1000-year-old Buddhist statue made of meteorite

by Saravanan Jawahar on September 28, 2012 in Exclusive, News, Sci-Tech

Washington, Sep 28 (TruthDive): Scientists have discovered an ancient statue of Buddha, first found by Nazi expedition in the year 1938,which is engraved from a meteorite.

Ernst Schafer, the German scientist discovered it in Tibet. The 1,000-year-old statue discovered in Tibet by an expedition team was believed to be the origin of the pre-Buddhist Bon culture in the 11th century.

The statue, named as ‘Iron Man’, weighs 10 kg and is about 24 cm tall and is found to be made of a rare ataxite type of meteorite, the researchers said.

The researchers believe that the statue is part of a Chinga meteorite and meteorite is believed to have crashed to earth around 15,000 years ago. The 1,000-year-old statue with a swastika in its stomach is made by a rare form of iron, which contains high nickel.

Researchers also believe that the piece of Chinga meteorite crashed in the region of eastern Mangolia and Siberia, some 15,000 years before. The statue was brought back to Germany, was a part of private collection and disappeared from view until 2007. The new owner sought scientific advise for the statue.

Elmar Buchner of University of Stuttgart said that he was absolutely sure that it was a meteorite when he saw it first from a distance of 10 metres. The statue is believed to be the god Vaisravana. Iron Man is believed to signify a stylistic hybrid between the Buddhist and pre-Buddhist culture.

He said that its origin alone may be worth 20000 US dollars and their estimates of its age were correct and that it would be invaluable. The finding of this statue were published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science.

In the earlier age, meteorite was worshipped by a host of ancient cultures including the Inuit’s of Australia and Greenland’s aborigines. It was also believed that the fall of meteorites from sky has been interpreted as divine messages in prehistoric times.

The largest known meteorite of the world was the Hoba meteorite of Namibia and it is also an ataxite meteorite which weighs about 60 tonnes.

ST return to be filed by 25-10-2012 shall be for the period from 1-4-2012 to 30-6-2012

No Service Tax Return Filing Till Modification in ST 3 Form

All Service Tax assessees are hereby informed that they will not be able to file ST 3 returns in ACES now and have to wait until the modified version of ST 3 Form is made available in a few weeks. Please revisit ACES website(http://www.aces.gov.in) for further information. Inconvenience caused is regretted.

Service Tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2012 – Amendment in rule 7

Notification No. 47/2012 ST, DATED 28-9-2012

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with sub-section (2) of section 94 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Service Tax Rules, 1994, namely:-

1. (1) These rules may be called the Service Tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2012.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Service Tax Rules, 1994, in rule 7, in sub-rule (2), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:-

“Provided that the Form ‘ST-3′ required to be submitted by the 25th day of October, 2012 shall cover the period between 1st April to 30th June, 2012 only.”

MUMBAI–Starbucks will open its debut store in India by the end of October, the company said Friday.
The American chain’s first shop here will be located in Mumbai’s iconic Horniman Circle neighborhood, in South Mumbai’s Fort district. The area is home to expensive shops, including a Hermes store, and numerous offices and bank headquarters as well as the Horniman Circle Gardens park, which hosts music and culture festivals.( Source: NYtimes)

Reuters

The site where a Sita Air plane crashed in Katmandu, Nepal on Sept. 28, 2012.An aircraft full of trekkers headed to Mount Everest crashed in Nepal’s capital, Katmandu, on Friday morning, killing all the 19 people on board.

Manjunath Kiran/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Tibetan exiles carried holy scriptures to a prayer meeting addressed by the Dalai Lama at Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. The meeting was held on the concluding day of a four-day conclave organized to discuss the recent self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet..

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

At a ceremony held today at 1130 hrs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Shri Justice Altamas Kabir was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India. He made and subscribed to the oath of office before the President. The ceremony was attended by the Vice President of India, Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Cabinet Ministers, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Judges of Supreme Court, Lawyers and other invitees. **** Rashtrapati Bhavan: September 29, 2012 RCJ/KR/RK (Release ID :88058)

What is common between between Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Sikkim?

 Not that they all are Indian states. Well, they are, but there is something unique that interlinks these states. It is their GDP growth rate. All these four states have registered GDP growth in excess of 9.5% between 2003 and 2012. What is noteworthy is the fact that they have been able to manage such high growth in last 2 years as well. This was the time when the country's growth rate as a whole took a backseat.

While we all have heard about Narendra Modi's administrative skills that have heralded Gujarat to the pinnacle of growth, what is worth mentioning is the performance of states like Sikkim and Uttarakhand. For Uttarakhand, agriculture is the key contributor to growth. However, it is interesting to note that services sector contributed to about 50% of the GDP in FY12. For Sikkim, too, agriculture is the greatest contributor towards growth. Off late, tourism has also started contributing. And for Harayana, manufacturing and services rule the roost. But despite the recent development, agriculture still remains a key contributor. While the role of agriculture is undisputed for these 3 states, which has helped them clock high growth, contribution from other avenues is also noteworthy. Probably, these 4 states are the 4 pillars of India growth story. 
By J Mulraj

KNOW OUR NEW CJI- Justice Altamas Kabir

Justice Altamas Kabir is well equipped to handle the diverse responsibilities in chairing the SC but his tenure is short

source:Business Standard

Visitors to the Supreme Court next week are bound to be struck by the contrasting styles of Chief Justice S H Kapadia, who has just retired, and the new Chief Justice of India (CJI), Altamas Kabir.

Kapadia disposed of 50-odd cases in two hours and there was hardly any sitting in the afternoon. His successor has a slower rate, an average of 15 cases in that time. He gives ample time to all parties to present their case in their own way, and writes clear judgments.

CJI Kapadia specialised in tax laws and grilled lawyers who were weak in this field. CJI Kabir is more or less a generalist, equally good in civil and criminal matters. He was born in Bengal and started his career in the district courts of Kolkata. Later, he was elevated to the Calcutta High Court and then became CJ of the Jharkhand High Court. In 2005, he became an SC judge.
As the 39th CJI, he has little time to make substantive changes on the administrative side, as he retires next July. With two months of summer vacation, the effective reign is about seven months.

