Maswood Alam Khan

In 1889, 118 years on this day, April 20, a lady named Klara Pölzl gave birth to a male child at 'Braunau am Inn', a village in upper Austria.
   Third son and the fourth of six children of his parents, the newborn baby ultimately became world renowned as Adolf Hitler; Hitler, a name that will reverberate around the world as long as our planet exists, a name that will send a chill down the spine of a young girl in a library engrossed in reading history of World War ll.
   Why the cherubic Hitler did become a demonic Hitler? What were the positions of the stars the moment he arrived on this planet? Was he born sadist? Was he cruel all his life from his cradle to his grave? How was his childhood? What was his ambition? What did really frustrate him? Had he any humanistic character? What he did miss all his life? Has civilization learned anything from Hitler? Is there a Hitler now in the making?
   A Zodiac sign is one of the twelve parts of the apparent path of the Sun through the sky, as seen from Earth. When the sun enters a Sign, where it will spend one month, that zodiac is the sun sign, also known as birth sign or star sign. Hitler's zodiac sign is Taurus like those who are born any day from April 20 through May 20. Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac, is traditionally ruled by the planet Venus and is associated with material pleasure.
   In Greek mythology Taurus is a bull-form taken by Zeus in order to win Europa. Taurean characters are somewhat akin to that of a bull: grave, calm and strong. Like a bull he is solid and steady and nothing disturbs his tranquility. You can throw water on him or light a fire between his toes. You can beat on his chest with clenched fists, glare at him hypnotically or shout at the top of your lungs. Taurus won't budge an inch. Once his mind is set he folds his arms calmly and digs in heels. He sticks out his rather prominent chin, flares his nostrils, pins back his ears and you have had it. Individuals born as Taurus are generally calm, patient, reliable, loyal, affectionate, sensuous, ambitious and determined characters; they are also prone to hedonism, laziness, inflexibility, jealousy and antipathy.
   As a Taurus child Hitler was a sweet baby. Of his six siblings only Hitler and his sister Paula reached adulthood. His father Alois Hitler was a customs official in Austria-Hungary on the German border and his mother, Klara Pölzl was his father's third wife. As a boy, Hitler said, he was whipped almost daily by his father. Years later he told his secretary, "I then resolved never again to cry when my father whipped me. A few days later I had the opportunity of putting my will to the test. My mother, frightened, took refuge in the front of the door. As for me, I counted silently the blows of the stick which lashed my rear end."
   Only God knows what Hitler, as an innocuous child, was registering in his mind besides counting while tolerating whippings by his father! Was a seed of vengeance planted in Hitler in one of those moments when he was helplessly, yet grudgingly, gritting his teeth against the pain, a vengeance pent up till his adulthood when it burst into a storm to wreck the world?
   If children can discover pleasure in intellectual stimulation, being productive, seeking success, they develop a sense of competence. If they are not successful or cannot discover pleasure in the process, they may develop a sense of inferiority and feelings of inadequacy that may haunt them throughout life. This is when children think of themselves as industrious or as inferior.
   Adolph Hitler was a good student at the elementary schools he attended; however, in sixth grade, his first year of high school, he failed and had to repeat the grade. His teachers reported that he had "no desire to work." Hitler's father was obdurate by nature. Hitler dreamed to be a painter; but his father wanted him to follow his career as a customs official. Hitler as a child was torn between two pulls from two stations of life beckoning him: a petty customs official and a world class painter. Hitler was again whipped by his own frailty; he was unable to design his own career path. A little parental guide to nourish his painting knack could have made Hitler a classical abstractionist and saved the world from the curse of a World War that killed more than 45 million people including some 6 million Jews. However, after his father Alois died on January 3, 1903, when Adolf was 13, Hitler's schoolwork did not improve. At the age of 16, Hitler left school with no qualifications. Hitler is now at large whirling around to slake his thirst to be famous!
   Without any academic degree Hitler, in his Bohemian life, was rejected by the society. He could neither enter the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna nor could he somehow study architecture where he showed some abilities in his adolescence. His passion was to study the picture gallery in the Court Museum from morning until late at night. In vain, he begged the Providence to allow him to be at least an architect, if not a painter.
   He nonetheless struggled as a painter in Vienna, copying scenes from postcards and selling his paintings to merchants and tourists. There is evidence he produced more than 2000 paintings and drawings before World War I.
   There are some telltale signatures you may find in a child which, if not properly addressed, may lead the child to become a psychopath at his or her later stage. J M MacDonald identified three such indicators, known as MacDonald Triad: bedwetting, cruelty to animals and fire starting. For a child an extended period of bedwetting past the preschool years that is not due to any medical problem is a Warning Sign for parents; similarly cruelty to animals beyond an angry outburst or a deliberate setting of destructive fires (not playing with matches, which is not uncommon to preschoolers) by a child with utter disregard for the property or lives of others are the danger signals parents should watch out.
   Nobody found in Hitler as a child any sign of MacDonald Triad. He was rather docile and loyal. Many historians assert that Hitler had a profound deep love of animals. He could not tolerate slaughtering of animals. He was a vegetarian beginning in 1930s until his death. There are reports of him disgusting his guests by giving them graphic accounts of the slaughter of animals in an effort to make them shun meat. A fear of cancer (from which his mother died) is also a widely cited reason for his vegetarian diets.
   
