EDITORIAL

Friends
Can we say, we are excited? Indeed we are. Yes, we have just crossed the milestone ‘10 YEARS’. With the publication of our Oct. 2010 issue, we have completed ten long years of trials and tribulations in the print media. Looking back is really a moment of satisfaction. When we started off, except the enthusiasm and the ardent desire to make a difference we didn’t have much to sing a song about. Of course, there were souls like Dr M.V. Kamath, a Padma Bhooshan, the inborn journalist that he is, who stood like a rock with us for all the 10 years. He had commended that we published every month for all 10 years without a break, but then he is too good a gentleman to add that, what kept us going was not merely our will to carry on but his uninterrupted contribution equally without break for all the 120 issues for the LAST PAGE. Yes, we do salute him for his unstinted support for all that we did. He has indeed been like a GURU to us. Om Shree Guruve Tasmai Namaha!
Another soul that stood by us in our journey is Prof B.M.Hegde, another Padma Bhushan, a medical teacher and orator of global identity, with his incisive and no holds barred exposition of theories he greatly believed in. Our readers have greatly enjoyed his inimitable writings. To you too, Sir, we bow with grateful reverence.
Then of course there were many, who were around to tell us carry on ‘we are with you’, with their support, emotional in words and in actions, in cash and kind. To all of them, a very big THANK YOU.
Month began with an air of anxiety. What with the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court delivering its historic judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute which came to the fore when Babri Masjid was demolished. Delivering a judgement on an issue entangled in history, faith and religion is indeed very tricky especially in an Indian context. And our media unfortunately hyped the issue to such level of uncertainty, government all over India had activated the security apparatus to counter the possible outbreak of violence, should the judgement go to either of the major contestants to the dispute. Judges, probably aware of the possible dangers of the fallout had to use their discretion so as to make the judgement a bit of pari passu. Of course there have been differing and different responses from across the national spectrum. Some were straight and some were understandably wonkey. We have taken up the issue under Focus for the importance it deserved.
Where are the ‘secularists’ who go to bed with M.F. Hussain, and those media men & women who thought his opting for Qatari passport was a national catastrophe?
Every time a Hindu, in this country, also known as Hindustan, where he is part of 80% of his fellow faithfuls, protested for insulting his deities, these secularists raised their hackles. They accused the protesters as communalists. Debate in print and electronic media would go on endlessly. Examples are not one, they are innumerable. Lost count over the years how many times, the world over, humiliated Hindu sentiments, but got away. Not even the government, in India came to his rescue. Yes, the feeling of hurt of a Hindu is of little consequence in his own country, thanks to our secularists and vote bank politics. But these secularists looked the other way when members of other faith protested and authorities acted swiftly to make amends. Yes, there was this news item coming from London. "Pregnant nun ad ‘offensive to Catholics’ banned in U.K.". How do you like this Mr Indian Secularist? For the information of Indian Secularists, both men and women, an advertisement for an Italian ice cream brand featuring heavily pregnant nun has been banned in England for making a mockery of the beliefs of Roman Catholics, reported the "Telegraph", after just 10 readers complained that the ad. was offensive to practicing Catholics. So what have you to say?
"R R Patil ‘caught’ partying with criminals" was a news item in the print media early on in the month. He was reportedly attending an Iftar party in the house of Naseen Qureshi, Maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman in Mumbai. Attending the party were dreaded Salim Patel alias Goa Gutka, an aide of fugitive Dawood Ibrahim. Then there was Mobin Qureshi a murder suspect, and extortionist. Irfan Qureshi who welcomed Patil with bouquet of flower is the illegal construction king of Mumbai. Although Home Minister feigned ignorance, we should know that he is the protégé of Sharad Pawar, the Union Minister, and both are from NCP. Isn’t Pawar connected to the under world?
China fumes as rebel gets NOBEL for PEACE was a news that came from Beijing for the action of Nobel Committee from Oslo, Sweden. While it is true that Oslo has its own set of rules for awarding the Nobel prizes which is not necessarily evenhanded at all times. This particular award was to puncture the Chinese ego. Liu Xiaobo, a dissident leader and writer who is in prison for the key role he played in 1989 Tiananman Square pro-democracy protest was the awardee for this year's peace prize. This protest is 21 years old and those arrested are in prison for all these years, and Nobel awarded peace prize every year. But this year China was probably asserting too much with its newly acquired economic clout. The Nobel Committee may be thought, why not tell China that there are others too, in this big wide world, who can call the shot. And Oslo awarded the peace prize to Liu Xiaobo despite China’s demand not to honour him. Of course this does not reduce the strength of Lin to be a very deserving candidate. He is indeed a hero to millions of Chinese who aspire for a freer atmosphere in the communist China. Oslo has done a signal service in ignoring Chinese demand and awarding the peace prize for Lin Xiaobo. Two Cheers to Nobel Awards Committee.
