I have decided to make no new year resolutions this time. I've had too many and the usage that 'resolutions are made to be broken' has become impeccably true in the case of all my new year resolutions.
My resolutions are usually:
1. 'I will blog more consistently.' Never worked out.
2. 'I will try to lose weight.' Almost always failed. Usually would put in a month's hardwork and then put on a couple of extra kilograms to make up for the 'loss'. So no pressure this time.
3. 'I will become a little more serious towards life.' After two years of joblessness, this is a resolution I ought to be making but I'm afraid making it will undo the whole thing.
4. 'I will try to connect in a better manner with other people' i.e., cut down on selfishness. I still am in a dilemma. Am I selfish? When I decide that I'm selfish, I usually surprise myself by doing some good deed and vice versa. So I intend to continue in my ambivalent state. Like China. 'We understand India's aspirations with regard to UNSC reforms etc. etc.' These guys must have had years of training in symbolic logic of the Asimov kind.
5. 'I will finish reading the Foundation series.' I am working on that.
6. 'I will get a real job.' With this one, let's see if GoI becomes kind enough to finally send me my appointment letter.
7. 'I will use my talents to their maximum extent.' I dropped this one when I found that I have no talent of any valuable use.
8. 'I will be more optimistic.' Found I can't be more optimistic than my current levels seeing what condition we are in and where we are heading to.
...
So my resolution is to live life as I've been living for the past couple of years till someone forces me to get out. And that event, I'm 'afraid' is not going to take place any time soon!
Happy new year to all the morons reading this crap! May you get a real job this year! ;)
Friday 31 December 2010
Monday 13 December 2010
The Coffee Club, China and India
The Coffee Club is a group of countries that aim to thwart the efforts of the G4 nations to get into the UNSC by expanding it. G4 are the four countries that have the maximum probability of making it to the UNSC - Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. The Coffee Club officially goes by the name 'Uniting for Consensus'. Its leading members obviously are Argentina, Mexico (both opposed to Brazil), Italy (against Germany), Pakistan (eminently guessable) and South Korea (against Japan). There are about 40 members in the Club that was formed in the 1990s.
The 2005 text of the proposal for Security Council reforms by the Coffee Club calls for retaining the five permanent members. Another 20 non-permanent members would be elected for two years - six from Africa, five from Asia, four from Latin America and the Caribbean, three from Western and two from Eastern Europe. As you can see, that was no reform at all. The Coffee Club is a grouping India will have to take into its calculations while trying for a permanent seat.
China is another prominent headache. It is the sole permanent member of the UNSC that is not supportive of India's candidature. Though the last statement from Beijing hinted at a change in China's position, we cannot trust it until it openly proclaims its stand. China may not support India because firstly, it doesn't think India is worthy of a seat at the high table and secondly, the support will be seen in Pakistan as nothing short of betrayal.
That means that even if India gets Obama's support, U.S. does not have to worry about India's candidature for a long time. So we will continue to provide soft loans to Africa, lobby for the support of virtually-unheard-of-nations for at least one more decade and try for better relations with the land of ping-pong diplomacy (which is an impossible task). From the experience of other countries, it is obvious that a country can have good relations with China only if it no poses no threat whatsoever to China in any sphere which it cares about AND China needs it for some reason. Though China needs India for both markets and some raw materials, India is a rival to China in many spheres. That is going to make life difficult for a good number of Indian diplomats.
In short, achieving that permanent seat needs people of exceptional ability and intelligence in the External Affairs Ministry.
The 2005 text of the proposal for Security Council reforms by the Coffee Club calls for retaining the five permanent members. Another 20 non-permanent members would be elected for two years - six from Africa, five from Asia, four from Latin America and the Caribbean, three from Western and two from Eastern Europe. As you can see, that was no reform at all. The Coffee Club is a grouping India will have to take into its calculations while trying for a permanent seat.
China is another prominent headache. It is the sole permanent member of the UNSC that is not supportive of India's candidature. Though the last statement from Beijing hinted at a change in China's position, we cannot trust it until it openly proclaims its stand. China may not support India because firstly, it doesn't think India is worthy of a seat at the high table and secondly, the support will be seen in Pakistan as nothing short of betrayal.
That means that even if India gets Obama's support, U.S. does not have to worry about India's candidature for a long time. So we will continue to provide soft loans to Africa, lobby for the support of virtually-unheard-of-nations for at least one more decade and try for better relations with the land of ping-pong diplomacy (which is an impossible task). From the experience of other countries, it is obvious that a country can have good relations with China only if it no poses no threat whatsoever to China in any sphere which it cares about AND China needs it for some reason. Though China needs India for both markets and some raw materials, India is a rival to China in many spheres. That is going to make life difficult for a good number of Indian diplomats.
In short, achieving that permanent seat needs people of exceptional ability and intelligence in the External Affairs Ministry.
Sunday 12 December 2010
Fraudia
The newspapers in Kerala are having a wonderful time thanks to the jobs-for-money scam that has been unearthed. News nowadays has become more interesting than soap operas with real-life, believable allegations, counter-allegations and drama. People having connections to both political fronts are involved, with plenty of suggestions of backstabbing, wheeling and dealing, etc., etc.
I think that we have become so hardened by the almost daily exposure to these scams that we no longer feel abhorrence when we read about them. I read the scam about the organic farming money chain with an almost voyeuristic pleasure. Couldn't help smiling at the idiocy of the people who fell prey to these literally unbelievable scams. I mean, don't people have the commonsense to understand that the rates of return these companies promise are beyond the realm of possibility?
A long time ago, I used to believe that people here were fooled because of the lower quality of education we had. Bernard Madoff did me a great service by proving that it was not true. People with doctorates in financial management can be fooled too, provided you are sufficiently sophisticated.
I think that we have become so hardened by the almost daily exposure to these scams that we no longer feel abhorrence when we read about them. I read the scam about the organic farming money chain with an almost voyeuristic pleasure. Couldn't help smiling at the idiocy of the people who fell prey to these literally unbelievable scams. I mean, don't people have the commonsense to understand that the rates of return these companies promise are beyond the realm of possibility?
A long time ago, I used to believe that people here were fooled because of the lower quality of education we had. Bernard Madoff did me a great service by proving that it was not true. People with doctorates in financial management can be fooled too, provided you are sufficiently sophisticated.
Saturday 11 December 2010
Uncles, aunts and 'chechis'
In India, we have the peculiar custom of calling any man reasonably older than us 'uncle' and any woman 'auntie'. Anyone below that particular age limit becomes a 'bhaiyya' or 'didi' (older brother or sister) or another local variation of the two terms. It leads to comical situations. For example, our former landlord's granddaughter used to call me 'chechi'(older sister). I used to call his mother 'chechi'. She used to call my mother 'chechi'. So logically, the kid's mother becomes his older sister. If that was funny, listen to this. The daughter of my current landlady calls me 'auntie' and my sister 'chechi'. Needless to say, I am mightily miffed!
This bizarre custom started as a way to show respect to older persons. It was sensible as India was a patriarchal gerontocracy. Now, however, with the gradual emergence of equality and rationalism, this custom ought to be buried. I find no sense in calling a person 'chechi', uncle or auntie when they are in no way related to me. I believe there are many similar souls who feel oppressed by this irrational system of nomenclature; who find that they have become uncles or aunts even before their sisters or brothers get married. I don't believe that calling a person by his name shows disrespect. Respect can be shown to others in much better ways than by adding useless tails to their names.
This bizarre custom started as a way to show respect to older persons. It was sensible as India was a patriarchal gerontocracy. Now, however, with the gradual emergence of equality and rationalism, this custom ought to be buried. I find no sense in calling a person 'chechi', uncle or auntie when they are in no way related to me. I believe there are many similar souls who feel oppressed by this irrational system of nomenclature; who find that they have become uncles or aunts even before their sisters or brothers get married. I don't believe that calling a person by his name shows disrespect. Respect can be shown to others in much better ways than by adding useless tails to their names.
Saturday 27 November 2010
Madness
Francois Voltaire once said that madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast or of one thing too exclusively. If that is the case, most people in the world are mad. How do you define 'too fast' or 'too exclusively'? Or is it that we have redefined madness? The latter seems more plausible as this is an era which promotes what Voltaire calls madness.
Recently, I had a chance to get acquainted with a mother and a daughter, both of whom are considered to be 'a bit mad' by the society in general. No, they have both never been to a psychiatrist and do not take any medicine for their 'ailment'. I found that their 'diagnosis' was based on three observations:
1. They were pathologically curious about the things normal people tend to ignore in their normal lives.
2. They usually have an abnormal fear of the disasters that might strike them and have a habit of telling others about them in a quite descriptive manner.
3. They ask uncomfortable questions quite persistently.
Though both of them have been non-violent through their entire lives (except for the time when they pick up fights with each other), I live in the fear of meeting either or both of them.
'Am I mad?' is a question I asked myself after meeting them. To be honest, I have been pathologically curious many a time and I do have a fear that things may go wrong but I do not ask uncomfortable questions. So is it just the third factor that distinguishes me from madmen? Deep down, I know that I am insane - neither my actions nor my thoughts conform wholly to the standards of rationality set by the society. That brings us to some other questions - is the society sane?
How are rationality and sanity related? I have seen perfectly rational people being called 'insane' and vice versa. So we can conclude that rationality and sanity are almost independent of each other. The society is not rational, and in the absence of rational standards, it cannot unambiguously define sanity. There will always be an amount of vagueness when it declares a person sane or insane.
The sanity of a person is a position-dependent, time-dependent variable. For example, if the three characteristics I have described above, were to be exhibited by a highly respected social or natural scientist, he will still be considered normal. Hence sanity depends on social position. The higher you are in the social strata, the more it takes to be declared mad. Again, excessive inquisitiveness will be more readily forgiven in a traditional, rural society than in a modern society. So sanity depends on the social milieu in which you live. The definition of insanity also varies with time. A person who renounces all that he has and roams around in the streets in rags has a greater chance of being locked up in a lunatic asylum in India today than say, about four or five hundred years ago.
Given that insanity depends on too many factors, is it fair to declare a person sane or insane? Our sanity today may be sheer insanity tomorrow. Just as we find 'sati' an insane act today, following a religion may become a sign of insanity tomorrow. What is sanity, after all? Isn't it finally, another barrier erected to separate man from man, to keep away the people who threaten the order in our lives, who upset our comfort levels by asking us uncomfortable questions and articulating their fears, which, though irrational to us, may be perfectly rational for them? Who are we to decide rationality and sanity, given that throughout the history, these concepts have changed, sometimes overnight, sometimes through centuries? Who am I to call a fellow human being insane?
Recently, I had a chance to get acquainted with a mother and a daughter, both of whom are considered to be 'a bit mad' by the society in general. No, they have both never been to a psychiatrist and do not take any medicine for their 'ailment'. I found that their 'diagnosis' was based on three observations:
1. They were pathologically curious about the things normal people tend to ignore in their normal lives.
2. They usually have an abnormal fear of the disasters that might strike them and have a habit of telling others about them in a quite descriptive manner.
3. They ask uncomfortable questions quite persistently.
Though both of them have been non-violent through their entire lives (except for the time when they pick up fights with each other), I live in the fear of meeting either or both of them.
'Am I mad?' is a question I asked myself after meeting them. To be honest, I have been pathologically curious many a time and I do have a fear that things may go wrong but I do not ask uncomfortable questions. So is it just the third factor that distinguishes me from madmen? Deep down, I know that I am insane - neither my actions nor my thoughts conform wholly to the standards of rationality set by the society. That brings us to some other questions - is the society sane?
How are rationality and sanity related? I have seen perfectly rational people being called 'insane' and vice versa. So we can conclude that rationality and sanity are almost independent of each other. The society is not rational, and in the absence of rational standards, it cannot unambiguously define sanity. There will always be an amount of vagueness when it declares a person sane or insane.
The sanity of a person is a position-dependent, time-dependent variable. For example, if the three characteristics I have described above, were to be exhibited by a highly respected social or natural scientist, he will still be considered normal. Hence sanity depends on social position. The higher you are in the social strata, the more it takes to be declared mad. Again, excessive inquisitiveness will be more readily forgiven in a traditional, rural society than in a modern society. So sanity depends on the social milieu in which you live. The definition of insanity also varies with time. A person who renounces all that he has and roams around in the streets in rags has a greater chance of being locked up in a lunatic asylum in India today than say, about four or five hundred years ago.
Given that insanity depends on too many factors, is it fair to declare a person sane or insane? Our sanity today may be sheer insanity tomorrow. Just as we find 'sati' an insane act today, following a religion may become a sign of insanity tomorrow. What is sanity, after all? Isn't it finally, another barrier erected to separate man from man, to keep away the people who threaten the order in our lives, who upset our comfort levels by asking us uncomfortable questions and articulating their fears, which, though irrational to us, may be perfectly rational for them? Who are we to decide rationality and sanity, given that throughout the history, these concepts have changed, sometimes overnight, sometimes through centuries? Who am I to call a fellow human being insane?
