The ongoing financial crisis became prominent since September 2008 after the failure of few big financial American firms due to subprime mortgage crisis in the US, although its signs were visible early that year. A negative aspect of Globalisation was soon visible when the US financial crunch hit other markets as well and it rapidly evolved into a global credit crisis and deflation. That resulted in a number of European bank failures and declines in various stock indexes. This led to reductions in the market value of equities and commodities worldwide. The crumbling figure in Wall Street is affecting markets from Tasmania to Tanzania.
The mess that began due to fast, unregulated mortgage lending in the US has now become a perilous crisis and markets worldwide have lost the confidence of the investors. There is fear amongst investors and depositors, bankers as well as regulators since no easy solution seems to be in sight. United Kingdom’s Prime Minister acknowledges this when he says, “This is not a time for conventional thinking or outdated dogma but for fresh and innovative intervention that gets to the heart of the problem.”
Federal banks have tried all possible options. Most Reserve Banks have cut down on interest rates. On January 8 the Bank of England cut down base rate to 1.5%, the lowest in the Central Bank’s history since its inception in 1694. The economy is also being affected by cuts in capital spending.
Finance is one of the most international of industries. All major banks have their networks spread wide across seas and continents. Thus when banks run into trouble, it’s not clear who should actually help. Generally the favoured practice has been the direct government intervention. The US Congress announced a $700 billion rescue package, referred by many as ‘socialism for the rich’. But this is not always a viable option. US itself is not in a position to announce similar package for the automobile industry. And then there are many small or third world countries where these big banks have their balance sheet far exceeding their gross domestic products.
Industry watchers predict a ‘bleak 2009’ for the Global Economy. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) US economy will grow only 0.1% in 2009. Europe, China or India is also expected to have very slow growth rates. Thus nobody will be able to take over the US as the world economy, but that everyone will drag down everyone else. Dennis Snower, president of Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy, believes, “Governments are making the same mistake….They’re trying to deal with the crisis on a piecemeal basis.” Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, too agree that the problem has now become a global phenomenon and so only a multinational solution can work. “While American eyes are on the intersection of the Wall and Main Streets, there is much more to the story,” he says. “The response to these crises will have to be larger and global.”
Ideological differences, as also other hostilities, however are proving great impediments in tackling this global problem. Governments are fast realizing this and so a sense of ‘intimate cooperation’ has developed among nations. Economists worldwide are stressing on the need to reexamine the free-market system. French president Nicholas Sarkozy has even spoken of the ‘new balance’ in market economy between the market and the state. American President George Bush, however, still supports the free market system. He has reiterated that “capitalism is not perfect, it can subject to excess to excesses and abuse, but it’s the most efficient way of structuring the economy.” China, which still calls its economy ‘socialism with market characteristics’ has welcomed America’s bailout plans and emphasize that greater market check is necessary for regulation.
Indian Prime Minister (and current Finance Minister as well) hinted as early as in September itself that India can’t remain unaffected by the global financial crisis for long. But looking back at the year passed, the year has not been as bad as it could have got and certainly the Indian economy has not been as affected as many feared. India has often been described as an elephant who does not know its potentials. The year 2008 has not been as bad for the economy. Yes markets are at ebb. Even Reliance Industries had to cut down on its expenditure and postpone future adventures. But with inflation now coming to below 6 mark and slash in petroleum price, costs of most commodities are now in control. But if India wants to play major role in the world economy, then it needs to take some bold steps and cut down on subsidies. But with the Left becoming a formidable force in recent years and the general election ahead the government here is taking every step cautiously.
No doubt the financial crisis has affected those maximum that seemed to have the soundest economy-USA, Germany, Japan. In last two years more than a million home have been lost to foreclosure in US alone and experts believe that another 1.5 million is on the verge of foreclosure. The third world countries have suffered so miserably that it’s becoming difficult for them to come back on its own. The IMF is already lending money to Hungary, Iceland and Pakistan and several other are pleading for aids. World leaders thus need to augment at least $500 billion to IMF. China has offered about $200 billion and one expects similar goodwill gestures from countries with huge reserves, like Japan, Saudi Arabia.
No country, as of now, appears to take over America as the leader of the world economy. But one thing is sure, the ongoing crisis will give rise to a slightly ‘balance’ system with many players coming to foreground. Dollar thus will lose its initial monopolistic credence. Euros and Yen too will grow in value and that will have political implications as well.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Amidst confusion hope still flickers in Singur
As one drives to Singur from Kolkata on NH-2, some old tattered banners and billboards are still seen- “Welcome Tata” and “Give back our Land” both in English and in Bengali. Rather contradictory! But that’s the grim reality surrounding the Nano Project. As one gets close to the original factory site different signboards are found scattered from the ‘Nano Bachao Samiti’ (Save Nano Group) requesting Tata to come back.
Everyone by now knows that about 900 acres of land were given to the Tata Motors for the Nano Project, owned by about 12000 land holders. Roughly 11500 farmers willingly gave their land. Of those who did not accept the money, most are still willing to part with their land for the project and in the interest of the locality. But all they want is proper compensation. Nitya Ananda, one such farmer says, “I want industry. But I don’t want a situation where I have no land, no business, no job….what will I do then.” In fact that was the apprehension that most farmers had. They claim that the land yield three crops every year. 92 year old Gopal Santra, one of the most vocal farmers from the opposing group vehemently says, “Tata came here not for country service. But for business.”
