: P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email: [email protected] No. Sm1121/2068 (For Private Circulation Only) Falgun Shukla 9 Vik Samvat 2068. Yugabda 5113 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 16 February 2012 1. FESTIVAL: ‘BAHUBALI IS AN ICON OF 2542 villages. More than 51,699 people from the NON-VIOLENCE’ - MOHAN BHAGWAT general public including a large number of women Bahubali is an icon of non-violence, represents also witnessed the event. Addressing the national integrity. Bahubali brought the religion in swayamsevaks, Shri Bhagwat said mere practice in life. He is a Mahapurush” said RSS celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s birth Sarasabghachalak Mohan ji Bhagwat while anniversary is not sufficient, real remembrance of participating in the Maha-Mastakaabhisheka him would be through implementing the values he celebrations of Sri Bahubali at Venoor Jain Shrine propagated. on January 31st. Udupi Pejawar Seer Vishwesha In his presidential address, Sri A R Ramalingam, Theertha Swamiji, Jain Seer Sri Charukeerthi Retd Justice of Chennai High Court remarked, “I Bhattaraka Swamiji of Shravanabelagola, have heard of Sangh. Today I am seeing in front of Seetarama Kedilaya, Akhila Bharatheeya Seva me. I can feel the qualities of Discipline, Pramukh of RSS and other RSS top functionaries Patriotism, Service, and Sacrifice in you.” were present during the ceremony. A book “Thirai” translated from Kannada novel Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of “Aavarana” was released by Sri Mohan Bhagawat. Dharmasthala temple, felicitated RSS Several mathadhipatis, dharmacharyas and senior Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat. sangh adhikaaris participated in the gathering. Bahubali, also called Gomateshwara is the second 3. PIL AGAINST BHAGAVAD GEETA IN of the hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, SCHOOLS REJECTED: The petition filed by Rishabha, and king of Podanpur. An esteemed Catholic Bishop’s Council against introduction of figure in Jain hagiography; his story exemplifies ‘Geeta Sar’ or Essence of Bhagavad Geeta in the inner strength of Bharatiya culture. He won school curriculum, has been dismissed by the everything from his brother and could have Madhya Pradesh High Court on 27th January. The become an emperor, but he returned everything to petition was filed in August 2011. The petition the brother. Bahubali is considered the ideal of the was filed by the Council spokesman Fr Anand man who conquers selfishness, jealousy, pride and Muttungal. anger. The court upheld the fact that Bhagavad Geeta (Maha-Mastakaabhisheka* is a festival held once contained no religious teachings, but contained in 12 years, when the image of Gommateshvara is only the philosophy of life. Earlier, the court had bathed in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold given the petitioner’s counsel a time limit of 2 coins.) months to study the holy text in entirety and then 2. MAMMOTH GATHERING OF come to any decision. SWAYAMSEVAKS IN KANYAKUMARI: According to Additional Advocate General RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat Prashant Singh, the Division Bench comprising of addressed a huge gathering of swayamsevaks at Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Sanjay Yadav asked Nagerkoil in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu the petitioner a few questions. Not satisfied with on February 12. The event was organised as part the answers given, the court declared that the of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Bhagavad Geeta was Bharatiya Philosophy and Vivekananda. A total of 15,906 swayamsevaks in not a religious text. The petition was dismissed complete uniform participated in the function from thereafter. 1

4. MOBILE DISPENSARY FOR NAXAL-HIT About 1500 patients are examined and treated per VANAVASIS: Gadchiroli district that lies along month through this mobile clinic. Patients affected the edge of Maharashtra is regarded as one of the by chronic ailments need to be shifted to the most undeveloped and backward tribal region of hospital in case of casualty. Such needy patients the country. This district is gripped by various are shifted to the hospitals at Nagpur and development-related problems such as health, Chandrapur by the samiti. After shifting them, the education and employment. Also, the naxal samiti also takes a regular account of their health menace and malnutrition are at their peaks. progress. Check-up camps are conducted from Government initiated a number of schemes for the time to time regarding contagious diseases, eye up-liftment of the region but whether those ailments, cardiac diseases, etc by a team of schemes reached up to the common people is experts. Till now, a number of