Sunday 21 November 2010
Power corrupts
So Raja has been sacked, PM finds himself in a tight spot and so does the Karnataka Chief Minister. The CWG scam has begun to take its toll as the heads begin to roll. Welcome to the latest season of corruption scams. The 2G scam of 1.77 lakh crore rupees (INR 1770 billion) is the biggest one the country has seen. And the poor Prime Minister finds his hands tied because of 'political compulsions'.
Unlike the Nehruvian era, the post-1990 period has seen only coalition governments at the centre. National parties do not have enough influence over all the states. So in order to form government at the centre, these parties are forced to enter into agreements with the regional parties. These agreements are virtually deals with the devil, leaving little or no room for it to carry out its agenda. While these alliances had a moderating effect on the pro-Hindutva BJP government, for the current UPA government, most of these are burdens that slow down the growth of the economy with their corrupt practices and/or populist policies.
Regional parties are not inherently evil. Most of them were founded with the noble cause of integrating the neglected sections of the society into the political mainstream. However, to compete with the might and the strength of the established national parties, they had no option other than to rely on the financial support from 'dubious sources'. And this is not the story of regional parties alone. National parties too are split into various factions in all states. These factions too behave in a manner similar to that of the regional parties to sustain themselves. So the parties are corrupt at the grass-root level. And the national leaders are the ones who win the rat-race at the local level in such a fantastic manner so as to attract the attention of the 'high-command'.
The cost of contesting in elections has increased manifold. So the leaders who can 'arrange for' sufficient funds emerge as either kings or king-makers in the states. They also get to have a say on who gets which ministry at the centre, especially if they belong to the regional parties. These ministers then have to give concessions or 'make adjustments' to please their 'financiers'. What happened in the 2G scam is only a more obvious instance of this widespread phenomenon. Again, the ministers also make hay while the sun shines. The cases of the current Karnataka CM is an example. He 'gifted' valuable real estate at throwaway prices to his relatives. The interesting point is that, the Congress is using this scam as a shield to counter the opposition attacks. There is a general feeling that the parties, national and regional, ruling as well as opposition, are using these scams as mere tools to capture power. They have no serious intention to root out this menace from the society. 'We are like this only' is their silent refrain. 'Why blame us alone? The others too are as corrupt as we are' is another one. Sometimes it seems as if India survives in spite of 'democracy', not because of it.
Politicians are not the only ones to be blamed for this. Bureaucracy too plays its part. The Weberian concept of its neutrality has been modified by many public servants in India to 'servility for the furtherance of personal interests'. The question is, when the dishonest public servants are colluding with the politicians to undermine the institution of democracy, should the honest ones be forced to maintain their silence in the name of anonymity? To what should the bureaucrats be more committed to - the political institutions which are being compromised almost on a daily basis or the Constitution which embodies the values which our founding fathers cherished?
Indian society does not support a whistle-blower until s/he either dies or becomes successful in spite of tremendous odds. Admit it - the common man is a coward, a creature more pre-occupied with his daily life rather than any national interest. It has been so for a long time and I see no reason why it will suddenly change for the better. So, if the country goes to the dogs, let it go. I will not raise my voice against anyone as long as I get my bread and butter, though it may be adulterated.
Unlike the Nehruvian era, the post-1990 period has seen only coalition governments at the centre. National parties do not have enough influence over all the states. So in order to form government at the centre, these parties are forced to enter into agreements with the regional parties. These agreements are virtually deals with the devil, leaving little or no room for it to carry out its agenda. While these alliances had a moderating effect on the pro-Hindutva BJP government, for the current UPA government, most of these are burdens that slow down the growth of the economy with their corrupt practices and/or populist policies.
Regional parties are not inherently evil. Most of them were founded with the noble cause of integrating the neglected sections of the society into the political mainstream. However, to compete with the might and the strength of the established national parties, they had no option other than to rely on the financial support from 'dubious sources'. And this is not the story of regional parties alone. National parties too are split into various factions in all states. These factions too behave in a manner similar to that of the regional parties to sustain themselves. So the parties are corrupt at the grass-root level. And the national leaders are the ones who win the rat-race at the local level in such a fantastic manner so as to attract the attention of the 'high-command'.
The cost of contesting in elections has increased manifold. So the leaders who can 'arrange for' sufficient funds emerge as either kings or king-makers in the states. They also get to have a say on who gets which ministry at the centre, especially if they belong to the regional parties. These ministers then have to give concessions or 'make adjustments' to please their 'financiers'. What happened in the 2G scam is only a more obvious instance of this widespread phenomenon. Again, the ministers also make hay while the sun shines. The cases of the current Karnataka CM is an example. He 'gifted' valuable real estate at throwaway prices to his relatives. The interesting point is that, the Congress is using this scam as a shield to counter the opposition attacks. There is a general feeling that the parties, national and regional, ruling as well as opposition, are using these scams as mere tools to capture power. They have no serious intention to root out this menace from the society. 'We are like this only' is their silent refrain. 'Why blame us alone? The others too are as corrupt as we are' is another one. Sometimes it seems as if India survives in spite of 'democracy', not because of it.
Politicians are not the only ones to be blamed for this. Bureaucracy too plays its part. The Weberian concept of its neutrality has been modified by many public servants in India to 'servility for the furtherance of personal interests'. The question is, when the dishonest public servants are colluding with the politicians to undermine the institution of democracy, should the honest ones be forced to maintain their silence in the name of anonymity? To what should the bureaucrats be more committed to - the political institutions which are being compromised almost on a daily basis or the Constitution which embodies the values which our founding fathers cherished?
Indian society does not support a whistle-blower until s/he either dies or becomes successful in spite of tremendous odds. Admit it - the common man is a coward, a creature more pre-occupied with his daily life rather than any national interest. It has been so for a long time and I see no reason why it will suddenly change for the better. So, if the country goes to the dogs, let it go. I will not raise my voice against anyone as long as I get my bread and butter, though it may be adulterated.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
The Right to A Plug-point
The Right to a Plug-point (RTAP)was a term coined by me while at the hostel. The hostel rooms did not have plug-points and you could charge your mobile phones and laptops only in the office room. The door of the office room could be opened only when nuns authorised to do so wished to visit it, which was only a few hours everyday. That meant that unless you had advanced surveillance equipment(read: a friend in the ground floor near the office room), you either had to forget about charging your phone from the office or risk having your phone trapped in the office room from morn till night. Most of the times, it was a touch-and-go affair.
My friends and I had heated debates on how to avoid such problems. The first solution was to use piezoelectric crystals or solar cells attached to the mobile phones for charging them. Then we found out that they were pretty much useless for smartphones. The next solution was wireless transmission of power from the electric cables to the phones. However, sensing that the idea, though workable, would not be feasible owing to huge wastage of power and also billing problems, we ditched that idea too. The only thing that remained was the good old 'wireful' transmission of power, whether we liked it or not. The Government had to declare RTAP as a fundamental right if it wanted the country to progress.
Later on, I read somewhere that Japanese were trying out the idea of wireless transmission. Also that many of our villages do not have access to power. Coming from two opposite ends of the spectrum, they amused me.
The Digital Divide in our country can be bridged only through mobile phones. No matter how cheap the laptops and PCs become, there is a huge section of people who will never be able to afford them. Also, they consume more power when compared to cellphones. They have 'fancy' software most people will have no use for. Plus, a computer without an internet connection is virtually useless today, unless it is used for billing in a grocery store. Also it requires an almost continuous supply of power. After all, how long can a laptop be run on its battery alone?
Compare that with a low-end smartphone. At about INR 3000-4000, you get a smartphone that helps you communicate with others, access internet at dirt-cheap rates, do not consume half as much power as an average laptop and allows you to draft documents, powerpoint presentations, watch movies and listen to songs. Plus, it is completely wireless.
The only thing that is missing now in those villages is the plug-point. People do not buy mobile phones in these villages as they know that they will not be able to recharge their batteries. That missing plug-point can save lives, help farmers earn more money, increase government efficiency, cut down corruption, bring in financial inclusion, promote education and what not. There is no limit to what that cellphone in your hand can do once you have a plug-point.
( When I hear of colleges banning cellphones, I can only marvel at the idiocy of such reckless orders. These are instances of dumb logic. E.g: 'Knives are used for killing people. So let's ban their use.' Instead of teaching the students how to use the devices in a responsible manner, the authorities instead opt for the easy way out - banning them. Banning something is never a solution. In fact, that itself is a problem greater than many others.)
So, dear citizens of the country, who want this nation to progress and actually become a superpower, who think that the dream of creating a 'knowledge economy' in this country can be realised, who know that Digital Divide is an artificial divide that denies a majority of our citizens the information that can change their lives for the better, I request you to chip in and spread the word about RTAP. The Right to Power ought to be a fundamental right in this digital era.
;)
P.S: Though this is a post written in jest, think about it sometime. And remember to do your bit when time comes.
My friends and I had heated debates on how to avoid such problems. The first solution was to use piezoelectric crystals or solar cells attached to the mobile phones for charging them. Then we found out that they were pretty much useless for smartphones. The next solution was wireless transmission of power from the electric cables to the phones. However, sensing that the idea, though workable, would not be feasible owing to huge wastage of power and also billing problems, we ditched that idea too. The only thing that remained was the good old 'wireful' transmission of power, whether we liked it or not. The Government had to declare RTAP as a fundamental right if it wanted the country to progress.
Later on, I read somewhere that Japanese were trying out the idea of wireless transmission. Also that many of our villages do not have access to power. Coming from two opposite ends of the spectrum, they amused me.
The Digital Divide in our country can be bridged only through mobile phones. No matter how cheap the laptops and PCs become, there is a huge section of people who will never be able to afford them. Also, they consume more power when compared to cellphones. They have 'fancy' software most people will have no use for. Plus, a computer without an internet connection is virtually useless today, unless it is used for billing in a grocery store. Also it requires an almost continuous supply of power. After all, how long can a laptop be run on its battery alone?
Compare that with a low-end smartphone. At about INR 3000-4000, you get a smartphone that helps you communicate with others, access internet at dirt-cheap rates, do not consume half as much power as an average laptop and allows you to draft documents, powerpoint presentations, watch movies and listen to songs. Plus, it is completely wireless.
The only thing that is missing now in those villages is the plug-point. People do not buy mobile phones in these villages as they know that they will not be able to recharge their batteries. That missing plug-point can save lives, help farmers earn more money, increase government efficiency, cut down corruption, bring in financial inclusion, promote education and what not. There is no limit to what that cellphone in your hand can do once you have a plug-point.
( When I hear of colleges banning cellphones, I can only marvel at the idiocy of such reckless orders. These are instances of dumb logic. E.g: 'Knives are used for killing people. So let's ban their use.' Instead of teaching the students how to use the devices in a responsible manner, the authorities instead opt for the easy way out - banning them. Banning something is never a solution. In fact, that itself is a problem greater than many others.)
So, dear citizens of the country, who want this nation to progress and actually become a superpower, who think that the dream of creating a 'knowledge economy' in this country can be realised, who know that Digital Divide is an artificial divide that denies a majority of our citizens the information that can change their lives for the better, I request you to chip in and spread the word about RTAP. The Right to Power ought to be a fundamental right in this digital era.
;)
P.S: Though this is a post written in jest, think about it sometime. And remember to do your bit when time comes.
Saturday 6 November 2010
Accountability? What's that?
The concept of accountability has become alien to this world. You just have to look around to see that.
Till yesterday, I wished to have a gun.
Today I want to become, somehow, Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecom. I want to have the power to revoke the licenses of the companies that send me dumb advertisements, make telemarketing calls at the most inappropriate time and promise things that they cannot deliver.
I am feeling depressed as I can't access 3G! ;(
Where is TRAI when you need it?
Till yesterday, I wished to have a gun.
Today I want to become, somehow, Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecom. I want to have the power to revoke the licenses of the companies that send me dumb advertisements, make telemarketing calls at the most inappropriate time and promise things that they cannot deliver.
I am feeling depressed as I can't access 3G! ;(
Where is TRAI when you need it?
Thursday 4 November 2010
The Idiot
I have always been a very remarkable person owing to my idiocy. I fumble when I shouldn't and appear smart when I should be acting like a fool. Knowing my behaviour well, my English teacher gifted me Dostoyevsky's 'The Idiot'. She had, in her beautiful handwriting, written 'To Anu Jose' above the book's title so that it read
'To Anu Jose The Idiot.' Seeing that a comma would not be out of place, I made suitable modifications so that it read 'To Anu Jose, The Idiot.' I have been an idiot ever since and slightly proud of it, too.
Knowingly or unknowingly, all through my life, I have been justifying the epithet that fate bestowed upon me. Today for instance:
Scene 1:
It was about 5:30 a.m. Anybody who knows me would know that I am a person who does not know what sunrise looks like. Anything before 7 looks midnight to me. So needless to say, I have, almost throughout my entire life, remained a staunch Sunday Christian, an ardent follower of the privatised religion and an owner of a heart with limitless sympathy for persons who couldn't enjoy the bliss of having a dream with the sun watching them from outside the window.
(My parents had, many a time, tried to find a cure for this peculiar malady of mine. Finally deciding that it was beyond their limits, they had given up.)
