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What's the deal at Tehelka? -- TOI
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Scientist scripts success story Congrats Dr. Debajeet Bora.
 Congratulations, Dr. Debajeet Bora. You are an inspiration to millions of scientists the world-over. Jeevema s'aradah s'atam. Kalyanaraman See: https://sites.google.com/site/homepageofdebajeetkbora/home/publicationsScientist scripts success story |
| SMITA BHATTACHARYYA, Nov. 29, 2013 |
Jorhat, Nov. 27: A scientist from Assam working in Switzerland has developed a new material to mimic photosynthesis, the process of turning sunlight into energy ubiquitous in plants. Debajeet Bora at the Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology in Zurich has developed an inorganic nanocatalyst that serves as a molecular energy-generating machine. The long-term goal is to deploy such materials in households to produce electricity, Bora said. The process will involve installing an artificial photosynthesis kit based on this material in a solar cell or a fuel cell. On a large scale, the nanocatalyst may also be used for a centralised power supply unit, he said. Scientists across the world have been pursuing artificial photosynthesis for over a decade through multiple strategies, trying to ramp up efficiency to make the process economically viable. “In the US, the department of energy has invested $125 million to set up the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Bora has just got a research award for the best PhD thesis for his research on artificial photosynthesis. He has published his research work in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. Explaining how the artificial photosynthesis process was developed, Bora said natural photosynthesis process yielded oxygen and hydrogen that was used for producing energy by taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “Similarly in artificial photosynthesis process, the nanocatalyst produces hydrogen and oxygen with the help of sunlight and in the presence of water. The chemistry involved in this process is called photoelectrochemical water splitting. This novel technology can overcome the problem of greenhouse gas emission which is responsible for global warming, melting of the arctic ice shelf, rising sea levels, ozone holes and climatic changes and resultant production of severe typhoons and hurricanes apart from increased level of pollution.” His research involved the building of an applicable green energy-evolving device in the small scale. “The cyanobacteria or algae has been continuing this hydrogen evolution process since the last three billion years. During my PhD thesis work at EMPA and the University of Basel, Switzerland, I tried to mimic the photosynthesis process in cyanobacteria. I made a catalyst combined with a protein found in cyanobacteria, which acts as an antenna in absorbing sunlight. This modified catalyst gives twice the efficiency,” he said. Bora, who hails from Jorhat, did his MSc in nanoscience and technology from Tezpur Central University and post-doctorate research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US. |
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'Tejpal is also good at hide and seek' -- Aditya Bothra
Tehelka case live: Where is Tejpal, asks Goa Police as they raid his sister's residence, will visit Ponty Chadha's farmhouse too | |
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 Tarun Tejpal remains untraceable The Police is now raiding various places in Delhi including his sister's residence. The Police will also raid late Ponty Chadha's farmhouse today. Armed with a non-bailable warrant, the team reached the residence of Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, in Jungpura area of South Delhi a little after 6am and spent over 90 minutes. One of the officials later said they did not find Tejpal in the house. Crime Branch personnel from Delhi police also accompanied the Goa Police team. Tejpal's wife Geetan Batra refused to divulge to the police any detail of his whereabouts, police said. Police left his house and may look at other possible locations where he could be found. The police action came after they rejected Tejpal's request for time till Saturday to to appear before them for the investigation into his involvement in the case of sexual assault that had allegedly taken place at a hotel in Goa earlier this month. After the rejection of his request, Tejpal's lawyer said he would appear before the police today in Panaji and extend "complete and full cooperation" in the investigation.  Tarun Tejpal Tejpal who is facing imminent arrest had on Thursday written to the Goa Police stating that he will appear before it Friday and extend "complete and full cooperation" in its probe into the case in which he has been accused of sexually assaulting his woman colleague. Advocate Sandeep Kapur said that a letter written by Tarun Tejpal has been sent through fax to the Goa police that he will appear before the investigating officer and join the probe Friday.  Tejpal's decision to join investigation came after Goa police declined his plea to extend the 3pm local time, deadline of Thursday till Saturday and did not rule out his arrest after he failed to appear before it. A copy of the letter, addressed to Sunita Sawant, police inspectorCID/CB PS Dona Paula, Goa, was made available to the media in which Tejpal described the sequence of receiving the summons issued to him by police and said he "requires a little time" to appear before it as he is not a resident of Goa. "I have just been informed that last night, November 27, around about 10.45 PM, you had left the summons with my wife Geetan Batra Tejpal, asking me to appear at CID Crime Branch office at Dona Paula, Panaji, Goa on November 28, 2013 at 15.00 hours for investigation of CID crime branch PS Dona Paula, Goa Cr. No 27/2013 u/s 354-A, 376, 376 (2)(k) of IPC." "Since I am not a resident of Goa, I require a little time to appear before you. I request you to kindly allow me to present myself for investigations on Saturday afternoon - that is, day after," he said in his letter. Tejpal, however, assured the investigating officer that he will give his full cooperation in the ongoing investigation. "I hope that is okay, I assure you of my complete and full cooperation. I am also sending a hard copy of the same by courier," he said. He also mentioned in his letter that the Goa Police has declined to grant him time till Saturday to appear before it. "We have just been given to understand that our plea for extension till Saturday has been disallowed, as per the news reported on the TV channels. Accordingly, please note that I shall be reporting for investigation to you tomorrow itself and as always assure you of my full cooperation," Tejpal said. Earlier in the day, Tejpal also preferred to withdraw the petition seeking anticipatory and transit bail from the Delhi High Court which was to pronounce its order Friday. Tejpal has been charged by the Goa Police with the offence of sexual assault of his junior woman colleague in a five star hotel lift earlier this month. |
From Editor-in-Chief to Fugitive...why on earth doesn't Tejpal surrender? In this time, more than any other, he should be man enough!
| http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tehelka-tarun-tejpal-untraceable-goa-police-search-on-mumbai-delhi-residence/1/327008.html |
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Psecularatti on the run, 'its all hyped up' says the Tehelka sting moghul
Tehelka live: Will arrest Tejpal when he lands in Goa, says police
by Nov 29, 2013
1:45 pm: Willingly going to Goa, says Tejpal; Goa Police says they're set to arrest him
Speaking to IBN7 as he prepares to board a flight from Delhi to Goa, Tejpal has said that he is not running away from the law.
"I am willingly going to Goa to join the investigations," Tejpal has reportedly said.
Tejpal reportedly has a team of the Delhi police and Goa police accompanying him on this occasion to protect him and presumably also to ensure they don't lose sight of him again.
However, a Goa police official has told CNN-IBN that they will arrest Tejpal the moment he lands in Goa. That of course, subject to the session court's verdict which is going to start hearing Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea shortly.
12:50 pm: Tejpal sighted finally at Delhi airport
After a week of avoiding the media for a week, Tarun Tejpal was finally sighted at the New Delhi airport leaving for Goa.
Dressed in a black suit and accompanied by family members, Tejpal spoke briefly with the media before entering the airport.
Tejpal told reporters that he had been summoned to Goa by authorities and therefore he was taking a flight to the state.
He was seen hugging some family members who were accompanying him to Goa and then quickly walked off.
Watch the video here:
12:45 pm: Victim issues statement, says what happened to her was rape
The victim has issued a statement in which she has said that what took place with her was rape and said that she was fighting for nothing but her integrity, reports stated.
The woman journalist has issued a statement in which she has reportedly said that her case was a test case for the application of the new rape law.
"Suggestions that I am acting on someone else's behest are only the latest depressing indications that sections of our public discourse are unwilling to acknowledge that women are capable to making decisions about themselves for themselves," she said.
"I don't know if I am ready to see myself as a "rape victim", for my colleagues, friends, supporters and critics to see me thus. It is not the victim that categorizes crimes: it is the law. And in this case, the law is clear: what Mr. Tejpal did to me falls within the legal definition of rape," she said in the statement.
"Unlike Mr. Tejpal, who is fighting to protect his wealth, his influence and his privilege, I am fighting to preserve nothing except for my integrity and my right to assert that my body is my own and not the plaything of my employer. By filing my complaint, I have lost not just a job that I loved, but much-needed financial security and the independence of my salary. I have also opened myself to personal and slanderous attack. This will not be an easy battle," she said.
Read the full text of the statement
12:00 pm: Tejpal to surrender by 5 pm?
Times Now quoted sources as saying that the beleaguered editor-in-chief of Tehelka is set to surrender before the Goa Police at 5 pm today.
However, if the court rejects his bail application the Goa Police are unlikely to wait until 5 pm to take him into custody.
11:30 am: Tejpal gets interim relief till 2:30 pm
While he is reportedly on the way to the Goa, a sessions court in the state capital has granted the magazine's editor-in-chief time until 2:30 pm when it will continue hearing his plea for anticipatory bail.
The court has granted him interim relief on the submission of a personal bond. The court has also asked the Goa police to file its submission in the matter at 2:30 pm.
"It is not that Mr Tejpal is not going to face trial. Mr Tejpal has sent a letter to Goa police promising co-operation," Tejpal's lawyer told reporters outside the court.
"No one is saying that he will not appear before police. He will be present before the police when they need him," she said.
She promised that Tejpal would co-operate with law enforcement agencies.
10:00 am: Tejpal files for anticipatory bail in Goa sessions court
In a move that had been expected, Tarun Tejpal has filed for anticipatory bail in a Goa sessions court where he is seeking protection from arrest.
Tejpal has been untraceable since the scandal broke and despite rumours that he would be landing in Goa yesterday, did not appear before police authorities before the stipulated deadline of 3 pm yesterday.
8:20 am: Tejpal's wife refused to divulge his whereabouts
The police team that went to Tejpal's residence has said that his family was unwilling to co-operate with them.
Tejpal's wife has reportedly refused to divulge his whereabouts, reports PTI.
8:00 am: Goa Police will continue to hunt for Tejpal, will he seek bail today?
Whether Tarun Tejpal will approach a court seeking relief from arrest remains to be seen but the Goa Police has no intention of letting up in their efforts to arrest him.
CNN-IBN reported that the Goa Police would continue to look for the editor-in chief of the magazine at all possible locations given they still have a valid non-bailable warrant against him.
7:00 am: Delhi and Goa police teams raid Tejpal's residence in Delhi
Equipped with a non-bailable warrant, a team of the Goa Police accompanied by the Delhi police has raided the Delhi residence of Tehelka's editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.
Not surprisingly, Tejpal was not present at home and was out. Other members of the family were being questioned by the teams to ascertain his whereabouts.
Speaking to IBN7 as he prepares to board a flight from Delhi to Goa, Tejpal has said that he is not running away from the law.
"I am willingly going to Goa to join the investigations," Tejpal has reportedly said.
Tejpal reportedly has a team of the Delhi police and Goa police accompanying him on this occasion to protect him and presumably also to ensure they don't lose sight of him again.
However, a Goa police official has told CNN-IBN that they will arrest Tejpal the moment he lands in Goa. That of course, subject to the session court's verdict which is going to start hearing Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea shortly.
12:50 pm: Tejpal sighted finally at Delhi airport
After a week of avoiding the media for a week, Tarun Tejpal was finally sighted at the New Delhi airport leaving for Goa.
Dressed in a black suit and accompanied by family members, Tejpal spoke briefly with the media before entering the airport.
Tejpal told reporters that he had been summoned to Goa by authorities and therefore he was taking a flight to the state.
He was seen hugging some family members who were accompanying him to Goa and then quickly walked off.
Watch the video here:
12:45 pm: Victim issues statement, says what happened to her was rape
The victim has issued a statement in which she has said that what took place with her was rape and said that she was fighting for nothing but her integrity, reports stated.
The woman journalist has issued a statement in which she has reportedly said that her case was a test case for the application of the new rape law.
"Suggestions that I am acting on someone else's behest are only the latest depressing indications that sections of our public discourse are unwilling to acknowledge that women are capable to making decisions about themselves for themselves," she said.
"I don't know if I am ready to see myself as a "rape victim", for my colleagues, friends, supporters and critics to see me thus. It is not the victim that categorizes crimes: it is the law. And in this case, the law is clear: what Mr. Tejpal did to me falls within the legal definition of rape," she said in the statement.
"Unlike Mr. Tejpal, who is fighting to protect his wealth, his influence and his privilege, I am fighting to preserve nothing except for my integrity and my right to assert that my body is my own and not the plaything of my employer. By filing my complaint, I have lost not just a job that I loved, but much-needed financial security and the independence of my salary. I have also opened myself to personal and slanderous attack. This will not be an easy battle," she said.
Read the full text of the statement
12:00 pm: Tejpal to surrender by 5 pm?
Times Now quoted sources as saying that the beleaguered editor-in-chief of Tehelka is set to surrender before the Goa Police at 5 pm today.
However, if the court rejects his bail application the Goa Police are unlikely to wait until 5 pm to take him into custody.
11:30 am: Tejpal gets interim relief till 2:30 pm
While he is reportedly on the way to the Goa, a sessions court in the state capital has granted the magazine's editor-in-chief time until 2:30 pm when it will continue hearing his plea for anticipatory bail.
The court has granted him interim relief on the submission of a personal bond. The court has also asked the Goa police to file its submission in the matter at 2:30 pm.
"It is not that Mr Tejpal is not going to face trial. Mr Tejpal has sent a letter to Goa police promising co-operation," Tejpal's lawyer told reporters outside the court.
"No one is saying that he will not appear before police. He will be present before the police when they need him," she said.
She promised that Tejpal would co-operate with law enforcement agencies.
10:00 am: Tejpal files for anticipatory bail in Goa sessions court
In a move that had been expected, Tarun Tejpal has filed for anticipatory bail in a Goa sessions court where he is seeking protection from arrest.
Tejpal has been untraceable since the scandal broke and despite rumours that he would be landing in Goa yesterday, did not appear before police authorities before the stipulated deadline of 3 pm yesterday.
8:20 am: Tejpal's wife refused to divulge his whereabouts
The police team that went to Tejpal's residence has said that his family was unwilling to co-operate with them.
Tejpal's wife has reportedly refused to divulge his whereabouts, reports PTI.
8:00 am: Goa Police will continue to hunt for Tejpal, will he seek bail today?
Whether Tarun Tejpal will approach a court seeking relief from arrest remains to be seen but the Goa Police has no intention of letting up in their efforts to arrest him.
CNN-IBN reported that the Goa Police would continue to look for the editor-in chief of the magazine at all possible locations given they still have a valid non-bailable warrant against him.
7:00 am: Delhi and Goa police teams raid Tejpal's residence in Delhi
Equipped with a non-bailable warrant, a team of the Goa Police accompanied by the Delhi police has raided the Delhi residence of Tehelka's editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.
Not surprisingly, Tejpal was not present at home and was out. Other members of the family were being questioned by the teams to ascertain his whereabouts.
CNN-IBN reports that the police teams could continue carrying out raids at other locations where they suspect Tejpal may be living.
Tehelka rape case live: Tarun Tejpal leaves for Goa, says things are entirely hyped up | |
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 Tarun Tejpal heads to Goa - Says Goa police did not communicate properly. They never informed him that his request for extn was denied. - He is going to cooperate. - Maintains his version is different. 1. 50 pm: Speaking exclusively to Headlines Today Jaskirat Bawa, Tehelka's Tarun Tejpal while on his way to Goa says: -This is entirely hyped up, things are not what they seem. -I am cooperating with the Goa police by going to Goa and joining investigation, but they never communicated with me properly - They never told me that my request for extension was denied. 1.34 pm: Tehelka case victim says she's 'deeply concerned & very disturbed by insinuations' that her complaint is part of a pre-poll conspiracy. 1.29 pm: What Mr Tejpal did to me falls under definition of rape, says victim as Tejpal heads to Goa.  Tarun Tejpal at Delhi's IGI airport. 1.28 pm: Concerned that my allegation has been put across as a political conspiracy: Victim. 1.07 pm:"I got summons yesterday, I am going to Goa today," says Tejpal at Delhi's IGI airport. 1.04 pm: Tarun Tejpal is seen with his family members at Delhi's IGI Airport. He will take a Indigo flight to Goa. 12.51 pm: Tejpal's two associates being followed by Police to locate him. Their initials are SS and DM. 12. 46 pm: Tejpal had been moving between Greater Noida, Noida, Ghazibad and Dwarka since last few days, Police sources. 12.34 pm: Tejpal books Delhi-Goa Indigo flight in the name of Tarujeet Tejpal and Minti Tejpal. Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has been given interim bail until 2.30 p.m. on Friday by the district and sessions court in Panaji.  This is the first time Tarun Tejpal was spotted after the news regarding the sexual assault case broke out. Speaking to the media, Tarun Tejpal's lawyer Geeta Luthra said that no one is saying that he will not appear before police. He will be present before the police when they need him. She added that Mr Tejpal has been given interim relief by the court on a personal bond. "He will co-operate, Mr Tejpal has shown his respect for the law." The same court had issued a non bailable warrant against Tejpal, who has been accused of sexual assault by a junior colleague on Thursday. Meanwhile, Ramesh Sharma has been appointed as the acting Executive Editor of Tehelka.
