MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

NEW DELHI: Since last fortnight or so, media is, almost on a daily basis, coming up with stories of literacy awards being returned by recipients. This is sequel to the alleged attack on litterateurs, especially post Kannada writer Prof Kalaburgi’s killing so also the alleged acts of violence on minorities and the alleged non-response of authorities (read Modi).
We are a democracy alright, but we are a democracy for the haves and have nots are involved only on the voting day. And those who can talk or act, do it when they think they should. Fair enough. But are they victims of some set pattern of thinking! And media, being media, has its own agenda of promoting one set against the other.
Objectivity was always the victim of this hype. Hence truth was not available in the public space. There were many who went with the awardees logic of returning the award and there were those who questioned their motive and its futility to convey the intended message.
And here comes the controversial Bangladeshi writer, living in India, Taslima Nasreen. It could be true that since she stood up to the Muslim fundamentalism in her country and had to escape to the safety of India, Indians have welcomed her. But here too Muslim fundamentalists have tried to disturb her life, even violently at times. But the government of the day, anywhere in India, except Left government in West Bengal, did protect her. Other day, she expressed her views on growing intolerance in India among both Muslims and Hindus. Post ‘Awards Return’, campaign she is back again. According to her, Indian writers practice double standard and their secularism in largely anti-Hindu.
Is she wrong? Probably not, because most Indian writers suffer from some kind of weird mental block. If Muslims or Christians are protesting, these writers are either quite or take their side. If Hindus are protesting, these writers and their friends in media go to town to cry hoarse as if India is going to balkanize when no such thing is happening. Indeed they do suffer from the selective response in the public space. Even this ‘award returning’, is only to target the central government like Arvind Kejriwal is trying to blame Modi and his government for the law & order problem of Delhi. It is eminently possible for ‘His Excellency’ the Chief Minister of Delhi to call on the Police Chief of Delhi, who is reporting to the Lt. Governor, and discuss with all seriousness how to tackle the menace of assault on small girls. Only thing is, he has to get down from his ivory tower, and I am sure, instead of crying hoarse on ‘who is wrong’, both can sit down and discuss ‘what is wrong’, the issue can be tackled head-on. Similarly if these awardees who have returned their awards, more as a reaction, should meet and debate how the issue can be addressed rationally, without emotions for the larger good of society as a whole, without any blame game. Hope wisdom dawns on all. Didn’t the Mahatma say “Eashwar Allah Tero Naam Sabko Sanmathi Dey Bhagawaan”!

That the government in India either at the Centre or at the State is barking up the wrong tree, was never in doubt. Or else India despite 68 years of post independent developmental planning in redistributive exercise, with 12 Five Year plans, would not have ended up at 138 among some 180 countries in its Human Development Index.
Two reports in the print media on 21st Oct.2015 in the Indian Express has just exposed our sense of priorities. On the top of Business Page was “Govt. promises to resolve concerns of FPI” and the other was “MS rues scant attention to Farm Sector at Ground level”. Here FPI meant ‘Foreign Portfolio Investors’ and MS meant M. Swaminathan, the Father of India’s Green Revolution.
First report from New Delhi on FPI, it said, “Government will address tax concerns of Foreign Portfolio Investors and will consider suggestions made by them”. The statement was attributed to the Economic Affairs Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
The second report was from Washington. Mr. M.  Swaminathan was interacting after his presentation at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. He lamented that ‘the agriculture is not receiving the necessary attention in India and mentioned how public policy works on achieving zero hunger target, and that in India concerns have been raised about the new government's priorities despite at times appropriate noises.’
Coming on the same day, and FPI appearing on the top and ‘Farm Sector neglect’ appearing lower is an indication of even the media-mindset. Only the powerful make noise and they are heard. For the powerless it’s a cry in the wilderness. No wonder, in India rich always become richer and poor, poorer. Government runs after FDI to please international business community while neglecting our own strength and not attempting to sustain it leading to poor HDI. Indeed FDI cannot and will not bring about better HDI. But alas! Will the government hear!  

