YOUNG  LEADERS IN ACTION   I usually refrain from such mention but I'm sharing this  almost a year later after its occurrence since it is a matter of some  personal  satisfaction :-               Last year around this time Rotary International invited some winners to go to Brazil for awarding after it selected some winners amongst the youth internationally for Social causes . Project Azmat won the International award from some 200 projects submitted to  Rotary International. Proud to say that Project Azmat was developed and nurtured  by the students of SRCC , Univ. of Delhi .                 My daughter TUHEENA RAJ was the President of Rotaract Club of SRCC (which is affiliated to District 3010 , Panchshila Park N Delhi) and was so honoured.  She continued  the tradition of social service in our family ( which her grandfather is  still remembered for ) while studying at the Shri Ram College of Comm. for her graduation. She received it on behalf of her team at Enactus - Rotaract , SRCC .                     They were the worthy  winners for the following cause which is characterised as bringing in Dignity to women  which is cited below. ------------------------------- The Rotaract Club of SRCC Panchshila Park (District 3010, India) is this year’s international winner for Project Azmat. The project empowered women who worked as manual scavengers, removing human waste from unsanitary toilets, to build a better future for themselves — a life of “azmat,” meaning “dignity.” Rotaractors, working with community partners, improved the health of the entire community by installing new pit toilets. Liberated from their unsanitary and low-paying work, these hardworking women created their own sustainable business selling soap and detergent. Rotaractors provided literacy and financial management training to help these new entrepreneurs expand their business, market their product, and develop independence. This project shows how a single service project can improve sanitation, build communities, and support basic education and literacy. From:	Rotary International
Date sent	04/24/2015 09:04:04 am
Subject:	Young Leaders in Action | Congratulations Rotaract Outstanding Project Award Winners
If you cannot see this email, view it here. Young Leaders in Action April 2015 | Engaging the next generation of Rotary leaders Project “AZMAT” brings dignity to women in India More than 200 Rotaract clubs worldwide submitted projects for Rotary’s 2014-15 Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards. Through these annual awards, Rotary recognizes Rotaract clubs that change lives through innovative, sustainable, and collaborative service that aligns with Rotary’s areas of focus. In all of the projects, Rotaractors turned their innovative ideas into action, and the winning projects show how Rotaract members, together with Rotarians, make a lasting positive impact in their local communities and in our world. The Rotaract Club of SRCC Panchshila Park (District 3010, India) is this year’s international winner for Project Azmat. The project empowered women who worked as manual scavengers, removing human waste from unsanitary toilets, to build a better future for themselves — a life of “azmat,” meaning “dignity.” Rotaractors, working with community partners, improved the health of the entire community by installing new pit toilets. Liberated from their unsanitary and low-paying work, these hardworking women created their own sustainable business selling soap and detergent. Rotaractors provided literacy and financial management training to help these new entrepreneurs expand their business, market their product, and develop independence. This project shows how a single service project can improve sanitation, build communities, and support basic education and literacy. Get inspired by our six regional winners: Asia Pacific — The Rotaract Club of Selbe (District 3450, Mongolia) provided clean and safe toilets for children in rural schools. Rotaract members organized multiple fundraisers to purchase a shipping container, which was modified to create an insulated, private, 18-unit facility for more than 1,000 secondary school students. South Asia — The Rotaract Club of The Caduceus (District 3140, India) used its members’ skills as doctors and medical students to address the growing problem of malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, and anemia among children. They provided nutritious and delicious meals through a sustainable and affordable supplementary food program, The Breakfast Revolution. Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia — Rotaract clubs in District 2071 and District 2072 (Italy) partnered to develop and implement You Are Not Alone, an antibullying campaign. With help from psychologists and school leaders, they mentored kids on resolving conflict, building empathy, and reinforcing kindness to others.  