Diveagar : Konkan

I was planning a trip to Diveagar recently. It's a small village on Konkan coast in Maharashtra. A place with beautiful and safe beach still not very commercialized, it's perfect place for weekend trip.

While planning the trip I had to dig lot of info, I thought I'll publish it here so that it comes handy for others.

Travel

Pune to Diveagar : 200 Km via Tamhni / 248 Km via Mahabaleshwar

Pune-Tamhini-Kolad-Indapur-Mangaon-Srivardhan/Harihareshwar.

Tamini route : next to no traffic, awesome scenery and good roads too

You must plan to tank up in Pune for the entire trip. Pumps on this route are far and few and I doubt the quality of the fuel that is available

Via Tamhini ghat (approx 200 km)

• Pune — Paud – Pirangut Road — Tamhini Ghat — Turn left at Vile
• Vile — Nijampur — Mangaon .You will reach NH – 17. Continue traveling left towards Mahad
• Turn right 500 mts after Mangaon ST Stand on SH 97 to Mhasala. Turn right again on SH98 after Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan

(Road map: Pune – Chandani Chauk – Paud – Mulshi – Dongarwadi – Tamhini Ghat – Vile – Nijampur – Mangaon – Lonere Phata – Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan. Road is smooth and good. It could be bad for portion of the ghat section. Avoid crossing Tamhini Ghat after 6:00 PM. It is not safe)

Via Mahabaleshwar (235 km)

• Pune — Pune – Bangalore Highway — Surur Village
• Turn right towards Wai — Panchgani — Mahabaleshwar — Ambenali Ghat — Poladpur.
• You will reach NH17 at Poladpur.
• Turn right towards Mahad – Lonere Phata – Goregaon
• Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan (SH 98)

(Road map via Mahabaleshwar: Pune – Shirval – surur – Wai – Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar – Poladpur – Mahad – Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan. Road is smooth and very good. It is 4 lane toll road (NH4) till surur village (first 80 KMs). Ghat section is also good and safe to cross even in the night as it is crowded with Mahabaleshwar bound traffic.)

Via Bhor (185 km)

• Pune — Pune – Bangalore Highway NH4 — Khed Shivapur
• Turn right just ahead of Khed Shivapur at Bhor Phata
• Bhor — Varandha Ghat — reach NH – 17 at “Hotel Sagar” just outside Mahad.
• Turn right towards Mangaon. Get off the highway at Lonere Phata to Goregaon – Mhasala – Shrivardhan. (SH 98)

(Road map via Bhor: Pune – Khed Shivapur – Bhor – Varandha Ghat – Mahad – Goregaon – Mhasala – Shrivardhan). Road is 4 lane toll road till Khed Shivapur. After that it is not in good shape. Do not cross Varandha Ghat during night as it is not very safe. This is shortest distance to reach Mahad from Pune but road is not that smooth. If you have good 4 wheeler like Scoirpio, Supo, Safari, you may even opt for this route.)

Stay

Name	Contact	Tariff Double bed	Extra bed	How far from beach	Sea food available	Accommodation type	URL
Vrindavan Sameer or Vasant B. Gandre	02147-224270	500 800 (5 ppl)	100	5 min	no		no
Shri Umesh Limaye Direction : From Ganesh temple to Limaye school	02147 224490, 02147 224377	800	No charges	5 min	yes	concrete and tiled roof above First floor	no
Suhas V Bapat Near Marathi school, Dive Agar 402404	02147 224377
Ramesh Awlaskar Pune : 9960592221 Parag	02147 224707 Pune : 9960592221 Parag	900 (5 ppl) in single room		10 min	no	Tiled roof
Anand Kelkar	02147 224242
Smt. Vandana Virkud Near Chaukalshi Mali Samaj Hall, At Post Divegar, Tal. Shrivardhan, Dist. Raigad	02147 225017	1000 : 4 ppl		2 min	yes
“Ashirvad” Shri Umakant Ganpat Vichare At Post Dive-agar, Tal. Shrivardhan	02147 225017
Smt. Sucheta Abhaya Bhatawadekar At – Post. Diveagar, Tal. Shrivardhan, Dist. Raigad	02147 224874 9323137055 9420423533 (bsnl diveagar) 020-24217953 (Pune)	1400 With food (veg) Breakfast+lunch+dinner Non-veg extra No package without food	400	10 min	Yes (on order)	Titled roof	AnandYatri.in
Anant Parker	952147 - 225045
Ramesh Hodgde	9421952989	1200 non ac (4 ppl) 1800 ac	no	5 min	yes
Mauli Resort	02147-225225 9869033406 - Shrikant 9273130038	Db: 1500 Bangalow : 2bhk : 3500		5 min	yes		www.Resortmauli.com
Anant Krupa Guest House Mr Mahesh Pilankar	02147-225323 9819801136 (Sagar Mayekar :Mumbai)	600	No charges	10 min	Not available	Asbestoses sheets roof Old
Ambiance Cottages, Diveagar Mr. Vijay Patwardhan	02147-224091, 225334, 225335	Non ac: 1100 Ac: 1600		10 min	yes
Mr. Praful Patvardhan	9420323602, 9420395036
Pinakin hotel	94235 33314, 92255 05830	Non A.C: 1500 A. C. Deluxe: 2000	200 300	2-3 min	yes		http://hotelpinakin.com/

