April 2018

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Published by The Indian Federation of United Nations Associations

PEOPLE AND UN

India-Iran ink nine pacts with Chabahar Port in focus Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (LEFT) along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (RIGHT) Welcoming Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (CENTRE) at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi

EDITOR’S PIX

Contents

PEOPLE AND UN RNI NO. DELENG/2012/44082 Vol. VI, No. 5 A Publication of The Indian Federation of United Nations Associations, New Delhi Quaterly : April 2018

PRINTED BY

Suresh Kumar Srivastava Secretary General , IFUNA PUBLISHED BY

Suresh Kumar Srivastava On behalf of

The Indian Federation of United Nations Associations, New Delhi

Printed at: Pran Printers Pvt. Ltd. B-157, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi - 20, Ph. : 011-41664111

PUBLISHED AT IFUNA C-6 Qutub Institutional Area, New Dehli-110016 Tel.: 011-26511257, 26852293 Fax: 011-26852291, E-mail: ifuna@ifuna.org, ifuna@mail.com, www.ifuna.org EDITOR Pran Mohan Parvatiyar

* All disputes to be settled in Delhi Courts only.

All rights reserved. No responsibility is taken for returning unsolicited manuscripts.

Views expressed in the articles in

MS MCCOLLUM JAY JOHNSON OF AUSTRALIA UNA VISITED IFUNA OFFICE AT NEW DELHI ON 14TH FEBRUARY 2018 SURESH SRIVASTAVA, SECRETARY GENERAL, IFUNA PRESENTED A MEMENTO TO HER. PAGE 5

PAGE 20

INDIA CANADA PARTNERSHIP

IS CANADA HOME FOR SIKH TERRORISTS

PAGE 7 PAGE 21

WFUNA NEWS PAGE 8

IND0- IRAN PACT

WOMEN DAY CELEBRATION AT IFUNA

PAGE 22

PAGE 10

ENVIORNMENT

UTKAL UNA

PAGE 24

PAGE 11

8th WORLD WATER FORUM

INDIA- CHINA RELATION PAGE 15

PAGE 27

ISRAEL –INDIA BUSINESS PARRTNERSHIP

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

PAGE 18

PAGE 29

ASIAN Summit

HINDI SECTION

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FORM IV Statement about ownership and other particulars about News Magazine (People and UN) to be published in the first issue every year after the last day of February 1. Place of publication : Delhi 2. Periodicity of its publication - Quarterly 3. Printer's Name - Suresh Kumar Srivastava 4. Nationality - Indian Address - C-31, 1st Floor, Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi - 110017 4. Publisher's Name - Suresh Kumar Srivastava Nationality - Indian Address - C-31, 1st Floor, Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi - 110017 5. Editor's Name - Pran Mohan Parvatiyar Nationality - Indian Address - C-6, Raj Residency, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP - 201010

6. Names and addresses of individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding More than one per cent of the total capital.

Indian Federation of United Nations Associations C-6, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110016 I, SURESH KUMAR SRIVASTAVA hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date : 08/03/2018

Signature of Publisher

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018 3

EDITOR’S COLUMN

I

n

First ASEAN Summit in Bali, 23-25 February 1976.

From left: PM Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysian PM Datuk H ussein Onn, Indonesian President Suharto,

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and Thai PM

rit Pramoj.

Kuk

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N THE 1960S, when ASEAN was founded, five non-Communist countries namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines were thought to be dominoes, waiting to fall as Communist expansion. As China was rising, there were a lot of concerns and fears about it. That time these five nations were suspicious of each other . But the fear of communism brought them together. Formation of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the historical necessities. Luckily they had strong leaders like President Suharto (Indonesia), Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore), President Mahathir bin Mohammad (Malaysia), which enable them to rise above short-term interests and focus on the long-term value of regional cooperation. And the other piece of luck of the time was that ASEAN was on the right side of the Cold War. It is also said the four-letter word, which is a surprise to everyone, is GOLF which was a critical factor in the success of ASEAN. A thousand years ago, India's influence was much greater than China's in Southeast Asia.. The fact about ASEAN is that of the 10 countries in the bloc, the cultural base of nine is Indian, not Chinese. India needs to do is to re-build those cultural links in a way it didn't. As India needed to wake up and spend more time on ASEAN, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took initiative and invited them. And the ten leaders of ASEAN leaders came to India during India's Republic Day celebrations. Talking about India's shared heritage with the other ASEAN nations, Prime Minister Modi said to the visiting ASEAN Governments head "Our friendship has been nurtured by our shared culture and civilisation linkages. The Ramayana, the ancient India epic, continues to be a valuable shared legacy in ASEAN and Indian subcontinent. Buddhism also binds us closer”.

The trade between ASEAN and China is around $400 billion, whereas the trade between ASEAN and India is about only $75 billion. This wide gap also needs to be narrowed. If, India joins the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) free trade agreement scheduled to be signed in November 2018 during the Asian summit in Singapore, that will be a big deal, says experts. That is one way for India to integrate not only with Southeast Asia, but also East Asia.

— Pran Mohan Parvatiyar pmparvatiyar@gmail.com

SPOTLIGHT India-Canada Partnership needs strong shared values SURESH SRIVASTAVA Secretary General – IFUNA

NDIA – CANADA share a strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and liberalism. These have expended significantly in recent years aided by heightened economic engagement, regular high level interactions and long-standing people-to-people ties.

On 21st October 2015, PM Modi called to congratulate Mr. Justin Trudeau on his election as the Prime Minister of Canada. PM invited him to pay an official visit to India. PM Modi met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the margins of the Nuclear Safety Summit in Washington D.C. on March 31st April 2016. PM Justin Trudeau had a telephone conversation with PM Modi on June 19, 2017. PM Modi congratulated PM Trudeau on the 150th anniversary of Canada as a Federation. Both leaders also discussed issues of mutual interest. They also met on the margins of the G-20 summit [2] in Hamburg on 7th July, 2017. They discussed India-Canada relations and measures to further the bilateral partnership in areas such as

I

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

education, trade, investment, connectivity and combating climate change. Again on 11th September, 2017 PM Trudeau called PM Modi to discuss the flood situation in India.

The Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA), which was signed in June 2010, came into force in September 2013.The Appropriate Arrangement (AA) for the NCA was signed in March 2013, under which a Joint Committee on Civil Nuclear Cooperation was constituted.

Over 100,000/- Indian students study in Canada. Education is a key area of collaboration between the two countries. The MOU on Cooperation in Higher Education was signed in June 2010, which covers student and faculty exchange, research and curriculum development, organization of workshop and seminars, twining between institutions of higher learning, facilitate mutual recognition of educational qualifications, policy dialogue in areas of mutual interest, among others.

The Diaspora is well represented in federal Parliament and provincial legislatures. In the present House of Commons (elections held on 19 October 2015), there are 21 MPs of Indian origin (up from 9). Four PIOs now hold Cabinet berths (up from two of Ministers of State in the last Cabinet).Prominent Indo-Canadian organisations include Canada India Business Council (CIBC), Canada India Foundation (CIF), IndoCanada Chamber of Commerce (I-CCC) and other local chambers and associations.

With this background of grate mutual cooperation between the two nations Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau arrived in India on February 17th 2018 for a week long visit. Five days after landing in India, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his ceremonial welcome in Delhi's Rashtrapati Bhavan. PM Modi greeted Mr Trudeau with his signature bear-hug and posed for photographs with his family, including his daughter Ella Grace. Mr Trudeau's first visit to India has been clouded by talk of a

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

5

SPOTLIGHT

n Canadian Prime Minister

Ju ith his family members at the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar stin Trudeau

w

(Gujrat)

India

on February 19, 2018.

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frosty reception on account of the Canadian government's perceived soft approach to Sikh extremists demanding Khalistan.

On Wednesday, the dinner invitation to Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal at a reception for Mr Trudeau at the Canada House in the national capital was cancelled. On Tuesday, he had attended an event in Mumbai and was photographed with Mr Trudeau's wife Sophie Trudeau and Canadian minister Amarjeet Sohi. The absence of any welcome tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had broken protocol to receive several world leaders at the airport - is seen as a snub. PM Modi had not accompanied Mr Trudeau during his visit home state Gujarat either, a courtesy that was extended to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The invitations proved a huge embarrassment to Canada and Mr Trudeau said he would take action against the person responsible for issuing the invitation to Jaspal Atwal, who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for trying to kill a Punjab minister visiting Canada in 1986. Canadian parliamentarian Randeep Sarai has taken the blame and issued an apology. Since Trudeau won the election in 2015, the 1980s have returned to haunt Indo-Canada ties.

Sikh secessionists who supported a separate country (Khalistan) unleashed a bloodbath in the state of Punjab in the 80s. Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, sent the army to purge the Golden Temple (the holiest place of worship for Sikhs) of militants who were hiding inside.

She was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards, fol-

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

lowed by anti-Sikh riots in which more than 3,000 were killed. In 1985, the Air India jumbo jet “Kanishka” flying from Montreal to Delhi was blown up by Sikh terrorists, leaving 329 people dead.

Knowing all of this, Trudeau still attended a Khalsa parade in May, where many of these militants were feted.

So, his India trip was already mired in tensions when the Atwal snafu broke. Then, Canadian media released more photographs showing an apparent familiarity between Atwal and Trudeau back home. Nearly half a million Sikhs live in Canada and account for 1.4 percent of the population. Trudeau was such a favorite among them that he is jokingly called Justin Singh.

An Indian Journalist Ms.Barkha Dutt in her article in Washington post has rightly stated that ‘I confess, from afar, I used to be a Trudeau fan-girl. But after this trip, I’ve changed my mind. Trudeau has come across as flighty and facetious. His orchestrated dance moves and multiple costume changes in heavily embroidered kurtas and sherwanis make him look more like an actor on a movie set or a guest at a wedding than a politician who is here to talk business. Suddenly, all that charisma and cuteness seem constructed, manufactured and, above all, not serious.

Most people agree that the Modi government has shown impressive toughness in setting the terms and in offering bipartisan support to the opposition leader, Captain Amarinder Singh, who governs the Sikh-dominated Punjab. Singh first accused Trudeau of backing Sikh separatists. Singh’s media adviser, Raveen Thukral, told me that Trudeau gave a “categorical assurance that his country did not support any separatist movement in India” and drew parallels with Quebec, saying that he “had dealt with such threats all his life and was fully aware of the dangers of violence. Sounds good. So next time you come to India, Prime Minister Trudeau, do try and leave the terrorists - and the wedding kurtas - at home”.

Trudeau's India trip has been beset by allegations that his Liberal Party curries favor with Canada's prominent Sikh minority by supporting secessionist Sikh groups that want an independent homeland called Khalistan.

Trudeau's administration has denied backing pro-Khalistan groups.

