On Earth Day

On this Earth Day we should remember- "The earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our childern. So we have to handever to them at least as it was handed our to us." - Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Diwali !!

May the Divine Light of Diwali spread into your life Peace, Prosperity, Good Health, Wealth and Happiness. Happy Diwali !! :)

Happy Women's Day!!

One more Women Day passed away. I got lots of wishes through SMS n calls. I feel today’s women are doing their best and getting appreciations. Even survey reports shows that mindset of society is changing towards the women, but still I feel there is the largest scope for change lies in men’s attitude to women and women attitude to themselves.

I remember that when I became VP of All India NSUI, people used to say that I became just because I m woman and for completion of 33% reservation. I decided I will prove myself through my work and I worked hard. One day Shri Ashok Gahlot (Presently CM of Rajsthan), who was our incharge, asked me, “why you work so hard? Even boys don’t work hard like you.” I replied “Sir, because I m a girl, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, “She doesn’t have what she takes.” They will say, “Girls don’t have what it takes. But sir, your words makes worth my work.”

On this Women’s Day I just want to say all the women that “Proud to be a woman and remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

For men I just want to say that “You all are right, its sure that God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece;)

Happy women’s Day!!

जज्बात

अपने जज्बात को,
नाहक ही सजा देती हूँ...

होते ही शाम,
चरागों को बुझा देती हूँ...



जब राहत का,
मिलता ना बहाना कोई...

लिखती हूँ हथेली पे नाम तेरा,
लिख के मिटा देती हूँ......................

GHANDHI’S HEAVAN

At a time when practicing the path preached by Ghandhi is consider out of vogue, a small village in Uttaranchal still lives by the principle of the Mahatma. Not a soul in bakhroti village in tehri district consume alcohol or smock tobacco- the two vices that Gandhi stood against The Ghandhian code of conduct is practiced to the book by the 20 odd village families. Who wear khadi, do not lie or hurl abuse at one another. The villagers say this is a feat in itself as Uttaranchal is infested with village where most men are addicted to alcohol and tobacco, and woman have often protested to mend the system.A journalist .umesh dobal, Who reported about the thriving alcohol mafia here was done to death.

The ideals wear installed in the villagers by baldev joshi, a school teacher, who was influenced by the freedom struggle and Gandhi’s dictum of non- violence. Joshi later enrolled himself with the prajamandal party and strove for the merger of tehri, a princely state, into India. He propagated the Ghandhian principle among the villagers and prompted them to abstain from alcohol and tobacco and lead a disciplined life. So much was joshi’s influence, that the villagers still follow the path he showed ,even after his death some years ago.

The villagers proudly inform that bakhroti was given the ideal village tag by the authorities in the 1770s, when the rest of the state was in the grip of alcohol and the gandhians wear trying hard to get liquor movement in the area. Thanks to their ideals, the villagers claim they command respect wherever they go. The people in the neighboring villages throw away their cigarettes and bidis. When we go near them, as a mark of their respect ’they say. And in their bid to enforce the Gandhian code, they spared none. Former village chief buddhi Prasad recalls how the villagers had locked up a block development officer, who was drunk.

The basic strength of a political party

The basic strength of a political party is derived from the core ideology to which people feel associated towards. What is that particular emotional binding which let the congress party rule the nation continuously for more than 25 years after the Independence? What differentiated it from communist, communal, regional and cast based parties? In one word “Indian Nationalism”.

There has been an attempt by the Bhartiya Janata Party to snatch this word ‘Nationalism’ by different political means, but some how they have not fully succeeded.

The crux of politics in not always the policies and programmes of the government run by a political party, but the “dream” which touch the heart, mind and soul derived from the ideological base of the party. Dreams, which are to be converted into reality.

The Bharatiya Janata Party banks on the ‘Hinduism’ agenda calling the same as synonymous to “Nationalism”. The Communist still propagates their theory of “Sarvhara welfare” as their political line. The emergence of BSP is a by-product of the caste based sectarian divide propagated by Kashiram and Mayavati. “Power for Dalits, needless of means”, is their theory. The Dravidian Parties had blended the regional identity with “Tamil” aspirations, also antibrahmin in nature.The slogan “Marathi Asmita” first raised by Shiv-sena and now practiced by Raj Thakare against nonmarathies is though being destructive, but appeals to a section of Maharashtriyans. The Samajvadi Party has used a cast combination supplemented by minority communalism to reach the ends of power.

