14THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011 A Bug In UPA’s Soup Chewing gum, in the age of sticky leaks as our Intelligence Bureau bitten off more than it can chew? Sixteen adhesive sticks were found in finance ministry offices sometime ago, which has set tongues wagging about Pranab-da being spied on. But IB-wallahs rubbished claims that these were remnants of bugging devices. The suspicious stick-ons, they insist, were just chewing gum! Now, it must have been very special chewing gum indeed. Not only did it travel all over North Block, it also got stuck in several spots ideal for eavesdropping. Chew on that. BJP’s Sushma Swaraj takes the IB’s theory as just so much bubble gum. Not without reason. Haven’t ex-IB men written tomes about their agency’s expertise in helping politicos play Spy-Versus-Spy? Why, leaving his party fuming, Congressman Digvijay Singh even calls for a probe. Rightly so. Imagine all the info we could unearth in this age of sticky leaks. Chasing prime suspects, we could find out if North Block ever had Justin Bieber-lookalike tweenage visitors. Didn’t we too as young rebels listen in on adult talk and stick yucky blobs all over symbols of institutional authority? Equally, we could expose which minister has a stake in tuning in to FM. He, not taxpayers, must foot North Block’s bill for buttressed security. Won’t visitors need extra screening from now on for sticky chewing gum along with stick-’emup stuff like guns and RDX? Ratan Tata may be happy with the promised law against illegal bugging of private citizens. But who’ll protect cabinet ministers if not a gum disposal squad? However, the probe may well disprove Janata Party prez Subramanian Swamy’s allegations about home minister P Chidambaram’s culpability. All it’ll take is to prove ‘home affairs’ doesn’t mean gathering intelligence on PC’s in-house rivals. Big Business, some say could’ve , also planned the sticky business. Well, who wouldn’t want to keep tabs on the FM, if only to know whether the dead reforms process will revive at all in this millennium? Come to think of it, the UPA seems most in need of an adhesive, given its internal cracks. Consider the ‘Kaun Banega Pradhan Mantri’ contest that appears to have broken out, with all its divisive potential. It may be mere coincidence that ‘PM’ is short for Pranab Mukherjee, to the possible chagrin of ‘PC’. But is it pure chance that Diggy Raja’s “Rahul as PM” pitch comes just when PM Manmohan Singh is in a sticky situation, with the UPA hit by accusations of graft and governance deficit? The question, of course, is whether Rahul baba wants to be glued to the hot seat at a time these charges are showing a propensity for sticking. Like chewing gum. Netas may have a taste for espionage along with vaulting ambitions. But it’s time they learnt that the strongest binding agent in politics has more to do with stooping than snooping to conquer. Political humility and good governance are the best adhesives: both make voters stick with those they elect to power. Chew on that, as well. Change With The Times International governance structures need to match new global realities Jean-Pierre Lehmann H In the course of the last decade the world has undergone the most profound transformation in all of its millenniums of history. Between 2000 and 2010, the share of global GDP of the three leading emerging economies – China, India and Brazil – doubled. The remarkable developments reflect not only changes occurring within these dynamic economies, but also between them. China’s share of global trade was 2% in 1990, less than 4% in 2000 and 11% now. Similarly, between 2000 and 2010, Brazil’s exports to China increased some 20-fold; from having been a very distant speck on the Brazilian trade horizon, China is now Brazil’s biggest trading partner, surpassing the US and the EU. The dynamism and optimism in the emerging economies contrast sharply with the moroseness and pessimism in the EU, Japan and even the US. The greatest risk to the world economy is Eurozone’s debt problems. Europe is in a state worse than the East Asian economies in the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis when loud western pontificating voices bemoaned Asian “crony capitalism”. Europe’s decline as an economic force seems irreversible, among other things, for demographic reasons: Europeans as a proportion of world population declined from 25% in 1900 to less than 10% of the world population today. According to IMF statistics, Europe’s share of global GDP (at purchasing power parity) will decrease from 25% in 2000 to 18% in 2018. Had the proverbial Martian visited Deauville, the resort and setting of the G8 summit in May, she would hardly have been aware of these profound changes or the state of Euro-decline. Not only was the G8 held in Europe, under a European president (Sarkozy), dominated by European countries (five, including Russia, out of the eight), they also rallied round the European candidate (French finance minister Christine Lagarde) to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, another ex-French finance minister, as IMF head. The imperative of a European head arises, Europeans argue: one, from the tradition of having a European at the IMF and an American at the World Bank and, two, on the G8 leaders at Deauville, France: Wave goodbye to the old order Obtaining G8’s abolition and strengthening G20 would be a step in the right direction. Ending the “tradition” of a European heading IMF would be another ground that 80% of IMF lending is now to Europe and there are the greatest risks in the Eurozone. This is palpable nonsense. If you follow that logic, there should have been a Mexican head of the IMF at the time of the Mexican crisis, an Asian at the time of the East Asian crisis, etc. As to “tradition”, traditions have to change and adapt to the times. Societies not capable of adapting their traditions or creating new ones degenerate. That was to a considerable extent China’s history for some 200 years until the country “woke up” and embraced globalisation in the late-1970s – and it hasn’t looked back since. The survival and development of societies depend on two prominent factors: a propensity to change and adapt, and the quality of its governance. In early 21st century governance, these factors are conspicuous by their absence. While technologies and markets have changed exponentially, changes in global governance, with very few exceptions, have simply not happened, while entrenched positions have been jealously guarded. The UN Security Council’s composition reflects realities in 1945, yet the prospects of change are less than that of pigs flying. The WTO has been stagnant and unable to conclude its current round of negotiations (Doha), while the real world of trade is booming in all sorts of new directions. The G6 was founded in 1975 (to later become G7 with Canada’s addition). In 1975, the idea of the heads of the world’s major economies getting together on a problem-solving and confidence-building informal forum made sense. Following 30 glorious post-war years of growth and near full-employment, the oil crisis of 1973-74 resulted in the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. France, Italy, Germany, the UK, the US, Canada and Japan were the global economic powers at the time. China, India, Brazil and all other emerging economies as well as the communist states were not in the picture. A good idea in 1975 became an obsolete idea by 2000. In 2008 when the global recession hit, there was an element of innovation in the convening of the first ever G20 summit in Washington in November that year. This was followed by one in London in April the following year. Both meetings did have an impact in mitigating the effects of the “great recession”. Arguably, it could have been much worse without the G20. This is a good example of institutional innovation and adaptation. Since then, the G20 has meandered aimlessly, rich on rhetoric and photo-ops, poor in substance, identity, credibility and legitimacy. The G20’s existential problems are compounded by the persistence of the G8. The latter has reverted to seeking to project itself as the “real show”, while the G20 with all these parvenus – including India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, Saudi Arabia – are the side show. In this highly interconnected world, the misalignment between new realities and obsolete governance structures is a grave concern. The global economic edifice has rebounded in many (mostly emerging economy) parts of the world quite dynamically since the recession. But the governance foundations remain weak. It is likely there will be other shocks to the global economy in the years ahead. Business leaders should worry that global governance is weak, and take an active role in making it stronger. Since so much business is moving to the developing world, obtaining G8’s abolition and strengthening G20 would be a step in the right direction. Ending the “tradition” of a European heading the IMF would be another. The failure to adapt, modernise and strengthen global institutions and global governance could prove extremely costly. Better to act now. The writer is professor of international political economy at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. J K Rowling announces that Harry Potter novels are to go digital Bring on the future ot even magic is future-proof. British going the same way with the latest quarterly author J K Rowling’s decision to let reports showing DVD sales dropping and a her massively popular seven-book corresponding growth for Netflix, the preseries be sold as e-books has imparted mier online movie streaming service. The additional momentum to the growth of the book industry is not immune to this dynamic. digital publishing industry. And it further It isn’t hard to see why. In their purest erodes the diminishing ranks of those who form, books, like music continue to hold out against the inevitable and movies, are data. shift. That some do is regrettable but not And the advantages particularly surprising. The advent of any of liberating that data new technology renders the old one defunct. And when a global I T I M E S V I E W I industry worth unimaginable sums of money is built on that old technology, a from a physical medigreat deal of pain – and therefore resistance um are immense. Pro– is inevitable. But none of that can change duction costs go down, the facts: the future of publishing is digital, supply constraints are and that is as it should be. removed entirely . It’s important to remember that the shift Knowledge is democrafrom physical formats to digital in the enter- tised, for with the protainment industry started only in the past per infrastructure, e-books have the potential decade. That it has become irreversible in to be far more accessible to a far greater such a short period says something about it. number of people than physical books. A far In the music industry, chain stores that had greater number of authors can make their prospered for decades have shut down all over presence felt, for the digital format enables the US, unable to compete with digital down- low-cost self-publishing in a way the existing loads. And the movie industry may well be industry does not. So, bring on the future. No magic in digital hat J K Rowling – a member of the small tribe of high-profile authors standing up for books as we know them by refusing to authorise digital versions of her best-selling Harry Potter series – has succumbed to the electronic onslaught is a pity. While e-books might be the latest fad, the writer who entranced literary content. A reader not just reads a book but forms a relationship with it. Also, books are reservoirs of stories whereas e-books are just platforms for information. The inherent tactile nature of a book helps readers associate better with the content. Reading the Bhagavad Gita or the Bible in book form is an experience that cannot be replicated by their e-book versions. When books are digitised they no longer remain books but become interactive I COUNTERVIEW I multimedia tools. It takes away from the sanctity of the Prabhat Banerjee the world with tales book itself. This is precisely what the digital of magic of a boy wiz- version of the Harry Potter books will do. ard should have been ‘Pottermore’, the website that will host the more appreciative of e-books will be a mishmash of computer the magic of paper- games, social networking and online store. backs and hard Just as the experience of watching a bounds. For, a book movie in a theatre cannot be reproduced by has a special aura and cannot be reduced DVDs and movie websites, e-books cannot to mere data. It is a treasured material capture the joys of reading a book. Scrolling possession and, in many cases, a collector’s through an e-book is not the same as flipping item. The feel and sensuality of a book can through the pages of a book. The former, hardly be replaced by the cold, detached made interactive with multimedia inputs, screen of an e-book reader. diminishes the key ingredient that makes A book is much more than a medium for reading such a pleasure – imagination. N T National Security And The Global Commons Kanti Bajpai The government has announced the formation of a task force under the chairmanship of Naresh Chandra to carry out a holistic review of national security. National security usually relates to those issues that involve the use of force. Increasingly, however, national security must focus on ‘externalities’ or ‘public goods’ that affect national existence and welfare even if they do not necessarily involve the use of force. Key global commons issues that affect national survival and wellbeing include planetary calamities, climate change, deadly epidemics, stability of the global economy, global political stability (internal peace, transnational extremist movements, terrorism), non-proliferation, the demilitarisation of outer space, freedom of the high seas, and controlling transnational crime. Clearly the task force has a huge challenge ahead of it – how to , square traditional national security concerns with these larger concerns arising from the global commons. While it will undoubtedly deal with the substance of national security policy it should also , deal with the institutional mechanisms and broad approach needed to deal with the complexities of security . For one thing, India should enlarge its capacity to think about the link between the global commons and national security This . means greater expertise and staffing in the ministry of external affairs (MEA), the ministry of defence, the National Security Council, and the ministries of finance and environment. With respect to the MEA, the government should reduce its regional desks and increase the number of ‘functional’ ones cutting across geographical regions. It should also massively increase the size of the foreign service, perhaps by a factor of three. A related reform is that India’s policymaking apparatus needs better coordination. In particular, the ministries and agencies involved in global commons issues need to be included in national security discussions within the government. A third reform is for the government to involve think tanks and other non-governmental organisations in decision making related to the global commons far more than it has done in the past. Think tanks, in turn, need to be more multidisciplinary and to increase expertise and staff strength. They also need to consider how to keep the general public, national and state politicians, the media including the Indian language media, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) better informed. Fourth, India must work more closely with a range of state and non-state actors. Clearly, it must coordinate better with the US, China, the EU, Russia and Japan. It must also coordinate better with rising regional powers. The G20 is a vital forum for coordination with a range of influential states, and Indian diplomacy should be directed towards supporting it even at the risk of offending some non-members. India should work with the non-aligned movement (NAM) when it can but should not be tied to NAM positions. New Delhi should represent the interests of those who are not sufficiently heard, yet it must be prepared to look after its own interests and to be mindful of larger, more cosmopolitan goals. In addition, since the global commons increasingly involves a range of NGOs, Indian diplomacy must reach out to these entities in a way that it has traditionally not done. India’s ‘public diplomacy’ must be massively increased in order to reach out to NGOs and enlist their support. Indian diplomacy should recognise that non-governmental actors are also sources of information and ideas and can enlarge policy thinking. The government has to acknowledge this reality and to use it to best advantage. Fifth, a more general change in India’s stance is the need to take the initiative in dealing with the global commons. Over the past two decades, India has been rather more reactive than creative in crafting world order. This has to change with India’s growing influence. Finally we must see that global commons challenges are often , related in vicious cycles. Dealing with one challenge successfully will therefore have positive knock-on effects and could change vicious into ‘virtuous’ cycles. The government has done well to constitute the Chandra task force. It will do even better if it releases the report to the public. In a democracy it is vital to garner public support for big policies, and , national security policy is no exception. SNAP JUDGMENT Afghan Pullout Speeding Up Cases Dravid’s Defiance P resident Obama is drawing down US troops in Afghanistan faster than his generals advise, due to political pressures at home. New Delhi must tell Washington to keep plans flexible and conditional on an improving ground situation in Afghanistan. And it must beef up its own defences and diplomatic outreach, to guard against a situation where instability grows in the region due to a precipitate US withdrawal. T he move to spruce up trial court infrastructure, by infusing Rs 2,000 crore over the next five years, is welcome. But, given that India has a staggering 2.3 crore pending cases, mere allocation of funds won’t solve matters on the ground. The Centre must ensure that funds are fully and efficiently utilised. Most importantly , it should encourage out-ofthe-box thinking to clear the logjam. I T he reflexes aren’t what they used to be. The bat doesn’t come down quite as straight. But Rahul Dravid can still teach the younger lot a thing or two. His matchwinning century in Kingston, Jamaica, was a welcome echo of his brilliant twin half-centuries there in 2006. When the pitch is playing tricks and the bowlers have scented blood, the Wall is still the man for the hour. I SACRED S PAC E Cruise Control I The Three Fellowships is the Spirit. The miracle of clouds transforming salty sea water into pure water reveals the ur natural environment is depleting. amazing secrets of the cycle of nature. With Rivers are drying; forest cover is shrink- admiration comes love. This is the start of a beauing; hills are disappearing. We are paying tiful bonding with nature. Then every flower, a heavy price in terms of global warming and every tree, every hill and river appears sacred. this warming is not only restricted to our Fellowship with silence generates power physical environment; another kind of warming which elevates the mind. Silence is a great – that of desires, passions and greed – has affected purifier. It opens doors for communication with the soul’s environment. the mysteries of life. Silence creates circles of ‘‘Why does the soul need an environment?’’ positive energy; it is not passive. It creates ethos we asked the Master. for performing dharma. Silence heals. Silence ‘‘Just as a healthy environment is needed for gives and so you, too, learn to give. Saint Meher our well-being, so it is with the soul! To grow a Baba observed silence for 40 years. For in silence plant you need to water its roots. In the same the waters of the spirit flow! way to cultivate the soul you have to provide for Much of today’s restlessness is due to absence its nourishment. The main purpose of of silence in the outer and inner environhuman birth is to evolve, and for that ment. There is clamour for activities both you have to cultivate the soul.’’ inside and outside of the mind. In such a ‘‘But the soul is ever peaceful and whirlwind lifestyle, the soul feels suffopure. Why does it need an environment cated and yearns for silence, for stillness. at all?’’ we ask naively . Fellowship with satsang means ‘‘That is because you have gone being with those who follow the path through so many births and you have of truth. It means being in the Guru’s THE gathered so many karmas, which have presence along with other devotees I SPEAKING I cloaked the soul with thick layers. You and sharing knowledge of sacred need to remove that cloak of dirt, of scriptures. Satsang means group TREE evil, of undesirable karmas.’’ kirtan, chanting or prayer. Satsang The Master would speak of three elements also means reflection on social good. It means of the environment necessary to keep the soul group activity of service. It is a means to cultivate fresh and healthy: Fellowship with Nature, the soul through seva and simran. Satsang silence and satsang. purifies and generates universal love energy . Nature with its rivers and rivulets, mountains And in that positive environment, reaching out and hills, green forests and trees is not only to people in need of help becomes effortless. These three fellowships set the stage to remove aesthetically appealing to the eye; it generates energy which brings calmness, lightness and detach- karmas that cloak the soul. ment from the gross physical. Walking through To enjoy a life of peace and harmony we need , the forest soothes the nerves, a stroll at the river not only a balanced physical environment but bank makes you reflective, watching reflections in also a rejuvenating spiritual environment. The flowing waters; sitting at a hilltop makes you still, three fellowships create just that environment. as it distances you from worries and problems. It www.speakingtree.in makes you positive towards your inner self. Rain Join the world’s first spiritual networking site and clouds are joyful reminders of the beauty that to interact directly with masters and seekers. Aruna Jethwani E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Stick to non-violence With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 23), Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s candid admission of not being averse to violent confrontation indicates that her patience with Myanmar’s military rulers is running out. With no immediate end in sight to the struggle, she is bound to feel helpless. Her stated objective of securing democracy for the country is becoming tougher by the day. Nevertheless, adopting violent means will never help achieve nor sustain the lasting peace that she is fighting for. In renouncing non-violence, Suu Kyi will not only lose out on global support but also the support of her countrymen who look to her as a beacon of hope. M V Krishna, VIA EMAIL REBOOTING INDIA Free from expectations and from all sense of possession, with mind and body firmly controlled by the Self, they do not incur sin by the performance of physical action. Bhagavad Gita 4.19-21 He whose actions are disorganised has no happiness either in the midst of men or in a jungle – in the midst of men his heart burns by social contacts, and his helplessness burns him in the forest. Chanakya The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can’t be organised or regulated. It isn’t true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to your own truth. Ram Dass Organise your life around your dreams – and watch them come true. Anonymous Organising is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed-up. A A Milne O Compromise formula The editorial ‘Break The Deadlock’ (June 23) rightly suggests that both sides need to show more pragmatism if the desired objective of creating an effective Lokpal within the constitutional framework has to be achieved. Instead of taking rigid stands on their proposed drafts, members of the joint drafting committee should make sincere efforts to arrive at a consensus. Such a compromise is possible only if both sides are reasonable and willing to meet each other halfway. The insistence of civil society members, under the threat of another fast, that their draft must be accepted in full is both undemocratic and unreasonable. At the same time, in its own interest, the government will do well to counter the general public perception that it doesn’t want a strong Lokpal. S N Shukla, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD JUNE 26, 2011 ‘Without a structure, new left will remain only fashionable’ The CPM has been doing a lot of soul-searching post its decisive defeat in the West Bengal elections, besides its loss in Kerala. So much so, party politburo member Sitaram Yechury, 58, admits that serious mistakes were made in West Bengal that need to be corrected to win back the people’s confidence. And yet, he sees a bright future for the left globally. Yechury talks Singur the Palghat syndrome and the new left with , Akshaya Mukul. Excerpts: What is the CPM’s analysis of its defeat in West Bengal? There will be more in-depth analysis. Clearly mis, takes were made at three levels: political-tactical, administrative and organizational. At the central committee meeting in Hyderabad, preliminary analysis was done. The primary thing for the party is to overcome these weaknesses and, on that basis, strengthen its links with the people. The party in West Bengal has said they will undertake more in-depth analysis during the state committee meeting in July . There has been a slew of analysis after the party’s defeat in West Bengal. Many critics point out that the principle of democratic centralism is another word for tyrannical control of the leadership that often is the reason why the party fails to do course correction. Yes, there would be certain areas that need to be strengthened. But this problem has been there since Lenin. He coined the term “tyranny of majority”. In CPM, we are conscious of inner-party democracy . We practice it more vibrantly In no other political . party is political resolution submitted two months in advance and everyone is free to give comments. I think the election results should not be reduced to analyzing the fundamental aspects of a communist organization. If that was so, we would not have lost narrowly in Kerala. In Bengal, we still got 41% votes, more than many parties in power in many states. Don’t you think drawing solace like this is an act of self-deception? Yes, there is no point in fooling ourselves and seeking to draw solace from these figures. It’s good these things are there but it does not change the reality Our vote share has fallen. We also cannot take . solace that we were in Bengal for seven terms. While this might be true, it is no solace. We have to work hard to regain the confidence of the people. It is not the question of Bengal alone. We had presence in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka that we do not have any longer. In Bengal the biggest grouse of the common man, apart from poor administration, has been the oppressive party control of all aspects of local life — from acquiring a ration card to land acquisition. Do you agree? Many of these factors are functional aspects of our leaders. That is not the way a party should function and this is not the way the party won confidence of the people. In Singur, it was neither the first time nor the last time that land was acquired. It came soon after the victory in the 2006 election. The election was fought on the slogan of rapid industrialization. It was presumed the people had endorsed this plank. Therefore, the homework that the party used to do – sitting with villagers and hearing their problems – was not done. In Rajarhat, 1000 acres of land was acquired after months of homework. Jyoti Basu himself used to visit villages. But in Singur, not doing our homework backfired. That gave the opposition its opportunity . Apart from discontent due to land acquisition, many have also pointed out that after land reform, small and middle farmers captured the party leadership that weakened the cause of landless farmers. Do you think this contributed to the anger of the peasants? This was the experience in Kerala. We call it the Palghat syndrome. In Bengal the problem was different. For less than 1000 acres, 12,000 cheques were collected in Singur which means 12 families were living production, there will be a market. But the market is not the most rational regulator that will protect the interests of the people. If you leave it to the caprices of the market, it would lead to an irrational situation. Just see how a slight mention of a relook into the Indo-Mauritius free trade agreement led to tanking of the market. At the Delhi party congress in 2005, we had said foreign capital is inevitable but it should be mutually beneficial, not a one-way loot. Coming to the Left’s future, many old comrades have demanded merger of the CPM and CPI. Is that a good idea? There is no doubt greater unity among Left parties – it’s a good thing. But a merger will become an agenda only if the reasons that led to the separation of the two parties are resolved. But over the years, the differences between the two have narrowed down? Yes, over the years the differences have narrowed down on political-tactical lines. More importantly , in mass movements we have been together. But the important issue is, do we get bogged down by ideological issues or forge unity . The left is under threat internationally How do . you see the future? This is a challenging time for the left but I see a good future. Wherever the communist party has come to power, it has delivered. Look at Greece. There have been 11 strikes in eight months. Left and liberals are making good advance. Look at Portugal. You see the left reasserting itself. I am not talking of Latin America where the left is doing very well. On the other hand, what is capitalism doing? It is turning corporate insolvency into sovereign insolvency by bailing out the same corporates. The burden of solvency is a government debt that is to be borne by people whose rights are being curtailed. In this situation, the left has a very good opportunity . Has the time for the new left come? We keep hearing about the new left but it is yet to crystallize into any body of theory Unless you have . an alternative body of structure, this left would only remain fashionable. Without a political structure, it cannot become an alternative to traditional left. FOR THE RECORD SITARAM YECHURY off one acre. Land reform led to fragmentation. It became unviable to sustain them. Their future improvement was only through future employment generation through industrialization. While many undertook this, others did not. If proper homework had been done, this would not have happened. Apart from local mistakes in West Bengal, do you think the Left needs to rethink its ideological opposition to marketing its principles. At one point, the Left opposed bourgeoisie democracy and later had a rethink. It is a complete misnomer to say the market has no place in the economy As long as there is commodity . Unsung hero of the India story sion disappeared. Who was the industry minister who SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR initiated these revolutionary reforms? Narasimha Rao himTwenty years ago, self ! He held the industry portfoNarasimha Rao lio too. became Prime Yet he did not want draw attenMinister and inition to himself. So he ingeniously tiated economic made the delicensing announcereforms that ment on the morning of the day transformed InManmohan Singh was presentdia. The Congress party doesn’t ing his first Budget. The media want to remember him: it is based clubbed the Budget and delicensentirely on loyalty to the Gandhi ing stories together as one comfamily and Rao was not a family , posite reform story In the public . member. But the nation should remind, Manmohan Singh was member Rao as the man who seen as the liberalizer, while Rao changed India, and the world too. stayed in the background. In June 1991, India was seen Singh initiated the gradual reglobally as a bottomless pit for forduction of import duties, income eign aid. It had exhausted an IMF tax and corporate tax. Foreign inloan taken six months earlier and vestment was gradually liberalso was desperate. Nobody imagized. Imports of technology were ined that, 20 years later, India freed. Yet the overall government would be called an emerging suapproach was anything but radiperpower, backed by the US to join cally reformist. When bank staff the UN Security Council, and threatened to go on strike, Rao aspoised to overtake China as the sured them that there would be world’s fastest growing economy . no bank privatization or staff reFor three decades after Indeforms. When farmers threatened pendence, India followed inward to take to the streets, Rao assured looking socialist policies aiming them there would be no opening at public sector dominance. The licence-permit raj mandated gov- up of Indian agriculture. The IMF and World Bank beernment clearance to produce, imlieved that when a country went port or innovate. If you were bust, that was the best time for productive enough to create somepainful reforms like labour rething new or produce more from forms. However, Rao took the veexisting machinery you faced im, ry opposite line. He focused on reprisonment for the dreadful crime forms that would produce the of exceeding licensed capacity . least mass losers (such as indusSocialism reached its zenith in trial delicensing) and yet prothe garibi hatao phase of Indira duced 7.5% growth in the Gandhi (1969-77), when several inmid-1990s. These gave reforms a dustries were nationalized and ingood name, and ensured their come tax went up to 97.75%. This continuance even when Opposiproduced neither fast growth nor tion parties later came to power. social justice. GDP growth reIn the 2000s, the cumulative efmained stuck at 3.5% per year, half fect of gradual reform finally the rate in Japan and the Asian timade India an 8.5% miracle gers. India’s social indicators growth economy Rao got no glo. were dismal, often worse than in ry for this. He had lost the 1996 Africa. Poverty did not fall at all election amidst charges of buydespite three decades of indeing the support of JMM legislapendence. tors. This led to his exit as ConIn the 1980s, creeping economic gress chief. Although he was liberalization plus a governmenteventually exonerated by the spending spree saw GDP growth courts, he died a political nobody . rise to 5.5%. But the spending How unjust! He deserves a spree was based on unsustainable high place in economic history foreign borrowing, and ended in for challenging the Bank-IMF aptears in 1991. proach on painful austerity and , When Rao assumed office, the focusing instead on a few key once-admired Soviet model was changes that produced fast collapsing. Meanwhile, Deng had transformed China through mar- growth with minimum pain. The World Bank itself later changed ket-oriented reforms. Rao opted its policy and started targeting for market reforms too. He was no “binding constraints” (like infree market ideologue like Ronald dustrial licensing) Reagan or Margaret Thatcher: he Manmohan Singh said repeatedtalked of the middle path. His ly that he could have achieved nothmodel was Willy Brandt of GeringwithoutRao’sbacking.Today 20 , many . years after the start of India’s ecoHis master stroke was to apnomic miracle, let us toast India’s point Manmohan Singh as fimost underrated Prime Minister nance minister. Rao wanted a non—Narasimha Rao. political reformer at the centre of decision-making, who could be The Swaminomics column of backed or dumped as required. He June 5 said incorrectly that Prepresented Singh as the spearhead mier Auto had gone bust. In fact of reform while he himself advothe company survived the collapse cated a middle path. Yet, ultimateand shutdown of its auto producly it was his vision that Singh exe, tion. It now has a modest presence cuted. in engineering, and is trying to reIn his first month in office, the establish auto production. rupee was devalued. There followed the virtual abolition of inMy Times, My Voice: Like this dustrial licensing and MRTP article? SMS MTMVSA <space> clearance. At one stroke, the bigYes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms gest hurdles to industrial expan- Slut Walk: look at the intent, not the dress TOP OF THE MIND ANIL DHARKER SWAMINOMICS Should women in Delhi do a Slut Walk just because women in Canada did so? Before one looks for an answer to that question, here are some startling facts: ever since the first Slut Walk in Toronto on April 3 this year, similar walks have taken place in cities like Chicago, Edinburgh, Sao Paulo, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Sydney Brasi, lia. Not just that: Slut Walks have been planned in the near future in disparate places -- Lisbon, Wellington, Auckland, Morelia, Seoul, Curitiba, Helsinki, Munich, Dublin … Michael Sanguinetti didn’t know what he was starting, did he? This Toronto police officer, while speaking about women’s safety said that , if women didn’t want to be victimized, they “should avoid dressing like sluts”. This set off an immediate furore and Sanguinetti apologized, but by then the matter had gone way beyond one cop’s comments. In fact, the perfervid reaction all across the world was because Sanguinetti’s words were like many men’s around the world: if a woman is raped, it’s her own fault. It’s she who has provoked a man into sexual violence because of the way she dressed or behaved. There is an obvious reversal of responsibility here. Initially conservative patriarchal societies insisted that their women be covered in order to protect them from the hostile or prurient male gaze. Somewhere along the way the pur, dah/hijab/ghungat remained but its justifica- tion had changed: women now had to cover themselves not for their own protection but to protect men. Protect men from their libidinous nature. Protect men from themselves. Men, in effect, had conveniently surrendered their responsibility for their own behaviour; they could be expected to behave only if temptation was removed from their paths. Luckily this isn’t so across cultures or socie, ties. Many tribal women, by tradition and poverty are bare breasted and generally under dressed. , Do their men use that as an excuse to pounce on them? At the other end of the social and economic scale, you have young men and women partying without any parental control. You don’t hear of too many sexual assaults in these circles, and even in the rare case that this does happen, the accused doesn’t blame the woman for being ‘provocatively’ dressed. But you will hear mullahs and other so-called ‘men of God’ lay the blame on women and you will hear men who take vows of celibacy which they find difficult to keep because, they say of the presence of loose women. , No wonder Slut Walks have caught on. The feminist movement, which has been in a quiet phase for a while, is now saying aggressively that enough is enough, women refuse to take the blame for the criminal behaviour of men. It’s about time this happened in our country because sexual violence is far too common and news of one sex crime ghastlier than the other is a daily occurrence. Since men are either incapable, or unwilling, to do anything about it, it is women who will have to fight this battle, a battle that will be long and hard. But Slut Walks? Why should this new women’s movement be led by marches under this la- SLUT WALK IN SYDNEY bel? The Toronto demonstration and the others that have followed in the west have said that a subsidiary objective of the walks is to reclaim the word ‘slut’ and get rid of its pejorative connotation. It seems like a dangerous diversionary exercise, one taking away attention from the main objective. After all, there is something like ‘sluttish’ or promiscuous behaviour, which is hardly commendable. The male equivalent ‘womaniser’ is equally pejorative, and after recent high-profile cases like that of the IMF’s disgraced chief, no one — man or woman — looks upon womanising with an indulgent eye. There is also something called ‘provocative’ behaviour, or to use a less loaded word, ‘inappropriate’ behaviour. You don’t dress in beach wear in the main market square; you don’t don party wear to the workplace; casual and minimal clothing acceptable amongst your circle of friends may not be right for a locality where the dress code is conservative. These rules, which most of us accept, apply to both men and women. So when the Slut Walking women of Toronto or London or Sydney march in their bras, it can only be an attention-grabbing device like the bare bodies in PETA ads. It cannot be a serious statement of intent that a woman can dress in any manner she wants, even if it is completely inappropriate in the context. If men must take responsibility for their behaviour, so should women. Sluttish behaviour — or for that matter, womanising behaviour — will draw its own responses. A general criticism of the walk to be organized in Delhi is that this does not address the main concerns of the large majority of Indian women, the rural or the urban poor: female foeticide, child marriage, dowry deaths, khap panchayats etc. This criticism ignores the obvious, which is that most movements are led by the educated elite, and are therefore bound to reflect their preoccupations. This criticism is unwarranted for another reason: if the Slut Walks draw attention to the concerns of urban women, they will be the starting point to voice the concerns of all women. But why not change the label while keeping the content intact? Why not, for example, call them the Sanguinetti Walks? My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Time to put children first on growth agenda IN PRINCIPLE KARIN HULSHOF The development of the 12th Plan affords a remarkable opportunity to place equity for India’s children firmly in the government’s development agenda over the next five years. Equity can be understood to have three underlying principles: one, the principle of justice —recognizing that those who are most disadvantaged are so because of injustices in the social or economic or political order; second, that these are remediable, and can be addressed through appropriate corrective interventions and third, that this requires the redistribution of resources and services, to address the most disadvantaged. I would like to add that equity must be inclusive and transformative — any strategy to reduce disparities must also contribute towards a more tolerant, less hierarchical and divisive society, in the long term. A child’s development is a sequence of events for which there are no ‘second chances.’ Once missed, the window of opportunity closes forever. We must ensure that each and every child gets the best start in life so that they will survive and thrive and meet their fullest potential as possible. Persistent disparities along the lines of caste, tribe, geography and gender perpetuate inequality. Poverty hits children hardest, because it causes life-long and irreparable damage to their minds and bodies. India’s growth patterns over the past five years show resilience to crisis, through prudent financial management, taking advantage of a huge domestic economy and the unleashing of enterprise and opportunity — and the promise of continued high growth in the coming years. India must harness the potential of ‘its demographic dividend.’ This time of unprecedented prosperity provides a very positive framework within which to talk about equity. Social gains must keep pace with economic ones. In 15 years, India’s children will still number approximately 400 million —equal to the population of most large countries. Of these, about 100 million belong to the poorest families. If social progress does not keep pace with economic growth, India’s medium- to long-term prospects of growth with stability will not take root. India is meeting targets for access to improved drinking water and primary education. But in the areas of poverty reduction, nutrition, infant and child mortality, maternal mortality and sanitation, the country still falls short of national and global targets. For example, an estimated 55 million, or 43% of India’s children under five years are underweight. This figure increases to 55% for children from scheduled tribe families and 57% for children from the poorest wealth quintile. Undernutrition happens very early in life. An estimated one-third of children are already undernourished at birth because of nutrition deprivation during pregnancy. Sub-optimal feeding, care and hygiene practices in the first two years of life compound the situation. Global experience indicates a set of evidence-based interventions from conception to age two, delivered at scale with emphasis on the poorest and most excluded can prevent and treat undernutrition. To meet these challenges in the 12th Plan, we must be clear what equity means in terms of policies and interventions. There is a need to move the discourse away from seeing equity only in terms of targeting resources at specific social groups. As we move forward, we need to take stock of the situation in India today. There are over 150 centrally-sponsored schemes that address different aspects of vulnerability and deprivation. Of these, 12 national flagship schemes absorb 93% of the funds. India’s policy makers must have the courage to reconfigure the public spend to decongest the ‘clogged’ pipes of public service delivery. Openness to regular monitoring and evaluation is the hallmark of a courageous planner and manager. Where this openness exists, equity issues can be identified and addressed in a timely and responsive way. Significant silence still surrounds reproductive health education, early marriage and early pregnancy. For example, maternity benefits are denied to mothers below the age of 18 despite the reality of early marriage and maternity. Forty-three per cent of women in India between the ages of 20-24 were married before the age of 18. Schemes must address this reality. By denying these young women and their children access to much needed services, we perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of poverty. This is meant to be the Asian century. With the advent of the 12th Plan, India is standing proudly at the forefront, not of history, but of the future. Now is the time to be daring to combine the existing technical knowledge with the political will to change the lives of hundreds of millions of children in India. There can be no greater investment than that of investing in children. The writer is the Unicef India representative My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms New ‘Sush’ in town does her item number time in a movie, it is important to milk it for all its worth and instantly cash in on the craze. This is when the all-important ‘overflow’ takes place. ReSHOBHAA DE She’s the newly member what happened with ‘Munni’ crowned hottie in B- and ‘Sheila’ (but not to ‘Jalebi’)? The Town. Err… ‘B’ as in mega success of any Bollywood filBJP not Bollywood. She lum depends on ‘repeat value’. It is , can sing, she can dance. when audiences flock to cinema halls She shakes her booty begging for more that the trade exults with the best of them. and distributors dance in the aisle. And she has countless admirers panting Success on such a scale has to be skillfor more. Those who were lucky enough fully leveraged by everybody who has to catch her ‘live’ performance at the a stake in it — from the producer-di‘ashram sthal’ (Rajghat) have been ooh- rector downwards. That is how a cult ing and aahing over her deft moves – on is created. Sushma Swaraj has got it. She is and off the dance floor. Kya jhatkas, kya matkas. Wah, Sush, wah! Like any top ready to flaunt it. Toh, problem kya heroine, she too has been attracting her hai, bhai? As it is, the BJP sounds share of detractors — mainly jealous ri- like a finely shredded cabbage salad vals who cannot keep up with her seem- (minus raisins, at that). Propping up ingly inexhaustible stamina, especially a hirsute yoga master who runs during chartbusting ‘item’ numbers away from his own big bash dressed that are considered so rocking, news- in drag, is hardly the best image hungry TV channels can’t get enough of builder for a headless, formless and them. With each telecast of those amaz- confused organization. Bringing in ing ‘thumkas’, her popularity soars an ageing and portly Uma Bharati doesn’t sound like a particularly inalong with her unique sex appeal. This surging wave of acceptance spired marketing plan. Sure, she has and approval is causing serious heart- her unabashedly RSS credentials to burn within her own production house her credit — or discredit. But she –the BJP No matter. As any leading Bol- seems like an anachronism — a fad. lywood producer will tell you, ‘Boss- ed star from another zamana alto…paisa vasool.’ If something works big gether. Not happening. Uma is passé POLITICALLY INCORRECT TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN SEPTEMBER 25, 1971 BJP TRUMP CARD? Sushma Swaraj dancing at Rajghat recently BRIDGE TO NOWHERE: After a prolonged and violent agitation for a Telangana state, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made a stopgap arrangement to placate both sides and out of it. At 52, she is still fairly jawan in political terms. But after a sixyear vanvas, nobody really remembers or cares about this firebrand’s track record — that she had taken on and vanquished many a foe (including Digvijay Singh) to become the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in December 2003. Uma seems strangely out of sync with today’s janata, whereas Sushma Swaraj appears a totally cool person — a woman on top. Since the BJP seems to favour heavyweights (literally), a singing Nitin Gadkari has not found a mass base so far and seems to have antagonized party bosses by shooting off his mouth and speaking out of turn once too often. That leaves dear Narendra Bhai, who is the Coy Superstar, patiently waiting in the wings for the teaser trailer to release and give audiences a jhalak of the ‘new, improved’ Modi (Hello! He plays golf! Must be a good chap, then!). Despite strenuous attempts to give the guy a makeover, the chattering classes continue to be suspicious of Modi, who will never ever live down Godhra, no matter what he says or does. Arun Jaitley? Umm… too cerebral and brash, too Dilli, too rich, too snooty Difficult for someone as elitist to . woo the unwashed masses. That leaves Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sanjay Joshi. Manageable, but strictly no star quality It’s a little like trying to sell a . multi-star blockbuster featuring alsorans. Mogambo definitely not khush! That leaves our ‘Sush’. But before her grand elevation and re-positioning, she needs to do two things urgently — lose weight, and discard those peculiar jackets she throws over her sarees. What’s with those shapeless ‘bundis’? The rest of her carefullyconstructed persona works splendidly— that broad strip of sindoor in the maang, the low nape bun, the coquet- tish air, her oratorical skills and eloquence, the seductive body language …sab kuch mast hai! Sushma ki jawani (in spirit, if not in age) could be the BJP’s biggest trump card. That is, if mandarins put aside petty differences and ego tussles to focus on the party’s survival and future growth. There isn’t much time left. Baba Ramdev’s flop show has not helped matters, either. Then again, if all that the Congress party can come up with is Rahul Gandhi, where’s the hitch? In any case, the UPA government is not about to create box office records with its recent poor showing in virtually every arena. Poor Manmohan Singh is looking so ‘thakela’, one feels like borrowing all of Amitabh Bachchan’s snazzy props from his forthcoming movie and handing them over to the Singh who is no longer King (or even the chief courtier). Perhaps clad in that hip gear, riding a motorcycle and hiding his sad eyes behind the coolest shades, our sweetheart of a prime minister will be able to join grandpa Bachchan to belt out a duet that goes: "Buddha hoga tera baap.” My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSD <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD JUNE 26, 2011 INTERSECTIONS 17 If much of your life is online rather than offline, press enter for the onset of a new condition — Internet Addiction Disorder. It’s a problem the world is dealing with, though India is still in sleep mode Divya A | TNN ARE YOU A NETCASE? Do you normally stay online longer than you had intended? G Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to spending time with your family? G Do you see life without the internet as dull and boring? G Do you snap, yell or get annoyed if someone bothers you while you are online? G Do you miss sleep due to latenight surfing? G Do you identify more with your online persona than your real self ? G ica (22.3 exabytes per month). In China, they already have specialist clinics for internet addicts; in the UAE, a team of researchers has asked educators and parents to ensure that youngsters develop healthy habits when using modern technological devices; and in the Philippines, authorities are now working on measures to address online gaming addiction among children. But India is still in sleep mode. Given the highly competitive environment, many students see the internet in general and online gaming in particular as a means of improving their mental skills. Chaitanya Banerji, a Class VIII student, spends more than five hours a day online. “The teachers expect us to know everything about everything. Where else will I find all the information? So I keep looking up interesting topics and read about new things and learn new words. At the same time I can play games with my friends. Since I can play while I learn, studies don’t seem boring.” NEVER SAY LOGOUT YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN INTERNET JUNKIE IF YOU… See something funny and scream “LOL, LOL” G Beg your friends to get a chat account so you can “hang out together” G Find out divorce papers had been served on you six months ago G Get up at 2am to go to the bathroom but turn the computer on instead G E ven if half your answers are in the affirmative, there’s a good chance that you are becoming an internet addict. According to an estimate, 5-10% of the online population worldwide is “web dependent”. They are hooked to online cyber sex, pornography, multi-user online games, e-shopping, social networking and surfing and they do so at the cost of all other activities. They don’t know it, but they suffer from a new clinical condition called IAD — Internet Addiction Disorder. ly wired environment or have too much time on their hands are particularly at risk. Conversations with a randomly selected group of schoolchildren, teenagers and professionals reveal that most of them are online for long hours, often at the cost of their sleep. But they don’t see anything wrong with it. Mansi Mehra, 27, a senior marketing executive at a real estate firm in Delhi, says her sales job is stressful and she doesn’t get time to go out and meet friends. “I spend three-four hours every day on social networking to stay in touch with them. I also do a lot of shopping online. So in four hours online, I manage to do what I would do in 10 hours offline.” Mehra admits she can’t do without this routine. “I get irritated on days my internet doesn’t work.” Unlike drugs or alcohol abuse, people addicted to the Net may not show any symptoms in the beginning. In many cases, their Net identity becomes their “primary identity” and the real world around them gets hazy In South Ko. rea, alarm bells began to ring when a 41-yearold man and his 25-year-old wife were arrested last year after they left their baby daughter to starve to death at home while they played an online game on child rearing in an internet cafe. Alarm bells are ringing in different parts of Asia, which is fast emerging as the new frontier of the internet revolution. According to Cisco’s annual Visual Networking Index, the worldwide internet traffic will quadruple and reach 80.5 exabytes per month (80 exabytes would fill 20 billion DVDs) by 2015. That year, for the first time, Asia will generate more traffic (24.1 exabytes per month) than North Amer- NET ADDICTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT A CLINIC IN CHINA DEBUGGING OPS HOW NET ADDICTS ARE TREATED ELSEWHERE NEUROFEEDBACK: A technique to train the brain to regulate functions of body and mind. Sensors are placed on the scalp to measure activity, with measurements displayed using video or sound. Neurofeedback is widely available in India and is used to help children with autism and learning disabilities, adults with post-trauma and also at times for drug deaddiction TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION: A method of stimulating the brain using magnets, redirecting its magnetic field to reduce major depression and symptoms of illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuropsychiatrists at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, India have begun using TMS for patients with depression as a substitute for antidepressants The west is already grappling with it. Studies are being conducted to find out the extent of the problem and its effect on the brain. Last week, it was South Korea’s turn. The country which has an internet pen, etration of 80%, opened its first rehab clinic for Net addicts. What about India? Some may argue that IAD is no threat here, given that internet usage stands at just above 7%. But estimates suggest that it may go up to 20% soon with the introduction of 3G services. Considering India’s population, 20% (240 million) means a number far bigger than South Korea’s 80% (total population 48 million). Experts warn that India may already have a fair number of IAD victims although the problem is not even recognized as a psycholgical ailment here. Pune-based behaviourial psychologist Neema Khurana, who counsels students in several schools and colleges in the educational hub, says that the problem may not be widespread in our country, but there’s enough reason for worry “I have come across serious cas. es in which teenagers don’t leave the house, don’t have interpersonal relationships, and are always trying to isolate themselves from everything else to sit in front of their computer screens. I was shocked when I met a 19year-old who would only speak in the language of the characters he played with on an online Alarm bells are ringing in different parts of Asia, which is fast emerging as the new frontier of the internet revolution. By 2015, the continent will generate more online traffic than North America. China and South Korea already have rehab clinics for internet addiction. In the Philippines, authorities are working on ways to deal with online gaming addiction among children game,” she says. “The problem is mostly prevalent among teens and pre-teens but no institution in India has taken it seriously enough or tried to conduct any studies or estimates on internet addiction.” Psychologists say people who live in a high- Varun Agrawal, 18, who has just completed Class XII, admits to surfing the Net till 3am every night “to find out about the right courses and colleges”. He’s online for 10-12 hours a day, watching movies, chatting or simply reading about cars and bikes. Varun younger brother Karan, who sleeps by his side, complains that “sometimes, Varun even dozes off in front of his PC... He doesn’t get up to eat and bullies me to get his food to his desk and always makes excuses when the family wants to go out.” Varun may be a classic example. The typical Net addict goes so deep into the cyberworld that he loses touch with real people and situations around him. The Second Life becomes their real life. Khurana says an addict doesn’t realize this. “When does an addict say he is an addict,” she argues. In fact, IAD itself remains a controversial diagnosis, with experts differing on whether or not it’s a true addiction. Dr S K Khandelwal, senior professor of psychiatry at AIIMS, refuses to call it an ailment that needs prescription. “From time to time, parents bring their schoolgoing children who spend unusually large amount of time online and we counsel them and suggest measures to gradually reduce their time online and do other activities. It’s just conselling, I never give them any drugs.” But he admits he knows some psychiatrists who prescribe anti-depressants to young adults for Net addiction. But if it’s a problem that requires counselling or medication, why isn’t it being taken seriously in India? Khandelwal offeres an answer: “Here we are so busy with patients suffering from serious mental ailments that we have no time and resources to deal with subsidiary psychological problems.” The irony is that both neurofeedback and transcranial magnetic stimulation—treatments being used in clinics abroad—are available in certain Indian hospitals. But no one has bothered to apply these processes for the treatment of Net addiction. This, despite the fact that there’s scientific data which suggests that too much time on the internet leads to shrinking of the human brain. With internet penetration likely to increase manifold, India may see brain drain of a different kind in the near future. Stand-up, stand out: Not that simple They’ve got the punchlines. But being funny before a live Indian audience is more than an art for young comedians — it’s a laughter challenge Aparna Bansal | TNN he lights are dim, a young performer strums songs on his guitar and the college students and twenty-somethings assembled at a South Delhi restaurant wait expectantly as they swig their beers. A thin spectacled man in jeans with hair that falls to his shoulders soon takes the stage and narrates the story of a beautiful girl in a salwaar kameez. After a brief moment of silence he looks straight into the audience and in a deadpan voice says, “Then I realized, it was Baba Ramdev.” Laughter. The show has begun. Papa CJ, the OxI don’t do period jokes ford graduate turned international stand-up cocoz then I’d be funny median, is only one of the performers that night. Cheese Monkey Mafia, an initiative by stand-up coonly once a month median Raghav Mandava, holds open mic nights every fortnight for aspiring stand-up comedians to practice their skills. “It’s a new concept for Indian audiences, but it has a bright future because there’s a At one point, CJ pokes fun huge market for it,” says Mandava. On television, at a turbaned man at the back and most comedy shows deliver slapstick and straight-to- the banter between them continues intermittently . the-punchline humour, but these live stand-up perSoon, a certain pattern emerges in these performformances are in a different language and cater to a ances. There are jokes about Punjabis and Jats, maledifferent crowd, he adds. female drivers and Indian men’s sexual prowess. The While CJ, a professional, uses the open mic stage comedians swear liberally and sway their pelvises sugas a testing ground for new material and carries pages gestively Often, there are echoes of . of new jokes with him on stage, jokes by international names amateur comedians consuch as Russel Peters and sider it a first step toChris Rock, but tailored My car is so old, wards bigger shows. for the Indian audience. it uses itself... as As each comedi“Louis CK is my idol,” fossil fuel an takes his turn, Mandava says, “because it is apparent of his ability to be so disthat while their gusting and so funny at the styles are difsame time.” ferent, their But stand-up comedy abroad is more jokes have an anti-establishment and caters to a wider undoubtedly audience. In India, the audiences generalIndian conly consist of the elite and comedians “need Abish Mathew text. Papa CJ to understand how to play to their sensiquips about bilities,” CJ says. Kingfisher AirRecently at the India Habitat Centre, the lines and the 300-seat auditorium was filled beyond capaciMallyas, 22-yearty for “Abish and Friends Hit the Big Time II,” a old Sayak Basu stand-up comedy show featuring radio jockey Abish refers to the reality Mathew and others. Gaurav Arora, an audience show Roadies and Manmember, later said he liked that Mathew didn’t just T dava elicits laughter as he discusses Katrina Kaif ’s Slice advertisement. They perform in English, seamlessly slipping into Hindi at times and interacting with the audience. Neeti Palta make “dirty sex jokes” and instead poked fun at himadvance to more intelself. But a lot of jokes he heard during the show were ligent and original similar to those he might hear on the American show, material, “but “Whose Line Is It Anyway”. “It’s the same thing we’re not at that with a few new things added,” he said. stage yet”. So how can Indian comedians stand apart Does the from each other — and their foreign counteraudience Rajneesh parts? Cartoonist and stand-up comedian Raneed to Kapoor jneesh Kapoor says he stays away from toilet evolve as humor, sexual jokes and “individual bashing” well? Standcompletely. “It is extremely easy to get up comedilaughs from that,” he says. Instead, ans still he finds humour in daily obsometimes Facebook doesn't servations and his perstruggle to sonal life. Sanjay Rahold the atlet us work. You think joura, a Delhi-based tention of a Albert Einstein could have made comedian, says “sex silent or disany discoveries if every half an hour jokes are an Ameritracted audience. Madam Curie was uploading her can import” and “You never know swimming pool party pictures? should only be used if what’s going to tickle good stories can be debones and what’s going to veloped around them. Rajoura break them,” says Mathew, who tries out his lines at often uses his Jat background to get laughs. several pubs before performing at a paid show. But some comedians may be reluctant to try new Often, what works in Delhi might not get laughs in subjects. Performer Neeti Palta believes political hu- Mumbai. CJ says “the world’s largest democracy is also mour is a turnoff for Indian audiences. “We often the largest hypocrisy; audiences here are very conscious have to use stereotypes, such as jokes of who’s watching them laughing at about Bengalis and Punjabis, what.” But he says contrary to because this is what audipopular perception, “Indian A castrated humanities ences like.” audiences can and do laugh student was the first to get CJ says this at themselves.” admission into SRCC. brand of humour “We are a little afraid Apparently he met the — and the heavy of being made fun of as a use of swear culture,” says Mumbaicriteria of 100% cutoff words and sexubased stand-up comedian Adial innuendo — ti Mittal, “but that has changed.” is not a reflecShe says audiences, especially in the metro tion on the aucities, are becoming more open-minded. dience, but For now, these comedians are still tryPapa CJ rather the coing to find their niche on the Indian stage. medians who “Abroad, they have it in their genes — they feel they can follow in the footsteps of famous internaguarantee laughs tional comedians,” Mathew says. “Over here, this way As come. we have to make our own path.” dians acquire more Gaurav De, a stand-up comedian at the open confidence, they can mic night, began performing last year after returning from graduate school in the US. “We are still trying to find our voice,” he says. “We just got started.” 18 BOOKISH TALK | MYSORE TO MUMBAI SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD JUNE 26, 2011 They mocked me because I didn’t know who Lionel Richie was Biting — yet sensitive. He’s a study in contrasts. Just like his books. Writer Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize in 2008 with his novel “White Tiger”. In the first interview given globally over his new book “Last Man in Tower”, Adiga now tells Srijana Mitra Das about being a small-town boy, falling in love with Mumbai, capturing the people and philosophies rich India overlooks, writing being his fate, generating controversy — and why he might just step away now What does writing mean to you? I Writing is my karma. It is my fate and I have to bear it. It’s a colourful fate though. You trained as an academic, worked as a journalist, became a fiction writer. Why the different lines? I My mother wanted to be an academic in Chennai. She’d been thwarted in this goal because of her marriage. She was eager that at least one of her two sons should become a professor. Until my mid20s, I expected to become a lecturer in English. I studied English literature in New York, Oxford, and was admitted to the PhD programme at Princeton University when I decided I had to try somea Landmark or Crossword bookstore in Mumbai or Bangalore as I spend a large part of my day browsing through books. Their reading tastes are the same as mine. Your writing focuses on figures usually on the margins of Indian life — domestic servants, criminals, the poor. Do pretty drawing rooms, arranged marriages and the diaspora bore you? I No. In fact, this is the last novel set in contemporary Indian reality I plan to write. There is too much controversy and debate each time. My next novel is going to be about arranged marriages. First I’m going to have my own, and then I’m going to write about it. Some took objection to the poverty, grime and crime in your first book. Did the hostile reception to “White Tiger” in India surprise you? I If selling 2,50,000 copies of a novel in India constitutes a hostile reception to that novel, I can only hope that the reception to “Last Man in Tower” will be even more hostile. People in India didn’t know me well in 2008. There was confusion as to who I was and where I lived. I should have made more of an effort to explain myself through the media. I am grateful for the support I received from readers here. Which Indian writers excite you? I Many regard Professor UR Ananthamurthy as India’s greatest living novelist. If anyone has not read his novel “Samskara”, I urge them to do so. Ramachandra Guha writes very fine prose. I read his articles and books both for style and content. You won the Booker Prize as a young writer with a first novel. Do expectations now worry you? I Whether I had won the Booker or not, I would be doing exactly what I’m doing now: waking up each day at six am to start writing. The three things that count in my life would still be my mother, my work and my mortality Thinking . of my mother reminds me of what is important in my life. My work fills my day And my . mortality reminds me time is limited and I should not waste it. Your timing with Amitav Ghosh is fine-tuned; last time, with both your books nominated for the Booker, you won. With “Last Man In Tower” and “River of Smoke” out together now, can history repeat itself? I I have read Amitav Ghosh’s works for many years now. He brings great joy to people in this country and I wish his new book every success. RK Narayan’s shadow is visible across the setting and characters of “Last Man in Tower”. How important is Narayan for you? I When I was young, there were very few Indians writing in English who were worldfamous. RK Narayan was the most important one. He was not from a big city like Delhi or Mumbai. He was one of us, a man from a small town, Mysore. He never forgot his roots despite his fame. His writing was lucid but profound. I think “The Guide” is still the great Indian novel in English. What should people expect from “Last Man In Tower”? I To be challenged — and entertained. I hope they’ll remember this is not a novel with any obvious message and there’s no clear hero in it, except for the city of Mumbai, which I love more than any other in the world. The novel usually evolves out of something I’ve seen or read. “Last Man in Tower” began when I read an article in The Times of India in early 2007, describing a redevelopment offer by a builder, opposed by one old man in the building. I went to the building and spoke to the residents — so it evolved out of real life. I was looking for an exciting plot that would let me tell a story about Mumbai… LAST MAN IN TOWER A solitary narrator walked us through “The White Tiger”. In your new work, we go up and down a tower of babble. How did this expansion occur in your writing? I I spend a lot of time out on the street, walking, observing things. These experiences are particularly rich in Mumbai. I love the city and wanted to capture my experiences in exploring her in a novel. Mumbai made me a successful writer, and I will always be grateful to her and her people. The real hero of “Last Man in Tower” is Mumbai. Your novels are tense with the conflict between old and new India. As a child of Nehru’s India, are you suspicious of liberalisation and what all that money’s doing to us? I I wish I were a child of Nehru’s India! But I was born in 1974. I was a child of the harsher socialist regime imposed by Mrs Gandhi. I am not — and will never be — an opponent of the great economic boom initiated by Dr Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. In fact, I think it saved India from ruin and stagnation. I remember we had to bribe people in Mangalore in the old days just to get a confirmed ticket on Indian Airlines. In 1990, I stood first in Karnataka in the annual SSLC (year 10) exams. When I came to Bangalore to collect an award from the education © Corbis Aravind Adiga | Rs 699, 432 pages, Published by | Harper Collins, India, Releasing on | June 30, 2011 economic boom going on now. My role as a novelist is only to dramatize certain conflicts taking place because of the generation of so much new wealth. In “Last Man in Tower”, I urge people not to regard the developer simply as the villain, but to consider his positive attributes as well. Nor is Masterji, his opponent, a spokesman for me. He has his failings. You were quoted as saying that art should be about slapping the middle class in the face. How did this con- TimesExclusive thing else, see more of the world. I’ve changed careers twice — an academic to a journalist, then a novelist. I’m glad to be out of journalism but I do envy academics their career of pure intellectual work. I’m a very bookish person and enjoy spending time in libraries. I also enjoy teaching. I sometimes wish I had chosen a profession that allowed me to teach. But, for better or worse, a writer is what I am now. Location is central to your stories. “The White Tiger” grew out of Gurgaon’s dust and dazzle. “Last Man in Tower” is a Mumbai story of trains, towers and temptations. Must books originate in places you’ve lived in? I The novel usually evolves out of something I’ve seen or read. “Last Man in Tower” began when I read an article in the Times of India in early 2007, describing a redevelopment offer by a builder, opposed by one old man in the building. I went to the building and spoke to some of the residents — so it evolved out of real life. I was looking for an exciting plot that would let me tell a story about Mumbai… minister, I was humiliated by the rich boys there — all of whom I had beaten — because I had a thick accent when I spoke English and I did not know who Lionel Richie was. The divisions between small town and big city India have been broken down by liberalisation. I’m grateful for this…I do think people have a right to question how fast liberalisation is going and whether it’s damaging some sections of society In the short term, India might . lag China if we’re more introspective about our growth — but in the If selling 2,50,000 copies of “White Tiger” in India constitutes a hostile reception to the novel, I can only hope the reception to “Last Man in Tower” will be even more hostile... This is the last novel set in contemporary Indian reality I plan to write. There is too much controversy each time. My next novel is going to be about arranged marriages. First I’m going to have my own, and then I’m going to write about it long term, we will surely outrun them. Those who interpret my novels as opposing liberalisation are misreading them. They’re marked by ambivalence, not opposition, to the changes… Money itself is amoral. It can liberate people as easily as it can destroy them. As I said, I’m not opposed to the great viction grow? Also, is this contradictory, considering much writing like yours is read by the middle class? I I have no desire to slap anyone in the face, believe me. The liberalism and tolerance of the Indian middle class give me strength to keep writing. Many of your readers must have bumped into me in Exclusive Excerpt | A first glance at Booker Prize winner Aravind Adiga’s about-to-release book “Last Man In Tower” Trains, Towers & Temptations... asterji followed the men through glass doors on to a rectangular balustrade terrace, where the sea breeze blew into his hair. An agglomeration of skyscrapers, billboards, and glowing blocks spread before the old teacher’s wondering eyes. He had never seen Bombay like this. A cloud of electric light enveloped the buildings like incense. Noise: a high keening pitch that was not traffic and not people talking but something else, something Masterji could not identify A huge sign . — ‘LG’ — stood behind the main bulk of towers; beyond it, he recognized the white glow from the Haji Ali shrine. To his left was dark ocean. ‘Breach Candy’, Masterji reached for it with his finger. ‘This used to be the dividing line between Malabar Hill and Worli Island. During high tide the water came in through there. The British called it the Great Breach of Bombay I have seen it . in old maps.’ ‘Masterji knows everything. About the sun and moon, the history of Bombay, so much useful information.’ Ajwani turned and whispered to Shanmugham, who leaned down towards the short broker and listened. His hands on the balustrade of the terrace, Masterji looked at the towers under construction in the dark. He thought of the shining knife on the desk. Each building seemed to be illuminated by its price in rupees per square foot, glowing like a halo around it. By its brightness he located the richest building in the vista. ‘Why have you come before us?’ the towers asked. Each glowing thing in the vista before him seemed like the secret of someone’s heart: one of them out there represented his own. An honest man? He had fooled his Society, the Pintos, even himself, but here on the open terrace he was stripped of all his lies. He had come here, frightened by the boycott, not oblivious to the possibilities of money ready , to betray the Pintos. Ready to betray the memories of his dead wife and dead daughter that were in the walls and paint and nails of Vishram Society . ‘Construction,’ Shanmugham said, coming close to Masterji. ‘Do you know how many cranes there are below us right now? The work continues all night. Dozens of buildings are coming up around us. And when all the work is finished… my God. This part of the city is going to be like New York. You must have been there, sir, to New York?’ He shook his head. M Illustration: Ajit Ninan ‘Nothing,’ he shook off Ajwani’s hand. ‘Nothing’. ‘Just stay calm, Masterji. And breathe deeply It will…’ . Look down, a voice said. Look at me, Masterji turned to his left and saw the swirls in the ocean, the foam that was hitting the wall along the shore of Bombay The foam . thickened. The ocean rammed into the wall of Breach Candy like a bull. Look at me, Masterji. The bull came in again and rammed into the wall of the city and back he went to gather his strength. Look at me. The oceans were full of glucose. ‘What are you saying, Masterji?’ Ajwani asked. He looked at Shanmugham with a grin. Shanmugham remembered the sign on the mansion that he saw every morning on his drive up Malabar Hill. ‘This place is dilapidated, dangerous, and unfit for human beings to be around.’ The Municipality should hang the same sign on old men like this. He tried to touch Masterji, who took a step back and glared at him: ‘Did you bring me here to coerce me?’ I ‘You can now,’ Ajwani smiled. ‘ holiA day ‘No.’ Masterji leaned forward. ‘Oh, .’ no, I won’t go. I won’t go anywhere. I won’t leave Vishram Society ever again.’ He saw Shanmugham turning to Ajwani, who rolled his eyes. ‘Masterji…’ the builder’s assistant came close. ‘Masterji, May I talk to you, man to man?’ Masterji smelled something bad from the man’s mouth... ‘There’s a term we use in the business. A sweetener. Another thousand rupees per His hands on the balustrade of the terrace, Masterji looked at the towers under construction in the dark. He thought of the shining knife on the desk. Each building seemed to be illuminated by its price in rupees per square foot, glowing like a halo around it. By its brightness he located the richest building in the vista square foot? We don’t reward teachers enough in this country He understood .’ now. It was the smell of his own cowardice, blown back at him from this creature’s mouth. ‘ nd what was that redevelopment projA ect you were telling me about, Ajwani… where the old couple refused to take the offer, and then one day… Did they fall down the stairs? Or were they pushed, or… old people should take care. It’s a dangerous world. Terrorism. ‘Mafia. Criminals in charge.’ ‘Oh, yes. That old couple in Sion you were talking about, they were pushed. For sure.’ In the light of the towers Shanmugham’s thought seemed to crystallize into giant letters in front of Masterji: ‘This is how I will flatter the old man, and very subtly bully him. I will show him the king, doms of the earth and give him a hint of the instruments of torture.’ So they had shown him all the kingdoms of Bombay and told him: ‘Take your pick.’ And he knew now what he wanted. Nothing. Masterji could see black water crashing into the ocean wall that was meant to keep it out, rolling back and crashing again. Once before, when Purnima had been threatened by her brothers, he had been weak. Not wanting trouble at his Society he had again been weak. , ‘ nd Masterji — the Pintos want you A to agree. For their sake you must say yes.’ ‘Don’t you speak about the Pintos.’ ‘Your friend Mr Pinto is not the man you think he is, Masterji. Until two weeks ago he used to drink Royal Stag whisky The oth. er morning, a used Blenders Pride quarter-bottle carton turns up in his rubbish. He has started paying fifteen rupees more for a bottle of whisky Why? Because he . loves money more than he loves his wife’s blindness.’ So he is examining our rubbish, Masterji thought. But a man’s rubbish is not the truth about him, is it? ‘You don’t know a thing about Mr Pin…. Mr Pint… Mr Pint…’ Masterji felt the floor slipping beneath his feet: ‘It is starting again.’ He heard his blood sugar chuckling. His left knee swelled up in pain; his eyes dimmed. ‘Masterji,’ Ajwani reached for him. ‘Masterji, what is the matter?’ ‘And what was that redevelopment project you were telling me about, Ajwani… where the old couple refused to take the offer, and then one day… Did they fall down the stairs? Or were they pushed, or… old people should take care. It’s a dangerous world. Terrorism. ‘Mafia. Criminals in charge.’ Said in English, the force of what word, coerce, weakened both Ajwani and Shanmugham. The aroma of batter-fried food blew on to the terrace. Giri was walking towards the men with a silver tray full of just-fried pakoras sitting on paper stained with fresh grease. ‘Hot, hot, hot, hot.’ ‘Please offer the pakoras to Mr Murthy from Vishram Society,’ Shamugham said. ‘He’s a teacher.’ ‘Hot, hot, hot, hot…’ Giri brought the tray over to the distinguished visitor. The old man’s left hand slapped at the tray; it slipped in and out of Giri’s hands, then crashed to the floor. Shanmugham and Ajwani moved their feet to dodge the rolling pakoras. Giri stared with an open mouth. When the three of them looked up, they realized they were alone on the terrace. n the morning, at the dining table with the red-and-white cloth, the Pintos heard what had happened at Malabar Hill, while in the kitchen, Nina, their maid-servant, obscured by steam, took idlis out of the pressure cooker. ‘So you just left?' ‘They were threatening me,' Masterji said. ‘Of course I left.’ ‘Ten thousand appointments are missed in this city because of too much traffic, and you missed Mr Shah because of too little traffic. Fate, Masterji,’ Mr Pinto said, as the maid tipped three idlis on to his plate. ‘The very definition.’ ‘You sound bitter, Mr Pinto.’ Masterji leaned back and waited for his idlis. Three for him too. ‘ nd what do we do now?’ ShelA ley asked. As usual, she received only two idlis. ‘We will wait till October 3. The deadline will expire and that Shah fellow will go away He said so, don’t you remem. ber?’ ‘ nd until then the boycott will get A worse.’ ‘There’s something bigger than us involved here, Mr Pinto. Yesterday , when I was at the builder’s terrace I saw something in the ocean. Things are changing too fast in this city Everyone . knows this, but no one wants to take responsibility To say: ‘Slow down. Stop. . Let’s think about what is happening. “Do you understand me?” But that was not it, either. There was something more in the foaming white waters: a sense of power. Breaking an implicit rule — never to touch another man’s body while they were eating — he reached over and gripped his friend’s shoulder. Mr Pinto almost spat out his idli. After dinner the maid poured tea into small porcelain cups. ‘This boycott,’ Mr Pinto said. ‘It is already so difficult to bear. Shelley cries every nigh in bed. How can they do it to us, after all these years of living together?’ ‘We must not think badly of our neighbours.’ Masterji sipped his tea. ‘Purnima would not like it. Remember what she used to tell us about man being like a goat tied to a pole? There is a radius of freedom, but the circumstance of our actions is set. People should be judgedlightly Mr Pinto, who had never .’ been sure how well Purnima’s image squared with Catholic teaching, grunted. Masterji was cheerful. Breaking a rule not to impose on the Pintos’ generosity he asked Nina for a second cup , of tea. Courtesy: Harper Collins India SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD JUNE 26, 2011 SPECIAL REPORT 19 IS RAHUL READY? Digvijay Singh and other Congress leaders have been pitching Rahul Gandhi’s name for the top job, but the young leader doesn’t seem terribly keen to become prime minister — at least for now Illustration: Neelabh Rajeev Deshpande & Subodh Ghildiyal | TNN he birthday wishes sounded like a family jingle. Rahul Gandhi was now 41 and “mature enough to be prime minister”. Last Sunday, Digvijay Singh dropped a clear hint that the top job could now return to a Gandhi scion. Seen as a leader working closely with the young Gandhi on his pet Uttar Pradesh project, Digvijay’s comments made a case for restoring the ‘legacy’ to its rightful heir apparent who has served out the ritual of apprenticeship. Some saw it as a dig at the incumbent prime minister; others felt it was just old-fashioned, Congress-style sycophancy . When Rahul Gandhi was being wished a prime ministerial birthday, the young leader himself was nowhere in sight. Wary of unsolicited wishes and shows of support, he was far away from the scene, perhaps unaware that a storm had broken out over a headline he has firmly discouraged for years. In more normal times, the “Rahul-for-PM” call would hardly be unexceptional. But the timing is more than a little awry . Two years into what should have been a resurgent second term, the Congress-led UPA is listless. Warding off corruption scams, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems besieged. Ministerial rivalries appear uncontainable. Congress’s electoral health in major states is critical and UPA II’s contract with the middle class is cracking. In these trying circumstances, it is not surprisingly that murmurs in Congress are growing louder as the crucial UP assembly elections approach next year and the bigger test of the 2014 national election looms ahead. Things can’t go on like this is the refrain, as the party begins to subliminally search for a winner who will deliver the goods at the hustings. Embarrassed by the suggestion that the PM’s job was up for grabs, the Congress leadership swiftly put out a no-vacancy sign. Digvijay Singh scrambled to explain to the prime minister’s office that he did not mean what he said. Congress said the PM will complete his full term. “It is something he will decide, party Rahul has been high command will decide, people of India will decide,” said party busy preparing spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan. for the UP polls, With Rahul making not the smallest concession to the hosantouring remote nas heaped on him, the PM debate areas, sleeping in has died out for now. Digvijay has moved to other issues and wellDalit homes and placed sources assert that the Manohan-Sonia equation is workspeaking on ing fine. The party does make its development and point now and again, as it did over the Baba Ramdev episode, but the his experiences trust quotient is intact. with “two Indias” It is, however, clear that Manmohan Singh is not going to change his measured style and while he is quite unruffled by the ‘kaun banega PM’ comments, he seems a little withdrawn. However, the Cabinet reshuffle he has promised after consultations with Sonia will give him an opportunity to send out a business-like message. But the larger question still begs an answer. Whether now or later, is Rahul ready for the job his party sees him destined for? Is the rank and file of the party ready to accept his leadership? “You are never ready enough, but that is not the issue,” a party insider points out. The death of Indira Gandhi left Rajiv Gandhi with no choice. But those who meet Rahul regularly as part of his organizational assignment of reviving youth wings NSUI and Youth Congress dismiss any possibility of a midway takeover. “He has not evinced any interest in two years of UPA II. He is focused on what he is doing,” says a Congress leader. What is he focusing on? Rahul has been preparing for the UP elections, touring remote areas, sleeping in Dalit homes, campaigning in state polls, meeting small groups of students in townhall-type meetings and speaking on his focus areas like rural development and his experiences with “two Indias”. There is a view within the party that Rahul is keen on assuming the mantle with a “clean” majority which is not hobbled by demanding allies. Congress’s first family is also chary of being seen to have dumped Manmohan Singh although Delhi’s rumour mills are busy speculating who of the two — finance minister Pranab Mukherjee or home minister P Chidambaram — would be the preferred “stop gap”, if the need arises at all. Time and again Manmohan Singh has shown he is made of sterner stuff but the inability of the government to break out of a cycle of graft cases and administrative paralysis shows it is in trouble. The rosy political landscape of 2009 has changed beyond recognition, making any mid-course changes even more improbable. Congress is heading for a tough contest in 2014 when Rahul will be the party’s poster boy It will face anti-in. cumbency problems in states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu where it did well earlier. It is already disadvantaged in Andhra Pradesh where it’s been hit hard by Y S Rajashekhar Reddy’s demise and his son Jaganmohan’s open rebellion. Bihar remains out of reach and even Kerala yielded a scratchy victory in the recent elections. The party’s internal troubles will not leave Rahul untouched. His own destiny is inextricably tied with Congress. His nomi- T Raja who wants to be kingmaker D nees were routed in Tamil Nadu and Bihar although they did better in the Assam and West Bengal elections. While he keeps away from UPA II’s crisis management, his involvement with the Congress organization does not seem very deep either. Rahul aides are not looking for excuses though. A party functionary says Rahul never thinks of Rahul’s readiness himself as an island but works on is sometimes new ideas to revive the grand old party. “It’s a vision which an in- questioned as he stant analysis of a particular elec- appears to duck tion result cannot capture. Irrespective of victory or defeat, new important issues. candidates are supplanting the But his close deadwood for good,” says a Youth Congress leader. aides do not see Rahul’s readiness for the PM’s job is sometimes questioned as he this as an appears to duck important issues. attempt to evade But his supporters do not see this as an attempt to evade responsi- responsibility bility; rather, it’s a sensitive way of not limiting the government’s options. He made his priorities clear at a recent Congress meeting where he said that it is better to concentrate on welfare schemes than spend time on catering to yoga guru Ramdev. Insiders insist that Rahul is firmly on course as far as providing a modern vision to both party and government is concerned. It was his pitch for UID —Aadhaar— that melted reservations about the unique identity system. His vocal ‘aye’ for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal turned the tide in its favour. His stand on Bhatta-Parsaul —though criticized for the rape and murder allegations — may now push through the long-pending Land Acquisition Amendment bill. His lobbying for the tribals of Niyamgiri in Orissa was seen as a shrewd move. As the next national election draws closer, his decisions will be scrutinized more carefully. He still maintains a degree of aloofness; that may not be easy to sustain, particularly if the government’s state of crisis does not cease. It will pose hard questions for mother Sonia Gandhi who has a deep sense of family commitment to the party she heads. The inner workings of the Gandhi family that also involve Priyanka Gandhi are never open to outside scrutiny But, given the party’s troubles, . its future is bound to be discussed in Congress forums. In the meantime, Rahul can be expected to stick to the path he has chosen for himself. He will continue to attack the Mayawati regime in UP. Till just a few months ago, the Bahujan Samaj Party leader seemed invincible. She looks a bit shaky now. Congress desperately needs to do well in the state. It is critical for Rahul that he swings UP for Congress in 2012. If he does well there, the cries for his coronation may get louder. So when will Rahul be PM? At the moment, the best answer to that question is: When he is good and ready . igvijay Singh did not always exude the confidence he does nowadays. In Madhya Pradesh, the Raja of Raghopur’s universe was ruled by the likes of Arjun Singh, the Shukla brothers, Madhavrao Scindia and Kamal Nath. He had to be cautious around these stalwarts. Humility was a virtue Digvijay learnt quickly as he worked his way up in the 1980s and early 1990s. The big guns were hardly subtle in reminding others of their inferior status. They had qualms about making a senior organizational functionary wait for hours in a cramped party office room. But Digvijay bore it all patiently In 1993, he got the break . he was looking for. With Arjun Singh’s support, he became chief minister of MP The move split Arjun Singh’s camp . as some wanted to see Subash Yadav as CM. But it was the quiet fellow Thakur who made the cut. After a phase of tentativeness, Digvijay settled down as CM. Soon, the man with the feudal-sounding yet informal nickname of “Diggy Raja” became a popular figure. He seemed to genuinely believe in empowering the grassroots and was seen as a strong supporter of the weaker sections. As he grew in stature, he became his own man. When Arjun Singh rebelled against then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, he stayed out of the firing line. A day before Arjun Singh resigned from the Rao cabinet on December 24, 1994, Diggy Raja called on him. The senior Thakur revealed none of his plans to his protege. Yet, Digvijay was smart enough to figure out that the tents and chairs set out for the next day’s press meet were not a good omen. By the end of his 10-year tenure as CM, Digvijay’s aura had somewhat dissipated. Madhya Pradesh’s poor development record and his illadvised partnerships with special interest groups came back to haunt him in a BJP campaign that labelled him “Mr Bantadhar”. His more recent resurrection as an in-house dissident — attacking home minister P Chidambaram’s anti-naxal Just as the noise policy questioning the Batla , over his remarks House police encounter with Indian Mujahideen kingpins, on Rahul Gandhi criticizing the engagement with yoga guru Ramdev and being ready for now repeatedly raising the the PM’s post Rahul-for-PM slogan — is not a random act. Diggy Raja is subsided, Diggy desperately chasing success Raja was back at in next year’s Uttar Pradesh election. His bid to garner mi- it again nority votes often leads him to mount attacks on the saffron brigade with an eye on the headlines. Some of his partymen even feel that he is becoming a victim of the media attention he commands. Most of his comments are dismissed as the “views of an individual” and not the party line. He himself denies, clarifies and reiterates his statements, often within days. Just as the noise over his June 19 statement on Rahul Gandhi being ready for prime ministership subsided, he was back at it on Friday Taking care to praise Manmo. han Singh, he said Rahul would make a good prime minister too. While not attracting rebuke from the party leadership, Digvijay remains at the periphery of Congress’s power politics. His acts of candour and plainspeak are too well calculated to be passed off as merely an individual’s agenda. There is more than a touch of “creative politicking”, as a functionary put it. Devoid of spin, Digvijay’s recent remarks are certainly tinged with disregard for the prime minister. This may be his way of chucking a stone into a pond and waiting to see what rises to the surface. His views might sound odd now but the shrewd veteran of darbar politics certainly knows what he is doing. His record as poll manager is a mixed bag; his success in the Assam assembly poll is certainly a feather in his cap. But earlier efforts in states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have been less impressive. Bihar was a disaster, while the victory in Andhra was mainly due to the charisma of the late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. His home state of Madhya Pradesh remains a challenge despite Diggy Raja’s avowed antipathy towards BJP and his non-stop attacks on the saffron brigade. — RD VOICES FROM THE GROUND UP | MAINPURI Congress workers across the country have great expectations from the Gandhi scion KARNATAKA | MANDYA TAMIL NADU | CHENNAI BIHAR | BHAGALPUR MAHARASHTRA |MUMBAI AMIT KUMAR SINGH 28 years Full-time politician Member, National Students Union of India T S SATHYANANDA 34 years Advocate Former president, Mandya district Youth Congress R RAVINDRADASS 30 years MBA student Youth Congress leader BALDEV PRASAD SINGH 84 years Farmer Party worker AJIT SAWANT 52 years Full-time politician General secretary, Mumbai Congress committee ‘We are waiting for the day’ This is Rahul Gandhi’s second stint as Member of Parliament and by now he has learned the ropes. Having travelled extensively across the country, Rahul now understands the core social and political issues. He has already contributed in a big way to welfare schemes like NREGS. Also, his campaign for the farmers of Bundelkhand and BhattaParsaul shows that he is picking the right issues and highlighting them properly. Rahul has now become a youth icon and the younger generation has a lot of faith in his plans, sincerity and commitment. As far as a bigger role for Rahul is concerned, the Congressmen in UP have been waiting for years to see him as prime minister. Though it’s entirely up to him to decide when he takes the plunge, I have a feeling it will happen very soon. ‘He should get to know India’ There is clarity in the Congress party that Rahul Gandhi fits the bill for the prime minister’s post. He has age on his side. He is charismatic. The party should project him as the prime ministerial candidate during the next Lok Sabha elections. He has demonstrated his leadership qualities in the ongoing elections for the party’s youth organisations. I would advise Rahul to get to know the whole of India. He should spend time in southern states just as he is doing in Uttar Pradesh. In a party like Congress there will always be many contenders for the top post. Some people are sceptical about his maturity. The same things were said when Rajiv Gandhi took over as PM, but his new approach to issues made people accept him. It is now or never for Rahul. ‘Prime minister in 2014’ Rahul Gandhi has the credibility to be entrusted with the top job in the country. He is young, energetic, daring and broad-minded. And he talks straight. The country requires leaders like him who can tackle problems of terrorism and corruption. He always looks at the issues from the perspective of common man. Ever since his election as AICC general secretary, the youth of the country has been seeing him as a visionary leader who could one day assume the role of PM and take our country to the next level. Over the past few years, Rahul has gained enough experience to address national issues. He could become prime minister after the next Lok Sabha elections in 2014. As prime minister I am sure he will work hard for the nation. ‘A welcome change’ Rahul Gandhi is the only hope for the Congress party and the nation. Corruption has increased manifold in the country but Congress workers and ordinary people know that Rahul Gandhi is above board and can lead the country effectively. The nation will progress under Rahul Gandhi as prime minister as he is the only leader right now who has the courage and determination to steer the nation and the party in the right direction. Only under his leadership, we can overcome all problems. Right now, the nation needs a young, energetic and visionary prime minister who can act on his own and with complete conviction. Since he is youthful and energetic, Rahul will be a welcome change. That’s what our nation requires in this hour of crisis. ‘The right choice’ The best thing about Rahul Gandhi is that he doesn’t throw his weight around. He is refreshingly different from the typical Indian neta. He is young, but not brash or brazen. He is accessible and keeps his ear to the ground. Rahul Gandhi has seen the ups and downs of politics. The tragedies he witnessed in the family at a young age have steeled his nerves. Rahul Gandhi has the charisma and commitment to lead the Congress in the 2014 elections. For the next two years he will, I am sure, tour the country, interact with Congress workers and people of India, and gather more experience. Age is on his side. He symbolises the aspirations of the post-2000 India. That’s why he is the right choice for PM. I am sure the party will take the decision in this matter at the right time. 12 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011 I am sandwiched between economists on one side and populists on the other. S JAIPAL REDDY, Union petroleum minister An Old Battle Fought Again Slutwalks have raised crucial questions about societal perceptions of women Ratna Kapur Go All The Way Let market determine fuel prices, not politics T he hike in diesel, LPG and kerosene prices will narrow the gap between diesel and petrol prices, but also act as a spur to inflation. The former effect is welcome, the latter hardly so. The gap that had been widening between petrol and other fuels reflected bad policy both from socio-economic and environmental points of view. It promoted dieselisation of the economy , pollution and criminal diversion of subsidised fuel for smuggling or adulteration. But even if the closer alignment of prices is a move in the right direction, the juggling between heavy taxation imposed on fuels and subsidies to oil PSUs continually struggling with under-recoveries is irrational – as is the government’s reluctance to deregulate fuel prices. If consumers know the market determines fuel bills, the political backlash will be less. If price hikes pinch them on occasion, they also benefit when prices fall. This is an impersonal process. Nor would we see anomalies like static prices when global crude prices soar or costs northbound when the latter dips. When government fixes prices, oil PSUs lose out on investible resources even as private players are shooed away from retail. The result is stifled investment and competition in the sector, with its adverse fallout on prices. Besides, inflation-hit consumers need a cushion. The government seeks to provide it by reducing taxes. It has withdrawn a 5% customs duty on crude, trimmed import levy on diesel and petrol and reduced excise on diesel. This too is another move in the right direction. But to provide genuine relief, taxes must keep being lowered while we shift from ad valorem tax slapped as a value-based percentage on products to fixed duties unaffected by price changes. It’s feared the dent in excise and customs duty collections will hit fiscal health. But surely reform can help generate resources, be it as funds saved by trimming unnecessary expenditure or proceeds of disinvestment accelerated under favourable market conditions. The point is, fluctuations in pump prices of fuel should reflect market dynamics, not political caprice. And central as well as state governments should be less dependent on taxing fuels as a primary source of revenue. If petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy says he’s “sandwiched” between economists and populists, he probably hasn’t figured out why Populists will use inflation . as a handle to bash it. And economists will rue the half-measure, not least because inflation control mandates a wider gamut of policy measures including fiscal consolidation through cutting wasteful subsidies. Half-measures are really what periodic price tweaks amount to. It also means impeding our transformation into a truly energy-efficient economy . n a recent lecture to students at Osgoode Hall law school in Toronto on campus safety and self-protection, a police officer remarked that in order for women to avoid being victimised, they “should avoid dressing like sluts”. And in this moment, ‘slutwalk’ was born. It took little time for students to demonstrate their outrage that their right to wear what they wanted should be the basis of sexual profiling. They marched. They protested on the streets. And they wore what they wanted to. Slutwalk went viral on the internet and global on the streets of major metropolitan cities. Slutwalk represents the coming of age of feminism. It marks a moment when the politics of radical feminism with its emphasis on male sexual violence and female victimisation has found its way into the language of autonomy sexual integrity , and pleasure. It explodes the idea that a woman’s dress is exclusively a statement about her culture and her exposed body is an invitation. If violence is produced as a result of what women wear, the fact that women in burqas, jeans, saris, salwar-kameez and spaghetti straps have all been victims of sexual violence, provokes the question: what would an antirape fashion brand look like? Let’s be clear. Women are targets of sexual violence I not because they are skimpily clad. The very fact that vast numbers of young women are participating in slutwalks around the world indicates that they are deeply disturbed by the notion that dress can serve as a justification for rape. This is a global issue, not just a western quirk. But it provokes a range of uncomfortable questions. Is slutwalk feminist? It seems irrelevant if those participating in the march don’t perceive themselves as feminists. What is relevant is the sense of exhaustion and frustration experienced by women in Delhi and else- Reclaiming a word that has been turned into a weapon by men Any sexual assault that violates one’s autonomy and privacy and denies the right to bodily integrity is simply wrong and not negotiable where from being ogled, pawed, grabbed at and groped from the moment they step into the public space. Whether they are buying vegetables, having a coffee, or simply walking in the park, their expression of autonomy is sexualised and their sexualisation becomes an invitation. Is slutwalk a middle-class indulgence, irrelevant to poor women? Perhaps. But if it makes the point that sexuality is not a negative, contami- nating, disgusting and repulsive force, to be suppressed, subjugated, or violently erased, then it transcends being nothing more than an elite indulgence. Is the slutwalk a fundamentally individualist claim to demand that a woman has the right to wear whatever she wants? Maybe. But it still does not negate the argument that sexual expression through dress or speech is not an invitation to violence. The most controversial aspect of this event is whether ‘slut’ is a term that can gain positive political traction. The fact that a cop could use the word in such a derogatory way opened up the right for women to appropriate the term and hurl it right back at such people in a way that asserts women’s sexual autonomy It may be . that slut is being used by some women simply to state that they are not sluts because of what they wear, without challenging the idea that there are women who are sluts despite what they wear. Regardless of whether the term is being embraced or not, its use has provoked a critical discussion on the deeply troubling view that a ‘slut’ is asking to be raped. Neither cultural assertions about the chastity of the ‘real Indian woman’ nor feminist quibbling over whether the term can ever be reclaimed, should deflect attention from the real question at stake: why society as a whole – not women’s dress sense – has failed abysmally in addressing sexual violence. Today while the govern, ment and even women’s groups haggle over whether rape in marriage should be criminalised, slutwalk amplifies how dress does not lie at the core of why women are raped. The current discussions on where the line should be drawn on rape in law boils down to nothing more than a discussion on which women are fair game, can be raped, or are rapeable. Wives and sex workers both fall on the ‘can be raped’ side of the equation; a position sanctioned by the state, a fossilised notion of Indian cultural values, as well as the conservative sexual morality on both sides of the political divide. The answer should be clear and simple – no woman should be raped; no woman is rapeable; and no woman’s rape should be justified on the basis of spurious claims of dress, cultural morality , sexual orientation, or marital status. Any sexual assault that violates one’s autonomy and privacy and denies the right to bodily integrity is simply wrong and not negotiable. As one marcher from a major city where slutwalk was held stated, “Our culture needs to change – teach people not to rape, not how not to be raped.” Slutwalk puts women’s sexuality out there – in public – not as something that is shameful, embarrassing or disgusting. But as something that a healthy society should embrace, respect and defend. The writer is an author . No Interval India gets first release of major Hollywood movies n a radical shift from earlier years – when Indian fans of western movies had to wait for months, if not years, for the latest Hollywood film to play at the local movie theatre – they will now get to watch some Hollywood releases earlier than US audiences. The upcoming Tintin movie directed by Steven Spielberg – The Adventures of the Unicorn – is slated to be released in India in November and in America during December. Similarly the new , James Bond thriller and the action flick, Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol – starring Bollywood’s Anil Kapoor alongside Tom Cruise – may also be released earlier in India than elsewhere. The move factors in both a major plus and minus of the Indian cinema scene. It’s a nod to the size and power of the Indian film-viewing public, passionately in love with cinema, fond of flash and spectacle, youthful and growing. Early releases celebrate a variegated audience, open to both a Salman Khan shirt-tossing laugh as well as more demanding films like Inception. Keen readers and trivia-lovers, Indian viewers are often fine-tuned into originally literary characters like Tintin and Bond. These early releases celebrate both the multiplex and bookshops, where Ian Fleming and Herge’s colourful creations have sold like hot samosas for decades. Alongside, the move’s a shrug towards video piracy notoriously harmful to local cinema , industries and Hollywood. With early releases in India, audiences flocking to cinemas for that authentic ‘big-picture’ experience, video pirates could be denied large supplies of illegal DVDs floating across local markets, their scope limited further by tough anti-piracy laws overseas. This could be the beginning to many happy ends. ‘In most hospitals, there’s no separate department for podiatry’ The Special Olympics currently underway in Athens might bring to the world’s attention a branch of medicine few know about: podiatry or the study of diseases of the foot and ankle. Dr Govind Singh Bisht, consultant podiatrist at Max Hospitals, is an expert and clinical director of ‘Fit Feet’ at the Special Olympics. He spoke to Shobha John: I Why is foot care so important for special children? They are often neglected, not just by society, but by their families too. They have many requirements, be it the eyes, ears, feet, teeth or diet. While the Special Olympics was started in 1968, screenings for these children began in 1993. Foot screenings began only in 2003. These children have many foot-related problems – stiffness, flattening or collapse of the foot arch, fungus infection of the nails, etc. I Why is podiatry so important for diabetic patients? Most diabetics have footrelated problems. In fact, it’s one of the commonest causes of hospital admission for them. India has some 50.8 million diabetics, out of which 40,000 amputations take place annually But it . needn’t be so – 50% of them can be avoided with good foot care. Diabetes affects the nerves of the foot, reducing blood supply . This can lead to loss of sensation and greater risk of injury Even a . small injury can lead to a nonhealing ulcer, gangrene and then, amputation. This can become a major financial and psychological burden. Unfortunately , there is a lot of ignorance even among medical practitioners regarding diabetic foot care. For most diabetologists, this is not their area of specialisation and ulcer that takes a long time to heal and is messy . I What advice would you give to diabetics about foot care? Selecting the right footwear can make all the difference to a diabetic non-healing ulcer, so make sure you are wearing the right type of shoe. Sometimes, slippers just don’t work if there’s an ulcer on the foot. Shoe bites can also cause ulcers. So buy shoes with extra width and depth, good cushioning and shock absorption. This can help in grip and balance. Also, buy footwear in the latter half of the day as that’s when swelling in the feet is more likely . I How often should a diabetic see a podiatrist? If there are ulcers, it could be on a daily or weekly basis. I What are the common causes of ulcers among diabetics? I I Q&A most don’t even see the foot of the patient. In a survey based on a camp conducted by the Delhi Diabetes Centre, 1,500 respondents were asked how many times their doctor had examined their feet in the last one year. Shockingly 59% said not even , once, 23% said sometimes and only 18% said during every visit. Most doctors don’t have the patience to take care of an Corns, calluses, wrong footwear, injury from heating pads, skin infections, dry and cracked skin. I Is podiatry a branch of medicine in medical colleges? Sadly it isn’t. Most podia, trists finish MBBS and then do a fellowship in podiatry abroad. I did it from Boston, for example. A comprehensive diabetic programme should be introduced in medical colleges. What’s worse is that in most hospitals in India, there is no separate department for podiatry So, diabetics are . often left floundering, going to orthopaedics or skin doctors in their attempt to heal their ulcers. Sometimes, it can take years for ulcers to heal. However, good skin dressings in the market help in healing them and protect the wound against bacterial and other contamination. A yawning divide What late risers can learn from early birds Vivek Atray POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Law and behold With reference to the editorial ‘Law’s An Ass’ (June 24), the Congress has a tradition of coming out with social schemes. Most of these programmes have only drained the nation’s coffers and done little to remove poverty. Now the party wishes to up the welfare ante by enacting ill-conceived legislation like the National Food Security Bill. The government does not talk about reforms to remove supply side bottlenecks or about improving infrastructure. Foodgrain rots in ill-equipped godowns while prices spiral out of control. In many cases, foodgrain doesn’t reach the poor, inviting the Supreme Court’s wrath. It is evident the government will do nothing to rectify this situation as that would involve ruffling feathers. In the absence of any meaningful intervention from its side, the government is resorting to doing what it does best: passing a Bill. Siddhartha Deb, VIA EMAIL ome people can just never wake up early They munch their breakfast . on the way to work. They have excuses ready when they reach office late. They miss trains on a regular basis. They have never seen a sunrise or met the milkman. Until a loved one turned over a new leaf recently she was one such late , riser. Try as she might, she couldn’t help pressing the snooze button a hundred times before she finally got up. She felt terrible about this tendency but there was nothing she could do about it. Come morning, she would just not be able to shrug off the desire to sleep a while more. Only when divine intervention answered her prayers recently was she able to join the early birds’ club. Another relative has no plans of joining this league though. She is rather unabashed about waking up past noon on a daily basis. To be fair, her husband is a media personality who typically arrives home from work past midnight. That does indeed give them sufficient justification to stay longer in slumber-land each morning. This practice does lead to certain oddities though. He goes for his ‘morning’ walk at 1 pm, heatwaves and appalled onlookers notwithstanding. They once returned from a night out only to meet the neighbour’s son who was off on an early morning jog! Early risers clearly have the edge in life. By the time most of us wake up, they’ve been through their morning rituals, enjoyed their walk, had their tea and read the daily news. They’re also likely to have made long distance calls before dawn to those similarly inclined. Thus, by the time the sun warms up they’re likely to have discussed all varieties of ‘men, matters, and affairs’ with a dozen people. The upshot of these varying tendencies is that such extreme contrasts often exist in the same household. Weeks pass before the younger lot (typically late risers) and the older lot (normally early birds) come face to face. It’s almost as if they live in different time zones and different countries. All over the country things are likely to be pretty much the same in this , respect, one would think. If the man of the house, any house, decides to take a day off from work, he’d probably find his son emerging from his room at about 10 am and that too in a ‘rubbing-eyes’ mode. After fooling around for a while the lad would probably dash off to college in a rush whilst simultaneously zipping up his jeans and sending text messages on his phone. His father would undoubtedly be left shaking his head and burying himself deeper into his newspaper. Some lucky families have come to a perfect understanding though. My sister, a teacher, and her husband, a doctor, wake up at 4 am each day in order to be done with their daily chores and to spend quality time together before their frantic schedules begin. She cooks all the meals for the day before the sun rises and is done with all her household work by 6 am! Word has evidently gotten around about their ways. It is learnt that the garbage man turns up at their house every day at five in the morning. And when the good doctor had to undergo a small surgery himself, his operation was actually listed for 5.30 am, an unheard of hour for such an intricate activity One only hopes that the operating team had gone to bed . nice and early the previous night! One thing’s for sure. Five o’clock in the evening is probably the only time of day when one can hope to invite such contrasting creatures together for a celebration. At any other hour, one type or the other would probably be found yawning away to glory! S I SACRED S PAC E Graceful Living I Experiencing Enlightenment inner joy as part and parcel of our life, and we feel its source, we can then have faith . re not national boundaries, eco- in God, the possessor of infinite joy Try , nomic disparity and religious dog- to feel your own inner joy and faith will . ma dividing us into different camps, come to you spontaneously In regard to your outer frustrations, do not try to unite them creating unspiritual environments? . National boundaries and so forth are with your inner joy Separate your inner impairing the growth of our evolving human joy from the outer happenings. Only then consciousness. But it is the clarification of will you be able to strengthen your faith the individual’s mind and spirit that must in God. precede the awakening of our social institu- Are spiritual experiences absolutely tions such as places of worship and govern- necessary to realise God? No. There can be many roads leading to the ments. It is the spiritual and mental elite who can infuse others with their illumining light. same goal. One road may have many beautiful As we know, the policies of institutions and flowers on either side; another road may have nations are usually embodiments of the only a few blossoms; a third road may have none at all. If three seekers each general consciousness. These polifollow a different road according to cies can be influenced considerably their soul’s needs and preferences, each by enlightened individuals. of them will reach the ultimate goal. How may we strengthen our faith Of course, experiences do give you in God? additional confidence. They encourPlease try to feel from now on age you and energise you to march that there is somebody around farther. They also give enormous you who does not want anything THE delight. And while you are having from you except joy There is . somebody who wants you always I SPEAKING I the experiences you may feel the presence of an invisible guide to swim in the sea of joy and TREE within your being pushing you delight. If you can remain in joy – i don’t mean the outer joy of going here and towards the light of truth so that you may be there, mixing with people, buying material blessed with full realisation. But you can also have full and complete things – but if you can have real joy and inner fulfilment, and then you will auto- realisation without so-called “experiences”. Your expanding consciousness, as you grow matically have faith in God. When we are worried, or are afraid of into God, is itself a solid “experience”. something, we immediately try to create a Does the law of karma apply to everybody? The law of karma applies to everyone, but kind of self-imposed faith in God. This is not true faith. When we are in danger, we one can transcend it through meditation. say “God, save me.” This is an escape. This The law of karma exists and yet can be , kind of faith does not last. Everything is transcended by realisation, oneness with . inside a person, both joy and fulfilments. God and the power of spirituality But who is the possessor of this inner fulfilwww.speakingtree.in ment? It is God. We are just his devoted Join the world’s first spiritual networking instruments. When we feel spontaneous site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Interaction: Sri Chinmoy A person who is master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play , their labour and their leisure, their mind and their body their education and , their recreation, their love and their religion. Mahayana Buddhist poet You must not let your life run in the ordinary way; do something that nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world. Paramahansa Yogananda Living is not this tawdry, mediocre, disciplined thing which we call our existence. It is abundantly rich, timelessly changing, and as long as we don’t understand that eternal movement, our lives are bound to have very little meaning. J Krishnamurti O, they have realised the richness of life, whose egoism has like the ripened fruit dropped; who have found the Eternal Brahmn at home without any effort; it is they who enjoy life, they who are in love with life. B B Borkar A II The editorial rightly says the prime duty of any government is to ensure effective governance. In our country, elaborate constitutional provisions exist to ensure this for citizens within a democratic framework. But, barring some exceptions, in practice anything to do with government has come to mean dubious or substandard quality. Be it in the field of education, health, food, law and order, safety of women, or the fight against corruption or terrorism, there remains plenty of room for improvement both at the Centre and in the states. If we want to keep pace with other developing countries in the 21st century, a strong focus on good governance is required rather than enactment of more laws. Govind Singh Khimta, VIA EMAIL Suu Kyi’s struggle With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 23), i support the view that Aung San Suu Kyi should continue with her non-violent struggle against Myanmar’s military junta. It’s shocking to know that the Nobel laureate could be contemplating giving up non-violent methods in pursuit of democracy. Such a path would be fraught with risk. Suu Kyi’s struggle so far has successfully brought international attention on her nation’s plight. More, her release from jail and the junta agreeing to conduct elections show she may have already won half the battle. In order to win the other half, she must sustain the momentum in a non-violent movement. Ujjwal Akshith Mondreti, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011 When law and order fail they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr, American civil rights leader Cut Off From College The challenge in higher education is to increase opportunities without diluting standards Deepak Nayyar Clean House Mayawati must get tough with criminal elements in UP hile opposition political parties in Uttar Pradesh may be guilty of opportunism, it does not absolve the Mayawati government of the lawlessness that has gripped the state. Even as a spate of rape cases made headlines, the death of deputy chief medical officer Y S Sachan within the premises of Lucknow jail points to the hold of criminal elements over the state’s institutions. Sachan had been arrested in connection with the embezzlement of National Rural Health Mission funds and was even accused of orchestrating the murders of two previous chief medical officers. That he was found dead a day before he was supposed to depose in court is highly suspicious. Murder seems to be the logical conclusion. Several medical experts concur with this assessment even though the UP government insisted it was suicide. Though law and order had improved initially under BSP rule, the Sachan case bears testimony to a culture of crime now flourishing in the state. That Sachan was accused of embezzling government funds and plotting the murders of his superior officers would point to criminalisation of the state administration. His death in jail suggests people in positions of power want a cover-up. While a criminal-politician nexus appears strong, the case is another blot on the UP police. It appears that the latter has been infected by the virus of corruption and is subservient to its political masters. This allows people with connections to make a mockery of the law. It will be recalled that in the LakhimpurKheri case – where a 14-year-old girl was found dead within the premises of a police station – the needle of suspicion again pointed to the local police. Instead of upholding the law and protecting the innocent, the police themselves appear to be doing the dirty work for criminals and politicians. This was once again evident when the police in Lucknow tried to intimidate the state bureau chief of a national news channel when the latter ran a report alleging that Sachan was murdered. Clearly, the Mayawati dispensation has little patience with the freedom of the press. Instead of blaming the media and opposition political parties, Mayawati should take this opportunity to clean house. Those within the government suspected of criminal links need to be proceeded against. Police personnel guilty of subverting the law must be awarded exemplary punishment. It is only by breaking the back of the criminal-politician nexus that the state government can regain the goodwill it earned in the past in terms of improving UP’s law and order situation. But this will require Mayawati to live up to her reputation as a no-nonsense chief minister. W ate June and early July are a season of anxiety in urban India. Large numbers of students who have completed their Class XII examinations, and their parents, are on tenterhooks. The only exceptions are the few who have already obtained admission into professional courses in engineering, medicine or law through entrance exams that are an almost Darwinian selection process. An overwhelming proportion of school leavers, however, seek admission to undergraduate courses in social sciences, humanities, sciences and commerce. But undergraduate colleges are mostly poor in provincial cities and simply do not have enough places in metropolitan cities. Declining academic standards, everywhere, accentuate the problem, as talented students migrate intensifying competition for places in good institutions. At the University of Delhi, for example, those with 90% marks, or even 95%, cannot be sure about getting admission to a college and subject of their choice, while those with 70% marks can be sure that it is almost impossible for them to get admission. Surprise turns into shock and anguish turns into despair. For those excluded, no consolation can suffice. Yet, it is important to understand why this is happening. It would seem that marks awarded to students in Class XII seem to increase year after year. This is simply grade inflation. For a long time, the school examination system was perceived to L be subjective and error prone. In order to address this problem, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) tried to make the examination system as objective as possible to neutralise error or bias recognising the reality that the quality, or conscientiousness, of teachers who graded scripts is so uneven. In this endeavour, CBSE did succeed. But the objective nature of questions and answers led to grade inflation. With the passage of time, students helped by their schools and private tutors mastered the art of writing CBSE examinations. Grade inflation gathered further momentum. Excellence in performance went from 75% to Students at DU North Campus: On the outside, looking in As marks obtained in Class XII exams, whether CBSE or state boards, have climbed, so have cut-offs. It is wrong to blame universities or their undergraduate colleges for this situation 80% through 85% to 90% and beyond to 95% plus. It is not that students got so much better or brighter. Their grades rose steadily, not only at the top but also across the board, even though the quality of the top 1% or 5% of the students has not changed. It is no surprise that cut-off points for admission to undergraduate courses rose at the same pace as grade inflation. This was a consequence rather than a cause. As marks obtained in Class XII exams, whether CBSE or state boards, have climbed over time, so have cut-offs. And it is wrong to blame universities or their undergraduate colleges, in Delhi or elsewhere in India, for this situation. If anything, universities and colleges that adopt cut-offs in school leaving examinations as the criterion for admission are transparent and fair, accountable to both students and parents, in a system that is increasingly susceptible to intervention or manipulation. The fundamental problem is different. It has two dimensions. First, the number of school leavers seeking admission to undergraduate courses has increased at an exponential rate. The underlying demographic factor of our increasing young population is the driver. But the growing aspirations of the young also see higher education as the only access to employment possibilities and social opportunities. Second, the number of places in undergraduate education, apart from seats in substandard private institutions, has registered little if any increase. The bottom line is that we simply do not have enough capacity in terms of seats for undergraduate education of an acceptable quality. It is obvious that we need to create far more opportunities in higher education for young people. Until that happens, the situation can only worsen. The problem of admissions is far more acute in the top 10, or 15, established undergraduate colleges, particularly at the University of Delhi, where places are limited but demand is enormous because these few institutions provide an imprimatur. Their brand equity opens up a vista of opportunities for their graduates. They draw aspiring students almost like magnets. Their attrac- tion has become even stronger over time because of the sorry state of institutions that were in the premier league not so long ago. There has been a steady decline in these institutions outside Delhi, in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Allahabad, or even Patna. Thus, students from elsewhere in India also flock to Delhi in search of educational opportunities. It is not that the University of Delhi, or its colleges, have got better. It is just that others have got worse. What is to be done? The challenge in undergraduate education is to increase opportunities without diluting standards. This means increasing the number of places for students in our megacities. But it is neither feasible nor desirable to expand capacities by increasing the intake in existing colleges or the number of affiliated colleges in existing universities. Both are already stretched beyond limits. And governments, Centre and states alike, simply do not have the resources to finance such expansion. It is imperative that we establish a central board, as also state boards, of undergraduate education, which would set standards, curriculum and examinations. These boards would be empowered to grant affiliations to undergraduate colleges, much like CBSE does for schools. Such colleges could be established by the government, the private sector, or public-private partnerships. The time has come to think big and think long. The writer is professor of economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and former vice-chancellor, University of Delhi. Bollywood stars’ endorsement fees dwarf their film earnings Not The End Washington, Kabul and troop withdrawal Good for actors, good for acting t’s churlish to condemn Bollywood’s biggest stars for their capacity to transfer their versatility on the silver screen to business. It’s been revealed that they make more with endorsements than what they’re famous for: films. This actually helps both themselves and the movie business. Take Aamir Khan. Analysts say he probably makes Rs 60 crore per year through advertising. Though it’s a sideline, it’s a lucrative one because it’s a lot more than he gets per film. This doesn’t I T suggest actors are losing their mystique, but the contrary. If the actor lacked an aura they wouldn’t sell products and marketing executives wouldn’t be paying them huge sums. Actors are coveted by advertisers, not just because some of the more creative ads require acting talent to carry them off. It’s also because advertisers hope the stars’ brand value will rub off on the products they endorse. In other words, it’s precisely their aura/charisma/performance that differentiates them from ordinary models. Which is why actors are paid more than professional ad models. The logic of the market is undeniable here. The Overkill that’s underwhelming I A fghanistan and its neighbours were, no doubt, waiting with some anticipation to hear US President Barack Obama’s policy outline for the withdrawal of US troops. With US elections coming up in 2012 and polls revealing a growing lack of support for both his economic policies and the war in Afghanistan, a drawdown plan of some kind was inevitable. What is of more concern than the rhetoric, however, are the reports that his own generals were critical of a drawdown apparently tailored to suit domestic expectations that might negatively impact the situation in Afghanistan. As matters stand, the rapid withdrawal of some 30,000 troops by summer 2012 may well ease the pressure on the Taliban. And it’s far from certain that the Afghan armed forces will be in a position to take control of their country’s security by 2014 as is currently planned. But it’s important to remember here that Obama has left himself wiggle room if he returns to office in 2012. There will still be 68,000-odd US troops left in Afghanistan after 2012. And it’s unlikely in the extreme that Washington will hand over all its bases. More likely is a continued presence beyond 2014, that at least allows it to launch drone attacks and special forces strikes of the kind that killed Osama bin Laden. Now, New Delhi must consider how to calibrate its Afghanistan policy For one, it should urge Washington to be flexible . in its continued withdrawal post-2012 instead of sticking to a rigid 2014 deadline. And the second is pushing harder for a regional approach that addresses a possible security vacuum as the Americans withdraw troops, and incorporates the concerns of all stakeholders. same logic applies to sports stars, who too are much sought after by advertisers. And attract the same cliched complaints about earning more through endorsements than by playing their game. These fees make for happy actors. ‘‘At present, i’m endorsing about 14 brands and getting paid B I M E S V I E WI what i deserve,’’ says Kareena Kapoor. Free of having to take on every role they get actors can pick and choose. That’s why four of the top five actors – Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor – are free to do just one movie per year. They focus on quality, which in turn enhances their brand. It’s a virtuous circle, sanctified by the fact that with the biggest stars occupied elsewhere, there’s room very near the top for up and coming actors. vice. They’re loosening their brand value, shredding away at their larger-than-life appeal with every bit of underwear, hair oil or talcum powder they push. And they’re harming advertising too. Ads become memorable because of jingles, slogans or characters catching attention and travelling across time, not needing change as a star fades. Bunging a film star into a tub of foam for a soap ad or propping one up against a fridge diI COUNTERVIEW I minishes the need to work hard at a creative storyline, Srijana Mitra Das love’s first blushes, life’s an enduring slogan. Placing a star in an hard-fought victories, its ad makes for lazy advertising – and not devastating losses, its necessarily hugely marked-up sales. philosophical draws. Finally, Bollywood’s influx into adverWhen you think of your tising ensures the death of modelling. Indifavourite film star, your an TV screens were once awash with ‘charheart should skip a beat, acter actors’ energising quirky ads for tea, recalling passion, moonlight, rain, thun- towels and light bulbs. Today, as goods derous lines, anguish, joy – not cement, expand, once-familiar models – statuesque pickle or tooth powder. By investing atten- eye-catchers or ‘everyday’ types, eccentric tion in endorsements, rather than deepen- professors, gossipy neighbours, edgy auning the vividness of films or sharpening ties – are vanishing, replaced by uniformly the edges of characters, film stars are doing wonderful cricketers and film stars. That’s themselves a major commercial disser- a real pity. And frankly, a bit of a bore. ollywood stars making more money today from endorsements over movies is cause for concern – and not just aesthetic. The movie star’s persona is predicated on ‘big-picture’ glamour removed from daily reality. A great movie star should be able to take you – repeatedly – through SNAP JUDGMENT Down with upma The humble dish has played a cruel trick on us J S Raghavan The Baba’s Back Life Or Debt What’s Up Doc? he West Indies cricket team has requisitioned the services of renowned psychologist Rudi Webster to get it out of its present slump. Team India had Paddy Upton who played a significant part in its success. Given the demand for ‘mental conditioning’ coaches, cricket seems to be a game played between the ears. So next time our batsmen have a problem dealing with the short stuff, could it be unresolved issues with their fathers? I B ven before a swallow of coffee had kick-started me for the day my , neighbour Subbu darkened my room with his unsolicited presence. It was his style to drop in at odd hours as a flash news carrier. He ought to have been a carrier pigeon in his previous birth. “Did you read this?” he thrust a folded morning daily under my nose, looking agitated. His voice quivered in a low pitch, bushy caterpillar eyebrows coupling end-to-end above his eyes. “It says here,” he continued tapping the newspaper with his banana-size index finger, “an Indian origin chef Floyd Cardoz has impressed the judges in an American Top Chef Masters contest with his preparation and walked away with a whopping prize of a hundred thousand dollars. Did you know what that lucky cook whipped up?” “Search me,” i said bleary-eyed. “Upma!” He spewed out the word with disgust. “Our lowly upma.” “You don’t say! A hundred thousand dollars for that blasted upma? My god! Nearly 42 lakh at the current rate of exchange.’’ “Yes. Yes and yes. The plebian upma, the ultimate weapon in our ladies’ culinary armoury Upma, their saviour if nothing else is available in . the kitchen. Upma, the nightly food of fasting oldies, upma the horrible refreshment invented by the father of Indian fast food.” I hurriedly seated the agitated complainant, empathising with him. Gravely we suspended further conversation till coffee arrived to infuse , strength into our systems. “Tricky one, this upma,” he began. “Never finishes up right in the pan. It could turn out oily salty watery lumpy or dry and even , , , , coarse like a small pile of wet river sand. But if ever it comes out right and tasty it will obstinately squat like a boulder in the , duodenum hours after consumption.” I nodded in agreement. “Upma is cheeky When the mixture of suji, . onion, salt, chillies and oil is simmering in a cauldron of water, the cunning snack will send out a fetching smell to the whole neighbourhood, as if ambrosia is being put together. But wait. Such pre-launch publicity calculated to kindle the olfactory senses, activating the salivary glands, is only a ruse. The canny mess that gives out such promise of a memorable treat may well prove the culinary saying that a thing that smells good need not taste good.” The worked up Subbu paused to marshal his thoughts. “If given judicial powers, i would pack the scheming ladies who adamantly insist on preparing that snack off to Tihar jail without even an FIR. And there they should be fed with nothing but heaps of cold upma thrice a day with hawk-eyed guards making sure they polish off all of it.” I warmed to his suggestion. “I would approach Anna Hazare. As a confirmed upma hater, i would suggest that he give up his fight to eradicate corruption and take up the cause of upma eradication. I will offer my writing skills gratis to draft the much-needed snack-pal bill instead of his Lokpal Bill.” Subbu wanted to do his bit. “I am not a pacifist like Anna. Being a hardliner, i would hotfoot it to Delhi and suggest to Baba Ramdev to do salamba sirsasana wearing a slinky churidar and fast-unto-death till upma is banned by the Centre. I will hover in the background armed with a five-foot stick and a teargas mask.” It was felt such lofty deliberations against the dreaded enemy deserved a bit of throaty slogan-shouting to give our protests body “Upma!” I raised . my voice and my clenched right fist. “Down, down,” he thundered lustily as a true comrade-in-arms. E aba Ramdev’s back in action. Will his seemingly revived anti-graft crusade add to UPA’s troubles? Or will he yet again distract from Team Anna’s movement? Either way, with Anna threatening a fast if his version of the Lokpal Bill isn’t adopted, it’s unlikely the yoga guru will want to stay on the sidelines. What’s needed though is for government and civil society to fight corruption, not each other. W ill debt-ridden Greece accept further belt-tightening to get another bailout? As debate rages on whether more aid or debt restructuring will help it, Portugal, Ireland and Spain too face uncertainty. Europe being our top trading partner, Pranab Mukherjee rightly says we should worry. He also talks of India’s need to eschew fiscal profligacy. It’s good if the lesson of Europe’s debt woes doesn’t get lost on him. T SACRED S PAC E Myth And Reality We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. We are that reality. When you understand this, you see that you are nothing, and being nothing, you are everything. Kalu Rinpoche Look At The Bright Side The world is never what our ego and selfcentredness demands that it be. Not everyone as this ever happened to you? Your will see the greatness we see in ourselves or life seems stressful, your task list is constantly seek to affirm us. growing, work is dreadful, your relaOur reactions to situations that don’t fit tionships are a challenge, and you are angry our illusion cause us to suffer. If we were and dissatisfied. Then you get a wicked cold. fired from that miserable job we might shift As it hits you with its full force, you look perspectives unconsciously and begin to back to those terrible times you were experi- mourn our loss, suddenly realising how fond encing just days earlier and they don’t seem we were of our colleagues, how rewarding so bad. All you want now is for the cold to go much of the work was, and we might even recall away Just feeling “normal” would be a times when our boss gave us praise. Once . blessing – even with all of the frustrations again, by choice, we would be suffering. “Don’t that seemed to overwhelm you. it always seem to go.…?” Singer Joni Mitchell memorialised this You might be able to review your life shifting mental process in 1970, with and see ways in which your choice of the song “Big Yellow Taxi”. She bereactions to life has only increased moaned the destruction of nature, your pain. You might also notice that paradise being paved over for parking much of the negative self-talk in our lots and the loss of relationship. The busy minds is based upon reactions essence of her insight was embodied to a reality that does not conform to in the verse “Don’t it always seem our illusory expectations. It’s even to go/ That you don’t know what likely that we are not seeing the THE you’ve got till it’s gone?” full reality but instead viewing it , We take blessings for granted, SPEAKING through the constricted prism of as if they were our birthright, and our smaller self, or ego… TREE we fixate on things that aggravate Make a list of your blessings right us. We miss out on much of the joy of daily life, now. Friends, freedom, material abundance, unaware that our aggravation is a choice and mobility, yoga classes, recreational activities, that it arises from illusion. books, spiritual pursuits and more. Every“What do you mean,” some might exclaim thing is a blessing because it is the most indignantly, “my overbearing boss is neither profound of blessings just to be here. Just to my choice nor an illusion.” But our reaction to experience the miracle of being. With a constant sense of gratitude come the situation is our choice. We can choose to loathe our boss, complain to our colleagues, peace, contentment and the unfolding of a and wallow in self-pity. The result? More stress, whole new world before our eyes…a world unhappiness and lack of vocational fulfilment. in which we live in awe of life. To cultivate Or we could choose to use the situation for gratitude, i invite you to say “thank you” to personal advancement. We can seek options, everyone and everything. For, all too soon, our such as entering into dialogue with our boss to time shall pass. find common ground, or find a new job or focus www.speakingtree.in on aspects of work that we find rewarding. Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Take skilful action. Bhava Ram E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Checks and balances The editorial ‘Break The Deadlock’ (June 23) rightly says that the prime requirement is the creation of a constitutional authority to overlook the Lokpal itself. An office with untrammelled powers is susceptible to deviating from its objective and to abuse of power. In the impasse over the Lokpal, while both sides are recalcitrant, few of the civil society group’s demands are tenable. Its idea of a Lokpal with immaculate qualities and absolute powers is utopian. Anna Hazare’s threat to undertake yet another fast unto death is nothing but blackmail. The government should not acquiesce to his unrealistic demands. However, at the same time it should consider bringing the office of the prime minister under the Lokpal’s ambit with adequate checks and balances. Mukund Kumar, VIA EMAIL H To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality; to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality. The more you talk and think about it, the further away you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know. Hsin Hsin Ming Long live books With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 25), though going digital can enhance the accessibility and readability of books, e-books will fail to weave the magic there is in storytelling. Reading a book is a journey on which the reader embarks along with the characters the writer has created. In the case of e-books, readers would hardly be able to get involved and engaged with the narrative. That’s even more the case if the book in question belongs to the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter stories are pure magic. They cannot be put on a digital screen and have the same effect on readers. So, just as TV and internet cannot replace newspapers or diminish their importance, e-books cannot be considered on par with books. Divya J Shekhar, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] All spiritual practices are illusions created by illusionists to escape illusion. Ram Dass I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge – that myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts…and love is stronger than death. Robert Fulghum If you can recognise illusion as illusion, it dissolves. The recognition of illusion is also its ending. Its survival depends on your mistaking it for reality. Eckhart Tolle 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011 It remains our endeavour to make our industry globally competitive. ANAND SHARMA, Union minister for commerce and industry For A South Asian Renaissance To help the peace process, India and Pakistan must reclaim their civilisational heritage Moonis Ahmar Boost Manufacturing India has the potential of catching up with China n manufacturing competitiveness, no one beats China. A study by Deloitte and the US Council on Competitiveness revealed that last year. But it was India’s No.2 ranking among 26 nations that drew whistles. Evidently, with a vast, English-speaking workforce and engineering talent, India holds out promise as a global manufacturing hub. Concerning cost of labour, today we have an edge over China, a traditionally export-led nation now preoccupied with spurring consumption at home. Chinese manufacturing wages rose nearly 12% annually during 2000-09, and the trend continues. India compared to its neighbour is already buoyed by domestic demand and has an abundance of young, cheap labour. The question is, can we leverage this to our gain? The answer depends on how far down the reformist path we’re willing to go to energise manufacturing and build the skilled manpower it needs. For starters, China has the kind of world-class infrastructure we’re still huffing and puffing to build. Factories need power, connectivity and distribution chains. But industrialisation and infrastructure creation demand reform of archaic land acquisition rules. We need a new marketoriented policy that trims scope for government hamhandedness in land transactions and links buyers to sellers. Nor can industry grow sans a liberalised regulatory framework for conduct of business. There, too, China scores higher with investors. Moreover, UPA’s proposed national manufacturing policy (NMP) can scarcely push manufacturing’s share in GDP to 25% from the current 16% without labour reform. We need only look at the latest government data to confirm the trend of labour’s casualisation. While 51% of India’s total workforce is selfemployed, 33.5% is casual labour. Only 15.6% are regular wage-earners or salaried workers. Read these statistics against the fact that a yawning gap exists between the organised and unorganised sectors vis-a-vis manufacturing jobs and output. The latter sector provides 90% employment but accounts for less than one-third of manufacturing production. Envisaging mega national investment and manufacturing zones (NIMZ), the NMP does propose “rational exit mechanisms” for businesses. But will intention translate into action? Factories won’t multiply if their operators can’t take economically rational decisions. Labour reform, which shouldn’t be limited to NIMZs, will ensure employers invest in workers’ skills upgrade. This in turn will show up in improved productivity and more globally benchmarked products. That’s apart from giving labour market entrants job security and access to social benefits. Without mass-scale absorption of underpaid, underemployed farm labour into factories, we can’t match China’s success in poverty alleviation. Schemes like NREGA may mean well but make workers dole-dependent. Inclusive growth is delivered far more effectively via labour’s empowerment. I he cordial spirit of talks held last week, between Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries in Islamabad, augurs well for relations between the two countries. When Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said to the media while travelling to Kazakhstan in April, “If i can succeed in normalising relations between India and Pakistan as they should prevail between two normal states, i would consider my job well done”, it meant not only optimism but also vision on his part for a better future for Pakistan and India. In the backdrop of the assassination of Osama bin Laden by the American Navy Seals in Abbottabad on May 2, one can observe a responsible handling of affairs by New Delhi and Islamabad, as hawks from the two sides tried to exploit the situation and launch a new phase of confrontation. Still, there are forces from both sides that will miss no opportunity to derail the Indo-Pak peace process. History proves that opportunities and moments of hope had also appeared in the past, but were wasted. What then is needed to ensure a peace process which can help bring a qualitative change in Indo-Pak relations? As pointed out by Harold Saunders, an American expert on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, dismantling the “other walls” is a major condition for establishing a constituency of peace. But more than the “other T walls” which impede the IndoPak normalisation process, it is the absence of a renaissance perspective which results in stand-offs, missed opportunities and the hardening of enemy images. The Indo-Pak peace process should not be confined to official rhetoric from the two sides but requires a movement at the popular level, so that a sense of ownership is created for a process which can bring enormous benefits for the poverty-stricken people of the two countries. The term renaissance is generally understood in terms of the revival and rebirth of civilisation in Europe after the medieval era. Spread over a period from the 14th to 16th centu- Neighbouring on friendship The Indo-Pak peace process should not be confined to official rhetoric but requires a movement at the popular level, so that a sense of ownership is created for a process bringing benefits for the people ries, the renaissance built the foundations of modern Europe. One cannot compare the renaissance of Europe and the prevailing conditions in India and Pakistan. But as the custodians of a centuries-old civilisation, the two countries can certainly move in the direction of reviving the culture of peace and tolerance which was the hallmark of the Indian subcontinent. The civilisation of the Indus and Ganges was a source of inspiration for people in other parts of the world. When Europe was marginal, the Indus-Ganges civilisation was at its peak. It is another story that the Indian subcontinent drifted into oblivion because of internal cleavages and colonisation, and Europe began to dominate the world after the renaissance and age of enlightenment. After decades of hostility and confrontation, it is time for India and Pakistan to think in terms of launching a renaissance so that the two, regardless of past bitterness, can cause the rebirth of a centuriesold civilisation. This will certainly help take the peace process to its logical conclusion. Three important steps are required on the part of India and Pakistan. First, a renaissance approach would require focus on promoting better sharing of art, culture, music, history, archaeology and education. While maintaining their identities, India and Pakistan must lift restrictions which impede the revival of their cultural heritage so that the present generation of the two countries is able to understand how tolerant and peaceful their ancient past was, and why the generations following the partition of the subcontinent pursued a violent and confrontationist path. Second, in the political sphere, a renaissance approach would require reviving some of the symbols of peace and harmony which existed amidst the environment of hostility and mistrust. These symbols are the Liaquat-Nehru pact of April 1950 for establishing communal peace, the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 which tried to resolve a water conflict, the 1972 Simla Pact which enabled New Delhi and Islamabad to move forward following the Indo-Pak war of 1971, the agreement on not attacking each other’s nuclear installations of December 1988, the Lahore Declaration of February 1999 and the Islamabad Declaration of January 2004 which provided a road map for the Indo-Pak peace process. Third, symbols of Indo-Pak peace initiatives under track II and III – like the Neemrana dialogue, popular discourse which took place under the auspices of the Indo-Pak People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy and other , such forums – must be revitalised. What is needed in the renaissance of the Indo-Pak peace process is to provide ownership to track II and III peace initiatives and to make them more practical and useful. When the revival of tolerance, accommodation and reasoning will prevail in the IndoPak peace process, the stage will come when policy makers, including those who wield considerable power, will be persuaded to change their approach on issues which for long have acted as an impediment to Indo-Pak normalisation. Perhaps Manmohan Singh’s dream will have a practical application when his hope and vision get a positive response not only in his own country but also in Pakistan. The writer is professor, department of international relations, University of Karachi. ‘I urge India to set an example in openness to the region’ Sarmila Bose is a senior research fellow at Oxford University and has written Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh war. She spoke about what is proving to be a controversial book with Deep K Datta-Ray: I The 1971 war is well known so why another book on it? Actually there are hardly any dispassionate researched studies. The vast majority of material consists of personal accounts of those directly involved or partisan accounts. Some memoirs are very useful as primary data, but they’re not researched studies. Many accounts show little regard for fact checking and sometimes contain deliberate misrepresentation. The only major researched work is the book published 20 years ago by Richard Sisson and Leo Rose. It’s excellent on a macro level of policy. Mine focusses on the opposite end of the spectrum, using detailed information on particular incidents. The 1971 conflict needs many more wellresearched studies. A few are on the way, but there is scope for more. I Why do we have so few good studies of what was a just war, waged by us, for Bangladeshis? What constitutes a ‘just war’ can be a contested issue. India acted in its own strategic interests. The public discourse is a continuation of wartime partisan propaganda and nationalist myth-making by all sides. That’s because of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh’s unwillingness to open official documents to scholars. The US meanwhile has published secret documents from that period. India’s role can only be properly assessed if official documents from 40 years ago are made public through the building blocks of chronicling and analysing the larger events and brings out the complexity of conflicts such as the 1971 war. My interviews with people from all sides of the conflict who witnessed, participated in, were the victims of or got caught up in a range of different events, shows a brutal fratricidal war. All the sides – the regime, pro-regime East Pakistanis or pro-liberation Bengali nationalists – treated those they perceived as the ‘other’ with violence and inhumanity. All committed massacres and other serious crimes against humanity, including the side India chose to support. This was a brutal struggle for power. While there were humane individuals on all sides, no warring party is in a position to take the moral high ground in this conflict. I It sounds like you're rewriting history. How does one go about doing that? Is it just a question of new sources or also new interpretations? Actually i am ‘writing’ history not ‘rewriting’. Most of , what’s been written isn’t history but partisan accounts. As the war is poorly documented from a dispassionate and balanced perspective, there was a great need to chronicle what actually happened in many events, as without enough and reliable data, analysis isn’t possible. I have done a lot of new data gathering for my book, and hope others will do more in the coming years, though with the passage of time opportunities are disappearing. I’ve also compared the new information gathered with existing personal accounts to arrive at a judgment based on all available evidence. It’s important to consider the conflict with an open mind and allow the evidence to tell the story. One of the most interesting results is the picture that emerges of the ‘Bengali nationalist’ side. No More Desi Girls? Infants’ sex changes highlight misogyny R eports of hundreds of baby girls turned into boys via medical surgery in Indore are shocking and must be thoroughly probed. If found correct, they are not only in serious violation of child rights but also provide painful evidence of an Indian preference for male children and the extent people can go to secure it. Against claims that sex-changing surgeries – ideally performed only on consenting adults or for medical emergencies – have been executed on infants, it’s heartening the PMO has taken note, demanding reports from concerned ministries to decide if new legal safeguards must be developed, particularly to protect girl children from operations they don’t need. Tackling the larger issue of pervasive gender bias remains. India’s violent attitudes towards women are becoming notorious in appalling statistics of infanticide, rape and diverse forms of discrimination – from nourishment to education, health, labour and dignity. According to a Thomson Reuters Trustlaw survey, India is the world’s fourth most dangerous country for women, sharing disgrace with Afghanistan, Congo, Pakistan and Somalia. The irony is, India has a fairly comprehensive range of laws around women’s rights. The trouble lies in weak implementation, fusing with backward customs. Today, as Indian women stand upon a ledge of crisis, it’s imperative our laws and executive wield their combined heft. Besides, female literacy must improve while police forces must become more women-friendly. Schemes providing economic incentives for having girl children – like the Ladli scheme in some states or Bihar’s initiative in giving bicycles to school-going girls – can also significantly reduce stigmas around being female. Q&A national archives and if covert operatives from the war put their experiences on record. I urge India to set an example in openness to the region. I Have your interviews with the bit-players of history led to your rethinking what passes for the history of the war? The testimony of participants and eyewitnesses to events on the ground forms the crucial Let them ChiPak India shouldn’t worry about Islamabad chumming up to Beijing Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Should New Delhi be unduly worried about ChiPak? ChiPak is not a misspelling of Sunderlal Bahuguna’s Chipko movement; ChiPak is the telescoped term to denote growing chumminess between China and Pakistan. Teetering on the brink of being declared a failed state by an international community increasingly alarmed by its dangerous and growing instability, Pakistan desperately needs a friend who’ll provide a strong and dependable shoulder to lean on. That friend used to be the US, which still remains Pakistan’s closest ally and biggest donor of muchneeded foreign aid to fill Islamabad’s empty coffers (empty largely because of a ruinously high defence budget inflated by ingrained Indo-phobia). However, after Operation Geronimo, and the elimination of Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil by raiding US Seals, Washington-Islamabad relations have shown signs of strain. There is growing anger and dismay in Pakistan – not just among the army and the ISI but also in civilian circles – that a foreign power could with impunity carry out what in effect was a mini invasion of their country. Bad as this slap in the face to Pakistan’s national sovereignty is, what’s worse is that bin Laden’s presence in the country buttresses the charge – long made by New Delhi, and now belatedly being echoed by Washington – that Islamabad is the world’s biggest sponsor of global terrorism. Islamabad’s support – no matter how compromised and suspect – to Washington’s efforts to neutralise the terrorist threat in the region remains crucial to US interests, ensuring that, despite occasional raps across the knuckles, Pakistan continues to be the beneficiary of Uncle Sam’s largesse. But the growing groundswell of anti-Americanism at home makes it tactically necessary for Islamabad to flaunt another friend to counter the big, bad US bully. Inevitably, that friend has to be China, whose rivalry and unresolved border disputes with India make it Pakistan’s natural ally. An Islamabad-Beijing connect would not only keep Washington on its toes and make it mind its manners in its increasingly high-handed dealings with Pakistan, but would also act as a curb on New Delhi’s ambitions of regional power status and its growing cosiness with the US. China has long helped Pakistan be as painful a thorn in India’s side as possible; without Beijing’s covert and overt help Islamabad would not have been New Delhi’s nuclear nightmare as it is today. Has talk of ChiPak made that nightmare worse? Not necessarily. An increasingly isolated and desperate Pakistan which feels impelled into a nuclear confrontation with India is a far worse threat than a Pakistan whose self-confidence and sense of security has been boosted by Beijing. On its part, China would certainly like Pakistan to remain a festering sore impeding India’s progress. That said, Beijing has its eyes firmly set on its main goal, which selfprofessedly is to overtake the US and become the world’s biggest economy in the next two decades. China is not going to let anything interfere with that singleminded objective. So a symbolic show of solidarity with Pakistan is fine. But any nuclear adventurism on Islamabad’s part vis-a-vis India, which could lead to a much wider confrontation and threaten to derail Beijing’s impetus to global economic hegemony, is in China’s worst interests and is not an option that the Dragon would allow Pakistan to entertain. For all its issues with New Delhi, Beijing is only too aware of India’s growing economic importance not just as a huge potential market for Chinese goods but also as a stakeholder in common concerns in forums like the WTO where the long-established paramountcy of the western world is being challenged by the so-called BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Chindia is, and will be, more important to Beijing than ChiPak can ever be. So what should New Delhi’s reaction be? ChiPak? Chipakne doh! Lots of people would like the prime minister to step up to the plate…and speak more often. But that is the style of the person I didn’t want to die the death of a wolf Women do love a cricketer. It's one of those things. It’s like Aston Martins. They just love it – P CHIDAMBARAM, Union home minister, on the PM – BABA RAMDEV, yoga guru, on why he tried to flee the police dressed as a woman – HUGH GRANT, actor, on the secret behind what makes cricketers desirable I SACRED S PAC E I Love Is The Best Fuel and irrational, good and bad, loving and hating, giving and grabbing, killing and f life is a journey and the human being is rescuing, full of hope and help, while also , the vehicle, then the best fuel for a suc- filled with hopelessness and helplessness. cessful completion of this journey is Mind is a paradox, unpredictable with its love. When we substitute some other emo- own way of functioning. It is volatile and tion and make it our central core, our fuel, restless; yet, it constantly seeks peace, the vehicle obviously cannot perform as stillness and stability . well as it should. The journey is then no To be with the mind means to live our longer smooth, but jumpy noisy bouncy , , , lives like a roller coaster ride. Up and down, uncomfortable, and prone to frequent side to side, in and out – the ride goes on. The breakdowns, and constantly needing help stability and stillness that we seek in our from others to set it right. lives, the rest and relaxation that we crave Love is available in plenty; it is unlikely for, the peace and calmness that we desperto get depleted. Every human being is a ately need, are not to be found in the arena source of this fuel called love. We are of mind. If they are found, they will come capable of producing love 24 coupled with their respective oppohours a day endlessly Love is our , . sites. This is the duality of life. natural state. Duality is always of the mind. The Love works slowly as compared spirit or soul is always one. And it to its opposite emotions, namely needs only one fuel, love. fear and hate. Though love is One cannot get love without natural, hate and fear come to us first giving love. That is the law much more easily If you want to . of Nature. In existence, giving THE get a group of people together for comes before receiving, sowing I SPEAKING I a common cause and under a comes before reaping. But we are common banner, love for someunaware of this. We seek and TREE thing might take you years to hope to receive without wanting unite them. Hate and fear can work in a mat- to give. So, the first step, which is totally in ter of minutes. Hence, the natural enemies our hands, is to give love. And then we will of love are much more powerful and appeal- receive love, not as much as we want or as ing to us. Love appeals to the true being or much as we have given, but a thousand times soul, while the mind thrives on hate and more. The Universe is ready and waiting to fear, more than love. flood us with love. But it needs us only to take Why does fear predominate, when we all the first small step of giving. The Buddha know that love is the true fuel of life? This is used to say to his disciples, “If you knew where the mind comes in. Our true being or what I know, about the power of giving, you spirit thrives only on love. But between would not have a single meal in your life spirit and body is another important entity , without first sharing it with someone.” the mind. The control of our lives, instead
[email protected] of being in the hands of the spirit, has been www.speakingtree.in taken over by the mind. And the mind is Join the world’s first spiritual networking complex. It is logical and illogical, rational site to interact directly with masters and seekers. P V Vaidyanathan I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Selfless Thoughts They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of I, me, and mine – in order to be united with God. Attain to this, and pass from death to immortality . Bhagavad Gita 2.71 All that we are is a result of what we have thought: we are formed and moulded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them. Gautama Buddha The most self-serving thing one can do is live life selflessly Selflessly . give your experience… Selflessly give whatever it is you have to give. And the world will rise to meet you. Steve Harper To live selflessly , you must have less self. Victoria Ferguson I Don’t blame the victim With reference to the article ‘An Old Battle Fought Again’ (June 27) by Ratna Kapur, the Slutwalks organised in various metropolitan cities across the world indicate that women are no longer willing to accept irrational dictates. The term ‘slut’ used by the Canadian police officer is highly derogatory and must be condemned. To shift the blame for rape on the dress sense of the victims is a case of missing the wood for the trees. What is required is to ascertain the real causes of violence against women and suggest remedies. The first task should be to encourage rape victims to report the crimes. Equally important, the police should show utmost sensitivity while handling such cases. With efficient implementation of the laws, there is no reason why heinous crimes against women cannot be curbed. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, VIA EMAIL SECOND OPINION Hope and fear With reference to the article ‘Pakistan, 50 Years Ago’ (June 23) by Hajrah Mumtaz, the analysis of Pakistan’s journey through the past to its present volatile state betrays both anxiety and concern. It raises hope that as long as such sensitivity exists, Pakistan might escape the collapse that is widely feared. As a Kashmiri, i fully empathise with the writer since the spillover effect of jihad is also visible in the Valley. The anti-India secessionist movement in the Valley has not only led to ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits, but has also pushed Kashmir into a vicious cycle of violence that continues unabated. Lalit Ambardar, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ (Jug Suraiya is away. His columns will resume on his return.) BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD. | ESTABLISHED 1838 | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | EPAPER.TIMESOFINDIA.COM AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011 | PAGES 28 | PRICE RS 2.50 * INCLUSIVE OF AHMEDABAD TIMES (FOR AHMEDABAD AND GANDHINAGAR ONLY) SC TELLS MAMATA NOT TO RETURN SINGUR LAND TO FARMERS | P 10 CONTRAPUNTO You know, it’s just one small step from legacy to lame duck. BILL CLINTON JO-WILFRIED TSONGA ENDS ROGER FEDERER’S RUN AT WIMBLEDON | P 20 ‘My govt described as most corrupt’ PM Admits Scams Have Hit Reputation TIMES NEWS NETWORK NEWS DIGEST HERE & NOW ON CORRUPTION What surprises me is not that there are corrupt civil servants but that despite all the temptations, so many of our civil servants remain honest and lead frugal lives It (graft) has caught the imagination of the people and we will deal with it. Govt is committed to pursuing whatever is feasible to deal with black money, tax evasion and corruption but it is not a one-shot operation ON CALL FOR RAHUL GANDHI AS PM The general proposition that younger people should take over, is the right sentiment. Whenever the party makes up its mind I will be very happy to step down, but so long as I am here I have a job to do Criticised by India, umpire Harper quits Criticised by the Indian cricket team for his poor decisions in the first cricket Test against the West Indies, controversial Australian umpire Daryl Harper on Wednesday withdrew from the third match starting July 6 at Roseau. Centre may seize property found to be benami: Under pressure to act against corruption, the government plans to fine-tune the existing law to crack down on benami transactions. Amendments to the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 1988, will allow Centre to confiscate property declared benami. P 10 SC to decide OBC admission criteria tomorrow: The Supreme Court will on Friday decide the criteria for admitting OBC students into central institutions like Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University under the 27% quota provision, a contentious issue over which there seems to be considerable confusion. P 8 HC upholds acquittal in TISS case: The Bombay HC upheld the acquittal of six students charged with gang-raping a US national by dismissing the appeal filed by Maharashtra government challenging the earlier verdict of a trial court. A division bench of Justices N H Patil and Mridula Bhatkar, while dismissing the appeal, observed there is no evidence to prove sexual intercourse by force. New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday aknowledged that his government is being described as the most corrupt ever, adding that corruption has become a big issue and has caught the popular imagination. \The stunningly frank remark about the huge image problem his government faces came during Singh's interaction with a select group of editors. “…in the situation that we are faced today day in , day out I think we are described as the most corrupt government”, Singh told his select audience. The issue of corruption took up a huge chunk of the Prime Minister’s inaugural remarks at the session with editors. It figured prominently also in the question-answer session that followed, with Singh admitting that the telecom scam and Commonwealth Games had taken a toll on his government’s reputation. However, he cautioned against radical steps which could turn the country into a police state and lead to the return of the inspector raj. Indeed, one of his visitors told Singh that while his personal integrity remained untarnished, perception had grown that he had “allowed ON ALLIES We have some points of tension but nobody wants an election ON LOKPAL Govt will reach out to civil society but no group can insist that their views A-to-Z are the last word. We will find a way out on Lokpal and try for a consensus ON BRINGING PM UNDER LOKPAL I have no hesitation in bringing myself under the purview of Lokpal but many of my Cabinet colleagues feel that bringing the institution of prime minister under it will create instability things to happen”. Interpreting the question as echoing the view that he had failed to stop A Raja from perpetrating the 2G scam, Singh suggested that he was betrayed by the sacked telecom minister. He said as Prime Minister he had to trust his minister when he had promised to abide by rules. “How can I conduct a post-mortem? I am not an expert in telecom matters. As Prime Minister, it is not that I am very knowledgeable about these matters. Or, that I can spend so much of my time, to look after each and every ministry .” Singh also criticized Raja for wrongly claiming that he had the PM’s endorsement. When told that the government failed to take notice of newspaper reports about irregularities in the allocation of 2G licences and spectrum, Singh said he could not have gone by newspaper reports alone. “There were people on both sides writing to me. If I go by the newspapers everyday I would have to refer every, thing to CBI, and the CBI would sit in judgment. And if I continued in this vein, our public sector would not be able to perform. It would greatly weaken the (entrepreneurial forces) that have unleashed, and willy-nilly install a police raj”. The interaction was held against the growing perception that at a time when the government is faced with an image deficit on the issue of corruption and other challenges, the PM has not been communicating enough with his constituency In the fourth interaction he had with . media in his second term, the PM stepped out to rebut the perception that he had been reduced to a lame duck and could be asked to make room for Rahul Gandhi. He hit out at the CAG whose reports on 2G and alleged favors to oil firms had embarrassed the government for overstepping its constitutional mandate. FinMin used ‘secret funds’ to sweep Pranab’s office clean Pradeep Thakur | TNN New Delhi: Fearing that the office of its minister was being bugged, the wary finance ministry dipped into “secret funds” of the Income Tax (Investigation) department to finance its debugging operation using a private agency The fi. nance ministry had instructed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to use secret funds of the I-T (Investigation) department for the debugging operation after it was found that none of the revenue intelligence agencies under the finance minister had the wherewithal. The finance ministry has under its arm the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, I-T Investigation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Enforcement Directorate—all, except the CEIB, having state-of-the-art equipment to intercept phone calls. But none of them have debugging equipment. The hush-hush operation thereafter even saw a complete change of cleaning staff, contrary to Pranab Mukherjee’s dismissal of the entire episode as “bogus”. A private agency was hired to do the operation in the offices of FM and his close aides. Immediately after the operation, the FM’s office removed the usual cleaners and housekeeping staff responsible for changing flowerpots, fearing that the Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the home ministry might have been , using them to plant bugs in table corners or on flower vases. A former joint director of the IB, who was representing the private agency hired by the FM for debugging operation, S K Gupta, told Times Now he had identified 16 spots where bugs may have been attached with adhesives. Maneater leopard shot dead by forest dept: A maneater leopard, which killed three persons in Diali Gamri area of Uttarkashi district, was shot dead by Uttarakhand forest department. The 13-yearold male leopard was shot dead at Kumrara village on Tuesday when it returned to its kill, said Divisional Forest Officer of Uttarkashi, I P Singh. Intel records of 2002 riots destroyed in ’07, says govt lawyer TIMES NEWS NETWORK A WINNING MOMENT IN A DAY IN THE LIFE OF INDIA Smokescreen over hookah death probe 3 Days On, Cops Yet To Own Up To Palash’s Death TIMES NEWS NETWORK India, Japan to implement free trade pact: India and Japan are scheduled to implement a comprehensive free trade agreement from August 1 to boost bilateral trade between the countries to $25 billion by 2015. Rahul visits house of Lakhimpur ‘rape’ victim: Taking the Uttar Pradesh administration and police by surprise, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met family members of the 14-yearold girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a police station in Nighasan in the district. Toyota recalls 1 lakh cars: Toyota said on Wednesday it will recall more than 110,000 hybrid vehicles in the United States, Japan and Europe because of faulty transistors in electrical power control boards. Nasa confirms July 8 for last shuttle launch: The last space shuttle launch ever is set for July 8. Nasa managers met at Kennedy Space Centre on Tuesday and confirmed Friday, July 8, as the launch date for Atlantis. Google goes social with Facebook rival: Google, the king of Internet search, launched its rival to Facebook on Tuesday, a social networking service, Google+. P 13 Ahmedabad: The state intelligence bureau records on the 2002 riots were destroyed in 2007. Gujarat government’s counsel, SB Vakil said this on the sidelines of the proceedings at the NanavatiMehta commission on Wednesday. Vakil alleged before mediapersons that IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt filed his affidavit in the Supreme Court only after he came to know that the records of 2002, including IB control room phone records and logbooks of official vehicles, were destroyed. The advocate said that he kept questioning Bhatt about the records because if the data existed, it would have been very easy to establish whether the cop being the deputy commissioner (intelligence) was called to attend the meeting with the chief minister on February 27, 2002. Bhatt has said in his affidavit in the SC that chief minister Narendra Modi had in that meeting asked the officials to allow Hindus to express their anger against the Muslims after the Godhra carnage. In the Godhra commission, Vakil asked Bhatt whether the intelligence records existed or were destroyed in 2007. Bhatt said the 2002 riots were not an ordinary event and with setting up an inquiry commission, it was the state government’s bounden and constitutional duty to preserve all data, the plethora of then on-going police investigation and trials in order to assist the inquiry. On the first day of his deposition last month, Bhatt asserted that all the data existed in the state headquarters in Gandhinagar, but a false impression is given to people that most of the call records and other documents are missing. The cop has sought voluminous data in connection with the 2002 riots from the state IB office and from the DGP. He also requested the probe panel to direct the authorities to furnish the data so that truth about riots is revealed. Meanwhile, the government continued throwing questions to Bhatt, who refused to answer the government counsel directly and insisted that the commission should not allow the State to ask him frivolous, vexatious and irrelevant questions. He insisted that the commission protect him because he was not a witness. Bhatt and government counsel often entered into heated arguments. At one point, Bhatt told the lawyer that he was crossing his limit. To this, the advocate said, “You already crossed your limit on the day you filed the affidavit in the SC.” ‘Is Bhatt witness before Godhra panel, asks HC, P 5 CREATIVE ANGLE: On February 3, 2011, TOI invited readers to send in photos, videos, cartoons and jokes that capture the spirit of India. We received over 1 lakh entries. This picture by Abhinandan Dutta, of a driver relaxing in the shade of an overloaded, tilted truck, is the winner in the amateur section for photos in the category ‘Chaotic India’. To see the other winning entries in the different categories, turn to P 5 Surat: Two years ago, a teenager was gang-raped in a moving car. The case was solved in a mere seven hours and the three accused, sons of policemen, were arrested. On Monday, Palash a 13-year-old boy Wadhwani died after falling from the fourth floor while being chased by cops raiding a hookah bar. But three days hence, the policemen responsible for his death are yet to be identified. Worse, the men operating the hookah bar seem to have gone up in smoke. In fact, till Tuesday the police were even refusing to believe that the bar was up and running. It was only after newspaper photographs showed hookahs, stoves and hot coal at the bar did they go ahead and lodge a complaint against the operators, Ghanshyam Patel and Tushar Patel. However, the police were yet to trace the Patel duo till Wednesday evening. “We are putting all efforts to locate the hookah bar operators. We are also working on identifying the police personnel who visited the bar on that day. We cannot disclose all the details which are part of investigation as it will alert the accused,” said joint police commissioner E Radhakrishna, who is holding Times View I n a place like Gujarat which is starved for hang-out places, hookah bars are welcome. But the bar owners need to act more responsibly. Thirteen-year-old Palash Wadhwani did not deserve to die. Scared of the police, eye-witnesses say he was chased by plainclothed policemen and fell to his death from the terrace of an illegal hookah bar in Surat. In Palash’s case, the police has still not owned up to the raid on the illegal bar. Surat police should immediately identify the culprits. charge in the absence of the police commissioner. “The family is not being disturbed as they are passing through a bad time. Once they are free from rituals we will involve them in investigation and also trace the friends who were at the bar with the deceased,” he added. Ironically, the policemen who went to raid the bar were present at the spot when Palash Wadhwani’s parents came and took away his body in their private car. Police records show the hookah bar was raided and sealed six months ago. The bar was allowed to get back in business despite people in the neighbourhood virtually launching a campaign against it. Earlier, nine hookah bars were running in the city but were gradually raided by police and forced to close down between 2005 and 2009. THE TIMES OF INDIA Round figure is back Demise of 25 paise puts paid to the ‘savva rupiyo’ custom as amounts will have to end with a zero TO BOOK YOUR COPY The Times of India’s Crest edition will be delivered to your doorstep every Saturday. It is available at an introductory price of Rs. 6. SMS TOICREST TO 58888 or write to us at
