शनिवार, 9 जुलाई 2016
Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in encouter
Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in encouter Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in encounter
Burhan Wani, the top Hizbul Mujaheedin commander was the poster boy of the...
Rs.198 What connects Nehru, Modi and Kanhaiy?
Rs.198 What connects Nehru, Modi and Kanhaiy?
Rs.198
What connects Nehru, Modi and Kanhaiya Kumar?
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's poems speak to every Indian, uniting them across...
Rs.198
What connects Nehru, Modi and Kanhaiya Kumar?
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's poems speak to every Indian, uniting them across...
London’s Great Smog of 1952 still affects people’s health: scientists
London’s Great Smog of 1952 still affects people’s health: scientists
Londoners still feel the hangover of those five December days when a thick layer of smog covered the city.
The London’s Great Smog event of 1952 — five December days when a thick layer of smog covered the city — likely still affects some people’s health more than 60 years later, according to scientists including one of Indian origin.
London’s Great Smog of 1952 resulted in thousands of premature deaths and even more people becoming ill.
The five December days the smog lasted may have also resulted in thousands more cases of childhood and adult asthma.
Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, the University of California, San Diego and University of Massachusetts in the U.S. studied how London’s Great Smog affected early childhood health and the long-term health consequences.
Health hangover
The results, based on health data from the 1940s and 50s, showed that the Great Smog event of 1952 likely still affects some people’s health more than 60 years later.
Matthew Neidell, associate professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, and colleagues noted that the Great Smog presents a “natural experiment” because the smog was intense “exceeding current regulations and guidelines by a factor of 5 to 23“; localised to a major city; and unanticipated.
“Because the smog was unexpected, residents likely did not leave the city,” said Prashant Bharadwaj, associate professor at the University of California, San Diego.
2,916 responses analysed
The researchers analysed 2,916 responses to a life history survey. Among other health questions, the survey asked participants if they had asthma as a child (up to age 15) or asthma as an adult.
Responses of those who were exposed to the Great Smog in utero or in early childhood were compared with those born between 1945 and 1955 who lived outside of London during the Great Smog or lived in London but were not exposed to the smog in utero or in their first years of life.
The results showed that exposure to the Great Smog in the first year of life was associated with a statistically 20 per cent increased incident of childhood asthma.
The researchers said they found a non-significant, but similar trend between exposure to the smog in the first year of life and adult asthma (a 9.5 per cent increase) and in utero exposure and childhood asthma (8 per cent increase).
Confounding factors
A number of studies examine the relationship between early childhood exposure to air pollutants and the development of asthma but can only determine an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship, because there may be confounding factors that are overlooked or not fully accounted for in the analysis, researchers said.
Given that there is no evidence of another event simultaneous with the Great Smog that might affect asthma incidence, they add, their study overcomes the issue of confounding and “suggests a strong possibility of a causal link between early childhood exposure to air pollution and the later development of asthma.”
Londoners still feel the hangover of those five December days when a thick layer of smog covered the city.
The London’s Great Smog event of 1952 — five December days when a thick layer of smog covered the city — likely still affects some people’s health more than 60 years later, according to scientists including one of Indian origin.
London’s Great Smog of 1952 resulted in thousands of premature deaths and even more people becoming ill.
The five December days the smog lasted may have also resulted in thousands more cases of childhood and adult asthma.
Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, the University of California, San Diego and University of Massachusetts in the U.S. studied how London’s Great Smog affected early childhood health and the long-term health consequences.
Health hangover
The results, based on health data from the 1940s and 50s, showed that the Great Smog event of 1952 likely still affects some people’s health more than 60 years later.
Matthew Neidell, associate professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, and colleagues noted that the Great Smog presents a “natural experiment” because the smog was intense “exceeding current regulations and guidelines by a factor of 5 to 23“; localised to a major city; and unanticipated.
“Because the smog was unexpected, residents likely did not leave the city,” said Prashant Bharadwaj, associate professor at the University of California, San Diego.
2,916 responses analysed
The researchers analysed 2,916 responses to a life history survey. Among other health questions, the survey asked participants if they had asthma as a child (up to age 15) or asthma as an adult.
Responses of those who were exposed to the Great Smog in utero or in early childhood were compared with those born between 1945 and 1955 who lived outside of London during the Great Smog or lived in London but were not exposed to the smog in utero or in their first years of life.
The results showed that exposure to the Great Smog in the first year of life was associated with a statistically 20 per cent increased incident of childhood asthma.
The researchers said they found a non-significant, but similar trend between exposure to the smog in the first year of life and adult asthma (a 9.5 per cent increase) and in utero exposure and childhood asthma (8 per cent increase).
