Does Yogi Adityanath had drafted the 'Kundali' of Hanuman ji?--Brahmasarup Brahmachari .

Kurukshetra, November 30 --- National Vice-President of Bharat Sadhu Samaj, Brahmasarup Brahmachari, today strongly condemned the statement made by Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Aditya Nath, who is also the ‘Mahant’ of Shri Gorakhnath Peeth, for his comments on ‘Bajrangbali’ Hanuman.

While talking to media persons at his ‘Ashram’ Jai Ram Vidyapeeth, here today, Brahmachari said Yogi has not made the ‘Kundali’ of Bajrangbali, then how Yogi came to know of the caste of Bajrangbali. He said that besides being the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Aditya Nath is also holding the charge of ‘Mahant’ of a prestigious Shri Gorakhnath Peeth. Bramachari felt that Yogi should have not made such a remark.  

Brahmachari urged the Yogi not to use such a language for the gods and goddess. Hanuman ji cannot be contained in any circle of caste and creed. Yogi’s statement has hurt the religious feeling of crores of his worshipers’, he added.

It may be recalled that Yogi Adityanath while delivering a speech at Malakhera election rally in district Alwar of Rajasthan recently described Hanuman as ‘Banwasi’, ‘Dalit’ and ‘Vanchit’. This statement created a stir in the entire country.  

Two daring robberies has created a sense of terror at Kurukshetra.

Kurukshetra, November 28 --- Two daring robberies during the last three days have created a sense of terror amongst the residents here and raised serious question marks over the functioning of the police. 

While the police have yet to trace the ‘creata’ car which was snatched at a gunpoint from the Panipat couple Dr. Guljjar Singh and his wife on G.T. Road near Pipli on the late evening of Sunday, the daylight robbery at a residence situated in Model Town 7 B on Tuesday noon.

Special police teams are investigating the two cases. According to police two youths based on false identity entered the house when the woman was alone. At gunpoint, they kept her in captivity and escaped with

35 ‘tola’ jewellery and cash of rupees 3 lakh. Husband of the woman was out of the station and her two sons are working aboard. In her FIR, Sukhwant Kaur said that his elder son is in the US and the younger one is in Canada. Husband Kabal Singh had gone to Pehowa on Tuesday. At about 12 noon two youths came to her house door on a motorbike carrying a box of sweats. They said that their son had reached the US close to her son safely and they had come to thank you. Sukhwant thought they might be some known persons of the family and took them to the drawing room.

During this period one of them took out a pistol and placed at her forehead. While threatening her they took out two and a half tola gold bangles from her arm. As she tried to raise the alarm the accused hit her on the head with the pistol butt. One of the accuse captivated her in the drawing room while placing the pistol on her bleeding head while other took out 27 tolas of ornaments and 3 lakh rupees in cash from the almirah in the storeroom. While leaving they locked her in the bathroom. She was taken out by the woman who was her tenant on the first floor after hearing her shrieks. 

Inspector CIA, Kewal Singh said that police had searched CCTV cameras installed in the neighbouring house of Sukhwant Kaur, but the accused were not seen coming there. No other CCTV camera was found in the area. Dharminder, who is a tenant of the victim and runs a ‘dhaba’ was interrogated and was asked to hand over the clipping of CCTV camera installed at his ‘dhaba’ for the last 20 days period. He said that accused who had come on a motorbike also took away the box containing sweats along with them so as not to leave any lead. 

Dharminder’s wife noticed the two accused entering the house but thought that they might be known to Sukhwant Kaur, so did not bother to watch down.

Political loyalty is a casualty in Thanesar (Kurukshetra) to remain relevant

Political loyalty is a casualty in Thanesar (Kurukshetra) to remain relevant

Kurukshetra, November 25 --- Kurukshetra, which is well known as the land of Mahabhatra, is likely to witness a great political battle in the next assembly elections amongst the major three contenders, who had started their political career from Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) party.