Majority of the villagers are not happy though. Uattarram Patro, who willingly gave his land for the project, says “before the Nano project was announced, one bigha of land cost 15-30 thousand rupees. The government gave us Rs 3 lakh.” Farmers, however, claim that the current value is above Rs 7 lakh. Gopal Santra stresses, “I have two sons and the eldest is 50 yrs old. The money offered to us is nothing compared to the current market value.”
Most of the land owners who gave their land were not directly connected with the land, that is they were engaged in other works for livelihood, like masonry, electrician or had some shops. So besides money from the land, which they could easily invest into business, they also ahd more opportunities since constructions had begun at the factory. Says Vishnoodhar, a local villager who had set up a small tea stall near the site, “when construction was going on I could easily earn Rs 300-400 everyday. Now the whole day’s sale hardly exceeds fifty.”
Robin Palen, a local teacher, explains “if land holders had acted intelligently or they had got proper counsel, free from politics, it could have been a win-win situation for all.” He elucidates that most land that fell under the project were one or two crop land. Moreover, about 500 bighas were fallow. Only a small portion yielded three crops each year. But the region is low lying and hence crops often got washed away. That was the reason villagers could not depend upon agriculture and were most of them were also involved in other professions. “A farmer would at best earn 6-7 thousand rupees from one bigha land”, he further explains, “if they had only deposited Rs 3 lakh, the interest every year would amount to at least 20000.” Besdies one member was getting job and others too could easily earn more rand by engaging in some other profession. But if farmers don’t want to sell their land? He refutes, “Haven’t they been selling their land when some one in the family was sick, or when their daughters got married?”
Robin Palen laments, “We never thought industries would come knocking at our village…We missed a golden opportunity.” Locals, especially those who did not have land there or who willingly gave their land also moan on the ‘golden opportunity’ lost and halted the sudden development that had begun in the region. Doctors from Kolkata had started to visit those villages weekly at company’s expense. Roads leading to neighbouring villages were fast being constructed. Says Rabindra Shah, “Tata had built embankments and canals. Our crop was thus saved from flood this year.” In the neighbouring Joymollah village at Bairaberi the Company gave Rs 4 lakh to buy benches, desks, table, chair, and fans. But on September 23 Tata decided to move out of Bengal and with that all aids too have stopped. Vandana Pakhira, a woman from the neighbouring village, becomes aggressive when approached, “What’s the use talking about it now. Tata has already gone.”
Yes Tata has decided to move out and land had not yet been given back. So what next? Most on the locality still hope that the company will have a rethink and the government would persuade them to come back. And if they don’t, villagers pray that some other company would come as the land is no more suitable for cultivation. Gopal Santra rightly concludes, “We want Tata, but we also want job security.”
Everyone by now knows that about 900 acres of land were given to the Tata Motors for the Nano Project, owned by about 12000 land holders. Roughly 11500 farmers willingly gave their land. Of those who did not accept the money, most are still willing to part with their land for the project and in the interest of the locality. But all they want is proper compensation. Nitya Ananda, one such farmer says, “I want industry. But I don’t want a situation where I have no land, no business, no job….what will I do then.” In fact that was the apprehension that most farmers had. They claim that the land yield three crops every year. 92 year old Gopal Santra, one of the most vocal farmers from the opposing group vehemently says, “Tata came here not for country service. But for business.”
Majority of the villagers are not happy though. Uattarram Patro, who willingly gave his land for the project, says “before the Nano project was announced, one bigha of land cost 15-30 thousand rupees. The government gave us Rs 3 lakh.” Farmers, however, claim that the current value is above Rs 7 lakh. Gopal Santra stresses, “I have two sons and the eldest is 50 yrs old. The money offered to us is nothing compared to the current market value.”
Most of the land owners who gave their land were not directly connected with the land, that is they were engaged in other works for livelihood, like masonry, electrician or had some shops. So besides money from the land, which they could easily invest into business, they also ahd more opportunities since constructions had begun at the factory. Says Vishnoodhar, a local villager who had set up a small tea stall near the site, “when construction was going on I could easily earn Rs 300-400 everyday. Now the whole day’s sale hardly exceeds fifty.”
Robin Palen, a local teacher, explains “if land holders had acted intelligently or they had got proper counsel, free from politics, it could have been a win-win situation for all.” He elucidates that most land that fell under the project were one or two crop land. Moreover, about 500 bighas were fallow. Only a small portion yielded three crops each year. But the region is low lying and hence crops often got washed away. That was the reason villagers could not depend upon agriculture and were most of them were also involved in other professions. “A farmer would at best earn 6-7 thousand rupees from one bigha land”, he further explains, “if they had only deposited Rs 3 lakh, the interest every year would amount to at least 20000.” Besdies one member was getting job and others too could easily earn more rand by engaging in some other profession. But if farmers don’t want to sell their land? He refutes, “Haven’t they been selling their land when some one in the family was sick, or when their daughters got married?”
Robin Palen laments, “We never thought industries would come knocking at our village…We missed a golden opportunity.” Locals, especially those who did not have land there or who willingly gave their land also moan on the ‘golden opportunity’ lost and halted the sudden development that had begun in the region. Doctors from Kolkata had started to visit those villages weekly at company’s expense. Roads leading to neighbouring villages were fast being constructed. Says Rabindra Shah, “Tata had built embankments and canals. Our crop was thus saved from flood this year.” In the neighbouring Joymollah village at Bairaberi the Company gave Rs 4 lakh to buy benches, desks, table, chair, and fans. But on September 23 Tata decided to move out of Bengal and with that all aids too have stopped. Vandana Pakhira, a woman from the neighbouring village, becomes aggressive when approached, “What’s the use talking about it now. Tata has already gone.”
