6.00 pm Cultural Program - India-Link.org

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INDIA 

INDIA 

INDIA LINK 

LINK 

…where the Indo-American spirit comes alive 

- 201 2011 201 

INDIA NDIA LLINK 

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201 

BOARD OARD OARD OF OF E EEXECUTIVES 

E XECUTIVES 

PRESIDENT 

RESIDENT 

Smita Chandra 

PAST AST PP 

PRESIDENT P PRESIDENT 

RESIDENT 

S. P. Singh Makkar 

ECHNOLOGY & & C 

C 

Kuldip Singh Bagga 

TECHNOLOGY 

ECHNOLOGY 

& COMMUNICATIONS 

OMMUNICATIONS 

EVENTS VENTS C CCOORDINATORS 

C COORDINATORS 

OORDINATORS 

Sonia Dalmia & Smita Chandra 

TREASURER 

REASURER 

Baij Rai 

B 

M 

Rani & Kuldip Bagga 

Smita & Amit Chandra 

Sonia & Arun Dalmia 

Ishita Das 

Ismat Husain 

Richa & Atul Kanvinde 

Usha & Manohar Koche 

Jambunathan Krishnan 

Manjusha & Ashok Kumar 

Kulmeet & Satpal Makkar 

Purnima & Bsij Rai 

Arun Rajgopal 

Prasad Reddy 

Mona & Dilip Saxena 

EXECUTIVE 

XECUTIVE BBOARD 

B OARD MMEMBERS 

MEMBERS 

EMBERS 

India Link is a non-profit organization 

Tax ID: 38-3441938 

indialink2010@gmail.com 

www.india-link.org 


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INK-201 -201 -2011 -201 

PUBLISHING 

UBLISHING 

UBLISHING 

, E 

DITOR & & P 

P 

Kuldip S. Bagga 

DESIGNER 

ESIGNER 

ESIGNER, ESIGNER , EEDITOR 

E DITOR 

& PUBLISHER 

UBLISHER 

E 

DITORS & & PP 

PROOF PP 

ROOF RR 

R R 

Ashok Kumar, Arvind Vora 

ASSOCIATE 

SSOCIATE EEDITORS 

E DITORS 

L 

M 

N 


READING EADING EADING 


LINK 

INK MMONTHL 

M ONTHL ONTHLY ONTHL NNEWSLETTERS 

N EWSLETTERS 

CCOUNTS & & B 

B K 

Baij Nath Rai 

ACCOUNTS 

CCOUNTS 

CCOUNTS 

& BOOK OOK KKEEPING 

K EEPING 

E 

C 

Smita Chandra, Amit Chandra, 

Sonia Dalmia & Richa Kanvinde 

CULTURAL 

ULTURAL EEVENTS 

E VENTS CCOORDINATORS 

C OORDINATORS 

C 


DATABASE 

ATABASE 

ATABASE CCOORDINATOR 

C OORDINATOR 

M 

C 

Atul Kanvinde 

SUMMER UMMER MMELA 

MELA 

ELA CCOORDINATOR 

C OORDINATOR 

COVER OVER D DDESIGN 

D ESIGN 

Richa Kanvinde 

& 

COMMUNICATIONS 

OMMUNICATIONS & 

WEBSITE EBSITE MM 

MAINTENANCE 

M AINTENANCE 


& 

ADVERTISING 

DVERTISING 

DVERTISING & 

FUND UND RR 

RAISING R AISING C CCOORDINATORS 

C COORDINATORS 

OORDINATORS 


S. P. Singh Makkar 

INDIA LINK, 2011 1

2 

India India Link Link Features 

Features 

4 Diwali-2011 Invitation 

5 Message from the President Smita Chandra 

6 Ek Bhartiya Ki Diwali Preeti Asr ani 

7 Editor’s Note Kuldip S. Bagga 

8 The Festive Season Priti Gupta 

10 Achhai ki Vijay ka U tsav Dinesh Kumar Gupta 

12 Shri Krishmn Bhajan Manjusha Kum ar 

13 Aryam an Mousumi Bhattacharyya 

15 The Akshaya Patra Foundation Madhu Sridhar 

17 Rehan Ponc ha: A Dream er Rehan Poncha 

19 100-YEAR-OLD MARA THONER FIN ISHES RACE 

20 The State of Corruption in India 

Anna Hazare’s Movement 

Ashok Kum ar 

23 Insano Kuch To Sudhar o Dr. Rajiv G oel 

23 Desh se Door Baithe Log Yadon ke Sahare He e Jeete Hain Dr. Rajiv G oel 

24 Zindagi ki Kashm akash Tishya Jain 

25 Broken Wings Anju Upadhayaya 

26 Waiting afte r Dark Pooja Agrawal 

27 Steve Jobs 

Arvind Vora 

INDIA LINK, 2011 

A Magical being within all of us 

28 Mera Bharat Mahan Meera Saxena 

30 Spectacular Sunset at the North Pole 

31 When Your Faith Isn’t Faith Based Fred Stella 

32 Indian Heritage By Indu Rekha Meesa 

35 Colors of India Sohela Kaur Suri 

36 The Great Mum bai Police T.M.Viswanath 

37 Mera Astitva Dr. Rajiv G oel 

38 Live Life to the Fulle st Rim a Arora 

39 Apna Paraya Renu Mishra 

40 Abhivyakti Aditya Tikku 

41 Awakening in India and Corruption Neelam Kumar 

44 Sleep Apnea Jasbir Hora 

46 Man Seedhe Chalo Renu Mishra 

47 Sannatta Kiran Kanoria 

48 Maa Dr. Rajiv G oel 

49 Betiyan Dr. Rajiv G oel 

50 Jagjit Singh- The Legend lives on … Ashok Kum ar 

52 Sadhna Dr. Rajiv G oel 

53 Happy Life Rim a Arora 

54 Prateeksha Vineeta Satyanarayan 

55 Tum Sang Renu Mishra 

56 Madhubala & Geeta Dutt- Live s Intertwines Swaranpriya 

61 Emotional Detachm ent for a Better Life Rim a Arora 

63 National work of Dr . Am bedkar Manohar Koche 

66 Friendship Manohar koc he 

67 Autism Dilip Saxena 

68 Childhood Obesity Jam bunathan Krishnan 

72 How To Stay Positive Balu Khatod 

107 India Link-2011 Phone Book

India India Link Link Sponsors Sponsors 

Sponsors 

Agrawal, Raj & Sunita 88 

Alpine Liquors 102 

Archies 94 

Arora, Gautam & Renu 86 

B & B Beer Distributing 90 

Bhatnagar, Yatee & Anju 85 

Bollywood DJ 76 

Bombay Wedding 77 

Buiten Insurance 105 

Bull Dog Party Store 95 

Cap and Cork 102 

Care One Back Inside 

Cedar Rock 101 

Chandras, Amit & Smita 81 

Crowne Plaza Back Cover 

Desai, VJ & Vinutha 79 

Dhanoa, Devinder Singh 91 

DIya Spices 80 

Fantastic Eyes Inside Front 

Grandville Market 100 

Henry Fox 94 

Jawahirs, Jane & Vivian 88 

Joshua, Abraham & Linda 87 

Kanvindes, Atul & Richa 84 

Kent Beverage Company 104 

Khalsa Metals 83 

Koches, Manohar & Usha 84 

Konkle’s Bar 92 

Krishnan Jambunathan 

& Chandini Valeeswaram 81 

Kumar Ashok & Manjusha 84 

Lighthouse Group 105 

Luke, Alfred S 96 

Mishra, Mithilesh & Jitendra 88 

Northwestern Mutual - 

Kuldip S. Bagga 75 

Patels, Praveen & Taru 87 

Pernod Ricard 89 

PNC Bank 82 

Rajadhyaksha, Pankaj & Deb 87 

Rajgopal Arun & Ishita Das 87 

Ranas , Jatinder & Asha 79 

Reddys, Prasad & Sobha 85 

Saxena, Dilip & Mona 84 

Sehgals, Ajay & Sunita 99 

Shah, Jiten 96 

Singh, Inderjit 97 

Singh, Tarlochan 91 

Spice of India 78 

Stock Bridge Gas Station 96 

Thamman, Sanjeev & Bindu 82 

Two J’s Party Store 98 

United Wholesale 105 

Venue 99 

Wealthy Market 93 

West MI India.com 86 

West Michigan Cardiology 74 

Westside Beer Distributing 103 

INDIA LINK, 2011 3

4 


INDIA INDIA LINK 

LINK 

invites invites you you to to the the annual annual mega mega event 

event 

Diwali Diwali 2011 

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, October October 29 29 th , , 2011 2011 

2011 

Grandville Grandville High High School 

School 

4700 4700 Canal Canal Avenue SW SW, SW 

, Grandville, MI 49418 49418 

Registration & Social Hour: 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm 

Cultural Program; 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm 

Dinner & DJ: - 8.00 pm onwards 

Snacks, Delicious Indian Cuisine and Desert 

Ticket Prices: Adults, $20.00; Children (Ages 5-18) $10.00 

RSVP or Pay for your tickets by October 24 th 

and receive a $5.00 discount per ticket 

RSVP Contacts 

� Ismat Husain: 942-7976 � Smita Chandra: 977 9908 

�Mona Saxena: 575-0511 � Nina Rai: 406-2880 

� Manjusha Kumar: 942-7461 

Program Participation Contacts 

Smita Chandra: smitachandra3@gmail.com 

Sonia Dalmia: dalmias@gvsu.edu,

India Link 

....where the Indo-American spirit comes alive 

...where the Indo-American spirit comes alive 

A A Message Message from from the the President President 

President 

Namaskaar and Happy Festivities to you all! 

On behalf of India-Link, I extend warm wishes to all of you for the coming year and heartiest welcome 

to all the new families who have joined our ever-growing community. 

Our vision here at India-Link is to celebrate India and with your support, we have been able to provide 

opportunities for kids and adults alike throughout the year. 

In March, India-Link co-sponsored an event “Celebrate India”, organized by Saugatuck Center for 

Arts. Dances, Ethnic Fashion Show, Rangoli and taste of Indian cuisine are some of the highlights India- 

Link participated in. 

In April, we celebrated our festivals Holi, Baisakhi and Id in the form of cultural programs. Members 

enthralled us with dances, singing, instrumental, skit and kids hosting the entire program. 

In August, India-Link, in conjunction with West Michigan Hindu Temple hosted a Summer Mela. 

Adults and kids - people from all walks of life- participated in various sporting competitions, henna 

stamping and enjoyed wonderful cuisine consisting of idli- dosa, chola-bhatura, smoothies, bhel poori 

and sugarcane juice etc. 

And here we are, celebrating the second half of the year filled with more festivities and cultural 

encounters. 

I am glad to say that we are not done yet. India-Link takes pride in donating money to a local charity 

organization for past few years. We are working on finalizing the organization and you all will be able 

to participate. 

All this cannot be done without your support. India-Link is your organization and a group of 

hardworking members of our community. We are always looking for new and fresh ideas and fresh 

energy. We would like to request our community members to please come and join the India-Link 

family and take the organization to a new level with your creative input. Please contact any present 

board member if you are interested in joining your organization. 

I would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the venues we rent and caretakers of these. Last but 

not least, I cannot thank my team of committed volunteers / board members who have always gone 

above and beyond their responsibilities to keep this organization running. 

Warm Regards, 

Smita Chandra. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 5

6 

INDIA LINK, 2011

Dear Friends 

A Note from the Editor 

Here is another edition of the ‘India Link’ annual magazine. It has been my 

pleasure, honor and priviledge to prepare this publication in all the years in the 

past. It has become magical to work on a variety of contributions from the 

community and transform it into a viable episode for all to experience. 

I am so inspired with the diversity of the contributions in the form of prose and 

poetry on wide ranging topics, not only relevant to the Indian culture, but also 

important on a global scale. I am so thankful that the enthusiasm expressed in 

these wonderful creations has come from the local community of West Michigan 

as well as the international circle of friends on Facebook and elsewhere. 

Working on this project over the years has enriched and enhanced my abilities to 

reach out, being consistent, persevering, and committed to deliver. 

This brings me to the spirit of Diwali. Each and every one of us is a Deeva - 

Divine. I feel blessed to be connected to all of you Deevas as all of us are a part 

of the same divinity. Let us celebrate our glow by continuing to enrich & 

enlighten each other’s lives throughout the holidays of this auspicious festival of 

lights and forever. 

Signified by the flames of these beautiful Deevas, let us all join hands in the spirit 

of celebration and contemplation… Happy Diwali! 

Kuldip Bagga, 

October 26, 2011 

India India Link 

Link 

…where …where the the Indo Indo-American Indo American spirit comes alive 

INDIA LINK, 2011 7

THE FESTIVE SEASON 

Priti Gupta, Mumbai, India 

Ashadh Ashadh Ashadh Sud 

Sud 

Ekadashi Ekadashi Ekadashi : : Generally 

the festival season 

starts from Ashadh Sud 

Ekadashi. This is the day 

which marks the 

beginning of the four holy 

months as per Hindu 

calendar. Our Puranas 

(Scriptures) tell us that 

on this day lord Vishnu took the form of Dwarf i.e. Vamana 

and then descended in Kshirsagar, the ocean of milk. 

8 

I would like to welcome you all to this season of auspicious festivals. We celebrate many 

festivals in India. In this article, I would provide the significance of a few important festivals. 


Guru Guru Guru Purnima: Purnima: Ashadh 

Sud Ekadashi is followed 

by Guru Purnima on Ashadh 

Sud 15. The first Guru in 

Hinduism is Veda Vyasa, 

who wrote the eighteenth 

Purana. His birth day is 

celebrated on Guru 

Purnima. 

Hindola Hindola Utsav: Utsav: Another 

festival that signifies love 

and devotion for God is the 

Hindola Utsav (swing 

festival), celebrated for a 

month from Ashadh vad 2nd to 

Shravan vad 2nd . 

Naag Naag Panchami: 

Panchami: Panchami: Naag 

Panchami, or Shravan sud 

panchami follows Hindola 

utsav. It represents the 

day when the soil, heated 

during the summer, is 

cooled by the rain and the underground creatures such as, 

snakes come up to the surface. On this day Hindus worship 

and offer Milk to Naag (snake) and. 

Raksha Raksha Bandhan Bandhan or 

or 

Shravan Shravan Purnima: Purnima: On 

this auspicious day, 

Brahmins change their 

janaeu (sacred thread), and 

sisters tie Rakhi (a 

protective thread) on the 

wrist of their brothers. 

Several stories of Puranas 

are well known that relate 

to raksha Bandhan, but 

those are outside the scope 

of this article. 

Janmasthami: Janmasthami: More than 

5000 year ago at 12 midnight 

Shri Krishna was born in a jail 

of Vasudeva and Devki. For 

centuries the story of Krishna’s 

birth and his raasleela 

(playfulness) have been sung 

and cited, re-enacted and 

celebrated, infusing devotion and peace in the heart of 

millions. 

Vijaya ijaya 

Dashmi Dashmi 

Dashmi 

The tenth 

day of 

Asho Sud 

Dashm 

a l s o 

called Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated 

with great fanfare.. According to 

Purana, for Nine days maa Durga and 

Ganesh Ganesh Chaturthi: Chaturthi: Our holy 

books tell interesting stories 

about the birth of Ganesh. 

Ganapati is remembered as a 

God of profound intelligence as 

reflected in his large elephant 

head. His ears symbolize his 

patience to listen to our 

innumerable prayers. 

Navratri: Navratri: Navratri: Festival of fast 

and worshiping Devi Amba, 

and Devi Durga, known for 

empowering 

devotees. 

(shakti the

Mahisasur were locked in a terrible combat. The tenth 

day saw the fall of Mahisasur and the triumph of good 

over evil, leading to peace and happiness in the world. 

Therefore, we celebrate that triumph as Vijaya Dashmi. 

Also, on this day, Lord Ramkilled a very powerful demon 

– Ravana. 

Shard Shard Purnima: Purnima: The fifteenth day of Asho Sud is called 

Sharad Purnima. A popular belief among the Hindus is 

that Lakshmiji (consort of Vishnu) comes late night on 

Sharad Purnima seeking to bestow wealth wealth upon upon upon those 

those 

who who are are awake. 

awake. 

Dhan-teras: Dhan-teras: the 

first festival in the 

Diwali season is called 

Dhanteras which falls 

on thirteenth day of the 

dark half of the month. 

On this day people 

worship Goddess 

Lakshmi, the Goddess 

of wealth. 

Kali Kali Chudash: Chudash: The fourteenth 

day is called KaliChaudash. The 

second occasion is a day on which 

Hanumanji is specially worshiped. 

On this day, people normally serve 

Brahmins with special delicacies 

in the honor of their deceased 

relatives. This day is also 

popularly known as Narak 

Chaturdashi. 

Diwali: Diwali: Diwali is the last day of the year according to 

Hindu calendar. Diwali marks the day of victory of good 

over evil. People express their joy by putting on fine cloths, 

decorating the house, and bursting crackers, each according 

to his means. 

