Gobind Thukral

ELECTIONS are concomitant to any democratic process. They provide the people whom democracies call as masters a chance to exercise their free will and elect governments of their choice. This theoretical position is well stated and most of the constitutions take note of it. There is no other way to know the minds of the people about the formation of governments. This makes elections sacrosanct. This should also mean that elections are free and fair and people’s participation ensured to the maximum scale. If that does not happen, elections turn out to be a farce to perpetuate an exploitative system and legitimacy for puppet regimes.

Amidst worries that the long seven week election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India in Jammu and Kashmir, described sometimes as the most dangerous place on earth is vitiated , a debate rages on whether this was the right time to have elections. No one is questioning elections per se. Yet its timing when the state is sharply polarised on communal and regional lines is under question.

Assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir in seven phases from November 17 to December 24. The counting of votes will be on December 28 and the election process will be completed by December 31. The State has 87 Assembly constituencies, including seven reserved for Scheduled Castes. Altogether 65,38,111 electors are eligible to exercise their franchise through 8,109 polling stations to be set up in various areas of the State, including in snow-clad Leh and Kargil regions. As against the usual three weeks between the announcement of election dates and the issue of gazette notification, the EC and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir will now get just about five days to set the election process in motion. Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi agreed “it was a difficult decision for the panel in view of the political, social and other dimensions, like logistics, and simultaneous assembly elections happening in five other states.”

Some had called for deferring the elections until next summer, fearing that the still-raw wounds of the violence Jammu and Kashmir saw this summer could lead to a poor voter turnout and a verdict vitiated along communal lines. Others were concerned that terrorist violence, or an anti-election campaign by secessionists, could lead to more bloodshed. All these concerns are valid. Yet how could be a central rule more legitimate than elected government is always a hard question in a democratic setup.

The Election Commission was itself divided, yet finally picked up courage and stood by the principle; people ought to shape their own future. Except Peoples Democratic Party of Mufti Muhammad Sayyed and of course Hurriyat Conference and the separatists, all have welcomed the elections. CPM that had demanded confidence building measures before elections to ensure greater participation of people has now jumped into the fray. It is the first party to launch a vigorous campaign in the Kashmir valley despite risks associated with it. Its rally, addressed by state CPI-M general secretary Tarigami was the first to be organised by a mainstream political party in nearly four months after the violent agitation spearheaded by separatists over the Amarnath land transfer row which left over 50 people dead and hundred others injured besides economy in a shambles.

Ever since 1996, when democracy returned to the troubled State after an extended breakdown brought about by jihadist violence, central misrule and corrupt regimes, most political parties in India see elections as a tool for peacemaking. Yet for decades, elections in Jammu and Kashmir were used as instruments to bring a particular party to power, for example, or for demonstrating the legitimacy of the State’s accession to India which was always under challenge. There was a clear subversion of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. There had been rigging all around earlier. This further eroded the confidence of the people and made the job of security forces including the army much more difficult.

The Congress and BJP have welcomed the announcement. National Conference president Omar Abdullah said his party was geared to join the poll process. The Peoples Democratic Party, the loudest advocate for delaying the poll process, has been silent. Though senior leaders of the party said that they cannot afford to stay away from the elections, they are still weighing an official party response.

Separatists across the dove-hawk divide are adamant on a poll boycott, emboldened by recent groundswell of support and the peaceful nature of public protests. JKLF chief Yasin Malik felt, “To vote or not to vote is the fundamental right of people in a democratic society. We have reached the conclusion that there is no scope, logic or reason to be part of the electoral process and we will engage in a full-fledged boycott campaign. Three generations of Kashmiris have been consumed by this dispute and unless it is resolved, we do not think our children have any safety, security or future. Former Prime minister Vajpayee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave public commitment that this issue will be resolved through dialogue and we supported their call. It is unfortunate that the institution of dialogue has failed until now. These elections are in no way going to help resolve the issue. We first want a resolution, then elections.”

