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Fresh round of massacre in Assam
By Humra Quraishi. Dated: 5/7/2014 11:54:56 PM
Whilst reading 'Simply Khaki - A Policeman Remembers', by the 1965 batch IPS officer from the Assam cadre, E.N. Rammohan (he retired as DG - BSF and is said to be one of those 'different' cops who during his entire service tenure lived without any of those government frills and says that till date his guiding line has been this one- liner, "an officer has no religion once he joins service and puts on his uniform"), one gets aware of the severity cum complexity of the turmoil in Assam and the situation worsening since 1971. According to Rammohan, these disputes in Assam are not along religious lines but centred around land.
Now, of course, getting compounded with the third class politicians of the day. Space constraints will come in way in my putting all those details but, perhaps, the crux lies in these lines from his book from the chapter focusing on Shillong - "…you have chief ministers who, when the Director General of Police brings a list of Sub-Inspectors who have qualified in the selection test, keep sitting with their legs drawn up to their chair, chewing paan, and pull out an alternative list which they have prepared, and throwing it at the DGP, ask him insolently," Then what is this list ? "It is only natural that such Chief Ministers also have equally shameless Director Generals, who have mortgaged their souls for a chair, a bungalow and a government telephone."
Today, of course, you have politicians who have mortgaged their soul to be up there, on the prime minister's hot seat. Why did Narendra Modi make that provocative speech which triggered off another round of killings in Assam - a State which has already seen some of the worst killings and strife between the tribal communities and the so labeled 'Muslim settlers'. Why this fresh round of massacre in Assam! Why that fear and insecurity cum apprehension spreading out to other locales as well! One is left asking - What's the difference Narendra Modi between Giriraj Singh and Togadia and Amit Shah who are more than squeaking direct threats to the minority communities. 'Get going, from here to there ! Get out …pack off!
Why should the sane elements in the corridors of power allow these insane to speak out from public platforms. Are we awaiting another partition to take place! And one is left somewhat baffled by the Election Commission's quiet to all those rebellious taunts thrown at it by the likes of Modi. As though nobody could dare come in way, between Modi and his provocatively divisive utterances, affecting thousands, which in turn would affect hundreds and thousands …
Partition of psyches took off soon after the demolition of the Babri masjid. And now comes more - physical assaults and killings. Call these assaults along religious or ethnic or regional lines but they are taking place right in front of our eyes. The latest is the sheer humiliation that three Kashmiri students had to face, in Greater Noida - on the very outskirts of New Delhi. These students were not just beaten and humiliated but forced to raise anti-Pakistan slogans. Why!
For years I have been seeing and sensing an anti - Kashmiri atmosphere prevailing in New Delhi and around. In fact, over a decade back PUCL had conducted a study on this and had brought out a detailed report. A shocking state of affairs - where Kashmiri students and traders who dare travel out of the Valley for higher studies and work, face not just suspicious faces but threats and taunts. These threats thrown at them not just by their neighbours but by the local cops.
In last fortnight's column I had mentioned and I repeat there ought be a helpline for minority groups. Well, it's yet to be seen what instant relief cum rescue comes forth, for not to overlook the fact that those manning those help lines could be sitting with preconceived notions, embedded in their psyches by hate speeches of these men who seem hell bent on ruining this land.
A VOLUME ON STAMPS!
In this day and age of the internet, a book on stamps comes as a breath of fresh air. This week saw the release of the latest publication of Niyogi Books - 'A Stamp is Born' by C R Pakrashi
This book launched by Vice President, Hamid Ansari, at Vice President's house Before one writes about this book, it is important to mention that though the author is 93-old but he spoke with enthusiasm and much knowledge. After all, Pakrashi, is an acclaimed painter and stamp designer, and has designed as many as 56 commemorative stamps on great men and important national events …After graduating from Government School of Arts, Calcutta., he took to excelling as a stamp designer. He is currently the editor of a Bengali-English magazine published from Delhi. And he has the distinction of holding India's only exhibition on stamp designing in the Indian Museum, Calcutta in 1999.
His book details a fascinating history of how stamps came into existence and the travails of designing them… a collection of tiny pieces of historical anecdotes, related to Lord Buddha, India's Freedom struggle, Swamy Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Ustad Bismillah Khan and several others.
Introducing his book, Pakrashi said, "postal system existed in India as early as the reigns of the Mughals and the Pathans. However, paper stamp was introduced for the first time in India in 1854. Initially the British king or queen used to be depicted on Indian stamps. It changed with the inauguration of New Delhi as the capital of British India. Several Indian monuments found its way as designs of stamps. After Independence the design was completely Indianized."
This book also details the various stages of production of a stamp. The history of postal stamp system and postage stamps in general has been elaborately dealt with. This is probably one of India's first authoritative book on stamp making. It offers a glimpse into the glorious chapters of Indian history. The only mode of communication before the onslaught of telephones and the Internet were letters and these communications used postage stamps. Those superbly designed tiny pieces of paper stuck to the corner of the envelope were the only and most important lifeline with outside world then…"
He related an interesting story about how the idea of postage stamps was born nearly 175 years ago in England. During those days it was the addressee who used to pay the postal charges, not the sender… "One day a philanthropist noticed a lady refusing to accept a letter from the postman. Thinking that the poor lady might not have the money, he paid the money and accepted the letter. The lady, however, reprimanded him for helping her. It turned out that the lady and her son had a pact. If he was all right he would send her a blank letter. The mother would closely examine the envelope. If it was blank, she would know that her son was all right and would refuse to accept the letter!
The philanthropist then suggested to the postal department that the system of pre-payment may be introduced for letters posted. The suggestion was immediately accepted. Pre-payment system was thus introduced in England for the first time in 1840 through the one penny stamp known as Penny Black."
*(Humra Quraishi is a freelance columnist based in Delhi and is currently a visiting Professor in the Academy of Third World Studies in Jamia Milia University).