Monday, October 31, 2011

Vasan Eye Care group now in Ludhiana

plans to open 5  more hospitals in Punjab 
Ludhiana, 31st October, 2011:The Chennai based Vasan Eye Care group promoted by Dr A.M. Arun, which is world’s  largest  network of eye care hospitals, is opening up another Superspeciality eye hospital in Ludhiana . The group  has plans to open 5  more hospitals in Punjab including Chandigarh, in the first phase. This was stated today by Mr. S. Sudheer, Director Operations , on the  Pooja ceremony organized at  Ludhiana site to mark the opening of the Hospital.
According to Dr A M Arun, Chairman, Vasan Eye Care,  this is the first step in a series of launches that will make Vasan Eye Care’s services available to every person in the region. Ludhiana being a hub of intense industrial activities, we hope our affordable eye care solutions will benefit the society. We plan to expand our service to the rest of the regions of North India, bring the Vasan Eye Care brand to a 125 hospitals strong enterprise,” He also said that the group has massive expansion plans across Punjab, in both urban and rural areas so as to enable different sections of society to get world class eye care at their neighborhood. Hospital projects in  Jalandhar and Amritsar are also on the verge of completion and the operations will start soon.

Mr. Sudheer, informed that the new  hospital at Ludhiana is spread across 18200 sqft space and is strategically located on Ferozpur road opposite Punjab Agricultural University Gate No-1 . It will be  a super specialty hub with cutting edge technology and super specialist doctors. The hospital will have 7 super specialty ophthalmologists and host all the technology for eye care. The centre will have 5 state of the art Operation Theatres, diagnostic stations, optical outlet, various clinics and Pharmacy, etc. The hospital will have services spanning across 38 eye care specialties and include treatments for Cataract (MICS), advanced treatments for Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Lasik Laser Treatment for freedom from glasses and contact lens, Computer Vision Syndrome Clinic, Cosmetic Clinic, and much more. There will be exclusive departments for Diabetic Eye Care, Pediatric Eye Care.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Dr. Bedi got best paper award at the VSI Conference

Vascular disease is a major health problem in India
1 in 20 people over 50 years of age have vascular disease 
Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of the Cardio  Vascular & Thoracic Surgery Department of the Christian Medical College & Hospital – was awarded the prestigious best paper award at the Vascular Society of India Conference in Mumbai .
Dr Bedi told that numerous International & National Experts from UK, USA, Germany and all over India gathered at this conference to discuss the latest in the management of vascular diseases.  Vascular disease is a major health problem in India . 1 in 20 people over 50 years of age have vascular disease -  the total number of cases being over 42 million. Vascular disease is not just "poor circulation." Vascular disease comes in various forms: peripheral arterial disease affects the arteries taking blood to the arms and the legs, carotid artery disease affects the arteries taking blood to the brain, and renal artery disease limits the blood flow to the kidneys causing high blood pressure or renal  failure.

Prof Peter McCollum – Prof of Vascular Surgery from UK - led the eminent panel of 6 International judges.  45 papers had been chosen for the Challenging case session. Dr Bedi spoke about a very challenging case of renal failure – Mr Suwinder Singh a 65 year old gentleman - who had previous shunt procedures -  in various hospitals in Chandigarh and Delhi -  for hemodialysis . He developed complications due to which the dialysis shunt had to be modified many times so that finally it produced the complication of gangrene in the hands . The dilemma was how to save the hand and at the same time have a functioning shunt as the patient needed twice a week hemodialysis to keep him alive. An innovative hybrid endovascular procedure was done and a stent put in his hand artery to prevent amputation . A new shunt using an imported graft was constructed in the leg. This functioned well and the dialysis was successfully carried out via this graft in Chandigarh.  Dr Bedi told that the CTVS Dept of CMC & H was referred complicated cases of dialysis graft failures from all over Punjab  - but this case was the most challenging. The judges panel and the audience appreciated the paper and it was awarded.

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – told that the CTVS Dept of CMC was one of the oldest in the country and treatment of all vascular disorders was being done here with the latest techniques including endovascular ones.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

U.S. Arms Sales to Bahrain

Amnesty International Welcomes Delay
Human Rights Group Urging Obama Administration to Halt Sales Until Human Rights Abuses Stop in Bahrain 
(Washington) – Amnesty International said today it welcomes the U.S. State Department’s announcement that the Obama administration is putting on hold $53 million in proposed U.S. arms sales to Bahrain while it assesses progress by the Bahrain authorities to stop human rights abuses in the country. 
“As long as the Bahraini government and its security forces are using violence, unjust military trials, and alleged torture against peaceful protesters, the U.S. government should not be sending more weapons there,” said Sanjeev Bery, Amnesty International USA advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa. 
On Tuesday, the Bahraini government escalated its crackdown on dissent by re-arresting an education leader who has been involved in organizing protests critical of the Bahraini monarchy.  Jalila al-Salmon, former vice president of the Bahraini Teachers Association, was seized before dawn by a force of 30 security agents who invaded her home.  She has already been sentenced to three years in prison by a flawed Bahraini military court that did not meet minimum standards of fairness and due process. She has been speaking out about the abuse she suffered while in custody. 

