Women in anguish over Demonetisation?

Demonetisation or note ban after over one hundred days face a tough challenge to settle whether the November 8, 2016 political masterstroke succeeded to achieve economic goals and political results or lost ground to its failure. But there is a silent anguish among women against the Government’s inability to acknowledge and appreciate the active participation by all urban as well as rural housewives, service-class and professionals with their complete involvement in the banking exercise in long endless queues for indefinite hours to ensure ‘Black Money’ is unearthed.

 The Economic Survey admitted that demonetization created uncertainty and immediate adverse impact and hinted to reports of some job losses, decline in farm incomes and social disruptions. It also noted that RBI should take steps to remove the fears, if any people may have about using or withdrawing cash. Initially, it looked demonetisation was targeted to demolish black money and eliminate use of counterfeit currency by the terrorist outfits. If the demonetisation hit hard any one it really were the women across the country.

 Every woman searched their lockers, suit-cases, purses thoroughly and even didn’t spare children’s piggy banks and went for voluntary disclosures to surrender each big note of their ‘secret savings’. Women amidst post-demonetisation joined their men and accompanied them to ATMs even at late night to ensure two withdrawals. Woman claim despite repeated dis-appointments they didn’t care to return home empty handed time and again. It was their earnest effort to ensure deposit old notes limited to 4500 rupees and withdrawal of remonetized new currency notes limit set at 2000 rupees in a peaceful manner.  

Women suffered fatigue, stress and spend sleepless nights in standing in long endless queues for indefinite hours without water, food and didn’t care about children. Their participation in queues demonstrated discipline and ensured peace in maximum crowded places. Women managed banking (deposit & withdrawals) & ‘kitchens’ together. Ms Suman Ranola, an Architect said, “We collected each note in the family and did not even spare children’s piggy-banks to avoid wastage. Our savings have finished and came to zero. Who appreciated our efforts”? Women suffered due to severe shortage and non-availability of new currency. The entire exercise was exhaustive and worrisome as the deposits, limited to 4500 were to be complete within the stipulated period of 50 days and these old notes were valid for some limited Govt. agencies and

consumer supply points like chemists, milk-booths and other essentials.

Except some clashes, the entire banking process (deposits & withdrawal) in first 50 days in post-demonetisation over all remained peaceful and possibly credit goes to women participation. There were some deaths, 100 or so who died for either natural or routine medical reasons developed for staying overtime in queues.

Women came out, joined long endless queues, voluntarily to deposit or withdraw money and preferred men to attend or continue with routine or vice versa. On the contrary, men from every family joined ‘mission withdrawals’ cash from ATMs after office hours late night subject to cash availability. In reply to a question Ms Sumika R Aggarwal, Ex-Manger HDFC bank replied, “Demonetisa- tion seemed a decision in haste and without complete home work. RBI seems didn’t anticipate the practical difficulties in cash withdrawals. Mis-management, long queues and cash crunch in banks/ ATMs really worsened the scene. Govt. didn’t appreciate women efforts”.

To arrange extra-cash, being marriage season one had to struggle and run from pillar to post. While offering her views, Dr. Seneha Santoshi, Assistant Prof. Amity University said, “To unearth Black Money was an excellent idea but mis-management at banks, deposit & withdrawals wasted our precious hours. Our salary accounts got reduced to instalments of 2000 rupess”. Whereas another, academician Amity University Dr. Sheetal Shirodhkar, Assistant Prof. (AP-II) claimed, “The females lost all the money they had kept aside secretly. They can no more slide a few notes in their secret savings”.

After 100 days of demonetisation and pumping of remonetized new currency 2000 rupee notes the situation is yet to return to normal. RBI may succeed to do so by the end of March’17 in urban areas but it will certainly take some more time for rural areas and villages. Around 100 precious lives have been lost between November 9 and December 30 and some opposition parties demanded compensation for the families, who lost their dear one’s standing in queues for hours without food and water outside banks/ATMs. Another banker, Ms Vatsala Gupta, Sr. Manager, Yes Bank Corporate Office straight forwardly remarked, “Housewives have lost all confidence in saving cash. We will go digital in saving

secretly now depending upon the future circumstances”.  

Now, the RBI/Govt. pushes to shift to cashless economy, e-banking, Paytm’s or other available apps, today. But an IT professional, Kanika Khurana, Application Analyst commented, “Demonetisation robbed us of all energy and hard-earned ‘secret savings’. I doubt, if cashless, Paytm or other apps will pick up immediately. This will take some more time”.

Today, every family faces a valid question as how to restore financial lordship to  women, the real ‘Home Makers’ and it couldn’t be possible in the past 100 days of demonetization. No doubt, e-banking is already there in use and to give priority to new apps. as Paytms etc. than cash-system it needs us to give a helping hand to our life-partners as Govt. promotes cashless. However, it seems appropriate for Govt. to recognize and appreciate women’s role played particularly in first 50  days to neutralise the anguish. Today, women in routine interaction charge that demonetisation proved a big tool to reduce them to zero.  

                                                   POONCH: The ‘Mini Kashmir’ of J&K

                                                                       

                                                           

POONCH town somewhat enjoys the monopoly to stay always in news for two different and opposite reasons. Firstly, it being a border town of Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan troops keep on firing on our soldiers and in retaliation our armed forces never hesitate offer the befitting and proper rebuff. Sometimes the encounters like one very recently these Pakistani troops in heavy Motar-firing killed three Indian soldiers with one soldier’s body badly mutilated causing a lot of provocation to our troops and civilian population.

