Indian Media and Entertainment Industry :List of TV Channels released:

By: Sheikh GULZAAR

Srinagar : The domestic entertainment industry was estimated at nearly Rs 225.0 billion and provided employment opportunities for nearly 6.0 million people in the year 1999. In terms of foreign exchange earnings, the industry contributed around Rs 4,000.0 million in the year 1999. In the current year, this is likely to increase to around Rs 10,000.0 million. This projected growth is likely to occur on account of the increasing migration of the Indian population across the globe, extensive outsourcing of content such as animation by world leaders in the entertainment industry and the imminent broadband revolution in the industry. However, massive investments are required in the area of telecommunication infrastructure with industry friendly government policies. With the domestic consumer already having access to global entertainment avenues, globalization in this industry will only increase at a far greater pace in the coming years.

Changing lifestyles and increasing disposable income levels has facilitated the increasing penetration levels of the media and entertainment industry. Recent estimates indicate that around 68.0% of total adult population have access to the conventional forms of media. The urban middle class population has grown over the years and currently accounts for over 40.0% of the total population. The southern states have a distinct edge in terms of media penetration. For instance, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have penetration levels of over 80.0% in case of mass media. Similarly, in the case of televisions, penetration levels increased to an estimated 75.0% of all urban households in the country. Satellite channels have been the fastest growing category in this segment.

Product Profiling AND SegmentationIndia is a vast country with numerous official languages and a literary history that can be traced back to the birth of civilization. Over the years, the industry has made tremendous progress in terms of technology and attaining self-sufficiency. With around 10,000 publishers and around 40,000 new titles every year, the domestic market is indeed a large market. In recent times, global authors have started to get their works published by domestic majors. This is likely to give a fillip to the industry in the near term. Simultaneously, domestic authors are gaining popularity across the globe. The low cost of production acts as a major attraction to global publishing houses.

From around Rs 6.0 billion in the year 1998-1999, production levels increased to around Rs 7.0 billion in the year 1999-2000. During the same period, import levels increased from Rs 1.4 billion to around Rs 1.50 billion. Similar to its counterparts in the entertainment industry, domestic publishers are witnessing a rapid inflow of pirated books. Recent estimates peg the level of piracy in the domestic market at around 80.0%.

The Indian Music Industry- Exponential Growth Ahead…The Indian entertainment industry is incomplete without the inclusion of music. Over the years, the importance of music has only increased, especially in case of the movie industry. Of late, movies have gone on to become huge successes largely on the backdrop of good music. While the popularity of film music increased, it also resulted in the growth of other segments such as remix, Indi-pop etc.

Distributors- Enjoying High Bargaining Power…Despite major changes occurring in the industry, reliability on distribution network still persists. Timing is highly crucial in the music industry. New releases have to reach the target audience well on time. Hence, only majors with a wider reach are able to sustain their leadership and generate profits. Furthermore, distribution companies retain a major part of the profits generated in this industry. As a result, several music companies have diversified into setting up of their own retail stores. HMV is a pioneer in this area and has an excellent chain of stores at its disposal. This helps the company to gauge the consumers’ changing perceptions and revamp its product offerings accordingly.

Low Margins- A Major Problem Area…
Estimates peg the cost of producing a cassette at around Rs 35. Purchase of the music rights is the single largest cost component. This is compounded by the incidence of taxes and royalty that account for another Rs 2-Rs 3 per cassette. Furthermore, margins to the traders, manufacturing and transportation charges account for a large chunk of costs.

This tendency to pay rather low prices for Indian music titles is prevalent even in the overseas markets. For instance, while a consumer is willing to pay around US$9-US$11 per cassette for an international music album, he is ready to pay only US$2 for an Indian music album. Such low margins results in music stores only unwilling to retail Indian titles. Consequently, Indian music titles are predominantly found only in Mom and Pop stores in the US.

Generally, in the domestic context, prices are determined mainly by the acquisition price of the music title, the stars involved and the target audience. With music not being on the priority list of a huge chunk of the population, any price hike results in demand shifting to pirated products. Also, there exists a differential pricing policy with regard to classical/ devotional music albums. While the target audience for film music is rather large, the customer base for classical/ devotional music is rather low. Hence, these albums are retailed at higher prices. Also, demand for classical/ devotional music tends to be seasonal in nature. This has a strong bearing on pricing policies.

The Indian Motion Picture IndustryFrom the days of shaky pictures and poor sound quality, the domestic film industry has gone on to become highly sophisticated in terms of infrastructure and product offerings. Furthermore, the domestic film industry is the largest in the world, producing over 800 films per annum, across 52 different languages. The industry generates employment opportunities to nearly 2.5 million people. By the year 2005, this is projected to increase to over 4.0 million. Currently, the industry is witnessing a period of rising pre and post-production costs.

The Changing Television Industry…Since the advent of deregulation in the domestic television industry, the going for Door Darshan has been rather tough. Various private satellite channels have emerged as strong competitors. This is evident from the recent decline in the revenues of Door Darshan. From around Rs 5.7 billion in the year 1996-1997, revenues declined to Rs 3.99 billion in the year 1998-1999. The year 1999-2000 has seen a improvement to Rs 5.0 billion, largely on account of cricket revenues of Rs 1.6 billion.

Simultaneously, revenues for DD Metro have also declined from over Rs 786.0 million in the year 1998-1999 to Rs 460.0 million in the year 1999-2000. Similarly, in terms of coverage and viewership, DD has witnessed an increased in the year 1999-2000.

Around 90.0% of the country’s population had access to DD, while area-wise coverage was estimated at around 75.0%. During the period June 1999-January 2000, viewership of DD’s programs during primetime increased by over 57.0% in the metros and mini-metros. Major reasons for this increased viewing is on account of improvement in the reception quality of signals, presentation of programs and a wider range of programs for viewers.

Satellite Cable Television- A Major Growth Engine…The boom in the satellite cable television segment has been a major cause for the high growth in the entertainment industry. The cable subscriber base has increased from around 0.05 million in the early 90s’ to around 24.0 million in the year 1999-2000. This is further estimated to increase to nearly 48.0 million by the end of the current year. With the rapid proliferation of channels (over 75), and imminent possibilities of the privatization of Door Darshan, growth in this segment is projected to be rather high.

The Coming of Regional Channels…The satellite television and software (content) industries are all set to witness a surge in demand in the coming years. Increasing emergence of regional channels is the major growth driver behind this likely growth. Subsequent to the advent of satellite television in the early ‘90s, regional channels are currently the key focus areas for majors. This is likely to offer a wider range of programs to viewers across the country. Furthermore, factors such as a decline in the pricing of color televisions, technological advancements etc have resulted in a wider audience base. This has resulted in regional advertisers clamoring for a bit of the action. With only around 30% of all households in the country speaking Hindi, this development was inevitable.

While in the past, Door Darshan monopolized the regional landscape with its 14 channels, over 20 regional channels are likely to make their debut this year. While in the South, the current trend is to diversify into news based channels, other markets such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab etc are witnessing their first dose of regional satellite television. This huge demand has even prompted global major News Corp and market leader Zee TV to look at this market.

