statesman news service
KURSEONG, 30 JUNE: In its strategy to organise its indoor party meeting for the revival of its organisational strength, the GNLF supporters have also had to face some stiff opposition of threats and today finally, it has been alleged that a group of GJMM activists finally carried the warning and attacked them at Kaharay Khola in Kurseong, this afternoon.
It was learnt that three persons have been injured and presently admitted at the Kurseong Sub-divisional Hospital, Kurseong.
They have been identified as Mr Sangay Rumba, resident of Chimney, Mr Mahesh Singh and Mr Bimal Tamang, residents of St. Mary&’s Hill.
It was learnt that for the past few days, the GNLF party had been busy organising its different indoor meetings at different places in Kurseong sub-division.
They had organised one of its political meetings in the heart of Kurseong town at Gorkha Jan Pustakalaya yesterday, after a long wait of five years just to meet together.
Following the trend, today too, the party was planning to organise their meeting which was scheduled to be held at Gorabari near Sonada.
One of the GNLF supporters, Mr Sangay Rumba (48), who has been hospitalised in Kurseong after the skirmish at Kaharay Khola, said: "We were to organise another of our party&’s indoor meetings at Gorabari near Sonada but following the disturbance there by the GJMM supporters, the police administration requested us to cancel our meeting."
He said: "Accordingly we had cancelled the meeting and were returning home when a vehicle carrying GJMM activists followed and overtook us at Kaharay Khola. They stopped our vehicle and started raining stones on us. We were also attacked with “khukuri”, a sharp weapon. Had I not caught hold of the khukuri, I would have been hacked to death. There were six of us, including the driver, when we were assaulted."
Mr Rumba also claimed that he has identified two of the attackers in the group and has named the GTA Sabha member Mr Anosh Thapa and GJMM Youth leader Mr Premendra Gurung.
Notably, Mr Rumba, a known GNLF activist, had been earlier assaulted by GJMM supporters at his village in Chimney in which his house and motorbike had also been torched.
On the other hand, the GJMM leadership and GTA members denied any involvement of its cadres in the incident and said that a handful of GNLF supporters are only trying to disturb the peaceful environment in the Hills.
“They have betrayed the Hill people for 21 long years and now again they are provoking the Hill people towards violence when peace and development in the Hills is being carried out by the GTA,” a GNLF supporter said.
A police officer said: "An FIR has been filed by Sangay Rumba against the GTA Sabha Member and senior GJMM Leader Anosh Thapa and others. An investigation is on. However, no one has been arrested so far."

statesman news service
GANGTOK, 30 JUNE: The musical Organisation of Musician and Artists of Sikkim have organised a fund raising programme for the victims of Uttarakhand floods.
"The members of the OMAS will be performing at M.G Marg, Gangtok starting from 29 June till 6 July to raise funds for the victims. We will have local artists and singers, Miss Sikkim Participants and Miss Himalaya today for the fund raising program,” informed the president of the organisation, Ms Neha Pradhan.
The week-long fund raising program is likely to have renowned figures from Gangtok as informed by the president Ms Pradhan. The fund raising program is being organised by OMAS in collaboration with the Hill Development Organisation. On 29 June, performances were given by Manumit, Hema, Tshering Leeyong, Bo-Singh and Neha herself.
The program will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. during the weekdays and in the weekends it will start from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