Arvind Kejriwal is trying to be in the news at all times. 10th Oct. newspapers carried the news of Asim Ahmed Khan, a minister in AAP Delhi government being sacked for corruption. Reportedly Arvind sacked him in public, in a live press conference. Reportedly he had conducted a sting on the minister in conversation with a builder demanding some Rs. 6 Lakhs.
While taking action against the minister for demanding bribe is correct, but the way he went about this sacking of the minister was clearly a show off. Because in the same press conference, he challenged BJP to do likewise in Rajasthan, in Madhya Pradesh and against Sushma Swaraj in Lalit Modi case etc. So, it was very clearly cheap dramatics to portray that Kejriwal and his AAP will not ‘tolerate’ corruption. Like BJP spokes man called it “Kejriwal is making an event of the sacking”.
Slowly, whether anybody likes it or not, there is an element of megalomania emerging out of him, which, if not checked, can be his undoing. He has a tendency of always attacking the centre, especially Modi, for all the ills of Delhi administration. Modi is the Prime Minister of the country and certainly far higher unlike Kejriwal who is the Chief Minister of only a tiny half state. Yet, the noise he makes is almost like Modi. However there is one common factor between the two, they like to see themselves as news makers, in the middle of photographs. Just a few weeks ago, reportedly Delhi govt. spent some Rs. 1.5 crore on full page advertisement in all major English and Hindi newspapers, only to rubbish a news report in a popular Hindi T.V. channel which mentioned of a scandal in the sale of onions by the Delhi government. Point was, the government. was in the dock anyway was not the issue, but the waste of public money for purely the reasons of ego. Isn’t  Arvind Kejriwal is the one who provided (for the Delhi government) Rs. 526 crores per annum advertisement budget raised from a modest Rs. 26 crores, all to market himself? A paper even called him “A law into himself”
   
“No reasonable human being definitely not a Hindu man, can ever look upon his wife as a child-bearing machine”. The above reported remark was attributed to one Bal Mukund, the head of Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana (ABISY), an RSS affiliate. This is probably the sanest statement from any right thinking individual, especially in the context of jokers like Sakshi Maharaj, Sadhwi Prachee and Praveen Togadia, who are also from Hindu organizations.
Indeed, any sane person, who is a responsible human being would ever want his wife to be a child-bearing machine. All the more so, in a democratic society like India, where growing population has its own huge socio-economic ramifications, to end up having more than two, say 4, 6, or more is to seriously violate the human rights of the woman in question. Of course, in India, there is a section, belonging to all religious affiliations, who just produce children-left, right and centre-without reference to their ability to look after their social wellbeing. They cannot provide them good education health and nutrition, essential for growing as a responsible citizen.
Especially in the context of the recent population report published, indicating higher population growth among Muslims and the apprehension of a section of Hindus that Hindus can be reduced to a status of minority in coming decades, the stand taken by RSS that they will not encourage the population growth is not merely very sensible it throws light on their sense of proportion and sense of national citizenship.

‘End of the road for Don Chota Rajan’ was the print media news on the fugitive underworld king. Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias Mohan Kumar alias Chota Rajan (CR) was on the run, away from the Indian laws for over 2 decades. Reportedly he was on a flight from Sydney to Bali. Acting on Interpol notice authorities in Australia tipped off authorities in Indonesia, that CR was travelling as Mohan Kumar. He was arrested on arrival. Of course, those who live as fugitive mostly do not end up as fugitive, they do get caught, if those who should act, does so in all earnestness. Of course Ottavio Quottrochi died a fugitive since those who should have acted to nab him didn’t act, or rather they facilitated his remaining a fugitive from Indian laws.
Now that the Don has been caught, there are all kinds of interpretations. ‘He has surrendered himself’, there could be an agreement between the Indian police and th Don, hence 'could have been caught’. He wanted to save himself and hence allowed himself to be caught. These and some more unsolicited explanation shall keep coming in the context of competitive politics of India.
The following day the news paper headline was, 'Rajan Caught, now its Dawood’s turn'. Surely all law enforcement authorities in India would like to think that its as easy as it was with CR. But the fact that Dawood is under Pakistani official protection, it’s not going to be easy to get hold of him. But get hold, has to be. How he can be caught should workup the authorities. May be Israelis can guide us. Now that Narendra Modi is slated to travel to Tel Aviv, some inputs can be worked out.
Crime controllers in Mumbai are aware that CR and Dawood after having worked together are now working to annihilate each other. It was in 2005, sometime in August, that a plan to eliminate Dawood was hatched with the help of CR and his men. But the mole in Mumbai police, reportedly Sub Inspector Aslam Momin, derailed the plan by arresting CR and his men. Now that CR is arrested and likely to be with the Indian authorities shortly, all intelligence on Dawood can be collated to the work on hand. Hope the CR saga can be used to the advantage for a larger cause.  

