The Other Side

What if mother earth is 46 years old?

2009-08-20T11:32:00.000+05:30

"The dinosaurs passed away eight months ago and the early mammal replaced them. In the middle of last week, in Africa, some manlike apes developed into ape like man and at the weekend mother earth began shivering with the latest series of extremely cold ice-ages. Just over four hours have elapsed since a new species Homosapiens came into existence and in the last hour it invented agriculture and settled down. Just about 30 minutes back the Pre-Harappan and Early Harappan cultures started developing. Just about 14 minutes back Buddha delivered his first sermon at Saranath , and the Mauryan empire flourished about 12 minutes back. Harsha gave all, whatever he had, the religious assembly at Prayag about 7 minutes back, and Akbar made a pilgrimage to Sufi Saint Salim Chisti just about two minutes back. India became a proud independent nation hardly two seconds back!!"

I came across this interesting observation while browsing randomly. (Read on scribe, page 58). What really made me wonder was, India became proud independent nation hardly two seconds back!! When our great-great-....-great grandchildren write our history, India's partition and Jaswant Singh's controversial book will not even receive their attention!

Imagining that mother earth is 46 years old is one of the best way to understand the relation between earth and all that exists on it. When we write her life history, we find that we know nothing about the first seven years of her life, but the deeds of her later childhood are to be seen in the old rocks. Most of what we recognise on earth, including all substantial life is the product of the last six years of its life (i.e , 600 m.y.). She flowered, in her middle age. Her continents were quite bare of life till she was almost 42 and flowering plants did not appear until she was 45 - just a year ago. At that time the great reptiles , including the dinosaurs, came into existence and the break-up of the last super-continent was in progress.

If we look at our history in another way, say a picture was taken every 5000 years, we would have 1,00,000 (one lakh) negatives. If we make a film (movie) using those one lakh pictures, then the movie would last just an hour! In the last 3 seconds human beings appear and the civilized man appears just in the last tenth of a second!

All the evils in our society - wars, class conflicts, terrorism, communalism and all sorts of violence - would find no place for our attention in 46 year history of mother earth! What if all those who are responsible for all sorts of violence take a look at this simple fact and realize that life of human race is transient in the long history of mother earth? What if they realize the transient nature of human race and stop all sorts of violence? Why can't we all live in harmony as long as we are here?

Reliance gas dispute: "Three" losers in the broken empire

2009-08-09T00:59:00.002+05:30

"You do not require an invitation to make profits", said Dhirubhai Ambani. Today, that is exactly why Mukhesh and Anil are fighting for - to make profits. Though Kokilaben Ambani was successful in placating her sons over Reliance empire sharing, her words no more appeal to Ambani brothers. They only believe in "making profits", but both the brothers, on their way of making profits, have forgotten the larger public interest which is at stake due to their hostility. More over, it is not just theAmbani brothers who share the blame, but lack of sound policy from government on natural gas has made the situation worse.

Genesis of this problem
The court case between (Mukhesh's) RIL and (Anil's) RNRL are primarily about pricing and utilisation. The government run NTPC too has it's stake in the outcome. The genesis of this problem "can be traced back to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas's (MOPNG) failure to act decisively at the beginning. First, the ministry was a mute spectator as NTPC issued it's global tender to buy 12 mmscmd (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day) of gas and RIL won the tender with a surprisingly low bid of $2.4/mmbtu (Million British thermal unit). The ministry continued to watch as RNRL (then a group company of RIL, before split, now with Anil) cited the NTPC auction as reference and signed an in-house agreement with RIL (now with Mukhesh). The agreement was for 28 mmscmd for the same price, i.e. $2.4/mmbtu. So clearly, more than twice the quantity promised to NTPC! [Data: EPW, July 25, 2009 issue]."

At that time, reliance empire was not yet divided. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was not interested to intervene then. Now, after fresh discovery of natural gas resources in KrishnaGodavari basin, government fixed the gas price at $4.21/mmbtu. Mukhesh wants Anil to pay $4.21/mmbtu sine the price has been increased by government. But Anil says Mukhesh is not honouring the agreement that enabled Anil to buy gas at $2.4/mmbtu from RIL . Bombay High Court asked both the brothers to go back to their mother and settle the matter peacefully. But, they didn't like high court's advise and both the brothers filed affidavit in Supreme Court asking for intervention.

Government's apathy towards stronger gas policy
The confrontation of Ambani brothers is not just a matter of settling gas price but it reflects the failure of government to lay down a clear cut policy on natural gas. The exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons is being governed by the New Exploration and Licencing Policy (NELP) since 1999. Where as, the (gas) pipelines and distribution of gas is being regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). The ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is responsible for laying down the policies on natural gas so that public interest is protected and monopoly over natural gas is (as far as possible) avoided. "There are examples of countries that have controlled market structures before opening up their gas sector", but in India the "regulator has no role in determining the price of the gas - instead the price is expected to be market-determined." More over, there have been serious concerns about transparency of exploration policy (NELP) contracts which are worth billions of dollars.

Neither the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon, nor Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board have sound a framework for natural gas policy. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is yet to play a big role in effectively regulating market structure on natural gas. "In contrast, Ministry has been silent about the developing market structure and has so far been passive. [EPW, July 25, 2009 issue]."

Oligopoly in gas sector
The exploration and production is dominated by only two players, ONGC and RIL. It's important to note that, RIL is not only the major player in the production, transmission and distribution but also a potentially big consumer of gas with its own interests in petrochemicals. The ministry needs to step in and create a healthy environment with its revised gas policy so that public interest is protected when there are issues like the one betweenAmbani brothers.

Three way struggle
Now that the issue has been taken up by Supreme court, it is expected to take a "broader perspective of the case and could consider the national significance of D6 gas project, rather than focusing only on the terms of the RIL-RNRL gas sales agreement." It is possible that both Mukhesh and Anil could end up loosing something from their side to settle the matter. Because, "gas does not belong to either Mukesh or Anil Ambani. It belongs to the government." "If Anil's RNRL is able to keep the government out of this dispute or even neutralize its stance, it will be quite helpful for them." That may not be possible because government/NTPC too has some stake in the matter. More over Mukhesh is "trying to portray the dispute as one between RNRL and the government rather than one between RIL and RNRL" due to government's decision on the gas price at $4.21. So, there is a three way struggle between Mukhesh, Anil and the government. There is no doubt that in apex court's verdict, government's apathy towards making sound policy framework on natural gas will be exposed and if there are going to be some radical changes in government's policies on natural gas in the near future, it shouldn't surprise anyone.

Ambanis conviction to uphold their father's values
Apart from this pricing issue, Ambani brothers have a long way to go. Handing over the empire to her sons, Kokilaben Ambani had said, "I am confident that both Mukesh and Anil, will resolutely uphold the values of their father and work towards protecting and enhancing value for over three million shareholders of the Reliance Group, which has been the foundational principle on which my husband built India's largest private sector enterprise." However, the way things are going, the questions are being raised over their conviction to uphold the values set by their father.

Right to Education - Free for Children, Compulsory for the State

2009-08-05T13:41:00.001+05:30

Almost a decade after the idea of "Right to Education" was mooted bySupreme court (Unni Krishnan vs State of Andhra Pradesh, 1993) the BJP led NDA government had brought a constitutional amendment in 2002 making education a fundamental right. A new article (21-A) was inserted in Part III of the constitution. But a "suitable legislation" was needed to give effect and make this fundamental right a reality. After a long wait of seven years, right to education bill is finally passed by both houses of the parliament. "Now it is a constitutional right for the child. It is the obligation and compulsion of state governments and the central government to provide that education." The very idea behind making education a fundamental right is that, if anyone is deprived of this right, concerned party can sue the government under Article 32 (for violation of fundamental right by govt.) and can get justice directly from supreme court (Article 32 - Right to constitutional remedies - is available only in the case of Fundamental rights).

Though Education is a concurrent subject (meaning providing education is the responsibility of both central and state govts), "this legislation is intended not to interfere with the state government's attempts to provide elementary education. More over, there is a provision to provide elementary education, as far as possible, in the mother tongue of the child. The law would ensure that the child got free, compulsory and quality education by qualified teachers.[The Hindu]"

What does the legislation say?
The legislation clearly spells out,

Duties of appropriate government, local authorities and parents.
Responsibilities of teachers and schools.
The procedure to be followed in setting up curriculum and evaluation.
How to protect child's right.
Power of governments to make rules.

Section 21 of the bill makes it obligatory for the school to constitute a "School Management Committee" consisting of the elected representatives of the local authority, parents or guardians of children admitted in such school and teachers. The committee will be responsible for preparing a 'School development plan' that would be the basis for plans and grants to be made by the appropriate Government or local authority. Also, the legislation speaks about monitoring of child's right to education and redressal of grievances. The bill has even taken care of giving child a right to be transfer to other schools in appropriate circumstances.

What are the main Features of the bill?

Free and compulsory education to all children of India in the 6 to 14 age group;
No child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until completion of elementary education;
A child who completes elementary education (upto class 8) shall be awarded a certificate;
Calls for a fixed student-teacher ratio;
Will apply to all of India except Jammu and Kashmir;
Provides for 25 percent reservation for economically disadvantaged communities in admission to Class One in all private schools;
School teachers will need adequate professional degree within five years or else will lose job;
School infrastructure (where there is problem) to be improved in three years, else recognition cancelled;
Financial burden will be shared between state and central government.[source]

Also, No school can collect capitation fee and subject children or their parents to any form of screening. In case a school collects the capitation fee, it can be fined upto 10 times the amount. And, if tests or interviews are conducted, a school can be fined Rs.25,000 for the first violation and Rs. 50,000 for every subsequent violation.

What are the issues raised by critics?
Disabled Rights Group (DRG), an organisation working for the differently-abled people, alleged that the current form of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2008 had left out children with disabilities while defining the "disadvantaged" group. But, If one looks at the legislation "in it's entirety", its conspicuous that state govt has "obligations" to include differently abled children. That is what HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said in the parliament. "When we frame the model rules for the implementation of the legislation, we will ensure that children suffering from disabilities must be included among the disadvantaged children," the minister said. "This would be the first time in India that disabled children would be integrated in the school system." More over, the minister said there was another legislation of the 1990s that spoke of equal opportunities and this "is being amended to include certain differently abled categories in that legislation". More over, no government can take a risk of ignoring differently-abled cildren. So this concern will be addressed adequately.

Another major concern has been on financial requirement of the gigantic task. The minister's team is going to work with 13th Finance commission before completion of its term in October this year. Since the implementation of Right to Education is a concurrent subject and also a fundamental right, the 13th finance commission will be compelled to recommend necessary grants-in-aid for this task. More over, government will be under immense pressure to provide funds since Right to education is now a fundamental right.

Also, concern related to teacher's training, quality of teaching, school infrastructure etc have been adequately addressed in the legislation itself.

The way forward
The Supreme court had observed that, "Right to education is implicit in and flows from the right to life guaranteed by Article 21. That the right to education has been treated as one of transcendental importance in the life of an individual [and] has been recognized not only in this country since thousands of years, but all over the world. without education being provided to citizens of this country, the objectives set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution cannot be achieved. The Constitution would fail."

This bill alone cannot make India a great knowledge center - the vision set by our forefathers - but this will certainly be the first step towards achieving that objective. The minister and his government and also the citizen have a huge responsibility to move forward and make progress in secondary and higher education also. The recent report submitted by Prof. Yashpal Committe is another visionary document and if implemented, we may see some fundamental change in the higher education system. Mr.Sibal is keen on implementing Prof. Yashpal report which is definitely a good news. He has taken a big step towards making India a knowledge hub. Only time can tell us if this big step can one day change the lives around.

Read More:

No Parking Mess: Ignorance is never bliss

2009-07-17T10:44:00.001+05:30

It's not often that we go out to meet our classmates. But when some one is getting married, its definitely a great idea to attend the wedding and catch up with friends back in college. 28th June was one of those days. Some of my friends and I decided that we should meet at a 'Coffee day' and then proceed to attend a friend's wedding reception. It was a cloudy mansoon day and I reached the place quite on time and parked my bike 'in between many bikes' over there. Sigh of relief! i could find some place to park my bike. As usual, there were just couple of guys who came before me. We didn't expect many guys to turn up. Its understandable, that we don't get as much time as we had back in college. That was okay. Five of us made it to the place and few others told us that they will reach the reception hall directly. We had some 'quality time' recollecting our college days. I came out of the Coffee day and learnt that my bike was taken by Traffic Police! I was fooled by many others who parked their bike at the same place. Only later did I realize that there was an 'unclear' board which read, 'No Parking'!

Two of my other friends had bike and we were five. We were already getting late and decided to hire a taxi. We left the other two bikes there and went to the reception. Reception was colorful and food was delicious. We could meet many of our college friends and got a chance to crack the old jokes again. On the way back we hired another taxi and it cost us around 500 bucks both ways. I was still thinking about my super bike which, i think, was having tough time in police station. It was already 10.30PM and i decided to get my bike next day. I went home and slept peacefully.

The next day, around 11AM, I went to ATM and withdrew some money and reached the police station. I could find my bike in police station. The rain in the night had washed my bike. Cleaned up bike put a smile on my face! I spoke to a police constable there and told him that I will pay the fine and asked him to release my bike. He asked me 300 bucks but told me that I have to collect the receipt in the evening. I was bit hesitant to do that. Because one of my friend was asked the same but never got a receipt. I learnt that only Sub inspector can issue the receipts. He gave me another option to give 200 bucks and take my bike. I said I need the receipt. He pretended that he was just trying to help me. He then searched his cupboard for receipt book. I knew that it wasn't the original receipt book. One of my uncle who is a journalist had caught a police officer issuing fake receipts and collecting money.

I told him that, "Sir, I thought the receipt will have three copies."
"What?, do you think i am cheating?".
"No sir, I just remember seeing those carbon copies when i had paid fine last time."
"Okay, I think you don't want us to help you. You can wait till 12PM, our Sub-Inspector will come and handle your case."
"Okay sir", I said.
Sitting in the police station and listening to their conversation was not really exciting. I saw another officer giving money to couple of constables there. You don't need to be a spy to know that it was a bribed money which they were sharing.
Sub inspector finally came and I politely said, "Namaste sir".
"haan, whats wrong with you?"
"Nothing sir, i just came to get my bike that you had brought here yesterday."
"Ok, you need to pay Rs.300 fine"
"Sure sir, will do."
He too was opening a receipt book which had no carbon copies, I told the same thing, "Sir, I thought the receipt will have three copies."
He just repeated what other officer had said, "Do you think i am trying to cheat you and police department?"
I (again) said, "No sir, I just remember seeing those carbon copies when i had paid fine last time."
He finally opened another receipt book (which was original I guess) and gave me the receipt for 300 bucks (100 for towing, 200 as a 'No Parking' fine).

