tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329515152024-03-11T20:30:32.494-07:00Agent ProvocateurCoffee Break. Closed Circle. Insidious Insinuation.Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-40463858707050272602014-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:002014-06-23T07:36:11.120-07:00Get India going, don’t worry about Hindi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"><span style="color: red;">We really don’t need tax-funded babus to promote Hindi or protect India’s official language from Macaulay Putras. What we need is to focus on getting India going. Hindi has no role to play in that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Language has always been a
contentious issue in India which is probably the only country without a common
link language that is indigenous or integral to its civilisational history. We
could argue that the English language today is as much an Indian language as it
is the lingua franca of Britain, and that it is the language that has
contributed the most to a globalised world. But that would not detract from the
fact that it was the language of our colonial masters and is part of the legacy
the British left behind when they departed in 1947.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Hindi, on the other hand, was the
language of anti-colonialism; along with khadi, it came to symbolise the
struggle for swarajya by adopting, and extolling the virtues of, all that was
swadeshi. This is largely because the leadership of the Congress, such as it
was and crafted in large measure by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, came from what
is known as India’s ‘Hindi belt’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">It is another matter that most of the
Congress’s leaders were equally, if not more, comfortable with English, the
language in which Jawaharlal Nehru embarked upon his ‘Discovery of India’ and
Gandhi pamphleteered both in his early and later days. That section of the
Congress which had not been seduced by the charms of European liberalism or
Fabian socialism saw Hindi as one of the three mainstays of Indian nationalism
– Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan was more than a slogan; it was a lofty idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">However, this attempt to conflate the
identity of a culturally homogenous Bharat with a single language, Hindi, was
not embraced by a multi-cultural India. Resistance was both overt and covert.
The Congress Government led by C Rajagopalachari, which tried to enforce Hindi
as a compulsory language in schools in the Madras Presidency, met with stiff
resistance to he propogation of ‘national language’. The Justice
Party, which was to later evolve into the Dravidar Kazhagam, led by EV
Ramasamy, was relentless in its protest that ended only after Lord Erskine, the
Governor of Madras Presidency, withdrew the order in February 1940.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Twenty-five years later anti-Hindi
protests resurfaced in Madras State when the DMK refused to be mollified by
Nehru’s Official Languages Act that was meant to ensure the continuation of
both Hindi and English as India’s official languages after the constitutionally
mandated period of 15 years. It required Mrs Indira Gandhi’s amendments to the
Act to end the anti-Hindi riots, but by then language had become the instrument
of regional politics. The DMK won the 1967 election, the Congress has never
been able to resuscitate itself in what is now Tamil Nadu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Tamil obduracy is well documented and
remains the yardstick to measure popular sentiments against Hindi as India’s
official language. But the opposition exists across the country beyond the
‘Hindi belt’. In the North-East, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, indeed across vast stretches of the country, Hindi is
resented if not despised. Truth be told, many would see the promotion, leave
alone imposition, of Hindi as an attempt to obliterate local culture and
language. India nationalism, whether we like it or not, is the sum total of
sub-nationalism; it’s best kept that way. It is debatable whether it was wise
to opt for linguistic States, but having made that the foundation of the Union
of India, tampering with it would be unwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">These thought are occasioned by last
week’s brouhaha over a circular issued by the Raj Bhasha Department of the
Ministry of Home Affairs, asking Government officials to use Hindi, or Hindi
and English, while communicating on social media platforms. As expected, the
DMK was the first to object, followed by others who clearly rushed in to
protest without even reading the circular. The media had a field day, spinning
a story out of nothing. Worse, crucial details were suppressed to fuel the
fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Even the most casual reading of the
circular would have revealed to the outraged politicians and their followers,
as also obnoxious Hindi bullies, that such instructions are routinely issued by
the Raj Bhasha Department babus who, frankly, are more concerned about
protecting their jobs and privileges than in promoting Hindi. It would have
also revealed that the circular is based on a decision taken on March 10, 2014,
when the Congress and not the BJP was in power. The circular is dated May 27, a
day after Mr Narendra Modi took oath of office as Prime Minister and two days
before Mr Rajnath Singh took charge as Home Minister. Most important, the
circular is meant for officials in Category A States which, in any case, use Hindi
as their official language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Yet the circular was projected,
wilfully so, by the media as an instruction issued by the Modi Sarkar. The
Government was criticised and lampooned (depending on the news channel or
newspaper) for getting obsessed with Hindi instead of focussing on bread and
butter issues. Strangely, there was no immediate clarification by either the
Government or the BJP. It required a clarification from the PMO to put an end
to the manufactured controversy more than 72 hours after it surfaced as
‘Breaking News’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Needless distraction from core issues
of governance, and there’s enough on this front to keep the Government busy, is
best avoided by reading out the riot act to the various departments that make
up the mammoth Government of India: Nothing should be done to take away
attention from immediate tasks and long-term goals. The Modi Sarkar came to
power promising ‘India First’. For a junior babu to try and supplant that
promise with ‘Hindi First’ is downright objectionable and outright dangerous.
Others will take this as a cue to peddle their own agenda to protect their
livelihood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">In any event, the Modi Sarkar is
supposed to break the status quo and chart a new course. That should include
abandoning misplaced notions of language chauvinism. Hindi is hale and hearty,
spreading rapidly and subverting foreign languages like English, thanks to
Bollywood and a thriving desi culture. We really don’t need tax-funded babus to
promote Hindi or protect India’s official language from Macaulay Putras. What
we need is to focus on getting India going. Hindi has no role to play in that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-3971538992382237912014-05-09T08:43:00.000-07:002014-05-09T08:43:50.942-07:00Planning Commission releases study praising Gujarat’s success in manufacturing, focus on MSMEs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;"><b>A new study, conducted for the Planning Commission, explains in detail how Gujarat has facilitated the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, and emerged as among the top States in manufacturing. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A new
report, released by the Planning Commission, praises Gujarat for its innovative
initiatives to promote the job-generating, growth-driving manufacturing sector.
The report explains in detail how Gujarat has facilitated the growth of micro,
small and medium enterprises, and emerged as among the top States in
manufacturing. This finding negates the politically-motivated baseless
allegation that only big industry is promoted in Gujarat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The study, ‘Survey on Business Regulatory Environment
for Manufacturing – State Level Assessment’, has been conducted by Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu India Private Limited (DTTIPL). Commissioned by the Planning
Commission, the release of the report coincides with Commerce and Industry
Minister Anand Sharma’s desperate attempt to downplay the DIPP-funded study on
improving India’s business regulatory environment that hailed Gujarat’s land
acquisition policy as the best in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The ‘Gujarat Model’ just cannot be wished away, no
matter how hard the detractors of the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi, who as Chief Minister of Gujarat has taken the State to new
heights of economic success, try to disprove facts. Anand Sharma will now have
to contend with the report commissioned by the Planning Commission which
supplements the findings of the DIPP-funded study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The DTTIPL study has highlighted Gujarat’s iNDEXTb
initiative which serves the dual purpose of facilitating enterprise and
monitoring the implementation of investment proposals. The study says, “iNDEXTb
is a nodal agency under the Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat
for providing hand-holding support to entrepreneurs.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.ifpgujarat.gov.in/portal/index.jsp" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Investor Facilitation
Portal</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>developed by
iNDEXTb facilitates monitoring of investment proposals by generating MIS
reports, which can be used by officials to identify applications on which
action has not been taken within the stipulated time frame.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The study points out how iNDEXTb assists entrepreneurs
by helping them finalise their choice of location for setting up a
manufacturing unit. This is done by providing critical information on access to
three key basic inputs – land, power and water. The Investor Facilitation
Portal’s assistance is available for micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) as well as large enterprises across all sectors. The facilitation is
for both setting up new industries as well as for expanding existing
manufacturing units.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Some of the States have developed GIS-based software
which shows mapping of land plots in industrial estates,” the study says,
adding, “The real time vacancy details can be checked by applicants and the
applicants can select plots based on analysis of such location.” Citing the
example of Gujarat, the study says, “iNDEXTb has a GIS-based software which shows
the geographic mapping of industrial areas in Gujarat, including highways, GPCB
zones, CRZs, port connectivity, soil quality, power and utilities grid
connectivity, etc.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Knocking the bottom out of mendacious allegation
leveled by the detractors of Narendra Modi that the State Government promotes
only a few big companies, the report says: “For reaching out to micro
enterprises, iNDEXTb has set up kiosks at 26 district industries centres. These
kiosks are equipped with infrastructure facilities such as internet
connectivity, printer and scanner.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The study refrains from assigning ranks to States.
What it has done is to cluster States on the basis of six parameters. These
are: finance and tax related compliances; labour law related compliances;
infrastructure and utility related approvals; land and building related
approvals; environmental clearances; and, other business regulatory
compliances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">States have been clustered in three categories – ‘Top’
33.33 percentile of States; ‘Middle’ 33.33 percentile of States; and, ‘Bottom’
33.33 percentile of States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The findings of the study show that Gujarat figures
among the ‘Top’ category comprising nine States that have been assessed on all
six parameters. Gujarat figures among the top States on four select parameters
– finance and tax related compliances; infrastructure and utility related
approvals; land and building related approvals; and, other business regulatory
compliances. On environmental clearance, Gujarat has been put in the ‘Middle’
category of States. Only on labour law related compliances, Gujarat is placed
in the ‘Bottom’ category of States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Explaining the last categorisation, an analyst said
“this classification can be turned around to trash the allegation that the Modi
Government does not protect the interests of workers. The fact is that the
Government protects the overall interests, which can at times be conflicting,
of all stakeholders by holding growth and development for all as the supreme
objective.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The study comes with the rider that it solely focuses
on assessing the existing business regulatory framework in individual States.
“Other key factors that impact the performance of manufacturing units, like
quality of infrastructure, availability of natural resources, market linkages,
labour and skill availability, access to finance, etc, have not been covered in
the current study,” it says, adding, “Consequently, the relative standing of
individual States may differ from their relative contribution to India’s
manufacturing GDP.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Elaborating on this point, the study explains, “For
example, a particular State may have been identified as being relatively mature
in its business regulatory environment but may not have an equivalent standing
in terms of contribution to India’s manufacturing GDP owing to limited natural
resources within its geographic boundaries.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Commenting on Gujarat’s success in manufacturing
sector, it notes that the State ranked second in the country in terms of share
of manufacturing GDP, contributing around 13.7 per cent of manufacturing GDP in
2011-12. The State’s manufacturing sector contributed 28.2 per cent to
Gujarat’s GSDP in 2011-12, with a CAGR of 9.5 per cent between 2007-08 and
2011-12. The sector employed around 3.4 million people in 2009-10 representing
13.7 per cent of Gujarat’s working population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Referring to interaction with industries, the study
says: “It is understood that Gujarat is a power surplus State with respondents
expressing satisfaction on quality and availability of power. It was also
indicated that quality and availability of water has improved over the years.
Road network and rail connectivity have also shown improvement.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-78014707423086117962014-04-24T11:07:00.001-07:002014-04-24T11:07:33.738-07:00Priyanka Vadra should Google for ‘tandoor case’, ‘Bhanwari Devi’, ‘Kalpana Giri’…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>May more women find themselves as privileged as Priyanka Vadra. May their husbands get to bypass airport security on account of their wives’ exalted status. And may they also get to buy farmland cheap and convert it to expensive industrial land. In brief, may more mothers-in-law be as ‘empowered’ as Sonia Gandhi, ‘safe’ in the knowledge that the long arm of the law is not long enough to touch them.</b><br />
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Faced with its worst-ever defeat as this summer’s general election winds down, the Congress has decided to blindly hit out at Narendra Modi, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate riding an unprecedented popularity wave, hoping to score a sixer. It has had no luck till now.<br />
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On Wednesday, Priyanka Vadra, who describes herself as “daughter (of Sonia Gandhi), sister (of Rahul Gandhi), wife (of Robert Vadra) and mother (we shall keep children’s names out)” lashed out at Modi, saying, “If you’re talking about women’s empowerment, don’t snoop on their conversations.”<br />
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On Tuesday Mrs Vadra had feigned anger that her husband, the one and only Robert Vadra who is possibly the biggest landlord today after the Indian Railways, and has mastered the magic of turning a lakh of rupees into real estate worth thousands of crores of rupees in less than five years, was attacked by Modi in his election rallies. “My family … my husband are being attacked,” she had raged.<br />
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Mrs Vadra’s unstated assertion was clear to all: The Nehru household, the Dynasty, the Congress’s First Family, is beyond public scrutiny and criticism; hence, the Dynasty’s son-in-law too should be treated with absolute reverence by us natives and his black deeds should never be questioned.<br />
<br />
As Narendra Modi told ABP News on Tuesday evening, he has “no majburi” to be deferential towards the Congress’s First Family. He is not alone. Many of us natives have no obligation to be nice to the members of the Nehru household and their damaad.<br />
<br />
Mrs Vadra had also bemoaned the ‘harsh’ language being used by those opposed to the Congress. Frankly, she has not exactly been oozing sugar and honey in her carefully crafted interactions with voters and awestruck mediapersons, the kind whom Modi disparagingly refers to as ‘news traders’.<br />
<br />
And now this sly attack on Modi – Mrs Vadra was obviously referring to what Modi’s detractors call ‘Snoopgate’. Till date the Congress and its cronies in the commentariat have not been able to make the ‘Snoopgate’ allegation stick on Modi.<br />
<br />
On the contrary, the disgraced cop with a dubious reputation on whose baseless claim the Congress levelled its allegation has been found to be a pervert who constantly sought to sexually harass and abuse women, abusing his power. It’s not surprising that he should have found willing patrons in the Congress.<br />
<br />
Mrs Vadra’s concern for women’s ‘empowerment’ and ‘safety’ – she said she was speaking as a “daughter, sister, wife and mother” – is laudable. May more women find themselves as privileged as her. May their husbands get to bypass airport security on account of their wives’ exalted status. And may they also get to buy farmland cheap and convert it to expensive industrial land. In brief, may more mothers-in-law be as ‘empowered’ as Sonia Gandhi, ‘safe’ in the knowledge that the long arm of the law is not long enough to touch them.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Mrs Vadra would do well to recollect the Congress’s rather long dirty laundry list of scandals involving the abuse of women. Here are some of the stains – a few among the many – that sully the Congress which claims to be a champion of women’s ‘empowerment’ and ‘safety’:<br />
<br />
» Sushil Sharma, a Youth Congress leader and Congress MLA, killed his wife, Naina, then proceeded to chop her body into pieces before shoving them into the tandoor at Bagiya, a restaurant in the heart of Lutyens’s Delhi, a short walking distance from 10 Janpath. Mrs Vadra could Google for ‘Tandoor case’ on her smart phone.<br />
<br />
» Mahipal Maderna, a powerful Minister in the now ousted Congress Government of Rajasthan, is accused of sexually exploiting and then murdering Bhanwari Devi, an indigent woman. Then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tried to scuttle the investigation. Mrs Vadra could Google for ‘Bhanwari Devi case’ on her smart phone.<br />
<br />
» Ram Kumar Chaudhary, a Congress MLA of Himachal Pradesh, was arrested for his alleged role in the murder of a young woman, Jyoti, with whom he is said to have had an ‘illicit affair’. He then dumped her as their ‘castes did not match’. Mrs Vadra could Google for ‘Jyoti murder case’ on her smart phone.<br />
<br />
» Mahendra Vikramsinh Chavan, president of the Latur Assembly constituency Youth Congress, and Sameer Killarikar, also a Youth Congress leader, have been arrested for the murder of Kalpana Giri, a Youth Congress leader. They dumped her body in a lake after killing her. Mrs Vadra could Google for ‘Kalpana Giri murder’ on her smart phone.<br />
<br />
We could also request Mrs Vadra to check out the colourful activities of senior Congress leader ND Tiwari – they were not exactly ‘empowering’ for the women ensnared by him, nor do they quite bear out the Congress’s concern for the ‘safety’ women.<br />
<br />
A last point: it’s not exactly edifying for Mrs Vadra to speak so loftily of a party one of whose high-profile MPs was caught on tape, not many moons ago, in a sex-for-favour scandal. Lurid descriptions of what featured on the tape were the talk of Lutyens’s Delhi for days. Just in case Mrs Vadra missed them, Google Baba would oblige her with a huge amount of puke-inducing details about this scandal. She could then meet the woman, also a daughter, sister, wife and mother, exploited by her party MP in so hideous a manner, and ask her whether she feels ‘empowered’.<br />
<br />
PS: The MP concerned has not been named as he was sharp enough to secure a court injunction preventing the publication of his identity and his activities behind the closed doors of his office.</div>
Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-91399818141821442712014-03-03T05:03:00.001-08:002014-03-03T05:04:36.237-08:00Modinomics, the route to economic revival and growth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You need neither a degree from Harvard University nor ‘animal spirit’ to get the Indian economy going. What you need is common sense and commitment — Narendra Modi has both...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Modi is a maximalist who wants the most for India</i></td></tr>
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Frankly you don’t need either a degree from Harvard or ‘animal spirit’ to revive the Indian economy. If knowledge imbibed at Harvard and unleashed animal spirit could have propped up the economy then it would not have been in such a sorry mess today nor would we have had to witness our Prime Minister and Finance Minister blaming the world for India’s plight. This reality, however, has not prevented our Harvard educated Finance Minister from rudely poking fun at the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Among the many insults hurled by P Chidambaram is his boorish comment that Narendra Modi’s knowledge of economic affairs could be written on the back of a postage stamp. True to his style, Narendra Modi has given it back in full measure and more: While addressing economists, business executives and diplomats at the India Economic Convention 2014 organised by India Foundation in New Delhi last week, he said his knowledge was far less than what could be written on the back of a postage stamp.</div>
