As head of Nepal's most powerful party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's position holds the key to the political developments in the republic. On April 26 (Tuesday night), Mr. Prachanda spoke exclusively to Prashant Jha to discuss the state of transitional politics in Nepal, internal party divisions, and relations with India. Excerpts:
29 April, 2011
27 April, 2011
26 April, 2011
Thousands throng Puttaparthi
D. Sreenivasulu
— Photo: PTI/ Shailendra Bhojak
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali paying their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
Prashanti Nilayam has many tall buildings with street signs in English, French, German, Spanish
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali paying their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
PUTTAPARTHI: Thousands of grief-stricken devotees thronged Prashanthi Nilayam here for the second day on Monday as the body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba lay in the sprawling Sai Kulwant hall.
According to one estimate, over two lakh devotees have had darshan of the mortal remains of the Sai Baba till Monday evening. Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said the public would be allowed to have darshan till 6 p.m., Tuesday.
Volunteers and key functionaries of the Sathya Sai Trust handled the flow of people inside Prashanthi Nilayam, while the situation outside was left to the police and revenue authorities to tackle.
In tears
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, playback singer P. Susheela and veteran actress Anjali Devi, who have been long-standing visitors to Prashanthi Nilayam, were among the mourners. Sachin, who sat on the floor close to the coffin, was in tears. He had tried hard to control his emotions. Ms. Susheela, who wept uncontrollably, was consoled by Major Industries Minister J. Geetha Reddy. Ms. Anjali Devi too broke down.
Union Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Praful Patel, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, actor Arjun and Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy also paid their last respects.
According to one estimate, over two lakh devotees have had darshan of the mortal remains of the Sai Baba till Monday evening. Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said the public would be allowed to have darshan till 6 p.m., Tuesday.
Volunteers and key functionaries of the Sathya Sai Trust handled the flow of people inside Prashanthi Nilayam, while the situation outside was left to the police and revenue authorities to tackle.
In tears
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, playback singer P. Susheela and veteran actress Anjali Devi, who have been long-standing visitors to Prashanthi Nilayam, were among the mourners. Sachin, who sat on the floor close to the coffin, was in tears. He had tried hard to control his emotions. Ms. Susheela, who wept uncontrollably, was consoled by Major Industries Minister J. Geetha Reddy. Ms. Anjali Devi too broke down.
Union Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Praful Patel, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, actor Arjun and Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy also paid their last respects.
Every street was choked with grieving devotees descending on the small town. There was an outpouring of charity with volunteers offering water and packets of lemon rice.
Many devotees have come from far off places in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The global following for the spiritual leader was visible in the presence of a considerable number of foreigners.
Serpentine queues were seen as men and women walked separately covering over two km. In spite of heavy barricading of the roads leading to Prashanthi Nilayam, stray incidents of jostling or stampede were reported. Pressure was felt in the evening when crowds swelled beyond the expectations of officials and Trust members.
Manmohan, Sonia coming today
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are coming on Tuesday, security has been beefed up. They will arrive in a special flight from Delhi at the Puttaparthi airport at 4.40 p.m. and drive straight to Sai Kulwant Hall.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Orissa counterpart Naveen Patnaik are among the other dignitaries slated to arrive on Tuesday.
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani will attend the funeral on Wednesday.
Ravi P. Benjamin
Many devotees have come from far off places in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The global following for the spiritual leader was visible in the presence of a considerable number of foreigners.
Serpentine queues were seen as men and women walked separately covering over two km. In spite of heavy barricading of the roads leading to Prashanthi Nilayam, stray incidents of jostling or stampede were reported. Pressure was felt in the evening when crowds swelled beyond the expectations of officials and Trust members.
Manmohan, Sonia coming today
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are coming on Tuesday, security has been beefed up. They will arrive in a special flight from Delhi at the Puttaparthi airport at 4.40 p.m. and drive straight to Sai Kulwant Hall.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Orissa counterpart Naveen Patnaik are among the other dignitaries slated to arrive on Tuesday.
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani will attend the funeral on Wednesday.
Ravi P. Benjamin
| Puttaparthi became famous after Sai Baba declared that he was Shirdi Sai Baba's re-incarnation |
Prashanti Nilayam has many tall buildings with street signs in English, French, German, Spanish
M. Sankara Raju, Sai Baba's relative, played a key role in acquisition of lands, buildings construction
Puttaparthi (Anantapur district): The over 140-year-old village of Puttaparthi, once home to shepherd community, has transformed into a pilgrim city of international repute in a span of 70 years.
