MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

J.Shriyan 

JAMMU&KASHMIR: Jammu&Kashmir is in the news for all wrong reasons most of the time. This time it was the robbery in the J&K Bank branch in Arwani in Bijbehara, the home town of CM Mehbooba Mufti.
Bank robbery can take place anywhere depending upon the security, or the lack of it, the law and order situation prevailing in the area. Everywhere the robbers plan with a modus operendi which could be unique.
But in J&K robbers went for an easy way. The same way, the imam of Lal Masjid in Karachi did to escape from the mosque when it was surrounded by Pakistani police. He was in a burqua and police couldn’t and didn’t stop him. Same way these robbers used burqua to enter the bank premises. So, one thing is clear, burqua can be a security risk. Of course there may be many who may not agree, like this media member Deccan Herald titled their story in their yesterday’s edition “Masked militants loot Rs. 5 Lakh from J&K Bank”.
They, the DH, and there are many like them, who are in the business of reporting, not necessarily the whole truth. The question is why they had to ‘mask’ their reporting by not titling their report as “Militants in burqua loot Rs. 5 lakh from J&K Bank”?
Of course it is to the credit of another English daily THE HINDU who titled the same report as “Militants in burkhas rob bank”.

New Delhi: One Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, supposedly a lawyer so also a BJP spokesman and another gentlemen J.C Seth had reportedly knocked the door of apex court with a plea for framing a National Yoga policy with a view to make its practice compulsory for Std I to VIII in schools across the country.
Fortunately, the apex court, which at times hyper reacts with pronouncement almost akin to a policy, not only refrained to act but dismissed the plea outright. Justice Madan Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta had observed while dismissing the plea “We are nobody to say what is to be taught in school. It is none of our business. How can we direct state”. They had clearly stated that it is not the business of Supreme Court to direct an elected government to do or not to do anything which is not contrary to constitutional provisions or any existing statutes.
But these jokers calling themselves party functionaries, who think they represent the ethos of this country do not seem to understand that our ethos even offer all its citizens, varieties of legally tenable choices. Yoga is not a part of school curriculum. It has its positives, both physical and mental. The world is recognizing its utility. UN has even declared a World Yoga Day. It has cut across the civilizational divide. Left to itself, Yoga will grow exponentially in coming years for its therapeutic dimension alone. Yoga does not need likes of Upadhyaya and Seth. However, these characters will do great harm for the growth of Yoga if they think that it has to be made into a policy so that it can be enforced. Yoga, as a part of life style has grown since the last couple of decades without these jokers. And it will continue to grow without them. Fortunately Supreme Court has not been harsh on them. Hope they go home and do some Yoga exercises which will make them calm and composed and not ruffle societal atmosphere by their over anxiety of being self styled promoters of Indian ethos.

The initiative to study the safety of bridges across the country has not come a day too early. Better late than never. A safety audit of these bridges, some 1.6 lakh, is reportedly complete, informs the Ministry of Road Transport. According to the report, over 100 bridges are in a dilapidated condition.
We are aware of the tragedy that struck in the Konkan last year. The collapse of the bridge on river Savitri, where two Maharshtra State Transport buses, full of passengers, were swept away in the swirling water, is too fresh to forget.
There have been bridge collapses in the past, but somehow the safety audit of bridges have remained as a non-priority for all governments. We have always been poor learners, because probably the tragedy has not affected us. Therefore the present initiative of the government at the centre needs to be appreciated. However what is important is the allocation of fund for the construction of replacement bridges in the place of those over 100 dilapidated bridges which are dangerous for use. This has to be treated on priority as the safety of these bridges concerns all sections of the society, more so for people who use state transport buses in the rural area.
While on the subject, it is pertinent to mention here that there are streams, which remain waterless or with less water and therefore crossable by foot, but during monsoon they are full and therefore not possible to cross. These walkways are used mostly by students going to schools and those who cannot take circuitous long ways to reach the other side. These streams are bridged by contraptions of timber, sticks, bamboos or even thick ropes. They are used by school going children of all ages with occasionel mishaps happening where a child slips and falls into the surging water only to be found days later as dead body. Stories of such tragedies are not infrequent. But all state governments have been deaf to the cries for help from these helpless children.
It is ironic after 70 years of independence, these issue are not being addressed with the seriousness it deserved.

