कुछ दिखाई नहीं देता

तेरी सूरत नहीं दिखती, ये पर्दा है या चश्म-ऐ-धुंध
ये माहौल कैसा दैर-ओ-हरम का है
कुछ दिखाई नहीं देता

ये शंघ-ऐ-मील कैसा राह-ऐ-गुज़र में
ये रास्ता तो तेरे दर तक
जाता दिखाई नहीं देता

बयाँ  क्यूँ कर करूँ खुद को तेरा नाम उलझता है जुबां पे
खामोश रहूँ तो भी मुश्किल
नूर दिखाई नहीं देता

On Telangana

Source; Wikipedia

Andhra Pradesh State had three main cultural regions: Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
he Telangana region has an area of 114,840 square kilometres (44,340 sq mi), and a population of 35,286,757 (2011 census) which was 41.6% of Andhra Pradesh state population.
The city of Hyderabad would serve as the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for ten years.


The Telangana Rebellion was a peasant revolt supported by the Communists. It took place in the former princely state of Hyderabad between 1946 and 1951. It was led by the Communist Party of India.
There have been several movements to invalidate the merger of Telangana and Andhra, major ones occurring in 1969, 1972 and 2009.

Proponents of a separate Telangana state cite perceived injustices in the distribution of water, budget allocations, and jobs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_water_disputes_in_Telangana_state

On Iran and Nuclear Agreement

The long stalemate situation pertain Iran and its nuclear programme finally eased a bit with the Geneva accord. After the change in the government in Iran, the new Prime Minister Hassan Rouhani came forward with a conciliatory tone which is seen as a major reason behind the easing of tension.

Iran has agreed to halt enriching Uranium above 5% (which potentially can produce Plutonium), neutralise Uranium already enriched above 20%. In return the easing of sanctions allows flow of $7 billion frozen assets and no additional sanctions will be imposed. The agreement sets a six-month time frame for a more comprehensive follow-up agreement between Iran and the P5+1 negotiators to formalize Iran's nuclear relationship with the world

The present break through is seen as the greatest achievement of the Obama government as similar to Nixon’s meeting with Chinese counterparts in 1972.

Earlier the US had brought Iran under punishing sanctions to bring Iran on the negotiation table. The growing nuclear enrichment capability of Iran is seen as a major security threat in the middle-east region. Saudi Arabi, Qatar and Israel have been in favour of military action against the ancient country with apprehensions of the possible deepening of the sectarian crises in the region. Iran has been strongly supporting Syria, Lebanon and Iraq in the region.

The challenges in the middle-east are many ranging from environmental degradation, sectarian tension, extremism, terrorism, economic and cultural cooperation, confidence building and security concerns.

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What Wikipedia Tells:

The agreement makes the following stipulations on the Iranian nuclear program:
·         All uranium enriched beyond 5% will either be diluted or converted to uranium oxide. No new uranium at the 3.5% enrichment level will be added to Iran's current stock.
·         No new centrifuges will be installed or prepared for installation.
·         50% of the centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment facility and 75% at the Fordow enrichment facility will be left inoperable. Iran will not use its advanced IR-2 centrifuges for enrichment.
·         Iran will not develop any new uranium enrichment or nuclear reprocessing facilities.
·         No fuel will be produced, tested, or transferred to the Arak nuclear power plant. In addition, Iran will share design details of the reactor.
·         The IAEA will be granted daily access to Natanz and Fordow, with certain sites monitored by 24-hour cameras. The IAEA will also have access to Iran's uranium mines and centrifuge production facilities.
·         Iran will address IAEA questions related to possible military dimensions of the nuclear program and provide data expected as part of an Additional Protocol.



Arab nations Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and the Palestinian Authority have come out in favor of the temporary agreement. Lebanon also hailed the agreement, while emphasizing that Israel should also sign the NPT and rid itself of its nuclear weapons arsenal. Turkey, India and Pakistan have also welcomed the framework agreement. In a reference to Israel's arsenal of nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia and Qatar both advocated a comprehensive solution to Iran's nuclear issue which would leave the entire Middle East free of nuclear weapons.

On Section 377 of IPC and Unnatural Sex

Backdrop:

In July 2009, the Delhi high court had  legalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in private, by partially declaring Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) unconstitutional and a hurdle in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Supreme Court held on 11^th December, 2013 that the unnatural sex or homosexuality between two consenting adults under the section 377 of the IPC will continue to be an offence. LGBT comprise a miniscule percentage of the population and have been demanding right to have unnatural sexual orientation. So far, less than 200 people have been prosecuted under Section 377.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code states that, whoever voluntarily had carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

This present judgement had overturned the 2009 Delhi High Court judgement that decriminalized gay sex. Some see this as a blow to liberal values and human rights.