It may also be recalled that the communal and regional aspirations enlighten by Akali Dal has also at a time; back staged the “Khalistan” sentiments. The Naga, the Mizo, the Bodo’s have taken to terrorism with seperationalism as an ideology


Can we, the Congress, counter the BSP by trying to sing a pro dalit song in a louder and divisive voice? Can we intrude into the SP votes by being more provoking or more appeasing to the Minority? Can we raise the slogans of Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamia or Gujarati Asmita to counter the regional political parties or sentiments?

What tools the Congress Party may adapt to face these challenges? Economic programmes, welfare schemes and good governance may back stage but can never be an answer to the issues of ideology and emotions. Even semi national parties like BJP also used phrases like “Gujarat ka Swabhimaan” and “True follower of Sardar Patel” to get the political results.

We are the only party who inherited the legacy of the collective national sentiments but our party has never designed the ways to preach and practice the “Indian Nationalism” in the much needed way. Alas, we have also tried the policy of appeasement towards different sections following the instruments of divisive politics to win back the lost votes ending in loosing a bit of traditional vote base.

‘Indian Nationalism’ is not only an answer to the divisive politics but also an movement much needed to consolidate the youth of the country together. It attacks the Hindu Communalism of BJP and forbids the Minority Communalism of SP and even the Communists. It may effectively encounter the regional divides and if designed properly, may suppress any other emotional appeal, which may otherwise disturb the oneness of the Indian society.

युवाओं से आवाहन

(१)
उनका कर्ज चुकाने को,
अपना फर्ज निभाने को।
नया ख़ून तैयार खड़ा है,
राजनीति मेँ आने को॥

(२)
जागी अब तरुणाई है,
देश ने ली अंगडाई है।
नई उमर की नई फसल,
अब राजनीति मेँ आई है॥

(३)
जण गण मन अधिनायक,
जो है भाग्य विधाता।
लोकतंत्र के सिंहासन का,
असली मालिक मतदाता॥

(४)
किसी वाद पर दो मत ध्यान,
राष्ट्रहित मेँ दो मतदान॥

(५)
जाती धर्म और भाषावाद,
करना है इनका प्रतिवाद॥

Jodhaa Akbar

I really like this movie. Saw a silent, pure n mature love on screen after a long time, which deeply touch the heart. Chemistry between Ash n Ritiwik was prefect. Although movie’s length is long but not bored the audience.

In the case of dispute regarding Jodha, I would like to say that in history it’s clear that Akbar got marry with the princes of Aamer. The name of princes is a reason of dispute between the historians, but no body denial that marriage.There is a popular ‘Kidawanti’ in Rajasthan that in the place of princes one Daasi was placed. But it could not be possible bcoz it cant be hide long from Akbar. As Akbar came to know that, Aamer could not have that much good and faithfull realation with Mugals. Akbar was the first person who start the concept of ‘Sarvdharm Sambhav’. We can find Rajput Raani’s temples in the palace of fatpurshikari. There is one more interesting thing, in Mugal empire mother of Jahangeer & Shahajahan was also a Rajput, and still some people say that they were ‘Videshi’.

Summing- up its good love story. Even one of my frnd comment that Akabar's behavior was like 'Joru ka Gulaam', but i would like to say that if such a pure and innocent love is being one's Gulaam than every human being should someone's Gulaam in his\her life. There is one dialogue in the movie, "Jis dil me mohabbat hai, vo hi jannat hai."