Confounding factors
A number of studies examine the relationship between early childhood exposure to air pollutants and the development of asthma but can only determine an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship, because there may be confounding factors that are overlooked or not fully accounted for in the analysis, researchers said.
Given that there is no evidence of another event simultaneous with the Great Smog that might affect asthma incidence, they add, their study overcomes the issue of confounding and “suggests a strong possibility of a causal link between early childhood exposure to air pollution and the later development of asthma.”
Shooting ‘vicious, despicable’, says Obama
Shooting ‘vicious, despicable’, says Obama
"We will learn more, undoubtedly, about their twisted motivations, but let’s be clear: There is no possible justification for these types of atta
Minister. India should engage China directly: Diplomat
Minister. India should engage China directly: Diplomat ‘Avoid blaming China as an obstacle for accessing high technology from global market’
India working to achieve 8 p.c. growth: Modi
India working to achieve 8 p.c. growth: Modi
Narendra Modi said his government is working in a campaign mode to create 500 million new jobs by 2022.
Narendra Modi said his government is working in a campaign mode to create 500 million new jobs by 2022.
शनिवार, 2 जुलाई 2016
Kohli's aggression will help India scale difficult heights: Harbhajan
HIGHLIGHTS
"It's good to see the way Virat Kohli conducts himself," Harbhajan said.
He also spoke about Kumble who was recently roped in to coach the national outfit.
"Anil bhai is a man I respect a lot," the offspinner said.
NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian leg-spinner
Harbhajan Singh believes current Test captain Virat Kohli 's aggression will help the national cricket side scale "difficult heights".
"It's good to see the way Virat Kohli conducts himself. I feel this is the brilliant way forward for Indian cricket. Going to play with the right body language, fighting it out for India with a zeal to get the right result, we need such a spirit, which Virat Kohli has," Harbhajan said in a television show, Aap Ki Adalat.
"Whether it's his own or he may have taken it from me, I feel it's a great sign for Indian cricket, to take India to difficult heights."
The offie also spoke about his former team-mate Anil Kumble who was recently roped in to coach the national outfit.
"Anil bhai is a man I respect a lot. I played with him for many years. I learnt one thing from him in life - 'Don't ever give up'. He was a cricketer with a serious bent of mind. He knows my mischievous nature. I don't think he had any problems with me ever," he said.
"I agree Anil bhai had to sit outside because of me, because in those days I was playing well. I myself felt bad seeing him sit outside, because I was only 20 then, I was doing well, and my captain chose me."
Harbhajan also said it is always a special moment winning India-Pakistan games and believes the hype around the high voltage encounter is all media generated.
"As a player, I feel great after defeating a big team. In those days the Pakistan team was a great team too. They had players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar. For us that used to be a special game, a special moment. I feel media creates too much hype for India-Pakistan matches," he remarked.
In 2007-08 Harbhajan was charged with racial abuse against Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds. The incident became famous as the 'monkeygate' scandal but the tweaker denied having abused him.
"I didn't say monkey. It was their allegation. I only told him - 'teri maa ki...haath ki roti khaane ko bada dil kar raha hai' (Feel like eating chapattis made by your mother) (smiling). He didn't listen at all. Anyway, he didn't know Hindi, and I did not know English," he said.
On the infamous incident in which Sreesanth was slapped, Harbhajan said: "Actually, he did a 'nautanki' (drama). It was my fault that I did that (slapping) on the ground. I have admitted in all my interviews that I committed this mistake in my life."
Sources-TOI
"It's good to see the way Virat Kohli conducts himself," Harbhajan said.
He also spoke about Kumble who was recently roped in to coach the national outfit.
"Anil bhai is a man I respect a lot," the offspinner said.
NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian leg-spinner
Harbhajan Singh believes current Test captain Virat Kohli 's aggression will help the national cricket side scale "difficult heights".
"It's good to see the way Virat Kohli conducts himself. I feel this is the brilliant way forward for Indian cricket. Going to play with the right body language, fighting it out for India with a zeal to get the right result, we need such a spirit, which Virat Kohli has," Harbhajan said in a television show, Aap Ki Adalat.
"Whether it's his own or he may have taken it from me, I feel it's a great sign for Indian cricket, to take India to difficult heights."
The offie also spoke about his former team-mate Anil Kumble who was recently roped in to coach the national outfit.
"Anil bhai is a man I respect a lot. I played with him for many years. I learnt one thing from him in life - 'Don't ever give up'. He was a cricketer with a serious bent of mind. He knows my mischievous nature. I don't think he had any problems with me ever," he said.