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The irony was not lost on those who tuned in to listen to Narendra Modi talk about his economic agenda. That a Finance Minister who has spectacularly failed to halt, leave alone reverse, India’s rapid economic decline would have the temerity to scoff at a Chief Minister who has stayed the course of economic growth and development and heads a State whose contribution to the national economy has helped in no small measure to keep the latter afloat tells its own story of unbridled arrogance. But while being supercilious may titillate the establishment media, it does not detract from the fact that he will be leaving the robust economy which the Congress inherited in 2004 in a shambles.</div>
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Nor can P Chidambaram’s smart retort hide the fact that Manmohan Singh, touted as an ‘economist’ Prime Minister and wrongly credited for the 1991-1996 reforms that were part forced on us as part of a bailout package by the IMF and part driven by PV Narasimha Rao’s agenda to discard the baggage of Nehruvian socialism, has singularly contributed to killing the India Story. A feckless Prime Minister who chose to be in office as a stooge of the Nehru Dynasty and presided over a recklessly corrupt regime while feigning ignorance of the unrestrained loot right under his nose could not have been expected to fuel the economy with either policy or imagination. That many expected otherwise shows the Great Indian Rope Trick is not entirely a myth.</div>
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Speaking at three separate events in New Delhi this week, Narendra Modi demonstrated that the solution to the myriad woes that afflict the Indian economy can be found in good old-fashioned common sense and that thing called political determination. Both are understandably alien to those who survive on scraps from the high table of the Nehru Dynasty: Their Pavlovian response would be to peddle the voodoo economics of Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council as the prescription to cure India’s creeping economic paralysis. There was a time when Manmohan Singh would, in unguarded moments of candour, call for out-of-the-box thinking — that was long before he decided to unleash his “animal spirit” only to discover even if the spirit was willing the flesh was too weak to respond to the looming crisis.</div>
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To think out of the box, to think radically, to think big and to think beyond today and tomorrow requires both common sense and commitment — call it political determination if you will. Narendra Modi is right when he says governance is not about rocket science, it is about clarity of purpose and integrity of action. Once these are in place, the rest follows by way of forward looking policy and implementable programmes that address short-term, medium-term and long-term concerns. It is not enough to talk about reviving investor confidence so that the tap of investment is turned on. To create that confidence, good governance is a <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">sine qua non</em> as is faith in the political leadership not to be persuaded by bogus schemes of which we have seen one too many during the wasted decade of UPA rule.</div>
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When Narendra Modi talks of investing in infrastructure, reviving the manufacturing sector, nursing the agricultural sector, boosting the service sector and infusing all of them with state-of-the-art technology, he is not really saying anything radically new. To meet the demand for 10 million jobs a year, all this needs to be done. But what makes him stand out and his voice heard in the cacophony of prescriptions is the sincerity with which he says this and the experience he draws upon. He does not pander to populism that the Congress believes fetches votes but also fetches ruination. He does not promise hollow rights but emphasises on dignity of labour and empowerment. He does not talk of giveaways but asset creation and tapping the entrepreneurial spirit and aspiration of Young India.</div>
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Many would argue that it’s not pragmatic to talk about the need for Indian companies to become globally competitive and bravely confront challenges in the run-up to elections. Even in the US, Presidential election candidates, irrespective of their political beliefs, turn to peddling protectionism and raising the bogey of foreign competition. That’s considered conventional wisdom. It requires courage to turn conventional wisdom on its head and Narendra Modi has dared to do precisely that. He has talked about the need for Indian companies, big and small, to become competitive and slug it out in the global market with competitors. He has talked about the need for changing attitudes, the need to look beyond the obvious, to embrace challenge as an opportunity, to invest in technology. He frames diplomacy of the future in terms of economic engagement and trade.</div>
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That a man whose knowledge can fit the back of a postage stamp eloquently talks about next generation technology, who calls for investment in biotechnology and environment technology, bears testimony to the stupidity of those who make bold to mock at him. Narendra Modi does not look at the small picture, the minor details, the nuts and bolts; that’s the job of those who are tasked with the responsibility of implementing policy. He thinks out of the box and he thinks big. That’s the way it should be. A Prime Minister should really be looking at the big picture, setting targets and goals which are seemingly impossible to meet. For evidence, go back to his speech at the BJP National Council on January 19 in which he talked of 100 new cities to cope with irreversible urbanisation, super-fast trains with dedicated corridors, new expressways and highways, and high technology-driven high yield farming, among a host of other big ticket ideas.</div>
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It would be easy to scoff at him and ask, but where will the money come from? The answer to that question is simple: Once investor confidence is restored and the economy’s slide is reversed, the India Story will once again capture the global imagination. Let us not forget that despite the post-Pokhran II sanctions the BJP-led NDA was successful in mobilising resources for path-breaking big ticket projects. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not allow minor details to come in the way of realising big picture ideas. A lot happened. A lot more shall happen when Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes charge.</div>
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Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-72899543879899410252014-02-14T09:39:00.003-08:002014-02-14T09:39:52.549-08:00Hindus, Wendy Doniger and our fraudulent Left-liberals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_53wrbHRRezTXbWnahsOECPkfmrJlXPEGNBtSoGAotl5hxdWI4KE2keqPyJ7BywxkRinBFaMATfw54Mt7OgE8_LWZVho4Ba_C4KlolOgoC6qzDmFvA3qJDNIk0BBGl1bxkOxXA/s1600/Wendy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_53wrbHRRezTXbWnahsOECPkfmrJlXPEGNBtSoGAotl5hxdWI4KE2keqPyJ7BywxkRinBFaMATfw54Mt7OgE8_LWZVho4Ba_C4KlolOgoC6qzDmFvA3qJDNIk0BBGl1bxkOxXA/s1600/Wendy.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20.25pt;">Our
fraudulent Left-liberals, who dominate the commentariat and academic
institutions, poisoning impressionable minds, are out in full force, doing what
they do best: Maligning Hindus by propagating falsehood. They have seized upon
Penguin Books India’s decision to withdraw and pulp a book, ‘The Hindus: An
Alternative History’, authored by Wendy Doniger who is on the faculty of the
Divinity School at Chicago University, to accuse “Hindu nationalists”, “fringe
fundamentalists”, “Hindutvawadis” of enforcing ‘censorship’. This fiction is
being repeated, again and again, in keeping with Goebbels’s dictum of repeating
a lie till in the popular perception it begins to appear as the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Here are
the facts. Wendy Doniger’s book was published in India by Penguin five years
ago. It met with a hostile reception and its contents were contested by several
writers well-versed with Hindu texts and Sanskrit. Even the most casual reading
of the book would show that the ‘alternative history’ that Wendy Doniger
peddles is so much bunk and no more. For
all her scholarship, her interpretation of text and tradition, her
understanding of the finer nuances of Sanskrit, come across as amazing shallow
in this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Critics
of ‘The Hindus: An Alternative History’ have argued, and not without reason,
that the book was crafted to intentionally pour scorn on Hinduism; to titillate
those who feel it is obligatory, either for reasons of ideology or faith if not
both, to denigrate Hinduism; to use the papier mâché mask of scholarship to
mock at Hindus for worshipping gods and goddesses who are portrayed as high on
Viagra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Hinduism
does not abnegate the recreational pleasures of sexual intercourse – an entire
chapter, The Anodyne, in Nirad C Chaudhuri’s celebrated treatise, ‘The
Continent of Circe’, elaborates this point. Nirad babu drew upon a vast body of
Sanskrit text, both religious and secular. But whereas it is a pleasure to read
Nirad babu’s exposition, and a joy to read the texts he refers to even in
translation, crudity and misinterpretation makes Wendy Doniger’s “alternative
history” odious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">It could
be entirely coincidental, but what Wendy Doniger has to say about Hindus and
Hinduism bears remarkable similarity with the salacious, slanderous contents of
lesser pamphlets used by pastors sponsored by foreign evangelists who run a
multi-billion-dollar trans-national business of harvesting souls. For evidence,
compare Wendy Doniger’s slickly produced ‘The Hindus’ with Pastor MG Matthew’s
shabbily printed ‘Haqeeqat’. I would desist from quoting either of the authors
because that would amount to giving undue publicity to scurrilous comments
aimed at demeaning Hindus and defaming their faith. The similarity does not necessarily suggest a
larger conspiracy, not the least because Wendy Doniger, I am told, is not a
Bible-thumping Christian but a secular Jew.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">A year after
the book’s publication in India, Dinanath Batra, representing an organisation
called Shiksha Bachao Andolan, filed a case against Penguin Books India and
Wendy Doniger, demanding that the book be withdrawn from circulation. The
petition extensively cited flaws in the book and explained why these were
unacceptable. In brief, someone offended by the book exercised his right to
seek legal remedy. On February 4, Penguin Books India, instead of contesting
the petition and fighting it out in the courts of law to uphold the author’s
right to free speech, decided to cut its losses and pulp the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">It would
be in order to mention that Penguin Books India has in the past elected to dump
another author without even so much as a murmur of protest. Khushwant Singh,
who was an adviser to Penguin Books India those days, was the first to propose
that Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ should be dropped and went on to
urge Rajiv Gandhi that it should be banned. Rajiv Gandhi did ban ‘The Satanic
Verses’, making India the first country to proscribe it. Penguin Books India
never contested that decision. Instead, it meekly recalled and pulped all
unsold copies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Some 30
years ago Sunanda K Datta-Ray’s ‘Smash & Grab: The Annexation of Sikkim’,
perhaps the only book on one of the most important chapters of post-1947
history, was withdrawn and pulped by Vikas Publishing, the biggest publisher of
the times. Vikas did so to settle a case filed by India’s last representative
to Gangtok who had been uncharitably portrayed in ‘Smash & Grab’.
Publishers in India are not known to fight legal battles to a bitter finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">If our
Left-liberals are truly upset, they should direct their ire at Penguin Books India
for letting down Wendy Doniger and her book. They won’t do that because it
would mean castigating ‘people like us’. It would also mean burning bridges
with Penguin Books India which they are loath to do for reasons that are not limited
to India’s premiere publishing firm. Yet our Left-liberals need to be seen as
angry and outraged. So they viciously turn on “Hindu nationalists”, “fringe
fundamentalists”, “Hindutvawadis”, their fangs bared in hatred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Some
years ago when a callow student of fine arts at MS University in Baroda ran
into trouble over two paintings, one allegedly depicting Jesus on the Cross and
the other Durga, there was a similar attempt to malign Hindus. Conveniently
glossed over was the fact that the protest was led not by Hindus but Christians
horrified by what they perceived to be a sacrilegious portrayal of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">We didn’t
hear a pipsqueak from our Left-liberals when the Church was asked to clear the
film ‘The Da Vinci Code’, whose screening was proscribed in several
Congress-ruled States. There are several instances of Left-liberals slyly
acquiescing to censorship by the Congress which has over the decades banned and
proscribed scores of books, journals and films.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Our
Left-liberals forget, ever so conveniently, that book-banning would not have
been an issue in this country but for Jawaharlal Nehru introducing the first
amendment to the Constitution. In India, the first amendment curbed freedom of
speech. In the US, the first amendment enshrined freedom of speech as
non-negotiable. If intolerance towards inconvenient views and obnoxious
opinions exists in this country, it stems from that original sin. Let us also
never forget that our Left-liberals are the most bigoted and intolerant of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Banning,
burning and pulping books are not welcome options. But neither is it welcome
that authors who wear a halo of ‘academic scholarship’ abuse their position and
perch to defame a community and its faith. And definitely the carping of the
spurious Left-liberals is unacceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">(Photo
courtesy lokvani.com)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-43507988780889662342014-02-14T09:32:00.000-08:002014-02-14T09:32:04.319-08:00Abusing freedom, falsifying gods -- The Haqeeqat of Christian evangelism in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(<i>This article was published on March 25, 2006 in The Pioneer. I am republishing it for the remarkable similarity between the language used by Christian evangelists to denigrate Hinduism and the bunk peddled by 'scholars' like Wendy Doniger as she did in her book 'The Hindus: An Alternative History'. Seen in the photo is Pastor MA Thomas, founder of Emmanuel Mission International of Kota, Rajasthan.)</i></div>
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On Monday,
March 20, 2006, Assist News Service, based in Lake Forest, California, USA,
which circulates news about the work of evangelists around the world, put out a
story by Michael Ireland, its chief correspondent, headlined 'India's Prime
Minister launches investigation into arrest and persecution of Indian
Christians'.</span><div style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt;">
According to this story,
"India's Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has launched an investigation
into the arrest of Hopegivers International President Dr Samuel Thomas.<br />
<br />
'Our letter writing campaign is working,' says Hopegivers Executive Director
Michael Glenn, 'we must continue to write and fax letters of protest this
week.'<br />
<br />
Glenn said that because of the campaign, 'The Prime Minister of India has today
appointed a four-member commission to investigate the persecution in Kota where
our president and top administrative staff have been falsely accused and
jailed. This is simply a naked effort to force Emmanuel to shut its
doors'."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
The story then goes on to urge Christians in the US to petition Senators,
Congressmen and the US President against what it portrays as outrageous action
by the Government of Rajasthan, prodded by 'Hindu fascists', against Dr Thomas
and his fellow evangelists of Emmanuel Mission International that operates five
registered societies in that State. These are: Emmanuel Bible Institute Samiti,
Emmanuel Anath Ashram, Emmanuel School Society, Emmanuel Chikitsalaya Samiti
and Emmanuel Believers Fellowship, all funded by the US-based Hopegivers.<br />
<br />
What it does not mention, however, is the reason why Dr Thomas and his
associates have been booked for violating Sections 153(a) and 295(a) of the
IPC, "which deal with deliberately outraging religious feelings or
insulting the religious beliefs of another community." Dr Samuel Thomas
has been arrested and his father, Mr MA Thomas, has been declared an absconder.<br />
<br />
And, while choosing not to elaborate on the nature of charges, the report
quotes Ms Shelley Thomas, wife of Dr Thomas, who is at present in the US:
"Nothing that my husband has done was intended to outrage or insult any
other religion... This is a totally false charge and unrelated to the organised
violence, threats, and attacks that have been conducted against us for the last
six weeks."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
It also points out that the Government of Rajasthan has "revoked without
due process or hearing, all the operating licenses of the Hopegivers-supported
bookstores, churches, the hospital and leprosy or HIV-AIDS outreaches,
orphanages, printing presses, schools and other institutions."<br />
<br />
Dr Thomas has been quoted saying, "Of course, none of these actions are
legal. The terrorists and hate groups have taken the law into their own hands
and sadly, we have lost confidence in the local Government to control
them."<br />
<br />
Since evangelist advocacy groups have willfully refused to tell the full story,
it would be in order to place the facts on record.<br />
<br />
The immediate provocation that led to the arrest of Dr Thomas and others involved
with the Emmanuel mission's work in Kota is born of the contents of a book that
he and his associates have been distributing among the people. The book,
Haqeeqat, is authored by a Kerala-based evangelist, MG Matthew, and purports to
be a rebuttal of MS Golwalkar's writings that have been published by the RSS as
Bunch of Thoughts.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
In reality, it is unadulterated abuse of Hindu scriptures, faith, ritual and
tradition. It denigrates every tenet of Hinduism and pours undiluted scorn on
Hindu icons and gurus. It casts aspersions on the chastity of Hindu women and
questions received wisdom.<br />
<br />
Published by the Kerala-based Truth & Life Publications, which puts out
evangelist literature, it has been translated into Hindi by Dennis Nathaniel,
associated with the Emmanuel mission, who has been arrested by Rajasthan
Police. The book has been banned in Rajasthan. The author, against whom a
non-bailable warrant has been issued, is believed to be hiding somewhere in
Kerala.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Here are some samples of what Haqeeqat, which was being used by the Thomases
and their associates to convince Hindus in Kota to abandon their faith and
embrace Christianity, has to say:<br />
<br />
* "Hindu gods and goddesses are fictitious and were invented to persecute
Dalits" (Page 9).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
* "To prevent indigenous people from acquiring knowledge, Saraswati
invented difficult Vedas (which nobody can understand)". (Page 16)<br />
<br />
* "With the progression of time, people all over the world (except India)
were freed of their ignorance and they began to disown wicked and cruel gods
and goddesses. But in India, because people are (enveloped) in the darkness of
ignorance, imaginary gods and goddesses are still worshipped." (Page 17)<br />
<br />
* "Naked sanyasis are worshipped by (Hindu) women. The moment (Hindu)
women see naked sanyasis, they fall on the ground and prostrate themselves
before the sanyasis. (Hindu) women pour water on the sanyasis' penises and then
happily drink that water. Ling Devata is gratified when he sees all these
repulsive things and feels empowered... These people are ignorant and do not
know the difference between what is right and wrong." (Page 93)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
* "Sita was abandoned in the forest as per Ram's wishes... Ram later asked
Lakshman to kill Sita. In the end, Ram frustrated with life, drowned himself in
Saryu. Such are the teachings of half-naked rishis who are praised by
Hindutvawadis." (Page 100)<br />
<br />
* "Lord Shiva, to get people to worship him, dropped his penis on Earth
(Devi), shaking the ground and the sky! ... . Poor Dharti Devi was shaken by
the weight of his penis. Seeing this, all the Gods were scared. It seems Gods
would use their penises as bombs! Whenever and wherever they wanted to, they
would drop their 'penis bombs' to terrorise the people. Thus, they were able to
enslave the people... But compared to foreign bombs, these penis bombs were a
damp squib." (Page 106-107)<br />
<br />
* "(Ramakrishna) Paramahansa should have known that Ganga is the world's
filthiest and dirtiest river. How many dead bodies float down this river every
day? How many half-burnt dead bodies are dumped into it every day? And Hindus
call it the holy river! In fact, all the rivers of India are dirty and
polluted... Hindutvawadis pollute the rivers... and then depend on their false
Gods to cleanse them..." (Page 122-123)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
* "(For Hindus) men can be Gods, women can be Goddesses... animals are
gods, snakes are gods... they (Hindu Gods) fight among themselves, marry among
themselves, throw out their wives, run away with others' wives, they steal, get
intoxicated, drink blood, are reincarnated as animals, fish and tortoise, some
of them can lift mountains... Some Gods are in same-sex relationships and are
yet able to produce babies. These Gods and Goddesses are always armed because
they believe in killing and plunder. Some Gods think their penises are more
powerful than nuclear bombs. Others like animals live naked among their
followers. Some of them spend their time in yogic exercises, others are in
samadhi and happy to see the number of blind followers swell... You can wash
away your sins by worshipping the penises of Gods" (Page 146)<br />
<br />
* "How could Arya Hindus bring Aryanisation on this earth. To be Arya, one
has to be born of an Arya womb... If Arya Hindus want to bring Aryanisation
then they must lend or rent out all Arya wombs to non-Aryans. Non-Aryans should
be given Brahmin women so that children are born from Brahmin womb" (Page
182-183).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
* "In modern India, many Ramas of this belief are living a carefree life.
They marry several times, desert their wives, marry several times, and leave them.
