Monday, September 28, 2009

More innocent lives destroyed. Wrongly accused!

Here is another story of wrongfully accused people whose lives have been ruined by the justice system in India.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090929/punjab.htm#14

What is wrong with this picture? Punjab exports while millions starve!

With America going back to the old ways of encouraging Local Farmers Markets and the slogans like "Buy Local" or "Be a locovore" to stimulate economy, reinvest and bring back the pride of "Made in America", the cycle of making mistakes is just starting in Punjab and other part s of India. It seems like it will always be 30 years or so behind the West. Instead of learning from America's mistakes and not repeating them, Panjab seems to be just blindly follwing and bent on copying these mistakes of the West. One postive thing I like though is that at least Panjab is directly dealing with the World instead of cheats and cronies of Central Government of India. Anyways, read and comments of you like.

Punjab to set up vegetable export trade mission Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 27
The Punjab government has approved setting up a vegetable export trade mission on the pattern of Maharashtra’s to give logistic support to the vegetables and fruit growers of the state for exporting the produce in the international market.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal decided it after a series of meetings with exporters and growers of vegetables and fruits, floriculturists and potato growers here today.
Badal directed the Punjab Agro Export Corporation (PAGREXCO) to work out modalities of forming vegetable export trade mission to enable fruit and vegetable growers to export the produce.The Chief Minister also agreed to send a delegation to Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Uzbekistan and some Central Asian countries to explore export potential .
The Chief Minister also assured exporters farm power tariff would be charged on the green houses and also directed the chairman, PSEB, to provide special transmission lines to the cold rooms and release the pending power connections under drip irrigation scheme positively by March 31 on a priority basis. Badal also asked the Punjab Agro-industries Corporation to immediately establish 10 pack houses equipped with the latest grading and packaging facilities.
The Chief Minister also gave nod to set up a litchi estate at Pathankot and Pears Estate at Amritsar on the pattern of existing Citrus Estates in Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Muktsar districts to promote the quality production of these fruits and provision of marketing and export facilities too.
Responding to the issues raised by the floriculturists, Badal asked the director, floriculture, of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to impart training to the floriculturists and develop a nursery for the production of gladiolus bulbs besides importing cornels from Holland and Brazil. He also asked the Mandi Board to allot a shed in the fruits and vegetables market in Ludhiana for the marketing of flowers.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090928/punjab.htm#5

Sunday, September 27, 2009

India Watch

Here is a blog that was very interesting, informative and tells about how outsiders analyze and view the shining India:
http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/

Saturday, September 26, 2009

3HO - Generation EX!

I happened to run into this blog from one of the google adds about WHITE SIKHS at http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-07-16/_White_Sikhs____foreigners_who_found_faith_in_Sikhism/forum

and was saddened by the stories and experiences of some of these kids. I am posting this here because I would like people to know that this has nothing to do with Sikhism. I have attended Khalsa Youth Camp with my kids twice in 2005 and 2006. Other than that, I don't know much about the 3HO or the Sikh Dharma commuinity. I just hope this is not bringing bad name to Sikhi as most Sikhs from Punjabis background know and practise. I would like to say that many good and positive things are coming out of the Western Sikh community such as the famous Sikh website Sikhnet which is helping Sikhs Worldwide connect better with posting of events, daily happenings, educational, creating awareness etc. The annual Sikh Youth Film Festival which is bringing Sikh creativity to the forefront, especially the young Sikh kids. As I have said in my previous post, there is nothing wrong with Sikhs practising Yoga, but it should not engulf one's life to the point that they forget to live in this World as Gurbani teaches. Live above the World like a lotus as I see it. Work, play, sing, dance, eat, sleep, read, write, study and all but subconsciously keep mind focussed on the One thru Gurbani. Even though I do yoga for relaxation, body conditioning etc. but listening, singing Gurbani, Seva (currently lacking a little in this arena though), Simran and constantly thinking about many things Sikhi helps me. Sometimes, I wish Waheguru will give me the wisdom, courage and blessing or someone else to put some of these thoughts into practice. Afterall, Gurbani says, "Soche Soch na Hovee, jay soche lakh vaar" and yet I waste so much time thinking Sikhi.

Anyways, back to 3HO and Miri Piri Academy, there was a point a few years back when I kind of wished that my daughter attended the Miri Piri Academy, but after reading some of the stories in the blog, I would say, may be it wasn't meant to be. Even though I would like my kids to establish a relation with Guru Ji, give up meat but at this point it seems like they want to follow their own ways. I hope one day they will realize the beauty of Sikhi but hope it is a little sooner than later. My heart tells me keep faith and things will just fall in place, even though at times life seems so difficult. Child beating is wrong and even I have gotten in trouble for doing that here. I wish India would enforce it better. A Happy Nation is easily judged by the Smile on its people's faces, especially kids.

These kids were hurt during the most beautiful part of their lives, and need compassion, and care by their fellow Sikhs. I hope they will forgive and move on and see the real beauty of Sikhi. Whoever did wrong to them would have to account for their deeds at the end!

Anyways, I just wanted to post this for what it is worth and hope these kids forgive their tormentors. Only forgiveness can bring peace to them. The other thing I find with many people in 3HO is that they seem very self absorbed and self obsessed. So much emphasis is given to the self bodies, self healing, self mastery, self this, self that! It is almost funny! Why not serve others as Gurbani teaches!

SEVA, Simran, Bana and Bani. Seeing god in all, accepting all, serving all!

That is all to the Sikhi! Then the human body will be taken care of! Yoga or no yoga, exercise or no excerise. Sadly, many don't get it and keep searching, looking, waiting for others to please them, serve them, feed them, clean them, accept them and fill their spiritual needs.

Waheguru Bless!

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE MET MANY GREAT GURSIKHS, NICE PEOPLE IN 3HO COMMUNITY AS WELL WHO HAVE COMPASSION, LOVE SERVING OTHERS, SEE GOD IN ALL AND FOCUS MORE ON OTHERS THAN SOME WHO ARE SELF SERVING AND SELF OBSESSED. MAY WAHEGURU BLESS THEM ALL!

