Amar Sheed Zenab Ashfaq Ullah Khan

                                            Updated and enlarged

                                             Tributes To

                 Amar Sheed Zenab Ashfaq Ullah Khan

(on his 118 ^th birthday falling on 22nd October 2017)

Khamoosh Hazrat Khamoosh Hasmat  (pen name of A-U Khan)

Agar Hai Jajba Wattan Ka Dil Main ,

 Saza Ko Pohnchain Ge Apni  Beshak

Zo aaj Hamko Mitta Rhe Hain,

 Bujdiloon Hi Ko Sada Moyt Se Darte Dekha

Goo  Ke Soo Bar Unhain Roz  Hi  Marte Dekha,

  Wattan Hamara Rahe Saj Kam Aur Azad

 Hamara Kaya Hai Agar Hum Rahe Na Rahe Na Rahe ,

 Kass Lee Hai Kamar Ab To Kush Kar Ke Dekhain Ge

  Azad Hee Hoo Leinge Ya Sar hee Kata Deinge.

This is the Urdu poem composed by Ashfaq Ullal Khan, who earned the supreme distinction of being the first Muslim youth to be hanged for the cause of the freedom of Mother India. Ashfaq Ullal Khan imbibed the spirit of Patriotism, Unity, Communal Harmony & supreme sacrifice for the country. He falls in the of great revolutionaries & martyrs like  Amar Sheed Bhagat singh, sukhdev,Rajguru , Jatinder Nath Dass,   Veerangini Jalkari Bhai, Virsa Munda,Mangle Panday,Dulia Dhobi,Mangal Mochi, Kammon kesri Khushi Ram ,Jatra Bhagat , Udham singh ,  Abdul Gafar Khan,  Guru Ram Singh Kuka, Begum Hazrat Mahal,Arun Asaf AlimChander Sekhar Azad ,Neta ji subash chander bose,  Veeragini Mahaveeri Devi& lakhs other  unknown heroes of Indian Independence Movement.

                     A very handsome revolutionary son of Mother India, Ashfaq Ulla Khan, was born on October 22nd , 1900 at Shahjahanpur (U.P) in a  respectable &  well known Muslim family. He was son of revered  zenab Shafiq Ullah Khan and  Begam Mazhoor-Un-Nisa.His father was teacher by profession . Ashfaq Ulla Khan was the youngest of his  six children of his father.   His elder brother‘s was  Zenab Riyasat Ullah Khan who was advocate by profession. His birth was celebrated with a great pump & show. He was a student of the Mission High school at Shahjahanpur, one class junior to another great revolutionary Pandit Ram Parshad Bismil., a staunch Arya Samaji Hindu. From his childhood  Ashfaq Ullal Khan started taking interest  in  the Freedom Movement & the activities of the freedom fighters moved his tender mind. Both he and   Ram Prasad Bismil made unparallel sacrifices for the Indian Freedom Movement from the British yoke.

                         Ashfaq Ulla Khan left school during Khilafat Movement in 1920 to devote himself fully to educate his countrymen for the Freedom Movement. Many of his near friends advised him not to jump into freedom movement, which was full of difficulties & sufferings including jailed life & even death sentence. But Ashfaq Ullal Khan was made of different stuff, who had decided to sacrifice for the freedom of his Motherland.

                           To raise money for purchasing weapons for the revolutionaries it was decided (although Ashfaq Ullal Khan differed initially, but agreed with the majority decision) to loot a train carrying Govt. Treasury The train was successfully looted on August 8, 1925 between Alamnagar & Kakoi stations.  Among the train robbers were Sachinder Nath Bakshi; Rajinder Nath Lahiri; Pandit Ram Parshad Bismil & Ashfaq ullah Khan. The train robbery sent shock waves to the British administration & praises for the revolutionaries. Two close confidents of Pt. RPBismil leaked the information & got arrested some revolutionaries, but Ashfaq ullah Khan escaped  to Daltonganj in Bihar, where he succeeded in getting employment in  a school  posing as a Hindu of Mathura. Now he wanted to go abroad to study engineering which would further help him in the freedom struggle. He went to Delhi for this purpose.. But alas again a close confident Pathan friend of Ashfaq ullah Khan betrayed & got Ashfaq ullah Khan arrested. Ashfaq ullah Khan was brought to Lahore, tried along with Sachinder Nath Bakshi in Kakori railway station case & sentenced to death. His advocate  brother Zenab Riyasat Ullah Khan was his defense councilor.

