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Film Review: Kundun

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    His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday marks a day of peace, wisdom and compassion. He is not only a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also a global symbol of peace and compassion.

    It is with great honour and deep respect that we inaugurate the screening of Kundun (koon-dohn), a deeply moving and visually stunning film directed by Martin Scorsese (Skaw-say-zee) and written by the late Melissa Mathison. Based on the life and teachings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Kundun (Koondohn) offers a powerful and poetic portrayal of one of the most revered spiritual leaders of our time.

    The film takes us on a journey through a critical period in Tibetan history, spanning from 1937 to 1959—a time of both great spiritual promise and immense political upheaval. Beginning in the rural province of Amdo, where the young reincarnation is discovered, Kundun (Koondohn) follows the Dalai Lama’s path to Lhasa, his spiritual and political development, and ultimately, his decision to flee into exile as Tibet faces brutal suppression by the Chinese Communist regime.

    The word “Kundun” (Koon-dohn), meaning “presence” in Tibetan, beautifully captures the essence of the Dalai Lama’s enduring influence. More than just a biographical account, the film serves as a meditation on faith, identity, compassion, and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

    Visually, the film is a masterpiece. Cinematographer Roger Deakins captures the rich textures and sacred landscapes of Tibet with painterly elegance. The hypnotic and emotionally resonant score by Philip Glass heightens the spiritual and contemplative tone, blending seamlessly with the film’s narrative and imagery. Every frame is a tribute to Tibetan culture, tradition, and philosophy.

    Despite the political controversy that surrounded its release, Kundun (Koondohn) remains a landmark in spiritual cinema. It was courageously made, despite global political pressures, and continues to shine as a quiet but powerful act of cultural preservation and artistic integrity.

    We are grateful to Martin Scorsese (Skaw-say-zee), Melissa Mathison, and the entire creative team for their dedication to telling this story with honesty and reverence. As we watch Kundun (Koon-dohn) today, may we reflect not only on the life of the Dalai Lama but also on the universal values of peace, non-violence, and the strength of the human spirit.

    Let this screening be more than a cinematic experience—let it be a moment of reflection, dialogue, and inspiration.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Author Sam Dalrymple on India-Pakistan Divide

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22/6/25 Times of India

SAM DALRYMPLE 

WE TREAT INDIA-PAK HOSTILITY AS INEVITABLE, BUT THESE DIVIDES FORMED WITHIN LIVING MEMORY (FOR THE RECORD)

    Sam Dalrymple was set for a career in particle physics until a family trip to Afghanistan to visit the remains of the Bamiyan Buddha rerouted him into history. He started a virtual reality project connecting Partition survivors, which, in turn, inspired his debut book 'Shattered Lands', tracing the unravelling of the Indian Empire. In an interview with Neelam Raaj, he talks about why our complex pasts shouldn't be ignored.

    Q. Several years ago, you co-founded Project Dastaan, connecting those displaced by the 1947 Partition through virtual reality. Was it Dastaan that sparked off this deep dive into the five partitions or something else?
    A. Dastaan was very much the origin of the book. In 2018, my college friends and I began reconnecting individuals displaced in the 1947 Partition of India, the largest forced migration in history, to their ancestral villages through VR. It was while researching the impact of Partition on Tripura and North East India for Dastaan that the book idea first came together: I was chatting with an academic in the region, and when I asked about Partition, he said, "Which one? Burma in 1937, Pakistan in 1947 or Bangladesh in 1971." That conversation made me think about the multiple ruptures and borders that have carved their way through the subcontinent.

    Q. The five partitions you write about are the separation of Burma, Arabia and Pakistan from India, the division of 500 princely states, and finally, the creation of Bangladesh. Why did you want to tell this story?
    A. We live with the consequences of these partitions every day. Just look at the recent war between India and Pakistan. Today, South Asia is one of the most bordered regions in the world, and you can actually see its borders from space. However, 100 years ago, none of these borders were foreseen. Demands for 'independence' were widespread, but no one could have suspected that the nations India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen and Burma would soon emerge from the wreckage of British India. Nor would anyone have imagined that tiny princely states like Bhutan and Dubai would last until the end of the century, while massive states like Hyderabad would not.