Sub-Saharan Africa — The Rotaract Club of Kisumu (District 9212, Kenya) brought together more than 100 Rotaractors from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda for Rotaract East Africa Impact Project (REACT 2014). Their REACT workshops equipped community health advocates to teach water purification techniques, raise awareness about good hygiene, and educate children about health and safety issues. Latin America — The Rotaract Club of Tijuana Nueva Generación (District 4100, Mexico) pioneered a fun, educational, and inclusive culinary experience called “Cena a Ciegas,” or “Blind Dinner.” Members worked with restaurants to offer a unique experience — a dinner in which participants are blindfolded — to raise funds for educational materials, eyeglasses, and canes for the blind and visually impaired. USA, Canada, and Caribbean — The Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman(District 7020, Cayman Islands) started Project Brown Paper Bag along with the Department of Community Rehabilitation. Rotaractors used bags to provide lunch and encouragement to mental health clients attending required court dates. City officials noted that their decorated lunch bags had a positive impact and improved attendance at the court. Did your club or district plan an amazing service project, community outreach event, or fundraiser? Inspire others to be outstanding by sharing your story onRotary Showcase. SHARE YOUR STORY Deepen your connection Advocate for health during World Immunization Week April 24-30 is World Immunization Week and a chance to share how you — and Rotary — help protect kids in your community and around the world so they can live healthier lives. Learn howvaccines protect entire communities from the spread of disease and how Rotarians fighting polio slowed the spread of Ebola. Become an end polio advocate in your school and community, organize a fundraiser to support immunization efforts around the world, or volunteer for a project through Rotary Ideas. RYLA spells success in San Salvador Young leaders from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama met at RYLA El Salvador 2015 to discover their leadership potential, make new friends, and learn how to make a difference in their communities. The Rotary clubs of El Salvador joined together to plan a fun-filled Rotary Day fundraiser for the event and showed the community how they invest in future leaders through RYLA. Share how your RYLA event empowers young leaders and creates lasting friendships on our RYLA Facebook page. Another year of leadership and service is coming soon The Rotary year is almost over, and it’s time to start thinking about the future. Have you elected a Rotaract or Interact president for the 2015-16 Rotary year? Hold an election now so you can work together to prepare for the new year. Don’t forget to report your 2015-16 club contact so you can stay connected to Rotary and receive all of our information and resources. Current Rotaract presidents and advisers can sign in to Rotary.org to report their information. Everyone can use our Interact and Rotaract update forms. Make your updates by 30 June so you don’t miss out on any communications. Overheard on social media  “Malala Fund is making a documentary to share Malala’s incredible story! Follow them on Facebook to stay updated as the film develops and read more about this inspiring education activist and champion of girls’ rights in The Rotarian Magazine.” — Interact on Facebook  “Around the world, Rotary supports the development of young adults through Rotaract, Interact, Youth Exchange and RYLA. Rotary’s programs help young adults develop leadership skills, make new friends, explore new cultures and give back to their community. Learn more about Rotary’s programs for young leaders.”— Rotary International on Vimeo  “Rotary Scholar alumni Kelsi Cox works in Fiji teaching students to use tablets. ‘By supporting education and embracing technology, we can address poverty and inequality.” — Rotary on Instagram Spotlight on service: Nevada, USA School break is the perfect time for service On the first Saturday of spring break, most Beaver Dam High School students were sleeping in. Not the members of the Beaver Dam High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mesquite in Nevada, USA. These Interact members woke up bright and early to lend their support to a community garden. They rolled up their sleeves to build a new compost bin and get the garden ready for springtime. Thanks to the work of these Interactors, local residents can now plant fruits and vegetables and nourish them with compost from the new bin. MAKE A RECURRING GIFT AND SUPPORT ROTARY YEAR-ROUND Support our efforts to do good year-round by making a recurring gift – a simple and secure way to make a big impact. Make monthly, quarterly, or annual contributions online Or, if you prefer, return the completed Rotary Direct enrollment form Learn more about our Annual Fund GET INVOLVED! Make a difference in your community, and in communities around the world, by volunteering on a Rotary club project. Find a project to volunteer your time and talents Contact a Rotary club near you Upcoming events Note: This list is informational only and does not constitute an endorsement of any event. Please contact event organizers for details. 2015 Rotaract Preconvention São Paulo 4-5 June 2015 Rotary International Convention São Paulo 6-9 June 2015 RYLA Conference in North America Washington, D.C. 21-26 July 2015 Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference Yogyakarta, Indonesia 8-11 August Australian Rotaract Conference 2015  Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 10-11 October Do you know of an event we should add to this list? Email us at programs@rotary.org. Resources & reference Rotary Program Participation Survey Rotary Youth Exchange e-newsletter Interact Handbook Interact promotional card Rotaract Handbook Rotaract promotional card Guide for District Rotaract Representatives RYLA Handbook RYLA brochure