I wish all of you a very Happy Diwali and a very fruitful 

coming year. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 9

10 

INDIA LINK, 2011

INDIA LINK, 2011 11

12 

INDIA LINK, 2011

Sometimes he cries 

Often he laughs 

He use to get sleepless nights 

Due to cold and cough 

Nothing can make him stop 

To do lots of activities 

He always keeps mom busy 

By doing things naughty 

He runs like a rabbit 

Talks like an old man 

Through toys from windows 

As much as he can 

Some times music and cartoons 

Win to make him sit 

Aryaman 

Mousumi Bhattacharyya 

Only then he enjoy eating food 

Though it’s a little bit 

Some times he draws 

Some times he reads 

Sings like a nightingale 

He is two and half year’s kid 

He knows colors, numbers 

Even shapes and A to Z 

Being tired find’s mom’s lap 

Does not like to sleep on bed 

Mom is happy with her 

Cute, energetic, strong son 

His name yet to tell you 

He is little Aryaman… 

INDIA LINK, 2011 13

14 

INDIA LINK, 2011

THE AKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION 

(A (A NON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZA 

ORGANIZATION) 

ORGANIZA TION) 

FEEDING FEEDING 1.3 1.3 MILLION MILLION CHILDREN 

CHILDREN 

CHILDREN 

DAIL DAILY DAIL Y IN IN INDIA 

INDIA 

Madhu Madhu Sridhar Sridhar, Sridhar , President President and and CEO, CEO, 

CEO, 

The The Akshaya Akshaya Patra Patra Foundation Foundation Foundation USA 

USA 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a leading 

organization that simultaneously addresses two 

of the most immediate challenges facing India, 

hunger/malnutrition and access to education, through its 

school lunch program. Started modestly in Bangalore 

feeding 1500 children in 5 schools, Akshaya Patra 

currently provides freshly prepared nutritious meals to 

1.3 million underprivileged children daily in eight states 

from 19 kitchens in over 8000 schools in India. For many 

children this is their only complete meal for the day. This 

meal gives the children an incentive to come to school, 

stay in school and provides them with the necessary 

nutrients they need to develop their cognitive abilities 

and focus on learning. 

Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest NGO-run midday 

meal program. It is a public, private, non-profit 

partnership that combines good management, innovative 

technology and smart engineering to deliver school lunch 

at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts 

of the world. It costs Akshaya Patra $15 to feed a a child for 

an entire school year. Our largest kitchen in Hubli 

prepares 181,000 meals DAILY in less than five hours. 

The vision of the organization is that no child shall be 

deprived of education because of hunger. Akshaya Patra 

plans to serve 5 million children by 2020. 

or more information visit www.foodforeducation.org 

Important Facts: 

• 57 million children in India are malnourished…1/ 

3 of the world’s malnourished children. 

• The 2010 Global Hunger Index places India at 67 

out of 84 developing countries 

• A study by the World Bank in 2010 reported more 

undernourished children in India than in Sub- 

Saharan Africa. 

• 26.8 million primary school-age children in India 

are not in school. 

• 40 percent of children drop out before reaching 

grade 5. 

• Literacy, especially among women, remains low. 

Akshaya Patra program is a strategic intervention in 

education aimed at breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. 

Akshaya Patra meals are a LIFELINE 

LIFELINE LIFELINE to HOPE HOPE: HOPE HOPE 

Health 

Opportunity 

Progress 

Education 

Give the deserving children HOPE for their future and 

support Akshaya Patra today. 

Make your tax deductible donation: 

On-line at www.foodforeducation.org 

or Via check mailed to the US headquarters: 

The The Akshaya Akshaya Patra Patra Foundation 

Foundation 

Foundation 

92 92 Montvale Montvale Avenue, venue, Suite Suite 2500 2500 

2500 

Stoneham, Stoneham, MA MA 02180 

02180 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA 

92 Montvale Avenue, Suite 2500 

Stoneham, MA 02180 

(781) 438-3090 

tapf.info@akshayapatrausa.org 

Tax ID: 01-0574950 

INDIA LINK, 2011 15

CHAMPION 

I 

was born premature and, as a result, suffered from 

frequent bouts of Bronchitis throughout my childhood. 

The doctors told my parents that swimming would 

help my Bronchitis. That’s how I started swimming at 

the age of seven. In one of the swimming competitions 

that was held around that time, I was placed second to 

last. That triggered the fierce competitor in me. I was 

soon devoting long and hard hours to swimming so that I 

could avoid the dismal outcome I faced in that competition. 

I pursued swimming with all I had in my inner being. The 

rest is history! 

am now 25 years old. As far as studies go, I have 

completed my degrees in Psychology and Journalism at 

Jain University and have now started pursuing a master’s 

degree in Psychology. I value education tremendously but 

swimming is my life and my passion. 

I am the only child of my parents. My parents 

have made many sacrifices in the pursuit of my dream. 

16 INDIA LINK, 2011 

Rehan Poncha 

A DREAMER 

My dad closed his business just to make it possible for 

me to train in Bangalore. 

I have been swimming for over 17 years. I began 

my swimming training in Mumbai but moved to Bangalore 

in 1999 because it has the best training facilities in the 

country. I swim at Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre in 

Bangalore with Pradeep Kumar as my coach who is also 

the current national swimming coach. I am working as 

hard to qualify for London Olympics. It has been my dream 

to be an Olympic swimmer. I wish with all my heart and 

soul that my dream comes to fruition. 

I love Roger Federer, the world class tennis player, 

as a human being and as a sportsman; although, frankly, 

I don’t believe in having any role models. I do admire and 

look up to him as my guide. Michael Phelps, who won 

eight swimming gold medals in the last Olympics, is also 

a hero of mine for obvious reasons. I try and learn as much

INDIA LINK, 2011 17

as I can watching his videos and learning his mechanics 

and skills. I also watch videos of other established 

swimmers so that I could be a state or national champion 

or even a world class swimmer just like them one day. 

I love my sport and can’t think of anything else I 

woulrather be doing. My dream is to be the best I can be 

at my sport. It is my life’s fondest wish to make my parents 

smile and be super proud of me based on my triumphs 

and successes in 

swimming. They 

have sacrificed so 

much of their 

lives to help me 

realize my 

dreams and all I 

want is for them 

to be happy. My 

most cherished 

wish is to see the 

same happiness 

on my parents’ 

faces that I have 

seen on the faces 

of parents of 

Federer or and 

Phelps after they 

have been 

victorious! 

Apart 

from swimming, I 

love watching 


DVDs and lovdinners with close friends. I am not much of 

a party person. Spending time with family is one thing 

I’ve missed out on because of my swimming. Nevertheless 

I love what I do and that’s why I do it. 

My message to my fellow sportsmen is: Love what 

you do, and do what you love. Make it an obsession. �

CHAMPION 

100-YEAR-OLD 

MARATHONER 

FINISHES RACE 

TORONTO (AP) — A 100-year-old runner became 

the oldest person to complete a full-distance marathon 

when he finished the race in Toronto on Sunday, 

October 16th, 2011 

Fauja Singh earned a spot in the Guinness World 

Records for his accomplishment. 

It took Singh more than eight hours to cross the 

finish line — more than six hours after Kenya’s Kenneth 

Mungara won the event for the fourth straight year — 

and he was the last competitor to complete the course. 

But his time wasn’t nearly as remarkable as the 

accomplishment. 

Event workers dismantled the barricades along 

the finish line and took down sponsor banners even as 

Singh made his way up the final few hundred yards of 

the race. 

Family, friends and supporters greeted Singh 

when he finished the race. 

“Beating his original prediction, he’s overjoyed,” 

his coach and translator Harmander Singh said. “Earlier, 

just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, 

‘Achieving this will be like getting married again.’ 

“He’s absolutely overjoyed, he’s achieved his 

lifelong wish.” 

Sunday’s run was Singh’s eighth marathon — he 

ran his first at age 89 — and wasn’t the first time he set 

a record. 

In the 2003 Toronto event, he set the mark in the 

90-plus category, finishing the race in 5 hours, 40 

minutes and 1 second. 

And on Thursday in Toronto, Singh broke world 

records for runners older than 100 in eight different 

distances ranging from 100 meters to 5,000 meters. 

The 5-foot-8 Singh said he’s hopeful his next 

project will be participating in the torch relay for the 

2012 London Games. He carried the torch during the 

relay for the 2004 Athens Games. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 19

I would 

The State of Corruption in India 

Anna Hazare’s Movement 

like to begin with an apology extended to 

some of my Indophile buddies who turn and 

squirm at the thought of anyone criticizing India, 

however genuine and fact-based. Yet, that is what 

I am going to do today – criticize India for one of 

her major societal weaknesses – in my typical pure, 

unmitigated, and straight from the core of my heart 

fashion. Of course, that does not mean I love her any less. 

No one loves his mother less because she has flaws. 

Indeed, there is no such thing as perfectly flawless society 

or country – India has its own share of fallibilities. 

As we all know, India has taken tremendous strides 

technologically and economically in the past two decades. 

All projections are that it is poised to grow at 8% for the 

foreseeable future. Indians are among the smartest people 

in the world. Yet there is something very sad about India 

that not only compels expression and admission, but some 

concrete action as well 

The societal weakness I would address - the focus of 

this article - is the all-pervasive, omnipresent, eminently 

rampant corruption that has spread through every strand 

of every fiber of her social and cultural being. The extent 

of corruption in India is so profound that many are 

characterizing it as a necessary evil. In my view, its 

cancerous, all-encompassing growth is threatening to 

stigmatize the entirety of her otherwise noble character 

and soul. 

In this article, I will first provide a brief perspective 

on the state of corruption in India and then address the 

new movement germinated, incubated, and fostered by 

Anna Hazare that promises to take the corruption 

perpetrators head on and expel them from every nook and 

cranny of India altogether. Will that promise endure the 


By Dr. Ashok Kumar 

The total amount of black money deposited in foreign banks by Indians is unknown, 

but one estimate puts the total at over US$1.4 trillion) - R Vaidyanathan;Wikipedia 

test of time? It is too early to read the tea leaves. I believe 

that it is the essential first baby step. A lot depends on its 

further evolution. I will provide my opinion on Anna’s 

movement at some length at the end. 

So, what is corruption? How does one define it? It is a 

hard task, but I will try. In its broadest scope, corruption 

occurs when a party uses its power or capability vested by 

a system of government or otherwise to commit an act or 

indulge in a process those results in an unfair advantage 

to another party. In turn, the party that collects the 

advantage gratifies the obliging party through cash, kind, 

or other illegitimate resources. Withdrawing just favors 

or currying unjust favors for inadequate reasons are 

subtler form of corruption. 

Indian folklore is replete with stories of rampant and 

excessive corruption. Recent prominent corruption cases, 

off the top of my head, that garnered a lot of news ink - 

and got etched in Indian consciousness for ever – were: (in

ackward chronological order): (i) The $15 billion foul 

up by Suresh Kalmadi, the chief organizer of 2010 

Common Wealth Games that included exorbitant 

payments to non-existent businesses, reckless 

misappropriation of funds, collusion with contractors to 

allow usage of poor quality of material, deliberate delays 

in execution of contracts, bungling in drafting and 

executing tenders – the list is endless. It essentially drove 

India’s reputation to the ground in international circles 

while causing Indian tax payer awe-struck and hapless 

(ii) Andimuthu Raja (the former telecom minister)’s $40 

billion scam involving dubious and underhand allocations 

of unified-access service licenses for 2G spectrum that 

defies imagination and the limits of depravity; (iii) The 

shameful Abdul Karim Telgi’s $5b scam who had mastered 

the art of forgery in printing duplicate stamp papers and 

sold them to banks and other institutions - the tentacles 

of the fake stamp and stamp paper case penetrated 12 

states and involved hierarchical layers of layers of highly 

placed law enforcement officials and politicians sharing 

the ill-begotten booty ; (iv) Satyam’s $3B- $4B corporate 

fraud that made Indian history where the company’s 

disgraced former chairman Ramalinga Raju kept everyone 

in the dark for a decade by fudging the books of accounts 

for several years and inflating revenues and profit figures. 

Investors may never feel safe again with 

investing in Indian markets; (v) The infamous 

fodder Scam that involved fabrication of “vast 

herds of fictitious livestock” for which fodder, 

medicines and animal husbandry equipment 

was supposedly procured at a cost of over 

$200m charged to the Center. Its memories 

still reverberates with new revelations – 

nearly 15 years after its inception. Add to this 

list, the pernicious Bofors, IPL, Hawala, 

Harshad Mehta , Ketan Parekh’s multimillion 

dollar scams and you begin to fathom 

the depth of this malady as it destroys India’s 

reputation and economic well-being. Yet, if I 

may humbly add, this is the tiniest of the tiny 

lists of scams and scandals- tip of the tip of 

the iceberg, if you will - that are hanging like a 

millstone at the economic and cultural 

wellness of India. 

One might think that temples and holy 

places are out of reach of corruption in India. 

Not quite so. In a recent news item about a 

temple in Kerala, a tax- and law-enforcement 

raid unearthed a vast treasure trove of $22 

billions in gold coins, jewels and precious 

stones in just the four boxes. Two more boxes 

are yet to be opened. The state government in 

collusion with the Center has decided not to 

open the remaining boxes. I wonder why? Why 

on earth? Was the temple non-profit? If so, 

how come it owned such vast wealth? Why it 

was not reported? How much profit is nonprofit? 

And once the process began to unearth 

the wealth, why was it interrupted, apparently 

in collusion with those who should be yelling 

hoarse to keep it open. It is rumored that the 

Tirupathy temple in Tamil Nadu hoards even 

larger bounties but those in power have acquiesced not to 

rake the matter further. By no means, the unreported “holy” 

wealth is confined to South. I am sure the holy places in 

north, east, and west would come out equally well-endowed 

and yet reticent. Seeing the magnitude of the wealth 

proffered to God, I am reminded of A. Roy, the controversial 

but famous Indian author’s conjecture. She believes that 

India’s corrupt mentality emanates from her people’s 

proclivity to offer cash or kind to God in return for doing 

favors to them. Personally, I do not share Ms. Roy’s view 

point. Praying, even for unjust favors, is not bribing. After 

all, God is omniscient and incorruptible. To me, praying 

is a serene way to maintain composure and sanity and 

remain optimistic in the face of hopeless injustice and 

misfortune that surrounds us. Many priests and holy 

men (sadhus)are known to have lewd inclinations and 

inordinate power over unsuspecting ladies/children 

devotees. 

The corruption practiced by businesses or holy places 

does not hold a candle to the corruption perpetrated at 

politicians’ level. In a recent list of ministerial assets, 

ministers earning less than $600 a month and having 

come up from the poorest of ranks, were found to have as 

much as $58m of assets. Noteworthy was the fact that in 

most cases, wives’ assets were way higher than the 

INDIA LINK, 2011 21

minsters’ themselves. Honest politicians – which is a 

contradiction in terms – do not either stay as a politician 

or as an honest person for long. 

In many industries, corruption has gradually been 

institutionalized into the system. Take education, for 

instance. Most Indian parents today will happily go hungry 

to see their children educated. How is this “value” 

manifested in the designs of institutions of higher learning? 

They want you to pay lacs of rupees to admit your progeny 

to a college or higher degree curriculum. The money needed 

to put a student in a higher-education institution is 

inversely proportional to the skills and qualification a 

potential student has to get into an institution. Yet, this 

is practiced unabashedly as a free market mechanism 

depriving many of the deserving candidates to find 

admission in institutions well below their merit. 

I have thought hard and fast. There is no nook or 

cranny of Indian activities that is protected from 

corruption. If you purchase a property in India, the deed 

documentation shows only a fraction of the actual sale 

price; large business transactions of gold, medicine, and 

clothing involving millions of dollars are conducted every 

day without any receipt depriving Indian government of 

huge levies and the consumers of the protection of the 

purchase. In little things “wheels” are placed to move 

them. The Indian babu is da man. Whether it is your ration 

card for food or a pan card that allows you to do business 

or open a bank account, you need to place wheels to get it. 

Even for filing police reports, you need to grease the wheels. 

The list is endless and all pervasive. 

As I was conducting research for this article, I reached 

a website that ranked countries on the intensity of 

prevalent corruption. My Indian heart was pounding like 

the student who is opening the answer book to see his 

grade knowing fully well that he had submitted the answer 

book nearly blank. India ranked 74 among 180 countries 

on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), prepared by 

independent international agency Transparency 

International. “74 th ain’t too bad,” I heaved a sigh of relief. 

This was way better than I feared. My cynic self still 

questions the veracity of the survey. My nihilist self is 

denying this result as too good to be true. I have seen 

India up close and personal. It is so hard to believe that 

there are 106 countries worse than India in corruption. 

But, I will take the good news … only with respect to the 

bigotry of low expectations that I have for India. No 

question, even if the survey is correct, we have miles to go. 

Corruption just doesn’t soil the economy, it soils the social 

character; nay, it soils the soul of a society. Someone needs 

to do something… and pretty soon! 

Lo and behold! My wishes are answered already. That 

someone is Anna Hazare. Kisan Baburao Hazare has 

begun the task of eradicating corruption from the country 

by launching an all-democratic people’s movement Gandhi 

style. It has support of the people, its goals are noble, its 

scope is the entire country, it is totally non-violent, and it 

has involved at least two fasts until death by Anna. In 

both cases, Anna was able to overcome the intransigence 


of Government. The differences between Gandhi’s and 

Anna’s movement are few but striking: In the case of 

Gandhi’s freedom movement the enemy was identifiable 

and visible outsider. So the success or failure of the 

movement was easy to measure. Anna’s movement is 

against an intangible, invisible enemy that has lodged 

itself in the deepest niches of the Indian psyche. Worse, 

unlike the colonizers, corruption has become an acceptable 

social norm and a way of life. Furthermore, in Anna’s case 

the enemy is within – India’s own wayward sons and 

daughters with callous disregard to ethical ways of doing 

business or govern. 

Unlike most other movements where the goals are 

visible and the progress is clearly measurable, a movement 

about corruption has an in-built structural problem. In 

order to measure the success, the corruption must be 

reported. But, since both the giver and receiver of the favor 

in a corruption case are legally guilty, the behavioral 

dynamics of corruption is set against suppressing the 

information. According to government records, less than a 

thousand corruption cases were booked in 2008 (data for 

2009 and 10 was not yet made available, which itself 

shows the level of interest in curbing it) in the entire 

country. In UP, there were just 85 cases reported, in Bihar 

8 and in West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand, there 

were not a single case reported against corruption. 

Actually, if Transparency International had used the 

government data on corruption, India could easily be the 

least corrupt country on the face of the earth with less 

than 1 corruption per million people! 

