Deepak Budki: The Storyteller of Pain And Perseverance (Author: Dr Basharat Khan)

Deepak Budki: The Storyteller of 

Pain And Perseverance 

                                                         --Dr Basharat Khan

"Deepak Budki's  stories  serve  as  a comprehensive  reflection

 of fifty years,  capturing  the  diverse  changes  in life  and  the

 social, cultural, and environmental events that have  transpired

 during this time. His work adeptly portrays these transformations

 through various creative means, making this ability a prominent

 aspect of his storytelling."

                                                                  (Dr Reyaz Tawheedi) 

Deepak Budki, born on February 15, 1950, in Srinagar, Kashmir, stands as a distinguished figure in contemporary Urdu literature and a notable career in the Indian Postal Service. His life and work reflect an impressive blend of literary artistry, public service, and academic scholarship, showcasing his deep commitment to both literature and societal development.

Deepak Budki's academic journey is marked by a rigorous pursuit of knowledge. He earned an M.Sc. in Botany and a B.Ed. from Kashmir University, an Adib-e-Mahir from Jamia Urdu Aligarh, and is a graduate of the National Defence College, New Delhi. His scholarly dissertation on "Genesis of Kashmir Problem and Article 370," submitted to the National Defence College in 1992, underscores his engagement with critical socio-political issues.

His professional career, spanning over four decades, began with the J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, where he managed the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium and later served as a Statistical & Review Officer. His tenure with the Indian Postal Service commenced in 1976, including a notable nine-year stint with the Army Postal Service as Lt. Colonel. Deepak Budki retired on February 28, 2010, as Member (Planning) of the Postal Services Board, New Delhi. During his tenure as Director PLI his greatest contribution was to extend Postal Life Insurance to rural areas in India۔ His role in J&K was characterized by resilience, particularly during periods of intense conflict, where he managed the rehabilitation of migrant staff, pension arrangements, and account transfers amidst challenging conditions besides maintaining the Postal Services during the turbulent times۔

His literary career is both prolific and diverse. His contributions encompass over 160 short stories and 10 research-based books published in India, Pakistan, and Europe. Notable collections of his short stories include:

Adhoore Chehre (1999, 2005, 2014; Hindi edition 2005), Chinar ke Panje (2005, 2014; Hindi edition 2010), Zebra Crossing Par Khada Aadmi (2007, 2018), Reza Reza Hayat (2010), Ruh Ka Karb (2015), Muthi Bhar Rait (2015), Ab Main Wahan Nahi Rehta (2017), Jadon Ki Talash (2019), Yeh Kaisa Rishta (2022), Patton Par Likhi Tehreerein (2023).

His novels, Apna Apna Such (2022) and Azadi (2022), and his critical essays and research-based books, such as Urdu Ke Ghair Muslim Afsana Nigar (2017, 2020), a research-based book in which the lives and literary contributions of non-Muslim fiction writers are beautifully and thoroughly highlighted, Krishan Chander-Meri Nazar Mein (2022), further enrich Urdu literature.

The English translation of the story 'Zebra Crossing Par Khada Aadmi' has been featured in the anthology 'The Pigeons of the Domes', curated by Rakshanda Jalil. This story, along with others, has been translated into various languages. For instance, 'Ghonsla' was translated into Kashmiri and published in the January-March 2012 issue of Wakh, while its English version, 'The Nest', was brought out by Shahul Taph in New Delhi in 2018. Moreover, 'Mukhbir' (The Informer) has been translated and published in Kashmir Central Weekly in Jammu, as well as on online platforms like KNN Online, Shehjar Online, and KAW Online. The Telugu translation of 'Zebra Crossing Par Khada Aadmi,' titled 'Zebra Crossing Dagara O Kamani', was released on the Emana Web Zone on January 1, 2013, and the English translation appeared in Journalism Today in Cuttack, Odisha, from October to December 2013.

