Kashmir - Emerging Scenario

                 Article 370 revocation in Kashmir was expected to ruffle feathers of well-greased and comfortably entrenched groups within India besides Sheikh Chilli Pakistan. One significant benefit from this exercise was the unmasking of China that was till now playing its treacherous activities behind the curtains. The world's strongest and ruthless autocracy has now openly and brazenly demonstrated its fangs to India with the sole intent to meddle in internal affairs by lending its support on Kashmir to its mercenary Pakistan. The duplicity of China wasn't concealed from the Indian think tank who's well versed with its objective to create obstacles in India's growth story by tying it down within South Asia, thus the indispensability of Pakistan for China. 

              With a trade war looming between China and US, continuous peaceful protest from the burgeoning crowd of youngsters in Hongkong fighting for upholding democracy, international condemnation for detaining more than one million Uighurs for their religious beliefs, faltering economy, Tibetan protests and skirmishes with neighboring countries in South Chinese Sea are some of the other issues confronting China and will only push it towards more desperation and open diplomatic face-off with India. That Chinese officials are using social media like twitter and facebook to smudge India which are otherwise banned in China show duplicity. The Chinese contempt for international laws was visible in its refusal to accept International Arbitration in the South China Sea with regards to Philippine. Threatening sovereignty of Taiwan besides quelling the protest of the Uighur population are some other issues underlining the scanty respect China has for Human rights and international laws.

               Chinese accused India of unilaterally altering the boundary which it professed is unbinding and unacceptable thus providing overt support to its mischievous war-monger foot soldier Pakistan. That Kashmir was even discussed(behind closed doors) at the UN (first time since 1965 at Chinese behest) in itself is disturbing for India and showcases the influence China yields in today's world. The sermons from the Chinese establishment to respect international laws is not only hypocritical but hilarious and is rightfully denounced by India. India shouldn't lower its guard on the diplomatic front as the Chinese aren't going to let go of the pounding and humiliation it received at the UN and are known for perseverance and patience and with newfound wealth its the bigger nuisance for India.

                 Pakistan on its part is creating the hysteria as expected, with mounting public pressure on the Pakistan government to provide food and other basic amenities, Article 370 revocation in Kashmir has come as a boon for Pakistan Army and its selected PM to blunt criticism. With no money to purchase food and medicines for the public, the rhetoric on the Kashmir will only get vicious and shrill to help vent out pressure and survive for as long as possible. International snubbing isn't new for Pakistan and is a habitual liar but with acknowledgment from Imran Khan of its territory becoming hub of terror and state patronage to terrorist organizations by Pakistan army, one would expect ceding of terror export policy by Pakistan in lieu of international monetary relief that Pakistan lounges for but now it looks unlikely. 

                                               Pakistan Science &Technology Minister 

                  China - Pakistan syndicate has inherent contradictions but the overlapping factor for both rogue nations is their animosity towards India that binds them. Pakistan with a collapsed economy and internal disturbance can't match India's prowess compelling China to openly challenge India. The tussle has just started and India should prepare itself to listen to sermons on secularism and tolerance from Pakistan (which has systematically cleansed itself of religious minorities) and democracy, civil liberties from China(with none for its citizens). 

Image Courtesy - Google 

ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः

श्रीरामचरित मानस के सौवें दोहे में गणेश जी के बारे में महत्वपूर्ण सूत्र उपलब्ध है। दोहा है-