संस्मरण

"रघुपति राघव राजाराम, पतित पावन सीताराम" गाने की आवाज जैसे ही कानों मे पड़ी, मैं जूरी से बोली, "लो डियर बज गए पांच! चल उठ, तैयार हो कर छ: बजे प्रार्थना स्थल पर पहुँचना है।


तैयार हो तम्बू मेँ सामान पैक करते समय विचारों की लय मे कब बह निकली पता ही नहीं चला........"दांडी यात्रा की ७५ वी वर्षगांठ पर उसी समय, उसी स्थान पर ७८ यात्रियों के साथ पुन: दांडी यात्रा आयोजित की जा रही है। ७८ यात्रियों के अलावा भी सेवा दल, स्वयं सेवी संस्थाओं से जुड़े लोग, बहुत से मिडिया इत्यादि लोगों का झुंड का झुंड चल रहा है। शहरों व गावों मे लोगों द्वारा स्वागत देखते ही बनता है।

पर इस दांडी यात्रा और गाँधी की दांडी यात्रा मेँ कुछ तो फर्क है? है ना, उस समय हर व्यक्ति एक ही उद्देश्य से चल रहा था, ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य की तानाशाही का अंत। परन्तु, यहाँ कोई इस एतिहासिक यात्रा का हिस्सा बनाना चाहता है, तो कोई एडवंचर करना चाहता है। कुछ तो ऐसे भी जो किसी राजनीतिक कारण से या सरकारी ड्यूटी की वजह से चल रहे है। ................

"क्या सोच रही है? प्रार्थना की लाइन लग गई है।चल, प्रार्थना नहीं करवानी है तुझे?" जूरी की आवाज ने मेरी सोच की लय कों भंग कर दिया।

प्रार्थना........ और फ़िर से पदयात्रा शुरू..... । रास्ते मे चलते हुए एक न्यूज चैनल के रिपोर्टर मुलाक़ात हो गई। बातचीत मेँ सुबह सुबह हमें रघुपति राघव के आलार्म से जगाने वाले शख्स की चर्चा चल पड़ी। "सच मेँ कितने मन से सारा दिन लोगों की सेवा करता है। " मेरी बात सुनकर ने उस व्यक्ति से मिलने और उसका इंटरव्यू लेने की इच्छा जाहिर की। मुझे भी लगा कि उस व्यक्ति कि निस्वार्थ सेवा सब के लिए प्रेरणा बन सकती है।

लैंच ब्रेक के स्थान पर पहुँचने के बाद मैं उस व्यक्ति कों ढुंढने निकल पड़ी। हर कोई भरी दोपहरी मेँ सुस्ता कर अपनी थकान मिटा रहा था। तभी वो मुझे किसी के पाँव दबाता दिखाई पड़ा। मैं उअसकी और बदी।

"भइया जी, चलो टी वी वाले आपका इंटरव्यू लेना चाहते है। " मैंने उसे कहा। वो चुपचाप मेरे साथ चल पड़ा। "भाई रिपोर्टर महोदय कहाँ है? " न्यूज चैनल कि वैन पर पहुँच कर मैंने ड्राइवर से पूछा। " यंहीं पास मेँ ही गएँ है, आते ही होंगे" ड्राइवर ने जवाब दिया। "अब इसे लायी हूँ तो बेचारे का इंटरव्यू करवा ही दिया जाए।" यह सोचकर मैं वहां खड़ी हो गई। थोड़ा वक्त बिताने पर वो मुझसे बोला, "मैडम मैं चलता हूँ, मेरा वक्त बरबाद हो रहा है।" मुझे बड़ा गुस्सा आया। अरे भई, यहाँ सुबह से लोगों मेँ टी वी चैनल मेँ शकल दिखाने कि होड़ लगी रहती है। इसको चला कर मौका दिला रही हूँ , वो भी भरी दोपहरी मी इसके साथ खडे रहकर, तो इसको कदर ही नहीं है। मैंने पूछ ही लिया, "क्या भैया ऐसा कोनसा महत्वपूर्ण काम चूक रहा है?" वो बोला, " मैडम इतनी देर मेँ कई लोगों कि सेवा कर लूँगा। आप इन्हें वहीं ले आना। मैं थके मांदे लोगों के पैर भी दबाता रहूंगा और इन्हें जो पूछना होगा वो पूछ लेंगें। "