Photos for some are available on this orkut account (one need to log in to view)

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#FullProfile?rl=pcb&uid=15793013142391300807

Other sites where you can check out accommodations :

AnandYatri.in

www.Resortmauli.com

http://hotelpinakin.com/

http://www.konkanyatra.com/diveagar/hotels.html

Places to visit

If you are looking for a holiday with beautiful sun kissed beaches away from the hustle and bustle of city, a trip to Srivardhan - Harihareshwar - Diveagar is the right kind of holiday for you.

Srivardhan is a typical Konkani town with a beautiful beach and small wadi's, Srivardhan is the place from where the prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom the 'Peshwas' originally came from.

Somaja Devi temple, Birthplace of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat.

The drive from shrivardhan to diveagar is just superb. many beautiful beaches.spend max time on this stretch. maybe early morning / sunset.

Harihareshwar located at only 18 kms. from Srivardhan is also a beautiful place with with an ancient Shiv Temple and Kalbhairav Temple situated on the beach. Harihareshwar beach is also a very clean and excellent beach. MTDC has very a good resort at Harihareshwar with Tents to stay.

Harihareshwar has spectacular rocky outcrop (accessible only during low tide).

temple Pradakshina till hill top : it has nice view. do not spend long time on that marg, coz water level rises tremendously during tide change.. Hight tide starts in late afternoon like 3 PM.

Diveagar The Shekhadi Road leading to Diveagar is a very pleasant drive as the road is parallel to the coastline and you can see many breathtaking views along the entire stretch of the road.

Golden mask ganesh temple (suvarna Ganesh) also check out original place of excavation.

The Kuda caves near Tale are also worth your visit but are slightly off the road. Visiting Kuda while coming to Srivardhan is more convenient as it is on the way to Mhasala near Mangaon and you will only spend a few hours more. However you are advised to take food and waterwith you as there are no hotels or shops nearby for many kilometers.

Bagmandla Beach
Bagmandla beach Situated near Srivardhan is a very clean and secluded beach near Harihareshwar, you will surely enjoy playing in the white sands and clean water on the beach.You can also take a boat ride from here to the nearby Bankot Fort.

Temples

Janjira fort

Infact early mornings are always preferred for Photography, coz the sun rises east, and fort entrance faces the sun in morning. So you can snap some good shots of the fort..

Possible itinerary

Day 1: Mumbai -> Harihareshwar (via Kuda caves) -> Shrivardhan -> Diveagar

Day 2: Diveagar -> Murud-Janjira fort -> Alibaug (via Birla Temple, Korlai fort, Revdanda fort)

Happy traveling !!

Incredible Hampi

Don't "see" a place.... Smell the place...Feel the place...Touch it...Hug it and imagine how it would have been hindered of years back... And after your imagination has fully explored the place, feel the place once again...it will appear as a different place!

Trip to Hampi, Vijayanagar of Kali yuga and Kishkindha of Treta is amazing journey to India's rich past. Though remained in only ruins now, it tells a tale of man's infinite talent and power of creativity together with his capacity for senseless destruction.

Instead of giving my travel-log, with this post I primarily wanted to publish all the data I gathered while planning my trip, so that it comes handy if you are planning one!

