20 people in Mangaluru has tested positive of the novel Wuhan coronavirus. All of them had returned from Dubai through repatriation flight on Tuesday. Reportedly, reports of the other nine people are awaited. As per reports, the results of the throat swab test came on Thursday night.
The report suggests that those who have contracted viruses are members of a family mainly belonging to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Before boarding the flight, all of the 168 passengers were tested through rapid sampling but all came negative. However, the Rapid test is not really reliable. They tested positive after arrival when they had to undergo RTPCR tests.
As per reports, the 20 patients have been shifted to Wenlock District Hospital from the various hotels where they stayed and quarantined. The flight landed on Tuesday at 10:04 PM and the screening process began at 10:30 PM and concluded at 2:30 AM. 40 women out of the 168 passengers boarding the flight were pregnant while others were terminally ill and senior citizens. They were sent to quarantine centre.
More people are expected to land in Mangaluru from Dubai on 18th May 2020. The Deputy Commissioner has said that elaborate plans will be made for their arrival.
While the reputation of Pakistan is degrading around the globe due to its alleged links with terror activities, the diplomats of the Islamic nation seem to be contributing to worsening the country’s global image. As per reports, a Pakistani diplomat named Waqar Ahmed who was posted in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, was removed from the service after a local Ukrainian employee accused him of sexual assault.
The accused Waqar Ahmad was posted as Pakistan Service Officer posted as First Secretary in Kiev. According to Pakistan’s foreign office, serious charges like gross misconduct that is, “conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman and conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline” have been registered against him.
Pakistani diplomats’ run-in with law
This is not the first time when diplomats of Pakistan have embarrassed their country by being accused of such crimes. Even Pakistan’s Permanent representative at the United Nations, Munir Akram has also been accused of domestic violence by his live-in partner. He was excused due to diplomatic immunity.
As per reports, Assistant Visa officer at Pakistan high commission, Bangladesh, Mohamed Mazhar Khan was arrested after his role in the syndicate was busted. The syndicate used to smuggle FICN through Assam and West Bengal border. During the investigation, the documents recovered from his possession exposed his links with members of terrorist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir.
In a similar incident, another Pakistan diplomat Farina Arshad who was Second Secretary at the Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh was charged after a militant of jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) Idris Sheikh admitted her links with the militant organization.
Another diplomat, Amir Zubair Siddiqui who was serving as a councilor (Visa) at the Pakistan embassy in Sri Lanka from 2009-2016 was accused of conspiracy to attack nuclear installations, defense establishments, the US Consulate in Chennai, the Israeli Consulate in Bengaluru and other Indian ports.
In 2001, a Pakistani diplomat named Mohammed Arshad Cheema was arrested by Kathmandu police with 16 kg RDX. He was serving as a First Secretary in Pakistan High Commission, Nepal. It is also said that Cheema had links with the terrorists who conducted 1999 highjacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 184. As per reports, he allegedly also met them before the flight took off for Delhi on December 24, 1999.
In 2018, a Pakistani diplomat was caught stealing wallet of his Kuwaiti counterpart.
Grade 20 GoP officer stealing a Kuwaiti official's wallet – the official was part of a visiting delegation which had come to meet the PM pic.twitter.com/axODYL3SaZ
Due to the worsening image of the Pakistani diplomats, the United States government had imposed travel restrictions banning their movement beyond a 25-miles radius around Washington DC without approval between May 2018 and May 2019.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani doctor who is US on an H1B visa who was employed as a research coordinator at a reputed medical clinic expressed his desire to carry out ‘lone wolf attacks’ in the US.
A 28-year old Pakistani doctor who was working with a reputed medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and had claimed that he desires to carry out “Lone wolf” terror attacks in the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. Muhammad Masood was formally accused by the grand jury on the charges of attempting to provide material support to the terrorist organisation ISIS, according to a statement issued on Friday from the Department of Justice.
The indictment against Masood was announced on Friday by US Attorney Erica MacDonald. Masood was initially charged by criminal complaint after his arrest last month. Muhammad Masood is living in the US on an H1B visa. He is a licensed medical doctor from Pakistan working as a research coordinator in Minnesota.
US Attorney Erica Macdonald revealed the same on Friday. Masood is in custody since his March 19 arrest at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Reportedly, between January and March, he made several statements that include his intentions to work for the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham and its leader, expressing his desire to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.
