DEC-22 BOUDHIK YOJANA
4th Dec: Church protest against Vizhinjam port
The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, also known as the Vizhinjam Port is an under-construction port on the Arabian Sea coast at city of Trivandrum . Developed in three phases, the first phase is expected to get completed by September 2023.[1] [2] The initial date of completion was expected to be between December 2019 and August 2020.[3] However, due to some problems in land acquisition and also due the impact of COVID-19, it resulted in delays, and is now expected to be completed by 2023.
Once complete, Vizhinjam will emerge as a significant competition to the transshipment ports of Colombo, Singapore and Dubai as it is the only transshipment hub in the Indian subcontinent, closest to the international shipping routes, and is centrally located on the Indian coastline. It has a natural draft of 20-24 m and minimal littoral drift. The port will also offer infrastructure to handle Megamax containerships. Its capacity in phase 1 is 1 million TEUs; in subsequent phases, another 6.2 million TEUs will be added.
Ø It is becoming a regular feature of anti-national elements under the guise of public protests, PIL to block developments of critical projects like Sterlite Copper plant and now Vizhingam port.
Ø Violating the assurances given to the Kerala High Court, those protesting against the under-construction Vizhinjam seaport on Saturday (26 November) blocked trucks carrying construction materials to the site.
Ø The protesters, led by the Latin Catholic Church, had on November 22 assured the High Court that they would not block any vehicles coming to the Vizhinjam seaport.
Ø However, on Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the gate of the seaport, where the agitators blocked the road by erecting a shed across the road and stopped the vehicles.
Ø The Adani Group, which is constructing the seaport, told PTI that the works restarted today based on the court order. "It's been 102 days since the work has been halted here due to the protests. We had approached the state High Court, which gave us a favourable ruling.”
Ø While the catholic church is leading the protests to stop construction of the port, Hindu outfits are demanding the project’s timely completion.
Ø On Saturday, tensions were raised when church-backed protestors blocked over twenty trucks from entering the port construction site and stoned a few trucks. The group supporting the port project reached the construction site and both groups indulged in stone pelting.Tensions remained high till the trucks were forced to be taken away from the project location.
Ø Earlier, keeping aside their ideological differences, both the ruling communist parties and the opposition BJP have come together and supported the counter protests in support of the port project.
11th December Boudhik: Sangh Training Camps
PSV and SSV-1 i.e Prathamik Shiksha Varg and Sangh Shiksha Varg-1 for IT Milan will be conducted in last week of December. Such camps are conducted throughout the country at different times for targeted swayamsevaks. It will be good to know, how did the camps or Varg start ?
Inception
Increasing number of shakhas also increased the demand for Karyakartas who could run the shakhas effectively. As a result of discussions with Doctroji, it was concluded that besides daily shakhas a rigorous plan focused on intellectual and physical activities should be prepared. It will be 1-1.25 months long for only few selected Swayamsevaks and will be timed as per holidays. This will help in sculpting their mind, heart and intellect as per Sangh ideology and turn them into more effective.
It was decided to have training camps for Karyakartas during 2 month long summer vacation of students. Schools are closed due to vacations hence it was considered appropriate to ask for them for lodging of trainees, from familiar school managements. Accordingly Kayde Shala, Dhanavate Nagar Vidyalay (currently City School) and New English School became available for Sangh Training camps.
Nomenclature
Discussions started around the nomenclature of such camps. Someone suggested ‘Training Class’, however someone else commented that it should be specified that it is Sangh related, hence ‘Sangh Training Class’ would be more appropriate. Doctorji was of the view that training imparted in such camps is of peculiar quality. We organize these camps with lot of hardwork to make Karyakartas more efficient in Sangh work. The aim of these camps to create Karyakartas who are committed, ready to assimilate in society with open mind, have understood the Sangh ideal and are ready to dedicate more and more of their time for Sangh work. It is to train officers in Sangh hence Officers Training Camp (OTC) will be suitable and name of OTC became popular. Hence even today inadvertently OTC is heard in conversations with Swayamsevaks.
Duration
40 days training camp was fixed from 01st May to 10th June. Expenses on food, medical facilities, lighting, water supply were fixed as fee from participating Swayamsevaks. The first training camp was organized in 1929 and it was referred as ‘Summer camp’. Nomenclature of Sangh Shiksha Varg became popular after 1950s. In those days, camps had physical activities focused on route march in uniforms than programmes focused on Danda, Sword, Yogchap and Spear. The commands for these programmes in uniform were all in English. Such programmes conducted in military fashion would leave a deep impact on the society. College students were trained in military education in University Training Corps. Swayamsevaks brought the danda in shakha and were trained in a way considering the danda as gun. All the commands in these programmes were in English.