Earlier in the day, a Goa police team on Friday raided Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal's house in Jungpura in a bid to arrest him but returned empty-handed after finding that he was not there. The Police is also raiding various places in Delhi including his sister's residence. The Police will also raid late Ponty Chadha's farmhouse today. Armed with a non-bailable warrant, the team reached the residence of Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, in Jungpura area of South Delhi a little after 6am and spent over 90 minutes. One of the officials later said they did not find Tejpal in the house. Crime Branch personnel from Delhi police also accompanied the Goa Police team. Tejpal's wife Geetan Batra refused to divulge to the police any detail of his whereabouts, police said. Police left his house and may look at other possible locations where he could be found. The police action came after they rejected Tejpal's request for time till Saturday to to appear before them for the investigation into his involvement in the case of sexual assault that had allegedly taken place at a hotel in Goa earlier this month. After the rejection of his request, Tejpal's lawyer said he would appear before the police today in Panaji and extend "complete and full cooperation" in the investigation. Tejpal who is facing imminent arrest had on Thursday written to the Goa Police stating that he will appear before it Friday and extend "complete and full cooperation" in its probe into the case in which he has been accused of sexually assaulting his woman colleague. Advocate Sandeep Kapur said that a letter written by Tarun Tejpal has been sent through fax to the Goa police that he will appear before the investigating officer and join the probe Friday.  Tejpal's decision to join investigation came after Goa police declined his plea to extend the 3pm local time, deadline of Thursday till Saturday and did not rule out his arrest after he failed to appear before it. A copy of the letter, addressed to Sunita Sawant, police inspector CID/CB PS Dona Paula, Goa, was made available to the media in which Tejpal described the sequence of receiving the summons issued to him by police and said he "requires a little time" to appear before it as he is not a resident of Goa. "I have just been informed that last night, November 27, around about 10.45 PM, you had left the summons with my wife Geetan Batra Tejpal, asking me to appear at CID Crime Branch office at Dona Paula, Panaji, Goa on November 28, 2013 at 15.00 hours for investigation of CID crime branch PS Dona Paula, Goa Cr. No 27/2013 u/s 354-A, 376, 376 (2)(k) of IPC." "Since I am not a resident of Goa, I require a little time to appear before you. I request you to kindly allow me to present myself for investigations on Saturday afternoon - that is, day after," he said in his letter. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tehelka-tarun-tejpal-untraceable-goa-police-search-on-mumbai-delhi-residence/1/327008.html More to Tarun Tejpal story than rapeBy Amrit Hallan on29 Nov 2013  The proverbial skeletons are tumbling out of the Tehelka closet and it’s not just one closet, it seems there are scores of closets scattered all over the country. The rape proceedings are going on and both social media and mainstream media are giving ample attention to that. But ever since the other murky details of the entire Tehelka empire have started emerging in the public domain, certain people have started complaining that why the attention is being diverted to other issues that have no connection with Tejpal’s act. A web-based newspaper recently published the financial wheeling-dealings Tejpal and company have been carrying out in the name of keeping the secular ramparts of the country intact. Take for instance the shares that were being bought and sold to make good profits. A share whose actual value was a paltry Rs 10, was sold for Rs 13,189 per share, getting huge profits for those who sold them, including Tejpal’s close family members and even the erstwhile managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. Many spurious companies are suspected to be involved in taking care of the cash flow of the news organisation that wasn’t making much profits and was in fact, in the red. The companies that stopped existing within two years were pumping in cash at regular intervals. Tejpal and his family own multiple properties. There is a farmhouse in Delhi, a sprawling six-room villa in Goa, a guesthouse at the outskirts of Nainital, a kothi in Jungpura. And these are just the properties that have come to public attention. For all we know, he might have three or four times more than this. This is the condition when his organisation registered a Rs 66 crore loss. On top of that, he was also hobnobbing with the deceased liquor baron Ponty Chaddha, and again, this is also just one instance that somehow has been brought to light. Everybody knows that the news organisation used professional call girls for a few of their sting operations so it won’t be surprising if their connections are traced into these circles too. The cosy Tejpal club has started grumbling through various TV interviews and published articles: What is the use of digging up all this dirt when people should just focus on his individual act? What does it all have to do with his “despicable” conduct? This attitude reeks of monumental hypocrisy. And not just hypocrisy, it also reeks of fear of getting caught in the whirlwind of the shady world Tejpal had created around Tehelka in the name of protecting the secular fabric of the country and taking on the “communal” Hindutva forces. Didn’t it ever occur to these luminaries how their buddy was acquiring so much wealth despite making losses? Are all these ancestral properties? Didn’t they ever visit a few of these properties for their cocktail eveningparties and wonder how Tarun Tejpal is so rich? Doesn’t he promote a socialist cause? Don’t all these friends-turned-foes who self-righteously flaunt socialist garbs ever wonder how their friends and colleagues don’t ever live truly socialist lifestyles? It is this feeling that troubles them. As smart as they try to show themselves to be, it is a natural question that comes to everybody’s mind – how come they never knew? How come they never noticed or questioned his affluence? Exactly what explains the presence of so many properties and that too, not LIG DDA flats but sprawling villas, farmhouses and guesthouses at prime locations that must have cost him more than Rs 100 crore combined? The only answer is that they always knew. They always knew that something fishy was going on but they were only interested in keeping things as they were to maintain the comfort level they have attained. They don’t want their regular cocktail parties disturbed. They don’t want the gap between the haves and have-nots filled by such unsavoury exposures. They want to maintain the status quo of that privileged elite class for as long as possible. This is precisely the reason they are grumbling. If it were just the rape case – cannibalistic as they are – according to the expression Tejpal used for Robert De Niro, they don’t give a fu** about him. They’re just worried about the fact that if his other sins are brought to light one way or another, they too will get dragged in. |
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Jhooth bole, kauwa kaate. Liars silenced by crows. Psecularatti Tehelka story.
Tehelka case: Tarun Tejpal finds 'jhooth bole' does lead to 'kauwa kaate' | |
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Irony is having a field time. Jhoot bole kauwa kaate, that old Indian adage used to be the tagline of Tehelka. The ad showed a politician making big promises to gullible voters, only to be heckled into silence by a bunch of crows.  The ad begins with a politician making lofty promises to gullible villagers. Today, Tehelka founder's lofty lacerations have less credibility than the politicians making promises in the Tehelka TV ad. He is absconding following the arrest warrants issued against him in the sexual assault case levelled by a woman journalist from Mumbai.  As the politician continues to make promises, the villagers seem to be getting bored with his exhortations. Not just Tejpal, but the entire Tehelka management has discovered how important it was to live up to the tagline. They allowed the organisation's image to be sullied by an individual's action. In the process of protecting the founder editor-in-chief, his deputy Shoma Chaudhury did not only lie but cast aspersions on the colleague who complained of sexual assault by Tejpal. The defender-in-chief Managing Editor Chaudhury quit a day after the victim quit as the offender is now literally Editor at Large.  Pretty soon, the entire area is filled up with crows, making it difficult for the politician to say anything over their cawing. {mosimage} Click play to see Tejpal say, "Stop buying the lies, the hype, the spin. The truth is crucial. Engage with the truth. Subscribe to the truth." | |
| http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jhooth-bole-kauwa-kaate-tehelka-old-ad-haunting-tarun-tejpal/1/327040.html |
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Orthodox economists have failed. Scrap the derivatives from the market.
Ha-Joon Chang, one of the last surviving independent economists at Keynes's Cambridge: 'The supporters of neoclassical economics have an almost religious mentality.' Photograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian
From any rational point of view, orthodox economics is in serious trouble. Its champions not only failed to foresee the greatest crash for 80 years, but insisted such crises were a thing of the past. More than that, some of its leading lights played a key role in designing the disastrous financial derivatives that helped trigger the meltdown in the first place.
Plenty were paid propagandists for the banks and hedge funds that tipped us off their speculative cliff. Acclaimed figures in a discipline that claims to be scientific hailed a "great moderation" of market volatility in the runup to an explosion of unprecedented volatility. Others, such as the Nobel prizewinner Robert Lucas, insisted that economics had solved the "central problem of depression prevention".
Any other profession that had proved so spectacularly wrong and caused such devastation would surely be in disgrace. You might even imagine the free-market economists who dominate our universities and advise governments and banks would be rethinking their theories and considering alternatives.
After all, the large majority of economists who predicted the crisisrejected the dominant neoclassical thinking: from Dean Baker and Steve Keen to Ann Pettifor, Paul Krugman and David Harvey. Whether Keynesians, post-Keynesians or Marxists, none accepted the neoliberal ideology that had held sway for 30 years; and all understood that, contrary to orthodoxy, deregulated markets don't tend towards equilibrium but deepen the economy's tendency to systemic crisis.
Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve and high priest of deregulation, at least had the honesty to admit his view of the world had been proved "not right". The same cannot be said for others. Eugene Fama, architect of the "efficient markets hypothesis" underpinning financial deregulation, concedes he doesn't know what "causes recessions" – but insists his theory has been vindicated anyway. Most mainstream economists have carried on as if nothing had happened.
Many of their students, though, have had enough. A revolt against the orthodoxy has been smouldering for years and now seems to have gone critical. Fed up with parallel universe theories that have little to say about the world they're interested in, students at Manchester University have set up a post-crash economics society with 800 members, demanding an end to monolithic neoclassical courses and the introduction of a pluralist curriculum.
They want other schools of economic thought taught in parallel, from Keynesian to more radical theories – with a better record on predicting and connecting with the real world economy – along with green and feminist economics. The campaign is spreading fast: to Cambridge, Essex, the London School of Economics and a dozen other campuses, and linking up with university groups in France, Germany, Slovenia and Chile.
As one of the Manchester society's founders, Zach Ward-Perkins, explains, he and a fellow student agreed after a year of orthodoxy: "There must be more to it than this." Neoclassical economics is after all built on a conception of the economy as the sum of the atomised actions of millions of utility-maximising individuals, where markets are stable, information is perfect, capital and labour are equals – and the trade cycle is bolted on as an afterthought.
But even if it struggles to say anything meaningful about crises, inequality or ownership, the mathematical modelling erected on its half-baked intellectual foundations give it a veneer of scientific rigour, valued by students aiming for well-paid City jobs. Neoclassical economics has also provided the underpinning for the diet of deregulated markets, privatisation, low taxes on the wealthy and free trade we were told for 30 years was now the only route to prosperity.
Its supporters have an "almost religious mentality", as Ha-Joon Chang – one of the last surviving independent economists at Keynes's Cambridge – puts it. Although claiming to favour competition, the neoclassicals won't tolerate any themselves. Forty years ago, most economics departments were Keynesian and neoclassical economics was derided. That allchanged with the Thatcher and Reagan ascendancy.
In institutions supposed to foster debate, non-neoclassical economistshave been systematically purged from economics faculties. Some have found refuge in business schools, development studies and geography departments. In the US, corporate funding has been key. In Britain, peer review through the "research excellence framework"– which allocates public research funding – has been the main mechanism for the ideological cleansing of economics.
Paradoxically, the sharp increase in student fees and the marketisation of higher education is creating a pressure point for students out to overturn this intellectual monoculture. The free marketeers are now being market-tested, and the customers don't want their product. Some mainstream academics realise that they may have to compromise, and have been colonising a Soros-funded project to overhaul the curriculum, hoping to limit the scale of change.
But change it must. The free-market orthodoxy of the past three decades not only helped create the crisis we're living through, but gave credibility to policies that have led to slower growth, deeper inequality, greater insecurity and environmental degradation all over the world. Its continued dominance after the crash, like the neoliberal model it underpins, is about power not credibility. If we are to escape this crisis, both will have to go.
Twitter: @SeumasMilne
[quote]In one of the world's elite institutions, the elites were taking a pasting – from accountants, entrepreneurs and academics. They knew what they were on about, too. Given his turn on the mic, one biologist said: "I'll believe economists have reformed when the men behind Black and Scholes [the theory that helps traders value financial derivatives] have been stripped of their Nobel prizes." [unquote]
Options Pricing: Black-Scholes Model
The Black-Scholes model for calculating the premium of an option was introduced in 1973 in a paper entitled, "The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities" published in the Journal of Political Economy. The formula, developed by three economists – Fischer Black, Myron Scholes and Robert Merton – is perhaps the world's most well-known options pricing model. Black passed away two years before Scholes and Merton were awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in Economics for their work in finding a new method to determine the value of derivatives (the Nobel Prize is not given posthumously; however, the Nobel committee acknowledged Black's role in the Black-Scholes model).
The Black-Scholes model is used to calculate the theoretical price of European put and call options, ignoring any dividends paid during the option's lifetime. While the original Black-Scholes model did not take into consideration the effects of dividends paid during the life of the option, the model can be adapted to account for dividends by determining the ex-dividend date value of the underlying stock.
The model makes certain assumptions, including:
The model is essentially divided into two parts: the first part, SN(d1), multiplies the price by the change in the call premium in relation to a change in the underlying price. This part of the formula shows the expected benefit of purchasing the underlying outright. The second part, N(d2)Ke^(-rt), provides the current value of paying the exercise price upon expiration (remember, the Black-Scholes model applies to European options that are exercisable only on expiration day). The value of the option is calculated by taking the difference between the two parts, as shown in the equation.
The mathematics involved in the formula is complicated and can be intimidating. Fortunately, however, traders and investors do not need to know or even understand the math to apply Black-Scholes modeling in their own strategies. As mentioned previously, options traders have access to a variety of online options calculators and many of today's trading platforms boast robust options analysis tools, including indicators and spreadsheets that perform the calculations and output the options pricing values. An example of an online Black-Scholes calculator is shown in Figure 5; the user must input all five variables (strike price, stock price, time (days), volatility and risk free interest rate).
The Black-Scholes model is used to calculate the theoretical price of European put and call options, ignoring any dividends paid during the option's lifetime. While the original Black-Scholes model did not take into consideration the effects of dividends paid during the life of the option, the model can be adapted to account for dividends by determining the ex-dividend date value of the underlying stock.
The model makes certain assumptions, including:
- The options are European and can only be exercised at expiration
- No dividends are paid out during the life of the option
- Efficient markets (i.e., market movements cannot be predicted)
- No commissions
- The risk-free rate and volatility of the underlying are known and constant
- Follows a lognormal distribution; that is, returns on the underlying are normally distributed.
- Current underlying price
- Options strike price
- Time until expiration, expressed as a percent of a year
- Implied volatility
- Risk-free interest rates
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| Figure 4: The Black-Scholes pricing formula for call options. |
The model is essentially divided into two parts: the first part, SN(d1), multiplies the price by the change in the call premium in relation to a change in the underlying price. This part of the formula shows the expected benefit of purchasing the underlying outright. The second part, N(d2)Ke^(-rt), provides the current value of paying the exercise price upon expiration (remember, the Black-Scholes model applies to European options that are exercisable only on expiration day). The value of the option is calculated by taking the difference between the two parts, as shown in the equation.
The mathematics involved in the formula is complicated and can be intimidating. Fortunately, however, traders and investors do not need to know or even understand the math to apply Black-Scholes modeling in their own strategies. As mentioned previously, options traders have access to a variety of online options calculators and many of today's trading platforms boast robust options analysis tools, including indicators and spreadsheets that perform the calculations and output the options pricing values. An example of an online Black-Scholes calculator is shown in Figure 5; the user must input all five variables (strike price, stock price, time (days), volatility and risk free interest rate).
 |
| Figure 5: An online Black-Scholes calculator can be used to get values for both calls and puts. Users must enter the required fields and the calculator does the rest. Calculator courtesy www.tradingtoday.com http://www.investopedia.com/university/options-pricing/black-scholes-model.asp |
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Psecularatti says he joins investigations. Who does he think he is? Hercule Poirot? -- asks Jyotirmoyee
Hercule Tejpal joins investigations | |||
| SAMYABRATA RAY GOSWAMI November 30, 2013 | |||
Dona Paula (Goa), Nov. 29: Jyotirmayee Das today came face to face with a “Hercule Poirot” who looked taller, hairier and greyer but was as well turned out as the detective she had read about. “I am here to join investigations,” the visitor, nattily dressed in black, flanked by lawyers and escorted by his brother as well as a dozen policemen, declared as he strode into the ramshackle crime branch headquarters in this seaside suburb. Jyotirmayee, a 19-year-old girl from Assam who was waiting for close to an hour to catch a glimpse of the man, exclaimed: “Join investigations! Who does he think he is, Hercule Poirot?” For the record, it was Tarun Tejpal, the “recused” Tehelka editor who has been accused of sexually assaulting his colleague. The hearing on his bail plea has been adjourned till Saturday morning, which means he cannot be arrested till then and the police will have to await the court’s decision. Goa police sources said the court would be requested tomorrow to remand Tejpal for 10 days. Jyotirmayee, the daughter of a police officer, said: “He should know it is he who is being investigated this time, not the other way round.” Jyotirmoyee’s friend Rupali Sahu, 21, joined in. “We are so proud of this girl who has complained against him. If something like this happened to us, we would do the same. She has given us courage and shown how this law empowers us.”