While India greatly respect the democratic and liberal values of Canada as a democratic and liberal country but a line has to be drawn between liberalism and anarchic and India can not forget and forgive those terrorist who originated from the soil of Canada to blow Kanishka killing 329 innocent persons which includes Indians as well as Canadians. n

WITH INPUTS FROM MEDIA SOURCES

WFUNA-NEWS

PEACE IN THE DRC: MONUSCO FROM A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE On December 6, WFUNA partnered with UNA Sweden and UNA DRC to convene amulti-stakeholder dialogue on sustaining peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over 50 UN and civil society actors. Opening remarks were given by Mr. Aleksander Gabelic, President of UNA Sweden and the panel was made up of UN and civil society representatives. The panel discussed challenges affecting MONUSCO, different perspectives, and possible steps forward. They then answered questions from those in attendance.

NOT UNDER THE UN FLAG" CAMPAIGN LAUNCH Peace and Security is at the heart of the United Nations’ values and purpose. Today, while the overwhelming majority of peacekeepers are mandated to protect civilians, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) keeps occuring under the UN flag. WFUNA's “Not under the United Nations Flag” campaign provides a space for the UN, Member States, civil society organizations and the public at large to mobilize and lobby for concrete collective actions to achieve the goal of zero SEA cases in UN peace operations. Join the campaign today and stand up for human rights.

CIVIL SOCIETY DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL On December 1, WFUNA convened the eighth in a series of Civil Society Dialogues with the President of the United Nations Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The dialogue featured H.E. Koro Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council for the month of December. Ms. Margaret Williams, WFUNA’s Senior Peace and Security Officer, moderated the discussion that brought together over 30 UN-focused civil society representatives

WFUNA UPCOMING EVENTS WFUNA INTERNATIONAL MODEL UN 2018 WFUNA's International Model United Nations (WIMUN) is back in 2018! From February 4-8, delegates will gather in New York City for the real United Nations experience!

INTERNATIONAL GCED CONFERENCE WFUNA is holding theInternational Agents of Change Conference 2018 for Mission Possible students from India and high school students from New York City who are activiley engaged in projects related to the SDGs. Stay tuned! n

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WOMENS-DAY

International Women’s Day-2018 FUNA Observed 'International Women's Day on 8th March 2018 at IFUNA Conference Hall, New Delhi. The event was organized in collaboration with The Union South-East Asia. The programme was attended by Staff Members of The Union, students of Intitute of UN Studies, Members of IFUNA, Principals of Schools and Members of Electronic and Print Media.

The function was presided over by Shri S.P Kalra, Deputy Chairman-IFUNA and CoChaired by Dr. Neerja Arora, Sr. Technical Advisor, The Union. Mr. Suresh Srivastava, Secretary General-IFUNA in his opening

I

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remark stated that the Theme of the year is #Press for Progress with the backdrop of the movement #MeToo, #TimesUp and More Gender Parity and our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given a very innovative idea as we always talk of Empowerment of Women, but he has initiated by giving a new theme Empowerment through Women. He has not only given a new slogan but in practice he has inducted in his Ministry Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, full time Defence Minister of India for the first time, earlier Mrs. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister has retained the portfolio of Defence Ministry but it for the first time a women has become a full time Defence Minister in the History of India. Similarly, we have Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Mrs. Smiriti Irani, Ms. Uma Bharati Mrs. Harsimarat Kaur and Ms. Maneka Gandhi all Cabinet Ministers with Smt. Sumitra Mahajan as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha whereas, in the Ministry of Dr. Manmohan Singh there were only two women Cabinet Minister Ku. Shailja and Ms. Chandresh Kumari Katoch.

A movement of #MeToo has taken place after exposure of Harvey Weinstein and subsequent expulsion from the academy of Hollywood. This phrase was coined by Ms. Tarana Burke and has taken a shape of a movement all over the world like wild fire and the heat of this wild fire has also reached to Bollywood as we all know Ms. Priyanka Chopra has also spoken as #MeToo.

WOMEN-DAY Yes, I am blessed #TimesUp and More movement have brought on surface 7 Lac women across USA and Europe. This shows the magnitude of the problem of sexual harassment at work place faced by the women all over the world and suprisignly a in a free and open society of USA and Europe. Mr. Srivastava further referred to the Vedic period in India when the Women's were free, never wear any veil and were treated equally with the man in all matters of Education, marriage and properties. India became a great melting pot of civilization from 16th Century onward and the Status of Women started declining even in the Hindu society.

After the Independence many laws were passed to protect the right of women in marriage and inheritance. But unfortunately, the Muslim women's and Christians women's still face the dogmatic society of their religion. Mr. Srivastava gave a call for Empowerment through Women as suggested by our Prime Minister.

Ms. Shamina Shafiq, Former Member, National Commission for Women also spoke on this occasion. She gave a call for Empowerment of Women through Education and need to rehabilitate victims of rape survivors and need to sensitise young boys and building a society which is free from fear and abuse by male chauvinist. She called for gender equality and need for the Women of Minority community to stand up against violence.

Ms. Pragya Sharma, CEO, Maharishi Ayurveda India emphasized the need to bring ancient values, culture and Vedic Philosophy in the society for the emancipations of women. The best way for the Empowerment of women is to make them self reliant. The Government must make reservation in the job sector as well as in assemblies and parliament.

Dr. Neerja Arora, Sr. Technical Advisor, The Union also spoke on this occasion.

Mrs Sheelaa Mishra invited many eminent poetesses to recite poems which was

MS. ADRIJA CHOUDHURY Student - Institute of UN Studies, New Delhi

Yes I am blessed that I was born a girl in this era where money and power decides fate of humanity. I am blessed to see that the ones united before are fighting each other silently or violently to show superiority. A world where its a crime to be born a girl for her dignity and family name lies in her private parts, so when raped she is responsible for bringing shame to her family. Yes it's a crime to be a girl for if she falls in love with a person of different religion she is disgusting. I am blessed to be born as a girl even though I am judged for wearing sleeveless and shorts.

I am blessed to be born a girl where in the name of equality, privileges are being demanded. I am blessed to be born a girl ,where

dowry is something that people will debate against but won't mind getting gifted a flat or car from their in laws, after all its not dowry but a ritual. Yet I am blessed to be born a girl, for if a woman earns more than her husband, the husband is bound to be embarrassed for how could his wife earn more. I am blessed to be born as a girl in a country where people worship goddesses and would rather abort the girl child for she is a burden and then go pray to "devis" for a boy child. I am blessed to be born a girl where marital rape is not an issue after all my husband owns me after we are married. I am blessed to be a girl in a world where its a shame for women to be alive if she got raped as its probably her fault, she must have asked for it, having worn a dress. Holi, which used to be the festival of colors have become fearsome occasion I am blessed because I cannot walk safe alone on the road without the fear of some one throwing a balloon filled it urine at me.

I am blessed to be born a girl because such things motivate me to become stronger and fight back everyday and change lives. It motivates me to carry a pepper spray in my purse and hit back if hooted at.

No i won't cower, for I am blessed to be a girl, who knows how to fight back and make a difference.

For I believe, change begins at home.

Stronger women equals stronger nation. n

chaired by Ms. Mohini Mathur, Vice President IFUNA . Many poetess recited heart rendering poems and that kept the audience spellbound.

Mr. Kailash Khosla proposed a vote of thanks. n

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STATE-UNA UTKAL UNA

Observed Human Rights Day

U

TKAL FEDERATION of United Nations Association celebrated World Human Rights Day at Dhenkanal on 11th December 2017 by distributing blanket to the poor and convening a Legal Aid Camp for people Below Poverty Line. It also held a seminar on World Human Rights. State President of UFUNA Manoranjan Pattnaik presided over the seminar. Ex Central Minister

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and Rajyasabha MP Braja Kishore Tripathy said ,the Rights of every man has diminished when the rights of one man on earth is threatened.

We have to safe guard human rights of every human being ,whenever & wherever humanity value are a banded, we need to stand up for our rights . Ex-MP & Ex-Minister of Central Govt.

Sri Bhajaman Behera said there may be times when we are powerless to fight against in justice, but there must never been a time when we failed to protect in justice.

There can be no peace without development or no development without peace and no lasting peace without respect of human rights and rule of law. CBI Judge Bhikari Rout described many point of law that is there to protect human rights in the universal declaration. Prof. Dillip Nanda said ,our hopes per more just safe & peaceful world can only be achieved when there is universal respect for the inheritance dignity & equal right of all section and all members of human family. M. R. Pattnaik said getting the Human Rights delayed is one kind of right denied. 60 years on of universal declaration of Human Rights become International Bill of Human Rights setting out the Civil, Cultural, Economic, Political & Social Rights.

Joining on the occasion chairman of Human Right Protection council Sri Tapan Routray asked to promote awareness to fight for human rights. We need to get to-gether.

Our Rights is our freedom. UFUNA State Secretary Dipayan Pattnaik said that 60 years after the universal declaration of Human Rights it is still more a dream than reality. Freedom under primes, the international bill of Human Rights freedom for fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom for want need to be address.. Chief Engineer Akshaya Kumar Satapathy, Political Leader Karpa Bardhan Singhdeo were present as Guest of Honour. . n

NEIGHBOUR

Indian-China Relations

n Sikkim standoff, india china standoff, dolam standoff, indiach ina-bhutan border

SITARAM SHARMA, Vice–President IFUNA

Historic Mistrust, Current Competition & New Great Game One highlight of the evolution of the international relations in recent years has been the shifting of axis of global politics to Asia and the rise of developing countries and emerging economies, especially India and China, which has profoundly impacted the international structure. When Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping met Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, he said to Indian Prime Minister, “Only when China and India achieve development, the World will see a true Asia-Pacific century”.

India and China are ancient civilisations, are neighbours and are strategic partners. India was the first non-communist country to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing. China and India have extensive consensus on major international issues. On the whole, Indo-China relations have embarked on a road of steady growth. However, the lack of strategic and political mutual trust remains the weak link in the relationship.

China’s Pakistan Policy – A Major Challenge

Pursuit of World Peace is a fundamental tenet of India’s foreign policy. On the other hand, belying China’s claim of peaceful rise, Chinese foreign policy is turning into an infringement of internationally accepted norms. China’s Pakistan policy is a major challenge to India-China relations. In India, the perception about “China threat” since 1962 is a real issue. Recent Doklam standoff has not only forced the boundary dispute, but also added to the long list of hostile acts by the Chinese against India, starting with making Pakistan into a bigger nuisance by augmenting its nuclear and missile capabilities, by running the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through the Indian Territory, under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. Moreover, India’s disappointment with China’s role in India’s entry into the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG) and more so creating obstacles in India’s efforts to get back Pakistani terrorists on the UN Sanction list.