The court papers alleged that Masood said that he wanted to conduct ‘lone wolf’ terror attacks in the US. As per reports, Masood purchased a plane ticket on 21 February to travel to Amman from Chicago, and from there he planned to travel to Syria. After March 16, when Jordan closed its borders due to coronavirus pandemic, he planned to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet someone who was to assist him in travel via Cargo ship to reach ISIS territory.
Reportedly, on March 19, he traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis’s St.Paul International Airpor t(MSP) to board a flight for Los Angeles. After reaching the MSP, after he checked in for the flight, he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Masood had pledged his allegiance to the extremist Islamic terror outfit, besides expressing his desire to execute ‘lone wolf attacks’ in the United States. He was living in the country for 2 years, at the time of arrest, on an H-1B visa.
The Pakistani doctor graduated in 2016 from the Riphah International University in Islamabad which supposedly produces professionals with Islamic morals and ethics. He worked at the Pakistan Railway Hospital, Federal Government Polyclinic Post-Graduate Medical Institute and the Government of Punjab’s Healthcare department in Rawalpindi before joining Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in the US as a research trainee in February 2018.
During the investigation, FBI officials found that Masood was the encrypted Social Media Platform (SMP) user ‘BB’ who wanted to travel to Syria and help the ISIS carry out their acts of terror. Muhammed Masood wanted to use his medical knowledge to work as a frontline jihadist and help the ‘mujahideen'(terrorists) on ground zero. He also wanted to be trained in weaponry. During his conversation with one of the sources, the Pakistani doctor revealed that he hated smiling at the Kaffir (non-Muslim/infidel) passing by but he did so nevertheless to avoid making them suspicious.
Masood also desired to study engineering and help transform small drones that could be purchased online into ‘suicide bombing drones’. He believed that ‘Qiyamah‘ (the day of judgment) was near and thus wanted to do jihad. On meeting one of the sources, he requested for a fabricated visa to keep his travel history clean and wanted to travel to Jordan before making into the ISIS territory.
On Friday, a Hindu couple was forcibly converted to Islam at a mosque in the city of Nawabshah in the Sindh district of Pakistan, reportedANI. The conversion was undertaken by a local Imam (Islamic Cleric) named Hamid Qadri. Another Muslim leader associated with the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat was also present at the time of the forced conversion. The couple was handed cash following their conversion to Islam.
Hindu family threatened in Karachi
This is not the first time that such an incident has come to light. Last month, a Hindu family in Karachi was attacked, amidst coronavirus lockdown, in Pakistan for refusing Islam. The case is from PIA township in Karachi where a Maulvi named Usman teamed up with the Hindu family’s neighbour named Shahid to assault the minorities for their denial to accept Islam.
Basant Kumar, a Hindu and his mother were also threatened to be killed if they disobeyed the order. The incident was narrated by Basant’s brother in a video. He alleged that 4-5 Muslim evangelists had threatened and attacked them to convert to Islam. In the video, the man claimed that the matriarch of their house was grabbed and slapped by Maulana Usman, repeatedly asking her to read Kalama and embrace Islam.
On Saturday, May 16, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fourth tranche of Modi government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” package worth Rs 20 lakh crores to restart the economy following the coronavirus lockdown.
Fourth tranche of announcements under “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” economic package
FM Sitharaman in her press conference said that by building a self-reliant India, the country needs to prepare for global competition. She added that India also needs to face the challenges of the global value chain. “Prime Minister had said that we should prepare for tough competition. When we speak of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’, we are not looking inwards, it is not isolationist policy, it is making India rely on its strengths, ready to face global challenges,” said Finance Minister.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman added that Saturday’s announcements will be focussed on structural reforms. Many sectors need policy simplifications and Prine Minister has very good track record in taking strong, systemic reforms, she added.
The fourth tranche of the economic package will focus on eight sectors – coal, minerals, defence production, airspace managements/airports/MRO, power distribution companies in UTs, the space sector and atomic energy.
Policy reforms to fast-track investment in a bid to attain ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’
Finance Minister listed policy reforms initiated in the last couple of months to fast-track investments.
Fast track investment clearance through Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), the FM said. The Modi government will also set up a Project Development Cell in each Ministry to prepare a list of investible projects, which will coordinate with investors and central and state governments.
“Incentive schemes for Promotion of New Champion Sectors will be launched in sectors such as Solar PV manufacturing; advanced cell battery storage,” the FM added.