camps have been really a matter of concern. conducted by the samiti in the remote villages Deriving inspiration from Rashtriya Swayamsevak such as Binagunda, Thodewara, Gobnar, Sangh, Dr Hegewar Janmshatabdi Seva Samiti, Midadhapalli and Laheri located in Bhamragarh since several years, is striving to reach healthcare taluka on the border of Maharashtra and and educational facilities up to the vanavasi Chhattisgarh. brethren residing in the remote regions of the A woman needs complete healthcare during country. With an objective of providing healthcare pregnancy. However, this fact is ignored by and creating health awareness among the people of elderly people due to illiteracy and lack of Aheri, Etapalli, Bhamragarh and Mulchera regions awareness. This proves fatal for woman many a of Gadchiroli District through mobile dispensary, times. To create awareness among villagers the samiti initiated this work in 1988 to mark the regarding this aspect, a team of Arogya Rakshikas centenary year of RSS founder Dr Keshav was constituted by Dr Hedgewar Janmashatabdi Balirampant Hedgewar. Samiti. Meena Mattami, Sheetal Weladi, Munni The samiti adopts one major village situated in the Atram from the village has been given Arogya remote region where government aid cannot reach Rakshika training. Pregnant women in the village and provides healthcare to the people in the are regularly examined and are given necessary surrounding region. Petha village in Etapalli healthcare by these Arogya Rakshikas. taluka, Kishtapur in Mulchera, Nagulwahi, Due to all these aspects, the sapling that was Kolpalli, Guddigudam in Aheri taluka, and a planted by Dr Hedgewar has now turned into a number of villages in Bhamragarh taluka have banyan tree. A number of seva activities are being been benefitted by this project. run in the entire country; this mobile clinic is one Initially, through people’s contribution, a jeep was of them that served as an angel for the vanavasi used for the project. After the expiry period, brethren residing in the remote regions of the Member of Parliament Hansraj Ahir arranged for country. (www.newsbharati.com) an ambulance that regularly visits the health 5. SIT GIVES CLEAN CHIT TO NARENDRA centres and serves the need of the people. Along MODI IN ZAKIA CASE: The Supreme Court- with this ambulance service, seva samiti’s mobile appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to clinic is also being run by Dr Suresh Dambole investigate the 2002 Gujarat riots case has from Aheri. The medicines required for the mobile submitted its report on a petition filed by the dispensary is arranged free of cost by seva samiti widow of slain Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri against karyakartas. They collect these medicines from the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his doctors and medical stores located in the city. alleged involvement in the Gulbarg Society Inspired by this project, people from the region massacre case. The report gave a clean chit to constructed a building for running this clinic Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over regularly at Petha through shramdaan (self labour). allegations of his involvement in the 2002 riots. This clinic has given a great relief to the patients Zakia Jafri, widow of slain Congress MP Ehsaan in the surrounding region. Jafri, and Citizens for Justice and Peace, the non- 2 governmental organisation led by Teesta Setalvad, It took him almost two-and-a-half years to get the have filed a petition in the court alleging that the first copy. "I received volumes of the holy book SIT report on the Gulbarg Society massacre in the for proof reading from Mumbai one by one. It post-Godhra riots in Gujarat was not complete. consumed a lot of time. Moreover, those involved In March 2010, the Supreme Court-appointed in the printing work could not decipher corrections Special Investigation Team had questioned Modi made by me. Later, my nephew Jagjit Singh came in connection with a petition by the widow of to my rescue. He joined a Sikh institution in Ropar Congress leader Ehsaan Jafri, who was among 70 to learn Gurmukhi especially to help me out. We people killed by rioters in Ahmedabad's Gulbarg both then went to Mumbai where we finished Society on February 28, 2002. proof reading during our stay," he said. In February 2011, the SIT that probed the 2002 8. DRDO COCHLEAR IMPLANT TO COST Godhra riots has indicted Gujarat chief minister ONLY RS1 LAKH: The Naval Science and Narendra Modi on many counts, but said there was Technological Laboratory (NSTL), based at not enough substantiation to prosecute him. Visakhapatnam, a unit of DRDO - Defence 6. 