What to see in and near Hampi

Place to Visit in Hampi:

The Hampi Bazaar, 35 yards wide and nearly 800 yards long was known to be a "very beautiful street with very beautiful houses".
30 minutes plus
The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of the famous Hampi Bazaar. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower on its eastern entrance. (check closing times)
at least 1 ½ hours
Kondarama Temple
This is a functioning temple with religious importance. This is the place where Rama killed Vali and crowned Sugreeva,
Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple
This is located behind but a bit uphill of the Kondarama Temple. Some steps and a paved rocky path would lead you to this temple. It would take about 15 minutes for you to reach from the Kondarama temple to Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple
The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari.Parts of this temple are older than the Vijayanagar kingdom itself. The work of this style dates back to the 11th or 12th century.
(a)
Nearby is the 6.7m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha. An inscription nearby states that it was hewn from a single boulder in 1528 during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya.
(b)
Badava Linga
(4) near kondaram temple
Achyutaraya Temple or Tiruvengalanatha Temple
Krishna Temple or Balakrishna Temple
This is one of the must see sites in Hampi.
This is one of the few temples with a lot of epic stories are carved on the walls of the tower and the temple.
Vithala Temple Complex : The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vithala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars.
To the east of the hall is the famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that actually revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. Resting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, about 15 feet in height, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single rock. House of Victory - It was built when Krishnadeva Raya came back from his victorious expedition against the King of Orissa.
Westwards from the House of Victory, leading through two ruined gates, the path leads to the Hazara ramaswamy temple.
Kings Balance where kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to the poor, the Queen's Bath a swimming pool, 50 ft.long and 6 ft.deep, with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water, the two-storeyed
Lotus Mahal : shaped like a lotus flower from top, this two-story structure has beautiful arc ways set in geometric regularity. It was an air-cooled summer palace of the queen.
Elephant Stables : This huge stable, a beautiful example of Hindu-Muslim style of architecture, housed about 11 elephants in separate compartments.
Mahanavami Dibba : The foundation of a lion story wooden structure from which the royalty viewed Hampi with pomp, colour and revelry during the Mahanadu festival. This platform has beautiful carvings.
Mustard Ganesh : This is a 9 feet tall single stone statue which is also known as Sasivikalu Ganesha.
Nobleman's Palace : This place was recently discovered and they suspect this was for aristocrats and high-ranking officials.

Rough list of places:

Day 1

Hampi bazaar
· Monolithic bull
· Achyutaraya Complex
· Matanga Hill
Day 2

· Virupaksha Temple
· Sasive Kalu Ganesha
· Balakrishna Temple
· Ugra Narasimha
· Badava Linga
· The Underground Temple
· Guard’s quarters
· Hazara Rama temple
· Elephent Stables
· Royal enclosure
· Mahanavami Dibba
· Mint
· Pushkarani or the Stepped Tank
· Aqueducts and Canals
· lotus mahal
· Queens Bath
· Saraswati Temple
· Octagonal bath
· Octagonal Water pavilion
· Bhima’s Gate
· Gejjala Mandapa
· Tungabhadra River
· Anegondi
· Vittala temple
· The Kings’ balance
· Sugriva's Cave

Places to visit in Badami

• Banashankari temple

• Cave Temples and South Fort: There are four elaborately carved cave temples and one natural Buddhist temple. You have to walk up about 200 steps to get to them, because they are partway up a cliff. To get here from the bus stand, turn right on Station Rd. When you reach the statue of Dr Ambedkar, you turn left. Admission for foreigners Rs 100. Guides start at Rs 75 for the caves and Rs 200 for entire area. Hours dawn to when it gets dark.

• Cave 1, late 6th century, is dedicated to Lord Siva and has an excellent sculpture of Nataraja (dancing Siva) to the right of the entrance. Inside on the left is a panel of Harihara (half-Vishnu, half-Siva) and their consorts Lakshmi and Parvati. On the right is Ardhanariswara (Siva as half-man, half-woman). On the altar is a Siva-linga. This cave is about 15m (50 ft) up the hill.

• Cave 2, late 6th century, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On the left is a sculpture of Varaha (boar incarnation of Vishnu), and on the right is Vamana (dwarf incarnation). On the ceiling is a carving of Lord Vishnu riding his bird carrier, Garuda.

• Cave 3, 578 AD, has sculptures of Vishnu, Narasimha, Harihara, Trivikrama, and others. Some of the sculptures are about 3m (10 ft) high. It is the largest cave.

