Monthly Archives: August 2018

Vikramdeep Johal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 15

Having a “feel” of the Kohinoor on your smartphone or laptop, thousands of miles away from the Tower of London’s heavily guarded Jewel House, is set to become a reality. The UK-based Sikh Museum Initiative (SMI) is working on a project that will provide you virtual access to the fabled diamond and other Anglo-Sikh relics. Techniques such as 3D modelling and augmented reality are being used to digitise artefacts for mobile and online platforms so that they can be viewed by people worldwide.The SMI team is building the first-of-its-kind Anglo-Sikh Virtual Museum, a two-year project bankrolled by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It has already been awarded a grant of £65,000 (around Rs 60 lakh). “There are plenty of websites dedicated to Sikh history and culture, but no cyber gallery with interactive features. We want visitors to take a tour of our museum with virtual reality headsets, look closely at the objects from different angles and click on their icons to know about their significance,” says Gurinder Singh Mann, SMI director.“Even the relics that are lost or inaccessible can be brought alive digitally,” say Mann and 3D artist Taran Singh, who both delivered a lecture on ‘Sikh Relics and Artefacts: From the past to the technological future’ at the ongoing ‘Festival of Thetford and Punjab’ in England. The lecture was part of the commemoration of Maharaja Duleep Singh’s 125th death anniversary.Mann explains how these items made it to Britain: “After the Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845-49) and the annexation of Punjab, the Sikh treasuries at Lahore and Amritsar were taken over by the East India Company. Governor General Lord Dalhousie entrusted Maharaja Duleep Singh’s guardian John Login with making an inventory of the artefacts. Some objects were sold off, while the most important ones were handpicked by Lord Dalhousie to be sent to England.”According to Taran Singh, the ability to recreate and share artefacts in digital form and make them available via modern technology will give future generations of Sikhs rare access to pieces of their history.The SMI is keen on extending the project to other countries, including India, depending on the funding. “Our online museum model has the potential of being replicated in Punjab, which has a rich collection of Sikh relics,” says Mann.3D wizardry at work, step by step

1. Reference material on the artefact is collected and examined; if the object is accessible, it is photographed or scanned and then processed digitally
2. Basic 3D model is created to correct size and proportions of the object
3. The model is subdivided and extra surface detail is added; realistic texture maps are created to wrap around the surface
4. It is exported to various detail levels, according to the platform it will be used on (mobile, online)
5. The model is imported into a game engine; interaction is programmed for touchscreens or input devices

New Delhi, July 12

The Indian Air Force (IAF) faced the ire of the Delhi High Court on Thursday for confining one of its non-commissioned officers, a corporal, to a psychiatric ward for over two months, because he was an alcoholic and suffered from mental disorders.A Bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel questioned the rationale behind the IAF’s decision, asking how it determined on a daily basis that the corporal still “craved for alcohol”.The court also said the newly-enacted Mental Health Act made it clear that a person could not be forced to undergo treatment without his consent, adding that the IAF “cannot ignore the laws of the country”.Terming the conduct of the IAF “irresponsible”, the Bench wondered how many of such cases there might be, which were yet to be highlighted.“How were you determining on a daily basis that his craving for alcohol had not gone down? What tests were conducted by you? This is completely irresponsible. We wonder how many such cases are there.“This is a clear case where a man is saying he has been detained without consent. Under the new Mental Health Act, you cannot force him to undergo treatment without his consent. Then how are you pumping him full of drugs? We do not know who should be proceeded against,” the Bench said.It added that the IAF needed to be reminded not to interfere with a person’s liberty as “short of chaining him up, everything else was done here” and directed that the corporal be produced in court tomorrow.According to the IAF, represented by the Centre’s standing counsel, Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj, the action against the corporal was taken on a complaint from his wife that he turned violent after consuming alcohol.Bhardwaj said the corporal, Kriyad Yogesh Bhankhariya, had alcohol dependency issues for which he was initially treated in the psychiatric ward of the Army Base Hospital here and thereafter, in June, he was shifted to the medical centre at the Tughlakabad Air Force Station.The court said if the non-commissioned officer (NCO) was an alcoholic, then the IAF ought to have sought the help of the “Alcoholics Anonymous” on how to deal with the matter as any psychiatric would confirm that confinement of a person was advisable only in extreme cases.“It is worrying, the manner in which you have approached the situation,” the Bench told the IAF.The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the 30-year-old corporal’s father, claiming that his son was being illegally confined at the Army Base Hospital. —PTI