    Q. Your book challenges some widely held beliefs, like the idea that India's borders were drawn solely by Cyril Radcliffe. Could you tell us more about that?
    A. Cyril Radcliffe was famously charged with drawing the Partition border that would slice through British India. Jinnah had suggested his name because he had never been east of Paris, and supposedly his obliviousness would make him impartial. This, of course, had deadly consequences. But what we often forget is that he only drew the lines dividing Punjab and Bengal. Both the LoC and the entire stretch of the India-Pakistan Border from the Arabian Sea to Sri Ganganagar - collectively 81% of the present India-Pakistan Border fence-result from the decisions of seven local princes and have nothing to do with Radcliffe. Thirty-six per cent of the border with East Pakistan (modern Bangladesh) was made by another ten. Had states like Jodhpur joined Pakistan, or had states like Bahawalpur joined India, the border would look very, very different.

    Q. The chapter on the Arabian Peninsula ties a global moment -- the British withdrawal from Aden (now in Yemen)-- to a personal story about Dhirubhai Ambani. How did that shape the trajectory of Reliance?,
    A. We often forget today that Aden was the Dubai of the 1960s. It was the great business hub of its time, and this remained the case right until 1967 when the British pulled out and the revolutionary NLF took over. Dhirubhai Ambani had worked in Aden until the late 1950s, and after the British evacuation from Aden, he found himself perfectly placed to hire his dispossessed colleagues and found use of 'a ready-made source of educated managers, accountants and salesmen, drilled to European standards'. He had just ended a business partnership with his cousin and gone solo, forming a new company called Reliance Commercial Corporation. Reliance ballooned in the years after the fall of Aden, underpinned by a generation of Indian-origin Adenis versed in free market capitalism rather than Nehruvian socialism.

    Q. Given that your book comes out against the backdrop of India-Pakistan tensions, what is the perspective you hope readers will take away?
    A.So often, we treat the hostility between India and Pakistan as inevitable. Even President Trump chimed in, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that India and Pakistan had been fighting "for a thousand years, probably longer than that." But this really isn't the case. These divisions were formed within living memory --as were the divisions between India and Bangladesh, Burma and Yemen, etc. Today, the region's borders have become so embedded in our subconscious that it is easy to forget there were other possibilities for a post-colonial South Asia. Several prominent national figures, including PM Nehru and Burma's founding father Aung San, had once spoken of an 'Asiatic federation' in the 'not very, very distant future', a 'United Nations of South Asia' encompassing India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma. Long after the British departed, many still hoped the new borders might prove temporary. Yet in every single one of these countries, governments have made sure to paper over the shared cross-border heritage of their peoples. The last decade has witnessed the decline of globalisation, the strengthening of borders and the resurgence of nationalism across the world. India's partitions are a direct warning of what such a future might hold.

    Q. Your Dad, historian William Dalrymple, sparked a lot of debate recently, saying that academics don't make their work as accessible as popular historians. Where do you stand on this?
    A. I don't think they have to stand in opposition at all. We obviously need both.
                                 ***

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday Marks a Day of Peace

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His Holiness The Dalai Lama

    The birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is celebrated annually on July 6 by Tibetans and Buddhists worldwide. This will be his 90th birthday. He was born in 1935 in Taktser, a small hamlet in north-eastern Tibet. His Holiness is not only the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also a global symbol of peace and compassion. His birthday is much more than a mere celebration of his life. Rather, it is an occasion to reflect on his teachings and the pristine values that he upholds.

    Tenzin Gyatso was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama when he was just two years old. By the age of 15, he assumed full political authority in Tibet during a period of rising tensions with China. In 1959, following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, he was compelled to flee to India, where he has lived in exile ever since. From his base in Dharamshala, he continues to lead the Tibetan people spiritually and politically, canvassing for a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue globally.

    Despite his forced displacement, the Dalai Lama has never strayed from his goal of peace. He remains a man who continues to smile despite losing his kingdom. His advocacy for peace earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, recognising his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Tibetan struggle. He has become an icon of conscience in a world torn apart by conflict and intolerance over the decades.

