OSTENTATIOUS SPENDING vs AUSTERITY
Shashi Tharoor, by making the statement that he has been staying in a Five Star Hotel at his own expense and hence has not violated the proposition of practicing austerity by congressmen, showed that he has not understood the symbolism involved in Congress President making the appeal or directive. The primary ingredient of symbolism is adherence to the same, the explanation of ‘why deviation’ being only secondary. Having grasped the essence of the same, Nandan Nilekeni shifted to Karnataka House.
Much of the discussion in the media and commentaries have missed the symbolic element. Having missed it, the propositions or arguments were focused on the rationale, pluses and minuses, the miniscule saving by Government by this exhibition of nominal austerity related to the country’s requirements and availability of finances. The know-alls in the media ( and unfortunately some of the thinkers and intellectuals ) have derisively dismissed this move as gimmick, caricature of socialism, not in tune with the current ethos of the country, etc.,
· A flag is a symbol and is not merely a piece of cloth and hence reverence for the flag. So also was Swastika, for Germans 70 years back. There is no utility or cost aspect in this phenomenon. And that applies to all symbols. The Indian President has hardly any power. But the President is the symbolic head of the Republic.
· When India was at war with Pakistan and China, many Indians had vowed to forgo one meal a day till the war ends. A symbolic gesture. So also wearing Khadi and Nehru cap.
· Hence Sonia Gandhi traveling in economy class in airline, Nilekeni shifting to Kanataka house, Rahul Gandhi carrying a head-load of sand and bricks alongwith a village woman carrying same, Rahul Gandhi saying that politicians should be austere, his traveling by train, are all symbolic gestures. And they appeal not merely to masses but many others, such as, intelligentsia, doctors, film stars, etc., Rahul Gandhi carrying a load will bring in a large number of votes to Congress, contrary to the views of skeptics. Because symbols have such power.
· For a long long time Indian ethos was moored in austere living. Except for the Rajas, English Administers and a few others, all lived modestly. This included businessmen who could afford to live lavishly. Exhibitionism of wealth was shunned. It is only during the last six or seven decades and more correctly during the last two or three decades Indians in large numbers started veering round to living lavishly, some beyond their means, with the new trend of exhibitionism over-coming austerity.
· The know-all would call these activities as hypocrisy. Yes an element of hypocrisy is there. But only an element. Through a token action if the onward march to wanton show of wealth and waste, and lastly mindless imitation of West in such matters, could be restrained then the move has to be hailed.
· Then again contrary to the perception of those who ‘ claim to know the mind of the masses’ and assert that the voters in the villages would not be hood-winked by such pranks, the ground level reality is that such moves have mass appeal ( as Gandhi repeatedly showed ) not merely to village folk but also to a large number urban, educated, middle and upper class. Tokenism has its place in the human mind.
· Yes, there is wide spread corruption in the country, with politicians in the forefront of this queue. Yet, politicians, do generally live frugally or give the impression of living frugally. It is this impression which matters when it coming to votes.
· Perception of masses – Affluent will live extravagantly with no concern for the poor. Wealth is not the issue. Flaunting the same is. Mukesh Ambani building an expensive house when poor people are starving. Illogical comparison. May be. But for a large percentage of Indian people this type of comparison is relevant and hence made. The fact is that the value judgment of masses about the rich people is not at all positive.
· Business people – we spend our money ( not correct. It is often the company which takes the tab ), whereas politicians spend country’s money. Is there any difference.
· Politics is also a profession. Don’t look at the politicians from the prism of 50s when all politicians were expected to live frugally. And don’t forget the fact that during the last two decades or so the trend slowly started of all those who can afford from lower middle class to those who are filthy rich, according to their means flaunting their wealth and living lavishly. Then why not politicians? And when all other groups can grasp and exhibit symbols when they need, why not politicians?
*****
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
WHO MADE ME AS I AM TODAY
1. I was ten years old when our country got Independence. I remember my father rejoicing at the momentous development. My father said that all injustice that we have been facing would be over. We will have two meals everyday. We will have home of our own. I will be educated and will become a clerk, instead of doing manual labour as my father and his forefathers did, and that too when only on those days when work could be found.
2. My father said that we will no more be treated as untouchable, as Gandhiji has promised. Since we were poor, I will get free education, according to Government assurance. Since the Government is our own, my father felt, that we would not be hauled to police station and beaten up whenever a crime takes place in the village. We will no more be forced to admit to crimes we did not commit and will not be put into prison.
3. My father was confident that our elected representative will voice our grievances before our own Government and get remedial measures without greasing the palms of authorities.
4. My father was thrilled at the ushering of Ram Rajya for us dalits.
5. Today I am seventy and thoroughly disillusioned. None of our hopes have been fulfilled. Most of the time we are starving. We have a thatched hut as our home. And that also is demolished when somebody claims the land on which our hut was there as his own. We make another thatched hut. This has been going on.
6. Untouchable – the position has not changed. My son goes to Government school. But there are hardly any teachers. Most of the teachers are doing all the time some other jobs. Even when they are there, my son and other untouchables were hardly taught anything.
7. In the Government hospital, we can hardly get admission for medical treatment because we are untouchable. Even if we once a while get admission, we have to pay to doctor, compounder, nurse and others for getting treatment, though Government says that we will get free treatment - because we are poor, illiterate and untouchable.
8. Quite often we are asked to do manual labour at the houses of Government officials, with only two meals as wages.
9. Once a girl in our community attains puberty, she has to freely satisfy all government officials and higher caste people. The position does not change even after her marriage and becoming a mother.
10. Some of our people had gone in search of work to other places. Once a while when they come back to the village, they also tell horror stories of how they are treated once it is known that they are untouchables.
11. We have no ration card, though we are told that such a card has been issued. To whom, we do not know.
12. Every five year or sometimes even earlier, big netas come to tell us to whom we should vote. On the election day we are taken to voting booths and we do as we are told.
13. In public places we have to ensure that we are not in the vicinity of higher caste people; otherwise we would be beaten up severely.
14. My son, who is now thirty years old, grew up with all these injustice. He used to cry often at the injustice. He has been in jail for crimes which he had not committed. He used to wail ‘ what has independence of the country given us.’ I had no answer.
And then our luck turned. We are able to eat twice a day. We have a small house. Harassment and beating by the Police have ceased. Whenever I or my wife works for some Government project, we are properly paid. In fact many in the village look upon us for help and justice.
YES, MY SON HAS BECOME A NAXALITE.
PS: Government says that Naxalite menace has to be dealt with a strong hand. And no mercy to be shown. And all MPs support Government. So also fourth estate.
*****
2. My father said that we will no more be treated as untouchable, as Gandhiji has promised. Since we were poor, I will get free education, according to Government assurance. Since the Government is our own, my father felt, that we would not be hauled to police station and beaten up whenever a crime takes place in the village. We will no more be forced to admit to crimes we did not commit and will not be put into prison.
3. My father was confident that our elected representative will voice our grievances before our own Government and get remedial measures without greasing the palms of authorities.
4. My father was thrilled at the ushering of Ram Rajya for us dalits.
5. Today I am seventy and thoroughly disillusioned. None of our hopes have been fulfilled. Most of the time we are starving. We have a thatched hut as our home. And that also is demolished when somebody claims the land on which our hut was there as his own. We make another thatched hut. This has been going on.
6. Untouchable – the position has not changed. My son goes to Government school. But there are hardly any teachers. Most of the teachers are doing all the time some other jobs. Even when they are there, my son and other untouchables were hardly taught anything.
7. In the Government hospital, we can hardly get admission for medical treatment because we are untouchable. Even if we once a while get admission, we have to pay to doctor, compounder, nurse and others for getting treatment, though Government says that we will get free treatment - because we are poor, illiterate and untouchable.
8. Quite often we are asked to do manual labour at the houses of Government officials, with only two meals as wages.
9. Once a girl in our community attains puberty, she has to freely satisfy all government officials and higher caste people. The position does not change even after her marriage and becoming a mother.
10. Some of our people had gone in search of work to other places. Once a while when they come back to the village, they also tell horror stories of how they are treated once it is known that they are untouchables.
11. We have no ration card, though we are told that such a card has been issued. To whom, we do not know.
12. Every five year or sometimes even earlier, big netas come to tell us to whom we should vote. On the election day we are taken to voting booths and we do as we are told.
13. In public places we have to ensure that we are not in the vicinity of higher caste people; otherwise we would be beaten up severely.
14. My son, who is now thirty years old, grew up with all these injustice. He used to cry often at the injustice. He has been in jail for crimes which he had not committed. He used to wail ‘ what has independence of the country given us.’ I had no answer.
And then our luck turned. We are able to eat twice a day. We have a small house. Harassment and beating by the Police have ceased. Whenever I or my wife works for some Government project, we are properly paid. In fact many in the village look upon us for help and justice.
YES, MY SON HAS BECOME A NAXALITE.
PS: Government says that Naxalite menace has to be dealt with a strong hand. And no mercy to be shown. And all MPs support Government. So also fourth estate.
*****
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Newspaper reports with my comments:
1. Spare the rod and spoil the child
So goes the old saying. By his judgment, in essence, a judge has questioned this old adage.
A metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi acquitted 33 young people, including five girls, who were caught cheating in an exam. saying that he did not want to ruin their future. The young people were accused of receiving answers on their mobile phones, while taking an exam. All the 33 youngsters submitted identical papers and scored the same marks. CBI was called to unearth the cheating. The Magistrate in his judgment noted that all of the students were still in their early twenties when their capacity for understanding is still developing. Pointing out that they had already been debarred by Delhi University, and were enrolled in courses at other institutions, the Magistrate stated there was no point in ruining their lives by sending them to jail. Instead, he pulled the young people’s parents for failing to instill the right values in them.
The judge has gone against the perceived wisdom of the past on how justice should be administered on such matters and punishing the guilty. There are a few angles to the issue, as below:
· Many experts in the recent past have opined that physical punishment of children for errant behaviour may not dissuade the children from repeating such behaviour. On the contrary it is likely that there would be hardening of the approach of such children and they may repeat such errant behaviour with a vengeance.
· Children are products of the society. When the society itself has over a period of time veered round to being amoral, can children escape from such demoralization.
· Increasingly parents are adopting double standards in the homes, i.e., one for grown ups ( who could deviate from accepted good behaviour ) and another for children ( no such deviation is allowed ). For many a child this dichotomy is confusing.
· Increasingly youngsters observe not only the falling moral standards of society, the guilty not being punished but also the society accepting such deviant behaviour. When those who committed white collar crimes go scot free, the message that children get is that one should be careful in not getting caught rather than afraid of doing a misdeed.
· Most middle & rich class people who read the story would decry the stand taken by the judge. I for one would like to differ.
2.Latest fad in USA: Living with just 100 things
Just 100 essential items. This idea has caught the imagination of a number of Americans, particularly Hollywood stars, who live with lots and lots of things. When you have movie stars, those icons of conspicuous consumption, advocating a minimalist life style, then it becomes a fad. David Bruno, a university computer executive devised the challenge as a response to the recession and his own unease about the unwanted junk filling his home. The objective is to reduce one’s material possessions to the mandated limit. Visitors to his site complain it is easier for men than women to discard what they have, even if the same is old and hardly used. A newspaper in India had commented: “Neither is the goal the philosophy aims to achieve necessarily a good one. These bouts of self-reflection and anti-consumerism emanate from western societies at monotonously regular intervals. It is only wealthy that have the leisure to debate the necessity of wealth. The basic premise that there is something inherently wrong with consumerism is mistaken. Consumerism is the inevitable byproduct of the free market system and development”. I would say that what has been said is pure crap, echoing the Hindu philosophy of living frugally and thinking richly. This quotation we Indians use only when convenient and quite often directed to others and not self. We Indians are now running fast to emulate American system of living, with waste all around and all the time.
But the above thesis is a trap. People are lured to consumerism. Ads. Packaging. Loans for purchases. All these which boost consumerism help business and at the same time convert those who have been living in simple style to buying and accumulating style. Fashions essentially make good things obsolete. Visits to ‘ Sale’ shops start with fun of seeing and watching the goods and ends with addition to buying. The pity is that more goods do not bring happiness. It only increases the craving for still more goods. Latest is Malls, which are becoming the ultimate heaven for unwanted or unrequired purchases. And then ads. In print media. In essence it is money + lure. And now the youngsters are lured to this trap. Look at India. The dictum ‘ low living and high thinking ‘ is being replaced by ‘ high living even by borrowing and no thinking.’ Hence the counter movements as in the subject need to be applauded.
Incidentally living frugally was not merely an age old wisdom preached in the bye gone era but was practiced. Except the kings and few others, most of the well to do people in this country practiced living simply. And they were quite happy with that way of living. And they continuously advised their children to imbibe their percept and habit.
But unfortunately in this generation, that teaching is being discarded, though it still has much relevance.
3. Number of 100 year olds are increasing in the world
By mid century, i.e., 2050, the number of centenarians in the world is expected to reach 6 million. That will push the median age in many developed countries to 50. According to current estimate there are over 3.4 lakh centenarians in the world, with highest concentration in US and Japan. Medical advances and improved diet ( reducing heart disease and stroke ) are quoted for the increase of centenarians. Genetics and life styles also play a part in prolonging lives.
In India neither at Government level nor by think tanks, this development has been given much consideration, though this phenomenon slowly becoming evident in this country also. Considering the huge population in this country which means a large number of old people also and the number of old people increasing with improvement in medical facilities, this problem is slowly creeping in. We cannot ignore it.
4. Innovative way of cops in Mumbai to catch peddlers and consumers of dope.
‘An 18 year old college student posted a message on the Party Goers community on Facebook saying he loves trance music and wants to be at rave parties. He can afford to buy drugs, he says, and asks other members to inform him of any rave party that may be happening. It is a message rave party organizers and drug peddlers would like to respond to. But then in reality the message is from an inspector from the Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police. Cops have also roped in youngsters to help them with modern lingo and code language ( a trance music party, for instance, means one where drugs would be available ).
5. IN HARYANA BRIDE BARTER IS BECOMING COMMON AMONG SMALL FARMERS
This is because of the skewed sex ratio of 861 females to 1000 males Haryana. On the other side there is Kerala where the position is just opposite, i.e., with 1058 females against 1000 males.
So there is shortage of brides for eligible bachelors in Haryana and the reverse in Kerala. As the problem is unlikely to go away, a few societies in Haryana are trying to find innovative solutions. A few years back some of the Haryanvis started getting married to girls in Kerala where the sex ratio is skewed the other way, as indicated in the earlier para. So in Kerala for some of the communities to find husbands for their daughters had become a major problem. The exodus of many an eligible bachelor to Gulf added to the shortage of eligible males for marriage. And lastly Haryana bride grooms only ask for a brides, with no demand for dowry. Though the number of such marriages has remained static and that too in small numbers, what is interesting is the innovative solutions being found to tackle the problem facing Haryana. If the grooms can go to Kerala, a far off place, with different language, cuisine, customs, then no wonder that the lads have started looking to adjacent States for brides, i.e., Punjab and other Northern States.
Now comes a new development. A family agrees to the marriage of a girl from the family to a young man but demands that when the young man’s sister grows up she should be married to the current bride’s brother or cousin. And this demand has been made in the presence of elders from the village, thus making it a promise.
One should salute Haryanvis. If a problem is there and which is likely to continue in the future, then innovative solutions have to be found, instead of bemoaning.
6..Religious symbols ( turban worn by Sikhs and veil by Muslim ) continue to be problem areas in some countries
‘ No burqas in France’ says French President. “ It is a symbol of subjugation rather than faith. We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity.’ Naturally this has invited the wrath of Mullahs. France, home to an estimated five million Muslims, passed a law in 2004 banning headscarves in public places including schools.
European Union had passed a law banning the wearing of turbans ( mainly by Sikhs ) and Sikhs there are protesting.
But there is a message here to one and all of this earth. And that is that each country can within limits decide on the dress code the people living in that country would have to follow in matters, such as, propagation of different faiths, behaviour in public places, adherence to local laws, following what has been prescribed either by Government or society as decent and adhering to public decorum. It is not easy to define what the conditions or limitations are. For one thing, it may differ from country to country. And then there could be changes from time to time. Those who are going to other countries must be prepared to not merely obey the rules of law of that country but also the expected public behaviour. Local customs vary. To what extent a foreigner need not follow the local custom would depend on the local people. If the locals are taking in their stride deviant behaviour, dress, customs, ceremonies, etc., of foreigners then it is alright. But if they express reservations then the immigrant has to follow the local custom. The immigrant cannot shelter on the ground that there is no law in the host country for adhering to this or that style of behaviour. Societies can demand such adherence to local customs and behaviour. Sometime back there were protests in India against nude swimming ( and resting in beaches ) by foreigners. We would object to some of the dresses worn by women in Western countries. Man and woman kissing in public would invite the wrath of onlookers in India, whereas it is not an unusual spectacle in West. Can a white woman dress and walk the streets in Arab countries as she does in the West. No. Ultimately it is for each country to decide the dress or behaviour code acceptable to that country. Indian Government would be wise in refraining to enter in to such controversies because of appeals of Indians in other countries.
