MODI DRUMS UP SUPPORT IN MEGHALAYA

IIt might not be music to the ears of his political opponents, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi did manage to get some rhythm on the drums and cymbals at Mawphlang on Saturday.

Taking time off from his busy schedule, Modi played traditional musical instruments from Meghalaya. He tried his hands on the Khasi drum known as Ksiang and Nakra Bom at the Mawphlang heritage village, about 25 kms from here.

Not satisfied with just the drum, he tried his hands at the hand-held cymbals much to the amusement of the traditional dancers, while local musicians played the drums.

Visibly impressed with his  effort and also  the colourful dance and attire of the troupe, Modi then clicked pictures of them. He later happily chatted with locals sipping a hot cup of tea to beat the chilly weather in the area, which is home to the famous sacred grooves.

The Prime Minister was also shown around the village where the artists showcased some of the local artifacts and the traditional methods of tool making. The Prime Minister also took a keen interest at the locks made by the local locksmiths.

Modi was accompanied by Governor, V Shanmuganathan, Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma and Union Minister DoNER, Jitendra Singh.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister went to Mattilang Amusement Park in Upper Shillong and visited the Elephant falls.

He took some pictures of himself with the falls at the backdrop. The falls is one important tourist spots of the State where the cascading water is said to give the impression of the head and trunk of an Elephant’s, hence the name.

Modi who stayed overnight here at the Raj Bhavan witnessed a cultural show at the State Convention Centre last evening. The Shillong Chamber Choir performed before the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.

The North East Zone Cultural Centre presented “Colours of the North East,” a cultural dance show of the eight north-eastern states.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to visit the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre at Quinton road here and the Catholic Cathedral Church at Dhankheti, but these itineraries were cancelled.

Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister took an Air Force chopper from the Eastern Air Command’s helipad and left for Guwahati.

Badlu Ram and Assam Regiment

What does Badlu Ram, who is dead and buried cold from World War II, got to do with 295 recruits of 315 batch of the Assam Regiment (AR)?

Nothing much, only that Badlu Ram’s body draws ration for the recruits of AR. So every year new recruits march and dance into the Indian Army, singing: “Badlu Ram ka Badan zameen ka neche hai, to humko uska ration milta hai…Shabash Hallelujah…!” (Badluram is buried, so we get his quota of ration, well done…)

The story is interesting behind the regiment’s song. It is said that one soldier, Badluram died in action during World War II from one of the AR’s platoons. 

However, the quarter master erred in striking out his name from the list and therefore ration was drawn in the name of the dead soldier and therefore there was surplus ration.

https://youtu.be/LQrS50Q6MLA

So when the supply route of this platoon was cut off by the Japanese, the extra ration of Badluram proved to be a lifesaver during this crucial period. The song therefore praises that legacy.

The song was composed by Late Major Proctor in 1946 and is a take on John Brown’s body which was popular marching song during the American Civil War.

Apart from the Badlu Ram song, the recruits also sang and danced other songs of the regiment, in this unique attestation parade, of one of the best fighting regiments of the Indian Army.

Each year this induction parade, held at the Parson Parade Ground of Assam Regimental Centre Happy Valley, is a treat to watch for the people of the State Capital. This year, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Subrata Saha reviewed the parade.

Lt. Gen. Saha during his address to the new recruits recounted the contributions of the North East and Assam Regiment towards nation building.

Raised on 15 June 1941, AR has earned several laurels including seven Battle Honours, three Theatre Honours, Nine Chief of Army Staff citations, 23 Army Commanders citations and two United Nations citations.

The regiment would be celebrating the platinum Jubilee year of the regiment from 16 to 19 November 2016 here in the State Capital.

“The Army Chief would be present during the platinum jubilee celebrations.   Colours will be presented to 16 and 17 Assam and 1 and 2 Arunachal scouts at the Assam Regimental Centre during the occasion,” Lt. Gen Saha informed.

NINE FOOT CHINAMAN AND NEHRU

After the humiliating defeat at the hands of Chinese in 1962, the image of the "nine foot Chinaman overrunning the country,” was created by then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru to hide his follies.