Yes Tata has decided to move out and land had not yet been given back. So what next? Most on the locality still hope that the company will have a rethink and the government would persuade them to come back. And if they don’t, villagers pray that some other company would come as the land is no more suitable for cultivation. Gopal Santra rightly concludes, “We want Tata, but we also want job security.”
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ideas from an “Accidental Entrepreneur”
Book: Imagining India- Ideas for the new century
Author: Nandan Nilekani
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 515
Price: Rs 699
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN- ISBN: 978-0-670-08196-7
For some strange reasons, knowledge in science and technology is considered a handicap towards developing a social-intellect. It is a perception that businessmen do not usually make good public intellectuals and can not contribute to national debate.
Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys and its current CEO, too acknowledges this. In the very introduction of “Imagining India: Ideas for the new century”, Nilekani comments that “not being a specialist of any particular stripe, whether history, sociology, economics, or politics” actually gives him a broader viewpoint on most significant issues. At a time when most of our arguments tend to get polarized, an avid amateur, and someone who can avoid the extreme ends of the debate is what we need. Perhaps someone, who can give us an eagle-eye view of issues about which most people speak, but very few would talk about.
Nilekani has attempted to understand India through the evolution of ideas. Book talks in brief about India’s recent past; i.e. the socio-politico-economic history of independent India, especially in the last two decades after the government opened the markets out of compulsions and there was rapid surge in market economy.
Nilekani is himself the product of that period. Born and brought up in ‘socialist’ India shaped by Gandhiji and Nehru’s outlook, but becoming an entrepreneur in 80s and co-founding Infosys, Nilekani is himself the living example of emerging and changing India.
The book is loosely divided into four parts. In these four parts, Nilekani traces the growth of India and elucidates it with some interesting and some stark examples and hurdles that came on the way. All through Nilekani is optimistic about the demography of the country and believes that it’s exploding population that once had become such a bane that forcible ‘sterilizations’ were conducted during the emergency.‘We may have been short on various things at various times, but we have always had plenty of people.’ The demographic shift to India and China was looked upon as a threat in the West. However, with growth our human capital has emerged as a vibrant source of workers and consumers not just for India, but for the global economy.
Nilekani has very interestingly written about how our imperial linkages and then after independence internal tussle proved beneficial when IT and BPO boom began. Thus, where initially, English had become a mark of superiority and elitism, today everyone wants to learn the language, so much so that learning English has in itself developed into a $100 million industry in India.
Being a technocrat, however, he sees technology as the primal node on which development of India or any country hinges upon. He cites examples of how old styled Babus never actually wanted to see computer technology taking over manual works. But how computerization has ultimately not only made their work easier and more accessible, but it has also reduced corruptions from different sectors.
Indians have a strange tendency of blaming politics and politicians for everything. But he quotes V. S. Naipaul, ‘The politics of a country can only be an extension of its human relationships’. Nilekani seems optimistic though. With growth and spread of education, awareness of people will ultimately force the government to act and implement policies that are in the interests of the nation and its people. He, however, cautions that like earlier made mistakes, populist measures can appear to be in the interest of the masses, but in the long run it only harms the nation.
The book is based on Nilekani’s experiences and is his vision for the country. Not a great book on India, but considering that it has been written by an entrepreneur and not a sociologist, it deserves appreciations. The book seems very repetitive though. Notes by the ‘accidental entrepreneur’ and conclusion in itself sums up what the author wants to say. All the chapters in between seems to beat about the same bush from different angles. The interest created at the beginning fades slowly. But the book is filled with hilarious anecdotes and those are the most refreshing to read. Perhaps, if properly edited, the book could have been better. But Nilekani appears to be so widely read and he actually had long discussions with ‘friends, historians, sociologists, statisticians, economists, entrepreneurs, politicians, civil servants, policy makers’ etc before writing this book and that is commendable for an ‘accidental entrepreneur’.
Author: Nandan Nilekani
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 515
Price: Rs 699
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN- ISBN: 978-0-670-08196-7
For some strange reasons, knowledge in science and technology is considered a handicap towards developing a social-intellect. It is a perception that businessmen do not usually make good public intellectuals and can not contribute to national debate.
Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys and its current CEO, too acknowledges this. In the very introduction of “Imagining India: Ideas for the new century”, Nilekani comments that “not being a specialist of any particular stripe, whether history, sociology, economics, or politics” actually gives him a broader viewpoint on most significant issues. At a time when most of our arguments tend to get polarized, an avid amateur, and someone who can avoid the extreme ends of the debate is what we need. Perhaps someone, who can give us an eagle-eye view of issues about which most people speak, but very few would talk about.
Nilekani has attempted to understand India through the evolution of ideas. Book talks in brief about India’s recent past; i.e. the socio-politico-economic history of independent India, especially in the last two decades after the government opened the markets out of compulsions and there was rapid surge in market economy.
Nilekani is himself the product of that period. Born and brought up in ‘socialist’ India shaped by Gandhiji and Nehru’s outlook, but becoming an entrepreneur in 80s and co-founding Infosys, Nilekani is himself the living example of emerging and changing India.
