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Malnutrition: urgent action required

2011-09-02T00:03:00.003+05:30

At a time when the world thinks of India as a major economic power in the making, malnutrition still is a major problem which contributes to the poor human development situation in our country. The figures are deeply disturbing: the prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world, nearly double that of Sub-Saharan Africa. The UN estimates that 2.1 million children die every year before they reach the age of five. Though India has many programs to tackle malnutrition, not much headway has been made in the fight against malnutrition.

IDENTIFYING MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is identified into two constituents: protein-energy malnutrition (this is widely prevalent in India and other developing countries) and micronutrient deficiencies. Physical findings help in early identification of malnutrition, which is useful in early rehabilitation. Gomez classified protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) into three degrees: Grade 1 which is severe malnutrition (90-100% degree of PEM), Grade 2, moderate malnutrition (75-89% degree of PEM) and Grade 3, mild malnutrition with less than 60% degree of PEM.

Malnutrition is widely prevalent in rural areas, with tribal areas having the poorest nutritional status. We take the figures in Gondia district of Maharashtra, where there are 1, 02,692 children between the ages of zero and six. Of this, 779 are in the severe malnutrition category and 3,411 in the moderate malnutrition category. From April till July this year, 118 infants did not reach the age of one. Of the children between the ages of zero and six, 22% are underweight and roughly 3% are severely underweight. The weaker children are identified by anganwadi workers or Accredited Social Health Activists under the National Rural Health Mission and brought to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center (NRC). Shockingly, the NRC in Gondia district opened only on August 15 this year.

The situation in nearby Gadchiroli district (with a tribal population of more than 50%) is not much different. Of a total of 93,983 children aged between zero and six, only 63% are of normal weight.

Among the various states of India, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar have very high rates of under-nutrition. Even states like Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Kerala, Punjab and Goa, where the numbers are lower, the rate of malnutrition is greatly higher than that of developed countries. Further, anemia is found in over 70% of individuals in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Jharkhand.

REASONS FOR HIGH RATE OF MALNUTRITION

People in the far-flung villages were reluctant to bring weak children to the NRC or even seek medical attention, she adds. Poverty was one of the main reasons and the parents mostly worked as agricultural labourers and found it difficult to stay in hospitals and look after their children. In addition to this, scattered population makes access to good health care facilities very difficult. Infants are neglected after birth and do not get proper nutritional supplements. Many villages are in inaccessible areas. Poor nutrition is also reflected at birth with 20 per cent of infants having low birth weight. Malaria and other diseases compound the health situation even more. In addition to this, many anganwadi workers (or Accredited Social Health Activists) do not turn up in many centers. Most growth retardation occurs by the age of two, and most damage is irreversible. The prevalence of underweight in rural areas 50 percent versus 38 percent in urban areas and higher among girls (48.9 percent) than among boys (45.5 percent)

PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS MALNUTRITION

The Government has introduced many programs to tackle malnutrition. The most famous among these are the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) set up in 1975 and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The ICDS national development program is one of the largest in the world. It reaches more than 34 million children aged 0–6 years and 7 million pregnant and lactating mothers. NRHM, created for the years 2005-2012, seeks to improve the availability of and access to quality health care by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women, and children. The ICDS’ emphasis on older children has meant that infants under the age of two and pregnant women barely get covered. After the age of 2, growth retardation is irreversible. Thus, this program has failed.

Another program for tackling malnutrition is the Public Distribution System and the Mid-day meal schemes in Indian schools. The Mid-day meal scheme, set up by the Akshaya Patra Foundation, runs the world's largest NGO-run midday meal programme serving freshly cooked meals to over 1.2 million hungry school children in government and government-aided schools in India. This programme is conducted with part subsidies from the government.

Like many government programs, the challenge for all these programs and schemes is how to increase efficiency, impact and coverage. Corruption is also a huge problem.

CONCLUSION

As we have seen, malnutrition is a huge problem in our country, with millions of children dying before they reach the age of six. Malnutrition amounts to a massive human development crisis, where the state is unable to provide the most basic facilities to so many of its people. It is now estimated that India will be unable to meet its Millennium Development Goals of halving malnutrition by 2015. On the contrary, disparities are growing. Even though GDP growth is impressive, malnutrition is decreasing by only a few percentage points. Malnutrition has an effect on productivity: it is estimated that physical impediments caused by malnutrition knock off 3% of GDP. One solution for the problem is fortifying food handed out by the Public Distribution System (PDS) to lower rates of anemia and decrease nutrition. A long term solution, which needs urgent emphasis, is redirecting our energies towards pregnant women and infants under the age of two. Unless we do this on a priority basis, malnutrition will continue to be a huge problem for our country. India has missed a huge window of opportunity; we cannot afford to do so any longer. The future of our children is at stake. We must act now.

FDI in retail

2011-08-05T00:24:00.002+05:30

FDI in retail is back in the news. There are reports that the government will allow FDI in multi-brand retail from April 2012. This is a topic which has seen much controversy. Economists have been discussing the issue for years. Strangely enough, this issue also sees the BJP and the Left on the same page. An issue on which the left and the right stand together must be a special one and that certainly is the case.

Before I go into my view on the subject, some background is in order. India permits 100% FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in certain sectors, like cash and carry, wholesale trading and 51% FDI in single brand retail (high end stores like GUCCI come into this category). FDI in retail has for long been seen as the answer to India’s inflation problem. The Economic Survey 2010-11 noted that “"Permitting FDI in retail in a phased manner beginning with metros and incentivizing the existing retail shops to modernize could help address the concerns of farmers and consumers. FDI in retail may also help bring in technical know-how to set up efficient supply chains which could act as models of development." Numerous companies involved in the sector welcome a move to have FDI in retail. So why the controversy?

India has a number of kirana shops, wholesale shops which form the backbone of the present retail industry in the country. These are generally small businesses (called mom and pop stores in the US) which might not be able to compete if the big companies enter the retail sector. There is a political angle as well: the retail sector contributes 13% of GDP and employs a huge mass of people. Can any government afford to alienate this vote bank, especially in the era of coalition politics with little scope for political ideology?

Before I go into the political angle, it is important to list the reasons why so many people see FDI in retail as a good thing. The Indian food sector is an absolute mess, with around 40% of the food being produced going waste. Thus we have the unsavoury scenes of rats eating grain when millions of our people go to bed hungry. Storage and distribution facilities are non-existent. The Food Corporation of India is unable to store the grain that is produced and leaves stacks of grain in the open, only to be destroyed by rain. Global retailers, with the technical expertise, will help us fix our supply chain and storage problems. Critical food produce will not be wasted and the poor in this country will have access to food, a basic duty of the state.

In addition to this, another benefit of having a smooth transit of produce from farms to shop floors is the elimination of middlemen. Any person with a rudimentary knowledge of Indian agriculture understands how middlemen play havoc with both the farmer and the consumer. FDI in retail will ensure contract farming, which will mean that the farmers will sell their produce directly to the retail chains. They will get the market price for their produce (which can easily be ascertained in today’s internet age) and the consumers will not have to pay through the nose for basic foodgrain.

Another advantage is that global retailers setting up operations in India will have to employ a huge mass of people. This could help address our huge unemployment numbers. It is well known that the present economic model is unsustainable: the over-dependence on services is not feasible in the long term. India needs a seismic change and FDI in retail could help contribute in a small manner to that change. Sure, at some point we will have to look towards more labour intensive sectors like manufacturing, but this can surely be an option in the short term. Furthermore, credit, the bane of every business in India (apart from corruption and red tape) will not be an issue with global retailers coming in.