Military historian and documentary filmmaker, Shiv Kunal Verma who penned the book “1962 -The War that Wasn't,” says the image of the “invincible Chinaman” was created by Nehru to exonerate himself and others from the humiliating defeat and his book exposes that.

 

This phobia about the “mighty Chinese” still persist to this day in some measures, despite India having one of the best armed forces in the world now and are no push-overs, Verma said.

“The nine foot Chinaman did not overrun parts of northeast India during the 1962 war. It was Nehru and other bureaucrats who lost the war for India,” the author emphasized.

Verma who has filmed the Kargil War and has authored several other books like the Northeast Trilogy recently handed a copy of the book to Eastern Air Command chief, Air Marshal, C Hari Kumar here in Shillong, Capital of Meghalaya, India.

According to Verma, Nehru committed one of the biggest blunders before the war by putting up political appointees in the armed forces, who lacked battle experience.

Nehru in fact “handpicked” Lt. Gen. B M Kaul – know to be close to Nehru- to lead the war who had no experience, the author pointed out in his book.

“Right up to the rank of the Brigadier, before the 1962 war, there were mostly political appointees, who lacked experience of war,” Kunal said, who detailed these findings in his book.

 

Nehru, moreover, overlooked warnings from different eminent personalities and committees of a Chinese build-up along the borders and of an imminent attack.

Then Home Minister, Sardar Patel and also the Himmat Singh and Kulwant Singh committees gave adequate warnings to Nehru about China’s intent. “Sardar Patel had in fact written a letter predicting about this fallout (China attacking,) but unfortunately 38 days later he died,” Verma said.

The reason for overlooking the advice of the experts was because Nehru considered himself a historian and viewed China favorably from history’s perspective. He further had defense Minister, VK Krishna Menon, with Communist leanings, to guide him.

Despite these, much could have been salvaged had the Assam Rifles postioned at the forward posts to slow down the Chinese advances.

“It is still a puzzle why the Assam Rifles were not put up at the borders. The Assam Riflesw had the experience fighting the Japanese during World War II and also fighting with the allied troops in the First World War,” Verma said.

Another blunder was not deploying the Air Force to stop the Chinese. “The Air Force was not deployed because of fear the Chinese Air Force would bomb our towns and cities. But at that time China did not have ATF (jet fuel.) They couldn’t even fly within China,” the author said.

Meanwhile, Verma believes there is little possibility of a war between India and China in the near future. But border skirmishes would continue.

“They don’t want the border settled. They want the borders to be alive based on Mao Tse-Tung’s theory. The Chinese have an expansionist mindset,” he said.

"CHINESE MOBILE PHONES EMITS MORE RADIATION:" AIIMS DOCTOR

Chinese brand mobile handset emits more radiation, a leading Cancer Specialist of the country, Dr. Abhishek Shangar said here in Shillong.

Dr. Shankar, a well-known Cancer specialist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, mobile phones emit radiations, but “China-made mobile phones emanate more radiation.”

The specialist doctor is here for a week-long conclave in Meghalaya on Cancer being organised by the North Eastern Council and Pink Chain campaign, an NGO.

Several Chinese companies have flooded the Indian cell phone sector in the recent years with its cheap prices and competitive specs. Some of the most popular Chinese brands are Xiaomi, with its Redimi series phones, Ginonee, Oppo and several others.

Dr. Shankar further stated that cell phones which are on silent and vibration mode emanate more radiation and therefore the best option is to switch it off or put it in aeroplane mode, whenever necessary.

Importantly, Dr. Shankar didn’t give a direct answer when asked if radiations from cell phones and mobile towers are directly linked to Cancer.

He, however, informed that the World Health Organisation is conducting a study on the effects of radiation from cell phones and towers. The report of the findings would be published soon.

“There is big pressure from corporate houses (for obvious reasons,)” Dr. Shankar said, but didn’t elaborate on whom the pressure was being exerted.