Many Ramas kill their Sitas. They are following their God Rama." (Page
269)<br />
<br />
* "(Lord) Krishna had a despicable sex life... Shri Krishna is famous
because of his love life. He had 16,008 wives. And all Yadav women were his
illegitimate lovers. (Hindu) women are drawn towards him because of
pornographic and vulgar tales of his sex life." (Page 391)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
This is not the first time that the Emmanuel mission has run foul of the local
administration and upset Hindus. On February 24, 2005, there was a near riot situation
following the mission's crude attempt to convert Hindus through allurement and
false propaganda. On that occasion, the mission head, Mr MA Thomas, had
promised not to continue with such provocative activities.<br />
<br />
The agenda papers at the National Integration Council meeting held under the
tutelage of the UPA Government had this to say about Emmanuel mission and
similar evangelist outfits:<br />
<br />
"Communal tensions due to alleged conversion/reconversions:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
In recent years, the issue of conversion/re-conversion has also become a major
cause of communal tensions in some parts of the country. Allegations of forced
conversions/ reconversions and subsequent communal tensions have surfaced from
time to time. On many occasions even apprehensions, not founded on facts, on
this account have given rise to communal tensions. Cases in point are the
recent events on the occasion of the annual religious Assembly of the Emmanuel
Bible Institute Samiti at Kota, Rajasthan, in February 2005. The situation was
controlled due to prompt measures taken by the District States of Arunachal
Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have already passed legislations to
regulate conversions by coercive means or offering allurements."<br />
<br />
And yet, there is outrage over action against the Thomases. Such perverse
drivel, such horrendous hate, as exemplified by the contents of Haqeeqat, the
operating manual of Emmanuel mission, of course, is of no consequence to those
who have taken up cudgels on behalf of its peddlers masquerading as Good Samaritans
and Christian evangelists.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Instead, they are faxing letters to the White House, the US State Department,
the United Nations, and Indian ambassadors to the US and the UN to paint the
Government of Rajasthan in communal colours.<br />
<br />
And, if Hopegivers Executive Director Michael Glenn is to be believed, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed a four-member commission to inquire into
the "persecution" of peddlers of anti-Hindu hate. If this is true,
then a public statement is called for from the Prime Minister's Office. If it's
untrue, then the least the PMO can do is issue a denial.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-54441351246343547472013-11-05T05:08:00.002-08:002013-11-05T05:12:55.049-08:00Nitish Kumar is welcome to smirk, but Narendra Modi wave is sweeping Bihar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBrBSk1GFHQx4mLk1T-4XME9vXDV2T4WofzFd6UYb0Ihv63vC1VUEAgvlraRYK0S2JeqvqPnhLFkbMDO_ZOnfAsbx2-Ro3nq9WgA11xuzPQ0ORLVl1wRBK4vsM3UbphGv2iFQ4w/s1600/PTI11_2_2013_000011B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBrBSk1GFHQx4mLk1T-4XME9vXDV2T4WofzFd6UYb0Ihv63vC1VUEAgvlraRYK0S2JeqvqPnhLFkbMDO_ZOnfAsbx2-Ro3nq9WgA11xuzPQ0ORLVl1wRBK4vsM3UbphGv2iFQ4w/s640/PTI11_2_2013_000011B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narendra Modi consoles the family of Rajnarian Singh, a victim of the October 27 serial bomb blasts at Gandhi Maidan, in Patna on Diwali eve. Photo courtesy PTI.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #555555; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif, 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0cm;">The
fraudulent Left-liberal ‘idea of India’ now looks dangerously similar to the
‘idea of India’ of</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0cm;"> </span></b></span><em style="outline: none;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0cm;">jihadis</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0cm;"> </span></i></b></span><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0cm;">who were
allowed to bomb Modi’s Patna rally</span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; outline: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Let it be said, and said right away, that if the alleged Indian
Mujahideen<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">jihadis</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"> </span></i></span>who
planted more than 16 bombs in the stretch of Patna’s sprawling Gandhi Maidan
where Narendra Modi addressed a mammoth public rally on October 27, are guilty
of trying to trigger a stampede with catastrophic consequences, then Nitish
Kumar is guilty of not preventing a situation that could have been used by
assassins to target the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
The consequences of even a failed attempt on Narendra Modi’s life would have
been too horrendous even to imagine. It would be silly to suggest that the
Chief Minister of Bihar is not sharp enough to have known both the
consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yet Nitish Kumar not only failed to ensure adequate security
measures for the ‘Hunkar Rally’ of which he had known for months, he also
displayed amazing callous indifference after the bombings left six persons dead
and at least a hundred people injured. Hours after the rally Nitish Kumar,
while speaking to mediapersons, put on a little boy act, pretending great
surprise that something so dastardly should have happened and refuting valid
charges of lax, indeed absent, security measures at the venue. He also
asserted, firmly and repeatedly, that his administration had not received any
information from the Intelligence Bureau, alerting the police about a potential
attempt to target Narendra Modi. In the event, both his ersatz condemnation of
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">jihadi</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"> </span></i></span>strike
and denial of an IB alert have been proved to be as hollow as his cynical
politics of donning the ‘<em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">topi</span></em>’ and the ‘<em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">tilak</span></em>’ to fool Muslims and Hindus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is now established that the IB
did send a letter to the police chiefs of various States, including Bihar’s
Director-General of Police, on October 1, alerting them about the Indian
Mujahideen’s plans to bomb cities. That alert may have been ‘non-specific’, but
a subsequent message sent by IB on October 23 to Bihar’s Additional
Director-General of Police who heads the Special Branch was as specific as any
intelligence report can be. According to this message, Indian Mujahideen
operatives were planning to attack Narendra Modi’s rally. Two messages, two
alerts, yet Nitish Kumar says his administration had no information. We can
only surmise that he is telling a lie — blatantly, brazenly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">What serves to underscore Nitish Kumar’s brazenness, his almost
criminal callousness, is the subsequent silence he has maintained on this
issue. We haven’t heard a pipsqueak from him on why his administration, which
he counter-poses as the ‘Nitish Model’ to the ‘Modi Model’ of governance,
failed to take preventive measures, why only a handful of constables were
deployed to ostensibly ‘sanitise’ the<em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">maidan</span></em>, why no senior police
officer trained in standard security operations was on duty on the day of the
rally, why there was no emergency evacuation plan in place even hours after the
first bomb had exploded at Patna Railway Station. If we are to presume that the
police kept him in the dark about the IB alert, we are yet to see him take
disciplinary action against the errant police officers. If we are to believe
that he is truly shaken by the turn of events, then it is grossly missing from
his crass and fanciful attacks on Narendra Modi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hence we can only come to the
conclusion that Nitish Kumar couldn’t care a toss whether the bombers succeeded
in their evil mission to trigger low intensity blasts, create panic among the
more than five lakh people who had gathered on Gandhi Maidan, and trigger
multiple stampedes that would have left hundreds dead. He couldn’t care less if
in the resultant chaos assassins would have found it easier to target Narendra
Modi in a classic replay of similar assassinations in other places at other
times. This was a copybook conspiracy that fortuitously failed —not for want of
effort by the conspirators but due to possibly their incompetence or, as some
would believe, the intervention of the hand of fate. Destiny has other plans
for Narendra Modi, plans which understandably unsettle those who think they are
destined to rule India, not the man who now rides the crest of a
never-seen-before popularity wave. There is no reason to respect such
individuals: They are undeserving of regard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">The intolerable cussedness if not complicity (that would be an
exaggeration unless evidence emerges to the contrary; it may be entirely
coincidental that he instructed his officers not to provide Narendra Modi with
a custom-built bulletproof SUV and jammers to neutralise remote-controlled
bombs) of Nitish Kumar is further heightened by the fumbling investigations by
the National Investigation Agency. It is stunningly unbelievable that a
potential key witness was allowed to escape from the NIA’s custody. It is
equally unthinkable that the NIA should come up with the lamest of all excuses
in defence of its appalling lapse in guarding Mehre Alam, who could have led
the investigators to the hideouts of the conspirators, by saying that he could
not have escaped from its custody as he had not been formally arrested. Which
would raise the question: Why wasn’t he arrested? Does the answer lie in Union
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s recent instruction that has left<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">jihadis</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"> </span></i></span>feeling
bolder?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We could also ask some discomfiting questions to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">‘topi-tilak’-wallah</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Chief Minister of Bihar whose smug
smile reflects his confidence that he shan’t be called to account for his
severe lapses, and that’s putting it mildly. We could, for instance, ask him as
to why he told the Bihar Police not to arrest Yasin Bhatkal after IB sleuths
picked him up at the India-Nepal border. The IB does not have the power to
arrest and needed Bihar Police to take Bhatkal into custody before bringing him
to Delhi. We could ask him why he has refused to allow intensive combing of
certain districts, for example Darbhanga and Madhubani, where Indian Mujahideen
cells are believed to be located. We could ask him why his party, the Janata
Dal (United), found it expedient to declare Ishrat Jahan, a Lashkar-e-Tayyeba
operative, as “<em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Bihar
ki beti”</span></em>. We could ask him what restrictions he enforced for
Eid-ul-Juha this year, corresponding to the restrictions he imposed on
community Durga Puja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sadly, these questions will not be asked because that would be
deemed to be politically incorrect, an assault on the secularism practised by
charlatans who occupy high office and, hence, an attack on the ‘idea of India’
about which fraudulent Left-liberals in the political establishment and the
establishment media never tire preaching, an idea that increasingly looks not
dissimilar to the ‘idea of India’ of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="outline: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">jihadis</span></em>, some of
whom planted the bombs at Gandhi Maidan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">All, of course, is not lost. Or
else Narendra Modi would not have been in Bihar on Saturday, visiting the homes
of those who died in last weekend’s bombings, meeting their families, sharing
their grief on the eve of Deepawali. While Nitish Kumar smirks, Narendra Modi
has emerged the winner, winning hearts in Bihar and India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-3468937797326623592013-09-05T08:30:00.001-07:002013-09-05T08:31:00.337-07:00Church and the Mahatma: How Gandhi was reviled by missionaries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Jomo
Kenyatta had a sharp tongue and a sharper mind, both of which he used to
devastating effect while lashing out at the 'civilising' West. The White man's
fictional burden of taming the savage East and enlightening the 'Dark Continent' was no more than a convenient cover to hide his role as the master
of the subjugated races. <br />
<br />
Colonialism and Empire-building were inspired as much by a sense of racial
superiority as driven by greed; it was a complex social, political and economic
enterprise facilitated in no small measure by Christian missionaries who helped
deracinate the indigenous people -- the 'heathens' -- and convert them into
loyal subjects of an alien Emperor.<br />
<br />
As in India, so in the African colonies were people uprooted from their ancient
cultural moorings in preparation for their political suppression and economic
deprivation. They were accorded the 'privilege' of embracing a strange faith
and genuflecting at the altar of Christ in exchange of what they possessed and
held dear till then: Their land, their language, their rites and rituals, and
their religion. By the time the natives realised that all this was no more than
a con job to disinherit them and enrich their foreign rulers, they had
invariably lost most, if not all, of what once belonged to them.<br />
<br />
Jomo Kenyatta, not given to niceties and asphyxiating political correctness,
put it succinctly: <b>"When the missionaries came, they had the Bible and we
had the land. They said, 'Let us pray'. We closed our eyes. When we opened
them, they had the land and we had the Bible!"</b><br />
<br />
At a gathering of Christian missionaries a couple of years ago soon after the evangelist-provoked violence at Kandhamal in Odisha, I made bold to recall Jomo
Kenyatta's famous comment which fetched a fusillade of denial and denunciation.
I was accused of trying to divert attention from the depredations of 'rapacious'
and 'murderous' Hindu mobs which have brought a 'bad name' to the land of
Mahatma Gandhi, the "apostle of peace" as one of them described him.
That's a Christian description, I protested, to which the response was: How
else would you describe him? Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a crafty politician
who made a fetish of non-violence; so call him a 'man of peace' if you must,
but don't describe him as a follower of Jesus, as were the 12 apostles of
Christ, which he definitely wasn't.<br />
<br />
In any event, the Mahatma the Church now holds up to shame those who object to
proselytisation and conversion through allurement and deceit, the harvesting of
the souls of the poor and the vulnerable, was mercilessly denigrated and
lampooned in his lifetime by Christian missionaries in keeping with their
loyalty to the Empire. Charles Freer Andrews was an exception and his
association with Gandhi did not exactly make him welcome in mission residences.<br />
<br />
Many years ago, while researching the Goa Inquisition, I had chanced upon
material about the attitude of Christian missionaries towards Gandhi. Those
notes resurfaced while I was clearing out the accumulated, fraying papers in my
study; they make for interesting reading, especially when Gandhi is being
touted by Christian missionaries as an 'Apostle of Peace', one of their own, in an effort to silence their critics.</span> Yet, there was a time when missionaries loathed Gandhi and held him in contempt, and not all who did so were of foreign origin.<br />
<br />
For Christian missionaries, Gandhi was an "extraordinary casuist"... Unless stopped, his views would become a "dangerous phenomenon of present day politics in India"... His teachings can lead to "chaos and anarchy only"... His politics will lead to "mischievous consequences". <br />
<br />
<br />
These words have been taken from history. From cold print. From journals
published by Christian missionaries. Journals that still exist as evidence of
missionaries willingly allowing
themselves to be used as instruments of British rule in India. And the target of their ire is Mahatma Gandhi, whom the Church now describes as an "apostle of peace" because it suits its social, political and cultural agenda.<br />
<br />
Gandhi's arrival on the scene had greatly charged the nationalist movement and
expanded the spread and scope of the struggle against British colonial rule.
Gandhi's philosophy of peaceful resistance to colonial rule had found
expression in the non-cooperation agitation. This in turn set alarm bells
ringing - the colonial establishment, including the Church, was quick to
realise Gandhi's potential. It retaliated in full force, using its arsenal,
including missionaries and their publications.<br />
<br />
In September 1919, the Christian Missionary Review fired the first salvo. A
year later, the Christian Missionary Review dropped all niceties and described
Gandhi as an "extraordinary casuist", an "unscrupulous and
irresponsible demagogue" responsible for the disturbances in Punjab the
previous year. Urging India's colonial masters to "adequately" deal
with Gandhi's "egotistical mysticism," the Christian Missionary
Review said that unless putdown, Gandhi and his nationalism would emerge as
"one of the dangerous phenomena of present day politics in India."<br />
<br />
In fact, the murderous attitude of the British in Punjab and the terrible
fallout of the Rowlatt Act, found ample support among the missionaries. Bishop
Henry Whitehead not only supported the Act but went on to denigrate the
nationalist agitation against the Act as a "striking illustration of the
incapacity of a large section of Indian politicians to face facts and
realities, or to understand the first principles of civilised government."
We all know of the action of the "civilised Government" so ardently
backed by the missionaries - the massacre at Jallianwala Bag.<br />
<br />
Indeed, Ms Marcella Sherwood, speaking on behalf of the Church of England
Zenana Missionary Society and Rev Canon Guildford, speaking on behalf of the
Church Missionary Society, lauded Gen Dyer's brutality, saying it was
"justified by its results". The Christian Missionary Review,
describing Gen Dyer as a "brave man", said, absurdly though, that his
action was "the only means of saving life".Another missonary
publication, rather disingenuously named The Young Men of India, heaped praise
on Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the Lt Governor of Punjab during those terrible days of
bloodshed and brutality by a ruthless colonial administration, saying that he
was "the strongest and best ruler the country has had in modern
times." The Harvest Field, also a missionary journal, was quick to point
out that during the nationalist uprising against the Rowlatt Act, Indian
Christians were not found "wanting in loyalty to the (British)
Government." The International Review of Missions was clear in its
pronouncement that the means and methods adopted by the British to put down the
uprising in Punjab were neither un-Christian nor a blot on British rule.<br />
<br />
It is important that we understand the import of the missionaries' view of the
nationalist uprising against the Rowlatt Act, their justification of the
massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, their unrestrained praise for Gen Dyer. Those who
saw nothing wrong with drenching the ground of Jallianwala Bagh with the blood
of Indian nationalists, those who saw nothing "un-Christian" about
the bloodshed, those who found "loyalty to the British" in the
cowardice of Indian Christians, could not but have derided Gandhi and his
non-violence.<br />
<br />
For, Gandhi's unique contribution to India's freedom movement, as also to
freedom struggles in oppressed nations across the world, Satyagraha, was
considered "un-Christian" by a majority of Protestant missionaries.
The Christian Missionary Review describing Gandhi's agenda as dangerous,
predicted that it would lead to violence, chaos and anarchy.<br />
<br />
This view was seconded by The Young Men of India. Commenting on Gandhi's
freedom campaign fashioned around the philosophy of Satyagraha, in March 1920,
The Young Men of India wrote: "Though Mr Gandhi may have satisfied his
conscience as to its morality, to plain common sense it means playing with
fire, with the certainty that if used with masses of Indian people, the fire
will become a conflagration?" . The Harvest Field, yet another missionary
journal, in its May 1921 issue, put on record its belief that "Mr Gandhi's
teachings" would result in "chaos and anarchy only." Gandhi, it
said, had brought a "sword to his beloved land." "We have no
animus against the man," said the Madras Christian College Magazine in
October, 1921 -- the best way to rubbish a person, to inflict the most grievous
wound, is to preface the attack with "we have nothing against the
man" -- "but we have always regarded the doctrines he has been
preaching and the policy he has advocated as pernicious." The Magazine, of
course, had a pious purpose behind its attack: to save India from the
mischievous consequences that must follow from their (Gandhi's doctrines)
adoption." Such concern! Such piety!<br />
<br />
But that was not all. The Madras Christian College Magazine went on to offer a
homily. All those who want "peace and sobriety of life and progress,"
it urged, should reject the "sophistry of non-violence". Let us
recall these words when the current president of the Congress today pays
tribute to Gandhi as an apostle of non-violence.<br />
<br />
By 1922, the Madras Christian College Magazine had dropped all pretensions. It
declared that there was nothing "positive or constructive" about
Gandhi's programme of Satyagraha and that his role till then had been
"negative throughout". Gandhi, the Madras Christian College Magazine
added with a sweeping flourish, was "an anarchist at heart? prone to
mental confusion."<br />
<br />
In her book, <b>The Attitude of British Protestant Missionaries Towards
Nationalism in India, Elizabeth Susan Alexander</b>, offers an explanation
for such vile diatribe against Gandhi as articulated by the missionary
publications: "British officials came to accept missionaries as partners
in the 'noble' task of shouldering the 'white man's burden.' British officials
defended their support of Christian missionaries as being in the interest of their
rule, for missionaries were used as instruments of their policies of reform?
Missionary activities were seen to have lucrative results for British
commercial interests."<br />
<br />
Lucrative results now accrue to the Christian West which funds missionaries and evangelists. </div>
Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-81843168862369070242013-09-03T08:53:00.001-07:002013-09-03T08:57:54.696-07:00Which other democracy has a doormat for PM?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B6sb2t1JcoO4HOdGH5tBY7ywhJpqoTVAOxoWpwudehhB7u4HpZ_zXqDkC9jMTU-dJTgYcSRaW0i0LjIIKJ6OzjIRne3da9J5bmBcS0A3hWPQTsUhFnFoVijpOAvqLhBZ4UEUgg/s1600/MMS+drum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B6sb2t1JcoO4HOdGH5tBY7ywhJpqoTVAOxoWpwudehhB7u4HpZ_zXqDkC9jMTU-dJTgYcSRaW0i0LjIIKJ6OzjIRne3da9J5bmBcS0A3hWPQTsUhFnFoVijpOAvqLhBZ4UEUgg/s640/MMS+drum.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Cornered, bruised and battered, the Prime Minister decided to do an
angry old man act in Rajya Sabha on Friday while reading out a banal
statement on the ruinous state of the Indian economy. He need not have
bothered with reading it out; it may well have been taken as read. India
was looking forward to more than a Press Information Bureau handout and
the fact that the Prime Minister failed to rise to the occasion is as
much a reflection of his towering incompetence as further proof, if at
all that is needed, of the huge crisis of leadership that the country
faces in these troubled times.<br />
<br />
We shall return to what Manmohan Singh said, and did not say, in a
while. Before that it would be in order to comment on his mock heroic
anger which has so enthused Congress stooges in media, one of whom, an
over-rated anchor-turned-editor-in-chief at a media house which has just
sacked hundreds of its staff on account of the looming economic crisis,
couldn’t stop blabbering and gushing over what he described as the
Prime Minister ‘striking back’ at the Opposition. Like much of what he
says and writes, this too is an exaggeration whose purpose would be lost
on the naïve and the ill-informed.<br />
<br />
The perceived ‘anger’ of the Prime Minister was not the rage of a
wronged man or a slandered politician, it was the impotent rage of a
feckless person who, having offered to serve as the doormat of his boss,
can’t figure out why nobody holds him in high esteem. Had Manmohan
Singh been half the person he would like others to believe he is, he
would have raged against Congress president and Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty
matriarch Sonia Gandhi and stormed out of office. Instead he has chosen
to not only supinely do her bidding that has fetched rack and ruin to
the national economy but also demean the office he holds, bringing
disrepute to South Block like no other Prime Minister has ever done, not
even Chandra Shekhar during the few months he held that post.<br />
<br />
A Prime Minister so denuded of honour, integrity and esteem can’t
really expect his party colleagues, leave alone those in the Opposition,
to treat him with anything except contempt as they do. It is only
natural that the Opposition, barring those individuals who are given to
supping with Sonia Gandhi in private while denouncing the Congress in
public, should treat Manmohan Singh as beneath contempt. To pretend
otherwise, as Manmohan Singh does, is to live in denial. He is welcome
to do so, but he should not expect respect — that’s an unfair
expectation.<br />
<br />
As for his ersatz anguish over being called a ‘<i>chor</i>’ — as some
MPs are believed to have done while remonstrating against the limitless
corruption under his tutelage — he need not play Little Red Riding
Hood; much worse has been said by his party and his boss about the
Opposition and its leaders. Surely Manmohan Singh has not forgotten
Sonia Gandhi’s vicious attack on Atal Bihari Vajpayee in <i>bazaar </i>Hindi spoken in guttural Italian accent. Or her spiteful description of Narendra Modi as “<i>Maut ka Saudagar</i>”. In which democracy does this happen?<br />
<br />
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley did not allow
despise and loathing to get better of his sense of decency and decorum
or else in his sharp repartee he would have gone beyond reminding
Manmohan Singh that in no other democracy does a Prime Minister win a
confidence vote by buying MPs. But neither decency nor decorum need
restrain us from asking Manmohan Singh in which other democracy does a
Prime Minister hold office without winning a direct election? In which
other democracy does a Prime Minister hold himself unaccountable for the
sins of omission and commission committed in his watch? In which other
democracy does a Prime Minister preside over scam after scam, scandal
after scandal without so much as bothering to even offer to resign? In
which other democracy does a Prime Minister shield a Railways Minister
hawking top jobs to the highest bidder? In which other democracy does a
Prime Minister ask his Law Minister to fix the report of investigators
looking into a massive scam? In which other democracy does a Prime
Minister willingly mislead Parliament on crucial foreign policy issues
that impinge on national security? In which other democracy has a Prime
Minister been repeatedly found to be telling less than the truth? In
which other democracy does a Prime Minister slyly blame the Opposition
for the swindle-and-loot, tax-and-splurge, steal-and-scoot Government he
heads?<br />
<br />
It is laughable that Manmohan Singh wants the people of India to
believe that the Opposition questioning him and his Ministers on dubious
deals and stalling Parliament to expose the crimes of the Congress and
his amazing silence have led to loss of investor confidence at home and
abroad. That’s undiluted bunk. Investors have not lost confidence in
India — the country and the people are the same as they were before the
waning of trust happened — they have lost confidence in the UPA
Government, the Congress which leads this Government, and the Prime
Minister who heads the Government.<br />
<br />
Surely Manmohan Singh knows better than to expect investors to have
faith in a Government whose leading lights are constantly looking for
opportunities to feather their own nests? Nor should he expect us to
believe that investors are not deterred by his Government’s wasteful
ways. The Prime Minister conveniently forgets that imposing
retrospective taxes on corporates was not the doing of the Opposition.
