www.jobsalerts.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 Charting a new Asian history Sudheendra Kulkarni TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 The government gives in n letting the land acquisition ordinance lapse, the Union government must have hoped to come across as an administration that is responsive to public criticism and acknowledges key stakeholders’ concerns on important issues. But after having tried hard to sell the amendments as a pro-reforms measure, and to paint the opposition as a misinformed and obstructionist lot, the Modi government may find it difficult to gain any political mileage from the decision. Indeed, opposition parties are already claiming credit for having forced the government’s hand. And, in contrast, attempts by Union Ministers and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party to present the decision as being in the interest of farmers appear to be insincere and hollow. Too much had already been invested in the growth and reforms agenda for the government to now portray the decision as pro-farmer. The confusion in the government’s mind over the legislation showed up in more ways than one. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah described the decision as pro-farmer, in part acknowledging that some of the provisions were indeed anti-farmer. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that “rumours” had been spread on the land bill, indicating that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with it. The decision to let the ordinance lapse was the culmination of a series of measures to salvage at least parts of the legislation. The government diluted it in some respects before getting the amendments passed in the Lok Sabha in March 2015. Originally, it had exempted five types of projects — involving defence, rural infrastructure, affordable housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure and social infrastructure — from the consent clause in the 2013 Act brought forward by the UPA regime. It then dropped the ‘social infrastructure’ component. After seeking to exempt the five categories from the social impact assessment requirement, the Modi regime added a condition that it should first be ensured that only the minimum extent of land was being acquired before applying the exemption. It sought to make the Bill more acceptable by introducing a norm that one person in every affected family be given employment. It dropped a controversial amendment that would have enabled the acquisition of land for private hospitals and educational institutions. Later, it considered giving State governments the flexibility to have their own acquisition laws. Even the idea of extending the benefits of the Act to 13 laws — pertaining to railways, highways and such other projects — through an executive order is only in consonance with the original law that held back their inclusion till January 1, 2015. Thus, from the beginning the government, which on other issues was tough and determined, appeared unsure and defensive on the land ordinance. It was inevitable that in the end it had to give in. I All history is geographically located and influenced. Similarly, all geography is shaped, defined and redefined by history. This is evident not only from world history but also from the history of Asia — the glory of old Asia, its decline in colonial times, and its more recent rise again. The dialectic between history and geography manifests itself through the interplay of three factors — geopolitical, geo-economic and geo-cultural/civilisational. In the case of Asia, for nearly three centuries, the geopolitical and geo-economic realities were negatively impacted by Europe and the West in general. However, that is largely a thing of the past. Asia has begun to write its own destiny now. The 20th century was marked by Asia’s liberation from colonial rule and imperialist subjugation. The history of the 21st century will chiefly be the story of Asia’s rise, a process that is already underway in some parts of the continent. The other underdeveloped parts of Asia, especially in South Asia and South-East Asia, are craving to become a part of this story. Geography as ally of history Until now, the political boundaries carved out on the geography of South Asia and South-East Asia had become barriers for the countries in this vast region to overcome socio-economic underdevelopment caused by history. Now, thanks to advances in trade, transport and technology, the geography of this region can be made an ally to create a new history of shared prosperity, progress and peace, in addition to a revitalisation of age-old, cultural-spiritual-civilisational ties. This is what has been envisaged, on a broader expanse of Asia-Europe-Africa connectivity, by the super-ambitious ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ plans that have been unveiled by China’s President Xi Jinping. India also has been evolving its own regional cooperation initiatives such as ‘Mausam’ and the ‘Spice ‘Route’ in the Indian Ocean region and beyond, although these are nowhere as comprehensively projected, nor backed with requisite investments yet, as China is doing in the case of its ‘One Belt One Road’ vision. [The ‘Mausam’ project envisages the re-establishment of India’s ancient maritime routes with its traditional trade partners along the Indian Ocean. It was launched in June 2014. The ‘Spice Route of India’ visualises the India-centered link-up of historic sea routes in Asia, Europe and Africa.] Be it China’s strategy or India’s, neither can fully or smoothly become a reality in South Asia without a strong partnership between the world’s two most populous and Rich dividends in terms of peace and development can be reaped if India and China work together to synergise the proposed regional cooperation projects that interconnect Bangladesh, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries civilisationally rich nations.The key to the success of this strategy is the early implementation of the Bangladesh-China-IndiaMyanmar (BCIM) corridor, which envisages a network of modern road, railway, port and communication and trade connectivities in a region stretching from Kolkata to Kunming in southern China. Even though BCIM is one of the richest regions in the world — in terms of natural and human resources and home to nearly 500 million people — it is also one of the least integrated areas, economically as well as socially. Before history changed its map in the last century, the people of this region not only shared a geography without rigid borders, but also close racial, linguistic, cultural and spiritual interconnections. Sadly, while the that of Germany and France combined) is facing severe constraints in its overall development. BCIM also benefits India and Bangladesh in other ways. With natural gas reserves of about 200 trillion cubic feet, the largest in the Asia-Pacific, Bangladesh could become one of the major energy exporting countries. Yet, today it imports 500 MW of electricity from India and is planning to import an equal amount from Myanmar. Tourism too will get a boost. Bangladesh attracts less than one million foreign tourists in a year. For India’s north-eastern States, the figure is less than 2,00,000. Contrast this to the fact that Vietnam attracts 8 million, Cambodia 5 million, and Thailand 26 million foreign tourists annually. With the likely thaw in Iran-U.S. relations after the Iran-P5+1 nuclear deal, and with China in a position to exert pressure on Islamabad, the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline can become a reality. neighbouring Association of South East Asian Nations community has become a zone of prosperity, the BCIM region (barring southern China) is mostly underdeveloped, India’s seven north-eastern States providing a stark example. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should prioritise BCIM because it can not only be a game-changer for this region in Asia, but is also pivotal for his ‘Act East’ Policy. The potential of BCIM In the last week of August, I participated in a conference in Beijing on BCIM and its interconnection with “One Belt One Road”, organised by the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP). Besides arguing for BCIM’s expeditious implementation, I emphatically said that the logic of India-China regional cooperation needs to be extended westwards through India by connecting BCIM with the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). During Mr. Xi’s visit to Islamabad in April 2015, China pledged to invest $46 billion on CPEC — roughly one-fifth of Pakistan’s annual GDP. CPEC’s main infrastructural corridor, running over 3,000 km, will connect Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. India should welcome this initiative. CPEC will no doubt boost Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. It will also help Pakistan tackle many social and other internal problems, including the menace of religious extremism and terrorism. It is in India’s vital interest to see a stable, prosperous, progressive, united and India will benefit from BCIM, which was conceptualised 16 years ago, in many selfevident ways. For instance, Agartala is 1,650 kilometres from Kolkata when one travels through the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, the narrow strip of land north of West Bengal, which is only 23 km wide. In contrast, the distance gets reduced to just 350 km if the journey passes through Bangladesh. Similarly, India’s north-eastern States have no access to the sea, even though Tripura’s southernmost border town, Sabroom, is only 72 km from Chittagong, an international port in Bangladesh. At least one major reason behind Kolkata’s economic decline after India’s independence is its unnatural isolation from its natural eastern neighbourhood. Apart from denting the development of West Bengal and India’s north-east, this has hurt Bangladesh too. Landlocked from three sides, and with only sea access to the rest of the world, this potential economic powerhouse (its population of 160 million is greater than Cooperation possible, essential CARTOONSCAPE Act against right-wing groups unday’s murder in Dharwad of the outspoken Kannada scholar, M.M. Kalburgi, is tragic and alarming. It is the first such instance in Karnataka, which has a tradition of free speech and a record of outspoken scholars and writers. Kalburgi, a Sahitya Akademi award winner and an authority on Vachana literature, was known for his sharp criticism and questioning of superstitious beliefs, and received a death threat from the leader of a fringe right-wing group last year. Since June 2014 he was given police protection but some months ago he requested that it be withdrawn. While the identity of the two assailants, and their motive, are yet to be conclusively established, the nature of the threats against him has led investigators and the intelligentsia to suspect the role of fringe groups. This, especially given the backdrop of the murder of rationalist writer Narendra Dabholkar in 2013, and of CPI activist Govind Pansare in 2015, both in Maharashtra. In all the three cases the assailants were motorcycle-borne, and shot from point-blank range. While hasty conclusions on the latest murder would be imprudent, there is no denying that fringe rightwing groups have created an atmosphere of intolerance to outspoken writers and academics who question religious practices and myths, thereby putting pressure on freedom of speech and expression. Soon after Kalburgi’s murder, a case was filed by the police in Mangaluru against a Bajrang Dal activist who tweeted that the “next” victim would be the Kannada writer K.S. Bhagwan, and the activist was arrested. The social media have amplified such threats, which are acerbic and abusive in nature and typically target writers or academics who question ideologies and religious beliefs. There is enough evidence of the use of brute force by these fringe groups to enforce their points of view. There is a need to crack down on these groups which profess violence. It is important to use for some of these outfits the same yardstick as is used for other religion- and ideology-based extremist groups. Unfortunately, a majority of the cases filed against them or their leaders for inflammatory and abusive remarks and even violent acts do not result in convictions, and that emboldens them further. It is also crucial to monitor and promptly curb threats made through social media. These actions are needed to ensure that daring, fierce and tempered academic and literary opinion continues to be freely expressed without fear of any retribution. Whether or not fringe groups were involved in Kalburgi’s murder is immaterial here. S CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR U-turn on Land Bill That the controversial Land Bill was allowed to lapse by the NDA government is a victory for the farmer in his fight for justice (“Land ordinance gets a burial”, Aug.31). There is a need to involve all sections of society in an issue that has far-reaching consequences. The right to own land is a fundamental right that cannot be taken away, either by force or inducement. Finally, thought must be given to the conversion of uncultivable land for industrial use. D.B.N. Murthy, Bengaluru democratic Pakistan, which is at peace with itself and also at peace with all its neighbours. However, CPEC in its present form, unlike BCIM, does not comprehensively capture the benefits of regional cooperation. It needs to be extended into landlocked Afghanistan, which is in urgent need of national reconstruction after several decades of war. It should also be extended into India through Kashmir and Punjab, the two provinces which are today divided between India and Pakistan. Its linkage with the Indian side of Kashmir is especially important. At present, many in India have objected to CPEC passing through a part of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), on the ground that it is disputed territory. We should know that India is in no position to stop CPEC. A better strategy would be to turn this reality into an advantage by proposing the construction of a subcorridor bringing CPEC into the Indian side of Kashmir and beyond. This will help make the disputed India-Pakistan border in Kashmir largely irrelevant, a solution that India under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been actively pursuing with Pakistan. Simultaneously, extending CPEC into India through Punjab and Sindh will make the remaining stretches of the India-Pakistan border porous with modern transport and trade connectivities. In addition, sea transport linking Pakistan, the western coast of India, Sri Lanka, the eastern coast of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar should be strengthened. Enhancing security Interconnecting CPEC, with its extensions into Afghanistan and India, and BCIM is not really a novel idea. It is simply a 21st century version of the 16th century road, built by Shershah Suri, the Afghan emperor, connecting what later became the capitals of four countries — Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. As a new component of this regional cooperation architecture, the IranPakistan gas pipeline, which is already a part of CPEC, should be extended into India. New Delhi has until now remained cool to this flagship proposal by Tehran, partly due to perceived security issues and partly on account of American pressure. However, with the likely thaw in relations between Iran and the United States after the Iran nuclear deal, and with China playing the driver’s role in CPEC (and hence in a position to exert pressure on Islamabad), the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline can indeed become a reality. Thus, the CPEC-BCIM interconnection has the potential to immensely bolster India’s energy security both on the western and eastern flanks. Indian critics of BCIM and CPEC state that China cannot be trusted, and cite the divergent positions of the two countries on Arunachal Pradesh and PoK. I firmly believe that India’s concerns can be better addressed by constructively engaging, rather than by trying to confront, China. Mutually beneficial regional cooperation builds trust, and trust in turn helps nations resolve their disputes amicably. Moreover, when two big nations such as India and China cooperate in a regional cooperation framework, it generates confidence among other countries in the neighbourhood. They become crucial stakeholders in making India and China stable and irreversible. It may also be noted here that China’s stakes in cooperating with India have become higher because of its slowing economy. Recent months have produced three encouraging signs of an India-China convergence on the issue of regional cooperation. In the joint statement issued after Mr. Modi’s visit to China in May this year, “the two sides welcomed the progress made in promoting cooperation under the framework of the BCIM”. Second, Beijing has expressed its willingness to work with India to explore the synergy between its own “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” plans and India’s “Mausam” project with a view to addressing New Delhi’s strategic concerns and gaining “common benefits”. Third, India has become an important founding member of the Beijing-promoted Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which can fund BCIM, CPEC and other projects. Hence, the emerging regional cooperation agenda in South Asia, if pursued with sagacity and sincerity, promises to become a win-win game promoting development and security for all. (Sudheendra Kulkarni was an aide to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. E-mail:
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[email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. “rumours” about the Bill led to a scare among farmers exposes the fact that the Bill was not without its flaws. Bills rushed through in order to secure political mileage have dangerous consequences in a democratic set-up. Let us not forget that the farming sector is extremely vital in the scheme of things for a better India. Balasubramaniam Pavani, Secunderabad The rise of fear After much bickering and wasting of precious time in Parliament, the ruling party has been forced to reverse its stand. This exposes the misuse of the ordinance route to enable legislation. A review of this is most certainly called for. Mutual consultation and conciliation is the very essence of democracy. S.V. Venkatakrishnan, Bengaluru The gunning down of rationalist Prof. M.M. Kalburgi (Aug.31) is a chilling reminder that there is hardly any space for free thinkers and intellectuals in our so-called secular democracy. This is the third killing of a rationalist within a span of two years by fundamentalists. It is a matter of concern that the government has been unable to pursue leads in all these cases and ensure that justice prevails. Do we want India to turn into a theocratic state like some of our neighbours? K.R. Srinivasan, Secunderabad To state that the government will include 13 points to reform the law establishes the fact that the draft ordinance was initially not a fullfledged Bill. By saying that I am deeply disturbed and angry at the assassination of Prof. Kalburgi — my sense of anger and rage grows with every free-thinking intellectual we lose to fundamentalist violence. I am also disturbed by the reporting (“Kannada writer was at the centre of controversies”, Aug.31) which says: “His stubborn nature landed him in controversies” and triggered protests by “his own community groups.” He was not controversial. He spoke his mind and spoke about his work, regardless of which community or religion he was born into. Conservative, fundamentalist mobs (including conservative elements from his community) created the controversy around his work. And eventually killed him. Let us for a change stop labelling public intellectuals and begin naming those responsible for the atmosphere of fear. It is not merely the loss of an individual that we are witnessing in the deaths of Dr. Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Prof. Kalburgi. It is the annihilation of entire intellectual traditions that are built on the critical right to question, and to destabilise our own deeply entrenched beliefs, so that we might understand our worlds and our societies better. We are descending into an abyss of mistrust, fear, self-censorship and violent censorship which must be resisted at all costs. All defenders of free speech, all critiques of www.jobsalerts.in fundamentalist religion (and their apologists) face either arrest warrants or messengers of death. The silence that results is not a sign that everyone agrees that superstitious faith is the best thing. It is a sign that speaking out involves a risk to life and liberty. Can we allow fear and the mob to rule our lives any longer? Kalpana Kannabiran, Secunderabad Idea of ‘Team India’ The writer has blown big holes in the concept of “Team India” (“The problem with Modi’s “Team India”, Aug.31). The critique points out glaring inconsistencies within the present socio-economic conditions that present an almost Augean hurdle towards the establishment of “Team India”. Cooperation is at the core of this notion, and also the creation of an altruistic atmosphere. The oft-used metaphor of India as a business entity ruling over its citizenemployees (untiringly used to highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s capitalist underpinnings) fails to take note of widely accepted management principles. For example, the classical guru, F.W. Taylor, talked of a “Mental Revolution” to explain that employees (citizen) and the management (government) don’t have dichotomous interests. Instead, each must realise that all of them exist in a cooperative cycle of mutual altruism. To view business (governance) as a purely exploitative enterprise and to link that to the theme of “Team India” is quite unfair to the principles of management. Furthermore, aspiring for an ideal is not a crime. The writer is correct in shedding light on the adverse situations that impede the idea of “Team India”; but adversities alone cannot be a reason for wishing away high goals. Prithiv Sassisegarane, Bengaluru The writer seems to have presented his own commentary on the Independence Day address and, unfortunately, seems to have missed the context. It is true that “Team India” is not yet a reality but only a dream, but how is the dream worthless, as portrayed by the writer, if it doesn’t suit his ideology? Where did Mr Modi mention in his speech that his vision of “Team India” is to merge the nation with the state or to neglect the welfare of the poor? Anoop Suri, New Delhi BG-MY www.jobsalerts.in 12 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 A new edifice for reservations Jayaprakash Narayan WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 Erasing history oads are a city’s arteries, and when they are given new names, the old lose their connect, and with it a part of history is lost. The Bharatiya Janata Party has picked on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to rewrite New Delhi’s history by renaming a road named after him. Aurangzeb is the archetypal villain in the Hindu nationalist imagination — the cruel ruler who put a sword to people’s heads, offering them a choice between Islam and death. And a despot who hated music so much he ordered it buried deep so that no sound could escape and reach anyone’s ears. Perhaps much of it was true, but often the nuance is lost in textbooks where the process of internalisation of history begins at a young age. Not only cruel, Aurangzeb for the BJP is an outsider, a part of Mughal history, and history it desires to wish away. And when the party decided to replace Aurangzeb with another Muslim, a former President who was the antithesis of the Mughal ruler, a man who loved to play the veena, a benevolent man who pardoned many people from being marched off to the gallows, it was hard not to miss the political statement being made. Mahmood Mamdani wrote in his paper, ‘Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: A Political Perspective...’: “Whether in Afghanistan, Palestine, or Pakistan, Islam must be quarantined and the devil must be exorcized from it by a civil war between good Muslims and bad Muslims.” In India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, then, was a good Hindu-Muslim. Twitter broke into applause and exhaled a happy sigh. A piece of history was erased for good, some Twitter handles proclaimed. Of course, once the process of correcting perceived historical wrongs begins, there is no stopping it. Delhi and other cities have many roads named after Muslim rulers, and the clamour for change has only just started. It is a good question to ask whether the departed President could have some other road named after him. When The Hindu first reported the renaming plan (on July 30, 2015), the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee suggested that Aurangzeb Road be spared to be named after Guru Tegh Bahadur, who died defending the Hindu faith, and another road be chosen to be named after Abdul Kalam. It is fair to ask whether the BJP could have chosen to rename Prithviraj Road or Rajesh Pilot Marg after Kalam. The Congress would then have broken into more than a rash. The party had gone on a spree of relabelling roads named Connaught and Curzon after Indian leaders, and defended the decisions saying it was shaking off the colonial legacy. But Aurangzeb is a part of India’s (pre-colonial) history. A part acknowledged through this road named after him. This renaming is an attempt to excise that part. R The massive mobilisation of Patels in Gujarat in their agitation for their inclusion in the caste-based reservations scheme as Other Backward Classes (OBC) raises vital questions on affirmative action. For decades, political parties, the media and society at large have avoided serious debate on the promotion of equal opportunity in an iniquitous, caste-ridden society practising discrimination by birth for centuries. All societies face serious challenges on account of discrimination and institutionalised inequality. The United States has its AfricanAmericans and Indian Americans, Europe has its Gypsies, Australia has its Aborigines, and China has its non-Han minorities. But nowhere in the world are inequality by birth and moral neutrality to such discrimination so institutionalised as in Indian society. Centuries of artificial division of society into hundreds of castes, the denial of education for all but a few “upper” castes, an unbreakable linkage between caste and occupation, institutionalised untouchability and absurd notions of “impurity”, the long-entrenched tradition of endogamous marriages within a sub-caste, and serious prejudice against mixed marriages are all that have made the Indian caste system the most heinous, oppressive and intractable form of discrimination and inequality by birth. Styming opportunity Even a cursory understanding of our society exposes the link between caste and poverty, and the denial of opportunity based entirely on circumstances of birth. The future of a vast majority of children born in our society can be reasonably predicted at the time of birth merely by assessing the family’s economic status, parental education and caste. The child’s innate ability, ambition and hard work, in most cases, are irrelevant to her future. Not only is this an unjust, oppressive monstrosity in this day and age, but also a large majority of the nation’s gene pool is also wasted by this denial of opportunity, and the nation’s state of poverty and backwardness are perpetuated. Given these circumstances, caste will have to be an important factor in determining eligibility for affirmative action policies. However, the unimaginative way in which reservations have been implemented has led to several, undesirable consequences. Most of the benefits of reservations have gone only to a few, better educated, well-off elites among the communities eligible for reservations. When you see the background of youngsters recruited to the civil services, or those admitted to medical schools, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian It is time we address the challenge of reservations honestly, fairly and innovatively by creating opportunities for all disadvantaged children. Along with improving school education outcomes, a more rational model of reservation based on equity and common sense must be envisaged complex process, short-sighted politicians and caste-based leaders can easily provoke primordial loyalties and arouse animosities based on caste. We have seen many instances of caste mobilisation for and against reservations. In recent years, the Jat-Gujjar-Meena agitations in Rajasthan are too well known to bear repetition. Now, the agitation of Patels, the largely successful and entrepreneurial community in Gujarat, one of India’s most vibrant States, only illustrates the need for rationalising reservations. It is clear that at present most of the benefits of reservations flow to a few well-educated families in the upper strata. Real poor families among SCs, STs and OBCs are largely on the margins. The poor among Other Categories (OC) are resentful and frustrated, and tend to blame reservations for all their problems. The current form of reservations Polarisation and politics and zero-sum approach have deepened caste This skewed benefit has paradoxical con- divisions without helping the truly poor, desequences. The poor, disadvantaged Sched- serving children to advance in life. Most Indi- Institutes of Management, national law schools or other courses that give real opportunities of vertical mobility, we see a pattern emerging. Though reservation is applicable to the poor and the rich, or the illiterate and the educated in caste groups equally, in reality, most benefits accrue to the children of those who already have the advantages of education, career and wealth. In most selections to/in premier institutions in higher education or recruitment to high-end jobs, it is the children of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service officers and other senior officials, the progeny of Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLA), Members of Parliament (MP) and the other political elite, and the offspring of successful professionals and businessmen who dominate the scene in communities eligible for reservations. While caste will continue to be the mainstay of reservation policies, the benefits should flow to the vast majority of underprivileged children from deprived castes; not to a few privileged children with a caste tag. uled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and OBCs are mostly on the fringes and continue to remain mired in poverty and backwardness, as they cannot compete with children from more advantaged backgrounds in their own communities. Therefore, there is enormous pain, suffering and angst often resulting in despair and which triggers violence. Most of the poor in disadvantaged sections are sullen and angry as their lot does not seem to improve irrespective of ability and hard work. At the same time, the communities excluded from reservations harbour animosity and prejudice against the castes included in the reservation category. There are also several poor and semi-literate families among castes not categorised as SCs or OBCs. When a child in such a family is overtaken by an obviously wealthy child enjoying caste reservation, the resentment created has a snowballing effect. This caste polarisation is accentuated by the political mobilisation of caste groups for voting. Given this ans — from castes included in reservation or excluded — feel betrayed. We need an urgent, earnest, honest, national debate, and a creative sensible, pragmatic response. Opportunities for all disadvantaged children, equity, fairness and common sense should be the guiding principles in evolving a more rational model of reservations. Case for dis-reservation First, while caste will continue to be the mainstay of reservation policies, the benefits should flow to the vast majority of underprivileged children from deprived castes; not to a few privileged children with a caste tag. Families of public officials of a certain rank — IAS, IPS, other Central and State civil services, present or former MLAs, MPs, other senior politicians — certain high income professionals like physicians, chartered accountants, managers above a certain rank in the private sector, and businessmen and others above a certain income should be dis-reserved. In CARTOONSCAPE Europe’s refugee crisis pity the poor immigrant, who wishes he’d stayed at home,” sang the American folksinger Bob Dylan. That verse today finds extra resonance in the scarring images of forced human displacement across treacherous sea and land routes into the promised land of Europe. Thousands leave every day from the war-ravaged and economically broken countries of northern Africa, Syria and West Asia. The harrowing images of mass death captured by the media — the most recent, the 800 people feared drowned when the boat they travelled in capsized in the Libyan waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in April, or the 71 fleeing Syrians found dead in a truck in Austria last week — point to the magnitude of the human catastrophe that is unfolding across this part of the world. The statistics on recent migration are staggering. According to the UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, 59.5 million people were forcibly displaced in 2014, a figure that rose sharply in 2015. A record number of 1,07,500 migrants reached the borders of the European Union last month. The Migrants Files, a collaborative project of journalists, claims the number of refugees who died or went missing while making the crossing is 3,016 this year alone. Between 2000 and today the number is 30,817. A practical response to the refugee crisis has not, regrettably, been forthcoming from the governments of those countries most affected by the recent influx, namely those of the European Union and Britain. They have tried to turn the focus on criminal trafficking rings that conduct risky refugee escape operations, even as they tighten their own borders. By contrast, there is the laudable spirit shown by organisations, groups that have conducted perilous rescue operations on the high seas, and provided refugees shelter and timely support despite their constrained capabilities and remit. The political and economic destabilisation of countries from where the refugee flow is the greatest — those in West Asia, Libya and Syria — are due in large part to western military intervention carried out on the strength of promises to bring democracy to peoples portrayed as the victims of totalitarian rule. Not only has that promise been belied, the doors have been closed on people who now desperately seek to escape the anarchy and civil breakdown of those countries, which were once relatively stable. A scheme of mandatory quotas to take in refugees, proposed by the European Commission, has met with stiff opposition from several member-states. Germany has given asylum to over 200,000 refugees last year, and Britain to just 32,000. The EU and Britain must adopt a more humane and responsible asylum and immigration policy on the refugee crisis — or be consumed by it. “I CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Restoring a practice Jainism has a positive influence over Indian culture, be it literature, art and architecture. Another important contribution it has made is to popularise the idea of nonviolence or ahimsa, also reflected in the practice of Santhara. Though the legal stand on Santhara has now been made clear, I feel it is out of line (“The right to die… and not to die”, Sept.1). Just because the practice is based on the principle of non-violence is it appropriate to let a person die? If this is the case, then why is Irom Sharmila, who is seeking justice for a cause she believes in, repeatedly arrested in order to save her life? This verdict appears to have created a grey area. Pankaj Sharma, Chandigarh On the face of it, the religious practice does not sound to be like suicide. However, the verdict raises deep questions about our judicial stand on issues such as euthanasia. If the Supreme Court can stay the Rajasthan High Court order, one would like to know what its stand on euthanasia is. Andrea Aruna Anthony, Bengaluru Affirmative steps Second, we have to address the anger and aspirations of poor families among unreserved communities. Jats, Patels and other obviously successful communities who are poor are easily angered by what they see as an unjust system. With the Supreme Court ruling of 50 per cent ceiling on reservation quotas, no further reservation is possible. But intelligent, creative, fair and practical ways of giving the poorer children among OCs a helping hand are possible and necessary. For instance, parental education and the school the child attended are two sure indicators of poverty and the backwardness of a family. If parents have not had education beyond school, and if the child goes to a government school or a low-end, ramshackle private school, it is a sure sign of a lack of adequate opportunity. Such a child, however bright, cannot compete with the privileged son of a high official or wealthy doctor going to an expensive private school. And yet, our socalled “merit” system treats a 90 per cent score of the privileged child as better than the 80 per cent score of a poor girl in a rural school. If reasonable weightage is given in marks to such underprivileged children in the category of OC — an addition of marks decided by a group of experts — it will give added opportunity to poor OCs without raising reservation quotas. At the same time, true merit is not compromised and there is always an aspirational level they have to meet. Third, no child with ability and desire should ever be denied opportunities for higher education on account of poverty or birth. Scholarships, free tuition, soft loans and other mechanisms must be strengthened, so that a bright child can reach for the stars irrespective of his or her family’s social or economic status. Once these three steps are in place, most of the distortions in the reservation policy will vanish. There will be far greater harmony and little incentive to polarise society or provoke primordial loyalties. Most of all, the really disadvantaged will have a genuine opportunity to rise to their potential. Unfulfilled potential is the greatest sin in our society. Once we eliminate much of this scourge, we can reduce reservations by one or two per cent each year. Within a generation, discrimination by birth will be a thing of the past, and reservations will not be necessary. Simultaneously, the state can encourage market mechanisms for equal opportunity in the private sector. These efforts should be coupled with a vigorous national effort to improve school education outcomes. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act is mostly a failure in enabling a real opportunity for all children. Guaranteed outcomes in schools and access to real quality school education to every child irrespective of birth and poverty are at the heart of a society promoting equity, opportunity and egalitarianism. It is time we address the challenge of reservations honestly, openly, fairly and innovatively. We cannot bury our heads in the sand forever like an ostrich. (Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is the founder of the Lok Satta movement and Foundation for Democratic Reforms. E-mail:
[email protected]) Letters emailed to
[email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. married woman to sacrifice herself out of love for her husband. The practice had no social reasoning and so we banned it. But don’t those who live in vegetative state have a right to end their life in dignity? If in Santhara, one eschews food and water to die with dignity, then why not let those in a pitiable physical and mental state discard medicine and external care in order to fade away with dignity? The time has come to examine practices that have no grounds in the test of social reasoning and which must be banned irrespective of religious basis. Bibha Sinha, Ranchi, Jharkhand is one more shocking instance of hate politics; its impact cannot be taken lightly (“Karnataka set to hand over Kalburgi murder case to CBI”, Sept.1). Undaunted by such cowardly actions, the family of Dhabolkar has taken upon itself to spread the message of the importance of developing a scientific temper. Scavengers and unorganised workers of Kolhapur vowed to continue their resistance and struggles while cremating Pansare. Mourners who gathered at the funeral of Kalburgi have also reiterated their commitment to defend his ideals. These are the only heartening aspects to emerge in this dark phase of fanatic tendencies in India. Santhara is a religious practice and S.V. Venugopalan, no religion teaches a person to die. Chennai So, there must be a flaw in its interpretation. According to Jain It is sad that intellectuals are being Agamas, Santhara can only be eliminated while performing duties practised when death is very near mentioned in the Constitution and cannot be dodged. It is such as developing a scientific interesting that a similar Hindu temper and rationalism along with ritual of Sanjeevan Samadhi has not a spirit of inquiry. In such an environment, citizens are bound to faced any legal hurdles. Kulish Dhanju, feel that their fundamental rights Vellore, Tamil Nadu are not being adequately guaranteed which is a blot on a democratic, liberal and progressive The cold-blooded murder of society such as India’s. What is eminent Kannada writer and ironic is that while the state has progressive thinker, M.M. Kalburgi infiltrated into the private lives of Advent of intolerance www.jobsalerts.in We abolished Sati, a practice by a other words, once they have received a significant advantage of reservations, they should be able to ensure opportunities for their children and vacate the space for the truly disadvantaged children in their own caste groups. The argument that financial or professional success does not end discrimination, and therefore they should forever enjoy reservations is fallacious and self-serving. The logic of reservations is that educational and employment opportunities will reduce discrimination in a modern economy. The state has only the power to give these opportunities. If education, job and income do not mitigate discrimination, then the rationale for reservation collapses. If reservations do help in upward mobility, then what more can we expect in life other than an IAS, IPS officer, MLA, MP or a cardiac surgeon? It is easy to identify families which have substantially benefited from reservation by virtue of position, rank, profession, education, children’s school and income. Once these families are dis-reserved, the truly poor and disadvantaged sections among reserved communities will get a helping hand in both higher education and jobs. citizens, it has failed to protect their rights. Sumit Sharma, Ludhiana, Punjab New Asian history While the article, “Charting a new Asian history” (Sept.1), paints a rosy picture, it completely ignores the legitimate and strategic concerns New Delhi has. First in the absence of well-developed, intra-regional connectivity of the Seven Sisters and the rest of India, connecting the South-East Asian region/subcontinent with other countries will not be easy. If done, it could bring them into the “sphere of affluence” of China, and fan secessionist activities. Second, participating in the so-called “grand initiative” of CEPA will only legitimise Pakistan’s position in PoK. Third, there is no evidence that a more prosperous Pakistan will be less hostile towards India. While I firmly believe that globalisation will usher in more affluence in the region, it is still imperative to filter out designs that could spell danger. Shashank Jain, New Delhi ‘Let’s think dialogue’ The article, “Time to move from posturing to dialogue” (Sept.1), was well-timed, but the writer should have recognised that talks between India and Pakistan have failed miserably for the sole reason that instead of resorting to a truly meaningful dialogue based on a give and take policy, they are used to display one-upmanship. Instead of merely stating that much might be said on both sides — like Sir Roger de Coverley, the fictional character created by Joseph Addison — Mahmud Durrani could have spelt out what Pakistan’s expectations are in this regard. Has he also forgotten that India has never indulged in destabilisation? K.D. Viswanaathan, Coimbatore That dialogue forms the quintessence between India and Pakistan in resolving outstanding issues as opposed to belligerent posturing is a fact. Whether it is the sensitive Kashmir problem or trade exchange, no significant headway has been made in the past due to the conspicuous lack of a spirit of give and take complemented by an approach of compromise and consultation. The obsession for status quo should give way to a broader consensus if some tangible progress is to be achieved. P.K. Varadarajan, Chennai BG-BG However. Strictly speaking. who in turn have denied that their money is black. for instance. a cut-off year of 1951 was determined in the new Bills passed on Monday in order to identify outsiders. The negotiations showed that they would not part with these assets easily and that they would fight tooth and nail legally before any assets were returned. there is scant respect being shown for the privacy of the people related or unrelated to the incidents. needs to draw a line as far as analysis and reporting go. it is only Chennai because of his own merit and hardwork in public life.P.2). In view of this. Kofi A. would be willing to give up many of the benefits for the overall good of those less privileged in their own communities. the issue of black money being held by certain developed countries was brought in to show that the keepers of black money were as guilty as those who had deposited it abroad. assuming and arguing that they were protected from outsiders under existing laws. For instance. Only $276. country. notwithstanding the nature of the crime. Raghavan. In a strong reaction. The then Secretary General of the UN. Mizos and Chins. But as the demand for an ILP escalated. which leads the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. Also. and where new governments badly need these resources to reconstruct and rehabilitate their societies. forfeiting and returning funds obtained through corrupt activities. Srinivasan. Nagarajan Iyer. the subject of crime must be handled by the police and the judiciary. that if it won it would bring back all Indian black money. in 2003 as a vital part of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Some of the most egregious instances of miscarriage of justice that it cites as an indictment of India’s criminal justice system relate to terrorism-related cases. to be renamed after him.S. are mostly of relatively unknown people. Austria. The best possible way forward is to disreserve the creamy layer and strengthen options to extend economic help to the underprivileged from all categories. which is untrue.3 million of assets were recovered in 2006-2009 and $147. the need for compromise and cooperation became clear in the spirit of the whole convention. If implemented in good faith. It provides that each state party shall take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to give effect to an order of confiscation issued by a court of another state party. best or ultimate form of punishment. which have been revealed in bits and pieces. who out of a sense of renunciation. These illegally amassed abroad by their citizens) countries said that it would be difficult to with the legal and procedural safeguards of obtain ironclad evidence to prove this bethe countries that had a vested interest in cause of the very nature of the accretion of retaining the assets in their banks. difficulties may have arisen not in establishing that the sums amassed abroad belong to India. for a start. expressed the hope that “it makes a major breakthrough by requiring Member States to return assets obtained through corruption to the country from which they were stolen. The explanation is that the matter is complicated and embroiled in the domestic laws of several countries. These are chiefly groups of Kukis. the convention should be of immense value to countries where corrupt high officials have plundered natural wealth. but in proving that the assets were illegally obtained. in both civil and criminal law. Bengaluru BG-MY . Agam Singh Bedi.S. Such wrongly and history cannot be changed by based criticism only sends out more expunging the names of its players.jobsalerts. be it electronic or print. in a context where the local population. the Commission has put the ball in Parliament’s court. it has created an unfair hierarchy of crime and justice. which need to be addressed. those who are lazy fall by the Sept. While the assets by people in power. They feel insecure as many of them who came to Manipur after 1951 or whose lineage may not meet the list of criteria set out in the Bills. VHP attack Ansari on ‘reservation for Muslims’. but the convention was made possible by a political compromise wherein the developed countries obtained a strong convention against corruption in return for conceding that illegally obtained wealth deposited abroad would be returned to its legal owners.R. Our authorities may do well to use the records of the debate in Vienna to prove the strength of the argument by many countries that proof of illegality of acquisition should not be insisted upon. freezing. S. made this remark by reading Bengaluru between the lines. thus perpetuating inequalities (“A new edifice for reservations”. Many legal treatises have been written on the provisions of the convention. Will not such sensational wayside.J. reservation is essential. difficulties in recovering black money are in proving that the assets were illegally obtained. The eventual compromise was that the of countries had concerns about protecting assets could be transferred back if the receivthe rights of the depositors and the assur. the right wing’s warped view of the seemingly for wrong and past as present (Editorial. the State needs to identify the ‘outsiders’ first. as the Chairman of the Preparatory globe. It can only be hoped Parliament will complete the good work the Law Commission has begun. and no politician wishes to raise this issue simply because it impacts his vote bank. (T. 2015 Risky portents in Manipur he crisis in Manipur stems from the demand to stop ‘outsiders’ from buying land in the State.2) is unfortunate. this had no relevance to the issue of the return of assets as long as it was evident that they belonged to the countries claiming them. and two amendments. Sreenivasan THURSDAY. Aurangzeb remains an attack him probably because of his important part of Indian history.P. A convention of value All this reminds me of the tough negotiations on the subject in Vienna. A disconnect persists between national commitments and the actual behaviour of countries at the international level. The Commission’s report on the death penalty declares deterrence to be a myth. These are the same issues which remained ambivalent at the time of the negotiations. Are they not aware that extra-judicial activity such as this might cause impediments in the actual legal procedure? Why can’t they wait for the final legal judgment? Is there no media watchdog? There is a need to adapt international norms of reporting and broadcasting. Hyderabad The writer’s point about caste as a criteria for affirmative action contradicts the very need to end caste-based discrimination in our group established asset recovery as a “fundamental principle” of the convention. An important sticking point was the insisttough negotiations. After the party and the coalition won. Even the countries requesting for information should share a part of the blame because they have not been transparent in their efforts for political reasons.” Sept.2 million in 2010-2012 as against the estimated $20 billion to $40 billion stolen every year. and not to all punishment as a concept. The valley constitutes only 10 per cent of the State’s geographical area and Meiteis constitute about 50 per cent of the population there. News should be reported as news. particularly its assets recovery provisions. Punjab Having economic backwardness as the sole criteria for reservations is not a viable option in the Indian context as there is no specified formula for its calculation. A personality in such an exalted The patriarchal mindset of Indian www. which had sought a framework to locate and return these assets to their legitimate owners. claim and recover proceeds of offences. to investigate. Ansari courted controversy in this manner. Mukherjee. noting that even safeguards such as the right to appeal and mercy petitions do not provide foolproof protection from miscarriage of justice. One The purpose of studying history wonders if the party in power is isn’t to right of the wrongs of the repeatedly misunderstanding the past. it is only the English media outlets in India have industrious and the studious who devoted much time and energy in advance in life making the best out discussing threadbare the sordid of a bad situation. But the unspoken truth is that the countries making the requests are not inclined to expose the depositors by revealing the modalities of corrupt practices and the countries that have been requested have a vested interest in not returning the assets to their rightful owners. The outcome was not very satisfactory from the point of view of the countries. which was designed to end corruption around the cordance with the convention. Haryana Ansari’s remarks The criticism of Vice-President Hamid Ansari (“BJP. which claim control of the Manipur Hill districts. The Centre and the State need to come forward quickly to engage the people and figure out a solution to the crisis in order that it won’t go out of control. It is to be noted that the case is about the crime she is alleged to have committed. SEPTEMBER 3. was asked to chair the group and that without the clauses on assets recovery. predominantly the Meiteis. But that is a complex issue anywhere in the northeastern region as the borders are largely porous and the Government of India has not done enough to check the passage of people across them. In fact. in which the death penalty was imposed by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court. Committee. Abhinav Sharma. estimated in billions of dollars and stashed in foreign banks. In any community and in any society It is surprising to see how almost all on this earth. SEPTEMBER 3. (DRDO). it notes. But from any perspective. It makes a clean break with the ‘rarest of the rare’ principle that was laid down in Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980): that judgment noted that the application of the death penalty would remain arbitrary and judge-centric and hence would be constitutionally unsustainable.www. and the revelation of some names of Indian offenders have not led to much. and introduces a comprehensive set of standards. To bridge the widening gap. By holding itself back from recommending a total abolition. Murali. Finally. the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It has sought a return to the notions of restorative and reformative justice. Vienna. The pro-ILP movement was mostly confined to the Valley districts. Kolkata The media. as we plodded on.jobsalerts. and urged a change in tenor. The names. but to prepare for a better Vice-President or finding excuses to future. Secunderabad The decision to change the name of a tree-lined road dedicated to the It is indeed a peculiar situation if Mughal ruler in order to honour one even the Vice-President is attacked of our Presidents seems to be part of and blamed for being communal. Most crucially. They are also required to share information with the competent authorities of another state. most first group of countries clearly argued that of them were dictators who did not leave any the assets should be returned as soon as their trace of evidence of the methods they had ownership was established. It would have been minorities. a section of the immigrants have been engaged to counter local insurgent groups. The convention should be of great value to countries where natural wealth has been plundered and whose governments need these resources to reconstruct their societies practices. has remained unfulfilled. measures and rules that all countries can apply in order to strengthen their legal and regulatory regimes to fight corruption. Both sides realised. Moreover. when necessary. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Reservation policy The reservation policy has resulted in the horizontal proliferation of benefits to only the better-off among eligible sections. sought to chair the related working group on assets held abroad and this was conceded. It also provides for the provisional freezing or seizing of property where there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions in advance of a formal request being received. through its Office on Drugs and Crime. The foremost step is to abolish the very notion of “caste” prevalent in society. was based on what the Supreme Court later ruled was wholly fabricated evidence. The role of the media is to just report facts in a fair manner. Then it was only a matter of laying a framework. This condition was accepted only because of the insistence that banking regulations in many countries would not permit the return of assets without this. as Permanent Representative of India to the UN. R. which otherwise only legally is providing equal opportunities for trained persons and systems should all alike through education.3). primary education and health care are still inaccessible to many. Annan. misinterpreted reasons.P. Rahul Balhara. The actual recovery since the adoption of the convention has fallen far short of expectations. Sreenivasan. The long-standing demand has been to introduce a system similar to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in other northeastern States. The writer’s proposed solution of excluding the privileged among the backward classes simply boils down to reservation solely on the basis of economic criteria rather than castebased reservation. ence of the assets holding countries that it Principle of asset recovery was not enough for the countries making As the chairman of the working group. it is not any genuine fear of becoming marginalised but realpolitik that is playing out in the hills of Manipur. Ludhiana. Hence. one of them. mostly the developing ones. with UN help T.” The rich countries hit upon the idea of UNCAC to castigate the developing countries for misusing aid money through corrupt Provisions in the UN Convention Against Corruption can help immensely in the recovery of black money. 2015 Chasing black money.ing country was the legitimate owner of ances of secrecy given. estimated to be as much as $2 trillion. More than this. The provisions finally accepted were for supporting the efforts of the countries to recover the assets and for sending out a message to corrupt officials that they would not have a safe haven where they could stash away the fruits of their corrupt practices. extracted through hard negotiations. have been opposed by the tribal organisations. Amitava Banerjee. Punjab spent a great part of his professional tenure. The BJP has grossly misunderstood position as his need not have the context in which Mr. The reason for this impasse is that the holding countries are extremely reluctant to part with black money and they have used every conceivable argument to block its release. There is a need for reservations but there must be a more rationalised approach towards it based on economic backwardness.2). What is between family members should be handled in a refined manner. religious background. Development Organisation Sumit Sharma. Austria.S.’ Many of them also believe a rumour that the two amendments would be valid in the Manipur Hills districts. Those do (“Small-town girl. chaired the Preparatory Committee for the UN Convention Against Corruption.] They wanted to introduce conditionalities of good governance to block aid to certain countries and to limit aid to others. Doon school who are ambitious move high while boy” and “Media trial most foul”. Refining India’s approach In the case of India. One reason this was not done was to protect the state’s own interest: for a long time now. based on extensive research. But the Commission has not gone far enough. What the convention accomplished — and the credit for this goes to both sides — was that legal obstacles should be tackled with international cooperation rather than by domestic laws. Retributive justice is important. Though the two sides took extreme positions initially. But how effective UN assistance is in legal battles in which the holding countries have a vested interest is uncertain. Sept. In the intense competition to be the first to “break news”. The UN. Anshuman Gogoi. Acharya. Affirmative action which was sought to be a temporary process seems to have cemented its position in Indian society. it has placed the death penalty in the context of India’s flawed criminal justice system. or some similar stipulation.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. The idea of reservation based on per-capita income has to come in vogue so that the privilege is not extended to the children of those who are financially stable after reaping the benefits of reservation. for instance. which can be applied to recover black money. signals of the antipathy towards the good or bad. Guwahati The reportage of the case shows that the media in India has yet to learn its lessons.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU THURSDAY. the scrapping of the death penalty for all crimes except terrorism-related offences and those that amount to waging war against the state. Reporters are now self-made judges. Rohtak. L. There needs to be synergy between those in the government willing to act rationally on reservation and those among the elites in marginalised sections. It has attempted to raise the level of discourse on the death penalty by observing that opposition to it amounts to objecting to the taking of lives. It also lowers the befitting had the admirers of A. President had to talk in such a Hyderabad manner and highlight “reservation” for the community he hails from. Sept. I have come across people in dire conditions even when they are from the socalled “upper caste”. property acquired through or involved in the The first breakthrough came when the commission of offences established in ac- CARTOONSCAPE The case against death penalty he Law Commission of India has taken a historic step by declaring that the abolition of the death penalty must become a goal for India. K. as numerous Supreme Court decisions that refer to “the conscience of the people” seem to indicate. and which were very revealing. Ansari could rise to media debates disrupt justice? V. the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill.in History behind names A case and coverage society seems to be at work everytime it judges the actions of Ms. harbours fears of being marginalised. The government case. When a debate on the issue became inevitable. The issues might not have escalated had the State government consulted the Hill Areas Committee before passing the Bills in order to clear any misunderstanding. The concerns such instances raise about the death penalty disproportionately affecting the poor and marginalised are more sharply in evidence in terrorism cases — 93. where the late President Ludhiana. I claims to establish that the assets belonged to was confronted with the issue of reconciling them. Mohali. many developing countries signed and ratified UNCAC because of its assets recovery provisions. Punjab Even after decades.co. political groups added fuel to the fire to try and topple the Congress-led government and invite President’s Rule. A working paper prepared for its next meeting in early September this year has listed a large number of legal issues. and not about certain details in her personal life. but it must not descend to the level of vengeance. It is disturbing that the ViceJ. the idea of giving weightage to marks within OC amounts to reservation within OC as well. the second group used.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. Kumar. to stop inmigration. Neither the details of the efforts made nor the responses of the countries concerned are in the public domain. If Mr. [UNCAC complements another instrument. economic backwardness is a dynamic concept per se. this is a dangerous portent for all the northeastern States. could now be legally identified as ‘outsiders. Some of the relevant provisions of the convention are crucial to the question of recovery of assets. By creating an artificial distinction between terror cases and others despite admitting that there is no penological justification for doing so. the move to create a special investigative team of former judges and current regulators to find the concealed assets. for tracing. has been given the responsibility to implement the convention. the 2002 Akshardham temple attack case. Therefore. the benchmark for entry into the “reserved” class should be based on economic grounds. But there exists a body of provisions in the convention. become Vice-President. As the tensions grew in the absence of dialogue. The focus here must be on the UNCAC debate that reveals the strength of the argument against insistence on proof of illegality India. It has recommended.5 per cent of those on death row in terrorism cases are Dalits or those from the religious minorities. prestige of a constitutional post as Abdul Kalam pushed for the that of the Vice-President of the Defence Research and Republic. But for this to be effective. It notes the death penalty is no deterrent for even a terrorist. a breakthrough was achieved after days of the entire convention would fall. while the people in the Hills isolated themselves. given the uneven and error-prone application of relief. The countries that hold assets have been given special responsibilities such as enhanced scrutiny of accounts deposited by those entrusted with prominent public functions to detect suspicious transactions. T The promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the run-up to the general election in 2014. the parties to the convention have set up a working group to assist in the implementation of the assets recovery provisions of the convention. Neither the organisation that had led the pro-ILP movement nor any of the tribal organisations was approached for any kind of dialogue. These include the domestic management and disposal of seized and confiscated assets and the management of the return and disposal of assets recovered in the context of international corruption cases. In India’s case. They had to establish also that the the legitimate interests of the countries assets were illegally obtained before they (which demanded the return of their assets were transferred to a foreign country. He only tried to make Muslims aware of their rights. But the working group made no progress as Austria and Switzerland stuck to the position that their internal laws were supreme. The government and the principal opposition are unlikely to support such an abolition at this point. in such a manner that victims are not made to think that the death penalty is the only. In the end.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU FRIDAY.V.70. An important aim of the BJP and the RSS and its front organisations was to ensure that their people who had led and instigated the mobs in 2008 would be saved from punishment. they could manage only makeshift structures. Meanwhile. there is a sore need for steps like these to boost domestic production. However. It shows the Bengaluru www. Rajendran. however. reinterpreted and restored to its original charm. the investigative agencies and the criminal justice system.232 accused people have been acquitted. For a house partially damaged. The revenue and royalty-sharing mechanism will be pegged at this market rate. as asbestos or tin roofs over unplastered. but the government officially registered only 39 as dead. the effort was to minimise the extent of the crime. to ensure it justice poor communities.www. our economy. Some of the flagwaving and chest-thumping patriotic fervour on show is inevitable as long as sport at the highest level is played in national colours. It was said at The only positive aspect is that while the the time that over 6.co. the other two who were convicted were given bail and are now absconding. companies need a separate licence to exploit each of the different hydrocarbon resources in a given field. T It is seven years since the horrific communal violence against the Christian community engulfed the district of Kandhamal in Odisha.ers were given anticipatory bail which was CARTOONSCAPE Sport. including conventional ones such as oil and gas. Sept. highlighted in the page 1 report. The most important of these various relationships is that with our bitter foe. In the Assembly elections. The Oil Ministry says there are hydrocarbon resources worth Rs. The profit-sharing approach meant the government had to pore over the cost details of those undertaking the exploration. these countries. Sept. but also initiated a new approach in the licensing and proceeds-sharing mechanisms. but every little drop counts.3). which not only has an adversarial relationship with the BCCI but has also threatened to form a breakaway international league. playtime-banned. Under the new scheme.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. they will receive a unified licence for all hydrocarbons. Pakistan last year agreed to the International Cricket Council’s revamp.amount disbursed was negligible — Rs. Pradhan came out of jail within weeks of his election and it was an open secret that he used his clout to sabotage the processes of justice — by intimidating witnesses and instructing the police to go slow in the cases. losing in all the three Scheduled Tribe reserved Assembly segments.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. It was not to relive the past. when the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged victorious. the bail petitions of these persons have been rejected. there is only one man in jail. limited-over series between December 2012 and January 2013.3). Suresh Prabhu. India must accept the fact that a close political. The victims have fared no better with the courts. who lakh. where necessary. in principle. A petition filed on behalf of the survivors is pending before the Supreme Court. except perhaps Bhutan. Their crime is that they are Adivasi. Ten of the accused have been given the life sentence. The revenue-sharing approach is simpler. Power-packed election campaign speeches have to devote space for labour rights and workers’ welfare. The demand was straight and simple — that they be allowed a future. and two of them were cases of rape. but when in reality it is targeting Dalits on a communal agenda as around 20 per cent of them are Christians. Fernando. In all these years. We have to maintain the fine balance between capital and labour for greater productivity and enhanced incomes. whose faith in the government seems to be dwindling by the day.jobsalerts. Most of the Chinese presence in the Northern Province could be related to flood relief work and some developmental projects.Udaygiri and Baliguda Assembly segments in the district. Inadequate compensation In the violence in 2008. then the sharing mechanism will be pegged to this higher price. who along with his small team has been defying threats while fighting the battle for justice in Kandhamal. largely succeeded. This goes a long way in the government’s move towards enhancing the ease of doing business. 