statesman news service
KURSEONG 30 JUNE: After a gap of around five years, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), party organised its meeting (see sns photo) in the heart of Kurseong town at Gorkha Jan Pustakalay in Kurseong, yesterday.
During the meeting, GNLF representatives from different places in Kurseong sub-division area were present, including the GNWO convenor Mrs Tshering Dahal and the party Kurseong branch president Mr Nima Lama.
Meanwhile, the speakers mainly emphasised that the best political solution for the people of Darjeeling Hills is the implementation of the Sixth Schedule which itself is also a step forward to achieve the paramount aspiration of a separate state of Gorkhaland.
Mrs Dahal claimed that there can no comparison between the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration set up and the Sixth Schedule as the GTA does not have constitutional guarantee while the latter has one. She said: " The Sixth Schedule will never divide the people on caste lines but it is a tool to create a state of Gorkhaland instead."
She said: "The Hill people did not pay their electricity bills under the directives of the GJMM in the name of Gorkhaland during their non-co-operation movement. Now, as they were not able to bring Gorkhaland, it is their duty to pay the bills. They must create Gorkhaland as promised if the people are to pay the electricity dues."
She also said: "In 1988 when the Darjeeling Accord was signed, the Indian Government recognised the Gorkhas as Indian citizens. It was in this backdrop that police could not use firearms against people when the GJMM led the Gorkhaland agitation. In 1986, we had to face bullets but had it not been for the 88 accord the GJMM could not have led the agitation with songs, dance and smiles on their faces."
Another speaker, Mr Lhadup Ghisingh, a leader from Mirik said: "Some of the former DGHC casual employees are being victimised on political lines and on that pretext have been transferred to other places on low salary by the GTA. This sort of political vendetta on such workers will be firmly dealt with by the GNLF party."
The Party Kurseong unit president, Mr Nima Lama, said: "Today&’s programme has been organised to encourage the people in support of the Sixth Schedule. The way in which we could organise such a meeting after several years, itself speaks volume of the advent of democracy in the Hills. If today is a quarterfinal, then the semis and the finals are yet to come in the Kurseong town arena."
The spokesperson, Mr Daya Dewan, said: "We are happy that we could organise the programme in the midst of the town although there was some tension brewing up in the morning," adding, "the GTA Sabha members and GJMM activists pressurised the Gorkha Jan Pushtakalaya authorities not to allow the venue for such a political meeting."
He further claimed that they will organise and observe Sahid Diwas on 27 July in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the 1986-88 Gorkhaland agitation.
He also said that the GJMM can organise their own Sahid Diwas of the three or four martyrs they have who had died during the second phase of the Gorkhaland agitation. 
"It is the sole prerogative of the GNLF to observe Sahid Diwas on 27 July as it was under the party that the 1,200 martyrs have given their lives for the sake of achieving Gorkhaland," he said.
On the other hand, a large contingent of Kurseong police personnel and IRB forces were deployed to provide tight security by the administration so as to avoid any kind of untoward incidents and to maintain law and order.

statesman news service
BALURGHAT, 30 JUNE: The rural polls for South Dinajpur district having been delayed for 16 days from its proposed scheduled date on 9 July as per verdict of the Supreme Court, the district CPI-M leadership has at the same time also decided to gear up for the rural poll campaign drive during this extended period in presence of the different state level leaders till 25 July, the newly scheduled day for the commencement of rural vote for the district.
According to the district CPI-M leaders, the senior state level CPI-M leader and party&’s central committee member Md Salim is currently visiting the district to boost the sagging morale of the rank and file ahead of the rural polls.
According to senior CPI-M leaders, the district CPI-M is currently is on the back-foot after Gangarampur police lodged a case against five senior top level district leaders, including former state small scale industries minister Mr Narayan Biswas, party district secretary for South Dinajpur Left Front convener Mr Manabesh Choudhury, former Gangarampur municipality chairman Mr Balaram Ghosh, acting Gangarampur municipality chairman Mr Subal Basak and the local CPI-M leader Mr Achinta Chakraborty, charging them with instigating violence during the cooperative society elections at Damdama on 23 September last year.
Police have already arrested Mr Balaram Ghosh, Mr Subal Basak and Mr Achinta Chakraborty while Mr Narayan Biswas and Mr Manabesh Choudhury are reportedly absconding till date.
It is learnt that that the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Mr Surya Kanta Misra, will address a public rally on 4 July at Kumarganj.
Senior party leader Mr Gautam Deb will also address a public rally on 5 July at Gangarampur to instill spirit in the district CPI-M leaders and workers.
Mr Salim called the arrest of those CPI-M leaders and the arrest warrant issued against the later two absconding party leaders a part of a Trinamul-hatched conspiracy to malign the party and its leaders.
“Police filed a politically-fabricated case at the Trinamul Congress’ behest. We will organise a public rally soon in the presence of state level party leaders at Gangarampur,” he said.