7 BHARATIYA -AMERICANS FIGURE IN Research and Development Organisation has INTEL SCIENCE FINALIST IN US : Seven developed an affordable cochlear implant, which Bharatiya -Americans have figured among the 40 will cost around Rs1 lakh. This is much cheaper finalists for the Intel Science Talent Search; which than similar imported device which costs about Rs is the most prestigious Science and Maths 8 lakhs. Bharat is now the fifth country besides competition for high school students in the United US, Austria, Australia and France in the world to States. produce such a complex device. The Intel Science Talent Search finalists, who Cochlear implant which is also known as bionic represent America's most promising high school ear is surgically implanted electronic device that seniors with the greatest potential to solve pressing provides a sense of sound to a person who is challenges in the world, will gather in profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing due to Washington, in March to compete for USD loss of sensory hair cells in their cochlea. 630,000 in awards with the top winner receiving In Bharat, there are nearly one million people who USD 100,000 from the Intel Foundation. need cochlear implants and every year nearly "The US needs these talented innovators to go as 10,000 children are born with this impairment. far and as fast as they can, solving the world's The indigenously developed device will bring most critical challenges, imagining and creating - a great relief as it is much cheaper as compared to new and better future for us all," said Wendy the imported device and the DRDO device will go Hawkins, executive director of the Intel for clinical trials within next four months, Dr V Foundation. Bhujanga Rao, Chief Controller(Research and 7. A DREAM REALISED: GURU GRANTH Development) DRDO said on Feb 13. SAHIB IN BRAILLE: He could have been like 9. INDUS VALLEY ERA SEAL any other 'raagi' after his retirement in 1998 from DISCOVERED IN PAKISTAN: Pakistani the Golden Temple, where he worked for 30 years. archaeologists have discovered a rare Indus Valley But Bhai Gurmej Singh had a wish: Being blind, civilization era seal in steatite dating back to he wanted many like him to read the holy Gurbani. 2,500-2,000 BC at Wattoowala, located near He was 12 years away from his dream project. Derawar Fort - Cholistan area of Punjab province. Today, Bhai Gurmej Singh is proud of having The seal features the carved figure of an ibex with transliterated Guru Granth Sahib into Braille. two pictographs. It was found by a team of Talking to The Tribune, he said the Braille copy archaeologists led by Punjab University has 2,153 pages in 18 volumes. It has a page size Archaeology Department chairman Farzand of 11 x 12 inches. "It isn't possible to get the entire Masih. The team also conducted excavations at work in a single volume due to technical Sui-Vihar, which was the only existing example of difficulties," he said. Sankhya doctrines in Pakistan. 3 Masih said the excavation revealed a circular "The world is a happier place today and we can platform at Sui-Vihar built with sun-dried bricks actually measure it because we have been tracking and a number of supporting walls to hold the it," said John Wright, senior vice president of platform and the cylindrical structure. Ipsos Global, which has surveyed the happiness of The remnants of a votive stupa suggested that the more than 18,000 people in 24 countries since place might had been converted to a Buddhist 2007. "It is not just about the economy and their establishment when Kanishka-I embraced well being. It is about a whole series of other Buddhism, he said. factors that make them who they are today." 10. FRI HELPING TO CONSERVE TREES Perhaps proving that money can't buy happiness, AT CAMBODIA TEMPLE COMPLEX: The residents of some of the world biggest economic Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, has powers, including the United States, Canada and been doing considerable work for the conservation Britain, fell in the middle of the happiness scale. of trees at the Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap, "Relationships remain the No. 1 reason around the Cambodia, a world heritage site. Earlier this world where people say they have invested month, Dr VK Bahuguna, Director General of the happiness and maybe in those cultures family has Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education a much greater degree of impact." (ICFRE), Dehradun, visited the site and inspected 13. BHARAT SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES the work being done by the FRI along with MISSILE INTERCEPTOR: Bharat on February members of the team. Dr Bahuguna appreciated 10 tested a ballistic missile interceptor from a the work done and gave useful suggestions for defence base in Odisha to create a shield against future work. Dr Bahuguna also inaugurated a two- incoming enemy