Emerging Trends and New DevelopmentsSome of the major fast growing segments in the domestic industry include the music, cable and satellite advertising, infrastructure, exports, animation and FM. The domestic music industry was estimated at around Rs 17,000.0 million in the year 1999 and is projected to grow to around Rs 30,000.0 million by the end of the current year. The export segment is also expected to increase from around Rs 4,000.0 million to around Rs 10,000.0 million during the same period. Revenues from the animation segment are also forecasted to increase from Rs 2,200.0 million to nearly Rs 4,400.0 million by the end of the current year.

In order to capitalize on this fast growth ahead, companies are making large-scale investments in terms of infrastructure. For instance, the Modi Family has invested around Rs 1,500.0 million towards the construction of multiplexes that can screen around 16 films simultaneously. At the same time, majors such as Zee Telefilms and Eenadu TV are expanding their horizons to other markets as well.

TheGlobal Media AND Entertainment Industry- A Snapshot…Changing consumer choices, advent of new technologies and rapid globalization has been the growth drivers of this industry. Increasing penetration of the Internet has changed the dynamics of the industry. The US market has witnessed the maximum impact on account of these changes. Reports indicate that entertainment related expenditure is projected to increase from around US$675 per person in the current year to around US$814 by the year 2003.

Despite such increased spending, majors are also witnessing faster increases in costs. With margins coming under pressure, majors are trying to develop new distribution channels to minimize the impact of such cost increases.

Emerging Trends and New DevelopmentsIn the long term some of the major developments likely to have a deep impact on the global media and entertainment industry include,
· Shifting Preference For Internet-Based Content And The Emergence Of Interactive TV
· Proliferation Of Wireless Application Devices
· Large-Scale Migration To E-Tailing
· Development of Sophisticated Telecommunication Technologies
· Faster Globalization
· Growing Popularity of Mega- Theaters, Super Stores Concept etc
· High Degree of Consolidation in the Industry
· Increasing Digitization in the Industry
· Convergence of the Entertainment, Information and Telecommunication Segments and
· Rapid De-regulation in the Industry

Phenomenal growth in the cable and satellite television business has presented new revenue streams for global entertainment majors. Reports indicate that movie majors are projected to witness revenues of around US$ 11.0 billion by the year 2002 on the sale of their content to satellite television networks. This represents an increase from the 1998 level of nearly US$7.0 billion. As a part of the ongoing “Americanization” of the world, companies such as CNN, HBO, Espn etc have started to focus on their regional versions. Consequently, the scenario in the European, Asian and Latin American markets is fast changing.

However, this globalization process is likely to take some time with the respective governments of various countries still protecting their domestic media industry. This is largely on account of the politically sensitive nature of this medium. With the liberalization process gathering momentum across the globe, these companies will be forces to reckon with in the future.

However, Piracy Remains a Key Issue…Piracy remains the single-most important issue across the global entertainment industry. Estimates indicate that the revenues lost on account of piracy in case of the music industry is around 25%. Furthermore, this level is likely to increase to 40% in the near term. Consequently, the music industry could be affected to a larger extent than its counterparts. This is largely on account of the highly fragmented nature of this industry. Smaller players are likely to suffer the most.

In this regard, the major initiative taken by the industry to protect its intellectual capital is the launch of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (Sdmi). The Sdmi comprising of around 150 companies has adopted the first set of standards to prevent the piracy of music. April 2000 was decided as the deadline for the second phase of regulations. The members of this initiative include music distributors, on-line PC communications service providers. PC manufacturers, home electronics appliances manufacturers etc.

The Internet is not perceived to be a threat by certain majors. Sony Music for instance has been aggressive in formulating an e-strategy. The company has forayed into activities including the promotion of digital broadcasting. Also, strategic alliances have been forged with majors such as EMI, Universal Music, Warner and IBM in order to facilitate the download of full-length CDs. IBM and Microsoft are intensely competing to gain a foothold in this emerging area. IBM and Sony Music have formed a partnership to deliver pirate-free songs over the net. Microsoft, on the other hand tied up with Musicmaker.com to enable users to access the latter’s entire product catalog over the net. Other players including AT& T, Matsushita and Seagram are also trying to foray into this segment. Seagram has formed an alliance with Bertelesmann AG, Germany in order to compete in the on-line music retail segment.

However security protection is still in a primitive stage in this area. For instance, when Microsoft launched its Wmdm software, hackers cracked the software code within hours and distributed the same over the net. Despite such initial problems, there exists a huge potential for music software. In the long-term, companies need to develop technologies that facilitate the freer flow of content rather than trying to enforce more stringent regulations that are only difficult to monitor.

Future Outlook…
The Indian entertainment industry is on a high growth path. Domestic majors are finding better earnings potential in the huge overseas markets. At the same time, corporatization is finally starting to emerge in this highly unorganized industry. This is likely to instill a greater discipline in the functioning of the industry and lead to greater consolidation in the future. The domestic consumer will opt for more sophisticated technology in the near future. Consequently, domestic majors will have to redefine their product offerings.

With literacy levels forecasted to increase in the future, the publishing industry will continue to witness growth. Advent of new technologies such as e-book etc will take a longer time to have an impact on the domestic market when compared to the global markets. While piracy levels are declining slowly, better copyright laws and the rapid implementation of the same are imperative to preserve the creative talent in this industry. The government needs to implement the same in order to facilitate the high growth in this industry.

Innternational Information Resource has been collected the contact information of Satellite TV Channels from all over India and brought out a database on CD-Rom. It contains complete details of hundreds of all Satellite TV Channels of India.

Features: Each data Contains Name of the TV Channel , Channel Logo, Complete postal address, Email, Address,website address, phone No, Fax No. etc.
| Pages: N/A | | Format: Word | | Price Rs: 1550/- US$150

For more details:
International Information Resource Centre
PO Box 667 Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Admin. Off: Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR JK 192121
e.m: iirc@rediffmail.com,director.iirc@gmail.com
Cell: 09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
http://mediadirectoryindia.blogspot.com/

Nepal’s floriculture business blooms

KATHMANDU, MAR 29 -A group of floriculture entrepreneurs have set up Floriculture Cooperative Limited to produce flowers collectively with the aim of fulfilling the increasing demand for flowers in the domestic and international markets, reports Kathmandu Post.

"Both demand and production have been increasing every year," said Arun Chettri, president of the Floriculture Association of Nepal. "However, we have not been able to increase quality production despite good demand from the international market."

According to the association, cut flower exports soared 140 percent to Rs. 60 million during the last fiscal year from Rs. 25 million in the previous year. Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, India and a number of European countries are the major importers.

Chettri said that the cooperative would facilitate joint investment and large-scale production. It would target international customers in particular.

"The cooperative will monitor flower cultivation and carry out studies on the possibility of growing flowers in various parts of the country," he added.

Currently, floriculture entrepreneurs produce more than a dozen types of cut flowers in Chitwan, Dhading and Kavre districts. In the Kathmandu Valley, there are nurseries in Godavari, Sankhu, Naikap, Chapagaon, Bunkmate, Jorpati  and Ichangu. According to the association, flower farming is being carried out on 105 hectares of land in 35 districts.