But what of the wholesale traders, the kirana shops which are dead against this move? Is their survival so important that we ignore all the benefits that FDI in retail will provide? Well, no. The argument that traders need protection from the big retail chains is an argument that belongs to an age gone by. It is evident that even the biggest retailer will not be able to cater to every part of India. This is where wholesale traders come in. They can certainly help the big retailers offer their services in the rural areas of the country. As we have seen, prices will come down as a result of global retailers getting involved. These traders can come to the party, as it were, and see to it that the rural areas do not get left behind. India is looking forward, not looking back. Everybody must change with the times, and so must wholesale traders, who for long have enjoyed at the expense of the farmer and the consumer. Traders must look for innovative ways to stay competitive and there are many sectors where players have changed to remain relevant. There is no reason why retailers cannot adopt the same outlook.

Finally, we come to the political argument. Like I mentioned, on this issue, the left and the right find each other on the same platform. While such a scenario would certainly be desirable if these parties are working for the good of the country, that is not the case here. Narrow political considerations are at play. It is a downright disgrace that our politicians put their interests before that of the nation. The left’s opposition is not unexpected, what with the comrades refusing to come out of their 19^th century dogma, but the BJP’s opposition is surprising. Even more ridiculous is the reasons cited for opposition. The argument that FDI in retail will not bring inflation down defies common sense. Yashwant Sinha, probably the worst Finance Minister this country has had the misfortune of suffering, makes a ridiculous parallel between FDI in India and FDI in Mexico. If one were to make arguments based on how liberal policies did not work in a particular country, we’d have to be back to the bad old days of socialism and perpetual bondage. On second thought, it is not surprising that the BJP, which came to power on the back of lies on our heritage, culture and history, chooses to extend its habit of dishonesty and immoral conduct to economic policy.

Competition is a good thing. There is no better example for this than the telecom sector. The government has an obligation to provide every citizen of this country three square meals a day. Foodgrains rotting outside warehouses, rats and dogs eating grain while millions go to bed hungry, and the middle class having to pay exorbitant prices for foodgrains is a disaster for any elected government. The government has to choice between succumbing to the pressure of an oligarchy and leading us all to ruin and fulfilling its obligation to the Indian people. One hopes that the government makes the right choice.

Binayak Sen: a pawn in a larger game

2011-03-11T21:05:00.002+05:30

What is it about Binayak Sen? Unfortunately, in India, we have many more cases of individuals being wrongly treated by the state. Why, then, do Nobel laureates not sign petitions, so-called liberals with dubious credentials not blast the state, and the media not use such shrill tones and cover the issue in any of the other cases?

The obvious answer would be the man's story. Here is a person who could have made a lot of money by doing what so many of his colleagues do. But he chose to serve the poor and make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate. However, there is more to this than that. Sure, the man's story does play a part, but there are people with equally inspiring stories who don't get the same "print-space". The truth is that Dr Sen is a perfect fit for those who take a lot of pleasure in throwing mud at India. They take up his cause because the story of a Doctor who fought for the poor is more "sexy" than the story of, say, an illiterate villager who fights the power despite bearing its full brunt time and again.

Over the last few months, I have been exposed to a mafia of haters whose only job is to throw mud at India. I do not know why they do it, but their modus operandi is simple. Highlight the negatives and make it larger than they are and deny the positives. I don't want to take names, but a knowledgeable person will know whom I am talking about. To them, India has to be criticised, our failures highlighted, more so than any other country. If their criticism was based on a desire to be constructive, to contribute to making towards a better India, I would have been grateful. But that is not the case. To them, Dr Sen's case is manna from heaven, especially when India is seeking an enhanced role in the international community. They do not have an iota of knowledge on the case; nor do they even read the judgement. To them, what matters is that India gets bad press. The same facts which they claim are sacred are irrelevant.

The left-liberal reporting of the case is a perfect case study in hypocrisy. Here is a band of hypocrites who wax eulogies on a judgement if they agree with it, and blast another which does not agree with their ideology. To be fair, this would have been acceptable and indeed, along expected lines if it were not for a propensity to play around with words like "mockery of justice", laws which fall short of "standards for criminal prosecution", and a trial which apparently is unfair. How is it that laws which are perfectly fine in one case fall short of standards on another; how is it that the same system they praise to the skies in one case is unfair in another? They refuse to read the judgement, to understand what the judge said when he mentioned that he would have taken a lenient view if it were not for the Maoists. To me, it seems that the left-libs take themselves far too seriously; they believe to the bigger than the idea of India, they believe their story is bigger than the institutions which make India a democracy, no matter however flawed.

If you disagree with a judgement (as I do in this case), argue on the basis of the case alone. Certainly, have a media campaign demanding his release along with compensation, have public debates on the issue, but implanting motives on the judiciary, which for all its faults is independent, is not on. However, left-liberals have a tendency to exaggerate, and it is this attitude the haters feed on.

I firmly believe Dr Sen is being played with. One the one hand is the police, who use an environment of anti-Maoism to serve their needs, and an unholy alliance of haters and so-called liberals who use him to stoke their ego, or to feed their Indophobia. This is very unfortunate.

Bhopal : For 26 years, victims cried. India remainded deaf.

2010-06-20T18:22:00.003+05:30

The Group of Ministers constituted to look into the Bhopal Gas Verdict is due to present its report on Monday. TV channels across the country have reported that the GoM intends to look into all aspects of the issue, and the report will be presented to the Prime Minister on Monday. There have been reports that the GoM will validate the stand of the Law Ministry, that Dow Chemicals is liable for the clean-up of the site. This is strange, given that Mr Chidambaram had earlier argued that Dow was not liable. Is this a result of the furore created post the verdict?

That it took 26 years for the verdict to be delivered is a crime in itself. Indian officials have been indicted in the case, booked for criminal negligence and the crime has been treated as if it were a road accident. All this while Warren Anderson plays golf. Hope you are enjoying the game, Mr Anderson. Loving it while the victims suffer to this day due to your negligence.

Parallels have been drawn to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the fact that BP now has to pay billions of dollars for the death of a few people and some animals. How many people were killed in Bhopal? Thousand? Two thousand? No. 20,000. The compensation given? 470 million dollars. Which amounts to 500 USD per person. The height of arrogance was a Dow Chemicals official saying "A settlement has been paid. 500 USD in India is enough to treat a person for one year". If you ask me, the person who made that statement should be brought to India and made to visit the site, visit each of the victims' families, each family which is affected, and they will let that person now how much the settlement helped them. Saved them from hell, that did.

President Obama sees the environment as a very important issue. Fair enough, it is time someone took note. He goes on TV, saying he's "searching whose ass to kick" while the people of Bhopal get their asses kicked everyday. Due to the negligence of an American company. This is the same Obama who sees India as a natural ally, and who only weeks ago, eulogized India so much the lot of us went giddy with excitement. Some people would have wet themselves. So if he had so much concern for the environment, and thinks so highly of India, why does he not order Dow to pay liabilities? Why does his administration, to this day, lobby for Dow not being slapped with these liabilities? Why does his administration treat the victims which such utter contempt? Why does he allow Warren Anderson to tend to his garden when he should be sitting in Tihar jail, serving life or waiting for his execution? I'll tell you why. America, for all it's pretence of being a responsible world power, cares not one jot for the world. All they care for is their interest, their companies, and if the same ethics they profess come in the way, sod them all. Because there is one set of standards for Americans, and quite another for brown skinned, third world slumdogs like Indians. Indians exist only to be looted, exploited, and the country exists only to dump toxic waste. If America today needs the Indian economy, they will come to India. Dump their waste, sell their stuff, and if an accident occurs, withhold all information which could save lives, to save their own sorry asses. Why should America and Americans care if Indians die? They live in inhuman conditions anyway. Like I said, one set of rules for Joe from Brooklyn, quite another for Jai from Bhopal. All this while India is "an emerging world power", "a nation which shares our values", yawn, yawn. And this is the country so many of us dream to migrate to. Ask any competent person what they want to do, they want to leave for the US. How does it matter if I betray my country? I care only for myself. I have more "scope" in the US, will earn more money. What does India have for me? Why should I care if America treats my country and its people like dirt? What does that have to do with the money I earn?

