MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

JAMMU & KASHMIR: There was this editorial in a section of English dailies “J&K: talk, don’t stop, until it’s solved”. While appreciating the concern of the writer, editor or who so ever, the title, was clearly amusing. Post dispatch of the latest interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma by the central government, the newspaper was commenting. New Delhi, which is trying to manage the affairs in J&K, always had a government for all these post independent 7 decades. All these governments have tried its best to resolve the impasse in J&K. But somehow the problem persisted. Just like this English newspaper editorial everybody exhorted the government of the day to resolve the issue of Kashmir. It remained unresolved despite best efforts.

But what everybody did not even touch to address, were the core problems of Article 370 and Muslim majority Kashmir angle.

There is none in the world of Homo sapiens who do not want, his or her problem resolved. But unfortunately everybody see the problem through their own prism. “You address my concerns and I will agree”. Nobody is interested in seeing the issue from the opposite stand-point. When there is no give and take, or we do not try seeing things from the other person’s perspective, impasse is the end product.

So just talking endlessly will take us nowhere, except, equally unending blame game. Enough has been written about, enough has been spoken about Kashmir resolution. There has to be a relook at the basic issue and the genuine intention to solve the problem. This is where the media has its role cutout. But unfortunately media has its own agenda, which drives it. Without being preachy it has to be asserted that every action of every individual, beyond his immediate necessity of food, shelter and clothing should be nation centric.

Unfortunately, all those who can afford to be large hearted are not accommodative for the larger picture.

Coming to the Kashmir issue within the J&K tangle, all must recognize that Article 370 was wrong and whether that part of J&K where Muslims are majority, will they accept New Delhi’s authority to be the federal head?

Both are emotive issues, but a change is imperative if solution is what we are looking for, although the does not look apparently possible.

KARNATAKA

Tipu Jayanthi & Bankruptcy of a section of Christian Men & Women Robert Rosario, the convener of ‘Kanara Christians- Victims of Tipu’, has raised some very relevant questions. While raising the issue of crimes committed by this fake sultan, against Christians of Karnataka coastal region, Rosario has rightly asked the ‘why people like JR Lobo, Ivan D Souza & Oscar Fernandes, who claim to be leaders of Christian community, besides the dioceses in-Mangalooru & Udupi, silent?’ It’s a good question and demands an answer. And where are those who are never tired of mouthing unprintable barbs against RSS and other Hindu organization at the drop of a hat? Why are they sharing their bed with likes of Tipu? Because it suites them in their program of being Anti-Hindu? There are many questions that silent majority is asking. But our intellectual brigade is going haywire in their hurry to be at the side of the state government who is after vote bank.     

MAHARASHTRA: In recent time, big names in cricket are those who rake big moolah. Tendulkar, Ganguli, Shastri, Dhoni, Virat Kohli are the names that easily come to mind. Of course there were others like Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and the likes who too are associated with the game of cricket but do not rake too much money but, highly respected all the same. We are also privy to the knowledge ‘how Rahul Dravid reacted to the unceremonious exit of Anil Kumble as India’s Chief Coach’. While interacting with Rajdeep Sardesai in a literary meet in Bengalooru, Dravid had expressed his deep disappointment at the way Anil Kumble was forced to quit. That was the ungentlemanly dimension of the ‘gentleman’s game’.

Since a fortnight into November, there were two reports in the print media, “People are conveniently targeting Dhoni:  Kohli to critics”   was one, “Shastri hits back at Dhoni critics”, was the other.

It is a known fact; Dhoni is not, what he was, years ago. At 35+, he cannot be what he was at 25, that’s the unrelenting biological clock, take it or leave it. So it is you, who should take the call before BCCI decides to give you a last benefits match, as it happened to Tendulkar, when he was stuck like araldite not wanting to leave the ‘crease’!

Dhoni was a known finisher and hence had a role cut out. And as soon as you realize that things are not happening as the way you want, it is time to reassess your role vis-à-vis the Indian cricket team. Do not drag. Leave the ‘crease’ while still in a glorious form, to the standing ovation of the cricket crazy nation.

But obviously that is not happening. And comes VVS Laxman, a maestro of yester years, and remarks “someone younger should be tried in T20”. “Team management should make the former skipper understand his role in the team” added Virender Sehwag, another cricket legend. Both these cricketers, of not too distant past, were generally commenting on the gradual deceleration of Dhoni’s cricketing prowess, as advancing years are taking its toll.