"Seasonal production has been increasing significantly every year, but demand during the production season is low," said Hira Sharma, manager of Flora Incorporated Trade, a wholesaler in the valley. "Summer is the best season for production, but there are few takers presently as it is not the wedding or festival season."

Increased production has also meant that flower imports from India have declined. Earlier, 75 percent of the requirement would be met by imported flowers. Imports now account for only 25 percent of the demand mainly during the Tihar festival.

Chettri said that presently output had exceeded demand as many farmers had turned to growing flowers without first doing a market study. "Around 90 percent of the farmers who are growing flowers do not know the technicalities and the market," said Chettri. "There is a good market inside and outside the country if we can produce flowers that are in demand during the season."

According to the association, Kuwait has emerged as one of the major markets after Japan for Nepali flower producers. Bagmati Flora is planning to open a wholesale outlet in Kuwait with a local partner.

In the next fiscal year, the association plans to carry out a study on potential foreign markets such as Denmark, Holland and the Gulf countries.(Writer-South Asia)

Headley Saga: Mumbai attack was a joint IB-CIA-Mossad-RSS project

Headley Saga: Mumbai attack was a joint IB-CIA-Mossad-RSS project

By Amaresh Misra

28 MarchWith the row over India getting access to David Headley growing acrimonious each day, the CIA's double agent saga seems all set to open up a can of incredible worms.First, the case unmasks the pro-US face of the Indian English media. When the Headley saga first came to light, Vir Sanghavi of the Hindustan Times carried an editorial piece claiming that if 'Headley is CIA, and knew about 26/11, the CIA knew about the attack.' In other words, Sanghavi accepted the 'conspiracy theory'–which in the eyes of the English media was 'peddled' by Aziz Burney and this author during the terrible aftermath of 26/11–that the event was a CIA/Mossad/RSS/ISI plot, reports New Delhi based Milli Gazette.

In November-December 2008, Vir Sanghavi and his cohorts in the English media attacked both Aziz Burney and this author for spelling forth the 'conspiracy theory'. Then after Headley's name surfaced, they changed tune, without of course admitting their debt to Mr. Burney or this author.

The fact of the matter is that in the 2009 Parliamentary elections, the English media was all set to project Lal Krishna Advani as India's next Prime Minister. It was the feverish anti-RSS, anti-Mossad work done by Aziz Burney and this author that went a long way in ensuring the victory of Congress and secular forces.

Now when the CIA hand behind 26/11 is slowly being unraveled, the English media is seeing red. It is again trying to portray Headley merely as a Lashkar operative, severing thus his links with the CIA.

This highlights the second point, that basically Headley and the CIA cannot be de-linked. Thank God the government of India put into place the NIA, a new National Investigative Agency. The NIA was set up, as the IB and other Indian agencies, especially the IB, had not only gone anti-Muslim-they had gone anti-India. This was proved in the case of Azamgarh boys picked up in and around the Batla House encounter on various bomb blasts charges. Most of the boys were products not of madarsas, but modern schools. They were youngsters in their teens; they had made a mark for themselves in professional courses and were holding jobs in the new, professional sector of the economy.

When Shri Digvijay Singh, the General Secretary AICC and the most secular leader of the India, went to Sanjarpur (under the banner of Anti-Communal Front) in Azamgarh to find out the facts for himself, he was shocked to find that Zeeshan, a boy from Azamgarh who on the fateful day of the Batala House encounter was giving his exams, had more than 50 cases slapped over him in more than three states–which meant that his parents could go on fighting cases for more than 100 years and yet Zeeshan would be in jail.

There are dozens and hundreds of Zeeshans from Azamgarh and other districts of UP, Gujarat and Maharashtra languishing in various Indian jails on unsubstantiated charges. This in fact is India's Guantanamo Bay story–that right here in the world's largest democracy the Indian security services like the IB have secret detention and torture centres where innocent Muslim youths are tortured and put to death. The IB today has been infiltrated heavily by RSS, Mossad and CIA. In fact, this one agency is an anti-national agency—it is obstructing the work of NIA and secular Indians like Shri Digvijay Singh. Soon, in India's interest, the IB will have to be closed down. All its communal officers will be hunted down and tried in a court of just law.

The IB knew about Headley—this is proved by the fact that the SIM cards used by the ten 26/11 terrorists were purchased by an Intelligence Bureau (India) (IB) informer. Till date, the investigations into the 26/11 case, which the IB is handling, have been unable to state as to how the ten terrorists got hold of the SIM cards.

The State IB chief of Maharashtra told a very senior Mumbai Police Officer just after 26/11 that he was ‘entirely in the dark about 26/11 investigations as Delhi (meaning the chief IB office) was handling it'. Basic information about 26/11 was not shared with secular Indian officers. The Headley lead would never have come to the fore had the NIA not stepped in.

IB training criminals [read here Charge-sheet against IB]
Now comes the news that the IB has set-up training camps in Gorakhpur, where it trains criminals–and then uses them to kill Muslim under-trials. The name of Chota Rajan is used as a convenient scapegoat. It is in this manner that dozens of accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, several other such accused in other cases, Muslim businessmen and men of influence have been eliminated on a systematic basis in Maharashtra. The latest in the long list of victims killed allegedly by IB is Shahid Azmi, the lawyer defending the accused of the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. Shahid had hit upon evidence which proved the innocence of the accused-and that is why he was bumped off, again by criminals with Nepal–Gorakhpur links!

In fact, the state of Maharashtra holds the dubious distinction of almost institutionalizing the extra-judicial killing of Muslim youth and personalities. Headley was in India months and years before the 26/11 attack; he even surveyed Pune where a blast took place as late as February 2010. It beats one’s imagination as to how the IB did not know about Headley and his movements. There can only be two scenarios: that the IB is totally incompetent–or that the IB is heavily infiltrated by CIA and Mossad: the agency knew about 26/11 and did nothing to stop it.

This places the IB at par with Headley, as executioners of 26/11 and mass murderers. There can be no other honest conclusion.

Headley holds the key to the fact that 26/11 was not just a mere Lashkar operation–that it was a joint Mossad-CIA operation, conducted with possible ISI and RSS help.

If the charge-sheet against Raj Kumar Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya, accused in the Malegaon and other blasts, is read, it is clear that there was always some sort of collusion between the RSS and the ISI. The so-called nationalists, the Hindutva forces, took money to the tune of crores of rupees from the ISI! The IB knows about this transaction but is keeping quiet!


The Headley saga has links to Abhinav Bharat and pro-Hindutva terror groups. The pro-Hindutva terror groups are widely believed to be behind the Pune blasts where a combination of RDX and Ammonium Nitrate was used. Right after the visit of Shri Digvijay Singh to Maharashtra in February 2010, the state home secretary spoke of the possibility of the involvement of Hindutva groups in the Pune blasts. Other officers, including the ATS chief Raghuvanshi, purported to be an RSS/opportunist also spoke of this possibility. But then RR Patil, the Maharashtra Home Minister whose role during 26/11 was disastrous and who was removed from his post in the wake of the attack on Mumbai (but who was restored after the 2009 assembly elections), made amazing statements ‘that those who take the name of Hindu organizations in the Pune blasts will be punished'!


