JUL-22 BOUDHIK YOJANA

3^rd July: Agnipath Yojana

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 14 June announced the Tour of Duty or 'Agnipath' scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in the defence forces.

In a statement released after the announcement, the Ministry of Defence has said that 46,000 'Agniveers' will be recruited this year.

Recruitment rallies under the new scheme will commence in 90 days.

What is the Scheme ?

-Scheme is applicable to age between 17.5 years to 21 years

-Candidates will be enrolled under respective Service Act for a duration of 4 years

-They will be imparted rigorous military training in existing centers

-1^st year package approx. 4.76 lacs INR

-Upgraded to 6.92 lacs INR upto 4^th year.

-Risk and Hardship, travel, ration, dress allowance as applicable

-30% of monthly emoluments to be contributed by individuals

-Equal amount will be matched by government

- Corpus of 11.71 lacs after 4 years, exempted from Income Tax

-25% of the recruits will be hired by the specific service depending on merits for long term service

Insurance

-Non contributory life insurance cover of 48 lacs

-Additional ex-gratia of 44 lacs for death attributable to service

-Disability compensation is separate as per % of disability

Need for the Scheme

In FY22 budget estimate salaries and pensions of the forces make up 54% of total defence budget

On other hand, capital outlay accounts for 27%  which is spent on procurement of new weapons or technologies.

The share of capital outlay was highest in 2011-12 i.e 30% which fell to 22% in 2018-19 and has recovered to 27% in 2021.

However the share of pension has increased from 18% to 26% in 2019-20 before declining to 24%. The increase in share of pension is largely due to OROP i.e one rank one pension scheme.

This where the Agnipath scheme comes to play. It will decrease the average age of forces from 32 to 26.

But will also lead to lower financial load as 75% of Agniveers will be demobilized after 4 year stint. As per 2020 study conducted by Army to compare a sepoy with 17 years of service to 3 years of service, saving was 11.5 crore per Sepoy over lifetime. Thus savings for 1000 jawans will be 11000 crores which can be ploughed back for modernization of Armed Forces. By 2032, Army is planning to have 50:50 ratio for regular to Agniveers.

How do other Countries Fare ?

In USA 80% of service personnel retire without pension. In both US and UK, the retirees are compensated with lump sump payments or employment in government and non-government sectors.

India spent nearly 26% of its defence budget on pensions while USA spends around 9%, UK around 14% while Russia is at 8.2 %.

India is with second largest military in the world has far fewer naval vessels or aircrafts due to lesser capital outlay.

Reference: 1) https://static.mygov.in/rest/s3fs-public/mygov_165537923351307401.pdf

2)http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/92408517.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

10^th July Boudhik: Gurupujan (dates can vary)

 

17^th July Charcha: “Sar Tan Se Juda” protests

Even when Jihadi frenzy displayed during attack on Ramnavami processions had not died down, that Bharat saw another outbreak of Jihadi menace in form of “Sar Tan Se Juda” or Blasphemy protests.

The trigger (if they really need that) was a statement by Smt Nupur Sharma, (Spokesperson BJP) during a debate on Times Now on Gynavapi mosque controversy. After repeated provocations by Tasleem Rehmani and innumerable SM handles calling all vile things about Bhagwan Shiv, Nupur Sharma just quoted some aspects of Prophet’s Life.

The debate ended and nothing happened for 7-10 days. It started gaining traction after Mohd Zubair (owner of Alt News handle) started instigating Muslims by sharing the edited version of debate showing only Nupur reacting to the provocation. The instigation soon snowballed into Jihadi protests across India. Cases of stone pelting were reported at Kanpur, Ranchi, Prayagraj after Friday prayers at mosque.

As if a part of toolkit, the issue started trending on global scale as well. Qatar was the first nation to make a move and protesting against remarks against Prophet. Soon Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran started registering protests with Indian diplomats or through Foreign ministers.

As a ruling party, BJP had to take action and suspended Nupur Sharma from primary membership of the party. It led to outpour of criticism by BJP supporters, some even calling this as capitulation of BJP before Gulf/ Islamic countries.

What does Hadith say ?