315 cases have been closed for “lack of evidence” and 4. and more so. Key to its change in stance was the promise of financially lucrative cricket with India: the then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi had said. labour force and youth would be at a disadvantage. and the irresistible draw of commercial sponsorship. planning. Venugopalan. scores of churches The facts speak for themselves. there have been convictions in only two cases of murder. If companies are forced to sell at below-market prices. the majority of whom are below the poverty line. Without a sustainable level of capitalist development and push in reforms. on the condition that it would be part of bilateral series with all the full members. let’s and educational institutions were destroyed. The Union Cabinet has not only approved the auction of these oilfields to private. and is likely to earn the government more money. There have been convictions in only 73 cases of the 605 people charge sheeted. the How could they be present when they were BJD government.10. It is a matter of deep shame and sorrow that the Christian community in Kandhamal is subdued not because of its lack of courage but on account of the utter failure of the Central and State governments. 3). enjoys a nuclear capability.3). Gujarat government is still fighting a case in The government revised this and brought the Supreme Court against giving compenthe figure down to 4. but the effect on the ground is likely to be huge. One would wish that this fear should have lingered even now in Pakistan for its leaders to become cautious in their overtures to China. This is ostensibly against the latter’s demand for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes. In other cases. Patiala. “1965: resilience in war. the BJD emerged victorious. economic and military relationship between Pakistan and China is now long established. discipline and loyalty to the supreme commander. They lost all their belongings and the compensation package Poor conviction rate Take the issue of registration and charge did not take stock of the goods burnt. the Indian Railways still lags behind in core areas. It does not augur well to resort to a hunger strike or petitioning the President. The belongings of the poor are assumed to have sheeting of cases and the arrests of the accused. Udaygiri despite being in jail. demanding grace rather than strength. K. the production of hydrocarbons from these new fields will be worth around Rs. In reality. by defending our borders in the most adverse terrain since Independence. Apart from that. houses. R. that with this measly amount. and even foreign. As a result. As George Orwell wrote. half brick walls. there are factors other than the politics surrounding India-Pakistan relations at play in a cricket series involving the two countries. Inclusion of HR managers as part of a curriculum drafting team.000 houses were burnt.6 lakh crore in 2014-15. the compensation was Rs.30. Nepal. the investigative agencies and the criminal justice system. G. In contrast to this is the State’s attitude to the Kandhamal Seven — the four Adivasis and three Dalits convicted and sentenced to life wrongly for involvement in the murder of the religious leader .sation to rebuild the large number of tent of damage were made. the fast track courts were wound up as a result of very poor results. Sport would then stop being a war by non-violent means. Yes. While the zero-accident mission is a long overdue (“Railways on a zero-accident mission”. In such a context. comprises the Phulbani. Of these.women and children. along with the struggle for justice for the victim survivors of Kandhamal. rejuvenating RTE. We are apolitical and obey the orders of established democratic government. Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. Bengaluru In a National Technical Seminar conducted in 2014. which thanks to China.Udaygiri. Maharashtra Zero-accident mission Though it started operations in 1843. what would weigh with the BCCI and the PCB is not the interest of jingoists or fans. there is no such thing as a free lunch and every child needs to learn this from an early age as we live in a competitive world. which only encourages mediocrity. Kartha. SEPTEMBER 4. Sept. In G.S. Agenda of polarisation On the surface. of whom two were policemen. Anyone going through the atrocious judgment will come to the inescapable conclusion of their innocence. has accepted displaced and living in the squalor of 14 relief the Supreme Court suggestion for compencamps that had been set up? It was estimated sation for damage in Kandhamal. that more bridges and better signalling will play a pivotal role in bringing down the accident rate may not be wholly right. which has a deal with the PCB for home series. all Christians. veterans have brought glory unto themselves.500 crore a year. Shadow of terror There are many other details available of the perpetration of gross injustice after one of the worst instances of carnage against the Christian community. when the inmates were not present. structured dialogue. C.7. and not India. The BJP candidate was relegated to third place. Chandrasekaran. two fast track courts were set up in the district headquarters of Phulbani and which started functioning after March 2009. At the current crude price of $45 a barrel.S. The first step was to move from a profitsharing mechanism to a revenue-sharing one. reports of the network having ties with the Essel Group. There has not been a full bilateral series since the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 — although Pakistan did visit India for a short. Recently. If the details are true.000 men. prompted China’s every movement. the calling off of a cricket series between India and Pakistan is best seen as a disappointment for genuine cricket fans and not as a setback to bilateral relations. With growth in oil production slowing and natural gas production contracting. K CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Developments in PoK China has befriended Pakistan. Parthasarathy Sen. But this changed in 2014. the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had put up Manoj Kumar Pradhan.000 from the State government and another Rs. Thiruvananthapuram BG-BG . The other welcome step has to do with the licensing method. the company manages to sell at higher-than-market prices. The BJP reaped the harvest of the blood of innocents. It is also most un-becoming of us — I say this as a retired wing commander — to take the issue of the OROP to Bihar. then the government will still get a royalty share pegged at the market rate. Dwarakanath. S. The Maoists declared that they had killed him.000 from the Centre. are revealing. it would be strange if one thought that the victim survivors could rebuild their homes. But today. Palakkad Against the backdrop of developments in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) that relate to the involvement of China in the so-called reconstruction of the area. The Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat. Chennai Shuttered for a day The time has come for our trade unions to understand that age-old shibboleth must be replaced with rational thinking so that everybody can have a share of the nation’s largesse (“Strike hits banking. for regional stability and prosperity. Survivors of communal violence rarely want to experience the trauma and the pain which rises to the surface of their hearts and minds with every retelling of those dark and terrorfilled days. In June 2010.50. As of August 2015. 2015 Justice continues to elude Kandhamal Brinda Karat FRIDAY. the conviction rate was extremely low in all the cases in Kandhamal. can cause much ill-will” between the competing nations. inspections. no grills for security — the evidence of callousness. when U. In turn. Tanveer Sayyed. its failure to get a grip on the way its vast network operates is appalling. one-off cricket series — can do a lot of good. In this they have pensation fixed was just Rs. While murderers and arsonists are given bail. If. these are there for all to see. the Hindutva forces suffered a resounding defeat in this district. E. every win on the field is an occasion for display of national pride. sport is heavily coloured by nationalism: for large sections of a game’s fans. In 2010. and non-conventional ones such as shale oil and shale gas. created issues. including courts. but the power play within the ICC. First. had to flee their homes. correlation and continuity between each promoted class up to the college level. These workers are the ones who are entrusted with the prime responsibility of ensuring safe operations. Our political economy runs on the capitalist mode of development. The price of building materials is so high. regular sporting relations — not just a rare. In the Indian sub-continent especially. In response to the Supreme Court’s orders following a petition filed by Archbishop Raphael Cheenath. air-conditioned classrooms. will one day regret having a Chinese presence. N.” should resonate throughout the country. 2015 Welcome step on oilfields he government has taken a refreshing and progressive approach with respect to the unutilised natural resources locked away in the 69 small and marginal oilfields lying with the state-owned exploration agencies. That’s a win-win for the government: less oversight and an assured minimum income. India would be able to live with such a China-Pakistan entente. and be available in order to further the communal agenda. Bangladesh. while in Phulbani. the State government has disbursed only Right-wing elements in Odisha have resumed their toxic agenda of dividing poor communities revealing how communal polarisation has not weakened despite electoral setbacks. This may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to India’s total hydrocarbon imports of Rs. English and Australian boards. in August 2008. Independent inquiries at the time showed that between 80 to 100 people were killed.R. It is a fact that the anaemic role of the existing educational set-up is fit enough to churn out only clerks (“Beyond the pass-fail binary”. Punjab Resolving OROP It is unfortunate that the government at the centre is being influenced by the right wing in a review of the government’s performance. This may appear to be a technical difference. and every loss a cause for national despair. Over 3. they have literally got Rs.000 complaints were filed with the police. a senior railway official pointed out the plight of field technical staff in terms of poor salary levels and the absence of career prospects as issues that needed to be addressed on a priority. which increased the powers of the Indian. a man accused in two cases of murder of Christians and another 10 cases of arson and violence.000 crore lying unutilised in these fields. a call that will help heal the wounds and bring solace and confidence to those who had gathered in Raikia with a message for the world. SEPTEMBER 4. strategic analyst Selig Harrison cited the large-scale Chinese military presence in Northern Pakistan as a hostile military build-up against India. regular maintenance and responses to emergencies. Dibya Parichha. companies will be allowed to sell crude oil or natural gas at market prices. In the previous elections in 2009. Tribals from the Kui Samaj who are Christians are also targets. but hopefully they will be extended to all the oilfields in the country. State following the 2002 riots. The leftist trade unions and the corporate lobby must rise to the occasion to overcome labour aristocracy and a corporatisation of the economy. However.R. that there is no Acche Din for the common man. According to the indefatigable activist-advocate. the com. Pakistan. to the country and to the armed forces in particular. Even in this case. For that reason it is priceless. Today. The host broadcaster for the proposed series in December 2015 was TEN Sports. policies and other programmes (“Decision on OROP likely before Bihar poll dates are announced”. Prabhu Raj. in Odisha. But it would be quite wrong to assume that the agenda of communal polarisation has weakened in any way following the electoral defeats. New Delhi discontent of the labour sector. politics and business eeping politics and sport separate is easier said than done. mobilising the largely tribal Kui community against the Dalit Pana community. Chennai Irrespective of the way the OROP issue is resolved.13 crore as compensation for damaged away with murder. much like in mosques that were destroyed across that Gujarat.jobsalerts. There is no application of what is taught. have warmly responded to the overtures as a way of offsetting India’s overwhelmingly dominant position. The message that is clear to the victims is that peace is conditional to their subordination. It is clear that from the beginning. In the 2014 Odisha Assembly election. So the contention of the Union Railway Minister. So far. It is also a matter of interest to know that Pakistan ended the war in 1965 against China’s desire for a long war for fear of the destruction of and havoc to important cities like Lahore. which was won by the BJD candidate. 492 people have been sentenced for lesser offences.000 from the State and Rs.K.” said Einstein. Venugopalan.20. the call to “Free the Kandhamal Seven. deftness in diplomacy” (Sept. The 33 other cases of murder of Christians have been closed for “lack of evidence”. India must accept the reality that South Asia looks up to China. does it not amount to blatant interference in crucial policy decisions? Tharcius S. But the hallmark of a soldier is implicit obedience.V. those in PoK.3. Leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-led organisations were freed within months of their arrests and have since resumed their toxic agenda of dividing equally It is a matter of shame and sorrow that the Christian community in Kandhamal is subdued not because of its lack of courage but on account of the failure of the Centre and the State. Under the new plan. They have been in the central district jail in Phulbani for the last seven years for a crime they did not commit. A child must also be taught that “it’s okay to fail”.in ‘No detention’ policy “The true purpose of education is to train the mind to think. take the issue of compensation. it had “Indians all worked up into a tizzy”. It is as though nothing happened.000 from the Central government. the observations in the article.” But the memorandum of understanding that the two boards had reportedly signed to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023 faced hurdles much before those created by the recent diplomatic tension. we have to The strike should be a wake-up call co-operate with it. there are still 228 cases pending investigation. dotting the landscape of this beautiful region. Chennai I am against the policy of no detention. companies. But the decision to revive cricket ties had little to do with fostering better relations or satisfying fans by promoting a marquee rivalry. However. mother-tongue banished. It is shocking that around 11. a common syllabus. the BJP used its powers to do everything to sabotage the process and intimidate witnesses.818. Rupinder Singh. the simple act of auctioning oilfields is a step towards weaning India away from oil imports. held for the gang rape of a nun. Myanmar and Sri Lanka as a means of countering India (“China has established its presence across PoK”. (Brinda Karat is a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau and a former Rajya Sabha MP. only 605 were charge sheeted. these progressive steps are limited to the 69 oilfields on the block. things look better. though the at the time that there were over 56. Now that the government says it has accepted the matter in principle. transport services”.U.000 riotno value. Ultimately. without any interference from the government. Their appeal is pending before the High Court. they are poor and they are Christian.70 . In the real world. But between two nations which otherwise find it difficult to engage with each other in normal. finding a place for aptitude and logical reasoning and scrapping the dichotomy between government and private schools should also be addressed. In the backdrop of rising accidents. It was the motivation for self-aggrandisement that not objected to by the police. to ensure justice to it. but they are all out on bail. often leading to extended delays and disputes. more serious charges have been closed and punishment given on lesser charges. Thane. Chennai The education scene in India is one where there is a countless mass of poor children waiting to be educated and middle-class parents swayed by fancy models of millennium schools admitting their children into sunlight-phobic. None has a window or a door frame. the Congress candidate won. including courts. they are Dalit. Sept.3). but they registered only 828 cases. For a fully damaged home. At present. I have this to say. “It’s very important to play India because it generates a major chunk of money.The pathetic level of investigation can be gauged from the fact that in 2015. the Baliguda seat was won by the BJD candidate. Addressing issues such as a lack of value-based education and discouraging rote learning is vital. each one of them is out on bail. “even a leisurely game like cricket. the way Railway Budgets are being cast shows that drastic reform is needed. Surveys of the ex. K. and three rioters. Cricket matches between India and Pakistan have more to do with jingoism and less to do with sport as suspense-filled drama and spectacle. A mere pass (under the no-detention policy) will only further worsen the squalid conditions of students who will continue to remain unsaleable in the job-market. Sept. I am sure that the people of Pakistan. The only real infrastructure any school requires is the imagination of the teacher. Learning requires to be redefined.1). as they had done earlier. thousands of survivors gathered at the panchayat headquarter town of Raikia under the banner of the Kandhamal Peace and Solidarity Committee. He won from G. the Patels were confident of facing tions for getting reservation would be: an tive. namely that though it is egalitarian in caste terms. 2015 The Patidar idea of reservation Satish Deshpande SATURDAY. but it is well supported by known presence and continuing reproduction of now. viz. the executive. the Rashtriya Janata Dal. But the RJD’s offer did not go far enough: two from its own quota of 100 seats. one’s heart feels for the desperation of other parents seeking relief for those who don’t seem destined to have a future. India could not fully benefit by the heritage of Islamic culture…Knowledge of Islam’s contribution to human culture and proper appreciation of the historical value of that contribution would shock the Hindus out of their arrogant selfsatisfaction. and the expectation that it is the hosts that need to assimilate to the refugees. and the Janata Dal(Secular) came together under the Janata Parivar umbrella only because they suffered decimation at the BJP’s hands in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. In these times of heightened uncertainty in the global financial markets. we are forced to move beyond the literal to the interpretive level. Ramamurthi. There is bound to be a backlash which will only increase as those reaching Western shores tire of the ever growing resentment to the hand that feeds them. The intolerant caucus should now adopt a constructive approach of trying to convince people to stick to their faith and not fall prey to conversion. it is the economic condition of the people which is at the root of this problem. First. Of course. But the more likely explanation is that the sway of market ideology is so strong that protest or criticism is not even recognised as an option. whereas immigrants seek better pastures. S Friendly signal he Union government’s decision to waive. and unemployed. in the Vyapam era of overheated meritfacts. they want to drink from both streams. the only State where it has a substantial presence.. By its very definition. At this level. In the constitutional view. Faced with such a phenomenon. The fact that they dars succeed or fail. which had exited the alliance. heart-stopping picture of contemporary history that establishes a sense of connect with the looming migrant crisis now threatening to engulf Europe. The tax authorities suspect that a huge chunk of these investments could in fact be Indian money masquerading as foreign funds. Some CARTOONSCAPE have suggested that the silence is dictated by political loyalties. the Patidars do happen tion is working.co. Thus. concerning participatory notes (P-Notes). don the moral high ground of the general The Patidar idea of reservation seems to be Role of the ‘general category’ category for two reasons. Are shared surnames and common customs enough to unite the diamond kingpins. regardless of objective deprivation. and widely shared across the global media. event has the pundits flustered because there is really nothing to analyse in the demand itself.less of caste. The announcement and the subsequent instructions issued to the tax department to keep in abeyance. and cure the narrowmindedness of the Muslims of our day by bringing them face to face with the true spirit of the faith they profess. The second reason is employment.4). As an aware of the constitutional view. till the appropriate amendment is carried out. Ultimately. the art of the possible has been seen and to establish the community of formal equals that is a precondition for nationhood. B. the Janata Parivar faces the prospect of unravelling. petty businessmen. But sooner or later it will have to decide what has to be done. At the outset. The constitutional view of reservation requires evidence of discrimination or backwardness. and for enabling the inclusion of hitherto excluded and underbecause. the RJD and the JD(U) wooed the Congress but took the SP for granted. and today it is understood more as a ‘trickle down’ for the electorally indispensable poor and lower means for redressing caste-linked discrimicastes. Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. At that time. the Patidars want to are asking for it nevertheless indicates that reservation is the dominant one today. SEPTEMBER 5. This is a powder keg that will slowly become unstable. when it happens. Are the Patidars who are genuinely striving for quotas going to get more support from like-minded quota seekers like the Gujjars and the Kurmis. the JD(S). its inclusion in the alliance in the State was crucial in the context of attempts to project a national-level alternative to the BJP. A different dimension of the caste-class interface is that of solidarity. Chennai Kandhamal is completely peaceful and one wonders why there was such an article in the first place. Discontent may be triggered by the subjective anguish of being mistaken for lowly others. lying lifeless face down by the ocean off Turkey. The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team has asked regulators to put in place regulations to identify individuals holding PNotes and take other steps to curb black money and tax evasion through the stock market route. Like other upper castes. the robustness of caste identities is not in doubt. Rao. the government should be concerned with the ultimate recovery of oil/gas (Editorial. reminded me of what M. with the Samajwadi Party pulling out of the ‘grand alliance’ in Bihar with the JD(U) and the RJD. T CM YK Successful sons of the market in popular perception. the Patition if it has the power to bend the state to its dars maintained solidarity with their upper will. In market-friendly India.4).N. but the fact that the category who despised quotas. and civil wars. reservation predates the nation — it was what really matters is not whether the Pati. There are also those who have restored our faith in humanity by sparing the time and donating money and much-needed supplies to those in need. they have no case — but they certainly have political presence. Palakkad Oilfield management As the owner of a natural resource such as oil. power manage the media and mount a successful lic to make the general category truly general and connections to buy expensive coaching.movement. this investor had approached the Authority seeking a confirmation that it was not required to pay MAT on a transaction it was planning to execute. London The stark picture of the Syrian toddler. As a result. By far the most fascinating aspect of the Patidar agitation is its deafening silence on the failure of the market model in which they had placed boundless faith. Today. Even the Left needs to play its role in such areas to ensure a system of checks and balances and instil confidence in the region. Other than a common rival. Now. will not benefit in any manner from the support of the other parties in Karnataka. the Patidars used The contrast between the two views could not be more stark. But because of the undeniable exam results or grabbing donation seats. minimum alternate tax (MAT) liability on capital gains made by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) is a welcome move. especially from their point of view. (Satish Deshpande teaches sociology at Delhi University.jobsalerts.in Invigorating Islam Vice-President Hameed Ansari belongs to the group of nationalist Muslims like Moulana Abul Kalam Azad and Kwaja Ahmad Abbas. When all is said and done.” Sukumaran C. We need to have this in mind while forming a response to the crisis. they have made no systematic later generations begin to compete success. It is quite possible that for faithful practitioners like the Patels. Jennifer Duraisingam. Let us open up all avenues in order to give peace a chance.Patidars is. the ideological hegemoreservation. the markets.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. of course. the Patidars from the lower strata by the Patidars — increased competition. real estate moguls and successful emigrants at one end of the spectrum with the small farmers. One can only hope that sanity will somehow prevail in barbaric parts of the world. just as one cannot agitate for a good monsoon. It is always possible to maximise revenues without achieving ultimate recovery and bidding based on revenues militates against maximising ultimate recovery. from factual logic to ideological inclinations. and only their alliance is likely to endure. the Patidars invite us to re-examine four familiar themes located at the intersections of caste. The census data. so that frustration with failure sets in sooner than it has to. C. but that their view of in North India. a revival of the IndiaPakistan cricket series might well help in defusing tensions in the subcontinent if not fashion a dramatic turnaround in bilateral relations. 2015 Unravelling of the Janata Parivar plits in political parties are the inevitable consequences of their growth and evolution. The Gujarat The first theme is the idea of reservation Patidars. Refugees flee to escape violence and threats to life. That this is the in the sense of including all citizens regard. the 22-year-old spokesman of the Caste and the market effort thus far to present the kind of evidence fully in the general category. Like many other communities.jobsalerts. as the balancing of the ‘gush up’ for big corporates with the This dimension of reservation has been forgotten. Aylan Kurdi. to think of the general category as a quota for reservation is explicitly and exclusively about themselves. when risk appetite of investors is especially low. could not instil confidence in the minds of those who have been affected. now. Odisha www. the government must also move to rein in the tax department. which had served notices on 68 FIIs for MAT dues adding up to about Rs. are probably un. It insults history and injures the political future of our country. With sporting events. as enhanced recovery methods impact negatively on revenues. but surely the sense of what is proper for Patels is also involved. But whichever way one looks at it. Varadarajan. The second theme highlighted by the Patithat it is simply a welfare benefit that the state The first has to do with the escalation of can grant to any community at its discretion. the art of the possible has been seen as the balancing of the “gush up” for big corporates with the “trickle down” for the electorally indispensable poor and lower castes. the expectation was that the SP would be accommodated by the RJD from its quota of seats. life truly is so very precious. to be one of the largest and best organised begins to reflect the caste composition of society. the adoption of best practices and prevent flogging as any mishandling of the reservoir will result in otherwise recoverable reserves being irretrievably lost. David Milton. Is there no way out? Aditya Nair. pending proceedings and to not pursue the recovery of outstanding demands in such cases is a big relief to FIIs. Learning from the Muslims. It highlights what the ny of the market.V.R. the Patels are a single caste stretched across several classes. which celebrates plurality. Ananthanarayanan.lower caste majority must be protected with are being squeezed out. She did not appear to be objective in citing the case of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati. But ference. A more immediate question is that of class solidarities across caste lines. Moreover. India has a largely adversarial justice delivery system and if the appeals are not disposed of at the earliest.egory may be self-seeking. P-Notes are offshore derivative instruments that a large number of FIIs use to park funds in the equity market without disclosing their identity to Indian regulators. about which Hardik them. India’s indecision on this matter is affecting FIIs. between India and Pakistan being looked at through the prism of nationalism. any caste can get reserva. when can. Now the formation will remain largely Bihar-specific. anti-reservation agitations of 1981 and 1985 if anything.K. The SP’s exit might not point to the success or failure of the grand anti-BJP alliance in Bihar. Conversely.the entry of reservation-eligible lower castes fessional education — are hardly unique to vation is to empower beneficiaries so that into the general category. Clearly. is another standalone. and the equal citizenship where caste is not allowed Desai called “inbuilt structural advantages”. forced by the transient expediency of immediate circumstances.com) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Elusive justice That governments. After the JD(U) and the RJD in Bihar between them took 200 of the 243 seats for contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections. In Bihar. The relational nature of caste ensures that caste pride is a mutual thing that depends crucially on the social distance that separates Patidars from those whom they consider their inferiors.stir of 1985 pioneered the rhetoric of merit and its relationship to the idea of India. the main qualifica. the function of reser. and they know this.N. Sept. P. is invariably artificial.quotas. Sept. the Patidars are agitating to become the sons-in-law of the State. and led the Gujarat promote the interests of the dominant castes. given that action against black money too was a big election-time promise of the BJP.R. but it signals that another 1970s-like Janata experiment at the national level is doomed to fail. SEPTEMBER 5. It is not entirely coincidental that liberalisation and the OBC quota followed closely on each other in 1990-91.later borrowed by the anti-Mandal agitation meant to repudiate the religiously sanctioned apartheid and oppression of caste society. represented groups. to matter. Finally. The SP does not need the backing of the JD(U) or the RJD or the JD(S) in Uttar Pradesh. Cricket diplomacy may usher in a cessation of hostilities along the border as also create a conducive atmosphere for resuming stalled negotiations. electorally significant population. and mitigating extreme poverty to stem the tide of refugees (‘World’ page – “EU under pressure to open doors to refugees”.4). caste pride may dictate that aspirational levels be set unrealistically high relative to one’s resources and capabilities. It is in line with the spirit of the promise in the BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 general elections to put an end to “tax terrorism”. Andhra Pradesh It is unfortunate that the writer has revealed her bias even though communists are supposed to eschew an outlook of equality towards all. What is worrisome is not the opposed caste allies as proud members of the general A different idea now conceptions themselves. But the merger of parties. But evidently it was obvious to the SP that the vision of an alternative to both the BJP and the Congress at the national level was no more than a chimera. but the dominant view today seems to be that any caste can get reservation if it can bend the state to its will constitutional view glosses over. campaign to coerce the state. state and market. prospectless youth at the other end? At the moment this is a rhetorical question because no one is facing a test of solidarity and nothing is at stake. When the general category portant virtue. Sept. the inability to be rational about the market is a global epidemic today as the eminently avoidable crashes and recessions of the recent past have demonstrated. A. especially cricket. The two parties that really need each other are the JD(U) and the RJD.G. It is the ultimate goal of the repub. Roy says in The Historical Role of Islam which was published in 1939: “In view of this realistic reading of history. Although the SP does not have much clout in Bihar. The Patidar campaign raises the subtle issue of the role of caste pride in the context of real or perceived downward mobility. which was released recently. if at all. The MAT experience shows that sooner is better than later. As everyone knows. the general category is the sphere of competition because of what sociologist I. than from their quota-indifferent caste fellows? Past experience suggests that cross-caste alliances are going to remain tentative and lukewarm. The Samajwadi Party. and gave 40 to the Congress. Nevertheless. will be of help to those who have little knowledge about Odisha and Kandhamal.troduction of the quota for the Other Backity. The wider global response has to aim at stopping wars. it would negate the principles of criminal jurisprudence. Sept.In other words. It has been said that India’s image as an investment destination has suffered as a result. The same way as the government has taken a position on and dispelled the uncertainty around MAT. the justifications explicitly cited caste inequalities and discrimination. Undivided India had to face the terrible incident of Partition because there was nobody to listen to sane and democratic leaders like the Maulana and the Mahatma. the only significant difference that matters between us and the ‘illegal migrants’ are the civil wars tearing their countries apart.Patel. The department has been in too many disputes with global companies such as Vodafone and Cairn. detergent barons.in 12 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU SATURDAY. Both the RJD’s Lalu Prasad and the JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar knew what they were doing: trying to win the election in Bihar and not worrying about a national alternative to the BJP and the Congress.www. and the anti-reservation arguments that were idea. Chennai BG-BG . Groups like the Patidars may upset the balance because. Aylan Kurdi There are many who seem to completely lack any compassion for these ‘illegal migrants’. un. it is a sign that reserva. but it has one im. It is ironic that none of the pillars of democracy.1980s. Central and State. similarly.or to acquire merit “directly” by manipulating Patidar’s notion of reservation is only an in. This disorienting. surrender the sanctimony of merit and abantheir idea of reservation is quite different.4). some of which have even dragged India into international arbitration. Rajmohan. Groups like the Patidars may upset the balance nation and “backwardness”. From the constitutional perspec. On none of these grounds do the Patidars qualify for reservation. As a parent. E-mail:
[email protected]”. the government’s decisions would serve to restore some of the lost faith of investors in India as an investment destination that doesn’t resort to “retrospective taxation”. communities in Gujarat. since the Patidars formed the core constituency of the Modi regime in Gujarat.600 crore on the basis of a direction from the Authority for Advance Rulings in 2012 to a Mauritius-based investor Castleton. The fourth and final theme raised by the of backwardness or under-representation didates eligible for reservation begin to enter The Patidar perspective on the general catthat is normally required to justify claims for the general category. In market-friendly India. could not even address the simple demand by the survivors of Kandhamal that they be allowed a future is disturbing (“Justice continues to elude Kandhamal”. Second. Berhampur. However. lack of access to higher and pro. The comity of nations has to be flexible and generous and evolve a global strategy to deal with the man-made migrant crisis. they had the money. and three from that of the NCP. has complained. The real reason to worry about the market in India is the critical role it plays in regulating caste conflict. Hindu superciliousness towards the religion and culture of Muslims is absurd. and not the other way around. In 2010. They were enraged by the inredressing caste discrimination and inequal. In the From this perspective.4) G. it is difficult to keep the overwhelming element of jingoism at bay.. almost bizarre. Tamil Nadu The picture of the body of Aylan Kurdi is utterly tragic and one that will continue to haunt us. Australia It was the conversion of tribals and Dalits in the Kandhamal area that was the trigger for violence between communities. there was little that bound them together. diversity and democracy. the Janata Dal(United).K. like most people. Ansari’s creative and invigorating speech (“Invigorating Islam in India”. Sept. skills needed to mobilise the community. now. it must quickly make up its mind and come out with an announcement on another outstanding issue. Maruthancode. it would work against them. The government had said it won’t immediately act on the recommendation after the stock markets reacted sharply to news on it. evident in comments and statements that are both ill-informed and narrowminded. the difference between ‘refugees’ and ‘immigrants’ has to be made clear. the market is like a force of nature that one cannot protest against. However. it will be time to abolish reservation. What prompted SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to jeopardise the Janata Parivar by walking out of the alliance in Bihar for the sake of a few seats is unclear. The analysis of Mr. parties that cannot even come to an understanding on seat adjustment will not be able to merge into a single entity. diamond workers. Melbourne. In other words. In which demanded that the State “end all reserthe Patidar view. Caste pride The third theme the Patels draw attention to is not directly related to the Constitution: it is the perennial one of the mutual impact of class and caste identities. reservation cannot ward Classes (OBCs). the legislature or the judiciary. this may be the unpalatable truth for some.vations everywhere”. New Delhi Sport and politics That sports and politics are inextricably intertwined with each other is an undeniable fact (Editorial. through an amendment to the Income Tax Act. regulatory oversight is necessary as far as reservoir management is concerned in order to ensure its health. T. Revenue sharing does not ensure this. Given that their list of complaints is sure to be shared by most other castes. why is it only the Patidars who are agitating? Contingent factors may provide part of the explanation. Essential controls should not be given up under the garb of easing ways of doing business. But in so doing they seem to have left the SP miffed. one wonders why “illegal migrants” must seek to go to lands where they are not wanted and do not share cultures or religions. Europe became the leader of modern civilization. including the Patidars themselves. Rudra Rath. dars is the nature and role of the “general competition within the upper castes.P. the general category allows a free rein to the inequities of wealth and social capital. …Unfortunately. differing opinions aside. they want to drink from both streams. Anantapur. But to further demonstrate its resolve. Bengaluru The description of the plight of the minorities in Kandhamal makes one realise how entire systems have failed to extend justice to the victims. and for what purpose? (Dr. However.B. consolidate their respectively fractured communities. trans-Asian highvalley where there has been increasing pres. in their demand for an ILP. Most of them comply. A major chunk of revenue now goes towards the payment of salaries and pensions. and which have been extensively reported in the media. which is untrue as there is no amendment in the territorial extent of the said Act. culture and language. it wants to fight terrorism while on the other.” Sept. sitting opposite me at the welcome dinner. both Sept. is there no room to either clear the misunderstandings or add some clauses in the Bills to resolve the tension? If the Bills are just the spark.” Now. probably because it was concentrated in the valley and led by Meitei-based organisations. neither the organisation that had led the ILP movement nor the tribal organisations who protested against the Bills had approached each other for mutual consent in this regard. In this there is an interplay of political demagogy.now reached alarming proportions and there pur is dear to them and as they have been the is a situation where they outnumber several front runners in being associated with other small communities in Manipur. The veterans should gracefully accept what has been offered as they should understand that there are millions in this country who are not fortunate enough to find secure jobs in their life time. With enhanced technological capacity on both sides. to speed up their agenda to have either Pan Zomi Reunification or autonomous administration. This situation is what has promoted the large-scale migration of tribals and outsiders from other parts of India and also Nepal. on religious lines. The recently leaked Kuki National Organisation’s proposal to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IsakMuivah) or NSCN-IM asserts: “Historically. as it championed civil liberties and causes. This is something that the Kuki organisations are concerned about as this inspires the ‘Kuki’-based undergrounds that are under the Suspension of Order (SoO) with the government. the manner in which the deal was sewn up has been undignified. what they are critical of and apprepresence in the valley has been juxtaposed hensive about are the ‘outsiders’. Whether the partition of India. The ILP agitation has been the brainchild economic domination by outsiders as a result of Meitei organisations for two basic reasons. New Delhi Decision on OROP The government may have finally came up with a reasonable solution to the long-pending demand of our ganisations and those who have been identified as being with other communities. RSS volunteers. the Meiteis consider the migration The apparent Meitei orientation of the ag. Whether the MHA should be looking into expenditure incurred by an NGO to teach street children. all NGOs must respect the law of the land. The nation is unanimous about keeping our armed forces personnel happy. Mizoram and Nagaland. The action taken under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) — which many NGOs say is a bad application of a poorly drafted piece of legislation — means Greenpeace will not be able to receive any foreign donations. This needs to be explained in detail. But the meeting is invested with a meaning that goes beyond the political interests of the RSS or the BJP. particularly those of the Kuki Chin Mizo-based organisations. raises serious questions about the functioning of the government. It is a one way migration that has deeply affected the psyche of many Meiteis. at what cost. He added: “The acrimony and decades of mistrust between the two nations is unwarranted and it is in the strategic interest of both India and Pakistan to live in peace and friendship. They are This includes migrations by outsiders and also worried about unrestrained land grabcontinuous “land grabbing” by the govern.6).in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.54 per cent of the enumerated population (Census 2001) comprises the majority community Meitei. The agitations have been motivated by the situation that has set alarm bells ringing following unrestrained demographic pressure by “outsiders” and the need for an ILP as it exists in Arunachal Pradesh. which faces this problem. was both complete and absolute. Myanmar and Bangladesh. 6. but it is unfortunate that they are not completely happy with the decision.jobsalerts. 1994. I do not see why we should not talk with Pakistan on all outstanding issues. There could also be an element of fear as many of them — either people who might have migrated after 1951. and I fail to understand why we are always on the defensive in discussing this. not our hearts. defence personnel on the subject of OROP. Interpretations of the campaign have been along communal lines. as being primarily to target the ethno-culturally. The latest step by the Ministry of Home Affairs simply cancelling Greenpeace’s registration was but an expected next stage in the chain of events leading to a gag that is meant to choke. Equally. and the Manipur Shops and Establishments Bill 2015. Other tribes have also expressed similar concerns. The arrangement has appeared to work very well. Nagaland and Mizoram. and. Mr. established 1922). the Government of Manipur and the Joint Committee on the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur (JCILPS) arrived at an agreement. In the process. Following violent agitations that have often lasted months. towards Southeast Asian countries. Why an elected BJP government feels it is accountable to the secretive RSS is not difficult to fathom. maintain transparency and remain above board: admittedly. What they are critical of and apprehensive about are the ‘outsiders’. its geographical epicentre has been the extension of railway lines. and from 2006 onwards. how can the government ignore the plight of farmers? The slogan “Jai Jawan. and from the unregulated entry of “outsiders” on the other. adventurism and speculation. former National Security Advisor. It is not only India. between the BJP and the RSS was much more than an interaction between the party and its ideological mentor. cultural or social organisations must be free to hold closed-door discussions on policies and programmes. It was not just senior BJP leaders who were in attendance: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and most of his ministerial colleagues from the BJP lined up for the meeting that seemed more like an inquisition than an interaction. it could have also consulted the Hill Areas Committee or other responsible ‘tribal’ organisations in order to resolve any misunderstanding. The objective has been to prevent outsiders from buying up land and owning natural resources in Manipur.V. Palakkad Indians and IS It is an open secret that Turkey remains the transit point for those who go to Syria and join the Islamic State (“‘Turkey knows better how many Indians are with IS’. In this. first under the UPA and now under the BJP. One should accept Durrani’s words of diplomatic wisdom in a true spirit of friendship. But his participation in the meeting. The agitations. Partition.) Karim.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU MONDAY. including some sections of the Meiteis and others who came to Manipur after 1951. Procrastination on vital matters should now be a thing of the past. Mohan. at the border town of Moreh. it has come in for criticism not only for the overarching control it seeks to have over people-based movements but also for the guidelines framed around it. say railway employees” and “Paramilitary forces too demand OROP”. the doors are not yet closed.the 2001 census. and alleging arbitrariness in the government’s action. I had the privilege of hosting quite a few Rimcollian veterans of the Pakistan Army. but veterans want more”. Telangana One has high regard for our defence personnel.and others. many among them seemed to believe the government ought to have followed a core Hindutva agenda. RSS leaders must think more rationally and stop talking about “Akhand Bharat” anymore. have again raised doubts about the direction his government is taking. by whatever name it is called. Anand Raj. They predict a socio. Its activists have been prevented from travelling abroad. Goodwill towards our defence personnel will now be lost in similar and competing demands that are sure to be put out by para military. they are deeply apprehensive of being marginalised and facing insecurity in Manipur. But that should be no excuse to gag. In my personal opinion.?” Sept. T Manipur has often been the setting for violent agitations. how-so-ever short. about hidden agendas and opaque decision-making . there are millions of Indians without pension benefits even after putting in years of service. SEPTEMBER 7.” “The division between India and Pakistan was historically proven as based on artificial grounds. accountable to none but its own sanghchalaks. but even Europe and especially the U. with almost all the Union Ministers from the BJP present with report cards. any war. This is understandable in the context of Naga enthusiasm towards the speeding up of some kind of pan-Naga integration under the proposed framework of the recent Peace Accord. 2015. originally from Bihar. with Meitei predominance and tribal organisations in the hills that have deliberately A form of restraint Many Meiteis are worried that the numermaintained an opaqueness about a supporting role. After all. SEPTEMBER 7. they face a tough choice. It will also be practically difficult to detect and deport migrants who have close ethnic bonds with one or other ‘indigenous’ communities. Chennai BG-MY . This provision actually affects all.6). it was on account of the party adopting a more inclusive programme of growth and development. railway and other government personnel (“Count us in. would have disastrous consequences. some don’t. 2015 Mentors and agendas hat the Bharatiya Janata Party is organically tied to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is no secret.6). including Jammu and Kashmir. leave alone dream of an old-age pension. Kshirasagara Balaji Rao. But these stirs have been confined to the Manipur valley. while fully safeguarding national security. There has also been rivalry between Kuki underground or- CARTOONSCAPE The gag on Greenpeace or a while now. I remember Brigadier (retd. was deemed inimical. mining. the Manipur Land Meiteis. and also oil exploration and drilling at the cost of the people and the ecology. There is a lot of substance in the concept of “Akhanda Bharat” and it will not be prudent to dismiss this as a part the right wing’s patent Hindutva and communal agenda. which led to systematic reduction of areas under primary economic activities. T. I must sound a note of caution. On the other hand. They have charged the Bills as being evidence of Meitei expansionism in the hills to expel a large section of Kukis. without any questions asked. the RSS is seeking to appropriate for itself the role of an extra-constitutional super-parliament.jobsalerts. Nepal and Bangladesh. Greenpeace has been in the cross hairs of the government. which is about 9 per cent of the geographical area and where 61. The MHA is now changing the rules. “Pakistan needs to accept India as the senior partner or a big brother while India needs to treat Pakistan with respect. is a moot question. sport and other skills. These are the Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015. Venugopalan. Ningthouja is a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.V. Seetharam Basani. there are some black sheep. especially from abroad. “Commandant sir. distinguishable outsiders from other parts of India. the people of Jammu and Punjab. are now constitutionally not permitted to own land both in the vast tracts of government reserved projects. was ‘artificial’ or ‘natural’ is irrelevant today. Pakistan. They are in adverse possession of half of my father’s former State. However. The role of vested interests and intercommunity tensions have exacerbated this ment for the setting up of military establishments and other infrastructure. of large-scale migration. Everything from placing advertisements in newspapers to organising protests against the Kundankulam nuclear plant to anti-nuclear activism. dil ka nahi — our land has been partitioned. Second. Shimla. and RSS sanghchalaks never tire of offering ‘advice’ and ‘guidance’ to the BJP top brass. A visible role for the Meitei is clear ical strength and growth of outsiders have as defending the territorial integrity of Mani. India must formally request Turkey to keep its High Commission in Ankara informed about all Indians who wish to venture into Syria. given the history of Hindutva politics that is sometimes micro-managed through remote-control by the sanghchalaks. The government will be ill-advised to trample on these.” India is part of SAARC and has familial relations with its neighbours. Passed in 1976 and amended in 2010. Hyderabad While the “package” the government has unveiled may be a financial bonanza for our service personnel. They wanted to magnify the controversies arising from these Bills in order to invoke community sentiment.www.70 lakh tribals and 7. of either complying with the government’s line. when tensions have been fanned. rioting and repression have led to a heavy toll in terms of civilian life. What can a democratically elected government possibly achieve by enforcing such compliance and conformity? Also. were involved in the campaign and fieldwork for the BJP. on August 31. use this as a reason to justify the imposition of President's rule in order to unseat the incumbent Congress government. Let not the same error be committed with respect to Syria.04 lakh outsiders. but one needs to make a few observations (“OROP rolled out. cultural and sial projects. The samanvay baithak is surely an indication of the sense of ownership that RSS sanghchalaks feel over this government. The recent tensions. Already there is word of some NGOs trying to tailor their activities to suit the interests of the government. and 1965. Wise counsel should now prevail and the government and defence personnel should now sit together and sort out remaining differences and demands. While he did not always rein in Ministers and leaders speaking the language of religious hatred and communal divisiveness. If the Bills are the issue. the [Meetei or Manipur] Kingdom consisted of the valley areas. Clearly. As one who has been witness to all the India-Pakistan conflicts from 1947 onwards. Apart from our brave security forces. the war-like rhetoric on both sides from highly placed civil and military officials has assumed alarming proporations. would face the main brunt as has invariably happened in the past. The move has made other NGOs vulnerable too. ‘them’ and an elusive peace Malem Ningthouja MONDAY. the only other Prime Minister from the BJP. But what took place at the samanvay baithak. It is not as if A. Inter-community tensions Kuki organisations have opposed the ILP movement from spreading in Churachandpur and Chandel districts. The ILP is required for ‘other’ Indian citizens to enter Arunachal Pradesh. The obvious assumption is that without funds Greenpeace in India will not be able to function. After the BJP secured a majority. If there are more demands. The propaganda has been appealing to many who are unhappy with the anti-Kuki stance and ‘refugee’ tag attributed to them by individuals from other communities. Thiruvananthapuram Our veterans may have won the main battle. is before the Delhi High Court. tribals and others living together. spelling out what NGOs are required to do. have been primarily against unregulated immigrants who bought up land and immovable properties. or fading out. But if the BJP managed to extend its support base beyond its traditional strongholds. even seeking to scrutinise their social media engagement. We can certainly improve our relations with those who are historically and geographically attached to us. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) stands accused of concealing and mixing foreign contributions with local contributions. Rajya Sabha.K. 1935. and which have now been supported by Nagabased organisations as well. and to intensify the demand for either VI Schedule status for the tribes or different administrative systems for Kukis and Nagas. Despite the perception that identifies the Meitei with the valley. areas in the valley and in the hills of Manipur. or coordination meeting. as usual. especially after the First. A. in 1947. Many have upheld that the implementation of the ILP or a similar law can act as a form of restraint to unregulated immigration and also prevent outsiders and companies/industry from taking control over the land and resources. the valley is liberally open to all who can buy and own land and resources. where there has been no protective law ever since the permit system was lifted by the Government of India in November 1950. with those behind them demanding the implementation of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in order to define and protect “insiders” from buying up land on the one hand. the bargaining power of different sections of society has gone up with governments being compelled to accept ever growing demands. which should help keep a check on our nationals wanting to join IS. The Kuki and Naga organisations were not insensitive to the primary objective of the cut-off year of 1951. Likewise. the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed three Bills. for instance. which were not to the complete satisfaction of pro-ILP sections. With a common geography. it is time to have another look at the FCRA. The government should also be equally responsible in avoiding such an embarrassing situation of the kind we have witnessed. there is tactical unity between Naga and Kuki organisations.18 lakh Meiteis sources from being consumed by controver. But the polemics of insecurity have interplayed with the propaganda that the Manipur Land Revenue and Reform Act 1960 has been extended to the hill districts. for their patriotism and yeomen service towards the nation. Sept.co. The government has placed a mug of coffee before them.” said Mahmud Durrani.bing in Manipur to facilitate hydro-electric Geo-community projection Revenue and Land Reforms Amendment Bill 2015. before passing the Bills. might not have occurred had the Government of Manipur dealt with the situation in a better way. Hyderabad ‘Akhand Bharat’ “Akhand Bharat” is an outdated concept (“‘Akhand Bharat’ idea behind RSS cover for talks with Pak. political. Turkey now needs to take a hard look at what is happening. A private meeting between leaders of the two organisations should not ordinarily have caused concern. in numbers greater than ever before. Modi was himself all political correctness. whose leaders were deposed in the name of dictatorship. The overall projection of the Bills as being pro-Meitei fails to holistically interpret the limitations of the cut-off year of 1951. as a result of being clubbed with non-tribals. the destruction of property and a creation of tension. and his speech — its contents unpublicised — in which he described himself as an RSS swayamsevak. The media have reported that the invoking of the provisions of the Act followed certain actions by Greenpeace that were deemed inimical to the economic interests of the state. a meeting of this kind.ways and the expansion of market corridors sure on land as a result of population growth. There is hypocrisy involved when some political parties are free to receive corporate donations.in Hindu population in Pakistan moved over to India. Pakistan has been brandishing the ‘nuclear deterrent’ while on our side no less a person than the Army Chief has spoken of ‘short wars’. yet they claim that it is halfflavoured. Unrest. what role should the Government of India be playing to scale down the tensions? The question now is this: who will negotiate for peace with whom. there are 9. Subrahmanyan. C. But for this to happen. the sanctity of the Line of Control and the International Border needs to be re-established and peace restored. especially in the valley. and passionately telling me. These Bills are being strongly opposed by the ‘tribal’ organisations in the Manipur hill districts. or those whose lineages might not have been recorded in the list criteria — could be treated as outsiders. in 1980. Dehradun (once the Royal Indian Military College. which has fixed 1951 as the base year to detect outsiders. Chennai As Commandant of the Rashtriya Indian Military College. Over the years. Instead of fully relying on the consent of the tribal MLAs. Both sides should now display the requisite magnanimity in resolving the issue. the first BJP-led government that does not depend on the support of allies. Thus. heritage. consider the migration of tribals as a sign of integration and do not oppose it. Muslim majority areas were named Pakistan (east and west) and those who thought their future lay there migrated there. good relations and harmony should come naturally to the two neighbours”. Warangal.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. MP. M. which today form the valley districts of Manipur… The Kuki and Naga peoples shall mutually respect one another’s identity and territory and maintain the best of fraternal relations and work together to preserve peace in the land and usher in progress and human welfare in the Kuki and Naga states.of tribals as a sign of integration and do not itation has been obvious since minimal tribal oppose it. which led to a violent clash on August 18. M. in turn. its territory is being used as a gateway to IS. This has come even as a petition from Greenpeace seeking release of funds to pay its staff. The residual www. The violence in Manipur is linked to unrestrained demographic pressure by ‘outsiders’ and the cry for an Inner Line Permit system. Nagavender Rao. The West should also understand that Iraq and Libya. and relates to the accountability of an elected government to democratic institutions and processes. according to popular movements to protect land and re. Karan Singh. Meiteis have been in the fore front of this as despite their known achievements in arts and culture. F CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Hawkish rhetoric In the last few days. Thus. All this can be traced to the core — in the agitations of 1920. Jai Kisan” should have some meaning. and the author of three books on Manipur. Senior BJP leaders constantly reiterate their links with the Sangh Parivar. there seems to be the role of certain vested political groups to add fuel to the fire in order to magnify the issue of unrest. recently but in a different context. did not have discussions or meetings with RSS leaders while in power. in reality. when sections targeted the “outsider” monopoly in trade. is unprecedented. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Vajpayee. are in a shambles today. hamara zamin ka batwara hua. as they. Civil liberties and free speech go hand in hand.6). 2015 ‘Us’. A coordination meeting of this kind. On the one hand. While satisfaction of our veterans. a spirit of give-and-take should inform the rest of the engagement. Supreme Court were referred to with approval by the Indian Supreme Court in Sri Indra Das vs.S. Ram Gulrajani. It is total decimation. A pension review every year is desirable. contempt or disloyalty against the government and can also be an incitement to violence or are intended to cause public disorder. elite and uncomparable service status of the armed forces. Tierney. the Aam Aadmi Party and sections of the Left were raring to move into the breach by beating a path to Jantar Mantar where the veterans were on a hunger strike in a determined attempt to goad the government into action. technical and funding difficulties. Sept. Ohio. is not the same as preparing a group for violent action and steeling it to such action. Justice Holmes of the U. by personnel in the paramilitary even though it is not entirely to the Chennai forces and railways too. Coimbatore BG-MY . when compared to the eliminating such premature requirements of our armed forces Having rolled out OROP. there is no winner or loser. Though it was an unhappy is an example to the rest of the revenue which is quite sight to see disciplined defence nation.” between preparation and attempt. No buses were burnt. regional heavyweights such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia and their backers in the West should reverse their policy towards Syria. and were strictly in accordance with the orders issued by the Bombay High Court. 2015 OROP and after efence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s announcement that the government has decided to implement the One Rank One Pension scheme came as a huge relief to the veterans of the armed forces and also to those now in the services. bereft of any to make the announcement before thanked. Western powers such as the U. an ally of Iran. including that of the United Kingdom. The Washington Post and other newspapers should be commended for serving the purpose that the Founding Fathers saw so clearly. Our the media. In a nuclear war.” tice Holmes observed: “It is manifest that There are things done by governments in India that do not strike a chord with many people and which cause them to express their contempt. In having resolved the One Rank G. Our veterans should nation must understand that we The clarification that all service now revert to their traditional are not beggars. For example. V. Credit must be given to the government for bringing a sense of closure to an issue that has been hanging fire for over 40 years.S. such a practice once begun ends with a one party government. To support this system. Secunderabad personnel with the respect they (“Early retirees eligible for OROP: Modi”. Supreme Court observed: “The mere teaching of Communist theory. the English Parliament passed a law outlawing certain societies on the ground that they were engaged in ‘a traitorous Conspiracy… in conjunction with the persons from time to time exercising the powers of government in France…’. the Congress showed a certain inability to grasp the reality. In revealing the workings of government that led to the Vietnam war. the personnel going on hunger strike. the newspapers nobly did precisely that which the Founders hoped and trusted they would do. The wide differ. However.in below officer rank. Tiruchi Manipur and peace The very fact that the Inner Line Permit is meant to protect tribal cultures in Northeastern India is known to all in the rest of India (“‘Us’. There must be some substantial direct or circumstantial evidence of a call to violence now or in the immediate future. comments expressing disapproval. Justice Hugo Black observed: “In the First Amendment. But the indictment alleges the publication and nothing more. then charges of sedition under Section 124A IPC can be invoked against that person. periodical the code of conduct came into restored as far as the armed forces hikes to the pay and pension to effect in Bihar. 174 (1951). The Army putting in the prescribed and bridged. 1971. There are many things done by the Union and Maharashtra governments that do not strike a chord with many people and which causes them to express their contempt. The Government’s power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. In reality.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. By dragging the issue to a point nearly coinciding with the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections. are a part of the law of the land in India too.(1925). Turkey. Sept. I see that government is acting thus: “Those whom they cannot prove to be guilty. U. but it should be asked if it would really be practical. If one considers the other wings of the forces. SEPTEMBER 8. The New York Times.stitutional guarantees of free speech and not alone justify suppression of free speech free press do not permit a State to forbid or and assembly. In Brandenburg vs. there are just about a lakh outsiders in Manipur. IS controls almost half the country and it is trying to advance into areas controlled by the regime. states that if words or signs or representations by someone cause hatred. It should now reports that the government is who are made to retire be understood that while most worried about the financial prematurely on administrative and personnel retire between the ages burden.” there was no present danger of an attempt to overthrow the government by force on the part of the defendants. malnourishment. In the time it took for the government to take a decision. The government. the Maharashtra government circular. A little izzat has been pensionary benefit.” In Noto’s case (supra). the three-year-old boy who drowned while fleeing Syria’s Kobani.S. There remain some wrinkles that need to be ironed out and gaps in clarity that have to be filled. leading to the rise of terror groups such as Islamic State. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and sending them off to distant lands to die of foreign fevers and foreign shot and shell. and discrimination against the minorities. regional powers turned Syria into a geopolitical battlefield. and not at some indefinite time in the future. It is the function of free law violation except where such advocacy is speech to free men from the bondage of directed to inciting or producing imminent irrational fears. 367 US 290 (297-298). Aylan and his family had been making a perilous journey through the Mediterranean Sea to reach the Greek island of Kos.S. To courageous. Eloquence may set fire to reason. that it was an incitement. The remedy to evil counsel is more speech.000 personnel minimum period of service to earn exchequer much. Churachandpur.1. instead it cited administrative. 268 US 652 to fear that serious evil will result if free speech is practiced and that the danger ap. Now that most of the expectations on OROP have been met. on free speech and sedition. unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is imminent. enmity and disaffection openly. D The Maharashtra government circular. The District Court apparently thought that Dennis obliterated the traditional dividing line between advoca- CARTOONSCAPE The Syrian catastrophe he shocking image of the lifeless body of Aylan Kurdi. perhaps as a Secunderabad must initiate schemes whereby ‘fulfilment of an election promise’. women and Dalits to name some of the issues that are still prevalent in India. Ramanathan.” In Communist Party vs. by fielding a former Defence Minister to mount a nit-picking attack after the announcement was made. especially bureaucrats. OROP could The bureaucracy has obviously There are sure to be more demands have been solved 42 years ago. Later. The announcement of a single-member judicial committee to examine the interests of retirees may not be the ideal way forward. it is unjustified to deny government is interested in OROP benefits to such personnel..” In Yates vs.7). It is also probable are concerned. They did not exalt order at the cost of liberty. outlaws groups that preach doctrines nearly all Americans detest. 