So where was I? Oh yes, in the bed, sleeping. Suddenly I thought I heard someone knocking at the door. Imagining that I was dreaming, I tried to ignore it. But the knock repeated itself, and I was forced to open the door. To my surprise, I found the Mother of the hostel, standing at my door, telling me, 'The Mass is at 5:45. ' She said something else too, but I could not concentrate on the rest as I was trying to imagine how it would be if I attend the mass at 5:45 in the MORNING! 'Unimaginable!', I said to myself, as I went back to sleep as soon as the Mother left the room. I mean, I can bear 6:30, but 5:45, according to me, amounts to human rights violation. Right to sleep is a more fundamental right for me than Right to Education or Right to Food.
The outcome of the episode was that the nuns in the hostel are now conspiring to reform me into a good Christian. Right now, the girl from the mess came to inform me that the Mass starts at 5:45 tomorrow too. I fear that my stay here is going to be a bit unpleasant for me from now on. :(
Scene 2:
After lunch, we were discussing about the political atmosphere in India, how hopeless the situation was, how the Constitution has become a joke, and so on. The nuns, in their orangish brown uniforms were walking past us as I was giving a talk on how politicians in Andhra were getting rid of EVMs by fielding more than 64 candidates in the constituencies where they wished to indulge in malpractices. (EVMs can be used for a max. 64 candidates. If the number is greater than 64, EC has to use paper ballot.) Then I had a vague idea that the nun standing in front of me looked 'kind of strange'. I was staring at the nun, trying to find out what was wrong. After a good five seconds, I realised that the nun had a long beard, a good moustache and something like a black kerchief tied to the head. I realised too, that the Mother was making gestures, asking me to greet the nun. Suddenly, realisation dawned: The nun was none else other than the Bishop of the Diocese and I had been staring at him in the most peculiar fashion for a whole and entire one minute! :(
When I was writing the GS paper of Mains, I was telling myself, 'Life can't get any worse than this!' But now, my life is telling me:
'Picture abhi baki hai mere yaar!' :(
'To Anu Jose The Idiot.' Seeing that a comma would not be out of place, I made suitable modifications so that it read 'To Anu Jose, The Idiot.' I have been an idiot ever since and slightly proud of it, too.
Knowingly or unknowingly, all through my life, I have been justifying the epithet that fate bestowed upon me. Today for instance:
Scene 1:
It was about 5:30 a.m. Anybody who knows me would know that I am a person who does not know what sunrise looks like. Anything before 7 looks midnight to me. So needless to say, I have, almost throughout my entire life, remained a staunch Sunday Christian, an ardent follower of the privatised religion and an owner of a heart with limitless sympathy for persons who couldn't enjoy the bliss of having a dream with the sun watching them from outside the window.
(My parents had, many a time, tried to find a cure for this peculiar malady of mine. Finally deciding that it was beyond their limits, they had given up.)
So where was I? Oh yes, in the bed, sleeping. Suddenly I thought I heard someone knocking at the door. Imagining that I was dreaming, I tried to ignore it. But the knock repeated itself, and I was forced to open the door. To my surprise, I found the Mother of the hostel, standing at my door, telling me, 'The Mass is at 5:45. ' She said something else too, but I could not concentrate on the rest as I was trying to imagine how it would be if I attend the mass at 5:45 in the MORNING! 'Unimaginable!', I said to myself, as I went back to sleep as soon as the Mother left the room. I mean, I can bear 6:30, but 5:45, according to me, amounts to human rights violation. Right to sleep is a more fundamental right for me than Right to Education or Right to Food.
The outcome of the episode was that the nuns in the hostel are now conspiring to reform me into a good Christian. Right now, the girl from the mess came to inform me that the Mass starts at 5:45 tomorrow too. I fear that my stay here is going to be a bit unpleasant for me from now on. :(
Scene 2:
After lunch, we were discussing about the political atmosphere in India, how hopeless the situation was, how the Constitution has become a joke, and so on. The nuns, in their orangish brown uniforms were walking past us as I was giving a talk on how politicians in Andhra were getting rid of EVMs by fielding more than 64 candidates in the constituencies where they wished to indulge in malpractices. (EVMs can be used for a max. 64 candidates. If the number is greater than 64, EC has to use paper ballot.) Then I had a vague idea that the nun standing in front of me looked 'kind of strange'. I was staring at the nun, trying to find out what was wrong. After a good five seconds, I realised that the nun had a long beard, a good moustache and something like a black kerchief tied to the head. I realised too, that the Mother was making gestures, asking me to greet the nun. Suddenly, realisation dawned: The nun was none else other than the Bishop of the Diocese and I had been staring at him in the most peculiar fashion for a whole and entire one minute! :(
When I was writing the GS paper of Mains, I was telling myself, 'Life can't get any worse than this!' But now, my life is telling me:
'Picture abhi baki hai mere yaar!' :(
Friday 24 September 2010
Ways to Waste
We have put up a very poor show in preparing the ground facilities for the XIXth Commonwealth Games that will start on October 3. If the photos of the beds with pugmarks, leaking toilets and stained washbasins are genuine, I can quite assuredly say that those standards of hygiene cannot be tolerated by any human being with an iota of dignity.
Where did all the money go? Nearly 12000 crore rupees have been spent on the CWG. Results are there for all to see. The amount excludes the expenditure on non-sports infrastructure. If this is the way the government spends the money, God save us.
The supposedly 'Green games' involved cutting down of Heritage trees and the designs caused heavy environment to the damage. PILs were filed against these in the Supreme Court by the citizens of Delhi and NGOs but finally SC had to give green signal because 'much time had been lost' and 'damage to environment could not be undone.'
Again, the conditions under which the labourers are being forced to work now involves violation of human rights - low wages, scant or no safety measures and even child labour. Reports of deaths of labourers has been a characteristic of this edition of the Games.
Evacuation of slum dwellers, screening of slums using bamboo 'curtains', demolition of the homes of the poor - all to showcase to the world the 'development' that is taking place in the country. Finally, we have been exposed and our incompetence laid bare by the officials who could not even provide decent residential facilities to the honoured guests. When will we learn?
I am not even talking about the allegations of corruption. No one is even interested in it. The only goal now is to salvage the Games. Corruption has become so institutionalised that it has replaced democracy as the defining character of this nation.
Read recently that the oil PSUs will be buying airtlme from Prasar Bharti to help it meet its target for the Games. The point is, having wasted so much money on such an incompetent and apathetic machinery, why should the public tolerate further wastage by the PSUs? Do the citizens have any say in running those behemoths? Why should the hard-earned money of the citizens be so callously misused by the executive? We, the people of India, are ashamed of our government. I, as a citizen, have lost my trust in it.
Where did all the money go? Nearly 12000 crore rupees have been spent on the CWG. Results are there for all to see. The amount excludes the expenditure on non-sports infrastructure. If this is the way the government spends the money, God save us.
The supposedly 'Green games' involved cutting down of Heritage trees and the designs caused heavy environment to the damage. PILs were filed against these in the Supreme Court by the citizens of Delhi and NGOs but finally SC had to give green signal because 'much time had been lost' and 'damage to environment could not be undone.'
Again, the conditions under which the labourers are being forced to work now involves violation of human rights - low wages, scant or no safety measures and even child labour. Reports of deaths of labourers has been a characteristic of this edition of the Games.
Evacuation of slum dwellers, screening of slums using bamboo 'curtains', demolition of the homes of the poor - all to showcase to the world the 'development' that is taking place in the country. Finally, we have been exposed and our incompetence laid bare by the officials who could not even provide decent residential facilities to the honoured guests. When will we learn?
I am not even talking about the allegations of corruption. No one is even interested in it. The only goal now is to salvage the Games. Corruption has become so institutionalised that it has replaced democracy as the defining character of this nation.
Read recently that the oil PSUs will be buying airtlme from Prasar Bharti to help it meet its target for the Games. The point is, having wasted so much money on such an incompetent and apathetic machinery, why should the public tolerate further wastage by the PSUs? Do the citizens have any say in running those behemoths? Why should the hard-earned money of the citizens be so callously misused by the executive? We, the people of India, are ashamed of our government. I, as a citizen, have lost my trust in it.
Wednesday 22 September 2010
To cry or not to cry
The question whether the Commonwealth Games will even be held now looms large. Even the Indians who used to be a little proud of their nation are now finding it very difficult to defend their stand. Collapsing footbridges, shootouts, reports about the filthy condition of the Games Village - what more do you need to say 'Mera Bharat Mahan'?
If that weren't enough, statements like 'Their standards of hygiene are different from ours', by an official when he was told that the Scottish officials had to scrub and wash their block to make it liveable and that the footbridge collapse was a 'minor incident' by a Union Minister puts you in a confusion - whether to cry or to laugh.
Yes fellows, India has truly arrived with the CWG. It is the epitome of the sheer apathy and the incompetence of the Government of the country. It is really a thing to marvel at - our government - you will never find one like this anywhere in the world. It doesn't even have a sense of shame about letting the country down so badly in the international arena. And where is the opposition when you need it? Why do they not even bother to raise their voice against such a heinous selling out of national prestige? Is the temple the only thing they bother about? Does the sense of pride of the citizens about this country count for nothing?
I find that Mr. Aiyar was right. I just wish we hadn't won the bid for the Games, if only to avoid this terrible shame and sense of pain I am feeling now as an Indian.
Athidhi Devo Bhava? Forget it!
If that weren't enough, statements like 'Their standards of hygiene are different from ours', by an official when he was told that the Scottish officials had to scrub and wash their block to make it liveable and that the footbridge collapse was a 'minor incident' by a Union Minister puts you in a confusion - whether to cry or to laugh.
Yes fellows, India has truly arrived with the CWG. It is the epitome of the sheer apathy and the incompetence of the Government of the country. It is really a thing to marvel at - our government - you will never find one like this anywhere in the world. It doesn't even have a sense of shame about letting the country down so badly in the international arena. And where is the opposition when you need it? Why do they not even bother to raise their voice against such a heinous selling out of national prestige? Is the temple the only thing they bother about? Does the sense of pride of the citizens about this country count for nothing?
I find that Mr. Aiyar was right. I just wish we hadn't won the bid for the Games, if only to avoid this terrible shame and sense of pain I am feeling now as an Indian.
Athidhi Devo Bhava? Forget it!
Sunday 29 August 2010
The 'mobile connections'
A year ago, I would never have thought that my family would end up like this. Right now, the four members are in four different districts of Kerala and the place we call 'home' is a place where none of us actually stay. The connection between the family members is through the ubiquitous cell phone and deprivation of its use due to low charge in the battery or even low balance causes much heartburn. This is the case with many of us today and I feel that I am seriously addicted to the phone. I become very irritable when deprived of it. The two hours I spend without it when I have to charge it seems an endless torture to me. Hell, the joke is that the government must provide us all with free mobile connections and it must not charge us for it because 'free speech' is there in the Fundamental Rights. With the extremely low tariffs prevailing in the state today, it seems that indeed the joke is becoming a reality.
The places with 'low range' are become curiosities. People are increasingly 'networked'. I still feel that I have the same kind of warm relations I had with my family as I feel that they're near and I can communicate with them any instant I feel.
There is a problem, however. When you actually meet the persons you talk with for hours over phone, there is a paucity of subjects to talk on. Everything has already been dealt with. There is nothing new to catch the other's attention. I will narrate an incident. Some of my classmates and I decided to have a get-together last thursday. We met and we ate but we didn't talk as much as I expected. Later, after reaching the hostel, I talked with each one of them over the phone in much more friendly terms than when they were actually present in front of me.
The reason may be simple: When you are actually meeting a real person, you subconsciously decide that the other person would like to hear fantastic things from you. Since you have talked about the 'fantastic things' in your life to practically everyone you care about on the phone, there is nothing left. So after the meeting you sometimes wish had not met. A lot of time, money and planning are requires to arrange direct, face-to-face meetings. You don't feel it worthwhile to waste such precious moments talking about mundane things. The result is the almost silent atmosphere. It would take some time to change this conception and realise that your friends are not really expecting great things from you, but by the time the truth actually dawns on you, it is time to move on. On the other hand, talking on the phone requires little investment and it actually helps us relieve our stress. The net result is that though we virtually converge, we diverge in reality. Mobile connections have really redefined our society and our relations with others. Inspired by Asimov, I am almost tempted to say that this kind of technological innovations may finally result in the creation of a society where members are averse to physical contact and communicate through virtual, 3-D technology.
Saturday 28 August 2010
Madness!
Recently I happened to meet a girl whose ultimate ambition is to go and settle in the United States.
Reasons: 'Leaves of the trees there change colour, there's a lot of snow and you can wear whatever you want.' She doesn't like India because 'people are too inquisitive, there are potholes in the road and people are not really enthusiastic about gender equality.'
She has plans about her marriage too. She will marry only a guy from a big city which has a hall big enough to suit her dreams. In Kerala, that rules out all cities except Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. The guy must either be already settled or be ready to settle in the U.S. He should have the smile of the film actor Madhavan and must not have too many principles. She wants the ceremony to be conducted at night. Most importantly, she will marry only in the month of January.
