Ayodhya Verdict

A court of law is a living body. The Allahabad High Court has proved it. It showed that it had a soul, a mind and heart to feel and sense things and it acted as if it wanted to guide the present generation and ones to come. It worked on the principle of peace co-existence. It was mindful of the reality of India, Hindustan. Don't be legal, be judicious as the high court was. You can not have an isolated Hindu or an isolated Muslim.

Naxals Are Not Friends

Naxals have released the three of the four abducted policemen in Lakhisarai in Bihar. The news came as a major relief to the families of these policemen, who would be hailed as brave and may even be honoured for surviving a definite wrath of their abductors. However, it was no merit of theirs that they are free now. But definitely, apart from other things, the hostage crisis has absolved all of them of all the guilt and sin arising out of any act of corruption or dereliction of duties that they may (must) have done during their service in uniform. So, while the three-day crisis has provided a blanket of santity to the services of these policemen on one hand, it has, on the other, exposed the myth of Maoist Idealogy. It has also betrayed the dilemma of the elected governance and confusion prevailing in the government machinery over the strategy to deal with crimes related to or committed in the name of naxalism.

Before setting three of the hostages free, the Naxals killed one havildar, Lucas Tete. Apart from the family members of Tete, the killing may not be remembered by many. But his killing has exposed the myth of naxal ideology. The myth, that the naxals are fighting for poor and oppressed is not true for, Tete belonged to a poor tribal family. That they are fighting against a governance that is oppressive is not true for, they killed a defenceless poor tribal when they felt that the government forces were closing in and that the dead body of a tribal policeman would mount pressure on the government to go slow in the combing operations. That, naxals do not indulge in violence is not true for killing of an innocent bread earner who opted for civilised means to run his family is nothing else but violence. Can ever the naxals who killed Tete explain as to why did they choose the poor tribal man to convey their message to the government? Naxal patrons have launched a multi-pronged attack on the parliamentary democracy and terrorism is one of the strategy currently adopted by them.

One thing that I would like to make clear is, the maoists do not believe in documenting things that they don't want themselves to be remembered for, notwithstanding the fact that they don't shy from doing such things. This explains why even in this case, the so-called naxal spokesperson Avinash claimed that naxals do not indulge in violence. Their methodology was surprisingly prophesied in 1948-49 by George Orwell in a novel. Chinese school texts today are standing testimony to that. They don't teach about 1962 war and capture of Indian territories in Aksai Chin and also Tibet. So, no intellectuals should harbour any illusion that naxalism is for the uplift of downtrodden and the proletariat. Nothing of that sort seems to be in store for people even if naxals succeed in capturing political power in the country.

On the other hand, government is at best confused in dealing with naxal crimes. Government is right in saying that the people fighting for naxalism are our own people and they need to be treated with care. But can naxals be allowed to use arms against rest of the community and against those who are earning bread for their families? Ain't ordinary criminals our own people? Why do we adopt a different approach and have an entirely different mindset while dealing with them? Going by naxal ideology everyone who feels that he has been denied his due (either in historical perspective or in current situation) should took shelter under guns, and then every dissatisfied group should weild arms and wage war against 'an oppressive regime'. Anarchy would prevail. But, government lacks the vision of sifting through an ideology and a crime.

Government at all levels has failed to ensure that arms are not smuggled, illegal weapons are not manufactured and Lathiwala policemen are ubiquitous. No need to talk of development and employment schemes which have failed to include all families in the country. Government needs to be as agile and effective in implementing its schemes and the rule of law as the naxals are in their multi-pronged attack at the government in order to seize political power between 2030 and 2050.

Delhi Rains

It's been raining in New Delhi for days now. Just couple of weeks ago, people all over the place, particularly on television, were anxious that the monsoon was not hitting the city and the summer heat refused to wean. Now, the same people have problems with the rains when this August has already become the wettest one in a decade and it is well on the road to become the wettest ever.

Soon, we will see people attributing this August rains to climate change but only they are finished with the cynicism about CWG irregularities and its negative linkage with the monsoonal rains. Then, the residents of the city will freely converse in metro trains, city buses and all the places of public gathering that the end of the world is near as the climatic change has started showing its effects. But they are less concerned about the fact that this variation over a period of 8-10 years is only marginal one given the deviation in annual weather pattern on the planet in its geological past.

But, what everyone is missing is poor governance of drainage in the national capital. Historians claim that drainage system of Delhi was far more efficient and well managed during the time of Shershah who ruled from Rohtas in Bihar. Even during the rule of the Tomars in the early medieval period the city drainage was better. An ordinary citizen can expect this much from the city government as well as the union urban development ministry. A well managed drainage will itself help in checking in the dengue, malaria, typhoid and a several kinds of dysentery. All these diseases have plagued the city for years now. This will also help government help residents better.

