Jayasree Saranathan

Monday, April 20, 2009

From

http://francoisgautier1.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-04-09T21%3A13%3A00%2B05%3A30&max-results=1

Thursday, April 9, 2009

by

First Published : 05 Apr 2009 12:43:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 Apr 2009 08:36:50 AM IST

Michel de Nostre-Dame, better known as Nostradamus (1503-1566), was a famous French astrologer whose predictions, which included the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, have proved infallibly accurate.

Last month, unpublished manuscripts of Nostradamus have been discovered (and authenticated) in an old trunk in the French city of Lyon.

Curiously, there are two full pages, which deal at length with India, particularly with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the forthcoming elections.

We are giving here the first words in Latin, the language which he used, along with a rough translation in English.

"Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus veni grandus est para Indus cognisant Indica tum est… "

The BJP will represent the aspirations of the Hindus, the overwhelming majority of India.

He goes on to explain who are the Hindus:

"Indus terrum nostrum grandus homo manus onum unus familium planetum est. Indicus pax pacis terra est ferrum tempus…"

They will be the most tolerant people, even in the Age of Iron, because they will still accept that God may manifest Himself at different times under different names, using different scriptures. Hence all persecuted people throughout the ages, will always found refuge in India, where they will practice their religion in peace.

Then Nostradamus makes his first prediction:

"Indus cursum est trahisum nostrum est… Politicum Bharatus Indicus trahisum est…"

But the curse of the Hindus will always be disunity and they will betray each other to the enemy again and again. One day, some of the highest bearers of the BJP party will not even say hello to each other.

Next, another prophecy:

"Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus tri pillarus est, Vajpayum, Advanum et Murlum Joshum Kashmirum drapus levus. Vajpayum maladum est…"

The BJP will have three pillars: AB Vajpayee, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. As eventually, Vajpayee will no longer have an active life, Advani will become the leader. MM Joshi, who hoisted the Indian flag in Srinagar, will be his number two.

He goes on: Narendrum Modum supremus chefum, ironus manus est et economicum grandum est…"

Narendra Modi in between will raise himself as a national figure, not only because he is an iron man, but also because he has made of his state a model of economic efficiency.

Then comes another forecast, which Nostradamus may have got wrong: "Duo millenum novo, Jesus Christum postum, Advanum racontum narrates est Joshum grandus princeps est et Modum dux ducis rector est, sixtum legatus est…"

In 2009 AD, Advani will announce that if his party is elected, MM Joshi will be made External Affairs Minister and Narendra Modi, Home Minister. Then the party will gain an extra 50 seats.

Nostradamus is not done. It goes on: "Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus prnonuncio Ramum templum et Christanium consto est et gurum defendo est, kashmirum macto est…"

The BJP will also make it known that it will build the Ram Mandir, protect temples, stop conversions and keep Kashmir for India.

Michel has also some forecast about foreign policy: Chinum pugna est, Tibetum sanctum est, proctectiorum, amen ; pakistanus attakum est et ereptor latrunculus iugolo, caido.

The BJP will reaffirm its commitment to eastern states (he probably meant Arunachal Pradesh), stand-up to China's bullying, and support Tibet to counteract Beijing which is propping-up Maoist Nepal. It will swiftly punish Pakistan next time it attacks India by proxy.

However, added Senor Nostradamus: "Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus comes, comitus amicus desertus est congressus victis ."

The allies of the BJP will be deserting the boat as they think (the Congress) will win. But if the BJP stands true to the aspirations of its Hindu voters, it can come on its own at the Center.

Why?

"Independantum Blancum copium est; necessarus changum indianus cumum facus est"…

As India has heavily borrowed from the White Man (British?) at Independence, it will become necessary to "Indianise" the nation so that it may manifest again its true unique soul.

What is it?

"Lex legis mutation, presidentum auctorita dato est, confuto desisto lex legis…"

Introduce a common civil code, repeal false laws (article 370?), reform the Judiciary, change to a Parliamentary system, which will give true powers to the President who can nominate a Prime Minister from the majority.

Nostradamus goes on to explain why these changes are important:

"Congressus niveus domina regnus, Indicus forcus inmicus est. Maurus, Christianus presentum est."

Under the reign of the White lady (Sonia Gandhi?) forces inimical to India have crept in. Madrasas have sprung up everywhere and so have churches that are converting by the thousands, Hindus gurus are jailed and mocked at…

As for the foreign diplomatic corps, Nostradamus has this prediction: "Fransiscus ambassadorus, Jeromus Bonnafus, negatum Indus massacrum Sabartinum et supportus Maurus genocidus et accusum Politicum Bharatus Indicus ".

French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont will deny the burning of the Hindus in the Sabarmati Express and accuse the BJP of being fascists.

Finally, Nostradamus' ultimate prophecy: "Aurobindus Ghosus Matre Indica realisum est, Indianum Agus ancientus mortum non est..."

Under the BJP's leadership, Indians will worship again their country as Mother India and Sri Aurobindo's words will echo:

"India of the ages is not dead nor has She spoken Her last creative word. And that which She must seek now to awake, is not an anglicized oriental people, doomed to repeat the cycle of the Occident's success and failure, but still the ancient immemorial Shakti recovering Her deepest self ".

The author of this post can be contacted at
fgautier@rediffmail.com

Arun Shourie on Indian money in tax havens!

Given below is the Press statement by Shri Arun shourie as reply to the 6 questions raised by the Congress on the demand for getting back Indian money from tax havens.