Secondly, the town, POONCH is also tagged with yet another disadvantage due to high intensity terrorist activities in and around the area and this too widely contributes to defame one of the most scenic places of J&K keeping it in hot news very frequently. The terror outfits indulge in regular strikes resulting encounters where these militant groups always attempt to register their existence through multi-faceted terror-strikes and killings.This time very fortunately the town of POONCH subscribed an excellent an very prestigious news to share with its others people with its four boys selection to the country’s most prestigious four institutions Indian Institute of Technology which took no time to spread like a wild fire around the town.

Everyone was caught saying, “God bestowed a great change” to push POONCH, the ‘Mini- Kashmir’, of Jammu and Kashmir to the new heights of prominence in the previous academic session four boys from the district got admission in the IITs.. People close to them were aware about these meritorious and hardworking boys but it ultimately broke out once the IIT results were made public. These boys were very sincere and honest in their studies and efforts to performed superbly in the IIT test which in return ensured these Gujjar Muslim boys excellent grades in all the subjects carving out a very special place for them as well as the town to move away from other negatives co-competitors where the news is always rich enough otherwise in gun fires being close to the borders with Pakistan. Furthermore, it was highly surprising for one and all that they were taken aback over the town’s attempt to supersede all other districts of the state this time to reach atop the peaks of performance.

The four young boys Shahid Afridi, Aqib Mujtaba 18, Usman Hafiz 17 and Hilal Ahmed 19 all from village Kalai, Poonch with the academic brilliance ensured their entrance into four different IITs in the country otherwise earlier the Poonch was a known ‘battleground’ for two armies, Pakistan and India and a recognized place for terror near our borders till now. These boys literally with their brilliant success managed to take POONCH to great excellence recognizing the departure of the town from gun culture to a different horizon. The youths, Shahid made his entry in Computer Sciences in IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Aqib in Mechanical engineering in IIT Bhubaneswar, Odissa, Usman in Electrical engineering in IIT Delhi and Hilal in Computer Science, Patna Bihar. 

The boys quite appreciably credit their success to enter the different IIT’s in the country for being on this side of the border. Further, among these youth, one was handpicked by a NGO and sent to Rajasthan to prepare for IIT with other two joining coaching classes independently in Delhi. The parents too feel very proud of their children and reaffirm that the town made a considerable progress since Independence. Everybody is sanguine to witness further development in the future years to come. Once, anyone intends to know the Poonch in a more better way it will be really appropriate to have more knowledge about the origin and historical aspects of the town.   

POONCH is well known for the gorgeous beauty, serene water and sport’s bodies which have helped it to earn the distinction to be known as the ‘Mini-Kashmir’ of Jammu and Kashmir. The POONCH is separated by gigantic Pir Panchal ranges with one of the highest peaks ‘Tatakuti’ well bestowed with snow covered peaks, lakes and waterfalls thus presents a tremendous panoramic view and natural heritage of the area.

Origin of Town

POONCH, originally known as Printus, is smallest district of Jammu spread over an area of 1674 sq. kms and a very prominent border town of the state. It is criss-crossed by mountain ranges some touching 10,000 feet in height. The district consists of four tehsils- Poonch, Menhdar, Surankote and Mandi – stretched to an area of over 1674 sq. kms out of which 951 sq kms offer the green belt covered by afforestation chiefly the mountain terrains and trees. There are about 189 Panchayats in the district. The two districts of Kashmir–Srinagar and Baramulla fall in the north-east of Poonch, Jammu in its South, South-east and the area to its north-west is presently under the illegal occupation of our neighbouring country, Pakistan.

Though, the climate varies from place to place, the region is generally hot in summer with the temperature touching about 40 degree centigrade in the low lying areas. Winter is pleasant with mercury sometimes dipping to minus -2 degree centigrade. The region has the highest average annual rainfall of about 70 inches.

Empress was Impressed

Surankote, in Poonch town, is the most natural beauty spot offering an enchanting view of the mountain ranges. The is a waterfall Noorei-Chamb is about 15 kms from the Town. It is said that Empress Noorjahan was fascinated by the wonderful fall which was later named after her. Mandi is the most picturesque place in north-east of the town and Kaldachami, Mansar and Nandankar are three lakes in the Girjan Dhok region of the district. The approach to the lakes is possible along hilly zig-zag tracks only.  The Poonch district has for long been the pilgrimage centre for Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. Gurudwara Nagal Saheb, founded by Bhai Mela Singh, a great saint of his times is situated about five kms from the town. Muslims perform their prayers in Jamia Masjid besides the other small mosques. The Rajpura village, some 16 kms away from Poonch, occupies the Budha Amarnath Temple made of solid stone. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple on the day of Raksha Bandhan every year.

 Down History Lane

Poonch district was raided by Pakistani infiltrators who occupied all the four tehsils in 1947. These remained under the siege of Pakistan for a year or so. But the brave people of this region later helped the Indian armed forces to regain these tehsils from enemy possession. The historical background of the place explains that the region was for long held by Raja Moti Singh, a cousin of Maharaja Ranbir Singh. About 40 years ago later, the town was wrested by the Dogra brothers under Maharaja Randhir Singh from Raja Mir Khan (1713), the hereditary rule (1819-1846). And thereafter, it became into the possession of Raja Dhyan Singh who descended both his sons Jowahir Singh and Moti Singh (1850-1892). Moti singh gained the grace of Gulab Singh and received grants on the condition of allegiance and fidelity because it was given as jagir by the then Maharaja. Raja Baldev Singh followed Raja Dhyan Singh and was then succeeded by his son Raja Sukhdev Singh. Misfortune struck because Raja Sukhdev had no sons. The Maharaja therefore appointed Khan Bahadur sheikh Abdul Qayoom as administrator.