The book is loosely divided into four parts. In these four parts, Nilekani traces the growth of India and elucidates it with some interesting and some stark examples and hurdles that came on the way. All through Nilekani is optimistic about the demography of the country and believes that it’s exploding population that once had become such a bane that forcible ‘sterilizations’ were conducted during the emergency.‘We may have been short on various things at various times, but we have always had plenty of people.’ The demographic shift to India and China was looked upon as a threat in the West. However, with growth our human capital has emerged as a vibrant source of workers and consumers not just for India, but for the global economy.
Nilekani has very interestingly written about how our imperial linkages and then after independence internal tussle proved beneficial when IT and BPO boom began. Thus, where initially, English had become a mark of superiority and elitism, today everyone wants to learn the language, so much so that learning English has in itself developed into a $100 million industry in India.
Being a technocrat, however, he sees technology as the primal node on which development of India or any country hinges upon. He cites examples of how old styled Babus never actually wanted to see computer technology taking over manual works. But how computerization has ultimately not only made their work easier and more accessible, but it has also reduced corruptions from different sectors.
Indians have a strange tendency of blaming politics and politicians for everything. But he quotes V. S. Naipaul, ‘The politics of a country can only be an extension of its human relationships’. Nilekani seems optimistic though. With growth and spread of education, awareness of people will ultimately force the government to act and implement policies that are in the interests of the nation and its people. He, however, cautions that like earlier made mistakes, populist measures can appear to be in the interest of the masses, but in the long run it only harms the nation.
The book is based on Nilekani’s experiences and is his vision for the country. Not a great book on India, but considering that it has been written by an entrepreneur and not a sociologist, it deserves appreciations. The book seems very repetitive though. Notes by the ‘accidental entrepreneur’ and conclusion in itself sums up what the author wants to say. All the chapters in between seems to beat about the same bush from different angles. The interest created at the beginning fades slowly. But the book is filled with hilarious anecdotes and those are the most refreshing to read. Perhaps, if properly edited, the book could have been better. But Nilekani appears to be so widely read and he actually had long discussions with ‘friends, historians, sociologists, statisticians, economists, entrepreneurs, politicians, civil servants, policy makers’ etc before writing this book and that is commendable for an ‘accidental entrepreneur’.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Another blast, another encounter, people in dilemma
On 13th September, Delhi was again shaken by serial blasts. September 19, Delhi Police cracked down on “terrorist suspects” in South Delhi’s Jamia Nagar. In the Police encounter two ‘alleged terrorists’ were killed, one more arrested, while two others escaped. Three cops were also injured. Senior encounter specialist Mohan Sharma succumbed to bullet injuries latter in the evening in a city Hospital. The Police clamped down heavily on ‘suspected terrorists’ and arrested several others in Delhi and other places.
Things look quite hunky-dory. But what appears is so straight forward can often be very deceiving. Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bangluru, Ahmedabad, Delhi; after every blasts the officials line is that some “foreign hands” are funding home bred (and sometimes trained abroad) terrorists, who carry out those horrendous crimes to avenge oppressions on fellow Muslim brothers in Gujarat and elsewhere. What is perplexing is that even if there are blasts in some mosques, the point of view that, perhaps, some opposing extremists might be behind the explosion does not even feature in Police’s prima facie investigations. After every attack, members of a particular community are detained, harassed, arrested, tortured, and sometimes even killed in ‘encounters’. The famous Sohrabuddin “fake encounter” case still hounds up humans with hearts.
Tehleka ran a special series on the issue and what came out was astounding. For any attacks the way media and Police act, it seems as if entire community is the conspirator. It has forced the Muslims against the wall. I am in no way suggesting that Muslims’ hands are all clean and all encounters are fabricated. Perhaps there is some truth in what the Police and the Government say.
But for some bad fishes of the pond, holding entire community responsible and branding every Ahmed, Akhtar and Khan as ‘terrorist’ will only further alienate the community. Any one who is guilty must be punished. However, what happens most of the time is that while cops keep beating about the bush and real culprits are seldom escort free. The Police, the Judiciary, the Government, political parties, all seem to have some biasness or prejudices.
I don’t mean to say that culprits of the Bombay blasts should be given some clemency. But then hardly there has been any real progress in the Bombay riot cases. Cops, who were involved, according to the Report, still continue in offices. Nanavati Commission does not see any relation between Godhra carnage and riots that followed or finds no hands of Mr. Modi or his cabinet. This contradicts Narendra Bhai Modi’s theory of ‘action-reaction’.
Sachar Commission’s Report documented what Muslims knew very well- the deplorable conditions of most of them economically, educationally and socially. Yet not much is being done really on the ground.
I have my reservations in calling those perpetrators ‘Indian Mujaheden’, for I doubt the authenticity of their ‘Islamism’. Either those handful ‘Islamists’ are right, or the majority of Muslims, whom Islam teaches patience, brotherhood and peace; the very name of whose religion comes from Arabic word ‘salam’ meaning surrender and peace. It’s a religion which says “with you is your religion, with me mine”.