PM approves architecture for Aadhaar-based subsidy transfer

PM approves architecture for Aadhaar-based subsidy transfer

The new system will cut down wastage, duplication and enhance efficiency in the disbursement of subsidies and other benefits

BS Reporter / New Delhi Sep 29, 2012, 01:14 IST


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday cleared the architecture of the Aadhaar-based system to launch nationwide cash transfer system for subsidies and entitlements directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Wages for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, scholarships, pensions and health benefits will come under this.

The new system, which the government plans to implement in a time-bound manner, will cut down wastage, duplication and enhance efficiency in the disbursement of subsidies and other benefits which will be paid through electronic cash transfer.

The architecture is a coordination mechanism comprising a national ministerial panel under the prime minister with members from other ministries and departments like finance, IT, social justice, HRD, minorities, labour, health, food, petroleum, fertilisers, Plan panel and the Unique Identification Authority of India.

This high-level ministerial committee will ensure decision-making at the highest level and bring in the necessary urgency to the programme.

There is also a national executive committee with the secretaries of the ministries as members who will meet frequently to coordinate action, ensure adherence to timelines and sort out hitches in the programme as it is rolled out.

Then there are other sub-committees to smoothen out the process.

The implementation panel will finalise all details related to the design and operation of the transfer system.

The technology panel will focus on technology, architecture and IT and the financial inclusion panel will ensure universal access to banking.

Further, the electronic benefit transfer committee will work out the details such as data bases, transfer rules and controls audits for each ministry engaged in benefit transfers.

The national executive committee will monitor these committees.

With the rapid rollout of Aadhaar, now covering 200 million people and mandated to enroll a total of 600 million, and with the National Population Register covering the rest of the population, the government thinks it can move to an e-cash transfer system without much trouble.

Aadhaar-based pilots are already under implementation in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Puducherry and Sikkim.

Chinmaya Mission’s national-level quiz- “transform India through the family system”.

Chinmaya Mission’s national-level quiz to be launched on October 2

1

Chinmaya Mission will launch Transforming Indians to transform India’, a national family quiz competition, here on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

The Mission, which will celebrate the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda in 2015, has embarked on this programme to “transform India through the family system”.

The organisers told a press conference here on Friday that the competitions would begin in October and conclude on August 15, 2013. Each team would comprise three members of the immediate family. It would be held in districts, States and at the national-level.

The venue

The launch would be held at Maharaja College Centenary Hall at 10.30 a.m. Swami Hamsananda, head, Chinmaya Mission, Mysore; and Swami Muktidananda, head, Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Mysore; R. Vasudevamurthy, educationist; G. Madhusudan, MLC; and Jagannath Shenoy, industrialist would be present among others.

The first prize winner would get Rs. 2 lakh and a car, the second prize Rs. 1.5 lakh and a car, the third prize winner Rs. 1 lakh and a car, and the fourth prize winner Rs. 50,000.

Registration has begun at Gurudeva Datta Sannidhi, 148, 6th Main, 3rd Stage, Gokulam, Mysore-02.

Call 2413601 or 8904037968 or send an e-mail to Karnataka@transformingindians.org

The Grand Finale of Batmanlive at Staples Centre, Los Angeles: Photo:AP/Warner Brothers

Water-More holistic aquifer management strategies needed

Aquifer atlas shows depletion in north India

by Gargi Parsai

 The atlas, compiled by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Union Ministry of Water Resources, says within the national capital, South-West Delhi is worst affected by depleting groundwater levels. File photo
India’s first aquifer atlas points to a sharp decline in groundwater levels in several parts of Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The atlas, compiled by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Union Ministry of Water Resources, says within the national capital, South-West Delhi is worst affected by depleting groundwater levels.

“One of the critical challenges during the 12th Five-Year Plan is to evolve strategies to manage ground water resources in a rational and sustainable manner and mapping of aquifers by the Central Ground Water Board is the first step in this direction,” said Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal while releasing the atlas — Aquifer Systems of India — here.

He also released State atlas of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu-Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Meghalaya.

In a major shift in the water sector, the 12th Plan clearly calls for “more holistic aquifer management strategies” including separation of electricity feeders for agriculture and domestic use to “break the cycle of free use of electricity and excess use of groundwater.”

It also focusses on rationalising the pricing of water for various categories of users, including domestic users. “With growing domestic, industrial and agricultural demand, the stress on ground water resources is ever increasing and its sustainability has become a matter of concern,” said Mr. Bansal, giving an indication of the reforms planned in the water sector.

As per the data released, Himachal Pradesh has the best groundwater level as water exploited is quickly recharged. “The construction around Aravali Hills has created a situation which has disturbed the groundwater recharge system,” said CGWB Chairman S.C. Dhiman.

“Overexploitation, due to population concentration, has led to depletion and the recharge process is slow due to the type of soil in the region,” he said.

According to him, hard rock areas of south India are also severely affected but the recharge process was quicker in rocky areas. “Good rains over a five to seven year period can bring back water in aquifers,” he said, adding that the issues of water and land were crucial to India’s development.

The atlas has been prepared on 1:2,50,000 grid map scale and covers 14 principal aquifers and 42 major aquifers. Alluvium, the major aquifer system, covers 31 per cent area in the country and is available in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Rajasthan. This is followed by the sandstone aquifer that covers eight per cent area and is found in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan. The rest of the country is covered with other formations of which basalt is in 17 per cent area and is spread over Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka. Shale aquifer accounts for seven per cent area and is available mostly in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, north-eastern States and in the Himalayas.

The atlas says limestone aquifer covers only two per cent area especially in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and in the Himalayan States.

Around 20 per cent area is covered by Banded Gneissic Complex and Gneiss aquifers which are available in almost all peninsular States as well as the Himalayan region.

The atlas suggests that the alluvium aquifer, followed by basalt is most suitable for artificial recharge and development of groundwater.

You have to pay more for passport from October 1

Passport application fee will go up in both Ordinary and Tatkal categories from October 1, the first hike in a decade, said Foreign Office officials.

The application fee is being increased by Rs. 500 to Rs.1,500 for normal applications and by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,500 for the Tatkal category.

For citizens living abroad, the revised fee would be $75 from $40 and Euro 60 from Euro 48 for normal applications. The current regime of Passport fees had come into force in 1993, fixing the application fee on the basis of actual cost incurred. The last revision took place in 2002. Since then, the Government has argued that costs relating to establishment, reimbursement to the police etc. have gone up considerably.