Related to the subject is what happened in Australia recently. On this incident a perceptive observer had this to say:
“Indian students in Australia represent as good a microcosm of the nouveau riche Indian abroad as in any other country. Visible traits imported from home include a sullen unsmiling visage; disdain towards serving staff in restaurants ( viewed as servants ); lewdly ogling women; playing raucous Indian music in public transport; cooking pungent food without regard for neighbour’s sensitivities; littering, spitting, etc “
7..Wither BJP? And wither a credible opposition party to Congress.
Newspapers with their penchant for preposterous headlines, giving final verdict on a happening or development, after the last Parliament election, had screamed that the BJP has been decimated. Nothing of that kind has happened. The vote share of BJP and allied parties were only less than 3% its earlier vote share. Congress improved its vote share by 2% only. Then both parties cobbled up their allied. Congress was able to do a better job As democracy functions in India, that edge was enough for Congress to be called to form the Government, which it did. But the morale of members of BJP has been worst hit because of shattering of their hope to form Government.
Is there a lesson in this election result. In the post electoral analysis, some pundits had come to the conclusion that the voter is no more interested in the three main planks of BJP, i.e., building of temple for Ram at Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code(thereby bringing Muslims under that Code rather than what that religion had set out as the conditions of marriage and related issues ) and abrogation of article 370 in the Constitution giving special status to Kashmir ( and make Kashmir just yet another State of Indian Union ).
Is the assessment correct. Maybe partly true. One should not forget that BJP and its allies had got a decent percentage of vote share. Could it be that the voter has found some of the development programmes initiated by Congress, such as, NAREGA, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc., touching his life more profoundly than the main planks of BJP, as mentioned above, which do not directly bring any benefit to him.
Some pundits have opined that it is in the interest of democracy that there is credible and strong opposition. They have missed the point. Even after elections, in BJP there is such an opposition party.
But the real issue or problem is that BJP is in disarray. There is squabble at the top. It is all the time reacting to what Congress is doing, rather than coming up with its own agenda. To their chagrin, the Congress has virtually cornered all those issues which touch the common man. Hence BJP had to fall back on issues, such as, Indo-Pak conflict, unearthing black money hoarded abroad, etc., lively subjects for the city folks but not very intensive issues so far as most voters are concerned.
Comparison with USA and UK, the pet hobby of fourth estate, has been attempted. It is off the mark. BJP, though labeled as the right wing party, its ideology or approach is not right wing. The fact is that in India there is hardly any space for a right wing party.
So, the million dollar question is wither to BJP? They can wait for an opportune moment to wean away some of the allies of Congress, topple government and try to form a Government. Apart from such a strategy, there is precious little that BJP can do. They cannot take credit for various development schemes. Their own planks are not strong anymore. A right wing approach also would not bring large scale votes. That is the dilemma of BJP. And then BJP has to fall in line with the philosophy and edicts of RSS, irrespective of the fact whether the same would affect their popular support. They can gamble on one thing. Make the States where BJP alone or with other parties, to take firm and long strides on economic development and social change which would be lauded by the common man. Then the same would take shape of votes.
8. India should become a major world power – so said Mrs. Hillary Clinton
Since any utterance of an American VIP, is sacrosanct for the English print and visual media, this off the cuff remark has been played up. But should India aim to become a super power. No. India should aim to become an egalitarian society. India should focus on removing hunger and disease. Good school education for all children should be priority agenda for Indian government. The target should be two meals for all. GDP growth cannot be the be all. We have now to vigorously follow Gandhiji’s teachings. If at all this country has to emulate a model then it has to be that of Scandinavian countries. The tax rates in that country are high. Yet these countries can be considered as the most egalitarian. They are true welfare states where all, particularly the old are looked well. The goal has to be welfare state and not high GDP country.
So goes the old saying. By his judgment, in essence, a judge has questioned this old adage.
A metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi acquitted 33 young people, including five girls, who were caught cheating in an exam. saying that he did not want to ruin their future. The young people were accused of receiving answers on their mobile phones, while taking an exam. All the 33 youngsters submitted identical papers and scored the same marks. CBI was called to unearth the cheating. The Magistrate in his judgment noted that all of the students were still in their early twenties when their capacity for understanding is still developing. Pointing out that they had already been debarred by Delhi University, and were enrolled in courses at other institutions, the Magistrate stated there was no point in ruining their lives by sending them to jail. Instead, he pulled the young people’s parents for failing to instill the right values in them.
The judge has gone against the perceived wisdom of the past on how justice should be administered on such matters and punishing the guilty. There are a few angles to the issue, as below:
· Many experts in the recent past have opined that physical punishment of children for errant behaviour may not dissuade the children from repeating such behaviour. On the contrary it is likely that there would be hardening of the approach of such children and they may repeat such errant behaviour with a vengeance.
· Children are products of the society. When the society itself has over a period of time veered round to being amoral, can children escape from such demoralization.
· Increasingly parents are adopting double standards in the homes, i.e., one for grown ups ( who could deviate from accepted good behaviour ) and another for children ( no such deviation is allowed ). For many a child this dichotomy is confusing.
· Increasingly youngsters observe not only the falling moral standards of society, the guilty not being punished but also the society accepting such deviant behaviour. When those who committed white collar crimes go scot free, the message that children get is that one should be careful in not getting caught rather than afraid of doing a misdeed.
· Most middle & rich class people who read the story would decry the stand taken by the judge. I for one would like to differ.
2.Latest fad in USA: Living with just 100 things
Just 100 essential items. This idea has caught the imagination of a number of Americans, particularly Hollywood stars, who live with lots and lots of things. When you have movie stars, those icons of conspicuous consumption, advocating a minimalist life style, then it becomes a fad. David Bruno, a university computer executive devised the challenge as a response to the recession and his own unease about the unwanted junk filling his home. The objective is to reduce one’s material possessions to the mandated limit. Visitors to his site complain it is easier for men than women to discard what they have, even if the same is old and hardly used. A newspaper in India had commented: “Neither is the goal the philosophy aims to achieve necessarily a good one. These bouts of self-reflection and anti-consumerism emanate from western societies at monotonously regular intervals. It is only wealthy that have the leisure to debate the necessity of wealth. The basic premise that there is something inherently wrong with consumerism is mistaken. Consumerism is the inevitable byproduct of the free market system and development”. I would say that what has been said is pure crap, echoing the Hindu philosophy of living frugally and thinking richly. This quotation we Indians use only when convenient and quite often directed to others and not self. We Indians are now running fast to emulate American system of living, with waste all around and all the time.
But the above thesis is a trap. People are lured to consumerism. Ads. Packaging. Loans for purchases. All these which boost consumerism help business and at the same time convert those who have been living in simple style to buying and accumulating style. Fashions essentially make good things obsolete. Visits to ‘ Sale’ shops start with fun of seeing and watching the goods and ends with addition to buying. The pity is that more goods do not bring happiness. It only increases the craving for still more goods. Latest is Malls, which are becoming the ultimate heaven for unwanted or unrequired purchases. And then ads. In print media. In essence it is money + lure. And now the youngsters are lured to this trap. Look at India. The dictum ‘ low living and high thinking ‘ is being replaced by ‘ high living even by borrowing and no thinking.’ Hence the counter movements as in the subject need to be applauded.
Incidentally living frugally was not merely an age old wisdom preached in the bye gone era but was practiced. Except the kings and few others, most of the well to do people in this country practiced living simply. And they were quite happy with that way of living. And they continuously advised their children to imbibe their percept and habit.
But unfortunately in this generation, that teaching is being discarded, though it still has much relevance.
3. Number of 100 year olds are increasing in the world
By mid century, i.e., 2050, the number of centenarians in the world is expected to reach 6 million. That will push the median age in many developed countries to 50. According to current estimate there are over 3.4 lakh centenarians in the world, with highest concentration in US and Japan. Medical advances and improved diet ( reducing heart disease and stroke ) are quoted for the increase of centenarians. Genetics and life styles also play a part in prolonging lives.
In India neither at Government level nor by think tanks, this development has been given much consideration, though this phenomenon slowly becoming evident in this country also. Considering the huge population in this country which means a large number of old people also and the number of old people increasing with improvement in medical facilities, this problem is slowly creeping in. We cannot ignore it.
4. Innovative way of cops in Mumbai to catch peddlers and consumers of dope.
‘An 18 year old college student posted a message on the Party Goers community on Facebook saying he loves trance music and wants to be at rave parties. He can afford to buy drugs, he says, and asks other members to inform him of any rave party that may be happening. It is a message rave party organizers and drug peddlers would like to respond to. But then in reality the message is from an inspector from the Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police. Cops have also roped in youngsters to help them with modern lingo and code language ( a trance music party, for instance, means one where drugs would be available ).
5. IN HARYANA BRIDE BARTER IS BECOMING COMMON AMONG SMALL FARMERS
This is because of the skewed sex ratio of 861 females to 1000 males Haryana. On the other side there is Kerala where the position is just opposite, i.e., with 1058 females against 1000 males.
So there is shortage of brides for eligible bachelors in Haryana and the reverse in Kerala. As the problem is unlikely to go away, a few societies in Haryana are trying to find innovative solutions. A few years back some of the Haryanvis started getting married to girls in Kerala where the sex ratio is skewed the other way, as indicated in the earlier para. So in Kerala for some of the communities to find husbands for their daughters had become a major problem. The exodus of many an eligible bachelor to Gulf added to the shortage of eligible males for marriage. And lastly Haryana bride grooms only ask for a brides, with no demand for dowry. Though the number of such marriages has remained static and that too in small numbers, what is interesting is the innovative solutions being found to tackle the problem facing Haryana. If the grooms can go to Kerala, a far off place, with different language, cuisine, customs, then no wonder that the lads have started looking to adjacent States for brides, i.e., Punjab and other Northern States.
Now comes a new development. A family agrees to the marriage of a girl from the family to a young man but demands that when the young man’s sister grows up she should be married to the current bride’s brother or cousin. And this demand has been made in the presence of elders from the village, thus making it a promise.
One should salute Haryanvis. If a problem is there and which is likely to continue in the future, then innovative solutions have to be found, instead of bemoaning.
6..Religious symbols ( turban worn by Sikhs and veil by Muslim ) continue to be problem areas in some countries
‘ No burqas in France’ says French President. “ It is a symbol of subjugation rather than faith. We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity.’ Naturally this has invited the wrath of Mullahs. France, home to an estimated five million Muslims, passed a law in 2004 banning headscarves in public places including schools.
European Union had passed a law banning the wearing of turbans ( mainly by Sikhs ) and Sikhs there are protesting.
But there is a message here to one and all of this earth. And that is that each country can within limits decide on the dress code the people living in that country would have to follow in matters, such as, propagation of different faiths, behaviour in public places, adherence to local laws, following what has been prescribed either by Government or society as decent and adhering to public decorum. It is not easy to define what the conditions or limitations are. For one thing, it may differ from country to country. And then there could be changes from time to time. Those who are going to other countries must be prepared to not merely obey the rules of law of that country but also the expected public behaviour. Local customs vary. To what extent a foreigner need not follow the local custom would depend on the local people. If the locals are taking in their stride deviant behaviour, dress, customs, ceremonies, etc., of foreigners then it is alright. But if they express reservations then the immigrant has to follow the local custom. The immigrant cannot shelter on the ground that there is no law in the host country for adhering to this or that style of behaviour. Societies can demand such adherence to local customs and behaviour. Sometime back there were protests in India against nude swimming ( and resting in beaches ) by foreigners. We would object to some of the dresses worn by women in Western countries. Man and woman kissing in public would invite the wrath of onlookers in India, whereas it is not an unusual spectacle in West. Can a white woman dress and walk the streets in Arab countries as she does in the West. No. Ultimately it is for each country to decide the dress or behaviour code acceptable to that country. Indian Government would be wise in refraining to enter in to such controversies because of appeals of Indians in other countries.
Related to the subject is what happened in Australia recently. On this incident a perceptive observer had this to say:
“Indian students in Australia represent as good a microcosm of the nouveau riche Indian abroad as in any other country. Visible traits imported from home include a sullen unsmiling visage; disdain towards serving staff in restaurants ( viewed as servants ); lewdly ogling women; playing raucous Indian music in public transport; cooking pungent food without regard for neighbour’s sensitivities; littering, spitting, etc “
7..Wither BJP? And wither a credible opposition party to Congress.
Newspapers with their penchant for preposterous headlines, giving final verdict on a happening or development, after the last Parliament election, had screamed that the BJP has been decimated. Nothing of that kind has happened. The vote share of BJP and allied parties were only less than 3% its earlier vote share. Congress improved its vote share by 2% only. Then both parties cobbled up their allied. Congress was able to do a better job As democracy functions in India, that edge was enough for Congress to be called to form the Government, which it did. But the morale of members of BJP has been worst hit because of shattering of their hope to form Government.
Is there a lesson in this election result. In the post electoral analysis, some pundits had come to the conclusion that the voter is no more interested in the three main planks of BJP, i.e., building of temple for Ram at Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code(thereby bringing Muslims under that Code rather than what that religion had set out as the conditions of marriage and related issues ) and abrogation of article 370 in the Constitution giving special status to Kashmir ( and make Kashmir just yet another State of Indian Union ).
Is the assessment correct. Maybe partly true. One should not forget that BJP and its allies had got a decent percentage of vote share. Could it be that the voter has found some of the development programmes initiated by Congress, such as, NAREGA, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc., touching his life more profoundly than the main planks of BJP, as mentioned above, which do not directly bring any benefit to him.
Some pundits have opined that it is in the interest of democracy that there is credible and strong opposition. They have missed the point. Even after elections, in BJP there is such an opposition party.
But the real issue or problem is that BJP is in disarray. There is squabble at the top. It is all the time reacting to what Congress is doing, rather than coming up with its own agenda. To their chagrin, the Congress has virtually cornered all those issues which touch the common man. Hence BJP had to fall back on issues, such as, Indo-Pak conflict, unearthing black money hoarded abroad, etc., lively subjects for the city folks but not very intensive issues so far as most voters are concerned.
Comparison with USA and UK, the pet hobby of fourth estate, has been attempted. It is off the mark. BJP, though labeled as the right wing party, its ideology or approach is not right wing. The fact is that in India there is hardly any space for a right wing party.
So, the million dollar question is wither to BJP? They can wait for an opportune moment to wean away some of the allies of Congress, topple government and try to form a Government. Apart from such a strategy, there is precious little that BJP can do. They cannot take credit for various development schemes. Their own planks are not strong anymore. A right wing approach also would not bring large scale votes. That is the dilemma of BJP. And then BJP has to fall in line with the philosophy and edicts of RSS, irrespective of the fact whether the same would affect their popular support. They can gamble on one thing. Make the States where BJP alone or with other parties, to take firm and long strides on economic development and social change which would be lauded by the common man. Then the same would take shape of votes.
8. India should become a major world power – so said Mrs. Hillary Clinton
Since any utterance of an American VIP, is sacrosanct for the English print and visual media, this off the cuff remark has been played up. But should India aim to become a super power. No. India should aim to become an egalitarian society. India should focus on removing hunger and disease. Good school education for all children should be priority agenda for Indian government. The target should be two meals for all. GDP growth cannot be the be all. We have now to vigorously follow Gandhiji’s teachings. If at all this country has to emulate a model then it has to be that of Scandinavian countries. The tax rates in that country are high. Yet these countries can be considered as the most egalitarian. They are true welfare states where all, particularly the old are looked well. The goal has to be welfare state and not high GDP country.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
ब्रवादो ऑफ़ प्राइवेट airlines
PRIVATE AIRLINES THREATENING TO STRIKE FOR ONE DAY:
I get the nagging feeling that the whole thing has been orchestrated beautifully.
Media hype even on mundane matters is nothing new. Here high personalities are involved, And since it is about air travel, all middle class and rich people would not miss a programme on such a development. Hence higher TRP for TV reporting on the development.
As usual TV commentators sensationalized the whole matter making it as if a disaster is to happen. Actually a one day strike is not going to affect much traveling public. People would change the dates of traveling. Please remember the strike announced is only for a day. Meetings would be postponed. These happen when flights are cancelled or delayed unduly due to inclement weather or some other reason. It is pure hype to say that airlines are holding the traveling public to ransom as one TV channel did.
Air India losing money is due to inefficiency and mismanagement but private airlines losing money is on account of high taxation, that is the sum substance of the TV story.
As usual the Minister decried the proposed move. ( It looked like a repeat of unions threatening to strike, management and union leader privately coming to an understanding, Union leader telling the management that the understanding would be formally discussed and settled after the workers go for a strike for a day so that the Union can claim that it is the strike which forced the hand of management ).
Naturally Air India management and staff are gleefully watching the developments. If the private airlines get some relief, then Air India can easily get a bigger relief.
The Unions are going to holler hereafter that when managements can get what they wanted by threatening to go on strike then what is wrong with Unions adopting the same tactic. In particular the unions of Airlines are going to quote this incident whenever they want to go a strike.
Will the Government call the bluff of the airline managements. It can. But it would not. Is the reason that traveling public would be affected. That would be a laugh.
I get the nagging feeling that the whole thing has been orchestrated beautifully.
Media hype even on mundane matters is nothing new. Here high personalities are involved, And since it is about air travel, all middle class and rich people would not miss a programme on such a development. Hence higher TRP for TV reporting on the development.