I was quite bewildered when I heard the last condition and asked her the reason. She said: 'Suppose you get married on 30 Dec 2010. When a friend asks you, in say, January 2025: 'How long have you been married?', you'lll have to say that you've been married for 2025-2010=15 years. Whereas if you are getting married on 2 January 2011, you can say in 2025 that you've been married only for 14 years. So your friend'll think that you're young!'
How is the logic? My jaw dropped then, and it has not fully recovered yet.
Reasons: 'Leaves of the trees there change colour, there's a lot of snow and you can wear whatever you want.' She doesn't like India because 'people are too inquisitive, there are potholes in the road and people are not really enthusiastic about gender equality.'
She has plans about her marriage too. She will marry only a guy from a big city which has a hall big enough to suit her dreams. In Kerala, that rules out all cities except Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. The guy must either be already settled or be ready to settle in the U.S. He should have the smile of the film actor Madhavan and must not have too many principles. She wants the ceremony to be conducted at night. Most importantly, she will marry only in the month of January.
I was quite bewildered when I heard the last condition and asked her the reason. She said: 'Suppose you get married on 30 Dec 2010. When a friend asks you, in say, January 2025: 'How long have you been married?', you'lll have to say that you've been married for 2025-2010=15 years. Whereas if you are getting married on 2 January 2011, you can say in 2025 that you've been married only for 14 years. So your friend'll think that you're young!'
How is the logic? My jaw dropped then, and it has not fully recovered yet.
N-Bill for aam admi
The Central Government has got the Nuclear Liability Bill passed in the Lok Sabha. As citizens, we need to know what the Bill is about and its implications for us. The newspaper articles are loaded with technical terms and so, here is a simple write-up on the Bill.
We will start with some definitions:
Operator: The company that will operate the plant, i.e., the reactor and all the related stuff. Now the government allows only public sector companies like NPCIL to operate the plants. However, in the future, government may allow private operators too and this is a major bone of contention.
Supplier: The company that will provide the equipments and the technology to make the power plants. Unlike India, many of the Western countries allow private research and development in nuclear sector. So the suppliers are usually private companies like Areva(France), GE(U.S.), WMG, etc.
Operator liability: Money that the operator is to pay to the victims in case a nuclear accident occurs. The accident may occur due to negligence of the operator, faulty design of the equipment by the supplier or among other things, even a natural disaster like an earthquake or a wildfire.
Right of recourse: Actually means right to recover a bad loan but in the present context it means the right of the operator to sue the supplier if the latter had given the former faulty equipment.
Why we need this Bill?
As Dr. Singh said, this is all for energy security of the country. We don't have much petroleum left, hydel power projects have a long gestation period and there are environmental considerations, wind is a bit boring and unpredictable, solar power is a bit too expensive and biogas is well, you know, unfeasible because of the distribution pattern of cattle. So we're left with only the nuclear alternative now. Though many consider them unsafe, it is a fact that about 16 countries depend on nuclear plants for meeting more than 25% of their energy needs. Topping the chart is France, with approximately 75% of its energy production coming from this single sector. India's current capability is about 4.56 GW, which comes to around 4.2% of the total energy production in the country. We plan to increase it to at least 20 GW by 2020. We also plan to have a 9% share of n power in the total energy production within 25 years. For meeting all these sky high figures, we need fuel, technology and experts.
That's where the Bill comes in. None of the countries where the headquarters of prominent nuclear plant equipment suppliers are situated allows them to have a contract or an agreement for supply of their goods unless there is a civil liabilty act in place that specifies how much they will have to pay in case of a nuclear accident. U.S. is particularly insistent upon it. Our deal with France also includes a clause for the establishment of a nuclear liability regime. So the matter is, no one will do any real business with us until the Bill is passed. Of coursee, we are free to use our own indigeneous reactors and technology but an expansion as our energy policy envisages requires the participation of foreign companies.
A liability bill is also required so that the victims can know whom to approach for compensation and also its quantum. Once a mechanism is properly in place, the disbursal of funds in case of an accident will be faster and more transparent.
We also require this bill to compatible with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation. This convention is the successor to the Paris and Vienna conventions. Before you stop reading this fearing the assault of technical jargon, I'll tell you that CSC essentially has three conditions:
1. Full legal liabilty of the accident will lie exclusively with the operator.
2. Doing away with the requirement to prove the fault, negligence or intent of the operator.
3. Exclusive jurisdiction to the courts of the country.
The operator will have to pay at least 300 SDR in case a nuclear accident occurs. If the operator doesn't have that kind of money, the country where the accident took place has to make available public funds for covering the rest. Now comes the most important part: If the damage is more than 300 million SDR, the rest of the amount will come from an international fund set up for the purpose. So, it is a kind of insurance.
Reasons for opposition and some points:
You have been bombarded with details about the Bill by the media. So there's no point in talking about them. Still, here are the principle points of opposition:
1. Liability cap of the operator is too low: INR 1500 crores. Maximum liability is fixed at 300 million SDR, or approx. 2050 crore rupees. The operator liability cap is lower than that in U.S., but highee than that of France. The initial amount was just 500 crores which has now been raised.
2. The provision that the operator could sue the supplier only if there was a written agreement or if the supplier had an intent to cause damage etc. has been modified. Now suppliers can be sued if the accident was caused by any act of the supplier or his employee. There is no need for an agreement now.
3. Fear of private operators: Right now, only public operators are allowed, i.e., government has to have a 51% stake in the company for it to benefit from the liability cap. So the taxpayer has to subsidise the remaining 49% shareholders. Only NPCIL will be operating the plants, it seems, for at least a decade.
4. The time limit for filing the damage claims was just 10 years whereas the damage may become apparent, in many cases, only after 15 years. This has now been extended to 20 years. International conventions allow even 30 years.
5. The Claims Commission was reported to be filled up by bureaucrats, with no representation for activists, scientists or members of civil society. Right now, however, I read that SC and HC can be approached for review of compensation amounts. Also, the claims must be disposed within three months of application.
6. There is an ambiguity on whether the victims can file cases against the supplier.
7. It is not known whether the AERB entrusted with the task, is independent enough or competent enough to review the designs of the equipments of the foreign companies.
There are many other legal problems as well i.e., regarding distinction between 'liability','strict liability' and 'absolute liability'. Moreover, CSC, the last time I heard, was not ratified by enough number of member countries for it to come into force.
So there are problems as well as some good points about the bill. What is required is awareness of citizens and faultless implementation from the side of the administrators. Hope this bill will end our nuclear apartheid, as Dr. Singh had said.
P.S: If anyone feels that there's something wrong with or in the post, please do comment. We're all in this together!
We will start with some definitions:
Operator: The company that will operate the plant, i.e., the reactor and all the related stuff. Now the government allows only public sector companies like NPCIL to operate the plants. However, in the future, government may allow private operators too and this is a major bone of contention.
Supplier: The company that will provide the equipments and the technology to make the power plants. Unlike India, many of the Western countries allow private research and development in nuclear sector. So the suppliers are usually private companies like Areva(France), GE(U.S.), WMG, etc.
Operator liability: Money that the operator is to pay to the victims in case a nuclear accident occurs. The accident may occur due to negligence of the operator, faulty design of the equipment by the supplier or among other things, even a natural disaster like an earthquake or a wildfire.
Right of recourse: Actually means right to recover a bad loan but in the present context it means the right of the operator to sue the supplier if the latter had given the former faulty equipment.
Why we need this Bill?
As Dr. Singh said, this is all for energy security of the country. We don't have much petroleum left, hydel power projects have a long gestation period and there are environmental considerations, wind is a bit boring and unpredictable, solar power is a bit too expensive and biogas is well, you know, unfeasible because of the distribution pattern of cattle. So we're left with only the nuclear alternative now. Though many consider them unsafe, it is a fact that about 16 countries depend on nuclear plants for meeting more than 25% of their energy needs. Topping the chart is France, with approximately 75% of its energy production coming from this single sector. India's current capability is about 4.56 GW, which comes to around 4.2% of the total energy production in the country. We plan to increase it to at least 20 GW by 2020. We also plan to have a 9% share of n power in the total energy production within 25 years. For meeting all these sky high figures, we need fuel, technology and experts.
That's where the Bill comes in. None of the countries where the headquarters of prominent nuclear plant equipment suppliers are situated allows them to have a contract or an agreement for supply of their goods unless there is a civil liabilty act in place that specifies how much they will have to pay in case of a nuclear accident. U.S. is particularly insistent upon it. Our deal with France also includes a clause for the establishment of a nuclear liability regime. So the matter is, no one will do any real business with us until the Bill is passed. Of coursee, we are free to use our own indigeneous reactors and technology but an expansion as our energy policy envisages requires the participation of foreign companies.
A liability bill is also required so that the victims can know whom to approach for compensation and also its quantum. Once a mechanism is properly in place, the disbursal of funds in case of an accident will be faster and more transparent.
We also require this bill to compatible with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation. This convention is the successor to the Paris and Vienna conventions. Before you stop reading this fearing the assault of technical jargon, I'll tell you that CSC essentially has three conditions:
1. Full legal liabilty of the accident will lie exclusively with the operator.
2. Doing away with the requirement to prove the fault, negligence or intent of the operator.
3. Exclusive jurisdiction to the courts of the country.
The operator will have to pay at least 300 SDR in case a nuclear accident occurs. If the operator doesn't have that kind of money, the country where the accident took place has to make available public funds for covering the rest. Now comes the most important part: If the damage is more than 300 million SDR, the rest of the amount will come from an international fund set up for the purpose. So, it is a kind of insurance.
Reasons for opposition and some points:
You have been bombarded with details about the Bill by the media. So there's no point in talking about them. Still, here are the principle points of opposition:
1. Liability cap of the operator is too low: INR 1500 crores. Maximum liability is fixed at 300 million SDR, or approx. 2050 crore rupees. The operator liability cap is lower than that in U.S., but highee than that of France. The initial amount was just 500 crores which has now been raised.
2. The provision that the operator could sue the supplier only if there was a written agreement or if the supplier had an intent to cause damage etc. has been modified. Now suppliers can be sued if the accident was caused by any act of the supplier or his employee. There is no need for an agreement now.
3. Fear of private operators: Right now, only public operators are allowed, i.e., government has to have a 51% stake in the company for it to benefit from the liability cap. So the taxpayer has to subsidise the remaining 49% shareholders. Only NPCIL will be operating the plants, it seems, for at least a decade.
4. The time limit for filing the damage claims was just 10 years whereas the damage may become apparent, in many cases, only after 15 years. This has now been extended to 20 years. International conventions allow even 30 years.
5. The Claims Commission was reported to be filled up by bureaucrats, with no representation for activists, scientists or members of civil society. Right now, however, I read that SC and HC can be approached for review of compensation amounts. Also, the claims must be disposed within three months of application.
6. There is an ambiguity on whether the victims can file cases against the supplier.
7. It is not known whether the AERB entrusted with the task, is independent enough or competent enough to review the designs of the equipments of the foreign companies.
There are many other legal problems as well i.e., regarding distinction between 'liability','strict liability' and 'absolute liability'. Moreover, CSC, the last time I heard, was not ratified by enough number of member countries for it to come into force.
So there are problems as well as some good points about the bill. What is required is awareness of citizens and faultless implementation from the side of the administrators. Hope this bill will end our nuclear apartheid, as Dr. Singh had said.
P.S: If anyone feels that there's something wrong with or in the post, please do comment. We're all in this together!
Thursday 19 August 2010
Islam and Extremism: A Layman's Analysis
Today I happened to meet one of the supporters of Maudany. To all your surprise (and mine too), the supporter is a Hindu woman staying near Anvarssery in Kollam. Unlike others, she insists that Maudany is an innocent man being falsely accused of crimes he did not even know about. She admits that his speeches might have contributed to the growth of extremism in Kerala but argues that they were 'reactions' to the Babri Masjid demolition.
So, the question is: Who is to be blamed for the unexpected rise of Islamic extremism in Kerala? The question needs to be answered because Kerala is a state known for communal harmony and has a prosperous Muslim community. Government provides reservation to them. To all outward appearances, they have no reasons to complain. Yet, extremism is on the rise in the state.
The reasons are manifold. In spite of their material prosperity, many Muslims remain educationally backward. Female literacy, in terms of both numbers and quality, is low when compared to other communities. There is a visible divide between the progressive and conservative sections. Conservative sections tend to live together in close, closed communities with little or no interaction with others. They migrate mainly to the Gullf region where the chances of getting into contact with extremists is probably higher. Persons migrating to other states may have to face discrimination - Kerala society is (or was) less discriminating because the minority community constitutes a good percentage of the total population. There was greater people-to-people contact, resulting in a better understanding of each other's religion and customs. That fostered an understanding which is difficult to find today. This need not necessarily be the condition of other states. This may have led a minority of the educated, young and modern Muslim youth to take solace in the teachings of extremist preachers. With no one else to guide them, they might have got involved in anti-national activities. The activities of this minority has created such a terror in the minds of the general public that currently Muslims in general and young Muslim men in particular have become objects of suspicion.