Need for inflation-indexed bonds,else bank deposits will dry up in favour of gold investments

In India, governments, from time to time, have toyed with the idea of introducing inflation-indexed bonds, but on each occasion the authorities have backed off. The real reason for rejecting the indexation idea is that governments do not trust their ability to control inflation. If the government is serious about the welfare of the disadvantaged segments of society and the elderly, it should be willing to float inflation indexed bonds at least for senior citizens. The scheme should offer a real rate of interest of only 2 per cent per annum; if the CPI at the end of the year shows an increase of 10 per cent, the saver should be paid a nominal rate of interest of 12 per cent for that year.


The elderly need to be protected from inflation through instruments that promise a real rate of return of, say, 2 per cent over the rise in consumer prices. This would also do well to set inflation expectation low. The move will, in fact, signal the government's intent to contain inflation. Instead of being apprehensive about floating an inflation-indexed bond when the CPI inflation rate is high, as at present, the government should launch the scheme at precisely such a time. It would act as a signal that the government is determined to bring down the inflation rate to very low levels. A determined move by the government can alter inflationary expectations.

Kelkar Committee Report Uploaded on Finance Ministry Website - seeks public comments

Kelkar Committee Report Uploaded on Finance Ministry Website to Invite Comments from all Sections of the People

On August 6, 2012, the Union Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram  had made a statement on the economic situation and on the policy measures that were under consideration of the Government. Referring to the fiscal situation, the Finance Minister had said:         “We intend to unveil, shortly, a path of fiscal consolidation. I would like to make it clear          that the burden of fiscal correction must be shared, fairly and equitably, by different   classes of stakeholders. The poor must be protected and others must bear their fair share        of the burden. Obviously, adjustments must be made both on the revenue side and on the   expenditure side. We have asked Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Dr. Indira Rajaraman and Dr. Sanjiv        Misra to assist the Government in formulating the path of fiscal consolidation and we            expect that the work will be completed in a few weeks.”         The aforesaid Kelkar Committee submitted its report on September 3, 2012.         The Committee has reached certain conclusions and has made a number of recommendations. The main conclusion of the report is that “We cannot over-emphasize the need and the urgency of fiscal consolidation.”         The report is under consideration of the Government and the Government has not yet taken a view on the report or on any of the recommendations.                                                  The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Shri ArvindMayaram said that some recommendations appear contrary to the declared objective of the Government of ‘sustained and inclusive growth’.  He said that the Government is of the view that in a developing country where a significant proportion of the population is poor, a certain level of subsidies is necessary and unavoidable, and measures must be taken to protect the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. It is in this view that the Government has reiterated its intention to implement the promise of food security for all, he added. The Secretary Shri Mayaram further said while taking a final view on the various recommendations of the report, the Government will bear in mind that the goal is to achieve high growth, inclusive development, and economic and social justice for all.                                                            The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, ShriArvind  Mayaram said that the Government welcomes an informed debate on the report submitted by the Kelkar Committee. Hence, this report is being uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Finance at www.finmin.nic.in, he informed. Shri Mayaram said that the Government invites all sections of the people to send their comments to the email address: feedbackonkelkar-mof@nic.in. DSM/RS/ka

H E GREETS ON INDRAJATRA

On the occasion of Indrajatra, His Excellency the Governor of Sikkim, Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh has extended his warm greetings to the people of Sikkim.

His Excellency said, “On this auspicious occasion, I extend my warm greetings to the people of Sikkim and to the Sikkimese Newar Community in particular.

May this propitious occasion reinforce the bonds of brotherhood and love amongst all sections of our society.”

Most of Sikkim still open and accessible for tourism

GANGTOK, 27 Sept:( Source:Sikkim Now) The State Government and the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department are coordinating with all the agencies concerned to ensure the safety and comfort of the tourists during their visit to Sikkim, an official press release conveys while stressing that despite the landslide disruptions caused in the North district, tourist destinations elsewhere in the State were still open and accessible.

Sikkim is a leading tourist destination and offers a wide variety of products for tourists, the Tourism Department has reminded, adding that “barring some areas of North Sikkim the rest of the State including the other three districts are open for visitors”.

“Even in North Sikkim, Kabi Lungtsok, Phodong Monastery, Phensang Monastery, Labrang Monstery, Mangan and Dzongu are accessible for tourists. Gangtok, Aritar, Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathula which are very popular destinations in East Sikkim are open for traffic. Siddeshwara Dhaam at Solophok, Samdruptse at Namchi and Buddha Park at Rabong are must visit places for tourists in South Sikkim. West Sikkim also offers places of historical and religious importance like Yuksom, Tashiding, Pemayangtse Monastery, Kecheopalri Lake which are very popular among tourists. In addition to these Village Tourism and homestays in rural areas are gaining in popularity and tourists can enjoy these facilities. Adventure sports like trekking, river rafting, paragliding, rock climbing, traversing and mountain biking are available for tourists in all the districts,” the Tourism Department details, while adding that the Department is organizing the Sikkim Paragliding Festival from 31 October to 03 November in which around 60 paragliding pilots from India and abroad are expected to participate.

Sikkim can create community Radio service-Spectrum Fee Waived off for Community Radios

The Ministry of Communications & IT has decided to waive off spectrum fee for Community Radio Services (CRS). This follows requests received from National Advisory Council, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Community Radio Association for waiver of spectrum charges for Community Radio Services. Keeping in mind that the Government’s role is to create an enabling environment for CRS, Sh Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications & IT has asked Department of Telecom to evolve detailed guidelines by 12th October, to ensure that the spectrum is optimally used and the channels use these airwaves only to inform and empower the common man. It was felt that in the interest of inclusive and informed society, it is apt that Government provide the spectrum (airwaves) for CRS at zero cost. Although this may result in an opportunity cost of not more than Rs. 25 lakh to the Government, the cost is far outweighed by the benefit of informed, empowered and inclusive local communities and the nation. Sustainability is the biggest challenge for CRS. Community radio focuses on low cost and low return pattern of operations. Donor funding is crucial for CRS. As most of the donors come from local communities, this financing option is inadequate and irregular for CRS operating in remote areas and for the marginalized sections of the society. Community Radio Services (CRS) plays a vital role in building vibrant communities, in mobilizing groups to action by informing and empowering citizens, in giving voice to the marginalized groups of society, and in bringing community needs to the attention of local and even national governments. CRS can prove to be an excellent tool for managing plurality in a society and for fostering democracy.

