Cover Page of Book; The Death Route: ‘Genocide’ of a Great Civilisation An illustrated revelation

The Death Route:

‘Genocide’ of a Great Civilization

An illustrated revelation

                                                                                                                                          …..Shashi Kant

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Punjab, the land of Gurus...

                               

           

Whenever I meet and interact with foreigners and Indians living outside Punjab, in other parts of this country, my head hangs in shame while telling them that I am from the state of Punjab. The moment they come to know about my 'ethnicity', they start shooting their volley of questions about drugs and the reason why Punjab is so heavily into drugs?

 It is indeed lamentable that this holy land of Gurus has now become synonymous with drugs and its smuggling. Many of foreigners have stated that now Punjab is internationally come to be known as the drug capital of third world. Some time back officials of a particular country which has become a major drug route itself, claimed that was a growing opinion in a section of their government that Punjabis entering their country should not only be frisked allowing them only their birth suit but  also be kept under continuous watch. That they were also thinking  in terms of establishing a special task force for this purpose. They, however further stated that only problem coming their way was the substantial Punjabi population permanently settled in their country and their ever increasing role in the political dynamics.

It was really appalling to hear all this. I wanted to call it ‘racial discrimination’ but then stopped myself and ate my words. A small section of Punjabis living and visiting abroad have brought shame to the entire  race. I want to rise and oppose it all as ‘sham propaganda’ but then how to do it because while in service, i saw quite a few of these getting VIP treatment both by politicians and officials alike? I had and still see many of such like disgusting foreigners of Indian origin moving around duly 'piloted by siren blaring government gypsies and hordes gun men shamelessly brandishing their assault rifles. I had also seen a few of these shameless merchants of death being ferried in certain choppers. The billion dollar questions is, why the heck?' No one, just no one, showers these 'honours' for nothing.

                                               

Well, anyhow, we appear to have lost our moral right to call such condemnable acts of these foreign governments, an act of ‘racial discrimination’. Perhaps they are doing it 'rightly or wrongly' in their own so-called national interests, I do not know. I just do not know. 

Anyhow, coming back to subject, a large number of our own politicians of our own state of Punjab are themselves stated to be on drugs. I remember that some time back I had stated that politicians who intend to contest elections in Punjab, should be put to dope test, besides the Election Commission of India obtaining their sworn affidavits to the effect that they are 'clean'. It had led to  massive furors from a number of politicians, who however, could not do anything except sniggering at my proposal. But again a number of our politicians are stated to be on opium and in fact one of the top varieties of opium still stands named after the village of a particular politician. Some of our comparatively younger politicians are also alleged to be either on synthetic drugs or cocaine, most probably the cocaine. Often they are hyper active, living in their own virtual world.

                                          

'Perpetually High'

 This transition towards notoriety is scandalous and abhorring. Traditionally this distinction was reserved for parts of China, Burma and their neighbouring areas. Then, a few decades ago, this dubious distinction went to Afghanistan where immense amount of pure heroin is still being manufactured under the very nose of the elite international community. Pakistan plays an important and willing role in its onward 'trading' (read smuggling).

             

                                                         Painful Transition 

                      

  

A good chunk of opiates; heroine / smack; coming from Afghanistan through Pakistan, passed and still passes through Punjab, on its way to the world markets; the most important of them being the North American sub continent, still more specifically, United States of America. This ultimate destination is closely followed by a number of countries of  European Union,  United Kingdom and now even Australia, besides other ‘minor’ countries all over the world.

But as if it was not enough, Punjab has, unfortunately, come up quickly on the international market of synthetic drugs as well. Punjab is internationally also known as the major international synthetic drug export market. But why only in the international market, it is known to be so even nationally as well. From here substantial quantity of opiates and synthetic drugs are getting inundated in to remaining parts of India as well. Sizable chunks of these drugs are being used with in Punjab by various age groups, particularly the youth. It is a pity that none of the successive governments of Punjab have ever tried even to study this problem. No official figures are available. No scientific study has ever been undertaken for obvious reason, which is the complicity and involvement of the governments.