But is this not what we deserve? Do we not deserve this when we treat our own people with such utter contempt? The tragedy of Bhopal, more than the negligence, the arrogance of the Americans , is the betrayal by Indian governments, central and state, the judiciary, the media, civil society, the people. When we supposedly spend crores on providing clean drinking water to the people of Bhopal, they continue to suffer from many diseases, since the water is contaminated. Instead of setting things right, our politicians argue that the other party is to blame, "they did not do anything when they were in power!". Well, that holds true for you as well. And we, the people, argue over which party is to blame. If I am a BJP supporter, I will blame the Congress, a Congress supporter, question the validity of the BJP questioning the Congress, a left supporter, blame everybody, but fail to look for solutions. And if i belong to this so called New India, a youth who is sick of the system, I say every politician, bureaucrat is to blame, without understanding that the people are to blame as well, because we did not ask questions, and demand accountability. Why is this latest GoM, after 26 years, making all the right noises? Because, you see, they should be seen to be doing something, they fear for their votes. They fear the people. And instead of using that, every time, in every issue, we let them take us for a ride? We vote the same bunch of incompetent nitwits who can't stitch two coherent, intelligent words together. All they need to do is to polarize on the basis of caste, religion, language, gender. 5 years in the gaddi. Guaranteed. Nothing else matters.

I am sick and tired of this betrayal of our own people. All I want now is for systems to be in place, so that no country ever dares to dump their waste here. No company ever dares to cut corners while they are in India. Welcome to India, Athidhi Devo Bavah, but play by our rules. More importantly, I want every politician to get it into their thick heads that they exist to serve us. Not the other way around. All I want is for the victims to live a peaceful life. They have suffered enough. They are screaming for help. and for 26 years, India, not the establishment, not the judiciary, not the media, continued to remain deaf. Anderson and this drama of extradition is secondary.

Union Government of India to act on Bhopal issue. Could file a curative appeal before the Supreme Court and seek Anderson extradition. June 21 could be a new opening.

I am an optimist, and at least now, I hope the system acts. I hope lessons are learnt. And then, the same nonsense which Union Carbide did, which is going on in Jharkand, in Bellary, should be tackled head on. And if it doesn't, I plan to demand till the establishment gets sick and tired of me, so that it does. I refuse to moan, whinge, complain. Is it too much to hope that another Bhopal does not take place? Is it too much to hope for the India of Gandhi's dreams?

Aman Ki Asha?? I Think Not....

2010-03-22T18:06:00.003+05:30

And here we go..as most of us expected, some sections of the media are out preaching how peace between India and Pakistan is the only way forward. All very good; however, how would you reason with a nation which has no constructive ambition? The national hobby of our esteemed neighbors is to maim, kill or injure in some form a majority of our people.

Amitabh Bacchan is out sprouting couplets for peace; and we have the usual drivel arguing for peace and maturity from both sides. I daresay their argument rings hollow. Hafiz Sayeed not only roams free, but continues his diatribe against India; the ISI continues plotting future terrorist attacks against us while they talk of not being hawkish. I reckon our esteemed neighbour from across the border will magically stop their nefarious activities the second we follow their prescription.

As for the Big B, I lost all respect for him when he decided to align himself with crooks like Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav. That the two are now estranged is another matter.

Lets not kid ourselves. It takes two to tango. We cannot have an illusion of maintaining peace and harmony (for the good of the region, no less) while the other side refuses to see reason. Nor can we depend on the Yanks to keep the Pakis in line. The Yanks only care about themselves, and all talk of engagement with India is just hogwash. As long as their necks are safe, they will not care who stands to lose. That has been the American policy for long, and it seemingly will not change despite our pleas. The only thing we can do is strengthening ourselves and be dogged in our fight for justice.

Programs like Aman Ki Asha and the rest are an insult to all the martyrs and the thousands who keep us safe by risking their lives everyday. Is this how we pay them back? I am not being hawkish when I say that peace with Pakistan is not possible, just realistic. We are alone in this fight. The last thing we need is for influential figures leading us to believe the peace that all of us yearn for, despite everything, is possible. This daydream needs to stop.

Combating Maoist Thuggery By Political Posturing

2009-06-24T16:46:00.001+05:30

It seems that the Left and double standards are synonymous with each other. Following the Maoist attack on Lalgargh, the Left argued that proscription would increase their appeal amongst the sections of society they represent. It is baffling that they believe the same ideology cannot be extended to right-wing organizations. One would reckon that the danger these forces represent to the state are far too serious for political parties to play politics, but our politicians always baffle and confound us with their ever decreasing sense of ethos.

Nobody in their right mind would believe that force alone would work against the Maoists. The fact that the Maoist cadre consists of the most vulnerable section of society is an indication of how we, as a nation, have failed in our promise to make growth equitable. We must first accept that we have made grave errors in our treatment of the sections that are ensnared by Maoist ideology. We must convince them that the ideology they believe in will not achieve what they seek. Then, we must work towards providing development to the weakest, and simultaneously fight the Maoists politically and militarily.

The Maoists are thugs who use pretensions of championing pro-people causes. If they were truly for the masses, why don’t they lay down their arms and join the political mainstream? They blow up cell phone towers and other infrastructure which provide so many benefits to the people whose cause they claim to fight for.

We would do well to remember that communism, even socialism will not deliver our people from poverty; our pre-1991 economic statistics are proof of this. We must contain Naxalism by providing the basic amenities of our people. For that, our political class needs to be united. Looking for vote banks and playing politics in situations which threaten internal security is dangerous;and it is not only the Left which is guilty. It seems our politicians have still not learnt the lessons of 26/11. They must act fast lest they need another reminder.

Colleges And Their Virtuous Bans

2009-06-24T16:41:00.002+05:30

I don’t know what it is with colleges and their infinite wisdom with regard to protecting the virtue of their female students. Four colleges in Kanpur have banned T-Shirts and jeans. They are not the only ones. My Alma mater, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Viswa Mahavidyalaya University, enforced the ban, as did Anna University and a host of other colleges. Bapuji Dental College, where my sister has taken admission for BDS apparently has the ban in place as well. Gender neutrality is a concept either lost in our colleges or forgotten.

In some cases, the ban is applicable to both male and female students (my college is an example, though admittedly not a good one, seeing that there are a host of rules with regard to the female student population which are regressive) on the grounds on professionalism and preparing the student to the work environment. Yes, one has to adhere to a certain dress code in the work environment, but what is the need for preparation, given that the transition will be natural? Colleges are not only about academics and preparation for the big, bad world, but also a coming of age; an experience that shapes an individual. Professionalism is not only about the clothes; in fact if it were only about the clothes, it would not be a quality that prospective employers search for.