When i was about to put my wallet back in the pocket, i did notice something and opened it again. I was shocked to realize that i left my debit card in the ATM! Blame it on Corporation bank ATM which takes the card inside until the transaction is over and also it was my 'ignorance' (for the first time, for this kind).

I rushed to the Corporation Bank branch and met the manager, he told me that the card will be taken back by the machine if i don't collect it in time and it will be sent to my bank by the ATM officials. I went home with lot of disappointment. I called up ICICI customer care to block my account and they told me that, since it was lost in non-ICICI bank, the card will be destroyed by that bank. I had to place a request for new card and wait for 10 days. Though there was an option of getting a duplicate card within a day, that 'instant card' wouldn't have my name on it. I thought, it's nice to have my name on the new card!

It was a salary day and I didn't have my ATM card. I had to borrow some money from a friend. Only later did i realize that i should have asked him some more money so that i could send some to my father. I decided to go to bank branch and withdraw money using my cheque book. The next day (1st July), i paid my broadband bill on the way to bank. I decided to pay my credit card bill there since my account was blocked. After withdrawing the money, i paid my credit card bill 'in cash'. Later in that day, i went to SBI and deposited some money in my father's account.

For the next two days, I didn't get any SMS on my mobile for paying credit card bill, so i decided to call up customer care and check with them. They told me that that transaction has never happened! I said, "I can show you the receipt". They asked me to check with the branch. I was not willing to go all the way to that branch and asked for the phone number. The customer care guy said that they don't have a policy of giving branch phone number to any one! "what the heck?", I thought. Coincidentally, I had not taken my bike to office that day. Since that office location is too far, i traveled by bus. That particular branch was 20+ Km away from my office. I took one of my friend's bike and reached the bank. The same guy who collected my money was there at the counter. I told him what happened and he asked to me to wait for some time so that he can search for my Pay in slip. He found that he had wrongly entered my credit card number (he had messed up with one digit) while making the transaction! I kept my cool, and asked him about how I can get back my money. He asked me not to worry and said he will ensure that, money reached my credit card account in 24 hours. I had my lunch on the way to office and was too tired to focus on work. Some how managed to finish off the remaining work and went home.

After couple of days (8th July), I called up customer care and asked the status of my debit card. The lady with a melodious voice told me that the card was sent to my office address and said i wasn't there at my location when the guy had come to handover my card! I was neither called on my extension nor on my mobile. I thought something is wrong with ICICI guys. I then placed a request for sending the card to nearest ICICI branch so that i can collect it from there. She said it will take minimum three days. "Okay", I said. After a day (9th july) I got an SMS saying that i can collect the card after three days and within three months. Sigh!

Exactly after three days (13th July) I went to the branch i had specified in my request and asked if i can collect my ATM card. "Your card has not yet reached our branch, sir", the good looking lady told me. It was really frustrating to go back home without my card.

After two days (on 15th July), I decided to go to that branch and collect my ATM card. It was cloudy and quite gloomy mansoon whether with some drizzle. Road to that branch was already wet. I was riding at around 40-45Kmph speed. There was a fast moving 'Pulsor' dude, who suddenly took a left turn from extreme right and the poor auto guy had to hit his bike. The auto fell sidewards and i had to apply both the breaks to avoid further damage. My bike was already skidding and went out of control. My knee and forearm kissed the newly constructed road and I managed to escape unhurt without any serious injuries. The lady sitting inside the auto was really struggling to get out of the mess. I ran towards auto and helped the driver and the lady get out of the fallen auto. Luckily no serious injuries had happened to them. The Pulsor dude was already eating unpleasant words from everyone gathered there. I had a sigh of relief for the unhurt escape and decided to move on from that place and reached the bank. I noticed that little bit of blood had come out of my knee and forearm, it wasn't paining much and I thought it should be okay after the first aid.

I waited for my turn to collect the ATM card. The same good looking lady confirmed that my card has reached the branch. I had to show my ID proof to collect the card. I did. Just before leaving, i asked the lady, "Ma'am when did this card reach your branch?". She looked into a register book and told me that it reached on 13th July (the day I last visited the branch). "Sir, I think we received on the same day you visited our branch, may be some time in the evening." It was really frustrating to know that; especially when i remembered that accident.

After collecting my card, I went to the nearest hospital to get the first aid. They sent me to accident and emergency department. I was asked to lie down on a bed there and a nurse brought some instruments. She was about to check my BP and I told her, "ma'am, I am perfectly alright, i just need first aid and possibly the TT injection."
"No sir, we have to ensure you don't have any internal damage", she said.
I asked, "How much are you going to charge for all these stuff?"
"We need to create a new case file and do preliminary checking, that would cost you around Rs. 400-500, sir"
Without wasting much time there, I said, "Thank you ma'am, I'll just get a first aid kit in medical store and treat myself."
She understood. A lady doctor came and told me, "Son, get a TT injuction from pharmacy. You must have that. I will cover your wounds with bandage."
"Okay ma'am, thats great!", I said.
I went to pharmacy department there and got what she had written on the piece of paper. That cost me eighteen bucks. She was generous to administer that injuction. She even gave the first aid to my wounds. I came out of the hospital and ate my lunch at the canteen there.

I was still contemplating on the whole mess after the "No Parking" episode. If I had parked my bike at the right place, i wouldn't have gone to police station. If i was not required to go to police station, i wouldn't have lost my ATM card. If i had not lost my ATM card I wouldn't have borrowed money from my friend, i wouldn't have had a mess with credit card bill payment, I wouldn't have lost the money for auto charges to reach police station, for police fine, for new debut card issuing fine, there was also 100 bucks fine for paying your credit card bill by cash! etc... etc... If I had got my ATM card on my first visit, i wouldn't have met with an accident!

"Ignorance is never bliss", I knew. Yet, it was my ignorance. Ignorance, of not parking my bike at the right place, of not collecting my card from the ATM machine, that made me walk in the hell. When all these thoughts were really making me get frustrated, one of my friend called me on my mobile (after a long time actually) and asked, "Dude, how you doing!?". "Still breathing", I said.

ಗಾದೆಗಳು : ಬೀದಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದರೂ, ತೋರಿಸುವುದು ರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗ!

2009-06-30T01:21:00.002+05:30

"ಶ್ರೀಮಂತರಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುವ ಗೌರವ ಬಡವರಿಗೆ ಯಾರೂ ಎಂದೂ ತೋರಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ತೋರಿಸಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಕಾನೂನೇನು ಇಲ್ಲ. ರಾಮೇಗೌಡ್ರು ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಜಮಖಾನೆ ಹಾಸಿ ಉಪಚರಿಸುವ ಜನ, ದಿನಗೂಲಿ ಮಾಡುವ ’ರಾಮ್ಯಾ’ ಬಂದರೆ ತೋರಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಣ ಇದ್ರೆ ಎಲ್ರು ನಮ್ಮವ್ರು ತಮ್ಮವ್ರು ಅಂತಾರೆ. ಗುಣ ಒಂದೇ ಇದ್ರೆ ಸಾಲ್ದು, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹಣ ಸಹ ಬೇಕು ಮರ್ಯಾದೆ ಗಿಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳೋಕೆ. ಹಣ, ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯ ಇದ್ದವನೇ ದೊಡ್ಡವನು, ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ರೆ ದೇವರೇ ಗತಿ." ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಉದ್ದುದ್ದಾದ ಅರ್ಥ ಬಿಡಿಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಹೇಳೊ ಬದಲು,

"ದೊಡ್ಡವರು ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಒದರಿ ಹಾಸ್ತೀವಿ
ಬಡವರು ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಬಾಗ್ಲಲ್ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸ್ತೀವಿ"

ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಚನ್ನ? [ಒದರಿ = ಕೂಗಿ]. ಇದೇ ಗಾದೆ(Proverb)ಗಿರುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ. "ಮಾಡಿದ್ದುಣ್ಣೊ ಮಹರಾಯ", "ಹಾಸಿಗೆ ಇದ್ದಷ್ಟು ಕಾಲು ಚಾಚು", "ಹೊಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಣಸೆ ಹಣ್ಣು ತೊಳೆದಂತೆ", "ಗಂಡ ಹೆಂಡಿರ ಜಗಳ ಉಂಡು ಮಲಗುವ ತನಕ", ಎಂಬ ಅನೇಕ ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಜೀವನಾನುಭವವನ್ನು, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತವಾಗಿ, ವಿವೇಕಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ, ಪರಿಣಾಮಕಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಬಲ್ಲವು. "ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಅನುಭವದ ಸಾಂದ್ರತೆಗೆ, ವಸ್ತುವೈವಿಧ್ಯತೆಗೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಸಂಪನ್ನತೆಗೆ, ವಿಚಾರ ವೈಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಸರಾದುವು." ಯಾವುದೇ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಆತ್ಮಚರಿತ್ರೆ, ತಕ್ಕಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬಾಹ್ಯಚರಿತ್ರೆ ಕೂಡ ಆ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಗಾದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗೋಚರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಉಪ್ಪು ಊಟಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವೋ ಹಾಗೆ ಗಾದೆ ಮಾತಿಗೆ ಅವಶ್ಯಕ. ಗಾದೆಗಳಿಲ್ಲದ ದೇಶವಿಲ್ಲ, ಗಾದೆಗಳಿಂದ ದೂರವಾದ ಭಾಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲ. ಗಾದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸದ ಮನುಷ್ಯನಿಲ್ಲ.

"ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಯಾವುದೇ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸನೊಬ್ಬನ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮದ ಫಲವಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಬೀದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕುವ ಜ್ಞಾನ. ಅಂದಂದಿನ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲೇ ರೂಪುತಾಳಿ, ಬಾಯಿಂದ ಬಾಯಿಗೆ ಚಲಾವಣೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಅಂದಂದಿನ ಸಂಧರ್ಭಕ್ಕೆ ಒದಗುವ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದ, ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಬೆಳೇದದ್ದು ಬೀದಿಯಲ್ಲೇ [ಜಿ.ಎಸ್.ಶಿವರುದ್ರಪ್ಪ]." ಗಾದೆ ಹಲವರ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಒಬ್ಬನ ವಿವೇಕ - The wisdom of many and the wit of one. ಗಾದೆ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ರಚಿಸಿದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರವಲ್ಲ; ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಮಾತಿನ ಓಘದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿ, ಪ್ರವಹಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಭಾಷಿಕ ವೈಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನ ಗಾದೆ. ಅಂದರೆ ಇದು ಪೂರ್ಣ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಪೂರ್ಣ ಭಾಷಿಕವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ವೇದಗಳಾದರೋ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರೊಬ್ಬರು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜೀವನದ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನು, ನ್ಯಾಯ ನೀತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟವಾದ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟ ಕೆಲಸಗಳು. ಆದರೆ ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರು ತಮ್ಮ ದೈನಂದಿನ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿದ್ದನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕ್ಷಣಾರ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟ ಕಿವಿಮಾತುಗಳು. "ಗಾದೆ ವೇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಾನ ಎಂಬುದು ಗಾದೆಯನ್ನೇ ಕುರಿತು ಒಂದು ಗಾದೆ. ವೇದದಂತೆ ಗಾದೆಯೂ ಅಜ್ಞಾತಕತೃವಾಗಿ ವಾಕ್ ಪರಂಪರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗಿ ಬಂದದ್ದು, ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ತಮವಾದದ್ದು, ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮ ಭೂಮಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವೇದ ಹೇಗೋ ಲೌಕಿಕ ಭೂಮಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾದೆ ಹಾಗೆ...ವೇದ ಸುಳ್ಳಾದರೂ ಗಾದೆ ಸುಳ್ಳಾಗದು ಎಂಬ ಗಾದೆಯೂ ಇದೆ. ಈ ಹೊತ್ತು ವೇದಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣ್ಯ ಹಿಂದೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿದೆ; ಆದರೆ ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಅಪ್ರತಿಹತವಾದಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದಿವೆ." ಗಾದೆಗೆ ಜನಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕು. ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸುಭಾಷಿತ, ಲೋಕೋಕ್ತಿ, ನ್ಯಾಯ ಮುಂತಾದುವುಗಳು ಗಾದೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಸಂವಾದಿಯಾಗಲಾರವು.

ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರೊಬ್ಬರು, "ಒಂದು ದೇಶದ ಗಾದೆಗಳೇ ಸಾಕು, ಆ ದೇಶವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು" ಎಂದಿದ್ದರಂತೆ. "ಒಂದು ದೇಶದ ನಿಜವಾದ ಬಣ್ಣ, ಬದುಕು ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಬಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಜನತೆಯ ಕಳೆದ ದಿನಗಳ ರೋಷ, ಕೆಚ್ಚು, ಮೌಢ್ಯ, ಮನಸಿಕ ವಿಕಾಸ, ನಗೆ, ನೋವು, ನ್ಯಾಯ, ಅನ್ಯಾಯ - ಮೊದಲಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಂಗತಿಗಳ ಮಡು ಈ ಗಾದೆಗಳು [ಕಾಳೇಗೌಡ ನಾಗವಾರ]". ಗಾದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ನಿತ್ಯ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂದಿಸಿದ ಘಟನೆಗಳು, ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿನ ಅನೇಕ ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳು, ಜಾತಿ ಪದ್ಧತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕುರಿತ ವಿಡಂಬನೆಗಳು, ಮಾನವೀಯ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳು, ಒಂದು ಪ್ರದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ, ಪೌರಾಣಿಕ ಅಂಶಗಳು ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತವೆ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಆಹಾರ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ರುಚಿ, ಅಭಿರುಚಿಗಳ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯವೂ, ಬೇಸಾಯಕ್ಕೆ, ಪಶುಪಾಲನಗೆ ಸಂಭಂದಿಸಿದ, ಸಂಸಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಭಂದಿಸಿದ ಕಿವಿಮಾತುಗಳೂ ಸಹ ಗಾದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು. ಒಂದು ದೇಶದ/ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ಆ ದೇಶ/ಪ್ರದೇಶ-ವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಹಾಗೆ ಎನ್ನಬಹುದು. "ಚೀನಾದ ಜನನಾಯಕ ಮವೋ ತ್ಸೆ-ತುಂಗ್ (Mao Tse-Tung) ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಹರಿಕಾರರಾದ ತನ್ನ ಒಡನಾಡಿಗಳ ನಡುವಣ ಸಂವಾದದಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ದೇಶದ ಗಾದೆ, ಗೀತೆ, ಜನಪದಕತೆ, ಐತಿಹ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಧರ್ಭೋಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಬಳಸಿ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಸಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿಯುವ ರೀತಿಯು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾದುದು."

ಗಾದೆಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕೈಗನ್ನಡಿಗಳು. ಮಹಾನಗರಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಬೆಳೆದ ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಮಿತ್ರರಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗದೇ ಉಳಿಯಬಹುದಾದ ಹಲವಾರು ಗಾದೆಗಳಿವೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ನೆಲದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಾಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಯಾವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಆಗಲಿ, ಗಾದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅವುಗಳ ಒಂದು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ(social context) ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡರೆ ಸಾಕು, ನಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದಿರುವ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಹಾಗೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಶಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಅಧ್ಯನಕ್ಕೆ ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಸಾಮಾಗ್ರಿಗಳಾಗಬಲ್ಲವು. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೇ ಸುಮಾರು ಐದು ಸಾವಿರಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಶುದ್ಧ ಜಾನಪದ ಗಾದೆಗಳಿವೆ. ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ನಡೆದಿದೆಯಂತೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೂ ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಕಾರ್ಯ ನಡೆದಿದೆ. ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಗಾದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದೇ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಬಹುದಾಗಿದೆ. ಪ್ರೊ. ರಾಮೆಗೌಡರ "ನಮ್ಮ ಗಾದೆಗಳು", ಪ್ರೊ. ಕಾಳೆಗೌಡ ನಾಗವಾರರ "ಬೀದಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಬೆಳೆದೊ" ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಸಂಗ್ರಹವಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ನಮಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿರುವ ಗಾದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅದರ ಸಾಮಜಿಕ ಪರಿಸರ/ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಿಸುವ ಕಾರ್ಯವೊಂದು ನಡೆಯಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ ಎನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಸಮಗ್ರ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಗಳುಳ್ಳ ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳು ಇವೆಯೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ, ನನಗಂತೂ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ. ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದರೆ, "ಅಂಥ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಬಂದಿಲ್ಲ ಸರ್" ಎನ್ನುವ ಉತ್ತರ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದೂ ಉಂಟು. ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರು, ವಿಧ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಗಳು ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಸಮಗ್ರ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕೈಹಾಕಿದರೆ ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಿಗಾಗುವ ಉಪಕಾರ ಅಷ್ಟಿಷ್ಟಲ್ಲ. ಅಂತಹ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನದ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಜಾನಪದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕೈಗನ್ನಡಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಜಾನಪದ ಪರಂಪರೆಯನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ದಾರಿಯ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಓದಿಗಾಗಿ:

"ಬೀದಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಬೆಳೇದೊ - ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನ" - ಪ್ರೊ. ಕಾಳೇಗೌಡ ನಾಗವಾರ, ಸಪ್ನಾ ಬುಕ್ ಹೌಸ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು.
"ನಮ್ಮ ಗಾದೆಗಳು" - ಪ್ರೊ. ರಾಮೇಗೌಡ, ಡಿ.ವಿ.ಕೆ. ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶನ, ಮೈಸೂರು.
"ಜಾನಪದ ಸ್ವರೂಪ" - ಹಾ. ಮಾ. ನಾಯಕ.
"ಜಾನಪದ: ಸ್ವರೂಪ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ" - ಪ್ರೊ. ಡಿ ಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಡಾ. ಕೆ. ಆರ್. ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರೆಡ್ಡಿ - ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್ತು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಕೆಲವು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ಗಾದೆಗಳು [ಗ್ರಂಥಋಣ: "ಜಾನಪದ: ಸ್ವರೂಪ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ"]
೧. ಸರಳವಾದ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ಹಾಸಿಗೆ ಇದ್ದಷ್ಟು ಕಾಲು ಚಾಚು.
ಮನಸ್ಸಿದ್ದರೆ ಮಾರ್ಗ.
ಹೊಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಣಸೆಹಣ್ಣು ತೊಳೆದಂತೆ.
ಕೂತು ತಿಂದರೆ ಕುಡಿಕೆ ಹೊನ್ನು ಸಾಲದು.

೨. ಪೌರಾಣಿಕ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ರಾಮರಾಜ್ಯ ಬಂದರೂ ರಾಗಿ ಬೀಸೋದು ತಪ್ಪಿತೆ?
ರಾತ್ರಿಯೆಲ್ಲಾ ರಮಯಣ ಕೇಳಿ, ಬೆಳಗಾಗೆದ್ದು ರಾಮಂಗೂ ಸೀತೆಗೂ ಏನು ಸಂಭಂಧ ಅಂತ ಕೇಳಿದಂಗೆ.
ಜಗಳದಿಂದ ಕೌರವರು ಕೆಟ್ಟರು, ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನಿಂದ ರಾವಣ ಕೆಟ್ಟ.

೩. ಐತಿಹ್ಯ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ರಾಮೇಶ್ವರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದರೂ ಶನೀಶ್ವರ ಬಿಡಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ತಿರುಪತಿ ಕ್ಷೌರಿಕರು ತಲೆ ಬೋಳಿಸಿದಂತೆ!
ಕಾಲವಲ್ಲದ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಗೆ ರಾಗಿ ತಿಂದಿತು.
ಮಣ್ಣೇ ನೋಡದ ತಾಯಿ ನೀನು ಮಾಗಡಿ ನೋಡೋದು ದಿಟವ?

೪. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ಮುಖ ನೋಡಿ ಮಣೆ ಹಾಕು.
ಬೆಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಚೆಲ್ಲಾಟ, ಇಲಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಣಸಂಕಟ.
ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೂ ಬಂದೆಯಾ ಜಡೆಶಂಕರ?
ಅತ್ತೆಗೊಂದು ಕಾಲ, ಸೊಸೆಗೊಂದು ಕಾಲ.
ಮನೆಗೆ ಮಾರಿ, ಪರರಿಗೆ ಉಪಕಾರಿ.
ತಿರ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಬಂದ್ರು ಕರ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಉಣ್ಣು.
ಅನ್ಯಾಯದ ಗಳಿಕೆ ಅಡವೀ ಪಾಲು

೫. ನೀತಿ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ಅಡಿಕೆಗೆ ಹೋದ ಮಾನ ಆನೆ ಕೊಟ್ರೂ ಬರದು.
ಕಿಡಿ ಸಣ್ಣಾದಾದ್ರು ಕಾಡು ಸುಡಬಲ್ಲದು.
ಕುಲ ಬಿಟ್ಟರೂ ಛಲ ಬಿಡಬಾರದು.
ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಕುದಿಬಾರ್ದು ಇಟ್ಟು ಹಂಗಿಸಬಾರ್ದು.
ಜಾತಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟರೂ ನೀತಿ ಬಿಡಬಾರದು.
ಜ್ಯೋತಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಮನೇಲಿ ನೀತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ.

೬. ಕೌಟುಂಬಿಕ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ತಾಯಿಗಿಂತ ಬಂಧುವಿಲ್ಲ, ಉಪ್ಪಿಗಿಂತ ರುಚಿಯಿಲ್ಲ.
ಅಳಿಯಾ ಮನೆ ತೊಳಿಯಾ!
ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಕುಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಗೆ.
ಅಳಿಯನ ಅರಮನೆಗಿಂತ ಮಗನ ಕಿರಿಮನೆ ಲೇಸು.
ಅತ್ತೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಮನೇಲಿ ಸೊಸೆ ಬಿತ್ತಾರಿ!
ತುಂಬಿದ ಕೆರೇನೂ, ತುಂಬಿದ ಮನೇನೂ ಒಡಿಬಾರದು.

೭ ಸಾಹಿತ್ತಿಕ ಗಾದೆಗಳು

ಒಲಿದರೆ ನಾರಿ, ಮುನಿದರೆ ಮಾರಿ.
ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಅಗೆದು ಇಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದ ಹಾಗೆ.
ಎಳಿಲಾರದ ಎತ್ತು, ಮೆಳೇ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿತ್ತು.

ನಿಮಗೆ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಗಾದೆಗಳು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ commentsನಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿಸಿ, ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಗಾದೆಗಳ ಪಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿ!
ಈ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ಸಂಪದದಲ್ಲೂ ಓದಬಹುದು.

Roots of "Curry Bashing" and the way forward

2009-06-24T19:06:00.001+05:30

Though we still call recent incidents in Australia as "alleged racist attacks", one cannot deny the involvement of "racist elements" in such incidents, especially when it happens so often. According to some long term observers, the problem of so called "curry bashing" is nothing new in Australia [The term 'curry bashing' is generally used for describing verbal or physical attacks on Indians]. "Outside the classroom, Indian students are said to have been subjected to either verbal abuse or robbery by apparent gangsters. The brutal attack on Sravan Kumar Theerthala in a Melbourne suburb outraged Indian students [frontline]" which led to widespread protests on the streets of Melbourne and the subsequent events immediately caught the attention of rest of the world. Every event of "curry bashing" becoming much more than a cameraman's delight.

Ever since Australian shores started attracting Indians for higher studies and jobs, alleged racist attacks have been reported in Australia. The situation is not so unique in Australia. Such incidents have been taking place in countries like US, UK, Germany, France and some African and Gulf countries also. Alleged racial attacks in Australia have raised the same old question for which every one of us would like to know the answer: Why such attacks? Is it because every continent has it's own "Homo Sapien" species? Is it because our history hasn't taught us the value of peaceful coexistence? Is it because Darwinian theory of "Struggle for existence" still apply to humans?

The answer to such questions is deep rooted in educational, economical, historical and sociological factors.

Firstly, We have IITs, IIMs, and many other reputed universities, but they are simply not sufficient. There is no dearth of talent in India but we need institutes like those in Australia, US, UK etc to channelize our talent so that it can benefit not only the individuals but also the society as a whole. Recently ASSOCHAM has reported that, Students’ exodus costs India a foreign exchange (forex) outflow of $10 billion which is sufficient to setup 20 more premier institutions like IITs and IIMs. UPA government's initiative to set up new IITs and central universities is a welcome move but if those new institutions do not get significant funds for any reason, we cannot obviate the need of students going abroad for higher studies.

Secondly, our growing economy has enabled more people to pursue higher studies abroad if they don't get into their dream universities in India. More over, our knowledge workers have turned out to be cheap labors and they have deprived the job opportunities in foreign countries for their own people. And hence the hatred unconsciously finds it's expression in terms of racial abuse in many plural societies like Australia.

Thirdly, our history has taught us to be proud of our past. We don't want to believe that one country's historical past is just as important as our own. "Their past had been excellent but future is full of intense competition which is extra-individualistic. In the present global financial regime, every one, may it be individual or nation has to find a place for itself not on the basis of its past but on the basis of its present [source]." Surge of Chinese and Indian economy is shaping the contemporary economic history. The lenders (developed countries) of past are becoming borrowers at present. The resultant feeling attached to it, whatever form it may take, cannot be ruled out.

Fourthly, our sociological identity has gained significant importance ever since the colonial rule was uprooted. "The European Countries are finding their erstwhile colonies rubbing shoulders in gatherings at International forums. The sense of hatred which had these centuries been harboring unconsciously precipitates in their mind and find expression in such abhorrable acts of racial attacks [source]."

Finally, our ethics and morality finds no place in our quest for "more". The questions of ethics and morality float only when we start contemplating about an event (like those in Australia) which shouldn't have happened. Unfortunately thats the harsh reality of life.

The way forward:
We are living in a society where physical boundaries have no meaning, thanks to information revolution. Though we cannot rule out the need to go abroad for studies, we must be conscious of foreign country's culture, customs and law of the land. Our own constitution denies many rights to persons who are not citizens. It is obvious that other countries will have their own rules for those who come to their shores. As a result, in alien country, there are some things which we can do and some things we cannot. It is unacceptable for any student or a group to believe that they can take the law into their own hands and engage in so-called retribution attacks or vigilante action. Keeping those aspects in mind, those who go abroad for studies must focus on their primary objective, i.e. higher studies, rest all must be secondary. We may face certain situations where our tolerance will be tested. But, our balanced kind of mind can obviate provocation and hence prevent some serious events like racist attacks.

On the other hand, countries who encourage foreign students to study in their country must have a strong machinery or institution which can detect and prevent the incidents of racism. Fairness of legal system and judicial intervention alone cannot sort out the problems of students. Racist acts at public places like restaurants, entertainment avenues, or any place outside the classroom must be punished with stringent laws/actions. Creating round the clock helpline, grievance redressal forum, multicultural police force are a welcome move and should be strengthened further.

If a foreign country can treat visiting students with a sense of respect and if the visiting students can show a sense of tolerance, there cannot be a room for conflicts. Thus, there is a "need" for "some balance".

Read More:

Anguish in Australia - Frontline.
Assocham report.
Racist attacks on Indians: Myth and reality.
'Curry bashing' time Down Under - Hindustan Times.
2009 attacks on Indian students in Australia - Wiki.

Death of Ealam Tigers : A Post-mortem

2009-06-09T01:50:00.000+05:30

Lankan forces might have killed the Tigers but not their ideology. One cannot deny the fact that, conflict of this magnitude cannot happen without the genuine demands/concerns on both sides. On one hand Sri Lankan Tamils and other minorities had a genuine reason for their struggle, i.e. demand for equality, dignity and decent standards of living. On the other hand democratically elected government at Colombo cannot be a mute spectator for intolerable violence practiced and propagated by LTTE; simply because security of citizen is the first responsibility of government. Lankan crisis is yet another example of class conflict based on language and ethnicity. Unless equality among Lankans is promoted with vigor, there is no reason to believe that another breed of Tigers cannot be born.

1. Roots of Hatred
Sri Lanka secured independence (1948) from British through peaceful negotiations. No one then would have imagined that a mere disagreement in choosing official language could one day lead to huge humanitarian crisis in the island nation. From 1936 to 1944, Lankan leaders favored English for the official language. However, president J.R. Jayawardene (in 1944) favored Sinhala for official language. Prime minister Bandaranaike's proactive move towards making Sinhala as official language led to the passage of "Sinhala Only Act, 1956", which ultimately sown the seeds of ethnic riots. The civil war is a direct result of the escalation of the confrontational politics that followed.

Since then, Sri Lankan minority communities feel that, they had been discriminated by successive majority Sinhalese governments in Colombo. Many youngsters, with the support of diaspora around the world, formed a group to fight against alleged discrimination against Tamils and other minorities. This was the time when "Sun God" - Velupillai Prabhakaran's Tamil New Tigers (1972) was born, which ultimately led to the formation of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1976. Since then, [take a look at chronology of events], several leaders including president Ranasinghe Premadasa, Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and over 80,000 civilians and millitary personnel were killed in the civil war. Peace was contemplated through negotiations but was never achieved.