What are the reasons for China to force a boundary dispute, escalate tensions and distrust. Is it the Indian join naval exercises with US and Japan in South China Sea, permission to Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh and hoisting of Tibetan Flag in India. Is Doklam China’s way of telling India to behave or face the war? For all talks of cooperation, China remains a fierce rival as far as vying for regional influence is concerned. Economy may be the one area of agreement however, based on Chinese theory “compete and cooperate”. The boundary question is a complex issue and there are no immediate indications towards resolving this contentious issue between India and China. It will only be possible if two countries put friendship first, foster the security concept of mutual interest, by accommodating each other’s core concerns and appropriately handling differences and tensions. It represents the call of the times.

Obviously there is a huge competition between India and China to expand their

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NEIGHBOUR NEPAL’S LEFT ALLIANCE HAS SWEPT TO A COMMANDING VICTORY IN THE HISTORIC FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL RELATIONS CONCLUDED IN DECEMBER. THE VICTORS UNIFIED MARXIST LENINISTS (UML) AND THEIR COMMUNIST ALLIES WERE WIDELY SEEM TO BE ENDORSED

BY CHINA, WHILE INDIA EVIDENTLY FAVOURED NATIONAL CONFERENCE (NC). INDIA’S ROLE IN THE DISASTROUS 2015, BLOCKADE OF NEPAL HAS RESULTED IN VICTORY OF PRO-CHINA PARTIES, WHILE CHINESE INFLUENCE IN NEIGHBOURING MYANMAR IS ON ASCENDENCY. PAKISTAN HAS COME CLOSER TO CHINA AND ALSO TOWARDS RUSSIA AT THE COST OF INDIA. SO CALLED “ALL WEATHER RELATIONS” BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND CHINA COINED AS “CHIPAK” FOLLOWED BY REGIONAL PROJECTS UNDER THE ONE BELT,

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sphere of strategic influence, both in this region and in the vast maritime space of the Indian-Pacific. It is a rivalry that runs along the spine of the continent, as journalist Frank Moraes quoting Jawaharlal Nehru said in 1952.

India’s Neighbours’ – Policy Bombs Nepal’s Left alliance has swept to a commanding victory in the historic federal and provincial relations concluded in December. The victors Unified Marxist Leninists (UML) and their communist allies were widely seem to be endorsed by China, while India evidently favoured National Conference (NC).

India’s role in the disastrous 2015, blockade of Nepal has resulted in victory of pro-China parties, while Chinese influence in neighbouring Myanmar is on ascendency. Pakistan has come closer to China and also towards Russia at the cost of India. So called “all Weather relations” between Pakistan and China coined as “Chi-Pak” followed by regional projects under the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) plan are matters of deep concern to India. Indian strategists and diplomats have failed to take advantage of increasing Chinese concerns over security and other arrangements for ongoing projects under the 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a network of roads and power projects running through Pakistan – occupied Kashmir. There is a view among Chinese scholars that CPEC’s long term viability is uncertain unless India is brought on the board.

After India realigned its position with the post Cold War order, engagement with East and South-East Asia had to be one of its priorities. India had first to convince ASEAN that it had seen the light, and would befriend counties with which relations had been cool over previous decades. India had been perceived

by ASEAN as close to the Soviet Union, and neither really fully Western nor

Asian, and India’s cultural uniqueness was not considered a positive element in facilitating its integration with ASEAN. The ‘ASEAN way’ rests on personal relationships, gradual consensus building and skirting contentious issues, whereas Indians are seen as legalistic, bureaucratic and impersonal.

In other words, India was a very late starter, and had to catch up with the established presence of other big countries both from within and outside the region.

LOOK EAST POLICY The Indian ‘Look East’ policy accorded with the market model in place in South-East Asia. China’s involvement with those countries had already witnessed strong momentum, helped by people of Chinese origin who had long dominated business in at least half of the ten ASEAN countries. India had fallen far behind in the movement for regional integration, although the political and strategic situation on India’s south-east flank affected its security, even more so after the admission of Myanmar brought ASEAN adjacent to India’s land border.

India had showed no inclination for political leadership in SAARC, but paradoxically now wanted to go beyond South Asia and the Bay of Bengal to extend its influence towards the Pacific.

India’s new emphasis on the East was motivated by the China factor, its social, cultural, religious and linguistic links with ASEAN, and the persons of Indian origin who had a presence in the sociopolitical life of the region. As IndoASEAN ties increased, the role of these communities became more salient.

In general terms, compared with the caution of the early 1990s, India is now a reasonably confident participant in the Asia-Pacific political and strategic domain. However, in the economic sphere, India is yet to make any notable headway. The recent conclusion of the

NEIGHBOUR Indo-ASEAN free trade agreement exceeded all timelines and it remains to be seen how it will operate in practice. The leverage exercised by Indian protectionist lobbies on political circles in New Delhi should never be underestimated.

In terms of intra-regional trade, in comparison with China, Korea, Japan and the ASEAN members, India has been insignificant. There are several shortcomings in the Indian economy, where the market is quite closed, the average tariff level high, investment environment poor, and the level of infrastructure development and external trade low, with the result that India is not a highly regarded commercial partner. India’s partnership with East Asia will crucially depend on its capacity for making a distinct contribution towards the progress for closer economic integration in the region.

While India’s economic and political contacts are formal rather than functional, its bilateral defence arrangements with individual ASEAN counties have assumed greater relevance. India has never clarified what genuine interests it has to defend in the region, but in general terms, the Indian presence is welcome

by ASEAN, an attitude premised on the balance of power. ASEAN welcomes all major powers to participate in the regional security architecture, but in its view, no single power should be permitted to dominate the area. This is to India’s advantage. Because India has greater military recourses to share with ASEAN than vice verse, defence cooperation has occurred to some degree with almost every ASEAN country – in fact more so, in most cases, than with India’s neighbours in the Indian subcontinent. In contrast, there is little Chinese military involvement with ASEAN, other than Myanmar.

The ASEAN Regional Forum is the first multilateral security forum ever to be joined

by India. It had been India’s traditional approach to keep security issues out of the scope of regional groups such as SAARC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, in both of whose formation it had played a key role. But with the ARF, the objective of ‘containing’ China influenced India to reverse its historic position on such groupings. Competition between Indian and China in the region is predictable

because the two countries do not enjoy mutual trust, and there are overlapping perceptions of their historical spheres of influence and interest. They have made efforts to address bilateral problems with some progress recorded, but given the inherent rivalry and geopolitical interplay, the nature and degree of friction between them is a constant concern of the members of ASEAN.

INDIA’S ECONOMIC & STRATEGIC RELEVANCE There is therefore a competitive edge in India’s policy, to achieve some kind of equal footing with China. But it will be necessary for India to draw China closer into discussions on cooperation and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The approach of ‘containing’ China by aligning with some individual powers whose strategic goals and military practices do not necessarily complement our’s, nor share the long term vision of India’s relationship with its northern neighbours, will be most unwise.

India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN should not be dependent only on the China factor, and military means cannot be considered the preferred method of asserting a regional role in preference to the more valuable soft power assets like culture, technology, IT, trade and investment. India has taken the initial steps to being regarded as a serious partner in emerging Asia, but it has now to enhance its economic and strategic relevance that are both largely in the potential rather than the actual sphere.

India may already see itself as an influential factor in the ASEAN economic and security space, but this self-perception will not be shared by other major actors. ASEAN has differing levels of consensus on many issues including security, and many among its ten members regard India only as an Indian Ocean power and not an Asia-Pacific one. Being part of the Asia-Pacific is a necessity for India’s pursuit of world status, and its friendly ties with USA can boost that strategy, but in matters critical to ASEAN like the Korean peninsula, the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, it remains to be seen whether India has the capacity and will to be involved; for instance, it

THERE IS THEREFORE A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN INDIA’S POLICY, TO ACHIEVE SOME KIND OF EQUAL FOOTING WITH CHINA. BUT IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR INDIA TO DRAW CHINA CLOSER INTO DISCUSSIONS ON COOPERATION AND SECURITY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. THE APPROACH OF ‘CONTAINING’ CHINA

BY ALIGNING WITH SOME INDIVIDUAL POWERS WHOSE STRATEGIC GOALS AND MILITARY PRACTICES DO NOT NECESSARILY COMPLEMENT OUR’S, NOR SHARE THE LONG TERM VISION OF INDIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOURS, WILL BE MOST UNWISE. INDIA’S STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT WITH ASEAN SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ONLY ON THE CHINA FACTOR, AND MILITARY MEANS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED THE PREFERRED METHOD OF ASSERTING A REGIONAL ROLE IN PREFERENCE TO THE MORE VALUABLE SOFT POWER ASSETS LIKE CULTURE, TECHNOLOGY, IT, TRADE AND INVESTMENT. INDIA HAS TAKEN THE INITIAL STEPS TO BEING REGARDED AS A SERIOUS PARTNER IN EMERGING ASIA, BUT IT HAS NOW TO ENHANCE ITS ECONOMIC...

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NEIGHBOUR

R. SYED Mohammed Shahed, Secretary General , United Nations Associations of Bangladesh & former Vice President of World Federation of United Nations Association visited Kolkata (26-28 December 2017) . Executive Chairman of West Bengal United Nations Association and Vice President, Indian Federation of United Nations Association (IFUNA), Sitaram Sharma welcome him on behalf of IFUNA and West Bengal UNA in Kolkata . Sitaram Sharma discussed with Dr. Shahed about the bilateral interest of both the countries and also to further strengthen the ties between United Nations Association of Bangladesh and Indian Federation of United Nations Association. n

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n Sitaram Sharma presented a copy of PEOPLE AND UN the quarterly magazine being published by IFUNA to Dr Syed Mohammed Shahed, Secretary General, Bangla Desh UNA

has given no significant opinion on Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile ambitions. In security conclaves like the six power talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, India is not included, and if the six member ad hoc body eventually morphs into an embryonic Asian security construct, Indian relevance and participation might become a subject of contention.

ECONOMY MORE IMPORTANT THAN MILITARY India will be prepared to play a more energetic role, along with the West, in maintaining the security of international sea-lanes, and its ambitions may be on the right lines, but it has incrementally to enhance its economic integration with other Asian countries. India has to make much greater efforts towards the objective of making ASEAN an important stake-holder in Indian prosperity. India is still far from being an indispensable country, and the reality

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n

UN: Popular Facts published by West

engal Fed of UN Associations was also presented to Dr Syed Mohammed Shahed B

by Mr Sitaram Sharma.

is that the gap between China’s and India’s levels of engagement with ASEAN remains huge: no number of summit photo-opportunities for our prime minister with East Asian leaders will redress this imbalance.

Military contacts are not nearly as important as economic interdependence, because without such integration, it is premature to talk about any possible role for India in the security architecture in Asia. At this time when the level of acrimony between India and China is disturbing and even reminiscent of the 1950s, it is sobering to keep in mind that in the unlikely event of a clash of arms, such international support as India receives will again come, as it did in 1962, mainly from the West, for the West’s own purposes, whereas the so-called nonaligned group of countries will at best sit on the fence, or far more likely, tilt towards our northern neighbour.