One cannot blame the public for this. During my entire school life, from class I to X, I did not have any Muslim student in my class. In classes XI and XII, when I was studying in a different school, the number of Muslim girl students was zero and the number of boys was below five. How can you then expect me to have any real understanding of Muslims? My sister, unlike me, did have a Muslim girl in her class. She was, however, from an extremely liberal family of engineers, and was as clueless about Islam as my sister was though my sister belonged to a different community.
That precisely is the root of the problem. The progressive sections tend to neglect the religion completely and hence move out of the larger Muslim community. They tend to have no voice in the community. The conservative sections, however, tend to become more assertive as more liberals move out. They impose their interpretation on others and prevent external interferences. This scares out the remaining liberals. Thus, paradoxically, the communities become more closed as its members move out. The remaining nucleus becomes too polarised to be amenable to reason and rationality and an easy breeding ground for extremists.
The problem is further compounded by the fact that a majority of the Muslims literally know nothing about their religion other than the customs they have to follow - believe in Allah, pray five times a day, observe fast during Ramzan and go to Mecca if possible. Quran is written in Arabic which a majority do not understand. Translations in local languages are not popular. People thus have to depend on preachers who are either not well-versed or who have a totally wrong idea of Islam. Their teachings and interpretations destroy the efforts of the real scholars to bring Islam in line with the modern times. The result? Alienation, confusion and chaos. The extremists' teachings also give a wrong impression to followers of other religions who lose the trust in Muslims that was built upon the efforts of many centuries.
The media too, acts as a facilitator in this process. They tend to portray these extremists as the representatives of the community and the real voice of its majority whereas the actual majority has nothing to do with them. A liberal Muslim thus is made a misnomer rather than a norm. This results in alienation which tends to support the rapid growth of extremism. Thus media actively constructs a nightmarish reality from nothing, thanks to its monstrous use of misrepresentations and misplaced priorities.
Other communities too are responsible for this menace of extremism. Any increase in the level of community-feeling in a group is bound to create fear in the minds of other communities. Unless the concerns are properly addressed, this fear will naturally lead to an increase in the community-feeling of other groups too. People will then to identify more with that aspect of their personality which they think is threatened and hence needs to be protected. This is just a manifestation of the basic human instinct of self-preservation. The point is that, the rise in extremism and the increasing assertiveness of Muslims when it comes to their religious identity are symptoms of their belief that Islam is being threatened by external forces. This is precisely the reason why bans on veil will lead only to further isolation and an explosive growth of extremism.
The reasons themselves suggest the remedies. The politicians and the leaders know what they have to do to prevent the clash of civilizations. What is lacking is the political will, which, surprisingly, may be attributed to the growing democratisation of the world which tends to follow the will of the majority that in many cases may be irrational and sometimes, even terribly destructive.
So, the question is: Who is to be blamed for the unexpected rise of Islamic extremism in Kerala? The question needs to be answered because Kerala is a state known for communal harmony and has a prosperous Muslim community. Government provides reservation to them. To all outward appearances, they have no reasons to complain. Yet, extremism is on the rise in the state.
The reasons are manifold. In spite of their material prosperity, many Muslims remain educationally backward. Female literacy, in terms of both numbers and quality, is low when compared to other communities. There is a visible divide between the progressive and conservative sections. Conservative sections tend to live together in close, closed communities with little or no interaction with others. They migrate mainly to the Gullf region where the chances of getting into contact with extremists is probably higher. Persons migrating to other states may have to face discrimination - Kerala society is (or was) less discriminating because the minority community constitutes a good percentage of the total population. There was greater people-to-people contact, resulting in a better understanding of each other's religion and customs. That fostered an understanding which is difficult to find today. This need not necessarily be the condition of other states. This may have led a minority of the educated, young and modern Muslim youth to take solace in the teachings of extremist preachers. With no one else to guide them, they might have got involved in anti-national activities. The activities of this minority has created such a terror in the minds of the general public that currently Muslims in general and young Muslim men in particular have become objects of suspicion.
One cannot blame the public for this. During my entire school life, from class I to X, I did not have any Muslim student in my class. In classes XI and XII, when I was studying in a different school, the number of Muslim girl students was zero and the number of boys was below five. How can you then expect me to have any real understanding of Muslims? My sister, unlike me, did have a Muslim girl in her class. She was, however, from an extremely liberal family of engineers, and was as clueless about Islam as my sister was though my sister belonged to a different community.
That precisely is the root of the problem. The progressive sections tend to neglect the religion completely and hence move out of the larger Muslim community. They tend to have no voice in the community. The conservative sections, however, tend to become more assertive as more liberals move out. They impose their interpretation on others and prevent external interferences. This scares out the remaining liberals. Thus, paradoxically, the communities become more closed as its members move out. The remaining nucleus becomes too polarised to be amenable to reason and rationality and an easy breeding ground for extremists.
The problem is further compounded by the fact that a majority of the Muslims literally know nothing about their religion other than the customs they have to follow - believe in Allah, pray five times a day, observe fast during Ramzan and go to Mecca if possible. Quran is written in Arabic which a majority do not understand. Translations in local languages are not popular. People thus have to depend on preachers who are either not well-versed or who have a totally wrong idea of Islam. Their teachings and interpretations destroy the efforts of the real scholars to bring Islam in line with the modern times. The result? Alienation, confusion and chaos. The extremists' teachings also give a wrong impression to followers of other religions who lose the trust in Muslims that was built upon the efforts of many centuries.
The media too, acts as a facilitator in this process. They tend to portray these extremists as the representatives of the community and the real voice of its majority whereas the actual majority has nothing to do with them. A liberal Muslim thus is made a misnomer rather than a norm. This results in alienation which tends to support the rapid growth of extremism. Thus media actively constructs a nightmarish reality from nothing, thanks to its monstrous use of misrepresentations and misplaced priorities.
Other communities too are responsible for this menace of extremism. Any increase in the level of community-feeling in a group is bound to create fear in the minds of other communities. Unless the concerns are properly addressed, this fear will naturally lead to an increase in the community-feeling of other groups too. People will then to identify more with that aspect of their personality which they think is threatened and hence needs to be protected. This is just a manifestation of the basic human instinct of self-preservation. The point is that, the rise in extremism and the increasing assertiveness of Muslims when it comes to their religious identity are symptoms of their belief that Islam is being threatened by external forces. This is precisely the reason why bans on veil will lead only to further isolation and an explosive growth of extremism.
The reasons themselves suggest the remedies. The politicians and the leaders know what they have to do to prevent the clash of civilizations. What is lacking is the political will, which, surprisingly, may be attributed to the growing democratisation of the world which tends to follow the will of the majority that in many cases may be irrational and sometimes, even terribly destructive.
Caste and Census
Not surprisingly, the Group of Ministers has decided to go in favour of the first caste Census of independent India. The last caste Census was in 1931. Though the first Commission on Backward Classes under Kaka Kelkar had recommended a caste census in 1953, the government had rejected it then, upholding Sardar Patel's words that 'A caste census would never be held in independent India.' How the times have changed indeed!
Caste in India is a phenomenon that has defied all attempts to destroy it. It survives through Khap panchayats, honour killings and forced marriages. It is a fundamental factor in deciding one's status in the society. The same government that claims to be fighting against casteism, refuses to grant reservation based on economic criteria and chooses caste as the basis instead. This is an example of how the policy of government is different from the actual ground position.
So, finally, let us face the truth. Caste will not go away from the Indian society. Even the religions transplanted to India which originally had nothing to do with caste now promote and practise their own versions of casteism. Indeed it appears that the line 'Kuch baath hai ki hasthi mit-thi nahi hamari' was written about the survival of the caste system through the centuries. Buddhism failed, Jainism failed, even Islam failed in spite of its idea of 'Universal Brotherhood'. What can a mere government do to eliminate a system that even Gods and their prophets failed to change?
The government seems to have recognised that instead of hanging on to the utopian dream of Sardar Patel of 'an India of equal citizens', it is better to do some real work on the ground to uplift the citizens belonging to the so-called 'Backward Castes' of India. The Caste Census will provide the Government with accurate data of the beneficiaries it intends to target in its programmes for 'inclusive growth'. It is quite bewildering to think that the government had been relying on the extrapolations of the 1931 Census data and sample surveys to calculate the number of people belonging to the Backward Classes. So it is well and good that the government has finally decided to go in for caste census.
The opinion that the Census would divide the country on caste line is illogical. Caste considerations influence politics heavily even otherwise. One has to just look at the candidate list and the dominant castes in the constituencies they are contesting to be convinced of it. This tendency has already reached its peak in India. The census is in no way going to accentuate it.
However, it is one of the paradoxes of history that the caste census would take place along with the biometric stage. Mixing the highly sophisticated technical stage with the archaic caste consideration. Symbolic of India - on the path of growth with the help of technology but still heavily influenced by irrational cultural elementts. One is tempted to say 'It happens only in India!'
Caste in India is a phenomenon that has defied all attempts to destroy it. It survives through Khap panchayats, honour killings and forced marriages. It is a fundamental factor in deciding one's status in the society. The same government that claims to be fighting against casteism, refuses to grant reservation based on economic criteria and chooses caste as the basis instead. This is an example of how the policy of government is different from the actual ground position.
So, finally, let us face the truth. Caste will not go away from the Indian society. Even the religions transplanted to India which originally had nothing to do with caste now promote and practise their own versions of casteism. Indeed it appears that the line 'Kuch baath hai ki hasthi mit-thi nahi hamari' was written about the survival of the caste system through the centuries. Buddhism failed, Jainism failed, even Islam failed in spite of its idea of 'Universal Brotherhood'. What can a mere government do to eliminate a system that even Gods and their prophets failed to change?
The government seems to have recognised that instead of hanging on to the utopian dream of Sardar Patel of 'an India of equal citizens', it is better to do some real work on the ground to uplift the citizens belonging to the so-called 'Backward Castes' of India. The Caste Census will provide the Government with accurate data of the beneficiaries it intends to target in its programmes for 'inclusive growth'. It is quite bewildering to think that the government had been relying on the extrapolations of the 1931 Census data and sample surveys to calculate the number of people belonging to the Backward Classes. So it is well and good that the government has finally decided to go in for caste census.
The opinion that the Census would divide the country on caste line is illogical. Caste considerations influence politics heavily even otherwise. One has to just look at the candidate list and the dominant castes in the constituencies they are contesting to be convinced of it. This tendency has already reached its peak in India. The census is in no way going to accentuate it.
However, it is one of the paradoxes of history that the caste census would take place along with the biometric stage. Mixing the highly sophisticated technical stage with the archaic caste consideration. Symbolic of India - on the path of growth with the help of technology but still heavily influenced by irrational cultural elementts. One is tempted to say 'It happens only in India!'
Sunday 11 July 2010
To Serve in Hell
Residing in a hostel has taken a heavy toll on my capability of rabid sarcasm, especially because I am surrounded by gentle people of the genteel class. Having been brought up in a rough and tough environment where every word you uttered was subjected to intense scrutiny as if you were undergoing training for diplomatic service, it is very difficult to suppress the smile that appears on your face as the innocent people around you speak unknowingly of the meanings you glean out of those pearls of 'wisdom'.
So I find myself among little angels and slightly mischievous angels, and I, being a devil's advocate, find that I cannot really relish my company. It is always straight talk, not the intellectual tomfoolery of words I indulge in. A little solace is obtained during one of the History classes but otherwise, life has become a barren land; a picture in black and white in straight lines with no scope for even a shade of grey.
It is not the food that I miss. The milk here conforms to the Agmark and ISI standards, and the diet is balanced, and to my taste. But I feel starved of the sense of comraderie I used to feel at my home, my school and in my college; those endless discussions about topics which verged on absurdity, those statements which were the results of fleeting instances of brilliant insanity - all good old memories which help me survive in this desert of goodness and regularity.
The person who said that it was better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven was clearly exaggerating it. That statement shows lack of experience in succumbing to temptations, especially the intellectual ones. He should have known.
So I find myself among little angels and slightly mischievous angels, and I, being a devil's advocate, find that I cannot really relish my company. It is always straight talk, not the intellectual tomfoolery of words I indulge in. A little solace is obtained during one of the History classes but otherwise, life has become a barren land; a picture in black and white in straight lines with no scope for even a shade of grey.
It is not the food that I miss. The milk here conforms to the Agmark and ISI standards, and the diet is balanced, and to my taste. But I feel starved of the sense of comraderie I used to feel at my home, my school and in my college; those endless discussions about topics which verged on absurdity, those statements which were the results of fleeting instances of brilliant insanity - all good old memories which help me survive in this desert of goodness and regularity.
The person who said that it was better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven was clearly exaggerating it. That statement shows lack of experience in succumbing to temptations, especially the intellectual ones. He should have known.
The Football Menagerie
I wish I were an octopus. Or a parakeet. Or whatsoever animal that supposedly has 'psychic' powers to predict the outcome of football matches. Whew! Am I tired of seeing that ugly eight-legged creature again and again!