जैसे ही वो चलने कों पलता, मैंने उसे टोका, "क्या नाम है आपका?" वो ठिठक कर धीरे से बोला 'राजू'। "क्या करते हो?" मेरा अगला सवाल था। "मैडम, बेटे के साथ गांवों मेँ घूमकर प्रेशर कुकर ठीक करने का काम करता हूँ। किसी तरह परिवार पाल लेते है।" उसका जवाब था। अब मेरे आश्चर्य कि सीमा नहीं थी। मुश्किल से रोटी रोजी का जुगाड़ कराने वाला यह व्यक्ति यहाँ दांडी यात्रा मेँ किस उदेश्य से है? इसे पार्टी मेँ पड़ नहीं चाहिए, चुनाव लड़ने कि तो बेचारा कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकता, ड्यूटी किसी ने लगाई नहीं और अडवंचरस तो इश्वर ने इसकी जिंदगी वैसे ही बना रखी है। फ़िर किस लिए है यहाँ? और फ़िर ये सेवा का जूनून!! क्या वजह हो सकती? "रोटी रोजी छोड़ कर दांडी मेँ क्या कर रहे हो?" मैंने उससे पूछा। " मैडम, मैने सुना था कि देश की आजादी के लिए गांधी जी ने दांडी यात्रा की थी। आज फ़िर आप लोग उसी आजादी कों बचाने और मजबूत करने कों चल रहे है। मैं उस यात्रा के समय तो नहीं था, पर आज तो हूँ। मैंने सोचा जब आप सब इस महान काम के लिए घर बार छोड़ कर चल रहे है, तो आप लोगों कि सेवा करके थोड़ा पुन्य मैं भी कम लूँ।" सपाट और सरल शब्दों मेँ जवाब दे कर 'रघुपति - राघव' गातेफ़िर निकल हुआ पड़ा। हम मेँ से ही किसी 'महान दांडी यात्री' सेवा के लिए........ ।

दांडी यात्रा की मधुर यादें (१२ मार्च २००५ - ७ अप्रेल २००५)

दांडी यात्रा की ७८ वी वर्षगांठ की हार्दिक बधाई।

One More Women's Day

So we are again going to celebrate one more women's day. The very words put in my mind the pictures of long processions carrying verious slogans and soughting loudly for- Women's rights, Women's welfare, Women's respect and raising their voices againest Women's exploitation, torture of sufferings. The voice will be raised all about that in conferences and other progarammes made by many women's clubs or women welfare society or political parties etc. They will again talk about the duel rules and unjustice made by the society from thousands of years, and will blame either men or the society or even woman herself for all this. All thease things also done by them whole the year symbolicaly. But the question is that one day celebration or the symbolic agitations through the whole year, is enough for the struggle of equality? What should be more than that?

It is not becouse i want to minimize or underestimate their endeavours in this field. They do their best and they must be appreciated and thanked for all their efforts. But what i think is that an ordinary woman, or a rustic woman living in remote areas of our country can't be benefited by such clubs or societies or activities of political parties. Our orthodox women not even like the steps of tham. Not only rustic or ordinary women but even educated women don't want to create a fuss about their private lives. To a great extent they rather tolerate every kind of unjust treatment in their families.They, as i think, seem to think that this is destiny of a woman- to endure the torture, forget the torture and be prepared for further torture. A woman dose not want to go to the court, she can not even think of taking divorce. She only waits for her own destiny to be kind enough to make her happy. There might be exceptions in this case, but general survey is so.

Now what can be done? how can we prepare our suffering women to be bold? this boldness can not come in a creature all of sudden. Some-how we should try to change our thinking. The neccessity is to think sympathetically and reasonably about their condition. they themselves should try to be just about themselves. In our social as wel as private life we should try to be wise & alert about it. The whole society, country & the whole world have to be aware about their condition. In last but not least, i can say that when in every family a woman will given equal status, than this " Women's Day" will be meaningful. Only the celebration of Women's Day can't be enough.

चाहत

चाहते है तुम्हें , यह कहना है मुश्किल,
पर कहे बिना भी, अब रहना है मुश्किल-
न जाने कैसे कटी, जिंदगी अब तक,
तुम बिन अब तो, एक पल रहना है मुश्किल-
सोचा न था, कि चाहेंगे किसी कों इस हद तक-
अब चाहा है तुम्हें, तो इजहार करना है मुश्किल-
सोचते है इस बार, तुम्हें देखेंगे जी भर,
पर तुम्हारी नजरों से, नजरें मिलाना है मुश्किल-
चाहते है तुम्हारे दामन मे, सिमट रहे उम्रभर,
पर तुम्हारे नजदीक, जाना है मुश्किल ॥