Politically Sensitive    

The Population of Poonch town is well above 2,22,323. It consists of Muslims around 2,00,000 calculating about 90% of the town’s population, Hindus are roughly 15,000 nearly 6.8%, Sikhs 7300 just 3.3%, Buddhists, Rajputs and Christians who speak Kashmiri and Dogri besides Pahari and Punjabi are very much in the town. The district is located near the line of actual control and as result the people in the region are politically sensitive. The local produce of foodgrains, vegetables and other essentials commodities under the required level hence brought in from other regions of the state. Besides a degree college there are about two hundred primary and secondary educational institutions and also a teacher’s training school in the town.

There were hardly two dispensaries before Independence as compared to the two a dozens of dispensaries, a 25-bed hospital, three primary health centres, ten allopathic health centres, five Unani and four Ayurvedic dispensaries functioning in the district today.  A sheep farm is expected to be set up at Balakote soon.  About 4000 acres in the district yield over 45,500 quintals of fruits annually. Recently, farms and nurseries have been laid which supply saplings of almonds, walnuts, oranges, apicots and apples to the farmers in the region. But there is still tremendous scope for  more development in region in years to come. Surankote and Mandi have been developed as the tourist resorts to improve the economic resources of the town. And the town itself could be connected by road to the main valley of Kashmir through the Gulmarg range. This will not only lessen the town’s sense of isolation but will also bring about general economic and political stability in the district.

        

Every Kashmiri Defended Democracy in 1947

The surcharged atmosphere, a battle like scenario surfaced recently due to firing across the borders in northern sector by the Pakistan army followed by counter firing by Indian troops and subsequent decisions broadly contributed to the alarm bells towards the possibility of a full-fledged war between the two countries, Pakistan and India. Consequent to certain initiatives and confidence building measures by the respective concerned quarters from both the sides bestowed some sort of success to de-escalate the war like situation. Thank God, things are back to somewhat normal and once again we live in peace however all this was a reminder of the past happenings, arson, looting and brutal killings. 

Whenever there are murmurs of a military invasion the person(s) with Jammu and Kashmir lineage or background have a reasons to recollect and go deep into past events, historically it takes us back to October 1947. Everyone belonging to post-partition era has learnt about it from the books or heard from someone elderly who him (her)self have been a witness to 1947 Pakistani raiders invasion looting, destroying property at large scale and gruesome killings all around to grab the land of Jammu & Kashmir. For them, the real reminiscences is the forty page booklet, “KAHMIR DEFENDS DEMOCRACY” published by the then Director, Kashmir Bureau of Information shri K N Bamzai and printed at the National Herald Press, Lucknow.

                                                                              

The cover page of girls with rifles on their shoulders and pledge to fight the raiders is self-explanatory. The “KAHMIR DEFENDS DEMOCRACY” describes complete scene, the horrifying tragedies all around and fight back spirit of Kashmiris explained in this  write-up ' J & K  Militia in Defence of Homeland’ - A Retrospect, a re-written one  from the paper presented by myself in the seminar held at Srinagar and conducted jointly by the Indian Council of Historical Research and Kashmir Council of Research in 1983 under the Chairmanship of Shri G.M. Beg Arif.  The Studies of Kashmir Council of Research Vol-IV (1983-84) have been published by myself as Printer & Publisher with the Editorship of Dr. M. K. Teng and Dr. R.K.Kaul Bhat and Prof. Mohi-ud-din as Board of Editors. The article offers a detailed account of the people’s fight against the Pakistani raiders with re-organisation of smaller forces and subsequent formation of J&K Militia in the state which later amalgamated with the regular Indian Army.  

The State of Jammu & Kashmir, about sixty five years back in Octuber 1947 faced a well engineered and intense armed attack from the invaders of Pakistan threatening the lives, honour and property of all Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs with gruesome consequences. The attack was sudden and the raiding armies of Pakistan once lost inside spread around very fast.

Pakistani troops were sent on leave with ulterior motives since some of these belonged to the state, especially the Poonch district. These men tried to persuade the population, Muslims of Reasi, Mirpur and Poonch to revolt against Maharaja’s rule with tactics to annihilate the local Hindu minority. Pakistan expected the state units to rush to the rescue of Hindu victims leaving the borders open for them and sneak into different areas for tribal invasion of the state.

Entering Muzaffarabad

The raiders entered Muzaffarabad on 22nd Octuber 1947 and  the soldiers with some locals succeeded in persuading some Muslim soldiers of the state to defect resulting division of the state troops at Muzaffarabad. The events moved very fast but people accepted the challenge and volunteered to protect the state against the invasion. The state Government honoured the services of these volunteers and organized them into platoons, companies and battalions with centres at Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Samba, Akhnoor, Naushehra, Jhangar and Poonch. In Leh the organization  was named Leh Militia, Border Defence Scouts and Balsena in Jammu, Poonch Scouts in Poonch and the National Home Guards in Kashmir.

   

 Leh Militia originally was state force detachment looking after garrison duties at Leh. On account of severe cold strength of this detachment could not be augmented. Lt.Col. Prithi Chand organized volunteers and imparted one month rudimentary training to them in handling small arms and the volunteers went to the front to defend the motherland.             