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who leads the Hurriyat moderates, found “elections make no sense in the absence of the settlement of the larger Kashmir conflict. Such elections have never made a difference.” Hurriyat will urge people not to vote. He did not, however, say whether they too will organise a boycott campaign. Hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that the people of Kashmir would stay away from the elections. “We want no elections in Kashmir. These are meant to ride roughshod over the real democratic aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Kashmiris are now-a-days caught in turmoil and tension because of the prevailing political circumstances. The current situation of Kashmir requires proper attention and adequate heed from the political as well as religious representatives of all the divisions of J&K state. They should assess possible solutions as well as interests of the natives in order to come to a suitable solution or else the current situation prevailing in the State may lead to devastating consequences.

While elections are no panacea for problems facing the state, it is important to hold polls to address day-to-day problems. Kashmir issue and the need for its resolution can never be overstated. People need to be complimented their contribution in the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad trade route. Over the summer, the Congress-People’s Democratic Party alliance government paid the price for the two partners’ political opportunism and failure to challenge the forces of religious and ethnic chauvinism.

Now, the people will have an opportunity to assess that record and decide who might have the best vision for the future. In 1996 and 2002, terrorist violence claimed the lives of almost 200 political workers from most major parties, who put their lives on the line to campaign for their beliefs. How this election be a fitting tribute to that sacrifice, we have to wait and see.

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The US space based missile defense: arms race in South Asia

Neha Kumar

THE US Congress has approved $ 5 million on 17 October 2008 for conducting study on space based ballistic missile defense systems. Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican said ‘Approval of the study highlights the need to provide comprehensive protection from growing threat of missile attack and to limit the vulnerability of vital satellites to attack.’ The US military is increasingly dependent on high speed satellites, global positioning systems, navigation for precision guided munitions and high resolution imagery so as to attain victory in war. Gulf War I was the clear demonstration of the US dependence on space assets for conducting successful attack. Given this dependence, the US wants to prevent any possible attack on its space assets by development of space based BMD capability. The other reason for the US interest in this space based BMD is to track ballistic missiles worldwide.

It is not the first time that the US is looking forward for the development and deployment of space-based missile defense system. Earlier to this, the US administration introduced brilliant pebbles program in late 1980s and late 1990s which was cancelled by Clinton Administration in 1993. It was proposed that brilliant pebbles program will deploy a 4,000-satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit that would fire high-velocity, watermelon-sized projectiles at long-range ballistic missiles launched from anywhere in the world. Later Clinton administration cancelled this program due to the concerns of ABM treaty and said ‘taking stars out of star wars.’ Later, the US QDR 2001 reaffirms the need to explore space as a new frontier of war and to ‘deny other countries from acquiring space capabilities.’ Bush administration stressed on development of the BMD which will use space .It is believed that an effective, global-coverage BMD system must start intercepting an ICBM as early as the boost phase, which, under U.S. Missile Defense Agency plans, would entail the use of space-based interceptors. These interceptors will be placed in low earth orbit and will remain there until a missile launch is detected. After the attack is detected, these interceptors will accelerate out of missile and will come towards the missile so as to destroy it with attack.

The use of space is not just limited to BMD. It also consists of development and deployment of Anti Satellite Weapon (ASAT). The United States decided to strike a dying satellite with missiles launched from a Navy cruiser on 20 February 2008. The Standard Missile from the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, also called as SM-3, was used to destroy the satellite. SM-3 is basically designed for missile defense, but its software was modified to target the satellite. It was therefore felt that the US could convert BMD capability into an ASAT weapon so as to destroy adversary’s satellites. Presently, the US and Russia are increasingly using space for military purpose and China is also trying to explore space for military uses.

