C.L. Chumber – An Obituary

A Jalandhar based social and community activist, Chiranji Lal

C.L. Chumber

Chumber (1958-2016) passed away after a brief illness on February 6, 2016. Chumber Sahib was a close friend and associate of my younger brother Paramjit and as I had many opportunities to meet him and discuss matters of mutual interest and concern particularly with reference to Babasaheb Ambedkar,  Ad-dharam Movement, Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia, Babu Kanshi Ram, inter alia, other issues pertaining to dalit communities. I found C.L. Chumber a very knowledgeable person with a great sense of history. He was totally dedicated, may be up to a fault and ignoring his own and family interests, to the community causes for the benefit of common people. He was a fearless and outspoken person, the habit which put him to difficulties many a times but he was not bothered at all. His keen interest in journalism and literature was evident from the shelves, tables, boxes at his house, as told and confirmed by many of his friends and co-workers.

C.L. Chumber was the son of Panjab Rai who was perhaps the first educated fellow of a remote village Hussainabad in Jalandhar with a coveted degree of MA in Economics.  Chumber was a graduate of DAV college Nakodar and from his college days itself he was a student activist for the causes of dalit empowerment. He was a thinker and an excellent orator. Keeping with his interest in journalism, he was the founder editor of Quomi Udarian, a Punjabi paper, editor of Bahujan Samaj Bulletin, a periodical started on the behest of Babu Kanshi Ram of BSP. Chumber Sahib brought out a well documented souvenir on Babu Mangu Ram of Ad-dharam Mandal. I had the honour of releasing a special issue of the Quomi

Ambassador Ramesh Chander with C.L. Chumber

Udarian at a function to celebrate the Gurupurab of Guru Ravidassji at Bootan Mandi, Jalandhar long back in the late 1980s. C.L. Chumber’s younger brother, Prem Chumber also inherited these intellectual traits and flare. He is the Editor-in-Chief of two periodical publications in California (USA), the Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba. Prem Chumber, paying tributes to his brother, said that C.L. Chumber was instrumental in motivating him to start these two, by now well established publications and was a friend, philosopher and guide in this venture.

The Antim Ardas of C.L. Chumber was held on February 14 in which I was in attendance along with my brother Paramjit. It was a well attended congregation by the cross sections of the society particularly by the intelligentsia and social activists. Some of the prominent speakers, inter alia, were Dr. Ronki Ram, Dean of Arts Faculty of Panjab University, Chief Editor of Nawan Zamana Shri Jatinder Pannu, Editor of Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba Prem Chumber, Dr. Ram Lal Jassi, a community activist and a politician, Comrade Mangat Ram Pasla of the Communist Party, Shri Harmesh Jassal of Malind Publications paid glowing tributes to C.L. Chumber. Representatives of Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall and Gurudwara 6th Patshahi also spoke and highlighted the various traits of the personality of the departed soul. I also paid my humble homage to C.L. Chumber and recognized his tireless efforts in the pursuit of his dreams and ideals as depicted in a poetic expression:

अपना मुकद्दर आप बनाते हैं एहले दिल;

हम वह नहीं जिन्हें ज़माना बना गया !

C.L. Chumber will remain in our memories for years to come. Thanking the congregation, wife of Chumber Sahib, Santosh Kumari, an intelligent and homely lady, said that she was touched by the words of the speakers about her beloved husband. She added in a choked voice that sometimes she did not take Chumber Sahib seriously for his idiosyncratic activities but today by listening to the speeches by his friends and associates, she had realised how much loved and respected he was among them. Santosh re-dedicated herself to the legacy of her dear husband, C.L. Chumber.

जिस धज से कोई मक़्तल में गया, वह शान सलामत रहती है;

यह जान तो आनी जानी है, इस जान की कोई बात नहीं !