   Hitler's admirers
   A despot in one country is paradoxically portrayed as a hero in a different country in modern geopolitical complexities. There have been instances of public figures referring to Hitler's legacy in neutral or favorable terms particularly in South America and parts of Asia. Some of the positive or neutral attitude towards Hitler may partly be because these commentators are from countries which were colonies of the Allied Powers.
   Bal Thackeray, leader of the right-wing Shiv Sena party in the Indian state of the Maharashtra, declared in 1995 that he was an admirer of Hitler. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat wrote favourably about Hitler in 1953. Louis Farrakhan has referred to him as a "very great man". Some of the positive or neutral attitude towards Hitler may partly be because these commentators are from countries which were colonies of the Allied Powers.
   In 1918 Hitler was admitted to a field hospital, temporarily blinded by a mustard gas attack. The English psychologist David Lewis and Bernhard Horstmann indicate the blindness may have been the result of a conversion disorder (then known as hysteria). Hitler said it was during this experience that he became convinced that the purpose of his life was to "save Germany".
   Some scholars, notably Lucy Dawidowicz, argue that an intention to exterminate Europe's Jews was fully formed in Hitler's mind at this time, though he probably hadn't thought through how it could be done. This is however a minority view. Most historians think the decision was made in 1940 or 1941.
   Whether the seed of a plan to exterminate millions of people was planted in Hitler's mind when he as a child was being whipped by his father or when he as an adolescent failed to translate his dream of becoming a painter or when he was temporarily blinded by a mustard gas attack or after he was jilted by his first fiancee Mimi Reiter whether he found loves with his niece Geli Raubal or his mistress Eva Braun utterly meaningless is a puzzle still being debated across coffee tables where historians chit-chat with their scholarly colleagues in a spirit of camaraderie.
   Why Mimi, Geli and Eva, all the three ladies who came close to Hitler's life, attempted to commit or committed suicides is still an enigma. But one thing we can vouch for Hitler that he was not a born exterminator. It was his home or society which must answer why his guardians did omit what was to be committed and did commit what was to be omitted.
   Every war has its trade-offs. Had there been no World War ll, we could have been victims of more apocalyptic nuclear wars. World War ll has injected tons of fear doses in us and we have learned not to be mutually destructive. World War ll has given birth to industrialisation at accelerated pace.
   Hitler too contributed to the design of a car that can speedily be manufactured, overhauled and driven: Volkswagen Beetle, once the most popular car in the world.
   If you ever happen to visit Austria, please tailor for a day to step into the village 'Braunau am Inn' where you can easily locate a building Adolf Hitler was born in. Outside the building a heavy stone in its natural shape is seated on the ground. You will feel enamoured as you would be reading 'words of warning on the horrors of World War ll' nicely engraved on that memorial stone.