Naxal or Islamic militants, they may have different ideologies, but both of them believe in bringing revolution with the ‘barrel of the gun’. But the Government too wants to curb and check all forms of rebellion by ‘barrel’. This is not going to solve the problem. Going by the Police version of the entire incident, the situation has really become very grave, and hence needs to be tackled sincerely. If 17 and 22 year old (and sometimes even 32) guys, most of whom are University graduates are involved in such “antinational” activities, mere brainwash by some ‘foreign hands’ and mouth are not the real cause. Such doctors and engineers need serious counseling and more than that there needs to be greater efforts to try and integrate a particular section of the society, who feels alienated and left out.
My appeal to all politicians, left right and centre (and this includes Muslim politicians) is that do not look upon Muslims just as vote banks or follow the so called policy of appeasement. Look at Muslims, and Christians, and every Indian as citizens of one country, and more importantly look at them just as fellow beings as our Hindu brothers.
My even greater appeal is to all Mullahs or scholars of Islam, and the larger intelligentsia of the community is to try and understand the world reality, and do not keep a narrow view of a great religion like Islam. I remember a couplet from Jagjeet Singh’s ghazal:
“Mai na Hindu, na Musalman; Mujhe Jeene do.
Dosti hai mera imaan, mujhe jeene do.”
Things look quite hunky-dory. But what appears is so straight forward can often be very deceiving. Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bangluru, Ahmedabad, Delhi; after every blasts the officials line is that some “foreign hands” are funding home bred (and sometimes trained abroad) terrorists, who carry out those horrendous crimes to avenge oppressions on fellow Muslim brothers in Gujarat and elsewhere. What is perplexing is that even if there are blasts in some mosques, the point of view that, perhaps, some opposing extremists might be behind the explosion does not even feature in Police’s prima facie investigations. After every attack, members of a particular community are detained, harassed, arrested, tortured, and sometimes even killed in ‘encounters’. The famous Sohrabuddin “fake encounter” case still hounds up humans with hearts.
Tehleka ran a special series on the issue and what came out was astounding. For any attacks the way media and Police act, it seems as if entire community is the conspirator. It has forced the Muslims against the wall. I am in no way suggesting that Muslims’ hands are all clean and all encounters are fabricated. Perhaps there is some truth in what the Police and the Government say.
But for some bad fishes of the pond, holding entire community responsible and branding every Ahmed, Akhtar and Khan as ‘terrorist’ will only further alienate the community. Any one who is guilty must be punished. However, what happens most of the time is that while cops keep beating about the bush and real culprits are seldom escort free. The Police, the Judiciary, the Government, political parties, all seem to have some biasness or prejudices.
I don’t mean to say that culprits of the Bombay blasts should be given some clemency. But then hardly there has been any real progress in the Bombay riot cases. Cops, who were involved, according to the Report, still continue in offices. Nanavati Commission does not see any relation between Godhra carnage and riots that followed or finds no hands of Mr. Modi or his cabinet. This contradicts Narendra Bhai Modi’s theory of ‘action-reaction’.
Sachar Commission’s Report documented what Muslims knew very well- the deplorable conditions of most of them economically, educationally and socially. Yet not much is being done really on the ground.
I have my reservations in calling those perpetrators ‘Indian Mujaheden’, for I doubt the authenticity of their ‘Islamism’. Either those handful ‘Islamists’ are right, or the majority of Muslims, whom Islam teaches patience, brotherhood and peace; the very name of whose religion comes from Arabic word ‘salam’ meaning surrender and peace. It’s a religion which says “with you is your religion, with me mine”.
Naxal or Islamic militants, they may have different ideologies, but both of them believe in bringing revolution with the ‘barrel of the gun’. But the Government too wants to curb and check all forms of rebellion by ‘barrel’. This is not going to solve the problem. Going by the Police version of the entire incident, the situation has really become very grave, and hence needs to be tackled sincerely. If 17 and 22 year old (and sometimes even 32) guys, most of whom are University graduates are involved in such “antinational” activities, mere brainwash by some ‘foreign hands’ and mouth are not the real cause. Such doctors and engineers need serious counseling and more than that there needs to be greater efforts to try and integrate a particular section of the society, who feels alienated and left out.
My appeal to all politicians, left right and centre (and this includes Muslim politicians) is that do not look upon Muslims just as vote banks or follow the so called policy of appeasement. Look at Muslims, and Christians, and every Indian as citizens of one country, and more importantly look at them just as fellow beings as our Hindu brothers.
My even greater appeal is to all Mullahs or scholars of Islam, and the larger intelligentsia of the community is to try and understand the world reality, and do not keep a narrow view of a great religion like Islam. I remember a couplet from Jagjeet Singh’s ghazal:
“Mai na Hindu, na Musalman; Mujhe Jeene do.
Dosti hai mera imaan, mujhe jeene do.”
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Its Democracy after all…
They say ‘Indian Railway is the pulse of the nation’. So if you want to see ‘incredible’ India, travel on their wheels. I often have this privilege to explore India, for I study in Delhi, my home is in Kolkata, and my elder brother is settled in Chennai. In July end I have had another such experience on my return journey from Howrah, where I met several people, besides co-passengers of my Sleeper coach. Like always there were old aunties, one sick patient (this time another aunty), many kids, of whom only two fitted my definition of ‘cute’; alien looking uncles, and hardly any girl, who was both of my compatible age and beautiful. Then there were vendors, beggars, Hizras, who were somewhere between beggar and robber (sorry for the insensitive remark), and last but not the least train staffs.
