Sanjha Morcha

What’s New

Click the heading to open detailed news

Current Events :

web counter

Print Media Defence Related News

MLF 2019 : Panel discussion held on Jallianwala Bagh MANISH TIWARI EMPHASIZED UPON TOUCHING ASPECTS OF MASSACRE

Jallianwala Bagh was the turning point of Indian Freedom struggle after which the Indian leaders resolved not to accept the repression of British Imprealism anymore. Stating this today during a panel discussion on the second day of MLF, Member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tiwari stressed upon the need of doing more research to reach at the depth of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.The panel discussion was moderated by historian Kishwar Desai and other panelists were historians Manoj Joshi, Walter Reid and Professor Sukhdev Singh Sohal from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar.Advocating more research, documentation and study of the entire incident specifically in the number of deaths, MP Manish Tiwari said that the repression of the British Imperialism was on its heights in those days and the civil unrest was continuously being suppressed by the Britishers.He said that when Mahatma Gandhi came back to India in 1915 the freedom movement took the shape of national movement and Punjab was extremely critical for British.The MP pointed out that Jallianwala Bagh incident did not occured all of a sudden but it was a part of the movement of continuous supression by the Britishers. It was an atrocity of different magnitude, he added. He informed that earlier too during the Kuka Movement in 1872 the Kuka leaders were blown away by the cannon mounts to supress their voice.

Tiwari stated that the body count during this massacare was assessed by the experts with 1560 bullets fired on the day of Baisakhi where unarmed people had gathered in the Bagh.Participating in the discussion, Professor Sukhdev Singh Sohal touched different aspects of Jallianwala Bagh massacare including the structure of Indian army in those days, designation and duty assigned to Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer. He also talked about the British policy adopted in India after the 1857 mutiny. The Professor also threw light upon the background of Dyer and stated that both General Dyer and the then Lieutenant Governor of of Punjab Sir Michael Francis O’Dwyer were Irish and cannot be seperated.  He also discussed about the ways and means adopted by the Britishers to keep the Jallianwala Bagh incident low profile for a long time due to which not much was shared about the massacre.Manoj Joshi spoke about the role of Mahatma Gandhi after the incident and also talked about the aftermath of the incident. He too pointed out that the incident was not properly documented even after independence.The panelists informed that though a ban was imposed in different parts of Amritsar but it was not announced around Jallianwala Bagh due to which large number of people gathered in the Bagh.Terming it a terrible thing happened, Kishwar Desai said that Jallianwala Massacre is worst example of colonial violence which shows an aggressive way of dissent and a bid of terrorising minds of protesters. She said that her book–Jallianwala Bagh, 1919-The Real Story, is homage to those who suffered specifically in Amritsar in the backdrop of Mahatma Gandhi’s mobilisation of Rowlatt Satyagraha across the country.

 Tags: Miltary , Manish Tewari


MLF 2019 : Man who gifts braindead son’s organs, encourage people to pledge for donation

The man, who saved number of lives by donating organs of his 22-years-old braindead son, joined an Organ and Tissue Donation awareness camp organised by Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) on the final day of ongoing Military Literature Festival (MLF)-2019 at Lake Club here.Parth Gandhi was declared braindead a week after he met with a road accident in March 2013 and his father Sanjay Gandhi taking a bold decision given a consent to donate organs of his son which saved a number of lives. The donation included Heart, Liver, both Kidneys and Pancreas.Sanjay Gandhi, while encouraging visitors for saving lives by pledging to donate their organs after death said that it was not the easy decision for them to give consent for donating organs of his son when he was declared braindead but they wanted to see him survive in others.