Under the Sexual Offences Act, 1967 buggery is no longer an offence in England if committed between two consenting adults of and above the age of 21. This Act has, however been criticized even in England as negating States’ right to suppress a social vice.

Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India, provide for freedoms to the subject but to certain conditions, one of them being The Doctrine of Natural Justice.

As of now, "it is up to Parliament to legislate on this issue."

Amnesty International called the decision a "body blow to people's rights to equality, privacy and dignity", while a legal challenge from gay rights groups is also possible.

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Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhethorical nonsense, nonsense upon stilts. - Jeremy Bentham 

Every law framed by man bears the character of a law exactly to that extent to which it is derived from the law of nature. But if at any point it is in conflict with the law of nature in ceases to be a law; it is mere perversion of law. - Locke

The American Declaration of Independence states that it was 'self evident' that every human being has 'certain inalienable rights'. In 1879, the French Declaration of 'rights of man' asserted that 'men are born to be free and equal in rights'.

Relatively recent was the adaptation of UN Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

While the debate on viability and definition of Human Rights goes on some glaring examples of underline flaws in our understanding of the broader issue. Since, abortion is illegal in the Republic of Ireland, last year an Indian doctor - Savita Halappanavar, died during miscarriage. 

The current issue of denying a section of our society from following their free-will in the matter of person choice about their sexual orientation, is no less severe. The law, by deciding what is to be considered as natural and unnatural in the matter of sexuality of the people, is setting up bad precedent. Several countries have accepted LGBT as a section of society, equal to all other members in all respects.

We cannot make a section of our society untouchable. We cannot force a person, who was so far a transgender to try change her sexuality.

The Supreme Court's judgement needs to be reviewed and there is a need of assuaging the fears of all our friends whose life is being infringed upon by such harsh judgement.

सीमाएं हैं हालातों की

हर गीत तुम्हारी देन प्रिये
हर नज़्म तुम्हारे बातों की
मैं कब मंचों पर आ पहुंचा
किताब लिए जज़बातों की

हर शब्द तुम्हारे चेहरे से
चुनकर के कविता में आयें
कोरे कागज़ पर होंठ तेरे
तस्वीरों में रंग भर जाएँ

श्रींगार करूँ कैसे शब्दों में
रूप तेरा अब ले आऊं.…
मेरी उलझन कुछ दूर करो
थोड़ा सा तो मैं लिख पाऊँ

मैं कौन भला इस महफ़िल में
कविओं के इन रातों की.....
हर गीत तुम्हारी देन प्रिये
हर नज़्म तुम्हारे बातों की

सब लोग यहाँ जी भर कर के
मुझको जो सुनने आयें हैं
कैसे बतलाऊँ अब इनको
के शब्दकोष मुस्काएं हैं

जो छवि तुम्हारी बसती है
मेरे अतृप्त कविमन में
कैसे बुन दूँ अब मैं उसको
सात सुरों के दर्पण में.…

अधिकार नहीं कुछ मेरा तुमपर
सीमाएं हैं हालातों की

हर गीत तुम्हारी देन प्रिये
हर नज़्म तुम्हारे बातों की..

On Dharma

Bhagwad Gita 4.22

Krishna to Arjuna: “O son of Pṛthā, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything — and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties.”

Dharma is subtle – Mahabharat.

The greatest epic written in India becomes silent to the piercing question of Darupadi, the queen of Pandav brothers, after being molested in the court room of Hastinapur, when she asks: does the husband first loses himself and then his wife or has he the right to gamble his rightfully married wife in a game of chausar?

Dharma which is talked about here and there in almost every scripture and law books, presents itself in several connotations and it is hard to present one to the point definition to the word. In Buddhism Dharma, is one the three ratnas (triratnas). Every Buddhist monk vows to seek refuses in each of them and the idea is presented as: Buddham sharan gachhaami, Dharmam sharnam ghachhami, sangham sharan gachhaami. Here Dharmam is seen as doctrine or teachings that a monk should stick to.

Dharma can be variously translated as Law, Truth, Doctrine, Gospel, Teaching, Norm, and True Idea, all of which express some aspect of its total significance. The Dharma consists of various doctrines or teachings. ”He who sees Conditioned Co-operation with the Dharma; he who sees the Dharma sees the Buddha” – Buddha.