(Views Expressed is personal)

BILATERAL

Israel-India Business is doing wonders Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu tells India’s business leaders Future belongs to those who innovate SRAEL PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday 18th January asked Indian business leaders to focus on innovation.

"The future belongs to those who innovate," Netanyahu said in his opening remarks at a power breakfast with top corporate honchos at the iconic Taj hotel overlooking the Arabia Sea."It is very, very crucial today for you and your Israeli counterparts to meet up, because the future belongs to those who innovate," Netanyahu said at the first of his numerous assignments for the day as he wraps up his four-day India visit.

"We in Israel are seizing the future, you in India are seizing the future. Together, you will get there a lot quicker and also get a lot further," he said.

"Innovation doesn't happen by itself.

Some of it does. But it can be nurtured, it can be encouraged. The job of governments like that of Prime Minister Modi and my own government is to facilitate your competitive advantages and ability to innovate," he said.

The partnership between Israel and India is doing wonders, the Israel prime minister said.

"It is on the level first of a deep personal friendship between Prime Minister Modi and myself, In addition, there is a partnership of genuine sympathy between our people. And that is not obvious. Our two civilisations are very old and we have not met each other in the real sense. There is an instant chemical reaction of tremendous solidarity and identification and I see it in my Face book followers.

I

They haven't changed the algorithm yet and I see it very very strongly. We see it when we walk the streets, the responses that we get here. And Indian citizens, when they come to Israel, they can see it. It is powerful," he said.

"So it is leaders. It is people. But I think the most important thing is to have it among business leaders and technological leaders and entrepreneurs like yourself. This is the cherry on the pie! What a cherry! I thought we will discuss the cherry," Netanyahu added.

Important business leaders who were present at the breakfast included Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hin-

n Prime Minister Na ith Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu during a ceremonial rendra Modi

w

reception at the

Rashtrapati Bhavan

in New Delhi

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BILATERAL

INDIA ISRAEL SIGNS 9 MOU /AGREEMENT/ LETTER OF INTENT DURING THE VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL TO INDIA ON JANUARY 15, 2018.

INDIA, Israel sign 9 MoUs to boost cooperation in various fields 1. Mou on cyber security cooperation between india and israel 2. Mou between the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and the ministry of energy on cooperation inoil and gas sector 3. Protocol between india and israel on amendments to theair transport agreement 4. Agreement on film-co-production between india and israel 5. Mou between the central council for research in homeopathy, ministry of ayush and the centre for integrative complementary medicine, shaare zedek medical center on cooperation in the field of research in homeopathic medicine

6. Mou between indian institute of space science and technology (iist) and the technion- israel institute of technology for cooperation in the field of space 7. Memorandum of intent between invest india and invest in israel

duja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochar.

Honourable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi & Honourable Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu Dedicated iCreate to the nation at Deo Dholera, in Gujrat ...

Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on January 17 dedicated to the nation, the iCREATE facility located on the outskirts of Ahmadabad . iCreate is an independent Centre created with the objective of facilitating entrepreneurship through a blend of creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging emerging technologies to deal with major issues such as food security, water, connectivity, cyber security, IT and electronics, energy, bio-med-

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8. Letter of intent between iocl and phinergy ltd. For cooperation in the area of metal-air batteries 9. Letter of intent between iocl and yeda research and development co ltd for cooperation in the area of concentrated solar thermal technologies

ical equipment and devices etc. iCreate aims to develop an ecosystem in India to generate quality entrepreneurs.

The two leaders visited various stalls that highlighted technologies and innovations across diverse fields.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that innovation has a key role to play in bringing the people of India and Israel, closer to each other. He said the entire world has taken note of the technological prowess and creativity of Israel.

He said the youth of India has energy and enthusiasm. What the youth needs is a bit of encouragement and institutional support, he added.

BILATERAL

"Shalom Bollywood”, “We believe in Bollywood. World loves Bollywood. Israel loves Bollywood. We want Bollywood in Israel.”-- Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

THE ISRAELI pm took to twitter to share his selfie with Bollywood stars which includes Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, Vivek Oberoi and many others. "will my Bollywood selfie beat @the ellenshow Hollywood selfie at the Oscars? @srbachchan @juniorbachchan @rajcheerfull @imb-

handarkar @vivek_oberoi," he captioned the picture Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wooed Bollywood heavy weights in mumbai on 18th January at "Shalom Bollywood”.”We believe in Bollywood. World loves Bollywood. Israel loves Bollywood. We want Bollywood in

The Prime Minister said that the Government is working to make the entire system innovation-friendly, so that intent can generate ideas; ideas lead to innovation; and innovation helps create a New India.

He said that the first pre-requisite of success is courage. He congratulated the courageous youth who are engaged in innovative activities at iCreate.

Quoting Kalidasa, the Prime Minister touched upon the dilemma between convention and innovation. He urged the youth of India to innovate to overcome the challenges facing the nation today, and to improve the quality of life of the common man at lowest possible cost.

Israel. We are putting our money where our mouth is," Netanyahu said at the event before asking the stars in attendance to join him on stage for a selfie” in Mumbai. Mumbai's multi-billion dollar Hindi film industry is the largest in the world. India produces 1,900 films a year on average.

The Prime Minister spoke of cooperation between India and Israel for innovation in areas such as food, water, health and energy.

He said this cooperation between the two countries would write a new chapter in the history of mankind in the 21st century Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said that Israel has shown the way on how to transform a nation with the agriculture sector at the core. He said it is important to use technology in the agriculture sector. He outlined how India is working towards doubling farmers' incomes by 2022.He said it is important to devote attention to irrigation and innovative methods of farming. n

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ASEAN SUMMIT

ASEAN role is key for peace, says President Kovind

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ASEAN SUMMIT NDIA’S ‘ACT EAST POLICY’ reinforces its ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties.” ------ Ramnath Kovind, India stands “shoulder-to- shoulder” with ASEAN in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive and equitable, said President Ram Nath Kovind. Speaking at a lunch he hosted in honour of the heads of state and government of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

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(ASEAN) comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam on 25th January who came to India to attend the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership, Kovind said that relations between India and the regional bloc have come a long way since the establishment of the partnership.The President said that India’s ‘Act East policy’ reinforces its ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties.

“In this context, India greatly values ASEAN’s role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” Mr. Kovind said. “We stand shoulder-toshoulder with ASEAN in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable.”

He further said that India and ASEAN are bound by history and geography. “Culture, commerce and connectivity — and ideas and thought — have woven us together in one common fabric. Our partnership is based on our shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people contacts, nurtured through the millennia,” he said. “We have 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN, including annual summits and seven ministerial meetings in a wide range of sectors,” Stating that ‘India's Act East policy’ reinforces its ancient links with southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties, Kovind said, "In this context, India greatly values Asean's role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. We iterate our support to Asean's unity and centrality. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Asean in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable."

He said that India and Asean are bound by history and by geography. "Culture, commerce and connectivity and ideas and thought - have woven us together in one common fabric," President Kovind said. "Our partnership is based on our shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people contacts, nurtured through the millennia. The theme of the Commemorative Summit, 'Shared Values, Common Destiny', is reflective of our desire to work for a shared future."

n B

HE FURTHER SAID THAT INDIA AND ASEAN ARE BOUND BY HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY. “CULTURE, COMMERCE AND CONNECTIVITY — AND IDEAS AND THOUGHT — HAVE WOVEN US TOGETHER IN ONE COMMON FABRIC. OUR PARTNERSHIP IS BASED ON OUR SHARED HERITAGE AND IS BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF STRONG PEOPLE-TOPEOPLE CONTACTS, NURTURED THROUGH THE MILLENNIA,” HE SAID. “WE HAVE 30 DIALOGUE MECHANISMS BETWEEN INDIA AND ASEAN, INCLUDING ANNUAL SUMMITS AND SEVEN MINISTERIAL MEETINGS IN A WIDE RANGE OF SECTORS,”

President Ram Nath Kovind received the ASEAN Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati

havan on 25th January 2018 Thursday and hosted a lunch in their honour.

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19

FOCUS Is Canada home to anti-India Sikh extremists?

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S CANADA home to Sikh extremists trying to militant leaders. For example, on April 30, Trudeau pump fresh air into the dying embers of the soaddressed a parade for ‘Khalsa Day’, which included called Khalistan movement that seeks the breakfloats glorifying Sikh militant leaders Jarnail Singh ing up of India to create a separate Sikh country in Bhindranwale, Amreek Singh and former general ShahPunjab? beg Singh who were killed in the siege of the Golden Are there such anti-India Sikhs in the federal cabiTemple and Operation Bluestar in June 1984. net and the Liberal Party and its Ontario wing?

What I have gathered after speaking to many senior

By Tarek Fatah, Mainstream Canadians outside the circus of identilevel Indian academics and politicians on both sides of Author & ty politics could care less about the wholesale buying the political divide is that India expects nothing short Columnist, and selling at ethnic vote banks, but it’s time they of a complete break between the Liberal Party and the Canada should. India is no longer that far-away country of opposition politicians and the Khalistan movement — 1985 when Air India 182 was blown out of the sky by Sikh extrem- not just in theory, but in practise, too. ists, killing 268 Canadian citizens among the 325 murdered over IreBut early indications from the itinerary for Trudeau’s state visit land. to India on Feb. 17- 23 show the Canadian prime minister will not Today’s India is not just a beacon of democracy in a sea of tyrants deviate the script of using his trip to cajole the Sikh vote bank by that govern much of Asia and Africa, but its economy is booming, as donning a ceremonial headdress and paying a visit to the Golden is the trade between our two countries. Fears expressed by New Del- Temple in Amritsar. hi can no longer be ignored. If they are, it will be our loss in Canada.

One Canadian Sikh lawyer in Brampton expressed her indignaIt has been reported that the current debate about Canada hosting tion at how Canadian politicians of all stripes use visits to the GoldSikh extremists erupted when the popular Indian weekly, Outlook — en Temple as a vote-getting tactic. “It is demeaning to Canada’s Sikhs in its Feb.12 edition — ran a cover story, featuring a photo of Prime that Mr. Trudeau seeks our votes not by arguing the merits of his polMinister Justin Trudeau, wearing traditional orange Sikh handker- icy platforms, but by dressing up to mimic Sikh identity and visit our chief on his head. The headline on the cover read, “Khalistan-II: holiest shrine in India,” she added, requesting anonymity.

Made in Canada.”

Perhaps someone in the PMO noticed that Trudeau could masSources in India tell me the Outlook edition story came only sage another vote bank in Canada if he paid a visit to a mosque. So after the government of India and Indo-Canadians noticed a sud- the initial itinerary released in Jan. 22 was changed on Feb. 7 to den spike in anti-India extremist activities at Sikh temples across include a visit to the majestic Jama Mosque in Delhi.