Maintenance of drainage will not only give relief to the people who have been paying taxes for its upkeep(?), it will also help keeping the roads hassle-free ride and drive in the city. Delhi will look cleaner and pavement dwellers will also be served better.

Do I need to enumerate more benefits of an efficient drainage system in Delhi, which is aspiring to become a world class city from a walled city?

Whatever, the monsoonal rains has made people forget the real heat intensity in the city and people look more calm off road; vegetation has started looking greener. Ain't these things enough to welcome rains? Rain please don't go away!

India@63: 5,000 Years Old

It was again an annual day today (August, 15) which was full of patriotic talks, internet chats, political speeches and rhetorics of India being young at 63. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made it more than obvious as to what does this day mean to people he represents. I would like to draw attention to Manmohan Singh's indifference to the Red Fort ceremony that once captured the imagination of the prime ministers and people alike. As he pulled the rope to unfurl the Tri-colour, a flag that symbolizes Indian brand of patriotism, he forgot even to look up at the Tiranga in salutation. He was more concerned about the business next in hand, that is, to read the speech text given to him. This also explains why he does not care about the programmes and policies after putting them into effect. He forgets to see whether the policies are producing the results they were originally meant to.

Whatever, I was talking about India turning 63 today. I have a serious objection to this concept. To me it's an insult to all those who contributed towards shaping and making this nation but worked in pre-1947 age. If my knowledge of Indian history is correct then the country had a very developed and flourishing urban civilization some 5000 years ago. And, the name "India" owes to none but this very civilization known to us as Indus Valley Civilization. Also, some 9000 years ago, the old India had a well established village community based on settled agriculture at Mehrgarh (Pakistan). To me, calling India a nation just 63 years old is not correct and it betrays the colonial hangover on the Indian psyche. It denounces everything that was Indian before 1947. India did not begin to breathe in 1947. It was very much in shape much much before that.

The known limits of Indus valley civilization is Shortughai near Oxus river to Daimabad in the Deccan. It could have been wider than that as we lack knowledge about the rest. During Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka India was very much in shape. In middle ages the greatest emperor of India, Akbar the Great and Aurangzeb ruled over India that was bigger than what its present form. Colonial India was certainly divided and divisive.

But when India was freed from foreign rule, the colonial rulers made it believe that it is a New Nation. It can not sustain on its own. True, economically India was lifeless for all practical purpose. But it was not new, rather older than its colonial rulers. But, somehow they convinced the Indian leadership that India lacked courage, spirit, capability and most of all confidence to walk on its own feet, just like an infant can not do anything on its own.

So, now having known that India did not born in 1947, I just can not buy the statement and the argument for it that India is 63. This is ridiculous and an affront to the great civilizations that the country nourished in its past. I hope a civilization, a nation, a people who are at least 5000 years old will not be insulted by terming them 63 year old which need other's help to stand upright.

Celebrating Independence Day is good. A day chosen for the occasion is also good. But that day should be celebrated in a way to remind us that if we stand divided outsiders will take advantage of it to impose a new form of colonialism. This day should keep us beware of such a situation.

Happy Independence Day!

Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Rehabilitation

After 26 years of inaction, the government has shown some intent to apply balm on the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. But spare a thought why it took 26 years to get into ACTIVE mode? Why is it doing this now? Why it could not be done earlier? And, also what is the real issue to be addressed in this whole INTELLECTUAL debate?

Media must take some credit for government minimum effort to own its responsibility towards its own citizens who are in abundance and who can not be washed out by a single Bhopal like man made disaster. In 1984, we lost 20,000 odd brethren but we still have more than 1200 million people a part of which can be asked to pay price for someone else's fault. And, then again may wait for another quarter of a century to get public attention- provided media remained as powerful then as it is today.

Whatever, I don't want to digress from the very fundamental question of rehabilitation of the victims- direct (the then living people who braved the poisonous leakage of the gas on the fateful night of December, 1984) and indirect, who born maimed after that unfortunate incident and still those who are forced to gulp toxic water being supplied to their houses. In my sense of term rehabilitation includes the issue of compensation and fixing accountability of those who caused or allowed to be caused an industrial disaster of this scale. Those officers who failed to inform the hapless masses of Bhopal that a wet cloth or handkerchief could save hundreds of lives just by covering their nostrils and faces by it.