2011. To justify suppression of lawless action and is likely to incite or profree speech there must be reasonable ground duce such action”. That the Prime Minister’s Office finally had to step in after nearly three months of wrenching agitations by the veterans is a telling commentary on the complicated nature of the issue and the hardened. of September 4. Given the complexities involved. with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning. we set in motion a subversive influence of our own design that destroys us from within. Press Council of India. who said: “The remedy proposed goes to the putting an end to all these societies together. farmers’ suicides. Justice Douglas observed: “In days of great tension when feelings run high. California. Gurumurthy. This is because the valley is rapidly getting congested due to a growing population. public was not inconvenienced.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. The premature retirement would be from the political world. while clarifying an earlier circular dated August 27. It’s already too late now to find a political solution. it was clarified. Ever since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011. self-reliant men. there were no meaningful international efforts to find a political solution to the crisis. the object would have been one with which the law might deal. Aylan Kurdi was a victim of this situation. forcing more people to flee the country. deserve. The world has advanced in terms of science and technology and along with it magnified the perils of a nuclear war that could happen any time. I say these attempts lead to consequences of the most horrible kind. discomforting. Instead. In most countries. It is said that this Manifesto was more than a theory. That moment seems to have arrived for this country. The Government has failed to produce evidence the Court believes sufficient to prove that the Communist Party presently advocates the overthrow of the Government by force. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR remote from possible consequences. must be borne in (with which Justice Brandeis joined). the seat of power.S. U. their between 40-50 per cent of the personnel. When the practice of outlawing parties and public groups begins. 2015 An odd pitch to curb free speech Markandey Katju TUESDAY. should realise the unique.7). and. New York. the government should rather consider an appropriate advisory committee to expedite the process. Arihanth. When the service employees. Supreme 274 US 357 (1927) and observed: “The ConCourt observed: “Fear of serious injury can. U.” sent and disenchantment with our governFreedom and state action ments. Karnataka However. in my judgment. Most of the doubts are bound to be put to rest when the formal government order is issued. 274 US 357 earlier decision in Whitney vs. incitement. the way the government employees appear to that the right wing had a role to veterans put forth their demands. subject to whether it was not futile and too Part of Indian law All these judgments of the U. the beliefs expressed in proletarian dictatorship are destined to be accepted by the dominant forces of the community.. Then why do the Meiteis who are not tribals demand it when they are aware of the impossibility in implementing it in the State as the hill districts are already ‘protected’? It is clear that the Meiteis are trying to use ILP as an excuse to protect the people of Manipur from outsiders so that a law which can be extended to the hill districts can be passed.000 officers and 30. these are cy of abstract doctrine and advocacy of perfectly valid methods of expressing dis. More than two lakh people have already been killed in the four-year-long civil war.S. Mr. but he acted deftly. If that happens. several European governments.. Because of the risk to life and the hardship involved in service.jobsalerts. Though no law has been officially passed to restrict the settlement of tribals in the valley districts.” The decision in this case.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU TUESDAY. price rise. attitude and treat our armed forces entitled to OROP is ambiguous. Imagine this. Nair. We have sacrificed personnel who have availed of stance of maintaining a distance our lives for our great nation. Supreme Court observed: “In failing to distinguish between advocacy of forcible overthrow as an abstract doctrine and advocacy of action to that end. They should rein in the rebels they bankroll and directly engage with the Assad regime to push for talks. nation-wide Bharat Bandh observed by 15 crore workers across India resulted in a lot of public disorder especially in West Bengal. be eating away a major chunk of play.000 crore a year. with a view to bring about change in government by lawful means cannot by themselves be regarded as an act of treason.” In Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee vs.Court observed: “Every idea is an ence between advocacy and incitement. Justice Hugo Black wrote: “In 1799. both Central and State.” (Justice Markandey Katju is a former judge of the Supreme Court and former Chairman. Sept.” One of the arguments made by those who opposed this law was by a member. unemployment. On the other hand. tried to be clever to trying to save being made by other service Manipal. also threw its weight behind the rebels and kept open its long border. R.www. Around four million people have been made refugees. estimated cost of the scheme by demands. Millions of other Syrians are trapped in the war in which nobody appears to be winning. their migration to these districts has been banned by valley-based militant groups. Justice Brandeis of the U. World leaders must ensure that a firm deterrent is put in place. They were not alone. Justice Hugo Black observed: “The first banning of a political party or association because it advocates hated ideas marks a fateful moment in the history of a free country. and with some help from public property was left intact. Similarly. But when we do. The press was to serve the governed. The people of India should medical grounds or even on of 37 and 54. In fact. in a democratic country.V. and Britain joined the ‘regime change’ chorus and offered support to the rebels. almost intransigent. Maximalist positions should be shunned. The veterans should not be allowed to become tools in the hands of politicians. But the Manifesto had no chance of starting a present conflagration. according to the United Nations. positions that had to be addressed. no one can say where it will end. those who retire early are found the government has unwittingly That the government has finally suitable jobs in the Central police opened a Pandora’s box. I can cite the example of a friend who was not allowed to build a house at Mantripukhri in Imphal in 2006. but has destabilised Syria. if the a pension. OROP announcement www. ‘them’ and an elusive peace”. including the teaching of the moral propriety or even moral necessity for a resort to force and violence. This drive failed to oust Mr. 395 US 444 Establish imminent threat (1969).S. Prime Minister Narendra Modi risked pushing it squarely into the political arena. Thousands flee Syria every day as it grapples with one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies in recent history. But he still controls the most populous areas of Syria and rules from Damascus. SEPTEMBER 8. Every idea is an incitement… The only difference between the expression of an opinion and an incitement is the speaker’s enthusiasm.500 crore an annum. was a tragic reminder of the humanitarian crisis in the West Asian country. Justice Harlan of the U.7).co.action. is clearly unconstitutional as it is violative of the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Supreme Court reversed its In Whitney vs. triggering a further refugee exodus. Haokip. are minuscule. therefore. We hard-working labourers in the know that the government may unorganised sectors continue to have had its political compulsions The government needs to be wallow in misery.4. Is this a valid reason to send such people to jail? He went on to observe: “Those who won our independence by revolution were not cowards. the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. despite its clarification. Justice Harlan of the U. and not a Government Resolution. This is a negligible gap and if in the armed forces. In his historic decision in New York Times vs. it is a temptation to take short cuts by borrowing from the totalitarian techniques of our opponents. Rich Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar supported different rebel groups against the regime because they wanted President Bashar al-Assad. Jusmind. will not cost the alone is short of about 10.jobsalerts. A few thousand crores of what is considered a “financial burden” is a pittance especially when one has to maintain and operate one of the largest military forces in the world. This whole Act. in the long run. Yet it must be said that the government could have handled this better. to be toppled. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. the figure is Rs. the State government clarified that these guidelines were part of a general circular. “If the publication of this document attempted to induce an uprising against government at once. bureaucracy has to mend its P. between In his dissenting judgment in that case assembling and conspiracy. 354 US 298 (1957). the media retirees and limiting it to those personnel. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. the recent agitation in Gujarat by the Patel community resulted in a lot of disorder. California. we must have a swarm of spies and informers. Men feared witches and proscribe advocacy of the use of force or of burned women. is unconstitutional as it is violative of the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution ion. B. not enforced silence. the Congress. Supreme prehended is imminent. it One Pension issue. 341 US 123. Manipur Hiroshima’s legacy Time has ticked by and 60 sixty years have passed but the ramifications of dropping the nuclear bomb on Japan continue to haunt the world (“From city of remembrance to city of hope”. They did not fear political change. the armed forces are not the preferred career destination for most youngsters. 367 US 1 (1961). But is this a valid reason to send such people to jail? I believe it isn’t and they cannot. conditions provide for premature personnel retire between 57 and 60 the chronic shortage of manpower retirement voluntarily after years. through which fighters could cross into Syria to join the war. it can’t be forgotten that the policies of the very same European governments towards Syria helped cause the chaos in that country.S. Solomon P. Assad. enmity. The fact is that the Congress did not come through when it could have. State of Assam. Kameswara Rao. The government must meanwhile remain determined to discourage any unrealistic expectations and demands that may now come up from other sectors following the OROP announcement. Why was the organisation that led the demand for ILP silent when the Manipur Assembly passed the three Bills recently? The 2001 census figures on outsiders were a manipulation. McGrath. the District Court appears to have been led astray by the holding in Dennis that advocacy of violent action to be taken at some future time was enough. unlike 60 for civil be made aware of the financial other military savings to the government due to superannuation. illustrates the continuing vitality of this observation. The one day.” In Noto vs. To stop that from happening.S. A figure to the shortage I have referred to will work out to more than Rs. Ilangovan.. In my opin- The Maharashtra government circular. not the governors. (1927). Assad has to be blamed for the excessive use of force against his people. Assad clearly has to be an integral part of any future plan for Syria. The same could be said about the timing of the announcement too. Indeed. enmity and disaffection openly. a lack of health care. After the image of the boy lying face-down on a Turkish beach surfaced. In my view. If. [The background to this is as follows — this comes after a “submission” made by the Advocate-General in the Bombay High Court in a case involving political activist and cartoonist Aseem Trivedi that the Home Department would issue these guidelines in the form of a circular to all policemen. they used their strength to their there was no stone throwing and Madurai benefit.] Unconstitutional move In my opinion. far from deserving condemnation for their courageous reporting. Mr. In Gitlow vs. driven by its regional ambitions. It would be a pity if the opportunity is not utilised to close the perceived gap between the bureaucracy and the armed services in terms of the compensation package. Some have even called for a revolution in view of the massive levels of poverty.S. While such moves should be welcomed on humanitarian grounds. the only meaning of free speech is that they should be given their chance and have their way. have agreed to take in more Syrian refugees. ensure that young people are motivated enough to join the ranks and also boost the high morale of our defence personnel. R. no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present. the humanitarian situation in Syria will worsen.. Subversive Activities Control Board. the agitation by exservicemen on the ‘One Rank One Pension’ issue could have resulted in large-scale public disorder. one can accepted the four-decade-old services and other government expect similar demands to be made demand should come as a relief jobs. reducing OROP expenditure. Mr. 2015. they will punish for their suspicion. the U. ” Sept. Kalyana-Kalpataru.. the European Union and the rich and privileged ‘Gulf countries’ should share the blame. the Institute of International Affairs showed that only 2 per cent of Kashmiris wanted to join Pakistan while 44 per cent of people in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir wanted independence.. Clearly.Marwaris underwent an identity crisis: even ital. the default response of the Army has been that its personnel cannot be subject to the regular processes of the criminal justice delivery system. the way forward for anyone hoping to save India’s tattered secular fabric from being torn to shreds by Hindu majoritarianism would be to make the nondvijas — the OBCs and Dalits. Ashish Khatri. Chaturvedis and Mukerjees. the Army did well to hold the rogue elements in its ranks to account in the Machil instance. However.S. is open to “any Sanatan Dharmi Hindu by caste brahmin. affiliations. To say that ‘God’s own Country’ is the land of hartals. (“6 Army men get life term in Machil encounter case”. and “the new kshatriyas”. 340 women have been granted such positions. The verdict actually reduces the pressure on Army personnel doing their job in Kashmir and other conflict zones in India. 70 million copies of Tulsi. Most the vaishyas. has zealously guarded this sacrosanct principle against encroachment by narrow interests. This is not an idle question for another reason. and a socially progressive Constitution. The civilian government is only using the Kashmir issue to find cover from economic problems and an over-bearing Army. So. The book and getting kshatriya titles like Raja”. the editor of became the new kshatriyas. Even the model of Hinduism promoted das’ Ramcharitmanas and other works. Gita Press.000. The Maharashtra government’s circular is unsatisfactory. Through these initiatives. This raises an obvious question: what if secularism as an alternative political platform to Hindutva has run its course. Pakistan should now initiate strong and decisive steps towards rooting out home-grown terror which may even consume it one day. Army Chief warns against ‘misadventure’. the Gita Press has always enjoyed the patronage of numerous Congressmen and socialists whose beliefs and politics are indistinguishable from those of the RSS. was not so over 1. as their male counterparts do.S. from beginning to end the ‘encounter’ was part of a cynical and ruthless project to claim the monetary rewards set aside to eliminate militants. are keeping the issue alive. the Gita Press also runs a Vedic school in Rajasthan that only admits children belonging to brahmin. Justice Markandeya Katju’s article. The dvija Hindus are indeed a minority if we add up the non-dvija Hindus (shudras and Dalits). It is time that steps are taken to win back the confidence of the people in Kashmir. Court martial No ‘misadventure’ The verdict by the Army court martial judgment in awarding the life sentence to six Army personnel found guilty in the Machil fake encounter case of 2010. But the battle for secularism cannot be won without first addressing the reality of caste. Sept. kshatriyas. such as building temples. and to force the withdrawal of special laws that grant impunity to security personnel in such areas. However. If kshatriya-brahmin hegemony characterised the subcontinent’s social order till the advent of British colonialism. Marwari trade the grounds that it would grant lower castes By meticulously unpacking the back. A survey in 2010 by the Royal The warning is nothing but a sign of sheer arrogance and a pointer to Pakistan’s lack of interest in pursuing peace with India. Interestingly. The same question can also be formulated differently: is a secular “Indian” nationalism a viable project? The answer. Gen. a Hindu India. while disposing of a slew of petitions which stated that frequent hartals were having a ‘deleterious effect’ on life in Kerala. their answer to this question merits serious attention. Marwari Gazette (1890). the Hinduism being bankrolled by Marwari capthe Bhagvad Gita. Mukul points out. or between Hindutva and equality. is to state and stress the obvious. It had everything to do with why a “Marwaris replaced the ‘aristocracy and Hindu nation was felt to be a necessary wealthy landlords’ as religious patrons and Scrutiny of Hindutva changed ‘the kshatriya-brahmin interface of project. so that there is no basis left for a sense of castebased superiority. as the Army and the Air Force had to do following a 2010 order by a different bench of the same court. Even today. By speaking on a policy matter of such magnitude. in Gujarat? In such a scenario. or anyone else not a twice-born. is a resounding ‘no’.jobsalerts. is also a model that predates ours by 163 years. SEPTEMBER 9. and funding cow protection associations. Anand Raj. kshatriya and vaishya castes. when the anti-reservation protests of 1990 brought caste conflicts under national political spotlight. duly attested by brahmin authorities Kalyan has a circulation of over 2. Sampath WEDNESDAY. The Army top brass knew this was no case of mistaken identity or bad judgment in a conflict situation. compared to those of the past. 2015 Caste and the battle for secularism G. Three Kashmiri youths were lured by counter-insurgents in April 2010 with the promise of Army jobs and handed over to the Army personnel.co. several general elections have been held and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have ensured that they have got the governments that have wanted. who together constitute 60 per cent of the population — impervious to a supremacist ideology that seeks to foster a synthetic Hindu pride by positing select religious minorities as inferior to the lowest of the Hindus in the social order of the varna system. Of course the key word is imminent threat. Jalgaon. Raheel Sharif has only shown who it is that calls the shots in Pakistan. sequently. both the “secular” Congress (under Rajiv Gandhi) and the “communal” BJP were opposed to implementing the Mandal report. As Mukul explains. But post-Pathribal. But this is only possible through social empowerment and visible economic advancement of a great number of Dalits and OBCs.face’ that eventually resulted in the ‘MarwarMaking of Hindu India. There has been little effort to go the extra distance to increase female representation: India’s first woman in the Army to receive a gallantry award. papering over the fissions of caste with the fusion of religion. worked mostly with Brahmin writ. since it denies the constitutional reality. regular osmosis between the BJP and the self-proclaimed secular parties is common knowledge. Another strategy was to set up printing What stands out in this account is the caste aspect of this religious publishing enterprise.practices continued to evoke anger and dis.in 12 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU WEDNESDAY. The 19 women who filed petitions before the court argued that they had received the same training as their male counterparts and worked for a comparable number of years in different departments. Notwithstanding the right to protest by the organisers. and therefore weaker.jobsalerts. according to the publications of the Gita Press. Lt. As a nationstate. Adivasis. and poorer brahmins and kshatriyas stood higher. the owner of Gita Press. of course. the commuThe book offers ample evidence of militant 2014. In this. the press had sold 72 million copies of nity became an object of jealousy. India’s armed forces must do more now to transform themselves into a space of truly equal opportunities. History is yet to provide a single instance of a dominant social group that voluntarily ceded its power or privileges. Pullad.www. Bengaluru www. also known as Hindutva.000. justifies the allegations that have been made from time to time of rights abuses by the armed forces in Kashmir. In fact these facts will take the wind out of the sails of those who cry for a referendum. Until now. the kind of fuel it runs The real objective of Hindutva — never openly espoused. Since the issue comes under the purview of the fundamental rights. Kerala The Pakistan Army Chief issuing a threat that “enemies” — which obviously means India — would pay dearly in case of a misadventure is not only an unfortunate development but also a clear pointer that Pakistan is uninterested in initiating any dialogue with India (“Pak. In the long run. The Sangh Parivar’s seemingly irrational anxiety over demographic numbers — when Hindus apparently constitute about 80 per cent of the population — is therefore not all that irrational. have stooped to such a level mainly for the sake of promotions and incentives. Sholavandan. presses and journals with the aim. its below-the-hood scrutiny of Hindutva — the design of its engine. Some American judicial pronouncements — arising from jurists steeped in that tradition and endowed with outstanding intellectual calibre and natural language felicity — on aspects such as freedom of speech vs incitement against the state or even the freedom of the press as a bulwark of individual rights are often the last word for insights. on. this answer merits serious attention since it denies the constitutional reality icle of a single religious press into a magist. however flawed. and subMarwari capital. Goenkas and Guptas. were founded in the mid-1920s. then. Tamil Nadu would cease to exist if such hartals turned violent or disorderly. and nothing seems to have improved even though much water has flowed down the Jhelum. Pakistan should realise that any attempt to wage a full-scale war with India will only prove disastrous to its economy which is already in a shambles. on Hinduism. For too long. and the monthly magazine it but on terms determined by other minorities. the life sentence handed down to the six men will allow the Army greater room in dealing with militancy in the Valley. the most significant is tury onward. with long-standing links to various majority by keeping them under the Hindu umbrella arms of the Sangh Parivar. nuanced elucidation and subtle definition of the fine lines.trust — of which they were not unaware. The narrative of Gita in 1889). Chennai Another is that membership of Gobind Bhawan Karyalaya. collaborators and edito. Secunderabad While I welcome the punishment that has been handed out. What is politically rational could seem socially quixotic as a project. Baniyas the three dvija (twice-born) castes of brahand Hanuman Prasad Poddar. ‘untouchables’. S. T.V. initially. After the denials and delays in the Pathribal case. That an officer of the rank of colonel had a hand in this is shocking. tax defaults. Lakshmanan. Of course. and though they had become economically the by Gita Press and Kalyan. Sept. for the Prime Minister calls himself a Hindu nationalist and remains an active member of a cultural organisation that propagates a militant version of Hindu nationalism. There was simply no excuse to tolerate such elements in a force claiming to fight militancy and terror. Maharashtra BG-MY . enjoy a “commensurate social standing”. The entry point for this but evident from the remarkable consistency of the content scrutiny is Gita Press. the trust that owns Gita Press. which holds the varna system to be the heart of Hinduism. For one. cited by Mukul. K. Venkatakrishnan. despite the fact that secularism has no dearth of upper caste flag-bearers. But this pride derives from a toxic source — the regressive order of sanatan dharma. kshatriya and vaishya” and not to shudras. the Court had stated that it is for the government to frame appropriate rules to ban and/or regulate hartals. where does all this leave those who wish to preserve India’s constitutional secularism? Recent history offers a clue. Hartals are held at the drop of the hat. Marwari Press’s history is overrun by Dalmias and Sudhar (1921). sponsoring recitations of Ramand human forces at play in the politics of charitmanas. Adivasis. For over 200 years now.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. Their ideology is Hindu nationalism. 94. The pages of Gita Press make it abundantly clear that no accommodation is possible between Hindutva and democracy.centre stage in a process that the Indologist Hindu religious majority as about securing cess? Much of the credit goes to its founders. is a resounding ‘no’. Mukul transforms his historical chron. But not these two. Perhaps a place or places need/s to be earmarked where protests can be held. economic and hospitals. what right do they have to hold others to ransom? The State government has to frame appropriate legislation to ban and regulate hartals or other means of protests. Solutions need to be thought of which will help the most literate State in the country resurrect its lost prestige. on businessmen-turned-spiritualists”. Second. The counter-insurgents were paid off to deliver the youths to the Army personnel for the ‘encounter’. “An odd pitch to curb free speech” (Sept. But thanks to democracy. and Europe have intervened in the internal affairs of a country only to create a humanitarian crisis (Editorial.00.8). Jeyaramachandran M. Kalyan. Bengaluru Syrian crisis The catastrophe in Syria can be termed as an example of one of the greatest ironies where the U. the Army was free to try its members by a court martial. and who are in a minority. is more vulnerable to being challenged. Kalyan for more than 40 years. of Gita Press and Kalyan were both funded by reforming the Marwari community. of promoting Hindu dharma. As of today. India in this period saw the Marwaris take much about sealing the dominance of the What is the secret of its longevity and suc. two. A. sampath. the Court had stated that the rights of the common man In the context of the increasing tendency of governments to swoop down on critical and dissenting views. editors and artists. The High Court rightly ruled that it could not support any provision that would restrain the professional advancement of women. Kalyan’s vocifdescribes them as “Marwari such estates were acquired via forced sales for erous opposition to the Hindu Code Bill. and the various religious minorities.crisis with moves aimed at gaining social varna system. Mukul argues. PubPoddar.S. it also evokes a sense of anger that our soldiers. as it indisputably has. The proportion of women in India’s armed forces and the police forces is low in terms of global comparative figures. India is already fighting a proxy war. Hindutva.R. In continuation of this. had to move the Supreme Court for permanent commission after she was denied it on the ground that she had earlier turned it down. women who qualify for permanent commission will be able to work until the age of 54. who shot them at point-blank range in order to earn cash rewards meant for those who eliminate militants. and recent research indicates that persistent bias is a strong ground that drives women away from seeking to serve in them.in U. Col. First. Philip Lutgendorf. they did not was essentially “a baniya model of profit from ideal Hindu” woman and child. Given that their ideological affiliates are in power. for it is the virus behind the pathology of Hindutva. this hegemony. or that society was not yet willing to accept women in combat roles. for instance. “owning villages mins. its English counterpart. Its longest-serving editor.00. T Is Hindu nationalism a viable project? This is not an idle question. the Defence Ministry and the armed forces must go further. The Army opted for a court martial in this case after the Supreme Court ruled in an earlier case of ‘encounter’ in Pathribal that unlike civilian investigating agencies. The latest order will open the doors for women in the Navy too. bination of baniya and brahmin was not an accident. hardly anyone ventures out that day or conducts business. That justice has been done by the court martial is significant in the larger context of efforts to make the armed forces answerable for their actions in conflict zones. The real objective of Hindutva — never openly espoused. schools erial account of the socio-cultural.N. Mitali Madhumita. the U. but could go no further for the only reason that they were women.standing.8 million copies of monographs on “the most powerful.S. Among the several achievements of AkshMarwaris had begun to dominate Indian Hindu society’ to a ‘vaishya-brahmin interaya Mukul’s new book. The American Constitution.8). Birlas and were an outcome of this trend. This com. it is easier said than done. At the same time. Is a secular ‘Indian’ nationalism a viable project? The answer. India’s oldest and most distinguished purveyor of muscular Hinput out by Gita Press — is to emasculate the OBC-Dalit duism.in Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. V. it must remain politically de-linked from any religion. and Marwari Aggarwal (1923) Dwivedis. As of early “two contradictory things”. India can never be a “Hindu nation”. The common man in Pakistan is said to be hardly concerned about the socalled Kashmir problem. 8). Jayaraman. if temporarily. and vague. One. Aren’t senior Army officers maintaining utmost vigil? How are they allowing such high-handed acts? Do they not realise that such incidents are ammunition for our enemies to use in spreading antiIndia propaganda? Ravi Mannethu. But the decline of the landed gentry in North The Hindutva project. This verdict should be an eye-opener to all personnel deployed in the valley. CARTOONSCAPE A blow for gender parity t took the Delhi High Court to set right last week a largely inexplicable instance of official gender discrimination: it ruled that the Indian Navy must grant permanent commission to women as well. Most such ventures of that era are long defunct. Their goal. “semi-involuntary upward mobility”. is important. this made them ineligible for pension and often unable to find other work they were qualified for. Following the latest ruling. Suicide rates among women in the forces have also been disproportionately high. SEPTEMBER 9. India has always faced constant hostility from Pakistan since 1948. 2015 Welcome conviction he conviction of six Army personnel by a court martial in the Machil fake encounter case is an important step in ensuring the accountability of the armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir and other States where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is in force. Only separatist elements and those loyal to Pakistan. and the levers controlling its movement and acceleration. this led to ization of Hinduism’”. The bhakti”. published. it should thus give civil society greater confidence in the internal mechanisms of the Army in dealing with deviant behaviour by its personnel. the Army chose to refer the issue to a Court of Inquiry. Gita Press and the capitalism from the late 19th-early 20th cen. since the grant of permanent commission to women began. For instance. When police investigations revealed the culpability of its personnel.lications such as Rajasthan Samachar (started ers.“access to upper caste homes through marital ground. The verdict by the court martial in the Machil encounter case represents the first instance where Army personnel have been convicted for an instance of human rights abuse in Kashmir. too myopic.Press and Kalyan. Grant of permanent commission would allow women to rise in rank along with the men. one of the more intriguing narratives of modern India. Rather than letting war clouds hover over the subcontinent on account of its provocative rhetoric and actions. which under AFSPA required prior sanction to prosecute its personnel. then bania-brahmin hegemony is equally a marker of contemporary India. according to the publications of the Gita Press. and gain pay parity. So were Gita Jains. saying that junior officers from rural areas would not be willing to accept a woman as a leader in front line situations. virtually midway through their working lives. cries to do away with AFSPA had grown shriller. who are held in high esteem. women could qualify only for the Navy’s Short Service Commission with a tenure of up to 14 years. and they do not seem to be getting enough support in coping with the dual tasks of handling work and family life. being Vaishyas. which confirmed the murder-forreward conspiracy. According to the Constitution. it is a few black sheep who have brought disrepute to the Army. Though the commitment and dedication of our soldiers cannot be doubted.8). the Kerala High Court had held that it could not impose a ban on political parties calling for hartals on the grounds that its powers were limited. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar recently told Parliament. the pioneer in safeguarding individual rights against state power. I CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The caste dynamic of Hindutva Hindutva may present itself as a defender of Hindu pride. terms the hegemony of the upper caste minority — Jaydayal Goyandka. the forces must tackle entrenched sexist attitudes towards women that were in evidence when the Army argued before the Supreme Court against the grant of permanent commission for them. alliances that had the sanction of law” is just rial decisions of these two men over 400-odd Marwaris sought to resolve this identity one egregious testimony of its loyalty to the pages. Srinivasan. The international community should come to some consensus on generating funds and helping refugees. Kashmir is an integral part of India. But the BJP-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) responded to Mandal with the “Mandir” card — successfully.g@thehindu. In the Army. To what extent democracy can unhinge caste hegemonies is. Given that their ideological affiliates are currently in power at the Centre. but evident from the remarkable consistency of the content put out by Gita Press over nine decades — is to emasculate the Other Backward Classes (OBC)-Dalit majority by keeping them under the Hindu umbrella but on terms determined by the dvija castes. And for fear of reprisal from the organisers. Chennai Land of hartals Curbing free speech Not long ago. the West is now averse to open its doors to migrants resulting in grave tragedies.co. was annexed by the Britishers after the fall of the Kachari Kingdom in 1832. To the contrary. Finally.tics played mayhem with culture. It is no wonder then that every political party in India has a caste tag. The six-year-long violent agitation. takes the side of the collective mob against the writer/ artist/ intellectual. including the Citizenship Act.9).co. and were joined with Assam to create a new administrative unit which was placed under a Chief Commissioner. T Very few in mainland India are aware at the moment that a process of citizens’ registration on the basis of racial profiling is under way on the eastern fringe of the country. geography and anthropology of colonial Assam. by virtue of being the ‘original inhabitants of Assam beyond reasonable doubt’. One also hopes that new industrial units. one hopes that the initial fervour in organising the meet does not wane and that there is constant monitoring. outcome of an allegedly rigged referendum. is hard to understand. R. Hindutva is a Brahmin-Baniya New Delhi movement. ideally. The first partition of Bengal In a different turn of events. they tried to correct history. Kerala Revolution was primarily engineered by coal-based thermal Dr. religious traditions and views that are prevalent. irrespective of the motives. Chandrasekaran. Colonial history of the State dates back to 1826 when. including women and children. but also other strategy for India to utilise its vast people as well (“Neurologist. The whole exercise. 2016. 2015 Irrational violence he most striking commonality among the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar (in Pune. and was also made a part of the huge Bengal Presidency. 1858 through which control over the Indian territories held by the British East India Company was vested in the British queen. The roots of this Hindu-fold. The gen. the xenophobic movement even though.9). effective solutions to reduce carbon K. a revenue-rich district in British In. the Foreigners Expulsion Act. Azhar A. hegemony.jobsalerts. His ability to without attracting opprobrium as a communicate with a wide range of big polluter at the climate change patients with unusual empathy. impact of the exodus felt on the eastern front far exceeded that on the west. while he was effectively shunted out from the murder investigation. February 2015) and M. It will also restore the common man’s trust. Nallasivan. Today. culminated in the inking of the Assam Accord on August 14-15. Otherwise. SEPTEMBER 10. denying assistance to mine coal is not the solution. 1955 was suitably amended by the Parliament to incorporate Section 6(a).9). the killings would have had the effect of silencing other voices of dissent and reason as well.the series of above happenings where poli. now Bangladesh. appointing Ahmed Javed. and its eventual rollback in 1911. Pansare himself had received threats after the killing of Dabholkar for opposing superstitious beliefs. 1971.headed by the All Assam Students’ Union the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) cal rationalisation. caste divisions are both a trump card and a vote-bank for politicians. leave alone analysing the legal nuances involved in the action and the possible plight of the ‘denizens’. However. had to shift their alle. Backward areas of the State must be developed. The Nellie pogrom of February 18. the Army’s pragmatism and commitment to justice will only blunt the terror movement which has always harped on injustices. The use of modern technology that has been pioneered by the developed world must be transferred to developing countries. Naveen Agrawal. The Citizenship Act. Our Army is one of the most professional forces in the world and one hopes that this verdict will eventually lead to a better rapport with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the NorthEast. failing which they would be thrown out of the updated NRC. if any are decided to be set up. the metamorphosis of AASU into Asom Gana Parishad and its eventual victory in Assembly elections has practically legitiXenophobia triggered during the early 1980s was successful in mised the racial killings. wife. such electoral rolls are found to be both incorrect and incomplete. power. But tablishment that a ‘marauding infiltration’ decipher. Sept. 2015 The starkness of being nowhere Joydeep Biswas THURSDAY. Maria was due for a cadre promotion on September 30 following the retirement of two senior officers. his “punishment posting” amounts to dissuading him from pursuing the case in the right spirit. Indian society has always viewed Visakhapatnam women through a narrow prism — as only sister. from Assam the Partition victims of erstSylhet was lost to Pakistan on the basis of the The bogey of ‘infiltration’ There was no evidence provided by either while East Pakistan. who have not been in the best of terms with each other. non-operational postings. August 2015) is not the modus operandi — motorcycle-borne men shooting to kill and speeding away — but the intolerance and hatred toward their strong views on religion and superstition that the acts reflect. bringing in a special provision of citizenship for Assam. Our defence personnel should not forget that they are not above the law. Activist-writer Bharat Patankar recently received hate letters asking him not to go the ‘Dabholkar-Pansare way’. SEPTEMBER 10. That gory incident has never been given enough attention in the media. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis signing the transfer order just before leaving for Japan reinforced the impression that the government did not want Mr.Assam’s soil as ‘cultural foreigners’. faith and confidence in the impartiality of the judicial system. practice and propagation of a religion of one’s choice. the Assam government and the AASU leadership was considered ‘historic’ in the Brahmaputra Valley.1964. E. Gogoi. Govind Pansare (in Kolhapur. dates back to Act. supposedly in the interest of maintaining law and order. set off in a selective manner only for the State of Assam.jobsalerts. his negotiating table. The purtions both on the eastern and the western was successful in convincing the Indian es. Assamese middle-class saw in the British Legitimisation of racial violence Successive governments have not been actions of administering Bengali settlement on their own land an evil design of linguistic able to bring the killers to justice. Ayyasseri Raveendranath. The key question that confronts us now is: what would happen to these hapless Bengali settlers? In the absence of any bilateral arrangement between India and Bangladesh. has created a situation where two DGlevel officers. 2013 by the Registrar General of India. Finally. The national media — both print and electronic — has not cared even to report the ongoing preparation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). In order to end ad hocism. giance to a completely different cultural In a bid to retaliate. but also an individual’s freedom of conscience. Tirunelveli The National Register of Citizens in Assam. that Hindutva forces manifestation of patriarchal values want to emasculate the OBCs and that are firmly entrenched in our Dalits by keeping them under the society. A cumulative effect is that the Maharashtra Police are now top-heavy: there are seven posts of Directors-General. This implies that lakhs of such Indian citizens. What Article 25 guarantees is not a collective religious right but an individual’s freedom of choice. has got close links with the very history of the subcontinent. detention and deportation of the illegal migrants who crossed over to Assam from Bangladesh on or after March 25. Hence. Moreover. Only time will tell what impact this reshuffle may have on the investigation into the Sheena Bora case. This was technically the first Partition of Bengal. which has the potential to not treating them as mere objects harm even the unborn generations. The Union government must now consolidate this opportunity by making relevant changes to AFSPA so that innocents are not killed in conflict zones on a whim. centuries since the Industrial Aranmula. This repeated redrawing of political map of Assam.N. Akshay Viswanathan. which left hundreds dead and thousands traumatised. In effect. Though the Home Secretary explained that the transfer was deliberated over two to three weeks and had nothing to do with the fact that a high-profile figure was caught plotting the murder of her own daughter. there is little doubt that the three rationalists had provoked religious fanatics and sectarian elements in a deeply conservative society. who have had their names on the Indian electoral rolls for the past four decades. of which four.www. 50 per cent of quotas in almost all fields have enabled them to climb the social While there is no doubt that ladder in many instances. Also. Any other identity has been Christian or Muslim nation is discouraged and even resisted.scale of cross-border movement of people. did not care for the history. Assam E-mail: (Central) University.active in the preparation of the National Register of Citizens. this time. The government should also think in terms of starting more Industrial Training Institutes in the rural and semi-urban areas. being prepared by the Central government under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Investors meet The government in Tamil Nadu deserves accolades for its strenuous efforts in organising the Global Investors Meet in Chennai (“T. showing utter disregard to the sentiments of the Assamese and the Bengalis. eliminate lobbying for posts and make top-level appointments the outcome of collective decisions. a development that unfortunately escaped the attention of the mainstream scholarship. the timing was clearly wrong. The internal political turmoil. The Caste and secularism Gender parity instead of wishing it away”. Mangesh Sonje. that too in the dead of night. The writer supportive of the permanent only appears to have written a commission for women in the polemical article with an aim to armed forces (Editorial. it has finally brought closure to the issue. It is an irony that consideration towards patients by uranium.pose of this official action is not difficult to boundaries of the newly liberated India. and the government used its discretionary powers. Maria to proceed with the probe.launched by the AASU during the early 1980s have covered the entire country. dia. Only in India do we have this crisis as we have declared ourselves to be a secular state. the Foreigners Tribunals Order. thereafter continued to exist inside the ad. Unless this sensitive issue is addressed soon. who is one batch senior to Mr. to the post of Commissioner of Police. they seek a right to thwart or force the withdrawal of the publication of anything that they imagine gives them cause to take offence. The West needs to be reminded pantheon of illustrious names in the that its economic growth for three field of medicine. was tagged with a revenue-deficit Assam esis of the anti-foreigner movement. two districts of East Bengal — Sylhet (along with Cachar) and Goalpara — were separated from the Bengal Presidency. very carefully crafted over the years to evict maining length of the colonial rule. The stringent set of conditions attached to the process requires the Bengalis of Assam to prove their Indian citizenship solely on the basis of their or their ancestors’ names appearing on the electoral rolls published up to 25 March 1971 and the NRC of 1951. The Bengali speaking citizens in Assam convincing the Indian establishment that ‘infiltration’ of now face a new kind of terror. to address the administrative purpose of fis. daughter and There is no identity crisis as far as a mother.statute book. is meant for detection. Mukundarjan. The fact is also that not all the backward communities and castes are economically weak nor are those in OC financially healthy. began to treat Bengali settlers on Sylhet. political mobilisation along caste and communal lines gives such groups an enormous veto power. supervision and interaction with the signatories of MoUs.000 Bengali-speaking people. Cachar. from Bangladeshi nationals was putting Assamese culture in danger the Indian government. On the other hand. Whether or not there is a common thread connecting the three murders. both perceived and real. There have been legal battles over it. are spread across the State.9). CARTOONSCAPE A transfer amid a probe he unceremonious transfer of Rakesh Maria from the post of Mumbai’s Commissioner of Police raises a set of serious questions. whereas him eminently eligible to be in the coal is maligned as dirty. have to be lifted out of poverty philosophy and healing which is possible only through methodologies. His works are sure development and economic growth. have been put in charge of a high-profile case. would be rendered stateless.com) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. whenever freedom of speech is thus threatened. and who are in possession of Electoral Photo Identity Card. to press for allegiance with Pakistan. one of them being about the prospective statelessness of lakhs of Bengali settlers language and culture — lived within the same administrative jurisdiction and under the same political dispensation. their Assamese and tribal counterparts would find easy inclusion. and the killers’ motives remain unclear. and holding out a warning that it would be his turn next. spear. Sept. Apart from seeking technology His style of writing was both from abroad. Reddy. along with that of the twin valleys of Surma and Barak by the colonial rulers. It is important to break such stereotypes associated with women if true equality is to be achieved in society. upgrade the NRC only for the State of Assam placement of people in the recorded history. Though it has taken over five years for justice to reach families of the victims. V. and then in Bangladesh. a Police Establishment Board was set up. R. That promotion was advanced by 22 days. The government must clearly specify under what conditions Army personnel are exempted from punishment and when they can be held accountable.R. writer. I was the earth when millions of people deeply interested in his case files.sam.in 10 | EDITORIAL BENGALURU THE HINDU THURSDAY. But the message the transfer has for Dinesh Kadam. Sept. Uttar Pradesh The verdict will act as a deterrent for Army personnel not to indulge in any inhuman. Sept. Hydel power can be used only to a certain extent. Despite that. Given the power and prestige that go with it. advanced the due date of publication of the final NRC to January 1.9). the investigating officer at Mumbai’s Khar police station where the case is registered. ing lakhs of Bengali-speaking citizens as ‘ilgeography. Such ad hoc measures point to the malaise of the political class seeking to exert control over police officers and playing a game of favourites. On the strength of an agreement. is far from encouraging. Thiruvananthapuram A developing country like India has to depend on thermal power to meet many of its energy The move by the Army to court requirements (“Cleaning coal martial six of its personnel will resistance to having women in the armed forces and. Kalburgi (in Dharwad. that strikes at the very root of freedom of speech and expression. Maharashtra The move will only boost the Army’s image in the eyes of the Kashmiri people. joydbiswas@gmail. It lies in improving generation capabilities in existing thermal plants. Sept. and then asking Mr. due to which the Bengalis of by Bangladeshi nationals from across the border was putting the Assamese language and culture in great danger. 1985. The vexed issue of infiltration and expulsion of foreigners in Assam. 2003 (as amended in 2009 and 2010). is causally connected to the emergence of the parochial political patriarchs who assumed power in the Assam in the post-Independence India. the Assamese elites. will leave more questions than it will have answered. historians of modern India have shown cruel indifference to the cultural knifing of 1874.A. it is imperative that the killers are tracked down. now one of the three districts forming the Barak Valley in southern Assam. Puducherry Oliver Sacks Cleaning coal www. And the tract was made a part of the Bengal Presidency which.S.N. Much has been written and read about the partition of Bengal in 1905. and the Citizenship Rules. one may have a situation whereby affluent castes may also join the caste bandwagon citing the Constitution which promises equal rights for all. the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner is a coveted one. But the judgment delivered by a Division Bench of the honourable Supreme Court (Coram JJ. Sadly. Rampur. In 1947. They effectively meant that people of Bengal and of Assam — transcending ethnicity. Dalits are bereft of thought? Soumyakanti Chakraborty. Mr. Nariman). Moreover. Is he trying to say that OBCs and orthodox. a proud signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. are insignificant. 1983. It came at a time when the 1981-batch IPS officer was steering the investigation in the Sheena Bora murder case towards crucial financial dealings possibly linked to the crime. Jalgaon. and requested the Enforcement Directorate to follow the money trail. more importantly. surprisingly enough. This is aimed at labellfor no fault of theirs. thus. manifestation lie in typical. the state.in Welcome conviction strengthen public confidence in the armed forces and bridge the trust deficit (Editorial.1955. Surely. The Indian government has decided to The communal carnage that took over the the government or the academia about the subcontinent resulted in the biggest dis. the latter is not ready to take them back. Sept. it is also true that it has successfully evolved its ideology and now has many Dalit and Adivasi voters. Oliver Sacks was a doyen in the energy. As a young intern. in terms of number.M. India also needs to engaging and struck an emotional explore indigenous and costchord. 1950. Kalburgi too had come under pressure for his writings against religious beliefs. Article 25 of the Constitution not only allows the free profession. Going by the existing deportation norms and practices. the lack of any progress in identifying and nabbing Dabholkar’s killers must have emboldened the assailants of Pansare and Kalburgi. the exercise should The humanitarian crisis had its ramifica. have all been ministrative boundary of Assam for the re. of course. dated 17 December 2014.F. To make things complicated for these people. It is bound to give a fillip to industrial growth in the State. Maria to continue “monitoring” the Sheena Bora case as Director-General (Home Guards). to inspire a generation of doctors.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. by a whimsical decision of the British government. This exercise. intensity and continuity. This tripartite memorandum of settlement between the Centre. India cannot simply afford field of neurology and scientific to let its huge coal deposits lie under literature. the State government is now Sylhet and Goalpara of the then East Bengal. While a reduction in carbon emission is the larger issue before the world. 1946. were butchered. The touching and soulful article on Titwala. These two districts (AASU) during 1979-85. S. included the erstwhile East Bengal as well. all set for a big leap forward”. Though investigators have found no substantive leads in any of these cases yet. which has dominated the political theatre of the State for over three decades. including that of DG (Home Guards). Atheists. However. and his grit and composure make is touted as a clean fuel. who by then had got a fair share of political legal Bangladeshi infiltrators’. Maria’s transfer was not referred to the PEB. in the post-colonial As. coal reserves for power generation healer”. coupled with communal riots first in East Pakistan. Khan. concerned. The This resistance is a symbol of the other claim. recent elections in India It is sad that the armed forces and uphold this (“Caste and the battle the government are not very for secularism”.9). It will be a shameful moment for India. August 2013). Thiruvananthapuram BG-MY . Mr. The investigators had put together a team of chartered accountants and Economic Offences Wing officers to probe a complex web of shell companies. Such arrangements were made much before the first Government of India Act. the then geography of what is now called Assam came under the British rule. in which more than 2. In 1874. they will just be evicted to the no man’s land on the Indo-Bangla border. unethical and unprofessional act using the cover of AFSPA. What is particularly worrying is that the killings have been meant as a warning to other writers and intellectuals who may dare to question established belief systems. in combat roles is a part of the larger manifestation of the view that a woman’s body is the embodiment of the honour and dignity of the nation. However. initiated through a gazette notification dated December 5. emissions from coal-fired power Hyderabad plants. Chennai It is right that OBCs and Dalits have faced caste atrocities in times past but after Independence their situation has been witness to a growing secularism. Maria has indicated that he wouldn’t resign. was initially due to be completed within a time span of three years. Often the threat of physical violence is held out against writers and intellectuals by casteist and communal groups. Maria. which are quick to take offence at anything that criticises matters of faith. Oliver Wolf Sacks has lessons not only for those who are in the The article has proposed a sensible field of medicine. was conveniently forgotten by the Indian state. (Joydeep Biswas is an associate professor of economics in Cachar College. agnostics and rationalists have the right to propagate their views on religion as much as believers have the right to spread theirs. The relevant rules and provisions in the The colonial power had its own fiscal logic. under the Treaty of Yandabo. Mohit Sharma. made sure movements across the boundary remained a regular feature even after 1971. The legislative passage engineered by the Rajiv Gandhi government. communal and casteist groups have often asserted they have a right not to be offended by any writing or work. which had a brute majority in both the Houses. Badal Jain. Maharashtra Prof. denigrate the upper castes. Though Mr. In Assam and Kerala. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Manipur is already on the boil consequent to violent protests over the passage in the State Assembly of three Bills recently. and Mr. Now. Kalburgi. individual. he went on to say that both sides now accepted the concept of ‘shared sovereignty’ — the details of which had still to be worked out. and problems of the material deserves appreciation for The opposition now is different civilisation but faith is the sum organising the Global Investors in the sense that cow dung has been collective memories handed down Meet in Chennai and we replaced by bullets. There is some merit in preserving the present ‘frozen spatiality’ in the region. the Lotha and the Konyak tribes. however. and his acceptability among prospective allies of the party.” Sep. which is already in election mode. Anant Kumar Singh Additional Secretary.] Goyal. but also by the fact that in caste-dominated Bihar. ‘Shared sovereignty’ also has implications and repercussions well beyond the borders of Nagaland. and actually could do a lot of harm to the party’s prospects in these States. almost immediately he seemed to imply that physical integration in terms of boundaries was not possible at this point of time.10). in effect. SEPTEMBER 11. but of leadership as public service. come up with The NSCN (I-M) leadership has mastered the art of semantics but it has hardly endeared itself to other Naga communities. be it coal. Clearly. Whether the decision was taken to protect Mr. leading newspapers have chosen conscience and religion has its Goyal. putting up a spirited attack on the land bill and the government’s handling of the agrarian crisis.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. Jalgaon. by and large. Therefore. Gadepalli Subrahmanyam. develops a spirit of faith. There were no violations Anthakudi Nagarajan. the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.G. After all.” (Sep. Coming as it would less than a year after the BJP lost Delhi 67-3 to the Aam Aadmi Party.www. thoughts in Indian society which rebels. and the fact that a great deal of work still needs to be done. Some of the misgivings of senior members of the party might also be on account of their apprehensions about their own role in a party led by Mr. remain invincible. On Naga integration. Sushma Rao Kallepu. Pansare the followers of faith respect each management and the government and now Kalburgi have created fear other's limitations and boundaries. and his non-elevation thus raises some serious issues for the party’s future. who it chose to challenge Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year.jobsalerts. the Old Guard is wary of his abilities to take on the rhetoric of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His successor Deve Gowda had a meeting with the NSCN (I-M) in Zurich. Gandhi might appear to be to lead the party. give rise to a new round of violence. many pockets in the Northeast suffer from a sense of siege. (M.10) brings to attention the dire need to empower women. especially in Manipur. Gandhi by the Congress Working Committee was more than just that: it was. It cannot be accepted before all its implications have been fully studied and examined. difference between faith and blind Insensitive killings of rationalists One area I think has not been faith. Gandhi. This has the potential to tear the State apart. Narayanan is former National Security Advisor and former Governor of West Bengal. Muivah declared that there was no question Whether we are at the point of a ‘historic accord’ or a ‘Framework Agreement’ in the Naga peace process. But the vote of confidence in Ms. had championed the cause of ‘dual citizenship’. for example. Muivah. There are other issues that also need to be taken into consideration.” Sep. and violence is often a given. To ensure their fair operations. the richness of our culture would have stood diminished.” Sep. bypassed the Home not to report extensively on the rightful place in our society. For Mr. but hardly given publicity.9). Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Ugale. Gandhi from future shocks in the Assembly elections that are due in the coming year — in which the Congress is not expected to do well — or to let him know that his work so far has been below par. The BJP-led combine hopes to secure the backing of the upper castes. Gandhi can hardly take comfort from the fact that the party’s highest decision-making body thought he needed protection from the impact of electoral losses. Giving up demand for Nagalim? Mr. Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad are friends-turned-rivalsturned-uneasy-partners who between them – along with Mr. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (former Addl. category for people who are ‘nonIt is heartening to note that the Hussain Mohammad Mobin. lest it raised undue hopes. At one point he mentioned that it would be somewhat similar prescriptions — the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). Mizos and other tribes in the plains areas of the State. Modi’s life story with the youth and the aspirational class — who account for over half the votes — to shatter the hold of caste. Almost every ethnic group in the Northeast has. which incessantly spews out carbon dioxide that is causing global warming. right action and State. It is imperative that prior to finalisation of any ‘framework agreement’. But it will be an even more challenging test for the popularity not just of the “grand alliance” of the Janata Dal (United). the CARTOONSCAPE High stakes in Bihar he Bihar Assembly elections are to be held in five phases from October 12. We shouldn’t forget that there are crores of people being served by the NGOs. It is fundamentalists. which further weaken the NSCN (I-M)’s claim. The NSCN (I-M) does not represent all Naga communities. a holdover from the period when China actively backed ‘wars of national liberation’. investment target has been Nagaon. killers has encouraged who was also transferred out of It is surprising to see that the perpetuation of such acts. The interlocutor also seemed rather vague on the question of Naga integration. the contours of what was agreed upon remain unclear. and have so far succeeded in keeping their heads above the water. has been a canny and shrewd opponent and an even smoother operator at the negotiating table. Mysuru Bias against women Mulyani Indrawati’s well-argued article “The bias against women keeps countries poorer. From remarks attri- achieved through a democratic process. it may well have a tough time retaining power. Hyderabad Use of thermal power The arguments against use of coal. he has a lot to learn from Prime Minister Modi. Lalu Prasad has not abandoned his image of an old-style socialist if backward-caste leader. like the Gulf countries. If an idea is floated in order to solely arrive at a settlement with the NSCN (I-M). Kothamangalam Sabrang’s suspension In the latest shift of focus from Greenpeace India to Teesta Setalvad’s NGO.10). this may be his last throw of the dice. but perhaps in the country at large. condoned as when one kills such an Prashant B. The Naga Hoho. As caste still remains the determining factor. a victory for the grand alliance will give the opposition a shot in the arm. Modi’s personal charisma and his 15-month-long record at the Centre will be under scrutiny. Consequently. which covers the tenure of [Anil] Goswami as well as [L. Rationality may answer the facts 19th century. making it clear that the government of India was not going to alter the boundaries of States. the party vice-president and leader-in-waiting. the implication is obvious: no matter what Ms. one attempts to kill an agriculture. senior Congress leaders thought he could not be of much help. U Several weeks after the August 3 ‘historic accord’ — since diluted to the status of a ‘framework agreement’ — between Delhi and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) [NSCN (I-M)]. Maharashtra Battle for Bihar The Bihar elections look like a personality contest between the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stakes are very high (“Fivephase Bihar polls from October 12. we would have an edge over other emerging economies. hence. have to be carefully thought through. It will also give a fillip to the formation of similar alliances in the context of other State elections. Accepting the Indian Constitution is an inalienable principle. Govind Since the dawn of human Jayalalithaa. Whether we are at the point of a ‘historic accord’ or a ‘framework agreement’.C. TN is a dry State and Kolhapur. it is left to Bihar’s 66 million voters to determine the direction of politics not just in this populous and backward State. Muivah seems to have reconciled to (i) upholding allegiance to the Indian Constitution and (ii) giving up his demand for ‘Nagalim’— a euphemism for a homeland for all Naga tribes of the Northeast. these have been dictated by a broader strategic vision. For more than a year. I also believe that violated the rules prescribed for time the media develops some when it comes to filling up of forms ethical code to telecast and show like those pertaining to GIM successful Silencing rationality www. Mr. there are intrinsic conflicts between the Sema. the Ministry of Home Affairs has shown its hard-line attitude toward NGOs operating in the country (“Licence of Teesta’s NGO suspended. the Congress is a minor partner in the opposition alliance. Gandhi ought not to think of leadership as privilege and of public service as sacrifice. The existence of different ethnic and tribal entities in the Northeast gives identity politics here special traction. who is heading the Bharatiya Janata Party-led combine’s campaign. Kumar’s own community). Otherwise. the venue shifted to New Delhi. But the Old Guard in the Congress remains sceptical of his capability to lead from the front. The play on words is rather disturbing. a vote of no-confidence in Rahul Gandhi. a committee with experts from both the government and the NGOs can be constituted to create a framework for their functioning. Given Mr. Mr. but there is no need for India to go along with his desire. Instead. Any economy depends on power generation for its growth. I believe the MHA [Ministry of Home television media and a lot of everyone has the freedom of Affairs] on the same day as Mr. one gets an impetus to maximum investments into the enquiry and understands the endure the struggle of life. Kumar would like people to describe him as a development-oriented. Political narratives. according to the interlocutor. The NSCN (I-M) leadership has. Assam Patiala reached during the Global Investment Meet (GIM) The murders of three rationalists.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU FRIDAY. The two have come together to stave off political irrelevance. It is today. and to a lesser extent in Arunachal Pradesh. the EBCs and Dalits. the party is not ready to let her hand over the reins to her son. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NSCN (Konyak-Kitovi) and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization. even as it leverages Mr. Kumar has even hired for his campaign a publicist-strategist who worked for Mr. though it seeks to convey a different impression. Mr. (“Investment target met: Narendra Dabholkar. but it has hardly endeared itself to other Naga communities in the region. With so much at stake. MHA) Bangladesh. State. This could vitiate an already disturbed atmosphere. Secretary. as nicely explained by in contemporary India cannot be given attention is investment in Narendra Dabholkar. Further. who together account for roughly 32 per cent. where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a meeting with Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. authorities to trace Dabholkar’s said: “It is learnt that Mr. Mr. Considering the hype surrounding the agreement. Eden Alexander. Modi. However.” giving more than ample time and who are atheists need not be That was factually incorrect and space to issues like Sheena Bora’s deterred by the acts of a handful of created an impression that I murder (Editorial. Education is a key tool for the empowerment of not only women but their families as a whole. solar or tidal. there has been a attempt at killing conflict of perception between abundant foreign capital needs full an confidence of investors with regard intellectualism and progressive social conservatives and social to their security and profitability. the concept of ‘shared sovereignty’ needs to be examined of giving up the demand for ‘Naga sovereignty’. Narayanan FRIDAY.7). Israel is world leader in attained only if the rationalists and water conservation and The killings of Dabholkar. Additionally. care is taken to see that there is an across the board acceptance of ‘fundamental principles’ and ‘objective necessities’. C. no doubt. including that for territory.M. he certainly cannot hope to be in the vanguard without being exposed to the line of fire. where elections are due next year. It is heartening to hear the story of participation of women in the workforce in submission of files. or those who have vast reserves of money like China. the Ao. The killers may have wanted to project themselves as protectors of ancient culture but did they forget about the Charvaka school of philosophy that propounds rationalism? But for the existence of such schools of thought. Sabrang. and that the Nagas appreciated the fact that ‘New Delhi had changed its mind regarding these issues’. Gandhi thinks. The latter would implicitly involve redrawing the boundaries of at least three States — Manipur. including the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill. The danger is that ‘shared sovereignty’ is likely to be perceived in Manipur as an attempt at pan-Naga integration. A BJP victory here would bolster the belief that the party. Muslims and Kurmis (which is Mr. is a debilitated entity. the need for greater clarity on what had transpired has become essential. Later. The then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had first met an NSCN (I-M) delegation in Paris way back in 1995. through be successful in attracting progressive. An educated mother can bring about a paradigm shift in the fortunes of a family. the extension of Sonia Gandhi’s tenure as Congress president by a year would not have been cause for any surprise. The global leaders are those who either have good sources of power. India’s State-based identity has not suffered any damage and does not require the cement of ‘shared sovereignty’ to prop itself up. mastered the art of semantics. All meetings were held in a cordial atmosphere. Additionally. Maharashtra idea. it has all the makings of a ‘riddle wrapped in an enigma’. whose influence is clearly waning. the publicity given to the signing ceremony on August 3 — at which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were present — and the symbolism attached to it seem rather exaggerated. In the Northeast. to let the Election Commission cope with the challenging logistics involved in the exercise. Parthasarathy Sen. for core support while working to break into the BJP’s extremely backward classes (EBCs) votes by pitching the battle as one between backward and forward castes. Vishiwjeet Singh. adherence to fundamental principles of the Indian Constitution is vitally important.jobsalerts. Mr. The NSCN (Khaplang) and the NSCN (Konyak-Kitovi) act independent of it buted to the government of India’s interlocutor to the talks. lest these foment newer demands. In West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Vizianagaram BG-BG . It is essential that the special social mechanism that sustains tribal orthodoxy is not disturbed. sharing of ‘sovereign power’ would not be confined to mere semantics. Mr. After his two-month sabbatical earlier this year. who knowledge. No rule or procedure was violated by me during my eight-month tenure in the MHA. it can have an adverse impact and could open a Pandora’s Box of problems across the country. and that the Nagas could hope to become ‘almost sovereignlike’. H. However. but many other regions of India as well. what should be actual news to the employment. true sanity can be availability of water for agriculture is scarce. Gandhi was being prepared for this greater responsibility. he declared that there could be no solution without integration. the grand alliance is looking to Yadavs. Many times. Consequently. In this. coal cannot be completely wished away. Unfurling the ‘Nagalim Flag’ to mark the day. Muivah. After suffering an electoral drubbing in Delhi. Even if the CWC was merely giving him more time to succeed his mother. Your report headlined.10).K. Details of what was agreed upon are still not in the public realm. Different communities in the Northeast compete for power and rank.co. The NSCN (Khaplang). Secretary and took matters issue of killing of rationalists while Atheism also has a place and those directly to the Minister. Singh. However willing Mr. Mr. ‘shared sovereignty’ will. come mostly from the developed countries. I followed the channel of submission scrupulously. had also faced The Government of Tamil Nadu opposition. less than a fortnight after the Delhi ‘accord’. “After Indore What is more serious is that the tiff. The implications of ‘shared sovereignty’ are far-reaching. could have utilised Israel’s in the minds of people who believe New Delhi expertise in areas such as drip in rational approach and are irrigation and water conservation critical of superstitious beliefs of for the benefit of the water-starved various religions. and whether ‘shared sovereignty’ violates the basic principles of the Indian Constitution needs to be examined.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. the Angami.” Sep. Politics in the region also clearly matters. Mr. there should be a public. thus bringing the Naga dominated Hills district of the State into the vortex of the conflict. Kuriakose. This is particularly true as far as moves on the Naga chessboard are concerned. all act independent of the NSCN (I-M). If we were to properly use the sources of power we have in our country. the party is not even a contender for power. it is no wonder that both sides are pulling out all the stops. More so considering the outcome. Mr. No file was submitted to the Home Minister directly without it having been seen by the Home Secretary. officer in WCD Ministry put inability of our law enforcement on compulsory wait” (Sept. Sep. This should not be disturbed through an inadequately thought out peace agreement with just one segment of the Naga leadership inside Nagaland. which have taken advantage of thermal power to reach their present economic stage (“Cleaning coal instead of wishing it away. Bapu Satyanarayana. on the occasion of ‘Naga Independence Day’ in Hebron (August 14). almost immediately. Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi — have ruled Bihar for some 20 of the last 25 years. much beyond the Thanjavur (Society for seekers of truth) in the purview of ordinary mortal souls. and who is a ‘tangkhul’ Naga from Manipur. and has already resulted in eight deaths. can have unexpected consequences. established Satyashodhak Samaj transcendence. 2015 Sceptical Old Guard? nder ordinary circumstances. India has plenty of experience in the effective management of conflicts in the Northeast and. It is absolutely through the ages and so cannot be wholeheartedly wish the meet to necessary that our society becomes demeaned. the tribal council of the Nagas. it would have a tectonic impact on peace and tranquillity in the entire region. Problems in other Northeast States The doctrine of ‘shared sovereignty’. An excess of areas of TN for boosting superstitious beliefs has resulted in the marginalisation of agricultural production. In Bihar. she is the party’s longest-serving president and the senior-most member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. SEPTEMBER 11. Modi in the 2014 general elections. for instance. rationalists. Muivah is a ‘tangkhul’ Naga from Manipur also affects his leadership claim. Gandhi did seem like an improved version of himself. It is not the first time that the NSCN (I-M) has claimed to have reached an agreement with the Indian government.in A climate of intolerance and hatred has led to the killings. who keeps a coterie of a younger generation of leaders. If Mr.10). Ashish Khatri. has not endorsed the latter’s leadership of the Naga cause.R. at different times.K. adherence to certain fundamental principles is vitally important. J. not only impacting States like Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Attracting Pansare and M. religious’. any expectation that an agreement with the NSCN (I-M) will be the harbinger of peace in the region will be a mistake. and an identity crisis afflicts most tribes and communities. The fact that Mr. For the time being. Muivah’s reputation as a master dissimulator. it would. the BJP is in a must-win situation. Let us accept that no single Investment for tapping solar seems to retain elements of perception is immaculate and only energy is a positive step towards conservatism even in the 21st a holistic understanding of the self Intellectuals like and universe can lead to true meeting shortage of power in the century. 2015 The devil is in the details M. Mr. focussing on any one individual could alienate those who do not belong to his or her community. Chins. The BJP’s decision is dictated not just by the failure of Kiran Bedi. marks civilisation. There can be no power without responsibility. appear that sharing of ‘sovereign power’ — or ‘shared sovereignty’ as the case may be — did figure in the talks with the NSCN (I-M). With the BJP having decided not to project a chief ministerial candidate. but also of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. modern politician. The agitation pits the Meiteis against the Kukis. his billions of dollars from real estate business and casinos. though. The bodies of six of the 20 Indians who were on board have been found. This is undoubtedly an achievement as it shows the faith placed by the investors. Trump is. Something else that could woo investors is its amended land acquisition Act. What also matters is the health of the economy.jobsalerts. Their ‘paryushan’ should not be spiritual enlightenment cannot be politicised to give an impression of gained by intrusion into the a non-existent war against the practices of the other. Trump has. a few welcome degrees to the Left. put onself in the shoes of to function. Pepsi-vs. its plan.S. he has favoured protectionism (though this is packaged in his usual racist ranting against China). who make up between 30 and 45 per cent of Yemen’s population. Also. For the promises to become reality. Joe Lieberman. there is a Messianic belief in the exceptional status of the United States. and a measure of economic nationalism has not cost him in the polls but only bolstered his standing. Malappuram you understand the ‘other’. Ramakrishnasayee. and a brain to mouth pipeline that seems to have no filter whatsoever. Bush in the rush to war in Iraq based on dubious claims about weapons of mass destruction and. The Centre’s monks and nuns covering their vested interests in viewing such mouth with cloth so that even issues through the communal insects should not be affected when prism gives credence to the myth of they breathe (“Meat sale ban not Hindu supremacy. colloquially our secular democracy has ceased speaking. inequality. Meat ban and ahimsa The Bombay High Court’s public denouncement of the ban draws the One of the most appealing and attention back to the earlier cowaesthetically satisfying aspects of slaughter ban. all other contenders hew to a depressingly narrow range of views when it comes to public policy GOP has hewed to a set of supply-side policies that may be charitably summarised as ‘banking on the rich and screwing the poor’. It was the melting pot of subjected her to interrogations Buddhism. Vineet Phadtare. this election is about by a Saudi Arabian diplomat is not their pride and ego. But the ground reality is different. What made this crisis worse were its sectarian underpinnings. The human costs of such a development will be catastrophic. been a cat amongst the pigeons as far as the Republicans are concerned. Thanks to the extremism of the Tea Party fringe on any tax increase. not just in Tamil Nadu but across India. In the realm of foreign policy. called would not only discriminate sthanaks. immigration. But the challenge starts now. the absence of political endorsements and the lack of party support bode ill for his campaign in the longer run. Mr. (Sankaran Krishna is professor of political science at the University of Hawaii. In the area of defence production.co. the momentary popularity of a maverick like Mr. the rebels are still in Sana’a. To put in a simpler way. Trump evokes strong negative reactions from a significant section of the population. irrespective of whether or not he wins the nomination. the summit has offered scope for a significant proportion of engineering students to focus on better placements and expect better research facilities and more productive industry-academia interaction. war. The common factor Jainism is tolerance. From the closing down of the high-profile Nokia and Foxconn factories to the seemingly never-ending infrastructure and power woes. by putting yourself in her The ban on the sale of meat and fish place. can only be hesitate to pursue the matter realised if there is a strong leader. and related issues held by candidates of both parties that are themselves deeply problematic and unsustainable in the long run. The destruction of infrastructure and the import restrictions imposed by a Saudi-led coalition have led to 21 million out of the population of 26. figures like Mr.S. Coimbatore Having attracted twice the targeted investment. a shrinking middle class is faced with bleaker prospects than ever. with the partial exception of Jeb Bush. the other.11). importantly. many other religions. Tamil Nadu has had to contend with one piece of bad news after another. Therefore. and in an increasingly interlinked world could affect domestic investment. and demanding the repatriation of 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.” Sep. and are reportedly close to Iran. namely that person to whom you are hostile. it is most secular values of the nation. an event that was postponed twice and at one point even seemed a doubtful starter. Shubham Goel. He has no standing even within the Republican party. There are many things going for the State. meat-eating community. will also be consigned to the same ash heap of electoral trivia in due course. I suggest. It is more important to note that all the seven men led their nearest rival by considerable margins. Mr. U. voters in Bihar will Riyadh. markets.11). he stands out and this might well explain his early lead. gender. and steeper reductions in state spending has left the U. Despite seeing a decent growth in the past 10 years. They were instrumental in the 2011 public protests in Yemen that led to the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. and the nation’s infrastructure — bridges. 2015 Advantage Tamil Nadu or a State that has long enjoyed a reputation for being an attractive investment destination. The late ideological position is becoming Ramchandra Gandhi.edu. doesn’t permit kingdoms and empires like violation of laws of the resident Magadha. you might well believe/have believed that they have had the nomination secured. One ought then to beware both of those vehemently critical and those manically supportive of the man — both constituencies make you forget the madness that occupies the allegedly desirable and normal middle ground in the United States.2. None of the other GOP aspirants dare join him in calling for higher taxes on the top one per cent as they depend on raising money from the very class. If you look at the media coverage for all of them at the time they were leading. A ban Jain places of worship. bankrolling his own campaign and is free of that constraint. The Vienna Convention on Muzaffarpur Diplomatic Relations. like weather reporting. Mr. power reforms need to continue.J. real wages for working class Americans have flatlined. It is a pity that a of whose members lead a hand-tosense of conflict has been created mouth existence. not least the traditional advantages it has had – skilled manpower. support for Obamacare. But failing to do so could further devastate Yemen. also known as the Grand Old Party (GOP).” Donald Trump may well be the instrument of such naturalisation at this point in time. India had to www. nevertheless. Howard Dean and Pat Buchanan have in common? If you answer by telling they are all white men who have contested for the nomination of their political party for the U. one cannot help but despair at the poverty of political choice in the United States. Trump’s line or tried to outdo him. his extremism. In reality. New Delhi especially if the RJD wins more Bihar polls seats than the JDU (“High stakes in Bihar.-Coke nature of the contest American liberals. casteism and sectarianism have become so deeply-rooted that the politics in Bihar suffers from a 4P syndrome (power. The coalition government could end up being indirectly controlled by Lalu. in polls and surveys held around 400 days before the actual election. The pitch is good.S. Faced with more than a dozen largely uncharismatic contenders. the last few years have been sub par for Tamil Nadu. It won’t be easy to bring both the pro-Hadi factions and Houthis to the table.42 lakh crore investments in Tamil Nadu (“GIM nets investment of Rs. Even as Gujarat seemed to overpower virtually every other State in the mind space of investors. the stakes are high for different Hapur. Will the end result also be? F What do Donald Trump.42 lakh crore. Should unbecoming of the core followers of the rituals of one community be Jainism to oppose the practices of allowed to become the reason of the ‘other’ as a requirement for inconvenience for another their own satisfaction in worship — community? The holy festival of be it meditation or fasting. which experts are already talking about as a model for other States. The polarisation of society in terms of wealth has reached levels not seen since the 1920s. Though India just pretend to be well-wishers enjoys a friendly relationship with because they belong to the same the kingdom and is hugely caste.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU SATURDAY.000 wounded since its aircraft started hitting Yemen in late-March.S. But at the same time. Trump has argued that the disappearance of the great American middle-class is a catastrophe that can be averted only by increased taxes on the super-rich and guarded support for state initiatives such as Obamacare. do not have any image or against the vast population of meat statues or any material substance eaters but also against the as is usually associated with many community of meat-sellers.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. SEPTEMBER 12. Viewed against such a wide backdrop. you name it — has deteriorated to the point that the United States looks positively shabby in contrast with Europe or the rising In another departure from GOP orthodoxy. his message seems to resonate with CARTOONSCAPE The perils for Yemen he bombing of two boats carrying also Indians off Yemen’s coast by Saudi warplanes this week shows that Riyadh is indiscriminately using air power to pound Yemen in the name of fighting Houthi rebels. and even if he doesn’t need their money. militarism. let alone becoming President of the U. fullscale deregulation. Straw polls and opinion surveys. There is a touching faith in the market and privatisation despite many catastrophic failures. His sheer excesses draw our attention onto him and away from the extreme views of the alleged moderates on similar issues struction of a giant wall to seal the U. However. infrastructure woes and the cost of finance. dares to argue for a position favourable to Palestine in a manner that would be considered routine or ordinary in much of Europe or the rest of the world. With the reduce hostility and thereby silencing of many dissenting voices. New Delhi Spectacular GIM It is heartening to note that the two-day Global Investors Meet (GIM) in Chennai has attracted Rs. financial markets. today. criminal justice. a unique clearer. It’s still not clear why the Saudis targeted the boats. further dismantling the welfare state. Barring a miracle of stupendous proportions.” Editorial. Jainism and Hinduism. but it is the highest for the 66 million voters. whose months-long air campaign in Yemen has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Stepping back from these details.jobsalerts. A cat amongst the pigeons Yet. For once. presidency. six out of these seven men never even came close to becoming their party’s nominee.” and values of our secular Constitution “From Kashmir down.” Mr. With Bernie Sanders anchoring himself around a socialdemocratic ideology of state spending. Also. tossing the feasible in Mumbai: HC. But it is his views on the economy that could have implications for the presidential race. the chaos and human tragedy caused by the war are helping terror groups such as al-Qaeda. of course. under the Vision 2023 document. South Korea. subsequently. prisons. the welfare state. Ranipet The summit came as a welcome employment opportunity for lakhs of youngesters. including his family members. and gun control. Chennai BG-BG . The disconnect between economic growth numbers and the everyday well-being of the vast majority of American citizens has never been wider than it is now. both global and domestic. Trump’s call for higher taxes. It merits remembering that Hillary Clinton supported George W. 2015 ‘The Donald’ is no trump card Sankaran Krishna SATURDAY. the seventh. Avanti and Vaishali. stirring up a bit of competition. Trump are what enable the likes of Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush to emerge as normal and balanced candidates for the presidency. a start has been made.www. It’s unfortunate that the people of Yemen are being forced to bear the brunt of the Saudi-Iran rivalry. money and mind. A. airports. One of the important implications of investment is in job-creation.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. someone living in the Swat valley in Pakistan? Or in Fallujah in Iraq? The incapacity to even pose such a question demonstrates the Pepsi-versus-Coke character of its presidential contests and the limits of the American political imagination. Chhattisgarh and West Bengal have taken a cue from Gujarat in staging their own investor summits. defence spending. S. With the partial exception of Mr. the conventional wisdom was that Republicans who mooted such an idea would be swiftly discredited — yet not only has Mr. they have either toed Mr. M. Trump serving at this moment? Posed that way.S. States such as Madhya Pradesh.2. It must have calculated that a military intervention in Yemen and a possible defeat of the Houthis would weaken Iran and strengthen its regional standing. But the operation has been largely counter-productive. environmental and other regulatory agencies. Trump’s economic views hold out the promise of shifting the debate in the U. no contender for the Republican nomination has found the political courage to oppose this spent supply-side economic ideology — with the partial exception of Mr. violence if one can. Trump survived. and. higher taxes. eventually forcing him to flee the country. describing Mexican immigrants as drug peddlers and rapists. Lalu Prasad Yadav’s confidantes. (U)-RJD] alliance will be after it Devaki Jain. Typically. more than double of what the initial target seemed to be. Mr. The icing on the cake is that investors have pledged Rs. Sanya Khan.-Mexico border. and Singapore. India should take up the matter with Embassy of the Saudi Arabia seeking justice for the victims. The international community cannot look away. one is yet to be accounted for. Trump raises an interesting question: what social-historical function is Mr. package. there is tremendous support for arms exports — the U. Qualitative and not quantitative development will pave the way for a progressive and In the Bihar Assembly Elections. not even Mr. Rick Perry. let us not forget the closure of Nokia Factory because of which 2500 employees faced unemployment. The of those who they believe are likely government of India has done well to improve their living conditions. It has to put pressure on Riyadh to end the bombing. you would be correct in a pedantic sense.11). who rises above all castes and has Bengaluru the courage to carry the entire State together. and try to facilitate talks between the rival camps in Yemen. It is in this context that one has to see Tamil Nadu’s successful staging of its first-ever Global Investors Meet. Sanders. proving that its pre-poll philosopher.” Sep. national parks. making him the de facto Chief Minister even as his disqualification period of six years runs its course. Mr.” Sep. With his celebrity status as a host of a popular television show. highways. Yet. those such as Karnataka. In this respect. The State has made some progress in dealing with its grave power crisis but isn’t as yet completely out of the woods. The Houthis are Shias. with his support amongst a constituency of rising importance — Hispanics — being as low as 15 per cent. to invest $250 billion toward infrastructure needs to come good.11). Telangana and Andhra Pradesh came across as being more proactive in seeking hi-tech industries. For The alleged rape of Nepali women politicians. Announcing that plutocrats like himself deserve to be taxed more. to summon the envoy and request Voters should not opt for those who for cooperation. clearances and the process of land acquisition take time. N. country by them. I am reminded of a definition of investment: “It is a point of intersection of economics and psychology” (that is. In the case of Pataliputra (modern Patna) was Indian diplomat Devyani the capital of Mauryas. the Houthis marched towards the capital. Sep. Donald Trump. which were moving across the Red Sea from the Somalian port of Berbera to Mokha in Yemen.S. Meanwhile. His sheer excesses draw our eyes onto him and away from the extreme views of the alleged moderates on similar issues. This transposition of identity in different parts of the country could melt the hostility. strongly. With the exception of Bernie Sanders. Who will answer for this tragedy? But such questions are of little concern for Saudi Arabia. at present. peaceful industrial relations and a strong manufacturing ecosystem. Like lemmings. One can avoid or but a resounding farce. Muhammed Hafiyy. Even those that materialise eventually do so over a period of time. But the Saudi-managed post-Saleh transition kept Houthis out of political power. as in the case of several other external interventions in West Asia. Of late. authorities Nandas. They now need humanitarian assistance. Mumbai Vikramshila and Nalanda were the oldest learning centres which had scholars from all over the world. Saurav Kumar. The true potential of Bihar. Newt Gingrich. there has been little going for it. Guptas and Khobragade. Giuliani and Mr. The idea that economic growth can only be ensured by slashing taxes on the rich. He can be reached at krishna@hawaii. One of them should be: does the election of a Democrat or a Republican to the White House make any difference to people like. Trump. Such is poses a big question mark on the ahimsa. The way forward is for all parties to rise above sectarian divisions and contest on the plank of development. prosperous Bihar. There’s a lot that needs to be done to make promises a reality but. allows for the normalisation and mainstreaming of a whole range of opinions on race.S. Trump has upped the ante on xenophobia for other aspirants. Since Ronald Reagan. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR many in the GOP’s rank and file. and the reconstruction of a welfare state to revive the middle-class. SEPTEMBER 12. The global economy looks fragile. populism and propaganda). dependent on it for oil. Preventing the fulfilment of need of any other community as a necessary condition of their own spirituality would go against the The real test for a Janata Dal very core of ahimsa which is the (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal [JD fundamental ethic of Jainism. One cannot help but despair at the poverty of political choice in the United States. it should not which is immense. it must be remembered that the State government has the responsibility to ensure that the desired infrastructure is provided. Tamil Nadu. succeeds in securing a majority. The surprise has been that Mr. Not one candidate. Trump’s comments on women have been equally obnoxious. It is unbelievable have to shed their traditional caste. gain in accuracy only as the time horizon shortens. Buchanan.S. needs those jobs. two ‘M’s). Saudi Arabia’s main concern is over Iran gaining a foothold in its backyard through the Houthis. There is data to show how little of the investment promises actually translate to investment on the ground. In other words. including concerns about the aggressive taxman. on the behalf of Jains with respect New Delhi to their practices of meditation and fasting. Tamil Nadu has always underplayed itself. The ruling party’s over. When President Hadi failed to consolidate power. Gopalakrishnan. assiduously dispels any idea that she is less macho than others when it comes to foreign policy or on being “tough” on crime. Amtrak. especially those smug about their progressive ideology and beliefs. all other contenders hew to a depressingly narrow range of views when it comes to public policy. it is about their livelihood the entire Saudi Arabian kingdom (“Waive immunity. Seven months after Riyadh started bombing Yemen. The principle in the both issues is the communal of ahimsa (non-violence) is a basic politics practised by the Bharatiya tenet which is why we find Jain Janata Party (BJP). in a shambles. Uttar Pradesh political parties. This is a good opportunity for the State Government to take steps to undo the damage done due to the closure of the factory.500 people have been killed and 23. If the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu is correct in saying that “every established order tends to produce the naturalization of its own arbitrariness. Subbiah. the pot boils to the winds. need to ask themselves some questions that comes hard to the citizens of any country but perhaps especially to those of a superpower. environmental sustainability. leading them to break peace with Sana’a and resume their armed rebellion. the East Asian economies of China. will try to extract their pound of flesh by staking claim to plum Cabinet posts. in almost every case by double digits. but for the just a heinous crime but a blot on natives.4 lakh crore. Delhi tells and their future. exports more armaments than all the other leading countries combined. Donald Trump has a lot of name recognition.7 million being deprived of essential commodities and basic services. 2. The Saudi version is that it intervened to defend Yemen’s internationally recognised regime of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi against Houthi rebels.that even officials in responsible based voting habits and make positions resort to such shameless strong decisions by voting in favour acts and try to get away with it. Ravi Chander. with its huge talent pool of engineers and students with technical skills. Hemant Kumar Pandey. Sanders. By calling for the con- Figures like Donald Trump are what enable the likes of Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush to emerge as normal and balanced candidates for the presidency.in Diplomatic immunity recall her. Bihar still remains among the least-developed States. once elaborated this promises of achhe din were nothing concept to me. while providing immunity to diplomats Bihar has been host to many great from arrest. in particular for Mr. It hardly helped that there were larger issues affecting investment in India. Mr. Over 4.S. Rudy Giuliani. There is also a limited spectrum of views on fields like public education. “back to where they came from. instead. However. and a little more likely (though still odds are against it) that the country will pull out of the European Union (EU). the outright victory of David Cameron’s Conservatives in the May general elections — Jeremy Corbyn’s triumph is the most outlandish and unexpected one. By ordering a ban on meat for an extended period. he will no doubt be on a flight to safety and out of the reach of Indian authorities pretty soon. The diversity.” Clearly.” Sep. When more States began announcing similar bans. In Jammu and Kashmir. raising the suspicion that the idea of a ban was meant to further the BJP’s political agenda. many of them deeply disillusioned by party politics. “perhaps the most Left-wing MP in the House of Commons”. if New Delhi shows its determination to pursue this case. Iyer. Sustained pressure may bear results given that Saudi Arabia expects to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi this year. think again.jobsalerts. He has never been a Minister. India must push the Saudi government for accountability. Such an ill. while the BJPcombine is counting on the upper castes and the EBCs (extremely backward Classes). Delhi Bihar polls Perhaps smarting from Kiran Bedi’s fate in Delhi. the BJP-led NDA has not projected a chief ministerial candidate and wants to cash in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma (“High stakes in Bihar. but for his enlightened views on critical issues concerning water. It is doubtful whether Jeremy Corbyn’s victory reflects a wider trend in the European Left. The strength of his support carries a warning to politicians of all parties — they have lost the confidence and respect of a significant slice of the country. Regardless of the gravity of the crime. but also on account of its growing exploitation through the government policy of engineering diversion of rivers. Sabarimala. Mr. restoring its radical vigour. Chitvan Singh Dhillon. Mohammad Abdur Rahman. If you imagine Mr. the man who says what he means More retro than Syriza. Political commentators have been queuing up to insist that two elections were decided over the weekend — Jeremy Corbyn’s victory in turn means. the Shiv Sena warned the Jain community that it risked being alienated from mainstream Indian society if it continued to insist on a ban on meat. From his searching questions. heralding the contest which reached its climax at the weekend. listened to me for one hour with rapt attention. with his impressive scientific and technical backing. he has been the perpetual rebel. banks on their traditional vote banks of the Yadavas. A hard-Left leader may appeal to Labour party activists. the publicity given to the ban this time. nevertheless. and emphatic. the beliefs.12). 13). There are many such siren voices warning that the British Labour Party’s dramatic. however. that will serve as a deterrent to any others who may seek to use their diplomatic status to claim immunity from the consequences of their crimes. and saying what they think is popular rather than what they believe. anti.in for The Hindu will certainly be missed and his rich legacy will always be cherished. “I think that in modern America. In India too. Muslim women secular values. and thus risked a backlash from some of their own core supporters. overall situation in Kashmir such a ban is lopsided. India’s appears to be favourable. a paper which has never showed much friendly interest in the British Left. N.” read the alarmist headline on The Daily Telegraph’s website. indigenous Hizbul Mujahideen. It seems that the Maharastra However the youth of Kashmir Government has forgotten that should know that Islam is the India is a secular republic [as the second largest religion in India and preamble states] and that there is that terrorism of any kind. smaller in size and scale when Khammam compared with the 7/11 or 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Mr.S. Corbyn’s key policy proposals. and the party has confounded con- The resounding victory of veteran Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn in the elections for leader of Britain’s main Opposition party will reshape politics in the United Kingdom— and perhaps beyond. His victory could well encourage mavericks and outliers elsewhere to believe that they can capture high political ground ventional political common sense by swinging sharply away from the political Centre. suggesting at the end that I give a talk to the technical staff of his Ministry. its own ally in Maharashtra. It is probably the most emphatic personal mandate any party leader has secured in modern British history. His intellectual prowess on policy issues knew no bounds. and the Bharatiya Janata Party came under attack from the Shiv Sena. As the Corbyn campaign gathered steam. New Delhi will still have several options to pursue the case at the bilateral level.” Sep. A. (Andrew Whitehead was both India correspondent and U. there is a growing concern over the inequality bred by the economic growth of the last few decades. over the decision. Iyer will always be remembered as India’s “water man” who was instrumental in drafting India’s first national water policy way back in 1987. the High Court called for the strict implementation of a long-forgotten law that prohibits the slaughter of cows. In more than 30 years in Parliament. Those polar opposites of American politics. the Left here is on the decline and there is no socialist leader of stature in sight who is capable of inspiring the nation with an alternative vision. It would be in our country’s interests that policymakers realise the portents and take active steps to wean the youth away from such groups. probably no more than one-tenth of the party’s MPs backed him. renouncing nuclear weapons.12).” it added. The qualities which have won him the election are constancy of political principle — some say his views have not changed on any important issue since the 1970s — and his personal humility and honesty. It is entirely possible that he will see his main goal as shaking up the Labour Party. SEPTEMBER 14. surely the finest in his tribe “A visionary on water issues. Corbyn’s victory will. and it being extended from two days to four and eight days. His articles www.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. and militates against the food preferences of a majority of the people in the States concerned. Many sellers and consumers of meat are not opposed to a ban on the sale for a day or two. And of course on key issues — opposing public spending cuts. But there is a risk that the new leader will be cold-shouldered by many of the party’s rising stars who feel deeply uncomfortable about printing more money to ease austerity. Mr. a break from old-style social democracy — Mr.13) and raises the spectre of fascism. Mohan. the States of Rajasthan. They should see that this question of meat ban during is a land where communal ‘Paryushan’ goes against all our harmony prevails. And Arthunkal slaughtering.” Sep. oxen and buffaloes. “The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party is a catastrophe.K. While it would be unfair and imprudent to pronounce him (and possibly others) guilty without going through due process of law. I had no doubt that he fully shared my concerns. Chandigarh I read with profound sorrow the passing away of Ramaswamy R. Kannur Water visionary Ramaswamy R. the government had already introduced a ban on beef. Jeremy Corbyn is. In a country that upholds the secular values and credentials of its citizens and where different Though going by the statistics. Corbyn’s shadow Cabinet team. But there may well be quite a few skeletons lurking in his political closet which his rivals will delight in disinterring. That local issues have religious intolerance. now this bearded. alcoholabstaining socialist — with a touch of the ageing hippy about him — is the leader of Her Majesty’s official Opposition. but he too got away. Iyer. somewhat sceptically. A perpetual rebel Many thought that a humbled Labour Party would head for the centre ground.D.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU MONDAY. rallied to his standard. Corbyn is much more retro. Azhar A Khan. And he is 66 — so ‘Old Labour’ in more ways than one. mild or individual liberty for every citizen strong. I could not help feeling a deep concern over the growing water crisis in our country. a personable but not a commanding personality. Anil Singh — that since participate in the Janmashtami fish and eggs don’t involve celebrations. I think greater Bengaluru development and more employment opportunities for the One fails to understand the logic youth will go a long way in curbing behind the ban on sale of meat for local militancy in Kashmir. welcom- When so many politicians are seen as unprincipled and too concerned about personal advancement. The ban is a violation of fundamental rights of Indians and I am at a loss to While the local youth in Kashmir understand why we don’t even are increasingly joining the have the right to eat what we want. I decided to seek an appointment with the newly appointed Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources. they argue. a friend I deeply admired. customs and faiths co-exist. charges of enslaving women have been brought against Saudi Arabian diplomats — to no avail. Thiruvalla Jeremy Corbyn’s win Jeremy Corbyn’s convincing victory in elections for the Labour party’s leadership in the U. Not surprisingly. Mr. If it fails to secure the Saudi government’s cooperation. The day is not milder (“Hizbul now biggest far when people will need the militant group”. which termed the move “regressive” and “absurd” in a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai. to say the least. A greater international impact could well be in encouraging mavericks and outliers to believe that they can capture high political ground. It also renders hollow India’s arguments that trouble in the State is on account of Pakistan’s interference. it got barely 30 per cent of the national vote and so was consigned to another five years out of power.S. “A catastrophe for the Labour Party. Labour’s Centre-Left leader Ed Miliband promptly resigned. Iyer was a bureaucrat with a difference. sodomised. Labour’s new leader is clever enough to know that he now needs to be a lot more careful about who he calls his friend. So let’s just sit back and watch the drama unfold. it seems ironic that the Indian government must watch helplessly as a diplomat who has been accused of brutalising two women is able to evade police action. Corbyn is seen as the anti-politician politician. This was not only due to our disappearing natural forests and misuse of natural resources. This fed into the political unrest in the Muslim-majority State. Gujarat. It should be contributed to the appeal of this Right to eat Hizbul’s popularity militant organisation points to the extent of disenchantment of the people with governments at the Centre and in the State. Corbyn is seen as the anti-politician politician. In the U. is instructive as it helps to understand the often compromised character of elections in democracies.K. Although such a move is nothing new.K. will only tear apart the to practise his/her beliefs without country’s fabric of unity in any imposition from the state. But where does Labour go from here? Jeremy Corbyn’s immediate problem is that he does not have the support of the parliamentary Labour party. the BJP governments have revealed a fundamentalist streak. iconoclastic by temperament. I was entrusted with setting up a new Department of Environment in November 1980 under the ministerial charge of Mrs. The Labour Party thought it would win the May election. south for Hindu pilgrims going to Sneha Mukherjee. After Maharashtra. However. where he observes. are both likely to find encouragement in Mr. usually the days preceding and following those days would see an increase in sales and compensate for the day of the ban.12). it Governments impose such bans. but also having found a committed crusader who. international diplomatic conventions must be followed. But the last few extraordinary months and years in British politics have shown how unwise it is to gaze into the soothsayer’s crystal ball. vegetarian. In his view of the world. Yet he won by a landslide. Britain hasn’t had a Prime Minister that old since Winston Churchill more than sixty years ago. Uttar Pradesh BG-MY . Georgia did so for its deputy ambassador to the United States who was held guilty in a drunken driving accident that left his 16-year-old co-passenger dead. There appears to be a serious search among the common people for an alternative to the neoliberal economic policies that have wreaked havoc in the lives of the poor across the world. At the very least. There was particular anger in the U. Corbyn’s success as they compete respectively for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations. resulted in much disquiet. When so many politicians are seen as un- ing refugees. protecting welfare benefits.jobsalerts. He has never shown a great deal of personal ambition.Mujahideen cannot but be advised ban would only arouse disturbing. but could well terrify the floating voters who need to be won back from the Conservatives. and move back towards the ‘New Labour’ pragmatism associated with Tony Blair. He was venomously criticised during the leadership campaign for being sympathetic to Irish republicanism and to Hamas and Hizbollah in West Asia. But that did not convince the Bombay High Court. Sep.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. 2015 No thought for food an one person’s religious freedom interfere with another’s food preferences? And what if the freedom of one religious group is in conflict with that of another? The ban imposed in some States on the sale of meat during the Jain community’s annual fasting period of Paryushan is problematic for more than one reason. four days in a metropolitan city like Chennai Mumbai. Several prominent figures in the party have already said they will not take a role in Mr. and the wide publicity given to it. Chhattisgarh and Haryana followed suit. (“‘The Donald’ is no trump card. There is not a lot of evidence of new thinking on the Labour Left. demanding action against social inequality — Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters took a stand which was in marked contrast to the equivocations of his rivals.” and “Veteran socialist shakes up Labour. India will need to be sensitive to Nepal’s concerns in the matter. C “The day the Labour Party died. The man who says what he means. just hours after Jeremy Corbyn’s victory was announced on Saturday. and the U. the uniqueness and culture lies in its popularity of home-grown Hizbul unity amidst diversity. Rampur. is yet another proof of increasing support for Left politics in the Western world (“Socialist Corbyn wins Labour party leadership in landslide. One of the first messages of congratulations came from Syriza. in 2004 when a Saudi official was accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. Podemos which nearly half-a-million Labour Party members and registered supporters participated. meanwhile. political correspondent during a BBC career stretching over 35 years. with separatist leaders calling for a shutdown in protest. Mr. In Maharashtra. and weaken democracy by depriving the country of a credible and effective Opposition. given that those involved are citizens of a third country and came here from earthquake-hit and impoverished parts of Nepal seeking livelihood opportunities desperately. the bar on all meat varieties was therefore seen as an extension of the same Hindutva agenda. unwelcome move (“Mumbai meat Muscat ban raises key constitutional question. keeping out of other countries’ conflicts. the most Blairite of the leadership candidates came last with less than 5 per cent of the vote. Prasand Thampy. and held captive at knife-point over months. and unless the Saudi government can be prevailed upon to waive the diplomat’s immunity. With my experience. Of all the convulsions that have shocked Britain’s political system of late — the success of an anti-Europe. Indeed. Even the permission of the government recent Gurdaspur and Udhampur terror attacks in Punjab were even to breathe. Corbyn reflects the 1970s socialist distrust of American foreign policy and support for movements of an anti-imperialist mindset. waiving immunity has been done in exceptional cases in the past.” Sep. In 1997. 2015 Old Labour’s 21st century moment Andrew Whitehead MONDAY. left to the individual to decide what he/she should eat and the state The moratorium imposed on meat should provide enabling in Maharashtra is really an conditions only to help its citizens. I CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Mr. the resurgence of a radical Scottish nationalism. Corbyn has suggested that he wants to reach out to all wings of the party. I was delighted when the new Secretary. A catastrophe for the country. While Riyadh is unlikely to give up its diplomat. The Saudi Arabian official cannot even be taken in for questioning on the allegedly barbaric crimes he and some of his family members participated in at their residence in New Delhi.13). The stated rationale for the prohibition — which does not cover fish and eggs — is to prevent ‘slaughter’ during the period of fasting.” Sep. Narasimhan. the hard-Left governing party in Greece. He will be in his seventies at the time of the next general election in 2020.immigration party in elections to the European Parliament. However. we have far too many options for breakfast cereal and not enough options for President. That is a wise move — not least because the hard Left has very few political figures of real talent and stature. that the governing Centre-Right Conservatives are now certain of re-election the next time Britain votes. charismatic demagogue. with his allies. Kangayam R.www. After a five-year spell in charge of forests and wildlife in the Union Ministry of Agriculture. knowing the indifference with which such senior officials usually listened to concerns involving the environment. in the words of The Economist. their consumption Church and Vavar Mosque are isn’t a violation of ahimsa — is important destinations in the amusing. That the States ruled by the BJP are the ones seeking to impose the ban on meat is not lost on anyone. Jayal. thousands of young men and women. Indira Gandhi. In fact. Mr. A touch of the ageing hippy Yet.” wrote a columnist for The Telegraph. Dehradun No trump card Sankaran Krishna’s analysis of the role of figures like Donald Trump when it comes to presidential campaigns in the U. Corbyn to be a fiery. India has an added responsibility. The British political system is in some disrepair. the order of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation requiring slaughter houses and meat shops to remain closed for four days during the fasting period led to public outrage. CARTOONSCAPE Act with firmness n a country that has seen much outrage over cases of rape and has passed strict laws in the past few years to check such crimes. Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. A catastrophe for our political system. Other countries have also waived immunity when the crimes merited a full investigation. taking 60 per cent of the votes in a four-sided contest in principled. and making way for a younger man or woman within two or three years. despite what one official termed a “disproportionately high” number of cases involving Saudi officials in heinous crimes. the facts of the case. Firoz Ahmad. the dominance of the market over the polity and the huge expenses involved in canvassing present a deadly challenge to the very idea of democracy. Mainstream Labour figures are desperately worried that the party is heading to the Left when the country is edging to the Right. the outcome of medical examination procedures and eyewitness accounts have led officials to admit that prima facie there is evidence that the victims were repeatedly raped. Muslims and Kurmis — comprising approximately 32 per cent of the total voters. He produced a rich body of eloquent and forthright commentary on delicate water policy and environmental issues. Saudi Arabia has always protected its diplomats. But a bar for four consecutive days. P. While three-fifth of party members and supporters voted for him as leader. lurch to the Left will consign it to electoral oblivion. the issue became contentious and took on a communal colour.K. shape Britain in coming years — it is now less likely that Britain will intervene militarily in Syria. lent invaluable support to people’s movements against the wanton exploitation of our most precious natural resource — water. not only as a brilliant author and contributor to your paper’s columns. abandoning Britain’s nuclear arsenal and other of Mr. The argument given in Patna take their children by the Bombay High Court dressed up as Lord Krishna to advocate. SEPTEMBER 14. The caste factor assumes a great deal of significance as Nitish Kumar. Manohar Alembath. The paradox of choice: why more is less. is comforting to know that they are completely ignoring the livelihood influenced less by the Lashkar-econcerns of a large section of Taiba (LeT) and its militancy and people who eke out a living by that terror attacks are getting working in abattoirs. He is a none-too-impressive orator.. It is not simply that the electorate may decide they don’t want a hard-line socialist leading the country. But while Syriza and its Spanish counterpart Podemos are the shock troops of a new Left — youthful in profile. too concerned about personal advancement. Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t really shown a lot of hunger for the top job. Could we see in a few years time Jeremy Corbyn becoming the most Left-wing Prime Minister in British history? Even many of his supporters think that is unlikely.co. It reminded me of Barry Schwartz’s book. I returned from the meeting not only having acquired a fine and brilliant friend. raised fears that the implementation would be strict and that those who did not conform might face prosecution. Instead.14). which ripped through a three-storey residential-cum-commercial complex that also housed an eatery. the Commission noted that protesters who died or were injured had been shot in the head. Visionary leadership can again overcome the clash of interests between the ruling Bahun-Chhetri elite and the Janajatis. Abhishek Baul.” Editorial. C. Sreekumar. cultural exchanges under Mughals were not free of tensions. According to reports. as happened at the time of the Jana Andolan of 2006 and the Madhesi agitation of 2007. This challenge cannot be underestimated. the Nepal Army. However. His unconventional campaign that broke with the political tradition of stage-managed engagement indeed rejuvenated the ranks. are among the policies that may win backing from some of the parliamentarians. and from 1955 his son and successor. the agency announced plans to computerise its operations but that project still appears to be a work in progress. while it may be true that Aurangzeb acted “politically. The victors should not fall victim to a sense of triumphalism. most importantly. A. Protests have shut it down for over the past three weeks. Unfortunately. There are no fishing debate on abolishing death penalty activities in coastal regions during but we rarely hear any noise when this month. 1994. That is true. King Birendra quickly adjusted to the new contingency. The sale and transport of such explosive materials is meant to be regulated by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. He reiterated that Nepal’s political leadership should resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue between all political parties through a process of consultation involving all the parties. In Hindu culture. Nepal’s Human Rights Commission has asked government to do so. the real problem goes deeper and involves the question of proper regulation of the sale. The suppression exploded after years of exploitation by the management and the hypocrisy of the union leaders affiliated with political parties. Shravan. It is time for Nepal’s political leaders to show this can be done. And that was buttressed by a lively social media campaign. But an incident like this raises a multitude of questions about the ability of a Central agency to monitor all explosive substances everywhere in the country. respectively. and embrace an inclusive discourse. under the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry. Hinduism and Islam. The Cabinet’s cosmetic invitation to the Tharu and Madhesi leaders for a dialogue. a force of the last resort. is overdue. With their common adversary — the monarchy — gone. Further. from NATO. There is a sharp mismatch between his standing among the party rank and file on the one hand. It was a protest without ideological motives. and among the 232 Labour MPs on the other. I would like to add that objectivity is the most important tool in the hands of a researcher. establishing Nepal as a federal democratic republic. until a new Constitution was adopted in 1959. The been completely overlooked. and the UCPN-M — must eschew the temptation to promulgate a Constitution that is widely unacceptable. Mondal. but because the Maoist and Madhesi leaders did not deliver on their promises. Even some unions oppose the lastmentioned demand. Excluding the 26 nominated seats in the 601 seat Assembly. Corbyn now faces his real test – maintaining his radical agenda and the momentum he has built. polarise the society which modern India can ill afford. (Jayant Prasad is a former Indian Ambassador to Nepal. Zirakpur. heralding what many think could be a transformative leftward shift in Britain. Koirala on August 25. Monarchy played musical chairs with the Cabinet. have been remarkably consistent over time. In pushing ahead with voting on a contested Constitution. proving the “excessive use of force. which is already under a fair amount of strain. Overall. The plan to ride out the protests by a display of force might.R. The demand for an inclusive democracy was not simply superimposed on Nepal’s emerging democratic edifice as a distemper that could be dusted off — the inheritance of Jana Andolan-II and the Madhesi movement of 2006-07 embedded this idea in the very CARTOONSCAPE Into uncharted waters he election of avowed socialist Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership of Britain’s main Opposition party is viewed as being of a piece with recent European movements challenging the established status quo of parties dominated by the Centre-Right.14). They have faced situations more difficult than the one that confronts Nepal today. the clashing interests of the major parties came to fore. It was caused by a stockpile of gelatine sticks stored illegally in a building.K. imposing an artificial deadline is incomprehensible.V. will meet with stiff resistance. that will allow the States to take control of what happens in their own backyard. while urging the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) to keep their agitation peaceful. Compromises and consensus-making became impossible. The detonation. Only 20 of them voted for him. A new Constitution was promulgated the following year. Mr. which split into two. but only partially. and the Madhesi parties. The differences affect just five of the 75 districts of Nepal.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU TUESDAY.K. was like using the wick of a candle to light an electric bulb. A better system should enable a process of decentralisation by allowing States to make their own laws to regulate explosives and have an Explosives Control Bureau. Warangal. His views on privatisation and markets. Corbyn. Democracy in Nepal has had fitful progress. PESO has its headquarters in Nagpur and it is responsible for the administration of a host of laws pertaining to the regulation of explosives. the proposal to dismantle the Trident nuclear missile programme. Nepal might again face troubled times. during of people. For a Constitution that has taken over seven years to negotiate. from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar? Yes. with alacrity. But that was seen in history books even earlier.14). and local-level elections in 1992 and 1997. including the Tharus. He held rallies across the country – drawing audiences in their thousands. In early 2008. Chemote. those of India and Bhutan. Bengaluru BG-BG . unlike the earthquake five months ago.14). who scraped through the nomination process with the minimum needed number of 35 parliamentary backers. without the commitment to compromise. on May 28. Currently. his opposition to military intervention in Syria. Lal describes as “the old unitary and exclusionary order” will not be politically sustainable in the long run.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. however. and from 1996. First King Tribhuvan. Corbyn has a huge public backing and has even won over those who were at one time alienated from conventional politics. Europe. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR No return to a unitary order Despite the marginalisation of forces favouring inclusive federalism in the 2013 elections. and war and peace. and 1999. Ananthanarayanan. all members present. with 10 of them constituted and sacked in eight years. Dandi march off. After King Birendra’s patricidal killing in 2001. Now they have found a new way to get their points across by escalating the agitation in the U. names. It will be a pity for Nepal to promulgate a Constitution that does not bear the signatures of all or nearly all of its CA members. the quest for democracy may run aground 2013. nuclear disarmament. brought down this regime. The oldest and the newest Constitutions in South Asia. Dalits and Madhesis. The quest for a new Constitution has reached the last lap of a long marathon. reaching out to the larger electorate is going to be a huge challenge. Akbar set up various institutions and Shah Jahan excelled in art and architecture while Aurangzeb demolished many venerated Hindu temples. Between the completion of the clause-byclause voting and the adoption of the Constitution as a whole. The Terai has been on fire. However. The triumvirate with a combined majority in CA that can ramrod the draft Constitution through — the NC. These acts are enough to make him a villain in our eyes. people have lives of animals are taken in the never demanded ban on any food. the national media failed to notice this historical moment. Corbyn. making the country’s politics palace-centric. PESO has now claimed. for not having taken action against the illegal storage of explosives. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was heckled when he arrived in the town to visit the families of the dead. If the book being referred to in the interview is about Sanskrit in the Mughal court. Sixteen thousand young people signed up as his campaign volunteers. he enabled an eight-point agreement accepting the Madhesi people’s call for “an autonomous Madhes and other people’s de- Nepal’s transition to a pluralist democracy faces a final challenge — failure of the three major parties to accommodate the legitimate demands of Janajati and Madhesi groups for true federalism. boundary delineation. Bengaluru The interview imparts precious insights into how history and historical figures should be treated. largely to aid the business of sinking wells for irrigation. Sep. an end to violence. a second wave of the people’s movement erupted in April 2006 that swept out the monarchy from the Nepali political system. It should be waived in cases such as this one concerning the Saudi Arabian diplomat. I find their demands pointless and hope the government takes suitable steps to avoid letting the situation escalate further. Telangana Hyderabad Aurangzeb was different from his predecessors and not just when it comes to Sanskrit. In a stunning indictment of the police. However. The Madhesi agitation persuaded the late Girijababu (Girija Prasad Koirala.14). Democratic consolidation was prevented by palace-inspired intrigues.K. and encapsulates the values emanating from the womb of the people’s movements. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala must respect the legacy of Girijababu. that no licences had been issued to Mr. lead to a bigger movement. Prashant B. and restoration of social harmony.” his key source of inspiration was his fundamentalism and revulsion towards non-Muslims. Despite a 60 per cent mandate from his party. These include the Explosives Act. This caused political fragmentation. the CPN (UML). 2008. M. allies like Shiv Sena. First and foremost. The present calamity is man-made. This is not the time to stumble and fall. At the very first meeting of the CA. He posed himself as a defender of Islam and wanted to rule according to the directions of Sharia. and delimit the Constituent Assembly (CA) seats in the Terai and the mid-hills. not an act of great tolerance. Such acts bring shame to the nation of the diplomat and the Saudi Arabian government should cooperate to ensure that there is a fair trial. SEPTEMBER 15. Mr. If not. 1884.” The social and political contracts he helped create must not be cast away. Based on the twin demands of democracy and social justice. and its platform of ‘austerity-lite’. instead. Aurangzeb is widely portrayed as a villain. and most controversial of all. and the withdrawal of the U. followed by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) [(CPN (UML)] which won 175. The Prime Minister’s visit later this year can be called off as a mark of protest and as a sign of our commitment to protect human rights of Nepali citizens working in our country. The first large-scale people’s democratic movement in Nepal. Delhi Policy Group and visiting fellow at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries. Nepalis have a proven capacity for eschewing brinkmanship and showing flexibility. In his entire political career – longer than his 32 years as the Labour Member of Parliament from Islington North – Mr. as also the later version that added a Province. Kasawa. However. has claimed the lives of about a hundred people. King Gyanendra. consisting of several disadvantaged and subaltern social groups. he is advisor. his successor. his calls for the re-nationalisation of the railways and the energy sector. nonviolence prefer to eat vegetarian food for and the right to life of animals has cultural and scientific reasons.www. The very fact that this is being done in BJP-ruled States makes it clear that a crude attempt is being made to impose a divisive agenda on the nation. they must revisit the process and seek the broadest measure of consensus. 2015 A blast and some questions horrific blast in Petlawad.jobsalerts. The Jana Andolan unseated the monarchy. and several shadow Ministers resigned after he was elected. Rajendra Kasawa. reflect political parsimony and gerrymandering that would effectively disenfranchise the Janajati and Madhesi communities. interference with food preferences Sep. It is one thing to command the overwhelming support of the Labour rank and file. Saharsa. proportionate to the population. Kolkata Aurangzeb’s position Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal ruler (“Aurangzeb is a severely misunderstood figure. why talk about Aurangzeb in length? The focus should have been on language and www. unlike Akbar or Shah Jahan. 2008. Audrey Truschke reminds us of the scientific rules of research: studying the sources and reconstructing history in an accurate manner. Balajee S. The social capital accumulated by civil society in 2006-07 was largely frittered away. The recent debate on meat ban has been short-sighted and biased to The ban on meat during Paryushan say the least. Corbyn tapped into a vein of discontent within the party and the Left. and division of powers between Centre and Provinces continued to hold up progress. and multiparty democracy replaced by a party-less Panchayat regime that lasted 30 years. Clearly. there are a number of unauthorised contractors in Jhabua district with significant stockpiles of gelatine sticks and detonators. outlawed. The six-State federation model initially put on the table in early August by the ruling coalition. Syed Sami Ullah. Repression not the solution Repression cannot be the right response to political disaffection. most inhumane manner. Bajaj. heralding an era of harmony and progress. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Mr. which is already assured of a federation. astounded the country and probably himself by rapidly rising in the polls. Corbyn has stood firm with the traditional Labour Left.jobsalerts.in those like Dara Shikoh who and kings have contributed promoted the study and immensely to the national fabric of understanding of the two great India.” Sep. together constituting a comfortable majority. had the signatures of each and every member of their Constituent Assembly and the National Assembly. the ruling coalition in Nepal might be on the verge of squandering the gains of their electoral victory of November did not immediately result in popular rule. people of Mahatma Gandhi. Corbyn is setting out into. he called for restraint. political parties The lesson from this agitation is that unless the Constitution is equitable and encapsulates the values of the people’s movements. declared Nepal to be a federal democratic republic. The overthrow of the Rana oligarchy in 1951. continued to control the key levers of government. together with other regressive elements. The lesson from the present agitation is that unless the new Constitution is equitable. A The long-awaited promulgation of a new Constitution within the next few days in Nepal was expected to be the culmination of its transition to a pluralist democracy. dispensed with democratic accountability and concentrated executive authority in his hands. An independent High Level State Restructuring Recommendation Commission then recommended 10 Provinces. especially within UCPN-M. 1952 and the Explosives Rules. His demands to end austerity measures and for a national education service akin to the National Health Service.” Sep. T.” and violation of humanitarian norms. This can only increase alienation and cause irreparable long-term damage to Nepal’s national cohesion. by the added challenge of the Maoist insurgency. The violence this time is because of a disregard for the interests of the Janajati and Madhesi peoples of Nepal. In 2011. political slogans and political leaders. This was not done. parliamentary elections held in 1991. At the district level. The lining up of political leaders at the Narayanhiti Palace — for attention and office — undermined their standing. The effort now should be to reduce the remaining differences on the number and boundaries of the States to the barest minimum and remit the remaining issues to a commission. uncharted waters that Mr. Maligning historical figures will deprive the younger generations of the right sense of history and. All past rulers Patel agitation The Patels do not fulfil any criteria that would make them need reservation (“Gujarat calls Hardik for talks. attempts to revert to what journalist C. India is perhaps the only country in the world where we allow culinary preferences to be dictated by the state and the government of the day. raises disturbing questions about the practice of illegally storing explosives in congested residential areas. Dr. The Interim Government of Nepal Act of 1951 limited the Cabinet’s authority. Bihar Kolhapur. There is a strong fishing. This does not augur well for national unity.co.” Sep. the owner of the seed and fertilizer shop where the stockpile caused the devastation. Maharashtra Politicising food The editorial was apt and timely. Much hype has been is clearly a political move (“No given to the arguments claiming thought for food. religions. Prakash Ch. the Nepali Congress (NC) won 196 seats. the police and the Collector have access to a portal that features data on the sale of all explosive materials through legal vendors. The election result made it clear that Mr. These groups believe the promise of a democratic restructuring of the state stands subverted. while readying the party for the 2020 general elections. must be pulled out from the Terai districts. NC’s impressive victory was rewarded with a dismissal the following year. a revolt is gathering momentum across Nepal. Greater consensus and not the imposition of an artificial deadline can help overcome it sire for a federal structure with autonomous regions. Forty persons and policemen have been killed in the ensuing violence. Nepal’s quest for democratic governance might again run aground. known as Jana Andolan-I. Andaman And Nicobar islands Victory for workers The Kanan Devan tea estate strike is a unique one in the history of labour agitations (“Munnar women triumph. the Inflammable Substances Act. They won not because the Janajati and Madhesi voters rejected their own empowerment. 