2. Tigers dragged their feets
Starting from negotiations at Thimpu, Bhutan in 1985, till 2002's ceasefire agreement, brokered by Norway, LTTE always dragged it's feet over one or other issue. LTTE rejected an offer from former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, which provided powers of devolution (a federal solution) and attempted to assassinate her in 1999. After ceasefire agreement in 2002, LTTE signaled willingness to discuss a federal solution. But in 2003, it pulled out of talks after six rounds of negotiations, citing inadequate steps taken to rebuild war-hit areas. "By accepting no compromise and by continuing to use tactics such as assassinations of perceived 'enemies of the cause' and violent retribution, the LTTE brought about its own doom. [EPW, May 30, 2009]."

3. Heightened frustration
Colombo had already lost many of its leaders and thousand of civilians. Assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in February 2005 further escalated it's frustration. In the run-up to the November 2005 presidential election, president Mahinda Rajapaksa promised that he would fight Tigers to the finish. In August 2006, Rajapaksa and his core group made a political resolve to launch a "fight-to-finish" campaign against the Tigers. In the same year, "The LTTE provided the much-needed excuse for the assault when its cadre closed down the Mavil Aru sluice gates in the east, denying water to more than 30,000 civilians. The presidential core team in the campaign included his younger brother and Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and the army chief, Lt Gen. Sarath Fonseka, both of whom had scores to settle with the Tigers (Both had survived assassination attacks earlier).... The Defence Secretary and the army chief proved to be a lethal combination for the LTTE [Frontline]."

4. Fight to finish
"Despite a systematic shelling and bombing campaign that killed thousands of civilians, the Sri Lankan army did not receive anything more than token disapproval or humanitarian appeals from the international community. The Sri Lankan government's ruthless drive to vanquish the "terrorist" LTTE was never halted in the final phase of war by an international community tired of "terror" - a stigma that LTTE carried for its past actions [EPW, May 30, 2009]" On April 26, 2009, LTTE declared a unilateral ceasefire as government forces surround an ever shrinking "no-fire-zone". Colombo rejected the declaration and called it a "joke". On May 18, 2009, V. Prabhakaran, the "Sun God" was finally set. Signalling the end of civil war between Sri Lankan government and LTTE. The vicotry rallies and celebrations due to "Sun God's" death does not hide the enormity of challenges ahead for Rajapaksa and his successors.

5. Post war Challenges
Immediate post war challenge for Rajapaksa government is rehabilitation of more that 150,000 internally displaced civilians. President Rajapaksa has promised that he would complete the rehabilitation process within six months. Even though it sounds ambitious, it is not impossible if international community steps in and help expedite the process. Though Rajapaksa was successful in his "fight-to-finish" campaign against the Tigers, the roots of the conflict cannot be uprooted so soon. Lankan government must address genuine grievances of the Tamils. Present and future administrations at Colombo must make sincere efforts for the welfare of Tamils and other minorities. "Anything short of a federal setup that grants political rights for the oppressed Tamil population would only lead to a further festering of the deep wounds from years of marginalization and alienation of Tamils."

If Rajapaksa and his successors does not make sincere efforts to promote equality, dignity and decent standards of living for Tamils and other minorities, "the seeds would be sown for another militant organization - one that would have learnt from the past mistakes of theLTTE - espousing complete separation [EPW]."

A beacon of democracy surrounded by an ocean of uncertainties

2009-05-18T10:23:00.003+05:30

It is remarkable that Indian electorate has simultaneously clipped the wings of "Left" and "Right" while rewarding pro-poor policies coupled with Dr. Singh's strategic approach to "make market work" for India. In some states like West Bengal, I am not sure if the electorate had voted for Congress but they definitely voted against parties who had been seen by voters as spoilers. Nevertheless, at this hour of history, Congress is entitled to take all the credit for the outcome.

It is even more remarkable to note that, India has survived yet another test of democracy. When charismatic Vajpayee's government was defeated in 2004, despite his exceptional leadership, he accepted the verdict humbly and said, "It is always with the will of the people that governments have been formed - and changed. This power of democracy is a matter of pride for our country, something which we must always cherish, preserve and further strengthen..." Our faith in democracy has made India a beacon of democracy surrounded by an ocean of uncertainties.

The immediate challenges ahead of UPA government are "global economic meltdown", "troubles in India's neighborhood" and safety & security. Now that Left is out, Congress can get things done easily at home and it can now focus more on pursuing long term strategic foreign policies. Verdict of 2009's general elections is decisive not only for India but also for the world. Given the kind of uncertainties in South Asea and middle east, the world wanted stable government in Delhi so that India can play a significant role in establishing peace and tranquility in the region. Indian voters have done exactly the right thing by rewarding UPA.

Quite often, "Left" and "Right" wings in India overestimated Dr. Manmohan Singh as an economist and underestimated his abilities as a politician. I think, he has an unusual brand of politics. To strike a balance between coalition partners, Sonia Gandhi's powerful influence and his own position as the de-facto head of the government is never an easy task. I think he has done that successfully. More over, The internal politics of Congress is much more complicated than Indian politics. If one can survive that, he cannot be a weak politician. During 90s, in the era of protectionism and India's own brand of socialism, he was able to convince the leaders about market friendly approach. Yet again, his impeccable position on Indo-US nuclear deal has established his strength and proved his far reaching vision. Only time can prove his political strength as it proved his strength as an economist.

One can only hope that, this victory of democracy will bring much needed peace and stability in the region.

Important Info you may need on election day

2009-04-22T11:37:00.003+05:30

Very soon, "shut up and vote!" will become a new cliché, thanks to the youth of Youngistan who are determined to vote this time, no matter what! Enough has been already spoken about elections and I am sure every one of us don't need more of that since we all want to shut up and vote. Good to know that. Here are some crucial information which may help you on election day (lets call it E-Day!).

Poll dates: 23rd April, 2009 (Bangalore), 30th April in few other parts of Karnataka, See rest of the elections schedule here.
Poll timing: between 8AM to 5PM.
Find your polling booth

You can find the location on google special page for General elections 2009 or Election commission website or search here. Check out the example below.
You can find the route map on google election page or here.

To know more about the candidates. Click Here .
To know more about political parties' manifestos: There is a detailed comparison done by The Hindu, check that out here. download in pdf.
IMPORTANT: Carry your voter ID card.

Update: If your name is included in electoral roll and if you don't have your Voter ID (EPIC), don't worry, you can still vote if you produce other ID proofs like Driving license, passport, etc..

Last but not the least, your vote may be one in millions but it's important that you make it count. Get the mark of democracy on your finger!

Example to find your electoral details on google election page.
Step - 1:

Step -2:

Step-3:

Talibanization of 'Switzerland of Pakistan'

2009-04-09T02:12:00.001+05:30

"With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, Swat Valley is a place of great natural beauty that used to be popular with tourists as the Switzerland of Pakistan". It's even called as "Switzerland of East" because of it's attractive geography. "It's pristine beauty,snow capped mountains, rivers and rare Buddhist archaeological sites are known all over the world." It was an important tourist destination and major socio cultural center before it was captured by Taliban. Today, "Switzerland of Pakistan" is Taliban's battle ground for Islamic fundamentalists. The roots of Talibanization in Swat Valley can be traced to cold war politics.

The Cold War saw periods of heightened tensions and the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989) was one of them. Soviet Union forces were supporting the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government against the Mujahideen resistance. Mujahideens in Afghanistan were actively supported by United States and Pakistan extended all possible support to help Mujahideens win over Soviet forces. Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Operation Cyclone is one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken. United states engaged general Zia-ul-Huq to fight a US-aided war by proxy in Afghanistan against the Soviets. Zia now found himself in a position to demand billions of dollars in aid for the Mujahideen from the Western states. Ronald Reagan's government met all his expectations. Pakistan continued to fight proxy war which in no way benefited it's people. "The war left deep scars to the Pakistani society with the menace of Kalashnikov (AK-47 assault rifle) culture spreading all over the country.

Many Afghan Mujahideen later converted to new forms of Jihadist outfits in the shape of Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the early 1990s. The Pakistan and US trained Arab and Afghan fighters later in 2001 initiated a 'Jihad' against US. The links of the spectacular and deadly events of September 11 attack were deeply rooted in the Soviet-Afghan war. Osama bin Laden invested his inherited money into the Soviet-Afghan war to fight the 'infidel communist power' and was abetted by CIA, ISI, US and Pakistani military establishments for over 10 years.[wiki]"

Today, the children of Cold War politics have matured enough to threaten those who had nurtured them. Pakistan and it's friends refer those (strong) insurgency groups as "non-state actors". "According to USA, a plethora of non-state armed group have been engaged in violent struggle in Pakistan after the end of Cold War. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Harkat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI), Harkat ul-Mujahidin (HuM), Harkat ul-Ansar, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-taiba (LeT), etc... are just to name few of them. The so called non-state actors, with the help of "elements" within the state structure, are as powerful and influential as the Pakistani state." The real state within the state of Pakistan is not the ISI but the jihadist network in Pakistan's hinterland. The power of jihadist in Pakistan is so pervasive that, despite the presence of 20,000 Pakistani troops in the valley, (so called) democratic leaders had to be on their knees to surrender Swat Valley, the "Switzerland of Pakistan". Undoubtedly, Talibanization of Swat Valley is going to be one of the defining moment in balancing the power equation in Pakistan.

Rules of Taliban in Swat Valley directly conflict with natural justice. Simply because, stricter interpretation of Islamic laws contradict the natural laws. Poverty, coupled with apathy towards modern education are fundamental reasons behind the current mess in Swat. This may sound rhetoric, unfortunately that's the ground reality. The only pragmatic way to overcome the mess in Pakistan is to bring the political stability through democratic institutions. Pakistan needs time to clean up the mess created by it's dictators in the past (more on this here and here). Passing the blame on Pakistani state is not going to do any good, the world must compassionately understand the situation and help Pakistan to realize it's political stability. Long term paths of eradicating poverty, modern education along side the religious education should be pursued with greater vigor and tenacity.

'Bhay ho' ki Jai ho?

2009-04-04T11:39:00.002+05:30

"In an apparent attempt to pull the plug on Congress's 'Jai Ho' campaign, BJP has released a parody of the 'Slumdog Millionaire' song called 'Bhay Ho' which describes how the nation has been facing 'bhay' (fear), 'bhookh' (hunger) and 'aatank' (terrorism) over the past five years [TOI]." BJP claims that, "Bhay ho" is not an official video but was sent by party sympathizer. "Even as the saffron party opposed the idea of the Slumdog Millionaire child artists campaigning for Congress, calling it a "mockery of poverty", the short film, Bhay ho, features two street children Nagarjun and Durga singing the song [IE]." Take a look.

BJP's Bhay ho! ad, composed by the local band.

Congress's Jai ho! ad, composed by the oscar winning band!

There was a widely circulated SMS after Slumdog millionaire's huge success. It read, "the credit for Slumdog Millionaire getting Oscar awards should go to India's ruling Congress party because without years of Congress rule there would not have been slums in India." Congress quickly bought the rights of Jai ho for it's election campaigning. By then, L.K. Advani's tech wizards had already flooded internet with BJP's campaign ads. This year's general election has brought technology and innovation into politics. More over, there is no dearth of money for month long festival of democracy. "Various political parties are expected to spend about Rs 1,650 crores from their party funds, which would include about Rs 1,000 crores from the two main parties -- Congress and BJP alone. In addition to spending by parties, candidates of the national parties are estimated to put in Rs 4,350 crores, while those from the regional parties are expected to spend another Rs 1,000 crores [Outlook]." More over, simultaneous assembly elections in couple of states will pump in more money into the system. Unofficial/unaccounted money is expected to reach unprecedented heights. While the estimated spending of election commission will be around Rs. 1,300 crores, Rs 700 crores will be spent by various central and state government agencies for purposes like photo identity cards, EVMs and polling booth.

No matter who wins the election, this election stimulus package will pump in more money into the system. With inflation rate kissing the zero mark, Aam Admi will have more money in his hand, thanks to generous political parties. Elections ki Jai Ho!

Why can't our Netas love to debate in parliament than on TV?

2009-03-27T15:24:00.002+05:30

Recently, BJP's prime ministarial candidate L K Advani challenged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a live TV debate similar to the practice in US. In the era of news hungry media, Advani Vs Manmohan Singh television debate can surely raise voters' eyebrows. More over, television channels are sitting on the edge to host such debates. "Live and exclusive only on your channel", would surely bag more viewers. One of my colleague commenting on this issue humorously said, "Rajdeep Sardesai would be happy to fuel mud slinging between the two by asking obvious controversial questions. Arnab Goswamy would ensure that both leader will quarrel each other openly. And Barkha Dutt would make sure she will gain more publicity than the debate itself!"

India has been contemplating on prime ministerial television debate for quite some time. Though such debates in India might not decide the winnability of a leaders but will definitely put their abilities to test. It would be unfair to say that, "If United States is using such device (TV debate) since the era of Abraham Lincoln, why can't India have it?" The issue must be looked at from two different perspectives. Firstly, the democratic culture in India and US are different. Secondly, the pros and cons of such debates must be appreciated in Indian context.

Difference in democratic culture
In united states the executive (i.e. the president) is neither the member of Congress (i.e. US parliament) nor he is responsible to it. American constitution had denied the president an opportunity to debate in Congress on day to day matters owing to the principle of separation of powers between executive, judiciary and Congress. But he can only address the Congress if required. Thus, in America the president lacks a constitutional platform for regular debate with opposition leaders. Hence, president's public addresses on television or otherwise will have tremendous impact on dynamics of American politics.

However, in India, the position is quite opposite. The prime minister, the de-facto head of state, is not only the member of parliament but also responsible to it for his policies. More over, prime minister is invariably the leader of the house to which he was elected. Our prime minister, like in Britain, has the luxury of constitutional platform for debates on day to day matters with opposition leaders. More over, the debates are broadcasted live on television and the public will have access to archives of parliamentary debates. His appearance on television is largely aimed at reaching a 'section' of masses through the media.

The parliament provides Indian prime minster a bigger platform to defend his policies and also explain to the whole nation about entire gamut of his governance. Also, the opposition leader has sufficient opportunity to criticize the government on it's policies and programs. Thus, in India, parliamentary debates obviate the need for television debates. More over, the questions asked in parliament makes the whole executive excessively cautious and careful. Question hour in parliament is a greatest strength of parliamentary democracy and it's importance can be ignored by the leader only at his peril.

How far our prime minister and leader of opposition make use of the parliamentary platform for debates is another aspect. Fortunately, Our prime ministers in the past, from Pandit Nehru to Vajpayee, took great interest in parliamentary debates and Dr. Manmohan Singh is no different. More over, important discussions, criticism of government in the parliament receives wide publicity in the media, print as well as electronic.