His short stories have garnered exceptional acclaim from eminent literary figures like Shamsur Rahman Farooqi, renowned for his critical acumen, alongside Waris Alvi, Sultana Meher, and Anwar Sadeed, have all offered glowing reviews. Their praise underscores the profound narrative depth and innovative approach of his work, highlighting its significant contribution to modern literature۔

Sultana Mehar a well-known writer, poet and journalist, comments that "while the literary world was once dominated by symbolic fiction; sometimes sacrificing narrative clarity, Deepak Budki offers a refreshing change. His stories are firmly rooted in the authentic experiences of his own society, rather than relying on external themes. In works such as Chinar ke Panje and Adhoore Chehre, Budki skillfully blends subtlety with stark realities, crafting engaging narratives that deeply resonate with readers through their nuanced exploration of relationships and social issues." (Translated from Urdu)

Noor Shah, a veteran fiction writer and literary luminary, commends Deepak Budki as a distinguished and internationally acclaimed short story writer. Budki’s work captures India's rich social and cultural landscape, further enriched by his extensive government experience. His collections like Adhoore Chehre, Chinar ke Panje, and Zebra Crossing Par Khada Aadmi demonstrate his expert use of symbolism and a nuanced exploration of human experiences. Budki’s innovative narrative style and profound insights firmly establish him as a prominent figure in contemporary literature.

Renowned Urdu fiction writer and critic Dr Reyaz Tawheedi Kashmiri offers high praise for Deepak Budki's storytelling, highlighting its profound ability to capture and reflect the socio-cultural and political changes of the past fifty years. Dr Reyaz Tawheedi particularly commends Budki’s exploration of the migration and experiences of Kashmiri Pandits.

"In works such as Zebra Crossing Par Khada Aadmi, Budki’s portrayal stands out for its emotional depth and authenticity. He presents the trials of migration with remarkable realism, steering clear of embellishment. His adept handling of intricate themes, coupled with his sophisticated and nuanced narrative techniques, reveals a masterful approach to storytelling. Budki’s work is marked by a genuine engagement with his subjects, creating a vivid and compelling portrayal of human experience and societal evolution."

His work has been translated into multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Kashmiri, Pahari (Gojri), Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali. His stories have appeared in various anthologies, showcasing their broad appeal and impact.

Beyond his notable literary achievements, Deepak Budki has made a considerable impact as a cartoonist, contributing to newspapers such as Jahan-e-Nav, Navjeewan, Hamara Kashmir, and Uqab. His editorial role as Joint Editor at Uqab Weekly and his participation in debates and quiz programs on All India Radio and Doordarshan further showcase his diverse talents.

Budki has been actively involved in academic discourse, presenting at seminars and conferences including the three-day event on "Baresaghir mein Urdu Zabaan wa Adab" at Kashmir University, the two-day seminar on the "Secular Character of Urdu Language" at Jammu University, and the Tawi Kinare-The Jammu Lit Fest.

His contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards such as the Postal Life Insurance Gold Medal in 1979, the Rashtriya Gaurav Samman, and the 5th Dr Manzar Kazmi National Award for Fiction in 2019. He has also received honours from the Andhra Urdu Academy and Sadbhavna Manch, Sironj.

Budki’s work has been featured in various special supplements and scholarly journals, and his life and contributions have been the subject of academic dissertations and research, highlighting his significant role in Urdu literature.

In addition to his professional and literary pursuits, Budki is an avid artist with interests in drawing, painting, cartooning, and gardening. His travels to international destinations such as Bangkok, Dubai, Rome, Cairo, and Paris have broadened his cultural perspectives.

Deepak Kumar Budki’s multifaceted career exemplifies a deep commitment to both public service and the arts. His extensive contributions in administrative roles, literary fields, and academic research underscore his prominence in Urdu literature and the Indian Postal Service, marking him as a distinguished figure whose legacy continues to inspire and influence.

*****

(Dr Basharat Khan is a writer, columnist, critic and author of the book "Literary Beats". He can be reached at chogalwriter76@gmail.com/Devnalwhispers.in  Mob:7006616946)

My Role in introducing Rural Postal Life Insurance in India

 My Role in introducing Rural Postal Life Insurance in India

Great and thought-provoking cartoon. I experienced this situation when I was Director Postal Life Insurance at Postal Directorate, New Delhi in 1993-95. I read in a magazine, Business India, about the Malhotra Committee of Reforms in the Insurance Sector. Contacted them and apprised them that the Department of Posts is the second largest player in the insurance field. However, it has been restricted in its activities within the government and PSU sector. They asked me to prepare a paper on it which I did in a day and submitted to higher authorities. Shamsur Rahman Faruqi happened to be the Member in charge. He appreciated it and asked me to send to the Committee. Later he asked me to put it up for the perusal of the then Secretary, S K Parthasarathy. He resented and wrote on the file that in oral evidence, no such matters needed to be discussed. I asked for guidance from Faruqi Sahab who smiled and said go ahead and don't worry. 