• Cave 4 is a Jain cave and has a statue of seated Parswanath. There are carvings of the tirthankaras both standing and sitting.

Between Cave 2 and Cave 3 is a Buddhist temple located in a natural cave. It overlooks Agasthya Lake.
There is a stairway between Cave 2 and Cave 3 leading to the top of the hill and the South Fort. From there you can get a good view of Badami. East of the fort is a panel of Vishnu lying on the serpent Anantadeva (Adi Sesha). From here you can proceed east and descend to the lake.

Where to stay

Hotels in Badami

http://www.karnatakatourism.org/badami_where_stay.htm
http://www.karnatakaholidays.net/Html_Version/offices.htm

Ragsangam :
Badami fort :

Hotel Mookambika Deluxe Badami

Hotel Mookambika Deluxe Badami
Station Road, Opposite KSRTC Bus Stand,
Bagalkot - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220067/720637
Fax: 08357-720106
Email: mookambikabadami@sify.com
Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 950/-

Situated on the main road it was not too far from the caves site and also had a good restaurant inhouse as well as next door too.
Hot showers, attached bath and western style toilets, telephone, room service.
no reservation by phone
Room 3 tyeps
1344 A/c delux
850 non a/c delux - first floor
650 semi delux - ground floor

KSTDC Mayura Chalukya, Badami, Karnataka
Ramadurg Road
Badami
Karnataka - 587201
India

Karnataka Hotels Badami
Ramdurg Road,
BADAMI - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220046

Shri Laxmi Vilas Hotel
Tonga Stand, Station Road,
Bagalkot - 587 201
Tel: 08357-220077
Tariff: Rs. 100/-to Rs. 300/-

Double Room: 300 Rs
Hot water in morning: 6-9
Attached bathroom/toilets
can book by phone

Hotels in Hampi

http://www.karnatakatourism.org/hampi_where_stay.htm
http://www.hampi.in/map.htm

Gopi Guest House
Roof Restaurant, Hampi,
Hospet Taluk,
Bellary - 583 239
Tel: 08394-241695
Email: kirangopi2002@yahoo.com
Tariff Range: Rs. 600/- +Tax
Double Non A/c Room Rs 660 (http://www.mustseeindia.com/Hampi-hotels/budget-hotels-Hampi/Hampi-Gopi-Guest-House-990)

Padma Guest House
some really spacious rooms on the 1st floor with balconys from where you can overlook Hampi bazaar and temple.
The room prices go up or down depending on the season and it can vary from about 250 to 800 sometimes. I was lucky to pay just 250 for a double with attached bathroom and with an air cooler too. Mossie nets were there but I prefer to use the fan instead!!! None of the other places that we checked out there matched up to their standards of cleanliness or hospitality.

Padma Guest House
Near Bus Stand, Behind Govt. School,
Hampi, Bellary – 583 239
Tel: 08394-241330/31
Telephone 08394 241331
Tariff Range: Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/-
Double Non A/c Room Rs 880 (http://book.mustseeindia.com/hotels?city=Hampi&checkin=19%2F09%2F2009&checkout=29%2F9%2F2009&adult=2&children=0&rooms=1)

Food

There is a Dosa place just in front of main temple ... you will get awesome dosas there...

Name is "Shri Sangameshwar Restaurant", don't miss it.

mangoe tree restaurant : Its most famous restaurant in Hampi :)

By the banks of tungabhadra river
Mango Tree. One of the nicest, most relaxed restaurant settings you will ever come across. Set along side the banks of the river, you can lounge comfortably on the steps underneath the huge mango tree sipping some of the best lassis you will come across in India. They do a decent thali at lunch time and have a broad range of food on the menu. Its the perfect place to hideaway from the afternoon heat and zone out to the beautiful view.

Travel Information

Hospet is nearest railway station.

Hospet > Hampi Local by Bus : Rs10

Hospet > Hampi by Auto-rickshaw : Rs100

Hospet > Hampi by Auto-rickshaw (shared) : Rs 15 per head.

These shared taxies ply between Hampi & Hospet bus station via the Kadirampura village. It takes longer than the regular Autorickhaw ride as the driver stops very now and then to pick and drop passengers. But it is comparable with the time the local bus takes and cheaper than the regular Autoricskhaw hire (Rs 100 for Hampi>Hospet). Most of your co passengers would be the local villagers, sometimes with their livestock too. Not a bad way to hit Hampi with a bang.

