SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 (PAGE-3)

SACRED SPACE PERSONALITY Revert back to Vedas Remembering Rajinder Singh Bedi Swami Ramsarup Ji, public, imposing their will on them and ern so-called saints that they have O P Sharma Daan-O-Daam (The Catch), featuring in some classic Hindi films like " Mirza his prominent story "Garam Coat" Ghalib (1954)", Bimal Roy's Devdas Yogacharya propounding hollow concept of deeds, attained salvation, have controlled their ajinder Singh Bedi, a noted blind faith, ostentatious attitude and senses, perceptions, intellect and mind (Warm Coat) was published in 1940. (1955), and Madhumati (1958); writer was born on September under the garb of this illusion pursue and that they are perfect gurus, is not In 1942, he published his second book, Anuradha (1960), Anupama (1966), Flood is a common natural catastro- 1,1915 and has remained the phe. Be it flood of water or flood of vari- the business of extracting money from understood, being self-made and R Grehan (The Eclipse). first Station Director of newly set up Satyakam (1969) and Abhimaan ety of fatal diseases like AIDS, mental public. Just like advocates and doctors, against the Vedas. During 1943, he joined a small stu- Radio Kashmir, Jammu in December, (1973). tensions, drug addiction, terrorism, most of the religious gurus charge high Such saints create propaganda/ dio Maheshwari Films but after one 1947. He built up this "infant" institu- He made his directorial debut with corruption, disgrace and all sorts of fees for their religious discourse where- tricks etc., sometimes saying that Sri and half years he returned to All India tion operating from merely four rooms Hindi classic Dastak (1970), starring humiliations inflicted on women, cor- as study of Mahabharat, Valmiki Ram and Shri Krishna adopted their Radio and was posted to Jammu, Ramayan and Vedic culture proves that gurus, so, Oh! People you must also and playing a crucial role in counter- Sanjeev Kumar and Rehana Sultan, ruption infested politics etc. Just as where he worked until 1947, and trees get laden with new flowers every Rishi-munis did farming, reared cows adopt us as your guru. Due to lack of ing false Pak propaganda and also nur- with music by Madan Mohan, and in became the Director of Jammu and spring similarly flood of new social and accepted "Bhiksha" from just three knowledge of vedas, world is not aware turing the languages and culture as the following decade he directed three Kashmir Broadcasting Service. organizations and new politics leaders houses, which was collected by of vedic truth that in the previous yugas also involving the people in the more films: Phagun (1973), Nawab Akademi Awardee with newly floated political parties can Brahmacharis and these meagre/hum- neither the tradition of present so process of socio-economic transforma- Sahib (1978) and Aankhin Dekhi ble means were used to maintain them- called saints existed nor did the sects By the time of Partition, Mr Bedi be seen every season. Country is flood- tion from a scratch. In addition to his (1978).] ed by smuggling, crimes committed selves as well as members of Gurukul originate. had published numerous short sto- rich contribution in the literary field, His memorable novella Ek Chadar through sophisticated techniques, pol- including children of king and public. At that time, only vedas philosophy ries, and had made a name for himself the Radio Station, Jammu is one of the Maili Si was made into a film in lution, commercialization of cultivable Study of Vedic culture also depicts that was in vogue. So, Sri Ram, adopted as a prolific writer. His Urdu novel, Ek land by building hotels, plazas, com- Rishi-munis of ancient times preferred Maharishi Vasishth as guru, who was Chadar Maili Si, translated into Pakistan, Mutthi Bhar Chawal (1978) mercial buildings on it, foreign outfits, to live in seclusion, wearing simplest learned of four vedas and did hard English as I Take This Woman, and later in India, as Ek Chadar Maili foreign language and foreign culture, clothes, eating simplest food with limit- practice of Ashtang Yog. religious faiths, casteism, poverty, pop ed resources of life, following the prin- Similarly, Shri Krishna Maharaj music, vulgar movies and serials on ciple- adopted guru named Sandeepani Rishi who also had the same said qualities of vedas. It is astonishing that what is going Bedi is considered one of the prominent on nowadays is that these so called gurus never see the vedas nor practise Urdu fiction writers who has penned Ashtang Yog and thus do not realize God and yet ask public to make them gurus. many short stories about the Partition You see, Yajurved smantra 19/39 states-"Punantu Ma Devjanaha, and shot into fame. Punantu Mansa