My theory about it: that poor octopus selects whichever container has maximum food. For the first few games, the decisions of octopus coincided with the outcomes of the matches. After that, the prophecies of the outcomes became self-fulfilling as they began to subconsciously affect the players. So the octopus begins to get a 100% success rate.
I sincerely wish Holland wins today. For the sake of rationality!
My theory about it: that poor octopus selects whichever container has maximum food. For the first few games, the decisions of octopus coincided with the outcomes of the matches. After that, the prophecies of the outcomes became self-fulfilling as they began to subconsciously affect the players. So the octopus begins to get a 100% success rate.
I sincerely wish Holland wins today. For the sake of rationality!
Monday 5 July 2010
Happy Hartal
So we are celebrating the second hartal in a week against the decision to decontrol the petroleum product prices. This hartal too, like other previous ones, is going to be a 'massive hit', as they say. Mind you, while the rest of the country is going to reel under the effect of 'Bharth bandh', we in Kerala will be having a mere 'hartal'. The bandhs are formally banned in Kerala since the High Court verdict.
Why are hartals successes in Kerala? It is because the average Malayali is a perfect mixture of laziness and cowardice. S/he will not go out for two specific reasons:
1. This is a day you get to enjoy. You can see long queues in front of the Beverages Corporation's liquor shops and poultry stores on the day before the hartals. No one wants to venture outside to spoil the 'Marx-given manna' of a holiday.
2. You fear for your life/vehicle/property. We are so used to the sights of broken glasses of the KSRTC buses and burnt down vehicles that appear on the news channels in the nights of hartals that nobody even thinks of risking their precious four-wheelers. Now, even the state-run KSRTC is not an exception.
The matter of the fact is, Kerala is dominated by two sectors - agriculture and services. Agriculture cannot be very much affected by these hartals. The people who work in the services sector are only thankful to get a day all for themselves, given that most of them work for six days a week rather than five. The hartal, therefore, comes as a relief.
The only vehicles that seem to ply today are the vehicles of the ISRO, the firms of the Technopark and some mopeds. The life in the state is 'paralysed', as the Malayalis want to celebrate a day with the liquor bottles they are so fond of. They have little real concern about how the common man is going to be affected by the price rise.
After all, in a state where crores and crores of rupees are spent on conspicuous consumption, in a state where even the lowest strata of the society indulges in blatant consumerism, how on earth is a few rupees' increase in prices of petroleum products going to matter?
P.S: I know that the price rise is going to affect the Malayalis more than the people of any other state as we are dependent on others even for the food we consume. As the ultimate consumers in the great market of India, we are the ones who are going to be fleeced the most. But these hartals or bandhs are not going to force the Centre to change its decision. It is hell bent on cutting its deficits to find funds for its social security programmes. So these are perfectly useless ways to waste our time, money and energy. Still, who cares as long as we get a holiday?
Why are hartals successes in Kerala? It is because the average Malayali is a perfect mixture of laziness and cowardice. S/he will not go out for two specific reasons:
1. This is a day you get to enjoy. You can see long queues in front of the Beverages Corporation's liquor shops and poultry stores on the day before the hartals. No one wants to venture outside to spoil the 'Marx-given manna' of a holiday.
2. You fear for your life/vehicle/property. We are so used to the sights of broken glasses of the KSRTC buses and burnt down vehicles that appear on the news channels in the nights of hartals that nobody even thinks of risking their precious four-wheelers. Now, even the state-run KSRTC is not an exception.
The matter of the fact is, Kerala is dominated by two sectors - agriculture and services. Agriculture cannot be very much affected by these hartals. The people who work in the services sector are only thankful to get a day all for themselves, given that most of them work for six days a week rather than five. The hartal, therefore, comes as a relief.
The only vehicles that seem to ply today are the vehicles of the ISRO, the firms of the Technopark and some mopeds. The life in the state is 'paralysed', as the Malayalis want to celebrate a day with the liquor bottles they are so fond of. They have little real concern about how the common man is going to be affected by the price rise.
After all, in a state where crores and crores of rupees are spent on conspicuous consumption, in a state where even the lowest strata of the society indulges in blatant consumerism, how on earth is a few rupees' increase in prices of petroleum products going to matter?
P.S: I know that the price rise is going to affect the Malayalis more than the people of any other state as we are dependent on others even for the food we consume. As the ultimate consumers in the great market of India, we are the ones who are going to be fleeced the most. But these hartals or bandhs are not going to force the Centre to change its decision. It is hell bent on cutting its deficits to find funds for its social security programmes. So these are perfectly useless ways to waste our time, money and energy. Still, who cares as long as we get a holiday?
Sunday 4 July 2010
Democracy goes to the dogs
'We agree to disagree', this seems to be the motto of mankind today. Take any issue today - from environmental protection to caste census, the world is so divided into polarized opposing camps that any consensus is impossible. And unfortunately, this is the time the world has to act if it has to survive.
What is it that causes such divisions in the society? It is not as if conflicts are products of modern age. They have existed since man was born. And the leaders have dealt with them, not always effectively, but dealt with them nevertheless.
Today, however, we see leaders who are spineless, who bend to populist pressures (instances of political leaders coming out in support of khap panchayats for the sake of a few votes) and who are, if I may say, so bereft of leadership qualities that I cannot but marvel at my fellow beings who made them leaders. Has democracy become a bane?
It appears so that indeed it has become a bane. The movements in support of khap panchayats, Tea Party are all perfectly legitimate democratic movements. So was the National Socialist (Nazi) movement too. Indeed, it is fair to remark that democracy works well as long as the leaders have the charisma to make people go through the necessary ordeals or the people are sensible enough to understand what is actually good for them. However, that no longer seems to be the case in any country now.
Take U.S for example. Everyone knows how hard it was for its President to pass the health care reform bill. He may even lose the next elections because of that. A perfectly sensible President becomes unpopular within a few months since he entered the office. Compare it with the case of its former President who was re-elected in spite of leading his country into a perfectly useless and dumb battle.
Or take the case of India. Politicians of all hues are coming out in support of the antiquated, outdated and mindless institutions known as khap panchayats. In case you haven't read, they want the Hindu Marriage Act amended to suit their wishes. And quite unfortunately, there is quite a good number of citizens who agree with them on this. So, who knows?
Now take the European Union. It somehow scraped through the last crisis. And Merkel's popularity in Germany has nosedived. So much so that the recent Presidential elections went into the third round, thanks to her rebellious partymen. Now, Merkel had to support the EU. She had no other way out. Yet she is being crucified for some decisions that as the Chancellor of Germany, she was BOUND to take.
Everybody blames the politicians whenever something goes wrong. Being a politician is a very, very thankless job, especially if you are sincere and honest. And dictators, no matter how terrible they are, always find admirers. Call it 'the incurable lure of absolute power'. Just look at the Chinese, North Korean or Cuban rulers. Or even the Russian President. They are subject to far less criticism than the U.S President, the German Chancellor or the Indian Prime Minister even though the last three are doing far better jobs in the face of more severe challenges.
Democracy works well and good in a country where citizens are sensible, intelligent and well-informed. Sensibility went to the trash bin the day social networking was invented. Intelligence had already been out of fashion since the age of teevee began. And somebody called this the 'The Age of Information' but I think they missed out the 'Mis' that came before the last word.
I hope I will survive this.
What is it that causes such divisions in the society? It is not as if conflicts are products of modern age. They have existed since man was born. And the leaders have dealt with them, not always effectively, but dealt with them nevertheless.
Today, however, we see leaders who are spineless, who bend to populist pressures (instances of political leaders coming out in support of khap panchayats for the sake of a few votes) and who are, if I may say, so bereft of leadership qualities that I cannot but marvel at my fellow beings who made them leaders. Has democracy become a bane?
It appears so that indeed it has become a bane. The movements in support of khap panchayats, Tea Party are all perfectly legitimate democratic movements. So was the National Socialist (Nazi) movement too. Indeed, it is fair to remark that democracy works well as long as the leaders have the charisma to make people go through the necessary ordeals or the people are sensible enough to understand what is actually good for them. However, that no longer seems to be the case in any country now.
Take U.S for example. Everyone knows how hard it was for its President to pass the health care reform bill. He may even lose the next elections because of that. A perfectly sensible President becomes unpopular within a few months since he entered the office. Compare it with the case of its former President who was re-elected in spite of leading his country into a perfectly useless and dumb battle.
Or take the case of India. Politicians of all hues are coming out in support of the antiquated, outdated and mindless institutions known as khap panchayats. In case you haven't read, they want the Hindu Marriage Act amended to suit their wishes. And quite unfortunately, there is quite a good number of citizens who agree with them on this. So, who knows?
Now take the European Union. It somehow scraped through the last crisis. And Merkel's popularity in Germany has nosedived. So much so that the recent Presidential elections went into the third round, thanks to her rebellious partymen. Now, Merkel had to support the EU. She had no other way out. Yet she is being crucified for some decisions that as the Chancellor of Germany, she was BOUND to take.
Everybody blames the politicians whenever something goes wrong. Being a politician is a very, very thankless job, especially if you are sincere and honest. And dictators, no matter how terrible they are, always find admirers. Call it 'the incurable lure of absolute power'. Just look at the Chinese, North Korean or Cuban rulers. Or even the Russian President. They are subject to far less criticism than the U.S President, the German Chancellor or the Indian Prime Minister even though the last three are doing far better jobs in the face of more severe challenges.
Democracy works well and good in a country where citizens are sensible, intelligent and well-informed. Sensibility went to the trash bin the day social networking was invented. Intelligence had already been out of fashion since the age of teevee began. And somebody called this the 'The Age of Information' but I think they missed out the 'Mis' that came before the last word.
I hope I will survive this.
Sunday 20 June 2010
Being a woman
Recently a girl I know went to a very famous hostel in the city for admission. She did not join, however, as she found that the hostel would not allow mobile phones inside. This girl is addicted to internet and mobile phones, and cannot live without them.
The above mentioned incident has occurred many times over in the city. Many girls give up their gadgets for the security of the hostels. It is a classic case where one has to choose between freedom and security. Many prefer the latter. And that is sad. There are many women's hostels in the city which give greater freedom to their inmates. Then, why on earth do some hostels still continue with bans on use of technology? I admit that there have been incidents of misuse of mobile phones. But these are isolated incidents. Why should the great majority of law-abiding, 'decent' women suffer because of the pervertedness of a few?
The question here is: why women alone are targeted in such bans? It is far more sensible to ban them in Men's hostels then, as they are usually the ones who spread the porn content they get. Will anyone dare to do that? No. So women continue to be punished when they are actually the victims. Much like the women who refuse to go to toilets in hotels after the 'cam in the loo' incident.
After some hue and cry, the issue gets buried. Though Kerala boasts about its great strides in female emancipation, the condition on ground is worse than you can imagine. No girl dares to step outside her house after 8 in the evening. If anything happens, it is always her mistake.
To hell with it guys! I am no feminist. I just demand that women too get equal opportunity to do everything that men usually get to do. We too are human beings
The above mentioned incident has occurred many times over in the city. Many girls give up their gadgets for the security of the hostels. It is a classic case where one has to choose between freedom and security. Many prefer the latter. And that is sad. There are many women's hostels in the city which give greater freedom to their inmates. Then, why on earth do some hostels still continue with bans on use of technology? I admit that there have been incidents of misuse of mobile phones. But these are isolated incidents. Why should the great majority of law-abiding, 'decent' women suffer because of the pervertedness of a few?
The question here is: why women alone are targeted in such bans? It is far more sensible to ban them in Men's hostels then, as they are usually the ones who spread the porn content they get. Will anyone dare to do that? No. So women continue to be punished when they are actually the victims. Much like the women who refuse to go to toilets in hotels after the 'cam in the loo' incident.
After some hue and cry, the issue gets buried. Though Kerala boasts about its great strides in female emancipation, the condition on ground is worse than you can imagine. No girl dares to step outside her house after 8 in the evening. If anything happens, it is always her mistake.
To hell with it guys! I am no feminist. I just demand that women too get equal opportunity to do everything that men usually get to do. We too are human beings
Saturday 19 June 2010
French reforms
The French President is trying his best to raise the retirement age of his countrymen to 62. He wisely announced the final measures of his reform programme just before the French went on vacation so as to avoid the crippling strikes that usually make headlines all over the world whenever some reform measures are announced.
The social security system in France is rather lavish; something we can't even imagine in this country. Paid vacations, free medical care, heavily subsidised education even in liberal arts and unconventional subjects and nothing to say about unemployment benefits. All this makes me wonder: how on earth did France manage to scrape through the crisis that engulfed many of the countries of the EU? Germany's case can be understood easily. They are....well, Germans. Period. But France, that heaven of nihilists and anarchists? That I could not comprehend until I learnt about the attitude of the French to their work.
The people of France, whatever work they may do, consider it their moral duty to do it perfectly. A person who works need not bow to his master in this country. That is what makes France and the French truly great.
Will Sarkozy be able to 'reform' the social security system of his country? That is a question only the future can answer. The system was devised in a different era - a time when sub-prime crisis did not exist, when the trading in derivatives was far more sensible and when the country had enough surplus. To think that the system will be able to survive the evil world of today is to be naive. Whether the French will be able to understand the predicament of their President is the question that needs to be answered. Because reforms are never easy. And more so when it affects a majority of the population and bring them out of their comfort zone.