    The Dalai Lama is regarded as a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His birthday is observed with reverence and gratitude as followers reflect on his teachings. They renew their commitment to ethical living, non-violence, and spiritual practice.

Celebrations usually involve prayer ceremonies, cultural performances, and community gatherings. Monasteries conduct long-life prayers for His Holiness, while laypeople light butter lamps, hang prayer flags, and offer incense. Songs, dances, and traditional Tibetan opera are performed in honour of the occasion. Elders share stories of the Dalai Lama’s life and the values he promotes. Children often dress in traditional attire.

    In Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, the festivities are especially lively. Tibetans and international visitors gather at the Tsuglagkhang Temple, the Dalai Lama’s main temple, to participate in religious rituals and listen to speeches honouring his contributions to world peace and the preservation of Tibetan culture.

Beyond the Tibetan community, many non-Buddhists and global admirers of the Dalai Lama also take the day as an opportunity to reflect on his universal preachings. Schools, universities, and spiritual centres may organise meditation sessions, peace talks, or humanitarian activities inspired by his teachings.

    The Dalai Lama’s birthday acts as a global reminder of the power of kindness, empathy, and inner peace. His fundamental message — that all human beings deserve happiness and that compassion is the basis of true peace — resonates with people from all walks of life, regardless of religion or nationality. He often says, “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

    As the Dalai Lama advances into the later years of his life, his birthday also prompts questions about the future of the Tibetan movement and the succession of the Dalai Lama institution. Despite humongous uncertainties, his ongoing commitment to peace offers hope and inspiration to millions.

    In a world often perceived as fractured and unstable, the Dalai Lama’s birthday provides a moment to pause and reconnect with core human values. It is not merely a day to honour a revered spiritual teacher but also an occasion to renew a global commitment to compassion, understanding, and peace. Such magnificent personalities are born perhaps once in a millennium. My salute to him.

(The writer Kamlesh Tripathi is the author of ‘Awadh Assam and Dalai Lama … The Kalachakra’)

Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

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INTERESTING FACTS: THE MEN WHO SHAPED INDEPENDENT INDIA’S PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT

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(THE MEN WHO SHAPED INDEPENDENT INDIA’S PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT. THE TIMES OF INDIA 29/10/21)

Behind The Scenes Of India’s Early Legislatures, Two Secretaries Laid The Foundation For Parliamentary Administration And Proceedings