Some Punjabi/Sufi Music Videos Links!

Last night while on Sikhnet, I was watching one of the videos from Italy about turbans and heard the song of Rabbi Shergill. I love this song called "bulla ki jan main kaun" so decided to watch a video this mornning on you tube. Then got side tarcked, searched for life of Bulle Shah, his poetry. Also found one of Rabbi Shergill's another vide called "jugni" which is equally great, especially the end message. It truely reflects on life and how this girl at the end falls at the feet of the Guru from life of maya. Then listened to some shers (poems) and qawwaliis by sufi poets. Here is one I thought was relly good:


http://vodpod.com/watch/2180348-ya-ali-mushkil-kusha-sher-e-khuda
http://vodpod.com/watch/242553-rabbi-shergill-jugani
http://vodpod.com/watch/28642-bulla-ki-jaana-main-kaun

Friday, September 11, 2009

And, I thought Guru Ji didn't know me so well! This exactly is my condition right now.

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
सिरीरागु महला ५ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 5.
Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl:


ਜਾ ਕਉ ਮੁਸਕਲੁ ਅਤਿ ਬਣੈ ਢੋਈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥
जा कउ मुसकलु अति बणै ढोई कोइ न देइ ॥
Jā ka▫o muskal aṯ baṇai dẖo▫ī ko▫e na ḏe▫e.
When you are confronted with terrible hardships, and no one offers you any support,


ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਏ ਦੁਸਮਨਾ ਸਾਕ ਭਿ ਭਜਿ ਖਲੇ ॥
लागू होए दुसमना साक भि भजि खले ॥
Lāgū ho▫e ḏusmanā sāk bẖė bẖaj kẖale.
when your friends turn into enemies, and even your relatives have deserted you,


ਸਭੋ ਭਜੈ ਆਸਰਾ ਚੁਕੈ ਸਭੁ ਅਸਰਾਉ ॥
सभो भजै आसरा चुकै सभु असराउ ॥
Sabẖo bẖajai āsrā cẖukai sabẖ asrā▫o.
and when all support has given way, and all hope has been lost -


ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਤਤੀ ਵਾਉ ॥੧॥
चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु लगै न तती वाउ ॥१॥
Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm lagai na ṯaṯī vā▫o. ||1||
if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, even the hot wind shall not touch you. ||1||


ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਿਤਾਣਿਆ ਕਾ ਤਾਣੁ ॥
साहिबु निताणिआ का ताणु ॥
Sāhib niṯāṇi▫ā kā ṯāṇ.
Our Lord and Master is the Power of the powerless.


ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਥਿਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
आइ न जाई थिरु सदा गुर सबदी सचु जाणु ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Ā▫e na jā▫ī thir saḏā gur sabḏī sacẖ jāṇ. ||1|| rahā▫o.
He does not come or go; He is Eternal and Permanent. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, He is known as True. ||1||Pause||


ਜੇ ਕੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਬਲਾ ਨੰਗ ਭੁਖ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥
जे को होवै दुबला नंग भुख की पीर ॥
Je ko hovai ḏublā nang bẖukẖ kī pīr.
If you are weakened by the pains of hunger and poverty,


ਦਮੜਾ ਪਲੈ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਧੀਰ ॥
दमड़ा पलै ना पवै ना को देवै धीर ॥
Ḏamṛā palai nā pavai nā ko ḏevai ḏẖīr.
with no money in your pockets, and no one will give you any comfort,


ਸੁਆਰਥੁ ਸੁਆਉ ਨ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਾਜੁ ॥
सुआरथु सुआउ न को करे ना किछु होवै काजु ॥
Su▫ārath su▫ā▫o na ko kare nā kicẖẖ hovai kāj.
and no one will satisfy your hopes and desires, and none of your works is accomplished -


ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਰਾਜੁ ॥੨॥
चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु ता निहचलु होवै राजु ॥२॥
Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm ṯā nihcẖal hovai rāj. ||2||
if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall obtain the eternal kingdom. ||2||


ਜਾ ਕਉ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਰੋਗੁ ॥
जा कउ चिंता बहुतु बहुतु देही विआपै रोगु ॥
Jā ka▫o cẖinṯā bahuṯ bahuṯ ḏehī vi▫āpai rog.
When you are plagued by great and excessive anxiety, and diseases of the body;


ਗ੍ਰਿਸਤਿ ਕੁਟੰਬਿ ਪਲੇਟਿਆ ਕਦੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
ग्रिसति कुट्मबि पलेटिआ कदे हरखु कदे सोगु ॥
Garisaṯ kutamb paleti▫ā kaḏe harakẖ kaḏe sog.
when you are wrapped up in the attachments of household and family, sometimes feeling joy, and then other times sorrow;


ਗਉਣੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਟ ਕਾ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
गउणु करे चहु कुंट का घड़ी न बैसणु सोइ ॥
Ga▫oṇ kare cẖahu kunt kā gẖaṛī na baisaṇ so▫e.
when you are wandering around in all four directions, and you cannot sit or sleep even for a moment -


ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥
चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु तनु मनु सीतलु होइ ॥३॥
Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm ṯan man sīṯal ho▫e. ||3||
if you come to remember the Supreme Lord God, then your body and mind shall be cooled and soothed. ||3||


ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਕੀਆ ਕਿਰਪਨ ਲੋਭਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
कामि करोधि मोहि वसि कीआ किरपन लोभि पिआरु ॥
Kām karoḏẖ mohi vas kī▫ā kirpan lobẖ pi▫ār.
When you are under the power of sexual desire, anger and worldly attachment, or a greedy miser in love with your wealth;


ਚਾਰੇ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਉਨਿ ਅਘ ਕੀਏ ਹੋਆ ਅਸੁਰ ਸੰਘਾਰੁ ॥
चारे किलविख उनि अघ कीए होआ असुर संघारु ॥
Cẖāre kilvikẖ un agẖ kī▫e ho▫ā asur sangẖār.
if you have committed the four great sins and other mistakes; even if you are a murderous fiend