               

  A  RESEARCH  PAPER  OF MINE ENTITLED " Impact of Policy Responses and Political Leadership in India"   PUBLISHED IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF SAJOSPS.

(Pl. see No. 3 in the Current Issue)

CURRENT ISSUE

Current Issue
JANUARY - JUNE 2016   
(VOL. XVI NO. 2)

1. Post-2014 Afghanistan: Challenges and Prospects for New Delhi-Kabul Ties

Shyna. V.V, Doctoral Fellow, Centre for Southern Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry

As international forces withdraw from Afghanistan, India is positioned to be at the forefront of a regional approach to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The broad convergence of Indian interests in Afghanistan with those of other key regional actors provides occasion for India to apprehend its region as opportunity, rather than constraint. But the question is how should India cope with the post-US withdrawal situation in Afghanistan?

India's democratic polity, institutionalized decision-making processes, a large consumer base and growing economy make it a far more acceptable partner for Kabul. But while Pakistan will gain from a face-saving US exit, since it will allow Pakistan to increase its so-called 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan, India faces difficult policy choices in Afghanistan after Western forces pull out in 2014. However, New Delhi is now developing a flexible policy framework in Afghanistan that accords with its strategic regional interests and reflects a reassessment of its geopolitical limitations. In the light of this strategic set-back, India's policy of engagement through economic rebuilding requires a thorough analysis. While elaborating on the nature of India's engagement in Afghanistan the current paper will highlight challenges for cooperation between India and Afghanistan after US withdrawal and will try to find out the ways and means which will strengthen the foundations of strong cooperation.

2. India-ASEAN Relationship in 21st Century:
Promoting Deeper Regional

Economic Integration

Dr. Selim Chisti, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics,
Sabang Sajanikanta Mahavidyalaya, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal

India has strong historical and cultural links with Southeast Asia and its geographic location gives it a unique advantage in reaching out to the countries in the Indo-Pacific. There was unanimity that increasing physical and institutional connectivity between India and Southeast Asia would go a long way to facilitate enhanced economic relations in the region. India and ASEAN signed a Framework Agreement – the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) – on 2003 with a view to providing an institutional framework that would enable economic cooperation to come into effect. Negotiations on a trade in goods agreement between India and ASEAN were started in 2004. The negotiation continued for six years and finally the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) was signed on 13 August 2009 in Bangkok during a meeting of the Economic Ministers of ASEAN. The agreement, which only covers trade in goods between India and the ASEAN members, came into effect on 1 January 2010 in the case of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. For the remaining ASEAN members it will come into force after they have completed their internal requirements. Further, India has plans for bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with select ASEAN member nations. Broadly speaking, the comparative advantage of ASEAN member countries is in manufacturing, while that of India is in services. Hence both ASEAN and India can exploit their relative strengths via FTA.

3. Impact of Policy Responses and
Political Leadership in India

Dr. Subhendu Ranjan Raj, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science,
PGDAVE COLLEGE, University of Delhi
In the last decade and a half or so , India is credited to have remarkably achieved two seemingly contrarian major achievements . It has been able to achieve political development and stable continuity along with good economic progress from 2001 onwards. Indeed despite having coalitional governments spread over many years at the Centre , India has acknowledgeably produced a remarkable level of power sharing among the multifarious social, caste, linguistic, regional and political formations, and also registered an universally recognised good economic growth with a steady and increasing GDP growth rate from the erstwhile 'hindu rate of growth' of 3.5% to 10% plus. This is no mean achievement because universally it has been realised that coalition governments are not credited with such type of success. Usually it is thought that coalitional democracies may be good for human freedom but they are restrictive for economic growth. Now it can be said that India has proved that coalitional democracy is both conducive to accommodating and enlarging inclusive human freedoms as also enhanced economic growth .
 Coalitions in Indian context have produced a remarkable level of power sharing among the multifarious social, caste, linguistic, regional and political formations, but governance under such coalitional governments has not been very successful and is facing significant challenges now. In the immediate past ie., from 2011 onwards , one finds that India's economic growth has slumped even though currently at the average GDP growth rate of 5.5% - 6% that it is clocking , ( although it is stated by some commentators that India as part of the leading BRICS countries posits a really beneficial economic progress vis a vis the Western world which is having difficulty to muster up a GDP growth of 1-2.5% ). Again there is the reality that contemporaneously , we find that governance not only under coalitional governance but also under single party majoritarian rule is also facing significant challenges today. The breakdown of the coalitional model of governance after the 2014 general elections and the onset of single party majoritarian rule is evidence that suggests possibly that the coalition model may be also passing away. This paper will concentrate on the centrality that economic policy and decision making and leadership of the political executive have come to assume critical importance under this scenario in India in the context of globalisation.