statesman news service
RAIGANJ, 30 JUNE: Police arrested Malay Kundu ~ a trader of crackers and a resident of Mahendraganj in Kaliaganj of North Dinajpur district ~ from Malda district last night.
He was one of the accused of the recent bomb explosion in a godown in Kaliaganj where three died and nine were injured. Police last night arrested him from Bashbari in Malda. He was produced before court today from where he was remanded in 10-day police custody.
It was reported that three persons died and another nine were injured when highly explosive bombs serially exploded in a godown near Vivekananda more in the jurisdiction of Kaliaganj municipality in the Kaliaganj police station area of North Dinajpur district at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The bombs had started exploding when labourers were unloading maize from a lorry in the godown. Some of the houses near the spot and a dhaba were badly damaged as a result of the bomb explosions. 
Police came to know that the godown was owned by one Dulal Dutta of Kaliaganj. The explosives were dumped by Kalachand Kundu and Malay Kundu ~ the traders of crackers of Mahendraganj in Kaliaganj. The leaders of different political parties and a section of locals believed that some highly explosives were dumped along with crackers. Police then called a forensic expert to judge the nature of explosives.
The IC, Kaliaganj police station, Mr Simanta Bandapadhyaya, said: "We arrested one of the accused Malay Kundu from Basbari in Malda district last night. He was produced before court today. He was sent for a 10-day police remand. The  other two accused are still absconding. We have started an investigation to arrest them soon."

agencies
SALVADOR, 30 JUNE:  Gianluigi Buffon saved three penalties as an under-strength Italy edged Uruguay 3-2 in a penalty shootout Sunday to secure third place at the Confederations Cup following a 2-2 draw after extra time.  It was a measure of redemption for Italy after a loss to Spain, also in a shootout, in the semifinals. This shootout capped an entertaining match at the Arena Fonte Nova, where Alessandro Diamanti scored one goal and set up another for Italy and Edinson Cavani equalized twice for Uruguay. Italy defender Davide Astori opened the scoring in the 24th minute and Cavani scored his first in the 58th.
Diamanti restored Italy’s lead in the 73rd and Cavani drew Uruguay level again five minutes later, with both late goals coming from free kicks.
The extra half hour could not separate the sides and so the 12-yard test decided the contest.
Forlan – who also missed in the semi against Brazil – fluffed the first kick and though Cavani and Luis Suarez netted it was not enough as Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini found the net.

press trust of india
NEW DELHI, 30 JUNE: State Bank of India customers will have to pay Rs 60 per year for getting SMS alerts, a move which is likely to be followed by other public sector lenders.
“With effect from the quarter ending June 2013, SMS charges of Rs 15, inclusive of service tax, per quarter will be recovered,” SBI said in an announcement.
The country’s largest bank, which has about 18.5 crore customers, did not specify whether the charges are for special alerts only or even debit or credit card transaction alerts sent as per regulatory guidelines will also come under this.
Private sector banks ICICI and HDFC are already charging Rs 60 per year, excluding service tax, for sending special SMSes other than withdrawal and deposit alerts to its customers.
At present, service tax rate is 12 per cent and education cess is three per cent of the service tax amount.
Kotak Mahindra Bank charges Rs 25 per quarter for SMS alerts and updates.
SBI’s fee income during the fourth quarter of financial year 2012-13 declined by 8.13 per cent to Rs 3,873 crore as compared to Rs 4,216 crore in the corresponding quarter.
On an annual basis, the fee income fell by 5.02 per cent to Rs 11,484 crore in fiscal 2012-13 as against Rs 12,091 crore in fiscal 2011-12.
Last month, Canara Bank announced a levy of about Rs 112 as annual fee on its ATM debit cards from 1 July.
The bank, which currently issues the cards free of cost, said in a circular that a need has been felt to offer the services at competitive rates in tune with “market trends”.
“It has been decided to charge a nominal fee of Rs 100 per card plus applicable service tax on completion of one year from the date of issue/renewal of the card and thereafter to be charged yearly,” it said.
Several other banks, including SBI, also charge an annual fee in the same range.
Canara Bank further said the annual fee will not apply to debit cards issued to customers with Canara Small Savings Account, Basic Savings Bank Account and Financial Savings Bank Account.