Image Source: PIB
Upgradation of Industrial Infrastructure
The FM added a scheme will be implemented in states through ‘challenge mode’ for industrial cluster up-gradation of common infrastructure facilities and connectivity. “Availability of industrial land/land banks for promoting new investments and making information available on Industrial Information System (IIS) with GIS mapping. All industrial parks will be ranked by 2020-21,” the FM announced.
She also added that 3376 industrial parks/estates/SEZs in five lakh hectares will be mapped on IIS.
Image Source: PIB
Coal
The Modi government, in a significant decision, said that it will open up the coal sector for commercial mining. The government monopoly in coal mining being removed, said Finance Minister. “This will be done based on a revenue-sharing mechanism instead of a regime of a fixed rupee per tonne. Any party can bid for a coal block and sell in the open market,” the FM announced.
“India has the 3rd largest valued coal availability in its untapped mines, and yet we still import coal and emerging sectors suffer because raw material is not available. Regulations are required when there is a shortage. But this country has abundant coal. Coal bed methane will also be auctioned. Rs 50,000 crore for evacuation infrastructure is being provided,” Finance Minister added.
The government will offer nearly 50 blocks immediately with no eligibility conditions, but only upfront payment with a ceiling.
Image Source: PIB
Image Source: PIB
Mining of minerals
The sectoral reform for mining of minerals will boost growth, employment and bring state-of-the-art technology especially in exploration, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“The government is set to introduce a seamless composite exploration-cum-mining-production regime. 500 mining blocks will be offered through an open and transparent auction process. The govt will also introduce a joint auction of bauxite and coal mineral blocks to enhance the aluminum industry’s competitiveness. This will help the industry reduce electricity costs,” announced FM.
The Modi government also announced that the Ministry of Mines is in the process of developing a Mineral Indexfor different minerals. Rationalisation of stamp duty will be done, which is to be paid at the time of award of mining leases.
Image Source: PIB
Defence production
The Finance Minister on Saturday announced Make In India and Self-Reliance have now become a partner in country’s defence production.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will notify a list of weapons/platforms for ban on import with year-wise timelines, and will also ensure indigenisation of imported spares. For this, a separate budget will be given for domestic capital procurement. This will also reduce the huge defence import bill, the Modi government announced.
In the defence sector, the government aims at improving autonomy, accountability and efficiency in Ordnance Suppliers by Corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board.
The government has also announced that FDI limit in defence manufacturing under automatic route being raised from 49 percent to 74 percent.
The government will also begin time-bound defence procurement and faster decision making by setting up a Project Management Unit (PMU) to support contract management. It will ensure realistic setting of General Staff Qualitative Requirements of weapons/platforms and overhaul trial and testing procedures, FM announced.
Image Source: PIB
Civil aviation: Airspace management, Public-Private Partnership in Airports and MRO hubs
Airspace management
Finance Minister said that only about 60% of Indian airspace is freely available, which meant, airlines usually fly longer routes. To help rationalise this, FM Sitharaman said restrictions on utilisation of Indian air space will be eased so that civilian flying becomes more efficient.
This will bring a total benefit of Rs 1000 crore a year for the aviation sector. This will also reduce fuel use and time, leading to a positive environmental impact, the FM added.
Image Source: PIB
PPP in Airports
The government has announced six more airports for auction under a PPE model. Additional investments likely to happen in 12 airports for better world-class facilities, the Modi government notified.
The Finance Minister announced that Airport Authorities of India will get down payment of Rs 2,300 crore. She added that the first and second round of investment in 12 airports will get Rs 13,000 crore. Another six airports will be put out for the third round of bidding.
Image Source: PIB
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
India has the capacity – manpower and skills, it can be a hub for many flights heading to South-East Asia and westwards, the Finance Minister said.
The Modi government also announced that tax regime for MRO ecosystem has been rationalised. Maintenance cost of airlines will come down.
Image Source: PIB
Discoms in Union Territories
The power distribution companies in UTs shall be privatised, the centre announced. The privatisation will be in line with tariff policy which is soon to be announced. DISCOM inefficiencies will not burden consumers, the FM clarified.
The government will release a tariff policy with reforms, including consumer rights, promotion of industry and sustainability of sector.
Image Source: PIB
Social infrastructure projects
The government says it will boost private sector investments in social-infrastructure projects, like hospitals, by revamping the Viability Gap Funding Scheme.
For the creation of such projects, the Modi government has made a provision of Rs 8,100 crore which will be in the form of viability gap funding. Through this we expect to meet the urgent requirement for social infrastructure in the country, the Finance Minister said.