4. Innovation and Technology in Education:
Strategies to be Adopted in Class Rooms

WE  ARE  NOT   THE   ONLY    ONES   TO   INHABIT    THIS    UNIVERSE 

President Eisenhower’s Great Granddaughter Speaks About His Meeting With Extraterrestrials

May 4, 2016 

1

 advertisement - learn more

Dwight David Eisenhower was one of the highest ranking American generals in United States history. He also served as  the country’s 34th president, spending eight years in office; before that, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. His military career was long and extensive, and if anyone knows anything about supposed extraterrestrial beings and the UFO phenomenon, it would definitely be him; he would, after all, be taking the place of Harry S. Truman, who was president while Eisenhower was Supreme Commander, and who, after being asked if he had been briefed on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects, stated on live television:

Oh yes we discuss it at every conference that we had with the military, and they never were able to make me a concrete report on it. . . . There’s always things like that going on, flying saucers and they’ve had other things, you know.” (source)

If we fast forward to more than 50 years later, one thing has become extremely obvious: UFOs are an international phenomenon, and they have gained the attention of governments, intelligence agencies, and military agencies around the world, particularly since so many military encounters have been recorded.

“The nations of the world are currently working together in the investigation of the UFO phenomenon. There is an international exchange of data. Maybe when this group of nations acquires more precise and definite information, it will be possible to release the news to the world.”

– General Carlos Castro Cavero, Spanish Air Force General (a statement given to the world in the 1970s)

Some startling examples of UFO encounters were outlined by Dr. Jacques Vallee, a scientist notable for co-developing the first computerized mapping of Mars for NASA, and for his work at SRI International on the network information center for ARPANET, a precursor to the modern Internet, in a paper he published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration titled  “Estimates of Optical Power Output in Six Cases Of Unexplained Aeriel Objects With Defined Luminosity Characteristics.” (source)(source)

These objects are commonly witnessed by military pilots and tracked on both air and ground radar simultaneously. They are seen performing maneuvers that defy our current understanding of physics. As outlined in the publication above, often when pilots enter the vicinity of these objects, their critical instrumentation and electronics systems all go offline.

One classic example comes from the Iranian Air force, who dispatched two F-4 fighter jets to check out an unexplained flying object. The United States took this encounter very seriously, sending a report of what happened to multiple national security officials and to U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, CIA Director George Bush, and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger, among others. Both of the F-4 interceptor pilots reported seeing the object visually, and it was also tracked on their airborne radar. Both planes experienced their critical instrumentation and electronics go offline at a distance of twenty-five miles from the object. Here is an excerpt from the report:

As the F-4 approached a .range of 25 NM he lost all instrumentation and communications (UHF and intercom). He broke off the intercept and headed back to Shahrokhi. When the F-4 turned away from the object and apparently was no longer a threat to it the aircraft regained all instrumentation and communications. .  . . 

The object and the pursuing F-4 continued on a course to the south of Tehran when another brightly lighted object, estimated to be one half to one third the apparent size of the moon, came out of the original object. This second object headed straight toward the F-4 at a very fast rate of speed. The pilot attempted to fire an AIM-9 missile at the object but at that Instant his weapons control panel went off and he lost all communications (UHF and Interphone). (source)

The report also described how a smaller object detached from the bigger object, turned inside the arc of the F-4 itself, and then regained the original object. This incident lasted for several hours.

What’s more, on top of all these files and publications, which number in the thousands, we have files from intelligence agencies like the FBI showing heavy interest from some very high level people about extraterrestrial bodies and space craft.

For example, HERE (on pages 21/22) is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document addressed to “certain scientists of distinction,” to “aeronautical and military authorities,” and to “a number of public officials” regarding a letter from a  professor with “several university degrees” and a former “university department head.”