If licences have been cancelled by the Supreme Court, causing telecom
investors to shy away from India, it is not because the Opposition
stalled Parliament on the Great 2G Spectrum Robbery, it is because
Manmohan Singh did nothing to stop the robbery that took place with his
full knowledge. If big ticket reforms have languished, it is not on
account of the Opposition but due to the pusillanimity of the Prime
Minister. We could either accept these facts or blame the crisis in
Syria for our woes.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the latest financial figures came out last evening, delayed
by several hours so that Manmohan Singh could make a last ditch effort
to sell the fiction that not all is lost and he shall bravely soldier on
to resuscitate a sputtering economy. Growth rate is down to 4.4 per
cent, exports are down on a year-to-year basis and food inflation
remains frighteningly high. Worse, jobs are disappearing across sectors
at an alarming rate. And here we have our Prime Minister blaming
everybody except the culprits responsible for this criminal destruction
of the economy. That’s understandable, though not condonable, since he
is primarily to blame for this wanton destruction. No punishment would
be sufficient for him.</div>
Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-56210335153987495732013-08-16T07:28:00.000-07:002013-08-16T07:33:47.943-07:00Why is Manmohan Singh so desperate to appease Pakistan?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRdr-tnkXRQnFzQKBmBYMc0mNl-GkfGOEOWGxRL85VQiKYLNrxi673-olOgsuiBaK5eDx9_oXt317J8E5RxOZWeEXfVtub8fmsoHcgGJM7411mcK_DDEDeoqbl425vsUX3AoB0Q/s1600/Salute+soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRdr-tnkXRQnFzQKBmBYMc0mNl-GkfGOEOWGxRL85VQiKYLNrxi673-olOgsuiBaK5eDx9_oXt317J8E5RxOZWeEXfVtub8fmsoHcgGJM7411mcK_DDEDeoqbl425vsUX3AoB0Q/s640/Salute+soldiers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Army chief Bikram Singh pays last tribute to jawans killed by Pakistani soldiers<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>A feckless Prime Minister can only be expected to cut corners
with India's interest and security. But that does not mean we should let
Manmohan Singh do so unchallenged and unquestioned</b><br />
<br />
The outpouring of rage across the country after Pakistani soldiers
sneaked across the Line of Control in the Poonch sector and ambushed an
Indian Army post, killing five jawans, earlier this week, could have
only been missed by a criminally callous Government like the one which
currently presides over India’s steady but steep decline and decay.
Hence it’s not surprising that Defence Minister AK Antony stumbled so
badly in articulating the UPA’s response to the dastardly deed by
Pakistan in our Parliament.<br />
Instead of pinning the responsibility for the murder of our soldiers on
Pakistan, Antony first sought to absolve those guilty of the crime by
describing them as “persons in Pakistani Army uniform”. It is now
believed the Defence Minister’s statement, which marked a sharp
departure from the Defence Department’s statement blaming the Pakistani
Army, was vetted and cleared by the National Security Adviser and senior
officials of the Ministry of External Affairs. That followed their
meeting with diplomats of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi who
had been ostensibly summoned to South Block to register India’s
protest.<br />
We will never know what prompted the Prime Minister’s Office and the
Ministry of External Affairs to rush to Pakistan’s aid and put a gloss
over its crime. Friends in the Ministry of External Affairs who are
appalled by the Government offering an escape route to Pakistan say
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is desperate to broker ‘peace’ at any
cost, even if it means cutting corners with India’s national interest.<br />
The reasons for this desperation are no secret. Manmohan Singh believes
that if he tries hard enough, he can secure the Nobel Prize for Peace.
For that he needs the US’s endorsement. The US, in turn, wants him to
turn a Nelson’s eye to Pakistan’s offences and accept Islamabad’s terms
for a rapprochement, no matter how tenuous that may be. Pakistan,
meanwhile, has let it be known that it shall persist with its policy of
inflicting a thousand cuts and India could either take it or leave it.
Manmohan Singh, clearly, is more than willing to take it if it means a
pat on the back by US President Barack Obama and an invitation to the
glittering Nobel ceremony to collect this year’s Peace Prize.<br />
For a man whose inaction, chicanery and incompetence has dragged
India’s economy back to the pre-1990s (Morgan Stanley says this year’s
growth could be as low as 3.5 per cent) and whose crafty pandering to
crass minorityism to keep his political boss (Congress president and NAC
chairperson Sonia Gandhi) happy has caused buried communal fault lines
to resurface, this is the only road to securing a place in history.
Little does he realise that once he demits office, which he will have
to, he shall be reduced to no more than a footnote of history, a
reminder that India was misgoverned by a gang of thieves for nine years
with Manmohan Singh playing Ali Baba.<br />
Yet he persists in search of the proverbial ‘sim-sim’, the magic code
that will allow him entry to the world of immortality. If that means the
truth should be subverted and national security compromised, if it
requires playing fast and loose with India’s pride and dignity, he is
game. We have seen this in the past too —when he travelled to Havana and
declared, along with General Pervez Musharraf, that Pakistan is not the
tormentor and perpetrator of terror as Indians believe it is, but a
victim of terror; when he agreed to the shameful joint statement
dictated by Yousuf Raza Gilani, then Prime Minister of Pakistan, and
issued from Sharm el-Sheikh; when he slyly bypassed the national
consensus that there should be no talks with Pakistan till it brings the
masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage to book; when he allowed
Pakistani Ministers and officials to pour scorn and ridicule on India
while standing on Indian soil. The tailoring of the Defence Minister’s
statement is, therefore, understandable, as is the rush to whitewash
Pakistan’s sin.<br />
Thankfully, an alert Opposition spotted the difference and the BJP
pilloried the Government till it ate crow and the Defence Minister made a
second statement, this time accusing “specialist troops” of the
Pakistani Army for the killings: “We all know nothing happens along the
Line of Control without the support... direct involvement of the
Pakistani Army,” he added for good measure. The revised statement
followed reports, planted (or leaked, as some would prefer) by
‘sources’, that Sonia Gandhi was mighty displeased with the Government
for playing ducks and drakes.<br />
A revised statement implicating Pakistan directly for the killing of
our jawans, however, does not mean corrective action on the policy
front. It was expected that Manmohan Singh would, in the least, call off
his scheduled meeting with Nawaz Sharif in New York in late September
when he is there for the United Nations General Assembly’s annual
jamboree. It was also expected that the Foreign Secretary-level talks,
which had been put on hold after the brutal slaying of two Indian jawans
(one of them was beheaded; the other disfigured) by Pakistani soldiers
at Mendhar, will remain off the radar for the foreseeable future.<br />
But no, that’s not happening. We are told Manmohan Singh will meet
Nawaz Sharif in New York and the Foreign Secretary-level talks will
resume next month. After he meets Nawaz Sharif, Manmohan Singh will
travel to Washington, DC to meet Barack Obama. Is one predicated on the
other? The answer to that question is obvious: The Americans want us to
carry the can for Pakistan, never mind the cost to India, as they
prepare to exit from Afghanistan. Predictably, Manmohan Singh is more
than happy to play ball with the Americans.<br />
The alternative to the craven approach adopted by Manmohan Singh (he
can’t stand up and be counted either at home or abroad) is not to go to
war with Pakistan, as is mockingly and jeeringly suggested by his
flag-wavers, especially in media. Nor is it to halt all interaction with
Pakistan. It is to adopt a calibrated approach, making it abundantly
clear to both Islamabad and Rawalpindi that every cut inflicted on India
comes attached with a price to be paid by Pakistan. We could start
getting there by insisting that if Pakistan wishes to talk, it should
agree to joint secretary-level dialogue which would be restricted to
comparing notes and no more.<br />
That, however, would require guts. And a Prime Minister who is not as
feckless as Manmohan Singh. Unfortunately, for the moment we are stuck
with him. All that we can do is raise our voice and say ‘No’ to him. He
is unlikely to listen, but at least our conscience would be clear.</div>
Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-90622944747279907872012-07-31T10:38:00.001-07:002012-07-31T10:38:36.751-07:00Change electoral system to fight graft...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtV2EBd46MFEhMDT-K1pLbMusUG_B7T_hRCK7lFJUyu-kkPkikb7cXCwpOKlF8C0ThHya89WDNSKzbjfkBtFFH13vGO0TnMNuR9llTXoVy636Idg6k7FgwFvIvjyD3gShyphenhyphenMQ_6Q/s1600/35-vajpayee-2-350_121611025923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtV2EBd46MFEhMDT-K1pLbMusUG_B7T_hRCK7lFJUyu-kkPkikb7cXCwpOKlF8C0ThHya89WDNSKzbjfkBtFFH13vGO0TnMNuR9llTXoVy636Idg6k7FgwFvIvjyD3gShyphenhyphenMQ_6Q/s640/35-vajpayee-2-350_121611025923.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><i><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>This
is the second part of what Atal Bihari Vajpayee told me when I interviewed him in December
1997. It was published in The Times of India under the headline: The
Man India Awaits.</span></span></b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The monster of corruption is
threatening our polity. How, in your view, could we battle this monster?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As I see
it, good governance is possible only when a Government has an ethical base.
Tragically, morality and ethics are at a discount in politics today, not only
in India but countries across the world. Today we find country after country
grappling with the monster of graft; competitive politics is increasingly relying
upon the strength of money, more so with the waning of ideology. But corruption
cannot be just wished away; it needs to be fought at every level, beginning
with the cleansing politics of the influence of money power. The second
requirement is extensive electoral reforms...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You have often talked about the
need for systemic changes, that we need to have a second look at our
Constitution...</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After 50
years, yes, the time has come for a second look at our Constitution and to
explore the possibility of institutionalising some systemic changes. Some
people have pointed out the merits of the presidential system. But here, too,
the question arises as to what sort of a presidential system would suit India.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You know,
there is this Supreme Court judgement prohibiting any change in the basic structure
of the Constitution. We have to bear that in mind. But even within the present structure,
certain changes can be brought about, especially to ensure stability. For instance,
we could consider a five-year mandate for the Lok Sabha, thus preventing
mid-term polls. We could also consider the German system that doesn't allow a
no-confidence motion against the incumbent Government but only a motion of confidence in an alternative
Government. Whatever it is, but we must look for a cure to this instability. I
would suggest that we appoint a high level Commission on the Constitution to
take a fresh look at it and recommend systemic changes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What sort of electoral reforms
would you recommend?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Our
electoral system is flawed on several counts. For instance, the
first-past-the-post system which India borrowed from Great Britain does not
appear to have served the country well. Perhaps the time has come for a review
of this system and to take a close look at other systems prevalent elsewhere in
the democratic world.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
fundamental flaw in our system is that often a party's support base is not
reflected in the number of seats it is able to win. With a huge share of the
vote, you could end up with seats much below the number required to obtain a
majority in the House. Conversely, with a smaller share of the vote, a party
could find itself on the Treasury Benches. A direct fallout of this, especially
in the wake of the collapse of the Congress which has vacated political space
at a rate faster than in which any single political party can occupy this
vacuum, is the current political instability. So, why don't we have a look at
the list system or a mixed system of representation?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In recent years we have witnessed
the emergence of regional parties and the decline of national parties like the
Congress. What reasons would you attribute to this... </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In the
wake of India's independence, there was a tendency to centralise power in<br />
Delhi. Primarily, there were two reasons for this: Our experience of partition
and the need to consolidate more than 500 states and the provinces into a
Union. Essentially, the idea was to avoid further fragmentation. There was this
additional factor that the Congress was the dominant party both at the Centre
and in the states. With the national parties fully engrossed by national problems,
region specific problems and aspirations were ignored. Over-centralisation also
resulted in Chief Ministers running to the Centre for the smallest of
clearances and permissions, not to mention funds. All this resulted in the
emergence of regional parties. So long as these parties have a national
outlook, I see nothing wrong with them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This brings us to the issue of
decentralisation and giving more powers to the States...</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yes,
there has to be decentralisation of political as well as economic powers.
Decision-making cannot be restricted to the Centre alone. We have been arguing
for greater fiscal autonomy for the States as well as shifting the balance of
resources in favour of the States. As far as political powers are concerned, on
issues like the appointment of Governors, the consent of the Chief Minister
should be secured. Needless to add, I am totally against the misuse of article
356 and given a chance, would amend this Constitutional provision so as to prevent
its abuse. The Sarkaria Commission's recommendations were allowed to gather dust. Many of those recommendations need to be updated and, more importantly,
implemented.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What, in your opinion, should be
the character of a stable coalition Government? And, why do you think
coalitions have failed till now?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let me
answer the second question first. As a people we are yet to learn the art of
working together. If individuals in a party cannot function smoothly, leading
to fragmentation of parties, how can parties come together and function
smoothly? In any case, this 14-party Government was a joke of a coalition. As
for the first question, well, ideally a stable coalition should have a large
party as its nucleus. This has been proved in States where coalitions have
worked, for example, West Bengal.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">(To be continued.) </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-75734381725261188982012-07-28T08:58:00.000-07:002012-07-28T08:58:21.622-07:00'I dream of a strong, prosperous India'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> "At
a time when every party was singing paens to the Nehruvian model of command economy,
the Jana Sangh was demanding that the economy be freed <span>from the clutches of Government control..." </span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>This is what Atal Bihari Vajpayee told me when I interviewed him in December 1997. It was published in The Times of India under the headline: The Man India Awaits.</span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>I accidentally stumbled upon the text of the interview. Re-reading it, I realised he was a true visionary, a towering stalwart among pygmies who then crowded the Government at the Centre as they do now; a leader who inspired hope and kindled aspiration, much like Narendra Modi does today.</span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>It's a long interview. I thought of breaking it up into smaller parts. Here goes the first of the lot. Read, retrospect, react. </span></span></b></i> </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">At a
political rally addressed by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the veteran leader
took the mike, somebody from the audience shouted, “<i>Desh ka pradhan mantri kaisa ho</i>?” and the others responded with “Atal
Bihari <i>jaisa ho</i>!|” Mr Vajpayee, in
his inimitable style, began his speech by saying, “<i>Sawal yeh nahin hai ki pradhan mantri kaisa ho. Sawal yeh hai ki desh
kaisa ho</i>.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mr Vajpayee's
pride in his Indian heritage is deep, vast and abiding. If, on the one hand, it
causes him deep distress at the present state of the nation, it also forms the
foundation of his hopes for tomorrow on the other. Indeed, the greater the
sorrow he feels, the more determined he grows to make India rise above its
failures and resume its place at the apex of civilisation.<br />
A popular poem of his offers abundant proof of this.<br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">He
exhorts Indians to find within themselves, the daring, courage and honour that
characterised great Indian men of yore. His call sounds for all those who can
willingly make sacrifices without expecting either fame or any other reward in
return ... “who burn like a flame in the dark even while others shine in the light of fame”. His
summons are for people “who have the glorious vision of the future in their
eyes and the speed of storms in-every step”. He knows that nothing can stop the
rising tide of patriotism and it is with this knowledge that his call rings
out: “Come all who dare.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Mr Vajpayee, in this era of
globalisation, economics is fast supplanting politics all over the world. You
are widely perceived as India's next Prime Minister. If you were to become India's next Prime Minister, what would be Swadeshi's influence on your
economic policies? And since a country is largely shaped by its
economic-policies, what should be India's approach?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let me make
it clear that Swadeshi does not mean that India will become an island by itself
or become isolationist. Neither does it mean that we will not allow the inflow
of new ideas and <span> </span>new technology or, for that
matter, foreign investment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Swadeshi
essentially means that people should have the confidence to build a modern and
prosperous India by working hard and making the maximum use of the resources
that are available at the moment. It means making India a global player. It
means strengthening our indigenous research and development. Swadeshi ultimately
means ensuring a reasonable standard of living for all citizens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Those who
say that India cannot move forward unless others come to our aid, are wrong. We
have an abundance of natural resources, trained technical manpower and our
achievements in science and technology are remarkable. Therefore, there is no
reason why we should not have pride in our national capabilities. I would say, in
a nutshell Swadeshi means "India can do it and India will do it".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Would you reconsider
liberalisation?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">There can
be no going back to a completely state-controlled economy in which, instead of
rewarding private sector for higher production, limits were imposed through
quotas. Since its
inception, right from the days of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, my party has all
along demanded deregulation of the economy and cutback in Government controls.
At a time when every party was singing paens to the Nehruvian model of command economy,
the Jana Sangh was demanding that the economy be freed <span>from the clutches of Government control.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Expansion
of the public sector without developing a professional managerial class for the
public sector enterprises has made many of them unprofitable and unviable. I
believe that we should try and revive those undertakings that can be turned
around. In any event, I am against substituting the earlier policy of indiscriminate
expansion with indiscriminate closure. In all this, the workers' interests need to be safeguarded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>There is this view in your party
against consumer items, especially those manufactured by MNCs...</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What I
and my party are opposed to is allowing the Indian market to be swamped by
products that offer an illusion of prosperity but in reality meet the demands
of a very narrow band of people. Putting it simply, we are against unlimited
consumerism which may appeal to cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile Indians, but
ignores the needs of 75 per cent of the country's population that lives in our
villages. Other countries in South-East Asia that have prospered, have done so
through high rates of saving. We, too, must strive for higher savings rates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>If you were the Prime Minister,
would you recommend a change in the manner of approval of foreign investments
or regulate its inflow?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I would
ensure that every investment offer is decided on merit and whether it meets our
country's needs. I would bear in mind our national interests.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>There is an increasing demand
from Indian industry for a level playing field. Which essentially means a
degree of protection for local industry...</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am
inclined to agree with them. Indian industry has to be given time and all help
to prepare itself to meet the challenges of globalisation. Till recently they
operated in a largely protected market. To suddenly push them into competition,
that too with those who are at a more advantageous position, especially as far
as access to capital is concerned, is unfair. Yes, I do favour a level playing
field. If in the USA they can have this slogan, ‘Be American, Buy American’,
why can't we say, ‘Be Indian, Buy Indian’? Instead of being swamped by foreign brands, why can't we make Indian brands globally acceptable?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>There is also this thing that
economic liberalisation has not benefited small scale industry and
agriculture... </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Small
scale sector deserves full protection and all possible incentives. As for
agriculture, we all know that investment in this crucial sector has declined,
resulting in a slowdown of <br />
agricultural growth despite a good monsoon. I would consider investment in
agriculture one of the top priorities for a Government committed to good
governance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;">(To be continued. Published in The Times of India on December 25, 1997.) </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-2172355130972642612012-06-10T15:21:00.001-07:002012-06-10T15:21:39.468-07:00Who let the trolls in?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Welcome to the New Virtual World Order!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5fgd6O5io7o5XCXpF74Z-Q0dZnqdCE7XLEisbUKRZHNz-rpaikR6Kg7oWG8y2tQjgwzqg4s4wwOf0JU7FNxe-3kUL9k1AK4ME75WLQhjmgDz9inzgKDMgbDkzdfWVNNYFekNCQ/s1600/trolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5fgd6O5io7o5XCXpF74Z-Q0dZnqdCE7XLEisbUKRZHNz-rpaikR6Kg7oWG8y2tQjgwzqg4s4wwOf0JU7FNxe-3kUL9k1AK4ME75WLQhjmgDz9inzgKDMgbDkzdfWVNNYFekNCQ/s640/trolls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px;"><i>(Visual courtesy: </i></span><i>http://hebreaksthecedars.blogspot.in)</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 24px;">The first time I
encountered the word ‘troll’ was in high school. That year, we had to read JRR
Tolkien’s fantasy novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hobbit</i>,
as part of our course for English literature. It was in the pages of that
fascinating book that we discovered amazing creatures, including hobbits and
trolls.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Trolls, we were told
by way of introduction to these supernatural beings, traced their origin to
Norse mythology. They were not particularly handsome in their appearance, lived
in mountain caves and had their own social code. Human beings steered clear of
them as they did of human beings.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri;">I read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hobbit</i> at the turn of the last
quarter of the last century. Although it’s a memorable book, hugely
entertaining at one level and profoundly meaningful at another, I had forgotten
about trolls and their strange ways. And I didn’t hear or read about trolls
till my foray into social media via Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri;">I must admit that I
was clueless about the terms of engagement in Twitterdom. I learned the rules,
such as they are, as I went along, often through mistakes that I wouldn’t ever
commit again. Those were days of well-meaning innocence. I wish I had been
cynical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri;">Two terms I would
hear often is ‘troll’ and ‘trolling’. The Urban Dictionary, which too I
discovered via social media, defines a troll as someone who is deliberately
provocative, disruptive and abusive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri;">A ‘troll’ is someone
who “continually harangues and harasses others, has nothing worthwhile to add
to a conversation, thinks everybody is talking about him/her, and has multiples
monikers to circumvent getting banned”. Trolls also use anonymity as a shield.