The report “Modi made no mention of Nehru” did not make news, because it reflected the views of the speaker.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement, PM Modi remembered Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandta Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, J.P., Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh, Ram Monohar Lohia and Lal Bahudur Shastri, informs the print media. Of course the list of well known personalities who participated in the 1942 call is far longer. However, the obvious exclusion of Jawaharlal Nehru was the clear reflection of the dislike PM Modi had for Nehru.
Weeks earlier President Kovind had also remembered not to refer to the name of Nehru in his acceptance speech after taking the oath to the office of Presidency. At that time there were lots of criticism from opposition for this exclusion, since a constitutional functionary was not expected to be biased. This time round no opposition reacted nor media commented.
The fact of the matter is Jawaharlal Nehru was a towering personality of the pre-independent India, so also in post independent India. He, for sure, must have had personal drawbacks but, his commitment to the cause of India cannot be questioned.
For Prime Minister Narendra modi not to have mentioned his name has not made Nehru any smaller, but Modi has certainly not covered himself with glory. In fact he belittled himself. Modi could certainly have become greater by remembering Nehru. Modi had remembered Nehru in the past. These political niceties do help the larger picture.

Equity has never been a virtue among most Indians. There were two reports appearing almost together, in the media some weeks ago, and both contained information about payments for services rendered. One of the report had “MPC members to get `1.5 lakh per meet” as the title and “CEOs earn upto 1200 times of average staff”, was the title of the other report.
MPC is the acronym for the powerful Monetary Policy Committee of the government of India. It consists of 6 members, 3 from RBI and 3 from general public appointed by the central government. RBI team consists of Governor, Dy. Governor and Executive Director. Other 3 are eminently qualified experts from the academia, like IIM, Delhi School of Economics etc. They are appointed for a period of 4 years. As of now RBI governor gets a payment of  `2.5 lakh per month and his deputies `2.25 lakh per month, from the `90,000 and `80,000 respectively paid earlier per month. Surely those from academia too would be getting a good salary package. Question is, is it fair to pay a sum for a day’s meeting, which may involve some days of preparation, an amount almost equal to their whole moths pay? And there will be 4 to 6 meetings every year. This amount ` 1.5 lakh per meet excludes air travel, local transportation, accommodation in a 5 star hotel and other out of pocket expenses.
Coming to the other report, it was mind bogglingly numbing for its sheer scale of unfairness. According to the report, biggest blue chip companies are paying its top executives, salary package of upto 1200 times of their median employee remunerations. Of course, the analysis on payments of different companies did show different figures varying from 1263 times to 205 times, which is still very very high. These payments are made even if companies do not register increased profit, may be even decreased profit and even loss at times. So the practice of unfair standard in India is the done thing across the spectrum and no questions asked. General public are so used to these unfair practices, they accept such flagrant distinction without much of a demur.
I remember a seminar on inclusiveness in a National Institute of Technology- a deemed university institution- where they were discussing about maternity leave for husband called paternity leave, when one of their former director was heard telling about teacher’s salary in a school under its administration, some years ago, that it’s OK to pay them `750/- as monthly payment, when he himself was getting more than 100/150 times. We Indians are hypocrites; we have multiple standards for different set of people. You may be demanding and getting all kinds of benefits, including paternity leave but to your domestic help you would deny even a week-end break, forget about the low salary and 24 hours on call. This is Yeh Mera India.

