Gods don't die. Neither do they wither away

Gods don't die. Neither do they wither away, leaving behind a wailing legion of the abandoned. Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in his own words, was God, like everyone else who queued up outside his Abode of Peace for a darshan of the divine. The difference between him and those who basked in his halo was that he knew he was the One but others didn't. On Easter Sunday in Puttaparthi, Baba's monumental township in Andhra Pradesh and a destination as sought after as the Vatican, when he breathed his last at the age of 85, the faithful didn't see it as death. It was not a full stop but a pause in the cosmic narrative of reincarnations. It was just a bodily transference, a passage to the highest realm, though, in his departure, he couldn't keep the deadline he had set for himself: Baba's vital organs failed 11 years before schedule. On the day Jesus resurrected, one of the world's most popular-and the richest-preachers left the stage he held for almost seven decades with a rare magnetism that brought the poorest and the privileged, rulers and tycoons, stars and statesmen, the ailing and the assorted salvation junkies from around the world to his feet. The self-chosen deliverer of peace and love, the highest guru and the sovereign lord and the best friend for his devotees in millions, is gone. The aura remains. So does the empire built on his charisma.

Like every other legend in the marketplace of soul therapy, the first line of the Sathya Sai Baba legend was written by Baba himself. It began on a day in November 85 years ago in the village of Puttaparthi, where Sathyanarayana Raju was born with special spiritual powers. He was a guru before he became an adult, and at the age of 14, he realised he was no ordinary mortal but an avatar-an incarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi (1835 to 1918). This self-anointment was the beginning of a life whose influence would spread far beyond Puttaparthi. His voluminous frizzy hair as distinctive as his flowing orange robes, the diminutive Baba matched his spiritual powers with his social commitment. As healer, preacher, and a benevolent lord of miracles, he did not follow any particular faith but stressed the five pillars of humanity in his teachings: truth, moral conduct, peace, love and non-violence.

In the end, it is miracles that make the story of gods and saints enduring. Sai Baba did more than produce holy ashes and Swiss-made watches out of thin air. His contributions in health, education and drinking water are his lasting miracles that continue to change the lives of thousands. Still, unholy traits have been attributed to Baba by his critics and professional rationalists who called him a trickster. Controversies did not diminish his charisma. On Sunday, when he bowed out of the world's biggest empire of faith, estimated to be worth more than $8 billion, Sathya Sai Baba did achieve more than any other holy man in this age: he struck a fine balance between the spiritual and the social.

Daughter in the Jail

The chargeseet naming DMK MP Kanimozhi as a co-conspirator in the 2G scam has created a sharp rift within the DMK-Congress alliance. Fuming at the inclusion of his favourite daughter's name, M. Karunanidhi had to be placated into not withdrawing support to the upa Government. If the DMK pulls out its 18 MPs, the UPA will be reduced to a minority. Both M.K. Azhagiri and M.K. Stalin advised their father not to create "political turmoil". Karunanidhi's grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran also agreed. They told Karunanidhi to wait for the Assembly results on May 13. In case the DMK lost the state, then it made no sense to lose its bargaining power at the Centre as well. Karunanidhi was forced to abandon his daughter in favour of pragmatic politics.

Hours before the chargesheet was filed on April 25, the Tamil Nadu chief minister was asked about the possibility of Kanimozhi being named as an accused. "Being a woman how can you ask such a question?" he said. He then went to the New Secretariat building along with his son, Deputy Chief Minister Stalin and key lieutenants-Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy and Law Minister Durai Murugan. He then spent a while staring blankly at fish swimming in an aquarium at the new secretariat building, waiting for the chargesheet. The octogenarian leader usually spends time at this aquarium when he is depressed.

The 48-page supplementary chargesheet in the 2G case alleges that Kanimozhi acted as a co-conspirator along with former telecom minister A. Raja to transfer a Rs 214-crore kickback to Kalaignar TV in which she has a 20 per cent stake. The money is traced through a circuitous route to DB Realty. While Kalaignar TV claims that this was a loan, the chargesheet states that "this was not a genuine business transaction but was in the nature of illegal gratification" paid in lieu of telecom licences being granted to Swan Telecom, a joint venture of DB Realty. The 'loan' has since been paid back but the refund coincided with CBI summons to Raja in December 2010.

No case has been registered against Dayalu, the chief minister's 80-year-old second wife and mother of Stalin and Azhagiri. She owns 60 per cent share in Kalaignar TV. According to the chargesheet, at a July 27, 2007 board meeting, Dayalu had stated that due to her old age, deterioriating health and the fact that she only understood Tamil, she would attend meetings only for purposes of quorum and nothing else. The BJP is not amused and talks of a deal between the Congress and dmk for leaving out Dayalu's name. Another exclusion that is raising eyebrows is that of lobbyist Niira Radia. However CBI sources claim that she is a witness in the case and the reason why her name was left out is that no bribes can be traced to her.

Karunanidhi is under pressure from his family not to take on the Congress. A day before the charge-sheet was filed, an emotional Azhagiri had told some of his aides, "Why should I remain a minister if my mother is charged as an accused." The exclusion of his mother's name has cooled down his ardour to cut ties with the Congress. He is also worried that if the DMK pulled out of the UPA, then his mother's name could figure in a third chargesheet.

The DMK held a high-level meeting at its party headquarters on April 27. Kanimozhi initially refused to attend. Karunanidhi had to travel all the way from his official residence and pleaded with her to come for the meeting. Clad in a light orange coloured saree, she was unusually reticent with the media. "Why do you want my visuals?" she asked photographers. After the meeting Kanimozhi said, "Whatever questions you have, ask the chief minister. I will face it (the charges) legally."