मुनि अनुसासन गणपतिहि पूजेउ संभु भवानि ।

कोउ सुनि संसय करै जनि सुर अनादि जिय जानि ।।

अर्थात -

मुनियों की आज्ञा से शिव पार्वती ने विवाह पूर्व गणेश जी का पूजन किया। देवता अनादि हैं अतः कोई इस पर संशय न करे कि गणेश जी तो शिव के पुत्र हैं, तब वह उनके विवाह में कैसे उपस्थित हैं , कि पूजे गए ? इसी में गणेश का प्रतीक निहित है। इसलिए कि गण का अर्थ समूह है । देवमंडल में अष्ट वसु , एकादश रुद्र, 49 मरुत गण देवता हैं जो समूह में पूजे जाते हैं |इस अर्थ में गणेश समूह या समूहों के प्रमुख व्यक्ति का पद है। प्राचीन गणराज्यों में इसीलिए गणपति होते थे। शिव के साथ गणेश एक पृथक देवता भी हैं लेकिन व्यापक अर्थ में वे अनादि होकर हर काल और समाज में सर्वदा मौजूद हैं । शिव के विवाह के समय निश्चित ही तत्कालीन समाज में जो 'गणेश' रहे होंगें, स्वभावतः कार्य की सफलता के लिए उनकी पूजा की गई।

परिवार

गणेश जी क्यों मंगलमूर्ति हैं , इसका सार उनके परिवार में है।

महादेव उनके पिता हैं। जगतजननी पार्वती जैसी महिमामय नारी उनकी माँ हैं। बड़े भाई कार्तिकेय देवसेना के प्रमुख हैं। ऐश्वर्य की प्रतीक रिद्धि और सामर्थ्य की प्रतीक सिद्धि उनकी पत्नियां हैं। उनके दो पुत्रों में लाभ और क्षेम है। एक अप्राप्य की प्राप्ति कराता है। और दूसरा प्राप्य की रक्षा करता है। आशय है परिवार का प्रत्येक सदस्य लोक कल्याण में संलग्न है और प्रतीक है कि जिस परिवार में सभी अपने अपने कार्य में रत होकर सबका मंगल करने के लिए संकल्पित रहते हों , उसमें उसी प्रकार सुख , शांति और आनंद बरसता है जिस प्रकार गणेश जी के परिवार में।

आंनद के जन्मदाता श्रद्धा व विश्वास

रामचरितमानस में 'भवानीशंकरों वन्दे श्रद्धाविश्वासरूपिणों' कहकर शिव-पार्वती की वंदना की गई है। 

अर्थात -

माता श्रद्धा और पिता विश्वास के प्रतीक हैं। हर काम की सफलता के लिए श्रद्धा और विश्वास दोनों आवश्यक हैं । जहाँ ये दोनों हो, वहीं आनंद संभव है। गणेश जी इसीलिए मंगलमूर्ति और आनंद के दाता हैं क्योंकि उनका जन्म श्रद्धा और विश्वास से हुआ है। जिसके मूल में ये दोनों हो वह मोद यानी आनंद को पसंद करने वाला भी होगा और आनंद का प्रदाता भी होगा। ठीक उसी भांति जैसे गणेश जी हैं।

जीवन में सार और विस्तार

गणेश के जीवन से जुड़ी बहुमत कथा है।

कथा अनुसार जब पृथ्वी की परिक्रमा को लेकर बड़े भाई कार्तिकेय से प्रतिस्पर्धा हुई तब विद्यावान, गुणी, अति चतुर गणेश जी ने माता पिता की परिक्रमा करके जय प्राप्त की और शिवजी के वरदान से प्रथमपूज्य बने। इसका प्रतीक है कि जीवन को विस्तार को जानने के बजाय उसके सार को जानना अधिक महत्वपूर्ण है। हम सब सदा कार्तिकेय की तरह परिक्रमा करने निकल पड़ते हैं। यानी विस्तार में जानने के चक्कर में पिछड़ जाते हैं। मगर जो गणेशजी की तरह भावुक और बुद्धिमान होता है वह सार पर टिकता है। जो माता पिता को ही महत्व देता है वही हर जगह सबसे पहले पूजा जाता है।

जन गण मन गणनायक जय हो

गणेशजी जन जन के मन में रहते हैं और गण या गणों के नायक हैं। 

इस अर्थ में वे समूह, सामूहिकता और समूह शक्ति के प्रतीक हैं। वे समर्थ हैं क्योंकि उनके पास समूह या समूहों के जन - मन की मिली जुली ताकत है । जो सिखाती है कि जो समाज समूहशक्ति में विश्वास करता है, जो अपने नायक में निष्ठा रखता है, वह हर प्रकार के विघ्नों का नाश करके सर्वत्र मंगल की स्थापना में समर्थ हो जाता है। स्वाभाविक है गण शक्ति से परिपूर्ण नायक विशिष्ट अर्थात विनायक होता है ।