People must awaken to this issue because this money is black money that is amassed illegally by robbing from us, the people of India. Remember the harassment-like interest that Mr P-Chidambaram imposed on us to pay for the withdrawal of every 10,000 rupees of our hard earned money in the name of curbing black money. Why can't he endorse this golden opportunity to get back the black money hidden in Swiss banks thereby discouraging an avenue to shift the black money. If the Government resolves to get it back, it will not be easy for the money launderers to hide their black money. This world also act as an effective check on amassing wealth in black.

The congress-reaction is open proof of 'weak- government' which like the 'weak' Prime minister, is only a mute spectator to all the rot that is happening under its nose.

The congress reaction also smacks of too many hidden skeletons at the verge of getting detected. The cause of their panic is understandable. They have been in power for too long and the last 5 years is exceptional with the allies too having a free hand in corruption.

-jayasree

*******

From

http://www.bjp.org/content/view/2870/394/

Getting India's money back from Tax Havens;
Congress caught in its own web

Stupefied by the strong endorsement all across the country to the demand that the money looted from India must be brought back, the Congress has tied itself in knots.

Its spokesmen have given five reactions:

• Why is Mr. Advani taking up this matter now, on the eve of elections?

• The GE-20 meeting was not the proper forum for taking up the issue.

• There is doubt about the figures.

• Why did the BJP government replace FERA by FEMA, and thereby make the offences compoundable?

• Is Mr. Advani not unwittingly alerting those with illegal money abroad to spirit it away from Switzerland to other tax havens?

• What was the NDA doing when it was in office? In any case, there is doubt about the figures.

The reactions betray panic as even the littlest reflection would have shown them to be indefensible.

• "Why is Mr. Advani taking up this matter now, on the eve of elections?"

The fact, of course, is that Advaniji took up the matter with the Prime Minister in April last year by writing to him. The reply that the then Finance Minister sent him showed that the Government intended to do little except keep going through the pretence of taking some steps. Soon thereafter, we were alarmed to learn that a senior official of the Finance Ministry had written to the then Indian Ambassador in Germany not to press the Germans for release of the names of Indians in the list that they had obtained from Liechtenstein -- lest the Germans take offence and conclude that they were being pressurized and their bona fides were being questioned. [This information was later confirmed by the Indian Express in the report it published on 31 March 2009.]

Why now? The answer is that a unique opportunity has arisen only now, after western economies have found themselves in a severe crisis. The crisis has forced countries like Germany, France, USA and UK to take the leadership role in G-20 and pledge to get their stolen wealth back from tax havens. The BJP believes that this is the right time for India to join the global effort to get its own stolen wealth back.

• "The G-20 meeting was not the proper forum for taking up the issue."

This customarily self-serving rationalization was put out by one of the Congress party's lawyers and spokesmen. At the same time, the party was trying to insinuate that, actually speaking, the Prime Minister had taken up the matter at the G-20 Summit. As its spokesmen could not point to any statement he made either at the Summit itself or even at the press meet he held after the Summit, they drew solace from a passing reference to the matter in the speech he had made at the dinner hosted by Mr. Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister.

In any case, if the G-20 Summit was not the right forum for taking up this matter, how is it that in the communiqué that the G-20 leaders issued on 2 April 2009, they said, in paragraph 15, on "Strengthening the Financial System," that they pledged themselves "to take action against non-cooperative jurisdictions, including tax havens. We stand ready to deploy sanctions to protect our public finances and financial systems. The era of banking secrecy is over. We note that the OECD has today published a list of countries assessed by the Global Forum against the international standard for exchange of tax information"?

Were they also, in the view of the Congress party, acting inappropriately when they made such a strong commitment in their communiqué at the Summit?

• "In any case, there is doubt about the figures".

As is its custom, the Congress is trying to cover up the basic question of money which has been looted from India and is lying in tax havens, by raising questions about the precision of figures and estimates. This is quite the kind of legalism with which persons like Mr. P. Chidambaram and other legitimizers tried to cover up the loot from Bofors.

The OECD itself has stated in accounts published in early April 2009 that there are $1.7 trillion to $11.5 trillion, which are today parked in tax havens. This estimate of the OECD has been widely reported in the Indian press. The basic point is: even if the amounts are just scores of billion dollars and not one and a half trillion dollars, why should they not be brought back to India? And can they be brought back to India when the attitude of the government continues to be as determinedly inactive as that of the present Government?

Can the Government which allowed Ottavio Quattrochi, the Italian power-broker who is the main accused in the Bofors scam, to take his money out of banks after it had been frozen be trusted to bring back the loot that is lying in Swiss banks and other tax havens? Can the Government which prostituted the CBI so that he may get away from Argentina be trusted to bring the loot back?

• "Why did the BJP government to replace FERA by FEMA, and thereby make the offences compoundable?"

Again, the Congress is relying on the short memory of its audience. The fact of the matter is that no one had been pressing more for the replacement of the harsh provisions of FERA than the Congress itself. The changes were being contemplated since 1996. The demand for doing away with the harsh provisions came to a crescendo during the Government of Mr. VP Singh when FERA came to be used for interrogating captains of industry under harsh circumstances. As news reports of that period themselves indicate, FEMA which was approved by the Government in July 1998, was on the lines of a draft which had been prepared under the leadership of the preceding finance minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram.

