Amidst COVID-19 outbreak, Namaste most preferred form of pleasantry

Coronavirus has been labelled pandemic. With over 200,000 cases and 8,000 deaths, the virus has scared the world. Since making a cure or vaccine could take 1-2 years, precautionary measures are being given more importance now more than ever.

As the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SAES-CoV-2) continues to evolve, the world is taking the Namaste route. If there is one country which maintains hygiene and respect, it's our beloved “India”.



Traditionally, we have always greeted our elders, seniors or peers with Namaste. It is not only respectful and an ideal way of exchanging pleasantries but it also reduces physical contact with others, and hence can reduce the spread of the virus, says Sanjay Dalmia, Chairman of Dalmia Group of Companies.

Many public figures like Prince Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, among others, were seen switching to Namaste. Not just that, they have now also urged their countrymen to adopt to this healthy practice in place of modern-day hugs and handshakes.

The threat is real

Though the efforts to prevent spread like imposing travel restrictions, quarantines, curfews have been made by the world, it’s not sufficient. The threat of the virus is real, and is only expected to grow in the time to come. There needs to be more preventive measures besides hand washing, covering the mouth when coughing, and self-isolation.

Namaste, a healthier way

“For years, the western world has looked down upon us, for our racial differences and practices which for them are not very idealistic and old-age. But now when the time has come to fight the contagious virus, they are adapting to our practice. I appreciate this move by the world leaders as Namaste, does not require touching another and only involves joining your own two palms together- a clean way to greet and meet,” says Sanjay Dalmia.

As the world grapples with the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Namaste is being increasingly accepted as a simpler and healthier way of exchanging pleasantries. The Indian way of greeting has now become the world's favourite. Let’s hope it helps in saving lives across the world.

Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Is turning reality into myth our biggest modern-day failure?

The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence either on Ram Navmi or Akshaya Tritiya in April, said Swami Govind Devgiri Maharaj, a trustee of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, while talking to the reporters on 6th February 2020. This announcement comes after the Supreme Court of India ordered the disputed land (2.77 acres) to be handed over to a trust to build the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Is Ayodhya really a mythical city-state?

Anyone who has been to Ayodhya or has read about it in the books would identify it as the birthplace of Lord Ram. He is regarded as the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, the most popular incarnation besides Buddha and Krishna. In Ram-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being. Alongside this, his references are also found in the texts of other Sanatana dharma like Jainism and Buddhism.

Such is the story of this legend that every Indian, be it a kid, elder or a working professional, knows about him and that he was born in Ayodhya.

In spite of that, there is not a single temple site dedicated to Ram at his own birthplace. Though our country is secular in nature and has always respected other cultures and religions since the ancient times, no matter how different they are in principles, yet not acknowledging the contributions of our ancestors and turning reality into myth has been one of our biggest modern-day failures, believes Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned Indian Nationalist.

Is Supreme Court's recent decision justified?

(Looks Majestic right? This is Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Mohammad)

(Looks surreal, doesn’t it? This is Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ)

( Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram)

In spite of being in such a state of affairs, when Indian top court gave the disputed site to Hindus, there were mixed reactions. If there is one institution in India which always takes decisions backed with facts, it is the judicial court. In a unanimous decision over the site claimed by both Indus and Muslims, the five-judge bench asked the government to set up a trust for the construction of Ram temple.

What does the evidence suggest?

Archaeological evidence suggests that the site had a temple structure prior to the building of the mosque. Furthermore, all Persian, Arabic and Urdu history such as Tarik-e-Avdi shows that Babar destroyed Ram Mandir. Even if one overlooks such medieval writings, they can refer to the constitution of India, which contains the painting of Lord Ram, signifying his importance in Indian culture.

Does a place of worship take precedence over basic necessities?

There were some sections of the society, who questioned the decision and asked for the land to be used for hospitals or schools. Such type of statements can only come from people who aren’t aware of their history. It’s true that we need a more holistic approach to eradicate poverty and chronic diseases in our country but that cannot take precedence over the cultural values.