"I agree Anil bhai had to sit outside because of me, because in those days I was playing well. I myself felt bad seeing him sit outside, because I was only 20 then, I was doing well, and my captain chose me."
Harbhajan also said it is always a special moment winning India-Pakistan games and believes the hype around the high voltage encounter is all media generated.
"As a player, I feel great after defeating a big team. In those days the Pakistan team was a great team too. They had players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar. For us that used to be a special game, a special moment. I feel media creates too much hype for India-Pakistan matches," he remarked.
In 2007-08 Harbhajan was charged with racial abuse against Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds. The incident became famous as the 'monkeygate' scandal but the tweaker denied having abused him.
"I didn't say monkey. It was their allegation. I only told him - 'teri maa ki...haath ki roti khaane ko bada dil kar raha hai' (Feel like eating chapattis made by your mother) (smiling). He didn't listen at all. Anyway, he didn't know Hindi, and I did not know English," he said.
On the infamous incident in which Sreesanth was slapped, Harbhajan said: "Actually, he did a 'nautanki' (drama). It was my fault that I did that (slapping) on the ground. I have admitted in all my interviews that I committed this mistake in my life."
Sources-TOI
An App To Check Internet Speed
NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator Trai today said it will launch a mobile application which will help a consumer to measure
internet speed on his smartphone and send results to the authority.
"The MySpeed App, which could be downloaded from the mobile sewa app store, allows users to measure their data speed experience and send the results to this (Trai Analytics Portal)," the Telecom Regulatory Authority said in a statement.
The portal and the application will be formally launched by the regulator on July 5, the statement said.
The application will also send coverage, data speed and network information along with device and location of the customer, the statement said.
Trai has defined minimum internet speed that should be delivered to consumers. However, consumers often complain of poor speed. The regulator during its drive test has also found that 3G customers of some operators were getting 2G internet speed most of the time in select cities.
internet speed on his smartphone and send results to the authority.
"The MySpeed App, which could be downloaded from the mobile sewa app store, allows users to measure their data speed experience and send the results to this (Trai Analytics Portal)," the Telecom Regulatory Authority said in a statement.
The portal and the application will be formally launched by the regulator on July 5, the statement said.
The application will also send coverage, data speed and network information along with device and location of the customer, the statement said.
Trai has defined minimum internet speed that should be delivered to consumers. However, consumers often complain of poor speed. The regulator during its drive test has also found that 3G customers of some operators were getting 2G internet speed most of the time in select cities.
PM oks $1bn deal with US for 4 Poseidons
HIGHLIGHTS
Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared acquisition of four Poseidon-8I longrange surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft.
The four new P-8I aircraft, packed with radars and weapons, will join the first eight such aircraft inducted by the Navy in 2013-2015
.
New Delhi: The India-US strategic clinch continues to get tighter. Soon after the two finalised the bilateral military logistics pact, the US has bagged yet another mega arms deal to reassert its status as India's largest weapons supplier in recent years.
Defence ministry sources on Friday said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has cleared the acquisition of four Poseidon-8I longrange surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft at a cost of over $1 billion. "The contract will be inked with Boeing in the next few days. The first P-8I will be delivered to the Navy within three years," said a source. The four new P-8I aircraft, packed with radars and weapons, will join the first eight such aircraft inducted by the Navy in 2013-2015 under a $2.1 billion deal.
The Navy is using the eight P-8Is, armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges, to keep an "intelligent hawk-eye" over the entire Indian Ocean Region, which has witnessed stepped-up Chinese submarine forays over the last two years. With an operating range of 1,200 nautical miles, "with four hours on station", the P-8Is provide the reach and flexibility to undertake extensive maritime surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions.
They can detect "threats" in India's immediate and extended areas of interest and neutralise them if required. The CCS approval comes after the defence ministry last week also cleared acquisition of 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers from the US. The Army wants these 155mm/39calibre howitzers as they can be swiftly airlifted to "threatened high-altitude areas" along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control with China.
The US, of course, is now also aggressively hawking its fighter jets — the twin-engine F/A-18 "Super Hornet" (Boeing) or the single-engine F-16 "Fighting Falcon" (Lockheed Martin) — for the Make in India programme.
As earlier reported by TOI, the Pentagon aviation majors combine had made detailed presentations to the Indian defence establishment in April for the proposed fighter production line. US under secretary of defence Frank Kendall is leading a top Pentagon-industry delegation to New Delhi again this month for further talks.
This comes after India said it wanted "a much higher level" of transfer of technology (ToT) than the "limited" one on offer. Incidentally, Swedish defence firm Saab has also submitted a detailed proposal, with "attractive ToT", for manufacture of its latest Gripen-E fighter in India.