[email protected] or call on 079 - 26554473 (Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm) Ashleshaa Khurana Taliban storm top Kabul hotel, 21 die Kabul: Nine suicide bombers penetrated several rings of security to lay siege to one of Afghanistan capital’s premier hotels for six hours overnight Tuesday in a complex attack that jolted Afghans’ sense of security and highlighted the weakness of their police forces. At least 21 people were killed: all the attackers, two policemen, nine Afghan civilians, and one foreigner, a Spaniard. An Afghan soldier aimed his gun as he guarded the area surrounding the Intercontinental Hotel during a military operation against Taliban militants who stormed the hotel in Kabul. One witness said that the police failed to stop a man who obviously presented a threat: a man carrying weapons, dressed in a police uniform but with a white hat of the kind often favored by religious Afghans and instead urged the witness to move away from the man, calling him a “bomber.” Other witness accounts said that some security officers fled. The siege ended in the morning; at least five of the attackers blew themselves up, and others were shot by Afghan and Nato forces . NYT NEWS SERVICE, P 13 Stage is all set for managers-in-making After IIM-A, IIM-Indore & Mumbai’s JBIMS Plan Course On Theatre Chitra Unnithan | TNN T MARKET WATCH SENSEX BSE : 18693.86 NSE: 5600.45 L 201.41 L 55.15 indiatimes.com Poll Yesterday’s Result: Do you think cabinet reshuffle can restore Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s image? Yes 19% No 81% Can’t say 0% Today’s Poll: Do you think Delhi Belly's language is risque and offensive? Vote on indiatimes.com or SMS ’Poll’ to 58888 WEATHER Max 38.6 ° C (+2) ........................ Min 28.4 ° C (+ 1) Sunrise: Thursday 5.57 am Sunset: Thursday: 7.29 pm Moonrise: Thursday: 4.47 am Moonset: Thursday: 5.40 pm Forecast: Possibility of rain or thundershowers towards evening or night Relative humidity: Max 74% and Min 50% he meltdown of char annas will bring an end to a very popular Gujarati custom of ‘savva rupiyo’, or 25 paise, which is considered auspicious for all occasions of religious and matrimonial ceremonies. With the RBI officially demolishing the existence of the 25 paise coin for good from Wednesday onwards, the good old char anna no longer qualifies as Indian currency . “It is an age-old tradition Gujaratis have been following where 25 paise must be coupled with one rupee whether it’s for Ganesh Lakshmi puja or an engagement ceremony even for , chopda pujan and bill books we draw the emblem that reads rupee one with a slash that stands for 25 meaning ‘sava’. This is because instead of the amount ending with a zero, it should end in a numerical, hence 25,” says pandit Radhey Maharaj of Ichhanath Temple, a senior priest at Athwalines in Surat. “We Gujaratis have a saying that goes ‘labh savva ae barqat’ meaning 1.25 brings profits, hence all our ceremonies begin with it. My great grandmother, grandmother, mother, I and all my three daughters have got engaged and married with the exchange of a coconut and ‘savva rupiyo’ and now I will save all the 25 paise coins for my grandchildren and great grandchildren,” says Usha Kapadia, who runs a border weaving loom unit from her home within the walled city . Looks like what is of no value any longer to government is set to be an invaluable family heirloom for Gujaratis. Dhansukh Reshamwala, 72, who belongs to Surat’s business pioneer family in Jari business, fondly reminisces how in the 1950s char annas could get you an amazing value for money — “One could buy a litre of kerosene, approximately 500 grams of sugar, besan, jaggery, around five kg wheat flour, 500 gms of all vegetables, two-and-a-half kg of potatoes among others. Each of these would cost just 25 paise.” Ahmedabad: Can dealing with your stage fright make you a better manager? Some of India’s top B-schools believe so. No wonder, managers-in-making are rehearsing hard to become effective CEOs as the IIMs and other leading business schools have started using theatre techniques to hone communication skills of students. After IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Bangalore started an elective course on theatre recently , IIM-Indore and Mumbai-based Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) are now planning to include theatre as an optional subject. Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad has a programme in Business and Arts where performing artistes in- teract with students. “Some recruiters felt they were struggling to find students who could give an engaging presentation. It was surprising to learn that communication, the most desired trait, was least effective in some students,” said a professor at one of the IIMs. IIM-Indore plans to launch the course. “While the course will be open to all students, we will conduct an audition of the incoming batch to find the right talent for various workshops. We try and bridge theatre from being just a stressbuster to something productive by helping bolster students’ confidence,” said a student coordinator at the institute. Theatre is being used as a tool to prepare students see themselves objectively in a dynamic situation and realise responsibility and strategise communication. “Just like an artiste has to give final form to an abstract idea within con- straints, corporate world requires to develop strategies within constraints of a medium. So students can derive from the course,” said Sriram Gopalakrishnan, director (marketing and communication) at ISB. Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon already offers a threemonth course in theatre to help students shed inhibitions and transform emotions according to the situation at work. Ashok Kapoor, faculty , MDI, said, “There are students who are good at writing but do not maintain eye contact while speaking.” Rajkumar Chetan, an entrepreneur and alumni of MDI who started the first organised BPO in Bihar, said, “One moment you are upset with an employee and the next moment you have to deal with a client. The course has certainly helped me move from one emotion to another with ease.” Times Classifieds | P 6 & 8 SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 1, 2011 INTERSECTIONS 25 COURT VERSUS KHAP The law of the land is up against a medieval mindset that accepts no change — even if it’s ordered by the Supreme Court Photo: Anindya Chattopadhyay Divya A | TNN “There is nothing honourable in such killings...they are nothing but barbaric and shameful acts of murder committed by brutal, feudal-minded persons who deserve punishment.” — Supreme Court ruling on April 19 The Supreme Court’s condemnation has rattled khap panchayats, but they are rounding on it furiously and cannily accusing it of culpability for the very crime of which they’re accused — honour killings. Sunil Dahiya, the rich, 40-something secretary of one of Haryana’s oldest and largest khaps, Dahiya, tells TOI that there has been a spurt in honour killings in Haryana in the last couple of years and the “courts are getting it done”. The businessman, whose khap counts one-crore members and is spread over 92 villages in the state, insists that India’s antiquated system of justice “validates marriages between same-gotra ‘brother’ and ‘sister’.” This is why “the victimized families have to resort to (honour) killings,” he concludes triumphantly. Sunil is not alone in his defiance and ready defence of the typical mindset of the khap panchayat. The battle cry sounds loud and clear at Sisana’s cowshed, where community representatives — a bunch of retired men with wrinkled faces — converge around a hookah every morning and evening to discuss “policy matters”. When this correspondent visits, the “policy matter” up for debate is the recent court ruling. Dr Jaikishan, who is on the khap panel as a ‘social worker’, says the khaps feel aggrieved because “we are all of the view that if there are no khaps, crime rate will be 20 times what it is now. Young boys and girls will start marrying in the same gotra, they will play loud music, girls will wear skimpy clothes — everything will go haywire”. Court or not, says Jaikishan, “ban or declare us illegal, we will continue to function the way we do in the greater interest of our community”. But shouldn’t khaps live by the law of the land, just like everybody else? Retired policeman Rajinder Singh, who is also on the community panel as a ‘social worker’ says the law of the land has to chime with community systems that have served well for centuries. “Jatland has a set of rules and laws, based on our centuriesold scientific tradition. People living here have to follow that. If they can’t, they might as well leave.” Sunil explains community policing cleaves to a “modern outlook”, even as he emphasizes his own attributes “as a relatively young and educated member of the khap”. “It’s the Supreme Court which is orthodox and regressive as they are stuck to a century-old law book that was made by the Britishers,” he says. Meanwhile, Dahiya khap has been experimenting with acquiring a modern look, permitting commercial spin-offs such as its own letterhead, special T-shirts, trophies and books. Recently, it became the first khap in 1500 years to have inducted women on to the panel. But the change is admittedly cosmetic with Sunil Clan to Klu Klux Klan? Why a ban won’t work Shobhan Saxena | TNN BRAND BUILDING? Posters, T-shirts and letterheads are part of Dahiya khap’s drive to spread the word about its activities saying the women panelists are not meant to take decisions but convey messages. “They must tell their children how disastrous it is to marry in the same gotra. It becomes the responsibility of women members to keep children away from social evils.” Here, in the heart of Haryana, defence of the khap system appears to have made its members fearless. Jaikishan says they will bring the law and science into their fight to rule with an iron hand. Any ban would mean a legal appeal, he says. “We will reason with them that our practice of not allowing same-gotra marriages has scientific basis. If they can consider the religious laws of Muslims, why can’t they allow our traditions? And if, God forbid, that is also rejected, we will go to Jantar Mantar and protest, or do whatever it takes.” Interestingly, khap members express incomprehension about extending the right to appeal to their own community. Pratap Singh Pahalwan, 70, who heads Dahiya khap, declares that “khaps are for the people, by the people. They can never take a wrong or unfair decision. So there is no question of someone not obeying us. If someone does, he will have to face a complete social boycott — he will be left without business, property and family.” few years ago, Maharashtra’s Chitpavan Brahmins organized a community meeting in Pune. Standing under a huge cut-out of Parshuram, the chief guest told the 100,000-strong gathering about the glory of the mythical sage. The chief guest was Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale, then vice-chief of the Indian Air Force. He attended in full uniform, all the better to remind his community that one IAF unit had Parshu, or the axe, as its symbol. The air marshal’s presence and remarks went largely unnoticed, except for mild protest from some Dalit groups about a senior air force officer attending a “blatantly casteist conference”. It is a salutary story about the vice-like grip of caste on India. This is a country where people can change their religion but not their caste. Here, the surname is a social marker that reflects a mindset and lays down an unwritten code of conduct to follow. CASTE & EFFECT Manoj and Babli, a young couple in Haryana, dared to defy the code by falling in love and marrying. In the land of khaps, where same-gotra marriages are considered a sin, the couple joined the long list of young people who have been punished for their crime of passion. For years, the khaps have been wreaking havoc in the Jat belt — Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP — but it is only now that the Supreme Court has said these kangaroo courts are “barbaric and illegal”. They are not about to go away so easily Soon after the . court’s order to “dismantle” them, 84 representatives of various khaps decided to file a review petition. They have also decided to stage an indefinite fast in Delhi during the monsoon session of Parliament. It is clearly meant to be a show of strength. Should the tussle result in banning them and effectively pushing them underground? No, say some experts, because the law cannot change A India is a country where people can change their religion but not their caste. Here, the surname is a social marker that reflects a mindset and lays down an unwritten code of conduct to follow mindsets. Nonica Datta, author of “A Social History of the Jats”, says it is a “joke” for the state to ban the khap panchayat because “the khap panchayat in its recent avatar is strengthened by the very forces that claim to ban it”. Datta, who currently teaches history at the University of Toronto, asks a significant rhetorical question: “What can the law do?” Then she answers it herself by offering the 1871 Criminal Tribes Act and the Sati Prohibition Act as good examples of legal instruments that were “misused to oppress the weak and strengthen the powerful”. Datta may have a point. In India, caste and politics have a symbiotic relationship with both needing each other to reinforce their strength. Last year’s hue and cry over a spate of killings ordered by various khaps had the political class rushing to their rescue. Veteran Haryana politician Om Prakash Chautala justified the khap in the name of tradition and custom and the much-younger Congress MP Navin Jindal opposed action against them. Political observers say this merely underlines a very real truth — that legal weapons cannot change the mindset that allows caste-based politics. Dalit activist Chandrabhan Prasad doesn’t agree. He says a ban may help but it must be across the board. “All caste organizations play a negative role as they perpetuate the caste value system. Khap panchayats must be banned because they are not only deadly instruments of protecting ‘blood purity’ and form the backbone of the caste order, they are also terribly feudal and anti-democratic. Often, the constitutionally valid panchayati raj institutions also act as khap panchayats. They should also be banned.” But Datta insists a ban may be reductive. “It may establish the rule of law, but it does not offer justice to the victims.” She adds that a ban would also “criminalize the entire community” even as it proved unable to “address the permeation of violence in the civil society in any radical way .” Sociologist Shiv Visvanathan agrees. “Modern democracy is not some purist concept that has to sanitize organizations. Khaps can still decide about rites of passage but must seek to operate within the constitutional framework,” he says, adding that a ban might simply drive “these organizations underground. Why convert a khap into a Klu Klux Klan.” In defiant spirit, they seem a long way from that. High-concept & ‘hatke’: A plot in 25 words Parakram Rautela | TNN W hat can be summarized in a single sentence, doesn’t test your brains too much and keeps you entertained for a couple of hours in a dark hall? The plot of a Bollywood masala film? More to the point, the succinct storyline of a “high-concept” film. The high-concept film is the latest buzzword in an industry that loves ‘hatke’ terms. It’s not new to the west with Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” considered the trendsetter. That was 36 years ago but it set the tone for a particular kind of movie, namely one with , a universal theme, a likeable hero forced to deal with a big problem and a plot that can be accurately reduced to 25 words. In the years since “Jaws”, the high-concept movie has got ever grander. From one man-hunting shark prowling the coast of a small town, the high-concept film evolved into “Speed”, which revolved around a schoolbus full of children, which cannot afford to slow down, else it will blow up. That was 1994 and four years later, there was “Godzilla”, in which a giant lizard runs amok in Manhattan and “Armageddon”, which has a meteor about to hit earth. Bollywood has borrowed the high-concept idea and as usual, thoroughly Indi- anized it. The star has been ripped out, the budget has been stripped down, the plot is explained in 25 words, always with a hook that ensnares attention. Recent examples include “DevD”, “Peepli Live” and the Marathi-language “Harishchandrachi Factory”. Filmmakers say the development is at least partly a result of the 2008 economic downturn. Sidhartha Jain, producer and CEO of iRock Films, admits his upcoming “Ragini MMS” was conceived at a time budgets were drying up. It’s about a man and a woman coupling in an abandoned house and a ghost that wants in on the action. Jain says it’s a clever plot to disguise the fact that “we couldn’t afford the stars any longer. So we had to think of movies that people would want to see even without the stars in them”. Amole Gupte, who wrote the highly successful film on dyslexia “Taare Zameen Par”, laughingly says he has “always been in recession” and it is a fact of life that “if you do not have the budget, then you need to make up for that with a better story idea”. Ranjan Singh, a cinema marketing consultant, says high-concept films are the perfect answer to a problem particular to directors — namely budgetary constraints , that prevent working with an A-list star on every movie. “You make one movie with BIG CONCEPT: A poster of ‘Jaws’ (1975), regarded as a trendsetter Akshay Kumar and the next one you make on a shoestring budget.” This can help the creative process. “Finally the smaller-budget movies also allow , younger directors to be more experimental. Something they might not have been able to do if they were directing a big star,” Singh says. Producer Sidhartha Jain says he has a slew of high-concept films lined up. “After ‘Ragini MMS’, we have India’s first zombie film, then India’s first vampire film, and finally a space adventure film.” It is important to note that he explains each in just a few words. Sidhartha Roy Kapur, CEO Motion Pictures of UTV says if a high-concept film is , good, it can be very good. He counts three — “DevD”, “Peepli Live”, “Harishchandrachi Factory” — as the best UTV has made. The first two were a box office success; the third was India’s 2009 entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar award. They are “very easy to market”, he says. Why? Is producers’ attention span getting shorter? “Not quite,” says Sidhartha Jain, “it’s the audience’s attention span that is getting shorter.” He says that now, a large part of a film’s marketing occurs before its release and social media plays a large part in deciding how well a film will do. A concept that can be pithily expressed goes down well with an overwhelmingly young audience and tends to be passed along more quickly on the internet. “The more popular your movie is on social media, the better it will do at the box office,” says Jain. Ranjan Singh says the high-concept film is in sync with the Friday-Saturday-Sunday Syndrome, namely that today’s producers need to recover expenses on the first weekend “because next week there will be something else to watch”. This is why “you’ve got to get your film seen and talked about before people actually watch the movie”. But will the high-concept, low-wordcount film eventually lead to dumbed-down moviemaking? Will we, like the west, go from crisp central ideas to over-the-top themes? Perhaps, say moviemakers, but technology will certainly play a bigger role and the zombie and space adventure films currently on the drawing board are part of that process. Are Indian audiences ready for films sans Bollywood’s traditional masala — some laughs, a few tears, an extended family drama, action, love, a happy ending? Not yet, says trade analyst Komal Nahta, not for another five to 10 years. Then, he predicts, the market will be more fragmented and a section of the audience will be ready for a narrative that travels a straight line and tells just one story . 18 Pakistan was scrambling to find out how its intelligence machinery failed miserably to track Osama, who was living comfortably in a sprawling mansion, just a stone’s throw from the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul. Pakistan's envoy to the US Husain Haqqani promised a full inquiry into the intelligence failure. “Intelligence failures are not unique to the ISI. We will inquire into the causes of what happened but it’s really important not to turn it into any allegation of complicity,” he said The Taliban stepped into the picture with a statement threatening revenge for Osama's killing. A spokesperson for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban said in an audio message that “Pakistan OSAMA’S GROUND ZERO White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan: “Certainly THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 will be the prime target... Now Pakistani rulers are on our hit list” “Our government is in fiscal distress. To make contributions to a country that isn't going to be fully supportive is a problem for many,” said US senate intelligence committee chair Dianne Feinstein his location there outside of the capital raises questions. We are talking to the Pakistanis about this. It's inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for an extended period of time” German chancellor Angela Merkel: Piling it on Pakistan, Afghanistan president President Hamid Karzai said the focus of terrorism remains beyond Afghan borders, adding: “The al-Qaida leader’s death has exposed some gaps in antiterrorism campaign” “For years we have said that the fight against terrorism is not in Afghan villages and houses. Stop bombarding Afghan villages and searching Afghan people” Republican senator Susan Collins “...Pakistan at times is playing a double game. To make contributions to a country that isn’t going to be fully supportive is a problem for many” Author Salman Rushdie: “In the French foreign minister Alain Juppe: “I find it a little aftermath of the raid... all the big questions need to be answered by Pakistan. The old flim-flam (‘Who, us? We knew nothing!’) just isn’t going to wash. If it does not provide those answers, perhaps the time has come to declare it a terrorist state and expel it from the comity of nations” difficult to imagine that the presence of someone like bin Laden ... in a relatively small town could go completely unnoticed. Pakistan’s position lacks clarity in our view” British PM David Cameron: “There will be lots of questions about what support system bin Laden had in Pakistan, and we need those questions answered” OSAMA HEAT LEAVES PAK SWEATING Pak scrambled jets, didn’t know of mission: Zardari Omer Farooq Khan | TNN SOFT SIDE OF HARDLINERS Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday said the CIA exploited its intelligence leads to reach Osama bin Laden ‘‘taking advantage of much superior technological assets’’ while expressing reservations about the manner in which the operation was carried out. ‘‘(The) unauthorized unilateral action cannot be taken as a rule,’’ Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement. ‘‘Such an event shall not serve as a future precedent for any state including the US. Such actions undermine cooperation and may also sometime constitute threat to international peace and security .’’ The statement said the US president Barack Obama and the secretary of state Hillary Clinton also acknowledged Pakistan’s cooperation. ‘‘CIA and some other friendly intelligence agencies have benefited a great deal from the intelligence provided by ISI,’’ it said. ‘‘ISI’s achievements against al-Qaida and in the war on terror are more than any other intelligence agency .’’ The statement said Abbottabad had been under intelligence focus since 2003 resulting in the arrest of ‘‘high value al-Qaida target’’ in 2004. It said the ISI has been sharing information with CIA and other friendly intelligence agen- Zardari said although the two countries had not worked together on the operation, a decade of partnership between the US and Pakistan led up to bin Laden’s elimination cies about the target compound since 2009. ‘‘The intelligence flow indicating some foreigners in the surroundings of Abbottabad continued till mid-April 2011.’’ The statement described bin Laden’s death as an ‘‘important milestone in the fight against terrorism’’ and said it has been making serious efforts to bring him to justice. It denied reports suggesting that its military or civilian leadership had any prior knowledge of the US operation. ‘‘Reports about US helicopters taking off from Ghazi Airbase are absolutely false and incorrect. Neither any base or facility inside Pakistan was used nor army provided any assistance.’’ The statement said US helicopters entered Pakistan using blind spots in the radar coverage thanks to hilly terrain. It said Pakistan Air Force scrambled jets within minutes of receiving information. ‘‘This has been corroborated by the White House Advisor John Brennan.’’ The Pakistan’s military establishment continued to remain tightlipped. But president Asif Ali Zardari tried damage control. ‘‘Some in the US press have suggested that Pakistan lacked vitality in its pursuit of terrorism, or worse yet that we were disingenuous and actually protected the terrorists we claimed to be pursuing. Such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn’t reflect fact,’’ Zardari wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece. Zardari said Pakistan had ‘‘never been and never will be the hotbed of fanaticism that is often described by the media’’. He said Pakistan had as much reason to despise al-Qaida as any nation. ‘‘The war on terrorism is as much Pakistan’s war as it is America’s.’’ He said Pakistan has suffered repeated terror attacks on its civilians and security services and has paid an enormous price for its stand against terrorism. US feared Pak would leak info on mission: CIA TIMES NEWS NETWORK Activists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa pray for Osama bin Laden on a street in Karachi Beijing upset about being kept in dark, backs Islamabad Saibal Dasgupta | TNN Beijing: China is upset about being kept in the dark about the raid to get Osama. It has suddenly wonders whether years of cultivating the political class and spending billions of dollars in Pakistan may have gone waste. On Tuesday, Beijing said it feared instability in Pakistan and would support the Zardari regime and even indicated it would not pressure Pakistan to hand over perpetuators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to India. ‘‘Pakistan government is firm in its resolve and strong in action in the fight against terrorism, and made important contribution to the war on terrorism,’’ Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman CHINESE CHECKERS Jiang Yu said. ‘‘We respect, understand and support Pakistan’s position,’’ she said in reply to a question on whether Beijing believed Islamabad’s claim that it did not know about US operation in advance. Chinese officials and experts are privately asking why US raiders did not try to take Osama alive if they had known his whereabouts since last August. And whether there was an underhand deal involving the raiders, some elements in the Pakistani government and Osama’s supporters. ‘‘It would not have been possible for the US to carry out anti-terrorist operations without Pakistani government assistance. But in this particular case, I think the local government did not know about it,’’ said Rong Ying of the state-run China Institute of International Studies. New Delhi: The charade is over. CIA chief Leon Panetta confirmed that Pakistan was kept out of the loop on the mission to kill Osama bin Laden as US feared that the plan would be leaked to the al-Qaida leader allowing him to flee. Operational imperatives were not the only reason for the secrecy and stealth of the US action with Panetta telling Time magazine, “It was decided that any effort to work with the Pakistanis could jeopardize the mission. They might alert the targets.” The candid US assessment on the reliability of its “nominal south Asian ally” as Time put it was matched by a Pakistani statement saying the commando operation was an “unauthorized, unilateral action” without its knowledge. Pakistan foreign ministry said that the US helicopters used in the operation to kill bin Laden exploited blind spots in radar. However,Islamabad kept mum whether its establishment and intelligence agencies knew about Osama’s presence in Abbottabad. According to Panetta, CIA gamed the operation repeatedly and considered expanding the assault to include oth- TOUGH TALK: Panetta er countries like Pakistan but opinion was strongly ranged against such a move. The goahead was given even though Panetta’s aides were only “6080% confident that Osama was in the Abbottabad house as sustained satellite imagery failed to produce a single photo of the al-Qaida boss or his family . While Pakistani assistance might have provided clinching evidence, suspicion that Osama could not be living in plain sight in a city with army presence, a few hundred metres from a military academy without local assistance prompted US planners to work on their own. “I think it’s inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for an extended period of time,” US deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism John Brennan told reporters in Washington. Come out with real ‘Osama killed Musharraf’s lie nailed on TV facts: Urdu press by bodyguard?’ F M TIMES NEWS NETWORK MUSH ON OSAMA TIMES NEWS NETWORK TIMES NEWS NETWORK New Delhi: Pakistan’s influential Urdu press has come down heavily on the way Islamabad was kept out of loop on the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden. It raised fears that the country’s nuclear assets could be the next target and questioned the allpowerful army’s abilities to defend its sovereignty . ‘‘The manner in which bin Laden was killed near a Pakistan military installation would give anti-Pakistan forces an excuse to say that could get access to the country’s nukes,’’ wrote Azim M Mian in The Daily Jang. He said the operation would have little impact on an already weak government but could put Pakistan’s military leadership and public in a spot. ‘‘The military should come out with the operation’s real facts instead of remaining silent.’’ He cautioned that the operation could encourage Americans to carry out similar missions inside Pakistan. Mian wrote Pakistani public was confused whether the operation was carried out with RAISING QUESTIONS the assistance of Pakistan’s military and intelligence or the US did it on its own. ‘‘If American can go ahead with such an operation without consulting Pakistan and disregarding its sacrifices in the war on terror, it could disregard our military and intelligence assistance and take steps for furthering interests of Afghanistan, India and the western world.’’ In a piece titled ‘questions... questions...questions’ columnist Ansar Abassi targeted Pakistan PM Yousaf Gilani in the same paper for declaring ‘‘it a great victory without realizing it was the worst violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty’’. uch like the audience it serves, the Pakistani press has been reporting the US strike with a volatile mixture of rejection of the US version, rage that a foreign power could operate on its soil and roguish acceptance it is best Americans take most of the credit. Tuesday’s Dawn led the way by practically rejecting the approved American version of events in Abbottabad and headlining its report Was Osama killed by US troops or his own guard? Dawn quotes an unnamed Pakistani official to indicate bin Laden was killed by one of his own guards in line with his will to avert his capture. The official, whom Dawn describes as having visited the scene of the night assault soon after the US team left is quoted to say it doesn’t look like he could have been killed at point blank range from such a close angle, while offering resistance. Dawn was said to be first off the block with its alternative theory But soon enough, . LOUD & CLEAR it was followed by The Nation, which relayed an extraordinary account that included crucial aerial and ground support from Pakistan. The Nation said the US helicopters came in after four helicopters of the Pakistan Army which withdrew later. , It said Pakistan Army provided ground support. The Pakistani media’s unwillingness to corroborate the American account of events extends to the death toll, the number of people captured from bin Ladens compound and their identities. ormer Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and the chief of its army was trapped on TV by an international channel which pointed out that the dictator has repeatedly said Osama bin Laden wasn’t in Pakistan. Speaking on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 degree show, Musharraf, who is in exile in London, denied that he had ever said Osama was not in Pakistan. When the channel host insisted that the channel had telecast several interviews where Musharraf had said so, the ex-president flatly denied it. As head of Jan 18, 2002: I think now, frankly, he is dead for the reason he is a... kidney patient. I don’t know if he has been getting treatment in Afghanistan... Nov 20, 2010: On whether Pakistan will hand over Osama to the Americans after his arrest, Musharraf said the ‘‘matter is sensitive’’ and they would have to ‘‘think about it’’ Pakistan’s army, Musharraf was also boss of the Inter-Services Intelligence, which is now being widely accused of hiding Osama in a safehouse, a stone’s throw from a mili- tary academy . CNN: Mr President for years US officials, intelligence officials have been saying Osama bin Laden was in fact in Pakistan, you have been denying for years now, categorically saying no, he was in Afghanistan... do you now admit you were wrong? Musharraf: No, I don’t think I was ever denying, I was asked everywhere... and my first response invariably always was that I don’t know, I don’t know where he is. CNN: Actually sir that’s not true. You said repeatedly he was in Afghanistan Musharraf: And I used to ask, what intelligence do you have? He could be in Afghanistan. But I never, I always said he could be in Pakistan or Afghanistan. I never said no, he was never in Pakistan, I never said that. Zawahiri not in the same class as bin Laden TIMES NEWS NETWORK Pak has lost its self-esteem: Imran TIMES NEWS NETWORK New Delhi: Former cricket captain and politician Imran Khan has said that the killing of Osama bin Laden by the US forces in Abbottabad has raised questions about the country’s sovereignty . “The big questions that everyone began asking, and for which no answers have been forthcoming, were: who allowed the Americans to come to Pakistan and carry out this attack? And whatever happened to the Pakistani Army and its intelligence?” Khan wrote in The Independent newspaper on Tuesday . He further wrote, “There is not just confusion that prevails in Pakistan, but also a national depression at the loss of national dignity and selfesteem as well as sovereignty . There is no answer to these READING THE FINE PRINT questions and this simply allows allegations from the West and from India to go unchallenged that Pakistan has been protecting bin Laden and other terrorists; that Pakistan knew he was here and kept him safe. Imran, who now runs the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, said that it is time for Pakistan to get out of this war and to recognise that continuing along this path would lead to doom. “Pakistan can no longer afford the human and financial costs and must, along with the rest of the world, realise that ultimately the solutions to these problems are political — and the weaker the state becomes, the less likely it will be to tackle the menace of extremism,” he said. “The US has won its battle against bin Laden, but the war remains open ended,” he concluded. In its editorial headlined, End of bin Laden: Will it end extremism?, The Daily Star, Dhaka agreed with the view. “Physical elimination of a leader is one thing, overcoming his ideological hold, however restricted that may be, is quite another. Though bin Laden’s methods were violent, an element of his appeal was due to Western hypocrisy in dealing with Muslim issues, especially that of Palestine.” New Delhi: A broad consensus that Ayman al Zawahiri will succeed Osama bin Laden as al-Qaida’s Amir seems matched by an equally strong convergence that the Egyptian’s limitations and a churn in Muslim societies pose serious hurdles to his leadership of global jihad. With his lean visage, burning eyes and a narrative of personal sacrifice and tales from the Afghanistan jihad, Osama became a fierce symbol of “resistance” against the US for jihadi groups driven by their vision of a harsh version of the Islamic caliphate. Zawahiri is not in the same class. Zawahiri’s jihadi credentials are not in doubt. He is a tough ideologue but lacks the mythic quality that made Osama an icon for his followers. Zawahiri did spent time in Egypt’s jails in the mid-70s and there are reports that he was tortured. While that may be true, some versions have it that he did not prove a tough nut to crack. A qualified surgeon, Zawahiri hails from a wellknown family His departure . from Egypt and an enduring partnership with Osama CAN HE FILL OSAMA’S BOOTS? should have given him the legitimacy of an anointed successor. But it is unclear whether Arab leaders will accept him, with al Qaida affiliates in north Africa, Yemen and Somalia having drifted away in recent years. He will be under pressure to avenge Osama’s death with a spectacular strike, but with US in hot pursuit of alQaida leaders and the deadly shadow of drones, this will not be easy. Even sympathizers in the Pakistani establishment might not be as forthcoming as before. His influence on Osama had itself led to some resentment within al-Qaida even though he has been in the know of all major operations. Seen as a polarizing figure, he may not enjoy the “sheikh of Islam” status Osama did. Some reports say Zawahiri is a disputatious figure who will not command Osama’s authority . The recent revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya as well as popular unrest in Syria are questioning the relevance of al-Qaida. The upsurges do not flow from jihadist philosophy as pictures of unveiled women in Tunisia and Egypt show. This is a major challenge for the outfit as it has positioned itself as the real opposition to despotic regimes in north Africa, West Asia and central Asia. The repressive action of these regimes did provide alQaida with traction as it declared war on “American puppet governments”. But if emerging politics in some of these nations accommodates conservative or religious opinion, even finding space for the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaida’s appeal will wane further. Without its inspirational leader, a unique beacon for those drawn in by a script dominated by grievance and a harkening to a glory past that erases all doubts with a seamless religious-political vision, al-Qaida may find Zawahiri wanting. If Osama is martyred, we will avenge his death: Taliban Kabul: The Afghan Taliban said on Tuesday it was “premature” to comment on Osama bin Laden’s death in Pakistan at the hands of US military operatives, posting a statement voicing doubt over his killing. “Since the Americans have not provided convincing documents to prove their claim, and sources close to Sheikh Osama bin Laden have not confirmed or denied the reports about his martyrdom yet... (we) see it as premature to issue a statement in this regard,” the Taliban said in a statement on their website. The insurgents’ Pakistani allies across the Afghan border living in lawless Pashtundominated tribal areas have said the militia had not itself managed to confirm bin Laden’s death. The Pakistani Taliban has threatened attacks on Pakistan and the United States if it is confirmed that US forces killed bin Laden in the night-time raid not far from the capital city . “If he has been martyred, we will avenge his death and launch attacks against US and Pakistani security forces,” their spokesman said. AFP THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 OSAMA’S GROUND ZERO LAUGH LINES Osama bin Laden’s death prompted a flurry of jokes on Twitter, TV shows, and Facebook. TOI presents the best and the worst of the lot Bin Laden: Mar-10-57 - May-1-11: Provider of F-16, enabler of debt rescheduling, facilitator of coalition support fund. May he rest in peace Osama bin Laden was RIP (Resting in Pakistan) I bet bin Laden regrets allowing his iPhone app to "use his current location" They should have captured bin Laden alive and made him continually go through airport security for the rest of his life The 72 virgins all have headaches tonight At least he got to see the royal wedding before he went out So Osama Bin Laden is dead... Amazing what the Americans can do when the Playstation Network is down God will pass judgment; the US Military simply arranged the meeting! Q: "What color were Osama's eyes?" A: "Blue. One blew this way, one blew that way" It seems to me, you lived your life like a sandal in the bin BREAKING: Osama been killed by an elite killing force ... in other news Chuck Norris just returned home from his trip to Pakistan Mansion in Abbottabad available for rent. Safe place, stone's throw away from Pakistan Military Academy. Privacy guaranteed (President Asif Ali) Zardari still consulting with prime minister to decide whether to take credit or cash for the operation 19 It looks like President Obama has a new campaign slogan: 'Yes I Did' When he heard about it, former President Bush was furious and said, 'Wait a minute.. I could have used seals?!' Obama: "Sorry it took so long to get you a copy of my birth certificate. I was too busy killing Osama bin Laden.'' RIP Osama bin Laden, World Hide and Go Seek Champion (2001-2011) No Joke: ‘Hurt Locker’ team plans film The filmmakers behind the war-on-terror drama ‘The Hurt Locker’ are moving forward with an action thriller about the hunt for Osama bin Laden Americans rejoice at return to ‘hard power’ Osama Killing Stops Talk Of ‘Declinism’ Gripping US AFP Chidanand Rajghatta | TNN Washington: Barack Obama may have a newly-minted slogan for his second shot at the White House: “Yes I Did!’’ is the recommended replacement for the “Yes We Can’’ catchphrase he used during his first presidential campaign. The joke, relayed in cyberspace, is meant to convey the image of a tough new Obama supplanting a weak president in America’s popular consciousness. It was only a few days ago that Americans were lamenting the decline of their country the waning of its status as , a sole superpower. Rising China and shambolic India were invoked as serious competition JUSTICE AT LAST: A woman holds a candle and a photo of her uncle, who died on 9/11, in New York although the US GDP in absolute terms in double that of the two countries combined. In internal memos, scholarly US officials had begun constructing a new national nar- rative of “declinism,’’ defined as “the periodic certainty that we are losing all the things that have made us a great nation.’’ The new USA, according to this line of thinking, would eschew its assertive foreign policy in favour of compromise and consensus, size down its military and depend more on soft power and smart power etc. Hold that thought. At one stroke, in one covert action that involved deep commando ingress into enemy territory (if you discard the myth of Pakistan being an ally), Obama has, momentarily at least, arrested all the talk of “declinism.’’ American machismo has leapt back to front and centre. Criticized as naïve and timid, reminded that he is one of the few presidents who has not served in the military (and is in fact, a post World War, post-Vietnam and even post Cold War leader), Obama is now being praised for the use of hard power to achieve American objectives, and urged to stay the course. “What happened on Sunday cannot be described as anything but a triumph of ‘hard power,’ of military intelligence, skill, precision, and courage. It was also an outstanding example of the United States ‘going it alone,’’’ Helle Dale, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, observed, arguing that the president’s policy of increased drone attacks on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have had far more impact on the activity of terrorists than mountains of foreign aid given to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pak schemes using US funds in disarray Reuters Subodh Varma TIMES INSIGHT GROUP JUST LIKE THAT AJIT NINAN New Delhi had twice tipped US on Osama lair Sachin Parashar | TNN India needs to brush up on special ops Josy Joseph | TNN I envy Pakistan’s win-win situation— anti-jihadi dollars, pro-jihadi donors. Obama’s ‘poker face’ hid world’s best kept secret Boston: Between attending a glamorous White House correspondents’ dinner and meeting families of victims of the Alabama storms, US president Barack Obama successfully managed to put up a “poker face” for nearly 72 hours before he announced Osama bin Laden’s death to the world. The President had on Friday given the go ahead for the raids by US elite forces on the compound in Abbottabad in Pakistan where bin Laden was hiding with some members of his family . Between then and till the time he announced late Sunday night that the al-Qaeda chief was dead, Obama had “balanced public events with a series of private military briefings. But nothing leaked. “All presidents keep secrets, but over a 72-hour span leading to bin Laden’s death, Obama’s capacity to keep a poker face was tested as never before,” Los Angeles Times said. On Friday, after signing off on the plan to send intelligence operatives to kill bin Laden, Obama flew to Alabama where he toured areas affected by the devastating outbreak of tornadoes that killed at least 297 people. That night, Obama gave a commencement speech at Miami Dade College. He also met with the crew of the space shuttle Endeavour, whose flight was postponed. On Saturday night, he had hosted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, attended by Hollywood celebrities, top journalists and politicians. PTI New Delhi: It now turns out that Indian agencies had twice warned their US counterparts about the presence of Osama bin Laden in an urbanized and heavily populated area not very far from Islamabad — once in mid-2007 and again in early 2008 when they specifically mentioned his likely presence in a cantonment area. On both occasions, the Americans either did not take the Indian intelligence seriously or perhaps were too busy working on their own inputs about Osama’s whereabouts. The first time Indian security agencies gave this information to the US authorities was in mid-2007, soon after a Taliban meeting in Peshawar which was attended by Osama’s No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri. According to the information gathered by Indian intelligence operatives, this meeting was also attended by top leaders of Haqqani network and at least two ISI officials. Days after the meeting, Zawahiri visited Islamabad as per the information available with Indian authorities and this formed the basis of India’s first input to the US about Osama’s hideout. “The urgency with which Zawahiri visited Islamabad or the area in its vicinity suggested that he was there for some purpose. We told them about Zawahiri visiting Islamabad and we also told them that we believed Osama may not be hiding in caves but in a highly urbanized area somewhere near Islamabad. Of course, nobody had spotted him and it was a conclusion we drew on the basis of the information we got,’’ said Pak agencies had been tipping off Osama: Wiki A merican diplomats were told that one of the key reasons why they had failed to find Osama bin Laden for years was that Pakistan’s security services tipped him off whenever US troops approached, according to claims made in leaked US government documents obtained by WikiLeaks. Pakistan’s ISI directorate also allegedly smuggled al-Qaida terrorists through airport security to help them avoid capture and sent a unit into Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban, the WikiLeaks cables obtained by UK’s Daily Telegraph show. PTI a top intelligence official involved in processing the information. In the next six months, Indian operatives every now and then came up with information about movement of Osama’s confidants in the region. The next definite input passed on to the US agencies by Indian officials was in early 2008 when there was specific mention made of his illness and his likely presence in a cantonment area. “This time we specifically mentioned about his presence in a cantonment area. It was because we had definite information that his movement was restricted owing to his illness and that it would have been impossible for him to go to an ordinary hospital. We told the Americans that only in a cantonment area could he be looked after by his ISI or other Pakistani benefactors,’’ said the official. New Delhi: Most special operations undertaken by India have been disastrous, and it still does not have capabilities to execute the kind of operation that the US did in Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, experts said. Several experts in Special Forces said a complete lack of political vision and shortsighted policies including unwanted expansion of the Special Forces ranks have all bogged down the Indian Special Forces. Army has the largest number of Special Forces, while Navy IAF, NSG , and RAW all have components of men trained to do operations with strategic aims. “I can’t think of a single operation that serves as an example of Special Forces operation at a strategic level,” said Lt Gen R K Nanavatty, who has been involved in planning aspects of Indian Special Forces and has been studying the subject for years. “We are not capable for many reasons. Political understanding of special operations is important. Then only you can commit money time and , technology Nanavatty said. ,” ast year, a team of top US auditors flew over to Pakistan to check out on how aid to their close ally is being used. What they found was a picture of disarray Here . is one glaring example: of the 140 laptops that were sent to Peshawar for smooth functioning of government staff, 72 laptops valued at $101,000 were missing. Enquiries showed that employees had Soldiers and residents stand over covered debris, as it was taken them home. The audit team from the moved out by military vehicles from the compound within which Office of Inspectors General Osama bin Laden was killed, in Abbottabad gave this terse order: USAIDPakistan take immediate steps According to the latest grammes had made little to confirm the existence of 72 quarterly report on the civil- progress in achieving the laptop computers. If the lap- ian assistance programme goals because of hostile envitop computers cannot be pro- prepared jointly by the de- ronment, lack of baseline data duced, the mission should is- partments of state and de- and lack of oversight. As an sue a bill of collection to the fense, and USAID, the US em- example the auditors said that contractor for $1,400 for each bassy in Islamabad had re- $767,841 worth of expenditure missing laptop. ceived $3.931 billion for the in upper FATA was questionIn October 2009, US Con- programme. But oversight of- able because of inappropriate gress passed the Enhanced ficials from these powerful accounting. Partnership with Pakistan arms of the US government After President Obama took Act, which authorizes up to were aghast at what they over, the US shifted its assis$1.5 billion a year for devel- found in Pakistan. tance strategy by trying to give opment, economic, and demOne year after the launch funds to Pakistani NGOs rather ocratic assistance to Pakistan of the civilian assistance strat- than US contractors. Over $269 for fiscal years 2010 through egy in Pakistan, USAID has million has been given to local 2014. This is civilian assis- not been able to demonstrate NGOs according to the report. tance as opposed to the huge measurable progress, the re- However, this strategy too has military assistance that Pak- ports says. run into trouble with several istan gets for fighting the TalTwo audits done during the NGOs being accused of emiban in Afghanistan. last quarter of 2010 found pro- bezzlement of funds. L ‘Osama death won’t mark end of terror’ TIMES NEWS NETWORK Hackers attack Osama Twitter witness site TIMES NEWS NETWORK ohaib Athar gained instant celebrity status after he livetweeted about the US military action at Abbottabad in which Osama bin Laden was killed. But the IT professional himself fell victim to hackers who compromised his personal website to leverage upon his new-found fame. Athar’s Twitter profile carried the address to his website — and many netizens curious about the incident were quick to visit the link looking for more information. Security agency Websense Security Labs discovered that the hacked web address S instead led victims to an alternative site that carried a kit known as the Black Hole Exploit. According to Websense’s Security expert Patrick Runald the kit is a do-ityourself exploit that allows individuals to deliver many different types of malware. “Hackers are infamous for immediately taking advan- tage of notoriety and related searches in an attempt to infect massive numbers of computer users,” Runald explained on the company’s blog. In other concerted attacks, computer hackers used the curiosity surrounding Osama bin Laden’s death to create spam email campaigns that offered news and images of the slain terrorist. Researchers have cautioned netizens to refrain from clicking on images or links in search results to unknown or suspicious domains. “We want to warn everyone looking for news on bin Laden’s death to be cautious when clicking new links,” Runald said. New Delhi: In a remark which reflects Indian security and intelligence agencies’ assessment of Osama bin Laden’s killing, home minister P Chidambaram said the al-Qaida’s chief’s death would not mean end of terror and India would have to be “very vigilant” until Pakistan dismantled terror infrastructure within its territory . “This (Osama’s death) does not mean the end of terror. Al-Qaida never directly threatened India,” Chidambaram said. “The terrorist organizations that threaten us like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) continue to threaten India and plot against India. As long as Pakistan entertains these terror outfits and does not dismantle the terror infrastructure, we will have to be very vigilant,” he told a TV news channel. The remarks came after Chidambaram’s official statement over Osama’s killing “deep inside Pakistan” on Monday in which he demanded Pakistan hand over wanted terrorists, including perpetrators of 26/11. He said the location of Osama’s hideout confirmed Pakistan was a “sanctuary” for terrorists. Notorious ISI still plays the double game TIMES NEWS NETWORK US-Pak terms of engagement could be in for overhaul Indrani Bagchi | TNN New Delhi: After the initial shock of watching Osama bin Laden being snatched from under their noses, the Pakistani establishment hastily covered up on their participation in the biggest top-secret operation in recent times. Pakistan’s envoy to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, boasted, “It is a joint operation, secretly collaborated, professionally carried out and satisfactorily ended.” But the US seems unwilling to play along. John Brennan, US deputy national security adviser, told journalists bluntly, “We shared our intelligence on this bin Laden compound with no other country including Pak, istan. That was for one reason and one reason alone: We believed it was es- sential to the securitelligence and operaty of the operation RECOVERIES FROM tions or, occasionaland our personnel.” ly picked off a key alOSAMA’S LAIR The new asQaida leader. Computer hard drives full sertiveness by US is It was a throwof key information unnerving to a Pakback to the Ronald istan long accusReagan years when Personal computers tomed to calling the US overlooked PakThumb drives shots in a relationship istan’s nuclear Electronic equipment where it was the weapons proweaker partner. Since gramme in return DVDs and documents 9/11, Pakistan’s forfor Pakistani coopOne official calls the eration for defeating mer president Pervez Musharraf initially USSR in Afghanishaul “a motherload compromised when tan. The “ask no of information” US deputy secretary questions” mantra of state Richard Armitage delivered worked. By 1990, Pakistan was a fullhis “with-us-or-against-us” ultimatum. blown nuclear weapons power and But in the ensuing decade, Pakistan the Russians had lost. played with the Taliban and al-Qaida Spoiled by its earlier Afghan exeven as it gave bases to the US for in- perience, Pakistan failed to read the tea leaves when the US subtly changed the rules as Afghanistan sank into insurgency and US stared at defeat. Islamabad got over $20 billion from the US while the war almost brought a superpower to its knees. Yet, so long as George Bush was in office, US and Pakistan played by the “Ronald Reagan” rules. Obama changed the discourse by slapping Pak to the Af. US special forces started going into Pakistan dressed as diplomats, contractors and administrative staff as the fight against terrorism shifted territory. Pakistan woke up to it only when US contractor Raymond Davis was picked up. In the US, speculation has it that Davis may have been on to something big when the Pakistanis grabbed him. In light of the Osama operation, US anxiety to pay large sums of money to get Davis out may be understandable. Hours after Davis exited Pakistan, it was hit by deadly drones, an unusual sign of US aggression. That came to a head with the death of Osama. Pakistan believes it has some unbeatable points of leverage with the US. First, its geography makes it a strategic asset, no matter how rogue it gets. Second, its ability to nurture Taliban and al-Qaida which kept the US and Afghanistan bleeding, and a role for Pakistan in resolving Afghanistan to its convenience. Meanwhile, US was reducing its Pak burden — it quietly shifted over 20% of its supply chain to Afghanistan through Russia. Technology whereby , drones operated from Nevada bumped off militants in FATA, also helped. New Delhi: The direct role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence in harbouring Osama bin Laden, first elsewhere and then in the cooler climes of Abbottabad where he met his maker, may never be known. But there is growing realization around the world, with some US senators on Tuesday reinforcing the charge against Pakistan security and intelligence agencies of playing “a double game’’ of staggering proportions in the so-called global war against terrorism, that it will be virtually impossible to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Islamist terror till one of its main benefactors is neutered. From the Haqqani network in Afghanistan to the Lashkare-Taiba operations in India, the shadowy ISI has long emerged as the prime clandestine sponsor and facilitator of militant Islam and transnational terrorism across the world. Just last month, for instance, it came to light that secret US files sent to interrogators in Guantanamo Bay held ISI should be ranked with extremist outfits as al-Qaida, Hamas and Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. ISI’s two main targets, of course, have always been India and Afghanistan, with the clear agenda being to make the former bleed through a thousand cuts, while facilitating the installation of a friendly regime in the latter. “ISI operates with the mindset of a semi-criminal or a mafia don, indulging in activities such as killing innocents. It’s an integral part of the Pakistan army and plays a very crucial role visà-vis India and Afghanistan. ISI has been using terrorism as a state activity for long,’’ says former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval. ISI, of course, draws its support, sustenance and strength from its big brother, the Pakistan army. It is no happenstance that Gen ISI chief Shuja Pasha (right) with General Kayani Kayani was the ISI chief before he took over as army chief in 2007. Or, that the present ISI chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha was the directorgeneral of military operations before taking charge of the intelligence agency which , even has successfully dabbled since the 1970s in controlling Pakistan’s domestic politics to a large extent. That the ISI has virtually no oversight in terms of civilian or political control was brought home when the new civilian government in Pakistan in 2008 tried to bring ISI under its control but had to embarrassingly backtrack within a few hours. Though it was created soon after the Indo-Pak conflict over J&K in 1947-48 to plug the gaps in intelligence sharing among the Pakistani armed forces, the ISI took some time to gain global notoriety as “a state within a state’’. It really came into its own in the 1980s when CIA and others used it to funnel arms and money to the Mujahideen battling the Soviets in Afghanistan. From there on, there was no stopping the ISI from becoming one of the most powerful intelligence agencies in the world. Concomitant with this was the realization that it was futile to confront New Delhi in terms of conventional military strength, and therefore the need to resort to irregular warfare or proxy war to bleed India. 24 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY PEARL BAILEY, American entertainer OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 I You never find yourself until you face the truth. Covertly Does It US’s anti-Osama operation should inspire India to re-evaluate its security strategies Ajai Sahni Home Truths Pakistan must do more to nail terror elements I O sama bin Laden’s killing “deep inside Pakistan” would appear to lend credence to those voicing scepticism about the prospect of India-Pakistan rapprochement. They could understandably point to the presence of not just al-Qaida but overtly anti-India elements on Pakistani soil. However, the event should not be allowed to derail resumption of the dialogue process announced recently. True, several outstanding issues exist between the two countries. But these can’t be resolved through hostility. The Indian government has shown perseverance by initiating re-engagement with our neighbour; care must be taken to ensure there is no loss of momentum. Given the hard lessons of past conflict, both sides must know dialogue is the only way forward. Nonetheless, Pakistan must now appreciate that terrorism is a key concern for India just as it is with the US and has to be an important component of talks. Constructive bilateral relations will require that the Pakistani authorities come out of denial mode. Islamabad can no longer refute that terrorist elements of various hues have sheltered within its territory. Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, has said that had there been intelligence about bin Laden’s whereabouts, authorities in his country would have surely acted. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s track record in such matters hasn’t inspired confidence, despite the billions in US aid received over the last decade for the war against terror. Bin Laden represented an ideology of violence that continues to inspire India-focussed terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-eMuhammed. Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed roams free in Pakistan, facing no constraints when openly making hate speeches against India. The Pakistani handlers and operational masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack continue to evade justice in Pakistani courts due to poor prosecution. Above all, Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism, having lost countless innocent lives at the hands of these criminal organisations. Thousands more have lost their homes and had their lives disrupted. According to Pakistan’s own 2009-10 economic survey report, terrorism cost the country 6% of GDP that year. If the menace continues, massive amounts of development spending will have to be diverted towards security needs. Pakistan can’t afford the opportunity cost. Islamabad must haul up its security establishment for not doing enough to nail terror elements. The country has enough on its plate, with the economy in poor shape and sectarian strife raising its head ever so often. It’s in both Pakistan’s and India’s interest to use strong ties to foster growth and stability in the region. Greater synergy in trade and enhanced people-to-people contact will help in this effort. As will Pakistan’s demonstrated resolve in taking concerted action against violent extremism. Failure in this regard would further hurt its image, which has been hit by the US strike against bin Laden. n the wake of the dramatic US operation at Abbottabad, which ended in Osama bin Laden’s death, some fantasists here have begun to wonder whether India has the ‘capabilities’ to carry out such strikes. The question can and should be quickly answered. Given the experience of 26/11 in Mumbai and the quality of responses witnessed there, as well as in a host of earlier operations, and knowledge of ‘capacity building’ thereafter, it should be abundantly clear that India does not have the necessary capabilities to carry out such operations even on its own soil, leave alone deep inside hostile territory. This unfortunate circumstance is the cumulative result of a systematic neglect and weakening of India’s security apparatus, and the dismantling of covert capabilities by successive administrations over decades. This does not, of course, mean that such capabilities cannot be restored. Such an outcome would, however, require a measure of strategic acuity, resilience and determination on the part of our political leaders, which they give no evidence of possessing. It is, indeed, difficult to imagine any of India’s present crop of leaders – from the Left, the Centre or the Right of the political spectrum – doing what President Barack Obama did on April 29, 2011: sitting with national security advisers to evaluate intelligence and then signing, on record, an executive order authorising an operation to execute a terrorist leader on foreign soil. The Abbottabad operation, and the very long road that led to it, should demonstrate, even to India’s blind leadership, the necessity of creating capacities for covert operations and surgical – including deniable – strikes in hostile territory within the , context of the long war that the country is currently engaged in with terrorists and their state sponsors. What is little noticed in the frenzied commentary on the bin Laden killing is the fact that it is the culmination of sustained efforts of three successive presidencies, and two presidents at ideological poles, one from the other; and further, that it arises out of the imperatives Haunting, dead or alive It is imperative for democracies to develop capacities to protect themselves against enemies who recognise no limits to violence of a clearly stated counterterrorism policy which declares unambiguously: “When terrorists wanted for violation of US law are at large overseas, their return for prosecution shall be a matter of the highest priority and shall be a continuing central issue in bilateral relations with any state that harbours or assists them...If we do not receive adequate cooperation from a state that harbours a terrorist whose extradition we are seeking, we shall take appropriate measures to induce cooperation. Return of suspects by force may be effected without the cooperation of the host government...” Billions of dollars, tremendous diplomatic arm-twisting, and a relentless commitment to their policy goals have enabled the Americans to secure this limited victory, even as Obama concedes, “His death does not mark the end of our effort.” India’s policy flip flops in the wake of repeated Pakistanbacked terrorist outrages; the constant swing of the pendulum between the fruitless alternatives of ‘talks’ and ‘no talks’ with Pakistan; New Delhi’s importunate appeals to the Pakistani leadership to abandon its visible support to terrorism and to other countries to do what we are unwilling or unable to do ourselves, contrast embarrassingly with American resolution in this case. Of course, US policy has its own contradictions and vulnerabilities in other areas, particularly on the broader AfPak front. It is important to note, however, that the US continues to engage with regimes in Pakistan, in full awareness of their role in supporting anti-US terrorism, particularly in the AfPak region, without altogether abandoning its own core interests or limiting its strategic and tactical options. Bin Laden’s death will have little impact on the organisational and operational capabilities of al-Qaida and its affiliates, including groups operating in India, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-eMuhammed and Harkatul Mujahiddeen, among others. Nevertheless, a complex dynamic has been unleashed by this event, and the circumstances of its occurrence. It is inevitable, given bin Laden’s safe house in the heart of a garrison town and in close proximity to major military establishments, that Pakistan’s role in supporting and sponsoring terrorism will come under microscopic scrutiny from this point on, and this may impose even greater constraints on that country’s adventurism than currently exist. The killing, moreover, will have an inevitably dampening effect on Islamist extremist terrorism worldwide, in the medium term. This is particularly the case since it occurs against a backdrop of a rising wave of rebellions – including peaceful uprisings – at once, against authoritarian rule and theocratic oppression, across wide areas of the ‘Muslim world’. There is, however, a residual and great danger. Orchestrating a major or catastrophic terrorist strike has now become a survival imperative for al-Qaida and its many affiliates. Only such an attack, or a series of such attacks, can help restore the ‘global jihad’, win back weakening support, and stem the progressive fragmentation of these groups under the onslaught of repeated reverses (crucially, bin Laden was only the most prominent and most recent of a string of al-Qaida-affiliated leaders who have been neutralised – arrested or killed – over the past decade). This creates an imminent threat worldwide, and certainly in India as well. Tremendous vigilance will be needed from overstretched intelligence and security forces in the coming weeks and months to ensure that such risks are not realised. More significantly, however, it is a long-term imperative for democracies to develop systems and capacities to protect themselves against ruthless enemies who recognise no limits to their violence, and to contest the ideologies of hate that are, today, vigorously propagated even within liberal cultures. The writer is executive director, Institute for Conflict Management and South Asia Terrorism Portal. It Takes Two Address both demand and supply side issues he RBI had a tough call. Inflation was at a discomfiting 9% at March-end. But expectation of a ninth round of interest rate increases also deepened concern about dampened growth. Two sets of data released on the eve of RBI’s credit policy review showed good core sector and manufacturing growth. But statistical comfort here can’t serve to rationalise the latest hikes of RBI’s lending and borrowing rates, which are more hawkish than usual. For one thing, RBI goes by the official index of industrial production, which hit a low 3.6% in February. For another, some forecasts temper expectations on GDP growth. RBI’s own peg at 8% this fiscal is less than the government’s projected 9%. Why then were rates lifted sharply? Clearly, RBI wants to prevent persisting high inflation – translating into prohibitive input costs and fiscal deficits – from seriously choking future growth. Manageably less growth in the short run is the trade-off. Insofar as tight monetary policy sends a strong anti-inflationary signal, there’s a point there. As a balance, the cash reserve ratio – part of deposits banks must park with RBI – is untouched to keep some liquidity in the system. Nonetheless, if the price of fuel and manufactured goods has risen, inflation hasn’t just been demand-led. While generalised inflation’s now attracting more attention than food inflation, the latter’s still at a needling 8.76%, impacting the poor and exposing official apathy. Besides, food demand can only go up in fast-growing India, mandating far-sighted measures to ensure productivity keeps pace. As RBI notes, the monsoon’s trajectory will shape inflationary expectations ahead. We need to begin overhauling agriculture, via marketing and retail reform to ensure capital flow to farm-to-fork capacity-building, tech-aided farming that’s less rain-dependent and R&D. But the government’s yet to display reformist zeal about stopping supply side crises from recurring. That’s where the anti-inflation fight falls short. ‘Literature in English has become diverse’ Salman Rushdie reveals he is leaving the chairmanship of the PEN World Voices Festival – a part of the world’s oldest international literary and human rights organisation – and that he’s writing his memoirs in an interview with Sujeet Rajan: I What do you have to say about Siddhartha Mukherjee winning the Pulitzer (for The Emperor of all Maladies – A Biography of Cancer)? Yes, you know, he’s a friend of mine and i think it’s a wonderful book, and it’s completely well deserved, for a surprise. I think it’s very difficult to take a subject like that and you must not only be authoritative, but also be very engrossing. I think it’s actually an incredibly readable book apart from anything else. He has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. He’s a great guy I’m very hap. py for him and proud of him. I What are your thoughts on the PEN World Voices Festival? For me, it’s a point of great pride. I started this festival. It’s my baby and it’s now in its seventh year, and it’s got bigger and bigger every year. This year we’ve like 100 writers coming in from all over the world, including Nobel laureates like Wole Soyinka and so on and then, some new, young, interesting writers. The great difference this year is we have managed to get the festival a permanent home. It’s based in Standard Hotel. I think that gives it a real focus and identity which it needs, so i think it would take it to the next level. For me, it’s also kind of a swan song. I think, i’ve done it come out next year. Then, i’ve sold an idea of a 60-minute drama series to Show Time network. I’ll start work on that the moment i’m finished with the memoir. Meanwhile, there is a movie on Midnight’s Children that’ll be in the theatres next year as well. We’re making it right now and by the time we finish with it, it’ll be next year. I Are you satisfied with the writing that is coming out of India? Yes, India and Pakistan. It used to be all India and no Pakistan. And what’s interesting in this generation, in the younger generation, is a number of talented Pakistani writers. And, now i kind of think that they’re giving Indians a run for their money But . you know, the thing i like about what has happened with literature in English is that it has become very diverse. On the one hand, you’ve very literary work: people like Amit Chaudhary and so on. And, on the other hand, you’ve much more popular fiction, like a whole spectrum. I think that’s what healthy literature needs. It needs to have every kind of writing. I Are expatriate writers going to focus more on India now? I think that writers’ careers don’t go in a straight line, they go in loops. You go back and forth. I’ve written books about India and then not about India. Then, everybody said you stopped writing about India and then the next book was about India. Then, people said, Oh, you are going to write about India all the time, and the book after it wasn’t about it. So you know writers’ imagination goes backward and forth and doesn’t stick at one place. T Q&A and seven years is long enough. So i think after this year, i’ll hand over the chairmanship to somebody else. I think fresh blood is good. No one should be president for life. I What are you working on right now? I’m writing my memoir, which i’m supposed to deliver by the end of the year, that’ll In dubious battle Dead, Osama might prove even more of a terrorist rallying point Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT One can never step into Narayana Murthy’s shoes. I am just stepping into a position called chair of the board The gate to peace is open…Come France, Italy, UK, America Osama is dead. Trust Americans to steal the world's attention away from the royal wedding Is he more dangerous dead than alive? That’s the question that looms over the celebrations at the reported death of a man billed by the US and its allies over the past 10 years as Public Enemy No.1, target of the biggest – and at an estimated 1.3 trillion dollars, the costliest – manhunt in history They’ve finally . got him. And it’s over. Or has it just begun? In the Hollywood film El Cid, named after the nationalist hero of medieval Spain, the Spanish troops despair when their leader is killed in battle. Who will now lead them to victory? The generals strap El Cid’s body onto his warhorse and send it galloping towards the enemy lines. Morale restored by the ‘miracle’ of their dead hero leading them into battle, the Spaniards win the day The message of the climactic scene in the film is . simple: You can kill a man; you can’t kill a man transformed into legend. The covert nature of the US operation that took out Osama, and some 20-odd associates, with near-surgical precision and then disposed of the bodies at sea – to obviate his burial place becoming a shrine for would-be jihadis – has already started the rumour mills buzzing. Like Saddam Hussein – who was finally hanged – Osama was said to have many ‘body doubles’, look-alikes whose role was to confuse and confound assassins. What proof – sceptics are asking – is there that the man killed in the raid was really Osama? It is out of such small seeds of doubt – or of faith, depending on your viewpoint – that imperishable myths are born. Even if it’s proved beyond all doubt that the world’s most wanted terrorist is really and indisputably dead he’ll be embalmed in martyrdom. Already the , Taliban has hailed him as a shaheed, a slain hero who inspires others to follow in his path. Political and commercial establishments with American connections all over the world have been put on high alert. While this is a necessary precaution, it remains to be seen what effect Osama’s elimination will have on the functioning of his organisation, al-Qaida, and its implications for the US-led campaign against global terrorism, a scourge that has claimed innocent victims among all nationalities and creeds. Reportedly, bin Laden had long ceased being in operational charge of his terrorist network, having assumed the larger stature of an inspirational icon. Death – especially a violent and mysterious death such as Osama’s – cannot diminish such stature but only enhance it. Many idolised images testify to this, from Che Guevara to Netaji Subhas Bose, whose diehard adherents believe that he lives on, though by now well over a hundred years old. In any case, organisations like al-Qaida don’t have a centralised command structure but operate by way of autonomous ‘cells’ so that even if one cell is wiped out the others remain intact. A martyred Osama is likely to prove a better recruiting agent for al-Qaida than when he was alive. President Obama who has taken personal credit for Osama’s death – and by doing so probably assured himself of a second term in the White House – is likely to pull thousands of American troops out of Afghanistan in view of the lowered ‘threat perception’ following the successful US raid in Abbottabad. But instead of taking his troops back home to America, the president might consider transferring them to Pakistan. That Osama was ‘hiding’ in plain sight, virtually under Islamabad’s nose, shows the duplicitous role Pakistan has long played as Washington’s ally in the anti-terrorist operations, a role repeatedly questioned by New Delhi. If the Pakistani military and intelligence establishments were playing host to Osama, how many terrorist training camps are enjoying similar hospitality? That’s what the White House needs to ask itself. The emotional upheaval among his worshippers caused by their hero’s death can only ensure that those breeding grounds of terror are more active and productive than ever. Osama is dead. Long live Osama? – K V KAMATH, Infosys chairman-designate, on his appointment – MUAMMAR GADDAFI, Libyan leader, on the war in his country – MINISSHA LAMBA, actor, on bin Laden’s death I SACRED S PAC E Feel Free I Lessons From Satan objectively and eventually we could become victims of our own failings. Such a fate can be slam lays great emphasis on learning, for avoided by effectively managing the ego. it is learning that leads to intellectual We should not only learn the art of ego and spiritual development. However, by management, but must also refrain from virtue of our limited lifespan it is well-nigh hurting the egos of others. More often than impossible for an individual to know every- not, one’s ego is dormant. It is better to leave thing there is to know. Therefore, taking it in that state, for provocation of the ego can lessons from not only what one encounters in result in a breakdown. one’s life but from the experiences of others It is this ability to manage potentially is crucial to one’s growth. explosive situations which maintains norLearning may be acquired for its own malcy, thus leaving our peace of mind undissake, but it also causes one to lead a life that is turbed. It enables us to work towards higher meaningful and fulfilling, one that brings goals, without having our attention diverted satisfaction and peace. towards unproductive activities. The individual learns from other indiviMoreover, from this one event in the history duals. We learn from nature, as we of creation – Satan’s refusal to bow to must. However, this is not all. We can Adam – there is more to be learnt. learn lessons from Satan, too. Satan, What does it show? It reveals that according to Islam, is like one of us, Satan had become ungrateful. That that is, another of God’s creations – is, he paid attention only to what he did not have and not to what he had. and Satan was created even before For example, when God created human beings were created. After Satan, He bestowed upon him having created man, God asked THE many powers, yet it was not appreSatan to bow to Adam. The Quran gives an account of I SPEAKING I ciated. Satan, therefore, not only this first encounter with Adam, failed to manage his ego, but he TREE the first man as well as the first also became ungrateful to God. He Prophet, and Satan: “When we forgot that though he did not have said to the angels, ‘Bow down before Adam’, 1% of all that he wanted, he still had 99%. they all bowed except for Satan” (2:34). Ingratitude is the result of an unawareIn refusing to follow God’s command, ness of the many blessings that God has Satan yielded to his ego and became arro- bestowed on us. It is only when we focus on gant. Ego, which has been at the root of most what we have not been granted that we grow problems faced by man, is considered an evil. negative and begin to complain incessantly . But we should appreciate that ego, a part of It is at such moments that we need to stop nature, is not all bad. and rediscover the blessings that have been Ego has its positive and negative points. bestowed upon us. This alone will help us to From ego comes determination, the ability to cope with life’s challenges.
[email protected] make decisions. And without determination www.speakingtree.in we can accomplish little. Conversely, a negative point of ego is that it can lead one to act with Join the world’s first spiritual networking arrogance. This prevents us from thinking site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sadia Khan I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX That disciplined man with joy and light within, becomes one with God and reaches the freedom that is God’s. Bhagavad Gita 5.24 Open yourself, create free space; release the bound one from his bonds! Like a newborn child, freed from the womb, be free to move on every path! Atharva Veda Life without freedom is like a body without a soul, and freedom without thought is like a confused spirit. Kahlil Gibran The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost. Lao Tzu True salvation is freedom from negativity, and above all from past and future as a psychological need. Eckhart Tolle I Up in the air With reference to the editorial ‘Privatise It’ (May 2), Air India’s nationalisation was an ill-conceived move in the first place. This is a classic example of how a private airline that was once well-managed could be throttled to death. What has been exposed is the inefficiency and lackadaisical approach towards settling labour disputes that the government is notorious for. Despite opposition from the Left parties, privatising Air India may be the only sensible option. However, the question is who will come forward to take over the behemoth with its humongous liabilities? With scores of passengers facing a lot of inconvenience, civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi surely has a Herculean task ahead. P P Sethumadhavan, VIA EMAIL SECOND OPINION II It is painful to read comments about Air India wasting public money. Agreed, the national carrier did get some relief from the government to the extent of Rs 5,000 crore to tide over the crisis it is in. The original equity of the government in Air India is only Rs 150 crore. If today Air India’s assets are sold, they will run into thousands of crores. Hence, the public will get hundred times more money than they have put in. The ongoing strike and the present condition of Air India are entirely the making of the civil aviation ministry and babus. I think measures such as declaring a partial lockout and giving a golden handshake to employees above the age of 55 are worth considering. Simultaneously, the present CMD should be removed and a fresh management should take over operations. R D Shenoy, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 OSAMA’S GROUND ZERO 25 The State And Its Institutions Must Be Watchful Of Elements Sympathetic To Al-Qaida And Militant Ideology Ayesha Siddiqa PAK IN DAZE, INDIA TAKES LESSONS eration totally on their own? None of the two questions are easy to answer despite the statement for the ministry of foreign affairs regarding the operation totally being US’s baby It is clearly a ‘damn . if we do, damn if we don’t’ kind of a situation. Pakistan’s silence and denial of any involvement in the bin Laden operation raises concerns domestically regarding the country’s security and sovereignty . If the US could come and conduct operation so easily then it doesn’t give confidence to an average Pakistani. However, there is also the probability that there was cooperation between the Pakistan army and the US special forces that were stationed near Tarbela Dam for more than a year. However, if the theory about cooperation proves right then it has serious repercussion for Pakistan. The Taliban have already issued a threat to the Pakistani government. Earlier in 2006, Pakistan army’s cooperation with the US in attacking Damadola had resulted in a backlash from the Taliban against several military facilities. In any case, the capture of a dead bin Laden is just an event in the history of the decade-long war on terror. It does not necessarily mean that the world has changed — certainly not for Pakistan. The state and its institutions have to be watchful of the elements who are sympathetic to al-Qaida and militant ideology in general. The army as an institution and its intelligence agencies has interacted with Afghan jihad that started in the early 1980s and its later versions as well. Resultantly, the security and law enforcement organizations have people sympathetic to bin Laden’s cause, not to forget the right wing media which A pril 23, 2011: Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani stood 800 yards away from where Osama bin Laden breathed his last telling cadets of the PMA Kakul’s 123rd long-course about the army finally managing to break the terrorists’ backbone. He had assured the audience that day of his organization’s cognizance of threats to the country and its capacity to keep the country secure. The events of May 2 raise a lot of questions about these claims. People inside and outside the country continue to be in a state of shock more so because they are clueless about how much was the Pakistan army in the loop before the US conducted the operations. Did the army chief know about Osama bin Laden’s presence in the area? And did the American conduct the op- PAKISTAN has mostly been trying to cast doubts over the recent American military operation. All political and religious rightwingers including the former army chief Pervez Musharraf have been trying to raise the issue of the US operation being a breach of Pakistan’s security and sovereignty, a line that was picked up by most television anchors and journalists. VIEW FROM In fact, the GHQ-friendly media is trying hard to stand the event on the government’s head and demanding an explanation from the political government rather than the army chief or the head of the ISI. But referring to the question of what was exactly happening in the garrison city of Abbottabada also raises questions about ISI’s involvement or its efficiency. If the country’s primary intelligence agency which is known for terror, izing ordinary citizen and keeping a watch over all and sundry did not know of bin Laden’s presence then it raises serious questions regarding its ability to protect Pakistan. If, however, they were voluntarily hiding bin Laden then it raises question about the agency’s ideological inclination. There is no doubt about the fact that ISI is not a rogue institution. Nevertheless, its insti- tutional memory or overall objectives may increasingly be sympathetic to militancy The influence of . the pro-jihad elements such as Lt Generals (retd) Hameed Gul or Akhtar Abdur Rehman (who created the Afghan jihadis) within the institution is obvious, especially if we look at the only unofficial website of the organization. The three heads of the organization popularized on the website are Lt Generals Ahmed Shuja Pasha (current), Hameed Gul and Akhtar Abdur Rehman. The site speaks volumes of the ideological inclination of the organization (the ISI headquarters have never contradicted or distanced itself from the “unofficial” website).The fact of the matter is that the successful operation is likely to open a Pandora’s box for Pakistan as many more questions will be asked form within the country and from outside. Many will see Pakistan military as having lied to the world. How did bin Laden reached Abbotabad and who were involved in his transportation and keeping him there will rock Pakistan in the coming months and years. According to strategic affairs commentator Ejaz Haider, the ISI was completely ‘stumped’ with such revelation. Could this now lead to an internal friction within the army is a question worth asking and exploring. The military will have to make hard choices of fighting terrorism with greater commitment as does the political dispensation in Islamabad. The author is a security analyst and author of ‘Pakistan’s Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 197999: In Search of a Policy’. She has worked as a director of naval research, making her the first civilian and woman to work at that position We have failed to use force to punish enemies T The US went to great lengths to extricate him. In our case, a former Prime Minister dehe elimination of Osama bin Laden was cided in moments of delusion to put an end to a copybook special force operation, and RAW’s operations in Pakistan, and many hapit holds many lessons for India, because less operatives were also abandoned! Thirdly, special force units require the best Indian political leadership — lacking knowledge about matters military — has been re- possible equipment and must be trained for any eventuality The US Navy’s Seals are a first. luctant to use force to punish its enemies. For instance, after the attacks on Parlia- rate outfit, and though perhaps only a shade ment and on Mumbai, India’s military chiefs less lethal than Britain’s low-key SAS, they had suggested surgical strikes at terror camps have an edge in the equipment they use. In this attack on Osama — in PoK near the Line of Control, though little is as yet known, but the government — Vajpayee’s about what technologies were and Manmohan Singh’s — simply used — it was certainly better lacked the nerve. than the best in the world, as we But the political establishnow know that Pakistani radars ment’s ignorance apart, India’s were jammed by the US during military commanders must also the operation. share the blame for not pushing Sadly India’s special forces could , their point, convincingly enough. not only do with better equipment In contrast, Mr Obama — but also need better understanding though not a military man — has of their capabilities. They are often been quick to learn and grasp the treated by our senior military comimportance of the use of force to ANALYSIS manders as an adjunct of our regshow that America means busiular troops (as another ghatak planess, and that he, though a civilian did connect with his troops on the ground. toon), and their CO, a Colonel, is often brow beat. And the first lesson is therefore that, a po- en by the our rank conscious hierarchy And finally, the need for continuity in litical leader must synergize the military option into his plans, and then leave it to the mil- planning operations is essential. Apparently, itary to go out and do a job that they have though the hunt for Osama began just after 9/11 ten years ago, this operation itself trained themselves for. Secondly, a military operation — especial- that eliminated him, was in the making ly one as sensitive as this — cannot be done for over three years. But in India’s case, our without accurate and timely intelligence. This plans change every two to three years, in is a painfully long process, and is not about keeping with the maximum tenure at a one-upmanship, where one agency tries to win post for most civil and military officials. After that, a complete turnover of staff takes brownie points over the other (as is often the place and old lessons and reports are often set case in India). It’s about inputs, checks, research and analy- aside, as new strategies are adopted. And this sis. More importantly everyone must be on the is the time when a terrorist group decides to , same page. For the Americans it has always execute its next dramatic attack. In a few months, it’ll be three years since been ‘country first’, whereas in India, there are intelligence agencies galore with each pro- the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. But unlike the US, we’ve shown that India is willing to fortecting their turfs of interest. Moreover, it is important to invest in high- give and forget. quality intelligence operatives and to protect Maroof Raza is the head of Security them if their cover is blown (as was the case Watch India with CIA’s Raymond Davies). Maroof Raza GRABBING EYEBALLS AFP Conspiracy theories abound on Osama killing TIMES NEWS NETWORK H WHAT’S MAKING NEWS? A woman scans newspapers announcing Osama’s death, in Washington ow exactly did Osama bin Laden die? Barely 24 hours after the death of the al-Qaida supremo, versions other than the one offered by the US authorities have emerged. On Tuesday, Pakistan’s leading English newspaper, The Dawn, headlined its lead story: Was Osama killed by US troops or his own guard? US authorities had said on Monday that Osama was shot in the head following a firefight with a Navy Seals team. It said, “An official indicated that the 54-year-old mastermind of the biggest and most devastating attack on US soil might have been killed by one of his own guards in line with his will to avert his capture.” The unnamed official had visited the scene of the night assault soon after the departure of the US team. “From the scene of the gunbattle it doesn’t look like he could have been killed at point blank range from such a close angle, while offering resistance,” it quoting him said. The Daily Telegraph, London, did not dispute ‘thekilled-in-firefight’ story. But it put a new spin to the way Osama’s last moments were enacted. A news report headlined, Osama killed cowering behind his ‘human shield’ wife, said “the al-Qaida leader’s last act was to force his young bride to sacrifice TWIST IN TALE Dawn, Pakistan An official indicated that the 54-year-old mastermind of the biggest and most devastating attack on US soil might have been killed by one of his own guards in line with his will to avert his capture Daily Telegraph, London The al-Qaida leader’s last act was to force his young bride to sacrifice her life as he tried to fire back at the US Navy Seals storming the compound her life as he tried to fire back at the US Navy Seals.” It quoted John Brennan, the chief US counter-terrorism adviser, saying: “She fought back when there was an opportunity to get bin Laden. She got positioned in a way that she was being used as a shield.” Another report also by Daily Telegraph, contradicted the story It was headlined, Osama . “was not armed and did not use wife as human shield”. “US officials have now conceded that Osama was not armed during the assault, did not fire back and that his wife was only injured in the assault, most likely in the crossfire, according to unnamed officials quoted by the US website Politico,” the report said. ‘Escape artist’ meets his end? Not all are convinced Washington: Knowing there would be disbelievers, the US says it used convincing means to confirm Osama bin Laden’s identity during and after the firefight that killed him. But the mystique that surrounded the terrorist chieftain in life is persisting in death. Was it really him? How do we know? Where are the pictures? Already those questions are , spreading in Pakistan and surely beyond. In the absence of photos and with his body given up to the sea, many people do not want to believe that bin Laden — the Great Emir to some, the fabled escape artist of the Tora Bora mountains to foe and friend alike — is really dead. US officials are balancing that skepticism with the sensitivities that might be inflamed by showing images they say they have of the dead al-Qaida leader and video of his burial at sea. Still, it appeared likely that photographic evidence would be produced. “We are going to do everything we can to make sure that nobody has any basis to try to deny that we got Osama,’’ John Brennan, President Barack Obama’s counter-terrorism adviser, said Monday . He said the US will “share what we can because we want to make sure that not only the American people but the world understand exactly what happened.’’ In July 2009, the US took heat but also quieted most conspiracy theorists by releasing graphic photos of the corpses of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s two powerful sons to prove American forces had killed them. US has cited evidence that satisfied the Navy Seal force, and at least most of the world, they had the right man. AP Hunt ends for Seal Team Six, Religious zeal injected easily in Pak but the fight far from over bloodstream will be hard to extract Washington: Osama bin Laden’s death in a rippedfrom-a-spy-thriller helicopter An introduction to the elite group that conducts top secret raid and firefight gives a sto- missions, including combat, anti-terror and rescue operations ried unit of US special operSeal Team Six formed in 1987 in the aftermath of the botched ations forces bragging rights 1980 attempt to rescue 52 Americans held hostage in the US for what has become the most embassy in Tehran famous covert operation since the 9/11 attacks launched on Unit tasked with carrying out highly secret bin Laden’s orders. missions that are often officially denied by the US The unit, called Navy Seal military and government Team Six, probably won't Often referred to as ‘black operatives’ or more claim the credit publicly how, simply ‘black ops’ ever. US officials say units Few outside the military are sure what the from Seal Team Six dropped unit is called. The most plausible is Naval into bin Laden’s high-walled Special Warfare Development Group or compound in Pakistan early just DEVGRU Monday morning, sliding down ropes in the pre-dawn Popularly known as Seal team dark. The military won’t conSeals specialise in amphibious firm which unit carried out operations But as their recent the attack. actions show, they are capable of But the head of the Navy operating in any environment Seals, Rear Admiral Edward Based at the Naval Air Station Winters, sent an email conOceana in Virgina gratulating his forces and warning them to keep their Most members are fluent in mouths shut. “Be extremely one or more foreign careful about operational selanguages curity he added. “The fight ,” In Sunday’s operation, some team is not over.” members apparently could speak Pashto Made up of only a few hundred forces based in Virginia, the elite Seal unit offi- Afghanistan. Some 4,500 elite started in Iraq, as an outgrowth cially known as Naval Special special operations forces and of the fusion of special operaWarfare Development Group, support units have been part tions forces and intelligence in or “DEVGRU” is part of a spe- of the surge of US forces there. the hunt for militants there. cial operations brotherhood CIA Director Leon Panetta Seals and Delta both, comthat calls itself “the quiet pro- was in charge of the military manded by then-special operfessionals.” team during the covert opera- ations chief Gen Stanley McSeal Team Six raided tar- tion, a US official said. While Chrystal, learned to work gets outside war zones like the president can empower the much like FBI agents, first atYemen and Somalia in the Seals and other counterter- tacking a target, killing or cappast three years, though rorism units to carry out covert turing the suspects, and then the unit operates primarily actions without CIA oversight, gathering evidence. in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama’s McChrystal described it The unit is overseen by the team put the intelligence as building a network to chase Joint Special Operations Com- agency in charge, with other a network, where the special mand, which oversees the US elements of the national secu- operations forces work Army’s Delta Force and other rity apparatus answering to with intelligence analysts special units. JSOC’s combined them for this mission. back at a joint base. The forces have been responsible Seal Team Six actually raiders, he said, could collect for a quadrupling of countert- works so often with the intel- valuable “pocket litter” from errorism raids that have tar- ligence agency that it’s some- the scene, like documents or geted militants in record num- times called the CIA’s Pretori- computers, to exploit to hunt bers over the past year in an Guard — a partnership that the next target. AP SEAL OF APPROVAL Mosharraf Zaidi ow that Osama bin Laden is in the bag, the big question is how much the Pakistani authorities knew? About bin Laden’s whereabouts, about the intelligence operation that had identified his couriers, about the surveillance that began in earnest in August of last year, and about the actual operation that took place on May 1 in the dead of the Abbottabad night. From the Pakistani and US authorities, there seems to be a well-coordinated effort to create the impression that Pakistan was kept in the dark about the operation. This suits the narrative of an unreliable Pakistani intelligence community that may have tipped off the al-Qaida chief. It also creates plausible deniability for Pakistani authorities, who have, no doubt, learnt the lesson from the real-life Shootout at Lokhandwala scenes enacted at the Red Mosque in Islamabad in 2007. The fallout from Red Mosque continues to haunt Pakistani tombs, shrines, mosques, universities, markets and street corners. Just because the ‘exclusion of Pakistan’ fable suits both countries however, doesn’t make it necessarily true. The symbiosis of the dysfunctional US-Pakistan relationship is one of the qualities that sustains it. That bin Laden was alive and well till May 1 because the Pakistanis were helping him, and that he is dead and buried, because the Pakistanis helped kill him N MOVING ON: A makeshift memorial at the site of the World Trade Center —both can be simultaneously true. And they probably are. Duality is something that the Pakistani state must now contend with for the better part of a generation. Much time, effort and resources were invested in building the edifice of a second-line defence — or infrastructure of terror, if you will — to contend with the bigger, richer, and almost routinely smarter India. It will take some doing to dismantle it. Religious zeal was easy to inject into the Pakistani bloodstream, it will be VIEW difficult to extract. The process cannot and must not be rushed. A superpower with some experience in how the world works, would understand this. It appears it’s the case with the US, whose topsy turvy relationship with Pakistan is not going to disintegrate suddenly . On the other hand, it appears that India’s ambitions for a regular role in world affairs beyond the showing off of IT services behemoths at the World Economic Forum require some time before PAKISTAN coming to fruition. India is, by size, by cultural richness and depth, and by history and anthropology fully due a glob, al leadership role. But global leaders are innovators and jump starters. They help ignite prosperity and security in their own neighborhoods --- think US with Mexico and Canada. The glee and hubris that is so palpable, at least among the Delhi policy elite unfortunately, suggests that there is plenty of partition baggage left, both from 1947 and 1971. FROM notPakistan is in a position to teach India how to conduct itself. India is a more successful economy But India has a sub. stantial number of challenges that it needs to address. While it has had tremendous success in dealing with insurgencies in cases like Punjab, it has failed miserably in others, like Kashmir. Pakistan's current dilemma is that even if all the wisdom in India, or the world, were to somehow be injected into the Pakistani elite, there is little it could do functionally that would reflect immedi- ately on the ground. Short term steps that have visible outputs, tend to produce long term outcomes that are dangerous and often difficult to predict. So yes, some elements of Pakistan may have harbored bin Laden, and may be harboring others like him that India is interested in prosecuting. But India is not the US. It has neither the leverage over Pakistan that Uncle Sam enjoys, nor an understanding of Pakistan that would enable it to conduct a reasonable calculus of the pros and cons of a direct military action in Pakistani territory Suggestions to . take action on Pakistani soil by Indians need to be treated with the contempt that responsible people reserve for ignorant and extremist ideologues. It was a bad idea after 26/11 and it is a bad idea now. The path of slow, gradual and constructive engagement, which is the one that PM Manmohan Singh has chosen is the only option India has to gain influence and leverage in Pakistan. Luckily it also happens , to be the right choice. Mosharraf Zaidi is a political analyst based in Islamabad 24 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2011 The life of the common man should not be affected by any fuel price hike. JAYANTHI NATARAJAN, Congress spokesperson Caging Hawks Post-Osama Indo-Pak talks, not muscle-flexing, will resolve issues like terrorism or Kashmir Dipankar Gupta Free It Up Put diesel price deregulation on the agenda he UPA government has hard choices to make next week. Indications are that if and when the ministerial panel on fuel prices meets on May 11, it will go ahead and hike petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices to ease pressure on state-run oil firms owing to rising global crude prices. But this is a half-step, addressing a symptom that’s bound to recur if the underlying problem stays unaddressed. RBI’s monetary policy statement has highlighted the need to go ahead with full deregulation of fuel prices with diesel next on the table. New Delhi must find the political will to carry through the process. Political instability in the Middle East had pushed the average crude price for the Indian basket to $110.4 per barrel in March 2011. Conventional wisdom holds that at a time inflation is a core issue, making fuel prices reflect global trends will exacerbate the problem. But this is a specious argument, as RBI governor D Subbarao has pointed out. In the case of diesel, if prices aren’t freed up, fiscal expansion through a greater subsidy burden will boost inflation in any case. And lowering subsidy allocation as the finance minister has done is a sleight of hand. Mounting under-recoveries of state-run oil companies will impact government revenues in the end. In the medium-to-long term, such a policy will drive a wedge deeper into the fiscal deficit. Oil PSUs still look to the government to allow petrol price hikes despite deregulation. As a result, domestic prices don’t truly reflect international trends. Freeing up diesel prices and allowing a market-dictated passthrough of petrol prices will bring about market efficiency and appropriate demand adjustment. The crucial balancing part of the equation to avoid impacting growth negatively is to rationalise the fuel tax regime. Currently , customs duty on crude oil is 5% and on petrol and diesel 7.5%, while excise duty on petrol and diesel is Rs 14.35 and Rs 4.60 per litre respectively Cumula. tively taxes make up half the retail prices of motor fuel. , That is where the government has the most space to manoeuvre in achieving the twin objectives of completing deregulation without undercutting growth or pinching consumers. Also, those who can afford higher-priced petrol must be discouraged from making wasteful and environmentally harmful use of subsidised diesel. As for the dent in tax revenues, the shortfall for bridging the fiscal deficit – which seems the finance minister’s main focus – can be made up elsewhere. There’s enough flab in government expenditure to be cut. Economic logic must provide the political will that is currently lacking. W T ho let the Hawks out in India? The American SEALS, of course. They took wing after the Hollywood-like finish with which the American Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) forces rubbed out Osama bin Laden. This spectacular event also converted some of our defence experts into scriptwriters. If only India could send its commandos to do a sequel to the Osama episode, that would be one blockbuster. Well, what is the delay? We know that Dawood is in 30, Defence Housing Society in Karachi and Hafiz Saeed of Jamaat-ul-Dawa in 4, Lake Road, Lahore. So why doesn’t India come down from the skies and turn their lights off ? They may not be in the mood for guests, but we shouldn’t let that stop us. What Indian hawks miss out in their posturing is that the Kashmir problem will not be resolved by capturing or killing some unbelievably evil people in Pakistan. Terrorists have a way of breeding rapidly if they receive political patronage. Ergo, to resolve Kashmir, or terrorism in the subcontinent, there is no alternative but a state-to-state dialogue. If we must be inspired by events outside, then let us think Ireland, not America. The long years of violence between the Protestants and Catholics came to a close in Northern Ireland once the British and Irish governments decided to call it a day It is only then that the Good . Friday Agreement of 1998 could be signed and delivered. It is this high-level goodwill and plain straight talk that finally ended the “Troubles” in Ireland. For years the British did to Irish Republicans what our native hawks want us to do to Pakistani jihadists. They killed, captured and maimed hundreds, but that did not bring them closer to peace. True, Bill Clinton started the process by turning off the taps that funded IRA terrorists, but that was not enough. Eventually it was the resolve of the governments of Ireland and Britain that did the trick. Even if India can pull off a An Indian soldier in Kashmir: Guns and poses For years the British did to Irish Republicans what our native hawks want us to do to Pakistani jihadists. Ireland teaches us peace happens only when governments want peace forced entry into Lahore, Karachi, or wherever, this will not keep the jihadis from breeding. As long as the Pakistani government holds on to the petri-dish, terrorists will spawn like worms. Ireland teaches us that peace happens only when governments want peace. Make no mistake, the fissures in Northern Ireland ran very deep, perhaps deeper than those in Kashmir. During the decades-long “Troubles”, the Catholics and Protestants were using a number of tell-tale signs to mark each other out. They not only went to separate churches, but also played different sports. Even personal names and the use of certain phrases bore an identity tag. Close attention was paid to the way alphabets “a” and “h” were pronounced. On an everyday basis people resolved to such acts of “telling” in order to make out friend from foe. As long as the Republic of Ireland and the British government tried to scare each other, the “Troubles” got worse in Northern Ireland. Over time, the resemblances between the two sides grew and so did their mutual antipathy. In India we run the same risk. Whenever Pakistan postures aggressively, we have to reciprocate. Where is the alternative? This has had disastrous consequences for Indo-Pak relations and there is really no end in sight. For some time, there is a deceptive peace in the Valley, and then suddenly a single stone starts an avalanche. Such incidents bring out the worst in both Pakistan and India. Religious bigots, whether Hindu or Muslim, are able to raise the ante and scare the rest from calling their bluff. It is this that keeps miracles from happening. Who would have imagined, prior to the Good Friday Agreement, that the Republic of Ireland would actually change Articles 2 and 3 of its Constitution? With this single act it gave up its long-cherished claim on Northern Ulster. On the other side, Britain too reciprocated by repealing the Ireland Act of 1920. India and Pakistan need to do something that is as grand and magnanimous as this. The mood against violence is unshakably palpable in all Ireland. When a car bomb killed a rookie Catholic policeman in Northern Ireland, activists from both sides condemned the attack. Catholics and Protestants went in large numbers to the funeral. Many wore T-shirts or carried banners on which “Not in my name” was boldly lettered. When peace looks this good up close, it can help overcome personal tragedies. We can have such a happy ending too, but not with swooping hawks or staged melodrama. Sadly the Abbottabad incident , shows that Pakistan is unwavering in its support to jihadis. Now that it has been shamed in the open, Pakistan must quickly make up its mind: will it hit back or think about peace? One often slips up on their names, but what Obama is to Osama, Geelani of Kashmir is not to Gilani of Pakistan. The latter two get on fine and, objectively, need each other. It is this tie that needs to snap, but that will not happen till the government of Pakistan (or is it just the ISI?) wants it to. Perhaps a push from big brother might help. If Bill Clinton could do it for Ireland, President Obama should do it for us. Only then will the war on terror, in Kashmir and elsewhere, end. In the meantime, Indian hawks could lend their talents to Bollywood. The writer is former professor, JNU. Held Accountable Apply right to services across the country ice-president Hamid Ansari has said, “The days of the so-called maibaap sarkar are over.” Are they truly? They can be, if we empower citizens in terms of what he calls a new paradigm of “right and entitlement”. With issues like corruption and governance deficit in public focus, let’s have laws and institutional mechanisms that eliminate the ‘mai-baap’ culture characterising bureaucracy. Inordinate delays in and poor delivery of government services mar good governance and encourage graft. The way forward is to make service delivery an entitlement rather than an extension of patronage politics. It’s, therefore, welcome that Delhi has joined states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar by ratifying its own variant of a law guaranteeing right to timely services from civil servants. The Delhi Right of Citizen to Time-Bound Delivery of Services Act allows for fines on officials who delay clearance of files and service delivery within stipulated time frames. This will compel greater administrative responsiveness and help reduce corruption. People can expect greater bureaucratic alacrity in a range of services, be it delivery of ration cards or public amenities. But, as highlighted by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, an awareness campaign must also educate the masses about their rights. Further, administrative reforms like simplifying official procedures and points of contacts, besides minimising political interference especially in official postings and transfers, must complement right to services. Also, bureaucratic delay is often politically dictated, so safeguards are needed against unfair penalties. If RTI targeted red tape and official secrecy right to , service equips citizens to hold authorities accountable. The vice-president rightly said citizens now view “government interventions…through the prism and framework of rights.” Thanks to increased literacy and economic progress, people everywhere expect more from public servants. All the more reason right to services should be applied across the country . ‘Strengthening South-South cooperation is crucial’ In the midst of the upheavals in the Arab world, Morocco is undertaking extensive constitutional reforms to strengthen democracy. Recently in New Delhi for the 4th session of the India-Morocco joint commission, Moroccan foreign trade minister Abdellatif Maazouz spoke to Rudroneel Ghosh about reforms and relations: I How will King Mohammed VI’s latest push for constitutional reforms address desires for greater political, social and economic freedoms in Morocco? The core of His Majesty’s programme of constitutional reforms is separation of powers between the government, the legislature and the judiciary. Greater power is envisaged for the executive headed by the prime minister. Second, there is great emphasis on the constitutionalisation of human rights by defining rules that preserve freedoms of unions, political parties, press, consumers etc. Morocco is a democratic constitutional monarchy. The present reforms will enhance the existing provisions of the Constitution and strengthen democratic institutions. The process of regionalisation that has been initiated will see greater political and economic powers being devolved to the regions. The latter will now directly elect the presidents of regional councils, which in turn will have a great degree of autonomy to manage regional affairs. All this and more will be defined in the new Constitution. I Is there a case for greater Indian engagement with North Africa? Certainly. Morocco is working for the establishment of consolidated economic cooperation that would bring about regional integration in North and subSaharan Africa. Owing to free trade agreements it has with most North African countries and its efforts to set up preferentried to establish a roadmap for bilateral trade. We have targeted some specific sectors we want to develop together. Textile is one such sector where we can compliment each other and jointly target markets in Europe and the US that have a steady demand for Moroccan goods. Another sector that has great potential for cooperation is IT. Joint ventures here, both in software and hardware, can open the door to growing markets in Africa. Trade exchanges between India and Morocco have tripled between 2005 and 2010. India is Morocco’s third trading client in the world and the first at the Asian level. I What are some important decisions the commission has taken this time? We have decided to convene every three years. A sub-commission of experts will meet every 18 months. Indian and Moroccan private sectors will have task forces in the areas of textile, IT, energy and pharmaceuticals. A delegation of Indian textile businessmen is already expected in Morocco in September. Given the great potential of the two countries, their strategic geographical locations as well as the strong political will on both sides which has always pushed for bilateral cooperation, i believe that maritime routes linking the Tangiers Port in north Morocco and the different ports in India will play a substantial role in promoting commercial relations. I Along with trade, how can we enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries? The two countries have very rich cultures. Our histories stretch back millennia. Diplomatic missions in both countries should organise greater people-to-people and cultural exchanges. India is very strong in IT and perhaps we can leverage this to share our cultural heritage like writing, literature, etc. We already have one common historical figure, Ibn Battuta. Perhaps we should start there. V Q&A tial trade agreements with certain sub-Saharan countries, Morocco could be a platform for Indian investment in this region. A tripartite partnership between India, Morocco and other African countries with the aim of harnessing investment opportunities and strengthening SouthSouth cooperation is crucial. I How can, and will, the India-Morocco joint commission take bilateral relations forward? The commission this time Crown and country The real reason why the WillKat wedding wasn’t an affair to be sneezed at Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT In the event, i didn’t go to the WillKat wedding. For one thing, i read somewhere that the couple were going to be serving wine and champagne at the event but no beer. Why? Because beer – unlike wine and champagne – is seen to be a drink of the working classes. Beer at a Windsor at-home? Good lord. Mummyji would get her tiara, not to mention other things, in a right royal twist. The other reason that i didn’t go is that over the years i’ve developed an allergy to any form of royalty. Some people are allergic to peanuts, or prawns, or dairy products. If, by mistake, they ingest one of these things their faces swell up, or they break out in spots. In my case, my allergy to royalty causes me to break into a sneezing fit, often at the mere mention of a member of the species. It first manifested itself years ago when i knew a Calcutta family the head of which had in his youth been an ADC to a Rajasthani maharaja. Every now and then, in the course of general conversation (So hot and sticky the weather is, no?), mention would be made of the maharaja connection whereupon the entire family would apparently be seized by a collective fit of sneezing, all of them going Ziness!, Ziness!, Ziness ! Bless you, i’d say to them. Bless you, bless you. One day one of them asked me: Why do you keep saying bless you? Because , you keep sneezing all the time, i replied, and demonstrated how they did it: Ziness! We’re not sneezing, you idiot, i was informed. We’re referring to His Ziness, the Maharaja. It seemed that, in royal circles, the preferred pronunciation of ‘Highness’ – as in ‘His Most Royal and Exalted Highness’ – was ‘Ziness’ with an exclamation mark at the end and an accompanying clicking together of heels. I don’t know if it was that particular experience or something else, but i start sneezing when people start talking about royalty. Reason i don’t play cards. Can’t, what with all those kings and queens mucking about. Anyway, i’m glad that the WillKat nuptials went off without any glitches, or sneezes. Though it all seemed pretty tame stuff, no drama-baji like we have in Indian weddings. No last-minute dowry demands. No bhangra-ing baratis. No helicopters. No shotguns fired into the air, bringing down the stray crow or curious bystander caught in the blast. No wailing pooh-paah cars competing with the wailing of shehnais. No Bollywood starlets doing item numbers. Still, it was a nice shaadi, and i wish the couple all the best for the future. As and when Mummyji finally steps down, and Charlie-baba ascends to the throne – How will they get him out of the wheelchair and onto it? – Willie will be next in line to be king. Perhaps it’s time he began to take a few kingly lessons. True, he’ll be king of only a small, wet island largely inhabited by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis who run balti restaurants the waiters of which are rumoured to spit in cheery contempt into the chicken tikka masala that the natives consume with obsessive dedication. But a king’s a king for all that, and a little royal tutoring might well be in order. Where should Willie go to get it? Ever since the French Revolution, royalty keeps a low profile in Europe. As in the case of the midget monarch, Sarkozy I of France, who stands five-foot nothing in his elevator shoes. With the Indian takeover and the booting out of the poor Chogyal, royalty has been banished from Sikkim, as it has from Nepal following popular demand. Bhutan’s King Jigme Wangchuk has stepped down for his son (why won’t Mummyji take a hint?) and has also announced a rollout plan for democracy. The anti-royal Jasmine Revolution is sweeping West Asia and North Africa. So where can poor Willie go to learn to be a proper monarch? Which is the only country left in the world where dynasty is destiny, and destiny is dynasty? All right Willie, pop across and we’ll try and arrange to get you a darshan of a truly Royal Family OK, Maharani Soniaji, Yuvraj Rahulji? Ziness! (Damn, . there goes the sneezing again.) This is a fight between credibility and opportunism. This is a fight between YSR district and Delhi The location (where Osama was staying) is next to the place where i used to run, maybe passing in front of the house Last few games had hamstring, knee and neck. Too much diving in the field and thinking i’m 19 – you’re 41 Shane! – JAGAN MOHAN REDDY, YSR Congress leader, on the Kadapa bypolls – PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, former president of Pakistan, on Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad hideout – SHANE WARNE, Rajasthan Royals skipper, on ageing I SACRED S PAC E Golden Glow I She Who Builds Cathedrals – the book. And i would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, t all began to make sense, the blank after which i could pattern my work: 1) No stares, the lack of response, the way one one can say who built the great cathedrals; we of the kids will walk into the room while have no record of their names; 2) These buildi'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the ers gave their whole lives for a work they store. Inside i'm thinking, ‘Can't you see i'm would never see finished; 3) They made great on the phone?’ sacrifices and expected no credit and 4) The Obviously not; no one can see if i'm on passion of their building was fuelled by their the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, faith that the eyes of God saw everything. or even standing on my head in the corner, I read the story of a visitor who saw a because no one can see me at all. I'm the workman carving a tiny bird on the inside invisible Mom. Some days i am only a pair of of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can man, 'Why are you spending so much time you tie this? Can you open this? carving that bird into a beam that will be Some days i'm not a pair of hands; i'm not covered by the roof, No one will ever see it.’ even a human being. I'm a clock to And the workman replied, 'Because ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite God sees.' guide to answer, 'What number is I closed the book, feeling the the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to missing piece fall into place. It was order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' almost as if i heard God whispering Some days i'm a crystal ball; to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices 'Where's my other sock? Where's you make every day even when no , my phone?, What's for dinner?' one around you does. THE I was certain that these were No act of kindness you've I SPEAKING I the hands that once held books done, no sequin you've sewn on, and the eyes that studied history, no cupcake you've baked, no last TREE music and literature. But now, minute errand is too small for me they had disappeared into the pickle jar, to notice and smile over. You are building a never to be seen again. She's going, she's great cathedral, but you can't see right now going, and she’s gone! what it will become. One night, a group of us were having As mothers, we are building great dinner, celebrating the return of a friend cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing , from England who’d just gotten back from a it right. And one day it is very possible that fabulous trip. I was feeling pretty pathetic, the world will marvel, not only at what we when she turned to me with a beautifully have built, but at the beauty that has wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you been added to the world by the sacrifices of this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of invisible mothers. May 8 is Mother’s Day. Europe. I wasn't sure why she'd given it to me until i read her inscription: 'With admiration www.freshbrewedlife.com for the greatness of what you are building www.speakingtree.in when no one sees.' Join the world’s first spiritual networking In the days ahead i would read – no, devour site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Nicole Johnson I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX JUGULAR VEIN Whatever is real and true lives on despite the amount of alloy mixed in or accumulated layers of dust. Would the world be just as beautiful if we had left all the impure gold or raw diamonds buried away? I must learn to value myself, an eternal spirit of divinity , and do all i can to make it glow... Brahmakumaris As gold is tested in four ways by rubbing, cutting, heating and beating – so a man should be tested by these four things: his renunciation, his conduct, his qualities and his actions. Chanakya In the fire of creation, gold does not vanish; the fire brightens. Each creature God made must live in its own true nature; how could i resist my nature that lives for oneness with God? Mechthild von Magdeburg Today is Akshaya Tritiya I Need to be fighting fit The Second Opinion ,‘In dubious battle’ (May 4) by Jug Suraiya, rightly says a dead bin Laden might prove even more of a terrorist rallying point. A movement of this magnitude and especially those that rely on fanaticism and the mad frenzy of their followers to ‘do or die’ cannot be stopped by the killing of one individual. It is because the individual ceases to exist that he bestows upon each of his followers the baton of responsibility to carry forward his mission. The post-Osama period will be the real test of all nations fighting against terrorism since the al-Qaida will be only too eager to uphold the cause of what it sees as bin Laden’s ‘martyrdom’. It will try to do everything possible to keep his legend alive. The world should be more vigilant and prepare to face the threats lying ahead. Neena Wazir, VIA EMAIL II The editorial ‘End Of The Road’ (May 3) rightly concludes that the terror threat doesn’t cease with the elimination of Osama bin Laden. However, bin Laden owes his creation and prominence to the US-sponsored anti-Soviet resistance in Afghanistan. Eventually, these Afghan mujahideen as mercenaries along with Pakistan-indoctrinated Kashmiri sepa-ratists unleashed anti-India terrorism in the Kashmir Valley. India has suffered scores of terror strikes, including the horrific 26/11 Mumbai attacks. American strategic interests are selforiented. Instead of celebrating the Abbottabad operation, India should learn to stand on its own against the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Lalit Ambardar, NEW DELHI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 22 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2011 Married To The Mobile Who says wedlock’s past its cell-by-date? The World, Outside The Story The grand American narrative revived by Osama’s death is unlikely to survive the future Sunil Khilnani Q uickly disconnect. Don’t you know the Punjab State Commission for Women thinks mobile phones are marriage wreckers? Pained at far too many newlyweds divorcing, this statutory body’s morphed into a marriage counselor. And its advisory says that in wedlock’s initial two years, the wife must make the “small adjustments”. Such as: not chatting on the mobile with her nosey parents – even if it’s to solicit advice on how to make a marriage work. For, hubby and in-laws can start thinking their bahu’s talkathons are with a paramour! Call it a suspected case of love, cell and dhoka. What a wring tone. Some mobile operators are already seeing profits dented courtesy business-expanding African safaris. What’ll happen if Indian brides now stop subscribing, fearing shaadi will turn to barbaadi? But hold the line. Certain telcos are reportedly thriving by selling off-limits numbers on the Do Not Call registry for princely sums. More to the point, if not their Mrs, husbands will remain customers. Presumably, another ‘adjustment’ a wife must make is not to doubt hubby dear’s fidelity when he makes those roaming calls. Nor, in a fit of rage, dial M for Mummy. After all, the Indian male seems not to want to be upwardly ‘mobile’ through his better half. A wellknown marriage portal reveals that 97% of the men it’s surveyed in a modern city like Mumbai want wives who earn less than them; only 1% wants wives to be more educated. If women happily seek partners more qualified than themselves, men go for “fair” plus “lovely”. Naturally, the more lovely the bride, the more her hotline’s jammed. And the more her number’s ‘engaged’, the more marital groom and doom there’ll be on the in-laws’ suspicion that fair is foul. Does that mean marriage is past its cell-by-date? Or that relationships are best lived out in mobile homes? Well, many brides might support Hollywood actress Eva Mendes’s view of wedlock as “very boring”. Consider, after all, another marital ‘adjustment’ that requires women to mostly do the housework. Recent research says if men do wash dishes or vacuum-clean, they must reclaim surrendered manliness by punching a few bags immediately after. So what’s new? A 2009 survey showed that men acted deaf or feigned illness when chores came up. Or they pretended to have to make a long, crucial call! Such phony excuses don’t always cell well. Talking of buying and selling, conjugal life can also be a drag thanks to yet another ‘adjustment’: gals shop alone because mall-hopping’s not a guy thing. But instead of dreading spousal extravagance, men should get on the feminine bandwidth here. Haven’t they heard of “retail therapy”? Frequent shopping, a study says, can make people live longer! That means frequent shopping can also make couples communicate longer – provided the shop frequented sells mobiles. If only spouses got SIM-biotically connected on cellular platforms with marital Apps. That way, handsets can become hand-holding devices. Hello, smart phone. Buy-buy happiness. Last Sunday in Abbottabad, one of the great, awful, stories of modern times was seemingly drawn to a conclusion. In an operation that had the drama and spectacular efficacy of an action film, the grand villain of the contemporary American imagination was finally tracked down and slain. Americans had been awaiting the moment for a decade, and when it came, the word “closure” was very much in the air. The man who authorised the operation, Barack Obama, had entered the White House on the campaign slogan ‘Yes we can.’ On the night of the killing, at Ground Zero in New York and in front of the White House, young people carried placards that declared: ‘Yes we did’. There seemed to be an end point to a narrative about the Global War on Terror. All the world over, people seek to make sense of their world by stories that have a beginning, middle and end. The impulse is both romantic and practical. But every narrative is a simplification of the individual events that are stitched together to constitute it, and in this age of Twitter and WikiLeaks, such elisions tend to come to light quickly It was only a . matter of hours after the president’s speech, which itself had been sober and scrupulous, that key elements of the story put forth by Obama’s advisers were being corrected. Bin Laden was not armed, after all. He hadn’t used a woman as a human shield. President Obama had not watched the operation in real time. Other contrary details may turn up in due course. These needn’t undermine the underlying significance of what happened last Sunday, but they underline a significance of a different type. Narrative always involves a degree of trickery – even when it’s in the service of benign effects. President Obama certainly has the rhetorical powers and imaginative ability to tell rousing stories – see Dreams of My Father, his narrative of his own coming of age. But what is more interesting about Obama as president is his temperamental resistance to the seductions of Keeping an eye on the nuances America does not have an unending future claim to history’s starring role, or to being the global enforcer of justice narrative. In fact, it was precisely his purpose to get away from overarching, framing narratives that he rightly associated with ideologically driven decisions of his predecessor. His preferred focus is domestic nuts and bolts matters like healthcare reform. Similarly in foreign policy , , Obama made clear he preferred analysis over narrative, empiricism over hardened principle, inductive logic rather than deductive reasoning. Where President Bush displayed impatience and willingness to precipitate situations – ‘pre-emption’, or the modern version of the Napoleonic ‘you engage and, then, you see’ – Obama self-consciously rejected that style, as he has rejected aviator jackets, speechifying, and ‘Mission Accomplished’ banners when he laid a wreath at Ground Zero on Thursday . If one can speak of an ‘Obama doctrine’, it is one that aspires to a rigorous empiricism: to datadriven decision making, as opposed to the ideology-tinted Bush epic, whose adepts famously spoke of ‘making their own reality’. Instead of dispensing Manichean binaries, with or against, good or evil, Obama is a nuancer. He promises the crafting of a country-by-country policy in , opposition to, for instance, a blanket doctrine of intervention. This has left him open to charges of inconsistency and vacillation. He was “leading from behind”, in the sniping assessment of an aide in a recent, much-discussed analysis in the New Yorker magazine. The bin Laden operation outflanks such assessments, providing a new story for Obama’s own presidential qualities and virtues. As good as this might be for his re-election fundraising and poll ratings, there is much of value in his original position. And perhaps implicit in that position is a recognition – denied, of course, in the cause of electoral politics – that America does not have an unending future claim to history’s starring role, or to being the global enforcer of justice. The old legends that propped up the US’s claims to act legitimately on the international stage while pursuing its own interests – ‘leader and defender of the free world’, for one – began to crumble with the end of the Cold War. Subsequent efforts to anoint the US as the vanguard of globalisation – as Clinton tried in the 1990s – and more recently, the Bush administration’s story of America as the champion of democratic freedoms, have fared poorly in the electronic mall that is world opinion. And today, as the world media swarms around a desolate compound in Abbottabad, the Arab Spring continues to astonish, a potentially transformative upheaval that escapes American choreography and marginalises its closest ally, Israel. Pakistan, America’s most necessary if least willing partner, continues to sabotage its paymaster. China flexes economic, financial and now also military muscle. India has just cancelled American bids for the largest military hardware purchase in recent years. Both US ambassadors in these two Asian countries resigned last month, each publicly expressing frustration at their inability to achieve US goals. This is the world outside the ‘main story’ of the week, which is to say this is the world as it is: a , multiplicity of unruly simulta, neous, often contradictory narratives, in which context a triumphal American story of Navy SEALs finishing off bin Laden seems a poignant throwback. Americans can take some comfort in that clear and simple story as they advance into an infinitely complicated future. But not too much. For that future – like the Osama bin Laden narrative of this week – is going to prove very difficult to control, and won’t fit within the frame of a single story. The writer is director, India Institute, King’s College, London, and an author. England to adopt three-skipper formula Not for all teams he decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to have three captains for the three cricket formats – Tests, ODIs and T20 – is innovative. But the formula may not necessarily work for all teams and in all situations. The English team’s decision relates to its recent experience. Having won an engaging Ashes series, it had little time to recharge its batteries for the World Cup. It was felt necessary to redistribute the burden of captaincy keeping , in mind the hectic playing schedule. In any case, England’s outgoing ODI captain Andrew Strauss wants to concentrate on his job as Test captain. The ECB wanted to groom younger players for leadership roles like Alastair Cook, appointed ODI captain, and Stuart Broad, appointed T20 captain. Nonetheless, there’s no guarantee the experiment will work. England coach Andy Flower has admitted as much. A multiplicity of authorities within a single team could lead to complications. Every team has a certain playing philosophy and work ethic. The captain plays Three is company when Anil Kumble took over as Test skipper from Rahul Dravid while M S Dhoni captained the one-day side. Not only did Kumble win India its first home triumph against Pakistan in 27 years, his leadership was instrumental in holding the side together during the controversial series in Australia in 2007-08. There’s no reason why England can’t replicate such success. Indeed, there’s no reason why the formula can’t become the norm among cricketI COUNTERVIEW I playing nations. Having separate captains is a way Ajay Vaishnav of the game. What is, however, to democratise leadership. At the same baffling is that many cricket time, it provides a new framework to cope pundits should take exception with the hectic schedules and strains of to the ECB’s decision. international cricket. The three-skipper It is not uncommon for lead- formula will contribute to generating a ing nations to have different fresh stream of ideas for players in all forcaptains for different forms of mats of the game that require specialised the game. In the past, countries like Austra- skills. If anything, we may see an overall lia, pioneers in this regard, have success- improvement in cricketing standards. fully implemented the idea. The Australian Such an arrangement creates the time and team achieved a fair degree of success space to nurture young leaders from the under Mark Taylor’s Test captaincy and shortest to the highest form of cricket Steve Waugh’s one-day reign. India too has while ensuring a graceful and smooth exit experimented with the two-captain model for the older leaders. ollowing Andrew Strauss’s decision to concentrate exclusively on Test cricket, the ECB has taken the wise and bold step of announcing separate Test, oneday and Twenty20 captains. Alistair Cook, long considered Strauss’s natural successor, and Stuart Broad, a vital member of the team across formats, will reinvigorate England’s efforts in the shorter versions T a crucial part in providing his team direction and leading by example. Having three skippers could be a case of too many cooks. It could also make the coach’s work more difficult, forcing him to juggle conflicting ideas. If such a system were the norm rather than a matter of need or choice, finding the right candidates to fill the posts I F T I M E S V I E WI Pak Discomfiture No Solace For India Dileep Padgaonkar One does not have to be a flag-waving peacenik to lament the tone and tenor of many of the debates on the killing of Osama bin Laden aired on our television channels. Anchors and their hawkish guests often crossed the thin line separating a vigorous but reasoned discourse from invective when they put Pakistan on the mat for its duplicitous conduct. The outbursts of patriotic frenzy ensured that voices seeking to provide some perspective and balance to the discussions were not allowed to rise above a whisper. It wasn’t a pretty sight at all to see these discussants in a state of near-hysteria when they sought to nail Pakistan’s lies, denounce its doublespeak and rap New Delhi on the knuckles for failing to summon the nerve to follow in the footsteps of the Americans. Even more unsettling was the smirk on their faces when they stopped speaking. It denoted, turn by turn, arrogance, superciliousness, condescension: all synonyms for terminal smugness. This much was most in evidence when they had to listen to the Pakistani guests on the programme. The latter, shamed and embarrassed by the recent developments, tried valiantly to defend the indefensible. Civility demanded that our hawkish anchors and experts treated them with a measure of circumspection. You do not kick a person who has tripped on the shin. Our votaries of a muscular patriotism did precisely that. Their smirk appeared to convey to the Pakistanis, with more than a hint of gloating, that their day of reckoning had arrived. This was the underlying narrative: for years India had cried itself hoarse about the safe havens that their defence and intelligence establishments had provided to terrorists of every stripe. And for years no one of consequence cared to listen. Pakistan was in denial; their western mentors chose to look the other way . Now, however, the chief mentor had called Pakistan’s bluff. No one is going to believe in its protestations of innocence any longer. It has no choice but to go before the international community in sackcloth and ashes, beg forgiveness for its past trespasses and atone for them in word and deed. The narrative, to put it bluntly, is hokum: more wishful thinking than a cool assessment of what is likely to happen next. In the weeks and months to come you can expect the Americans to leak to the media duly sanitised bits of information about whether or not the Pakistani military establishment harboured bin Laden in a safe house in the garrison town of Abbottabad. Information will also be forthcoming on whether or not America truly kept the Pakistanis in the loop when it conducted the operation leading to the death of the al-Qaida’s iconic leader. It is more or less certain that Pakistan will have more egg on its face as a result of these leaks. This is bound to add to the strains and stresses in US-Pakistan ties in the short run. But these are unlikely to reach breaking point. The army establishments of the two countries have been through thick and thin for decades. Together they ousted the mighty Soviet Union from Afghanistan. Institutional cosiness of this sort forges bonds that are not easily snapped. Moreover, the strategic interests of the two countries, especially in Afghanistan, will remain intact regardless of recent and forthcoming recriminations. Once the dust raised by the bin Laden killing begins to settle, both sides can be trusted to act in unison even though it won’t quite be business as usual. America is bound to exert pressure on the Pakistani military to come down hard on all terrorist outfits. They might be acting on their own but the passions and fantasies that drove bin Laden drive them as well. And Pakistan, mind you, can’t do without American largesse. No amount of gloating over Pakistan’s pathetic predicament at present by our trumpeters of muscular nationalism will change that. There is no alternative for us but to engage with that country with due regard for its own nationalist sentiments. To argue otherwise – and, worse still, to believe that we have the capacity to stage an Abbottabad-like operation to neutralise Pakistan-based criminals on our wanted list – is to chase a chimera. could also pose a problem. In recent years, the Indian cricket team has had two captains leading the charge in different formats. But current captain M S Dhoni has proved more than capable of handling all three formats. As things stand, there’s no reason to impose a three-skipper formula on Team India. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? The future may or may not be different. Hence, a flexible approach to the leadership question is the best option. SNAP JUDGMENT Fly By Night n the past year, 14 lakh individuals flew to six infamous tax havens, 1,000 of them making at least 30 trips and two as many as 60 each. Yet many of these worthies have incomes of a lakh per year, or none at all. Plus, many gave false addresses. Our taxmen, of course, made these discoveries at the Supreme Court's prompting. The question is, will it take more judicial prodding to bring these frequent fliers down to earth? Protect Elephants The Struggle Within I T he PMO has sadly shot down a proposal for a National Elephant Conservation Authority along the lines for tigers. Recently bestowed the title of National Heritage Animal, the elephant in India continues to suffer from a lack of concerted conservation efforts. Increasing man-animal conflict has seen elephant numbers in the wild dwindle to a mere 25,000. An independent, empowered body is a must to channel resources towards elephant conservation. I A ccording to a report carried in a Saudi newspaper, Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman alZawahiri "betrayed" him to the Americans. If this is true, it hints at the tensions existing within the alQaida. The organisation is now without a central figure like bin Laden to hold it together. We may well see an internal power struggle between the outfit’s Egyptian and Arab leadership in the months to come. I SACRED S PAC E I The Revival Of Bhakti ness. Brahmn along with these two modes formed the Tattva Traya or the threefold doctrine of guru wondered whether his student was Vishishtha Advaita philosophy that established worthy of receiving the ashtakshara an organic relationship of oneness of the unimantra that would release him from verse and individual souls along with Brahmn. earthly ills. After much deliberation, he finally Individual selves are sparks of the divine and the disclosed it, but only after wresting a promise world is no illusion. This philosophy is an intefrom him that it would not be revealed to others. gral part of Sri Vaishnavism, which says that The student pondered over the mantra and the Sriman Narayana is Paratattva, Supreme Truth. next day went atop the village temple and He is the abode of all life and is antaryamin, the , announced the mantra to a large gathering that internal controller. He is easily approachable and had collected there. The guru, furious, said that responds to his devotee’s loving devotion. The the worst hell awaited him. To which the student philosophy is theistic and says Brahmn is the replied, ‘If this act of mine delivers thousands to union of Vishnu and Lakshmi (Sri), the father heaven, i do not mind going to hell.’ Thrilled, the and mother elements, respectively. guru hugged his disciple. The guru was Saint Ramanuja was deeply influenced by the 12 Tirukkottiyur Nambi. alwars or Vaishnavite poet-saints, who Ramanuja was born in a Vaishnava were immersed in bhakti or devotion family at Sriperambudur, near Kanchitowards Narayana. Through bhakti, puram. His own teacher, YadavapraRamanujacharya advocated saranagati kash, felt threatened by the clarity and or total surrender to God. Indeed, Krishextent of his knowledge and so decidna in the Bhagavad Gita advises ed to kill him. However, due to divine Arjuna to rise above the lesser dhargrace Ramanujacharya survived. mas or duties which keep the soul THE Ramanujacharya was against the bound to matter. He urges Arjuna to I SPEAKING I caste system. He took an illiterate but 'surrender all unto me and I shall free knowledgeable saint, Kanchipurna as you from fears, bondage and sorrows'. TREE his teacher. One night Ramanuja inThe act of surrender is termed as vited Kanchipurna to his house. After serving him saranagati, which forms the nucleus of the food, Ramanuja offered to wash his feet. Kanchi- vishistha advaita philosophy and is referred to , purna was embarrassed as Ramanuja was a Brah- as the prapatti yoga. In deference to Yamunachmin. An upset Ramanuja declared that one who arya’s wishes, Ramanujacharya wrote the Sriwas devoted to God was beyond any social order. bhashya, a commentary on the Brahmasutras, Ramanuja expounded the Vishishtha Advaita Gita Bhashya, Saranagati Gadyam, among many philosophy – qualified non-dualism. It talks of a other works. He travelled all over India and stanpersonal God who is one and only one (non-dual), dardised the liturgy at many temples including but vishishtha, one with unique attributes. It the Sri Venkateshwara temple at Tirupati, and says that the Supreme Being is ‘soul of all souls’. the Cheluvanarayana temple at Melkote, KarnaHe explained that there were three factors of taka, where he spent a major part of his life. Today is Ramanuja Jayanti. interplay: God or Brahmn, we or jivatmas, nature www.speakingtree.in or prakriti. He further explained that God manifests in two modes: Chit or sentient, living beings Join the world’s first spiritual networking site and achit or non-sentient, without conscious- to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sangeeta Venkatesh E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Advaita: Non-duality The knot of ignorance in the heart is finally removed, when one comes to see one's own true non-dual nature by means of imageless Samadhi. Adi Shankara Neither gross nor subtle is my Atman; It comes not, and It goes not; Without a beginning and without an end; Neither higher nor lower is It; That Truth absolute, space-like, Immortality-giving knowledge am i. Avadhuta Gita Abide as That in which there are no concepts or anything else whatsoever, the ego ceases to exist, all desires disappear, the mind becomes extinct and all confusions come to an end – and with the firm conviction that you are That, be always happy . Ribhu Gita Tomorrow is Shankara Jayanti. Fuelling change With reference to the editorial ‘Free It Up’ (May 6), i completely share your views on the desired deregulation of prices of diesel along with a ‘rationalisation of taxes’. At present, an excise duty of Rs 14 per litre on petrol works out to be around 70% of the ex-refinery price. Likewise, excise on diesel works out to be more than 20%. If general excise duty averages around 10% for other goods, one fails to understand why fuel prices – which pertain to common utility items – should be taxed so heavily. The media should take up this issue on a sustained basis. The roots of such a taxation structure lie in the old official attitudes characterising a time when indirect taxes used to form a large part of revenues. Now that direct taxes have swelled up and exceed revenues collected from indirect taxes, there should be a fundamental shift in our fuel policy. H M Bhatt, VADODARA TALKING A TERMS It’s everybody’s war With reference to the article ‘Osama, Before And After’ (May 5) by Hamid Mir, the biggest question after the killing of Osama bin Laden is what precautions the world should take so that no more bin Ladens are produced. In this context, all democratic nations including India must extend full support to the US in the war against terrorism. While doing so, countries like Pakistan that have become safe havens for terrorists must be isolated. Instead of them being provided with generous assistance from the US, their duplicity must be exposed . Will America or even India exhibit the willpower to make the world a safer place to live in for all the innocent people who could otherwise become the targets of extremists? V R Savarkar, PUNE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 18 SHORT CUTS TIMES TRENDS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 There’s more to skirting an issue than meets the eye © Tim Pannell/Corbis Origin of Darwin’s sickness? Being an avid globetrotter Baltimore: The very travels that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and shaped modern biology may have led to one of the illnesses that plagued the British naturalist for decades and ultimately led to his death, modern researchers say. Darwin’s ailments were the topic of a conference here that offers modern medical diagnoses for the mysterious illnesses and deaths of historical figures. In past years, the conference hosted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Veterans Administration’s Maryland Health Care System has looked at Alexander the Great, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Booker T Washington. Guest speakers include Darwin’s great-great-granddaughter, poet Ruth Padel, who penned the book, “Darwin: A Life in Poems.” Philip A Mackowiak, the VA Maryland medical care clinical center chief and UM medical school professor who started the conference in 1995, had Darwin on his running list of possible candidates for years. Darwin, who lived from 1809 to 1882, travelled the world in his 20s cataloging and observing wildlife and later published “On the Origin of Species.” Throughout his life, Darwin sought help for multiple health problems, which included vomiting stomach acids after every meal when the symptoms were at their worst. He was diagnosed with dozens of condi- Darwin was beset by health problems tions including schizophrenia, appendicitis and lactose intolerance. “It is particularly poignant that the scientists and physicians of his time could not provide Darwin, the father of modern life sciences, with relief from the ailments that affected so much of his life,” Mackowiak said. The information used to evaluate Darwin’s case came from several sources, Mackowiak said, including the naturalist’s own letters, in which he wrote extensively about his complaints and his worries that he had passed on his illnesses to his children. Gastroenterologist Dr Sidney Cohen, Thomas Jefferson University medical college professor of medicine and research director, identified three illnesses. Cohen, who had no X-rays or blood studies to use in his assessment, said he had only the documented symptoms: “an analysis of this journey of invalidism that he suffered throughout his life.” “It is a symptom-based specialty though now we have some , extraordinary diagnostic tools,” he said. “It would have been nice to have some CT scans.” Cohen concluded that Darwin suffered from cyclic vomiting syndrome early in his life. His weight and nutrition remained normal since he rarely vomited food, just stomach acid and other secretions. He also believes Darwin contracted Chagas disease, a parasitic illness that can lie dormant for years, during a five-year trip around the globe on the HMS Beagle in his 20s. That illness would describe the heart disease that beset Darwin later in life and eventually caused his death, Cohen said. AP LITTLE WONDERS: Two young models at the Bucharest Fashion Week recently Ready for a kiss? Bite into a portable apple n South Korea, home of kimchi and other pungent, garlicky food, having fresh breath for life’s big moments — such as a kiss — is a major concern. But researchers may soon have a natural, portable answer — a “Kiss Apple” tiny enough to be stashed in a pocket or purse for quick eating prior to locking lips. “We want young people to eat many apples and came up with the idea of portable apples for your bags,” said Hwang Hye-sung, a researcher at South Korea’s Rural Development Administration. Apples help freshen breath naturally and remove pieces of food stuck in the teeth, but the ping-pong ball-sized apple would be easier to carry around. I Washington: How can some people skirt a question without answering it, yet satisfy their listeners? A study says that people typically judge a speaker to form an opinion, which can make them susceptible to dodges. Limited attention capacity is another reason people fall for dodges, said the authors, citing a study in which people counting basketball passes failed to notice a man in a gorilla suit, the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied reports. Dodge detection greatly increased when listeners were directed to focus on the relevance of speakers’ answers, or if the text of the correct question was visible to the listeners as the speaker responded. The ability to recognize a dodge more than doubled, from 39% without the text to 88% with the text. “Given concerns that voters are uninformed or misinformed and the many calls for increased education of voters... these results suggest that very simple interventions can dramatically help voters focus on the substance of politicians’ answers rather than their personal style,” said study authors Todd Rogers and Michael I Norton, both of Harvard University. The researchers conducted four dif- ferent experiments with four separate groups of people totalling 1,139 men and women with an average age of 44, according to a Harvard statement. In three of the studies, participants watched a video of a mock political debate and then responded to an online survey. In the fourth study, participants listened to excerpts of a recording of a mock political debate and then responded to questions. The results indicated that people are frequently unable to remember an initial question if a speaker answers a similar question. Moreover, listeners rated speakers who answered a similar question just as positively as those who answered the correct question. Listeners had the most negative reactions if speakers answered blatantly different questions or if they fumbled their words even while answering the correct question. But dodges aren’t always bad, the authors noted, “such as when someone asks co-workers for their opinion on a new outfit”. Still, results suggest that in many cases, dodges cause sought-after and relevant information to go unspoken, with little awareness and few consequences, the authors said. IANS Night owls at risk of weight gain: Staying up late can make you pile on the pounds and is fraught with other negative health consequences. Late sleepers consumed 248 more calories a day, twice as much fast food and half as many fruits and vegetables as those with earlier sleep times, according to a study by the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. They also drank more fullcalorie sodas. Late sleepers consumed the extra calories during dinner and later in the evening when everyone else was asleep. Swallow this tablet A 3-track mind? W eb tablets appear to be having a principal analyst at Gartner. a significant impact on the “With the launch of the iPad 2 in amount of time many device February, more consumers either owners spend on their switched to buy© Philipp Nemenz/cultura/Corbis other electronic gadgets, ing an alternative according to a Nielsen device or simply survey of tablet owners. held back from When asked to quantify buying PCs,” Kitathe extent to which they gawa said. used other connected Gartner Vice devices since purchasPresident Carolina ing a tablet, 32% of the Milanesi predicted respondents who also last October that owned a desktop PC said the all-in-one nathey used their tethered ture of media computers less often and tablets would rethree percent said they sult in the cannino longer use them. balization of other What’s more, those consumer elecsurvey respondents who tronics devices also owned a notebook such as e-readers, said they either used gaming devices, their laptops less often and media players. (30%) or never (two per“Mini-notebooks cent) since acquiring a will suffer from the tablet. A weak demand for PCs was strongest cannibalization threat as the biggest inhibitor of computer mar- media-tablet average selling prices ket growth in the first three months drop below $300 over the next two of 2011, according to Mika Kitagawa, years,” she said. AP Food, sleep...sex Depression too has a positive effect: Traits likes sadness and defeatism define depression but it does have its positive side. A study by the University of Basel, Switzerland, says such individuals perform better than their normal peers in decision tasks. Both groups played a computer game in which they could earn money by hiring an applicant in a simulated job search, the Journal of Abnormal Psychology reports. Healthy participants searched through relatively few candidates before selecting an applicant, while depressed ones searched more thoroughly. For suggestions, queries and comments, mail to
[email protected] London: Who says men have a one-track mind? Blokes don't just have sex on the brain -- they also think about sleep and food, says a new study . In fact, men think about all three more often than women do, according to the study carried out by Prof Terri Fisher, a psychologist at the Ohio State University in the US, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported. She asked 163 students – male and female – to carry around a chart and mark it every time they thought about sex, food or sleep. The numbers varied widely from one student who , only recorded one sexual thought a day to a male who wrote down 388 in 24 hours. But on an average, men thought about food and sleep more often than they thought about sex. And they thought about all three more often than women did. Fisher said: "Men are more aware of need-related states such as being hungry or tired or sexually aroused, and focus on those. They are also better at detecting these states in themselves than women and more willing to express their thoughts." She added that even the student who thought about sex 388 times a day was only thinking about it every 158 seconds – far fewer than the “every seven seconds” that myth would suggest. “When people hear about some of these differences, I think sometimes they don’t question it because it fits the stereotypes we have of men and women. When you stop and take a closer look at origins of some of these alleged differences, they sometimes have no empirical support,” Fisher said. PTI 20 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 ‘Acting debut at 78? Why ever not, I’ll be myself’ Asha Bhosle has rarely been conventional. She eloped at 16, married and then left the failing union to return to the parental home, two children in tow and pregnant with a third. She sang “utt-patang” songs even as her more famous sister Lata Mangeshkar was anointed Bollywood’s singing queen. In 1980, she married composer R D Burman. He was talented but much younger than her At 78, Bhosle continues to surprise. Soon . enough, she will make her debut as an actress. She tells Bharati Dubeyabout what it’s like being Asha Bhosle. Excerpts: Why have you cut back on playback singing? I don’t really like today’s compositions; that’s why I am keeping away from the "Munnis", and focusing on my private albums and shows. I recently performed at IIT, and was quite surprised to see the entire crowd singing along with me. It was quite endearing to see that youngsters love my songs, which I don’t see happening with the songs of today Yes, I have become really . selective about the songs I sing now. There was a time when people waited for an artiste. Now if they don’t find one, they go to another. They just don’t value people. And at this juncture of my career, I want to be associated with all things good. Good yes, but not mainstream? Why isn’t Indian music considered mainstream? It is the white skin that has always come in the way . Our colour will always be a problem. Whether it’s me or A R Rahman who won the Oscar, it happened only because there was a gora involved. But I hope that will change some day… You are making your acting debut with "Maae". You play the title role. How important was your mother to your life? In fact, the title “Maee” is the reason that I was instantly attracted to the project. I used to address my mother as ‘maee’. She wanted us to continue our father’s legacy and encour, aged us all to sing. She didn’t mind if we missed school, but singing was compulsory She . would always tell us that we were the most beautiful girls in the world. She even told Lata tai(Mangeshkar) that she’s more beautiful than Madhubala, which helped us gain confidence. She made us feel beautiful. Was it as easy to act as to sing for the industry’s leading ladies? It was at Anand’s (my son’s) behest that I decided to do the film. He would keep telling me “Mom, you’ve done everything, even faced the cameras. Just take the plunge.” It also helped that the film had people like Padmini (Kolhapure) in it; she’s family to me. But I did have one condition — I should be allowed to be myself. I’ll not be mouthing dialogues that don’t suit my personality Even my grandchildren are excited about it. . You like taking up challenges, don’t you? Every day of my life has been a challenge —from singing a song that is not my type to being asked suddenly to sing a classical song with no practice. But the biggest challenge was when I decided to marry Bhosle, a man of my choice. Twelve years of my life went wanted Rs 3000. That upset him and the rest of the unit, except Shammi Kapoor. He supported me and said “the song could only be sung by her and so she deserved to get that money”. What was it like being Lata Mangeshkar’s sister? It was more of a disadvantage. There would be comparisons. People would often say Lata is better. Some other woman in my place would have given up singing, but I was very stubborn. I fought and made a place for myself. Many say that marrying Bhosle was a big mistake, but I am Asha Bhosle because of him. He pushed me into singing. He kept a tutor for me and made me sing. The reason could have been money but , Iam Asha Bhosle because he helped me become one. Is there any truth to the stories about sibling rivalry between you and Lata? Yes, there is, but it’s from my sister’s side. She was the queen, and when I got popular it did upset her. Did she feel threatened by you? I didn’t know about it the first 12 years as I was away . No one could touch a singer like her, while I was a singer known to do utt-patang songs. We never got into a scrap over our songs directly I know she got upset . with me at an awards function recently when I told , her that “you are always late and never listen to my song”. She was slightly rude and said that “ Asha ne mujhe hamesha sataya hai”. I was hurt, but didn’t say anything. None of your children seems interested in carrying your legacy forward. Tell me one big name whose children achieved the same success as he or she did? God makes only one piece. There will only be a one Lata, one Rafi and one Kishore Kumar. Look at the actors — their children may be good-looking, but none could match their parents’ success. In my family my daughter Varsha , sings well, Hemant was a music director and Anand plays the tabla well, but I didn’t want to encourage them as I don’t trust this line— iska koi bharosa nahi hain. You own a chain of restaurants across the world. What made you start them? My work would force me to be out of the house most of the time. When I used to come back, the children would be all praise about the neighbour’s food. After that I made sure that I cooked for them whatever they liked. I would come back from recording and go straight into the kitchen. My son told me one day , “Mom let’s start a restaurant,” and I agreed. Today we have about 10 restaurants— three in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Muscat and London. We are planning to open one in Manchester and Egypt also. I have learned to make various kinds of dishes from various people. Majrooh Sultanpuri’s wife taught me to make kebabs, which I’ve named after her. A friend who was a chorus singer, Chandbala, taught me to make fish in curd. I learned to make Chandni Chowk keema from a person in Chandni Chowk and my children loved it. FOR THE RECORD ASHA BHOSLE into making it work. How did the family react to that? My mother was progressive in her thinking. She hugged me and said, “Live your life the way you want to. The world will talk for some time and then go silent.” Even my sister Lata and other members were okay with me. There were some who didn’t like it, but my mother stood by me and told me to focus on my life. You were one of the few artistes who demanded a higher price to sing? During those days I used to earn about Rs 500 for a song; sometimes it would go up to Rs 800. But for the “Rajkumar” song, I told producer FC Mehra that I Qaida’s hate crimes need Nuremberg II ARTS & CRAFT RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL The chances of taking Osama bin Laden alive — and to trial — were always going to be laughably low. American special forces were sent into a complex, ambiguous and dangerous situation, chasing a man with a pathological hatred of kafirs, a track record of terrorist ‘spectaculars’ and with a fervent desire to die waging jihad rather than of old age in an infidel prison. Somewhat like Adolf Hitler, al-Qaida’s founder was always unlikely to surrender. But a second Nuremberg — 65 years on —would have set new standards in international law for an unquiet 21st century riven by doubt over the treatment of non-state ‘warriors’ fighting without end on a borderless battlefield. Bin Laden’s execution — swift and described as justified self-defence in a hostile situation — smacks of frontier justice. It does nothing to advance respect for international law. It merely perpetuates the cycle of violence in pursuit of political ideals — a strategy bin Laden himself championed. As Angela le Blanc, a member of the September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows group, commented with evident sorrow after hearing that bin Laden had been shot dead by the Americans: “There are not many things I know to be absolutely true, but one of them is that violence begets violence… I and my fellow members …believe justice is achieved in the courtroom, not on the battlefield. I do not seek revenge, but rather justice— and these are two very different things.” It was a similar yearning —for justice, the triumph of manifest right not might, the end of senseless bloodshed — that led to the sober, year-long, reckoning-up in Nuremberg. It was flawed. The US chief prosecutor, Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, freely admitted as much. Critics of the Nuremberg trials notably included US Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone, who caustically called the proceedings in faraway Bavaria a “high-grade lynching party” before he died at their half-way point in April 1946. But Nuremberg lanced a deep boil even if it did not drain it. It is worth remembering that at the time, Britain’s Winston Churchill argued for the summary execution of the Nazi leadership and it was US President Truman who quoted Justice Jackson to say this “would not sit easily on the American conscience or be remembered by our children with pride”. Truman insisted that the victorious Allied forces “determine the innocence or guilt of the accused after a hearing as dispassionate as the times will permit and upon a record that will leave our reasons and motives clear”. The consequences went beyond justice for the six million who died at the hands of a vicious state apparatus and their be- Wimpish India may lose the Great Game RIGHT & WRONG SWAPAN DASGUPTA A week after 9/11, when an angry United States was planning fierce retribution against Osama bin Laden and his Taliban hosts, General Pervez Musharraf made a televised speech on the choices facing Pakistan. In a rambling address, Musharraf drew inspiration from the early history of Islam. The Prophet, he reminded viewers, had negotiated the Treaty of Hudaibiya with the Quraish of Mecca. The truce may have seemed a climb down and an admission of weakness but it offered the army of Islam the elbow room to spread the faith throughout the Arabian Peninsula. It was an invigorated Islam that finally regained Mecca. The implication was obvious: confronted by a superpower that bluntly demanded Pakistan should choose between Us and Them, Musharraf was effecting a tactical retreat. To Musharraf, the U-turn in Afghanistan didn’t signal any strategic shift or emotional conversion; it suggested dissimulation based on expediency—the al taqiyya or deception that is theologically sanctioned for the larger good of the faith. With the encounter in Abbottabad ending an exhaustive manhunt, there must be functionaries in Washington DC who regret not being more attentive to the fine print of Musharraf ’s September 2001 speech. It is not that the US and its allies weren’t aware of Pakistan’s penchant for “looking both ways” and facilitating Taliban factions. But its duplicity was sought to be rationalized as wari- reaved families. Nuremberg went beyond catharsis. It led to moves to establish a permanent international criminal court, which came into being eight years ago. It led the way to the 1948 Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And David Maxwell Fyfe, the British deputy chief prosecutor at Nuremberg, went on to draft the European Convention on Human Rights. So much quantifiable good came out of immeasurable suffering. In letters to his wife made public only in March 2009, Fyfe described the grim experience in bombed-out Nuremberg: “It is worth a year of our lives to help to register forever and with practical result the reasoned horror of humanity (at the Nazis’ misdeeds)". One “practical result” might be still to come. Nuremberg could be a style, if not a template, for establishing a proper trials process for crimes of hate. Leading British lawyer and author of “Crimes Against Humanity” Geoffrey Robertson has pointed out that bin Laden could not have been tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) because its jurisdiction only came into existence nine months after the 9/11 attacks. In any case, the US has refused to sign up to the ICC. But for al-Qaida, an ad hoc tribunal could be set up by the United Nations Security Council, with international judges that include, say Muslim jurists. , Such a tribunal might be expected to extend fairness— and just punishment — to the vanquished. Setting up a trials process for all crimes of hate — beyond alQaida, across borders, race, religion, sexual orientation and gender —would be a mammoth task. But Nuremberg is proof of the paradox — the unprecedented has precedent. In his opening statements back in November 1945, Justice Jackson explained the logistical difficulty of bringing “within the scope of a single litigation the developments of a decade, covering a whole continent, and involving a score of nations, countless individuals, and innumerable events.” The trials were a response to the world’s demand for “immediate action,” he observed. Without a trials process, the clamour for immediate action would probably have meant an eye for an eye. But as Gandhiji sensibly warned, that would make the whole world blind. We are not sightless yet. Other alQaida leaders— Ayman al-Zawahiri and further down the food chain —are ‘high-value targets’ on the American watchlist. One day soon, they may be found. If the focus were on capture, arrest, arraigning for trial and judging on evidence, real justice will be done and crucially — for al-Qaida’s constituency — seen to be done. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms ness of a regime in Kabul that valued India. As the relationship with President Hamid Karzai began souring, it suited western strategists to imagine that Pakistan’s shenanigans were facets of a new Indo-Pak proxy war. With war weariness engulfing the public mood in both the US and Britain, ‘pragmatism’ deemed that Pakistan should have a major say in determining a peace settlement that included the Taliban—as distinct from the al-Qaida. In a speech in February this year, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton even deemed that laying down of arms and acceptance of the Afghan Constitution were no longer prerequisites for dialogue with the Taliban. Until the May 2 “firefight” spoiled the party Pakistan believed it was on the cusp of a his, toric victory With President Barack Obama . having announced a phased withdrawal of US forces from July Islamabad felt it was just a , matter of time before it regained its “strategic depth” in Afghanistan. Its army chief General Kayani was audacious enough to suggest to Karzai last month that his cooperation in a settlement that accommodated the Taliban could even be underwritten by China—a country that has acquired substantial interests in the mineral wealth of Afghanistan. Of course, it was not all smooth sailing. Pakistan was worried that the Afghan conflict and its quiet encouragement of jihad had triggered a blowback. Some of the Islamist groups nurtured by the ISI to inflict pain on India had developed autonomous agendas and had even begun targeting the Pakistan military This . threat was partially offset by an unexpected bonanza: India’s retreat from its post-26/11 position of ‘no talks’ until Pakistan completely disavowed terrorism. What is now called the ABBOTTABAD RENAMED? “Mohali spirit” was also premised on the convoluted rationale that the process of normalization would bolster Pakistan’s fledgling democracy However, there is no evidence to . suggest that the Pakistani cantonments were worried by this wishful calculation. To them, India’s talks with “useful idiots” of the civilian government merely helped Pakistan look more respectable. It was also a great relief to the western powers that valued both countries: India for business and Pakistan for facilitating its exit from Afghanistan. Abbottabad has nullified this script. It was one thing for Pakistan to be harbouring Mullah Omar in Quetta, but Osama was another matter altogether. Pakistan’s perfidy hasn’t merely made the US angry; it has been shown to be a sucker. In normal circumstances, India should have been jubilant and telling the world ‘we told you so’—a sentiment echoed by the media and society Tragically the latest confirmation of Pa. , kistan’s habitually duplicitous conduct has left Manmohan Singh strangely unmoved. He has instead reaffirmed his faith in Pakistan’s innate goodness—a gesture of monumental magnanimity that is prone to being misconstrued. India’s wimpish official response to Pakistan’s double-dealing isn’t likely to generate oodles of gratitude. A beleaguered Pakistan has reacted to its own embarrassment with a heady cocktail of victimhood, nationalism and anti-Americanism. Such an outburst can’t be delinked from that country’s pet hates. When it comes to India, Pakistan is often loath to even practice al taqiyya—so profound is its fear of India’s skills of absorption. This may explain Islamabad’s calculated over-reaction to notional threats of Indian special operations. For Pakistan, anti-Indianism is the national adhesive. Pakistan is still unsure of the extent of Western retribution over its sanctuary to Osama. It is banking on a temporary frostiness that will dissipate in the face of the imminent departure from Afghanistan. Pakistan has reposed faith in the two aces it has up its sleeve: its nuclear assets and its firm alliance with China. The West, it believes, will bark but won’t dare bite. In the normal course, India would have been an additional pressure point on Pakistan. Having abandoned that option, India has made itself redundant in the Great Game. Singh may yet get to visit his native village in Pakistan. In craving that privilege, he may also secure India’s banishment from Afghanistan and the onward march of China in South Asia. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSDG <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Osama’s death may end bloom of Arab Spring SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR I did not celebrate Osama bin Laden’s death. Killing an individual is easier than killing an idea. Osama’s idea of jihad survives his death. He was the mastermind of 9/11 and the most iconic jihadi figure. Yet he had long ceased to direct jihadi movements and had run foul of some by killing Muslims opposed to al-Qaida. Nevertheless, Osama succeeded in popularizing a new version of jihad. In this, suicide attacks and civilian killings—both crimes in traditional Islam—became glorious jihadi tactics that fulfilled Islamic goals and ensured a passport to paradise. John Brown, US anti-slavery leader, led a slave uprising in 1859, and was hanged for it. Yet his ideal of abolishing slavery triumphed. This inspired the US civil war song “John Brown’s body lies a’mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on.” So too will Osama’s. His death may encourage the US to withdraw troops quickly from Afghanistan, strike a deal with the Taliban, and play down terrorism directed at India rather than the US. Pakistan will see this as vindication of its two-faced policy of using terrorists against India while playing footsie with the US. Such two-facedness may mean worse violence within Pakistan, with radicals gaining ground from liberal Muslims. India may suffer further 26/11-style attacks, more violence in Kashmir, and more external assistance for domestic jihadi groups. We may even suffer another Kandahar-type hijack. To scotch this, militant Hindus want to emulate the US by raiding and assassinating targets in Pakistan such as Hafeez Saeed of the Lashkare-Taiba, mastermind of 26/11. This approach will fail. Just look at the ultimate failure of many killing missions of Israel, which is global No.1 in political assassinations and much admired for it by the RSS. Ronen Bergman, Israeli military analyst, recalls that in 1992, Israel assassinated Hezbollah founder Abbas Mussawi. Far from weakening Hezbollah, this fuelled its anger and led to a retaliatory attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29. Mussawi’s replacement, Hassan Nasrallah, greatly increased Hezbollah’s clout using arms supplies from Iran. This helped him wage an inconclusive war against Israel in 2006. Israel inflicted much damage on Lebanon, yet ended by withdrawing, a worse outcome than anything imaginable in Mussawi’s time. In 2004, Israel assassinated Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, hoping to cripple the organization. Instead, Hamas became stronger and more aggressive. Yassin was a devout Sunni who opposed Shia Iran, but after his death, Hamas happily joined hands with Iran and was armed by it, to Israel’s utter dismay So, while India faces . a growing threat from jihadis, Israel shows us that assassination is no solution—it looks macho but ends up strengthening your foes. Ultimately , militant Islam will be quelled only by liberal Islam, not by outsiders, and that internal struggle is beyond our power to resolve. Whether we like it or not, we cannot impose a military solution. Optimists disagree. They claim that jihad as a philosophy has been beaten back by the Arab Spring, and that secular freedom movements in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya have displaced sectarian ones. I would love to believe this is the case, but history suggests otherwise. Many liberals (including me) hailed the 1979 Iranian revolution that overthrew the Shah. Alas, this brought not democracy but a murderous, oppressive theocracy . Liberals cheered prospects of democracy when Algeria held its first free elections in 1991. But an Islamist party won the first round. So, with US blessings, democracy was abandoned in favour of continued military rule. Elections in Palestine brought to power Hamas, a radical Islamic party humiliating the secular PLO. , Why do Islamists so often win free elections in the Middle East? Because local dictators can neuter secular opposition groups but dare not close down the mosques. Hence mosques become natural opposition centres. When autocracy gives way to elections, Islamic parties (like the Muslim Brotherhood) are the best organized, and so best placed to win. In Egypt’s referendum on constitutional reform in March, opposition leader El Baradei (who wanted elections put off to help secular parties organize) was prevented from casting his vote by Islamists who pelted stones. Does this portend liberal democracy or Islamist intolerance? This must stoke fears that the Arab Spring will bring radical Islamists to power in many countries. I would love to be proved wrong. But I have a sinking feeling that we will soon say of Osama what Bertold Brecht said of Hitler. “Don’t rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world stood up and stopped the bastard, The bitch that bore him is in heat again.” My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Bin Laden data cache gives US leverage NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SHAUN GREGORY US-Pakistani relations were in crisis before the circumstances of the killing of Osama Bin Laden became known. Tired of Pakistani obfuscation on its side of the border, the Obama administration had sharply increased drone strikes in the tribal belt and significantly expanded its ground presence in Pakistan, particularly through the use of CIA operatives and contractors. These changes were beginning to pay off spectacularly – both in terms of the attrition of senior and mid-ranking al-Qaida figures and in terms of the killing of important Afghan Taliban. In fact they were paying off so well they had begun to interfere with Pakistan’s long-term regional strategy In the . wake of the Raymond Davis affair, and buoyed by public antipathy to the US in Pakistan, an angry General Kayani had pushed the United States for a renegotiation of the base and access deal agreed in the wake of 9/11, ordered the closure of the secret CIA drone base at Shamsi in northern Balochistan, and ordered many CIA operatives and contractors out of Pakistan. Then Osama bin Laden was found and killed in Abbottabad in a large, sophisticated compound, which bears all the hallmarks of a bespoke building built to hide high-value targets over the long term. Convinced that Pakistan remains a net asset in the war on terror, and seeing no value in further destabilizing the Zardari-Gilani government, the US had publicly supported Pakistan though this has convinced few on Capitol Hill who are determined to get answers to many awkward questions. Behind the scenes, however, it is clear that the Obama administration and informed Americans are TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN MARCH 29, 1957 PAK ARMY’S LINKS WITH OSAMA UNVEILED POLL WASHOUT: Congress leaders were aghast at the state election results because the opposition parties fared well furious with Pakistan. As a military cantonment town, much of it built by the army’s own construction companies, the home of the Kakul training academy and of a brigade of the Rawalpindi Corps, and as the location of an important ISI office, little goes on in Abbottabad that the army/ISI doesn’t know about. Moreover, the army/ISI had at least four reasons for wanting to keep bin Laden out of harm’s way: to avoid their long-terms links with bin Laden being revealed (links that include a plot to kill Benazir Bhutto in the late 1980s and the difficult fact that the ISI introduced bin Laden to the Afghan Taliban in 1996) bin Laden was the “golden goose” who assured US military aid flowed to the Pakistan ar- my as long as he was on the run bin Laden had links to powerful Saudi families who in turn have links to powerful figures in Pakistan, and who had reasons to want to keep bin Laden alive and out of Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan may have made deals with bin Laden – as it has with many other terrorist groups – to curb al-Qaida’s violence within Pakistan. Beyond the historical links between the ISI and bin Laden and the circumstantial case against the Pakistan army/ISI, it is a racing certainty that the hard-drives, memory sticks and copious documents picked up by US Navy Seals at bin Laden’s compound will be extremely problematic for the Pakistan army/ISI. There must be more than a few officers in the Rawalpindi GHQ sweating that the phone numbers reportedly found written on bin Laden’s clothes don’t include the cell numbers of Lt General Kayani and Pasha. There can be no expectation, however incriminating all this gathered material may prove, that the United States will use it to publicly humiliate and pressurize the Pakistanis. But there can be no doubt either that every shred that points to the ISI and Pakistan army will be exploited to the full as the US seeks to follow up the death of bin Laden with a decisive push to annihilate al-Qaida in Pakistan as Obama has promised. It is this unexpected opportunity for leverage, which is arguably the most salient consequence of bin Laden’s death for US-Pakistan security relations. Whether this leverage exacerbates tensions or brings the Pakistan army/ISI reluctantly to heel is the critical question. Before bin Laden’s death, Lt General Asad Durrani, a former DG ISI, was already being quoted as stating that the US and Pakistan were effectively “at war”. A hyperbolic comment no doubt, but one that revealed the deteriorating trajectory of distrust and clashing interests between the US and the Pakistan army/ISI and a point underlined by the US’s decision to leave Pakistan entirely out of the loop for the raid on bin Laden’s compound. Even wiser heads, such as Georgetown’s gifted Christine Fair, are predicting that things between the US and Pakistan could quickly get “very very nasty”. , The Pakistan army/ISI is cornered, with pressure mounting on it from within Pakistan and from without. Behind the United States, the UK, France, Germany and the rest of the EU are , queuing up with questions and each of these states will have a tough time domestically even trying to defend continued engagement with Pakistan. Once again, Pakistan is at another fork in the road with one path leading further down the cul-de-sac of violence and instability and the other offering the first few difficult steps back to normality More than ever, the Pakistan army/ . ISI has to show that the term “ally” of the west has meaning. India, meanwhile, must despair that its regional antagonist can ever be normalized. To the lies Pakistan has peddled about AQ Khan, about the Afghan Taliban and Mullah Omar’s safe havens in Pakistan, and about army/ISI support for the Lashkar-e-Taiba and for the Haqqani network, must now be added the lie that Osama bin Laden was not in Pakistan. The writer is director of the Pakistan Security Research Unit and associate dean at the University of Bradford, UK My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 INTERSECTIONS 21 A bad diet, poor eating habits, a disinclination to move and a genetic propensity to obesity. Why our children are pudgy Parakram Rautela & Saira Kurup | TNN THE BIG FAT PROBLEM Children themselves are juggling school with tuition, activity classes with television and video games, so much so that have little, if any time or inclination to play Reema, Karan . mother, agrees. “He’s so busy with studies as he’s in class XII that he doesn’t have time to play cricket or football that he played for years. Till the age of 12, he was actually thin.” Patel says pudginess is also a byproduct of new urban living conditions, “small flats with no space for children to run around inside their homes; outside, disproportionate urban planning does not take into account that children need space to play .” The big fat problem is compounded by an ugly truth — on average, Indians have a poor metabolic rate. This can have huge consequences. As Dr Shah explains: “Take two children; same background, same body shape. They both eat 100 calories of food. But one of them has a higher metabolic rate, so he will turn 80 calories into energy His body then stores the leftover . 20 calories. The other child burns only 20 calories into energy and his body stores 80 calories...” If the second child is unable to burn the extra calories, they will just pile up around his waist. Illustration: Ajit Ninan HEALTHWISE AT HOME G Don't skip meals, especially breakfast G Eat at fixed times G Don't snack throughout the day G Munch fruit whenever you feel hungry G Limit your time spent watching television or S eventeen-year-old Karan Sharma admits to a daily craving — a packet of chips; a bowl of Maggi noodles. He insists upon the little treat when he returns from school and will eat lunch only afterwards. Lunch can be rice or roti with dal and curry Reema, his mother, says he clearly longs for . something “that gives him instant gratification and energy.” Likewise, Shreyas Srivastava. The 11-year-old raids the kitchen when he returns from school. Even though Manju, his mother, has a balanced meal ready for him, Shreyas always “asks ‘what will I eat with lunch?’ and it normally means biscuits or namkeen or even chips on a lucky day,” she says. Karan and Shreyas belong to a generation that doesn’t think home-cooked tiffin is ‘cool’. For this generation, pasta from the school canteen is worth eating. Both boys’ mothers admit they are on “the heavier side” but certainly not fat. Whatever the terminology, Karan and Shreyas clearly belong to a pudgy generation addicted to empty calories. A 2009 study by the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC) found that 34.5% of children in the 14-18 age group at private school in Delhi were overweight Increasing numbers of or obese. More worryingly it’s not , just the national capital that’s losoverweight and obese ing the battle of the bulge. Dr children may also Priyali Shah of N-DOC says the increase India’s burden adolescent waistline is expanding across urban India. N-DOC’s study of type 2 diabetes and covered 20,537 schoolchildren in cardiovascular diseases. six cities and found 25.3% overWe tom-tom about weight and 8.6% obese India’s demographic in both private and government dividend, that more schools. than a third of our This can be betpopulation is below 18 ter understood as follows: Every third — but what would it child at a private school in mean if a significant Mumbai is overweight or proportion of this obese. This is probably segment were obese? because they are from upper middle class families and have spare cash to spend on junk food. They are also more likely to lounge for hours in front of the TV the computer or at a PlaySta, tion. Right now, girls are more likely to be overweight but boys are not far behind. A major reason for the snowballing crisis is the so-called ‘nutrition transition’ underway in urban India. This means that a wide variety of affordable convenience foods, high in fat and sugar are increasingly available and there is a perceptible decline in the consumption of traditional foods that are low in fat, rich in fibre and micro nutrients. Add this change to a more sedentary lifestyle, energy-saving devices and fatter wallets and the result is an increasingly pudgy young India. So what, if anything, are parents doing about this? Manju, Shreyas’ mother, admits the force of children’s pester power. As a working mother she says it is “difficult to monitor his lunch from my office — he often eats just a little of the prepared lunch and binges on snacks — but I try to enforce some discipline at dinner time.” The snack binge generally means loads of saturated fats. Dr Priyali Shah points out that “the label on a packet of bhujia will say one serving contains so many calories. But nobody ever eats only a serving; you eat the whole packet. A packet of bhujia contains 1,200 calories... while a 15-yearold’s daily need is only 1,800 calories.” Tulsi Patel, sociology professor at Delhi School of Economics, says she knows of parents “who try to dissuade children from eating junk, but people are caught up so much with the outside world that shrinkage of family time with children is being experienced.” playing videogames G Play any sport for at least 10 minutes without stopping AT SCHOOL G Carry home-cooked food in a lunchbox and finish it all G Avoid junk food from the school canteen and vendors outside G Don't bunk the physical education class; play vigorously G Don't overeat or skip meals during exams WHEN EATING OUT G Opt for a salad as a starter G Choose water, low-fat milk, lassi, coconut etc instead of a soda G Opt for steamed, baked, grilled or roasted dishes rather than fried G Order small meals instead of large combos G Have mustard or ketchup rather than mayonnaise man, says he can’t enforce it “because when you make something compulsory, there is automatically a lot of resistance.” Unsurprisingly, there are very real worries about the implications of the obesity epidemic. The first problems that generally manifest themselves are emotional and psychological. Increasing numbers of overweight and obese children may also increase India’s burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We tom-tom about India’s demographic dividend, that more than a third of our population is below 18 — but what would it mean if a significant proportion of this segment were obese and prone to health problems as its slips into middle age? So what can be done? Intervention programmes have been shown to work. The good news, says clinical nutritionist Ishi Khosla is that “children want to eat healthy, if they’re told how.” Society’s fixation with “good looks” is already driving more children into gyms, if not onto the playground. Ultimately, of course, there must be greater awareness about diet, not just among children but their parents — because good habits start at home. THE ADIPOSE INDEX Year Country Age group Overweight% Boys Girls 2007 2008 2006/7 2007 2008 2002 sity is not alarming but “cannot be ignored.” Usha Ram principal of Delhi’s Laxman Public School, says no colas are sold in her school and there is a Mother Dairy outlet on campus instead. “The children complained in the beginning but have now very happily traded in their colas for lassi,” she says. But are schools doing enough? Or at least as much as they can? Abha Sehgal, principal of the national capital’s Sanskriti School says a 15-year-old in her school gets about two hours of physical exercise every week. Ameeta Mulla Wattal of Springdales says her students get about one physical education period in a week. “It’s difficult to do more with the amount of schoolwork that needs to be covered,” Wattal acknowledges. CBSE guidelines say a child should get about 40 minutes of playtime every day But Vineet Joshi, CBSE chair. Australia England France New Zealand Germany China 2-16 5-17 3-17 5-14 4-16 7-17 25 24.8 13.1 25.5 22.6 5.9 24 28.2 14.9 17.6 17.7 4.5 Source: International Association for the Study of Obesity England Germany France Australia China Even so, at least one primary school teacher in south Delhi insists “there aren’t more overweight children today than 20 years ago.” Shah dismisses this briskly We tend to think . an overweight child does not have a problem untill he can’t fit into his chair, she says. Fortunately, Indian schools increasingly seem to agree with Patel’s argument and not the sanguine primary school teacher. Most schools now say that that the problem of obe- New Zealand Best CEOs take private passion to product success Shobha John | TNN ecessity is famously the mother of invention but sometimes, as with Sony’s late president, Norio Ohga, it is a private passion that spawns a successful mass market product. Ohga, who died just weeks ago, drove Sony’s famously worldbeating foray into the music market. Ohga, a music connoisseur and trained opera singer, insisted the CD be designed at 12 centimeters in diameter — or 75 minutes worth of music — in order to store his beloved Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in its entirety The CD was . born and remains in use today . Ohga’s passion neatly married with his company’s drive for profit. But what of the Indian CEO? Are there any Indian Norio Ohgas out there? Not really, says Anil Gupta, founder of National Innovation Foundation. “Few are willing to fund just an idea, a sapling which may or may not succeed. People only invest in success, in an idea that’s proven in the market,” he says. N Nambiar’s passion translated into PRO FX, a high-end audio venture. “In the 90s, it was almost impossible to purchase a good music system in India. That’s when we realized an organized, niche retail business would work with music lovers.” The company partnered with global giants and today, PRO FX with its 10 stores is into home theatres, multi-room AV Solutions, 3D projection theatres, home automation solutions and acoustics. “This business is small but growing rapidly,” says Nambiar. SPELLBOUND Some of the magic tricks Kolkata-based Sam Dalal invented and exports Jumbo change bag to transform one item to another MAGICAL RETURNS Kolkata-based Sam Mandal heads Funtime Innovations, suppliers of magic props globally The former pharma executive was . six when his father died. Fascinated by magic, Dalal decided to earn a few bucks doing tricks. Magic shows helped him pay his way through college. “I would write for foreign magic magazines and was paid five pounds for my tricks,” says Dalal. They would be marketed by others at a 95-pound mark-up. In 1975, Dalal went into business himself. Today, he has 1,500 gimmicks, props and tricks to sell and annual exports run into a few crores. Brass matchbox penetration trick WHIZ WORLD Mumbai-based Vishal Gondal's passion for computer games started at 13, when his parents presented him with a computer. By the time he was in Class X, Gondal had started teaching programming to other children, earning about Rs 5,000. “At 19,” he says, “at the height of the Pepsi-Coke war, I made a game where Pepsi bottles shot at Coke cans. I forced the head of Pepsi marketing to watch it.” It was a hit. ‘I love India’, a Kargil game, was another hit with close to one lakh downloads within a month. Soon, venture capitalists approached him (“I didn’t even know what VCs were”) and in 1999, Rs 3.5 crore was invested in his company Today Indiagames . , works across various platforms — the internet, PC, broadband, mobile phones, consoles... “Making money was never my aim; I just followed my passion,” Gondal says. SOUND EFFECTS Gupta may have a point but Bangalore-based Ajit Nambiar, BPL Telecom's chairman and MD, may disprove it. His interest in music began in the 1980s while watching the BBC’s Top of the Pops and Neil Peart, drummer of the band RUSH. “I saw him live and I said ‘I want to do that.’” He did. Today he plays the percus, sion and drums. “I feel music speaks to the heart and soul no matter where people live or what language they speak.” MAN WITH A MISSION: Norio Ohga conducting a student orchestra Card through coaster trick. A playing card penetrates a coaster in a jiffy A floating glass 22 TIMES REVIEW | TECHTONIC SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 TOI reviews one of the most coveted gadgets of our time iPad 2 LEAN, CLEAN, ‘KILLER’ MACHINE Nimish Dubey Office in the cloud Javed Anwer reviews five free web-based office suites that you might want to try out S everal early adopters of technology were annoyed with the amount of time it took Apple to launch its iPad in India (it was launched here 11 months after its US release). Well, no one has these complaints with the Cupertinobased company this time. The iPad 2 hit Indian stores last week – a mere seven weeks after its international launch. But while the speed at which the device arrived on our shores is commendable, its arrival has thrown up myriad questions: How good is this new tablet? Does it render the just-released-in-India original iPad obsolete? Does it make sense to pick up this slate? Should one wait for the slew of similar gadgets expected to arrive later this month before making a decision? It’s got the looks, and the power… Well, I got my hands on the iPad 2 a few days ago and while it retains the eye-catching looks of the original iPad, you realise it’s a whole new device the moment you take it in your hands. The second iteration of the Apple slate—complete with its sleek unibody aluminium shell—is about 100gms lighter and a lot slimmer than its predecessor. In fact, at less than 9mm, the iPad 2 is thinner than most smartphones. Now, this new size is bit of a mixed blessing: Those in love with tech anorexia will adore it, but there are times when the device felt a bit too light. Truth be told, I found the weight of the older one a bit more reassuring. The iPad 2’s screen has the same resolution and size as that of the original, and—like the original—is magically sensitive to touch. Also, this slate has a dual core processor purring under its hood, and this muscle makes its presence felt when you get into more processintensive tasks: Fire up iMovie on the gadget, and before you know it, you will be editing video clips, tweaking background sounds and adding a bunch of snazzy special effects; simply by dragging your fingers across the display And while . you could do this on the previous iPad as well, on the new one, it happens without a lag. Heck, I don’t remember being able to edit video as easily on some of the high-end notebooks I’ve used. The same applies to messing around with music in the amazing GarageBand application: You can create beats and samples using different instruments, lay them all down in multi-tracks to create complete orchestrated compositions, and it all happens so blazingly fast and easily that I, for one, was tempted to pursue a career in music for an all-too-brief instant. And, of course, gamers are just going to love the smooth, silken manner in which the tablet handles graphic-heavy games like N.O.V .A. 2 (which did not exactly fly on the first iPad). Still, the most noticeable tech spec of the new iPad is its two cameras. The one at the front lets you make video calls over Wi-Fi using Apple’s FaceTime app – just make sure you have a very good internet connection when you try it out. The camera on the back is capable of shooting decent high-definition video (and the fact that I could tweak it on the large screen using apps such as iMovie makes it even more handy), but I would not recommend shooting any still photos with it – you are going to end up with grainy images, reminiscent of camera-phone pictures from half a decade ago! Another new addition to the slate is a gyroscope, which lets you do things (like ducking and diving in N.O.V 2) by tilting the device – yes, .A. we did get some very basic motionsensing gaming with accelerometers, but the gyroscope adds a whole new dimension in terms of sensitivity Of course, making sure . things work well is that dual core processor in the background. Connectivity options remain the same as before (you still need a Micro-SIM for data connectivity) as do the capacities, and most remarkably the ten-hour battery life. , I actually got more (ten hours and twenty minutes) out of it while browsing the interwebs on Wi-Fi. And then there’s the new magnetic Smart Covers for the iPad 2 screen that attach to the device by snapping onto its side. Cover the screen and the iPad goes into sleep mode. Uncover it and the slate wakes up magically. Besides this nifty feature, the covers—which cannot be used on the original iPad—also promise to clean the screen (though I did have to take out my trusty soft cleaning rag to wipe the display a few times). comfortable to carry and use. As I mentioned earlier, I like the greater weight of the older iPad as it made the device feel more solid. But yes, if you are hell-bent on getting the very latest and intend to run some really—and I mean really—heavy-duty apps on it, the iPad 2 makes more sense. Shailesh Warang ...and the competition? When the original iPad was launched in the country, it had only the first Samsung Galaxy Tab and the OlivePad as serious competition. The iPad 2 faces a much bigger challenge… The next few days are likely to see the BlackBerry PlayBook, the HTC Flyer, the Motorola Xoom and two tablets from the Samsung Galaxy series; while Acer just released its Iconia tablet a few days ago. On paper and in terms of pure tech specs, these tablets pose a major challenge to the iPad 2, with most of them sporting excellent processors, better cameras and as many connectivity options. The two slates from Samsung are even claiming thinner frames than the iPad 2. However, the real strength of the iPad is not its hardware but the applications that run on it. And it is in this department that the Apple devices are a runaway winner at the moment. Honeycomb, the tabletfriendly version of Android, has very few applications as of now – an Achilles Heel that the BlackBerry PlayBook shares. Still, all this is likely to change in the near future as more developers flock to other platforms. But until that happens, the iPad 2 remains king. In short? As far as the competition is concerned, they need to beat the old iPad first before taking on the new one. What about the original iPad? Which leads to the important question: Does the iPad 2 make the original iPad obsolete? Not quite. The old iPad still holds its own as a tablet: It can run almost all the apps that the iPad 2 can (save those that need the cameras or the gyroscope); has battery life that is every bit as good; has the same size display and screen resolution; matches the new iPad in web browsing (still no support for Flash) and mail – and best of all, remains very THE COMPETITION HOW IT PLAYS OUT Name Apple iPad Apple iPad 2 BlackBerry Playbook HTC Flyer Samsung Galaxy Tab Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Samsung Galaxy Tab10.1 Acer Iconia Tab A500 Motorola Xoom Display Size & Resolution 9.7 inches, 1024 x 768 9.7 inches, 1024 x 768 7 inches, 1024 x 600 7 inches, 1024 x 600 7 inches, 1024 x 600 8.9 inches, 1280 x 800 10.1 inches, 1280 x 800 10.1 inches, 1280 x 800 10.1 inches, 1280 x 800 Proportions & Weight 242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4mm, 680 gms 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8mm, 601 gms 194 x 130 x 10mm, 425 gms 195.4 x 122 x 13.2mm, 420 gms 199.