BIHAR: It’s all out war in Bihars. Prime Minister Modi appears to be on a long term election mode. It is as if, ‘if he is not travelling abroad then he is at an election rally’. His attack appears to be no holds barred. He is using his gift of gab, which none of the Prime Ministers of the past had, to the NDA advantage. But will it really be advantageous or prove antagonistic in the ultimate analysis! All political leaders try to mudsling at opponents, especially during election time, some may stick and some may not stick. But the bad taste can linger. As a Prime Minister of the country, his responsibility at a sense of proportion is far higher than say Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad. Hence, his no holds barred attack on all and sundry, especially Nitish & Lalu can have the Bihari voters on defensive and therefore, at least to some extent, can lead to negative voting.
Coming to Nithish Kumar, all Indians are privy to the fact that, he has done better than, 15 years' misrule of Lalu and his wife. There is therefore an element of trust Biharis repose in Nitish administration. That is expected to influence at the hustings. But his association with Lalu Prasad has certainly dented such possibility. This is what Modi is exploiting. Of course, as this goes for printing, most of the state election would have been over with a small portion remaining pending. From the survey of the poll scene, it appears mixed fortune for both sides. It is difficult to wager who would make it to the seat of power. May be Nitish Kumar deserves to be given a chance, since he is one of the few Chief Ministers who scored better than many in the shifting development dynamics. Of course, it is left entirely to the Biharis to decide their fate vis-à-vis the newly elected government. However there is a bit of lacunae in the home work of Modi / NDA camp. The infamous Chaara Ghotaala involving Lalu Prasad had an unlikely beneficiar, which has remained out of media hype and beyond the radar of CBI and the like. It is strange but true. A key witness in the scam, in a sworn affidavit, had stated that a sizeable amount was given to the President of Samata Party. Chief of Samata in Bihar was Nitish kumar. Thus the fodder money loot has benefitted Nitish too. Legally even donation to charity or other social causes from stolen money is illegal and therefore beneficiaries too are subjected to criminal proceedings. Nitish is lucky nobody briefed Modi about it.

MAHARASHTRA: Indeed Sena blackened its own face when it painted the face of former LK Advani aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, with black paint. And they called it democratic, historic, mild, non-violent and other nonsensical adjectives. It may have its educated interlocutors, but it also has its unruly mob. Sure, they have problem with Pakistanis playing cricket in India. It may be accepted since even BCCI seem to have supported so far, for the political compulsions. But to attack a person only for joining hands for a book release, only because the other person was a Pakistani, it is the height of intolerance and there can be no justification. Law must be enforced to arrest all those hooligans who attacked Kulkarni. Even the president of Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackray has to be summoned by the police. He should be admonished and probably even warned of the consequences of such hooliganism.
Of course, it is to some extent, the failure of the government in Sachivalaya headed by Davendra Fadanavis, to  control its trouble maker ally. Ever since, Sena has lost its face, when it lost to BJP in number game in the last assembly election and BJP formed government without its support, Sena has been playing truant, to assert itself.
It may be true that the book launch went ahead despite the incident of Kulkarni episode, but fact remains, unless the government of the day acts with firmness to call the bluff of its boorish ally and tries to give it a piece of advice to behave, association may be in jeopardy.
The leader of Shiv Sena, which is more a family entity, is a person without any vision for his party, or Maharashtra. BJP has to tell Shiv Sena, that they are not the only protector of interest of Maharashtrians, but BJP is as much its protector. They have enough men to say and prove it and Shiv Sena has to be shown its place. Only then Mumbai can become truly cosmopolitan.

Andhra Pradesh: For N number of years, our political class, bubudom and experts were talking about river linking to do away with water shortage, drought and flooding in some places. The Deccan in particular, comprising of north east Karnataka, south east Maharashtra and portion touching these two areas with Andhra Pradesh, have always suffered from water shortage from times before independence. In 68 years that have gone by, except suffering by the locals, nothing concrete long term efforts have been initiated, to mitigate the hardship of people.
In the above back drop, the initiative in formally linking Godavari & Krishna is extremely good news, with the ambitious object of making the state “drought free”.
Reportedly Godavari water from west Godavari district is already flowing into the Krishna basin in Krishna district to divert it to the parched Rayalaseema region. It was formally interlinked at the Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village, located some 20 km from Vijayawada. This interlinking of rivers fulfills a long cherished dream of farmers of Krishna & Guntur districts. According to Parakala Prabhakara, Advisor to Andhra Pradesh Government, this project shall be helpful in storing about 300 TMC of water in various tanks and reservoirs and the stored water would be useful in the event of a monsoon failure to ensure, state becomes drought-proof. Hope the vision of Chandra Babu Naidu becomes a model for the entire country.

