Dr. Sawraj Singh

IN one of the most significant declarations of our times, the Russian President Medvedev declared the end of the American dominated uni polar world. He said that Russia will no longer accept the domination of the World by anyone country or a group of countries because the world has become a multi polar World. Let us see if there is any validity to Russia’s claim. One thing has become clear that Russia considers itself a part of the east in this East and West divide.
The basis for the Western domination of the World lies in the Industrial Revolution. As a result of this revolution, the industrial production in the Western countries increased. They could also make more sophisticated weapons. The net effect of these two factors led to the Western domination of the World. The Western countries needed markets for their industrial goods and areas to supply raw materials for their factories. Both these objectives were met with colonization of the other countries with the help of the sophisticated weaponry. In the final analysis, superiroity of the weapons played the major role in establishing the Western domination.
The Western domination of the World reached its peak in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century, the Western domination started to recede. The two major developments in the twentieth century which weakened the Western domination were the Russian and the Chinese revolutions. The Russian revolution was in the beginning of the twentieth century (1917) and the Chinese revolution was in the middle of the century (1949).
Together these two revolutions were going to end the Western domination. However, the West was able to extend it’s domination by sowing discord between Russia and China in the sixties. Putin was the first leader who could see through the Western scheme. As soon as Putin came to power, he changed the course of Russia, it started looking east. The Russian leaders who looked up to the West for help such as Solzhenitsyn and Gorbachov were thoroughly frustrated with the West. Russia was convinced that its future lies in the east. Dr. Sunyetsen had reached the similar conclusion in China, more than half a century before.
When Russia and China united that spelled the end of the Western domination. There is no Country or group of countries that can match the strength of Russia and China united together. They have all the three elements which are needed to win a war. These are man power, economic power and the weaponry. Russian weaponry even today is superior to the Western weapons. The Chinese have the largest; the most organized and highly disciplined population in the World. China has made tremendous achievements in the economic and technological fields. For example, China is now the largest trading partner of the two most important American allies in Asia, Japan and South Korea. China has now the highest railway system in the world and is soon going to have the fastest also. The China – Tibet Railway is the highest in the World and the Beijing – Shanghai Railway is going to be the fastest. This Bullet train will run at 380 Km per hour. The Chinese made Lenovo is now considered the best computer in the World.
The West should take Russia seriously when Medvedev is saying that the uni polar world has ended and the multi polar world has begun, he is only telling the truth. The West has a choice, either it can accept a peaceful transition or fight it out. France and Germany seem to be for a peaceful change whereas America and England want to fight.

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Guru’s painting no authentic

Balwinder

THIS is about the painting of guru Gobind Singh taken from the constitution of India There is a hell of difference between the terms "photograph" and painting. And the term "photograph" is wrongly used, surely inadvertently, there with the illustration. Because photography was yet not there in guru's time, so in no way an authentic "photograph".
We artist fools call an image a caricature when a figure is not drawn as per its right natural proportions knowingly or unknowingly.
And the guru's hand in this illustration is shown smaller than an adult hand and looks like that of a child. At least not a warrior’s hand of a stature that handled huge sized weapons.
Technically a normal man's hand is equivalent than ones face. You can check/measure it by keeping your own end of your palm at your chin and would find that your fingers would touch your forehead hairline. Similarly, as another general illustration, it may surprise you after measuring that your foot size is equivalent to the size of your lower arm (between ones elbow and palm)!
Except for a few known portrait painters that were patronised during the Mughal period (particularly during Jehangir's period and after) who took special care about the likeness of the subject, one has not heard of any portrait painters in that sense of the word in later Pahari schools of which the referred illustration appears to be the outcome.
Any authentic picture of the guru could only be the one if it were painted by his contemporary skilful portrait painter. In most Pahari School paintings all princes/kings look alike and often are distinguished by penning their names along with the picture.
We three brothers don’t look alike. And I am sure that none can paint an "authentic" picture of my grandfather even after seeing us all. My brothers might accept such a picture but I won’t, even if they would be in a winning position being both elders and democratically outnumbering.
[Mr. Balwinder is a well known artist and former principal of Government College, Chandigarh.

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