What is this between Israel and Gaza??

Much is being said on the conflict between Israel and Gaza with points and counterpoints. But to get it fully one has to really go back, probably 2000 years back. In 59 AD Romans destroyed the temple of Jews in Jerusalem and expelled them from their own country. Jews dispersed around the world in Europe, Asia and even India.

People remember the horror of Holocaust but few know many centuries before that. Jews were made to live in a ghetto outside any city which was surrounded by a wall. No house could be seen from outside the wall as that was limit to rise of building. Occupations were restricted for Jews and hence they ventured in money lending and financing. Whenever a European king faced financial troubles he would confiscate their property and expel them from his country. There was only one country in this world where they lived fearlessly and they were accepted as brothers.

In the 19th century Jews got into political activism to solve the question. They established Jewish Congress and Theodore Herzel ,Father of Israel propounded the theory of Jewish state in 1896-97. He was termed as mad but history proved him right. After the First World War British occupied the territories of Ottoman Empire. To get a mass of people sympathetic to them, started permitting Jews to settle in Palestine. In the 20s was Balfour Declaration which paved the way of establishing a Jewish Home state in Palestine.

As the Jews came in droves so the hostilities grew with Arabs. Smelling oil and not to alienate the Arabs Englishman banned any further entry of Jews. Thus was born the Jewish Agency to smuggle Jews into the Promised Land. The rise of Nazism in Europe forced the imperial powers and US to find a permanent solution to Jewish question. Leaders of Jewish Congress like Chaim Wiezmann, David Gurion, Golda Mier used this opportunity to focus the world attention and also supported Allied powers to defeat Germany and Italy.

Thus in 1948 exactly 50 years later, Jewish state of Israel came into being. Hostilities continued and Israel had to fight a war for it’s existence with Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt immediately after independence. The war was totally unequal as Israel was facing an army 10 times its size with much more resources and popular support. But they not only survived but won the war and defeated all the 5 nations. During these hostilities Arabs in Jew land , ran away for safe haven in neighboring countries of Jordan and Lebanon. The problem of Palestine was born.

In 1967 war Israel occupied Gaza and West Bank from Egypt and Jordan. Palestinian Arabs in Jordan formed the PLO to fight for a separate Arab land in Israel. Covert war began between PLO and Israel. PLO had to shift its bases from Jordan to Algeria and to Lebanon as nobody supported their terrorist activities. Finally in 1994 Israel and PLO signed the accord to create a state for Palestinian Arabs in Gaza and West Bank. Initially PLO ruled the roost but slowly Gaza went to Hamas a terrorist organization which believes in destruction of Israel and West Bank with Fatah (PLO).

So started the Israel-Gaza conflict. How is Hamas going to run a state is anybody’s guess.

300 which happened in India !!!!

Many people must have watched 300 movie and amazed at the valor of Greeks who stopped an army 10-20 times it’s size. The story is of the battle of Thermopylae but no movie maker would know a similar story which happened in India.

After killing Afzalkhan, Shivaji Maharaj had made a name for himself throughout India. Adilshahi which ruled the most of Deccan suffered a paralytic attack due to the death of it’s most famous and cruel general. No one in the Adilshahi court was ready to take on the “mountain rat”. Finally, it came down to Tiger of Kurnool called Siddi Johar an Abyssinian general. He attacked with a large army and vowed to arrest Shivaji. To avoid any discomfort to the people of his kingdom Shivaji took refuge in Panhala fort which was the border of Swarajya.

The game of cat and mouse had begun. Siddi Johar laid siege to Panhala with Shivaji trapped inside for months. Several Maratha attacks to break the siege and free Shivaji failed. Shivaji expected that torrential rains will loosen Siddi’s grip and he would escape easily. But Siddi was an experienced general and did not allow any lapses. To make matters worse Mughals and Britishers also helped him to fizzle out the torch of Swarajya.