Even more out of touch with reality is the assertion that jeans and T-Shirts are provocative and invite some form of abuse. This stems out of a patriarchal belief that clothes are a cause for attacks on women, that victims “deserved it”. Numerous studies have proved that clothes, provocative or otherwise, are not a reason for attacks on women. The mindset that a woman is somehow inferior to a man is behind many of these attacks. Men must learn to respect boundaries. I wonder how much divinity we posses when everyday, there are reports of sexual abuse of women.

One cannot decide what an individual has to wear, irrespective of the individual’s gender. If an individual has a right to vote, then he/she must have the right to decide what he/she wears. College goers must be treated like the adults they are.

What must be fought is sexual abuse as a whole. Provocation is not a defence. It is a fact that institutions as well as a large part of our population, male and female must understand. I must have the freedom to wear what I want, be it T-Shirts, jeans, cargos or a simple shirt and trousers. Denial of this freedom is akin to denial of basic human rights.

This Ain't The End

2009-06-24T16:37:00.000+05:30

These are not good days for Manchester United fans. Ever since the champions league final, fans have had to face an onslaught of bad news. What should have been a time of celebration and jubilation has turned into concern and dare we say it, fear.

Football fans point to the champions league final and say that Manchester United was all hype and no substance; that Barcelona proved that claims of United being the best in the world were far-fetched. My answer is simple. There can be no denying that Barca were the better team in Rome, just as there can be no denying that United played magnificently to retain the premier league, win the club world cup and almost become the first team to retain the European Cup. Some United fans will offer excuses and say, it would have been different had United taken at least one of the many chances they had in the first ten minutes. However, ifs and buts do not win trophies. There is no shame in losing to a quality team.

There have been suggestions that a huge overhaul is needed, but one bad game does not diminish the achievement of the players. Great teams bounce back from disappointments, and United will show next season why we are one of the best in the world.

That noble ambition has suffered a setback by the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. I can see Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and even Man City fans jumping in glee every time speculation rises of another high profile departure from Old Trafford. Ronaldo and Tevez will be sorely missed; and it will be difficult for us to replace them. However, this situation provides an opportunity to the youngsters such as Nani, Tosic, Ljajic, Wellbeck, Macheda and Gibson. There are rumours that Karim Benzema and Douglas Costa are being approached by the club, but newspaper stories are often proved wrong, and hence cannot be trusted. As a lifelong fan, I recognise that the departures of Tevez and Ronaldo will affect the performance of the team. However, the advantage is that there will no longer be speculation around the future of the high profile players. This will lead to a better dressing room environment, a prerequisite for success. The manager would have prepared for such an eventuality, and I am sure he has replacements in mind, via the transfer market from within the squad. Rivals may be laughing at us now, saying nobody wants to stay or come to the club, but we will be the ones laughing come May 2010. Of that, I am sure.

The club’s debt has been a topic of much debate, but I think Man United is too big a club to do the Leeds way. Rival fans might be hoping for this to happen, but we are talking about one of the biggest sport brands in the world. The debt will be settled in time. I just hope that the money will be available for Sir Alex to make the changes he wants to see. The debt should not affect Sir Alex signing the players he believes are worthy of putting on the Manchester United jersey.

In Fergie We Trust.

This club has gone through a lot, and still rose from the ashes. Something as trivial as a couple of players, no matter how good they may be, cannot sound the death knell for the club, as some suggest.

Pea Brained Buchanan

2009-04-01T13:50:00.003+05:30

We have seen some supremely ridiculous ideas being mooted by coaches and officials in sport through the years. John Buchanan's four captain idea is a new low(or is it a high??).

It is tragic when sport gets mingled with politics. Ultimately, politics might be what all this is about. How else would you justify such a stupid concept?Do we have multiple Presidents?Multiple Prime Ministers, army chiefs,etc? Twenty20 might be a new concept;and yes, you have to come up with out of the box solutions. But this is just daft. The basics remain the same in every form of the game. Too many cooks truly spoil the broth.

If Buchanan was so convinced this was the way forward, why didn't he do this with the Australian national team. Had Buchanan done so, i am convinced Ponting would have told him to stick his head in some very unpleasant places. Why should Dada be any different?

My belief is that Buchanan came up with this idea because he had an issue with Ganguly, just like Guru Greg did. Dada was out of form then, he lacks match practice now. Besides, is IPL, with all the money that is involved, the time for experiments such as this? Indian cricket has had enough of these experiments, thank you very much. It is yet another i-told-you-so-moment for Shane Warne.

There is a limit to what technology and all out of the box ideas can do. I am sure Irfan Pathan will agree. Thanks to a so-called bio mechanics expert, he lost his swing. This pea brained idea should be consigned to the dustbins, where it belongs.

It's Now Official...A Full-Scale Title Wobble

2009-03-23T11:12:00.003+05:30

I can't deny it anymore. It looks like the quest for the 18th league trophy will have to wait for a year. Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Fulham has meant the lead is now down to a point. Had United beaten Liverpool, we would have been 10 points ahead with a game in hand. The game in hand remains, but i dunno if United are going to respond to this double whammy.

What bothers me more is the manner in which we lost to Fulham. They had 62% possession at the end of the first half. We also ended the game with nine men, which means we will now be without Vidic, Scholes and Rooney for the crucial game against Aston Villa. We will be going into the match two points BEHIND Liverpool and without three of our best players. Yes, United have blown it. The March 14 affect? In 1998, we lost to Arsenal and blew a 12 point lead and last year, we lost to Manchester City on the same day. Aston Villa got thrashed 4-0 by us last season; we won the league. Liverpool have now beaten Villa 5-0. Omens against us?

Villa is going to be a huge test. Yes, they got thrashed at the hands of Liverpool, but let's be honest, so did United. They have some great players like Barry, Carew, Agbonlahor and Young while three of our best are suspended for the game. We need to win every game now, but the display against Fulham hasn't left me convinced that we can pull it off. Here's hoping i am wrong.

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Ronaldo has been getting a lot of stick lately, from so called fans who want Sir Alex to sell him to Madrid in the summer. Last season was phenomenal for him. There have been many instances this season where he missed by inches. The same would have resulted in a goal last year. I think his team game as improved. He will still end up with a minimum of 25 goals at the end of the season. Very good for a winger. Yes, he has his faults. And yes, he will at some point of time go to Madrid. That is his decision to make. if he thinks Madrid are better than United all he needs to do is watch a footage of their game against Liverpool. As fans, we must take his word and Sir Alex's word at face value and get on with it. We must support the team(that obviously includes Ronaldo) even when the going is a bit tough. Like right now. If Ronaldo wishes to move on, we must respect his decision and remember all the good times he gave us. This drama must end. If Ronaldo leaves, good luck to him. The club was the best before him, and will be the best long after he is gone.

Apathy Must End

2009-03-21T20:19:00.002+05:30

I was 6 years old when I won first prize in elocution for reciting Pandit Nehru’s “A Tryst With Destiny” speech. I was 10 years old when I was taught the ideals on which India was built. As I grew older, I learnt about our struggle for freedom, learnt the Preamble to the Constitution by rote, and more importantly, understood what these ideals stood for. Today, 60 years after Nehru declared that India would end poverty and inequality of opportunity, the promises remain unfulfilled. The prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman, remain elusive.

The politicians of the era that won us our freedom took great pride in dedicating themselves to binding themselves to the service of India. The politicians of today throw furniture at each other and invent new means of cheating the people. Politics today is seen as a dirty business, a perfect vocation for the biggest swindler in town. Corruption is widely prevalent, to the extent that it is not looked down upon anymore; just a reality of life. The speaker of the outgoing Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee, declared in a fit of anger that MP’s do not deserve a single paisa. Though he later retracted his statement, it is no doubt an assertion shared by many in the country. India today is still home to the world’s poorest, 27% of the world’s hungriest are Indians. These remain untold in the stories of Rising India that we take so much pride on.