The visible part of a vibrant legislature is members of Parliament (MPs) passionately debating critical national issues that shape the country. But a secretariat independent of the government, working tirelessly in the background supporting legislative functioning, is the backbone of Parliament. Two officers of Parliament Maheshwar Nath Kaul and Sham Lal Shakdher devoted themselves to creating an efficient parliamentary administration for the national legislature of independent India.
    Before Independence, Vithalbhai Patel, the first president of the Central Assembly, ensured the legislature’s secretariat was responsible to its presiding officer, not the government. It was called the Legislative Assembly Department, and it was this department Kaul joined in 1937. Rising through the ranks, Kaul became secretary to the constituent assembly.
    It was here that he helped in moulding provisions relating to Parliament in the constitution. Then, he was at the helm of administration in the provisional Parliament and finally took charge of the Lok Sabha secretariat. Shakdher’s journey to the Lok Sabha administration started in the newly created Department of Parliament Affairs. He was its first secretary in 1949. After that, he followed his mentor Kaul to Parliament as an officer on special duty and finally became his deputy in the Lok Sabha secretariat. He later succeeded Kaul as the Lok Sabha secretary.
    Our constitution empowers the two houses of Parliament to make their own rules of procedure and have separate secretarial staff.
(PICTURE OF KAUL AND SHAKDHER: Kaul was the first secretary-general of the Lok Sabha and later became a Rajya Sabha MP. He was succeeded by Shakdher. They jointly wrote the treatise on parliamentary procedure)
    Kaul and Shakdher put together a foundation of sound procedures and a responsive secretariat to implement them. For example, in 1952, in the first Lok Sabha of independent India, the rules provided that the House would start functioning at 10.45 am. The timing was subject to the Speaker’s instruction. It also provided that MPs give their questions 10 days in advance to enable ministers to answer them. Implementing these two simple rules, among many others, required a coordinated organisational effort by the Lok Sabha secretariat.
    First, then-Speaker G V Mavalankar directed that the House would start functioning at 8.15 am. It meant a group of secretariat personnel would have to arrive hours before to open clean and ready the precincts of Parliament for the day. Another group would have to prepare the day’s schedule, answers to questions, and parliamentary papers. They would also make copies of each document for every MP.
    Watch and ward staff would assist MPs and direct the public to galleries to watch the House proceedings. When the proceedings would start, a record of every word said in the legislative chamber would be kept and then published. Parallelly, secretariat personnel would check that the questions submitted by MPs for the following days comply with the rules of procedure. They would then send them to the respective ministries for their responses and collate their answers. Then the process would start all over again for the next day.
    Occasionally, there were hiccups. On June 5, 1952, Lok Sabha MPs were in for a surprise when they reached the Parliament. They saw the flag of Great Britain flying on the building instead of the Indian tricolour. Agitated MPs demanded answers from the government. A few days later, Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru would clarify in the House that it had occurred due to improper understanding of instructions.
    Kaul and Shakdher ensured procedural and operational aspects of parliamentary functioning worked seamlessly. With the support of colleagues, they designed rules not only for the conduct of business in the legislative chamber but also in its committees. They also supported state assemblies and Parliaments of other countries on constitutional and procedural matters of legislatures.
    During his tenure, Kaul started Parliament’s academic journal. In its inaugural issue, he laid down the need for a journal as a tool for disseminating parliamentary information and as a vehicle for sharing insights on the institutions functioning. Writing in the same issue, Shakdher described an ideal parliamentary official as objective, nonpartisan, patient and committed to the country’s service.
On retiring, the Lok Sabha speaker appointed both Kaul and Shakdher as honorary officers of the House. The president nominated Kaul to the Rajya Sabha as an MP, and Shakdher became the chief election commissioner. Their enduring legacy is the seminal book, ‘Practice and Procedure in Parliament’. Popularly referred to as Kaul and Shakdher, it is the first port of call for everyone interested in the functioning of our Legislatures. The book, updated by the Parliament secretariat, occupies a prominent place in every legislative chamber in the country.


(THE TIMES OF INDIA 29/10/21 BY CHAKSHU ROY, Head of Outreach, PRS Legislative Research)

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29/10/21

MYTHOLOGY: THE STORY OF KING AMBARISHA

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In the Hindu texts, Ambarisha is a mythological Ikshvaku (Suryavanshi) king, and the son of Mandhata. He is believed to have conquered the whole world in a week. He lived during the Treta Yuga.

    According to the Bhagavata Purana, the king was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, and he adhered firmly to the truth. On being pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu gave his Sudarshana Chakra to Ambarisha, who worshipped the deity’s weapon with great devotion. Once, during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Ambarisha performed the Dvadashi Vrata at Vrindavana, which required that the king start a fast on Ekadashi and break it at the start of Dvadasi (the twelfth day), and then feed all his people. As the moment of breaking the fast was drawing near, the mighty sage Durvasa appeared out of nowhere. He was received with full honours by King Ambarisha. Durvasa Muni agreed to the king’s request to be his honoured guest and have a meal with him, but asked the king to wait until he finished his bath in the Yamuna River and returned. As the auspicious moment approached when the king had to break his fast to fulfil the vow of the vrata, Durvasa did not turn up. On the advice of his priests, the king broke his fast by consuming a little water and waited for the arrival of sage Durvasa to offer him food. Durvasa, who was well known for his short temper, could ascertain by his mystic power that King Ambarisha had violated the respect due to a guest by breaking his fast before the guest had taken his meal, and in his rage he created an asura to kill Ambarisha, out of a strand of his hair. But because Ambarisha was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, the Sudarshana Chakra intervened to destroy the asura, and further started chasing Durvasa himself. Sage Durvasa became extremely frightened, and he ran for his life.