How can a Home Minister make such a statement? Now we hear that Rakesh Maria, a notorious anti-Muslim officer, with pro-Israeli links, a man who has killed and tortured innocents, has been made the new ATS chief and Raguvanshi has been promoted! Secular organizations in Maharashtra were demanding that Raghuvanshi be removed and that an honest, secular officer be made the ATS chief so that Hemant Karkare's seminal work in cracking the shell of Hindutva communalism could be promoted!.


But Rakesh Maria is even worse than Raghuvanshi. It seems that the NCP in Maharashtra has taken a clear anti-Congress, anti-national line. RR Patil, who is a third grade, uncouth, thoroughly communal, NCP leader should be removed from his post. The Maharashtra chief minister should act, because if the NIA gets access to Headley, the latter's links with Hindutva organizations–and the whole RSS-Mossad-CIA-ISI-IB nexus–will be exposed. This nexus is working overtime to destabilize the Congress government and undo the commendable work done by the party under the secular leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

 
Amaresh Misra is a famed historian and chief of the Anti-Communal Front of the All India Congress Committee (AICC)

Ginkgo Biloba Hair Growth

Hair loss, these days is everybody's concern. It happened to be a time when baldness was the trait only carried by old men, but now who is not suffering from hair loss, hair thinning and baldness. Men, women of all ages, even the children are complaining of hair loss, but who to blame.

There are several factors that play important role in the loss of hair and the poor quality of hair. Genetics, Androgen hormone, pollution, processed unhealthy diet, poor circulation of scalp, skin diseases of scalp, repeated chemical exposure in form of hair dyes, gels, mousses, shampoos and certain other hair treatments like hair-perming, iron rod curling, straightening etc all contribute to bad hair texture and hair loss.

But we can't stop doing all these things, right? So there should be an option, an alternative to reduce this hair loss. There is!!!!

Many researches have shown that hair loss can be significantly reduced by the use of hot and cold hydrotherapy and with the use of certain herbal remedies, out of which Ginkgo Biloba is of great importance. When DHT attaches to a hair follicle, the follicle begins to stay shorter periods in the growth cycle.

It means that every time a new hair grows it is thinner and more fragile than before, resulting into hair follicle that stops producing hair. In case of poor blood circulation to the scalp the root is already weak, so more exposure to the environmental agents and chemical agents will make it more susceptible to breakage and fall down.

With such a case Ginkgo Biloba emerges as a perfect solution to the hair loss problem.

Ginkgo Biloba has been in use in China for more than 5 centuries, from last 2 decades even Europe is widely using this tree's extracts for various purposes. Ginkgo Biloba possess special property of helping regulate the blood circulation in a body, when the extract is taken.

Certain diseases which are caused by poor circulation are being treated with herbal remedies; most of which include Ginkgo Biloba and Cayenne pepper. Cayenne strengthens the heart giving it the ability to pump blood to the furthest reaches of the body while Ginkgo Biloba increases the blood circulation in the brain and all parts of the head.

Many diseases like thrombosis, Reynaud's phenomenon, hair loss etc which are resultant of poor blood flow are treated successfully with Ginkgo Biloba extracts.   

The use of Ginkgo Biloba will boost the blood flow to the peripheral parts of the body and the fine capillaries, both of which indicates scalp as one of the parts.

The increased circulation will hence bring more oxygen and more nutrients to the scalp, these nutrients are basically essential vitamins A and E along with some other important nutrients which are in our blood after digestion but are not transported to the right place to act, just because of lack of circulation.

So when a hair follicle gets it right amount of oxygen and necessary nutrients it will automatically start hair repair and will promote hair growth. Result will be the hair we all desire to have; shiny, healthy and full of life!!! 

Ginkgo Biloba  leaf and Plants available in Kashmir/India

More details: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Ginkgo Improves Circulation and Brain Function

Ginkgo Improves Circulation and Brain Function
by Ken Babal, C.N.

For at least 5000 years, Ginkgo biloba (pronounced as ging-koh bi-lo-bah) has been recommended in Chinese medicine as being good for the heart and lungs, as well as coughs, asthma, and acute allergic inflammations.

Ginkgo is the world’s oldest living tree. Darwin called it a "living fossil." A form of Ginkgo first appeared around 300 million years ago and flourished throughout the time of the dinosaurs. It is a very hardy tree, resistant to pests and pollution, and can live as long as one thousand years. In the U.S., it is often planted as an ornamental tree along freeways because of its durability. In Japan and China, it is a familiar sight around temples.

It is the subject of intense worldwide research and over five million Ginkgo prescriptions a year are written in Europe alone with sales exceeding more than $500 million. In numerous clinical trials involving geriatric patients, remarkable success has been demonstrated using Ginkgo extract to treat cerebral insufficiency (insufficient blood flow to the brain).

The symptoms of cerebral insufficiency include short-term memory loss, dizziness, headache, ringing or buzzing in the ears, lack of alertness and depression. In several studies without a control group, the symptomatic improvement was found to be 60 to 78%. In double blind studies, results were equally impressive with an improvement rate which ranged between 44 and 92%. Participants who took placebos showed a 14 to 44% rate of improvement.

In long-term studies, Ginkgo produced no side effects and there was no decrease in its effect over time. Like nature, however, Ginkgo is slow in acting, taking four to eight weeks before benefits may be noticed. Improvements are gradual, but continue for up to a year or more.

The positive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in geriatric patients has led many health practitioners to advocate its use in all people over 50. The benefits, however, are not limited to the geriatric group. In healthy young women, reaction time in performing a memory test was significantly improved after administration of Ginkgo extract (Int. J. Clin Pharmacol Res, 1984). Brain waves monitored on an EEG machine one hour after taking a high dose of Gingko biloba show stronger alpha and beta brain wave patterns.

Ginkgo’s ability to improve blood circulation to the brain and extremities makes it useful for many conditions. Hundreds of scientific studies performed over the past 50 years have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hearing and vision problems, impotence, edema (water retention), varicose veins, leg ulcers, and circulatory diseases such as stroke and intermittent claudication (pain while walking). In animal studies, Ginkgo extract increased the ability of acetylcholine, a brain chemical, to bind to a receptor site. Reduced receptor binding of this neurotransmitter has been reported in Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginkgo biloba has certain active components to which its beneficial properties are attributed. A consistent pharmacological action can be expected when a 50:1 concentration made from the leaf is standardized to contain 24% ginkgo-flavone-glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. The terpene lactones are made up of ginkgolides and bilobalides.

Most research on Ginkgo has focused on the complex molecule Ginkgolide B, the terpine lactones believed to be responsible for many of the plant’s potent healing properties. The principle mechanism for the therapeutic action on Ginkgolide B appears to be its ability to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor). PAF has been implicated in asthma and other allergic reactions.

Ginkgo extract can play an important role in improving circulation and mental acuity in people of all ages. For young people, this may translate to enhanced learning ability. In the elderly, it can mean a keener perception of life and improved mental functioning.