However, there was one group of passengers, who really provided me with lifetime experience. They were Kanwariyas, who had boarded the train on one of the junctions in between. It was not one group, but congregation of many smaller groups of varying sizes. Some of them had tickets. Most of them did not. But they all boarded on the train anyways, and not only general compartments, but even in ‘reserved’ sleeper coaches. Mine was a lower side berth and the sick aunty had upper one. As it was twelve
noon, both of us were sharing the same side berth. Before we could utter a word, two very old aunties, a boy of about fourteen, another guy of my age, and a badly stinking uncle in his skimpiest cloth had already made themselves comfortable between me and the sick aunty. So now we were seven people sitting on one lonnnnng berth. (I wished the berth was longer!!!) No fellow passengers could really complain for the situation was almost same in entire train. Few brave and gutsy bhaias did try to explain them rules, but one common answer one hears every time you pass through Bihar and UP, “you have reserved just one seat, not the entire train”. Add to the pleasure were few other passengers, who kept boarding and getting down from the train on various junctions. We were relieved from our ‘incredible’ experience after only five hours, when most occupants got down from the train. I was ‘shocked’ and ‘awed’ and could not decide on whom to get angry. My father, who had booked a sleeper class ticket (and not a comfortable AC 3 tier ticket), those passengers, most of whom had no civic senses, train staffs, especially TTE, whom I did not see even once during that masti period, our honourable Railway Minister (or the Government), who is so busy in making profit that he forgot to make any alternative arrangements for them. I am sure one or two festival special must have started but that was of very little support to such crowd of devotees.
I somehow reached Delhi and my roommate informed me that near Rampur Kanwariyas had blocked the NH-24 for three days. I mocked at him, “Dear, its Democracy, and we all have the right to do whatever we want.” Few weeks had passed, and there was Shab-e-Barat, a night of prayer for Muslims, which turned into a sort of ‘festival’, and has given an excuse to many people, including night-birds, ruffians, etc. within the community. It is rather ironical that even if they flout some traffic rules, or behave rashly cops on the spot become the mute spectator.
It was rather disgusting that on ordinary day, when traffic police would challan for tripling, or riding on a bike without helmet, that night they did not even stop a vehicle, even if there were sometimes four hooligans on one bike, and without any helmet, but colorful skull caps. I am not that ‘religious’ person to say that the night is just for simple prayer not flashy rituals. Its ‘democracy’, and if one really wants to see any (and every) place on a particular night, I really have no right to stop them. But one must not interfere in other’s freedom (for God’s sake). At least one of the residents of this city complained (to me) about those hoodlums, who had brought many areas into standstill. Instances of teasing and misbehaving are ignored.
What kind of Governance is this? What surprises me most is that people do not seem to have much problem. One may criticize when people from other community creates some ruckus, but would not dare attract the wrath of his own community. But then this is democracy, and we are the biggest democratic country in the world, and possibly the most democratic country among all the third-world nations. Jawaharlal Nehru perhaps rightly remarked, “With all my admiration and love for democracy, I am not prepared to accept the statement that the largest number of people are always right.”
However, there was one group of passengers, who really provided me with lifetime experience. They were Kanwariyas, who had boarded the train on one of the junctions in between. It was not one group, but congregation of many smaller groups of varying sizes. Some of them had tickets. Most of them did not. But they all boarded on the train anyways, and not only general compartments, but even in ‘reserved’ sleeper coaches. Mine was a lower side berth and the sick aunty had upper one. As it was twelve
noon, both of us were sharing the same side berth. Before we could utter a word, two very old aunties, a boy of about fourteen, another guy of my age, and a badly stinking uncle in his skimpiest cloth had already made themselves comfortable between me and the sick aunty. So now we were seven people sitting on one lonnnnng berth. (I wished the berth was longer!!!) No fellow passengers could really complain for the situation was almost same in entire train. Few brave and gutsy bhaias did try to explain them rules, but one common answer one hears every time you pass through Bihar and UP, “you have reserved just one seat, not the entire train”. Add to the pleasure were few other passengers, who kept boarding and getting down from the train on various junctions. We were relieved from our ‘incredible’ experience after only five hours, when most occupants got down from the train. I was ‘shocked’ and ‘awed’ and could not decide on whom to get angry. My father, who had booked a sleeper class ticket (and not a comfortable AC 3 tier ticket), those passengers, most of whom had no civic senses, train staffs, especially TTE, whom I did not see even once during that masti period, our honourable Railway Minister (or the Government), who is so busy in making profit that he forgot to make any alternative arrangements for them. I am sure one or two festival special must have started but that was of very little support to such crowd of devotees.
I somehow reached Delhi and my roommate informed me that near Rampur Kanwariyas had blocked the NH-24 for three days. I mocked at him, “Dear, its Democracy, and we all have the right to do whatever we want.” Few weeks had passed, and there was Shab-e-Barat, a night of prayer for Muslims, which turned into a sort of ‘festival’, and has given an excuse to many people, including night-birds, ruffians, etc. within the community. It is rather ironical that even if they flout some traffic rules, or behave rashly cops on the spot become the mute spectator.
It was rather disgusting that on ordinary day, when traffic police would challan for tripling, or riding on a bike without helmet, that night they did not even stop a vehicle, even if there were sometimes four hooligans on one bike, and without any helmet, but colorful skull caps. I am not that ‘religious’ person to say that the night is just for simple prayer not flashy rituals. Its ‘democracy’, and if one really wants to see any (and every) place on a particular night, I really have no right to stop them. But one must not interfere in other’s freedom (for God’s sake). At least one of the residents of this city complained (to me) about those hoodlums, who had brought many areas into standstill. Instances of teasing and misbehaving are ignored.