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, 380 gms 230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6mm, 470 gms 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6mm, 595 gms 260 x 177 x 13.3mm, 730 gms 249.1 x 167.8 x 12.9mm, 730 gms Processor 1GHz 1GHz dual core 1GHz dual core 1.5GHz 1GHz 1GHz dual core 1GHz dual core 1GHz dual core 1GHz dual core OS Apple iOS 4.3 Apple iOS 4.3 BlackBerry Tablet (QNX) Android 2.4 Android 2.2 (Froyo) Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Camera: Main/ Front Facing None Not specified (capable of HD video)/VGA 5 MP/3 MP 5MP/1.3MP 3MP/1.3MP 3MP/2MP 3MP/2MP 5MP/2MP 5MP/2MP RAM 256MB 512MB 1GB 1GB 592MB 1GB 1GB 1GB 1GB Storage 16-64GB 16-64GB 16-64GB 32GB 16GB 16-32GB 16-32GB 16-32GB 32GB Price Rs 24,500 onwards Rs 29,500 onwards Rs 35,000 onwards Rs 35,000 Rs 24,500 Rs 35,000 onwards Rs 30,000 onwards Rs 27,990 onwards Rs 35,000 Release Jan 2011 May 2011 May 2011 May 2011 Nov 2010 June 2011 June 2011 May 2011 June 2011 mit Jain works on the cloud. As the head of strategic alliances at one of India’s top B2B e-commerce web sites, he has to work with several teams located across different cities. Earlier, just making sure that he carried along all relevant documents and presentations whenever he travelled was a cumbersome task. Now, he does not bother. Jain has switched to web-based software for his work. All his files are saved on the internet—the cloud, so to speak—and he can access his documents from anywhere and any computer. Jain doesn’t even need any software to be installed on the machines as all the applications run off the internet. Then, take the case of Prachi, Aniket, Rahul and Zarine – four SYBA students from a Mumbai-based college. The teenagers were collaborators on a social studies research project. Instead of working on individual files, they all accessed the same project on the ‘cloud’. This means, whenever anyone edited any of the documents, the changes were reflected for all to see. As the 3G and Wi-Fi gets popular, and the use of smartphones and tablets more common, people are discovering programs that allow them to collaborate with others without requiring them to be in the same room. “The cloud has freed me from the confines of my office,” says Jain. “It doesn’t matter where I am… all that I need is an internet connection.” And the students echo his view. “I don’t own a computer at home,” says Rahul. “With the cloud, I can access my files from any cyber café, and that made working collaboratively with my classmates so much easier.” “Besides, it’s just like working on software that’s installed locally on your computer,” Zarine pipes in. Indeed, cloud computing— once considered a mere buzzword—is now a happening reality And increasingly offices . , and individuals are switching to web-based suites that are not only cheaper—because they do away with software costs—but are also accessible from any place with a decent internet connection. So if you’re not on the cloud already, you might want to check out options to see what you’ve been missing out on… A their documents from any computing device that has a browser and internet connection. Recently the company also , introduced Google Docs app for smartphones and tablets. A particularly noteworthy feature of Google Docs is Cloud Connect, a plug-in that can be used with MS Office to automatically synchronize documents between a computer and the web. This means that you can work using MS Office while at home or office, and then access the files on Google Docs when on the move. In the free version, users are allotted 1GB storage space on Google servers. For most people, Google Docs is enough. But, organizations looking to move their office work on to the cloud can take a look at Google Apps. Google Docs is just one part of Google Apps with other components being Mail, Calendar and group wikis in the free version. In the commercial version, support is available for additional security on-demand sup, port and better collaborative tools. How to get it: Sign up for a Google account and you can access Google Docs for free. How to get it: Sign up for a Live account and use that to access Office Web Apps. Documents To Go Unlike the first two, this is not exactly a productivity suite. Instead, it’s an app that allows users to read, modify create and , format documents on their smartphones and tablets. Documents To Go (DTG) does not offer any web-based storage. But, it can access documents saved on cloud-based services such as Google Docs and DropBox, which is a 2GB virtual hard drive that’s available for free. DTG, which is supported iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry An, droid and Nokia phones, allows a user to “edit and create Word, Excel and PowerPoint files”. While its interface is decent and editing speed comparatively alright, it helps if your smartphone has some beefy hardware. As a bonus it can also read PDF files. Support for various file formats is stellar and even newer formats like .docx, .xlsx, .pptx work with the app. How to get it: Search the marketplace in your smartphone. In the free version, users cannot create or edit documents. Increasingly, offices and individuals are switching to web-based suites that are not only cheaper—because they do away with software costs—but are also accessible from any place with a decent internet connection Office Web Apps Microsoft woke up to the importance of cloud computing late, but in the past one year, it has made impressive strides in putting its wildly-popular MS Office on the web. The company, in 2010, introduced Office Web Apps that allows users to create, view and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote documents using a web browser. A Windows Live account is all a user requires for working with the suite. The best thing about Office Web Apps is that it integrates very well with Office 2010. Users get 25GB storage on SkyDrive, Microsoft’s cloud-based filehosting service, where they can upload documents directly from within the program. Office Web Apps allows multiple users to collaborate on a single document. It also throws in integration with Hotmail, allowing users to directly upload documents from Hotmail to Skydrive without any need for downloading them. Just like Google expanded Docs into something bigger, Microsoft is preparing a productivity suite called Office 365. While individual users will be satisfied with Office Web Apps, companies wishing to move to cloud can take a look at this new beta service. ThinkFree This is another app that can be used on virtually any smartphone. The area where ThinkFree scores over DTG is the online storage that it bundles with the paid version. It gives users an account with My Office and 1GB online storage where they can save documents. It also supports the syncing of documents between cloud, handheld devices and PCs, thus making sure that changes are reflected in all copies of the documents. ThinkFree works well as a document viewer but in the case of editing, speed is generally on the lower side. Formatting options are basic at best. How to get it: Search the marketplace in your smartphone. In the free version, users can only view or read documents. Zoho Zoho offers more than 20 services based in the cloud, but to most netizens the most useful will probably be Docs. The suite comes with all the bells and whistles found in webbased productivity apps. There is Writer, Sheet and Show where different users can collaborate on files. The free version comes with 1GB online storage space where one can also store other file formats including images, music files, videos, zip and pdfs. While Zoho is a comprehensive suite, its support for smartphones and tablets is less than stellar. There is still no app for smartphones, though users can access its services using mobile version of the web site. How to get it: Sign up at www.zoho.com. It is free for personal use. Some features not available in free version. Google Docs Cloud computing is where Google’s strength lies. To compete with MS Office, in 2006, it launched Spreadsheet, a webbased application comparable to MS Excel. More components such as a word processor and presentation makers were gradually added. The suite came to be known as Google Docs. While earlier the features were somewhat limited, now it has evolved into a feature-rich productivity suite that allows users to create, edit and read SMART MONEY Stay wealthy by giving back That is what really makes a person rich, finds financial planner Gaurav Mashruwala also aspires to travel abroad. All these costs will be revised upwards based on inflation. WHERE ARE THEY TODAY? Cash Flow: Gross monthly inflow is Rs 23,000. The outflow is Rs 8,950, which includes Rs 3,200 set aside for savings. His lawyer father takes care of most of the family expenses, so the burden on him is minimal. Net worth: Total value of all assets put together is Rs 3.40 lakh. Of this, assets worth Rs 5,000 are in gold. There is no outstanding liability. Contingency fund: Against monthly mandatory expense of Rs 4,750, the balance in the bank and at home is Rs 10,000 ment-oriented polices. Equity allocation is good, considering most goals are more than a decade away. WAY AHEAD Contingency fund: Maintain Rs 15,000 for contingency. Keep only Rs 5,000 at home and balance in savings bank lined fixed deposit. Health & ife insurance: Health insurance is sufficient. Enhance life cover through term plans to Rs 25 lakh. This is to ensure that in case of any eventualities his desire to cover expenses of supporting his late brother’s family and father in old age could be met from insurance proceeds. PLANNING FOR FINANCIAL GOALS Education: Earmark existing investment in direct equity and equity mutual fund K avindra Salunke (37) is a school teacher in Latur, Maharashtra. He lives with his father, a younger brother and the family of another brother who passed away. His father is a lawyer and runs the house. His childhood was simple. Due to his parents’ prudent financial habits – tracking expenses disciplined saving – things were aways under con- trol. Kavindra is following the same principals. In fact he has taken a step ahead and also invests in equity. Kavindra does not plan to get married. He wants to dedicate his entire life to serving society. WHAT IS HE SAVING FOR? (1) His topmost priority is to provide for his late brother’s child’s higher education – Rs 4 lakh after 15 years. (2) Next, he needs a corpus which can generate about Rs 90,000 per annum at the time of retirement after 21 years. (3) He also will have to buy a home at the time of retirement after 21 years. It’s current cost is Rs 12 lakh. (4) His late brother’s child’s marriage after 25 years, Rs 1 lakh (5) Supporting father after 13 years, Rs 1 lakh. He — about two months’ reserve. Health & life insurance: Sum assured for health cover is Rs 4 lakh. Over and above that, there is critical care policy of Rs 2 lakh. Life cover through ULIP is Rs 6 lakh. Saving & investment: Balance in savings bank is Rs 2,000. Cash at home is Rs 8,000. Market value of direct equity is Rs 1.50 lakh and equity based mutual fund is Rs 1 lakh. Value of EPF/PPF is Rs 50,000. Other investments are valued at Rs 25,000. FISCAL ANALYSIS: Total mandatory outflow is only 20% of gross inflow. Health cover is sufficient. Life cover is insufficient and via invest- for fund education. Corpus for retirement and home purchase: Both these goals are occurring at the time of retirement after 21 years. Start a systematic investment plan into three funds (i) Niftybased index fund (ii) Large cap actively managed fund, which has been in existence for at least a decade (iii) international equity fund. Invest Rs 3,500 per month in each of them. About three-four years prior to requirement of funds, transfer that portion into a debt-based instrument. Marriage: Focus on this goal only after sufficient corpus for above three goals has been created. Parental responsibilities: Use funds in EPF/PPF account to support father if need arises. WILL (Estate Planning) It is important that Kavindra PLANNER’S EYE he surest way to become, and remain, wealthy is to give back to the society from where we have earned. Kavindra supports needy students from his salary. He has also taken upon him to support his younger diseased brother’s family. As Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” T makes a will expressing the way he wishes to bequeath his assets. While the will is a must for anyone who owns assets, in the case of Kavindra since there is no immediate family, it is important to document the same. (To be featured in this fortnightly column, write to
[email protected]) SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 BOOKS 23 OFF THE SHELF Obsessive love in the time of email T and steadily falling passionately in love with each other. The emails fly he epistolary novel, which con- thick and fast between them, somesists of letters exchanged be- times more than 25 a day, sometimes tween two or more people, is one not more than 15 seconds apart. One of the earliest novel forms and is suc- wonders how they manage to have a cessful for two main reasons. One, it life off their computers, and the anappeals to the voyeur in us; swer is they don’t. Emmi is it is a rare person who at a supposedly ‘happily marsome time or other hasn't ried’ woman with two stephad the insane urge to read children she accepts and someone else’s corresponloves as her own, a circle of dence, hoping to come friends and a career as a across juicy stuff like goswebsite designer. And yet, sip, love, romance or sexuwhen she doesn’t hear from ally explicit yearnings. Two, Leo for a day (during which it absolves the writer of havshe’s been travelling to the ing to be grammatically Tyrol to pick up and bring correct or stylistically polhome from a weekend holiLove Virtually ished; everything that is day her suddenly ill husBy Daniel written purports to be from band), she has a panic atGlattauer the pen of a character intack: “You occupy my MacLehose Press stead of from the pen of the thoughts twenty-four hours Rs 399, 280 pages novelist, and so any literary a day Why won’t you write . © ImageZoo/Corbis flaws can be to me? Should excused by I be worried?” saying, ‘that’s Although the way the Emmi is the character main driver writes’. of the rela“Love Virtionship, nagtually” is an ging Leo to epistolary write, pursunovel that ing him with happily exher neediploits both ness, pouring these advanout her heart tages, but it is to him, teasnonetheless a ing him with novel with a erotic suggesdifference. It tions, Leo is is unusual not no slouch only because when it the letters excomes to the changed beheavy breathtween the proing: “Here’s a tagonists are kiss. And anemails (which other kiss. lends them And another far greater immediacy than if they kiss. And another. Whoever you are. had been pen-and-ink efforts), but I long to be close…I want to kiss also because it reverses the normal Emmi…Let’s go to bed, Emmi.” development of the hero and heroine Fascinating stuff. Pandering as it meeting, falling in love and writing does to all that’s prurient in the readletters. Here, Emmi and Leo write let- er, this novel is as much a study of ters, fall in love and then make elab- two people sharing an obsessive comorate plans to meet. pulsive disorder as it is a love story . The story begins with Emmi And the suspense that takes the readRothner trying to cancel her sub- er panting to the last page is heightscription to Like magazine, but in- ened by the question that’s endlessly advertently keys in ‘Leike’ instead of and titillatingly raised throughout ‘Like’. Her message goes to Leo Leike, the book: Is a non-virtual, physical who responds and, well, one letter meeting of the two actually on the leads to another and the next thing cards? Will they or won’t they? Does we know is that the two are speedily anybody know for sure? Guess. Asha Bunny Suraiya CHASING OSAMA Subodh Varma | TIG READ Quick takes on new titles Unmentionables By Ralph Keyes Hachette India Rs 299, 342 pages om Clancy rode the wave for nearly two decades with stunning success because he mastered the balancing act between the believable and the outlandish. Of course, he was the right man at the right time because pretty unbelievable things were happening all through. He simply augmented reality Quit. ting his insurance business, he wrote his first book in 1984, a Cold War thriller called “Hunt for Red October”. That became a bestseller after Ronald Reagan called it “the perfect yarn”. As the Soviet Union fell, Clancy seamlessly moved into the new order, spinning a series of novels where the heroes were American gunmen and the villains ranged from Islamic terrorists and Chinese to bizarre anti North-South unification Koreans and Colombian drug lords. He was always ahead of the curve, but only just. Six years before 9/11, in “Debt of Honor”, he depicted a 747 being flown into Capitol Hill by a crazy Japanese, killing the president, the cabinet, most of the Congress and nine Supreme Court justices. But finally history , is one-up on Clancy His . latest book “Dead or Alive” – written with Grant Blackwood, an ex-Navy veteran and co-author with Clive Dead or Alive Cussler – is a thinly By Tom Clancy veiled description of Penguin India the global manRs 899, 723 pages hunt for Osama bin Laden led by US gunslingers. The book had barely started getting traction when news exploded across the world of the real Osama being shot dead by US Navy SEALS in Abbottabad in Pakistan. In “Dead or Alive”, the arch villain called ‘Emir’ is a sadistic killer setting up a series of deadly attacks in the US, including a hair-raising attempt to blow apart the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site. He heads the Umayyad Revolutionary Council, Clancy’s version of al-Qaida. Clancy’s naming is impeccable for its connotations. Emir resonates with Sheikh, as bin Laden was known among his followers. And, Umayyad refers to both the 7th century Caliphate as also to the mosque in Damascus where Saladin, the iconic hero who defeated the Crusaders in the 12th century lies buried. The action careens from the barren fastnesses of the Hindu Kush, T MISSION POSSIBLE: US soldiers in search of Osama bin Laden drive past a Black Hawk helicopter in Kandahar; (left) A US Marine patrols in Garmser in Afghanistan AN EXTRACT Driscoll returned his attention to the sentry on the ridge. Still there. Hadn’t moved at all. Driscoll brought his M4 up, settled the sights on the nape of the man’s neck, and then tightened his finger on the trigger. Easy, easy...squeeze... Pop. Not much of a sound. Hard to hear at all at a range of more than fifty meters, but the bullet flew true and transited the target’s head, leaving a puff of green vapor behind, and he went to see Allah, or whatever god he acknowledged; at twenty-odd years old, growing and eating and learning, and probably fighting, came to an abrupt and unwarned end. The target crumpled, folding sideways out of sight. Tough luck, Gomer, Driscoll thought. But we’re after bigger game than you tonight. where Rangers are searching the caves for Emir, to Paris, Moscow, Tripoli and various parts of the homeland. The tension is unbearable because we know that Clancy is capable of cooking up anything – in previous novels he has had the city of Denver nuked, biological weapons are used against the US, World War III is played out, wars between China and Russia, Russia and NATO, China and the US, and so on. For the chase, and perhaps to give heft to flagging sales, Clancy gathers together all his successful heroes from previous books. Ex-President Jack Ryan is there, as is his son Jack Ryan Jr. Others include CIA operative John Clark and his sidekick Ding, Dominic Caruso of FBI and his twin brother and Brian Caruso, a Marine, and Mary Pat Foley from Langley They are part of a . secret organization called The Campus, tasked with smoking out bad guys. It is not a government agency (remember Blackwater?) but it has a drawerful of pre-signed presidential pardons, in case something goes wrong. Clancy presents an alternative universe in which America is able to set things right. At a time when the euphoria of the Soviet Union’s demise was at its peak, Clancy brought to fiction what George W Bush was to bring to reality – a muscular triumphalism based on war, the free market and, yes, Christianity. The technical details (“he hopped off the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, a Delta variant”) and cold-blooded Special Forces jargon (“the bullet transited his head”) create an illusion of power and supremacy that is intoxicating, for some. “Dead or Alive”, despite its plodding length and the need to integrate all the characters through nostalgic conversations, continues in this vein, meticulously creating terrifying scenarios and then resolving them through bravery planning and tech, nology Meanwhile reality – as exemplified . in bin Laden’s killing – is playing out on a different path. Take your pick. I’m a bit under the weather; she’s a lady of the night; in the circumstance of an ‘event’; private parts; unmentionables; powder room — why do we have such a rich vocabulary of euphemisms and how did they come to be? This delightful book by wordsmith Ralph Keyes illuminates the way we make clear what’s on our mind without using direct speech to spare oneself and others the blushes. Sample this: the journey of euphemisms used to refer to cohabitation — from ‘living in sin’ and ‘without the benefit of clergy’ to ‘shacking up’ and ‘living together’. Especially hilarious is the term used for promiscuity: ‘distributive sex’. An entertaining and informative read. — Sindhu Manjesh The Cloud Messenger By Aamer Hussein HarperCollins Rs 250, 195 pages Buy any book on this page at 20% off @www.books.indiatimes.com or sms WHB to 58888 or call 09910118888 The transience of relationships as seen through the eyes of restless Mehran, who spends his early years in Karachi, then London. He leaves his job in a bank to study and later, teach at university. His private life seems in turmoil – imbued with the presence of the much older and vivacious Riccarda and later, Marvi, an unstable and possessive economist. The plot constantly shifts back and forth, losing focus. – Shobha John Z Central Wool Development Board Ministry of Textiles ,Govt. of India C-3 , Shastn Nagar , Near Shastri Circle , Jodhpur (Rajasthan) 342003 Fax No. - 0291-2439017 Telephone No. - 2433967 , 2616328 No. :- CWDB/W.Expo/2 011-12/ Date :GENERAL NOTICE FOR ORGANIZING W OOLEN EXPO The Central Wool Development Board , Ministry of Textiles , GOI , invites PREMISES REÜUIRED BANK OF BARODA SJ BankofBaroda lndiabt m tJ a i Bank , l J3m r BHAKRA BEAS MANAGEMENT BOARD (POWER WING) (CORRIGENDUM-Ill) In continuation of NIT 333 dated 03.02.2011 for design, manufacturing, testing, supply, erection & commissioning of 1 No. 66/11KV 4MVA Power Transformers , the due dates and scope of work against above NIT are revised as under: INVITATION FOR BID Proposals or Application from registered NGOs/TrustlCooperative Society and State & Centra l Govt . Boards/Federations/ Corporations etc. engaged in Development & Marketing of Wool & Woollen products for organizing Woollen Expo in between 15th November2011 to 31st January 2012 at different places i.e. Jammu , Deheradoon , Lucknow , Chandigarh, Kolkatta , Jaipur , Jodhpur , Bikaner , Udaipur , Banglore , Shillong (Meghalaya), Guwahati (Assam), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) & Delhi etc under the Board scheme in 11th Plan during financial year 2011-12. For further details please visit our website www.woolboard.nic.in or contact at office as above. Interested organizations may submit their proposal in prescribed format (Can be down load for our website) along with all required information & documents duly attested to the Board latest by 2O June, 2011. (K.K. GOYAL), Executive Director requires premises for branches on Leasehold I ownership basis at 1. MAHUL 2. MITHAGAR , MULU ND 3. TEEN HAT NAKA , THANE (WI 4. ULIIASNAGAR SEC. 3 5. SHAHAPUR 6. MANISHA NGR . KAIWA 1. KIIOPOLI 8. SEWRI (W) 9. VASHI SEC. 10 10. URAN supply of Bid Documents u) Last Date for Receipt of Bid iii) Due Date & lime for Opening of Bids (Part-I) davp 3411 2/1 1/0004/11 12 Last Date for Receipt of Requests alongwith requisite documents for 23-05-2011 08-06-2011 upto 1330 hrs. 08-06-2011 at 1500 hrs. LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDER 22.05 2011 UP 102.00 PM. For further details Visit us as: www .bankofbaroda .com /tenders ‘ For details , visit BBMB website: www.bbmb.gov.in SW- Dy. Chief Engineer/P&D (IS), BBMB , Chandigarh Tel. No. :91-0522-2720652,Fax: 0522-2720779, 2720829 Website : http:/Jneda.up.nic.in,E-mail :
[email protected] Date : 07.05.2011 Tender Notice Tender No.: UPNEDAIPVSSL-LED/2011 Sealed and separate tenders are invited on rate contract basis from reputed manufacturers for the supply, installation and commissioning of Vibhuti Khand , Gomti Nagar, Lucknow -226010 CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF MINING AND FUEL RESEARCH (CSIR , Ministry of Science & Technology. Govt. of India) H.O. Bar a Road Can pus . Dhar, bad-826015 (Jharkhand). India __________ SPV Street Lighting System (White LED Based) approximate 10000 No’s in vanous Basti I Villages of different districts of Utta r Pradesh. The last date for submission of tender shall be 30th Mayy , Director , CIMFR invites sealed tenders , in Two Bid SystemsSystems , for supply, installation and commissioning of (i) Pilot Plant for Coal to Liquid (ii) LOW TEMPERATURE ASHER. Item No Particulars of Item Qty 1 9le No.: 13(2)/CIMFR-DC/18/1O-11/PUR PILOT One PLANT FOR COAL TO LIQUID Complete Design , development , fabrication , installation and Unit Commissioning of the Pilot Plant for for Coal-to- Liquid Process Development. 2 File No.:- 13(2)/CIMFR-RU/56/1O-11/PUR One Unit Last Date of Submission : 06.06.2011 Time : Up to 5.00 P.M. Date of Opening (Technical) : 07.06.2011 Time : 3.00 P.M. Details of the Tender Document is available at www.cimfr .nic.in Ph : 0326-2296030 For Director LOW TEMPERATURE ASHER NIT No. CIMFR/PUR/14(8)201 1 Date: 06.05.2011 NOTICE INVITING TENDER CORPORATE OFFICE : 2’ L SyndicateBank AGo vt ot lndiaunderthldng Cross , General Administration Department Phone: 22267545 (Extn: 21812561257127212901 Fax 22353701 Gandhinagar , Banga lore .560 009 INVITATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CORPORATE OFFICE BUILDING Syndicate Bank intends to construct a state of the art building for its 1. The Executive Engineer, Border Road Division . Srinagar. CPWD , Garhwal (Uttarakhand)on behalf of the President of the India, invites the bids from firms/contractors of repute ii two envelope system for i the following works : NIT no. : 01/CE/BFZ/lndo-China/UTK of 2011-12, NAME OF WORK : Construction of ITBP road to Indo-China Border from Niti to Geldung in the State of Uttarakhand. SH:- Providing and erecting Bailey Bridges at site Niti to Geldung (3 Nos.) at required RDs. Estimated Cost : 5 .03 ,24 ,442/- , Period Of Completion : 18 (Eighteen) Months including the period of non-working season also. Earnest Money Deposit ‘10,06 ,489/NIT no. : 03/CE/BFZ/lndo-ChinalUTK of 2011-12, NAME OF WORK : Construction of ITBP Road to Indo-Clilna Border from Sonam to PDA, PDAt0 Mendi & PDAto Sumla in the state of Uttarakhand. SH: Providing and erecting Bailey Bridges at site from Sonam to PDA (4 nos) & from PDA (T-Point) to Sumla (3 nos) at required R.Ds. Estimated Cost 9, 11 37 ,531/- , Period Of Completion : 18 (Eighteen) Months including the period of non-working season also. Earnest Money Deposit 1 , ,751/18 22 2. Contractors who fulfill the following requirements shall be eligible to apply. 2.1 ForNITno.: 01/CE/BFZ/lndo-China/UTK0f2O11-1 2 (a) Should have satisfactorily completed during last Seven years ending lastday of the month March’ 2011:Two similar works each costing not less than Rs. 302 Lakhs, orone similar work costing not less than Rs. 403 Lakhs. (b) Should have average annual financial turnover of Rs. 151 Lakhs on annual construction works during the last three years ending 31st March 2011 till 12:30 PM The numbers of systems may increase or decrease. The detail can be obtained from UPNEDA, Head office from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. of any working days from 9th to 29th May, 2011 and can be seen/downloaded from website http:/!neda.up.nic.in Director , UPNEDA reserves the right to reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason thereof. Director , UPNEDA VV I I1M I L I1MILVYRT MATERIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT (‘e’- Tender Notice for the supply of Stores, No. EPSI23/2011) COSFvVCR on behalf of the President of India invites the following advertised tenders through E procurement System. No manual/postal offers shall be entertained. Tenders can be accessed under the link www.ireps.gov.in- wcr- cos for Full description/specifications. SN. Tender No. Brief Description Qty. 1 10.11.2536 Hydraulic damper 186 Nos. 2 20.10.1452 Arcing Hon,, Condenser Bushing, Bushing 305 Nos. Double Pole, Gasket, Latern Gear Pinion, Cylinder , Insulated Beam, Latern Gear Pinion, Insulated Bar. .10.3345 RHS uncoupling gear 300 Nos. .10.1879 RepaIr Kt 212 Sets. .10. 51 Door way cross bar 1078 Nos. .10.2331 Modified roller type safety bracket 8555 Nos. 7 .10.2365 Packing plate 5969 Nos. .11.1397 Hex Head Bolt M-24 x 90 10341 Sets. .11.1407 Adjuster for brake shoe 8088 Nos. 0 .11.1409 Block Hanger for Bogle Brake 4511 Nos. .11.1837 Toothed segment 8897 Nos. 2 .11.2464 Set of pins for equalising stay 2229 Sets. 3 .09.3121 Wtliani stretcher insulation set 2000 Nos. 4 .10.4004 Channel Pin single side 200699 Nos. 15 80.11.1180 Non-Chromate , Borate nitrite 12000 Urs. __________ From Sr. No. 1 to 15 Tender Due Date 07-June 2011 Tender Closing Tlnie;-12.30 hr /Contro ller of Stores Serving Customers with a Smile I fI i r q iei i i .: 0761-155210 2010. (c) Should not have incurred any loss in more than two years during the lastfive years ending 31St March 2010. Corporate Office at 02 (2/A ,2/B), Manyata Promoters Layout, (d) Should have a solvency of Rs. 202 Lakhs (Not required if applicant Rachenahalli , Bangalore. Offers are invited from Architects for isa Class-I (Civil) registered contractor of CPWD). planning, designing and supervision of the Project. 2.2 Detailed Tender documents are available in our WebsiteWebsite ForNITno.: 03/CE/BFZ/lndo-China/UTK of 2011-12 (a) Should have satisfactorily completed during last Seven years www.syndicatebank.co.in ending lastday of the month March’ 2011:Those architectural firms having the eligibility criteria mentioned as Two similarworks each costing not lessthan Rs. 550 Lakhs, orone per the above Tender document only shall apply. similar work costing not less than Rs. 730 Lakhs. The application in sealed cov e r sha ll be s upers cri bed “ Sel ecti o n (b) Should have average annual financial turnover of Rs. 274 Lakhs on of Architects for construction of Corporate Office building. ” construction works during the last three years ending 31st March 2010. The last date for sub mIssIon of offers Is 08.06.2011 at 3.00 P.M. inthe above address. (c) Should not have incurred any loss in more than two years during the lasttive years ending 31St March 2010. Sd!- Pradeep K. Saxena General Manager (d) Should have a solvency of Rs. 365 Lakhs (Not required if applicant isa Class-I (Civil) registered contractorofCPWD). 2A. Jointventures (JV) are not allowed. (Similarworkshall mean “Steel Bridgeor BailevBridpe orboth’). SURAT MUNICIPAL The value of completed executed work shall be brought to current CORPORATION costing level by enhancing the actual value of work at simple rate of TENDER NOTICE 7% per annum; calculated from the date of completion to last date calculated of receipt of application for tenders. For this purpose value of work’ Surat Munici pal Institute of Medical Education & Research (SMIMER) shall mean gross value of the completed work including cost cost of invites sealed tender for Medical Stores on rental basis & supp ly of materials supplied by the Govt/client , butexciuding those Supplied equi pments/instruments. free of cost. This should be certified by an officer not below the rank Sr. Tender No./Descript ion Estimated Tender Tender Availability of Executive Engineer/Project Managerorequivalent. No. Cost Cost / /Tender Fee 3. Applications for issue of forms shall be received by Executive I/c Medical SMIMER JH ospital!Medical Rs. 9.70 Lac Engineer , Border Road Division, CPWD upto 4.00 PM on Suu perintendent Superintenden t/ 0l/201 1- 12 Non Refundable 13.05.2011 and tender document shall be issued upto 4.00 PM on Offi c e , SMIMER Supp ly of E qui pments ! Tender Fee 16.05.2011. Hospital , Opp. Instrument s for Department Rs. 825!Bombay Market , Application supported by prescribed Annexure and Earnest money andand of Physiology, SMIMER . tj marwada , Salira the financial bid shall be placed in separate sealed envelopes each Surat. Darwaja , marked “Eligibility Documents and Earnest Money” and “Financial Surat-395010 2. SMIMERIH ospitaYMedical Rs. 19.66 Lac bid” respectively. Both the envelopes shall be submitted together in Period of Blank Superinten dent/0 2/20 11-1 2 Non Refundable another sealed envelope. The bids will be received upto 3.00 PM on Tender Availabilit y Tender Fee Fee Dt. 09-05-li Supp l y of Equi pments ! 23.05.2011. The envelope marked “Eligibility Documents and Instruments for Department Rs. 825!31-05- 1 Earnest Money ” shall be opened by the Executive Engineer or his of Pharmacolog y, SMIMER , Time : 10:30 arc to authorized representative in his office on same day at 3.30 P.M. The Surat. 5:00 pm time and date of opening of financial bid shall be communicated at a (all working days) 3. SMIMERIHospital!Medical Rs. 3.05 Lac later date. Last Date of Superin tendent/03/ 20 11-12 Non Refundable Subm ission of (I) Pre Bid conference shall be held in the chamber of the Chief Tender Fee Supp ly of perishable! Tender to the Chief Engineer (BFZ), CPWD , East Block-I , Lovel-lV, R.K. Puram , disposable itcms for Department Rs. 550!Accountant New Delhi -66 at 19.05.2011 PM on 3:00 P.M. to clear the doubt of Optha lmolog y. SMIMER , Dt. 08-06-11 up to of intending tenderers , if any. 5.00 pm. Surat. (ii) The department reserves the right to reject any prospective More details will be available from SMIMER Hospital and on the notice application without assigning any reason and to restrict the list of board of SMC Main Office and Municipal Website qualified contractors to any number deemed suitable by it, if too www.suratmunicipal.gov.in. many bids are received satisfying the laid down criteria. Sd!The detailed notice may also be seen at web site No. P.R.O.1761201 1-12 TIc. Medical Superintendent www.tenderhome.com. Date : 06/05/2011 SMIMER Hosp itt l a _______________ 24 talk of the times The story of the week as relayed by Gen Now on their cellphones. Lol OPEN SPACE SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 8, 2011 Who is a lawnmower parent? OPEN SPACE Lawnmower parents will constantly solve their children’s problems. The term means the parents “mow” a problem before giving the child a chance to sort out the issue for himself or herself. Lawnmower parents are always hovering over their children, fussing over them, and do not give them the space they need to grow up into responsible and independent adults. —Sneha Sadashiv, Mumbai What is cold welding? Cold welding or contact welding was first recognized as a general materials phenomenon in the 1940s. It is a solid-state welding process in which fusion takes place without heating and there is no molten phase in the joint. It was then discovered that two flat surfaces of a similar metal would strongly adhere to each other if brought into contact in a vacuum. —S K Aggarwal, Amritsar What is the Venus Project? The Venus Project aims to promote American futurist Jacque Fresco’s idea of a resource-based economy . The founders of the project theorize that with advances in modern technology money will soon not be neces, sary as goods and services will be , made available for free. The project, based in New York, is dedicated to the research and development of workable solutions. —Aloyna Almeida, via email When were parachutes first used? The parachute was invented by Andre-Jaques Garnerin of France who made the first descent over the Parc Monceau, Paris, on October 22, 1797 when he was released from a balloon at a height of 2,230 ft. He rode in a gondola. The parachute had a diameter of 23ft, was supported by a rigid pole, and had its 32 white canvas gores folded like a closed umbrella. Since there was no vent in the parachute, Garnerin came down with the most violent oscillations, earning the added distinction of becoming the first man ever to suffer from airsickness. —Anchal Sharma, Varanasi GANESHA SAYS BEJAN DARUWALLA Aries: Recent events have turned you into a new person. You now welcome out-of-the-box-thinking and encourage fresh, innovative ideas from subordinates. Rewards pour in. You are careful not to hog the limelight and are willing to share the credit. Taurus: You get peace of mind and money from several sources. You do well at work and in your relationships, and without any extra effort. You have redefined the values that govern your life and that has reduced your stress. The week is livened up by a celebratory mood. Gemini: You start a new search for true happiness. You are flamboyant in your expressions of love. Your efforts to find bliss and strengthen your love life meet with success but you could also get depressed at times and ponder esoteric issues like the purpose of life, dharma, and the inner self. Cancer: A lot depends on your perspective. Is life fulfilling? What would make you truly happy? You have to deal with both material and non-material issues; this is a time to make tough choices. A toss-up between family and work could cause a fight at home. Leo: You have been wavering between material and spiritual pursuits for the past few weeks but that ends now with circumstances compelling you to pay attention to more earthly issues. An elderly parent or relative’s health problem could drain your resources. You don’t grudge it but put renewed effort into your work or your business to make up for the sudden expense. Virgo: This week is all about you. You have a deep relationship with food, savouring exquisite delicacies and even cooking give you great pleasure. Wining and dining with your loved ones will take up a lot of your time. There will also be makeovers — of the home, garden or even the neighbourhood. The permutations and combinations are unlimited. Libra: Any upheaval stresses you because a stable family life is very important for Librans. The love of your spouse and children motivates you to devote stupendous energies to wealth generation. Yes, Librans are capable of building huge, even garguantan, financial empires with extremely durable roots. Scorpio: A large number of projects which require personal attention keep you busy as do offi, cial receptions, business lunches and dinners, conferences, networking meets and so on. Your inter-personal skills combined with your proficiency could make you the key person in negotiations, deals and collaborations. Sagittarius: The professional manoeuvrings of the past few weeks is over and may have led to burnout. Prayer, piety and philosophy sum up this week’s pursuits. You are very sensual but now your spiritual cravings need to be satisfied. There could be conflict between work and otherworldly pursuits. Capricorn: You have have a good run of fortune in the past and now yearn to give back to society So you involve yourself in . charitable activities. But be chary of too much involvement, it could lead to false allegations of self-interest. Children, being the way they are, will add a sparkle of freshness into your life. Aquarius: Set relationship and financial goals now. Shower your loved one with attention if you want to retain the excitement of the courtship years. Intimate and workplace relationships come to the fore, not all of it smooth sailing. Pisces: Ganesha says you need to concentrate on your career if you are seriously looking at progress and upward mobility . Upgraded machinery make you more productive; you are a veritable dynamo at work. You need to find ways to let off steam. www.bejandaruwalla.com ANY ANSWERS? What is the origin of the phrase touch wood? —Tamseel Fatima, via email A man performs with a snake in Morocco’s tourist city of Marrakesh. Question: What is Ophidiophobia? Tere bin Laden now u c him now u dont ???? a UFO passing by earth jst msgd dat dey saw osama running 4 his life across da streets of jannat ???? he was bng chased by 72 big & bearded virgins in pink nickers wid 1 word on dere lips wat word? GERONIMO!!! lucky guy must b nice 2 ... b da most wanted man werever u go dis is gud news 4 dawood & gang - finally dey get 2 move up in da rankings! da joke is dat mrs bin laden has updated her fb status 2 single mrs no. 1 2 3 4 or 5? new york post headline... Got him! US nails da b#%&@&d dis 1s better... Obama bins Laden! yuck... why cant we give ppl a gud sendoff ya da poor guy is all at sea & now uncle sam has got a new enemy angry fish! ... (Forwarded to Vandana Agarwal) What is a histogram in photography? —Arjit Sengupta, Kolkata —How do 3D glasses work? Arghya Pal, via email Why is the captain of a sports team called skipper? —Rhythm Nikhra, Raipur You ask. Or you answer. Mark the envelopes ‘Open Space’ and address your answers and questions to: Open Space, Sunday Times of India, II Floor, S&B Towers, 40/1, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560 001 email:
[email protected] What is broken symmetry? Broken symmetry is a term used in physics. The existence of matter in the universe was explained by physicists who postulated that during the Big Bang, more matter than antimatter was created, one extra particle of matter for every 10 billion antimatter particles. Since that negates the earlier idea related to the symmetry between matter and anti-matter, it is called broken symmetry The . 2008 Nobel prize in physics was given for research on the subject. —V Venkata Rao, Ahmedabad What is a keystone species? Keystone species determine the structure of the ecosystem. They do so by controlling the number of species at each trophic level. They themselves occupy any position in the food chain. Their number in an ecosystem is usually low. Examples include lions in the Gir forest. —Ashwin Tripathi, via email SUNDAY MAILBOX Terror in the backyard his is with reference to the edit ‘End of the road’ (May 3). The US decision not to release pictures of Bin Laden’s body in order to avoid violent reprisals and incite extremism has lead to questions on the veracity of the operation. However, the operation has caused major embarrassment to Pakistan. The revelation of facts that the world’s most wanted terrorist was living and operating freely in their backyard for which Pakistan feigned ignorance, is bad enough. It has raised serious doubts over Pakistan military’s capability to protect its own people from foreign aggression. Pakistan has moral obligation to absolve itself from the international community as well as its own people who are victims of the unfair scrutiny they are subjected to, by the rest of the world. Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai T is handling the issue is a shame. All they are doing is agitating for a decent rise in their paltry stipend of Rs 2,550 per month – which by any standard is too low in the present day and age. Students from other faculties who were their contemporaries, meanwhile, get fat salaries after graduation whereas students who have chosen the noble profession are struggling to get a decent stipend even after putting in more efforts and gruelling studies. At this rate, few would be willing to opt for the medical course in future. Vanita Shenoy, Mumbai standards. I strongly feel that the ECB decision is desperate. Past experience shows that having separate captains for different formats has failed totally and it is ultimately the various cricket boards that revert to the old system of a single captain for all the three formats. This helps create understanding and confidence among the players to give good and positive performance and results. It is hoped that the three-skipper formula does not prove disastrous. Bhagwan B Thadani, Mumbai 3 skippers, confusing his is with reference to the Times View/ Counter View (May 7) on ‘England to adopt three-skipper formula’. The decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to appoint three captains for three cricket formats -tests, ODIs and T20 -- is wrong and will not produce positive results, as some of the team players who appeared in all the three formats have to face the different behaviour and workings of the three captains, which may create a confusing situation and affect the performance of the players as well as harm general cricketing Teach, don’t punish T W Medical interns ill-treated T he manner in which medical interns are being treated by the government and the police ith reference to ‘Court versus Khap’ (Intersections, May 1), it is ludicrous that khap panchayats presume to pass edicts against couples who marry within the same ‘gotra’. If the practice really does have deleterious effects, the khaps should educate young people about them instead of persecuting and humiliating them. It is strange too that the political class is afraid of khaps. Congress MP Navin Jindal openly supported the barbarism with one eye on the elections. H P Murali, Bangalore Phone: 080-25057842125057835/25 Fax: 80-25057843/25283188 E-mail: oucpurgpl
[email protected] in Government of India, Minish’y of Defence 4tL)\ Defence R&D Organisation ((j )jJ Aeronautical Development Establishment New Thippasandra, Bangalore 560 075 TENDER NOTICE NO. 30/2010-2011 - HO SOUTH WESTERN COMMAND, JAIPUR 302 012 - TENDER NOTICE FOR SUPPLY OF STORES 1. Sealed tenders are invited from OEMs //Authorised Representatives ! Dealers of OEM for supply of the following item:SI. Tender No. Mo. Stores Required QLy Earnest Last Date and Time Tender Single Bid System The Director,Aeronautical Development Establishment , New Thippasandra, Bangalore - OPEN TENDER Money (In behalf of the President of India, invites sealed tenders for the following:SI. Ref. No. Description of Item EMD No. Ks. 560 075, on Time for Tenders Submission Opening of Tender ot Tender Processing AA th. and u Place of Tender Fee Rs. Due Date and Opening of Tenders 1. 481721GS/(MIS)/ Rectifiers ACSFPI11O(C)I for Tank T11-12/Rectifier 90 w h for Tanks 1-90 Trailer & Accessories Opening of 15 10845/NP Generic PCM Encoder Decoder Board, 16000/- 100/22.06 2011 Qty -1 No. at 1400 Hrs. 2. Detailed Tender documents with specifications for the above can be obtained from Director,ADE , against a written request quoting tender reference number accompanied by a crossed a/c payee Demand Draft for the value mentioned above in favour of DirectorDirector ,ADE , payable at Bangalore , towards tender fee. Other than tender fee , an amount of Rs. 50/- extra has to be paid, if required by post, separately towards non-refundable tender fee. Tender Fee is not applicable for vendors reqistered with any DRDO Lab/DGS&D I any other Govt. Dept. Such vendors must enclose a copy of valid registration certificate with request for tender documents. The tender documents are not transferable. 3. Offers by Fax / / E-mail will be summarily ignored. 4. Tender Forms will be Issued from : 11.05.2011. 5. Last Date for Issue of Tender Forms 2C O6 2O1 1 6. Last Date for Submission of Tenders : 22.06.2011 upto 13.30 Hrs. 7. Due Date and Time of Opening the Tenders 22.06.2011 at 14.00 His. 8. Request for extension of due date will not be entertained under any circumstances. 9. This Advertisement & Tender Documents are also available on DRDO website (www.drdo.oralwww.drdo.com) [Click Tender Notices, Select Aeronautical Development 1 - 2,88 ,503.00 1100 Hrs. 1200 Hrs . GS(MIS) 27 May 2011 27 May 2011 Branch, HO South Western Comd. Jaipur Establishment]. If you are downloading the tender documents fro m the website, please enclose the , ADE , cost of Tender Documents in the form of a DD in favour of DirectorDirectorpayable at Bangalore alongwith your quotation. 10. The Director, ADE , reserves the right to accept//reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason and also will not be responsible for postal delay. Sd/N t Firms should quote only in Indian Currency. (G. NAGENDRA RAOJ SO davp 10301/11/0055/1112 For DIRECTOR 2. Tender forms can be obtained by hand from GS(MIS) Branch, Headauarters South Wester !. Branch, Headquarters South Western Command , Jaipur on payment of 500/- per form by a crossed bank draft in favour of PCDA South Western Command , Jaipur (Raj.) upto 1000 his . till the last working day before the date of opening of tender. Forms can be collected on all working days between 1000 his. and 1330 hrs. 3. For requirement of TE document by nost (a) Requirement of TE document by post can be forwarded to MIS Branch, HQ South Western Command , Military Station Jaipur (Raj.) 302 012, alongwith a crossed account payee Nationalised Bank Draft of 500/- as cost of TE form in favour of PCDA South Western Command , Jaipur and a self-addressed & stamped envelope for the document. Stamps worth 65!- should be affixed on envelope for Speed Post. (b) This HQ will not be responsible for any delay in delivery of tender document to proposed Supplier by post and consequent submission. 4. Tenders can be dropped in the Tender Box as per place, date and time given in the tender. Tenders not received by due date and time will not be considered. 5. Envelope to be enfaced I superscribed with Tender No.! Specific details as per DAVP/Advt 6. If the date of opening of the tenders happens to be holiday the tenders will be opened on the next working day at the same time and place. - Akshat Khamparia - Bukhalat Hussian Manama, Bahrain, 2009 PRAVIN THIPSAY FIDE Master Akshat Khamparia of Indian Railways, Indore, emerged the surprise winner in the prestigious Sydney Open International Chess Tournament held in Australia last month. Today we shall look at a brilliant combination from one of his games in 2009. The diagram position looks like a balanced opening position but Black has already committed decisive and fatal mistakes. Position :— White :— Kg1; Qd1; R-c1,f1; Bd3,f4; N-c3,f3; Pa2,b2,d4,e3,f2,g2,h3. Black :— Kg8; Qd8; R-a8,e8; Bc8,e7; N-f6,f8; Pa6,b7,d5,e6,f7,g7,h7. Problem :— White to play and win. Solution:— White could have won brilliantly with 1.Nb5!! Threatening deadly penetration at ‘c7’ square. [In the game Akshat played 1.Na4 and won the game easily when Black was unable to find the defence 1...Bd6] The move suggested would have been much stronger and forceful. For example, 1...axb5 2.Bc7 Qd7 3.Ne5! Trapping the Black Queen! 1–0 CHESS BRIDGE davp 10619/11f0001/1112 TimesJobs is now on ever y mobile platform features feature s : ‘c ‘ ‘ ‘ Account Login Search and apply to latest jobs Receive latest jobs matching your profile Supports auto-login feature Quick Registration “ To download your app today, visit www.getjar.com/timesjobs — — from your mobile browser I — TIMES)OBS.COM 1TAAAI1I I ] OYA — Android iPhone West leads ♥Q against South's 5 ♦ contract and continues Hearts. How should South play PRAKASH PARANJAPE to make 11 tricks? That was the problem Bhabesh Saha of Dhampur Sugar Mills faced in the Open Room. For his 1♥ opening, East was likely to hold most of the outstanding picture cards, so Bhabesh planned for an elimination and endplay Accordingly Bhabesh ruffed, removed . , trumps, and ran the ♣T to East. East was on lead in a fivecard ending holding ♠ Q98 and ♣ Q9; South holding ♠A73♦7♣7; West, ♠J65♣65; and Dummy down to ♠KT2♣AJ. A Club would immediately concede an extra trick whereas the lead of ♠Q would expose West’s ♠J to finesse. East, therefore, switched to the ♠8. West had to part with the ♠J to deny a cheap trick to Dummy’s ♠ T. E Dealer ♠KT2 W N E S ♥32 -- -- 1♥ 2♦ Bhabesh won none Vul with the ♠ K, Final S2-B24 ♦ A 9 5 4 2 4♥ 5♦ P P entered the Lead: ♥Q ♣AJ8 P Closed hand Indian Open Trials 2011 Bengaluru, Open Room with the ♠ A ♠J654 ♠Q98 and cashed his ♥QT854 ♥AK976 last trump to ♦ void ♦6 squeeze East ♣6532 ♣KQ94 in black suits! ♠A73 Note that ♥J the final ♦KQJT873 squeeze works ♣ T 7 — Bhabesh Saha because South holds ♠ 7 and West’s spot cards - ♠654 - are unable to beat it. The preliminary endplay on East serves to extract the ♠J from West thereby isolating the Spade guard. Strictly, South needed to remove just one round of trumps before playing the ♣T. At the table, South cashed more trumps to see if opponent's discards gave him any clue to their holding. In the process, South ended up cashing all but one of his trumps and East ended up throwing all his Hearts to reach the holding we have discussed here. www.demicoma.com
[email protected] 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011 He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk. FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE, German philosopher The Art Of Graft It will take more than legalising bribe giving to reduce petty corruption Arvind Panagariya Up In The Air End of pilots’ strike doesn’t solve AI’s problems he Air India pilots' strike is over. Reinstated pilots are happy Their . derecognised union, promised re-recognition, is happy And the . Centre's happy the Maharaja's been reactivated. Not too happy are passengers: flight cancellations had them grounded or pay through their noses to rework travel plans. The 10-day agitation meant an estimated Rs 200 crore revenue loss, adding to the Rs 13,300 crore losses AI's incurred since 2007. So, taxpayers won't be happy either. They're the ones paying as the government staggers from crisis to crisis with a national carrier in perennial need of public-funded bailouts. As things stand, all the strikers have got are promises of demands being "looked into", including the pay parity issue. On its part, having initially taken the hard line, the government comes away looking soft, unable to treat the debt-strapped carrier's real malaise. Mismanaged, overstaffed, AI's made bungling use of existing resources and government dole while taking questionable decisions on acquiring assets it could scarcely afford. Numbers from an AI internal report tell the story: with a total daily expense of Rs 62 crore, AI faces a staggering daily deficit of Rs 57.5 crore. Deducting repayments from average daily earnings of Rs 22 crore from domestic operations, it's left with a paltry Rs 4.5 crore for everyday operational expenses! Yet the issue of AI's privatisation has been skirted. True, AI serves a social purpose running routes private companies would think commercially unviable. The solution is to have dedicated state-run services to remote, backward areas on a smaller, cost-effective scale. Equally, private players can be incentivised to run such flights, say, under the ambit of corporate social responsibility. Any argument that public sector behemoths like AI are "family silver" to be kept within the family is specious. Mismanagement, morally hazardous lack of financial accountability and the resultant scope for patronage politics and corruption are turning silver to scrap. A mammoth, money-draining public sector defies logic in post-reforms India. Besides being playgrounds for politicians and bureaucrats, eyesores like state-run airlines and hotels score low on quality and profitability. Consider also the strangle-held coal sector's poor productivity, increasing importdependence and hampering key sectors like power. If anything, evolution of aviation and telecom shows how crucial private enterprise is. As government monopolies, both kept services out of bounds for millions. Opened up, telecom saw phone subscribers rise from five million in early-1991 to 723 million by late-2010. And, courtesy private airlines, people across social strata access greater choice, competitive pricing and customer-friendly service. Health, education and infrastructure are the areas government should focus on. Concerning business, could it please play facilitator rather than show stopper? T orruption in India has attracted much commentary. Given the large number of members in Parliament and state legislative assemblies facing criminal charges, Bimal Jalan has proposed that candidates with pending criminal cases be subject to fast-tracking of such cases once they are elected. Jagdish Bhagwati has suggested opening up legal sources of campaign finance to curb the current reliance on illegal sources. More recently, Kaushik Basu, the chief economic adviser in the ministry of finance, has proposed that bribe givers in a particular class of bribery cases be given immunity from prosecution to encourage more “whistleblowing”. Given that the proposal has come under fire mostly for the wrong reasons, a more careful examination of it is required. Economists distinguish between two types of bribes: Type 1 given to (often lowlevel) bureaucrats to do what they are supposed to do and Type 2 given to (usually highlevel) public officials and politicians to do what they are not supposed to do. In the former case, the bribe giver is the victim with no loss to the state; in the latter case, he is a partner in crime and shares in the profits created by defrauding the state. Thus, when a railway official extracts a payment over and above the price of a train ticket to issue the ticket, he is taking a bribe for a service legitimately C due to the passenger. This is a Type 1 bribe. If, instead, the official takes a bribe and lets the passenger travel with no ticket issued, he and the passenger jointly benefit by defrauding the state. This is a Type 2 bribe. The 2G, Adarsh Society and Commonwealth Games scandals are the more high-profile examples in this category . The proposal by Basu would make giving (but not receiving) Type 1 bribes legal. (He calls these bribes “harassment bribes,” which is a misnomer since all bribes involve harassment of the citizenry vis-a-vis a smooth-functioning corruption-free state.) The rationale behind the proposal is that such Whistleblowing in the wind Low-level public officials are highly organised in India. If a particular official is suspended on charges of bribery, the successor officer will retaliate by denying the whistleblower the service legalisation will free bribe givers from the fear of prosecution and lead them to massively report the corrupt officials to the appropriate authorities. Indeed, one can go a step further and argue that, anticipating the increased prospects of being reported, public officials might stop extracting bribes in the first place. But this seemingly plausible argument is flawed on three counts. First, getting service from a government office is not a onetime affair; in most cases, a citizen must repeatedly return to the same office for the service. Therefore, a potential whistleblower must consider the impact his action will have on his ability to access the same service in the future. Two factors make it likely that he will suffer on this count. One, given the slow pace with which our administrative and judicial system moves, whistleblowing will result in either no action or very slow action. Therefore, the probability that the whistleblower will find the same official behind the desk when he returns for the service is high. Two, Type 1 cases overwhelmingly involve low-level public officials who are highly organised in India. Therefore, even if a particular official is successfully suspended on charges of bribery the successor officer, in , solidarity with other members of his service, will retaliate by denying the whistleblower the service the next time the latter returns. Second, even assuming that whistleblowing does not impair future access to the service, the potential whistleblower must take into account the cost incurred in delivering testimony to the courts. In our legal system, officials charged with bribery can themselves use Type 2 bribes in the lower courts and in any case exploit multiple appeals to delay the decision for years. This means that the whistleblower must be prepared to spend a great deal of time and personal expense to see the case through. Add to this the non-negligible probability of the accused official sending goons to inflict violence on him and his family and the option of paying the petty bribe each time without blowing the whistle begins to look attractive. It is presumably for these reasons that a law exempting bribe givers from prosecution in the Philippines, which has been on the books since 1975, has been rarely used. Finally there is even a , possibility that the immunity from prosecution would increase rather than decrease the incidence of bribes. Under the current system, at least someone like me is afraid to offer a bribe for fear that the official behind the desk might turn out to be honest with embarrassing consequences. But once the proposed immunity is in place, everyone will feel free to offer the bribe rather than go an extra mile to avoid it. Indeed, those able to afford it will likely openly compete with offers of ever-higher bribes to get ahead in the queue. What then can India do to combat Type 1 bribes? Three avenues come to mind. First, NGOs and the press may be mobilised to more vigorously blow the whistle on corrupt officials. Second, we must push for administrative and judicial reforms for better enforcement of laws against bribes. Finally we must continue to , expand the use of technology , which allows customers to access services electronically as, for example, is the case with respect to the sale of railway tickets. The writer is a professor at Columbia University. ‘Investment is a strong story in both directions’ Mark Runacres was the UK's deputy high commissioner to India till 2006 and then took a sabbatical to deepen his Indian experience. He is now quitting the service so that he can stay on in India, is the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) India adviser and also acts as an adviser and independent director for several Indian and British companies. He spoke to Deep K Datta-Ray: I Why is the quantum of India-UK business so small? Trade is a real weak point – too many presumptions at both ends and while British business has not put in the effort, Indian business has not caught up with modern Britain. There was an enormous surge in trade in the 1990s, after the reforms but after that everyone rather rested on their laurels and i don't think the UK saw the Indian growth story coming. Some thought India would always be the land of "potential" rather than real opportunity. That has all changed now! Investment is a strong story and in both directions, but in particular Indian investment into the UK over recent years. This sets a firm foundation for the commercial partnership going forward. The prime ministers have set a target to double trade in the next five years and that is realistic given India's growth but it will require British firms making a concerted effort, in particular at the much-discussed small and medium enterprise level. I Is the UK in a position to help India realise its ambitions to make nuclear power a major energy source? Indeed. The UK has a very strong track record in managing the entire nuclear cycle, from construction to plant Of course – and financial services. In many ways we have been unlucky that these areas of real British strength have been precisely the areas where reforms have slowed. It has been very heartening to see British firms in these fields sticking with their efforts to build relationships here, despite the inhibitions, and the good news is that we are now well-placed when the changes come – and it is a matter of time. I What hobbles UK business in operational terms in India? Do you feel they know enough about India? Hobbled is a strong word – all MNCs coming into India face challenges. Historically the British have tended to feel they know more than they do while in fact it is a complex and changing environment in which to do business. But British companies nowadays recognise that they need far better information I Abbottabad And After Focus on the need to fight extremism O sama bin Laden's killing is – or should be – an inflection point in the global struggle against violent extremism propagated by al-Qaida and its ilk. What it mustn't be allowed to provoke is a slanging match between Pakistan and India. Last week, Pakistani foreign secretary Salman Bashir warned of catastrophic consequences if any country – read India – were to try to carry out a US-style operation. New Delhi's done well not to respond. For, attention should lie elsewhere. Abbottabad indicates that at least a segment of Pakistan's military-ISI combine has been supporting extremists. It's this that Islamabad, the media and the people of that country must dwell on. Abbottabad might be an embarrassment, but it's also an opportunity for course correction. Instead, assumed Indian aggression and its corollary of Pakistani 'victimisation' are becoming talking points. This risks shifting focus from what the world should really be concerned with: the shelter terrorists have found in Pakistan. Nationalistic chest-thumping in certain quarters in India hasn't helped matters. And, though made in response to a query, army chief General V K Singh's statement that Indian forces can carry out Abbottabad-type operations was avoidable. Whether or not India can claim to approach the US's military and diplomatic clout to emulate it isn't the point. An India-Pakistan dialogue process is on. Continuing to engage Islamabad is the way forward for us, even as Abbottabad is leveraged to both persuade Pakistan behind the scenes to clean house as well as to support it in any efforts to do so. Rejoicing at its predicament and trying to put the boot in will merely give sections in the Pakistani establishment a chance to obfuscate the larger issue by dragging it down to the level of a petty brawl. Q&A management to legacy management. You will see a lot of collaboration in this field now, all the more important following the tragedy in Japan. In fact a civil nuclear mission from the UK was here in February this year and was well-pleased with the outcome of their discussions. I Do restrictions on FDI in education and multi-brand retail stymie British investment in India? about India if they are to succeed here. One of my jobs is to make sure that CBI members have the benefit of someone in the market who can offer not just facts and figures but advice on the strategic direction of the Indian political economy and , who has seen a lot of businesses coming in over the years. I Is retroactive legislation an issue? In some cases – minimum wage regulation, taxation. But probably more important is the lack of a transparent and above board "public affairs" scene here – it is not always easy to feel that you have the full picture. I Why do foreigners like yourself choose to stay on in India? There are still not many , excepting the returning NRIs. The main reason? Infinite possibilities – for business, friendship, travel – for life! POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Story’s end The best tales are often bitter-sweet Raghu Krishnan In the dock With reference to the editorial ‘End Of The Road’ (May 3), the US decision to not release pictures of Osama bin Laden’s body in order to avoid extreme reprisals has led some to question the veracity of the Abbottabad operation. Nonetheless, the US action leading to bin Laden’s killing in a garrison town has caused major embarrassment to Pakistani authorities. The revelation that the world’s most wanted terrorist was living and operating in their backyard while they feigned ignorance casts doubts on Pakistan’s commitment to the war against terror. The US operation also raises questions about the Pakistani military’s capacity to protect its own people from foreign aggression. Pakistan has the moral obligation to absolve itself in the eyes of both the international community and its own people. Gregory Fernandes, MUMBAI ver wondered why so many books, movies and songs feature the word last in their titles? Last, as in final, has a dramatic touch. Which could be why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's final book on Sherlock Holmes is titled 'His Last Bow'. The book ends with the news that World War I is about to begin, and with Holmes playing on his violin for the departing Watson the tune of Robert Burns's poem-song which begins, 'Should auld acquaintance be forgot/ And days of auld lang syne'. It's almost as if the stately Holmes of England is anticipating that the world will change and nothing will ever be the same again. And World War I began just 28 months after the `unsinkable' Titanic sank after striking an Atlantic iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 15, 1912. The disc containing the song 'The Last Waltz' by Gerry Dorsey better , known as Engelbert Humperdinck, was released in 1967 but could have been more appropriately played on the Titanic where the band kept performing in the first-class passenger-lounge and then on the boat-deck even when it was clear that the damaged ship was going to go down with most of the passengers since the lifeboats could only accommodate half of the 2,223 people on board. The bandmaster, Wallace Hartley was playing on a violin presented to him by , his fiance Maria Robinson and was accompanied by F W Clarke (bass), Jock Hume (first violinist), J W Woodward (cellist), G Krins (violinist), W T Brailey (pianist), Roger Bricoux (cellist) and P C Taylor, none of whom survived. The Titanic band began its last performance with Irving Berlin's 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and Herman Finck's 'In the Shadows', moved on to Paul Lincke's 'The Wedding Dance Waltz' and Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld', and concluded with Sullivan's more spiritual 'Nearer, My God, To Thee' and Joyce's 'Songe d'Automne' (Autumn Song) even while the water was rising and the ship sinking. There were no Grammy Awards then for what was surely the most courageous live performance in the history of music. Or take the Hollywood western based on Louis L'Amour's 'Last Stand at Papagos Wells'. The blurb of the book tells you how stark the situation was: 'It was the only water for miles in a vast, sun-blasted desert. Water meant survival. So Logan Cates naturally headed for Papagos Wells. Fleeing the fiery Churupati and his Apache warriors, other travellers headed there too. And when the Apaches found them, they began a siege as relentless and unyielding as the barren land – and as inescapable.' Talk of a last, life-changing experience! 'Last Stand at Papagos Wells' is pulp fiction. Which John Ruskin's book titled 'Unto This Last' is definitely not. It was first published in the form of four articles in 1860 in Cornhill Magazine, a monthly periodical. The magazine stopped publication in the face of what Ruskin called the "violent criticism" of subscribers reacting to the author's critique of the adverse impact of industrialisation on the natural world and his comments on the capitalist economists of the 18th and 19th centuries. 'Unto This Last' had a tremendous impact on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who was given a copy of the book by Henry Polak whom he first met in a vegetarian restaurant in South Africa. Inspired by the book, Gandhi started the Phoenix Settlement where everyone working on the farm was paid the same salary irrespective of function, race or nationality a trend, , setting idea in 1904 South Africa. In 1908, Gandhi translated 'Unto This Last' into Gujarati under the title 'Sarvodaya – Well-being of All'. But, then, last doesn't just mean final. It also – as the dictionary tells us – means to remain fresh and endure. Some ideas and ideals last forever. E I SACRED S PAC E I The Miracle Of The Word helps you internalise the meaning of the Word. Guru Nanak believed that by repetition of Nam, uch is the importance of Nam simran in one can overcome the ego. Nama marga, the Sikhism that Guru Nanak, the founder of path of the divine Word, is the way to liberation. Nam simran can also be performed collecthe faith, proclaims, “I have no miracles except the name of God.” Nam japna or Nam tively in sadhsangat, when devotees sing simran is the repetitive remembrance of the together hymns of praise or the shabad in the Supreme, the Satnam, the only true Word. form of kirtan. Guru Nanak says satsangat is Nam is the Ultimate reality which manifests where the divine Nam is cherished. This is itself in the form of Creation and Nam, like where virtues are learnt, where godlike qualities are cultivated. In sangat devotees seek Nature, is all-pervasive. Nam is not name, identification or combi- unity with God through recitation of Bani nation of words to address God like Hari, Ram, as well as hearing His Word. Nam simran is Allah; it is more than that. Nam is the repre- related to hearing or listening to the Word as sentation of the Almighty, manifestation of well as becoming aware of what has been heard. Remembrance of Nam does not bind the His attributes. Nam is expression for the person to any place or time. One can whole nature of Akal Purakh, the recite it while walking, driving or timeless, infinite and all-pervasive. while performing household chores. To be linked with the divine name is It sets you free. Guru Arjan says, to grow in likeness to God – being “Nam is mukti, liberation, jugati, way merciful, compassionate and loving to attain liberation, fulfilment, tripati until it results in divine union. as well as bhugati, enjoyment. All Satnam is not eternal silence; it who follow the pathway of Nam extakes the form of the divine Word, THE perience vismad, the incredible Vaheguru, the divine light, dispeller of darkness. In Sikh tradition, I SPEAKING I awe and wonder of knowing the greatness of the Supreme Being – the Supreme is referred to as VaheTREE vismad nad vismad ved, wondrous guru. Absorption in Nam, constant remembrance of Vaheguru, is recommended. is the sound, wondrous the wisdom. But mechanical repetition of Nam is not As the believer meditates on the Word, bondage to the world, fear and injustice is over- enough. One has to realise the Divine as a come. Nam simran has the power of freeing us reality and be in harmony with him. When we from the self-centredness that leads to endless recite gurbani or the divine Word we are in fact cycles of reincarnation. All gains, spiritual remembering the attributes of God and as a and material, flow from concentration on result the followers also try to imbibe good Nam. Nam simran, chanting of ‘Satnam Vahe- qualities like love for all creatures, sewa, guru’ in congregation or in solitude is one of forgiveness, universal brotherhood, fearlessthe three cardinal principles of Sikhism, ness etc. Nam simran is the ultimate path of along with kirat karni or honest labour and bliss, of liberation. kaur
[email protected] vand chhakna or sharing with the needy . www.speakingtree.in Nam japna can be performed at the individual level, in private meditation. It involves Join the world’s first spiritual networking the practice of repeating the sacred word which site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Kulbir Kaur Sayings of Gurudev When old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders. If our relation with the divine were all a thing of our own making, how should we rely on it as true, and how should it lend us support? Within us we have that where space and time cease to rule and where the links of evolution are merged in unity . Knowledge is partial, because our intellect is an instrument, it is only a part of us, it can give us information about things which can be divided and analysed. But Brahma is perfect, and knowledge which is partial can never be knowledge of Him. Most people believe the mind to be a mirror, accurately reflecting the world outside them, not realising that the mind is itself the principal element of creation. Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti today. S Three’s a crowd With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 7), the three-captain formula will do more harm than good to any cricket team. In England’s case, only time will tell whether the policy works or not. Apart from the difficulty of finding the right candidates for three different formats, it will be rather hard for any coach to be on the same wavelength with three captains. Who knows, maybe such teams will end up employing three coaches! Absence of a single leader could create factions within a team. A better approach to spreading the burden of captaincy could be by appointing two vice-captains to provide inputs to chalk out strategy on the field. Prem K Menon, VIA EMAIL The wages of pride With reference to The Speaking Tree ‘Learning From Satan’ (May 4) by Sadia Khan, it is not ego that made Satan disobey God and refuse to bow before Adam. In the words of the Holy Quran, it was his pride and rebellious nature that led to Satan’s undoing from an exalted position. He was brought down to the abyss of the cursed one till the end of the world. Several passages in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad say that man should not succumb to Satan’s sophistry and temptation. Satan was, however, given one concession. After he incurred the wrath of God, he asked to be allowed to mislead and tempt humans. God gave him the permission with a challenge that righteous people with true knowledge and guidance would never fall prey to his preaching. Nizam Lodhi, HYDERABAD We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011 Any external interference in the reintegration process would be detrimental to its success. INDIAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENT It’s Smart Diplomacy Combat jet decision signals the coming of age of India’s strategic planning Rohit Viswanath Kabul Calling India’s Afghanistan policy requires renewed focus he last time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Afghanistan, it was 2005 and the country was stuck in the quagmire of the Taliban insurgency with no end in sight. This time around – if he does indeed plan to visit Afghanistan this week as reported – the Taliban are still in the frame, but the other variables have changed dramatically. Just how much can be judged from the haste with which this trip is being put together. Osama bin Laden’s death could throw Afghanistan’s future into flux, and New Delhi knows it. The irony of the situation is that despite the embarrassment of bin Laden being found in Abbottabad, the Pakistani establishment may just be able to parlay it into an advantage in the medium-to-long term. With a symbolic victory of this magnitude to Washington’s credit, there is already speculation that the American withdrawal from Afghanistan may be accelerated. As things stand, the withdrawal is set to begin in July this year. But the assumption was that would merely be the beginning of a lengthy process stretching over years. This belief is being questioned now, giving New Delhi good cause for concern. India has a vested interest in Afghanistan’s stability – not to encircle Pakistan as Rawalpindi claims, but because an unstable Afghanistan will have a ripple effect through South Asia. The best way for New Delhi to ensure its concerns remain on the table is to ramp up its already considerable economic engagement with Kabul. With $1.2 billion aid and numerous ongoing developmental projects, India has generated goodwill by making substantial contributions to creating the infrastructure of a modern Afghan state. New Delhi must build upon this, deepening and broadening the scope of its projects in a low-profile manner. The 1.8 billion tonnes Hajigak iron ore mines project is a case in point: of the 22 firms bidding for exploration rights, 15 are Indian. New Delhi must do all it can to support their efforts. In the diplomatic arena, India must, as it has before, stress the importance of a regional approach to Afghanistan involving neighbours such as Iran, Russia, China and the Central Asian republics. Creating a transparent environment for any reintegration process initiated by Kabul is critical. Having all stakeholders on board will facilitate this, while offsetting Pakistan’s view of Afghanistan solely as its strategic backyard and, hopefully allaying its , fears about Indian intentions. New Delhi should also bear in mind that, while it has cause to be wary of Taliban’s reintegration, in the end the decision is Kabul’s. For Pashtun nationalism is not about to go away – and to allow the Taliban to coopt it entirely would be a big mistake. T ndia’s recent decision against shortlisting American fighter jets in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition has been interpreted in many ways in different quarters. Many feel had India decided upon American-made jets, the choice would have furthered US-India military ties and manufacturing collaboration. Touted as the world’s biggest international military aircraft deal in two decades, the nearly $12 billion deal being equal to over half of US exports to India last year, it would have taken bilateral trade between the two to a much higher platform. Rumour mills even have it that former US ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, resigned because the deal did not get through. Some observers have gone further. They claim the choice to be an affront on America’s call for closer strategic partnership. This section has again begun viewing India with suspicion and through the prism of “non-alignment”. They cite India’s recent abstention on UNSC Resolution 1973 on Libya, its reluctance to cooperate on Iran and Myanmar and also its attempts at creating a new power bloc of BRICS nations as evidence of its commitment to the long-deceased policy. For them, the deal was a litmus test of American success in subverting India’s independent foreign policy through carrots-like acceptance of India as a de facto nuclear power by virtue of the India-US nuclear deal as also the offer of a UNSC permanent membership. They are unhappy because I they thought the deal’s success would have furthered India’s and America’s shared interest in containing China. While Pakistan remains a constant worry, India is also increasingly concerned by the strategic challenge posed by China. Its approval of the American bids, according to them, would have boosted joint capabilities in warfare. This they claim would serve as a deterrent to potential Chinese hostility on the subcontinent and in the Indian Ocean and also help train the armed forces to fight alongside one another should deterrence fail. On the other hand, people elated at Indian rejection of the Being able to pick and choose No doubt the contract represented an opportunity for US companies to gain a foothold in India’s defence market. But surely India-US relations go beyond a few chunks of military and aeronautical hardware American bid cite the unreliability of American supply as the greatest hitch. According to them, the US is not trustworthy: it has been known to stop supply of parts if the buyer does not adhere to American whims and fancies. The other reasons include excessive restrictions placed on users and the end-user monitoring on the aircraft, which undermine sovereignty and make the Indian establishment uncomfortable. Further, the Indian gov- ernment has recently mandated that foreign contractors invest a certain percentage of the deal for indigenous production. It envisions the deal will go beyond just procurement of 126 jets and help modernise India’s aerospace industry. American firms are said to have a history of being unwilling to honour this agreement. The US has in place stringent export control regimes that prevent American companies from transferring technology and outsourcing manufacturing of strategic equipment. Moreover, America’s move to sell the exorbitantly priced jets to India is seen as an extension of its ongoing beggerthy-neighbour policy to offset its ailing domestic economy. Bracketing India’s decision within either of the above analyses is myopic. There may have been political calculations involved, but the choice was largely determined by technical considerations. Six aircraft were bid for the order – the Swedish Saab Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, French Dassault Rafale, Russian Mikoyan MiG-35 and the American F-16IN and F/A-18IN Super Hornet. Mikoyan and Dassault have been regular suppliers of aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the past. The IAF shortlisted Rafale and Typhoon only after putting them through an intense schedule of technical evaluations lasting over several months. The factors that appear to have favoured them are clearly the offer of an equal partnership between the vendor and the buyer, perceptible technology transfer, existing industrial linkages and, most importantly, superior performance of the jets which also conformed to most of the 643 laid down technical parameters. IAF pilots and technicians are already familiar with the earlier aircraft from those two aircraft manufacturers, and hence would need minimal The writer is a project associate retraining. Infrastructural and with ICRIER. logistical support for maintenance and spares would also be easier for these aircraft. To alter those to suit new American jets would not only involve further complexities but also expand the already allocated mammoth budget. There is no doubt that the contract represented a prime opportunity for US companies to gain a foothold in the Indian defence market, estimated to be about $100 billion in the next 10 years. But surely India-US relations go much beyond a few chunks of military and aeronautical hardware. The Indian decision, hence, was certainly not intended to snub America. With a complex global cold war for control over resources and markets already in sight, the political calculations behind the MMRCA decision must be inferred in this context. India perceives itself to be one of the poles in a multipolar world and next only to the US and China. The country’s policy pundits are aware that in the face of an increasingly aggressive and affluent China, India needs to ensure that Europe, with its economy in doldrums right now, remains in its sphere of influence. Europe matters not just as a strategic partner but also because of its advanced technological prowess. The deal is clearly an attempt by India to woo the Europeans and ensure their continued support for New Delhi’s positions on critical international issues. The MMRCA conclusion is not an expression of India’s limitations or shifting strategic inclinations. It just reflects smart diplomacy . Government launches an annual Tagore Award Land Locked Get moving on the Land Acquisition Bill he UP farmers’ agitation highlights yet again how explosive the issue of land acquisition has become. Clashes, killing four, saw state police battling farmers demanding better compensation for land acquired by UP authorities for the Yamuna Expressway project. This is just another reminder of the urgent need to push through the Land Acquisition Bill, which proposes to restrict government’s role in land acquisition while mandating private companies buy at least 70% of land for projects at market prices. The reform’s been hanging fire because the Trinamool Congress, a key UPA ally wants the state’s role scrapped altogether. , True, it’s desirable that the new framework be made as market-oriented as possible. However, the reworked Bill as it stands is an improvement on the present situation, besides allowing the state a limited but possibly useful role should last mile problems – a few holding out against private buyers to get ever-higher prices for their land – threaten projects. Besides hitting development, land-related strife is also spooking investors. Though Posco received environmental clearances only recently it still , might come unstuck: Orissa’s authorities having to deploy security personnel to prevent land-related strife isn’t very good PR. Agitations are threatening industrialisation and infrastructure-building everywhere. Projects as diverse as power plants and expressways, in locations as disparate as Maharashtra and Meghalaya, are being delayed. This, despite the fact that India’s land needs for mining, industry and urban development combined over the next two decades are estimated to amount to just 2% of its total land mass. A market-based land acquisition template is imperative to give a sense of agency to those relinquishing land. Dealing directly with buyers, they’ll have less reason to feel shortchanged on compensation or relief. Therefore, rather than make every land-related clash an excuse for political point-scoring, the political class should focus on getting the Bill through Parliament. Go beyond symbolism he government has decided to institute a Rabindranath Tagore Award on the 150th birth anniversary of Asia’s first Nobel laureate. This will achieve little, going by past experience. Comprising a cash prize worth Rs 1 crore and meant to recognise contributions towards “promotion of international brotherhood and fraternity”, the award seems destined to go the way of some of our other international honours. Since 2007, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Under- I T standing hasn’t been awarded. Similarly, the International Gandhi Peace Prize hasn’t surfaced since 2005. If the aim is to pay tribute to Tagore’s legacy, there are better ways of going about it. An award can only be a weak sarkari substitute for the genuine effort needed to popularise Tagore’s works and ideals for a larger audience. The main challenge facing Tagore scholars is how to make him relevant for today’s generation. Even within India, Tagore continues to be an enigma for large sections outside Bengal. There is a dearth of translation of his works in vernacular languages. The cash prize associated with the award will be A fitting tribute T T better utilised funding and rewarding translation projects. Tagore was an internationalist; sadly, his works remain limited in global reach. Encouraging efforts to popularise his works in China, Southeast Asia and beyond will be more in keeping with his universalist vision. People won’t appreciate Tagore’s significance just T I M E S V I E WI because some individual or other is honoured in his name. Often, choice of candidates for awards is unimaginative at best and political at worst. Promoting greater understanding of Tagore requires us to instead make his works accessible to greater numbers of people here and abroad, be it through translations, better digitisation of his works, tourism projects, scholarship and cultural exchange programmes, etc. Let’s go beyond symbolism in paying homage to the icon. ical protesters martyred in Punjab. He felt for women trapped in homesteads and men, pummelled by the world beyond. He criticised imperialism while drawing from international cultures. This award recognises these qualities. Critics may say not enough is being done to translate Tagore, popularise his works and ensure his relevance remains contemporary. This award does that and more. ‘Translating’ Tagore I COUNTERVIEW I cannot be limited simply to print and verbiage; Srijana Mitra Das mustard fish to the Tagore’s ideas must be felt. Compassion pangs of hunger, the was as important to him as rhyme and mewarmth of community ter, pen and paintbrush. By awarding conand the courage of soli- tributions to fraternity, the government tude, the beauties of has hit on a wonderful way to keep Tatradition along with its gore’s legacy fresh. At a time when ‘a clash oppressiveness. of civilisations’ is discussed, it’s imporTagore had tremendous sensitivity tant to remember an icon who was firmly towards the human condition. Despite rooted, yet emphasised that no walls sepabeing a privileged Bengali male, his rated human souls. This award rewards vision of humanity was unfettered by similar efforts by others, keeping a vital caste, class and gender divides. He em- part of Tagore’s legacy alive. It’s a fitting pathised with Bengal’s peasants, bat- way to remember an extraordinary inditered by floods and famines, as with polit- vidual, artist, litterateur and much more. he government award in the name of Tagore, honouring contributions to international brotherhood, is deeply welcome on his 150th birth anniversary. Tagore was a genius with the ability to capture in words, images and music diverse experiences, from the flavours of SNAP JUDGMENT Dye Another Day ideos of Osama found by US forces in Abbottabad showed him hiding but in no mood to retire. But who’d have guessed he spent time narcissistically watching TV clips of himself ? Or fumbled lines rehearsing for recordings promising US’s destruction? Imageconscious, he also dyed his beard! Clearly, being remote helped the now-deceased terror mastermind instil fear. Up close, it wouldn’t have been that easy. Air Pocket n airline botched a Gujarati NRI’s travel plans in 2008. So, he went and bought the world’s first commercial flying car from a US firm! Only, on delivery, he’ll need a nod from India’s aviation and security agencies to park his winged twoseater at his Ahmedabad farmhouse. Given it takes eons to get official clearances in India, his incredible flying machine seems headed for turbulence. I Virtual Aid Hats off to the Brits They are willing to turn into mad hatters for style’s sake George N Netto V A S part from the impressive pomp and pageantry of the recent WilliamKate wedding, what a sartorial feast it turned out to be for countless viewers across the world! In particular, what intrigued me most was the bewildering variety of millinery sported by the ladies, some of whom appeared to be vying for honours with a Native American chief ’s elaborately feathered head-dress. Every conceivable form of feminine headgear was on display – from the ridiculous to the quaint and from the flamboyant to the dignified. Sizes and dimensions varied but all the ladies’ hats had one common feature: they were unavoidably eye-catching. Indeed, for the benefit of viewers, BBC’s TV cameras pointedly zeroed in on the elegantly dressed invitees sporting unusual headgear. One looked as if she had a perky hornbill perched on her head. Another appeared to be weighed down by a tortoise on her skull, or at least its shell, while yet another seemed to be skilfully balancing an empty basket of sorts on her cranium. Then, believe it or not, one socialite flaunted a truly unique hat – an array of horns sticking unnaturally out of her head! Yet another appeared to have hijacked a beehive as a fashion accessory wearing it as nonchalantly as she did her earrings. , One lady wore with elan what looked like a cowboy’s floppy sombrero while another, with a statuesque figure, had donned what appeared to be a London bobby’s helmet! In keeping with her dignity Queen Elizabeth herself wore a , simple yellow hat to match her similar-coloured attire. Thanks to the royal wedding, milliners undoubtedly must have made a killing, designing these bizarre creations for their finicky and well-heeled customers. That such weird, if not ludicrous, headgear finds favour in British society amused me no end. Quite frankly , some of those oddly ‘hatted’ ladies left me – admittedly a philistine – tittering and i’m sure their milliners must have guffawed all the way to the bank, having turned millionaires with their crazy creations. Irked by my ribbing, my indignant better half gallantly rallied to the defence of her gender. Like beauty she asserted, elegance in dress lies in the , eye of not only the beholder but also the wearer. And such finesse, she icily concluded, was beyond a fashion ignoramus like me. The ladies in question were making “profound fashion statements”, she added, quite scornful of my ignorance, and the varied headgear they displayed was the skilled creation of eminent milliners of international repute. She went on to tutor me that ladies in the higher echelons of British society never go hatless on such formal occasions as a royal wedding. Indeed, a fashionable hat is an integral and vital part of their attire. In the interests of domestic peace, i refrained from pointing out that to me, far from being “fashion statements”, those outlandish apologies for hats resembled grotesque growths on otherwise elegant-looking patrician pates, exposing the wearers to the risk of being mistaken for aliens from outer space. Instead, to placate the lady of the house, i conceded that some British men, too, are eccentric about headwear. I mentioned the legendary Sherlock Holmes who was addicted to wearing a deerstalker even though he stalked criminals rather than deer. Then, nearer home, there’s the High Range Club in Munnar where, way back in 1926, sentimental British planters started hanging up their hats on retirement – a ritual that has built up a vintage and varied collection of mouldy ‘lids’ still on display That soothed her hackles. . However, i’m convinced that the grossly weird handiwork of present-day milliners lends credence to the phrase ‘as mad as a hatter’. The recent royal wedding threw up some truly ‘heady’ wear indeed! A cientists introduced ‘virtual schizophrenia’ in computers, to study the human ailment better. By over-simulating systems, they hypothesise that excessive dopamine similarly causes the mind to read signals from too many stimuli, making over-complicated connections. Computers make life easier in myriad ways. If it helps make mental illness easier to understand, it’ll also make medical history. I SACRED S PAC E Beyond Ritual I Spiritual Intelligence to be victims of pride and egoism that comes from reading and writing – as it happens with onventional intelligence is linked to the some. Spiritual scientist Albert Einstein capability of an individual to assimilate states that the main purpose of education and convey facts as well as manage chal- should be to bring morality in actions and sublenging situations. Intelligence Quotient, IQ, due one’s ego. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa measures the brain’s ability to grasp, retain and was hardly educated. Yet the most erudite and recall factual knowledge. Emotional Intelli- scholarly felt humbled in his presence. Many a gence, EQ, measures the ability to understand time we tend to ignore simple solutions to life’s and maturely manage people and challenges. challenges. Warren Buffett, the celebrated Spiritual Intelligence, SI, expands the horizon businessman, captures the significance of beyond the ego. It attunes one to a larger circle of simplicity when he says, “There seems to be a awareness and influence. Spiritually evolved perverse human characteristic that likes to people remain connected with a sense of uni- make easy things difficult!” Einstein said, versal oneness. This enables them to respond to “Not all that counts in life can be counted and trying situations and issues in a renot all that can be counted counts”, markably composed manner. which aptly captures this truth. The first-hand experience of Abiding by the philosophy of M K Gandhi of the social injustice simple living and high thinking can prevalent under the racial regime of help us tap and deploy the innate apartheid is a case in point. Louis resource of spiritual intelligence Fischer in his biography of Gandwithin. Responding to the demands hi, recounts what Gandhi thought of life using spiritual intelligence THE was the most creative experience of paves the way for a deeper awarehis life as the night that he spent SPEAKING ness of the cosmic consciousness crouched and shivering in the cold linking all of humanity. To energise TREE at the Maritzburg rail station in this intelligence, it is important that Natal, South Africa, unable to even reach for his we cajole the mind to go within instead of its own overcoat while empathising with a poor habitual tendency to focus outwards. black family who were thrown out of a train. Connecting intuitively to the core of our This incident transformed Gandhi’s level being promotes the expression of our spirit. of awareness, attuning him to a larger pur- Intuitive wisdom can provide remarkably pose in life. Spiritual intelligence transcends simple solutions to many complex challenges the realm of objective knowledge and one’s of life. It makes us more receptive to the power own identity. It invokes a sense of oneness of wisdom that is always available within and across all forms of life. However, success in around us. Steadily but surely we can then , , higher learning and knowledge assimilation abide by the wise counsel for peaceful and runs the risk of promoting one’s sense of happy living, “Let sincerity and not seriousimportance and superiority This can only be ness be the guiding basis for all our actions . avoided if we acknowledge the existence of a and responses in life.” higher power. www.speakingtree.in Ramana Maharshi regarded the illiterate Join the world’s first spiritual networking as being more fortunate as they are less likely site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Vijay Vancheswar E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Carrot and stick With reference to the article ‘Pak Discomfiture No Solace For India’ (May 7) by Dileep Padgaonkar, it may help if we control hawkish voices in the country. As suggested by the writer, continuous engagement with Pakistan is a better option to resolve issues that affect peace and stability. Escalating tensions will mar the long-term prospects of both nations. However, India’s difficulty lies in identifying the real authority to engage with. Pakistan is in flux and there are several power centres in the country. Therefore, if India can make the impression that it can also go the US way, it will create psychological pressure on all power centres in Pakistan. That may force them to collectively decide in favour of engagement. Only then can the dialogue process be fruitful. The situation thus demands that strong views in certain segments be balanced by our conciliatory approach in diplomacy. We should encourage both views. Surendra B Singh, MUMBAI The prayer God hears is the prayer of the heart, that raising of the heart, that suffering of the heart is what God pays attention to; certainly it is foolish to rely upon the usual religious practices and ritual. What matters is your heart, the prayer that arises from your heart that is the prayer that Baba hears, that God hears. Meher Baba Not by sacred water is one pure, although many folk bathe in it. In whom is truth and dhamma, he is pure; he is a Brahmin. Udana 6 A man who is not humane, what can he have to do with ritual? Analects 3.3 Burn the prayer-mat, break the jug,/ Discard the rosary cup and staff,/ , Love’s kingdom requires them not… Bulhe Shah With rosaries and sandal marks/ I have nothing to do;/ The One alone dwells in my heart. Dadu Dayal C Bribe’s head revisited With reference to the article ‘The Art Of Graft’ (May 9) by Arvind Panagariya, administrative and judicial reforms are imperative to give teeth to many laws for preventing both Type I and Type II corruption in India. However, two big-ticket causes of all kinds of corruption in the country also require due attention at the earliest. These include opaque electoral funding with minimal disclosure by both political parties and candidates, and the absence of an independent police force that is not subservient to politicians. Reforms in these two spheres are essential in any fight against corruption. Also, as individuals, we should use our time to serve others selflessly. Bharat Wakhlu, NEW DELHI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 24 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011 Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. BOB PACKWOOD, American politician Power With Responsibility If she wins Bengal, Mamata will have to jettison partisan politics to bring about true change Diptosh Majumdar Significant Stay SC provides a judicial corrective in Ayodhya case hough it is just an interim order, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Allahabad high court’s verdict on the Ayodhya title suits is profoundly significant. All the more so because of the apex court’s accompanying observation that the high court’s decision of September 30, 2010 – stipulating partition of the land where the Babri masjid stood between the two communities on the basis of the title dispute – was “strange and surprising”. These are strong words for the partition idea that had been erroneously hailed by a section of civil society as pragmatic or conciliatory. The Supreme Court intervention comes as a much-needed corrective to signal India’s commitment to secularism and the rule of law. The partition scheme under which two parts of the Ram JanmabhoomiBabri masjid complex were given to Hindu parties and one part to a Muslim party had placed faith above law and, seemingly expediency over legal , principle. Though the title suits had originated from the surreptitious installation of idols in the medieval mosque in 1949, the high court glossed over the fact that nothing said about the history of the Hindu belief prior to that year would have detracted from this dubious cause of action. Instead, it ended up conferring legitimacy on the 1949 act by accepting the claim that Lord Ram was born exactly where the central dome of the Babri masjid once stood. While not condoning it in any way the high court verdict – , running into thousands of pages – seemed equally unmindful of the 1992 demolition, though the latter was a violent interference with the subject matter of the title suits. It is just as well that this partition scheme did not satisfy even the Hindu parties to the title suits. The appeals filed by all the parties concerned has provided an opportunity to the Supreme Court to undo the error of the high court in not letting, among other things, the illegality of the 1949 and 1992 events have a bearing on the title suits. Having stayed the high court verdict, the Supreme Court should reconsider all its postulates and premises, whether they had been derived from religious scriptures or legal tomes. The Ayodhya title suits, in any event, are but a part of the larger backlog of justice related to the chain of events triggered by the Babri masjid demolition. Criminal proceedings are still pending and the political leaders accused in the case have all been let off the conspiracy charge. There can be no closure to this long-vexed problem unless the Supreme Court verdict, besides being a robust affirmation of the rule of law, is forward-looking and sets a salutary precedent for resolving inter-community differences. T est Bengal looks finally determined to vote out a government which has been in power for 34 continuous years. Mamata Banerjee’s tenacity and perseverance may dislodge the Left from Writers’ Buildings once the results are counted on Friday. But for the feisty Trinamool Congress chief, it is hardly going to be all smooth sailing if she wins. Once the electronic voting machines have revealed her fate, she will have to abandon her partisan politics and start behaving like the impartial chief minister. Her first and immediate task will be to prevent possible violent reprisals and backlashes. She has to realise that real change would not come to West Bengal if, goaded on by her jubilant cadres, she chooses the predictable path of vindictive politics. For once, there should not be any “unstated arrangement” between the new ruling party and the police machinery. There’s no denying that it was the CPM which had carefully constructed the “party society” – a system of benefiting only that section of the polarised, committed electorate which swore by the Left. But Mamata cannot persist with the prevailing culture of rewarding supporters and alienating detractors and opponents. It does not require administrative experience to gauge the extent of injustice a ruling party might have done when it was the beneficiary of unabashed state protection for more than three decades. In places like Keshpur, W Nandigram, and parts of Jangalmahal, there are families of victims of state-sponsored violence who are eagerly waiting for power to change hands so that they can avenge themselves. Mamata will have to walk the tightrope, preventing her followers from taking the law into their own hands and guaranteeing the security of all, irrespective of party affiliation. Given her track record in overaligning herself with the Trinamool cause, she will first have to win a battle against herself. Her manifesto mentions that she is sworn to the politics of badal (change) and not the politics of badla (revenge). She must remember that pledge. When pointing fingers won’t be enough Mamata will first have to win a battle against herself. Her manifesto mentions she is sworn to the politics of badal (change) and not the politics of badla (revenge). She must remember that pledge Undoubtedly, another of her priorities will be to cleanse the administration or, as some would assert, “de-politicise” governance but she must go about her business carefully and gradually. Mamata has promised a government with an improved work culture but eradicating the entrenched CPM party structure in the administration with one or two quick, successive blows will be an imprudent step. She should wait and see if the CPM’s enormous influence in the existing set-up wanes within the first two months before initiating strong action against zealots who will never embrace the rules laid down by a new dispensation. Apart from a neutral administration, Mamata needs to help evolve an apolitical police force. For long, the police have been used to taking orders from the CPM leadership at various levels. While the state party leadership at Alimuddin Street expects the top brass to be deferential and obedient, even the local committee functionaries have a significant say in the routine activities of the police stations, often insisting that people of a particular political background cannot be apprehended. Mamata cannot demoralise the already disempowered police force by taking unpleasant decisions in a hurry. She must understand that she will have to be patient; she cannot dismantle a threedecade-old system in a fortnight. The result will be lawlessness, anarchic confusion, definitely not the kind of hopeful atmosphere her voters are looking forward to. The state’s economy is in a shambles; it is hardly a legacy worth inheriting. Senior Trinamool ideologues may be exaggerating when they allege that the state’s total debt has surpassed nearly a staggering Rs 2 lakh crore. West Bengal spends most of its money on paying salary and pension to present and former government employees. Its Plan expenditure is unremarkable; it lacks the financial clout to invest in health and education. Whoever Mamata chooses to be her finance minister has the unenviable task of reviving an economy which is badly looking for a fresh injection of funds. To make this possible, Mamata will have to change the nature of her relationship with the UPA leadership in New Delhi. She must learn to extract more for the state she hopes to govern much in the way N Chandrababu Naidu achieved for Andhra Pradesh during a greater part of the Vajpayee era. Within the first 100 days itself, Mamata will be expected to spell out separate rural, urban and minority-related policies. She will have to conceive development projects in the rural hinterland without falling back on rapid industrialisation. West Bengal’s shabby towns need a well-thought-out urban development model. Mamata has been able to win over the Muslims by convincing them that they were excluded from the Left’s development agenda. She must devise a separate plan for the minority community. It will be interesting to watch how Mamata crosses her first hurdle of choosing a cabinet without upsetting too many of her trusted lieutenants. Till now, she has controlled indiscipline with an iron hand, knowing that the non-Left forces will be under compulsion to gravitate towards her. But the widespread desire to taste power after 34 years in the wilderness is not easy to deal with. Her victory may demand a change of her very personality a change , of what she has been all these years. The question is if a calm, composed and less impulsive Mamata is possible. Don’t Worry, Be Happy Thank your lucky genes for happiness hose of us who’re naturally cheery may have more than one reason to clap our hands. According to London School of Economics researchers, happiness lies in the genes. In fact, it’s been discovered that joviality and sense of satisfaction all really depend on which form of the gene 5-HTT – the “happiness gene” which distributes serotinin across nerve cells – people inherit from their parents. For some, there’s a double bonanza: those getting two sets of the ‘happy’ gene, one “long” strand from mommy the other from daddy are likely to be twice as joyful! The least , , happy are those with two variants of the “short” gene. Parental guidance just acquired a new meaning. Now you know why they say it all goes back to mommy…and daddy Forget . all those homilies about discovering and spreading your own happiness. It turns out that if life sucks, parents can be blamed for not being more generous with their genetic bequest. And if you’re feeling on top of the world, clearly it’s not because you aced appraisals or weigh 50 kilos despite six helpings of kheer. Put it down to genetically triggered ‘happy’ chemicals partying in your brain. Clearly there’s no business like biological determinism where , everything can be traced back to the forebears. Were it not for your genes, you’d never have that adorable twice-a-day sulk. Or smash fewer vases on seeing red. Ah well. Just when you thought that at least being satisfied – or making others feel good – was your own doing, you find that it’s a genetic accident. Maybe that’s why the scientists also say that, with greater insight into happiness genes, would-be parents could very well ‘create’ a child who’s more content! Wow. The pursuit of happiness may be taken out of our hands entirely becoming a matter of prenatal design. So, don’t worry be happy , , . ‘Teachers are respected in our society’ Educators and parliamentarians from across the world go to Finland to learn about a miracle in school education: few hours of study but excellent results. Patrik Scheinin, the dean of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences at the University of Helsinki, looks after research in teacher education. He spoke to Faizal Khan about Finnish lessons for India: I Finnish students start school late, spend few hours in school, do almost no homework and have no private tuition, but are still among the best in the world. How? In the Programme for International Student Assessment, jointly prepared by the OECD’s participating countries, Finnish students are consistently among the best in the world. They start at the age of seven, with one year of pre-school. Every subject is taught well and everybody is taught irrespective of their home background in every school while making every hour count. This has to do with a national curriculum, and a teacher education in sync with it. Finland holds the world record for the smallest variation between performances of schools. Another reason is the breadth and quality of educational research. I What is the role of the teacher in this success story? It is a strong contributing factor. Education in general and teachers in particular are highly respected by our society. All our schoolteachers have masters degrees. For teachers for Grade I-VI, their masters is in education, from Grade VII-IX, it’s in the subjects they teach. I do think that we were lucky in arguments on research findings. Its prestige has also improved the quality as well as increased the number of applicants to teacher training. I How important is the selection process of teachers? It is very important. Academic skills and learning potential are measured using a national test based on educational research published for that purpose. This gives everybody the same time – one month – to prepare. Based on the test results, a relatively small group is invited to the interview. The criteria interviewers look for are motivation, how well-equipped the applicant is to work as a teacher, interaction and communication skills, as well as the ability to argue convincingly based on our research findings. This last part is naturally subjective by nature, but we find it tends to give us students to whom teaching comes more naturally . I What are the lessons India could learn from the Finnish model to bring down the huge gap between students and between schools? I’m afraid the obvious answer is: make sure children cross the threshold and come to the school in the first place, and are neither sick nor too hungry to learn. Finland has built up a welfare state, as well as taught the previous generations (that have taught the teachers of today) as best as we knew how to. We have also integrated special education (for anybody with temporary or long-term learning difficulties) into the ordinary classes and schools with special material and specialists available when needed. Children are not willingly left behind and dropout rates are very low. The goal is this: no child is left behind. T Q&A moving teacher training into universities and raising it to the masters level. This has made research a normal part of teacher qualifications. The amount of educational research is huge in Finland and the share of it done by the teachers is very big. It has also made the teachers more self-sufficient in their planning as they now base their Agonised question Is the use of torture justifiable to counter terrorism? Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Those who try to put reports of constitutional committees in the dustbin will be given the same treatment by the people I don’t hold myself to a standard of perfection or i’d have committed suicide a long time ago Next season i'll need a bullet-proof chest pad as Chris Gayle is hitting them like a rocket Would you sanction the use of torture to make the subject give information, which could end up saving hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent lives in the future? Would you subject the suspect’s children to torture to get the life-saving information? These are some of the questions that ethicists – in the US and elsewhere – are once again raising following Operation Geronimo. It is possible that President Obama may have sanctioned the use of ‘intensive interrogation’ – a euphemism for torture – to extract information from detainees in Guantanamo about Osama’s whereabouts. If such reports are true, it would imply an about-turn in the Obama administration’s policy on the use of torture – or ‘extraordinary rendition’, to use another euphemism – as an instrument in the campaign against terror. While George W Bush is said to have given the nod to extreme methods in interrogation – particularly in Guantanamo – Obama had publicly opposed such measures as being fundamentally incompatible with the self-styled global guardian of democracy and democratic values. Torture is widely judged to be the ultimate violation of human rights. Can any democracy or free society legitimise such a violation and still call itself a democracy? But if torture is a violation of human rights, isn’t terrorism an even greater violation, in that its targets are largely completely innocent men, women and children, unlike the subjects of torture who are at least suspected of having terrorist or other criminal links? Torture is a moral outrage. But so is terrorism. Can one outrage cancel out another? Can one poison be used to combat another poison? Toxin-anti-toxin – poison to fight poison – is a tried and tested formula in the world of medicine. Can such an equation be equally valid in the moral realm? All those who believe in Gandhian ahimsa, and in the principle that the means must justify the end, would answer that question in the negative. But as advocates of realpolitik have pointed out, Gandhian ahimsa would be suicidal in the face of inhuman aggression, as represented by Nazism or modern-day terror. Those who oppose the use of torture, and other forms of ‘cruel and unnatural’ punishment, argue that the sanctioned use of such methods inevitably dehumanises and brutalises any society which has recourse to them. The stoning to death of women accused of adultery in Talibanised societies is a case in point. In such a situation, would you be the first to cast a stone at the offender? And if you were, what effect would it have on you? In India, the use of torture – or to use yet another euphemism, ‘third degree methods’ – is commonplace among the police, military and paramilitary forces deployed in ‘disturbed areas’ like the northeast, Kashmir and the badlands of Naxalism. Barring a few human rights activists, civil society by and large averts its gaze from such radical – some would say unconscionable – means of preserving what we like to think of as ‘law and order’. The question that arises is: what price law and order which must be preserved through the use of that most lawless and soul-destroying of disorders called torture that dehumanises both its victims and those who inflict it? In The Brothers Karamazov, the Devil poses a question to Ivan Karamazov: Suppose you could put an end to all human suffering forever, but in order to do so you would have to torture just one child; would you do it? Ivan says ‘No’ in reply How would we reply to the devil of inner temptation that asked a similar . question of us? – MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI, PAC chairman, on attempts to reject the committee report on the 2G scam – WARREN BUFFETT, American investor, on perfection – TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN, Sri Lankan cricketer, on his Royal Challengers Bangalore batting partner I SACRED S PAC E Self-Awakening I The Anthropic Principle Logically, for any event to take place, there are so many factors out of our control that hat if i had not married this part- must complexly interact to yield the expected ner? What if i had studied law output. At an individual level, what makes instead of medicine? These are the one think and then work in a specific direcquestions our imagination raises while mull- tion? The so-called free will may just be an ing over decisions we’ve taken. There is illusion when in reality, thoughts and actions apparently no limit to this rather futile extra- gravitate towards a pre-fixed path. This line polation into the past. It would lead to the of thought surely deals a body blow to our ego. most bizarre point of “What if my parents When viewed dispassionately, one cannot were not to have met at all?” The rational con- help but realise that even being alive tomorclusion after such deliberations is that there row is a presumption. Free will, therefore, is surely is some deterministic programme also based on certain assumptions and condithat affects our existence and what follows. tions. So, unconditional free will may not If one were to keep extending the “what exist. The free will that we take pride in is if ” thought process, the creation of the restricted to making a choice within the universe, too, would also be just one of limit- framework and circumstances that are tossed less possibilities. The conditions reup by factors beyond our control. quired for creation of the universe All our thoughts, actions and deciare so specific and exacting, like sions are based on the identity that we the mass of the proton, the value of have generated as we course through gravity, and all critical values of life. The destiny that we talk about is various forces. This line of thought of this identity. The desire to know inspired the now famous anthrowhat is in store tomorrow stems pic principle in 1973. largely from a deep sense of inseTHE The Participatory Anthropic curity that is fuelled by the ego. Is Principle states not only that the I SPEAKING I the identity that is purely a subject universe had to spawn humanity of perception, our true self ? The TREE or some intelligent, informationtrue nature of our self is merely gathering life form but that we are necessary consciousness that observes. Time and space for its existence, as it takes an intelligent are apparitions necessary for the unmanifest observer to collapse the universe’s waves consciousness to become manifest. and probabilities from superposition into Past, present and future are correlates of relatively concrete reality . time. They are imaginary compartments This principle shifts the focus to a pro- that help establish a chronology They are as . gramme that deliberately effects creation. If much a figment of the imagination as time this determinism was vital to creation itself itself. Free will remains the free will of an and also to the past – like our parents meeting imaginary entity and its ego. Whether the inevitably – then it stands to reason that it future is scripted or not becomes a moot issue must also play a critical role in unfolding the if the true nature of the self becomes clear – a future. This brings us to the oft-debated issue speck of the unqualified consciousness that of free will. Do we truly exercise free will in exists beyond time and space. The writer is a consultant neurosurgeon. our lives? Is the future predetermined, too? Deepak M Ranade I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX A person is what his deep desire is. It is our deepest desire in this life that shapes the life to come. So let us direct our deepest desires to realise the Self. Chandogya Upanishad Life has the nobler goal of self-illumination, of lighting the lamp of love inside oneself and sharing that lamp with all around us. Sri Sathya Sai Baba The light of self-knowledge alone illumines all experiences. It shines by its own light. This inner light appears to be outside and to illumine external objects. Sage Vasishtha Self-knowledge has always been the theme of the Illumined, who know and teach God and the Self to be One. As long as one believes himself to be separate from God, he will remain mortal to himself. Lillian DeWaters W All eyes on Islamabad With reference to the editorial ‘Abbottabad And After’ (May 9), it is more than evident now that there are certain factions within the Pakistani military and the ISI that are aiding extremists. Pakistan cannot sweep this fact under the carpet and play the role of being a victim of terror. The entire world is now watching that country and what it does in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden’s death on its soil. A strong positive step from Islamabad will help it stave off further embarrassment, whether it is by expediting action against the 26/11 perpetrators or helping the Interpol track down Dawood Ibrahim. The editorial is right that “nationalistic chest-thumping” in India won’t help as it will only incite Islamabad to retaliate, as it has already done. Ujwala Borkar, VIA EMAIL SECOND OPINION Maharaja’s malaise With reference to the editorial ‘Up In The Air’ (May 9), now that the Air India pilots’ agitation is over, all the fired and suspended pilots have been reinstated. Their demands will be sympathetically dealt with and everything will once again be hunky dory as far as the venerable ‘Maharaja’ is concerned. But what about the inconvenience caused to many passengers who were forced to take private flights at inflated costs? What is the guarantee that Air India pilots won’t use such tactics again if allowed to go without a price to pay? It is time to either pull down the shutters of this shop for good or privatise it. Mukund Kumar, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 20 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY SALMAN KHURSHID, Union minority affairs minister OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011 I He (Rahul) has every right to express his concerns for the farmers. Where Does Power Reside? Reinvigorating institutions is the way to meet the challenge of corruption Vikram Singh Mehta UP The Ante Politicians trade charges over land-related strife ive assembly polls over, the Congress was always going to shift sights to UP, poll-bound in 2012. As if on cue, the state’s seen high drama, Rahul Gandhi playing pro-farmers protagonist. He couldn’t have asked for a bigger favour from jittery chief minister Mayawati than to get arrested for joining farmers in a land acquisition-related protest. In the subsequent free-for-all, the Congress staged anti-Maya demonstrations, while some senior BJP leaders tried to ensure their party wasn’t outdone in the championship of the kisan by also courting trouble. If land-related strife everywhere is giving politicians scope for photo ops, there’s blame to go around in all directions. Mayawati had a point in lobbing the land acquisition ball back into the Centre’s court. That doesn’t mean her use of sledgehammer tactics against opponents isn’t condemnably out of sync with democratic functioning. Whether Congress biggies are genuinely friends of farmers, tribals, Dalits, et al, or are staging stunts with an eye on elections isn’t the point. In a democracy, they can take up any political activity they choose, and Mayawati will just have to accept that the Gandhis have huge political stakes in a state she happens to rule. Strong-arm methods like hampering the movements of political rivals, banning their rallies, scuttling their projects and even resorting to arrests under the pretext of keeping law and order will only make her opponents look good for being martyred. On its part, the Congress must ask itself if parachute-dropping Rahul into trouble spots every other day to back readymade causes is good – or even convincing – policy. People would rather hear what the youth leader has to say on finding effective institutional solutions to land acquisition-linked turmoil. That counts far more than a random visit to Orissa’s Niyamgiri to pledge support to tribals one day, and slipping into UP’s Bhatta Parsaul village to back farmers on another. It is just as well that the home minister has now announced that the Land Acquisition Bill will be introduced in Parliament soon. Ultimately, there’s no skirting the need for policy revamp. Not just in UP, people everywhere are demanding market-linked prices for land. Old forms of acquisition by government are increasingly being seen as land grabs and resource theft, and generating resistance. Yet the new market-oriented blueprint – making ample room for direct seller-buyer negotiations – has gathered dust courtesy the UPA’s political compulsions. Industry, mining, rural and urban development – all of this is being blocked, scaring off investors. Eventually, the Congress-led UPA would have to answer for not delivering quick industrial and infrastructural growth and its concomitant of economic opportunities across the social board. Do our politicians want to do a Singur everywhere to serve their own ends? Or will they push reform that’ll actually help wrest fair recompense/relief for land even while projects get off the ground? That’s the real question. F eflecting on the reports of various committees, public demonstrations and media commentary on corruption over the past months, several contradictory thoughts course through my head and i wonder about the nature of our representative democracy . Public opinion does matter but media can quickly convert the grain of a systemic movement into the chaff of petty politics and individual one-upmanship. Formal power does flow from the institutions, organisations, rules and laws defined by the Constitution. But actual power resides in the hands of powerful individuals and shifts amongst them as political context and particular circumstance alter. The narrative of policy is all about the transparency of governance and public interest but the substance appears to be to protect the few and powerful. There is no doubt that the crowds that gathered sometime ago at Jantar Mantar and across the country in spontaneous response to Anna Hazare's call for action persuaded the government to dust off the files on the Lokpal Bill. Public pressure is what broke a multi-year logjam. But in the weeks since Anna broke his fast and media attention riveted on the CD containing information about property transactions of the Bhushans; who leaked it and why; the criteria for the composition of the Lokpal committee; the din over the draft PAC report etc, conversations shifted from ‘what mat- R ters most to tackle corruption’ to ‘how to settle individual agendas and score political points’. This is not surprising. It is never easy to sustain interest on public issues especially when our 'Gotcha' journalists are focussed on uncovering the personal misdemeanours and political gaffes of public figures. But it is revealing to see how easily through the medium of the media a wedge can be driven between public sentiment and public action. Media does not of course “cause” the wedge. That is the result of a shift in the balance of power between institutions and individuals. Formally power re, sides in the institutions of the An anti-corruption crusader: Honesty is such a lonely word Power resides in legislature, judiciary and executive, checks and balances that protect the citizen. But in reality power is located in the hands of powerful individuals – with constitutional authority or without legislature, judiciary and executive. The Constitution has set out the checks and balances that protect the citizen from capricious governance. But in reality power is located in the hands of powerful individuals – some with constitutional authority and others without. There are several reasons for this shift. First, the institutions of governance have been severely hol- lowed. Who can, for instance, forget the sight of MPs waving wads of cash in the Lok Sabha? Who cannot but be dismayed by the allegations of corruption against chief justices and the suggestion that the judiciary is not above the temptations of monetary inducement? Who can deny that the steel frame of the bureaucracy has not acquired some rust and that an increasing proportion of civil servants have abdicated their responsibility to proffer objective advice to their political masters? The fact is that, just as nature abhors a vacuum, the hollowing out of these institutions has created space for individuals to step in and this the ambitious have done. Second, it is becoming increasingly difficult to disentangle public policy from election campaigns. The latter is now an almost permanent feature of the political landscape. Public policy decisions are, therefore, all too often taken with an eye on their electoral impact. One would not be surprised if, for instance, the drivers behind the cabinet decision to accept Hazare’s demands had more to do with the elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala than any great desire to engage in a dialogue with the civil society activists. In such a political context and given the compulsions of coalition governance, there is an inevitable shift of power from the institutions formally vested with authority towards those few in control of the political organisation and funds. There is finally the burgeoning influence of money. In the not too distant past, business leaders were supplicants of officialdom. Now many are partners in the formulation of policy. This is not an inevitably unhealthy trend. In fact, it is good that businesses are part of the public policy dialogue. But as the revelations of the 2G scam have highlighted, this access has been misused. Business has exploited the weakness of our institutions and the fact that politicians are continually in an election mode to manipulate the rules to acquire extra constitutional authority for their private gain. Corruption is a systemic malaise. It cannot be removed by simply jailing miscreants or reshuffling the cabinet. What the past months have revealed is that the power to effect change is now centred on individuals and not institutions. These could be elected representatives, journalists, businessmen or civil society activists. Some may be motivated to use this power for promoting the public interest, others for pushing their private agendas. It is clear that a fundamental principle of representative democracy that all citizens are equal and that governance will be open and transparent appears to have got eroded. To restore faith in this principle, the priority of the anticorruption movement should be to restore the loci of power in the institutions within whose interstices the Constitution had vested formal authority. It is by reinvigorating them that the average citizen will regain the confidence that governance has been placed firmly back onto the rails of propriety and integrity. The writer is chairman, Shell Companies in India. Views are personal. Pushing Limits Adventure sports and modern society ‘Children have helped us nab potential traffickers’ Dola Mohapatra is the executive director of the NGO ChildFund India International, a part of the larger global agency ChildFund Alliance. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of ChildFund India, which recently completed 60 years. He spoke to Kim Arora about the challenges faced today by children in India and more: I How have children’s problems changed over the 18 years you’ve been in the voluntary sector? Trafficking wasn’t rampant, but did exist under the shadow of extended family care. There used to be little or no access to vaccination, the reach of which has greatly increased. On health, there’s been great progress. But we’ve suffered on the education front. More children are out of school. The quality of education has deteriorated. Once when our team was in Karnataka, we found that in smaller schools in the interiors, fifth standard children did not even have the literacy level of children from the third standard. I What would you attribute that to? There is a desire amongst children to go to school, but the schools often lack teachers or have absentee teachers. According to RTE norms of the teacherstudent ratio, we need about four lakh primary teachers. A lot of teachers have side jobs they prefer attending to, or don’t wish to travel long or difficult distances. Because there aren’t enough teachers, they end up holding multiple classes together. Quality of education suffers because of this. I Do you think the Right to Education Act has been implemented properly? I wouldn’t criticise the RTE. I Along the Bihar-UP and Nepal border and also in Rajasthan and Gujarat where they are trafficked for picking Bt cotton. This requires nimble fingers and hence young children are picked up. They end up as slaves and are often sexually abused. What’s problematic is that parents send them away , thinking they’ll be able to earn better but, more often than not, that’s not the case. To weed this out, one has to work both at the source and the demand point. From our fieldwork we have seen that peer awareness helps. We have young children, often those who have been through all this, who tell other children how the grass on the other side is not as green as it seems. These kids have also helped us nab potential traffickers. I What support do children in disaster-struck areas need? Often, children are not the priority. It’s important to create safe places where children have an adult to talk to at all times, and where basic necessities are taken care of. It’s important to get them into some sort of routine as soon as possible, to help them remain psychologically stable. I How has your experience been in other countries? The community in Afghanistan is very amenable and resilient. Parents participate in children’s welfare programmes. In Kosovo, even the warring factions respect children’s issues. The children’s sector is very developed in the Philippines. In fact, they have a 14-year-old representative in the cabinet. I What are your future plans with ChildFund India? We’ve functioned in a very silent manner so far. Now we want to participate in a larger civil society movement, and promote local volunteering so that our programmes are locally sustainable. T here’s been good news for adventure sports aficionados. Take Tina Mene who’s become the first woman from the northeast to scale Mount Everest – on half a plate of noodles at that, and after her tent had been blown away by howling winds. On the other side of the world, Swiss ‘Jetman’ Yves Rossy completed a trifecta of pants-wettingly terrifying feats – from jumping out of a helicopter over Arizona’s Grand Canyon to flying across it using a jetpack and finally deploying a parachute to float down to the canyon floor. Of course, there’s also Rahul Gandhi with his latest exploit on the back of a motorbike en route to UP, carrying on the fine tradition upheld by daredevil Indian politicians – from George Fernandes and Mulayam Singh traipsing across Siachen to Pratibha Patil strapping herself into a Sukhoi 30-MkI. Why do otherwise sane men and women subject themselves to danger for fun? There’s the immediate adrenaline rush, for one – something increasingly difficult to come by in a tamed world where desk-jockeying from nine to five is the preferred sport. Or maybe it’s to do with rites of passage. Many societies down history have had such rituals, markers on the path to adulthood. A boy would undergo a test and come out a man in the eyes of his society, propelled to adult status by the ordeal. Perhaps atavistic tendencies still linger beneath our civilised veneers. Buried impulses meet slick marketing which, in turn, meets reality TV – and voila! A sporting industry is born. As modern society creates cocoons of home and hearth for people, there’ll always be those who’ll pay to risk it all, including life and limb. It’s less about living dangerously than pushing limits, breaking boundaries, defying gravity. Evel Knievel, iconic daredevil biker, would’ve probably said: It’s the thrill, stupid. Q&A think it’s important that the government has guaranteed education. We have to figure out how to make it work. It’s not an issue of resources but that of prioritisation and of political will. If we can give away crores to our cricketers, we can surely deploy some resources for education. I Where is the problem of trafficking most rampant in India? Man of the movement Anna and Calcutta GP Pratapbabu might have more in common than one imagined Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Movements are the buzzword today Is Anna Hazare’s Lokpal . movement a valid adjunct to democracy or is such ethical , vigilantism a danger to democracy in that it subverts the role of the elected representatives of the people? What about other famous movements, like Gandhi’s Quit India movement during the British raj, Jayaprakash Narayan’s anti-Indira movement in the 1970s, Vinobha Bhave’s bhoodan movement, and Sunder Lal Bahuguna’s tree-hugging chipko movement? Did they have anything at all in common? Among all this talk of movements, i’m reminded of my childhood in the Calcutta of the 1950s. As i recall, there was a lot of talk of movements then too, not only in my own family but in virtually all the families we knew. It wasn’t that we were a particularly politically aware or socially committed lot, in the sense that the participants in Anna’s movement are today No, the movements . that so preoccupied us were of a different kind. In those days in Calcutta, my family – and all the other families that we knew – had a family GP, a general practitioner who paid regular home visits for a monthly retainer. Our GP was Dr Pratapbabu, a tall, distinguished-looking man with a rich and resonant voice which he used to excellent effect imitating the dialogues of Utpal Dutt and other famous stage actors of Bengal. Pratapbabu would visit our home every Sunday morning. After he’d been offered a cup of tea – the better to lubricate his voice so as to render Shah Jahan’s famous speech, ‘Jahanara, shontan chai na!’ – he would enquire after the health of all the family members. Had anyone been feeling poorly over the course of the past week? Any colds and coughs? Fever? Headaches? Tummy aches? Like most children of that age, i was susceptible to minor maladies – sniffles, a slight temperature caused by running around in the summer sun all day, a grazed knee – and was the most frequent subject of Pratapbabu’s ministrations. Having listened to my complaint with grave attention, he would open the small black leather bag he always carried and from it take out the tools of his profession: a metal spatula, a thermometer and a stethoscope. Say Ah!, Pratapbabu would say. I’d say Ah! And he’d use the spatula to depress my tongue to see if the back of it was clean or coated with telltale fuzz. Then the thermometer would be administered and its recording solemnly scrutinised. After that the stethoscope would be applied to chest and back, its metal disc icy against the skin. But all these were just preliminaries to the most important of all diagnostic examinations. All that guff with the spatula, and the thermometer and stethoscope was like a conjurer waving his wand about to get his audience’s attention before he gets to his star act and saws the lady in the box in half. How are your movements? Pratapbabu would ask me. In those days in Cal we didn’t have CAT scans or MRI machines to figure out what was wrong with us. We didn’t need them. All that we needed was information about our movements, the more accurate and intimate the better. It didn’t matter if what you had was measles, a sprained ankle or a stuffed nose. What Pratapbabu – what all Cal doctors – wanted to know about were your movements: the regularity of their occurrence, the frequency with which they took place, and any other pertinent details regarding them that you could supply . As Hamlet might have said: movements are all; the rest is silence. Yup, movements were an important topic of conversation during my childhood. Of course, as i’ve said, they were a very different kind of movements from today’s. Or, come to think of it, were they? Today’s movements are political. Yesteryear’s movements were physiological. But they had one end in common: to purge ourselves of the shit within. If i were Rahul i’d commission a statue of Mayawati and garland it every year on the 11th of May for this huge political favour she’s done – OMAR ABDULLAH, J&K chief minister, on Rahul Gandhi’s arrest in UP He’s come of age i think, and i have just aged. I have never been hit on my head before Yes, i am in love…but with solitaires and big rings! – ADAM GILCHRIST, Kings XI Punjab skipper, on being hit by a Lasith Malinga bouncer – PRIYANKA CHOPRA, actor, on love I SACRED S PAC E Eternal Joy I Stay Free Of Attachment lead an ethical life. The Buddha said: “Whatever people do, ne day a rich man came to Gautama either in the world or as a recluse, they should Buddha and said, “I see that you are put their whole heart into it. People should the Awakened One. I am coming to be committed to whatever they do but full of you for some advice.” energy If they face struggles, they should do . The Buddha asked him to share what was so without hatred or envy People should live . on his mind. a life not of ego, but of truth, and then bliss The rich man continued, “My life is will fill their soul.” focussed on my work. Although i have made Non-attachment does not mean we have to a lot of money, i am preoccupied with worry. give up our homes, wealth, families and what Many people work for me and i am responsible we have received in life. It only requires that for them. They depend on me for their we give up attachment to these things. Whatsuccess. Yet, i enjoy my work and enjoy work- ever situation in which we find ourselves has ing hard. When i met your followers they come to us due to our karma. Our attachment spoke of the importance of living the life of a should be with God. Our attention should be recluse. I also notice that you youron making sure our soul attains self were the son of a king, living in communion with God. wealth and splendour, but you gave it Those who are blessed with up to wander as a homeless recluse wealth should make the best use looking for enlightenment. I want to of it by taking care of their family know if i should do the same thing responsibilities and then sharing and give up my wealth. I want to do with others. We need not give up the right thing and be a blessing to everything. We can live in the THE my people. Should i also give up world and do the best we can, but I SPEAKING I everything i have to find truth?” keep our focus and attention on The compassionate Buddha finding God. Our hearts can TREE told him, “Anyone can receive the develop purity and an attitude of bliss of finding truth as long as he follows the selfless service and sharing with others. path of unselfishness. If you are going to We need not be attached to our outer situacling to your wealth, then it is better to throw tion. We can work to make a living while also it away than let it poison your heart. But if working to develop spiritually If we are . you do not cling to it, and use it wisely then blessed with wealth, we need not throw it , you will be a blessing to people. It is not away but we should use it to help others, and , wealth and power that make people slaves, to benefit from having more free time to but clinging to them.” meditate and do selfless service. The Buddha explained to him that his The key is to live in the world, but not teaching did not require anyone to become be attached to it. Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, contact: homeless or give up the world unless he wants to. But it did require people to free +91-11-2722 3333, skrm.sos.org, www.sos.org www.speakingtree.in themselves from the illusion that the body and world are their permanent and true Join the world’s first spiritual networking home. He said his teaching required people to site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sant Rajinder Singh I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX The impermanent objects of the senses have no reality; reality lies in the eternal. Bhagavad Gita 2.16-17 Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world. Gautama Buddha He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Bible12.25 In primal time, in all time, was the Creator/ Nothing is real but the Eternal./ Nothing shall last but the Eternal. Adi Granth In our desire for eternal life we pray for an eternity of our habit and comfort, forgetting that immortality is in repeatedly transcending the definite forms of life in order to pursue the infinite truth of life. Rabindranath Tagore O Can Mamata deliver? With reference to the article ‘Power With Responsibility’ (May 11) by Diptosh Majumdar, with most exit polls and trends indicating a Mamata wave in West Bengal, the writer aptly says that power will bring huge responsibilities on the Trinamool chief’s shoulders. That the Left might be dethroned after a gap of 34 years points to the faith people have reposed in Mamata. She has many positives to her credit in the fight against Bengal’s Left Front government. Yet her track record as railway minister is far from inspiring. It is far easier to sit in the opposition and criticise the government than to wield power. Mamata’s real challenge will lie in running the government in a non-partisan manner. It would be better if she starts with a clean slate without giving in to vendetta politics. An inclusive development agenda must be her first priority. Bal Govind, NOIDA JUGULAR VEIN Expect no miracle With reference to the editorial ‘Up In The Air’ (May 9th), during the Air India pilots’ strike the government sounded tough initially but ended up giving in as it usually does. It is frustrating that huge amounts of taxpayers’ money should keep being pumped in to resuscitate the ailing airline without any sign of real improvement. Crises concerning the national carrier have become cyclical in nature, with remedial measures that could go a long way in addressing thorny issues remaining elusive for want of solid government action. It is time the authorities initiated appropriate steps to privatise the airline instead of hoping for miracles. M V Krishna, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi 22 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011 Ring Out The Old Message from Indian voter: he will no longer be taken for granted he assembly poll results in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam not only mark important developments for those states, but also represent vital trends for national politics. The most significant of these has to be Bengal. That the 34-year-old Left Front government was decimated by a Trinamool tsunami is reflective of the popular craving for change in the state. The massive mandate handed to the Trinamool-Congress alliance is a strong comment on leftist politics in Bengal, based on a bhadralok gentry that claims to represent the poor and underprivileged. The culture of patronage stifling the state’s public institutions and economy also ate into the Left’s elaborately constructed support base. In the end it was toppled by a woman clad in crumpled sari and chappals for whom the state’s patrician elite were used to expressing barely concealed contempt. The underlying message? The underprivileged won’t be satisfied with commiseration for their lot anymore, instead they want a hand up. With concerns of post-poll violence, maintaining law and order will be Mamata’s first test. The next five years may be her life’s biggest challenge. Equally significant is Tamil Nadu, where the voter handed a massive sweep to J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK. The clear message is that old-style politics – where nepotism and corruption can be covered up by appealing to caste and community interest or by handing out freebies come election time – no longer appeals to today’s voter. If the DMK and its ally Congress have been reduced to a mere 30-odd seats in a 234-seat assembly, that’s because corruption was a major issue with voters in the backdrop of the 2G scam embroiling the DMK first family. That anti-incumbency cannot be trotted out as a rote formula to explain the Tamil Nadu results is demonstrated by Assam, where Tarun Gogoi is all set to commence his third stint as chief minister. Instead of playing to sectional interests Gogoi has worked on an agenda of development and embarked on peace talks with insurgent groups such as the Ulfa. The twin strategy has paid handsome dividends for him and the Congress. In contrast to other states, the battle for Kerala was close. But in the end the opposition Congress-led UDF coalition was able to clinch a wafer-thin majority edging out the LDF. , V S Achuthanandan’s clean image and personal crusade against corruption did resonate with a significant section of the electorate, but the message was muddied by infighting within the CPM leadership. The loss of both Kerala and Bengal bastions should make the Left reconsider obsolete ideological formulae, on pain of extinction. Nor is there cause for complacency on the part of either the Congress or the BJP. Both parties need to pay attention to what voters want, not simply assume that cynical political fixers have all the answers on how to win elections. The Mighty Are Fallen The lesson of the assembly elections is that arrogance of power paves the way for change Mahesh Rangarajan T “How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle/ O Jonathan thou wast slain in thine high places.” The biblical adage was especially apt as two of India’s most populous states saw electoral waves that did more than unseat incumbent governments. They brushed aside the Left Front in West Bengal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, reducing their dreams to dust. One has to rethink the fundamentals of its ideology , the other ponder the perils of putting kin and clan in charge of party . In a sense, it is these two states that will hold the key to the Big Picture of Indian politics and how it might or might not change in the weeks and months up ahead. Kerala was true to form, turning out the alliance in power though by the most slender of margins. Assam saw the Congress win a third term in office, a rare achievement in an age when anti-incumbency is part of the political lexicon. Each matters but for highly specific local factors, the minutae of community and region helping the Congress-led alliance and the fragmented opposition a godsend to Tarun Gogoi. But West Bengal matters. Partly for reason of its history . Long a fertile seed bed for radical ideas about society and culture as much as economics or politics. But more than any attribute of its history it has, since 1977, been the , bedrock of the Left parties in Indian politics. First under Jyoti Basu and Promode Dasgupta and then Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Anil Biswas, the mix of government and party kept the Left Front in power for just short of three and a half decades. Yet, for a party that was a critic of economic reform, it is ironical that it was Nandigram and Singur that proved its undoing. More than the specific violence at either site, they became a symbol taken over, after some initial hesitation, by Mamata. Her slogan of ‘Maa, Maati, Manush’ or mother, land and people, had V for voters’ victory Voters brushed aside the Left Front in Bengal and DMK in Tamil Nadu. One has to rethink the fundamentals of its ideology, the other ponder the perils of putting kin and clan in charge of party echoes of the left-wing politics of the Sixties. But she found fresh appeal among underclass groups who had not looked beyond the hammer and sickle since 1977. The numbers tell it all. In 2009, the gap in votes between the alliances was 1%, but Mamata and Congress were in the lead. The Left led in barely 99 assembly segments. The CPM is now reduced to the 40-seat mark, while the Trinamool has 180-plus seats on its own. This will call for serious introspection on the part of the CPM, a task easier said than done. Its greatest asset has been that it exited power just as it came to it: via the ballot box. Yet, its outlook and programme are yet to grapple with the post-Cold War world. It remains a rare party in a democracy that lionises Stalin, and welcomed the military coup against Gorbachev. While it was the fashion to label Buddhadeb as Bengal’s answer to the reformist Deng Xiaoping, the fact is it has not undergone a deeper process of introspection and debate about the new issues of the present milieu. Nowhere was this as evident as in the constant reference to Singur as a ‘mistake’, for it was surely far more than just that. If ideological rethinking may be the order of the day after the West Bengal results, the turnaround in Tamil Nadu was no less stunning. Since 1989, voters have given ruling parties the thumbs down. But not even in the wave after Rajiv Gandhi's tragic assassination in 1991 was the DMK in the doldrums the way it is today . It has been quite a fall for a chief minister who first held office in 1969, when Nixon was president of the US, Mao chairman of the Communist Party of China and a young premier Indira Gandhi was grappling with the Syndicate. But Karunanidhi’s party is now reduced to only 23 MLAs in an assembly of 234, falling to third spot behind Vijaykanth’s new party the , DMDK. Karunanidhi has been CM on five occasions but time seems to be running out not only for him but his party as well. Revival looks difficult given the multiple divisions within his own family and clan. The seeds of decline were probably sown in 2009 when key family members were given even more prominent positions in the party than before. His daughter Kanimozhi as Rajya Sabha MP and son MK Azhagiri as Lok Sabha MP and Union Minister joined his son and heir apparent MK Stalin as key decisionmakers. The 2G scam has rocked the country over the last many months but for voters back in Tamil Nadu, it was only the tip of the iceberg as the family’s writ extended over large sectors of public life. No wonder J Jayalalithaa made it a choice not only between lineage and democracy but between rule for one family and rule by and of the people of the state. Her call for ‘a struggle to save Tamil Nadu’ struck a chord. Not only was the turnout an impressive and unprecedented 78%, the number of women who actually voted was more than the men who did so. The rest is history Both . in Kolkata and Chennai the voters punished the rulers. Arrogance of power paved the way for change. The new rulers should take note. The ballot that empowers today can disempower tomorrow. The writer is an historian and a political commentator. British MPs propose turning House of Commons into tourist spot It will ease the taxpayer’s burden ngland is not only a country of tradi- soon. In such circumstances, the governtions, it also knows how to cash in ment must be seen to lead the way in econoon them entrepreneurially. British mising as well as creative financial manageroyalty, for example, is a magnet for ment. This would be a prime example of tourism. If Britain’s monarchy can be used exactly that, utilising its assets of real estate to entice tourists, why not its democracy as and historical importance to generate revewell? Few places sum up the British sense nue. And crucially, this of tradition better than its lower house of revenue would help parliament, the House of Commons – from the legislature pay for its corridors of power to the 11th century itself, halving the £5.7 Westminster Hall, part of the royal Palace of Westminster. Now, a sug- I T I M E S V I E W I gestion by the House of Commons administration committee aims to leverage million annual public that tradition by doing something distinctly subsidy that is needed entrepreneurial – opening up the House to just to keep the Comtourists when it is not in session, setting up mons’ catering and resouvenir shops on the estate, allowing grea- tail services running. ter access to journalists and their guests Easing the taxpayer’s and hiring out Westminster Hall for wed- burden can only be to the good. dings and corporate events. The suggestion As for those who cavil about tradition and is likely to cause heartburn among those of dignity, governments have a propensity to a conservative bent, of course. But viewed take themselves far too seriously. They are objectively, it makes eminent sense. representatives of the people, no more. If Britain, like much of Europe, is in dire such a move demystifies government and refinancial straits at the moment. It is a situa- duces the distance between the people and tion that is unlikely to improve any time their representatives, so much the better. Mother of parliaments not a theme park he proposal to hire out the mother of parliaments stands on the twin pillars of generating revenue and widening public access. But it takes no account of the costs in terms of tradition and undermines a finely-tuned balance between it and revenue generation. Combined, it makes for recommendations that are fundamentally misconceived. ignorant of tourism’s potential. Tourists flock to parliament because of a careful balancing act. Not only are the buildings majestic but they pulse with history. The palace is the oldest parliament in the world and today’s buildings stand on the site where Edward the Confessor built the original in the 11th century. This illustrious history makes for prestige and it’s precisely this intangible quality which is threatened by the call to open the palace to glitzy fat-cat wedI COUNTERVIEW I dings and corporate jamborees. These unbalanced propoDeep K Datta-Ray It’s not that the sals include sandwich bars, coffee points and Palace of Westminster souvenir shops. The justification is that cateris cloistered, cut off ing costs too much, but it could be outsourced from the public. The to a private company. In any case, there buildings are one of already are coffee points and a souvenir shop London’s top tourist and so the proposed changes amount to no attractions. Not only are visitors welcomed more than converting what is probably the inside, but they can see the legislative process most important workplace in the land into a in action from the Strangers Gallery in the Disneyland. In doing so, those calling for House of Commons. Parliament therefore change are undermining the qualities unique already is accessible and not just to tourists. to parliament, which also make it a tourist atPrivate people have long been getting mar- traction. People pay to enter because it isn’t a ried there. Of course, none of this is for free, theme park. Turning it into one won’t attract which undermines the notion parliament is more people, but drive them to the real thing. E T Asian Power Play, Post-Osama Nayan Chanda The early morning American raid on Abbottabad on May 2 that killed Osama bin Laden may also herald the rise of China as a South-West Asian power. With US-Pakistan relations on a knife’s edge and Afghanistan facing the impending withdrawal of US forces, doors have opened for a rich and powerful China to step up its presence as a regional hegemon. The latest developments follow a historical pattern in Asia, in which rising tensions between the West and an Asian nation offer China new opportunities to advance its influence. While some angry voices in the West are calling for a suspension of US aid to Pakistan, the first – and so far only – public support for Islamabad has come from Beijing. After first expressing satisfaction at bin Laden’s demise, China pivoted swiftly to laud Pakistan for its “vigorous” efforts to fight terrorism – as if Osama’s seven years’ presence just outside Islamabad was inconsequential. In a striking formulation, the Chinese foreign ministry even praised Pakistan’s ambiguous record of fighting some and fostering other terrorist groups. China hailed Pakistan’s anti-terror strategies “based on its own domestic situation”. Translation: it is understandable if Islamabad turns a blind eye or even supports anti-India militant groups for domestic political reasons. (Although unstated, China also appreciates how discriminating Pakistan has been in its support for foreign jihadis flocked to Pakistan for training and Islamic education. In the 1990s, Pakistan ruthlessly suppressed dissident Uighurs of China’s troubled Xinjiang province, who enrolled for training by the Taliban.) As the clamour rises in Washington to punish Islamabad for its seeming act of betrayal, Pakistani leaders are getting ready to visit China, where they are sure to receive unqualified support. Pakistan’s prime minister, who has called China an inspiration for his country , has extolled China’s friendship as being “taller than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans”. The Pakistani visit repeats a past pattern in which China has played the role of a steadfast big brother to a younger brother in distress. With nearly $3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and a burgeoning armed forces, China presents a reliable counterweight to the intensified pressure from an angry US. Even if Washington papers over the current rift, which seems likely the latest episode , will surely deepen China’s presence and influence in the region as the US starts to draw down from Afghanistan in 2012. Indeed, two weeks before the bin Laden raid, Pakistani leaders visited Kabul to give Afghan President Hamid Karzai advice on the coming new era. Abandon the untrustworthy Americans, they said, urging Afghanistan to embrace China as the economic powerhouse and reliable regional military power. Afghan officials told New Delhi how stunned they were by this unsolicited advice. Whether Karzai, who was recently given a lavish reception in Beijing, heeds Pakistan’s suggestion remains to be seen. But the deep chasm with the US created by the killing of Osama on Pakistani soil opens up a new chapter of Sino-Pakistani relations. China’s rise in Asia has in fact faithfully tracked the eruption of tensions between the US (and even the Soviet Union) and its erstwhile partners. China has long claimed islands of the South China Sea, but only launched its first attack to capture the Paracels from South Vietnam in 1974 when Washington signalled its disinterest in defending its ally The next attack on the communist Vietnam. occupied Spratly Islands came when a weak Soviet Union was unwilling to come to its treaty ally’s defence. The violent suppression of pro-democracy forces in Burma in 1988 and the subsequent isolation of the country opened the door for China to emerge as the junta’s most influential backer. China made further advances in the South China Sea when it took over the Philippines-claimed Mischief Reef in 1995 – three years after Manila stopped hosting US military bases in the country The 1997 . coup in Phnom Penh, which brought condemnation of the Hun Sen regime, saw China once again step in with economic and military aid. As a result, it now counts Cambodia as a close ally . The growing rift between Pakistan and the US appears to mark the latest in a succession of zero-sum Asian power plays, in which China gains influence when the West loses interest. SNAP JUDGMENT Statistical Cheer The Offending Blog he Mumbai Indians’ sacking of South African IPL cheerleader Gabrielle Pasqualotto reeks of high-handedness. Her blog entries about the flirtatious attitudes of a few cricketers as well as how cheerleaders are widely perceived aren’t something people don’t already know or suspect. There is a whiff of hypocrisy about the entire affair, a display of the kind of strong-arm tactics that Indian cricket management is becoming notorious for. I Different Strokes W eek ended April 30, food inflation slipped to an 18-month low of 7.7%. And, buoyed by manufacturing output, industrial production grew by 7.3% in March, following four months of sluggishness. The data will lift spirits, but only to some extent. Given generalised inflation, tight monetary policy should continue to impact borrowing costs, trimming demand. However, since we’ve been doing well on growth, moderating expectations a bit won’t hurt. T S o sure was Mamata about her historic Bengal triumph that the day before votecounting she calmly produced two paintings, listened to Rabindrasangeet and hummed along herself. Beating the Left politically, will Didi repeat the feat in matters cultural? If he can’t emulate Mamata’s deft brush strokes, CPM’s outgoing CM Buddha – once a playwright – can surely pen a tragedy. Hasn’t the Left’s threedecade-long hubris turned out to be its tragic flaw? I SACRED S PAC E Of Heartbreaks I Search For Perfect Master Our identity is defined by society. For example, if i am considered a good speaker, who has ost of us are caught up searching for the given me this title? So our identity is defined by perfect master. But the question one has society and hence we are so dependent on society . to ask is: Am i the right student? If not, The remote control of our life is with society . then one can never learn from the perfect mas- This keeps us in bondage. In most cases society ter. controls and dominates our lives. Thus a social “What shall i do in order to be enlightened,” self in us is born. asked the student. If one is spiritual, then this conflict is a spiri“As much as you can do to make the sun rise tual problem. If we search within, we find that or set,” replied the master. there is an essential self. This essential self is who “Then what is the use of all the spiritual we are and not what others want of us. If one can practices,” asked the student. recognise this distinction and go little deeper, one “Only to make sure you are awake when the operates from the essential self and keep the sosun rises and the sun sets”, replied the master. cial self on the peripheral. To be inwardly awake is the quality of wise The essential self has energy which unites, living. To search for being the right stulike love, gratitude, which keep us in ordent is the right step to be wise. der and harmony Anger and jealousy . There are three types of impacts: create disorder and hence are not essenenvironmental, experiential and edutial. cational. Most of us are controlled and Keeping the essential as one’s cenbullied by the environment and expetre, one has to deal with earth, the situarience. But if we can bring in the tions of life. So often the situations of quality of education in our experilife are disturbing. One has to learn THE ences, then we will not be a doornew ways to love, new ways to learn, mat. I SPEAKING I and new ways to enjoy those situaWith the power of spiritual edutions. By doing so one logs on to powTREE cation, we can grow and learn from erful self which will be supportive environment and experience. In orand not destructive. dinary situations with the power of spiritual A self which learns to love, learn and enjoy is education we can have extraordinary insights. supportive. Ego which reacts to situations, does When you face a situation or look at the not learn and enjoy the challenges of the situaEarth, are you responding out of love, silence or tions lives life as a nuisance. To discard the ego are you reacting out of anger and disappoint- which is a nuisance value and to install the self ment? To be reflective on one’s state of being that is essential is a part of wise living. when one meets the Earth or situations of life is So don’t get lost in search for the perfect masbeing a right student. Or in other words are you ter. But instead be a right student. Follow Swami Sukhabodhananda on our website. reacting or responding to the situation and www.speakingtree.in learning to respond is a part of wise studentship. As you become aware of how you are dealing Managing Life Creatively: Two-day session by with the situations of life, you have to look little more deeply and discover that there is a distinc- Swamiji, June 4-5. Contact: 9821555134, 9987556177, 25684667 (0). www.prasannatrust.org tion between the social self and essential self. Talk: Swami Sukhabodhananda E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX GLOBAL More than a legal tangle With reference to the editorial ‘Significant Stay’ (May 12), it is true that expediency took precedence in the Allahabad high court’s verdict on Ayodhya. But the majority verdict – that the 2.77 acres of land at the disputed site be divided into three parts – came out with an unexpected legal resolution to a vexed issue that has the potential to divide the nation yet again. The apex court may opt for a robust affirmation of the rule of law. But this might not serve as a “salutary precedent” for resolving inter-faith disputes. Also, it is worthwhile to recall that, in the aftermath of the high court’s verdict, the aggrieved parties conceded that this judgment was an important step towards a resolution of the long-pending dispute. Therefore, the majority verdict should not be read in isolation, merely as an issue of a title suit. Bichu Muttathara, PUNE EYE The knot of his heart is broken asunder, all his doubts are solved and his past actions are neutralised when He who is high and low (cause and effect) has been realised. Vedantasara Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Bible Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love. This is the eternal rule. Gautama Buddha God is closest to those with broken hearts. Jewish Saying When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Kahlil Gibran Hearts live by being wounded. Oscar Wilde Sadness flies away on the wings of time. Jean de La Fontaine M Marriage, interrupted The editorial ‘Girls, Interrupted’ (May 12) is thought-provoking. It is a cause for concern that rising literacy levels in the country have not helped much in preventing the early marriage of girls who have not attained the legally permissible marriageable age of 18. Clearly, the government’s awareness campaign has failed to stop families from pushing girls into early domesticity. Therefore, to counter this social evil, a community-oriented approach that combines both persuasion and legal methods is required. For instance, anyone who gets to know that such a marriage is taking place in the neighbourhood must inform local community members who should try and persuade the families to stop it or face legal action. This will not only enhance general awareness but also arouse fear of the law. R K Kapoor, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 20 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 15, 2011 ‘We want our land returned to us and Tata back in Singur’ On May 18, 2006, the day Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was sworn in as West Bengal CM, Ratan Tata announced that Singur, 40 km from Kolkata, would be the home of the world's cheapest car. It was here that Tata would build the Nano. It was not to be. Within months, Singur was at the centre of widespread violence by alleged CPM cadres. They were said to be targeting Singur’s farmers, who were protesting against the forcible acquisition of 400 acres of “fertile” agricultural land by the Left Front government. The car factory eventually relocated to Gujarat. Singur didn’t forgive – or forget. It voted out the Left Front government and rallied behind the Trinamool Congress in the recent assembly elections. Singur farmer Krishna Ghosh, 45, tells Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey about how his land was appropriated for the Nano factory, his long wait for justice and his hopes of the new Mamata Banerjee government. Excerpts: You gave land to the Nano factory didn’t you? Why did you do that? I grew up hearing that the CPM is infallible and that red is the only colour in West Bengal. Since the CPM never lost elections in the last 34 years, I kind of started believing in it. Hence, six of us brothers gave up our land to the Tata factory. It was fertile land and we grew several crops here, but we thought we had no choice. How much land did you give? We gave up 65 bighas of land for the Tata project. But then you changed your mind and started to protest against the factory? Why was that? Farmers started agitating against the Tatas realizing that they had been short-changed. That was when we too joined the movement. After giving up 65 bighas, we were left with just 1.5 bighas between the six of us. Were you paid for the land you gave? We did not accept the cheque till the end of 2007, thinking that the Trinamool Congress movement against the Tatas would succeed and that we would get a better price. But that did not happen. Have you encashed the cheque? Our hopes were dashed when the Tatas finally retracted. I was given a supervisor's job at the Nano factory and was quite enjoying it. With the closing down of the factory, I lost that job too. Naturally, I was left with no choice but to accept the cheque against my portion of the lost land. better for the Tata Nano factory to be in Singur? Do you want them back? I earnestly want the Tatas to come back and wish Mamata Banerjee would do something about the project when she comes to power. You sound like you feel cheated by politicians. Do you? Why? I did not like the way CPM workers sided with the police to arm-twist unwilling land owners. They even tried to say that I have marshy land but the whole of Singur knows that I grew several crops here. I also disliked the way the then industries minister Nirupam Sen held a closed door meeting without consulting us and then declared to the media that "Singur was won!" What do other people in Singur say about these events? A large number of those who gave their land unwillingly, whose land come within the "disputed" 400 acres, have still not accepted cheques that are due to them from the state. Therefore, they continue their movement. But they too wish that the Tata factory would return to Singur. However, they want it back only after the "fertile" 400 acres are returned. They want Mamata to return to Singur after becoming chief minister, and they want her to arrange for the return of these 400 acres and also bring back the Tatas. It’s a tough job, but we are sure that she will do it. FOR THE RECORD KRISHNA GHOSH, SINGUR FARMER What did you do with the money? With that money I bought land, which I now till. I have also built a house. So you still own land? Yes. I bought it. With hindsight do you now think it would be Women must seek poribartan now POLITICALLY INCORRECT Namaskaram Amma. Nomoshkaar Didi. Congratulations ladies! Bhalo khobor! You’ve done it and deserve the applause. To borrow Mayawati’s words, the time for ‘dramabaazi’ is over. You have won. The people of your respective states have given the verdict. Jai ho, and all that. Your time begins now. Showing the door to rivals is the easy part. Both of you can confidently take the oath, look and feel smug… and if you so wish, dance in the streets or on the posters of your vanquished opponents. No doubt your myriad followers will join you with abundant joy . Gloat away! But this is about your future agendas – especially those involving your own gender. What specific policies will you be working on that will benefit the women of your state, and maybe even, women across India? Come on, you two. You can do it! Mamata has spoken eloquently about the appalling conditions faced by rural women in West Bengal. She has said she wants to create infrastructure for underprivileged pregnant women, who are forced to walk up to 15 km to deliver babies. Well, action it, Didi. Get those clinics to happen, taara-taari. It cannot be a significantly better scenario in Tamil Nadu. We are also aware of the ‘corporate bladder’ syndrome (no loos for working women in urban India), but for how many more years will our village women have to wait for the protective cover of darkness before they can ‘go’? These may look like chhota-mota issues to powerful politicians in search of bigger issues to tom- tom – like attracting instant foreign investment. But please don’t take women’s bladders and wombs for granted! We need clean facilities. Period. Whether it’s maternity wards in which to deliver babies, or conveniently located latrines that are safe for use, day and night. This is not a tall order, but it is an urgent one. If this initiative can be announced and undertaken on a priority basis by both of you, you will win the whole-hearted support of countless deprived women who have put up with painful urinary tract infections, botched births by the roadside and other related horror stories for decades…no, centuries. The women of India have waited long enough. Too long. So far, their voices, their expectations, their anxieties were of zero consequence to successive governments. Much was expected from Pratibha Patil as president. Much more was hoped for from Sonia Gandhi. No miracles. No waving of magic wands. Just simple plans and projects that would have made it easier for women to hang in there and be counted. Nothing of any consequence was announced by either one of them unfortunately , and women meekly went back to the starting post to patiently begin their vigil all over again. Perhaps it’s not such a good thing that our women are passive. We let off our netas a bit too easily We make far too many . concessions. SHOBHAA DE India needs Taliban talks to stay relevant NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH RAHUL ROY-CHAUDHURY Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Kabul after six years underscores India’s strong interest and concerns over the unfolding ‘end game’ in Afghanistan. By committing an additional $500 million aid and supporting Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s peace efforts with Taliban insurgents, Singh sent a powerful message that India has no ‘exit’ strategy from Afghanistan. Yet, Osama bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan could hasten a peace deal facilitated by Islamabad between the Karzai government and the Taliban with challenging implications for India. Even though Singh was welcomed to his “second home”, Karzai has often described Pakistan as a “conjoined twin”. Nato’s ISAF combat troops enable India’s meaningful reconstruction and development activities in Afghanistan. Ranging from “toilets to transmission lines”, as the Afghan intelligence chief pointed out to me two years ago in Kabul, these projects have generated considerable goodwill for India. But, due to decreasing public support in the west for the war in Afghanistan, the ‘drawdown’ of US and Nato forces is starting in two months with transition to full Afghan security responsibility and leadership by the end of 2014. Although this timeline is to be “conditions-based, not calendar-driven”, the quest for a political settlement with the Taliban in an attempt to end the ongoing in- Mamata’s win was largely based on “poribartan’’ (change). But there was little mention in her manifesto of gender-specific policies that would be beneficial to women. As the railways minister, her track record was disappointing at a time when women travellers cried out for safety on trains. Mamata’s perceived indifference to the woes of women commuters was seen as being callous and shortsighted. Ditto for Jayalalithaa, whose past record isn’t exactly impressive with regards to women’s issues. If anything, Amma remained aloof and indifferent when confronted. This time, she didn’t bother wooing women or men, for that matter. In fact, she didn’t woo anybody! She didn’t have to. Her old foes (the DMK gang led by the old war horse Karunanidhi) It’s time to ask a few uncomfortable questions of these chaar deviyaan. Starting with Sheila Dikshit and Mayawati, who have been around long enough to have got things moving obliged Amma by committing hara-kiri while she romped home, without lifting a finger. Our female politicians are street smart and canny They . have been told by their minders that raising women’s issues during elections is not politically wise. It alienates men! And political pundits have consistently insisted it’s men who are the real game changers in any election. The big numbers are driven by men. Why bother courting women? Today we are , crowing about four important women leading four important states of India. Forget, the most important woman in the country (you-know-who). It’s time to ask a few uncomfortable questions of these chaar deviyaan. Starting with Sheila Dikshit and Mayawati, who have been around long enough to have got things moving. But their mahila gaadis stalled a long time ago and refused to change gear, as these two steamrolled their way past other, more criticalto-survival obstacles, conveniently forgetting all about their less-privileged sisters. It’s a terrible fact of life, but the bitter truth is that women in politics have not leveraged their position to do anything substantial for other women. Perhaps, those vintage Ekta Kapoor serials had a point -which is why they worked. But even Ekta has moved on and away from those dreary subjects to sexier ones. Why can’t our female politicians do the same? This is their chance to win the loyalty of what is, in reality, their core constituency – women. Woo us with policies that transform lives and you’ll never have to worry about your warm kursi going to someone else. Neglect us now… and watch! Just you watch! We’ll show you! Remember, there is no ‘next time’ in politics. Mind it! My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSD <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms surgency is gaining momentum. A significant shift in US policy took place three months ago when secretary of state Hillary Clinton stated that the ‘red lines’ for Afghanistan’s ‘reconciliation’ efforts with the Taliban —renunciation of violence, abandonment of an alliance with al-Qaida, and abiding by the Afghan Constitution — were “necessary outcomes of any negotiation”, not ‘preconditions’ for talks. With Osama’s death, the Pashtun-dominated Taliban will now be further encouraged to jettison its links with al-Qaida. But the Taliban is not yet willing to talk to the Karzai government; nor are the influential minority Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara tribal leaders expected to support such a peace deal. Yet, this provides Pakistan, widely believed to have long provided sanctuary and support to elements of the Afghan Taliban including the Quetta shura, the Haqqani network and the Gulbuddin Hekmatyar faction, the ability to be a ‘broker’ or ‘spoiler’. Last month, a prime ministerial-led Pakistani delegation to Kabul resulted in the formation of a two-tiered joint commission reportedly giving the Pakistan army a formal role in facilitating ‘reconciliation’ between Kabul and the Taliban, despite their trust deficit. Although Osama’s secret hideouts in Pakistan for several years and suspicion over the complicity of elements of its security establishment in this regard have strained relations with the US, Pakistan will continue to play a ‘pivotal’ role in Afghanistan’s ‘reconciliation’ process. But more forceful US pressure can now be expected to impact on Islamabad on identifying suitable elements of the Afghan Taliban for such talks. Last WELCOME TO YOUR SECOND HOME: Hamid Karzai to Manmohan Singh month, Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, bluntly accused Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) of maintaining ties with the hardline Haqqani terror network. On May 11, the US imposed sanctions on the Haqqani network and its commander Badruddin Haqqani; his two brothers Nasiruddin and Sirajuddin are already designated as global terrorists under US laws. As a proximate neighbour, India’s stakes in the stability of Afghanistan rose sharply with the suicide car bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul on July 8, 2008, the first terror attack on an Indian diplomatic mission worldwide, which killed 54 people including two senior Indian diplomats and two Indian security personnel. This was followed by another attack on October 8, 2009. India holds the Haqqani network responsible for carrying out these attacks and the ISI for planning them. Yet, the ‘drawdown’ of US and Nato forces, in the absence of sufficiently trained and capable Afghan security forces, will adversely impact Indian projects and personnel in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s facilitation of a political ‘end game’ between hardline elements of the Taliban and the Afghan government, along with the possible destabilization of existing Afghan governance structures, is of concern to India. But the ‘worst-case’ scenario for New Delhi is the seizure of power by the Taliban, which permits safe havens for terror attacks and the spread of jihadi violence against India, alongside the resumption of a 1990s-style civil war in Afghanistan. To mitigate such developments, India needs to reach out to the Taliban. India’s policy towards the ‘reintegration’ of lower-level Afghan Taliban fighters into the Afghan mainstream has undergone a significant shift in the past year in line with the international community But it re. fuses to deal with the Taliban for tolerating terror camps in Khost during its 1996-2001 rule, aimed at fighting in Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India, as well as for facili- tating the Pakistani hijackers of Indian airlines flight IC-814 in Kandahar in December 1999. It also opposes accommodating the Taliban and its associates, or at least their influential hardline leadership, in the governing structures in Kabul. The possibility of future Taliban rule with links to the al-Qaidalinked Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) terror group, responsible for 26/11, also poses a serious problem to India and increasingly to western interests. But, if India is not to be left in isolation over a prospective political deal which may not be to its liking, or once again be forced to withdraw from Afghanistan if the Taliban were to seize power, it needs to quietly reach out itself to the Taliban’s Gulbuddin Hekmatyar faction and/or the Quetta Shura, to assess their views towards India. India quickly needs to ascertain whether there is any scope for setting ‘preconditions’ for its own future engagement with elements of the Taliban. These ‘preconditions’ would essentially focus on ensuring, along with western powers, that the Taliban cut off all ties with Haqqani network, the LeT, and terrorists like Ilyas Kashmiri, commander of the terror organization Harakat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HUJI), and ensure that no terror training camps targeting India are set up in Afghanistan. Such a ‘responsible’ political settlement between the Karzai government and the Taliban would truly be in India’s interest. The writer is senior fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms THE UNDERAGE OPTIMIST Debunking six myths about Narendra Modi vilians. Only the state police reports to the CM. However, if the police disobeys the CM’s orders, there’s not much the CM can do. He can definitely not order an execution like Hitler could. The police officer who claimed that the CM asked him to turn a blind eye, could be asked, why did he turn a blind eye? The CM couldn’t have killed him; he couldn’t even have fired him. At worst, he could have had him transferred or prevented a promotion. Thus, to avoid a dent on his career, the police officer decided to let the killing of innocents happen? Was he complicit too? These are tough questions that the court will decide. The ugly reality of the riots is that there were more people complicit in the riots than one dictator. CM Modi may have been a political opportunist, and that is wrong in itself, but he wasn’t, and isn’t, a dictator. The second anti-Modi myth is that he is deeply communal, and given half a chance he would destroy the country’s secular fabric. But the fact is, no politician is ever deeply anything. Politicians react to opportunities. Whatever people want, is the way the politicians behave. The same government that was silent on corruption now speaks about the cleanup required in politics, after the scare of the Anna movement. In 2002, the mood of the nation was completely different. Imagine late 2001. The 9/11 attacks, followed by a major Kashmir bomb attack in October, the Parliament attack in December, and the burning of kar sevaks in Gujarat in February 2002 -- all of these were linked to Islamist groups. There was fear in the minds of people and opportunistic politicians exploited it. Today things , are different. Non-secular politicians cannot survive, at least at the national level. Smart politicians understand this. With such intense scrutiny on Modi it is unlikely he will make even so much as a communal comment anytime soon. The third anti-Modi myth is that his development work in Gujarat does not matter. It does, especially now, as the middle class cares more about corruption and good governance than ever before. Coming to the pro-Modi myths, the first is that he did no wrong. While criminal charges are for the courts to provide and decide upon, morally wrongs did occur. The head of the state should , have attempted to contain the damage and heal the wounds in the aftermath. If done right, it could be a political career-plus for the CM to accept the moral wrongs that occurred, and come clean on what he could have done better. The second pro-Modi myth is that he needs to do nothing about the criticism, or for the Muslims. Far from it, Modi needs to take active steps to help the Muslim community and give them a feeling of secu, rity under his regime. Muslims in Gujarat have been largely safe ever since. However the CM has , not actively come out and affirmed his commitment to protect everyone in his state. Many Muslims are upset with the seeming smugness of Modi and his supporters. Modi needs a strategy to bring back to , neutral, if not win, Muslim trust again. It isn’t easy , but not impossible. The third pro-Modi myth is that Gujarat is India’s development heaven. Yes, Gujarat is doing well, but others are doing well too. The southern states are ahead in many parameters, such as literacy and mortality Also, a lot of Guja. rat’s wealth creation comes from the Gujarati community’s entrepreneurial culture. All of the above myths can never be fully dispelled. A section of people will never change their opinion about Modi. But, the more openminded amongst us will probably see the full picture and make an informed judgment on whether he has a place in India’s future. Modi himself will need his own strategy if he wishes to become a real player on the national stage, which many think he has the potential for. Or, he could be happy with what he has and remain the most controversial politician in India’s history . My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCB<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms CHETAN BHAGAT Afew weeks ago, i wrote on Gujarat and Narendra Modi. It attracted more comments than any of my columns in two years. In the thousand-odd comments, there was a high degree of misconception, exaggeration and misunderstanding. I have no reason to keep writing on Modi. But considering he is such a touchy issue in Indian politics, i’d like to bust the six Modi myths floating around. The anti-Modi myth number one is that he is akin to Hitler. Comparing the CM to possibly one of the most evil leaders on earth makes sensational copy but is not factually correct. Yes, , the post-Godhra riots targeted a particular religion. However, the scale, its organized and unprovoked nature, the extent and time period of the holocaust were at an entirely different level. Most importantly Hitler was dictator of Ger, many at that point. He had dissolved democracy and controlled the army Not obeying his orders . could mean execution. The Gujarat CM, or any CM in India, doesn’t have a fraction of Hitler’s powers. Our CMs cannot order the army or central forces to shoot ci- As public anger increases, corruption falls SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR The electoral debacle of the DMK-Congress in Tamil Nadu highlights public disgust with corruption, and underpins the Anna Hazare anti-graft crusade. But is corruption really worsening, or is the public simply angrier about it? Most survey data suggest, surprisingly that corruption has been declin, ing. Crooked politicians look enormously richer than ever before. Corruption has surely skyrocketed in real estate, natural resources and government contracts. But it has disappeared in deregulated areas like industrial and import licensing and foreign exchange. Falling import duties have almost killed smuggling. The annual corruption perception index of Transparency International (TI) gives country scores for corruption on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being most corrupt and 10 being least corrupt. India has gradually improved its score, from 2.78 in 1995 to 2.8 in 2000, 2.9 in 2005 and 3.3 in 2010. This is modest improvement. In 1995, India was ranked 34th of 41 countries surveyed, near the bottom. But subsequent surveys covered many more countries, most of whom were far more corrupt than India. In 2010, India came TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN NOVEMBER 29, 1971 SURESH KALMADI IN CUSTODY STATE OF DISARRAY: Under General Yahya Khan, Pakistan was riven by conflict between different ethnic groups and provinces 87th of 178 countries, halfway down the list. This is no cause for rejoicing: a score of 3.3 is pathetic when the best countries score 9. But it’s a small mercy if things are getting a bit better . In 2010, China (3.5) scored marginally more than India. Much worse were Vietnam (2.7), Pakistan (2.3) and Russia (2.1). TI has a separate bribe payers index (BPI), measuring the willingness of a country’s businesses to pay bribes abroad. The latest list for 2008 list covers only 22 countries. The most willing to bribe abroad is Russia (5.9) followed by China (6.5), Mexico (6.6) and India (6.8). So, India is pretty bad, but not the worst. Its score has improved from 4.2 in 2006 to 6.8 in 2008, and it has overtaken China, Mexico and Russia in the process. Ordinary Indians worry most about the small local-level corruption that extracts money directly from their pockets for services that should be free. TI surveys show that people perceive corruption to be rising in the vast majority of countries, even the most honest Scandinavian countries, and it’s unclear whether such perception is mostly emotional or factual. More reliable than perceptions are data on the proportion of households who actually paid a bribe in the last year. TI brings out a Global Corruption Barometer. This suggests that bribes paid by ordinary Indians for access to government services have shot up from 16% of households in 2003 to 54% in 2010. That sounds absolutely calamitous. But the very opposite is suggested by surveys conducted by CMS, a wellrespected survey organization. CMS suggests that the proportion of Indians saying they paid a bribe in the 12 months literally halved from 56% to 28% between 2005 and 2010. This looks like a fabulous outcome. Ironically , the CMS report was released by the local head of Transparency International, with no sense of the glaring contradiction between the two reports. The TI surveys have a small sample size of around 1,000 people. CMS, on the other hand, surveyed almost 9,000 people in 2005 and 10,000 in 2010, and therefore boasts a more robust statistical base. The CMS also has a more rural focus. The CMS survey asked about bribes in relation to four government services – the public distribution system for food, education, water supply and health. The TI survey covered nine areas, including the police, courts and registry officials. Can this explain the difference in outcome of the two surveys? Not really it is implausible that the four ar, eas surveyed by CMS could have im- proved dramatically while the others surveyed by TI worsened dramatically: quality trends in administration tend to be similar across sectors. Surveys can be contradictory We . cannot ignore the Barometer’s survey Yet the positive trends of the . CMS survey are more in line with TI’s corruption perception index and bribe payers index, both of which show corruption decreasing. CMS gives several possible reasons for declining bribes, such as improved technology and media activism. Nonsense, say sceptics, politicians are making unprecedented billions today The debate will con. tinue. Whatever the truth, we can celebrate the CMS finding that media and TV coverage of corruption has risen fourfold in five years! This suggests a social revolution. Fast GDP growth has created a rising middle class that refuses to sit back and accept corruption as “chalta hai.” TV is amplifying this middle class anger into political change, first in Anna Hazare’s coup and now in the DMK defeat. Hurrah! Let’s build on this anger: we have a long way to go. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011 One doesn’t listen to poor souls when they warn…it is only later that these words are given importance. ABDUR REZZAK MOLLAH, senior CPM leader Reaping The Change Mamata’s moment has finally come, thanks to a clueless Left Front – but what will she make of it? Ronojoy Sen Independence Day Bengal looks to break free from the shackles of the past E nding 34 years of uninterrupted Left Front rule, Mamata Banerjee described her party’s historic win in West Bengal as a ‘second independence day’. The statement found resonance not just with Trinamool supporters who have swept Mamata into Writers’ Building but also ordinary people in Bengal as well as the thousands that make up its diaspora. Thanks to years of industrial neglect and politicisation of the state machinery an entire , generation of Bengal’s educated youth had to leave behind their home state for greener pastures. From educational institutions to local community clubs, the CPM’s culture of patronage politics spared few. Through its cadre it blurred the distinction between party and government, rewarding nepotism and punishing dissent. In 1977, the Left had come to power in Bengal on the promise of land reforms. Operation Barga, while protecting rights of sharecroppers, perpetuated the romantic leftist notion of a peasantry wedded to the land. Industry was the natural victim. Subsequently through unions and peasant organisa, tions, the Bengal countryside was consolidated as the Left’s political bastion. Those from the urban middle class who demanded employment opportunities and better government services were looked down upon as products of a deplorable petit bourgeois order. However, after being stuck in a time warp for the better part of three and a half decades, the Left belatedly realised the folly of keeping industry out. To make investment attractive, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s government did a complete U-turn and tried to acquire land cheaply . This time the old tools of the Left political machinery – coercive cadre, subservient police and bureaucracy – were used to force farmers to part with their land, attracting the charge of crony capitalism. The Left was caught in its own trap. The result was Nandigram and Singur, which gave the Trinamool a handle to breach the Left’s rural bastion. That was the beginning of the end. Mamata’s emphatic electoral success bears testimony to the frustration of the people at the Left’s arrogance of power. Patronage politics has reached a point of diminishing returns. The days of one-party hegemony are over. Fuelled by the successes of its diaspora, the genuine aspirations of the people of Bengal demand to be taken seriously . The lesson in Trinamool’s victory is that Bengal cannot be isolated from the rest of India. The Left leadership tried to keep the state in an artificial bubble and paid a heavy price. The days ahead will require Mamata to make the transition from street agitator to astute administrator. Land and its concomitant politics are bound to occupy her efforts. But with the support of a good team, she could script a bright new chapter in the history of Bengal. he Trinamool Congress’s sweep of West Bengal, with due apologies to Jayalalithaa and Tarun Gogoi, is the biggest story of the assembly elections. Beginning with the 2008 panchayat polls followed by the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the groundswell in favour of the Trinamool had been steadily building up. But Friday's result confirmed a tectonic shift in Bengal politics, which ended the 34-year record run of the Left Front. For a generation which grew up with the CPM-led Left Front as a permanent fixture in Writers' Building, a change seemed almost beyond the realm of possibility. But the unthinkable has been single-handedly made possible by Mamata Banerjee. In the run-up to the polls, Mamata was the face of Trinamool's felicitous slogan – 'poriborton' or change – that so charged up Bengal. Addressing up to five election meetings a day she took her party's campaign to every corner of the state. Having attended a few of her public meetings, it was obvious that the party candidates on stage were just props. People came in thousands only for a darshan of Mamata and her connect with the crowd was electrifying. Of course, the ground was fertile for Mamata's message of change. By every possible indicator, West Bengal is a laggard. The flight of industry from the state is a familiar story. By 200708, the share of manufacturing in the state's net domestic product had fallen to 7.4% compared to 13.6% in neighbouring Orissa. Along with the exit of capital, Bengal's best and brightest left T in droves. The Left Front did not help matters by doing away with English for several years in government primary schools. But what is most shocking is the state of health and education, the two areas where a communist government was expected to have the most impact. The number of hospital beds per one lakh people in rural Bengal is 3.8 compared to an all-India average of 17.5. In education, the dropout rate of students is over 75% compared to an all-India average of 60%. More worryingly, the education system has been completely taken over by party apparatchiks. One could go on. The status quo might still have been in place had it not been Portrait of the lady as the victor A victory for Mamata was a foregone conclusion though the margin has come as a surprise to many. Now comes the even harder task of reviving a stagnant Bengal for the Left alienating its traditional rural support base by planning industrial projects on agricultural land without working out adequate compensation. Singur and Nandigram have now become bywords for the Left Front's failure, a supreme irony considering its signal success was redistribution of land among the rural peasantry. This had the additional effect of swinging the left-leaning intelligentsia towards Mamata, giving her the much-needed intellectual heft that she lacked as a street fighter backed mainly by the urban underclass. Subsequent violence unleashed by the CPM cadre added to Mamata's arsenal. Indeed, there is an entire geography of violence in the state – places like Lalgarh, Keshpur, Garbeta and Netai – that figured prominently in Mamata's campaign. Add to that the switch of Muslims – nearly a quarter of Bengal's population – who felt hard done by in Nandigram and the Left's failure to improve their lot, to Trinamool. The high turnout, helped by a clinically-run election that allowed many citizens who hadn't voted in earlier elections out of fear of reprisals to vote this time around, also worked to Mamata's advantage. Finally, the ostrich-like attitude of the Left contributed in no small measure to Mamata's success. During the campaigning, several CPM leaders insisted that their party had recovered from the reverses of the past two years. Even a day before the results were announced, a party assessment predicted that the Left Front would narrowly return to power. Clearly the CPM – which won a mere 40 seats and saw most of its tall leaders biting the dust – had lost touch with reality. It needs a thorough reinvention to stay relevant in Bengal and elsewhere. A victory for Mamata in the assembly polls was thus a foregone conclusion though the margin – 184 seats for Trinamool alone reducing the bickering Congress to a sideshow – has come as a surprise to many. Now comes the even harder task of reviving a stagnant Bengal. The vision document of the Trinamool published before the election has set plenty of targets, initially for the first 200 days and then for the next 1,000. How much of this – like setting up 17 clusters of small and medium enterprises or converting Digha into the Goa of the east – is attainable in such a short period in a severely cash- strapped state is a moot question. Other longer-term goals, such as attracting large private investment in the state or creating 10 lakh jobs, are not going to be easy given the lack of confidence of investors in Bengal, for which Mamata herself is partly to blame. Similarly, turning around the agricultural sector, where subsistence farming is the norm, is a difficult task. Revamping the education system too will provide its own set of challenges. There is also a real threat that political violence could cripple the state. Mamata had repeatedly said during her campaign that she wants 'badal' (change) and not want 'badla' (revenge). Only time will tell whether the CPM cadre and Trinamool workers can be reined in. The real test will be whether Mamata, who has spent most of her life as a scrapping opposition politician, can transform herself to a capable administrator. She has gathered a competent bunch of individuals around her, but in the end hers is the final word in the Trinamool. With high expectations from the people of Bengal, in the next five years she will have to jettison her populism for governance. During her campaign, Mamata often repeated her ambition of restoring Bengal to the position encapsulated by that outdated saying: What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. Sadly, Bengal is decidedly yesterday's story. If Mamata and her team can make Bengal relevant in today's India that itself would be no mean achievement. She definitely has the mandate to do so. The writer is a visiting research fellow at ISAS, National University of Singapore. Family Drama DMK pays for equating party with dynasty f CPM’s running of Bengal as a party monopoly finally backfired, in Tamil Nadu dynasty has been laid low. Two Stalins stand humbled, one whose portrait adorns Bengal’s communist party offices, the other a chief minister’s son who’d been pitched as TN’s great white hope. Indian voters have never been judgmental about family-run politics if it’s perceived as motivated by public good. As once happened to the Lalu clan in Bihar, this perception no longer holds good for TN’s first family By all indications, the . DMK clan is now viewed as presided over by an ageing, ineffectual patriarch and torn apart by the personal ambitions of kith and kin vying for control over party affairs. Grave corruption charges have compounded matters. The DMK-Congress alliance’s arrogance in not even proffering any convincing counter-argument couldn’t have impressed the electorate. Above all, uncertainties about a post-Karunanidhi DMK would’ve driven voters to AIADMK. Unlike Bengal, TN wasn’t badly governed, nor was its economy in a hole. An investment hotspot, with vibrant industry – the state is India’s largest auto-manufacturing hub – and traditionally big on welfare, TN’s economy is generally thought to chug along irrespective of which of two Dravidian outfits thrives politically But, this time around, there were . concerns about dynastic wars and resource grabs translating into misgovernance and law and order issues. The signs were already there, in declining growth, power shortage, price rise and labour restiveness. Backing regime change, TN however needs Jayalalithaa to focus on governance. Can she eschew vendetta politics? As for DMK, it must introspect even to play the role of an effective opposition. The more party is equated with clan with Mahabharata-style family wars played out in public, the more DMK will be out of sync with 21st century India’s voter expectations. ‘Regional films hold the clue to Indian ethos’ Apurba Kishore Bir, popularly known as A K Bir is an award, winning cinematographer-director from Orissa. As director, he won plaudits for his evocatively photographed film, Adi Mimansa. His film Lavanya Preeti claimed the Best Asian Film award at the Osaka international film festival. His Hindi film Baaja won the National Award for the Best Children’s film in 2003. Bir also handled the second camera in the first unit of Richard Attenborough’s Oscar-winning film Gandhi. A graduate of FTII Pune, Bir was recently in the capital for the platinum jubilee celebrations of Oriya cinema. He spoke to Meenakshi Sinha: I The first Oriya film, Sita Bibah, was made in 1936. It has been a long journey since. What subjects and inspiration form the core of Oriya films? Subjects come from a thought process that’s a result of certain concerns as a human being. Subjects such as poverty have come from the reality one has witnessed in the society . Poverty is not just a reality but a phenomenon in Oriya culture. I There’s also the influence of Hindi cinema? Most Oriya films are imitations of Bollywood films and are made with only commercial interests. They are made simply to appease the audience. I So how do you see this influence considering your strong association with the growth of parallel regional cinema of the 1990s? Unfortunately regional cinema is blocked somewhere. Younger film-makers have not taken to the continuity of tradition and culture and hence have entertaining the audience in this passive mode. A film-maker has to see how he can activate the audience’s mental calibre into a more energetic form. Only then will they find a form of entertainment that’s meant for the audience’s growth. If as a film-maker, you are yourself passive, then it’s being extremely disrespectful towards your service to mankind. I From two-three films to 20 films a year, how has the growth of Oriya films fared? There’ve been glorious moments during the 1970s and 80s. Many films that depicted a film-maker’s social responsibility came about during this time. But gradually people started , getting severed from their original self, culture and tradition. The result was predictable – they came to be overpowered by other forces. That was bound to happen. Any creative man, once I I Q&A no clue. These young film-makers have lost contact with the original thought and culture of Oriya films. What they are showing today has no connection with thousands of years of traditional culture of Orissa. I So doesn’t the audience define their tastes in cinema? The audience has mostly acted in a passive manner and i blame the film-makers for he loses his creativity, spirit of adventure and thought, is overtaken by commercial elements. Forces like dependence on technology economics and market , begin to dictate his creativity. I So is all this at the cost of regional identity? Yes absolutely I’ve always . maintained that regional films still hold the clue to the merit of Indian ethos and knowledge. I What’s the Oriya film industry worth today? There are several films being made today, and though i’ve not been actively involved in the Oriya film industry per se, my main concern has been to make Oriya films accessible to every part of the country and the world. Other than that, the industry’s main concern has been to generate funds to make it more productive in terms of moneymaking so as to survive without compromising its basic values. POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Fashion fury Deified swimsuits don’t happen by divine design Vinita Dawra Nangia Freebies subvert democracy With reference to the article ‘The Voter As Consumer’ (May 12) by Amrith Lal, the freebies culture has not only undermined democracy but also destroyed the social fabric of Tamil Nadu. In their greed for power, politicians of all shades have promoted freebies culture to score over their opponents. However, part of the blame rests with the people who encourage the political class to dole out freebies rather than demanding their rights and opportunities to earn their livelihood and improve their standard of living. Also, freebies are bribes and subvert the democratic process. It is time election laws are amended to put an end to them. K R Srinivasan, SECUNDERABAD t may be desirable to hold Goddess Lakshmi in the deepest recesses of your heart, but wear her on your sleeve at your peril! And, while you may cover your body with a robe that proclaims your religious allegiance, try holding the image of a deity any closer to your heart and all hell breaks loose! Whereas it is okay to wear a shirt or a stole with gods emblazoned on it, or even don jewellery with religious symbols, beware - underwear, slippers or toilet seats are a no-no for pictures of deities or other religious imagery. Even priests, who may use a stole with religious symbols, aren't allowed to use the same stole as an asana. So, it is important to understand that though designer Lisa Burke's bikini top would have passed muster, it was the bottom that blew the top off the lid! Lisa scrapped her swimwear line for Australia Fashion Week after a whiplash of fury unleashed by Hindu groups at her use of images of the goddess on bikini bottoms. She apologised and halted production of the bikini line. Not a single one of the deified swimsuits that defied the goddess will hit the racks! A statement issued by the designer's company Lisa Blue claimed that usage of the goddess's image was "an attempt to celebrate different cultures". Now, try convincing us that the face of one of our most venerated deities adorning a derriere, however pert and sexy, is a celebration of our culture! Italian designer Roberto Cavalli singed his fashionable fingertips similarly seven years ago when he had to hastily withdraw his spa line amid an eruption of Hindu sentiment the world over. Images of Lord Ram, Vishnu and Goddess Saraswati on intimate wear for women frazzled the Hindu Human Rights body enough to raise the flag. French shoe brand Minelli withdrew their shoes with religious images after protests. Heidi Klum used Kali as a Halloween outfit, and popular brand Guess sparked protests with tank tops that sported Ganesha images and the words "Handsome elephant!" It is indeed surprising that leading international designers and brands who turn their gaze to the richness of Hindu iconography with its exotic symbols fail to do their homework well, thus risking bad publicity as well as incurring financial losses! Unless there is a design to the entire fracas? Was Lisa totally unaware of these other blasphemous instances that preceded her collection? Or did the designer see it as a wild card entry to international fame? What offended Hindu sentiment in the case of Lisa, Roberto or Minelli was that the image of the deities adorned underwear, bikinis and footwear. The same images emblazoned on shirts or scarves may not have aroused a protest. Similar protests had erupted earlier when shoes or even toilet seat covers have used images of Hindu deities. If it is okay to carry your God on or in your handbag or flaunt him around your neck, one may well question how a fabric gets defiled the moment it touches your bosom or bottom? It would be very easy to attribute this to the rigidity and fragility of an inflexible mindset, not conducive to sharing the fruits of a decidedly rich culture. However that is not the case. No religion in the world really allows you to wear its symbols below the waist as the reproductive and excretory organs are located there, explains an astrologer! These are the subtleties that the western mind needs to understand if indeed all these instances have been innocent mistakes, as they would have us believe. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, when asked about the use of religious symbols on clothes, says, "Instead of Mickey Mouse, they use Ganesha. But the problem is that we spend too much time trying to understand and fight for symbols rather than life itself !" I I SACRED S PAC E Live Life I The Fundamental Principles The fifth is samyak vyayama. Many of us perform regular physical exercises to keep the n each sphere of life we should follow a code body strong and supple. A human entity, of discipline. Knowing or adhering to the however, is not only physical but also mental code of discipline would ensure 60 per cent and spiritual. The sixth one is samyak success. For proper movement, an aspirant karmanta. When you start a task, you should , . should follow certain rules and know certain finish the work properly and in a nice way Don’t leave the work in a half-finished condiimportant factors. In this connection, Gautama Buddha said tion. The finish should always be good. The seventh advice is samyak smriti. In that there are eight codes. The first is samyak . or proper darshana. Darshana means to Sanskrit, smriti means memory What is see, and in philosophical language, it means memory? Whenever you see, or you hear, or seeing with the spirit of a scholar, an aspirant. you smell something with the help of your Darshana means guiding philosophy So, efferent or afferent organs, what happens? . every one of us ought to have a philosophy Your mind gets compartmentalised. One portion of the mind takes the subjective form, of life that will help us to progress. and another portion takes the objecThe second important factor is tive form. You are seeing a tiger. One samyak samkalpa. Samyak means portion of your mind becomes the proper. Samkalpa means determinaseer and another portion of your tion. “I will do it. I must do it.” The mind takes the form of the tiger; then third is samyak vak. In ordinary you think that you are seeing a tiger. terms vak is expression of vocal This recreation of a tiger in your chords, but in philosophical lanmind is called smriti or memory . guage, vak means all the expresTHE The last is samyak samadhi – sions of efferent nerves. Whatever we see, touch and speak, all these I SPEAKING I proper suspension of mind. When you are hearing an excellent expressions are found within the TREE expression of music, your mental scope of vak. Therefore, a man while expressing himself in any stratum of object is that music, and while hearing, your life, must have proper control over himself; subjective mind gets suspended in that he must have proper control over his sensory objective portion. It is suspension of mind in hearing. Similarly while meditating on the , and motor nerves. This is samyak vak. , The fourth instruction is samyak ajiva. Supreme Entity the Parama Purusha, your One can earn money by many unfair means mind gets suspended in Him. It is proper such as stealing, selling intoxicants and money- samadhi; it is proper suspension of mind. These are the eightfold codes of discipline, lending. There are so many bad things one can do. A good man should have a clean occupation; an indispensable part of an aspirant’s life. You he must not be engaged in unclean means of should always remember that for proper suclivelihood. Not only his physical occupation cess, to attain the Supreme Bliss, adherence to but also his mental occupation should be these eightfold codes of discipline is a must. www.speakingtree.in neat, clean and pure. His objects of thought should be in good taste, and he should not try Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to interact directly with masters and seekers. to do anything bad to another good man. Shri Shri Anandamurti Turn the mind inward and cease thinking of yourself as the body; thereby you will come to know that the self is ever happy . Neither grief nor misery is experienced in this state. Ramana Maharshi You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life… Surely life is not merely , a job, an occupation; life is something extraordinarily wide and profound, it is a great mystery a , vast realm in which we function as human beings. J Krishnamurti Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day in all the thousand , small uncaring ways. Stephen V Benet I Chinese surge in the region With reference to the article ‘Asian Power Play, Post-Osama’ (May 14) by Nayan Chanda, China increasingly getting its foothold in the Asian region is a cause for concern. It has more than often shown that it can both engage countries to further its interests (Pakistan) and at times bully them (in Japan’s case). The widening rift in the US-Pakistan relations is bound to push Islamabad towards China. On its part, Beijing has already heavily invested in ambitious infrastructure projects in Pakistan. After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, China would like to extend its presence there with the help of Islamabad. India must calibrate its foreign policy keeping in mind the changing geopolitics of the region while being optimistically cautious. Manthan N Akhani, VIA EMAIL Scrabble’s waning charm With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 12), there was a time when Scrabble was regarded as the ‘word game’. It had no parallel simply for the reason that it augmented English vocabulary in the real sense of the term. Exercise of the grey cells was needed. Besides, it made for a pleasurable pastime. The rules used to be so strict that only words found in a standard lexicon could be used. However, over a period of time, the game has degenerated resulting in a steep slide in its popularity. Today, parents shy away from it. Adopting new words just to win points is nothing but the murder of real Scrabble by philistine. Mukund Kumar, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011 The people have voted for a change and we will not let down their aspirations. OOMMEN CHANDY, leader of Congress legislature party in Kerala Regional, The New National Much depends on how Congress and BJP face the big challenge posed by state outfits Tuhin A Sinha Bitter Sweet Following assembly election results, Congress will need to get its act together f the Congress had high expectations from the recent round of assembly elections, they have clearly been dashed. The only real joy for the principal party in the UPA coalition came from Assam, where it exceeded expectations by scooping up 78 of the 126 assembly seats. Not even the staunchest Congress supporter would deny that the party’s 42 seats in West Bengal – and a probable stake in the next state government – were courtesy the Trinamool wave. In Kerala, a state where the electorate is not known to be sympathetic to the incumbent regime, the Congress-led UDF formulation barely scraped through with a majority of two seats. As for the Tamil Nadu polls, they were a downright disaster for the Congress. While its ally the DMK was decimated and ended up with a paltry 23 seats out of 234, the Congress fared even worse with just five seats – down from 48 in 2006. This despite the fact that the latter was contesting more seats than five years ago. Tamil Nadu is crucial for the Congress. The Congress-DMK combine in the state provides 26 MPs to the UPA at the Centre. Notwithstanding the fact that the DMK has been a demanding ally – as well as an embarrassing one given alleged involvement of the DMK first family in the 2G spectrum scam – the Congress needs the numbers come Lok Sabha elections in 2014. It is in this context that rumoured Congress overtures towards the AIADMK need to be seen. Though speculation is rife of a possible tie-up in the wake of Sonia Gandhi’s personal congratulations to J Jayalalithaa for her victory it may well be nothing , more than a courtesy call. The AIADMK supremo simply can’t make up the DMK numbers at the Centre. In the short term, sticking with the DMK will be the Congress’s best bet. It could perhaps take comfort in the fact that the DMK is likely to be a less cumbersome ally from here on. This should, in theory offset Mamata Banerjee’s expected increase in , demands, thanks to her strengthened hand in Bengal. In practice, Mamata too may have her compulsions as she will have to rely on central aid if she is to turn West Bengal around. Another source of concern is the rumblings in Andhra Pradesh where Jaganmohan Reddy has openly challenged the Congress leadership. His emphatic victory in the Kadapa Lok Sabha by-poll is ominous. Taken together, it is clear that Congress suffers from a dearth of effective local leaders as well as effective policies at the national level. It needs to get its act together, fast. I ssam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – states where assembly election results have just been announced – account for 115 of India’s 543 Lok Sabha seats. Add Bihar, where elections took place just six months ago, to this list and the total number of Lok Sabha seats thus covered goes up to 155, a bit less than 30% of the total seats. These elections carry some interesting trends, which any party aiming to succeed in the UP assembly elections of 2012 or the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 can ill afford to ignore. First of all, the results reiterate what is now a growing perception: Indian voters have become discerning and cannot be easily swayed or fooled like, say 10 years ago. Moreover, the , mandate underlines the nation’s angst against the corrupt. The best example of this is Tamil Nadu. Political parties have often used the ‘faith reposed by election verdicts’ to wash away their sins. The DMK had hoped to do the same in Tamil Nadu. Thus, despite charges of the complicity of DMK bosses in the 2G scam, one was shocked by the cocksureness displayed by the party during the polls. The party it appeared, some, how believed it would redeem itself by distributing the ‘loot’ among the voters. Such was the DMK’s confidence that even veteran observers didn’t write it off. Had the DMK won, it would A have set an ugly precedent. Parties could orchestrate even bigger scams and then use the money to buy out voters. The election results seem a mandate against the corrupt. Thus, in neighbouring Kerala, where it was sure of a landslide win until six months ago, the Congress-led UDF barely had the luck to remain ahead of the LDF. The message was once again amply clear: we might as well choose the mediocre over the corrupt. Secondly it’s pretty much , evident now that, if you want to win a state, you empower state leaders instead of depending on national leaders. With the win Mamata Banerjee with BJP’s Rajnath Singh: Who will call the shots? These state elections carry some interesting trends, which any party aiming to succeed in the UP polls of 2012 or the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 can ill afford to ignore in Assam, Tarun Gogoi has joined the illustrious list of ‘empowered chief ministers’ who have been re-elected more than once. Had the CPM shown greater faith in the octogenarian Achuthanandan, the LDF would perhaps have won Kerala with ease. Mamata Banerjee, on her part, has proved how individual charisma can uproot a regime of 34 years. Meanwhile, Jaganmohan Reddy looks set to single-handedly decimate the Congress in Andhra Pradesh. On a slightly smaller scale, Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha is likely to become a force to reckon with in Jharkhand in future. The situation throws up an interesting challenge for both the Congress and the BJP for the UP elections: they have to each identify a state leader who can unseat Mayawati. Neither Rahul Gandhi nor Narendra Modi will have any impact on the UP results, other than generating sound bytes. Can Rajnath Singh or Rita Bahuguna instead effectively take on Mayawati? Well, the latter does not have the political persona – the reason why Rahul has had to work extra hard. So far as Rajnath Singh is concerned, he can. But for that, he will have to dump the comfort of national politics and reclaim the old zest that had him outsmart both Mayawati and Mulayam Singh in state politics in the late 1990s. Thirdly these election re, sults open up the possibility of a political realignment of forces ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. With the CPM in absolute doldrums, perennial talk of the oft-invisible Third Front is likely to become history . Thus, the situation seems to be gearing up towards a bipolar contest. With the 80 seats of UP unlikely to throw up a clear winner, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – which together account for as many seats – might well decide the outcome of the next Lok Sabha polls. What is particularly interesting are Jagan Reddy’s recent The writer is an author script, feelers to the BJP. Of course, writer and columnist. there’s a precondition attached: committing to 10% reservations for Muslims, which even the Congress hasn’t espoused thus far. That apart, in a bipolar situation and given his animosity towards the Congress, it is not difficult to predict which side Jagan will be on. Jayalalithaa’s case is different. All said and done, one can’t conclusively rule out her realigning with the Congress in future, an idea she was open to as recently as six months ago. Finally the biggest lesson , is that the regional is indeed the new national. With large alliances likely on both sides, the individual fate of the bigger regional coalition partners will directly impact the coalition’s ability to form the government at the Centre. At the same time, the ever-growing clout of regional parties is bound to shrink the two national parties, leaving them in a catch-22 situation. The BJP’s hopes of leading the next government at the Centre are contingent upon two factors. One, putting up a tough fight in the UP elections so that the BSP and the Samajwadi Party stop taking the state for granted. Two, it will quickly have to identify a leader with the least baggage and the best networking skills to lead it into the 2014 elections. In the present situation, the party will have to look beyond Modi, for sure. Bollywood sends a large entourage to Cannes Think Decontrol Fuel pricing can do without political meddling The festival offers serious business ocated in a seafront town in southern France, the annual Cannes Film Festival’s attracting numerous Bollywood personalities. From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Shekhar Kapur, Saif Ali Khan and Mallika Sherawat, Cannes is proving a magnet for a rainbow of Bollywood talent. While critics may sneer that most Bollywood stars do little at Cannes except display gowns and party in yachts, the fact is, their presence there gives ITI Hindi cinema a powerful boost. Cannes is about frocks, photographers and glamour, but that’s just part of its fun. It brings together the world’s most serious and intense cinematic talent. In addition, it’s also one of the world’s largest film hubs, a great cinema bazaar where filmmakers come into direct contact with buyers from around the globe. At Cannes, Hindi filmmakers get access to distributors and exhibitors from remote Uzbekistan, urban Kinshasa or urbane Berlin. A platform like Cannes helped the producers of Lagaan make contact with exhibitors around the world. Similarly, after Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali screened Devdas at Cannes, No relevance for Indian cinema nother year, another grand show in sunny Cannes for our Bollywood stars. And yet again, it’s a pointless exercise. If the Oscars are about mass appeal and popular entertainment, the Cannes Film Festival is the acme of thoughtful filmmaking. It’s a celebration of creativity rather than box– the festival’s most prestigious, with top films chosen from across the world – not a single one is Indian. This is not an anomaly The last time an Indian film . featured in the competition was two decades ago when the likes of Mrinal Sen were still active and regularly featured – a sad comedown for a country that won the best film award with Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar at the festival’s first edition in 1946. I COUNTERVIEW I The reality of this is made clear by Indian Anil Thakkar office numbers. And actors and filmmakers themselves. Saif that means, of course, Ali Khan, for instance, has made no bones that it is quite anti- about the fact that Bollywood films are thetical to the vast not meant for Cannes. Likewise, Rakeysh majority of Bolly- Omprakash Mehra, whose documentary wood films as they are will be filmed at Cannes this year, says that now. And so when our this is a lean patch for Indian films at the stars go there year after year, it has little festival. Damning indictments from those to do with their profession. They are who would know best. Which begs the there as little more than mannequins, question – what exactly are our stars there walking the red carpet because the for? Hobnobbing with the Hollywood elite brands with which they have tie-ups have and showing off risque designerwear, as finagled a place on it for them. Mallika Sherawat did? In the larger Consider that of the 20 films that are scheme of things, the festival, sadly, has no in competition for the Palme d’Or award relevance or meaning for Indian cinema. L P etrol price deregulation is clearly no insulation against political meddling. That state-owned oil marketing companies okayed a Rs 5 per litre hike immediately after the announcement of the assembly poll results is proof. Evidently the UPA’s electoral considerations had , tied their hands during the poll process. As a result, we have the anomaly of prices heading north even as international crude prices are southbound. Flanked by opposition parties professing to be their champions, ordinary people protest fuel price hikes precisely owing to such political manipulation. If fuel prices were allowed to truly reflect global trends, oil marketing firms would not have reason to whine about losses. Nor would people resent markups in fuel costs, seeing them instead as part of an impersonal process of market-linked price adjustment. Said to be coming up next, diesel, LPG and kerosene price increases will further reflect government’s penchant for price tinkering. What diesel and kerosene prices need is freeing up, not least because artificially suppressed prices benefit aam admi less than a thriving crime syndicate comprising adulterators and black marketers. Price differences also encourage the rich to buy cheaper diesel despite being able to afford petrol. Wasteful diesel use results, to the detriment of the less privileged as well as the environment. It’s equally myopic to hype deregulation’s feared fallout on inflation. Minus diesel price decontrol, greater fiscal strain – and deficits – owing to heavier fuel subsidy will have an inflationary effect anyway Besides, if inflation is the headache, shouldn’t we let market. indexed prices curb demand? Instead of fiddling with prices, government should trim their tax component, which – customs and excise combined – totals half the shop price of motor fuel. Finally a decontrolled fuel sector , will attract private retailers. As telecom and aviation have shown, the best way to keep prices consumer-friendly is to push competition. even travelling down its famed waterfront in a horse-drawn chariot, world audiences could see the heady melodrama of an Indian man caught between changing times and two beautiful women. For the world’s largest producer of films, this is a unique – and vital – event. It isn’t just bigbudget blockbusters though that grab atten- A M E S V I E WI tion at Cannes. In recent years, smaller independent movies, such as Udaan, have generated enthusiastic support from an audience accustomed to polished cinema. For those who insist Cannes favours the old song-and-dance stereotypes of Indian cinema, it’s worth remembering that Satyajit Ray won the Grand Prix for Pather Panchali right here in 1956. Critics may question Bollywood personalities stepping onto that historic red carpet today but the fact is, their doing so makes a difference. SNAP JUDGMENT What You Kahn’t Do Detailing Climate Change study under Isro’s aegis, using satellites and human visits, shows 75% of Himalayan glaciers have retreated and 17% stayed stable over 15 years. Commissioned by the environment ministry, the study is different from an IPCC report claiming, without sufficient evidence, that the glaciers would vanish by 2035. It should add credibility to an issue subject to polarising debate and help build a consensus on a clear and present threat. I Karat-e-Kid he Left’s fall from national and, now, statelevel grace has been under CPM general secretary Prakash Karat’s watch. So you’d think his idea of fixed tenures for all party functionaries suggests his desire to atone by bowing out. Only, he says the “cap” on a general secretary’s stint can be at “two or three or four terms”! It seems electoral humbling hasn’t given the big chief any intimations of political mortality. D The fuss about cuss Language needs a censor board rating nowadays Vivek Atray mong the varied forms of entertainment that human interaction provides to interested onlookers, an important component is the spicy shock-value of swear words. The same sort of language could, of course, be sacrilegious for most of us. One could be watching a film with the family or dining at a restaurant , with friends, or even working in one’s office with the window open – cuss words are liable to drift to our ears any time, unannounced and uninvited. Boys will be boys of course, and they are more likely to use and hear f-words, b-words, c-words and even z-words more often than humans of other categories. But it is clear that each one of us has to accept the entry of one or more of such intrusive words into our sphere of cognisance at times. What really shocked me as a boy though was when i heard a venerable old relative, one whom i really admired, mouthing a typical Hindi swear word when upset with a few neighbourhood boys who had trespassed into his garden. I was an impressionable tween at the time, and it was quite a jolt for me to hear him use a word that only the naughtiest boys would at school. More recently a young man and his date went out for their first dinner to, gether and started off by making polite conversation. A friend and i were at an adjacent table and we noticed that the couple appeared to be the innocent type. Their composure, and ours, was shattered rudely by a youngster seated across the hall who shouted aloud a really filthy word. He was evidently excited by some breaking news that a classmate had just delivered to him. The effect that that particular expletive had upon the occupants of the hall was quite palpable. Most people blushed. Some even covered their faces. The above-mentioned young man on his first date glared at the perpetrator of verbal violence who in turn glared back and told him to buzz off. It could have ended at this point but the foul-mouthed boy decided to use an even worse adjective for the lover boy to round off his , response to the glare. The character of men does change dramatically at times, but what followed in this case was total transformation. Disregarding the presence of his pretty girlfriend, and of course ours as well, the young suitor reeled off a barrage of Punjabi swear words in retaliation. Needless to say utter mayhem , broke out at the place and most people fled. The young girl was totally inconsolable and utterly annoyed with her chameleon-like guy friend. The fact that my friend and i had to drop her home was just a side effect. That today’s youngsters tend to pick up cuss words at school or college is well documented. What is less known is the influence that modern-day heroes have upon them. Our champion cricketers, for example – some of them use expletives each time they get hit for boundaries. What is worse is that they repeat them when they pick up wickets! Young boys watching them obviously feel that it is the done thing to swear all the time, if national heroes can do it live on TV . Our filmy heroes are even more skilled at the use of cuss words. These days the heroines have also joined them. The censor board tends to be lenient nowadays and many a new film offers to the public the full repertoire of foul words that the Hindi language possesses. Fortunately enough, dinner table conversation at most homes is still decent and does not involve such profanities. One can only hope that things stay that way for eating one’s meal is not an enjoyable experience when , graphically meaningful cuss words are floating around! A ominique StraussKahn’s made news in New York for the wrong reasons. The IMF chief was arrested following charges of sexual assault on a maid. The repercussions will extend beyond him. His arrest may remove a strong Socialist challenger to Sarkozy in the French presidential elections. Also, Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s chances of bagging the IMF’s top job are said to be strengthened with Strauss-Kahn’s exit. A T I SACRED S PAC E Don’t Follow Me I Doctrine Of The Golden Mean on their cause, they cease to be when the cause is extinguished. That is how pratitya efore attaining Buddhahood Prince samutpada gives rise to Buddha’s doctrine of Siddhartha, says the Samyutta Nikaya, kshanbhangur vada or momentariness. thought about the given existential state Pratitya samutpada, in upholding that all of human beings, thus: ‘In what miserable phenomenal things are not Beings but in the condition are the people! They are born, they process of Becoming, leads Buddha to his decay they die, pass away and are born again; theory of the middle path or doctrine of the , and they do not know the path of escape from golden mean. The moment it comes into being, this decay death and misery.’ Concerned with the existence of every object is absolute. How, the suffering of human beings, he reflected on ever, as things are perennially changing, their its causes and on ways of alleviating them. existence is relative. It is not eternal. So, every What transformed the prince into the en- phenomenal thing hangs between reality and lightened Buddha? The credit goes to pratitya nothingness. It avoids the two extremes. samutpada, the doctrine of dependent origiThe existential fact of suffering is because nation, that came to him when he sat of birth. Birth or rather rebirth is the meditating under the Bodhi tree in outcome of the will to be born. The will Gaya. It literally means ‘arising of to be born is the result of the clinging things dependent on causes’. Other to objects of sense or mental pleasure terms that could describe it are in the previous existence. The cling‘conditioned genesis’, ‘co-dependent ing is dependent upon the desire for origination’ and ‘mutual causality’. enjoyment experienced by us earlier. A formulation of the doctrine Because of sense experience, there THE is: ‘this arising that arises; this is desire, which in turn is the result ceasing to be that ceases to be’. SPEAKING of sense-object contact. The six Another is: ‘if this is that comes to sense organs including the mind TREE be; from the arising of this that are responsible for contact with arises; if this is not that does not come to objects. Because of our psychophysical orgabe; from the stopping of this that is stopped’. nism, we are endowed with senses. Without Simply it is the principle of causality It initial consciousness, the sense organs are , . upholds that everything, every phenomenon, futile. Karma, which is the outcome of ignois caused and is the outcome of the pheno- rance, is the cause of initial consciousness. menon which causes it. After giving rise to Ignorance leads to suffering and bondage; the effect, the cause is completely destroyed knowledge to liberation. Life, according to without remainder. the Buddha, originates not from a blind play It implies that ‘nothing exists uncondi- of mechanical forces, but is the outcome of tionally and absolutely; everything is depen- ‘internal urge’, ‘the life force’, ‘the will to be dent upon something other than itself ’. born’. Once the will, the desire, is removed, we Things are continuously undergoing change achieve nirvana or emancipation. and transformation. Therefore, everything is The writer teaches philosophy at Delhi University. www.speakingtree.in impermanent and necessarily relative, conditional, finite, dependent and subject to birth, Join the world’s first spiritual networking death and decay Since things are dependent site to interact directly with masters and seekers. . Ashok Vohra E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Democracy wins With reference to the editorial ‘Ring Out The Old’ (May 14), earlier in Bihar and now in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, voters have unambiguously expressed their intolerance towards corruption and the inefficiency and arrogance of those in power. The message to political parties is that the electorate can neither be taken for granted nor wooed through the politics of identity or freebies. It only reflects the maturity of Indian democracy that performers are being rewarded while those abusing power are being shown the door. The landslide victories of Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and J Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu also mark the rise of woman power in Indian politics. However, both face tough tasks ahead in relation to cleansing the system, putting their states on a fast economic growth trajectory and providing transparent governance and inclusive development. M C Joshi, LUCKNOW The follower destroys the master as the master destroys the follower. The guru destroys the pupil as the pupil destroys the guru. Through authority you will never find anything. You must be free of authority to find reality . J Krishnamurti I have no teaching. There is nothing to preserve. Teaching implies something that can be used to bring about change. Sorry, there is no teaching here, just disjointed, disconnected sentences. What is there is only your interpretation, nothing else. For this reason there is not now nor will there ever be any kind of copyright for whatever i am saying. I have no claims. U G Krishnamurti A leader is best when people barely know he exists…He acts without unnecessary speech, and when the work is done the people say: ‘We did it ourselves.’ Lao Tzu B Word play With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 12), while the inclusion of words like ‘keema’ and ‘gobi’ in Scrabble may have come as a shock to language purists, they should not press the panic button. Language is like a flowing river that collects other streams on its way. Our English newspapers are full of such words and this has only enlivened the language. Not only that, we have changed language use with the way we SMS and adopted the HobsonJobson Dictionary. The Scrabble lexicon will add to the linguistic sharpness of players. Samuel Johnson would’ve been happy to welcome ‘aloo’ in the English dictionary. K R Deshpande, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 Our age knows nothing but reaction, and leaps from one extreme to another. REINHOLD NIEBUHR, American philosopher A Question Of Authority Post-Abbottabad, a major rebalancing of Pakistan’s civil-military relations is in order Ramesh Thakur Missing The Point Karnataka governor should quit making fatuous demands and focus on his job hief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s parading 114 of his MLAs – with more letters of support – in Delhi was a show of strength which gave the lie to Karnataka governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj’s call for President’s rule. Bhardwaj’s recommendation just doesn’t add up, despite his relying on numbers in the assembly and a Supreme Court ruling. Neither leads to the governor’s conclusions which not only devalue his judgment but also raise suspicions about his ability to act in the non-partisan manner expected of a governor. Unfortunately real problems of governance which threaten the future of the state have been ignored thanks to Bhardwaj’s fatuous and repeated insistence on imposing President’s rule. He did so last year but this time around his recommendation’s been prompted by the Supreme Court reversing the Karnataka high court’s decision last year to disqualify 11 rebel BJP MLAs and five in dependents. The rebellion reduced Yeddyurappa’s government to a minority in the 225-member assembly, but simultaneously the rebel MLAs were also disqualified. Hence, though Bhardwaj ordered a floor test, Yeddyurappa won it with 106 votes for and 100 against. Now that the rebel MLAs have been reinstated, Bhardwaj claims they’re not BJP. Hence the assertion Yeddyurappa’s running a minority government. But that’s ignoring the facts. Ten of the rebels have returned to the fold and the BJP still maintains the lead. Corruption, nepotism and abuse of power are rampant in Karnataka under Yeddyurappa’s administration. But these do not amount to the sort of constitutional breakdown that would justify President’s rule. India is a federal country , which has served it in good stead. It is best kept this way Justice R S Sarkaria’s . 1987 report noted the vague wording of Article 356 – which allows the president to dismiss a state government – and recommended it be used as a last measure, when all available alternatives had failed to rectify or prevent the breakdown of the state’s constitutional machinery . Besides, the Centre could embarrass itself severely in legal and constitutional terms if it moves ahead on Bhardwaj’s recommendations. Any dismissal of the Karnataka government is likely to get shot down in a court of law. The Supreme Court judgment in the Bommai case stated that a government’s strength must be tested on the floor of the House before a governor can recommend dismissal. It isn’t befitting for the governor to play politics with Karnataka’s future. Doing so, in fact, helps obscure the corruption issue and make Yeddyurappa seem like a victim, from which the BJP is trying to reap maximum advantage. P C akistan is effectively under the thumb of a highly Islamicised military-intelligence complex. Aatish Taseer, son of the slain governor of Punjab, writes that following Osama bin Laden’s killing, “we now have the clearest view of our enemy’s other face. And it is not that of a bearded jihadi but of a serving officer in the Pakistani army”. In Pakistan, the military owns the state. Bin Laden’s death opens a window of opportunity to make this a transformative moment for normalising Pakistan with a reduced army under firm civilian control. The fate of South and Southwest Asia may hinge on success in this agenda. More, international terrorism will not be defeated without a major rebalancing of Pakistan’s civil-military relations as the key to demilitarising and deradicalising the country This requires a divest. ment of western aid and attention from the military establishment towards robust civilian institutions. This will not be easy Pakis. tan may be a weak and failing country but its capacity to resist , US pressure is surprisingly strong, not the least by threatening to put a nuclear-tipped gun to its own head. When US President Barack Obama insisted that bin Laden must have had a support network inside Pakistan and demanded an investigation into possible state complicity , Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told parliament that allegations of complicity and incompetence were absurd. But an investigation will be conducted. Unease at his extrajudicial killing notwithstanding, bin Laden’s death is a blessed relief on multiple counts. I have little difficulty in containing my disappointment at the failure to capture and put him on trial. Objectively he was long past , constituting a grave security threat to anyone and, with the Arab spring in full bloom, history was already passing him by even in the Arab and Islamic world. In Brendan O’Neill’s metaphor, for many years now bin Laden “has been the radical Kayani supporters in Karachi: Not democracy’s poster boy The long-term solution is to break the stranglehold of the military-intelligence complex on Pakistani politics, economy and society by consolidating the institutions of democracy and good governance Islamist equivalent of an ageing rock star – living off past hits and releasing the occasional crap audio recording to satisfy his fans”. Yet there is no denying the cathartic impact of his death on the hitherto unsated thirst for vengeance and the need for emotional closure by the Americans. And without that, in turn, the world had no prospect whatsoever of returning to any semblance of normalcy . Another beneficial consequence may be that it will drive a stake through the heart of Pakistan’s double dealings, deceit and betrayals. It is inconceivable that, given the location, size, boundary walls, videosurveillance equipment and the like, Pakistan’s security authorities did not know that bin Laden was living in the Abbottabad mansion. On the balance of probability he was more likely , under their protection in an ISI safe house. It is just as inconceivable that, for all their operational brilliance and technical wizardry, the Americans would have risked, or could have carried out, that long an operation so deep inside Pakistan, in close proximity to sensitive military institutions, without the advance knowledge of key Pakistani authorities. On the other hand, it is entirely credible that the civilian government – including the president and prime minister – would have been kept out of the loop on both the first and second counts. The third inconceivable conjecture is that, given the known sympathies and ties of the Pakistani security services to the jihadists, the Americans would have risked giving out any information that could compromise their mission. The truth thus lies somewhere between this triangulating set of inconceivable propositions being peddled by Pakistan and the US in order to avoid pointing the finger of criminality at Washington’s chief partner in the AfPak battle space. This way, in public, bin Laden’s blood is on US hands, and only theirs. That is, in effect bin Laden was betrayed by his protectors but, to avoid a terrorist and public backlash, Washington and Islamabad will cooperate in purveying the fiction that this was a unilateral US operation. The fleeting humiliation is a lesser cost than admitting to an act of treachery towards a protected guest of the highest value. But why would Washington play along with such a charade? First, because the war on terror in general and the war in Afghanistan in particular will be won or lost not in the rugged mountains and scenic valleys of Afghanistan but in the teeming streets and bazaars and military cantonments of Pakistan. And, second, because Pakistan is the only country where the highend risks of terrorism, jihadism and nuclear weapons come together in a terrifying cocktail. But in privileging shortterm expediency in tackling this threat, the US has mostly fed the very monster that is the root of the pathology The . crux of the problem is the nature of the Pakistani state. Its capture by the military-intelligence complex is the cause of Pakistan’s dysfunctionality . The best and only long-term solution is to break the stranglehold of the military-intelligence complex on Pakistani politics, economy and society by establishing civilian control over the military and consolidating the institutions of democracy and good governance. The writer is professor of international relations, Australian National University. Celebs Beware Sharing doesn’t always mean caring espite its cheery facade facilitating exchanges about people’s news, views and shoes, the world of Twitter has a dark side too – for its celebrity adherents. A recent study finds too much tweeting by Hollywood icons and rock stars leads to them ‘losing their sex appeal’. Inundated by information regarding their breakfast cereal, pop-philosophy or looks – take for instance Demi Moore musing online about her hairstyle (“Digging soft curls with a side part. A good change from straight with a middle part?”) – fans get turned off by some of the most attractive people in the real and virtual worlds. Axing your sex appeal with TMI (Too Much Information) isn’t the only upsetting thing about baring it all in public. As Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently found, familiarity breeds contempt. A cheeky chapter of the star’s fans tweeted hints he might have become a tad fat. Responding with alacrity, India’s riposte to Sly Stallone posted pictures looking like the Incredible Hulk. The shot clearly hit home though and the star signed off saying, ‘Chup’. From hulks to sulks is a short leap. Battling sarcasm about the time he spends tweeting (mentioning long drives, memorable meals and friendly TV anchors), Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah first got pouty, disappeared briefly from online conversations, then reappeared saying, “I just got fed up of hearing that because i make time to tweet i’m not working.” He added, though, “I’m not planning to disappear.” Clearly neither Abdullah nor Sushma Swaraj, who recently posted “As a family we never even touch egg. That’s our family tradition’’, has heard of that study we mentioned. Maybe it isn’t big enough online yet. ‘We sought equality and realised it’s good for the economy too’ Norway’s deputy foreign minister Espen Barth Eide visited New Delhi recently and spoke with Deep K Datta-Ray: I Why is a country on the edge of Europe interested in developing a strategic dialogue with India? India’s a growing player and shares our vision and values. These are universal values which is why they’re in place here and in demand in the Middle East. They’re rebelling, not for what al-Qaida hoped, but against authoritarian capitalism and for values we believe in. To reinforce these is why we want dialogue with you on global issues because what’s at stake is the future architecture of the world. We’ve both got strong and shared commitments – the United Nations and managing the global commons are two. On the UN, India is showing a remarkable shift towards a multilateral framework. Resolution 1970 referred Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court. This is significant because India did not sign up for the ICC. It’s a sign of your broadening commitment to an international regulatory system. Meanwhile, India’s abstaining on resolution 1973 should be interpreted as seeking the middle ground. I Do you agree with the commonplace argument that India lacks strategic thought? Not at all. It’s there, which is why India acts how it does but it’s not written. We’re interested in the thinking behind Indian actions, which is why we’re fostering a strategic dialogue with the relevant ministries and wider society. We’re interested in how India handles and responds to the global changes taking place. The US doesn’t organise the international system. This has also meant that the comfort of building a strong state. The focus on realising this is welcome, but simultaneously engaging internationally and beyond NAM would help maintain order and help get the India project right too. In Europe, for instance, we built strong multilateral forums while growing economically. Economic growth cannot be sustained without regional institutional mechanisms. They’re absent here. I Is Europe, and Norway particularly really an exam, ple for India? After all, you’re not in the EU, and isn’t your economic growth thanks to your oil? No one can really stay out of the European integration project, being a full member or a close partner of the EU is only a question of degree. We’re in the Schengen area, in the common market, in other agreements and nearly in others. Adopting a wider view, a 100 years ago we were poor. The change economically and in social terms – we have unprecedented equality – was due to social democracy not , oil. Of all the Nordic social democracies, only we have oil, but we’re all similar economically and socially Our model . emphasised the pooling of all resources since the 1930s to manage external shocks. Within our society we sought equal rights as an end, but realised they also free labour and are very good macro economically . This could be an analogy for the EU. The various states pool together to realise social and economic goals. It’s also a very flexible and adaptable model, robust to change because underpinning it are the twin ideas of tolerance and accommodation. They help build resilience and need not only be limited to within a country but also between countries at a regional level to start with. D Q&A old alignments has dissolved. NAM isn’t meaningful anymore. I Wasn’t NAM simply a function of India creating a strategic space for itself, something India continues to do today? Yes. The point is that NAM is less relevant today than it was in a bipolar world. The question is, what’s key to the India project? They’re inclusive growth and Didi and Goliath After beating the giant Left, Mamata might face the even bigger foe of hope belied Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT People have given me good rest Hope Mamata Banerjee will not prevent me from entering West Bengal. I’m not a factor in elections. The CPM’s defeat has proved it – TASLIMA NASREEN, writer, on the Trinamool victory in West Bengal The macho hero seems to have vanished…I am consciously trying to get macho men back What did David do after he beat Goliath and became king? Few seem to know, or care. That’s the thing with giant-killers: their sole job is giant-killing; having killed their giant, pretty much everything else they do will seem like an anti-climax. Will this be the fate of Mamata Banerjee, who felled the seemingly invincible Goliath of the Left? Trinamool spokesperson Derek O’Brien came up with a catchy quote soon after his party won: ‘A traffic light which has been on red for 34 years has now changed to green.’ Green is Trinamool’s colour; it is also the colour of the ‘Go’ sign on traffic lights and the colour of progress. Bengal badly needs progress. It reportedly has a crushing debt of some . 1.92 ` lakh crore. Leave alone undertake any badly-needed and employment-generating public works projects, the state is barely in a position to pay its employees’ wages. How is Bengal to be revived? That’s the sobering question facing Team Mamata and all those who voted for ‘poribartan’, for change. So great was the disillusionment with the Left, particularly after the tragic farce of Singur and Nandigram – where the one-time architects of Operation Barga, arguably independent India’s most effective land reform movement, became dishonest brokers favouring land-hungry industry at the expense of farmers – that Bengal’s vote was largely a negative vote: anti-communist, rather than pro-Mamata. This is not to detract from Didi’s enormous popular appeal, with her promise of poribartan and her slogan of ‘Maa, maati, manush’, Motherhood, land, humanity. Like the Trinamool’s election symbol of budding plants, the slogan is a poetic evocation of hope, of new beginnings. It has a great deal of EQ, or emotional quotient, but little, if anything, of what might be called PQ, or practical quotient. How is the social and economic fabric of Bengal, tattered almost beyond salvage by the Left’s misadventurism, to be rewoven and made whole again? In an interview with the TOI, shortly after her victorious election, Mamata underscored Bengal’s urgent need for large-scale industrial investment and denied a conflict between the interests of farmers and the priorities of industry. What needs to be done, she emphasised, as many others have, is to ensure that agriculturists who give over their land receive a fair deal, not just in terms of cash compensation but also, and equally importantly , are assured of alternative and acceptable forms of future livelihood. Indeed, the proposed land acquisition law currently being worked out in New Delhi seeks to address similar issues. Practical issues, which need the patience and the perseverance to deal with practical details. Mamata’s appeal, at least so far, has been based on the immediacy of the emotional. Like Barack Obama’s ‘Yes, we can!’ her ‘poribartan’ has proved to be a rousing war cry leading to the defeat of an oppressive adversary But as Obama and his follow. ers have seen, the euphoria of victory on the emotional promise of change is short-lived. Till he got a bonus boost with the elimination of Osama bin Laden, Obama’s ratings had dropped to a dismal low on popular disaffection fuelled by the persistent unemployment figures in the US and the continuing entanglement in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘Yes, we can!’ and ‘poribartan’ evoke an irresistible emotional response. But the adrenalin high of that same emotional response is susceptible of turning into its opposite, which is bitter disappointment. The higher the hopes raised, the deeper can be the disappointment when these hopes are not swiftly realised. The most formidable foe of giant-killers is not Goliath; it’s the even bigger giant of belied hopes that they could face after they’ve beaten Goliath. Fingers crossed that that’s a return bout Didi doesn’t have to fight. – M KARUNANIDHI, DMK president, after his party’s defeat in the Tamil Nadu polls – SALMAN KHAN, actor, on heroes in Bollywood films I SACRED S PAC E What You Speak I Of Loneliness And Conflicts physics, a force is both a photon particle and a light wave; an atomic particle is in two places was rejected as a child. I want to feel at the same time. There are only continua or loved but i do not know how to find love continuums, only complementary forces. and end my loneliness.” Or, “I am torn What is the time? I ask: Where? Right now, between two opposites and do not know who is it night or day? The answer is: It is both. to turn to or what to do.” Here it is day in America it is night, or vice , On loneliness: There are those who have set versa. A philosopher cannot be partial to one an example with their lives; they had felt re- hemisphere (of the earth or of the brain). jected, lonely, unloved, and are today the most That is how you have it both ways. widely loved individuals with tremendous Yoga masters often present disciples with satisfaction in their lives. How did they do it? contradictory choices in practical life and Learn to give love, instead of asking for it. the disciple has to develop the spiritual Stop being self-centred; cry no longer words skill to resolve apparent contradictions, and such as “I was rejected”, “I am unloved”, “I reach samadhana, a resolving, bringing am lonely”. When you do this, you are re- together the apparent conflicting factors enforcing these thoughts. People see and parts, and thereby arrive at a you and move away because they are holistic reality . afraid of what you might demand. Find the positive concealed in Have no fear in giving; trust in the negative, free the mind of being yourself. Ask when was the last time in conflict. By learning to resolve you were at a potluck party and conflicts, decondition the mind of filled a plate for someone? Or, its conditioning. Lift it from habit stood in line and volunteered patterns, free it from running in THE your spot to another? Or, saw set grooves, and thereby develop I SPEAKING I someone feeling cold and put fresh insights of positive nature your shawl around her? Or, saw into relationships, communicaTREE someone feeling lonely and gave tion and events as well as philoher a truly undemanding smile? Or, knowing sophical realities and truths. Liberate the that someone is sick but alone, offered to look mind and consciousness from what Vedanta after him, without expecting thanks? calls upadhis. Loving and not expecting something is The riddles in the Vedas, ulat-baansiyaan the secret of being loved. But, avoid clinging of Kabir, are part of the same liberating and resist the temptation of wanting to pour systems. So also is the vast repertoire of koans. out your own story Think of similar selfless A koan forces one to come out of set grooves, . ways of loving, without fear of rejection. mental habits and dichotomous conditionEven before you begin to feel that you are ings. For example, the well-known koan: What is the sound of one hand clapping? being loved, you will begin to feel a sense of Between two opposites there is a third satisfaction because you have been selfless. On conflicts: When faced with two oppo- option lurking, much like the way Hegel’s sites, have both; you will become a bipolar thesis and antithesis produce a synthesis. Do magnet. There are no conflicting forces in the not suffer loneliness; enjoy solitude and learn universe. All is complementary. In quantum to decondition your mind. Talk: Swami Veda Bharati I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX SECOND OPINION Words can confer strength; they can drain it off. Words can help gain friends; they can turn them into enemies. Words can elevate or lower the individual. One must learn the habit of making one’s words sweet, soft, and pleasant. Atharva Veda Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity…Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. Gautama Buddha Speak soft and sweet; sympathise with suffering and loss and ignorance, try your best to apply the salve of soothing words and timely succour. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa “I Adding fuel to ire With reference to the editorial ‘Think Decontrol’ (May 17), the finance minister ascribing the significant petrol price hike to the decision of oil marketing companies is too facile to convince even a schoolchild. Lamentably, he’s still on election-speak. Left to the state-owned oil companies, they would have surely raised prices earlier. As for fuel subsidy, is the government’s will, rather whim, enough to denude the taxpayer’s pocket? The truth concerns not financial losses but loss of votes. Looming large is another escalation in cooking gas, diesel and kerosene prices to adversely affect everybody. Not to reduce petrol prices before and during elections amounts to ‘insider trading’, that too with the ultimate currency – people’s votes. Tapan Chatterjee, VIA EMAIL It has been observed that a large part of petrol price (approximately 40% to 50%) comprises excise duty and other taxes. Why can’t the government reduce these taxes? It can let go of a certain portion of the revenue that supposedly comes from tax collections for the benefit of the common man. If proceeds are used sincerely, the government can accomplish a lot of developmental work even with reduced revenues. Besides, if the UPA regime could splurge crores of rupees on the Commonwealth Games, where funds were grossly misused, and if it could turn a blind eye to the underpriced sale of 2G spectrum, why can’t it reduce taxes on petrol and diesel? Amit Kuryan, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
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[email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 20 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY D SUBBARAO, RBI governor OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011 I You cannot get high growth by tolerating high inflation. No Citizen Is Safe The government’s penchant for wiretapping is undermining India’s democratic values Richard Evans Fighting Fit Battling inflation means more reform, not less espite growth pegged at over 8%, India’s economy needs as much careful handling now as during the post-2008 slowdown. Curbing headline inflation must be top priority mandating a multi-pronged strategy The , . UPA must stop pussyfooting, not least because price rise has joined corruption in the list of major public grievances against it. True, inflation moderated in April to 8.66%, but that’s far above RBI’s 4.5% medium-term target. More, the figure may hit double-digits when petrol price increase and an expected diesel price hike make commodities, transport and inputs for industry dearer. RBI’s recent interest rate hikes, though hawkish, didn’t provoke many howls. There’s growing realisation that battling price rise isn’t at the cost of economic expansion. Rather, protracted high inflation is itself menacing growth. In fighting inflation, conventional wisdom advocates price-fixing for fuel. But global trends mandate decontrol despite a near-term inflationary impact, which too can be managed by cutting taxes on fuel. Price-fixing simply means deferring the shock for later, at which point it is bound to hit harder. All of this mandates more, not less, reform. Inflation being both demand and supply driven, government’s action is as crucial as RBI’s. Fuel price deregulation must go on, the eventual aim being to push private retail as a means of lowering prices via competition. More immediately, there’s no arguing against trimming heavy taxes on fuel to contain the inflationary impact of rising prices. More so, since decontrol means fiscal relief, reducing a subsidy threatening to jump the earmarked sum for the fiscal year by almost four times. Instead of relying on taxing fuel, revenues should be mobilised with accelerated disinvestment and sector-specific reform attracting private funds. Unnecessary government expenditure too can be trimmed for the sake of fiscal rectitude. The RBI sees food inflation as acquiring a systemic nature. With India’s growing food needs, rural skills, farm productivity and choice-based delivery systems must match up. Massive overhaul of agriculture and wasteful, corruption-ridden distribution networks is needed to avoid recurring food crises. While boosting investment, retail and marketing reform will help eradicate the costs and inefficiencies of having a plethora of intermediaries and traders in the commodities market, with their baneful fallout on denuded farmers’ incomes and high shop prices. Funds are required for crucial tasks such as making agriculture technology-based, building farm-to-fork infrastructure, boosting irrigation-linked innovation or promoting research in genetically modified foods. As industry voices point out, structural reforms geared to dismantling supply-side impediments must accompany monetary tightening aimed at raising borrowing costs. Else, all we’ll do is tranquillise growth without beating inflation, bringing India’s growth story to an end. Is that what the government wants, and does the UPA think it can fetch votes this way? D aving recently visited New Delhi after some years away i was be, mused to witness the storm of controversy surrounding the leaking of taped telephone conversations at the centre of the ‘Cablegate’ or ‘Radiagate’ affair. It was everywhere – on television, in the papers and it dominated conversations in restaurants and cafes. Journalists and business people alike spoke of their fear of wiretapping. They said they no longer discuss important matters on the telephone. They talk in code and arrange private meetings at undisclosed locations. Many don’t even trust email. There is talk of secret email accounts, techniques for evading detection and even writing important messages in French or Chinese. The leaking of telephone conversations between Niira Radia and others embarrassed industrialists, politicians and journalists. Everyone zoomed in on who said what to whom and when. But these issues appear largely irrelevant. What is most worrying is that government ministers can authorise wiretaps and prolonged surveillance in India without any real evidence, a court order or even a signed scrap of paper from a judge. This threatens the privacy and free speech of everyone in India. The original pretext for authorising the wiretaps appears H absurd: that Radia acted as an agent of a foreign government or she was trying to cheat the taxman. Nearly three years into this sorry saga, no foreign agents have been caught and no tax cheats charged or convicted. There’s a legal term for when authorities listen to phone conversations to catch private citizens at something for which there is no prima facie evidence. It’s called entrapment, and it is unlawful in any democracy worthy of the name. We’ve seen this kind of thing before. Remember Watergate? Or President Bush’s insistence that the US Congress pass laws known as the Patriot Act which Just who is listening in? What kind of country does India want to become? A capitalist oligarchy that spies on its citizens? Or something far better? allowed the FBI to follow or wiretap anyone they wanted following the 9/11 attacks? This kind of dark crusade is always about justifying the loss of civil liberties in order to catch wrongdoers. It’s never worth it. I remember my first trip to New Delhi back in the terrible autumn of 1984, when i covered the chaotic aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Right away there was evidence that , hundreds, perhaps thousands of Sikhs, were being murdered in revenge attacks, despite police assurances that the numbers were far lower. With the country in a virtual state of emergency i set up shop in the Imperial Hotel and the Press Club of India and sent my dispatches down open phone lines to London. To my knowledge, my phones were never tapped. I was never followed or harassed, even though what i broadcast and wrote was deeply critical of the authorities. My work was never interfered with. I felt completely free to work as a journalist in India and it impressed me deeply . A few years later, in Pakistan, i experienced the exact opposite. Then covering the Afghan-Soviet war for the BBC, i sat in my hotel room in Peshawar talking on the telephone with a mujahideen commander whom i was planning to travel with into Afghanistan. There were so many ISI spies listening and talking in the background that i couldn’t make out what my mujahideen contact was saying. It was a surreal experience, both frightening and farcical. The essential question is: what kind of country does India want to become? A capitalist oligarchy that spies on its citizens? Or something far better? We do live in a dangerous age when covert surveillance is needed to thwart terrorist plots and to bring fanatics, gangsters, drug dealers and arms smugglers to justice. These are existential threats to the state. But to spy on citizens or businesses with no record of criminal behaviour? Ridiculous. This behaviour is not tolerated in most democracies, at least not for long. Nixon was driven from office because of Watergate and Bush became the most unpopular president in a century More recently when . , Britain’s News of the World was caught wiretapping public figures, two journalists went to jail, one lost his job at Number 10 Downing Street and the newspaper has already paid out £1.7 million to settle lawsuits. Yet in India, the police, government, opposition parties and the courts all stood idly by while the ‘Radia tapes’ were unlawfully leaked and disseminated. Seven or eight agencies in India appear to have the authority to conduct covert investigations without judicial oversight. Ministers promise to rein them in and introduce reforms, but that is difficult to believe. The very way in which these tapes were leaked shows that money was changing hands and that no one can be trusted with such explosive material. Allegations are almost impossible to refute once lodged. The accused are convicted by public opinion before they ever enter a courtroom. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a man who has known firsthand the pain of injustice. A long-time champion of reform, he has the moral authority to act decisively and end the Stasilike tactics that violate every citizen’s rights. It’s time for him to lead the way . The writer is a journalist. Muslim parties make significant inroads in Kerala and Assam UP’s Land Wars Land Acquisition Bill need of the hour potlighted by Rahul Gandhi’s high-profile visit, the agitation against land acquisition in Bhatta and Parsaul villages of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is symptomatic of a pan-India problem. From Niyamgiri in Orissa to Raigad in Maharashtra, state governments spanning the political spectrum are involved in controversial land acquisitions. At the heart of the problem is the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Section 17(1) or the urgency clause of the law allows the government to acquire land for a variety of “public purposes” such as building public infrastructure, rural and urban planning etc. Invoking the clause suspends Section 5-A of the law, which allows landowners to express their objections against the acquisition. It is this loophole that is being exploited by various state governments to acquire land without obtaining consent of land holders. Controversial land acquisitions are also being exploited by politicians of various hues, as they home in looking for an issue. Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of mass murder and rape in UP appear to have been exaggerated, with pending assembly elections in the state accounting for the shrill pitch. Nevertheless, charges of police atrocities against hapless villagers resisting land acquisition deserve to be investigated seriously. And the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill that would overturn the 1894 Act and provide, instead, a market-linked mechanism for such acquisition, may be the single most important piece of legislation that’s hanging fire in Parliament. It needs to be passed without further delay. Land-related woes severely impact the investment and growth climate. Instead of trying to score political points ahead of the UP assembly elections, a transparent and fair mechanism for land acquisition needs to be the agenda. Just part of electoral dynamics ccording to reports, the drift by the Muslim community towards religious outfits in some states – Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front in Assam and the Muslim League in Kerala – was so comprehensive that both parties have become important players in their respective state assemblies. Given the sensitivity of any issue to do with the nexus of religion and politics, it isn’t surprising that this development is being viewed I T I with some concern. Abusaleh Shariff, one of the authors of the Sachar committee report, has sounded the alarm over this trend. But at the end of the day , too much is being read into it. Bear in mind that an election is, essentially a marketplace. The rules of supply , and demand apply If you do not offer the . product that the customer wants – or if you offer a product that is known to be defective – he will look elsewhere. If ethnic groups do not find enough representation within mainstream parties, ethnic parties might come up promising to cater to their demands. But eventually ethnic parties will have to form coalitions with It’s an alarming trend mbedded in the electoral success of outfits like Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF in Assam and the Muslim League in Kerala is the dangerous trend of communalism raising its head again in Indian politics. It is too simplistic to dismiss the rise of these narrow religion-based parties as part and parcel of India’s demonority population was concentrated. The present trend is on similar lines, as these fringe parties have done well in regions where minority populations are concentrated. A party like AIUDF, which made its debut in the 2006 assembly elections with 10 seats, has increased its tally to 18 this time, catapulting it into the position of the second largest party in Assam. Its success is based on a narrow agenda of the welfare of I COUNTERVIEW I immigrant Muslim settlers. Likewise, in Kerala, Ajay Vaishnav cratic process. On the the Muslim League won 20 out of 24 seats contrary, their success in minority-dominated constituencies. doesn’t augur well for The rise of ‘Muslims-for-Muslimthe Union. It may lead parties’ will polarise the polity and to increased fissipa- vitiate the atmosphere. At this stage, rous tendencies. when India is poised for fast economic Let’s not forget that growth, the country cannot afford the communal politics has tormented India growth of communal parties with their on numerous occasions. In the past, it cre- narrow self-serving agendas. The point ated havoc in the form of partition of the can be broadened to state that identity subcontinent on religious lines. India had politics of any kind is pernicious. India to be partitioned because of fears planted has a secular Constitution, and only in the minds of the minority community secular parties should be permitted to by the Muslim League. Moreover, the operate. That’s the best way for India to League succeeded in areas where the mi- keep the scourge of communalism at bay . A S bigger parties and/or accommodate their interests if they are to grow. Likewise, mainstream parties will also realise there’s an unmet constituency and try to cater to its interests. This is not very much different from what is happening in other parts of the country . Mayawati’s power base, for instance, is the UP E M E S V I E WI dalit community just , as there are politicians banking on the Jat or Yadav or any of a hundred other vote banks. And mainstream politicians like Nitish Kumar or Mamata Banerjee have shown that by offering a quality product, it is perfectly possible to win over voters who may have otherwise chosen community leaders. The so-called polarisation in Assam and Kerala will last precisely until the mainstream parties there take a leaf from Nitish’s book. Googly on the Hooghly Must Didi clean bowl the past to turn Oh Kolkata into Ah Kolkata? Bachi Karkaria SNAP JUDGMENT Rule Of Law he sentencing of BSP MLA and former minister Anand Sen to life, for kidnapping and killing a dalit woman, does credit to Mayawati. Her enforcing the rule of law in this case bodes well for the state. Nor is this an aberration. Shekhar Tiwari is behind bars as is Amarmani Tripathi – both of whom are, or were, BSP men who committed heinous crimes. Shopaholics, Confess Calling ET rench scientists could have found a planet outside our solar system able to support earth-like life. ‘Gliese 581d’ revolves around a dwarf star, Gliese 581, orbiting in its ‘Goldilocks zone’ where conditions are just right for water to exist in liquid form. The downside – a spaceship travelling at light’s speed would take 20 years to get there. But, hey, a couple of centuries later we might have the technology. I T F We’re still waiting to exhale. Kolkata’s traffic lights turned from red to green with dramatic force, but everyone still waits with bated breath. Will Didi’s promised ‘Poriborton’ bring the city up to speed, or will it still be stuck in the same snarl? What’s her new revolutionary road? Raj Calcutta was as different from Marxist Kolkata as a sandesh is from cheese-cake. You can be sure that both will be changed ruthlessly by La Belle Dame Sans Mamata. The new CM has to stand for both common man and corporate manna, as mutually exclusive as land for tillers and land for Tatas. Truly i don’t know , which is worse, Kolkata finding its feet but losing its elevated soul, or Kolkata remaining down at heel but declaiming, debating and quoting Descartes as it descends completely into a civic hell. What i do know is that Kolkata III will be different from its previous avatars. Both had to go, but both had their glories while they lasted, and together they created a breed of natives who looked down on everyone else. With good reason. The contrasting two strands of their DNA have made the Bengalis unique. And this also accounts for the large number of Hon Bongs elbowing our wannabe way into this Unique Intellectual Identity . John Company’s sun had shone here with greater intensity and the stars , of its night life sparkled more brightly in White Town and in the palaces of , Brown princes alike. So naturally Calcutta relinquished the ghosts of the Raj more reluctantly and later than elsewhere. Right till the early ’60s, they continued to stride through the central business district, sip sundowners in the clubs, and, dressed like wolves in sharkskin suits, they shimmied in a mean quickstep at Prince’s in the Grand Hotel. Their children were initiated into Park Street’s successive rites of passage: the Sylvania birthday party cake from Flury’s, the tennis or elocution trophy celebration at Skyroom, the teenaged jam sessions at a Trinca’s set on fire by Usha still Iyer, and the first serious cheek-to-cheek slow dance at Blue Fox abetted by Pam Crain in her sequined sheath oozing sex appeal into the mike. Bombay had been merely Urbs Primus in Indis and Delhi was little more than the graveyard of dynasties, but Calcutta was Second City of Empire, preceded only by London itself. No wonder then, that nostalgia remained the only surviving industry when the flight of capital and load-shedding turned it into the City of Dreadful Night. When Raj-relic Cal was finally and violently driven out in 1967, the explod, , ing revolution brought its own white-knuckled exhilaration. The Black Marias hurtling down curfew-emptied streets and the crack of gunfire splitting the silence of our exam-swotting nights as the first United Front government got its bloodied birthing in 1967. Naxalbari stamped our psyche with Chairman Mao and then was stamped out as brutally as it stomped in. After 1977, we fell under the spell of Comrade Basu. The combination of revolutionary fire and iced lemonade on indolent club verandahs gave a distinctive aura to those of us baptised by a Calcutta always shortened to ‘Cal’ and a Kolkata which always had to be marched through its full length. When i went to live in Bombay i yearned as much for the roar of , slogans on the street as for the chocolate cornet at Flury’s. Flury’s stopped making this decadent confection a while ago, and now the lal has been stripped of its salaam. Didi may have little use for either of these, but all of us who were weaned on both these indulgences fervently hope that Kolkata III won’t entirely jettison its uniquely dual legacy . * ** Alec Smart said: “The IMF chief must now handle his biggest meltdown. It was caused by his own runaway inflation.” or men out there who can’t stop complaining about how much women shop, here’s food for thought. A recent survey finds that on average, men spend more than women over purchases. What’s more, men go for fairly low-end goodies – food, beer and DVDs topping their shopping lists – while women seek higher-brow items, like books, magazines and clothes. Clearly, all that groaning about going shopping is just so much drama. F I SACRED S PAC E I To Persevere And Let Go They could meet with limited success, often hitting roadblocks which seem insurmountable erseverance and letting go are both or which drain away tremendous amounts of positive qualities that we all possess. time, energy and money. The human mind and However, despite their being life-enhanc- the ego are such that giving credit does not ing qualities, these are often complementary come easily. This is not only true where other and even antagonistic to each other, and need people are concerned, but our mind and ego to be employed in sequence, and at the right often do not even want to acknowledge the time, rather than in isolation for us to achieve Power that runs the universe, day in and day success, peace and harmony . out, without exception. Not wanting to give ‘Try, try till you succeed’ is something we’ve credit to God, destiny or fate, and wanting to all been taught in school. Success is 99% perspi- corner all the praise is one reason why people ration and 1% inspiration, we’re told, to high- find it difficult to let go and trust. light the importance of hard work. And work we Hard work and perseverance are absolutely must, for that is the very nature of life. Karma necessary, doubtless. But somewhere along the Yoga, as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita course, after having exhausted all by Krishna speaks highly of work as a human possibilities, one must learn to form of worship. Swami Vivekananda sit back, be detached from the outcome persuaded his followers to work ceaseof our efforts, and hand over our lessly till the goal is reached. endeavours to a higher power. How and when to do this is purely an intuitive or Success is determined by a combiinstinctive phenomenon. When we nation of factors. Hard work is only sincerely let go, not out of laziness, one of them. Besides hard work, we THE complacency and lethargy but after also need talent, inspiration, creativity, luck and destiny. While most of SPEAKING having done our very best, it is then that the process of life shifts to us work hard, true success and joy TREE another plane, with the unseen hand come only to some, while most others have to remain content with whatever they get. coming into play. And the power or destiny This brings us to the relationship between works in myriad ways. A chance meeting, someperseverance and letting go. Perseverance is thing overheard or read in the newspapers, the quality of sticking to one’s job and to one’s the stirring of a memory, a different thought goals, come what may Letting go, on the other process, sudden release of funds that had dried . hand, is exactly the opposite. It consists of put- up – something is likely to happen, which would ting one’s faith and trust in a higher power, put our work and project back on track. When success becomes palpable, it is whether we call it God or destiny waiting , patiently for results. While these two qualities important to remember and acknowledge may seem to be opposites they are, in fact, not and give thanks to existence, without proudly proclaiming that everything was achieved so; they are complementary to each other. Every venture, dream and project needs only by our own perseverance.