ਪੋਥੀ ਗੀਤ ਕਵਿਤ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਕਰਨਿ ਧਰਿਆ ॥
पोथी गीत कवित किछु कदे न करनि धरिआ ॥
Pothī gīṯ kaviṯ kicẖẖ kaḏe na karan ḏẖari▫ā.
who has never taken the time to listen to sacred books, hymns and poetry -


ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਮਖ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਤਰਿਆ ॥੪॥
चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु ता निमख सिमरत तरिआ ॥४॥
Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm ṯā nimakẖ simraṯ ṯari▫ā. ||4||
if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, and contemplate Him, even for a moment, you shall be saved. ||4||


ਸਾਸਤ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ਚਾਰਿ ਮੁਖਾਗਰ ਬਿਚਰੇ ॥
सासत सिम्रिति बेद चारि मुखागर बिचरे ॥
Sāsaṯ simriṯ beḏ cẖār mukẖāgar bicẖre.
People may recite by heart the Shaastras, the Simritees and the four Vedas;


ਤਪੇ ਤਪੀਸਰ ਜੋਗੀਆ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਗਵਨੁ ਕਰੇ ॥
तपे तपीसर जोगीआ तीरथि गवनु करे ॥
Ŧape ṯapīsar jogī▫ā ṯirath gavan kare.
they may be ascetics, great, self-disciplined Yogis; they may visit sacred shrines of pilgrimage


ਖਟੁ ਕਰਮਾ ਤੇ ਦੁਗੁਣੇ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਨਾਇ ॥
खटु करमा ते दुगुणे पूजा करता नाइ ॥
Kẖat karmā ṯe ḏuguṇai pūjā karṯā nā▫e.
and perform the six ceremonial rituals, over and over again, performing worship services and ritual bathings.


ਰੰਗੁ ਨ ਲਗੀ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਤਾ ਸਰਪਰ ਨਰਕੇ ਜਾਇ ॥੫॥
रंगु न लगी पारब्रहम ता सरपर नरके जाइ ॥५॥
Rang na lagī pārbarahm ṯā sarpar narke jā▫e. ||5||
Even so, if they have not embraced love for the Supreme Lord God, then they shall surely go to hell. ||5||


ਰਾਜ ਮਿਲਕ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀਆ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥
राज मिलक सिकदारीआ रस भोगण बिसथार ॥
Rāj milak sikḏārī▫ā ras bẖogaṇ bisthār.
You may possess empires, vast estates, authority over others, and the enjoyment of myriad of pleasures;


ਬਾਗ ਸੁਹਾਵੇ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਚਲੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਫਾਰ ॥
बाग सुहावे सोहणे चलै हुकमु अफार ॥
Bāg suhāve sohṇe cẖalai hukam afār.
you may have delightful and beautiful gardens, and issue unquestioned commands;


ਰੰਗ ਤਮਾਸੇ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧੀ ਚਾਇ ਲਗਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥
रंग तमासे बहु बिधी चाइ लगि रहिआ ॥
Rang ṯamāse baho biḏẖī cẖā▫e lag rahi▫ā.
you may have enjoyments and entertainments of all sorts and kinds, and continue to enjoy exciting pleasures -


ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਸਰਪ ਕੀ ਜੂਨਿ ਗਇਆ ॥੬॥
चिति न आइओ पारब्रहमु ता सरप की जूनि गइआ ॥६॥
Cẖiṯ na ā▫i▫o pārbarahm ṯā sarap kī jūn ga▫i▫ā. ||6||
and yet, if you do not come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall be reincarnated as a snake. ||6||


ਬਹੁਤੁ ਧਨਾਢਿ ਅਚਾਰਵੰਤੁ ਸੋਭਾ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰੀਤਿ ॥
बहुतु धनाढि अचारवंतु सोभा निरमल रीति ॥
Bahuṯ ḏẖanādẖ acẖārvanṯ sobẖā nirmal rīṯ.
You may possess vast riches, maintain virtuous conduct, have a spotless reputation and observe religious customs;


ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਸੁਤ ਭਾਈਆ ਸਾਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਪਰੀਤਿ ॥
मात पिता सुत भाईआ साजन संगि परीति ॥
Māṯ piṯā suṯ bẖā▫ī▫ā sājan sang parīṯ.
you may have the loving affections of mother, father, children, siblings and friends;


ਲਸਕਰ ਤਰਕਸਬੰਦ ਬੰਦ ਜੀਉ ਜੀਉ ਸਗਲੀ ਕੀਤ ॥
लसकर तरकसबंद बंद जीउ जीउ सगली कीत ॥
Laskar ṯarkasbanḏ banḏ jī▫o jī▫o saglī kīṯ.
you may have armies well-equipped with weapons, and all may salute you with respect;

ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਖੜਿ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਦੀਤ ॥੭॥
चिति न आइओ पारब्रहमु ता खड़ि रसातलि दीत ॥७॥
Cẖiṯ na ā▫i▫o pārbarahm ṯā kẖaṛ rasāṯal ḏīṯ. ||7||
But still, if you do not come to remember the Supreme Lord God, then you shall be taken and consigned to the most hideous hell! ||7||


ਕਾਇਆ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਛਿਦ੍ਰੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਾੜਾ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
काइआ रोगु न छिद्रु किछु ना किछु काड़ा सोगु ॥
Kā▫i▫ā rog na cẖẖiḏar kicẖẖ nā kicẖẖ kāṛā sog.
You may have a body free of disease and deformity, and have no worries or grief at all;


ਮਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਆਵੀ ਚਿਤਿ ਤਿਸੁ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਭੋਗੈ ਭੋਗੁ ॥
मिरतु न आवी चिति तिसु अहिनिसि भोगै भोगु ॥
Miraṯ na āvī cẖiṯ ṯis ahinis bẖogai bẖog.
you may be unmindful of death, and night and day revel in pleasures;


ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਤੋਨੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਜੀਇ ਨ ਸੰਕ ਧਰਿਆ ॥
सभ किछु कीतोनु आपणा जीइ न संक धरिआ ॥
Sabẖ kicẖẖ kīṯon āpṇā jī▫e na sank ḏẖari▫ā.
you may take everything as your own, and have no fear in your mind at all;


ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਜਮਕੰਕਰ ਵਸਿ ਪਰਿਆ ॥੮॥
चिति न आइओ पारब्रहमु जमकंकर वसि परिआ ॥८॥
Cẖiṯ na ā▫i▫o pārbarahm jamkankar vas pari▫ā. ||8||
but still, if you do not come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall fall under the power of the Messenger of Death. ||8||


ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗੁ ॥
किरपा करे जिसु पारब्रहमु होवै साधू संगु ॥
Kirpā kare jis pārbarahm hovai sāḏẖū sang.
The Supreme Lord showers His Mercy, and we find the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.


ਜਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਓਹੁ ਵਧਾਈਐ ਤਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰੰਗੁ ॥
जिउ जिउ ओहु वधाईऐ तिउ तिउ हरि सिउ रंगु ॥
Ji▫o ji▫o oh vaḏẖā▫ī▫ai ṯi▫o ṯi▫o har si▫o rang.
The more time we spend there, the more we come to love the Lord.


ਦੁਹਾ ਸਿਰਿਆ ਕਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਆਪਿ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਥਾਉ ॥
दुहा सिरिआ का खसमु आपि अवरु न दूजा थाउ ॥
Ḏuhā siri▫ā kā kẖasam āp avar na ḏūjā thā▫o.
The Lord is the Master of both worlds; there is no other place of rest.


ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੁਠੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੯॥੧॥੨੬॥
सतिगुर तुठै पाइआ नानक सचा नाउ ॥९॥१॥२६॥
Saṯgur ṯuṯẖai pā▫i▫ā Nānak sacẖā nā▫o. ||9||1||26||
When the True Guru is pleased and satisfied, O Nanak, the True Name is obtained. ||9||1||26||

What pleases my Lord? I do not know. Then how do I focus on Naam? I do not know. I say, just keep up & keep going!

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੫ ॥
सिरीरागु महला ५ घरु ५ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 5 gẖar 5.
Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl, Fifth House:


ਜਾਨਉ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਵੈ ਕਵਨ ਬਾਤਾ ॥
जानउ नही भावै कवन बाता ॥
Jān▫o nahī bẖāvai kavan bāṯā.
I do not know what pleases my Lord.


ਮਨ ਖੋਜਿ ਮਾਰਗੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
मन खोजि मारगु ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Man kẖoj mārag. ||1|| rahā▫o.
O mind, seek out the way! ||1||Pause||


ਧਿਆਨੀ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲਾਵਹਿ ॥
धिआनी धिआनु लावहि ॥
Ḏẖi▫ānī ḏẖi▫ān lāvėh.
The meditatives practice meditation,


ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ॥
गिआनी गिआनु कमावहि ॥
Gi▫ānī gi▫ān kamāvėh.
and the wise practice spiritual wisdom,


ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਕਿਨ ਹੀ ਜਾਤਾ ॥੧॥
प्रभु किन ही जाता ॥१॥
Parabẖ kin hī jāṯā. ||1||
but how rare are those who know God! ||1||


ਭਗਉਤੀ ਰਹਤ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥
भगउती रहत जुगता ॥
Bẖag▫uṯī rahaṯ jugṯā.
The worshipper of Bhagaauti practices self-discipline,


ਜੋਗੀ ਕਹਤ ਮੁਕਤਾ ॥
जोगी कहत मुकता ॥
Jogī kahaṯ mukṯā.
the Yogi speaks of liberation,


ਤਪਸੀ ਤਪਹਿ ਰਾਤਾ ॥੨॥
तपसी तपहि राता ॥२॥
Ŧapsī ṯapėh rāṯā. ||2||
and the ascetic is absorbed in asceticism. ||2||


ਮੋਨੀ ਮੋਨਿਧਾਰੀ ॥
मोनी मोनिधारी ॥
Monī moniḏẖārī.
The men of silence observe silence,


ਸਨਿਆਸੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਾਰੀ ॥
सनिआसी ब्रहमचारी ॥
Sani▫āsī barahamcẖārī.
the Sanyaasees observe celibacy,


ਉਦਾਸੀ ਉਦਾਸਿ ਰਾਤਾ ॥੩॥
उदासी उदासि राता ॥३॥
Uḏāsī uḏās rāṯā. ||3||
and the Udaasees abide in detachment. ||3||


ਭਗਤਿ ਨਵੈ ਪਰਕਾਰਾ ॥
भगति नवै परकारा ॥
Bẖagaṯ navai parkārā.
There are nine forms of devotional worship.


ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਵੇਦੁ ਪੁਕਾਰਾ ॥
पंडितु वेदु पुकारा ॥
Pandiṯ veḏ pukārā.
The Pandits recite the Vedas.


ਗਿਰਸਤੀ ਗਿਰਸਤਿ ਧਰਮਾਤਾ ॥੪॥
गिरसती गिरसति धरमाता ॥४॥
Girsaṯī girsaṯ ḏẖarmāṯā. ||4||
The householders assert their faith in family life. ||4||


ਇਕ ਸਬਦੀ ਬਹੁ ਰੂਪਿ ਅਵਧੂਤਾ ॥
इक सबदी बहु रूपि अवधूता ॥
Ik sabḏī baho rūp avḏẖūṯā.
Those who utter only One Word, those who take many forms, the naked renunciates,


ਕਾਪੜੀ ਕਉਤੇ ਜਾਗੂਤਾ ॥
कापड़ी कउते जागूता ॥
Kāpṛī ka▫uṯe jāgūṯā.
the wearers of patched coats, the magicians, those who remain always awake,


ਇਕਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਤਾ ॥੫॥
इकि तीरथि नाता ॥५॥
Ik ṯirath nāṯā. ||5||
and those who bathe at holy places of pilgrimage-||5||