2015 Federalism: Nepal’s final frontier Jayant Prasad TUESDAY. and the State government immediately took the predictable corrective measure — of suspending the local Station House Officer. They helped their country move from a state of insurgency and civil war to the quest for an inclusive democratic order. Dr. in the country the holy month of Shravan. King Mahendra. following King Tribhuvan’s dramatic evacuation to Delhi and triumphal return. in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. who worry about the electoral competitiveness of a Labour led by Mr. and the half-hearted republicans and closet monarchists. These are. Divergence on the number. leaving the three other contenders far behind. Differences on the nature and form of federalism cut to the heart of Nepal’s political predicament. The institutionalisation of the gains of Nepal’s remarkable peace process should have been a time for celebration. Would it The move has revealed the not be a progressive move if India fundamentalist streak within the becomes the first country to firmly BJP government for which it has enshrine the right to life of animals risked backlash even from its core and birds in our Constitution? Brahma Nandan Singh. which multiplied in four years from three major parties into thirteen. chest and stomach. is only one such. the then Prime Minister) to guarantee a federation in Nepal. The first CA’s Committee of State Restructuring recommendation of 14 Provinces was considered profligate. CA members were not involved in the shaping of constitutional debate. The Constitution is meant to reaffirm both the social purpose and the political commitments embedded in the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the 2007 interim Constitution. Ranchi It will be a sad moment for those agitating for justice for the victims if Riyadh takes no action against the diplomat. might drag Nepali politics irrevocably backwards. like the Narcotics Control Bureau. month of September marks the end Eating non-vegetarian food cannot of monsoon in some States and be an absolute right as it involves people pray to keep sea calm for the taking of lives. as evidenced by his imposition of Jaziya. purchase and subsequent monitoring of explosive materials across the country. Punjab foundations of the new republic. His acceptance of Hindus was a practical matter. Such a step. but a system is yet to be worked out for a real-time tracing and tracking programme. with the Prime Minister jailed. at whose feet he learnt his politics. Is there any evidence that the BJP is erasing the history of the entire Mughal dynasty. and supported by the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [UCPN-M]. who are amongst its most marginalised communities. SEPTEMBER 15.” Editorial. Ugale. They expended much of their energy in the making and unmaking of governments. disillusioned by Labour’s electoral defeat in May.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. Mr. Diplomatic impunity? The luxury of diplomatic immunity is the antithesis of the principle that crime under law must be punished (“Act with firmness.S during the PM’s visit. excluding four from Rashtriya Prajatantrik Party-Nepal. This is not for the Mahgenuine believers. not electorally transcendtuality. Yet. one almost senses a majoritarian inevitability. but despite it. What one needs is a reciprocity of ideas and gestures. From Santhara to fasting to covering one’s mouth with a muslin cloth. Govind T. have eased the process of building an acceptable solution to the conflict. While they have an against Kaswa’s warehouse? K. Prakash Ch. The defeat of the quasi-authoritarian and chauvinist forces in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. R. It is not just the pseudo-religiosity of the BJP that affects people. not just as a constituthe BJP’s attempt to tamper with rights as if it were a tional idea but as a civic ideal. S. It is easy to dismiss these victories as nothing extraordinary.S. The transport and ensure the end-use of efforts to increase the use of Hindi in gelatine sticks.” Sept. The involvement of a substantive chunk of Tamil representatives belonging to the Tamil National Alliance in the prospective Constituent Assembly should give a fillip to these processes. has often become the site of a battle for identities and spaces between savarna (caste Hindus) and avarna (Dalit and tribal groups). goes thus: its leading practitioners have succeeded not because of the system. The BJP ban seems to be a way of politic- that livelihood as a right can be nibbled away. Tamil Nadu would scold him for not scoring music for a film on his beloved The statement serves no purpose Muhammad is apt and interesting. A. 1 Martina Hingis. It reflects the dramatic change in the political context in the country. Setting up an literature are laudable. To think of rights as something you can titrate from a pipette damages the sanctity of rights without really adding any notion of the sacred. by focusing too literally worrying because individual rights cannot sures do not resonate with the spirit of ahimsa. The state might need to prepare for such contingencies rather than practicing embargos and bans. Rangarajan. a commendable idea to tackle the menace of illicit stockpiling of It may appear that India’s drought in explosives. Finally such a debate while it emphasises the centrality of food to religion. Secuderabad Behind Mr. the courts. is a sad culmination of a threw up more questions than series of events that has cast a answers. Yet the paradox is that the BJP’s ban creates a climate of violence and controversy. Be it for Paes or for Mirza. Rana Pratap. If Aurangzeb’s act of breaking the link with Sanskrit was a political one. Ramachandraprasad.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. Like marketing agencies. SEPTEMBER 16. Lawyers must shed their political leanings and safeguard the interest of the litigants The Minister’s implicit directive which is their foremost duty. Official piety and righteousness of the BJP can create the violence of pseudo-religiosity which might be more threatening than the pseudo-secularism of the now effete Congress.S.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU WEDNESDAY. Rahman’s reaction against the The government must not attempt fatwa issued by a Mumbai based to enforce Hindi’s primacy through group (“Music done in good faith. The brutal assassinations national interest. is a laudable step forward six years after the end of the horrific civil war. sharing power. premises by ensuring adequate Hindi. So does the tennis duo of Leander Paes and Sania Mirza. threaten religion. in the company of former singles World No. to invoke identity and difference rather than respect the authenticity of belief. chicken and fish occupy lesser levels of the hierarchy. India should also look forward to revamping its ties both strategically and bilaterally. of Dr. Varadarajan. Yet it also suggests touch of a farce. Ban politics as a part of a politics of electoralism can create parochial tyrannies closing down parts of the izing difference.15) misunderstood. there remains a strong desire from the new government to give IndoSrilanka ties a new look.R.N. the aggressive attitudes. To hold Chennai that Sanskrit predates Tamil is to make an un-called for comparison between two ancient religions with a deliberate falsification of history. whether it is responding to Mughal misrule or rectifying a current injustice. but how many know the second-best team of Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer? On the women’s side it has taken the Williams sisters and now Hingis to give it a fillip. a sportsperson is often bogged down by an increasing set of limitations. The setting up of a government of national unity with the two largest political parties. It is its linguistic heterogeneity. the idea of rights. On the other hand.S. Mukundarajan. it would be remiss not to celebrate the success stories of Paes and Mirza. is literally food for thought. a feeling that the BJP can get away with its political sorties against minorities.porator.15). Apart from fasting and meditation. A philosophy of tolerance is caught on procedures. In fact. Prabhu Raj. which takes on the view point of the other. politics. The international community should encourage Sri Lanka on this history-making reconciliatory path.co. ministers should Secunderabad be cautious on issues that will have wider ramifications for the The incident has raised serious government. ‘Ban One has to realise that both the Constitution and religious politics’ does not just threaten livelihoods. The court seems a bit negligent on The ambiguities could not have escaped gest that justice operates on a sliding scale. Jain pinjra pols are vital institutions which care for old animals or even cattle when their owners cannot. A Viswanathan Anand or an Abhinav Bindra stands testimony to this. high time various measures are the Minister’s advice discriminates taken to standardise the quality of against non-Hindi-speaking people.jobsalerts. one senses a pseudo-religiosity of current majoritarian can enforce longer bans. The interview appears to be a review of the government's policies as compared to Aurangzeb’s state policies. in a democratic manner. not just from fellow humans but from all sentient beings. allows differdamaged piece of plumbing does not bode well for the future ences to be sustained. SEPTEMBER 16. The recent debates do reveal that the BJP as a party in regime loves the ban as a weapon. 2015 The pseudo-religiosity of the BJP WEDNESDAY. As late lines of Narcotics Control Bureau is president Abdul Kalam said: to Educational ranking Petlawad’s tragedy Signatures in Hindi provide an ambience where multiple civilisations should co exist with no borders between them. confusion. If technological capabilities. In a way this has been the essence of the latest U. The Jain practice of non-violence is thoughtful. There is a conflation of time in the invocation of bans which is intriguing. The last of these came in April this year when she became the No. I admire Aurangzeb for his shadow on the fraternity. of catering to Jain egos. a position she still holds. To the narrow religious freedom is practised and minded. The previous regime’s promises of taking steps for reconciliation and rehabilitation and specific steps towards devolution of power to the provincial councils. This is besides the pressing issues of rehabilitation and reconciliation. the formation of a national unity government and its explicit call for an accountable and democratic form of governance by both the elected President and the Prime Minister. While the government Rajendra Kaswa manage to store the workforce both at the Central and explosives in such quantities Sate level are from diverse linguistic without the knowledge of the local backgrounds. G. Paes has not reached a Grand Slam doubles final in two years. film. or for the two Italians in Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci. one senses a threat whereby food bans applied thoughtlessly.” Sept 15). democracy and in fact culture as a way of life. then why didn’t they take purposes.www.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. have added their quota of be hypothecated even to a well wishing corin a politics of intolerance and this is ironic. besides a truth and reconciliation commission. But these are only in the rule book. He also has to make sense of the advancements around him. In the Indian context it is a potent argument to make. the first to win a Grand Slam of any kind. the very structure of which allows for a plurality of food practices and a complementarity of livelihoods. Jainism is one of the great texts of non-violence. 2015 Fresh initiatives in Sri Lanka he Sri Lankan government’s revelation in the current session of the UN Human Rights Council that it is committed to the setting up of a Constituent Assembly of Parliament that will adopt a new Constitution. particularly when the country is struggling to produce top-100 singles players. Beef to the vegetarian is most repugnant followed by other red meat. Padmanabha. ostensibly for sinking science and technology and wells for irrigation. This will instil confidence in thousands of refugees stranded in various camps in Tamil Nadu. never manifested on the ground. The festival. As an 18-year-old in 2005 she reached the fourth round at the U. hardly bolster India’s scientific and and the issue of license for the same. 15) force a change in the system? There is no doubt that Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s a large-scale systemic change is statement (“Sign in Hindi. even during natural disasters . it rarely exists outside the Grand Slams. but time seems the exclusive privilege of the Court.” Sept. How did old debate. other than in cricket. an official piety which verges on bully boy attitudes. it seems to be an electoral gimmick to be revived annually to CARTOONSCAPE Double the honour he adage in Indian sports. persisting militarisation and the concentration of power within an increasingly authoritarian coterie acted as restraining fetters after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. S. The Constitution appears like an alien document in its diktats. questions of the illegal storage of Bengaluru explosives across the country. who won the U.M. Notwithstanding the outcome of the UNHRC meeting. It was always clear that the flowering of an inclusive republic in Sri Lanka was not delinked from the democratisation process. at least one or two officials or police Thiruvananthapuram had followed them. T. the Constitution. There is something slippery about the Supreme Court judgement where former justice Markandeya Katju had argued that the ban in Gujarat was not for a considerable period and that “nonvegetarians can surely remain vegetarians for nine days a year out of respect for Jain community. Srinivasan. the colonial regime. Open mixed doubles and doubles crowns. The ban. Non-violence thus is not an epidermal or cosmetic ritual but something intrinsic to Jainism.S. The ethics of non-violence as a part of brahminism becomes a vehicle of a deeper violence of enforcing caste hegemonies on Dalit groups. We should be more worried about authorities were quick to wash their the sea of mediocrity rather than hands off the accident by saying that exulting over islands of excellence. it will be premature to As usual the competent licensing herald an educational renaissance. Chennai Wickremesinghe visit Following Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s address at United Nations in Geneva about safeguarding the human rights of minority Tamils (“Bridging the trust deficit. academic excellence has ended Chennai (“IISC. as the title of her upcoming autobiography puts it. smacks of linguistic chauvinism and Chennai borders on imposition of Hindi. This way of life would be sensitive not only to the living but also to the livelihoods of the other. His comment that Allah Maruthancode. how can you expect them to respect his tormentor? History will continue to be reviewed again and again and we will have the benefit of different perspectives. with the Tamil National Alliance being given the post of Leader of the Opposition. a meat ban should be aggressive attitudes. could hardly seek to ban or harass the practices of the other.” It is as if rights belong to the community. one has to only state-meditated. The Bryan brothers are famous. or body behaviour. there is access to thousands of aspiring no dearth of acts and rules governing students. Rights have to be integral.Under Narendra Modi’s leadership. It is the lawyers who enlighten the judges with their extensive study of various complex matters. Narendra Dabholkar. the 42-year-old Paes has been giving longevity a whole new meaning. India is limited to only the where the aim of all communities is Hindi-speaking areas.R. Deep down. A.The number of days a short term ban can be Further as the ban logic catches on and versy by pitting one minority against the enforced becomes a political game of its states cascade into each other to accommoother.S.R. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s bilateral visit to India assumes significance because the government is sincere in redressing the grievances of Tamils soon. The BJP and its cohorts often make decisions invoking or citing Aurangazeb. is surprising. their 17th and fifth Major titles respectively.K. This is in pointed contrast to the nationalist approach of its predecessor government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This offers the hope that there will be a redressing of the long-standing grievances of the minority community related to devolution of power. This makes one wonder which historical period the BJP operates in. Successive piety and parsimony. The city is a cosmopolitan place. Today one has to confront the religiosity of the BJP and its clones. there is an asymmetry here that is Oddly. As a political move. However. 1-ranked doubles player. and provide an ideal opportunity to thrash out differences related to devolution of power and questions concerning federalism and diversity. Paryushan. quite unnecessarily. if we are to ensure that such stirs a hornets’ nest and revives the a tragedy is never repeated. I think it is time to take the bull by the horns and accuse the BJP of “pseudo-religiosity. The Madras High Court has a long Varkala. For a political party which respects and possibly adores Shivaji. Dr. T Shiv Visvanathan Newspaper reports often appear like fragments that the reader has to put together.to community belief and practices while the Constitution. Wickremesinghe’s choice of maiden visit to India. As for mixed doubles. Kalburgi and the Bengaluru warnings to Perumal Murugan and K. The Tamil Diaspora should not lay roadblocks in the name of Eelam and extend co-operation. 15) discloses his vision as a music director in search of between people. K. In fact. Such a perspective. seems a piece of gimmicry creating contro. etc. and English is a authorities? If the authorities were working language for all intents and aware. One has to realise that both the Constitution and religious texts share what one might call the sense of the sacred and the BJP’s attempt to tamper with rights as if it were a damaged piece of plumbing does not bode well for the future. the first to be ranked inside the top-30. which is powerful electorally. Sree Kumar. Clearly. IIT-D in top 200. The 28-year-old Mirza’s story has been. But his competitive zeal and persistence even when the mind and the body no longer always act in sync have fetched him three Major mixed doubles titles this year.in On Aurangzeb politics. and ensure that these efforts are not derailed on any account.J. is it not the same with the BJP govt's actions as well? You are implying that the latter is doing it for communal purposes. Bhagvan underline this. such loss of human lives could have been averted. purchase and monitoring of The Minister’s request that their use is conspicuous by its government servants sign files in absence. Pansare and M. other than bringing discord among However. But this will Explosives Control Bureau on the hardly promote the language.” Sept. (Shiv Visvanathan is a professor at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy. has provided a welcome space for a credible initiative on the Tamil question. electoral mandate. triumphalism. food as a symbolic marker. the ban as a unilateral diktat adds to policing city.Legal confusion imposed. It is also true that singles players are the ones who have revolutionised tennis: like a Li Na in China or a Kei Nishikori in Japan. It is ironic that Jainism. 14) but it however.Nallasivan. There needs to be a Hindi as the language is not getting regulatory body to ensure the safe due respect. Shivaji. such an attitude also makes the Constitution vulnerable. It appears the regulation governing sale. the in a constituency. it is clear that institutional mechanisms are being put in order by the Sri Lankan government. it aims to control behaviour rather than examine the content of belief. but not for his Music and faith High Court violence www. perfection.” Sept. it seeks equanimity within the self.Mondal. Kerala history of an erudite fraternity of lawyers known for their excellent acumen of jurisprudence. Chennai legal officers presiding over the Bench have openly commented on the behaviour of advocates.” the back door and drive a wedge Sept. As education which provide affordable enumerated in the editorial. Kolkata BG-MY . 15) needed. David Milton. advocates practising in various court It reinforces the BJP’s “Hindu. Badrinarayanan. the education system should be one that has no respect for borders. Kailasnath. his remark that we are the people of the country with fortunate to live in a country where multiple languages. B. ent over it. The court’s orders seem to sug. P. It is difficult to believe that short term bans are not problematic. municipality that since Jains are a majority “meat ban politics.” The idea of the ban. The idea of think of the culture of cities. and the first to reach the top of world rankings. With age. books. The conversation about food in a diverse society cannot be Nature of cities Beyond rights and religiosity. Reducing bans by a day or two does not reveal either sensitivity or liberalism. who appeared to be deflecting attention from its record in the civil war by playing up perceived differences in the international community. arashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) and BJP that one needs to do violence to another The first could be seen as a ritual deference to decide upon.” Years ago. The BJP’s enthusiasm for the ban long term bans could threaten livelihoods. it is true that doubles as a format is on life-support. for Roger Federer or for Serena Williams. V. issue. Hindustan” slogan and protection to both advocates and rekindles the sensitive language judges. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The idea of the ban. be it food. In fact. Thus if the BJP were to argue in a when Jains themselves would be upset by powers of a majoritarian state. is invoked today for a politics of intolerance stoke certain issues. is marked by rituals of forgiveness. The foods of the future might have to go beyond classic taboos not only for nutritional reasons but also for reasons of ecology and scarcity. the Minister's statement action even after locals complained seems to have caught everyone on the wrong foot. People to live in harmony is far away from elected to govern should serve the the truth. the Louis Armstrong stadium. The reports on the ban on sale of meat during the Jain festival of Paryushan made me worry more about the way we read narratives than the act itself. If violence. that time tables can create a periodic abrogation of rights. She is the first Indian woman to win a WTA tournament. Against All Odds. India-Sri Lanka ties cannot be held hostage to the consent of a particular State. Open – her best-ever singles finish. ultimatums and closures do not resonate either with the spirit of ahimsa or with our Constitution. creating what a critic has called the own. Prabha. it texts share what one might call the sense of the sacred and threatens the cosmopolitanism of a city where the secular. It disregards the “three language formula” being followed as a The conflict between judges and consensus in our country known for advocates has reached a peak. Will the scale of the disaster at Tirunelveli Petlawad (“A blast and some questions. Ignoring belief The pity is that the BJP does not take the content of faith and the logic of belief seriously. Along the way she beat Marion Bartoli – a later-year Wimbledon champion – on the second biggest show court there. Food politics is not only a classificatory mode of thought but a hierarchy of politics. A few elite institutions will the storage of explosive materials. These are the things racquet-wielding young women in India dream of. The plea Audrey Trusche’s interview was for CISF security (“Bring HC interesting (“Aurangzeb is severely campuses under CISF”: Sept. They are subsumed under community to fulfill the conditions of spiri. observers have noted that fish is excluded from the current ban because there was no wish to alienate the Koli community of Mumbai. which professes a philosophy of tolerance. creating a competitive politics of who date a particular community. no license has been issued to the India will reap a demographic person who illegally stored the large dividend if there are hundreds of quantity of explosive materials in good institutions of higher the heart of the small town.jobsalerts. ultimatums and clo. chauvinism and military conflict hampered this transition before the civil war. the United National Party and the Sri Lankan Freedom Party. Open – of an epilogue being as good as the book.V. the Jain seeks to minimise damage to the other. needs to bring out the salience of food to the Constitution. Lal Krishna Advani unleashed the idea of “pseudo-secularism” with deadly effect. Commentators seem to deal with the activities of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with kid gloves. as anthropologists have noted. If the UN still shies away from reforming the Security Council. given its essential nature for human survival. even though it had made clear that the time was not ripe for specific formulations. and some others.K. including India.16). T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Pseudo-religiosity The article “The pseudo -religiosity of The BJP” (Sep. the U. The positions of China. it can have its own negative repercussions (“India reaches out. is a political move. but brought some clarity as to who was on which side. Chennai BG-BG . a concert or a protest. this seems to have upset the existing equilibrium within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. and they now find themselves on the same side of the political fence. when it comes to proceedings at the UN their positions represent a far cry from the promises they make at bilateral meetings. on the other hand. some of the HAM candidates might be given the BJP ticket. our forefathers lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.K. But there is a section of opinion that India’s position on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its border “disputes” with Pakistan and China might be impediments to its permanent membership. But in the end. Titwala. or the G4 — should continue their multilateral diplomacy to build a democratically evolved global consensus on restructuring the UNSC. Balaji temple in Chitrakoot. as indicated by Kiren Rijiju's participation at its Independence Day event. the global order has seen massive changes. The document revealed. submitted detailed opinions on each of the specific points on which ideas were sought. Chennai Delhi-Pyongyang ties Though the Indian Government looks optimistic on mending ties with North Korea. The plan would continue to be unacceptable to India and some others. Sreenivasan THURSDAY. Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party. but brought some clarity as to who was on which side. Abdul Wahab. Manjhi are seeking to project themselves as the sole representatives of Dalits. Trouble arose when some powerful states and groups made submissions.. were able to bargain hard: the RLSP got 23 seats. the government. coming as it did from the president of the General Assembly. For the Lok Jan Shakti Party led by Ram Vilas Paswan. Therefore. Among the permanent members. also to support G-4. China declared that the time had not come for any serious negotiations. What is more alarming is the long duration of the Kudos to the duo of Leander Paes ban in some cases. Jaipur On Aurangzeb This is in reference to the interview with Audrey Truschke (“Aurangzeb is a severely misunderstood figure. The latest decision of the 69th session of the General Assembly did not amount to any change in the impasse on reform of the Security Council. but it would support necessary and reasonable reform. new alliances hat the Bharatiya Janata Party is willing to go to great lengths to accommodate prospective allies in Bihar is an indication of the intensity of the contest in the coming Assembly election. As a result. Their greatest contribution lies in the fact that they generated hope in the young kids who took to tennis as a vocation. The developing nations. Japan is clearly a liability because of the open opposition by China. This can be proved from his farmans (permits) issued granting jageer (land) for Hindu temples like Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain.S. and the JD(U) and the RJD will have to sort out their differences. in actual fact.www. Unlike France and the U. The substance of the positions of China. came as a shock to India which believed it had the support of these countries on UNSC permanent membership teration or expansion of the veto. The U. but insisted that their proposals not be included in the framework document. But in keeping with the present Government’s “power push”. New parties and new alliances have given the election an added edge. which included written submissions. although the break-up with the Shiv Sena over seatsharing was unavoidable. Paswan and Mr. Both Mr.S. It also became clear that any plan to introduce a substantial draft resolution in the 70th session would be fu- India’s claim to membership The positions of China. there would be no new permanent seats.C. have said they would support India’s UNSC bid. Sumit Jain. but it can melt away as part of a P-5 consensus at very short notice.P. the outgoing President of the General Assembly had circulated the framework document at the end of July 2015 after extensive consultations. to serve as a sound basis for the next stage of consultations at the next session. Besides. G-4 has so far maintained a façade of unity. Pakistan and China issues in a hurry. but. But what the UN requires is not a fix like that. R. Also. favours only a “modest expansion” of the UNSC. all parties want a winnable seat. are becoming irrelevant clichés. The next step will be to accept anything less than permanent membership. Meaningful reform of the Security Council is overdue. Mayank Prakash Pandey. not the lack of drafting skills. and the levels of discontent among aspirants for the ticket would be high. and Umananda Temple in Guwahati These were issued between 1659 AD and 1685 AD and the fact is well-documented by historian Bishambhar Nath Pande. Pruthvi S. but it might well be the lowest common denominator to be tried out. Neither has any ideological affinity with the BJP. Sep.co. without supporting any formula under consideration and no al- document to the ING. SEPTEMBER 17. China. Unfortunately some biased historians have tarnished the image of the ruler. SEPTEMBER 17. But the best we can get. Ambassador Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica. The apparent progress in moving to text based negotiations is illusory.S. we should not forget the contribution of Ramanathan Krishnan to tennis. these countries made no mention of their support to India as a permanent member. The proposal should have been routinely adopted. An Indian Foreign Secretary had once remarked that India had the choice of either acquiring real power through the manufacture of nuclear weapons or pursuing illusory power by seeking to become a permanent member of the Security Council. A blanket ban will be an attack on the concept of ‘unity in diversity’ on which our democracy is premised. more appropriate ways of learning the same concept can be provided rather than deleting the chapter altogether. It is the lack of political will that has inhibited progress.” Editorial. (T.S. there is a real risk of the UN being sidelined or rival organisations taking over its agenda. BJP rulers and ideologues should understand that thousands of years ago. from American unilateralism to the rise of multilateral institutions such as BRICS. and HAM 20.jobsalerts. The India-U. They have already CARTOONSCAPE Time to reform the UNSC he adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution to use a framework text as the basis of discussions on Security Council reforms is a welcome step forward. which saw desertions by the Nationalist Congress Party and the Samajwadi Party. Despite there being little money and media coverage in those days. Sreedharan. But going by the experience in the rival camp led by the Janata Dal(United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Russia was equally vague and supported “any reasonable option of expanding the Council”. He was a seeded player at the Wimbledon and entered the semifinals of the tournament twice. Although the U. This meant that they would prefer the negotiations to continue in the In- The framework document adopted at the General Assembly did not break the impasse on reforms. cast a gloom on the G-4. Russia and the U. In this information age. nuclear deal was expected to give de facto recognition to India’s nuclear status. The numerous paragraphs within brackets will remain in the text for long. If it resists all proposals for change in the years to come. Aurangzeb was a benevolent ruler towards his subjects. whether at the Centre or in the State.S. But deciding on the number of seats for each partner is only the first hurdle in seat-sharing talks. including the Uniting for Consensus Group (opponents of expansion) when they expressed their opinions in vague.15). with greater representation for developing countries. — are opposed to any major restructuring of the Council. The government is intent on doing just the opposite. which has been given 40 seats. while Russia doesn’t want any change in the veto arrangement. Not surprisingly. Having acquired real power. Japan and Germany (G-4) and an African representative as permanent members and expansion of the non-permanent category of members. To prohibit a certain kind of food in a vibrant democracy such as ours has no other purpose than to delineate and perpetuate boundaries. such as categories of membership. one containing collated views of a number of member states and another reproducing the letters of others. which effectively gave up its claims for the leadership of the alliance. should compel one to sign in a particular language. reform of the Security Council is an existential requirement for the organisation. New York. maximum governance” on whose strength it rode to power.. Asoke Mukerji. under a behind-the-scenes agreement. Had the government instead requested people not to have meat. Worse still. subject to re-election every five years or more. the party was forced to renegotiate the alliance with it after the election. Chitvan Singh Dhillon. but its non-NPT status came in the way of its entering the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). As for the UN itself. N. Three powerful members of the UNSC — Russia. In Maharashtra last year. Even if such arguments do have a rationale. favouring the inclusion of India. servants. it is likely that some changes would be accommodated on the basis of one of the two alternatives proposed by Kofi Annan in his report. The compiled views in the framework document did not show any convergence even within the various groups outside the P-5. The U. the claim to which would be suspended for fifteen years or so. but negative terms and kept out of the framework document. requiring us to get elected every few years. That they reached the top on their own in this cricket-crazy nation makes it a great achievement.16) raises the question of fundamental rights of the citizens.S. favoured a “modest expansion”. Even as a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Syria. India and the G-4 have exhausted all the arguments in favour of expansion and they have to be more and more inventive in promoting their proposals. A G-4 diplomat told me in New York that the framework document was not likely to add any momentum to the negotiations. this is the first time in the history of the intergovernmental negotiation process that a decision on UNSC reform has been adopted by means of an official document.S.K. This move. Minimum government implies the leastpossible interference in the lives of citizens. Even if the General Assembly members reach a consensus on reform.S.K. Mangesh Sonje. 2015 Reform eludes UN Security Council T. which is yet to prove its strength by contesting on its own. though from a position of greater strength. He claimed that it was developed through an “inclusive and transparent process”. The permanent members should realise that a more democratic and representative Security Council would be better-equipped to address global challenges. Millions of Indians came forward and responded positively to the initiative. but without veto.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU THURSDAY. once inextricable part of Indian culture.16). size of the enlarged Council and its working methods and the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. This may well be the motive for France and U. No amount of extra effort by India can resolve the NPT.. In the past quarter century. What India needs today is a broad-minded approach in matters like language. Parameswaran. Besides. Sreenivasan.” Sep. Jalgaon With reference to the editorial.14). China decided to join the consensus to commence text-based discussions.S. Rajnath tells govt. said. but nothing serious to block their entry in the event of a settlement. wants to upgrade ties with North Korea. The Minister’s directive to sign in Hindi is an indirect attempt to make inroads into the constitutional safeguards provided to the non-Hindi-speaking majority of India. that the positions of member states remained as wide apart as before and that there was not an iota of hope that a meeting point could be found during the 70th anniversary and beyond. Kannur The ban reflects extremism in thinking of the dispensation. The setback to the whole exercise came from China. and that there are more pressing issues to be tackled at the global level than merely preserving their prerogatives. made their submissions and their views were reflected in the document. Thus the BJP will have to settle the rival claims of the LJP and HAM over several of the seats. The issue of meat ban should be seen as a deliberate attempt on the part of the ruling establishment to liken itself to one electorally important community. They may feel that a limited expansion by way of some additions now may be better for Europe than confronting a proposal for a thorough reorganisation of the Security Council later. one’s own seal of authority. the president had to prepare his text in two parts. but a new category of eight four-year renewable term seats and one new two-year non-permanent (and nonrenewable) seat to be divided among the various regional groups. No government. Russia. (“Sign in Hindi. now play a larger role in both the international economy and politics. The G-4 or any other group does not have the votes to get a resolution adopted by the General Assembly even to pressurise the Security Council to consider a concrete proposal. which proposed a draft resolution to remit the framework tile. ‘inherent tolerance’. France was the closest to the Indian position. shouldn’t the task of designing chapters be left to the wisdom and experience of experts rather than the executive? Akhil Pandey. Maharashtra further bans that will create disaffected fringe elements. Germany and Brazil. regional representation. It also became clear that any plan to introduce a substantial draft resolution in the next session would be futile tergovernmental Negotiations Group without a text at a snail’s pace. Brazil.S. The ‘pseudo vegetarianism’ on display is not in harmony with the principles of humanity and compassion that shape the philosophy of the very community that the government claims to support. Even UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon admitted recently that the UNSC had failed Syria. the chaos could have been avoided. 2015 New parties. not for the first time. The U. During his playing days. New Delhi Editing the syllabus When the endeavour should be to develop an educational environment which can be more contemporary and thoughtprovoking so as to make children wiser and not just parrot lessons. Opposition to expanison Many countries. under the cloak of being sensitive to some people’s way of living. veto. seeks to subvert the livelihood of many.” Sep. if at all. The only achievement that they can boast of is the support of France and U. our quest for permanent membership will continue. This also indicates that most countries in the General Assembly support a restructuring of the UNSC. But the road ahead is not easy. Russia and the U. China spread a rumour that it would seek amendments to the draft and even press for a vote. Those of Russia and the U. particularly small and middle powers. The champions of reforms — India. as enshrined in our Constitution. This worked in the case of the ‘Give it up’ campaign. and the U.K.in (“Double the honour. the just-concluded seat-sharing arrangement with HAM is particularly distressing as the support bases of the two overlap in several constituencies. But these changes are not reflected in the UN. when the Prime Minister appealed to the affluent sections of the citizenry to give up LPG subsidies. formed to meet the challenges of the post-War world. it is important to win as many seats as the JD(U) in order to avoid the possibility of being relegated as a junior partner permanently.jobsalerts. but a fundamental change to reflect the realities of the present century. and ‘syncretic culture’. France and the U. he achieved great heights because of his love for the game. the AAP’s proposed moves on deleting chapters is inappropriate (“Easing the burden or dumbing down?. hunting for and consuming meat as well as vegetables for survival. the possibility of the institution being sidelined by emerging powers cannot be ruled out. It would only ensure that the debate would go on for many more years without any result. The JD(U) is actually contesting fewer seats than it won five years ago. As India’s Ambassador to the UN. the party did not want a situation where it would have to look for post-election allies to form the government in the event of it falling just short of a majority. there is no consensus in the Security Council on how to tackle it. Bihar is certainly witnessing a political churn. Banning sale of meat during Paryushan. Muslims and non-Muslims alike.K. where all critical decisions are still being taken by the veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council. France even expressed no objection to the veto power being extended to the new permanent members. Governments and Sania Mirza for being part of would do well to desist from any U. India could as well give up the pursuit of illusory power. Second. he had said. but each of them may be amenable to bilateral deals if any one of them becomes a liability for the other three. Germany has already toned down its demand for permanent membership because of over representation of Europe.S. but without any change in the veto.S. and Russia later said that there was no change in their position of support to India. so. came as a shock to India and others. supported G-4 as the new permanent members. India has upgraded its claim to “right” and remained the leader of G-4.” Sep.P.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.” Sep. it could be shot down by the permanent members. Kanpur Principles like ‘harmonious coexistence’. Syria is a case in point. who was a counsellor (1980-83) and the Deputy Permenent Representative (1992-95) in the Indian Mission to the UN. Ganesh. such as extended non-permanent terms. More than 34 years of struggle with the issue of “equitable representation” in the Security Council has not brought us any closer to an expansion of the Council. have cast a gloom on the G-4. especially when it comes to its approach toward people of other faiths and communities.16). and above all. Open doubles victories Tennis triumphs www. Hyderabad Signing in Hindi Signature is one’s privilege and right. the BJP was keen that all partners were on board. Lucknow There is no historical foundation for the belief that vegetarianism is an absolute moral essential.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. But the expansion of the Security Council is not contingent on any action of omission or commission on the part of India and so there is no particular pressure on India to relent on these issues. has struggled to cope with the dynamics of the post-Soviet Union world order. a student from Class V or VI is well-aware of the events taking place — be it a movie release. As for the RJD. Chandigarh BJP has forgotten the slogan of “Minimum government. According to this plan. under its new chairman. The institution. Apart from running a high risk of getting betrayed by the counterpart — under tough sanctions by the United Nations — engagement with it can invite ridicule and criticism from all across the world. Japan. To make a simple thing like food a cultural fault line is hazardous. The meat ban has very little to do with respect for life of animals and everything to do with a majoritarian attitude on the part of made a compromise on the veto. who had believed that they had the support of these countries in one form or another. India and Brazil too have opposition from their regions. Ashish Khatri. The resolution adopted in the General Assembly offers a chance to break the logjam. T The adoption by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) of a consensus resolution for beginning discussions at the Intergovernmental Negotiations Group (ING) on the basis of a framework document has been hailed as historic and path-breaking. the geopolitical rivalry among the permanent members has prevented the UNSC from coming up with effective mechanisms to deal with global crises. they will tamper with the constitutional ideals which make people from different value systems invest belief in our democracy. P. religion and culture to instill a sense of unity among its peoples. Sam Kutesa. in particular. In the close contest that the Bihar election is likely to be. the UN has not moved anywhere closer to an agreement on reform.. India was also among the top Davis Cup teams. may be a semi-permanent status. was at the UN recently for a conference. ‘In Larger Freedom’ in March 2005. their written submissions revealed that their support had no practical value. While Russia and the U. to think that the content of some of the chapters are “too dark” is wrong. Russia and the U. and the untested Hindustani Awam Morcha led by former Chief Minister Jiten Ram Manjhi. 4 million jobs. with negative impact on personal life. in fact. All political parties. declined steadily over the last 14 months? Enterprises (SMEs) and in export ventures. The Vajpayee government’s Golden Quadrilateral project. Though the response by the Sri Lankan government in promising ‘due attention’ is well-received. We need to first improve our own “national security” and then project ourselves as a superpower. The new proposal strikes a necessary balance between the clamour for an international probe and the need to involve domestic institutions. We need to mobilise our moral courage while encountering such incidents rather than succumbing to international pressure.national security strategy for a peaceful banks? gle-handedly brought a huge slowdown to environment. Thus. The question of work-life balance is nonexistent. we should be ashamed that our leaders engage in mudslinging over trivial issues. I squarely blame the other teachers and not just the students. In the industrial era. Prescriptions for the crisis What then are my prescriptions? First.17). The economists in the government today are mostly ‘hand-me-downs’ from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Not offering a breakdown of the real level of investment in road construction and maintenance could be partly misleading if the aggregate investment in the automobile sector is being included in the overall numbers.17). are we not able to double the production and export the products abroad? To address these priority problems. This contributes to their so-called ‘bottom line’. representing an amount of Rs. f) An ethos developed on the concepts of trusteeship of wealth. Tirupur UNSC reform India’s marathon efforts. Such a crash happens very fast and without much notice. more importantly. and lowering the exchange rate further which requires assured access to the marwere the bulk of national domestic invest. uncharitable working hours in workplaces are unavoidable since there is intense competition among employees.kets and technological innovations of the ments. Just two days back. SEPTEMBER 18.D.www. South Korea and Philippines were growing very fast during the 1975-95 period. make a living only through the latter. not passion. India has always come out of crises renewed and on a higher growth path. In this highly competitive world with rampant unemployment.co. It is time to render justice to the victims of what was South Asia’s longest war.. Balasubramaniam Pavani. the South Asian region being new to such a trans-national inquiry. and develop new alternative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells to provide an environmentally friendly substitute to petroleum products. the data have made only a broad classification of the road transport sector. from Ganga to Cauvery. the government must constitute a Crisis Management Team (CMT) of politicians and economists who understand the dynamics of Indian society and. Rajmohan. and preventing civilians from leaving the conflict zone. Results do matter and lead to the employee conditioning himself or herself to the requirements. Geethanjali Nataraj of the Observer Research Foundation estimated that lack of world-class infrastructure shaves off 1 to 2 per cent from GDP growth every year. This has concomitant poc) Why have the Non-Performing Assets about $1 trillion. d) The Indian state has to be minimalist in d) When the economy needs about a $1 the Indian manufacturing sector and extrillion investment in infrastructure to ren. especially in terms of efforts to reduce red tape and revive stalled projects. in 1997. does not deal with some aspects of work. Conversely. by reducing the prime lending interest rates of banks to below 10 per cent. the Saudi diplomat.G. essential. we must tap our vast Thorium deposits for clean electricity generation and thus end power shortage. he has killed the essential manufactur.2 lakh crore.for subsequent years. A. but its need and relevance cannot be brushed aside. V. which By raising and keeping interest rates high was Rs. For an aircraft.800 route km of the highway network. the aim being the same — to enhance efficiency and productivity. unanimously endorsed the Prime Minister’s call for “any sacrifice to preserve the freedom and integrity” of the nation.44.jobsalerts. Fernando. The salary. prosecutors and investigators with domestic resources. Amazon style. it remains to be seen how far it will become a reality given its stubborn ‘No’ earlier to international trial requests. Editorial” and “Reform eludes UN Security Council”. has sin. in fact at a rate much higher than the Incidentally. a sudden financial blowout knocked out these countries and all the talk of miracle evaporated.1. Does the Narendra Modi government have such contingency prescriptions ready? Not as of now. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) termed it an “East Asian Miracle” in their publications and called it a model for other nations like India. Many people think that government jobs give you money without responsibility. lower the cost of capital by reducing prime particular: a) The individual has to be persuaded by lending rates of banks to below 10 per cent. Success in bringing long-mired projects to fruition also bodes well for the banking and finance industry. which has struggled to reduce the levels of non-performing assets. As it stands at present. A Subramanian Swamy When is an economy in a tailspin? It is when its rudder and Global Positioning System (GPS) malfunction. It is sad we have never truly followed our predecessors’ vision. Subramanian. The CMT should also initiate steps for transforming agriculture into a globalised sector by providing adequate infrastructure to export food and milk to Europe and the U. Second. when India’s agricultural products are among the cheapest in the world despite a low yield per hectare. This when their scores were over 90 per cent. shift to a fixed the state through incentives and not through exchange rate of Rs.empower the individual through a modern e) Why has the manufacturing sector. generally. especially the one relating to enacting special legislation to establish ad hoc hybrid courts. Jainulabdeen. Salary. There is a need for a more credible leadership to meet global challenges for which far-reaching changes are required. less ment starvation).S. for international participation in the trial is welcome. knowledge worker walks into. It concludes that many of the instances established may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. It could not have happened without the knowledge of the government and brings back unpleasant memories of the Union Carbide chairman having been given a smooth send-off in the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy.” Sep. productive economy.17).S. For example. The human rights investigation report on Sri Lanka. but only if there are short-term and long-term prescriptions to be followed. In the long run. At present. Also. However. has been As it stands at present. Through innovation. is the criterion for measuring work here. the growth rates of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding 10 per cent per year. And with the NDA government’s focus being on encouraging more private-public partnerships. he has believed that the regulatory interventions in social and ecoder ‘Make in India’ a reality. It is high time the government takes a more proactive regulatory role to ensure proper working hours at these for these workplaces. How can it aspire to be a member of the top-most international security forum and discuss matters of international peace when its own borders are not secure? India’s so-called “right” is based on it being the largest democracy and one of the largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping Force. it should not be forgotten that the Sri Lankan conflict always had an international dimension. India does not look eligible to decide matters on international peace. though erudite. why have both exports and imports. Japan and Germany. Year 2015-16 valued at Rs. The employee must perform or perish. Fostering peace and reconciliation among formerly feuding sections of society. with many countries involved in supporting both war and peace. it is very difficult to precisely select and secure a job one loves the most. The likely date is by early 2016 in my estimation. Chennai Amazon work culture The Amazon work syndrome has raised academic debates (“In love with work. The employer has his own targets and the employee needs to show himself or herself to be capable of achieving them.in EDITORIAL 10 | CHENNAI THE HINDU FRIDAY. India will also be looking at the process closely. The report recognises the present national unity government’s efforts to engage the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. With constant cross-border terrorist attacks and ceasefire violations on both the eastern and western fronts. —where these two institutions are headquartered — in 2008. I have been interviewing graduates and postgraduates from across the country. The government needs a Crisis Management Team of politicians and economists who are rooted in Indian ethos and not compliant to finance institutions like the IMF and the World Bank compilations and no more. humans made machines to enhance efficiency and productivity. the Reserve Bank of India rate of the new advances made by these (RBI) Governor. The report records unlawful killings. A. Chennai Saudi diplomat’s exit The news about the Saudi diplomat does not come as a surprise. and optimal in the maintenance of law and order. It also records the killing of civilians by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government’s announcement of $93 billion worth of projects in the highways sector has to be seized as a chance to build world-class expressways and ensure that systems are put in place to lift safety levels for the road transportation network to global standards. However. The ruling BJP government owes an explanation not only to the people of India but also to the Nepal government for this breach of trust. along with those of Brazil. c) Such rapid progress would require a sharply.” Sept. there is no such team in place. for a permanent seat at www. V. maximalist in providing the investment in just 75 projects in Financial patient (i. it is essential to implement a menu of measures to uplift the household sentiments by abolishing the personal income tax. These are teachers without aptitude who have come into the profession. disappearances.S should not play a spoilsport as it is perceived as being pro-Sri Lanka. Many of them are either in private sector jobs or are self- employed. especially the former in 23 of the 30 commodity groups. directly and indirectly. The Prime Minister is best advised to replace him with someone like Dr. There are character flaws that have come from two centuries of deprivation and are incompatible with a people forming a great nation. The G4 should also push forward to introduce measures for limiting the exercise of the veto power by the existing permanent members to reflect the original intention of the UN Charter. and are all of the IMF/World Bank vintage. Hence. More important. 2015 Moving towards accountability ccountability for past excesses is not easily achieved in post-conflict societies. g) At present. a successful employee is one who is prepared to make himself employable for different job profiles.e. as there may be forces opposed to any non-domestic mechanism. However.N. they are trying to employ other humans as machines. Reso. Secunderabad CH-CH . Still. Tony Augustine. but only a promise of reconciliation and non-recurrence of violations. However. either as a last resort or just to take life easy. Merchant. keeping aside their ideological differences. G. long. SEPTEMBER 18.quality of life needs. the Indian has loyalty to the family but is apathetic to the community where he lives. the CMT has to consist of those who are rooted in the ethos of India and not compliant to international financial institutions. I couldn’t select even two people as most of them did not even remember the subjects they studied in the last semester. As a doctor. In my considered opinion. Raghuram Rajan. estimates an increase in infrastructure investment equivalent to 1 per cent of GDP would generate an additional 3. the Indian economy is headed for a crisis and a crash.education system that gives importance to which provides the bulk of employment to ing investments in Small and Medium both material and spiritual progress. one is apprehensive that the U. New Delhi Educated peons As a teacher with over half a century of experience. The political will of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government will come under test.17). Also. The industrialera blue-collar worker has transformed into the knowledgeera white-collar worker. has brought socioeconomic change and development to the hinterland along the more than 5. I interviewed a number of graduates for the post of laboratory technician. Rajan. why is the actual best way to bring down the temperature of a nomic matters. Five decades have passed and in today’s scenario. Anantapur It is really atrocious and shocking that Majed Hassan Ashoor.jobsalerts. dropped from a high of 34 per cent of patory Notes while invoking the U. Most of us.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. is also meagre. By mid-thirties they suffer a burnout. which have become similar to sweatshops.in the UN Security Council are appreciable (“Time to reform the UNSC. In income tax. Can a course correction today rectify and rescue the economy from a crash? Yes.50 per dollar for the financial year Hindu. set up desalination plants along our long coastline to provide adequate water for coastal States. any substantive improvement in these infrastructure sectors can presage a major boost to the real. when compared to similar profiles in the West. the rest are unemployed only because they are unemployable. the Indian economy is headed for a crisis and a crash by early 2016. we need to tap the advantages we have in our demographic dividend. A.” Sep. New Delhi It is ironic that India wants to become a “permanent member” of the UN Security Council when its own national security is constantly in jeopardy. The report proposes a special hybrid court that will integrate international judges. As a teacher. e) The key goal of the state has to be to than the amount invested in 2005-06. by shifting to a fixed exchange rate Alternative ideological thrust As I have written before. McKinsey & Co.749 crore. by lowering the cost of capital. of course. the following questions deserve immediate answers and consequent policy rectification: a) Despite crude oil prices having crashed and the dollar value of the rupee having dropped in a steep devaluation. Hence. but unwise. the government also needs to give an alternative ideological thrust to economic policy rather than trying to improve up the It is necessary to implement a menu of measures: abolish past failed UPA economic policies. While the Tamil Nadu Assembly has earnestly urged the Centre to take up the issue in the UNHRC for an international investigation.50 per dollar and abolish Participatory coercion. R Vaidyanathan who is presently Professor of Finance in the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B). Japan is yet to recover from that blowout. in the information era. Sri Lanka’s brief response does not contain any explicit reference to the proposed hybrid court. to know what crisis-managing reforms to initiate. 2015 The way out of the economic tailspin FRIDAY. it means hurtling down while spiralling to a crash. and finding constitutional solutions to core political issues are often the final objectives. East Asian nations such as Japan. we must first know which problem to focus on and prioritise for action.” Sept. b) India can make rapid economic proNotes gress to become a developed country only through a globally competitive economy b) Why have household savings. (Subramanian Swamy is a former Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce and professor of economics. will have good reason to cheer over the latest data showing an increase in investments in the road and power sectors. A 2014 study by Dr. K.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. the present imminent economic crash should galvanise the way we do business and make us rise to new heights through innovation and achieve high growth rates with financial stability. Thiruvananthapuram The thought-provoking article highlights the ‘rat trap’ our modern. including in The of Rs. Colombo now has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to durable peace and reconciliation by accepting the recommendations.United States and some of its allies such as GDP in 2005 to 28 per cent of GDP in 2015? lution of 2005 to bring back black money of Israel and Japan. Bengaluru The article. submitted to the UN Human Rights Council by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. and even in the U. philanthropy and voluntary group action encouraged by religious sanction for the better distribution of income and for minimising economic contradictions and deprivation. I am aware of the reasons for this mad rush of postgraduates and Ph. allowed to flee India. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein. transformative and substantive justice requires establishing the truth about past crimes perpetrated as part of a deliberate policy. These flaws can be rectified by developing a strong and coherent concept of national identity whose defining characteristics can be culled from a correct perception of Indian history. statistical CARTOONSCAPE On the road to recovery government that was elected to power on the promise of ushering in an economic revival nationally. Many companies in India get work worth two shifts done by one individual.17). Lakshmanan. Japan was slated to overtake the U. this is a promising augury for private investors in the road and power sectors. deliberate bombardment of hospitals. by abolishing Partici. its forced recruitment of adults and children. holders for peon jobs (“23 lakh apply for 368 peon posts in Uttar Pradesh. grown at an abysmally low rates of between 2 per cent and 5 per cent? f) Why. A CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR War crimes report Many countries and human rights organisations have been demanding a probe into the war crimes for sometime now (“Sri Lankan war crimes horrific: UN report. itive. the skilled and semi-skilled labour force. and the foreign exchange crisis of 1990-91 led to economic reforms. Tiruchirapalli Call for unity It was nice to read about the allparty praise for ex-Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri (“From the archives. the general equilibrium calculus of an economy. in East Asia in late 1990s.511 crore? and hence making the cost of capital prohib. and by printing rupee notes litical obligations which must be accepted as (NPAs) of the public sector banks risen so to fully finance basic infrastructure projects. The report marks a major step towards independently establishing “system crimes” — showing a pattern of conduct on the part of “perpetrators working within an hierarchical command structure”. enabling the country to move away from Soviet-style statism to market system and high growth rates. Some of our youngsters work on an average of 12 hours a day and are thankful to get even a weekly holiday. completed during the UPA’s term. in the first quarter of the fiscal offers much hope. as a member of various selection committees. the low global ranking of India’s infrastructure — the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index placed it in the bottom half among 144 countries — is one of the commonly cited impediments to attracting foreign direct investment. A peon in government is better placed monetarily than an executive in a private firm. seeks to address the crucial question of accountability in the island nation for the “horrific crimes” committed by all parties to the conflict that ended in 2009. and other crimes by the security forces. Speed and precision are the watchwords. A truly inspiring spectacle of national unity was witnessed on that day. the national road network has been blighted by an abysmal safety record. These are institutions which had miserably failed to either foresee or rectify the financial crises in Latin America in the 1970s. the 31 per cent jump in the completion rate of projects during the period signals a distinct improvement in the investment climate.ports.S. work culture in India is not finding the space and attention it deserves. IMF/World Bank studies are of value only as tabular. the call from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The new lubricant here is the catchphrase Do What You Love (DWYL). Sept. I really wonder why the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs failed to alert the immigration officials in the airports to forestall any such attempt. That gives a glimpse of the potential that can be unlocked through better urban-rural connectivity. overcome technological issues and build a water grid by linking major rivers. inflation) is to kill him (invest. With roads and electricity acknowledged as significant multipliers of economic activity. which 2016. However. Gaurav Singhal. through canals. by 2005. That the so-called ‘lovable work’ depends on the ‘not-so-lovable’ work is seldom acknowledged. The food crisis of 1965-67 led to Green Revolution self sufficiency in food. It is in this backdrop that the 46 per cent surge in project announcements.42. Tharcius S. Though belated. The process will not be easy. Muhammad Ayub. With the diplomat’s departure. Each of these wars had its share of valour but also of tragic loss of lives of its men and officers.gunned aircraft to bring down the famed continuing backdrop to relations between ence as battalion commanders in 1948 in U. which fought back tenaciously after being surprised. The NMML is a tribute to independent India’s first Prime Minister. despite so much debate and discussion. and touches on the future of public institutions and the dangers of officially sanctioned manipulation of historiography. public health spending in India remains substantially low. It should be charged with three specific tasks: to discover the causes and nature of human rights violations. As far as immunity is concerned. it has never been accorded a high priority by the Union government as it falls under the State list. Indeed. Tirunelveli Punishing excellence It was disheartening to read about the quitting of the director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) (“Nehru museum director quits. In this connection.in Digital India. Haryana Easing out officials The government’s proposal is to be welcomed. To cause a person with the dedication of Dr. Nepal. which is prone to frequent military confrontation. Rangarajan. reconciliation Following the example of postapartheid South Africa. but has also blamed the rebels for their forced recruitment of children. Punjab The alleged rape of the Nepali housemaids by a Saudi diplomat has brought shame to India. Apparently upset over the departure of Mr. Rangarajan spared the embarrassment of having to battle a new government on the propriety of his appointment. The Arab-Israeli War of 1967 and the management of its outcome by the Soviet-U. Major Ranjit Dyal made an intrepid strategic and geopolitical terms and reconfiand doctrinal shift process which had given dash against all odds to capture the Haji Pir gured the power balance in South Asia. it can declare him a persona non grata and force the home state to withdraw him. China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1965 both contributed to the coming of age of India’s politico-military thinking. At the same time. Mandi Gobindgarh. threw up a new military leadership from the substantial socio-economic and strategic diThe Defence Minister. China in 1962 and leader in Pakistan preferred to exercise the military option in 1971 in what was then Pakistan in 1965 both contributed to the maturing of India’s East Pakistan. As a re. The time dimension and strategic policy preferences of future wars became apparent in 1965. and to allow amnesty to those who fully disclose their involvement. and modernising the role of NMML — to resign is to work against the development the Prime Minister promised in his manifesto and will only alienate an increasingly disaffected vote bank. but also undermines the very purpose such memorials were meant to serve. Korea In the wake of changing geopolitical equations. Pakistan’s military government of the time could not think beyond a military solution. it is time for the international community to revisit the Vienna Convention.18). and for preventing civilians from fleeing war-torn areas. and make it representative of their collective vision? Surely. the three armed forces Chiefs and his Prime Minister. six years later. The women. There is little prospect in the foreseeable future of a final settlement. It also made the 1965 and 1971 with Pakistan are better viewed through the perspective of a strategic continuum. Shastri trusted his Defence Minister completely and allowed him to take critical decisions as the War developed. in this case. (retd. Hemant Kumar. Ashoor was the First Secretary at the Saudi Arabian Embassy — is an unusual step. SEPTEMBER 19. Ironically.’ which is never less than tragic. it is now quite apparent that members of his Cabinet.” Sept. despite massive military power used by major powers in different parts of the world.Indian armoured division halted Pakistan’s more complex by the presence of nuclear sult. Moreover. the Indian government has decided to celebrate the IndiaPakistan War of 1965. and is at best a last alternative when a state finds other avenues of peaceful existence impossible. Pakistan preDefence Ministry was under Y. Wars are more than the sum of the battles. A war involves an overall plan.” Sept. what was a triangular crisis has acquired the form of a bilateral standoff between India and Nepal. Chavan’s personal diaries of the time to understand the way the government functioned and the manner in which he coordinated the work with the three service chiefs. and reduce them to their functional use as bricks-and-mortar buildings that could house anything and everything. New Delhi Ties with N. The question is: why was the diplomat allowed to flee when the crime was committed on Indian territory? The External Affairs Ministry is answerable on whether there was a deal between the two countries to allow the him to fly back. Denzil Keelor and Trevor Keelor. Indian Pass. a position it has sadly failed to grow out of.