Sources- TOI
Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared acquisition of four Poseidon-8I longrange surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft.
The four new P-8I aircraft, packed with radars and weapons, will join the first eight such aircraft inducted by the Navy in 2013-2015
.
New Delhi: The India-US strategic clinch continues to get tighter. Soon after the two finalised the bilateral military logistics pact, the US has bagged yet another mega arms deal to reassert its status as India's largest weapons supplier in recent years.
Defence ministry sources on Friday said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has cleared the acquisition of four Poseidon-8I longrange surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft at a cost of over $1 billion. "The contract will be inked with Boeing in the next few days. The first P-8I will be delivered to the Navy within three years," said a source. The four new P-8I aircraft, packed with radars and weapons, will join the first eight such aircraft inducted by the Navy in 2013-2015 under a $2.1 billion deal.
The Navy is using the eight P-8Is, armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges, to keep an "intelligent hawk-eye" over the entire Indian Ocean Region, which has witnessed stepped-up Chinese submarine forays over the last two years. With an operating range of 1,200 nautical miles, "with four hours on station", the P-8Is provide the reach and flexibility to undertake extensive maritime surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions.
They can detect "threats" in India's immediate and extended areas of interest and neutralise them if required. The CCS approval comes after the defence ministry last week also cleared acquisition of 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers from the US. The Army wants these 155mm/39calibre howitzers as they can be swiftly airlifted to "threatened high-altitude areas" along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control with China.
The US, of course, is now also aggressively hawking its fighter jets — the twin-engine F/A-18 "Super Hornet" (Boeing) or the single-engine F-16 "Fighting Falcon" (Lockheed Martin) — for the Make in India programme.
As earlier reported by TOI, the Pentagon aviation majors combine had made detailed presentations to the Indian defence establishment in April for the proposed fighter production line. US under secretary of defence Frank Kendall is leading a top Pentagon-industry delegation to New Delhi again this month for further talks.
This comes after India said it wanted "a much higher level" of transfer of technology (ToT) than the "limited" one on offer. Incidentally, Swedish defence firm Saab has also submitted a detailed proposal, with "attractive ToT", for manufacture of its latest Gripen-E fighter in India.
Sources- TOI
Percentage of HRA in 7th pay commission after cabinet approval
The Pay commission has recommended HRA should be rationalized by using the factor 0.8 which is used for rationalizing the percentage based allowances. The 7th CPC recommended 24 percent, 16 percent and 8 percent of the Basic Pay for Class X, Y and Z cities respectively. The Commission also recommended that the rate of HRA will be revised to 27 percent, 18 percent and 9 percent when DA crosses 50 percent, and further revised to 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent when DA crosses 100 percent.
The cabinet committee reviewed the recommendations on Allowances and they are not able to give a decision over the Allowances. Hence the Union Cabinet decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. And it is said that the Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months.
In the press release issued by government said the following
” The Commission examined a total of 196 existing Allowances and, by way of rationalization, recommended abolition of 51 Allowances and subsuming of 37 Allowances. Given the significant changes in the existing provisions for Allowances which may have wide ranging implications, the Cabinet decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. The Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months. Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates.”
The above press release concluded with a statement of ” Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates”
Since the House Rent Allowance also listed among one of these 196 Allowances, the status HRA is not clear now. The existing rates of HRA is 30%, 20% and 10% for class X, Y and Z respectively. Whether these existing rates of HRA will be paid based on revised pay or pre revised pay..? It needs to be clarified when implementation of 7th pay commission is in process.
SOURCE - 90 PAISA
The cabinet committee reviewed the recommendations on Allowances and they are not able to give a decision over the Allowances. Hence the Union Cabinet decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. And it is said that the Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months.
In the press release issued by government said the following
” The Commission examined a total of 196 existing Allowances and, by way of rationalization, recommended abolition of 51 Allowances and subsuming of 37 Allowances. Given the significant changes in the existing provisions for Allowances which may have wide ranging implications, the Cabinet decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. The Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months. Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates.”
The above press release concluded with a statement of ” Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates”
Since the House Rent Allowance also listed among one of these 196 Allowances, the status HRA is not clear now. The existing rates of HRA is 30%, 20% and 10% for class X, Y and Z respectively. Whether these existing rates of HRA will be paid based on revised pay or pre revised pay..? It needs to be clarified when implementation of 7th pay commission is in process.
SOURCE - 90 PAISA
Shimla Pact Analysis
The 1971 India-Pakistan and the Shimla Agreement of July 2, 1972 are some of the most important events of the 20th century history of the Indian subcontinent.