Saryu D Madra, IEC Media Consultant said that they have got an overwhelming response during the three-days organ and tissue donation camp at MLF 2019.She said that during the camp more 70 people signed on forms, pledging to donate their organs after death. Consultant Data Management Milan Kumar Bagla and Transplant Coordinator Karanjot Thind were also present at the awareness camp.Nodal Officer ROTTO-PGIMER Professor Vipin Koushal said that there was a wide gap between those who require organs and availability of organs because of lack of awareness knowledge and prevalent myths and misconceptions. “In view of this we at ROTTO try to tap every opportunity to disseminate information about the cause and we are happy to the organisers of MLF 2019 for being so thoughtful and it’s a huge motivation to see people not only registering as organ donor at our stall but also expressing willingness to volunteer to promote the cause,” he said.


Group Captain Kamal Singh Performs Para Jumping Feat From 5000ft At Mlf-2019

As a part of the Military Literature Festival (MLF)-2019, Group Captain Kamal Singh enthralled the audience by performing a para jumping feat from an altitude of 5000 feet at Lake Club here on Saturday.Group Captain Kamal Singh flew from the Rajendra Park on a Paramotor being driven by Pilot Vijay Sethi, landed at a Lake Club at around 2 pm. Governor of Punjab and Union Territory Administrator VP Singh Badnore and Maharaja of Jodhpur Gaj Singh were among the bystanders to watch the star performance of the day. The audience welcomed the Group Captain Kamal Singh amid a round of applause.On the other hand, the exhibition of vintage cars and motorcycles remained a centre of attraction on the second day of the ongoing three-days Military Literature Festival (MLF)-2019. The exhibition was jointly organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club (VCCC), Chandigarh led by JS Phoolka and Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI), Delhi led by KTS Tulsi. As per the information, VCCC has brought at least 20 vintage cars while HMCI has exhibited 18 cars and around seven motorcycles.A huge number of visitors were seen taking pictures with the cars showcased near the food court during the MLF-2019, which is a joint venture of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Governor of Punjab and Union Territory Administrator VP Singh Badnore in collaboration with Western Command of Indian Army.BS Manco, Secretary VCCC said that vintage cars as old as 80-90 years such as the Ford A Convertible car, Sunbeam Talbot, Austin and Ford Tourer besides other royal cars including Dodge Kingsway, Plymouth, Buick 90L, Mercedes SL280, Ford Mustang, Fiat 500 Topolino etc were showcased.The Vintage Cars exhibition will continue till Sunday.


Capt Amarinder Honours Units & Kin Of Vc Winners Of Burma Campaign To Mark Successful Culmination Of 3-Day Mlf

The three-day Military Literature Festival concluded here on Sunday with Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh honouring the units and kin of the Victoria Cross (VC) recipients from the Burma Campaign, to commemorate their gallantry in the battles fought under the British Empire till 1944.Presiding over the closing ceremony of the MLF, which commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Burma campaign, the Chief Minister also honoured Sukhjinder Kaur, the daughter of Lt Col Anant Singh, who commanded the 4Sikh battalion valiantly in the 1965 operation, which led to the capture of Burki.A former military man himself, the Chief Minister said he was privileged to bestow the honour on the units and kin of the fearless soldiers who valiantly fought during the Burma campaign, and whose memories continue to inspire Indian soldiers even today. He appreciated MLF for appreciating the sacrifice of those brave men, and said the Fest, which had just completed its third edition, would go a long way in imbuing youth with the spirit of patriotism and nationalism and motivating them to join the defence forces.  It was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that several of youth from Punjab had cleared the NDA exam and were ready to don the uniform to serve the nation, he added.Major Jacob and Subedar Major Harsha Bahadur Rana from 2/5 Gorkha Rifle received the honour for Naik Agan Singh Rai (1944), Subedar Netra Bahadur Thapa (1944) and Havaldar Gaje Ghale (1943). Major Bhatendu Thakur from 2 Sikh received award for Victoria Cross winner Sepoy Ishar Singh (1921) of 28 Punjabis, which later got empaneled with 2 Sikh.