Several corporate houses have claimed radiations emitted from cell phones and towers where within permissible limits and doesn’t endanger human health.

Stating “radiation surely causes cancer,” Dr. said that but if these are within permissible limits no harm is caused to human health.

Urging people to go for mandatory screening like Mammography and Pap test, Dr. Shankar said, 80 percent of the Cancer cases in India are detected in the third or fourth stage and the chances of survival in such cases are just 20 percent.

“In the Western countries 80 percent of the cases are detected in the first or second stage and so the survival chances are 80 percent,” he informed.

There are at present 25 million Cancer cases globally and this figure is estimated to increase by 50 percent by 2020. India alone has 2.5 million Cancer patients.

Terming Cancer as a “socio-cultural disease,” Dr. Shankar said a lot of cases are directly linked to the social habits of the people like taking “Pan, Tobacco smoked fish and meat and such other practises.”

He, however added, “Cancer is curable” if people take preventive steps, live a healthy lifestyle and go for regular medical checkups.

NEIGHBOURS MUST HELP PERSECUTED MINORITIES : HOME MINSTER

Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju  said here today if a minority community of a particular country are persecuted on religious grounds, “it is the responsibility of neighboring countries to provide shelter to such people in their Territory.”

Therefore, the Union Minister said, India has provided shelter to Bangladeshi Hindus in India as they were persecuted on religious grounds. He said Bangladeshi Hindus have been residing in India for several decades in this country.

He said the Government is treating these cases of Bangladeshi Hindus on humanitarian ground and there are proposals to grant them citizenship rights. He further spoke on the opposition to grant citizenship rights to such people and said these people would not be accommodated in Northeast alone, but throughout the country.

“The Northeast alone would not share the burden of providing shelter to such people, but these people would be accommodated throughout India,” Rijiju said.

  

On continuation of peace talks with the NSCN (K), he said the Government of India wanted to continue with the peace talks with NSCN (K.) “It is the NSCN (K) which has abrogated the peace talks. The Government was in favour of continuing talks with the outfit,” he said.

Informing about the abduction and reported death of an Intelligence Bureau official, B Singh from Rongra, South Garo Hills, Rijiju said, there is no confirmation about the death.

“It is an unfortunate case (abduction), but there is no confirmation about his death as there is no physical evidence in this regard,” Rijiju added.

Terming the Garo Hills situation as “disturbing” the Home Minister said that the Centre is willing to provide more assistance if the State Government wants. 

PERFORM YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO DEMAND RIGHTS: KIREN RIJIJU

Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju said today people from Northeast would forfeit their right to speak about discrimination outside the region, if they discriminate people of other communities here in the northeast.

“Within the Northeast there shouldn’t be discrimination, or what right do we have to say people from the northeast shouldn’t be discriminated outside the northeast,” the Union Minister said while speaking at the Mega Arunachal Tribal Festival at the U So So Tham auditorium here.

He advised the students: “if you want your right you should know about your responsibilities. Nothing is one way traffic.” Terming racial discrimination as a “mental illness and the worst form of crime” he said, there would be now provisions in the Indian penal code to take “strong punitive action” against those who discriminates racially.

Touching on the large number of organizations and associations, he said, any State having a large number of such organizations indicates the State Government has failed in discharging its responsibilities and duties. “NGOs and associations are formed when people feel their grievances are not addressed by the Government. Such organizations indicate that the Government has failed,” he maintained.

 He urged the students not to form too many organizations, as they are “not to do business here,” and said they should rather concentrate on their careers.  

On the other hand, Rijiju said people from the northeast “need not feel frustrated and angry” when people outside the region remains ignorant about the people of the region as India is a huge Nation of 1.25 billion people.

“We may know about Mumbai, Delhi, UP and Bihar, but how much do we know about the people of Lakshadweep or say Daman and Diu. Sometimes it is not possible to know everything about the people of this huge Nation,” he stated.