                                    

         

                                                        Major Drug Trafficking Routes

As indicated in this map, India is one of the major routes for international drug smuggling. Punjab remains the most important of routes for  smuggling of opiates that is heroin coming in from Pakistan. It is also one of the more important of places for the manufacture of synthetic drugs and its subsequent smuggling abroad and else where with in the country. Lower grades of heroin is being used by lesser mortals and the high grade, the grade four, and synthetics by the affluent sections. it is simple economics. and consequently it appears that most of the Punjab is ‘doing drugs’.              
         

                        

Doped Out

There are all sorts of figures on net stating that about 70 to 75% youth of  Punjab are into drugs. That about 60% school going kids have consumed drugs at one point of time or the other, but nothing official or totally credible. No government has ever bothered to study this problem and its magnitude through a meaningful study. Whatever surveys were done, hardly any of them had any satisfactory sample size. On account of this inflow as also indigenous production, Punjab majorly also controls the supply of drugs to the remaining parts of India. Almost an entire generation of Punjab is lost to the drugs.  There are hundreds of documentaries on the subject. Several thousands of articles have been published nationally and internationally, innumerable number of seminars have been organised, but of no avail. They all have consistently failed to wake up the people as such or the successive governments of the days that were or are; in their ‘induced slumber of power and greed’. These governments even refuse to peep out of their ivory towers made of wads of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ of various denominations.this variety of Gandhi had done the damage.

And the million dollar question remains as to who all are fault...
...the God (people love to call it all ‘the will of god’. in Punjabi they use a particular phrase for all such situations. 'rabb da (p)bhanna manno, accept it as the will of god), 
...Governments both of the center and states, their official 'organs’ included; 
...slow moving and ‘evidence (which no one wants to give) oriented Judiciary; 
or 
...People themselves who do not want look beyond their ‘today’?

        

                   

The Death Route; CHAPTER 1

The Death Route

CHAPTER 1

September is the month of year which I have always loved the most, September, the month with which winter starts setting in. When flowers of different colours and hues bloom, releasing a fascinating aroma in air and into the atmosphere. Since my, I have been in love with the flowers and nature. I have loved and still love the blue sky, blue waters, lush green trees and grass.

                                   

With every mention of the word September, I get reminded of a classic movie, ‘Come September’ released sometimes in early 1960’s and I do love that movie, its music particularly. It was dreamy and it still fills me with strong nostalgic feelings and emotions. I remember the plot of this 1961 romantic comedy directed by Robert Mulligan, and starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin. It had a simple plot though. Wealthy American businessman Robert Talbot (Rock Hudson) owns a villa on the Ligurian coast, where he and his Roman mistress Lisa Fellini (Gina Lollobrigida) spent each September in each other company year after year. When Robert moves up his annual visit to July and calls her en route from Milano, she cancels her wedding to Englishman Spence (Ronald Howard) and rushes to meet him. Upon his arrival at the villa, Robert discovers that, in his absence, his major domo, Maurice Clavell (Walter Slezak), had turned the villa into a hotel, currently hosting a group of teenage girls, including Sandy (Sandra Dee), and their chaperone, Margaret Allison (Brenda De Banzie). Their departure is delayed when Margaret slips on a champagne bottle cork dropped by Robert and is forced to spend a day in the hospital. Four teenage boys who irritated Robert on the drive to his villa, including Tony (Bobby Darin), set up camp right outside of the villa and begin courting the girls.

Robert chaperons the girls on a sightseeing tour and then to a music club, where he dances with each of the girls and appeals to their virtues, stressing the importance of chastity. Trying to get Robert inebriated, the boys end up drunk themselves. Sandy revives Tony, but slaps him when he makes a pass at her. She then recounts the lecture received earlier to Lisa, who gets infuriated over Robert's double standards. The next morning, she leaves to get back together with Spencer. A sobered-up Tony apologizes to Robert.

