge who reside abroad continue to strive for our of Kutumb Prabodhan activity Subramania Bhat practicing and propagating our cultural values stressed on compactness of the family. One of the abroad. He appealed them to work hard by sessions was conducted by Dr Omanand Pathak on contributing towards the efforts for universal holistic health. peace and oneness through the values given by our There were also parallel sessions on the topics of age old civilization. interest to the participants such as on media, Shri G Madhavan Nair , former ISRO chief and acupressure, rangoli, Hinduism and Buddhism, the Chief Guest of the program stressed on the importance of Bharatiya culture based education, ancient Bhartiya way of learning. He said, “We media’s role in highlighting cultural renaissance of had nice town planning, dwelling system, well Bharat. organized townships…scientific computation Cultural programmes were held every night to behind astrology was very unique,” he said, entertain the participants. The welcoming cultural adding that the movements of stars, planets, programme was presented by the students of celestial objects and their trajectories had been Emerald Height International School. One cultural very precisely tabulated in ancient Bharat. 2 3. KNIGHTHOOD TO HARPAL SINGH develop a collective power of the society in order KUMAR: On 31 December 2015, a Bharateeya- to create proper place for our country in the world. origin cancer research expert Harpal Singh Kumar Such strength must have a strong base of ethics was conferred with a Knighthood by Queen and values, he added. Elizabeth II in London for his influential work on The presence of lakhs of swayamsevaks is not just prevention and treatment of cancer. Over the years the expression of strength of the Sangh, he said it has become increasingly evident that adding that it is the acknowledgement of RSS’ Bharateeyas have made a huge impact overseas. reach in all the sections of the Hindu society. They have integrated and excelled greatly in vital The unique, historic event: The Shivshakti fields such as medicine, engineering, technology Sangam was held at the sprawling 400 acres land and business, to name a few. Whichever country in Marunji. A total of 1,58,778 swayamsevaks had Bharateeyas have settled in, they have ensured that registered for this Shavshakti Sangam by January they do their utmost to be upstanding citizens and 1. In the last couple of days this figure swelled to contribute greatly economically. over two lakh. Amongst the swayamsevaks 35,713 4. MAMMOTH GATHERING OF were college students, over 35,000 employees, SWAYAMSEVAKS IN PUNE: “Leadership, more than 33,000 businessmen, over 8,000 Constitution and government are not enough to doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, company make the nation great and developed. An secretaries, over 8,000 retired persons and more awakened society with unimpeachable national than 20,000 farmers attended the Shivshakti character and positive strength can take the Sangam. They included 102-year-old Shridhar country on to the path of development and glory”, Ballal and 95-year-old Chandulal Mehta of observed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Talegaon Dabhade in full uniform standing in the Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat in Pune on formation. Four generations of swayamsevaks also January 3. He was addressing the massive participated. ‘Shivshakti Sangam’ of over two lakh RSS Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra swayamsevaks in uniform from seven districts of Fadanvis, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar, Western Maharashtra at Marunji situated at the tri- Pune’s Guardian Minister Girish Bapat, Social junction of Nere, Jambhe and Marunji villages Justice Minister Dilip Kamble, Tribal Welfare near Hinjewadi – Pune’s IT Hub. Over 50000 Minister Vishnu Savra, Pune MP Anil Shirole, citizens also witnessed this historic gathering held Amar Sable, State BJP President Ravsaheb Danve, after a gap of 33 years. Similar event was held in Shivshahir Babasaheb Puradare, Dr Majumdar of 1983 at Taljai near Pune where 35,000 Symbosis, P D Patil, Industrialist Abhay Firodia, swayamsevaks had gathered from the entire Saints, Muslim religious scholars and clergy, Maharashtra state excluding Vidarbha region. RSS activists of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, were Sarkaryawah Suresh alias Bhayyaji Joshi, amongst the prominent guests for the program. Kshetriya Sanghchalak Dr Jayantibhai Bhadesia, 5. HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR Western Maharashtra Prant Sanghchalak 2015 HELD IN BENGALURU: A five-day mega Nanasaheb Jadhav and Prant Karyawah Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair-2015 held in Vinayakrao Thorat were present on the dais. Bangalore concluded on 13th December. The fair The RSS