Nonetheless he said the Central Government is taking steps to create awareness of the region and from next year all the text books of CBSE would have chapter on the northeast. “Right from nursery to the Ph.D level the CBSE and the UGC syllabus would have chapters on the Northeast,” he added.

Moreover, speaking about the often-repeated term “mainstream India,” Rijiju said: “people speak about the northeast merging with mainstream India, why can’t Delhi-Mumbai merge with the northeast?"

He stated Delhi is not the beginning of the Country; it is in the Centre of the Country and the Capital. “My State and the northeast is the beginning of the country as it borders several foreign Nations and the vanguard of the country. The region is also mainstream India,” he stated.

With the “definition of a toilet changing every 20 odd kms in rural India,” 1.30 crore Government-built toilets doesn’t fit any definition in India and remains unused, with beneficiaries preferring the outdoors for defecation.

Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS), Choudhary Birender Singh said here today: “the definition of a toilet changes every 20 odd kms in the villages and this has been there for years. So to think of bringing about a change of mindset in a fortnight is not possible.”

What the  Minister meant by stating definition of a toilet changes as most of the people in the rural areas defecate outdoors and it depends on the time of topography where they relieve themselves, be it a agricultural field, canal, River etc.

Expressing “deep concern” over the 1.30 crore toilets built by the Government remaining non-functional, he wondered how to bring about a change in the mindset of the people, as merely building toilets won’t address the problem of open defecation.

“The Government has so far built 6 crore toilets in the country. Last year alone we built 80 lakh toilets, but just by building toilets we cannot achieve success in our open defecation free programme,” the Minster said about the old habits of people dying hard. The DWS Ministry has targeted 2019 for every household - which otherwise now goes outdoors for defecation – to have a toilet.

 

“The mindset has to change, if we are to succeed in our Swachh Bharat campaign. The Government alone cannot do everything, the people must come forward and be part of the change,” Singh, who was here for the National Consultation on Sanitation Partnership, said.

Asked about the way forward, Singh said a lot of awareness programme is being organized at the grassroots level. “The campaign is also being taken forward through social media, NGOs and community leaders,” the Union Minster said.

Exuding confidence about the northeastern region achieving 100 per cent success in the open defecation free programme, Singh said, in the next two to three years, every household would have a toilet.

He, meanwhile, said that the Centre is providing Rs. 10800 for the construction of toilets in the northeast, while the amount is Rs. 9000 for the rest of the country. 

WOOD OF THE GODS: MEGHALAYA'S AGAR PLANTATION DRIVE

With a global market share of US $8 billion, it is not called the “Wood of the Gods” for nothing and Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma is sniffing a rural economy turnaround through Agar plantation in the State.

 “The global market share of Agar (Aquilaria Khasiana) by-products is US$ 8 billion and the market is growing,” Sangma said during the launch of Megha LAMP here today, an initiative to link the rural economy with the markets.

Agarwood is used for many religious purposes in India and abroad, such as manufacture of Agarbatti (Incense sticks) to Agar oil. It is also in high demand in the Arab world where the oil is used to manufacture high-end perfumes. Agar is also highly prized for its medicinal properties.

In fact, All India United Democratic Front chief, Badruddin Ajmal built a successful business empire from Agar plantation and now manufactures perfumes which are sold in the Gulf region.

Recalling the 70s, Sangma said, Agar plantation formed a major chunk of the rural economy in Garo Hills and some of the most affluent businessmen in South Garo Hills region were Agar planters.

But, over the years the planters lost interest and there are just a few remaining in the region, which Sangma wishes to change through his Green Economy initiative. In fact, Agar is a “potential endangered species” and listed in Appendix II by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Although, Agarwood is a prized raw material and more expensive than sandalwood, there are challenges to extract Agar oil from the wood. It is sometimes a complicated process as it requires a fungus to infect the tree.  The infection could be natural or artificially inoculated.

After the fungal infection, the Agar tree develops a natural resistant against the fungus by developing a resin and the wood turns dark and heavy at the trunk and roots, which is the ultimate prize for the planters who distill out the resin.