Assembly segment of Kurukshetra town is named as Thanesar. President of Haryana INLD, Ashok Arora, had won elections four times from Thanesar since he was made a candidate by INLD for a byelection in the year 1990. He lost the assembly election to Subhash Sudha, in the year 2014.

Though Subhash Sudha was elected as a Member of Municipal Council and then as its Chairman of Thanasar as an independent 25 years back, soon he had started his political journey with INLD. However, about 10 years back he joined Congress and became Organising Secretary of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. Later, sensing Modi waive he left Congress to join Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) just a few months before last assembly elections. He got BJP ticket to win the election.

The third actor in this political game being played in Thanesar constituency is Jai Bhagwan Sharma, who also started his political career as INLD worker as a Sarpanch of his village reaching to the level of District President of INLD. However, he shifted his loyalty and joined as President of District Congress Committee when he was denied ‘promised’ INLD party ticket to contest parliament election from Kurukshetra constituency in the year 2009. He remained very close to the then Chief Minister B.S. Hooda. However, he again shifted his party, 2 months before assembly election in 2014 and joined BJP with the assurance for the party ticket from his home constituency Thanesar (Kurukshetra). However, Sharma was given BJP ticket for Pehowa, as another Congress leader, Subhash Sudha also shifted to BJP before assembly elections and got a BJP ticket for Thanesar.

Sharma started speaking against the BJP government a year back and started his canvassing in Thanesar constituency as an Independent candidate claiming that he was doing it has BJP government had done injustice with him as well as with the people of northern Haryana. However, he resigned from the BJP on Friday and announced to join the proposed political party being floated by Ajay Chautala and Dushyant Chautala, next month.

However, Sharma’s strongest rival, Ashok Arora, who is President of Haryana INLD, said people like Sharma are not constant in politics and they change their loyalties with changing of political wind for getting business protection. Now, when he has realized that BJP is not coming to power next, he had shifted his loyalty. He said that it is a joke that Sharma a habitual defector is now caring for the people of ‘northern Haryana’.

Though the elections are still far off, the pitch has been drawn in Thanesar, and it has become the talk of the town.   

Big Jolt for BJP in Kurukshetra (Haryana)

Big Jolt for BJP in Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra, November 23 --- Ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) today got a jolt at Kurukshetra when one of its state executive committee member, Jai Bhagwan Sharma alias DD announced to leave the primary membership of BJP. He also announced to join the new party being floated by Member of Parliament, Dushyant Chautala.

DD made these announcements at a press conference organized at his residence here today morning. He strongly lashed at BJP and alleged that he was ‘used’ by the BJP leaders and they did not fulfill their promises to provide some appropriate forum to him through which he could serve the people of northern Haryana. He recalled that when he joined BJP before the last assembly elections, he was assured a party ticket from his hometown. However, he was asked to contest from Pehowa against his wish. Despite that, he got over 40 thousand votes where BJP earlier used to get only 2 to 3 thousand votes. Later, he was not only ignored by BJP government but also humiliated.

He said that Dushyant is young and visionary. Showering praises over Dushyant and his father Ajay Chautala, Sharma said that they non-castes and care for everyone in the state. He said that he took this decision at a meeting of his 200 close associates late evening and decided to announce it at the press conference today. The decision was taken as Dushyant had assured that if his party comes to power, northern Haryana would be given a due share in jobs and development and there would be no discrimination in any aspect. He announced to hold a big rally at Kurukshetra grain market of December 3, to welcome Dushyant Chautala.

BJP district President Dharamvir Mirzapur and local BJP MLA, Subhash Sudha could not be contacted despite efforts for their comments, however, Sharma’s strongest rival, Ashok Arora, who is President of Haryana INLD, said people like Sharma are not constant in politics and they change their loyalties with changing of political wind for getting business protection. Now, when he has realized that BJP is not coming to power next, he had shifted his loyalty. He said that it is a joke that Sharma a habitual defector is now caring for the people of ‘northern Haryana’.