Volunteers in hundreds came for the military training in Jammu. Ex-servicemen, many of them educated and young men answered the call and formed the platoons, companies and battalions under retired officers and junior commissioned officers. The majority of trained volunteers from Poonch were immediately sent to the border posts. These new recruits were armed with rifles, smooth–bore guns and other arms like swords and spears. They were stipend with little maintenance allowance. The voluntary force strengthened the effectiveness of the Indian Army as guides and provided it with enemy intelligence. The newly formed force held independent charge of pickets at times.

The force completed the assigned task with vigour and patriotism and as a result the enemy failed to occupy sate territory from Kathua to Munawar. Balsena of this force played the major role in this operation. Poonch, surrounded by hills, ranging from 1200 to 3000 metres in height, remained most difficult to defend. Every prominent height was occupied by the enemy raiders with increasing in numbers. The Pakistani pickets were firing at the refugee camps below. There were 1,200 troops to guard Poonch providing protection to the local population and around 45,000 refugees from Muzaffarbad, Bagh Rawalkot, Kotli, Hajira and Paladari. The troops were cut off from Srinagar without supplies and messages from their depots and near headquarters. It was very difficult to give protection to the people under such circumstances. In fact, the refugees, without their belongings and shelter were guarded with proper accommodation, clothes and food. The volunteers Corps took up the task with dedication.                                               

                                                                           

National Home Guards                                                                                                 

The fate of the entire state depended on the defence of Srinagar. The local authorities and  Government of India were keenly watching the activities of the National Home Guard. People of the valley under the leadership of National Conference kept their heads cool and all the communities took a pledge to maintain peace and communal harmony. The Home guards in Kashmir province kept a continuous vigil on the movements of the raiders all along the western front. Many of the units were put incharge of the maintenance of law and order and the civil defence. Many of them fell in the battle field.

Meanwhile, all the units of the National Home Guards, Leh Militia, Border Defence Scouts & Balsena and Poonch scouts were formed. The Government of India undertook the responsibility of raising, training and equipping the new force and enthrust with little but difficult job. Col B M Kaul and Lt. Col G S Puri were entrusted to organize, train and discipline the force and the former was the Commandant with the later GSO-1. On account of shortage of men some battalions of Militia were disbanded and amalgamated with other sister battalions.

Formation of Militia

The newly formed Militia force deployed at every place first operated on the Jammu borders followed by Naushera and Rajouri sectors. In Poonch 8 J&K Militia and two Coys. of 11 J&K Militia took part in every operation which made the two Poonch link-up possible and  operated on ground as high as 6,0000 metres with amazing speed and girt. Equally, 1st., 2nd and 3rd.  Militia Battalions in the Uri and Titwal sectors credited with similar roles. In Ladakh 7 J&K Militia of (Ladakhis) earned the praise not only from the State but also of the entire country.  Among the various heroes of the battalion, the youngest JCO of the Indian Armed Forces in Jammu and Kashmir was outstanding. For the outstanding military services rendered, J&K Militia was given 3 MVCs, 2Vrcs    ( one of them with a bar) and various other awards. 

                                                                      

After the Konga incident of Octuber 1959 the 7 J&K Militia was sent to the southern sector and 14 J&K Militia to the Northern sector. The former fought in the Damchok sector while the 14 J&K Militia in the Shyok-Nubra valley, including Daulat Beg Odili (DBO) sector in the south of Chip Chap river. Both, the units fought tenaciously. Unluckily, the 14 J&K Militia neither got reinforcement at the forward lines nor the casualties could be evacuated from there as a result the troops fought a loosing battle against the Chinese who were at least ten times superior in number and fire power.

Suffered Heavily

Consequently, the battalion suffered heavy casualties nearly one third of the troops deployed in the DBO sector were annihilated.  A timely action, however, saved the situation in the south where the troops underwent terrible privations but without suffering many casualties. The country appreciated the valour with which the 7 J&K Militia and 14 J&K Militia Battalions fought against the Chinese in Ladakh. The two units were amalgamated later on Ist. June 1963 and  renamed, as the Ladakh Border Scouts.

The Pakistani infiltrators on crossing the cease-fire line on 5th August 1965 with earlier raiding on Indian pickets since May 1965. The 3 J&K Militia faced their onslaught in the Dewa sector. It’s sister battalion 9 J&K Militia repulsed raids on its battalion headquaters and helped a Coy. of 8 KI. The 2nd J&K Militia beat off many Pakistani attacks with heavy losses in men and material to the enemy in the Mehender sector. Pakistanis failed to penetrate through the Militia line into the Mehender valley. A Coy. each of 12 J&K Militia and 8 J&K Militia operated in Srinagar with excellent records

In the Gurize sector 2nd J&K Militia fought valiantly inspite of reverses which was compensated by Ist.J&K Militia. The battalion took part in the Kala pahar operations and captured, ‘Sher pahar’. While, Ist. J&K Militia was picketing in the mountainous area on left bank of the Dhras river, the 12 J&K Militia did same in the Ladakh range. One of the petrols under 2nd. Lt. Roywas ambushed by Pakistani troops. The petrol suffered casuaities but it bravely continued to keep the line of control at Thoise secure. It was on account of the courage and girt displayed by 12 J&K Militia that Pakistani’s could not invest Khalatse. Thus keeping the Indus valley safe.  

         

Golden History

The history of Jammu and Kashmir Militia way back to 65 years leads to existence as a movement against the Pakistani aggressions of October 1947. There was no shortage of volunteers to join its cadres. The urge amongst the people working on farm or employed in various avocations in the cities to defend their homes and hearth against the ruthless invaders was so great that the state had hardly to incur any expenditure towards the maintenance of the force.