Anna’s solution to change the corruption 

dynamics is based on creating an ombudsman (Lokpal- 

Sanskrit for protector of the people) for every region who 

will be empowered to receive complaints and mete out 

justice to the offender(s) speedily. A rather benign Lokpal 

bill (compared to what Anna is demanding today) was 

first introduced in 1968 which passed the 4th Lok 

Sabha(like the House in the U.S.) in 1969. But before it 

could be passed by Rajya Sabha (like senate in the U.S.), 

Conngress was dissolved and the bill lapsed. Several 

versions were re-introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 

1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008 but none passed. The

current Jan Lokpal bill, which is an improvement over the 

essentially “toothless” Lokpal bill that protected high 

officials, is designed to “effectively deter corruption, 

redress grievances of citizens, and protect whistle-blowers. 

The bill would create an independent ombudsman body 

called the Lokpal. It would be empowered to register and 

investigate complaints of corruption against politicians 

and bureaucrats without prior government approval.” The 

bill provides for eral accountability by setting up time 

limits for final action and penalizing the corrupt officials 

for the damage they caused through their actions. The bill 

has provisions to identify honest people through judiciary, 

and people. I believe that when combined with the “Right 

to Information Act of 2005,” which guarantees that all 

information in government records will have to be shared 

upon request, the Jan Lokpal bill has strong potential for 

reducing corruption in India. 

The million dollar question is: Will it work? Will 

Anna’s movement be ultimately successful? I do not know 

answer to that. I am pessimistic about long term success 

of the movement. But I am cautiously optimistic in short 

term. Maybe, Anna and the Indian people can find 500 

honest people to staff the Lokpal and Lokayukta (state 

representative of Lokpal) offices. But there is a tendency 

in India for people in power to abuse it and get corrupt… 

we will need a lokpal over lokpal … a hierarchy of lokpals 

to make sure that the lokpals stay honest and accountable. 

That is where I get pessimistic. Yet, we can’t take away 

Anna’s credit to awaken Indian people to the possibility 

of fighting corruption. But we will need his watchful eye to 

keep the movement going. In the short term it does look 

promising. Of course, it still depends on our constantly 

finding honest, selfless people to staff lokpal institutions. 

That is a tall order. I hope Anna’s two fasts at 73 will not 

go waste! Good luck, India. � 

INDIA LINK, 2011 23


Zindagi ki 

Kashmaksh 

Tishya Jain 

Kahin chhat thi... 

Deewaar-o-dar the kahin 

Mila mujhko ghar ka pata der se 

Diya to bahut zindagi ne mujhe 

Magar jo diya... wo diya der se 

Hua na koi kaam mamool se 

Guzre shab-o-roz kuchh is tarah 

Kabhi chaand chamkagalat waqt par 

Kabhi ghar mein sooraj uga der se 

Ye sab... ittifaaqat ka khel hai 

Yahi hai judaai yahi mel hai 

Main mud mud ke dekha kiya door tak 

Bani wo khaamoshi sada der se 

Saja din bhi roshan huyi raat bhi 

Bhare jaam lahraai barsaat bhi 

Rahe saath kuchh aise haalat bhi 

Jo hona tha jaldi.... hua der se 

Bhatakti rahi yun hi har bandagi 

Mili na kahin se koi roshni 

Chupa tha kahin bheed mein aadami 

Hua mujh mein roshan khuda der se...!

Broken Wings 

Anjana Upadhyay 

Before I met you, 

I used to roam 

The Blue sky 

Like an eagle. 

And, Sing like a Lark 

By the Seaside. 

For me, 

No Sky - Too High to fly. 

No Horizon- Too far to touch, 

Then, I met you 

And, Suddenly 

I stopped flying. 

The Blue sky 

And the Distant Horizon 

Beckoned me 

No Longer. 

Time stood still. 

So much to tell, 

So much to Share, 

So much to Feel. 

And, the wonder 

Of all of You. 

One Day, Death came 

Stealing 

To take you away. 

Now, I sit still 

On that time post, 

Waiting for You. 

People tell me, 

You will never 

Come Back again. 

I know, 

But, My heart still thinks, 

Maybe, You would just 

Walk in with That Loud laugh, 

on your Lips. 

And, I would Come alive again. 

Sometimes, 

Like those faint 

Memories stirring 

I want to fly again 

Like an eagle in 

That Blue sky. 

And, Sing like a lark 

By that seaside. 

But, tell me friend, 

How do I fly 

I am a bird 

With Broken Wings! 

INDIA LINK, 2011 25

The clouds coalesce, creating a dome over the earth, sealing 

humanity in its gray atmosphere. Slowly, the light begins to 

fade from behind the clouds, drawing with it the warmth of the 

day. The wind appears with a glassy edge, stiff and cool, like 

swift metal gliding on ice. All who are outside shiver violently 

as they adjust to the change in temperature. The crisp, 

saccharine autumn air carries the scent of fresh trees and 

sinuous beach grass. Everyone waits. The sky clears and night 

falls. A dark piece of velvet, sprinkled with shinning gems, 

stretches out over the sky. Millions of stars lay strewn across 

the distant heavens like fireflies in a garden. They float far 

from the world, not wanting greedy, selfish hands to confine 

them. 

The darkness awakes, and while many sleep, nocturnal 

elements prepare to sing night’s song. Crickets tune their 

instruments while the wind howls and picks up speed. Waves 

from the lake crash louder than before and some parched papery 

leaves rustle on the trees. Distant frogs croak and close 

mosquitoes buzz in faultless harmony. The night is animate and 

ready to perform for all those who stay, willing to listen. Its 

audience sits silently, observing and waiting, wrapped in its 

infinite blanket of blackness. Nighttime’s flawless symphony 

soothes mortal life and resonates throughout the firmament. A 

perfect presentation, unique and captivating, created only when 

night falls and the world comes together in a sensational 

harmony 


Waiting aiting After After Dar Dark Dar 

Pooja Agrawal (9 th Grade) 

23 September 2011

Steve Jobs’ 

passing on 

October 5, 2011 

has created a 

shift in the creative 

energy field of the cosmos. 

One may liken it to a 

singularity event. As 

described in a variety of 

media, Apple Apple has lost a 

great visionary and the 

world has lost a 

wonderful human being. 

He was the founder of 

Apple Apple along with Steve 

Wozniak. We can read all 

about the “dots” of his 

life events from his 

childhood to being 

adopted to college drop 

out to founding Apple Apple to 

being ousted in 1985 to 

starting NeXT NeXT NeXT to 

starting Dreamworks 

Dreamworks 

to being re-instituted as 

Apple Apple Apple CEO to retiring as 

CEO in August 2011 to 

his final day on the 

planet. The best way to 

learn all the important 

dots of his life is to visit 

the video presentation of 

his commencement 

speech to the graduating 

class of 2005 at Stanford 

University : http:// 

www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA 

He has been one of my 

heroes who followed his 

heart and his intuition. 

He was always driven by 

his dreams to create 

something extraordinary 

for people without being 

mired by any dogmatic or 

other limitations. He let 

his “little magical being” 

out from his heart to 

come out and play and 

give all beings of the 

world to rejoice in the 

play as well as experience 

the dance of creativity. 

When one lives a life like 

that everyday, the world 

and the cosmic stage 

becomes a heaven. Don’t 

we all have such 

yearnings within all of 

us? 

Steve Jobs 

1955 – 2011 

A Magical being 

within all of us 

By Arvind R. Vora : 

arvindRvora@gmail.com : 

616-893-6576 Cell 

He was not concerned about his own legacy. He remained a steward 

of his creative genius for the people. His gift to the world is to 

easily play with our own creativity. He had been the most brilliant 

visionary CEO on a global scale. He was not a technical wizard. 

He surrounded himself with a team of very smart people to support 

his creative visions. He had his share of human shortcomings too. 

He was an ordinary 

human being just like 

all of us but with the 

zeal and charisma for 

creating undreamed 

of possibilities. This 

process is called 

“dreaming the world 

into being.” People 

who utilize this 

process are so 

naturally infused 

with living in “nonlinear 

time.” It is also 

called “sacred time.” 

For people of East 

Indian origin, does 

Rishi Valmiki stir up 

the memory of him 

writing “Ramayana” 

in sacred time? 

We all have the 

capacity of dwelling 

and operating in the 

sacred time while we 

still live in linear 

time. At some subtle 

levels we do that 

anyway without 

consciously realizing 

it. 

Stewards like Steve 

always think 

inherently of their own 

replacement ahead of 

time. He developed a 

team of people at 

Apple Apple to carry on the 

dreams. Britain born 

industrial designer 

Jonathan Ive, who is 

now the executive VP, 

will come close to 

carrying the baton. 

Steve Jobs was and 

will always remain 

the inspiration for the 

team at Apple Apple to be 

the creative force for 

the people. We will 

miss you Steve! 

Shall we dare to 

dream? Shall we dare 

to follow our hearts 

and our intuition? 

Shall we dare to let 

the magical being 

within us come out 

and play and dance 

the cosmic dance? 

INDIA LINK, 2011 27

28 

INDIA LINK, 2011

INDIA LINK, 2011 29


SPECTACULAR! 

Sunset at the North Pole 

This is one of the rarest pictures that you will ever see in your life, 

when the moon was closest to the earth. The picture was taken 

on Thursday, March 13, 2011. This is the sunset at the North Pole 

with the moon at its closest point.a scene you will probably never 

get to see in person, so take a moment and enjoy God at work at 

the North Pole. And, you also see the Sun below the Moon, an 

amazing photo and not one easily duplicated.

DHARMA 

When Your Faith 

Isn’t Faith Based 

One of the most puzzling things I often say in 

my lectures on the Hindu Dharma to church 

groups and schools is that Hinduism isn’t 

faith based. That is, we have no solid dogmas that 

bind “the faithful” to our fold. It is in this area that 

we share a great deal with our Jewish friends. To 

Jews, what they believe, how they conceive of a deity, 

or even if they take the time to acknowledge a deity 

has nothing to do with their membership in good 

standing with their religion. I’ve had students 

question the ability to even have a viable religion 

without locking adherents into a communal creed. 

Honestly, I don’t know how to answer that. But 

certainly 2 of the oldest religions in the world have 

found a way to make it work. 

There is no question that Christianity & Islam 

have gained great power in insisting upon very exact 

beliefs that adherents must hold. Heresy continues 

to be a danger zone that few care to enter. I’ll add 

that in the last century more liberal Christian 

denominations have taken a less creedal path. But in 

2,000 years it is still the exception to the rule. It 

makes me realize that the world’s different faiths use 

different elements of human psychology to maintain 

traditions and grow ranks. Sometimes those tools are 

the exact opposite of what another faith is using for 

its own purposes. So while some religions are founded 

on a creedal code and prosper, Hinduism maintains a 

fierce independence of thought that allows its 

adherents to think themselves right out of the 

religion…with our blessings. 

Virtually every religion has a sort of demerit 

system. Hinduism certainly has its. But believing the 

“wrong thing” doesn’t lose points for Gryffindor or 

anyone else. Even atheism, if embraced out of true 

By Fred Stella 

spiritual inquiry and not simple laziness can be 

considered a noble effort. The Sanatana Dharma has 

plenty of opportunities to acquire less-than-good 

karma. But it’s equally available to believers and 

nonbelievers alike. 

Certainly we get the predictable retort, “Oh, 

so you can just believe what you want.” No, if I believed 

just what I wanted to be spiritual reality I might opt 

for a path to moksha that included a lifestyle such as 

seen in a Fellini film. No, it’s not what I want to 

believe. It’s what I’m able to believe. There are millions 

of religionists all over the world who wrestle with 

doubts that they cannot easily reconcile. I’m sure 

that crowd includes a good number of Hindus; and I 

would offer solace in way of indicating that Self 

Realization can only be attained by ridding oneself of 

lesser beliefs. Part of my sadhana is the continued 

reinvestigation of long held assumptions. If any 

doctrine doesn’t pass the test I quickly sweep it into 

my spiritual dustbin with an efficiency my wife could 

only wish I’d exercise in cleaning our basement of 

more mundane artifacts that have long since 

abdicated any measure of usefulness. 

And honestly, there is nothing wrong with 

admitting that on some issues, I just don’t know. 

If you are Hindu I encourage you to take 

advantage of this wonderful aspect of our Dharma. Be 

at peace with doubt .However I would pray that doubt 

never devolves into cynicism, as it can. But know that 

to act on the freedom to construct a spirituality and 

world view based on logic, intuition, science, 

experience and common sense is our divine heritage. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 31

As we go from one generation to the next, some 

of our rich Indian heritage is lost. It is very 

important to make sure our children are aware 

of their roots and it is the duty of the families 

and Indian community to instill this in them. In this 

paper I’m going to briefly share some of my memories and 

experiences about our Indian culture and heritage. 

I am very fortunate because of my wonderful 

experiences and exposure to Indian tradition as growing 

up. I spent my early childhood in India: I was born in 

South India, Vijayawada and grew up in Secunderabad, 

Hyderabad’s twin city. My family immigrated to US when 

I was 9 years old. Both my parents are from large extended 

families, nearly 10 siblings each. Tradition and religion 

along with education were extremely important to my 

father and mother’s side of the family. When I think of 

India, I remember color, beauty, cultural diversity, 

mythology, religion, and friendly, warm-hearted people. 

I attended St. Ann’s school in West Marredpally, 

Secunderabad from grades 1 - 4. It is a strict catholic 

school and every morning we had to say the Indian National 

Pledge. The words of the Indian National Pledge are: 

India is my 

country. All Indians are 

my brothers and sisters. I 

love my country and I am 

proud of its rich and varied 

heritage. I shall always 

strive to be worthy of it. I 

shall give my parents, 

teachers and all elders 

respect and treat everyone 

with courtesy. To my 

country and my people, I 

pledge my devotion . In 

their well being and 

prosperity alone, lies my 

happiness. 

Some of my best 

memories about India are 

around the festival season. 

I remember how splendidly 

we used to celebrate all our 

major festivals: Ganesh 

festival, Dasara, Diwali, 


Indian Heritage 

By Indu Rekha Meesa 

Sri Krishnastami to name a few. These festivals remind 

me of our rich Indian tradition and culture. We had one 

big puja room and another bhajan room at our house in 

India. For each festival, my grandfather used to take us 

to the bazaar to buy all the necessary items for the festival 

day. Everyone in the house got new clothes…it was a 

tradition to wear new clothes on festivals and on 

birthdays. The entire house was cleaned and washed the 

day before the auspicious festival day. My grandmother 

and mother prepared delicious dishes on the festival day. 

These include: laddus, payasam, halva, julab jamun, 

tamrind rice, etc…these were offered to God during the 

puja. The puja was performed by a priest. In the evening, 

it is a tradition to invite the neighbors, married females 

from each household to offer them kumkum, fruits, and a 

saree or a blouse piece, along with some bangles as a sign 

of good will. We also got blessings from the elders in the 

house by touching their feet. 

The Dasara festival is another major festival 

celebrated over a period of 10 days. Vijaya Dashami, 

also known as Dasara, Dashahara, Navarathri, 

Durgotdsav is one of the very important and fascinating 

festivals of India, which is celebrated in the lunar month

of Ashwin (September or October). The word DASARA is 

derived from Sanskrit words “Dasha” and “hara” meaning 

removing the ten(10). In Sanskrit, “Vijaya” means Victory 

and “Dashami” means 10 th day, so Vijaya Dashami 

means victory on the 10 th day. The festival is in honor of 

Durga Devi. The basic principle of this festival is to 

worship the feminine principle of the Universe in the form 

of the divine mother. The essence of navarathri 

celebration is to remind and respect all the women, who 

are the guardians of the family, culture, and national 

integrity, to take lead in times of crisis to guide the 

humanity towards the path of social justice, 

righteousness, equality, love, and divinity. 

Puja during Dasara was done twice daily for 9 

days and once on the 10 th day by the priest at our house. 

The same rituals took place inlcuding daily prasad to 

God. For Dasara, women and children built a showcase 

at their house to show off to other women. Diwali is 

another wonderful, exciting festival where the homes are 

decorated with oil lamps and the day ended with 

exuberant fire works. Each festival has a big story behind 

it and the festival is often a celebration of a victorious 

ending. 

Some of the other things that fascinate me about 

India are the rich history. It is one of the oldest 

civilizations in the world, ruled by many kings and 

kingdoms. My grandmother used to read us bedtime 

stories about the past rulers, including King Ashoka and 

other stories about gods and goddesses and rakshasas, 

which were often filled with suspense, excitement, and 

morals. King Ashoka, or Ashoka the Great was one of 

India’s greatest emperors. He ruled almost the entire 

subcontinent of India from 269 BC to 232 BC. His empire 

stretched from present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan in 

the west, to the present day Bangladesh and the Indian 

state of Assam in the east, and as far south as northern 

Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. He was a devotee of 

nonviolence, love, truth, tolerance and vegetarianism and 

is remembered in history as a philanthropic 

administrator. Ashoka played a critical role in helping 

make Buddhism a world religion. The emblem of the 

modern Republic of India is an adaptation of the Lion 

Capital of Ashoka. 

Another great ruler was the Muslim emperor, 

King Shah Jahan. He built the magnificent monument, 

the Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife and queen, 

Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. Taj Mahal of India, “the 

epitome of love”, “a monument of immeasurable beauty” 

was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory 

of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, with whom he fell in 

love at the first sight. The Taj Mahal was constructed 

INDIA LINK, 2011 33

over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty 

thousand workers. Built entirely of white marble, the 

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the 

world. 

Because India is a land of intense spirituality 

and religious faith, temples are an integral part of Indian 

culture. From the Sun Temple in Konark to the Golden 

Temple in Amritsar, each temple represents a fascinating 

aspect of Indian religion, tradition, and history. The 

Ancient Haridwar (the “Gateway to God”), located at the 

foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand and the 

Ganges river, is one of the seven holiest places in India 

and one of the oldest living cities. Varanasi, in the state 

of Uttar Pradesh, is known as the city of Lord Shiva, the 

god of creation and destruction. It is believed that anyone 

who dies here will be liberated from the cycle of 

reincarnation. Bodhgaya, Rishikesh, and Amritsar are 

also among the top holiest places in India. Amritsar, 

founded in 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of 

Sikhs is the spiritual capital of the Sikhs and gained its 

name, meaning “Holy Pool of Nectar” from the body of 

water around the Golden Temple. Nearly all Indian 

temples reveal beautiful unique architecture. 