           

Accompanied by Maurice, Robert gets after Lisa, but she refuses to take him back. Maurice decides to play matchmaker, telling the police that his employer is a notorious criminal wanted in Rome. He also tells them that Lisa is his accomplice. His plan fails though. When it is all straightened out, Lisa returns to her apartment, where she finds Sandy. Hearing the teen's lament about lost love, she has an epiphany and leaves to take Robert back. On her way out, she meets Tony, whom she directs to her apartment, where he and Sandy reunite. Later at the train station, she borrows a toddler, and then tells the railroad people that the father is abandoning them. Taken off the train, Robert reconciles with her. As a married couple, they return to the villa, which Maurice has turned into a hotel again. Very fascinating and spell binding musical comedy it was.

And it ushered in the era of legendary "Billy" Vaughn, William Richard William Richard "Billy" Vaughn (April 12, 1919 – September 26, 1991), an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, orchestra leader, and A&R man for Dot Records. He had immense numbers to his credit and they are still a rage, but his ‘Come September’, appear to me to be the best and remain an all time favourite. A party number and anything associated with merry making and joy.

So this was and still is my mind set about the month of September, the month of happiness, vivaciousness and gaiety.

But again the month of September also ignites another set of memories, painful memories. From its foundation in 1971 until 1976, ‘Black September’, the ‘notorious international terrorist organisation’ carried out a number of terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jordanian targets around the world. Though all were equally dreaded, but the one which, in particular, sends shivers down my spine, is the Munich massacre of September.

I could not have anticipated ever that this month of September was to become a turning point in my life as well; but it was to be and it did change the course of my life, I mean the remainder of my life and that too at the time when I was gradually heading towards my sixties. Because of various so called administrative reasons,  I was destined to be appointed as head of the prison department of Punjab government, a tiny state of the Indian union. 

Aah, ‘administrative reasons’; is a concept which is prevalent in advanced countries as well, but in the context of our country as also of Banana Republics, it is a wider term and includes 'political and economic' reasons as well. The word ‘administrative reasons’, in context of such like countries is meant to ‘accommodate’ the protégé of political personalities / goons and striving to keep them happy and appeased. Another slang definition of ‘protégé’ is a ‘blind, brainwashed and bonded labourer' who does not hesitate to bend backwards to please one’s political masters. Hey, by the way, I did not define the last word, that is, ‘economic’ reasons which amalgamates well with the developing / backward countries; including Banana Republics’ like India where some of the ruling political masters ‘accommodate’ or appoint someone for purely ‘economic reasons'. Ha ha ha, so you too could not understand, ‘dim wit’.  You must as stupid as I am. It means ‘economic reasons' of political masters. In simple language it means graft, bribe, or grease money for the politicians by someone to get his favoured posting. And it is not uncommon in India; it is, in fact, the order of the day.

                                       

I know that I should not have been that blunt. But I am what I am. I was blunt, I am blunt and I will die a blunt man. I know that a very large number of people, particularly politicians and officials, my former colleagues in police and I.A.S. included, shun me like plague because of this reason. May be the ghost of Che Guevara resides in my body, making me an ‘activist’ and reactionary, which, somehow, I always was. Lol,

I do not know; yes I really do not know my friends.

So it was month of September in year 2011 when I was posted as the head of prison department in Punjab. It was avowedly known as a totally third rate and 'side lined' posting. I am sure that most of my readers here, had ever heard this department till I took it over. Frankly, I was certainly not happy about this posting, the reason being that it was out-rightly a ‘non-police’ posting and I was a police officer and an ‘activist officer at that; 'Karela aur Neem Chadha'. Moreover, I had also not heard much about this department and I was totally ignorant both of its working and ‘rules of the game’. But it was the destiny which got me posted there and changed the entire course of my life. Within a few days of my joining there, one late afternoon I got the information that there was a massive ‘revolt’ in Kapurthala prison house. Kapurthala is a small district in Punjab. Prison riots and revolts were not a new thing for Punjab. There were several in the past and i had read about them in the newspapers.