The two hotel management students are staying at the Youth Hostel that shares its boundary wall with the crime branch office at Dona Paula. It was around 7.20pm — two hours after Tejpal landed at Goa’s Dabolim airport, an hour’s drive from Dona Paula. A Goa police team had taken the same flight with him from Delhi, hoping to arrest him as soon as a sessions court hearing Tejpal’s anticipatory bail plea in Panaji pronounced the verdict. But on touchdown, the police found that the court had adjourned the hearing till Saturday morning. The bail plea, earlier slated to be heard at 11.30 in the morning, had to be deferred as the Goa police counsel could not turn up in court on time. “We could have arrested Tejpal right on arrival in Goa, but in deference to the court which was hearing his anticipatory bail plea, we decided not to. He lent himself for questioning and we decided to wait for the court’s verdict till tomorrow,” Goa DIG O.P. Mishra told The Telegraph. Tejpal’s family — his wife Geetan, two daughters, his sister Neena and his brother Minty — were the first to leave the airport in their private vehicles. Minty and Tejpal’s daughters headed to the crime branch office. Tejpal, accompanied by his lawyers, left later through the airport’s VIP exit in a multi-purpose vehicle, escorted by the police. Two of Mumbai’s best-known young lawyers — Majid Memon’s son Zulfikar Memon and nephew Pervez Memon — had joined Tejpal’s legal team after a request from a filmmaker to Majid Memon. “Memon sahib is an NCP leader. So he asked Zulfikar to take up the case but he will be behind them. He is holidaying in Kerala,” said a source. When Tejpal’s car reached the crowded premises of the crime branch office, Minty escorted him in with police help. The questioning began around 7.50pm. “He answered almost every question by saying ‘I will speak to the court about this’ or ‘my lawyers will give the reply to this’,” said a police source. Two hours later, Tejpal stepped out. An hour earlier, his daughters, accompanied by lawyer Geeta Luthra, had left the crime branch office for the Tejpal family home in Moira village in north Goa, around 28km from Dona Paula. Luthra, who was at the sessions court for the larger part of the day presenting Tejpal’s case for anticipatory bail, had named the complainant twice. She was pulled up by the judge and also scolded in another context for trying to “malign” the complainant. Later, Luthra told this reporter that she had inadvertently named the young journalist. “Tejpal has been very reasonable. He will cooperate with the investigations. He is in Goa. I assure you he is not going to go anywhere,” she said. After his first session with Goa police, Tejpal was closeted with his lawyers at a five-star hotel till late tonight. “Accompanied by brother Minty, some relatives and his legal team, he headed to the hotel,” said a source who added that Tejpal was scheduled to spend the night at Moira village. |
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Psecularatti Poirot may have to count the prison bars. Read Utkarsh Anand's lucid note on criminal law on sexual assault
Tehelka test for new legal regime
Utkarsh Anand Posted online: Sat Nov 30 2013, 03:59 hrs
The Tehelka sexual assault case is a test case for the new legal regime put in place after the December 16 fatal gangrape in Delhi. The alacrity shown by the Goa Police in lodging a preliminary inquiry and consequently registering an FIR is also perfectly in sync with a Constitution Bench judgment in the Lalita Kumari case.
The Bench had ruled that police were duty bound to register an FIR whenever “information” relating to cognisable offences is disclosed. The word “information” clarifies that an FIR can be lodged merely on receipt of information and the complainant does not need to come forward.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which brought in changes in the Indian Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, also made a police officer’s refusal to register an FIR in a sexual assault case an offence punishable with jail up to two years. Further, the new law expanded the ambit of sexual harassment to include sexual overtures, demand of sexual favours and forcible disrobing as penal offences that can fetch a maximum seven-year jail term. The definition of rape was broadened to include insertion of any object into a woman’s private parts (digital rape).
It makes it clear that consent given under intoxication will not mean an informed consent, and hence rape charges will stick. The law also clarifies that punishment shall be graver for a man who commits rape on a woman by virtue of being in a position of trust or authority, or control and dominance. Minimum punishment in such cases is now 10 years’ jail, as opposed to seven years in other cases, and maximum is life term.
Similarly, the Act also mandates a person to whom the sexual assault complaint has been disclosed to “immediately” inform police. An aberration can fetch one-year jail term.
The Tehelka case, involving Tarun Tejpal as the accused and Shoma Chaudhury for not informing police after the victim complained, covers all these grounds. There is a lot vested in how the case unfolds, how the new legal provisions are argued in court, and whether the provision calling for conclusion of the trial within two months of the chargesheet — which itself is to be filed within 60 days of the FIR — is met.
The Supreme Court only recently observed that lower courts need to urgently understand the objective and scope of the new law so as to deliver justice as per the legislative intent.
Utkarsh is a special correspondent based in Delhi
utkarsh.anand@expressindia.com
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PM writes to SoniaG about Tejpal - Dr. Swamy releases the letter
Five ministers trying to protect Tarun Tejpal, BJP says
TNN | Nov 28, 2013, 02.32 AM IST
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday released a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi assuring that Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's representation on cases against the magazine will be examined by relevant ministries.
Swamy's disclosure is bound to add fuel to a bitter war of words between BJP and Congress over "politicization" of the sexual assault charges leveled against Tejpal by a junior colleague with the editor claiming that he was being targeted by the BJP government in Goa where the alleged incident took place.
Swamy released a 2004 letter to the media where the Prime Minister's Office has taken note of Sonia's intercession on behalf of Tejpal who had then claimed that the cases were foisted against the magazine by the NDA government for sting operations against then BJP president Bangaru Laxman and then defence minister George Fernandes.
The letter dated June 25, 2004 and addressed to Sonia reads, "I have received your letter of June 18, 2004 enclosing a representation from Tarun Tejpal, editor in chief of Tehelka regarding investigation pending against them. I am asking the concerned ministries to examine the cases and review their status and proposed course of action."
Responding to release of the letter, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "It is fact that Tehelka had exposed corruption of BJP president and government and many journalists were implicated in fake cases. If someone wants to link a crime of 2013 with a corruption related case of 2003, it reflects his mindset."
Swamy alleged that the letter shows the Congress government's soft corner towards the magazine's editor who had targeted the BJP and was facing serious allegations.
The investigation launched under the NDA government took a dramatically different course after UPA-1 assumed office. After the Bangaru sting, Tehelka and its investor First Global were investigated by police and tax authorities over allegations of stock market manipulation and conspiracy.
The unexpected Congress victory in 2004 brought about a change in fortunes and the letter released by Swamy was touted by BJP to establish Tehelka's proximity to the ruling coalition.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi further alleged that as many as five Union ministers were trying to "protect" Tejpal. She and Swamy also attacked Tehelka managing editor Shoma Choudhury, alleging that she was in touch with UPA ministers.
But Lekhi refused to name the ministers.
Defending that Goa police was not working under the influence of the BJP-led government, Swamy said when Tejpal had such plans he should have considered the option of holding the "Think" programme in a Congress led state.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Five-ministers-trying-to-protect-Tarun-Tejpal-BJP-says/articleshow/26489033.cms
TNN | Nov 28, 2013, 02.32 AM IST
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday released a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi assuring that Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's representation on cases against the magazine will be examined by relevant ministries.
Swamy's disclosure is bound to add fuel to a bitter war of words between BJP and Congress over "politicization" of the sexual assault charges leveled against Tejpal by a junior colleague with the editor claiming that he was being targeted by the BJP government in Goa where the alleged incident took place.
Swamy released a 2004 letter to the media where the Prime Minister's Office has taken note of Sonia's intercession on behalf of Tejpal who had then claimed that the cases were foisted against the magazine by the NDA government for sting operations against then BJP president Bangaru Laxman and then defence minister George Fernandes.
The letter dated June 25, 2004 and addressed to Sonia reads, "I have received your letter of June 18, 2004 enclosing a representation from Tarun Tejpal, editor in chief of Tehelka regarding investigation pending against them. I am asking the concerned ministries to examine the cases and review their status and proposed course of action."
Responding to release of the letter, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "It is fact that Tehelka had exposed corruption of BJP president and government and many journalists were implicated in fake cases. If someone wants to link a crime of 2013 with a corruption related case of 2003, it reflects his mindset."
Swamy alleged that the letter shows the Congress government's soft corner towards the magazine's editor who had targeted the BJP and was facing serious allegations.
The investigation launched under the NDA government took a dramatically different course after UPA-1 assumed office. After the Bangaru sting, Tehelka and its investor First Global were investigated by police and tax authorities over allegations of stock market manipulation and conspiracy.
The unexpected Congress victory in 2004 brought about a change in fortunes and the letter released by Swamy was touted by BJP to establish Tehelka's proximity to the ruling coalition.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi further alleged that as many as five Union ministers were trying to "protect" Tejpal. She and Swamy also attacked Tehelka managing editor Shoma Choudhury, alleging that she was in touch with UPA ministers.
But Lekhi refused to name the ministers.
Defending that Goa police was not working under the influence of the BJP-led government, Swamy said when Tejpal had such plans he should have considered the option of holding the "Think" programme in a Congress led state.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Five-ministers-trying-to-protect-Tarun-Tejpal-BJP-says/articleshow/26489033.cms
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Shri Kalyanasundaram, a true Bharat Ratna
It is a disgrace that Bharat Ratna awards are being politicised. A good example is the change of award rules to give the award to Sachin Tendulkar. Controversies surrrounding Bharat Ratna awards to Nehru and IndiraG are well-known.
Bharat Ratna awardee should be one who is an exemplar of Dharma, the inexorable, inviolate ethic.
Here is a report on a true Bharat Ratna; there are thousand more dharmatma-s like Shri Kalyanasundaram:
Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about TEN(10) Lakh rupees to the needy.
He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, (UNO)United Nations Organization adjudged him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century.. An American organization honored him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 cores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.
Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society.
UNO has honored him but most Indians don’t even know that such a personality exist amongst us.
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Kalyanasundaram is a social worker from Tamil Nadu in India, working for orphans. He has donated his pension for this cause.Kalyanasundaram has worked in the field of social services for more than 45 years.
Man of the Millennium
Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy.
He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about ten lakh rupees to the needy. He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause.
In recognition to his service, an American organization honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.
Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society.
[edit]Education
He is a gold medalist in library science,and has completed his MA in literature and history.
[edit]Awards and honors
- Best librarian in India award by Union Government
- Top 10 librarians in the world
Kalyanaraman
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Allegations against Kanchi Acharya was a Christian conspiracy -- Ashok Singhal. Jayalalithaa should apologise to the Acharya - Dr. Swamy
Press : Ma. Sri Ashokji Singhal (VHP Patron) on acquittal of Ven. Kanchi Sankaracharya, who was, he says, framed under a Christian conspiracy.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/
Press statement issued by VHP Patron Ma. Ashokji Singhal
THE ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST VEN. SANKARACHARYA SWAMI JAYENDRA SARASWATI JI MAHARAJ WAS A CHRISTIAN CONSPIRACY
- Ashok Singhal, Patron, Vishva Hindu Parishad
Kolkata, Nov. 30, 2013 – The Court of Law on the 27th of November last acquitted the Ven. Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi Swami Jayendra Saraswatiji Maharaj of murder charges. Now it has become crystal clear that under a Satanic agenda and conspiracy he was arrested in the dark of the Diwali night in 2004 at Mehboob Nagar by the then Christian Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Rajasekhara Reddy. The arrest was made to defame the foremost Mahatma of the Hindu society.
Ever since Soniaji landed in Bharat, she has been crushing our Dharmic and cultural moorings. Our society has been celebrating the Acharyas of the 2500-year old famous and foremost Shankar School of Thought virtually likening them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was not only insulted but the reverence and respect with which the society holds him was also slighted and laughed at by the media. It was a deliberate, well-planned and open Christian conspiracy to undermine and dent the reverence the Saints, Acharyas, Mahants and Mahatmas do command in society.
The Court of Law clearly pointed out that the investigating police official Mr. Prem Kumar not only exceeded his brief and powers but also took personal interest in tutoring and fabricating the witnesses. From this it is clear that ‘Opus Dei’ – the notorious treacherous secret organization of the Vatican – which has been working towards discrediting our leading Hindu Sants – has been hand in glove in this wicked and despicable plot.
Smt. Soniaji being a Vatican planting in a position of power in Bharat, she has been covertly implementing the Vatican agenda in our country through this secret organization and the job to discredit the veneration the Sant Fraternity of Bharat commands in society is a main item of the Vatican agenda. The case concerning such a great and foremost Sant could have been fast-tracked to decide within six months, but it was deliberately snail-dragged for nine years. As per its plot and line of action in this matter the Opus Dei has realized its purpose.
Sonia is a clever politician. She knows that to rule over Bharat (India) they have to do away with the influence of the Sants and the pro-Hindutva organizations which was why it was a Christian conspiracy to have them declared malefactors/lawbreakers and behind bars so that the society would look down upon them and the rest of the Sant Fraternity and the plotters could have a field day for their nefarious activities against our national interest. Ven. Swamiji’s sparkling acquittal has now thoroughly exposed this conspiracy. Pragya Bharati, Aseemanandji, and now also I can say that Asaram Bapu, who has millions of followers in Bharat, are being entrapped in conspiracies to project them as malefactors and villains.
The Hindu society would never forgive these sickening efforts of Soniaji. She has to account for it some day. The time has come the entire national society of Bharat must get vigilant and highly exercised about the Vote Bank secularist Soniaji and the parallel atheist organizations, including many Burqa secularist leaders and busy bodies like Mulayam Singh who are engaged in undermining the holistic, altruistic and syncretic Hindu culture and worldview, and absolutely wash them down in the forthcoming Mahabharat of National/Parliamentary elections. Only then the Hindu society and our Sants can remain safe and secure.
Published: November 30, 2013 12:37 IST | Updated: November 30, 2013 14:17 IST
Jayalalithaa should apologise to Kanchi seers: Swamy
The HinduA file photo of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. Photo: Sandeep Saxena
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister should come to Kanchi Sankara Mutt and apologise to the Kanchi Seers.
Talking to reporters after meeting Sri Sankaravijayendra Saraswathi at Kanchi Sankara Mutt in Kancheepuram on Saturday, Dr. Swamy said there was nothing to get astonished over the outcome of Sankararaman murder case. “Because the apex court while granting bail to Kanchi Acharya 8 years ago had indicated that the case was foisted with baseless charges. However, it allowed the prosecution to pursue the case to identify the culprits and as well as the conspiracy behind the murder which had affected the image of Hinduism,” he added.
“They will loose” was his reply when asked what would happen if the prosecution-side decide to go for an appeal against the Session Court’s judgment. At the same time, if the prosecution was keen enough to bring the culprits to book it could pursue it on different line or hand over the case to central investigation agency, he said. Before that the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa should come in person to the Mutt and tender her apology to both the pontiffs, he added.
Later, he received the senior Acharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi at the Mutt entrance as the latter returned to the Mutt on Saturday at around 8-30 a.m.
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, who left for Puducherry on November 27 morning from Kancheepuram, in order to be present at the Principal District Sessions Court, where the order in Sankararaman murder case was pronounced by the Judge, went to Tiruchendur from Puducherry and then to Tirupathi from Tiruchendur, before arriving in Kancheepuram on Saturday.
Electoral alliance
Responding to a question on electoral alliance for forthcoming Lok Sabha election, Dr. Swamy said it would be decided by a high-level committee of the party. But, it was certain that the party might not ally with those championing anti-Hindu politics and vigorously pursuing ill-conceived idea to damage the historic Ramar Sethu structure.