Images of Godhra still remain in my mind. Though there have been many communal riots in the country prior to independence, Godhra is more horrific to me at a personal level as my family lived(and still does)in Ahmedabad at the time. Religious intolerance is on the rise. Who can forget the destruction of churches in Karnataka and Orissa or the impunity with which fundamentalists impose their rabid ideology on others? Gender equality remains a pipe dream, and moral policing is on the rise. Caste clashes still exist as do evils like dowry. The progressive nation Nehru dreamed of remains regressive in form and outlook.

However, it is time we stopped moaning and start acting. Years of neglect and indifference have yielded the India we see today. Yes, there is progress, but of what good is this if we fail to free or poor from the shackles of poverty and hunger? We must build a new culture, akin to the one that was prevalent when we gained independence under the stewardship of Gandhiji. We can start by realizing that every individual holds a stake in what happens around us; the culture of indifference and apathy must end.

Gender Equality...A Distant Dream

2009-03-21T20:17:00.002+05:30

Gender equality in our country is a distant dream. The recent Mangalore attacks only underline this fact. It is indeed a tragedy that a country which aspires to become a superpower cannot provide basic security for its women. Even more abominable is the attitude of the attackers; who continue to remain unrepentant and call themselves “custodians of Indian culture”. There is full merit in assuming such elements to be for the Talibanisation of many parts of India.

To say that forces such as the Sri Rame Sene or even Abhinav Bharat have the backing of the RSS is to state the obvious. These so called nationalistic organizations, backed by the damnable VHP-BJP-RSS troika are wrecking havoc on our country. From Godhra to the pogrom that followed to the attacks on women in Mangalore a few days ago, these organizations have continued their bloodthirsty quest of robbing India of its values, whilst claiming to the protectors of the very values that make our nation the greatest in the world. However, these traitors could not have been successful in their nefarious designs had they not been backed by ordinary Indians, honest hardworking people taken in by the xenophobic rhetoric all religious fundamentalists specialize in. Therefore, the normal citizens are equally responsible for such vile heinous acts.

In our zeal for preserving our tradition, we have forgotten the noble values our culture stands for. We have forgotten that when the rest of the world was indulging in a never-ending cycle of violence, our ancestors offered protection to refugees from all over the world. We forget that while the rest of the world was treating its women with contempt. Our ancestors offered our women some degree of respect. Somewhere down the line, these noble values have morphed into the intolerant binge we see today, in essence no different from Saudi wahabism. How is it that we call organizations like the Taliban terrorists whilst refrain from using the same language to the Hindu version? The other great civilizations of the world have changed their outlook, but we remain stuck in the 19th century. We forget that traditions and customs were man made, not the other way around. They are meant to evolve with time. Therein lays our greatest sin.

I now speak from personal experience. I believe that the ideology of a nation can be gauged by the ideas of the youth. The common feeling among many of my peers is that the men involved in crimes against women are uneducated, with no sense of morality. What is disturbing, however, is the still widely prevalent feeling that all these women would have done something to provoke the men and this talk of “natural reactions”. If a woman is assaulted, she must have invited the wrath of the aggressors. There are a number of fellow male students who believe that a woman's place is inside the four walls of their houses. Teasing a woman in an inappropriate nature is a sign of masculine power. Women are weak and were created only to be subservient to the males, the so called superior gender. When the ignorance of such an attitude is pointed, people such as myself are accused of being out of touch with reality. The reason behind such attitudes is the glorification of machismo and patriarchy in our society. They are there in all our forms of art, most notably, films and television. These are the forms of art which connect the most with the young. In our movies and on television, patriarchy is glorified in the name of following our noble traditions and our ancient culture. Instead of fighting these outdated beliefs, our movies and television give a sense of legitimacy to them.

It is time we realized what Indian culture means and the values it promotes. This is true for the organizations responsible for incidents like Mangalore and also for the common man. It is not enough to keep shouting about the greatness of our culture from the rooftops, we must practice these noble values. It is important to discourage the moral policing widely prevalent in India. We are a democracy, not a theocracy or its offshoot wherein a group of people will decide what must and must not be done; what is proper and what is not. The value of a nation is measured by the way it treats its women. Till then, we have no right to make grand plans of becoming a superpower. To do so would be a disgrace to the term.

Congratulacion....David Beckham

2009-03-21T20:15:00.001+05:30

David Beckham has now equaled Sir Bobby Moore’s record of most England caps for an outfield player. A fantastic achievement indeed, considering he has always been criticized of being a one-trick pony. Whatever his shortcomings, and yes there are many; he deserves every bit of praise coming his way. Sir Bobby is a legend, and Beckham going past his record will not diminish the legendary status he enjoys amongst football enthusiasts.

The criticism directed towards Beckham has always struck me as a bit unfair. When Beckham plays, England have that much more in them; he always gives his best; his work rate is one of the highest in the world and because of the blessed right foot, he always presents a real threat to the opposition. He may not be able to tackle, or burst along the wings, but he makes it up with the brilliance of the right foot. Anyway, there are very few players who are equally good on both feet, so saying he does not have a decent left foot is stretching things a bit too far.

He has been relegated to the bench in many of his recent appearances. This is only natural considering his age and the need to find a consistent player on the right side of midfield. Let’s face it, Walcott is prone to injuries, Downing, Lennon, Bentley and Wright-Philips are frustratingly inconsistent. Even Walcott is a work in progress and his ability to perform well in crunch situations remains to be tested. The game against Spain has only underlined the fact that England do not have a good player on the right apart from Beckham.

Let’s not delude ourselves. England were pathetic. They had only two real chances, one of which was provided when Beckham came on as a sub. We must applaud a very good player and appreciate what he has done for football, not moan about how he is undeserving of the honour.

Money Won't Give Success

2009-01-24T19:50:00.001+05:30

Manchester City’s million dollar bid for Kaka has shocked many, including the revered Sir Alex Ferguson. There are many (and I must confess to belong to this group) who snigger at City’s attempts to attract the best talent in the world via the bucket loads of cash they now posses. It is indeed comical for a club which fights to avoid relegation every other season harbor illusions of being the best club in the world. The Sheikhs who bought City would have been no doubt inspired by the Abrahimovic story at Chelsea, but the Londoners had a number of world class players like Frank Lampard, John Terry before the oligarch took over; therefore, it was easier to convince players like Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and the rest. In comparison, the only world class player in the City team is Robinho, and even he came to the club after the Arabs took over. Stephen Ireland and Richard Dunne are not in the same as league as these champions, while Shaun Wright-Philips is a perennial under-achiever.

So must there always be a hierarchy of a handful of clubs, and must only these clubs fight for glory? No, but the methods employed by the likes of City and dare I say it, Chelsea before them, are obscene. All the big clubs in the world (Manchester United, Barcelona, AC Milan, Real Madrid, etc) have history. It took years for each of these clubs to be in the position they enjoy today. Many of these clubs became what they are after starting with limited money; the millions we see today was a by product of the success, the money was not a cause for success. For many of the best players in the world, ambition and ability to back it up with tangible results is the main criteria, money is only secondary.