Some of the volunteers brought up their own farms. Most of them, then known as Home Gunuards, Balsena etc., were armed with variety of weapons such as match lock, guns, sporting rifles, spears and sticks. Those were the beginnings. Nourished in the spirits of the time and keen to participate in the defence of the National frontiers, the force has grown from strength to strength. It has become permanent and has come a long way from 1948 status.           

‘AMARNATH YATRA’ - A PILGRIMAGE TO THE ICE-LINGAM CAVE

‘AMARNATH YATRA’ - A PILGRIMAGE TO THE ICE-LINGAM CAVE

The ‘Abode of the Gods’, holy ‘Ice-Lingam Cave’ atop south Kashmir Himalayas is once again regenerating a high spirit enthusiasm among devotees for Amareshwara or Amarnath pilgrimage as the pilgrims, authorities, hoteliers, business community besides the labourers are once again vigorously engaged in the process of preparations  which are in full swing. 

The pilgrims have, this time enough reasons to rejoice since the Delhi Government has reduced the number of mandatory health tests from six to four. Also, the number of  Medical certificate issuing hospitals has been increased from 23 to 42 by the authorities besides the Union Government roping in the prestigious AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital and all other government hospitals in the city to ensure that the pilgrims does not face any problem in securing the health certificates which became mandatory after the Supreme Court of India, July 2012 constituted a Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) to, inter alia, suggested  measures , about 20 for upgrading the healthcare infrastructure in the Yatra areas and ensure healthcare safety of pilgrims visiting the shrine as the exposure to severe cold, low humidity, increased ultra violet radiation and reduced air pressure since the Oxygen level in the air is very low which force yatris to encounter respiratory complications.

The sacred cave enshrining the ‘Ice-Lingam’ is about 32 kms from Chandanwari, ahead of the Pahalgam and just 14 kms from Baltal to ‘Panchtarni’. Earlier, the Sceptre “Charri Mubarak”, the holy silver mace of the Lord Shiva was forced to move out from Dhashnami Akhara, Srinagar to Ranbeshwar Temple, Jammu about two decade ago on arrival of the militancy and gun culture in the Valley of Kashmir thus depriving thousands of devotees to have dharshan of the famous ‘Ice Lingam’. But the reality is that the Amereshwara or Amarnath cave is to the Hindus what Bathelem is to Christians, Rome to Catholics and Mecca to the Muslims of the world.

The elysian valley of Kashmir within its borders has one of the most amazing holy shrine of Hindus,“Amereshwara or Amarnath Cave”, the house of the Lord Shiva of the trinity who is the greatest of the Hindu Gods. The famous ‘Ice Lingam’ cave is really created by the God and untouched by the human hands so far. The fascinating Hindu pilgrimage infuses health, mental peace, vigour and spiritual upliftment with a simple ‘dharshan’ of the ‘Ice-Lingam’ which wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. The Amarnath cave, enshrining self-created ‘Ice Lingam’ of the Lord Shiva, considered to be both the destroyer and healer, is situated at 17,321 ft above sea level atop a glacier gorge about 141 kms from Srinagar, the summer capital of the Jammu and Kashmir.

The great festival, ‘Darshan day’, full moon of ‘Shravan Purnamasi’, on 21 August (this year) celebrated also as ‘Raksha Bhandhan day’ every year in the country. The sceptre ‘Charri Mubarak’ is believed to be obtained by Bragish ji ‘Bhagwan Mahadev’ which he had enthrusted to Nagraj Takhek and since then, the pilgrims to the cave are led by this silver sceptre ‘ Charri Mubarak’ held by the head Mahant of the Dashmani Akhara sadhus. The ‘Charri Mubarak’, silver rod, was always taken to the famous ‘Sharika’ and ‘Shankracharya’ temples in Srinagar prior to the departure for the cave with a warm send off by the people from all walks of life on the 4^thday of bright fortnight of Shravan Pakesh prior to 1990 and   thereafter, the pilgrims were supposed to assemble at Phalgam on the 11^th day of the bright fortnight of the ‘Shravan Pakhsh’, this would include also the pilgrims arriving from outside the state possibly for their convenience.

In the initial years of post- Kashmiri Pandit migration outside the valley the authorities did not permit yatra from Sonamarg and Verinag routes and all the pilgrims were asked to pass through Khanabal where a camp was set up to ensure maximum security and convenience of pilgrims. Similar camps were set up at Ramban and Banihal and a check point at Lower Munda. This was done to ensure proper record of the pilgrims in view of the militant activities in the valley. And on the 12^th day of the ‘Shravan Shakulu paksh’ the devotees would proceed towards the cave in phased manner.

CAVE:

          The Amarnath cave is situated at an altitude with 75 degree 13 longitude and 34 degree 13 latitude and about 17,321 ft above the sea level writes the famous historian Kalhana in the Rajtarangini. He further claims, “Amereshwara is believed to have manifested himself to the Gods who entreated him for protection against death. The God is worshipped in a ‘Linga shapped Ice block”. The historical source twice makes mention of the cave, “Firstly where the King Ram Deva is started to have imprisoned the debauched king Sukh Deva and to have drowned him in the Lidder (Lambodheri)  among the mountains of Amarnath about 1000 BC and secondly where the King Saidmati (34BC to 17 AD) is described as visiting the ‘Ice Lingam’ writes Samsarchand Koul.    