Timetable
The time table of Sangh Shiksha Varg was planned in such a way that trainee Swayamsevaks are completely immersed in contemplation on Sangh ideology and behavior. It was considered necessary that each Swayamsevak participates in activities planned from waking up at 3:45 am to 10 pm. Morning 5-8 am for physical activites at Sangh-sthan, 8-9 was Ghosh Training, then bath and 11-12 for lunch. Post lunch till 1 pm it was resting time. 1-2 pm was for Swayamsevaks to write on physical activities and drill, 2-3 pm Swayamsevaks had discussion or exchange of ideas while 3:30- 5 pm was for Bouddhik. In evening 6-7:30 pm, Swayamsevaks had programmes in uniform on Sangh-sthan. 8:30-9:30 pm was for dinner, 9:30 – 10 pm was for informal discussions and Swayamsevaks would retire at 10 pm.
Till 1937, Sangh Shiksha Varg had some entertainment programme on Saturday night and no programmes were held on Sanghsthan on Sunday. During one day holiday, trainee Swayamsevaks would meet local Swayamsevaks from Nagpur. However this practice was stopped from 1938 as it created a disruption in the flow, and regular programmes were conducted on Sunday as well. Duration of Varg was also finalized at 30 days reduced from 40 days earlier.
Location
Till 1934, Sangh Shiksha Varg happened only in Nagpur. From 1935, First and Second year Varg started in Pune. As per convenience of summer vacation, Varg in Pune was conducted from 22nd April to 02nd June while in Nagpur it was from 01st May to 10th June. Doctorji was stationed at Varg in Pune till 15th May and later in Nagpur. In 1938, First and Second year Varg was conducted in Lahore (Punjab) and as per convenience of summer holidays, it was conducted in July. As Sangh expanded, First and Second year Varg were conducted in other provinces as well. However Third year Varg was only conducted in Nagpur. Mukhya Shikshak and other Shikshak for Varg in different provinces were sent from Nagpur.
18th December Charcha: G20 presidency
What is G20 ?
Formed in the wake of the financial crisis that swept through Southeast Asian economies in the late 1990s as a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors, the G20 was upgraded in 2007 to include heads of state and governments.
The grouping comprises 19 countries (plus EU) cutting across continents, representing around 85% of the world's GDP. The G20 also invites non-member countries, including Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain and Nigeria, besides international organisations such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, the World Bank and the IMF.
G20 presidency
The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat, and one member takes over the presidency each year to steer the grouping's agenda that is split into two tracks - one led by finance ministers and another by emissaries of leaders of member countries.
After India, Brazil will take over the presidency of the G20, followed by South Africa in 2025.
Agenda
During its term, India will hold more than 200 meetings across some 50 cities involving ministers, officials and civil society, leading up to a marquee summit in the capital New Delhi in September 2023.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for international cooperation to deal with global issues, outlining the country's approach to the G20.He said in a statement the challenges of "climate change, terrorism, and pandemics can be solved not by fighting each other, but only by acting together".
The Finance Track will focus on key issues such as financing for infrastructure, financing for health care, financial sector policy changes, and financing for sustainable growth under the eight working groups. The Sherpa Track will focus on thirteen issues like anti-corruption, agriculture, the digital economy, and climate change and two initiatives - G20 EMPOWER (This initiative aims to empower women and accelerate their leadership in the private sector by leveraging alliances between business leaders and G20 countries) and RIIG (Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering aims to enhance and strengthen research and innovation collaboration among the G20 member countries).
Bhartiya influence
Building on the idea propagated by India’s age-old spiritual traditions, G20 presidency will function around the principles of the universal sense of one-ness – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ – based on the adage Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning ‘that all of the world, universe is a family.’ This idea is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad and seeks to reaffirm the value of all lifeforms - humans, animals and microorganism and their interconnectedness with each other and the planet Earth. The logo and the theme together convey a powerful message of India’s G20 Presidency which is of a just and sustainable future for all in the world.
25th December Katha: Lachit Borphukan- 400th Birth Anniversary
Born on 24 November 1622, Lachit rose to become the Commander in Chief of Ahom Army and was awarded the position of Borphukan by Raja Chakradhwaj Singha of Ahom dynasty.
His father was Momai Tamuli Borbarua, a bonded labour for a debt of four rupees, but later rose to become one of the most prominent ministers of Raja Prataap Singh’s court and made massive and progressive changes in administrative system of Ahom rule.
Mughal-Ahom wars
The Mughal-Ahom wars had been going on since 1615-16, with first Mughal attack on Assam with a view to capture the region. Since the first attack on Ahoms ended in a humiliating defeat for Abu Bakr and Raja Satrajit of Bhusna, the leaders of Mughal forces, the Mughals decided to take more calculated approach towards capturing Assam.