Even after years of invasions and being under repressive foreign rulers, we Indians have preserved our culture. Our ethnicity, culture is what separates us from the rest of the world. An Indian living in London would always remain an Indian, even if he/she gets the citizenship. No matter how strongly one tries to blend in, they can never leave this behind, says Sanjay Dalmia.

Whether it would be a world-class tourist destination or not, only time will tell, but such landmark decisions in Independent India is a testament of how strong our foundations have been. It may not happen overnight but the truth would always prevail. If we can have airports, railways stations and other public places named after politicians, we can certainly have a site dedicated to Lord Ram. 

Not isolating but integrating cultural values of Tribal communities to help conserve wildlife in India

Did you ever visit the Indian Metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bengaluru or Mumbai about 10-15 years ago? How good did it feel to visit a city as developed as New Delhi? The amenities such as rising infrastructure, transportation made everyone crave for a piece of land in these urban zones. Compare it with the current situation and you would realize how in the name of modernization we have disrupted the country's natural ecosystem.

The recent initiatives by the government of India thus point towards the involvement of local tribe communities to ensure that humans and animals coexist peacefully.

"We borrowed the idea of national park, thinking it will protect wildlife. But there are a lot of issues about people in national parks," said Aiyadurai, assistant professor of Social Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar.

On the other hand, Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned nationalist, believes that it was the British Empire that caused the stir which continues to this day. To establish their control over the regions like Bengal, Maharashtra, Britishers with their despotic laws and regulations, started transferring tribal land to the outsiders like merchants and moneylenders.

From Santhal Rebellion to the Ramosi Uprising, conservative tribal population decided to retain control over their rights. They fought to eliminate evils and ill-tendencies that existed in the British Era. Modern India does continue to reward their bravery, however the current deteriorating wildlife is a sign of why it is necessary to rehabilitate the modern tribesmen to avert more damage to the wildlife, Dalmia added.

Apparently, the people living in cities take part in conservation drives without knowing the ground realities. They wouldn't know about the realities that forest dwellers or tribal are generally affected by. For instance, a forest dweller needs to collect fuel wood for the purpose of cooking, whereas people living in the cities have access to LPG, a clean cooking fuel. This is one of the many examples and can generally be referred to as the “primitive way of living”.

"Poor people in India are depending on forests for water, fuel wood, and even homes," Aiyadurai said. Rather than isolating these communities, cultural values of these people need to be collaborated with the scientific management.

This old-age fundamentalist idea of ignoring the tribal communities needs to end. The current government has undertaken several progressive steps already. If it can help rehabilitate the tribal community back to national parks, it won't just complement their means of living but would also help in the conservation of wildlife, deems Sanjay Dalmia.

Despite being the world's largest monolithic structure, Why "Kailasa Temple" isn't regarded as one of India's greatest architectural marvel?

If culture and heritage were a currency, we would be the richest country in the world. That said, our land was once referred to as "Sone Ki Chidiya". However years of colonization, conquests and wars led to a decline in wealth, which to this day affects our nation.

Through all of these, one thing that has remained constant is the architectural and artistic prowess. From mighty South Indian temples, to non-corrosive Iron Pillar, Indian architectural marvels have stood the test of time— a testament of great artistry that ancient India possessed.

One such fine example is Kailasa Temple, an ancient Hindu temple in Maharashtra. It has been dubbed as "Cave 16" of the Ellora Caves, and is notable for being the largest monolithic structure in the world that was carved out of a single piece of rock. This beautiful temple is part of the Ellora Caves, which is a religious complex consisting of 34 rock-cut monasteries and temples.

Temple construction:

The construction of the Kailasa temple is attributed to the eighth century Rashtrakuta King Krishna I. In addition to this, the temple also has other influences as its architectural and sculptural treatment show traces of Pallava and Chalukya styles.

As per an estimate, about 200,000 tons of rock were excavated out of a vertical basalt cliff in the Charanandri Hills.

India shouldn't just be known for TajMahal as our country has a lot to offer in architecture and Kailasa Temple is one such beautiful and remarkable sculptural treatment. The temple is designed to represent the sacred mountain of Shiva and the interiors of it exhibit the qualitative and intricate designing skills of ancient India, says Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned nationalist.