What kind of Governance is this? What surprises me most is that people do not seem to have much problem. One may criticize when people from other community creates some ruckus, but would not dare attract the wrath of his own community. But then this is democracy, and we are the biggest democratic country in the world, and possibly the most democratic country among all the third-world nations. Jawaharlal Nehru perhaps rightly remarked, “With all my admiration and love for democracy, I am not prepared to accept the statement that the largest number of people are always right.”
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Dilli to Lahore Balle Balle
I had often heard people saying “Pakistan is our enemy” and so getting visas is very difficult. And then “Pakistan is terrorist hub, an orthodox Muslim country” and hence if you once travel to Pakistan America doesn’t give you visa, especially if you are a Muslim.” Similar stories started making rounds, once we had got the invitation from GC University, Lahore to participate in the Second Pak-India Drama Festival. I was quite clear though that I would go on the tour, but initially my parents were apprehensive due to recent political turmoil in the neighbouring country. Thanks to everyone, the teachers of our Department who reluctantly allowed us to bunk classes for rehearsals; Jamia Administrations, especially Registrar and DSW; officials in the Passport office; and last but not the least the Pakistan’s High Commission. The tour happened finally due to them, although till the last week we were not sure of it. The way we have been brought up, I would generally support any cricket teem but Pakistan. And so when an ‘enemy’ invited us for a ‘friendly’ cause, though full of prejudices, I wanted to visit them and see if everything is “upside down” there.
Before we actually crossed the border, the hospitality of a Sikh family had already bowled us in Amritsar. One of our juniors and the Sutrdhar of our Drama team happen to be from Amritsar. And their hospitality, both while going and coming back, left us wordless. Crossing border “on foot” was bound to be emotional. Something inside me made me feel proud of the nation and I saluted our founding fathers facing the “Gate” of India on Vagha. But as we walked in towards Pakistan side, everything appeared the same- the roads on that side too were made of coal tar and cheap stones, the sky too was blue, flora and fauna all seemed so much the same. Even the people appeared identical in similar dresses. I remember everyone joking in the Bus about every dirty lanes and broken roads or buildings by identifying them with similar locations in Delhi. So we could locate Batla House, Tikona Park, and slowly moved towards the New Friends Colony. Everything seemd so much the same and yet it was not. One of our Group members broke out “ My goodness! Its all the same…we are daughters of the same mother.” Oh yes they are, but they got separated like our Bollywood movies in the Kumbh, never to meet again. As we were moving towards our hotel, I would see banners of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and signboards in Urdu.
We were really overwhelmed by the kind of hospitality that we were greeted with. About twenty-five volunteers were always with the entire Indian delegates, comprising of about ninety people from India from seven colleges. Some of them have become good phone/mail pals. Naming few would mean ignoring some other really good friends, but they are so good natured that they will happily forgive me- Daniyal or DT, Ali, Tehreem, Asad Sb , Sherry, and friends from other Universities of Pakistan, Usman, and Basheer, the list just goes on. I still miss that night when I along iwht some new friends were sitting in an icecram parlour talking about India, Pakistan, girls, and about everything.
And how could I forget the hostel staffs. I specially remember Ali Bhai, who came one day to my room, while I was watching news on the Dawn, he said pathani style Urdu “Uthapa baot acha khel raha hai, aap match nahi dekte”. I was surprised that he followed even India-Australia match. I do find some Pakistani cricket fans in India, but most them are narrow-minded Muslims. He went on to explain that he likes Sachin and Sehwag a lot.
The meeting with Abid Hassan Minto, a renowned spreme court advocate in Pakistan and nephew of the famous (but controversial in Pak) writer Manto is also worth remembering. Though a busy man otherwise, he stayed with us for than an hour and even got us dropped in his personal car, when some disturbances began in Lahore.
I cannot help myself from telling my experience of the famous Anarkali market of Lahore. I, along with one of my Indian friend was tired and thirsty. So we went to have juice. After looking at the menu we ordered for two strawberry juices, which was Rs 40 each in Paksitani currency. When I went to pay the money, the person sitting on the counter noticed the I-card that we were provided with by the GC University. He was strangely happy and said “Aap India se ho…mere kuch rishtedaar hain Nagpur ke paas”. He asked me the purpose of our visit and then said “sirf pachaas do..aap mehman ho hamare.
Then one evning, while we were sitting in our Hotel room chatting, a stranger knocked at our door. He introduced himself as Khalid Riaz, a businessman from Bhawalpur, a Paksitani town. He told us that he was on a business tour and when he came to know that Indian students are staying in the same Hotel, he came to talk to us. He even gave me his visiting card and invited me to come to Pakistan sometimese, and especially to Bhawalpur.
Cherished memories of the eight days tour would take at least eight days and nights to record. All I can say is the imprints of this tour will remain in my heart forever. I purposely did not say anything about festival, for though that was the reason of our visit, and my first international performance, the experience that I had made everything secondary. And for this if I am not given a visa of America, well I am not interested.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Indians everywhere- a soul searching
Indian Amartya Sen gets Nobel Prize in Economics; Sunita Williams, whose father was an Indian, makes the record of spending maximum time in space; Bobby Jindal becomes the Governor of Lousiana; Norah Jones wins Grammy; Sanjay Malakar proves India’s mantle in American Idol. In short, India shining all the way, even in space...But scratch the surface a bit and do a soul searching and you will see the hollowness in the presence of “Indians” everywhere.