For other sectors, VGP existing support of 20% each from GoI and States/Statutory Bodies shall continue. These projects to be proposed by Central Ministries/State governments and statutory entities, the FM added.
Image Source: PIB
Space
The government is boosting private participation in space activities, said Minister Sitharaman.
“India has ISRO, which has brought a lot of laurels. However, the private sector also doing a lot of work in the arena now. We want the Indian private sector to be a co-traveller in India’s space sector journey. Will provide a level playing field for private companies in satellites, launches, space-based services,” said Finance Minister added.
The government added that liberal geospatial data policy will be brought for providing remote-sensing data to tech-entrepreneurs. The government will provide a predictable policy and regulatory environment to private players. They will be allowed to use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities.
Private sector will be allowed to use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capabilities, FM Sitharman added.
Image Source: PIB
Atomic energy
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there shall be a research reactor in the public-private partnership (PPP) model to be established for the production of medical isotopes.
The Modi government also announced that it will be establishing facilities in PPP mode to use irradiation technology for food preservation, to complement agricultural reforms and assist farmers.
“To link India’s robust startup ecosystem to the nuclear system, technology development cum incubation centres will be set up. These will foster synergy between research facilities and tech entrepreneurs,” the Finance Minister added.
Image Source: PIB
‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ – A mission for self-reliance
In his fifth address to the nation over the Coronavirus pandemic, on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an economic package under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ amounting Rs 20 lakh crore to revamp the economy which is facing a serious crisis due to the Chinese epidemic. The economic package includes the recent announcements made by the government and the Reserve Bank of India on supporting key sectors of the country.
In his speech, PM Modi said the economic package would be around the 10 per cent of the GDP.
“I announce a special economic package today. This will play an important role in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. The announcements made by the government on coronavirus, decisions of RBI and today’s package totals to Rs 20 lakh crore. This is 10 per cent of India’s GDP,” PM Narendra Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said the package would help every section of society, including workers, farmers, the middle class, industrial units and the MSME sector.
The stimulus will play an important role in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (Self-reliant India Campaign), PM Modi said.
“India’s self-reliance will be based on five pillars — economy, infrastructure, technology-driven system, vibrant demography and demand. When India speaks of self-reliance, it does not advocate for a self-centred system. In India’s self-reliance there is a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation and peace,” PM Modi said in his address.
In her first address, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced comprehensive relief measures on Wednesday to support various sectors including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Discoms, NBFCs, Micro Insurance Institutions, etc.
In the first tranche, the Modi government had announced 16 included six measures for MSMEs, EPF, NBFCs and MFIs, discoms, contractors, real estate sector and had also put out some tax measures.
Later, on Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had declared the second tranche of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” package that included relief measures to migrant workers, street vendors, housing, employment generation for tribals and small farmers.
Similarly, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Finance Anurag Thakur put out in the public regarding various relief measures in the third trance on Friday in which support measures were announced to on Agriculture and Allied Activities – fisheries, animal husbandry, dairy, etc. Some reforms pertaining to governance and administrative reforms were also announced.
FM Sitharaman will announce the fifth and final tranche on Sunday, 17th May 2020 at 11 AM.
Veda is not knowledge of Satya – the Absolute Truth, in Dharma.
It is Satya itself!
That may seem like a fairly inaccessible statement, ere the expansion and exposition of its nuances that I intend to undertake in this essay. Many identify the ritualistic aspects of the Vedas as primary, others the naturalistic nuances highlighted by European scholarship, while still others the metaphorical and intellectual reading of luminaries such as Sri Aurobindo. There is a still deeper understanding than all these combined in Niṇyāvacāṁsi – the ‘words arising from a depth’ that Sri Aurobindo identified with a certain symbolic understanding of the text of the Rig Veda. In this article, I go one step further in elevating it to the spiritual, and humbly document my meditations here. Many modern conceptions, particularly in the West, of the Vedas regard them as hymns of a primitive society with crude religious, social and moral principles. As part of these conceptions, the ritualism and ‘propitiatory sacrifices offered to imaginary superhuman personalities who might be benevolent or malevolent according as they were worshipped or neglected‘, as Sri Aurobindo puts it, became so primary that the true essence of the Vedas were lost. There has been an identification of the Vedic deities with certain elements and powers of nature, as a starting point for any comparative study of Vedic mythologies, thereby having them associated or even equated to animistic practices of the ancient world.