During the whole controversy, Nupur Sharma asked for any Islamic scholar to debate with her and correct her but none came forward. All the attempts were to silence her with murder, rape threats and avoid any discussion about the issue.

Quran is the holy book of the Muslims that is considered to be the word of God. The sacred writings of the faith of Islam revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad are contained in a book called Quran or Koran. The word Quran literally means recitation, and the book is a compilation of what the almighty revealed to Muhammad.

Hadith is a collection of sayings and teachings of the prophet Muhammad. It is the most important source of religious laws of Islam. Hadith are written by scholars who were born later than the Prophet, and there are differences in their memories, intellects and their interpretations of what the prophet said or gave approval.

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is a collection of hadīth compiled by Abu Abdullāh Muhammad Ibn Ismā`īl al-Bukhārī. His collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet

Sahih al-Bukhari 5133, Book 67, Hadith 69 states the following:

that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).

What is Blasphemy ?

As is the case with all Jihadi disturbance, there was a call for hanging of Nupur Sharma as she had committed “Gustakh-e-Rasul” i.e abused or criticized Prophet or blasphemy.

There are several Islamic apologists who claim that, there is nothing against blasphemy in Islam and people who are crying for blasphemy are acting against Islam.

However Deoband seminary has to state the following about blasphemy:

Islam regards blasphemy against the Prophet a very heinous crime and the Quran strongly forbids blasphemy and makes 11 references to it: 2:88, 4:15, 5:17, 5:64, 5:68, 5:73, 6:19, 9:74, 11:19, 14:28, 39:8. They are all against it. At the conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad announced general amnesty to all except those who were guilty of blasphemous acts and sacrilegious statements. Both Nasai and Sunan Abu Daud, famous Hadith books, narrate that a slave Jew woman was killed by her master for her repeated blasphemy against the Prophet and when the case was brought to the Prophet’s notice he declared no retaliation against the master. (Hadith No.4348)

The death punishment assigned for blasphemy is agreed by all Islamic scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah and, is normally covered in Kitabul Hudud in Islamic juridical texts. Because of the evidence for blasphemy punishment being based on Ahadith, certain reported incidents during the lifetime of the Prophet (p.u.h.) and unanimous agreement of all Islamic scholars in all the ages (Ijma), many Islamic countries of the world including Saudi Arabia have legislated death punishment for blasphemy. It is only Qadianis, a community regarded infidels by Muslims across the world, who support no-punishment for blasphemy.

Islamic Intolerance

The call by Jihadis to hang Nupur and others is just another attempt after Hijab to impose their will on secular state of India. For Indians, guiding book is constitution and we will be governed by that. Calling for hanging of an individual for just stating facts is imposing Sharia world view on non-Muslim majority.

The incident also tears to shred any respect for so called champions of “Free Speech”. None of them came forward to criticize the Jihadi frenzy and put the spotlight on Islamic intolerance.

Reference: 1) http://www.deoband.net/blogs/blasphemy-in-islam-the-quran-curses-and-hadith-prescribes-punishment

2) https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5134

3) https://guidetoislam.com/en/articles/difference-between-hadith-and-quran-1616

4) https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-police-registers-fir-against-several-over-hate-messages-on-social-media-1960156-2022-06-09

 

24^nd July Katha: Chapekar Brothers

22^nd June 1897 is a unique day, it was Diamond Jubilee celebration of Victoria’s coronation. As if to mock suffering of Bharatiya people (reeling under drought and plague), British government had planned grand celebrations. It was the same day when Doctorji as a young boy of 8 years old had refused to eat sweets which reeked of slavery.

Context

Plague or Black Death was an epidemic during those years. It starts from ports due to ships and hence came first to Mumbai and eventually spread to Pune. It is said that within a few weeks, 0.6% of population had succumbed to the pandemic and 50% population had fled the city. After seeing the impact British government came into action for controlling.

 Draconian measures

However the medicine was more dangerous than disease itself. WC Rand was appointed as Commissioner for overseeing operations for control of plague. He was an officer, drunk with hubris of British Empire and least regards for the feelings of natives. He implemented horrible measures which can shudder us even today.