“The Ministry of External Affairs recently asked from the horticulture department for one litre of Agar oil to be gifted to some foreign dignitaries,” Sangma said. He informed the gathering that a Tola (about 11 grams) of Agar oil cost about Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 in the current global market.

Sangma seems excited about the prospect of Agar plantation and this could be gauged by the number of Agar plantation programmes he is inagurating. In August alone, Sangma has launched the plantation of this tree in Umling, Ri-Bhoi district and in Betasing in South West Garo Hills. The District Horticulture Officer launched Agar plantation programme in Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills.

“Tomorrow I would launch the Agar plantation programme in Chokpot, South Garo Hills in which 4000 farmers have already registered,” Sangma informed the gathering. 

Indian Air Force plugging gaps to thwart Chinese threat

With China lurking in the backyard, the Indian Air Force is desperately trying to fill the “voids and gaps” in the eastern theatre, while Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha today saying attention was not paid to this vital sector.

This is the first time an Air Chief has candidly admitted about India’s fixation on the western sector, vis-a-vis Pakistan and the years of attention-deficit on the eastern sector.

He said the country was “concentrating on the western sector” and as such the “eastern sector didn’t get the attention,” so vital for the country’s security.

“We have voids and gaps in the our capabilities in the eastern sector,” Air Chief Marshal Raha said at the end of the two-day Commanders’ Conference at the Eastern Air Command (EAC) headquarters here.

What is worrying is the rapid infrastructure build-up of China for years now along India’s border, especially along Arunachal Pradesh. Civil airports have been integrated with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force for swifter combat capabilities. New airfields built and other modern infrastructure and equipment are already in place to give support to the Chinese men at the frontline.

But the good news is that after 60 odd years, India is finally going full steam to develop the eastern sector. The Air Chief said the EAC’s area of responsibility is one of the largest amongst other commands of the Air Force. So now a number of initiatives have been undertaken to develop it.

One of the gaps of this sector is the connectivity and also the ageing fleet of the IAF. Air Chief Marshal Raha said several Advance Landing Grounds are being built in the northeast and eastern India. Some of the other initiatives include building of hangars and “assets” that would enhance the maneuvering capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

“We are upgrading our infrastructure and equipments in the eastern sector,” the Air Chief said. Moreover, there are induction plans for new fleet.

He said the country "urgently" requires new generation fighter aircrafts and the induction of 36 Rafale fighter jets, once the deal is finalized with France, would “fill some void” in the Air Force.

Commenting on the Tejas, which is being built indigenously, the Air Chief, said, the Tejas "may not be the best in the world" in its category, but their induction would also help the Air Force.

He said, in the next 15 years the Air Force’s ageing fleet comprising the MIGs, Jaguars and Mirage have to be replaced and therefore the “Make in India” initiative would go a long way in bridging this gap.

BIRDS GET THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IN KHASI HILLS, MEGHALAYA

An East Khasi Hills district administration order has become the “wind beneath the wings” of birds and now they have their “fundamental right” to fly.

The district has become one of the few places where keeping or selling caged birds has become an offense, after Friday's  notification. With the order, the birds are gone, so too the sellers from marketplaces such as Police Bazaar and others.

East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, PS Dkhar said there has been no violation of the order till today. “We would be strictly following it,” he stated.

The decision of the district administration here was based on the 2010 Gujarat and 2015 Delhi High Court rulings. The Delhi High Court ruling said: “Birds have fundamental rights, including the right to live with dignity and they cannot be subjected to cruelty by anyone…They deserve sympathy.”

Many children are fond of keeping birds as pets. Several individuals and organizations across the globe term such pet-keeping cruel and have been counseling, especially, parents to encourage their kids to take home some other animal as a pet.

Some of the birds that are found in the markets places here come from different places of the State and country with diverse conditions, related to their habitat. So many perish in cages, when trapped and translocation.

Dkhar feels that not just the administration, but also individuals and NGOs should report or file FIR against violation of the order. Violators would be punished under the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Dkhar said, “We somehow feel good after the notification was passed” - guess  the feel-good factor is more in the birds !