While the 1971 war has been extensively analysed and commented upon, the Shimla conference that dealt with its aftermath has not attracted enough research as it ought to have.
Analysing the decision making process at the Shimla talks of 1972 is important. The decisions taken/not taken then continue to affect the Indian subcontinent and even more importantly the rationale, mindsets and logic on display then continues to be part of Indian decision-making on war and peace even 45 years after the event.
In 1999, after a first post nuclearisation skirmish at Kargil, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, another Indian stalwart leader, followed in the footsteps of Indira Gandhi.
The Indian syndrome of inability to exploit battlefield victory and frittering away the advantage gained at the cost of soldiers' blood continues. It is therefore of utmost importance for future and not merely of historical interest to analyse and understand the events of July 2, 1972.
It is necessary to understand the context of national euphoria that existed then. Indira Gandhi was the flavour of the season and as one senior Congress leader Dev Kant Borooah went so far as to coin the phrase 'Indira is India.'
A t the Shimla conference in 1972, Indira Gandhi was at the zenith of her power. The Shimla agreement therefore escaped critical scrutiny.
During the 1971 war, Mrs Gandhi's strategic perception and control on the five fronts (diplomatic, political, economic, military and psychological) was superb. She used persuasion, hindrance and coercion on all five fronts without opening hostilities.
Military force was only used as a last resort. Men of the three defence services rose to the occasion and displayed tactical initiative and skill of a high order.
The war was a triumph for individuals who transcended an out-of-date institutional politico-military decision-making system. The 1971 war culminated in the capture of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners and a unilateral declaration of a cease fire by India after our ground forces had made minor incursions into West Pakistan.
The main agenda at Shimla was to deal with the aftermath of the 1971 War and usher in durable peace between India and Pakistan.
There was widespread concern and anxiety in Pakistan over the prisoners of war in India's hands. There were unanimous demands in the press and Pakistan national assembly for their early repatriation. Some Pakistani politicians said, 'Pakistanis are prepared to sacrifice their land for the sake of the prisoners -- it is better to have the POWs returned than to have the land back.'
Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto kept blowing hot and cold. Bhutto spoke with two voices. In Pakistan he said, 'Your (POWs) humiliation is our humiliation and we will bend backwards to see to it that no a moment is wasted for correct results (their release).'
With India, Bhutto would show no great concern for the POWs' early return. In these circumstances, there was nothing immoral or illegal about using the POWs issue as leverage to ensure a just and durable peace.
It was nobody's case to demand war indemnity from Pakistan, or to hold onto territory across the international border forever. However, the issue of repatriation of POWs, Bangladesh's insistence on the trial of war criminals (about 195 POWs were charged with specific charges of genocide and serious violations of human rights), the climate of public opinion in Pakistan for their early return, the elimination of the army as a factor in the formulation of Pakistan's policies, and the withdrawal of Indian troops from Pakistani territory could all have served as levers to put pressure on Pakistan to accept a no nonsense fair and just solution to the Kashmir problem.
Foreign observers, basing their views on those close to Bhutto, have pointed out that 'Bhutto was willing to forsake the Indian-held two-thirds of Kashmir and agree that the ceasefire line, to be negotiated, would gradually become the border between the two countries.'
However, India seems to have been confused about its war aim. The Shimla Accord was never linked to the issue of POWs and the withdrawal of Indian troops from Pakistani territory. This was a major blunder on Indira Gandhi's part.
When D P Dhar (one of Indira Gandhi's key advisors) went to Pakistan for a pre-summit dialogue with Pakistani leaders, he was more concerned with the issue of recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan than the core issue of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.
W hile India held all the cards at Shimla, it was Bhutto who called all the shots. It was then being propagated that the greatest merit of the accord was that the two countries decided to renounce the use of force against each other.
It is comic that a ten times stronger India was seeking security guarantees from a weak Pakistan. But even that commitment was jettisoned when Bhutto talked of a 1,000-year war, and later when Pakistan breached the accord by launching cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Some career diplomats and commentators on foreign affairs have tried to sell the line that after the 1971 war, India was faced with only two courses of action: Either the Shimla Accord or something on the lines of the Treaty of Versailles. They gave an erroneous impression that between these two extremes there was a complete vacuum.
In fact there were many other possibilities, shades and gradations for a solution to some of the more vexatious problems between the two countries.
The International Herald Tribune pointed out that the 'Shimla conference apparently could reach agreement on none of the substantive issues dividing the two sides.' It was obvious that Indian negotiators never seriously linked those issues with the Shimla Accord.