As usual TV commentators sensationalized the whole matter making it as if a disaster is to happen. Actually a one day strike is not going to affect much traveling public. People would change the dates of traveling. Please remember the strike announced is only for a day. Meetings would be postponed. These happen when flights are cancelled or delayed unduly due to inclement weather or some other reason. It is pure hype to say that airlines are holding the traveling public to ransom as one TV channel did.
Air India losing money is due to inefficiency and mismanagement but private airlines losing money is on account of high taxation, that is the sum substance of the TV story.
As usual the Minister decried the proposed move. ( It looked like a repeat of unions threatening to strike, management and union leader privately coming to an understanding, Union leader telling the management that the understanding would be formally discussed and settled after the workers go for a strike for a day so that the Union can claim that it is the strike which forced the hand of management ).
Naturally Air India management and staff are gleefully watching the developments. If the private airlines get some relief, then Air India can easily get a bigger relief.
The Unions are going to holler hereafter that when managements can get what they wanted by threatening to go on strike then what is wrong with Unions adopting the same tactic. In particular the unions of Airlines are going to quote this incident whenever they want to go a strike.
Will the Government call the bluff of the airline managements. It can. But it would not. Is the reason that traveling public would be affected. That would be a laugh.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Women’s Quota in Parliament -
For those emancipated Indian women it is a ‘life and death’ issue - Men shrug it off as a ‘ non issue’
· Yes, the Yadav chieftains are worried. If this happens then how can they find berths for sons, nephews, uncles, et all who had hoped to stand for elections and get elected. The family ties would take a knock. And so one of them said, a la Socrates style ‘ it is better to drink poison rather than………’
· For the sophisticated Indian ladies there is no issue more important than this. But as there is not much of evidence or supporting arguments for their demand, they have invoked the time honoured approach of being shrill in their arguments, which are:
(1) other countries have done it ( only scanty evidence available )
(2) it did not happen in India because we have a patriarchal society ( Yet India had women as Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Judge of Supreme Court, Speaker of Lok Sabha and a number of Union Ministers all the time in the Union Cabinet ).
(3) Fifty percent Indian population is women whereas in Parliament they have only ten percent representation ( Same is the case with most of the religions other than Hindus ).
(4) This is a measure to emancipate Indian women from the traditional male dominated wretched life they are leading. ( It is farcical to think that by having more women MPs, the lot of Indian women would improve )
(5) In all areas and so also in Parliament, women can and will perform better than men ( almost all men openly and many women silently would disagree with this hypothesis ).
(6) Unless women have higher representation in Parliament, issues affecting women will not receive due importance in the deliberations in Parliament ( It is a most unfair statement, particularly in respect of those people, i.e., Ministers and MPs in the Parliament in the past who had strongly advocated causes of women ) .
(7) Because……….
Points to be noted:
· Women across the country have never agitated for quota for them in Parliament. The agitation now outside the Parliament and in the TV studios has been by the so called emancipated women consisting of writers, social activists, educated and well off and those consider themselves as emancipated and women libbers. During the last few days their decibel level has gone up a few notches.
· There has never been any discrimination in recruitment of women for Government jobs including the coveted IAS/IFS/IPS. Yet if their number has been small always compared to men, it is just because more women did not try to pass the exams. for entry.
· In IT segment, there is no discrimination and large number of women ( girls ) have entered the sector.
· One finds more and more women in other walks of lives also, such as doctors, lawyers, etc.,
· Since Congress, BJP and Communists ( and so also some of the other smaller parties ) have subscribed openly to this proposition, why not they agree to implement the same voluntarily without taking recourse to Constitutional arrangement ( then those parties which had not agreed to would have an edge is not a weighty argument considering that these three parties with some of their allies have captured a very high percentage of vote in the last elections ).
· Panchayats have 33% reservation for women, which is proposed to be increased to 50%. That gives more women to get elected to Panchayats. What this means is that more and more women would have an opportunity to function in the public space/place. And that would train women to successfully fight against men in polls ( for the post of MP). Then no quota would be required.
· Logically from Panchayats it is the State Assemblies. Without reservation in State Assemblies for women, why jump straightaway to Parliament.
For the above reasons, I find that I have no other option but to support the Yadavs, though their obscurantist views on many matters clearly indicate that they are out of step with the changes that are happening world over, including India.
Signing off: There was a TV debate on the subject. Two men who questioned the concept were virtually shouted down by the women speakers who were occupying various high positions in the country. My sympathies are with these two gentlemen who had a taste of wrath of women.
*****
· Yes, the Yadav chieftains are worried. If this happens then how can they find berths for sons, nephews, uncles, et all who had hoped to stand for elections and get elected. The family ties would take a knock. And so one of them said, a la Socrates style ‘ it is better to drink poison rather than………’
· For the sophisticated Indian ladies there is no issue more important than this. But as there is not much of evidence or supporting arguments for their demand, they have invoked the time honoured approach of being shrill in their arguments, which are:
(1) other countries have done it ( only scanty evidence available )
(2) it did not happen in India because we have a patriarchal society ( Yet India had women as Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Judge of Supreme Court, Speaker of Lok Sabha and a number of Union Ministers all the time in the Union Cabinet ).
(3) Fifty percent Indian population is women whereas in Parliament they have only ten percent representation ( Same is the case with most of the religions other than Hindus ).
(4) This is a measure to emancipate Indian women from the traditional male dominated wretched life they are leading. ( It is farcical to think that by having more women MPs, the lot of Indian women would improve )
(5) In all areas and so also in Parliament, women can and will perform better than men ( almost all men openly and many women silently would disagree with this hypothesis ).
(6) Unless women have higher representation in Parliament, issues affecting women will not receive due importance in the deliberations in Parliament ( It is a most unfair statement, particularly in respect of those people, i.e., Ministers and MPs in the Parliament in the past who had strongly advocated causes of women ) .
(7) Because……….
Points to be noted:
· Women across the country have never agitated for quota for them in Parliament. The agitation now outside the Parliament and in the TV studios has been by the so called emancipated women consisting of writers, social activists, educated and well off and those consider themselves as emancipated and women libbers. During the last few days their decibel level has gone up a few notches.
· There has never been any discrimination in recruitment of women for Government jobs including the coveted IAS/IFS/IPS. Yet if their number has been small always compared to men, it is just because more women did not try to pass the exams. for entry.
· In IT segment, there is no discrimination and large number of women ( girls ) have entered the sector.
· One finds more and more women in other walks of lives also, such as doctors, lawyers, etc.,
· Since Congress, BJP and Communists ( and so also some of the other smaller parties ) have subscribed openly to this proposition, why not they agree to implement the same voluntarily without taking recourse to Constitutional arrangement ( then those parties which had not agreed to would have an edge is not a weighty argument considering that these three parties with some of their allies have captured a very high percentage of vote in the last elections ).
· Panchayats have 33% reservation for women, which is proposed to be increased to 50%. That gives more women to get elected to Panchayats. What this means is that more and more women would have an opportunity to function in the public space/place. And that would train women to successfully fight against men in polls ( for the post of MP). Then no quota would be required.
· Logically from Panchayats it is the State Assemblies. Without reservation in State Assemblies for women, why jump straightaway to Parliament.
For the above reasons, I find that I have no other option but to support the Yadavs, though their obscurantist views on many matters clearly indicate that they are out of step with the changes that are happening world over, including India.
Signing off: There was a TV debate on the subject. Two men who questioned the concept were virtually shouted down by the women speakers who were occupying various high positions in the country. My sympathies are with these two gentlemen who had a taste of wrath of women.
*****
Saturday, June 13, 2009
GDP
GDP GROWTH AND TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT
To businessmen, some of the economists, pundits in fourth estate and some of the Ministers and babus in Government, high GDP growth is the ‘be all and end all’ in economic development. All of them are pinning for +9% growth, if not this year, at least from next year onwards. And then they say with euphoria unmatched in respect of any other subject that such a development would take India to be the third country after USA and China with highest GDP level in 2020 or 2030.
To the awkward question as to what extent such continuous high growth in GDP would improve the living conditions of the poor, they all quote the ‘ trickle down ‘ theory.
But there is the uncomfortable fact that even after 60 years of planned economy, this country still have millions of people who are living in absolute misery, i.e., the GDP growth has bypassed them. They have not enough to eat for mere sustenance. They have no drinking water or medical facilities or a roof over their head or school facilities or assured work throughout the year. Then what is the guarantee that further growth would also not overlook them.
Out of the last twelve years, on an average there have been 10,000 suicides per year of farmers in this country in the first ten years, with last two years the figure going up to 13,000 and 15,000 respectively.
Simply put, developments plans of the past had virtually skipped a large mass of people in the rural areas. And hence migration of rural unemployed in large numbers to cities and also to other States.
‘ GDP yardstick is badly flawed as a guide to a nation’s economic well being. A nation’s well being depends on many factors ignored by GDP, such as leisure time, income inequality and the quality of the environment.’ - Economist, London
‘The way GDP is measured yields at best a very gross estimate of productive activity in the country. In spite of everyone knowing this, the slightest fluctuation in the estimated GDP becomes the basis for elaborate theses – for gloom or elation. The imperfections of measurement apart, what has grown in the reference period is almost never the object of scrutiny.’- Arun Shourie:
Aware of the limitations of GDP as a yardstick of growth, economists are often circumspect on the subject. World over, increasingly more and more ‘wise-men’ have started making contrary noise on high GDP growth, with its ill effects on ecology, fast depletion of natural resources, wastages, etc., They also point out that quite often the benefits of high GDP growth do not percolate to low income people, whereas the negative factors of such high growth will have to be borne by all people and possibly more by poor people.
( The large number of cases before the various courts in India would indicate that we are a litigant prone people. Related to the subject under discussion, processing such a large number of cases by courts, does add to the level of GDP growth, because income accrued by service rendered is included in GDP. Alcohol and cigarette consumption goes up. The same improves the level of GDP. More gossip magazines come into the market. That also adds to GDP ).
Developmental economists, foremost among them being Prof. Amartya Sen, has been emphasizing this aspect in their writings. It is in this context that the importance of various schemes announced by the Government to tackle the above mentioned problems have to be seen, though, sadly, except for lip sympathy, businessmen, educated and high salaried Indians, fourth estate, government babus have not evinced any interest in these schemes. But politicians have, primarily in their own interest ( poor people look at them for an assisting hand and also for claiming votes ). Suicide of a boy for failing in an exam. is repeatedly telecast in TV channels with lot of commentaries, whereas suicides of over thousand farmers get a few minutes of lip sympathy in both print and visual media. Hardly any of the papers / TV channels have done in depth stories on farmer suicides or come up with suggestions on how to arrest the repetition of such horrifying catastrophe. For both print and visual media, India by far means the megalopolis.
Only 2% o Indian population are involved in stock market one way or another. Yet as it is about real money, it occupies a lot of space in Indian politics and economics. GDP growth in India, particularly that area related to high tech and business growth touch 10% to 20% of the population. For another 50% or 60% of the population it is business as usual. Then there is the bottom of the pyramid consisting of the poor. 50 years of planned development had hardly touched them in the sense their lot has been as it was fifty years back. It is clear that ‘trickling down’ theory had not worked for them. If that be so, then the big ticket reforms proposed also would not touch them. So after a decade India may be counted in the big league in the comity of nations in GDP, but 10 to 20 crores of people in India would continue to live in miserable conditions.
It is in the above context one has to view the mega projects for improving the lot of those who are in the lower rung of pyramid now being undertaken by Government. There would be any number of economic arguments against the schemes. Be that it may. Such schemes are necessary to give succor to the poor.
What the Government should do is to enlist the support of all parties, State Governments and Civil Society in effectively implementing the following developmental projects announced by Government, primarily directed towards improving the lot of the poor in villages.
Agenda for/of the new Government:
A modern nation is defined by four non negotiable rights: equality of citizenship across origin and gender; secularism; liberty of speech; and economic equity ( M.J. Akbar, veteran journalist ). While in respect of the first three rights, there has been considerable advancement in the past, for a large number of people the last right has remained elusive. The projects mentioned below have to be considered in that background.
In other words, while the Governments ( including the period when BJP was in power ) in the past have been striving to achieve all the postulates on the count of economic inequity, we have yet to go far.
1. Bharat Nirman Project ( Rs. 1.74 lakh crore project )
Every village in India with over 1000 population to have an all-weather road, every habitation to have water supply, every village to have a telephone and every village to be electrified. Launched in 2005 – So far spent Rs. 1.14 crore )
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) ( Rs. 44,480 crores )
Launched in 2006, the Scheme provides for 100 days of assured employment per year per person per household. ( or cash payment @ Rs. 100 per day for 100 days ). Panchayats to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The scheme has been lauded world over. The implementation level varies from State to State.
The scheme would reduce the level of migration of poor landless unemployed persons from villages to cities/towns. It is said that the Scheme had brought in lot of votes to Congress. Some of the opposition ruled states have also tried to take credit for bringing out with such a scheme. But that is not the point. Nobody disputes that the scheme has given succor to a lot of unemployed people.
Inevitable that in respect of such a scheme, there would be leakages. Further, as had happened in respect of many such welfare schemes, vested interests ( including political ) would muscle into managing the scheme.
Many an economist may argue against the concept of the scheme. Since employment has to be provided under the scheme, even non-worthwhile projects may be taken up. It would be difficult to measure the return from investment. But there can be no two opinion that the scheme would to some extent mitigate the grinding poverty many unemployed in the villages are going through. ( As could be expected, World Bank had expressed reservations on the concept while ILO had welcomed the Scheme )
3. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ( Rs. 60,000 crores )
Launched in 2001, the scheme is to provide elementary education to all children. While enrolment aspect has been quite successful, it was found that by far a large number of children drop out at the VIIIth standard level. In the rural areas the scheme has become extremely popular.
1. Mid Day Meal Scheme ( Rs. 33,000 crores )
Supreme Court had also directed Government to implement the scheme, which was originally started in 1990 but gained real momentum during the last few years. 11.74 crore school children have been benefitted under the scheme. In fact the scheme has given a major impetus for the really poor to send their children to schools.
2. National Rural Health Mission ( Rs. 31,000 crores )
Launched in 2005 to build a healthcare delivery system the entire rural population. What is lamentable is that the States have been able to spend so far only Rs. 20,000 crores under the scheme.
6. Total Sanitation Campaign ( Rs. 5,100 crores )
This is a scheme which has been in operation for long but not very successful. The Scheme was to build toilets in rural areas. Lack of water and habit of using open places as toilet have been cited as reasons for the lacklustre performance of this scheme. Civil society and social workers have a major role to play in successful implementation of the scheme.
7. Integrated Child Development Services – (Rs. 32,000 crores )
The Scheme provides nutiritional supplements, health check-ups and immunization coverae to children up to the age of 6 years to reduce mortality and disease. It also provides nbutritional supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.
8. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( Rs.7500 crores )
The Scheme is to build basic infrastructure, improve governance and provide basic facilities to the urban poor in 63 cities over seven years.
9. Polio eradication ( Rs. 9000 crores )
A Scheme in respect of the above was launched in 1994 which helped in reducing polio cases and India was to become polio free. But a few pockets are now showing resistance to immunization. Hence this Project.
Concluding remarks:
· Yes, there would be leakages and project implementation could be delayed. Having seen that such schemes could work, Government of India is placing all out emphasis on the projects. In political circles also there is awareness on the need to efficiently managing these schemes.
· But where is the money to be found – naturally that would be the second question. From high GDP growth which would bring in more revenue to Government.
· Once the funds earmarked for the projects are spent, there would renewed demand from all quarters to further extend the schemes and also for bringing in more such schemes. And Governments ( whichever party is in power ) must accede to such demands.
*****
To businessmen, some of the economists, pundits in fourth estate and some of the Ministers and babus in Government, high GDP growth is the ‘be all and end all’ in economic development. All of them are pinning for +9% growth, if not this year, at least from next year onwards. And then they say with euphoria unmatched in respect of any other subject that such a development would take India to be the third country after USA and China with highest GDP level in 2020 or 2030.
To the awkward question as to what extent such continuous high growth in GDP would improve the living conditions of the poor, they all quote the ‘ trickle down ‘ theory.
But there is the uncomfortable fact that even after 60 years of planned economy, this country still have millions of people who are living in absolute misery, i.e., the GDP growth has bypassed them. They have not enough to eat for mere sustenance. They have no drinking water or medical facilities or a roof over their head or school facilities or assured work throughout the year. Then what is the guarantee that further growth would also not overlook them.
Out of the last twelve years, on an average there have been 10,000 suicides per year of farmers in this country in the first ten years, with last two years the figure going up to 13,000 and 15,000 respectively.
Simply put, developments plans of the past had virtually skipped a large mass of people in the rural areas. And hence migration of rural unemployed in large numbers to cities and also to other States.