The social security system in France is rather lavish; something we can't even imagine in this country. Paid vacations, free medical care, heavily subsidised education even in liberal arts and unconventional subjects and nothing to say about unemployment benefits. All this makes me wonder: how on earth did France manage to scrape through the crisis that engulfed many of the countries of the EU? Germany's case can be understood easily. They are....well, Germans. Period. But France, that heaven of nihilists and anarchists? That I could not comprehend until I learnt about the attitude of the French to their work.
The people of France, whatever work they may do, consider it their moral duty to do it perfectly. A person who works need not bow to his master in this country. That is what makes France and the French truly great.
Will Sarkozy be able to 'reform' the social security system of his country? That is a question only the future can answer. The system was devised in a different era - a time when sub-prime crisis did not exist, when the trading in derivatives was far more sensible and when the country had enough surplus. To think that the system will be able to survive the evil world of today is to be naive. Whether the French will be able to understand the predicament of their President is the question that needs to be answered. Because reforms are never easy. And more so when it affects a majority of the population and bring them out of their comfort zone.
Thursday 10 June 2010
The Great Blockade of Manipur
In case you guys do not know, there is a state in India named Manipur. It is located in the north-eastern part of the country, near Myanmar. The reason I am stating this is the abysmally low coverage given to the highway blockade of Manipur spearheaded by the United Naga Council and supported by the All-Naga Students' Association of Manipur and the NSCN-IM. This has been going on for the past two months and I bet you would not have even heard about it.
The blockade was started by ANSAM on April 12 after Manipur decided to hold elections to elect members to the six Autonomous District Councils in the tribal hill districts. The ANSAM says that ADCs do not have sufficient autonomy to deal with the issues of the tribals. The Naga demand for amendments to the ADC Act was rejected by the state government led by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh. While the NSCN-IM opposes the elections as it would throw up new Naga leaders and thereby weaken their demand for the Greater Nagalim, the Chief Minister supports the elections for the very same reason.
The issue worsened when the NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, the charismatic leader of the Nagas, was denied permission by the Manipur government to visit his birthplace, the village Somdal in Ukhrul district. Three people were killed and about seventy injured in clashes related with the incident. This 'justifies' the government stand that the visit would evoke communal tension in the state.
The communal tension is a pre-existing condition in Manipur. The Meiteis, comprising the majority live in the Imphal valley which constitute only 10 percent of the geographical area of the state. The remaining areas are inhabited by the Nagas and Kukis. The Nagas want these areas to be part of the Greater Nagalim. The very thought causes terror in the minds of Meiteis as well as the Kukis, who are dead against the division of Manipur.
The blockade of the two National Highways, NH-39(Imphal-Dimapur), the 'Lifeline of Manipur' and NH-53(Imphal-Silchar) has affected the lives of common people in Manipur and enters the 60th day today.
Manipur faces severe shortage of essential commodities, especially food, fuel and life-saving medicines as a result of this blockade. They are very much used to blockades, as we are to 'hartals' but this one has become severe due to its long duration. A kilogram of rice sells for Rs.60, a gas cylinder sells for more than Rs.1000, all while the Central Government looks on.Surgeries are being postponed and people are in severe distress. Two main hospitals in the state have stopped functioning. The blockade continues in spite of requests by humanitarian agencies, political parties and even the Centre.
The Manipur government has resorted to airlifting rice and medicines. Also 500 trucks were brought in through NH-53(which is in deplorable condition) with state security via Assam. The only highway that remains is NH-150(the Tipaimukh Road). However, the vehicles using this road to travel from Silchar to Imphal have to travel 512 kilometres whereas they have to travel only for 212 kilometres on the NH-39.
The blockade was started by ANSAM on April 12 after Manipur decided to hold elections to elect members to the six Autonomous District Councils in the tribal hill districts. The ANSAM says that ADCs do not have sufficient autonomy to deal with the issues of the tribals. The Naga demand for amendments to the ADC Act was rejected by the state government led by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh. While the NSCN-IM opposes the elections as it would throw up new Naga leaders and thereby weaken their demand for the Greater Nagalim, the Chief Minister supports the elections for the very same reason.
The issue worsened when the NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, the charismatic leader of the Nagas, was denied permission by the Manipur government to visit his birthplace, the village Somdal in Ukhrul district. Three people were killed and about seventy injured in clashes related with the incident. This 'justifies' the government stand that the visit would evoke communal tension in the state.
The communal tension is a pre-existing condition in Manipur. The Meiteis, comprising the majority live in the Imphal valley which constitute only 10 percent of the geographical area of the state. The remaining areas are inhabited by the Nagas and Kukis. The Nagas want these areas to be part of the Greater Nagalim. The very thought causes terror in the minds of Meiteis as well as the Kukis, who are dead against the division of Manipur.
The blockade of the two National Highways, NH-39(Imphal-Dimapur), the 'Lifeline of Manipur' and NH-53(Imphal-Silchar) has affected the lives of common people in Manipur and enters the 60th day today.
Manipur faces severe shortage of essential commodities, especially food, fuel and life-saving medicines as a result of this blockade. They are very much used to blockades, as we are to 'hartals' but this one has become severe due to its long duration. A kilogram of rice sells for Rs.60, a gas cylinder sells for more than Rs.1000, all while the Central Government looks on.Surgeries are being postponed and people are in severe distress. Two main hospitals in the state have stopped functioning. The blockade continues in spite of requests by humanitarian agencies, political parties and even the Centre.
The Manipur government has resorted to airlifting rice and medicines. Also 500 trucks were brought in through NH-53(which is in deplorable condition) with state security via Assam. The only highway that remains is NH-150(the Tipaimukh Road). However, the vehicles using this road to travel from Silchar to Imphal have to travel 512 kilometres whereas they have to travel only for 212 kilometres on the NH-39.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
Whither justice?
Finally, after a long wait of more than 25 years, the Indian judicial system today gave its verdict in the Bhopal case. Seven accused get a maximum of two years' RI. Warren Anderson, the then-chairman of the Union Carbide continues to live happily in New York. He is an 'absconder' in India. The seven accused, meanwhile, have got bails - that saves them from even the meagre punishment they got. Well done, India! Well done! Mera Bharath Mahaan. Gandhi would have been proud today. I am waiting for the Nuclear Liability Bill. The implications of that Bill is going to prove worse for India.
You know, when there are more than a hundred crore people living in the country, who is bothered if some scores of thousands die? Show me the money, honey!
You know, when there are more than a hundred crore people living in the country, who is bothered if some scores of thousands die? Show me the money, honey!
Saturday 5 June 2010
Nothing in particular
Classes at the Academy start only on June 9. I have decided to take Pub Ad and Socio as my options.(Still can't forget the smirks on many faces when they first heard the phrase 'pub ad'!) Unlike its abbreviated version, public administration is a subject you can read only if you have a tremendous amount of willpower. Sociology is more of a gossipy kind of subject. I am talking after comparing everything with engineering, of course. Engineering was precise, accurate and actually, boring. Sociology is anything but the above three. Confounding questions like 'Is touching the feet of your elders a norm, a custom, a more or a tradition?', details of interesting customs like kula and the rather eccentric observations of the sociologists like 'avoidance between relatives is practised to avoid incest'(This is obvious: Freud's opinion.), ideas like the class struggle of the Marxists, the Fourth World, the Post-Industrial society, the theory of power etc make it a really interesting subject to read. Where else would you find Plato, Marx, Spencer, Comte, Freud and a host of others together?
Now, to today's news. The Flotilla story is slowly losing out on its coverage in newspapers. There was an Op-Ed by the Israeli Ambassador in NYT. Read it to have a balanced view. Whatever that means. Meanwhile Israeli PM says blockade will continue.
There is a really a lot of discussion going on about the EA minister's to the US. Barry is coming to India in November. US says it is 'definitely committed' to consider India's demand for UNSC seat. Our Prez went to China recently. I could not make out what they said about it. Most of the newspapers say the leadership has supported India's demand but I find that particularly difficult to believe. You'll have to give me the entire sodium chloride on this planet to make me believe that. Most probably, China will change its stand when it comes to voting. I believe the journalists have really misunderstood what the Chinese premier was saying. After all, we are not so proficient in Mandarin.
Not so about English, though. Another Indian-American has won the Spelling Bee contest. Why don't they outsource the contest to India?
Nearer home, Phet spared Gujrat, but struck Oman. There was a fire in Bangladesh. (Seems to be a problem with colonial-era buildings. They are catching fire like dry log wood these days. May be its the temperature. Global warming sceptics, please take note! )
Everyone is talking about doing something about N. Korea. However, N.Korea has nukes, and Dubya is not in office. So, by deduction, there won't be war in that region. I just can't understand why everyone is so concerned about N.Korea. Those fellows are not going to start a war. Not with China around! Why is no one bothered about those trigger-happy nutjobs in Pakistan? I would have felt safer if Iran had nukes than Pakistan! At least, that country has a government!
Now, to today's news. The Flotilla story is slowly losing out on its coverage in newspapers. There was an Op-Ed by the Israeli Ambassador in NYT. Read it to have a balanced view. Whatever that means. Meanwhile Israeli PM says blockade will continue.
There is a really a lot of discussion going on about the EA minister's to the US. Barry is coming to India in November. US says it is 'definitely committed' to consider India's demand for UNSC seat. Our Prez went to China recently. I could not make out what they said about it. Most of the newspapers say the leadership has supported India's demand but I find that particularly difficult to believe. You'll have to give me the entire sodium chloride on this planet to make me believe that. Most probably, China will change its stand when it comes to voting. I believe the journalists have really misunderstood what the Chinese premier was saying. After all, we are not so proficient in Mandarin.
Not so about English, though. Another Indian-American has won the Spelling Bee contest. Why don't they outsource the contest to India?
Nearer home, Phet spared Gujrat, but struck Oman. There was a fire in Bangladesh. (Seems to be a problem with colonial-era buildings. They are catching fire like dry log wood these days. May be its the temperature. Global warming sceptics, please take note! )
Everyone is talking about doing something about N. Korea. However, N.Korea has nukes, and Dubya is not in office. So, by deduction, there won't be war in that region. I just can't understand why everyone is so concerned about N.Korea. Those fellows are not going to start a war. Not with China around! Why is no one bothered about those trigger-happy nutjobs in Pakistan? I would have felt safer if Iran had nukes than Pakistan! At least, that country has a government!
Friday 4 June 2010
Time to be irreverent
Japan has got a new Prime Minister. I am tired of reading this. Naoto Kan takes over from Yukio Hatoyama. Only if the Japanese had simpler names!
Ajmal Kasab appeals against his death sentence in Mumbai High Court. Just when it was all over. Sometimes, civil rights can be pretty irritating. Like this one. When it is as clear as daylight that Kasab was one among the terrorists, why is it taking so long to hang him? Where are the fake encounter specialists when you need them?
Arundhati Roy thinks Maoists are Gandhians. Just wondering what her ideas about Gandhi are.
India loses again to Zimbabwe. The news was buried deep inside most of the newspapers. Are these the 'hidden depths'?
In spite of visits by about half the Who's Who in the US, oil keeps leaking in the BP well. Why don't they use Fevicol to fix it? aise jod lagaye yamraj bhi tod na paaye
Meanwhile there is a lot of noise about India in connection with the EA Minister's trip to the US. We will get a clear picture only after the dust settles. The best thing to do is not to read newspapers during the visit. Read the reports dated half a week after. That gives the real picture.
North Korea is threatening the South with war. India and S.Korea have got a peculiar similarity - both have absolutely nutjob governments in countries to their north. Still, any day, North Korea is better than Pakistan!
Supposedly someone has written a book about Sonia Gandhi. Though Madam herself has no problems with the book, it seems her supporters have oodles of them. BJP meanwhile is supporting the book citing something called the Freedom of Expression. It is an article in our Constitution, by the way.Once upon a time there lived a person by the name Jinnah....
Almost everyday, there's another article titled 'Another mishap averted at ... airport'. It is almost as if these journalists are waiting for a scoop. Why don't they do a TV series on the dangers of Indian airports if they are so concerned about it? And cover it till the Government does something about it rather than jump to the next story?
That's all in today's news.Have a nice day.
Ajmal Kasab appeals against his death sentence in Mumbai High Court. Just when it was all over. Sometimes, civil rights can be pretty irritating. Like this one. When it is as clear as daylight that Kasab was one among the terrorists, why is it taking so long to hang him? Where are the fake encounter specialists when you need them?
Arundhati Roy thinks Maoists are Gandhians. Just wondering what her ideas about Gandhi are.
India loses again to Zimbabwe. The news was buried deep inside most of the newspapers. Are these the 'hidden depths'?
In spite of visits by about half the Who's Who in the US, oil keeps leaking in the BP well. Why don't they use Fevicol to fix it? aise jod lagaye yamraj bhi tod na paaye
Meanwhile there is a lot of noise about India in connection with the EA Minister's trip to the US. We will get a clear picture only after the dust settles. The best thing to do is not to read newspapers during the visit. Read the reports dated half a week after. That gives the real picture.