ਨਿਰਹਾਰ ਵਰਤੀ ਆਪਰਸਾ ॥
निरहार वरती आपरसा ॥
Nirhār varṯī āprasā.
Those who go without food, those who never touch others,


ਇਕਿ ਲੂਕਿ ਨ ਦੇਵਹਿ ਦਰਸਾ ॥
इकि लूकि न देवहि दरसा ॥
Ik lūk na ḏevėh ḏarsā.
the hermits who never show themselves,


ਇਕਿ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਗਿਆਤਾ ॥੬॥
इकि मन ही गिआता ॥६॥
Ik man hī gi▫āṯā. ||6||
and those who are wise in their own minds-||6||


ਘਾਟਿ ਨ ਕਿਨ ਹੀ ਕਹਾਇਆ ॥
घाटि न किन ही कहाइआ ॥
Gẖāt na kin hī kahā▫i▫ā.
Of these, no one admits to any deficiency;


ਸਭ ਕਹਤੇ ਹੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
सभ कहते है पाइआ ॥
Sabẖ kahṯe hai pā▫i▫ā.
all say that they have found the Lord.


ਜਿਸੁ ਮੇਲੇ ਸੋ ਭਗਤਾ ॥੭॥
जिसु मेले सो भगता ॥७॥
Jis mele so bẖagṯā. ||7||
But he alone is a devotee, whom the Lord has united with Himself. ||7||


ਸਗਲ ਉਕਤਿ ਉਪਾਵਾ ॥
सगल उकति उपावा ॥
Sagal ukaṯ upāvā.
All devices and contrivances,


ਤਿਆਗੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਪਾਵਾ ॥
तिआगी सरनि पावा ॥
Ŧi▫āgī saran pāvā.
I have abondened and sought His Sanctuary.


ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਰ ਚਰਣਿ ਪਰਾਤਾ ॥੮॥੨॥੨੭॥
नानकु गुर चरणि पराता ॥८॥२॥२७॥
Nānak gur cẖaraṇ parāṯā. ||8||2||27||
Nanak has fallen at the Feet of the Guru. ||8||2||27||

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Modern Indus Valley Civilization

Here is a topic that every Indian knows even though some more than others who are on the receiving end, especially the innocent ones that have been framed and wrongfully accused, killed and awards have been given, and heroes have been declared by the fine tuned modern Indian state machinery, "The Encounter Killings”. The name KPS Gill in Punjab comes to mind to very Sikh, even though there are many more in other parts of India like Gujrat, Kashmir, Delhi, Bombay and other places, where police just merely became a witness if not assisted in killings including fake killings of minorities in India. The Hindu India loves to boast and talks about "truth" in its natinal theme as it relates to Gandhi, as it realtes to National emblem with words "satyamev jayte", Indian Democracy and other Religious teachings. One wonders why Buddhism and Buddhists are hardly found in India, even though it is a birthplace of India. One simple reason, it was driven out with a force. The question is, how true is Indian democracy and how civilized is India? Is Sikhism facing the same threat? I would say “no”but I really don’t know. Since Sikhs are not like Buddhists to walk away and have a history for fighting against tyranny and for God given right and justice. Since 1947, the constant discriminatory practices towards majority Sikh state Punjab by majority Hindu Nation India is a proof enough for what happened in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. Having to live with a divided Punjab by the British, the Punjabis faced a further division of their home into the three Indian states (Haryana, Himachal Pardesh and Punjab) in 1966, reducing the number of political representation of Punjabis in the Indian Political system thru political manipulations to practically nothing, manipulation of hard earned money of Punjabis taken away by centralized banks of India to develop industry and education for the rest of India, manipulation of grain prices to keep Punjabi farmers poor and illiterate, lack of industrial investment due to claims by India that Punjab falls within the vicinity of Pakistan, no State capitol of its own to govern and make rules that would favor Punjabis, push towards Hindi and English over Punjabi thru media, laws, Bollywood movies, schools, jobs, companies, and other Indian national and centrally sponsored programs. The Nehru India killed its own rich dress, heritage, pride, mother languages of India including Punjabi, calendar, cultures, festivals, traditions by embracing and adopting English language, western dress (especially men in India than women who seem to have no guts to wear Dhoti and Kurta Pajama even after British have left and love copying western culture and clothes, at least women proudly wear salwaar kameezes, saris, chola etc.) in the post colonial period. And, worst yet, many Indians get mad when this is ponted out instead of accepting it and changing their ways. Sikhs in Punjab have been as much of victims of this onslaught as many other minority communities since they were at the mercy of Indian national policies and laws.
Where is the Sikh Autonomy? Now I am not for separation of Sikhs from India since I believe Sikhs are better off staying united with India than separating themselves from India. But change needs to come in India, otherwise it is doomed to fail and be enslaved again by some other foreign power, be it China, Japan, U.S. or may be Pakistan again. I hope not but things are pointing that way. India belongs to Sikhs as much as Hindus, Moslems, Christians and others and everyone has an equal right to live peacefully. If Sikhs have to fight for it, I say then be it. At least it will be a just fight for right to live in peace. The way things are going, I think India is digging its own grave and day is not far when it will be at the receiving end. No matter how many H Bombs, nuclear bombs and other advanced weapon systems it may have, how many missile systems, navy ships, fighter jets, tanks it may have. Because one thing it doesn’t have which is very important for winning any war with a foreign country, “Compassion and capability of developing and tapping its own full human population potential in a positive way, treating every citizen with dignity, fairness and respect, guaranteeing peace”. I don’t think that is happening in India, especially with Sikhs. The Indian state and the politics thrive on “Divide and Rule” policy of the Brahman which divides people and nation based on caste, creed, religion, and gender. To me this is the biggest weakness of India and it will haunt it for a long time to come. India has had the greatest weapons before, greatest armies before, but it was always enslaved by foreigners. Why? The infighting and divisions among people, lack of visionary leadership, compassion and the will to do the right thing and deliver justice.
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Encounter killings
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Encounter killings is a euphemism used in India and Pakistan to describe extrajudicial killings in which police shoot down alleged gangsters and terrorists in gun battles. Encounter killings were common in Mumbai, India, from the 1990s through the mid 2000s and some of the police officers involved came to be known as 'Encounter Specialists'. The Mumbai police resorted to encounter killings as they believed that these killings delivered speedy justice. Encounter killings severely crippled the Underworld in Mumbai and busted the extortion racket which was rampant at that time. Encounter killings, together with torture by police in lock-ups and custodial deaths have irked human rights activists.[1]
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Police encounter in Punjab
Main article: Police encounter
Police encounter is a term used by Indian security forces to explain and excuse the death of an individual at their hands. The term was often used during the counter-insurgency campaign in the state of Punjab between 1984 and 1995. uring this time, Punjab police officials would often report “encounters” to local newspapers and to the family members of those killed. The victim was typically a person the police deemed to be a militant, or to be involved in the militant separatist movement, though proof of alleged militant involvement was rarely given. Such encounters have also been referred to as “staged encounters” or “fake encounters,” as these deaths were often believed to be the result of torture or outright execution. Ultimately, the practice became so common that “encounter” became synonymous with extrajudicial execution.[7]
It is alleged that police would typically take a suspected militant into custody without filing an arrest report. If the suspect died during interrogation, security forces would deny ever taking the person into custody and instead claim that they were killed during an armed encounter.[8] Many Indians believe police would add weapons to the dead body to demonstrate cause for killing the individual, stage managing the encounter, leading to the popular phrase “fake encounter killing.”[9] They would also concoct a story about militants staging an attack, or the suspect attempting to escape while being escorted to recover militant arms.[10] At times, the Punjab police applied for and received production warrants that allowed them to remove individuals accused in terrorism cases from jail, and whereupon they often killed the detainees in fake encounters.[11] Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti, a criminal defense attorney in Punjab who defended such suspects, was himself disappeared in May of 1994.