Gujarat: On 29th July, a consignment of 1400kg of heroin was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard off the coast of Porbundar in Gujarat. Reportedly the consignment is worth more than `3000 crores. By any stretch of imagination 1400kg heroin haul was a huge success to the Narcotics Control Bureau.
But, it was purely a chance interruption that makes the whole scenario very worrying. Reportedly National Technical Research Organization (NIRO) picked up a ‘phone chatter’ in the Arabian Sea, and it was followed up by a ship and helicopter chase by the Coast Guard. In less than 24 hours Coast Guard zeroed on MV Henry, a Panama registered ship, some 400 nautical miles off Porbundar, and arrested the 11 crew of the ship, including its captain.
God forbid, the chance happening did not happen! Then this 1400kg of heroin would have found its way to the lanes and by-lanes of Indian cities to be consumed by millions of Indians, especially young college students. Hence the chances that such things have happened in the past and can happen in the future too is very much in the realm of the possibility. That is indeed a very grave matter. So where the authorities have slackened their vigil or those who are operating this shady business are smarter and better organized? These questions need to be probed to know the full impact of this unchecked trade in drugs.
It is another matter that the consignment was destined for Egypt but greedy Indian captain of the ship, Suprit Tiwari, diverted the ship mid sea, by switching off the ships satellite phone and damaging the Automatic Identification System of the ship. The fact was, this greedy Tiwari, was able to find a buyer, a drug dealer Vishal Yadav for a commission of a mere `50 crores.
These drug related transportation also has other national security ramifications. This ship MV Henry, is owned by an Iranian Sayeid Ali Morani based in Dubai. But the drug was loaded at sea-off the Gwadar port in Baluchistan, Pakistan and supposed to have left for some Egyptian port.
The serious worrying dimension is the Pakistani connection such drug dealings can bring with it. 26/11 Mumbai attack is too raw to be forgotten.
Thus, this haul of 1400kg drug has opened up a Pandora’s box of possibilities which authorities at all levels must sit up and take note. Hope it happens.
   
PUNJAB: Chandigarh date lined news informed about a farm labourer from Uttar Pradesh working in a farm in Derra Bassi in Punjab, had come home drunk, and wanted to have physical relation with his wife. That’s perfectly normal provided it is mutual. But his wife was not interested and when forced she pushed him away. Enraged husband picked-up his 2 year old boy child without the knowledge of his wife and reportedly takes him to the field and forces himself on that delicate small child. He sodomized the child and caused anal perforation. After his sickening horrendous act he dumps the child in the bushes leaving him profusely bleeding. Without proper and early medical intervention the child died soon thereafter.
Can we as humans from Indian subcontinent imagine the height of bestiality from a father to a 2 year old boy child!
Doesn’t matter at all that his name is Saleem and he tried to hoodwink the police with some cock & bull story?! Or that he is in police custody for murder and sodomy?
Has our socio-educational attempts in making humans out of men has so badly failed that not only we failed to protect a vulnerable 2 year old innocent child but allowed it to be sacrificed for a hyena among one of us who passed off as a father!?
Are we still good enough to be called civilized?! Woh, Poor Mother India!
It’s another matter, this man Saleem is already having 4 daughters and his wife is 7 month pregnant, that’s how she was disinterested in his advances! How at all can poverty go!

Haryana: Disgrace is the only word that can describe the silence of Shubh Chintaks and their Shubh chintan on the increasingly assertive characters of BJP protected goons masquerading as socio/political workers.
The case of an IAS officer’s daughter being stalked and attempt to kidnap her and the flagrant attempt at cover-up by statutory functionaries has exposed the BJPs double standard of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. If an elite can be treated this way, what could be the fate of ordinary mortals!
“Home Ministry has no business to interfere in the police investigation regarding a local case in Chandigarh” is a big joke coming from Kiran Rijju, the media savvy MOS, Home, especially when Chandigarh is a Union Territory.
At least likes of Kiran Bedi, Kirron Kher have condemned the shameful acts of this wayward man called Vikas Barala, state BJP President’s son. But where are those who go to the town giving certificates to all and sundry?
That Kiran Bedi, a former top police functionary has lambasted the Chandigarh police for clearly acting partisan is only the confirmation of the game the police was playing.
As we are approaching the 15th Aug, Independence Day celebration, what is the message Prime Minister Modi is going to give by his action or inaction on the entirely condemnable act of BJP delinquents has to be seen. Hope he lives upto his no-nonsense image by asking his protégé Khattar, the Haryana CM, to act tough and decisive.
It’s been heard that belatedly police have acted to arrest both the delinquent and his accomplice despite the quick bail granted earlier. It is an indication that PMO has spoken to trigger a quick response from the police. That’s a good sign. Hope the message goes across.    