स्टैण्डर्ड

आज बुढ़िया का निश्चेष्ट, शांत, पार्थिव शरीर भूमि पर लेता था। पडोसियों ने खूब सेवा सुश्रूषा की। बेचारी बुढ़िया! अपनी इकलौती संतान रवि को पुकारते पुकारते चल बसी। सब काना फूसी करने लगे- "बेचारी बुढ़िया! जिसने जीवन भर दुःख के सिवा कुछ नहीं देखा। बड़ी मुश्किल से उसने रवि को पला पोसा, पढाया- लिखाया, बड़ा आदमी बनाया और अंत काल तक भी अपने जिगर के टुकडे से मिलने को तड़पतीरही।"

अफसर रवि अंत काल तक न आया। दाह संस्कार की सामग्री जुटाई गई। पंडितजी ने संस्कार कर्म सम्पन्न किएआख़िर रवि का इंतजार कब तक किया जाता? अर्थी उठाने ही वाली थी की बाहर हार्न की आवाज सुनी दी। सभी चौकन्ने हो गए। पडौसियों के दिलों को रहत मिली। सभी की दृष्टि द्वार पर जा लगी। उन्होंने देखा की रवि चार पाँच आदमियों के साथ खटाखट चला आ रहा था। उनमे से एक दो कैमरा मैन और विडियो फ़िल्म मेकर थे।

आते ही रवि ने भरे शब्दों मी पंडितजी से कहा- "रुकिए, पंडितजी! इतनी जल्दी भी क्या है? आख़िर मेरी माँ थी। मैं बेटा ठहरा। मेरे स्टैण्डर्ड का कुछ तो ख़याल रखा होता। " रवि की यह बात सुनकर सब आवाक रह गए। आगे बढ़ कर जैसे ही रवि ने अपनी माँ की अर्थी को प्रणाम किया, निशब्द वातावरण मेँ कैमरामैन का "यश! रेडी!" शब्द मुखरित हो उठा, साथ ही प्रकाश की एक चमक दमक उठी।
विडियो फ़िल्म बन रही थी। प्रकाश बारी बारी से सबके चहरों को आलोकित करता हुआ आगे बढ़ रहा था। अपना चहरा छिप न जाए इसी वजह से सब आगे उचक रहे थे।

गणतंत्र दिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं

कामना

नहीं चाहती राज्य जगत का,
न ही स्वर्ग का सुख भोग।

नहीं मोक्ष की मुझे कामना,
और न ही कीर्ति का है मोह॥

यही चाह है जब तक जिऊँ,
कहता है मेरा यह मन।

मातृ भूमि की सेवा मेँ ही,
सदा बिताऊँ निज जीवन॥

(यह किविता १९९४ मे लिखी गयी)

कुंवारेपन के फायदे :)

वर्त्तमान समय मेँ कुंवारे रहने वालो की संख्यां दिनों दिन बढ़ती जा रही है। युवक हो युवतियां, सभी अपने अकेलेपन मेँ खुश लगते है। शायद अकेले मेँ उन्हें अपने करियर के विकास की असीम संभावनाएं नजर आती है।

वैसे कुवंरेपन के भी अपने फायदे है, जो दुकले रहने मेँ नहीं मिल सकते। घर और बाहर, आप अपनी मरजी के मालिक है। अपने बिस्तर के दायीं और सोंयें या बायीं और, जल्दी सोयें या देर से, देर से सोके उठें या जल्दी, अपनी गाड़ी धीरे चलायें या तेज, खाना ताजा बनायें या दोनों समय का पकाकर फ्रिज मेँ रख दें, किसी से टेलीफोन पर लंबी बात करें या छोटी, इसकी पूरी आजादी रहती है।

अगर आप लड़की है तो कई और भी कई फायदे है जैसे- आपको शेंविग क्रीम से भरे झाग का मग नहीं धोना पड़ता, न ही इधर उधर बिखरे मर्दाने कपडे और गिला तौलिया उठाना पड़ता है, टेलीविजन का रिमोट आपके हाथों मेँ रहता है, याने जो चाहे कार्यक्रम देखें किसी को कोई एतराज नहीं, दूसरा कोई है ही नहीं:)