Puttaparthi (Anantapur district): The over 140-year-old village of Puttaparthi, once home to shepherd community, has transformed into a pilgrim city of international repute in a span of 70 years.
The birth place of Sathya Sai Baba also finds a mention in the revenue records of 1872. But, the village shot into significance when Sai Baba announced on May 23, 1940, that he was the re-incarnation of the Sai Baba of Shirdi. The construction of the earliest buildings in the Prashanthi Nilayam began in 1948 and completed in 1950.
Prashanti Nilayam resembles an international township with about a hundred tall buildings with street signs seen not only in English, but in French, German and Spanish.
Global village
Once work on Prashanthi Nilayam started, local residents and farmers came forward to donate their lands for several projects that started coming up. In 2001, the super specialities hospital commenced full-fledged operations in a sprawling building. M. Sankara Raju, a relative of the Baba played a key role in acquisition of lands and construction of buildings.
The Sai era that started on November 23, 1923, saw the 140-year-old village emerge into a global village.
Over five decades, thousands of devotees made Puttaparthi their spiritual abode to spend the evening of their lives, even as Sai Baba's popularity transcended national boundaries. Hundreds of overseas devotees of the Sai Baba began purchasing flats and independent villas in several townships.
Interestingly, there is a gated community on the road between the airport and Prashanthi Nilayam that is strictly for the ‘firangs'.
The economy of Puttaparthi revolved around retired employees who were Sai devotees, business establishments, real estate owners, those involved in hospitality projects, and over 1,000 foreign residents from the USA, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and other European and African countries. The town is also a bustling centre for foreign currency exchange dealers.
Attractions
The tiny town has a world class planetarium and a stadium that can accommodate about a lakh of people apart from corporate style auditoriums. It boasts of an airport with a state of art runway that can accommodate Boeing 747s.
Despondency
Even as Sai Baba's mortal remains were kept in Sai Kulwant hall, despondency is writ large on the faces of thousands of devotees and businessmen who came from as far as Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, Bengal and other Northern States.
Questions are raised on the future of the township, its economy, and the future of all stakeholders of the town.
Courtesy : The Hindu
Courtesy : The Hindu
25 April, 2011
RSS Official with Sri Sathya Sai Baba
News Coverage in Media on Condolence by RSS to Sathya Sai Baba - Paper Cuttings
American Hindu Association -AHA
Dear Devotees,
We are saddened to know about the death of Indian Spiritual Guru Sri Satya Sai Baba. On the behalf of the AHA, we express our deep condolence to all Hindus, especially followers of Sai Baba. The loss of this Great Spiritual Guru would create a big vacuum in our Hindu community. His contributions in our religious and social activities will be remembered forever.
God bless you,
AHA Board
24 April, 2011
AP Samachar - 24 April, 2011
Sathya Sai Baba passes away
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
 |
| Sathya Sai Baba |
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the spiritual leader of millions of his devotees in India and abroad, passed away at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSSIHMS) at 7.40 a.m. here on Sunday.
The end came after 28 days of hospitalisation when doctors from the India, US and UK battled to treat multi-organ failure. He has been on ventillator and dialysis ever since he was admitted following cardio-respiratory and renal failure.
A brief statement issued by Dr. A. N. Safaya, Director of the Institute, said "Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is no more with us physically. He left his earthly body on April 24, 2011 at 7.40 a.m. due to cardio-respiratory failure. Bhagwan 's body will lie in State at Sai Kulwant Hall for two days -- Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan after 6 p.m. today at Sai Kulwant Hall. We appeal to all not to rush to the hospital but to remain calm and have darshan in an orderly manner".
Meanwhile, A. P. Governor E. S. L Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy left together by a helicopter from Hyderabad to Puttaparthi to pay their last tributes to Sathya Sai Baba. Telugu Desam President N. Chandrababu Naidu cancelled his byelection campaign in Kadapa district and also rushed to Prasathi Nilayam.
The District Collector Mr. B. Janardhan Reddy told The Hindu that the darshan of Sai Baba's mortal remains had been fixed from 6 p.m. to facilitate arrangements at the Sai Kulwant Hall and to take up crowd control measures like barricading of roads in the town for orderly movement of the devotees.