Chidambaram temple case
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jayalalithaa-should-apologize-to-kanchi-seers-swamy/article5407975.ece?css=print
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National Water Grid. India's National Waterway Grid. SoniaG UPA, implement SC directive on interlinking of rivers.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=164434337 National WaterWays Grid Full text pdf
Policy deadweight clogs India’s waterways
Thanks to a decision by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Jindals have made a footprint on water. Though the narrative still involves coal, no smudge of favourtism attaches to it. Jindal ITF, a part of the Jindal SAW Ltd, has recently secured a tender for transporting imported coal from Kanika Sands, an island off Odisha’s coast, to National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) super thermal plant in Farakka via Kolkata Port in their watercrafts. Three million tonnes of coal will be plied every year between sandhead and Kolkata Port by ship and thereafter to Farakka by barges using National Waterways-1 (NW-1).
There is no precedence of committing such huge bulk for transportation by waterways in independent India. Little wonder that Shipping Minister GK Vasan was present Kolkata’s Garden Reach Jetty to flag off the first two barges carrying 2100 DWT (deadweight tonnage) of coal for Farakka. He was accompanied by V Trivedi, secretary, Shipping. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (estd 1986), tasked with developing and regulating the waterways for navigating and shipping, is a part of the Ministry of Shipping.
Inland waterways: To give readers a perspective, India is endowed with waterways with an aggregate length of 14,500 km comprising rivers, lakes, canals and backwaters. They offer a safe, eco-friendly and economic mode of transporting heavy cargo where speed is not a critical factor. Even a relatively small shift in cargo volume from other modes to inland waterways will reduce dependency of imported petroleum products. Rivers were preferred mode of travel and transporting cargo in pre-modern India. But automobiles and railways have weaned away most inland water traffic since the 19th century. In the 1950s, the Government applied itself to reviving water traffic. A conference of North Eastern States was convened in April, 1951 which resulted in the formation of a Brahmaputra Water Transport Board in 1952.
Interlinking of rivers: In 1956, the erstwhile Central Water and Power Commission had drawn up an ambitious plan to a) link Ganga and the Narmada to provide continuous waterway from West Coast b) connect Narmada and Godavari c) linking Tapti with Godavari via Wardha d) linking Ganga with Mahanadi via Son river and e) providing continuous inland coastal waterway connecting Calcutta with Cochin via Kanya Kumari. An Inland Water Transport Committee was set up under the chairpersonship of BK Gokhale in February, 1957. It submitted its recommendation to the erstwhile Ministry of Transport and Communications in 1959.
CAG reviews poor progress: But thanks to unimaginative policies, the results have fallen short of expectations in the last 60 years. The CAG audit (Report No.9 of 2010-11) observes that Inland Water Transport (IWT) could not develop its full potential due to several constraints like insufficient water depth of major rivers, non-availability of navigational aids, inadequate terminal facilities etc. Developing IWT could catalyse industrial growth, promote economic activities in the hinterland and decongest the road and rail traffic.
National waterways: There are five waterways which have been declared National Waterways (NWs). The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (Allahabad-Haldia-1620 km) was declared NW- 1 in 1986. River Brahmaputra (Dhubri-Sadiya-891 km) in Assam was declared NW-2 in 1988. West Coal Canal (Kottapuram-Kollam) along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals (250 km) in Kerala was declared as NW-3 in 1993. Kakinada-Pudhucherry canals with Godavari and Krishna rivers (1078 km) across Andha Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry was declared as NW-4 in 2008. East Coast Canal integrated with Brahmani river and Mahanadi delta rivers (588 km) in West Bengal and Odisha was declared NW-5 in 2008. The aggregate cargo movement volume (in million tonnes) on these National Waterways was 3.42 in 2010-11, 5.53 in 2011-12, and 4.51 (Provisional) in 2012-13.
Meagre share in cargo transport: This is not more than 0.15 per cent of total cargo transportation in India. The share of cargo movement by inland waterways is substantially high in several countries. As per FICCI’s finding, it is 32 per cent in Bangladesh, 20 in Germany, 14 in the USA and nine in China. Even in Kerala, despite its tradition of inland water transport, cargo traffic has shifted substantially to other modes in the last decade.
UPA withdraws NDA era support: During the NDA rule, a Centrally-sponsored scheme in IWT sector, in existence since the First Five Year Plan, was liberalised. Since November 2002, cent per cent grant-in-aid was extended to North Eastern States and 90 per cent grant-in-aid to other States. Under the UPA Government, in February 2007, Planning Commission discontinued the scheme but retaining the grant for North Eastern States only. Field visits by the CAG team to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha revealed that many projects had not achieved their intended objectives and there were several cases of futile expenditures.
PMO and the PSUs: In January, 2012, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stepped in to speed up the development of the IWT sector. The two-pronged approach visualised was a) encouraging Public-private Partnership and b) asking Public Sector Units (PSU) to commit a part of their cargo to IWT. The NTPC agreed to provide long-term cargo commitments of three million tonnes of coal for Barh power project (Bihar) once all its five units were functional in 2016-17. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) also committed three-year commitment of food grains to Assam from Kolkata and within Assam. The ONGC and Oil India have committed cargo.
Need to be ‘Water minded”: That is why there is cheer about Jindal’s starting their operations on NW1. But utilising the complete potential of inland waterways is still a pipedream. Until now, all policy planning has been disjointed. As the Inland Water Transport Committee (1957) has rightly emphasised on the need to be ‘water minded’. “A concerted drive is necessary to make people water minded. Government should encourage water sports, regattas, yacht clubs and organise boat races amongst a number of villages on similar lines to the traditional boat race in Kerala. A great deal of propaganda and publicity is necessary”.
(Photo credit: pib.nic.in)
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EVM with printout performance in Mizoram not satisfactory? EC, revert to paper ballot to ensure constitutional mandate of transparency.
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Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail performance not satisfactory in Mizoram polls
Saturday, Nov 30, 2013, 17:35 IST | Agency: PTI
The performance of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system used in the recently held Mizoram assembly election was not satisfactory, as 10 per cent of the machines malfunctioned, state Chief Electoral Officer Ashwani Kumar said here today.
The VVPAT is a machine attached to EVMs which allows voters to check if their votes are cast the way they wished. For the first time in the country in Assembly polls, VVPAT was used in Mizoram on November 25 when 21 VVPATs out of 217 used in the polling were found defective. "Twenty one defective VVPATs among 217 is very high in percentage. The matter was reported to the Election Commission," Kumar told a press conference.
The EC has invited officials of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), which manufactured the machines, for a discussion on the matter on December three at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, he said.
The defective VVPATs were taken to the ECIL headquarters by a technician sent by the Corporation.
EVMs with VVPAT system were used in 10 assembly constituencies within Aizawl city limits where 217 VVPATs were used in the polls. Altogether 300 sets had been sent to the state.
Officials from the ECIL and trained personnel were present in the polling stations where VVPATs were used.
VVPAT was first experimented in an assembly bypoll in Nagaland in September.
The VVPAT is a machine attached to EVMs which allows voters to check if their votes are cast the way they wished. For the first time in the country in Assembly polls, VVPAT was used in Mizoram on November 25 when 21 VVPATs out of 217 used in the polling were found defective. "Twenty one defective VVPATs among 217 is very high in percentage. The matter was reported to the Election Commission," Kumar told a press conference.
The EC has invited officials of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), which manufactured the machines, for a discussion on the matter on December three at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, he said.
The defective VVPATs were taken to the ECIL headquarters by a technician sent by the Corporation.
EVMs with VVPAT system were used in 10 assembly constituencies within Aizawl city limits where 217 VVPATs were used in the polls. Altogether 300 sets had been sent to the state.
Officials from the ECIL and trained personnel were present in the polling stations where VVPATs were used.
VVPAT was first experimented in an assembly bypoll in Nagaland in September.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-performance-not-satisfactory-in-mizoram-polls-1927313
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Goa court rejects anticipatory bail plea. 'Media is just screaming & shouting all the time'-- Tarun Tejpal. Crow calling the kettle black?
Tehelka case LIVE: Goa court rejects anticipatory bail plea of Tarun Tejpal
Smita Nair Posted online: Sat Nov 30 2013, 10:16 hrs
Panaji : A Goa court on Friday gave relief to the founder-editor of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, barring the police from arresting him until today's hearing. The hearing has begun in the Goa court. Here are the highlights of the proceedings:
8:07 pm Principal and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused of rape by a female colleague.
6:29 pm The decision gets delayed as Principal and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai gets her judgement typed inside her chamber.
4:36 pm Prosecution lawyer Saresh Lotlikar and Defence lawyer Geeta Luthra have walked inside the court of Principal and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai. Tarun Tejpal's family is also present at the court.
Meanwhile, Tarun Tejpal is at Donapaula Crime Branch office.
12:26 pm Court adjourns decision on Tarun Tejpal's bail plea till 4.30 pm.
12:13 pm The prosecution blames Tarun Tejpal for adding "salt to injury" by questioning the integrity of the victim, adding that immense courage is required by one to come in public and say that she has been "violated by a person who is like a father figure".
12:05 pm The prosecution targets the defence saying, "You say the law is draconian. Bear in mind that for the law to come in force, to pave its way, somebody had to pay with her life."
"Your contention that your immaculate reputation and such will be damaged, may we tell you that it's already gone for a toss, and mere detention under police custody won't do any further damage."
11:55 am The prosecution says that the versions of Tarun Tejpal needs to be crosschecked, which is possible only under custodial interrogation. Hitting out at the accused for calling the police biased, the prosecution claims that Tejpal has "misguided by changing his versions again and again".
11:48 am The prosecution argues that the victim was in a position of trust and is in this background that the case should be approached. Further pressing for Tejpal's arrest, the prosecution said, "Custodial interrogation different from any other kind of interrogation."
11:46 am According to the prosecution, the victim's statement is that she was sexually assaulted by Tejpal and the CCTV footage confirms the position to a certain extent.
11:37 am The prosecution has submitted the assessment of the CCTV footage from the Goa hotel, where the alleged incident took place, to the court.
11:36 am Arguing on behalf of the victim, the prosecution said, “The lady is known to accused and her father was a friend of the accused. Being the sole breadwinner, she had to make the decision of her life before writing the email.”
The prosecution further claimed that contrary to Tejpal, “who is changing colours like a chameleon”, the victim's statement from the first email to the probe has been consistent. It was further pointed that when the incident came to notice, Tejpal had tendered an apology, which is on record.
11:27 am Prosecution takes charge in the hearing as Tarun Tejpal's lawyer has concluded her arguments.
11:20 am Citing an earlier judgement, Tarun Tejpal's lawyer asserts that false allegation of rape is equally stressful. She further said, "While we regard the damage to the woman, we also need to appreciate the damage to applicant."
10:53 am "Seize my passport if you want...and we have also executed the bond," says Tejpal's lawyer on his behalf. She further assured the court that Tejpal would not go anywhere near the residence of the victim, thus avoiding doubts of tampering of statements.
10:46 am On behalf of Tarun Tejpal, his lawyer has told the judge, "I have offered I will stay in Goa till they decide to file a chargesheet. I can be in Bangalore. I can be wherever this court directs."
10:38 am Tejpal lawyer has asserted that her client has "not abused interim protection", adding that they are "just asking for an extension".
10:34 am Defending Tejpal's bail plea, his lawyer Geeta Luthra tells the court that humiliation and disgrace is attached to the arrest, and has consequences not only for him, also to his family and community he represents.
10:29 am Tehelka Founder-Editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused of raping a female colleague, walks inside the court room as the bail plea hearing continues.
10:15 am Tejpal's lawyer Geeta Luthra began her argument as the Judge gave her one hour time for the same.
10:11 am Hearing on the bail plea of Tarun Tajpal, who is accused of raping a female colleague, has begun in the court of Principal and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai. Tejpal's wife and sister are inside the courtroom.
Goa court denies Tejpal bail, can be arrested any moment now
Bhavya Dore and Agencies, Hindustan Times Panaji, November 30, 2013First Published: 09:07 IST(30/11/2013) | Last Updated: 20:18 IST(30/11/2013)
Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal on Saturday faced arrest in connection with a sexual assault case after a sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail petition.
Tejpal on Friday was granted interim relief by the court.
Goa Police had strongly opposed Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea in the sessions court and sought custodial interrogation of Tejpal saying "prima facie" a case of rape is established as the judge adjourned hearing till 4.30pm.
District and sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai, who heard the arguments, took over two hours to decide.
She had on Friday given Tejpal interim protection till Saturday morning against his arrest in the case.
After the defence lawyer concluded her arguments, public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar told the court that the Tehelka founder, who has been charged with sexually assaulting a former colleague in a five-star hotel in Goa, should be in police custody so that he can be properly interrogated.
He said Tejpal has been changing his version and is now claiming that he has not been heard.
"The accused has been changing colours like a chameleon through different statements," he told the judge.
The public prosecutor noted that the victim has been consistent in her statements.
Lotlikar said the CCTV footage of the hotel in Goa, where the incident occurred early this month, gives enough hints confirming the allegation of rape.
The lawyer also said that what Tejpal described as a "light hearted banter" needs to be probed.
He also argued that Tejpal was not available for Goa Police and appeared only after getting interim relief from court on Friday.
He alleged that Tejpal has in the past tried to influence the family of the complainant and referred to an FIR filed in Delhi in this regard. That the accused is interfering in the investigation is well corroborated by his past conduct, he added.
At the end of prosecution's arguments, judge Prabhudesai adjourned the matter till 4.30pm, when the order is expected.
Tejpal, who was present in the court, was later heckled by a protester who hurled a black flag at him, but missed.
Earlier, as the hearing resumed on Saturday morning, Tejpal's lawyer Geeta Luthra said he was ready to stay in Goa till the time the investigating agency needed him. He was ready to surrender all documents including his passport, she said, telling the police his arrest was not necessary.
She said he will also not visit Mumbai, where the victim is currently residing.
"There should not be any fear that he (Tejpal) will tamper with witnesses or evidence," the defence lawyer said.
Luthra also ruled out the possibility of Tejpal fleeing the country saying he has not fled before the FIR or after that.
"My client cannot tamper with the aggrieved girl as she will stand by her statement," the lawyer said.
Wrapping up her arguments, Luthra said false allegation of rape can bring distress to the accused and cause equal damage to him as to the complainant.
She said as the rape law has become more stringent, so it it all the more required for the accused to defend himself for which "his liberty may be preserved".
Ahead of hearing on his bail petition, Tejpal visited the crime branch office in Goa on Saturday morning and said he was cooperating in the investigation.
Police sources said Tejpal was not questioned and stayed for 10 minutes.
"We have joined the investigation started by the crime branch yesterday (Friday). We will join today (Saturday) also," Tejpal told reporters after coming out of the office.
Tejpal landed in Goa on Friday evening after dodging Goa Police for more than 24 hours, after the deadline for him to respond to police summons.
His legal team, which appeared before the court on Friday, had managed to secure interim relief until 10am on Saturday, claiming that the editor was being politically victimised and the charges levelled against him were fabricated.
The crime branch, which is investigating the case, wants custodial interrogation of Tejpal.
Shortly after his arrival from Delhi, Tejpal, accompanied by his family members and lawyers, drove to Dona Paula to appear before the police which had called him for questioning.
He brushed aside questions from journalists who mobbed him and asked him "would you confess".
The questioning lasted 90 minutes after which Tejpal left the crime branch office.
Tejpal is not evading the law and he is fully cooperating with Goa police, his lawyer Sandeep Kapoor said.
He said Tejpal was in the crime branch from 6.30pm to 9.15pm. A personal bond of Rs. 20,000 and a surety of the same amount was furnished, Kapoor said.
Tejpal on Friday questioned the legitimacy of the FIR and subsequent probe in the case and lashed out at the media accusing it of "screaming and shouting" all the time.
"... There is no complaint officially. An internal mail from the office decides a suo motu FIR?" he told a news channel in Goa at the airport.
Indicating a political conspiracy in the entire episode, Tejpal said, "It is being monitored on an hour-to-hour basis by some people in Delhi."
The former Tehelka editor, who has been under sharp criticism from various quarters ever since the incident came to light around a week ago, said, "... And the media is just screaming and shouting all the time."
(With PTI inputs)
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Psecularatti'is immaculate reputation has gone for a toss - Lotlikar. Poirot committed SERIOUS IPC offences -- Judge Anuja Prabhudesai
Material prima facie shows Tejpal was involved in offence, says judge
PANAJI, December 1, 201
Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.
The statement of victim’s colleague prima facie corroborates her version
Rejecting Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea, District and Sessions Court, Panaji, on Saturday held that the material on record prima facie indicate that he is involved in committing acts which constitute offences of custodial rape and outraging the modesty of the woman.
“The statement of the victim and the documents in the form of emails, etc., details of which need not be reproduced here, prima facie indicate that the applicant, who was her mentor and father figure, had not only outraged her modesty but had misused his position, betrayed her trust and violated her body,” District and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai observed in her 25-page order.