 I rushed for that place without informing either my minister in charge or the Chief Minister. It was the call of duty.

 

                                                               Kapurthala jail

The facts that later emerged were that allegedly there was an ‘easy’ supply of drugs, including heroin (smack), in the prison house. In Punjabi smack is called ‘Chitta’, deriving its name from its white / brownish whitish colour. The colour visually indicates its grading / purity. White colour gave rise to the slang 'Chitta'.

 One inmate had reportedly died of an overdose of drugs and this had led to massive disturbance in the prison house, which had a large number of drug addicts among its population of three thousand plus. This prison house had a state of art, thirty bedded hospital and a ten bedded drug de-addiction center as well. Leaders of rebellious inmates, followed by drug addicts, had first raided this de-addiction center. Whereas addicts consumed whatever psychotropic drugs they could lay their hand on, others ransacked and set the hospital complex on fire. Then apparently they raided and looted the hospital stores, consuming whatever medicines that they could, thinking that they also could be psychotropic drugs. Thereafter, under the influence of drugs they, accompanied by the rioters, set various other buildings including kitchen, its factory and offices etc on fire. They were soon joined by remaining of a few thousand other inmates and also set the small electricity sub-station which catered to the needs of entire complex, on fire. They, non addicts included, brought down heavy iron gates all over the prison house cutting them with the flames of cooking gas cylinders which they carries on their heads. Entire prison house was set on fire and jail staff bashed up. After pushing the jail staff to confines of administrative block, they tried to demolish the main Iron Gate also. A few prisoners also escaped climbing over the high walls taking benefit of the situation.

With great difficulty we ‘regained’ the prison house despite heavy brick batting, hurling of fire balls and burning gas cylinders on us. Gas cylinders were exploding all over. The scene was not very different from what is depicted in movies. It was as if a war was on. Incidentally that happened to be the night when an international level ‘kabaddi’ (a rural sport which is very popular in Punjab and among Punjabis all over) was being played in Ludhiana. The entire state cabinet, Chief Minister included, were busy enjoying the gala night to promote this game for political reasons. Incidentally subsequently it came up that quite a few 'kabaddi promoters' form Canada, were themselves involved in nefarious drug trade and generation / utilization of drug money.

Names of some drug barons are also being associated with this game. Anyhow, none of them except the Chief Minister himself appeared to be a bit worried over whatever was going on in Kapurthala prison house. He kept on calling up D.S. Bains, his principal secretary (home), who was also with us on the spot, urging him to call in the army. The CM did not talk to me even once. Somehow, we two never had a comfortable equation despite the fact that I had always stood by him during all my previous postings, thereby giving me a wrong, painful and erroneous title of being an Akali minded officer. It was totally erroneous because I always stood by the rule of law, not rule of any individual political leader. Anyhow, despite repeated calls by the Chief Minister and pleas, in his favour by Bains, I refused to agree to the calling in of the army since I was confident of controlling the situation and we did.

          

The night passed off successfully, but by the next morning, as a result of overdose of looted and consumed drugs and medicines, about three hundred prison inmates were taken seriously ill. It was a painful sight watching these three hundred odd inmates crying in agony and in pain all over.

They were lying all over the prison house, which had a capacity of three thousand plus and was stretched to limit. They were in broken and half burnt down barracks as also on grounds all over. There was no hospital, no medication and no doctors. It was disturbing watching them helplessly, with tears in my eyes. I was in a state of shock and disbelief. Unfortunately the Punjab government was totally apathetic. Not worried at all, they were sitting in their own ivory towers, least bothered about prison inmates and their agony. It kept reminding me, time over again, of the saying, ’Nero was fiddling with his flute while Rome burnt’. Watching those three hundred crying, groaning and 'dying' inmates was the sight which changed the course of my life.
 