Sarsanghchalak said, “The world always encouraged people to offer selfless service to the listens to the language of the strong people and society, inspired patriotism and promoted treats nations that have acquired strength and awareness to preserve the environment. The fair, power. It is therefore, necessary that we need to first of its kind in Karnataka, was organized to 3 represent the service activities of Hindu religious inspiration of the centuries that Hinduism seeks to organizations of the state. Fair had representatives preach and propagate," it added. from nearly 200 major socio-religious service Deciding a petition by Adi Saiva Sivachariyagal organizations who had set up their stalls to display Nala Sangam which had challenged a Tamil Nadu the various activities undertaken by them and to government order of 2006 deciding to take up involve the public to be part of the process of appointment of priests to temples, the SC ruled social transformation. that priests could be appointed as per norms In a special programme ‘Param Veer Vandana’ prescribed by the scriptures so long as the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar addressed the selection did not violate the Constitution's cardinal gathering. “Our temples are not just centers of non-discrimination mandate. worships. But are the centres of social 7. YOGA IS NOW GLOBAL HERITAGE: transformation,” said Dinesh Kamat, National : Noting that Yoga is now a organising secretary of Samskrit Bharati , quoting global heritage with the world embracing the example of Siddaganga Math in Karnataka for traditional Bharatiya medicine with great its great service for education. Head of enthusiasm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3rd Mangalayan Project and noted Scientist Dr Jauary said that his vision for healthcare is an Mailaswamy Annadorai mentioned that Science integrated system that understands and builds on and Spiritualism will always work together in the best and most effective of different traditions. service of humanity. A special dance show Modi was in Bengaluru to address the 21st featuring various Yoga postures was also International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga performed in the afternoon by ‘Yogashree’ group, Research and Its Applications at the Vivekananda a forum for Yoga in Bengaluru. 5 former soldiers Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana. Its founder Dr. were also felicitated on the occasion. H.R. Nagendra is "Across the world there are 6. HINDUISM HAS ROOM FOR ALL moving stories of transformed lives and rekindled FORMS OF BELIEF: SC: The Supreme Court hopes due to Yoga. Across cultures and on 16th December sought to dispel the notion about geography, people are increasingly taking to yoga rigidity of Hinduism harboured in certain quarters to redefine their lives. The overwhelming global and said it was the "collective wisdom and support is a mark of Yoga's growing international inspiration of the centuries" even as it delivered a popularity," he added. landmark judgment saying the state could not have 8. HARMANDIR SAHIB, SARNATH AMONG a say in who should be appointed a pujari (priest) 46 SITES ON TENTATIVE UNESCO LIST: in a temple. Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, "Religion incorporates the particular belief(s) that Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Sikhism holiest a group of people subscribe to. Hinduism, as a shrine, Assam’s river island Majuli and Mughal religion, incorporates all forms of belief without Gardens in Srinagar are among 46 Bhartiya sites mandating the selection or elimination of any one on UNESCO’s tentative list for consideration for single belief," a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi nomination as World Heritage Sites. and N V Ramana said. Thirty-two cultural and natural sites in Bharat "It is a religion that has no single founder, no already figure in the World Heritage list, Culture single scripture and no single set of teachings. It and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma told the has been described as Sanatan Dharma, namely, Lok Sabha. The tentative list includes Temples at eternal faith, as it is the collective wisdom and Bishnupur in West Bengal; Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam in Kerala; Group of Monuments at 4 Mandu in Madhya Pradesh; Ancient Buddhist Site, minutes later, the rocket ejected the 400kg Sarnath, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh; Sri Harimandir TeLEOS-1 into a 555km circular orbit. The other Sahib, Amritsar in Punjab; and River Island of five satellites (two micro satellites and one nano Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in satellite) were put in orbit within another three Assam. minutes before the fourth stage of the rocket re- 9. TREWYN SCHOOL FIRST GRADERS started to move away from the satellites