Canada. In one such step, Indian diplomats were barred from It will be fascinating to see Mr Trudeau lecture the mosque’s entering any Sikh temple anywhere in Canada.In his bilateral meet- clerics about gender-equality after Syed YahyaBukhari, president of ing with Trudeau on the sidelines of the recent World Economic the Jama Masjid United Forum, lashed out recently at a Muslim Forum meeting in Switzerland, Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi woman who led a mixed-gender congregation in the southern state asked Trudeau to curb the rise of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada.The of Kerala. Which begs the question: If Trudeau is so enamoured by Outlook report includes a Q and A segment with Punjab Chief Minis- Sikhism and Islam, why doesn’t he abandon his Catholic faith and ter Amarinder Singh, who last April refused to meet with Canada’s join our ranks? And if he is still a Catholic, why is he not visiting a Defence Minister HarjitSajan, calling him a “Khalistani sympathizer” single one of the many historic Catholic churches of India?

— an allegation denied by Sajan.

Sanjay Dixit, a senior Indian government officer who has served In a condescending rebuttal, Sajan said: “Canadians have the as an election observer in the Punjab elections of 2014 told me that right to express (viewpoints), it’s called freedom of speech.” there is no appetite for an independent Khalistan among the Sikhs of Hopefully, Trudeau read the gist of the Outlook story and paid Punjab. It is also intriguing that the banner men of Khalistan in Canaheed to Modi’s request in Davos. Ideally, Trudeau should make an da and the Ontario legislature keep feeding young Sikhs about the emphatic statement in Delhi on behalf of the Canadian state, immense injustice committed on the Sikhs of Delhi in 1984 when denouncing anyone or any group that uses Canadian soil to cause tens of thousands are said to have been killed by roaming mobs. This harm to the integrity of India. Of course individual Canadians — is done to stir hatred against Hindus in Canada and India. One last extremist Sikhs and their Pakistani-Canadian allies — are free to message to Trudeau: India has arrested three would-be assassins speak and protest, but the Canadian government and its MPs cannot who came to India to kill a Canadian journalist working in Delhi. be seen as being soft in their approach to this menace.

Could you please find out more from the Indian authorities since No longer should Trudeau or any Canadian politician send felici- your High Commissioner to India, Mr Nadir Patel, seems uninteresttation to events where Sikh extremists parade floats glorifying Sikh ed in the fate of this Canadian?

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FOCUS India to Control Section Of Chabahar Port For 18 Months

India- Iran Signed Nine Agreements ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018 President Rouhani of Iran during his visit to India in a meeting with Prime Minister Modi agreed to further intensify and diversify the existing high-level engagement through frequent and wider range of bilateral exchanges at all levels. In this context, it was decided to convene within this year the meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission and all its Working Groups, Foreign Office Consultations, dialogue between defence and National Security Council structures of the two countries, Policy Planning dialogue, and to promote Parliamentary exchanges..The two sides recognized the unique role of Iran and India in promoting multi-modal connectivity within and across the region..

Reflecting the deepening of ties between the two countries, visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who held one-on-one and delegationlevel talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said energy and transportation were two great potentials for building strategic cooperation between Iran and India.

India and Iran signed following nine agreements, including one on connectivity relating to the strategic Chabahar port to further strengthen the relations between two countries 1. Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on Income: To avoid burden of double taxation between the two countries in order to promote flow of investment and services.

2. MoU on Exemption from Visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic Passports: Waiver of requirement of visa for the travel of diplomatic passport holders in each country.

3. Exchange of Instrument of Ratification of Extradition Treaty: It brings into effect the Extradition Treaty signed between India and Iran in 2008.

4. Lease Contract for Shahid Beheshti Port- Phase 1 of Chabahar during Interim Period between Port and Maritime Organization (PMO), Iran and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).: Leasing of a part of the area of the multipurpose and container Terminal for a term of one and half solar year (18 months) to take over operation of existing port facilities.

5. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine : To develop and strengthen cooperation in traditional systems of medicine including regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies; facilitating supply of all medicine materials and documents; exchange of experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students and accommodating them in institutions for research, educational and training programmes; mutual recogni-

tion of pharmacopoeias and formularies; setting up of academic chairs; provision of scholarships; recognition of traditional preparations on reciprocity basis; permission to practice on reciprocity basis.

6. MoU on the establishment of an Expert Group on Trade: Remedy Measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. It aims to establish a framework of cooperation in the area of Trade Remedial Measures viz. anti-dumping and counter veiling duty.

7. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector including joint activities, programmes, exchange of information and personnel; cooperation in the field of agricultural crops, agricultural extension, horticulture, machinery, post harvest technology, plant quarantine measures, credit and cooperation, soil conservation, seed technology, livestock improvement, dairy development.

8.MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine : To establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation between two sides including pooling of technical, scientific, financial and human resources; upgrading the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural resources in healthcare, medical education, research and training; exchanging experience in training of medical doctors and other health professionals; assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics and exchange of information thereon; cooperation in medical research; cooperating in public health, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international health.

9. MoU on Postal Cooperation between the two postal agencies including exchange of experience, knowledge and technology in e-commerce/logistics services; cooperation on philately; establishment of working group of experts; feasibility studies on using air and surface transit capacities of both countries..

Following MoUs between trade bodies have also been signed on the sidelines of the visit:(1). MoU between EEPC India and Trade Promotion Organization of Iran. (2). MoU between Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA).(3). MoU between the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture (ICCIMA).(4). MoU between PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA).n

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ENVIORNOMENT

Importance of Owls in ecosystem

By Chander P Mahajan

O

WLS HAVE LONG fascinated humans. From prehistoric cave paintings to popular modern children's stories, these magnificent predators have been seen as harbingers of good fortune and impending disaster, as icons of fear and wisdom, and as the powerful sidekicks of magic-makers. Owls can be found in nearly all parts of the world and across a multitude of ecosystems.

Early 21st century, these birds' breathtaking beauty, majesty and awe-inspiring power enthused me to sculpt an owl in its camouflage.

Owls seldom make their own nests; rather, they take over the nests or homes of other creatures. One way that humans have helped owls to have a habitat is through the creation of nesting boxes. They are made in a fashion that attracts the owls and that they feel safe in them. All owls are carnivorous birds of prey and live mainly on a diet of insects and small rodents.

Looking for an environmental balance, in Dalhousie, living near Boarding Houses, I designed an owlery, A purpose-built owl-house to use as rodent control, though I wonder if any owl ever nested in it.

This year, living with my son, Raja Aseem, I observed that Owl had a distinct position in Genevan society. 'The owl represents wisdom, perception and silent observation'; 'we can provide with an improved ability of seeing what is happening around' claim Owl RE (Research & Evaluation) based in Geneva, Switzerland.

'Housed in a historic building dating from 1853, the Little Owl Restaurant is Geneva's oldest continuously operating restaurant.' "With Three generations of great hospitality!" Pub continues to be a landmark in downtown Geneva. Built in 1908, the Owl Tavern embodies the traditional north woods tavern, in a welcoming rustic setting.

Looking at the owl figurines on sale at the galleries of Geneva's icon-

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ic Old Town with exorbitant price tags, the city is ranked among the most expensive in the world; and on display in the 'Swiss Museum for Ceramics and Glass', Geneva, I take pride in what I did back home.

All I perceived about the bird, then, was perhaps this much:n The smallest owl-measuring some 5 inches-is the elf owl . The male and female dart around trees. n Owls possess large, forward-facing eyes and ear-holes, a hawk-like beak, a flat face, and usually a conspicuous circle of feathers, a facial disc around each eye. n Owls are famous for their exceptional eyesight ; and it was thought that you could gain better eyesight from them. They, like humans, have binocular vision, known for their disproportionately large eyes in comparison to their skulls. Their large eyes are fixed in their sockets. n The eyes are so widely spaced on the head that you see only a single iris at any one time; & can move independently of each other. n Owls are farsighted and cannot focus on objects within a few centimeters. Their far vision, particularly in low light, is exceptionally good. n The stereoscopic nature of the owl's forward-facing eyes permits the greater sense of depth perception necessary for low-light hunting. n With the amazing ability of an owl to rotate its neck to extraordinary degrees, they can view their surroundings; enabling them to see behind them without relocating the torso, thus reducing the amount of sound. Owls have 14 neck vertebrae compared to seven in humans, which makes their necks more flexible. n Owl's claws are sharp and curved. n While the auditory and visual capabilities of the owl allow it to locate and pursue its prey, the talons and beak of the owl do the final work. n The downward-facing beak allows the owl's field of vision to be clear, as well as directing sound into the ears without deflecting sound waves away from the face. n The dull coloration of their feathers can render them almost invisible under certain conditions. Usually, the only telltale sign of a perched

ENVIORNOMENT owl is it's vividly colored eyes. n Caught prey can be felt by owls with the use of filo plumes-hair like feat hers on the beak and feet that act as "feelers".

With my curiosity aroused, I learnt much more in Geneva:n The prominences above a great horned owl's head are commonly mistaken as its ears; they are merely feather tufts. n With ears set at different places on its skull, an owl is able to determine the direction from which the sound is coming by the minute difference in time that it takes the sound waves to penetrate the left and right ears. The owl turns its head until the sound reaches both ears at the same time, at which point it is directly facing the source of the sound. This time difference between ears is a matter of about 0.00003 seconds, or 30 millionths of a second. n Most owls hunt their prey in darkness.

Some owls, however, are active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk; a few owls are active during the day also. n Owl females are somewhat showier than males. Female owls do not mate with the same male for a lifetime, while the male stays in his territory and mates with other females. n Females stay at their nest with their eggs while it is the responsibility of the male to bring back food to the nest. However, if food is scarce, the male first feeds himself before feeding the female. n An owl's flight is practically silent. n Facial and head markings; and brightly coloured irises are thought to be used in signaling with other owls in low-light conditions. n Although humans and owls frequently live together in harmony, there have been incidents when owls have attacked humans. n Much of the owls' hunting strategy depends on stealth and surprise. n Owl sits still most of the time. n They also tend to mimic the colorations and sometimes even the texture patterns of the surroundings. With owls, they seem to watch us as much as we look at them. It is the piercing glare of equals: a mutual pondering on otherness and similarity. n Owls are extremely smart birds. They are typically solitary and are not known to be affectionate. n Owl is possessive of his habitat and his territory. "It's amazing that they come back to this busy location every year"

Geneva is a fascinating city, full of cultural and historical variety; people are cheerful. I feel privileged to have enjoyed the superb hospitality of the 'Genevan Indians' and the Himachlis living in Geneva. The second most populous in Switzerland, Geneva, is the world's center of diplomacy, rivalled only by New York and Brussels. It is not only the capital of the 'Republic and Canton of Geneva' but also a neutral territory. About 40% of Geneva's residents come from other countries, making it the most international city in Europe. It is home to a number of UN agencies as well as several other international organizations.

Professional circles are difficult to enter.