The plain truth is that India's political leaders and bureaucrats failed to assess Pakistan's predicament correctly, did not have a clear national aim, and were ignorant of the basic axioms shaping the role of the armed forces in democratic governance.
Our negotiators lacked the realisation that diplomatic treaties, which are not backed by military power, are worthless. They did not involve our military leaders in security policy planning.
After winning a stunning victory, Indian leaders behaved as if the armed forces had done something immoral or committed a sin. In the Indian mind 'statesmanship' is inexorably linked with 'peace.'
Not unlike (due to false Gandhism) our penchant to celebrate and flaunt 'weakness' and equate it with morality. Indira Gandhi proved herself a great war leader, but failed as a statesman.
At Shimla we accepted Kashmir as a 'dispute.' We also gave equal status to Pakistan by permitting it to retain land occupied by it in J&K, thus sowing the seeds of Kargil- like adventures in the future, all this when we held all the cards and Kashmir was not the cause of the 1971 War.
Indira Gandhi got carried away by euphoria, trusted Bhutto and let down the country and its soldiers.
In the end, all we were left was an empty promise by Bhutto: ' Aap hum per bharosa ki jije (Trust me) .'
Sources-Rediff
While the 1971 war has been extensively analysed and commented upon, the Shimla conference that dealt with its aftermath has not attracted enough research as it ought to have.
Analysing the decision making process at the Shimla talks of 1972 is important. The decisions taken/not taken then continue to affect the Indian subcontinent and even more importantly the rationale, mindsets and logic on display then continues to be part of Indian decision-making on war and peace even 45 years after the event.
In 1999, after a first post nuclearisation skirmish at Kargil, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, another Indian stalwart leader, followed in the footsteps of Indira Gandhi.
The Indian syndrome of inability to exploit battlefield victory and frittering away the advantage gained at the cost of soldiers' blood continues. It is therefore of utmost importance for future and not merely of historical interest to analyse and understand the events of July 2, 1972.
It is necessary to understand the context of national euphoria that existed then. Indira Gandhi was the flavour of the season and as one senior Congress leader Dev Kant Borooah went so far as to coin the phrase 'Indira is India.'
A t the Shimla conference in 1972, Indira Gandhi was at the zenith of her power. The Shimla agreement therefore escaped critical scrutiny.
During the 1971 war, Mrs Gandhi's strategic perception and control on the five fronts (diplomatic, political, economic, military and psychological) was superb. She used persuasion, hindrance and coercion on all five fronts without opening hostilities.
Military force was only used as a last resort. Men of the three defence services rose to the occasion and displayed tactical initiative and skill of a high order.
The war was a triumph for individuals who transcended an out-of-date institutional politico-military decision-making system. The 1971 war culminated in the capture of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners and a unilateral declaration of a cease fire by India after our ground forces had made minor incursions into West Pakistan.
The main agenda at Shimla was to deal with the aftermath of the 1971 War and usher in durable peace between India and Pakistan.
There was widespread concern and anxiety in Pakistan over the prisoners of war in India's hands. There were unanimous demands in the press and Pakistan national assembly for their early repatriation. Some Pakistani politicians said, 'Pakistanis are prepared to sacrifice their land for the sake of the prisoners -- it is better to have the POWs returned than to have the land back.'
Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto kept blowing hot and cold. Bhutto spoke with two voices. In Pakistan he said, 'Your (POWs) humiliation is our humiliation and we will bend backwards to see to it that no a moment is wasted for correct results (their release).'
With India, Bhutto would show no great concern for the POWs' early return. In these circumstances, there was nothing immoral or illegal about using the POWs issue as leverage to ensure a just and durable peace.
It was nobody's case to demand war indemnity from Pakistan, or to hold onto territory across the international border forever. However, the issue of repatriation of POWs, Bangladesh's insistence on the trial of war criminals (about 195 POWs were charged with specific charges of genocide and serious violations of human rights), the climate of public opinion in Pakistan for their early return, the elimination of the army as a factor in the formulation of Pakistan's policies, and the withdrawal of Indian troops from Pakistani territory could all have served as levers to put pressure on Pakistan to accept a no nonsense fair and just solution to the Kashmir problem.
Foreign observers, basing their views on those close to Bhutto, have pointed out that 'Bhutto was willing to forsake the Indian-held two-thirds of Kashmir and agree that the ceasefire line, to be negotiated, would gradually become the border between the two countries.'
However, India seems to have been confused about its war aim. The Shimla Accord was never linked to the issue of POWs and the withdrawal of Indian troops from Pakistani territory. This was a major blunder on Indira Gandhi's part.