And their online activity is what is known as ‘trolling’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meeting a troll in the misty mountains of Hobbitland would have
been a thrilling, if not delightful, experience. Meeting a ‘troll’ on an online
forum, especially an open forum like Twitter, can prove to be neither thrilling
nor delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, not everybody who is impolite to you, or does not shares your
views, or has a bone to pick with you because of real or imaginary grievances,
or simply has had a bad hair day and is nursing a foul mood, is a ‘troll’. Nor
does someone who pitilessly demolishes your argument, or calls you out for
being less than truthful with facts, or tells you on your face that you are a
charlatan and/or a philanderer (because you indeed are one), qualifies to be
labelled as ‘troll’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have no issues with such people even if they are labelled as
‘trolls’ by those who feel unsettled by them. On more than one occasion I have
defended them because I see them as subaltern sepoys who have at last found a
means of having their say and calling the bluff of those given to bluster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also I quite enjoy watching worms squirm. Those mortified by
‘trolls’ like these have had a free run till now. No longer shall they go
unquestioned; no more can they peddle their bunk without a quality check. That’s
social media’s biggest contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A ‘troll’ is someone who intentionally harasses and abuses. A
‘troll’ is someone who deliberately defames and slanders you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A ‘troll’ is someone who slyly stalks you, twists your words, and
seeks to denigrate your views by imputing slanderous motives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A ‘troll’ is someone who can be confronted and charged with
criminal offence. At least that’s my interpretation of who or what is a ‘troll’
and his/her ‘trolling’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The presence of ‘trolls’ as I see them is undesirable on an open
media platform where freedom of expression is often misconstrued as freedom to
abuse, to defame and to slander. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Individuals taking shelter in anonymity do so. Bots using monikers
also do so, perhaps with a degree of sophistry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would also add a third category of ‘trolls’: Individuals who use
their real names and are either brazenly shameless or secure in the knowledge
that prosecution for libel is not an easy option in our country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They spit and scoot. They squat and stalk. They are possibly
sickos with twisted minds and darkened souls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we don’t live in a perfect world. In real life there are
‘trolls’ all around. Colleagues bitch about you behind your back at office. Relatives
say nasty things about you after dining at your home. Examples abound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hence, it makes sense to ignore ‘trolls’ who abuse, defame and
slander others, taking recourse to bazar language. It also makes sense to
ignore the posh ‘trolls’ who pretend to be socially, culturally and
intellectually superior and believe everybody else is a ‘moron’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some of these posh ‘trolls’ also happen to media stars, courtesy
their real and sugar daddies. We contemptuously ignore insufferable fools, so
should we ignore insufferable ‘trolls’ like these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But that’s easier said than done. Often individuals take offence,
very serious offence, to ‘trolling’ by ‘trolls’. What invariably follows is ‘I
feel outraged’ or ‘I feel violated’. That’s silly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the virtual world of social media, it’s absurd to feel angry or
violated, not the least because the millions out there give a damn about your
feelings. Tough luck. Get real. Deal with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s a problem though. The easily offended, the perpetually
violated, find it difficult to get real and deal with the fact that not
everybody is a fawning admirer and an unquestioning toady.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">News telly stars, who have till now talked down to their audience
from the safe confines of their studios, are alarmed at being confronted on
social media platforms, say, Twitter, for their glaring biases and for running
motivated stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Writers who have pontificated from their ivory towers, brooking
neither criticism nor correction, are horrified for being told on their face
that what they produce is bilge. That’s not what they are accustomed to
hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bold and the Beautiful, the pretty people who blow kisses,
call each other ‘dahling’, and pretend to know all about wines and single malts
although anything but rum, the good old sailor’s drink, gives them indigestion,
at Dior-drenched Page 3 parties, are left speechless by the audacity of the
unwashed masses on social media platforms. Who let the dogs in? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The new digital order did. Social media isn’t the Gymkhana and
Twitter isn’t the IIC. By the way, Bharat speaks English too. And guess what?
Bharat has this terrible habit of questioning hypocrisy, exposing duplicity and
lampooning gasbags masquerading as intellectuals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So what will you do? Write a pompous piece denouncing Bharat? That
will fetch much mirth and laughter – before you know, Bharat will be rolling on
the floor laughing his ass off.</div>
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Horrible ‘troll’ this, Bharat. But that’s what you get for
removing the digital divide. Welcome to the New Virtual World Order.</div>
</span><br />
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</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-5254285035935562712012-06-05T13:20:00.003-07:002012-06-05T13:20:47.416-07:00Meanwhile, in the White House...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Rick McKee is the staff cartoonist at <em>The
Augusta Chronicle</em>. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5IVB9nrOYKXUWlvO2KDZxMuM9w5wpa1dpcIdKvxtkrpWs6xt0na9aQD-bEhfS3KzmUXOvn-PP-Vm45QTpnO6Qb1CdZIpTMm6VMgU7rkWegl6U0AQVf2obIJ1E8LIt1JIZUjAQ/s1600/112918_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5IVB9nrOYKXUWlvO2KDZxMuM9w5wpa1dpcIdKvxtkrpWs6xt0na9aQD-bEhfS3KzmUXOvn-PP-Vm45QTpnO6Qb1CdZIpTMm6VMgU7rkWegl6U0AQVf2obIJ1E8LIt1JIZUjAQ/s640/112918_600.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Nate Beeler is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Columbus Dispatch.</i></div>
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<i><br /><em></em></i> </div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-74736502860675222412012-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:002012-06-05T13:10:38.651-07:00Shadow of nuclear Iran<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Israel has never been free of threats
to its very existence. But never before has the Jewish state been so
worried about the future.</b> <br />
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Rare, if any, has been the occasion when Israel has
not been burdened with the onerous task of seeking answers to tough
existential questions. Ever since the birth of the Jewish state in 1948,
it has had to relentlessly struggle on several fronts at the same time.
There were wars, launched by Israel’s Arab neighbours, that had to be
fought and won; there were challenges to the fledgling Israeli economy,
including sourcing oil and gas, which had to be overcome; there were
problems, associated with institutionalising a democratic order, that
had to be resolved.</div>
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Nearly six-and-a-half decades later, Israel is an oasis of peace and
prosperity, surrounded by the sterile sands of Arabia. A robust
democracy with a healthy economy — which is in stark contrast to the
global financial turbulence — Israel, where democracy flourishes in its
truest sense, should have had little to worry about. Yet, beneath the
apparent calm that prevails in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (and the rest of
the tiny country which in reality is a mighty nation), there is mounting
disquiet bordering on alarm.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden, Israel finds itself confronting a rapidly changing
situation in West Asia where yesterday’s certitudes have turned out to
be untrue and unreliable. Israel can no longer take for granted its
three-decade-long peace with Egypt which, even if frosty at best of
times, had allowed it to focus on nation-building without being
distracted by threats of war. The entirely unexpected collapse of the
Hosni Mubarak regime and the menacing rise of Islamists have not been
without consequences that indicate a return to the past.<br />
<br />
There is much talk in Cairo of disowning the 1979 Peace Treaty that
followed the 1978 Camp David Accords, signed by Egypt’s President Anwar
Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The Muslim Brotherhood
had never accepted that peace agreement: Sadat was assassinated in
1981. The assassin, Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli, was executed, but that
did not in any manner lessen the opposition to peace with Israel.<br />
<br />
Today, the Muslim Brotherhood wields power in Egypt and, for all
practical purposes, the 1979 Peace Treaty lies in tatters. The supply of
Egyptian gas to Israel has been stopped; Sinai is now controlled by
marauding mobs of Islamists; the demilitarised buffer zone between Egypt
and Israel neither offers protection nor assures peace. Diplomatic
relations between the two countries are at an all time low.<br />
<br />
The situation in Jordan, the other Arab country with which Israel had
signed a peace agreement, remains unstable. For the moment, the
progressive and pragmatic King Abdullah of Jordan has the upper hand,
but it is anybody’s guess as to how long he can hold out against the
Islamist surge following the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ which has turned
out to be a torrid summer of political instability and social upheaval.<br />
<br />
In Syria, President Bashar Hafez al-Assad and his Ba’athist loyalists
are fighting a rearguard battle against Ikhwani forces hugely
emboldened by the turn of events in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen. The
fallout of the raging civil war in Syria is being felt in Lebanon where
the Hizbullah continues to expand its hold over the state and its
agencies. From Tel Aviv (or, for that matter, from anywhere else) the
view of the rest of West Asia, which the West refers to as the
‘extended’ Middle East, that is, from Iraq and Saudi Arabia up to Iran,
gets progressively bleaker. Ironically, much hope is now vested with
Saudi Arabia to hold the Islamist tide; yesterday’s sponsor of militant
political Islam is today’s defender of moderation of faith in politics
at home and abroad.<br />
<br />
Turkey, with which Israel enjoyed (and to an extent still does)
excellent relations, has its eyes set on emerging as the main power in
the region and seizing the leadership that was till now jointly held by
Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Here, too, the irony can’t be missed: The Turks
have little in common with the Arabs, civilisationally and culturally.
Locked in this battle for leadership after the tectonic shift of power
from the Arab Palace to the Arab Street are Saudi Arabia and Iran — the
first desperate to retain its primacy over Sunni Arabia; the latter
seeking to establish Shia hegemony over Sunni states either in turmoil
or with tottering regimes.<br />
<br />
All this constitutes bad news for Israel. There is understandable
concern over Iran’s proxies — Hamas in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon and
Shia dissidents in Arab states — gaining strength. The possibility of
Sunni Ikhwanis, eager to demonstrate their anti-Israel credentials and
thereafter take their anti-Semitism to its logical conclusion, making
common cause with Shia Iran cannot be ruled out. The lifting of the
embargo on allowing Iranian ships to pass through the Suez Canal does
not portend well for the future — many in Israel see it as a sign of
emerging threat on a front considered secure till now.<br />
<br />
Topping the list of these concerns is Iran’s military nuclear
programme which, unless dismantled soon, will inevitably result in
Tehran acquiring weapons of mass destruction. There is sufficient
evidence to prove that Iran is racing towards producing weapons grade
uranium; that it is simultaneously working on delivery systems by way of
acquiring missiles and related technology; and, that there is
absolutely no reason to believe that the Baghdad talks, on which much
hope has been pinned by the global community, will yield the desired
results. If Iran were to get its own Bomb, others in the region would
want it too. And this is where Pakistani proliferation comes in: Having
provided technology and hardware to Iran, it will not hesitate to hawk
both, if not readymade Bombs, to the Arabs. There’s a lot of money to be
made.<br />
<br />
That’s the doomsday scenario. Israel hopes (against hope) that this
won’t come about, that sanctions and international pressure will yet
make Iran wilt. But it’s also aware that sanctions have not always had
their desired results or else the world would not have been saddled with
rogue regimes straddling unruly states. Hence, it’s working on its own
strategy to deal with a nuclear armed Iran.<br />
<br />
Tiny David defeated mighty Goliath. That lesson of history should not
be lost on those who dream of wiping Israel from the map of the world.</div>
</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-43815163188392931532012-06-05T12:45:00.003-07:002012-06-05T12:45:42.503-07:00Baboos, bibis and the Bangals of Kolkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Kolkata may have been Calcutta before it was renamed Kolkata, but that did not mean the Empire's Second City had a homogenous society. There was, and still is (well, to an extent), north Calcutta/Kolkata with Ghotis; south Calcutta/Kolkata with its predominant Bangal residents; and somewhere between the two existed a cosmopolitan, English-speaking Calcutta (no, it was never Kolkata and shall remain Calcutta) that finds reflection in Satyajit Ray's film Company Limited.</b><br />
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<i>Dhritiman Chatterjee in Ray's Calcutta classic Pratidwandi.</i></div>
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<i><b>
</b><b>
</b>
</i>There’s a north-south divide in Kolkata that runs deep beneath any
apparent bonhomie between residents of Jorasanko and Jadavpur. The
Bengalis of north Kolkata see themselves as culturally superior to those
who live in the southern quarters of the city who, in turn,
disdainfully scoff: Culture? Hah! There used to be a popular perception
south of Ballygunge, not entirely ungrounded in facts which now belong
to the realm of history, that the north was all about dissolute <i>baboos</i> and their lonely <i>bibis,</i> sort of a real life version of Bimal Mitra’s <i>Saheb Bibi Golam.</i> “Oraa paayra oraai, baaiji naachaye…” went a line in a popular Bengali film song, luridly suggesting that the <i>baboos </i>spent their days racing pigeons and their nights frolicking with nautch girls.<br />
<br />
The north was where the zamindars set up home, absentee landlords who
became Bengal’s compradour bourgeoisie and acquired enormous wealth
between mid-19th and early-20th centuries. Ships laden with salt would
reach Kolkata where they would be handled by Bengal Docking Co, the salt
would be traded by Bengal Salt Co, and a share of the profits would go
to Carr Tagore & Co which promoted and managed various joint stock
companies. There were hints of scandals involving illicit trade in
opium; many of the <i>baboos</i> were cheated out of their home and
hearth by their conniving British business partners. Amitav Ghosh
documents the tragic story of one such zamindar, Raja Neel Rattan
Halder, in <i>Sea</i><i> of Poppies</i><i>,</i> the first volume of his
trilogy on the opium trade. Others made a pile of money and built
gorgeous neo-Victorian houses; their sons squandered their inherited
wealth on, as the cliché goes, wine, women and music. Rabindranath
Tagore was a rare exception.<br />
<br />
Actually there was not much of south Kolkata till partition happened
in 1947 and Hindu refugees from ‘East Bengal’, which became East
Pakistan and is now Bangladesh, trooped into Job Charnock’s city,
looking for shelter. They set up home (tiled roofs, marsh reed mats held
up by bamboos serving as walls, earthen floors — a far cry from the
splendid buildings of the north) in Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Bagha Jatin and
other such mosquito-infested colonies. They spoke in East Bengal’s
dialect, had a fetish for <i>eelish</i> (hilsa) which they cooked in a
mustard sauce and rooted for East Bengal Club during football season.
Their struggle for survival in the absence of any Government support and
amid the gathering gloom of Kolkata’s economic decline became the
leitmotif of a city in ferment during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. <i>Jana Aranya,</i>
written by Mani Shankar Mukherjee, better known by his pen name
‘Shankar’, which was later rendered into an eponymous film by Satyajit
Ray, provides an accurate picture of those troubled times when hunger,
rage and frustration coalesced to turn vast stretches of south Kolkata
into a seething battlefield where the far Left fought it out with the
Left.<br />
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The ‘Ghotis’ of north Kolkata were disdainful of the ‘Bangals’ of
south Kolkata whom they considered as no better than uncouth peasants
and country bumpkins. They spoke in Bangla, as opposed to Bangal,
insisted nothing could be tastier than <i>chingri</i> (prawns) cooked in
a sweetish curry, and went into mourning every time Mohun Bagan
Sporting was routed by East Bengal Club, which would be quite often.
Enraged by the supercilious attitude of the Ghotis, the Bangals would
take vicarious pleasure in pointing out that <i>luchi </i>(puri) was pronounced as nuchi and <i>lebu</i> (lime) as nebu in the fashionable houses north of Chowringhee, which is pronounced as <i>Chowrangi</i>. There were other crudities in the Bangla spoken in north Kolkata which Bangals in south Kolkata described as <i>“chhoto loker bhaasha”</i> (language of the lower classes). Nirad C Chaudhuri would often offer delightful though risqué examples.<br />
<br />
The Bangals were dirt poor but valued education; unlike the
conservatives in north Kolkata, they were liberal in their social
practices and radical in their political views. During the troubled
decades they emerged as the urban backbone of the Left movement. While
Calcutta University suffered precipitous decline in academic standards,
Jadavpur University became the hub of exciting studies (it was the first
in India to set up a department of comparative literature; its
engineering and science graduates are still a prized catch for Western
universities). When Nakshalbari happened, north Kolkata became the
battleground between Congress hoodlums and Charu Mazumdar’s guerrillas.
In south Kolkata, it was Left versus Left, a fight for domination
between Marx and Mao. The disinheritance of West Bengal, first by
Jawaharlal Nehru and then by Mrs Indira Gandhi who, between them, ruined
the State’s industrial economy through hare-brained schemes like the
freight equalisation policy, hit the working class of south Kolkata the
most.<br />
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All this, of course, now belongs to the past. Over the years there
has been migration from the north to the south with families running out
of living space. The houses with tiled roofs and marsh reed walls first
gave way to pucca dwellings; these have now made way for high-rise
buildings. In the early-1980s, Jadavpur was dark and dingy, its narrow
roads clogged with traffic and its gutters overflowing with sewage. Over
the past two decades or so, it has had an image makeover and is almost
unrecognisable now. There are glittering retail showrooms, malls, gyms
and restaurants that list ‘continental’ fare on their menu cards.
Fervour for Marx has been replaced by fervour for Mamata. Ten years ago
we had gone for dinner to a friend’s house at Kalibari Lane near 8B bus
stand in Jadavpore. They had served a delightfully mean tel koi and
similar fabulous dishes that Bangals alone can cook. On a recent visit I
had dinner with them. There was chicken roast (no, not tandoori
chicken), grilled ribs and sauteed vegetables on the table.<br />
<br />
A strange patois, which Bengalis insist is Hindi but sounds nothing like Hindi, has replaced both Ghoti and Bangal dialects. <i>Aabaar dekha hobey </i>(We will meet again, the standard parting line) is rarely heard. Instead, Bengalis now say, <i>“Pheer milengey”,</i> gratuitously adding, <i>“Theek hai”</i>.
Children speak in Cartoon Network English with their parents, and
there’s a strange, inexplicable collective rejection of Bangla culture
and identity. There is no more any north or south, it’s a new Kolkata
which has said goodbye to the city which you either loved or loathed,
but could not be indifferent to. There’s a lot of money going around and
a dissolute lifestyle is no longer the preserve of north Kolkata.<br />
<br />
But memories remain. And the smallest Ghoti slight can leave Bangals
incandescent with rage. “These Ghotis will never change,” my Bangal
friend said, while helping himself to another portion of chicken roast
and reaching out for the jar of Colman’s mustard (no, not the one that
is packaged in India). Had I not been a Bangal, I would have retorted,
“What you mean is that these Gauls will never change!”</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-50454407142786865152012-05-30T09:39:00.004-07:002012-05-30T09:49:52.168-07:00Moving on from The Pioneer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Second Innings Comes to an End.</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My
long, rather very long, second innings with <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i> comes to an end on May
31. My first innings coincided with the years Vinod Mehta was Editor of the
paper. The second, and far more rewarding, innings has been with Chandan Mitra
at the helm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I
opted for journalism as a career in the summer of 1982. In these 30 years, I
have worked for various newspapers (including two of the oldest in India -- <i><b>The Statesman</b></i>, founded by Robert Knight in </span><span style="font-size: large;">1875</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in Kolkata, and <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i>, founded by George Allen in 1865 and originally published from Allahabad), written for many others. I have been
singularly fortunate to have worked with editors with extraordinary
professional abilities and human qualities. I have the utmost respect and
regard for MJ Akbar, Sunanda K Datta-Ray, Vinod Mehta and Chandan Mitra. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among
them, Chandan, whom I have known for longer than I can recall, shall always
enjoy a special place in my heart. He has been a steadfast friend, caring and
kind, generous to a fault. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I
have always held Chandan in high esteem for his scrupulous adherence to the
best traditions of journalism. I am not aware of a single instance of his spiking
a story or dressing it up. The credit for the stunning expose on the Great 2G
Spectrum Robbery goes as much to him as to my colleague J Gopikrishnan. That’s
only one such story; examples abound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On
no occasion has he ever asked me to tweak comments that appear on the Editorial
Page, which I looked after. On occasions when a particular comment was
perceived to be harsh by individuals or organisations, he did not hesitate to
defend the paper’s position. Other Editors are known to have disowned their edit
writers at the slightest indication of trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Above
all, his long struggle to save <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i> from going the way of many
newspapers that have ceased to exist due to lack of resources is truly
admirable. Lesser mortals would have abandoned ship after the Thapar Group
decided to shut down <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i> which had stacked up huge losses. He took it
over, turned it around, and happily the paper chugs along, small but
independent and proud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To
borrow an expression, Chandan is a prince among editors and owners of
newspapers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It
could then be asked, why am I leaving <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i>? The answer to that question,
if truth be told, is simple: To try my luck with new media, specifically
digital media. I will share the details as the Mumbai-based project on which I
will be working takes form and shape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I
have been associated, directly or indirectly, with print media for three
decades. When I began my journey into journalism, it was the hot metal era.
From there I have travelled all the way to an age when technology drives media.