Modern Day football is big money business. In today’s globalised world, matches in Europe are followed with equal amount of passion by fans in Asia. Ticket sales alone do not contribute to the club’s coffers; TV rights, merchandise sales contribute just as much, if not more. This has resulted in a situation where a handful of world class players are chased by hundreds of clubs. The biggest beneficiary of all this is the player himself, and he cannot be blamed for wanting to earn as much as he can in the 10-15 years that he plays the game. However, after a point, money becomes secondary; the player seeks to gain recognition as a player. Thus, he invariably plays for a club which has history, ambition and the talent to supplement the ambition. The reality of modern day football is that a club which fulfills the above requirements can also offer the player the six figure salary he seeks. If a player moves to a club solely for the money (like Robinho), the arrangement is bound to be a temporary one, with happiness and satisfaction eluding both the club and the player.

It is therefore a relief that Kaka has rejected a move to the Eastlands. If the deal had materialized, football would have been the casualty, for there would then be no morals and ethics involved. We must therefore be thankful that money has not corrupted a fantastic player, and this would discourage similar stories from happening in the future. Indeed, it would have been fantastic for the Premier League to have a talent like Kaka, but this would be no compensation for the grievous harm caused to the game. Teams like Manchester City can seek success, but they must realize that success would mean a lot of hard work spread over decades. Money will play a part, but it must not remain the primary means for achieving success. Maybe one day we will see City in the Champions League on a regular basis, but it would be a shame if this were achieved by basically bribing eleven of the best players in the world.

Life Is Good!!!

2009-01-24T19:48:00.001+05:30

Aah, Life is good. Seriously. I know this would seem a little out of touch with reality in this milieu of recessions and frauds and blackmail by a failed state, but I refuse to be sucked into this whirlpool of depression.

Therefore, I shall celebrate the good things happening around me, the best of which is that come May, I would officially be an Engineer. Yay Me!!! Srinivas Chandrasekhar Mandapati, B.E. Has a nice ring to it, no? As I continue to evaluate the endless wonder of my new name, as it were, I am reminded of another fantastic event- the end of George Bush’s presidency. If all goes well, we could even get mukti from the biggest challenge to our sanity- Himesh Reshammiya and his suroor. Definitely something to be happy about (I couldn’t care less for the sods who appreciate his music and his acting!). I am sure I am in a majority when I say that I will be over the moon if he sticks to the reality shows…for eternity.

Now the one thing that positively makes me giddy with joy (besides my degree) is the masterpiece Deshdrohi. For a person who turns to endless re-runs of Friends for comic relief, this is manna from heaven. A complete swadeshi mode of entertainment and if you ask me, it is also the best antidote to all those wallowing over the multiple crisis’s. Can you blame me for being contended when I have such fascinating events and modes of entertainment to look forward to? And so, life is good. It just got better, because Manchester United have thrashed Chelsea 3-0.

Liberalism-Still India's Salvation

2009-01-03T14:15:00.001+05:30

The world economy is in shambles. This has prompted many to declare that this crisis marks the end of capitalism. What does this mean for India, where liberalism has been in practice since 1991? I am no economist, nor do I claim to be an expert on the subject. My understanding is based on common sense, on statistics and the experience of a 21 year old that has had the fortune to be raised in a middle class household. It cannot be denied that the middle class has been the biggest beneficiary of the post-1991 policies, for could a family like mine own a car, a house of our own and live in comfort if change had not been brought about? My story is similar to those of thousands of Indians, many of those studying in the best schools and colleges in the country. We are not elitist; we are just making the best use of the opportunities available to us.

However, I see the pain of the less fortunate everyday, and it makes my heart bleed. There are many who say liberalization has failed. Many who say the benefits have not reached the neediest. Just as this cannot be denied, a system which brought about 3 percent growth at an average cannot be seen as a substitute. Socialism is hypocrisy. We have practiced socialism for more than 40 years. What did we have to show for it? A nation that begged the international community for money? A nation, whose best sons and daughters left its shores disillusioned, convinced that their talents would forever go waste if they remained in the land of their birth? If India is respected, even feared by some, it is due to the massive progress we have made in the last 17 years. Otherwise, we would have forever remained a land of elephants and snake charmers in the eyes of the world. However, amidst all of the euphoria, we must not forget the story of the farmer who commits suicide because he cannot pay his loans; of the child who leaves school as his parents cannot afford the cost of his or her education. This presents an opportunity, for a system that worked for the 300 million bourgeoisie Indians can surely produce the same results for the millions in our villages.

Yet, liberal economics in itself is not a solution. No single ideology can claim to the only solution to all our economic woes. We will need to be flexible as rigidity will get us nowhere. We cannot remain prey to the insecurity that suggests that we need to protected, nor should we remain apathetic to the woes of the common Indian tilling his land everyday, hoping for a better tomorrow. The votaries of the old order say that the present crisis in the world and sectors of our economy is proof that our economic policies have failed. Common sense dictates that every ideology has its faults; what should be determined is whether the good outweighs the bad, and one must strive for improving upon the good and eradicating the bad. This is what these people fail to grasp. The crisis is not an excuse to fall back to the old incompetence; it offers us opportunity to identify the mistakes that have been made and improve on it. Competition offers a scope for improvement, not the “curbing of autonomous development” as many so called experts have so colourfully declared. If I am exposed to highly skilled people, I will only improve. This is not esoteric, expert mumbo-jumbo; it is plain common sense.

To be honest, I do not understand half of what experts talk about these days. But I am convinced that often the simple route is the best. All our problems have one simple solution, common sense. And common sense tells me that in every crisis lies an opportunity, because crises do not arise unless there is something wrong. This may be an absence or regulation or a case of too much government intervention. I am convinced that the policies we follow will take us to the development and self sufficiency we seek. Yes, there will be hiccups, but these will only mean that we need to improve on the foundation. The tallest tower in the world cannot be built without the strongest foundation. Similarly, the policies we follow today will lead to India being one of the biggest economies in the world. Would this be possible if we had allowed the old order to continue? The most obvious answer is no.

Stop Blaming...Start Cleaning!!!

2008-12-19T16:30:00.001+05:30

It's amazing..isn't it?Pakistan continues to change its tune very frequently.It was the ISI chief first, then the issue of Kasab's nationality, JuD and most recently, Masood Azhar.It is now apparent that they are not going to act...so what happens next? Some people advocate the military option, but that would be akin to suicide. That is what the terrorists want us to do, and also what the rouge elements in the Pakistani establishment responsible for 26/11 want us to do. This is on account of two reasons;the most obvious being that the threat of a confrontation with India would lead to the Pakistanis withdrawing from the Afghan border.Secondly,such machismo has never produced the desired results...Iraq and Afghanistan are a case in point.
The only realistic option before the country is to strengthen its intelligence and continue to apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan...not because Pakistan will buckle,but because it would send a message to the terrorists.Some good would have come out of the tragedy that is 26/11 if long overdue change is brought to this country.And change needs to start from within the aam admi.It is no use blaming politicians;we vote them to power.Their inefficiency is bad judgement from our part.There are many good leaders in this country..we will find them if we are sincere.Blaming Pakistan is going to get us nowhere.It is time we started wielding the broomstick and cleaning our house.Our Cynical attitude to life must stop.Tragedies will continue as long as this characteristic feature is not eliminated.All of us have a stake in what happens around us.We must not complain about corruption...it continues only because we give in.If all of us make a solemn promise to ourselves that we will not give in,i believe the levels of corruption will go down drastically.This is just one example of how we must change.We must learn to respect the law.Only then will our politicians respect us.Till then,we must not crib,moan,scream about how things will never improve.It is time we went back to the belief around which Indian Independence was won....Be The Change You Want To See.....