Referring to various judgments of the Supreme Court, Ms. Prabhudesai said the question for her determination was whether Mr. Tejpal is entitled to bail. “The answer to which in my considered view is nothing but in the negative,” she said.
The material on record, prima facie, indicated that on November 18, a week after the Think Fest event in a hotel in Goa, the victim had sent an email complaint to the Managing Editor of Tehelka, complaining of sexual assault by Mr. Tejpal on November 7 and 8 in the hotel lift.
The judge said though there was delay in reporting the matter to the Managing Editor, it was not material at this stage. “It has to be borne in mind that delay in lodging the report is not necessarily fatal and can always be explained. The yardstick of unexplained delay in filing an FIR, which usually goes in favour of the accused, cannot be applied in cases involving sexual offences.”
Mental trauma
“The victims of such crime undergo physical as well as mental trauma and humiliation. Their reputation, dignity, honour, future prospects and financial security are at stake and often the victims and their family members are subjected to social ridicule,” the order stated and said, “These circumstances often lead to delay in reporting the incident.....Consequently, in my considered view, the veracity of the complainant or the statement of the victim cannot be doubted on the ground of delay,” the judge said.
The Court observed that the statements of the colleague of the victim, prima facie indicated that she had informed them about the incident on the same day. “Though such corroboration is not strictly necessary, the statement of her colleague prima facie corroborates her version, which at this stage need not be sieved, sifted, weighed and appreciated.”
The judge said the email correspondence on record prima facie indicated that Mr. Tejpal had not disputed the incident. Its initial correspondence further indicated that he was aware that the victim was not a consenting party but it was only at a later stage that he had changed his version, apparently for obvious reasons.
“Under the circumstances, the applicant cannot be heard to say that the subsequent conduct of the victim is contrary to the allegations made in the complaint to the Managing Editor and the insinuations that the victim was a consenting party or that the alleged act was only a light-hearted bantering cannot be accepted,” she said.
“Thus, the material on record prima facie indicates that the applicant is involved in committing acts which constitute offences under the IPC Section 354A [outraging the modesty of a woman] and 376 (2) (K) [custodial rape],” the judge said.
The court said the offence under IPC Section 354A is punishable with imprisonment of seven years whereas the offence under the IPC Section 376(2) (K) is punishable with imprisonment which can extend to life.
“This, being the case, there can be no dispute that the offences alleged are of serious nature. The gravity of the offence, though not the sole criteria, is one of the essential factors, which would disentitle the applicant for bail,” the judge said.
“Success in such interrogation would elude if the suspected person knows that he is well protected and insulated by a pre-arrest bail order during the time he is interrogated. It is held that very often that interrogation in such condition would reduce to a mere ritual.”
No political pressure
The judge rejected the defence contention that Tejpal was being prosecuted at the behest of persons with vested interest or due to political pressure, saying it had no merit.
Tejpal refused bail, arrested, prosecution builds rape case
Smita Nair : Panaji, Sun Dec 01 2013, 04:03 hrs
The Goa Police Crime Branch arrested Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a young colleague, at 9.20 pm Saturday after the Principal District and Sessions Court, Panaji, rejected his petition for anticipatory bail.
Principal Judge Anuja Prabhudesai gave her order after the prosecution sought custodial interrogation citing that the victim's version was consistent, that the CCTV footage confirmed her allegations to a certain extent, and that Tejpal's own admission of "light-hearted bantering" needed to be probed.
With Tejpal booked under rape sections, including section 376 (d) (k) of the IPC, the prosecution put up a strong case for rape by a man holding fiduciary relationship. "You were in a position of trust, you betrayed that trust. You were her father's friend, and also a father figure to her. And you go ahead and say you 'misread the situation'," said public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar.
"The victim's statement is she was sexually assaulted and the CCTV footage confirms the position to a certain extent. Further, the victim was in a position of trust. It is in this background that the case should be approached," he said.
The prosecutor also accused Tejpal of "changing his statement from time to time". "This is not what one calls 'to cooperate'."
Tejpal was taken to Goa Medical Hospital after his arrest, at around 10.20 pm, and will be produced in a holiday court Sunday where police will seek his remand. He is likely to be kept in the lock-up at Panaji.
While the judge began studying the petition for anticipatory bail at 2.30 pm, the dictation of her order took four hours, and it was finally pronounced at 8.05 pm.
After Investigating Officer Sunita Sawant said Tejpal will have to behave like any other accused in custody and share the food as provided in lock-up, the judge pointed out that even in central jails, home-cooked food is allowed. This was then agreed upon, with conditions. The defence petition that Tejpal be allowed to meet his lawyers during the course of the interrogation was also allowed after they pointed out that under the amended CrPC, lawyers can meet accused during interrogation for a few minutes daily.
The family was allowed to bring a change of pair of clothes for the period of custody. While Tejpal seemed composed and his family remained hopeful, brother Minty fainted outside Crime Branch minutes after Tejpal was placed under arrest.
Earlier, in the morning, a calm Tejpal appeared at the Crime Branch office in Dona Paula, flanked by his family members, including his wife and daughter and Minty. Before he left for the court, he told the media, "I am in Goa to participate in the probe."
When Tejpal reached the court at 10 am, again with family members, a man tried to attack him as he was getting off his car. Given the media commotion, Tejpal left for the Crime Branch at 5 pm quietly. He was still there when his anticipatory bail petition was rejected. The Investigating Officer arrived there at 9 pm to formally place him under arrest.
Opposing the bail petition, public prosecutor Lotlikar said: "There was a festival going on in a five-star hotel organised by the accused, which a lot of luminaries were attending. Incidentally, one of the persons interviewed in the festival was a rape victim. And, simultaneously, this female journalist says that she was sexually abused in the festival by a person who is her employer. The investigation will bear that out."
Countering the questions raised regarding the victim's statements, Lotlikar put it on record that the "victim's versions and statements have been absolutely consistent. There are no embellishments." This is expected to be the prosecution's strongest stand in the case, said police sources.
On the defence's contention about the victim coming forward after several days of the alleged assault and the manner in which she had done this, Lotlikar said this had to be considered in the light of her background. "She discussed it with her immediate colleagues. Her father is bedridden and she is also the sole breadwinner of her family. The accused's daughter is her close friend. Tejpal himself was known to the family as the victim's father is the accused's friend. She herself has admitted to the investigating officer that she got the job in Tehelka because of Tarun Tejpal. If the festival is on, and the lady reacts, there would have been possible commotion."
Pointing to the stress the victim underwent, Lotlikar said: "The lady had to make the decision of her life, for fear of forfeiture of salary. After discussing it with her colleagues, she informed her Delhi boss, in an email. The email somehow leaked and reached the media. The National Commission for Women took cognisance of the reports and directed the Goa Police to register an FIR."
The prosecution also took on the defence attemps to raise questions regarding the victim's character, pointing to her "conduct" before and after the alleged sexual assault. "The accused is like a chameleon, changing his colour," said Lotlikar. "He has been changing his version. The conduct of the accused is as relevant as the conduct of the victim... From the first version of the victim, she has been consistent."
"How much courage is required by a lady to come out in public and say 'I have been violated by a person who is like a father figure'. And against this you speak of a long delay in filing of complaint!" said Lotlikar.
At 11.30 am, in the middle of the arguments, the prosecution submitted an "assessment report of the CCTV footage to court", which is being seen as circumstantial material evidence. While Tejpal's counsel Geeta Luthra objected, saying that the assessment report should include "the CCTV footage in its entirety", and not just restrict it to minutes alleged by the victim, the judge turned it down.
The prosecution then brought Tejpal's apology for "light-hearted bantering", in his first email to the victim, to the court's notice. "What constitutes this encounter needs to be probed. This encounter should be a matter of investigation. The girl's version is with us. We need Tejpal in custody to get his version," said Lotlikar.
On Tejpal's allegations of a "tainted investigation", the prosecutor said, "Learned counsel (Luthra) herself has conceded that the FIR was rightly registered. Enough rope has been given by the Goa Police to the accused, to the point of being accused of dragging the matter. When police went to look for you, you weren't there. Your relatives refused to cooperate. You then approach the high court anticipating arrest and then withdraw the application... He (Tejpal) wants to cooperate on his terms, whereas we only want your custodial interrogation."
Lotlikar also noted that Tejpal had delayed coming to Goa. "The accused may say he has no trust in the Goa Police, but having chosen to commit the act in the jurisdiction of the Goa Police, he cannot complain about the Goa Police investigating it."
"You are keen to misguide," Lotlikar added. "And now you are saying police are not considering your version of the matter. Your version can be verified only by cross-checking in interrogation... Out of custody, there are people to guide you, to tell you, educate you, on what is to be said."
On the defense's contention that the law was draconian, the public prosecutor argued, "To pave the way for this draconian law, and to have the amendments in place, somebody had to pay with her life. Whether it is draconian or not, it is the law of the land, and now you can't lament that the law is draconian and the accused has to be treated in a different manner."
The court was also apprised of a Tejpal family member trying to "influence" the victim's family, which was taken on record by the judge. "His last conduct doesn't warrant that he should be at large," said Lotlikar.
The otherwise composed family of Tejpal, sitting in the back row, looked upset when the prosecution added, "Your contention is that your immaculate reputation will be damaged. May we tell you that its already gone for a toss. And mere detention under police custody won't do any further damage."
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Psecularatti Poirot defiance goes down the drain in toilet tear-jerker -- Samyabrata Ray Goswami
Prima facie: Betrayed and violated | |||||
| SAMYABRATA RAY GOSWAMI Sunday , December 1 , 2013 | |||||
Panaji, Nov. 30: From royals to editors, toilet travails in prison have buckled powerful knees. Confident in the morning and “stoic and silent” in the evening when his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, Tarun Tejpal was in tears by 9.30pm when Goa police formally arrested him and directed him to a crummy toilet in the lockup at the Dona Paula CID crime branch police post. It was a throwback to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia’s time at Delhi’s Tihar jail during the Emergency: it is believed the prison’s Indian-style squat toilet drove her to make up with Indira Gandhi and get a reprieve. Tejpal had walked into the Goa sessions court in the morning accompanied by a battery of lawyers and their assistants from Delhi and Mumbai, his family and a bodyguard. His friend Sanjoy Roy, convener of the Jaipur Literature Festival, later said the “bodyguard” was a family member. Tejpal sat in one of the last rows at the courtroom, flanked by his sister, wife, brother and two daughters. Initially, the family seemed tense as defence lawyer Geeta Luthra sought anticipatory bail, invoking an individual’s right to personal liberty. Tejpal’s wife Geetan covered her face and leaned against a steel almirah in the courtroom. Tejpal kept looking straight ahead but soon closed his eyes. He then held his head in his hands. Geetan prayed, the two daughters looked nervous, brother Minty and sister Neena sat expressionless. Judge Anuja Prabhudesai heard Luthra for over an hour and the prosecution for nearly the same time. At 11.40am, the court adjourned till 4.30pm. Tejpal headed to Taj Vivanta for “a quick lunch and huddle with his legal team” as one of his lawyers put it. “He had a complete meltdown at the hotel,” said a source in the legal team. “He screamed, ‘Please stop this somehow, I don’t want to be in police custody’.” After a while, the police asked him to go to the CID office at Dona Paula, 6km away, for questioning. That is where he stayed till the court rejected his plea around 8.15pm. His formal arrest followed at 9.20pm. By then, his family had waited nearly four hours with journalists, lawyers and policemen. The long wait made everybody restless; the humidity made all grumpy. But the Tejpal women, the only family members in the court now, were unusually relaxed. They chatted easily with family friend Sanjoy, made plans for a drink and dinner, and even discussed the discos of Goa. Requests for brief chats from reporters were met with “our lawyers have advised us not to talk”. Soon, their Mumbai lawyers, Zulfikar and Pervez Memon, shook their hands warmly and left: they had to catch the 8.30pm flight to Mumbai. The elder daughter, a friend of the alleged victim, got her picture clicked inside the courtroom by Sanjoy and traipsed in and around the courtroom. Many began to see their easy manner as a sign of confidence in the outcome of the plea. Even when the judge rejected the plea summarily, the women kept chatting unmindful of her. After a while, unable to understand or hear what the judge was saying in the noisy court, they asked reporters about the order. They texted furiously for a while and then left quietly for Dona Paula as Luthra got the judge to agree to home food, home clothes and clean sheets from home for Tejpal. The family was in the CID office 20 minutes later. Initially, the police did not let them meet Tejpal but they somehow slipped in one by one. The police would not confirm whether they met the accused. Tejpal was taken for a medical examination. Then, keeping his request for a better toilet in mind, among various other considerations, the police took him to the lockup at the Goa police headquarters in Panaji. Tejpal apparently liked the loo there. Tarun Tejpal was arrested on Saturday night after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a Goa court. District and sessions judge Anuja Prabhudesai explained in detail in the 25-page order why Tejpal was not granted anticipatory bail. The order is the first formal judicial statement in the case. The following are some of the points mentioned by the judge Prima facie indication: The statement of the victim and the documents in the form of emails... prima facie indicate that the applicant (Tejpal), who was her mentor and father figure, had not only outraged her modesty but had misused his position, betrayed her trust and violated her body. The material on record prima facie indicates that the applicant (Tejpal) is involved in committing acts which constitute offences under Section 354A (outraging the modesty of a woman) and 376 (2) (K) (custodial rape) of IPC. If proved guilty, Section 354A entails imprisonment up to seven years and Section 376 (2) (K) up to life Delay in complaint: Although there was delay in reporting the matter to the managing editor, it is not material at this stage. (The Tejpal legal team had laid stress on the delay.) The delay in lodging the report is not necessarily fatal and can always be explained. The yardstick of unexplained delay in filing an FIR, which usually goes in favour of the accused, cannot be applied in cases involving sexual offences. The victims of such crime undergo physical as well as mental trauma and humiliation. Their reputation, dignity, honour, future prospects and financial security are at stake and often the victims and their family members are subjected to social ridicule. These circumstances often lead to delay in reporting the incident. The veracity of the complainant or the statement of the victim cannot be doubted on the ground of delay Colleagues’ version: Although such corroboration is not strictly necessary, the statement of her colleagues prima facie corroborates her version Details: The judge said the details of the emails need not be reproduced. She also said the girl’s version, at this stage, need not be sieved, sifted, weighed and appreciated Non-consent: The judge said the email correspondence prima facie indicated that Tejpal had not disputed the incident. The initial correspondence indicated that he was aware the victim was not a consenting party but it was only at a later stage that he had changed his version. The insinuations that the victim was a consenting party or the alleged act was only light-hearted bantering cannot be accepted Custodial interrogation: Success in interrogation would elude if the suspected person knows that he is well protected and insulated by a pre-arrest bail order during the time he is interrogated. It is held that very often, interrogation in such condition would be reduced to a mere ritual Political pressure: The applicant has nowhere stated in his application that the victim has made the accusation under political pressure or at the behest of any party Disgrace claim: The material on record prima facie reveals that the applicant... had subjected the victim to ignominy, humiliation and disgrace. Hence, the applicant cannot claim bail on the ground that his arrest would curtail his personal liberty or will cause ignominy, humiliation and disgrace Tried to influence: The applicant is not only an influential person but the record prima facie indicates that the applicant tried to influence the family of the victim and the possibility of the applicant interfering with the evidence cannot be ruled out Liberty balance: The court has to maintain a fine balance between societal interest vis-a-vis personal liberty. The offences alleged are crimes against women and society in general and, if not properly investigated, can destroy the psyche of women and the basic fabric of the society. Offences of such nature fall in a different category and justify custodial interrogation. |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131201/jsp/frontpage/story_17631316.jsp#.UpqLt9IW02c
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Swamy urges Jayaa to take action against 'LTTE operator Gaspar Raj'
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL34014.pdf A report for US Congress: Terrorist Precursor Crimes: Issues and Options
for Congress
May 24, 2007
SWAMY URGES JAYA TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ‘LTTE OPERATOR GASPAR RAJ’
Saturday, 30 November 2013 | PNS | Chennai
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to take action on Home Ministry’s communication on LTTE operative Father Gaspar Raj, against whom the FBI had issued warrant.
“He as a LTTE operative in US had tried to bribe US undercover State Department officials to obtain material assistance for the LTTE two years ago. Subsequently, warrant for his arrest had been issued and the FBI is now on a lookout for him. He has since escaped to India. Recently he surfaced on NDTV and CNN IBN panel discussions on Sri Lanka. And hence it is clear that he is hiding somewhere in Tamil Nadu,” said Swamy in a letter to Jayalalithaa, citing a warrant of FBI issued by a District Court of New York.