‘ GDP yardstick is badly flawed as a guide to a nation’s economic well being. A nation’s well being depends on many factors ignored by GDP, such as leisure time, income inequality and the quality of the environment.’ - Economist, London
‘The way GDP is measured yields at best a very gross estimate of productive activity in the country. In spite of everyone knowing this, the slightest fluctuation in the estimated GDP becomes the basis for elaborate theses – for gloom or elation. The imperfections of measurement apart, what has grown in the reference period is almost never the object of scrutiny.’- Arun Shourie:
Aware of the limitations of GDP as a yardstick of growth, economists are often circumspect on the subject. World over, increasingly more and more ‘wise-men’ have started making contrary noise on high GDP growth, with its ill effects on ecology, fast depletion of natural resources, wastages, etc., They also point out that quite often the benefits of high GDP growth do not percolate to low income people, whereas the negative factors of such high growth will have to be borne by all people and possibly more by poor people.
( The large number of cases before the various courts in India would indicate that we are a litigant prone people. Related to the subject under discussion, processing such a large number of cases by courts, does add to the level of GDP growth, because income accrued by service rendered is included in GDP. Alcohol and cigarette consumption goes up. The same improves the level of GDP. More gossip magazines come into the market. That also adds to GDP ).
Developmental economists, foremost among them being Prof. Amartya Sen, has been emphasizing this aspect in their writings. It is in this context that the importance of various schemes announced by the Government to tackle the above mentioned problems have to be seen, though, sadly, except for lip sympathy, businessmen, educated and high salaried Indians, fourth estate, government babus have not evinced any interest in these schemes. But politicians have, primarily in their own interest ( poor people look at them for an assisting hand and also for claiming votes ). Suicide of a boy for failing in an exam. is repeatedly telecast in TV channels with lot of commentaries, whereas suicides of over thousand farmers get a few minutes of lip sympathy in both print and visual media. Hardly any of the papers / TV channels have done in depth stories on farmer suicides or come up with suggestions on how to arrest the repetition of such horrifying catastrophe. For both print and visual media, India by far means the megalopolis.
Only 2% o Indian population are involved in stock market one way or another. Yet as it is about real money, it occupies a lot of space in Indian politics and economics. GDP growth in India, particularly that area related to high tech and business growth touch 10% to 20% of the population. For another 50% or 60% of the population it is business as usual. Then there is the bottom of the pyramid consisting of the poor. 50 years of planned development had hardly touched them in the sense their lot has been as it was fifty years back. It is clear that ‘trickling down’ theory had not worked for them. If that be so, then the big ticket reforms proposed also would not touch them. So after a decade India may be counted in the big league in the comity of nations in GDP, but 10 to 20 crores of people in India would continue to live in miserable conditions.
It is in the above context one has to view the mega projects for improving the lot of those who are in the lower rung of pyramid now being undertaken by Government. There would be any number of economic arguments against the schemes. Be that it may. Such schemes are necessary to give succor to the poor.
What the Government should do is to enlist the support of all parties, State Governments and Civil Society in effectively implementing the following developmental projects announced by Government, primarily directed towards improving the lot of the poor in villages.
Agenda for/of the new Government:
A modern nation is defined by four non negotiable rights: equality of citizenship across origin and gender; secularism; liberty of speech; and economic equity ( M.J. Akbar, veteran journalist ). While in respect of the first three rights, there has been considerable advancement in the past, for a large number of people the last right has remained elusive. The projects mentioned below have to be considered in that background.
In other words, while the Governments ( including the period when BJP was in power ) in the past have been striving to achieve all the postulates on the count of economic inequity, we have yet to go far.
1. Bharat Nirman Project ( Rs. 1.74 lakh crore project )
Every village in India with over 1000 population to have an all-weather road, every habitation to have water supply, every village to have a telephone and every village to be electrified. Launched in 2005 – So far spent Rs. 1.14 crore )
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) ( Rs. 44,480 crores )
Launched in 2006, the Scheme provides for 100 days of assured employment per year per person per household. ( or cash payment @ Rs. 100 per day for 100 days ). Panchayats to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The scheme has been lauded world over. The implementation level varies from State to State.
The scheme would reduce the level of migration of poor landless unemployed persons from villages to cities/towns. It is said that the Scheme had brought in lot of votes to Congress. Some of the opposition ruled states have also tried to take credit for bringing out with such a scheme. But that is not the point. Nobody disputes that the scheme has given succor to a lot of unemployed people.
Inevitable that in respect of such a scheme, there would be leakages. Further, as had happened in respect of many such welfare schemes, vested interests ( including political ) would muscle into managing the scheme.
Many an economist may argue against the concept of the scheme. Since employment has to be provided under the scheme, even non-worthwhile projects may be taken up. It would be difficult to measure the return from investment. But there can be no two opinion that the scheme would to some extent mitigate the grinding poverty many unemployed in the villages are going through. ( As could be expected, World Bank had expressed reservations on the concept while ILO had welcomed the Scheme )
3. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ( Rs. 60,000 crores )
Launched in 2001, the scheme is to provide elementary education to all children. While enrolment aspect has been quite successful, it was found that by far a large number of children drop out at the VIIIth standard level. In the rural areas the scheme has become extremely popular.
1. Mid Day Meal Scheme ( Rs. 33,000 crores )
Supreme Court had also directed Government to implement the scheme, which was originally started in 1990 but gained real momentum during the last few years. 11.74 crore school children have been benefitted under the scheme. In fact the scheme has given a major impetus for the really poor to send their children to schools.
2. National Rural Health Mission ( Rs. 31,000 crores )
Launched in 2005 to build a healthcare delivery system the entire rural population. What is lamentable is that the States have been able to spend so far only Rs. 20,000 crores under the scheme.
6. Total Sanitation Campaign ( Rs. 5,100 crores )
This is a scheme which has been in operation for long but not very successful. The Scheme was to build toilets in rural areas. Lack of water and habit of using open places as toilet have been cited as reasons for the lacklustre performance of this scheme. Civil society and social workers have a major role to play in successful implementation of the scheme.
7. Integrated Child Development Services – (Rs. 32,000 crores )
The Scheme provides nutiritional supplements, health check-ups and immunization coverae to children up to the age of 6 years to reduce mortality and disease. It also provides nbutritional supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.
8. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( Rs.7500 crores )
The Scheme is to build basic infrastructure, improve governance and provide basic facilities to the urban poor in 63 cities over seven years.
9. Polio eradication ( Rs. 9000 crores )
A Scheme in respect of the above was launched in 1994 which helped in reducing polio cases and India was to become polio free. But a few pockets are now showing resistance to immunization. Hence this Project.
Concluding remarks:
· Yes, there would be leakages and project implementation could be delayed. Having seen that such schemes could work, Government of India is placing all out emphasis on the projects. In political circles also there is awareness on the need to efficiently managing these schemes.
· But where is the money to be found – naturally that would be the second question. From high GDP growth which would bring in more revenue to Government.
· Once the funds earmarked for the projects are spent, there would renewed demand from all quarters to further extend the schemes and also for bringing in more such schemes. And Governments ( whichever party is in power ) must accede to such demands.
*****
Monday, June 8, 2009
DYNASTY DEBATE IN RESPECT OF
Hydra-headed, the subject matter gets propped up to debating area in respect of Indian intelligentsia and fourth estate, whenever occasion arises to bash up the Indian political system. Latest is the election of Ms. Meira Kumar, daughter of late Babu Jagjivan Ram, as the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Dynasty politics, in a derogatory manner is referred to in respect of Nehru family also. So also about Abdullas of Kashmir and Karunadhi of Tamil Nadu.
But consider the following:
1. Semi educated and management deficient progenies of businessmen could overnight assume high and important posts in the family managed ( which is euphemistically termed by the businessmen as ‘ family owned’ ) business organization, despite the fact that the entity has public money of shareholders and banks, besides employing a large number of people. This is accepted as a normal feature of business and hence taken for granted, despite the fact that inefficient running of the organization would affect banks and livelihood of employees.
2. The same, i.e., son inheriting and subsequently managing, applies to most of the small time commercial activities, be it chawl type tea shop, barber shop, cycle repair shop.
3. During the British times, it was the normal practice to give job to the son of Indian retiring from the service of the company.
4. For a long time in respect of Government jobs, unsaid preference was given to sons/daughters of people who are or have worked in Government.
5. Even in religious bodies, temple management more often than not is passed on from father to son.
6. Even in fourth estate this has been happening, despite print/visual media, making fun or chastising such development in the political arena. The son takes up the position of chief from father. And some times the son even changes the tilt of the entity.
7. Dynasty or no dynasty, the fact has to be noted that a person has to win an election to be eligible for the post of Minister. There may be immediate reaction that a person can partially circumvent this condition by coming through Rajya Sabha. Yet there is also election. Just because a person is son of a Minister he cannot claim entitlement for a ticket.
8. For a long long time India was ruled by kings. At one time there were over 500 kingdoms. The accepted principle was for the eldest son to occupy the throne or for any reason the king ( father ) is not favourably disposed off towards the eldest son, then may be the second or third son is made the king.
9. The above position was the case more or less in respect of most of the countries in the world. It still continues in Arab countries. Both England and Japan have kings as titular heads in whose case also the position is hereditary.
And lastly, what about House of Lords in U.K.
King’s father has to be king, but Minister’s father need not be Minister.
End note: Despite all these cogent arguments, the fourth estate may still say that this does not happen in America. For the fourth estate, mesmerized as it is by USA, all the wisdom can be found in what America is doing. Forget the meaningless war and resultant killings of thousands of Vietnamese or annihilating Japan by Atom bombs by Americans.
*********
But consider the following:
1. Semi educated and management deficient progenies of businessmen could overnight assume high and important posts in the family managed ( which is euphemistically termed by the businessmen as ‘ family owned’ ) business organization, despite the fact that the entity has public money of shareholders and banks, besides employing a large number of people. This is accepted as a normal feature of business and hence taken for granted, despite the fact that inefficient running of the organization would affect banks and livelihood of employees.
2. The same, i.e., son inheriting and subsequently managing, applies to most of the small time commercial activities, be it chawl type tea shop, barber shop, cycle repair shop.
3. During the British times, it was the normal practice to give job to the son of Indian retiring from the service of the company.
4. For a long time in respect of Government jobs, unsaid preference was given to sons/daughters of people who are or have worked in Government.
5. Even in religious bodies, temple management more often than not is passed on from father to son.
6. Even in fourth estate this has been happening, despite print/visual media, making fun or chastising such development in the political arena. The son takes up the position of chief from father. And some times the son even changes the tilt of the entity.
7. Dynasty or no dynasty, the fact has to be noted that a person has to win an election to be eligible for the post of Minister. There may be immediate reaction that a person can partially circumvent this condition by coming through Rajya Sabha. Yet there is also election. Just because a person is son of a Minister he cannot claim entitlement for a ticket.
8. For a long long time India was ruled by kings. At one time there were over 500 kingdoms. The accepted principle was for the eldest son to occupy the throne or for any reason the king ( father ) is not favourably disposed off towards the eldest son, then may be the second or third son is made the king.
9. The above position was the case more or less in respect of most of the countries in the world. It still continues in Arab countries. Both England and Japan have kings as titular heads in whose case also the position is hereditary.
And lastly, what about House of Lords in U.K.
King’s father has to be king, but Minister’s father need not be Minister.
End note: Despite all these cogent arguments, the fourth estate may still say that this does not happen in America. For the fourth estate, mesmerized as it is by USA, all the wisdom can be found in what America is doing. Forget the meaningless war and resultant killings of thousands of Vietnamese or annihilating Japan by Atom bombs by Americans.
*********
Saturday, June 6, 2009
ENGLISH PRINT/VISUAL MEDIA’S
If the English media is to be believed that for all inactions of Government in the past, the blame squarely lies with communists. Forget the fact that Government could not go ahead with reservation of seats in Parliament for women mainly because of objection of two Yadav chieftains. Except in respect of Nuclear deal, closer relation with US and some of the fiscal reforms ( dilution of public sector holdings, more freer flow of FDI, disinvestment, pension reforms ), communists had whole-heartedly backed Government in respect of various welfare oriented schemes, which had not been the case with some other parties or the English media.
Now that Government has announced mega programmes, the qualifying statement of media has been that this or that programme can be implemented because communists cannot block the same or that the Left is out of the way.
The second prejudice or, say, confusion of the media is that they are echoing business class when giving all round importance to GDP growth. This is not to minimize the importance of GDP growth. But for a country with millions of people down and under, GDP cannot be the sole or most important criteria for development. Past GDP growth has left behind a large mass of people, i.e., their lives are not touched by GDP growth. For instance landless labourers in the rural area. But they have found some succor in the schemes of 100 days employment and supply of lower priced food-grains. The point is that even if the Government undertakes all the economic reforms, i.e., the agenda of the business and fourth estate, with trickle down theory not operational in respect of unemployed and destitute, their lot would remain the same as it has been in the past. Rural unemployed migrate in large numbers to cities and towns because there is nothing in villages for them to make a bare living.
The idyllic village life is largely a myth, contrary to what poets/story writers/ films say or depict. And hence the villagers in droves are turning to the cities for living. Some of the experts in such matters predict that the flow of village folk to cities for a living will become unmanageable in the times to come, unless they can be persuaded to stay put through some of the welfare measures. This is particularly true of landless unemployed in villages.
Hence the main focus of Government has to be to ensure that the big ticket social welfare measures are implemented effectively, with minimum leakage. If required the allocations for such programmes have to be enhanced. Making available drinking water, bare medical facilities, reasonably good education, assured income for two bare meals, etc., should absolutely take precedence over other activities. Yes, GDP is important and yet it is not an all important factor. Two meals, water, power and school/medical facilities are far more important.
It is said that the massive vote for Congress in the last election was caused primarily on account of the social welfare measures, particularly 100 days employment. It is also said that some of the opposition ruled States had tried to take credit for these measures. Be that as it may. Who gets the credit is not important. That the downtrodden are uplifted is to be ‘the be all.’
Now that Government has announced mega programmes, the qualifying statement of media has been that this or that programme can be implemented because communists cannot block the same or that the Left is out of the way.
The second prejudice or, say, confusion of the media is that they are echoing business class when giving all round importance to GDP growth. This is not to minimize the importance of GDP growth. But for a country with millions of people down and under, GDP cannot be the sole or most important criteria for development. Past GDP growth has left behind a large mass of people, i.e., their lives are not touched by GDP growth. For instance landless labourers in the rural area. But they have found some succor in the schemes of 100 days employment and supply of lower priced food-grains. The point is that even if the Government undertakes all the economic reforms, i.e., the agenda of the business and fourth estate, with trickle down theory not operational in respect of unemployed and destitute, their lot would remain the same as it has been in the past. Rural unemployed migrate in large numbers to cities and towns because there is nothing in villages for them to make a bare living.
The idyllic village life is largely a myth, contrary to what poets/story writers/ films say or depict. And hence the villagers in droves are turning to the cities for living. Some of the experts in such matters predict that the flow of village folk to cities for a living will become unmanageable in the times to come, unless they can be persuaded to stay put through some of the welfare measures. This is particularly true of landless unemployed in villages.
Hence the main focus of Government has to be to ensure that the big ticket social welfare measures are implemented effectively, with minimum leakage. If required the allocations for such programmes have to be enhanced. Making available drinking water, bare medical facilities, reasonably good education, assured income for two bare meals, etc., should absolutely take precedence over other activities. Yes, GDP is important and yet it is not an all important factor. Two meals, water, power and school/medical facilities are far more important.
It is said that the massive vote for Congress in the last election was caused primarily on account of the social welfare measures, particularly 100 days employment. It is also said that some of the opposition ruled States had tried to take credit for these measures. Be that as it may. Who gets the credit is not important. That the downtrodden are uplifted is to be ‘the be all.’
Thursday, June 4, 2009
ENGLISH PRINT/VISUAL MEDIA’S
If the English media is to be believed that for all inactions of Government in the past, the blame squarely lies with communists. Forget the fact that Government could not go ahead with reservation of seats in Parliament for women mainly because of objection of two Yadav chieftains. Except in respect of Nuclear deal, closer relation with US and some of the fiscal reforms ( dilution of public sector holdings, more freer flow of FDI, disinvestment, pension reforms ), communists had whole-heartedly backed Government in respect of various welfare oriented schemes, which had not been the case with some other parties or the English media.
Now that Government has announced mega programmes, the qualifying statement of media has been that this or that programme can be implemented because communists cannot block the same or that the Left is out of the way.
The second prejudice or, say, confusion of the media is that they are echoing business class when giving all round importance to GDP growth. This is not to minimize the importance of GDP growth. But for a country with millions of people down and under, GDP cannot be the sole or most important criteria for development. Past GDP growth has left behind a large mass of people, i.e., their lives are not touched by GDP growth. For instance landless labourers in the rural area. But they have found some succor in the schemes of 100 days employment and supply of lower priced food-grains. The point is that even if the Government undertakes all the economic reforms, i.e., the agenda of the business and fourth estate, with trickle down theory not operational in respect of unemployed and destitute, their lot would remain the same as it has been in the past. Rural unemployed migrate in large numbers to cities and towns because there is nothing in villages for them to make a bare living.
The idyllic village life is largely a myth, contrary to what poets/story writers/ films say or depict. And hence the villagers in droves are turning to the cities for living. Some of the experts in such matters predict that the flow of village folk to cities for a living will become unmanageable in the times to come, unless they can be persuaded to stay put through some of the welfare measures. This is particularly true of landless unemployed in villages.