 In an Urdu poem written from his prison cell by Ashfaq ullah Khan with  Ram Prasad Bismil on the night of 18 December, 1928 (They were executed on 19^th December 1927), he expressed his wish that despite the fact as a Muslim he did not believed in rebirth after death, but if he meets “Khudda” ( God Almighty) after death, he shall  make an express request to Him to grant him another births  in lieu of  “Jannat” so that he could  come again and again to liberate his mother land. In this hand written Urdu poem opening lines he said he will go empty hands with the pains that he did not know when his country shall be liberated. A day before his death he told, to his friends who came to see him in the cell, jokily that he was getting married next day.

                         Ashfaq ullah Khan’s love for his motherland and his commitment for its freedom from the foreign yoke can be made out from the  letter written by him from his Jail cell to his nephews.

 Translation of the Urdu letter written by Asfaq Ullah Khan  to his nephews  from the Jail.

   “I have been accused of loving my country and for that crime ,I have been given  the death sentence. The only wish I have from you both is that after my death you must read the proceedings of my case, then you will come to know to what extent I loved my motherland as a true Muslim”.

          On  Monday the19^th December, 1927, the day of his execution Ashfaq ullah Khan got up early in the morning, took bath offered Namaz & read verses from the Holy Quran. At 6 in the morning he was taken to the altar platform for execution. He was walking carrying a Quran in a bag hanging from his shoulder & was reciting its verses. After kissing the noose he put it around his neck as if it was a garland of flowers. He said “I have never stained my hands with the blood of any man. I will get justice before God. All the charges leveled against me are wrong.” After kissing the noose he put it around his neck as if it was a garland of flowers and was hanged Faizabad Jail British India. His body was taken by his relatives to Shahjahanpur to perform his last rights

                        Amar Shaheed Ashfaq ullah Khan was a true freedom fighter & a great secular. He saved an Arya Samaji  temple from being burnt by rioters. He said “All places of worship, irrespective of the religion, they belong to, are dear to life more than his life.” In his last prayer he prayed to God to bless Hindus & Muslims with better sense so that they don’t fight among themselves and work untidily for the Freedom Movement of the country .

                                                                                       Er HEM RAJ PHONSA.

Dated 17-10-2017                                                  Ex Executive Engineer

Referance; -  Ashfaq ullah Khan, A Great Revolutionary & Freedom Fighter, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting GOI.

ii) Maps of India.com

    

  

Mahatama Jyotirao Gobindrao Phule (Tribute on the eve of his 190th birthday falling on 11th APRIL 2017)

By:-   Er. H. R. Phonsa ( hrphonsa@gmail.com   Contact 9419134060  )

  Ever since the Caste system was invented it has brought only  hate related miseries to the  the people of the  fourth Hindu Verna. They were/are addressed as Untouchable,Shudras, Ati Shudras present day called Mulnivasies, aboriginals, Dalits(Scheduled Castes(SCs), Scheduled Tribes( STs), Other Backward Classes( OBCs) etc). They were degraded even below the level of animals. They were denied all decent ways of life. They were  not only debarred to entre Schools, drinking water sources, temples, barber shops but their cremations  places were also separated. Their rights to progress, social, economical, educational, property rights including cultural were denied for them. Religious law codes like Manusmriti were written and  given divine sanctions ..  Divisions among Hindu castes were made permanent.  Untouchable were divided in as many as  6743 Castes, sub castes, Gotras etc. to ensure that they never get united and create any problem for the  Brahmins and Brahminical thinking . Hindu way of life was not only to divide work but workers. This also gave birth to caste war. The Hindus offered milk to snakes; rice with sugar to ants; worshipped tress like Tulsi, Pipal, and animals like cows but got polluted by the very shadow of a Dalit. Dalits are non-else but the creation of the Omnipresent Almighty God. Although for God  realization Hindus observe extreme austere   like living in lonely forests, undertake long journeys to 68 places of pilgrimage, observing fasts, celibacy  etc.. How could such external acts be divine when these cause division among humen?  It is said when excesses cross all limits the Divinity  sends messengers of  humanity.  These men of vision, convictions and strength show the masses the just path of love for all and hate to none. Lord Budha, Lord Mahaveera, Mohammad Sahib, Jesus Christ, Kabir, Guru Nanak ,Guru Ravidas,Chokhamela, Narayana Guru  and many more who  rose above pretty  caste prejudices.  After  2390 years of Mahatama Budha’s birth another friend to Deprived Section of Indians was born. He was Mahatama Phule. Mahatma Phule, a contemporary of KARL MARX(1818-1883), of the Indian social revolution and the first leader of peasants. In his time there was a conflict between the rationalist and the orthodox. His period can, therefore, be a aptly described as the dawn of revolution in the history not only of Maharashtra but of the country as a whole. This brought revolutionary changes in the social, economic, Education, Caste Systems, Agriculture, Women and widow upliftment , Human Rights, Untouchbility ,Social Equality.