The letter offers details about extraterrestrial bodies and craft, stating that part of the disks carry crews, while others are under remote control; that these visitors are human-like but much larger in size, and that they come from an etheric planet that “students of esoteric matters will understand,” among other details.

Considering the above evidence, combined with the hundreds of statements from high ranking military and political personnel (and more) that are available, it’s difficult to believe there is nothing going on. And if anyone were in a position to know the true story, it would have to be Dwight Eisenhower, which is what makes his story and the supposed meeting he had with extraterrestrials so compelling — provided you keep an open mind when listening.

“Behind the scenes, high ranking air force officers are soberly concerned about the UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe that the unknown flying objects are nonsense.” – Former Head of CIA, Roscoe Hillenkoetter, 1960 (source)

The Eisenhowers

When Laura Eisenhower was asked about her great grandfather and his supposed meeting with extraterrestrial beings, she had this to say:

Well I mean we have to understand that the Second World War wasn’t really won, we were dealing with things likeproject paperclip, we were dealing with, you know Admiral Byrd in 1947 going to Nazi bases in Antarctica and being defeated, so I mean, all these things were going on underneath… It’s like this whole other reality is going on that we don’t hear about. All of a sudden he’s (Dwight Eisenhower) voted into presidency and, you know, this facade of winning the war, um, you know, begins to just take us further and further away from, you know, the extraterrestrial concept, and what that really means and, you know, what is it really about, what is the interaction. So I would say that he was instrumental in warning us about the military industrial complex, and his integrity and I think the imprint that he left has allowed us to look back and open that door up and, you know, and ask these questions that weren’t asked back then. But my intuitive hit is that, and this is what I’ve gained from the work of Corey Goode, and other whistleblowers that have been connected to the secret space programs, is that the Nordics (extraterrestrial race) were connected to the Germans, and it wasn’t this whole, “Oh, you know, he made a deal with the wrong guys,” it was like, there needed to be so much discernment and clarity about the larger picture, that how can you possibly do that, in those times, I mean, this is what we’re trying to sort out now, is these timelines and the deeper history connected to secret societies, connected to, you know, these deeper ET agendas that have been around for thousands of years. So when it presents itself to a world government, or to these power structures, you know, there’s been pieces put into place specifically on purpose in order to create this outer facade which we read in our history books that have nothing to do with the true history of what is actually going on, and so, by the time this other meeting happened they considered it more of a surrender, because they couldn’t really do much, in 1953 is when the UFOs were flown over the white house, and that’s when they made negations with the Nazis, because they didn’t have a choice. . . . 

In February of 2010, Laura also posted a long document on the web describing her own contacts with beings from other worlds. Below is an excerpt:

It seemed clear to me that there were both false abductions (more holographic and communicated to the person through chips), and then there were the real ones—the ones I believe my great-grandfather President Eisenhower confronted, which has been a well-known cover-up. (source)

Apparently at this meeting Eisenhower was forced into an agreement with one race of extraterrestrials involving the exchange of ‘their’ technology for the ability to abduct some of us, examine us, and return us safely with no recollection of these events.

So where did the Eisenhower rumours stem from? Well on December 11th, 1984, a television producer by the name of Jamie Shandera received an envelope that had no return address, with two more envelopes inside and a 35 mm roll of film. The first paper within the envelope was a cover sheet labeled “Top Secret/Majic Eyes Only” and titled “Briefing Document: Operation Majestic 12 Prepared for President-Elect Dwight Eisenhower.” It was dated November 18, 1952. Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter (quoted earlier in the article speaking about UFOs) was listed as the briefing officer, along with President Truman, who established the group under executive order. Other names on the document included General Nathan Twinning, who stated in a declassified intelligence document that “the phenomenon is something real and not visionary or fictitious. The reported operating characteristics such as extreme rates of climb, maneuverability (particularly in roll), and motion which must be considered evasive when sighted or contacted by friendly air-craft and radar, lend belief to the possibility that some of the objects are controlled either manually, automatically, or remotely.” (1)

The MJ 12 documents go on to describe the known details of the extraterrestrial presence; although they cannot be confirmed as completely authentic, they are no doubt intriguing.