Finally on a dark monsoon night, Shivaji escaped from the fort with 600 soldiers being led by his general Baji Prabhu Deshpande. The same day he had sent a letter of surrender to Siddi saying that he is ready to get arrested tomorrow. With help of his spies he escaped through a gap in the siege. As they were traversing the path to Vishalgad , another fort, they were spotted by the spies of Siddi. To trick the enemy, the group split into two, with Shiva Kashid, Shivaji’s barber sitting in the palanquin and original Shivaji escaping with another group. The first group was caught by the enemy and taken back to the camp, only to realize that they had been tricked.

The hot pursuit began again, and the enemy closed on the second group near a pass called Ghodkhind, named such because only one horse could pass through it. Bajiprabhu was requesting Shivaji to take half of the soldiers and proceed but Shivaji wanted to fight. It is said that Bajiprabhu told Shivaji, that you can get 100 Bajiprabhu but without you there will be no Baji. With a heavy heart Shivaji proceeded and Bajiprabhu with his 150-200 soldiers got ready to fight an epic battle. The enemy numbered in excess of 2000 and attacked several times to pass through. But all the soldiers and Baji himself showed indomitable courage and persistence to block the pass. The fight went on for 8-10 hours and finally when Baji heard the canon fire as a sign of Shivaji reaching safely to Vishalgad, he laid down his life. Maratha soldiers had walked and fought for 24 hours continuously without any sleep or refreshments.

Shivaji Maharaj was saved and so was FREEDOM. Today is the day when Bajiprabhu laid down his life to become immortal in the history of India.
HAR HAR MAHADEV !!!!

On 22nd June 1897

It is an amazing day today in history of armed revolution in India. It was on the same day in 1897 Damodar and his younger brother Balkrishna killed two British officers Ayerst and Rand. Who were these guys and why the whole family sacrificed themselves on the altar of freedom.

The 3 Chapekar brothers Damodar, Balkrishna and Vasudev were from Chinchwad but settled in Pune. From childhood they were interested in martial qualities and intended to join the Army. But Damodar was rejected on the grounds of his caste and he took up profession of kirtan i.e bhajans and philosophical discourses. Taking inspiration from Vasudev Phadke and Tilak the discourses were structured to inspire people to fight against injustice. In this backdrop Pune was attacked by bubonic plague. People died in droves due to Black Death.

So the British government appointed Rand as officer in charge for controlling the menace. But the medicine was worse than the illness. In the name of containing plague, houses were ransacked, people were thrown outside Pune even on suspicion. British soldiers used this as an opportunity to loot and outrage the modesty of women. People were seething with anger and to make matters worse, the empire was celebrating diamond jubilee of Victoria’s coronation.

Chapekar brothers decided to avenge the injustice and what better occasion than the party for celebrating diamond jubilee in club near Ganeshkhind of Pune. As the coach carrying Rand was near, Balkrishna leaped from behind and fired shot in the head of the officer. But realized that he had killed Ayerst instead of Rand. As the original coach approached Damodar with the same agility fired on Rand. Ayerst died on spot and Rand a few days later. The empire was jolted and used all it’s resources to catch the revolutionaries.

On the basis of information by Dravid brothers they arrested Damodar and later Balkrishna. Dravid brothers were lured by money and government service. To teach them a lesson Vasudev Chapekar and his friend Ranade killed them near their house. All the four were sentenced to death by hanging. All the three brothers left behind their parents, young widows and infant children. Ranade was 18 and a bachelor.

Sister Nivedita came from Bengal to visit the family which sacrificed all their sons in freedom struggle. It is said that in an unbroken chain Vasudev Phadke inspired Chapekar brothers and they inspired Veer Savarkar who wrote a beautiful poem on them in his young days.

BHARAT MATA KI JAI !!!!