Not trying to read what is written on the wall for Dhoni, Captain Kohli blurted on Dhoni’s criticism by the above two cricketers, saying “why only Dhoni is being criticized, when others too have failed including myself”. But Mr. Captain, you have missed the point, everybody does some time not so good and many times very good. But the age is on your side and not on Dhoni’s side.

This is the crux which all should accept. Also, as a captain, he too should recognize that there are many young talents waiting in the wings to get into the Indian dressing room. And the fact of the matter is many have missed the bus with no vacant seats, with established players not quitting, because, they think they still have lot of cricket left in them. We are all privy, how Tendulakar’s refusal to quit early has cost many, promising cricketers a role in the Indian team! Of course Ravi Shastri is somebody, who need not be taken very seriously. He is a person who knows which side of the bread is buttered. On occasions he took the side of even Srinivasan, the former disgraced BCCI boss, since he was signing the pay cheque for Shastri. He has his role in the Indian cricket only due to his proximity to the powers that be. On VVS Laxman and Ajit Agarkar, a former Indian paces bowler, raising the question about Dhoni’s T20 future, Shastri is reported to have reacted “Dhoni has lot of cricket left in him and it is the duty of the team to back the legend”. So, in your eagerness to protect the vested interest of your friend, is there no duty towards those youngsters from all over India waiting interminably? Is the Indian cricket team is meant only for those who peddle influence? These are uncomfortable questions needing answers from BCCI managers.

MAHARASHTRA

Film stars are not known to be making intelligent statements in public space. Of course, there are exceptions that are intellectually endowed and are capable of serious debates. But one of the oldest families of cine personalities in the city of Mumbai is not known to be highly educated and therefore not articulate in their public utterances. Rishi Kapoor, a school dropout, is reported to have remarked, in one of his boisterous moments, that ‘Pakistan should keep POK to themselves and India to keep the present J&K?

We are all privy to the stupid barb by Farooq Abdulla that “POK belongs to Pakistan and People on the Indian side should stop talking about Azadi”. Echoing similar sentiment, Rishi Kapoor had reportedly tweeted “Abdullaji Salaam! Totally agree with you Sir. Jammu & Kashmir is ours and POK is theirs. This is the only way we can solve our problem. Accept it”.

Understandably it has stirred a hornet’s nest. These, reel life heroes, who are mostly real life misfits, should keep their Smart Alec statements to themselves. It was Salman Khan, who had famously stated in public, exonerating Pakistani government for the 2008 Mumbai attack, when it was none of his business to talk on issues which are beyond his comprehension, just like Kapoor mouthing inanities not understanding it implications.

MAHARASHTRA

You act in some films and earn some fame and money and then you come out with a memoir! You have been in the films only for less than a decade although acting in plays does give one a bit more of credibility, because, it is the stage that create launching pad for actors into the celluloid. So, here is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, having won some critical acclaim for some of his films, decides to write a memoir, ‘An Ordinary Life’. But unfortunately he also decides to include some ‘not so ordinary details’. Writings of any kind can be discreet or indiscreet. But you do not have the right to write about someone else without their knowledge anything that could compromise their honor and reputation, especially women. As a stage actor one does come in close contact with other co- actors. Better and more youthful the actor, chances are you could be involved with deeper relationship with, especially the opposite sex. But they are strictly personal in nature and therefore not meant for public consumption. But having convinced that he has become a great actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui writes about his relationship with a former Miss India and another lady actor. Penguin Random House is reportedly the publisher of the book. Did they find the sleaze therein as a marketing stuff, that they agreed to publish!? Reportedly both writer Siddiqui and publishers have agreed to withdraw the book from the market after two ladies mentioned in sleazier details have vehemently protested the unacceptable personal references in the memoir “An Ordinary Life”. “I did not dump you for your poor status but for your poor thinking” remarked one of the victims. That sealed the fate of the book.  

RAJASTHAN: Something is seriously wrong with these anti socials among possibly Sangh Parivar outfits. Or else how can anybody kill somebody in cold blood in the name of cow protection? Rajasthan appears to be becoming notorious for cow vigilantism leading to unremitting violence. The report “Gau Rakshaks shoot man, dump body on railway tracks” is a very sad reflection of the state of affairs in Rajasthan.

Incident in Alwar district of Rajasthan bordering Haryana where one was shot dead, and two others were thrashed, were reportedly carrying cows in a vehicle. The ‘Gau Rakshak Group’ after shooting 37 years old Ummar Mohammed dead, threw the body on the railway track so that it may be difficult to find any proof on the severed body on a railway track. That was rather dastardly. Although for two days no FIR was registered, reportedly 2 were arrested later by the police in this connection.