BIHAR: Years ago, when the first NDA was being crafted George Fernandes, of the then Samata Party, was made the convener. Most of his erstwhile socialist comrades deserted him for having joined hands with the BJP, supposedly a communal party. He played a straight bat. ‘Yes I had to choose, between a less bad party and more bad party. I chose BJP because they are a less bad party than Congress which is more bad party.’
By hindsight, this may provide some explanation as to why Nitish Kumar, the CM of Bihar jettisoned the Mahaghatbandhan to only for ‘bandhan’ with BJP.
Without exception, everybody is accusing Nitish Kumar of being an opportunist. Isn’t politics, anywhere, full of opportunists? He broke away in 2013, from BJP due to Narendra Modi factor. For political survival he joined hands with RJD, and in 2015, the Mahaghatbandhan romped home, despite Modi wave. All thought Nitish Kumar had arrived. Unfortunately Biharis, in their wisdom gave RJD more seats. RJD is a family enterprise and the Lalu family is soaked in corruption and yet Biharis gave this family thumbs up.
The latest crisis of emerging scams, benami land deals, money laundering, involving Lalu family is clearly the factor that precipitated the rupture.
It is very easy to accuse Nitish Kumar of ditching the Mahaghatbandhan and going with the alleged Communal Party. But due to the serious allegation of corruption against Lalu’s sons, who were his ministers, other members of the Mahaghatbandhan should have asked Yadav siblings to resign. Even media did not attempt to cry hoarse at Lalus. Now the media is accusing Nitish of opportunism.
Mahaghatbandhan should have tried to save the situation by prevailing upon Lalu Prasad let his son go. Rahul Gandhi of Congress could have saved the government by pressuring Lalu to make his son go. He failed too. You want to have the cake and eat it too!
Of course, this Mahaghatbandhan had no inkling that Nitish will embrace BJP and save his CM gaddi. As usual BJP acted fast, and Congress was caught napping.
MADHYA PRADESH: So, Medha does not make any news anymore! Where is the conscience of the nation when the indefinite fast of the nation’s conscience keeper has entered 13th day?
Medha with her 11 other supporters are on hunger strike demanding proper rehabilitation and resettlement of Sardar Sarovar Project affected people.
Most of us are busy fighting for ourselves. Her entire life is dedicated to the cause of people in the margins of the development juggernaut.
Of course lots of people have criticized her for being ‘anti-development’. Unfortunately development has not been defined comprehensively to suite only some stake holders, those who can influence the course of happenings. Medha is representing those who cannot and does not have any influence, either political or social. Their votes do not change governments like Jats, Patels or Marathas.
Strangely even our sometime hyper active judiciary too is quite.
Is there no case for the Supreme Court to take a suo moto approach to take-up the cause of Narmada displaced persons!?
Medha and her supporters have been reportedly shifted to a hospital. God forbid, if nobody acts before disaster strikes! Can we stand up to the world to say why we failed Medha and her cause when she wanted us the most!?