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU SATURDAY. Mr. The 1971 War was a decisive one. Divya Karnad. Gen. made Sabres. they have created the War speak volumes for such work. when a diplomat has committed serious offence. had emphasised that while war must be waged to gain a state’s ends. it came just when the elections were nearing and could have waited till the next round of elections.18). The War of 1965 has had no decisive outcome either in Jammu and Kashmir or in the overall relations between the two countries. While the attempt to provide institutional stability to the Memorial is understandable.) V. It did not fight a war in 1962. Raghavan SATURDAY. This is a clear case of misuse of the immunity granted. The Bihar. mistakes were made and losses in. his vision and dreams for the country.” Editorial Sept. The three wars of 1962 with China and developed a fine working relationship with Army in the 1971 War. At the very least. India should proceed with establishing bilateral relations with North Korea. Of relevance in this connection is the fact that the process of writing annual confidential reports on their subordinates by the superiors lends itself to subjectivity. beaten and repeatedly raped over a period of at least 15 days. had crucible of war which. a respected scholar and academic. It assessed that its U. won the Param Vir who had poured into India. Unlike the Wars in 1962 and 1971.17).dictably initiated the War in western theatseasoned former Chief Minister of Mah. the case is far from being resolved. They offer a viewpoint from where one can assess the journey made and those yet to be undertaken in the life of a nation and its people. not prevention. Puducherry BG-BG . it failed to coax the Saudis into lifting his diplomatic immunity and bring him to justice. we must learn from it and must demand the enforcement of right to health as part of right to life that comes under Article 21 of the Constitution. the name. Using its provisions to save diplomats facing charges of heinous crimes such as enslavement and rape cannot be justified under any circumstances. And while Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma might have scored a legal point by highlighting the irregularities in Dr. preventive health care measures. As battles are the building blocks of war. who used their old and out.weapons and the continued use of terrorism in Pakistan. Kathmandu insists India should continue the investigation to bring the diplomat’s partners in the crime to justice. Saudi Arabia should have cooperated with India in the investigation. acts of individual gallantry and military pa. rescued by the police from his apartment. Mr. Nandini Velho.B.. Bengaluru Prof. Rangarajan’s appointment as director. The 1965 War neither brought victory to Pakistan. However.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. The current dengue crisis in Delhi is a testament to the dilapidated public health system in India. The UN report looks unbiased as it has found fault not only with the security forces. The diaries bring out Mr. In fact. The War of 1962 has left the legacy of an unsettled and disputed border. the statement that service records should include all relevant records is significant because the present system of promotions lays more stress on the tyranny of seniority than on merit or efficiency. Outmoded tanks of the the two countries. He makes telling observations on the strengths and constraints of the Army. Gargie Boss. The gallantry awards of forces into a cohesive military machine. are not willing to let the Museum be. (“Govt. Rangarajan has led NMML into becoming a world-class multidisciplinary centre — a space where academics from all disciplines came together. 2015 Unwarranted pettiness othing could be more ironical than the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government fighting over the secularist legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru institutionalised in the form of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in the heart of New Delhi. India’s military debacle against China was a reality. If India has to reap the benefits of its demographic dividend.-lent weapons systems were enough to defeat the Indian armed forces. a Chakra for single-handedly destroying Pa. Though New Delhi’s decision to release the name and designation of the diplomat — Mr.” Sept. There were heroes like the Keelor sad that the attraction of a military option commanders were new to handling brigade brothers. It is also a moment to take stock of where India was then and is now on the global stage.Strategy for 1971 The seductive attraction of a military somand in Pakistan. Though the Haryana government’s initiative looked good at face value. the Navy and the Air Force operated to a cohesive plan towards common objectives became a key ingredient of war plans. Armies can win wars but the gaining of peace is a different thing altogether. The Chinese fought as brigades and divisions which bypassed most Indian defences to reach deep into our territory. developing.kistani tanks. The fact that the women in question were also victims of human trafficking networks needs to be taken into account. Carl von Clausewitz. a strategy and employment of forces to work that strategy. it possesses huge deposits of rare earth minerals which India needs for the production of electronic gadgets. plans to ease out inefficient officials. The armed forces had begun a sake of Pakistan’s military leader. valour and sacrifice. Besides. Madurai Right to health Health is the most essential human requirement after food and water (“No country for the ill. Panjim Diplomatic flight The incident has brought to our attention the need to revisit the Vienna Convention to amend some of its provisions (“Saudi diplomat flies back. Their medical examination appeared to support the charges.military conflict to create conditions in East with a new leadership under Lal Bahadur nache during the War. Rangarajan. in which major powers would intervene to end a war inconvenient to them. a new military battles against superior weapons. Ambala City. An important lesson from this perspective is of outcomes from these wars. Their import will be beneficial for the expansion of a www. India needs to introspect in a clear-headed manner on the lessons learnt. (Lt. and fought a series of unconnected battalion-level battles. but with caution. And nothing could be more insulting to the memory of Nehru than the sordid slugfest between the BJP and the Congress over the appointment of Mahesh Rangarajan as the director of the NMML. Its leadership assessed that it was a moment of Indian weakness after its military defeat by China in 1962 and the demise of the iconic Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. Worse still. The significance of the controversy over the appointment of the NMML director thus goes beyond personalities. It is something to ponder over. the directive to take into account the previous entries in the annual confidential reports to see whether promotions of officials in the last five years were on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness rather than on the basis of merit is well founded. the Prussian military theorist of the 18th century.” Sept. setting a precedent for its own diplomats and other nations in such situations. Haryana is emulating the example of the neighbouring Rajasthan which did the same last year. Chavan and the three Chiefs in a positive light. It and as a stability provider. which were offset by the gains made came known as a graveyard of tanks.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. Such discourse is misleading as most insurance policies cover only noncommunicable diseases. India threw troops pell-mell into operations. there has been no decisive war after 1971. Going by the yardstick being applied to the Nehru Memorial Museum. leadership was not lost on the Indian leadership. Chavan. The after-effects of human migrations and the rise of armed groups threatening global security have been the legacy of indecisive wars. Pakistan wrongly saw opportunities in Indian political leadership more mature in understanding the reality of the new world. A ‘commemoration of war. It was a deeplyimbibed lesson that valour and heroism alone do not win wars against superior weapons and organisation. It is its rank and file new confidence. Fifty years since the War of 1965. One needs to read Mr. In an ironic way. allege they were held against their will. it was intended to inspire generations of people who walk in to get glimpses of the making of a nation. historically wars are milestones in a nation’s journey. Despite assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revere the memory of Nehru. The 1971 War became a game changer in arashtra. the host state could ask for it to be waived so that he can stand trial. Murmurs about changing the basic structure of the Museum to make it “more contemporary” have slowly gained ground. S. which offers a high degree of legal protection to diplomats and their families in the countries where they are posted. It led to the creation of a new nation. is a blow to New Delhi. for a people who wanted to constitute one. as also those which fight to defend national values. Indian foreign policy needs to be pragmatic and dynamic (“India reaches out. which initiated the War in the Rann of Kutch and later in Jammu and Kashmir. Six years after the 1965 War.S.recently Siachen and Kargil.’ is a moment for reflection. which is an important neighbour. Above all. as we commemorate the 1965 War.S. due process could have been followed and Dr. a lesson which had been witnessed throughout Indian history. There was a time when ‘unity in diversity’ was the cultural motto that defined India. Our Culture Ministry appears to be finding this too difficult to live by. Nallasivan. Mr. A simple soldier from Bengal for the return of ten million refugees Shastri having recently taken charge.jobsalerts. It acts as a Indian commanders thus far had experi. is a paradoxical choice of phrase for marking history. it is no secret that the government wants a more pliable person to head the NMML. was eventually forced to tender his resignation after an unseemly controversy over irregularities in the process of his appointment.R.17). The return of the diplomat without any interrogation is proof of the Convention having the upper hand over human rights of citizens of a third country. The Convention was meant to enable diplomats to carry out their duties without obstruction in the Cold War environment. the imperative of joint warfare in which the Army. Mahesh Rangarajan has been among the finest teachers I have had in my academic career. The backdrop is made Jammu and Kashmir and in 1962. Raghavan is a military strategic thinker who served in the Indian Army for 37 years. led the lemmas for Pakistan. Ashoor. His resignation as the director is only a reflection of how the present government rides roughshod over excellence and excels in interference. Vinay Manocham.R. Dr. insurance is being projected as a magic wand.jobsalerts.18). Questions will be asked of the UPA too. Mr.Patton tank-led offensive at what later be. why not turn Gandhi Smriti too into a memorial for all the nationalists who were Gandhi’s contemporaries. If not. still prevails in Rawalpindi. Naveen Agrawal. Mahesh Rangarajan — who has clearly been working towards revamping. The Indian response was politico-military thinking based on its 1965 experience. As the heads of one institution after the other are axed in the name of creating an appropriate Indian culture. T CM YK Fifty years after the event. force expansion Chakra. Unfortunately. the statement by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the government’s commitment to bringing a permanent political settlement on the Tamil question gives hope that the conflict-affected minorities will see justice and resettlement. the misplaced assumptions of the capacity of the Indian armed forces to fight back ferociously hastened the Pakistani military decision to take to war. Vadodara Panchayat elections The Supreme Court order calling for an interim stay on the recently enacted Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act. India quickly ensured the strategic imperative by a Treaty with the Soviet Union and prepared for a the political uncertainties of the period. to identify victims with a view to paying reparations. While these have not held back curred. as was seen in and division-sized forces in battles. as to why the previous government demonstrated such a tearing hurry to appoint Dr. Albert Ekka. the health of its citizens is vital. As a society. as repositories of history. denied food and water. It offers an opportunity to be grateful for the sacrifices of those who died fighting for the nation’s values of secularism and democracy. the government appears to be losing hold of what it means to be truly patriotic. New Delhi This is the right time for the Sri Lankan government to commit itself to rendering justice to the people affected by war.re.S. by determined combat actions by the Army The 1965 War welded the Indian defence India from its growth into a better economy and the Air Force. V.co. The proposal to turn the NMML into a memorial for governance not only smacks of political petty-mindedness. 2015. wants to upgrade ties with North Korea. the Congress could have protected the integrity of an individual whose tenure it had sought to retain in perpetuity. Hemant Kumar Pandey.16).” Sept. those aggrieved by the decision failed to get any immediate relief. or from any war. which could not be said of the egotistical military com. In search of lasting peace The 1965 War is better viewed as a milestone in India’s strategic journey in search of lasting peace. the Saudi Arabian diplomat accused of sexually assaulting two Nepali maids at his residence in Gurgaon. is commendable (“SC stays operation of new Haryana Panchayat law. the battle over the institution seems but only a small part of a larger project of the ruling establishment to challenge received historiography and erase collective memories. Among other things. SEPTEMBER 19. There were outstanding lution to political problems continued to beguile the Pakistani military elite. and others. Since his induction in 2011. The role of technology and modern armament systems in the outcome of wars was carefully observed and built into military doctrines. won a Vir command restructuring.18). As far as India is concerned. Chavan. activists upset. which mandated educational qualifications for contesting elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions. nor peace to India. 1965 was an indecisive one. both in terms of its pursuit of the issue on the diplomatic front and its commitment to fight crimes against women. to do so would be to knock all meaning and symbolism out of such institutions. ‘Celebrating a war. Ashoor and some others face serious allegations. India thus has a legal and moral responsibility to get to the bottom of the case. Krishnamoorthy. N A diplomatic failure he quiet departure from India of Majed Hassan Ashoor. Here. Clearly. who draw their strength and inspiration from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It is the government alone that can initiate large-scale. Viewed in this context. Dr. Navy and Air Force Chiefs of the time. There are meaningful lessons in such introspection which requires neither vainglorious jingoism nor a reiteration of Pakistan as the enemy. India needs to step up talks with the Saudi Arabian government to bring the diplomat to justice. in his advice to his monarch. If early reports are true. the party thinks of the Memorial as its fiefdom and thought nothing of rushing through the appointment process just before the country went into election mode. Wars define the nations which start it.’ a far-better word than ‘celebration. Ashoor’s departure was part of a diplomatic bargain struck between India and Saudi Arabia. Though North Korea’s track record is unacceptable. despite massive political The War taught India that valour and heroism alone do not win developments in the country. Health insurance can provide only cure. the ultimate purpose of war is peace and not victory. India could not even question the accused before he flew home. These were uncoordinated battalion-sized battles in which the ill-equipped and ill-supplied Indian troops were worsted. Sri Lanka can institute a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote reconciliation between perpetrators and victims (“Moving towards accountability. 2015 1965: a war with no winners V. It was a CARTOONSCAPE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Truth.www.” Sept. Kushal Kumar G. It changed neither the status of the Kashmir dispute nor that of the relationship between the estranged neighbours military choice made without reckoning with the likely international political response. first because he booted out Keshubhai Patel. have both underlined that the central bank believes inflation expectations need to be anchored from a longer-term perspective rather than reading much into the latest data points. the patronage networks of these castes came under severe stress. the RSS has consistently been endeavouring to arouse this inherent spirit of oneness. from Japanese sources. The growing rift between the lawyers and some judges of the Madras High Court is a very unfortunate development. varghese. as much as its fragmentation into various caste identities is pivotal to the politics of Lalu Prasad Yadav. the prospect of the central bank opting to wait and watch till its December 1 meeting is real. with the assertion of the authority of the state. To that extent.co. There are some common threads that unite the Patel unrest in Gujarat and the Yadav consolidation in Bihar. particularly in the initial years of the Nitish period. The Modi government and the Parivar have obviously been feeling awkward. called him “Noor Mohammad Modi under the protection of Lal Mohammad Advani. As a young research scholar working in NMML in the 1980s I was greatly benefited by its scholarly ambience and voluminous literature available there. Modi’s politics epitaph in 2007. barring the Kurmis. Saurav Kumar.” NMML’s plight BG-MY .” It is learnt that a trunk with precious gold and diamond ornaments were recovered from the burnt aircraft which establishes the fact that there was indeed an air crash. rumours kept the issue simmering. and one of the reasons cited by a Patel leader was how the drive against electricity pilferage was taking a heavy toll on the community. The assertion of the Yadavs or the Patel rebellion can do little harm to his politics if Mr. There have been subtexts of conspiracy theories.” The announcement added. more than half of the 90. along with the constant invocation of the Muslim ‘other’. K. agrees with the Prime Minister’s viewpoint [Indira Gandhi at that time] that the reservation cannot be a permanent arrangement.0 politics proposed by Lalu-Nitish alliance seeks to aggregate them by pointing out that the BJP is a Bhumihar and Rajput dominated party. but is also more protected than the The attempt to re-vision the Nehru sailors? We may reassess and even Memorial Museum and Library make some changes to Vienna (NMML) and the subsequent Convention but it will not serve the resignation of its director is nothing purpose of justice till it reaches the but a corollary in a war of attrition weaker section of the society. the head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind left Singapore on August 16th by air for talks with the Japanese Government. nobody would want reservations. Mr. Bengaluru Laureate’s dilemma This is with reference to the article “The Lady against the loaded dice” (Sunday Anchor. and many anecdotes have been heard over time. even if it has implications for citizens’ privacy. They want the caste census data released. Also.” Hardik Patel. The RSS considers it necessary that reservation be continued for the present with a view to bringing all these brethren of ours who have remained backward in educational. the last reports of Mr. many observers wrote Mr.B.in should also not forget the recent incidents when the banks refused to lower their borrowing rates even after the RBI reduced its interest rates. both the Parivar and Mr. Mr. There has also been a belief that Bose was “wronged” by Mahatma Gandhi and his supporters in 1939. the Fed decision opens a window of opportunity for the Indian central bank to further lower domestic borrowing costs if in its reckoning the balance between spurring growth momentum and taming inflation expectations has tilted favourably away from price gains. On moral grounds. a group of 55 castes that add up to 35 per cent. An announcement by the Japanese News Agency dated 24th August. The reasons cited by Fed Chair Janet Yellen for the decision to postpone the initial increase were mainly heightened uncertainties in the global economy including in China and the emerging markets. Swamy also mentions in the same article (“The way out of the economic tailspin. a euphemism for the Yadav social dominance course. as protests have found their way to the court halls and judge’s chambers. overturning the Yadav order. Modi’s ascent in Gujarat after 2002 was deeply resented by the Patels. when Gandhi refused to work with Bose as Congress president. Modi of “selling off Gujarat to Reliance. creates more NPAs. With a drought-like situation looming and the prospect of renewed pressure on prices from farm products and a waning base effect further clouding the picture. His Majesty’s Opponent.R. I had earlier termed the accompanying politics as Hindutva 2. Mr. “We will bring the State to a halt if we don’t get quotas. The Parivar deployed the same approach in Haryana. while the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for August shows a softening in both output growth and new orders from the preceding month. and in an economy of plenty. Bose. The issue has a strong emotive appeal in West Bengal. Jawaharlal Nehru’s ideas gives him a prominent place among the constellation of great Indian visionaries of modern era. as is also the case in Jharkhand. “unthinkable”. Bose’s activities. social and economic fields over the centuries at par with the rest of society…. Bose’s associate. Myanmar. W “This is Mandal 2.S. the Prime Minister’s Office under Mr. That they have been denied the voting rights should be no reason not to take up their case. Several strongmen from the Bhumihar community — another dominant caste — also faced the music. whether or not she did it with political motives. When the Patels revolted. where a CM whose caste is less than four per cent of the population has been appointed to the top job. The A.P. The idea of a consolidated Hindu identity is essential to Mr. Modi to aggregate all other castes. The two branches should sort out the problem through talks. Modi recently turned down a request made under the Right to Information Act. “We don’t care if we lose our reservation rights.” Mr.” Lalu Prasad Yadav. and.” Sep. later. The aggregation of lower castes is based on a promise of protection against oppression by dominant castes. Sep.20). sabka vikas (Development for all). would be.” and “Modi government rejected RTI plea. both were at the receiving end of the 2000s political order — as Nitish Kumar in Bihar and Mr. There is a glimmer of hope that Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is set to change the political fate of the country.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU MONDAY. Federal Reserve’s decision last week to leave interest rates unchanged offers an amber signal for Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan as he prepares to make the fourth bi-monthly monetary policy statement for the fiscal year on September 29.” State-view.S. Modi has skirted the issue whenever it has been raised. Moreover. Modi took it over. neo-Hindutva While explaining the rise of Mr. The Bose story has been the stuff of legends. In Bihar. hold your breath. Modi’s governance Forcing the dominant castes to loosen their grip on power while integrating numerically insignificant caste groups has been an essential component of Hindutva 2. The Brahmins constitute only four per cent of population in the State. the Patel. Classical Hindutva was stunted by recalcitrant caste prejudices but Hindutva 2.” All these statements represent the assertion of caste identity in various contexts. Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal declared that lower castes were warriors who defended Hinduism and hence were punished by Muslim invaders.0. Here. Suppressing facts shall not be among our tools of diplomacy. Here. Little can be said about the motives of the snooping till all the files are available.” Virendra Baghoria. farmers are going to jail and most of them are Patels. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Nitish Kumar. which was expecting to ride the Bose legacy in a State where it has had hardly any presence.0. in political turmoil since 1990. Patels and Yadavs both dominated the political order in the 90s. saying that the demand for reservation occurs only because the economy is one of scarcity.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. is another straw in the wind. Gagan Pratap Singh. both in Gujarat and Bihar. Pandalam The mystery about the death of the supreme commander of Indian National Army (INA) seems to be a never-ending one. Modi. All this while. While the book says available evidence suggests Bose died in hospital after the crash. recently pasted on the homepage of the RSS website. Based on the Patel unrest.in Letters emailed to
[email protected]). stand a chance as long it was perceived as a Bhumihar-Rajput party. stories that he outlived it allow attacks on the Nehru regime and. of contemporary history stands Muzaffarpur. the first two statements at the beginning of this article do not pose any serious challenge to Mr. addressing a rally in Bihar. in an interview recorded by film-maker Vidya Bhushan Rawat. on on the question of reservations. The only way to escape caste oppression is to convert to Islam. However. Ahead of the 2007 Gujarat elections. a barely concealed euphemism for Yadav social dominance. Meanwhile. such as on exceeding the current ceiling of 50 per cent. had also given his personal statement pertaining to the air crash and Netaji’s hospitalisation and demise. The Patel rebellion in Gujarat is not unprecedented. Modi have maintained a certain ambiguity CARTOONSCAPE Amber light for the RBI he U. the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) had become tired of the Yadavs’ social domination. Yadav.” but also.000 convicted under a special drive by Nitish were Yadavs (there is no official caste count). Mr. Although the BJP had while in opposition at the Centre demanded the declassification of the files. where he died at midnight. “Buddhism is also part of Hinduism. Modi’s campaign talks about ‘jungle raj’. but now. resort to it — that too violently (“The Bar-Bench chasm. While increasing interest rates to control inflation by cutting off the excess liquidity in the market is a time-tested method for controlling inflation. Therefore. 1945. Coimbatore Editorial. Therefore.” Editorial. The Sangh Parivar’s strategy of sidelining the dominant caste in favour of a leader from a numerically insignificant caste and aggregating minor castes continues.0 muted them to enable a Hindu consolidation. 2015 The enigma remains est Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to declassify 64 files pertaining to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has resurrected a seven-decades-old controversy. and simultaneously suggesting to them that their real enemies are outside the Hindu society. a marginal Dalit caste feels upset. it defies logic when qualified lawyers. with the possible exception of the tribals. Monish Borah. To that extent. The Yadavs in Bihar are also being mobilised in substantial numbers ahead of the Assembly elections. but add up to 50 per cent of the population in the States. speaking separately and in different contexts but on successive days. they erupted in rebellion. Modi’s campaign talks about ‘jungle raj’. Patna Impunity and after Justice is often delayed and even denied to ordinary people because of diplomatic and political deals and conventions (“A diplomatic failure. of statecraft. whose backward Kurmi community formed less than three per cent of the population but could aggregate all minor castes. “. Pressure will now mount on the Centre to declassify the files in its own custody. First.Raja. Sep. But by virtue of being the Prime Minister.” Sep. it only helped Mr. some saw Nehru’s ‘fear’ of the family.m.. is instructive of its dilemma in dealing with caste questions. That Mr.D. banks’ lending rates and how far they reflect earlier interest rate reductions. where the dominance of the Jats has been upset by the elevation of a Punjabi as the Chief Minister. stated that “Mr. Padmalata Thakur. in the presence of chief Mohan Bhagwat who supported reservations along more or less the same lines as the resolution quoted above. so that a new round of discussions can be initiated.jobsalerts.” — the severest abuse they could muster up. The party has appointed a Brahmin Chief Minister in Maharashtra. the controversy acquires political undercurrents. Mr. who are supposed to provide legal remedies. Rajan’s decision will predominantly flow from the RBI’s reading of domestic conditions — including food price trends. There is little in terms of compelling evidence any which way. Modi. in the process. Chief Minister Banerjee’s master stroke has put pressure on the BJP.20). they not only accused Mr. and that because of this arrangement merit and efficiency should not be allowed to be adversely affected.” he had said. and a slightly softer expected path for inflation in the U. Habibur Rehman. pitching the forthcoming Assembly elections as a battle between forward and backward castes. Bihar (“Unwarranted pettiness. In September 2014. Sep. Modi maintains his own ability to be the aggregator of small social groups. Rajan himself and Deputy Governor Urjit Patel. Noida Lowering rates Subramanian Swamy complaining that the RBI governor keeping the interest rates high has led to the slowdown of the manufacturing sector is wholly unfair and stands contradictory to the issue of increasing non-performing assets (NPA) that Dr. that these crutches will have to be done away with as soon as possible. and that too much stimulus risks fanning inflation and deficits along with faster growth. this election is not going to be about which caste group will dominate the campaign scenario. something that the former CM Prithviraj Chouhan had said during the elections.0 politics proposed by the Lalu-Nitish alliance seeks to aggregate smaller caste groups by calling the BJP a party of the upper castes. irresponsibly lending at unnaturally low rates is believed to have caused the global recession of 2008. Ignoring stiff resistance from the upper castes. Now the Patels are back again to challenge Mr. The files have little in terms of definitive evidence on Bose’s death or disappearance post-1945. the Sangh Parivar has come up with an ingenious theory — caste divisions in India are an outcome of Muslim rule in the country. thus vitiating section to which the Nepali maids the values for which the storehouse and fishermen belong. George MONDAY. New debates around reservations But a new generation of Dalit-backward caste politics is trying to open new debates around reservations. and the Dalits. He was given treatment in a hospital in Japan. citing ideological differences. the leader of the Patel mobilisation for reservation in Gujarat. it will be about who would succeed in aggregating the numerous minor castes with one or two per cent of population each. the BJP threw its weight behind Nitish Kumar. Mr. Modi’s politics. “As one believing in the indivisible unity of the entire Hindu Society including Harijans and tribals.V. they feel betrayed. Classical vs.0’s new caste challenge Varghese K. in a huge rally in Rajkot. However. Rajan to see the amber as a cautionary pause. at a Sangh function. Third. rather. P. we www. The release of the files in Kolkata has stepped up pressure on the Narendra Modi government to declassify those in the Central government’s custody so that the truth about whether Netaji indeed died in the crash comes out. Sep. Weeks ahead of the elections. A resolution of the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in 1981.g@thehindu. the NehruGandhi family and the Congress. that even in Nehru’s lifetime “some rumourmongers hinted darkly at foul play by Nehru himself”. Viswanaathan. hopes to overlook social stratification and assumes that the market provides a level playing field. while the Modi government happily released the religion-wise break up of the census — which is being used by many of its supporters to erroneously and viciously suggest that the Hindus are being overtaken by Muslims in numbers — it is ignoring the clamour for the release of the data on the numbers and socio-economic status of various caste groups.0. Col. but have documented unconfirmed reports that he may have survived the plane crash of 1945 in Taiwan in which he was supposed to have been killed. In Bihar. However.jobsalerts. makes one less sanguine that the RBI may be ready to switch the green light for further policy accommodation. The hint by Central Ministers that the issue involves “our relations with other countries” makes it more serious and all the more essential to let the people be informed. And Mr. the latter had to resign. removal of supply-side bottlenecks and assessments of the targeting of public spending and credit flows — one factor predicating the retention of the RBI’s accommodative stance as spelt out in August was the sign from the U.20). though evidence suggests that Nehru did try to broker peace between Gandhi and Bose. Finally. is about to witness a significant moment in the form of multiparty elections. Rajan as it removes. where politics has been firmly in the grip of Marathas. and Dalit sentiments represented in the statements above make us wonder whether caste is getting the better of Hindutva. there is a need for national and international monitors to keep an eye on the process. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Netaji files It is our right to know about the last days of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose whose memories we hold in high esteem (“BJP strikes a note of caution on files. the against the Congress.19). Modi’s politics. by implication. it is a matter of despair that she has not raised the issue of Rohingyas. before the State goes to the polls in 2016. the risk of rate arbitrage seeking capital outflows. but the BJP did not The Mandal 2. in 2005. Guwahati Bar-Bench chasm While laypersons using protests as a tool is understandable. SEPTEMBER 21. However. Victor Samaraj. keeping an eye on political leaders is widely believed to be an aspect. Bose’s grandnephew and scholar Sugata Bose wrote in his book.. including private papers on nationalist leaders and political organisations. Many feel Nehru didn’t back Bose enough. “For minor violations.co.S. The Fed’s move in delaying the much-anticipated start of ‘normalisation’ of interest rates provides some elbow room to Mr. others that he returned to India as a sadhu. though there is absolutely no comparison in terms of their economic and social status. In the fact that the Bose family was snooped upon for a time after Independence.S. according to one account. leader of a group of Dalits from Haryana who converted to Islam recently. August 18th. This gives scope for Mr. The Parivar strategy for Bihar is to aggregate under its banner the entire spectrum of caste groups that made the victory of Nitish possible in 2005 and 2010. Any emphasis on caste is a challenge to the politics of Narendra Modi whose slogan. Nothing short of complete disclosure would be acceptable. Some said he was sighted in Russia. Sabka saath.0. This strategy is being put on test in Bihar style crushed their patronage network. And the Fed will inevitably have to bite the bullet and initiate its lift-off: it is only a matter of timing. It has been more than three years and we have not been able to bring justice to the families of fishermen who were killed by two Italian marines. a reinvention of its classical form. what Mamata Banerjee did is good. citing concerns over relations with other nations. He was seriously injured when his plane crashed at the Taihoku airfield at 2 p. The Patel-dominated BJP in Gujarat was unravelling when Mr. for now. Modi without his rhetoric would be like Amitabh Bachchan acting in a silent movie. The presence of oppressive dominant castes at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s top repelled the numerous lower caste groups that are insignificant in terms of individual numbers. stated that he left Rangoon on the last day of its evacuation by the Japanese and had transferred to Bangkok. While Mr. Rajan’s caveat that the pursuit of growth must be tempered by the lessons offered by developments in Brazil. The leader goes on to say that they had hoped that the BJP government would protect them from the highhandedness of Jats in Haryana. it is her obligation to fight for their justice. In Bihar. Second. but the last one does. Particularly significant will be the response of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC). The latest data from the government on wholesale and consumer prices indicate an appreciable slowing of inflation. and on affirmative action in the private sector. The sealed trunk was personally handed over to the then Prime Minister of India and is now in government custody. Adani and Essar.www. Mandal 2. 2015 Hindutva 2. however unfortunate. Modi in Gujarat forced the Yadavs and Patels respectively to concede some space to other caste groups. the world’s most-persecuted community. Modi will be shorn of the rhetoric that has helped him aggregate these votes — like the subtle invocation of the religious rifts as he did in Bihar during Lok Sabha elections by raising cattle slaughter and Bangladeshi immigration. uncontrollably high amounts of money floating around in the market leads to unproductive endeavours and.18). But history took a different Forcing the dominant castes to loosen their grip has been an essential component of Hindutva 2. How then can we expect that we will be able to drag to court a diplomat who is not just more powerful.. SEPTEMBER 21. This is unlikely to happen if both the domains merely coexist in our centres of higher learning as two disparate groups. Ahmed violence will open a new chapter of Saving an endangered animal must Mohamed. not just on Bose. They sanctioned. There can human beings. they approach existing power structures and controversial debates surrounding them other’s assumptions and predilections. C. has portrayed her more political instability which Nepal be a priority for everybody and as an anti-Islamic propagandist awareness should be created in this rather than an atheist or a can hardly afford. she (“Greek voters return Tsipras to the part of the Railways to provide claims that slaughter of camel on power. though sympathetic to such liberating shifts. I think goats. A more integrated approach needs to be devised where diverse interests can interact mental methods. Leaders of West Bengal. This requires carefully orchestrated pedagogical systems. which played a very constructive role in mediating the process of consensus building to chalk out the basic features of the Constitution. The task of securing the lives of 7. A recrudescence of considered haraam (forbidden). This renders humanities scholarship vulnerable to ridicule. Without imagination and empathy. The polity could do well to take the necessary constitutional steps to address the Madhesi concerns and to live up to these expectations on governance.” Sep. attempt to shed its image of a ‘Hindu nation’ and take the Also. subscribe to the position that a right for representation rests solely with them.21).N . stand aloof and sulk. chase divergent job markets and organise our inner lives and rate our knowledge systems in sync with the realities inherent in our disciplines. With a shocking sense of artificially created hierarchy among us on the basis of our choice of groups. humanities. and many more. Science-humanities divide Thinking about humanities’s discordant relationship with the science establishment. so are their outcomes. Education in English certainly has the capability to instil a sense of complacency. Kamban as well as Kalidasa. (Hemachandran Karah works in the fields of disability studies and medical humanities.jobsalerts. literature. In pursuing identity politics. Taking a Thanjavur from the truth. This is unlikely to happen if both the domains merely coexist in our centres of higher learning as two disparate groups with caution. Notwithstanding the dynamic nature of these slots. he urged the court to award the death penalty only if culpability is absolutely certain. 2015 Constitution sans consensus ight years after the adoption of an interim Constitution that heralded a peace process.21). Hence. restriction on the sacrifice of European Union or leaving it were Nationhood cannot be enforced animals defined as halaal and bad options. SEPTEMBER 22.V. For months after the explosions. do rightfully mourn the fatal neglect of non-English knowledge systems. To disentangle such knowledge admixtures. a trained social scientist may be able to reach out to understand the inner worlds of a Dalit or a disabled person. is not all that a burden-free exercise. can therefore differ from other strands of knowledge only in kind. the suburban train lines now have over 3.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. Some of them outside did manage to hook on. but only from the peripheries. push for the same. Sep. D. at times. Between the years 1946 and 1948. But it has moved Nepal significantly and in a progressive manner away from the 1990 Constitution that maintained the state as a constitutional monarchy ruled by a Hindu king. the American schoolboy. the rest either resulted in acquittals or were commuted. If humanities scholars desire a more imaginative learning world for scientists. Constitution is not cast in stone. which was itself the outcome of the Jan Andolan seeking republicanism and state restructuring? The substantive answer to that question must be in the negative. is categorised in terms of capacity to transform imagination. To this end. Bihar through generalised statements. communities develop a tendency to reassert their uniqueness at all expense.N. They apprehend a wipeout of local linguistic heritage because of English. The Greeks have fences near tracks in forest areas at Bakrid contravenes religious realised that there are no quick fix vulnerable locations where wild injunctions as only goats are solutions and there is no animals usually cross them. what conceivable harm can be incurred by that? J. But Mumbaikars know in their hearts that while commuting on the train network they are really on their own in a city that has faced seven major terror attacks since 1993 — three of them on its trains. Jaya Rao. The trial of the 1993 serial bombings case took 14 agonising years. So the ‘impact factor’ of humanities. The leaders of the three main political parties — the Nepali Congress. Hyderabad The crux of the matter seems to be that under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Her assumption and fear that offices to counsel the Nepali elite to address the concerns of those tigers will be sacrificed in future who feel marginalised in the new doesn’t hold ground either as having canines Ms. say most social scientists. Now. Since a written where camels are in abundance. That said. we began branching out.” (“The sinking ship of the desert. national unity was very fragile.Mukundarajan. but to preserve our national unity. albeit through somewhat intangible means. it is highly identity of a ‘secular democratic It is sad inhuman to kill animals for condemnable that individual talent state’. Also. misinformation and Calling oneself an atheist does not The most remarkable feature of the misrepresention of facts. A Constitution that leaves large segments of the population disgruntled can hardly help us forge a sense of national unity.5 million daily commuters against attacks still remains a challenge.www. Subrahmanyam. After so many years. pursuing courses in material sciences. There were also other reasons for discontent over the new Constitution. Such a worldview is restrictive since it underestimates one’s ability to get into others’ shoes. English comes with a plethora of means to access knowledge which is not normally available through an Indian language. they invoke these philosophers as a shortcut and to compensate for their lack of grounding in knowledge systems of regional languages. Scientists and technologists work on problems using mathematical and experi- An academic ambience that privileges sciences over the humanities. Mumbai’s two worst terror attacks make for a strong case to expedite terror trials through fast-track courts.R. E At the heart of humanities education lies empathy. humanities began opening up to different identities. Other complaints relate to citizenship norms that disallow children of Nepali mothers married to foreigners from inheriting Nepali citizenship. it has to camel is one of them. Millions of Indians. Arguing that the train blasts case rests merely on the confessions of the accused. For one. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Bose enigma The mystery surrounding the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose should not be allowed to continue any further (“The enigma continues. And they believe that outsiders. a 37-year-old teacher who has now been acquitted after nine years in jail. they inhabit a world where they get to learn about love. In a globalised context like ours. which may be a basis for conviction. is the most common sacrificial Bengaluru India must continue to use its good animal. in terms of numbers it is second only to 257 victims in the 1993 serial bombings. privileging English over the re- CARTOONSCAPE Justice for the victims he seven peak-hour serial explosions on July 11.jobsalerts. has made pertinent points before the court. we started on our individual journeys from where we were expected to speak in mutually unintelligible languages. they should. The Law Commission of India in its draft report recommended speedy abolition of the death penalty for all crimes except those involving terrorism. Of course. the people of Nepal would be somewhat relieved that there has been a degree of closure to the Constitution-writing process. 2015 For an inclusive humanities pedagogy Hemachandran Karah TUESDAY.” Sep. the promulgation happened even as violent protests raged in the Terai against “injustice” meted out to the Madhesis. Camels are truly the for a bomb only because its be deficiencies in some aspects like pride of this nation and they have inventor was a Muslim! Sanya Khan. Perhaps. but on many other leaders. is not necessarily an inherent human trait and needs to be cultivated. However. “Experts differ on Netaji’s disappearance.21). and outright discrimination. and other such fine expressions. Visakhapatnam Toward republicanism With Nepal adopting a new Constitution. K. is not going to work any longer. uniquely possessed by one community or one individual. no matter how much their willingness and capacity to reach out. Tarique Farid.” and “Modi to host Netaji’s family in New Delhi. and a pedagogy rich in empathy will help it achieve the goal. 2006 in Mumbai came as a blow to the collective consciousness of Maximum City.in Tspiras' victory BG-BG . only say that nothing can be farther people had no real choice. delimitation and reservation but so often served the country during Delhi they can certainly be sorted out war. But it begs the question why even after seven years of deliberations the concerns of the Madhesis were not taken on board. Social scientists brand such a withdrawal as ‘Rightist leaning’. biological sciences.D. It will not only help bring quicker closure to the victims and reduce their helplessness in the face of a tardy justice system.21). we high school students herded ourselves into first. So the Greeks have through the state’s diktat.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU TUESDAY. which sciences ignore and social sciences espouse. mean that she is licensed to defame Md.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. often reasoning that it does not come within the ambit of their vocation. and psychology — rely on the art of interpretation. Acharya. so to speak. schoolboy. did Nepal’s polity — 507 out of the 601 lawmakers in the re-elected CA voted in favour of promulgation. Nepal has finally managed to promulgate a Constitution. one welcomed by Jinnah but unacceptable to Congress. was not given attention by the and India should not interfere too They have a right to live as much as policeman. every single day. near and far. Indian social scientists and humanities scholars tend to have a slavish devotion to Western thinkers such as Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida. Earlier. An interpretative mind can not only take cognisance of life situations. and yet fall short in accessing something that is completely esoteric and experiential about them. philosophy. There is no reason for the present government not to bring out the truth. Murthy. like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and B. communities with diverse identity markers. albeit reluctantly. including those from the lower castes. and fourth groups just after our high school board exams. second. She further goes on to alternative to reforms and may also impose further speed extrapolate it could even become austerity.co. Nagavender Rao. Mahatma Gandhi may have rejected the path suggested by Netaji during freedom struggle but he never had any doubts about Netaji’s commitment to the cause of freedom. scientists work closely with the industrial and military complexes as much as the ruling dispensation. The people required their polity to focus on governance in a stable Nepal. Humanities scholars. Fiction. including on communists. ideas commingle in complex ways irrespective of their linguistic roots. English as the medium of instruction and one identity marker over the other will create humans rich in knowledge but short on empathy. Human propensity for cruelty is as boundless as that for kindness. Neither an identity slot nor political assertiveness can automatically lead humanities scholars to a mission of empathy. at that time. Judge Shinde has the task of defining the direction of the debate on capital punishment with his verdict. for example. the lack of consensus in the run-up to the promulgation will remain a political sticking point in the restructuring process. A clock was mistaken much in its framework. The proposal by the Indian Chennai Hyderabad railways to paint coaches and stations with pictures of wildlife as desired by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to spread awareness on Maneka Gandhi has demanded ban Alexis Tsipras has managed to win conservation is welcome (“Trains on camel slaughter during Bakrid elections with a mandate for to transport you to the forests. and fear in their hearts. will not be in a position to understand them. V. reasoning. politics. Similar feats can be replicated in India too where humanities are gaining visibility in institutions devoted to engineering and technology such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). For example. we need to evolve learning environments that encourage a re-creation of esoteric forms of knowledge in some tangible shape. M. This was not to make Nehru’s position safe. The defence team led by advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry. the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) — have affirmed that the federal boundaries could be changed later. At least two more terror trials including the Aurangabad arms haul case of 2006 and the Malegaon bombings case of 2008 are still pending in Maharashtra. but Judge Y. now have a chance to gain entry into elite Indian in- Humanities and sciences need to interrogate each other’s assumptions and predilections. we need humanities education that is rooted both in the regional and the global. humanities education in India will cease to be a field where Western frameworks are merely recycled. last of the lot.” reforms and belt-tightening Sep. federal. as a teacher in an English classroom. daily commuters entered the compartments of suburban trains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should follow Mamata Banerjee and throw open the Bose papers without further delay. poetry. inadvertently creating exclusive slots for identities such as those of Dalits.B. In Islamic wisely accepted. Spying would have happened. The protestors were upset that the federal restructuring of Nepal into seven provinces left the Madhesis divided among five provinces. The 2006 train bombings killed 189 people. V. and other forms of human expression can come handy in this regard. disciplines in humanities — including history. With firm roots both in English and the regional languages. in this case. third. All said. This is clearly incorrect since a typical Indian scientist’s formative period is anything but politically inclined. therefore. As a global language. It is Nepal's Constitution satiating our gastronomic desires. through different media. and it could not be concluded on the basis of a consensus among the elected legislators in the Constituent Assembly (CA). it ahead. Unnithan. neglect. and 25 from the Opposition — live up to the promises in the interim Constitution. any religion or its followers new Nepal Constitution is an Gaya. Trapped in our shells by a rigid sense of specialisation. 10 crore to upgrade security on the Central and Western Railway systems. These include the delineation of electoral constituencies in the Terai (where more than 50 per cent of Nepal’s people live) which has not been done on the basis of the population in the plains.600 cameras. Reinforcing uniqueness of identities Finally. We need both modes of dissemination to handle the students’ capacity to absorb all modalities of learning. I cannot resist a bit of a flashback. This mentality persists till date. an assumption that that critical opinion in English is an end in itself. a strong voice against the death penalty. be built brick by brick through countries like Saudi Arabia etc that they are in for tough days inclusive policies. The conclusion is that the hill elite have thwarted what could have been a truly inclusive and democratic Constitution. mostly by legislators from the Terai. For the most part. music. Citing that such an exercise will have an adverse impact on our relations with other countries is not aceptable.C Roy shot down the idea. politics will become a burdensome and a straight-jacketed exercise. regard but. In pursuing such grand chases and technological feats. there was a proposal by Huseyn Suhrawardy and Sarat Chandra Bose for a united and independent Bengal. we rationalist (“Taslima under fire for Thiruvananthapuram should stay away from tweet on U. Scientists even aspire to devise grand frameworks — like the MTheory — that can potentially explain everything about the universe and the humanity’s evanescent place in it. The path to becoming a secular. but also instil thought processes that can transform one’s ideas about them from within. Influences on the mind are difficult to quantify. poultry and fish through friendly consultations. change will arrive when humanities and sciences are in a position to interrogate each stitutions that were earlier the preserve of a handful of those who had embraced English education much earlier. After all.3 per cent of all death sentences awarded by trial courts were upheld by the Supreme Court. The final verdict in this case will be significant as it will be the first major terror case after the July 30 hanging of Yakub Memon to bring into focus the question of the death penalty. it is disciplines such as Medical Humanities that have prompted Western medical science establishment into thinking about the patients’ inner worlds.S. the discipline was open to only an elite few with upper-caste affinities. To view this as a West Bengal election matter is to belittle the stature of a patriot like Netaji. Let us spare the endangered species.S. This would be the best way of clearing the air about his disappearance. He submitted that the Law Commission’s August 2015 report points out that only 4. those who favour a pedagogy in humanities that is based on Indian languages naturally brand English education as an attractive pact with the devil. are sufficient to cater to the food This is not the time for India to needs. disabled. looking beyond their illnesses.” Editorial. Twenty-first century humanities establishment in India will have to integrate subaltern or marginalised communities in a conversational environment that is both empowering and soulfully enriching. Clearly. In these nine years. However.21). with 69 abstentions. The recent earthquake had only worsened economic conditions and there was a sense of fatigue with the Constitution-writing process. commerce. without seeming carnivores intrusive. both fail to appreciate the idea that the efforts of a social scientist and a scientist can actually complement each other. rightly called the lifelines of Mumbai.” Sep. As it happens now. and another there. religious minorities. And as vast for empathy. It is equally important on Sep. Taslima Nasreen’s tweet on republic. Naturally.21). the Himalayan nation’s long wait for a foundation to build its republican ideals has ended (“Nepal adopts first democratic Constitution. with only one of them having a majority of plains-origin people. That said. governments continued to spy on Bose’s family members. Both Nehru and Sardar Patel were distressed by such moves as. With an expansion in identity politics. democratic and republican Nepal — as the Constitution envisages it to be — was tortuous. It is impossible to get to the heart of such a diverse learning environment without seeking as much recourse to classics in English as much as those in the regional languages. Koran places no confrontationist approach with the Taslima’s tweet Fauna on trains Camel slaughter www. in fact can enable humanities to have a firmly rooted empowering agenda. Snooping on his kin may not have been directly related to Netaji alone. they tend to stay away from politics. Their vocation is based on the premise that all problems are amenable to scientific solutions. This is not expected of leaders in a democratic dispensation. Though my audience primarily comprises students of English Studies. Hyderabad gional languages. this creates a grievance about gerrymandering. Having one foot here. A symbiotic relationship with the sciences. India. and not in degree. Consequently. a capacity to understand others in their own terms and contexts. mere visibility cannot provide humanities with the capacity it needs to become a transformative endeavour. by all means. and vice versa. This is not all: a conflicting relationship with the science establishment and a confusion concerning the appropriate medium of learning burden Indian system of education in humanities. but also aid the rehabilitation of unfortunate people like Abdul Wahid Shaikh. with the latter up in arms alleging discrimination. and thought itself. This is certainly a U-turn restrictions for all trains at such fashionable to kill tigers later. the Railways spent over Rs. has a lot to be disappointed as its well-meant persuasions for balancing the interests of the communities in the hills and the plains has largely been ignored. I can for the ex-PM and his party but the locations to save loss of wildlife J. I find it hard to talk of romantic love without invoking Shakespeare. To back her point. Mamata Banerjee’s decision to declassify 64 files is indeed a shrewd political manoeuvre even though its fallout for her own politics is likely to remain largely intangible. at the same time. with suspicion in their eyes. To cite an example. The claim that Netaji was living in other countries after 1945 means investigation needs to happen with the assistance of other countries. Shinde has managed to complete this trial in less than five years. Esoteric knowledge. Eden Alexander. SEPTEMBER 22. Is English the most appropriate medium of learning when it comes to social sciences?Yes indeed. bewitching technologists and humanities experts alike. and. a rich linguistic heritage. Empathy. From a situation where there were virtually no CCTV cameras. ” and “Parties demand probe into destruction of documents. one may expect him to be clear of alignment brought with it an unexpected what it will yield in relation to India’s cur. Till the 1990s. in the final days of General Singh’s tenure — he is a Union Minister today — deserves a thorough and serious inquiry. Contrast this with indeed correct that FDI has increased expo. Venugopalan. He will find that in Bihar. Nehru had undertaken this journey too.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. is the real culprit or if he has been made a scapegoat will only come to light if an independent inquiry is held. trip. A.K. record a destruction certificate by This is a moment of celebration not Col. other than the two behemoths of China and Russia. he can hardly remain unaffected by these rich rewards of freethinking. Srinivasan. the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. and China is firmly entrenched in the In any case. In India. Modi is to meet in Modi’s imagination — in solving these probSo. a grave diagnosis indeed.K. Idol worship is an indispensible part of Hinduism which devotees practise and cannot be considered a superstition. with the annual meeting of the U.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. suggesting ership in providing solutions to these. permanent member of the U.22). at last. beeline for this quickening country.” Kangayam R. (retd. the Army is national property. Recently. where ancient arguments are proffered in an archaic language that few can understand. suffers from a phenomenon called ‘re-patrimonialization’. we’re told.see? cial inflows had been elicited then. A ‘Digital India’ backed by greater FDI flows can only play a limited role in tackling these with its significant Indian presence. he will be opposed by his own party colleagues. Not a day passes without us being informed of some impending visit by our Prime Minister. Bengaluru-based producer. indulged in unauthorised surveillance and made attempts to destabilise the Jammu and Kashmir government. Over the last two decades of globalisation in India.N. Anoop Kumar. Telangana Reason-religion debate BG-MY . In Rajasthan. of Indian origin at that. India is today one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. the Indian Left has shown an unwillingness to address the real problems of the present.Domestic issues.” Sep. it seems. Rushal Garg. The happenings in Greece and Spain and the victory of Jeremy Corbyn in the U. where his writ hardly runs. looms large in Mr. Brazil and even China. He will find women. then they should debate the legacy of Tipu Sultan. he would find that a senior civil servant ran an extortion racket yielding four The Prime Minister needs to show better statesmanship in crores in ready rupees.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU WEDNESDAY. The membership of this discredited club. in highest public office. a process which is still ongoing. Mani Nataraajan. even as he thanklessly championed per cent of the Indian economy by now.. It may be for reasons of secrecy and the need to protect the dignity of the Army as an institution that no public disclosure has been made about all aspects of this controversy.da. the promised gains in manufactur. and so making a film about him “would be an insult to Tamils”. we may CARTOONSCAPE Mixed-up narratives ike death and taxes. or demands to ban the film. the documents that were used during the court-martial proceedings were not certified copies. or just a religious imperialist who lusted for political power? What did he mean to Tamils.world — which. The main sources of mobilisation for the Left parties anywhere are the workers and the trade unions. Gen. the overwhelming majority of rural among many intellectuals who had made a Communications Technology are very im. Even the financial constraints can be overcome through political will. altogether surprising that the leader of India should travel westward urging “Come make in India. as democratic arrangement. shows that between May 22 and May 25. we await his safe return.mestic supply and demand conditions may sult of decades of misgovernance.” Or take the case of The Queen. Both believers and rationalists need to act with restraint and responsibility. Some of its Tamil Nadu-based figures quickly denounced Tipu as an aggressor who had committed “atrocities against Hindus”. States. The hardship of everyday life faced by Council. Some of these charges are attributed to the findings of an inquiry report by a Board of Officers. hopefully rewired and ready. So. he will find a doctor of the All India marked pithily that India’s policy of non. is a welcome development. rationalists must learn to differentiate between religion and superstition. Singh has shown an uncanny knack of getting into news for the wrong reasons (“Different papers emerged in court martial. lems faced by the people of India is somewhat limited. try. alighting from the the technical and financial means are within our reach time machine. Mexico. has shown greater statesmanship by reportedly proposing that subsidies for pilgrimages. He could even remain in the PMO while travelling backwards in a time-machine.S. the U. Before it comes to be imagined that Nehru’s forays into the wider world had amounted only to showcasing Indian attire. Modi to Silicon Valley. Apparently. who desires greater transparency in Cabinet functioning. suggesting that do. Viluppuram Turning Left Socialism is a dead ideology and what is needed is compassionate capitalism so that the widening inequality is ironed out.co. What would be the things that he will get to want to remember that extraordinary finan.” India’s unique place in world order India is made to appear as a supplicant when no one asks it to be one. with its good relationship with Nepal. Security Foreign trade accounts for more than 50 and yet underdeveloped country.22). later this month. And two different sets of copies appear to have been produced by the Army and the DRI in the court-martial. It is the reitself. Army’s secret and and republicanism but also top-secret files are normally because of the ability of its people destroyed after the operation but. There was nary a protest from any quarter. Non. Was he a courageous anti-colonial crusader. the system in the U. which was only because the country has subsequently made available to adopted secularism.K. Then they brought in another angle. It is distressing to observe some respected rationalists making indecent comments on idol worship. out in terms of attracting foreign direct in. Though Mr. Karnataka Sahitya Academy gets threat calls. Yet. there are pressing domestic issues back home seeking his attention — issues like poverty. Gampa Saidatta.in Hyderabad because he couldn’t afford Over a quarter of the total financing for the vestment (FDI) and. but it could not have escaped his atten. The revelation that sensitive documents relating to it were destroyed illegally in 2012. It is not without significance that India had been the first port of call for Nelson Mandela after the end of apartheid in South Africa. it has “retreated into an inaccessible intellectual space. Coimbatore This is the right time for Nepali leaders to take into account the concerns of the Madhesis. citing reasons of secrecy. While the set up bipartisan committees to propose perties. It is puzzling that the military authorities went ahead with a general court-martial against a havildar who was charged with offering these documents to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). should the public sector not be required to yield a much larger surplus than it does? And shouldn’t the government plead with the well off to give-up regressive consumption subsidies? Here. They need to learn from India’s example. which has failed to assuage the concerns of many sections of population in the Northeast even after six decades of reorganisation. Nevertheless. 2012. Singh. 9. division to be so secretive. possibly. from the rest of the world. be diverted to educate the girl child. On the other hand. Further. the issue is also about an artist’s fundamental right to re-examine a mythological or historical figure – through books or paintings or cinema.S.) V. therefore. India’s response is not Palakkad an encouraging one. technology to medical care for his son. voters will gradually abandon mainstream political parties like the BJP and Congress if they don’t address the basic problems of the urban poor. with hopes of attracting greater foreign investment. even long-dead figures seem to be beyond the hands of artists. nary a thought for India’s inclusion. massive earthquake. The Prime Minister. but in other countries such as Greece. Mohali The spectre is again rising in Europe. On the other hand.be made to accelerate their adoption. which was an unflattering portrait of the British royal family in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death. with scant regard for history or artistic freedoms. But of to some that this reflects a new international least he can do is to draw attention to them. What is required to live down the operations of a disbanded covert unit is a comprehensive and independent judicial investigation. Russia. in comparison to the slow progress of the manufacturing sector here. Delhi All progressive citizens must condemn this violence and should demand a fair probe to bring the culprits to justice (“Now. If Gen. General Assembly and from there proceed to the west coast. a State run by his own party. a covert intelligence unit of the Army raised during the tenure of General V. ic” to its population. As for the IT tsars Mr. should step in and seek an explanation from Gen. had re. even Mr. Modi’s prime ministership. So it is likely to bide its time. and the manner in which the fallout of disclosures about the probe report was handled. imported solutions He will find a farmer committing suicide reward as the rival ideological blocks vied rent priorities. but taking it seriously is uncool and undemocratic. we might suggest that soon as the PM returns from abroad he goes on a virtual Bharat darshan. hunger and misgovernance. has not been given a copy of the verdict. mostly undertaken by men. with documentary evidence. and though this time it is following all democratic norms. he will find that it is headed by a gay man. Corbyn will be keen to shift British politics to the Left. The TSD has faced allegations that it misused funds earmarked for secret service operations. Apartheid and colonialism have van. 2015 Modi’s unrealistic American dreams Pulapre Balakrishnan WEDNESDAY.Mr. to Hindus? But that would mean allowing the possibility of another point of view emerging. course the world has changed since the fif. who constitute a significant section of the population. The Nagaland question is just one of the examples.S. However. though the originals had been destroyed. has long ago sensed the profit opportunity in engaging with India and does not need handholding. It is the States. is in the news for all the wrong reasons. An argument is usually made with one another to shower India with aid. The truth must not be compromised on the pretext of national security. in India. manent solutions. Right now.” “But soldier was sent to prison for 10 years. if not eliminated (“What Corbyn means for India’s Left. while the government is right to pursue foreign investment and technology. There have been only occasional news reports and leaked information about purported inquiries and findings. the Pune-based Southern Army Command assembled two different boards of officers to destroy all TSD-related documents in its possession. While the news on Technical Support Division (TSD) had evoked severe criticism earlier. David Cameron’s tweet against a victorious Jeremy Corbyn shows extreme prejudice and intolerance on his part towards the political choice of a large number of British citizens. New South Wales. The technical element in the solutions is fully understood and entirely within our capability to handle. Narasimhan. we need to engage with the country in a constructive manner to help it integrate the minorities. 