Many an incumbent may like to stay put even after having been bid fare well. Hovering around, they leave a little chance for the aspirants in the queue. Quite a few of them have merged in to the social fabric and tend to blend with galaxies of diplomats, expatriates, entrepreneurs and philosophers.

All owls are listed in CITES (the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) treaty. With TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) reporting an incidence of the seizure of 900 plucked and "oven-ready" owls in the Asian continent. ".. "may mark the start of a new trend in wild meat. We will be monitoring developments closely."

According to some folklores "if one ate the eyes of an Owl, they would be able to see in the dark"; "Owl meat could also be eaten as a natural aphrodisiac".

Saving the owl will save an entire ecosystem on which plants, other animals, and humans depend. The spotted owl is considered an indicator species -a gauge of the health of the eco system that provides its habitat. Swiss Bird Alert is the app for bird watchers in Switzerland "..watching owlets would be just like the behavior you would expect of people coming to see a newborn baby at your own house," The Swiss Action Plan reviews the present situation of the Little Owl. "In our country, the Little Owl has lived in the immediate vicinity of man for hundreds of years." BirdLife Switzerland is active for the conservation of biodiversity, specifically by means of improving habitats and increase in the offer of nest boxes. Also "Nature is to benefit by the knowledge of the Swiss Ornithological Institute." n

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WATER FORUM 8th World Water Forum: BRAZIL

Time to find integrated solution to water crisis DEEPAK PARVATIYAR Senior Journalist and Media Advisor, IFUNA.

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O DATE, seven World Water Fora have been held: in Marrakesh, Morocco, 1997; The Hague, Netherlands, 2000; Kyoto, Japan, 2003; Mexico City, Mexico, 2006; Istanbul, Turkey, 2009; Marseille, France, 2012; and Gyeongju and Daegu, Republic of Korea in 2015.

The 8th World Water Forum will be held in Brazil, in the city of Brasília from March 18 to 23, 2018, and it will be the first time a World Water Forum is held in the Southern Hemisphere. For the capital city of Brazil, this is considered an opportunity to strengthen its water resource management system in face of the dangerous manmade landscape that has led to water crisis.

The World Water Forum is the world’s biggest water-related event and is organized by the World Water Council (WWC), an international organization founded in 1996 with a mission “to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels". It is also conceived to "facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on Earth”.

Every three years, a country and a city are selected to host the Forum which contributes

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PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

to the dialogue of the decision-making process on water at the global level, seeking to achieve the rational and sustainable use of this resource.

Much hope is pinned on the Brasilia summit particularly after the world seems to be gradually reconciling over treating water as life. It may be mentioned that after the World Water Forum in Kyoto in 2003, sharp divisions had emerged within the forum over the treatment of water respectively as resource and as commodity.

“Brasilia is very important where the world will try to find integrated solution to water crisis in Middle East and Africa. Now people cannot sustain themselves by exploiting water, but they need to protect water.

Brasilia in my opinion will be a landmark if it deliberates on legal framework that respects nature and conserve water,” well known water conservationist and Magsaysay and Stockholm Water Prize Winner Dr. Rajendra Singh, who attended all the past seven Fora, told PEOPLE AND UN. He added: “I see a big change in the Forum.

When the Forum was held for the first time in Marrakesh in Morocco, then public, leaders, social activists and media were more participative. This in a way continued till Kyoto, Japan, where the Forum was held in 2003. But in Kyoto, for the first time the issue of privatization of water surfaced and water was seen as commodity. Thereafter, in subsequent Forums, companies involved in multinational water business largely dominated the discourses. The focus of discussions therefore shifted to water market, technology and engineering. More and more leaders and people

WATER FORUM started believing that water should be seen as commodity. As a result talks on community driven water conservation were left behind. Only a few people like us continued harping on the issue of water conservation and community’s vision of water.”

Actually some hope was visible at the Forum in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea in 2015. Now again there was an increasing realization that water was not a commodity but a natural resource which is necessary for humidity, nature, and life. That water should be managed like a resource, as life! The Forum in South Korea emphasized on working jointly to prevent disasters because drought and floods.

Singh said: “Treating water only as market has meant encroachment on water bodies, maximum ground water extraction and increased pollution. This also resulted in water conflicts and forced migration of people. So water should be treated as common resource and made available to everybody as human rights. There was much debate on this issue in Daegu and Gyeongbuk .So creating water awareness again became an issue there and a big group of the Forum initiated a world water walk for peace for this purpose.

We came to a conclusion that an atmosphere was needed to be built to prevent forced -migration and start the process of reverse migration.”

Since then, Singh has led the Peace March in about 60 countries. This time, he plans to participate in Brasilia with a big group of water conservationists.

“For the first time, a large number of conservationists from India are going to attend the Forum in Brasilia.

Here we would raise the issues of rivers and agriculture,” he says.

World Water Fora at a glance 1. Marrakesh, Morocco, 1997: Some 400 participants from across the globe discussed the role of drinking water in sustainable development, emphasizing key themes, such as sanitation, energy and environment. It offered Vision for Water, Life and the Environment.

2. The Hague, Netherlands, 2000: About 5,700 participants including 114 ministers and official of 130 countries participated and addressed the overarching theme “Water Vision for the Future” and the associated Framework for Action. The discussions focused on the state and ownership of water resources, their development potential, management and financing models, and their impact on poverty, social, cultural and economic development and the environment.

The Ministerial Declaration identified meeting

basic water needs, securing food supply, protecting ecosystems, sharing water resources, managing risks, valuing water and governing water wisely as the key challenges for our direct future.

3. Kyoto, Japan, 2003: From Vision to Action – About 12,000 participants including 130 ministers of state from over 100 countries discussed the commitments made by the international community, with a view to promoting greater institutional networking for facing up to future challenges. The 3rd World Water Forum took the debate a step further also within the context of the new commitments of meeting the goals set forth at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in New York (2000), the International Freshwater Conference in Bonn (2001) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002). The large number of participants ensured that a variety of stakeholders and opinions were represented aiming at accepting differences and finding a common way forward.

4. Mexico City, Mexico, 2006: About 15,000 participants, including official representatives of 140 countries, 120 mayors, and 78 ministers of state discussed among other things, “water for growth and development”, “implementing integrated waterresources management”, “drinking water and sanitation for all”, “water for food and environment” and “risk management”. The summit focused on Local Actions for a Global Challenge.

5. Istanbul, Turkey, 2009: About 25,000 participants including 263 Parliamentarians from 57 coun-

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tries deliberated on the overarching theme of the event, “Bridging Divides for Water”, and encompassed approaches such as: “global change and risk management”, “progressing with human development and the Millennium Development Goals”, “managing and protecting water resources”, “governance and management”, “finance for the water-resources sector” and “education, knowledge and skills development”. The participating Parliamentarians specifically requested the World Water Council to establish a permanent international Parliamentary “Helpdesk” to aid political cooperation on water legislation and its implementation that will serve to: Coordinate: Guide responsibility for enacting water and sanitation laws; Showcase: Share best global practices and water-related legislation; Respond: Quickly answer urgent questions; Link: Unite all parties in a globally cooperative inter-Parliamentarian network.

The UN Water Development Report, released during the Forum week made clear that while access to water in much of the world has improved, access to safe sanitation has not. Benefitting from a wide range regional representation, this panel discussed the impact that the International Year of Sanitation had on gaining greater political momentum for sanitation issues. It went on to discuss some of the daunting challenges of megacities and pollution in industrialized areas and coastal zones.

6. Marseille,France,2012: Over 35,000 participants from 173 countries, including 15 Heads of State and of Government and secretaries of the European Community; 112 Ministers, Vice-Ministers and Secretaries of State; 176 official delegations and international organizations; over 750 members of local and provincial governments, including 250 mayors; 250 members of parliament. About 20,000 participated in its Technical, Regional and Political sessions. Also among the attendees were over 500 companies and

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

sponsor institutions. Over 250 sessions on topics ranging from transboundary water management to green growth or food security were discussed. Some of the world’s most influential decision makers for water were present. It was resolved that the 6th World Water Forum was "the time for solutions."

7. Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea, 2015: About 40,000 participants from 168 countries including 9 heads of State, and Secretaries of the European Community Governments, 80 Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Secretaries of State and more than 100 members of the local authorities, including mayors and parliamentarians, deliberated on the theme "Water for our Future". The Forum promoted more than 400 thematic sessions involving representatives of private companies, non-governmental organizations, academia, Governments, international institutions and local society. The 7th World Water Forum facilitated a number of political agreements which mark a step forward in international water cooperation. 71 parliamentarians from 27 countries issued a Parliamentarian Statement pledging to promote international cooperation on water challenges. The statement called for prioritizing water security in terms of sustainable economic development, allocation of financial resources and streamlining budget execution efficiency. It also acknowledged the critical role of legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms for implementing sustainable policies and enabling the participation of all stakeholders, including youth. The Statement also encouraged inscribing water as a central component of climate change discussions.

During the Summit, at least 3 high level events reaffirmed the need to maintain momentum for a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal for water, while the subject of SDGs was also raised in many of the Forum’s other sessions. The World Water Council along with the Governments of The Netherlands, South Africa and Switzerland and the Butterfly Effect convened a High-Level Panel on the role of water in the post-2015 development agenda. This panel discussed how to ensure the inclusion of water-related Goals and Targets in the SDG framework, but also what elements are necessary for their successful implementation and monitoring in the coming 15 years. The World Water Council urged policy makers and water stakeholders from all nations to maintain the momentum for a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal for water in order to achieve water security in all domains. n

FOCUS World Social Forum 2018

Brazil hosts for record sixth time T WAS AT the fourth World Social Forum in Mumbai in 2004 that the great South African leader late Nelson Mandela had famously said: “We owe a huge debt to future generations in the form of a better world…That world is definitely possible. Through efforts like the one you are engaged in now, this world will become a reality.”

His statement had made the world sit and take note of the WSF. This was the first time since its inception in 2001, that the WSF was held outside Porto Alegre in Brazil. Ever since, the World Social Forum became synonymous with the idea of equal development for all.

The next World Social Forum will be held in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil from March13 to 17 this year.As it returns to Brazil this year after eight years – Brazil has hosted the WSF for a record five time – it has emerged as the largest gathering of civil society to find solutions to the ‘problems of our time’.

In the last WSF in Montreal in Canada in 2016, the event had brought together some 35,000 participants from 125 countries “in a spirit of international solidarity to build a better world based on social and environmental justice, a social economy, participatory democracy and the recognition of the equal dignity of all”. It had then aimed to provide participants with a methodology promoting convergence towards actions of social and environmental change.

This time, the motto of WSF 2018 is to

I

Resist is to Create, to Resist is to Transform pointing to the need for alternatives for another possible world –“the systems that rule the world have not worked for the people nor the planet”.