The reasons for changing the law are well set out in the following passage:

"Until recently, we had a law known as the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act. Its object was to conserve and augment the forex reserves of the country. The way to hell, it is said, is paved with good intentions. Like many well-intentioned laws, FERA paved the way to disaster. FERA created a flourishing black market in foreign exchange. It brought into the economic lexicon the word 'Hawala'. Illegal forex transactions became the fuel for the growth of crime syndicates with trans-border connections.

"FERA also became a tool of oppression. Successive governments persisted with FERA and added COFFEPOSA and SAFEMA. International markets do not respect draconian laws that run counter to common sense. India's reserves, far from being augmented, dwindled at an alarming rate… Mercifully, FERA was buried finally on May 31, 2000."

The author? None other than P. Chidambaram, in the article he contributed to the Indian Express on 25 August 2002!

• "Is Mr. Advani not unwittingly alerting those with illegal money abroad to spirit it away from Switzerland to other tax havens?"

Another clever little statement by yet another lawyer of the Congress party! Would the looters who've stashed away money in tax havens from India still need to be alerted after Germany got the names from Liechtenstein as long ago as last year? Would they still need to be alerted after Germany offered to furnish the names to governments that asked for the names? Would they still need to be alerted after the United States got the names from the leading bank of Switzerland, UBS in February this year? Would they still need to be alerted after the G-20 leaders, including Dr Man Mohan Singh as the Congress would like us to believe, declared their determination to get the tax havens to disgorge the names? But such is the confusion in the Congress party and such the brilliance of its lawyers that all it can do is to seek to deflect the nation-wide demand for getting the loot back from tax havens by such witticisms!

• "What was the NDA doing when it was in office? In any case there is doubt about the figures."

Leaders of the Congress party would be better advised to ask, "During that very period, what was the Congress party doing, what were its lawyers and leaders doing, to thwart the efforts of the NDA Government to uncover the names of persons who had looted the country even on defence deals like Bofors?"

Even while replacing FERA by FEMA, the NDA Government made sure that it would have an additional two years to files prosecutions under FERA. And it filed as many as 2000 cases against those who were under investigation before FERA lapsed. The reason for doing so, a reason that is well known to lawyers in the Congress party, was that, when a prosecution is filed it is adjudicated according to the law which prevailed at the time at which the case was filed. These are the very cases which the Congress later on did not pursue.

Conclusion

There is a real fight ahead: a fight in the national interest, a fight that will have to be waged doggedly to get the names from the tax havens and to get the amounts back to India.

As Mr. Advani has emphasized, a consensus is already emerging across the country. Leaders outside the political realm, parties such as the JD(U), AIADMK, CPI(M), SP and BSP have all demanded that the Government act energetically to get the names from the tax havens and to get back the amounts. Instead of quibbling, the Congress would be well-advised to explain why it has not taken any action since even the German Government had offered to furnish the names that it had obtained on its own.

Even now, Mr. Advani has urged, all parties, including the Congress, to get together and strive towards this objective.

That is an objective that the NDA will most determinedly pursue once it is voted to office.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The election pulse of Chennai!

Anti-incumbency is clearly in the air in Chennai, or at least in South Chennai as far as I have observed.

There are 3 sets of voters or voting mentality at present.

One is the elite and the educated.

The second is the semi literate or semi skilled or unskilled people on whom any state policy will have a direct impact.

The third is the women voters (thaai-k-kulam)!

As far as Chennai is concerned the educated elite still banks on the Congress, influenced by the mantra of the English media on the ‘communal Hindu’ (read BJP). The elites have no day to day worries and are comfortably placed in life. So their thinking is motivated in their drawing rooms and developed by the likes of Burka Dutt. They have developed the Hindu-phobia, though they are Hindus and take pride in ‘intellectualism’ to denounce even a mention of Hindu. They have been brain washed to think that it makes them ‘secular’ and ‘cultured’ if they spit venom on the BJP and Jayalalitha!!

The second type is far more ‘thinking’ than the so-called thinking elite. Their views are not developed by TV shows nor the English media. Their thoughts are molded by what happens in the street – from policeman to price rise. They are still with ‘amma’. What more - they have strong views against the parties in power now. They ask, what safety has the central government given? What prosperity has the state government given?

They look through these questions. And they are still perplexed why amma lost the last time.

The answer for this question lies with the last set of voters – the women folk.

The womenfolk of Tamilnadu had been traditionally with MGR!

After MGR they remained with amma.

Some of them used to vote as directed by their husbands.

But a majority had a liking for MGR and his legacy.

The feel-good derived from his movies lingered on them for long.

The entertainment industry seemed to give a relaxation in their tough life.

But some thing happened in the last elections that gave a new dimension to this feel-good.

The cinema induced feel-good became available to them just a polling booth away!

As a result they set a new trend in the democratic elections by the lure of free colour TV!

It is this segment that is going to decide the election results.

If Jayalalithaa wants to get them back, she must address their desires and longings for ‘feel good’.

Already Viajayakanth is trying to cash in on this by calling himself as a replica of MGR.

But he has hardly induced any feel-good in his movies for the womenfolk.

Perhaps he has attracted the proletariat, but certainly not the women.

It is now up to the skills of the two leading parties in Tamilnadu to attract this segment.

South Chennai:-

The scenario in South Chennai is sure to put the voter in dilemma.

The sitting MP is TR Baalu of Sethu project fame who has made unexplained visits abroad that include a visit to the tax haven in Switzerland which was not officially reported to the PMO. He is not seeking re-election from here.