Hence the main focus of Government has to be to ensure that the big ticket social welfare measures are implemented effectively, with minimum leakage. If required the allocations for such programmes have to be enhanced. Making available drinking water, bare medical facilities, reasonably good education, assured income for two bare meals, etc., should absolutely take precedence over other activities. Yes, GDP is important and yet it is not an all important factor. Two meals, water, power and school/medical facilities are far more important.
It is said that the massive vote for Congress in the last election was caused primarily on account of the social welfare measures, particularly 100 days employment. It is also said that some of the opposition ruled States had tried to take credit for these measures. Be that as it may. Who gets the credit is not important. That the downtrodden are uplifted is to be ‘the be all.’
Now that Government has announced mega programmes, the qualifying statement of media has been that this or that programme can be implemented because communists cannot block the same or that the Left is out of the way.
The second prejudice or, say, confusion of the media is that they are echoing business class when giving all round importance to GDP growth. This is not to minimize the importance of GDP growth. But for a country with millions of people down and under, GDP cannot be the sole or most important criteria for development. Past GDP growth has left behind a large mass of people, i.e., their lives are not touched by GDP growth. For instance landless labourers in the rural area. But they have found some succor in the schemes of 100 days employment and supply of lower priced food-grains. The point is that even if the Government undertakes all the economic reforms, i.e., the agenda of the business and fourth estate, with trickle down theory not operational in respect of unemployed and destitute, their lot would remain the same as it has been in the past. Rural unemployed migrate in large numbers to cities and towns because there is nothing in villages for them to make a bare living.
The idyllic village life is largely a myth, contrary to what poets/story writers/ films say or depict. And hence the villagers in droves are turning to the cities for living. Some of the experts in such matters predict that the flow of village folk to cities for a living will become unmanageable in the times to come, unless they can be persuaded to stay put through some of the welfare measures. This is particularly true of landless unemployed in villages.
Hence the main focus of Government has to be to ensure that the big ticket social welfare measures are implemented effectively, with minimum leakage. If required the allocations for such programmes have to be enhanced. Making available drinking water, bare medical facilities, reasonably good education, assured income for two bare meals, etc., should absolutely take precedence over other activities. Yes, GDP is important and yet it is not an all important factor. Two meals, water, power and school/medical facilities are far more important.
It is said that the massive vote for Congress in the last election was caused primarily on account of the social welfare measures, particularly 100 days employment. It is also said that some of the opposition ruled States had tried to take credit for these measures. Be that as it may. Who gets the credit is not important. That the downtrodden are uplifted is to be ‘the be all.’
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
बिज़र्रे - विथ instalment
19. INNOVATIVE WAYS OF BAG LIFTERS
A lady Professor had gone for lunch with her friends to a posh hotel when a woman, in the garb of attending to her baby who was near the chair occupied by the Professor where the Professor’s bag was kept, bent down and walked away with the bag and child. Since the Prof. had no clue on where her bag had gone, she asked for the hotel’s CCTV footage. The Prof. said ‘ I had kept the bag under my chair. Two women alongwith a toddler were sitting behind us. In the CCTV footage I saw that the toddler came near my feet and one of the two women in the pretext of picking up the child, took away both the child and my bag also.’
My comments: In almost every walk of our lives we like and applaud innovation. It is innovation of electrical gadgets that have made our life easier and less tedious. Be it cell phone, TV. Air conditioner, car or aeroplane, it is innovation that has led to progress. But then why should we assume that innovation will be limited to pluses only. Thieves are also becoming innovative.
20. THIEF CAUGHT SLEEPING ON THE JOB
A stationary shop owner opened his shop to find that all the costly items were packed in cartons and cash was missing. Realising that a burglary had been attempted, he wondered why the thief had left without taking the booty, when he heard a sound from the rear of the shop and spotted the thief snoring under a cot, police officials said. The thief was woken up and was stunned to find the shopkeeper and the police surrounding him. Admitting that he had broken into the shop, he was, however, at a loss to explain how he fell asleep, police said.
My comments: It is not unusual for watchmen to sleep. That we take for granted. In the case of many a child, the movement in the early night when he opens the school book, he feels sleepy. There are many who are regular sleepers in the office. In the instant case, the thief after breaking into the shop and packing the stolen goods, would have been tired and thought of closing his eyes for a few minutes. But then his body needed longer rest and so the incident happened.
24: LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Recently this award was given to Machhli. Machhli is a tigress of 12 year age. She has given birth to nine cubs. She has given darshan to over 100 million people. And for all this, she has been given the life achievement award. Machhli was born in Ranthambore National Park. Julian Mathews, Chairman and Founder of the UK based non profit body Tour Operators for Tigers, on behalf of the Foundation while giving away the award stated ‘ Machhli was selected for the award on the basis of several factors. She has been spotted by over 100 million tourists. She has been captured on camera, allowing tens of millions more to watch her on television. And the revenue generated has greatly benefited the sanctuary.’
My comments: We human beings ( who should really be labeled as inhuman beings ) are always surprised to hear news like this. We think it is the prerogative of human beings to get awards. ‘ What can the tiger do with the award?’ that would be the comment. Some would sneer at the peccadilloes of the foreign guys. Our care, appreciation and recognition of animals never go beyond a line we have drawn up with this side the higher and glorious (!) human beings and on the other side the junglees. It is time that we change our attitudes.
25. GROOM AND RELATIVES THASHED FOR ASKING HIGHER DOWRY THAN SETTLED EARLIER
This happened in Haryana. The bride groom and his family had earlier agreed to a Maruti car as dowry from the side of the bride. This was agreed to as the bride’s father wanted his daughter to marry somebody educated and the groom was studying in Jamia Milia Islamia. Everything was fine and the nikaah was performed with all pomp and show. However, when the time came for ‘bidaai ‘ and bride’s father went to hand over the key of Maruti Alto to the bridegroom, the latter refused to take it. The Groom said that he would not accept anything less than a Scorpio and Rs. 15 lakh in cash.
Since this was going back on the understanding, a fact known to the villagers who were present at the nikaah, the bridegroom and his father were not only beaten black and blue by the villagers, but they also took 25 baraatis hostage and tonsured head of the groom and his father. Later in the night, a village panchayat was called and it pronounced the decision that the family of the groom would have to pay Rs. 8 lakh to the bride’s family, which according to the Panchayat was the money spent by the girl’s family since engagement, if the groom, his family and the baraatis wanted to get released. Left with no other option the groom’s family agreed to pay the money. Then they were released. The marriage was called off and the groom was forced to divorce his wife even before the ‘bidaai’ as he did not ‘ deserve her.’
Meanwhile, the police chose to keep away from the spot. A senior police officer defended the move saying that in cases like this, panchayat takes its own decision.
My comments: I applaud the action of the girl’s parents, the village folks and that of the Police. In many places in India, particularly in Kerala, this pernicious dowry system is vanishing. Yet in large parts of the country, mainly in rural areas, the custom is in tact. It is not that the parents of the girls happily give away dowry. They do it because it is the custom. Often they are forced to sell part of their land or give away part of their savings or borrow money, with the indebtedness making their subsequent living miserable. Yet individually parents of the girls cannot oppose the system, because that would result in the girls not getting married. Social workers have to take the initiative. Educated and employed boys and girls will have to stand up against the system. The Panchayat has to take the initiative, as in the instant case. But the Panchayat referred to in the instant case did not oppose payment of the dowry but only intervened when the groom’s parents showed their arm twisting methods to get more dowry than agreed to. And once such a movement starts, then there is no stopping.
A lady Professor had gone for lunch with her friends to a posh hotel when a woman, in the garb of attending to her baby who was near the chair occupied by the Professor where the Professor’s bag was kept, bent down and walked away with the bag and child. Since the Prof. had no clue on where her bag had gone, she asked for the hotel’s CCTV footage. The Prof. said ‘ I had kept the bag under my chair. Two women alongwith a toddler were sitting behind us. In the CCTV footage I saw that the toddler came near my feet and one of the two women in the pretext of picking up the child, took away both the child and my bag also.’
My comments: In almost every walk of our lives we like and applaud innovation. It is innovation of electrical gadgets that have made our life easier and less tedious. Be it cell phone, TV. Air conditioner, car or aeroplane, it is innovation that has led to progress. But then why should we assume that innovation will be limited to pluses only. Thieves are also becoming innovative.
20. THIEF CAUGHT SLEEPING ON THE JOB
A stationary shop owner opened his shop to find that all the costly items were packed in cartons and cash was missing. Realising that a burglary had been attempted, he wondered why the thief had left without taking the booty, when he heard a sound from the rear of the shop and spotted the thief snoring under a cot, police officials said. The thief was woken up and was stunned to find the shopkeeper and the police surrounding him. Admitting that he had broken into the shop, he was, however, at a loss to explain how he fell asleep, police said.
My comments: It is not unusual for watchmen to sleep. That we take for granted. In the case of many a child, the movement in the early night when he opens the school book, he feels sleepy. There are many who are regular sleepers in the office. In the instant case, the thief after breaking into the shop and packing the stolen goods, would have been tired and thought of closing his eyes for a few minutes. But then his body needed longer rest and so the incident happened.
24: LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Recently this award was given to Machhli. Machhli is a tigress of 12 year age. She has given birth to nine cubs. She has given darshan to over 100 million people. And for all this, she has been given the life achievement award. Machhli was born in Ranthambore National Park. Julian Mathews, Chairman and Founder of the UK based non profit body Tour Operators for Tigers, on behalf of the Foundation while giving away the award stated ‘ Machhli was selected for the award on the basis of several factors. She has been spotted by over 100 million tourists. She has been captured on camera, allowing tens of millions more to watch her on television. And the revenue generated has greatly benefited the sanctuary.’
My comments: We human beings ( who should really be labeled as inhuman beings ) are always surprised to hear news like this. We think it is the prerogative of human beings to get awards. ‘ What can the tiger do with the award?’ that would be the comment. Some would sneer at the peccadilloes of the foreign guys. Our care, appreciation and recognition of animals never go beyond a line we have drawn up with this side the higher and glorious (!) human beings and on the other side the junglees. It is time that we change our attitudes.
25. GROOM AND RELATIVES THASHED FOR ASKING HIGHER DOWRY THAN SETTLED EARLIER
This happened in Haryana. The bride groom and his family had earlier agreed to a Maruti car as dowry from the side of the bride. This was agreed to as the bride’s father wanted his daughter to marry somebody educated and the groom was studying in Jamia Milia Islamia. Everything was fine and the nikaah was performed with all pomp and show. However, when the time came for ‘bidaai ‘ and bride’s father went to hand over the key of Maruti Alto to the bridegroom, the latter refused to take it. The Groom said that he would not accept anything less than a Scorpio and Rs. 15 lakh in cash.
Since this was going back on the understanding, a fact known to the villagers who were present at the nikaah, the bridegroom and his father were not only beaten black and blue by the villagers, but they also took 25 baraatis hostage and tonsured head of the groom and his father. Later in the night, a village panchayat was called and it pronounced the decision that the family of the groom would have to pay Rs. 8 lakh to the bride’s family, which according to the Panchayat was the money spent by the girl’s family since engagement, if the groom, his family and the baraatis wanted to get released. Left with no other option the groom’s family agreed to pay the money. Then they were released. The marriage was called off and the groom was forced to divorce his wife even before the ‘bidaai’ as he did not ‘ deserve her.’
Meanwhile, the police chose to keep away from the spot. A senior police officer defended the move saying that in cases like this, panchayat takes its own decision.
My comments: I applaud the action of the girl’s parents, the village folks and that of the Police. In many places in India, particularly in Kerala, this pernicious dowry system is vanishing. Yet in large parts of the country, mainly in rural areas, the custom is in tact. It is not that the parents of the girls happily give away dowry. They do it because it is the custom. Often they are forced to sell part of their land or give away part of their savings or borrow money, with the indebtedness making their subsequent living miserable. Yet individually parents of the girls cannot oppose the system, because that would result in the girls not getting married. Social workers have to take the initiative. Educated and employed boys and girls will have to stand up against the system. The Panchayat has to take the initiative, as in the instant case. But the Panchayat referred to in the instant case did not oppose payment of the dowry but only intervened when the groom’s parents showed their arm twisting methods to get more dowry than agreed to. And once such a movement starts, then there is no stopping.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Bullying / Ragging in colleges
Intense ragging resulting in deaths and high level of trauma in the case of some students were widely reported in the press and there was total condemnation of ragging by society. What was sadder is that the public conscience is outraged only now that the media has bombarded us relentlessly with this news. Did events like this not occur earlier? Were our schools and colleges safe havens prior to these incidents.
Ragging is more of an initiation rite practiced in colleges. In earlier times everybody could differentiate between ragging ( mild form of humiliation of new students ) and bullying ( physical/mental torture of the new students ), though many may not have been able to precisely define the difference. But now ragging is becoming synonymous with bullying.
Most colleges allow ragging in the name of tradition. Managements of most colleges are aware and so also parents of wards sending boys/girls to these institutions that slowly ragging has got converted to bullying and unless something is done the situation may worsen as times goes by. Over a period of time sadistic practices are shrugged off by teachers and parents, largely as an aberration and not a disease to be dealt with.
It is wrong to assume that most of the bullies come from unhappy homes. In fact many come from perfectly normal and happy home/family backgrounds. So how has the problem gone out of gear. One, over a period of time society and particularly youngsters in the society, started admiring macho behaviour, to some extent on account of depiction of such macho characters as heroes in Indian films. Secondly, we are quite simply a nation prone to bullying. Our caste system is perhaps the most sophisticated attempt at legitimizing bullying. Children learn to bully servants from a very early age and parents not only condone this behaviour but tacitly give their approval. If we happen to occupy position of authority or influence or wealth, we encourage our children to flout rules, and flaunting of our authority when they are caught in the act.
So the point is that can many parents claim honestly that they are the right role models for their children when it comes to behaviour towards people much below them, be it in the shape of caste or position of authority. Second point is that unless there is a complaint, most of the parents just close their eyes to the ragging/bullying indulged in by their wards in the Colleges. Teachers are not capable of dealing with such hooliganism. And if the police is to do the job, then they would not touch students who come from families of influence of position. This is applicable to teachers also. Hence unless parents change their behaviour in the homes, many a child would grow up with the perception that he could torment somebody who is weak.
Ragging is more of an initiation rite practiced in colleges. In earlier times everybody could differentiate between ragging ( mild form of humiliation of new students ) and bullying ( physical/mental torture of the new students ), though many may not have been able to precisely define the difference. But now ragging is becoming synonymous with bullying.
Most colleges allow ragging in the name of tradition. Managements of most colleges are aware and so also parents of wards sending boys/girls to these institutions that slowly ragging has got converted to bullying and unless something is done the situation may worsen as times goes by. Over a period of time sadistic practices are shrugged off by teachers and parents, largely as an aberration and not a disease to be dealt with.
It is wrong to assume that most of the bullies come from unhappy homes. In fact many come from perfectly normal and happy home/family backgrounds. So how has the problem gone out of gear. One, over a period of time society and particularly youngsters in the society, started admiring macho behaviour, to some extent on account of depiction of such macho characters as heroes in Indian films. Secondly, we are quite simply a nation prone to bullying. Our caste system is perhaps the most sophisticated attempt at legitimizing bullying. Children learn to bully servants from a very early age and parents not only condone this behaviour but tacitly give their approval. If we happen to occupy position of authority or influence or wealth, we encourage our children to flout rules, and flaunting of our authority when they are caught in the act.
So the point is that can many parents claim honestly that they are the right role models for their children when it comes to behaviour towards people much below them, be it in the shape of caste or position of authority. Second point is that unless there is a complaint, most of the parents just close their eyes to the ragging/bullying indulged in by their wards in the Colleges. Teachers are not capable of dealing with such hooliganism. And if the police is to do the job, then they would not touch students who come from families of influence of position. This is applicable to teachers also. Hence unless parents change their behaviour in the homes, many a child would grow up with the perception that he could torment somebody who is weak.
Right to Information Act ( RTI ):
RTI has become a craze in cities and towns. Yes, many of the cases filed are frivolous. However, the empowerment through this Act, one and all, even the lowly persons, to question the mighty Government, to make the Government squirm and sometimes to rectify an injustice done, et all are welcome developments. Yes, many of the retired Government people with a grouse against the erstwhile Departments in which they served, would be raising many a question, not always for redress of this or that grievance, but to assert their right. It is also a heady time passing activity for many who may have nothing much to do. Yes, their activity would occasionally lead to correcting a wrong. But only rarely. Because bureaucrats, even when their actions do injustice to somebody, are capable of covering their tracks smoothly.
RTI Act has been widely acclaimed as a right step, both from the points of view of rectifying some mistake done by Government, and also unmasking Government action / information, which were hitherto largely shrouded in secrecy.