I attended the Committee deliberations twice for oral evidence, once along with my immediate boss, B K Mohanty DDG (PLI) and second time alone since he was on tour. On the second occasion, Mr Malhotra literally noted down all the points I made along with the roadmap I had put forward. He reproduced it in para 7 of the Committee report and the said report was out within a fortnight. 

When I heard the announcement in the evening on Doordarshan, I was afraid of what the Secretary might say. The next morning I reached earlier than my usual time and lo, got a call from PS to the Secretary to come down and meet him. With my legs shaking I rushed down the stairs instead of waiting for the lift. As I was ushered in, the Secretary got up from his seat, greeted and congratulated me. He had received a copy of the said report from the Secretary Telecom, who had congratulated him. I was totally surprised.

Anyway, I had worked day and night to get the scheme of RURAL POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE approved, first from the Malhotra Committee of Insurance, then from the Actuary and later from Government authorities. After some time I learnt that the PM wanted to launch the scheme himself on a particular occasion to encash it being a great and popular step and thus we had to wait. Incidentally, the scheme opened a 50,000 crore market (sum assured) for our department. 

Meanwhile, my boss, B K Mohanaty had announced through all Heads of the Circle that he was coming up with a great scheme in Rural PLI. A very cunning and scheming Officer, he wanted to take credit for this achievement himself and in the meantime got me transferred from PLI Directorate to Postal Staff College, Ghaziabad. We had kept the cyclostyled orders ready for issue which bore my signatures waiting for orders from PMO any moment. But that was not to be. It was thus left to my successor to sign the orders. All that was the contribution of my boss, who did not know even the ABC of insurance, was to talk to everyone who mattered in the department to inform them about the scheme and to remove my signatures as if I didn't exist in the scheme of things. Worse still was that Mr Mohanty, gave adverse remarks on my annual confidential report that year. I was, however, saved by the appreciation letter received earlier from Mr S C Mahalik, the then Secretary of the Department and the review of my ACR by the Counter-signing authority, the then Member, P K Bagchi. However, I must confess that such adverse remarks had no effect on me as I had got used to receiving them in the past and continued to receive them in the future as well. I am still not able to comprehend how I managed to rise to the level of Member Postal Services Board (Additional Secretary, Govt of India) before I finally retired in 2010. 

I firmly believe that BUREAUCRACY HAS ITS FUNNY SIDE TOO. 

 Lok Sabha Elections 2024-A Post mortem

The results of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, are out and have surprised many of us. The BJP party which has been ruling for the last ten years with a comfortable majority of its own was facing this election with an inherent anti-incumbency factor. However, the party put up a brave face and announced a target of 370 seats to be achieved this time (400+ for the NDA) out of 543 which was far above its achievement in the 2019 elections. Not only the party but the country was surprised at this tall order. Looking back at what its charismatic leader, Narendra Modi, had been able to achieve in the past, everyone believed that it may be a possibility. As the slogan goes, 'Modi hai to mumkin hai'. But the results proved the BJP brass wrong as they not only missed the target of 370 but also missed the majority on their own i.e. 272. 

Simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, the elections to Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa assemblies were also held. BJP has won a majority in Arunachal and Orissa on its own while in Andhra, its NDA partner TDP has registered a comfortable win. Sikkim was wrested by the local Sikkim Krantikari Morcha. The forming of the BJP government in two of the above states and the NDA government in another state more than compensate for the losses in parliamentary elections. 

An analysis of the gains and losses has been attempted hereunder to understand what went wrong with the strategy of the NDA this time, particularly the BJP. Out of 543 seats, NDA has been able to garner 291 (BJP:240, TDP:16, SS:7, JDU:12 & LJP:5), INDI Alliance bagged 234 seats (Cong:99, SP:37, TMC:29, DMK:22 & SS(UBT):9 while Others have got 18 seats (YSRC:4 & SAD:1 etc). NDA has a clear majority and can form government but no individual party has crossed the majority mark on its own. 