    The Sudarshan Chakra was soon inches away from Durvasa Muni’s back, as it chased him like a blazing forest fire. On the run and desperate to protect himself, Durvasa Muni went everywhere: through the sky, over the earth’s surface, into caves and under the ocean. He ran through all three planets, but could not escape the Lord’s weapon. Sudarshan Chakra followed him nonstop.

    Sage Durvasa felt the unbearable heat. Finally, he went to Satya-loka and asked Brahma for protection, saying, “O my Lord, kindly protect me.” Brahma said, “I cannot help you. I am under the control of Lord Narayana, the master of the Sudarshan Chakra.” Having been told that Brahma couldn’t protect him. Durvasa Muni went to Lord Shiva in Kailash and asked for his protection.

    “You should go to the Supreme Lord Narayana. This Sudarshan Chakra is unbearable even for me,” said Shiva. Durvasa Muni then proceeded to Vaikuntha, the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu. There, he fell at Lord Narayana’s lotus feet and begged for protection.

    “Oh, Durvasa, you should know that I am completely under the control of my devotees. So you should go to Maharaja Ambarisha. Only he can protect you from this Sudarshan Chakra.” Immediately upon being advised so by Lord Vishnu, Durvasa Muni realised his mistake and rushed back to Maharaja Ambarisha.

    The sage begged the devoted king Ambarisha for forgiveness. The king then politely requested the Sudarshan Chakra not to harm the sage Durvasa. At the king’s request, the Sudarshan Chakra became peaceful and returned to Lord Narayana.

    Maharaja Ambarisha then offered delicious prasad to the sage. The sage said, “My dear King, please have your meal first. In the beginning, I thought you were an ordinary person, but now I understand that you are the most exalted devotee of the Lord.”

Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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INTERESTING FACTS: OLD AND NEW DELHI: A COMPARISON

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BIGGER, MESSIER DELHI STILL HAS ITS ARMS WIDE OPEN

    …. DELHI IS A RARE CITY WITH A LONG PAST BUT NO HANKERING TO TIE ITSELF DOWN TO IT. WHETHER IT’S PEOPLE OR SPACES, IT ABSORBS THEM ALL WITHOUT RESERVE


  Delhi changed for me forever one day in the mid-1980s when a friend took me with him to the site where he was planning to buy a flat. There wasn’t much to see. The large tracts of nothingness, which became what we know today as Vasant Kunj, had no redeeming features. What was astonishing to me, however, was that when I looked towards Delhi, between me and the city stood the visage of Qutub Minar. That there could be a Delhi beyond Qutub Minar was something that made no sense to me. For in my imagination, it was pretty much at the very edge of the city. After all, that was a time when I remember going on a picnic in a bus with family friends to the exotic destination called Deer Park, far from our residence in Karol Bagh.
.         The Delhi that resides permanently in my mind is a cross between the city shown in Chashme Buddoor (the original, not the ghastly remake) and Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye. On the one hand, there are memories of wide open roads, a time scented with languidness, glorious winter mornings, neighbourhoods basking in leafy silence, and on the other hand, the untidy energy, the hustle, the ability to live loudly and publicly, and friends called Lovely, Pinky, Tinkle, Kuki and OK.
    The biggest change Delhi has seen is physical. It has burst out of its seams in all directions and has colonised spaces around it. It began with the conquest of Jamnapaar, which started out as a relocation drive of ‘unauthorised settlements’ under the watch of Sanjay Gandhi, but then took on a life of its own. Noida and Gurgaon are now cities in their own right, with their own cultural imprints, while drawing liberally from the mother ship.
    There are many more cars and there is a lot more money, which gives Delhi more mediums to express itself in. Delhi traffic nips at the heels of those in front, ready to kill to gain an inch of space. The murderous intent is expressed first in sound, achieved by honking persistently, and then sometimes followed by action, as evidenced by the number of road rage incidents. The money is visible everywhere – the old colony markets that continue to thrive, lavish weddings at farmhouses, crowds at high-end restaurants, and homes that overflow with decor.
    Perhaps the biggest loss is that of the Delhi winter. Delhi’s best, most glorious feature is now shrouded in noxious pollution that hangs like a foreboding and stings like regret. The joy of the outdoors, the enlivening experience of bone-chilling cold being thawed out by the sun as one sat on a charpoy and ate rewari and moongphali, basking for several glorious hours, is now an alleged memory, so far removed it has become. Winters are the time now to start muttering about migrating out of the city, while anxiously looking out for an AQI reading that tells us it is safe to step out of the home for a short walk.
    There are other losses, too. The cinema theatres, which served as a practical guide to different localities in the city, included Plaza, Odeon, Regal, and Rivoli in CP; Golcha, Novelty, Ritz, Delite, and Moti, which marked out Old Delhi; and Anupam, Savitri, Sapna, and the infamous Uphaar, which dotted areas of South Delhi. Some of these theatres remain, some have been refurbished, while others lie in dilapidated disuse. Nirula’s exists, but it is hard to believe it was at the cultural heart of  Delhi’s upper-middle-class youth once. The classic Delhi restaurants – Kwality, Embassy, Moti Mahal and Gaylord- are still around, but their role today is to serve as nostalgic artefacts. One goes there to savour the memory of a Delhi that once was. And while street food in Delhi continues to be as delicious, the famous names are now tourist spots more than unselfconscious, humble eating places.
    And yet, while Delhi has changed in so many ways, at its core, it feels the same. The life that one leads today is poles apart from one’s experiences growing up, but the idea of Delhi has not shown much change. It still lives fiercely in the present and remains unmindful of the history it is set smack in the middle of. Contrary to its popular image, Delhi is India’s only genuinely cosmopolitan city, in that only a small fraction of its residents can claim to be originally from the city. Everyone is a stranger, and everyone is in the city as a user. Delhi hones our appetite, keeps our competitive edge intact and gives us many opportunities to advertise our success. It might have sprawled in ungainly ways in the last few decades and become even louder and shinier, but there is nothing unrecognisable about Delhi.