Sri Dayanand Saraswati’s attempt at establishing that the Vedas are a living spiritual repository of knowledge, using philological techniques and the element of ‘multi-significance of roots’ in Vedic Sanskrit. He saw the religion of the Vedas to be monotheistic and the Vedic gods to different aspects and expansions in nature of the one Deity. The problem in this conception of Vedic monotheism has been that it includes in itself pantheistic, monistic and polytheistic views of the Universe, and therefore cannot be regarded in a straightforward manner within the framework of modern theism. The hypothesis on which Sri Aurobindo studied the Vedas was based on a double aspect that highlighted how the Vedic seers organised the content of their thought in a system of parallelism wherein the Vedic gods were both external and internal powers of nature. This was managed by a system of double meanings of words in Vedic Sanskrit, whereby description and worship of both the aspects of a deity were carried out with the same textual elements. For Sri Aurobindo, the psychological predominated over the ritualistic or physicalist, and saw the Vedas as a means for self-culturing and enlightenment. In this article, I focus on transcending the ritualistic, physicalist and psychological.
In Sri Aurobindo’s psychological theory of the Vedas, Agni is taken to be the Divine Will inspired by Divine Wisdom and the power of the soul. Indra symbolises the power of Sat – pure existence that is self-manifested as the Divine Mind. Agni is the way to realise the action of Indra. As Agni rises up, from earth to heaven, Indra descends, from heaven to earth. Indra comes forth and slays darkness of ignorance to find intuition and hidden illuminations of the Universal Mind. Surya is shown to be the master of truth: truth of being and knowledge. It is the manifester of all things, and its rays and emanations are the illuminations we seek, which we get with Usha – the divine Dawn. These illuminations lead us to the highest state of blessedness symbolised by Soma. Varuna symbolises purity that broadly gets rid of sins and falsehoods, while that which always accompanies it – Mitra symbolises the luminous power of comprehension and love. Together, they lead and form into harmony acts, thoughts and impulses. The discerning and clear aspiration of a person for this realisation is symbolised by Aryaman.
Vayu is the master of life-energy, Brihaspati is the power of the soul, Ashwini-Kumars are lords of bliss, Vishnu is the all-pervading godhead, while Rudra (Shiva) is the mighty deity who destroys all defective constructs and formations, and heals. There are aspects of truth-consciousness, with Ila being the power of revelation, Saraswati being the power of inspiration, Sarama being the power of intuition and Dakshina being the power of discernment and the capability to distribute a portion of any sacrifice to each godhead. As per Sri Aurobindo, we need to develop all these powers and attain these elements to attain perfection, at the physical as well as psychological level. It must be realised in action and enjoyment and vibrations of the nerves that mediate the psychological and nervous energies. It must be realised in the heart and mind, and with the realisation of the truth we can attain bliss, consciousness and being. While this conception sounds really beautiful, there are some axiomatic assumptions that are not developed from first principle at a purely spiritual level, which I have looked into, based on scriptural and spiritual evidences.
Brahman, Satya and the Vedas
Creation arises from an act of sacrifice of primordial unity of all there is, to form a cosmos filled with binaries, dualities and multiplicities; a universe filled with forms, relations and constructs. All arising from an initial state of oneness, which the physicalist would see in the singularity from which the Big Bang happened while the spiritualist will see as the source of spiritual and material existence. It was with the sacrifice of Purusha (as highlighted in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig Veda) that everything came to, as per Dharmic texts. Therefore,
Sacrifice is an important aspect of existence.
The sacrifice of unity enshrined in Satya – the Absolute Truth, as in the sacrifice of Purusha in the Rig Veda, causes the emanation of the multiplicity of realities, forms and beings, while the sacrifice of this multiplicity, by spiritual realisation, causes the dissolution back into, and identification with, the Unity.
In the spiritual sense, the sacrifice of the worldly, the elements of ignorance and illusion, and the grosser realities of the universe is important for the emergence of realisation. Another important aspect of existence is the sacrifice of multiplicity, binaries and dualities in nature to again attain Unity. Spiritual realisation is an act of facilitating the latter: the move from identifying with a multiplicity of ideas, identities and ideologies to a state of absolute oneness and calm.
Agni is Satya – the Absolute Truth. In being so, it is the spiritual energy that permeates everything in the Universe, and any energy or knowledge that can consume as well as dispel a state of spiritual ignorance and darkness to effectively transform and create an enlightened state of existence. It is the medium by which the aforementioned identification with a multiplicity of forms can be broken down and made to converge into Satya and unity-consciousness. Indra etymologically comes from the words Indu (इन्दु) meaning ‘a drop’ and Ra (र) meaning ‘acquiring, possessing’, and therefore Indra refers to the experience of possessing a drop. A drop of what? A drop of realisation and pure existence. As one dispels one’s state of ignorance with Agni, sacrificing our vices, illusions and identification with our ideas, identities and ideologies, we receive a drop of self-realisation, a drop of Soma – the divine nectar of beatitude, infused with the sweetness of Satya.