Prof. M.L. Sondhi Memorial Lecture

D.A.V. College, Jalandhar hosted the first Prof. Manohar Lal

Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal on the College round

Sondhi Memorial Lecture on February 6, 2016 in cooperation with Prof. M.L. Sondhi Memorial Trust in honour of one of its illustrious alumni. The Trust was established to ‘promote the late Prof. M.L. Sondhi’s vision relating to the emerging of India as a strong but benign power in the family of nations’. Prof. M.L. Sondhi (1933-2003) belonged to a known and established family which came to Jalandhar from Lahore in the wake of partition in 1947. Prof Sondhi, a highly motivated in nationalistic lore and an intelligent youth, moved to Delhi in 1956 on qualifying the UPSC civil services examination and on being selected and appointed in the coveted Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1956. But, perhaps, the general regimentation which comes with the government service could not limit his intellectual and academic traits and he resigned from IFS in 1962. While pursuing his intellectual pursuits, Prof. Sondhi opted for public life and joined Bhartiya Jan Sangh Party in 1965. He got elected to Lok Sabha in 1967 from a constituency in Delhi.  A youthful, intelligent, tall and handsome Member of Parliament made waves not only in political circles but also in the corridors of many universities and motivated the youth. I was, as I narrated at the Lecture on February 6, one of them. On reading the Urdu print media like Hind Samachar of Lala Jagat Narain, Pratap of Shri Varinder and Milap of Shri  Yash which highlighted the youthful Manohar Lal Sondhi as a youth icon, my father used to mention him many a times. I vividly remember. I don’t know how far it is correct but it was said that Manohar Lal Sondhi resigned from the IFS registering his disagreement with PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s China policy.  He contributed positively in instituting East European studies in Indian institutions in the 60s. Later from 1989-1991 when I was the Under Secretary on the East European desk of the Ministry of External Affairs, I visited the School of East European studies quite often to attend various seminars and discussions at the JNU.  I have had an opportunity to visit Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic) and interact with some of the contemporaries of Prof. M.L. Sondhi, when I was the Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of India, where Prof. Sondhi studied the Czech language and East European politics in the late 50s as a young diplomat.

Ambassador Bal Anand, IFS (Retired), yet another alumnus of DAV College, Jalandhar, was instrumental in bringing together DAV College, Jalandhar and Prof. M.L. Sondhi Trust to arrange the annual lecture at the College in the memory of Prof. M.L. Sondhi. Principal J.C. Joshi and Prof. K.K. Ghai interacted with Principal B.B. Sharma to finalize the arrangements to host this important intellectual and academic event on a regular basis. It is a thoughtful initiative and should be appreciated.

Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal, IFS (Retired) and currently Central Information Commissioner was the Key Note speaker at Prof. M.L. Sondhi Memorial Lecture on the theme: India-Pakistan Relations – Challenges and Prospects. It was an excellent choice. Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal has been a keen Pakistan watcher and one of the finest diplomats of India who was posted in Islamabad for more than 8 years of his long diplomatic career both as Deputy High Commissioner of India from 1995-1999 and High Commissioner of India from 2009-2013. Ambassador Sabharwal gave an overview of India-Pakistan relations which is not, given the complexities and sensitivities of the relations from day one of independence of both India and Pakistan, an easy task. But a cool and dispassionate analysis given by Ambassador Sabharwal set the matter in right perspective which was appreciated and well received by the enlightened audience. There could have been many fireworks and excitements in the lecture but the speaker, like a good and seasoned diplomat, was able to say all with great ease. He was satisfied with slow and incremental gains with maintaining continuous dialogue to bring out Pakistan from “State Security Paradigm”. He stressed on increased economic and commercial interaction between the two countries and also on more people to people contacts. Ambassador Sabharwal listed a few “silver linings” between the tricky and difficult relations which have started emerging slowly due to resultant fatigue in maintaining adversarial relations. The interactive session with the audience was very good which clearly indicated that the thought provoking lecture was very well received.

Principal B.B. Sharma in his welcome address spoke highly of both Prof. M.L. Sondhi and Ambassador Sabharwal and also thanked Smt. Madhuri Sondhi and the Trust for choosing DAV College, Jalandhar for the prestigious lecture. Smt. Madhuri Sondhi in her brief but focused remarks thanked Ambassador Bal Anand for his initiative and Management of DAV College in hosting the lecture in the memory of her illustrious husband. Principal J.C. Joshi, a contemporary of Prof. M.L. Sondhi, in his poetic address re-lived the memories of life and values of Professor M.L. Sondhi. Prof. K.K. Ghai, a proud teacher of Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal and also mine, introduced the Key Note Speaker and became emotional in his brief but beautiful speech and said that one can imagine how happy he was when he found two of his students were adorning the dais, Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal as the Key Note Speaker and Ambassador Ramesh Chander as Chairman the Session. I could see, sitting on the high table, Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal was, like me, visibly moved with a sense of gratitude to the alma mater. I was fully choked with overwhelming emotions, while giving the Chair’s brief remarks and applauding Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal and Smt. Madhuri Sondhi, thanked Principal B.B. Sharma and the Management for inviting me to do the honours at

Ambassador Ramesh Chander deliverying the Chair's remarks

the dais and giving me generous respect and regard. Referring to the theme of the lecture, I floated a question whether there was any possibility in the near future to have an “Out of the Box” solution to the problems and irritants, particularly the Kashmir issue which is said to be the ‘jugular vein’ of Pakistan and ‘soul of India’? The “Out of the Box solution” is all the more needed when both the sides know that the status quo cannot be changed by force or military means. Prof. Ashwini Sharma conducted the proceeding with admirable flare as a good Master of Ceremonies. His appropriate rendering of Urdu couplets in his remarks was masterly.