APJ ABDUL KALAM - A TRIBUTE

The "People’s President." Had the fortune to meet APJ Abdul Kalam as a journalist on several occasions – a superb human in my book.

Trust is something that does not come easy these days. It, however, was something our President was full of. As a President, he was entitled ZZ+ category security. He came one fine summer at the Raj Bhavan in Shillong, journalists like us were mesmerized with his simplicity and hairstyle!

After the occasional meeting, Kalam sat for a press conference - a rarity for Presidents. He answered questions. And thereafter, some usual suspects asked for a photo-op with the President. What audacity! The security went into hyper tizzy. Of course the entire journalist fraternity was accredited. This meant they were security-checked thoroughly.  

The security which involved the venerable President’s guards shooed every one saying nothing doing and moved the entire happy journalist out of the President’s way.

But, that is where Kalam came in. He asked the guards to move out and sat for a group photo with the journalists from Shillong and Guwahati. It was tensed photo opportunity, but journalists had the biggest smile! 

Kalam was also a President to give one-on-one interview with reporters. I was fortunate to have taken one with the President when he was in office.

One of the nicest quotes he said was when he eulogized "God as a great designer." He added that while Venus was a hot boiling mass and Mars was cold uninhabitable planet, “ earth was put in a suitable orbit … and blessed” so that life could sustain here.

That came from a man of science. Kalam to me was a man who gave equal leeway to science and faith.

In India faith runs deep. A large section of the people believe in faith, be it Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism you name it and people of a particular faith would stand up.

Kalam, though a scientist, did not disregard this populace and gave credence which is highly creditable. Moreover, Kalam a Muslim by birth could quote the Gita or the Bible or any religious text  – that’s secular.

All the students at IIM, Shillong would have gained a wealth of wisdom through the lectures of the president. He dedicated himself till he could no longer stand on his feet, but India stood tall because of this Great Man.

As someone who was born after Independence and not having the fortune to meet some of the greats, Kalam was someone we can be proud of post Independence, who epitomized India as a country of diverse race, religion,   ethnicity. We have seen Him, only question is: “can we live Him?”

CHINA REVERSE ENGINEERING MANUFACTURE OF TERRORISTS

China is in "Reverse Engineering" mode. This giant of a country is now taking all the ills from the world and duplicating it. Be it the foreign policy towards its neighbours, its muscle flexing, assembling terrorists, or rush to claim all the firsts in the Universe. HiuenTsang's China was exactly opposite to what the commies are up to.


China at that point of era was an accepting Nation, seldom attacked another country and was in the genuine quest for knowledge and wisdom. Hiuen Tsang visited India and there was shared knowledge that has passed over the generation between India and China.


But just because a country has a great historical past, doesn't necessarily mean it would have a great present or future. The present China has now an amazing fascination of claiming the firsts of the world. There was even this claim that the first toilet seat was build in this country after some excavation in a remote place. The forefathers could have great toilet seat manufacturers, but now?


Now it is in the process to accept anything- even reverse engineering. A country, which claims itself as one of the top Nations of the world has time and again proved it is good at manufacturing electronic goods after tearing apart similar items from the West.


India's market are flooded with these items. Okay, they are cheap, but what about the quality? From Umbrellas to pen drives. you name it and the "Made in China" tag is there, but how durable are these? Many of the multinational companies, are outsourcing assembly of their products for the cheap labour available, nothing more.


Sadly, the Umbrellas can't face two Indian Monsoon and the fabled 60 GB pen drives can't hold even 1 Kb after a use or two. But once you decide not to buy these items, you have another Made in China good.


Some of the defense hardware too are mere copies from the West, like the American Stealth Bomber. China has reversed engineered a stealth bomber of its own. The J-11 fighter jet is another example. China is now trying to make a clone of the BrahMos missile. These have never been tested in harsh conditions like its Umbrellas and pen drives.