In popular culture
Many Indian films have been made depicting Police encounters in Bollywood and South Indian Cinema. The most recent blockbusters are Risk and Shootout at Lokhandwala. Other famous films include Ab Tak Chhappan starring Nana Patekar, Encounter: The Killing starring Naseeruddin Shah and the 2003 Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha.
References
1. ^ C R Sridhar. Sunshine India: Encounter Killings, Torture and Custodial Deaths. October 11, 2006.
2. ^ Alex Perry. Urban Cowboys. TIME Magazine. Jan. 06, 2003.
3. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Cop-Pradeep-Sharma-reinstated/articleshow/4496263.cms
4. ^ a b c d Encounter man Pradip Sharma completes 'century'
5. ^ Fallen Heroes. India Today.
6. ^ http://www.tehelka.com/story_main26.asp?filename=Ne021007Ab_tak.asp
7. ^ Dead Silence: The Legacy of Abuses in Punjab. Human Rights Watch/Asia and Physicians for Human Rights. 1994.
8. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (India). U.S. State Department. 1993.
9. ^ Pepper, Daniel (02/28/2009). "India Makes A Place for Dirty Harry". NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01pepper.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
10. ^ "India-Who Killed the Sikhs". Dateline. 4/3/2002. http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/index.php?page=transcript&dte=2002-04-03&headlineid=427. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
11. ^ "Communication to Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders". Ensaaf. 05/12/2006. http://www.ensaaf.org/pdf/un/Bhatti.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
Links
• Crime in Mumbai
• Police encounter
External links
• Interview with Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner
• Reduced to Ashes: A Report on Disappearances and Encounters in Punjab
• India: Extrajudicial Killings under the spotlight
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encounter_killings"

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http://www.thehindu.com/op/2007/07/08/stories/2007070853271400.htm
Fake encounters and the Indian state
K.S. DHILLON
There is little legitimacy for the kind of killings police and other security forces have been resorting to lately
All the gory details of the calculated murders of Sohrabbudin Sheikh, his wife Kausarbi and a police informer late last year in a fake encounter near Ahmedabad by a police party, comprising, among others, three IPS officers, are now in the public domain. While the shock and outrage felt by a concerned civil society at the gruesome event is understandable, the extent of support and approbation that Vanzara and his co-accused have received from several quarters, including so me politicians, is somewhat difficult to readily accept.
Not that it is an altogether new development. Only a few years ago, similar approbatory affirmations greeted the Punjab police for their brutal handling of Sikh militancy. Indeed the Punjab police could not have employed the shockingly repressive measures in the centrally-ruled State unless its leadership was sure of full state backing.
A large segment of Indian society too approved of its tactics, despite its deeply tainted operational record of kidnappings, disappearances, extortions and brutal killings, which left thousands of Sikhs traumatised and disabled for life.
In fact, the Punjab police are believed to have refined the art and science of fake encounters to near perfection, right up to ferrying alleged terrorists from far off places in vehicles with fictitious number plates to home ground and then bumping them off.
If Vanzara and other such encounter specialists are found to have accumulated assets worth several crores, one has only to look around Chandigarh and its satellite towns to marvel at the mansions, farmhouses and holiday resorts that cropped up in the aftermath of Punjab militancy. Yet those nightmarish happenings in Punjab remain shrouded in a conspiracy of silence for obvious reasons, although they have become a veritable model for anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism strategies, spawning a culture of state terrorism and hard policing all over the country.
Dangerous trend
This is obviously a deeply flawed and dangerous trend. For, Indian law does not sanction the use of deadly force against alleged criminals of whatever category except when a member of the public is under an imminent threat of loss of life or serious injury from a criminal act and there is no other means available to the police to save his life.
This right of private defence is also available to a member of a police or security organisation, placed in a similar situation. Even then the law requires that adequate warning is given before using deadly force to neutralise the threat. There is thus little legitimacy or justification for the kind of encounter killings the police and other security forces have been resorting to lately all over the country.
Even then, cold-blooded acts of murder to deal with dacoit gangs, crime mafias, extremists and terrorists and faking the misdeeds as encounters have lately become a much-favoured strategy with South Asian police forces as our legal and judicial architecture remains rooted in mid-nineteenth century concepts and enactments and is frequently found wanting in delivering quick and effectual justice to cope with the current upsurge in militant and extremist violence.
What is more, South Asian political and bureaucratic establishments are not averse to promoting the belief that encounters, fake or otherwise, are an acceptable mode of combating terrorism, militancy, mafia crimes and other such organised and ruthless criminal activity. Encounter killings have, thus, not only acquired substantial acceptability among many otherwise fairly discerning members of our civil society, the so-called encounter experts are also greatly lionised in films and other media.
Most military and security top brass openly and many politicians secretly prescribe the same treatment for the growing Maoist insurgency. In the face of such demonstrated state support for extra judicial killings, is it any wonder that more and more policemen, including IPS officers, are inclined to short-circuit the due process and win medals and accolades in the bargain?
Unless substantive and sustainable corrective measures are taken urgently, the ability of our police to meet the myriad emerging challenges in a lawful manner will continue to deteriorate, leading soon to a collapse of the rule of law and civilised governance that form the bedrock of a modern, democratic and responsive polity. Are we prepared for that to happen?
(The writer is a former Director General of Police, Punjab)
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International news agencies focus on fake encounters
in Punjab
WSN Network