But there is a down-side to this development. Increasingly time of babus in some of the Government Departments is spent in furnishing the information sought and more than that on obfuscating the truth by vague replies. This is similar to Parliament Questions, on which bureaucrats spend lot of time in preparing clever replies. In both cases, bureaucrats spend much time in determining what information should be given. Information has to be brief, truthful but at the same time revealing as little as can to get over the situation. The position can be succinctly explained by the following example. A Minister, traveling with the Secretary in car in a village lost the way. The Minister stopped the car and asked the villager walking on the road, ‘ where am I.’ The villager replied, ‘ You are in your car.’ The Minister turned to his Secretary and said that ‘the answer is in best Parliamentary tradition. It is truth, it is brief, and it is not giving away any information.’ Both in respect of Parliament questions and information to be given under RTI, alas, the above would be the approach of bureaucracy. But my point is that since giving information under these two routes would take precedence over any other activity of the bureaucrats, they would have still less time to attend to other matters of importance.
********
RTI Act has been widely acclaimed as a right step, both from the points of view of rectifying some mistake done by Government, and also unmasking Government action / information, which were hitherto largely shrouded in secrecy.
But there is a down-side to this development. Increasingly time of babus in some of the Government Departments is spent in furnishing the information sought and more than that on obfuscating the truth by vague replies. This is similar to Parliament Questions, on which bureaucrats spend lot of time in preparing clever replies. In both cases, bureaucrats spend much time in determining what information should be given. Information has to be brief, truthful but at the same time revealing as little as can to get over the situation. The position can be succinctly explained by the following example. A Minister, traveling with the Secretary in car in a village lost the way. The Minister stopped the car and asked the villager walking on the road, ‘ where am I.’ The villager replied, ‘ You are in your car.’ The Minister turned to his Secretary and said that ‘the answer is in best Parliamentary tradition. It is truth, it is brief, and it is not giving away any information.’ Both in respect of Parliament questions and information to be given under RTI, alas, the above would be the approach of bureaucracy. But my point is that since giving information under these two routes would take precedence over any other activity of the bureaucrats, they would have still less time to attend to other matters of importance.
********
Sunday, May 31, 2009
बिज़र्रे - वि इन्स्ताल्मेंट
19. UNITED AIRLINES OF USA DECIDES TO CHARGE OBESE FLYERS FOR 2 SEATS
The airlines wrote on its website: ‘ those deemed too fat to fly must either purchase a ticket for an additional seat, or purchase an upgrade to a cabin with seats that address the problem.’ Flight attendants will search for passengers who can’t buckle the seat belts or put their armrests down. In case no other seats are available on a flight, the overweight flyer will be grounded until two adjacent seats can be found on the next plane out.
My comments: Depending on how this new measure turns out in the case of United Airlines, other Airlines in due course would decide what they should do. But here is a genuine problem of Airlines. Capacity in airline is largely measured by weight. So if a fatty occupies a seat, apart from the fact of his making the person sitting next to him uncomfortable, the plane may have to offload some cargo to accommodate the fatty. Junk food, lack of exercise, etc., have resulted in more and more fattys inhabiting our wonderful mother earth. As it is on cards that there would be more and more fattys, at one time or another the problem of fat of an individual gets translated to the service provider, be it in bus or cinema hall. Fattys must unite and agitate against this discrimination but where will they find a place to sit down together and chalk out their strategy against the lean and mean people, who think they have inherited the earth.
20. SCAMSTERS DUPE AN EXECUTIVE OF Rs. 40 lAKH.
They lured him with promise of reward to the tune of Rs. 6 crore. The scamsters floated fake websites of banks and courier service providers to execute the fraud. The scamsters contacted the victim and told him that he had won an award from a software giant. Later a man claiming to be representative of an international legal firm contacted the victim and sought his personal details in order to put the process of handing him the prize money. The victim was directed to contact the forwarding agency which was supposed to help him transfer his winning booty. The forwarding agency first asked for Rs. 3.2 lakhs for the consignment delivery which was paid by the victim. He was then told that one person – a ‘ diplomat’ – had been deputed to remit the money to him in India. Then the scamsters sent an e-mail to victim from one of their fake website in the name of prestigious UK Bank informing the victim that for the transfer of funds they needed a non residential tax clearance as well as an order fee of Rs. 3.5 lakhs, since the victim was not a British citizen. The victim accordingly deposited the money. The so called diplomat and bank contacted the victim for more money. By this time, the victim had deposited a total of Rs. 22 lakhs to various accounts as advised by the scamsters. The scamsters again wrote to the victim demanding Rs. 2 lakhs for ‘anti money laundering certificate’ and ‘anti terrorist certificate’.
Meanwhile a woman contacted the victim posing as chief remittance officer from Mumbai and asked him to deposit Rs. 10 lakh as insurance in order to claim the money. Ultimately the scamsters demanded Rs. 50 lakhs more for the money to be remitted. By that time the victim had no more money available with him. He complained to the police.
The police have not been able to make any headway in the matter as the scamsters have been careful to ensure that there is no trail.
My comments: There is no limit to human greed and gullibility. I have no sympathy for the victim and in fact some lurking admiration for the scamsters. They would have meticulously planned the operation. They would not have picked up just anybody to be their victim. They would have studied the psychological profile of the victim. But the best part is their evaluation of the victim as a person who would not confide with others what he is doing. And they made the victim to cough up lot of money. They had taken risks. Will they be caught. I doubt it. If they can pull off with a tricky operation as this, it would be a child’s play for them to ‘ manage the police.’
21. TERMS USED THESE DAYS TO DENOTE BLACK MONEY TRANSFER:
Money launderers and plain crooks have changed the terms or nomenclature to denote the amount of money involved in undertaking a job or in betting or for giving to a politician. It was ‘ peti’ and khoka’ for along time. One would have heard the terms in Hindi fillums. But these terms have lost their shine because of their overuse and easily identifiable by law officers, who now tap phones. The new terms are ‘ kitab ‘ and ‘ copy.’ Given below are the terms for the level of money involved:
1 Copy - Rs. 10,000
1 Alphonso - Rs. 1 crore
1 Kitab - Rs. 1 crore
1 Rupiya - Rs. 1 crore
1 Khoka - Rs. 1 crore
1 Peti - Rs. 1 lakh
My comments: When you go to market next time and ask the vegetable seller ‘ two alphonso’ you could run into the risk of conveying the message that you want Rs. 2 crores of black money. If you send a message to a relative or friend that you are sending a box of alphonsos or some kitab and if perchance the authorities are checking your messages, you could be in trouble. While media and general public use the term of ‘ Black money, ‘ in the parlance of business people and politicians the same is termed as ‘ No.2 account.’ In these days when you can’t make out between a crook and decent guy, it is better to have some basic knowledge of these factors.
The airlines wrote on its website: ‘ those deemed too fat to fly must either purchase a ticket for an additional seat, or purchase an upgrade to a cabin with seats that address the problem.’ Flight attendants will search for passengers who can’t buckle the seat belts or put their armrests down. In case no other seats are available on a flight, the overweight flyer will be grounded until two adjacent seats can be found on the next plane out.
My comments: Depending on how this new measure turns out in the case of United Airlines, other Airlines in due course would decide what they should do. But here is a genuine problem of Airlines. Capacity in airline is largely measured by weight. So if a fatty occupies a seat, apart from the fact of his making the person sitting next to him uncomfortable, the plane may have to offload some cargo to accommodate the fatty. Junk food, lack of exercise, etc., have resulted in more and more fattys inhabiting our wonderful mother earth. As it is on cards that there would be more and more fattys, at one time or another the problem of fat of an individual gets translated to the service provider, be it in bus or cinema hall. Fattys must unite and agitate against this discrimination but where will they find a place to sit down together and chalk out their strategy against the lean and mean people, who think they have inherited the earth.
20. SCAMSTERS DUPE AN EXECUTIVE OF Rs. 40 lAKH.
They lured him with promise of reward to the tune of Rs. 6 crore. The scamsters floated fake websites of banks and courier service providers to execute the fraud. The scamsters contacted the victim and told him that he had won an award from a software giant. Later a man claiming to be representative of an international legal firm contacted the victim and sought his personal details in order to put the process of handing him the prize money. The victim was directed to contact the forwarding agency which was supposed to help him transfer his winning booty. The forwarding agency first asked for Rs. 3.2 lakhs for the consignment delivery which was paid by the victim. He was then told that one person – a ‘ diplomat’ – had been deputed to remit the money to him in India. Then the scamsters sent an e-mail to victim from one of their fake website in the name of prestigious UK Bank informing the victim that for the transfer of funds they needed a non residential tax clearance as well as an order fee of Rs. 3.5 lakhs, since the victim was not a British citizen. The victim accordingly deposited the money. The so called diplomat and bank contacted the victim for more money. By this time, the victim had deposited a total of Rs. 22 lakhs to various accounts as advised by the scamsters. The scamsters again wrote to the victim demanding Rs. 2 lakhs for ‘anti money laundering certificate’ and ‘anti terrorist certificate’.
Meanwhile a woman contacted the victim posing as chief remittance officer from Mumbai and asked him to deposit Rs. 10 lakh as insurance in order to claim the money. Ultimately the scamsters demanded Rs. 50 lakhs more for the money to be remitted. By that time the victim had no more money available with him. He complained to the police.
The police have not been able to make any headway in the matter as the scamsters have been careful to ensure that there is no trail.
My comments: There is no limit to human greed and gullibility. I have no sympathy for the victim and in fact some lurking admiration for the scamsters. They would have meticulously planned the operation. They would not have picked up just anybody to be their victim. They would have studied the psychological profile of the victim. But the best part is their evaluation of the victim as a person who would not confide with others what he is doing. And they made the victim to cough up lot of money. They had taken risks. Will they be caught. I doubt it. If they can pull off with a tricky operation as this, it would be a child’s play for them to ‘ manage the police.’
21. TERMS USED THESE DAYS TO DENOTE BLACK MONEY TRANSFER:
Money launderers and plain crooks have changed the terms or nomenclature to denote the amount of money involved in undertaking a job or in betting or for giving to a politician. It was ‘ peti’ and khoka’ for along time. One would have heard the terms in Hindi fillums. But these terms have lost their shine because of their overuse and easily identifiable by law officers, who now tap phones. The new terms are ‘ kitab ‘ and ‘ copy.’ Given below are the terms for the level of money involved:
1 Copy - Rs. 10,000
1 Alphonso - Rs. 1 crore
1 Kitab - Rs. 1 crore
1 Rupiya - Rs. 1 crore
1 Khoka - Rs. 1 crore
1 Peti - Rs. 1 lakh
My comments: When you go to market next time and ask the vegetable seller ‘ two alphonso’ you could run into the risk of conveying the message that you want Rs. 2 crores of black money. If you send a message to a relative or friend that you are sending a box of alphonsos or some kitab and if perchance the authorities are checking your messages, you could be in trouble. While media and general public use the term of ‘ Black money, ‘ in the parlance of business people and politicians the same is termed as ‘ No.2 account.’ In these days when you can’t make out between a crook and decent guy, it is better to have some basic knowledge of these factors.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
National election and Government formation
Related to the subject matter, we seem to live with lot of amnesia, wishful thinking, incomparable comparisons, sweeping assessments and throwing unpalatable truths under the carpet. The media ( both print and visual ) is the biggest culprit of these tendencies.
· 30% to 40% of MPs were being replaced in the national elections in the past, which happened this time also. So what is there to hype about it.
· Media launched hyper campaign urging everybody to vote. Now is there any difference between one who votes negatively, i.e., to none of the candidates, as allowed by Election law and one who does not vote. In many countries the %age of voting is slightly above, equal or lower to the level of voting in this country. Since the number of voters for each constituency is far higher in India ( because of our huge population ) compared to almost all countries, in relation to the concept of election, does it matter if voting is 40% of voters population, which would be much higher than the votes polled in other countries.
· Caste was not the sole or even the most important criteria for voting in villages in the past as has been the case in this election also.
· There has been no youth wave this time, as media made it out to be. In fact the number of youth elected this time is lower than the number of youth elected to the first Parliament.
· Media hollered: ‘ this country must be now be run by youth, as in other countries.’ By far most of the countries are run by old people. And then again why make this principle only for running the Government. Going by the philosophy of media that youth will deliver, why not old people in all other professions and business and trade and particularly in the fourth estate retire.
· Media now comes out with lot of half hearted explanations on their predictions going wrong.
· There was call in media for American type presidential election debate in India also. Alas, there is no limit for ignorance. In America either of the two candidates is elected as President. In India the leader of the ruling party and/or the opposition leader could lose in elections and then again it is only after the election the party nomine for the post of Prime Minister is decided / nominated by the parties. So who will debate with whom before the verdict of the elections.
· Nepotism, corruption and inefficiency are parts of all walks of life in India. Then why think in terms of only politics to be above these negative attributes.
· To media America is the world or the country to emulated. But from a number of points of view that is wrong ideal. Take the recent financial scandal or the warming up of the earth or uninhibited consumption, then America is not at all the model. There are over 25,000 lobbyists in USA. Whoever can influence the elected and Government there, get the dividends. And in this process much money changes hands, illegally, apart from other allurements. Should we emulate that example.
· Dynasty in politics. This is also questioned by media and typically the media quotes the example of America. But societies of these two countries differ vastly. In India family ties are much more strong. Father to son in terms of bequeathing property is the norm. Son follows father’s profession or occupation, be it agriculture, business, profession, politics. So why only pick on politics.
· Caste politics is derogatively addressed as a major problem in India. But then world over the situation is not different. White man vs Black man, Catholic vs Protestant. In our personal lives we follow all the nuances of the castes to which we belong. Then how could it be separated in politics.
· The media is its full blast on the economic reform agenda for the new government and what media means reform agenda is only related to business. Yes, that has to be attended to. But the first priority has to be delivery to the masses provisions made by Government, be it providing drinking water, education, medical facilities, assured employment for a number of days, etc.
******
· 30% to 40% of MPs were being replaced in the national elections in the past, which happened this time also. So what is there to hype about it.
· Media launched hyper campaign urging everybody to vote. Now is there any difference between one who votes negatively, i.e., to none of the candidates, as allowed by Election law and one who does not vote. In many countries the %age of voting is slightly above, equal or lower to the level of voting in this country. Since the number of voters for each constituency is far higher in India ( because of our huge population ) compared to almost all countries, in relation to the concept of election, does it matter if voting is 40% of voters population, which would be much higher than the votes polled in other countries.
· Caste was not the sole or even the most important criteria for voting in villages in the past as has been the case in this election also.
· There has been no youth wave this time, as media made it out to be. In fact the number of youth elected this time is lower than the number of youth elected to the first Parliament.
· Media hollered: ‘ this country must be now be run by youth, as in other countries.’ By far most of the countries are run by old people. And then again why make this principle only for running the Government. Going by the philosophy of media that youth will deliver, why not old people in all other professions and business and trade and particularly in the fourth estate retire.
· Media now comes out with lot of half hearted explanations on their predictions going wrong.
· There was call in media for American type presidential election debate in India also. Alas, there is no limit for ignorance. In America either of the two candidates is elected as President. In India the leader of the ruling party and/or the opposition leader could lose in elections and then again it is only after the election the party nomine for the post of Prime Minister is decided / nominated by the parties. So who will debate with whom before the verdict of the elections.
· Nepotism, corruption and inefficiency are parts of all walks of life in India. Then why think in terms of only politics to be above these negative attributes.
· To media America is the world or the country to emulated. But from a number of points of view that is wrong ideal. Take the recent financial scandal or the warming up of the earth or uninhibited consumption, then America is not at all the model. There are over 25,000 lobbyists in USA. Whoever can influence the elected and Government there, get the dividends. And in this process much money changes hands, illegally, apart from other allurements. Should we emulate that example.
· Dynasty in politics. This is also questioned by media and typically the media quotes the example of America. But societies of these two countries differ vastly. In India family ties are much more strong. Father to son in terms of bequeathing property is the norm. Son follows father’s profession or occupation, be it agriculture, business, profession, politics. So why only pick on politics.
· Caste politics is derogatively addressed as a major problem in India. But then world over the situation is not different. White man vs Black man, Catholic vs Protestant. In our personal lives we follow all the nuances of the castes to which we belong. Then how could it be separated in politics.
· The media is its full blast on the economic reform agenda for the new government and what media means reform agenda is only related to business. Yes, that has to be attended to. But the first priority has to be delivery to the masses provisions made by Government, be it providing drinking water, education, medical facilities, assured employment for a number of days, etc.
******
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bizarre - Ivth instalment
15. DENMARK DOCTORS HIRE CALL GIRLS FOR PATIENTS
The Danish Government made no objection to this development. There was a tendency earlier for some of the patients to seek company of female employees for honourable purposes! To cope up with this situation and not lose clientele, doctors came up with this innovative idea. This neat arrangement is bound to be followed by some other countries, because hospitals there may find exodus of male patients to Denmark.
My comments: This news may bring wariness, astonishment, shock, etc., among many of the Indian readers. But come to think of it and one may see plus points. Patients go to hospitals for treatment and occasionally for recuperation also. Treatment and recuperation could be through medicines, operations, rest, etc., This new development has to be viewed from this perspective. If the added activity (!) of the patients leads to curing their problems, then why not. Whatever puritans may say, this is the truth.
16. UK HIRED AN ASTROLOGER TO FIGHT HITLER
Desperate for a glimpse into Adolf Hitler's unpredictable mind, British spies hired an astrologer during World War II to write horoscopes of Hitler and other Nazi leaders.