On Savarkar Jayanti: 28th May
A few days ago while watching INVICTUS with office colleagues , everybody was amazed at the persistence of Nelson Mandela and the sufferings he went through for 27 years in small cell in solitary confinement. This is not for comparison but how many of us know about our own Veer Savarkar.
He was awarded 2 back to back life imprisonments in Andaman i.e 48 years and the year of start was 1912. When in chains in jail of Mumbai his young wife came to meet him. It was probably the last meeting as he was going into jaws of death but the confidence of this man was unshakeable. How he consoled his wife is legendary, he said “if accumulating a few sticks and giving birth to children is life, then it is lead by birds and animals but we are HUMAN. Even if we are ruined today, imagine thousands of lives who will smile because of us”.

When in Andaman he was put in solitary confinement and was subjected to “kolhu” for oil extraction. If one did not fulfill the stipulated amount of oil one would receive lashes or would be confined in chains in a very uncomfortable position. Even for nature’s call a fixed time was allotted and at night one had to relieve himself in a pot which would lie in the same cell. Talking to any other prisoner was a strict NO and others would get harsh punishment for talking to Savarkar. No newspaper or books or paper for a literary giant like him. After a year or so he came to know that his elder brother was also in Andaman and with lot of efforts could only see him once.

But imagine what he accomplished. He wrote novels, dramas and poetry on the walls of cell. Since there was also change of prison cells, he would memorize all the text he had written before. The jail superintendent being a Pathan, there was a lot of encouragement for conversion of prisoners. Savarkar not only stopped that but reversed the trend by claiming that a person can become a HINDU with bath and chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAY. When the question arose about official language he encouraged people for their preference to HINDI breaking the supremacy of URDU/PERSIAN. It was due to his efforts that not only INDIAN but BRITISH PARLIAMENT had to discuss the condition of prisoners in ANDAMAN and soften the treatment meted out to them.

After 12 years he was released due to his ill health and was over joyed to see his beloved MOTHERLAND again in this life. Any takers in BOLLYWOOD for his inspiring story.

PS : All the literature he memorized was later published during his confinement in Ratnagiri. This is just a snapshot from his book MY LIFE IMPRISONMENT because he accomplished much more.

On 8th of April i.e RamnavamiRamnavami is the birth day of Shree Ramchandra, but it is also the birthday of great saint of India i.e Samarth Ramdas. He was a saint, philosopher, author, organiser and a hard core patriot at heart.

Born in a small town of Jamb in Thosar family, he was more known for his mischief than saintly behaviour in his childhood. Losing father at early age, his mother earnestly hoped that Narayan (his original name) will take household responsibilities like his elder brother. So like a typical Indian solution, his mother arranged his marriage at age of 12. But destiny holds more miracles than magic and Narayan ran away from the mandap. He landed in Takli near Nasik on the banks of Godavari river.

For 12 years with intense devotion he did sadhana for realising his beloved Shree Ramchandra. He performed austerities, studied scriptures and engaged in discourses. But like the true devotee of Shree Ram i.e Hanuman, he also exercised to build muscles of iron and nerves of steel. At the end of his tapasya he realised the ultimate goal of human life i.e the divinity within. He could have easily laid an ascetic life at Takli.

For the next 12 years he travelled from Manasarovar to Rameshwaram visiting holy sites like Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi . It is said that he also met Guru Hargobind during his travels and was impressed by his martial and saintly qualities. He witnessed the plight of society that was being crushed under foreign rule and was losing it’s character. People becoming indolent and passing off hardships on luck or providence. He writes that he is sad because no one is happy, times are tough, people do’nt have anything to eat or build their homes, and moreover there is nobody who can offer a solution.

It is with these thoughts he came to banks of Krishna river and started touring villages. With references to stories of Ram and Krishna he inspired confidence in people to fight back for their rights. To oppose injustice one not only needs hope and character but also a strong body. So innovatively he established temples of Hanuman on the boundaries of villages. It became a hotspot where villagers especially youth came together to exercise and also discuss about ways to throw away the oppressors. The inspired youth naturally landed up fighting for Swarajya with Shivaji.