The intricate sculptures and carvings:

Where on one hand the exterior designing details of the temple can make any one wonder about the beautiful craftsmanship of ancient India, on the other the interior detailing can leave even the greatest designers and architects astounded.

For instance, in the main courtyard, there is an image of Nandi, the sacred cow of Shiva, who's facing the Shivalinga. Additionally, some of the carved panels in Kailasa temple depict scenes from the two major Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

There have been numerous attempt made by invaders, especially Aurangzeb to destroy the temple. However, even his ill-fated, evil intentions, which caused destructions of countless Hindu temples in the past, couldn't move this mighty structure, adds Sanjay Dalmia.

India is truly a land of great cultural significance and despite of multiple invasions and loot by foreign invaders, our ancient structures stand to this day. It's because of their timeless beauty, invaluable craft that these structures should be paid more visits by Indians and foreigners alike.

Eccentric case of -60° C & Avalanche: Saga of Indian soldier’s life in world’s highest battlefield

New Year is approaching and within a few days, the Northern part of the country would come under the grip of the coldest month of the year, January. While winters are yet to hit its peak, last few days have rather been about cold-waves, bringing the mercury down to as low as 10 C in North Indian states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Harayana, etc.

The national capital, in general, continues to shiver and as per Regional Meteorological Centre, the temperature was the second-lowest since 1992. Where, on one hand, people are taking every precautionary measure to prevent themselves from catching cold at just 10°c, on the other, we have our soldiers protecting the nation in conditions 10 times harsher than this. One of it is Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. It is the same place where eggs and tomatoes turn into stones.  

Due to sub-zero temperatures that dip below -60 degrees, coupled with the constant threat of avalanches, crevasses, life is tough at the Siachen glacier. Leave alone fighting and keeping a constant check on the potential threats, a common man wouldn't even be able to sleep in such conditions.

Importance of Siachen:

The glacier demarcates Central Asia from the Indian subcontinent and separates two of its neighbors China and Pakistan. The Saltoro Ridge of the Siachen glacier serves as a divide that prevents direct linking of POK with China, stopping them from developing geographical linkages in the area. "India already faces a huge threat from China Occupied Aksai Chin, and if it weren't for Indian Army, Pakistan would have gained the location advantage here," says Sanjay Dalmia, who is a renowned nationalist and a proud Indian.

He further adds, "Our soldiers continue to lose their lives protecting the glacier from Pakistani sponsored terrorism and just a few days ago, six people, including four Indian Army personnel and two civilian porters, were killed. This shows how difficult the conditions are up there and how we Indians must be respectful and show our gratitude towards such remarkable valor."

Additionally, soldiers deployed in the area are affected by a number of fatal altitude-related ailments like frostbite, hypoxia, hypothermia and white out.

The Legend who secured Siachen for India:

Pakistan was first to see the potential of this strategically-important unoccupied area and had it not for one exemplary and intelligent effort, India would have lost out on a great strategic point. It was owing to the mountaineering experience and sensibility that Colonel Narendra Kumar was able to gain control of the glacier. He is also known as "Bull" Kumar in the world of the Indian Armed Forces. One of the key installations in Siachen is named Kumar Base after him.

Amidst such uncertainties and difficulties, our Veer Jawans are stationed so that our countrymen can remain safe and live peacefully. This selfless, never dying attitude is what makes a soldier, a man of principles.

"You have never lived until you have almost died, And for those who choose to fight, Life has a special favor, The protected will never know!!!"- Capt. R Subramanium Kriti Chakra (Posth).

Efficacy of our democracy: Be conscious of your fundamental rights but acknowledge fundamental duties enshrined in constitution as well!

With India on a transitional phase from a developing to the developed nation, meeting the growing aspirations of people is the foremost priority of the sitting government. From good education, to jobs, to freedom of expression/ opinion, to right to equality, young India demands better all-round development, also referred to as “fundamental rights”.

Criticizing the national policies, questioning the Supreme Court decisions, are all considered to be the traits of Fundamental rights and expression, enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India. Today's education system is built on the premise that nothing is bigger than your rights, which is true, in fact, everyone should be aware of their rights.