A news report datelined Kadapa, in Andhra Pradesh said “Dravid’s experience boon for youngsters”. This was attributed to the manager of Indian ‘A’ Cricket Team, M.V. Siva Reddy. A cricket buff and a member of the BCCI information technology sub-committee, Reddy was reminiscing his association with the Indian ‘A’ team as manager, where Rahul Dravid was the coach. “Associating with Indian team and working with Coach Rahul Dravid was fantastic. It was once in a life time experience. We can find a keen observer and adviser in Dravid who can do lot of good to the Indian cricket in the years to come” was his considered opinion.
Indeed, but for the politics of cricket administration and his own desire to under play himself, Rahul Dravid could have been at the helm of affairs at Karnataka Cricket Association if not in BCCI. Now that Sourabh Ganguli has become the president of West Bengal Cricket Association, courtesy Mamata Didi, the West Bengal Chief Minister, there are reports suggesting that this in the first step to take over BCCI.
No doubt Ganguli was a successful captain but he is ambitious like many other cricketers of his time. Some are after power and some are after money. But Rahul Dravid is not after either. It was Jack Kallis who spoke in endearing terms on Rahul Dravid as an exemplary cricketer, a fine gentleman of the gentleman’s game. Rahul Dravid deserves national recognition. Probably to begin with he should be made the Chairman of Selection Committee. He can do wonder. Hope some such things happen.

Karnataka: Some time ago, there was this report in the print media “Raichur Loses its Much- loved Leader”. It was informing about the death of Devadurga Congress MLA Venkatesh Naik, who died in a freak train accident involving Bangalore Nanded Express. The report described the MLA as soft spoken leader and was known for his simplicity, and that he was 81 years old and a very admired figure. I&C pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace. But what intrigued I&C was, he was an M.P for four terms from Raichur, and presently an MLA representing a part of the same parliamentary constituency. And the parliamentary constituency is represented by none other than his eldest son B.V.Naik. The report also informed that his second son Rajashekar Naik is the president of Raichur District Co-operative Central Bank (RDCCB). Thus it is very clear that the writ of this Venkatesh Naik family runs through the length and breadth of Raichur.
In all probability, the report appeared in a section of the press and forgotten, and life must have gone back to normal for the general public, or those thousands of admirers of the man, from Devadurga taluk and surrounding areas.
But quite frankly, why media failed to see the promotional starkness of family fiefdom of one individual. This so-called gentleman politician was MP for 4 terms that is 20 years, and continued his ‘service to the country’ by becoming an MLA, but he ensured the continuity of his hegemony by ‘relinquishing’ his M.P seat in favour of his eldest son, and not any other son of the soil of some other congressmen, while promoting and protecting family financial interest by making his 2nd son the president of RDCCB. So that the family can get a lasting place in the psyche of Raichur as the ‘servants of people’ while continuing to promote and protect only one family tree, just like our present President of India, besides so many others in this Son Rise Industry among the political class of this country.