I am confident that Prof. M.L. Sondhi Memorial lecture will become an annual feature and an important date in the activities of DAV College, Jalandhar in the years to come. It will be of an immense benefit not only to the intellectual and academic circles but also to the young students of international relations and diplomacy in and around Jalandhar.

Earlier in the morning before the lecture, Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal and other guests, particularly the teachers of Ambassador Sabharwal and his class fellows and friends were taken to a round of the campus to ‘relive memories of DAV life.’ It was really nostalgic. Ambassador Sabharwal was visibly happy to see and meet Prof. K.K. Ghai and his class fellow’s viz. Prof. Satish Verma now Head of the Economics Department at DAV

Amb. Sharat Sabharwal with teachers and class fellows

College itself, Shri Malkiat Singh, IPS (Retired), Former ADGP of UP and Chairman of UP Public Service Commission, Shri Ram Lal Das, a retired senior Bank Officer, Shri Dev Raj, Retired ACP of Delhi Police, Shri L.R. Nayyar, IRS (Retired) Former Income Tax Commissioner. Seeing them meeting and interacting, it was clearly established that it was difficult to forget the young and formative years of school and college even after the lapse of many long years. Visit to the Hall of Fame where a photo exhibition of old memories was put up revived my own old memories of the convocation in which I received my degree of BA in 1970. I could also see the photo of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s visit and lecture on the parliamentary democracy in 1951 along with some other photos of real importance. Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal inaugurated the interactive sessions of the Ecomania 2: The Enthusiasm, 2016 at the Economics Department of the College which were arranged by the Ambedkar Planning Forum. It was satisfying to note, from the name of the Forum, that besides Dr. Ambedkar’s recognition as the father of the Indian Constitution and a social reformer, his contribution as an economist par excellence, has increasingly started to be recognized, of late, and rightly so.

All said and done, let me conclude by saying that Prof. M.L. Sondhi Memorial Lecture at DAV College, Jalandhar on February 6, 2016 will remain live in my memory for years to come.

The Republic Day, January 26

India became a Republic on January 26, 1950 on promulgation of the Constitution of India. The day is celebrated as the Republic Day, a national holiday. I take this opportunity to congratulate my fellow citizens and wish them a Happy Republic Day.

January 26, Republic Day, is an important day in the journey of

Republic Day Parade at Rajpath at New Dehi

contemporary India. We have come a long way in this journey. It is a matter of great satisfaction, to my mind, that in spite of many problems pertaining to religious and cultural diversity and caste ridden society and also illiteracy and poverty, the constitution could withstand and face the challenges and succeeded in guiding us in our “tryst with destiny”.  It is a tribute to our founding fathers, particularly to Babasaheb Ambedkar, father of the Indian constitution. In commemoration of the constitution, Government of PM Narendra Modi rightly decided to observe November 26 as the Constitution Day. “We the people of India” enacted, adopted and gave ourselves the constitution in the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. Some of the speeches and interventions made by the MPs both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were worth listening to rededicate ourselves to the lofty ideals and philosophy enshrined in the constitution.