India also has great natural beauty. To name a 

few: the Himalayan mountains running from west to 

east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river 

valley, Ooty, and Kodaicanal in Tamilnadu. Kodaicanal, 

the princess of Hill Stations, is located in Dindugal 

District of Tamilnadu. It is one of the most famous hill 

stations in South India, located on the southern tip of 

Palani Hills. It is a favorite destination for honeymooners 

and is also the most visited tourist destination. 

The other intriguing aspect of India is the 

cultural diversity. The Indian subcontinent consists of a 

number of separate linguistic communities each 

of which share a common language and culture. 

The people in India speak many languages and 

dialects which are mostly varieties of 15 principal 

languages. People in each part of India not only 

speak a different language but they also dress 

differently, prepare different dishes, and celebrate 

different festivals and pray to different deities. 

Ragasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat are very different 

from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. It 

is a wonderful experience to travel to different 

parts of India because every part is very different 

and has its own uniqueness and flavor. 

We also had great leaders, one of the most 

influential being Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 

(10/2/1869 – 1/30/1948). He was the political and 

ideological leader of India during the Indian 

independence movement. He was a pioneer of 


satyagraha, a philosophy founded upon ahimsa or 

nonviolence and led India to independence and inspired 

movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. 

Through his efforts, India gained its independence on 

August 15, 1947. 

While people are people across the world, India 

has a very rich culture and history which must be passed 

on to our children and to their children from our ancestors 

so they will be proud of their wonderful heritage and will 

pass this on to their children and grand children. Grand 

Rapids does a wonderful job bringing the community 

together to celebrate and maintain this cultural link 

with our country. I am fortunate that my kids are exposed 

to had the opportunity to participate in our Indian 

religious and cultural traditions here in Grand Rapids. 

We had the opportunity to get involved with our West 

Michigan Hindu Temple and through my daughter’s 

dance with Smita Chandra, we had the opportunity to 

involve with India Link. My kids are now 10 and 11 

years old and I hope this positive exposure during the 

past 5 years will leave a permanent imprint on them 

about our culture, heritage, and values. �

COLORS OF INDIA 

Sohela Kaur Suri 

Amerced in the colors, 

Filled with wonders, 

The music’s enchanting, 

Crazy loud ranting, 

Bangles are clinking, 

Anklets are jingling, 

The color of Mehndi so ostentatious, 

After hours or sitting how tenacious, 

Dancing and singing energetically, 

Constantly joyous habitually. 

And this is just the beginning, 

Such craziness my head is spinning, 

The country I love, 

The place I’m so proud of, 

I think we can all agree, 

India’s a tremendous country. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 35

. 

But, what is the truth ? 

The truth is that the Mumbai Police is the most 

efficientmost courteous, most helpful, most courageous, 

and the most hospitable police force in the Country. While 

I am no expert in police matters, as a common man of this 

city I have every right to voice my opinion of the way the 

cops of Mumbai discharge their duty. I see and observe 

like the legendary Sherlock Holmes, who surely would 

have concurred with me on my rating of the Mumbai Cop 

as the best in the world. 

It has become fashionable for many journalists of the well 

known dailies to scathingly attribute corruption, 

inefficiency and all the bad qualities you can imagine to 

the police but how many of them seriously take up the 

cause of the cops? Like if all cops are corrupt as the writers 

lead us to believe, why is there so many cases of suicides 


The The Great 

Great 

Mumbai Mumbai Police 

Police 

By By T TT.M.V 

T .M.V .M.Viswanath 

.M.V iswanath 

Before anyone starts accusing me of being a police ‘chamcha’, let me explain that I do not contemplate enjoying that 

accolade, least of all when I don’t deserve it. But truth must be told and told in no uncertain terms. If by my telling the 

truth, the Mumbai Police find themselves on a pedestal, so be it! For, being on a pedestal is no new experience for the 

Mumbai Policeman. He has often hoisted himself on it in a bout of exaggerated enthusiasm, only to find himself 

coming crashing down later on 

among the Mumbai Cops, while you don’t see the same 

occurring among the cops of the other states and cities? 

For a cop to commit suicide, fate must have really played 

a cruel trick on him, and this cannot be due to exposed 

case of corruption, as a corrupt cop will be a shameless 

one, and will not drive himself to do the ultimate act of 

taking away his own life. 

I want to take the superlative qualities which I have 

attributed to the Mumbai Police one by one and offer some 

explanations. So, here goes: 

Most Most Most Most Most Efficient Efficient Efficient Efficient Efficient 

Any honest and law abiding citizen of this great metropolis 

knows that the track record of Mumbai Cops in solving 

crimes is outstanding. Take the famous cases like those 

of the world’s most notorious conman and murderer 

Charles Sobraj who was nabbed by inspector Zende in a 

restaurant near Panvel. Or the Indian Navy Commander 

Nanavati’s case of murdering his wife’s paramour, Ahuja.or 

the one about Raman Raghav the mass serial killer, and 

the recent nabbing of the Al Qaida activist , etc. are only 

few of the many cases where the Mumbai Cop has achieved 

glory. True, they have failed miserably on many important 

cases like nabbing the notorious Don, Dawood Ibrahim 

and his ‘D’company , but this only shows their human 

fallibility. Fact is inspite of being no match to the American 

and other western nations’ cops in terms of being fitted 

out with modern arms and gadgets, and technology like 

global positioning systems for tracking the movements of 

crooks etc., these simple guys have done it time and again. 

Most Most Most Most Most Courteous Courteous Courteous Courteous Courteous and and and and and helpful helpful helpful helpful helpful 

This relates to a personal experience. About fifteen years 

ago, I had wrongly parked my car in Nariman Point, and 

when I came back to get it after a meeting , I found that

my car was not there and feared the worst – some car thief 

has stolen my car. The nearby panwala, howeveasked me 

not to worry saying that the car has been towed by the 

traffic police and that I should find my car in the custody 

of Azad Maidan Police station. So I rushed in a cab there 

to reclaim my car and was told by the cops there that my 

car was not there and I should go near Mantralaya 

administrative block where the Nariman Point cars are 

towed to and parked in the open lot there with a police 

guard standing by. 

After a mad dash in the same cab to the mantralaya 

open parking ground, I actually found my car standing 

next to a hundred cars similarly towed away for parking 

offences. With great relief, I requested the cop to give me 

my car back, but he told me I should go to the colaba police 

station to pay a fine and bring the receipt back to him and 

then take my car away. 

The same patient taxi driver now drove me to the 

Colaba Police Station, where I was welcomed by a most 

friendly inspector who asked me to pay a fine of Rs.250=00. 

I took my wallet out and was shocked to fine the wallet 

contained only Rs.50=00 which was entirely due to my 

carelessness of the morning of forgetting to put enough 

cash in my wallet. When I explained my predicament to 

the inspector, he flabbergasted me by offering me a loan 

of Rs 250=00 and asking me to repay him the next day or 

send it by money order to him. I can bet that any other cop 

in any other city of the world would have asked me to 

arrange the money first , then claim my car.This fantastic 

inspector , the good Samaritan that he was, not only 

offered to loan me the fine amount , but also offered a hot 

cup of tea to me and the taxi driver . That’s hospitality 

and courtesy for you from the Mumbai Cop. 

Most Most Most Most Most Courageous 

Courageous 

Courageous 

Courageous 

Courageous 

It is indeed frivolous for me to talk about the courage of 

the Mumbai cops as practically everyday one reads in the 

papers of the underworld gangs involved in a shoot out 

with our guys. It is in risking their life on a day to day 

basis the Mumbai cops has made this city the safest city 

as compared to other cities of this continent and outside. 

I am saying from sufficient knowledge of traveling widely 

around our country and outside to know how unsafe most 

cities in the world are after 8 PM in the night. In Mumbai, 

I think any body can walk freely on the roads even after 11 

PM in the night, thanks to the Mumbai Police. � 

INDIA LINK, 2011 37


LIVE LIFE 

TO THE FULLEST 

•Inspire yourself to live happy. Find a purpose and direction for your life. Happy 

thoughts will reduce stress from your life. This will make your life healthy both 

mentally and physically. And you will live life to the fullest. 

•Realize the fact that when you really desire something, the entire universe conspires 

to help you realize your dream. And you will be blessed with the magic of the miracles 

of life which will give you complete satisfaction, joy and happiness. 

•Start your day fresh each morning when you open your eyes say to yourself- “I, not 

the events have the power to make me happy or sad y today. I can make the choice. 

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I am 

going to be happy in it”. 

•For whatever you want in life, start today, not tomorrow – today, Let it be a small 

beginning - a tiny beginning, 

Your happiness depends on starting today - every day. 

•Set Your Goals and act- Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and 

for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. 

• The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely 

what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also 

quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray. 

• Believe in yourself- Start listening to yourself and find the power and motivation stored up inside 

you. Use it to direct yourself into the path of true happiness and satisfaction. Believe in yourself. 

Life will give you what you want. . 

•“The thing always happens that you really believe in, and the belief in a thing makes it 

•happen.” – Frank Lloyd Wright 

•If you want others to believe in you, then you must first believe in it yourself. Success is built on 

confidence. If you believe in yourself then you have confidence in yourself and your abilities. 

•Make a realistic approach towards life- With greater confidence in yourself and your abilities set 

bigger goals, make bigger plans and commit yourself to achieving objectives that today only you 

dream about. Remember you hold in your hands to do or be anything you want or desire. 

•The key to live life is to know how to balance all aspects of life. It is removing all the clutter from 

our life and balancing all the four aspects namely physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects 

of our life. 

•Live Life to the fullest is to live and count each separate day as a separate life with the following 

approach- 

•Positive Thinking 

•Making Choices and Knowing What You Want; 

•Creating Balance; 

•Building Great Relationships; 

•Maintaining Fitness and Good Health; 

•Expanding and Growing Out of Your Comfort Zone; 

By RimaArora

INDIA LINK, 2011 39

40 

INDIA LINK, 2011

Awakening in India 

and Corruption 

The best thing about Indian politicians is that they 

make you feel you are a better person. Not 

surprisingly, Indians often derive their moral 

confidence not through the discomfort of examining their 

own actions, but from regarding themselves as decent 

folks looted by corrupt, villainous politicians. Political, 

bureaucratic, corporate and individual corruption in India 

are major concerns. A 2005 study conducted by 

Transparency International in India found that more than 

55% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes 

or influence to get jobs done in public offices successfully. 

In 2010 India was ranked 87 th out of 178 countries 

in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions 

Index. India tops the list for black money in the entire 

world with almost US$1456 billion in Swiss banks 

(approximately USD 1.4 trillion) in the form of black 

money. [4] According to the data provided by the Swiss 

Banking Association Report (2006), India has more black 

money than the rest of the world combined. Indian-owned 

Swiss bank account assets are worth 13 times the country’s 

national debt. 

Though India is already worlds fourth largest 

economy after US, China and Japan, it is fast emerging 

today as the richest poor country in the world. The recent 

scams involving unimaginably big amounts of money, such 

as the 2G spectrum scam, are well known. It is estimated 

that more than trillion dollars are stashed away in foreign 

havens, while 80% of Indians earn less than 2$ per day 

and every second child is malnourished. It seems as if 

only the honest people are poor in India and want to get 

rid of their poverty by education, emigration to cities, and 

immigration, whereas all the corrupt ones, are getting 

rich through scams and crime. 

In recent years there is widespread condemnation 

of corruption. Studies have shown that corruption has 

‘toxic’ effects on societies. Corruption affects economic 

growth, investment and government expenditure, hurts 

the poor and worsens income inequality and poverty, 

reduces the efficiency of firms, and increases the 

transaction costs of doing business. In countries where 

corruption is successfully controlled, there is greater inflow 

of foreign investments, higher per capita income growth, 

higher literacy rate and increased business growth. Hence, 

eradicating corruption inevitably helps further poverty 

eradication and economic development. 

Complied by Mrs. Neelam S. Kumar 

What are the Major Factors responsible for 

Corruption in India? 

The most important factor is the nature of the 

human being. People in general, have a great thirst for 

luxuries and comforts and as a result of which they get 

themselves involved in all unscrupulous activities that 

result in monetary or material benefits. Moral and 

spiritual values are not given utmost importance in 

educational system, which is highly responsible for the 

deterioration of our society. Also it is a fact that the salary 

paid to employees is very less and as a result of which 

they are forced to earn money by illegal ways. The 

punishments imposed on the criminals are inadequate. 

The political leaders have spoiled the society completely. 

They lead a luxurious life and do not even care about the 

society. People of India are not awakened and enlightened. 

They fear to raise their voice against anti-social elements 

prevailing in the society. 

Anna Hazare’s fast was the wake up call for India. 

This is at the heart of a self-righteous middle-class 

INDIA LINK, 2011 41

uprising against political corruption, a television news 

drama that reached its inevitable climax in Delhi this 

year when the rural social reformer Anna Hazare was 

about to set out for his death fast. 

One school of thought is that the morality of 

fasting unto death for a political cause in a constitutional 

democracy has always been a tricky issue. There is 

something deeply coercive about fasting unto death. When 

it is tied to an unparalleled moral eminence, as it is in the 

case of Anna Hazare, it amounts to blackmail. But B.R. 

Ambedkar was surely right, in one of his greatest 

speeches, to warn that recourse to such methods was 

opening up a democracy to the “grammar of anarchy”. 

Like our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in 

his Independence Day address has said that he did not 

have “a magic wand” to end corruption in India. Indians 

have a deep and complicated relationship with corruption. 

As in any long marriage, it is not clear whether they are 

happily or unhappily married. The country’s economic 

system is fused with many strands of corruption and 

organized systems of tax evasion. The middle class is 

very much a part of this. Most Indians have paid a bribe. 

Most Indian businesses cannot survive or remain 

competitive without stashing away undeclared earnings. 

Almost everybody who has sold a house has taken one 

part of the payment in cash and evaded tax on it. Yet, the 

branding of corruption is so powerful that Indians moan 

the moment they hear the word. The comic hypocrisy of it 

all was best evident in the past few months as the anticorruption 

movement gathered unprecedented middleclass 

support. 

One school of thought argued that the law should 

make a distinction between the “black money” of corrupt 

politicians, earned through kickbacks, and the “black 

money” of businessmen who had moved their cash abroad 

years ago to save themselves from unreasonably high tax 

rates in socialist India. The essay implied that corrupt 

politicians were the real evil and that the tax-evading 

businessmen were just smart. 

Corruption is such an integral part of Indian 

society that the chief economic adviser to the government, 

Kaushik Basu, has suggested legalizing the payment of 

bribes as in done in many countries like Uk etc. He received 

enthusiastic corporate support, which is to be expected 

since the largest bribe-payers in India are corporations. 

Mr. Basu’s reasoning is that if the payment of bribes were 

legalized, the bribe-payer could be persuaded to reveal 

the recipient. This would inject fear into the hearts of 

politicians and officials who expected bribes. 

Today, there is a perceptible increase in the 

number of young people who are acutely aware and 

interested in the fate of the nation. That is because they 

are different from the generations before them whose only 

objective in life was to escape India. Now that the world is 

what it is, there is no place to escape to. So they want 

their home to be a better place — where bribe-takers are 

punished and bribe-payers live happily ever after. 


Corruption is a challenge. And public agitation 

is required to shame government. But it is possible to 

maintain, in reasonable good faith, that the Jan Lokpal 

Bill is not necessarily the best, or the only solution to the 

corruption challenge. We should not turn a complex 

institutional question into a simplistic moral imperative. 

I believe that a strong anti corruption law and a 

mechanism with the teeth to make it work are crucial if 

corruption is to be effectively fought. To that extent, a 

strong Lokpal is a must. However, the Lokpal is not an 

end in itself, but one of many means to an end, none of 

them mutually exclusive of the other. Privatizing all the 

Government departments or legalizing bribes are extreme 

possibilities or suggestions to curb corruption in India. 

Here are some other workable measures that should 

perhaps help reduce corruption: 

1. Introduce state-funding as part of election 

reforms: The high cost of elections and candidates’ 

dependence on money, often of questionable provenance, 

compromises them from the very outset. Once beholden to 

moneybags, they are under obligation to return the favour 

if they win. Of course, not all candidates can be funded by 

the state, so only candidates belonging to national parties 

receive election money from the state. 

2. A reasonable and transparent tax structure, 

backed by clean and clear enforcement: Our direct taxes 

(personal income and corporate) are no longer 

unreasonable, so there’s little excuse for trying to evade 

them. But there is an unhealthy trend in piling on 

surcharges on various pretexts. Also, there are tons of 

other taxes that can add up to quite a bit. Finally, there’s 

the larger question of how efficiently and honestly 

taxpayers’ money is put to use - when you see the state of 

government hospitals and schools, and rotten roads, you 

wonder where the money you paid as tax has gone? 

3. Liberal and contemporary laws that citizens can 

understand and respect: People find it difficult to accept 

ridiculous, outdated and moralistic laws - worse, they may 

not even be aware of some of these laws till some law

enforcer somewhere decides to use them to harass and to 

extract money. Once you dismiss a law or rule as stupid 

and worthy of breaking (like not allowing drinking under 

25 years of age), there’s a human tendency to take other 

laws less seriously. Therefore, to the extent possible, 

there’s a need to cut back on the multiplicity of 

unnecessary and complex laws, and zero in on just the 

ones that are needed to ensure a fair, equitable and just 

system. These should then be administered without fear 

or favour. 

4. Reduce the role of the state in people’s lives to the 

absolutely essential: In some ways, this is related to our 

earlier point. The greater the scope for state interference 

- be it the police or the clerk in a government office or the 

customs inspector - the greater the scope for harassment 

and graft. 