                                             2011 world cup ‘kabaddi’ at Ludhiana

Fast flash back of my life since then goes on in my mind as I try to pen my thoughts. Faded memories get refreshed and then all of a sudden, several years later, today, I find myself running, not running away from life, but after some political rogues, drug smugglers and their accomplices, evading and dodging their volley of threats of dire consequences to me and my family and attempts on my life

India is a funny country. We proclaim ourselves to be one of the forerunners of civilizations on this earth. We claim to 'have been' a great civilization, which we certainly are not 'as on date'. I find our country, its so-called leaders included, to be suffering from Ostrich syndrome. Shying to admit and then learn from our failures'. Most of our leaders have just buried their head in sand, feeling hep and great.  More or less this we are being run by mafia, mafia of all sorts. Generally, speaking and with a few insignificant aberrations here and there, it is the fact. Entire world, except us, knows it. This country is indeed, more or less, being run by Organised Crime Syndicates and Criminals of all sorts. More often than not, they are our political masters, swindling the country; suppressing human rights, encouraging riots and enmity and generally fooling masses with a view to divert attention from their criminal and anti-national activities and creating a smoke screen.

                              

 We have a totally rotten and decaying political system in this country. Time appears to be coming when with a little push it will go down like a humpty dumpty.

                                                      

Humpty dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty dumpty had a great fall.

All the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men,

Could not put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Yes, it is going to be the future of India, if  it’s political and administrative honesty does not get restored?

 Hmmmm

But Humpty Dumpty was lucky for at least all the kings horses and forces and all the kings men had tried to put him up together again, albeit unsuccessfully. But here, in this great country called India, the modern version of Bharat, the golden bird that it used to be, things are all topsy turvy. Very often thieves, robbers, dacoits and mafia are our rulers, robbing the country and us with impunity. And the ruled ones, ones who have been thieved and gang raped are enjoying this victimization.

Wise guys, our variety of Indians are, believing in the good old dictum that if ‘rape is inevitable then lie quietly and try to enjoy it lest one gets injured’.

Wow, what love for life?

Divine eh?

But, hey hold it.

Before I am ‘done away with’ by powers that be, let me tell you a goddamn story.

Heck of a goddamn story,

Story of Black Gold nicely wrapped in ‘Green Backs’, the latest variety of which has since turned Blue.

‘Blue and Green Backs’ oozing out of the poppy…

I am the one who has exposed it all and consequently Mafioso of Punjabi politicians, besides some others, are not amused. They are trying their level best not to let me keep exposing them and their rotten smelly empire of drugs created on the carcass of a...

“DEAD  CIVILIZATION, THE PUNJABI CIVILIZATION”

               

                                            

                                          

                                                 

                                     

                                    The black gold wrapped in green backs 

PREFACE

PREFACE

The Death Route:

‘Genocide’ of a Civilization

An illustrated revelation

The population of India has reached over a billion and rising. Estimated to be more than 1.277 billion in 2015 and rising, its culture, value system, economy etc are changing fast and so are the related stresses.

There is a generic crisis situation emerging out of the complexities of life. A vicious genie arising out of a multitude of problems; educational, emotional, social, job and family related; political, economical, and health related as well, to name a few.

One of these resultant dynamics, unfortunately, revolves and hovers around drugs, both legal and illegal.

Indian Punjab sitting on a part of the land of one of the greatest civilizations ever; the Indus Valley Civilization of Mohan-jo-daro and Harrappa, which got lost into oblivion because of reasons unknown, is now inhabited by more than 29.6 crore individuals. Unfortunately, in addition to earlier mentioned generic problems common to all upcoming and even ‘throbbing’ civilizations, it has an additional curse on it, the ‘Curse of Indus Valley Civilization of Mohan-jo-daro and Harrappa’. It is all set to be lost to ‘Drugs’; call it a perpetual genocide, annihilation, murder, politics or whatever.