In Bahrain, at least 30 protesters were killed in the uprising earlier this year and many have been injured. 

Amnesty International released a report on Tuesday examining arms transfers to countries in the Middle East and North Africa that showed the United States, Russia, and several European countries supplied large quantities of weapons to repressive governments in the region which then turned the weapons against protesters during the uprisings. 

Amnesty International said its findings underlined the need for an effective global Arms Trade Treaty that takes into account the need to protect human rights. 
The report is available at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/node/97757 

In Congress, Representative James McGovern and Senator Ron Wyden have introduced legislation to oppose the proposed weapons sale to Bahrain.  In addition, Senator Robert Casey and four senators urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to suspend the sales.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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Dr. Sunaina from CDC brings laurels to the State

Best All India Post Graduate Student at the Annual BiteIn Awards 2011”Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria
Ludhiana// October 19, 2011 // 
In the second season of the BITEIN DENTAL AWARDS, held at Melhua, The Fern an ecotel at Hiranadani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai on October 2011, eleven awards were given to outstanding people in the field of dentistry. Dr. Sunaina Jodka MDS, who just completed her post-graduation from Christian Dental College, CMC, Ludhiana was one of the final four nominees in the category of the Best All India Post Graduate Student at the Annual BiteIn Awards 2011”.
On this occasion, Dr. Abi M. Thomas, Principal, Christian Dental College congratulated Dr. Sunaina and said that, “to be among the top four post graduate dental students among more than two thousand post graduates from all over the country is a remarkable achievement”. The criterion for selection was based on the overall performance during the post graduate course.
Christian Dental College, CMC is running the post graduate programme in the field of Pediatric Dentistry since 2002 and is catering to specialized dental care for children. Dr. Sunaina had also won the best paper award at the National Pediatric Dentistry (ISPPD) conference held at Hyderabad at 2009.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Rs.20 thousand crore scam

More than Two Million Bogus Students on role 
VJAS moved PMO for CBI probe in fact finding report
Nagpur –18th October 2011:
Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS ) has moved PMO urging him for the CBI probe on the shocking fact finding report of mega survey done by Maharashtra Govt. from 3rd October to 5 october of this year which was being tabled before the Maharashtra Govt. cabinet on 19th October in order to check the truth strength of students and to know the exact truth of the role of the students on which state is spending more than Rs.10,000 crore as grant-aid after the Maharashtra cabinet took decision on report submitted by as Dr Shrikar Pardeshi—District Collector of Nanded in Maharashtra who undertook such survey in his district from 6 to 10 september and found more than 1 lakh 40 thousand as bogus and school are getting the aid on the basis of this fraudulent students ,it is estimated that final report of state level survey revealed the shocking fact that in a progressive state like maharshtra has made completely mockery of “Sarwashkisha Abhiyan” and ther are more than 2 million student found missing from school and they in fact bogus and shown in order to get aid and staff salary which is practice continued since 1985 after state Gvot flooded the Govt. aided school opened by MLA/Ministers of ruling parties and more than Rs.20 thousand crore is amount of mega scam which likely to be largest scam of the Maharashtra after it’s formation since 1960, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release today.
“We are following the survey since it was initiated in Nanded District popularly known as ‘Pat Tapasani’ and ,we are finiated with the response of state Govt. after the report Nanded was submitted to state cabinet who decided to conduct it throughout state and it was done in Maharashtra with help of more than 1 lakhs staff and police force between 3rd and 5th October even after lot of efforts of local politicians ,final report shows that in Maharashtra more than 2million students are bogus and each year the school management are getting bogus grant to tune of more than Rs.2200 crore amounting to tune of Rs.20 thousands crore in last 15 years hence only CBI probe can bring truth and book all culprit who have mockery of education in Maharashtra. we are expecting the Maharashtra chief minister prathiraj chavan who has ordered such massive survey and brought the truth before nation will ask centre for the CBI probe in alleged irregularities and this bogus student scam” Tiwari added.
In a representation it is allged that initial district administration of Nanded conducted school wise survey to find out the exact number of students in government-aided schools in his district, little did he know that the statistics would be a shocker. In the 3,475 schools inspected, about 140,000 students were found to be bogus and nearly 4,000 excess teachers were found to be catering to these students. The loss to the government exchequer in the district was Rs 150 crore. What’s more, most of this money seems to have gone to the owners of these educational institutions, who are politically influential.
The exercise was undertaken in early September this year. Later, in early October, a similar survey was conducted across the state. Of the 20 million registered students in state-aided schools, 2.1 million turned out to be bogus. There were 65,000 teachers in excess and the loss to the state exchequer stood at Rs 4,000 crore. This included money for mid-day meals and books drawn in the name of these bogus students.
In the past there have been numerous school inspections by the education department, but never one on this scale. The exercise had to be undertaken because rampant corruption and bribery among education officials had led to the suppression of facts about school enrolment in the state. That was until Dr Pardeshi decided to risk it, a risk because three-fourths of the schools surveyed belong to political heavyweights of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.
After the school education department realised that there were bogus students and teachers registered across the state and huge sums of money was going into the coffers of institution owners, it decided to implement a pilot project in one district. Nanded was chosen because it had made headlines for cracking down on cheating in SSC and HSC exams.
The district collector planned the entire exercise, and shared it only with a handful. The district’s borders were sealed on the appointed day and Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code was imposed. At the pre-decided time, officials raided the schools and verified each student of all 3,475 schools. The survey involved 466 Class I and II officials and took four days to complete. When the school managements felt the noose tightening, they started ‘importing’ students from neighboring districts. However, these students were easily identified because of the imposition of Section 144 in the district.
On the completion of this survey, Dr Pardeshi made a PowerPoint presentation before the state cabinet. Though the cabinet was divided over accepting the ‘Pardeshi model’, as the exercise is being called, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is adamant that it be implemented.
It is a common practice among educational institutions to ‘import’ students from other schools when inspections are conducted. According to information available on previous inspections, school owners knew of these inspections in advance. Once a school was inspected, students and furniture would be taken to the next school on the survey list. Though officials did realise that they had seen the same students in other schools (often in multiple schools), no one dared take on the politicians.
The Chief Minister has threatened stringent action against erring schools. But when schools are owned by relatives of ministers, it is an open secret that few would be booked. So far, the names of school owners involved in this fraud have not been revealed. But it is only a matter of time before they become public.
Education malpractices in the state have increased alarmingly. There has been a steady decline in the quality of students and teachers. With excessive political intervention in the education sector, the education department had become ineffectual. “In a coalition government, no hard decisions can be taken. It is bound to hurt one of the coalition partners. Let us see what action is taken now. Even if registrations are cancelled, owners of such institutions make sure their political godfathers get it revoked. It is a win-win situation for such institutions,” says an official of the education department.
Many in the state’s education department believe that successive governments have lacked the will to clean up the education system in the state.
“We are planning move in high court once PMO reject our demand ,we are hopeful that state Gvot . Will take step to curb this massive corruption in next cabinet” Tiwari added.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Master Aniket is waiting for your healing touch