1. Asaduddin Owaisi. entrepreneur and independent MLA Ashok Kheny announced a film based on the persona of Tipu Sultan. It would appear that they want to control the narrative of figures and events from the past to reflect a view that corresponds with their own. it does gives the impression of not giving as much importance to other areas. its functioning as well as the inquiry against it. we wish our Prime Minister an enjoyable visit to the San Francisco Bay Area where a festival of ideas awaits him. in the manner democracy should function.S. Being a keen observer.K. indicate that two factions may be at work within the Army seeking to discredit each other. one should not expect Mr.S.22). Nowhere in the world. S. Altogether. FDI accounts for less than 10 per nancing them. if any. remarks that only weaken the trust people impose in them. T There is at least one dimension in which the distance between Narendra Modi and Jawaharlal Nehru is not so great after all. having inherited a bloodily-partitioned nation with a declining per capita income. a clerk at the TSD. Singh had intended the K.Indians has a history far older than that of what exactly he had thought of the prize ing are disappointing. May be its cool to talk about equality and justice. Sathya Priya.confidence in India’s economy. with his niche presence in the political firmament. Madhesis and Janajatis. the so-called defenders of democracy still feel haunted and threatened. in 1949. which killed more than possible leaking of information. Resolving tion that even when it was not a cabal of the be at least as important for Indian manu. In turn. It is. Choudhury. to achieve consensus even after in every case. the Secunderabad Pune-based Southern Command liaison unit would not have kept on It is a historic moment for Nepalis.” Sep. we also see its decline n India. The mere mention of the project was enough. to govern. we were a different country then. C. India. the new revelations about the alleged destruction of documents under Gen. requires investigation. The entire episode concerning the TSD.N. and suggest means of fiished. Siddipet. to unsettle the BJP and its ideological allies. K.households do not have access to sanitation. I speak not of their fondness for the bandgala but of their penchant for world travel. The author has belaboured to espouse the cause of the Left parties as if their revival is crucial for the survival of Indian people. Havildar Sham Das D. the press and the Tories. 2015 Living down a covert unit he Technical Support Division. He will find that it is a society where diversity is celebrated — as a result of which minorities bring their best to the table. Meghana. a system that caters only to the needs of lobbyists and special interest groups. created a sense of Every piece of information with unity among members of the Constituent Assembly. have reasons to feel left out.R. it also has a flourishing agriculture. with an anachronistic agen. a destruction suffering a bloody civil war and a certificate is maintained on record. Given that Rajinikanth portrays himself as a spiritual person. Australia www.jobsalerts. it has become a certainty: every passing week brings forth a reminder that freedom of speech and expression are wobbly concepts in our country.” Sep. He will find that though California is the home of the IT industry.out-of-turn special assistance of Rs. Communist China’s claims. How. However. It is the resentment toward this among the non-MP members of the Labour party and society in general that has led to the rise of the so called ‘hard Leftist’ Jeremy Corbyn. For instance. The role of the rest of the Security Council. followed by internal reform in all such agencies. we are being bombarded with the details of the itinerary of his visit to the U. has the Left progressed. Nehru himself had travelled the world as the torchbearer both of an ancient civilisation and a cosmopolitan internationalism with roots in the West to which he considered himself a natural heir. Whether he was actually trying to leak official secrets or was framed as part of a larger feud among the Army top brass. hoarding a young labour stock and a substantial talent pool. SEPTEMBER 23.-based IT industry. Michal Kalecki. working and salaried classes. The protagonist of the Hollywood film The American President says.jobsalerts. do not constitute the success of Left as a whole. Bengaluru As the Prime Minister makes another U.Prime Minister he is expected to show leadIndia’s desperate attempts today to gain nentially over the past one year. In fact. It is not known However. the tariff barrier to trade has been while project per se.figure is impressive it is not unprecedented. However. A similar phobia has engulfed Indian minds which find the ‘politics of aspirations’ more suitable.V. If the political parties involved believe in the democratic system. Chennai As we see the rise of Left in the West. a term coined by Francis Fukuyama. The views expressed are personal. due to dismal growth of industries here. thus taking the achieving a bipartisan consensus while evolving solutions. It is incontestable that both foreign in. he is likely to be struck by the thought that while ‘Digital India’ is a worthIt is also of interest that Nehru had shown Further. But. Ikbal Ahmed. V. Both meaning of “ease of doing business” to an altogether new level. (The author teaches economics at Ashoka University. making it difficult for him to go in appeal. it can only be a partial answer to what needs to be done in this vast no particular anxiety over wanting India as a rescinded along with quantitative controls. The reaction of the media reveals the shallow meaning they attach to the term ‘democracy’. a successful step in moving away from being a Hindu monarchy.in Doubts about the trickle-down benefits in neoliberal economics and rising income inequality have triggered a Leftist wave not only in the U. every effort must In Delhi. The natural This is carried out to prevent any disaster.travel to the U. and one might say with cent of total capital formation in the coun. However. with Tamil superstar Rajinikanth possibly in the lead. At the same time.www. many an Indian abroad would have been the beneficiary of praise from African students and American workers for India’s role in hastening the process of decolonisation. democracy your reporter. they questioned the appropriateness of his acting in a movie about someone who robbed this country. V. The issue through the restructuring of calls for an immediate probe. only the rich have benefited enormously.K. However.the citizens’ problems also involves a role for rich and powerful it could hardly count as a facturing as is an open trade regime.K. We need to congratulate the Nepali people and the country’s politicians — not as a big brother but as a friend and a partner — for the achievement.25 lakh the astute Polish economist who was one vestment and the spread of Information and crore. Without suggesting what these areas are. It is time for the Defence Minister to make an official statement on actions proposed by the government on the issue. and U. the rest of the world does not hold the key to either the pace or inclusiveness of its economic growth.portant for India.000 people. Given the sensitive nature of the unit that is involved. Singh as Army chief. Even the actor’s reputation was not spared.K. to which State he has promised an Second Five-Year Plan was via official aid drive the ‘Digital India’ programme. He will start.K. saying Tamils had suffered during Tipu’s rule. despite the story being about people who were still alive. they belong only to politicians.. needs to provide friendly counsel to the neighbour to protect the freedom of these groups. L CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR General’s unit A soldier turned politician. Kandamangalam. To compound the problems. Whether Havildar Sham Das. Singh’s watch have only added a new dimension to this controversy. it is possible that the destruction of the documents may be part of an effort to clean up the mess left behind by disclosures about the TSD. making the task of its leadership a little easier by comparison. much of what can be achieved nounce on television that dengue is “endemmilk from two cows!” via enabling legislation has been achieved.Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) analignment was akin to “a clever calf sucking ever. Besides. SEPTEMBER 23. they are not able to garner enough support. While India must constantly engage with the rest of the world at all levels. no one is enamoured of any ideology these days. Chennai Secular republic Nepal Nepal’s adoption of a secular and democratic Constitution. To quote Arundhati Roy. This can be attributed to the rapid growth of services sector. on FDI. The latest exposé by this newspaper. At the same time. We need to remember that we faced problems The ruling party’s stoic silence on of regionalism in the 1950s which the destruction of the key we overcome only gradually documents is baffling. This hypocrisy is suffocating. And if he ever travels to the headquarters of the iconic Apple Computers. it seemed. The most sensitive aspect from a diplomatic and national security point of view concerns the claim that the TSD was actually involved in covert operations in a neighbouring country. “America isn’t easy… It’s gonna say ‘You want free speech?’ Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil… You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can’t just be a flag. After all. Such reactions to a film that is just in the stage of a proposal is but further proof that sections of India’s political establishment have lost the ability to distinguish between artistic expression and historical accuracy. In contrast. Mohanraj T. its ally. (Kanak Mani Dixit. As for the set of seven demands that New Delhi is said to have placed before Kathmandu. There are contradictions galore in this Constitution. the Deoband must also consider many other cases where such talaqs were considered valid.22)? A former General and present Minister. This process began with the 12Point Agreement of 2005. However. is a means to ensure freedom of expression and to keep information secure in the digital world. Puducherry India can never hope to grow only through FDI. The focus should be on finding indigenous solutions. but the violence in the plains and the vehemence of the official Indian reaction has raised questions on whether Nepal will The opinion makers in India. Narendra Modi would top the list the criticism always falls on the of most-travelled Prime Ministers nation’s bureaucracy? We do not and has. 2 of the east-central plains) in the federal delineation. The reason for South Block’s imperative for visible interventionism may be as benign as wanting to be perceived as the decisive power on Nepal. and Mr. Putin and President Barack Obama to discuss the Syrian conflict.V. KBS would do well to seriously consider the possibility of diverting the huge funds at the disposal of the samoohams and community temple toward the community's empowerment by enriching the educational.S. Turkey. economic growth. has chosen to keep mum. Of the 116 (first-pastthe-post) seats occupied by representatives from the Tarai-Madhes plains. You don’t need stars on your shoulders to serve the nation. Parve Jain. If India can resolve issues of governance. Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and Maoists) have preferred a ‘rule by syndicate’. I am overwhelmed by the regard and respect I have received as a Brahmin. would recognise the need of Nepal to move on with its social agenda and economic revival.S. including the anti-secularists and anti-republicans. during which time inter-community polarisation flared. indicates Moscow is preparing for its first major military operation outside its neighbourhood since Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. R. The teaching Babar Ali started doing when he was nine has quite obviously got transformed into a passion in the course of time. it is a complex geopolitical confrontation in which several countries are involved. A woman suffers injustice every time a talaq is handed over in such an ad hoc manner. on the domestic front. the U.jobsalerts. We also need to remember encryption is merely a tiny cog in the wider domain of cyber-security. The ferocious rise of IS is a good enough reason for such a common ground. Mr. The preamble starts with ‘we the Nepali people’ rather than the ‘people of Nepal’. on Monday when the draft was released. Only dignity and logic. who replies to every comment on his Twitter handle. even suffocating. Shivaraj Cholakhe.23). Of the 601 Assembly members. Perhaps the most welcome aspect is that amendments can be adopted with relative ease over the next two years and four months. this was followed up the next day with a list of demands from New Delhi as to what should go into Nepal’s Constitution in amendment. Hence. having been routed in the November 2013 elections. ease of doing business will improve by itself.” Sep. Bengaluru I agree with the author that challenges to India’s growth and development are internal. New Delhi must introspect and take into consideration the sovereignty of a neighbour. Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad rightly and quickly chose to emphasise that it was “just a draft and not the view of the government”. more than any other country. lawmakers recently: “We cannot break strong encryption. The opinion-makers in Indian media. Raghavan. health and social standards of people. brought forth with the ostensible goal of ensuring privacy and promoting Internet security. or more problematic and linked to strategic interests including crossborder security and Himalayan water resources. I believe it would be enough for a national encryption policy to suggest the common minimum standards that must be ensured by ISPs and all other intermediaries. New Delhi BG-BG . a writer and journalist based in Kathmandu.S. K. Altogether 9. have failed to consider the representative and inclusive nature of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly except sovereignty and national integrity are open to amendment. meanwhile. have the public interest in mind. Three-cornered mistake All three sides have made mistakes in Nepal: the national leaders. therefore. rather than the spare. It could also be as simple as the personal pique of mandarins and apparatchiks. A ‘rights-based’ Constitution Attempting to write a modernist Constitution in ‘post-modernist’ times.S. as pointed in the article.” Sep. 92 per cent of all Constituent Assembly members endorsed the Constitution while 85 per cent voted in favour of the document. with the gloves off. as well as aspects of citizenship rights. Aisha Ahmed. through its experiments in community radio and locally managed forestry. Then they started an airstrike campaign against Islamic State. Amritsar Taking to teaching A noble act worthy of emulation by millions of our educated youth has been so thoughtfully highlighted (“No stopping this boy wonder. judiciary and police. and made errors such as neglecting the Tharu people in expanding the originally proposed six provinces to seven provinces. including from the Christians and Muslims. 105 voted for the Constitution while 11 boycotted. which places such a store by improving neighbourhood relationships. The latter. The constitution-writing had been frustratingly painstaking. are addressed. are either utopian or election-centric with little relevance to ground realities.23). forgetting that there are those who selfidentify as ‘Nepali’ elsewhere in South Asia. From the pulpit of the Constituent Assembly.” Access to encrypted data should. to find a political solution. Arjun sharma. Russia has sent offensive aircraft. Frankly. Bigger battles await us. but statements from Russian officials and the nature of the military presence in Syria point to a two-pronged strategy — to prevent any rapid collapse of the Assad regime. Such policies are best approached and debated in a holistic fashion. As one who has lived most of my 86 years here. is founding editor of the magazine Himal Southasian ) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. There are enough indications. New Delhi’s support has been lopsided by focussing on the Madhes-based parties that have been demanding plains-only provinces. A return to Panchsheel.” Sep. wrote in a report in May: “It is a seemingly universal position among technologists that there is no special access that can be made available only to government authorities. that Nepal can emerge as an ideal democra- actually turn the corner. the Brahmins here can have no complaint. During his visit. colleges or the government. First. Teaching is a noble profession and serviceminded people like Babar Ali add special charm to it. or to be seen. Kerala has always been most friendly and respectful to the community of Tamil migrants. Nepal should be allowed to make its own plans and mistakes. Modi’s negligence on domestic issues is a cause for concern as he has the habit of visiting only States where elections are scheduled in the near future. a manifestation of a corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. So any meaningful multilateral effort to find a solution to the conflict should be welcomed. was the speed with which it was withdrawn. which for all its weaknesses has progressive elements. officials and satellite images released by various organisations.” Sep. One of the provisions sought to give the government access to encrypted data that rest with government departments (save the sensitive ones). Why can’t Mr.” Sep. and it makes many promises conditional upon the enactment of laws. instead. a process in which digital messages are scrambled so they can’t be accessed by anyone other than those they are meant for. 2015 Apply Panchsheel on Nepal Kanak Mani Dixit THURSDAY. including a failed first Constituent Assembly (CA) feeding into the second CA. They are yet to visit the plains to express sorrow for the more than 45 dead during the agitation of the past two months. for its part. The question is whether the two powerful groups — the West and its Gulf allies and the Russia-Iran-Syria trio — can find common ground on Syria. It bears keeping in mind that only the Madhesi population has been provided an identity-based province (province No. Democracy was achieved in 1990 but was derailed with the Maoist ‘people’s war’ barely five years later. But while the draft goes back to the drawing board. not external. It is inspiring that that he continues to teach while pursuing his masters and that six of his own erstwhile students have also taken up teaching in his school. there is criticism that Russia is complicit in the Syrian tragedy as it supports the Assad regime and therefore its overtures cannot be taken seriously. He needs to sit down and take stock of domestic issues. Putin seems to be trying to effect such a shift. then withdrawn. the alive cultural linkages and the overall goodwill between the citizenry on the two sides. who feel that Kathmandu’s three major parties have stopped listening to them. Encryption keeps intruders at bay. The process was weakened by senior leaders who formed a cabal that took all decisions instead of allowing debates on the floor of the Constituent Assembly. 335 were placed through proportional representation and 240 were directly elected. and to push for talks with all the stakeholders but the jihadists. As far as the Madhes-based parties are concerned. local government and in the easy cosmopolitanism of Kathmandu. Both his international trips and. and the still larger domain of national security. For all its weaknesses. Nepal must be allowed to sort matters out by itself. He will also attend a meet hosted by Barrack Obama with peacekeeping forces on the agenda. 2015 The encryption debate he thing to appreciate most about the government’s draft encryption policy. However. as Big Brother.” British Prime Minister David Cameron has already created a stir by calling for a ban on strong encryption. The digital world also comprises criminals and terrorists. Second. who have no divided loyalties and who see their future as secure within a democratic Nepal even as they fight for inclusion. Why is it that after more than 48 hours of The Hindu’s exposé on the Army’s destruction of files. Viswanaathan. T No other term but ‘dismay’ can describe one’s response to New Delhi’s ungenerous reply to Nepal’s democratic drafting of a Constitution through a Constituent Assembly. though. more or less. The conflict ended in 2006 but then followed a peace process and period of transition. we are yet to get some clarity on the issue from the other side (“Different papers emerged in court-martial. The Kremlin has apparently sought a meeting between Mr. Kathmandu. The aliases one uses in the social media environment can be a fun way to keep casual users from identifying you. which Nepal has already experienced in 1988.D. Neither is the plains citizenry monolithic. Bijapur. directly or through proxies. The Nepal-India relationship. as the Constituent Assembly enjoys a kind of afterlife as a Parliament with the same party-based configuration. equality and dignity. to rejecting the death penalty.S. Even a $500-million U. should be careful not to act. Hyderabad cent of registered voters. The world over. Encryption. Qatar. Palakkad Triple talaq The fatwa given by Darul-UloomDeoba is a positive development (“Birth of girl no ground for ‘talaq. David Kaye. UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression. Granting governments the power to tap into every message and item of information and store them. in principle. including former Ambassadors tied to present policy. have failed to consider the representative and inclusive nature of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly.in It does not have to make any exemptions for specific social media services. be provided as an exception. is the biggest impediment that is holding India back. The interminable transition was to have ended with the promulgation of the Constitution. the draft was withdrawn the very next day. Mr. the Madhes-based parties and Indian policymakers. This war is not just one between a ruthless dictator and his opponents.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU THURSDAY. The details of the Putin plan are yet to emerge.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. www. and it was hoped that India. administrations have sought weaker encryption standards or backdoor access to Internet products. making up fully 78 per CARTOONSCAPE Putin’s plans for Syria resident Vladimir Putin seems set for a grand bargain over Syria. The deployment. experts and netizens could quickly figure out that the provisions had the real potential to undermine encryption. the Pentagon recently admitted that only four or five fighters are now on the battleground. Naveen Agrawal. is the ideal country where enlightened sovereignty can lead to an end to social marginalisation. the Constitution has progressive elements that would The oldest nation-state of South Asia must be allowed its own space to implement its new Constitution. Narayanmurti. he will host a G-4 summit in New York where he is expected to discuss UNSC reforms. The needs of marginalised communities. There is a genuine attempt to safeguard the rights of women. Tharu and Dalit. one constant since before Mr Modi took charge has been the itch to micromanage Nepal. had enough in them to harm the cause. Merely copying the West or providing largesse to States to garner votes are not going to help our country achieve the growth the PM desires. announcement of schemes. holds out an example for South Asia as a whole. including the Dalits. The backlash had its effect. though it is not seen to be enough. with even the external intelligence agency enjoying a carte blanche to operate overtly. the apprehensions expressed in the article are valid. there are many holes and loopholes in the statute.co. facilitated by New Delhi. and repressive regimes. which represents the largest overseas military presence for Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. and it is a brother to Nepal. New Delhi Intrusion into privacy The hastily introduced. from institutionalising the republic and secularism. The activism by New Delhi also does a disservice to the Madhesi people of Nepal. There was little in the draft that was true to the goal. will have the potential to make the system extremely vulnerable. even ones that. the Indian side should keep in mind that there are many forces that would want a collapse of the Constitution of Nepal-2072. For this. The U. they get a larger share of the cake.23). with the promise to hold elections for a Constituent Assembly. FBI Director James Comey even complained to U. itself an advanced South Asian experiment. seems well advised.S. There is no social media outrage against such revelations.” Sep. corporates and individuals. with a multiplicity of identities that includes the Muslim. SEPTEMBER 24. In terms of the promulgation. when the (plains) voters rejected their main plank of identity-based provinces. K. become a apply the same standards to the Covert military unit other wheels of our democratic structure. far above the required two-thirds majority. any effort made in attracting investment is equally important because of the employment opportunities that come with it for our large labour force. The fatwa issued by Deoband should be valid for other such cases also where it was given over the phone without any reason. the latter have committed itself to carrying out the required amendments. ‘non-resident PM’. The ‘Constitution of Nepal 2072’ (in the Vikram calendar) was the culmination of seven years of effort. it is important to realise that any debate on encryption isn’t going to be easy and straightforward. Whenever there is any revelation on our security forces. it is important for India to let the neighbour sort out its challenges on its own. However.S. P CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PM’s U. negotiated between the underground Maoists and Nepal’s democratic parties. Another provision required users to store all encrypted communications for a period of 90 days. and the ratcheting down of nationalist posturing that has been such a drag on the egalitarian evolution of the Subcontinent over the past six decades. While they constitute only about three per cent of the population. Issues like drought in Maharashtra. This is a rights-based document that makes promises to all. advanced tanks and hundreds of troops to Syria to defend the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Given that we are all saddled with the nation-state as the primordial unit of governance. SEPTEMBER 24. This was very much the “the widest possible consensus” that has been Prime Minister Modi’s personal insistence. so are other countries including Saudi Arabia. This constitutes a lack of concern for the rest of Nepal with its profusion of communities. Coimbatore Brahmins as minorities The news about the planned agitation by Tamil Brahmins in Kerala is depressing for many reasons (“Tamil Brahmins seek minority status. There has to be a strategic shift in the way the world is handling the Syrian crisis. programme to train “moderate Syrian rebels” to fight IS collapsed. written by politicians responding to populist pressures rather than by circumspect jurists and constitutionalists. including former Ambassadors tied to present policy. from institutionalising the republic and secularism.5 million citizens participated in the CA elections of November 2013. these are matters that have been already discussed between the Madhes-based parties and the three main parties. Administrations cite public safety as the reason for asking for encryption access. the provisions. Karanpal Singh. but that only aided Syria’s destabilisation and the rise of powerful jihadist groups. the massive weight of poverty of the plains will be locked in and the promise of federalism will likely be wasted. therefore. there are two possible outcomes. but lacked democracy to make governance work for the people. Some of them would not only want to know who you are and hack into your information and messages but also have the means to do so. The burden of labour on agriculture can be reduced if investment creates jobs in the manufacturing sector. and followed that up a day later with a veiled threat of economic blockade. The Ministry of External Affairs merely ‘took note’ of the document. the disabled and those from the LGBT community. one that has always been sensitive to its well-being and security concerns. The solution has to involve evolving a broad societal consensus over a proposed solution. Certainly. two key points of the Panchsheel Principles (mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference) seem to have been consigned to the dustbin. be it in schools.’ says Deoband.www. the only response is the cliché of ‘national security’. Karnataka Why is it that every time the question of accountability is raised. as also a large number of Pahadiya hill people. So. and its European allies backed antiAssad rebels at the beginning of the civil war. According to reports. provided there’s the political will. We should keep in mind that questioning the gray areas in the working of our defence does not make us unpatriotic. For this reason alone the Modi dispensation. Putin is expected to present his Syria strategy at the UN General Assembly later this month.jobsalerts. visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is seen as an attempt to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) but that is only one side of the picture (“Modi’s unrealistic American dreams. not as a rule. Everything cy. basic law we have been taught to be the ideal. If the neighbour’s strategic interest forces a fait accompli of exclusively plains-based provinces. If Russia is complicit. including proportional representation in all arms of state. New Delhi’s statements leading up to the promulgation of the Constitution and thereafter have been marked by escalating interventionism. Draft National Encryption Policy makes one wonder: what kind of expertise is the government hiring to guide policymaking (“Draft encryption policy dropped following outcry. 125 in total. adjustment of electoral constituencies according to population. Weak governance. The country has been politically sovereign for two-and-half centuries.23)? It seems that it is merely testing the waters on how much elbow room the public is willing to give them into their private lives. The fact is that India is big. should not fall short of responding to this challenge of Indian officialdom with dignity and logic. at least some of their positioning is explained by the fact that the top leaders are fighting for political survival. To be sure.23). including the kind of provinces to be created exclusively in the Tarai-Madhes plains. Before raising the ante on Nepal further. to confirming social and economic rights as fundamental. has left the observer aghast. This overt interventionism. including private intelligence companies. Going by reports from U. to conferring several social and economic rights on its people do all of South Asia proud. including the historically defined open border. Indeed. Telangana and Karnataka need his attention. A dreadful sop to the Maoists was the salute in the preamble to the ‘armed conflict(s)’ of the past. this interference will create a politically unstable Nepal astride India’s populous heartland. which has been ineffective in countering the jihadists. and those of the European Union. meant to impress Kathmandu’s recalcitrant political class. They present this as a public safety vs privacy issue. Putin now be given a chance? The Western strategic disarray has proved disastrous for Syria. The present attempt by Kerala Brahmana Sabha (KBS) is to upset this equilibrium. But that isn’t enough. The topmost leaders of the national parties (Nepali Congress. doubts about its cyber-snooping. Narayanan FRIDAY. Italy is hostile to the idea of Germany’s inclusion. derived from ancient civilisational traditions. apart from its recent economic resurgence. Mainstream parties such as the BNP should set aside narrow political calculations and back the government in the fight against religious fundamentalism.1 billion deal for attack and heavy lift helicopters. it is capable. All this has given rise to hopes of an early entry for India into the Security Council. If India succeeds in enlarging the ambit of its role. Narayanan is India’s former National Security Advisor and former Governor of West Bengal. Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two issues immediately come to mind. It is the U.S.. and threatens to kill them all unless its demands are met. India could make common cause with Germany — the one country that has demonstrated a spirit of willingness to accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees — and mobilise global opinion to help deal with the crisis. were practically forced to tender their resignations. Kothamangalam It is no surprise that the saffron party’s political bickering against the Congress has made its way into the field of academia too. India would demonstrate that it is both willing.24). Further. these attempts not only Chennai undermine privacy but are also a serious affront on an individual’s rights. “the visit seeks to build on the substantial ground covered” during their previous exchange of visits. The resolution was adopted despite protests from China. instead of waiting interminably for the final outcome. SEPTEMBER 25. to take on global responsibilities. it has proven less enthusiastic. Kathmandu elites have. But that alone is not enough to erase the controversial nature of his appointment by the outgoing UPA regime. Unfortunately.S. extremely sensitive area which Gaya. visit that is clearly the more critical of the two. The government’s response was on expected lines. Significant among these is a patent unwillingness on the part of the current Permanent Members (P5) — the U. but the fact is that police officers continue to invoke Section 124A indiscriminately. which has. It names Bangla writers living in different countries.jobsalerts. but don’t destroy. The divorced women are left to cause of individual rights. The jail claims of safety (“The encryption Superintendent deserves praise for debate. They attack the bloggers as they know they are soft targets. India had then shown both capability and remarkable resilience. will need to battle U. which has been blamed for a series of murders of secular bloggers. A circular in Maharashtra containing guidelines aimed at preventing the misuse of the law relating to sedition appears to endanger freedom of speech and expression. E. and a long history of Islamic scholarship. every state attempts to strengthen itself. Some modest beginnings are already evident. India with its human resources and skills could offer to help out. Chennai Nepal Constitution The Nepali people have given themselves a progressive Constitution after decades of turmoil (“Constitution sans consensus. Sivakumar.” Sep. This has to be dispelled. Japan and Germany) in To merit UN permanent membership India needs to demonstrate that it has the gravitas to play a bigger role. Sep. which gives them an exalted status. India needs to carry and express the conviction to the world that.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU FRIDAY. it might be advanta- CARTOONSCAPE Bangladesh’s imperilled writers he threats issued by the Ansarullah Bangla Team. Nepal is a buffer state between India and China. While the possibility of groups and individuals promoting disaffection against a lawful government still exists. It wants the government to revoke the Bangladeshi citizenship of the writers listed. for cartoons produced in 2012 highlighting corruption. — on September 22. This has to be dispelled the globe to the upgradation of a select few to membership of the Council. whose leaders were indicted in the trial. Dr. In the Prime Minister’s own words.” Sep. It was heartening to know about New Delhi the reading sessions in a Tiruchi prison of excerpts from My Experiments With Truth to usher in positive change in the minds of Governments somehow keep prison inmates (“Mahatma’s ideals looking for ways to compromise on being spread among prisoners in citizens’ privacy over supposed Tiruchi jail. Bangladesh has seen a steady rise in violence. and dispel increasing U. which could trigger a greater migration to India’s border States. Chandrasekaran. and information is gathered only when required. and agreed. concerns about its aggressive intentions. The Bombay High Court has now stayed the August 27 circular. there were many sceptics who felt that India should not waste its energy on chasing a chimera. the ABT has sent out a clear message that its violent campaign against critical thinkers and writers would only continue. The G-4 idea dates back to 2004. Negotiating text on UNSC reforms Prime Minister Modi’s visit coincides with a propitious moment in India’s diplomatic history. P. Prof. making redundant such principles. It was against this background that rightwing fringe groups such as the ABT started targeted killings.S. Bihar requires debate. Hence. India’s role as a vital 21st century problem solver cannot but add weight to its claims to membership of the Security Council. The very survival of Bangladesh as a secular-democratic country may be at stake.. as also is China. so far.22. the Prime Minister is to address the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Summit and attend the Summit on UN Peacekeeping hosted by President Barack Obama. apart from a bilateral meeting with the U. and the attempt to book some Kashmiri students in a university in Meerut last year for cheering for Pakistan in a one-day cricket match against India. Vishal S. Apart from the unwillingness of the existing Security Council members to admit new entrants. U. as also China’s reiteration that it would not brook interference in its zone of strategic concern. France. Malayalam author Sethu was replaced at the National Book Trust by a former editor of Panchajanya.. A great deal more. SEPTEMBER 25. the world will begin to view it through an entirely new prism.” Sep.S. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil was a strong but the latter tries to mask its opposition.” Sep. the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). So they have chosen to vent their anger through violent street protests.24). The controversial aspect of the circular is that it seems to tell police personnel that strong criticism of public servants can possibly attract the sedition charge if it shows them as “representatives of the Union or State government”. are not in the best of health. C. The five possess the ‘right of veto’. The current refugee crisis in Europe also provides an occasion for India to showcase its inherent strengths. Instead of immediately taking action against the assailants. There are many obstacles to be overcome. The important point is that by doing so. against secular writers and activists pose a challenge to the polity of Bangladesh. Srirangam geous for India to demonstrate to the world that it has the necessary credentials — and the gravitas — to occupy a seat on the Council.24). India-U. proved to be totally inept. an act considered withdrawal of the draft encryption unacceptable. including the use of armed force and bombing raids. While and spend their lives in misery.www. 2015 Great power. this would affect the bilateral relationship. the government. however to sing hosannas just yet. R. They should realise that teaming up with fundamentalists might fetch short-term dividends. by that time it had grown in strength. He will also meet a galaxy of U. a Bangladesh-based Islamist group. which worsened the law and order situation. even today remain less than enthusiastic about change. Be it the proposed One hopes other jails across the DNA profiling bill or UIDAI. Agra www. the symbolism of the recent massive parade in Tiananmen Square. It is thus uniquely placed to deal with the challenge posed by the IS. the RSS mouthpiece.K. Yet. CEOs and visit the Silicon Valley to meet up with the movers and shakers in their respective fields.S. each of the new claimants face opposition. imperatives that have forced New Delhi to intervene in Nepal politics. one of the petitioners against the latest circular.jobsalerts.K. Africa demands a seat. Rangarajan is credited with turning the institution into a vibrant academic space.” and “Mistaking a scholar for a bureaucrat. The secular bloggers are victims of an ongoing conflict between the ruling elite and violent Islamists. Pakistan and Russia. It took four murders this year for the government to finally start cracking down on the ABT. dexterity in simultaneously dealing with leaders of the two Asian giants is certain to be carefully analysed. There is no need to criminalise words spoken or written. Germany displayed considerable enthusiasm but.S. RSS Muslim body says.. Therefore. The proposal to Debate on encryption Talaq over girl child BG-MY . the government would do well to review such outdated penal provisions. Such forced exits go against the PM’s vision to make India an intellectually progressive nation. The circular was an offshoot of a judgment by the High Court in March this year on the question whether the police were right in slapping the sedition charge against a cartoonist in 2012. Shevgaonkar and Anil Kakodkar. Binod Kumar Agarwal. Yemen and areas around the Caspian Sea. The credentials of Mahesh Rangarajan are impeccable. Islamic State (IS). and will now form the basis for further discussions at the Intergovernmental Negotiations Group. Around the same time. has only encouraged more and more young elements to join the ranks of the IS. Prime Minister Modi is coming to the U.” Sep. on the other hand. apostates… and unbelievers”. Abhishek Desikan. there is an impression that India feels comfortable in its role as ‘a recessed power’ — more intent on treading the path of ‘least activism’. China is opposed to Japan’s entry. Eventually. concerns expressed by India are legitimate and need consideration. Abe stepped down as Prime Minister (in 2007).G. In the initial period. Dr. for all the bonhomie on display. for instance. from other claimants. as the painful and sordid NMML episode shows.23). Therefore.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. Brazil. but in the long term it would only weaken the state and rupture the society. and the European Union itself. Ever since the Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the trial of those who committed war crimes during the country’s liberation war. India had been invited.-China relations. Brazil faces opposition from other Latin American nations like Argentina. and of a kind that very few other nations can. and mere criticism of government policy or public servants will not attract the provision. It seems a point in the High Court order that sedition will not be attracted by words or signs or representations against politicians or public servants. Experience It is shocking that women are being shows that sensitive data was divorced for reasons like birth of a misused by authorities even in the girl child (“Deoband: birth of a girl U. Georgia Muslim Rashtriya Manch’s booklet advising Muslims to give up beef eating shows the RSS’s attempt to impose food habits on them (“Give up beef. but after Mr. India must engage along many fronts. It will be premature for India. President Vladimir Putin and his aide. Flagrant instances in recent times include the registration of a sedition case against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi. I also disagree with author’s suggestion of using Panchsheel to govern the bilateral relationship. On this occasion. France and the U. President. and willing. Scholarship as antidote to violence There is an impression that India feels comfortable in its role as ‘a recessed power’ — more intent on treading the path of ‘least activism’. Additionally.co. Legislation exists to deal with unlawful activities and armed movements. The Congress party had been treating national institutions as its fiefdom. and India’s experience would prove useful for countries in Europe. but Brazil’s economic problems in recent years have taken a toll. Jadhav. This should reduce resistance to its entry into the Security Council. had previously pledged their support to India’s candidature but now the support appears to be wavering. Pakistan is against India’s elevation. Buoyed by its economic resurgence. India with its intellectual depth in Islamic matters can provide the necessary strategic flexibility. Apart from the relevance of size. under Chancellor Angela Merkel. and deprives them of constitutional benefits. face further condemnation from New Delhi the patriarchal society. Japan under Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe — in his first term — was very keen. The Chinese President. The Advocate General had said the government would come up with guidelines as a circular to police personnel on when and how Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code may be evoked. Shankar.K. 2015 Revisit the sedition law s ironies go. it would have found abundant proof of beef-eating in ancient India. unless they were shown to be representative of the government.24). and has witnessed some changes during this period. the authorities advised the writers to “avoid provocative statements on sensitive religious issues”. Anyone who accuses the BJP of ‘saffronising’ institutions must also question the ‘Nehru-visation and Indira-visation’ that took place for long. It comes weeks after ABT leader Abul Bashar and several other activists were arrested in connection with the murder of blogger Avijit Roy. and eminently suited. to be a member of the G-20 to help the world tide over a difficult situation. Rangarajan’s name is only the latest in a long list of martyrs who have ceded office to the Narendra Modi government’s appointees.S. Russia’s attitude seems to be changing. this one is rich.. New Delhi It is disconcerting that India’s role in Nepal’s Constitution-making is being perceived as negative. (M.S. Towards this end. Hyderabad It is sad that the BJP government is meddling with the affairs of reputed institutions such as the NMML to further its misplaced agenda.S. particularly to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. the court reminded the authorities that sedition as an offence requires the element of incitement to violence and disaffection against a government established by law. Hitting government officials and others involved in the trial would invite the wrath of the state machinery. Jamshedpur The Constitution fails to recognise the rights of the Madhesi and Tharu communities. but South Africa’s claims are contested by countries like Nigeria. The Islamist groups are steadfastly opposed to the trial. Prime Minister Modi will be hosting a Summit of G-4 leaders (India. the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group invested India with the halo of ‘a state with advanced nuclear technology’ and sanctified India as a responsible member of the nuclear community. The Modiled NDA government has shown that it was only interested in subverting the NMML’s mandate by diluting the salience of Nehru. No less important is the degree of hostility and jealousy that prevails among countries across votary.S. They are premised on questionable claims and exaggerated benefits.S. There is no doubt that the upheaval at NMML will further strengthen the perception that the NDA government intends to change the character of academic institutions. greater responsibility M. pockets in Central Asia. namely. The European crisis has all the makings of a monumental human tragedy. Kuriakose. chairman of the board of governors of IIT Bombay. One is the expanding writ of the jihadist group. Jubak Saxena. We need to admit that the history of India is not the history of Nehru-Gandhi family alone. used the India card to prevent genuine power devolution. In the wake of the 2008 financial meltdown. U. where the citizens can be assured of an environment where they aren’t spied on. however strong and provocative they are in their criticism of the state. A Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his two-nation visit — to Ireland and the U. ancient wisdom. which has recognised the rights of the LGBT community and has abolished the death penalty. IIT Delhi director Raghunath K. was loosely translated in Marathi to the effect that any criticism against politicians and public servants representing the Union or State government would attract the charge. Objections derive from ongoing conflicts between certain states and differences of principle as to which country has the right to represent a region or a continent. The government needs to ensure that a transparent policy with strong guidelines is implemented. J. The divorcees either policy may serve as a blessing in live with their parents or relatives disguise for the government. It is interesting that Prime Minister Modi will be in the U. India has possibly the world’s largest population of moderate Sunni Muslims. who it terms “enemies of Islam. Atlanta. This threat is a direct challenge to the state of Bangladesh. All these point to the perverted motives to belittle great personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru at the active insistence of the Sangh Parivar which has nothing to boast about when it comes to our freedom struggle.country would take similar steps. led the protests. for long. Notwithstanding last week’s UN General Assembly resolution. a truly among the slew of such attempts by Gandhian way of bringing reform. India did believe that the moment had arrived for reshaping the Security Council so as to better reflect current economic and geopolitical realities. Kanak Mani Dixit is right in suggesting that India should apply principles of Panchsheel and give the Nepali people space. Waris Husain. Because of the power asymmetry between nations. and offering Europe help in dealing with the refugee crisis are two areas where the country can display global leadership New York in this connection and also raise the issue in his address to the Special Summit of the UN General Assembly. and the main opposition. This is another demonstration of RSS’s desire to turn India into its version of a Hindu state.K. The it is an encouraging step to focus on Deoband’s fatwa has to be cyber-security. People from the two countries have always enjoyed excellent relations.S.S. India has genuine strategic and security interests in Nepal. The U. his successors showed less interest.in Food preferences initiate Research and Development work for developing indigenous algorithms is one of the key points of the draft and worth pursuing further. but they lack the political capital to influence either the society or the state. at the same time as Chinese President Xi Jinping. That a respected scholar like Mahesh Rangarajan has had to resign is an indication of the low priority accorded to propriety and academic excellence by the present dispensation. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NMML’s integrity The exit of Mahesh Rangarajan as director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has raised uncomfortable questions on the government’s alleged role in appointments at the highest level of institutions that have been central to the intellectual life of the nation (“Create. a country that champions the child no ground for talaq. culture and current economic strength.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.24). there is little justification to invoke the sedition charge against political movements unless they promote violence and public disorder. to shoulder additional responsibilities regarding geopolitical and related matters.” and “Apply Panchsheel on Nepal. It has taken more than a decade for the G-4 to reach this stage. Countering IS through its vast Islamic scholarship. The potential for mischief from the circular has been stalled by the court order now. Aadhaar. one that masquerades as upkeep of purist Islamist ideology. individually and severally. needs to be done. Sohrab Alam Ansari. Had it cared to research the Vedas and other holy scriptures. Only scholarship and an ideational approach can possibly blunt the jihadist group’s offensive. using a pre-Independence era provision that was meant to suppress the freedom movement. the U. pending a decision on its constitutional validity. the display of state-of-the-art military hardware. They have to suffer in silence and cannot reThe backlash and the subsequent marry. however. The draft the experiment of converting the encryption policy is only one jail into correctional centre. Though the charge was dropped subsequently. it is also an welcomed by all sections. Anantha Padmanabhan. China’s current enigmatic attitude hardly conceals its hostility to India’s claim. most of these parameters have not altered. laden with gifts — the $3.” Sep. Instead of ad hoc attempts to put in place loose safeguards and guidelines. Rangarajan must have been aware of the circumstances that prompted the UPA to hasten his appointment. across a wide swathe of territory that is of crucial importance to India — parts of West Asia. Nepal should desist from blaming India for its internal failures. The avalanche of refugees (in terms of numbers) is fast approaching what we witnessed during the East Bengal crisis in the early 1970s. Even then. There are lessons to be learnt by India from the Constitution. Russia and China — to share or dilute their privileges for any newcomer. The ABT.S.S. has released a hit list on the Internet. which has baffled much of the world. relations are today on an upswing. Vani A. the adoption of a ‘negotiating text’ for UNSC reforms by the UN General Assembly. Sergei Ivanov. The government has to crack down on such fringe groups that are threatening free speech. The Jamaat-eIslami. The choice of wrong means. Veera Raghavan. One of the fallouts of the information revolution propelled by the Internet is that messages of fanaticism could also spread like wildfire. Maoists lost ground because of variance with the ‘welcoming’ statements rumours of corruption. on September 20. In an interview to the BBC in February 1955. more often than not. Even inconvenient facts of history should be studied scientifically and truth brought out if they are to help us understand the present.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU SATURDAY. Historic personalities are being picked up selectively for makeover by the government to create illusions of grandeur of the past to suit the needs of Hindutva ideology. Buddhadev Nandi. as also an obscure religious group based in a Goan village and a militant group in the northeast? They are all manifestations of a renewed radicalisation that is gripping major religions. because this arbitrary power is unattended by any alarming consequences. the CPN (UML) and UCPN (Maoist). Afsha Jabeen. Had the Union government banned such groups. leader of a Madhesi-Tharu party. Terai on the India-Nepal border — Jhapa. U. became a wake-up call for the political leadership and the government. it has been a spur to Nepali nationaltem. fuelling further anti-Indian Pradesh (UP). The latest is the case of a young woman from the national capital. None of the leaders of the big three parties and their Madhesi MPs took the initiative of going to the restive districts. What was needed was to restricted to the plains. the 1963 adminisDifferences over delineation of the prov. but at the same time ensures smooth judicial functioning. there is a tinge of triumphalism on one side and. The Bar Council is endowed with such power for advocates while no such mechanism exists to scrutinise the Bench. Tharus (plains tribes). Also. What Indian society at large should worry about is also that the fundamentalism is not limited to Islam. The deadly accident coming close on the heels of a crane collapse in Makkah earlier this month is the worst stampede in a quarter of a century and calls for increased safety measures from the Saudi Arabian authorities. The police also found themselves at the receiving end of adverse comments by judges for inadequate action to prevent such protests. but also in the dangerous political atmosphere created by some mainstream parties domestically. all eyes were fixed on the sharing of spoils. Morang by working with our friends was during the districts. (Rakesh Sood. for within the next few weeks. the role of Netaji and his INA in India’s independence struggle cannot be diminished. as old divides come to life and new gashes open. They should keep faith in the three pillars of Indian democracy. and society at large reap the benefits of globalisation. a large number of undisciplined pilgrims triggered off the stampede.25). www. The vigour of movements in one religion feeds similar ones in others.factionalism. and had also a deep love for Tamil. we played host to an assortment of Nepali leaders who would tell us what we wanted to hear. and Tamil still prospers in the State. Kushal A. The leadership of the three major political parties. north of the Siwalik Hills. not Gandhi. Nashik BG-BG . and more wanting to do so. but their access to the premises may also be curtailed. caste differences among Brahmins. Speaker and Cabinet. even for a few odd matters — and one should aim high. with K.. infringing upon the fundamental rights and seeking to subdue India’s celebrated diversity. possibly before the next Haj. the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation till May 2014. The latest standoff arose from an unusual cause that advocates in Madurai took up: against an order directing the Tamil Nadu government to strictly enforce the rule that makes the wearing of helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders. the CA’s first decision was to India’s failed moves To be fair. but they could well turn into a tide. on the other. It is also appalling to learn that the Haj was poorly organised and many succumbed to fainting and The promulgation of Nepal’s Constitution has been followed by triumphalism on one side and agitation on the other.G. However. a Delhi University graduate and daughter of a retired Army officer. Inunitary framework of the monarchical sys. a Madhesi needed a special per. Ballari Netaji’s legacy It is illusory to expect the BJP government to construct a reliable account of the Netaji saga for it is busy distorting and rewriting history to suit its own political agenda (“Now. Obscure groups such as Sanatan Sanstha are trying to impose their irrational arguments. Instead. there were no emergency access roads for pilgrims in distress.co. And. Indian political leadership has been sensitive to their circumstances and has taken up their cause with the Kathmandu rulers. Gadkari. it was not possible to oppose every Japanese decision.from 115 seats in 2008 to 196 and the UML new Constitution and expressing ‘deep conwarm to the idea and the federalism banner from 108 to 175 seats.Vittal. undignified and unruly behaviour of a few advocates disturbing many others who calmly practise their profession (“Restoring the law in courts. Madhesis have a kinship with their coun. Foreign Secretary S.84 seats. as well as that of the smaller promonarchy groups. when cratic. T Last Sunday. the CARTOONSCAPE Portents of radicalisation hat runs common between a middle class Indian mother of three and a Delhi college student.” Sept. Madhesis because of ego clash. Ravi Chander. Instead. poor governance and from other major capitals. It is time for the State government to work out a foolproof security arrangement that does not affect public access to the courts. lackadaisical attitude of the government toward these fringe elements may result in self-censorship and unwarranted self-restraint from progressive citizens which is perilous to the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. This has worked sometimes but has often also created tensions in the bilateral relationship which have demanded sensitive handling. In the northeast and in Kashmir too fanaticism is finding new life and vigour. on board as a signatory. being a language taught and studied across the country.” Sep. it has unfortunately become a routine response for Saudis to call any tragedy — big or small — an act of God and to blame it on “fate. after a year.25). For Netaji. Other matters of discord too arose: allegations against some judges.” The Saudis have the resources to enhance safety during Haj. There is a growing public perception that a belligerent section of the lawyer community is responsible for this. Contempt proceedings and suspension of some protagonists from their Bar Council membership do constitute a legitimate response. Religious fanaticism has found new vigour not just in the clash of civilisations being played out across continents. Lawyers of earlier times in Tamil Nadu had a good command over English which they used in courtrooms. Indian policies have become a convenient punching bag and Nepali nationalism reduces to anti-Indianism. It has had two interim Constitutions (1951 and 2007) and three formal Constitutions (1959. Official Indian the abolition of monarchy and for a federal among the two old parties.crafted. with over three million citizenship certificates issued. Other contenders are in the fray for different positions but this jockeying too is limited to those belonging to the Bahun-Chettri elite. Nepali nationalism is reduced to anti-Indianism stable and prosperous Nepal. NC moved up statements ‘noting’ the promulgation of the republic. a growing agitation masking a sentiment of betrayal. The dignity and reputation of the legal profession are at stake. PM Modi had said in a media interaction that outstanding As often happens when Nepal’s domestic politics is polarised. N. if consensus was not possible. India’s present challenge is to recover lost political ground so that New Delhi can play the role of trusted interlocutor without resorting to micro-management pertained to the delineation of electoral constituencies. For too long. More than the occasional issues involved — not all of them related to the legal profession — these perceptions have created the current atmosphere of mistrust between the Bench and the Bar. Vadodara Lawyers under scrutiny It is good that Sriram Panchu has done some plain speaking about the unlawful.S. together with other hill upper castes. Jaishankar’s visit to While the Maoists had emerged as the addressed in the 1990s. English alone can be its court language. who wanted to join the ranks of the regressive. Even after the CA awarded itself four extensions. I am aware of the immense task before the Saudi authorities — the safety of over two million pilgrims (“Haj stampede claims over 700 lives near Holy city. often described as roti beti ka fracturing which weakened the Madhes sentiment. they are only emboldening them. the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) [CPN(UML)] and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist [UCPNMaoist) led by Prachanda — to push through a Constitution. with boundaries to be determined by an expert committee within six months. However. giving cause for concern to the litigating public. Maoists were down expected to yield a favourable outcome. now included areas Kailali in the west. is a former Ambassador to Nepal. the writing was clear on the wall.abuzz with rumours that India is miffed and terparts across the open border in India. right from the lowest to the highest level. The situation bodes ill for the litigants’ interests: they may not only lose court time because of various protests. which claimed 9. out of the 20 Terai districts bordering India. a key Madhesi concern — and the debarring of the latter from certain government positions. Some deals have been struck. While the long-term objective should be to address the changing political narrative in Nepal. The current exercise kicked off in 2008 with the election of a Constituent Assembly (CA) with a two-year mandate to draft a new Constitution for a federal.J.in The essence of democracy lies in arresting muscularity in all wings through intellectual dissection. Agitations turned increasingly violent in the Terai region and have claimed more than 40 casualties in the last month. In the bargain. This agreement foresaw the creation of eight provinces. The court now wants the Central Industrial Security Force to be in charge of security on the premises. Vice-President. strains of anti-Indianism. 25). often called Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kathmandu for the SAARC summit.S. Kannur The initial mission of the Indian National Army (INA) was to raise an army to fight the British alongside Japan. while going back to Kathmandu and doing precisely what they wanted to do. Bankura Rationalists under threat The points raised in the Editorial (“Bangladesh's imperilled bloggers. On the other hand. More than onetenth of the Constituent Assembly (CA) members boycotted the final proceedings. They should arrange an international safety conference immediately to look at all aspects of Haj safety by inviting experts both from Muslim and non-Muslim countries and implement measures. A 16-point agreement covering some of the major issues was announced in June. “Nowhere has so much been left by the law to the arbitrary determination of the magistrates as in democratic republics. This galvanised the main political parties — the Nepali Congress (NC).the Maoist leadership was co-opted into the Gachedar backed away from the 16-point mit to enter Kathmandu valley and citizen. the task remained unfinished. On the other hand. after the CA had comsome concerns remained. India’s message often loses clarity and impact. 2015 A case for decorum he confrontation between the Bench and a section of advocates in the Madras High Court is adversely affecting the image of the legal fraternity in Tamil Nadu. The State government has declared the High Court premises in Chennai and Madurai as high-security zones but does not favour any Central agency handling the security tasks. carries gency ended in 2006. Any policy. These groups had and the three Madhesi parties accounted for pleted formal voting on the Constitution. However. it was clear that positions were hardening. do not represent isolated instances of a new acceptance that Islamist fundamentalism has found among many Indians. followed by initiation of suo motu contempt proceedings against two office-bearers of the Madurai Bar Association. Maoist and it ‘unwarranted advice’.com. R. peaceful. though single-largest party in 2008 with 240 seats Kathmandu last week. The signals are clear: religious radicalisation is not a distant threat anymore but a reality closer home. Nepal has more than a hundred ethnic groups. instead of being an occasion for celebration in which all Nepali citizens could participate. The world community respects India as a large. SEPTEMBER 26. Some of these were not too difficult to settle but unfortunately.” Sep.” Sep. by a two-thirds majority. which had come in for allround criticism for its inept crisis management. Kathmandu is Madhesis. which was finally be a billionaire in dollar terms. Netaji gets a makeover. It should be a matter of great concern that petty peripheral issues have started crowding out genuine livelihood concerns from the media and public consciousnesses. a new CA was elected in November 2013 for a four-year term though it gave itself a deadline of January 2015 to complete the Constitution which too was not observed. the first move has to come from the leadership of the three major parties. which were earlier geographically and Sunsari in the east and Kanchanpur and first half of the year. influencing Nepal Rakesh Sood SATURDAY. yields results only if implemented trative restructuring raised the number of inces were narrowed down to five districts properly. And remember. When the decade-long Maoist insur. Pahadi population in the Terai consequently went up from 6 per cent in 1952 to 36 per cent in 2001. vibrant democracy. violent movement in Syria that is behind one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes of our times. after Bijay groups. As for the demand for use of Tamil in proceedings and arguments in Madras High Court. Chennai Alexis Tocqueville had pointed out. The Naval Mutiny 1946 that is considered to have hammered the last nail in the coffin of British Raj was greatly inspired by the INA. Madhesis enjoy a majority in less than half. When the Constitution-drafting exercise began in 2008. Disruption of work. political leaders. It is high time political parties in India realise that by backing fringe Right-wing groups like the Sanatan Sanstha. Differences over federalism At this point.) three hurriedly made it a seven-province federal structure. es. However. As governments.to 80 seats and the Madhesi parties which stead. and political 1989-90. rishta (sharing food and matrimonial ties). as often happens when Nepal’s domestic politics is polarised and descends into a slugfest. The Bar should close ranks and seek to address the judges’ concerns.25). There were no volunteers. Vishal Bhagat. secular. the outcome in 2013 elections turn.system and Prachanda is today rumoured to agreement in June. movement. protests and sloganshouting within High Court compounds constitute one form of indecorous behaviour. But I regret to say that during my visits as a pilgrim. SEPTEMBER 26. it was shot down by a Supreme Court single-judge bench on the grounds that the CA was responsible for defining the federal structure and this could not be delegated. making grave allegations of misconduct and corruption against the judiciary. India needs to wake up to this threat. Nepal has experimented with various Constitutions. This was a sign of Madhesi forces have weakened. and some youngsters from Kerala who were sent back by the UAE for sharing radical posts on social media. Their misleading messages find roaring life on the information highway. new demands grew for only manage 40 seats. It appears the authorities have left millions of pilgrims to fend for themselves in the event of any emergency. Manohar Alembath. Babasaheb Ambedkar said that Netaji. 