Till 1639, many battles would be fought between the two and territories exchanged hands. Tired of war, both sides agreed to sign a treaty after Mughals had advanced into Assam and captured Kamrup. Hence, in February 1639, Treaty of Asurar Ali was signed declaring western Assam commencing from Guwahati passed into the hands of the Mughals. The Ahoms finally acknowledged the Mughal control of Kamrup, and the Mughals acknowledged the rule of the Ahoms.
From 1639 to 1648: this was a tumultuous period in the region as clashes and skirmishes kept happening, and finally in 1648, Ahom king Jayadhwaj Singha, realising the confusion in Mughal dynasty because of the brewing wars of succession, drove the Mughals out.
Humiliation and Princess goes to Mughal Harem
This did not go unnoticed by Aurangzeb and when he took the throne, he immediately ordered Mir Jumla to annex Assam again. Mir Jumla marched on Assam in early 1662, and on 17 March 1662, entered the city of Gargaon, the capital of Ahom empire. Raja Jayadhwaj had to flee and take shelter in hills. However, when monsoons came, Mughal troops could not cope with the fury of floods and rains and started to lose morale. Health related issues arose, and Mir Jumla too fell ill in December 1662.
The Ahom King was keen for peace and gaining control of his kingdom, and the Mughal troops were unwilling to continue there. This led to a treaty in January 1663, in which the control of western Assam was given to Mughals and a war indemnity of three lakh rupees and ninety elephants was promised.
If this was not enough, the King was made to give up his only child and daughter, Ramani Gabharau, and his niece for the emperor’s harem. His daughter was converted and named Rahmat Banu Begum and sent to Mughal harem.
Fight Back
In 1663, Raja Chakradhwaja Singha took over the empire and he had not forgotten the humiliation. He decided to stop paying the fine and swore to drive the invaders out of Assam. In August 1667, Ahom Army started its decisive march and within a short span of two months, not only drove out the Mughals and captured the new faujdar of Guwahati, Syed Firoz Khan, but also claimed their lost glory and prestige.
Aurangzeb received this news and decided to send a large army under Raja Ram Singh of Amber, son of Raja Jai Singh (he attacked Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra), accompanied by Rashid Khan, ex faujdar of Guwahati.
The Mughal forces were nearly 4,000 troopers of Ram Singh, 21 Rajput chiefs along with their contingents, 1,500 imperial Ahadis (emperor’s recruits), 500 artillery, 30,000 infantry, 18,000 Turkish cavalry, 2,000 horsemen supplied by the Bengal viceroy, 15,000 Koch archers, 40 war vessels manned by Europeans and additional troops from Koch Bihar (vassals of Mughals).
The Ahom was was significantly much lesser in number and did not have equipment and firepower to match the Mughals. But they had Lachit Barphukan as their leader.The Mughals asked for the payments of three lakh rupees and reinstatement of borders as per treaty of 1639. Number of battles were fought from 1669 to 1671, in which both sides got some wins and some losses.
Battle of Saraighat
Lachit understood that in a head-on confrontation, his armies stand no chance against the Mughals. So, he first started to buy time to prepare his defences. To gather more time, he started negotiations with Raja Ram Singh, using his prisoner Syed Firoz Khan as the messenger.
He was impressed that the Mughal forces were very keen to negotiate. But having gained some time to build his embankments and fortifications, he suddenly changed his stance to – not even an inch of our motherland will be given!
It is said that during the time of building these embankments on Brahmaputra, he found the work at a site unsatisfactory. To show how serious he was about these defences, he killed his own uncle as a punishment for slack in work, and famously said, “My uncle is not more important than my country.” Needless to say, within days, his defences were ready.
Brahmaputra was narrowest at Saraighat, making it an ideal Naval blockade location for Ahoms. This smart use of terrain for limiting enemy’s movement via land and making him fight at place of your choosing would prove to be one of the best decisions Lachit took. He commanded the troops on Southern bank of the river. By this time Naval and land troops had also reached as reinforcements for Mughals. When the day came for the final battle, Lachit fell seriously ill and was bed ridden.
Lachit was watching all this from his sick bay of his fort at Itakhuli. It is at this point, he ordered six boat flotilla for himself and charged them directly into Mughal war ships. Grievously ill, he led the charge and his entry into the battlefield turned Ahom soldiers into fighting machines. Soon his six boats turned into a small flotilla and Ahoms were everywhere attacking and killing Mughals.
The Admiral of Mughal Naval forces, Munnawar Khan was killed while smoking a hukkah and that was the last straw for Mughal forces. Lachit chased them till Ahom’s western boundaries and then stopped his troops and ordered them not to chase and kill fleeing enemies.
Passing Away
Lachit Barphukan died of illness one year after Saraighat. His defiant stand and masterful defence of Assam, against the full might of Mughal empire is what saved Ahom dynasty and Assam.
It is believed by many old and contemporary historians that if it was not for Lachit, expansion of Mughal empire into entire North East India and even further into South East Asia was a sure possibility.
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