Col Navdeep Harnal from 4 Mech received the award for the VC winner Naik Nand Singh (1944) of 1/11 Sikh, now 4 Mech, while Major Mukesh from Artillery Regiment received the award for Hawaldar Umrao Singh (1944) of 30th Mountain Regiment Royal Indian Artillery, now 22 Field Regiment.Others who were honoured by the Chief Minister were Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun, Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung of 3/2 GR (1945), Rifleman Ganju Lama 1/7 GR (1944), Rifleman Lachhiman Ghale 4/8 GR (1945), Lance Naik Sher Shah of 7/16 Punjab (1945), Subedar Ram Sarup Singh of 2/1 Punjab (1944), Naik Fazal Din 7/10th Baluch (1945), Prakash Singh Chib of 14/13 FF Rifles (1945), Hawaldar Prakash Singh 5/8 (1943), Naik Gyan Singh 4/15 Punjab (1944), Sepoy Bhandari Ram 16/10 Baluch (1944), Abdul Hafiz 3Jat (1944), and Lt Karamjeet Singh Judge. Punjab (1945).Earlier, during the felicitation ceremony, the Chief Minister honoured various contingents and volunteer groups from various units, institutions and schools with commendation certificates, for their outstanding contribution towards making MLF a grand success. On the occasion, the Chief Minister’s Senior Advisor and MLF Chairman Lt. Gen. T. S. Shergill said that the next edition of MLF would also focus on the 75th year of the World War-II, Burma campaign and 80th year of the WW-II with reference to German operation in Dunkirk in France. He expressed gratitude to GOC Western Command Lt Gen RP Singh, as well various wings of Chandigarh Administration, for their support and cooperation to make MLF a memorable event.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, as well as his Media Advisor Raveen Thukral.


Military Literature Festival-2019 : ‘Imphal: The last battle of the Japanese Empire’ reveals many unknown aspects of World War-II

An interactive session on the topic ‘Imphal: The last battle of the Japanese Empire’, was held Saturday on the second day of Military Literature Festival, brought out several significant aspects of World War-II fought at the Indian land. The session was moderated by Maj Gen AP Singh and the participants included Col (Retd) Dr. Robert Lyman, and Brig (Retd) Allan Mallinson, Arambam Agamba Singh and Pushpindar Singh.Maj Gen AP Singh revealed the strategic reasons behind the Japanese attack on India. He said that Japan wanted to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ with this invasion. Actually, Japanese aimed to defeat British forces in Burma and isolated China. They also wanted to foster revolt in India to fall of the British. Japanese forces had objective to capture Imphal and breakthrough to Brahmaputra valley cut of Northern Burma. He said this battle had change the course of Burma campaign.Col (Retd) Dr. Robert Lyman said that the Battle of Imphal fought in the region around the city of Imphal from March until July 1944. In March 1943, the Japanese command in Burma had been reorganized and a new headquarters, Burma Area Army, was created under Lieutenant-General Masakazu Kawabe. Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi was appointed to command the 15th Army, which was responsible for the central part of the front facing Imphal and Assam. From the moment he took command in July 1943, Mutaguchi forcefully advocated an invasion of India. Japanese armies invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses, many Japanese soldiers’ deaths resulting from starvation, disease and exhaustion suffered during their retreat.

Brig (Retd) Allan Mallinson highlighted the unique share of military heritage between British and India. He said that in 1944, the Indian Army stopped the Japanese advance into India in its tracks, and wrote a chapter of military history in letters of gold. He said that this battle was unique because on the both side Indian soldiers were fighting. The aim of Indian National Army was to free India from British rule and it formed an alliance with the Empire of Japan in the latter’s campaign in the Southeast Asian theatre of WWII.Pointing out the decisive contribution of the Air Forces in the battle of Imphal, Pushpinder Singh said that without support from the air, the Battle of Imphal would have been very hard to win. Undoubtedly, without the contribution of the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force the outcome of the battle could well have been very different. He further said that in 1944, the Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh, an icon of India’s military history, had led a squadron against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign, flying close air support missions during the crucial Imphal Campaign and later assisted the advance of the Allied Forces to Yangoon. In recognition of his feat, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on the spot by the Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia.During the discussion Arambam Agamba Singh shared the information about the typical imperial Japanese solider fighting techniques and organized structure. He also threw light on the U Go offensive or Operation C, of Japanese army against forces of the British Empire.