TV debates in Indian context
Despite the constitutional platform for public debates, the role of television media in modern era cannot be underestimated. It has a significant potential to evaluate the leaders. But, in India, there are equally significant hurdles. First and foremost is the language barrier. Unlike in United states, Indians are linguistically diverse. We speak hundreds of languages and constitution itself recognizes 18 of them as official languages. In fact our national language, Hindi, is spoke only by 30% of the population. The debate in one particular language keeps away the people from such debates if they do not know that language. Even if the debates are appropriately translated, they might not draw the same emotions and feelings as in the original language. More over, the debates involving western educated, english speaking leaders will hardly reach 1% of the population through media. For example, Dr.Manmohan Singh's speach in Hindi, may not be understood by majority of Tamilians, Kannadigas and others. Many of us are aware of Shashi Tharoor's unquestionable debating skills (in english). But, how far that skill can fetch him the votes in Malayalam heartland?

Second problem is, unlike in US, the relatively low level of education in India. Inflation, recession, credit crisis, etc.. may be buzzwords in the news media. How many in our country actually understand the debates on economic situation? How many farmers would understand the effect of credit crisis in Indian market? Many statements (from Dr.Singh's team of economists) filled with economic indicators like inflation rate, CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, etc are still an unsolvable puzzles to many. More over, how many of us actually understand the cryptic legal texts? or at least know the general provisions of related legal acts? The debates full of such information can make no difference to the people.

Thirdly, Indian politics has moved far from unipolar Congress dominated politics to multi polar politics. We speak of third and even fourth front! Growth of regional parties and subsequent growth of opportunism in politics brings down the quality of such debates. It may even create hatred feeling among the people due to open mud slinging. More over, media is even more opportunistic to fuel such mud slinging in TV debates for it's own commercial reasons.

Lastly, there may be other reasons, like various parties have their own spokes persons who regularly debates with their counter parts in other parties on television media. Also, our prime minister may be media shy, but his knowledge, experience and work itself speaks volumes, though Madam Gandhi's influence cannot be denied.

Despite all such barriers, importance of prime ministarial debates cannot be underestimated. They will play an important, if not decisive, role in educating people (at least educated urban section of the population). At this moment, prime ministarial debate, if it happens, will be nothing more than a serious entertainment. But, it will surely be a precursor to it's bigger role in the future.

Third front never had a strong back, history will repeat

2009-03-19T13:43:00.006+05:30

Third fronts in the past are known for being "ideologically loose and opportunistic". Many parties with diverse political ideologies joined hands without any common vision. They neither had charismatic leader like Atal Bihari Vajpayee to glue the parties together nor they had dynastic leadership like in Congress which can still appeal to the people and parties.

Third fronts in the past were also known for internal differences within the coalition. Morarji Desai had a rival in Charan Singh within Janata Party, VP Singh had rival in Chandrashekhar within National Front, Deve Gowda had to transfer the power to IK Gujral to appease Congress, only to loose it's support subsequently. Though Jyoti Babu (Basu) could have been a better prime minister than Deve Gowda, CPI's Polit Bureau made "historical blunder" by not letting him become PM. This time around, Deve Gowda, a familiar face at third front get togethers, played a key role in forming the latest version of third front. We have plenty of prime ministerial candidates to keep the differences on!

More over, third front lacks common vision and objectives. The only stated objective of third front so far is to form a non-Congress non-BJP government at the center. Third front feel that, NDA and UPA governments in past have created a hatred feeling in the minds of people due to their policies which (allegedly) failed to deliver. Is this nothing but a failed history in making?

Every time the third alternative was born in India, it was when there was hatred against ruling government. While at power, third alternative could neither nullify the hatred nor it could deliver what it had promised. Instead, it created more hatred in the minds of people against the government. Subsequently it was either Congress or BJP who gained due to the hatred created by third front. A quick look at the history tells us the story.

In 1977, Janata Party government (headed by Morarji Desai) was installed after much hatred created by infamous autocratic (emergency) rule by madam (Indira) Gandhi. Result was, fall of Janata Party government owing to failed policies and internal differences. In 1980, Disgusted voters brought Madam Gandhi again at the helm. Beneficiary? Congress.
In 1989 general elections, Congress was thoroughly defeated owing to infamous Bofors Scnadal. National Front (headed by V.P Singh) formed the government with outside support from BJP and Left, to keep Congress out of power. BJP took advantage of the outside support and continued to pursue its own agenda. Rath Yatra, Babri Masjid demolition, Reservation of backward classes, insurgencies in Punjab and Kashmir, forced VP Singh to resign. Hatred created by National Front government coupled with Rajiv Gandhi's assassination sympathy votes, Congress again emerged triumphant. This time both Congress and BJP gained significantly.
In 1996, though BJP emerged as a single largest party, it failed to form government. To keep BJP out of power, United Front(headed by Deve Gowda and IK Gujranl) formed the government with outside support from Congress. Congress successfully flirted with United front to finally see its fall in 1998. Beneficiary? Subsequent general elections in 1998 and 1999 favored BJP and finally brought Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA at the helm.
In 2008, eight political parties grouped to form a transient coalition called United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA). It was a short lived love affair and dissolved/split after 2008 presidential elections. Though Samajawadi Party supported UNPA for President Kalam's candidacy, it later joined UPA and supported it in Trust vote.
On March 12, 2008 yet another Third Front was born "with Deve Gowda, a familiar face at such get-togethers, playing the host at Tumkur in Karnataka". A failed history in waiting? time is the only answer

Way ahead and possibilities

As in the past, we cannot rule out surprise results in 15th general election. Here are few possibilities with respect to third front.

If third front come to power without outside support from BJP/Congress: In case this happens, there will be a familiar chaos as it was in the past. So far, there is no consensus on leadership, seat sharing, future programs, no common vision and of course, no common political ideology. The struggle for power within the coalition will continue to widen the rift between it's partners. The manifesto of CPI is confusing, it talks about strong market regulation as it was in pre 1991 era, prohibition of FDI in retail, renewed Non-Aligned movement, anti US policies, right to strike for govt employees, etc.. This may not be acceptable to other partners. Even if there is a compromise formula, the ideological barrier of Left parties will continue to create differences within Third Front. As in the past, we may see short lived government at the center and subsequent fresh elections (if any) will help either BJP or Congress for sure.
If third front come to power with outside support from Congress/BJP: In this case, Congress/BJP (depending on who supports them) will have virtual control on the government's policies. Congress will continue to pursue it's aspirations of breaking the third front within as it did in the past. BJP will continue to pursue it's Hindutva agenda and will have renewed 'Operation Lotus ' at national level. Again, as the history suggests, third front will end up strengthening Congress/BJP.
Third front with Mayawati at the helm: Though her Dalit/Woman leadership background appeals to third front, it will be difficult for her to win over rest of the parties in third front. If she does, Madam (Indira) Gandhi's rule can again tell us the story. Indira Gandhi's conviction in electoral malpractice case in Allahabad high court resulted in widespread political unrest followed by emergency. Mayawati is already facing cases due to her (allegedly) misappropriate personal wealth. Her party has already seen corrupt law makers and some even have criminal background. More over, opportunistic nature of other parties may lead to (anticipated) chaos in running the government. Its difficult to say if her government completes five year term.
If NDA/UPA forms government, current third front will be yet another transient conglomeration of political parties ending up strengthening two main stream parties.

Even though third front in the past has it's own failed story, it wasn't a failure altogether. It has it's own significance. Every time the third front was born, it alerted main stream parties to learn from their own mistakes. It strengthened the democratic education in the elections. 1977, 1999 elections were the best examples. People in India took lot of interest to keep the notorious leaders out of power. Parties in third front have their own dominance in states and the government at center cannot completely ignore them. Because, government knows, their collective (bargaining) power cannot be ruled out. whether or not third front forms the government, it's legacy will only strengthen the democratic culture in our country.

Read More:

A chronicle of failed Third Fronts in past.
The Third Front problem - Coomy Kapoor.
What Front? - Sankarshan Thakur, Tehelka.
Left's contempt for change is incongruous in a country shouting Chak De India!
Third fronts in the past: National Front, United Front, United National Progressive Alliance.
CPI(M) Manifesto for 15th general elections - 1/3rd of it tells the failed story of UPA/NDA.

Women's Reservation Bill - Not yet a dead letter "again"

2009-03-07T14:07:00.002+05:30

There is a significant section of citizen and lawmakers having "mental reservations against reservation of seats for women in the Parliament and state Assemblies." Some are of the opinion that, "Women's reservation bill itself is a bias towards women" and they would be happier "if women could stand up for their rights on the basis of merit, and not on the basis of reservations." There are others who see this bill as a history in making. If the bill is passed, it would complete the "U turn" (of women's status) beginning with equal status in the ancient times to the oppressed state of women in medieval India and finally marching towards equality of woman in the modern democracy. And there are some political opportunists who demand for "quota with the quota".

Those who oppose the bill must understand that the equality of opportunity must be seen in historical and constitutional context. There was a time when women expected nothing but oppression and discrimination in the society. Today, there is a need for "positive discrimination" for attaining gender equality. On the other hand, those who demand for urgent passage of the bill must understand the constitutional context of the bill. The proposed women's reservation bill requires a constitutional amendment and it must be ratified by 50% of state legislatures. More over, 14th Lok Sabha's parliamentary sessions are already over. This does not mean that, the proposed reservation bill has reached the dead end. There is still some hope and this is a good omen.

Earlier, 3 unsuccessful attempts were made by introducing women's Reservation Bill "in Lok Sabha".

Women's Reservation Bill [Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill, 1996] was first introduced in the parliament on 12th September, 1996 by H.D. Deve Gowda's government. The bill did not get pass the hurdles of parliament. Mr. Gowda's government reduced to minority and subsequently 11th lok sabha was dissolved and hence the bill lapsed.
In 1998, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government made another attempt by introducing the Women's Bill [Constitution (84th Amendment) Bill, 1998]. Ironically, this time too, the bill was lapsed because 12th loka sabha had to be dissolved prematurely; Vajpayee's government reduced to minority!
Yet another attempt was made on December 23, 1999 with the introduction of the Bill in the Lower House. But this bill also could not be pursued due to lack of political consensus[source].

4th attempt, a tactical move
Again, on May 6th, 2008, UPA government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh introduced the fresh bill "in Rajaya Sabha". This was the tactical move by UPA, that even if 14the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the passage of bill, it will not be a dead letter. Because, according to Article 107(4) of the constitution, the bill pending in Council of States (i.e. Rajya Sabha) which has not been passed by the House of the People (i.e. Lok Sabha) shall not lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People. Thus, Women's Reservation bill pending in Rajya Sabha will not lapse even if UPA government's term end after the general elections. The new Lok Sabha constituted after elections can still pass the same bill if it is passed by Rajya Sabha.

More over, the Parliamentary conventions in India demand that, the constitutional amendment bill must be thouroughly scrutinized by Parliamentary Standing Committees, so that, any discrepancies in the bill can be resolved and cooperation of the state legislatures can be sought. Thus the committe headed by MP Shri E M Sudarshana Natchiappan was constituted to study the proposed bill and make recommendations. The committe got three extensions to submit it's reports, the latest one was granted on March 5th, 2009. It has to report before the constitution of the 15th Lok Sabha after the general elections. Once the report is out, the new government can take a decision on the bill and it will have 5 years to pass the bill.

Clear possibilities
Whoever come to power after general elections, I think, there won't be any significant hurdles to the passage of the bill. Three cases possible.

If UPA come to power again: UPA would be happy to resolve the conflicts/concerns regarding bill and it would make all the efforts to see that bill is passed, after all it was introduced by UPA government.
If NDA come to power: BJP is alread raising the voice to support 33% reservation for women, in fact BJP were the first to demand reservation for women at Baroda convention in the late 1980s. More over it's allies (not all though) are also speaking for the reservation. The opposition then, the Congress led UPA, would not oppose the bill too.
If the Third Front come to power: The architect of the proposed third front, Mannina Maga (Son of the soil), Mr. HD Deve Gowda would be happy to facilitate the passage of bill, after all it was he who floated the idea of women reservation bill in parliament way back in 1996. Good news is that most of the third front allies are inclined towards the bill.

So, no matter who rules the country after general election, the women reservation bill will not become a dead letter unless there is widespread political and public apathy. That won't happen because political parties will make this an election issue and citizen/pro-women activists will be more than active to keep the discussion alive.

Quota within quota issue & the solution
Despite such positive hopes, there is one road block to the bill, "Quota within quota" issue i.e. reservation within reservation for Dalit women. Few parties want quota within the quota for Dalit women proportionate to their population. BJP is of the view that, "asking for quotas within quotas, as some are doing, will kill the bill since it may amount to rewriting the Constitution." It is most likely that, the issue can be solved under the light of Article 243-D(3) added by 73rd constitutional amendment. It states that, "Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat." Thus, solution to this problem (quota within quota) is already there in the constitution itself. It is just a matter of when Article 243-D(3) draws the attention of those who are demanding quota within quota!

Thus, it is too ealry to think that Women's reservation bill is a dead letter due to the dissolution of 14th Lok Sabha in the near future. If the next government takes interest in ensuring the safe passage of the bill, it will be one of most remarkable milestone in the history of democracy. After all, "The real test of democracy is the creation of equality of opportunity for the hitherto deprived sections of society .... Democracy in kitchen and bedroom goes hand in hand with democracy in Parliament and Panchayat. It has to become a way of life; it has to be adopted in literary vocabulary and in political discourse alike [Aysha Sumbul]."

Wishing you all a wonderful Women's Day!

Read More:

Women's Reservation Bill - The end of U turn? - Posted on 6th May, 2008.
Gender-less democracies - The Hindu, 07th March 2009.
Women’s Reservation Bill - A critique by Aysha Sumbul.
BJP's views on Women Reservation Bill.
Women in India on wikipedia.
Echoes Of Women’s Reservation Bill Outside Parliament.
Creamy Layer issue on wikipedia.

Electronic puff - A healthier alternative to smoking?

2009-03-01T13:25:00.003+05:30

I had gone to NIT Calicut in 2004-05, during my final year engineering, to attend a cultural fest (Ragam) there. Calicut was just an over night journey away from my college. I had a rare privilege of being in a group of experienced as well as novice smokers. They used to offer me a fag, but I religiously refused all the time. "Grow up man!", was their routine response to my refusal. Few of them used to say, "Dude, just try once and see yourself how it feels like...." I knew, that was the first step towards becoming a professional smoker. Nevertheless, after a prolonged contemplation, I finally decided to "Grow up!", as they said. There was definitely no dearth of people who could help me "grow up". One little puff was enough to take my breath away for a while. I coughed and coughed for five to ten minutes and finally came to the conclusion that, I will not "grow up (smoke)" for the rest of my life!

Later, I did learn quite a bit about smoking and it's consequences. Almost 3-4 years after 'NIT Calicut episode', I read something interesting about smoking and cigarette, to be precise, e-cigarette or say, e-smoking. E-cigarette is an alternative to traditional cigarette. "It is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized propylene glycol/nicotine solution. When a user inhales through the device, air flow is detected by a sensor, which activates a heating element that vaporizes a nicotine solution stored in the mouthpiece. It is this vapor that is inhaled by the user. An LED on the opposite end of the device is also activated during inhalation, which serves as an indicator of use, and also to simulate the glow of actual burning tobacco [wiki]." Take a look.