Kerala: Oct. 18, 2015, issue of THE WEEK from Kochi had carried on its cover, cricketer turned businessman turned politician turned football promoter Sachin Tendulkar. The week had used 18 pages of its ‘Journalism with human touch’ in describing his evolution. Quite frankly, for us at I&C, it was a magnificent waste. May be we are wrong and biased, but who is Sachin Tendulkar? He is a mere cricketer, who only chased personal record with ‘willow & the red cherri’ and his advertisement revenue, besides interest in up-market food outlets. Serving the country, which he always claimed, was way below, in his priorities. One striking aspect of the magazine’s 18 page ‘magnum opus’ was, there was no mention of ‘Bharath Ratna’ award to him. May be, like millions of Indians you too agree that it was an insult to the hallowed ‘Bharat Rathna’ when it was awarded to him for purely political reasons, on the recommendations of Sharad Pawar. So was, his being made the Rajya Sabha MP, and Bal Thackray, one of Tendulkar’s high profile neighbour, had called it a ‘joke’. Hence, unless it was an attempt to glorify him as a marketing gimmick, no apparent reason was seen. After all great Indian public has its own funny ways of voting for the best man. Rajdeep Sardesai, the TV anchor, had in his wisdom, some years ago, selected 100 greatest Indians after Mahatma, and through some ‘intellectuals’’ intervention pruned it to 50 and then to 10 and asked our Great Indian Public (GIP) to vote on the net. And they voted. At the bottom was, believe it or not, Lata Mangeskar, the Indian nightingale, with just 20 votes, graduating further was Indira Gandhi with 49 votes, Nehru with 57 votes, JRD Tata was with 102 votes at 7, and Mother Theresa was at 6 with 168 votes. And the ‘Ripley’s believe it or not’ at 5th place, with a whopping 309 votes, was this cricketer, turned businessman turned politician turned football promoter Sachin Tendulkar. Indeed this is Yeh Mera India. Of course, it is another matter, that India’s tallest Prime Minister, the diminutive Lal Bahadur Shastri, who probably died of poisoning (by whom?) was neither in Sardesai’s 100, which had likes of Rajanikant & separatist Phizo & other worthies, nor included by the ‘intellectuals’ in that pruned list of 50. Was it a reflection of intellectual impoverishment of not just our GIP but also the so called intellectuals?!
And THE WEEK has not covered itself with glory, by glorifying Tendulkar. Yes you may have sold more copies, and at the end of the day, that is what matters, isn’t it!
   World: The barbaric episode of a domestic helper’s hand being chopped off by her Saudi Arabian employer has to be condemned in no uncertain terms. Whatever be the provocation, but to chop off a hand of a defenseless female servant is most reprehensible. In fitness of things, India reacted rather very angrily terming “This is unacceptable”.
According to the family sources of the Indian woman in question, “her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape harassment and torture”. Reportedly Indian embassy has taken it up in right earnest by seeking an independent probe and demanding that an attempted murder charge be lodged against the employer. Hope something positive shall happen in giving justice to the victim. However what was most disturbing was the reported fact that the woman from Tamil Nadu is 55 years of age, and that back home the family is dependent on her earnings. Report informed that she is having a son who may be more than 30 years of age.
The question is, how an elderly lady in her mid fifties could be travelling to a country like Saudi Arabia, which has a pathetic record of human rights when it comes to domestic female helpers! Besides, if there is a grown up son in the family, how can they be dependent to the salary of his old mother! And the AIADMK government of Jayalalitha is a pro people government with her many of the ‘Amma’ schemes. Indeed, the desire for ‘lucre’ is a human weakness which, if not carefully controlled can lead to disasters. And Saudi Arabia is certainly not a place for single defenseless women.  

There was this news "Nepal as the world knows, is an impoverished land locked country. Its population is mostly aligned with Maoism; has not helped with the stability for growth. It is a highly politicized crowd with its leadership suffering from one-up man ship. Despite long years of freedom from the Kings’ shenanigans things are very unsettled in the country. After the devastating earthquake ruined the country’s landscape and economy, the govt. had asked the international agencies and other foreign countries to stop the supply of aid for reasons of national pride etc.
However, for the purpose of post- quake reconstruction, an Indian NGO, Bharathiya Jain Sanghatna (BJS) wanted to build 100 health posts for primary medical assistance. Reportedly BJS has pulled out of Nepal, citing ‘harsh’ terms and conditions and the authorities in Nepal have refused to relax those conditions. But what were those ‘harsh’ conditions? BJS termed it “Way too lavish.” According to them, Nepalese Ministry of Health & Planning had guidelines laid down, made it an insurmountable challenge to complete the project. All that the authorities in Nepal wanted was, a) granite finish,  b) heating,  c) ventilation and air conditioning systems. And, did we say, Nepal is a poor country! The message probably was, “If giving, give it top class. So what if it’s charity!”

When you have freedom without the sense of responsibility you surely do not deserve freedom. ‘Briton jailed for checking FaceBook while Son drowned’, was a news datelined London. Joshua Barnett, all of two years old child, slipped into a pond full of water, while playing in the garden at his home in Beverley, East Yorkshire. And his mother Claire Barnett was busy checking her Facebook, while the child was sinking into the pond. She clearly was more into her FB than to her toddler son. It was a clear case of neglect.
Court, while passing the verdict of guilty and sentencing her for 5 years in prison said “Your son died due to your neglectful conduct. You will have to live with that for the remainder of your life. For a parent to be, as you did, amounts to bad parenting. You pose very serious risk to any child for whom you might have responsibility.”
It was indeed very heart rending for a small child of 2 years to die so miserably. It is sad too for a mother to lose her child and then be imprisoned for the criminal neglect. But it does hold out lesson for all adults, to be responsible for their wards, safety under all circumstances, in spite of our obsession and weakness for material attractions. Whatever a person is involved in doing or attending, the child under your charge has to be within your comprehensive eye sight at all times, while allowing child its freedom to play safely. That’s the bottom line.

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