dhiyaha" Meaning:- Oh! learned, kindly, puri- fy me by giving the special vedic knowl- edge and also purify my intellect. received the Sahitya Akademi Award Si (1986). in 1965. The book was later translated 'Purify' means purification of five sens- "memorial". His son Narender Bedi was also a into Hindi, Kashmiri and Bengali.] es, five perceptions, intellect, mind, The people still remember Rajinder film director and the maker of films His later collections of short stories therefore, thoughts and overcoming Singh Bedi as a Urdu writer, a product including Jawani Diwani (1972), sensuality, anger, greed, pride etc. At were Kokh Jali and Apne Dukh Mujhe of the progressive writers' movement, Benaam (1974), Rafoo Chakkar (1975), this juncture, question to be indulged in Dedo and a collection of plays, Saat Khel. a noted playwright, who later became a T.V. "Simple living- High thinking" such vices, does not arise. Filmdom field and Sanam Teri Kasam (1982). After These Rishi-Munis had complete Hindi film director, screenwriter and In addition to variety of these floods, So, God in vedas preaches that only After the partition of India in 1947, Bedi's wife passed away, Mr Bedi's one cannot help witnessing emergence knowledge of vedas and yoga philoso- dialogue writer. a Rishi-Muni, Yogi, having above quot- he moved to Bombay, and started health consistently deteriorated and of the grave flood of religious gurus who phy. Though they appeared poor or ed status, are empowered to purify the As a screenwriter and dialogue suffered paralysis in 1982 and died in are posing serious threat to the country fakeers yet their divine blessings cured writer, he is best known for Hrishikesh working with D. D. Kashyap and got intellect and man/woman by giving Bombay two years later nowadays. For the last 70 years, there public of so many ills and removed their them the vedic knowledge and thus Mukherjee's films Abhimaan, his first screen credit for dialogue, in have been several derelictions from sufferings, elevated people to gain rich- spreading peace, brotherhood, pure Anupama and Satyakam; and Bimal the 1949 film Badi Bahen, and later In his memory, the Punjab Gurugaddis or the self made empires of es of life with all happiness. atmosphere and all other good qualities Roy's Madhumati. As a director he is received greater recognition for his Government has started a "Rajinder most of the Gurus and their figures, When the question arises about to the public. known for Dastak (1970), starring second film Daag in the year 1952. Singh Bedi Award" in the field of Urdu branches and sub-branches are quite Rishi-Munis then we'll have to under- Therefore the self-made knowledge Sanjeev Kumar and Rehana Sultan and Afterwards, he joined with Amar Literature. It will be worth its while if alarming. stand that the said title is awarded by which is against the vedas, will be of no Phagun (1973), starring Dharmendra, Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Geeta Bali and the J&K Government has some award Flood of any nature is fatal and God Himself, to those who after study- use for the public. It will only fulfill the Waheeda Rehman, Jaya Bhaduri and others to create a new company called instituted or some memorial raised in leaves behind a heart rendering tale of ing vedas, doing hard practice of selfishness of so-called saints yet, we Vijay Arora. Cine Cooperative. In 1955, it produced Rajinder Singh Bedi's name as has devastation and destruction. Ashtang Yog Philosophy, controlling will have to consider and pay our full Bedi is considered one of the lead- its first film, Garam Coat. Based on already been done in the case of top Reconstruction of society becomes their senses and perceptions, becoming respect to all sects and paths. Vedas ing most prominent Urdu fiction writ- Bedi's short story Garam Coat, starring singer by having a KL Saigal hall of quite difficult later on, the loss caused impartial, adopting truth etc, have real- emphasis that first, guru should be ers who penned many short stories learned of vedas and Ashtang Yog being irreparable. Science and mathe- ized God as well as vedas within them about the Partition and shot into fame. Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy, and J&K State Cultural Academy. The peo- matics create hypothesis on some defi- (Rigved mantra 10/125/5 refers). Philosophy by virtue of which he should Early life directed by Aman Kumar, while the ple do cherish fondly remember Mr nite fundamentals which leads to fur- Meanwhile, it should also be known have purified himself. Keeping in view, Bedi was born in village Dalleki in film had Bedi's entire screenplay.The Bedi and appreciate his literary contri- ther progress but floods violate all prin- that Rigved mantra 3/56/1 declares the present situation where in the second film, Rangoli (1962), starring ciples, trespass all boundaries and that fundamental laws of Vedas are absence of eternal vedic knowledge, Sialkot district, Punjab, now in bution and services in broadcasting where ever they proceed, they are always unchangeable. So, to get salva- there is overall darkness of illusion, to Pakistan, to Hira Singh Bedi and Seva Kishore Kumar, Vyjayantimala, and field. accompanied by devastation. Floods tion an aspirant will have to cross over save the public from these self-pro- Dai and spent his early years in Durga Khote, was also directed by Will the Mehbooba Mufti State are difficult to be controlled. the stages of vedic tapasya (austerity) as claimed gurus, who are against the Lahore where he received his educa- Amar Kumar under the banner of Cine Government move in this matter, It is an open fact that mostly the quoted above because there is no other Vedas, there is only one way that India tion . Co-operative. urgently and with speed.? present saints indulge in misleading way. So, the declaration of several mod- will have to Revert back to Vedas. His first collection of short stories, He contributed in dialogue writing (Starline Syndicate Service) SOCIETY KASHMIR TOP GUNS Changing attitude of the parents Winning hearts and minds of people Excelsior Correspondent projects with high impact value to achieve the Mousumi Kalita Sachdeva statements were, "I do not care about the marks of rather than mere marks. desired results.” “Out of all the initiatives my son. I don't want to stress him," "I never sit with Now, what actually do we mean by the term ne of the key highlight of this year’s With the increasing competition among the stu- undertaken by Army over the years, Kashmir my daughter while she studies. She is independent. 'stress? The term 'stress' was coined by Hans Selye Independence Day speech was the dents and more challenging paths for career, we Top Guns is one Project which has impressed Let her do what she wants or else she will be stressed," who defined it as "the non-specific response of the undoubtedly see more concerned parents to guide Odeclarationby the Prime Minister that me personally. This project made an impact These conversations indeed become absorbing at body to any demand for change." However this defi- their children for their success. The concerned par- the Kashmir problem cannot be solved with times. A young mother queries, "My child is five years nition could not last long leading to many confusions. on the mindset of youth of valley that no other ents may however be seen in two categories. And bullets or abuses but can be solved only by old and she is adamant. She leaves blank paper in her With more use of this term, stress was viewed in the project has ever done. these two different attitudes somewhere and some- embracing the Kashmiri exams and answers only when in mood." Fortunate- negative picture ignoring its positive impacts. The kind of popularity it gained amongst how create confusions to one class of parents who are people. This statement ly she receives a ready answer from a parent, "Don't Research also shows that stress to an extent can be the youth within a short span of time, is some- seen to be influenced by the one or the other due to from the ramparts of stress her. She will learn with time." Whereas a par- helpful to know an individual's capabilities and stim- thing Kashmir has never experienced before. their inability to realize the needs of their own chil- historic Red Fort brings ent seemingly strict interferes by saying that she can- ulates people to accomplish more. In this highly pro- The project was launched for motivating and dren. Moreover, with the growing concerns of the to the fore the urgent not withstand her child scoring less. Thus we find a gressive modern world, stress is indeed a challenge training the Kashmiri youth to become offi- parents, the terms 'stress' and 'depression' have platform to categorize the different concerns or atti- and not necessarily a 'threat'. It is therefore essential need of putting in sin- cers or soldiers in the Armed Forces.It was undeniably gained heights in the life of the so called that we train ourselves and equally train our children cere efforts to win the run by a highly dynamic, spirited and dare- 'educated' class of our society. tudes of the parents. From the present day talks, 'stress' has certainly to manage stress right from a beginning stage by heartsof Kashmiri peo- Gone are the days, when we used to hear parents devil young Army officer, Major Surinder become an alarmed issue. We have the threat of stress adopting a positive attitude and never using the term ple. During a course of narrating stories to their children as a part of educa- Singh under the flagship of top brass of the