1962 and 1990). we are also pressing our sensible demand for a Bench of the Supreme Court in Chennai.was too late and could hardly have been tion in power-sharing but always within the ed out very differently. Forces of obscurantism are feeding on global and local discontent to create narratives that appeal to even those brought up on a liberal education. it ceased functioning when it was believed that the Japanese high command was using it as a mere pawn. Gachedar dissociated himself from it and as protests mounted. Also. the lives of many rationalists could have been saved. Some lawyers took up a new cause: the use of Tamil as the language of the Madras High Court. all sides have to climb down from their stated positions. there was no serious effort to reach out and open a dialogue. T. I hardly saw safety measures. democratic and republican Nepal. the NC. NC and UML were always luke. The big three then came out with a sixprovince proposal. Till 1950. Over these years. Bengaluru PM in the U. the big three parties had the benefit of having Bijay Gachedar. Other forms that have been on display include organising advocates on caste lines and forming support groups for individual judges. Dalits and Madhesis Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. The time to use Indian influence districts from 32 to 75. but without resorting to micro-management. Mr. and governments could be overwhelmed by their power. In November 2014. who was deported to India for her evangelisation efforts. federal republic. belongs to this group. Nepal will get a new President. Today. While our PM is in the U. consider this: with the Supreme Court judges coming from different States in India. For those practicing in High Courts. Other contentious issues sensitise the leaders of the ‘big three’ parties to the risks of brinkmanship and get the agitating groups to unify so that a coherent stand could emerge.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.might resort to strong-arm tactics as in particularly in northern Bihar and Uttar kurs. which may create a Frankenstein’s monster and endanger our democracy. Virginia. the time and energy wasted to denigrate Jawaharlal Nehru borders on the absurd. periodically agitated for greater representa.www. 25) apply to India as well. its ripples felt beyond immediate geographical boundaries. it is the moral responsibility of the Indian diaspora to support him and not to take advantage of the situation (“Modi begins ‘Make in India’ pitch. by descent and by naturalisation — applicable to the foreign spouse of a Nepali national. Indian policy on this issue has abolish the 250-year-old monarchy while laying down principles for creating a demo. If reports are to be believed. the Janajatis (hill tribes). they cannot ignore its dark underbelly where obscurantist ideas flourish. and creating an atmosphere of fear. E-mail: rakeshsood2001@yahoo. Tha.jobsalerts. Prime Minister. something that drew a vehement rebuke from the Chief Justice of India. 2015 Making friends. Nepal promulgated its new Constitution. our present challenge is to recover lost political ground so that we can play the role of the trusted and irreplaceable interlocutor between the two sides. With too many interlocutors.” Sep.S. Though a small country. Another view is that lawyers want to raise accountability issues against judges through such protests. It is not the first time that unsavoury events are eroding the dignity and prestige associated with the black robe. but what is more important is the restoration of an atmosphere of amity. These could still be cited as isolated instances for now. with his limited military power. inclusion in state structures on basis of ‘proportionality’. The Supreme Court intervened to put an end to the repeated extensions in 2012 and. together accounting cern’ over the incidents of violence are unwas largely carried forward by the Maoists for nearly two-thirds of the CA (strength is likely to fall on receptive ears and are at (Janjatis were part of their cadres) and the 601) in 2013. The tragic earthquake in April. A section of the Nepali media had reacted adversely terming have traditionally been the oppressed a new Nepal.P. India’s experience with radical religious tendencies is still far better than that of many other countries that have seen hundreds of youngsters leaving modern comforts and heading for the ‘battle-front’. ship was a major issue.000 lives and caused widespread damage estimated at $7 billion. accounts for less than 30 per cent of the population.had splintered from three into a dozen. W CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tragic pilgrimage As someone who has been to Makkah many times on Haj and Umrah. There have been reports of several Indian youth joining Islamic State. However. Riaz Hasan. The Overseas Patidar Action Committee (OPAC) should know that in India we have many public fora to debate domestic issues. For instance. this has been the tricky part of India-Nepal relations. arguing in English is good training for coasting into the Supreme Court later on. differences should be resolved through diaIndian policies have become a convenient punching bag and logue and widespread consultation so that it could create the basis of a united. ended British rule in India. In fact they rarely spoke English outside courts. and the two categories of citizenship. dehydration in the heat. M. no policepersons and no medical facilities within sight. However. could ism which. and being the language of our enacted laws.been consistent. often through violent means. Also. however consistent and wellDuring the Panchayat era.” The remedy lies in subjecting judiciary — the blue-eyed institution of deomcracy— to an ombudsman. Yadavs and Kurmis. Oli (UML) emerging as the likely next PM. A section of the changing winds and certainly. Many thoughtful Nepalis realise that the 2015 Constitution is not perfect but if it has to stand the test of time. Since 1950.jobsalerts. it has always been ruled by the Bahun-Chettri (Brahmin-Kshatriya) hill elite which. There was a day-long sit-in inside a court hall. in the late 1930s. guilt. what Hardik represents is the ambitions of the small town. Hardik and anticipated. Modi’s decision to host the summit of the Group of Four nations was one of the key moments of his diplomacy in New York. The problem is that the previous government talked the same talk on skills but was able to achieve precious little. Bengaluru Art of translation Mini Krishnan’s highly informative article.” but realise there is a Hardik in all of us. es. pointed to the importance U. Tipu was a product of his times and. This shows that Riyadh has chosen to give unacceptable and callous explanations in response to both human atrocity and criminal neglect.jobsalerts. battle now is for a bigger share and not for showing she is out of touch. Prabha. Also. (Shiv Visvanathan is a professor at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy. have been palpable for some time.27) focuses on the importance of translation. They should address them.own backyard and the BJP is speechless with misunderstanding. India is the mostdeserving candidate for the permanent membership at the Security Council. A Patel vs. Fewer than one in 10 adult Indians has had any form of vocational training. not a bigot.S. His primary challenges in this phase relate to improving India’s overall relationship with the U. is just a few steps away. It is clear that this of his arrest was enough to spark protests. they are the ideal Indians — hardworking and trouble free. Sep. realises that he can ride to power. In fact. industry is giving India. the government has to work hard to bring to fruition the goodwill established: the task begins now. India cannot rely on the support of the U.stituencies he made powerful. Besides. bilateral relations between India and the U. With clarity of thought and astute decision making. While the overall message from New York is positive. with a combined net worth of $4. tion be capped at 50 per cent is irrelevant as cinating to watch. but for translation. the haven that puts laws outside caste and community have no role in the secular game of development while realising the ambit of judicial review. The market tells him that you need a degree to be employed and the maths tells him that the political power of the Patels should guarantee educational entry. the proportion of young adults who had received vocational training was virtually unchanged between 2004-05 and 2011-12.” he moves closer to Bhagat Singh. In fact. youth and women are bandwagons on which layer of support for him and his mystique. In July. in their silence lies complicity and hence. and the new government has a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It projects ban. young people. There isn’t any clear evidence yet that the new government is charting out a radically new path on skills. while furthering his country’s global ambitions. all worried about our ability to defend borders with the debacle of 1962 still fresh on our minds. Hardik realises that sponses his calls for action attract. backward” becomes critical. The bully-boy maths is clear and. What happened at Tashkent is a mystery to many Indians which needs to be revealed. this violence makes it clear that Hardik is neither Sardar Patel nor Mahatma Gandhi. We cannot expect radical changes overnight at world bodies like the UN. More middle class than marginal The ‘Reverse Dandi March’ is neither Swadeshi nor for Swaraj. one should not ask: “Who is Hardik Patel?. threat and boycott as messages.www. In fact. the caste and class as the critical categories lishment emphasises an Oedipal revolt. The news revisited and debated. Patel battle The battle between Patel and Patel is faseducational institutions being extortionate that the Supreme Court ruling that reservaabout entry. Hyderabad IS in Kerala Apropos Mohammed Nazeer’s thought-provoking article “When polyphony turns into a fault line. and collective with.” (State-view. India’s most important challenge here is to continue the campaign to reform the Security Council. The court intervenes to argue that caste cannot be the sole determinant of reservation. it struck down the government’s notification that included Jats in the official list of OBCs. as Hardik explained. Modi invited U. one who can make or break democracies. especially in the wake of the rising influence of the Islamic State (IS).S. but new official data put into cold numbers the extent of the problem.refuge of the Ninth Schedule. the (OBCs) likely to have? Is it going to a special. What makes him so unique is that even in death.to Modi’s legitimacy is emerging from his populist. In fact. Protests by women BJP’s attempt to block networks was a des. He represents a movement. aspirational youth — confident. is skilled. even that comparison is unfair.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. There is a double battle here. Sogathur. a multilingual and multicultural country with a cultural heritage of nearly four thousand years. It may be recalled here that the Nav Nirman agitation of 1974 brought down the elected government of The cynicism of political life allows those demanding OBC then Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel. refugee crisis confronting the European Union (EU). Tipu modernised his army — by employing European generals and manufacturing the latest weapons — to counter the British threat. Just 2. the Prime Minister has vigorously pushed for the reform of the UN Security Council — in speeches at the UN and later at a multilateral summit. a demand the Patels realise no electoral government can refuse. he would also have been similarly recognised. Modi boarded his flight. Caste becomes stration conducted in cars and tractors does he plays on Modi’s weakness because for the most critical idiom of politics. There remain multiple decision-making authorities on skills and little clarity about who exactly will do the work. Tipu's army had people belonging to all faiths and he was genuinely interested in bettering the lot of his people. they remain wary of “complicated regulations. withdraw milk supplies. they were guilty of silence as they failed to speak up. the most important of which is its status as the largest democracy in the world. confusing bureaucracy and poor infrastructure”. For tablishing the role of youth in the makes a mockery of the reservation games. Yet. seeking a base in India and played the local kings against each other. wave. an internationalist or a bigot is unsettled as he sought help from the French to replace the British to retain his power.” Sep. Kerala Indian foreign policy is moving in the right direction at a steady pace and will get its due at the right time. his actions have to be seen in the context of the political exigencies of the time. Hardik Patel is emblematic of the small-town. will be stuck in low-wage. Kochi www. Hardik. Hardik Patel’s campaign has opened up the Pandora’s Box about justice and the ability of electoral democracy to handle issues of affirmative action. which believes that life. There are many areas — climate change. The power of the Hardik Patel story lies in this. that believes in speed and struggles for instant gratification. ready to see democracy and market as acts of consumerism. The challenge is to build a democratically evolved consensus among world powers. and the urgency involved. is his face. which is something that cannot be said of other kings at that time. while the diaspora abroad is stoic. In fact the BJP. so that what has often been termed a “natural alliance” could be firmed up to mutual advantage. despite minor differences. the Jats and the Patidars — the Anandiben gives the official spiel that shelter of the Ninth Schedule. Thiruvananthapuram The question of whether Tipu was a patriot.N. with its fine yet volatile demographic balance. 2015 Revolt of the aspirational class Shiv Visvanathan MONDAY. The question is: for how long? that her politics and power is totally Pateldriven. In fact. At another gathering. it is incumbent on the part of all religious and political leaders to openly speak out against fundamentalism and give the common man and woman the moral backing to fight such groups. Promises of corporate and foreign partnerships on skilling are pouring in. Executives from 42 Fortune 500 companies. 75 per cent of the workforce in Germany and 80 per cent in Japan has received formal skills training. Madurai BG-BG . The toplevel participation of American companies at the meeting. Ramakrishna. SEPTEMBER 28. was not something the BJP about caste responsibilities. who are political and agitationist. peace keeping efforts. Third. P Hardik Patel is today one of India’s most watched political serials. I feel that if Subramanya Bharathi had translated his own poems into English. lapped up by the media.that the politics of caste quotas needs to be across towns and cities also shows that the perate attempt to mute his impact. de. Hardik’s fa. Employers complain that job-seekers do not have the skills they look for. We need to keep moving forward with our agenda for international peace. Hardik is the new sign of our times and his actions indicate that the new generation is not going to wait for the court or the Parliament to determine its fate. It maybe of interest to note that Tipu Sultan is a revered figure in Pakistan and symposia by well-known personalities are held on his birthday to throw light on his life. However. science or commerce. and abused for months by an official at the Saudi Arabian Embassy right in our national capital (“Nepali sex abuse victim narrates tale of horror. M. and among those who are graduates. In fact. just hours before Mr. he can be considered part of ‘project Macaulay II’. a CARTOONSCAPE The challenge of skills and jobs he scale of the skilling challenge that India faces. Kushal Gadkari. Even among the BRICS countries. would not have fetched him the Nobel. the man. who has lenges the patriarchy of Modi. the have been pompous about power and remiss dicates not just a new sense of society. It is as untenable as Saudi Arabia declaring the stampede deaths in Makkah as an act of God.all the new Patels. So. It also needs to rally the support of other superpowers.2 per cent in all had received formal vocational training. The latest critical techniques in English and the other languages should find their way into Indian languages through translation. insecure jobs that will leave them in want or poverty.jobsalerts. Hardik speaks of education as a guarantee for jobs. that is sheer embarrassment and amounts to pitched struggle against two systems. The very idea of mocracy and law as rule games. in the electoral brokerage of power. he thrives on the present. Mr. If Macaulay spoke of English education and the power of the degree. “bring out the swords. parochial. particularly among the Security Council members. further. The decision.rising in her backyard. not indicate backwardness. Patel’ is the stuff Harik Patel plays the new Macaulay by long as they have not been accommodated. Varkala. the Prime Minister launched an ambitious mission to impart skills training to 40 crore people by 2022. parochial. If as a party and the ruling power. the failure to operationalise the nuclear deal. there is little evidence yet that curricula with these objectives in mind have been designed. “Translating God” in Sunday Magazine (Sep. The diaspora is Modi’s ideal constituency as it is even more patriotic than the resident Indian. an ideal subject for figure because media and the limits of elecPatel power is demonstrated by threats to interviews even if his is a reverse march. M. The first threat Hardik. What is not known is that there is a temple opposite where his palace once stood. somehow reminiscent of claiming “no degree.work the media. Second.Jats and the Patidars? The Patel attitude while Hardik plays up the youth card. His popularity is seen in the re. who has branded his difference. threat or promise of violence adds a Hardik is contemporary. He is a Patel in a sea of Patels. Today. Akshay Viswanathan. The Hardik’s complaints as humbug. Britain and France were both colonial powers. It is clear that this is a demand for more. whether in the form of a start up or a struggle. and even among those who have. When he argues. Our politics has bemovement has caught on. SEPTEMBER 28.co. the type of training is not the sort of formal skilling that employers seek – the majority had either acquired a hereditary skill or learned on the job. In Kerala.” Sep. companies to step up investments in India. In comparison. primarily China. alone as it is tentative and conditional. ‘Reverse Dandi March’ explains it all. and that will in the coming days pose a problem for a skilled workforce. the questions our democ. he could not afford to antagonise his constituents and to care for Hindu religious institutions was part of his statecraft. as the writer says.27). In fact.” Sep. Mr. then cancelled.S. While defence cooperation has improved over the years. Matthew Adukanil. At one end stands Anandiben.S. Gujjars and Jats are very cation game and it is worse to see Patel-run clear that the rules should work for them. The problem is more acute in rural areas and for women. the talisman is an edu.26). but how these mass skilling programmes will take off is unclear. civic and proud of its civic self. He is the new Indian of the global era. Romy Sakharia. Job creation has not kept pace with India’s demographic momentum. an impatience representing an India which is tired of waiting. Hardik smells more of Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal within a caste idiom. This is a generation that has no memories of the ration card. For Modi. His mood becomes the litmus test of politics today. claiming that that places laws outside the ambit of judicial been completely ambushed by the Patel upthe lotus will not bloom till the Patels come review. he knows how to communities. along with Indrani Mukerjea. though American companies are keen to invest in India. enacts a fable and constitutes. The battle to be seen as “more takeaways from the caste pizza. which is a device through which great literature travels and reaches minds in other countries.” State-view. Vathapureeswaran. status — like the Gujjars. Second. In fact. Here. the majority get undergraduate degrees in arts. racy and the administrative system will soon invokes the riots of 1985 and 1987 but what were a taken-for-granted constituency of the ask is: How many provisions in the Ninth she really seems to fear is a Nav Nirman Andolan-like agitation.5 trillion.Schedule are the Other Backward Classes while Hardik speaks the language of electother was a middle-level BJP worker. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR India at the UN The G4 leaders’ call is genuine (G4 leaders seek time-bound UN reform. Without access to affordable and appropriate skills training. Hardik is shrewd and calculating enough to issue threats of a Patel demonstration in New York.S. and maritime issues at the Indian Ocean — where India can show its leadership acumen to the Permanent Members. some evidence of his secular credentials. a majoritarian group ready to flex its regional muscles. his style. Our hostel was a mini-India. One wonders if this scenario repre. the safe haven Spy.27). with it.trickster. no democracy.sents the altruistic world envisaged by Gand. and aid us in the process of strengthening national integration.27). Lal The Indian government has not Bahadur Shastri gave direction to done enough to ensure justice to all the three wings of military and the two Nepali women confined helped India achieve success in its Nepali victims resistance. his soldiers did not desert him. He is also a symptom indicating that the politics of caste quotas needs to be revisited and debated Modi. Citing diplomatic immunity as a rescue tool against heinous crimes on foreign land is equivalent to showing utter disregard for human rights. the barely repressed violence. It is clear that Hardik is no longer a local the ban is the Modi regime’s favourite policy. yet deeply modern. Nagavender Rao. For them. clearly cational degree in this era of development. is both popular and justice. the principle of a multilateral approach in India’s foreign policy has not gone down well with the Washington elites. 2015 The message from New York rime Minister Narendra Modi’s takeaways from his ongoing visit to the United States are being keenly watched. In India. Expectedly. He is a Patel who knows that he can make a difference. The gap between distribution as disbursing an increasing share of the cake and justice as a normative phenomenon becomes bleak. fewer than one in ten Indians is a graduate. not only among the G4 nations but also among other excluded countries for various reasons. The Narendra Modi government has made skills and jobs one of its focus areas from the beginning of its term. Warangal. protest movements sound like agony aunt columns. one senses. It is interesting that she treats the masses as ‘labour’ needed for development Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Washington’s continuing support for Pakistan and reluctance to second major reforms at the UNSC are issues. India. If the government is serious about enhancing business and trade relations with the U. By contacting the diaspora. of graphic novels.S. trampling the memory of history in pursuit of politics. But let’s not put the cart before the horse – a poorly trained young workforce can neither bring workers out of poverty nor help a country grow quickly. Mr. The Chief Minister emphasises revolt against both Modi and the Patel estab.dominant caste haven for the Gujjars. it should accelerate the pace of reforms at home and build quality infrastructure — of course making sure that its own long-term interests are not sacrificed or compromised. primordial yet deeply modern. he would abandon non-violence. with students from all States. B. have always been a tricky area for decision-makers. the reverse march not just abandons but completely reverses these symbols of the past. Japan and Brazil have collectively called for urgent reforms of the Security Council within a timeframe. First. India lags behind – nearly half the Chinese workforce. However. the author is right in saying that he cannot be buried in the annals of history (“Tipu Sultan: a secular internationalist. The Patels. He is a figure the boycott becomes Hardik’s weapon. Hardik understands market as well as electoral mathematics. Like other conquerors. Translation of these works to other languages is sure to help in a better appreciation of literature.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU MONDAY. The Patels there represent a civic class as opposed to the local Patels. the two great aspirational tales of contemporary India. is an Oedipal struggle here where Patel chal. Tagore’s Gitanjali. It was through the leadership capabilities shown in this war that Shastri — who had been made a consensus candidate following the sudden demise of Jawaharlal Nehru — showcased his mettle as a worthy successor of Nehru. it is more middle class than marginal. ‘youth’ is not a category. A demon. if Gandhi were present today. He is representative of the new Indian small town — confident. While backing one another’s bid for permanent seats in the UNSC. He toral politics have made him a new hero. Governor-General Lord Wellesley came to India with the sole purpose of defeating Tipu. engineering or agriculture. great works are in abundance in all the languages. ‘Patel vs.thrives on the media and network and the Hardik Patel is not just a sign but a symptom drawals from banks. to do a mechanical engineering course (“When India found a leader. irreverence within the very symbolic conit is a battle with the Patel patriarchs who There is a change in attitudes which in. particularly those leaving rural areas and small towns for big cities. H. She sees movement. Every hi and Patel.27).in Tipu’s legacy Whatever be one’s opinion on Tipu Sultan.V. reservation handicaps the Patels in the edu. come a politics of quotas where adminisis not a Dalit struggle for rights but the strug. many ordinary Germans did not support them.He understands the media’s power and its trative fiat can make or break the future of gle of a dominant caste asking for bigger multiplier effect. to clear defence purchases worth $3 billion from Boeing in many ways demonstrated the importance that New Delhi attaches to the state visit.) Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. when the Nazis heaped horrendous crimes on the Jews. ral politics. The Hindu had once carried an article on the auctioning of Tipu’s ring which had “Rama” inscribed on it. for example. The government allowed the Saudi Arabian official a safe passage to his country. The key to Hardik. or that new and affordable training institutes have been set up on a mass scale. Modi ought to take up some of these issues when he meets Barack Obama on Monday. a currency to be speculated with. his unabashed demand for a greater share of the ‘caste pizza’ and his agitationist attitude. Nothing much has come out of India’s push over the years to restructure the global body. Very few Indians get a technical education in medicine. but lost a statesman. Sep. I agree with the author that we have failed to honour this great leader for his exemplary achievement in restoring our self confidence. Responding to their tragedy is no less important than rushing massive aid to Nepal during an earthquake.” There The cynicism of political life allows them the Mad magazine’s great comic strip Spy vs. The Chief Minister home. Vadodara With his quaint sloganeering. Germany. as the current state is more repressive and violent than the British Raj. on the need to reform the UNSC. Anandiben. If the Dandi march spoke of non-violence and confronted the British Empire with the vulnerability of the body. with the release of all relevant documents. The idol of the present reverses the iconography of the past. A vast majority of Muslims do not and will not subscribe to radical Islam or support the IS. were there. There is a belligerence. His quaint slogan relating to the proposed. I had just joined Regional Engineering College. Dharmapuri Shastri the statesman When the Pakistani aggression of 1965 took place.because now it is every caste for itself. Besides its archaeological sig. — have also agreed to just 85 km away from Tartus.S. less than 10 per cent of the people use online services. and Europe. from the Russian point of view. U.28). He has recently stepped up ties with Egypt’s military dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Moscow is wary of the TurkishSaudi Arabian game plan for Syria. Reclaiming the lost glory of Soviet Union is of high priority to Mr. could in Syria and Iraq. Unless Moscow backs this up with a global diplomatic initiative to end the crisis.medium and long-term goals. SEPTEMBER 29. Putin change the Russian strategy? And what’s Russia’s actual game plan? Two recent developments in the battlefield could have influenced the thinking in the Kremlin.S. The immedilowed the U. successfully create a anbe. another pillar of support the regime collapses. As a general principle. which is such as Damascus. the point isn’t that.” Sep. confirmed the arrival of Russian battle tanks. We need to give urgent attention to crowd management. Putin. Russia had tactfully stayed away from joining combat in the past four years. Mr. it will be tempting to wonder why lawmakers need a salary at all. the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. The Russian involvement in the civil war assumed greater proportions earlier this month when reports emerged that Moscow was sending troops to Syria. O’Han. M. bombing locations controlled by the IS nificance.www. The government is facing acute manpower shortage as its troops are overstretched in the prolonged war. the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.build an international coalition. pay ought not to be the primary attraction for elective office. President Putin between the ancient city and Homs is hardly around 160 km). The author has rightly pointed out that reservations are being applied mechanically in schools without much regard to academic readiness or social integration.IS and the al-Nusra front. mandate. the nuclear deal — almost a decade-old — is yet to be operationalised. largely supported by Gulf Turkey and the U. a clear indication of their waning ish border. 45. it helped tremendously that India has one of the highest growth rates today in the world amid a sea of troubled economies.25) should with a strong sense of equality. T CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Digital dreams Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have taken the Silicon Valley by storm.in source of risk. Having successfully made the India pitch. It is time safety arrangements in India’s we stopped mixing politics and prime mass gathering destinations. countless beliefs and reasons why substandard self. Russia wants to strength.johny@thehindu. Further.S. Putin Qusayr. In addition. Assad. startimportant place from where IS could march establish a de facto no-fly zone across ed in August 2014. It is a bet. But the question now is whether investors are seeing enough positive changes on the ground. within rebel control would be created. “The message from New York” (Sep. It hasn’t fought a major war outside its traditional sphere of influence since its withdrawal from Afghanistan.” Sep. Russia has short. The outcome would be worse than that of the Afghan civil war.” Sep. air strikes on Syria in 2013 amid allegations that government forces used chemical weapons against civilians. The pay and reimbursements drawn by lawmakers may not be unusually high in India by global standards. armoured personnel carriers and helicopters at the Latakia airbase. breathing down the neck of the could be repeated elsewhere in Syria. The Community Information Centres (CIC) project in the Northeast — providing a platform for e-governance and other ITenabled services — made sure that every block in Assam had an Internet connection. During the Israeli-Egyptian War of Attrition in the 1969-70. A majority of India’s sacred sites are situated in inaccessible areas. the Russian President has opened a new phase in the four-year-long civil war. President Assad had to fight his enemies — supported by regional heavyweights — with limited resources. Modi in Silicon Valley ight through his whirlwind tour of the U. In India. Putin wants to move Russia from being an outside supporter to a combat partner of the Syrian government. Modi also participated in another highly anticipated event – a town hall meeting with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Sep. In a country where public life is associated in the popular imagination with unbridled greed. He resigned Overcoming bias www. Indians came in huge numbers to cheer Mr. This is one of the million gods. Visits to these places — not having adequate health and sanitation facilities — by children and elderly people increases the possibilities of accidents. but two points have been agitating the people in recent times: the power enjoyed by legislators to fix their own salaries and the loss suffered by the exchequer as day after day is lost to parliamentary logjam. Bajaj. many more “safe zones” gic dilemma over Syria.27).S. along with due sensitisation toward the various discriminations inherent in our society. or a government job on passing out Kottayam of college no matter what degree or diploma he/she has. Jaykris Gurucharan.000. sure. unless Russia couples its military move with an international diplomatic initiative to dial down the regional support for rebels and jihadists. free eventual collapse of the regime. while Iran has deployed and Diyarbakir airbases for the latter’s atits troops and proxies in key city centres tacks on IS positions. have not been revised since 2010. with a U.jobsalerts.N. over legislators rewarding themselves with pay hikes and additional allowances from time to time.co. Mr. swamped in a refugee crisis. The Russian assessment is that if Mr.28). a skilled orator and one who has more than a feel for the digital world and its mores. New Delhi Apropos the Editorial. Roshan U. visit. Even when Iran and Hizbollah sent troops to Syria. (“Haj stampede claims over 700 Together. Tajikistan. It resisted every Western move at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to pass a resolution seeking Mr. Also. the 10-year-long Afghan war was a disaster. Google plans to enable Wi-Fi in 500 railway stations. while speaking at a regioncountries and Turkey. And even if weaken the Iran-Hizbollah network. Modi wherever he went.S. But again. striking an instant chord with the titans of the tech world and winning their endorsement for his ambitious ‘Digital India’ push (“Modi boots up ‘Digital India’ with high-profile Silicon Valley show. And Russia has been a strong supporter of President Bashar Al-Assad in the Syrian civil war.” A diverse nation like India. there’s a growing concern in Moscow as well as in Tehran about the recent setbacks suffered by the Assad regime. He was the man behind the destruction of all Patton tanks that infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan in 1965. a country with skilled manpower. resulting in MPs drawing daily allowances through whole sessions during which no business is transacted. More important.S. citing satellite imagery from AllSource Analysis. regime’s costal territories. Joseph. Russia might be calculating that Russia’s assessment is that if Assad falls. and parliamentary representation is seen as a means to amass wealth. the key focus of the regime is to defend its strongholds — the long stretch from the South along the Lebanese border and the Mediterranean coast to the outskirts of the Idlib province in the northwest. For the record. the Russian goal would be to protect the Tartus naval base. to offset the Russian support for Mr. West Asia offers a potential market for Russian products and weapons as well as a political theatre for Moscow to expand its influence. it could be sucked into another Afghan war-like situation made Mr. Assad’s troops are under pres. It’s remarkable that the only other leader who had participated in a town hall with Mr. 15. Homs and Hama.S. In. what CARTOONSCAPE Wages for the parliamentarians he idea of creating an Emoluments Commission to recommend salaries and allowances for Members of Parliament has not come a day too soon. Sethuraman. U. These efforts would involve tiny sums given their scale. to fight terrorism in Syria.From the air base. Of course. Figures such as Palakkad Jawaharlal Nehru.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. Mr. payment for legislative work is an important element in attracting publicspirited citizens to participative democracy. However. the hub of technology innovation in the world.of IS and the regime troops.stead of finding a national political solution Putin knows that the U. practice. The rebels’ Idlib advances would not have been pos. Since the outbreak of the civil war. however. J. Syria offers Russia an opportunity to re-establish itself as a regional player in West Asia. These countries’ major concern is not the IS. Three days later. Modi is a master at creating a larger-than-life feel around his events. warplanes to use its Incirlik ate objective is to prevent a rapid collapse of the Assad regime after its weakening on the warfront. looking at legislative work often coming to a standstill.” Sep. For this proposal to gain traction. with a Editorial. If an independent body is created for the purpose. Putin is a man who makes big geopolitical bets.000. to question the present pay structure or the need for regular revision. accompanied by Russian “experts”. have hardly weakened on to both Homs and Damascus in two northeastern Syria which would neutralise the jihadist group. Assad a bulwark in the fight against the IS and Jabhat al-Nusra. military support for Pakistan and its flip-flop on India’s efforts to get itself nominated as a UN Security Council Permanent Member are indeed a matter of concern. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has acknowledged that new military supplies are being sent in.in Letters emailed to letters@thehindu. Second. Madhu M. It has long been a pillar of Moscow’s West Asia policy. and the chances for the Russian troops to get swamped in the complex Syrian civil war are high. Moscow kept supplying military and financial aid to Damascus. Russia where Mr. SEPTEMBER 29. To be sure. it seemed Narendra Modi could hardly put a foot wrong. even disregarding Nehru’s persuasion to continue. Hizbollah tion of Syria”. Not any more. the balance of power in West Asian geopolitics would turn in favour of countries hostile to Moscow’s interests. it cannot be so low as to be a disincentive to the public for entering the legislature. and a nation on the move. Meghana. many of them back home. Turkey has recently al. they envisioned a nation lives near holy city. he now has the direct backing of a big global power.Protecting the Tartus naval base In the case of Syria. which he calls the “deconstruc. Amplifying that feel was the fact that a large number of Indians call Silicon Valley. the survival of the Assad regime is key to its interests. the Islamic State (IS) terror group seized utes flying time from the Syrian border. There is little doubt that Mr. It is commendable on the part of the Prime Minister to reach out to the technology giants in the Silicon Valley but the Digital India programme cannot be successful unless the masses have proper education and knowledge on various electronic devices. they have been training and bankrolling anti-Assad rebels. it would have been hard to miss the buzz generated when the elected head of the world’s largest democracy met the who’s who of new-age businesses. All this means that the big corporates of the world can ill afford to ignore India.Russia would need the West’s support.S.would not hesitate to move troops to protect the naval base. the Soviet Union sent troops to defend Egypt. Everyone expects a white collar job Joice K. Maybe with a more inclusive system. don’t want to buy. that of patriotism (“The any government shown the politics of iconography. Punjab allows us to deconstruct misconceptions and overcome cultural barriers (“In a class of their own. The Prime Minister. interest to test the skills of the Our freedom fighters have been teacher community working in forerunners in inspiring this spirit these institutions? Our judiciary among us. The Pullumedu stampede in the Sabarimala shrine in 2011 and the recent Maha Pushkaralu festival incident are examples. his discussions with the global tech titans was as much an extension of the ‘Digital India’ initiative that he launched in July as it was about saluting innovation. They are entitled to daily allowances and travel concessions besides other perquisites. Russia has interfered in West Asia in the past to defend its interests. accepting moral responsibility. but ther advances. People have every right to know what happened at Tashkent to this noble statesman.28). Has spirit. The point is to hard-sell India as an attractive investment destination.000 and a sumptuary allowance of Rs. Putin has opened a new phase in the Syrian civil war. Needless to say. Besides.in EDITORIAL 12 | BENGALURU THE HINDU TUESDAY. in a major setback to the regime.S. a lot of hype has accompanied the PM’s second U. As has very rightly been pointed out. will aid greater integration. 2013. as some have done. Mr. However. The Russian idea is to stitch together a directions (The distance between Palmyra the regime’s air power advantage vis-à-vis coalition of ground troops to fight both the and Damascus is around 250 km. is scrambling collapse of the Assad regime. the contemporary history of Russian forleader Hassan Nasrallah proclaimed that eign policy tells us that Mr. Incirlik is just 15 min. In the same month.000. we can do away with the need for reservation in the next two decades. At the same time. In the long run. Saudi Arabia and their Western backers could step up support for anti-Assad groups. Modi’s challenge will be to don a different hat and deliver on those promises. This may be a narrative that critics. It was in a similar scenario in 2013 that Brookings Institution’s Michael E. has been a major hindrance to the government’s e-governance initiative. war planes and is already a multilateral coalition led by the ment troops. The only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union is in Syria’s Tartus. These two de. In case of an the outskirts of the regime-held territory create a 60-mile-long ‘safe zone’ strip. Despite that. The present levels of pay and allowances. make us more conscious of the fraternity and secularism. and both nations — and tanks have landed in Latakia. U. Zuckerberg is President Barack Obama. But what does all this translate to? To equate Mr. Sardar Patel and Lajpat Rai have each contributed immensely in their own right to the making of our The recent tragedy at Makkah nation and deserve equal respect. Low literacy By sending troops in support of the Assad regime to prevent its collapse. Alam. Institutions like the CICs with high-speed Internet need to be set in all parts of the country and there should be a greater focus on computer education. Besides. The ongoing attempt to needs to intervene to show the highlight certain figures whilst ignoring a few others is not a good universities some direction. In this backdrop. Assad is facing another Qusayr moment. the success of India’s diaspora is a selling point in itself. the model al event. 50. a former national security analyst at the Syrian war.27). India will be following the example of the United Kingdom. the first by an Indian Prime Minister since 1982. They must have appreciated his intentions but also pointed out the difficulties of doing business in India due to excessive regulation and a creaky infrastructure. Modi’s efforts in Silicon Valley just to the initiatives promised by the big technology firms during this trip. Modi has completed a quarter of his tenure as Prime Minister but the litany of complaints from the CEOs would have been familiar. right at the school level. are always a immediately after the major train accident at Ariyalur.” Sep. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella. D. Mr.for practical solutions to the Syrian conflict.co. Also. the U. a constituency allowance of Rs. where an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has been created by law to oversee and regulate ‘business costs’ or the expenditure incurred by lawmakers in their parliamentary functions. The meeting with all the Silicon Valley technology companies that matter set the stage nicely for him to play the charming salesman representing a resurgent India in a digital age. a fers a peek into the Turkish game plan. Mass gatherings. West Coast. Moscow perceives the rise of Islamist militancy in the region as a “national security threat” and considers Mr. indicating that Russian troops are deployed in Syria. Still. On May 25. The Hizbollah intervention was crucial in retaking Qusayr and re-establishing the regime’s hold over the Lebanese border region. Shastri I have personally experienced that was also a sincere politician. It is worth noting that Russian artillery nese border region. The Russians may be thinking that Mr. He also gave appropriate direction to our defence forces at crucial junctures during the war. and sometimes public outcry. its aggressive diplomacy was instrumental in thwarting U.S. Zirakpur. First. would be to miss the larger point. It is in Turkey and the U. If a common ground is reached between the Hizbollah announced that it would join lon. it would strengthen the Syrian government in West Asia would turn in favour of hostile countries and also troops in terms of military capabilities and raise their morale substantially. Assad’s removal. An independent pay panel for parliamentarians is surely a welcome proposal. In the medium term. Modi looked more than convincing with that marketing message. The proposal is on the agenda of the All-India Whips’ Conference to be held in Visakhapatnam. their home. Palmyra is a strategically In the name of fighting the IS. the U. 30. and Apple’s Tim Cook. sible without greater support from outside powers. and may form the basis for future legislation to de-link members of the legislature from the process of fixing their emoluments. If floated the idea on September 15 in Dushrebel coalition. province. This could be part of a larger regime In May. Because otherwise. Turkey. Mr. nor the privileges and perquisites that come with it. the balance of power once its forces start joining the war. There are many things in the cart but not much on the ground. From an ally to a combat partner While the exact details of the Russian military presence are yet to emerge.S. Also. (“The challenge of skills and jobs. A. Russia limited its role to outside support for the regime. 2015 Putin’s grand strategy for West Asia Stanly Johny TUESDAY. Operation Kavkaz was aimed at preventing a regime change in Egypt and to save the Russian interests on the Egyptian soil — the intervention was a success in meeting the objectives. a strategically important town on advises the West to follow this “ink-spot can also re-channelise the resultant goodthe Lebanese border. obliged them gladly. along the Turk. They may also hire secretarial assistance for Rs. New South Wales. a change in Moscow’s Syria strategy is already evident. Hizbollah has positioned itself on the Leba- Assad falls. strongly Russia and the West over Syria. But these bombings. So. in 1956. and fix their pay and pension.jobsalerts. Mr. The rebels had captured the Congressional Budget Office.drones could easily patrol the Syrian skies.K. the proposal of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to establish an independent. Such a mechanism may help put an end to criticism.28). especially Chennai religious crowds. change game plane. or. If in the first four years. while that both the rebels and the jihadists.B. But despite these deep ties with the regime.campaign”. R Syria is not a new theatre for Russia. Australia Assam is the first and perhaps the only State so far in India to have 100 per cent Internet connectivity. is facing a stratefeats revived the discussion about a rapid to the Syrian crisis. Over the years. Stanly. patriotism. officials said on September 14 that Russia had sent seven T-90 tanks and artillery to the coastal Syrian city of Latakia. with an exposure to cultural diversity no greed of any sort. the “Syrian war is our war”. three-member commission to fix the pay and allowances of parliamentarians is a sign that the government and the elected members themselves are sensitive to growing concern about the public expenditure incurred in their name. we never think of reservations at the school level but are mostly made aware of them only when we reach college. captured the Idlib “safe zone” in the border area. It has come at a time when Russia is battling a severe economic crisis at home. this is a risky move. leading to a major escalation of the conflict. which is another pillar of Russia’s West Asia policy. There the ancient city of Palmyra from govern. Assad’s removal would weaken the Iran-Hizbollah network. Though Moscow has not confirmed its military presence. Members of Parliament currently draw a monthly salary of Rs. and were making fur. but the Assad regime itself.S. It is far from clear whether Russia would be able to meet its goals or would face another Afghanistan-like situation in Syria. Mr.. Rohan Jagadeesh. 2015 Mr. and chip manufacturer Qualcomm is launching a $150 million startup fund in India. Hyderabad A noble soul The leadership qualities and the abundant willpower of Lal Bahadur Shastri enabled him to succeed Jawaharlal Nehru (“Family wants Shastri files declassified. authorities have made no secret that Russia is ramping up its role in Syria. including Google’s Sundar Pichai. But whatever the political orientation. the ‘safe zone’ proposal also of. the Moscow plan could backfire.varying ideologies is united by one financing institutions flourish. What is certain is that Mr. Microsoft wants to make available low-cost broadband in five lakh villages. In many ways.will to settle the Ukraine crisis without its vital interests compromised. Reservation. Chennai Skills deficit Choice of icons Tragedy at holy site BG-BG . K. had said: “Friends. be sorted out internally. and the legislature’s ability to adequately work on the Letters emailed to
[email protected] per cent — the lowest level in more than four years — is the most emphatic signal that it stands ready to help boost domestic demand and investment. The judicial saint. Moreover. Believe me.29). It is useful to draw the public’s attention tance of a very close relationship between to Article 324 of the Constitution. walk out or obstruct it. Rather. the possibility of an adverse application of this institutional change cannot be ignored. needs to be changed at the earliest. Thiruvananthapuram For the past 15 months. in his article.. stressed the importance of anchoring inflation expectations from a longer-term perspective. With the benefit of nearly seven decades back and accountability mechanism is an of India (ECI) to superintend.) being presented to the legislatures concerned on time. nobody. while the truth of the matter is that the judiciary is equally to blame for the lack of proper and timely judicial management (“Restoring the law in courts. given that the CAG’s constitutional mandate. both in the Bar and at the Bench. And the central bank goes on to stress the role that the government needs to play to ensure food price stability by proactively managing the supply side so as to head off any pressures. flagged the risks of too much stimulus fanning inflation and deficits. Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan returned invaluable information. The CAG’s office initiated an amendment to the Audit Act during the tenure of the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government (when Pranab Mukherjee was the Union Finance Minister) to enable a comprehensive audit of public funds and bodies rendering public service. First.superior owing to their skin colour. and cited the example of the meltdown in Brazil. and in no way fetter it by a constitutional amendment. (The author is a retired Indian Defence Accounts Service officer and former Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts of Government of India. prompting it to lower its Consumer Price Index inflation projection for January to 5. less power elections. for a similar purpose. Also. Agrawal. Russia should avoid repeating the mistakes of Afghanistan and desist from direct intervention while also sending the message to the rest of the world that supporting the rebels will allow the latter to mutate into another Taliban.jobsalerts. there are two reasons for President Vladimir Putin to be apprehensive. In the present milieu of competing displays of political opportunism. especially the approach of the Indian bureaucracy towards people and business groups. The ability to simultaneously study a wide variety of wavelengths — visible light. government departments. This bill. Coimbatore Silicon Valley. However. stated that the time has come to make our national auditor. Merely having broadband connectivity and Wi-Fi in villages is not the answer. had ever raised their voice while talking to me or while addressing me during court proceedings. This should be bridged. Rajan has underlined the fact that local demand and investment hold the key to sustaining an incipient recovery. Indians have been hearing the phrases ‘Clean India’.can only come after the completion of the sive financial oversight over not only direct tion may arise if Parliament. currently operational satellites have instruments that are capable of observing only a narrow range of wavelength band. Astrosat. the imporcouraged in the national interest. California. poor sanitation. in the present environment of an actions prima facie found irregular or Constitution provide the requisite en.S. has placed much of the blame on the lawyers. Delhi One would like to know about the attendance of the MPs. direct and essential component of the CAG’s account. Therefore. In some instances. has fed into Dr. aborting the scope for timely legislative scrutiny and follow-up remedial action. a fight to free the region from the clutches of the IS could easily be perceived as a fight to save Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. cause for some concern. and present the audit reports to the legislature within a specified time frame. It also has to hard sell the truth that only survival of the Assad regime can ensure a defeat of the IS. Besides providing an opportunity to build world-class instruments. And slowing inflation appears to have made the central bank sanguine about price gains being unlikely to pose a near-term threat to the economy. the powers of the ECI are abso. The Audit Act.rendering public service.29). My colleagues from other High Courts are hesitant to come to this Court. With Astrosat. Bihar New Delhi Cultural sensitivity Russia’s aid to Syria BG-MY . There has been an instance in the U. and one each in the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune. thus ensuring response from the executive. Rajan’s calculations. CAG did not receive a positive response from the government. constitutionally enshrined role.N. could supplement the proposed amended constitutional provision. There will be no apparent systemic improvement in making him an officer of Parliament or by making him dependent on it. space observatories become important to unravel celestial mysteries. as in the case of India. The biggest misconceptions can be mended priority of Russia is to secure its through exposure to cultural naval base in Tartus and if Russia is diversity. The Election Commission must come with stronger measures to contain the unusually huge expenditures by contestants. In my entire career of more than 37 years. transmit the benefits of interest rate cuts to borrowers. and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru that built one payload. MP. Munger. The RBI’s decision to surprise markets and cut the benchmark repo rate by a sharp 50 basis points to 6. I seek your leave to mention an unfortunate incident which happened recently with me. thus jeopardising Russian efforts. It was absurd to see our representatives revising their own salary and allowances. Dr. some public enolative of the statutory canons of financial extreme circumstances. Such a feed. and for a structured and time-bound response to the audit reports.K. accountable to Parliament through a constitutional amendment. less than two weeks ago. This view is supported by judicial pronouncements in some cases. Andhra Pradesh As the Russians find themselves in action in Syria. We need ‘Smart Villages’ too apart from ‘Smart Cities’.control the election of the President. including a fixing of responsibility on the functionaries concerned. suitably amplified. Krishna Iyer. Murthy. Indeed. cannot be overstated.” N. On the contrary.B. both at not be inappropriate to conclude that the ability to Parliament.her constitutional role or violates it. the role of these companies cannot be overemphasised.S. the entire gamut of audit functions where public interest is involved. sures independence of the CAG to go into vision for his or her impeachment has been As regards the suggestion for making the CAG more accountable to Parliament. It is for the first time that a majority of the payloads for an Indian satellite has come from outside ISRO.abling constitutional framework. it is the duty of both the executive and the legislature to strengthen this constitutional office made under Article 148. the of experience since Independence. it may Vice-President and the legislatures. of refugees to Europe. That Dr. the events of this Court are keenly followed throughout the country — I worry not about personal comments made at me. prevents an audit scrutiny of trans. In most Commonwealth countries. there should be no apprehensions in Parliament or in the PAC on the accountability or nonperformance of the CAG. nonetheless. There is a big gap in various development indicators between the urban areas and the rural areas. which the Auditor General appropriately followed up. 4591 of April 2014 (Association of Unified Tele Services Providers & Others vs. be it friends or foes. As central bankers down the ages have reiterated. within seven days of their receipt from the auditor.R.time. the banks and industry — in order to help ward off inflationary risks. Suresh Rangarajan. And that is why Moscow is taking pointed out instances where even every step carefully and with a mulattoes wanted to be branded as plan. as they were deemed inconvenient by the government of the day. the Indian Space Research Organisation has put India in a select group of countries that have a space telescope to study celestial objects and processes. But the instruments have been carefully chosen to allow scientists to pursue cuttingedge research. Language is a very sensitive issue. there can be no justification for such an amendment. Justice V. The CAG’s reports on quite a few occasions were not CARTOONSCAPE Space observatory takes wing ith the successful launch of the space observatory. and the CAG. it can rekindle the great power games between Russia and the U. So has the fragility evidenced in the financial markets following the devaluation of the yuan. when its PAC suo motu issued a report — not based on the U.” Sept. the CAG’s responsibility. instead of the contempt proceedings and the placing of the lawyers under suspension. Dr. Shashank Jain. Darsi. Whether these ideas will help us march towards development is questionable. Mangalyaan. It is the consistency of messaging that may now be questioned by critics. ISRO has built just one of the five payloads for Astrosat. The same must be followed at the State level for revising pay scales of MLAs and MLCs. the ground reality in India. with the latter guaranteeing him independence from the executive (as in the case of Australia and the U. and he or she reports directly to Parliament and to the PAC.in EDITORIAL 10 | BENGALURU THE HINDU WEDNESDAY. If at all a constitutional amendment is necessary.fully empowers the Election Commission utive actions. A thorough revamping of the Indian bureaucracy is needed. That growth appears to have for the moment taken pre-eminence and been placed front and centre in the RBI’s reasoning for its policy decision is. Given the uniqueness of Astrosat. 28) has beautifully portrayed how racism is deeply entrenched in our society Afghan war is a wound on the heart and is often a product of flawed of Russia and even time cannot upbringing and a skewed sense of heal its scars (“Putin’s grand superiority.CAG-PAC relationship Whichever model is followed. For. Assad’s regime from outside for The author also points to the more fact that such four years.8 per cent. Ana Raj. monetary policy will remain accommodative. controlled by election process. Rajendra Prasad Baru. the rest comes from scientific institutions based in India. and a convener of the conference. in his farewell speech last year. any amendment that has the scope to constrict CAG’s functional role should not be en. there is no institutional or regulatory bar that prevents it from doing so. Chennai products. That singularly will be the biggest benefit to Indian researchers. the legislative auditor is the Auditor-General. But here on one fateful day. there are two key elements that form the bedrock of any communication emanating from the monetary policy authority — consistency and credibility. Pruthvi S. the latest policy statement itself acknowledges that inflation is likely to start accelerating for a few months from September as “favourable base effects reverse”. dress or speak like us. 2015 Empower. to enable the CAG to undertake performance audits without any constraint. The Indian Parliament could adopt a charter or convention outlining the broad If at all an amendment is necessary.jobsalerts. under the CAG (Duties. when the CAG tities may not be substantially funded by propriety.G. does not function in consonance with his or the government but would. eat. Thus. The proposed Emoluments Commission must also prescribe a loss of pay for the MPs on days when they don’t turn up in Parliament. drinking water shortage. As in the case of Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission. Also. the Centre and in the States. SEPTEMBER 30. Since the Earth’s atmosphere does not allow X-rays and ultraviolet energy from distant cosmic objects to reach ground-based telescopes. Articles 148 to 151 of the because.29). Indian researchers will no longer have to rely on other space agencies for X-ray data. droughts/excess rain. In saying that “more domestic demand is needed to substitute for weakening global demand in order that the domestic investment cycle picks up”. once said that bilateralism is the signature tune of democracy. a pro. Second. including the IS. This is increasingly able to gain control in Syria. accountability of the executive to the legislature. impeding the accountability of the executive to the legislature by not allowing the CAG to perform his or her constitutionally mandated role and serve Parliament adequately in the area of financial oversight.” Sept. This is a strange demand. crop failures. Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha). the U.25). As is the norm internationally. The then Chief Justice of Madras High Court. there was a clear undermining of the constitutional system. The CAG in India can similarly be expected to follow up and reinforce the PAC’s efforts in matters of financial governance towards ensuring probity. His ability to effectively use the Indian diaspora in the nation-building process not only enhances the status of India but also augments its credibility in the global business arena.open economy where there are numerous deemed injudicious or uneconomical or vi. Justice R. in 2013. This is party. Rahul Kumar. However. he or she is independent of both the executive and the legislature. be The present constitutional structure en. was also intended to compulsorily ensure the tabling of CAG reports to the legislature by the executive. D. Apropos the institution of CAG has stood the test of Greater accountability. Judiciary is a democratic institution. Mr. in his book Long Walk to Freedom. poor employment. sub-standard hospitals and schools with poor connectivity. although they were launched several years after other countries sent satellites to the Moon and Mars. many of whom are absent during sessions as can be observed from vacant seats. As and when problems crop up. Two of the payload operation centres that would validate the data obtained by Astrosat will be located in the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research that built three of the payloads. and scientists everywhere need no longer source data from more than one satellite to get a fuller picture of celestial processes.” Sept. Rajan has chosen to frontload monetary action and pass the baton to the government. is to hold the executive accountable. Therefore. Rajan had. particularly those in India. Nishikant Dubey. The CAG has only to be provided adequate institutional support in order for him or her to discharge this vital. which Parliament’s core financial oversight body.) while in some other instances. Hyderabad The author in his article “In a class of their own” (Sept. Clearly. The MoUs signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit can only aid development in a secondary manner. And that asset is his credibility. Bengaluru Modi at Silicon Valley The Prime Minister’s interaction with the global leaders in technology companies is a new initiative which will have a longterm impact on Indian polity. ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ (“Zuckerberg for balance between access and Internet neutrality. including in China and the emerging markets. Astrosat will present an ideal platform for researchers in these institutions. However. whose office is a core element of parliamentary oversight. it is paradoxical that the candidates’ poll expenditures nowhere match their salary scale as MPs. had initiated a private member’s bill in the previous Lok Sabha. suitably amplified.” Sept. This is in recognition of their contribution to the mission. is interested in supporting the ‘Digital India’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. whose members are representatives of the people. but also over aua majority of members of a single ruling CAG’s functioning should be similar to tonomous and statutory entities. strategy for West Asia. Primary development will happen only when all basic needs are accessible to every Indian. In a knowledge-driven society. Chowdaiah Ebbili. Russia has now involved important itself in the civil war. If Parliament or its PAC feels that there is a need to look beyond the audit reports of the CAG. the Astrosat telescope will have no immediate commercial or societal implications. Article 149 of the contours of cooperation between the CAG Constitution can be amended to explicitly indicate the scope of and the PAC. the scope of the CAG’s responsibility. it could be to amend Article 149 of the Constitution and to explicitly indicate. Powers & Condition of Service) Act or Audit Act. Under private-public enterprises. there needs to be an enAccountability of the CAG to Parliament lute and even litigation before the judiciary hanced role for the CAG for a comprehenhas many implications. ultraviolet and X-ray (both lowand high-energy) bands — has tremendous implications for scientists globally.that of the ECI. In fact. and should. economy and society. it is equally true that arrest is not the solution. An extreme situa. not weaken the CAG Gautam Sen WEDNESDAY. On the other hand. there have been demands for strengthening the Audit Act to further empower the CAG. While it is true that protest inside court premises is not the answer. despite the move ensuring his or her independence from the executive. Many session days get wasted due to MPs resorting to obstruction through tactics like agitation in the well of the house. TCS and Wipro exporting Pay commission for MPs The decision to form a separate permanent commission for recommending pay scale revision of MPs has come as a welcome step www. the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The purpose may be to adopt a mutually reinforcing approach.” and “We want everyone to be on the Internet. we have to be cautious to ensure that the could supplement the provision parameters do not eventually have the effect of limiting the CAG’s audit powers and thereby prevent a broad appraisal of execaudit’s outcome was impeded.in (“Wages for the parliamentarians. they should mediate and settle the issue. W CM YK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Bar-Bench divide Sriram Panchu.www. Delayed tabling of CAG reports Baijayant (Jay) Panda. Union of India) case. including home buyers. After supporting Bashar Al. Even Nelson Mandela. the PAC. Such a demand had never been articulated in the past. a respected colleague of mine had hurled invectives at me and cast aspersions at the affairs of this Court. it is the legitimate duty of both the executive and the legislature to uphold the CAG’s ambit. accountability and transparency. I need not tell you that A recent proposal to curtail the powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India runs contrary to national and international conventions. Therefore.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. including the Supreme Court decision in the Civil Appeal No. but I do get pained when I hear that innuendos are being targeted at the Madras High Court and it is becoming the subject of public ridicule. and increase productive investments — could put at stake his best-regarded asset. though eventually withdrawn. National Audit Office and its Auditor General’s report — to highlight departmental failures in financial administration. however. Disagreements can. we should get our priorities right and concentrate on improving living conditions in our villages which are reeling under severe problems such as farmer suicides. Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this month to continue to maintain the funds rate near zero in the backdrop of heightened uncertainties in the global economy. Also. but in the broadest possible manner. many of my colleagues here have privately expressed their desire to seek voluntary transfer to other High Courts.K. It should have been handled more gently. it will becoming evident in the current not only help Russia consolidate its globalised world where we get to presence but also control the flow interact with people who don’t look.R. member PAC. regional powers are gearing up for Iran’s rise in the region and can easily get behind anti-Assad elements. it will enable Indian researchers to work in the frontier areas of high-energy astrophysics. Though stars and galaxies emit in multiple wavebands. Prasad. SEPTEMBER 30. Biju Janata Dal. members should not come to the conclusion that it is an affront to their dignity and initiate unilateral action. the Auditor-General is an officer of Parliament. The Madurai Bench helmet issue would not have blown up to this level if only there was an immediate and meaningful dialogue between the Bench and the Bar. R A conference of the chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) has just been held under the aegis of the Parliament’s PAC. On the other hand. One wonders why we should invite the Silicon Valley IT giants when we have our own big IT firms like Infosys. There was a view in some quarters of the executive that the CAG needed to restrict his audit primarily to the compliance of rules and regulations. not by making a public spectacle of grievances which only attract criticism and derision. for a year the teams that built the payloads would have exclusive control over what is observed by the satellite.K. 2015 Pump-priming growth eserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has opted to send an unequivocal message that as long as the domestic growth momentum remains tentative and price pressures don’t pose a threat to the central bank’s inflation target. The Audit Act.