MAHARASHTRA: The controversy surrounding Aazaan do not seem to die, probably for some valid reasons. After Sonu Nigam went public with his take, comes another singer Suchitra Krishnamurthi. Some weeks ago the female singer had tweeted “Come Home at 4.45 am most aggressive/ ear shattering call of aazaan” accusing it being “extreme imposed religiousity”. “I do not need public loudspeakers to remind me of my God or my duty”. “Nobody objects to aazaan or prayers during decent hours. But to be waking up entire neighbourhood at 5 am is not civilized”.
The points raised by her is legitimate and logical. One may agree or disagree with her contention. But look at this man Abu Azmi, a Samajawadi Party politician from Mumbai and he says “Those who sing and dance till early hours, drink at 2am at parties in hotels and sit with their arms on shoulders of strange men and talk, who have spoilt Indian culture have suddenly started criticizing”. This logic is cockeyed and cannot be taken seriously because it has not addressed the concern of the singer instead it was spewing venom.
The fact of the matter is, aazaan at early hours sometime even before 4.30 am is indeed disturbing to the sleep of the entire neighbourhood. Singer Suchitra did not mind aazaan during daytime. But excuse me what about masjids near schools! Aren’t these schools disturbed with loud speakers blaring right on to the school building. So even during day time, these loudspeakers are questionable. Besides, when 67 years old Mumbai based Mohd Ali alias Babu Bhai approached the Bombay High Court and got the order passed in Aug 2016, that laud speakers cannot be used between 10PM & 6AM and any violation shall be punished with both fine and imprisonment, was this Abu Asim Azmi sleeping?
And for people to sing, dance and drink at whatever hours, is entirely their personal business, as long as they do not become nuisance to the society around them. It is none of Azmi’s business. He talks about being in the company of strange men by people like Suchitra, at least they are better than those father-in-laws physically abusing their daughters –in-law. Certainly India do not need jokers like Abu Asim Azmi to tell Indians, what constitutes Indian culture. Of course problem is the prominence given by media by titling the report “Azaan remark: SP slams singer” without being even handed.

KARNATAKA:  “Good Resolution” said Robert Lynd, “is an April of virtue with no September following”. It looks perfect for a situation that Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) of the government in Bengalooru, is in.
Child abuse has reportedly been rampant in the state capital of Karnataka for some time now, since couple of years. With too many private schools catering to the needs of growing population of Bengalooru, exposure of vulnerable children to abuse had grown considerable.
Disturbed at the growing attack on small children’s persona, Karnataka government had enacted the “Karnataka State child Protection Policy, 2016” in April the same year.
It was an initiative, hailed as first of its kind.
Now, it’s more than a year there has been no progress. The policy envisaged creating of trained senior officers, who would travel all over the state to train personnel at all levels in each district to ensure trickle down.
But after more than a year even the training module is not prepared, allegedly due to budget constraints. This blaming of the budget is a standard response, when caught for inaction. Nobody, either the political class or the bureaucracy are serious about such issues concerning children, because, neither they are a pressure group nor a vote bank. This has been the tragedy of this country. Unfortunate but true. This is Yeh Mera India.

Happenings in Infosys is none of our concern at I&C. Because, what is happening is not the issue that we are concerned with in anyway. But there is one dimension, we could probably poke our nose and hopefully come out unscathed. Corporate world is privy to the fact NR Narayana Murthy and his engineer friends founded Infosys. It grew rapidly to become No:2 IT Company after Tata Consulting Services (TCS) and maintained that position. However, in the ethical practices, especially in giving stock option to employees, without doubt NRNM is a model like none else in this country. He clearly believed in the principle, ‘Together we must grow and together we must survive’. He has set standard for all corporate leaders when he quit office of chairman on turning 60, making room for others to take over. He is very democratic.
And comes flamboyant Vishal Sikka, a rank outsider, as CEO/MD with huge pay packet. May be NRNM didn’t say then, but apparently he was upset with the pay package. No doubt revenue increased with an ambitious target of $20 billion by 2020, and share market responded positively. After all, market is sentiment driven. But NRNM is a person not particularly after market. He believed in corporate social responsibility of being compassionate to the staff and society without losing sight of investors’ interest. But never only revenue and market driven. This aspect of NRNM has been probably working up within and came out sharp when recently some lower level staff were given pink slip to go home because of lower profit. NRNM had come out openly to retain these staff by seniors taking the pay-cut. Here it is interesting to note that in 2015-16 Sikka got a salary pack of Rs. 48.73 crores, in comparison to Rs.25.66 crores that TCS boss Chandrashekaran drew and Wipro Executive VC T.K Kurian got Rs. 13.67 crores. Clearly NRNM was unhappy at this. After all Infosys was his baby. As of now Vishal Sikka is out office of MD/CEO and would be completely out of Infosys by March 2018. And reportedly Board of Directors have withdrawn the offer of position in the Infosys Board of NRNM. Thus the battle is out in open. Of course, what also irked NRNM is the non-transparency in the acquisition of Panaya for $200 million which despite insistence by NRNM, the present Board of Infosys refused to make public details of the deal. Clearly there is a dead rat.