 Mr Kajanga Kulatunga, presented a very intriguing analogy about the behaviour of slime mold. Before we go any further, let us tell you that slime mold is the green thing that grows on walls, especially during the rainy season. For centuries, scientists have been baffled by the mysterious behaviour of slime mold. It is said that when food is available in ample, the cells of slime mold operate as single-celled units. However, when food is scarce, slime mold cells come together to form clusters. In other words, the individual cells collude together and operate as a collective. The important thing to note here is that their circumstance, which in this case is availability of food, has a strong influence on how they behave.

Data source: Outlook Business

India-alarming scale of urbanisation

Union Urban Development Minister, Kamal Nath, voiced his thoughts of making New Delhi 'vertically developed' to cope with the growing population pressure. Like other developing countries, India continues to face an alarming scale of urbanisation with an estimated 700 million people likely to move to cities by 2050. Now, this would certainly put pressure on the infrastructure facilities in the cities as well as on natural resources. It is worth noting that globally, cities use 75% of the world's resources and are responsible for 67% of all energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. But urbanisation is an eventuality to which India practically has no option. There are two main problems that India faces. One is, of course, that of high population. The other concern is that development in terms of growth of manufacturing and services has been restricted to few metros and Tier 1 cities.

So, is vertical development a real solution? Although we believe that in the short run, the fact of growing urbanisation can be addressed by taking resort to measures like raising the floor space index (FSI), leading to vertical development. However, we think that both government and corporates should focus on promoting growth to various parts of the country. This is the only way to achieve a balanced and holistic development across the nation.

by 2017, bringing the Tibet railway just 500 km short of the Siliguri corridor in India.

 This project is slated for completion


Phayul[Thursday, September 27, 2012 16:21]
DHARAMSHALA, September 27: China’s strategically important rail line to the Tibetan city of Shigatse, south of capital Lhasa, is set to open a year ahead of schedule by 2014. 
Work on the 253 kilometre railway, the first extension of the “Qinghai-Tibet” railway, began in 2010 with a budget of 13.3 billion Yuan ($ 2.1 billion).
Chinese government officials have maintained that the new rail link will promote “tourism and rational use of natural resources.”
However, critics have said the rail line would speed the Sinicisation of the Tibetan plateau and enable a sharp increase in mining and other industry in the environmentally fragile region.
Reports indicate that the rail link has already accelerated a number of mining projects, including the massive Yulong copper mine, under development by Western Mining and Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd, among others. 
Activists and Tibet advocacy groups say China’s growing rail network in Tibet will encourage further influx of Han Chinese migrants into Tibet, marginalising the Tibetans in their own country. Activists say China’s primary goal in building the railways is to strengthen its political clout over Tibet and boost efforts to drain Tibet's natural resources. 
Official media reports have said the new rail link is designed with a capacity to transport 8.3 million tonnes of freight annually.
Experts in India view the new railway as an expansion of China’s military mobilisation capabilities along the  Indo-Tibetan border, adding on to its advanced strategic military infrastructure.
Following the Shigatse rail link’s completion, China plans to extend its rail network further to the Indian border and also to Nepal.
From Shigatse, this line will move east and go right up to Yadong, on the mouth of the Chumbi Valley. This town is connected to the Indian state of Sikkim through the Nathu La pass and is strategically located on the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan.
This project is slated for completion by 2017, bringing the Tibet railway just 500 km short of the Siliguri corridor in India. 
In another extension of the Shigatse line, China will be building a rail track, around 275kms long, towards Kerung of Rasuwa District in Nepal on the Tibet-Nepal border. The Chinese government has already developed Kerung as a special economic zone as per Nepali request.

If you want to become an entrepreneur, be prepared to set aside three to five years to bring the idea to life. Unless you go to the market you won’t know what will work or what won’t, because you’re talking of a product and not a service company. We ask: Is the guy willing to do it; has he the “doing” rather than “debating” skill; is he willing to learn and adapt?

Auspicious signs and thousands of devout attend Lachen Rinpoche’s funeral

ANAND OBEROI ( Sikkim Now)
GANGTOK, 26 Sep: The IVth Kyabji Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche was cremated here at Enchey Monastery with full State honours today. The kudung of the Lachen Rinpoche, who had passed away on 18 September at AIIMS hospital in New Delhi, was taken out of his residence at Development Area at 8 a.m. sharp and the funeral procession then walked up to the Enchey Monastery where the funeral was conducted between 10 and 11 a.m.
Over 10,000 people from all walks of life joined the funeral procession which was also attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling who paid his last respects to the Rinpoche at Development Area itself. Also present were Speaker KT Gyaltsen, Rajya Sabha MP Hissey Lachungpa, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, senior and retired government officials and former legislators and monk representatives from monasteries across the State.
The funeral procession walked it from Development Area through Zero Point, via TNA School and VIP Colony to reach Enchey Monastery where Lachung Rinpoche, Chorten Lachung Tulku, Tsulakhang Tulku and Jigmee Tulku from Ralang Monastery had prepared a magnificent mandala and an appropriate canopy for the cremation. Elaborate prayers were offered after which the Lachen Rinpoche was cremated.
People who had gathered in the thousands witnessed a series of auspicious signs, as are expected and hoped for when a religious leader of Lachen Rinpoche’s stature is cremated, as the funeral progressed. The was clear and sunny and a rainbow appeared as a halo around the Sun and held fast through the duration of the funeral and a collective sigh went up when an eagle, already a rare sight in Gangtok, started circling over the Enchey Monastery compound, directly over the funeral pyre the moment the fire was lit.
Both sign are considered highly auspicious by the devout who believe that these announce that the “passing-over has been clear”.
Monks from Ringhem, Phensang, Ralang, Tsuklakhang, Phodong, Pemayangtse Enchey, Lachen and Chorten Monasteries presided over the prayers.
Meanwhile, the ashes of Lachen Rinpoche will be taken to Lachen Monastery after three days for the people there to receive a darshan following which a Chorten will be constructed over some of the relics, the rest of the ashes then being taken for immersion in the Ganga, it is informed. It may be recalled that earlier it was planned to hold the funeral in Lachen, but owing to the series of landslides which have blocked the North Sikkim Highway which would have made transportation difficult and made it impossible for all his followers to attend the funeral, the cremation was held in Gangtok itself.
It may be mentioned here that the State government had declared a state holiday for today as a mark of respect for one of Sikkim’s most prominent Rinpoche’s and also to facilitate the general public to pay their last respects to the Rinpoche at his funeral.