5. Genuine autonomy for the public/government sector: 

Big PSUs - think Air India, for instance - place huge 

contracts. Even a fraction of that is huge money in absolute 

terms. There is always a temptation for political bosses 

to exert their influence and swing the contract for chosen 

ones and receive handsome kickbacks. So get them out of 

the day-to-day functioning of these PSUs. 

6. Minimize discretionary powers of ministers and 

bureaucrats: This would reduce scope for misuse of such 

powers to favour some — especially in lucrative areas 

such as award of government land. Where discretionary 

powers are unavoidable, bring in checks and balance. After 

a deal is done, the relevant documents should be put up 

on the Net. 

7. Pay government and PSU officers, judges and 

policemen market-indexed salaries commensurate with 

their responsibility: This would minimise the ‘need’ for 

bribes. Their salaries could be benchmarked against 

corporate sector salaries. But higher salaries should be 

combined with exemplary punishment, including 

dismissal from service and a police case if an employee is 

caught indulging in corrupt practices. Mere transfer or 

suspension won’t do. 

8. Introduce sweeping police reforms and stronger 

judicial accountability: This has been discussed for 

decades but there’s been no action. The recommendations 

for reforms are already there. Set a time frame for 

implementation. This will make the police not just a 

professional force that’s not at the beck and call of 

politicians, but also a trained one with in-built checks 

against developing vested interests. Today the situation 

often is that the investigator (police officer) is answerable 

to the person being investigated (politician). Also, separate 

the police into two wings: one for investigation and the 

other for maintaining law and order. The two functions 

are different and require different skill sets. Sadly, the 

image of the judiciary has taken a knock in recent years - 

for the common man, the courts are the last resort for 

seeking justice. 

9. Blacklist corrupt businessmen: Private businesses 

caught indulging in corrupt practices or bribing officials 

should be blacklisted for, say, 10 years and be barred from 

government projects. In the category of corrupt practices 

would fall use of shoddy material — like road contractors 

who give one inch of tar when they are supposed to give 

four inches and the road crumbles after one monsoon. 

Bigger instances of private businesses cutting corners in 

public projects by colluding with corrupt officials should 

attract exemplary punishment. 

10. Transparency and stricter scrutiny of government 

tenders/orders, including auction/sale of public-owned 

assets: Hundreds of thousands of crores of orders are 

placed every year by government departments, PSUs, 

municipal corporations and the like. It’s common 

knowledge that tenders are often awarded on 

considerations other than merit. This is one of the biggest 

sources of corruption in the country. And don’t forget, this 

is taxpayers’ money that is being diverted illegally. 

11. Introduce Time frame and Accountability like Delhi 

Government in all Government services to reduce 

corruption which is today hitting all common man n all 

public services. 

In an age of cynicism, Anna Hazare is a colossus 

of idealism. His sacrifices should cause all of us to 

introspect. Anna Hazare has awakened India and 

emphasized that firm and strong steps are needed to curb 

the menace of Corruption in India to ensure that an 

atmosphere has to created where the good, patriotic, 

intellectuals can come forward to serve the country with 

pride, virtue, and honesty for the welfare of the people of 

India. Finally, in this awakened India it is for every one of 

us, let’s try and say no to bribes. This is the right moment 

to unleash a national campaign against giving bribes as 

the mood against corruption is high. Ultimately, we can’t 

get rid of the bribe taker if we are willing to be bribe 

givers. ● 

INDIA LINK, 2011 43

What What is is sleep sleep Apnea? 

Apnea? 

Sleep apnea means that your breathing often is 

blocked or partly blocked during sleep. The problem 

can be mild to severe, based on how often your lungs 

don’t get enough air. This may happen from 5 to more 

than 50 times an hour. 

A huge number of people all over the world suffer from 

sleep apnea, probably far more than you think. 

· Sleep apnea is thought to occur in 20 million 

Americans to some extent. That means that one 

in fifteen Americans is suffering from sleep apnea 

in some form or another, which equals to just 

under 7%. 


Sleep Apnea 

Written by: JasbirHora, CA 

· Sleep apnea is far more common in those over 

the age of 40 – but research has indicated that a 

whipping 50% of all sleep apnea cases occur in 

individuals over the age of 40. 

· 24% of men are thought to suffer from sleep apnea 

to some extent, compared to 9% of all women. 

· In terms of the deadly effects, 38,000 die annually 

from cardiovascular problems associated with 

sleeping disorder. 

· Sleep apnea sufferers are six times more likely 

to be involved in a fatal car accident. 

Approximately 1,400 people die annually from 

sleep apnea accidents.

Several types of sleep apnea exist but the most common 

type is obstructive sleep apnea accounting for 85% of all 

sleep apnea cases. 

What What causes causes obstructive obstructive sleep sleep sleep apnea? 

apnea? 

Blocked or narrowed airways in your nose, mouth, or throat 

can cause sleep apnea. Your airway can become blocked 

when your throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep. 

Sleep apnea can also occur if you have large tonsils or 

adenoids or a large uvula uvula uvula uvula uvula (small finger-shaped piece of 

tissue that hangs down from the soft palate in the back of 

the throat. It can usually be seen when a person opens his 

or her mouth wide. Although the exact purpose of the 

uvula is not known, some experts believe that it helps 

keep food from going down the breathing passage when a 

person swallows). During the day when you are awake 

and standing up, these may not cause problems. But 

when you lie down at night, they can press down on your 

airway, narrowing it and causing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea 

can also occur if you have a problem with your jawbone. 

Sleep apnea is more likely to occur if you are overweight, 

use certain medicines or alcohol before bed, or sleep on 

your back. 

What What are are the the symptoms? 

symptoms? 

symptoms? 

The main symptoms of sleep apnea that you may notice 

are: 

· Not feeling rested after a night’s sleep 

· Feeling sleepy during the day 

· Waking up with a headache 

Your bed partner may notice that while you sleep: 

· You stop breathing 

· You often snore loudly 

· You gasp or choke 

· You toss and turn 

In children, the main cause of sleep apnea is large tonsils 

or adenoids. Children who have sleep apnea: 

· Nearly always snore 

· May be hyperactive or have problems paying 

attention during the day 

· May be restless during sleep and wake up often. 

They also may have problems with bed-wetting. 

But children may not seem very sleepy during the day (a 

key symptom in adults). The only symptom of sleep apnea 

in some children may be that they do not grow as quickly 

as most children their age. 

Should Should you you worry worry about about sleep sleep apnea? apnea? 

apnea? 

If you have sleep apnea, you may not be sleeping as well 

as you could. And you may be more likely to end up with 

serious problems such as: 

· High blood pressure 

· High blood pressure in your lungs 

· An abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure, 

coronary artery disease (CAD), or stroke 

· Depression 

· Diabetes 

How How is is sleep sleep sleep apnea apnea diagnosed? 

diagnosed? 

Consult your physician if you or your partner observes any 

of the symptoms mentioned above. Your doctor will 

probably examine you and ask about your past health. 

He or she may also ask you or your sleeping partner about 

your snoring and sleep behavior and how tired you feel 

during the day. 

Your doctor may suggest a sleep study. A sleep study 

usually takes place at a sleep center, where you will spend 

the night. Sleep studies find out how often you stop 

breathing or have too little air flowing into your lungs 

during sleep. They also find out how much oxygen you 

have in your blood during sleep. You may have blood tests 

and X-rays. 

How How is is sleep sleep sleep apnea apnea treated? 

treated? 

You may be able to treat mild sleep apnea by making 

changes in how you live and the way you sleep. For 

example: 

· Lose weight if you are overweight 

· Sleep on your side and not your back 

· Avoid alcohol and medicines such as sedatives 

before bed 

If lifestyle changes do not help sleep apnea, you may be 

able to use an oral breathing device. These devices help 

keep your airway open while you sleep. 

If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may be 

able to use a machine that helps you breathe while you 

sleep. This treatment is called continuous positive airway 

pressure, or CPAP. Sometimes medicine that helps you 

stay awake during the day may be used along with CPAP. 

If your tonsils, adenoids, uvula, or other tissues are 

blocking your airway, your doctor may suggest surgery to 

open your airways. � 

INDIA LINK, 2011 45

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Jagjit Singh 

The legend lives on... 

By Ashok Kumar 


On October 10 th 2011, a shining star disappeared in the oblivion! It left millions 

of music lovers in India, Pakistan, and across the globe in tears and melancholia. 

Only way to deaden the infinite pain, it would seem, is to submerge oneself in the 

vast legacy he left behind. The maestro left a world of ghazals and songs behind 

for the music lovers to savor and create an aura of calming and soothing emotions. 

In the words of Javed Akhtar, he had “chaen” (stable calmness) in his creations. 

Beyond a vast treasure trove of ghazals, Jagjit’s 

major contribution was to bring the ghazals within 

the reach of a common man. Prior to jagjit, ghazals 

were set in hard, literary Urdu or Arabic language 

and sung with considerable classical artistry. Only 

the musically gifted could sing ghazals. Jagjit Singh 

used simple tunes and simple words (many times in 

Hindi dialect, not even in Urdu) for his ghazals that 

everyone could understand and hum. But, lurking 

behind the simplicity of words were thoughts and 

emotions so deep and penetrating that seared and 

etched directly into the heart and descended into the 

soul. The dearth of classical wizardry or adroitness 

in his tunes did not take away an iota of profound 

musical value and impact that traditional ghazals 

generated. 

Tum ko dekha to ye khayal aaya, Zindagi dhop 

tum ghanaa saayaa ( I saw you and this thought came: 

My life was [in the hot] sun and you were the thick 

shadow). Or, Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho, Kya ghum 

hai jisko chhupa rahe ho – You are smiling so much; 

what hurt are you hiding? These two ghazals, which 

were on the lips of millions of Indians and Pakistanis, 

embrace and reflect the entirety of Jagjit singh’s 

ghazals’ character and philosophy. They are simple 

to understand, easy to sing, and yet incredibly 

profound and deep in their impact. Keeping with the same promise of simplicity 

and elegance, then came numbers such as Hoton se chhoo lo tum, mera geet amar 

kar do (Touch my song with your lips and immortalize it), or Ye daulat bhi lelo, Ye 

shohrat bhi lelo (take all my wealth, all my frame) that pain-immersed rendering 

echoed the yearning of many of us who recall our childhood days with nostalgia. I 

do not think there is another piece of art or music that expresses these emotions 

more expressively or eloquently. The list of memorable melodies like yeh zindagi 

kisi aur ki, mere naam ka koi aur hai, Patta-patta boota-boota , Hazaar baar 

ruke ham, Kal chaudhavin ki raat thi, … the list of musical pearls is endless. 

Importantly, these hits which played on the lips of millions were made when the

world of ghazals was dominated by names like Mehdi 

Hassan, Begum Akhtar, Noor Jehan, Malika Pukhraj, and 

Talat Mahmood. 

Beyond adding great accessibility, Jagjit Singh should 

also be justly credited with contemporizing the genre of 

ghazals with bold deployment of Western instruments, 

such as guitar and drums to the traditional Indian 

instruments, such as harmonium, sitar and tabla that 

attracted hoards of enchanted customers to his 

productions and made him a business success. 

The Unforgettebles- the first album of Jagjit and 

Chitra (his wife) Singh – started their meteoric music 

journey in 1976. I remember hearing Kafeel Azer’s nazm– 

Baat Niklegi to Door Talak Jayegi (once a rumor stars, it 

will go far afield) at friend’s house and deciding to stay 

(more aptly overstay)at their house and listening to the 

songs of the album repeatedly until falling asleep. The 

inaugural guitar notes followed by Jagjit’s slightly husky 

but immensely melodious voice and the “sukoon (peace)” 

in the song just gets to your inner sanctum sanctorum. 

The melodies of the entire album would make anyone 

pensive and ebullient at the same time. The most popular 

number of the album, Sarakti jaye hai rukh se naqab 

ahista ahista (lyrics: Ameer Meenai) continues to draw 

prolonged applause and accolades from audience just after 

the recital of the very first line even today. Over a period of 

four decades, Jagjit Singh has created over 40 albums, 

some in tandem with his wife, Chitra. Among his most 

serene and heart-touching albums, I would include 

Milestone, Main or Meri Tahhayee, Ecstacies, Echos, Mirza 

Ghalib, H O P E, Kaikashan, and Sajda. Indeed, among 

his myriad compositions and creations, if I were to 

recommend one to music lovers, I would recommend one 

from the album Sajda and listen to the following number: 

The ghazal, set in mystic environ, starts with a 

rising, high-pitch, heart-rending voice that is calling God 

and begging in an extremely pain-filled voice: Grant my 

one wish, O god - Fill my being with pain (not the exact 

translation, sorry) … the song later evolves into the wish 

(again difficult to get the soul of the original verse, crudely 

translated): Either apply balm on the wounds of the planet 

or make my heart that of stone… 

No tribute to or compendium of Jagjit Singh’s 

body of work will be complete without mentioning the 

song “Chitthi Na Koi Sandesh … (no letter, no message 

…)” which he created after the death of his young son 

Vivek, who he fondly called Babu, in 1990. The trauma 

was enough for Chitra to stop singing altogether. Recently 

a family friend sung this song in a small gethering and 

everyone’s eyes were filled with tears of agony. I went back 

home and heard it again and again till I began to feel 

depressed. That is the power of Jagjit Singh’s ghazals. 

They are so compelling and so total in their impact and 

yet they use simple words and set to very simple tunes. 

But they convey a level of pain and helplessness that 

borders on transcendental. 

So far as his dedication to music is concerned, 

Jagjit Singh was a perfectionist. He told Hindustan 

Times, “Music is a vast subject. There is mathematics 

and grammar in music. Unless one knows all of it, one 

cannot become a good singer. One should learn music for 

15 years before actually trying their hands at singing 

ghazals”. Though his ghazals had less classical nuances, 

his mastery of classical ragas could be seen in his live 

shows where he freely inserted taanaas (long stable notes), 

aalaaps (just stretching a letter with a variety of tunes) 

that showed an extraordinary command of Indian classical 

music and aplomb and sweetness. 

Jagjeet Singh was borne in 1941 in Sri 

Ganagangar (erstwhile Rajputana in British India) in 

Sikh family who gave him the name Jagmohan. Incidently, 

he used to live in the adjacent house to my real sister’s 

house in srigagnganagar and her family tells me how they 

enjoyed his practice sessions into the wee hours of 

morning. 

Later, he changed his name to Jagjit (Victor of 

the world) Singh and his family called him Jeet. His 

extraordinary musical work both in volume and quality 

won him the coveted Bharat Bhushan award in 2003. 

There are many who believe that he deserved the highest 

award – Bharat Ratna simply because of his “massifying” 

the ghazal genre. 

Jagjit Singh affiliates, nay devotees, like me and 

Kuldip would find life tough after Jagjit Singh. We have 

lost an angel of music and the void will never fill for us. 

Yet we are comforted in the thought that he has left a 

body of ghazals that will serve us and the humanity forever 

in our low moments of sadness and bring us the tranquility 

and chaen we need. 

We will really never be without him. He is 

immortal. I think a befitting finale to this eulogy‘ will be 

what the venerable Lata ji said about Mohammed Rafi, 

the legendary singer: 

.Thanks, my musical angel, may you always live in the 

minds and hearts of everyone on the planet!! Adieu!! May 

the Gods of music personally take care of your soul!!! 

INDIA LINK, 2011 51

52 

INDIA LINK, 2011

By Rima Arora 

Happiness is a state of mind; we have the freedom to choose happiness. If we analyze each action at every stage of individuals the 

first conclusion will be that the motive behind each such action is to attain “HAPPINESS”. All the efforts, works or struggles which 

individuals are making in this world are directed to secure “HAPPINESS”. 

DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF HAPPINESS-The process of attaining happiness is different with different patterns of society and 

walks of life. Individuals are running after money, buildings, family, happiness, position, and status, facilities of conveyance, higher 

education, decent clothing, and improved standards of living all with a common aim of attaining “HAPPINESS”. 

However, it is a strange paradox that in every walk of life, happiness does not come alone but sorrow or misery follows as a close 

companion of happiness. This phenomenon keeps everybody in a strange state of mental un-equilibrium. Before one can follow the 

path leading to “HAPPINESS”, an individual must know clearly where “HAPPINESS” actually resides. 

Having known the real aim of life, viz ‘attainment of eternal happiness’, a complementary question arises as to where is the abode 

of this “HAPPINESS’, and how it can be achieved in practical life. 

UNDERSTANDING THE MIND-Correctly speaking, ‘ Mind’ is the real instrument which by proper tuning drives to the goal of life 

along the right path in the right direction and leads to the source of eternal happiness- the aim of life. It is the static position of the 

mind which imparts happiness. 

TRANSFORM THE MIND-The innermost part of the mind is conscience. The real power of happiness flows through this organ and 

the extent to which it can be derived depends upon the strength and cleanliness of the same. 

The ultimate aim is eternal happiness for which a regular war has being waged, always gazing deeply in the mind’s mirror, the 

conscience, which by practice illuminates better and better, as the angel of plus power develops and defects the devil of minus 

power. With sincere efforts an individual becomes fearless and sees himself as he really is and not as others look at him. 

THE TRUE PATH TO HAPPINESS therefore lies in- 

* Gaining true knowledge of the inner self, the seat of eternal bliss to locate the abode of permanent happiness. 

* Practice a control of the sensual forces which cause distraction to the mind through their developed army of desires and thoughts. 

* Controlling sensual pleasures and desires in assisting the control of the mind. 

* Keeping an eye on the mind’s mirror, the conscience and regulating the actions in a way that maximum plus power is transmitted 

to the conscience. 

* Proper preservation of the body in good health, to enjoy the worldly pleasures and have a turbulent mind. 

The real art of life lies in clearly picking up happiness and tread on a path which will lead to eternal happiness, which is not mixed 

with sorrow and pain, and will remain constant and will not diminish. We must all harvest this happiness in life. 

. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 53

I have seen castles made out of sand, 

Met people who believe destiny is 

engraved on the palm of their hands. 