1) Total Dependence on Modi's Charisma: The BJP has been totally dependent on the charisma of Modi and most of the MPs have contributed practically nothing to popularise the schemes of the government and establish a rapport with the people in their constituency. My personal experience is that the MP ( Even the MLA) of our area was not seen even once visiting our colony. On the other hand, Modi has himself shown exemplary energy and dedication to his work and his campaigning in the election was to be seen to be believed. This time he was even interviewed by many journalists. His continuous talking to the people in 'Man Ki Baat' on AIR has been one of his great strengths where people send him their questions and he tries to answer them. 

2) Selection of Candidates: It is noticed that the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls was done by the High Command centrally ignoring the ground realities and the feedback from the State CMs. Before elections, many a CM were changed fearing incumbency factor and their non-performance but some of them recorded victory on the hustings subsequently. Shivraj Singh Chouhan has won the Lok Sabha election with a record margin of over 8 lakhs. Firstly, while choosing the CMs initially proper caste, integrity and popularity factors must be taken into account so that they do not have to be replaced midway. They should be given a free hand to manage their states without rushing to the Centre for guidance.

3) The Unresolved Farmer's Agitation:  The farmer's agitation kept engaging the Central Government for more than a year and even thereafter their demands were not properly addressed. It is emphasised that farmers form a large block of voters who can make or break the governments. The fact remains that the present government passed bills in parliament without consulting them which ignited the fire and consequently the government had to withdraw the bills. However, the incident allowed the farmers in north India to press for MSP and other demands to which the government did not agree. Everybody has seen what followed besides the insult to the National flag on the Red Fort. Disagreement on the issue has been simmering in the minds of farmers in Punjab and Haryana where BJP has recorded dismal performance. The farmers of UP led by Rakesh Tikait, though comparatively less pugnacious, have shown their resentment at the Lok Sabha polls. To make things worse the present government has developed an image to be pro-capitalists rather than pro-farmers. The narrative strengthened when the opposition called Modi a friend and benefactor of Adani and Ambani. 

4) Justice Delayed: Several cases happened during the last five years where justice was not done promptly. The reason was that some kith and kin of BJP leaders were involved. Nabbing of culprits should have been done immediately on the occurrence of the incident and action taken not only to file FIRs against the accused but also to ensure the cases were taken to their logical end. The delayed action and that too under pressure from the public or social platforms has made people believe that influential people can get scot-free even if they commit heinous crimes. A fine example of such a case was the complaint of the female athletes who alleged that they were abused by their coach. This case was initially shelved and ultimately had to be followed up and is presently in the concerned court. 

5) Uttar Pradesh Dilemma: The biggest surprise was thrown by the results of UP. The matter needs to be investigated properly as to what were the factors for such a dismal performance. I have already pointed out two factors; one, disagreement between Yogi Adityanath and the Centre in the choice of candidates, and the second, the after-effects of farmer's agitation. Probably the style of functioning of Yogi Adityanath may not have gone down well with the common public as it may have installed a sense of fear in their hearts though his actions are lauded by the intellectual and honest citizens. The marginalisation of Mayawati too has played a significant role in the outcome of polls. She totally withdrew from the election scene and did not actively participate as in the past and consequently, her vote bank got transferred to the SP-Congress combine. 

6) Nonachievement of Primary Goals: It goes without doubt that the Modi government has failed to achieve some major goals like the implementation of UCC in the country. It wasted its time in sidelining the objective by passing legislation on CAA, NRC and Triple Talaq. It was possible that the government would have faced a lot of opposition on this account but it would have given confidence to the majority of Indians that the government means business rather than appeasement. Now with present dispensation, the UCC will have to go into the cold storage. 