KERALA: There was this ‘magnum opus’ of some 20 pages in THE WEEK of June 25 on Yoga titled as “That Elusive Search for bliss”. Surely, being a national news journal, it must have been read by thousands if not lakhs. One T. Koshi Cherian responded on email among others. Here is his letter published by THE WEEK, of 16th July, under the title “Yoga not Spiritual’. Quote “Yoga is an Indian form of aerobic exercise which keeps the body in good shape like any other aerobic exercise. It has nothing to do with spirituality, which is one’s personal recognition of the Almighty (That Elusive Search for bliss, June 25). No one can find spiritual solace by flexing and extending your muscles or holding your breath in half-clad body, wrapped partially in a piece of Dhoti tied along the gluteal cleft” Unquote.
Of course, two more letters too were published by THE WEEK. One opened with a sentence “I would like to praise the team at THE WEEK for having come out with such a well researched cover story on spirituality”. The other had “Your cover story on spirituality was mind blowing” as the opening sentence. Both these letters had no caption, obviously giving credence to the letter by T. Koshi Cherian.
As an Indian I was deeply incensed at this chicanery. So wrote to the editor at THE WEEK. Quote “Your letter writer T. Koshi Cherian in his letter (The Week:16th July) on ‘That Elusive Search for bliss’ has exposed his bias and pettiness, when he wrote ‘No one can find spiritual solace by flexing your muscles or holding breath in half clad body, wrapped partially in a piece of dhoti tied along the gluteal cleft’.
And you had decided to give it prominence by titling it ‘Yoga not spiritual’. This publication has also exposed the mindset of the person who selected to publish this letter.
While there are any number of books on Yoga, there are two books this letter writer must read- ‘The Hidden Teaching beyond Yoga’ by Dr. Paul Brunton from England, a senior journalist himself and ‘Yoga & Nature Cure’ by Dr. G. Francis Xavier, an Indian, both fortunately are not Hindu dogmatists. And ask Crystal L Park of University of Connecticut ‘I think because yoga is such a mind-body practice, people find themselves being more relaxed and more mindful. They start going back for those things. It’s clearly something people deeply resonate with,’ stated in a survey by the University (TIME, Aug, 29, 2016- page 10),
Please try not to vitiate public space by publishing dogmatic hatred.” Unquote.
I write to many papers and magazines, including the American TIME. Unfortunately I cannot use diplomatic language. I call ‘spade a spade’ which most editors do not like, and therefore do not publish. And the most unexpected happened. To my pleasant surprise THE WEEK of July 30 published my letter almost in toto. THE WEEK need to be congratulated for publishing a letter despite being critical of them, and here is the letter.
Quote
“WHY THAT LETTER?
Reader T. Koshi Cherian said that no one can find spiritual solace by extending your muscles or holding your breath in half clad body, wrapped partially in a piece of dhoti tied along the gluteal cleft. (‘Letters’ July 16). And, you decided to give it prominence by titling it ‘Yoga not spiritual’. The publication of such a letter has exposed the mindset of the writer and also of the person who selected the letter.
While there are number of books on Yoga, there are two books Cherian must read: ‘The Hidden Teaching beyond Yoga’ by Paul Brunton and ‘Yoga & Nature Cure’ by G. Francis Xavier. Both are, fortunately, not Hindu dogmatists. Please don’t vitiate public space by publishing such letters.” J. Shriyan, Mangaluru, Karnataka.” Unquote.