The deal, largest foreign investment proposal in the aviation sector, is facing regulatory hurdles with various ministries raising major concerns over the ultimate control of Jet Airways post transaction

press trust of india
NEW DELHI, 30 JUNE: The Prime Minister’s Office has sought clarifications from ministries concerned, including commerce and industry, on the proposed Rs 2,058-crore Jet-Etihad deal.
The deal, largest foreign investment proposal in the aviation sector, is facing regulatory hurdles with various ministries raising major concerns over the ultimate control of Jet Airways post transaction.
Government sources said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sought clarifications on the Jet Airways selling stake to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways from ministries and departments concerned, including commerce and industry, civil aviation and corporate affairs.
Nature of the clarifications sought, however, could not be immediately ascertained.
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), which clears FDI proposals, on 14 June had deferred a decision on the deal citing control and ownership issues.
“We need more details on effective control and ownership,” economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram had said.
Under the proposed transaction, Jet would sell its 24 per cent to Etihad Airways.
Concerns have been primarily raised on the proposed ownership and control structure of the domestic airline. Besides, capital market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), fair trade watchdog CCI and department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) also have reservations about the deal. Post transaction, Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal would directly own 51 per cent in the airline.
The FDI policy for civil aviation allows foreign airlines and FIIs to invest up to 49 per cent in an Indian airline, while NRIs are allowed to invest 100 per cent.

MUMBAI, 30 JUNE: IndiGo Airlines may lose a good chunk of its commanders to AirAsia India as around 100 of its pilots have applied for jobs with the proposed carrier, said sources.
Besides a hefty package that AirAsia India is offering to the pilots, there are other reasons like better working conditions for these pilots to move out, said Indigo sources.
“As many as 100 commanders have sought jobs with AirAsia India. And this is not only for higher packages, but also for better working conditions,” airline sources said.
AirAsia, in collaboration with Tata Sons and Telestra TradePlace of Arun Bhatia, plans to launch a budget airline by the end of the year with its headquarters in Chennai.
“An IndiGo commander’s average take-home salary is around Rs 3.20-3.30 lakh a month, which is below the industry level. As against this, AirAsia India is offering a take-home salary of Rs 4-4.20 lakh a month,” sources said. pti

press trust of india
NEW DELHI, 30 JUNE: India’s largest software exporter TCS is planning to sack 172 employees at its Finland offices by August as part of the process to streamline its operations.
Perturbed by the development, Finnish workers have alleged the move by the company is an attempt to maximise profits at the expense of employee rights.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has a registered office in Helsinki and has an employee strength of about 800 in Finland. It had started talks with employee representatives on 23 April this year on layoffs.
The negotiations were concluded earlier this month and the firm said that at present 172 employees with Finnish contracts can either take a severance package or apply for redeployment opportunities across TCS.
“After staffing of the new organisation, currently there are 172 employees with Finnish contracts who are eligible for taking the industry-standard severance package offered or to choose the option of applying for redeployment opportunities across TCS,” a TCS spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, country’s fourth-largest software services provider HCL Technologies may sack 140 staff at its Finland office, a move, employees alleged, is an attempt to replace local workers with cheaper talent from India.
HCL has a delivery centre and office in Espoo and it is currently in negotiations with the employee representatives over the move to cut jobs. The negotiations commenced earlier this month and will last for about six to eight weeks.
The employees who face job threats are actually former Nokia staff who were transferred to HCL Technologies in March 2013 as per an agreement signed between the two companies.
When contacted, an HCL Technologies spokesperson said: “Any change to requirements in client projects is essentially a matter of discussion between HCL, its client(s) and unions where needed. We do not respond to speculation on such matters.”

statesman news service
KOLKATA, 29 JUNE: With land acquisition remaining a severe obstacle for the expansion of national highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to go ahead with repair work instead.
The ministry recently issued a letter to the state chief secretary, Mr Sanjay Mitra, sanctioning Rs 78 crore for carrying out repairs on two stretches of NH-31D, which connects Siliguri with Jalpaiguri; these are Phulbari to Moynaguri and Moynaguri to Dhupguri.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had earlier taken an initiative of expanding the two-lane highway into a four-lane one as well as repairing the two stretches.
However, the expansion work was stalled following land acquisition problems, as a result of which the repair work too was put on hold. NHAI officials had argued that it was pointless to carry out repairs since it would be taking up four-laning work in any case. It was considered convenient to undertake both tasks together.
Now, with the problem of land acquisition remaining unsolved, the authority has decided to undertake repair work for the time being. The condition of the highway is pathetic and chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee has blamed the NHAI several times for not undertaking any repair work. 
Earlier, the NHAI had written several letters to the state government pointing out the problems faced in expanding the national highways. However, despite several meetings with district officials, the state government had failed to resolve the issue.