Of late, some of the issues of importance and concern which

Flag hoisting at Siver Residency at Jalandhar

engaged the attention of the governments, the political parties and the civil society really require in depth debate and decision to meet the challenges in the journey of the Indian Republic. Let us try to find and identify these issues. Two such issues emanate from the preamble of the constitution – the words secular and socialist. In their own wisdom, and I think rightly so, the constitution makers did not include these two contentious words in the preamble. They justified their conscious thinking, particularly by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who piloted the constitution and replied to the debates, on the subject. There was no problem. The provisions of the constitution amply made the Indian Republic secular and socialist in spirit without the mention of these words. Subsequently, the Government of PM Indira Gandhi inserted these words in the preamble by an amendment in 1974 recommended by the Swaran Singh Committee. It was a shortsighted decision, according to many constitutional experts and political scientists and practicing politicians and administrators. Till date, these two words i.e. secular and socialist remain symbols of contention generating avoidable heat and strife in the polity and society. Let us admit and accept that India is a secular and socialist state and should remain so. We are a pluralistic society of social, religious and cultural diversity. There is no other way but to remain secular and socialist with a sense of “unity in diversity”.  The principles of state policy stipulated in the constitution are equally important as fundamental rights. Implementation of these principles will help in establishing the socialist and egalitarian spirit of the constitution. The goals of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity so thoughtfully visualized could only be achieved if the society comes out of the manuwadi mindset and endeavors to bring about a casteless society on one hand and fair treatment of the minorities and other marginalized segments of the society. There is no need to invoke the majoritarian point of view. There has been a long debate on intolerance recently. We shall mend our thinking and allow a sense of accommodation and understanding to prevail. No more Rohith Vemulas should be compelled to commit suicide. There is no place for narrow nationalism and re-writing of history. The question of reservations for the socially and educationally neglected sections of the society, particularly dalits should be addressed with compassion and understanding. We must understand these suppressed people have suffered social and political tyranny for centuries. It will take some time to bring them at par with the rest of the society. The claim to merit sounds very good but let us first provide a level playing field and equal opportunity and also equal economic leverage to these marginalized people and then talk of merit. They are no more ready to keep bearing the burden of manuwadi system of graded inequality. On the political front, we are a democratic country and that too the largest democracy of the world. But the political parties and the politicians, it seems, could not stand up to the expectations and requirements of a sound and pragmatic edifice which is needed to sustain the system. Our political outfits could not evolve and bring about polarization of political forces on the basis of ideology and programme. There is no difference among the parties like SP, JDU, RJD, NCP, TMC, BSP, among others. Only names are different. All of these have a limited and narrow agenda with self centered people at the helm. The regional parties like DMK, AIDMK, Akali Dal, BJD, Shiv Sena, National Conference, LJP etc. tend to generate and support divisive fissiparous tendencies which go against the underlying current of unity. Is it not possible to contain these political outfits to their respective regions? I don’t know how it could be done. But I think that these regional parties may not be permitted to contest Lok Sabha elections. It will bring in much needed stability and cohesion at the centre. In any case the views and representation of the states is assured in the Rajya Sabha. Last but not the least, it will be in order, if some guiding rules and directions to stage and demonstrate democratic public protest, are made. Right from the tehsil level to districts and the state capitals and also the national capital at New Delhi, some places and venues may be identified and fixed for such protests. There is no harm in regulating these erratic activities which put the common man to unnecessary inconvenience and damage to public property and peace. Babasaheb Ambedkar rightly warned that there was no place for unconstitutional methods to express democratic protest and disagreement. He termed it as “Grammar of Anarchy”. The same regulations may also be applicable to religious shoba yatras and processions. These tend to generate unnecessary social heat leading to tension and avoidable violence. These are some of the stray thoughts which could be considered to make our Republic glorious and a happy place to live.

With this let me close by quoting the worries of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which he expressed on November 26, 1949 in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly. He said, “On the 26^th January, 1950, India would be a democratic country in the sense that India from that day would have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The same thought comes to my mind. What would happen to her democratic constitution?  Will she be able to maintain it or will she lose it again? This is the second thought that comes to my mind and makes me as anxious as the first.” Let us put at rest the anxieties expressed by our forefathers by adhering to the constitution and constitutional methods to safeguard and ensure further progress and prosperity of our country.

TAILPIECE:

Quote

On Republic Day, the Tricolour will be unfurled by our President in the national capital, by Governors in the state capitals, by Collectors in their district headquarters. The national anthem will be played or sung to salutes given and taken. “Jai Hind” will resound across the country in varying tones of patriotic self-persuasion.

But what should drown all these sounds and sights is “Jai Bheem”, the two-word salutation with which Rohith signs off his ‘letter’.

Does it invoke Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar? Of course it does. Does it castigate our times? Of course it does. Does it speak for Dalit India? But of course!

Unquote

Extract from an article from The Tribune of January 26, 2016 written by Gopal Krishan Gandhi, Professor of History at Ashoka University

Suicide of Rohith Vemula

The suicide of Rohith Vemula, a dalit PhD. student at Hyderabad

Central University is currently engaging the entire country and rightly so. It is a shameful tragedy which requires universal condemnation and immediate introspection both by the society and the government. But it seems that many of the stake-holders are merely doing a lip service to safe-guard their vested interests. They are not interested in addressing the root cause of the problem and the causes which led Rohith to take this extreme step. It is certain that the death of Rohith will haunt the society and the establishment in the years to come and polarize the society further which would not be good for the country and its polity.