In the mew millennium, in the 21st century, the supremacy of whites is definitely on the wane. India is being increasingly recognised for its intrinsic worth, the strength of the economy, its pool of intelligent people, and IIT and IIM graduates of very high caliber etc. Still there are groups of whites and others in the fringes, who consider themselves superior. The recent slur by the police in Australia against Indians and the tasteless remark by a New Zealand TV news anchor from Auckland on Sheila Dikshit, the Delhi CM, are the latest in a series of racially prejudicial barbs.
The Breakfast show host Paul Henry of New Zealand T.V. was reportedly suspended for two weeks for making, on-air, racist remarks against the country’s governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, apparently a PIO (Person of Indian Origin). He is reported to have asked Prime Minister John Key, if "Sir Anand Satyanand was even a New Zealander and whether the next governor general would look and sound like a New Zealander." Comment sparked an avalanche of protest from across the board, like migrant groups, Race Relations commissioners, politicians, community organisation groups etc, reported ‘New Zealand Herald’. It was the same person who made a racial slur against Indians in general and Delhi CM Sheila Dixit in particular, by repeating her name something like Dik-shit. That was indeed in bad taste. The Auckland Regional Migrant Services demanded that the anchor be sacked or else asked companies not to advertise in the Breakfast show.
Of course, to their credit, Australians have taken action against 15 policemen. While 4 have been sacked, one demoted, 5 were fined 3000 dollars each, but all will face disciplinary proceedings. That’s indeed very fast, something Indian authorities need to learn. By the way, does any one remember in a recent report, The Economist, of London, a world class publication, had recommended India over China to foreign investors to do business with. Surely it had its own solid reasons to say so. Thats the power of emerging India. Poor Paul Henry and his ilk.
"Afghan Security Contractors Funding Taliban" and ‘governor among 20 killed in Afghan Mosque blast’ were the two news that should be of interest to the U.S. These Security Contractors of Afghan origin, helping U.S. forces remain protected, are double dealing. They are taking money from U.S. and giving it to Taliban just as Pakistan did and continue to do. The result is, violence shall continue in different form and in different degree. Who should be blamed? U.S. themselves are to be blamed for this weird situation. To get at Russia, in Afghanistan they abated insurgency and now their hands are full. Details are irrelevant for those who are in the know of things. Obama’s job is cut out, he wants to save America and also the wider world. There has to be some radical shift in its Afghan and Mid East policies including Israel’s intransigency.
Comparing RSS to SIMI by Rahul Gandhi, is to betray complete lack of knowledge of both the organisations. While SIMI is out and out anti-national and rabidly communalistic, R.S.S. can be accused of being somewhat communal and their own brand of politics, but certainly not anti-national. If anything, they love India and have been of service at different critical situations, besides being highly organised and disciplined. This latest words of wisdom from the Gandhi scion is only to please the Muslim vote bank. What this junior Gandhi should know is SIMI unlike RSS is a banned organisation and his own party in power at New Delhi is aware of this situation. In his own interest and that of his party he should refrain from making such blatantly illogical statements. Such utterances will neither win friends nor influence people.
"Indian stuck at Muscat Airport dies" was not merely a disturbing news, but a serious reflection of how our embassies work world over. Its indeed a shame. Having unfortunately lost her passport, this Malayalee maid, Bibi Lumada, while in transit in the Doha airport of Qatar, tragically succumbed to severe mental trauma. Unable to carry her further, Qatar Airways dropped her back to Muscat, the port of embarkation. Living in the arrival lounge for five days without any help coming from the Indian embassy, it was not surprising that she did not live to tell her story. But the apathetic Indian embassy officials including the ambassador should be pulled up for their insensitive and apathetic response to a crisis. This was indeed the usual ‘sarkaari’ approach as witnessed in India. These embassy staff and an IFS, the Ambassador, and other consular seniors who supposedly represent India and its ethos on foreign soil have betrayed the Indian nation in particular and Indians in general. The Qatari airline, which looked after her personal needs like food, water and blanket, out of human concern, must be deeply disappointed with Indians, at this apathetic ways of the chancery, despite calling them for all five days. MEA must necessarily make the concerned Ambassador visit the family of the deceased to apologise and to pay compensation to the bereaved. May be part of the compensation be recovered from the Ambassador and his staff in Muscat. That may drive some sense of duty in them.