before. CELEBRATE DEEPAVALI WITH PEORIA Soon after the last of the satellites was put in the SHAKHA SEVIKAS: After being informed by orbit, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar announced their teacher that their reading tutors were going to the mission a success. It was PSLV 32nd flight, celebrate the Hindu festival of Deepavali with and the 31st consecutively successful one. them, the Trewyn School first graders anxiously 11. ADHIVAKTA PARISHAD’S 14TH awaited the day. The day of celebration began NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT with decorating the first grade room with toran, BENGALURU RSS inspired forum for lawyers, kandil and lamps by the sevikas. All the 60 first ADHIVAKTA PARISHAD’s 14th National graders were delighted to see all their tutors Conference was held at Art of Living Ashram in dressed in sarees. The children were greeted with a Bengaluru. The 3-day national conference began Namaste and its explanation. An introduction on December 27 and concluded on December 29, about the festival, explaining the meaning and 2015. significance of Deepavali followed. The children Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji, Akhil Bharatiya learnt about Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Supreme wealth. The definition of wealth was discussed as Court Judge Deepak Mishra, Union Law Minister not only material wealth but also more importantly DV Sadananda Gouda, Judge of Karnataka High health, loving family and good education. A short Court Ashok B Hinchagiri and other prominent story of Lord Ram and Sita was narrated. It was functionaries were present during the inaugural. followed by an animated video on Ramayana. The RSS Sah Sarakaryavah V Bhagaiah addressed at children loved the Diwali sweets (Homemade the valedictory. pedha in shape of modak). Treat bags were gifted 12. BHARAT LARGEST REMITTANCES to each child which had Parle G packets, rangoli RECEIVING COUNTRY IN 2015: WORLD coloring pages and crayon box along with other BANK: Bharat became the largest remittances goodies. Children had lots of questions which receiving country at $72 billion this year followed were answered at the end of the presentation. As by China at $64 billion, the World Bank said on part of the Peoria Shakha Sewa projects, Diwali 17th December. food drive was organized. The granola bars and The US emerged as the largest remittance source other children snacks that were collected were country with an estimated $56 billion in outward donated to the school. flows in 2014. "India was the largest remittance 10. PSLV-C29 PUTS 6 SINGAPORE receiving country, with an estimated $72 billion in SATELLITES IN PRECISE ORBIT: Indian 2015, followed by China ($64 billion), and the Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has put in Philippines ($30 billion)," the World Bank said in orbit six Singapore satellites. A core-alone version a report. of the PSLV (without solid strap-ons) took off In outward flow, the US was followed by Saudi from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Arabia ($37 billion), and Russia ($33 billion) in Centre in Sriharikota, 100km north of Chennai, at 2014, the Bank said in the report. 6pm on December 16. A little more than 18 5 13. TATA MOTORS: THE BHARATIYA 15. OBAMA TO PRESENT NATIONAL FIRM ON TOP-50 GLOBAL R&D LIST: Tata MEDAL OF SCIENCE TO BHARATIYA - Motors has entered the top-50 league of the AMERICAN PROF: President Barack Obama world’s biggest companies in terms of their R&D will present the National Medal of Science to Dr. investments, topped by German automaker Rakesh K. Jain, a Bharatiya-American professor at Volkswagen. Harvard Medical School and director of tumor On the annual Industrial R&D Investment biology laboratory at Massachusetts General Scoreboard for 2015, prepared by European Hospital. Commission, Volkswagen is followed by Jain, a B. Tech in Chemical Engineering from Samsung, Microsoft, Intel and Novartis in the top- Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, will five. receive the honour along with 16 other winners of Tata Motors has moved up from 104th position the National Medal of Science and National Medal last year to 49th now and has also shown the of Technology and Innovation at a White House largest increase in R&D (Research and ceremony early next year. Development) investments on the list. However, Jain is regarded as a pioneer in the area of tumour most of this R&D is at its UK subsidiary Jaguar micro-environment and widely recognized for his Land Rover. seminal discoveries in tumor biology, drug Bharat is overall placed at 15th position in terms delivery, in vivo imaging, bioengineering, and of the number of companies on the list. bench-to-bedside translation. 