missiles, a senior defence official day workshop for Cambodian stakeholders under said. the capacity-building programme for monitoring The indigenous Advanced Air Defence (AAD) and treatment of trees at the Ta Prohm temple interceptor missile was fired from Wheeler Island complex. off the state coast near Dhamra in Bhadrak district, 11. BHARATIYA WOMAN AS FIRST about 170 km from here. TEACHER FOR US SPACE PROGRAM: It successfully destroyed an incoming ballistic Vandana Suryawanshi, a Bharatiya middle school missile - a modified variant of the Prithvi fired teacher, is selected as the first international teacher from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on for a prestigious US space education program. sea in Balasore district, about 70 km away from Vandana, who teaches at the Vidya Valley School Wheeler Island. in Pune, Maharashtra, is teaching biology, earth "The interceptor directly hit the target and science and general science for 20 years and destroyed it," SP Dash, director of the test range, would join the 19 other outstanding American said. The interceptor was fired a few minutes after educators who were selected for their active the target missile was fired. promotion of space and science education by the 14. 33RD HERAKA CONFERENCE- NORTH- Space Foundation. The new flight of Teacher EAST’S CULTURAL AFFINITY WITH Liaisons will serve as advocates for space-themed HEARTLAND: The 33 Conference of education across the curriculum and will use Zeliangrong Heraka Association North-East was Space Foundation-provided training and resources held on January 3 to 5 at Kepeujung village near to further integrate space principles into the Peren town, 80 km from Dimapur. A total of 800 classroom. delegates including 200 from Assam and 100 from 12. BHARAT AMONG WORLD'S HAPPIEST Manipur attended the conference wherein 400 PEOPLE: Despite economic woes, wars, conflicts women delegates joined the function. The function and natural disasters the world is a happier place started with hoisting of Zeliangrong Heraka Flag today than it was four years ago. Indonesians, by the Chief Guest – Shri Som Kamei, Director, Bharatiyas and Mexicans seem to be the most North East Zone Culture Council (NEZCC), contented people on the planet. Dimapur. Dr Krishna Gopalji, RSS incharge of 4 North-East zone and others were also present in 16. ONE FOR GIRL CHILD: MP PRIESTS the function. While delivering welcome address ADD 8TH PHERA: In a country where marriage President of Nagaland unit of Heraka Association, vows mostly remain just that, there is a Dr Wilubo said that Zeliangrong Heraka community in Bundelkhand that has introduced an Association has been tirelessly working for eighth ‘phera’ to save the girl child. The extra preservation of indigenous faith and culture of solemn round of the sacred fire would signify a Zeliangrong Nagas living in all the three adjoining pledge to save the girl child. states. Rampant foeticide in the Bundelkhand region of The function was marked by dance and flute Madhya Pradesh has brought the child sex ratio competitions. A colorful procession was taken in here to alarmingly low levels. This prompted the Peren town in the evening of January 5, led by Gahoi-Vaish Samaj, a trading community of Heraka leaders. Chhattarpur district, about 350 km north-east of 15. WORKSHOP ON ETERNAL CULTURE Bhopal, to formally pass a resolution adding an OF NORTH EAST JANJATIS: It was for the additional ‘phera and vachan (vow)’ to the first time that a unique workshop was organised on existing seven. the topic ‘Philosophy and Spirituality in Eternal The first of the marriages to see this additional Religions (Sanatan Dharma) and Eternal Culture solemn round would take place on February 12. (Sanatan Sanskriti) of janjati communities of Radheshyam Bilaiya, a professor at the Karbi Anglong’ under the aegis of Janjati Dharma government college, Maharajpur, has voluntarily Sanskriti Suraksha Manch from January 27 to 29 agreed to the addition in the rituals of his at Diphu in Assam. Total 153 delegates from nine daughter’s marriage. The bride, Harsha, who is an janjati communities hailing from Karbi Anglong assistant manager at a private company in participated in the workshop. Among them 29 Mumbai, and the groom, Sameer, an assistant were women. manager with a mobile phone company, are happy The participant communities included Karbi, to lead the community in the unique initiative. Dimasa, Mantai, Boro, Tiwa, Khasi, Rengma, Samaj president Prem Narayan Rusia told that the Adivasi and Thengal Kachari. There were some unique initiative to raise awareness on the social other community representatives also hailing from issue was discussed. It was then decided to make it other states. They were Chakma, Reang, Mizo, a part of the marriages solemnised