Swamy said that Gaspar Raj was enjoying the patronage of several regional parties in Tamil Nadu and engaged in organising pro-LTTE functions across the State. According to the FBI warrant, Gaspar Raj along with other LTTE operatives engaged in fund raising for the terrorist organisation. They also tried to bribe US officials to remove LTTE from the list of terrorist organisations.
“I demand that the CM place national interest above her competitive Dravidian politics, and direct the TN Police to nab this wanted terrorist. The TN CM’s soft attitude to terrorist in Tamil Nadu has harmed the State and therefore seriously undermined law and order in TN, as well as compromised India’s sovereignty and good neighbourly relations with Sri Lanka,” said Swamy.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/swamy-urges-jaya-to--take-action-against-ltte-operator-gaspar-raj.html
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Cobra post, Gobar post. MOHA, withdraw visa of US citizen, Siddharth Varadarajan
Cobrapost press conf on Amit Shah was addressed also by US citizen &Naxalite Varadarajan. This is unacceptable. His visa should be cancelled
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Peeping Toms Of Gobar Journalism
http://www.mediacrooks.com/In the middle of 2012, much before the Gujarat elections, I was meeting a ‘well-connected’ business client that I had met a few times before. He was also aware of this blog that I write. He started talking about elections and politics and out of the blue asked me if I would write against certain parties and politicians. He told me there would be good money. I declined but now on hindsight a thought comes to my head. What if I had accepted and started negotiating the amount? What if we had finally arrived at some agreement on what to write for what price? What if this guy also had a spycam recording all of it? Who knows! This guy could have then put up a post to show I’m corrupt and will twist my writing for money. He could have tarred this blog site whereas ideally I should have been legally entitled to send him to jail for secretly recording discussions with me without my knowledge. It would have been deliberately framing a person. It would have been a “sting operation”.
The direction of all the stings in the public and political domain have been singularly directed at parties opposed to Congress, particularly the BJP. This is no secret and every scumbag in the MSM knows it. But they still support this nonsense because they too are political thieves. The “Fiberal” bimbos have a mistaken idea of liberalism. The only true tolerant liberal in India is the real Hindu. Which is why the Category5Moron whines over the fate ofTarun Tejpal by wrongly connecting it to liberal values. The values of these Fiberals surely belong in the toilet as Swapan Dasgupta points out to her. It is difficult for Sagarika to acknowledge the only values that the Fiberals share is the so-called “incestuous club” of lies, hate and behaving the way Tejpal did.
And Tejpal is just the ponytail of the whole big Ravanesque head of this Fiberal club. He even founded one called ‘Prufrock’. His former colleague, Anirudh Bahal, has founded an exclusive “sting” company called Cobrapost. I fondly call it GobarPost because it is nothing but unadulterated bullshit. People who go around with spy cameras and pry on unsuspecting people and create reports belong in jail, not in the media.
Since the days of Arun Shourie this country hasn’t seen honest investigative reporting. There is an exception in J. Gopikrishnan of The Pioneer who broke the 2G scam. But the TV channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, AajTak, HeadlinesToday clearly delight in shortcuts and spurious stings to claim “investigative reporting”. This is nothing but Gobar journalism. Investigative reporting takes a lot of patience, talking to hundreds of people, facing a lot of rejections, doors closing on the reporter, slander against the reporter, sleepless nights, danger, fear, good leads and wrong leads, confirmations and denials, people not going on record, lucky breaks and all of that plus an absolutely tough editor. It requires conviction and perseverance. It is nothing like a James Bond movie or the pathetic acts of Tehelka or GobarPost. This is a montage from a 2 hour movie and won’t explain the whole story but I have tried to show what kind of work and patience honest work involves. Video (11 mins):
The guys in the video weren’t investigating a mail fraud or a petty scam. They brought down the most powerful man on earth. It didn’t involve phone-tapping, they didn’t have mobile phones, spycams or laptops. In contrast our MSM and so-called spooks are acting like brokers for the govt. Investigation is not about trapping people when they are unguarded. It’s about getting to the bottom of a story through honest work but also using connections and sources in the best possible manner. So this Cobrapost with their Gobar journalism delivers some crap about BJP and AAP using some IT firms for some bogus promotion of their campaigns or to malign the Congress. So what’s new morons? This is the historical gift by the Congress; popularly known as DTD. And why is this any big news or such a big deal at all? Don’t political parties slander each other in the open at rallies and private meetings? Doesn’t the Congress malign Narendra Modi for any disaster in this country; even Onions? Don’t Ashok Gehlot and Ajay Maken get loverly fans from Turkey or Burkina Faso?
If election campaigns and politics are primarily dirty then they are going to be dirty everywhere; on the streets, in the parliament, in the cabinet, in rallies, on mountain tops, on the corrupt MSM and on the social media too. What exactly is shocking the bolts of these people or the anchors like Rajdeep or Arnab? Are these guys such ignorants? NO! It is just that people like Rajdeep have run a campaign against the BJP for long and this nonsensical Gobar of Cobrapost is just handy. As was Tehelka. The sleeping beauties of our MSM are just about waking up to the financial crimes of Tejpal and Tehelka. Here’s what FirstPost reports:
First, the beneficiaries: • Shoma Chaudhury was then Editor (Features). Anant Media had allocated 1,500 equity shares to her at a price of Rs 10 each. On 14 June 2006, she sold off 500 shares to AK Gurtu Holdings Private Ltd at a premium of Rs 13,189 per share, thus pocketing Rs 66 lakh … In short, Shoma Chaudhary’s Rs 5,000 investment (a third of her full investment of Rs 15,000 in buying 1,500 shares) brought her Rs 66 lakh in less than three years. • Tarun Tejpal’s wife Geetan Batrasold off 2,000 equity shares to AK Gurtu at a premium of Rs 13,189, thus getting Rs 2.64 crore. • Tejpal’s brother Minty Kunwar sold 1,500 shares to AK Gurtu for nearly Rs 2 crore. • Tejpal’s fatherInderjit Tejpal offloaded 1,000 shares to AK Gurtu for Rs 1.32 crore • Tejpal’s mother Shakuntla too sold 1,000 shares to the same company for Rs 1.32 crore • Tejpal’s sister and Tehelka’s COO Neena T Sharma sold 432 shares for Rs 57 lakh. Tarun Tejpal did not offload any of his shares. Rather he acquired 4,125 equity shares from two persons, Shankar Sharma and Devina Mehra, at Rs 10 per share on the same day – that is, 14 June 2006. Thus on the same day, Anant Media shares had two different prices – Rs 10 and Rs 13,189 per share!
Anyone who believes there isn’t back door funding and illicit money in these deals or that there isn’t any political hand in these dealings surely needs to see Dr. Batra urgently. In the video Deep Throat has profoundly left an advice for posterity: “Follow the money”. Now what is this Cobrapost funded with and who funds it? If you look at their website there’s no “About us” or who’s behind the operation. The home page has a very visible “Donate” button at the top, the rest is links to articles. The only other page that has any other information about them is the donate page with Anirudh Bahal’s name and the address/accounts to send your money to. Take a look:
Appropriately, the real name of the organisation is “Forum for media & literature’. Ahem! After all, Tehelka too graduated from crappy stings to LitterFests, didn’t they? THINK and all? So the road map for Gobar journalism and easy money is pretty much well laid out. Throw crap against all opponents of Congress and get rich. That’s the scheme. Scams, sex, rapes; if at all there was a goldmine for these silly stings it has to be the Congress. Yet, as I keep pointing out repeatedly, not one major sting has been carried out against any Congi. It was reported earlier too and now evenHuffpost reports Sonia Gandhi’s assets worth $2 Billion. Would these Congress doormats (which the guy in the video calls honourable “RatF*****s”) dare to peep into her asset history? How does a woman who claims she doesn’t even a car own $2 Bn worth of assets? These jokers and other “fearless cowards” like Arnab, Rajdeep, Barkha, Ashutosh, Sreenivasan Jain, Chaubeji, Sagarika & Co. will never dare to ask the question. Their heads would be rolling in some Gobar dump if they did. I would not be wrong in saying all the powers and crimes of Tejpal & Co. flow from being doormats of Sonia and Congress. It’s not me alone, now even others are reflecting on this glaring truth: Here’sFirstPost again:
There you go! Land, Defence, Spectrum, Space! You name it and you have a goldmine for stings but our “Fearless Cowards” find problems only with the Opposition. And of all the stupid things this Gobar sting of Cobrapost investigates fake accounts and political slandering on social media as if that is the greatest issue for the country. After suppressing and destroying theCash4Votes sting Rajdeep Sardesaipermanently lost his credibility as an editor. Why should anyone trust these guys anymore? On top of that, post the Tejpal rape scandal there are more people giving information of many other editors who are also involved in sexual harassment. This tweet from Sucheta Dalal says a lot. They started out maligning the opponents of Congress for political reasons but all their sleaze is now coming out. I repeat: Crooks and Liars in the Indian MSM are the greatest danger to our democracy. And when confronted with police investigation, the champion of stings, Tejpal, hides like a rat, like a coward till forced out of his hole. His partner in Tehelka, Cowardni Shoma Chaudhury became hysterical, threw tantrums and even threatened political pressure. Here you go:
The TOI report related to the above pic says: “Sources said Shoma shouted at the team and tried to stop them when they decided to take away Tejpal's computer (CPU). She even dropped names of some senior politicians and threatened to make calls, an investigator said”. Any more doubts that these Tehelkas and Gobarposts are backed by political masters pulling the strings? It’s no different for most of the MSM either.
Remember Linda Tripp? She’s the woman who illegally recorded her conversations with Monica Lewinsky (Bill Clinton – Lewinsky scandal) and offered it as evidence to the prosecutor against immunity from legal action. She got that immunity but earned public scorn forever. No public respects a friend who turns spy. Recording phone conversations (and using it for public purposes) without knowledge of the person is a crime in the US. This and recording people’s images without their knowledge also need to be outlawed in India. Such Gobar journalism comes only funded by corrupt money. To borrow the term from the video in this post what Tehelka and Cobrapost are doing is called “RatF*****g” on behalf of a political party. And these morons are worried about Social Media which doesn’t indulge in corruption anywhere close to the MSM and its players do.
The MSM delightfully calls crooks like Tejpal and those like Anirudh Bahal, Ashish Khetan “investigative journalists”. That is Gobar by itself. They are nothing but “Peeping Toms”. Voyeurs of a different variety! The original peeping Tom was struck and went blind watching Lady Godiva ride naked. Tejpal has been struck. If Bahal doesn’t dump his Gobar and return to honest journalism, he will be struck too. It’s nature’s law of retribution. In the previous ‘Redemption’ post I quoted the Lord’s warning for the criminal: “His judgement cometh and that right soon”.
The other obvious question, therefore, is where will all this end? The Supreme Court has recently asked the Centre to frame guidelines to regulate content on TV media. For this, we need an independent authority to exercise a watch over TV media, particularly the corrupt news media. While the govt can set up and fund such a body it should never be involved in it. Once formed, this should be an autonomous body with prominent citizens from the public. Neither govt nor any media persons should be appointed there. But even before that happens, the entire news media must be brought under RTI. They don’t have any excuses anymore. The media houses may be private but they are in the public domain and are govt beneficiaries in many ways. They are equivalent to public health and should be under as much scrutiny as they think they have the right to put others to. Till then Gobar journalism from the likes of Cobrapost supported by political channels like CNN-IBN, NDTV, ABPNews, TimesNow and the whole lot will continue.
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Tukulti-Ninurta worships fire-god at the fire altar of Ashur
Two safflower hieroglyphs flank the fire-altar worshipped by Tukulti-Ninurta I at Ashur.
Wall painting, fragment, found at Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta in Mesopotamia, Assyrian. The hieroglyph is 'safflower'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Assyrian_painting.JPGAllograph: करडी [ karaḍī ] f (See
Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' of arka 'copper'.
Photograph of excavation site. Shows three culd stands in situ in Room 6 of Ishtar temple of Tukulti-Ninurta I at Ashur. Courtesy: Vorderaslatisches Museum.
Andrae, 1935, 57-76, pls. 12, 30 1. Jakob-Rust, in Vorderaslatisches Museum 1992, 160, no. 103; Andrae, 1935, 16, figs. 2,3.
करंडा [karaṇḍā] A clump, chump, or block of wood. 4 The stock or fixed portion of the staff of the large leaf-covered summerhead or umbrella. करांडा [ karāṇḍā ] m C A cylindrical piece as sawn or chopped off the trunk or a bough of a tree; a clump, chump, or block.
Rebus: fire-god: @B27990. #16671. Remo <karandi>E155 {N} ``^fire-^god''.(Munda)
[quote]Description: Although the cult pedestal of the Middle Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurta mentions in its short inscription that it is dedicated to the god Nuska, the relief on the front that depicts the king in a rare kind of narrative, standing and kneeling in front of the very same pedestal was frequently discussed by art-historians. More strikingly on top of the depicted pedestal there is not the lamp, the usual divine symbol for the god Nuska, but most likely the representation of a tablet and a stylus, symbols for the god Nabû. (Klaus Wagensonner, University of Oxford)[unquote] http://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=pedestal_tukulti_ninurta
No, it is not a representation of a tablet and a stylus, but a chump, a block of wood, karaṇḍā read rebus: karandi 'fire-god' (Munda). Thus, the chump is the divine symbol of fire-god.
Tukulti-Ninurta I (meaning: "my trust is in [the warrior god] Ninurta"; reigned 1243–1207 BCE) was a king of Assyria (Sumer-Akkad) during the Middle Assyrian Empire (1366 - 1050 BCE). He built a ziggurat for Ishtar-Dinitu (Ishtar of the Dawn). Another prayer by Tukulti-Ninurta on a fire-altar:
Altar, offered by Tukulti-Ninurta I, 1243-1208 BC, in prayer before two deities carrying wooden standards, Assyria, Bronze AgeSource: http://www.dijitalimaj.com/alamyDetail.aspx?img=%7BA5C441A3-C178-489B-8989-887807B57344%7D
Another view of the fire-altar pedestal of Tukulti-Ninurta I, Ishtar temple, Assur. Shows the king standing flanked by two standard-bearers; the standard has a spoked-wheel hieroglyph on the top of the staffs and also on the volutes of the altar frieze.The mediation with deities by king is adopted by Assurnasirpal II.
The two standards (staffs) are topped by a spoked wheel. āra 'spokes' Rebus: āra 'bronze'. cf. erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) Glyph: eraka
This rebus reading is consistent with the prayer offered to
the karaṇḍa 'hard alloy'.
‘alloy’. Allograph: khū̃ṭ ‘zebu’.
The same spoked-wheel hieroglyph adorns the Dholavira Sign-board.
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/dholavira-gateway-to-meluhha-gateway-to.html?q=dholavira+sign
(After Fig. 17. Cult relief found in a well located in the Ashur temple at Ashur. Old Assyrian period, early 2nd millennium BCE, limestone, h. 52 ½ in. (1.36in) Vorderasiatisches Museum.)lo ‘pot to overflow’ kāṇḍa ‘water’. Rebus: lokhaṇḍ (overflowing pot) ‘metal tools, pots and pans, metalware’ (Marathi).
<kanda> {N} ``large earthen water ^pot kept and filled at the house''. @1507. #14261. (Munda) Rebus: khanda ‘a trench used as a fireplace when cooking has to be done for a large number of people’ (Santali) kand ‘fire-altar’ (Santali)
దళము [daḷamu] daḷamu. [Skt.] n. A leaf. ఆకు. A petal. A part, భాగము. dala n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ MBh. Pa. Pk. dala -- n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ, G. M. daḷ n.(CDIAL 6214). <DaLO>(MP) {N} ``^branch, ^twig''. *Kh.<DaoRa>(D) `dry leaves when fallen', ~<daura>, ~<dauRa> `twig', Sa.<DAr>, Mu.<Dar>, ~<Dara> `big branch of a tree', ~<DauRa> `a twig or small branch with fresh leaves on it', So.<kOn-da:ra:-n> `branch', H.<DalA>, B.<DalO>, O.<DaLO>, Pk.<DAlA>. %7811. #7741.(Munda etyma) Rebus: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
దళము [daḷamu] daḷamu. [Skt.] n. A leaf. ఆకు. A petal. A part, భాగము. dala n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ MBh. Pa. Pk. dala -- n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ, G. M. daḷ n.(CDIAL 6214). <DaLO>(MP) {N} ``^branch, ^twig''. *Kh.<DaoRa>(D) `dry leaves when fallen', ~<daura>, ~<dauRa> `twig', Sa.<DAr>, Mu.<Dar>, ~<Dara> `big branch of a tree', ~<DauRa> `a twig or small branch with fresh leaves on it', So.<kOn-da:ra:-n> `branch', H.<DalA>, B.<DalO>, O.<DaLO>, Pk.<DAlA>. %7811. #7741.(Munda etyma) Rebus: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
comparable to the relief shown on Fig. 17. In the second register, a bull-man and a bearded man hold a standard crowned by a crescent moon and an eight-pointed star. Behind the bull-man is a fabulous creature perhaps with a lion's head and wings.