14. US GROUP ASKS BANGLADESH TO 16. ATAL SETU OPENS, TO IMPROVE PROTECT HINDU COMMUNITY: A US- CONNECTIVITY WITH HIMACHAL, based Hindu advocacy group has requested PUNJAB: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Bangladesh to take steps for protecting the inaugurated the strategically important 592-metre- minority community in view of two recent terrorist long cable-stayed bridge ‘Atal Setu’ on Ravi river attacks targeting temples in the country. near Basohli in Kathua district that will provide Hindu American Foundation's (HAF) request close connectivity to three states — Jammu and comes after two separate attacks targeting a Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. religious congregation at the International Society ‘Atal Setu’, an engineering marvel, is the fourth for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and a bridge of its kind in the country. The other three gathering of over 5,000 people at the historic cable-stayed bridges are Hooghly Bridge at Kantaji temple took place within a week in Kolkata, Naini Bridge in Allahabad and Rajiv Bangladesh. Gandhi Sea Link in Mumbai. "We have directly called upon the government of The bridge will act as a catalyst for further Bangladesh to fully investigate these incidents and development of the region with payoffs in terms of to protect the lives and properties of the Hindu providing alternative connectivity to Doda and rest community," HAF's director of Government of the Kashmir Valley in addition to the existing Relations Jay Kansara said on 15th December. NH-44. It will lead to a surge in commercial and "The Foundation has also requested US tourism-related activities in the area, including Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens water and adventure sports also. Militarily, the Bloom Bernicat and other US officials to visit the strategic bridge on the Pathankot-Doda axis will sites of the attacks in order to assure the Hindu help quick induction of armed forces to Kashmir minority of Bangladesh that the US stands with and improve the overall security calculus of the them in their time of need," he said. region during war and emergency situations. 6 17. CALL FOR YOGIS TO TEACH IN 19. OVER 3,300 VANVASI MEXICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Yoga is now SPORTSPERSONS IN THE VANVASI being added to physical education programs in KREEDA MAHOTSAVA: Seventh Akhil Mexico's schools in order to address major Bharatiya Vanvasi Kreeda Mahotsava organized problems of childhood obesity and bullying. There by the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram are two "sports yoga" pilot programs now concluded at Khel Gaon of Ranchi on December operating, one in the state of Jalisco and the other 31. Around 3,300 Vanvasi sportspersons from in the Mexico City Federal District. Another pilot across the country displayed their talent and program will begin early next year in the state of received huge applause from the audience and the Quintana Roo, in Yucatan. Approval for the sports experts assembled at the Khel Gaon. It was expansion of these programs to schools across the a show of national unity more than that of the country is expected. sports meet, which is organized every five years to In Tulum Mariela Rosales Ruiz has announced the tap the sports talent of the Vanvasis. Since its call, by the Mexican Federation of Sport Yoga inception in Mumbai, the Meet has so far (FEMYD), for professional yoga instructors to discovered scores of sports persons who excelled teach these classes. It is estimated that at least at national and international level and earned 2,000 teachers will be needed to meet the demand sports persons for Bharat. Limba Ram in archery and there could be more. "One would need to be and Kavita Raut who won medal during the certified by the Federation to be part of this Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 are the project," she said. Requirements are already on the proud products of such sports meets. web site. She also observed that Tulum is "a huge The meet was inaugurated by Jharkhand Chief portal for yoga and there is the possibility of the Minister Raghubar Das and RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Federation also certifying people who are not Bhaiyaji Joshi, Kalyan Ashram president Shri Mexicans, those who have the training and Jagdevram Oraon and many other dignitaries from experience". sports field as well as Union ministers addressed 18. ISRAEL INAUGURATES ROUNDABOUT the gatherings. TO HONOUR GANDHI: The first roundabout SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravaas: Visitors: honouring Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated on FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Let no man in the 4th January at Kiryat Gat – Israel celebrating 60 world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can years of this Israeli town's establishment. cross over to the other shore. - Guru Nanak "It is a symbol of the warm friendship enjoyed JAI SHRI RAM