Data source: World Bank

International Buddhist Conclave at Varanasi

International Buddhist Conclave at Varanasi

Union Tourism Minister Minister Shri Subodhkant Sahai will inaugurate the Second International Buddhist Conclave at Varanasi on September 29, 2012.

The conclave is being held with a view to showcasing and projecting the Buddhist Heritage of India. The Conclave invitees include the International Buddhist scholars, tour operators and media both domestic and international who actively promote Buddhist Tourism. The other states with Buddhist sites like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha besides Bihar will be associated in the event. The Conclave is an important tourism marketing event designed to bring together international buyers from around the world particularly from the popular Buddhist destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China etc. together, to interact, promote and sell, with the objective of increasing tourist arrivals to India and specifically to the Buddhist sites in different states.

About 130 Overseas guests including Buddhist Scholars/Tour Operators and Media representatives (mainstream media and travel journalists) from 30 countries including Australia,Belgium,Bhutan,Cambodia,Canada,China,France,Holland,Hungary,Indonesia,Italy,Japan,laos,Malaysia,Myanmar,New Zealand, Phillipines, Republic of Korea,Russia,Singapore,South Africa,Spain,Sri lanka,Taiwan,Thailand,UK,USA and Vietnam will be attending the conclave. More than one hundred Indian Tour Operators, Scholars, Media personnel from 16 States/UTs will also be attending the Conclave.

The Conclave sessions include Technical sessions on Buddhism for scholars, and travel and Tourism sessions for the media and Tour operators. The delegates will also be taken for site visits to Bodh Gaya and Nalanda.

India has a rich Buddhist Heritage, with several important sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha, which are of great interest for followers of Buddhism the world over. Buddhism originated in India and has spread to almost all the countries of the world, with the population of Buddhists estimated to be around 350 million. Countries like China, Thailand, Cambodia have a high proportion of Buddhists in their population and the religion is also becoming quite widespread in America, Australia and United Kingdom. Other Southeast Asia countries like Japan. Thailand, Korea, China, Vietnam, Srilanka etc. have sizeable Buddhist population and are important source markets for India Tourism.

Buddhist sites in India include Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali in Bihar, Sarnath and Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh, Ajanta & Ellora in Maharashtra, Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, Amaravati & Nagarjuna Konda in Andhra Pradesh and many more. There is a great potential for promoting tourism to these sites and efforts are being made to drive tourist traffic to the different sites.

Samir/suman

(Release ID :88001)

Programme for North Eastern States in planning and Management of School Finances in Gangtok

Gangtok 27^th September:  Five days long Orientation Programme for North Eastern States in planning and Management of School Finances was inaugurated by the Minister for Human Resource Development Department (HRDD) Mr. N.K Pradhan at a local hotel in the capital today. The programme was organized by the National University of Education Planning and Administration (NUEPA) New Delhi in collaboration with HRDD Government of Sikkim.  The programme was represented by officials from seven North East States including Sikkim. The main objective of the orientation programme is to sensitize the participants regarding the emerging problems of financing of education in India, to enable the participants to understand the role of financial management in the development of school education in the changing scenario and to promote an awareness of recent changes and reforms in educational finance and impart techniques of modern financial planning and management etc.

While addressing the inaugural function the Chief Guest Mr. N.K Pradhan expressed his warm welcome to the participating in the small hill state. He also thanked the participants and the resource persons for coming from far flung areas to represent their state in the orientation programme.  He said that the programme is very useful and important for the official which could be helpful in implementation of National educational schemes in the respective states. He said that the government of India has formulated various educational programme for deprived people those who are not getting proper education and the states have major responsibility to make the national programme successful. He suggested the officials to grab the knowledge seriously and motivate their respective states for betterment of delivering the educational programme.

In his address the Secretary HRDD Mr. C.S Rao said that serious participation of the officials in the orientation programme is very important to achieve the targets of the government to make people literate. He said that with the cooperation of NUPA the state of Sikkim has initiated and achieved lots in reform of the grassroots education in the state.

During the function Prof. Jandhiyala B.G Tilak, Professor and Head of Department of Educational Finance NEUPA, New Delhi during his welcome speech appreciated the activities and achievements of the Sikkim Government, while Dr. Vetukuri.P.S Raju, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Finance NUPA, New Delhi proposed vote of thanks.

Dr. Yazali Josephine, Associate Professor NUPA highlighted the importance of the orientation programme.

The function was also attended by Mrs. Yasoda Bhandari, Director School Education Government of Sikkim, Dr. P. Geeta Rani, Associate Professor of NUPA. 

Children take part in a 'graveyard' protest against the Kudankulam nuclear project at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli. (PTI)

Will India and China fight a war again?

Will India and China fight a war again?

26 September 2012 - 9:57am
(First of 3-Part Series on 50 years after the War)

By Mohan Guruswamy,

Most Indians rightly see the 1962 war between India and China, and a relatively small military defeat and the major national panic that followed, as a cathartic event. While 1962 will still be the seminal year for Sino-Indian relations, it is in 1967 that Indian and Chinese troops last clashed -- at Nathu La. Since then, not a shot has been fired across the border.

Nathu La at 14,200 feet is an important pass on the Tibet-Sikkim border through which passes the old Gangtok-Yatung-Lhasa trade route. Although the Sikkim-Tibet boundary is well defined, China never accepted Sikkim as an Indian protectorate with its army deployed there. During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, China gave an ultimatum to India to vacate both Nathu La and Jelep La passes on the Sikkim-Tibet border. Inexplicably, India's 17 Mountain Division vacated Jelep La. It still remains with China.

At the time of the 1967 clash, India's 2 Grenadiers held Nathu La. This battalion was under the command of Lt Col (later Brigadier) Rai Singh. The battalion was under the Mountain Brigade commanded by Brig M.M.S. Bakshi, MVC.

According to a young Indian officer, the routine at Nathu La started with patrolling by both sides along the perceived border, almost always leading to arguments. The only one on the Chinese side who could converse in broken English was the political commissar. Sentries of both forces would stand barely one meter apart in the centre of the Pass.

Arguments between the two sides soon changed to pushing and shoving. On Sep 6, 1967, a scuffle took place. In order to de-escalate the situation, the Indian military decided to lay a wire in the centre of the Pass from Nathu La to Sebu La to demarcate the perceived border. This task was to be carried out by the 70 Field Company of Engineers assisted by a company of 18 Rajput. It was to begin Sep 11.