           Mahatama Jyotirao Gobindrao Phule was born  on 11^th April,1827 to revered couple Gobindrao and Chimnabai in village Khanbari of Poona. He earned the title of Mahatma and title of Bukar T.Washington (American President and a great leader against acts of slavery & apartheid).Since Gobindarao and his two brothers served as florists under the last Pashwas, so they were called Phules. Chimnabai died when Jyotiba was 9 months old.  So his childhood was not very pleasant. He was brought up in the care of Sagunabai Khersagar ( Daughter of Gondabai maternal aunt ,Moussi  of Jyotirao). Gobindrao wanted his son to get a higher education so as to spread the Gyan Jyoti for the humanity at large and Dalits in particular. But all relatives of Gobindrao were against the education of Jyotiba pleading that his son would get spoiled by studying English and could lend no help to him in his job as florist.  So  Jyotiba was taken out of school after he passed his primary school at the age of 9 years. Despite this Jyotiba continued working in fields during day and reading at night. Good hearted Goffar Beig Munshi ( A Muslim )and Latiz Sahib(A Christian) had good influence on Gobindarao. They insisted Gobindrao to get his son readmitted in school to complete his education .On their persuasion Gobindrao  got re- admitted his son in Scottish Mission High School at Poona in  January, 1841. It was in this school that he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained a close friend throughout his life. Both Jotirao and Govande were greatly influenced by Thomas Paine's ideas and they read with great interest Paine's famous book ' The Rights of Man'.  Jyotirao alias Jyotiba  completed his secondary education in 1847 and decided not to accept any government job but work for the upliftment of downtrodden and deprived section of society by spread of education to all with special emphasis for women and untouchables. 

 Jyotiro was convinced and often proclaimed “ Lack of education leads to lack of wisdom, which leads to lack of morals, which further  leads to lack of progress  which leads to lack of money, which leads to the oppression of the lower classes”. See what state of society one lack of education can cause!

 Jyotiba got spine shivering experience of caste hate, when he was invited by his Brahmin friend to join Barat( Marriage party procession) of his brother. But in the Barat Jyotiba although wearing good  ress was noticed by the other Brahmin Baratis.  Jyotiba was abused, insulted and finally turned out of the party for his low caste. Jyotiba discussed this with his father who advised his son to avoid such invitations in future as the high caste Hindus shall not compromise on their religious superiority complex.

This incident changed the life concept  of  Jyotiba, who made up his mind to defy the caste system and decided to serve the shudras and women who were deprived of all of their human rights due to  the caste system. Jyotiba met at Ahmadnagar Miss  Farar,a teacher  in Girls Missionary School. Miss Farar explained Jyotiba and his friend Sahashiv Govande the importance of women education. Jyotiba was greatly impressed by advice of the Missionary teacher. He decided to work for women upliftment by spread of their education and other social welfare measures.

Jyotiba was married in 1840 to Savitribai.Savitribai Phule.She worked as the true disciple and co-missionary of her husband. They changed the Indin history by opening a school on 1-1-1848 for girls in Poona where Savitirbai was admitted as first Student along with four Brahmin girls, one Maratha girl and sixth a shepherd family girl.  Jyotirao Phule continued this school despite opposition form orthodox Hindus, who considered this act against their religion, as Hindu scriptures considered educating girls & Dalits as a great sin. Savitirbai received more education at home from his husband, and was appointed as Headmistress of one of his schools by Jyotiba. Even parents of Jyotiba did not co-operated & they turned him along with Savitribai out of their parental house. It was said by Brahmin priests that by by educating women and Dalits,a sin, forty generations of sinner shall be put into  Narak (hell) fire. But Phule  couple remained steadfast on their chosen path. They opened 18 such schools including some having co-education.

          Feeling pity on the condition of orphans Jyotiba Phule opened   orphanage, perhaps first such

 Institution by a Hindu. Jyotiba Phule gave protection to widows & assured them that orphanage shall take care of their children.  It was in this orphanage that a Brahmin widow  Kashbai gave birth to a male child in1873 and Jyotirao Phule adopted him as his son naming him Jaswant Phule & educated him to become a qualified doctor.