It is very sad that these killings or violence relating to alleged cow protection is taking place at regular intervals in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It was only in April this year that one Pahlu Khan, a dairy farmer, was beaten to death by similar groups. And all those whom Pahlu Khan had accused in his dying declaration, were unfortunately released by the police by giving all of them a clean chit.

Supreme Court needs to be approached to force the Union government to act tough an Rajasthan government to not only rearrest all those released by the police in the earlier case, but also arrest all the accused in the present case. Unless Union government acts real tough, the message that these anti socials indulging in such abominable violence are made to suffer the pain, things will continue. It should not be just appropriate noise from the Prime Minister, but some tough action from PMO must follow, that central government means business. Only then a semblance of law and order can be enforced. 

NEW DELHI: It is a well known fact, or can we say open secret, that most politicians, who become MLA, MLC or Member of Parliament, over the years have acquired and owned huge assets. And they keep on declaring these assets in subsequent nomination for elections. But they never declare their sources of income that led to the acquisition of assets. Also many of them may not be declaring all details of their assets, and that of their wife and children. Benami properties too are in their possession many a time. Hence, there is a serious issue of wealth aggrandizement by these politicians. At different times there have been write ups and debates in the public space. But nothing serious or concrete happened which truly led to any accountability by these elected representatives.

However, a petition filed by an NGO- Lok Prahari, in the Supreme Court may rattle the government to act in some form to bring about electoral reforms. Apex Court, while criticizing the central government about its lack of interest in investigating the huge upsurge in the owned assets of elected representatives, has asked the Union government to file an affidavit soonest in this regard.

The Apex Court seems to have even pulled up the Central Board of Direct Taxes for their shoddy affidavit in this regard. Clearly government of the day has not covered itself with glory, since CBDT could have acted at the behest of Union government.

However what need to be appreciated and therefore necessary that despite having Narendra Modi, since last over 3 years, Dr. Manmohan Singh being in the hot seat for 10 years, before that some 6/7 years of Vajpayee administration, all of them anti-corruption crusaders with personal integrity, they have failed to bring about reforms in the process of election where candidates declare their assets, without the details of their sources of income.

It is all very well to talk about clean and transparent administration, but if elected representatives are not reigned in to force a semblance of financial discipline, all these talks will eventually prove hollow.

Hope at least this time round, Narendra Modi government will act in earnest, now that the highest court of the land has pulled the government.

NEW DELHI

Would anybody give wrong spelling of their names intentionally while booking an air ticket? Certainly not. Errors are bound to be there in a country like India with close to 30 official languages, and air tickets are issued in Queen’s Language- the English. Therefore such errors can be usually corrected by the airlines staff as and when found out, and life goes on as usual. But no! Airlines asked for its pound of flesh. Any errors, when found and corrected will be penalized with a charge. Now that’s funny.

So comes, Gajapathi Raju, the Union Civil Aviation Minister. Reportedly he made it clear that “Airlines cannot charge extra from passengers for correcting errors in the spelling of their names on their air ticket”. Reportedly he acted after receiving many complaints. For once the minister acted fast to attend on this irritable behavior of airlines.   

NEW DELHI

Common Man in most parts of India is not very comfortable to approach police for varieties of visible and invisible fear. Similarly, he is also afraid of tax authorities. His fear is not unjustified again for varieties of reasons. In fact one of the reasons for running away from tax men and therefore compliance could be due to this fear dimension.

Speaking at a joint conference of Direct and Indirect Tax Officials, PM Modi touched exactly this aspect of tax compliance. According to a twitter post by Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) “Hon’ble pm@narendramodi directed the tax administrators to be friendly to the honest tax payers”.

As part of NDA efforts, to remove the fear of tax officials hounding ordinary tax payers by ushering in accountability and answerability, PM Modi exhorted tax officials to make India a more tax compliant society. He asked these officers to ensure that benefits of the latest tax reform through GST reach the common man by way of reduced prices. Among the measures taken by CBDT and CBEC, are cutting down physical interface between tax payer and officials by making all dealings on-line through e-mail and e-scrutiny.

This kind of intervention by the Chief executive of the country was long overdue for obvious reason. Hope things would look up in the larger interest of aam aadmi so also the country.

NEW DELHI

A report from UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), some weeks ago, informs that five countries accounted for 50% of the global infant mortality. Among these 5 countries our Mera Bharath Mahan has the dubious distinction of being on top of the table. Ethiopia at 3% Democratic Republic of Congo @ 4% Nigeria @ 9% and Pakistan @ 9% are far better than India. In fact India is almost equal to all these counties put together at 24%.