         

The opening of the shrine is above 200 ft to 300 ft above torrents and the path leading up to the cave is a steep and rocky passing straight inwards for about 75 ft and then turns to right

for about 125 ft. The height of the cave varies from 10 ft to 50 ft. Water oozes at various spots from the rocky roof of the cave which on freezing forms the transparent ‘Ice-Lingam’ on the floor of the cave which wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. The phenomena is a mystery not only to the devotees but to the scientists too. The Lingam is worshipped as a self-created (Svayambhu) linga and is considered embodiment of Shiv Amaresh-wara and  besides the main linga two more small lingas considered as  Parvati ji and Ganesh ji. 

ROUTES:

           

         Though, the Amarnath cave is reached through two different routes the traditional old one, via Pahalgam and the other from Baltal, Sonamarg. The Baltal route is always full with risk especially if the weather runs nasty. But The Pahalgam route was considered convenient in view various arrangements like transport, (horses, ponies and dandies), fuel, food, dry ration items and fodder besides the  medical aid provided by the government. Pilgrims via this route reach the cave in stages travelling daily about 10 to 15 kms. Though, the number of pilgrims in earlier times

used to be in thousands now runs to several lakhs these days. The pilgrims comprises of sadhus, men, women, youth and children besides the foreigners form the part of the sanity environment at every stage of the yatra.  Pilgrims walk step by step in chain form, with one spirit reciting “Bholenathji ki jai and Jai shaker”. Riding the ponies, pack ponies and labourers carrying palanquin add to the charm of the pilgrimage. The labourers carrying these dandies, ponies, palanquins and loads sing in chorus to avoid fatigue. 

         

Earlier, the pilgrims accompanying the “Charri Mubarak” from Srinagar would cover the entire 96 kms route on foot in stages from Srinagar to Pahalgam  reaching here on the 12^th day of the bright fortnight of ‘Shravan’ and thereafter leaving for Chandanwari on the same day but it is the place of main congregation these days. Nobody from here or ahead of this stoppage is allowed to overtake the ‘Yatris procession to reach the cave.

         

Chandanwari, a bowl shaped valley falling on the bank of a stream is situated at about 9,500 ft above the sea level roughly around 16 kms from Pahalgam. Pilgrims reach here on the 12^th day of ‘Shravan’. The road is fit for vehicles upto this place. Next day, the journey starts from Chandanwari to ‘Wavjun’. From here, a steep ascending ‘Pisu’ hill ( 11000 ft) full of rocks starts the actual hazardous journey and soon reach the ‘Nagkuta hill’, about 3 kms from the Zojila pass.  Pilgrims go along the shore of the ‘Sheishnag’ ( 11,730 ft) which lies in deep depression surrounded by the mountain on one side. ‘Sheishnag’, the den of the serpent god is considered the resting place or ‘aasana’ of the ‘Lord Vishnu’. ‘Sheishnag’ is fed by ‘Kohenhar Glacier’ looking like a head of Cobra, about a mile long and half mile in width lake. Its connection with the Zamtihag makes it more enchanting. The pilgrims perform their ablution in the sacred water of ‘Sheishnag’ which really intolerable being the temperature of the serene water somewhere around zero degree. Atop the small hill is the resting place of Wavjun known for the fast winds.

 DIFFICULT PHASE:

         

Wavjun is about 12,230 ft above the sea level. Next morning pilgrims leave for ‘Panchtarni’ with a firm determination to overcome the most difficult ‘Ashad Daki’ followed by ‘Maha Gunus’ which is at a height of 14,000 ft above the sea level. Many people pass out while ascending the mountains track of ‘Maha Gunus’ with the overpowering fragrance of wild herbs or shortage of Oxygen. There is a gradual descending upto ‘Panchtarni’ after crossing the ‘Maha Gunus’ peak. But on reaching atop the peak, Nagarpal– a huge boulder, the pilgrims scramble with some pebbles in their hands beating the rock to proclaim their arrival. ‘Panchtarni’ is at a hands distance from here being just 11 kms away.

         

‘Panchtarni’ is a place where Sangam of five streams takes place to form the ‘Sind River’. It joins the river Jehlum at Shadipur, Kashmir. The constituent  tributaries taking birth from the Kounnag lying in the North-West of ‘Sachkach’ mountain. ‘Panchtarni’ is the final stage of the pilgrimage being 7 kms away from the holly Cave. Devotees start at mid-night and cross the ‘Amaravati’, pilgrims take bath and wash their minds from misconception or the material world.  Water of ‘Amaravati’ is also too cold to touch, being the glacier water but the devotees hold up their courage to take a bath in ‘Amaravati’. A little walk from here puts the pilgrims quite in front of the cave enshrining a symbol of the God sculpted in ‘Ice Lingam’.

         

The cave ‘Gupha’ or cavern is a real den of the ‘Lord Shiva’. Droplets of water oozing out of the roof of the cave get frozen strictly at three places forming the ‘Ice Lingams’, one large and two small. Immortal emblems of the ‘Lord Shiva’ is comparatively bigger in size than the other two that of ‘Parvati ji and Ganesh ji’. Through spacious cave the recitation of the Vedas and mantras used to echo whereas the devotees awaiting their term recite ‘Bholanath ji ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Shanker’. The devotees, particularly the Naga sadhus, smear the bodies with ‘Amarbuti’, a chalky substance of Sulphate and Chloride of Calcium.  Snow pigeons nests in mountain and make their appearances at this juncture to give ‘darshan’  to the pilgrims. A legend that the ‘Lord Shiva’ along with his divine spouse ‘Parvati ji’ stayed here for some time after the marriage being in a happy mood, agreeable to grant any kind of boon asked for by the devotees once ‘darshan’ is complete for a pilgrim the next job before him or her is to return to ‘Panchtarni’ for onward journey to Pahalgam etc. Generally people return to Pahalgam in two days but a good trekker can possibly make it a single day return journey being a descending route.  