A Mumbai datelined report that "15000 have jumped bail in the city, cops can’t find them", is not surprising at all. For punishing the guilty, there are hundred ways to save them, legally speaking, as there are equally hundred ways to punish them. But Indians, we are ‘kind’. We are ‘kind’ to all those with connection, power and money. At times law is very harsh, as it should be, to the guilty, but more often laws are harsh to all those who can neither get a bail nor fight their case with well paid lawyers. Because they do not have money. Our competent Union Law Minister Shri Moily stated the other day in Mumbai, while discussing legal reforms, that a person in Haryana was in jail for 4 years for s` 200 theft. He had apparently stolen `800/- from his employer’s shop to fund the purchase of medicine for his seriously ill mother, of which ` 600/- he had paid back. Still employer lodged a complaint, and police ‘acted’ with ‘commitment’. Since the victim had no money for bail application or to employ a lawyer, he languished. On the Minister’s intervention Haryana high court released him. But if, this person becomes a criminal to-marrow, can he be blamed?! Aren’t we an insensitive lot, just like that embassy staff in Muscat. It was a poor maid there, and here it was another poor man, who had no money to buy medicine for his ailing mother. Can we still call ourselves civilised?
Hyper Mamata, the Railway Minister, has reportedly stated, ‘Toilet, washbasin in local trains soon’, at Howrah, while flagging off a Duranto Xpress. We are not sure if she has the knowledge that majority of Indians travelling in Indian Railways, all over the country, use the toilet in long distance trains, when train stops at station. That’s how many stations in these lines have stinking tracks, with human waste. Most Indians have a poor sense of public hygiene and cleanliness. They dirty these tracks despite being told and despite there being a written notice – please do not use toilets while the train is in the station -. Hence the latest move by Mamata while being good in part, may really increase the work of ‘safai karmacharis’ and increase number of stinking local railway stations.
The news about Mumbai University’s withdrawal of Rohinton Mistry’s book ‘Such a Long Journey’ in the middle of the year, as a sequel to the protest by Shiv Sena student wing, has raised lot of eyebrows. It was patently partisan to do it after many years of book’s inclusion for B.A. English literature course. But a closure look does throw a bit of light on the intellectual arrogance of the Paarsi Baawa, the writer. If a report in the Mumbai press is to be believed, who reproduced a paara, belittling Mumbai's inimitable Dabbawalas, was rather abusive and in poor taste.
Of course the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chawan has promised action, saying ‘can’t change history for political parties’. However he evaded queries why no action has been taken against Nitesh Rane for unprovoked firing at one Chintu Sheikh. Nitesh is the son of Narayana Rane a former Shiv Sainik, but currently a high profile Congressman. Yes, politics is writ large in his ‘action’ and ‘inaction’. This is Yeh Mera India.
Yes India is indeed a happening place. Going by the report, by early October this year, Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) have brought in close to ` 98,000 crores. And in all likely hood it would cross a `100,000 crores, a trillion, before the end of the year. That’s a good news, confirming the good economic health of the country, and the trust the global investors have on India. Two cheers to our economic managers the RBI, for their skillful navigation in the financial waters in an uncertain global scenario. This flow of fund is also reflecting the growing technical capability of Indian techies in many new start up venture, which despite U.S. protectionist policies making foray into Global arena, and international venture funds are backing these start ups. Yes, India is slowly and steadily going up the ladder.
‘Bayalaata’ is a form of field drama in the coastal Karnataka. The politics ‘of aayaraam and gayaaraams’ in the BJP run government in Bangalore had all the nuances of this balle form –Bayalaata. When you try to please all – Tom – Dick and Harry – you end up pleasing no-body. This is the situation, the Yediyurappa government in Bangalore found itself in. The first BJP government in the south started with pleasing Reddy brothers, then the independents, and then revolting party MLAs looking for their share of the political cake. To remain in power the Chief Minister tried to please all and sundry. But then you can’t please all, there will always be unhappy elements, who will be waiting in the wings to strike and that’s what happened. In the process even governor besmirched his already grayed reputation, only to retrace his steps under pressure from his high command, confirming his political affiliation while being in a constitutional position. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is increasingly coming home to prove itself. When shall we change for better?!