For a country wanting to be super power this is extremely disgraceful to be at the top of the table, among some 180 countries, in the under 5 mortality rate.

While it is true that there has been some 2/3 rd improvement in these figures from 1990 to 2015, it is still staggeringly very high in comparison to other countries. Ethiopia is a very poor country with per capita income (PCI) of less than $1300/- and HDI rank of 173. For Ethiopia to be a better manager of child mortality @ 3% than India, it is a huge success. Compared to Ethiopia, India’s P.C.I is around $4000/- with HDI rank of 135 to be having child mortality rate of 24% is a sad and disappointing reflection on the socio/medical management of its vulnerable child population.

However, it is also true that this poor show is not across the country. It is the BIMARU States of Bihar , Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which is afflicted with beemari (sickness) than other states. May be, with the latest initiative of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, things can look up for India. Hope before it gets out of control, the government in Delhi pulls up its socks to take all states along, for better child protection plans.   

NEW DELHI: Some time last year, when the Modi led NDA was celebrating their two years in office in New Delhi, the present Defense Minister Sitaraman had come with another junior minister Chaudhry to Mangalooru, trying to spread the good word on NDA rule. During the course of interaction she was asked “Swatch Bharath Mission is laudable but what about Swatch Paani? Even after 70 years, the problem of safe drinking water is persisting.” Ms. Sitaraman not sure of how to answer the question shifts it to Chaudhry, the other minister on the podium. He tries to tell that drinking water is a state issue, clearly not knowing how to field the question. He was interrupted “If drinking water is a state subject how Swatch Bharath is a Central issue?” He ignored the question since Swatch Bharath was not in concurrent list also. A photo journalist was heard remarking that ‘this was the best question in the press meet and ministers had no answer’, also confirming, even journos did not have their priorities right in fielding questions, since this particular interlocutor was not from any media house, but an activist journalist.

And comes this report, ‘UN expert punches holes in Swatch Bharath Mission’. United Nations Special Rapporteur on safe drinking water and sanitation Leo Huller, reportedly insisted at a press briefing that “Central Government emphasis on building toilets should not overshadow the focus on provision of safe drinking water. It lacked holistic human rights approach”. He was generally equating safe drinking water as a human right. Reportedly the office of the High Commissioner United Nations Human Rights, issued a press release being sharply critical of the government for ignoring safe drinking water is as important as Swatch Bharath.            

RAJASTHAN

Knowledge of history is not one of our strengths. But it is imperative to remember history to live a meaningful tomorrows, although history may not decide our future all the time. Hence we keep going back to the pages of history to find the relevance of chronicles of happenings from the days of yore.

Right now we are in the thick of this raging controversy surrounding the celluloid creation PADMAVATI, whose real name was PADMINI of CHITTOR. Like DAVINCI’s MONA LISA its only pretty faces that make and sustain news and therefore history. The ‘lotus fair’ countenance of PADMINI has inspired generations of Rajputs from Rajasthan not only for her unparalleled beauty but also for her valour. They have kept her at a high pedestal of celebrity queen of Mewar, and the wife of Rana Ratan Singh.

Of course the queen of Chittorgarh, would not have been as famous as a subject of ballad in later centuries, but for the advances of a marauding lecherous Turki Afghan, Allauddin Khilji. History tells us that this piece of filth in human form even beheaded his own father-in-law who made him a governor from his Sultanate of Delhi, the first Muslim empire established by Qutub-ud-din Aibak. He seized Chittor in 1303. Having come to know of queen Padmini’s beauty, Khilji demanded Rana to let him have Padmini as his possession. On refusal, he asked if he can see her for a while, if not at least her reflection in a mirror which reportedly was granted. However to make short of the long story, in the game of ‘one-up-man ship’ the end was that all ladies of palace plunged into massive fire, including their queen Padmini, aka Padmavathi.

According to writer Manoj Das “Why had the legend been so immensely popular not only in Rajasthan but all over India, through folk songs, play and ballads? Padmavathi was not only a woman of dauntless courage, but also an example of wit and a strategist. Through death she snubbed the assault on her dignity intended by the invader”

Thus it appears very straight foreword Indian narrative of those days.

So what is the problem with this bollywood creation of Sanjay Leela Bansali, PADMAVATHI? Mark his name, he does not show his father’s name as his middle name, instead shows his mother’s name, as a mark of his respect and love for his mother. Clearly, he holds women in greater respect. So where has he gone wonky, that good part of Rajasthan is up in arms against the film, to an extent that some joker even wanted the nose of the actress Deepika Padukone chopped off?!