And technology fascinates me. Indeed, technology has seduced me away from print
media. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet,
it’s difficult to discard the past and disown newspapering which I loved so
intensely. A part of me remains irrevocably tied to print media. A 30-year affair
can’t just be snuffed out like a candle reduced to a stub. So I propose to
continue to write for <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i> where Coffee Break shall remain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I
have no hesitation in acknowledging that I owe an immeasurable debt of
gratitude to Chandan. As for <i><b>The Pioneer</b></i>, my affection for the paper is, and shall remain, limitless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With
Chandan’s blessings and support I embark upon a new path. Had it been
otherwise, I wouldn’t have ventured forth. </span></div>
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</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-77214726357032953282012-05-09T11:50:00.000-07:002012-05-09T11:50:18.094-07:00Gujarat denied what Maharashtra has<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>And Congress wants States to wage war on terrorism!</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLh7-lRVczeNov3lXvQXNI7_wBQipCL3yzajgaNyGc_qiiBVaAit8tl1dX4Gi6xWXsQhEmW1dR24fBYR2KJ2JV5QE58rrbW2svjysS-zxTStdUVzQG_6wnnm9MsDq7d4k_csB5Q/s1600/image014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLh7-lRVczeNov3lXvQXNI7_wBQipCL3yzajgaNyGc_qiiBVaAit8tl1dX4Gi6xWXsQhEmW1dR24fBYR2KJ2JV5QE58rrbW2svjysS-zxTStdUVzQG_6wnnm9MsDq7d4k_csB5Q/s200/image014.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
[<i>Visual shows mayhem caused by serial bombings of July 26, 2008 serial bombings in Ahmedabad</i>]<br />
<br />
Duplicity and distrust have become the twin hallmarks of the UPA Government, more precisely the Congress which manages key Ministries and takes decisions without consulting either its allies or stake-holders, namely the States, who are directly impacted by firmans issued from New Delhi. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that Union Minister for Home Affairs P Chidambaram, whose boundless arrogance is matched by his limitless capacity for intrigue, should want the State Governments to meekly accept the sweeping powers of the yet-to-be-launched National Counter-Terrorism Centre while refusing to concede their right to strengthen the law and order machinery at their disposal as per the division of powers envisaged in the Constitution.<br />
<br />
Mr Chidambaram wants the State Governments, especially those controlled by parties other than the Congress and its allies, to trust the NCTC which has been vested with the extraordinary power to search premises, arrest individuals and prosecute suspects, without taking the local police or law-enforcing agencies, or the State Government concerned for that matter, into confidence. Apart from the fact that it’s a bit thick for him to expect non-Congress Chief Ministers to trust the Congress (nothing good ever came of that), it’s downright disingenuous of him to slyly introduce a new investigative system to tackle ‘federal crimes’, or organised crimes as are committed by foreign and home-grown terrorist organisations and assorted crime syndicates, while disallowing State Governments to put in place laws that will enable them to achieve the same goal without their rights being trampled upon.<br />
<br />
A case in point is Mr Chidambaram’s stubborn refusal to allow Gujarat, where the BJP is in power, to have its own anti-organised crime law similar to that which prevails in Maharashtra, where the Congress-NCP alliance is in power. The denial is in sharp contrast to the willingness with which the NDA Government accepted Maharashtra’s demand for what has come to be known by the law’s acronym, MCOCA, or the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Chief Minister Narendra Modi wants a similar law, and for good reasons too, but despite all efforts, he has failed to secure the UPA Government’s approval. For the second time, the proposed law, really a Bill passed by the State Assembly, has been spiked by the President on the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Ms Pratibha Patil’s refusal to accord her assent to the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Bill comes two years after it was sent to her for the necessary ‘mandatory approval’ by the Governor.<br />
<br />
The reason why Ms Patil, who is not known to be averse to the bending of rules and violation of conventions when her own interests are involved, has refused to append her signature to the Bill, is because the State Government has not amended key clauses of the proposed law as demanded by the Ministry of Home Affairs through a Cabinet decision in 2009. Amending the relevant clauses, crucial to make the law a powerful weapon against organised crime and no different from what MCOCA provides for, would have defeated the very purpose for which it is meant.
That logic is lost on the UPA Government. It insists that Mr Modi must remove Clause 16, which allows the admissibility of confessional statements of the accused made before a police officer, and Clause 20, which provides that those accused of committing an offence punishable under the proposed law will not be released on bail if the prosecutor opposes it. And since Mr Modi has justifiably refused to ensure compliance with this absurd demand, the Bill has been ‘returned’ once again.<br />
<br />
The Bill had met a similar fate in 2009. The Gujarat State Assembly had debated and passed the Bill in 2004 and it was subsequently forwarded to the Union Government for the President’s assent. Although law and order is a State subject on which State Governments are competent to enact laws, in this case since the proposed law overrides certain provisions of the Evidence Act, IPC, CrPC and the provision relating to the jurisdiction of various courts, the President’s approval (which in effect is the Union Government’s sanction) is necessary. But the Ministry of Home Affairs sat on the Bill; on repeated prodding by Mr Modi, it was returned in June 2009 with the President’s message that the Assembly should reconsider Clauses 16 and 20. The Bill was cleared once again without any amendments and resubmitted for the President’s assent in November 2009.<br />
<br />
Two-and-a-half years later, it has been returned unsigned.<br />
<br />
The trickery resorted to with the explicit purpose of refusing to allow Gujarat to have its way is as amazing as the astounding demands made of the State Government by way of amendments. In the first instance, the Government of Gujarat was told it can’t have a MCOCA like law because its clauses were similar to those of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Since POTA had been repealed by the Congress soon after assuming power in the summer of 2004 in a stunning show of solidarity with those who are appalled by a legal deterrence to terrorism and believe terrorists should have unfettered rights, Gujarat could not have GUJCOCA. The second time round, Gujarat’s Bill has been found to be in conflict with the amended Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 which is now touted by the Union Government as an ‘anti-terrorist law’.<br />
<br />
If we were to accept the argument that UAPA offers the perfect legal deterrence to terrorism and other organised crime, then logically the Government of Maharashtra should be instructed to repeal MCOCA.<br />
That has not been done so far, nor is there any intention to do so. Which, then, raises the question: Why is a law that is good enough for a Congress-ruled State not good enough for a BJP-ruled State? The law in Maharashtra allows for harsh penalties, including death sentence, for committing acts of terror, so does the proposed law for Gujarat. The Gujarat Bill allows the setting up of special courts to deal with cases in a time-bound manner, so does the law in Maharashtra. The Gujarat Bill empowers the State Police to intercept, record and produce as evidence any electronic or verbal communication, as does MCOCA. Interestingly, the provisions of MCOCA are also applicable in Delhi.<br />
<br />
The Congress’s assault on federalism, essentially the rights of the States, in the guise of promoting national interest, must be thwarted before serious damage is caused. In every sphere of decision-making by the incumbent regime headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the emphasis is on how to put down the States, how to impose upon them that which they do not want, how to enforce ridiculous firmans that glorify the Congress’s first family, how to belittle the Chief Ministers and diminish their authority. That’s at once invidious and insidious. Mr Modi and his Government have been successful in keeping terrorists and organised crime syndicates at bay with the outdated tools at their disposal. But that’s more a tribute to the Chief Minister’s administrative acumen than to the Prime Minister’s wisdom. It’s a shame and a pity that Mr Singh has so utterly failed to rise above the petty politics of his party and the low intrigue of his colleagues.
</div>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-12321580215466355382012-03-31T11:11:00.005-07:002012-03-31T11:19:43.840-07:00Armed Forces Modernisation, etc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBLj5St1yu3WoWEo5wYTDTex8VgD5SI5eahs5r1q_Nl1KusXMg-c7gtwFmo-yJZoJYHMvH8G3VSRFQK-FHYWw1QXwabs7WlrKaPATv54JaVkjbGFf2M9mRFi4Y0p3z6sLdpcnkQ/s1600/01cm4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBLj5St1yu3WoWEo5wYTDTex8VgD5SI5eahs5r1q_Nl1KusXMg-c7gtwFmo-yJZoJYHMvH8G3VSRFQK-FHYWw1QXwabs7WlrKaPATv54JaVkjbGFf2M9mRFi4Y0p3z6sLdpcnkQ/s200/01cm4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726127598456971074" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">According to Press Information Bureau, the following information was given March 19, 2012, by Minister for Defence AK Antony and Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju in written replies to Parliament: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">MODERNISATION OF ARMED FORCES </span><br /><br />Modernization of the Armed Forces including the Coast Guard is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges, technological changes and available resources. The process is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP). Procurement of equipment and weapon systems is carried out as per the AAP in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure. <br /><br />The budgetary allocations on capital acquisition for modernization of Armed Forces including Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Staff and Coast Guard during the years 2008-09 to 2011-12 are as under: <br /><br />Budget Allocations (Rs. in Crore) <br />• 2008-09: 38,515.24 <br />• 2009-10: 41,671.59 <br />• 2010-11: 44,899.25 <br />• 2011-12: 54,598.02 <br /><br />The budget estimates and revised estimates for modernization of Armed Forces during the year 2011-12 under various heads are as under: <br /><br />Army: <br />• 10,740.02 <br />• 4,950.02 <br />• 5,790.00(-) <br /><br />Navy: <br />• 13,149.02 <br />• 16,040.27 <br />• 2,891.25(+) <br /><br />Air Force: <br />• 28,412.74 <br />• 26,033.92 <br />• 2,378.82(-) <br /><br />Joint Staff: <br />• 696.24 <br />• 385.24 <br />• 311.00(-) <br /><br />Coast Guard: <br />• 1,600.00 <br />• 1,600.00 <br />• 0.00 <br /><br />Total: <br />• 54,598.02 <br />• 49,009.45 <br />• 5,588.57(-) <br /><br />The allocation of funds for modernization has been revised based on funds provided by Ministry of Finance in RE in 2011-12 in the Capital segment of Defence Services estimates. However, additional allocation of Rs.2585 crore has been made for other capital requirements of Army including supply of capital equipment from ordnance factories. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />CRASHES OF AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS </span><br /><br />During the last three years (2008-09 to 2010-11) and current year 2011-12 (upto 13.3.2012) 33 fighter aircrafts which includes 01 Jaguar, 02 Mirage-2000, 03 Sukhoi-30 and 27 MIG series aircraft (including 16 MIG-21 series) and 10 helicopters of Indian Air Force (IAF) have crashed. <br /><br />In the above accidents 26 defence personnel including 13 pilots have lost their lives. In addition 06 civilians have also lost their lives. <br /><br />Majority of the above accidents were on account of Human Error (HE) and Technical Defect (TD). Every IAF aircraft accident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry (Col) to ascertain the cause of accident. Remedial measures are taken accordingly to check their recurrence in future. <br /><br />However, improvement of skills of pilots is a continuous process. Several steps have been taken by the Government in this regard. These include increased use of simulators to practice procedures and emergency actions, focused and realistic training with additional emphasis on the critical aspects of mission, introduction of Crew Resource Management and Operational Risk Management to enable safe mission launches, Aviation Psychology courses and introduction of Aerospace Safety capsules in the ab-initio training of aircrew. <br /><br />Decision to phase out aircrafts are taken based on various factors including residual life of the aircraft and operational considerations and is reviewed by the Government from time to time. This is a continuous process.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />DEFENCE PRODUCTION POLICY</span><br /><br />The government has formulated a new Defence Production Policy in order to reduce dependence on the import of defence equipments from other countries. The Defence Production Policy came into effect from 1st January 2011. The policy endeavours to build up a robust indigenous defence industrial base by proactively encouraging larger involvement of the Indian private sector in design, development and manufacture of defence equipment. <br /><br />The modernization programmes are under implementation in DPSUs&OFB. <br /><br />In regard to restructuring of DRDO, the two review committees headed by Prof. P. Rama Rao and Defence Secretary respectively had submitted their recommendations. The following recommendations have been accepted by Government: <br /><br />(i) Formation of Defence Technology Commission (DTC). <br />(ii) Restructuring of DRDO Management/Re-shaping of R&D Headquarters. <br />(iii) Administrative decentralization of DRDO. <br />(iv) Financial decentralisation. <br />(v) Revamping of HR structure. <br />(vi) Creation of a Commercial Arm of DRDO. <br />(vii) Continuation of major ongoing programmes. <br />(viii) Selection of Industry Partner. <br /><br />DRDO has initiated the process of implementation of the above recommendations.<br /><br />While DPP-2011 aims to achieve greater self-reliance in comingyears in continuous manner, no target can be fixed in this regard.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IRREGULARITIES IN PURCHASE OF TATRA TRUCKS</span><br /><br />No irregularities in purchase of components of the Tatra Trucks for army have been reported. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />LEAKAGE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION</span><br /><br />No Army and defence personnel has been reported to have leaked confidential information on social networking sites such a Facebook. Cyber Security Policy which, inter-alia, includes the policy regarding network connected to internet, as circulated by Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Department of Information Technology is being enforced in this Ministry and the three Services. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ACQUISITION OF FLEET TANKER</span><br /><br />Indian Navy awarded a contract for acquisition of a fleet tanker to foreign shipyard.Steel offered by the shipyard, M/s Fincantieri, in response to Request for Proposal (RFP) for construction of Fleet Tanker, was technically evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). Based on technical clarifications offered by the shipyard, which were ratified by two classification societies, the steel offered by the shipyard was accepted by the TEC for the stated purpose.<br /><br />In order to ascertain reasonability of cost, the Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) undertook costing for the tanker based on two separate costing models. Taking into account both the costing models, the CNC considered the cost quoted by M/s. Fincantieri of Euro 127.26 Million (Rs.747.65 crore) as the basic cost of the ship to be reasonable.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TECHNICAL PROBLEMS IN GUN SYSTEMS</span><br /><br />There are no technical problems reported in existing gun system of the Army. However, due to vintage and exploitation of the guns, mechanical problems of routine nature do come up from time to time. These are rectified by the repair/maintenance agencies either in situ or at the workshops established for this purpose.<br /><br />The government had secured the right of transfer of technology during the purchase of Bofors guns. Though all the technological documents as per the ToT contract were received by OFB from M/s AB Bofors, the Transfer of Technology was not carried forward as the dealings with the technology provider, (M/s AB Bofors) were suspended. Further, no indent was placed by Army on OFB for manufacture and supply of complete gun system. <br /><br />Capital expenditure of Rs.376.55 crore has been sanctioned by the Government in March, 2012 for creation/augmentation of Large Calibre Weapon manufacturing capacity in Ordnance Factories.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />SUBMARINE FLEET OF NAVY</span><br /><br />The existing submarine fleet is being constantly upgraded with modern weapons and sensors which has ensured that the underwater combat capacity of the country remains at the desired levels.<br /><br />Six Scorpene submarines are being constructed under Project-75 at M/s Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai under Transfer of Technology (ToT) from M/s DCNS, France. <br /><br />Government approval for construction of the six submarines at M/s MDL under Project-75 was accorded in September, 2005 at a total cost of Rs.18,798crore. The contract was signed in October, 2005. The Government approval for revision in cost of the project to Rs.23,562crore was accorded in February, 2010, along with revision in delivery schedule. <br /><br />The original delivery schedule of the first submarine was December, 2012 and remaining submarines were to be delivered with a gap of one year each. Consequent to the approval of Government for revision is cost and delivery schedule, the delivery schedule of the first submarine has been revised to June, 2015 and that of the last (6th) submarine to September, 2018. The delay in construction of Scorpene submarines is attributable to initial teething problems in absorption of new technology, delay in augmentation of Industrial Infrastructure at MDL and delay in procurement of MPM items by MDL due to their high cost as compared to the earlier indicated cost. Most of the teething problems have been resolved and various plans have been put in place to minimize delays. <br /><br />As part of the TOT for the six submarines under construction at MDL, Mumbai, a Technical Data Package has been provided by the Collaborator. This will enable attainment of significant indigenous competence in submarine construction, especially in the field of hull fabrication, outfitting, system integration etc. by the end of the programme.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PURCHASE OF TRAINER AIRCRAFT</span><br /><br />Consequent upon the grounding of HPT-32 aircraft due to flight safety concerns and shifting of basic flying training to Kiran Mk-I/IA aircraft, the syllabus for basic flying training has been reduced, keeping the available resources in mind. However, flying hours have been increased in other stages of flying to ensure wholesome training.<br /><br />A proposal is being progressed for the procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft from M/s Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland. <br /><br />There has been no delay in acquiring Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). <br /><br />The Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainer has been selected for the Indian Air Force. A total of 106 Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft are being inducted into the Indian Air Force. <br /><br />The delivery of the basic trainer aircraft from M/s Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland is scheduled to commence 15 months from signing of the contract. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ORDERS FOR LCA TEJAS</span><br /><br />IAF has placed orders for 40 aircraft for LCA Tejas on HAL. The deliveries of aircraft are scheduled in the 12th plan period. Necessary funds for investment have been provided by the Government of India. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAM </span><br /><br />Government is pursuing defence cooperation activities with a number of foreign countries, including Vietnam, based on mutual interests of both sides and keeping in view all relevant aspects. <br /><br />Defence cooperation activities with foreign countries include high level visits, training exchanges and other interactions between the armed forces of both sides. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PIRACY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS </span><br /><br />No pact has been signed between India and China to tackle piracy. However, India, China and Japan have recently agreed for better coordination amongst their Naval ships deployed for escort of Merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden. <br /><br />There are no plans to sign such pacts. Nevertheless, the security and surveillance apparatus for coastal defence has been enhanced over the years. Further, strengthening of the coastal security apparatus is an ongoing process considering the needs and changing security scenario as well as the threat perception. <br /> <br />* * *<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">According to Press Information Bureau, the following information was given March 14, 2012 by Minister for Defence AK Antony and Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju in written replies to Parliament:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">INDO-CHINA MARITIME COOPERATION</span><br /><br />India, China & Japan have recently agreed for better coordination amongst their Naval ships deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. As per the convoy coordination plan implemented with effect from 1st January, 2012, one of the Navies is designated as a "Reference Navy" for a period of three months, which first proposes its escort schedule for a three months period. The other Navies then de-conflict their escorts schedules with the dates of Reference Navy. The Reference Navy is rotated every three months in alphabetical orders.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />INDUCTION OF DRONES IN IAF</span><br /><br />In order to meet its operational requirements the Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to increase the strength of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in a phased manner. These include Micro and Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft. <br /><br />The Remotely Piloted Aircraft are employed for surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering tasks and not for filling gaps in our Air Defence capability.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />PROBE IN PROCUREMENT OF 12 VVIP HELICOPTERS</span><br /><br />There was a media report stating that the scope of a probe by Italian prosecutors into allegations against unethical dealings by M/s Finmeccanica, Italy has widened to include the Indian contract signed with M/s Agusta Westland for purchase of 12 helicopters. Ministry of Defence asked for a report in the matter from the Indian Embassy in Rome. The report received indicates that Italian magistrate/prosecutors are conducting preliminary investigation about allegations of financial mal-practices occurring within M/s Finmeccanica, Italy and its subsidiaries in general and there is no specific probe being conducted about India related transactions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">CAG REPORT ON ACQUISITION OF ARTILLERY GUNS</span><br /><br />The CAG report for the year 2011-12 (Defence Services) has made certain observations that modern technology Artillery Guns could not be made available to Artillery troops for certain reasons as explained in its Report.<br /><br />As part of modernization, the Regiment of Artillery has been equipped with PINAKA Rocket Systems, Smerch Rocket Systems and BrahMos Missile Systems in the past 7-8 years. Nine Regiments of 130mm guns have already been upgraded in keeping with Artillery profile 2027. Various other gun systems are also at different stages of procurement. The modernization of Artillery is a continuous process and is being given priority to ensure that Artillery remains equipped with modern weapon systems.