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Weekly holiday

Dear Editor :
   In our country we observe Friday and Saturday as weekly holidays while in the West Saturday and Sunday are weekly holidays. So, we have common ho1iday on Saturday. Our office time is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. But most of the employees particu1ar1y in government offices leave office after 3 p.m. on Thursday to go home and return to office after 11 am on Sunday. Besides this, they start official work generally after 10 p.m. So, we get one more day in week as voluntary holiday. Moreover, during the administration of the elected government we can observe various political programmes like blockade, Hartal, Gherao, colourful rally etc. which people in the West never observe voluntarily. Therefore, in our poor country two days' weekly holiday is a luxury. We should observe one day weekly holiday and no half-day holiday.
   Somebody suggested Sunday for weekly holiday. They opine that it will help enable to keep in touch with the West for business. But we could not understand how it could be possible while there is a difference of time. For instance, if a business firm of Bangladesh sends message to Canada on Friday at 9.23 a.m. the Canadian firm will receive it after 10.23 p.m. (local time) on Thursday. (Enayetullah Khan, founding Editor, Holiday, died at 10.23 p.m. Canadian eastern time on Wednesday the 9th November, 2005 and 9.23 a.m. Dhaka time on Thursday the 10th November, 2005). Now question arises whether offices in Canada remain open at night. When it is 11p.m. in Bangladesh it is then 1p.m. in Washington. If any business message is sent from Washington at 1 p.m. Bangladesh will receive it after 11 p.m. At that time will the offices remain open in Bangladesh? Similarly when London time is 12 noon then Bangladesh time is 6 p.m. So, if any business message is sent from London at 2 pm. Bangladesh will get it after 8 p.m. If it is necessary for Bangladesh in dealing with the Western world on Friday then the offices will have to remain open at night like the news section and the printing press of the dailies. The offices in Bangladesh will have to run the function for two shifts, day and night. Then the Government will have to appoint some more persons to work for night shift. This will help to solve some unemployment problem.
   Like Sunday for the Christians, Saturday for the Jews, Friday is a holy day for the Muslims. Friday holiday has little to do with the presumed business losses in dealing with the Western world. The Muslims of Bangladesh are religious but not bigot. There is no prohibitory law in Islam to work for 'halal' earnings before or after Friday congregation. But there is an undeclared time in Friday when prayer is granted by the Almighty. So the religious people of Bangladesh seek forgiveness and mercy from Allah on this day. Those who do not say five time prayers regularly also do not miss to attend Friday congregation. Fathers and guardians take their children to mosques for Friday congregation and thereby to grow a habit of prayer culture. The children are very much interested in prayer on Friday.
   Those who suggest Sunday as weekly holiday do not appear to be very logical in dealing with the West. Weekly holiday on Friday is reasonable. Moreover, Holiday comes out on Friday. It is not an ordinary weekly. Holiday needs closer reading for understanding its analytical views. Friday being holiday we can read Holiday minutely. We suggest Friday should be weekly holiday for the greater interest of the people.
   A.M.K. Chowdhury,
   West Masdhair
   Narayanganj.
   
   Editor's note: The Holiday used to come out on Sunday. When Friday became weekly holiday during Ershad regime we changed the publication date.

Dear Editor:
   If political leadership plays the second fiddle and allows the bureaucrats to run an organisation, there may be a lot of activity but not much action.
   Take the case of SAARC. In 22 years of its existence, there have been dozens of meetings of officials and 14 summits but no noteworthy achievements that the people of the region may celebrate.
   Even the name is pure bureaucratese. Instead of "South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation," they could simply have "Association of South Asia." The abbreviation would have been ASA. "Asa," or "Asha" (means "hope" in most languages of the region, and is also easy to pronounce and understand.)
   [Incidentally, the bureaucrats at the UN did no better. They took several decades to replace "International Bank for Reconstruction and Development" with the name that the journalists had started using within days of its creation: World Bank.]
   If the Association of South Asia is to prove relevant to the life of its 1.5 billion people, it should begin with these steps:
   a) Allow travel from one member country to any other by road, rail, sea. The air travel is exorbitantly expensive, with only bureaucrats (at the expense of taxpayers) and rich businessmen able to afford it. The surface travel is far more economical and can really enable ordinary people of the region to meet each other.
   b) Give a 15-day transit visa at the entry point to anybody travelling from one member country to the other through a third country.
   c) Form a postal union to allow domestic postage for all surface mail from any member country to any other. It makes no sense to charge the same postage to the next door neighbours that applies to far away countries.
   d) Allow transit trade from a member country to any other in sealed containers by road or rail, without any customs procedures and delays.
   India happens to be the biggest member and has common borders with most of the member countries. Therefore, it will have to play the role of a big brother. If it wants to be the Big Brother and does not want to make even small sacrifices for the benefit of others, it should move for the suspension of all meetings and new initiative until it has a change of heart.
   Muhammad Abd al-Hameed,
   334, Lane 13-A, Askari Housing, Gulberg-3, Lahore, Pakistan 54660
   Email: mahameed40@gmail.com