Under a bright morning sun, engineers and soldiers started erecting long iron pickets from Nathu La to Sebu La while 2 Grenadiers and Artillery Observation Post Officers at Sebu La and Camel's Back were on alert. Immediately, the Chinese commissar came to the centre of the Pass.

The commissar asked Lt. Col. Rai Singh to stop laying the wire. Orders to the Indian Army were clear. They were not to blink. An argument soon built up into a scuffle. In the melee, the commissar got roughed up. Thereafter the Chinese went back to their bunkers. Engineers resumed laying the wire.

Within minutes, a whistle was heard on the Chinese side followed by murderous medium machine gun fire. Jawans of 70 Field Company and 18 Rajput were caught in the open and suffered heavy casualties. Col Rai Singh was wounded. Two brave officers, Capt Dagar of 2 Grenadiers and Major Harbhajan Singh of 18 Rajput, rallied a few troops and tried to assault the Chinese MMG but both died a heroic death.

2 Grenadier opened small arms fire but it was not very effective. Within the first 10 minutes, there were nearly 70 dead and scores wounded in the open on the pass. Within half hour, Chinese artillery opened up on the pass as well as in the depth areas but it failed to do much damage due to lack of observation.

The Indians sought artillery fire. Because of excellent domination and observation from Sebu La and Camel's Back, the officer say, artillery fire was most effective. Most Chinese bunkers were destroyed and the Chinese suffered very heavy casualties that by their own estimates were over 400. The artillery duel carried on day and night.

For the next three days, the Chinese were taught a lesson. On Sep 14, the Chinese threatened use of air force if shelling did not stop. By then, the lesson had been driven home and an uneasy ceasefire came about.

The Chinese, true to form, pulled over dead bodies to their side of the perceived border at night and accused India of violating the border. Dead bodies were exchanged Sep 15 in the presence of, among others, Lt. Gen. Jagjit Aurora and Lt. Gen. Sam Maneckshaw, the Eastern Army Commander.

On Oct 1, 1967, this event repeated itself at Cho La when 7/11 Gurkha Rifles and 10 JAK Rifles were tested by the People's Liberation Army and similarly not found wanting. The lesson of 1967 has been well learnt by China, just as the lesson of 1962 has been absorbed by India. Not a single shot has been fired across the border since then. Today the Indian Army and PLA stand eyeball to eyeball but the atmosphere is far more relaxed and the two armies frequently have friendly interactions.

(Mohan Guruswamy is a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and heads the Centre for Policy Alternatives, New Delhi, a privately funded think-tank. He is the author of several books, the latest being "Chasing the Dragon: Will India Catch-up with China?"
source:twocircles.net

Google provides coral reef panoramas to its maps

PTI

A file photo of Coral reefs at Latouche island, Andaman.

London, Sep 26: 

Now, explore the world of beautiful reefs at a click of a button as Google has added the corals to their maps for the first time.

The King of Good Times Dismantles His Empire



Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Vijay Mallya, co-owner of the Indian Premier League team Bangalore Royal Challengers, left, with Lalit Modi, former chairman of the Indian Premier League, in a 2009 file photo.

By HEATHER TIMMONS and NEHA THIRANI

Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Source: NY TImes

Vijay Mallya, co-owner of the Indian Premier League team Bangalore Royal Challengers, left, with Lalit Modi, former chairman of the Indian Premier League, in a 2009 file photo.NEW DELHI — Suddenly, everything that was once part of the sprawling empire of Indian businessman Vijay Mallya seems to be up for sale.

Mr. Mallya once took over a sleepy family business at age 27 and reinvented it in his own image, forming a jet-setting, luxury-loving consumer-friendly group of companies called UB Group. Yet in a period of a few days, he seems ready to sell it off piece by piece.

On Wednesday, before the company’s annual meeting, Mr. Mallya told reporters that Kingfisher Airlines was in talks with foreign carriers about a stake sale.  He declined to be more specific.
The airline has not made a profit since it started in 2005, is late on payments for about 70 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) in bank loans, and has not paid most of its staff for months.

“This is a difficult thing to digest,” said Sharan Lillaney, an analyst at Angel Broking. “Mr. Mallya will have to relinquish his crown jewel.”

Just a day earlier, Mr. Mallya’s liquor company, United Spirits, said it was in talks with the beverage giant Diageo about a stake sale. Any deal is expected to dilute Mr. Mallya’s 28 percent stake in United Spirits substantially, to the point where he has little or no control over the business.

His company’s less-glamorous businesses — fertilizers and engineering — are also looking for potential investors or acquirers, analysts and bankers said. Those deals, too, are expected to leave Mr. Mallya without control.

The airline has been the biggest burden on the company’s operations as its executives seemed willing to practically gamble away the health of the group’s other businesses, which were used as collateral for bank loans to the airline. Now Mr. Mallya needs to raise cash to pay off those debts.

Losing control of the businesses he carefully shaped would be a sharp change for a man who was regularly featured on Forbes’s “billionaires list”; who collected expensive cars, as well as sponsored a Formula One racing team; and whose parties, in Mumbai and at his Goa seaside home, were regularly attended by prominent Bollywood stars and some of India’s most powerful politicians.

.Mr. Mallya’s airline, which seemed to be modeled loosely on Richard Branson’s Virgin Airways, features red-suited flight attendants, a generous frequent flier program and, at least when it started, high quality food.

He impressed the Paris Air Show in 2007, ordering 50 Airbus planes and promising an overseas expansion to the United States and Europe.

But by 2009, he was forced to take on bank loans to finance the airline, and postpone deliveries of new planes. Instead of flying to Paris or San Francisco, the airline’s new international destination was Dhaka, Bangladesh. Now the company no longer flies international, lists just 12 planes on its corporate Web site, down from more than 70, and has cut its domestic flights drastically.

Even back in 2009, Mr. Mallya was looking for a deal. “We are in discussion with private equity investors,” Mr. Mallya told The New York Times in June of that year. “Certain airlines have shown keen interest as well, subject to the government policy allowing them to invest.”

Profitability has eluded most private carriers in India, where the heavily subsidized state carrier, Air India, skews the playing field and competition was stiff for new passengers from the country’s growing upper middle class.