These days, the pilgrims mostly the youths, Jawans, and foreigners who intend to have the ‘darshan’ and back within the minimum possible time except the challenge posed on the ‘Baltal- Sonamarg’ route and perform their ‘darshan’ . The Baltal route is full with risk particularly in bad weather is very  and short just 14 kms to Panchtarni. Baltal provides an enchanting ground at the foot of the Zojila at the eastern extremity of the Sind valley. The track is just 1.8 metre wide quite irregular at most of the places and poses many challenges here and there. Now, the Govt. has introduced Helicopter service and the registration is already in progress since 20 April 2013. The Heli tickets for Baltal– Panjtarani  (Baltal sector) is Rs. 1500/- whereas it  is Rs. 2400/- for Pahalgam – Panjtarani (Panjtarani sector).

In fact, the devotees nowadays requires to take care of the guidelines issued by the authorities from time to time in view of the Supreme Court of India’s constituted Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) recommendations such as  Compulsory Health certificate, Form ‘A’  (Application Form), Do’s and Don’ts ( avoid stoppage at places marked by warning notices and equally avoid use of slippers etc.) whereas the do’s mostly comprise of common sense issues especially the precautions well ahead of hilly journey such as deep breathing exercises, Yoga and Pranayam, warm clothing water proof shoes, torches, walking sticks, small umbrellas, etc. The pilgrims need to walk in groups and possess proper communication like mobile etc. And finally, the old age people above 75 years or below 13 besides the 6 week above pregnant women need to resist to be a part of any pilgrim group.

Sheshnag lake – A dream in the Mountains

Sheshnag lake – A dream in the Mountains

Sheshnag, the finest specimen of mountain lakes, is on way to the world

famous ‘Shiva Sanctum’, Amarnath Cave, via the time tested traditional route of 125 kms from Srinagar and 28 kms from Phalgam. Once a pilgrim overcomes the most difficult ascending terrain, the Pissu Gatti the devotee reaches the lake.  Sheshnag is situated at the north-eastern extremity of Dachinpara around 11,730 ft. above the sea level. An ascent of 800 ft. will take the trekkers to the fascinating encamping ground of Wavjan.

          Wavjan is about 12,230 ft. from the sea level, famous for its strong and notorious winds. No pilgrim goes direct to Wavjan because en route lies the fascinating and serene waters of the Sheshnag lake.

The lake is one km long and half a km broad connected with a small lake called Zamtinag which is an enormous glacier. Another small lake Sonasarnag is situated two kms from Sheshnag in the South-west extremity of the Naru Wardwan Valley. Sheshnag is, covered with ice till June, which is fed by the Kohenhar glacier (5178 metres) it looks like the hood of a serpent and hence derived its name. 

          Gratinpura, a glacier stream, flows into the North-east corner of the lake. Sheshnag is held in great reverence and visited by the pilgrims en route to the sacred Amarnath Cave which enshrines the Shiva – ice – lingam. Pilgrims perform their ablution in the lake’s sacred waters to wash their minds of the misconceptions developed in the material world. 

         

 There is no habitation around the lake. No wood is procurable except ‘Kanifer’. The grassy valley of Sheshnag affords nothing except the ample space for encamping with a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. Every year, pilgrims in lakhs en route to the holy Amarnah Cave visit the Sheshnag lake too. People usually keep a watch over the Sheshnag lake to have the holy ‘dharshan’ of the ‘serpent god’ a snake with more than one head. Sheshang always invites attention of the visitors especially the foreigners who are the real lovers of peace, beauty and tranquility.

Malaria and Dengue are back, every time

Symptoms for the two mosquitoes borne diseases:

Malaria                                                       Dengue

Chills and shivering                                    Muscular weakness    

Vomiting                                                     Body rash or itching             

Fever with flu like symptoms                    Pain around & behind eyes

Blood test & drugs                                     Fever & acute body ache

Blood test to monitor platelet count, no lesser than 20,000

Every time, the incidences of Dengue and Malaria in the country corroborate its resurgence in a virulent form and poses a formidable challenge to public health administration, medical researchers and leads WHO to reshape its strategy.  Unfortunately, today the combat seems too far away since the world’s promising and the most advanced potential malaria vaccine RTS,S has failed to live up to the promise as the scientists from Oxford University recently doubted the final leg tests since the effectiveness wanes over the time. Earlier, it was claimed that the vaccine could be a reality and expected to hit the markets by 2015. There were expectations that the vaccine (RTS,S/AS01E) by attacking the malaria parasite in the  very early stages while entering the bloodstream or liver cells would prevent and abate  infection of red blood cells and the development of serious symptoms.

Breakthrough at Home

The Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) scientists have found an easy and economical method to control the menace of mosquitoes with carbon nano-particles by adding around 3 milligrams of water soluble carbon nano-particles with a litre which does wonders by killing the mosquitoes and larvae according to the researchers studies published in the UK Journal Riyal Society of Chemistry, recently. The scientists claim that the method is a cheaper one and safe enough in contrast to the hazardous chemical sprays. 

Earlier, the scientists at International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi discovered key antigens and claimed that the discovery would lead the way for the development of a novel malaria vaccine chiefly against Plasmodium falciparum, one of the species of the malaria parasite causing disease among humans. Also, CSIR has initiated crowdsourcing drugs for malaria and TB through a venture for building a chemical library with diverse compounds on country level basis that will drive drug discovery programmes especially for neglected diseases like malaria and TB.  In 2008, CSIR launched Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) project with the objective of discovering the drugs for Malaria and TB and other diseases through open innovation and sharing of researches which brought about 34 institutions including a few IIT’s besides other organization on the prestigious OSDD project.