Pune to Hospet

VRL, one of the big private companies, (their office is next to Nataraj hotel right between Swargate and Nehru Stadium) runs buses from Pune to Hubli-Dharwad. You can go to Badami or Hospet from there (main town near Hampi). KSRTC also runs lots of overnight buses to Dharwad. I'm not sure, they might even have a direct Hospet or Badami bus nowadays what with Hampi becoming big on the national and backpacker tourist map.
An alternative route is via Solapur-Bijapur-Bagalkot-Badami-Hospet-Hampi. MSRTC has buses from Pune-Bijapur via Solapur.

Happy traveling !!

Nationality ...

Through Santosh's buzz I came across following post about one Zainab,a past Indian national, who was denied Indian citizenship when she wanted to return to India after her parting ways with her Pakistani husband.
http://indiansinpakistan.blogspot.com/2010/04/ill-call-you-when-i-get-lonely.html

I started thinking ...

Accepting X nationality means believing in X country's values and the nation. Having high respect + patriotism towards the country.
Personal circumstances may force someone to live in some other country for some finite period of time as a foreign national but when there is question of accepting host country's nationality factors which play important roles are more or less same as mentioned in first sentences.
As that is what it takes to be true citizen of a country than just to be someones spouse. (Generally it's believed that on family level view and values towards country are more or less the same and that might be the reason that you can get X country's citizenship if you marry national of the country and is resident in the country for some period)

Though giving up A country's nationality and becoming B country national does not necessarily mean person in question hate country A; BUT if A and B countries have radically different ideologies and are in conflict with each other then questions can certainly be raised.

If a foriegn national wants to be a Indian citizen, the person somehow should be able to prove fist point and should be resident in India for N years at least and complete other necessary requirements.
Again how easy should it be to change citizenship based on personal circumstances, is a question to ponder over.

I have full sympathy toward Zainab (lady in question), but above things just popped in my head while reading comments to the post.
I do think that Indian government could have considered her as political refugee and granted her stay; I would never support insensitivity and harassment.
But granting citizenship just based on emotional factors won't work, I guess even Indian government agrees with me. (http://www.mha.nic.in/citizenship/acquisition.htm)

-Nile

LSD

LSD is an hallucinogenic drug that acts on the serotonin receptor. Which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, a sense of time distortion, ego death and spiritual experiences, This is what wikipedia says about LSD.

LSD बघितल्यानंतर प्रेक्षकांवर असा काही effect होणे दिबाकर बनर्जी ला अपेक्षित आहे कि नाही देव आणि दिबाकर जाने, पण प्रत्येक प्रेक्षकावर काही न काही effect होईल हे मात्र नक्की.
LSD चा विषय ( it 's Love, Sex and धोखा) आणि त्याही पलीकडे बदलती lifestyle हे नव्या भारतीय समाजातील कळीचे मुद्दे. आत्ता तुम्ही अश्या विषयांवर सिनेमा काढून एकतर लोकप्रबोधन करू शकता (उदा. MNIK - केविलवाणा प्रयत्न) किंवा सत्य परिस्थिती दाखवून बोध देण्याचा प्रयत्न करू शकता (उदा स्वदेस ). LSD ने निवडलेला मार्ग निराळा आहे, तो तुम्हाला त्याच्या कथे मार्फत परिस्थिती सांगतो, त्यातून काय घ्यायचे हे मात्र तुमच्या वर सोडतो.

आपल्या कडे अश्या सिनेमांची allergy आहे. आम्हाला तुम्ही logical end वर पोहचवले नाही तर आम्ही डिरेक्टर ला शिव्या टाकतो, (मिथ्या बकवास movie रे! काहीही काढतात). अश्या काही reactions LSD ला सुद्धा मिळण्याची शक्यता आहे पण worry not , हिंदी सिनेमा ला आणि पर्यायाने प्रेक्षकांना बरे दिवस येतायत त्यामुळे मिथ्या LSD हे सिनेमे सुद्धा चालतील.

१९९९ ला The Blair Witch Project नवाचा एक सिनेमा hollywood मध्ये रिलीज झाला होता.
हि ३ तरुण filmakers ची कथा आहे. हे तिघेजन Burkittsville, Maryland जवळ "Black हिल्स" मध्ये एका रहस्यमय लोककथेवर आधारित documentry बनवण्यासाठी साठी म्हणून जातात आणि कधीच परत येत नाहीत परंतु त्यांच्या video आणि audio recordings एक वर्षानंतर सापडतात. हा सिनेमा म्हणजे त्या recordings !