23 April, 2011
Hanuman Jayanti rally passes off peacefully
The Hindu
April 19, 2011 00:00
Over 7,000 devotees, mostly youngsters, take part in the rally
 |
| Religious fervour: A boy dressed in the garb of Hanuman leading the rally during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Hyderabad on Monday. - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf |
Hanuman Jayanti rally passed off peacefully on Monday amidst heightened security all along the procession route from Ram temple in Gowliguda to Hanuman temple in Bowenpally.
22 April, 2011
AP Samachar - 22 April, 2011
Letter from N. Ravi, Editor, on the recent happenings in The Hindu
April 20, 2011
Dear colleagues,
Even as we are entering the second, and what might turn out to be a prolonged, phase of conflict and turbulence in the institution, I write to seek your understanding.
In a shocking display of bad faith that has left me deeply anguished, N. Ram and some of the directors at the meeting of the Board on April 18, 2011 have sought to remove me and appoint as editor Siddharth Varadarajan who joined The Hindu in 2004.
You are all aware that I have been working in a wholly professional capacity for several decades ever since I joined the newspaper as a reporter in 1972. During this period, I have been fortunate to enjoy your cooperation and help in taking the newspaper forward. After 1991 when I took over as editor, our team transformed The Hindu from a Chennai-centred daily with just one page of local news to a well recognized national newspaper with extensive local and state coverage spread over four pages, and attractive features. We started a lively engagement with the leading issues of the day with extensive coverage and diverse viewpoints. We sought to uphold editorial integrity,
seeking accountability from institutions and public officials without fear or favour.
Though the economy then was not so buoyant as during the later period, between January 1991 and June 2003, the circulation of The Hindu increased from 4,52,918 copies (July-December 1990) to 9,33,458 copies (January-June 2003) or by 4,80,540 copies or 106.1%. In the more recent period, The Hindu has been losing market share, and from being level with the Hindustan Times, it has now fallen far behind that newspaper. Findings from the most recent market survey present a depressing picture of reader perception of unappealing content and a pronounced bias towards the left.
It is a matter of public record that N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, was to retire on May 4, 2010 on turning 65 and I was to take over as Editor-in-Chief under the arrangement agreed upon. However, in a
shocking display of bad faith, Ram went on to renege on his commitment to retire and the whole process of editorial succession came to a standstill.
During the conflict created by Ram's breach of faith, Ram and a group of directors on the Board removed the powers and responsibilities of N. Murali, Managing Director in a vindictive move that was overturned by the Company Law Board, Chennai Bench that also came out with a
severe indictment that their action was lacking in probity, good faith and fairness. Barely four months after the indictment, Ram and his group of directors have turned on me with the same lack of probity, good faith and fairness and have sought to remove me and impose a plan of editorial succession that is totally at variance with the longstanding tradition and practice in the institution and is also contrary to the directions of the Company Law Board.
Almost a year past the agreed retirement date, his position having become untenable in the face of the Company Law Board order, Ram seems bent on taking all the editorial directors-most are in their 50s—into retirement with him with a scorched earth policy to ensure that no one in the family succeeds him. Instead of coming up with a succession plan, he and some of the other directors have come up with a plan of wholesale removal. In a sudden change of rules and under the specious
plea of separating ownership from management, along with my removal as editor, Nirmala Lakshman is to be forced to "step down" as joint editor and Malini Parthasarathy as executive editor.
Apart from the basic unfairness of the removal, the move seeks to entrench several of the distortions that have crept into the editorial framework since 2003 when Ram was appointed Editor-in-Chief by stealth over the protests of four of us. Among the issues that I have raised with the other directors during the discussions in the Board and outside are: the unmerited coverage of certain political favourites on specific directions; excessive coverage of the activities of the left and some of its leaders; for reasons that are bound to emerge sooner rather than later, turning the newspaper into an apologist for A. Raja through the 2G scam coverage, remaining deafeningly silent on his
resignation in the face of mounting evidence even when demanding the resignation of Suresh Kalmadi, Ashok Chavan and Yeddyurappa in similar circumstances; pronounced pro-China tilt, blacking out or downplaying any news that is less than complimentary to the Chinese Communist
regime; and contrary to the practice in any mainline newspaper, the Editor-in-Chief indulging in an unceasing self-glorification campaign, publishing his own ribbon cutting pictures and reports of his
activities and speeches with a regularity that would put corporate house journals to shame.