having chances of attacking right from a five year old 'stress'. We must reframe this term with 'challenge' interaction with the Principals and students of tion. Parents term themselves to be very 'practical' Army.The officer singlehandedly created an child to an elderly person. Parents in the fear of stress- so that the growing children become strong to fight few colleges of valley to sense the pulse of val- today. We also cannot deny the fact that practicality exceptional craze for the Army amongst the ing their children choose to accept the path of silence and challenge their difficulties. The children, if given is the need of the hour where we find most of the fam- ley on the positive statement madeby the school and college youth across the valley with than confronting with the issue of stress. After exam- an easy and relaxed ground to grow may fail to face Prime Minister, the Principal of a prominent his motivational talks which were the hall- challenges in future thus falling prey to the term college on the condition of anonymity said, mark of a remarkable passion, exemplary con- 'depression'. It is how we teach them to react to a chal- “The Prime Minister’s approach is really duct and ‘straight from the heart’ lenging, the so called 'stressful' situation. Moreover, heartening. It showcases true statesmanship approach.What he brought on the table if we denounce the school or the college curriculum and a progressive outlook. Every Kashmiri and the syllabus for the upswing of stress, it would through this project was a large number of never be justifiable. Way back, if we look at the old should welcome it with an open heart. I feel youthvolunteering to join Army not to merely curriculum, the syllabus seems to have been hard-hit- it’s time now for all sections of Kashmiri get a job but to serve the nation and fight for ting than the present day courses. awaam especially the youth tostep forward, it as its soldier. More importantly, it was The final examinations covered the syllabi of all choose the right course and march ahead in about sowing the seeds of nationalism into the the terms, whereas today, stress being again the con- sync with our Prime Minister for building a young minds which he did successfully and cern, the education board has lightened the burden. peaceful, prosperous and bright Kashmir.” became a sort of popular Brand Ambassador There were also the days where our seniors had to In complete agreement with the Prime of the Army amongst the youth in Valley, a cover the syllabi of two classes including the ninth Minister’s statement that it’s just a handful of rare achievementfor any Army officer in and the tenth standard, eleventh and twelfth cours- people who are the problem creators for the Kashmir,” narrated the Principal indicating es in their High School examinations and Higher Sec- rest, the Principal said, “Actually majority of towards an excited student showing a picture ondary respectively. But little had we heard about the the Kashmiri people are peace loving by of the Major Saab clicked during a motiva- terms 'stress' and 'depression' in those days. There nature. They also want to give their children tional talk. were no Air Conditioned Classes or buses nor smart an environment which is safe, peaceful and Emphasising upon the significance of the classes. Yet, students rarely had taken shelter under progressive. Who wants to give weapon in the Project he added, “This project has a natural these negative terms. Over a period of time, with tech- hands of their young children just to die any- edge over the other projects because the nology being more advanced, facilities heightened, impact of one Kashmiri youth becoming an time. Unfortunately some of the youth parents more concerned, the children seem to be Army officer will be far greater than a thou- become victim to the narrative of a handful of more aware of the terms 'stress' and 'depression'. sand youths getting recruited as jawans. anti-nation elements. By the time they under- Aren't we allowing our children to become more Firstly, the presence of a chunk of Kashmiri stand that they are trapped in a well laid trap, involved with these terms by our over concerned atti- boys or girls amongst the officer ranks in the ining the scenario of the concerned parents of the tudes? Today the parents fear to turn down the they reach the point of no return. We some- ilies with working parents. But, while choosing to be Army will enhance the faith of Kashmiris in modern generation, we highly feel that the parents demands of the children while dreading to see their how need to guide the people especially the practical, are we not somehow failing to impart the the Army manifold. Secondly, this will snatch today need to be firstly trained to manage and cure