The Forum comprising social activists and reformers, social scientists, human rights experts is largely hailed for instilling a ray of hope in refugees, deprived sections of society.Away from mainstream power politics, these activists have shown a dream of an alternative world based on equity, simplicity, spontaneity and path of displacement, destruction and disaster free development.

“They are creating a new world free of pollution, exploitation and encroachment of common properties. They are creating peaceful, prosperous world with equal opportunities for growth of humankind and nature through sustainable need-based development. They are trying to make a new world, a new planet with danger-free landscape. Reduced drought and flood disasters.The poor people can live with digni-

HIS STATEMENT HAD MADE THE WORLD SIT AND TAKE NOTE OF THE WSF. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2001, THAT THE WSF WAS HELD OUTSIDE PORTO ALEGRE IN BRAZIL. EVER SINCE, THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM BECAME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE IDEA OF EQUAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL.

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

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FOCUS

TAKING NOTE OF “SO MANY SETBACKS, LOSS OF RIGHTS, DEMOCRATIC GUARANTEES AND FREEDOMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD”, THE FORUM THIS TIME THOUGH PROPOSES TO “THINK OF COMMON SOLUTIONS FOR HUMANITY, IN A SOLIDARITY, DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, RESPECT FOR...

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ty and they can enjoy life by getting livelihood,” said a civil society member.

“I participated at Brazil, and in Mumbai in 2004 when it was held for the first time out of Brazil. That time my experience was that they had genuine concern for eradication of poverty and environment because all discussions led to an action plan which if implemented properly can fetch desired results,” noted water conservationist Rajendra Singh told People And UN.According to him, the “best thing” about the Forum is that it is focused on community rights on water, forests and land. Singh would be participating in WSF Salvador Bahia too for which he has created the group, ‘Community driven Decentralised Water Management’.

In its journey since 2001, the WSF has provided a means of strengthening movements that work for social transformation,

PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

becoming both a catalyst of energy, center of innovation, opportunity for networking, popular education tool, space in which to put forward certain demands and a ferment of critical thought.

Taking note of “so many setbacks, loss of rights, democratic guarantees and freedoms throughout the world”, the Forum this time though proposes to “think of common solutions for humanity, in a solidarity, democratic perspective, respect for diversity, to face the causes of various forms of violence, social and regional inequalities”.

Pointing out that “the systems that rule the world have not worked for the people nor the planet,” the International Council of the WSF and the Facilitating Committee in Brazil has called on “everyone to join the construction of the 2018 World Social Forum”. n

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Œ◊Ê, Á„ø∑§Ë, π⁄UÊ‡Ê •ÊÁŒ ⁄U٪٥ ◊¥ •ı⁄U Ë ÷ÈŸ ¬ŒÊÕÙ¥¸ ∑‘§ ‚flŸ ∑‘§

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fl¡Ÿ ÉÊ≈UÊŸ ◊¥ ÷Ë ª◊¸ ¬ÊŸË ’„Èà ◊ŒŒªÊ⁄U „ÙÃÊ „Ò– πÊŸ ∑‘§ ∞∑§ ÉÊ¥≈U ’ÊŒ ª◊¸ ¬ÊŸË ¬ËŸ ‚ ◊≈UÊÚ•ÊÁ‹í◊ ’…∏ÊÃÊ „Ò– ÿÁŒ ª◊¸ ¬ÊŸË ◊¥ ÕÊ«∏Ê ŸË¥’Í fl ∑§È¿ ’Í¥Œ ‡Ê„Œ ∑§Ë Á◊‹Ê ‹Ë ¡Ê∞¥ ÃÙ ß‚‚ ’ÊÚ«Ë ÁS‹◊ „Ù ¡ÊÃË „Ò–

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„◊‡ÊÊ ¡flÊŸ ÁŒπÃ ⁄U„Ÿ ∑§Ë øÊ„Ã ⁄UπŸ flÊ‹ ‹ÙªÙ¥ ∑‘§ Á‹∞ ª◊¸ ¬ÊŸË ∞∑§ ’„Ã⁄UËŸ •ı·Áœ ∑§Ê ∑§Ê◊ ∑§⁄UÃÊ „Ò– PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

31

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ÁflE ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄U ÁŒfl‚ ¬⁄U ⁄UÁflflÊ⁄U ∑§Ù ¡Ùœ¬È⁄U ÿÍŸÊ߸≈U« Ÿ‡Êã‚ ∞‚ÙÁ‚ÿ‡ÊŸ mÊ⁄UÊ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà ¡ÊªM§∑§ÃÊ Áfl·ÿ ¬⁄U ∞∑§ ªÙDË ∑§Ê •ÊÿÙ¡Ÿ Á∑§ÿÊ ªÿÊ– ªÙDË ∑§Ë •äÿˇÊÃÊ ∑§⁄UÃ „È∞ ⁄UÊíÿ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄U •ÊÿÙª ∑‘§ ‚‹Ê„∑§Ê⁄U «ÊÚ. ‚È÷Ê· ¬È⁄UÙÁ„à Ÿ ∑§„Ê Á∑§ Œ‡Ê ◊¥ •Ê◊ ‹ÙªÙ¥ ◊¥ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà ¡ÊªM§∑§ÃÊ ◊¥ ∑§◊Ë •÷Ë Ã∑§ ∑§◊Ë „Ò– •÷Ë Ã∑§ ‡Ê„⁄UË ˇÊòÊÙ¥ ◊¥ ÷Ë ©ÃŸË ¡ÊªM§∑§ÃÊ Ÿ„Ë¥ „Ò •ı⁄U ª˝Ê◊ËáÊ ˇÊòÊÙ¥ ◊¥ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà •Ê◊ √ÿÁQ§ ∑§Ù •÷Ë Ã∑§ •¬Ÿ •Áœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ’Ê⁄U ◊¥ Á‡ÊÁˇÊà ∑§⁄UŸÊ ’„Èà •Êfl‡ÿ∑§ „Ò–¥ ©ã„Ù¥Ÿ ∑§„Ê Á∑§ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà ¡ÊŸ∑§Ê⁄UË ’…∏ÊŸ ∑‘§ Á‹∞ ‚∑§á«⁄UË S∑§Í‹ SÃ⁄U ∑‘§ ¬Ê∆˜ÿR§◊ ◊¥ ß‚ Áfl·ÿ ∑§Ù ‚Áê◊Á‹Ã Á∑§ÿÊ ¡Ê ‚∑§ÃÊ „Ò– ªÙDË ◊¥ ◊„ÊflË⁄U ßã≈U⁄UŸ‡ ÊŸ‹ ∑‘§ •äÿˇÊ «ÊÚ. ¡.‚Ë. ªÊÚœË Ÿ ∑§„Ê Á∑§ •Ê¡ ‚◊Ê¡ ◊¥ ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà ¡ÊªM§∑§ÃÊ ’…∏ÊŸ ∑‘§ Á‹∞ „◊¥ •ı⁄U ¬˝ÿÊ‚ ∑§⁄UŸ „Ù¥ª– ß‚ „ÃÈ Áfl‡Ê· M§¬ ‚ Sfl¥ÿ‚flË ‚¥ª∆ŸÙ¥ ∑§Ù •Êª •ÊŸÊ øÊÁ„∞– ∑§Êÿ¸R§◊ ◊ ‚fl¸üÊË «ÊÚ. «Ë.∞Ÿ. √ÿÊ‚, flË.∞‚. ¬È⁄UÙÁ„à ∞fl¥ ¡.¬Ë. ‡Ê◊ʸ Ÿ ÷Ë ◊ÊŸflÊÁœ∑§Ê⁄UÙ¥ ∑‘§ ¬˝Áà ¡ÊªM§∑§ÃÊ ’…∏ÊŸ ∑§Ë •Êfl‡ÿ∑§ÃÊ ¬⁄U ¡Ù⁄U ÁŒÿÊ–

„ÊSÿ ∑§ÕÊ ∞∑§ ÁŒŸ ⁄UÊ◊‹Ê‹ Õ∑‘§-„Ê⁄U «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U ∑‘§ ¬Ê‚ ª∞– ©ã„Ù¥Ÿ •¬ŸË ¬⁄U‡ÊÊŸË ’ÃÊ߸, ““‚Ê„’ „◊Ê⁄UË ª‹Ë ◊¥ ⁄UÊà ÷⁄U ∑§ÈûÊ ÷ı¥∑§Ã ⁄U„Ã „Ò¥ •ı⁄U ◊Ò¥ øÒŸ ‚ ‚Ù Ÿ„Ë¥ ¬ÊÃÊ– ÄUÿÊ ∑§M§° ? «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U Ÿ ∑§„Ê, “•ÊÁøãÃÊ Ÿ ∑§⁄U¥ ◊Ò¥ ŸË¥Œ ∑§Ë ªÙÁ‹ÿÊ° Á‹π ⁄U„Ê „Í°– ß‚∑‘§ ’ÊŒ •Ê¬ ⁄UÊà ÷⁄U ª„⁄UË ŸË¥Œ ◊¥ ‚Ù ‚∑‘§¥ª– ∑§È¿ „çÃ ’ÊŒ ⁄UÊ◊‹Ê‹ flʬ‚ «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U ‚ Á◊‹Ÿ ¬„È°ø– ß‚ ’Ê⁄U fl ¬„‹ ‚ íÿÊŒÊ ¬⁄U‡ÊÊŸ Ÿ¡∏⁄U •Ê ⁄U„ Õ– «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U Ÿ ¬Í¿Ê, “⁄UÊ◊‹Ê‹ ¡Ë, ©Ÿ ªÙÁ‹ÿÙ¥ ‚ •Ê¬∑§Ù ∑§È¿ ⁄UÊ„Ã Ÿ„Ë¥ Á◊‹Ë”? ⁄UÊ◊‹Ê‹ Ÿ ŸÊ⁄UÊ¡∏ªË ¬˝∑§≈U ∑§Ë “‚Ê„’, •’ ÃÙ ◊Ò¥ ¬„‹ ‚ ÷Ë íÿÊŒÊ Õ∑§ ªÿÊ „Í°–” «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U Ÿ ∑§„Ê, -∞‚Ê ∑Ò§‚ „Ù ‚∑§ÃÊ „Ò ◊Ò¥Ÿ •Ê¬∑§Ù ‚’‚ ’Á…∏ÿÊ ªÙÁ‹ÿÊ° ŒË ÕË”– Á»⁄U ÷Ë •Ê¬∑§Ë ‚◊SÿÊ ∑§Ê ‚◊ʜʟ Ÿ„Ë¥ „È•Ê? ø‹Ù, ß‚ ’Ê⁄U íÿÊŒÊ •‚⁄UŒÊ⁄U ªÙÁ‹ÿÊ° ŒÃÊ „Í°–” ⁄UÊ◊‹Ê‹ Ÿ ∑§„Ê, ““‚◊SÿÊ ÿ „Ò, Á∑§ ◊Ò¥ ‚Ê⁄UË ⁄UÊà ∑§ÈûÊÙ¥ ∑§Ù ¬∑§«∏Ÿ ◊¥ ‹ªÊ ⁄U„ÃÊ „Í°– ◊ÈÁ‡∑§‹ ‚ ∞∑§Êœ ∑§Ù ¬∑§«∏ ÷Ë ‹Í° ÃÙ ©‚∑‘§ ◊È°„ ◊¥ ªÙÁ‹ÿÊ° «Ê‹ŸÊ •‚ê÷fl „Ù ¡ÊÃÊ „Ò–””