statesman news service
KOLKATA, 29 JUNE: Panchayat poll contestants have expressed reservations over the rural poll schedule coinciding with Rathyatra and Ramzan.
While Leader of the Opposition, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, squarely blamed the government for the election schedule clashing with religious festivals, PCC chief Pradip Bhattacharya felt that the state election commission should set aside a time between 12 noon and 1.30 p.m for prayers.    
   

press trust of india
ALMORA/DEHRADUN, 29 JUNE: Two weeks after flashfloods and landslides devastated Uttarakhand, there is no clarity on the death toll; Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal today claimed it may cross 10,000, while Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde pegged the figure at 900.
In Almora, Mr Kunjwal said: “Earlier, when I returned from a tour of the Garhwal region, I believed the casualty figure could be 4,000-5,000. But now, as per my information and bodies being seen by people, I can say the figure can cross the 10,000 mark.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, however, trashed Mr Kunjwal’s claim, saying true figures will come out once the debris have been cleared.
Mr Shinde, who was in Mumbai also countered Kunjwal&’s claim. “According to my information, last night, the toll was 900,” he said.
Rescue work in the Badrinath area resumed during the day after some delay due to bad weather and 1,313 pilgrims, including some villagers, were evacuated ~ 600 by helicopters and the remaining by road, chief secretary Subhash Kumar told reporters in Dehradun. He said about 500 people still remain to be evacuated.
Efforts are also being made on a war-footing to ensure supply of essential relief material to over 600 villages in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts, which are cut off after the floods. So far, 2,379 metric ton wheat and 2,875 metric ton rice have been dispatched to villages.
The frequently changing weather is hampering work as relief material can be supplied only by air, officials said.
 

statesman news service
MUMBAI, 29 JUNE: Owning up the misfired attempt on gangster Abu Salem’s life, Karachi-based don Chota Shakeel has virtually thrown a challenge to the Mumbai police, saying he is determined to liquidate Salem as he has not only ditched Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, but also joined hands with underworld enemy Chota Rajan who is holed up either in Malaysia or Thailand, police sources said.
Salem evaded two bullets fired by contract killer JD or Devendra Jagtap, but one brushed his arm.
It is now a no holds barred gang-war, apprehend Mumbai Police, sources said.
Yesterday, Shakeel called up a reporter of a mainstream daily on behalf of Dawood to clarify “Salem might have escaped with a bullet injury, but we will not leave him alive for his betrayal of Bhai.” The cops too suspect that Salem ~ who is facing trial in the 12 March 1993 Bombay serial blasts as one of the main conspirators with Dawood and Shakeel ~ may be passing on inside information about Dawood and his men in Karachi as well as Mumbai to Chhota Rajan.
Shakeel has purportedly said he hired professional shooter JD through Vijay Shetty, a Dawood Ibrahim henchman. JD was once was a trusted shooter of Chhota Rajan, but is now a contract killer. Police sources say they are probing a claim that the Karachi mafia had given him Rs 5 lakh supari (contract) to kill Salem, who escaped by a whisker three days ago at Navi Mumbai’s Taloja Prison as soon he was back from the sessions court in Mumbai. Jagtap, his co-inmate, faces various offences.
Investigation so far suggest Shetty met JD at the sessions court and conveyed to him the offer to kill Salem. The revolver used by JD had been in his possession for almost two months.
The attack exposes the callous security at the Taloja Prison.
Maharashtra&’s home minister Mr RR Patil has suspended prison-in-charge Mr Sanjay Sable and four constables for gross negligence and security lapses. Mr Patil has asked additional DGP (prison) Mrs Meeran Borwankar to conduct an exhaustive investigation so that such attacks do not recur.
Salem was earlier attacked with sharp weapons inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail following which he was transferred to Taloja, but that has not diminished the threat to his life.
Salem and his erstwhile companion actress Monica Bedi were repatriated by Portugal several years ago following a Red Corner Notice circulated by the Interpol, as he was wanted in the ’93 blasts. The Union government had given an undertaking that even if found guilty, Salem would not be given death sentence. Last year, Portugal tried to get back Salem’s custody saying he was not safe in India. The demand for his return to that country may now be revived. Apparently, his lawyers are working on it.