Source - Faridabad Bhaskar
Images - Google 

Chandrayaan-2

                      An unprecedented night that is forever etched in memories of many though didn’t yield expected success was in no way ungenerous. Can we infer that a day would come when people would be thronging to their tv sets in the middle of the night to witness ISRO that was on the verge of making history. That 69 seconds or last 2 km proved little more challenging than bargained for in no way makes Chandryaan-2 any small accomplishment in itself and should be rightfully hailed as a triumph.

                    The pessimist and the armchair intellectuals might try to run ISRO down, but we must stand resolute. They say ISRO has failed, let me articulate it, ISRO has achieved in this single mission what no one ever had. The success is exemplary, their endeavor to land on “moon” has created enthusiasm among Indians, ignited young minds, a whole new generation who would be prompted to take on the mettle.

                Chandrayaan 2, hence is a grand success, has made a nonparallel contribution to the Indian space program and will be remembered as a giant step, a learning exercise that will fuel India to take numero-uno space power in times to come.

Image Courtesy - Google 

The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish Tripathi

                              The book 'The Oath Of The Vayuputras' is a work of fiction. It is the third and final installment of the Shiva Trilogy. Not many books(fiction) can sap your thoughts and have a long-lasting impact on a person's psyche even after it is read, but this book is a rarity. The incredibly talented author Amish has surpassed my expectations and woven a story laced with mythology and ancient history with such ingenuity, that leaves the reader mesmerized. To begin with, the story discussed the moral and ethical codes to run the society and the kingdoms in ancient times which were versatile and are relevant even today's society. The details with which certain ancient techniques are discussed are exemplary and sustains once interests in the book. I must confess, I wasn't too impressed with the second book of the series but is pleasantly surprised with 'The Oath Of The Vayuputras'. The in-depth explanation regarding the geographical locations of different kingdoms is heartening and demonstrates the efforts of the author to bring readers on the same page. 

“The distance between Evil and Good is a vast expanse in which many can exist without being either.” 

                              The story starts where it was left off in the second book, Shiva reached Panchvati with his entourage successfully despite the attempts on his life and met the Meluhan scientist and his friend Brahaspati who was believed to be assassinated by Nagas. As the story progresses, Brahaspati revealed the obsession of the Meluha state towards Somras despite its harmful side-effects on different states, ecology, and humanity. The Shiva realized that the elixir which was one of the magnificent inventions of its time has slowly become truly evil, and thus the necessity to stop its production for the larger good. Meanwhile, the deadly attack on Shiva was the handiwork of Daksha, the ruler of Meluha and Dilipa, Ayodhya ruler who combined their strength under the leadership of sage Brighu. As Shiva forged an alliance to take out the elixir, he was supported by Vasudevs, Vaishali, Panchvati, Lothal and finally Vayuputras of Pariha who provided him Pashupatiastra. As the final showdown between the two armies became inevitable, Daksha hired assassins from Egypt to eliminate Shiva by enticing him with the peace conference, however, Sati had to attend the conference due to an unforeseen turn of events and was assassinated despite her valiant struggle. Eventually, the wrath of Shiva destroyed Devagiri along with its many inhabitants while Kartik helped in rescuing scientists who could create Somras whenever needed in the future. 

                           Although the story weaved by the author touches history and mythology intricately, yet it is necessary to remember that it is a work of fiction and shouldn't get swayed by emotions. The story is loaded with numerous twists and turns and brings a satisfactory conclusion to the Shiva's journey giving us a narrative that the Gods of today were mere mortal men whose deeds transformed them into extraordinary humans with god-like traits. It is a thoroughly entertaining and refreshingly good book to read.