The word Deva literally means ‘divine, heavenly or anything of excellence’ and often refers to a donor of knowledge or resources. Viswadevas refers to all such Devas in the world. In the current spiritual understanding of the Vedas, it refers to any elements or powers in nature that facilitate spiritual realisation. Rudra is derived from the root ‘rud-‘ which means ‘to cry or to howl‘. A verse from the Rig-Veda: Rukh draavayathi, iti rudraha, means ‘ that which drives out misery’, thereby showing that Rudra is the eliminator of evil and that which ushers in peace. Given the sonic cosmogony of the Vedic traditions, the ‘roaring’ sound associated with that which destroys misery in Rudra is an interesting aspect. Rudra has an element of ‘wildness’ or, more appropriately, of chaos. Of chaos, as being becomes non-being, as existence transforms to non-existence and orders descends into disorder, as the principle of destruction (associated with Rudra) is underway. The chaotic and yet oft-synchronized ‘dance’ of elements and particles in nature are often called the ‘Tandava’ in the later Shiva form of Rig Vedic Rudra.
If we look at the other divine beings and powers mentioned in the Vedas, we see a diversity of aspects, manifestations and associated realities of the spiritual Truth – Satya. With regards to the category of beings known as Ribhus in the Vedas, I would like to focus on a particular expansion of the word as per the Nirukta of Yāska
ऋतेन भांतीति वा इति ऋभवः
which means ‘those who are radiant with truth’. Mitra-Varuna are the principal guardians of Rtá and Satya which are the universal order and Absolute Truth respectively. Mitra comes from the Indo-Iranian common noun *mitra means ‘(that which) causes [-tra] to bind [mi-]‘, while Váruṇa is derived from vṛ (‘ to cover, to surround or to restrain and bind’) with the suffix -uṇa- thereby giving a composite meaning of ‘he who covers or binds‘. While the latter also refers to the ancient belief of an ocean or a river surrounding the world (thereby giving an association with waters for Varuna), since Varuna-Mitra were taken as a dvandva (composite) compound, they rather refer to the common meaning of being ‘guardians that protect and cause the binding by universal law or Ṛta‘ of all things in the Universe. Savitṛ is the divine influence and the vivifying power of Satya, while Usha refers to the dawn of realisation and the ‘rays of illumination’ thereby that come with it. The Ashwini Kumars or Aśvins refer to aspects of duality in nature, such as dawn and dusk, that are associated with illumination. The word ‘Ashwini Kumar‘ is derived from ‘Aśv’ or horse, and refers to the speed and agility with which they ‘bring light‘ as said in the Rig Veda with the light being one of Truth-consciousness. Bṛhaspati is the first illumination that drove away darkness in its purity and brightness, and has a ‘bow’ who string is the cosmic order known as Rta, which forms the basis of Dharma. Vishnu is that which is all-pervasive and specifically denotes ‘that which is free from bondage and fetters‘ of any worldly kind, as per Yaska in the Nirukta.
In this way, the Rig Veda and other Vedas speak of the knowledge of self-realisation and unity consciousness in Brahman. Starting with oblations to Agni (Satya) itself, it founds the entire system on Truth. But the more profound idea here is that it does not just describe Satya, its various aspects and ways to attain it but itself isSatya – the Absolute Truth itself. This is a fundamentally novel understanding of the Veda, from spiritual reflections. The identification of the internal with the external (in terms of the elements and powers of nature and their spiritual analogues) thereby naturally promulgating an idea encapsulated in the mantra: सो ऽहम् that means ‘I am He/That’, besides the multiformity and apparent incomprehensibility (without sustained meditative practises) of terms and verses and the Truth therein, the sonic character of the cosmogony and verses of the Vedas, as well as the orientation around seeking the Truth and not dictating a way for it (as best enshrined in the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rig Veda) neatly puts forth the reason of why the Vedas have been the basis of a civilisation that has remained resilient and strong for millenia: it is Satya.
While a vast majority of India have expressed their gratitude to the front line warriors such as doctors, nurses, cleanliness workers and police, who are busy in the nation’s fight against the coronavirus spread, there exist some ungrateful individuals too who have displayed no qualms in physically assaulting the warriors acting as a bulwark against the virulent coronavirus.