7) The Activities of ED/CBI: It is said that one should not only be honest but he should be seen to be honest. The present government has as per them allowed these agencies to be independent which has resulted in the unearthing of so much hoarded cash and so many corruption cases. But frankly speaking what happened to the people who left the country like Mallya, Modi, Choksi etc? We hear about them from election to election and now it is ages since they have absconded. Besides, how many cases of corruption and nepotism have been registered by these institutions during the last ten years and how many people out of them have been convicted? Does the National Herald case take so much time? What happened to the cases of the Saradha Chit fund? So many politicians are behind bars without chargesheets having been finalised. Imagine when the FIRs will be filed and when the courts will decide. Why hasn't legislation been passed to dedicate some courts to such cases only and get the cases investigated and decided promptly? No, the government does not want that but uses such cases only for adverse publicity of the opposition leaders. The present government is a firm believer in attrition and not punishment.  In case the institutions are overburdened, they should only pick up cases which may have the lowest mortality rate and can be finalised soon. Unless the government shows its intent to really take to task the corrupt and dishonest, its clean image will gradually get eroded notwithstanding its claims to transparency and good governance.

Worse still is that the BJP has been crying all the time about many politicians involved in scams. The same politicians have been subsequently inducted into the party and offered lucrative posts. As a result, it is hard to believe that the government is sincere about cleaning the administrative set-up of corrupt people. The argument of the government spokesmen that the cases have not been withdrawn against such people and the law will take its own course is hard to digest by the common people. After so many years the biggest symbol of corruption, The Adarsh Building, still stands tall in Mumbai and no action has been taken against the culprits.  

8) Breaking up Opposition Parties: Of late the BJP was possessed by an evil spirit which led it to bring down opposition governments in states. In some cases, they were successful and replaced them with a better and efficient government but in most cases, such acts only brought a bad name to the party especially where the alternative government indulged in corruption and nepotism. The BJP central command could not replace their own government for fear of revolt by the CM concerned who held influence among the major castes in the state. Naturally therefore a bad precedence was created. The best example is Karnataka, the only state in the South where BJP had been ruling for a long time. In respect of Maharashtra splitting of both Shiv Sena and NCP was yet another mistake committed by the high command of BJP. Split, of course, happened but at what cost? In the recent elections, the BJP could not register as many wins as it had done in 2019. This is beside what will be in store for forthcoming assembly elections. A similar attempt was made in HP which, however, failed.

9) Price rise and Unemployment: There is no doubt that the present government has had to face severe times. Conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine have been there for more than a year. The coronavirus pandemic created havoc all across the world and affected the economies. India has been able to survive all these and maintain its growth. But people do not go by the reasons they only accept what they perceive. On the other hand, the government has emphasised avoiding overburdening of exchequer through unproductive employment and laid stress on skill development and self-employment besides expanding private employment opportunities. The people in India under the influence of socialist regimes in the past have got used to believing that employment means only regular government employment with pensionary benefits as in the olden days. Accordingly, the Opposition parties exploited the situation and created a false narrative that there is rampant unemployment and price rise in India. They even went hammer and tongs against the Indian Army Agniveer Scheme since it is a short-term engagement only. So despite the creation of private-sector employment, the people were made to believe that the government was not interested in these areas to help the poor.  

On the other hand, there is, however, a positive side of the coin too which is discussed in brief as follows:

1) Expansion of Network: The present government has not focussed on the vote-catching areas only but expanded the reach of the party to every nook and corner of the country. The party was born after the emergency, though it already had a base in the form of erstwhile Jana Sangh which had amalgamated with other parties to form the Janta Party. In the first attempt, it got only 2 seats in the Lok Sabha. The concerted efforts made initially by L K Advani and Vajpayee, the Rath Yatra and the Ram Temple episode helped it not only revive its image as a Hindutava Party but also gain an immense voter base so much so that the party was able to form a government under the able leadership of Vajpayee. Later the ten-year interregnum of Manmohan Singh as Congress PM allowed it to introspect and it bounced back under the unmatched leadership of Narendra Modi in 2014. He has been very industrious and focused on ensuring that the BJP flag is hoisted in all the states in the country. He concentrated his efforts on developing infrastructure in hitherto neglected areas of the Northeast, which yielded good results. Today the party not only rules in Assam but Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh as well. It has also made deep inroads in West Bengal and replaced CPI(M) and Congress as the main opposition party in the state. In the elections recently held for Odisha assembly the party is likely to form its own government for the first time. Gujarat, UP, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Goa and Maharashtra have also welcomed the growth of BJP at the grassroots level. The resistance is seen in J&K and Punjab besides the southern states like AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc. Some hiccups have of late been experienced in Maharashtra. However, it is a matter of immense joy for the party to have made inroads in Andhra, Telangana and Kerala in the recently concluded elections.