Ludhiana, October 18, 2011 : Master Aniket, a 11 years old boy (Unit no: C7153608) from Ludhiana presented with symptoms of chronic kidney disease stage 5. His primary diagnosis was posterior urethral value and underwent surgery at the age of 8 months. For the last 2 years, he has been on dialysis (initially hemodialysis and subsequently on peritoneal dialysis). He developed recurrent episodes of peritonitis due to which his peritoneal dialysis catheter had to be removed.
He is presently still critical. I would request all those who are able to generally contribute to his treatment without which he will not be able to sustain life. His father, Anil Kumar is working with an employer in a small shop and in view of his son’s ill-health has not gone for work for 2 months. His father has 4 children, 2 daughters and 1 more brother younger to Aniket.
Kind hearted philanthropists and well-wishers can help this poor and deserving patient by sending in their contribution to the Medical Superintendent, CMCH, by a crossed cheque in favor of “CMC Ludhiana Society” with Aniket’s name mentioned at the back of the cheque, along with a covering letter. Kindly do your best to support this family in their time of need and May God help in recovery.
For further details or enquiry Please contact Dr. Timothy Rajamanickam : 9646500156

Dr. Timothy Rajamanickam,
Associate Professor
Department of Nephrology

Monday, October 17, 2011

Food and Nutrition for Nurses” released in CMC Hospital

The book was the need of the hour
Ludhiana, October 17, 201:  A book titled “Food and Nutrition for Nurses” was released in Christian Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana, an embrasure for the people to understand the subject through nurses. An another step forward to bring the subject to the masses . The book was released by the Director, Dr. Abraham G. Thomas. The book was the need of the hour. This book is first of its kind in North region.
The Author, Mrs. Ruma Singh, is working as a Chief Dietician and has been serving the institution for last 25 years and teaching the students ever since. She says that the book is an asset to the students of Nutrition & Dietetics, Paramedical students and students of Nursing and it will serve as a practical guide to one and all. She further adds that a lot of rich experience and hard work has gone in this project.
Published by JAYPEE Brothers Medical Publishers, New Delhi, was appreciated by the management and the students of B.Sc. Nursing at CMCH. Mr. Bhupesh Arora, General Manager, from the publisher’s end was also present to grace the occasion.
The program was started with a word of prayer by Rev. Stanley Thomas. It was attended by the Principal, College of Nursing, Mrs. Ponnamma Singh and the Nursing Faculty, Principal, Christian Medical College, Dr. S. M. Bhatti and all the Hospital Administration and guests.--Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria 

Swamy announces panel against corruption

CHENNAI: Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Friday announced forming of anAction Committee Against Corruption in India (ACACI) with special focus on illegal money flow in and out of the country. 