The BJP government, BJP and its affiliates and masters in ABVP and RSS respectively are trying their best to control the damage caused by defending the alleged culprits belonging to the Hindutva forces and the university authorities. The opposition political outfits are interested in exploiting the situation to corner the government for political and electoral gains. The media and intelligentsia are equally divided and have not displayed any objective criteria to address the issues involved to ward off such unfortunate incidents in the future. The society at large, particularly the upper castes, is not, it seems, perturbed at all endorsing the saying “only the wearer knows where the shoe is pinching”. Dalits all over India seem to be extremely agitated with the happenings in Hyderabad and the protests are gaining pan-India involvement. It seems to me that the death of Rohith Vemula is potent enough to trigger the avoidable sequence of untoward happenings which could be detrimental to the unity of the country and integration of the society. The dalits are increasingly getting charged and perturbed with the changing ground realities. They are no more ready to sit and suffer humiliation and indignities heaped on them by the manuwadi society. Perhaps, this newly gained status and mindset by the suffering masses is not finding acceptance with the oppressors. They find it difficult to accept and associate them as equals. This conflict of interests is all set to gain further strength which may result in all out confrontation. Let us do something concrete to address the issues before it is too late to ward off the warning of the leader of the Congress Malik Arjun Khadge when he spoke of “bloodshed” in the recent debate in the Lok Sabha.

The pain of the dalit intelligentsia is writ large in the suicide note and other communications of Rohith Vemula. It is good and fortunate that Babasaheb Ambedkar, by upbringing, education and conviction, believed in the Buddhist philosophy of peace and harmony. He advised his followers and the suffering humanity and also the country to follow the constitutional means to make our democratic setup to work. Dr. Ambedkar warned that if the political democracy is not transformed into social and economic democracy, the people who are suffering from these inequalities and living life of drudgery will tear off the system and throw it out. A casteless society is the first step towards that end. But unfortunately, the Indian society is not ready to accept this. The upper castes want to have the cake and eat it too. It is no more tenable. The ensuing conflict and strife can lead to a situation which would put our country into further difficulties. We must consider and realize this, the sooner the better.

मेरे  आँसू देख कर न हंसा करो;

यह वह आंसू हैं जिस से तख्ते  सुल्तानी बदलती है !

Tailpiece:

 The last message of Rohith Vemula to his associates in Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) –

Quote

To ASA family, sorry for disappointing all of you. You loved me very much. I wish all the very best for the future. For one last time, Jai Bheem

Unquote

Out of the Box Diplomacy – India-Pakistan Relations

On becoming the Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj,  last year in May, 2014, used the term “Out of the Box” diplomacy which PM Narendra Modi’s government would like to pursue in the conduct of India’s international relations, particularly with its neighbors. Accordingly, both PM Narendra Modi and EAM Sushma Swaraj have been pursuing the foreign policy goals of India over the last one and a half years with a new approach and inputs wherever required and possible on one hand and carrying forward the traditional tenets of its international engagement. Obviously, foreign policy is an on-going process and will continue to meet the challenges, both old and new.

The immediate provocation to write on the “Out of the Box”

diplomacy with regard to Indo-Pak relations is PM Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore to meet PM Nawaz Sharif on December 25, 2015, ostensibly, to wish PM Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday and join the festivities of the marriage of PM Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter. It is said that PM Narendra Modi has a penchant for high drama. Why not? He is a leader by his own right whose government enjoys clear majority in the Lok Sabha with overwhelming popular mandate. PM Narendra Modi can afford to undertake, as assessed by Vivek Katju an Indian diplomat and Pakistan expert, who termed it as “innovative diplomacy” with “a quest to make history”. Ever since, PM Modi took over in May, 2014, he has given much needed impetus and visibility to the Indian diplomacy by taking personal initiatives and establishing personal rapport with world leaders to protect and promote Indian interests. Obviously, it requires an “Out of the box” approach leaving aside some of the diplomatic nothings, the so called protocol niceties. PM Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 was a diplomatic master-stroke, keeping in line with his work style and “a quest to make history”. It is simply an academic exercise to discuss as to how it happened? I think, it was thought and planned by PM Modi himself. It is possible he kept NSA Ajit Doval and FS Dr. S. Jaishankar on the loop. He knew in his mind how PM Nawaz sharif will respond to his birthday greetings from Kabul and he would immediately grab the opportunity. It exactly happened the way it was visualized by PM Modi. The special Indian Air force plane was deployed to take care of the security requirements. Befitting gifts were available in the gifts inventory for the granddaughter of Nawaz Sharif. The Indian side has explained how PM Modi telephoned PM Sharif to wish him happy birthday and how, in turn, he invited him to Lahore on his way back from Kabul to have tea with him and join the marriage festivities of his grand-daughter. The Pakistani side explained it with a little twist, perhaps to cater to the local needs that PM Modi telephoned to say happy birthday to PM Sharif and desired to make a brief halt at Lahore on his way back from Kabul to do so. Whatever the case, the purpose was served as mused by PM Narendra Modi to “completely transform India-Pak relations” in the words of an enlightened commentator.