(WRITTEN BY SANTOSH DESAI. TOI COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR)
TIMES OF INDIA ARTICLE 12.9.21

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

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HOW HYDERABAD CAME TO THE INDIAN UNION

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    Over two years leading up to August 15, 1947, India’s first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, along with the Ministry of States secretary VP Menon, managed to convince almost all the 565 princely states to join India. Most princes came on board without a fuss. But other princes required more persuasion, and some refused to join until a show of force from the Indian government changed their minds. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, was among the few holdouts.
    In July 1947, Patel had said the only alternative to cooperation was ‘anarchy and chaos’, setting the tone for how the government would deal with princely states that opted against joining the dominion. When Hyderabad said it would rather remain a ‘sovereign state’, it sparked a year-long standoff between the Nizam and the government.
    Hyderabad was a key strategic state between India’s north and south. One constitutional expert at the time worried that an independent Hyderabad would force  India to ‘live without the midriff’. Patel said it would be like ‘a cancer in the belly of India’.
    Within Hyderabad, a three-way tussle was underway between the Nizam, the Hyderabad State Congress and the communists. The Nizam was also supported by the Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen and its paramilitary wing called the Razakars. After the Nizam refused to sign the instrument of Accession, he agreed to sign a ‘Standstill Agreement’ in November 1947, which maintained the status quo for the time being.
But as the months wore on, the Nizam and the government were unable to reach an agreement. In the meantime, the extremist Razakars grew stronger, Hindu-Muslim tensions rose and a communist uprising added to the state’s instability. In June 1948, Lord Louis Mountbatten, India’s last viceroy, left office and urged the Nizam one last time to consider acceding to India. With Mountbatten gone, Patel decided to take direct action and sent the Indian army into Hyderabad in September.
It took just four days for the Indian army’s ‘Operation Polo’ to take Hyderabad. Estimates suggest 42 Indian soldiers and more than 2,000 Razakars died in the fighting. During the invasion, communal violence also led to anywhere between 30,000 and 2 lakh civilian deaths. On September 17, the Nizam officially surrendered. He called for a ceasefire and banned the Razakars, whom he later blamed for forcing him to keep Hyderabad independent. On September 18, Operation Polo was terminated, and Hyderabad was absorbed into India.