हा सिनेमा आठवण्याचे कारण म्हणजे LSD ... LSD बनवताना दिबाकर बनर्जी च्या मनात कुठेतरी The Blair Witch Project ची concept नक्की असावी. Handy -Cam हे The Blair Witch Project मधील एक पात्र आहे तर LSD मध्ये तो एक observer आहे. observer / handy cameras वापरून शूटिंग करण्यामागे आणि अनोळखी चेहरे घेण्यामाग दिबाकर बनर्जीचे logic साधे सोप्पे आहे. सिनेमा life style बद्दल आहे आणि तो अधिक अधिक live वाटला पाहिजे. डिरेक्टर तुम्हाला स्टोरी सांगतोय असे वाटण्यापेक्षा तुम्ही त्या घटना स्वतः बघताय हि फिलिंग प्रेक्षकांना देणे ... हा त्याचा उद्देश आहे आणि तो बर्यापैकी सफल झालाय.


तीन वेगवेगळ्या कथा एकत्र गुंफणे सुद्धा छान जमलेय (युवा नंतर हे एक यशस्वी उदाहरण).
मी स्टोरी बद्दल जास्त बोलणार नाही ... कारण मला आता झोप येतेय !
परंतु bollywood मधील एक नवीन आणि छानपैकी जमलेला प्रयोग बघणार असाल तर LSD चुकवू नका !

आपण हे युद्ध जिंकलो की हरलो?

पाकिस्तानच्या फक्त १०-१२ अतिरेक्यांसमोर आपण आपले वीसएक अधिकारी (पोलिस, सैनिक, कमांडो) गमावले, शेकडो नागरीक मृत्युमुखी पडले, अब्जावधींची संपत्तींची राखरांगोळी झाली। त्यामुळे ही लढाई संपल्यानंतर मोहिम फत्ते झाल्याचे बिगुल वाजवायचे की हे आपले अपयश समजायचे याचा पुन्हा एकदा विचार करायला हवा .

मुंबईत पाकिस्तानी दहशतवाद्यांनी केलेला हा हल्ला नव्हताच॥ ते होते एक भयानक युद्ध ! रणांगणावर कधीही जिंकू न शकले-या पाकिस्तानने कायमच हे असले भ्याड पर्याय निवडले आहेत। या युद्धात ताबा मिळवायला भारतीय लष्कराला आणि पोलिसांना जवळपास ५९ तास लढा द्यावा लागला. या वेळेत आपण कायकाय गमावले याचा विचार करता, आपण जिंकलो असे म्हणणे धाडसाचे ठरले. या युद्धाने अनेक प्रश्न पुन्हा उभे केले आहेत. मार्च १९९३मध्ये मुंबई बाँबस्फोटाच्या मालिकेने हादरली होती. नंतर लोकलमध्ये स्फोट घडवले गेले. बेस्ट प्रवासी बाँबस्फोटात बळी गेले. प्रत्येक वेळी आपण कोणत्या आघाडीवर कमी पडतो याची चर्चा झाली. पण यातून ठोस उत्तर शोधण्याचा मार्ग निघाला नाही. हे अपयशच अतिरेक्यांचे बळ वाढवत गेले आणि आज ही वेळ आपल्यावर ओढवली. आणि एकंदर आपली राज्यपद्धती आणि राज्यकर्ते यांच्याकडे बघता पुन्हा याहून भीषण काही घडणार नाही असा विश्वास बाळगणे कठीण आहे.