Ginkgo Biloba—Good for the Brain, and More!

Ginkgo Biloba—Good for the Brain, and More!
by Terry Willard
By now most people know that ginkgo is good for memory. Yes, there have been many studies showing that the use of ginkgo (especially the concentrated extracts) can improve memory recall. But ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) as an herb has many more functions. With a better understanding of how ginkgo works, we call more clearly see the impact it can have on the whole body.

"The brain is one of the hungriest organs of our body. For proper function, it needs to be continuously bathed in oxygen and nutrient-rich blood."

Bioflavonoids have long been considered great antioxidants and specific for protecting the microcirculation in small blood vessels. The bioflavonoids in ginkgo are no exception. They have a strong capability to protect and repair problems in the microcirculation of the capillaries. What makes ginkgo special is that its bioflavonoids have a stronger biological activity than most other bioflavonoids, and seen to have a specific affinity for the capillary beds of the brain.
Brain Function Effects

The brain is one of the hungriest organs of our body. For proper function, it needs to be continuously bathed in oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. Little malfunctions in the circulation of the capillaries can cause memory problems in the brain. By repairing these malfunctions in brain circulation, ginkgo can increase brain function, including memory. Ginkgo also has the capacity to increase the oxygen content of the blood. It has been shown that memory is enhanced by oxygen-rich blood.

When it comes to brain function, ginkgo goes even further. All neural functions in the brain are achieved by neural transmission. Ginkgo both increases the amount of neural transmission and increases the number of receptor sites for neural transmission. Again, this dramatically improves brain functions.
Other Uses

Even though ginkgo is one of the most important herbs for the brain, it is important to understand that its components don't go directly to the brain. The ginkgosides work as herbal antioxidants throughout the body, and enhance the microcirculation of capillary beds throughout the body. This is why Ginkgo is beneficial to all organs that have rich blood supplies, including the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen, to mention only a few.

Ginkgo has also been shown to be beneficial for headaches, vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, allergies, and many more common ailments.

Ginkgo Biloba—Discover the amazing circulatory benefits of this ancient herb

Ginkgo Biloba—Discover the amazing circulatory benefits of this ancient herb
by Ken Babal, C.N., Health News

Circulation is comprised of blood and the apparatus which moves it, namely, the heart and some 60,000 miles of tubing. The heart pumps blood through large vessels called arteries which divide and subdivide into a fine network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The capillaries permeate every tissue of the body, exchanging nutrients and metabolic end products. The blood returns to the heart through the capillaries which meet to form the larger veins. In this manner, the blood moves in a circle which is why we speak of the "circulatory system" or "blood circulation."

"Ginkgo's ability to improve blood circulation to the brain's extremities makes it useful for many conditions."

Through the circulation of blood, tissues and organs are brought food (sugars, lipids, and protein), oxygen, ions (electrically charged particles), hormones, vitamins, and minerals around the clock. Waste products, such as carbon dioxide, are carried away. The circulatory system also distributes heat where necessary. All this and it plugs its own leaks!

It is not difficult to see the importance of proper blood circulation. Healthy circulation delivers life-giving substances to all glands and organs and is thereby crucial to preventing and overcoming disease.

In most diseases related to aging, decreased blood flow is usually the culprit. An impairment of blood flow to the brain is believed to be a major cause of age-related brain disorders. The brain, although only 5% of the body's weight, receives 20% of the blood supply along with its oxygen, glucose, and many other nutrients.

Major diseases affecting the circulatory system itself are heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, arteriosclerosis, and phlebitis. In a single year, diseases of the heart and blood vessels kill more Americans than died in World Wars I and II and the Korean and Vietnam wars combined! Symptoms of impaired circulation may be cold hands and feet, leg or foot cramps, pain or burning sensation in extremities, slow healing of wounds, migraine headaches, ringing in ears, and momentary losses of balance. Cold hands and feet may also be a "nerve problem" and not necessarily due to corroded arteries. This problem can be alleviated by deliberate relaxation. Thyroid and adrenal deficiencies can also affect circulation as they tend to reduce the strength of the heartbeat and the amount of the blood pumped.

"The Ginkgo tree offers great hope for those suffering from circulatory disorders and symptoms of aging."

Improving circulation is a two part program that involves eliminating the obstacles to healthy circulation while including all necessary nutrients through good diet and supplements. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are smoking, high fat, and a lack of exercise. Dehydration, a lack of water, can also impair circulation by making the blood thicker. Nutrients that play a prominent role in circulation are vitamins C, E, niacin, and fish oils. We must realize, however, that all nutrients are important to every cell in the body, including the cells of the heart and vasculature.

As we become aware of the dangers of taking prescription drugs, especially on a routine basis, more attention is focused on herbs, our natural medicines. The Ginkgo tree offers hope for those suffering from circulatory disorders and symptoms of aging. For at least 5,000 years, Ginkgo biloba (pronounced ging-koh bi-lo-bah) has been recommended in Chinese medicine as being "good for the heart and lungs" and for coughs, asthma, and acute allergic inflammations.

Ginkgo is the world's oldest living tree. Darwin called it a "living fossil." A form of Ginkgo first appeared around 300 million years ago and flourished throughout the time of the dinosaurs. It is a very hardy tree, resistant to pests and pollution. Ginkgo trees may live as long as 1,000 years. In the U.S., it is often planted as an ornamental tree along freeways because of its durability. In Japan and China, it is a familiar sight around temples since Buddhists regard the tree as sacred.

Currently, Ginkgo is the subject of intense research. In numerous clinical trials involving geriatric patients, Ginkgo extract has demonstrated remarkable success in treating cerebral insufficiency (insufficient blood flow to the brain). These symptoms include short-term memory loss, dizziness, headache, ringing or buzzing in the ears, lack of alertness, and depression. In several studies without a control group, the success rate was found to be 60% to 78%. In nine double-blind studies, results were equally impressive, with an improvement rate which ranged between 44% and 92%. Participants who took placebos showed a 14% to 44% rate of improvement.

In long-term studies, Ginkgo produced no side effects and there was no decrease in its effect over time. Like nature, however, Ginkgo is slow in acting, taking four to eight weeks before benefits may be noticed. Improvements are gradual but continue up to a year or more.

The positive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in geriatric patients has led many health practitioners to advocate its use in all persons over 50. The benefits, however, are not limited to the geriatric group. In healthy young women, reaction time in performing a memory test was significantly improved after administration of Ginkgo extract (Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Res., 1984). Monitoring brain waves on an EEG machine one hour after taking a high dose of Ginkgo shows both alpha and beta brain wave patterns are stronger.

Ginkgo's ability to improve blood circulation to the brain's extremities makes it useful for many conditions. Hundreds of scientific studies performed over the past fifty years have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hearing and vision problems, impotence, edema (water retention), varicose veins, leg ulcers, and circulatory diseases such as stroke and intermittent claudication (pain while walking). In animal studies, ginkgo extract increased the ability of acetylcholine, a brain chemical to bind to a receptor site.

The principle mechanism for the therapeutic action of Ginkgo-lide ß appears to be its ability to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor). PAF has been implicated in asthma and other allergic reactions.