MAIN POINTS

  • SEPTEMBER 11, 1948,
  • Moving troops to Secunderabad.
  • Pandit Nehru Explains India’s Objective
  • Restoration of Order: Primary Aim
  • SEPTEMBER 17, 1948
  • Indian Army Tanks Cross Border
  • Resistance in the Stronghold of Razakars Smashed

Times of India 12.9.21

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POEM: THE PAHALGAM CARNAGE

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–“If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here,” said Amir Khusrau, a renowned Indian Sufi poet, about Kashmir. But the Pahalgam perpetrators have made it bloody—

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In the Baisaran valley in Pahalgam,

On the 22nd of April 2025,

While the tourists were freaking out in the meadows,

Helping themselves to a picnic lunch,

Under the bright sun.

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The terrorist struck,

With all their brutality,

Killing 26 able-bodied Indians,

In the worst of atrocities.

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It all happened in the beating heart of the Anantnag district,

Where the Lidder River whispers through the valley,

And the tall mountains stand in majestic grace,

In the Vale of Kashmir.

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The gruesome carnage was committed,

By AK-47-toting terrorists,

On a day that was meant to be peaceful and joyful,

Which humanity will never forget.

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They say,

Terrorism doesn’t have a religion,

But the terrorists proved it otherwise,

When unable to recite the Kalma,

They shot those hapless Indians,

In an inhuman style.

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But the Indians,

Never thought like that,

For they were always united in great style,

1.4 billion to be precise.

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The terrorists asked the victims to undress,

To prove their religion,

And that proved the point,

That terror has a religion.

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The victims were mostly young,

They were all bright,

They all had ambitions,

To come up in life.

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The worst came when they were shot dead,

In front of their wives,

Who wailed for their safety,

But the lethal Pakistani terrorists,

Failed to sigh.

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Being born a Hindu is no crime,

Being born in any religion is divine,

But perpetrating terrorism,

Is a terrible crime.

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It’s like Alexander Fleming versus Mikhail Kalashnikov,

One invented penicillin,

And the other AK-47,

One saved a life, the other killed the hapless,

Kalashnikov must be turning in his grave,

Seeing the legacy of his invention.

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Five Lashkar terrorists,

Brought India to an emotional halt,

But let there be no doubt,

In the minds of the killers and their handlers,

The young India is 65% of 1.4 billion,

That will not forget its revenge.

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–Terrorism is the worst crime against humanity. Life is only a sojourn on Planet Earth. Live with that in mind—

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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AMBEDKAR: FROM CASTE TO CONSTITUTION

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    Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s life indeed serves as a beacon of inspiration for those committed to equality, social justice, and dismantling oppressive systems. His insights into the caste system were groundbreaking and remain relevant even today. His statement about the caste system being a “monster” that must be eradicated for any real political and economic reform resonates deeply. By acknowledging that caste is not just a division of labor but also a division of people, Ambedkar illuminated how deeply it harms not only individuals but society as a whole.

    His critique of the caste system’s eugenic claims and its failure to produce a better society reflects his understanding of how it stunts human potential. Caste, in his view, doesn’t just harm the oppressed; it also disorganizes the social fabric of those who perpetuate it. Ambedkar’s assertion that caste doesn’t improve the race but instead demoralizes it points to a broader critique of how hierarchies and inequality can stunt collective progress.

    These perspectives are not just theoretical but were put into action in his tireless efforts to reshape India’s Constitution, fight for the rights of Dalits, and challenge the deep-seated social structures that perpetuated caste-based discrimination. His contributions laid the groundwork for a more just and equitable society, making him one of the most significant social reformers in modern history.

    He was born into a Mahar family, one of the castes considered untouchable in the rigid caste hierarchy of India, on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madya Pradesh, where his father served in the army. Despite facing severe social discrimination, his early life was marked by a strong desire for education and an urge to challenge the status quo that oppressed people like him.

