Pastime On Stairs

Pastime On Stairs

By Promod Puri

The fun in life includes some simple recreational activities in our daily life. And the one I like the most is just a few steps away as part of my everyday up and down commute.

These are the stairs leading up to our apartment. Over the years I have done this personal Grind hundreds of time. Although my experience with stairs is quite extensive, still I would not call myself a stair-master.

But as a veteran of the stairs I have learnt some techniques and some dos and don'ts of going up or down. These know-hows are not meant for practicing to hike Mt. Everest, but simply to enjoy the staircase walk as a physical activity. Stairs make an excellent place to get daily dose of cardio and some belly alignment.

They say keep a balance in life. That is true for stairs too.

In this upscale workout keeping the body in balance is essential. Tripping and slipping often happen when the body wobbles due to imbalance. Balancing exercises are quite common in gym. A popular one is trying to balance body on a hemisphere shaped ball. At home one can practice balance by standing on one foot or keeping one foot in front of the other for as long as possible. Balance requires concentration. Or to be more precise it is meditation in action to coordinate mind and body.

A brief stretching of legs, keeping a uniform pace and raising each leg almost parallel to upper body for each step, are some of the tips of the trade. At little advance stage one can climb two steps at a time. Or do a little bit of descending acrobat of lifting the entire body by firmly holding railings on either side and then dropping both the feet on just one step down, not two.

Another tip: While going up or down, heels or toes should not be hanging down rather whole foot be placed on each step. This gives full footing with more safety as well. A trivial act of misplacing a foot can be the cause of a serious fall. Looking down is not only a humble posture but a better choice to avoid stair accident.

If safety is the main concern, and it should be, then the cardinal principle is the use of hand-railings all along the stairs. Railing is primarily meant to be a support system for fall-free stair walk. Curves, bends and sleekness of a staircase are the aesthetic elements which don't promise safety.

It is often said when going up or down the stairs do NOTHING but going up and down the stairs. No phone, no buttoning of shirt, etc.

Keeping these safeguards in mind stairs offer a simple, easy and free recreational activity.

Have a good time with stairs step by step.

India-Pakistan - Promod Puri

India, Pakistan: Same Culture, Same Traditions But Still Fighting

By Promod Puri

( In view of the recent border fighting empathy toward the peoples of India and Pakistan has been the main reason in writing this article. The objective is not only to underscore  the commonalities among them but to make these known both within the two nations and the rest of the world as well ).

P

Flip the coin and on one side India and Pakistan seem to be combating with each other for ever. On the other side they are sharing the same bread of common roots, common cultures, languages and traditions. 

This love and hate relationship between the two neighbors is both as a result of natural and historic bonding between the peoples of the two countries. At the same time there is the hostility generated by militancy from Pakistan and India's dithering stand in resolving the Kashmir problem.

In 1947 when the British colonial rulers left the Indian subcontinent Pakistan was established. It was on the basis that the Muslims population would have their own country. This was done by simply drawing a distorted boundary line along the north-western part of the united India. A similar line was drawn in the northeastern part. Thus a geographically unique nation of Pakistan, with miles apart east and west regions, was constituted.

The partition of the united India in practically three regions saw one of the worst communal riots. In this abrupt war of hatred hundreds of thousands of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were killed. Millions faced unprecedented miseries as a result of sudden uprooting of people from their ancestral homes and lands. 

In that bloody anarchy, however, Pakistan got its Muslim majority. 

But the genesis of Pakistan based on one religion could not represent the diversity within its Muslim population. Different languages, different cultures, along with different sects within Islam were part of the reality of Pakistan as well. The result East Pakistan was completely scratched out from the map. And a new nation of Bangladesh was born. This was a negation to the perception that a common religion would hold the nation together irrespective of its cultural, linguistic and ethnic pluralities.

In this context one wonders why the subcontinent was divided in the first place. If carving a Muslim state was the main reason to establish Pakistan then it did not take in its fold all the Muslims in the united India. Nor it could address the regional and diverse cultural and linguistic aspirations of its people. Urdu or Hindusthani speaking migrants settled in the Sind and Punjab provinces of Pakistan felt alienated.

Moreover, the division of the sub-continent generated a never ending hostility between India and Pakistan which is dominated by the Kashmir problem. 

Pakistan bases its argument that the state of Jammu & Kashmir has majority Muslim population. And that it should be part of the country. Whereas India's position is that Kashmir belongs to India because the autocrat ruler of the state did sign the accession treaty with India.