Composite drawing of imagery on cat. no. 44. Original drawing by Katrin Hinz, redrawn by J. Ganem. (After Fig. 16 in Harper Prudence Oliver, ed., 1995, Assyrian origins: discoveries at Ashur on the Tigris: Antiquities in the Vorderasiatisches Museum, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, p. 63
Two ibexes read rebus: miṇḍāl markhor (Tor.wali) meḍho a ram, a sheep (G.)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: meḍh ‘helper of merchant’ (Gujarati) meḍ iron (Ho.)
kūdī‘twig’ Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter’. The two ibexes + twig hieroglyhs, thus, connote a metal merchant/artisan with a smelter.
Lion: aryeh‘lion’ Rebus: arā‘brass’.
Bull: ḍangar Rebus: dhangar‘blacksmith’ (Maithili) ḍangar‘blacksmith’(Hindi)
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Drawing of a seal impression on cat. no. 68. Reproduced from Andrae 1977, fig. 131; After Fig. 29 in Harper opcit.)
Drawing of a seal impression on cat. no. 68. Reproduced from Andrae 1977, fig. 131; After Fig. 29 in Harper opcit.)Ram-fish hieroglyphs: Tagara ‘ram’ + ayo ‘fish’; rebus: tagara ‘tin’, ayo ‘metal’ (perhaps bronze formed by alloying copper mineral with tin mineral). (For the altar as a hieroglyph, see discussion on Tukulti-Ninurta fire-altar reading rebus the representation of fire-god). Thus, the composition is seen as a metallurgist's smithy viewed as a temple.
Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta north of Assur had a temple complex on the left bank of River Tigris. On the wetern side was a ziggurat which had a tablet identifying the temple of Ashur with the image of the deity moved from Assur. North of the temple was a palace placed on a platform originally 18m. high. The decorated wall painting fragment is from the palace.
· Monkey Ta. kōṭaram monkey. Ir. kōḍa (small) monkey; kūḍag monkey. Ko. ko·ṛṇ small monkey. To. kwṛṇ monkey. Ka. kōḍaga monkey, ape. Koḍ. ko·ḍë monkey. Tu. koḍañji, koḍañja, koḍaṅgů baboon. (DEDR 2196). kuṭhāru = a monkey (Sanskrit) Rebus: kuṭhāru ‘armourer or weapons maker’(metal-worker), also an inscriber or writer.
Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta was first excavated from 1913 to 1914 by a German team from the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft (German Oriental Company) led by Walter Bachmann which was working at the same time at Assur. The finds are now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, in the British Museum and in Istanbul. Bachmann did not publish his results and his field notes were lost. A full excavation report appeared only in 1985. Work at the site was resumed in 1986 with a survey by a team from the German Research Foundation led by R. Dittman. A season of excavation was conducted in 1989. (R. Dittman, Ausgrabungen der Freien Universitat Berlin in Assur und Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta in den Jahren 1986-89, MDOG, vol. 122, pp. 157-171, 1990) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kar-Tukulti-NinurtaStone statue of a monkey
Middle Assyrian, about 1243-1207 BCE
From Kar Tukulti Ninurta, northern Iraq
Monkeys were not native to Mesopotamia and would have been imported, probably from Africa or India. Mesopotamian kings prided themselves on the collections of exotic animals they acquired as booty or tribute, and the most 'exotic' were sometimes commemorated in stone. Monkeys were popular animals in Mesopotamian art; they are often depicted playing musical instruments, perhaps representing animals accompanying travelling entertainers.
This statue, broken in three pieces, was found in 1914 in a palace at the site of Kar Tukulti-Ninurta in the kingdom of Assyria. This city was a new foundation by King Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243-1207 BC) and included a number of palaces and temples decorated with elaborate wall paintings. Tukulti-Ninurta conquered Babylonia and much of north Mesopotamia, during his reign, but towards the end he was imprisoned in the new city by his son, Ashur-nadin-apli (1206-1203 BC), and all his military achievements came to nothing.
A. Khurt, The ancient Near East c. 3000- (London, Routledge, 1995)
A. Spycket, '"Le carnaval des animaux": on some musician monkeys from the ancient Near East', Iraq-8, 60 (1998), pp. 1-10
T. Eickhoff, Kar Tukulti Ninurta. Eine Mitt (Berlin, 1985)
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/s/stone_statue_of_a_monkey.aspx
See: Karen Radner, Eleanor Robson, 2011, The Oxford book of cuneiform culture, Oxford University Press http://tinyurl.com/q67vydx
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Three artefacts with Indus writing are remarkable for their definitive intent to broadcast the metallurgical message: 1. Dholavira signboard on a gateway; 2. Shahdad standard; and 3. Tablets showing processions of three standards: scarf hieroglyph, one-horned young bull hieroglyph and standard-device hieroglyph. Rebus readings of the inscriptions relate to and document the metallurgical competence of Meluhhan lapidaries-artisans. Some other select set of inscriptions from the wide, expansive area stretching from Haifa to Rakhigarhi, from Altyn Depe (Caucus) to Daimabad (Maharashtra) are presented to show the area which had evidenced the use of Meluhha (Mleccha) language of Indian sprachbund.
Hieroglyphs deployed on Indus inscriptions have had a lasting effect on the glyptic motifs used on hundreds of cylinder seals of the Meluhha contact regions. The glyptic motifs continued to be used as a logo-semantic writing system, together with cuneiform texts which used a logo-syllabic writing system, even after the use of complex tokens and bullae were discontinued to account for commodities. The Indus writing system of hieroglyphs read rebus matched the Bronze Age revolutionary imperative of minerals, metals and alloys produced as surplus to the requirements of the artisan communities and as available for the creation and sustenance of trade-networks to meet the demand for alloyed metal tools, weapons, pots and pans, apart from the supply of copper, tin metal ingots for use in the smithy of nations,harosheth hagoyim mentioned in the Old Testament (Judges). This term also explains the continuum of Aramaic script into the cognate kharoṣṭī 'blacksmith-lip' goya 'communities'.
Indus-Sarasvatī Signboard Text. Read rebus as Meluhha (Mleccha) announcement of metals repertoire of a smithy complex in the citadel. The 'spoked wheel' is the semantic divider of three segments of the broadcast message. Details of readings, from r. to l.:
Hieroglyphs deployed on Indus inscriptions have had a lasting effect on the glyptic motifs used on hundreds of cylinder seals of the Meluhha contact regions. The glyptic motifs continued to be used as a logo-semantic writing system, together with cuneiform texts which used a logo-syllabic writing system, even after the use of complex tokens and bullae were discontinued to account for commodities. The Indus writing system of hieroglyphs read rebus matched the Bronze Age revolutionary imperative of minerals, metals and alloys produced as surplus to the requirements of the artisan communities and as available for the creation and sustenance of trade-networks to meet the demand for alloyed metal tools, weapons, pots and pans, apart from the supply of copper, tin metal ingots for use in the smithy of nations,harosheth hagoyim mentioned in the Old Testament (Judges). This term also explains the continuum of Aramaic script into the cognate kharoṣṭī 'blacksmith-lip' goya 'communities'.
Indus-Sarasvatī Signboard Text. Read rebus as Meluhha (Mleccha) announcement of metals repertoire of a smithy complex in the citadel. The 'spoked wheel' is the semantic divider of three segments of the broadcast message. Details of readings, from r. to l.:
Segment 1: Working in ore, molten cast copper, lathe (work)
ḍato ‘claws or pincers of crab’ (Santali) rebus: dhatu ‘ore’ (Santali)
eraka ‘knave of wheel’ Rebus: eraka ‘copper’ (Kannada) eraka ‘molten cast (metal)(Tulu). sangaḍa 'pair' Rebus: sangaḍa‘lathe’ (Gujarati)
Segment 2: Native metal tools, pots and pans, metalware, engraving (molten cast copper)
खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). (Marathi) Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’.
aḍaren, ḍaren lid, cover (Santali) Rebus: aduru ‘native metal’ (Ka.) aduru = gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada) (Siddhānti Subrahmaṇya’ śāstri’s new interpretation of the Amarakośa, Bangalore, Vicaradarpana Press, 1872, p. 330)
koṇḍa bend (Ko.); Tu. Kōḍi corner; kōṇṭu angle, corner, crook. Nk. kōnṭa corner (DEDR 2054b) G. khū̃ṭṛī f. ʻangleʼ Rebus: kõdā‘to turn in a lathe’(B.) कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi) koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi) koḍ = place where artisans work (G.) ācāri koṭṭya ‘smithy’ (Tu.) कोंडण [kōṇḍaṇa] f A fold or pen. (Marathi) B. kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’; Or.kū̆nda ‘lathe’, kũdibā, kū̃d ‘to turn’ (→ Drav. Kur. Kū̃d ’ lathe’) (CDIAL 3295) A. kundār, B. kũdār, ri, Or.Kundāru; H. kũderā m. ‘one who works a lathe, one who scrapes’, rī f., kũdernā ‘to scrape, plane, round on a lathe’; kundakara—m. ‘turner’ (Skt.)(CDIAL 3297). कोंदण [ kōndaṇa ] n (कोंदणें) Setting or infixing of gems.(Marathi) খোদকার [ khōdakāra ] n an engraver; a carver. খোদকারি n. engraving; carving; interference in other’s work. খোদাই [ khōdāi ] n engraving; carving. খোদাই করা v. to engrave; to carve. খোদানো v. & n. en graving; carving. খোদিত [ khōdita ] a engraved. (Bengali) खोदकाम [ khōdakāma ] n Sculpture; carved work or work for the carver. खोदगिरी [ khōdagirī ] f Sculpture, carving, engraving: also sculptured or carved work. खोदणावळ [ khōdaṇāvaḷa ] f (खोदणें) The price or cost of sculpture or carving. खोदणी [ khōdaṇī ] f (Verbal of खोदणें) Digging, engraving &c. 2 fig. An exacting of money by importunity. V लाव, मांड. 3 An instrument to scoop out and cut flowers and figures from paper. 4 A goldsmith’s die. खोदणें [ khōdaṇēṃ ] v c & i ( H) To dig. 2 To engrave. खोद खोदून विचारणें or –पुसणें To question minutely and searchingly, to probe. खोदाई [ khōdāī ] f (H.) Price or cost of digging or of sculpture or carving. खोदींव [ khōdīṃva ] p of खोदणें Dug. 2 Engraved, carved, sculptured. (Marathi)
eraka ‘knave of wheel’ Rebus: eraka ‘copper’ (Kannada) eraka ‘molten cast (metal)(Tulu).
Segment 3: ![]()
Coppersmith mint, furnace, workshop (molten cast copper)
Coppersmith mint, furnace, workshop (molten cast copper)loa ’fig leaf; Rebus: loh ‘(copper) metal’ kamaḍha 'ficus religiosa' (Skt.); kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.) The unique ligatures on the 'leaf' hieroglyph may be explained as a professional designation: loha-kāra 'metalsmith'; kāruvu [Skt.] n. 'An artist, artificer. An agent'.(Telugu).
khuṇṭa 'peg’; khũṭi = pin (M.) rebus: kuṭi= furnace (Santali) kūṭa ‘workshop’ kuṇḍamu ‘a pit for receiving and preserving consecrated fire’ (Te.) kundār turner (A.); kũdār, kũdāri (B.)
eraka ‘knave of wheel’ Rebus: eraka ‘copper’ (Kannada) eraka ‘molten cast (metal)(Tulu).
↧
Swami Vivekananda Prophet of Patriotism -- V. Sundaram
Swami Vivekananda
Prophet of Patriotism
By V. SUNDARAM, IAS (Retd.) December 1, 2013
1. When we are celebrating the 150th Jayanthi of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), it is the Paramount Public Duty of every Patriotic Hindu to recall Swami Vivekananda’s definition of OUR NATIONHOOD which he gave in the form of a VEDIC INJUNCTION: “Hindu Dharma is the Quintessence of our National Life, hold fast to it if you want your country to survive, or else you would be wiped out in three generations.”
2. No one can dispute that the traditional homeland of Hindus is the Bharatavarsha. It is a distinct geographical entity. There are few nations in the world the natural boundaries of whose homeland are as clearly drawn as that of ours. And the Hindus have been intimately associated with this land, lived on it, developed their culture and civilization on it, and regarded it as sacred soil for at least 6000 years, if not more. When I say Bharatavarasha in the sense of the Motherland of the Hindus, I do not refer to the boundaries of the truncated India created by Jinnah, and Nehru in 1947, but to those of our traditional homeland which extends continuously from Gandhara to Kamrup and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. This basically has been the concept of Hindu Nationhood or what we call HINDUTVA or Hindu Rashtra from times immemorial.
3. We remained subjugated for more than 1000 years when foreign rulers ruled over our country. By barbaric persecution or economic inducements, they compelled certain segments of our nation to abandon their ancestral culture and adopt the culture of those foreign invaders. These segments of our population forgot that the culture they had adopted was a foreign culture, a culture that belonged to another nation and had been forced on them.
4. But subjugation by hostile alien powers cannot by itself destroy the Nationhood of a Nation. Nor can the nature of the nation, the basic characteristic and disposition of the nation, get altered or changed by the fact of enslavement. Nations do not get destroyed. We Hindus are a nation just as the Germans are a nation, the Armenians are a nation, the Kurds are a nation, the Jews are a nation. Germany was divided into two after the II World War. But this did not abate their nationhood. Within 50 years, they achieved reunification of their motherland and the nation has been restored to its original character and complexion.
5. The fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION' is by no means a new idea. This idea has been with us from the dawn of history. Without going into the hoary past, let me trace it from the latter half of the 19th century. If we read the writings of Swami DAYANAND SARASWATI (1824-1883) of Arya Samaj, we can see the underlying notion that 'We Hindus are a Nation'. We can see the same refrain in the writings of BANKIM CHANDRA CHATTERJEE (1838-1894) of BANDE MATARAM fame and SRI AUROBINDO (1872-1950). In their writings we find a clear and confident assertion that 'We Hindus are a Nation' and not just a Religious Community. The basic perception of VINAYAK DAMODAR SAVARKAR (1883-1966) was also the same which he forcefully presented in his book 'HINDUTVA'. However, the saint, sage and seer SWAMI VIVEKANANDA made the most powerful pronouncement of this idea. Throughout his brief but momentous life, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA proclaimed loudly, clearly and consistently the fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION'.
6. In his brief 5-minute first address, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA declared at the inaugural session of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago on 11th September 1893: “I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects”. Then he spoke three sentences which were most significant. First, he said: “I am proud to belong to a Religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.” In the second sentence he said: “I am proud to belong to a Nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth”. In this context, he cited an example, namely, that when the sacred Temple of the Jews was demolished by the Romans, we Hindus gave shelter to the Jewish refugees and took care of them in India. In the third sentence, Swamiji said: “I am proud to belong to a Religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnants of the grand Zoroastrian nation”. In these three consecutive sentences, Swami Vivekananda proclaimed his pride of belonging first “TO A RELIGION”, then “TO A NATION” and again “TO A RELIGION”.
7. It will be clear that Swami Vivekananda used the words 'RELIGION' and 'NATION' as synonymous terms. No pseudo-secularist in India today can have any doubt about what RELIGION or NATION Swamiji was talking about and what his perception of nationhood was. Swami Vivekananda is emphatically clear that the essential feature of Hindu Nationhood is the Hindu religion, the 'SANATANA DHARMA'. He is only declaring that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION'.
8. In 1909, SRI AUROBINDO expressed the same view in his historic Uttarpara speech: “India is identical with 'Sanatana Dharma. When therefore it is said that India shall rise, it is the 'Sanatana Dharma' that shall rise. When it is said that India shall expand and extend itself, it is the 'Sanatana Dharma' that shall expand and extend itself over the world. IT IS FOR THE DHARMA AND BY THE DHARMA THAT INDIA EXISTS. I SAY THAT IT IS THE 'SANATANA DHARMA' WHICH FOR US IS NATIONALISM'.”
9. The cardinal fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION' unto ourselves and not just a religious community formed the crucial plank of our first National Movement in 1905, viz. the 'Swadeshi Movement' in undivided Bengal. When Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon (1859-1925) in 1905, the entire Hindu society rose up with a National Inspiration. No one at that time had the slightest doubt that 'We Hindus are a Nation'. That is why in Calcutta city, on the first day of the agitation 50,000 people took a collective oath before Goddess Kali in the Holy Kalighat Temple to the effect that 'we shall throw the British out of our homeland'. The famous historian R.C. Majumdar (1888-1980) rightly concluded that he saw no difference in those days between Sanatana Dharma and Indian Nationalism.