Manu Smriti can be said to be the first law book, dharmashastra, written in India. Here the words are believed to be spoken by Brahma and it sets the tone and tenor of the societal fabrics. The smriti talks about the varna system, the dharma of a Brahmin, Kshtriya, Vasya, Sudra. The Manusmriti is compiled with a focus on the "shoulds" of dharma.

For centuries Manusmriti remained an important text for delivering justice in Indian society. With the coming of Muslim invader and subsequent settling of Islamic culture in Indian soil, the Kazis and Brahmins became two different authority to decipher the laws of universe and lay down the boundaries of rightful living for Muslims and Hindus. When the British government set up the Supreme Court in India, the law givers met with this challenge and Macaulay headed the first law commission in India to come up with the Indian Penal Codes in 1833 to sort out the differences.  The commission sticked to following principle: uniformity when you can have it; diversity when you must have it; but, in all cases, certainty. Since then, the Penal Code has served as one of the main codes which are referred to whenever an act of adharma is brought in front of the courts in India.

Mahabharta is full of several fables and stories, each presenting some social, philosophical or intellectual paradoxes and tries to address to each with great diligence. Gurusharan Das, in his book: The Difficulty of Being Good, presents the conflicting states of dharma where different characters of the epic found themselves stuck alone. Here I present the brief idea:

Dharma to Buddhism

Dharma is a comprehensive term including the objects of external and internal senses.

To a Buddhist, life on earth is a pilgrimage which the true knower is not anxious to prolong. Redemption from suffering, is the motive of Buddha’s teachings.

Pitakas: The baskets of the Law, is what Buddhism have to depend on. They represet what the early Buddhists believed to be the sayings and doings of their master.

Buddha uttered his first sermon of Dharmachakraparivartan: Setting the Wheel of Law in motion.

Buddha saw, how anarchy in thought was leading to anarchy in morals. He felt that the world would be better for the triumph of natural law over supernaturalism. Buddha denied the divinity of gods and undermined the authority of Vedas. Buddha took the task of providing a firm foundation of morality.

He laid down four fold truths:

1. there is suffering

2. suffering is rooted in desires and cravings

3. there can be a cessation of suffering

4. this can be done by following the eight fold path (right belief, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right mode of livelihood, right effort, right mindedness and right rapture).

Buddha sis not declare open war against ceremonialism of the times, but tried to infuse moral significance into its forms and thus undermined it. Anger, drunkedness, deception, envy, these constitute uncelanliness, not the eating of flesh. Buddhism insists on purity of motive and humility in life. Right actions lead to right living, free from lying and deceit, fraud and chicanery. The aim of all endeavour is to remove the causes of sorrow. Right efforts, consists of practicing control of passions so as to prevent the rise of bad qualities. Right effort cannot be isolated from right thinking. Emotions are failures, disturbances of moral health and indulged become chronic diseases of soul.

“On the mind depends, dharma, on the practice of dharma depends enlightenment.”

Nirvana is the highest sukha or bliss.

Dharma is the wrap and the woof (under laying structure) of all that lives and moves. Every natural cause is the revelation of the spirit at that move.

Duryodhana’s Envy:

 What man of mettle will stand to see his rivals prosper and himself decline.

A kshatriya’s duty is to prevail

Drupadi’s Courage:

What is left og the dharma of Kings? This ancient eternal dharma is lost among the Kauravas. For this foul man, disgrace of the Kauravas, is molesting me, and I cannot bear it.

Whom did you lose first, yourself or me?

What son of a King would wager his wife?

 Yudhisthira’s Duty:

I act because I must, Whether it bears fruits or not, Draupadi, I do my duty like any householder.

Dharma, I find does not protect you

He who resolutely follows dharma, O beautiful woman, attains to infinitude hereafter.

To save the family, abandon the individual, to safe the village abandon the family, to save the country abandon the village.

Dharma is the ship, that guides one to the farthest shore.

Why cover yourself in tatters of dharma and throw away artha and kama?

..the promise I made is a true one, remember I choose over life and eternity dharma. Neither kingdom, nor sons, neither glory nor wealth, can even come up to a fraction of the Truth.

That is the way it is.

The ultimate disaster for which I dwelled in the forest and suffered is upon us in spite of all our striving. For how can war be waged with men who we must not kill> How can we win if we must kill our gurus and elders?

Can dharma be taught?

Arjun’s Despair:

I shall not fight. (he fell silent, standing in middle of the battle field).

The magic bow slips from my hand.

Krishna, I see no good in killing my kinsmen in battle.