Companies who produce e-cigarette claim that,

Is is a healthiest alternative smoking products you will ever get!
There is no fire, no tar, no carbon monoxide, no ash, no stub.
It lets you enjoy and satisfy those tactile taste sensations without any risk on smoking and on tobacco.
Actually, you can smoke healthily without environmental pollution.
It can help you to quit nicotine without giving up the smoking habits.

But, World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider it to be a legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit. "The electronic cigarette is not a proven nicotine replacement therapy," said Dr Ala Alwan, Assistant Director-General of WHO's Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Cluster. "WHO has no scientific evidence to confirm the product's safety and efficacy. Its marketers should immediately remove from their web sites and other informational materials any suggestion that WHO considers it to be a safe and effective smoking cessation aid [Read More]."

Due to the relative newness of the technology and the possible relationship to tobacco laws, electronic cigarette legislation and public health investigations are currently pending in many countries [wiki]. Though e-cigarette is gaining ground around the world, there is an urgent need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analysis in order to prove the claims made by e-cigarette companies. Only after such studies and experimentations, e-cigarette can be brought under proper legal framework, if proved positive.

Whether e-cigarette becomes "healthier alternative" or not, quiting the smoking will definitely obviate the need for e-cigarette!

Read More:

E-Cigarette on Wikipedia.
Now for that electronic puff - The Hindu report.
WHO statement on e-cigarette, issued in September 2008.
More info on e-cigarette company sites: click here or here or check out Ruyan (which means "like smoking") site.
E-smoking in India - a report.

'Dil Se' kaho, Rahman and Slumdog ki Jai ho!

2009-02-23T11:55:00.003+05:30

Rahman has composed music for more than 130 films "but he remained relatively unknown in the United States until the unexpected success of Slumdog Millionaire." Rahman has finally bridged the gap between Indian and western audiences. The finest modern musician has won two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song categories. 'Dil Se' kaho, Rahman and Slumdog ki Jai ho!

"Like any good artist, A.R.Rahman is not a traditionalist, he's a revolutionary. He uses all the revolutionary things that come from all over the world in his stuff ... hip-hop beats, electronics .... and there's an incredible inquisitiveness and playfulness in his music.[Hans Zimmer]." "Jai Ho, or Victory to You" is a testimony to this. He has mixed Hindi lyrics and Indian pop melodies with influences from Arabic, Japanese and Spanish music.

"Sheer diversity of his styles: from Swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals", Rahman's music from Roja to Slumdog Millionaire has given lightening effect in the hearts of millions. He once said, "I can relate to the film because I take life positively and feel that even after great depression, something good will come out." A profound sense of humility and spirit incarnated in his music has lifted millions from the oblivion of sorrow to the summit of hope, love and possibilities. Themes he created for hundreds of movies have moved the emotions of millions. Not only his music, his journey filled with sheer determination and hard work will continue to inspire generations to come.

"Slumdog Millionaire is the work of an artist at the peak of his powers. India is Boyle’s palette, and Mumbai – that teeming “maximum city,” with 19 million strivers on the make, jostling, scheming, struggling, and killing for success – is his brush. The portrait that emerges has been executed with bold strokes, vivid colors, and striking images [Shashi Tharoor]."

Many "have protested that the film shows Indians as conniving, unprincipled, and ruthless, and that the only compassionate people in the film are a pair of white tourists who give the protagonist some money....If some of the larger-than-expected profits are directed toward the slums where the movie was made, the protestors are quite likely to fade away. What they want, after all, is a share of the glory [Project Syndicate]."

Even if Slumdog Millionaire had not swept the Oscars, it would have stayed in the mind's eye a long time.

Pakistan issue is deep rooted in historical mishaps - Part 2

2009-02-22T01:01:00.001+05:30

Most of us in India and around the world are very critical of Pakistan for it's apathy towards fighting terrorism. The blame game is not going to work neither for India or Pakistan nor for the world at large. Pakistan is a victim of successive leaders/dictators, right from Mohammad Ali Jinha to Pervaz Musharaff, who have attempted to rewrite it's history for their own narrow motives. The present civilian government is under tremendous pressure to act against terrorism on it's soil. On one hand, it cannot blame it's past for the present problems, on the other hand it cannot ignore the international pressure. After decades of repeated mistakes, Pakistan is finally realizing the fact that it's problems are deep rooted in it's own mishaps.

Read details of all misadventures of Pakistan and it's leaders in Part 1 of this article.

The roots of Pakistan's problems can be traced to undivided India's Freedom Movement. The "divide and rule" policy of British Raj, Mohammad Ali Jinha's differences with Congress and his own political ambitions, the infamous partition, Kashmir Conflict, Bangladesh liberation war (1971 Indo-Pak War), the cold war and subsequent balance of power in the world have all contributed to current mess in Pakistan.

Successive army dictators, from Ayub Khan to Pervaz Musharraf, "have attempted to rewrite this 'unfortunate country’s' history for their own narrow motives [Kamran Shafi]." Country's socio-economic development was given a backseat. Cultural developments were dominated/influenced by Shariat. Proxy wars fought by Pakistan resulted in widespread militancy and illicit drug trade. Prolonged political instabilities coupled with "military and ISI dominance" deprived the growth of democratic ideals. As a result, today, internal affairs of Pakistan are uncontrollable. The militants inside and around Pakistan have become exceptionally strong (blame it on US policies during cold war). Terrorists in Pakistan, once nurtured by United States and Pakistan, are becoming threat to the whole world. Pakistan's nuclear capabilities are adding to the fear and there is a clear apprehension of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists.

Today, the crisis in Pakistan is not because of the innocent civilians but because of it's rulers and their narrow motives. The problem in the region can never be solved by guns alone, India and rest of the world must understand that Pakistan's problem is deep rooted in cultural differences, socio-economic problems and political instability. What we need is not the prolonged postmortem of the past, but rigorous pursuit of new opportunities to bring the peace. Passing the blame on Pakistan is not going to do any good, the world must compassionately understand the situation and help Pakistan to realize it's political stability. Fortunately, civilian government is in power, they are facing problems because of misrule in the past. World need to understand that, Pakistan need some time to clean up the mess created by dictators. Terrorism can be fought with collective efforts and diplomatic paths should be continued with tenacity.

Peace does not come from the barrel of a gun but is achieved when cultural differences are respected and the fundamental rights of all are recognised and upheld [Desmond Tutu].

Pakistan issue is deep rooted in historical mishaps - Part 1

2009-02-22T00:54:00.002+05:30

The roots of Pakistan's problems can be traced to undivided India's Freedom Movement. The "divide and rule" policy of British Raj, Mohammad Ali Jinha's differences with Congress and his own political ambitions, the infamous partition, Kashmir Conflict, Bangladesh liberation war (1971 Indo-Pak War), the cold war and subsequent balance of power in the world have all contributed to current mess in Pakistan.

1. When Lord Curzon adopted the policy of "divide and rule", little did he know that his narrow imperialistic approach would one day affect the world peace. The unity and integrity between Hindus and Muslims was impeccable before British came to India. During 1857 Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar was proclaimed the Emperor of Hindustan, mutineers considered him as a symbol of "united India" against the foreign (British) rule. Swami Shradhananda was allowed to preach from the pulpit of Jama Masjid. There were many glorious instances of Hindu-Muslim fraternization. But British did exactly what they needed in order to break the unity, i.e. to divide Indians and rule over them. Lord Curzon decided to divide Bengal province citing administrative reasons and pronounced that easter Bengal will be Muslim majority area and Wenstern Bengal will be Hindu Majority area.

Mistake 1: Muslim League okayed Bengal Partition and allowed different policies for Hindus and Muslims.

2. In 1933, a group of Punjabi Muslim students led by Choudhary Rahamat Ali floated the idea of Pakistan. Ali demanded a separate national status for Muslims for which he coined the name 'PAKISTAN' - 'P' for Punjab, 'A' for Afghan province (North-West Frontier Province), 'K' for Kashmir, 'S' for Sindh and 'TAN' for Baluchistan. No one took this demand for separate state seriously until 1937 when Muslim League formally accepted the idea. Muslim League and Congress failed to realize the true motives of British policies and engaged themselves in repeated confrontation. Subsequently, Muslim League opposed Congress and forced the then Leaders of Congress to accept the demand for separate nation.

Mistake 2: Congress and even Britishers tried to convince Muslim League to give up the idea of Pakistan (Ex: in August Offer 1940, Cripps Mission 1942, Cabinet mission plan 1946) but Mohammad Ali Jinha would not be satisfied with anything less than the partition of the country.

Had Mohammad Ali Jinha and his followers avoided their parochial attitude and inclination towards partition on religious grounds, all the problems in the region could have been obviated by United India.

3. In the aftermath of Partition, the princely states of India, which had been left by the Indian Independence Act 1947 to choose whether to accede to India or Pakistan or to remain outside them. While most of the princely states decided to join either India or Pakistan, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir decided not to join any of the newly formed countries. The history will remember Maharaja Hari Singh for his indecisiveness. If he had made a timely decision to join either India or Pakistan, the question of Kashmir Conflict would have never arose. When Azad Kashmir forces and tribal Pathans attacked Kashmir, Pakistan gave every possible support to them. Maharaja Hari Singh desperately needed Indian support to avoid the invasion. Indian Government demanded Maharaja Hari Singh to join Indian union if his state needs Indian military support. Subsequently, he signed the Instrument of Accession. India dispatched it's military to Kashmir and routed Pakistan supported forces. United Nations intervened and asked both India and Pakistan to hold the plebiscite to decide whether Kashmir should join India or Pakistan.

Mistake 3: At that time, the Indian and Pakistani governments agreed to hold the plebiscite but Pakistan did not withdraw its troops from Kashmir thus violating the condition for holding the plebiscite. Later, under UN's revised conditions for plebiscite, Pakistan accepted to hold plebiscite but India refused. Plebiscite was never held and Pakistan continued to support militants in the region. Thus paving the way for building safe haven for terrorism.

4. Before 1971, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was called East Pakistan. In 1970 Pakistan Elections, "East Pakistani Awami League won 167 of 169 seats in East Pakistan and secured a simple majority in the 313-seat lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament of Pakistan). Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman presented the Six Points to the President of Pakistan and claimed the right to form the government. After the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, refused to yield the premiership of Pakistan to Mujibur, President Yahya Khan called out the military, which was made up largely of West Pakistanis.

Mass arrests of dissidents began, and attempts were made to disarm East Pakistani soldiers and police. After several days of strikes and non-cooperation movements, the Pakistani military cracked down on Dhaka on the night of March 25, 1971. The Awami League was banished, and many members fled into exile in India. Mujib was arrested and taken to West Pakistan. On 27 March 1971, Ziaur Rahman, a rebellious major in the Pakistani army, declared the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Mujibur [wiki]."

Mistake 4: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Yahya Khan did not respect the electoral verdict. If they have allowed Awami League to form the government, Pakistan would have harbingered democratic rule for generations to come. Instead, both the leaders allowed their narrow political interests to rule over law of the land. Subsequently, India supported Bangladesh Liberation forces for it's own strategic reasons. Bangladesh liberation was irrecoverable damage to Pakistan and further fueled Indo-Pak hostilities.

5. The Cold War saw periods of heightened tensions and the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989) was one of them. Soviet Union forces were supporting the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government against the Mujahideen resistance. Mujahideens in Afghanistan were actively supported by United States and Pakistan extended all possible support to help Mujahideens win over Soviet forces. Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Operation Cyclone is one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken.

Mistake 5: United states engaged general Zia-ul-Huq to fight a US-aided war by proxy in Afghanistan against the Soviets. Zia now found himself in a position to demand billions of dollars in aid for the Mujahideen from the Western states. Ronald Reagan's government met all his expectations. Pakistan continued to fight proxy war which in no way benefited it's people. "The war left deep scars to the Pakistani society with the menace of Kalashnikov (AK-47 assault rifle) culture spreading all over the country. Many Afghan Mujahideen later converted to new forms of Jihadist outfits in the shape of Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the early 1990s. The Pakistan and US trained Arab and Afghan fighters later in 2001 initiated a 'Jihad' against US. The links of the spectacular and deadly events of September 11 attack were deeply rooted in the Soviet-Afghan war. Osama bin Laden invested his inherited money into the Soviet-Afghan war to fight the 'infidel communist power' and was abetted by CIA, ISI, US and Pakistani military establishments for over 10 years.[wiki]"

To this day, Pakistan is confronted by the legacy of Zia's policies.

6. The Pakistani military has played an influential role in mainstream politics throughout Pakistan's history, with military presidents ruling from 1958–71, 1977–88 and from 1999–2008. The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by General Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973—suspended in 1977, by Zia-ul-Haq, but re-instated in 1991. In 1999, general Parvez Musharraf seized the power from Nawaz Sharif led civilian government and suspended the constitution twice and re-instated.

Mistake 6: Pakistan has proved over the time that, It's harder for them to run a constitution than to frame one! Repeated military coups in Pakistan have given a death blow to the spirit of democracy. Subsequently, Pakistan began a marked shift from the British-era secular politics and policies, to the adoption of Shariat and other laws based on Islam. This facilitated religious fanatics to hate democratic ideals. Pakistan-Taliban peace pact in February 2009 is an example for Pakistan's failed democracy.

Above examples of Pakistan and it's leaders' misadventures are just a tip of the iceberg. Successive army dictators, from Ayub Khan to Pervaz Musharraf, "have attempted to rewrite this 'unfortunate country’s' history for their own narrow motives [Kamran Shafi]."

To be Continued...

[Update: Click here to read Part -2]

Wishing you all a recession friendly V-Day free from 'Sickulars'!

2009-02-14T01:01:00.004+05:30

This year's V-Day will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. While the people in recession hit countries are seriously contemplating about recession friendly valentine's day celebrations, Indians are apprehensive about saffron brigade (like Shri Ram Sena). Couple of weeks ago we never heard about Mr.Pramod Muthalik, but now, he is a self proclaimed iconic moral watchdog. The idea of sending 1000 pink chaddis to this 'saffron buddy' might have raised eyebrows, but another self proclaimed champion of women rights, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, vociferously rejects the idea. (Embarrassed and confused?) Muthalik has reportedly decided to send 1000 pink saris "with love" in response to 1000 Chaddis. The Pink Chaddi campaigners claim that they are more democratic and transparent than the 'Chaddi walas' who were nothing but a bunch of "self-righteous sickulars (seculars)" [DNA]. Time and again, saffron brigade has claimed and reclaimed themselves as moral policemen. The hysteria created due to controversies (and recession in western countries) is making this year's V-Day more special and memorable than ever!