Indeed, India is a democratic country with right to freedom of expression enshrined in our constitution. But does that give you unfettered right to distort the history and trample upon the basics held in high esteem by people is general? Besides what is your objective to make this film, as a passion of an artist to the creation of a work of art that would benefit the society! Or, to make money and more money!?

“Distortion of Hindu Icons shows the lust for lucre” says Prabhu Chawla of the Indian express.

There is an allegation that PADMINI aka PADMAVATHI has been badly portrayed in the film, ‘Instead of visualizing her as a queen, who chose to commit ‘sati’ rather than surrender to the sadistic seduction of a Muslim tyrant, Alauddin Khilji, the queen is inexplicably shown dancing in a lavish dream sequence’. Now this is clearly wrong for anybody to distort the truth just to make it packed for the market only for the ‘lust of lucre’, all in the name of freedom of expression.

Yes as Manoj Das said “LET RANI PADMAVATHI REST IN PEACE”.

WORLD: James Damore was an engineer with the technology giant Google. He was fired for writing a 10page memo to the management. All he said was, women were not being fairly treated in the conglomerate, which claims to be politically correct of valuing women in their professed practices.

All that he had done was, as a normal human being, feeling at the discrimination against women, who were his colleagues, to write home. And the management of this company in the United States of America; who believes in the absolute freedom of the individual; fires him for crossing the ‘line of actual control!’

Here the question is, not what the memo complained as not right or wrong! A person is free to air his thoughts on the practices of his employer. Obviously, it could have some sensitive remarks which the bosses at Google did not like. So call the guy and tell him, why such memos are not the solution to the problem, and that there could be other ways of handling it, or tell him that his memo shall be answered in due course, but not outright dismiss him unheard, without giving him a chance to explain. It was clearly a case of shooting the messenger. This indeed is the HEIGHT OF INTOLERANCE. And we have interlocutors of different breed from all kinds of schools of thought giving sermons on intolerance to the rest of the humanity.

WORLD

Vulnerability of children, the world over, is a worrying phenomenon more so in third world countries, where human rights of children are violated with impunity. Since these children are not the vote banks that decide the elected government, they remain neglected.

And comes this news from Pakistan, “Sex abuse rampant at Pakistan madrassas”. Kahrore Pakka is a town in Pakistan. Kavsar Parveen is the mother of a 9 year old boy, who used to attend a nearby Islamic school. Describing the ordeal of her son as she remembers the blood soaked pants of her petrified son, she breaks down and embraces her hapless son.

Sexual abuse of minors is a pervasive and long standing problem at madrassas in Pakistan, according to an investigation by AP (Associated Press). The problem is all over from ‘the sun baked mud villages deep inside its rural areas to the heart of teeming cities. But it is rarely discussed in a culture where clerics are powerful and sexual abuse is a taboo subject. Even police are often paid off not to pursue justice against clerics, according to victims’ families, informs report. Cases rarely go beyond court, due to the ‘blood money’ legal provision in the Pakistani laws. Even in this particular case, Parveen Kavsar’s son, the family was forced to accept $300 equivalent, to ‘forgive’ the cleric, who forcibly sodomised, or rather raped, her 9 years old son. She just didn’t want it. She wanted mulla punished, but neighbours of Kavsar’s family alleged that her family was hounded continuously by religious militants to drop the charges and she was left with no choice but to yield. There is also the fear of these mulla’s invoking draconian blasphemy provisions of Pak Laws. No wonder Pakistan is suffering from deep, internal turmoil.       

WORLD:  Isn’t it a matter of satisfaction for Indians to feel elated when declared as most skilled? A report, date lined London, has carried this title “Indians highest skilled among UK minorities”.

‘Race Disparity Audit’ report released some weeks ago has mentioned Britain’s Indian origin population tends to be among the most highly skilled in comparison to the country’s other ethnic minority categories.

Reportedly this audit was commissioned by British Prime Minister Theresa May, to tackle racial discrimination within the UK’s public services. According to the audit, students from an Indian background showed high performance rates compared to other communities.

The survey further notes that in highest skilled occupational groups over 1 in 10 were in manager, director and senior official roles and over 3 in 10 in professional occupations are Indians. It adds further “Pupils from Chinese and Indian background showed high attainment and progress throughout their school careers and high rates of entry to university. Indian pupils were much more likely to meet expected standards and more progress than Pakistani pupils”.

On record this Race Disparity Audit report has established the long held view that wherever they went Indians have contributed to the respective national growth of the country of their choice. Kudos to, Anivaasi Bharathiyas, or Non Resident Indians for keeping the flag of the country flying high without acrimony, with the law of the chosen land.