To earn his livelihood & to run his schools & other institutions he worked as contractor in PWD. Some of the structures including  a bridge are still standing in Pune and in its surrounding.  He termed PWD department as hotbed of corruption. He also supplied building materials required for the construction of the first masonry dam in India at Khadakwasla near Pune in the 1870s. One of Phule's businesses in 1863, was to supply metal-casting equipment. Jyotirao owned 60 acres of farmland at Manjri near Pune. In 1882 memorial, he styled himself as a merchant, cultivator and Municipal Contractor.

                      He published his book “Slavery,” in 1873, in which he declared his manifesto that he was willing to dine with all irrespective of their caste, creed, or country of origin. This book was also temed as  controversial The opening words of Slavery  are” Since the advent of rule of Brahmins for centuries( In India), the Shudras and Ati Shudras are suffering hardships and are leading miserable lives.------ Shudras  should think over their misfortune and they should eventually set themselves free from this tyranny of Bhats( Brahmins)”. Jotirao dedicated this book 'to the good people of the Unites States as a token of admiration for their sublime, disinterested and self-sacrificing devotion in the cause of Negro Slavery'. The book is written in the form of a dialogue.

 Jyotirao Phule  formed “ Satya Shodhak Samaj(Society of Seekers of Truth)  on 24 ^th September 1873 with Jotirao as its first president and treasurer. In 1876 this Samaj had 316 members. The main objectives of this organization were to liberate the Shudras, Ati Shudras & to prevent their exploitation by the Upper caste Hindus. He refused to regard Vedas as sacrosanct & denounced Chaturverna & instead published his book “Satya Dharma Pustak in 1891.  According to him all men & women were equal & entitled to enjoy equal rights & it was a sin to discriminate between human beings on the basis of sex or caste or creed . Widow bearning( Sati) was common those days. Widow remarriages were banned and child marriage was very common among the Hindus Society Jyotirao opposed these all social ills & worked for the benefits of sufferers. He  got re married one Shayani caste widow on 8^th march 1890 against  strong protests. From the beginning of the year 1879 Krishnarao Bhalekar, one of his colleagues, edited a weekly called Deenbandhu which was the organ of the Satya Shodhak Samaj. The weekly articulated the grievances of the peasants sand workers. Deenbandhu defended Jotirao when Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, a powerful spokesman of the conservative nationalists, attacked Jotirao's writing in the most vitriolic style. Bosom  Friends Lokhande, Bhalekar and  Jyotirao addressed the meetings of the textile workers in Bombay and tried to organise the peasants and the workers. No such attempt was made by any organization  earlier to redress their grievances. This move infused a sense of awakening towards their rights, in the peasants and the workers.

Mahatama Phule opposed the evil customs so on the death of his father he did not call his caste people for meal instead he distributed meals in beggars, distributed pencils, writing wooden planks ( Patties )  & books to children which became annual function to remember his father.  He opposed the tyranny of landlords & money lenders , so he organized a protest Dharna in Poona District where  farmers joined in large number & burnt the records of the money lenders. He got a marriage ceremonised on 25 th December 1873 without the participation ob any Prohit. In the marriage feast the was only Pan & Supary nothing else. He edited  a weekly news paper “ DEEN BANDU ,” from 1^st January 1877. Jyotirao Phule helper getting released in1881 from jail Lok Manaiya Ganga Dhar Tilk & Goda Adkar who were sentenced for writing in their papers “ The Kesri & the  Maratha ,”  against the policies of the British Govt.

On 2nd March, 1888,  Rao  Bahadur Hari Raoji Chiplunkar( 1842-1896) an Honorary Magistrate and President of the Association of Landlords has arranged a banquet in the honour of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. Hari Raoji Chiplunkar  was also a friend of Jotirao and had invited Jotirao too. Jotirao dressed like an Indian peasant, attended the function and made a speech. He commented on the rich invitees who displayed their wealth by wearing diamond-studded jewellery and warned the visiting dignitaries that the people who had gathered there did not represent India. If the Duke of Connaught was really interested in finding out the condition of the Indian subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of England, Jotirao suggested that he ought to visit some nearby villages as well as the  areas in the city occupied by the untouchables. He requested the Duke of Connaught who was a grandson of Queen Victoria to convey his message to her and made a strong plea to provide education to the poor people. Jotirao's speech created quite a stir( Wikipedia).

               For the life long service to the Dalits & other deprived section of the society Jyotirao Phule was awarded the Title Of MAHATAMA.  On 19 ^th May 1888. The function was attended by dignitaries like Justice Ranade, Dr. Bhandarkar , Tukaram Tatiya , Lokhande, Dholey & Bharkar besides . Jyotirao Phule was addressed by  Saya Ji Rao Gaikwardas Bukar T Washington in his letter to the president of the function.