by the samaj. Nepali, Hajong and Oriya. “In the next meeting, I put the formal proposal of After prolonged discussion among various the eighth ‘phera’, which was unanimously scholars it was found that though different janjati endorsed. Initially, we were apprehensive that the groups seem to be different in language, tradition, priest may not approve of the change in marriage attire, food habbits and mode of worship etc but rituals, but he applauded the initiative.” Rusia philosophically and conceptually every janjati added chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s community is one and the same. It was revealed ongoing ‘Save girl child campaign’ was the that in every janjati community, the concept of inspiration for the 650-family strong samaj. atma and parmatma , paap and punya hell and 17. LK ADVANI UNVEILS DR heven, birth and death, rebirth or salvation, HEDGEWAR’S STATUE IN DELHI: Senior festivals, rites and rituals, etc were same with no BJP leader Shri LK Advani on February 5 variation. unveiled a statue of RSS founder Dr Keshav Those who addressed the gathering include Shri Baliram Hedgewar at a MCD park in Keshav Lunse Timung, president of Reception Committee Puram. Speaking on the occasion Shri Advani said and Shri BB Jamatia, president of the Forum. The Dr Hedgewar played a key role in cultural workshop adopted three resolutions to stop awakening of the country by establishing the RSS conversion, work for promotion of sanatan dharma as an institution. He said as Swami Vivekananda and sanatan sanskriti and to codify customary formed Ramakrishna Mission and Dayananda laws. Saraswati formed Arya Samaj, Dr Hedgewar by 5 forming the RSS developed a generation of Interpol global programme on anti-corruption and patriots and dedicated people. asset recovery, "It is estimated that around $500 Besides Shri Advani, veteran BJP leader Shri billion of illegal money belonging to Indians is Kidarnath Sahni, Mayor of Delhi Prof Rajni Abbi, deposited in tax havens abroad. Largest depositors RSS Sahprant Sanghachalak Dr Shyam Sunder in Swiss Banks are also reported to be Indians," Agrawal, former Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Singh said. There have been various estimates of Ramesh Prakash Sharma, and many other senior Bharatiya black money - ranging from $500 functionaries from RSS, BJP and other billion to $1,500 billion. organizations also attended the function. Singh said there is a lack of political will in 18. ABVP’S ‘THINK INDIA’ CONFERENCE leading tax haven states to part with the IN BENGALURU: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi information because they are aware of the extent Parishad (ABVP) organised a two-day academic to which their economies have become "geared to conference ‘Think India’ from January 28 to 29 at this flow of illegal capitals from the poorer IISC in Bengaluru. The conference was countries". inaugurated by Shri Sateesh Reddy, Director of 21. KANNADA PARICHAY VARG – Inertial Systems, DRDO. ABVP national president UNIQUE INITIATIVE OF TECHIES OF RSS: Prof Milind Marathe spoke on wide ranging Bangalore, like other major cities of Bharat, subjects, including disapproval of the Bill that attracts lakhs of people from different parts of the permitted universities from abroad to set up country, every year. This huge influx people who respective institutes in Bharat. do not know Kannda form a significant percentage RSS National Executive Member Shri Ram of city’s population. Madhav spoke on threat from China. IIM A proverb says ‘an idea moves the world’. Professor, Shri Awasthi, BJP MP Shri Balasaheb Pravatchandra of RSS IT Milan who is originally Apte, Shri Anand Kumar of Super 30, Shri from Orissa, says it all started with an idea of Shraddhalu Ranade, scientist and Dr YB teaching Kannada during a conversation with Ramakrishnan renowned educationist also spoke. friends and all of them agreed without much 19. SIKHS GET FIRST OFFICIAL deliberation. Without delay, whole of IT Milan GURDWARA IN UAE: – The UAE’s first team was involved in preparing for the event. official Sikh Gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar, has The initiative that they took resulted in the been opened in Jebel Ali area, ending years of ‘Kannada Parichay Varg’ which fructified on Feb demand from the Sikh community for a place of 11th and 12th, 2012. The event that took place in worship. The Gurudwara is believed to be the first over 200 apartment complexes from 2PM to 6PM of its kind in the entire region. on both these days, witnessed more than 3000 Spread over an area of 25,000 square feet near the non-Kannadigas being introduced to Kannada. Jebel Ali Hospital, the Gurudwara has a dedicated Close to 330 enthusiastic software professionals, floor for community feasts (langar) and a