The Hindu as an institution had in the past valued its editorial integrity over all else. In the recent period, editorial integrity has been severely compromised and news coverage linked directly to
advertising in a way that is little different from paid news. A meaningless distinction has been sought to be made between walls and lines, and the walls between editorial and advertising are sought to be replaced by "lines" between them. Very recently, those of us who were not privy to the deal making learnt to our shock that a major interview with A. Raja in defence of the telecom licensing policy published on May 22, 2010-that was referred to by the Prime Minister in his press conference-- involved a direct quid pro quo in the form of a full page, colour advertisement from the Telecom Ministry that was specially and hurriedly cleared by the Minister personally for
publication on the same day in The Hindu. The contrast between such a deed and pious editorial declarations including the campaign against paid news cannot be starker. To continue with such practices, the editorial structure is sought to be changed, with the editor being made subordinate to an executive board comprising a majority of business side executives. The undermining of the primacy of the editorial function is an attack on the very soul of The Hindu. In the context of these distortions that have crept into actual practice, the high sounding code of editorial values that is sought to be publicized now would seem no more than empty rhetoric.
This round of turbulence comes at a time when all manner of investors are looking to gain influence and control over the media, and competition is increasing with newspapers striving to attract the
attention of readers through better, more contemporary and enriched content. As part of the journalistic team, all of you have contributed so much to the growth of The Hindu and are vitally interested in the task of moving forward in a highly competitive environment even while
observing the highest standards of editorial integrity. I feel strongly that when a distorted picture has emerged based on selective leaks, information on the happenings cannot be restricted to the
confines of the boardroom and all the journalists as stakeholders need to be taken into confidence.
It is in this spirit that I am sharing my views with you all. I also write to you with the confidence that the unfair and untenable move will not be allowed to prevail. In the task of upholding the editorial
principles that are so dear to all of us, I appeal for your support and understanding.
Yours sincerely,
N. Ravi
April 20, 2011
Dear colleagues,
Even as we are entering the second, and what might turn out to be a prolonged, phase of conflict and turbulence in the institution, I write to seek your understanding.
In a shocking display of bad faith that has left me deeply anguished, N. Ram and some of the directors at the meeting of the Board on April 18, 2011 have sought to remove me and appoint as editor Siddharth Varadarajan who joined The Hindu in 2004.
You are all aware that I have been working in a wholly professional capacity for several decades ever since I joined the newspaper as a reporter in 1972. During this period, I have been fortunate to enjoy your cooperation and help in taking the newspaper forward. After 1991 when I took over as editor, our team transformed The Hindu from a Chennai-centred daily with just one page of local news to a well recognized national newspaper with extensive local and state coverage spread over four pages, and attractive features. We started a lively engagement with the leading issues of the day with extensive coverage and diverse viewpoints. We sought to uphold editorial integrity,
seeking accountability from institutions and public officials without fear or favour.
Though the economy then was not so buoyant as during the later period, between January 1991 and June 2003, the circulation of The Hindu increased from 4,52,918 copies (July-December 1990) to 9,33,458 copies (January-June 2003) or by 4,80,540 copies or 106.1%. In the more recent period, The Hindu has been losing market share, and from being level with the Hindustan Times, it has now fallen far behind that newspaper. Findings from the most recent market survey present a depressing picture of reader perception of unappealing content and a pronounced bias towards the left.
It is a matter of public record that N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, was to retire on May 4, 2010 on turning 65 and I was to take over as Editor-in-Chief under the arrangement agreed upon. However, in a
shocking display of bad faith, Ram went on to renege on his commitment to retire and the whole process of editorial succession came to a standstill.
During the conflict created by Ram's breach of faith, Ram and a group of directors on the Board removed the powers and responsibilities of N. Murali, Managing Director in a vindictive move that was overturned by the Company Law Board, Chennai Bench that also came out with a
severe indictment that their action was lacking in probity, good faith and fairness. Barely four months after the indictment, Ram and his group of directors have turned on me with the same lack of probity, good faith and fairness and have sought to remove me and impose a plan of editorial succession that is totally at variance with the longstanding tradition and practice in the institution and is also contrary to the directions of the Company Law Board.
Almost a year past the agreed retirement date, his position having become untenable in the face of the Company Law Board order, Ram seems bent on taking all the editorial directors-most are in their 50s—into retirement with him with a scorched earth policy to ensure that no one in the family succeeds him. Instead of coming up with a succession plan, he and some of the other directors have come up with a plan of wholesale removal. In a sudden change of rules and under the specious
plea of separating ownership from management, along with my removal as editor, Nirmala Lakshman is to be forced to "step down" as joint editor and Malini Parthasarathy as executive editor.
