Martyrdom of Guru Tegbahadur
When the atrocities on Kashmiri Hindus under the rule of Aurangzeb, the most rabidly truculent of Mughal kings, to force them to embrace Islam reached beyond the tolerable limit they formed a delegation to be led by Shri Kriparamji and approached Guru Tegbahadur to tell them their woes. On hearing their heart-rending tale of woes in the Sikha-Sabha of Anandpur, Guru Tegbahadur got to be dumbstruck, sinking into deep thought.
Seeing the condition of the father, his son drew near him and asked, "Why don't you speak, father?" "Now you are young, and unaware of the hard realities," said father, after a little pause; "Turks are perpetrating harrowing atrocities on the people everywhere. But, not one braveheart is their insight to come forward to risk his life for their liberation from this hell.
"Why! - Who could be more able for this supreme sacred service than you, father?" pleaded the son, Govindrai [later to be popularly known as Guru Govind Singh, the last of the Sikh Gurus]
Hearing the things of his own heart from the son, Guru Tegbahadur decided to help the Kashmiri Hindus, telling the delegation, "You send the message to Aurangzeb that the ninth Guru consecrated on the seat of his holiness Guru Nanak Dev is your Dharma –Rakshak [the defender of Dharma]. First, convert him into Islam then you would follow the suit."
Kashmiri Hindus did the same, sending an emissary with the message of Guru to Aurangzeb. As was obvious, the content of the message put insolent Aurangzeb on violent rage. It was a challenge to his lordship; so far he never encountered the audacity of such kind from anybody in his kingdom. Fuming Mughal king soon arrested Guru along with the other five Sikhs- Shri Matidas, Shri Gurudittji, Shri Udaji, Shri Chimaji and Shri Dayalji. He laid the two options before them- choose either Islam or death. But, caring not the threat looming large on their lives, they rejected the offer of living in the alien's religion. Consequently, first Guru's followers were put to brutal death; and, then, Guru's head was chopped off.
However, the martyrdom of Guru Tegbahadur and his devoted followers went not in vain. It proved instrumental in transforming the very ethos of Sikh- philosophy. This tragic episode, and before it the martyrdom of their seventh Guru Arjundev in the hands of the then Mughal King Jhangir, made Sikhs well realize that the counting of the beads and muttering of mantras [hymns] though redeem them spiritually, but to survive in the mundane world, especially in the prevailing situation being governed by the barbaric mentality of intransigent Turks they would have to wield the arms in the hands. Thus, the sect which was peaceful and religiously devotional gradually assumed martial character, which found its peak with Khalsa Panth initiated by Guru Govind Singh as he succeeded Guru Tegbahadur to the highest seat of Sikhism.
Rajesh Pathak
(rajeshpathakbpl@rediffmail.com)
Salman Khan as ambassador
The Maharashtra government decided to rope in Bollywood actor Salman Khan as ambassador to promote awareness about anti-Covid vaccine. It has come to notice of the Maharashtra State Government that a large number of populations in rural areas belonging to Islamic religion are still hesitant to take anti-Covid jab. In this regard, our opposition parties are very much responsible. In the initial days of vaccination drive they floated many rumours regarding vaccines. Samajwadi Party Supremo Akhilesh Yadav told his supporters to stay away from vaccination drive as it could result in impotency. Further, he said Covishield and Covaxin are BJP vaccines. Even in our state, AASU president Dipankar Nath had said Corona is a state-sponsored drama. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had said during canvassing period of assembly elections that it is not necessary to wear masks.
Coming to Maharashtra, an NCP leader had said a few months back that there is no virus called corona and he further went ahead to state that the Modi government is creating a fear-psychosis in the mind of people so that they can pursue their Hindutva agenda. Sadly, the statements of such groups of people spread like wildfire and their supporters believe them like gospel truth. The statements of scientists, doctors or the Covid survivors never get that attention. Now, the State government of Maharashtra has to pay crores of rupees to Salman Khan in the name of vaccination awareness. In this context our state government is doing a good job with the aid of a few NGOs. The role of so many 'jatiyo sangathans' like AASU, AJYCP, Lachit Sena, KMSS is as good as null.
Julie Bhuyan,
Gaurisagar.
Some observations
The recently concluded T20 cricket championship played in Middle East exposed some facts. They are as follows-
1. Players who performed poorly in the IPL, performed brilliantly in the World Cup.
2. The team winning the toss had major advantage as they were on the winning side.
3. The matches drew good crowd which included the locals too, although the game is not followed widely in that part of the world.
4.The heartbroken scenes witnessed among the supporters in the stand when their team lost simply made us believe that the loyalty of common people towards their respective nations is total unlike their politicians whose loyalty depends on power
5. Overdose of cricket is harmful as seen in Team India's case. The champion cricketers of India looked pale the shadow of their calibre.
Dr Ashim Chowdhury.
Ambari, Guwahati.
Defence Industry
It was indeed a great pleasure to see the Government of India's decision to open a Defence Industry in Jhansi, UP. This is surely going to add one more feather to the cap and India will become one self-sustained country in terms of arms might.
NCC wings and Sainik schools will also play a very vital role in shaping the society in terms of discipline. It will be wonderful if all schools can have a certain wing to train students apart from the usual PT periods.
Also, a fact to note out here is that the time has perhaps come to train all the Civilians too in self-defence as border areas are prone to militancy threats. With unfriendly neighbouring countries posing threat and migrations, the demographic picture points to something bleak.