               Jyotirao Phule’s  his right hand got  incapacitated in an illness, so he stated writing with his left hand & wrote a book titled as “ SARIVJANIK SATYA DHARAM , “ After ceaselessly working for over 63 years Jyotirao Phule passed away on 28 ^th November 1890 about 138 days before the birth  of Dr. BR Ambedkar another Dalit Maharashtrian  luminary, Father of free India’s Constitution , who also lifelong worked for the emancipation of Dalits , depressed, weak  & women. Jyotirao Phule shall be remembered for the centuries to come for the  good work he did for the Dalits & Depressed peoples of society including women.

 Words 2196

  Dated 07-04-2017                                          Er. H. R. Phonsa ( Jammu)

                                                               hrphonsa@gmail.com

                                                               Contact:-9419134060

HOW SAFE ARE OUR ROADS

                                        

                                                           HOW SAFE ARE OUR ROADS                     

                                                           ( On the eve of Road Safety Week 2017 )

For  the  last 28 years every year the the Road Safety Week (RSW) is observed throughout India under the guidance of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India  from 11-17 January. Being an apex body at the national level in the field of Safety, Health & Environment, NSC supplements the Govt’s initiative by promoting Road Safety Campaign. Also the UN Road Safety Collaboration is pleased to announce that the 4^th UN Global Road Safety Week will be held from 8-14 May 2017. The Week will focus on speed and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. Speed contributes to around one-third of all fatal road traffic crashes in high-income countries, and up to half in low- and middle-income countries. The Global status report on road safety 2015, reflecting information from 180 countries, indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths has touched at 1.25 million per year, with the highest road traffic fatality rates in low-income countries. It is therefore imperative to know the effects of the road safety knowledge we have gained during the last about 28 years since we are celebrating this annual ritualistic event with great joy. It is also to ponder over how much our so gained knowledge over the have helped in making our lives safe on our roads.

Going by the past experience and our road worthiness statistic date records over the years  India has the worst road safety standards in the world; a fact repeatedly outlined in World Health Organization reports and backed up by the government's own reports. As per International data India with 11 deaths per 1,00,000 population on its road  is better  only to Russia with19 deaths  where as world wide best countries in this respect are Denmark, Singapore, UK and Israel where only 3 deaths per One Lakh population were recorded during 2015.

 The NCRB data shows that as many as 43,540 people were killed in accidents involving two-wheelers. Dangerous or careless driving or overtaking resulted in the death of 48,093 deaths. More Indians die each and every year in road accidents than the total casualties suffered by India's armed forces in all the wars fought since independence.

        In the editorial of Indian Highways Journal (Vol.45, Number 01, January, 2017) elucidates the safety conditions of our roads. As per his Editorial write up India maintains 5.5 million Kms of road net work which works out 1.66 km of roads/km^2. The accumulative 5% of total net work of Indian Roads have the national Highways NH (1, 00,087Kms) and State Highways SH (1, 67,109 Kms ) but are responsible for 52.4% of total accidents on India  roads. Roads passing through Rural areas are more culprits in respect of road accidents which account for 61.0% country wide accidents. Since roads are taken as right of way of the drivers and their fault is  cause of 77.1% of accidents and fatalities on Indian Roads. In India during 2015 year 5,01,423  road accidents occurred resulting in  killing of 1,46,133 persons besides injuries to thrice the number of fatalities with an increase of 4.6%  in total accident fatalities in India from 2014 to 2015. On an average 17 people die each hour on Indian Roads. In India a road accident occurred every four minutes (2009). The fatalities of youth between age group of 14 to 44 years on the Indian road account for 71.9% (Both  Drivers and passengers ) The age 15-24 group was most effected with 48,420 deaths accounting for  33.1%.This is most horrify state of affairs for the Nation as a whole.

According to road traffic safety experts, the actual number of casualties may be higher than what is documented, as many traffic accidents go unreported. Moreover, victims who die some time after the accident, a span of time which may vary from a few hours to several days, are not counted as car accident victims.

 This unfortunate gigantic figure of fatalities on our roads accounts for loss of 4% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) i.e. over Rupees Five Lakh Crores.

More detailed information is made available by GOI ( MORTH) in a booklet on Road Accidents in India 2015.