China is worried about deployment of the US space weapons and BMD capability as it will give the US more leverage in interfering in China’s matters. It will also complicate China’s long term goal of achieving reunification with Taiwan and to emerge as an economic and military power in Asia. China’s doubts became reality as the US carry out military cooperation with Taiwan and plan to deploy TMD systems. As a result, China will try to block or to deal with the US weapons in space. One of the simple ways is to deploy anti-satellite weapon so as to destroy space-based BMD. China carried out successful ASAT test in Jan 2007. This was considered as a Chinese response to the US BMD program. In order to detect missile in boost base, the US need Space based laser and other concepts as mentioned in brilliant pebbles program. A layered BMD needs space based sensors such as early warning satellites (SIBRIS-high) and space based missile tracking systems (SIBRIS-low). It was planned that SIBRIS-high will consist of 5-6 new early warning satellites located in high orbit and SIBRIS-low will consists of approximately 24 satellites located in low orbit. SIBRIS-low is designed to perform task of target identification by adding different types of sensors to BMD. As a result, China’s ASAT capabilities can destroy these satellites which will have adverse effect on the US BMD program. China has realized that it has to counter adversary strength by focusing on its weakness. Although, there are technologies to destroy ASAT capabilities but they are expensive and complex, requiring more resource and money investment.

China’s ASAT capability will have impact not only on the US but also on India. This test was conducted at a time when India was slowly moving towards exploration of space for military purposes like development of military communications and reconnaissance systems and was also looking forward for development of BMD. China’s ASAT capability can destroy India’s satellites in low orbit. After the Chinese test, a senior Indian defense official said that New Delhi would take the necessary steps to counter Chinese ASAT capabilities, including through the use of ballistic missiles. India has also established Integrated Space Cell under Integrated Defense Services Headquarters so as to counter the threat to its space assets. Chief of Army Staff, Deepak Kappor said, ‘Chinese space programme is expanding at an exponentially rapid pace in both offensive and defensive content. There is an imperative requirement to develop joint structures in the Indian armed forces for synergizing employment of space assets.’

This clearly shows that India too bears the cost of competition between China and the US to establish their hegemony in space. In the coming years, India may be forced to explore China like space technologies so as to protect its strategic interests. Such a situation presents destabilizing situation increasing risk of preemptive attacks. Assuming, the US has deployed BMD systems which could protect its cities from any ballistic missile and nuclear attacks. In reaction to this, China will develop ASAT weapons which could destroy the US space-based systems. As a result, the US has developed such capabilities which could destroy ASAT. If China carried out ASAT attacks on the US, it will destroy the US BMD and therefore its capability. On the other hand, if the US first carried out attacks on the China ASAT weapons, it will destroy its capability to destroy the US BMD systems. The case of India is different as it does not yet have resources to develop counter technologies of ASAT weapons.

It is well known that China enjoys numerical force superiority in Asia. China already enjoys superiority over conventional and nuclear weapons as compared to other Asian states and further development of space capabilities will enhance its capabilities manifold. It will give leverage to China to interfere freely in regional Asia’s matters. On the other hand, China proliferation of military technologies posed risk for India and the US. China policy is to proliferate military technologies to Pakistan so as to keep India engaged and to help North Korea so as to check Japan and the US interests. It may proliferate its ASAT technologies to these two countries which will affect the strategic balance dramatically. This shows that due to the US space based missile defense and related programs, South Asian countries are forced to enter into an expensive and more dangerous outer space war. It will effect the balance of power equation in Asia leading to adverse effects on non-proliferation regimes and the US interest in the region. Under such conditions, the US has two options-whether to deter China from developing space weapons or to place emphasis on limited BMD rather than ambiguous space-based BMD.

[The writer is doing Ph.D in Disarmament Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is working as a Research Assistant in United Service Institution of India (USI), New Delhi]

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Birth of Guru Nanak, Katik or Baisakh

Jagpal S Tiwana writes from Halifax , Canada

THERE has been a controversy about the date of birth of Guru Nanak. Traditionally it is believed that Guru Nanak was born in the month of Katik(October-November) on the pooranmashi (full moon) night in 1469 and hence Sikhs all over the world celebrate Guru Nanak's birthday in Katik(October-November). Modern scholars, however, do not accept this date. Their research reveals that he was born in the month of Baisakh (April) in 1469.