Ginkgo extract can play an important role in improving circulation and mental acuity in people of all ages. For young people, this translates to enhanced learning ability. In the elderly, it means a keen perception of life.

This article is reprinted from a previous issue of Healthwatch with permission. We felt it deserved further consideration.

Treatment of Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction

Treatment of Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction A New Scientific Study Shows Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba
 
by Alan J. Cohen, M.D.

Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is becoming an increasingly common complaint amongst patients, particularly those treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Many pharmacological interventions have been tried with some success, including Cyproheptadine, Amantadine, Yohimbine, Buspirone, and Amphetamine. However, persistent sexual dysfunction, despite these pharmacological interventions, remains a significant problem which can affect patient compliance and results in relapse and depression.

kIn an open trial, the effects using formulations of the extract of ginkgo biloba were studied. All patients have been involved in attempts to control sexual dysfunction through other pharmacological means including the use of Periactin, Yohimbine, Amantadine and/or Buspar. They were offered the option of continuing open trials of different medications or of using ginkgo biloba as an alternative to treat sexual dysfunction. All patients agreed to continue their antidepressant medication, and all met DSM IV criteria for a depressive disorder.

Ginkgo Biloba in Herbal Medicine Maidenhair Tree for Memory, Dementia, Blood Clots & More

Mar 13, 2007 Lisa Barger: Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular herbs in the world, and for good reason. Learn about ginkgo and its role in the treatment of dementia, memory, and blood clots.

Sometimes referred to as botany's "living fossil", Ginkgo biloba is among the oldest tree species still in existence today. But this amazing plant is more than just a botanical oddity. Ginkgo biloba is also one of the most scientifically studied of all the herbal medicines.nhair Tree for Memory, Deme

Ginkgo biloba is somewhat unique in herbal medicine. Most of the research on this ancient herbal medicine has focused not on the use of the raw herb but on standardized extracts of ginkgo. This has meant that positive research results have been consistent, repeatable and scientifically credible. Of all the herbs used in "natural" medicine, Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely-accepted by mainstream physicians.
 

Ginkgo Biloba for Blood Clots
Known medically as claudication, leg pain caused by clogged arteries responds extremely well to Ginkgo biloba extract. In fact, more than a few studies have actually found Ginkgo biloba extract comparable to the most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals for this painful medical condition.
 

Ginkgo Biloba for Dementia
Much of the research on Ginkgo biloba has focused on alleviating the most obvious symptoms of dementia. One of the best studies to look at ginkgo and dementia patients found Ginkgo biloba extract safe and effective for dementia related to either Alzheimer disease or vascular dementia. Even in the very elderly, ginkgo is generally well-tolerated and safe.
 

Ginkgo Biloba for Memory
It's believed that Ginkgo biloba works mainly by increasing blood flow, especially in the brain. Naturally, many researchers have wondered if ginkgo's action could help increase memory, concentration and learning retention. Unfortunately, many of the studies finding ginkgo effective at increasing memory have been very small, lacked control groups or were just poorly designed. At this time, the research on ginkgo for memory seems promising but more study is needed before ginkgo is routinely recommended as a routine herbal supplement in otherwise healthy people.

Ginkgo Biloba and Other Health Conditions
Ginkgo biloba is one of the most studied plants in all of herbal medicine. Additionally, ginkgo's long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and India's Ayurveda add an impressive library of anecdotal evidence, as well. Unfortunately, many studies on Ginkgo biloba have been marred by poor design.

Just a few of the health issues for which Ginkgo biloba has been studied, but for which there is not sufficient scientific evidence to recommend ginkgo's routine use include:

    * Hemorrhoids
    * Altitude or motion sickness
    * Chemotherapy sickness
    * Depression
    * Glaucoma, retinopathy and macular degeneration
    * Drug or alcohol dependency
    * Pre- and post-menopausal problems
Ginkgo biloba  available in Kashmir at: Chenab Industries, POB: 667 GPO Srinagar JK 190001
Ph: 09858986794/cikashmir@gmail.com

Cultivation of Medicinal Plants in India

India has 15 Agroclimatic zones and 17000-18000 species of flowering plants of which 6000-7000 are estimated to have medicinal usage in folk and documented systems of medicine, like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy.  About 960 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of which 178 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric tones.

Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditional medicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health security to a large segment of Indian population.  The domestic trade of the AYUSH industry is of the order of Rs. 80 to 90 billion (1US$ = Rs.50).  The Indian medicinal plants and their products also account of exports in the range of Rs. 10 billion.

There is global resurgence in traditional and alternative health care systems resulting in world herbal trade which stands at US$ 120 billion and is expected to reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050.  Indian share in the world trade, at present, however, is quite low.

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) set-up in November 2002 by the Government of India has the primary mandate of coordinating all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programmes for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation.  The Board is located in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (AYUSH) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Medicinal plants play an important ROLE IN HUMAN LIFE TO COMBAT DISEASES SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. The rural folks and tribals in India even now depend largely on the surrounding plants/forests for their day-to-day needs. Medicinal plant are being looked upon not only as a source of health care but also as a source of income. The value of medicinal plants related trade in India is of the order of 5.5 billion US$ (Exim Report-1997) and is further increasing day-by-day. The international market of herbal products is estimated to be US $ 62 BILLION. India share in the global market of medicinal plants trade is less than 0.5%. In view of the innate Indian strengths, which include diverse eco-systems for growth of medicinal plants, technical/farming capacity, strong manufacturing sector, the medicinal plants sector can provide a huge export opportunity after fulfilling domestic needs.

The present e-book covers systematic account of most different plants with pictures used in medicines. It covers Medicinal Plants containing alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, additives and other active matabolites.

We hope that this e. book will be useful not only for technologists, professionals, but also for farmers, traders, students, NGOs, institutions, exporters and importers of Medicinal Plants.

The CD-based book costs Rs. 550/-

Payment: Demand Draft/IPO/MO only in favour of "International Information Resource Centre",
Mailing address: POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Location of our Office: Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR J&K 192121
Ph:09858986794,01933-223705
e-mail:iirc@rediffmail.com
web: http://medicinalplantsdirectory.blogspot.com

PPP Chief Arrested from PPP Headquarter Rajbag today by State Police

Srinagar, March 12, 2010: The Flying Squad of J&K Police raided the PPP Headquarters, Rajbagh today and arrested the party Chairman Hilal Ahmed War. War’s arrest is seen as a preventive measure by the State police against a possible post-namaz rally that the Hurriyat (G) had announced. Chairman PPP, while endorsing Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call had urged the people to take to the streets and register a peaceful protest in the form of a rally. “People should come out in large numbers in response to Geelani Sahab’s call and protest peacefully,” said War. 