In India, the debate on whether to celebrate V-Day resurfaces every year this time around. Different people have different views, Muthalik has one view and Pink Chaddi campaigners have another. People with different mindsets may not agree on women going to pub and enjoying on par with men, but we all can surely agree on finding better ways to protect our cultural heritage by not beating up women in public just because they went to pub. One person's ethics and values cannot be imposed on other person, unless it is acceptable by both. If people like Muthalik try to enforce their ethics and values on others, it's simply not democratic. It's against our fundamental right to freedom. More they enforce, more they loose. The only way to influence and fine tune the contemporary culture is by setting high moral standards for themselves, inspire others to follow and let everyone discover their inner strengths of love, compassion and intelligence.

To ensure the law and order on Valentine's day, union home minister P Chidambaram and NCW chairperson Girija Vyas have asked Karnataka government to take "preventive and punitive" action. Now that, Mr.Pramod Muthalik and his goons are arrested under preventive detention laws, you can go out and buy a (recession friendly?) gift to your valentine.

Wishing you all a wonderful V-Day free from 'Sickulars'!

Related articles posted earlier:

We all want to fall in love, Why?

Voter Facilitation Centers: One more chance to get your Voter ID card before 2009 General Election

2009-02-11T12:47:00.014+05:30

There is some good news for those who have not yet registered their name in electoral roll. The Election Commission of India has set up "Voter Facilitation Center" for expediting the process of voter registration and other services (Ex: updating your registration information) related to electoral roll. Voter Facilitation Center (VFC) is a single window facility for voter registration and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). Election Commissions in various states have setup websites (Ex: Karnataka EC site here) which provides adequate and relevant information about the office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the various activities conducted by the department. Various important forms are also available on the site for download purposes.

Voter Facilitation Centers (VFC) will function from 11th Feb 2009 in various Urban based Assembly Constituencies (in Karnataka, for other states refer to your respective election commission website). VFCs are citizen friendly centers to facilitate citizens on electoral roll issues and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) card. Following are the functions of VFCs.

Voter Facilitation Centers (VFC) will assist the citizen to know whether his/her name is included in the electoral roll.
If the name is not included, he/she will be assisted to get his/her name included in the electoral roll.
VFCs will assist the citizen to carry out modifications inthe electoral roll, if required.
VFCs educate the voter on his/her respective part/poling station.
VFCs will generate and distribute EPIC.
VFCs will ensure that within 10 days, the elector's request in Form 6,7,8 or 8A is acted upon and the result known to the citizens.

So, you can get your voter ID card within 10 days.

What's the first step?

Call up or visit the nearest Voter Facilitation Center. The details of address, contact information (including mobile numbers) of Voter Facilitation Centers are here (Voters' Facilitation Centres in Karnataka). Get appropriate forms (i.e. for registering/updating info etc..). You can download the forms from election commission's website (Click here or here to download forms), print and fill it up with all the necessary details.

What all documents you need?

You just need two documents. Address proof and Age proof. Those who are staying in rented house, your rental agreement will be crucial. It's the most important legitimate document to prove your residential address. If you are a student, get a Student Declaration Form signed by your college dean/principal/registrar and submit it along with your voter registration form. Besides, you will also need to submit an age proof document.

Submit your duly filled application form along with address proof and/or age proof. Allow (maximum) 10 days for Voter Facilitation Centers to work on your request and follow up accordingly. VFCs will ensure that your request (for new Voter ID/update one) will be served within 10 days. Registering your name in electoral roll cannot get simpler than this (at least as of now!).

Why should I get my Voter ID Card?

Well, some of you might say, "what the heck, i know that!", but there are many who are still ignorant, if you are one of them, read further. Two answers.

To Vote: You must have the Voter ID (EPIC) card to exercise your democratic right to vote.
Legitimate proof of your citizenship, address, age, etc... You can use Voter ID card as a proof of your identity in all the government offices and all most all non-govt offices/organizations.

More over, I would say, to stop blaming politicians. Quite often we end up electing criminals to make laws for us. Most of us vociferously blame politicians for all the wrongs. All of us who are crowing about bad politicians ever voted? Did we exercise our franchise? "Isn't casting a vote the duty of the common man? If you have not liked a politician or political party, did you cast your vote against them? If you have found that no political party is worth your vote, did you take care to ensure that your vote is not cast to anybody by going to the polling booth and not voting for anybody?[More]". Get your Voter ID, make your vote count in 2009 general elections!

Some more details:

Voters' Facilitation Centres (VFCs) in Urban Constituencies in Karnataka. Find the address, phone numbers of nearest VFCs or voter registration centers (In karnataka).
The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka. You can find all the details regarding your registration, electoral rolls, updating your info etc.
Click here or here to download forms.
FAQs at jaagore.com.
A guide for the Voters.

Election system ain't broke, no point in (media) trying to fix it

2009-02-03T21:31:00.016+05:30

Freedom of the press does not mean that the editorial board can report whatever they want to. Media has the right to report the 'news' and let people know the current position of that 'news'. The moment they start reporting their 'opinion', the very foundation of press freedom is shaken. Right of media lies in right of people to be informed about the truth. The way recent controversy, over Chief Election Commissioner's 'recommendation' for the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, is being reported reflects media's apathy towards analyzing constitutional provisions and the truth behind CEC's recommendations.

Media must not prevaricate the truth by taking biased stands. It must not create the confusion and panic by projecting it's biased views and opinions. Blame it on unprecedented competition in the media (print as well as electronic). I honestly believe that attitude of the media can be changed neither by stricter laws nor by self regulation but only by commercial failure of the 'news market'. Media must treat the ongoing election commission issue as learning curve raised due to 'constitutional confusion'. Office of the Election Commission is truly sacred in democracy and it should never be tampered with.

There are three important questions we need to answer before deciding whether CEC's recommendation can potentially tamper the integrity of election commission and threaten it's functioning.

Is constitution clear about removal of Election Commissioner?
Does Mr. Gopalaswamy has all the necessary evidences to show that Mr. Navin Chawla is 'not clean'?
Can the standards, procedures established in EC and the legacy left behind by likes of T.N.Seshan allow any threats to EC's functioning?

1. Is constitution clear about removal of Election Commissioner?

"The Constitutional provisions governing the appointment and removal of election commissioners were drafted at a time when only the Chief Election Commissioner was given a full-time appointment and the election commissioners were appointed on a short-term basis, only during election time, when full-time election commissioners were appointed, the government was informed of the discrepancy and that it must be corrected with suitable amendments" says ex CEC T S Krishnamurthy. Such amendments to the constitution were not made so far.

Article 324(5) of the constitution says, "Election Commissioner or a Regional Commissioner shall not be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)." In case of Chief Election Commissioner, impeachment (or removal) is explicitly mentioned in Article 324 of the constitution. But in case of other Election Commissioner(EC), constitution is not clear. In the legal circle it is well known that, if the procedure for removal is not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, then appointing authority is solely responsible for removal too. Now, the President of India is appointing authority for EC, only he can remove the EC. In order to provide a check on the executive’s powers and safeguard the independence of the Election Commission, clause (5) was added in Article 324 making CEC's recommendation as a necessary evil. Now, whether CEC has the suo moto (on his own) power to recommend EC's removal is not clear. CEC, Mr. Gopalaswamy thinks he has the suo moto power, while the government thinks he does not.

Ex CEC "Mr. B.B. Tandon and the Election Commission took the provisions to mean that since the appointing authority is the President, the CEC comes into the picture only when a proposal for the removal of an Election Commissioner comes before him from the President for his recommendation." What does Supreme Court (SC) think? In T.N. Seshan, Chief Election Commissioner v Union of India (1995) SC held that, "recommendation for removal must be based on intelligible and cogent considerations which would have a relation to the efficient functioning of the Election Commission." It also opined that if the powers of removal of EC (and Regional Commissioners) is vested with CEC, it "would destroy the independence of the Election Commissioners and the Regional Commissioners if they are required to function under the threat of the CEC recommending their removal." Thus, it is clear that Supreme Court too did not take any position on suo moto power of CEC. It's opinion is equivocal.

2. Does Mr. Gopalaswamy has all the necessary evidences to show that Mr. Navin Chawla is 'not clean'?

While talking about "evidential value" of his recommendation, Mr. Gopalaswamy said, "I have no regrets. One should not have any regrets in speaking the truth. My evidence is legally strong and morally stronger". Gopalaswami's letter to the President is 93 pages long, its annexures run through some 500 pages and also include a 150-page response from Chawla to the charges raised by members of Parliament against him. It must be noted here that, the report is not yet made public and media obviously has not read the report before coming to conclusion about validity of CEC recommendations. Even well respected editor of The Hindu, Mr. N Ram, erred by taking pro Congress position (Read More here). Here are some well known facts about Mr. Navin Chawla.

At the time of Indian Emergency (1975 - 77) he was secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Shah Commission which inquired into the excesses during the Emergency, indicted Mr Chawla for having been 'authoritarian and callous' and for gross misuse of power "in cynical disregard of the welfare of citizens". Further, it declared that he was "unfit to hold any public office which demands an attitude of fair play and consideration for others"
Mr. Navin Chawla and his wife Rupika Chawla ran the Jaipur-based Lala Chaman Lal Education Trust which had secured MPLADS funds from Congress MPs — A.A. Khan, R.P. Goenka, Ambika Soni, Dr Karan Singh and Mr A.R. Kidwai. Exclusive: Chawla accepted funds for private trusts. The trust was allotted six acres of land by the Congress government in Rajasthan when Mr Ashok Gehlot was the Chief Minister.
Mr. Navin Chawla's wife Ms. Rupika Chawla's friendship with Madam (Sonia) Gandhi spans over 30 years! Whether that has any impact on Mr. Navin Chawla (and his alleged loyalty to Congress) is open to debate. Read more here.
CEC has reported that Mr. Chawla's loo breaks in between the meetings led to Congress leaders' phone calls. Read More here.
Mr.Gopalaswamy has said that, "irrespective of whether Chawla consents to a decision or finds himself singled out by a majority of Gopalaswami and S Y Quraishi, the other Election Commissioner, he appears to be in the habit of conveying all the minutes of their internal meetings to the Congress leadership."
More will surely come out when CEC's report is made public.

Now, it's obvious that CEC's report has some merit in it and one cannot decide whether CEC's report was against the functioning of election commission without going through his 800+ page detailed report.

I honestly feel that, though Mr.Navin Chawla is not yet proved guilty, the allegations surely question the integrity of his position in the election commission. As the old saying goes, there can't be smoke without fire. Mr. Gopalaswamy's recommendation throw light on politicization of election commission. Hope Supreme Court can take a clear view and resolve the confusion. I am guessing that Supreme Court will uphold Mr. Gopalaswamy's move if the evidence provided by him are sufficient to prove Mr. Chawla's loyalty to Congress.

3. Can the standards, procedures established in EC and the legacy left behind by likes of T.N.Seshan allow any threats to EC's functioning?

"The Indian elections were conducted by over five million civilian employees, two million policemen keeping guard and everyone of them has acquitted himself with a tremendous sense of duty that not one whisper of doubt on the freedom of the election process has been uttered [T N Seshan]". We have moved from ballot boxes to Electronic Voting Machines, We have learned to suppress the goons and prevent the violence (recent J & K election is the testimony to the effective functioning of Election Commission), We have gone to the extent of banning ostentatious campaign displays and noisy rallies and required candidates to clean up walls and buildings defaced with their slogans. We have enforced spending limits and made the candidates to submit full accounts of their expenses for scrutiny by independent government inspectors. Our standards and procedures of election are of highest democratic standards in the world. Despite all this, of course, "there were attempts to damage the system but every such attempt has been met and successfully overcome by the will of the people". Thus our standards and procedures established in the functioning of election commission simply does not allow blatant misuse of the very process of election. More over voters of our generation (at least majority of them) are knowledgeable enough to decide who is worth their votes.

Thus it's conspicuous that, there is no reason whatsoever why we should be worried because of CEC's recommendation for removal of Mr. Navin Chawla. "Much graver than Chawla’s alleged bias is the appointment of M S Gill, former CEC, to a ministerial post. But nobody accused Mr. Gill of unfair bias when he was CEC. Indeed, T N Seshan, for long seen as part of the Gandhi camp, proved to be the most fearlessly independent CEC ever. The system ain’t broke, so don’t try to fix it [ET]."

Update - 12/02/09: CEC Mr. N. Gopalaswamy wrote a letter to the editor in chief of The Hindu Mr. N. Ram defending his suo motu power. (In his reply) N. Ram goes on to explain complicated judicial interpretations to prove that CEC wasn't right in his suo motu act. The bottom line is, one can quote the laws to prove some one guilty, but the question here is of natural justice which is above the normal laws of the land. If Mr. Chawla is proved guilty based on evidences given by Mr. Gopalaswamy, then Mr. Ram's case is justifiable only on techinical (legal) grounds, Mr Chawla (if proved guilty) must be punished for his alleged inclination towards Congress.

An opportunity for all of us to feed the needy

2009-01-31T11:05:00.019+05:30

Most of us here in India might not have been affected very much due to Global Economic Crisis. But it's hard to note that it's surely affecting the donations/contributions to various voluntary organizations like NGOs, Orphanages, etc. Just to give you an example, many voluntary organizations depending on Satyam's donations are in serious trouble, I am really not sure if they are getting as much funds as they used to during the heydays of Satyam. Slowly but steadily, the effect of current crisis is penetrating into every aspect of our day to day life. The situation has even made such voluntary organizations to think twice before asking for any help from well wishers. They are no more proactive in asking for 'generous' help due to the fear that though the help may come, but it might not be 'generous'!

Despite such circumstances, one cannot deny the fundamental needs of food, shelter and clothing, simply because they are the very means of our existence. I believe, present critical situation is only testing the perseverance of those who really want to contribute something back to the civil society, especially contributing to those who are in dire need. If you think you can help with 'generosity', then here is an opportunity. I must have mentioned in my earlier posts about Makkala Mane, a home for destitute girl children. Makkala Mane need some help to full fill those fundamental needs of children. If you think you can contribute in whatever little way, please feel free to do so. Here are few requirements which i received from Mr. Uday Kumar, Executive Director of Makkala Mane.

Grocery items	Quantity Needed
Rice	200Kgs
Raagi	100Kgs
Toor Dal	25Kgs
Wheat	50Kgs
Edible Oil	20 Litres
Soaps and Detergents	200 in number
Other miscellaneous items for cooking

Contact:

Mr. Uday Kumar, Executive Director, Makkala Mane.

Mobile: 9880599261, Email: makkalamane@gmail.com

Also Visit Makkala Mane Contribution page. for more details

Feel free to email/call me if you need any further info.

Making of the Indian Constitution - a road to Republic Day

2009-01-25T15:37:00.006+05:30

There was a time when people expected nothing but oppression from public authorities. Later they expected chiefly to be let alone. Our leaders during the freedom struggle instilled the thoughts of freedom and democracy. As a result, people realized that freedom is a prerequisite for India's political destiny and the destiny must be determined by Indians themselves. It was then the idea of Swaraj (Self Governance) was born and known that "Swaraj" will not be a free gift of the British Parliament.