Then the question is how did the celebrations start in Katik when he was born in Baisakh ?

Since there is no authentic source of the biography of Guru Nanak, scholars have built his life story from Janamsakhi literature. In the Bala Janamsakhi, it is recorded that Guru Nanak was born in Katik. It is so believed by many Sikh preachers that Bhai Bala, along with Bhai Mardana, was a companion of Guru Nanak in his travels and he wrote a janamsakhi at the behest of Guru Angad.

Bala Janamsakhi

Bala Janamsakhi written by some Gorakh Das appeared in 1658. At present it is in the private collection of Piare Lal Kapur in Delhi.(1). It was popular among the Sikhs and still is. Its most attractive feature to many is the miracles associated with Guru Nanak. The superstitious rural folk love to hear and believe such stories. In many paintings and old pictures Bala and Mardana are shown as companions of Guru Nanak in his travels. This leads many to believe Katik as the birth date of the Guru as given in the Bala Janamsakhi.

Bala Janamsakhi has many flaws. It contains more reverence for Baba Hindal, father of sect’s founder, but puts down Guru Nanak. Even Bhai Santokh Singh who is perhaps the only heavy weight scholar to support Bala Janamsakhi admits Hindali influence and interpolation. Scholars point out that the language used in Bala tradition was not spoken in time of Guru Nanak. According to Hew McLeod, "A critical analysis of the linguistic characteristics of Bala and Puratan Janam Sakhis reveals that the language of the later is older than that of the Bala Janamsakhi , the language of the purantan is akin to that of Guru Granth” .(2). Khushwant Singh also points out that the "language used in this (Bala) janamsakhi was not spoken at the time of Guru Nanak or Guru Angad, but was developed at least a hundred years later".(3). It contains such expressions as Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh which were used in time of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Some hymns ascribed to Guru Nanak in the Bala janamsakhi are not his but those of second and fifth gurus. It is claimed that Bala Sandhu was commissioned by Guru Angad to write the janamsakhi, but there is no historic evidence that they ever met or knew each other. There could be a Bala Sandhu as follower of Guru Nanak, not his companion in travels.

Bhai Gurdas who was so close to Baba Buddha, a contemporary of Guru Nanak, does not mention the name of Bala, though he gives a list of other devotees of the Guru in his Vars. There is a hymn of Mardana in Adi Granth, but nothing by Bala or about Bala.

Puratan Janamsakhi

Bala's name does not exist in Vilayatvali janamsakhi or the Colebrook janamsakhi, now preserved in the old India Office Library, London. The manuscript of Vilayatvali janamsakhi was taken to England in 1815 by Henry Thomas Colebrook (1765-1835), a Sanskrit scholar. He deposited the manuscript in East India Company's library. Dr. Earnest Trumpp, though wrote quite disparagingly about holy Guru Granth Sahib, gets the credit to be the first scholar to discover and examine it in 1872 on his return to Europe. He, however, found no reference to Bala in the Janamsakhi . "If Bala had been a constant companion of Guru Nanak...it would be quite incomprehensive why never a single allusion should have been made to him in old tradition", remarks Trumpp. Trumpp discredited Bala janamsakhi which gives Katik as date of Guru Nanak's birth. A few copies of the Colebrook janamsakhi were brought to Punjab in 1883 by its Lt. Governor Charles Aitchison at the petition of some Sikhs from Amritsar.

Prof. Gurmukh Singh, the celebrated leader of the Lahore Singh Sabha, found another janamsakhi at Hafizabad, now in Distt. Gujranwala in Pakistan. Gurmukh Singh loaned his find to Macauliffe who, having divided its unbroken lines into separate words, published the text privately in 1885. The version is variously known as the Hafizabad Janam Sakhi or as the Macauliffe vali Janam Sakhi. Its contents are quite close to the Colebrooke janamsakhi. These two manuscripts remain amongst the most important of the Puratan tradition.