In one of such attacks against the front line workers, one coconut seller, Shahrukh alleged attacked and injured a Delhi MCD sweeper Dharampal with a sharp-edged weapon. Shahrukh also allegedly hurled casteist slurs at Dharampal while attacking him with batons. The case pertains to May 13, 2020, when Dharampal Valmiki, a resident of Mangolpuri Delhi, who worked as a sweeper at MCD Delhi was attacked by coconut seller Shahrukh.
When Opindia contacted the victim’s family, victim Dharampal’s elder son Rajesh explained the entire incident in detail. According to Rajesh, Dharampal was busy discharging his duties like every day when he encountered Shahrukh, who sold coconut near a mosque. When Dharmapal appealed Shahrukh to not litter on the road as could pose as a threat to the passers-by, Shahrukh started abusing and making unsavoury casteist remarks against the MCD worker.
Dharampal responded to the disagreeable use of language by Shahrukh after which a fierce debate ensued between the two. As the altercation intensified, Shahrukh took hold of a rod nearby and started pounding it down on Dharampal’s shoulders and stomach. After this, Shahrukh allegedly picked up the sharp-edged knife used to peel off coconuts to attack Dharampal.
The attack rendered Dharampal injured as can be seen in the photos below. Dharampal also sustained injuries to his hand while trying to stop Shahrukh from attacking with the sharp-edged weapon.
MCD worker Dharampal assaulted
MCD worker Dharampal assaulted
The victim Dharampal’s son Rajesh added that his father had fallen unconscious on the road after being mercilessly attacked by Shahrukh.
“Our father is a government sweeper in the MCD. He was just doing his duty. He wanted Shahrukh to not throw his waste on the road. The waste by a coconut seller if littered on roads can cause inconvenience to the passers-by. But when my father asked him(Shahrukh) to behave responsibly, he started abusing him. We come from a Valmiki society. Shahrukh abused him and hurled casteist remarks at him. Later he attacked with a weapon. My father suffered injuries from his attack after which he lost his consciousness and crumpled on the ground,” Rajesh said to OpIndia.
Police refuses to file an FIR against Shahrukh
The victim Dharampal said that when he returned home from Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, he informed the police about the incident. He claimed that while Sub Inspector at Mangolpuri police station took the photo of his medical report, no FIR was lodged against the assailant.
Medical report of victim Dharampal
The Mangolpuri police station hung up the call when OpIndia tried to seek details about the allegations levelled by victim Dharampal.
Complaint letter submitted by MCD worker Dharampal at Mangolpuri police station
Family demands justice
The family of the victim Dharampal alleges that his father has been treated with utter disgust when the entire country is honouring those who are fighting the battle against coronavirus. They have claimed that instead of genuinely extending help to the family, many influential people are trying to meet them just to extract political mileage out of the unfortunate attack on their father.
This is an article of appreciation for the brilliant Dr. Raghuram Rajan. Here are just three reasons why he is so awesome.
Raghuram Rajan, former RBI governor
I’m in love. Anyway…
But why today? Well, because it is May 16. Except for the very young, most Indians would remember May 16 as the day the results of the 2014 General Election were announced. There were so many ‘firsts’ that day that it is probably impossible to remember them all.
For the first time in India’s history, a non-Congress government was voted into power with a full majority.
In fact, it was the first ever government to win a majority in the Lok Sabha since 1984!
This was the first time that the Congress Party won less than 100 seats in the Lok Sabha. In fact, they won so few seats that they could not even qualify for the post of Leader of the Opposition.
Indian democracy took a giant leap on May 16, 2014. By mid-2017, the Congress was ousted as the largest party in the Rajya Sabha, for the first time since independence. The Congress monopoly was finally over.
Now where does Dr. Raghuram Rajan figure in all this? Well, because I want to give you an example of what a real “karmayogi” is like. Most people wonder why he is so much better than all of us. Let me show you.
Suffice to say that when May 16, 2014 happened, most mere mortals like us were caught up in the moment. PM Modi was sworn into office on the evening on May 26. For so many of us, it was a ten day period of intense speculation and feverish excitement. A ten day break of sorts when we left our ordinary lives behind and thought of things much bigger than ourselves.
But real karmayogis like Dr. Raghuram Rajan don’t take such breaks. Like the great Arjuna, Dr. Rajan sees nothing except the eye of the bird. Outside of his ‘karma’ and his ‘lakshya,’ the world does not exist for him.