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />DELAY IN DEFENCE PURCHASES</span><br /><br />Acquisition of weapons and equipment for defence forces is a complex activity and is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). As per broad timeframe given in DPP, it takes about 80-137 weeks to complete the various stages of procurement and conclude the contract. However, delays sometimes occur in procurement cases due to several reasons, such as insufficient and limited vendor base, non¬conformity of the offers to the Request of Proposal (RFP) conditions, field trials, complexities in contract negotiations and long lead time for indigenization etc. Defence acquisitions are normally based on fixed price contracts. There are contractual provisions for penalties including imposition of liquidated damages for delay in execution of contracts.<br /><br />To counter systemic and institutional delays, procedures are continuously reviewed and refined on the basis of experience gained during the procurement process.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />AVAILABILITY OF HELICOPTERS FOR HIGH ALTITUDE AREAS</span><br /><br />The air logistics including casualty evacuation in emergent situations of Indian Army is being met by Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters. The Army's rotary wing assets also assist the IAF.<br /><br />A Request for Proposal (RFP) / for hiring of civil helicopters for movement of maintenance supplies in high altitude areas was issued in October 2011, which included details of dispatch and receiving helipads. <br /><br />The security situation is reviewed by the Government from time to time, keeping in view the threat perception. This is a continuous process.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">DEVELOPMENT OF TEJAS LCA</span><br /><br />The Initial Operational Clearance-1 (IOC-1) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft has been achieve on 10th January, 2011. Presently, LCA development activities leading to final operational clearance are in progress. Action for induction of Tejas into IAF has been initiated. IAF has placed orders for 40 aircraft with HAL.<br /><br />Tejas Mark-I is planned at present for 40 aircraft only. Tejas Mark-II aircraft is under development with an alternate higher powered engine with considerable improvements. Final cost assessment will be available only after the development phase of Mark II is completed. Scope for cost reduction of Tejas Mk-I has been examined and the same is assessed as not feasible in view of limited quantities. <br /><br />Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is the nodal organization for the development of Tejas. <br /><br />Rs.11845.20 Crores have been sanctioned by the government of India to ADA for the development of Tejas till date and the total expenditure incurred so far is Rs.5051.46 Crores. <br /><br />IAF plans to induct six LCA squadrons by the end of the 13th Plan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">HELICOPTERS EMPLOYED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES</span><br /><br />The Indian Air Force helicopters are assisting in providing logistics support in aid of Ministry of Home Affairs anti-naxal operations.<br /><br />Details of helicopters pressed in service in the foreign countries cannot be divulged in the interest of friendly relations with foreign countries and strategic concerns.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />PURCHASE OF LUHS</span><br /><br />There is a proposal of procurement of 187 Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) under design and development project undertaken by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The project was sanctioned by Government of India in February 2009. The project is proceeding as per approved time lines.<br /><br />The procurement of quantity 145 Ultra Light Field Guns (Ultra Light Howitzers) was initially progressed concurrently as a Single Vendor Case from M/s ST Kinetics and through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route with Government of United States of America. However, the permission for trials was not granted to M/s ST Kinetics as the Firm is named in an FIR filed by CBI. The matter is presently sub-judice. <br /><br />The field evaluation of Ultra Light Howitzer comprises three parts, viz. user trials, DGQA trials and Maintainability trials. Out of these, user trials of the gun proposed to be procured through US Government have been completed. The performance of the gun can be ascertained only after evaluation of all three trial reports.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE BORDER REGION BY PAKISTAN</span><br /><br />The Government is aware through intelligence inputs that Pakistan has constructed and carried our repairs of bunkers, morchas and towers as per the following details (Period:2004 to 2011): <br /><br />• Bunkers: 886<br />• Morcha: 261<br />• Towers: 398<br />• Post/Border Out Posts (BOPs): 143<br /><br />Protests have been lodged with Pakistan Rangers and Flag Meetings of Field Commanders are held in all cases. The matter is also taken up by BSF with Pakistan Rangers during scheduled meetings at various levels.<br /><br />Adequate troops are suitably supplemented by appropriate surveillance and technical intelligence resources to ensure the sanctity of the border.Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-18622832141903821552012-03-02T12:41:00.005-08:002012-03-02T12:53:45.484-08:00Incredible ignorance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintaTvHR8IH1XLc8NXiXf7gYSaaFAJt-Afv_xseJBW67_ihW3b5y_uz6TcqQPEEQlxAtsYV1fkdqT1e_FmiGH5tuW6rQnUD54OdathnLydq2nrwkZqAurZabT-J1kVAvIqOyJRnQ/s1600/BarbedWireRose1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintaTvHR8IH1XLc8NXiXf7gYSaaFAJt-Afv_xseJBW67_ihW3b5y_uz6TcqQPEEQlxAtsYV1fkdqT1e_FmiGH5tuW6rQnUD54OdathnLydq2nrwkZqAurZabT-J1kVAvIqOyJRnQ/s200/BarbedWireRose1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715405458356515378" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A response to Salil Tripathi - II<br /><br />Facts are sacred; comment is free.</span><br /><br /><br />In his column ‘Here, There, Everywhere’, published in <span style="font-style:italic;">Mint</span> under the headline “<a href="http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/29202235/Incredible-impunity.html#.T05Pi6hwRsU.twitter">Incredible impunity</a>” on February 29, 2012, Mr Salil Tripathi displays incredible ignorance (I sincerely mean no offence for he is a writer gifted with incredible intelligence) of Gujarat’s incredible economic growth and incredible prosperity, both of which are the envy of every State in the country. <br /><br />The economic development and growth, and the consequent prosperity, witnessed in Gujarat have whetted the aspirations of Indians from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. They have brought about a paradigm shift in the people’s expectations from their Government – in their respective States; at the Centre. All this, of course, is inconsequential to Mr Tripathi who is neither impressed nor moved by Gujarat’s giant strides!<br /><br />Reluctant to use the term ‘Modi Model’ for reasons that do not merit elaboration, a senior CPI(M) leader of West Bengal, reflecting on what went wrong with the Left Front that led to its decimation in the 2011 Assembly election, ruefully told me: “If only we had worked towards adopting the Gujarat Model…” <br /><br />Those who are determined to demonise Mr Narendra Modi and deny him any credit for the ‘Gujarat Model’ of remarkable growth and prosperity are welcome to live in cussed denial, but that won’t change the ground reality – Gujarat’s economy has grown; Gujaratis (both Hindus and Muslims) have prospered. Nor will it influence the manner in which investors at home and abroad view the State.<br /><br />Vibrant Gujarat has set new standards for other States to emulate. That entrepreneurs from other States, including Jammu & Kashmir, want to set up their businesses in Gujarat explains what sets this State apart from others. That difference is on account of the political leadership of the day.<br /><br />Comparisons, as the adage goes, can be odious. Hence they are best avoided. But since Mr Tripathi has compared Gujarat to Maharashtra in a strenuous effort to belittle the former’s achievements, it would be in order to not only suggest that he and other critics of Mr Narendra Modi should revisit the socio-economic profiles of the two States for a closer scrutiny of details, but to also point out that a vast gulf separates these two States.<br /><br />That gulf is about probity in public life; it’s about the integrity of those who are in charge of the Government; it’s about, to put it in two words, good governance. <br /><br />Mr Tripathi is right when he says Gujaratis are an enterprising lot and that they have always done better than other Indians, even in trying circumstances – for instance, when Chimanbhai was Chief Minister of the State, the man who was known as “<span style="font-style:italic;">Chiman Chor</span>”. Gujarat’s economic growth and prosperity over the past decade has been accompanied by a thorough cleansing of the system. Mr Narendra Modi can justly claim: “Na khata hoon na khilata hoon.” <br /><br />That, understandably, leaves many disconsolate.<br /><br />Stray statistics, confusing and plucked at random, find mention in Mr Tripathi’s column: They have been quoted to put down Gujarat. I can only cite from official documents a set of statistics that I have cross-checked with friends in the Planning Commission: <br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gross Domestic Product:</span> At current prices, Gujarat’s share at Rs 5,13,173 crore is 7.17 per cent of India’s GDP. At constant prices (2004-05), it’s Rs 3,65,295 crore, or 7.48 per cent of India’s GDP. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Net Domestic Product:</span> At current prices, Gujarat’s share at Rs 4,40,942 crore is 6.89 per cent of India’s NDP. At constant prices (2004-05), it’s Rs 3,09,409 crore, or 7.16 per cent of India’s NDP.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Per Capita Income:</span> At current prices, it is Rs 75,115 compared to the national average of Rs 53,331. At constant prices (2004-05), it’s Rs 52,708 compared to the national average of Rs 35,993. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (NSS 2009-10):</span> In rural areas of Gujarat it is Rs 1,065 compared to the national average of Rs 953. In urban areas it is Rs 1,914 compared to the national average of Rs 1,856.</blockquote><br />While the manufacturing sector and agriculture have suffered huge reversals across the country in the recent years under the UPA’s tutelage, Gujarat has bucked the trend. Manufacturing and agriculture continue to register impressive growth in the State. In 2002-03, ports in Gujarat were handling 841 lakh tonnes of goods; in 2010-11, that figure had grown to 2,309 lakh tonnes.<br /><br />Mr Tripathi mocks at Mr Narendra Modi’s claim that Gujarat will soon be in a position to provide power to power-starved States. He overlooks the fact that Gujarat is the only State which can today boast of 24x7 power supply to industry, farms and homes. It’s absurd to compare Gujarat’s power generation capacity (GSEB alone produces 4,996 MW) to that of north-eastern States. The former has heavy industrial and agricultural demand for power; the latter has virtually none.<br /><br />I wish Mr Tripathi had compared the power situation in Gujarat with that which prevails in Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh (where I live and hence am acquainted with the reality) or India's capital city, Delhi (where I work and hence am also acquainted with the reality).<br /><br />The comparison reminds me of how Jyoti Basu had once proudly proclaimed that Calcutta, as Kolkata was then known, had left behind its terrible days and nights of relentless ‘load-shedding’. What he forgot to mention is that West Bengal had left behind its glory days as the industrial hub of the eastern hinterland. <br /><br />I could go on citing statistical details, but the list is far too long. Those who are interested in the specifics will find them in the latest <a href="http://financedepartment.gujarat.gov.in/budget12_13_pdf/34_Socio_Economic_Review_English.pdf">Socio-Economic Review of Gujarat</a>. A patient reading will tell you why it’s incorrect (and grossly unfair) to try and diminish Gujarat’s spectacular social and economic achievements.<br /><br />“So many things work properly in Gujarat that it hardly feels like India,” the Economist said in a review of Gujarat’s economy. The report was telling published under the headline, “India's Guangdong: A north-western State offers a glimpse of a possible industrial future for India.” The report can be read <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/18929279">here</a>. <br /><br />Mr Tripathi has chosen to play fast and loose while discussing Gujarat’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. It’s possible he is not aware of the minutiae of the FRBM Act and the fact that the 13th Finance Commission has set targets for each State Government and every State has to periodically report progress which is documented. Compared to other States, Gujarat has been well ahead of meeting the targets that were set for its compliance to fiscal responsibility. The details are available over <a href="http://financedepartment.gujarat.gov.in/budget12_13_pdf/30_Fiscal_Responsibility_Act_2005_English.pdf">here</a> for those who are interested in the specifics.<br /><br />Admittedly, nobody is perfect. If Mr Narendra Modi is guilty of anything, it is of pursuing purposeful policies of enablement and empowerment of all, irrespective of gender, caste and faith, while eschewing wasteful policies of entitlement. That’s where the 'Modi Model', or call it the 'Gujarat Model' if you wish, stands out in stark contrast to the 'NAC Model'. <br /><br />That, understandably, leaves many incandescent with rage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">(To be continued.)<br /></span>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-24198942610036694132012-02-29T13:18:00.007-08:002012-03-01T04:51:33.283-08:00Here, There, Nowhere...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ04sLvWc1nTLLx9DFB-qVQmZ58rd_ctDF0GP_5BIWTFtwgX3kU6SgVpgDHJHpLhmJPWYLQrj2bPvBqJ4E6Iwa1JaT6mQlb-wJjPV4vpoNmZU9aY74Xk9hge4r3Wr_kvmRmk92g/s1600/BarbedWireRose_Norgen.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ04sLvWc1nTLLx9DFB-qVQmZ58rd_ctDF0GP_5BIWTFtwgX3kU6SgVpgDHJHpLhmJPWYLQrj2bPvBqJ4E6Iwa1JaT6mQlb-wJjPV4vpoNmZU9aY74Xk9hge4r3Wr_kvmRmk92g/s200/BarbedWireRose_Norgen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714671606668672898" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A response to Salil Tripathi - I<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1984 and 2002 are not comparable.<br /></span><br /><br />Rarely, if ever, have I commented on an article penned by a fellow writer. That’s not because I do not react to what they have to say or I hold views with which I disagree as not worthy of comment. It’s largely because writers must be allowed to have their say (and space) and partly on account of the fact that I try not to bruise feelings. I am known for not bothering with vacuous niceties; it makes sense not to compound that shortcoming by penning my opinion on the views of other writers.<br /><br />Yet, I feel compelled to react, in writing, to Mr Salil Tripathi’s column, ‘Here, There, Everywhere’, which appears in <em>Mint</em>, a Delhi-based newspaper, that has been published under the headline “<a href="http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/29202235/Incredible-impunity.html#.T05Pi6hwRsU.twitter">Incredible impunity</a>” on February 29, 2012. The strap line reads: “Of all the potential and credible contenders to be the next Prime Minister, the one least deserving is Narendra Modi.” It’s a free world and this country is still a democracy where freedom of thought, expression and speech, though circumscribed by restrictive laws, is not entirely absent from the public domain.<br /> <br />Hence, Mr Tripathi has the right to not only believe that it is his burden to decide for more than a billion resident Indians who is the most and least deserving contender to be the next Prime Minister but also express that belief in suitable words, which he has done in his column. My response to his views is not an attempt to shout him down or point out why he is wrong in saying what he says, but to posit a set of counter-views. I have no intention to play evangelist to a heathen or convert a non-believer; such lofty tasks are best left to those who mistake their writing desk for a pulpit and their chair as a pedestal. <br /><br />Mr Tripathi is outraged that those who cannot stop raging over the retaliatory violence which followed the arson attack on coach S-6 of Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002, at Godhra, in which 58 Hindu men, women and children were killed, should be reminded of the anti-Sikh pogrom (it was definitely not a ‘riot’) of 1984 by those who are not impressed by the ceaseless cant of the self-righteous and sanctimonious army of the good and the virtuous. He sees this as a “despicable” attempt to equate the two unfortunate events (my words, not his) of our recent history. I would agree with him.<br /><br />The hideous blood-letting by Congress goons that we witnessed in Delhi and several cities even before Mrs Indira Gandhi’s mortal remains were consigned to the flames cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be equated with the ghastly violence that gripped parts of Gujarat after the torching of coach S-6 of Sabarmati Express by a Muslim mob. There are three reasons why any attempt at comparing the two tragic events would be immoral and wrong. <br /><br />First, the scale of violence is incomparable, as is the loss of lives and property. With the help of documentary evidence and those who fought (and are still fighting, although with receding hope) for justice for the victims of the anti-Sikh pogrom, I had computed the <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/nov/01kanch.htm">death toll to be not less than 4,733</a>. Most of the deaths occurred in Delhi. In the post-Godhra riots, <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/jun/02kanch.htm">1,044 people</a> (not “thousands” as Mr Tripathi says) were killed: 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus. Lest I be accused of being callous, let me hasten to add that I believe every life matters and even one death is one too many. <br /><br />Second, the Government of India, which was then (and still remains) responsible for maintaining law and order in Delhi, refused to lift a finger in admonition, leave alone crack down on mobs of Congress hoodlums led by Congress cronies of the party’s first family, for 72 hours. The Congress, and the Government which was then headed by Rajiv Gandhi (whom Mr Tripathi is keen to exonerate) wanted to “teach the Sikhs a lesson” -- the crime of a few individuals was converted into a collective crime deserving of collective retribution. As Rajiv Gandhi was to later declare, without the slightest trace of contrition or remorse, “When a giant tree falls, the earth below shakes.”<br /><br />In contrast, Mr Narendra Modi decided to call in the Army when it became clear that the State police were incapable of controlling the rioting mobs. Nearly all the 254 Hindus who died in the violence were killed in police or Army firing. Not a single tormentor of Sikhs suffered so much as a lathi-blow in 1984. But let that pass. Could Mr Narendra Modi have done better? Could he have stamped out the riots before they exacted a terrible toll? Could he have ensured absolute peace and calm despite the provocation of the arson attack at Godhra? <br /><br />These are questions that can be debated till the cows come home (the reference to cows, Mr Tripathi, is idiomatic and not an attempt to push what you would derisively call the ‘Hindutva agenda’) without reaching a conclusion that is acceptable to all. I’d say he tried his best; others like Mr Tripathi would say he didn’t. I would stand by my truth just as others would stand by their perceived truth. A cock fight of truths does not excite me. <br /><br />We could, however, look at how ‘successful’ other Chief Ministers have been in <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/10kanch.htm">controlling riots</a>. For instance, we could look at riots in Uttar Pradesh, in Bihar, in Andhra Pradesh, in Maharashtra, in West Bengal, in Assam, in Tamil Nadu, in Kerala, in Karnataka, in Rajasthan, in Madhya Pradesh, in Odisha -- virtually every State of the Union. Each one of these riots is well documented. Each one of them resulted in a terrible loss of lives and property -- well, not really because often the victims were too poor to own any property. <br /><br />I don’t know if Mr Tripathi has ever found himself trapped in a riot; I have seen the Jamshedpur riot of 1979 from close quarters. When blood-lust grips people, when insanity takes over, even shoot-at-sight orders don’t have the desired result. In Jamshedpur I saw tribal Christians looting the homes of Hindus and Muslims while they battled in the streets: What does that tell us of a riot? <br /><br />In Maliana, the PAC was accused of playing a partisan role. Shall we then hold Vir Bahadur Singh, the then Congress Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, personally responsible for that massacre? Nellie wouldn’t have happened had Mrs Indira Gandhi not insisted on holding a disputed election in Assam. Should we then blame her for the massacre of 2,191 people, a vast number of them suckling infants? We could go further back in history and blame Jawaharlal Nehru for the Great Calcutta Killing of August 1946, for it could be argued, and convincingly so, that had it not been for his cussedness Mohammed Ali Jinnah wouldn't have called for Direct Action.<br /><br />Third, no two incidents of communal violence are comparable. The causative factors differ as do local political, social and cultural dynamics. How can we then compare 1984 to 2002? More so when 1984 was a state-sponsored pogrom endorsed by the then Prime Minister of India, an endorsement that reverberated in his infamous declaration that the earth is bound to shake when a giant tree falls? <br /><br />It would, then, be asked, why is 1984 mentioned at all in the context of 2002? Here’s the reason why: Intolerant ‘secularists’, sanctimonious leftists and self-righteous liberals who are unsparing in their criticism of Mr Narendra Modi take extraordinary care in steering clear of even remotely accusing the Congress, let alone Rajiv Gandhi, of complicity in the mind-numbing brutalities of 1984.<br /><br />I hold Mr Tripathi in high esteem. Had I not done so I’d have been appalled by his exertions to exonerate Rajiv Gandhi who knew what was happening in Delhi and made it a point to turn a deaf ear to pitiful cries for help and groveling appeals by noted Sikh personalities.<br /><br />Did he do so because he was in mourning? <br /><br />Rajiv Gandhi’s grief and anguish did not quite stand in the way of his decision to take oath as Prime Minister the same day his mother was assassinated. That swearing in ceremony could have waited till the last rites were performed. But he chose not to wait lest the crown be snatched from him. Mr Pranab Mukherjee still pays the price for an indiscrete comment made earlier that day. So let’s not say with disarming certitude that “presumably Rajiv Gandhi had other things on his mind (like grief) than planning a pogrom”. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">(To be continued.)</span>Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-11019297263709088662012-01-23T11:01:00.000-08:002012-01-23T11:38:35.042-08:00The tragedy of exile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajJEZCEtC0knh-1tZXLSfwQyg-VtjXJIGYjXib5xnQBzcy4XDrkWeul8szLMXKSnEtk_QAYqS0DIF6EE8IBYdgHg32glwHkfPgNkUFDMRr2Az_XiunLg8jrI5XqJ7f71T67NkJg/s1600/barbed-wire.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajJEZCEtC0knh-1tZXLSfwQyg-VtjXJIGYjXib5xnQBzcy4XDrkWeul8szLMXKSnEtk_QAYqS0DIF6EE8IBYdgHg32glwHkfPgNkUFDMRr2Az_XiunLg8jrI5XqJ7f71T67NkJg/s200/barbed-wire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700913872030593986" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">It can be a punishment worse than death<br /></span><br />The ancient Greeks, who were otherwise sensibly cynical about suffering and pain in love and war, would become insufferably maudlin when it came to the plight of someone forced into exile. To be banished from your land and not be able to live among your people was considered a fate worse than death. <br /><br />Euripedes crafted his tales around the theme of exile, each utterance of his exiled men and women drafted to tug at the strings of the reader's heart. Death was melancholic; exile was tragic. There must have been something universal about that perception. <br /><br />For kings and emperors, dictators and tyrants, usurpers and pretenders who followed the demise of ancient Greece are known to have turned a deaf ear to pitiful cries of mercy while punishing those guilty of real and imaginary crimes by sending them into exile. Being fed to the lions, it would seem, was preferable to living in a foreign land among alien people.