Then Sikh historian Karam Singh found five more such manuscripts, one of these was dated 1733 A.D., all in agreement with the account contained in former two janam-sakhis (4). Equipped with so much evidence Karam Singh published his research in 1913 in his book, "Katik ke Baisakh". He found Bala Janamsakhis quite unreliable, proved that Bala was no companion of Guru Nanak and built a convincing case that Baisakh was the right date of birth of Guru Nanak.

Since it is older than the Bala Janamsakhi, it is called puratan (old) janamsakhi. There is however, some dispute about the origin of the puratan janamsakhi date. Kirpal Singh insists that it was written 1634, but Kahn Singh Nabha followed by Khushwant Singh and Gopal Singh claim that it was written in the last quart of the 16th century(1588) by Sewa Das. McLeod does not give an exact date, but puts it in time of Guru Arjan,"Its language and gramatical constructions show that this janam Sakhi must have bee written around the time of the compilation of Adi Guru Granth Sahib." This was also the time when Meharban Janamsakhi and Bhai Gurdas's first Var were written.

Meharban Janamsakhi :

Manohar Das Meharban was the son of Prithi Chand, eldest brother of Guru Arjan Dev. He had a mystique bent of mind, was very close to the fifth Guru and got his education and knowledge of Sikh tradition from Guru Arjan Dev. He also wrote a janamsakhi of Guru Nanak which some scholars say was even written before Bhai Gurdas composed his first Var. Contents of his janamsakhi are quite similar to the Puratan janamsakhi. McLeod claims that the death story of Guru Nanak in Bala janamsakhi is borrowed from Meharban tradition. Meharban also considers April as Guru Nanak's birth date.

Other evidence:

April as date of birth is mentioned in most other classical works such as Gyan Ratnavali(1712) of Bhai Mani Singh and Mehma Parkash(1776) of Sarup Das Bhalla,. Bhai Santokh Singh, in his monumental work Nanak Prakash(1823) accepts Katik Pooramashi as the date, yet he gives the total age as 70 years, 5 moths and 7 days. Karam Singh worked this age backwards from the death date of Guru Nanak and this brings his birth to mid- April to confirm that he was born in April.

Perhaps the most influential of all has been a conflation of the two, Colebrook and Hafizabad manuscripts, prepared by Bhai Vir Singh and published under the title Puratan Janam Sakhi (Amritsar, 1926).[5]

Now all prominent historians such as M.A.Macauliffe, Hew McLeod, Kahn Singh Nabha, Indubhushan Banerji, Khushwant Singh, Kirpal Singh, Ganda Singh, Harbans Singh, H.R.Gupta and others accept account in purantan janamsakhi more reliable and April as the date of birth given there in.

Since tradition is strong in favor of Katik (November), the celebrations would continue in the same month, couple of weeks after Diwali, but we must be clear about our history. It has now been established that Guru Nanak was born on 15 Apr, 1469 C.E. Christ was also not born in December, though Christians by tradition celebrate his birth in December.
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References:

1. Kirpal Singh, Janam Sakhi Parampara. Patiala: Punjabi University, 1969
2. Harbans Singh, Ed., Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Vol.1. Patiala: Punjabi University, 1992.
3. Khushwant Singh , A History of Sikhs, Vol.1. New Delhi: Oxford University, 1999.
4. McLeod, W. H. Ed., The B40 Janam-Sakhi. Amritsar,, GNDU, 1980
5. Harbans Singh, Guru Nanak and the Origins of the Sikh Faith. Delhi: Asia Publishing House, 1969.
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[Jagpal S Tiwana, 134 Greenwich Dr. Dartmouth, NS, Canada, B2V 2N5
email : tiwana@eastlink.ca, Ph : 902-435-3793]

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