भारत हे सॉफ्ट टार्गेट आहे याची खात्री आपले शेजारी देश बाळगून आहेत। शाब्दिक निषेधापलिकडे येथील सत्ताधारी जात नाहीत याचा अनुभव आपण पाकिस्तानने वारंवार घेतला आहे. आणि हे फक्त काँग्रेसबद्दल बोलून चालणार नाही तर देशभक्तीचा मक्ता आपल्याकडे आहे असे मानणाऱ्या भाजपाचा अनुभवही आपल्याला काही वेगळा नाही. सहा वर्षांपूर्वी पाकिस्तानची मदत असणा-या अतिरेक्यांनी थेट संसदेवर हल्ला चढवला. तेव्हा अपेक्षा होती ती पाकिस्तानने पुन्हा असा आगाऊपणा करू नये असा कृतीने इशारा देण्याची. प्रत्यक्षात भाजप सरकारने पुन्हा तोंडाची वाफ दवडली. इतकेच नव्हे तर पाकिस्तानशी संबंध सुरळीत होण्याचे प्रयत्न केले. लाहोर रेल्वे सुरू केली.पाकिस्तानी नागरिक येथे होण्यातील अडचणी कमी केल्या. भाजपाचे तेव्हाचे परराष्ट्र मंत्री जसवंतसिंग यांनी महमद अझर मसूद याला विमानाने घेऊन गेले आणि त्याच्या अतिरेकी साथीदारांच्या हाती सोपवले. कारण त्यांनी, इंडियन एअरलाइन्सच्या विमानाचे अफगाणिस्तानमध्ये कंदहार येथे अपहरण केले होते. याहून या देशाचा अवमान कोणी केला नसेल. हेच जसवंतसिंग लष्करामध्ये अधिकारी होते हे लक्षात घ्यायला हवे. इतकेच नव्हे तर पाकिस्तानी कलाकार भारतात येऊन भरपूर कार्यक्रम करत आहेत. लक्षावधी रूपये कमावत आहेत. अदनान सामी तर भारताचा नागरिक झाला की काय असे वाटावे अशी स्थिती आहे. त्याच्याकडे पॅनकार्डही आहे. पण भारतीय कलाकारांना पाकिस्तानमध्ये मुक्तपणे आमंत्रण मिळत नाही. अर्थात त्या देशातील गोंधळ बघता, तेथे कोण जाईल हा प्रश्नच आहे. भारताच्या या धोरणात शहाणपणा आहे यात शंका नाही, कारण आमची इच्छा शेजाऱ्यांशी चांगले संबंध ठेवण्याची आहे, पण शेजारी नाठाळपणा करतो आहे असे ते जगाला दाखवत आहेत. या व्यूहरचनेमुळे पाकिस्तानला आंतरराष्ट्रीय पातळीवर एकाकी पाडता येतील अशी भारताला आशा होती. पण या धोरणाचा दुसरा भाग असा असायला हवा की पाकिस्तानला धडा शिकवण्याची आमची धमक आहे. पाकिस्तानवर घी देखा, लेकिन बडगा नही देखा अशी वेळ आपण आणायला हवी होती. पण पाकिस्तानला सरळ करण्याच्या नादात पाकिस्तानचे विघटन होईल, पाकिस्तान अतिरेक्यांच्या ताब्यात जाईल, या देशाकडे असली अण्वस्त्रे त्यांच्या हाती गेली तर भारतासह अनेक देशांना त्याचे परिणाम भोगावे लागतील वगैरे सांगितले गेले आणि भारत या दबावाला बळी पडला. यामुळे पाकिस्तानची मग्रुरी वाढत गेली. यात भर पडली ती पाकिस्तानला अमेरिकेने संरक्षण दिल्याची. भारताला शह देण्यासाठी आणि भारतीय उपखंडात पाय रोवण्यासाठी अमेरिकेने हे धोरण स्वीकारले, पण त्याचा फटका अमेरिकेला बसला आणि भारतालाही. मुळात पाकिस्तानचे धोरण भारतविरोधी असणार हे दोन्ही देश स्वतंत्र झाले तेव्हाच उघड झाले होते. स्वतंत्र झाल्यावर काश्मीरवर हल्ला करून पाकिस्तानने आपला उद्देश स्पष्ट केला होता. तेव्हापसून काश्मीर समस्या आपल्याला त्रास देते आहे. या निमित्ताने या समस्येचाही कायम सोक्षमोक्ष लावता येईल. मुख्य म्हणजे भारत हा शक्तीमान देश आहे हे जगाला कळेल. पण हे होणे कठीण आहे. कारण आपण या दृष्टिने विचारच करत नाही. अहिंसेचे तत्त्व आपण जास्तच अंगिकारले आहे. भगवतगीतेत, ठकासी व्हावे ठक हा उपदेश आपण