RBI circular of 21 May 2014
On May 21, 2014, the RBI issued a circular that allowed certain “star trading houses” and “premier trading houses” to undertake certain business activities under the so-called 80:20 scheme.
Only a star like Dr. Raghuram Rajan could have such an eye for stars! When most mere mortals were wasting time watching political drama unfold on TV, Dr. Raghuram Rajan was hard at work. Doing his best for the Indian economy.
Now, you’ve heard of Gitanjali Gems and Mehul Choksi. Like so many messiahs and so many visionaries, Mehul Choksi is a misunderstood man. Any day now, I am guessing that some retired judge who has joined Congress will tell a court that India has no case against poor Mr. Choksi. Then his critics will look real foolish.
But you know who is really really foolish? People who think they have stuff to teach Dr. Raghuram Rajan.
2018 report on PNB scam
Look into Dr. Raghuram Rajan’s eyes. Just do it. Can you feel the hypnotizing effect of his supreme intelligence? Do these look like the eyes of a man who would miss out on spotting a threat?
It should be noted that the BJP government scrapped the 80:20 scheme in November 2014. And now the world has been hit by a pandemic. See what happens when we don’t listen to Dr. Raghuram Rajan?
You know who never takes a day off? The Indian Army. But even more than that, Dr. Raghuram Rajan. This nation and its one-eyed economy would be blind without him. Massive, massive respect for you sir!
The US administration is reportedly preparing to sue internet giant Google for its anti-market advertisement practices and allegedly monopolising online ads.
According to the reports, the Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general are likely to file antitrust lawsuits against Alphabet-owned Google. The Justice Department will be filing a case against the tech-giants in coming months.
Reportedly, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, is likely to file a case against Alphabet Inc. Paxton said the primary focus of the investigation was the broad reach of Google’s online advertising network.
“We think Google has 7,000 data points on just about every human being alive. They control the buy-side (of online advertising), the sell-side and the market which we are concerned gives them way too much power,” Paxton was quoted as saying.
In September last year, Attorneys General of 50 US states, led by Texas, had announced an investigation into Google’s alleged anti-trust practice. The probe focused on the issue of over dominance of Google in the online advertising market and in internet searches.
We will engage in investigations: Google
In a statement to The Verge, Google said, “We continue to engage with the ongoing investigations led by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Paxton and we don’t have any updates or comments on speculation”.
Google has turned over more than 100,000 documents to investigators as part of the ongoing anti-trust probe.
Reportedly, the investigation against Google is one of the greatest efforts to regulate the tech-giant by the US government, with rare coordination between state and federal law enforcement. If filed, this case will be the first major US antitrust action against a tech giant since the Bill Clinton administration’s pursuit of Microsoft in the 1990s.
The suit against the US administration comes on the heels of a similar lawsuit by the European Union last year, who had imposed a fine of 1.49 billion euros ($1.7 billion) on Google for abusing its dominance in the online search market by blocking rivals.
Amid the lockdown, when the poor and needy are not getting any access to employment and food, the Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula is enhancing efforts in providing food to the needy on daily basis.
The administration of the Mata Mansa Devi in Panchkula is running a community kitchen to prepare food on a large scale to be distributed daily. As per reports, the temple administration is preparing more than 2,000 food ration packets for the needy on a daily basis.
While speaking to ANI, General Manager of Mata Mansa Devi temple, “Earlier we were making 3,000 food packets at the beginning of the lockdown, but now we are preparing only 2500 packets as the demand had reduced.”
The administration assured that all the precautionary measures are being followed by the administration as well as the people who are receiving the food packets to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
Apart from this the Mata Mansa Devi temple is also domesticating 1200 cows in their ‘gaushala’ and providing every possible care.
Last month, the temple had donated an amount of Rs 10 crore to the Haryana Corona relief fund as a contribution towards the fight against Wuhan Coronavirus.
The temple has remained shut for devotees for the first time even before the nationwide lockdown was announced to contain the spread of Coronavirus. On March 17, the administration had closed the temple to the public as a precautionary measure till further notice, and a week later the nationwide lockdown was announced by PM Modi. Although some relaxations have been granted during the third phase of lockdown, religious congregations are remains prohibited as per MHA guidelines. However, priests are conducting the daily rituals and religious activities in the temple. Earlier, the shrine board had arranged for a live telecast of the aarti for devotees on its website and social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook for the Chaitra navratras.