MLF 2019: Vee Walker explains impact of WWI on Indian Army Cavalry officer

Vee Walker-Writer of the book, Major Tom’s War today explained about her book-an interesting true story about the impact of WWI on a doomed generation and one Indian Army cavalry officer in particular during the Military Literature Festival.The writer narrated all the important episodes written in her book by showing photographs on a projector.The writer narrated the life story of different stories of differnt generations, what hapens in real battle field, sing songs and brought the heart and soul of her book by recounting the incidents with little performances.A native of Britain, Vee Walker said that she came to India after getting information, pictures and notes of her grandfather. She touched different aspects of real battle fieldand sung the songs that soldiers sing during the war. “Iam a story-teller not a historian,” she said while informing the audience about her book.She also enacted many scenes during a presentation about the story of her book and showed numerous pictures of Sikh Indian soldiers and of her family including her British grandfather during his stint in India.The writer informed the audience that why does Evie Winnington-Ingram, who has good cause to hate writer’s grandfather, a Bengal-born solicitor Tom Westmacott, agree to his proposal of marriage? Their dark, shared past drives them apart. War forces them to face up to a harrowing present before they emerge, together, into an unexpected future.


‘Cyber attack most deadly weapon of war’

‘Cyber attack most deadly weapon of war’

A fiery startto the day

A fierce debate ensued between West Bengal MP Mahua Moitra and RSS activist Desh Ratan Nigam during the first panel discussion of the second day of the literature festival. Moderated by former BBC anchor Mark Tully, the session began with the question: What is the difference between nationalism and patriotism? “Nationalism is when we try to create an artificial enemy, an unseen dark force we are all supposed to hate. Patriotism is an innate love for the country, which is almost an instinct,” said Moitra. To this, Nigam retorted that Moitra’s definitions were western concepts. On the sidelights of this discussion, Tully said he believed balance was essential to keep up the spirit of the Indian ethos. Donning a secular tie, one with logos of all major religions of the world, he said, “it is regrettable that India should discriminate against one religion in the manner it has done with the CAB.”

Almost all sectors including government and private are under the threat of cyber attack and the only way to protect your data is to restrict the amount of sharing on cyberspace. The panellists during a discussion on ‘Spymasters and Cyber Intelligence in War and Peace’ echoed this sentiment. KC Verma, former director of RAW, said a cyber attack will become the source of maximum damage done to any nation during war in the future. Former cabinet secretariat additional secretary Jayadeva Ranade said cyber intelligence had added new dimensions to espionage and also added to the vulnerability of data.

Correction

Mr RK Kaushik is a serving Punjab IAS officer, not as rendered in a report in HT on December 14.


MILITARY LITERATURE FESTIVAL Nationalism can be misused by politicians: Mark Tully

Nationalism can be misused by politicians: Mark Tully

Desh Rattan Nigam, Sir Mark Tully (C) and Mahua Moitra during a session on the second day of Military Literature Festival on Saturday. PHOTO: Vicky

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 14

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra and RSS ideologue Desh Ratan Nigam presented opposing views on nationalism, hyper-nationalism and Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in a discourse ‘Jingoism and hyper-nationalism — an Indian perspective’ at the Military Literature Festival here today.

Sir Mark Tully, former BBC Chief of Bureau, New Delhi, was the moderator of the session. Tully said the world was witnessing a rising tide of nationalism, which was important, but could be misused by the political parties as well.