When D P Dhar (one of Indira Gandhi's key advisors) went to Pakistan for a pre-summit dialogue with Pakistani leaders, he was more concerned with the issue of recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan than the core issue of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.
W hile India held all the cards at Shimla, it was Bhutto who called all the shots. It was then being propagated that the greatest merit of the accord was that the two countries decided to renounce the use of force against each other.
It is comic that a ten times stronger India was seeking security guarantees from a weak Pakistan. But even that commitment was jettisoned when Bhutto talked of a 1,000-year war, and later when Pakistan breached the accord by launching cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Some career diplomats and commentators on foreign affairs have tried to sell the line that after the 1971 war, India was faced with only two courses of action: Either the Shimla Accord or something on the lines of the Treaty of Versailles. They gave an erroneous impression that between these two extremes there was a complete vacuum.
In fact there were many other possibilities, shades and gradations for a solution to some of the more vexatious problems between the two countries.
The International Herald Tribune pointed out that the 'Shimla conference apparently could reach agreement on none of the substantive issues dividing the two sides.' It was obvious that Indian negotiators never seriously linked those issues with the Shimla Accord.
The plain truth is that India's political leaders and bureaucrats failed to assess Pakistan's predicament correctly, did not have a clear national aim, and were ignorant of the basic axioms shaping the role of the armed forces in democratic governance.
Our negotiators lacked the realisation that diplomatic treaties, which are not backed by military power, are worthless. They did not involve our military leaders in security policy planning.
After winning a stunning victory, Indian leaders behaved as if the armed forces had done something immoral or committed a sin. In the Indian mind 'statesmanship' is inexorably linked with 'peace.'
Not unlike (due to false Gandhism) our penchant to celebrate and flaunt 'weakness' and equate it with morality. Indira Gandhi proved herself a great war leader, but failed as a statesman.
At Shimla we accepted Kashmir as a 'dispute.' We also gave equal status to Pakistan by permitting it to retain land occupied by it in J&K, thus sowing the seeds of Kargil- like adventures in the future, all this when we held all the cards and Kashmir was not the cause of the 1971 War.
Indira Gandhi got carried away by euphoria, trusted Bhutto and let down the country and its soldiers.
In the end, all we were left was an empty promise by Bhutto: ' Aap hum per bharosa ki jije (Trust me) .'
Sources-Rediff
China's booming cyberstar economy might hit $8.7b in 2016
Papi Jiang, or Jiang Yilei, one of the hottest web celebrities in China today. [Photo/Weibo]
China's Internet celebrities are estimated to create a whopping 58 billion yuan ($8.7 billion) market in 2016, far surpassing the 44 billion yuan in box office sales generated last year, according to an industry report.
The report by iResearch Consulting Group and Sina Weibo, China's most popular microblogging platform, was released at a forum in Shanghai, co-organized by Weibo and telecom giant Huawei .
The top 10 Weibo celebrities now have a combined 40 million followers. One of the most famous online figures, Papi Jiang, already signed a contract for video ads worth a staggering $3.4 million.
Among 36,000 who have reached celebrity status on the Internet, 74 percent are women and 87.8 percent are between 17 to 33 years old, while 89 percent have a college education. Followers are also getting younger and better educated, with 77.8 percent in the 17-to-33 age group and 75 percent with a higher education.
The report also showed regions with a better-developed economy produce more cyberstars, with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang leading the rankings.
China's booming cyberstar economy has gone through three stages -- the first based on text, then text and images, and now video thanks to the availability of broadband networks.
Social networking platforms, including Weibo and mobile app WeChat, proved to be the best tools for cyberstars to magnify the power of communication, making it possible to create an industry that combines advertisements, e-commerce and fans.
Agents and investment institutions are now flooding the sector, causing additional changes to content and platforms in the world's second-largest economy, the report said.
A number of Internet gurus, including Lei Jun, investor and founder of tech firm Xiaomi, Zhou Hongyi, CEO of Qihoo 360 Technology, and China's richest man Wang Jianlin have all directly supported live video-streaming websites, a strong indication of the growing interest from capital investment.
China's Internet celebrities are estimated to create a whopping 58 billion yuan ($8.7 billion) market in 2016, far surpassing the 44 billion yuan in box office sales generated last year, according to an industry report.
The report by iResearch Consulting Group and Sina Weibo, China's most popular microblogging platform, was released at a forum in Shanghai, co-organized by Weibo and telecom giant Huawei .
The top 10 Weibo celebrities now have a combined 40 million followers. One of the most famous online figures, Papi Jiang, already signed a contract for video ads worth a staggering $3.4 million.