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 8

Six months after the Ministry of Defence decided on promotions, status and functioning of its civilian officers, the matter has raised its head again as armed forces have conveyed their displeasure about a “fresh attempt” to create “false equivalence” between military officers and civilians, saying the latter are support staff.Top sources have confirmed that the matter is in the notice of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.The civilian officers are under the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQ-CS). Their cadre — some 3,000 strong now — was created in 1968 as a support cadre comprising direct recruits at lower administrative level to the MoD. They are not from the IAS or allied services.On January 4 this year, the MoD, after instructions from Sitharaman, issued a letter saying the “cadre restructuring (re-jig of posts) of the AFHQ, as approved by the Union Cabinet, would be implemented. Designations will be created in consultation with the armed forces. Local designations assigned to armed forces and civilian officers stood withdrawn”.Sources said additional higher posts of AFHQ cadre — who are supposed to only support in administrative work — are another attempt at “false equivalence” with the military.The armed forces have questioned the creation of so many additional ranks at the senior levels — seven Principal Director (deemed equal to Brigadier) and 36 Directors (deemed just below Colonel).The Army’s note on the subject has termed the new posts “without any functional requirement given by user (Army)”. Already 89 posts are surplus, says the Army note.Sources said it has been conveyed if AFHQ cadre has to be given a status, it has to be as per the warrant of precedence issued by the Home Ministry.Displeasure conveyed 

• Around six months ago the MoD decided on promotions, status and functioning of its civilian officers
• The armed forces have conveyed displeasure over a “fresh attempt” to create “false equivalence” between military officers and civilians, saying the latter are support staff

THE recent attack on a 52-year-old ex-serviceman, Jasbir Singh, of Noordi village by “drug peddlers” had sent shock waves across the state but the villagers have a different story to tell. They say that the victim had been at loggerheads with some people over an old dispute related to a village street.

Most of the villagers say that Jasbir Singh, after being attacked, tried to give the whole issue a different look.It may be recalled that after sustaining severe leg injuries, the victim had released a video clip in which he blamed the state government for the rampant drug peddling in the state. Criticising the state government, he had demanded a strict action against the errants. Later, several leaders came to meet him and had an interaction with villagers who told them the story.Besides, local residents say that drug problem is there in the region and the robust network of drug peddlers is such that they establish contact with addicts to sell intoxicants easily and even the police are not able to trace them.

The drug sellers are not even aware of the identity of the people from whom they get the contraband for sale to addicts in their respective areas. Whatever the issue is, the assault is a blot on the face of the village which is rich from the historical and cultural perspective. Earlier, the village was known as Kila Kavi Santokh Singh village, named after Maha Kavi Santokh Singh (October 8, 1787 to October 19, 1843). He has been the author of six great literary works, including Naam Kosh, Guru Nanak Parkash, Garb Ganjani Teeka and Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth. Katha from Gur Partap Suraj Granth is performed at certain gurdwaras in the evening every day. The home where Bhai Santokh Singh was born has been converted in to a gurdwara after his name by Baba Jagtar Singh of Tarn Taran.The village was founded by a ruler, Noordeen, who ordered construction of a well-equipped sarai (inn) but the work hit a roadblock due to the shortage of Nanak Shahi Brick, another term for decorative brick used in the Mughal era. At the same time, fifth Sikh Master, Guru Arjan Dev, took up the construction of the holy sarovar on the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran where no brick shortage was there. Employees of Noordeen suggested him to bring brick from Tarn  Taran, meant for the construction of sarovar, much to the chagrin of the followers of Guru Arjan Dev.