My comments: Astrology is an enigma. It has no scientific approval. Yet even rational people are hooked into it. Most of the people at one time or other would have noticed that some of the predictions of astrologers had come true. And then onwards they are hooked, despite many other projections going wrong. The truth is overlooked that without any knowledge about the future one could do some guess-work and some such predictions could come true. If something goes wrong, i.e., against the prediction, then pundits advice the corrective measures, most often this or that puja. However irrational it may be, people who are believers in astrology, cannot shake it off. That is why still the mandatory horoscope matching before marriage among Hindus in India. And many people consult astrologers or look at their horoscopes before undertaking travel. It is because of this belief in astrology that so many TV channels and magazines thrive. There are daily columns in papers. Illogical. But beliefs are beliefs, such as, There is God/ there is no God, and it would be naive to look at the matter from the point of view of rationality. The beliefs have been carried on for ages. Our genes contain that belief transmitted from generation to generation. It is difficult to shake off that belief. Hence even after another century, astrology would in all likelihood would be as much sought as it is today.
17. WEIRDEST EXAM SUPERSTITIONS.
Wear blue and then you will pass the exam - so said a Pundit to a student. And that is exactly what the student did: blue shirts and blue pants to blue underwear. Some use only one lucky pen. Some don't shave during the period of exams. Some don't take bath on the day of exam. Some use only green pencils. Some have a peg of whisky before the exam. Some, being superstitious, start with the fourth question first for writing the answer.
My comments: Man by now have achieved many things. Yet, when it comes to superstitions he is still in the primitive age. It is there in his psyche. This has nothing to do with education. It must be a punishment of God. That is my reasoning or is it my superstition.
18. A husband too many
A 32 year old woman and her parents were arrested by the Mumbai Police for allegedly cheating city businessmen over the last 18 years.
The police said Bangalore based Kausar Begam cheated people by marrying them and fleeing with their money and valuables. Then, she would register complaints of dowry harassment against her husbands. Begam's parents Iqbal Pasha and Gulnaz, who had allegedly been assisting her, are in police custody.
The police said the trio targeted only businessmen and visited five star hotels to approach them. Begum would befriend the victim and propose marriage. After the wedding, she would flee with valuables and threaten to lodge a dowry harassment case.
My comments: I like crooks who do such operation. There is style. They are not uncouth. If there are suckers in the world, then there would also be tricksters. However, I cannot resist commenting that the tricksters as above are really people with verve, energy and courageous.
The Danish Government made no objection to this development. There was a tendency earlier for some of the patients to seek company of female employees for honourable purposes! To cope up with this situation and not lose clientele, doctors came up with this innovative idea. This neat arrangement is bound to be followed by some other countries, because hospitals there may find exodus of male patients to Denmark.
My comments: This news may bring wariness, astonishment, shock, etc., among many of the Indian readers. But come to think of it and one may see plus points. Patients go to hospitals for treatment and occasionally for recuperation also. Treatment and recuperation could be through medicines, operations, rest, etc., This new development has to be viewed from this perspective. If the added activity (!) of the patients leads to curing their problems, then why not. Whatever puritans may say, this is the truth.
16. UK HIRED AN ASTROLOGER TO FIGHT HITLER
Desperate for a glimpse into Adolf Hitler's unpredictable mind, British spies hired an astrologer during World War II to write horoscopes of Hitler and other Nazi leaders.
My comments: Astrology is an enigma. It has no scientific approval. Yet even rational people are hooked into it. Most of the people at one time or other would have noticed that some of the predictions of astrologers had come true. And then onwards they are hooked, despite many other projections going wrong. The truth is overlooked that without any knowledge about the future one could do some guess-work and some such predictions could come true. If something goes wrong, i.e., against the prediction, then pundits advice the corrective measures, most often this or that puja. However irrational it may be, people who are believers in astrology, cannot shake it off. That is why still the mandatory horoscope matching before marriage among Hindus in India. And many people consult astrologers or look at their horoscopes before undertaking travel. It is because of this belief in astrology that so many TV channels and magazines thrive. There are daily columns in papers. Illogical. But beliefs are beliefs, such as, There is God/ there is no God, and it would be naive to look at the matter from the point of view of rationality. The beliefs have been carried on for ages. Our genes contain that belief transmitted from generation to generation. It is difficult to shake off that belief. Hence even after another century, astrology would in all likelihood would be as much sought as it is today.
17. WEIRDEST EXAM SUPERSTITIONS.
Wear blue and then you will pass the exam - so said a Pundit to a student. And that is exactly what the student did: blue shirts and blue pants to blue underwear. Some use only one lucky pen. Some don't shave during the period of exams. Some don't take bath on the day of exam. Some use only green pencils. Some have a peg of whisky before the exam. Some, being superstitious, start with the fourth question first for writing the answer.
My comments: Man by now have achieved many things. Yet, when it comes to superstitions he is still in the primitive age. It is there in his psyche. This has nothing to do with education. It must be a punishment of God. That is my reasoning or is it my superstition.
18. A husband too many
A 32 year old woman and her parents were arrested by the Mumbai Police for allegedly cheating city businessmen over the last 18 years.
The police said Bangalore based Kausar Begam cheated people by marrying them and fleeing with their money and valuables. Then, she would register complaints of dowry harassment against her husbands. Begam's parents Iqbal Pasha and Gulnaz, who had allegedly been assisting her, are in police custody.
The police said the trio targeted only businessmen and visited five star hotels to approach them. Begum would befriend the victim and propose marriage. After the wedding, she would flee with valuables and threaten to lodge a dowry harassment case.
My comments: I like crooks who do such operation. There is style. They are not uncouth. If there are suckers in the world, then there would also be tricksters. However, I cannot resist commenting that the tricksters as above are really people with verve, energy and courageous.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Bizarre - IVth instalment
11. PRISON IS MY HOME AND INMATES MY KIN – JAIL IYER ENJOYS BEING BEHIND BARS
For about 40 years Chandrasekhar was in the Chennai prison. He was arrested for the first time for a crime when he was a kid. When the time came to release him, Iyer felt that prison life suited him better than life outside, with no relatives, friends, no education and no vocational training. Every time he was released he would make shoddy attempts to impersonate people and would be caught and sent back to prison.
Thanks to his long years of incarceration, Iyer has forged a fantastic spy network among the prison inmates. Fiercely loyal to the prison establishment, he has earned a reputation for being reliable informant. He was always the first to inform jail officers if any of the inmates are planning any jail break or other crimes within the prison. Iyer was so trustworthy that prison administration used to send him, with other staff to market to purchase vegetables for the prison. Iyer was also the most preferred orderly for top prison officials posted to Chennai Central Prison.
Iyer also mastered the provisions of Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Jail Manual. Aware of every bit of information that could be useful to inmates, he has given other inmates advice on how their cases should be handled and which lawyers to engage. When he was transferred to another jail, Iyer got a Court order to return back to his original prison.
After his release his whereabouts are not known.
My Comments: South Indian Brahmins ( Iyers) are by nature studious, hard working, honest, ritual oriented, who give a lot of importance to kinship. They are goal oriented. Rarely one comes across an Iyer who is a thief or pick-pocket or a goonda. This Iyer must be an exception. But I immensely like him. He has endeared himself both with prison authorities and jail-mates, despite his being an informer to the jail authorities on any plan of inmates for jail break. That this Iyer has become an icon must be due to the attribute of goal oriented I have mentioned above about Iyers. Readers who share my views join me in wishing this person luck and joyous life.
12. BILL BOARDS WITH ‘EYES’ TO FIND TARGET PRACTICE AUDIENCE
A new high Japanese electronic display can instantly identify people's sex or age range and target them with advertisements to suit them.
The 50 inch plasma display will appear at an annual festival in Tokyo run by Fuki Television network.
If the device finds viewers are predominantly female in the 20s, it will show cute miscellaneous items sold by Fuji Television for young women. Changing advertising products in accordance with the viewer would bring advertising closer to the purchaser, according to the Company.
My comments: All of us are fascinated with new innovations. It is only after some time that we find the negative outcomes. But there can be no two opinion that the Japanese are on the top in inventing such gadgets and that is the reason for their being the second richest country, after US of A.
13. THE CRAFTY BURGLAR, WHO TOOK TO BURGLARY TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE’S LUXURIOUS LIFE STYLE.
62 year old Balaraman, is a nimble fingered carpenter. He had atleast 60 burglaries to his credit. He is almost a permanent resident of Central Prison in Chennai where he has spent over 30 years.
More than the number of burglaries, Balaraman stands out for his style. He is not the kind who breaks into a house and snatches what he can. Lazy some may call it, but Balaraman likes to spend five to six hours inside the house being burgled. He does not call it quits, even after the job is done. He raids the kitchen for food.
Balaraman did the burglaries to enable his wife to a have luxurious lifestyle. And as a carpenter Balaraman could not earn enough to meet the wishes of his wife. According to Balaraman after doing two or three burglaries, which would enable his wife in style for some time, he is ready to enter prison.
Balaraman is an excellent carpenter and his talent has been used by prison officials when he was in prison.
My comments: We see such characters only in films. I wish I could meet this fellow in flesh and blood. Could there be any other woman in the earth who is luckier than this gutsy guy’s wife. Here is a character who is willing to go to jail time and again just to make his wife live comfortably ( and happily, I suppose). He has elegance and style. He is not every day burglar who would make haste in removing himself from the scene of crime. Here is a fellow with an attitude. After the burglary he settles down for a meal in the house which he has burgled. I think this guy is an excellent material for a psychological study
13. SPANISH PARLIAMENT TO GRANT SOME HUMAN RIGHTS TO APES
The Spanish Parliament has proposed to take the unprecedented step in according limited human rights to apes. ' The ape will not be arbitrarily deprived of its liberty and hence will not be confined to jail. No more use of apes in circuses, TV ads and experiments.’
Some argue against this proposal: It is a little surprising that Spain known for its bloody bullfights, would become the first country in the world to take such a measure. Then again, what rights do animals have in the wild.
On the other side many feel that apes / gorillas cannot be grouped absolutely with other animals. These creatures are in many respects a specie between human beings and animals and hence they need to be treated more benignly than other animals.
My comments: Man who is the descendant of monkeys/apes, progressed in the management of his life and requirement of food. Then learnt to speak and write. Then he made technological progress. The monkeys and apes are still there where they were when human beings took a different path. Then human beings grouped monkeys/ apes with other animals because they had not progressed and were living like animals. In other words, man had the amnesia of development and forgot his ancestors. Then as research of animals progressed, it was noted that monkeys/apes have certain characteristics which are different from other animals. The latest development is just one step for human beings to revisit his origin and show some kindness to our forefathers or to atone for the sin committed by human beings to their ancestors.
14. FREE ENTERPRISE OF THIEVES
Some time back in Bangladesh thieves had grouped themselves into an Association, one of the functions of which is to offer training courses to new entrants, particularly in picking pockets. The Association was able to enroll within a short time of its formation more than 10,000 members. How could India lag behind Bangladesh. Sometime back Delhi police arrested 11 members of a pick pocket gang, which had specialised in picking mobiles from parked vehicles. The gang was running in corporate style with members ( professionals ) working only on week days and getting wages for their weekly off. They also got paid holidays when they felt like taking a break. Even the work was highly organized and specialized. There was a fixed formula for 'profit sharing.'.
My comments: . Pickpockets and other thieves do wrong. But they now have the gumption to admit that they are doing so. Is that the case with other people who pilfer money from the government, form the people, etc., Common people have an aversion for politicians. Common people are exasperated with babus. Common people dread policemen. The avarice level of businessmen is a known fact. Doctors and lawyers squeeze their clients, irrespective of the fact whether the clients can afford. Collectively they do more harm to common man than the pick pockets. But all of the above groups have their respective associations. Then why not the pick pockets. Yes, their effort of forming an Association is not without merit.
For about 40 years Chandrasekhar was in the Chennai prison. He was arrested for the first time for a crime when he was a kid. When the time came to release him, Iyer felt that prison life suited him better than life outside, with no relatives, friends, no education and no vocational training. Every time he was released he would make shoddy attempts to impersonate people and would be caught and sent back to prison.
Thanks to his long years of incarceration, Iyer has forged a fantastic spy network among the prison inmates. Fiercely loyal to the prison establishment, he has earned a reputation for being reliable informant. He was always the first to inform jail officers if any of the inmates are planning any jail break or other crimes within the prison. Iyer was so trustworthy that prison administration used to send him, with other staff to market to purchase vegetables for the prison. Iyer was also the most preferred orderly for top prison officials posted to Chennai Central Prison.
Iyer also mastered the provisions of Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Jail Manual. Aware of every bit of information that could be useful to inmates, he has given other inmates advice on how their cases should be handled and which lawyers to engage. When he was transferred to another jail, Iyer got a Court order to return back to his original prison.
After his release his whereabouts are not known.
My Comments: South Indian Brahmins ( Iyers) are by nature studious, hard working, honest, ritual oriented, who give a lot of importance to kinship. They are goal oriented. Rarely one comes across an Iyer who is a thief or pick-pocket or a goonda. This Iyer must be an exception. But I immensely like him. He has endeared himself both with prison authorities and jail-mates, despite his being an informer to the jail authorities on any plan of inmates for jail break. That this Iyer has become an icon must be due to the attribute of goal oriented I have mentioned above about Iyers. Readers who share my views join me in wishing this person luck and joyous life.
12. BILL BOARDS WITH ‘EYES’ TO FIND TARGET PRACTICE AUDIENCE
A new high Japanese electronic display can instantly identify people's sex or age range and target them with advertisements to suit them.
The 50 inch plasma display will appear at an annual festival in Tokyo run by Fuki Television network.
If the device finds viewers are predominantly female in the 20s, it will show cute miscellaneous items sold by Fuji Television for young women. Changing advertising products in accordance with the viewer would bring advertising closer to the purchaser, according to the Company.
My comments: All of us are fascinated with new innovations. It is only after some time that we find the negative outcomes. But there can be no two opinion that the Japanese are on the top in inventing such gadgets and that is the reason for their being the second richest country, after US of A.
13. THE CRAFTY BURGLAR, WHO TOOK TO BURGLARY TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE’S LUXURIOUS LIFE STYLE.
62 year old Balaraman, is a nimble fingered carpenter. He had atleast 60 burglaries to his credit. He is almost a permanent resident of Central Prison in Chennai where he has spent over 30 years.
More than the number of burglaries, Balaraman stands out for his style. He is not the kind who breaks into a house and snatches what he can. Lazy some may call it, but Balaraman likes to spend five to six hours inside the house being burgled. He does not call it quits, even after the job is done. He raids the kitchen for food.
Balaraman did the burglaries to enable his wife to a have luxurious lifestyle. And as a carpenter Balaraman could not earn enough to meet the wishes of his wife. According to Balaraman after doing two or three burglaries, which would enable his wife in style for some time, he is ready to enter prison.
Balaraman is an excellent carpenter and his talent has been used by prison officials when he was in prison.
My comments: We see such characters only in films. I wish I could meet this fellow in flesh and blood. Could there be any other woman in the earth who is luckier than this gutsy guy’s wife. Here is a character who is willing to go to jail time and again just to make his wife live comfortably ( and happily, I suppose). He has elegance and style. He is not every day burglar who would make haste in removing himself from the scene of crime. Here is a fellow with an attitude. After the burglary he settles down for a meal in the house which he has burgled. I think this guy is an excellent material for a psychological study
13. SPANISH PARLIAMENT TO GRANT SOME HUMAN RIGHTS TO APES
The Spanish Parliament has proposed to take the unprecedented step in according limited human rights to apes. ' The ape will not be arbitrarily deprived of its liberty and hence will not be confined to jail. No more use of apes in circuses, TV ads and experiments.’
Some argue against this proposal: It is a little surprising that Spain known for its bloody bullfights, would become the first country in the world to take such a measure. Then again, what rights do animals have in the wild.
On the other side many feel that apes / gorillas cannot be grouped absolutely with other animals. These creatures are in many respects a specie between human beings and animals and hence they need to be treated more benignly than other animals.
My comments: Man who is the descendant of monkeys/apes, progressed in the management of his life and requirement of food. Then learnt to speak and write. Then he made technological progress. The monkeys and apes are still there where they were when human beings took a different path. Then human beings grouped monkeys/ apes with other animals because they had not progressed and were living like animals. In other words, man had the amnesia of development and forgot his ancestors. Then as research of animals progressed, it was noted that monkeys/apes have certain characteristics which are different from other animals. The latest development is just one step for human beings to revisit his origin and show some kindness to our forefathers or to atone for the sin committed by human beings to their ancestors.
14. FREE ENTERPRISE OF THIEVES
Some time back in Bangladesh thieves had grouped themselves into an Association, one of the functions of which is to offer training courses to new entrants, particularly in picking pockets. The Association was able to enroll within a short time of its formation more than 10,000 members. How could India lag behind Bangladesh. Sometime back Delhi police arrested 11 members of a pick pocket gang, which had specialised in picking mobiles from parked vehicles. The gang was running in corporate style with members ( professionals ) working only on week days and getting wages for their weekly off. They also got paid holidays when they felt like taking a break. Even the work was highly organized and specialized. There was a fixed formula for 'profit sharing.'.