North Korea is threatening the South with war. India and S.Korea have got a peculiar similarity - both have absolutely nutjob governments in countries to their north. Still, any day, North Korea is better than Pakistan!
Supposedly someone has written a book about Sonia Gandhi. Though Madam herself has no problems with the book, it seems her supporters have oodles of them. BJP meanwhile is supporting the book citing something called the Freedom of Expression. It is an article in our Constitution, by the way.
Almost everyday, there's another article titled 'Another mishap averted at ... airport'. It is almost as if these journalists are waiting for a scoop. Why don't they do a TV series on the dangers of Indian airports if they are so concerned about it? And cover it till the Government does something about it rather than jump to the next story?
That's all in today's news.Have a nice day.
Wednesday 2 June 2010
In defence?
The Israeli attack on Flotilla came as a shock to everyone. Use of force on this scale was unexpected and I must say, unnecessary. The incident took place in international waters, and that makes it more worrying. Is Israel going to stop at nothing? The Flotilla incident has resulted in widespread condemnation of Israeli action but this too, will be forgotten soon. No country in the world today dares to stand up to Israel. Why?
Today's The Hindu carried the statement of the Prime Minister that terror would be fought 'root and branch'. I wish that were really true! If you look at it, we have too many kinds of terrorist groups in the country. Islamic extremists, Maoists, the uncountable number of -ists in the north-eastern region... the list goes on and on. And we have poorly equipped police forces in most of the states. On top of that, there is severe shortage of manpower too. This is not the ideal way to go about the task if the PM really meant it.
The interesting fact is, everyone seems to know how to fight terror: use force against the terrorists and win the hearts and minds of the locals. The question is, why is no one able to do it?
I am worried about the rate at which Japan seems to be changing its PMs. The Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is stepping down as he could not fulfill his election promise of relocating a U.S Marine base. Quite sensible too, if you look at it. You are the Prime Minister of the country and you cannot get a foreign military base to be relocated, it doesn't make much sense to be holding the position, right? Thank God for the Non-Aligned Movement. That is one thing for which I will be forever grateful to Nehru.
Today's The Hindu carried the statement of the Prime Minister that terror would be fought 'root and branch'. I wish that were really true! If you look at it, we have too many kinds of terrorist groups in the country. Islamic extremists, Maoists, the uncountable number of -ists in the north-eastern region... the list goes on and on. And we have poorly equipped police forces in most of the states. On top of that, there is severe shortage of manpower too. This is not the ideal way to go about the task if the PM really meant it.
The interesting fact is, everyone seems to know how to fight terror: use force against the terrorists and win the hearts and minds of the locals. The question is, why is no one able to do it?
I am worried about the rate at which Japan seems to be changing its PMs. The Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is stepping down as he could not fulfill his election promise of relocating a U.S Marine base. Quite sensible too, if you look at it. You are the Prime Minister of the country and you cannot get a foreign military base to be relocated, it doesn't make much sense to be holding the position, right? Thank God for the Non-Aligned Movement. That is one thing for which I will be forever grateful to Nehru.
Friday 12 March 2010
News I liked
Delhi High Court today directed the Centre to grant permanent commission to women serving in defence services. Till now, women could join the Army only as officers under the Short Service Commission for a maximum period of 14 years. Male officers could receive permanent commission after five years. This is a better thing than the Reservation Bill. Btw, did you know that Pakistan and Afghanistan also have reservation for women in their legislative bodies? Anybody thinks the situation on the ground is going to improve for the ordinary women?
I like Putin. Have been smitten by him ever since I first read about this ex-KGB spy. In fact, I think he was a better Prez for Russia than Obama is for U.S today. Strong, decisive and powerful - that's Putin for you. Well, the news is that he's in India on a 22-hour visit to visit more than a dozen pacts, mainly defence deals. Just wishing the Russian aircraft carriers would be as reliable as their PM.
I just don't understand why people are bothered by what Sarkozy and Bruni do. Grow up, everyone! I am fed up of seeing the French Prez's pics. Also of the news reports about what Michelle Obama wore when she went to god-knows-where. Don't we have enough problems in the world to solve?
But all that fades into nothingness when channels start about Rahul Mahajan. That was covered by even the so-called 'serious' papers. This country is going to the dogs.
China and U.S are meanwhile trading charges over human rights violations. That is funny. Well, U.S violates human rights of citizens of other countries whereas China does that to her own citizens. May be that is the difference.
PC says Pak is a difficult neighbour. I would say it is an 'impossible' neighbour. Its navy tested missiles and torpedoes in the Arabian Sea to warn the ahem, 'enemy'. When will that country realize who its actually enemy is? Today, another 39 people were killed in a suicide attack in Lahore.
I like Putin. Have been smitten by him ever since I first read about this ex-KGB spy. In fact, I think he was a better Prez for Russia than Obama is for U.S today. Strong, decisive and powerful - that's Putin for you. Well, the news is that he's in India on a 22-hour visit to visit more than a dozen pacts, mainly defence deals. Just wishing the Russian aircraft carriers would be as reliable as their PM.
I just don't understand why people are bothered by what Sarkozy and Bruni do. Grow up, everyone! I am fed up of seeing the French Prez's pics. Also of the news reports about what Michelle Obama wore when she went to god-knows-where. Don't we have enough problems in the world to solve?
But all that fades into nothingness when channels start about Rahul Mahajan. That was covered by even the so-called 'serious' papers. This country is going to the dogs.
China and U.S are meanwhile trading charges over human rights violations. That is funny. Well, U.S violates human rights of citizens of other countries whereas China does that to her own citizens. May be that is the difference.
PC says Pak is a difficult neighbour. I would say it is an 'impossible' neighbour. Its navy tested missiles and torpedoes in the Arabian Sea to warn the ahem, 'enemy'. When will that country realize who its actually enemy is? Today, another 39 people were killed in a suicide attack in Lahore.
Thursday 11 March 2010
What the hell?
Rajya Sabha passes Women's Reservation Bill. Now clap on your back, all women and men of this wonderful country! Aren't we great? We will now finally have enough women in the legislative bodies to be eye candies. And nothing more.
What the hell is the use of having women's reservation when our Chief Justice says that a woman can marry her rapist if she wants and drop all the charges against him? Everyone knows what will happen if such a practice becomes common. Women will be forced into marriages they do not want once they are raped. This is basically what was or is known as 'Rakshasa marriage'. At least, in earlier times, this was condemned by the society; but now?
Leave that. Everyone knows that most of the women who are going to be elected in the first round will have little or no knowledge of politics initially. Even if they learn something while serving as elected representatives for five years, it is all going to be a waste as they most probably will not get a second chance for the next 10-15 years. What is the use of such a reservation?
Reservation is considered to be a miracle cure for all the ills in this country. We boast of our achievements, which are quite superficial, to be very kind. We dream to be the next superpower when actually more than 60% of the people starve.
Just have a look at this: India's Maternal Mortality Rate(MMR) is 450. Our target is to reduce it to 109 by 2015. I just wonder why Napolean said that 'Impossible' is a word found only in the dictionary of fools. He should have said that 'Possible' is a word found only in the dictionary of the Indian government.
Can any one tell me how on earth is Women's Reservation Bill going to solve the problems of the mangowomen? The policy decision are going to be made by the Cabinet. The government doesn't even take the Parliament into confidence before signing deals with foreign countries. The elected representatives themselves live in ignorance of what transpires; should I say anything about the state of the common man?
We gulp down whatever the media says. If it says the Budget was good, "Oh, it is a terrific budget"; if it says the Budget was bad, "Oh, our economy is going to be affected". The classical case was the n-deal. I am not going to talk about it now.
For now, I will dream that I am in Utopia and that this Bill will solve all the problems of women.
What the hell is the use of having women's reservation when our Chief Justice says that a woman can marry her rapist if she wants and drop all the charges against him? Everyone knows what will happen if such a practice becomes common. Women will be forced into marriages they do not want once they are raped. This is basically what was or is known as 'Rakshasa marriage'. At least, in earlier times, this was condemned by the society; but now?
Leave that. Everyone knows that most of the women who are going to be elected in the first round will have little or no knowledge of politics initially. Even if they learn something while serving as elected representatives for five years, it is all going to be a waste as they most probably will not get a second chance for the next 10-15 years. What is the use of such a reservation?
Reservation is considered to be a miracle cure for all the ills in this country. We boast of our achievements, which are quite superficial, to be very kind. We dream to be the next superpower when actually more than 60% of the people starve.
Just have a look at this: India's Maternal Mortality Rate(MMR) is 450. Our target is to reduce it to 109 by 2015. I just wonder why Napolean said that 'Impossible' is a word found only in the dictionary of fools. He should have said that 'Possible' is a word found only in the dictionary of the Indian government.
Can any one tell me how on earth is Women's Reservation Bill going to solve the problems of the mangowomen? The policy decision are going to be made by the Cabinet. The government doesn't even take the Parliament into confidence before signing deals with foreign countries. The elected representatives themselves live in ignorance of what transpires; should I say anything about the state of the common man?
We gulp down whatever the media says. If it says the Budget was good, "Oh, it is a terrific budget"; if it says the Budget was bad, "Oh, our economy is going to be affected". The classical case was the n-deal. I am not going to talk about it now.
For now, I will dream that I am in Utopia and that this Bill will solve all the problems of women.
Saturday 9 January 2010
Bifurcation
The decision to bifurcate Andhra into two smaller states, Telangana and Andhra is causing a lot of trouble in the country. The opposition, it must be noted, is mainly due to the fact that the capital city of AP, Hyderabad is situated in Telangana and logically will become its capital once the bifurcation takes place. The people of Andhra, however have invested much in the development of this city and they fear that they will be the losers in the end.
The way in which the government took the decision and the follow-up measures leaves much to be desired. The issue was apparently decided overnight - without issuing feelers, and worse, without even properly engaging in negotiations with the stakeholders. It is not as if the issue was a mushroom that had sprouted after the first rain of the season. The agitation was going on for a pretty long time and the Central government was apparently disinterested. This attitude caused the proponents of the 'United Andhra' to be complacent - they believed that the issue would die out in the long run. It was only when the fast started, with the general public in Telengana, especially the Osmania University students supporting the cause that the Centre first seriously took up the issue. And quite unlike its general behaviour, made a rapid-fire accession to the demands of the TRS leader. 'Haste where it is undue and complacency where urgency ought to be the norm' seems to be the motto of the Home Ministry. PC ought to have been more careful. The Centre's estimation (if it made any) about the backlash reminds one of the Iraq war - hollow victory and general unrest in regions where relative peace had prevailed before the dumb decisions were taken unilaterally.
Now, a pseudo-war rages in one of the largest states of India and the Centre has only itself to blame. More regions have come up with demands for statehood. A new State Reorganization Commission may be soon set up. The talks between the stakeholders being conducted now are bound to fail - the Centre, with its hasty decision has alienated the rest of Andhra. The mutual trust factor is abysmally low on account of this unilateral action.
The only way out now seems to be the bifurcation of Andhra with Hyderabad as the common capital of the two states, a la Chandigarh. But even the execution of this relatively less troublesome (pardon me, I find no other combination of words that can describe the situation) decision is going to be cumbersome - a consensus has to be reached and there will be one set of fights till bifurcation is completed and another set after that. In future, we may have an agitation from the people of Andhra for a new capital too. Who knows?
The way in which the government took the decision and the follow-up measures leaves much to be desired. The issue was apparently decided overnight - without issuing feelers, and worse, without even properly engaging in negotiations with the stakeholders. It is not as if the issue was a mushroom that had sprouted after the first rain of the season. The agitation was going on for a pretty long time and the Central government was apparently disinterested. This attitude caused the proponents of the 'United Andhra' to be complacent - they believed that the issue would die out in the long run. It was only when the fast started, with the general public in Telengana, especially the Osmania University students supporting the cause that the Centre first seriously took up the issue. And quite unlike its general behaviour, made a rapid-fire accession to the demands of the TRS leader. 'Haste where it is undue and complacency where urgency ought to be the norm' seems to be the motto of the Home Ministry. PC ought to have been more careful. The Centre's estimation (if it made any) about the backlash reminds one of the Iraq war - hollow victory and general unrest in regions where relative peace had prevailed before the dumb decisions were taken unilaterally.
Now, a pseudo-war rages in one of the largest states of India and the Centre has only itself to blame. More regions have come up with demands for statehood. A new State Reorganization Commission may be soon set up. The talks between the stakeholders being conducted now are bound to fail - the Centre, with its hasty decision has alienated the rest of Andhra. The mutual trust factor is abysmally low on account of this unilateral action.
The only way out now seems to be the bifurcation of Andhra with Hyderabad as the common capital of the two states, a la Chandigarh. But even the execution of this relatively less troublesome (pardon me, I find no other combination of words that can describe the situation) decision is going to be cumbersome - a consensus has to be reached and there will be one set of fights till bifurcation is completed and another set after that. In future, we may have an agitation from the people of Andhra for a new capital too. Who knows?
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