Anti-encroachment campaign left midway

The anti-encroachment drive launched two weeks ago by the authorities concerned was left midway after an RTI activist raised questions on their functioning. The move was launched on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Rajnish Arora.Officials of the local Municipal Council were also involved in the drive. On the very first day of the drive, around 63 violators issued challans and a fine of Rs 29,000 was imposed on them. Shopkeepers and roadside vendors had lodged their protest, accusing the authorities of uprooting them “unncessarily”.RTI activist Heera Singh, who has been running his commercial establishment alongside the Amritsar-Ferozepur road, was fined Rs 500 for encroaching a portion of the road. He demanded information from the administration about the drive, stating that the road where the violation had been reported belonged to the Public Works Department (PWD) whereas the fine was imposed by the  Municipal Council. He sought to know if the council had the power to fine him. Since then, no official has been seen conducting the drive. A similar drive was taken up last year as well but it bore no fruit as residents showed their resentment and MLA Dr Dharambeer Agnihotri assured them that they wouldn’t be harassed. Encroachments have become a headache for the district.

Contributed by Gurbax Puri

Pakistan PM-elect Imran Khan’s advocacy for a peaceful dialogue with India eschewing old issues has been appreciated by separatists and pro-India groups but hardliners do not share their exuberance in his win

Zafar Meraj
A J&K-based senior journalist The first speech of Imran Khan as Pakistan’s Prime Minister-elect, especially his remarks about resolving the decades-old Kashmir issue, amicably and at the dialogue table, has rekindled the hope of peace among the people here. For almost after over a decade, to be precise after the exit of President Pervez Musharraf from the political scene, it is the first time that any Pakistani politician of significance has expressed his readiness to enter into a direct dialogue with New Delhi on Kashmir and is not talking about UN resolutions and self-determination.Even though news and other TV channels beamed from across the border are banned by the authorities in Kashmir, the people here, keen to know about the developments in Pakistan, watch these channels with internet.On Thursday, as most of the opposition parties questioned the poll results amidst allegations of large-scale rigging, Imran Khan made a “victory speech”, giving broad hints of the policies he envisages for the new government on national and international issues. In the course of his speech, Khan, while talking about his country’s relations with the neighbouring India, made a special mention of Kashmir, terming it as the “biggest contention” between the two countries. “I am saying with conviction that it is important for the subcontinent that our issues are resolved. This can only be done through dialogue,” he said. Advocating a peaceful dialogue with New Delhi, Imran said: “We are stuck at square one. If India comes and takes one step towards us, we will take two steps toward them.”His remarks have been appreciated by almost all political players in Kashmir, from separatists to pro-Indian groups, with the hope that better sense will prevail in the two countries and they restart the suspended dialogue process to bring an end to the issue that has led to a large-scale bloodbath in the valley. From moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Farooq to National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, Kashmiri politicians have welcomed Khan’s statement amidst hope that a new era of peace dawns in the subcontinent. Mirwaiz in his tweet said:  “We welcome the statement of PTI chief Imran Khan calling for resolution of Kashmir dispute through dialogue in view of huge human cost of this long-standing dispute, especially being borne by the people of Kashmir. Hope the two neighbours give real peace a chance.”Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah re-tweeted many comments on Pakistani election results. Another former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed hope that the election would lead to a stable government as a democratic Pakistan is in the best interests of its neighbourhood, especially India. A senior separatist leader, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, called Imran’s statement as a “positive start”. “I am always an optimistic person. The people of Pakistan have chosen him. I don’t doubt the sense of judgment of the people of Pakistan,” said the professor who is a former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of over a dozen separatist groups. Farooq Abdullah called Imran’s statement that he wanted to have a cordial, friendly relationship with India as “kind-hearted”, adding that “we want him to implement what he is saying.”Pro-independence JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, while welcoming Khan’s statement, chose the occasion to recall his intimate relations with Imran and his concern for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.  Malik said that in October, 2005, when a devastating earthquake hit Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, Imran Khan, who was then struggling to make his mark on the country’s political landscape, “spent Eid with victims in Pakistan-administered Kashmir along with me.” Yasin Malik said he accompanied the cricketer-turned-politician and some well-known stars from the Pakistan film industry and singers to various refugee camps and spent time with children to express solidarity with them.”There was devastation all around. I, along with Imran Khan and Pakistan film stars and singers, spent two nights in tents in our effort to bring a smile on the faces of people,” Malik told the Greater Kashmir.According to Malik, they played a cricket match in one of the quake-affected areas. During the match, Khan bowled to Malik while film stars and singers played as fielders. Malik had met Khan at Islamabad and jointly addressed a press conference, talking about their plans to spend Eid and some days with the quake sufferers.  Khan, according to Malik, drove him from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad.  However, the hardline section of Kashmiri separatists, led by octogenarian Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has remain guarded, refusing to make any direct comment on the statement made by Imran Khan. A spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Geelani, maintained that the party would react to Imran’s statement in a day or two after he formally forms the government. “We will issue a statement about it. Let’s wait for some time,” he said.Appreciation for Imran Khan’s statement apart, the rejection of right wing extremists’ forces in the Pakistan elections has also been welcomed here. Mehbooba Mufti said, “It is heartening to know that the people of Pakistan have rejected extremist forces in the elections. That is the strength of democracy.”A prominent netizen, Mohammad Afaq Sayeed, while commenting on the defeat of Islamic parties in the election wrote on Facebook: “Despite forming an absolute alliance, cumulative of all Islamic parties is stagnant at just 6 seats. Pakistan has never voted religious parties in. That is the most significant difference between Pakistani democracy and Indian democracy.”However, a senior leader of the pro-Pakistan Jamat Islami, Zahid Ali, stirred a controversy when he said that “Pakistan has rejected Islam” by not voting Islamist parties to power. “Pakistani people proved beyond doubt that they never like Islamic system of life though they call themselves MUSLIMS! Virtually they inadvertently rejected Islam,” Zahid, who is also the spokesman of the party in Jammu and Kashmir, wrote on his Facebook official account.Zahid’s remarks came in for sharp criticism by netizens, with a senior teacher reminding Zahid that his counterparts in Pakistan have been part of different coalitions, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Imran’s PTI is in power. “Absurd comment; voting or no voting for a party does not mean rejection of Islam,” he said.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sorted out two long-standing issues impacting promotions of jawans and status of junior commissioned officers (JCO’s) in the Army.The ministry, on Wednesday, issued an order allowing the career progression scheme for jawans to be applicable from January 1, 2006, and not September 1, 2008. Under the modified assured career-progression scheme, a sepoy gets promoted as Naik after eight years of service; as Havildar after 16 years of service and Naib Subedar after 24 years of service.This will mean faster promotions for those who were eligible as on that date. The move will also enhance pension for the beneficiaries. In another important step, the MoD has withdrawn its letter that did not permit “gazetted officer” status to JCOs.There are around 64,000 personnel of the JCO or equivalent rank in the Air Force and the Navy. They are promoted from among the jawans and hold an important position in each battalion of the Army.The MoD, in order last week, has withdrawn its letter dated June 14 that considered an Army headquarters request on the grant of status to JCO and non-productivity-linked bonus. It said, “There does not appear any specific order establishing the status of JCOs.” The same has now been withdrawn.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12