It needs no elaboration that India-Pakistan relations are extremely complex and difficult from day one of their becoming independent nations in August, 1947. Most of the Hindus could not digest the two-nation theory on the basis of which Pakistan came into existence. Some of them are still talking of Akhand Bharat. Pakistan and also Bangladesh are independent and sovereign states and will remain so. My advice to the likes of Ram Madhav of RSS is to study the thought provoking book “Thoughts on Pakistan” written by the finest mind of India Dr. B.R. Ambedkar well before the partition of India. The rest is history. The Kashmir issue is the core issue, as stated by Pakistan, which is the left-over agenda of partition. We may or may not admit it but it is a reality. Despite the “Stand-still Agreement”, Pakistan invaded Kashmir and tried to annex it by force in 1948 itself. Understanding the situation, on Kashmir’s legal accession to India, leaders like Sardar Patel, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Govind Ballabh Pant and also Babasaheb Ambedkar advised PM Jawaharlal Nehru to throw out Pakistani invaders by force and kill the issue. But PM Nehru’s thinking was at variance.  He was seeing the issue through the prism of the eyes of Lord Mountbatten and Sheikh Abdullah which, it seems, was a big mistake. Dr. Ambedkar, though he was not involved in matters related to foreign policy when he was the Law Minister in the interim government of PM Nehru, suo-motto gave his views on the Kashmir issue. I quote from an article written by Dr. K. Jamnadas “Kashmir Problem from Ambedkarite Perspective,” Even about Kashmir, the issue on which we are fighting, who is in the right and who is in the wrong. The real issue to my mind, he said, is not who is in the right but what is right and he observed: "... my view has always been that the right solution is to partition Kashmir. Give the Hindu and Buddhist part to India and the Muslim part to Pakistan as we did in the case of India. We are really not concerned with the Muslim part of Kashmir. It is a matter between the Muslims of Kashmir and Pakistan. They may decide the issue, as they like. Or if you like, divide it into three parts; the Cease-fire zone, the Valley and the Jammu-Ladakh Region and have a plebiscite only in the Valley. What I am afraid of is that in the proposed plebiscite, which is to be an overall plebiscite, the Hindus and Buddhists of Kashmir are likely to be dragged into Pakistan against their wishes and we may have to face the same problems as we are facing today in East Bengal."

Dr. Ambedkar was a genius. The solution given by him was pragmatic and was not based on misplaced emotions. Had PM Jawaharlal Nehru listened to him, both the newly independent countries would not have suffered the economic burden of defense of the long border and also the subsequent full blown wars and often repeated border skirmishes resulting in constant hostility between the two neighbors. Even after 68 long years, the solution still lies somewhere close to Dr. Ambedkar’s thinking. PM Indira Gandhi and PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, it is said, agreed in 1972 at the time of Simla Agreement to convert the Line of Control (LOC) into international border and settle the core issue of Kashmir. It could not happen. The Nobel Peace Prize eluded them. PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was interested in making history and he tried with PM Nawaz Sharif and President Pervez Musharraf but failed. PM Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf picked up the threads and thought of making the LOC and International border between India and Pakistan “irrelevant” and become the contenders for the coveted peace prize. But again it was not to be. Somebody else is destined to make history. Will they be PM Narendra Modi and PM Nawaz Sharif? Only time will tell.

We all know that the Kashmir issue cannot be solved by either side

by force. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. The stakes are too high. Nobody will be interested in making it a flash point for the unimaginable holocaust. The leaderships of both India and Pakistan and the people on both the sides and also the international community are not oblivious of these ground realities. The international scenario is changing fast in view of cross border terrorism and regional conflicts. The challenges of development and environment are needed to be addressed to save humanity. The “Out of the Box” solutions and approaches are needed. The festering problem of Kashmir and the emerging situation in Afghanistan needs immediate attention. Both India and Pakistan are required to rise to the occasion to ward of the imminent dangers of allowing the situation to worsen.