Assam boasts of a 'laahey laahey' mindset with majority not doing any physical exercises or walks etc. We prefer to have a laidback attitude with no routines to keep ourselves physically fit. A physically fit person along with training in self-defence can take care of many. Each family can have a trained member who can then train the others.
Guwahati has been witnessing many spurt in incidents of murder, robbery etc. These trainings, if imparted, will imbibe a sense of security and confidence amongst people which might help to thwart many avoidable incidents. The vulnerability will vanish and the perpetrators might have to think of new ways to lure people.
Purabi Pathak Barua,
Guwahati
UPSC, IBPS Exam
The Chief Minister recently expressed his concern about the poor rate of success of Assamese youths in all India competitive examinations conducted by UPSC, IBPS, etc., even though youths of the state possess comparable merit. He identified primarily a lack of environment in the state and desire on the part of candidates to excel in these examinations as reasons for the poor outcome.
Apart from the reasons cited by the Chief Minister, politicians are also to be blamed for the sorry state of affairs. Right from the Congress which ruled the state for decades to the AGP and now BJP in its second innings, all regimes had not at all attempted to create a conducive competitive ecosystem in the state. Rather, the political parties turned a blind eye as jobs are being sold in the state. The cash for job scams in APSC for State Civil Services and other cadres, SI Recruitment, APDCL, Panchayat etc., which continued unabated during the reigns of all these three political parties with equal vigour are a case in point. The poor and meritorious students can hardly be motivated to write competitive examinations at all Indian levels amidst such a toxic environment. When they are unable to secure a decent job in their state fairly and transparently based on their merit alone, frustration sets in resulting in a lack of desire. Several poor and meritorious students seek a job first to sustain their families before they try to prepare for the tough all India examinations which require 2/3 years of dedicated studies. In the absence of liberal financial assistance from the state government, the desperate need for a job overtakes other priorities. This connection between State Civil Services or other recruitment examinations and all India competitive examinations from the point of view of a poor and meritorious student should be understood first to address the problem of lack of environment head-on.
It is to the credit of the State government that they have removed a big handicap being faced by the aspirants by bringing the syllabus at par with CBSE and other prestigious universities like Delhi, Madras, Calcutta etc.
The ball is in the court of the government to encourage merit and talent which can be accomplished only by ridding blatant and rampant corruption in recruitments in the state and extending liberal financial assistance to poor and meritorious students. Government should also bestow lucrative cash rewards commensurate with their ranks secured in these examinations on the lines awarded to sportspersons who bring laurels to the state in international sporting events to motivate others. It is to be hoped a culture of competition is nurtured in Assam.
Rajib Sarma,
Guwahati
At last repealed
In the media, there was already murmuring that before the Assembly elections in Punjab and UP some concrete declaration may appear regarding the solution of three agriculture bills and the same came true when PM declared the repeal of agriculture bills and requested the farmers to return their homes and start the normal activities related to agriculture and it is expected that farmers leaders will reciprocate positively and should not be adamant on Win-Win position and following the maxim. The Heads-I- Win-Tails-You -Loose. Farmer leaders should wholeheartedly welcome the gesture of PM. But it is also meanwhile farmers need to be wary of self-styled intellectual activists who have insinuated themselves into the dispute and they seem motivated more by their animus against the government rather than for the welfare of farmers and the farmers should quit when the going is good and crops are being purchased at MSP which is their demand wherever MSP is in force since 1963 which was started by then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri. During the period of well-known leaders of farmers such as Mr Charan Singh, Mr Devi Lal and Mr Prakash Singh Badal such demand to make legal entity of MSP and to raise this demand vigorously now clearly shows the demand is related to political reasons and rather for the common cause of the farmers. Farmers should read writing on the wall that the economy is improving day by day bankers NPA are improving GST collections are improving and also exports are increasing and in such scenario, it is expected from the farmers that they should go to their homes and start agriculture activities.
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Jalandar 144003
A Cinema on 'Lokpriya' Gopinath Bordoloi
Through your esteemed daily, I would like to put forward some comments on the Assamese film industry. In recent years, we have witnessed a growing number of Bollywood movies depicting heroics of the past. Indian masses have shown their appreciation and support for movies like Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Tanhaji. In fact, actress Kangana Ranaut won the National Film Award in 2021 for her performance in Manikarnika. While these movies instill a sense of pride, they also play a crucial role in reminding the rich Indian history.
However, far too often, the national media and Bollywood have overlooked Northeast India for such a storyline. If a cinema can be made on Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan, why can't one be made on 'Lokpriya' Gopinath Bordoloi? The Assamese film industry must introspect its relevance in today's time. A cinema is not only a product to entertain people but also a tool to educate the masses. There is so much to talk about Gopinath Bordoloi. His deliberations with Jawaharlal Nehru and the Muslim League during the Indian independence period where he and his team fought to save Assam from being a part of the then East Pakistan. His decisive move to establish Assam's first university at Guwahati and his pragmatism to build the first engineering, medical, agricultural and veterinary colleges helped Assam to liberate from the shadows of the past. It was he who raised the illegal-immigrant issue and became the first Chief Minister of Assam. A cinema on 'Lokrpiya' will be admired by one and all. Therefore, it is my solemn request to the film industry to consider creating a cinematic product on 'Lokpriya' Gopinath Bordoloi which will not only touch the hearts of millions but also ignite the minds of viewers.
Nayan Das
New South Wales,
Australia .