However, there is a fine line between constructive criticism and destructive criticism. What the current Indian generation doesn’t realize is that in the name of freedom of expression, they're also trying to break the principles, ideals and years of sacrifice of the prominent leaders that formed this nation. From not standing up for the national anthem to disrespecting the national flag, to sympathizing with Kashmiri separatist or Maoists, to disrespecting Indian security forces, the Indian media has managed to divide opinions in the name of fundamental rights.

We often hear about activists or common people fighting for their human rights. But what are these rights? And who gave us these rights? Have you ever thought about such factors? It would be interesting to highlight it to the current generation that Fundamental Rights are not god gifted as they were created as a part of the constitution after years of discussion and study by the constituent assembly. They were created to abolish inequality, religious prosecution, among others, in an Independent India. However, the recent misinterpretation by some section of the society couldn’t have any wrong.

That said, one thing that is respected the most by all sections in India is its constitution. The same constitution that also speaks of the Fundamental duties as well. They're incorporated to remind every citizen that they shouldn't only be conscious of their rights but their duties as well. The only clause that separates it from the fundamental rights is that it's not enforceable by law, however if the state wants, it can implement it.

It was the 42nd Amendment of 1976 that introduced Fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution. It strictly holds that it shall be the duty of every Indian citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, among others.

If one studies them all closely, they would realize the importance of such duties. Governments may come and go; law implemented today may not remain tomorrow; however one thing that should never be disrespected is the country. It’s the very soil that supports 1.3 billion people of the world, the same soil which despite encountering multiple invasions and years of repression, remains fertile and continues to channel fresh water sources, says Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned nationalist.

Law should be equal for all; every Indian citizen has a constitutional right to ask questions to the government and scrutinize its policies in every possible manner. However, the same approach shouldn’t be extended to the National Anthem, National Flag, as these are few of the things that continue to unite our nation, despite of co-existence of people from different caste, creed, ethnicity, religion, etc.

Don’t compromise on the national identity. The government, judges, police, they all are a part of the same society and they all come from us. If there is something wrong with them, then it is perhaps our own approach to life, where we always look for shortcuts to resolve the matter. Respect the nation, be conscious of your fundamental rights and do acknowledge your fundamental duties as only then can this nation avert prospective threats and prosper in the long run.

Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!  

Vijay Diwas: When Indian Armed Forces liberated Bangladesh from clutches of Pakistani tyranny

While people of East Pakistan were rejoicing at their victory over West Pakistan, it was a proud moment for the Indian Army as well. It was on 16 December 1971 that the Indian Army liberated Bangladesh from the clutches of Pakistani tyranny and exploitation with its valor and courage.

The end of war brought different dimensions as subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh proved to be rather decisive in the South Asian region. Due to this, every year on 16 December, India pays rich tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the war.

How seeds of war were sown?

Though the war between the two countries started when Pakistan launched air strikes on 11 Indian airbases, seeds for it were sown long time ago. Following the partition of India, the new state of Pakistan represented a geographical anomaly, with two wings separated by 1,600 kilometers of Indian Territory. The wings were more separated culturally than geographically. People of East Pakistan were considered to be inferior and impure.

Slow reaction to the 1970 Bhola cyclone, ban on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League and reported killing of about three million of East Pakistanis by General Yahya Khan (Operation Searchlight) led to widespread protests and attacks by Bengali.

When Indian Armed Forces came into action:

When millions of East Pakistanis were indiscriminately being killed by Pakistani military, India finally made a choice to save lives. The latter quickly responded to Pakistan Army's movements in the East and captured around 15,010 kilometers of Pakistan territory. The 1971 war was concluded in just 13 days, one of the shortest wars in history— testament to the courage, valor and spirit of the Indian Armed forces.

On 16th December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the allied forces of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini. Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned nationalist and a proud Indian, says that if it weren't for our Indian Army, millions of lives more would have been lost in Bangladesh. He further adds, in spite of limited sources, our Jawans fought together, to liberate Bangladesh from the clutches of Pakistani tyranny.

Many soldiers laid down their lives during the 1971 war. Vijay Diwas is a constant reminder of the sacrifice and morality of our Jawans, who have and can do anything to save our country, and if the need be, its neighbors as well— a true example of the moral and ethical values of  our Armed forces!