Also is the fact that India itself took the Kashmir issue before the United Nations. The latter passed a majority resolution that a plebiscite must be conducted in the state so the people can decide their future to belong to Pakistan, remain with India or stay independent.

However, the problem is not that simple. Being just a Muslim majority state is not the only determining factor to decide its fate. The state is extremely heterogeneous.

People in the Valley of Kashmir speak Kashmiri language. And being most outspoken Kashmiris control the politics of the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir. That leaves the regions of Jammu and Ladakh totally out of the picture in the ongoing issue of the un-representative Kashmir Problem. 

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are culturally, linguistically, religiously and even geographically three distinct regions of the disputed state.

Equally important is the non-Kashmiri speaking region of Azad Kashmir now under Pakistan control. And which was once part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir under the Maharaja rule before 1947. People here speak Pahari dialects, including Mirpuri, which are akin to the Punjabi dialects, but altogether different than the Kashmiri language. And that is the reason people in the Azad Kashmir region of the state are fundamentally different both linguistically and culturally than the those in the Kashmir valley. Their affinities are more toward the people of the Jammu region.

It is the Jammu and Azad Kashmir regions of the state which suffered the most during the partition period. And whenever India and Pakistan border flares up, as has happened recently, this is the area of hostility between the combating forces resulting in immense suffering for the people living on both sides of the border.

Pakistan views the Kashmir problem from only one aspect that it is Muslim in majority. That is true. But that is not the reason, and should not be the reason for its being part of Pakistan. And as far as India is concerned both its leadership and the deliberating bureaucrats always try to put the Kashmir problem on a back burner as it is a non-issue.

Referendum can be a part of the solution toward Kashmir tangle. But in the changed political and economic situations it will not end the problem for good. Still, India now with its strong governing leadership and offering better economic alternative for the state than Pakistan, need not shy away from this democratic exercise of plebiscite. It could be very bold step toward an effort to resolve the Kashmir tangle.

However, beside seriously handling the Kashmir problem there is much more as far as the relations between the two nations are concerned. India and Pakistan are two different ruling entities. But historically, culturally and even emotionally they are together as one people. Their heritage is the same and will remain the same for ever.

And the side of the coin which displays the ugly site of hostality between the two countries could be replaced by two friendly neighbors sharing their traditional bread.

( Promod Puri is a former editor and publisher of South Asian Canadian weekly newspaper, The Link, retired and resides in Vancouver, Canada).

India, Pakistan: Same Culture, Same Traditions But Still Fighting

By Promod Puri

( In view of the recent border fighting empathy toward the peoples of India and Pakistan has been the main reason in writing this article. The objective is not only to underscore  the commonalities among them but to make these known both within the two nations and the rest of the world as well ).

P

Flip the coin and on one side India and Pakistan seem to be combating with each other for ever. On the other side they are sharing the same bread of common roots, common cultures, languages and traditions. 

This love and hate relationship between the two neighbors is both as a result of natural and historic bonding between the peoples of the two countries. At the same time there is the hostility generated by militancy from Pakistan and India's dithering stand in resolving the Kashmir problem.

In 1947 when the British colonial rulers left the Indian subcontinent Pakistan was established. It was on the basis that the Muslims population would have their own country. This was done by simply drawing a distorted boundary line along the north-western part of the united India. A similar line was drawn in the northeastern part. Thus a geographically unique nation of Pakistan, with miles apart east and west regions, was constituted.

The partition of the united India in practically three regions saw one of the worst communal riots. In this abrupt war of hatred hundreds of thousands of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were killed. Millions faced unprecedented miseries as a result of sudden uprooting of people from their ancestral homes and lands. 

In that bloody anarchy, however, Pakistan got its Muslim majority. 

But the genesis of Pakistan based on one religion could not represent the diversity within its Muslim population. Different languages, different cultures, along with different sects within Islam were part of the reality of Pakistan as well. The result East Pakistan was completely scratched out from the map. And a new nation of Bangladesh was born. This was a negation to the perception that a common religion would hold the nation together irrespective of its cultural, linguistic and ethnic pluralities.

In this context one wonders why the subcontinent was divided in the first place. If carving a Muslim state was the main reason to establish Pakistan then it did not take in its fold all the Muslims in the united India. Nor it could address the regional and diverse cultural and linguistic aspirations of its people. Urdu or Hindusthani speaking migrants settled in the Sind and Punjab provinces of Pakistan felt alienated.