The ACACI consists of members including former Haryana DGP and former CBI joint director BR Lall, academician MD Nalapat and former IAS officer V Sundaram among others.

"The ACACI will leverage existing national and international laws and move internal and global institutions to discover and recover illegal funds deposited in secret banking channels in about 77 countries," he told reporters here after a meeting of the committee.

"Our areas of focus would include nationalisation of illegal accounts in foreign banks and plugging tax evasion. ACACI has been set up to fight corruption in the space left vacant by two major movements against corruption, led by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev," Swamy said.

While Hazare's efforts were focused at revamping present laws and making them free of loopholes, Ramdev concentrated on mass mobilisation, Swamy noted.

"The ACACI will focus on specific action against macro corrupt acts, especially in the criminal misconduct of high level public officials and illegal money flow in and out of the country," he said.

Asserting that he had no differences with Hazare or Baba Ramdev, Swamy said he would participate in the yoga guru's proposed padayatra. "We will work in harmony," he added. --Abhishek Joshi 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Voice of Sanity

Continuing Relevance Of Swami Vivekananda
~Swami Sunirmalananda
DAN Brown’s words in The Lost Symbol are unforgettable. “Since the beginning of Time, the ignorant had always screamed the loudest, herding the unsuspecting masses and forcing them to do their bidding. They defended their worldly desires by citing scriptures they did not understand’ (p. 327).
By standing in any public square, one gets to know how sheep are herded: frenzied, high-pitched shouts as well as gesticulation act like music to their ears. But this is only a metaphor. The objective of that shouting, since time immemorial, has been to threaten the almost sheepish slaves. But without slavery, they can’t survive. Previously, they would do little or no work because the salary was low. These days, they are taxpayers, holding stable jobs. Therefore, they can idle away their time with no questions asked. And life goes on. Since time immemorial, the ‘unsuspecting masses’ have been herded in this way. We the people of the world have paid the price by following the ignorant. Yet we are stubborn; we never listen to the voice of the wise. The wise do not yell and howl to make their point. Their voice is gentle; they speak the language of love. Their message is addressed to the heart. We must be attentive. Otherwise, we will have to pay the price.During the last 100 years, we the people of the world have often behaved in an abnormal manner. We listened to a few world ‘leaders’, one a psychological case, another a deeply frustrated soul, the third a megalomaniac, the fourth a tyrant. They howled and we listened. So we turned violent ~ we killed our own people. We tormented millions; we left millions on the streets to fester and die, helpless and weeping. All this happened because we did not listen to the sane voice. That voice echoed not in some remote, hidden place in a forest, but in the open. It warned us gently. Thereby hangs a sad tale. In his veryfirst address to the world from  Chicago, Swami Vivekananda surprisingly remembered the Jews. That talk has had an abiding importance. “I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny’ (Complete Works, 1:3).
It was a very significant statement, and historians are realizing its importance now. Strange as it might seem, it might have appeared to some that Vivekananda was proudly recalling an ancient Indian achievement. He was not the kind of person to brag. To him, this world was a lump of clay. And he had said it on purpose.
Vivekananda said that he had heard the word ‘toleration’ being used on a number of occasions ~ the pride of the cat in tolerating the rat in its trap. To tolerate somebody is not a big deal; on the contrary, it has a negative connotation. It means suppressing one’s hatred for the neighbour. So Vivekananda declared: ‘We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true.’A more important concept is “acceptance”.Accepting, however, does not mean appeasement for political gains. He reminded the world that day that India had accepted the Jews and “gathered them in our bosom”. The Swamiji wanted the military powers to learn the lesson in order to avoid an imminent catastrophe.
The Swamiji is credited with Bharat-parikrama. He had also undertaken the visva-parikrama. A prophet needs only a few minutes to understand things while we need years. Vivekananda had understood the nature of the world. And his warnng was unambiguous. “Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now’ (1:3).
It was a wake-up call delivered in course ofhis first address to the world. The venue was a religious parliament. Perhaps some bookworm might have remarked: ‘Ah, he could have spoken on meditation, realization, Brahminism! Why about violence?’ But the prophet had grasped the seriousness of the situation. His was the voice of God ~ the representative of true religion. Hence the urgency.The rest is history. We couldn’t avoid the Second World War. On the one hand was Swami Vivekananda; while on the other stood several ‘leaders’ whom we have indicated. The masses preferred the latter and their strident cries. As a result,discrimination, hatred and wickedness had intensified in the hearts of the ‘gentle, tolerant’ races, and the Jews were hounded up and killed. In historical texts, this has been referred to as the “holocaust”. Thousands cried in the gas chambers. A line in the Encyclopedia underscores the urgency of  Vivekananda’s address. “The 40,000,000-50,000,000 deaths during World War II make it the bloodiest conflict as well as the largest war in history.”  Decades ago,the voice of sanity had warned: “The whole of Western civilization will crumble to pieces in the next fifty years if there is no spiritual foundation”. (3:159). And it did crumble. He had despaired the same day that but for such insanity, ‘human society would be far more advanced than it is now.’ And yet,potential scientists and inventors were led to the gas chambers.This connection between Swami Vivekananda and the Second World War might appear to be incidental. It bears recall that he had warned about the First World War and in writing. He had visited Vienna just for three days and had grasped the terrible situation. He wrote: “There is the possibility of a dreadful war and that catastrophe may take place very early”. This might lead one to wonder why he was thinking in terms of war while addressing a seemingly tolerant Europe? Francis Joseph II, the Austrian emperor, died in 1916. So explosive was the situation in Germany at that point in time that he declared that the war was imminent. “In  the present times a huge wave of nationalism is sweeping over Europe, where people speaking the same tongue, professing the same religion, and belonging to the same race want to unitetogether. Wherever such union is being effectively accomplished, there is great power being manifested; and where this is impossible, death is inevitable.”
And he added: “After the death of the present Austrian Emperor, Germany will surely try to absorb the German-speaking portion of the Austrian Empire. Russia and others are sure to oppose her; so there is the possibility of a dreadful war’ (7:389). Swamiji had also written at length about Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria. Leo Tolstoy read him. But World War I became inevitable.