Sharma has a long history of political changes. He started his political career as INLD worker as a Sarpanch of his village reaching the level of District President of INLD. However, he shifted his loyalty and joined as President of District Congress Committee when he was denied ‘promised’ INLD party ticket to contest parliament election from Kurukshetra constituency in the year 2009. He remained very close to the then Chief Minister B.S. Hooda. However, he again shifted his party, 2 months before assembly election in 2014 and joined BJP with the assurance for the party ticket from his home constituency Thanesar (Kurukshetra). However, Sharma was given BJP ticket for Pehowa, as another Congress leader, Subhash Sudha also shifted to BJP before assembly elections and got a ticket for Thanesar.

When asked would he like to contest now for parliament or assembly, Sharma said that his preference is for his home assembly constituency Thanesar, however, he would do whatever the party would direct. Thanesar is going to see tough political battle next.    

While listening to the poetry of Faiz Ahmad Faiz today--Hum dekhein ge lazim hai—Jab Taj Uchhale jayage, Takha giraya jayage, hum dekhein ge—I searched and found my photograph with legendry poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz (Faiz third from right and me first from right) at Kurukshetra University guest house, when he came here on invitation of Prof. V.N. Dutta, after he was expelled from Pakistan by Pakistan Dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq in 1978. Veteran journalists late Dr. Shanti Swaroop Sharma and Devi Dayal Nanha, are also seen in the picture. click below to listen the above Gazal 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycH3PTVTNE

Residents of holy town of Kurukshetra nostalgically remember Vajpayee

Kurukshetra, August 16—While the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died today at Delhi, People of Kurukshetra pray for peace to his soul and nostalgically remember his two visits made to Kurukshetra as Prime Minister of India. Though Vajpayee had made many visits to the historic town of Kurukshetra during the various election campaigns earlier also but two visits to the town as Prime Minister were memorable.

His first visit to Kurukshetra was on the invitation of then Haryana Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, to participate in the 101 st birth anniversary function of late Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda, on July 4, 1999. In fact, the invitation was given by Bansi Lal to Prime Minister when he was heading the Haryana Government as Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) and BJP alliance. However, meanwhile the BJP had withdrawn support from HVP and Congress had assured for its support to HVP.

Being a part of the function to commemorate the memory of G.L. Nanda, a social activist, Vijay Sabharwal vividly remembers that during the period of such political uncertainties, except for exchange of formal courtesies between Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal and Prime Minister Vajpayee, both avoided each other. Through out the period when Prime Minister Vajpayee and other Union ministers visited G.L. Nanda’s ‘samadhi’ on the eastern bank of holy Brahma Sarovar to offer their flower tribute and later laid the foundation stone of Nanda’s memorial at the ‘Sadachar Sathal’, Vajpayee was seen talking only to Union Home Minister, Lal Krishan Advani, and other Union ministers accompanying him rather than Bansi Lal.

Vajpayee was in a good mood during the Nanda’s birth anniversary function held at Kurukshetra University auditorium. He started his speech by breaking the news that “just now I have received information that our armed forces have captured the tiger hill and we have won the Kargil war”. He said he was happy to break this news at the land of Mahabharta where truth won against deceits. Later, he spoke high of G.L. Nanda as a man of high moral and honest through out his political life.

His second visit as Prime Minister to Kurukshetra was on March 6, 2001 to inaugurate the Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre.

Photo-- from L to R --Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad, Union Home Minister and Deputy PM, L.K.Advani, Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Haryana CM, Bansi Lal, G.L. Nanda's son Narinder Nanda, and social activist Vijay Sabharwal, on the occasion of laying of foundation stone of 'Sadachar Sathal' on July 4, 1999, 101st birth anniversary of Nanda ji  

SRIKRISHNA MUSEUM, KURUKSHETRA

Krishna, the embodiment of intellectual and spiritual glory has been a subject of adoration ever since the character got deified as a God. His versatile personality made him a deity. Unfolding the mystery of Krishna is virtually an enchanting experience as every time you untwine the fabric of Krishna you discover a new dimension in it. The divinity and human aspect of Krishna as revealed by his character in the literature is unparalleled in the history of human civilisation. He has been a source of perennial inspiration to the art and literature. He is the most popular character in Indian myths and legends.