children revolt and suffer from 'depression'. But right kind of education to our children? Are our work- young blood to ensure that they don’t fall prey away the reasons from the separatists to a stress before dealing with their children. Stress Man- aren't we allowing are children to take advantage of ing conditions so severe that restrain us from adopt- to the narrative of anti-nation forces.” large extent who malign the image of Army by agement is the dire need of the hour today. Should- these destructive terms? Instead of training them to ing the old yet the best methods of imparting values In response to a query, Principal of anoth- n't we learn to train our children to manage stress face and manage the difficult situations, we are mak- negative propaganda.” to our children? Are we somewhere and somehow er college said, “Frankly speaking, winning rather than fearing from this negative term? Should- ing them faint-hearted and delicate failing to under- The Principal concluded, “In the larger failing to learn the art of time management which is hearts and minds of people is one of the most n't we find out ways and means to make our children stand the fact that this delicacy may give birth to scenario, it’s actually more of a perception again a common term (Time Management) we want challenging tasks.Probably, killing a militant so strong that the terms 'stress' and 'depression' have depression in future if they fail to achieve what they battle. The one who outwits the other in this our children to embrace? Having talked to a working with gun in certain sense is easier than win- no existence in their life? Letting the child be happy desire. game will take away the cake. That is precise- mother, I was compelled to carry my research further ning the heart. As a nation what we need to with the blank pages in the examination is never a It is high time we realize the need of the hour. Our ly what Project Kashmir Top Guns aimed at. on the changing attitudes of the present day parents. understand is that besides fighting militants solution to avoid stress. Letting the children go changing concerns and attitudes must be analysed Kudos to this young officer for reading this She expressed, "I have put my child with the best tutor according to their whims may help to get rid of the and checked before we preach our approach to grow with weapons, it is of paramount importance complicated matrix so well, conceptualizing available. I have just a Sunday with me in the entire momentary stress but, it may be the greatest cause of our children. It would be worthwhile to make our chil- that we counter the ideological narrative of such a historic project and exhibiting a vision week and I don't want to stress myself."Now, are we depression in the child in the future course of time dren strong to meet challenges of life rather than give secessionist forces with a well planned narra- far mature than his age. I feel that if we really concerned about the stress level of our children in when they have to face a more challenging journey. them the space to take shelter under the terms 'stress' tive to wipe off any support or sympathy for want to live upto the expectations of our reality or are we concerned more about ourselves Waiting for the right time for the child to learn may and 'depression'. The books, examinations and the them amongst local awaam. Once it is done, Prime Minister, then the entire machinery than our children? However, views change from par- be too late when things may go out of control. Letting entrusted tasks must not be welcomed as pressures the battle will be almost won; akin to militan- deployed in the valley must re-energise and ent to parent. It would never be correct to group the child independent is really appreciable; but sit- of life but as duties and responsibilities. Let us devel- cy of Punjab. Army has been consistently tak- everyone under the same umbrella. Having taken re-channelise itself towardswinning the ting with her may help in giving her moral support. op healthy responses to our children's needs and part more into such discussions, a wider and varied And, also a child's marks should not be the sole cri- ing a host of adorable initiatives to win the hearts of Kashmiri awaam living consistently queries and prepare them for a challenging future. hearts of Kashmiris. However, I feel thatArmy in the painful shadow of guns for decades picture could be seen making the definition of 'con- teria of success. Sometimes, parents must control (The writer is a novelist and a trainer of Soft Skills and English cerned parents' more complicated. Some of the heard their emotions and let the child gain knowledge Language at United College of Engineering and Research, Allahabad) should accord high priority to certain quality now.”