विसरलो आहोत. धर्म, देश रक्षणासाठी प्रसंगी हाती शस्त्र घ्यावे असे भगवंतांनी म्हटले आहे. जे पाकिस्तानबाबत तेच आपण बांगलादेशबाबत धोरण अवलंबायला हवे आहे. बांगलादेशातून भारतात सतत लोंढे येत आहेत. आसामात तर काही वर्षांत बांगलादेशींचे बहुमत होईल, मग स्वतंत्र आसामची चळवळ सुरू होईल. मुंबईतील काही मतदारसंघातही बांगलादेशी आमदार, नगरसेवक ठरवतील असे चित्र आहे. या शिवाय या घुसखोरांमध्ये अतिरेकी नसतील याची खात्री कोण देणार? किंबहुना गेल्या काही वर्षांत देशभरात झालेले अतिरेकी हल्ले हे अशाच घुसखोरांच्या संगनमताने झाले. भारत सरकार असे बोटचेपेपणा दाखवते याचे प्रमुख कारण, या समस्येकडे सरकार हिंदु आणि मुसलमान या चष्यामूत बघते. संसदेवर झालेल्या हल्ल्यात अफझल गुरू याला सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने फाशीची शिक्षा ठोठावली. पण केंद सरकार त्याची कार्यवाही करत नाही, कारण गुरू हा मुसलमान आहे आणि त्याला फाशी दिली तर मुसलमान समाज हिंसक प्रतिक्रिया देईल अशी भीती सरकारला वाटते. मुळात अशी भीती सरकार एका समाजाबाबत बाळगते हीच चिंताजनक बाब आहे. पाकिस्तानला धडा शिकवला तर येथील मुसलमान काय करतील अशी भीती सरकारला वाटते. पण यापूर्वी पाकिस्तानशी झालेल्या लढायांमध्ये हा समाज देशाबरोबर राहीला हे आपण लक्षात घ्यायला हवे. पाकिस्तानला अटकाव केला तर मुसलमान देशांत काय प्रतिक्रिया उमटेल अशीही शंका आपल्याला वाटते. खरे म्हणजे या देशांना भारताला सहजासहजी दुखावणे परवडणारे नाही. शिवाय प्रत्येक देशाला आपले हित सांभाळायचे असते. पाकिस्तानला कदाचित ते सहानुभूती दाखवतील. आणि पाकिस्तानला आपण सांभाळून घेत आहोत म्हणून येथील अतिरेकी कारवाया कमी झालेल्या नाहीत हेही विसरता येणार नाही. या कारवायांमध्ये पाकिस्तानचा थेट हात असतो याचेही सबळ पुरावे आपल्याकडे आहेत. या निमित्ताने लष्करातून कर्नल पदावरून निवृत्त झालेले अनील आठल्ये यांनी एक वेगळाच मुद्दा मांडला आहे. काश्मीरमध्ये परकीय घुसखोर मारले गेले त्यांच्यासाठी वेगळे दफनस्थळ आहे. त्यांना त्यांच्या देशांकडे सुपुर्द करायला हवे होते. आता या युद्धातही ठार झालेल्यांना सन्मानाने दफन केले जाईल. त्या ऐवजी त्यांचे मृतदेश पाकिस्तान सीमेवर ठेवावेत, पाकिस्तानने ते घेण्यास नकार दिल्यास त्यांची विल्हेवाट लावावी. पण त्यांचे सन्मानाने दफन करू नये. पर्यायाने त्यांना स्वर्गवासी होण्याचे पुण्य आपण काय द्यावे असा सवाल ते करतात. आपल्या सहिष्णुततेचा विपरित अर्थ आपल्या शत्रूंनी लावू नये हा मेसेज देण्याची गरज आहे. भारताने आज कणखरपणा दाखवायला हवा कारण सध्या जगभर वातावरण अतिरेकीविरोधी आहे. अमेरिकेसारखा बलाढय देण, सुपरपॉवर बनण्याचेे प्रयत्न करणारा चीन, युरोपातील बहुसंख्य देश, एव्हढेच नव्हे अनेक मुस्लीम देशही या अतिरेकी कारवायांनंी त्रस्त आहेत. त्यामुळे या लढयाला भारताला बराच पाठिंबा मिळेल हे नक्की. निदान निवडणूक जवळ आली असताना, राजकीय फायद्यासाठी तरी हे सरकार राजकीय इच्छाशक्ती दाखवेल अशी आशा आपण बाळगायला हरकत नाही.

मुळ लेख : महाराष्ट्र टाईम्स (http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3772539.cms)