    He studied at some of the best institutions globally, including Columbia University and the London School of Economics, where he earned doctorates in Economics. He later trained as a lawyer at Gray’s Inn, London, and became one of the most highly educated individuals in India at that time. Dr. Ambedkar’s life was devoted to fighting for the rights of the Dalits and the marginalized communities in India. His famous slogan, “Educate, Agitate, Organise”, continues to resonate, urging oppressed people to seek knowledge, actively resist oppression, and unite for their rights. Bernard Shaw once stated, “Dr. Ambedkar’s struggle against the caste system and his determination to free the Indian masses from the shackles of superstition and inequality was truly revolutionary. He understood that real progress could only come through education and social reform.”

   As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, Dr. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in shaping India’s legal and political framework. His vision helped enshrine fundamental rights such as equality, freedom of religion, and the abolition of untouchability in the Constitution. His contributions were critical in ensuring that India’s Constitution became a beacon of justice and equality, not just for Dalits but for all marginalized groups. He held a belief that, Constitution is not just a lawyers’ document but a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.

    He was also a staunch advocate for women’s rights and fought for their protection and upliftment within Indian society. He was instrumental in introducing provisions for reservations for Dalits, Tribals, and Other Backward Classes, ensuring their access to education and employment. Author of umpteen titles, he chose to embrace Buddhism as a response to the caste-based discrimination entrenched in Hinduism. His conversion was a radical act of defiance and transformation.  

    His contributions to the Indian Constitution and his steadfast fight against caste-based discrimination laid the foundation for the rights of the marginalized in India. In 1990, India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, was posthumously awarded to him. The salutation “Jai Bhim”, popular among his followers, remains a powerful symbol of his ongoing impact. ‘I want all people to be Indians first, Indian last and nothing else but Indian’ He said.

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SHORT STORY: LIFE LESSONS

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    Once upon a time, during India’s partition, three refugees landed in a city. They had walked for many miles over the past few days and were tired and hungry. They were looking for alms as they had no money to buy food.

    As tired souls, they went around the streets, markets and even the nearby colonies, but no one provided them with either money or food. Tired, they filled their stomach with some tap water, after which they crossed the road and entered a park to rest under a tree.

    They hadn’t adequately befriended themselves, even when they were together for the last couple of days because their focus was purely on food and shelter as they were tired, hungry and even sick. For them, fleeing persecution, organizing food, water, shelter, and survival was of immediate consequence during the days that they had been together, and not so much befriending themselves.

    Their hunger was now reaching a burst point. Luckily a group of people from a charitable organisation came to their rescue, having realised they were refugees. They gave them a dozen bananas each. Upon receiving the bananas, they were thrilled. They started jumping in joy as if they had recovered their lost fortune.

    Soon, the first refugee, who appeared to be the most hungry, ate all his twelve bananas in a go and burped loudly, and then decided to rest.

    The second refugee, ate six and kept the balance six close to his chest and decided to take some rest.

    The third refugee, after eating six got up with the remaining six in his hand. He told his comrades that he was going to the nearby market and would return soon.

    The first refugee who had eaten all his bananas was rather puzzled at this banana-behaviour of the balance two refugees. As hitherto, they were cribbing, they were ravenous, but when they got bananas to eat, they wouldn’t finish it. And by now, about half-an-hour had passed when he saw the third refugee at a distance, walking towards him, without bananas in his hand. Upon seeing the third refugee without bananas, the number one refugee got a little suspicious. He couldn’t resist, and without waiting for the third refugee to arrive, he suddenly asked the second one.

   ‘Hello, comrade! You were so hungry, but you didn’t finish all the bananas. Why are you keeping these six bananas with you?’

    The second refugee replied, ‘I have kept it for the evening. For who knows in this unknown city you might not get any charity again, so as a precaution I have kept it for my dinner.’

    ‘And what about you? You had gone to the market with six bananas, but now you have none with you.’ The first refugee asked the third refugee who had arrived by then.

    ‘Well … well, I ate six and sold six, and now I have money to buy two meals.’ Replied the third refugee.

    The parable conveys a smart worldly message. The first refugee ate all the bananas in one go, thinking some Good Samaritan or God would not let him go hungry. The second refugee showed a streak of saving and cautiousness for the rainy day, so he ate six and kept six for dinner, but the third refugee had that entrepreneurial drive in him, so he ate six and sold six.

    Introspect, who made the wise decision under the circumstances, and what would you have done under such trying conditions?

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

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