The Indian government said this month that it would allow foreign airlines to purchase 49 percent of Indian carriers, but the change may have come too late. A few years ago, airlines from the Middle East, Asia and Europe were considered likely acquirers in the Indian market, but Kingfisher won’t attract them now because of its financial issues, analysts said Wednesday.

“I don’t think any clear deal will go through for Kingfisher because the airline is in very bad shape and the aviation business globally is in bad shape,” said A.K. Prabhakar, the senior vice president of equity research at Anand Rathi Financial Services in Mumbai.

Neha Thirani reported from Mumbai.


.

Roads to readiness: defending the China border

India's border roads programme is mired in bullshit!

by Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 20th Sept 12

Fifty years ago, on September 20, 1962, the first shots were fired at Thag La. Yesterday, the army chief, General Bikram Singh, vowed that there would never be a replay of 1962, when an ill-prepared Indian Army was militarily humiliated in a carefully choreographed offensive by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Those brave words need to be backed by preparation. In terms of military build-up along the McMahon Line, the Indian army, despite recent efforts, is far from matching its opponent.

China’s biggest advantage is that of the aggressor: since it can decide when to strike and where, it could quickly concentrate some 10-12 divisions, about 200,000 combat soldiers, on a narrow front defended by just a couple of Indian brigades, moving swiftly over a handsome new transport network. This includes the 1,956-km Qinghai-Tibet railway, inaugurated in 2006, which allows troops to be moved swiftly from China into Tibet, and another five rail lines being built from Lhasa to the border. These are backed up with superb four-lane highways. The Indian Army has as many men in the sector, but they are strung out along a frontline hundreds of kilometres long, with forward positions many days’ walk from the road heads. Even if India learns about an ongoing Chinese build-up, say from improved satellite surveillance or from its sources in Tibet, it would take so long – three weeks – to reposition its troops at the threatened point that the battle would be over by then.

India’s poor border infrastructure also limits the utility of the formations that New Delhi is raising — a mountain strike corps of 40,000 soldiers and an armoured brigade with about 200 tanks. Until India can build better roads and railways that would allow the army to reposition and concentrate more quickly, its generals have little choice but to continue deploying increasing numbers of troops in inhospitable, high-altitude, forward pickets, hoping that they can block a PLA offensive till reinforcements are moved up. This is hardly a happy situation.

The obvious solution is to quickly build better roads and railways that could allow the Indian army to match the PLA’s deployment timings (one week). Far-sighted policy planners, such as former foreign secretary Shyam Saran, pushed a range of schemes to build strategic roads in border areas through agencies like the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Implementation, however, has been slow. Problems with land acquisition and clearances; the rugged terrain and harsh climate; and the need for more helicopters to move men and material are the government’s stated reasons for the slow progress. It is time the Centre and states co-ordinated their efforts to create a suitable road network. This is not just a military imperative, but it would also do much to bring economic development and jobs to the people of India’s far-flung border regions.

Buddhist conclave to draw global delegates

Buddhist conclave to draw global delegates

TNN, Sep 25, 2012

VARANASI, India -- As many as 28 countries have confirmed their participation in the proposed three-day International Buddhist Conclave (IBC) which will begin in the city from September 28. Around 350 delegates from 30 countries and 16 states of India will participate in the conclave being organised by governments of state and centre.

The conclave will be inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 29 at Nadesar area and union tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai will also be present in the function along with officials and tour operators of UP, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Sikkim.

According to director UP Tourism Abhilash Sharma, "The countries participating are Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Cambodia in the far East Asia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal in South Asia, The Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Hungry, Serbia, Italy and Spain in Europe, besides USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand."

A special Ganga Arti has been organised for the delegates on September 28 at Dashaswamedh Ghat, prior to the inaugural ceremony on the next day. There will be a panel discussion on 'Buddhist Pilgrimage in India' followed by presentation by 16 states of India, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Pawan Hans.

Delegates will also visit museum and archaeological sites in Sarnath. Besides, a cultural evening will also be organised at Sarnath the same day in which noted danseuse Dr Mallika Sarabhai and her troupe will stage a dance drama 'On His Foot Steps', depicting Lord Buddha's life, philosophy and teachings.

Apart from that, an exhibition will be organised at the same venue in which the states of India will showcase Buddhist shrines and other tourism potentials.

The conclave proceedings will resume on September 30 at the venue, beginning with a workshop on 'Linking Tourism Potential of Future Buddhist Tourists in India'. Thereafter, the delegates will leave for Bodh Gaya in Bihar where the conclave concludes on October 1.

Graphic: Naveen Kumar Saini/Mint

• if the National List of Essential Medicines, 2011, is implemented, as much as 24-29% of domestic revenue of some large companies will come under price control, Barclays Research has estimated. Currently, only 2.5-6.8% of local revenue is under price control under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. 

Buddha Trail to enthral tourists

Buddha Trail to enthral tourists

Somdatta Basu, TNN | Sep 25, 2012,

KOLKATA: The state government is all set to start a 'Buddha Trail', on the lines of the Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan. Spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim, the trail will connect cities where Lord Buddha had a spent a part of his life.

The project, being prepared in consultation with railway officials, will not only require financial support from the Centre but also it's approval. Once the project is finalized and accepted by the Indian Railways, it will be forwarded to the Centre.

Palace on Wheels may have its very own Bengali incarnation. West Bengal government has embarked upon an ambitious plan to start a 'Buddha Trail', connecting the cities related to Lord Buddha. The project is being prepared in consultation with railway officials and the Buddhist trail is being considered by the Indian Railways. Since other state governments are also involved in the project, the trail will require a nod from the Centre as well as financial support. After the project is finalised and accepted by the Indian railways, it will be further sent to the center.

After a preliminary discussion, the trail had been conceptualised to be spread over the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.

"The main aim of the project is to attract Buddhist tourists from Southeast and East Asia. A huge number of footfall is experienced in each places linked with Buddha. Most of these tours are organised from Delhi. Now, we plan to start a similar trail from Kolkata," said a senior tourism department official. "The tourists travelling from Southeast Asia will find the tour very lucrative because of cost benefits. The airfare from Southeast Asia to Kolkata is way less than that in any other Indian city."