Apart from the candidates of DMK (R S Bharathi) and the AIADMK (Rajendran),

there are 3 interesting personalities in the fray.

The state president of the BJP (L Ganesan) is contesting from here.

Will he split in anti incumbent votes is a serious question.

Apart from him there are 2 interesting contestants –

one an IIM-ian and the other

the often heard Traffic Ramasamy.

Sarathbabu’s is truly a story of Rising Indian.

Born in a humble background, he was able to catapult his way to BITS Pilani and later to IIM. He has worked really hard to make it to the top. What more, he is making himself a role model for others – in a way that would satisfy Dr Abdul kalam. Surely persons like him must be empowered politically.

These links speak about him.

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/16/stories/2009031650670100.htm

http://sarathbabu.co.in/in/

The other contestant is “Traffic’ Ramasamy the King of Public Interest Petitions.

He has been relentlessly fighting for public causes.

We need people like him armed with political power.

http://pakkangal.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post_15.html

The right thinking voters are certainly in a dilemma about whom they must support.

In my opinion, these two contestants will be more welcome in the Assembly.

For the Parliamentary elections, weightage must be given to whom we want to come in the Centre.

I get the opinion that anti incumbency is strong in the air.

But voters also are aware that any winning combine in Tamilnadu will side with the combine that is close to making a government in the centre.

There lies an irony in that the anti-congress (DMK) vote given here can be lent to the Congress combine (UPA) at the centre after the polls! It would then make a mockery of the Voter’s wisdom. (I am speaking about Tamilnadu votes).

The average voter in Chennai is worried about how his vote is going to be used in the post-poll scenario.

But he need not worry about it.

Let us see why.

The vote for AIADMK is a vote against UPA. If AIADMK were to support the BJP after the polls, it would be a logical conclusion of the anti- incumbency sentiments of Tamilnadu voters.

But if the AIADMK were to support the congress at the centre after the polls, then that also would be logical conclusion of anti-incumbency sentiments.

For, the Congress in such a scenario would move out of DMK combine (‘true to be a good politician’, to use Jayalalithaa’s rationale) and that means change of guard in Tamilnadu!

All that the voter of Tamilnadu has to ensure is that anti-incumbency works at its maximum and his vote is not splitting the anti sentiments.

After the elections, if the BJP has a better chance at the centre (reinforced from other states), his vote is going to go with them. So the purpose of his vote will be fulfilled.

On the other hand, if Congress is going to have better chances – and Jayalalithaa is armed

with adequate numbers, then also his vote will not have been wasted.

At least at the state level, a redoing of numbers will take place.

The congress will take back its support to the DMK.

A change of Government in Tamilnadu can be expected with out a fresh election to the Assembly!

His purpose of vote for a change can be realized at least at the State level!

Mr E. Sarathbabu’s views on reservation as published in rediff.com:-

"Reservation

Reservation should be a mix of all criteria. If you take a caste that comes under reservation, 80 per cent of the people will be poor and 20 per cent rich, the creamy layer. For the general category, it will be the other way around.

I feel equal weightage should be given for the economic background. A study has to be done on what is the purpose of reservation and what it has done to the needy. It should be more effective and efficient. In my case, I would not have demanded for reservation. I accepted it because the society felt I belonged to the deprived class and needed a helping hand.

Today, the opportunities are grabbed by a few. They should be ashamed of their ability if they avail reservation even after becoming an IAS officer or something like that. They are putting a burden on the society and denying a chance to the really needy.

I feel reservation is enough for one generation. For example, if the child's father is educated, he will be able to guide the child properly.

Take my case, I didn't have any system that would make me aware of the IITs and the IIMs. But I will be able to guide my children properly because I am well educated. I got the benefits of reservation but I will never avail of it for my children. I cannot even think of demanding reservation for the next generation."

An examination of the chronology of Rigveda --- Narahari Achar

The Rig vedas stand as a proof of immense antiquity of Hindu / Vedic culture in this Karma bhoomi of ours. Unfortunately its antiquity has been undermined for long. The link to the reaserch document by Sri Narahari Achar is given below. This provides authentication that some of the available Rig vedic hyms date as far back 7000 BCE.

An examination of the chronology of Rigveda based on astronomical references using planetarium software (B. Narahari Achar, 19 April 2009)

In this context we must recall some facts about the Vedic past.
The Vedas are as old as mankind itself. They have been conceived everytime human race (manvanthra) has revived itself. The currently avilable hymns were just four of thousands of Vedas that existed until Mahabharatha times. By the time of Mahabharatha, most of them have lost relevance to the changing Dharma- cycle of Kaliyuga. It was krishna Dwaipayana, popularly known as Ved Vyas who, with his foresightful wisdom made a selective choice of hymns from the then available mass of Vedic wealth, that can be useful and applicable in Kaliyuga.

What we have today as the 4 Vedas are a compilation of hymns from different sources (rishis) given at different periods in the past.

As such, there is no particular chronology of the vedas. They have been evolved simultaneously at all times. The 4 vedas thermselves were not evolved in any chronological sequence. Their contents only have been serialised as 4 vedas. But their origin had happened at all times simultaneously in the past. By this it means that a rig vedic hymn could have been evolved at a period later than a dated Atharvan hymn while there may be another Rig Vedic hymn evolved 1000s of years before that. There is absolutely no gradation in the period they have evolved. The gradation is with reference to the serialisation which Vyas had done.