The PPP Chief has been lodged in Police Station Rajbagh. A party spokesperson condemned his arrest in strong words saying it amounted to State oppression and a denial of right to expression. “This highhandedness of the State shows the times we are living in. If one is not even allowed to demonstrate peacefully, it leaves a big void for violent demonstrations,” said the PPP Spokesman. Geelani and War had urged youths to make sure no stone-pelting incident occurred.(Writer-South Asia)

Ministry of Minorities in India released List of Scheemes

By: Sheikh Gulzaar

Srinagar: As the Indian Constitution is committed to the equality of citizens and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. It is the responsibility of the state to preserve, protect and assure the rights of minorities. The United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of persons belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities enjoins states to protect the identity of such minorities within their respective territories and also to encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity. Appropriate emphasis is therefore required to be given to protect the interests of minorities and ensure that they do not lag behind in the progress and development of the society.

On 23-10-1993 Government has notified Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zorastrians (Parsis) as “the minority communities” under clause [C] of Section 2 of the NCM Act, 1992. The International Information Resource Centre has just released Database of Government Funding Schemes for NGOs/Institutions in CD-Rom/Print/e-mail edition.

This is a first database of its kind which covers all Government Financial Schemes in all the sectors including the policies, guidelines, Notifications, Circulars & Press Releases, Application Forms, Declarations, Specimens, and hundreds of schemes of Government of India.

The database of Government of India Schemes is a outcome of a survey of all Government Institutions and Departments during the last five years. Editor Sheikh Gulzaar from International Information Resource Centre and his colleagues have collected details of Government Funding Schemes.

Government at both Central and State levels encourages particulars of the NGO's in developmental and welfare activities. Certain approved programmes are implemented through NGO's. International Information Resource Centre has published 850 pages of e-book on the Government of India schemes and centrally sponsored schemes. The database of Government of India Schemes is an outcome of a survey of all Government Institutions and Departments during the last 3 years. More details:

International Information Resource Centre
Ist Street, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR J&K 192121, Contact person:
Ed. Sheikh Gulzaar, (Programme Incharge)
Ph: 09858986794, 01933-223705
E-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com
web : http://ngoinindia.blogspot.com

Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) Plants Development in Kashmir (India)

(Announcement) GREETINGS from far away Pampore.I’d like to tell readers about a very special man I have met here. His name is Ed. Sheikh GULZAAR.He is a plant breeder who collects rare and vanishing species of plants, herbs and spices. For the past 20 years he has devoted himself to developing many varieties of plants that can survive in difficult conditions. His one wish is to share his seeds of wild herbs and flowers with plant lovers elsewhere. He is happy to send seeds to all friends readers living in colder climates. Please write to: Mr. Sheikh GULZAAR PO Box 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001 THE STATE OF KASHMIR (Via New Delhi-India) e.mail: cikashmir@gmail.com http://www.chenabindustries.blogspot.com

India-Pakistan pilgrimage for peace and harmony

Srinagar: Feb, 08: More than a dozen NGOs from India in association with their Pakistani counterparts are planning a march in May this year to promote peace and harmony in the region.

According to Feroze Mithiborwala - President of Awami Bharat, the March that would be a combination of a Rath-cum-Padyatra would begin from Mumbai and follow the route from Dahanu (Maharashtra), Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Mehsana - (Gujarat), Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Jaipur (Rajasthan), Agra, Mathura - (Uttar Pradesh), Delhi, Panipat - (Haryana), Chandigargh (Haryana-Punjab), Ludhiana, Amristsar (Punjab), Wagah (India-Pakistan border) before entering Pakistan and culminating in Karachi.

The march is expected to travel over 2000 kilometers in India and around 1000 kilometers in Pakistan by May 31, 2010.

Stating that a consensus is building for India and Pakistan peace and a vast majority of people in both the countries are in favor of peace, Feroze Mithiborwala said, "At the time when both the governments are now conducting discussions, we would only be adding to the climate & creating a larger space within the people of the two countries, as well as the powers that be."

Titled as India-Pakistan pilgrimage for peace and harmony, the march has been borrowed from Mahatma Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha launched during the British rule in the Indian subcontinent.

"Considering the religio-cultural history of South Asia, that has a deep devotion to Sufi & Bhakti Saints & for where Pilgrimages, either to Amarnath or Ajmer, are a holy & spiritually purifying act, we chose the name for our peace march", added Feroze.

"Throughout the course of our journey for peace, we would appeal to people to contribute a Mutthi bhar mitti - fist full of soil, that would then be collected from every city, town & village along the way. By this, people would feel that they are a part of the larger process of peace & unity", he said.

Noting that Peepal is the tree under which Buddha received his enlightenment and South Asia currently needs a generous dose of the same kind of enlightenment, he said, "We will also carry saplings - preferably Peepal from each of these places & plant them in the "GARDEN OF PEACE" that we will create along with a "PILLAR OF PEACE" or Bharat-Pakistan Shanti Stambh. This could then be made in all the cities towns & villages across the two countries."

"We do need a lot of emotional markers on our cultural landscape - We will create the same with the soil of the two countries", he noted. (Writer-South Asia)

Kashmir Solidarity Day - 5th February

By : Zaki Ahmad (Saudi Arabia)

Srinagar: Feb 5^th : Since 1991, Pakistanis from around the world, observe the 5th of February as a day to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, who have been the victims of the worst Indian state terrorism for struggling and rendering unparalleled sacrifices to achieve their birth right, the right to self-determination, for the past six decades. There are several reasons why Pakistan and its people express solidarity with Kashmiris. The most striking is the strong cultural, religious and geographical bond which for centuries has tied the people of both areas into one unity. Moreover, the people of Pakistan rightly feel that Kashmir is the unfinished business of the partition of the subcontinent.

To understand the importance of the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, one needs to understand the history of India’s occupation of Kashmir, which dates back to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 after a century of British rule. According to the Partition Plan of June 3, 1947, the subcontinent was to be divided into two sovereign states. The Hindu-majority areas were to form India and the Muslim-majority areas were to be included in the state of Pakistan.

Under the criterion of partition, the princely states had to accede either to Pakistan or to India, keeping in consideration the geographical situation and communal demography. Being a Muslim-majority state, with an 87% Muslim population, Kashmir had a natural tendency to accede to Pakistan, but the evil designs of its then Hindu ruler and the Indian National Congress paved the way to destroy the future of millions of people of Kashmir. India occupied the state by deploying its army there on October 27, 1947, in total disregard to the spirit of the partition plan and against the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

The people of Kashmir did not accept the illegal Indian occupation from day one and have been conducting their liberation struggle ever since. They started an armed struggle supported by a public uprising. On January 1, 1948, realizing that its troops could be defeated by the Kashmiri Mujahedeen (freedom fighters), India approached the United Nations Security Council, which in its successive resolutions, accepted by both Pakistan and India, approved a ceasefire, demarcation of a ceasefire line, and demilitarization of the state and called for a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted under the supervision of the UN. The demarcation of ceasefire resulted in dividing Kashmir into two parts, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian Occupied Kashmir. Phase one of the UN resolutions — the ceasefire — was implemented while demilitarization of the territory and the holding of a plebiscite under the UN umbrella remains unimplemented till this day. One of India’s founding fathers and its first prime minister, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose government took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations, told the Indian Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1947: ‘In order to establish our bonafides, we have suggested that, when the people (of Kashmir) are given the chance to decide their future, this should be done under the supervision of an impartial tribunal such as the United Nations. ‘On June 26, 1952, Nehru told Indian parliament, ‘If … the people of Kashmir do not wish to remain with us, let them go by all means; we will not keep them against their will, however painful it may [be] for us.’