I have seen people change their faith, 

Experienced love change into hate. 

I have seen people grow younger with age, 

And a bird who wouldn’t fly off an open cage. 

I have seen love sold for money, 

People who are devastated inside but outside funny. 

I have seen the unicorn fall in love with the toad, 

People who owned half city have now hit the road. 

I have learned to expect the unexpected, 

Perfection doesn’t exist we all are defected. 

Everyone cries, some just hide their tears, 

They say coal turns diamond over a thousand years. 

Someone may believe you are one in a million, 

For others you are just another nobody in the billion. 

So live life with all that you have, 

Cherish all your moments happy or sad 

Feel blessed with what you have 

because life is too short to hold tears, 

So say cheese......keep smiling......:) 


Contributed by Vineeta Satyanarayan 

Prateeksha 

Yeh kaisi kashmakash yeh kaisa andhera, 

Ankhen khuli to dekha ek chehera. 

Muskura raha tha wo, par ankhen na de rahi thi saath uska. 

Haath me kuch nayi kitaben aur chehere pe ek ummeed. 

Dikhane laga tha unko jo na dekh parahe the hum dono ko. 

Apni hi raftaar me guzarte ja rahe the wo beparwah. 

Main dekhta raha. 

Bekhabar tha wo meri nazar se. 

Thak gaya tha muskurate muskurate maathe pe shikan leke. 

Koi to guzarata jo puchta uska haal. 

Par Kya kisi ko tha itna samay jo karta yeh sawaal? 

Sar par chadi kadi dhoop garmiyon ki aur pet bhookha. 

Do kitaben bik jaati to wo kuch khaleta. 

Par kahan thi uski aisi kismat. 

Dhota jaraha tha unka bojh. 

Paseene se lat pat ja gira dharti ki godh. 

Main dekhta raha na kar paya aur kuch. 

Bheedekhatta hogayi minaton me. 

Main na uthpaya usme shaamil hone. 

Uth khada hua wo ek bar phir prateeksha me. 

Dubata hua suraj phir chamkega asman me. 

Do kitaben bik gayin thin us beparwah bheedme. 

Ojhal hua meri ankhon se uska drishya. 

Main pada raha sadak ke kinaare, apahij……… 

By Vineeta Satyanarayan

INDIA LINK, 2011 55

Madhubala & 

Geeta Dutt 

Lives intertwined 


Author: Author: Swarapriya 

Swarapriya 

Ebullient and exciting. Effervescent and enticing. 

Enchanting and enthralling. Energetic and 

entertaining. Sensuous and sensitive. 

Bewitching and beguiling. Magnetic and 

mesmerizing. Vibrant and full of verve. When one talks 

about beautiful Madhubala one thinks of these words. 

Interestingly, the voice of that great singer Geeta Dutt 

(nee Roy) can be described exactly with just about the 

same traits. 

Madhubala. An original. Elegant extraordinaire. An 

exquisite beauty of unparalleled grace. A glowing face that 

could launch a thousand ships. An infectious smile that 

could aflutter a million hearts. A spontaneous burst of 

laughter that could make even a lightning to go haywire. 

Geeta Dutt (nee Roy) . An original. Singer extraordinaire. 

A brilliant voice of unparalleled melody. A free flowing 

voice that could charm thousands. An infectiously 

mellifluous voice that could sway millions of music lovers. 

A dulcet tone that sets the tone so that even a dullest 

could enamor. 

Both of them came into movie limelight at around the 

same time. They were almost of the same tender age. 

They both romanced life to the fullest. They both courted 

someone whom they were professionally associated with. 

Both faced stiff opposition from their respective parents 

about these relationships. Even after they got married 

they both had very little joy in their lives. Their story was 

that of unflinching agony, unending suffering, utter 

disillusionment, and ultimately untimely death. 

Madhubala passed away when she was barely 36. Geeta 

Dutt passed away when she was only 42. 

In the brief span of few years of glory these both artistes 

shared, they left behind a legacy of rich oeuvre of 

everlasting work. The wonderful body of work that 

intersected their lives resulted in nearly 50 magnificent 

songs of ethereal quality. These songs ranged from sweet 

to sentimental, soothing to sultry, sensuous to sizzling, 

tantalizing to tragic, mellisonic to melancholic, romantic 

to razzle-dazzle, and of pure pleasure to pinching pain. 

The full spectrum of the melodic rainbow moods was never 

before this well defined and delineated in all its glowing 

and glorious colors that this montage of melodic work did. 

Madhubala’s and Geeta’s parents moved to Mumbai 

seeking better life when both of them were very young. 

Madhubala found work as a child artiste, her real name 

was Mumtaz, when she was only nine years old. “Basant” 

made in 1942 was her first movie. Geeta was discovered 

when Pandit Hanuman Prasad overheard her singing in 

her residence and took under his wings. Her opportunity 

to sing came in a chorus song in 1946 in “Bhakt Prahlad”. 

The year 1947 was an eventful year in both of their lives. 

Mumtaz changed her name to Madhubala at Devika 

Rani’s suggestion when she got an opportunity to play the 

lead role in “Neel Kamal”. That very same year, Geeta

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sang several songs in “Do Bhai” under the baton of S.D. 

Burman. The song from this movie, “Mere Sundar Sapna 

Beet Gaya”, in Geeta’s fresh, unique, and ethereal voice 

became an overnight sensation and with it Geeta became 

a celebrity. 

Interestingly Geetaji sang for Madhubala in her “Neel 

Kamal” and two other movies in 1947. If both of them 

were trying to get a foothold in the industry the songs of 

these movies don’t tell the entire story. Because they show 

a mature and understanding voice that has such depth 

that once you hear them, they stay with you forever. For 

example, you can feel how Geeta pleads for leading lady, 

Madhubala, with the song “Bol Bol Baalam Bedardi”. 

In “Dil Ki Rani” also from 1947, Geetaji changes her voice 

to fit the moods of her heroine, Madhubala, brilliantly. 

She collaborates with her in the moods of happiness 

(“Aaha More Mohan Ne Mujhko Bulaaya”), helplessness 

(“Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Mere Aake Bana De”), complaintive 

(“Kyon Baalam Humse Rooth Gaye”), mockingly quizzical 

(“O Duniya Ke Rehne Waalo Kahaan Gaya Chitchor”). 

When you hear the voice of Geeta in these songs, you can 

play how Madhubala enacted them in your own mind’s 

eye. This is what the dizzying power of sweet songs can do 

to dazzle you. The 

singer who sang this 

romantic and sweet 

“Ahaa more mohan ne 

mujhko bulayaa” did 

not hesitate in singing 

the complaining song 

“Kyon balam humse 

rooth gaye” in the 

same film. 

Another Madhubala 

starrer film “Mere 

Bhagwan” released the 

same year. Since we do 

not have the videos of 

this rare film, we can 

not conclusively say 

whether this lovely 

melody composed by 

Sajjad Hussain was 

filmed on Madhubala 

or not. Yet, this sweet song ‘Mujhe baawari baawari log 

kahe” penned by Shewan Rizwi is worth paying attention 

to. 

It looks like Geeta and Madhubala had the most 

association in the year 1947. Another Madhubala starrer, 

a historical film “Chittor Vijay” was also released in the 

same year. It had music composed by S D Burman and 

Geeta Dutt is reported to have sung at least two songs for 

it. Again, no information is available about the songs 

themselves or whom they were filmed on. One can safely 

believe that at least one of them would have been filmed 

on Madhubala, if not both of them! 

1951 was another year the lives of these two great artistes 

incredibly ran almost parallel to each other. During the 

shooting of the movie “Tarana” love blossomed between 


Madhubala and the hero of the movie, Dilip Kumar. This 

was one of several movies they worked together. Dev 

Anand’s “Baazi”, also made in 1951, had a first time 

director, Guru Dutt. Geeta, a celebrity by this time, sang 

several beautiful songs in this movie recorded under 

Burmanda’s direction. Geeta Roy and Guru Dutt were 

attracted to each other and romance between them 

flourished. 

Between the year 1947 and 1954, Geeta sang for several 

films starring Madhubala. Some of her songs were lip 

synced by Madhubala, for some others we are not sure. 

Videos of some of the films are not available. The list of 

films is : Laal Dupatta (1948), Sipahiya (1949), Paras 

(1949), Nishana (1950), Sangdil (1952) and Armaan 

(1953). Out of these, the video of the religious song 

“Darshan Pyasi, aayi daasi” from the film Sangdil is 

available and this song is indeed filmed on Madhubala. 

Were not Madhubala and Geeta “thirsty for the sight of 

their respective lovers” in those days? Sure they were! 

The year 1955 also saw so much commonality between 

these two stars. Madhubala and Dilip Kumar were very 

much in love with each other. The married life of Geeta 

and Guru Dutt was harmonious. They were blessed with a 

son a year before. The year however was even more 

important because Madhubala appeared in Geeta Dutt 

husband’s movie, “Mr. & Mrs. ‘55”, as the leading lady. 

Geeta had a chance to sing six songs. Of these, five were 

picturized on Madhubala, three solos and two duets with 

Rafi Saab. 

The five songs from this movie display Geeta’s prowess to 

sing vastly varied types of songs, all effective and with 

equal ease. For example, in the duet “Chal Diye Banda 

Nawaaz” she adds a touch of tease to her voice and matches 

the legendary Mohd Rafi in this chhed-chhad song. In 

“Neele Aasmani” filmed on Cuckoo, she matches with the 

wits of her heroine by giving the song a sultry touch. Then 

in “Preetam Aan Milo” she proves how a melodic voice can 

be turned into a provocative voice as well. Then like the 

cool breeze, she sings soothingly “Thandi Hawa” putting 

the listener’s mind and heart at ease. Picturize this as 

Madhubala with her infectious smile as her locks blowing 

away freely in the breeze. A prefect setting of a free spirit. 

Some unconfirmed sources mention that this song also 

has Shamshad Begum as a co-singer with Geeta along 

with the chorus. It is kind of surprising that the composer 

Rhythm King O P Nayyar calls Geeta Dutt and Shamshad 

Begum as his favorite singers, but did not compose a single 

duet for both of them. May be is this that song where he 

requested his senior singer Shamshad to pitch in for a few 

lines? No one really knows! 

Finally in the duet “Udhar Tu Haseen Ho” Geetaji gives 

ones heart a mighty throb by giving the song that utterly 

romantic and delicious flavor. Different moods of 

Madhubala. Matching moods of Geeta’s singing style. 

Things can’t get any better than this! This can be 

attributed to a major extent to the good life both were 

enjoying at this juncture in their lives. By the way the 

sixth song sung by Geeta in this movie, a duet, “Jaane 

Kahaan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji” was done in a whimsical but

with teasingly beautiful and sweet voice matching every 

modulation and nuance of Rafi Saab’s voice. It is filmed 

on Yasmin and not Madhubala. 

This was just only a year after 1955. But many things can 

happen within one year. From the beginning Madhubala’s 

father was dead against her relationship with Dilip. The 

romance eventually ended abruptly in 1956 when Dilip 

Kumar testified against Madhubala and her father in the 

court when she refused to honor her commitment to B.R. 

Chopra who was making “Naya Daur” with her and Dilip 

in the leads and part of the movie was already shot. 

Madhubala eventually married the singer-actor Kishore 

Kumar in 1960, against the wishes of both of their parents. 

Even though married, they never really lived together. 

Geeta’s parents were also very much against her 

relationship with Guru Dutt. But as Guru Dutt started 

making a name for himself, they eventually changed their 

mind and agreed to their marriage in 1953. By 1956, Geeta 

had two sons (Tarun in 1954 and Arun in 1956). It was 

also the year Guru Dutt introduced Waheeda Rehman in 

his movie “C.I.D.”. 

1957 saw Madhubala, in spite of all the health problems 

and emotional problems, trying to complete her work in 

Asif’s magnum opus “Mughal-E-Azam”. That year Guru 

Dutt’s history making classic “Pyaasa” was released. It 

was widely reported that Guru was getting greatly fond of 

Waheeda Rehman who was his costar in “Pyaasa”. Not 

many know about this, but the matter of fact is that Guru 

Dutt wanted to have Dilip Kumar to play the role of poet 

Vijay (later on played by Guru Dutt himself), Nargis in 

the role of Meena (later on played by Mala Sinha) and 

Madhubala in the role of Gulab (later on played by 

Waheeda Rehman). Both Nargis and Madhubala were 

very excited to work in this venture by Guru Dutt, but 

both of them could not decide which of the two roles they 

wanted to do. May be due to this, Guru decided to drop 

both the leading actresses and roped in the two newcomers 

as mentioned above. On the first day of the shooting, Dilip 

Kumar did not turn up and Guru Dutt decided to take up 

the challenging role himself. One can only imagine 

Madhubala lip syncing to the melodious “Jaane kya tune 

kahi” and being in the frame for the divine song “Aaj sajan 

mohe ang lagaa lo”… 

That very same year also saw one of Madhubala’s movie, 

“Yahudi Ki Ladki” released. The significant thing about 

this was that Hemantda provided its music and Geeta 

Dutt sang seven songs, five solos and two duets with 

Shamshad Begum. These were the most songs in a single 

film Geeta ever sang in a Madhubala movie. Hemantda 

was another music director who experimented with Geeta’s 

voice by giving her different types of songs. We are not 

certain how many of these songs were picturized on 

Madhubala. However, one can picture Madhubala enacting 

these on the screen breathing life into them with her 

beautifully expressive face by lip syncing to each of the 

words of these beautiful songs. Look at how easily Geeta 

shifts from one mood to another per demands of the songs, 

very effortlessly. For example, Geeta teasingly invites her 

lover in the song “Aa Hum Se Pyaar Karle”. 

Imagine here Madhubala with her beautiful smile and a 

twinkle in her eye. Geetaji has two duets with Shamshadji, 

another great singer with outstandingly unique voice. To 

hear these two great divas singing together is such a rare 

treat. Both songs “Hum Kisise Na Kahenge” are teasingly 

tantalizing. Both Geeta and Shamshad show with their 

performance of these songs why they are masters at this 

art. The result is a stunner. Next Geeta’s voice becomes 

sentimental when she deplores her current state in the 

song “Chaar Din Ki Hain Bahaaren”. But when she sings 

the song “Karle Dil Ka Sauda” she shows the steamy 

sultriness for which she became famous in her later years 

of singing career. In the next song, at once she switches to 

a sensuous mood very effortlessly by singing the beauty 

“Na Ho Dil Jiske Seene Mein”. Finally, in the solo, 

“Sammara Sammara” Geeta once again demonstrates 

why she was the best in the songs that had tantalizing 

and jazzy tone. 

The team of composer Hemantda, singer Geeta Dutt and 

actress Madhubala joined once again the next year as 

well. This time it was a musical suspense crime thriller 

film titled “Police” (1958). Actor Pradeep Kumar himself 

produced this film and of course acted in it in the leading 

role. Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt sang one of the most 

romantic and sweet duet “Chale hum kahan..” filmed on 

Pradeep Kumar and Madhubala. The tune of this song 

was the same as the eternal romantic song “Tumi je 

aamaar” composed by Hemantda and sung by Geeta ji 

herself for the Bengali film Harano Sur. Almost a 

diametrically opposite song “Oh oh oh oh baby, Mudake 

zara, Arre kiye jaa, Halka halka isharra..” was again sung 

by composer-singer Hemantda with Geeta Dutt for this 

film. The tune of this song was obviously inspired from 

some western song, but the “Nashaa” of Geeta’s voice and 

Madhubala’s charm was perfectly original! The film Police 

had some more songs sung by Geeta which are not easily 

available. 

The year 1959 saw Geeta ji singing a lovely but lesser 

heard song “Aa aa meri taal pe, naach le baabu” for the 

film Kal Hamara Hain filmed on Madhubala. This was 

composed by maestro MD Chitragupta ji, who gave as 

INDIA LINK, 2011 59

many as a hundred songs to Geeta ji from the year 1946 to 

1964. The year 1960 was a memorable year in 

Madhubala’s life. Her most eagerly awaited movie 

“Mughal-E-Azam” was released. It took ten years to make, 

but when it was finally released it proved to be an artistic 

triumph for everyone concerned. Madhubala was showered 

with unprecedented praises for her performance as the 

tormented lover, Anarkali. It was the crowning glory of her 

career. 

The same year Madhubala married Kishore Kumar but it 

wasn’t a happy union because of rejection by their 

respective families. Also, in an almost parallel track, by 

1960 relationship between Geeta and Guru Dutt was 

completely strained. The title of the movie “Mehlon Ke 

Khwab” ironically reflects what happened to both of their 

lives at this stage. This 1960 movie starring Madhubala 

has a duet by Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhsole, “Is Duniya 

Mein Sabse Acchi”, that was philosophical in its mood. 

That “goodness” both of them were seeking in their lives 

and from this world remained a “khwab”, just a dream. In 

this song, Geeta gives voice to Madhubala and Asha to 

Chanchal, real life sister of Madhubala. Music is by S 

Mohinder and lyrics by Raja Mehendi Ali Khan. 

Madhubala acted in another film titled Passport (1961) 

again with Pradeep Kumar. This time, the composers were 

Kalyanji – Anandji who gave as many as three solos to 

Geeta Dutt. None of these were filmed on Madhubala 

though! Probably the last song sung by Geeta and filmed 

on Madhubala was from the film Half Ticket starring her 

real life husband Kishore Kumar. The song is a fun-filled 

duet “Ankhon mein tum, dil mein tum ho” sung by Geeta 


and Kishore Kumar himself. 

Death strikes in strange ways. Nobody is above death, 

but when you think these talent rich people are scaling 

new heights in their respective professional carriers, and 

still are young and have so much to accomplish, it sours 

admirers and pains them deeply. Take Madhubala’s case 

as n example. She was born with a defective heart and it 

wasn’t known until 1950 what was ailing her. She was 

frequently coughing up blood on the sets because of the 

problem. She sought help from doctors abroad in 1960 

but at that time technology was probably not as advanced 

as today to offer help. She lived with the suffering for 

another nine years before breathing her last on February 

23, 1969, only nine days after her 36th birthday. 