Sri Narahari Achar has brought into focus the hymns that evolved as early as 7000 BCE! The Vernal equinox was at the comemncement of Bhadrapada (at present it is in Piseces / Phalguni). Rama's birth time can be established on the basis of many corroborative evidence. The planetary software has been used by scholars like Prof Vartak and Prof Bhatnagar to place the date at 7000 years ago from now.
Krishna's birth tallies well with archeological findings at submerged Dwaraka. The Harappan findings tally with a date later than Krishna's times, giving momentum to the notion that the settlers at Saraswathy river-bank were the dis-located people of Dwaraka due to inundation of Dwaraka. From the description in Mahabharatha we know that the people of Dwaraka moved North along the Saraswathy river and settled enroute.

The impotant corroborative evidence I mentioned above on Rama's times is from astrology. The astro-birth details of Rama are accurate in that we can not only construct the horoscope of Rama but also substantiate the events in Rama's life in line with the dasa-antar dasa preditions of Rama's horoscope. We can establish that every event that happened to Rama tallies well with the dasa predictions of Rama's horoscope. I will write about this when I do a detailed series on Rama's times.

What must not be lost sight of is that the 4 vedas existed even at Rama's times. Rama had learnt all the 4 vedas. If the Rig veda is supposed to have been evolved at around 3000 BC and the Atharvan veda at a period later to this, how could have Rama learnt them in 5000 BCE?

Any dating on vedas can not be used to compartmentalise the past as vedic or pre-vedic etc. The dating can only give additonal impetus to pushing back civilisation in the Indian land mass to far closer to the end of Ice age!
Prof Achar's analysis has given this impetus!

To say on the basis of dating of the currently avilable vedas that they were evolved only a few thousands of years ago is wrong. In the comity of such little understanding of the Vedic past, Prof Achar has done well in bringing out the date of some of the avilable hymns with solid evidence.

Also to be read:-

http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/rigveda

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The sky map at the time of Mahabharata war.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Measures to bring back Indian money from Swiss banks – Interim report.

From the Statement issued by Shri LK Advani at press meet in Mumbai on Swiss accounts Task Force report

Friday, 17 April 2009

http://www.bjp.org/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2868&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=394

At my New Delhi press conference, I had stated that a future BJP-led government at the Centre, if elected, would bring India's sovereign wealth back from foreign shores and use it for various ambitious developmental projects. I had also announced the formation of a Task Force to recommend specific steps that a future government may take to translate our promise into reality.

I am pleased to announce that the Task Force has submitted its recommendations in the enclosed interim report. I sincerely thank members of the Task Force — Shri S. Gurumurthy (Chartered Accountant and investigative writer, Chennai); Shri Ajit Doval (Security expert, New Delhi); Dr. R. Vaidyanathan (Professor of Finance, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore); and Shri Mahesh Jethmalani (Senior lawyer, Mumbai) — for the outstanding work they have done.

The interim report of the Task Force is useful for four important reasons. Firstly, it has placed the problem of India's wealth hoarded in secret bank accounts abroad in the context of a larger global menace, which western nations have now resolved to fight due to their own internal compulsions. Hence, it has rightly pointed out that India should become an active player in the global crusade against banking secrecy and tax havens.

Secondly, the Task Force has correctly asserted that the "fact of the loot" cannot be questioned although there may be debate on the "maths of the loot". Based on studies conducted abroad, the Task Force has mentioned that the Indian wealth in Swiss bank accounts and other tax haven may be in the range of $500 billions [Rs 25 lakh crores] and $1.4 trillions [Rs 70 lakh crores]. The credibility of these estimates is reinforced by the figure of $11.5 trillions (Rs. 575 lakh crore) officially given by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), a group of rich countries, at the G-20 Summit in London early this month as the amount of global wealth parked in various tax havens.

Thirdly, the Task Force has highlighted the casual approach of the Congress-led UPA government in taking up this important issue at appropriate international fora. Spokesmen of the Congress party have even mocked at the BJP's effort in this regard. My appeal to voters is simple: Punish the Congress that has no political will to fight corruption and crime money. The word "corruption" does not even figure in the Congress party's manifesto!

Fourthly, the Task Force has recommended specific measures as part of the Global and National Strategies to bring back Indian money from tax havens abroad.

The important recommendations made by the Task Force are:

Global Strategy

Step I: Creating a powerful public opinion in India is a pre-requisite for global response to India's requirements in regard to unveiling banking secrecy. The world respects powerful domestic opinion on global issues. India must first realize that this is the ideal time to act and join the global crusade against secret banks and tax havens. In the absence of a broad national consensus on the issue, only a determined leader with a committed team can create the strong national will needed for undertaking this serious agenda overcoming all attempts to impede the effort. Those who do not support the move should be seen as supporters of black economy.

Step II: India should stop being a silent spectator to the G-20 efforts against secret banking and tax havens. It must become an active player and forthwith change the perception that it is not against secret banking and tax havens.

Step III: India must immediately and effectively urge the German government to provide the details of the Indian names from the LGT bank's secret records. The BJP, if voted to power, must send a special emissary to Germany, which is willing to give the details of Indian names in the LGT bank's secret records.

Step IV: India must strive for a coordinated global and multilateral effort, which is the only solution to undo the regime of banking secrecy.