Apart from the basic unfairness of the removal, the move seeks to entrench several of the distortions that have crept into the editorial framework since 2003 when Ram was appointed Editor-in-Chief by stealth over the protests of four of us. Among the issues that I have raised with the other directors during the discussions in the Board and outside are: the unmerited coverage of certain political favourites on specific directions; excessive coverage of the activities of the left and some of its leaders; for reasons that are bound to emerge sooner rather than later, turning the newspaper into an apologist for A. Raja through the 2G scam coverage, remaining deafeningly silent on his
resignation in the face of mounting evidence even when demanding the resignation of Suresh Kalmadi, Ashok Chavan and Yeddyurappa in similar circumstances; pronounced pro-China tilt, blacking out or downplaying any news that is less than complimentary to the Chinese Communist
regime; and contrary to the practice in any mainline newspaper, the Editor-in-Chief indulging in an unceasing self-glorification campaign, publishing his own ribbon cutting pictures and reports of his
activities and speeches with a regularity that would put corporate house journals to shame.
The Hindu as an institution had in the past valued its editorial integrity over all else. In the recent period, editorial integrity has been severely compromised and news coverage linked directly to
advertising in a way that is little different from paid news. A meaningless distinction has been sought to be made between walls and lines, and the walls between editorial and advertising are sought to be replaced by "lines" between them. Very recently, those of us who were not privy to the deal making learnt to our shock that a major interview with A. Raja in defence of the telecom licensing policy published on May 22, 2010-that was referred to by the Prime Minister in his press conference-- involved a direct quid pro quo in the form of a full page, colour advertisement from the Telecom Ministry that was specially and hurriedly cleared by the Minister personally for
publication on the same day in The Hindu. The contrast between such a deed and pious editorial declarations including the campaign against paid news cannot be starker. To continue with such practices, the editorial structure is sought to be changed, with the editor being made subordinate to an executive board comprising a majority of business side executives. The undermining of the primacy of the editorial function is an attack on the very soul of The Hindu. In the context of these distortions that have crept into actual practice, the high sounding code of editorial values that is sought to be publicized now would seem no more than empty rhetoric.
This round of turbulence comes at a time when all manner of investors are looking to gain influence and control over the media, and competition is increasing with newspapers striving to attract the
attention of readers through better, more contemporary and enriched content. As part of the journalistic team, all of you have contributed so much to the growth of The Hindu and are vitally interested in the task of moving forward in a highly competitive environment even while
observing the highest standards of editorial integrity. I feel strongly that when a distorted picture has emerged based on selective leaks, information on the happenings cannot be restricted to the
confines of the boardroom and all the journalists as stakeholders need to be taken into confidence.
It is in this spirit that I am sharing my views with you all. I also write to you with the confidence that the unfair and untenable move will not be allowed to prevail. In the task of upholding the editorial
principles that are so dear to all of us, I appeal for your support and understanding.
Yours sincerely,
N. Ravi
21 April, 2011
Cancer of corruption
Can Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill root out the menace of corruption?
India Today
India Today
Edition: April 25, 2011
 |
| Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar |
19 April, 2011
Kashmir’s vote for grassroots democracy
First Published : 18 Apr 2011 11:34:00 PM IST
Last Updated : 19 Apr 2011 01:05:10 AM IST
The massive turnout of voters in the on-going panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir is in defiance of separatists who have asked for a boycott. On the second day of polling on Sunday, 81.62 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the 16-phase elections which will conclude on June 18. This proves that the murder of Haseena Begum, a candidate, two days after the first round of polling on April 16, when 77 per cent voting was recorded, had no deterrent effect on the voters. The areas covered by the polling so far are representative of the regional characteristics of the state.Equally important, people from all walks of life have come forward to contest the elections being held after 10 years. The people know that most of their local problems, like lack of roads, wells and public hydrants, can be solved locally by the civic bodies. They also know that funds for many centrally-sponsored programmes are now routed through such bodies. By not holding elections for the last five years, they realise that they have only lost and not gained. That is why they have defied the boycott call given by separatists like Syed Ali Shah Gilani. Whatever be the outcome of the polls, it will be a victory for grassroots democracy.
The Pioneer
Deccan Chronicle
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