If anyone was suspected of plague or had slightest symptoms he was shunted out of the city to a government center outside city. Government center had little medicinal facilities so the patient was left to die a painful-lonely death. Lokmanya Tilak tried to intervene to start a public supported facility but could not scale up.

If a patient was observed in any house, all the family members were stripped naked even women and children. People had to watch with their own eyes, molestation done by soldiers or police but did not have anyone to appeal. While searching the house, all the material was thrown out on the road, precious ornaments were looted by soldiers but there was no appeal.

These measures were encouraged and supported by WC Rand and there was a seething anger against him among the public.

Chapekar Brothers

Chapekar family was originally from Pimpri but eventually settled in Pune. Damodar, Balkrishna and Vasudev were sons of Hari Chapekar. Damodar was the eldest and Vasudev was the youngest. Damodar was 8 years old when he heard about martyrdom of Vasudev Balwant Phadke and vowed that he will carry forward his legacy.

All brothers had martial qualities and Damodar was interested in joining army. He was rejected citing that his caste was not martial enough. It is said that he cited names of all Peshwas, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai and left the British officer stunned about his folly.

Rigorous exercises were part of the daily routine of all brothers. Damodar once came running from Chinchwad (28 kms) to Pune in his teenage. As they grew up, they came in the influence of Lokmanya Tilak and also formed a shooting club. They used to practice secretly in forests around Pune and tried to gain more youth among their members. During one of his visits to Mumbai, Damodar noticed a statue of Queen Victoria and was seething with anger. During night, he smeared it with black paint and created a furor in Mumbai.

Along with martial qualities, Dharm was an important part of their life. They used to do kirtan and give discourses not only on spiritual but issues of national importance as well. Their motive was to incite the latent samaj against the injustice meted out by Britishers.

Diamond Jubilee

1897 was the 60^th year of coronation of Queen Victoria and British government celebrated with all the pomp. The nation was reeling under drought and plague but why will a foreign Queen and government care ?

Chapekar brothers along with their friends decided to avenge the insults heaped upon our country on the day of 22^nd June. It is 125^th anniversary of the event in 2022. A big party was organized for all British officers in Club House on Ganesh Khind, Pune.  It was to end with fireworks when officers will start leaving the Club House. The code word was “Gondya Ala re Ala”. Gondya was the term for W C Rand who was to be assassinated.

As the officers started to leave in their horse carriages, the code word was called out. Damodar leaped on the carriage from behind and shot Lt Ayerst, who collapsed on the lap of his wife. It was a mistake but he did not realize and immediately escaped in the bushes around the road. The code word was called out again and Balkrishna leaped on the carriage and shot W C Rand in his neck. He collapsed in a pool of blood in his carriage. Drivers did not realize any mishap had happened due to fireworks.

Rand was admitted to hospital in critical condition and passed away after 2 days.

Martyrdom

It was a slap on the face of British government with 2 officers being assassinated on the same day. Police rounded up lot of suspects and appointed detective Bruin to investigate the case. Huge rewards were announced to inform the names of the revolutionaries. Dravid brothers in their group fell for the scheme and turned informant.

Damodar was arrested, tried in the court and was sentenced to death. He was sentenced in Yerwada jail and expressed his last wish to meet Tilak who was lodged in the same jail. During the meet, he requested for his copy of Bhagwad Geeta, which he carried in his hands to the gallows.

Balkrishna was arrested later and was hanged till death. Vasudev and his friend Ranade, decided to avenge the treachery which led to arrest of Damodar and Balkrishna. So they called Dravid brothers and shot them point blank near their house, both traitors passed away on spot. Vasudev and Ranade were arrested and sentenced to death.

Damodar was survived by his young wife and a son (4 months) , Balkrishna by his wife, daughter (3.5 yrs) son (18 months) and Vasudev by his wife. Their mother passed away in the grief of hanging of Damodar while their father saw all his sons sacrificing their life for motherland. He passed away a year later. Bhagini Nivedita came from Bengal and visited this great family.

Inspiration

Veer Savarkar was 16 years old when he heard this incident and composed a poem on Chapekar brothers. He vowed to carry forward their work for the motherland.