Indian nation in general and state of Punjab in particular is in a serious grip of drug addiction. Entire cross section of society, particularly the youth are suffering most.

Governments sleep and youngsters die.

Nero fiddles with his flute as Rome burns.

No government, either at the national or at state level has ever seriously tried to at least quantify the problem. They, like an Ostrich, are in a state of perpetual denial. May be it is a genetic problem of all Indian political parties, a faulty political DNA. As per reports on the net, about seventy percent of youth of Punjab are said to be addicts of different type of drugs. They have consumed one or the other drug at one time or the other are  'hooked' Yes, no one knows how correct this calculation is? It could be more or less. But complicity and inaction of governments is more than obvious. It has never ever tried to conduct a scientific study based on a reasonably good sample size. And consequently, Punjab continues to lose one generation after the other. Substantial number of upcoming Punjabi generation is suspected to be ‘mixed’ on account of massive infertility looming all over the state because use of drugs. Mushroom growth of ‘fertility’ / ‘infertility’ centers all over the state has its own story to tell. Agreed, there are several reasons for male infertility but Drugs remain one of the major causes.

And what are the governments are doing?

They are just busy playing ‘Nukkad Nataks’, street dramas. They are just busy carrying out half baked drives and manufacturing fake data to be shown to courts and public; trying to make fool of both of them. And part of this data is being ‘created’ by arresting petty poor end users and petty pushers. May be in the eyes of law they have committed an N.D.P.S. crime but for an activist, they are just ‘sick persons’ needing a treatment. Police and other ‘anti-drug’ agencies have never ever tried even to touch real big fish of the game and incidentally, in the context of Punjab, even a kid knows the real identity of such Drug Dons. They are public names covering the entire political spectrum. They come under the generic category of the ‘who is who’ of  Punjab.

There are several important steps which need to be taken to contain this menace, discussion on which unfortunately, is considered a taboo in our society. A separate chapter on this issue has been included in this book.

Basic purpose of this book is to take up this issue in entirety. It traces the history of illegal drugs in Punjab, worst affected state in country. It touches upon the PDPCA nexus; The Politician-Drug Smugglers-Police (read security forces)-Criminals-Addicts nexus which is rampant in Punjab. Recent incidents of Pakistani intrusion and terrorist actions in Dinanagar and Pathankot have added yet another dimension to this unholy chain. Now Terrorists are also known to be an indelible part of this vicious chain. 

This book intends to create public awareness to such an extent that governments,  police and the judiciary ‘get forced’, on account of massive public opinion, to act against drug smugglers and their accomplices; to cut off the chain of supply and to work for de-addiction in a real and earnest way. Such a wishful thinking shall also help in reducing the onslaught of terrorism on the country which is thriving with the help of a good chunk of drug money and sleeper cells all over. Another major chunk of drug money is being used for political purposes by some ‘political goons’ while our Election Commission’ watches on helplessly.

In addition to Punjab, an effort has also been made to study the drug problem in states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai; all of which also face the problem of drug addiction and are in various stages of ruins. It is, however admitted that issue pertaining to these states, has not been dealt with as deeply as in case of Punjab. Though nature and stages of drug addiction and prevalence thereto are at variance in all the above mentioned states but the existence of PDPCA nexus exists in all the states.

Since the subject matter of the book is dry and boring, so with a view to make the book attractive for children and youth, it is in the style of a coffee table book. This segment, that is the children and youth needs to be educated the most, under their parental supervision. The book, thus, also has a chapter for the guidance of families as such, indicating the way to broach the topic with children. Hope that it will be useful for them as well.

The book also indicates steps; the writer is taking to create awareness in society and to highlight the issue through the courts of law, which are considered to be one of the most important pillar of our national structure.