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National and voter ID card

Dear Editor:
   A news item published on March 21, 2007 says that the government has taken a decision to prepare National and Voter ID Cards for all its citizens. I think this decision will be appreciated by everybody. In this connection I wish to suggest some points: National ID Card may be used for both as identity as well as Voter ID Card. It will reduce the project cost substantially. Along with National ID Card a Birth Certificate Registration project may also be started with a modern approach for each newborn baby, as it will automatically enroll the person as a voter after 18 years.
   Considering the context of Bangladesh, along with the other fields or information items in the National ID Card, there should be person's skill area, skill level, medical/ health information, contraception acceptance (where applicable) and the postal code of the person's birthplace etc. National ID Card should be a laminated one for its longevity.
   The government has taken 5 months time for planning, selecting tools, techniques and methodology for the project and the training for the personnel concerned. This is a very crucial period for the project before going to the field level and the successful completion of the project.
   Saif Tinku
   http://www.geocities.com/bddate/

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Bangladesh Tigers maul India, SA: BBC's Aggers dejected!

Dear Editor:
   The BBC men's obnoxious vilification of Bangladesh has made all Bangalees sad. The BBC is still playing the old colonial game in the 21st century. Playing one nation against another is the old way and Mr Aggers exemplifies that. Bangladesh is not some small country, we are a nation of 150 million people and another 110 million inside India and Probash. Despite bad and wicked political leadership in our moderate Muslim democracy, we have a rising economy with growing middle-class numbering 40 million, and over 20 million people owning mobile phones. Many people have expressed views known to the BBC. Agnew, or Aggers, looked rattled after Bangladesh won over South Africa.
   It was interesting to hear Malcolm Speed say that he was harassed by the BBC cricket men for inclusion of Bangladesh in ICC. The BBC guy said India that should have been in Super 8 and somehow it was Bangladesh's fault that she won!
   Malcolm had to remind BBC chap that Bangladesh came through on merit. "Fair enough", was the BBC man's response.
   BBC chaps have been running a campaign of vilification. They have continued to insult Bangladesh team and the country. BBC men refused to go to Bangladesh when England team toured Bangladesh in the past. We want our cricket fans all over the world to make sure BBC takes action against Agnew and others.
   They, I understand, are in a mood of vengeance against Bangladesh team by organising other English and Indian (for some unknown reason MOST of the "Asian" BBC staff are from India) to act as his mouthpiece. Bangladesh government, media, Bangladesh High Commissioner should lodge protest. Probashi and other listeners should do the same.
   Bangalees are a proud ancient people full of glorious heritage and vigour. We in Bangladesh face no crisis like the Pakistanis, thanks be to God.
   BBC takes complaints seriously and become careful as jobs and careers can be on the line. Take a look at the way Pakistani media, diplomats, PR companies, their immigrants communities and 12, yes twelve, MPs, MEPs and Lords have been lobbying, dining, threatening, pleading with governments, the BBC, and Western media over the Woolmer killing; and largely they have succeeded in damage control. The community that would be most effective in dealing with insults and humiliations would have to be Jewish. A man like Agnew would be eating humble pie if he had made the sort of insulting remarks about Jews or Israel. We should learn from the robust Jewish community.
   Taslima,
   Email: factia@gmail.com

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Why driving license for rickshaw pullers

Dear Editor:
   During my recent stay in Dhaka, I happened to pass by the Dhaka City Corporation office at Mirpur where I saw a big gathering of rickshaw pullers along with a number of Rickshaws parked nearby in front of the office. On query, I was told that they were anxiously waiting for obtaining driving license, a new requirement imposed by the present Government. They all looked so frustrated and helpless! We all know these poor people live from hand to mouth. Now they have to hang around for days and endure all sorts of humiliations and harassment in the hands of the City Corporation staff.
   But do they really require a driving license for driving a tricycle? How does it help the traffic on the road or help the nation in any way? I suppose then we all should be having a driving license to ride a bicycle which is a bit more difficult to manouvre than the tricycle. Everybody knows these poor hapless people of the rural areas migrate to the cities in search of job and bread. This is the easiest job available to them and it has been there since ages. But no one thought of introducing a driving license for these poor people.
   The present Caretaker Government initially earned popularity but by getting involved in all the areas of governance for reforms. These Rickshaw Pullers, street hawkers and slum dwellers should have been left alone or dealt in a humane manner. They are our nationals and have-nots of the society. Why target them? I think instead of targeting the poor rickshaw pullers the CG should concentrate on regulating the vehicle drivers and bring them under strict regulations to avoid frequent accidents on our streets.
   A.B.M. Zakaria,
   124 Whitley Close
   Stanwell Stains tw19 7ey
   Middlesex U.K. Ph 01784420381

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