Every museum has its own character and personality. With a view to awakening the people morally and culturally through the ideas and ideals of Krishna and to enlighten the people the history of the region, Srikrishna Museum was established in 1987 by Kurukshetra Development Board. Subsequently it was shifted to the present building in 1991 and new block was added in the year 1995. Further in the year 2012 a Multimedia Mahabharata & Gita Gallery was created in third museum building. The theme of the museum is Krishna, Kurukshetra and Mahabharata.

At present houses nine galleries spread over the three buildings which display the artifacts representing Krishna as godhead, an incarnation of Vishnu, a great Philosopher, an epic hero, an astute statesman and a supreme lover. The personality and teachings of Krishna have permeated into the national ethos and his exploits and miracles are a source of inspiration for the artistic expressions manifested in all parts of the country in their traditional folk and classical art forms.

The major collections of this gallery pertaining to Krishna theme consist of a variety of art objects such as woodcarvings, metal casting, and ivory carvings.  The wood carver evolves his style according to the qualities of the wood. The gallery comprises a wide range of wooden sculptures mostly from Odisha, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Interesting among the wooden objects displayed here are the four wooden panels showing the incarnations of Lord Vishnu and scenes from Krishna's early life. The style is typical of Orissa and belongs to the 18-19th century AD. The other prominent wooden panels from Odisha displayed here are depicting the childhood exploits of Krishna i.e. Aristhavadha (Krishna killing a bull demon), Kesivadha (Krishna killing a horse demon), Putanavadha (Krishna killing demoness Putana), Kubjanugraha (Krishna curing a hunch backed lady) etc.

The notable wood carvings from Tamilnadu displayed in the gallery include some stylistically massive and thematically interesting specimens such as Venugopal (standing cross-legged with a flute held in both hands), Dasavatara (ten incarnations of lord Vishnu), Kaliyamardana (Krishna subduing a serpent called Kaliya). Among the wood carvings from Karnataka a sandalwood carving displays Krishna as Venugopal on one side and other side displays exquisitely carved image of Gajendra Moksha (Vishnu rescuing the elephant).

The other important display of this gallery are the metal objects which include various exploits of Krishna such as Bal-Krishna, Yashoda-Krishna, Navanita-Krishna, Venugopala, Krishna with gopis, Kaliyamardana, Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama, etc. Notable among the metal sculptures   are  Kaliyamardana   from  Tamilnadu, and Yasoda with Krishna and Balarama and Varaha Avatara from Ganjam (Odisha).

Among the notable ivory collections of this gallery is a beautiful ivory figure of Krishna standing in tribhanga pose. Some smaller pieces showing scenes from Krishna's life are also displayed here. Special notice should be taken of an ivory plaque with the painting of the Govaradhana scene in late Mughal style, c.18th century CE.

The most important sculpture on display is a Kushana sculpture of Ekanamsa recovered from Faridabad belonging to C. 1st century CE. It shows the figures of Balarama, Ekanmsha (sister of Krishna & Balarama) and Krishna. Another unique image is of Hari-Pitamaha, made of buff sandstone, C. 9th cent. CE. It is a rare composite image of Vishnu and Brahma. Two enlarged replicas of an Indo-Greek copper coin issued by the kind Agathocles in 2^nd cent. BCE found from Ai-khanum in Afghanistan shows Balarama and Krishna on the overse and reverse.  This happened to be the earliest representation of Krishna in the Indian art and iconography. Hence, it has a lot of significance from the point of view of the origin of art of Krishna in India on one hand and the development of the Bhagavata religion in the 2^nd cent. BCE in Afghanistan region.