इसीलिए मेरे सभी कुंवारे कुवारियों के सलाह है की आप इस आजादी का भरपूर आनंद लें। अपने व्यक्तित्व को मनमाफिक संवारें, अपने करियर के लिए जीतनी चाहे दौड़ भाग करें, अपनी हौबी को आगे बढाये, आखिर ये सब आपकी अपनी मुट्ठी मेँ जो है।

अकेले आदमी को ब्रेक की बहुत जरुरत होती है। आपको भी समय समय पर छोटा या लम्बा ब्रेक लेना चाहिऐ। बजट के मुताबिक अपने शहर मेँ या पास के शहर या कभी विदेश भ्रमण पर निकल जाईये, आख़िर रोकने वाला कोई है जो नहीं।

इसके साथ ही अपने दिमाग को हमेशा चौकन्ना रखें। उत्त्साह और आशा को जीवन का मूलमंत्र बनायें। कभी कभी ऐसे लोगों को भी झेलना पड़ता है , जो मनमाफिक नहीं होते, उन्हें भी झेले। क्या पता इन भले बुरे लोगों मेँ ही कभी कोई ऐसा मिल जाये जो हमेशा कुंवारे रहने की जिद्द तुड़वाकर आपका जीवनसाथी बन जाये ....... ;)

नव वर्ष की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं

यह उन्नत आकाश
हमारे यश की व्यापक परिधि बने।
तेज हमारा देवों से भी
उत्तम हो अत्युत्तम हो॥(ऋग्वेद ७\३२)

अभिवादन

संघर्ष

भटकते कदम,
मुड़ जाते है सही दिशा मेँ,
एक सह्रदय स्पर्श भर से।
जीवंत हो उठते है
कालिदास के प्रणय महाकाव्य
उर मेँ उठे मादक हर्ष से।
उभर आते है,
कठोर शिलाओं पर
प्रतीक चिन्ह
रस्सी के अनवरत संघर्ष से॥

संकल्प

एक दृढ संकल्प ने
जीत ली थी,
संपूर्ण लंका।
एक दृढ संकल्प
तोड़ सकता है,
क्रूर आतताइयों के धैर्य, और
एक दृढ संकल्प
अंकित कर देता है,
कर्ण का नाम
इतिहास के उजले पृष्ठ पर॥

आइये, हम सब एक साथ दीपोत्सव की इस पावन बेला पर विश्व के महानतम राष्ट्र भारतवर्ष मेँ आतंकवाद, अलगाववाद, साम्प्रदायिकता और अस्पृश्यता के विरुद्ध अनवरत संघर्ष का शंखनाद करें तथा संपूर्ण भारत मेँ सुख, शांति और समृद्धि बहाल करने का दृढ संकल्प लें।

ईश्वर से कामना है की इस पवन पर्व पर आपमें सहृदयता, हर्ष और आत्मविश्वास की त्रिवेणी प्रस्फुटित हो उठे।

इन्हीं ढेर सारी शुभकामनाओं के साथ-

जय हिंद !!

सच्चाई

चढ़ते सूरज को सब जल देंगे,
ढलेगा तो मुड़ कर चल देंगे........

LET US ACT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

Naxalism has already become the most important internal security threat to India। Poverty and lack of education were the traditional causes of this extremism. In Naxalism, there is also a sense of deprivation and injustice, that the lowest sections of society are not empowered and need to agitate for their rights. There is a great need to improve the standards of governance in Naxal-affected tribal areas. At the same time, the right to freedom of speech and expression should not be misused.

Violence backed by ideology tends to legitimize these abnormal situations and leads to a total disrespect for the legal system। Naxal extremism should be included in the category of terrorism. In the areas severely affected by Naxal violence there are a minimum of five violent incidents per day primarily involving the killing of civilians.

On policing, it is essential to assess the psychology of the local people। A reverse case scenario exists as the police are trained to deal with criminals and not civilians. A different method of training is necessary in this scenario. A special police force, trained to deal with armed civilians, is required and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been raised to meet precisely this demand but the results are not so encouraging.

Building roads, railways and telecom infrastructure are significant signs of development। However, this infrastructure has been attacked by the Naxals causing hindrance to all development.