 This picture is becoming muddier with every passing every year. Comparing figures of 2014 and 2015 reveals that the increase in accidents was 2.5%, persons killed by 4.6%., accident injuries by 1.4%. Besides this the severity of road accidents, measured in terms of number of persons killed per 100 accidents has increased from 21.6 in 2005 to 29.1 in 2015. Also the number of persons killed per ten thousand km of road length has more than doubled since 1970.  

While it is well established that our roads and highways are deadly to travel on, according to the data, the states with the highest number of road accidents in 2015 are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. These states contribute 29.66% to the total number of accidents recorded nationwide. The same states also recorded the highest number of injuries at  2,75,873  in 2015.

 In India rural roads account for 53.8% of total accidents out of which 63.1%  turn out to be  fatal with 61% of total deaths  and 59% injuries on roads.

 Still more shocking is that 10.5 % of all fatalities during road accidents were children below the age of 18 years. The maximum fatalities in road accidents were reported in Uttar Pradesh (12.4 per cent) followed by Tamil Nadu (10.5 per cent) and Maharashtra (9.2 per cent) in 2015.

  In Jammu and Kashmir State Motor Vehicles Department is one of the Public Services Department with lot of interface with the people on day to day basis. The Motor Vehicles Department is implementing monitoring and co-coordinating various transport related activities in consonance with the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and J&K Motor Vehicle Rules 1991 and other statues/enactments with a motto of ensuring safety on roads and effective development of public relations. But despite this much department efforts  the J&K State road accidents account for more deaths than Kashmir unrest. During 2015 reported accidents were 5836 there by resulting in 917 deaths besides injuries to 8142 persons.  The single lane roads in J&K State  recorded 3775 accidents causing 512 deaths and injury to 4161  persons against four lane roads with respective figures of 53, 3 and 61  for 2015 year .During 2016 (January to September) there took place 4132 accidents killing 665 persons besides   causing injuries to another 5932 persons. It is also reported that Jammu is more prone to accidents than Kashmir. In Jammu more people get killed in road accidents than in Kashmir. J&K State Rural areas are mostly hilly and narrate a pathetic story when we talk of roads and accidents on road. In city areas the only concern of the traffic  police department seems to give free passage to the Ministers  and other VIP’s caring less for the delays and  inconveniences to common commuters.  Maintenance of Rural roads is so poor that one fails to understand if these roads belong to any government agency/department or not.

An important accident related parameter is the extent of accident severity (road accident related deaths per 100 accidents). It varies from a low of 2.6 per cent in Mumbai to a high of 66.0 per cent in Amritsar ,  Asansol - Durgapur (47.1 per cent), Allahabad (47.0 per cent), and Jamshedpur (45.2 %). 

Two wheelers and cars ( jeeps and taxies included) account for 28.8% and 23.6% of total accidents on Indian roads. During 2015, within the category of drivers’ fault, accidents caused and persons killed due to ‘Exceeding lawful speed’, accounted for a high share of 62.2 % (2,40,463 out of 3,86,481 accidents) and 61.0 % (64,633 out of 1,06,021 deaths), respectively. During the calendar year 2015, the total number of Hit and Run cases were 57,083 which is 11.4 % of the total road accidents. Both potholes and speed barkers on the roads each accounted for 2.2%  of accidents on roads resulting in 2.3% (each) fatalities..

Traffic Junctions are prone to accidents. About 49 per cent of total accidents took place on the junctions itself during the calendar year 2015 as against 57 per cent during 2014. The highest number of accidents occurred at T-Junctions during the calendar year 2015 causing 94,487 accidents with a share of 38.5 percent of the total road accidents on Junctions. It has been seen that the maximum number of accidents occurred at uncontrolled areas which caused 1,66, 158 accidents with a share of (67.6 percent) in total road accidents.

The owner of private vehicles were involved in 1,74, 359 accidents followed by owner of public commercial vehicle (98,996), paid driver (1,13,830) and others (1,13,822).

 Keeping these unfortunate facts of death on Roads the Government of India is deeply concerned about the growth in the number of road accidents, injuries and fatalities in recent years. It recognizes that road accidents have now become a major public health issue, and the victims are mainly the poor and vulnerable road users. The Government of India further recognizes that as road accidents involve roads, motor vehicles as also the human beings, road safety needs to be addressed on a holistic basis. It also recognizes that regardless of jurisdictions, the Central and State Governments have a joint responsibility in reducing the incidence of road accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Roads are basic infrastructure required for seedy travel, economic, social education, employment health; cultural, agricultural progress of a nation. Any nation’s progress is surely measured by the road net work constructed besides achievements in other fields. Surely India has achieved a good progress by constructing 5.5 million kms of roads by ending 2015 against existing road length of only 0.4 million kms of roads in 1951.A good road network is essential for the over all growth of any nation but safety on road  can neither be over looked nor postponed. To ensure safety on roads factors like good engineering, appropriate and timely administrative action, humanistic approach to injured and timely heath care are the tool with which we can win the  safety race on our Roads. But above all personnel character and mind set with accommodation of co-driver’s rights on road if observer can go a long way to make out roads safe.