Now take Geeta Dutt’s life as an example. She started 

having problems with her marriage when seemingly her 

husband was having a romantic liaison with Waheeda 

Rehman, the actress he introduced and a star of many of 

his movies. This eventually led to the separation from her 

husband in early 60’s. Her husband took his life by 

committing suicide in early October 1964 soon after the 

separation. This left Geeta as an emotional wreck and 

she suffered a severe nervous breakdown. She took to 

heavy drinking. She tried to come back a few times but it 

was futile. Geeta breathed her last on July 20, 1972 at 

the young age of 41. 

Here we are. Madhubala. A mystic beauty of exquisite 

charms. Geeta Dutt. An unparalleled singer with a honeyed 

voice. When they came together, it spelled magic. The spell 

that never goes away. The grip never lets loose of either a 

video viewer or an audio listener. Two lives marred with 

personal problems. Two lives cut short by tragedies. Two 

talent-laden personalities who entertained us in their own 

unique way. Two legends who live in our hearts forever.� 

Original source courtesy: 

http://www.geetadutt.com/blog/?p=574

Emotional Detachment 

for a Better Life 

Emotional attachment is a situation in life 

when you encounter people and situations 

leading to mental agitation, pain, suffering, 

and broken relationships. This is because 

you let people and events, your thoughts and your past, 

By Rima Arora 

tie you down. If you want to enjoy inner peace, change 

your life today. Adopt a detached attitude. 

BUT BUT WHA WHAT WHA WHAT 

T EXACTL EXACTLY EXACTL Y IS IS IS THIS 

THIS 

EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL DET DET DETACHMENT? 

DET DET ACHMENT? It does not 

mean avoiding meeting people or maintaining 

relationships. It means interacting with people, 

showing warmth, compassion and love yet 

maintaining a state of calmness, self control and 

inner strength. 

By refusing to open yourself to emotional turmoil that 

does not concern you, you protect your physical, 

emotional and mental being from becoming drained 

out and from exhaustion. 

HA HAVE HA VE YOU YOU EVER EVER THOUGHT 

THOUGHT: 

THOUGHT 

WHY WHY WHY DO DO YOU YOU GET GET GET ANGR ANGR ANGRY? ANGR Y? 

WHY WHY DO DO YOU YOU F FFACE 

F ACE MOOD MOOD SWINGS? 

SWINGS? 

WHY WHY ARE ARE ARE YOU YOU EASIL EASILY EASIL EASILY 

Y AFFECTED AFFECTED BY 

BY 

WHA WHAT WHA T PEOPLE PEOPLE THINK THINK OR OR OR SA SA SAY SA SA Y ABOUT 

ABOUT 

YOU? 

YOU? 

WHY WHY DO DO YOU YOU ALLOW ALLOW PEOPLE PEOPLE AND 

AND 

SITUA SITUATIONS SITUA TIONS TO TO EFFECT EFFECT EFFECT YOUR YOUR YOUR MOODS? 

MOODS? 

WHY WHY DO DO YOU YOU F FFACE 

F ACE INNER INNER TURMOIL? 

TURMOIL? 

TURMOIL? 

WHY WHY DO DO YOU YOU YOU GET GET INVOL INVOLVED INVOL VED WITH 

WITH 

UNHEAL UNHEALTHY UNHEAL THY EMOTIONS EMOTIONS AND AND 

AND 

REACTIONS? 

REACTIONS? 

REACTIONS? 

This happens because you create emotional 

attachment between you and the person, place or thing 

INDIA LINK, 2011 61

which you would like to see changed or improved. As 

a result you are easily influenced by the perception of 

helplessness which these people, places or things 

project. 

BY BY EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL DET DETACHMENT 

DET ACHMENT YOU YOU CAN 

CAN 

CHANGE CHANGE THIS THIS SITUA SITUATION! 

SITUA TION! 

Imagine how free, relieved and happy you would be, if 

you could stay calm and poised in the midst of whatever 

is happening in your life. Think how much physical, 

emotional, and mental energy you could spare, if you 

could avoid becoming upset, angry or moody. 

PRACTICE PRACTICE THE THE SKILL SKILL OF OF DET DETACHMENT 

DET ACHMENT 

ACHMENT- 

ACHMENT 

* * SET SET BOUNDRIES- 

BOUNDRIES- BOUNDRIES- Establish emotional 

boundaries between you and the person, place or thing 

with whom you have become over dependent. 

Identify those people, places and things in your life 

from which you would be best to develop emotional 

detachment in order to retain your personal, emotional 

and spiritual health. 

* * LET LET GO- GO- GO- Once you have identified the persons, 

places and things that disturb you emotionally, 

personally and spiritually, adopt the skill of let going. 


Let go the interference of others. Make yourself solely 

responsible for your own well- being and happiness. 

Let go expectations. Accept that you can’t fix, change, 

rescue, save or make someone else happy. 

* * TT 

TAKE TT 

AKE CARE CARE CARE OF OF YOURSELF- 

YOURSELF- YOURSELF- Take care of your 

well being. Do what is right for you. Say to your self 

over and over again, “Taking care of my self must be 

my first emotional priority.” Give yourself permission 

to focus your time and energy on the good things. 

*REFUSE *REFUSE TO TO OPEN OPEN YOURSELF YOURSELF YOURSELF TO 

TO 

EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL TURMOIL- TURMOIL- Learn to protect yourself 

from exhaustion or from being drained out. 

Stay calm and unaffected when in the company of 

people who intentionally or unintentionally burden you 

with their worries and problems or hurt your feelings. 

* * * ADOPT ADOPT A TRUE TRUE TRUE DET DET DETACHED 

DET DETACHED 

ACHED ATTITUDE TTITUDE - 

- 

This attitude helps you to exercise your best judgment, 

handle every situation very efficiently and become 

strength for others also in times of needs and 

difficulties. 

EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL DET DET DETACHMENT DET DET ACHMENT FOR FOR A BETTER 

BETTER 

LIVING- LIVING-Visualize LIVING- this state of inner peace and 

calmness, undisturbed by circumstances or other 

people’s moods and states of mind. Your life will be 

like a calm lake unaffected by winds or wave�� 

Visualize your life’s inner strength. 

Editors Note: It’s really a tough call indeed, but after the seed of 

detachment is sowed, if we begin our journey with a determined 

heart like that of a lotus flower, we may begin to achieve the 

desired state of mind, and just like the muddy surroundings of a 

blooming lotus flower, external obstacles (noises) may become 

obsolete/irrelevant.

National National W WWork 

W ork of 

of 

Dr Dr. Dr . Ambedkar 

Ambedkar 

Part Part two two of of two 

two 

By By Manohar Manohar Koche 

Koche 

“Success is to be measured by not so much by the position that one has 

reached in life, as by the obstacles, which he has overcome while trying to 

succeed.”....Booker T. Washington. 

1. Dr. Ambedkar, as a member for 

labor in Executive Council of Viceroy: 

Dr. Ambedkar visited Dhanbad to study 

the working conditions in the coal fields 

and inspected both the surface and the 

underground conditions of the coal 

fields. In Bhulanbararee Collinery, he 

went personally 400 feet underground 

to check and had a friendly chat with 

workers regarding their wages, benefits. 

He also went to workers’ quarters with 

occupants’’ permission in the vicinity of 

the collinery inquiring regarding their 

families, health issues, medical care 

and ventilation arrangements. He 

checked the collinery hostpitals. He also 

inspected Tisra Collinery, Rajnigang 

coal fields, Shivapur coal fields for the 

welfare and the medical cares of the 

minors. Then he visited Leper Welfare 

Center, where Leprosy in early stages 

can be effectively treated. Thus he was 

always concerned about the poor and the 

unprivileged. 

2. Established Independent 

Labor Party (August 15, 1936). The 

manifesto of the labor party was to 

build up national economy and progress 

holistically. 

a. Dr. Amedkar was always in 

favor of the collective farming scheme 

and consolidation of small holdings to 

improve the agricultural conditions of 

India. Because small segments of 

agricultural land and increasing 

INDIA LINK, 2011 63

population are the causes of poverty among 

farmers. 

b. On September 17, 1937, he presented a 

bill to the Bombay Legislative Assembly to 

eliminate Khoti (monopoly, special privilege 

who collects money for govt.) system in 

Konkan and land workers should receive the 

full ownership of the land. 

c. Irrigation water charges to be halved and 

exemptions of the pending bills. 

d. Upliftment of villages, village scheme, 

health, community halls, library and modern 

avenues would be opened up. 

e. Fixation of minimum wages for laborers, 

working hours, and create cheap and healthy 

residential places. 

f. Start technical education and to start 

government owned and undertaking 

businesses and restart old businesses. 

Industries shall be owned and run by the 

state or the corporations, established by 

states. 

3. In Round Table conference on November 20, 1930: 

He warned the British Government that we must 

have a government in which the people in power 

will give their undivided allegiances to the best 

interest of the country. We feel that no one can 

remove our grievances and we cannot remove them 

unless we get political power in our own hands. 

The time when you were to choose and India was 

to accept has passed and never to be returned. 

Let the consent of the people and not the accident 

of logic be touchstone of your new constitution. 

No constitution will be workable which is not 

acceptable to the majority of the people and 

agreed constitution be prepared and British 

would leave this country. 

4. Supported British War Front: 

Dr. Amedkar supported British War Front in 

1942, wanted to fight against Nazism. He stated 

that this war is in between Nazism (nor based 

on moral footing and creates threat to future 

mankind), and democracy. Pundit Jawaharlal 

Nehru potentially favored the support to the 

British War Front. On December 7, 1941, Japan 

attacked Pearl Harbor, on February 15, 1942, 

Japan conquered Singapore, on March 7, 1942, 

Rangoon was lost to Japan thus avoiding the 

potentiality of invasion of India by the forces of 

Japan. If Japan would have won the war over 

India, the Indians would have had to live the lives 

of an animal. This was the main reason to join 

the warfront in order to help ourselves. On the 

contrary, he also warned the British to fulfill the 

expectations of Indians after the war. Such an 

understanding and statesmanship was not seen 

in any other so called National Leader at that 

time. 

5. As a Social Reformer: 


Yesmin deshe na sammano, Na vruttirnach 

bandhava 

Nach vidya gamaha shakyo, Ma tatram divasam 

vasa 

Where there is no honor, dignity, and fraternity, 

where there is no door open for the knowledge of 

learning, there one should not stay even for a day. 

In the same situation, there were six crores of 

people, nearly 20% of the India’s population was 

kept as down troddens or untouchables. For his 

heroic struggles for raising the levels of down 

troddens to human dignity and liberating them 

from their age long bondage, should this not be 

considered as an positive addition to the 

development of human civil society of the nation 

as a whole? He attacked old views and values 

that had defaced a part of humanity on this land. 

Jawaharlal Nehru had said, “I think the biggest 

temple, church is the place where man works for 

the good of mankind and many saints preached 

that the service render for the destitute and poor 

is a real god service”. Dr. Ambedkar fought and 

sacrificed most of his life for the neglected, 

destitute and poor population of this land to 

uplift their lives and instill the hope for the future. 

Thus he performed the real god service. 

Furthermore, he made a provision in constitution 

appealed the abolishment of the untouchability 

by law. 

There is a phrase in Sanskrit, 

“Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” meaning whole world 

is like a family and our country should be as 

thought of one as well. If someone in the family 

felt sick or weak, is it not an ethical responsibility 

of the other members in the family to help the 

sick in order to be healthy and strong? That way 

the whole family will be healthy, strong, and 

happy. 

6. Political Independence and Socio-economical 

Equality: 

“No man can be grateful at the cost of his honor, 

no woman can be grateful at the cost of her 

chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost 

of its liberty”. — Irish Patriot: Daniel O’Connell. 

State socialism is the domain of those who are 

for common masses, who are concerned about the 

poor. Social democracy means the way of life which 

recognizes liberty, equality, and fraternity as the 

principle of life, one man, one vote, one value. In 

politics, we will have equality but in socioeconomic 

life, we will have inequality. 

Ranade, Agarkar, and other such social reformers 

strongly believed that social and economical 

freedom should come prior to the political 

freedom. G.G. Agarkar and M. G. Ranade had 

said that political independence cannot work

efficiently unless it is conjoined with social and 

economical equality. Inequality in the society is 

the biggest obstacle to establish the democracy 

and socialism in the country. Downtrodden 

community needed double independence, one 

from the British and the other from the so called 

the high-cast people. Democracy and socialism 

cannot thrive in unequal society. Hence, Dr. 

Ambedkar refrained from fight for the political 

independence. He uttered in the parliament on 

Jan, 26, 1950 the adoption day of 

constitution(Republic day) that 

realization of the facts in addition to our old 

enemies in the form of caste and creeds, we are 

going to have many political parties with diverse 

and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place 

the country above their creed or will they place 

the creed above the country? If parties places 

creed above their country, our independence will 

be in jeopardy, eventually, we must all resolutely 

guard against. We must be determined to defend 

our independence with last drop of our blood. 

7. Dr. Amedkar as a First Law Minister: 

In spite of all ill treatment, Dr. Ambedkar had 

accepted to participate in the making of the 

Constitution. He advised the political parties and 

leaders, dos and don’ts to keep the integrity intact 

of this country. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was 

introducing Dr. Ambedkar to the foreign delegates 

as a diamond of our cabinet and Mahatma Gandhi 

once said, that he was the great patriot after 

listening to his speeches delivered in the Round 

Table Conference. He had revised and submitted 

Hindu Code Bill to the Constitution Legislative 

Assembly in October 1948. The pious purpose for 

having a good law for the country and Hindu Code 

should be uniformed throughout India. Leader of 

Hindu Mahasabha, Veer Sawarkar had said that 

congress leaders should consider the bill if it truly 

helps the nation & they should not ignore with 

an eye to election. Dr. Ambedkar introduced the 

bill on February 5, 1951. Prime Minister Pundit 

Nehru had vehemently declared after his return 

from USA, that his government would resign if 

Hindu Code Bill was not passed by the 

Parliament. Sardar Patel and the president of 

India Dr. Rajendra Prasad were against of the 

bill. Dr. Rajendra Prasad said he would resign if 

they don’t stop the discussion on Hindu code bill 

and they had to stop the debate of this bill in the 

Parliament. Dr. Amedkar resigned his position 

from the cabinet on September 27, 1951 to Pundit 

Nehru and stated in the resignation that “ I see 

no purpose in my continuing to be a member of 

your cabinet”. Later, Gajendragadkar became the 

law minister and during his minister-ship , 

Hindu Code Bill was passed periodically. He used 

to discuss this bill with Dr. Ambedkar and taking 

advice from him prior to debate the bill in the 

parliament. 

8. Dhamma Conversion: 

Dr. Ambedkar had high regards about Sanskrit 

language but was unable to study this language 

due to his caste which he regretted for the rest of 

his life. Nonetheless, he studied Sanskrit on his 

own. He suggested to rectify Hinduism that there 

should be one standard epic and to remove Varna/ 

caste system from the frame which is the root 

cause of inequality. He prolongly waited & when 

he was unable to do the rectification because of 

lot of opposition, he had lost hope, & he declared 

in 1936 that he was born a Hindu which was not 

in his hand but would not die as a Hindu. After 

that, many religious teachers came to him, 

explaining their philosophy and alluring him if 

he could accept their religion. When he came to 

know that many people among the down trodden 

were converted into Muslims and Christians, he 

became upset and advised them not to convert to 

any other religion. He said, “my best regards to 

people who are trying to remain in four fold system 

but the time is running out and I have decided to 

renounce Hinduism”, (Annihilation of caste, a 

speech prepared to deliver in Lahor for Jat Pat 

Todak Mandal Conference, and he did not receive 

a chance to deliver as the views of the Members 

of the Mandal were not agreeable to his thoughts 

and that conference was canceled). He studied 

major religions and after 20 years of declaration, 

he embraced Buddha Dhamma in 1956 in Nagpur 

along with other lakhs of people in a day. This 

was the unprecedented religious revolution in the 

world. When only 40 people converted in Muslim 

in Minaxipuram there was a big chaos from galli 

(street) to Delhi in the country. Can you imagine 

what would happened if he would have converted 

himself with these many people to a foreign 

religion?. He accepted Buddha as a Guru because 

he taught Sheela (Morality), Samadhi (Mastery 

over mind), and Pradhnya (Wisdom). He accepted 

the Buddha Dhamma which originated and grown 

in India. Gautama Buddha revered in the world 

as a spiritual icon of peace, harmony and 

unanimity. By embracing this Dhamma, he also 

fulfilled the responsibility and national service. 

Epilogue 

With all of his sacrifices, struggle and scholarship 

chiefly devoted to raising the level and 

Instilling the life in downtrodden, we should not 

ignore his work for the national interest. Many 

people portray him as a leader of downtrodden to 

belittling his greatness. Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts 

were ahead of its time and he proved to be correct 

with the passage of time. If doubts should occur 

regarding his sense of nationality and patriotism, 

one should read his books and thesis he wrote, 

the speeches he delivered on various events in 

different places in the country, in the constitution 

of assemblies and in the round table conferences. 

Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts were ahead of its time 

and he proved to be correct with the passage of 

time. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 65


By Manohar Koche 

Friendship is a kind of promise 

Linked with heart and mind 

Being, they come close 

Through heart and not through eyes 

It’s not a showy sympathy 

Pleasing sweet words to go on 

It’s always a selfless helping hand. 

It’s a relationship of thoughts to come 

To share in good times and bad times 

It stands on mutual openness and fidelity 

Which never breaks in calamity 

In rise of downfall of life change 

True friendship never gets strange 

No matter what situation 

Never go apart, it stays the same 

Flattering is not character of friendship 

It’s more than that of any other relationship 

When everybody, even the kith and kin 

Leaves in critical time 

True friend always be there 

That you can count on anywhere 

Good friends will hurt you sometimes 

For, they think well of you all the time 

A kind emotional feeling of relationship 

Will keep loving everlasting friendship

Autism disorder is a range of complex Nero 

development disorders, usually appears during the 

first 3 years of life. A child with Autism appears 

to live in his/her own world, showing social impairments, 

communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive 

stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic children often 

avoid eye contact and show limited attachment to others. 