Fundamentalism Is Terrorism

2008-10-14T16:21:00.000+05:30

The abominable attacks on Churches in Orrisa have been a topic of much debate. It is not unfair to compare the carnage to Nandigram or Gujarat. The perpetrators of the crime have had the audacity to openly declare that they were responsible. This incident is the latest in a series of events which have threatened the secular fabric of this nation, the very quality which made our country so special. Rabid elements have strutted around with impunity, be it the SIMI or the Bajrang Dal-RSS-VHP troika. The BJP, which claims to be concerned about our internal security, calls this damnable troika "nationalists". I do not know about my fellow countrymen, but this is a form of nationalism i truly detest. If the fundamentalists who blew up Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad are to be called terrorists, the fumdamentalists who attack churches or mosques or any place of worship for that matter, deserve the same treatment. I see no difference between the two. The Government, which insists that terrorism will be dealt with firmly, should see to it that this troika is treated the same way as SIMI is. Only then can it claim to be sensitive to the urgent need of protecting the secular nature of the country, and also be true to its claim that it truly stands as an alternative to the shameful and despicable acts of communal violence that the BJP and its ideological masters pursue. For the record, i am an engineering student. My family lives in Ahmedabad, and we were very, very lucky that the bombs did not hurt us the way they destroyed so many families. As much as i appreciate bringing those who planned that attack to justice, i would be deeply ashamed if the same justice was not offered to the thousands of brothers and sisters, whose loved ones were hurt by the events of the past two months.

Tssskkk...

2008-06-23T14:24:00.001+05:30

The biggest soap opera of the season continues. No, we are not talking of yet another inane, melodramatic binge from Ekta Kapoor but of the impasse over the civilian nuclear deal. The Left continues in its opposition to the nuclear deal and even Sonia Gandhi has supposedly told the Left that she cannot go against the Prime Minister's wishes vis-à-vis the nuclear deal. A day after I was taken by surprise at the rare show or courage by the Prime Minister, I was let down the very next day. Somehow, statements that followed the bold assertion seemed to be a climb down for the Government. Admittedly, this could have been influenced by the knowledge that if the government were to go ahead with the deal, it would probably result in early elections. This is hardly what the United Progressive Alliance would want, especially after inflation rose to 11.05%, the highest in 13years. Normally, this would be adieu to a deal that pulls India out of nuclear isolation, but with the Prime Minister not backing off, we are in for an interesting equation.
It is unfortunate that Indian democracy has not reached a level of maturity where political parties look beyond political gains and put national interest at a premium. In all honesty, one can't blame the Left as it would be against their ideology to support the nuclear deal. It is another matter that this very ideology is hogwash, to put it mildly. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the constituents of the UPA are more to blame, the BJP even more as they were in power when the deal was in its initial stages. Well, what can one say of the Congress? In spite of their boast of them having a special relationship with Indian democracy, they have never shown the maturity to be think beyond their lust for power. At stake is India's credibility, surely that is more important than who comes to power in the next elections. if this deal does not go through, the country will forever be in nuclear isolation, our nuclear power plants will be rendered ineffective and we will be bullied even more by China, who had the sense to sign a similar deal with the US, even if the terms were not as favourable as they are to India. Moreover, India will not be trusted to keep an agreement. But no, all the Congress and its allies care about is that they return to power. The interests of the nation are at best secondary. The BJP is even worse. They go about tarnishing the country with their rabid ideology, claim to the ones striving for development whilst in power, and forget their progressive economics whilst in opposition. The government should go ahead with the deal, irrespective of the consequences. For once, the Congress should put national interest ahead of its selfishness, and lust.
It can be argued that an election is rarely fought on a foreign policy issue whilst there are more pressing problems such as inflation; and elections at a time of high prices and inflation is suicidal. However, the economic crisis is not going to fade away soon. In any case, prices are going to be high by the time the country goes to the polls, deal or no deal. The government might as well earn some brownie points by saying we risked losing power for a deal which is good for the country. The Congress and its allies could then occupy the moral high ground. As Albus Dumbledore would have said, there are times when we have to chose between what is right and what is easy. The Congress can earn the gratitude of the nation by doing what is right and sign the deal.

Linkin Park- My Favourite Band!!

2008-03-07T13:48:00.001+05:30

Liberalism - An urgent necessity

2008-02-10T15:15:00.001+05:30

The recent attacks on various churches in Orissa have shown the extent to which religious fanaticism is rising in India. Our ancient culture, which prides itself in its staunch commitment to the noble value of secularism, is under attack from the very quarters, which claim to be its protector. Organisations that claim to protect Hinduism forget that Hinduism is one of the most liberal religions in the world. Tolerance has always been a strong facet of Hinduism, but somewhere down the line, it has degenerated to what it is today.
This is indeed true of all religions; fundamentalism is on the rise, and rabid zealots brainwash people into following their own rigid version of their individual religions. Through history (from the time of the Crusades), religion has proved to be more of a divisive force than a source of strength. In today's world, where religious fanaticism have given birth to a potentially fatal brand of terrorism, there is a need to look for alternative solutions, which embrace the noble values of compassion, tolerance and togetherness. Inevitably, this would mean decreasing the role of religion in our lives. Faith is a personal issue; it need not be an emotive one. We have for too long sought to crush fundamentalism with a more narrow mined ideology, probably a by-product of the "eye for an eye" ideology which is seen to be so powerful. The results are there for all to see; the objective has not been achieved-instead the situation has grown to be more dangerous than before.
An urgent need arises to turn to liberalism, which especially in India is foolishly seen to be a western concept, to solve this problem. Liberalism is not new for us-even in times when the rest of the world acted in a caveman-type intention to stamp their authority on others, we adopted a policy of live and let live. This has resulted in the uniqueness of our country, where people of different cultures exist in mutual harmony. It is unfortunate that such noble values have now fallen by the wayside. Liberal attitudes are not only necessary to combat extremism, but also to remove the patriarchal mindset prevalent amongst a majority of our people. Such an attitude will lead to gender equality. Women have for long suffered a great injustice, even in today's age of globalisation, where patriarchal attitudes have led to a spate of incidents of violence against women. In the name of preserving our culture, a lot of our people, aided ably by rabid zealots, give a sense of legitimacy to patriarchy. Liberalism will also need to greater economic strength. India's growth story can be attributed to the liberal policies practiced by the Government post 1991. The Left, whose middle name is hypocrisy, is unfortunately blocking measures intending to bring in more economic growth. Liberalism will result in an all out win-win scenario. It is our only hope for a better future.