He established temples of Shree Ram across different places starting with Chafal to inspire people about DHARMA. To make people aware about the philosophical side, he wrote a master treatise like DASBODH (enlightenment for DAS i.e servant of RAM), to deliver message in succinct way he had MANACHE SHLOK (message for mind) and innumerable other songs for different GODS. He passed his last years in a fort called SAJJANGAD (fort of good people) near Satara creating new leaders for the society who will carry forward his task of social upliftment.

JAI JAI RAGHUVEER SAMARTH (Praise to SHREE RAM) !!!!

On the last day of Hindu year i.e March 30
Today is the last day of Kaliyugabd 5115 or Shaka 1935, tomorrow the new year begins. This day marks not only the end of year but also the martyrdom of Sambhaji Maharaj, elder son of Shivaji. History hasn’t been kind to him and many people ...know him as the elder son of Shivaji who squandered what was earned by his father.

He was 23 years old when Shivaji Maharaj passed away in 1680 and had to face lot of internal conspiracy before getting himself coronated. Within a year Aurangzeb arrived in Deccan to crush the freedom movement of Marathas. Aurangzeb saw it as a golden opportunity with untimely demise of their inspirational leader and new king at helm. Mughal empire was the biggest in Asia with frontiers from Afghanisthan to Bengal and Kashmir to Deccan. The emperor landed in Deccan with 7 lac infantry, 3 lac cavalry and unlimited finances to crush a kingdom which comprised few districts of Maharashtra and had 1/20th to 1/10th army. Aurangzeb also allied with Adilashahi, Qutubshahi, Siddis of Janjira and Portuguese of Goa to give a final death blow to Swarajya.

He selected a weak fort of Ramshej near Nasik to start his campaign so that he can start a winning trail. But so indomitable was the will of Marathas that the simple and so called weak fort fought for 6 years without giving in to the Mughal might. The big Mughal generals and all their glorious campaigns were foiled under the leadership of Sambhaji. The situation turned so dire that what was a few months campaign turned into years and Aurangzeb couldn’t return to Delhi and nor he could achieve a victory. The emperor in a fit of rage threw his crown and took an oath of not to wear it till he had killed the son of kafir.

To give a moral boost to the Mughal army he attacked Adilshahi and Qutubshahi whom Sambhaji was trying to protect as an alliance against increasing Mughal influence in Deccan. The shahis collapsed due to treachery and now the whole weight fell upon the fledgling Swarajya. A Mughal general attacked Sangameshwar where Sambhaji was halting for inspecting some works and was captured. His calmness and steadfastness in face of inhuman torture which can’t be described will be inspirational for generations to come. (you can see my last year post or blog for his torture)

Fast forward to today and while talking to a friend he said that I won’t be able to vote because of some personal work. It is due to countless sacrifices of people like I described above that we have got this divine right to vote. Isn’t it our kartavya to at least pay our part otherwise it is an insult to all those martyrs and the sacrifices they made of their families and ultimately lives so that we could see this HAPPY DAY !!!!

PS: I did’n t vote for 2 general and state elections and I am ashamed of it.

On 26th February
Yesterday was the 108th birth anniversary of M S Golwalkar, second chief of RSS. A controversial figure according to secularists and RSS-haters. But who was he?

Born in 1906 in a middle class family in Nagpur, he was the only surviving c...hild of his parents. A bright kid who excelled in studies as well as sports and arts. He wanted to be a doctor but circumstances forced him to pursue master in science. Finally he landed as a lecturer in BHU, Varanasi and became popular among students as GURUJI. This was an apt name because he had equal expertise on all subjects. It was here he came in contact with RSS and became a regular at shakha. Dr Hedgewar noticed him during his visit and was impressed by his intellect.

His spiritual inclination made him go away to Sargachi in Bengal. Swami Akhandanda , disciple of Ramkrishna , had established a math there to serve the poor and downtrodden. Many people questioned Swamiji to establish math at such an unfortunate place (not far from Plassey). But he is said to have answered that I am waiting for the person who will lead India’s ascent to glory. Guruji served him whole heartedly during his last days and received diksha.