AMRITSAR: One of the world's leading news agencies, the Associated Press, has now extensively covered the shameful adoption of "fake encounters" as a tool by the Punjab Police and the Indian state to counter what official India calls "militancy" and "insurgency" and the Sikhs see as a fight to stress community aspirations.

The Associated Press reporter, Matthew Rosenberg, narrated the case of Gurnam Singh Bandala extensively in his June 10 despatch from Amritsar, published next day widely in many newspapers across the world, including the Arizona Republic and St Petersburg Times, Florida. Bandala was gunned down in a shootout with police 13 years ago during the waning days of an uprising by Sikh militants, officers claimed the reward money on his head but then Bandala turned up alive, living as a preacher outside this northern Indian city.

"Authorities now believe an innocent farmer was deliberately killed by police so that they could present his body as Bandala's and collect a $60,000 bounty," the AP reporter wrote, adding that "Bandala's re-emergence is one of nearly a dozen similar cases reviewed by the AP that have surfaced recently in India."

The report is full of terms like "brutal result of a system dominated by poorly educated, badly trained and corruptible cops, dirty politicians and stagnated courts where justice, if it ever comes, can be delayed for years."

"The exact number of fake encounters is impossible to determine. Police officials acknowledge only a handful over the past two decades and say they are isolated cases," the AP report said.

As is well-known by now, Bandala, meanwhile, was caught by police in 1998 and spent four years in prison on charges of carrying illegal weapons. He was convicted under his real name, but the public record - which lists Bandala as deceased - was never changed. The establishment in India may like to keep such cases under wraps for years to save itself from public shame and embarrassment but then it should not complain when international human rights groups and neutral reporters occasionaly state the truth. Hanging its head in shame should by now be a practised art for Indian politicians and justice dispensing machinery comprising police and courts.
13 June 2007
http://worldsikhnews.com/13%20june%202007/International%20news%20agencies%20focus%20on%20fake%20encounters%20in%20Punjab.htm
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Punjab orders probe into ‘fake encounters’
Post Comment
Express news service Tags : Posted: Monday , Apr 30, 2007 at 0035 hrs AMRITSAR: :

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After The Indian Express reported the “resurfacing” of three Punjab terrorists who were said to have been killed, the state government has ordered a high-level probe into the fake killings. A special team, comprising senior police officers, has been constituted to dig out facts regarding the “killing” of these terrorists. The report is expected within a fortnight.
Disclosing this, Information and Public Relations Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia said he has spoken to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. “The necessary orders for the probe have been issued. The inquiry will also find out who were killed in place of these former terrorists. Justice will be done,” he said.
The newspaper had recently exposed the Punjab Police which declared these terrorists “dead” in three separate encounters and pocketed Rs 35 lakh in awards.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/punjab-orders-probe-into-fake-encounters/29656/