<br /><br />But exile wasn't always a punishment that fetched individual sighs of horror. It was also the only option for those persecuted for their faith and belief. The Jews went into exile after the destruction of their Second Temple and till the birth of Israel wandered the world, waiting for the day they could return to Jerusalem and claim it as their own. The Zoroastrians fled Persia and sought shelter in India to keep the fire of their faith burning. In more recent times, the Dalai Lama led his people into exile after China grabbed Tibet through force.<br /><br />The Parsis, having lost their home and hearth in the land of Zarathustra forever, became an integral part of Indian society. The Tibetans, on the other hand, believe Tibet shall be free once again. They live as exiles in India and around the world in anticipation of the day when they can claim Tibet as their land and drive the Han Chinese out. That may never happen, just as Napolean died dreaming of his country. <br /><br />It's not that everybody who leaves his or her homeland to set up home somewhere else grieves for that which has been left behind. Southall may remind visitors of Punjab but Punjabis who live there don't see it as a reminder of their past. Those who weep into their whiskey and beer at Glassy Junction are not necessarily haunted by memories. Nor do those who have changed their names to Andy and Wendy after swapping their Indian passports with American citizenship feel either remorse or guilt for disowning their motherland. <br /><br />Yet there are millions who feel an umbilical attachment to India, though they have never visited the land their forefathers left, or were forced to leave. These are the descendants of east Indians who, having offered to become indentured labourers for a pittance, crossed the kala pani, never to return again. Chutney music will no doubt be sneered at here in India, but for most east Indians in the Caribbean, it keeps them rooted to their culture and identity.<br /><br />In Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago, separated by sea and continents, indentured immigrant Indians clung on to ideas of caste and community, notions of kith and kin; if those were eroded with time, they re-invented them, but never abandoned what they thought was, and still think is, unique to their identity in the land of their exile. Like the wandering Jews they wove facts into faith so that new generations would remember and not forget. <br /><br />Yet, for many exiles forgetting and not remembering makes it easier to cope with the reality. This is especially true for those who can't return home even if they wish to. Bangladeshi poet Daud Haider had to leave his country after being accused of blasphemy in 1974. He sought shelter in Kolkata, a city that adopted him as one of its own. In 1986 he was asked to leave India as his presence was deemed to be detrimental to relations with Bangladesh. Celebrated German writer Gunter Grass brought him to Berlin where he has lived ever since. <br /><br />Till recently Daud would petition anybody and everybody in Bangladesh to let him visit the land of his birth just once so that he could meet his family, see the house he grew up in, talk to his childhood friends, smell the soil and taste the water that were once so familiar. Promises were made and broken. Hope that once burned bright is now a dying, flickering flame. <br /><br />It's only when your country disowns you that you realise what exile means. Euripedes was right. Nothing can be more tragic than that. Ask the Kashmiri Pandits, they will tell you what it means to be exiled from the land of your ancestors.<br /><br />[<span style="font-style:italic;">My weekly column in MidDay published on January 21, 2012.</span>]Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-34239291223272109692012-01-20T11:28:00.000-08:002012-01-20T11:34:46.423-08:00Pity the nation that can't defend liberty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha55vV1nlEbBRcQRIT6ITE5FqEodZKyQ4v-HLJPxtPDq1bRu4aVIjt7k9oLZgOTu-xskslN8myUjn-YitEeQcazLocORFWEgFusl7ypvkEWDCO3AuIBBDPT4dSzqgc23G9FKHuJw/s1600/21main.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha55vV1nlEbBRcQRIT6ITE5FqEodZKyQ4v-HLJPxtPDq1bRu4aVIjt7k9oLZgOTu-xskslN8myUjn-YitEeQcazLocORFWEgFusl7ypvkEWDCO3AuIBBDPT4dSzqgc23G9FKHuJw/s200/21main.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699799592785677266" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Congress's no-limit, interest-free, Minority Card</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style:italic;">It's the world's best credit card, issued by Vote Bank of India!</span>)<br /><br />Nothing could be more telling about the tarnished and tattered state of our secular republic than the Darul Uloom Deoband vice-chancellor, Maulana Abul Qasim, describing Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot petitioning the Union government to stop Salman Rushdie from visiting India as "a victory for democracy".<br /><br />According to Maulana Qasim, "democracy is alive in India" because Gehlot has painted a grim picture of how mobs will run riot and law and order shall collapse if Rushdie were to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival; hence, he should be barred from entering the country of his origin.<br /><br />Deoband’s chief maulana wants Rushdie’s entry ‘prohibited forever’ as demanded ‘by so many people.’ That’s balderdash. The ‘so many people’ he refers to are mullahs and those who are prone to running riot over bogus grievances and spurious issues. The vast majority of Indians, irrespective of faith, is not in the least bothered and would, if asked, wholeheartedly support the idea of Rushdie visiting this country whenever he wishes.<br /><br />Not so the Congress. It can’t resist the temptation of seizing an opportunity to indulge in crass Muslim vote-bank politics when it senses one. In fact, there’s reason to believe that the Congress has a hand in manufacturing this mullah-led demand and the threat of violence to keep Rushdie away from India. It’s of a piece with the party’s electoral strategy in Uttar Pradesh premised on the cynical belief that pandering to the belligerence of mullahs and their ilk will fetch the party a rich harvest of Muslim votes.<br /><br />First we had senior Congress leader and law minister Salman Khurshid brazenly promising that his party will increase the minority quota, which is euphemism for Muslim reservation, from 4.5% to 9%. That pledge fetched the Election Commission’s ire but the message has not been lost. Then we had Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh seeking to reopen the bogus debate over the Batla House encounter of 2008, blaming the prime minister and the home minister for not ordering a judicial inquiry as demanded by the malcontent of Azamgarh who are either SIMI or IM supporters if not closet activists.<br /><br />Simultaneously, the mullahs of Deoband suddenly remembered Salman Rushdie — all these years they were not offended by his many visits to India, including his attending the Jaipur Literary Festival in 2007, but have discovered merit in blocking it now as Uttar Pradesh prepares to go to polls. Not surprisingly, the refrain was taken up by fanatics in Rajasthan where the Congress is in power. We haven’t heard a whimper from anywhere else in the country.<br /><br />For the Congress, the minority card is the most powerful credit card in the world. It has no upper limit; it does not bounce; and it comes interest-free. Little wonder that the party has been using this card for the past six decades, encashing votes by pretending to be the sole protector of Muslim sentiments and sensitivities.<br /><br />Sadly, there’s little realisation that, in the process, India’s Muslims have been further ghettoised, left to wallow in imagined slight and all-consuming denial. It should be of no comfort to the community that threats of violence generate fear, not respect; nor should it mistake the Congress’s cynical politics of appeasement as the route to social development and economic progress of Muslims.<br /><br />The reality, tragically, is to the contrary. And so we have mullahs threatening violence and the Congress capitulating to their demands in pursuit of its policy of limitless appeasement. Rajiv Gandhi’s government banned <span style="font-style:italic;">The Satanic Verses</span> even before Ayatollah Khomeini issued his infamous fatwa. The Shah Bano judgment was subverted by abusing the Congress’s parliamentary majority. In more recent times, Denmark’s prime minister was asked to call off his scheduled visit to India lest it upset Muslim sensitivities allegedly inflamed over cartoons nobody had seen in this country. And Shimon Peres was ‘discouraged’ from attending the annual HT Summit lest the presence of Israel’s President on India’s soil upset Muslims.<br /><br />Salman Rushdie may yet visit India and make an appearance at the Jaipur Literary Festival. But that’s really inconsequential. What is of consequence is the amazing audacity of mullahs who now want to have a say on who gets to visit India and who doesn’t, who should live here and who shouldn’t, and the astounding willingness of the Congress to comply to their outrageously vile demands. That way lies the path to disaster. <br /><br />This is no longer about Salman Rushdie or his <span style="font-style:italic;">Satanic Verses</span>. It’s about what remains of our secular republic.<br /><br />[Column in DNA, January 20, 2012.]Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-50440502446784384462012-01-18T11:24:00.000-08:002012-01-18T12:12:38.917-08:0019/01/90: When Kashmiri Pandits fled Islamic terror<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-BgtAqBcnGabRrC6Flepwhzeiv2UNRlOzQaAebi4Zw8a2lOqLokbHXs-CsLy8pnKiVpnEZq8dHv843kCdF6Zgn4Jv_v2pUPrSQ6jV32o6qWcmbFyazTlBAfCo7Jr_tHPyZADYg/s1600/pandit7.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-BgtAqBcnGabRrC6Flepwhzeiv2UNRlOzQaAebi4Zw8a2lOqLokbHXs-CsLy8pnKiVpnEZq8dHv843kCdF6Zgn4Jv_v2pUPrSQ6jV32o6qWcmbFyazTlBAfCo7Jr_tHPyZADYg/s200/pandit7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699060807943290498" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist.<br />Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.<br />Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.<br />Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight:bold;">-- Martin Niemöller on German intellectuals who failed to stand up to Nazi terror. Applies to our intellectuals too who have spectacularly failed to raise their voice against Islamic terror.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">'Be One With Us, Run, or Die...'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Srinagar, January 4, 1990.</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Aftab</span>, a local Urdu newspaper, publishes a press release issued by Hizb-ul Mujahideen, set up by the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1989 to wage jihad for Jammu & Kashmir's secession from India and accession to Pakistan, asking all Hindus to pack up and leave. Another local paper, <span style="font-style:italic;">Al Safa</span>, repeats this expulsion order.<br /><br />In the following days, there is near chaos in the Kashmir Valley with Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference Government abdicating all responsibilities of the state. Masked men run amok, waving Kalashnikovs, shooting to kill and shouting anti-India slogans.<br /><br />Reports of killing of Hindus, invariably Kashmiri Pandits, begin to trickle in; there are explosions; inflammatory speeches are made from the pulpits of mosques, using public address systems meant for calling the faithful to prayers. A terrifying fear psychosis begins to take grip of Kashmiri Pandits.<br /><br />Walls are plastered with posters and handbills, summarily ordering all Kashmiris to strictly follow the Islamic dress code, prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks and imposing a ban on video parlours and cinemas. The masked men with Kalashnikovs force people to re-set their watches and clocks to Pakistan Standard Time.<br /><br />Shops, business establishments and homes of Kashmiri Pandits, the original inhabitants of the Kashmir Valley with a recorded cultural and civilisational history dating back 5,000 years, are marked out. Notices are pasted on doors of Pandit houses, peremptorily asking the occupants to leave Kashmir within 24 hours or face death and worse. Some are more lucid: "Be one with us, run, or die!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">'Asi Gachchi Pakistan, Batao Roas te Batanev San...'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Srinagar, January 19, 1990.</span> Jagmohan arrives to take charge as Governor of Jammu & Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah, whose pathetic, whimpering, snivelling Government has all but ceased to exist and has gone into hiding, resigns and goes into a sulk. Curfew is imposed as a first measure to restore some semblance of law and order. But it fails to have a deterrent effect.<br /><br />Throughout the day, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists use public address systems at mosques to exhort people to defy curfew and take to the streets. Masked men, firing from their Kalashnikovs, march up and down, terrorising cowering Pandits who, by then, have locked themselves in their homes.<br /><br />As evening falls, the exhortations become louder and shriller. Three taped slogans are repeatedly played the whole night from mosques: "<span style="font-style:italic;">Kashmir mei agar rehna hai, Allah-O-Akbar kehna hai</span>" (If you want to stay in Kashmir, you have to say Allah-O-Akbar); <span style="font-style:italic;">"Yahan kya chalega, Nizam-e-Mustafa" </span>(What do we want here? Rule of Islam); <span style="font-style:italic;">"Asi gachchi Pakistan, Batao roas te Batanev san"</span> (We want Pakistan along with Hindu women but without their men).<br /><br />In the preceding months, 300 Hindu men and women, nearly all of them Kashmiri Pandits, had been slaughtered ever since the brutal murder of Pandit Tika Lal Taploo, noted lawyer and BJP national executive member, by the JKLF in Srinagar on September 14, 1989. Soon after that, Justice N K Ganju of the Srinagar High Court was shot dead. Pandit Sarwanand Premi, 80-year-old poet, and his son were kidnapped, tortured, their eyes gouged out, and hanged to death. A Kashmiri Pandit nurse working at the Soura Medical College Hospital in Srinagar was gang-raped and then beaten to death. Another woman was abducted, raped and sliced into bits and pieces at a sawmill.<br /><br />In villages and towns across Kashmir Valley, terrorist hit lists have been floating about. All the names are of Kashmiri Pandits. With no Government worth its name, the administration having collapsed and disappeared, the police nowhere to be seen, despondency sets in. As the night of January 19, 1990, wears itself out, despondency gives way to desperation.<br /><br />And tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits across the Valley take a painful decision: To flee their homeland to save their lives from rabid <span style="font-style:italic;">jihadi</span>s. Thus takes place a 20th century Exodus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pandits don't live here anymore, the Valley has been cleansed of Hindus...<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Srinagar, January 19, 2012.</span> There are no Kashmiri Pandits in Srinagar, or, for that matter, anywhere else in Kashmir Valley; they don't live here anymore. You can find them in squalid refugee camps in Jammu and Delhi. At least 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits who fled their home and hearth in 1990 have been reduced to living the lives of refugees in their own country; many have since migrated to foreign shores.<br /><br />Of those who remain in India, two-thirds are camping in Jammu. The rest are in Delhi and in other cities. Many of them, once prosperous and proud of their rich heritage, now live in grovelling poverty, dependent on Government dole and charity. In these 22 years, an entire generation of exiled Kashmiri Pandits has grown up, without seeing the land from where their parents fled to escape the brutalities of Islamic terrorism, a land they dare not return to, although that land still remains a part of their country.<br /><br />A large number of them are suffering from a variety of stress and depression related diseases. A group of doctors who surveyed the mental and physical health of the Kashmiri Pandits living in refugee camps, found high incidence of 'economic distress, stress induced diabetes, partial lunacy, hypertension and mental retardation.' Statistics reflect high death rate and low birth rate among the Kashmiri Pandit refugees.<br /><br />And thereby hangs a tragic tale that has been all but wiped out from public memory.<br />An entire people have been uprooted from the land of their ancestors and left to fend for themselves as a weak-kneed Indian state shamelessly panders to Islamic terrorists and separatists who claim they are the final arbiters of Jammu & Kashmir's destiny. A part of India's cultural heritage has been destroyed; a chapter of India's civilisational history has been erased.<br /><br />Had this tragedy occurred elsewhere in Hindu majority India, and had the victims been Muslims, we would have described it as 'ethnic cleansing' and 'genocide.' We would have made films with horror-inducing titles. We would have filed cases in the Supreme Court of India. Our media would have marshalled remarkable rage in reporting the smallest detail.<br /><br />But, this tragedy has occurred in Muslim majority Kashmir valley, and the victims are all Hindus, that too Pandits. What has been lost is part of India's Hindu culture, what has been erased is integral to India's Hindu civilisation.<br /><br />Therefore, the Government makes bold to record that the Kashmiri Pandits have "migrated on their own" and their "displacement (is) self-imposed"; the National Human Rights Commission, after a perfunctory inquiry, refuses to concede that what has happened is 'genocide' or 'ethnic cleansing,' though facts add up to no less than that, never mind that at least 300,000 lives have been destroyed.<br /><br />And, our jholawallah brigade of secular activists rudely turn up their noses to the plight of Kashmiri Pandits: Hindu sorrow, inflicted by Islamic terror, stinks.<br /><br />Today, on January 19, the 22nd anniversary of the forced flight of Kashmiri Pandits, look back at India's wretched history of secular politics and consider the terrible price the nation has paid at the altar of appeasement because the Indian state has, and continues to, toe the line of least resistance.<br /><br />(This is a slightly modified/updated version of the first of a two-part essay that appeared on Rediff.com on January 19, 2005.)Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32951515.post-49268081729649905852012-01-14T12:49:00.000-08:002012-01-14T13:18:52.307-08:00Biblioclasm now equated with iconoclasm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33mC0iecGRU8FTIHb63qdw-ZWND5qaATfBs9OhHonrF1Lc0RA1BL0trrZ6GjMCXjO9BH9zraOioEO53Ky1wUR2gPorWI76Xbn8BvXeLwDkqEXV6UFsUbhVzCu2g6aZ3-V1Sk9PQ/s1600/bb-160.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33mC0iecGRU8FTIHb63qdw-ZWND5qaATfBs9OhHonrF1Lc0RA1BL0trrZ6GjMCXjO9BH9zraOioEO53Ky1wUR2gPorWI76Xbn8BvXeLwDkqEXV6UFsUbhVzCu2g6aZ3-V1Sk9PQ/s200/bb-160.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697595579132930930" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When books are burned in the end people will be burned too -- Heinrich Heine.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nazis burning books at Bebelplatz, Berlin, April 1933</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Every</span> visit to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem has been a revelation for me. The sprawling Holocaust memorial, perched between two hills, brings alive like no book or film can the soul-searing horrors of what the Nazis did to the Jews. But it’s impossible to absorb it all in one go; the vile deeds were far too many. On each visit I have discovered something that I missed the last time I walked through, with leaden feet, the zig-zag maze of the Holocaust relived.<br /><br />And so it is that on my last visit to Yad Vashem I stumbled upon, quite literally, a pile of books on the stone flagged floor of the memorial. The display marks an important milestone in the transmogrification of the Nazis into beasts: The burning of books that were considered 'Un-German' and the cleansing of libraries with fire.<br /><br />That was in April 1933 and Hitler was yet to start implementing his 'final solution'. But that act was a precursor to what was to follow. Heinrich Heine, the celebrated German critic and poet, had written in early-19th century that "When books are burned in the end people will be burned too." His words proved to be eerily prophetic some 100 years later.<br /><br />Last October, on a wind-swept grey afternoon, I stood at Bebelplatz in Berlin, in front of St Hedwig's Cathedral, trying to recreate in my mind the April evening in 1933 when students, enamoured of Hitler's demagoguery, had gathered there and made a bonfire of books after ransacking one of the largest libraries. The building still stands, magnificent yet melancholic, at the edge of the square. The spot where the bonfire blazed now has a plaque recording the shameful event. <br /><br />Joseph Goebbels, spitting fire and brimstone, had egged on the vandals: "No to decadence and moral corruption! Yes to decency and morality in family and state! I consign to the flames the writings of Heinrich Mann, Ernst Glaser, Erich Kastner... The era of extreme Jewish intellectualism is now at an end. The breakthrough of the German revolution has again cleared the way on the German path..." <br /><br />As we all know, that path led to history's most hideous mass murder. Even suckling infants were not spared. Heinrich Heine foresaw the crematoriums at Dachau and other concentration camps. We also know that that the path ultimately led to the destruction of the Nazis and all that was glorified by Goebbels. Not very far from Bebelplatz lies the bunker in which Hitler committed suicide.<br /><br />To be fair, the Nazis weren't the first to seek to reduce to ashes, albeit in vain, ideas and opinions that militated against their ideology. Human history is replete with tales of books being burned by rulers, conquerors, dictators and men of faith in robes. <br /><br />The Qing dynasty would routinely burn books; modern day rulers of China continue with the practice. The Bishop of Alexandria ordered monks to burn everything that remotely questioned doctrinaire faith; a mammoth library stands there now. Bakhtiyar Khalji sacked Nalanda and set fire to its library which is believed to have burned for three months; the ancient university will soon rise from the ruins that remain. <br /><br />In more recent times, on January 14, 1989, copies of Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses, were consigned to the flames at a protest in Bradford. That act of biblioclasm drew attention to a book that few had read till then, triggering a fatwa (issued by none less than Ayatollah Khomeini) demanding the author's head for which a reward of $1 million was offered. India notoriously became the first country to ban the book.<br /><br />The abiding shame of that act still hangs heavy on us, partially redeemed by the NDA Government's decision to issue Rushdie a PIO card which allows him to visit the country of his origin without any let or hindrance. But shame is alien to those who live in the joyless world of fatwas and decrees; it means nothing to those who wear intolerance on their sleeves. <br /><br />Hence the demand by Deobandi muftis that Rushdie shouldn't be allowed to enter India. Strangely, the demand continues to find a resonance among those who pose as 'liberals' and preach tolerance. In the land of Charvak, biblioclasm is now equated with iconoclasm. <br /><br />Which takes me back to where I began: Yad Vashem. As name after name is read out of 1.5 million Jewish children killed in the Holocaust in the unlit Hall of Remembrance where a single flickering flame is reflected 1.5 million times, I once again ask myself: How could they do this? <br /><br />Stepping out and walking down the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, shaded by cypress trees, each honouring a non-Jew who, like Oscar Schindler, defied the Nazis, my spirits lift. All is not lost in this wondrous world of ours. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca567vg1LYk9X_WOsMOQmlqFd-ScDLlYoGVqfNbfk7kUTNxonv6-izWrcvjHXnkyPV1EiPi8wu8GszkT0RcayP_R6D4LPmMqu3_oiT7gxgyJ5aO4B7-vovIThtWvqQ27gw-V8aA/s1600/Books+Yad+Vashem.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 92px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca567vg1LYk9X_WOsMOQmlqFd-ScDLlYoGVqfNbfk7kUTNxonv6-izWrcvjHXnkyPV1EiPi8wu8GszkT0RcayP_R6D4LPmMqu3_oiT7gxgyJ5aO4B7-vovIThtWvqQ27gw-V8aA/s200/Books+Yad+Vashem.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697594737545807330" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Books burned by Nazis, a display at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.<br /><br /></span>(MidDay, January 14, 2011.)Kanchan Guptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471162952586442906noreply@blogger.com2