It was his simplicity, sharp intellect and leadership qualities which made him a natural choice for the chief position. It was his vision to realise that a multifaceted approach can only lead to renaissance of this nation. It was his inspiration which led to the start of BJS (Bhartiya Jan Sangh), BMS (Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh), ABVP , VKS (Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram), VHP and many more nationalist organisations.

Very few people in the world lead and create so many lasting organisations.
BHARAT MATA KI JAI !!!

PS: His fierce patriotism made Verghese Kurien also his admirer.

Mark Twain called India "mother of history". It is said that every nook and corner of this country has a story to tell. Yesterday i.e 17th February was the day of martyrdom of Vasudev Balwant Phadke.

He was born in a small village called ...Shirdhon in Konkan. As an accoutant in Indian Army he saw first hand the partial treatment to Indians. The culmination came when denied leave to see his ailing mother, he coulnd'nt even attend her funeral. The incident hurt him so deeply that he left the job to understand the reasons of slavery.

Touring Maharashtra he was exposed to the severe exploitation of farmers and their suffering in the famine. One thing led to another and soon he was giving lectures in different cities to awaken people about the dire straits the nation was in. As is the case the educated and well off people did not support him. It is said that he was almost driven to madness due to apathy of people.

That was when he started contacting tribals and rural folk and was impressed by their simplicity and devotion. He organised an army and started looting government treasury to raise an armed rebellion. He issued notices and rewards on killing of government servants, signing them off as Prime Minister to Chatrapati of Marathas.
The cunning and ruthless Englishman were quick to notice the danger and they used imperial might to crush him.

Finally disheartened and suffering from high fever he was captured alone and sentenced to life imprisonment in far away Aden. But the torch of freedom was inexhaustible so he escaped with heavy chains, but was captured again. Finally on this day in 1883 he sacrificed his life far away from his beloved motherland.

Netaji's 117th birth anniversary

It's strange that there was not a whimper on 23rd January, the 117th birth anniversary of Netaji (Subhash Bose) while the whole country goes on celebration on an actor's or cricketer's birthday.

Netaji was the King of revolutionaries. Starting with Congress and it's disobedience and non violent methods, he did not lose sight of the ultimate goal. As a free spirit he was devoted to the idea of India's freedom and not to any particular way.

When paens are sung for the non violent freedom movement of India.It must be remembered that we got independence in 1947, Myanmar & Ceylon in 1948,in early 50s the whole of South-East Asia was breathing free air. So if the movement was so strong only in India, how come our neighbours too enjoyed the party. The answer to this question is Second World War and the death blow given by Germany and Japan to the Anglo-French empires. Great Britian did’nt come out “Great” after the war and was in no position to rule over the world. So the hurry to leave the land and partition it to suit their ambitions.

In case of India, Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauj (INA)of( Indian prisoners of war) played a key role. It sowed the seeds of revolution in the armed forces on which the British empire rested safely. It was this army which had made them the rulers of India, saved them in 1857 and even won laurels in first and second world war. The moment our gora sahibs realised that the army won’t support them against their countrymen, they knew their time was up. In an epic struggle Netaji escaped from Calcutta to Afganisthan and then Germany. Not able to reach India from there he circumnavigated half the globe to Japan and raised the banner of INA from there.

Let us remember his fierce dedication to our motherland and sing “kadam kadam badhaye ja”

On Makarsankranti

Today is 14th January, Makarsankranti, the day when sun moves to Northern hemisphere and hence an auspicious day for us. But it is an important day for us all Indians. It was on the same day that the third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761.