Keeping in view the urgent need of safety on our Roads the GOI .the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has devised the following ten Golden Rules for safety on Roads.

TEN GOLDEN RULES FOR ROAD SAFETY

   1. STOP OR SLOW DOWN :   Allow pedestrians to cross first at uncontrolled zebra crossings.

2. BUCKLE UP :                           So that your family and you are safe in the car. Seat Belts reduce the chances of                   death of a car occupant in accidents.

3. OBEY TRAFFIC RULES AND SIGNS :To prevent road accidents.

4. OBEY SPEED LIMITS :       For your own safety and that of others. In residential areas and market places, ideal speed should be 20 kmph and the maximum speed limit is 30 kmph.

5. KEEP VEHICLE FIT : To prevent breakdown and accidents on road.

6. NEVER USE MOBILE WHILE DRIVING :To avoid distractions that largely lead to accidents.

7. WEAR HELMET : To protect your head while riding a two wheeler. A good quality helmet reduces the chances of severe head injury.

8. NEVER DRIVE DANGEROUSLY :   To ensure your own safety and that of other road users.

9. BE COURTEOUS :                  Share the road with all and be considerate. Never rage on the road.

10.NEVER MIX DRINKING AND DRIVING : Be Responsible... Don’t drink while driving.

In the end I shall add that the progress of the Motor Vehicles Department & other agencies connected with Road Safety Week Celebrations should be gauges from the number of public awareness contacts made with the drivers/ conductors, owners of vehicles & parents of the young drivers, school meets rather than their meeting held with dignitaries in the Hotels & Motels who are not practically connected with driving or private transport traveling. Let us find more parking places in the city areas than harassing the needy persons, make the drivers & conductors aware of the future dangers of death, injury, noise & air pollutions. Imposing Heavy fine  on the owners rather than drivers for rash driving, confiscate/ cancel ownerships of the vehicles along with the driving licenses. Experience has shown that vehicle owners not police fines can control the erring drivers.

 Let us all try to make our roads safe for reaching destinations speedily & safely.

Er. H.R.Phonsa

Chartered Engineer

(Ex. Executive Engineer)

    Words 2100                     Dated 16-01-2017

Shri Joginder Nath Mandal (1904-1968)

Shri Joginder Nath Mandal (1904-1968)                           (The Dalit  who Presided over the Pakistan Constituent Assembly )                               ( His 118^th B.D.falls on 29 Jan.2016)                                                     By:- Er. H.R. Phonsa         

        Shri Joginder Nath Mandal was a trusted lieutenant of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and became the first Law Minister of Pakistan and also the Chairman of Constitution Drafting committee of Pakistan after the partition of India. Prior to the partition of India Shri Joginder Nath Mandal gained national prominence for winning the election in 1946 on SCF ticket and for being included in the interim Ministry of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru with Law Portfolio. Then Babu Jagjivan Ram was another prominent Dalit leader of Congress party and a minister in the Interim Ministry.  In free India Babu Jagjivan Ram served in different capacities including Deputy Prime Minister .

      Shri Joginder Nath Mandal was also fondly called Mahapran. Shri J.N. Mandal was born in Namashudra caste of Scheduled Castes on January 29^th, 1904. He was born to a farmer Shri Ramdayal Mandal and Shrimati Sandhaya Devi of village Maister Kandi in Barisal district of undivided Bengal. He was admitted to a school when he was eight years old. He was meritorious and passed his Matriculation examination securing First Division in 1924. After passing his B.A. from B.M. College at Barisal in 1929 he secured admission for M.A. in Dacca University. Due to his weak financial position, he discontinued studies at Dacca University. However later he passed Law Degree in 1934. He was aware of the suppression of the Scheduled Castes by the upper Caste Hindus, who were denying them their due share in political, educational, social, religious and economical fields. He thought that only political power can mitigate the Shudras from their man made miseries. So he entered politics and contested his maiden election as independent candidate for the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1937. He defeated congress candidate, a very powerful and rich landlord. Therefore he became the member of the Legislative assembly when he was only 33 years old. There were 20 other Independent Scheduled Caste party leaders. Shri J.N. Mandal was elected as secretary with Shri Hem Chander Naskar as President of the Independent Scheduled Caste Party. The joint effort of the M.L.As succeeded in securing 15% reservation in services for Scheduled Caste candidates in Bengal. Observing sincerity, intelligence and organizational qualities of J.N. Mandal, Jenab Khawaja Nizamudeen, the Chief Minister of Bengal, inducted him as a minister in his cabinet along with two others from Scheduled Castes. So Shri J.N. Mandal became undisputed political leader of Scheduled Castes in Bengal.