Effort has been made to make each chapter complete in itself and as such, to complete the story; some facts may appear to have been repeated. Inconvenience is regretted, but it was necessary to make each chapter complete in itself.

Hope it will be of use to  youth, families, NGOs, society as also for those who want to approach courts of law to ensure that this malignant cancer stops eating into the vitals of the very basic structure of our society; THE YOUTH...

Collective steps are required to save the society, particularly youth...

The victim can be just any one...

Just any family...

Just any one...

God forbid

…..Shashi Kant

Chandigarh

February 12, 2016

Acknowledgements and dedication;

Acknowledgements and dedication;

I dedicate this book to the people and the state of Punjab.

I acknowledge special thanks to my mother Mrs Satya Raj, who despite being in a very advanced age, permitted me to go ahead with my conviction and resolve to devote remainder of my life for ‘the cause of Punjab and the fight against drugs’, knowing very well that I will either die or suffer adversely in the process, because people I am fighting against are powerful and ruthless drug barons. They are all over, not only in Punjab or India but abroad as well, because India, despite itself, being high on drugs, remains an important 'drug corridor' as well.

And the list of drug barons of Punjab is almost a 'politico-socio-administrative' who is who of the state, whose names even the children are aware of and who are all set and determined to destroy this holy land of out great Gurus, saints and peers.

 My thanks to my father Late Mr. Prithvi Raj, who along with my mother, gave me such a great value system on account of which I am determined, against all odds, to take these drug smugglers by their neck. My parents made me fearless and taught me to bow my head only in front of the god.

I also emotionally and sincerely thank my wife, Rita and children Apurv, Aparna, Zoey & Varuna (hey, I am saying my thanks, phase wise, and in the sequence in which each of you all came in to my life and made it worth living. So do not fight or get crossed with me as to whose name, in the sequence given above, comes first and whose last, lolz). They all stood by me, like a rock, all along, and given me strength, courage and encouragement without complaining that I could not give enough time to any of them. And my special thanks, as well, to them for having permitted me to dedicate and even sacrifice my life for the cause.

My thanks to all my friends who helped me in the study, field visits and in talking to the sources, Thanks to them for having stood by me during my visits to ‘risky’ areas of Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Goa and Mumbai etc.

My extra special thanks to those of my innumerable friends; who left me in the lurch and deserted me for various reasons, including fear of reprisals from the government of the day.

I also acknowledge the basic help that I took from the internet in procuring certain data, pictures and some maps.

...Shashi Kant

P.S.

...And I must admit that I have also used information procured from various sources, including friends and documents of some intelligence and investigating agencies of India. I understand the inability of such of my friends in not having been able to part with some documents. I know, my friends that you could not have done it, and that is why I did not insist either. You trusted me so I could not stab you in the back by clandestinely making copies of certain documents which you all trusted me with. Time will prove it that you did it in the ultimate national interest. God bless.

And by way of an uncalled for clarification to such of my critics, who love to condemn me for my stand on Sant Bhindaranwale. Let me make it clear once and for all that I knew the Sant closely, for about three years that is from 1980 to 1983. It started with a general chance introduction and led to a full-fledged bond lasting those three years. Issues which struck the cord were the god and Waheguru’s ‘desire’, followed by common belief on issues like opposition to drugs and social evils. We both had an ‘activist’s zeal’ and the fact that being June born, both of us were sensitive, emotional and true to our convictions. Differences in our religion and political ideologies were perhaps too mundane an issue to have weakened that bond. I have no hesitation in admitting my admiration for his commitment for the social and religious causes that he stood for. I gradually started losing track of things when, in 1982, I was unceremoniously booted out of Punjab by late Darbara Singh, the then Chief Minister of Punjab. As such I am not aware of the pressures and circumstances that were to be at work later.

He was the real and greatest of anti intoxicant crusaders that I can ever think of.

I have nothing to do with his political ideology, but I do admire him, on account of the social values and anti drug / social issues that he stood for...

...Shashi Kant