Step V: India has special needs beyond what the West is seeking to break banking secrecy. India should work with the West to get the OECD rules on internationally agreed tax standards. That global coercive action is working is seen from that fact that the G-20 threat to blacklist Switzerland and other tax havens is already beginning to yield results.

Step VI: We recommend that India appoint a special ambassador with adequate knowledge of tax havens and secret banking issues to work with the G-20 specifically for framing India-friendly rules.

National Strategy

Collection of travel information about persons visiting Switzerland and other tax havens. This should start with cabinet ministers and other high-profile political personalities.

Monitoring tax havens that have high transaction frequency with India.

India to become a full-fledged member of the Financial Action Task Force.

Use of financial intelligence sharing for security purposes. Illegal money is a potential source of undermining national security. Therefore, we recommend that Indian intelligence agencies should be specifically tasked to collect intelligence on this count.

Legislative support: Just as the Obama Administration is planning specific anti-tax haven laws, India should also target tax havens and secret destinations like Switzerland operating in India. We recommend that stricter laws should place the onus of proving their innocence on the accused if a prima facie case is made out.

High Level Task Force: We recommend that the Government of India should constitute a high level Task Force with representatives from Finance Ministry, National Intelligence Agencies, Ministry of Law, RBI, SEBI, Economic Intelligence Units, Central Vigilance Commission, CBI and other experts to collect and process the information and start legal action wherever feasible. As large-scale kickbacks are reported from purchases made by some of the Ministries like Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Civil Aviation etc., their representatives could also be co-opted wherever necessary.

The history of the illicit wealth holders should be brought out: We recommend that when India is able to unveil the banking secrecy through information sharing arrangement, it should get the names and amounts not just as of today but for the entire economic history of the account-holders.

To read the full text of the interim report:-

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14356543/TASK-Force-Report170409-Mumbai

Related post :- (article by Prof R.Vaidyanathan)

http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2009/03/faqs-on-tax-havens-etc-r-vaidyanathan.html

Friday, April 17, 2009

How to celebrate birthday.

In Hinduism, birth days are not celebrated on the date of birth of the Gregorian calendar.

There must be some authenticity to the birthday having some connection with the exact day when one was born.

This is not possible if one follows the so-called "English calendar".

It is possible only in Sanatanic system of time keeping.

The sun and the moon are the time keepers.

The day when the moon comes in the same star (the same place in the sky) when the sun also was in the same constellation as at the time of birth is considered as one's birth day.

So the birthday must be celebrated on the birth star (lunar asterism) in the solar month of birth.

There are specific rules given in astrology on how to celebrate one's birth day and what to do or not to do on the birth day.

Whatever be the nature of the birth star, there is no stigma attached to it if it happens to be one's birth star.

As such one's birth day is not inauspicious for oneself on any account.

The stipulations are with reference to what to do or what not to do on the day of one's birth star in any month.

What to do :-

On the day of one's birth star,

one can start education or any kind of learning,

buy land or property or any item of accumulation,

enter a house (gruha-pravesha)or start the construction of a house,

do homa or worship or charity such as anna daanam

or any act for mental and spiritual upliftment.

This includes getting done the upanayanam (thread ceremony) on the birth star.

What not to do:-

Acts done to one's body should not be done on the birth star.

These include

starting medication, doing surgery or starting any new kind of treatment for an ill ness,

getting married and having the first night etc

and having the 8^th month ceremony of pregnancy (seemantha) etc.

Apart from these do's and don'ts, one need not worry about one's birth star, whether it is a good star or bad star or whether the birth day comes on a good thithi or an inauspicious thithi such as ashtami or navami etc.

The yearly birth day is definitely an auspicious day for the person concerned.

According to dharma sastras,

The birth day must be celebrated every month in the 1^st year of birth.

If the birth star comes on 2 days in a solar month, the second one only must be considered as birth day.

If the birth star is on 2 days ( starting from the previous day to the next day), the next day only must be considered. The sunrise coming on the day of star determines the birth day.

Even if the star is there for a few minutes in the next day, only the next day is considered as the birth day.

If the birth star is there in the next day for less than 8 minutes, only then the previous day must be considered.

If the birth star does not happen to be there at the time of sunrise on any day (previous day or the next morning), then one must celebrate it in the next solar month.

How to celebrate the birth day:-

Take oil bath in the morning and wear vermilion or kumkum as the practice may be.
Worship parents
Worship the kula devatha with akshatha (unbroken rice mixed with turmeric and drops of ghee)
Then worship the birth star
16 deities are worshipped.

They are Kula devatha,

Deities at home,

Birth star,

Parents (parents are considered as gods)

Sun

Ganesha

Ashwatthaama

Bali (grandson of Prahladha)

Vyasa

Prahlaadha

Hanuman

Vibheeshana

Kripacharya

Parasurama

MarkandEya

Sashti Devi

The worship to these deities is for 'Chiranjeevithwam'-

to pray for longevity and conquer of death like Markandeya.

Markandeya must be worshiped by offering curd rice.

Shasti devi is the Inner Power of the Trinities.

She also signifies 60 years of the solar cycle.

The wish is for completing the cycle of 60 years.

She is worshiped with the mantra,

"Jayadevi jaganmaataaha jagadaananda daayini/

twath prasaadhaat trilokeshu yaasch sthaavara jangamaah

Brahma Vishnu Sivaisaaradhaam Rakshaam kurvanthE taanimE//

(meaning :- " O God of the mother! O shashti Devi! You are the way for eternal pleasure of the universe. With your mercy all the living things in the three worlds, including the Supreme Trinities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva protect me with this prayer.")