A tentative itinerary has also been chalked out and sent for approval. According to it, the Buddha Trail will first pass through Gautam Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini and then through UP's Kushinagar where Buddha attained nirvana. This will be followed by a stop at Shravasti in the state's Gonda district. Tourists will then be taken to Sarnath in Bihar. "There are ruins and relics which the travellers will visit. Sarnath is also an important place of pilgrimage for those who practice Buddhism," said the official.

After a visit to Varanasi, tourists will be taken to Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment. In the final leg of the tour, travelers will be taken to two monasteries - Rumtek in Sikkim and Ghoom, around 8km from Darjeeling. The monastery at Ghoom has a 15-feet hight Buddha statue.

The tentative itenary which has been discussed and sent for an approval includes places like Lumbini - the birth place of Gautam Buddha and Kushinagar - place where Buddha attained nirvana in Eastern U.P. Followed by Shravasti in the Gonda district of U.P. At Sravasti Buddha had spent a long time after he became a monk. It is also near Tetavana monastery where he had spent his life. The tourists will be then taken to Sarnath in Bihar. "There are ruins and relics which the travelers will visit. Sarnath is also an important place of pilgrimage for those who practice Buddhism. The place houses a deer park," said the official. Tourists will be then taken to Varanasi situated just 13 kms away from Sarnath.

Next on the tour will be stop at Bodh Gaya - a place where Gautam Budhha had attained his enlightenment. The temple located at Bodh Gaya has been identified as a Unesco protected world heritage site.

In the final leg of the tour, travelers will be taken to Rumtek monastery in Sikkim and the famous monastery at Ghum near Darjeeling. "Rumtek is famous for a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and is closely associated with Karmapas - religious gurus of the Tibetan sect. At Ghum in West Bengal which is only 8kms from Darjeeling is also a place of tourist interest. The monastery at Ghum houses a 15-feet high Buddha statue," added the tourism department official.

The tour will be expensive since the cost will include accommodation, travel and food expenses of all travelers

. "The tourists will be put up at star hotels whenever there are overnight stays

. Moreover, an entire train will have to be reserved with grand decor, global cuisine and other luxuries which the travelers can experience in the Palace on Wheels," added the official.

The state government will also start a tour to the rare heritage sites of West Bengal. "A seven-day tour will start from Malda and end in Darjeeling," said Vikram Sen, secretary of tourism department.

Bengali tourists too shall have no regrets as the TMC led government is also working on a plan to start a package showing the travelers rare heritage sites and natural beauty of West Bengal. "A seven-day tour will start from Malda and end in Darjeeling," said Vikram Sen, secretary of tourism department. Bodh Vihar, Bara and Chota Sona Masjit, Imambara of Malda along with Bangarh in South Dinajpur will be toured on dau 1. The second day itenary includes places like Gorumara, Chaba, Jalpaiguri and stone temples in Moinaguri. On day 3 the tourists will be taken to Jaldapara and Jayanti. On day 4, tourists will travel on bus from Malbazar and reach Kalimpong. The next two days will be spent at Darjeeling. Finally on day 7, the tourists will visit Mirik lake and then start for Kolkata from Siliguri.

"The total package will cost Rs 16,000 per head and will include accommodation, travel and food costs," said Sen.

International and National Human Rights Organisation- Pl rise Up.

Dear Friends Worldwide,

Lt. Saurabh Kalia of 4 JAT Regiment of the Indian Army laid down his life at the young age of 22 for the nation while guarding the frontiers at Kargil. His parents, indeed the Indian Army and nation itself, lost a dedicated, honest and brave son. He was the first officer to detect and inform about Pakistani intrusion. Pakistan captured him and his patrol party of 5 brave men alive on May 15, 1999 from the Indian side of LOC. They were kept in captivity for three weeks and subjected to unprecedented brutal torture, evident from their bodies handed over by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999. The Pakistanis indulged in dastardly acts of inflicting burns on these Indian officers with cigarettes, piercing their ears with hot rods, removing their eyes before puncturing them and breaking most of the bones and teeth. They even chopped off various limbs and private organs of the Indian soldiers besides inflicting unimaginable physical and mental torture.

After 22 days of torture, the brave soldiers were ultimately shot dead. A detailed post-mortem report is with the Indian Army. Pakistan dared to humiliate India this way flouting all international norms.

They proved the extent to which they can degrade humanity. However, the Indian soldiers did not break while undergoing all this unimaginable barbarism, which speaks volumes of their patriotism, grit, determination, tenacity and valour - something all of India should be proud of.

Sacrificing oneself for the nation is an honour every soldier would be proud of, but no parent, army or nation can accept what happened to these brave sons of India. I am afraid every parent may think twice to send their child in the armed forces if we all fall short of our duty in safeguarding the PRISONERS OF WAR AND LET THEM MEET THE FATE OF LT.SAURABH KALIA.
It may also send a demoralising signal to the army personnel fighting for the Nation that our POWs in Pak cannot be taken care of.

 It is a matter of shame and disgust that most of Indian Human Rights Organisations by and large, showed apathy in this matter.

Through this humble submission, may I appeal to all the civilized people irrespective of colour, caste, region, religion and political lineage to stir their conscience and rise to take this as a NATIONAL ISSUE !!!
International Human Rights Organizations must be approached to expose and pressure Pakistan to identify, book and punish all those who perpetrated this heinous crime to our men in uniform. If Pakistan is allowed to go unpunished in this case, we can only imagine the consequences.
Below is the list of 5 other soldiers who preferred to die for the country rather than open their mouths in front of enemy -

1. Sep. Arjun Ram s/o Sh. Chokka Ram; Village & PO
Gudi. Teh. & Dist.
Nagaur, (Rajasthan)

2. Sep. Bhanwar Lal Bagaria h/o Smt. Santosh Devi;
Village Sivelara;Teh.&
Dist.Sikar (Rajasthan)
3. Sep. Bhikaram h/o Smt. Bhawri Devi; Village
Patasar; Teh.
Pachpatva;Distt.Barmer (Rajasthan)

4. Sep. Moola Ram h/o Smt. Rameshwari Devi; Village
Katori; Teh. Jayal;Dist.
Nagaur(Rajasthan)

5. Sep. Naresh Singh h/o Smt. Kalpana Devi; Village
Chhoti Tallam;
Teh.Iglab; Dist.Aligarh (UP)

Yours truly,
Dr. N.K. Kalia (Lt.. Saurabh Kalia's father).
Saurabh Nagar,
Palampur-176061
Himachal Pradesh
Tel: +91 (01894) 32065 a