2) Integration of the Country: While efforts have been made to settle differences with extremist groups in the Northeast and many of these have already joined the mainstream, even the Naxals have been either exterminated or reined in and many of them have surrendered to the army. Peace has prevailed in the region except in Manipur which saw a rise in ethnic clashes recently abetted by internal and external forces. The greatest achievement in this regard has been a reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir State into two Union territories i.e. UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh. Article 370 of the Constitution which granted special status to the State has been removed once and for all. 

3) Infrastructural and Industrial Development: There is no doubt about the rapid strides taken by the country in infrastructural development and industrial growth. Today India has attained fifth position in the developed countries in the world. Road networks, Airports, and Railways have shown a marked improvement. Many  AIIMS, hospitals and medical colleges have been added to the existing ones. During the Covid epidemic, the country made its own vaccination and even supplied it to needy countries rather than depending on Western MNCs. Besides the government provided houses, toilets and gas connections to millions in the vast country. 

4) Harnessing of Terror activities: The present government was able to curb the terror activities within the country besides stopping the neighbouring countries from encroaching on our lands or helping the terror outfits. Incidents of terror since 2014 have been minimal as compared to previous periods.

5) International Relations: Ever since the present government has come into existence relations with foreign countries barring a few inimical neighbouring countries have improved a lot. The world listens to India now. Even during the Ukraine and Palestinian conflicts, the country has stood its ground and not come under the influence of either the USA or Russia. Many international meets were organised in the country during the period. 

The present government has done tremendous work in many areas, but I need more time to dwell upon them. Suffice it to say that now that Narendra Modi is going to be the PM of India for the third time but with a slender majority that too depending upon the NDA partners, rapid and risky steps may not be taken this time and he will have to move with caution and care. I wish him the best in his future endeavours.  

*****  

 

THE TIMING OF VOTING: Deepak Budki (IPoS-Retd)

THE TIMING OF VOTING

Everybody is complaining about the timing of voting in the 2024 elections in India. On the one hand, the Election Commission of India wants maximum voter turnout while on the other hand, the temperature has been soaring beyond 45 degrees Celsius (feels like 55 degrees). 

A question arises whether this election could have been held a month or two earlier. A peep into the past shows that Narendra Modi took over the charge as PM of India on 26 May 2014 for the first time while the elections were held from 07 April to 12 May 2014, and on 30 May 2019 as 16th PM of India for the second time while the elections were held from 01 April to 19 May 2019 and the results declared on 23 May 2019. This necessitates that the next duly elected government must be ready to take over charge before 30 May 2024.

India is a vast country with approximately 140 crore population having about 70% population eligible for voting and comprises different topographic regions. The climate varies widely in these regions. The areas in the foothills of the Himalayas such as Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Darjeeling etc remain cool during the summers and become hotspots for tourists to visit and ward off the heat of the plains. The temperature on average remains between 25-30 degrees. Even Bengaluru in Karnataka remains cooler than adjoining areas. On the contrary, the mercury in the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan plateau touches more than 40 degrees. The temperature in these areas starts rising in March end. Hence it would be better that elections in the latter areas should be held first and that in the former areas could be held later and preferably the process should be completed by April at the most. 

Now coming to the schedule of the elections held in 2024. The election was held in 7 phases spread over 3 months as follows: 19 April, 26 April, 07 May, 13 May, 20 May, 25 May and 01 June and the result is expected to be announced on 14 June 2024. Simultaneously the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim have been held. The people whosoever voted braved the scorching sun overhead besides those who had to man the voting booths and the security personnel who were required to perform duties in the open and directly under the sun. While mass media have shown some enthusiastic people, old and young, coming out of their homes to cast their vote, the fact remains that the voting percentage remained around 60 per cent and 40 per cent of people did not come out to vote. Was it due to the general apathy towards the existing parliamentary system or due to the forbidding temperatures which did not permit them to come out of their cosy homes, no one can say with certainty. This is even though the Central Election Commission left no stone unturned to woo the voters to come out and vote besides providing extra facilities for old and handicapped personnel. Even the mass media and some private sector companies helped in this regard by regularly advertising on the TV and in newspapers enticing voters not to miss their right to vote.