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The Real Fake Encounter
When Media and Politicians Evade Reality
by Rajinder Puri
The alleged fake encounter perpetrated by the Gujarat police is horrendous. Sympathizers of the Gujarat government dwell on the reputation of the victim, Sohrabuddin Sheikh, allegedly a criminal with possible links to terrorists. Does this unproven fact justify cold-blooded murder? That politicians justify police excess by questioning the nature of the victim is nothing new.
Decades ago the police paraded Maya Tyagi naked through the streets of a UP town for alleged misdemeanor. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister justified the police action by describing Maya Tyagi as a woman of dubious character. So much for a woman PM defending the rights of women!
In the current fake encounter case two women witnesses of the murder, not described as criminals, were allegedly killed by the police to ensure their silence. More cases of fake encounters by the same police officers are surfacing.
Is it too cynical to suggest that the revelations in Gujarat have surfaced only because of a silent power struggle within the BJP? The Hindu wrongly attributed a police report related to the Gujarat fake encounter to one officer. The Gujarat government rebutted the news. The Hindu conceded that the report had not been officially submitted but was in its preparatory stage. Significantly, The Hindu editor claimed that the report had been leaked by a senior BJP leader. BJP leaders maintained a diplomatic silence over the editor’s claim.
The current buzz against police fake encounters lends hope that it will lead eventually to a systemic reform. To ensure that any such effort is not derailed one must recognize reality. The hard reality is that police excess in India has decades-old origins. It was allowed to flourish under criminalized politicians and a subservient media. Political parties and the media have always distanced themselves from this ugly reality of law and order.
Last week the leading columnist of a national daily commented that India could not claim to be a democracy if it “countenances rogue police officers playing God”. The leading columnist of another national daily, while deploring the police excess in Gujarat, suggested that the ultimate responsibility lay with India’s middle class which condoned police crimes. Was the distinguished columnist including media as part of the middle class?
Politicians across the country are pulling out old fake encounter cases from closets to score points against political rivals. Fake encounters have become the current drawing room conversation topic. Whatever the motives of politicians in digging out old dirt, the effect is positive. Whether the muckraking arises from infighting or from a belated sense of responsibility, the result is welcome. It could initiate a long delayed cleanup of the police system.
Consider the case of Punjab. An Akali-BJP combine now rules the state. The consequent desire of the Punjab government to even the score against the Congress after the Gujarat exposure is self-evident. Media reports revealed that several alleged terrorists “killed” by the police, for which policemen duly collected rewards, are still alive. This was sufficient ground for the Punjab government to order “a fact-finding inquiry” by a team under a senior police official. The probe will cover the fake killings involving the state police during the height of the militancy two decades ago when the Congress governed Punjab.
Should one laugh or cry over the antics of these politicians and over our hand-wringing media pundits? What new facts will any inquiry reveal? It may be instructive, though, to recall the past. This should among other things set the record straight for the benefit of the distinguished newspaper columnist who condemned the middle class for allowing excesses by the police.
Reports of police excesses against innocents in the name of fighting militancy had circulated in Punjab for a considerable time. Many youths had disappeared. In 1995 Jaswant Singh Khalra, who headed the human rights wing of the Akali Dal, issued a press note alleging thousands of police custodial deaths. Khalra claimed that the victims were secretly cremated. In the police records they were listed as “unidentified”. The Punjab Director General of Punjab police at the time, KPS Gill, rebutted Khalra’s claim. He said: “Thousands of Sikh youth who had left for foreign countries under fake names and documents were claiming to be missing persons killed by security forces in encounters.” He added, “They are missing with the consent of their parents.” It is possible some youths might have disappeared in this manner. But to offer this as adequate explanation for the disappearance of all the missing youth betrayed careless, callous thinking.
The Punjab media picked up the report. After this, Khalra was whisked away by the police. He too disappeared. It was presumed he was killed. Middle class citizens (newspaper columnists please note) belonging to human rights bodies formed an apex body, the Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab (CCDP). It was funded solely by local donors. CCDP took Khalra’s case to the Supreme Court. Ensuing investigation proved that Khalra had been killed. Nine police officials were indicted. The Supreme Court then ordered the CBI to investigate Khalra’s charges of secret police mass cremations.
The CBI confirmed that the police had illegally cremated 2097 victims of custodial death or fake encounters in Amritsar district alone. The remaining 16 districts of Punjab were not investigated. Of these victims the CBI identified 582 who were all non-terrorists. The CCDP identified over 1700 victims and their families. It chronicled the torture, harassment and extortion inflicted by the police on the victims and their families. Many among them were unconnected to terrorism, and killed in cold blood by the police. A leading CCDP activist, Ram Narayan Kumar, wrote a meticulously researched book, Reduced to Ashes, which laid bare the whole truth of this gruesome carnage.
After the CBI report the Supreme Court in 1997 designated the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to deal with the case. It vested NHRC with full powers of the Supreme Court. Apart from awarding paltry compensation to the families of victims, the NHRC did precious little. In 2002 LK Advani and Amarinder Singh pleaded amnesty for all the tainted policemen. KPS Gill continued to trash human rights activists on TV. The national media virtually ignored the 2097 police custodial deaths that had been verified by the CBI and the Supreme Court.
Recall – Pinochet of Chile was held personally responsible for 3000 innocents killed; and Milosevic of Serbia, personally, for the death of 2000 innocents. Both were reviled as international war criminals. But for 2097 deaths in only one district of Punjab nobody has been held accountable. Who is to blame for this – the politicians and media, or the middle class?
May 16, 2007
http://www.boloji.com/myword/mw078.htm

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Earth is the Mother , Air is the Guru, Water is the Father

In everyday husle and bustle of life, how many of us really actually step back, think and take time to thank the Earth and water. I know some out there probably thinking and saying this is some kind of environmentalist talking or this is some sort of hippi and new age talk about thanking the Earth and water and environment. We should be thanking the Lord that created the Earth. And, I fully agree. But the interesting thing is to acknowledge and appreciate what we have been given by the Lord and the Earth and water to sustain life of each and every creature in the Universe. We drink water, eat and enjoy all kinds of foods, all kinds of natural beauty everyday and use so many products everyday that all came from Earth but hardly really stop to take the time to say "thank you Mother Earth!" for providing me with all this or "thank God for giving this life and providing me with all this". The rate this Earth is being destroyed is just phenomenal and it will haunt us 200 to 300 years to come if nothing is done. All the mining of natural resources and exploitation of this Universe for fuel, energy, electricity, consumer products, household items, nuclear and chemical weapons and so on seems so absurd. Sure they have become everyday part of this modern society and there is no going back to the stone age. Only God knows how all of this will end in future! Reminds me of a line in Jap Ji where Guru Nanak Sahib says "bhukhia bhukh na utri, jay banna puria paar" meaning "there is no end since this hunger for natural resources can never be fullfilled, even if there were loads and loads of these products, resources etc. I mean how many us really want to give up our hot showers, spas, fuel guzzling cars, air conditioners, heaters, plane travel, train travel, dream yachts, dream houses and I can go on and on. Guru Nanak Saheb had been right all along but the humanity still doesn't get it. What is wrong with simple living and getting by with as less as possible? But the new education and mantra seems to be "the more the merrier".


ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
साचे ते पवना भइआ पवनै ते जलु होइ ॥
Sācẖe ṯe pavnā bẖa▫i▫ā pavnai ṯe jal ho▫e.
From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water.
ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥
जल ते त्रिभवणु साजिआ घटि घटि जोति समोइ ॥
Jal ṯe ṯaribẖavaṇ sāji▫ā gẖat gẖat joṯ samo▫e.
From water, He created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused His Light.
ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥
निरमलु मैला ना थीऐ सबदि रते पति होइ ॥३॥
Nirmal mailā nā thī▫ai sabaḏ raṯe paṯ ho▫e. ||3||
The Immaculate Lord does not become polluted. Attuned to the Shabad, honor is obtained. ||3||

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=19&english=t&id=804#l804