Almost 18 months after the Ministry of Defence gave the nod to get 464 new tanks of the T-90 series, the deal is set to be finalised and an order to be placed for making these tanks in India.The T-90 is a Russian tank manufactured at Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Some parts of this war-machine will come from Russia to be integrated here.The Rs 3,500-crore project to add these 464 tanks has been sent for formal approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Defence Acquisition Council in the MoD had cleared the purchase in November 2016.These tanks will be deployed on the western borders with Pakistan. These will form 10 new regiments, equipped with latest thermal imaging night sights and better firing abilities. India has already inducted some 1,100 T-90 tanks.Indian Army has a 3,000-strong tank fleet — primarily T-90 and T-72. The T-90 deal was with Russia in 1999 for supply of 310 tanks. Later, the production of 1000 tanks was okayed. In the past, the local production of the tank faced problems over escalating cost and quality. The Avadi factory that is under the Ordnance Factory Board has tied up with leading Indian manufacturers for several components. The tanks are considered to be most advanced in the Indian inventory as they are equipped with sophisticated equipment.

Our Correspondent

Nurpur July 2

Ardhya Mishra, a student of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania Government College, Dehri in Nurpur, has brought laurels to the college after securing the prestigious senior under officer ranking in the Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC) of the NCC unit in Chamba district. She has been adjudged best cadet of the NCC in the CATC among 500 cadets.Ashith Mishra, principal of the college, said Ardhya had been outperforming in the NCC, Rover Rangers Unit and the National Service Scheme in the college for the past two years. “Recently she has participated in the inter-university water sports competition in the Regional Water Sports Centre, Pong Reservoir, on behalf of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla,” he said. Ardhya had also participated in national-level trekking camp held in Baijnath in May this year.