In the background of what has been said I feel that the Election Commission and the Government were not sincere enough to mitigate the troubles of the people. There were two options for the aforesaid agencies. One was that the Government could have resigned a month earlier and continued holding charge till the next government was elected. One month would not have made the heavens fall. The other option was that the Election Commission could have spread the election schedule between March and April (say 04 Mar, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 01 April, 12 April, 18 April, and 26 Apr with results on 30 April 2024). This would allow the next government to take over on 30 May 2024 as required or earlier if they so wished. The elections in the plains and Southern peninsula could have been held on earlier dates while those of the cooler areas as discussed earlier could have been conducted in later phases. As a result, the dependence on the climate would have been reduced if not eliminated. 

Anyway, I hope the Election Commission takes cognisance of the above suggestions for the future and keeps in mind the lives of the voters and the supplementary staff assisting in the polls.

 

******           

 

Encounters with Ayurveda: Deepak Budki

 

Encounters with Ayurveda

My first encounter with Ayurveda was about five decades ago. I was suffering from piles and my uncle in Jammu suggested I consult an Ayurvedic practitioner at Kalyan Pharmacy, Parade, Jammu. I did so and the practitioner, an old man, gave me some medicines. While leaving the pharmacy I remembered I had a fungal infection in the groin area which had bothered me for a long time. There was an itchy rash, redness all over, often blood used to ooze out and a lot of discomfort. I had consulted many allopathic doctors but there was no cure. So I asked him if he had any medicine for the infection in my groin. The old man gave me a handful of seeds almost resembling mustard seeds and asked me to mix them with mustard oil and apply it on the affected parts. I used the medicine at home but after applying felt as if some acid had been poured on the area. I almost ran helter-skelter in the room not knowing what to do especially because the area was sensitive. Immediately I cleaned it with a dry hand towel and found the pain subsiding. The next day I tried it again and this time the pain was much less than experienced the day before. That encouraged me to apply it for 2-3 days more and the rashes vanished thereafter. Suffice it to say that ever since I have not had such a fungal infection again. 

As regards my piles, one of my subordinates knew a famous Ayurvedic practitioner, Mr Ved Vishnu Datt in Jammu and took me to him. While he asked me about the problem he also enquired about my habits. I frankly told him that I smoke a lot, drink occasionally, am a non-vegetarian and am addicted to tea. My daily consumption of cigarettes is around 2-3 packets and that of tea is around 20-30 cups. He told me to stop smoking and drinking tea forthwith. I replied that I could stop smoking but could not give up tea, that was next to impossible. He asked his helper to put all the medicines back on the shelf and quietly told my subordinate who was accompanying me that I had no intention of getting cured therefore it was no use taking the medicine. His coaxing worked wonders. I gave up smoking and drinking for a long time and was cured of my piles which had reached a stage where a Surgeon would have advised me to get them operated upon. 

That reinforced my faith in the Ayurvedic way of medicine.

There were many more occasions when I had to consult Ayurved practitioners. As CPMG, J&K, I had gone to Ladakh for a visit during the Kargil war and my blood pressure went up suddenly, Since that day the problem of high blood pressure has continued. Gradually some heart functioning and vascular functioning also got impaired. Since then I have been under regular treatment of Cardiologists. Later during my posting at Vadodara, I came across an old Ayurvedic practitioner, aged around 82, who prescribed some costly medicines and assured me that things would be alright in about 3-4 months. And he was right. Afterwards, I was posted in Goa where I consulted a Cardiologist who said there are no anomalies noticed in the Heart or arteries as such but I must continue with medicine for high blood pressure without fail. So it firstly confirmed the assurance of the Ayurvedic practitioner at Vadodara and reassured me of the recovery made. That was not all. The same practitioner cured my son of the acute partial headache he had been experiencing for a long time for which a CAT scan had also been done and Cluster Migraine was confirmed. That was a miracle. He gave three packets of powdered medicines and advised us to give them to the son before sunrise besides ensuring that he did not sleep till sunset. I was astonished as to what had headache medicine to do with sunrise and sunset? But then beggars can't be choosers, so we administered the medicine to him for three days as per instructions. Can you believe that the ailment evaporated forever? No more headaches. A few more ailing relatives were also referred to him and got cured.  Unfortunately, I lost contact with the practitioner after some time due to postings to different corners of India and my cardiac problem resurfaced due to anxiety and problems which I faced subsequently. Could not find another Ayurvedic practitioner of similar repute. So now totally dependent upon the Cardio-vascular surgeons in this regard. Yet I do at times take Arjunarisht and Prabhakar Bati of Baidyanath in addition to normal allopathic medicines and at times consult the doctors of Baidyanath online. 