 The next gallery is for audio-visual show on Gita. This eleven-minute show is the major attraction of the Mahabharata Gallery. Through this show, the otherwise difficult philosophy of Gita is communicated to common audience in the manner they can understand its contents.

According to Curator of the museum, Rajinder Rana, all around the year educational activities are organized in the museum. Museum is centrally air-conditioned. All efforts are being made by museum administration to provide basic amenities in the museum premises for the visitors. The average number of visitors is around one thousand per day. Canteen facility is available in the premises. The attempts of improving the landscape outside are being made where one can enjoy after the museum visit. Museum remains open all around the year barring on Holi and Deepawali, the two festivals.

Museum dedicated to Krishna art

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij did it again

Kurukshetra, May 12 --- A four-minute video have gone viral today at WhatsApp and Facebook in which an SDO in Public Health Engineering Department posted at Kaithal 45 kms from here is heard commenting that “yeh to Aurangzeb Ka Raj Ho Giya” (It is like rule of Aurangzeb) when Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij refused to reconsider his order about his arrest.

          The incident happened at the monthly meeting of District Grievance Redressal Committee at Kaithal being presided by Anil Vij on Friday. While taking stock of the complaint lodged by Digvijay Singh of Kakheri village, a contractor working with the department, Mr. Vij, directed that the concerned SDO in the Public Health Engineering Department be suspended, booked and arrested in connection with a complaint of corruption against him.

SDO Ved Pal, posted in Guhla in Kaithal district, repeatedly pleaded he be given a chance to explain, but the minister refused to give him a hearing. Vij said that if the complaint was proved false, the official could file a case under section 182 IPC against the complainant.

Superintending Engineer AK Pahwa came in support of SDO and wanted the complaint to be inquired into before registration of a FIR. Vij said corruption is rampant in your entire department. “I am not going to listen anything “you can place your proof of innocence in the judicial court”, Vij added.

The official was seen pushed back by the security staff, but he stood up and tried to show some papers to the minister. Minister got enraged when SDO said that he was placing his version before the Minister in a “Sanvehdhanic Tareke se” (constitutional way), Vij thundered “arrest him” “court me ja kar batt karna Sanvehdhan ki” (Put your constitutional talk in the court).

“Oh bhai mera name Anil Vij hai pata hai tere ko. Nikalo ise ko yaha se” (Do you know my name is Anil Vij, turn him out from here), thundered the Minister.

When he was told to sit down by the security staff, he likened Vij’s refusal to the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and said “Yeh to Aurangzeb Ka Raj Ho Giya, Aurangzeb ka raj achha tha ese se” (It is like rule of Aurangzeb, Aurangzeb’s rule was better than this). Following this, the minister ordered the security staff to show him the door.

When contacted today Superintendent of Police, Kaithal, Astha Modi, said that no FIR has yet been registered against the SDO Public health Ved Pal. She said that action would be taken after receiving the confirmed proceedings of the meeting of grievance redressal committee.

It is not for the first time that Vij had lost his cool during the monthly District Grievance Redressal Committee anywhere. Earlier, he lost his cool at Kurukshetra about two years back, and then again ordered the Superintendent of Police at Sirsa to get out of the meeting which she refused to do.

A Small farmer with a big heart

By Vijay Sabharwal

Kurukshetra--- In the last few years, Haryana wrestlers have won many laurels for India and made the country proud with their stupendous performance in the international arena. Although the government heaps exorbitant rewards on its achiever sports persons when they win medals in the international games and tournaments, the lack of proper infrastructure and less-than-adequate facilities at the grassroots level poses the biggest challenge to this sport. Bhim Sports Academy at Goripur Kalyana near Shahbad in district Kurukshetra is a brave attempt, by the humble villagers, to train and promote local young talent in wrestling and gymnastics for future.  