It was a clear conflict among the rising power of Marathas (read national) and waning power of Afghans (read foreign).The moment Marathas started knocking o...n the gates of Delhi from 1719, the Mughal power started getting uneasy about the rise of so called kafirs. But the momentum of Bajirao, his son Nanasaheb and Raghunathrao was impossible to relent. Within 12 years of death of Aurangzeb, Marathas became the owner of central India and started expanding in all directions. By 1740s they were in Bengal and Orissa and in 1758 they achieved the pinnacle when saffron flag flew over Attock after a gap of 1000 years. They became the defacto rulers from Attock to Cuttack and Delhi to Tanjavur.

It was in this background that Mughals started conspiring to bring down the national movement which was clearly eclipsing them fast. Najib khan invited Abdally who had been crushed by Marathas previously to avenge his defeat and also get a huge loot from the prosperous land. He kept a smoke screen of friendship with Marathas and revealed his plans when Abdally was near Delhi. The northern flank of Marathas in Punjab collapsed and the responsibility fell on Dattaji Shinde, who was mecilessly murdered by Najib while protecting his motherland.

Marathas had to avenge his death and a huge army started from Pune under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau.His movement were slowed down due to huge contingent of non soldiers as a result he was stuck around rivers in monsoon. It somehow happened that the 2 forces were locked in such a way that Marathas blocked Abdally's return to Afghan land and he blocked Marathas return to South.Shuja-ud Daulah, Nawab of Awadh sided with Abdally in name of jihad and hence he recieved fresh reinforcements and supplies but Marathas were left with their supply lines cut off in the hostile cold of North.

It was in this desperation that the 2 sides collided in Panipat, in initial few hours the battle was tilted toward Marathas but the sudden killing of Vishwasrao and disappearance of Sadashivrao, caused the whole formation to collapse and ultimately to the rout.Almost 1.0 lac fighters gave their life defending their motherland in a war which could have been won if all the forces including Rajput had sided with Marathas against Abdally.

It wiped out the Afghan factor from Delhi politics and created a power vaccum for a few years, Marathas were back in the game under the able leadership of Madhavrao in late 1760s.But the ultimate benificiaries were the Englishman who without firing a shot gave a major setback to their biggest competitor in India. The lesson remains the same that only UNITED WE STAND and is more relevant today when the anti corruption movement is divided into 2 pitched groups who are fighting among each othe while the big daddy of corruption watches merrily.

On martyrdom of Fatehsingh/Zorawar singh

26th December is a day to be remembered. It was on the same day that youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed themselves on the altar of freedom. How young anybody will ask ? They were 7 and 9 years to be precise. When caught by Mughals treacherously they were taken to Sarhind and presented in court. They would have been pardoned if they had accepted conversion .But they were tiger cubs ...and refused any conversion. After facing torture for many days they were martyred. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed all his sons for cause. Finally taking inspiration from him Banda Bairagi avenged the death of his sons by ransacking Sarhind. Fatehsingh and Zorawarsingh would be always an example of sacrifice. The other event is birth of Sardar Udham Singh who avenged the Jallianwala bagh massacre by killing Mr Odwayer who ordered the firing on helpless mob. It is really necessary to know this history so that we know the sacrifices given for a so called non violent independence struggle.

On Swamiji''s 151st birth anniversary

Swami Vivekananda, the name itself is fiery and electrifies us when we read him or see his photo. The same effect was felt by all great men like Gandhiji or even foreigners like Romain Rolland. Britishers could not establish link but every revolutionary they arrested had a copy of Vivekananda's speeches or thoughts. Such was the impact of this man who was aptly named as cyclonic Hindu monk. He awakened us about the glory of our motherland and the dire straits in which it was languishing due to foreign rule. To achieve greatness he clearly proclaimed that India should be politically freed first. To free our motherland he exhorted his countrymen to have muscles of iron and nerves of steel and courage which could see death in it's face and still have unshakeable faith. Although he lived for 39 years and only 2-3 years in India after achieving fame as Swami Vivekananda he shook us to our core due to his tremendous passion for country and Hinduism. We should pray to him to get an iota of his passion for the country on his 151st birth anniversary.