between the people of India and Israel and the two countries politically. It is a proud moment for us to SCRAP ARTICLE 370 TO REVERSE be honouring a leader whose message remains WORST ACT OF INTOLERANCE IN relevant till today," the Mayor of Kiryat Gat, RECENT INDIAN HISTORY: EXILE OF Aviram Dahari, said. KASHMIRI PANDITS Calling upon local students gathered at the Anupam Kher ceremony to learn from the great Bharatiya leader, I speak to audiences, wherever i go, about the Dahari said it is also an "educational initiative for plight of my brethren – the Kashmiri Pandits – local children to learn about other cultures and who have been horrific victims of intolerance. their greats". Kiryat Gat is a small township in the Over 300,000 Pandits had to flee the land of their south of Israel with about 2,000 Bharatiyas from forefathers, arguably the finest countryside on this the Bene Israel community living here. planet, overnight on January 19, 1990. 7 It was the culmination of a long list of attacks I am besieged by hordes of people, the old, the against Kashmiri Hindus by militants from middle-aged and the young. All of them have hope Pakistan aided by the citizenry; a tale of murders, in their eyes and a request on their mouths. Many kidnappings and rape which had been going on of them thrust chits of paper in my hand. These are unchecked by the state government since 1988. requests for a job, for a word to be put in the right Not surprisingly, virtually none of the perpetrators places, a recommendation and, sadly — money for of such violence have been arrested. cancer treatment. I meet many people who have On the days preceding January 19, the ominous been struck by the deadly C and ponder over the word had gone out everywhere that Pandits should link between cancer and stress. either embrace Islam and stay on, or leave the I know it is my duty to keep their story alive by homeland of their ancestors. Of course Pandits telling and retelling it wherever i go. Just as the were also told that they could leave behind their victims of the Holocaust have kept their stories womenfolk — the Panditas — for reasons which alive globally, to remarkable effect. you might correctly surmise. ‘Don’t give us hope, give us solutions,’ shouts a Overnight the Pandits decided to flee for their youngster. I have a solution, i tell them. We must safety and honour of their women. It was not a scrap Article 370 of the Constitution. We must ‘migration’ as the media and ‘secularists’ continue amend the Constitution because the article was to term it; it was India’s first and only instance of made as a temporary and transitional provision. It ethnic cleansing. accorded a special status to the state of Jammu and And this ethnic cleansing has been wilfully kept Kashmir under which citizens of other states of under wraps by a cabal of politicians, bureaucrats India cannot purchase property and settle down. and sections of a celebrity-chasing media. I Faced with terrorism fostered across the border for recently went to the Jagti camp, the largest decades, and with an anti-national militancy settlement of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu, which movement to boot, the special circumstances houses about 7,000 refugees from the Valley. Kashmir currently finds itself in call for special They have left behind pastures, apple orchards, measures. clear streams, the mountain air and their homes for What has led to the cauldron being allowed to matchbox one room plus kitchens in crumbling simmer is that no elements from the rest of India PWD-built tenements on the outskirts of Jammu. have been allowed to play a neutralising role. Almost all the men were graduates – the Pandits Ironically, all the while rogue elements from were highly educated folk – but few currently find across the border continue to play havoc and lead employment. I went to deliver a message of hope. public discourse. But what message could i deliver to a people who The influx of a large number of people from are refugees in their own country? A people whose across the country will reshape political equations struggle successive administrations have tamped and restore sanity and peace to a land troubled by down during the past quarter century. militancy and wracked by violence for decades. It These were the worst victims of intolerance in our will also spur investment as corporates will chase country since Independence — whose existence talent flooding into the Valley. has eluded public consciousness — and yet the Finally, the restoration of peace will pave the way debate of the so-called growing ‘intolerance’ for the return and rehabilitation of original around us swirls in the cocktail circuits of our inhabitants of the Valley, the Pandits. metros, completely ignoring the plight of the (The writer is a film actor. Views are personal, Pandits! Times of India January 5, 2016). 8