Then milk mixed with gingelly seeds and jaggery must be offered.

This marks the close of worship.

This is followed by feeding the Brahmins and others.

One should not do any cutting acts (hair cut or nail cut) on birthday.

One must be in pious thoughts throughout the day.

One must seek the blessings of elders and be engaged in happy thoughts and deeds.

This was how the birthday was celebrated in olden days!

-jayasree

Given below is an article sent by a friend, on the meaning of birthday and birthday celebration as done in Hinduism

****************

Birthday

1. Spiritual meaning

'Celebrating a birthday is actually expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to do sadhana (spiritual practice) during the past year and praying for His grace in the coming year.'- A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil , 21^st January 2005, 4 p.m.)

The birthday is the day to assess spiritual progress of the embodied soul: 'The word 'vad-divas', in Marathi language literally means "day of growth". Here growth indicates spiritual progress. For the soul to progress spiritually, purification of the subtle body and imbibing of the three components also known as 'trigunas') from Deities in appropriate proportions is necessary. The spiritual progress of an embodied soul begins at birth. Even if an individual does not undertake actual spiritual practice, due to various spiritual rituals performed on him the sattva component in him increases thus initiating his spiritual progress. Birthday is the day to take stock of the effect of spiritual rituals on his subtle body. From a spiritual perspective, birthday is the day to assess one's spiritual progress and if there is spiritual progress then it signifies actual growth'.- God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale,13^th May 2005, 8.04 - 8.22 p.m.)

Birthday is the day to enhance one's ability to imbibe chaitanya: 'Birthday is the day for enhancement of the ability of an embodied soul to imbibe chaitanya, through the benevolent frequencies gained by invoking Deities. Through this action which raises the sattva component in the atmosphere, the embodied soul achieves stability of the inner mind.' – A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 28^th August 2005, 11.40 a.m.)

2. History and importance of a birthday celebration

2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the 'Satyayug'

'In the Satyayug the first birthday was celebrated with an evolved soul making a silent resolve and either showering unbroken rice grains (akshata) on the appropriate chakra of the spiritual energy system (kundalini), touching the chakra or initiating the journey (activation) of the kundalini with a mere glance: 'An individual is born with a spiritual level which is carried forward from the past birth. Accordingly, that particular centre in the spiritual energy system is already in an activated state or a state where the journey of the spiritual energy has halted. In the 'Satyayug', 'Tretayug' and 'Dvaparyug' evolved individuals would be invited to bless the individual whose first birthday was being celebrated or the child would be taken to Him. The evolved soul would perform the ritual of 'aukshan' for the child and making a silent resolve would shower unbroken rice grains on various parts of its body thus activating the chakras of the spiritual energy system in that area, till the chakra where the spiritual journey had halted was reached. He would touch the chakra beyond the one where the spiritual energy flow was arrested with unbroken rice grains in the fingers. This would resume the further journey of the spiritual energy. The evolved soul progressed beyond 75% would know merely by looking at the embodied soul upto where his spiritual energy was activated. So, a mere glance at that chakra would restart his spiritual progress.' – God (Through the medium of Ms.. Madhura Bhosale, 13^th May 2005, 8.04 -8.22p.m.)

2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Treta and Dvaparyugs

Saints blessing an embodied soul only after assessing his spiritual progress in the previous year: 'In the 'Satyayug' the spiritual level of the average individual was 60%. The embodied soul himself was capable of perceiving the progress of the spiritual energy in his chakras. In the 'Tretayug' too some embodied souls had this potential. However, in the 'Dvaparyug' most embodied souls lost this ability.

In the 'Treta' and 'Dvaparyugs' either the individual would visit saints or vice-versa and the saint would bestow His blessings for rapid spiritual progress. After having received blessings the embodied soul would seriously enhance his efforts to increase spiritual progress. On the subsequent birthday when the individual would go for blessings to the saint He would bless him only after assessing if his spiritual progress had occurred in the past year. Since the seeker was fully aware that his progress was a consequence of the saint's blessing there were less chances of inflation of his ego.' - God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 8^th May 2005).

3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar

Even though according to astrology, the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar calendar is inauspicious, it is still advisable to celebrate it on that day as the benefits derived are more than if celebrated on the date of birth according to the Western calendar. - Compiler: We advise that the birthday should be celebrated as per the Hindu lunar calendar.

However astrology says 'No auspicious action should be performed on the date that one is born because that day is inauspicious. So what stand should be adopted?

A Scholar: The implied meaning of the word 'inauspicious' in this context is different. The attributes of the embodied soul born on that particular day match with the frequencies present on that date as per the Hindu lunar calendar ('tithi'). The sorcerers with their prowess to do black magic, can make a replica of an embodied soul and can cause distress upto 70%. Thus this day is considered 'inauspicious' due to the probability of suffering which could be maximum on that date.

In 'Kaliyug' this is an excellent example of the misconceptions harboured by people. On this day the probability of harm is more means that, chances of obstacles in any auspicious task is high so the misconception that was formed was that one cannot perform any holy ritual for the embodied soul on this date of the Hindu lunar calendar. On the contrary, when celebrating the birthday on this date, through the ritual of 'aukshan' and a prayer made unto the family deity, the chaitanya generated helps the embodied soul to combat the distressing energy attacks at various levels. Thus, there is no rule that one must not perform any ritual on this day and the statement from astrology is baseless.'- (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 4^th March 2006, 7.17 p.m.)