Recently due to the age factor, I have been inflicted with Prostate enlargement for which I have been consulting the Urologist for more than three years. Suddenly I found several Ayurvedic medicines for prostatitis on Facebook. I have a strong faith in Baidyanath and therefore preferred to take their medicine Prostaid for almost three months. The problem has been cured to a large extent and polyurination and profuse urine passing have been largely controlled. It has given me a lot of relief. 

However, here I want to add a few words of caution: 

• Firstly, there is no system of standardisation of medical practitioners in Ayurveda or Unani medicines. The system has been operating on a hereditary basis for ages. We must consult a practitioner who has developed goodwill over time and is reputed for his professional acumen. Now even Ayurveda and Tibia Colleges have come up but I found that the standard of such doctors carrying their degrees is not of desirable quality.
• Secondly, Ayurvedic practitioners make medicines locally that they give to patients without revealing their content and constituents except when they additionally prescribe some branded medicines of companies available in the market. Therefore the patient does not know about the medicine given to him which the doctor keeps strictly secret and passes on to his heirs. 
• Thirdly, many manufacturers have started publicising herbal medicines because they found a great demand for them. The advertisements are often exaggerated and misleading. Here I may refer to the case of Patanjali. I had a lot of respect for Baba Ramdev till such time he remained confined to popularising Yoga within and without India. His diversification into manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines may have been inspired by the demand favouring herbal treatment but I never imagined an illiterate unqualified person claiming himself to be a business magnate who was keen on showing his acumen for amassing wealth. His goodwill as a Yogi helped him. Besides the Governments, both the State and Central extended all types of concessions to him. As per Peter's principle, every person rises to a level of incompetence and he was no exception. Imagine Ramdev and his disciple, Acharya Balkrishna with no qualifications whatsoever diversifying from herbal medicines to Consumer goods of daily use like Noodles, flours, biscuits, oils, Masalas, Nutrients, cosmetics etc and trying to outsmart MNCs. Since the market in FMCG is huge, it accommodated his company, Patanjali too and the Company progressed day in and day out mainly banking on the goodwill created by him in the Yogic field. In so doing Baba Ramdev came out with tall and incredible claims about his products esp during the time of the COVID-19 epidemic when he introduced products claiming to cure infection due to Coronavirus and that too without any research. Ultimately he got caught. I wish our Judiciary (not to speak of the Executive (which is in hand and gloves with such fake peddlers) would take more punitive action against not only Baba Ramdev but other multinationals as well which claim their products work wonders. I wish to add here that such attempts by fake peddlers will damage the faith people have in age-old Ayurveda. which is a time-tested system of healthcare.
• Fourthly, as the demand for herbal medicines has outgrown supply and the resources are limited i.e. the vegetation having medicinal qualities is restricted, therefore some companies are adulterating their products to cater to the demand. I would recommend that products of only reputed companies should be relied upon.
• Fifthly, Ayurveda medicines try to cure the organs and their functioning over some time and not instantly as is done by Allopathic medicines. It aims at total cure, therefore, it is advisable to continue your allopathic medicines in case you are having serious ailments and take ayurvedic medicines as supplementary till some marked improvement is achieved. 
• Lastly, it is better to consult good Ayurvedic practitioners after enquiring about their reputation. In the case of Companies, some reputed ones only should be relied upon and their doctors can be contacted online if need be. 

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