Given the background of PM Narendra Modi, he has an image of a

hawk in Pakistan. It becomes all the more difficult for him to do business with Pakistani leadership particularly that of the Pak army and Islamic fundamentalists. On the other hand, it appears that PM Narendra Modi intends to steal the show and make history by adopting an “Out of the Box” approach. He invited PM Nawaz Sharif to his swearing in ceremony in May, 2014 along with his other SAARC counterparts, registering diplomatic deftness on his part. In spite of usual ups and downs in relations with Pakistan, PM Narendra Modi kept the diplomatic routes open. From Ufa to Paris, he did not leave any opportunity to engage Pakistan in constructive dialogue. Addressing the army commanders recently, PM Modi said, setting the agenda, “We are engaging Pakistan to try and turn the corners of history, bringing an end to terrorism, build peaceful relations, advance cooperation and promote stability and prosperity in the region.”  The NSAs of India and Pakistan, Ajit Doval and Nasser Janjua respectively met in Bangkok followed by the visit of EAM Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in December itself to pave the way for “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue” which was stalled due to the vicious bitterness and mistrust existing in the relationship with Pakistan. PM Narendra Modi’s unscheduled visit to Lahore on December 25 on the birthday of PM Nawaz Sharif, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a diplomatic masterstroke to engage Pakistan in the process of creating history. Let us hope, the process continues and the desired results obtained.

It is not an easy task. Pakistan has to tone-down the rhetoric of “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan” and shed and shun the policy of exporting terrorism. India being a big country in the region should be more accommodative and magnanimous in dealing with its estranged brother. The government of PM Narendra Modi, with a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, should create political and diplomatic consensus on the issues of conflict and contention within the country. The civil society should be prepared to engage with Pakistan by encouraging people to people contacts. Cultural bonds should be nurtured. The opportunities for the two way trade between the two countries should be explored, identified and exploited. The likes of Ram Madhav, the votary of ‘Akhand Bharat’, should be asked to shut up. The forces of understanding and friendship should be unleashed to create a conducive atmosphere for meaningful dialogue to solve the vexed problems to mutual benefit and advantage.

It is easier said than done. But there is, it seems, a growing feeling of tiredness on both sides. There is a growing realization that force and undiplomatic methods cannot solve the problems and challenges generated by the history. Let us consider and opt for the policy of ‘give and take’ as advised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, of course, with necessary adjustments which may be required to address the current situation. Let us wish the leaderships of both India and Pakistan under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi and PM Nawaz Sharif all the very best in the New Year and help them in making history for the people of India and Pakistan and the world at large.

आ गैरीअत के परदे इक बार फिर उठा दें;

बिछडों को फिर मिला दें; नक़्शे दुई मिटा दें ,

सुन्नी पड़ी हुई है मुद्दत  से दिल की बस्ती; 

आ इक नया शिवालय इस देश में बना दें !

Happy New Year to the people of India and Pakistan.

On losing a dear one

I write in my blog quite often on matters of interest and concern but

for the last three weeks or so I could not do so. I lost my balance and felt dejected on account of a family tragedy. We lost Brijesh Chander (Bablu), 27 years, newly married (10 months) son of my brother Krishan Lal on November 30, 2015, just in a couple of days, succumbing to a fatal attack of dengue. It was a devastating blow to our family. We belong to an ordinary family of three brothers and four sisters. The sisters are happily married and are doing well in their families. Out of the three brothers, I am the eldest, 65 years, a retired diplomat. With God’s grace and good up-bringing by my poor parents, I could do fairly fine and have no regrets. Krishan, the middle one, is a self made man, in spite of the fact of our difficult days; he could not get a good education and started on his own from scratch in the sports industry. With sheer dedication and hard work, he gave a good education and initial push to his three children. Brijesh, the younger child, was an MBA who decided to be a businessman by the side of his father Krishan in the sports goods market. He could prove himself in a short period of about three years in carrying forward the vision of his partner and childhood friend, Lalit Angural who also left forever suddenly at an age of 23 years succumbing to a severe heart attack. Lalit was the son of my Sambandhi (father of my daughter-in-law Sulekha). Both Lalit and Brijesh were the up-coming and shining stars of our family. Paramjit, my third brother, is also doing well with BSNL in Jalandhar. He has two young and educated sons, Pervez and Umesh, who are also engaged in business in sports goods and are on track. The untimely death of Brijesh has left a wide gap and vacuum which is difficult to fill in our otherwise happy family. It is just very difficult and unbearable to see Reena, 23, the young wife of Bablu who herself was aspiring to join the police force in the sports quota being a trained athlete and state level hockey player. Her future has suddenly become uncertain and directionless. Only time will set the course right.