My comments: . Pickpockets and other thieves do wrong. But they now have the gumption to admit that they are doing so. Is that the case with other people who pilfer money from the government, form the people, etc., Common people have an aversion for politicians. Common people are exasperated with babus. Common people dread policemen. The avarice level of businessmen is a known fact. Doctors and lawyers squeeze their clients, irrespective of the fact whether the clients can afford. Collectively they do more harm to common man than the pick pockets. But all of the above groups have their respective associations. Then why not the pick pockets. Yes, their effort of forming an Association is not without merit.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Bizarre - 3rd instalment
7. FAIR PLAY: MONKEYS, APES HAVE SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
Monkeys and apes have a sense of morality and the ability to tell right from wrong, according to new research.
In a series of studies scientists have found that monkeys and apes can make judgments about fairness, offer altruistic help and empathize when a fellow animal is ill or in difficulties. They even appear to have conscience and the ability to remember obligations.
The research implies that morality is not a uniquely human quality and may have arisen through evolution. It could mean the strength of our conscience is partly determined by genes.
The scientists say that the evidence is clear. ' I am not arguing that non-human primates are moral beings but there is enough evidence for the following of social rules to agree that some of the stepping stones towards human morality can be found in other animals.' said Frans de Waal, professor of psychology at Emory University in Georgia in the US.
De Wall described experiments on monkeys and apes to see if they understood the idea of fairness. The animals were asked to perform a set of simple tasks and then rewarded with food or affection. De Wall found the animals had an acute sense of fairness and objected strongly when others were rewarded more than themselves for the same task, often sulking and refusing to take part any further.
Another study looked at altruism in chimps - and found they were often willing to help others even when there was no obvious reward. ' Chimpanzees spontaneously help both humans and each other in controlled tests,' said de Waal.
Other researchers, said de Wall, have found the same qualities in capuchin monkeys, which also show ' spontaneous pro-social tendencies,' meaning they are keen to share food and other gifts with other monkeys,
for the pleasure of giving.
My comments: Among the living species, it is only the human beings which is not ashamed of the unfair practices indulged by them. They kill for pleasure ( hunting ), or based on their beliefs ( religious wars ) or their megalomania ( killing to conquer other countries ) or for other reasons, though such reasons do not affect them ( say, capitalism vs communism ). They have been spoiling the environment. And they have been depleting the resources of the earth at an incredible speed, unmindful of future havoc. No animal does so much wanton damage and killing and injury as human beings do.
8. A 21st CENTURY DRAUPADI - DURYODHANA GETS A BASHING
Those who have read their Mahabharata or watched the B R Chopra mega serial will always remember that climatic moment when Yudhishthira loses the wife in a game of dice and a weeping Draupadi is dragged to the gaming hall in the royal palace at Hastinapur where the disrobing of the Pandava’s wife is divinely pre-empted by Krishna.
There was an entirely different twist to the tale some time back on Diwali night in the Kundapura village in the Dhampur tehsil of UP’s Bijnor District when a drunken 28 year old Ram Singh gambled away first his money, then his ring and finally his watch before staking his wife for a sum of Rs. 5,000 and losing her too. When the winner went to Ram Singh’s house to claim the wife, what followed was completely contrary to what Vyasa had scripted. Instead of letting herself be dragged away, Ram Singh’s wife picked up a burning log of wood and used it to beat up the winner who fled in tears to the nearest police station.
The matter did not end even when the cops intervened and the loser borrowed Rs. 5,000 and paid off the winner in cash instead of kind. When Ram Singh returned home, he was severely beaten up by his wife. The thrashing stopped only when Ram Singh begged for forgiveness and wailed that he would never, ever gamble again his life!
Draupadi has come a long way since the Mahabharata! Today’s Draupadi obviously believes that God helps those who help themselves! So much so that today’s Duryodhana has to cower behind the law-enforcing Bhishma to escape retribution. And today’s Yudhishthira has to fall at Draupadi’s feet to be accepted by her. And if Ram Singh reforms, we could even see that traditional proverb being re-adapted to state that ‘ behind every successful man is a woman with a broomstick or a burning log in hand.’ And Kundapura village may have already left Kaliyuga behind and moved into golden age of its own!
My comments: The educated and ritual oriented Indians quote ad nauseum the teachings and actions in the ancient religious texts to justify many of his impious actions. The 20th century Draupadi as in the subject matter has set an example for women who are treated as property of men. The real liberation of this country would take place only when uneducated, non-earning women would oppose their being treated as door mats or property of men. In other words, male chauvinism has to be opposed by not only women but rational men also.
9. KIDS, AGED 6 & 7, TRY TO ELOPE FROM GERMANY TO AFRICA
The two childhood sweethearts eloped from Hanover determined to tie the knot under the African sun. They said that they are very much love and decided to get married in Africa where it is warm, taking with them as a witness another girl aged five. The idea for the romantic trip began when one of them told the other two about her holiday in Italy and how enjoyable the same was. These kids were picked up by police at the railway station and the police officers managed to convince the young lovers that they would struggle to get to Africa without money or a plane ticket.
My comments: With the passage of time, children in some respects are growing very fast, unrelated to calendar years or compared to the position obtained in the past. There are many reasons for this. One is the TV from which children learn what adults can do. Then they get the feeling why not they also imitate. In the instant case, all those read the write up would smile and wish well for the toddlers. Curtain.
10. BOYS BEWARE! SPY GIRLS ARE WATCHING
In Delhi parents of some of the college students are engaging spy girls to keep an eye on their wards. A large number of parents in Delhi are taking help of private detectives to track their children's movements. In most colleges of Delhi, there are girls who work as a campus detective on part-time basis. These girls are trained by the private detectives to carry out their operation secretly. These girl students or detectives get into the group with which their subject hangs around. Any undesirable relationship, drug abuse or alcohol, late night hanging out with friends is traced with the help of these amateur girl detectives. These girl detectives also undergo a training session on how to carry out the spying without revealing any detail.
My comments: Either I am a moron or the story is wrong. Most of the parents with college going sons and daughters are more worried about their daughters than sons. In fact even when the parents come to know about the peccadilloes of their sons, they would shrug it off or give a mild warning to the boy. In Indian society the current belief is that ‘ boys will always be boys’ and they will do things to imitate what grown up men are doing. Parents do not expect them to remain chaste. But when it comes to daughters the approach is quite different. Parents are all the time concerned. Late return to the home from college becomes a serious issue. So also going out or talking on phone with boys. So if not already started, I expect that there would be more boy spies to keep an eye on girls.
Monkeys and apes have a sense of morality and the ability to tell right from wrong, according to new research.
In a series of studies scientists have found that monkeys and apes can make judgments about fairness, offer altruistic help and empathize when a fellow animal is ill or in difficulties. They even appear to have conscience and the ability to remember obligations.
The research implies that morality is not a uniquely human quality and may have arisen through evolution. It could mean the strength of our conscience is partly determined by genes.
The scientists say that the evidence is clear. ' I am not arguing that non-human primates are moral beings but there is enough evidence for the following of social rules to agree that some of the stepping stones towards human morality can be found in other animals.' said Frans de Waal, professor of psychology at Emory University in Georgia in the US.
De Wall described experiments on monkeys and apes to see if they understood the idea of fairness. The animals were asked to perform a set of simple tasks and then rewarded with food or affection. De Wall found the animals had an acute sense of fairness and objected strongly when others were rewarded more than themselves for the same task, often sulking and refusing to take part any further.
Another study looked at altruism in chimps - and found they were often willing to help others even when there was no obvious reward. ' Chimpanzees spontaneously help both humans and each other in controlled tests,' said de Waal.
Other researchers, said de Wall, have found the same qualities in capuchin monkeys, which also show ' spontaneous pro-social tendencies,' meaning they are keen to share food and other gifts with other monkeys,
for the pleasure of giving.
My comments: Among the living species, it is only the human beings which is not ashamed of the unfair practices indulged by them. They kill for pleasure ( hunting ), or based on their beliefs ( religious wars ) or their megalomania ( killing to conquer other countries ) or for other reasons, though such reasons do not affect them ( say, capitalism vs communism ). They have been spoiling the environment. And they have been depleting the resources of the earth at an incredible speed, unmindful of future havoc. No animal does so much wanton damage and killing and injury as human beings do.
8. A 21st CENTURY DRAUPADI - DURYODHANA GETS A BASHING
Those who have read their Mahabharata or watched the B R Chopra mega serial will always remember that climatic moment when Yudhishthira loses the wife in a game of dice and a weeping Draupadi is dragged to the gaming hall in the royal palace at Hastinapur where the disrobing of the Pandava’s wife is divinely pre-empted by Krishna.
There was an entirely different twist to the tale some time back on Diwali night in the Kundapura village in the Dhampur tehsil of UP’s Bijnor District when a drunken 28 year old Ram Singh gambled away first his money, then his ring and finally his watch before staking his wife for a sum of Rs. 5,000 and losing her too. When the winner went to Ram Singh’s house to claim the wife, what followed was completely contrary to what Vyasa had scripted. Instead of letting herself be dragged away, Ram Singh’s wife picked up a burning log of wood and used it to beat up the winner who fled in tears to the nearest police station.
The matter did not end even when the cops intervened and the loser borrowed Rs. 5,000 and paid off the winner in cash instead of kind. When Ram Singh returned home, he was severely beaten up by his wife. The thrashing stopped only when Ram Singh begged for forgiveness and wailed that he would never, ever gamble again his life!
Draupadi has come a long way since the Mahabharata! Today’s Draupadi obviously believes that God helps those who help themselves! So much so that today’s Duryodhana has to cower behind the law-enforcing Bhishma to escape retribution. And today’s Yudhishthira has to fall at Draupadi’s feet to be accepted by her. And if Ram Singh reforms, we could even see that traditional proverb being re-adapted to state that ‘ behind every successful man is a woman with a broomstick or a burning log in hand.’ And Kundapura village may have already left Kaliyuga behind and moved into golden age of its own!
My comments: The educated and ritual oriented Indians quote ad nauseum the teachings and actions in the ancient religious texts to justify many of his impious actions. The 20th century Draupadi as in the subject matter has set an example for women who are treated as property of men. The real liberation of this country would take place only when uneducated, non-earning women would oppose their being treated as door mats or property of men. In other words, male chauvinism has to be opposed by not only women but rational men also.
9. KIDS, AGED 6 & 7, TRY TO ELOPE FROM GERMANY TO AFRICA
The two childhood sweethearts eloped from Hanover determined to tie the knot under the African sun. They said that they are very much love and decided to get married in Africa where it is warm, taking with them as a witness another girl aged five. The idea for the romantic trip began when one of them told the other two about her holiday in Italy and how enjoyable the same was. These kids were picked up by police at the railway station and the police officers managed to convince the young lovers that they would struggle to get to Africa without money or a plane ticket.
My comments: With the passage of time, children in some respects are growing very fast, unrelated to calendar years or compared to the position obtained in the past. There are many reasons for this. One is the TV from which children learn what adults can do. Then they get the feeling why not they also imitate. In the instant case, all those read the write up would smile and wish well for the toddlers. Curtain.
10. BOYS BEWARE! SPY GIRLS ARE WATCHING
In Delhi parents of some of the college students are engaging spy girls to keep an eye on their wards. A large number of parents in Delhi are taking help of private detectives to track their children's movements. In most colleges of Delhi, there are girls who work as a campus detective on part-time basis. These girls are trained by the private detectives to carry out their operation secretly. These girl students or detectives get into the group with which their subject hangs around. Any undesirable relationship, drug abuse or alcohol, late night hanging out with friends is traced with the help of these amateur girl detectives. These girl detectives also undergo a training session on how to carry out the spying without revealing any detail.
My comments: Either I am a moron or the story is wrong. Most of the parents with college going sons and daughters are more worried about their daughters than sons. In fact even when the parents come to know about the peccadilloes of their sons, they would shrug it off or give a mild warning to the boy. In Indian society the current belief is that ‘ boys will always be boys’ and they will do things to imitate what grown up men are doing. Parents do not expect them to remain chaste. But when it comes to daughters the approach is quite different. Parents are all the time concerned. Late return to the home from college becomes a serious issue. So also going out or talking on phone with boys. So if not already started, I expect that there would be more boy spies to keep an eye on girls.
Monday, May 11, 2009
DOES IT MATTER WHICH COALITION OF PARTIES COME TO POWER IN INDIA
Very little.
1. If it is a Congress led coalition, then the Government would continue with its current policies and the track set in, except some nuance change here and there to accommodate the wish lists of coalition partners.
2. If it is a BJP led coalition, then there would be symbolic gestures to appease hard core Hindutva supporters, be it trying to have Uniform Civil Code, relook at financial subsidy for Haj pilgrimage, building of Ram Mandir, early hanging of Afsal Guru and hesitant moves to have a fresh look at Nuclear treaty. Rhetoric against Pakistan may go up. There may be slight shift to have more friendly ties with Israel. To earn brownie points, BJP would alter the course adopted by Congress in this or that area or subject, i.e., matters which would not fall in the ambit of being contentious or momentous. Yes, the rhetoric on the course change would be strident to make the point that BJP is different from that of Congress. That is all. But to a large extent BJP would be hamstrung in making much head way in matters, which are labeled as Hindutva agenda, because of stiff opposition not only from Congress but also from major alliance partners of BJP, apart from the civil society. BJP would also be wary of world opinion in implementing Hindutva agenda too stridently, for example, the curricula in the schools and colleges.
3. Whichever group Communists support would have to function with partially accommodating some of the dictates coming from the left, such as, re-negotiation of Nuclear Treaty, fetters on business, not opening / increasing any more foreign private investment in equity of Indian entities, such as, Insurance, hard-line on America, not opening market for giant retail companies of the world, etc.,
4. But the important point to be noted is that on most of the policy matters, mainly in the economic realm, the course has already been set during the last ten years and deviating from the same would be difficult, whichever coalition is in power.
5. Whether it is the Congress or BJP led alliance which comes to power, demands of alliance partners would be for plum posts in the Government and more largesse from the Centre to the States where they are in power. Alliance partners would exploit the opportunity of being in power at the centre to consolidate their own position in the States where they have good following. The opportunity to improve personal financial position would not be lost sight of by the leaders of alliance partners.
End-note: The tragedy is that whichever group comes to power, the burning issues of the society would continue to receive largely lip sympathy followed by some half hearted measures but not concrete remedial action, though there would be high sounding rhetoric from whichever party in power of measures taken in that direction. And what are the serious issues:
· Naxalite / (internal) terrorist virtually ruling over 60 Districts in the country,
· the intended beneficiaries (poor / unemployed people ) not getting the benefits doled out by the Central Government,
· drinking water problem,
· abysmal medical facilities / most unsatisfactory position in the area of elementary education
· low agricultural yield
· pension for all old people,
· and more importantly, three meals a day for all.
Very little.
1. If it is a Congress led coalition, then the Government would continue with its current policies and the track set in, except some nuance change here and there to accommodate the wish lists of coalition partners.
2. If it is a BJP led coalition, then there would be symbolic gestures to appease hard core Hindutva supporters, be it trying to have Uniform Civil Code, relook at financial subsidy for Haj pilgrimage, building of Ram Mandir, early hanging of Afsal Guru and hesitant moves to have a fresh look at Nuclear treaty. Rhetoric against Pakistan may go up. There may be slight shift to have more friendly ties with Israel. To earn brownie points, BJP would alter the course adopted by Congress in this or that area or subject, i.e., matters which would not fall in the ambit of being contentious or momentous. Yes, the rhetoric on the course change would be strident to make the point that BJP is different from that of Congress. That is all. But to a large extent BJP would be hamstrung in making much head way in matters, which are labeled as Hindutva agenda, because of stiff opposition not only from Congress but also from major alliance partners of BJP, apart from the civil society. BJP would also be wary of world opinion in implementing Hindutva agenda too stridently, for example, the curricula in the schools and colleges.
3. Whichever group Communists support would have to function with partially accommodating some of the dictates coming from the left, such as, re-negotiation of Nuclear Treaty, fetters on business, not opening / increasing any more foreign private investment in equity of Indian entities, such as, Insurance, hard-line on America, not opening market for giant retail companies of the world, etc.,
4. But the important point to be noted is that on most of the policy matters, mainly in the economic realm, the course has already been set during the last ten years and deviating from the same would be difficult, whichever coalition is in power.
5. Whether it is the Congress or BJP led alliance which comes to power, demands of alliance partners would be for plum posts in the Government and more largesse from the Centre to the States where they are in power. Alliance partners would exploit the opportunity of being in power at the centre to consolidate their own position in the States where they have good following. The opportunity to improve personal financial position would not be lost sight of by the leaders of alliance partners.
End-note: The tragedy is that whichever group comes to power, the burning issues of the society would continue to receive largely lip sympathy followed by some half hearted measures but not concrete remedial action, though there would be high sounding rhetoric from whichever party in power of measures taken in that direction. And what are the serious issues:
· Naxalite / (internal) terrorist virtually ruling over 60 Districts in the country,
· the intended beneficiaries (poor / unemployed people ) not getting the benefits doled out by the Central Government,
· drinking water problem,
· abysmal medical facilities / most unsatisfactory position in the area of elementary education
· low agricultural yield
· pension for all old people,
· and more importantly, three meals a day for all.
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