The lessons learnt from this case of extremism are several। First, the political leadership needs to become stronger to tackle the situation in the affected areas. Second, the people mobilized by the Naxals have imbibed their ideology and the Naxal chain of command has been firmly established. Moreover, civilian organizations like the People's Democratic Front support this movement. Third, there should be improved coordination between central and state authorities to control the situation. Finally, a proper analysis of the Naxal threat is very important given that while some of them are mercenaries and others are ideologues, a vast majority enter the movement because they have no other choice. Respect for human rights should not be sidelined by the state.

By sending 37,000 armed personnel to Dantewada, the Naxal movement is becoming a security issue, rather than being visualized as a holistic issue। The state has a monopoly over the legitimate use of force. However, it also allows certain kinds of private violence and rejects others. If the government's responsibility is to uphold the rule of law, it should not allow any private violence.

Dantewada is the most backward area in Chhattisgarh। This is one reason why the Maoists have found an easy foothold here and they coexist with the government at all levels. The way to capture an area is not by military means but by ensuring good health services and better governance. The civilians in the campaign suffer innumerable cases of police harassment. The coercion by Maoists for an alternative state structure has brought a large number of people into the movement. The result of the Naxal movement and government's counter-action has been a militarization of the tribal areas.

People have been displaced, with many people escaping to Andhra Pradesh while life in the Salwa Judam camps is extremely bad। Schooling has collapsed and villages have been shattered. There is a complete collapse of the rule of law with the root cause of violence in the area being the Salwa Judum and Naxal counterattacks.

If the situation has to improve, both sides need to engage in dialogue। The issue of land acquisition should be taken up. Steel plants set up in the region have displaced many civilians. The breakdown of law and order, cases of murder, rape and arson have crushed local society and culture. This area is governed by the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution; hence the Executive power of the Union should be used to give directions to the state on its administration.

On the issue of countering the Naxals, the Government of India has conceded time and again that the problem cannot be dealt with militarily। The states meanwhile, have barely managed to finalize an Action Plan that was introduced almost five years ago. The surrender and rehabilitation policy of the states is abysmal. For instance, in Madhya Pradesh, there have only been 16 surrenders between 1990 and 2006.

Another crucial problem is an active Naxal-politician nexus in the country. Unless this nexus is broken, the government will not be able to find a solution to the problem and continue to simply rely on a military solution to root out the problem. But if the military option were effective, then the problem should not have resurfaced after the initial Naxalbari uprising was suppressed.
Since the launch of Salwa Judum, an anti-Naxalite campaign, in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh in June 2005, the Adivasis, who constitute 78।51% of the total population of Dantewada, have become victims of the conflict between the Naxalites and the State government of Chhattisgarh. Though majority of the cadres of the Naxalites are Adivasis, they are not the decision makers. “Commander” Kosa, the secretary for the Naxals in Chhattisgarh hails from Andhra Pradesh. The apology by the Maoists for the killings of innocent Adivasis on 28 February 2006 at Darbhaguda was also issued from Andhra Pradesh.

In nutshell naxalists are ruling more than twenty districts of the country। There intelligence system, commitment, strategy and planned ambush are far too ahead of the police force, who normally try to hide themselves in safe places instead of making a gun to gun reply and counter ambush. Consider the following :

a) More than five incidents of counter fire where no support reached the security forces for more than five hours।

b) Every time policemen are killed and naxal went back with their ammunitions as rewards।

c) Do we have a information system?

d) Whether the MLAs are khadi clad naxalite sympathizers?

e) When it comes to gun action, naxalism is no social/ economical or people may call anything problem, it is an open terrorist rebellion, where thousands of police personnel and civilians have already died and several thousands are awaiting death till the decisive authorities finally decides how to tackle the situation।

Suggestions :

1. There should be a uniform central policy against naxalism। It is not a state problem.

2. Union should establish a central command to counter the naxal thread in Chattisgarh, MP, AP, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand।

3. A special law to bring the police personnel’s and law officers under direct control of the Central Government in all the naxal effected districts is unavoidable। The interstate joint mechanism has proved futile and with different approach of the politicians and bureaucrats towards naxalism will not let any joint operation successful.

4. The central law shall prudently match the human right concerns while removing operational hurdles for security forces।

5. Helicopter gunships and medical relief based at strategical locations, so as to reach the conflict ground within 15-30 minutes।

6. A dialogue must be initiated with the Maoist.