Socialism - Root of India's Problems

2008-02-10T15:14:00.001+05:30

Post Independence, India followed the policy of socialism, which meant that the economy would be closed to foreign participation, the public sector would provide the impetus to development, and private participation in the economy would be heavily regulated. The economy came to be known as a mixed economy, wherein the positives of both socialism and capitalism would be amalgamated. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, a keen student of Fabian Socialism, was greatly impressed by the USSR. Indeed, all of our founding fathers believed that socialism would deliver the Indian people from decades of suffering and poverty. This assertion proved terribly wrong. Instead of its stated intent to bring about all round development, it resulted in rampant corruption, inefficiency and arrogance of the bureaucrats and government agencies, which was borne of the knowledge that they wielded enormous power.
The Government and its agencies, instead of providing for the people, became the biggest roadblock to India's "tryst with destiny", to quote the great Pandit Nehru. Private individuals like the legendary Aditya Birla, left the country after being vexed at the nation's license raj policy, which would determine where the entrepreneur would build his factory, how many units he will build in the factory, the output of the factory and the price at which the entrepreneur would sell his goods in market. The result of such policies was the 3% average growth over decades and the near bankrupt economy of 1991.
It would be easy to blame our founding fathers for placing trust in idealistic policies, but those were simpler days and there was a great distrust of foreigners, given that the country tasted freedom after 200 years of bondage. Individuals in the present generation should understand that socialism is to blame for all our misfortunes, not individuals like the Mahatma, Sardar Patel or Nehru. It is because of the sacrifices of these great men that we are a free nation, something which the youth takes for granted. However, there were also a few positives. There are a few public sector companies like ONGC and BSNL, which have proved they can take on the best and come out victorious. The emphasis on industrialisation, although skewed heavily toward the public sector has led to today's scenario where reforms have resulted in rampant growth. These can best be described as a silver lining in a very gloomy setting. Liberalisation, a process initiated in 1991, has led to a scenario where India is poised to becoming one of the world's biggest economies in a few years.
On the contrary, except for a few companies, the public sector represents a very sick patient, only that they are being denied medication (privatisation) by organisations which claim to protect them (the Left). The communists still stick to their ineffective dogma, which will succeed only in Utopia. The economic disintegration of Russia after the fall of the USSR has shown that it is only on the surface that communist countries appear rich. China, one of the few communist countries, follows communism only for political means whilst for all practical purposes it is capitalist. It's amazing growth today can be attributed to the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the seventies. In India, the communists still pose a threat, and the unfortunate thing is that some people follow them without realising that they are responsible for the sorry state a majority of our countrymen are in. Naxalism is an example. Socialism is hypocrisy. Whilst claiming to deliver salvation, it will heap more misery of the people. It is time to turn to all out capitalism. That will make Vision 2020 a reality.

Terrorism

2008-02-10T15:10:00.001+05:30

Terrorism is the biggest challenge of our times. No nation can claim to be free from this menace. India, for a major part of the past two decades, been fighting terrorism- be it the insurgencies in Kashmir and the Northeast or Naxalism. State sponsored terrorism has hurt our country to the maximum extent. It is therefore a pity that the West has come to terms with the magnitude of the problem only after 9/11 and 7/7.
India is unique in its diversity. There exist many different cultures, religions, languages and traditions. The sentiments of those in one part of the country can vary vastly from those in another part of the country. For long we have been praised for our unity, a common desire running through every Indian- to take the country forward; to eliminate poverty and to see that there is not a single person who has to suffer from want of basic needs. It is this unity, which is danger of being destroyed. Kashmir, the Northeast and the naxal-affected areas are a pointer. Differences among people on trivial accounts are being exploited accounts are being exploited by selfish individuals to serve their selfish needs. Naxalism, to quote the Prime Minister, is a socio- economic issue. Globalisation and liberalisation post-1991 hast left in its wake a section of distressed who are hurt by competition. The naxalites claim to protect to protect these distressed, dismissing the obvious fact that poverty can only be eliminated by faster growth, and growth can be attained only by the reforms practiced by various Governments, post- 1991. The irony is that these distressed, exploited by an ineffective bureaucracy and hypocoristic politicians are most vulnerable to naxalite activities. Then, we have Kashmir and the Northeast, where the militancy is supported across the border, by de facto failed states like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Instead of setting their own problems right, these countries seek to destroy the fabric of our country. The basis for their hate campaign against our great country is a mentality stuck in the middle ages, where religions fought each other in their quest for dominance. These countries cannot conduct free and fair elections, talk of a democracy where the Chief of Army Staff is more important than the Prime Minister, cannot provide adequate security to leading politicians, and yet they talk of “delivering freedom”. It is unfortunate that our brethren have fallen prey to this vitriolic propaganda. This tells us that mistakes have been made, for the logical reason that a huge section of people will not harbour extensive hatred against their countrymen an the whim of a few.
So what is the solution to this problem? The quagmire in Iraq has proved that only military means will not give us a permanent solution. A multi pronged strategy is needed to fight terrorism. Whilst keeping the military option open, we need to strike where it hurts the most- the support base of these terrorists. We need to convince our people that in our unity lies our greatest strength; we can solve all our problems if we stay united. A hawkish approach, as advocated by L.K. Advani and other sections of the right, will not work. Most importantly, we need to accept and apoligize for past mistakes and act keeping in mind the sentiments of the local populace. The trust of the people has to be earned in this fight against terrorism. The growth story seen of late proves that India is in for great things. We cannot allow a heartless band of murderers and those who seek solace in a failed ideology spoil our tryst with destiny. The Elephant is here to shine. It is ours to make or break.

Rock Rules!!!!

2007-11-10T09:49:00.000+05:30

Man, there is absolutely nothing like rock music. I mean, it makes you feel sad, feel jubilant and feel like wanting to throw yourself off the Petronas Towers… There are times when I just feel like I do not have a care in the world, and yet, there are times when there is an unknown ache. I do not talk only about the head banging stuff, the emotional moments seem a lot more poignant when a guitar riff goes on,on.on……..I was nine when I had my first dose of rock. It wasn’t much, I was scrolling through channels on the telly once, and Queen’s We Will Rock You was being played. I was glued, I mean the song had a real party feel to it, something my nine year old self did not understand, but my interest was piqued. In those days (maybe even today), MTV and Channel V were thought of as a sure recipe for spoiling a kid. My next exposure was a news article about Kurt Cobain. Naturally, I did not know who he was, but I did not understand how a guy could command such a zealous following. For some reason, I thought it was much more than the fascination we share for our music stars. It would be years before I would come to know the phenomenon Kurt Cobain was, but the name was always I the back of my mind. I would have to wait till I was fourteen or fifteen; my first album was Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory. Honestly, I did not take to the music initially( I guess Nu-Metal was not the best choice for a first album), but once I liked it(which I began too, by the time Crawling ended), well, I don’t need to go on….
Since then, I feel like I have made up for those years when I was younger. My interest has grown to an obsession like I can’t stop (and I don’t want to!!).

India's Left-Anti-Americanism only ideology???

2007-10-22T13:31:00.000+05:30

The conduct of the Left ever since the UPA came to power three years ago has been subject of many a discussion. Here is a party, which is firmly against globalization and the involvement of foreign companies in our economy. The irony is that the Left Front is following the policies the Left claim is killing India. Buddha babu claims industrialization is the only way forward, whilst Karat and co protest against FDI in retail (Wal-Mart), SEZ’s and now the nuclear deal.
The Left is in a position of great power in the present political set up. They can arm twist the Congress as much as they want and still get away with it. Karat and Yechury agree that only reforms will take the nation forward, yet they do not want foreign (especially American) companies entering the economy, claiming to protect the interests of the small scale traders in this country. Are the experiences of the past not enough for the comrades? The growth India has seen over the past 15 years is double the growth we achieved for the first 40 years of Independence. Even after acknowledging the effectiveness of the post-liberalization policies they are loath to foreign involvement. The Nuclear Deal lays open the mindset of the comrades. They claim the deal will compromise the nation's Sovereignty. Are we such midgets to not stand up for ourselves? Yet the deal offers India respite because it allows us to come out of nuclear isolation. Even China's 123 agreement does not contain the benefits accorded to us. The Left's rigid opposition seems to stem from the fact that the US is such a major partner is the deal. Perhaps, they would not have minded if the deal was with China or Russia. It is time the Left realises that their ideology is outdated. Reforms and Industrialization will take us forward. We cannot let regressive elements besmirch our march forward.