First, fixing responsibility. Who was responsible for the disaster. The Bhopal court has come out with its verdict. No comment on that. The court acted as law and prosecutors guided it. Is Warren Anderson responsible for the disaster? No, because he was not operating the gas chamber. Yes, not because he caused the leakage but because he allowed such leniency in ensuring safety that the leakage occurred. If you are dealing in cobra, you can not afford to take your eyes off it when it is aiming at you. Arguments are endless.

Second, compensation. Victims had already got their share with the approval of the honourable supreme court. But, the amount was paltry. And, this looks a mockery made out of people's lives when we consider that the court agreed for 470 million dollars (as insurance sum plus interests) when the government put the figure of dead at 3,787. Was the apex court of the land cheated?

Now the group of ministers acting on the direction of the Prime Minister has recommended a few slabs of compensation with Rs 10Lakh for every dead person. What a way to compensate after 26 years! Government would end up giving crores of rupees to the victims and the families of the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. But will the Dow Chemicals, the inheritor of Union Carbide's assets and its successor pay this sum. It seems highly unlikely.

So, from where the government will arrange this sum? Will the taxpayers of the country will bear the burden- essentially thrust upon them by an MNC? The countrymen will be more than happy to pay their money to their Bhopal brethren but should they? Should Indian lives be so cheap that an MNC or its superpower boss in the USA can be absolved of everything that happened on the soil of India? Why?

Finally, rehabilitation. How to rehabilitate- mentally, physically, socially, economically, judicially? How can a child born maimed after the tragedy be rehabilitated? Can the government ever rehabilitate the souls of the victims?

Think it over. Attempts be made that lives are not lost the way it did in Bhopal roughly two months after Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

BUDGET 2010-11: LAST MAN'S PERSPECTIVE

I am not a Gandhian nor do I have absolute faith in Gandhian philosophy but I do admire Gandhiji's idea of uplift of the last man of society. I do believe this is the ultimate test of governance in any society. If a government is able to reach and listen to the pain of the last man of society then the government deserves the mandate to rule and make policies for the whole nation. And here Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and for that matter the UPA government failed to clear the test.

Mukherjee's budget is by no means a path breaking budget and people have evaluated it largely on the premise of which side of the table they are sitting. That the Budget proposals are good for corporate houses is evident from the immediate response from the sensex which hardly reflects the health of our economy and wealth of a common man. Budget is a statement on how the county will be governed financially in the next one year. I would like to consider a few proposals given by our finance minister.

Mukherjee talks of bringing second green revolution in eastern states, precisely, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. And he thinks Rs 400 crore for four states that are agriculturally backward is good enough to achieve that! This is not prudent, pragmatic, well-intentioned and economic budgeting. This is political budgeting and it cannot serve the interests of the last man of our society. On the top of it, that man is battling with very high food prices which have not been taken care of in Pranabda's budget.

Arguments were put forth by people of all sides on whether budget is the right tool to tame soaring inflation. I do believe, being an annual financial statement budget must address the day-to-day financial problems of the people, of the nation. For long term planning, we have a Planning Commission and also a National Development Council which some people have forgotten that it ever existed. Here too politics is eating up economics. In an age of utmost media scrutiny and unimaginable reach made possible by media, every finance minister tends to become more political than humane and economic. The last man suffers in consequence.

However, the most important thing from aam aadmi's perspective is the hike in petrol and diesel prices. A five percent basic duty and a hike of Re.1 per litre resulted in petrol costing nearly Rs 3 more per litre. And, this is state economics that hits the common man the hardest. Pranab Mukherjee's proposals will ensure that all the articles get dearer in the next one year because the transportation cost for almost everything will go up. Even the railway transportation will go costlier despite the fact that Mamata Banerjee refused to show fiscal prudence by not hiking passenger fare and freight charges.

To add, we have shortage of foodgrains available in the market with the purchasing power that we individually enjoy today. Our public distribution system shows no sign of improvement and it is sure that it won't go on corrected lines during 2010-11 fiscal. This means that the fight for Roti is going to only intensify in the ensuing year. For service sector earning people especially those on the higher side of tax slabs, Mr Finance Minister has given some relief to counter that intensifying struggle for existence but the common man, forget the last man, will only become commoner in the coming year. This would further swing the (im)balance in favour of the heavier side.

If this is the budget for an aam aadmi, it is no surprise that he does not feel for the budget that has become a mere ritual for the country to follow. And if this is so, I raise a fundamental question, do we need a finance minister in our country? This democracy is run by the parliamentarians and other legislators only in name but the real carrier of this largest democracy is our Last Men who are in millions but still wanting. This sums up our governance and perhaps democracy as well.