The Twin Messages Of Education And Harmony
There is another major example of Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy. He wrote to the King of Mysore in 1894: “Within fifty years the educated of the world will come to believe in the eternity of both soul and creation, and in God as our highest and perfect nature, as taught in our holy Vedas.’ Sylvia Cranston and Carry Williams wrote inReincarnation (1999): “In the 1940s a British fact-finding organisation called Mass Observation conducted a study in popular attitudes to religion, ethics, progress and politics in a London borough. Perhaps the least expected, and in some ways the most significant fact, which came to light was the extent of belief in reincarnation [which is the eternality of the soul]’ (p. 11).
Despite such developments, the ignorant masses still listen to the ‘loud voices’because they are so conditioned. An instance of such conditioning is glaring on the streets. Some of our drivers keep honking until the red traffic signal turns green. They honk while driving along deserted streets even at 2 in the morning. Why? They are conditioned by reading the police notice ~ ‘please sound horn’ constantly. The nation is becoming crazy day by day. Education can solve the problem. Similarly, the world is conditioned to think in terms of vanity and pride, of self-hatred and depression, of megalomania and hatred for others. The world has been witness to the activities of Pol Pot, the Hutu-Tutsi genocide, the conflicts in Yugoslavia, Uganda, and Russia. The list is long. Not all all these aberrations were inevitable. One need not necessarily kill one’s brother to sit on a chair, and then to be hanged in due course of time.
Can’t we change? What should we do if we wish to change? The simple answer can be that the world has to listen to the true leader. Jesus declared that he was the messiah; but the world followed Caesar and Herod initially not knowing who Jesus was. Swami Vivekananda also declared at the parliament of religions: “The star rose in the East; it travelled steadily towards the West, sometimes dimmed and sometimes effulgent, till it made a circuit of the world; and now it is again rising on the very horizon of the East…a thousand fold more effulgent than it was before’ (1:20). ‘I have a message for the world,’ (3:213) he declared later. Different races should look at this star for guidance to attain peace and bliss.
Swamiji had a simple message for the world ~ the message of ‘harmony’. He had a one-word message for his own country ~ education. Thus, while his bharat parikrama brought the message of ‘education’ for us, his vishva parikarma brought the message of ‘harmony’ to the world.
The two may apparently seem to be different. Yet harmony and education lead to the same goal. Unfortunately, harmony is often misinterpreted as merely religiousharmony; likewise, there is a misconception that education signifies seculareducation, however important. Not quite. By education, the Swamiji meant all-round development, which makes us stand on our own feet. This, again, does not mean securing a good job ~ that would be temporary. One’s “feet” denotes oneself, the need to attain one’s inner potential, indeed to free ourselves from slavery.
Similarly, when Vivekananda referred to harmony, he meant harmony of civilisation. He said: “In modern Europe, Christianity and civilisation are two different things.” Civilisation is now ready to overthrow dogmatic religions. He had wanted to create aworld civilisation with the flag of harmony. “A flag is needed to lead the herd. It is not dipping one’s hands in the neighbour’s blood or becoming rich by robbing one’s neighbours, but to march in the vanguard of civilisation with the flag of harmony.”
Swamiji travelled all over India and was appalled at the callousness, ignorance, stupidity, differences, mutual hatred, meanness, and superstitions ~ all in the name religion. There were reformers all right, but he wanted a drastic overhaul. And this involved diagnosis of the ailment and its subsequent treatment. Vivekananda realised that ignorance was the root cause, and hence laid emphasis on education. But how does the system go about the task of education? Education must aim at all-round development, with equal opportunities for all. It must provide full freedom for individual growth. Both the boy in a village and the rich man’s son in the city must get the same opportunity to acquire knowledge. Assimilation and development will of course depend on individual potential. In order to surmount the hurdle of rich and poor, big and small, Swamiji suggested the concept of “acceptance” as the remedy.We must accept all as our own, or see “Shiva in jiva”. Can education help? Education removes superstitions and ignorance. An instance of education is the modern awakening in the West. Education is spreading the world over and people are asking questions. At the moment, religion is in turmoil in the West. Education is, therefore, vital; true education brings maturity and enlightenment. This leads to removal of the differences and helps bring about social harmony.In his message to the West, Vivekananda stressed the importance of harmony. Hating others would neither lead to peace nor tolerance. For effective harmony, the world needs universality and acceptance. In order to accept others or people from other religions, the people must know what others do. This means education. Harmony and education are the two remedies which Swami Vivekananda gave to the distressed world.
His words possess an immortal value. “Everything must be sacrificed, if necessary, for that one sentiment, universality. Whether I live or die, whether I go back to India or not, remember this specially, that universality ~ perfect acceptance, not tolerance only ~ we preach and perform. Existence without knowledge and love cannot be; knowledge without love and love without knowledge cannot be. We want harmony, not one-sided development’ (2:143). Vivekananda was rational, open, and truthful in his approach and sincerely wanted everyone’s well-being. Reading his life one knows how much he had to struggle and endure, only to advance certain noble ideas.
Now is the time to make a beginning, as the world gears up to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary in 2012. Just as  George V  was crowned in New Delhi in 1911, so too must  Vivekananda be crowned in the hearts of all. Those false ‘loud-speakers’ of false ‘emperors’ must be discarded. The world can unite under the flag of Vivekananda.The song that Rabindranath Tagore had composed in 1911 in praise of the Supreme, the Divine, explains what Vivekananda had sought to achieve. Aha-raho tabo aahvano prachaarito, shuni tabo udaaro bani; hindu bauddha shikho jaino parasiko musalmano cristaani. Purabo paschimo ashe, tabo singhaasano pashe, premo haro hoye gatha…Jana gana aikyo bidhaayako jaya he bharata bhagya bidhaata. (Your rousing call of welcome is spreading everywhere day and night; we the people of the world listen to your universal message. The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsees, Muslims and Christians, listen to you. The East and the West come to you with the garland of love. Oh! Glory unto you, who bring in the unity amongst races and are the benefactor ofIndia.’)(*)
[The above is the next para to India’s National Anthem: Jana-gana-mana]
The writer is with the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata

* So, this is in the core of what India’s ancient but timeless philosophy, history and civilization are all about~ universality, enlightenment, acceptance.

Sunday, October 09, 2011

Thousands of people took part in a mass rally and dharna


NEW DELHI, 9 October: Thousands of people from all walks of life, which included a large number of women and children, took part in a mass rally and dharna outside Rajghat to protest against the arbitrary school fee hike in private schools in Delhi and other parts of the country.
The protest rally was organised by the All India Parents Association (AIPA), the apex parents body which was formed following the arbitrary fee hike undertaken by private schools on the pretext of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations. 
Speaking at the rally, social activist and AIPA national president,  Ashok Aggarwal stressed the need to reform the school education in the country. Mr Agarwal sought the enactment of a Central law to regulate the fees and other charges in unaided private schools all across the country as well as a resolution by all the State Assemblies in support of the same. 
There was also an urgent need to remove the disparities between various government schools, he said, and all government run schools should at least be brought to the level of Kendriya Viidyalayas (Central Schools). The other demands of the All India Parents Association include the initiation of criminal proceedings against the 25 erring private school in the Capital who are inducted by the CAG recently. The AIPA has also written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh recently (see attachment) seeking an effective central law to check arbitrary fee hike in unaided private schools as well as for upgrading all government schools to the level of central schools. 

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Free Cardiac and vascular camp at Ferozepur

A free cardiac and vascular checkup, prevention and treatment camp is being organized jointly by the Christian Medical College & Hospital and the Shree Ram Sharnam Ashram in  Shanti Nagar in Ferozpur City from 9 AM to 1 PM on 9th Oct 2011 (Sunday)     . Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of the Cardio Vascular Department of CMC& H - said that it is generally believed that heart and vascular disease was less in the smaller cities. However in his experience of 20 years and in the experience of others this was found to be a false myth. Upto 35% of Dr Bedi’s  cardio-vascular patients are from the Malwa    area.
Punjab reports a very high incidence of diabetes, high blood cholesterol level and obesity. These, in turn, manifest as cardiac problems. A very high incidence of heart and vascular disease has been noted in Punjab.  While it is true that smaller cities have a clean non polluted atmosphere and the pace of life is generally relaxed – but at the same time there has been a gradual change in lifestyle.  India today in 2010 accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the global heart ailments as per WHO statistics.  It is also seen that Indians had more common involvement at younger age with smaller coronary arteries; diffuse distal disease, multi-vessel disease and higher incidence in women. Dr Bedi said that they would try to address the root cause of heart disease in Punjab.  With a view to screen such cases and to reach out to them with the idea of teaching them ways to prevent heart and vascular disease the CMC & H cardiac surgery team is taking a group of highly trained specialists and paramedical workers to reach out to the common man .
Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the outreach programmes were an integral and important part of the basic philosophy of
CMC so that medical care could reach one and all in this region.  Free consultations by super-specialists, free tests and medications would be given. A special test for vascular disease – The ABI test – would be done for all patients where indicated.
A special part of the camp would be the inclusion of individualized dietary counseling and the teaching of heart healthy yoga techniques to all the people. The camp will be followed by a CME (continuing medical education) programme for the doctors of the region.
 The team will include  Dr A Joseph, Dr A Gupta, Dr Paul, Dr Udeyana, Dr Susan,  Dr Miria , Dr Arjin, Mr Jairus , Mr William , Dietitians headed by Dr Ruma Singh , Cardiac Staff Nurses headed  by Sister Balwinder Kaur  ,and Yoga Acharya Mr Nirmal Singh .
PRO