huge hall not only Swayamsevaks of IT Milans, were for devotional songs (kirtan). Arrangements can be involved in teaching Kannada on these two days. made for langar for about 5,000 people at a time, The impression that non-Kannadigas are not those associated with the project said. There are an interested to learn Kannada was a myth. ‘While estimated 50,000 Sikhs in the UAE, hailing from about 5 centres had more than 40 pupils, most of both Bharat and Pakistan. the centres are receiving requests from the 20. $500BN STASHED IN TAX HAVENS, participants to continue it during the coming SAYS CBI CHIEF: Putting an official estimate weekends is a proof of this’, says Supradeep on unaccounted wealth stashed in foreign havens Subrahmanya, who is a software engineer and for the first time, the Central Bureau of volunteered to teach Kannada. Investigation chief A P Singh said around $500 22. LORD BALAJI’S MAIDEN TRIP TO billion (around Rs 24 lakh crore) is deposited in NEPAL: Leaving his Tirumala abode in Andhra foreign accounts. He was speaking at the maiden Pradesh, Lord Venkateswara, popular as Balaji, 6 will travel nearly 3,000 km northwards to Nepal the total number of the living higher religions are this month to meet devotees. Malayappa Swami, of Indian origin.” – One World and India - By the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara Temple, Arnold Toynbee. along with his two consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, will be kept at the Tundikhel ground in JAI SHREE RAM Kathmandu on February 24 for public viewing. Kathmanduites will also get a chance to witness UPA FACES A CRISIS OF OWNERSHIP the wedding ceremony of the deity with his consorts. Known as sriniwas kalyanam, the Vinay Sahasrabuddhe ceremony is likely to be viewed by 35,000 devotees. The way the UPA is being run, the way almost "Nepali people will have the opportunity to see the with unmistakable regularity blunders are being same idol that is worshipped at Tirumala," said committed one after the other and the way persons non-resident Nepali businessman Upendra at the helm of affairs continue to give a false Mahato, organizer of the event. "This is the first impression of business as usual, one wonders as to time idols of Malayappa Swami and his consorts who is the maai-baap of this Government. Is there are being taken to Nepal. Earlier they were taken a single soul around who would own up the acts of to Dubai, Kuwait, UK and the US," said Ravi omission an Thalari, PRO at TTD. Serial blunderers at the helm of affairs of this 23. SENIOR BJP LEADER V S ACHARYA Government have not only added to the overall PASSED AWAY: Senior BJP leader and cynicism but also severely damaged popular Karnataka higher education minister VS Acharya confidence in their ability to lead. No Government th (71) passed away in Banglore on 14 Feb. in the past had reduced itself into a virtual lame Acharya who was attending a function in the city duck regime due to its own non-performance. In collapsed on the dais and was rushed to the the 1980s, Mrs Indira Gandhi had at least hospital where he was declared dead. He is promised a Government that works. Her daughter- survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter. in-law seems to be happy presiding over a A medical practitioner by profession, Dr Acharya Government that shirks. was a rare politician known for his integrity and Event after event, the Government seems to be in public probity. He started his political carreer as competition with itself as to how further messy President of Udupi Municipality at the age of 28 in can things be made. Anna Hazare and the 1968, playing a key role in bringing the erstwhile complete saga of his Lokpal movement was the Jana Sangh to power. In later years, he became the height of complicating simple things. The fact that Udupi district and State BJP President. none of the senior members of the Cabinet has had 24. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri any brush with a popular movement became more Saumitra Gokhale, samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will and more telling when senior UPA functionaries visit Sri Lanka from Feb 21-28. Visitors: Ramesh appeared clueless in dealing with Team Anna. The Mathur – Japan, Chamanlal Gohil, Sudhir Gupta, Government could have easily rectified its initial Bharat Vadukul, Balbir Raslhan, Damjibhai Tank mistakes by roping in the Opposition in the and family – UK, Shridhar Damle, Vandana consultation process, thus making it a broad-based Jhingan, Dr. Radheshyam Dwiwedi, Dr.Ashok negotiating platform. As if the earlier mistakes Gupta – USA. were not enough, in the Winter Session the FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “India is not only the Government’s sheer inability on every front — heir of her own religious traditions; she is also the from media management to floor management — residuary legatee of the Ancient Mediterranean was on full display. World's religious traditions." "Religion cuts far Expectedly, the new year dawned with no fresh deeper, and, at the religious level, India has not approach towards a better management of the been a recipient; she has been a giver. About half multi-dimensional task of running a Government. 