Moreover, the division of the sub-continent generated a never ending hostility between India and Pakistan which is dominated by the Kashmir problem. 

Pakistan bases its argument that the state of Jammu & Kashmir has majority Muslim population. And that it should be part of the country. Whereas India's position is that Kashmir belongs to India because the autocrat ruler of the state did sign the accession treaty with India.

Also is the fact that India itself took the Kashmir issue before the United Nations. The latter passed a majority resolution that a plebiscite must be conducted in the state so the people can decide their future to belong to Pakistan, remain with India or stay independent.

However, the problem is not that simple. Being just a Muslim majority state is not the only determining factor to decide its fate. The state is extremely heterogeneous.

People in the Valley of Kashmir speak Kashmiri language. And being most outspoken Kashmiris control the politics of the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir. That leaves the regions of Jammu and Ladakh totally out of the picture in the ongoing issue of the un-representative Kashmir Problem. 

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are culturally, linguistically, religiously and even geographically three distinct regions of the disputed state.

Equally important is the non-Kashmiri speaking region of Azad Kashmir now under Pakistan control. And which was once part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir under the Maharaja rule before 1947. People here speak Pahari dialects, including Mirpuri, which are akin to the Punjabi dialects, but altogether different than the Kashmiri language. And that is the reason people in the Azad Kashmir region of the state are fundamentally different both linguistically and culturally than the those in the Kashmir valley. Their affinities are more toward the people of the Jammu region.

It is the Jammu and Azad Kashmir regions of the state which suffered the most during the partition period. And whenever India and Pakistan border flares up, as has happened recently, this is the area of hostility between the combating forces resulting in immense suffering for the people living on both sides of the border.

Pakistan views the Kashmir problem from only one aspect that it is Muslim in majority. That is true. But that is not the reason, and should not be the reason for its being part of Pakistan. And as far as India is concerned both its leadership and the deliberating bureaucrats always try to put the Kashmir problem on a back burner as it is a non-issue.

Referendum can be a part of the solution toward Kashmir tangle. But in the changed political and economic situations it will not end the problem for good. Still, India now with its strong governing leadership and offering better economic alternative for the state than Pakistan, need not shy away from this democratic exercise of plebiscite. It could be very bold step toward an effort to resolve the Kashmir tangle.

However, beside seriously handling the Kashmir problem there is much more as far as the relations between the two nations are concerned. India and Pakistan are two different ruling entities. But historically, culturally and even emotionally they are together as one people. Their heritage is the same and will remain the same for ever.

And the side of the coin which displays the ugly site of hostality between the two countries could be replaced by two friendly neighbors sharing their traditional bread.

( Promod Puri is a former editor and publisher of South Asian Canadian weekly newspaper, The Link, retired and resides in Vancouver, Canada).

The place is called Virasat-E-Khalsa. It is also known as Khalsa Heritage Complex. But for the local and ordinary folks the unique monument in Anandpur Sahib near Chandigarh is simply known as "Ajuba". And it certainly is a wonder.

With the help of latest in sound and information technology along with impressive architect influenced by the surrounding historic structures in Anandpur Sahib, the place is really an awesome marvel.

It is much more than just a tourist attraction. It is a place of knowledge and inspiration presented in concise and easy steps as one walks along the galleries of the museum.

Massive and colorful murals portray the heroic and vibrant history of Sikhs under the leadership of their gurus. The whole learning experience is guided by "auto-trigger" headphone with crisp commentators' voice that it is indeed an absorbing class in Sikh history."This museum aims at illuminating the vision of Sikh Gurus".

Impressively designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, the museum along with the surrounding water pools is spread over an area of 65 acres. It is almost walking distance from the historic Ananadpur Sahib Gurdwara, the birth place of the Khalsa Panth.
-Promod Puri

Culture Supersedes Religion To Establish National Identity

Culture Supersedes Religion in Establishing National Identity

By Promod Puri

Culture is a distinctive feature of one group of people comprising of several aspects. One of them is religion, and the others are language, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Obviously, one aspect of a culture does not represent the totality of it.

The expression "Hindu culture" is as vague as saying Hindu cuisine (except by airlines referring to "Hindu meal"). And it is as much blurred as trying to contrive a language, music, arts, customs, etc with suffix of Hindu. This applies to all other religions as well who try to create a culture exclusively linked to their faiths.