Free Cardiac and vascular camp at Ferozepur

A free cardiac and vascular checkup, prevention and treatment camp is being organized jointly by the Christian Medical College & Hospital and the Shree Ram Sharnam Ashram in  Shanti Nagar in Ferozpur City from 9 AM to 1 PM on 9th Oct 2011 (Sunday)     . Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of the Cardio Vascular Department of CMC& H - said that it is generally believed that heart and vascular disease was less in the smaller cities. However in his experience of 20 years and in the experience of others this was found to be a false myth. Upto 35% of Dr Bedi’s  cardio-vascular patients are from the Malwa    area.
Punjab reports a very high incidence of diabetes, high blood cholesterol level and obesity. These, in turn, manifest as cardiac problems. A very high incidence of heart and vascular disease has been noted in Punjab.  While it is true that smaller cities have a clean non polluted atmosphere and the pace of life is generally relaxed – but at the same time there has been a gradual change in lifestyle.  India today in 2010 accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the global heart ailments as per WHO statistics.  It is also seen that Indians had more common involvement at younger age with smaller coronary arteries; diffuse distal disease, multi-vessel disease and higher incidence in women. Dr Bedi said that they would try to address the root cause of heart disease in Punjab.  With a view to screen such cases and to reach out to them with the idea of teaching them ways to prevent heart and vascular disease the CMC & H cardiac surgery team is taking a group of highly trained specialists and paramedical workers to reach out to the common man .
Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the outreach programmes were an integral and important part of the basic philosophy of
CMC so that medical care could reach one and all in this region.  Free consultations by super-specialists, free tests and medications would be given. A special test for vascular disease – The ABI test – would be done for all patients where indicated.
A special part of the camp would be the inclusion of individualized dietary counseling and the teaching of heart healthy yoga techniques to all the people. The camp will be followed by a CME (continuing medical education) programme for the doctors of the region.
 The team will include  Dr A Joseph, Dr A Gupta, Dr Paul, Dr Udeyana, Dr Susan,  Dr Miria , Dr Arjin, Mr Jairus , Mr William , Dietitians headed by Dr Ruma Singh , Cardiac Staff Nurses headed  by Sister Balwinder Kaur  ,and Yoga Acharya Mr Nirmal Singh .
PRO

Friday, October 07, 2011

Invitation and highlights

Highlights:
  • International Film Festival highlights Sikh culture and traditions through features, documentaries and short films
  • Panel of Sikh leaders to discuss their journey into leadership positions
  • For more information on tickets and how to participate visit www.sikharts.com
  • New York, NY: UNITED SIKHS would like to extend an invitation to community members to attend two events in coming weeks: the Sikh International Film Festival on October 8, 14 and 15, 2011 and a Sikh Leadership Event on October 13, 2011. The events are hosted by Sikh Arts and Film Foundation and are held in New York City. Sikh International Film Festival 2011:
  • This year, films and documentaries featured at the festival address a variety of issues such as the farmer suicides in India, bullying of school children, drug addiction to name a few. Details of films with short write-ups are included on this weblink. Winners of the short films and documentaries will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges.
On the 8th of October children’s films will be shown at the Hofstra University, Student Center, in New York.
The schedule for the Film Festival is as follows:
Saturday, 8th October:
Hofstra University, Student Center (11:30 am – 2:30pm)
Friday, October 14th : Featuring Session (7:00pm 10:00pm)
Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
Saturday, October 15th:
Short Films (11:30am – 1:30pm), Documentaries (2:00pm – 5:00pm)
To purchase tickets to the Film Festival, please visit: www.sikharts.com




Sikh Leadership Summit
Youth members of the community are highly encouraged to attend the leadership session which will focus on the nexus between diversity, mentorship, community service, and leadership development in one's career. The details of the event are as follows: 
Thursday, October 13th
Location: Asia Society & Museum, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 
Panel Session (7:00pm–8:30pm):  
Panelists
Gurinder Chadha, Internationally Acclaimed Director / Writer
Mohanbir S. Sawhney, Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation Clinical Professor of Technology & Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Gurvendra S. Suri, Founder and CEO, Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc.
Moderator: Matthew Breitfelder, Managing Director & Chief Talent Officer, BlackRock
Networking Reception : 8:30pm – 9:30pm : Network with peers and a diverse array of industry professionals
To reserve your complimentary tickets for the leadership event, please write to us at: contact@unitedsikhs.org or call 1-646-688-3525 | 888-243-1690


Issued by:
Mankanwal Singh
1-516-698-8546
unitedsikhs-usa@unitedsikhs.org

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

How to Detect Hidden Camera in Trial Room?