So CWG, the acronym for Common Wealth Games, has come to stay with some pleasant memories. At least opening and closing ceremonies have been greatly organised, so were the 8 days game. No hick-up was reported from anywhere either, despite the media thumbs down some days before the start. Ofcourse, S.K (Suresh Kalmadi) gaffe, of making Prince Charles as Princess Diana and APJ Abdul Kalam had become Abdul Kalam Azad. So much for the general knowledge of S.K, yet he wants to continue as the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) Chairman. Poor S.K and the Union government at New Delhi, both are lost, when it comes to sports scene in the country of 1200 million. It is to the credit of Indians, as individuals, who have brought the country laurels, not due to any official support or patronage. The ` 70,000 crores Jamboori is over but has left trails of questions to be answered in its wake. The investigation ordered by PMO hopefully shall fix the responsibility of financial bungling. There could be some positive outcome, since S.K. is less of any political party man and does not belong to DMK. M.K. is grinning. Yes there are others too, who are causing financial scams, not just DMK ministers at the centre.
Otober, by itself is a very important month of all the months of the year. You may ask why? There were 5 great Indians who were born during this month. Of course, fortunately for a holiday, Mahatma Gandhi is remembered on 2nd Oct. If the holiday was not there, how many would have remembered the day? If the holiday was not there, do not be shocked, one day Father of the Nation may also would disappear into the national amnesia. Of the remaining 4 greats, good number of Indians may remember Lal Bahadur Shastri, the 2nd Prime Minister of India, who too was born on 2nd Oct. He is the cleanest politician this country has seen, who had reached the highest executive position of the country. There are other 3 greats, who died as Indians, but one of them was born British. Dr. Annie Besant, who was Annie Wood before marriage, came to India after her involvement in Theosophy movement. Traveled to India in 1889. Got deeply involved with the politics of pre independent India. She even became the president of Indian National Congress (1917-1923). She made immense contribution to India’s freedom movement. She was responsible for the establishment of Benarese Hindu University. One can write a book on this great personality. How many Indians remember that she was born on 1st Oct. 1847? Then there are other two greats. There are at least some Indians and may be, better known, in the state of Gujarath as well, about one of these two greats, the IRON MAN, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. He always remained in the shadow of Nehru, thus his ability as a national leader was not entirely tested, born on 31st Oct.. That leaves the last of these 5 greats. Who is this great soul? Surely on 11th Oct, lot of electronic media and some in the print media too, go a bit ga-ga, about the Hindi film baadshah, the KBC famed Amitabh Bachchan. And this media men and women are a bit of bankrupt. They even discuss the quirk of the fate how Rekha was born a day earlier on 10th Oct, but they suffer from extreme state of amnesia, when it comes to one of the greatest Indian after Mahatma Gandhi. A soul who refused to become the Deputy Prime Minister under Nehru, and who led the Samporna Kranti of the mid 1970s, and ushered the birth of Janata Party. As all students of Indian politics shall vouch that politics didn’t remain same since 1977 and Congress lost its hegemony. Jaya Prakash Narayan, J.P., was born on 11 Oct. 1902. How much sense of history we Indians have?
Can there be more cruel civil society than this? Just imagine a scene. Attempting to test the efficacy of a penicillin, an authority in power injected venereal diseases into 700 jail inmates. Can’t this be called, height of cruelty or even barbaric?
According to New York Times report, American Public Health Doctors deliberately infected 700 Guatemalans – prison inmates, mental patients and soldiers - with v.d. in what was meant as an effort to test the effectiveness of penicillin. They even paid v.d. infected prostitutes to sleep with prisoners, the failed prisoners had the bacteria poured on to scrapes made on their genitals, faces or arms, and in some cases it was injected by spinal puncture. On contacting the disease, antibiotics were tried.
This happened between 1946 and 1948, and the present American administration apparently was outraged at the reprehensible research. U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton was on record saying "We deeply regret what happened". Regretting the horror both Clinton and Kathleen Sebelins, the Secretary of Health, have apologised to the government of Guatemala and to survivors and descendents of those victims of the infection. Indeed this was ‘a crime against humanity’ as the Guatemalan government dubbed it on learning of the NYT expose.
That CBI was not a straight forward agency was never in doubt. Every political party at the centre used it to serve its political purpose or of settling individual scores. But unfortunately even the bureaucrats with pulls in right place have misused it to personal paybacks. Case of M.U. Kini is one like that.