When asked to differentiate ‘patriotism’ from ‘hyper-nationalism’, Moitra said: “Patriotism is an innate love for the country and hyper-nationalism is basically trying to create a pseudo-enemy to use it for justifying casteism and religious fundamentalism and to completely cut out any critical engagement.”

“People in the armed force are actually on the ground dealing with real enemies and they know the ground realities, whereas with hyper-nationalism you create an unseen dark force that everyone is supposed to hate,” she added.

RSS member Desh Ratan Nigam said: “The Indian concept of nationalism is extension to spirituality that accepts everything. We have never excluded anybody and that’s why RSS calls it diversity in unity.”

“However, this unity has been destroyed over a period of time. The artificial differences that weren’t there were brought in and the final nail in the coffin was the partition, which almost divided the country on the basis of two-nation theory,” he added.

Nigam said: “There is no concept of hyper-nationalism or jingoism. These are western concepts to make us feel apologetic about our own ancient civilization and we have to come out of it.”

On Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), Moitra said: “I don’t think an overtly aggressive form of religion has anything to do with political ideology. When you are completely bankrupt in ideology and delivering the promises, you sidetrack and do things like that.”

While rebutting the same, Nigam said: “Indian Constitution was never supposed to be secular. The term was added during the 1976 emergency period.”

‘Can’t control nationalism’

Moitra said: “You can’t control nationalism. Usually, when a government is voted to power using aggressive nationalistic sentiments, they feel that they owe it to people. So, they change laws, play with the Constitution, tinker with the framework the country is used to.”

“Indian ethos are all about moderation and will endure the present onslaught by communal forces,” said TMC MP Mahua Moitra.


Archival display of Kargil war moves audience to tears

Archival display of Kargil war moves audience to tears

HT Correspondent

chandigarh@hindustantimes.com

Chandigarh : On Day 2 of the third Military Literature Festival being held at the Lake Club, when a Class 9 student Mansha got emotional as she watched a presentation showing pictures of martyred soldiers. Beaming with pride, the teary-eyed 14-year-old said, “My father, Lieutenant Colonel Manish Sharma, had fought the Kargil war in 1999.”

It was at the clarion theatre that author Rachna Bisht Rawat showed the presentation displaying rare images of martyred Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the India-Pakistan war in 1999.

Rawat, a journalist with more than 20 years of experience, has authored five books based on the Indian Army to date.

During the course of the presentation, 23-year-old Jasdeep Singh, a college student, read out the last letter written by martyr Jayant Thapar to his family –“These are the real heroes. It takes a lot of courage to write a letter to one’s family knowing that it is the last one he ever would. It is these heroes who motivate me to join the Indian Army,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Rohit Singh said he was moved by the presentation.

Divyam Sharma, 23, and Rachit Gupta, 22, who also watched the archival display, said, “The presentation fuelled our passion about joining the Indian Army. We want to fight alongside our soldiers at the borders.”


BSF seizes Pak boat in Ajnala sector

BSF seizes Pak boat in Ajnala sector

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 14

The Border Security Force (BSF) today seized a boat that had drifted into the Indian side in the Ravi from Pakistan in the Ajnala sector here today.

Confirming the incident, the BSF said the boat apparently floated into the Indian side due to a rise in water level because of incessant rain in the region in the last couple of days. They, however, added that all possible angles were being looked into. They said the Pakistan Rangers had not approached the BSF till now regarding the boat.

“No official from the Pakistan Rangers has approached us. As there was nothing objectionable in the boat, we also did not contact them,” said the official. According to information, BSF personnel noticed the boat floating into the Indian side near the Panj Garayan Wahla border outpost. They took it into their possession and informed the higher ups. The intelligence agencies were also informed about this. The authorities also enhanced the vigil along the border villages in order to make sure that no infiltration bid occurred.

SSP (Amritsar Rural) Vikram Jeet Duggal said a search was carried in the border villages in Ajnala and Ramdass police station areas as a precautionary measure. “We have also searched the boat and nothing objectionable was found from it,” he added.