Until 1857, British rule was characterized by "Centralization, Supremacy of Governor General, British politicians interest in the governance of India and tremendous trade and business opportunities". But, after the "First war of Independence in 1857" and subsequent legislations, British parliamentarians lost interest in Indian affairs and they felt that administration in India is safe in the hands of civil servants and military officers. "The developments after 1857 rebellion were

towards gradual decentralization,
dual control over Indian affairs by Secretary of State for India sitting in London and the Governor General in India.
'form of concessions' and reactions to political developments in India"

The Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892, the three round table conferences (1930-32), the Government of India acts 1909, 1919, 1935 etc... were all aimed at serving Britain's economic interests (and political interests during World War I and II), however socio-economic development of India received little or no attention. Pandit Nehru described '1935 act' as "a machine with strong brakes but no engine!", and "a charter of slavery which deserved to be rejected in it's entirety". Muhammad Ali Jinha called it as "thoroughly rotten, fundamentally bad and totally unacceptable".

Britain did not take too much time to realize that it would be difficult for Allied powers to win the world war II without India's active support in the east. They made series of political efforts due to growing International (allied powers') pressure. Those efforts brought 'concessions and political developments' to mitigate Indian resistance and freedom struggle, they in turn had significant impact on formulation of our constitution.

1. August offer, 1940: Lord Linglithgow, the then Governor General (GG) of India, made some important offers in order to secure India's cooperation in the war efforts. They were,

Expansion of GG's executive council so that Indians could join the council (Executive council was a body of advisers to GG so that he could perform day to day administration effectively, GG was the final authority on any matters and council had no real powers).
Setting up of representative body after the war which will draft a constitution for the country.

Congress rejected the offer on two grounds. (i) there was no mention about British withdrawal (ii) It's demand for defence portfolio be given to Indians was not accepted.

2. Cripps Mission, March 1942: Under the growing pressure of allied powers, British govt. dispatched Sir Stafford Cripps to India with a package of proposals. He was a member of British war cabinet and leader of opposition in the house of commons. After meeting with various Indian leaders he made following proposals.

Elected government in (British) provinces and Indian union comprising British provinces and princely states.
Indian States (princely states) free to decide whether to join the Indian union and to accept the constitution.
Impracticability of Idea of Pakistan.

Congress rejected the proposals because right of princely states to not to accept the constitution and 'not to join' the union will jeopardize integrity of the union. Muslim League rejected the proposal because there was no acceptance of their demand for Pakistan.

Jinnah would not be satisfied with anything less than the partition of the country on the basis of two nation (India-Pakistan) theory.

3. Wavell Plan, June 1945: Lord Wavell, the then governor general, summoned both Congress and Muslim League for the negotiations. The Simla Conference was held in June 1945. "It was agreed that Congress and Muslim League should have parity of numbers in the national government (to be formed later). But Jinnah insisted that the Muslim League was the only representative organization of the muslims, and as such, the quota of Muslim members would be nominated by the League alone. Congress did not agree to League's demand and hence Shimla Conference broke up."

4. The Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946: In March 1946, a British Cabinet mission headed by Pathick Lawrence and consisting of Sir Stafford Cripps and A V Alexander arrived in India to resolve the deadlock for future developments. The cabinet mission announced it's plans in May 1946. Main provisions were,

Impracticability of Pakistan and two nation theory
Union of India (British India + Princely states).
Residuary powers (i.e. powers other than those explicitly mentioned in the acts/constitution) to be with provinces and provinces were free to form groups among themselves and they were given the right to revise their continuance in the union.
Muslims and Sikhs legislators to be elected on quota basis and resolution of communal issues to be decided by majority of the concerned community legislators.
Formation of Interim government which would take the reigns of future governance of India.

Congress rejected the idea of grouping of the provinces and their right of opting out of the federation and agreed to form the interim government, but league refused to join interim government. Muslim league obviously rejected the plan because it's demand for separate state of Pakistan was not honored. In order to press for their demand for Pakistan, Muslim league launched "Direct Action Day" in august 1946 which set off a chain of communal violences. Later Muslim league agreed to join the interim government to safeguard the interests of Muslims.

5. Attlee's Announcement, February 1947: On 20th February, the British Prime Minister announced that the British would hand over the power to responsible Indian hands by June 1948. Attle clearly stated that in case muslim league were to continue its boycott of the constituent assembly, the British govt would be forced to think of handing over the power to more than one entity (country). Thus it was clear that British envisaged the partition of India along with Independence.

6. Mountbatten Plan, June 1947: In March 1947 Lord Mountbatten assumed office of the viceroy. He was explicitly sent to India on the mission of expediting British withdrawal and convincing congress about inevitability of partition. He was given extraordinary powers to take decision on the spot to accomplish his mission. His plan, code named Plan Balkan, was a blue print of partition of India into two independent states, India and Pakistan. Muslim League agreed to Mountbatten Plan and Congress held a working committee meeting to decide and it was accepted by overwhelming majority. It must be noted here that, in the meeting, Mahatma Gandhi voted for the partition, though he tried his best to prevent the partition and went on to the extent of suggesting to Mountbatten that a government should be formed under the leadership of Jinnah!

7. India Independence Act, July 1947: British parliament passed the law authorizing the partition and British withdrawal from India. As per the plan, Eastern Bengal, Sylhet district of Assam, Western Punjab, Sind, North Western Frontier Province went to Pakistan and a separate constituent assembly was setup for Pakistan (which was headed by Jinnah).

8. Constituent Assembly of India: The constituent Assembly set up the drafting committee headed by Dr. Ambedkar to come up with the draft constitution. There were other committees facilitated the drafting process.

Committee	Chairman/Member
Union Power Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
Fundamental Rights Committee	Sardar Patel
Steering Committee	Dr. KM Munshi (Chairman), Gopalswamy Iyengar, Bishwanath Das.
Provintial Constitution Committee	Sardar Patel
Committee on Union Constitution	Jawaharlal Nehru
Examining draft Constitution	Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer

Draft Constitution of India' was ready by February 1948 and the constituent assembly discussed the draft clause by clause and modified wherever necessary. The second reading of the draft constitution was completed by 17th October 1949. On November 14th, Constituent assembly sat again for the third reading. It was completed on 26th November 1949 and received the signature of the President of the assembly and was declared passed. The provisions relating to citizenship, elections, provisional parliament, temporary and transitional provisions, were given immediate effect, i.e. from November 26, 1949. The rest of the constitution came into force on 26th January, 1950 and this date is referred to in the constitution as the Date of Commencement. It's interesting to note that Nehru was particular about the date i.e. 26th and he insisted on that. Some historians say that he it as a lucky day! Draft Constitution got it's presidential assent on 26th November, and it came into force on 26th Jan 1950 (Nehru's date, 26th!).

The history of making our constitution suggests that Swaraj was not a free gift, it was earned. It was earned from the struggle and sacrifice of our forefathers. Many Pundits around the world doubted the long term functioning of our Constitution. But contrary to that, our constitution stood the test of time. We are the largest democracy in the world and highly respected one too. On the other hand Pakistan has proved over the time that, It's harder for them to run a constitution than to frame one! January 26th is a day the festival of democracy is celebrated. It's a remarkable landmark achieved by our forefathers. The best way to salute them is to exercise our democratic right by casting our votes, by making our vote count!

Wishing you all a wonderful R-Day...

Why our Munna (aka Sanjay Dutt) cannot step into parliament...

2009-01-19T01:48:00.005+05:30

Samajwadi Party was quite lucky to have secured the victory of actress Jayaprada in the last election. But, can the star power work again? History might not repeat this time. Amar Singh's whole intention might not be to get Lucknow into SP's kitty, but use Sanjay Dutt as a scapegoat to achieve his party's political ends by making him a 'start campaigner'. Amar Singh knows that Sanjay Dutt cannot get a suspension order from Supreme court (will tell you why) and even if he manage to get such order, he might not win the election due to the fact that Lucknow is a traditional strong hold of BJP and no one has challenged Atal bihari Vajpayee. Even if BJP's patriarch (Vajpayee) doesn't contest election from Lucknow this year, chances of Sanjay Dutt's win are bleak as many sections of the society in Lucknow are divided over support to Sanjay Dutt.

It is not clear if Vajpayee will contest. There were rumours Shatrughan Sinha might enter the ring if Vajpayee calls it a day. "We want him to contest. Even a child will tell you he just has to fill his nomination papers to win," says BJP leader and Vajpayee's election manager Lalji Tandon.

The SP has tried to counter Vajpayee's charisma with star power before. Raj Babbar in 1996 and Muzzaffar Ali of Umrao Jaan fame in 1998 challenged him and failed. In recent times, only Congress nominee Karan Singh gave him a decent contest in 1999. Lucknowites are divided on Sanjay Dutt.

"It is strange that the party (SP) which is threatening to withdraw support (to UPA) over terrorism is fielding a person charged under Tada," says former Lucknow University vice-chancellor Roop Rekha Verma. "Where are we taking the standards of politics if we have convicts like Sanjay Dutt against Vajpayee," asks playwright Mudra Rakshas [DNA]

The idea of giving ticket to convicted star like Sanjay Dutt sounds like a death blow to the very foundation of Samajwadi party's socialist democratic ideology. Amar Singh and his party has shown that in today's competitive politics only 'ends' matter, no one gives a damn about means; ethics and morality never to be talked about. Legally, as of now, Sanjay Dutt cannot contest elections since he has already been convicted for a "serious offense" and also served the jail term. He can contest only if he gets a stay order from Supreme Court for his conviction and election commission has to approve his candidacy. If one analyse the intensity of Dutt's offense and the context, it will be quite conspicuous that he won't get a chance to contest elections.

Article 8 of Representation of People act says

Clause (3): A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.
So, clearly, Election commission will not entertain Dutt's candidacy unless there is an extraordinary ground provided by supreme court.

"I see no reason when my brother Sidhu can be allowed to serve the nation why I cannot be allowed to do the same", says Sanjay Dutt. But the fact is Sidhu's case and Dutt's case are completely different and not even comparable.

Sidhu was accused of unintentional murder, but Dutt has been accused of keeping weapons at his house and was convicted by the Supreme Court which upheld the judgment of the trail court.
Also, Sanjay Dutt has served sentence and he is barred from contesting.
In Sidhu's case Supreme court "observed that the 1988 Patiala incident happened all of a sudden without pre-meditation and it was not a case where he took advantage of his position as MP in the commission of the crime. The court said he had set "high standards" in public life by vacating the seat after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling [The Hindu].
In case of Sanjay Dutt, his involvement in the 1993 blast, directly or indirectly, is a threat to the national security. In Sanjay Dutt's case, the whole offense was not an accident. This is obvious from the fact that arms and ammunitions were recovered from Dutt's residence.

In 2007, Sanjay Dutt narrowly escaped the conviction under TADA act but he was convicted under Arms Act which is slightly lesser crime. It must be noted here that, Representation of People act disqualifies the person convicted under TADA, for contesting elections. "It was alleged that justice P D Kode discriminated Sanjay Dutt by not convicting him under TADA act. It's well know fact that, Aziz Ahmed Shaikh, a 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts convict, had moved the Supreme Court challenging his conviction under the TADA and alleged favour shown by the designated judge to film star Sanjay Dutt [report]" though Mr. Dutt was committed similar offense. So, the questions relating to intensity of Mr. Dutt offense are still not completely answered. We can, for a significant extent, conclude that Supreme court will not be soft on Sanjay Dutt to suspend his six year jail term.

Suppose, in worst case, if Sanjay Dutt gets a chance to contest elections, and if he manages to win (which is most unlikely), then it really doesn't make any difference and after some time, no one gives a damn about his win and "he making any difference to the society", which anyway he is not going to make! Sanjay's Dutt's episode is just a tip of the iceberg. There are already over 120 (alleged) criminals sitting in Parliament and making the laws for innocents! I recommend every one of you to take a look at this document (criminal cases.doc) which tells you the story of widespread criminals in our political system. To give you a glimpse of it, "there are 120 MPs with criminal cases against them out of 543, or 22.1%. Among the major parties, the BJP has 29 MPs with a criminal record, the Indian National Congress (INC) 24, the SP 11, RJD 8, CPM 7, BSP 7, NCP 5 and CPI 2."

We, the people of India, end up electing criminals to make laws for innocents and pass on the blame to those very lawmakers and the government in power. Let's ask not what the Netas have done for us, but what we have done to elect them. Get your voter ID, cast your vote and make it count!

Read More:

Sidhu's conviction stayed (Supreme Court's observations) - The Hindu.
TADA Court favored Sanjay Dutt.
Criminals in Indian Politics, Social Watch Report.
Criminals cases statistics document from From Association for Democratic Reforms. Alternative link.
Candidates's Criminal and financial background report submitted by Election commission of Karnataka. Alternative link.
SP to field Sanjay Dutt from Lucknow - The Hindu.

The youth of youngisthan celebrates 'National Youth Day'

2009-01-11T23:46:00.008+05:30

I called up a friend to wish him on his birthday. The conversation digressed enough to talk about today's youth. He joked, "Today's youth is really going crazy, there was a dude in the temple lighting his cigar from 'Aarti' offered by the priest. Looking at that, I dropped my beer bottle!" Thank god that's just a joke! Such an insane behavior is not tolerated in a country which celebrates National Youth Day!

If you are not aware, Every year since 1984, January 12th is celebrated as National Youth Day in India. "Because, on this day in the year 1863, was born the great philosopher, an inspiration to the youth, the embodiment of Indian culture and intelligence Swamy Vivekananda", whose very name brings lightening spirit in the hearts of many. On declaring Jan 12th as youth day, Government of India felt that, "the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth."

If that inspiration lasts perpetually, the immortal soul of Swamy Vivekananda will remain in peace for ever. That inspiration alone determine the direction of "New India". Because it's quite obvious from the fact that over 50% of Indian population is younger than 25 years [youthportal].

"Is our burgeoning youth a bane or boon? In the early 1980s China was in a position that India finds itself today. And China’s current economic boom is said to be the direct consequence of the large proportion of youth in its population. According to some estimates the current proportion of population under 25 years in India is 51% and the proportion under 35 is about 66%. This predominance of youth in the population is expected to last until 2050. While the average age of an Indian in 2020 is expected to be 29 years, the average age for China is expected to be 37. With 'proper' education, job openings and healthcare, our youth are sure to tip the economy in the right direction [youthportal]."

It's important to pay plenty of attention to the word 'proper' in the above quoted text. The demographic dividend can easily become demographic disaster if we do not pay 'proper' attention to those sectors, namely, education, employment, healthcare, infrastructure building. Swamy Vivekananda has rightly said, "So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them." If we think that holds true even today, then we are responsible, directly or indirectly, for the millions who are living in hunger and ignorance. The responsibility of arising, awaking to 'change the lives around' is left to us. Whatever we do may be insignificant, but it's important that we do it!