32

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◊ ŒÙ ¬Á⁄UflÊÁ⁄U∑§ ŒÙSÃÙ¥ ∑‘§ ªÊÚ‹ é‹Ò«⁄U ◊¥ ’«∏ •Ê∑§Ê⁄U ∑§Ë ¬Õ⁄UË ÕË– ŒÙŸÙ¥ πÊ‚Ë •SflSÕÃÊ ¤Ê‹ øÈ∑§‘ Õ •ı⁄U ∑§ß¸ ÁøÁ∑§à‚∑§Ù¥ ∑‘§ ¬⁄UÊ◊‡ÊʸŸ‚ È Ê⁄U ŒflÊ߸ ∑‘§ ‚ÊÕ ¬⁄U„¡  ÷Ë πÊ øÈ∑§‘ Õ– ŒÙŸÙ¥ ∑§Ù •‚„ŸËÿ ŒŒ¸ ∑§Ë „Ê‹Ã ◊¥ •S¬ÃÊ‹ ◊¥ ÷Ë ÷Ã˸ „ÙŸÊ ¬«∏Ê– •’ ∞∑§◊ÊòÊ ©¬Êÿ •ÊÚ¬⁄U‡ ÊŸ ∑§Ë ’Ê’Ã ÁŸpÿ ‹∑§⁄U ◊ȤÊ ‚ÍÁøà Á∑§ÿÊ Á∑§ •ÊÚ¬⁄U‡ ÊŸ ß∑§ ∑§⁄UÊ ‹Ã „Ò,¥ ÃÙ ◊ÒŸ ∑§„Ê ∆Ë∑§ „Ò– „◊Ÿ ¬⁄US¬⁄U å‹ÊÁŸ¥ª ∑‘§ ◊ÈÃÊÁ’∑§ ’Ê„⁄U Á∑§‚Ë ∑§Ù ÷Ë ‚ÍÁøà Ÿ„Ë¥ Á∑§ÿÊ– ¬Á%ÿÙ¥ ‚¥ª •S¬ÃÊ‹ ¬„Èø ¥ – «ÊÚÄU≈U⁄U ◊ÊŸÙ¥ ÃÒÿÊ⁄U ’Ò∆ Õ– ¡M§⁄UË ≈US ≈U‚ ˜ ∑‘§ ’ÊŒ íÿÊŒÊ ‚◊ÿ Ÿ„Ë¥ ‹ªÊ, •ÊÚ¬⁄U‡ ÊŸ ‚¥¬ÛÊ „Ù ªÿÊ– ŒÙŸÙ¥ ∑§Ë ¬Á%ÿÊ¥ ’Ê⁄UË-’Ê⁄UË ŒπŸ •ÊÃË¥– fl ∑§÷Ë ¬Áà ∑‘§ ¬Ê‚ ’Ò∆ÃË¥ ÃÙ ∑§÷Ë ŒÍ‚⁄U ◊⁄UË¡ ∑§Ê ÷Ë „Ê‹øÊ‹ ‹ÃË¥– ’Ê„⁄U ∑§Ê ∑§È¿ ∑§Ê◊ „È•Ê ÃÙ ’≈UÊ ∑§⁄UÃÊ– •ÊÚ¬⁄U‡ ÊŸ ∑‘§ ’ÊŒ flÊ‹Ë ⁄UÊà ŒŒ¸ ◊¥ ’ËÃË, ◊ª⁄U ‚È’„ ∑‘§ ’ÊŒ ÁŒŸ ’„Ã⁄U „ÙŸÊ ‡ÊÈM§ „È•Ê– ÁøÁ∑§à‚∑§ Ÿ ◊ȤÊ ø„‹∑§Œ◊Ë ∑§⁄UŸ ∑§Ù ∑§„Ê– ◊Ò¥ •¬Ÿ ŒÙSà ∑‘§ ∑§◊⁄U ◊¥ ªÿÊ ¡Ù ‚Ê◊Ÿ ∑‘§ ∑§◊⁄U ◊¥ Õ– fl„ •¬ŸË ¬%Ë ∑§Ê ‚¬Ù≈U¸ Á‹∞ ÃÁ∑§∞ ∑‘§ ‚„Ê⁄U ’Ò∆ Õ– ◊ȤÊ Œπ fl ŒÙŸÙ¥ ¡⁄UÊ Á„ø∑§ ª∞, ¬⁄U ◊ÒŸ¥  ∑§„Ê, “ŒπÙ ÄUÿÊ ’Á…∏ÿÊ flQ§ •ÊÿÊ „Ò •Ê¬∑‘§ ¡ËflŸ ◊–¥ “„◊ ‚’ „¥‚Ÿ ‹ª– ‹ªÊ ŒÈπ ◊¥ ‚Èπ Sfl× •¥∑§ÈÁ⁄Uà „Ù ¡ÊÃÊ „Ò ÿÊ ∑§Á„∞ ⁄UÙ◊Ê¥‚ ©ŒÊ‚Ë ∑‘§ ∑§◊⁄U ◊¥ ‚ŒË¸ ∑§Ë œÍ¬ ∑§Ë Ã⁄U„ •Ê ¡ÊÃÊ „Ò– Á’SÃ⁄U ¬⁄U ‹≈UŸÊ, ≈UÊßÚ ‹≈U ¡ÊŸÊ „ÙÃÊ ÃÙ ¬%Ë ‚„Ê⁄UÊ ’ŸÃË ⁄U„Ë– øÊÿ ÿÊ ∑§È¿ •ı⁄U ‹ÊŸÊ „ÙÃÊ ÃÙ ’Ê¡Ê⁄U ŒÍ⁄U „ÙŸ ∑‘§ ’Êfl¡ÍŒ ’≈UÊ Ãà¬⁄U ⁄U„ÃÊ– ◊⁄U Á◊òÊ ∑§Ë

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PEOPLE AND UN n APRIL 2018

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STUDENTS TO ATTEND

SUMMER SCHOOL, GENEVA A Joint Project of IFUNA and WFUNA

BHAVAN VIDYALAYA, PANCHKULA, HARYANA

GURUKUL GLOBAL SCHOOL , NEAR I T PARK ,MANIMAJRA, CHANDIGARH

BVB VIDYASHRAM , K. M . MUNSHI MARG, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

SPIRITUAL TALK Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj his entire creation has been made by God. Every living creature whether mammal or insect is part of His handiwork. Although the lives of the tiniest forms of creation seem insignificant to us, there is a definite divine purpose for every form of life. Each life form is animated by a soul.

Every being in creation is travelling on a journey back to God, the source from where it came. In this voyage, souls are moving from one life to another, aspiring to receive the human form.

The human body is considered the highest in all creation. It is the only one which has the faculty to rise above this physical world and return to God. We are most fortunate that we have received a human birth. It is our golden opportunity to realize God. If we miss this chance to realize the Lord in this lifetime, who knows when we will receive the human birth again. We will again have to pass through the cycle known as the wheel of transmigration, or the wheel of 8.4 million species of life.

While endowed with the human body we have two responsibilities. One is to our own self. We should take advantage of this priceless gift and utilize our life for knowing our self and realizing God. Second, we should also be of service to God's creation.

We need to realize that the souls embodied in the various species are all passing through tremendous suffering. The lower species of life reside in bodies in which their only concern is survival. The purpose of their lives is to eat, protect themselves, and reproduce. They lack the faculty to know themselves and to realize God. We need to have compassion for all forms of life. They have enough suffering already; we do not need to add any more pain.

There are several reasons why those following the spiritual path need to cultivate nonviolence. One reason revolves around the law of karma. This law states that for every action there is a reaction. As we sow, we must also reap. Whatever we do is credited or debited to our karmic account. If we cause injury to any living creature, we must pay for that deed in kind. Most people live in ignorance of this law. They harm others without being aware of the consequences. Although there are courts of law by which certain crimes are tried, many crimes seemingly go unpunished.

We may think we have escaped punishment, but sooner or later we must pay for our deeds, whether it is in this life or the next.

The karmic law is inexorable. Those following the spiritual path refrain from any violent acts. If we want to reduce our karmic debt so that we can return to God, we must develop nonviolence.

Another reason for developing nonviolence is based on the fact that violence to other forms of life is interfering with God's creation. How can we expect God to grant us entry to the spiri-

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tual regions if we mistreat His children? We may consider the lower forms of life insignificant. We may think insects are repulsive and reptiles useless. But for some reason known to Him, God created each life form. To Him, all are His children. What is more, the outer form is but a shell or casing for the soul within.

And that soul is a part of God. If we can feel so much love for our children, how much more love must God feel who has created the entire universe? Imagine His pain to see His most intelligent life forms, His most noble creatures, human beings, injuring His less endowed children? We who are the highest in all creation should be the most spiritual and noble of His creatures.

It is incumbent on us to live up to the highest ideals for which He created us, and protect and help the lower life forms.

It is for this reason that those on the spiritual path advocate a vegetarian diet. God has granted humanity enough growing plants as food. We need not kill animals, birds, and fish for our sustenance. If we wish to reunite our souls with God, we must keep ourselves pure. We must develop love for all creation. We can not say we love God, if we do not love His children.

We should try to extend to all humanity and all creation the same feelings of love that we have for our near and dear ones. We should realize that within each beating heart is a soul, and that soul is no different from ours. All souls are a part of God. All souls are connected by a deep bond. The soul in us is the same soul that is in all other forms of life. We should see that no injury is done to any soul, for when a part is damaged, the entire system is affected.

If we can cultivate nonviolence in our daily lives we will find that God is pleased with us and sheds more and more of His grace. We will become an abode of peace and tranquillity for those around us. We will be helping God by becoming a conscious co-worker in His divine plan. We will be helping him relieve the sufferings of His children. Our progress will be accelerated and all other virtues will be added unto us.

If each of us could attain this cherished goal, this planet would enter a Golden Age in which there would be no wars or conflicts. There would be no more bloodshed and suffering. We would have a world in which there were peaceful solutions to problems and conflicts. Let this verse of one of the greatest Urdu poets of past century, Sant Darshan Singh, find its fulfillment: From dawn to dawn, let us speak of peace and listen to the message of love, The shower-laden clouds of Sawan have enveloped the tavern of time, O Cupbearer, let the cup of love go 'round and 'round and 'round.

Spiritual Necessity for Non-violence

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PEOPLE AND UN

RNI NO. DELENG/2012/44082