Letters to the Editor: The new NERO

A few years back Rajiv Bhawan, the HQ of state Congress, was always bustling with activities right from dawn to dusk. All the big guns of the state Congress along with their honchos were seen attending press conferences, issuing press releases. Fortune seekers of the state always made a beeline to Rajiv Bhawan to seek favours, fair or foul. But in the present time, it has almost become deserted and has in fact become a bhootbunglow (haunted house) for except one person, name Bhupen Bora, the newly elected APCC president, who is always present physically, issuing press releases before the cameras almost daily. So, the ambience generated inside the State Congress HQ has ultimately made Bhupen Bora a poet which he was in the past. It appears as if Bhupen Bora has become like Roman emperor NERO who is fiddling when his entire party is burning and crumbling like a pack of cards. A devout and diehard Congress who can stoop to any level for his party even at the cost of the nation's interests like his mentors in Delhi.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Salute twice

Those who have followed the Republic Day parade will observe that Sikh Regiment offers their salute to the President of India and Sis Ganj Gurudwara Sahib. The Sikh Regiment is one of the most decorated infantry regiments in the Indian army which maintains this practice since 1979. The saga began some 42 years ago on 24th January 1979. During the rehearsal of the Republic Day parade, the Sikh contingent marched from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort led by Brigadier Injo Gakhal. The contingent passed through Rajpath, followed by KG Marg, Connaught Place, Minto Bridge, Ram Lila Ground, Chawri Bazar, Kinari Bazar, Sis Ganj Gurudwara Sahib, Chandini Chowk and finally stopped at Red Fort. When the marching contingent crossed Sis Ganj Gurudwara Sahib, Brigadier Injo Gakhal ordered his troops to look right and he lowered his sword (mark of salute). This took the Gurudwara authorities by surprise. Who then followed the contingent till Red Fort. As a mark of respect, they offered refreshments and 'Karah prasad' to the troops. Two days later on the appointed day, i.e., 26th January, Brigadier Injo Gakhal ordered his troops to look right and he lowered his sword. However, on that day, the Gurudwara authorities were prepared in advance and shouted loud chants of 'Sat Sri Akal' and showered the marching troops with rose petals. Thus began the tradition of saluting twice, once to the President of India, and the other to Sis Ganj Gurudwara Sahib.

Sis Ganj Gurudwara Sahib is built on the exact site where Guru Tegh Bahadur, who is the ninth of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs religion. Guru Tegh Bahadur is the one who prevented forceful religious conversions of Kashmiri Pundits Islam. He was beheaded publicly by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam. His sis (sis meaning head in Hindi, the severed head) was brought to Anandpur Sahib by his disciple Bhai Jaita and cremated by the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Rai.

These are the instances in which our earlier history books (written by left-minded historians) have always neglected purposefully so that the real picture and character of invader Mughal kings are not exposed before the public.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.