In accordance with the law of nature, there have been deaths in our family earlier as well. I could not reach and participate in the funerals of any of my direct relations. I controlled my emotions and did not ask my people to delay the funeral on account of my inability to reach in time. My grand-father died in 1972. I was late to reach for the funeral from Delhi. The means were not many and resources were meager. Fearing the untoward due to continuous ill health of my father, Sodhi Ram, I spent a month’s leave in December, 1985 with him in Jalandhar. But he advised me to go ahead and join my new assignment in Kandy (Sri Lanka). Again I could not reach in time to see his face on his death in March, 1986 as it was difficult to come to India from Kandy than any European capital. My grand-mother died in 1996. My sister Kamla and I could not reach in time. Pritam Kaur, my mother died in October, 2005. I could not come from Prague (Czech Republic) due to exigencies of service. I did not, as such, see and experience the pain of death first hand.  I tried and managed things as they came.

Now I am in Jalandhar, back home to my roots after retirement from service. Bablu’s sudden death was a devastating experience for me and the entire well-knit family of ours. A week before his death on November 30, both Bablu and his lovely wife Reena were dancing at the marriage of our niece (sister’s daughter) on November 24. Two days at a hospital in Jalandhar and two days in Ludhiana with deadly dengue took Bablu away from us. There was no delay whatsoever in providing the best of medical help and care but there were no signs of recovery. I personally saw Bablu fighting for life. He wanted, I felt, to live and see the results of his hard work which his young and energetic mind and soul visualized for the family. Bablu was not only my nephew but a friend. After I came back to Jalandhar, I depended on him for so many odd errands which he undertook and did without any hesitation. He used to tease us (me and my wife Vidya) for our simple and frugal life style. Jokingly, he used to say that it was no fun in going to Taiji; she would give us something stale from the fridge. He was such a jovial fellow. I remember once in the days of some marriage in the family, I said before going to bed that now please let me sleep with Shanti (peace). Bablu immediately, with a clear naughty intent, said, ‘Oh Taiji come here, Tayaji is going to sleep with Shanti.’ It was a joke of the day. It was Bablu, our dear Bablu.

Bablu’s funeral was conducted on November 30 and the final rites (Antim Ardas) on December 10. I could see and feel, if I am permitted to say with all humility, how our society in and around Jalandhar felt and joined us in our hour of grief. The entire sports industry and market, where Brijesh and his father Krishan worked, was closed as a mark of respect and sympathy on November 30. More than 2000 men and women joined the funeral procession and paid their homage to the departed soul and consoled the bereaved family. I was told that it was one of the biggest congregations on such occasions in the area. Likewise, on December 10, on the day

of Antim Ardas, Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi where the Ardas was held witnessed unprecedented participation by our friends and relations and was over-flowing the capacity of the huge prayer hall of the Dham. I was touched by the spontaneous and heartfelt sympathies shown by the society with our humble family. We value the love and support of our friends and relations in our hour of grief.

Death is an inevitable reality of life. One has to accept it. There is no other way. But it was beyond my imagination that death of one person could change the entire spectrum of a family. Bablu’s death has exactly done so for my brother Krishan and his homely wife Baksho. They were happy and of late said so many a times while talking in the family. Their three children, after good education, were happily married and were doing well in their respective professions. Daughter, Mamta, is a qualified doctor, married to Dr. Varinder Sood in Ludhiana. Both are practicing doctors at their own clinic. Mahesh, the elder brother of Bablu, is an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Faculty at Sant Baba Bhag Singh University in Jalandhar.  He is married to Anju, an M. Tech and has a lovely daughter. Just recently they started living in their new flat with a view to provide social privacy to the newly married brother, Bablu, at their family home. It is beyond ones comprehension to understand the miserable condition of the wife of Bablu, Reena. They were still enjoying their extended honey-moon. Everything has gone topsy-turvy.    Krishan was contemplating to seek pre-mature retirement from his good job in one of the leading companies in the sports industry. It has to be put on hold. Mahesh will resign from his academic career and join business to stand for Bablu in the nascent company. Mahesh and Anju will have to consider and join the family to live together with parents. Reena requires all support to live a dignified life and start afresh. Obviously, an element of uncertainty prevails and challenges are many fold.

Bablu has left a wide gap which is difficult to fill. One can only pray. Time, it is said, is a big healer.

ज़माना बड़े शौक से सुन रहा था;

हम ही सो गये, दास्ताँ कहते कहते !