Among 36,000 who have reached celebrity status on the Internet, 74 percent are women and 87.8 percent are between 17 to 33 years old, while 89 percent have a college education. Followers are also getting younger and better educated, with 77.8 percent in the 17-to-33 age group and 75 percent with a higher education.
The report also showed regions with a better-developed economy produce more cyberstars, with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang leading the rankings.
China's booming cyberstar economy has gone through three stages -- the first based on text, then text and images, and now video thanks to the availability of broadband networks.
Social networking platforms, including Weibo and mobile app WeChat, proved to be the best tools for cyberstars to magnify the power of communication, making it possible to create an industry that combines advertisements, e-commerce and fans.
Agents and investment institutions are now flooding the sector, causing additional changes to content and platforms in the world's second-largest economy, the report said.
A number of Internet gurus, including Lei Jun, investor and founder of tech firm Xiaomi, Zhou Hongyi, CEO of Qihoo 360 Technology, and China's richest man Wang Jianlin have all directly supported live video-streaming websites, a strong indication of the growing interest from capital investment.
Indian Biodiversity Thriving
Four species of reptiles, six species of amphibians, 26 species of fishes, three species of wild ginger and three of figs are among the 445 species new to science identified in India in 2015. The figure includes 262 animal species and 183 plant species.
Some of the notable additions to the list of animals include a rock gecko (Hemidactylus yajurvedi ) found in Kanker Chhattishgarh, a new frog species (Fejervarya gomantaki) from the Western Ghats, and a shiny new species of fish (Barilius ardens ), also from the Western Ghats.
Among the plants, a new species of ginger
Zingiber bipinianum has been found in the South Garo hills of Meghalaya, and a species of mushroom (Bondarzewia zonata) has been collected from north Sikkim at an altitude of 2,829 m.
Scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) are delighted that all regions in the country have recorded new species while those from the Zoological Society of India (ZSI) are excited that more than 15 per cent of the new species are higher vertebrates.
The most discoveries were made in the Eastern Himalaya region, which accounts for 19 per cent of the total discoveries followed by the Western Ghats (18 per cent) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands at about 15 per cent, BSI director Paramjit Singh said.
ZSI Director Kailash Chandra said the new discoveries reflect the faunal-diversity potential of ecosystems in India. The country is home to 97,514 species of animals.
The report on animal and plant discoveries of 2015 was released on Friday by Union Minister of State for Environment Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar at an event to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of ZSI. Another important publication — a report on the collection of 4,669 species across 197 genera by taxonomists and scientists of ZSI in the past 100 years — was also released on the occasion.
Lauding the efforts of taxonomists, Mr. Javadekar said no country can progress without the development of pure sciences. The Minister urged the scientists to reach out to students of Class IX and X to inspire them to take up taxonomy.
Mr. Javadekar announced the setting up of two new regional centres of ZSI at Bhuj in Gujarat and Gangtok in Sikkim. At present, the ZSI has 16 regional centres.
Some of the notable additions to the list of animals include a rock gecko (Hemidactylus yajurvedi ) found in Kanker Chhattishgarh, a new frog species (Fejervarya gomantaki) from the Western Ghats, and a shiny new species of fish (Barilius ardens ), also from the Western Ghats.
Among the plants, a new species of ginger
Zingiber bipinianum has been found in the South Garo hills of Meghalaya, and a species of mushroom (Bondarzewia zonata) has been collected from north Sikkim at an altitude of 2,829 m.
Scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) are delighted that all regions in the country have recorded new species while those from the Zoological Society of India (ZSI) are excited that more than 15 per cent of the new species are higher vertebrates.
The most discoveries were made in the Eastern Himalaya region, which accounts for 19 per cent of the total discoveries followed by the Western Ghats (18 per cent) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands at about 15 per cent, BSI director Paramjit Singh said.
ZSI Director Kailash Chandra said the new discoveries reflect the faunal-diversity potential of ecosystems in India. The country is home to 97,514 species of animals.
The report on animal and plant discoveries of 2015 was released on Friday by Union Minister of State for Environment Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar at an event to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of ZSI. Another important publication — a report on the collection of 4,669 species across 197 genera by taxonomists and scientists of ZSI in the past 100 years — was also released on the occasion.
Lauding the efforts of taxonomists, Mr. Javadekar said no country can progress without the development of pure sciences. The Minister urged the scientists to reach out to students of Class IX and X to inspire them to take up taxonomy.
Mr. Javadekar announced the setting up of two new regional centres of ZSI at Bhuj in Gujarat and Gangtok in Sikkim. At present, the ZSI has 16 regional centres.
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