But the larger question is about its relationship with its neighbours. From South China Sea to the Indian and Pacific Ocean, China has only been able to flex its muscle like a bully. Its only ally is the failed and rogue Nations. Be it Iran, Somalia, Pakistan, North Korea and similar others whose only contribution to the world has been terror.




As an Indian I am disturbed by this bully at the neighbourhood. At some point of time we have to face it (by the way bullies are cowards.) China by blocking a UN resolution for keeping the terrorist ZK Lakhvi under lock and key has proved its hideous policies towards its neighbour. By the Lakhvi was the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorists attack. China is India's enemy No 1 defense Minister George Frenandes have said, he couldn't have been more correct.

China attacked India. It is violating human rights of Uighurs in Xinjiang province. The Uighurs are fighting for sovereignty. It is not just the Uighurs, the occupation of Tibet and Tibetans  brutal suppression over the years has made International headlines over several decades now. But few are willing to antagonise the Dragon  out of fear.

Moreover, China is encouraging terrorists from Northeast, India. Forget about its neighbours, the commies didn't spare its own people by pulling out its cloned tanks in Tinamen Square - remember?


China by its action has lined up terrorists in its production units, on the sly. India and the world must be careful what it buys (literally) from China now. All the while it is also trying unsuccessfully to reverse engineer an image of itself as a peaceful Nation. Also heard it is manufacturing Ganesha idols, God help us all!

Lord Ganesha Made in China with trunk on the wrong side, OMG!

PUNK AND PROUD

A long long time ago when the Sun rose in the East and set to rest in the west, I was a testosterone-filled teen.

We lived in the era of Punks amidst torn jeans with patches, leather jackets with studs and leather wrist bands again with studs, but one of those sharp kinds and yes, long dreadlocks was the in-thing.

Who needed discussions on climate change and environmental pollution back those days, because as you walked across the alley the preying eyes of those gangs with blood-shot eyes, with knuckles and reeking with alcohol was bad enough - they used to club you or break teeth with knuckles those day, no guns.

Importantly, there were always droopy-eyed girls around speaking idyllically about Moksha, Movies and the sweet smell of Marijuana and of course Revolution. You watched the lips moving in slow motion and heard stuff that are usually played on a broken record. Now you have DJs doing the same sound effect, without encouraging any lust or longing.

The hostel guards got their daily grass, some friendly teachers joined in, in fact we lived in an unspoiled world – we needed just that last stagger for the revolution to take place to place us inside Utopia – instead we stumbled into bed!

Now it is politically incorrect – I don’t like this term anyway – to say a lot many things. Moreover, teachers can’t spank the shit out of the arse of school children, you can’t sing happily the jingle of condoms while watching TVs with the family that included grandpa, grandma aunts, uncles, mom, dad, brothers sisters, and a whole lot of cousins. Coming to cousins they no longer ask what kind of biscuit is that, to the 'family' again during TV hours, when there was an ad about sanitary napkin packet - wow things surely have changed.

These days, boys and girls have information overload and have, moreover, taken to Facebook, Twitter, and Whatnot and they are saying a lot more things than us, but in a different manner, which some of us erstwhile Punks understand, but don’t entirely relate to.

In India, we see a whole lot of new generation kids, tech savvy – back in our time we longed for a TV – with a bag full of information, which they are disseminating at a furious pace. Had Facebook been invented in our Marijuana-laced world decades back, we would have first slowly created a four-dimensional figure of the word inside the psychedelic head, torn the word bit by bit to find it’s true meaning looking hours on the page and prodded endlessly about the lives of millions on the site.

There is no time for these craps. These kids now ‘like’ everything. A new picture, a new status or even when someone breaks up saying “finally I did it.” What the heck, “I finally-did-it” kinda break up in our times was nothing to like about modestly - it was an adrenaline rush, an opportunity up for grabs with both hands!

We are what we were, a Bob Marley, always at the Doors jamming with not one, but three little birds and we surely were Comfortably Numb. At times it was the Beatles, Bob Dylan or Queen rapsodysing about Jude or walking alone as the Tambourine Man. I still have the urge to take those stairways to Utopia.