According to report from Mumbai, he lived with humiliation for quarter of a century of alleged wrong doing. It was 1986, the then Executive Director of Union Bank of India, just 4 days before his term ended as ED, on the threshold of being considered for elevation, CBI was made to raid his house. Rest, as the cliché goes, is history. For 24 long years he was made to attend every month special CBI court and his dreams of becoming Chairman & M.D. of the bank was ruined. Cleared of all charges of alleged financial misdemeanors this year, some months ago, Mr Kini betray no emotion but bitter that his career in banking was irretrievably sabotaged by his earlier Chairman J.S. Bhatnagar & company with the help of CBI. In the mean time his wife had died heart broken, and was not there to share the joy of his victory. Yes, an unprofessional professional banker had destroyed the life of a colleague with the help of CBI. Why CBI allows itself to be used just to destroy one individual?
There was this news from Mumbai "FIR against Father for allowing minor son to ride bike". While this is a positive development as far as fixing responsibility for offences involving road traffic accidents are concerned, such reported cases are few and far between, although there are many accidents involving juveniles all over the country, with some nova-rich acquiring posh limousines. Recently there was a report from Mangalore involving a Scorpio, driven by a minor, hitting some pedestrians. Reportedly there were deaths. After the first day itself, there was no further reporting in the media. Grapevine has it that the parties involved in the accidents – the accused and the victims – settled the matter between themselves, with no role allowed for the police. What do we call this? Paise ka bol bhaala! Yes in the Mumbai case, the rider had caused the death of an 87 year old Moti Jhangiani, and his family probably were not management experts in closing the case without the FIR. This is Yeh Mera India.
The statement by J & K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, desperate to save his chair, is patently opportunistic. He had stated on the floor of the assembly in Srinagar that Kashmir had only acceded to India and not merged with India. He was merely pandering to separatist demands. That Congress at the centre played it down is only because of co-alition compulsion. It was complete reversal of what his father Farooq Abdullah had emotionally stated some weeks ago on the floor of the Parliament. Congress, while supporting its coalition government in Srinagar, must stress that the immature Chief Minister's statement is unacceptable. Such statements will only make the separatists stronger and voice of Pakistani elements shriller. This has to stop.
Did you hear that the confirmed atheist M. Karunanidhi, the CM of Tamil Naadu is in love with temple priests of the southern state? Yes, he is all set, according to a press release, that he shall be distributing 10,000 cycles to temple priests free. Why? So that they can reach the temple in time. We need to learn from this thespian turned politician how to be populist. Last time it was colour TVs to people, now cycle to priests. The next election is round the corner, he is ensuring easy run for his son Stalin, in the run-up to the next poll due May 2011. According to grapevine even T.V. sets are being ordered for those who were left out last time. So its lollipops galore. Whose father’s what goes! Public money to Public, but not for all, for DMK supporters only. After all they have to return the favour by voting for the party. Development will follow slowly, don’t worry. This is DMK style.
Kalmadi being snubbed in not being invited, not once but twice, is rather in bad taste. Of course the Kalmadi response "PM invited me but I was busy" is rather a silly joke. He is being naïve that people can’t see thru’ this helpless statement, that he is only gulping the insult. Here is a guy who had worked hard at least towards the end of it, and CWG had gone off quite well, he should have been given at least some credit. It is true that CWG accounts must be in a huge mess, for which CVC and CAG are already on the job with ED in toe. But to deny an invitation to felicitate the winners at PM's residence and other functions now at Cabinet Secretary Chandrashekhar's residence, as the head of the organising committee, is a poor reflection of the culture of the person decided to deny Mr. Kalmadi his day in the sun. You make him accountable, fix him and probably sack him as Olympic Association Chief. But there can be no justification for this denial of invite for official functions of post CWG. Its patently uncivil. Of course, it could be that Mr Suresh Kalmadi has made enough enemies during his tenure lording it over the apex sports body for a long time, without being remotely a sportsman. Somebody wanted to probably return the compliment.
Shiv Sena demanding ‘Ban on Burqa’ is both right and wrong. This is sequel to the case of child kidnapping by a burqa clad woman, or was it man? Since it was a burqa clad person, how can one be sure if it was a man or a woman, because the face was covered. Isn’t the world privy to the knowledge of the Imam of Lal Masjid in Karachi escaping in a burqa, when the Masjid was under Pak army seize? So the fact of the matter is, burqa, that is fully covered including face, is indeed a security risk. Burqa without the face cover should be alright for any dogmatic Muslim person, but with face cover, should be considered for ban. At least there are millions of Muslim faithfuls who do not practice this primitive dress code of wearing burqa. When will liberals among Muslims take the call?
Ayodhya impasse is being covered under Focus. All else are usual, except that this is a bit special, being an anniversary edition. You may find it different in space and contents. Do revert with your thoughts, we do value them.