William Cooper, who was a close friend to Jamie Shandera, as well as a Navy officer who himself had experience with the UFO phenomenon, wrote a paper titled “The Secret Government: The Origin, Purpose, and Identity of MJ-12” where he made several revelations. He claimed there were at least 16 downed alien craft, 65 bodies, and one live alien retrieved between 1947 and 1952, and at least 10 more UFO crash retrievals during the Eisenhower years.  He also claimed that this secret government was dominated by the CIA and the Air Force, but then went into even greater secrecy in 1952 with the establishment of the NSA, which didn’t become known to the general public until 30 years after its creation. (1)

When I think about the above program, I think of former Canadian Defence minister Paul Hellyer stating that pilots were ordered to “shoot first and ask questions after.” (source)

On a side note, the NSA (and other agencies as well) has also recently released some weird documents without any explanation, like this one that reads “Key To The Extraterrestrial Messages.” These documents reveal, at the very least, that these agencies are actively interested in this phenomenon and devoting significant resources to its study.

Another source sharing details of Eisenhower’s meetings with extraterrestrials is Dr. Michael Salla, a former American University professor who now writes extensively in the UFO field. He has also noted that he wrote to Ike’s son, John S.D. Eisenhower, and asked if there was actually an alien encounter with his father. The response, as Salla reported, was “no.” (source)

You can read Salla’s paper regarding the circumstantial evidence surrounding Eisenhower’s supposed meeting with extraterrestrials on his website HERE.

According to Pentagon consultant and UFO researcher Timothy Good, Eisenhower had meetings with extraterrestrial beings on more than one occasion. (source)

Another source is below: a deathbed testimony given to one of the world’s most notable UFO researchers, Richard Dolan.

Who really knows what happened? All we can do is draw conclusions from the evidence at hand, since we don’t have a statement from Eisenhower himself.

“There are objects in our atmosphere which are technically miles in advance of anything we can deploy, that we have no means of stopping them coming here … [and] that there is a serious possibility that we are being visited and have been visited for many years by people from outer space, from other civilizations. That it behooves us, in case some of these people in the future or now should turn hostile, to find out who they are, where they come from, and what they want. This should be the subject of rigorous scientific investigation and not the subject of ‘rubishing’ by tabloid newspapers.”

–  Lord Admiral Hill-Norton, Former Chief of Defence Staff, 5 Star Admiral of the Royal Navy, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (source)

To read more of our articles on the topic of UFOs/Extraterrestrials, you can visit the exopolitics section of our website HERE.

Sources used not listed in article:

(1) UFOs & The National Security State. The Cover Up Exposed, 1973-1991, written by Richard Dolan.

 Note :  Those who are further interested in  UFO's and other extra terrresterial  intelligence and life forms may visit  my dedicated Facebook  blog on this subject  "IS  THERE  LIFE  OUTSIDE  OF OUR  PLANET  EARTH" https://www.facebook.com/groups/447279335447885/

THE   GHOST  OF AN   INDIAN  ARMY OFFICER  WHO    STILL    SAFEGUARDS    HIS    COUNTRY'S     BORDER

Shrine of  a Soldier saint , Baba Harbhajan Singh







Adapted from Shantanu Prasher http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/30312-the-story-of-the-ghost-of-an-indian-army-soldier-who-still-protects-india-s-border.html?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=paid#










            Rationalists may scoff at the thought of it. But even the Indian Army believes in this story of  a ghost  and  acknowledges it as true.

               I 've been to Harbhajan Singh's Mandir  on the way to Nathu La in Sikkim and must say there possibly I found greater veneration among the people who croweded there for an Indian soldier than for a deity.  I have no means to counter the astha of  people and find it agreeable that the story of  brave Harbhajan Singh is no figment of  imagination. I bow to his indomitable spirit . It'll seem trite to say but I'll still say the vibrations one feels there at 12000 feet plus  above the sea level were something  that  were  real , perhaps even surreal.

Believe it or not, military mythology is a thing. Maybe when it comes to serving your nation, the soldiers never actually die. This is the story of Baba Harbhajan Singh, an Indian Army soldier, who died in 1986 but his ghost is believed to still be protecting his brothers-in-arms at the border.  

© Wikimedia

Born in a village of Punjab in 1941, Harbhajan Singh enrolled himself in the Indian Army in 1956. In 1965, he was granted a commission and was posted to serve with the14 Rajput Regiment. It was in the year 1967, near Nathu-La pass, that Singh met his end after slipping and drowning in a glacier while he was leading a column of mules carrying supplies to a lonesome outpost. His body was recovered after three days and cremated with due honors. But did he really die?  