Blessings and good wishes endow maximum benefit: 'The frequencies of the date of birth according to the Hindu lunar calendar match the individual maximally.Since the blessings and good wishes of relatives and well-wishers bring maximum benefit to the individual celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar is more beneficial.

One develops the strength to combat obstacles in life: Since the frequencies in the universe on the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar match the temperament of the person born on that date, the 'sattvik' and chaitanya-enriched rituals done by an individual on that day leave a deep impression on his subconscious mind. As a result, he derives spiritual prowess to combat problems in his future life.'- A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 21^st January 2005, 9.11p.m. and 28^th August 2005, 11.40a.m.)

Benefits of celebrating a birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar ('tithi') as against the date of birth as per the Western calendar

	Celebrating birthday as per date by Western calendar	Celebrating birthday as per Hindu lunar calendar
1. Body involved	Physical body only	Physical body 5% and subtle body 95%
2. Effects on body	Since it is related only to the physical body the embodied soul benefits from the 'sattva' frequencies negligibly. As a result the covering of the embodied soul by raja-tama attributes may not get reduced	'Sattva' component of the subtle body increases
3. Effects on the spiritual energy channels (naadii)	Even after 'aukshan' the 'sattva' component in the subtle body does not grow as much as required; mostly the sun channel and at times the moon channel gets activated. However this does not benefit the embodied soul spiritually.	After a 'tithi' begins, every moment an embodied soul derives 'sattvik' frequencies matching his subtle body, which are necessary for purification of the body. As a result of aukshan the 'Sushumna' channel in the embodied soul gets activated. If the spiritual level of the embodied soul exceeds 60%, the 'Sushumna' channel remains active throughout the day.
4. Effects on the attitudes of an embodied soul	As the 'sattva' component in an embodied soul does not increase, his extroverted attitude does.	As the 'sattva' component in an embodied soul grows, so does his introverted attitude.

4. Method of birthday celebration

'There are as many temperaments as there are people and so also the corresponding number of paths of spiritual practice.' This is one of the basic tenets in Hinduism. Based on this, the methods of performing religious rituals also vary. Though the methods vary, the benefit of the ritual is the same, which is all methods endow the Divine principle. Thus one can decide the method as per convenience. Following are the two methods for celebration of a birthday.

4.1 Method 1

A. 'In the first year of life every month and thereafter every year on the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar calendar one should bathe after an oil massage. This should be, followed by application of tilak of kumkum (vermilion)on the forehead.

B. With the resolve 'आयुरभिवृद्ध्‌यर्थं वर्ष (मास) वृद्धिकर्मं करिष्‍ये' fistful of rice are placed on a wooden seat or platform in seventeen small heaps in the name of the family deity ('kuladevata'), lunar asterism at birth ('nakshatra'), parents, Deities Prajapati, Surya, Ganesh, Parshuraam, Raam, Hanumaan , Shasthidevata, Sages Maarkandeya, Vyaas, Krupaachaarya, Ashwathaamaa, Bali, Pralhaad and Bibhishan . The corresponding deity is invoked in each heap and their ritualistic worship with sixteen substances is performed. The Shasthidevata is offered a sacrament ('naivedya') of curd and rice which is later fed to a cow or any other animal. The other Deities are offered sugar cubes ('khadisakhar') or 'pedhas' (a sweetmeat) which is then distributed as holy sacrament.

C. With a prayer, a drink made from a cube of jaggery, a fistful of sesame seeds and half a cup of milk is partaken of by the one celebrating the birthday.

D. Relatives and friends are invited for a meal. Offering of food and other items should be done on this day as much as possible.

E. Avoid receiving money or gifts on this day.

4.2 Method 2

The method of celebration is given below.

A. Bath after an oil massage: On the birthday, after an oil massage, have a bath with clothes on (bath taken in this way is symbolic of forgetting the past, with a prayer to The God for constantly remaining in the present.) When bathing the spiritual emotion should be that 'The pure and holy water of river Ganga is purifying my body and mind'.

B. Wear new clothes after the bath.

C. Offer obeisance ('namaskar') to parents and elders in the family.

D. Perform the ritual of 'abhishek' (ablution with liquids like milk and water) or ritualistic worship of the family deity wholeheartedly.

E. Ritual of 'aukshan': The ritual of 'aukshan' is performed on the one whose birthday is being celebrated. Both, the one performing it and the one on whom the ritual is being performed, should harbour the spiritual emotion that, 'Through our medium, God Himself is performing this ritual and bestowing His blessings on us.' At the end of this ritual unbroken rice grains ('akshataa') are sprinkled on the head of the one on whom 'aukshan' is performed after venerating one's family deity or deity of worship.

F. A gift is presented to the one celebrating the birthday with the following perspective. As one's duty a child is given a gift to express appreciation. While gifting an adult,one should not have a sense of doership. When one gifts something without expectation, after a while one forgets about it. The gift given on a birthday should be such. If doership or expectations are harboured in the mind when gifting then a give and take account is created between the two. When the one receiving the gift has the attitude that it is the holy sacrament (prasad) that he is receiving with God's grace, then a give and take account is not created.

G. Clothes worn when bathing should be given away, without any expectations. This offering should be made to one who is deserving hence it is advisable to give it to a devotee of God or to one serving in the mission of betterment of the nation and righteousness, instead of a beggar.