   The Independent Labour Party (IPL) formed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on15th August 1936 had got itself engaged in the welfare and the struggle to secure political power for Scheduled Castes. When in 1942 Dr. Ambedkar tried to broaden IPL’s base so changed its name to The Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF). Units of SCF were established in several states including Bengal.  The unit in Bengal was given the name of Bengal Provincial Scheduled Caste Federation. Meanwhile Shri J.N. Mandal started a weekly paper called “Jagran” through which he continued the crusade to enlighten the Dalits about their just rights.  This paper could not last long. He also started another weekly paper “The People’s Herald” in 1943 and in its inaugural function Dr. Ambedkar was present to bless the project.

On defeat of the ministry in 1935, fresh elections were ordered in 1946. Shri J.N. Mandal contested as a SCF party candidate from a general seat and won. After the elections, a new ministry under Jenab H.S. Surahawardy of Muslim League was formed. Shri J.N. Mandal was again included in the Ministry. Under Cabinet Plan in 1946, the Muslim League also joined the interim ministry formed by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Shri J.N. Mandal was included from Muslim League quota and allotted Law portfolio.  The SCF in its convention held at Agra passed a congratulatory message to congratulate Shri Mandal on his selection to the interim ministry. The Provincial assemblies had the right to choose their representatives to form Constituent Assembly. Since Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had failed to win a seat from Bombay on SCF ticket, the prospects of his election to the Constituent Assembly were blocked.  Sardar Patel said that all doors and windows of the Constituent Assembly were closed to Dr. Ambedkar and now he cannot enter it. Here stepped in Shri J.N. Mandal to suggest that Dr. Ambedkar should contest for Legislative Assembly from Bengal.  Dr. Ambedkar agreed and so with the support of Scheduled Caste and Muslim members, he was elected from Bengal Legislature to be a member of Constituent Assembly of India. Subsequently Dr. Ambedkar was selected as the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, thanks to the vision of Shri J.N. Mandal.

     Shri J.N. Mandal had clear vision of the rights of the Scheduled Castes, but declared that congress leaders were adamant not to give any such rights to the Scheduled Castes in free India, so the rights will have to be secured by dint of their unity. He was a strong supporter of united Bengal. He pleaded that political turmoil of partition was temporary and shall pass off soon.

   Things changed with the formation of the new country Pakistan on 14^th August1947. Every individual was given the right to choose the country of his or her choice to live in. Shri Mandal opted to be a citizen of Pakistan to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Caste people left over there.  Jenab Liaquat Ali Khan became first Premier of Pakistan. Sh. J.N Mandal was included in the first Pakistan government as the Law ,Justice and Labour Minister. He was also the second minister of commonwealth and Kashmir affairs. So in the divided India both countries had the first law Ministers from among the Scheduled Castes. Shri J.N. Mandal as Law Minister had the honour to preside over the first meeting of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Since Pakistan Government was not prepared to grant constitutional rights to scheduled casted in Pakistan, so Shri J.N. Mandal decided to come back to India. He resigned on October 8, 1950 as Law Minister and as President of Pakistan's Constitution Drafting Committee. He came back to India in 1950 to continue his struggle for the rights of Dalits.

  After returning back to India he continued his work for the up liftment of Dalits. He played an important role in Dr. Ambedkar’s dream project of establishing the Republican Party of India (RPI). Shri J.N. Mandal contested for Lok Saba as an RPI Candidate from a general constituency in West Bengal in 1967 but lost.

This son of the soil, one of the important and brave soldiers of Dalit cause passed away in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 5^thOctober, 1968. He shall be long remembered for his life long fight for the Dalit cause

 Dated 15-01-2016 By:- Er. H. R. Phonsa Jammu

The writer can be contacted on hrphonsa @ gmail.com  or zenithrs@yahoo.com   M-09419134060

 Source material References:-

1. Wikipedia

2. Dalit Movement In India and Its Leaders by;-R.K. Kshirsagar

3. Dr Ambrdkar and His Associates by

“ Er.H.R.Phonsa”.Jammu