Krishna: “why this cowardice, in time of crisis, Arjuna? The coward in ignoble, shameful, foreign to the ways of heaven.

Arjuna: It is better in this world to beg for scraps of food than to eat meals smeared with the blood of elders.

Krishna: Look at your own duty; do not tremble before it; nothing is better for a warrior than a battle of sacred duty.

If you are killed you win the heaven; if you triumph, you enjoy the earth; therefore, Arjuna, stand up and resolve to fight the battle.

He who thinks this self a killer and he who thinks it killed, both fail to understand; it does not kill, nor it is killed.

Be intent on the action, not on the fruits of action.

Bhishma’s Selflessness

What to do with the ‘self’?

What’s in it for me?

What is Nishkaam Karma?

-          A karma without the desire of fruits.

-          Do something, because it must be done.

Perform actions, firm in disciplines, relinquishing attachment; be impartial to failure and success – this equanimity in called yoga.

Let no man do to another that which is repugnant to himself.

Karna’s Status Anxiety:

How can a dove give birth to a tiger who resembles the sun, with his earrings and armour and celestial birthmarks? This lordly man deserves to rule the world! – [Duryodhana about Karna]

Draupadi at swanvar to Karna: I do not choose a charioteer.

I fear not death as I fear a lie.

I tried my best to follow dharma, but dharma did not protect me.

Krishna’ Guile

Aren’t you ashamed..f striking me down so unfairly? – Duryodhana, as lies dying at Kurukshetra.

War is hell.

Untruth may be netter than truth.

Ashwatthama’s Revenge

Now I feel the whirligig of Time.

Where is sleep for the man who is suffering? How in this world can a man express the grief. Remembrance of his father’s murder brings? My heart burns day and night but never burns it out.

Yuddhishthira’s Remorse

This victory feels more like defeat to me.

If someone is victorious but grieves like a poor afflicted imbecile, how can he think of that as victory? In fact, his enemies have defeated him.

Yudhishthira to Gandhari:

 Yudhishthira, as the killer of your sons, great lady. Curse me!

Yudhishthira to Arjuna:

The heroes are dead. The evil is done. Our kingdom has been laid waste. Having killed them, our rage is gone. Now this grief holds me in check!

The Mahabharata calls ahimsa the heart of Dharma: Ahimsa is the Highest Dharma.

Mahabharat’s Dharma:

Great King, You Weep With All Creatures.

Disaster And Disaster Management in India

Disaster:

A catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence from natural or man-made causes which is beyond the coping capacity of the affected community.

http://ndma.gov.in

NDMA is the apex body with a mandate to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for DM to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.

·         National Disaster Management comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

·         NDMA was proposed under the NDM Act, 2005

·         National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the PM

o   SDMA headed by CMs

o   DDMA headed by DMs

·         Objective: To build a safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, pro-active, multi-disaster and technology driven strategy effort of all government agencies and NGOs

·         According to the World Band study India loses up to 2% of its GDP due to Natural Disasters

·         The 10^th Five Year Plan initiated the process of shift from relief and response centric DM to prevention, mitigation and preparedness as means to revert or more effective handling of the disasters

·         12^th Five Year Plan Aims:

o   Strengthening communication network and setting up an early warning system (using science and technology)

o   Capacity building

o   Streamlining plans and programmes

o   A holistic and integrated approach with emphasis on prevention, mitigation and preparedness

o   Informed decision making – Information and Communication Technology.

·         Capacity Building:

o   Identification of existing resources or resources to be acquired or created.

o   Organization and training of personnel and coordination for effective management of disasters.

·         Keywords: Prevention, Mitigation, Capacity Building, Preparedness, Prompt Response, Assessing the security or magnitude of effects of any disaster, Evacuation rescue and relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

·         Objectives of the National Policy on Disaster Management:

o   Prevention, preparedness resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education.

o   Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology wisdom and environmental planning process

o   Mainstreaming DM in developmental planning process

o   Establishing institutional and techno-legal framework to create an enabling regulatory environmental and a compliance regime

·         58.6% of the landmass in India is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity.

·         40 million hectares (12% of land) is prone to floods and river erosion

·         Of the 7,516 Km long coastline, close to 5,700 Km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis.

·         68% of cultivable area is prone to drought and hilly areas and at the risk of landslides and avalanches

·         CBRN: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear vulnerabilities also exist

·         NDRF: National Disaster Response Forces

·         NGOs, SHGs, Red Cross.

·         R&D: Regional and international collaboration.

Recent: Earthquake in Pakistan, Uttaranchal floods, Collapse of buildings, Philin cyclone.