10. After Indian independence, Jawaharlal Nehru promoted his concept of False Nationhood under the label of 'Secularism'. According to this 'Secularism' Concept, all the people who happen to reside on the soil of India form a Nation, whether he follows the culture of this Country or not, whether he is loyal to this Country or not. It does not matter if the State-aided Minorities dismiss the time-honored Culture of this Country 'Sanatana Dharma' as abominable and as a path of the Devil. Thus in a mischievous way Jawaharlal Nehru reduced the Concept of Nationhood into a geographic entity and bade good-bye to the established principles of Nationhood founded on Emotional-cum-Cultural Unity and all that it implies. According to this Nehru's notion, Hindus of India in majority have to voluntarily abandon the inheritance of their traditional homeland. Nehru used his political might to propagate this debilitating and Nation-decimating anti-Hindu ideology and this became the corner stone of all his policies and proved disastrous for the Hindu society. In short, Jawaharlal Nehru promoted his VICIOUS CONCEPT OF FALSE SEMITIC NATIONHOOD under the label of SECULARISM.
11. In 1949, Nehru said that “to talk of Hindu culture would injure India's interests”. What did ‘Maulana’ Nehru mean by “India”? He meant a De-Hinduized India in which no one can call himself a Hindu without feeling a sense of guilt or inferiority complex! An India where every terrorist Muslim would have a first charge on our National Resources and every proselytizing Christian Missionary would enjoy the full protection and patronage of the Indian State.
12. Unlike Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) who was not either afraid or ashamed of proclaiming from roof top that he was a devout Hindu, and a staunch supporter of Sanatana Dharma, Jawaharlal Nehru took special pride in announcing his collosal ignorance of Sanatana Dharma and Hindu Culture from all public platforms. Dressed in brief mortal official authority, Nehru’s supercilious, purblind audacity reached its acme of irresponsibility while delivering a lecture at the Lucknow University in 1951 when he said: “The ideology of Hindu Dharma is completely out of tune with the present times and if it took root in India, it would smash the country to pieces.”
13. Jawaharlal Nehru himself had admitted more than once that by Education he was an Englishman, by Views an Internationalist (read, International Marxist!), by Culture a Muslim, and a Hindu only by a sheer accident of birth. With all this massive evidence, there is little scope for any doubt whatsoever that Nehru had total contempt for Hindu Religion, for Hindu Culture, for Hindu Society and for the average apathetic and listless Hindu.
14. Thus we have before us two alternative perceptions of our NATION and NATIONHOOD --- One of Swami Vivekananda and Other of Jawaharlal Nehru. Swami Vivekananda represented the Time–Defying sources and forces of ancient Vedic Wisdom rooted in Sanatana Dharma. Jawaharlal Nehru represented the sources and forces of anti-Hindu Semitic Cultures.
15. Swami Vivekananda was indeed a Phenomenon, an extraordinarily Divine Being who aroused an instantaneous world-wide awe, astonishment, surprise and admiration from the moment he addressed the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago in September 1893.
16. Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986) paid this tribute to Swami Vivekananda in 1977: “The best introduction to Swami Vivekananda is not to read about him, but to read him. The Swami’s personality, with all its charm and force, its courageousness, its spiritual authority, its fury and its fun, comes through to you very strongly in his writings and recorded words. Reading his printed words, we can catch something of the tone of his voice and even feel some sense of contact with his power. Swami Vivekananda’s English recreates his personality for us even now, three quarters of a Century later.”
17. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945?) paid the following tribute to Swami Vivekananda:
“It is very difficult to explain the versatile genius of Swami Vivekananda. The impact of Swami Vivekananda made on the students of our times by his works and speeches far outweighed that made by any other leader of the Country. He, as it were, expressed fully their hopes and aspirations. But Swami Vivekananda cannot be appreciated properly if he is not studied along with Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva (1836-1886). The foundation of the present freedom movement owes its origin to Swami Vivekananda’s Message. If India is to be free, it cannot be a land specially of Hinduism or of Islam --- it must be one UNITED LAND of different religious communities inspired the ideal of NATIONALISM. And for that Indians must accept whole heartedly the Gospel of Harmony of Religions, which is the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda.”
18. Swami Vivekananda wanted the Youth of India to have “Muscles of Iron and Nerves of Steel”. Referring to this aspect of Swami Vivekananda’s radiant personality, Subhas Chandra Bose declared:
“Swami Vivekananda was a full-blooded MASCULINE PERSONALITY --- and a Fighter to the core of his being. He was consequently a Worshipper of SHAKTI and gave a practical interpretation to the VEDANTA for the practical uplift of his countrymen. STRENGTH, STRENGTH is what the UPANISHADS say --- that was a frequent cry of his. He laid the greatest stress on CHARACTER BUILDING. … He was so great, so profound, so complex. A YOGI of the highest spiritual level in direct communication with the TRUTH, who had for the time being, consecrated his whole life to the moral and spiritual upliftment of his nation and of humanity, that is how I would describe him. If he had been alive, I would have been at his feet.”
Swami Vivekananda harmonized EAST and WEST, RELIGION and SCIENCE, PAST and PRESENT. And that is why he is great. Our countrymen have gained unprecedented self-respect, self-confidence and self-assertion from his Teachings.
Finally, let me conclude with the immortal words of Romain Rolland (1866-1944) on Swami Vivekananda: “Vivekananda’s words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his at thirty years distance without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shock, what transport, must have been produced when, in burning words, they issued from the lips of the hero!”
Finally, let me conclude with the immortal words of Romain Rolland (1866-1944) on Swami Vivekananda: “Vivekananda’s words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his at thirty years distance without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shock, what transport, must have been produced when, in burning words, they issued from the lips of the hero!”
Prophet of Patriotism
By V. SUNDARAM, IAS (Retd.) December 1, 2013
1. When we are celebrating the 150th Jayanthi of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), it is the Paramount Public Duty of every Patriotic Hindu to recall Swami Vivekananda’s definition of OUR NATIONHOOD which he gave in the form of a VEDIC INJUNCTION: “Hindu Dharma is the Quintessence of our National Life, hold fast to it if you want your country to survive, or else you would be wiped out in three generations.”
2. No one can dispute that the traditional homeland of Hindus is the Bharatavarsha. It is a distinct geographical entity. There are few nations in the world the natural boundaries of whose homeland are as clearly drawn as that of ours. And the Hindus have been intimately associated with this land, lived on it, developed their culture and civilization on it, and regarded it as sacred soil for at least 6000 years, if not more. When I say Bharatavarasha in the sense of the Motherland of the Hindus, I do not refer to the boundaries of the truncated India created by Jinnah, and Nehru in 1947, but to those of our traditional homeland which extends continuously from Gandhara to Kamrup and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. This basically has been the concept of Hindu Nationhood or what we call HINDUTVA or Hindu Rashtra from times immemorial.
3. We remained subjugated for more than 1000 years when foreign rulers ruled over our country. By barbaric persecution or economic inducements, they compelled certain segments of our nation to abandon their ancestral culture and adopt the culture of those foreign invaders. These segments of our population forgot that the culture they had adopted was a foreign culture, a culture that belonged to another nation and had been forced on them.
4. But subjugation by hostile alien powers cannot by itself destroy the Nationhood of a Nation. Nor can the nature of the nation, the basic characteristic and disposition of the nation, get altered or changed by the fact of enslavement. Nations do not get destroyed. We Hindus are a nation just as the Germans are a nation, the Armenians are a nation, the Kurds are a nation, the Jews are a nation. Germany was divided into two after the II World War. But this did not abate their nationhood. Within 50 years, they achieved reunification of their motherland and the nation has been restored to its original character and complexion.
5. The fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION' is by no means a new idea. This idea has been with us from the dawn of history. Without going into the hoary past, let me trace it from the latter half of the 19th century. If we read the writings of Swami DAYANAND SARASWATI (1824-1883) of Arya Samaj, we can see the underlying notion that 'We Hindus are a Nation'. We can see the same refrain in the writings of BANKIM CHANDRA CHATTERJEE (1838-1894) of BANDE MATARAM fame and SRI AUROBINDO (1872-1950). In their writings we find a clear and confident assertion that 'We Hindus are a Nation' and not just a Religious Community. The basic perception of VINAYAK DAMODAR SAVARKAR (1883-1966) was also the same which he forcefully presented in his book 'HINDUTVA'. However, the saint, sage and seer SWAMI VIVEKANANDA made the most powerful pronouncement of this idea. Throughout his brief but momentous life, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA proclaimed loudly, clearly and consistently the fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION'.
6. In his brief 5-minute first address, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA declared at the inaugural session of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago on 11th September 1893: “I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects”. Then he spoke three sentences which were most significant. First, he said: “I am proud to belong to a Religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.” In the second sentence he said: “I am proud to belong to a Nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth”. In this context, he cited an example, namely, that when the sacred Temple of the Jews was demolished by the Romans, we Hindus gave shelter to the Jewish refugees and took care of them in India. In the third sentence, Swamiji said: “I am proud to belong to a Religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnants of the grand Zoroastrian nation”. In these three consecutive sentences, Swami Vivekananda proclaimed his pride of belonging first “TO A RELIGION”, then “TO A NATION” and again “TO A RELIGION”.
7. It will be clear that Swami Vivekananda used the words 'RELIGION' and 'NATION' as synonymous terms. No pseudo-secularist in India today can have any doubt about what RELIGION or NATION Swamiji was talking about and what his perception of nationhood was. Swami Vivekananda is emphatically clear that the essential feature of Hindu Nationhood is the Hindu religion, the 'SANATANA DHARMA'. He is only declaring that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION'.
8. In 1909, SRI AUROBINDO expressed the same view in his historic Uttarpara speech: “India is identical with 'Sanatana Dharma. When therefore it is said that India shall rise, it is the 'Sanatana Dharma' that shall rise. When it is said that India shall expand and extend itself, it is the 'Sanatana Dharma' that shall expand and extend itself over the world. IT IS FOR THE DHARMA AND BY THE DHARMA THAT INDIA EXISTS. I SAY THAT IT IS THE 'SANATANA DHARMA' WHICH FOR US IS NATIONALISM'.”
9. The cardinal fact that 'WE HINDUS ARE A NATION' unto ourselves and not just a religious community formed the crucial plank of our first National Movement in 1905, viz. the 'Swadeshi Movement' in undivided Bengal. When Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon (1859-1925) in 1905, the entire Hindu society rose up with a National Inspiration. No one at that time had the slightest doubt that 'We Hindus are a Nation'. That is why in Calcutta city, on the first day of the agitation 50,000 people took a collective oath before Goddess Kali in the Holy Kalighat Temple to the effect that 'we shall throw the British out of our homeland'. The famous historian R.C. Majumdar (1888-1980) rightly concluded that he saw no difference in those days between Sanatana Dharma and Indian Nationalism.
10. After Indian independence, Jawaharlal Nehru promoted his concept of False Nationhood under the label of 'Secularism'. According to this 'Secularism' Concept, all the people who happen to reside on the soil of India form a Nation, whether he follows the culture of this Country or not, whether he is loyal to this Country or not. It does not matter if the State-aided Minorities dismiss the time-honored Culture of this Country 'Sanatana Dharma' as abominable and as a path of the Devil. Thus in a mischievous way Jawaharlal Nehru reduced the Concept of Nationhood into a geographic entity and bade good-bye to the established principles of Nationhood founded on Emotional-cum-Cultural Unity and all that it implies. According to this Nehru's notion, Hindus of India in majority have to voluntarily abandon the inheritance of their traditional homeland. Nehru used his political might to propagate this debilitating and Nation-decimating anti-Hindu ideology and this became the corner stone of all his policies and proved disastrous for the Hindu society. In short, Jawaharlal Nehru promoted his VICIOUS CONCEPT OF FALSE SEMITIC NATIONHOOD under the label of SECULARISM.
11. In 1949, Nehru said that “to talk of Hindu culture would injure India's interests”. What did ‘Maulana’ Nehru mean by “India”? He meant a De-Hinduized India in which no one can call himself a Hindu without feeling a sense of guilt or inferiority complex! An India where every terrorist Muslim would have a first charge on our National Resources and every proselytizing Christian Missionary would enjoy the full protection and patronage of the Indian State.
12. Unlike Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) who was not either afraid or ashamed of proclaiming from roof top that he was a devout Hindu, and a staunch supporter of Sanatana Dharma, Jawaharlal Nehru took special pride in announcing his collosal ignorance of Sanatana Dharma and Hindu Culture from all public platforms. Dressed in brief mortal official authority, Nehru’s supercilious, purblind audacity reached its acme of irresponsibility while delivering a lecture at the Lucknow University in 1951 when he said: “The ideology of Hindu Dharma is completely out of tune with the present times and if it took root in India, it would smash the country to pieces.”
13. Jawaharlal Nehru himself had admitted more than once that by Education he was an Englishman, by Views an Internationalist (read, International Marxist!), by Culture a Muslim, and a Hindu only by a sheer accident of birth. With all this massive evidence, there is little scope for any doubt whatsoever that Nehru had total contempt for Hindu Religion, for Hindu Culture, for Hindu Society and for the average apathetic and listless Hindu.
14. Thus we have before us two alternative perceptions of our NATION and NATIONHOOD --- One of Swami Vivekananda and Other of Jawaharlal Nehru. Swami Vivekananda represented the Time–Defying sources and forces of ancient Vedic Wisdom rooted in Sanatana Dharma. Jawaharlal Nehru represented the sources and forces of anti-Hindu Semitic Cultures.
15. Swami Vivekananda was indeed a Phenomenon, an extraordinarily Divine Being who aroused an instantaneous world-wide awe, astonishment, surprise and admiration from the moment he addressed the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago in September 1893.
16. Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986) paid this tribute to Swami Vivekananda in 1977: “The best introduction to Swami Vivekananda is not to read about him, but to read him. The Swami’s personality, with all its charm and force, its courageousness, its spiritual authority, its fury and its fun, comes through to you very strongly in his writings and recorded words. Reading his printed words, we can catch something of the tone of his voice and even feel some sense of contact with his power. Swami Vivekananda’s English recreates his personality for us even now, three quarters of a Century later.”
17. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945?) paid the following tribute to Swami Vivekananda:
“It is very difficult to explain the versatile genius of Swami Vivekananda. The impact of Swami Vivekananda made on the students of our times by his works and speeches far outweighed that made by any other leader of the Country. He, as it were, expressed fully their hopes and aspirations. But Swami Vivekananda cannot be appreciated properly if he is not studied along with Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva (1836-1886). The foundation of the present freedom movement owes its origin to Swami Vivekananda’s Message. If India is to be free, it cannot be a land specially of Hinduism or of Islam --- it must be one UNITED LAND of different religious communities inspired the ideal of NATIONALISM. And for that Indians must accept whole heartedly the Gospel of Harmony of Religions, which is the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda.”
18. Swami Vivekananda wanted the Youth of India to have “Muscles of Iron and Nerves of Steel”. Referring to this aspect of Swami Vivekananda’s radiant personality, Subhas Chandra Bose declared:
“Swami Vivekananda was a full-blooded MASCULINE PERSONALITY --- and a Fighter to the core of his being. He was consequently a Worshipper of SHAKTI and gave a practical interpretation to the VEDANTA for the practical uplift of his countrymen. STRENGTH, STRENGTH is what the UPANISHADS say --- that was a frequent cry of his. He laid the greatest stress on CHARACTER BUILDING. … He was so great, so profound, so complex. A YOGI of the highest spiritual level in direct communication with the TRUTH, who had for the time being, consecrated his whole life to the moral and spiritual upliftment of his nation and of humanity, that is how I would describe him. If he had been alive, I would have been at his feet.”
Swami Vivekananda harmonized EAST and WEST, RELIGION and SCIENCE, PAST and PRESENT. And that is why he is great. Our countrymen have gained unprecedented self-respect, self-confidence and self-assertion from his Teachings.
Finally, let me conclude with the immortal words of Romain Rolland (1866-1944) on Swami Vivekananda: “Vivekananda’s words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his at thirty years distance without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shock, what transport, must have been produced when, in burning words, they issued from the lips of the hero!”
Finally, let me conclude with the immortal words of Romain Rolland (1866-1944) on Swami Vivekananda: “Vivekananda’s words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his at thirty years distance without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shock, what transport, must have been produced when, in burning words, they issued from the lips of the hero!”
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