 In the beginning of the year, the researchers successfully launched a gene disruption technique to change the colour of mosquito a very critical step towards the genetic strategies aimed at disrupting the transmission of diseases like dengue etc. Scientists from Virginia Polytechnic and State University used a pair of engineered proteins to cut DNA in a site-specific manner to disrupt a targeted gene into mosquito genome.  The Malaysian researchers, in early 2011 released about 6000 genetically modified mosquitoes into a forest in the first of its kind experiment in Asia aimed to curb the dengue fever. The test was meant to pave the way for the use of genetically engineered Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to mate with females and produce no offspring or  ones with shorter lives, thus curtailing the mosquito population.

The dengue and malaria cases reported to the WHO have doubled multifold in recent years which could be too high with the unreported cases across the countries. Around three decades back, the resistance to conventional insecticides was recorded in 62 countries out of 107 exposed to malaria and resistant strains of the malarial parasite to the chloroquine treatment reported from around 20 countries. Once, the then WHO Director General, Mr. Halfdan Muhler said that the anti-malaria programme in India has received a great setback during the last five years because of parasite resistance to the anti-malarial medicines which resulted in an increase upto 30 to 40 times.

Background

The book, ”Man’s Mastery of Malaria” describes Hippocrates as the first malariologist who correctly identified the relationship of the ecological conditions with the disease. After Lerven, the French Army Surgeon who discovered plasmodium in 1880 Sir Ronald Ross in 1898 showed the cycle of the parasite and the female anopheles mosquito involved in the transmission of the disease. Manson confirmed it in 1900.

The WHO in 1935 had indicated the number of positive cases of malaria over 100 million whereas the League of Nations (1930) and Fletcher (1932) indicated that the disease affected one third of the human population in Central America, Asia and Africa – more than 300 million people all over the world in 1940.Earlier, pyrethrum and kerosene sprays were used to kill mosquitoes. The advent of DDT, a long acting insecticide without toxic effect on mammals brought new hopes for malaria control. But its widespread use during World War II to protect troops against lice and parasites suppressed its effectiveness against mosquitoes.

Time and again, the dengue outbreak is there with about 1300 cases reported in the capital till recently. Malaria cases all over have gone up many fold with most of the cases unreported which demands that the disease needs a radical treatment to the patients, otherwise, one unattended positive case of Malaria has the potency to communicate the disease to 1200 persons during its peak season. But still the control of malaria transmission, which today is termed as the programme of eradication, has almost rid the world of this calamity. The Dengue cases similarly always keeps on increasing with taking the death toll every year. By 1968, this programme covered a population of about 715 million with another 70 million people in different countries. There were aggressive programmes with various launches and further campaigns.

It was estimated at the close of 1952-53 that about 75 million people suffered from Malaria every in every year in India. Since the country’s population was approaching 361 million in (1952-53), roughly one out of every five persons was likely to suffer from the disease every year. The total annual number of reported cases was somewhat between 0.8 million and one million against the total mortality rate of 5.5 million. Apart from direct mortality, the disease was indirectly responsible for the victimization of another 8 to 10 million individuals every year. The post-independence period showed some improvement owing to successful use of the insecticide on a very limited scale and by 1965 the disease had been virtually eradicated. The total number of positive cases all over the country touched the all time low of 40,000 in 1966. Unfortunately, it did not last long and this improvement led to the discontinuance of the National Eradication Programme.

The position to worsen, resulting in a gradual increase till the number of malaria cases reached about 1.5 million in 1972. After a decade of nil mortality (since 1966) about 100 persons died of malaria in 1975 and 1976. Simultaneously, the number of cases, around the world, touched 120 million in 1976 and the problem assumed World-wide significance once again.

Previously, about 12,00 million tablets were procured, 100 million from the country and the rest from abroad. The Central Government doubled the allocation of malaria-control representing 75 per cent of the total health budget. This year, about 16,000 tonnes of DDT have been allocated for the national Malaria Eradication Programme. Nearly 35,000 tonnes of more powerful BHC insecticide have also been allocated. Officials state that about 500 million chloroquine tablets have been released in the market.

Money for the fight  

The World Health Organisation in 1959 allocated about 1,691 million dollars for malaria eradication all over the world. The WHO alone contributed 83 million dollars and the UNICEF and the US Agency for International Development gave 246 million dollars but estimated figures fell a little short of the real figures. The WHO spent more than 95 million dollars over 1956-72, the Pan America Sanitary Bureau spent $33.5 million

dollars, the UNICEF $95 million and the UN Development Programme $10 million to eradicate malaria from all regions of the world. This year, the WHO has a target of $20 million dollars for the proposal etc.

 The mosquito has once again become a powerful enemy to the man. The research in malaria and dengue has, therefore, assumed a degree of urgency. Dengue –transmitting mosquitoes have become immune to many popular and commonly used repellents across the world and it has been found that the mosquitoes are able to ignore the smell of the insect repellent for upto three hours after being exposed to it.

The scientists claimed that their tests changes in responses to the repellent in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which are more notorious for biting during the day and are capable of transmitting the dengue fever and yellow fever viruses. The research on the development of anti-malarial drugs from indigenous plants was earlier in process but without concrete results. The success in the development of a vaccine will be treated as a great achievement in this direction. The anti-malarial programme has acquired more significance due to the worsening epidemicological situation in several regions of the world. The Governments across the globe and the WHO need to prepare strategies to provide these against the changes in the environment.