Experts estimate that six children out of 1000 will have 

symptoms of Autism. Males are four times more likely to 

have an Autism spectrum disorder than females. 

Autism can prevent a child from forming relationships 

with others due to inability to interpret facial expressions 

and emotions. 

Scientists are not certain what causes Autism but it is 

likely that both genetics and environment play a role. 

Studies with Autism found irregularities in several 

regions of the brain. Another study suggests an abnormal 

level of serotonin chemical in the brain prevents the brain 

cells from communicating with one another. 

The The standardized standardized guidelines guidelines developed developed for for 

for 

diagnosis diagnosis of of Autism Autism for for early early detection detection and and for 

for 

expert expert consult consult include: 

include: 

1.) No babbling or pointing by age one. 

2.) No single words by 16 months or two word phrases 

by age 2. 

3.) No response to name. 

4.) Loss of language or social skills. 

5.) Poor eye contact. 

6.) Excessive lining up of toys or objects. 

7.) No smiling or social responsiveness. 

Second Second indicators indicators include: 

include: 

-Impaired ability to make friends with peers 

-Impaired ability to initiate conversation 

Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play 

-Repetitive or unusual use of language 

Limited interest and lack of sharpness 

-Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects- 

Inflexible adherence to specific routines 

-Genetic testing, CT, MRI, PET etc. 

Health care providers often use a questionnaire to screen 

and gather information about child development and 

Autism 

Autism 

The The Mind Mind Blindness 

Blindness 

By DILIP DILIP K. K. SAXENA 

SAXENA 

behavior. A comprehensive evaluation requires/includes 

psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech and 

occupational therapist. 

Treatment reatment for for Autism: 

Autism: 

-Specialized behavioral and educational programs are 

designed to treat Autism 

-Training, occupational and speech therapy, parent 

counseling, medical and psychiatric intervention are 

required for improvement 

-Treatment and improvement depend on the severity of 

the condition 

Prevention of this condition is not known. Early 

detection and early intervention is helpful. 

-Specialized behavioral and educational programs are 

designed to treat Autism 

-Training, occupational and speech therapy, parent 

counseling, medical and psychiatric intervention are 

required for improvement 

-Treatment and improvement depend on the severity of 

the condition 

Prevention of this condition is not known. Early 

detection and early intervention is helpful. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 67

Childhood Obesity 

An Epidemic which absolutely 

needs to be controlled 

Definition 

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition. It 

affects both children and adolescents. It occurs when a 

child is well above the normal weight for his or her age 

and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling 

because it often starts children on the path to health 

problems that were once confined to adults, such as 

diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

Childhood obesity can also lead to psychological issues 

such as poor self-esteem and depression. 

Symptoms 

Not all children carrying extra pounds are overweight or 

obese. Some children have larger than average body 

frames. Amount of body fat also varies at various stages 

of development. It is difficult to know just by looking at 

your child if his or her weight is a health concern. To do 

this, your child’s doctor will calculate your child’s body 

mass index (BMI). The BMI indicates if your child is 

overweight for his or her age and height. 

Using a growth chart: Your doctor determines your child’s 

percentile, meaning how your child compares with other 

children of the same sex and age. So, for example, you 


By Dr. Jambunathan Krishnan, MD 

might be told that your child is in the 80th percentile. This 

means that compared with other children of the same 

sex and age, 80 percent have a lower BMI. 

Cutoff points on these growth charts: established by the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), help 

identify overweight and obese children. 

When to see a doctor 

If you’re worried that your child is putting on too much 

weight, talk to his or her doctor or health care provider. 

He or she will consider your child’s individual history of 

growth and development, your family’s weight-for-height 

history, and where your child lands on the growth charts. 

This can help determine if your child’s weight is in an 

unhealthy range. 

Causes 

Most of the time it’s caused by lifestyle issues with kids 

eating too much and exercising too little. Rarely other 

genetic and hormonal issues such as Cushings disease 

and Prader Willi Syndrome may be the reason. 

Risk Factors 

There may be one or more than one factors acting in 

tandem. 

Diet: Regularly eating high-calorie foods, such as fast 

foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, can 

easily cause your child to gain weight. Loading up on soft 

drinks, candy and desserts also can cause weight gain. 

Foods and beverages like these are high in sugar, fat and 

calories. 

Lack of exercise: Children who don’t exercise much are 

more likely to gain weight because they don’t burn calories 

through physical activity. Inactive leisure activities, such

as watching television or playing video games, contribute 

to the problem. 

Family history: If your child comes from a family of 

overweight people, he or she may be more likely to put 

on excess weight, especially in an environment where 

high-calorie food is always available, and physical activity 

isn’t encouraged. 

Psychological factors: Some children overeat to cope with 

problems or to deal with emotions, such as stress, or to 

fight boredom. Their parents may have similar tendencies. 

Family factors: If many of the groceries you buy are 

convenience foods, such as cookies, chips and other highcalorie 

items, this can contribute to your child’s weight 

gain. If you can control your child’s access to high-calorie 

foods, you may be able to help your child lose weight. 

Socioeconomic factors: Children from low-income 

backgrounds are at greater risk of becoming obese. It 

takes both time and resources to make healthy eating 

and exercise a family priority. 

Complications 

Childhood obesity can have complications for the physical, 

social and emotional well-being of your child. 

Physical complications 

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes in children is a chronic 

condition that affects the way your child’s body 

metabolizes sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes is caused in 

part by a poor diet and may sometimes be reversed by 

eating healthy,exercising and losing weight. 

Metabolic syndrome: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of 

conditions which includes high blood pressure, high blood 

sugar, high cholesterol and excess abdominal fat that 

puts your child at risk of developing heart disease, 

diabetes or other health problems. 

High cholesterol and high blood pressure: Your child can 

develop high blood pressure or high cholesterol with a 

poor diet. These factors can lead to buildup of plaques in 

the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke 

later in life. 

Asthma and other breathing problems: The extra weight 

on your child’s body can cause problems with the 

development and health of your child’s lungs, leading to 

asthma or other breathing problems. 

Sleep disorders: Sleep apnea, a condition in which your 

child may snore or have abnormal breathing when he or 

she sleeps, can be a complication of childhood obesity. 

Pay attention to breathing problems your child may have 

while sleeping. 

Early puberty or menstruation: Being obese can create 

hormone imbalances for your child. These imbalances 

can cause puberty to start earlier than expected. 

Social and emotional complications: 

Low self-esteem and bullying: Children often tease or 

bully their overweight peers, who suffer a loss of selfesteem 

and an increased risk of depression as a result. 

INDIA LINK, 2011 69

Behavior and learning problems: Overweight children tend 

to have more anxiety and poorer social skills than normalweight 

children have. This may lead kids to act out or 

withdraw socially. Stress and anxiety also interfere with 

learning. 

Depression: Low self-esteem can create overwhelming 

feelings of hopelessness in some overweight children. 

When children lose hope that their lives will improve, 

they may become depressed. Some depressed children 

hide their sadness and appear emotionally flat instead. 

Either way, depression is as serious in children as in adults. 

If you think your child is depressed, talk with him or her 

and share your concerns with his or her doctor. 

Tests & Diagnosis 

As part of regular well-child care, the doctor calculates 

your child’s body mass index (BMI). The BMI helps indicate 

if your child is overweight for his or her age and height. 

Cutoff points on these growth charts help identify 

overweight and obese children: 

BMI-for-age between 85th and 94th percentiles — 

overweight 

BMI-for-age 95th percentile or above — obesity 

In addition to BMI and charting weight on the growth 

charts, the doctor also evaluates: 

Your family’s history of obesity and weight-related health 

problems, such as diabetes 

Your child’s eating habits 


Your child’s activity level 

Other health conditions your child may have 

Blood tests 

Your child’s doctor may order blood tests if he or she 

finds that your child is obese.: 

A cholesterol test 

A blood sugar test (fasting blood glucose) 

Other blood tests to check for hormone imbalances that 

could affect your child’s weight 

Management 

Treatment for childhood obesity is based on your child’s 

age and if he or she has other medical conditions. 

Treatment usually includes changes in your child’s diet 

and level of physical activity. In certain circumstances, 

treatment may include medications or weight-loss 

surgery. 

Treatment for children under age 7 

For children under age 7 who have no other health 

concerns, the goal of treatment may be weight 

maintenance rather than weight loss. This strategy allows 

the child to add inches in height but not pounds, causing 

BMI-for-age to drop over time into a healthier range. 

Treatment for children 7 years of age and older 

Weight loss is typically recommended for children over 

age 7 or for younger children who have related health 

concerns. Weight loss should be slow and steady. 

The methods for maintaining your child’s current weight 

or losing weight are the same: Your child needs to eat a 

healthy diet and increase his or her physical activity. 

Success depends largely on your commitment to helping 

your child make these changes. 

HealthyEating 

Parents are the ones who buy the food, cook the food and 

decide where the food is eaten. 

When buying groceries, choose fruits and vegetables. 

Avoid convenience foods, such as cookies, crackers and 

prepared meals. Have healthy snacks available. And 

never use food as a reward or punishment. 

Limit sweetened beverages, including those containing 

fruit juice 

Sit down together for family meals. Make it an event . 

Discourage eating in front of a screen, such as a television,

computer or video game. This leads to fast eating and 

lowered awareness of how much you’re eating. 

Limit the number of times you eat out, especially at fastfood 

restaurants. Many of the menu options are high in 

fat and calories. 

Physical activity 

A critical part of weight loss, especially for children, is 

physical activity. It not only burns calories but also builds 

strong bones and muscles and helps children sleep well 

at night and stay alert during the day. Active children are 

more likely to become fit adults. 

To increase your child’s activity level: 

Limit recreational computer and TV/computer/video 

games time altogether to no more than 2 hours a day. 

Don’t let your child eat while viewing an electronic screen; 

it keeps your child from being aware of how much he or 

she is eating. 

Emphasize activity, not exercise. Your child’s activity 

doesn’t have to be a structured exercise program — the 

object is just to get him or her moving. Free-play activities, 

such as tag or jump-rope, can be great for burning calories 

and improving fitness. 

Find activities your child likes to do 

If you want an active child, be active yourself. Find fun 

activities that the whole family can do together. 

Vary the activities. What matters is that you’re doing 

something active. 

Weight-loss medication 

One prescription weight-loss drug is available for 

adolescents: orlistat (Xenical). Orlistat, which is approved 

for adolescents older than 12, prevents the absorption of 

fat in the intestines. Prescription weight-loss medication 

isn’t often recommended for adolescents. The risks of 

taking a medication long term is still unknown. A weightloss 

drug doesn’t replace the need to adopt a healthy diet 

and exercise regimen. 

Weight-loss surgery 

Weight-loss surgery can be a safe and effective option 

for some severely obese adolescents who have been 

unable to lose weight using conventional weight-loss 

methods. However, as with any type of surgery, there 

are potential risks and long-term complications. It also 

doesn’t replace the need for following a healthy diet and 

regular physical activity program. 

Coping and support 

Parents play a crucial role in helping children who are 

obese feel loved and in control of their weight. Build your 

child’s self-esteem. Don’t be afraid to bring up the topic of 

health and fitness, but do be sensitive that a child may 

view your concern as an insult. Talk to your kids directly, 

openly and without being critical or judgmental. 

In addition, consider the following advice: 

Be sensitive to your child’s needs and feelings. Becoming 

active is an important lifestyle change for your child to 

make, but your child is more likely to stick to those 

changes if you let him or her choose what physical 

activities he or she is comfortable with. 

Find reasons to praise your child’s efforts. Celebrate 

small, incremental changes, but don’t reward with food. 

Choose other ways to mark your child’s accomplishments, 

such as going to the bowling alley or a local park. 

Talk to your child about his or her feelings. Help your 

child find ways to deal with his or her emotions that don’t 

involve eating. 

Help your child focus on positive goals. For example, point 

out that he or she can now bike for more than 20 minutes 

without getting tired or can run the required number of 

laps in gym class. 

Prevention: 

We all know prevention is better than cure. 

Schedule yearly well-child visits which should include 

weight and height measurements 

Set a good example. Make sure you eat healthy foods 

and exercise regularly to maintain your weight. 

Avoid food-related power struggles with your child. As a 

general rule, don’t use food as a reward or punishment.\ 

Emphasize the positive. Encourage a healthy lifestyle by 

highlighting the positive — the fun of playing outside or 

the variety of fresh fruit you can get year-round, for 

example. Emphasize the benefits of exercise apart from 

helping to manage weight, for example, it makes the heart, 

lungs and other muscles stronger. 

Be patient. Many overweight children grow into their extra 

pounds as they get taller. Realize, too, that an intense 

focus on your child’s eating habits and weight can easily 

backfire, leading a child to overeat even more, or possibly 

making him or her more prone to developing an eating 

disorder.� 

INDIA LINK, 2011 71

Visualize a Great Future 

Every thought we think is creating our future.- Louise L. Hay 

You frequently run a mental movie of the future as you 

hope it will be or as you fear it will be. With conscious 

attention, you can choose what is in that movie. Choose 

to visualize a great future. Practice getting that movie 

back on a positive track whenever your mental movie of 

the future starts to focus on possible negative outcomes. 

Holding the mental image of a great future is the first 

step to creating that future. 

Count Your Blessings 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more. 

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to 

clarity. 

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger 

into a friend. 

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and 

creates a vision for tomorrow.- Melody BeattieGratitude is 

the key to a great life. At any moment, some things are 


How to Stay Positive 

How to Think Positive - How to Be Positive 

By Balu Khatod 

Do you sometimes have trouble staying positive in the face of life’s 

challenges? You can learn how to think positive, be positive, and stay 

positive with these tips for thinking positively... 

going well, while others are not going as we would 

choose. Being grateful for the blessings of life — 

including the life lessons that come from our setbacks 

— sets your mind for positive thinking and for 

enjoying a great life. 

Be Grateful for All of Life 

There are only two ways to live your life. 

One is as though nothing is a miracle. 

The other is as though everything is a miracle.- Albert 

Einstein 

With gratitude, all life appears as a blessing - without 

gratitude, all of life is perceived as a burden. Avoid the 

tendency to compare your life with the lives of others, 

with your idealized hopes for life, and with your own life 

when you were younger. Every moment of your life is a 

gift — not something you are “entitled to” or something 

you “deserve.” Practice zero-based gratitude. Zerobased 

gratitude is being grateful for everything in your 

life — grateful that you woke up this morning, grateful 

that you have enough food to eat, grateful that you can 

walk and breathe and see.

Know that Life Isn’t Supposed to be Fair 

No one is “supposed to” be nice to you or help you. No 

one is supposed to treat you “fairly.” Storms, 

earthquakes, wars, flu pandemics, and falling boulders 

are not supposed to avoid you. Be grateful and happy 

when life goes well, and avoid anger and resentment 

when life is not “fair.” 

Avoid Anger, Resentment, and Regret 

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent 

of throwing it at someone else; 

you are the one who gets burned.- The Buddha 

Anger, hatred, resentment, and regret help nothing, and 

are a great cause of unhappiness if you allow them to 

infect your life. Whatever pain the storms of life ever 

cause you, anger and resentment can never heal that 

pain — and they inflict their own pain - often a far greater 

pain than the first one. Whatever pain the actions of others 

cause you, anger, hatred, and revenge solve nothing — 

again, the pain of your own anger often surpasses the 

original pain. Whatever pain you cause yourself by ill- 

chosen actions, regret solves nothing — learn a life lesson, 

forgive yourself, and move on with life. 

Forgive Everyone for Everything 

Whatever has caused you pain — whether nature, 

others, or yourself — forgive completely. Until you 

forgive, the anger you hold will continue to burn. The 

suffering will never end until you give up the anger and 

forgive unconditionally. 

Keep Active 

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. 

Action breeds confidence and courage. 

If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about 

it. Go out and get busy.- Dale Carnegie 

If you are feeling depressed and negative, it is crucial for 

you to keep active. The less you feel like being active, 

and the more you just want to wallow in self-pity, the 

more important it is that you get out, interact with positive 

people, begin projects, and keep active. Until you begin 

to feel a desire to be active, just fake it — go through the 

motions of keeping active until you can generate the 

positive attitude to drive your activity. 

Choose to be Around Positive People 

Positivity is contagious - so is negativity. Choose to 

spend more time with people who think positively, 

speak positively, and support your vision, your life 

purpose, and your projects. Spend less time with people 

who talk about how hard and unfair life is. Spend less 

time with people who tell you that your goals are 

unrealistic and that you are certain to fail. 

Be of Service - Help Others 

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service 

of others. - Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi. 

One of the best ways to appreciate your life and to create 

a positive attitude is to be of service to those less fortunate 

than yourself. Being of service reminds you of your 

blessings, keeps you busy with generous activities, and 

surrounds you with positive happy people. 

Smile 

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes 

your smile can be the source of your joy.- Thich Nhat Hanh 

As with keeping active, smiling is something to do 

especially when you don’t feel like it. Just form your face 

into a smile, take a deep contented breath, and feel the 

smile becoming real and your view of life becoming 

happier and more positive. 

Celebrate - Dance - Sing 

Dance to happy music. Sing a happy song. Or just listen 

to upbeat music. The rhythm of happy music is primal. 

It works. Try it. 

Utilize Positive Quotes and 

Positive Affirmations 

Those who believe they can do something and those who 

believe they can’t are both right.- Henry Ford 

Choose a positive mental Attitude, positive affirmation 

each day. Think about it for a minute. Let the thought 

uplift your whole day. 

Complied by the Coach and Team of 

www.alphaimports.com 

INDIA LINK, 2011 73

6.00 pm Cultural Program - India-Link.org

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