The academy is the brainchild of 40-year-old farmer and former wrestler Naib Singh alias Maadi. Besides cultivating his 2.4 acres of agricultural land, Naib Singh had participated in various dangals and made a name for himself in the traditional Indian wrestling. But he quit wrestling a few years ago when he fell seriously ill. He went to a spiritual ‘dera’ at Hansali near Sirhind in Punjab, where Baba Ajit Singh Hansali helped him recover. Grateful Naib Singh when asked what he could do for the dera to return the favour, Baba Ajit Singh prompted him to devote his time and energy in coaching the youths in wrestling. But Naib Singh expressed his doubts citing financial constraint as a potent hurdle. To this, Baba responded by saying that once he would start, someone would come to support him financially.

Reassured Naib Singh, thus, earmarked 2 kanal, out of his small piece of land, for establishing an Indian style earthen Akhada. Impressed by his dedication Amar Raj Singh, a progressive farmer of the village, came to Naib Singh's aid. Amar Raj Singh, who happened to be an amateurish painter, decided to hold an exhibition of all the paintings that he had made all through his life, at Chandigarh, and donate all the money thus raised to develop the Akhada on modern lines.

A considerable sum of Rs 3 Lakh was raised at the exhibition, which turned out to be the seed money for setting up Bhim Sports Academy. A small building was erected, and registration of the academy took place. Both Naib and Amar Raj began motivating the villagers to send their children to the academy for training.

Soon many adolescents started visiting the Academy. Amar Raj soon launched a gym too, in the Academy. Within a span of less than a year, the Academy has produced wrestlers winning 5 gold and 6 silver medals at the district level championship. The Academy currently has about 30 members in the age group of 7 to 12 years undergoing training, on its roll. While Naib Singh takes care of the wrestling part, Amar Raj Singh, now President of the Academy, takes care of all the other aspects of the training. The trainees have to show to Amar Raj, the daily record of their diet and sanitation in their homes and village with the help of their family members.

Amar Raj proudly says that his academy has a very sound infrastructure, furnished with modern gym equipment for training the youths, and that in future, it would produce wrestlers of international level, as an academy at Shahbad had produced female International level Hockey players in the past. He hopes that his efforts would motivate others also, to start sports and training activities in their villages. 

Mandeep Singh, a government coach from Ambala is now helping in training the adolescents. Martyr Day was celebrated by the villagers recently by organising open wrestling championship. Present in-charge of Hansali ‘Dera’, Baba Paramjit Singh was the chief guest who blessed the participants. Surprisingly, 7-year-old Manvir Singh Gill won the sub-junior championship.
http://epaper.tribuneindia.com/1608333/Haryana-Tribune/HR-07-April-2018#page/3/2

Dear Mr Khare,

It was with disappointment and regret that I read of your departure from the Tribune newspaper. The publication had acquired a new life and zeal under your leadership, and I found myself eagerly anticipating your regular op-eds and odes to the coffee-break! In today’s environment of meek, ‘state-fed’ journalism, I admired your capacity to speak truth to power and articulate a deeper perspective of events unfolding around us.

If, as has been suggested in articles in The Wire, your departure is indeed linked to the publication of the Aadhaar data ‘theft’, then it is doubly painful and worrying that the powers-that-be are so insecure as to muzzle every single voice that they find inconvenient, instead of appreciating the investigative journalism that seeks to present truth to the citizens of this country. That the citizens have not yet responded with any alacrity to this threat to their personal liberties is deeply disheartening –after all, these are the same personal liberties that our nation’s leaders fought and died for in the struggle for independence.

I shall deeply miss the opportunity to read your writings in The Tribune, but I am sure also that yours is a voice that will be heard, no matter the forum. So, I look forward to hearing more of your insights and opinions in times to come.

Vijay Sabharwal

President,

Haryana Accredited Press Report’s Union

Kurukshetra

M-9896244822