press trust of india
CHENNAI, 29 JUNE: Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia today said its Indian operations should begin later this year with three aircraft for the southern region and it would also look at setting up some ancillary businesses in the country.
“I have always said we will start in the fourth quarter. People said September, October whatever. I hope we start this year. It is not about when we start. It is about we start it right. I mean no rush,” AirAsia Group CEO Mr Tony Fernandes told reporters on his maiden visit to Chennai. AirAsia has formed a joint venture with Tata Sons and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace with 49:30:21 holding to start its India operations.
“We haven’t got the approvals yet and I still believe we can start this year. May be September is a bit ambitious. I do not want to commit a date. Really, it is on the hands of the regulators to give us all the approvals. We are at the NOC stage. The key one is NOC. No, we have not received the NOC. It is with the Union home ministry.”
AirAsia is expected to bring in competitive pricing in the Indian aviation market with its “nano” airfares. To a particular query, Mr Fernandes said Air Asia India will be the “Chennai SuperKings of cost” in offering airline services.
“We will start with three planes. We rather not say it now (the destinations). A quick way of looking at is Tiruchirapalli. There was never a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tiruchirapalli,” he said.
“Come next week, there will be three flights a day. We have benefited tremendous amount of people. So, we will apply tremendous amount of strategy to India and look at new destinations and markets that have been under-served.”
To a query on roping in former Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, Fernandes said: “He (Tata) is one of the most respected businessmen in the world, not just in India. He is humble, simple guy. He fits our culture very well.”

press trust of india
NEW DELHI, 29 JUNE: Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) today said it will recall 42,672 units of second generation Honda City cars manufactured in 2007 and 2008 to replace their power window switch. “HCIL would carry out preventive part replacement of power window switch of 42,672 units of previous (2nd) generation Honda City, manufactured in the year 2007 and 2008,” the company said in a statement.
The company will proactively replace Power Window Switch, which may malfunction in case water or any other liquid enters the driver side window, it added.
HCIL is carrying out the part update as a preventive measure, although no such problem has been reported from any where in India. The replacement would be carried out free of cost at HCIL dealerships across India, and the owners will be contacted individually in a phased manner, the company said.
“Honda Cars India is carrying out the part replacement as part of a global exercise by Honda Motor Company to ensure stringent quality standards for its products,” it added.
The third generation Honda City cars currently sold in India, however, are not affected and does not require any part replacement. Also, global recall does not impact the Honda Jazz in India, it added.

aritra ghosh tries to unravel the many mysteries that surround our existence
Human life is a mingled thread of joy and sorrow. Every sorrow has a spark of joy underneath, every adversity gives way to an opportunity and every disappointment sharpens one’s resolve to conquer. Who could sum up this truth more succinctly than Shakespeare has done in the following lines? "Sweet are the uses of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." The banished duke in the Forest of Arden in As You Like It spoke these lines, while spending days of exile under the open sky. He, who once commanded pomp and power, was now a homeless fugitive, seeking shelter and solace in the lap of nature. This taste of adversity had its own advantage though. It made him a wiser being and opened new windows into his mind and heart and he could find-"Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything.” Though the Duke’s utterance may sound idyllic, being cast as it is in a pastoral background, it embodies a world of truth. Misfortunes constitute the true test of one’s character. 
The story of the Pandavas illustrate how they had to face misfortunes in their lives and how every difficulty equipped them with added courage to face greater challenges. The story of Harishchandra suggests how the fearless devotee of truth cheerfully faced sufferings for the sake of his ideals.   If Rana Pratap was great at the battle of Haldighati in challenging the might of the likes of Akbar, he was a greater man during the hard life in the hills of Aravalli, with the Mughals always at his heels. To Shakespeare this life appears to be "such stuff as dreams are made of" while to Thomas Hardy "happiness is but an occasional episode in the general drama of pain". As the scripture says, human life is atonement for the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. We have to suffer it for as long as humankind exists.
Coordinator, Class XI, Salt Lake School