The meeting was called to express party support for Kanimozhi and satisfy her mother Rajathi, who reportedly yelled at Karunanidhi for not negotiating with the Congress to save her daughter. The meeting reiterated the party's stand that the Rs 214 crore Kalaignar TV transaction was only a loan. The resolution passed at the meeting simply said that Kanimozhi being named in the chargesheet was merely an attempt to defame the DMK.

A gleeful AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa has demanded that Kalaignar TV be shut down. "Karunanidhi and his entire family should be chargesheeted," she said while expressing surprise as to why Dayalu's name had been left out. Adds CPI General Secretary D. Raja, "DMK has reached ideological bankruptcy and is in a crisis. It is in the quagmire of corruption. Its leader Karunanidhi is facing a personality crisis because of corruption."

Azhagiri is believed to have asked Karunanidhi to calm down since they could fight the Kanimozhi case legally. "This is not an embarrassment for the party. We will not face any embarrassment," Karunanidhi told the media. When asked if Kanimozhi would move an anticipatory bail petition, he said that the legal team would take care of it. He issued a separate statement defending his daughter. However, for the moment, the defence will be legal and not political.

Kanimozhi has been summoned to the courts on May 6. If she is arrested and the party loses the election, the DMK would hit an all time low.

HPPSC Syllabus for Civil Services Examination

It is for the information of all concerned that a new system for conducting HPAS Combined Competitive (Preliminary) examination-2010 has been introduced from this year. 

There will be 02 papers for HPAS (Preliminary) Examination, one is General Studies and another is of General Aptitude Test. Both the papers will be of 200 marks each containing 100 questions of multiple choice objective type and time duration will be of 02 hours.

The syllabus has been adopted as per UPSC pattern and also includes questions on Himachal Pradesh and is given as under:- 

 Paper –I General Studies (Code No.01)

This paper shall be of 200 marks and there shall be 100 objective type (Multiple choice) questions from the syllabus of History, geography, political, art & culture and socio economic development of Himachal Pradesh. Current events of national and international importance. History of India and Indian national movement. Indian and World Geographyphysical, social, economic geography of India and the world. 

Indian polity and governance – Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights issues, etc. Economic and social development – sustainable development poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector nitiatives, etc. General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science; 

 Paper -II Aptitude Test (Code No.02)

 This paper shall be of 200 marks and in this paper there shall be 100 objective type (multiple choice) questions from the Comprehension, Interpersonal skills including communication skills, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Decision making and problem solving, General mental ability, Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).English Language comprehension skills (Class X level). 

It is further added that there will be provision for penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the objective type questions papers from this year:-

 (i) There are four alternatives for the answer to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

 (ii) If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happen to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question.

 (iii) If a question is left blank i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question In case of any clarification in this regard, the candidates are advised to contact Shri B.R.Kaundal, Joint Secretary Phone No.0177-2623857 Or Shri Trilok Chauhan, Asstt. Registrar, H.P. Public Service Commission.

HPPSC Conducts PT examination

Shimla, sept, 4: High profile recruiter of India’s tarai state, Himanchal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) shimla is going to conduct Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011 on sunday for the notified post.

HPPSC had already issued the Admit Card for Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011. Those Candidates who Applied for The Examination and couldn’t got their Admit Cards, Can Download Their Duplicate Admit Cards from the HPPSC web site.

The pattern of the examination will encompass two papers one for the general studies and another will be the Optional and nature of question will be objective type and multiple choice.

 The examination centers located at Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Sundernagar, Dharamshala, Kangra, Palampur, Nahan and Una on 4th September, 2011 from 10.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon & 2.00 P.M. to 4.00 P.M. respectively.

12 days Fast and well framed strategy made Anna National Hero

The success of Anna Hazare movement for the strong and efficient Loalpal Bill is the product of well framed strategy by Team Anna, credibility and simplicity of Anna Hazare, background created by the Yoga guru Ramdev Baba and the issue faced by the common man of the country.

In the 12 days a 74 year old social worker of their own credibility from the small village Ralegan Siddhi became a national hero by acquiring his place in the minds of the common people of India through his Gandhian thought and act.

The plot of this story was prepared when young and dynamic social worker Arvind Kejriwal went Ralegan Siddhi and convinced Mr Anna Hazare to lead the movement and became the face of the anti corruption drive.

In second stage Anna has constituted a team of expert and efficient people of their own field including ex-IPS officer Kiran Bedi,Ex I-T Commissioner Arvind Kejriwal,Former justice Santosh Hegde, Former Low minister Shanti bhushan ,eminent  lawyer Prashant Bhushat, media man Manish Shishodia, Vishvas a poet etc. to formulate the further strategy to drive the movement.

During the course of the movement the series of corruption and scam story that made the headline in the Indian print and electronic media has created passive awareness among the people at the same time Yoga guru Baba Ramdev launched the nationwide campaign to create awareness about the black money and corruption however Ramdev movement was quashed by the government and the climax of Ramlila Maidan in midnight that no one liked done the trick for the Anna Hazare Campaign.

After the police attack on Ramdev Baba the negative current against the government spread in the country and people were looking for leadership and here at the time of vacuum Anna emerges as the best alternatives with his non violence and Satyagrah a Gandhian tool to fought with corruption. The common man had shown massive participation and Anna Became national hero in 12 days.

The mindset of the participants who had taken part in this movement was above from cast, religion, age, sex and region in true sense it was national movement. 

Entire country was painted in the Anna's color it was the frustration of the common man who faces corruption effect in their day to day life and so it was irrupted in the form of protest against the proposed Loakpal Bill by the Union government.

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