Columnist Ketan Tanna writes, “We Indians seem to suffer from the tiresome system of being unthinking way in which we appropriate any achiever with even the most tenous connection to the motherland as Indians.” Diyas are lighted and crackers burned in a small village in Punjab, because their one grandfather’s onetime neighbour’s grandson, whose body, soul and heart are Indians, according to them, has been elected the Governor of a small American state.
Perhaps such instances make us feel bigger, better, first world, and truly global. AS Historian Ramchandra Guha says, “There is something lopsided and imbalanced in all of this.......It is nothing but pathetic insecurity and an inferirity complex.” It seems that the rudderless trans-national middle class, in their keen urge to join the rat-race and prove themselves make relations with anyone they find, anywhere in the world. Professor Mushirul Hassan, our Vice-Chancellor too agrees and he says, “It is a way of saying, we have arrived. And when there is not enough persons in India, you look outside.”
There is not so much as a privkle of “shamefacedness” at the fact that India has done little to further their careers or their talents. To say the least Naipaul, Sunita William, or Bobby Jindal are as much Indians as Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are Italians.
What’s even queerer to note that the same very people, who open their heart to those “INDIANS”, object to Sonia Gandhi’s nationality. While we miss not even the slightest opportunity of adulations for overseas success on whomsoever, we can claim as our own, we never really think of millions of those whom we condemn to failure. What’s even more embarrassing is that much greater achievements within the country goes unnoticed or is downplayed. But once the West gives its seal of approval, the drum-roll just won’t stop. Not many people, for example knew R.K. Pachauri a year ago. But after the Organization that he heads got the Nobel Prize, he was everywhere, all News channels and papers, Page3, etc. Even Mother Teresa became “Indian” only after she got the Nobel Prize.
We often overhear the stories of negligence of our sportsmen in domestic circuit. Hockey players often complain for lack of recognitions. They in fact sat on Dharna for their “rights”. Few months back, some of the Indian athletes, who are also railway employees, were found escorting vehicles in New Delhi Railway station parking area.
Media is, in a big way, responsible for such stupid “lopsided” behaviour. It announces like an obituary that Ustad Bismilliah Khan has died and that the President has expressed his grief. But when Anand Jon, a Silicon Valley born faishion designer is accused of paedophilia, News papers give half page coverage to it. Some of the News channel goes on to the extent of showing “Vishesh” on the issue.
We seriously need to think and reflect on what the Indian achievers across the pond think of the country, before rolling red carpet for them. How much Norah Jones consider herself Indian? And moreover, we should learn to appreciate the next door small heroes, for their contributions towards building the nation.
Columnist Ketan Tanna writes, “We Indians seem to suffer from the tiresome system of being unthinking way in which we appropriate any achiever with even the most tenous connection to the motherland as Indians.” Diyas are lighted and crackers burned in a small village in Punjab, because their one grandfather’s onetime neighbour’s grandson, whose body, soul and heart are Indians, according to them, has been elected the Governor of a small American state.
Perhaps such instances make us feel bigger, better, first world, and truly global. AS Historian Ramchandra Guha says, “There is something lopsided and imbalanced in all of this.......It is nothing but pathetic insecurity and an inferirity complex.” It seems that the rudderless trans-national middle class, in their keen urge to join the rat-race and prove themselves make relations with anyone they find, anywhere in the world. Professor Mushirul Hassan, our Vice-Chancellor too agrees and he says, “It is a way of saying, we have arrived. And when there is not enough persons in India, you look outside.”
There is not so much as a privkle of “shamefacedness” at the fact that India has done little to further their careers or their talents. To say the least Naipaul, Sunita William, or Bobby Jindal are as much Indians as Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are Italians.
What’s even queerer to note that the same very people, who open their heart to those “INDIANS”, object to Sonia Gandhi’s nationality. While we miss not even the slightest opportunity of adulations for overseas success on whomsoever, we can claim as our own, we never really think of millions of those whom we condemn to failure. What’s even more embarrassing is that much greater achievements within the country goes unnoticed or is downplayed. But once the West gives its seal of approval, the drum-roll just won’t stop. Not many people, for example knew R.K. Pachauri a year ago. But after the Organization that he heads got the Nobel Prize, he was everywhere, all News channels and papers, Page3, etc. Even Mother Teresa became “Indian” only after she got the Nobel Prize.
We often overhear the stories of negligence of our sportsmen in domestic circuit. Hockey players often complain for lack of recognitions. They in fact sat on Dharna for their “rights”. Few months back, some of the Indian athletes, who are also railway employees, were found escorting vehicles in New Delhi Railway station parking area.
Media is, in a big way, responsible for such stupid “lopsided” behaviour. It announces like an obituary that Ustad Bismilliah Khan has died and that the President has expressed his grief. But when Anand Jon, a Silicon Valley born faishion designer is accused of paedophilia, News papers give half page coverage to it. Some of the News channel goes on to the extent of showing “Vishesh” on the issue.
We seriously need to think and reflect on what the Indian achievers across the pond think of the country, before rolling red carpet for them. How much Norah Jones consider herself Indian? And moreover, we should learn to appreciate the next door small heroes, for their contributions towards building the nation.
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