The most deplorable aspect of the Kashmir dispute is that India itself had taken the issue to the United Nations but later backed away from the promises it had made in front of the international community regarding the settlement of the dispute and allowing the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination.

India has committed numerous human rights violations in Kashmir. And still it tries to project itself as a secular and peaceful democracy. If India is so confident that the people of Kashmir have full faith in the Indian Constitution and that the overwhelming participation of Kashmiris in recent elections is proof of that, and then let it hold a plebiscite in line with the decades-old UN resolutions. What is India afraid of? All we are asking is to grant Kashmiris the right to decide for themselves.

Freedom of thought and expression is the most fundamental of human rights. There are a few countries in the world that claim to be democratic but are actually barbaric. They hide their war crimes by using their official and private media as a war machine. India is one of these countries, which has used all types of brutal force against Kashmiris but has been evading criticism because of the worst press censorship. To die is poignantly bitter, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unbearable.

Despite committing grave human rights violations, India tries to deceive the world by presenting itself as a “secular and the largest” democracy. For how long will the world stand by and allow this genocide to continue? UN should wake up to the blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions and the UN Charter by the Indian troops. These troops have been given a free hand to kill, detain and torture any person irrespective of their age and gender under the draconian and black laws, such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act - 1958, Public Safety Act (PSA) - 1978 and the Jammu And Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act - 1992. Indian forces have killed nearly one hundred thousand innocent Kashmiris. Youth have suffered the most as the Indian troops suspect them to be freedom fighters. Fake encounters, custodial deaths and enforced disappearances are common in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. However, the steadfast Kashmiris are, in fact writing an inspiring golden chapter in their epic history by making supreme sacrifices with the advent of every sunup. Nowhere in the world, has such a ghastly state terrorism existed.

On the other hand Pakistan is very sincere in solving the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has always invited India for starting the peace dialogue again after the 26/11 attacks but India has always run away from it. Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized that it would never accept any option for the resolution of the core issue between Pakistan and India, which goes against Kashmiris’ aspirations. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani have repeatedly said that Kashmir belongs to the Kashmiris and they are the arbiters of their fate.

The core issue of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, has led Pakistan to face three wars and have devoted a major portion of their national incomes to defense budgets. World leaders have stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan to avoid an eventuality that may cause a catastrophe in the region. Kashmir is the nuclear flash point of Asia, surrounded by three nuclear powers. It is incumbent on the international community in general and governing world bodies in particular to intervene and force India to stop shedding innocent Kashmiri blood. Kashmiris should have the right to decide their fate according to the UN resolutions, which were adopted to resolve the issue. Without any doubt, Kashmir is jugular vein of Pakistan and it cannot evidently abandon it under any conditions. With both the South Asian neighbours armed with nuclear weapons, another conventional war on Kashmir has the potential to turn into a nuclear exchange that could be disastrous not only for South Asia but for the world at large. September 11, 2001 changed the course of history. The formation of the US led alliance to combat terrorism provided the Indians the perfect excuse to turn back on their promise of finding a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir issue based on the wishes of the Kashmiris. They tried to confuse world opinion by pinning the blame on Pakistan for aiding the ‘militants’ through ‘cross-border terrorism’. The observance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day is, thus an unambiguous manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to the veracity. Thus the 5th of February is a day to acknowledge Kashmiris’ struggle for justice, peace, truth, and fundamental human rights. (Writer-South Asia)

General Deepak Kapoor ambitious to author World War III : War

Srinagar, 28 Jan. : People’s Political Party ( PPP) , Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War welcomes the initiatives of two leading media groups of India and Pakistan –Times of India Group and Jang Group and their campaign under the banner of “Aman Ki Aasha “ ( Hope For Peace) to bring peace in this region . War said that the unresolved Kashmir Dispute is the stumbling block in the way of sustainable peace and stability in this region. Terming the resolution of Kashmir issue as key to peace in the region, and said that campaign of Aman Ki Aasha is bound to meet failure if the core issue of Kashmir is ignored. “ If the architects and authors of this peace campaign are sincere in their effort for peace and tranquillity they must declare that Kashmir is dispute and the real bone of contention between India and Pakistan , secondly they should appeal conscious political leaders, highly acclaimed impartial journalists, writers and peace lovers of India and also those who urge for peace in this region , to come forward and unmask the hawks and warmongers of India like Lt. General Deepak Kapoor, Indian Chief of Army Staff and diplomat –cum-debater , Mr. G.Parthasarthy  and declare them enemies of peace,” said War. For this purpose, Times Now, news channel launched by Times of India Group should be utilized as a medium for peace not hatred. If they cannot do that then they must shut their shop of PEACE.

Mr. War stated that recently Indian Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General, Deepak Kapoor stated that Indian troops are ready in case of war that too simultaneously on both fronts with Pakistan and China and end it successfully within 96 hours. General Kapoor also admitted the possibility of a marginal conventional conflict cannot be ruled out. And he further stated that any conventional war between two countries can at any time turn into a nuclear war. Major General Deepak Kapoor’s irresponsible statement gives a clear message that there is some invisible hand behind his statement and the message is an indicator of possible war. Some observers and analysts say that this invisible hand is United States of America and its satellite country Israel. For this purpose they want create an excuse and mastermind another Mumbai attack so that it will pave the way for attacking Pakistan and China simultaneously. The United States of America wants to play same role in China as was played by India in 1971 in detaching East-Pakistan. Therefore, it is presumed that General Deepak Kapoor is ambitious to author the World War III.  

God forbid, if war breaks it will engulf whole world and undoubtedly India will be a Big looser. India is well aware of the Pakistan’s missile programme which is more powerful than India and Pakistan has about 95 atomic bombs while as India has just 60-70. And in case of war both good and bad Taliban will certainly join Pakistan Army. Therefore, if war breaks out between two nuclear powers the Metropolitan cities of India like, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata will be wiped out within no time. In case China joins Pakistan, the Sino-Pak nexus will put India into surprise. This war will prove to be a waterloo for India. Therefore, let’s hope good sense prevails upon Govt. of India and its warmongers so that they understand the dynamics and consequences of this unfortunate war, and will explore other peaceful options to settle all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir Nation. 

The one and half billion people of this region have every legitimate right to intervene as they are the real stakeholders of peace and to discourage warmongers like Lt. General Deepak Kapoor and G.Parthasarthy etc. and impress upon Govt. of India to give diplomacy a full chance to find out ways and means to settle Kashmir Dispute and combat the enemies of peace by exposing them.

In order to prevent the South-Asian Region from erupting to the prejudice and detriment of the global peace the long-standing Kashmir dispute urgently need to be solved amicably within the framework of fundamental Human Rights and justice to the concerned struggling people.  In this connection the PPP’s Roadmap containing 3 Point Formula advocated by our party since August 10, 1996 is the only tunnel to reach the goal and destination of peace and human-brother -hood which shall in turn ipso-facto close the doors and chances of Atomic War.(Writer-South Asia)