Poetess RAJNI telling you the secret: from an important message 

Read This Message.....!!!!
In fron...t of the trial room take your mobile and make sure that mobile can
make calls........
Then enter into the trail room, take your mobile and make a call.....
If u can't make a call......!!!!
There is a hidden camera......
This is due to the interference of fiber optic cable during the signal
transfer...... 
Please forward this to your friends to educate this issue to the
public......To prevent our innocent ladies from HIDDEN CAMERA...........

Pinhole Cameras in Changing Rooms of Big Bazaar, Shoppers Stop?

A few days ago, I received this text message:
Please don't use Trial room of BIG BAZAAR there are pinhole cameras to make
MMS of young girls.
So, please forward to all girls. Also forward to all boys who have sisters
and girlfriends.

Don't be shy in forwarding this message. Because its about protecting the
integrity of all girls & ladies.

HOW TO DETECT A 2-WAY MIRROR?

When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc., How
many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on the
wall is a real mirror, or actually a 2-way mirror I.e., they can see you,
but you can't see them. There have been many cases of people installing
2-way mirrors in female changing rooms or bathroom or bedrooms.

It is very difficult to positively identify the surface by just looking at
it. So, how do we determine with any amount of certainty what type of Mirror
we are looking at?

CONDUCT THIS SIMPLE TEST:

Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there
is a GAP between your fing

Poetess RAJNI

Monday, October 03, 2011

PUCL strongly condemned high handed police searching

Kavita Srivastava is the  National Secretary of PUCL
1. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) (National) strongly condemns the high handed police action in raiding and searching the house of Kavita Srivastava, a respected social activist who is the  National Secretary of PUCL and President of the Rajasthan State unit of the PUCL on the morning of 3rd October, 2011.

2. The police purportedly raided her house to search for a `naxalite’ whose identity is not clear. The search was led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Singh Shekawat. It was apparently done on the request of Chhattisgarh Police which was led by one Memon in plain clothes. The raid was calculated to intimidate and create fear as a truck load of Special Task Force Police were stationed outside her house. Police were positioned out side the PUCL office as well. Kavita was not present in the house during the raid. Despite the fact that the family members of Kavita fully co-operated with the search party, Kavita’s 80 year old father who is on a pace maker was shoved around. Her sister and a guest who had just left the house were detained outside the house for more than an hour. The family’s domestic helpers were also not spared and were harassed and intimidated. The search party obviously did not find any fugitive from law taking refuge in her house.
            3. Kavita and her family are old residents of Jaipur and are well known and respected . As an office bearer of PUCL she has been continuously interacting with the local police as well as the State authorities on several issues concerning the poor and the oppressed in Rajasthan. Thus her bonafides are well established and a search of this nature is completely un- warranted and uncalled for.  It is most disconcerting how a search warrant against her could have been so casually issued
when the Supreme Court has cautioned against it and observed that “issuance of a search warrant is a serious matter and it would not be advisable not to dispose of an application for search warrant in a mechanical way by a laconic order. Issue of search warrant being in the discretion of the Magistrate it would be reasonable to expect of the Magistrate to give reasons which swayed his discretion in favour of granting the request. A clear application of mind by the learned Magistrate must be discernible in the order granting the search warrant.”
            4. It is well known that Kavita Srivastava, in her capacity as the National Secretary of the PUCL has been active not only in the campaign for release of Dr. Binayak Sen but has also been in the fore front of raising issues of rights violation with impunity by the State of Chhattisgarh and its police force. In the recent past she has been spear- heading the campaign against the arbitrary BPL criteria set by the Planning Commission and the attempts of the Central Government to exclude vast sections of the poor from receiving any of the PDS and other services.  She had also taken up the issue of recent attacks on the minority community in Rajasthan.
            5. It is thus evident that the early morning raid in her house is nothing but an act of harassment and an attempt at intimidating not just Kavita Srivastava as a person but PUCL as an organization and all other human rights and social activists who dare to raised issues of rights violations. The PUCL states that the action of police authorities is in violation of article 12 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders which mandates that States shall protect human rights defenders from pressure and arbitrary action as a consequence of their legitimate actions to defend and protect human rights.
            6. The PUCL demands that the States of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and their respective Police Officials refrain forthwith from pursuing such intimidating tactics in future against Kavita Srivastava and other human rights activists and to carry out their obligations under the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders .
--------------
D. Nagasaila, Advocate
Dr. V. Suresh, Advocate
National Secretary, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
Hussaina Manzil, III Floor, 255 (Old No. 123), Angappa Naicken St., Chennai 600 001
Ph.: +91-25352459 / 42621386-87 / Mobile: +91-94442-31497