Culture in most cases is secular in nature.

When we talk about a cultural community, we mean an all inclusive explicit way of life. It represents all the group of people sharing common identities despite belonging to different religious denominations. But all speaking same language and sharing same social and cultural traits.

Often people of one cultural community have several religions. These sub differentiations are covered by conventions and customs. Together these are represented by the sanctified rituals on which Hindu tradition, Sikh, Muslim or Christian traditions establish their respective identities.

The unity of India lies in its cultural plurality. This factor was the basis of states' reorganization at the time of India's independence in 1947. Each state was constituted representing the cultural homogeneity of that region. And wherever there were more than one homogeneity states split respectively. Thus the cultural aspirations of people have been adequately addressed.

"India is a colorful country" mainly because of the exuberant nature of its diverse cultures. The cultural sameness in each Indian state along with the religious diversity is the accepted model for both political and administrative purposes.

Whereas each Indian state mostly represent one single cultural distinctiveness, it is the state of Jammu and Kashmir which within itself does carry more than one identity. The state has three regions, namely Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. And each one of them is culturally, religiously, geographically and even climatically different. Azad Kashmir under Pakistan domain has its own identity which is again quiet varied from rest of Jammu and Kashmir state.

The Kashmir problem has never been examined and tackled from its diversity aspect. The politics of the state has always been dominated, controlled and represented by the Muslim leadership of the Valley from the Kashmir region. The multi-facet and heterogeneous character of the state is the undetermined reality which otherwise can play a dominant role in resolving the Kashmir problem. Aligning the issue only on religious basis because about 64 percent of the state's population is Muslim is a futile exercise to determine its fate. By not allowing the diversity factor in the Kashmir debate is suppression of its other identities as well.

In a democratic setup regions or nations which play only the religious factor in politics and governance, always have cultural identity crisis.

That has been the fate of Pakistan. It does not recognize and accept that the country's cultural affinity lies with India which it can't shake off. Both the political and military leaderships of the country in their hatred toward India try to establish a religious-based Arabic identity. Naturally, this is not working.

Pakistan must realize that cultural-based identities cut across religious-based identities. And the former can play more decisive and healthier roles in determining a cohesive and stable future for the country.

Perhaps Pakistan can learn from Canada as how the latter is establishing its national identity.

In a multicultural Canadian society there are a multitude of cultures, traditions and religions, with lot more sub banners within each group. It is a myriad with a diversified web which gives Canada an image of acceptance and tolerance.

This certainly is a unique experience in human social history to be represented by one culture which collectively is a multi-culture.

Canadian culture is not only ever evolutionary but vibrant and lively too. The reason being its multi-facet aspect which gives it the color and character of being involving and exciting.

-30-

( Promod Puri is a former editor and publisher of South Asian Canadian weekly newspaper, The Link, retired and resides in Vancouver, Canada).

Rituals And Religions

Rituals Add Color And Complexity To Religions

By Promod Puri

All religions are basically the same. It is their respective rituals which differentiate them.

The underlining pathway of all religions is a treasury of morals and ethics, dos and don'ts.

Rituals originated from local customs and traditions and from the priest class. The latter also sanctified them.

Rituals give color and shape to religion, which otherwise could be a bland presentation. And that is how each religion gets individual character and lot more complexity.

LIFE IS A GAME OF SOCCER

LIFE IS A GAME OF SOCCER

By Promod Puri

All our thoughts and actions are influenced and regulated by the consciousness of the "landscape of reality" around us. In this landscape one makes a selection of his or her own space in life's play field.

And the game starts. It is a collective game, a team game. There is no absolute independence. Our individual likes and dislikes, thoughts and behaviors, actions and reactions, morals and rules, all are parts of the game. Social and environmental structures around us are the team's norms shaping and steering the game.

Stamina, discipline and coordination in these environments help in scoring our goals. Individual performance determines the scale of awards. Ronaldo and Messi based on their skills, hardworking and some luck collect millions while others make less.

Environmental selection is limited. There is seldom a level play. Speeding race toward the goal is unexpectedly blocked.  We are tripped by those who get yellow and red cards. We fall and are bruised. New strategies kick in. Still challenges are a constant. We keep on running toward the goal while being pushed back and forth. And the participation goes on.

The Referee blows the final whistle. And the game is over.