Yogi's Corner

   For the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community year 2017 ended on a sad note. Homeland Day, observed by Panun Kashmir in last week of every December in exile, was given a go-by by those professing to claim copyright to its concept. Whether under duress or due to fatigue, intensity to pursue the demand for Homeland had been on the wane ever since present dispensation took-over the reins. Nothing can symbolise this drift better than the format of ‘Kashmir Shaiv Drishti’ festival ‘celebrated’ in Abhinav Theatre, Jammu, on December 29 &30, 2017.  This festival was an antithesis to what Panun Kashmir stood for all these years in exile. Much that the organisation may deny, the format appeared to have a stamp of approval from RSS as it was in conformity with latter’s efforts to win over Kashmiri Muslims - Mullas  included- to a compromised version of Kashmir Shaivism under the banner ‘Mystic Philosophies of Kashmir – Reconciliation of Theory & Practice’. Omnipre...

For once I agree with his observation when Omar Abdullah tweeted “The Army was to be a measure of last resort to be called upon in extreme emergency. Now it seems like it’s the 1st number on the speed dial.”. That indeed is what Army has been reduced to by the present dispensation ever since it took over. Be it spreading of mats for International Yoga Day, clearing garbage leftover by the tourists, cleaning rivers or laying a bridge for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s cultural extravaganza on Yamuna riverbed and now construction of three foot-over bridges in Mumbai, Army has indeed been on Modi Government’s speed dial. It can’t get any more ridiculous than that. Any number of happy hours Prime Minister Modi shares with troops, on Diwali, can’t justify this blatant misuse of Army on duties which ought to be carried out by those who are employed and paid for the purposes. None grudges employment of Defence Forces in aid to civil authorities during emergencies – natural or manmade- like ...

It is now close to three decades that Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) hounded out of their homes in Kashmir by armed Islamists, masquerading as freedom fighters, have been condemned to live as refugees in their own country. Successive governments often promise to reverse this human tragedy, by ensuring a safe and dignified return of the natives to their homeland, only to forget no sooner promises are made. Since insignificant numbers don't matter in electoral calculus, political and economic empowerment of KPs is not a priority for any party, BJP included. Recently, in reply to an RTI query, Union Home Ministry denied any return-cum-rehabilitation plan for KPs was under its consideration thus reinforcing a long-established neglect of this ethnic group. As this U-turn by the BJP government evoked an instant resentment within the community, brazen-faced Parivar apologists were at hand to dole the government out of this faux pas claiming resettlement in the Valley was never a demand of the co...

Perched at the intersections of religious fervour, public support, political power and often massive wealth, 'godmen', in India, have assumed unimaginable and multidimensional powers- both at societal and political levels. This immense non-state and non-corporate power also leads some of them to believe that they can do anything, act against anyone, mostly women, with impunity. Dipankar Gupta, a noted author in his essay 'India's Godmen Syndrome', aptly sums up this dilemma in his observation "godmen do extraordinarily well in our country than in most other, and that is where the puzzle lies. Is our society more vulnerable?" From a distance, 'godmen' in India are darkly comic. Consider Guru Ashutosh Maharaj, whose followers have stored his body in deepfreeze since a fatal heart attack three years ago, claiming he is meditating. While his family wished to cremate him, Punjab and Haryana High Court sided with the devotees, emphasising the 'f...

Precedence has it that Independence Day address to the nation by the Prime Minister is supposed to be a report card of government's achievements and annunciation of future initiatives. Thus far, most PMs have refrained from lacing their speeches, from ramparts of Lal Qila, with any political rhetoric. This year, Modi made a departure by tweaking his address into a political one with an eye on forthcoming Bihar elections. His address, sans any reference to national security situation, foreign policy and, most importantly, to Naga Accord which still remains shrouded in a mystery, lacked luster, both in content and conviction. Post the address, veterans of Armed Forces, who are on a Relay Hunger Strike (RHS) at Jantar Mantar for more than two months now, were a disappointed lot. They expected Modi to announce implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). That was not to be. Their honour having been bruised by Delhi Police a day earlier, veterans' anger against Modi Government is...

Ever since independence, Indian Army is a saga of having always risen to nation’s call; whether to preserve its territorial integrity or to maintain internal security in face of ever growing threats, both from outside and from within. Freedom never comes free and its perseverance is paid for in blood by the valiant officers and men of the Indian Army. After making supreme sacrifices, these bravest of the brave soldiers leave behind legends about their valour to motivate future generations to emulate their deeds. Such sacrifices are made unmindful of their families’ fates thereafter. Soldiers trust their governments to look after their brave mothers, proud wives or their children in event of their martyrdom. Unfortunately, this trust has mostly been betrayed by the very establishment on whose call soldiers put their lives in line of fire. Sadly, families of these braves, especially those from rural and semi-urban areas, are often neglected to suffer their miserable lot. Due to governme...

It was during my tenure in the Valley, in early 1990s, I came to know Lt. Col. (now Maj. Gen, Retd.) S.K Razdan had critically been injured during a daring raid on a militant hideout in south Kashmir. This news was carried on front pages and in bold by all the leading dailies of the Valley. My hunch had it that it could be none other than that lean and thin,yet indefatigable, Gentleman Cadet in OTA with whom I had spent somefleeting moments in between rigours of our gruelling training schedules. I was confident, whatever be the criticality, he would fight against all odds. True to his fighting spirit, he snatched his life from jaws of a certain death. Maj Gen. Razdan is the first paraplegic officer of Indian Army to be promoted to the rank of Maj Gen. All my efforts to catch up with him did not materialise until recently when I spent an evening with him in his Guru Gram home. Despite him being wheelchair borne, Maj. Gen. Razdan, nicknamed Greyhound by his peers, has lost non...