7 The near total relationship breakdown with Ms comes to caste and community politics. Again, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress, adroit handling of this issue was certainly not all the abysmal lack of tack and dexterity in dealing that difficult. with the issue of date of birth of the Army Chief, The latest is the series of crises emerging out of and the highly disappointing weak-kneed approach the multiplicity of approaches on the part of in handling the Salman Rushdie visit are three different arms of the Government is the cases in point. controversy over Indian Space Research Ms Banerjee is known for being unpredictable. Organisation scientist Madhavan Nair. Merits of After having agreed to play second fiddle to her,it the case apart, how can the Government move was not difficult for the Congress to pre-empt without taking the head of the Prime Minister’s some teething problems. Right at the beginning of Scientific Advisory Council on board when the the partnership, the Congress could have played issue is so very sensitive and involves some hardball with Ms Banerjee, making her accept an leading lights of the nation’s scientific institutional set-up like that of a coordination community? Besides, how can the chief of the committee. Besides, the party would have lost Prime Minister’s SAC go public and assail the almost nothing had it chosen to call it a day after Government’s move so very brazenly? her insulting treatment and reminded her that, like At the root of this series of failures is a crisis of marriage, alliances endure only when both the ownership. Whose Government is this, after all? Is partners realise the need for it. it a Manmohan Singh Government managed by The unseemly controversy over the date of birth of Sonia Gandhi from behind the scene or a Sonia the Chief of Army Staff speaks volumes about the Gandhi regime with governance outsourced to Mr lack of the Government’s administrative acumen. Singh? Who owns this Government? Who is The UPA leadership appeared devoid of foresight, responsible for repeated mistakes? Are the essential for preventing any institutional damage Government officials and Ministers out to such incidents cause. Forget preventive measures, hoodwink us by pointing fingers at one another? Is even the semblance of damage control mechanism there any internal assessment mechanism? In these also seemed to have been in short supply. Was it days of acute power shortage, do the UPA leaders inevitable? Were all the available options for ever turn the searchlight inward? avoiding this public controversy tried? Remember, a division of responsibility on the If mishandling of the Lokpal issue and the political and the administrative lines is not only avoidable relationship-breakdown with the meaningless but also against the popular interests. Trinamool Congress betrayed a sheer lack of In an arrangement like this, one can hardly expect political management, the dispute over date of any accountability and transparency. In a situation birth of Army Chief brought to the fore the like this, accountability is shrouded in mystery and insensitivity and the lack of politico-administrative transparency has become illusionary, as what is decision-making on the part of the Government. being seen is not what is happening in reality. This ineptness by the UPA leadership is also seen India has witnessed several coalition Governments as an insult to the entire community of ex-Army in the past. UPA1 could easily pass the burden of men. its non-performance on the recalcitrant Left As if all this was not enough, the Salman Rushdie parties. But if UPA2 is delivering almost nothing, episode was handled with abject lack of it is mainly because of the ‘mutually beneficial’ imagination. Perhaps, it was wrong on the part of arrangement of ‘coalition of convenience’. Once the liberal fraternity to expect the UPA leadership and for all, the nation needs to be told as to who is to be taking a truly secular approach while dealing running this Government? If at all, who owns with this issue. The international literary fraternity UPA2? realised that both the liberal establishment as well (The writer is Director of Rambhau Mhalgi as the Government here readily crawl when, in Prabodhini, Mumbai.) Daily Pioneer 6 February fact, they are just asked to bend a little, when it 2012. 8