© YouTube

Legend has it that it was his own ghost that led the search party to his own dead body. Soon after cremation, it is believed, he appeared in one of his friends dream and asked him to erect a shrine in his memory. Following this, a shrine dedicated to Singh was built. 

© Wikimedia

Even today, jawans posted at the Nathu-La post firmly believe that Singh’s ghost protects them. Soldiers even believe that his ghost warns them of any impending attack at least three days in advance. Even the Chinese, during flag meets, set a chair aside to honour Harbhajan Singh. The water from his shrine is believed to heal ailing soldiers. Singh’s shrine is guarded by barefooted soldiers, and his uniform and boots are cleaned on a daily basis. Stories about his ghost visiting the camps at night and even waking up the soldiers who sleep while on watch, are massively popular and very regular.   

The belief about his paranormal existence is so firm that every year on 11th September, a train carrying ‘his’ belongings departs for his hometown accompanied by fellow soldiers, and goes right till his home’s doorstep. Moreover, until his recent retirement, Singh was steadily promoted up the ranks and retired as an Honorary Captain. His salary has, without fail, been sent to his family up until his retirement. Singh is looked up to as a holy saint today and soldiers often refer to him as ‘Baba’. Guess patriotism never really dies!

ODISSI   HANDLOOMS  :    THE   MAGNIFICENCE   OF    BICHITRAPURI    SAREE











                      It is not merely my ethnic moorings that make me fond of  Odissi handlooms . I like them because they are genuinely great examples of exquisite creativity.  Recently  I had the occasion to write the following in a friend's post  -

 "... not for nothing am I biased in favour of Odissi Sambalpuri handicrafts. Fascinating eye catching vibrant colours, immaculate iconic symbols with deep symbolism and incredible quality ( both cotton &  silk so good that they last for many generations ... ) and great contrast in textures and shades. Great choice. Do you know we Oriyas give every saree a name as well.... ie we personalise them such as sonpuri , rangpuri et al. There is a fabulous saree called Bichitrapuri - an outrageously rich splendoured saree - which has been woven the same way for 150 yrs now -not a thread here or there AND it IS STILL GOING STRONG AND REMAINS A BEST SELLER "






Bichitrapuri Saree


               It is true that  Bichitrapuri is a gem of  a creative genius of the Western part of Orissa

-The highpoint of these sarees are traditional craftsmanship of the `Bandhakala`, reflected in their intricate weaves. -This is all time favorite and highest selling traditional look Orissa Handloom silk saree. -As an Orissa special saree the specialty of this saree is its geometric design in the body and touch of traditional culture in the form of different motifs like Shankha (Shell), Chakra(Wheel), phulla (flower), animals with deep symbolism. -The broad border of silk thread work , motif works and completely traditional aanchal or pallu are the beautiful feature of the saree. -The uniqueness in this saree is that its having a traditional border in middle which makes the saree look awesome.

                      




 

SUBHENDU RAJ'S SPACE

SUBHENDU RAJ'S SPACE

Rediscovered Ancient Planet Could Destroy Earth Any Day Now

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Sean Adl-Tabatabai in Sci/Environment

An ancient planet believed to have wiped out life on Earth millions of years ago is heading in our direction once again according to a top scientist. 

  

  

Planet Nine – a planet discovered at the edge of our solar system this January – has already triggered comet showers that are capable of “bombing the Earth’s surface”, killing all life, according to Daniel Whitmire of the University of Louisiana.

According to Whitmire, an apocalyptic shower could happen as earlier as this month, and certainly this year.

Nypost.com reports:

The astrophysicist says the planet has a 20,000-year orbit around the sun and, at its closest to us, it knocks asteroids and comets toward Earth.

Fossil evidence has suggested most life on Earth is mysteriously wiped out every 26 million to 27 million years.

Whitmire claims Planet Nine’s passage through a rock-laden area called the Kuiper Belt is responsible for the “extinction events.”

Conspiracy theorists in the ’80s and ’90s previously claimed a red dwarf planet called Nibiru or Nemesis, which orbits too close to Earth every 36,000 years, was behind the events.

Now some are convinced there will be a collision or a near miss before the end of April.

Nemesis or Nibiru was widely dismissed as crackpot pseudo-science — until Planet Nine was identified in January by the California Institute of Technology.