[email protected] divine grace for its successful completion. www.speakingtree.in Those who decline to believe in the power of the unknown are likely to continue struggling and Join the world’s first spiritual networking will have to depend solely on their own efforts. site to interact directly with masters and seekers. P V Vaidyanathan E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Live In The Present Do not dwell in the past, do not dwell in the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Gautama Buddha There is neither past nor future. There is only the present. Yesterday was the present to you when you experienced it, and tomorrow will be also the present when you experience it. Ramana Maharshi We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment. Chanakya We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act. Swami Vivekananda Eye on Kabul With reference to the editorial ‘Kabul Calling’ (May 10), the war against the Taliban-led insurgency is far from over, even if Osama bin Laden is no more. In any case, the war against terrorism has now entered a decisive phase. The objective for Kabul should be to prepare the Afghan national army to assume greater responsibility. To allow Pakistan to gain a strategic foothold in Afghanistan would be detrimental to India’s security. It could allow Islamabad to exert more pressure related to the Kashmir issue. Besides helping Afghanistan with infrastructure projects, India must do its best to train the Afghan army and police personnel. Ultimately, they will be the custodians of the country after Nato’s exit. Gregory Fernandes, MUMBAI P ERRA TICA DMK’s downfall With reference to the editorial ‘Family Drama’ (May 16), the defeat of the DMK-Congress combine in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls was a forgone conclusion. But its total decimation came as a surprise to many. This ignominious defeat shows the anger of the people against the DMK regime and its ally, both perceived as corrupt. People’s desire to free themselves from the stranglehold of M Karunanidhi’s family was the main driving force behind the AIADMK’s landslide victory. Though Jayalalithaa should get the honours for the incumbent party’s rout, equally commendable are the efforts of the Election Commission which made it impossible for DMK leaders like Azhagiri to use money and muscle power to rig the elections. On its part, the Congress extended its patronage to the DMK regime by turning a blind eye to its misdeeds. V Venkatasubramanian, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/erratica 20 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011 The control of the intelligence agencies must be in the hands of the elected government. NAWAZ SHARIF, Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Towards An Effective Lokpal Anti-corruption ombudsman must strengthen, not weaken, the democratic system N K Singh Opportunity Knocks Abbottabad can be an occasion for Pakistani democracy to assert itself T wo statements coming out of Pakistan have made the fault line running through the country abundantly clear. On the one hand Nawaz Sharif, the country’s most important civilian leader outside the government, said it was imperative for his country to stop viewing India as its biggest enemy if it is to pull itself out of its current morass. On the other, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani told a group of journalists that the army would not give up control of the intelligence agencies or of the country’s foreign policy, particularly with regard to India, the US and Afghanistan. For all the angry talk of Pakistani duplicity in the war on terror coming from Congress and opinion-makers in Washington, Abbottabad’s real fallout is domestic. The mood among political circles is one of embarrassment and humiliation, leading to anti-military rumblings. In response, the army no doubt will – and has already started to – reach into its old bag of tricks. Thus, the attempts to shift the conversation from bin Laden’s presence to America’s violation of Pakistani sovereignty, provoking a nationalistic backlash – the perfect environment for the army to reassert itself as the only viable bulwark against such intrusions. It is a strategy that has worked well in the past to maintain an oppressive control over civilian institutions as well as to fire a warning shot across the US’s bows. So when Kayani says this time around that there should be more balance between foreign policy and public opinion and that this means a less proUS stance, the message he is sending to Washington is clear. But this time, matters cannot be allowed to take the same course. Abbottabad has given Pakistan’s elected government and civil society an opportunity to rein in the military. The US must back any such play It has poured $20 billion into Pakistan over the past decade, but . routed it through the military It’s time to let Pakistan’s elected government . control the purse strings. There’s no reason for the international community to fight shy of encouraging an Arab spring when it comes to Pakistan. As for New Delhi, it must stay out of the entire affair. Any chest-thumping would only be to the Pakistani army’s benefit, reinforcing threat perceptions from India. It must also hunker down for a hot summer in Kashmir, as the Pakistani military may be inclined to step up infiltration and aid to separatists as another distraction tactic. New Delhi should be able to leverage the loss of Pakistan’s soft power and attractiveness as an alternative model in the Valley given the chaos into which the country has been , sunk by its military’s dysfunctional policies. ll eyes are on the outcome of the meetings of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill, one scheduled next week. The overall aim is to finalise the legislation so that an effective institution can be put in place to deal with corruption in high places. Where the Lokpal’s ‘jurisdiction’ is concerned, the government Bill, 2010, is unacceptable for two crucial reasons. First, though it brings the prime minister under the Lokpal’s ambit, the Bill confines its jurisdiction only to complaints referred to it by the presiding officers of both houses of Parliament. Second, the Lokpal’s recommendations would be merely advisory, making the body toothless. Once the Lokpal enquires into an allegation, its recommendations should be binding. In a disturbing development, a round table deliberation organised on April 24 saw two distinguished former chief justices of India express the view that the judiciary and the prime minister be kept out of the Lokpal’s ambit. While the former may be debatable, keeping the latter out would be a retrograde step. Under the Jan Lokpal Bill, the Lokpal will have a vast jurisdiction covering – besides the prime minister, ministers and MPs – the higher judiciary and the entire administration and bureaucracy including , local bodies, corporations, etc. The point here is whether a Lokpal alone would be able to effectively deal with corruption A over such a vast area comprising politicians, judiciary bureau, cracy corporations, etc. Or will , it turn out to be a case of missing the trees (corruption in high places) for the wood (the entire vast administration)? Again, the Jan Lokpal Bill proposes to dismantle the Central Vigilance Commission, now a three-member body All its . posts would stand abolished and transferred to the Lokpal. The CVC Act – passed by Parliament only in 2003 to give effect to welldeliberated Supreme Court directions of December 18, 1997 in the Vineet Narain case – would stand repealed. The CVC was created in 1964 by Lal Bahadur Shastri on the basis of the Of big crusades and supercops Unfortunately, the civil society Bill seems based on distrust of our constitutional system, parliamentary and democratic processes and the political class as a whole recommendations of the K Santhanam-headed Committee on Prevention of Corruption. It was to deal with corruption among central government employees. Like many other institutions, it has not succeeded in doing so effectively and does need further reform and empowerment. But the CVC has a history of 47 years. So, why not let the Lokpal deal with corruption in high places – higher judiciary top , political functionaries and top bureaucracy such as, say, secretaries to the government and heads of departments? The rest could be left to a further empowered CVC, with a network of vigilance officers in the ministries. And what kind of monster body is the Jan Lokpal Bill proposing to create? Under it, the Lokpal would be unwieldy with 11 members and have powers to cancel licences, blacklist firms, order search, seizure and confiscation, etc, take suo motu notice of cases, investigate them and launch prosecutions. Besides having quasi-judicial powers, which it ought to possess, it would be vested with police powers and authority to award punishment, etc. This wide ambit has led to dissensions, with one panel member rightly calling the proposed body a ‘supercop’. There is now also a proposal to give the Lokpal phone-tapping authority. Unfortunately the civil so, ciety Bill seems based on distrust of our constitutional system, parliamentary and democratic processes and the political class as a whole. It is true that people are fed up with corruption. As during the fast undertaken by Anna Hazare, they are ready to take to the streets. We must wake up to these alarm bells. But all reforms, including the creation of the Lokpal, must aim at strengthening rather than weakening the democratic system. The Jan Lokpal Bill also proposes transferring the Special Police Establishment division of the CBI to the Lokpal, effectively making the rest of the investigative agency a defunct organisation. We all want an apolitical CBI and no political interference in its investigation of cases. The law of the land lays down as much. But the CBI is an investigative agency after all, and should not be completely separated from mainstream governance. In its work, it needs the cooperation of state governments, income tax authorities and, very often, foreign authorities. The round table attended by former chief justices M N Venkatachaliah and J S Verma was clearly of the view that the identity of the CVC and the CBI as separate organisations must be maintained. Powers to be bestowed to the Lokpal need to be rationalised, to achieve the right proportion. The legislation may provide that cases taken up by the CBI, on the basis of the findings of the Lokpal, will be monitored and controlled by it, in the manner the Supreme Court has been doing in select cases including the 2G spectrum matter. As also that the government will have nothing to do with the investigation of such cases. The CBI will perhaps need further safeguards against political interference in its investigations. The proposal in the Jan Lokpal Bill to do away with the single directive in the CVC Act, and to entrust the power to the Lokpal of sanction for prosecution, must be accepted. In view of its enlarged jurisdiction, covering politicians, the judiciary as well as the top bureaucracy the Lokpal ought , to be a body of five instead of three members (as proposed in the government Bill), one of whom should be from outside the judiciary. The writer is a former joint director, CBI. Leaky Bucket Social security schemes need a shaking up ‘Trinamool Congress is not against industry’ As the Mamata Banerjee-led coalition prepares to take over in West Bengal after 34 years of Left rule, Partha Chatterjee, the newly-elected deputy leader of the House, spoke to Saugata Roy: I How will the new government pursue industrialisation and address farmers’ concerns? Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that our party is not against industry. Industrial rejuvenation forms a major part of the Trinamool Congress manifesto. The problem earlier wasn’t with setting up industry but with the way the Left Front government forcibly acquired land from farmers. Some of it was multicrop land that the Left regime wasn’t even aware of. A survey on the character of land by the land and land reforms department is pending since the 1960s. The Santragachhi jheel (water body) that you see in Howrah now is still a ‘sali’ (dry) land in government records. The first thing we will do after taking charge is to undertake a comprehensive land survey. The next step is to publish a white paper on government-acquired land for industry lying vacant for more than three years. This is what has annoyed farmers. Bringing out a land map is among the new government’s priorities. Many industries can be accommodated in clusters, as experts have said. I What will happen to the 400 acres of land in Singur that Mamata had promised to return to farmers unwilling to part with land? I am confident Mamata will find a way out. When she went on an indefinite fast against the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, there weren’t too many who backed her. Rehabilitation of land losers and other stakeholders, improve transportation and revamp the storage and delivery mechanism. Look at the plight of the potato growers who entered into an agreement with Frito-Lay. They are being paid a pittance – Rs 1.50 a kg. Farmers have little choice because they can’t store potatoes on their own. These are the areas the new government wants to concentrate on, like setting up storage facilities on the public-private partnership model. I How does the coalition plan to tackle the problem of a party society and a partisan administration in all spheres including education? We are determined to end it. I can assure you vice-chancellors of the state universities won’t have to come to Trinamool Bhavan. This is one step to liberate education from the party hegemony. Other things will automatically follow because there is no dearth of talent in colleges and universities. We honour institutions. Our aim is to restore lost glory to the state’s education institutions. The new government wants state employees to work for the people righteously and independently. We won’t tolerate party politics within working hours. Our party doesn’t endorse the ruckus over taking control of unions, like the one that happened in the police HQ recently. I asked the administration to take action, and a person was arrested even though he swore by ‘poribartan’. The new government will also take stock of pending arrest warrants and ask the administration to work without political bias. We will also consider release of undertrials booked with a political motive. Our view is the same in the health sector. We need to set up community health centres. Private parties are welcome on the condition that they keep the outdoor patient department open to the poor for treatment at subsidised rates. R ajiv Gandhi had famously remarked that for every rupee spent by the government on poverty alleviation, only 17 paise reached the intended beneficiaries. The recent World Bank review of 11 centrally-sponsored social security schemes in India is evidence that things have changed little. Confirming vast leakages and structural inefficiencies in delivery mechanisms, the review found only 40% of the targeted poor benefiting from the schemes. Ironically those schemes that do not specifically seek to identify the poor, such as NREGS and the widow pension scheme, have better success in covering them. For far too long our welfare schemes have been coloured by politics and stifled by corruption. The public distribution system – accounting for 1% of the GDP – leaks almost 60% of the foodgrains meant for the poor. This accounts for why India is home to a third of the world’s malnourished children under the age of five, and ranks below China and Pakistan in the International Food Policy Research Institute’s global hunger index. A fresh approach to poverty alleviation is the need of the hour. In the medium term, pursuing self-selecting schemes along the lines of NREGS – that disincentivise non-target groups from pilfering resources – is a good idea. However, long-term reforms demand better identification of the poor and strengthening delivery mechanisms. Both can be achieved through greater integration of technology For example, combining the Unique Identification . (UID) or Aadhaar project with mobile banking could provide a stable platform for direct cash transfers to the poor. Similarly mating UID with food coupons , could improve access to foodgrains. The status quo must be challenged. Out-of-the-box thinking is the way forward. Q&A giving them prospective benefits and redefining the public purpose clause were out of question under the Act. Now, the country is thinking along Mamata’s lines. She will make necessary amendments to the Act and live up to her promise. The new government won’t forcibly acquire land. Instead, it will upgrade infrastructure, Thank you, comrades People like me owe a debt of gratitude to Bengal’s Marxists Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Yeddyurappa and i are friends Warnie, to me, was the tortured romantic, a Van Gogh-like figure almost, or the Guru Dutt of Kaagaz Ke Phool I think men evolved into apes and the apes decided to remain apes so that men can be free to become apes Mamata’s electoral broom has swept them out of the state they ruled for 34 years, but i – and many others like me – owe a vote of thanks to Bengal’s commies. Because if it hadn’t been for them, a lot of people would never have left what was then Calcutta to go far and wide to seek pastures new. And, in the process perhaps, rediscover themselves anew. They say that if you put a crab into a pot of cold water which is gradually heated the crab will be lulled into sleep by the slow rise in temperature and not feel a thing until it’s been well and truly cooked. Calcuttans liked crabs. The irony of it was that few of us realised how like those crabs we’d become: complacent about our surroundings, secure in an illusory sense of well-being. The Calcutta the Left inherited in the 1970s may have been a faded shadow of its former self when it had been the vaunted ‘Second City of the Empire’, second in pride of place only to London. Though increasingly beset by labour problems, it was still the most important industrial hub in the country, with its jute mills and heavy engineering plants and its flourishing tea trade. It had the most cosmopolitan mix of any Indian city and was proud of it: Anglo-Indians, , Jews, Armenians, Chinese, Tibetans, Kabuliwalas from Afghanistan, the odd, elderly Brits who like forgetful guests had lingered on long after all the rest of their people had gone back to a small, rainy island they called Home. Home? Home was right here, in Calcutta, for all these people, and many more. The Howrah bridge, spanning the Hooghly river, was the symbol of a Calcutta that linked different lives, different currents, and made them one. What exactly it was that changed, and why, and when, is a matter of opinion. But slowly, imperceptibly – like the heating water in a pot of crabs – a crucial change came over the character of the city: from being a bustling, outward-looking metropolis, open to new horizons, it began to adopt the indrawn parochialism of a mofussil town, smug in its own self-satisfaction. The change may have started earlier, but it was the Left which, through malign neglect, ensured Calcutta’s transformation from thriving city to stagnant backwater. Concentrating on the rural hinterland – where, even as critics acknowledge, they carried out an impressive programme of land reforms, at least in the early years – the communists abandoned the city to its fate, much like the dying destitutes that Mother Teresa – controversial icon of a forsaken city – salvaged from the pavements. The communists blamed Calcutta’s decline on the ‘stepmotherly’ treatment of the Centre; no stepmother of misogynist myth could have been more cruel than the Left itself was to the city. The inevitable flight of capital took place, as industry and commerce moved away But perhaps more than the flight of capital it was the flight of . ideas that afflicted the city. The hidebound, time-warped ideology of the Left turned the city into a mental prison that stifled thought. The Left had reinvented the legendary ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’. And we, who were living in it, didn’t realise it had happened. For a long while a lot of us who still consider Calcutta – if not today’s Kolkata – as our home were in a state of denial, crabs in heating water. We were fine, our city was fine, everything was fine. But it wasn’t. And when opportunity presented itself, when the door we tried to keep shut opened despite our efforts to keep it closed, we took the escape it offered. In media alone, Calcutta’s list of refugees includes Gautam Adhikari, Bachi Karkaria, M J Akbar, Chandan Mitra, Swapan Dasgupta, Dilip Bobb, Pritish Nandy, Mukul Sharma, to name just a few. Indian media has much to thank Bengal’s Left for. However, all silver linings have a dark cloud, which in this case is me. If it hadn’t been for the comrades, i wouldn’t have been in Delhi, or in the TOI. And you wouldn’t be reading this. Another damn thing to blame the bloody commies for. – H R BHARDWAJ, Karnataka governor, on his embattled relationship with the chief minister – SANJAY DIXIT, Rajasthan Cricket Association honorary secretary, on Shane Warne – RAM GOPAL VARMA, filmmaker, on his theory of evolution I SACRED S PAC E Poetry of Life I What Words Cannot Express is absolutely quiet. Self-realisation as a crude comparison is equivalent to this state of mind. great deal has been said about realisa- However, you need to experience this when tion and enlightenment. But what is it? you are awake. Otherwise it is as if you have Perhaps this is one thing which can been carried over to London and brought back never be expressed in words. When we are sad to your residence when you were asleep and or happy we say so and the other person can thus you remember nothing.” follow because these are common feelings. One cannot stay in that state of mind for a Realisation, however, is something most are long time. As Ramakrishna says, the salt doll quite unaware of. Besides, as Hermann Hesse goes to measure the depth of the ocean and in says, whenever you try to express anything it the process it dissolves. Not many have the is only half-said and from the listener’s point capacity to come back to the material world of view it is only half-understood. Naturally, after experiencing the ultimate. then, for uncommon experiences, both our When it comes to enlightenment, we need expressions and understanding are limited. to travel to the ocean to experience it. Nor can Only a few symptoms observed during the we simply experience it through imagination. process can perhaps be expressed in With desire for material pleasure or words. For example, that it is as if a wealth, that experience can never be mild electric current flows across realised. We need to rationalise the vital parts of the body – neither always and slowly withdraw from any worldly happiness nor misery what is transient. We have to give up remains dominant at that point of the sense of possession. As memtime. Some sensation is felt along bers of society we have to perform the spine and the brain. Even the certain things because we need to THE Buddha who experienced it so do them. But we don’t have to get I SPEAKING I intensely remained quiet about involved in them. Sincerity withthis state though there are out attachment has to be pursued. TREE instructions for attaining it. It is Many people say sincerity something that can only be known from without attachment is not possible. Why not? first-hand experience. You plant a tree. You water the plant daily Maugham in The Razor’s Edge creates the and make space for sunlight to fall. If it does background with great artistic skill: “Light not survive, you need to accept that without began to filter through the darkness, slowly , getting upset. like a mysterious figure slinking between Rationalisation and detachment, persistent the trees…a tingling that arose in my feet efforts, devotion and dedication can lead to enand travelled up to my head…knowledge lightenment that brings about transformation, more than human possessed me.” Despite disconnection from the past and the feeling of Maugham’s sincere attempt to capture it in oneness – in all, a moment of eternity that words, he is silent when it comes to the actual words can never really describe with accuracy. experience. “How can i tell you what i felt? No
[email protected] words can tell the ecstasy of my bliss.” www.speakingtree.in A monk once told me: “When you are in Join the world’s first spiritual networking deep sleep you don’t see any dream; the mind site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Arup Mitra I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX JUGULAR VEIN The little space within the heart is as great as the vast universe. The heavens and the earth are there, and the sun and the moon and the stars. Fire and lightning and winds are there, and all that now is and all that is not. Upanishads Do not say ‘It is , morning,’ and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name. Rabindranath Tagore Sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself. Zen Saying And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. Kahlil Gibran A poet’s work is to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep. Salman Rushdie A Recall Bhardwaj With reference to the editorial ‘Missing The Point’ (May 18), from the day Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj assumed office, he has been working against the BJP government. His public missives against the government and its ministers have lowered his stature. A governor should develop a cordial relationship with the state government concerned. He should step in only if there is instability or the ruling dispensation fails to maintain law and order. Politicking by any governor shows his constitutional post in poor light. When relations between the government and the governor sour beyond repair, as has happened in Karnataka, it is prudent on the part of the Centre to recall him. Isn’t it time we remembered the recommendation of the Sarkaria commission that a governor should detach himself from his erstwhile party affiliations to function as a constitutional head? H P Murali, BANGALORE II H R Bhardwaj needs to be reminded that under Article 159 of the Constitution, he has taken an oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law’. As governor, Bhardwaj owes allegiance only to the Constitution and not to any political party. One, therefore, wonders why the Congress is taking such pains to defend his actions. Moreover, in light of the latest political developments in Karnataka, where rebel MLAs have pledged their support to the Yeddyurappa government, Bhardwaj’s hasty recommendation of imposition of President’s rule appears blatantly partisan. His actions go against our democratic traditions and deserve to be condemned. M M Mathur, NEW DELHI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 20 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011 Hawking On Heaven’s Door Imagine there’s a heaven… and it’s on earth magine there’s no heaven, exhorted John Lennon. Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking doesn’t imagine it. He believes it. He says when the end comes, we’ll just be defunct brains, “broken down computers” with no “afterlife”. A cloudless realm where angels play harps and humans sing hosannas? That, suggests Hawking, “is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark”. Bah. And here we thought everybody gets to take that post-life vacation in the ultimate tourist spot. Now, Hawking’s a star in today’s scientific firmament. But in this freewheeling debate he’s started, firm believers in the Beyond aren’t his sole challengers. There are fence-sitters too. Ask the open-minded if poet Dante was right about souls ascending to Paradise and they’ll say, Heaven knows. Some may even back humorist Mark Twain’s hedging of bets on the divine comedy: “I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell – you see, i have friends in both places.” Sure, who doesn’t? Now, in wedlock or political gridlock, heaven – or hell, for that matter – seems an indeterminate place. For instance, marriages are made in heaven and often become hell on earth. As a new book claims, those living out the long happily-ever-after get a “psychic benefit” akin to earning $1,00,000 a year! But, despite more material ‘benefits’, consider the less blissful state of old political spouses DMK-Congress. In politics, heaven can wait when electoral hell freezes over. This isn’t to say netas don’t foster faith in manna from the heavens. Legislators’ assets, it’s said, grow more with their re-contesting polls than by investing in gold or mutual funds! Who needs fixed deposits? Poll candidates turned crorepatis can buy that stairway to heaven. Meantime, the Left’s been on its Marx decrying religion’s “opiate” – pearly gates, transcendental immaterialism and all that ‘consolatory’ jazz. So they created communist heaven on earth: Bengal’s clogged roads, blocked universities and padlocked factories. But neither Mamata as Bengal’s new guardian angel nor Achuthanandan as Kerala’s octogenarian fallen angel has made Prakash Karat contemplate political afterlife. It seems not everybody realises that the Great Yonder is more about seeing the light and dreaming the dream than fear of the dark. Poet Blake saw the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower. Pop artiste Belinda Carlisle sang of uplifting love thanks to which “heaven is a place on earth”. And Oprah Winfrey – who’s to retire from talkshow hosting – reportedly said heaven’s a “big baked potato and someone to share it with”. Wow. Room service at Hotel Paradiso. Imagining such bliss recalls Lennon who penned ‘Imagine’. One critic of Hawking’s views says there’s a difference between the scientist and the songwriter. Lennon, he argues, hadn’t attacked people’s belief in heaven; he’d only perceived clashing notions of it as reflecting human divides, which a world living “as one” needed to bridge. Point. The more folks celebrate shared humanity, with nothing to kill or die for, the more they’ll be in seventh heaven – here on earth. Imagine. Return Of The Brash Politician Voters no longer want leaders who believe that silence is a political virtue Chetan Bhagat I Experts have analysed the results of five assembly elections. In West Bengal or Tamil Nadu, the government has fallen, and the opponent has emerged – in the former case with a resounding majority Whether it . was the 2G scam in Tamil Nadu or that the free grinders sop didn’t work well, we will never know the exact reasons for the DMK debacle. Similarly , whether it was Singur, the Left’s general mismanagement or simply a need for change – the exact cause for the Trinamool sweep cannot be pinpointed. However, one trend is becoming clearer with time. That is the rise of the assertive and aggressive politician. Most of India’s high-profile chief ministers – Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sheila Dikshit – who have had spectacular victories are vocal, opinionated and seem to have the ‘let’s get on with it’ attitude. This is in stark contrast to the stereotypical Indian leader who keeps quiet or, when forced to talk, is diplomatic to the point of avoiding the issue altogether. This stereotype emerged from the Congress party which successfully used the silent mystique strategy particularly in , the last 20 years. However, it may be time for such leaders to reconsider it, especially if they want to have a few rockstar chief ministers of their own and be more in sync with what the Indian voter wants. Because, quite frankly brash is back! , The classic example of the silent leader is P V Narasimha Rao, who was rarely heard in his five-year prime ministerial tenure. It wasn’t like he led India in boring times. India’s near bankruptcy economic liberali, sation, the Babri masjid demolition and, of course, corruption scandals, were just a few of the big moments in his tenure. Yet, ask anyone who was around then – do they even remember his voice? After him, Sonia Gandhi almost acquired a sphinx-like stature with her When she talks, they listen Most of India’s high-profile chief ministers who have had spectacular victories are vocal, opinionated and seem to have the ‘let’s get on with it’ attitude silences and her demure refusal to take up the prime minister’s job. Apart from in the last year or so, Rahul Gandhi rarely spoke too – either in Parliament or in public. And, of course, our prime minister for the last eight years is hardly known for his aggression or oratory Don’t . talk, don’t react, don’t explain, don’t take any opinionated stance – all this seemed to work extraordinarily well. Except, it doesn’t seem so effective now. In Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Reddy while not a chief minis, ter yet, won his byelection with historic margins. Upon his victory he was bold enough to , come on TV and say “It is a slap , on the face of the Congress and TDP.” That’s it, no diplomacy , no mincing words, no sugarcoating. People like that now, especially the younger generation. I think it is safe to predict that Jagan’s star is on the rise. Mamata called her victory Bengal’s second independence. Jayalalithaa, upon winning, said that the “DMK had completely ruined Tamil Nadu”. And, of course, Anna’s direct, firm ‘no politicians on my dais’ message won him millions of fans. This is India 2011. Where silence is no longer equated with dignity poise or high , stature. So low is the credibility of politicians today that silence is seen as smugness, inefficiency and avoiding the issues. This is a cultural shift, brought about by the frustration people have felt with unaccountable governments. From once revered silent leaders, people have started to prefer brash assertiveness, even a bit of cocky confidence. Such shifts in preferences do happen. In the US, it is said that George Bush, often ridiculed as a less sharp president, was a reaction to the ‘extra-clever and glib’ Clinton. Americans were happy with someone less smart as long as he didn’t get into scandals like his predecessor. Similarly , Indians today are more likely to give a brash politician who will speak a chance, rather than someone dignified who won’t talk to the people. There are lessons in this for all political parties. What worked in the past may not work so well in the coming few years. Whoever is positioned as a leader needs to have an agenda, a point of view, drive and, most importantly a willingness to , talk to people about issues. One doesn’t have to react to every baseless allegation or news story However, one must be . willing to talk proactively on issues that are relevant to the people. Speaking in platitudes or government officialese doesn’t count. Statements like “We are examining the matter and in due course we will take a suitable course of action” are nonsensical. Be a straight shooter, come to the point, be honest about what you can and cannot do and don’t be afraid to have opinions. Whether it was the 2G scam, anti-incumbency anti-commu, nism, developmental issues, freebies or caste/religion equations that determined the outcome of the recent elections can never be affirmed. What is clear is Indians have had enough of posturing and need aggressive leaders. Political parties should ensure that the candidates they select have the required traits to suit changing voter preferences. Better start talking before people stop talking about you forever. The writer is a best-selling novelist. Former English cricketer Tony Greig says India is dominating ICC Natural evolution of cricket ormer England skipper Tony Greig’s cricitism of ‘Indian domination’ of the International Cricket Council (ICC) cuts little ice. True, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enjoys a prominent position in the ICC. But this has come about organically and over a period of time. Thanks to massive viewership in India, where the sport is often compared to a religion, the BCCI represents the aspirations of a vast section of global cricket fans. I T Accusing the Indian cricket board of monopolising tendencies and calling for corrective action is unjustified. In earlier days, the English and Australian cricket boards were the heavyweights in the ICC. Few saw this as a problem. So, why single out BCCI when the power centre of world cricket has shifted to the subcontinent? Every sport has its own process of evolution. Hockey for example, was once , dominated by India and Pakistan. Today , teams such as Australia, the Netherlands and Germany are at the forefront of world hockey If successful new cricket . formats such as the IPL have turned out Not a sporting attitude F to be huge money-spinners attracting international talent, the credit goes to the BCCI for thinking out of the box. That cricket fans even outside the subcontinent look forward to tournaments involving Team India is proof of how crucial Indian cricket is to promoting the game. Several cricket boards profit handsomely from I f Tony Greig is calling for ending India’s domination of the ICC, blame it squarely on the BCCI’s hegemonic attitude. The rise of the Indian cricket board as the sport’s financial powerhouse over the last two decades has relegated the ICC to playing second fiddle. It is routine for the BCCI to object to any and every decision of the ICC, I I M E S V I E WI their engagements with the BCCI. It is only natural for them to be accommodative of the BCCI’s concerns. Over the last decade and a half, Indian cricket and the BCCI have injected flair into the gentleman’s game. If cricket today has the commercial potential to chart new territories, it is because India is successfully playing its role as the engine of the ICC. Though the dynamics might change tomorrow, yet cricket is far richer for it today . COUNTERVI Ajay Vaishnav Anyone For Jasmine Tea In Pakistan? Gautam Adhikari be it about tour scheduling, player suspensions or appointments. In that sense, Greig’s frank comment echoes the feelings of many cricket fans and nations that feel that the BCCI has been unnecessarily arm-twisting the ICC and other boards into toeing its line. Not so long ago, the Indian cricket board was at loggerheads with the ICC on issues like the Future Tours programme or the ‘whereabouts’ clause of the World AntiDoping Agency (Wada). Due to the BCCI’s refusal to be Wada-compliant, the ICC, which always tries not to displease the Indian board, had to adopt a new cricketspecific anti-doping code. In the process, it overlooked the fact that several other boards had agreed to Wada. Likewise, the BCCI has formed unilateral arrangements to allow more series between a few select nations like Australia and England. Such arrangements work against the mandate of the ICC, which must focus on expansion of cricket E W I across the world. The BCCI’s behaviour has merely damaged its reputation. Let’s not forget that India had fought for democratising the ICC’s decision-making process. Ironically that spirit is missing in its own , dealings with the ICC and its treatment of other boards. Cricket’s future cannot be reduced to one country’s or region’s sporting dominance. This will eventually widen the fault lines that exist within the cricketing world. Besides, there is a limit to which the BCCI can flex its financial muscle. Both inclusion and expansion must be the authorities’ mantra if cricket is to become a truly global sport. London: Here for a week to attend a conference in the south of England, my most interesting exchanges on events in our region have been with experts on what is now commonly called the social media. Many of them wonder: “If mobile texts and tweets can ignite a Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and Egypt, why can’t it happen in Pakistan?” Well, can it? The gloomy suspicion of experts here is it probably won’t. Not just the media specialists, many people of South Asian origin and those with experience of the region ask the question in this town. Serious people in London, or Londonistan as wits call it, worry a lot about how to normalise Pakistan. In recent days, after news broke of the late Osama bin Laden living for five years under the nose of the army in Abbottabad, that worry seems to have deepened everywhere. The question, tinged as it is with hope as much as despair, is based on somewhat overblown premises. It may be far too early to call the regime changes in Tunisia and Egypt the Jasmine Revolution. I have no problem with the fragrance or hue of jasmine, which reportedly is as much a national flower in Tunisia as it is in Pakistan. My difficulty is in calling the changes in the Arab world a ‘revolution’. For one, the army remains in charge of Tunisia and Egypt. The generals in both countries calculated the odds of continuing to prop up Zine-el-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak against siding with the aspiring revolutionaries. They opted for dumping the dictators. But the military continues to hold the reins of power even as it promises democracy amidst spreading ethnic and social tensions. Their careful calculation surely included the need to ward off threats to their own economic interests, much as such interests, enormous as they are, influence Pakistan’s army. Besides, tweeting and texting have so far failed to produce revolutionary results in the rest of the Arab world. In Syria and Yemen, the authorities have responded brutally. Libya is in a bloody mess. In Bahrain, the ruling family called in the Saudi army to kill protesters and restore order. And, of course, no one, not the British nor the Americans and certainly not the Indians, has the gumption to raise a tweet against the medieval Saudi monarchy given the grip it has on the world’s oil tap. One problem lies in imagining that blogs, tweets, texts and mobile phone cameras are anything more than evolutionary advances in media technology In fact, they are not agents of revolutionary . change. They can be new and important tools in the hands equally of those who want a revolution and those who want to repress one. Texting and tweeting enhance the performance of the media as a whole. They strengthen its watchdog role; they often are the primary sources these days of breaking news; and, unlike the traditional media, can be good for mass mobilisation. But they are not that effective against imaginative counter-mobilisation by rulers who use the same tools, as in the cases of authoritarian regimes in Iran and China. As for Pakistan, it is neither Tunisia nor Egypt, which have linguistic and cultural homogeneity. Both are also reasonably literate, which is an important factor to aid any social media-driven mobilisation effort. Pakistan, on the other hand, is an ethnically diverse and poorly literate nation cobbled together under an Islamic banner that is still flown by its real rulers, i.e. the military, as a binding symbol that can violently intimidate aspirations for genuine democracy. Add in the salt of fierce nationalism based on a concocted existential threat from India, and the army has a potent brew to serve the people so that it can go on exerting unchallenged authority. In his new book, Pakistan: A Hard Country, the British writer Anatol Lieven gives a detailed account of how the charade works. He also cites, in a cover story for New Statesman, an army-friendly Pakistani journalist who speaks of the ISI’s readiness to bleed India to a future breaking point. Lieven calls the conversation “horrifying”. Indeed. No amount of tweeting or texting is likely to change that reality as long as this deadly intelligence outfit continues to call the shots in our neighbourhood. SNAP JUDGMENT 2G Impact n rejecting the bail plea and ordering the arrest of DMK MP Kanimozhi, the CBI special court raises hopes that a fair trial in the 2G spectrum case won’t be derailed by politics. That the development follows in the aftermath of the CongressDMK debacle in the Tamil Nadu polls may impact the UPA. But with corruption scandals dogging the coalition government, probing and nailing those responsible must be top priority. Oops, They Did It Again Tennis Racket omdev Devvarman is one lucky chap. Having his bank account hacked could have meant real bad news, especially since he happens to be the country’s topranked singles tennis player with over $500,000 as career earnings. But the hackers turned out to be very considerate. All they wanted, it seems, was doughnuts and some liquor! Total cost? $286.87. Either there’s honour among these thieves. Or they’re tennis fans. I I A nother supposed ‘fugitive’, Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan, on India’s list of mostwanted terrorists presented to Pakistan has been discovered, this time in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail! The home ministry’s second goof-up is more than just embarrassing. A grave disservice has been done to the legitimate case that terrorists have found shelter in Pakistan. India’s error will give its neighbour the handle to question the authenticity of the entire list. S I SACRED S PAC E I Turn Traffic Jams Around are laughing, crying, bored or suffering, but your internal world is always in your hands. Make it e are moving along with the current of beautiful and extraordinary . our desires, our own goals, aims and When you enjoy every circumstance as agendas. We are constantly thinking of extraordinary the unpleasant elements of , negative things, having a sense of fear unneces- stress, strain and tension that torment each day sarily and constantly expecting the worst to of your present existence disappear completely . happen. Negativity and adversities are attracted Never waste a single moment of your life in by our negative state of being and they come and boredom and depression. These negative factors settle in us, making our mind a garbage bin. slowly choke off the bliss of your soul along with Many a time we feel that everybody is victi- peace, contentment and creativity. Even if you mising us for no fault of ours, making us feel very are caught in a traffic jam, relax and enjoy the pathetic and ordinary Instead, when we don’t respite from driving. Resolve that “I will now . unnecessarily assume and presume the above, convert this traumatic situation into a blissful we value and feel that life is precious, auspicious, one.” Then, evolve by chanting a mantra, singing esteemed and extraordinary Medita. a bhajan or praying for someone tion brings about this awareness to whom you think is suffering. Then, you make our life extraordinary . convert an ordinary moment into an When you firmly value the practice of extraordinary moment of presence of meditation as extraordinary, then faith, mind and wisdom. trust, belief and willpower empower you So, rejuvenate and refresh your soul. to lead an extraordinary life. These actiDon’t worry about the traffic ahead or vate and expand the bandwidth of behind. Till the traffic moves, you your free will and wisdom and further cannot move, anyway! So, just relax THE infuse you with inspiration and and use this time to touch your inner enthusiasm. Now you will start trans- I SPEAKING I core; accept the traffic jam as being forming mundane circumstances inevitable. However, if you have the TREE into extraordinary occasions. habit of losing your cool in traffic Savour every moment of your life, even when jams, sorrow becomes your constant companion. it brings unexpected challenges to you, by treat- Even if the delay means that you will miss an ing them not as problems that obstruct your important appointment, don’t allow this to stress progress, but as opportunities that foster your you because it saps your enthusiasm and power growth. Let us say that you are cooking a dish and to overcome obstacles. it gets completely spoilt. Don’t worry. Cook it once A truly extraordinary life is touching base more if you can or cater it from outside. Don’t with our soul through meditation and maintainbrood over it and invite tension. Remember, for an ing silence daily This expands the inner self and . extraordinary mind, the solutions are always makes it blossom to attain emancipation and striking and simple. When there is no interest, liberation from an ordinary apprehensive life to , life remains mechanical and ordinary but when an extraordinary valuable, blissful life. , Follow Shri Nimishananda on our website. you are deeply interested in everything you do, www.speakingtree.in every situation becomes a doorway to expansion. Your life becomes extraordinarily joyful. Join the world’s first spiritual networking site The external world hardly cares whether you to interact directly with masters and seekers. Shri Nimishananda E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Right Perspective The end of an era, and the beginning of a new one, is literally forcing us to find a new context, a new way to orient ourselves to the experience of being alive. And unless we are each willing to make the effort to become clear about what our fundamental spiritual and philosophical position is, in relationship to what it means to be a conscious human being in an evolving universe…we will find ourselves tossed all over the place, swept here and there by the fast-moving tides of exponential change… Andrew Cohen We are Spirit first and human, second. We are Spirits with a body not bodies , with a Spirit. The Spirit is eternal, the body , a temporary home. Aboriginal Saying If you do not raise your eyes you will think that you are the highest point. Antonio Porchia A time to redeem With reference to the editorial ‘Ring Out The Old’ (May 14), except in the case of Assam and to a lesser extent West Bengal, the choice for the electorate was between the devil and the deep blue sea. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa’s record is not very clean. But she doesn’t carry the stigma of nepotism. Mamata Banerjee’s case is also problematic, though in a different sense. Though charismatic, she has been controversial and allegedly hobnobbed with the Naxalites. Tarun Gogoi was the only exception. Despite the abysmal depths that the Congress has plunged to in recent months, Gogoi managed to keep his ship afloat. This is a reflection of his positive performance. The winning parties must realise that their victories should serve as an opportunity to redeem themselves and revive transparent politics. Anjum M Samel, MUMBAI W JUST GRAFFITI An encouraging sign With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 19), even at the international level, absence of democracy in Islamic nations is considered one of the reasons for extremist violence and religious fanaticism. In that sense, Kerala is fortunate to have a Muslim party that has contributed immensely to the political and social growth of the state. The state has had many Muslim ministers handling important portfolios such as education. In the context of coalition politics, the Muslim League has played a significant role in supporting candidates of other parties who do not belong to the minority community. This is an indication that Muslims have outgrown narrow viewpoints, which is a good sign and should be encouraged. The alternative course of isolation will only harm the polity. Ravindranthan P V, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 20 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 22, 2011 ‘If my son enters politics, he can’t expect help from me’ Kerala House in the national capital wore a festive look just days ago as it welcomed the state’s new chief minister Oommen Chandy. It was Thursday and Day 2 for Kerala’s 21st CM. It ended late at night as Chandy made time to meet everyone – a seven-yearold wide-eyed boy from Kerala; a member of the Union cabinet and Shobha John. Excerpts: The Congress-led UDF won the assembly elections by a slim majority—72 against the LDF’s 68. It’s almost a sign of failure isn’t it considering Kerala has always had a sizeable anti-incumbency vote? In a democratic set-up, success is success. The number is not very important. We won the Lok Sabha and local body elections by a big margin. We thought this trend would continue in the assembly elections too. Nonetheless, we got 30 seats more than the last assembly elections. But we will examine the results. Will you be able to function efficiently in the House with such a slim majority? It won’t be easy but we are confident that we will be able to complete five years. We have to gird up politically and administratively In 1970, the C Achutha . Menon ministry had only three MLAs more than the opposition but it still completed five years. At the same time, after the 1977 elections, the UDF won by a huge majority of 111 seats in the 140-member assembly but lasted only three years. So numbers don’t really matter finally We know the opposition . is strong but we are not afraid of it. It’ll be good for me too – the opposition will agitate and we will take more care to serve the people well. You have announced financial aid of Rs 1 lakh for the families of those who died due to endosulfan. You have also lowered the petrol price in Kerala by Rs 1.22 per litre. And you’ve promised rice at Re 1 per kg for families below the poverty line and at Rs 2 for those above the poverty line. It seems like cheap populism, expensive to the exchequer? No, not at all. Giving relief to endosulfan victims is a moral obligation of the government. The National Human Rights Commission gave its recommendations and we accepted it in principle. I also met the PM and asked for Rs 375 crore aid for the victims. Reducing the cost of petrol was my first decision as CM and the tax loss to the state per year will be Rs 131 crore. As for rice, we can afford this subsidy because the Centre has given us subsidy I have . already requested food and consumer affairs minister K V Thomas regarding this. Kerala lags behind many Indian states in terms of development. Why? Kerala has not been able to utilize its opportunities. It has good climate, among the best manpower and plenty of natural resources. Even then, we haven’t gained what we deserve. The negative approach of the Left is the main reason for this. They aren’t practical at all. Anyone can raise good slogans but it’s of no use as it has no result or effect except disruption of normal life. The UDF has a practical approach to achieving all its targets. opment and care. We will make both come true. Do you propose to take forward the central government's pet projects? The implementation of flagship projects of the UPA -- rural employment guarantee scheme, Food Security Act and the Right to Education -- was very poor under the LDF government. It is our challenge to implement them within a time-bound schedule and we will do it. You have an enviable track record as legislator -you have been elected from Puthuppally in Kottayam district uninterrupted since 1970. How did you manage that? Right from my school days, I have been active in student politics. I am happy to move with the people – that’s my strength. My relationship with my constituency is like my home. I treat them like family members. My home and office are always open for anyone. I even had a webcam in my office during my last tenure as CM. Your son studies law in Delhi and was fairly active during these elections. Will he follow in your footsteps? My son can select any profession he wants, I won’t stop him. But if he takes up politics, he can’t expect any support from me as he will have to prove his mettle. Anyway he was president of the St Stephen's , College union when he studied there. As an Indian politician, surely you too must acknowledge the incentive to make money? What is money – it is nothing to me. If I am immensely rich but the people have no confidence in me, what use is that money? If I get the love and affection of my people, I am the richest man. Are you a regular church-goer? I have a firm belief in God. More than that, I am afraid of God. I am afraid to do bad things in case God punishes me. I am not a great orator. Yet, I get all my experience, knowledge and strength from my people. In fact, I make it a point to read all the letters I get from people. FOR THE RECORD OOMMEN CHANDY Kerala was supposed to get a Rs 1,500-crore Smart City IT project in Kochi. It hasn't taken off five years later. Do you propose to revive it? Smart City is the baby of the UDF In my earlier . stint as CM in 2004, the MoU for it was signed. But after the LDF came to power, they didn’t do anything except create confusion. I will make sure this project is completed in my term and is a source of ample employment. How different was the situation when you served as CM in 2004? In 2004, the situation was different as I took over from A K Antony when he moved to Delhi and my tenure lasted till 2006. This time, I have come after winning an election and therefore I have to fulfill the promises I made. My manifesto’s slogan was devel- Social democracy, India’s sense of urgency on Africa welcome not communism TOP OF THE MIND ANIL KUMAR KANUNGO SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR As we approach the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union and its red empire, one minor principality of that empire, West Bengal, has also fallen. A post-election analysis by Brinda Karat shows how blind the CPM is to why first the Soviet Union and now West Bengal have fallen. British imperialists claimed they were civilizing lesser breeds. Red imperialists also claimed to be uplifting those lacking revolutionary consciousness. Alas, the lesser breeds rebelled against imperial rule, first in the British colonies and, in 1989, in the Soviet colonies. Earlier, the Brezhnev doctrine said the Soviets would never retreat from any territory they controlled. This doctrine died in the badlands of Afghanistan. Brezhnev’s successor, Gorbachev, inherited a sinking economy unable to finance imperial adventures, rather like Britain earlier. He told Eastern European communist leaders that they could not depend on Soviet intervention for survival. Within six months of that message, the red empire in Eastern Europe collapsed, followed soon by the imperial master’s collapse. European Marxists stood exposed as autocratic oppressors, and shamefacedly became social democrats. Eastern Europe proved that the supposed blessings of communism were as phony as the “Blessings of the British Empire” injected by the Raj into Indian school textbooks. But Karat and the CPM still swear by red imperialism as the epitome of civilization. What ordinary folk call democracy is for Karat a bourgeois fraud. True democracy in the , Marxist view, consists of a politburo taking decisions on behalf of the unwashed masses that have not yet developed revolutionary consciousness and so vote for Mamata Banerjee. Karat claims that issues are debated openly and decided in CPM forums, a “unique democratic process.” This would surprise communists like Saifuddin Chowdhury and Somnath Chatterjee who were expelled for speaking their minds. Yet their punishment was nothing compared with Stalin’s purges of dissenters. For all his bloodiness, Stalin industrialized a backward country and enabled it to beat Hitler. As long as he shifted people out of agriculture into industry eco, nomic productivity rose, since industry is far more productive than farming. But once this process was largely completed by the 1960s, the fundamental inefficiency of the Soviet model became apparent. It could produce missiles and nuclear bombs galore, but could not produce a faucet or shirt of world class. Its agriculture refused to respond to ever larger doses of investment, and it became pathetically dependent on its mortal enemies—the US and Europe—for grain, meat and dairy products. Gorbachev hoped perestroika and glasnost would rescue the model. Instead the red empire collapsed. The CPM chafes at being a revolutionary party temporizing in a capitalist democracy It . cannot see that the very curbs democracy has imposed account for most CPM successes. In India, it could not create communes or starve millions of farmers to death, as Stalin did in Ukraine. It had to make do with mild land reforms of the sort the World Bank advocated. A capitalist-farmer strategy financed by the World Bank had earlier produced a green revolution in Punjab, and the CPM brought the same green revolution to West Bengal. Soviet agriculture never achieved anything as good. Yet the CPM remains ashamed of bypassing true communism, unable to see that Bengali farmers responded better to green revolution incentives than Soviet communes ever did. Agriculture helped make West Bengal national champion in poverty reduction, and Karat cites the World Bank to this effect. The greatest failing of the CPM was in ruining the state’s industries through militant trade unionism. Once India’s top commercial centre, the state is now a backwater. Failure to progress from buoyant agriculture to buoyant industry helps explain why the CPM has been trashed by disillusioned voters with rising aspirations. The only jobs created were government and panchayat jobs, distributed almost entirely to party cadres. Nevertheless, the very fact that the CPM won seven Assembly elections in a row (at a time when most incumbents lost elections) highlights its success in social democracy Karat . rightly says it is no disgrace to lose after 34 years in office. This surely shows that the CPM’s future lies in converting itself to a social democratic party junking its ideological com, mitment to Lenin, Stalin and Brezhnev. This is what Marxists in Eastern Europe did. Instead, the CPM condemns European Marxists for selling out. It cannot see that the constraints of Indian democracy have actually been a blessing that has given Marxists a better name in West Bengal than in Eastern Europe or the former USSR. The sooner it realizes this, the greater will be its chances of coming back to power. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms The Indian government’s determined effort to evolve strong economic and trade relations with Africa is obvious in its initiatives. In 2008, India held its First India-Africa summit. Thereafter, various conclaves and meetings indicated that both sides were eager to establish and nurture a strong relationship. Africa is well positioned in the global scenario. It is a reservoir of energy resources, it is near-virgin land suitable for economic and trade opportunities and it is a continent that can side with emerging economies to offset the long dominance of the North. Unsurprisingly emerg, ing industrializing economies such as India and China are looking at Africa for growth and survival. To that end, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s decision to attend the second Africa-India summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is an indication of the government’s sense of urgency on Africa. First, to trade. India-Africa economic and trade relations have witnessed a surge. Currently pegged at $39 billion, it’s poised to rise further, as is clear from the fact that the first two quarters of this financial year have already registered more than $24 billion in bilateral trade. India’s major African export destinations are South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania etc and its major importing partners are Nigeria, South Africa, Congo and Tanzania. Of late, the basket of exports has diversified. Africa has exported mineral fuels, mineral oils and products, copper ore, natural or cultured pearls, precious and semi precious stones, coffee, coconut, edible fruit and nuts etc. India, the world’s largest importer of rough diamonds, sources most of what it requires from Africa. Similarly India’s exports constitute a wide variety of products, including cotton, iron, steel, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery mechanical appliances, , frozen bovine meat etc. The growing trade relationship has generated keen interest in the Indian government, as was clear when Commerce and Industry minister Anand Sharma said India had “set a target of $70 billion by 2015”. As part of measures to promote bilateral trade, India has committed itself to a duty-free preferential tariff scheme for 49 least-developed-countries. Of these, 33 are in Africa. India’s efforts to attain developmental goals through the Doha round for all developing and least-developed-countries is largely supported by African countries in forming G-20, G-33 blocs. It is promoting South-South cooperation to counter the North. The government has identified certain potential WIN-WIN FOR BOTH: Manmohan Singh with South African president Jacob Zuma areas of co-operation between the two regions. These include information technology telecom, agriculture, , agro-processing, irrigation, mining, power, pharmaceuticals etc. Second, overseas investment is becoming an instrument of global integration. This is the context in which to read the impact of India’s drive to invest in Africa. More than $25 billion of investment has gone into Africa. The energy sector has received a large chunk of this and so have the manufacturing and services sectors. Rapidly industrializing India’s quest for resources as a means of energy self-sufficiency has been an important reason for investing in Africa. In terms of African manufacturing, Indian has investment has gone into apparel, agro-processing, power generation, road construction and the growing services sector. This last includes like e-education and telecommunications. Indian businesses have found Africa to be familiar ground in that it is similar to other emerging markets and also easy to compete in, unlike industrialized countries. Major investors include ONGC, Essar, Tata, Bharti Airtel, Zydus, Ranbaxy TCS and Infosys among , others. This investment has produced many positive results. It has contributed to the welfare of African nations. Leading pharma companies like Ranbaxy and Zydus have provided low cost generic drugs; TCS and Infosys have delivered at low rates; sourcing of raw material for Indian companies has put pressure on price levels because of competition from China and this. in turn, has benefited Africans. Many Indian companies have gone into the extraction sector and this has provided employment to many Africans. Besides, Indian operations in Africa have helped African countries to integrate with the global market. In the background of this, the Indian prime minister’s visit to Addis Ababa promises to deepen further engagement with Africa. Both sides are poised to benefit. Indian industry’s confidence has risen enormously despite law and order problems and the non-transparency that still prevails, to some extent, in the legal and administrative structure. It could be a win-win situation for both sides. The author is with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL1 <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms The overblown myth of green energy security IN PRINCIPLE BJØRN LOMBORG Turmoil across the Middle East and Northern Africa has refocused attention on the impact that political tensions or interference can have on the price and availability of energy imports. Against consumer fears of gas-price hikes, energy security ranks high on many Western governments’ policy agendas. Of course, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Europe started trying to build up its energy reserves back in the 1960’s. Likewise, every American president since Richard Nixon in the early 1970’s has tried, and failed, to reduce dependence on foreign oil. A new trend, though, is that policies that just afew years ago were being touted to fight climate change are being presented as a necessary way to increase energy security Against the back. drop of the financial crisis, and as public support for climate-change policies scrapes new lows in many developed countries, we hear less from leaders about the threat of global warming, and more about the supposed economic benefits of climate policies. This shift is hardly surprising, given the increasing number of analyses that demonstrate that current – unilateral – climate policies will have virtually no impact on the rise in global temperature. The European Union offers a classic illustra- tion of this point. Its “20-20-20” climate plan – by far the most comprehensive climate-change policy in effect anywhere – aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, ensure that renewable energy delivers 20% of energy consumption, and cut primary energy use by 20%. An analysis of the costs and benefits of the policy in 2010 by climate economist Richard Tol showed that the annual price tag would be around ¤210 billion. Running the policy through the RICE climate-economic model reveals that by the end of this century it will reduce temper, ature rises by just 0.05°C. Undaunted by the policy’s utterly feeble impact on global warming, politicians have declared that the policy will at least enhance the EU’s energy security So the Copenhagen Con. sensus Centre asked Professor Christoph Böhringer and Andreas Keller of the University of Oldenburg to test this claim. Of course, the notion of energy security is fuzzy In their research paper, “Energy Security: . An Impact Assessment of the EU Climate and Energy Package,” Böhringer and Keller note that the EU has never set itself a clear metric for energy security . Despite – or because of – this lack of definition and measurability policymakers, write , Böhringer and Keller, “exploit the energy security argument to justify a myriad of measures.” Such measures even include bans on light bulbs and patio heaters, tax breaks for bicycle owners, standards for tyre pressure, and tests for fuel-efficient driving – none of which would appear to have much impact on the level of Russian or Middle Eastern oil imports. What is clear, according to Böhringer and Keller, is that the EU Climate and Energy Package violates basic principles of cost-effectiveness, if the sole objective is emission reduction. It stands out for its tangle of instruments – and thus the risk of counterproductive, overlapping regulation, which will substantially increase costs compared to an effective climate policy . The researchers measure the impact of the 20-20-20 package through independent energy-security indices. Without implementation of the package, slightly more than half of Europe’s energy needs would be met by imported fossil fuel by 2020, compared to 50% today If the EU is suc. cessful in reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020, Böhringer and Keller find that its reliance on imported fossil fuel would be reduced by just two percentage points. This is an awfully long way from self-reliance. Of course, the EU 20-20-20 plan aims to do more than just reduce emissions; it also attempts to increase renewable-energy use and cut overall energy consumption. The researchers find that the full 20-20-20 plan would actually mean “increased energy imports as well as increased price risks” – mainly because the tax imposed on electricity to achieve the efficiency target of the 20-20-20 plan will affect nuclear power the most. In other words, the very policy that was supposed to achieve greater energy security is in fact likely to hike prices and lead to greater reliance on foreign energy imports. It is worth noting that these outcomes are based on the optimistic reference scenario used in the US Department of Energy’s “International Energy Outlook”, under which renewable-energy use will grow at a higher rate than in the past. Without this expectation, the EU’s policy would likely be even more costly . In many Western countries, policies are increasingly being wrapped in promises of greater energy security rather than in threats of climate catastrophes. But, because energy security is such a vague concept, these policies are seldom subjected to rigorous scrutiny to determine whether they will live up to politicians’ claims. As the new research shows, we should be especially cautious about the claims of politicians who use current events to justify the old, ineffective climate-change policies on the new and equally problematic basis of energy security . Bjorn Lomborg is the author of “The Skeptical Environmentalist” © Project Syndicate My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL2<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms The puritanism of Marxists is intriguing RIGHT & WRONG SWAPAN DASGUPTA TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN APRIL 4, 1958 MONUMENTAL MEASURES: Followers of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia took up a series of populist issues to gain power, including one against building monuments It is remarkable that confronted by an electoral uprising against 34 years of uninterrupted rule in West Bengal, the Communists have reacted with the same self-righteous indignation as Puritans faced with the frivolity of reprobates. Politburo member Brinda Karat has reminded those writing the CPM’s obituary that the party was born out of the ‘class struggle’ in West Bengal. She avers the party will draw the lessons from a defeat in the electoral arena—always a sideshow in the Communist scheme of things—but it won’t be the same one the revisionists, the faint-hearted and other class traitors are anxious to impart. Ms Karat has implicitly reaffirmed her unbending faith in revolutionary intransigence. In time, other Comrades will complement her logic with copious quotations from Marx or Lenin ‘himself’. It is intriguing why Communists invariably suffix the names of their gods with the term ‘himself’. It’s never ‘Marx said’ but always ‘Marx himself said’. ‘Himself’ is perhaps the force multiplier that theologians need. The idea is not to impress non-believers but to baffle possi- ANY LESSONS FROM DEFEAT? Brinda Karat with party workers at a rally ble heretics and potential revisionists. It is, in fact, quite inexplicable why a movement that flaunts its ‘scientific’ credentials is so fearful of revisionism. Since ‘scientific socialism’ has deemed that the victory of socialism is not merely desirable but also inevitable, today’s Communists should be as smug as the nut next door who claims to have calculated the precise date on which the world will end. If “history” is indeed “on our side”, as the flamboyant Fidel Castro once said, why should Commies be obsessive about textual citations from the Collected Works? In ordinary parlance, ‘revisionism’ involves the ability to think, re-think, fine-tune, question and even challenge existing beliefs and assumptions. It’s because Galileo was a revisionist that the Flat Earth Society is close to extinction. Yet, 500 years ago, the fear of falling off the edge of the earth haunted explorers and even became a deterrent to commerce in some societies. To Communists, however, revisionism is about as abhorrent as ‘popery’ was to Anglicans in 17th century England. The analogy with the abstruse sectarianism that gripped Christian Europe after the Reformation is appropriate. For the fiercely God-fearing Puritans the good life meant rediscovering Biblical fundamentals. More than a century ago, Lenin ‘himself’ wrote an article whose con- tents are no longer worth recalling. But it had a very catchy heading that summed up his sectarian conceit: “Better fewer, but better Whereas .” most ‘bourgeois’ parties engaged in the thankless task of contesting elections and satisfying individual ambition, the Leninist party aspired to be a version of the old ICS—an elite group of the highly motivated with the moral backbone to carry an entire Empire, preferably on its sola topi but if need be, on a majestic Red Flag and to the robust notes of Internationale. Just as the ICS sahibs were presumed to know what was good for the ‘real India’, the ‘vanguard’ Leninist party was meant to epitomize the most advanced sections of the ‘struggling masses’. The people were mute; the party spoke for them. Not unnaturally the people occa, sionally got a little excitable, demanding the impossible. These resulted, as Bertolt Brecht once rued, in the party having to abolish the people (‘counterrevolutionaries’) and having to elect a new one. In November 1989, the collapse of the Berlin Wall triggered a chain of events that culminated in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Throughout Eastern Europe, popular fury was directed at a self-serving party bureaucracy that combined tyranny with monumental socialist inefficiency . The grim inheritance of Lenin and Stalin were brushed aside as people chose personal freedom over regimentation and shortages. What is interesting is the different ways in which Communists reacted to the Soviet collapse. In Europe, it resulted in Communist parties either going into voluntary liquidation or becoming virtually indistinguishable from the Left-wing of social democratic parties. As a political movement, Communism in Europe died with the 20th century In India, however, the rejection of . the Red Flag in Moscow and the erstwhile ‘socialist bloc’ was interpreted with dogmatic eccentricity . The socialist experiment faltered, it was argued, because the party was injected with revisionism and had had deviated from Communist principles. For many who learnt their Marxism in parties like the CPM, the key to the future doesn’t lie in less Leninism (as the Europeans imagined) but even more of it. For the CPM, the God didn’t fail – the people were unworthy and the Comrades didn’t pray hard enough. On such profound certitudes are politics in India based. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSDG <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I KAPIL SIBAL, Union HRD minister OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2011 Is even one of our institutions world class? If it is world class, it must be in the top 100, 150 institutions in the world. That is not evident. Leave It To The Market Government should stay out of land acquisition for private investment Dilip Modi Aim For World Class More autonomy and competition needed to unleash dynamism in higher education ndia’s IITs and IIMs produce quality graduates, but why do they not give rise to quality research and raise the country’s innovation quotient? Environment minister Jairam Ramesh isn’t the first person to raise this question. His statement that research and faculty at IITs and IIMs are not world-class has stirred controversy. But it is telling that not a single Indian university figures among the top hundred in the 2010 QS World University Rankings. Neither do the IITs and IIMs make it to the top ranks in similar international surveys of research institutions. The essential reason for this is the lack of quality research facilities and guidance even in some of our best institutes of higher learning. Apart from the skills gap that must be plugged to generate quality jobs for our youth, this is one more reason to remove the bottlenecks in the higher education sector. But our state of readiness for needed innovation is evident from Delhi University teachers striking work against the semester system! The focus needs to shift from churning out degree holders to creating knowledge hubs, or clusters of universities which conduct world-class research and impart high-grade skills to students. Among neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia are creating hubs of this kind. In India the primary problem is excessive bureaucratic control in higher education, surpassing that of authoritarian China which has dramatically improved the quantity and quality of its research output. A statist compulsion to micro-manage administrative processes, under the garb of socialising education, has led to loss of operational freedom and diminished the incentive to innovate in Indian institutions. A centralised process of faculty recruitment combined with fixed salaries has entrenched complacency With little initiative to pilot high. end research, industry too misses out on leveraging university research to solve practical problems. That there is a strong demand for quality universities is evident from the massive annual outflow of foreign exchange – to the tune of $10 billion – due to students going abroad for higher studies. Systemic reforms are in order if this brain drain is to be reversed. Quickly passing into law the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010, will be a step in the right direction, despite restrictive provisions in the Bill. It is extremely important for educational institutes to cater to market needs. This doesn’t mean that the government should not have any stake in education. There is no reason to see the public and private sectors in education as antithetical to each other. What is required is a tweaking of government policies to provide more autonomy to institutions, a conducive environment for private investment in education, and more synergy between aided and unaided institutions. L I and acquisitions in India are invariably marked by violent protests. Is politics responsible for stirring up passions? Is it loss of a means of livelihood that landowners resent? Or is there a fundamental problem with the way acquisition is done that stirs up a hornet’s nest? Look at the last issue first. There are two fundamental problems with the present system of land acquisition: the process of acquisition, and the compensation issue. In India, mostly land is fragmented into small parcels (excepting forested areas). Acquisition of a few hundred acres, necessary for an industrial or infrastructure project, requires dealing with several landowners. Also, not everyone wishes to sell. This makes the process cumbersome and increases the transaction cost of acquiring land. However, the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, gives sweeping legal powers to the government or its authorised agencies to acquire almost any private land or property provided such acquisition is for “public purpose”. Invariably this route is adopted. This is also known as ‘eminent domain’, regarded as an inherent right of the state to take private property for public use. It is legal in many countries, including the US, UK and France. The problem lies in interpretation of the term “public purpose”. Unfortunately the Act does not define the term. So interpretation was left to the courts. The Supreme Court in 1971 took a very wide view of the term in the case Jage Ram vs the State of Haryana. Yet it did not provide any definition and left it to the state governments to define and thus (mis)interpret the term. Strangely the judgment was delivered when ‘right to private property’ was still a fundamental right. Subsequent apex court judgments further widened the scope of interpretation. The economics behind eminent domain and thus the interpretation of the term public purpose assume that the state would always act in the public interest and, therefore, any taking of private property would be to provide certain “public goods” that otherwise would not be provided by the markets. Lighthouses or clean air are Protests at Greater Noida: Whose land is it anyway A new Land Acquisition Act should define “public purpose”, restrict such acquisition only for public goods, and address the issue that land markets in India are not free typical examples. One or several ships can use the light at the same moment. Yet no single ship owner would build the lighthouse. The government needs to build it – in other words, provide public goods as the market will not provide them automatically . This clearly implies the Act’s provisions should only be used when the government itself is to provide infrastructure facilities (public good). They should not be used for land acquisition for private investments, whatever the benefits. For such transactions, the market must play out. The government should not undermine market processes. Yet the very opposite has been the bane of land acquisition in India. Private parties tend to pass off the high transaction costs of negotiating with individual landholders onto state governments. The latter have been more than willing to oblige, taking advantage of the sweeping powers to acquire land and justify investments in it. When markets are not allowed to play out, and sweeping powers are used by the state, compensation is invariably low and not just. The question of compensation needs to be based on value of the land sought to be acquired. This can be done on the basis of prices prevailing in the past or the expected future value of land. Typically investment in industrial activities or building of infrastructure leads to creation of positive externalities that ends up as increased land value, benefiting primarily landowners, who are passive recipients of this windfall. When farmers whose land gets acquired are compensated based on past prices, they do forgo potential benefits from urbanisation. This is a loss of opportunity cost in terms of forgone benefits, which in reality far exceeds the compensation received, in the long run. There are also substantial income redistribution effects between farmers whose land is acquired compulsorily and farmers who still possess their land. The latter can sell in the market at an appropriate time when urbanisation reaches them. This indirect redistribution invariably causes tension between governments and farmers. When acquisition is not purely for public cause, tensions mount further. Asset pricing should always be based on the future. The present system that defines compensation based on past transactions is not just or justified. We need a new Land Acquisition Act to replace the outdated Act of 1894. The new Act should define public purpose, restrict such acquisition only for public goods, and address the issue that land markets in India are not free. Farmers are not allowed to sell their land for non-agricultural purposes. This has prevented industrial development in rural areas as well as direct negotiation by private enterprises vis-a-vis acquisition of land for, say an SEZ. , We also need to understand that landowners lose out on a means of livelihood. So states need to frame proper resettlement and rehabilitation policies taking care of resettlement and providing alternative livelihood means. There are emotional pangs in parting with land. But it is also true that farmers can never improve their economic positions substantially by cultivation and by selling, say potatoes. , At least they have not been able to in the past. What they need is ample compensation and financial inclusion that will guarantee substantial and safe returns on their received compensation, enabling them to dream of sending their children to good educational institutions and not to plough land to produce potatoes. Or is my argument not selfish enough? After all, the more potatoes they produce, supply increases and prices of potatoes remain low. The writer is president, Assocham. ‘My sexual orientation doesn’t determine my films’ Filmmaker Onir is best known for My Brother ...Nikhil. He spoke about making groundbreaking movies and controversial subjects with Subhash K Jha: I Is it difficult being a gay filmmaker in Bollywood? I’d like to be considered an indie filmmaker, who eschews formulaic Bollywood storytelling. My sexual orientation doesn’t determine my films, though it does make me more sensitive to issues concerning the community. My film, I Am, talks about various people in search of their space and identity, and it’s not necessarily sexual identity. I don’t think my sexuality has ever come in the way of my work in Bollywood. I Rituparno Ghosh and you have not hidden your sexuality. Do you feel creativity is encumbered if filmmakers hide in the closet? This is a matter of personal choice and we should respect that. It’s not easy to come out in a homophobic society. I don’t think it encumbers their creativity. They’d still make the same films whether they came out or remain closeted. The economics remain the same. Some of them have made beautiful films and one cannot take it away from them. Just because one is gay does not mean that one only wants to tell gay stories. I Do you think homosexuals are persecuted here? They are. There’s fear of persecution and ridicule. Until and unless the law is changed, and all over the country, the community will be vulnerable. A country that once celebrated all kinds of sexuality now enslaves its own people through regressive colonial laws. More than changing characters to you? Each of the stories has a bit of me, you and everyone around us. I think in a society that loves children the first step is to accept that abuse exists and to talk about it to our children, so that they feel if something happens it’s not they who should be ashamed. My film asks you to love your child enough to protect them. The film is about you and me because 53% of our children face some form of sexual abuse. My character Abhimanyu may be sitting next to you. Another character is Megha who’s a displaced person, and a third of the world population is displaced. I know what it’s like to suddenly lose home, as Megha does. Afia’s story is about a woman’s choices regarding having a child and how she should not be dependent on a man. Omar talks about the right to be able to love freely without fear of your orientation. Omar could be a man and a woman caught in a similar situation and prosecuted by law for an act of love because our culture does not allow love, yet we can publicly shit and pee and abuse each other. I What did you learn from the incident where an aspiring actor accused you of molestation? If you have one car accident because someone else broke the traffic rules you don’t stop driving. I realised that i can’t let one bad thing negate all the good things that happened to me. It’s been traumatic. But i am a lover of Tagore’s line “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.” I have learned that by being honest and being myself. I have found so much love that now i am ready to take on anything. Talking Terms New Delhi’s chance to engage Kashmiri separatists H urriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s recent trip to Europe – and subsequent public comments – hint at intriguing possibilities. In Brussels to attend a conference on Kashmir, Mirwaiz met a number of Pakistani politicians and separatist elements from the Kashmiri diaspora; par for the course. But that’s where the twist comes in. There have been a number of reports alleging that he met ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha as well in secret. Predictably Umar Farooq has denied this, but his , credibility is suspect since his links with Rawalpindi are well known. In this context, his saying a few days after his return that the Hurriyat is willing to engage New Delhi for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue gains significance. The Mirwaiz wishes any engagement to be at the highest level rather than via interlocutors. But he is in no position to dictate terms. Much as he might claim otherwise, he is but one of the stakeholders, sharing political space with mainstream Kashmiri politicians rather than standing as the sole representative of Kashmiri public sentiment. It is not for him to decide the terms of engagement. Nevertheless, these are details that can be worked out via back channels. What matters is that there is a window of opportunity likely with , Rawalpindi’s approval. New Delhi should respond positively since the , Mirwaiz no longer insists on preconditions for the dialogue. Once it gets going, it would soon be obvious if he is willing to seek a political settlement in the state without the trappings of secessionism. Q&A street names we need to change these laws. Also it’s important to realise that Article 377 is not only about the LGBT community, it allows the state to rule over your body and say what you should do with it and not do with it. It’s extremely alarming. I Your latest film, I Am, tells four stories of segregation in India. How close are the NaMo vs Manmohan Modi and the PM reflect polar opposite choices for India Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT The arrest is a vendetta against DMK and my family ranging from Kanyakumari to Himalayas What an interesting question, but clearly premature. It’s for others to decide, my dear Rajinikanth is a human and he has a normal body Both in terms of the political parties they respectively belong to, and in the public personas they project, Narendra Modi and Manmohan Singh could be said to be the North and the South poles of Indian politics. The Gujarat CM is arguably by far the most controversial politician in India: people either hate him or they love him; no one is indifferent to him. Among his many admirers he enjoys a devotional status generally accorded to miracle-working godmen. He is hailed as NaMo, the redoubtable champion of Gujarati asmita, jeopardised since the sacking of the Somnath temple by Mahmud Ghazni in 1024, and the dynamic architect of the Vibrant Gujarat global meets which have reportedly generated investment pledges to the tune of `15 lakh crore. . To his detractors the Gujarat CM is the infamous perpetrator of the postGodhra riots who has single-handedly undermined India’s credentials of being a secular and tolerant society more than anyone or anything else has done since the destruction of the Babri masjid. As for Vibrant Gujarat, critics dismiss it as PR hype with little connect to ground reality: only a small fraction of the promised crores translate into actual investments. So divided are the views on Modi that a reported reference by Anna Hazare praising the Gujarat CM for his developmental efforts almost resulted in a split in the Lokpal movement, with liberals like Mallika Sarabhai seeking to distance themselves from Hazare. In the eyes of liberal India – or what Modi bhakts would call psuedo-secular India – giving NaMo a clean chit is like endorsing the Ku Klux Klan or wanting to bring back apartheid to South Africa. Singh – who’s completed seven years as PM – is the antithesis of the Gujarat CM. While Modi is widely seen as the quintessential ‘strong man’ of Indian politics – a spiritual clone of Sardar Patel, no less, as Modifiers proudly proclaim – the PM is equally widely perceived to be a decent but essentially weak and ineffectual individual, tied to Sonia Gandhi’s apron strings. While Modi has demonstrated the formidable grassroots support he enjoys in his own state, if nowhere else, by his triumphal re-election after the Gujarat riots, Singh is a Congress appointee who has never proved his political clout in an election. The disclosures relating to the 2G spectrum scam by the Public Accounts Committee compromised the PM’s Mr Clean reputation and showed him to be at best a helpless bystander, and at worst an accomplice, in one of the biggest financial scandals ever to rock the country The compulsions of so-called . ‘coalition dharma’ can’t justify the PM’s averting scrutiny of blatant wrongdoing on the part of DMK’s A Raja. When the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal was failing to get off the ground, largely because of opposition from the Left, the PM had shown uncharacteristic firmness by offering to resign if the pact with Washington wasn’t signed, sealed and delivered. The moral fibre then displayed by Singh is noticeable by its absence in the current situation. Modi and Manmohan: the one a strong, but allegedly ruthless demagogue; the other a possibly well-meaning but largely powerless figurehead. The two represent not just two very different political personalities but also two very different visions of India. Those who would like to see a strong, homogenised India no matter what the cost in terms of the loss of our much-vaunted pluralism would side with Modi. Those who cherish the ideal – an increasingly threatened ideal – of India’s often maddening diversity would prefer an ineffectual rubber-stamp to a crypto-fascist who’d make the country march in unison in jack-booted stride, never mind needless diversions like democracy and a multicultural society . Two men, two ideas of India. Which one would you choose? – M KARUNANIDHI, DMK president, on his daughter Kanimozhi’s arrest – CHRISTINE LAGARDE, French finance minister, on a possible offer for the top job at the IMF – LATHA, Rajinikanth’s wife, on the Tamil superstar’s recent health woes I SACRED S PAC E I Instruments Of Peace I Failure & Success Perform all thy actions with mind concentrated on the Divine, renouncing attachment and looking upon success and failure with an equal eye. Spirituality implies equanimity. Bhagavad Gita 2.47-48 On the divine path, there is no chance of failure; it is the path of love. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Don’t be discouraged by a failure. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid. John Keats Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail. Ralph W Emerson Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas A Edison I SECOND OPINION
[email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ up inside of me. In this state i know every soul to be my friend. I am my own friend. I am n my early morning meditations, i can deeply quiet. I am silent and utterly at peace. hear the call of the world for peace – not This deep well of peace is the original just for an end to conflict, but for a deep, state of the soul. When i am in this state, i feel inner stillness and calm, which we remem- the flow of love for humanity and i feel a state ber as our original state. more elevated than what i would normally To find peace, first we must teach our- call happiness, a state of bliss. It is when i selves to become quiet; only then we can attain this state that something truly miracubecome peaceful. Becoming peaceful means lous can happen. When i am in this state of to seize the reins of mind and bring runaway complete soul-conscious rest, i become aware thoughts to a halt. Once we have the mind’s that energy is beginning to flow into me. I feel attention, we can begin to coax it to take us strength and a power so expansive, that in into silence, a true silence; not the place this moment i know there is nothing i cannot without sound, but the place in which we do, nowhere i cannot reach. experience a deep sense of peace and a pervaWhen this happens, i am experiencing the sive awareness of our well-being. connection with the divine energy To move into this state of proand the flow of God’s power into found silence, we must train the inmy inner being. If i stay focussed tellect to create pure, good thoughts inwards, connected with this stream and to concentrate. Our wasteful of divine power, even the way i use thoughts burden us. Our habits of the physical senses will be differcreating too many thoughts and ent. When i look at the world, i will words exhaust the intellect. We see through my original nature THE must ask, “How can i cultivate the of benevolence and experience I SPEAKING I habit of pure thought?” compassion for the world. Who is it that yearns to go into It is this power that transforms TREE silence? It is i, the inner being, the me inside, making me pure and soul. As i detach from my body and from powerful. When the soul and God are linked tobodily things, and turn away from the dis- gether, there is a power that reaches me and tractions of the world, i can face inwards to invisibly across to others, bringing about transthe inner being. Like a perfectly calm lake formation in them, in nature, and in the world. when all whispers of wind have stopped, the The secret of this power of silence is that i inner being shimmers, quietly reflecting the don’t have to do the work of transformation. intrinsic qualities of the soul. Feelings of Divine power automatically transforms. Let peace and well-being steal across my mind me do the inner work. Let me go deeply into and, with them, thoughts of benevolence. that experience of the original state of the I let go of all thoughts of discontentment self, and let there be silence so that God is able and am reminded of my oldest, most intrinsic to do His work through me, His instrument. Follow Dadi Janki on our website. state of being. I remember this inner calm. www.speakingtree.in Though i have not been here recently, i remember it as my most fundamental awareness, and Join the world’s first spiritual networking a feeling of happiness and contentment wells site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Dadi Janki E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Intelligence quotient With reference to the editorial ‘Gathering Cobwebs’ (May 23), there is little doubt that recent intelligence goof-ups show our security agencies in a poor light. With this kind of intelligence set-up, we are not likely to wage a successful war against terrorism. The plethora of paramilitary forces and the state police often seem to work in complete isolation from each other. Hence, there is an urgent need to create a common intelligence database that allows instant exchange of information among agencies in a professional, coordinated manner, as in the US. More important, our political leaders must consider involving senior commanders of the armed forces for taking bold decisions like the US president did with Operation Geronimo. Govind Singh Khimta, VIA EMAIL Bengal to Kashmir The Jugular Vein ‘Thank you, comrades’ (May 20) by Jug Suraiya targets the Left Front for deplorable conditions in Calcutta and holds it responsible for the flight of members of the younger generation from the city. While sharing the writer’s sentiments, i believe that every state in India has its own narrative. I was born in Kashmir and had to leave the state during the 1990s due to terrorism. There was no support from the government. But after a long struggle, things have improved for Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee for their lives and become refugees in their own country. They are doing well now. At this point, should we too thank the then J&K government for not helping Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley or just accept it as part of destiny? Deepa Bhan, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011 One day the last portrait of Rembrandt will have ceased to be – because the last eye accessible to its message will have gone. OSWALD SPENGLER, German historian The Tangled Web They Weave Ignored by the US and backed by ISI elements, Lashkar-e-Taiba has become a global threat S K Sharma Losing Caste The West needn’t be so nervous about the success of its ideals oes the rise of India and China threaten the West? President Obama reassured his British hosts this wasn’t the case during his recent visit to the UK, but also reminded them that the days were over when Roosevelt and Churchill could sit in a room and sort out the world’s problems between themselves. If the 1990s were marked by the fall of communism and the triumph of western democracies, today’s keynote seems to be the arrival of the new kids on the block: India, China, Brazil, Indonesia and other emerging economies. And the status anxiety that this has given rise to in the West has all but eclipsed the triumphal note of the 1990s. Of course, a cosy club of rich industrial nations not being able to resolve the world’s problems among themselves does pose some problems for world order. Obama has invoked the indispensability of European and American leadership precisely at the point when it is failing. The last successfully concluded global trade negotiation was the Marrakesh agreement of 1994. The current round of WTO negotiations, launched as far back as 2001 at Doha, looks interminable as there’s still no agreement in sight. Similarly, climate negotiations have stalled and the Kyoto Protocol is moribund. The solution must be to bring others into the club as well and listen to what they have to say , not simply to wallow in thoughts of the West’s inevitable decline. The UN Security Council, whose permanent members are still the victors of World War II, is a good example of the obsolescence of global institutions. The public mood in many western industrial nations is currently marked by anxiety , despondency truculence and defensiveness. But then, as Obama pointed out , in his speech, the very success of free enterprise has spurred imitators across the world. Asian and Latin American nations are discovering the secrets of prosperity and soon African nations may join them. , Rising prosperity in the rest of the world is in the interest of western nations, as they will have bigger markets to sell to. Petty harassment, such as asking Indian IT firms to pay for erecting border defences that will keep Mexicans out of the US, is mean-spirited and won’t save American jobs. Meanwhile, the Arab spring demonstrates that ideas of democratic freedom are not a western monopoly It’s not so much that the West is in decline as that . it’s getting more provincial. Rather than being mired in despondency it , should celebrate the arrival of a global civilisation with shared values. The West mustn’t be afraid to lose caste – we’re all the same. T D he US and its allies have hailed the killing of alQaida chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad as a significant victory Analysts believe . that bin Laden’s killing might not necessarily sound the death knell for al-Qaida but will definitely weaken the terror outfit and its network worldwide. However, the fight against terrorism has not become any easier with networks like the Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) spreading their tentacles across the globe. In a recent statement Admiral Robert F Willard, commander of US Pacific forces, expressed concern to the US Congress about the LeT’s reach, warning that it is no longer focussed only on India and South Asia, and that the US had evidence of LeT’s presence in Europe and the broader Asia-Pacific region. He also noted that the group has declared holy war against the US and its forces in Afghanistan. The serious threat that the LeT poses to the US can be gauged from the involvement of David Coleman Headley in the Mumbai terror attacks and the series of LeT sleeper cells that were busted in the US since 2001. LeT poses a far graver threat to peace and stability than al-Qaida. The group has been campaigning for more rigorous implementation of blasphemy laws in Pakistan and inciting people to adopt the ‘way of jihad’ to overthrow the government. Considered a strategic asset by the ISI and Pakistani army the , outfit has no fear of prosecution by the state. LeT chief, Hafiz Saeed, on February 5, Kashmir Solidarity Day said if India refused to part , with Kashmir, Pakistan must launch a jihad to free Kashmir. He recently told his supporters that “their journey of defence, progress and survival goes through Kashmir and jihad for Kashmir will not only result in the freedom of Kashmir but also supremacy of Islam”. By all accounts, LeT, perhaps next to Jamaat-e-Islami, has the most organised and expansive network of supporters and offices in Pakistan. It runs over 180 schools, 80 madrassas, several charitable organisations and Hafiz Saeed in Lahore: Are they his captors or a guard of honour? LeT poses a far graver threat to peace and stability than al-Qaida. Considered a strategic asset by the ISI and Pakistani army, it has no fear of prosecution by the state technical colleges besides publishing houses and farms and training campuses in several parts of Pakistan. It also has an annual training budget of $5 million generated from private donations, NGOs, madrassas and businesses spread throughout South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. LeT is also perhaps the only terrorist group in the world which gets grants from the government. Last year, the Punjab government gave a grant of close to $1 million to LeT’s parent body Ja, maat-ud-Dawa. LeT’s deep and abiding relationship with the Pakistani army and ISI was underscored by the spate of confidential documents from the US State Department made public by WikiLeaks. The diplomatic cables reveal the proximity the terrorist group enjoys with the Pakistani military establishment. These documents show the power and influence of the LeT in Pakistan and its value to the military in achieving various strategic objectives. Until the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the group had kept a low profile, thereby managing to strengthen its resource base, public support and political linkages. This was a deliberate plan, helped by the army which wanted a jihadi asset which can be trusted, used and kept as a secret weapon against India. Following the Mumbai attacks, the army has reluctantly asked LeT to go underground again. The LeT has also amassed popular support in Pakistan and millions of dollars in donations by engaging in charity and relief work – an area where the feeble administration has not been able to deliver. Moreover, Saeed enjoys both religious and political clout in Lahore and elsewhere. In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, he was allowed to remain in a guesthouse and, as expected, charges were not pressed against him in court. This allowed him to be set free within a few months of an attack that shook the world. Despite the global uproar over the Mumbai attacks, the US has been seemingly hesitant in taking direct action against the LeT, not because of lack of information or understanding of the threat it poses, but for shortterm interests and the fear of losing strategic space to China in Pakistan. For the US, Pakistan remains the key in untangling itself from Afghanistan; therefore, it is not willing to push the Pakistani military leadership beyond a point. Till some Americans were killed in the Mumbai attack, the US had viewed LeT as a regional threat and not as a global one. This has proved to be a grave miscalculation on the part of successive US administrations. This dimension of LeT’s current activities and the successful elimination of the al-Qaida chief have raised the possibility of the US, at some point in the near future, leaning on Pakistan to take decisive and visible action against the LeT leadership and its terrorist infrastructure. However, history proves that when the heat gets turned on the Pakistani army its intel, ligence wing cleverly manufactures a new group or new terror leadership to protect its longterm strategic assets like LeT. It is becoming clear that the US and other western nations have failed to rein in one of the most resourceful and powerful terrorist groups in the world. The group has not only remained intact after the Mumbai attack but has grown manifold in the years since then. The writer is a columnist on South Asian affairs. Sarkari Scourge Drop outdated mai-baap culture ‘India’s foreign policy approach may suit its interests’ David Malone was Canada’s high commissioner to India and now heads Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). He has also just published a book on contemporary Indian foreign policy titled Does the Elephant Dance? He spoke to Deep K Datta-Ray: I Your book on Indian foreign policy relies on categories such as soft power, realism and idealism but can these concepts, developed by AngloSaxons to describe western international politics, be used to describe what we do? The term “soft power” was coined by an American scholarpractitioner. It could readily be dismissed as a facile slogan in India. But look at India’s actions. Delhi developed a soft power capacity, hingeing on the strong pull of India in terms of its history, culture and even landscapes through the incredibly successful Incredible India campaign. If that isn’t iconic of a soft power approach then what is? India can build on this approach by also showcasing its democracy, without seeking to export it, and the country’s admirable struggle for human rights. As for realism and idealism, Nehru was influenced by both, and so are today’s politicians, although India’s possibilities in foreign policy are vastly expanded now. I In your book do you recount history or advance an analytical argument? Both, actually. I believe it’s impossible to understand contemporary policy without knowing where it came from. For instance, Nehru’s strategic thinking, much debated, is being reassessed currently, generally in a positive light and it reflects on India’s international relations today. Beyond an antiimperialist strand, Nehru saw India, well before Independence, as primarily an Asian power. less excitable than commentators seeking to impress with bold claims. Overall, being a practitioner makes me more empathetic to the challenges faced by Indian policymakers but there’s a risk too in my approach – that of getting stuck in the weeds and failing to outline the trees and to identify a forest. I I have to ask the Tanham question. Do we possess a strategic culture? There is strong strategic sense at any given time among several Indians shaping foreign and security policy, sometimes retired, as was the late, great K Subrahmanyam when at his most influential. Their disposition is generally prudent, but they see further than the rest of us, and are less likely to be waylaid by the lure of sentimentality or ideology than us. India has never for long locked itself into foreign policy or national security frameworks. These generally just keep on failing elsewhere. Hence India’s approach, while often reactive, may suit the country’s interests better, given an Indian genius for improvisation, however late in the day it sometimes occurs! I Finally, what is IDRC and how does it engage us? We specialise in helping developing countries to generate evidence-based policy through their own research communities. Our annual budget is $270 million, mostly provided by the Canadian Parliament. About $50 million is currently funding about 150 projects in India ranging from core support for think tanks to project funding for other institutions and individuals. We also fund work on economic and social challenges in a range of areas from agriculture to gender issues. We often work with partners such as the Gates Foundation, Canada’s aid programme and the UK government’s international development department. T he story would be amusing if it weren’t emblematic of the sarkari attitudes permeating our public sector. Recently, an employee of state-owned Indian Bank faced flak for apparently failing to extend “basic courtesies” to his superior. He had locked in his car keys while loading the luggage of his boss, who was kept waiting at the airport. For this lapse, the bank chairman and managing director reportedly had Banabihari Panda, an executive of 34 years’ experience, suspended. The latter wrote to apologise, explaining what should’ve been obvious: it was a mistake. He also delivered the luggage, if belatedly. For his pains, the Mumbai zonal manager’s been reinstated, but not without a transfer to Chennai. Plus, the incident is now under ‘investigation’! It beggars belief that a major public sector bank can squander time and energy on a minor incident, even wasting money ‘probing’ it. This would suggest the bank staffer was expected to be subservient to the point of being resigned to his humiliation. Blame it on the culture of servility that pervades babudom and politics. Recall the police officer who instinctively bent down to wipe Mayawati’s sandals with his handkerchief. UP’s chief minister, known to transfer cops at whim, hadn’t exactly stopped him. Democracy’s representatives are expected to combat outdated ideas of domination and subservience, yet these have been institutionalised. Consider the sahayak, essentially an army officer’s helper. We got the idea from colonial rulers, but the British abolished the post after World War II. All we’ve done is try to ensure sahayaks aren’t treated as household servants, without great success. Civil society must decry practices attacking human dignity and laws be framed wherever possible to eradicate , institutional servility Let’s start by passing the Civil Services Bill, which . would free civil servants from being beholden to politicians for plum posts. Q&A This vision is only being realised now. In 1947, Nehru had very few international cards to play, but he played them well. Today, India has more options and makes more choices. I Does being a practitioner make your writing about our foreign policy distinctive? Having been part of the foreign policy development process in Canada and a delegate at the UN often seeking to forge compromise perhaps makes me Status quotient The `20 crore car is worth 20 crore only . because its price tag says it cost 20 crore Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Reading a news report recently i tut-tutted over the falling standards of journalism when i spotted an obvious misprint. What were newspapers coming to these days. Or rather, where were they going to. Look at this howler, for instance. How could any sub-editor worth their printing ink have allowed such an obvious bloomer to pass? A car, priced at `2 crore. What nonsense. Then i . looked closer. And i saw that there was indeed an error. But the error was not on the part of the newspaper, but on mine. I’d miscounted all the zeroes that came after the 2. There weren’t seven zeroes as i’d thought, but eight of the sneaky devils. Eight zeroes? What did eight zeroes coming after a 2 add up to, apart from my total confusion? And the answer – when i’d finally worked it out – was 20 crore. And that was the price of a car. One car. Not a fleet of cars, one for each day of the week. Not even a couple of ‘His’ and ‘Her’ cars, blue for ‘Him’, pink for ‘Her’. Made by someone called Aston and a buddy of his called Martin. The same two guys, if i recalled right, who’d made the car James Bond drives. But 20 crore? Even Bond would have to think 007 times – or maybe even 00007 times – before whacking out 20 large Cs for a set of wheels, no matter how ritzy they were. How could a car cost 20 crore? i asked myself. What did it have that could justify a price that would get you a whole parking lot full of Nanos if instead of Messrs Aston and Martin you plonked for apro Ratan instead? What special accessories did a 20-crore car come with? A platinum engine? Solid gold hubcaps? Diamondstudded headlights? Narain Karthikeyan as chauffeur for life? Then it struck me what it was that made a 20-crore car worth 20 crore. It was the 20-crore price tag itself, nothing more or less. For the 20-crore tag didn’t just spell out 20 crore. It spelt out much more than that. It spelt out Status with an S that was not just a capital S but a positively capitalist S. Never mind what else it had. What was important, what made the 20-crore car a 20-crore car, was the Status Quotient, or SQ, it bestowed on the person who could afford to buy it. Of all the ingenious things devised by marketing experts by far the most ingenious is the function of price as a provider of SQ. Suppose someone comes up with a totally useless product, something for which literally no practical, or even impractical use, can possibly be found. A square wheel, for example. Now if the inventor of the square wheel were smart – a doubtful proposition, considering he’d gone and invented a square wheel in the first place – instead of tossing his invention into the rubbish bin and going back to the drawing board to try his hand at something else – Hey! What about a perpetual motion machine? – he’d go to a team of marketing experts and get the experts to turn his square wheel into a moneyspinning best-seller. How? By putting not just a huge but an extra-extra-huge price tag on the square wheel. And thanks to that e-e-huge tag, people with more money than SQ would get into a push-and-shove contest to be the first to buy it before someone else did. I was first in line! Weren’t too, i was! Why would people pay a humongous amount of money for something that obviously wasn’t worth all that much, in fact wasn’t worth anything at all, like a square wheel, say? Because by doing so they’d show everyone, including themselves, that they could afford to spend that kind of money on something of little or no intrinsic value. What they were buying was not a product – a square wheel, for instance – but the SQ given to the product by the XXL price tag. That’s what those smart guys, Mr Aston and Mr Martin, were doing. They were getting people to buy not their car – heck, anyone could buy a car; ask Ratan – but the price tag the car came with. Smart move, fellas. But a smarter move would be for someone to bypass Aston-bhai and Martin-bhai and go to a local print shop and pay 20 bucks to get a 20-crore tag printed to stick on the back of his bargain-basement jalopy. Status Quotient doesn’t stand a chance when it meets up with Suraiya Quotient. Aston-bhaiya, Martin-bhaiya, please excuse. Before Jairam Ramesh talks about IIT/IIM faculty being world-class, he should comment if our politicians are world-class – CHETAN BHAGAT, writer, on politicians I wonder how the government performed from here for the past 34 years. My office is bare save for a table and a couple of chairs. Even the telephones don’t work – MAMATA BANERJEE, West Bengal chief minister, on the lack of facilities at Writers’ Buildings Sometimes i feel IPL matches are like Chinese proverbs. Few words, lot of wisdom – JAVED AKHTAR, lyricist, on the marquee cricket format I SACRED S PAC E A Pure Heart By purity of heart alone is the holy Eternal attained. Adi Granth Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5.8 I Nehru’s Scientific Humanism practical idealism for social betterment”. The doctrine of scientific humanism e attach so much importance to the rejects the philosophic, mystic or theoretical notion of God that according to approach to humanism in which the quest is many thinkers like Voltaire, even if primarily for ultimate reality and for indiGod did not exist it would be necessary to vidual salvation. For scientific humanism on invent Him. According to them, God is a the contrary, “humanity is its God and social psychological necessity for “the mind of man service its religion”. It recognises the fact has always been trying to fashion some such that “every culture has certain values mental image or conception which grew with attached to it, limited and conditioned by that culture”. It also recognises that human the mind’s growth”. In addition, it is our natural tendency nature is such that “every generation and to depend on someone else – who we consider every people suffer from the illusion that to be superior to us in all aspects – in know- their way of looking at things is the only right ledge, competence, power and perfection, for way or is, at any rate, the nearest approach” instance. God is the paradigm of virtues to knowing and realising the truth to which they accord permanent validity . and ideals cherished, on whom we Nehru concludes that “we can rely in times of crisis and whom have...to function in line with the we can blame for our failures. highest ideals of the age we live in, Countering the argument of though we may add to them or seek to those who upheld the necessity of mould them in accordance with God or a God-like concept, Nehru our national genius”. argued, “Even if God exists, it may be desirable not to look up to Like Sartre, Nehru, too, upholds THE Him or to rely upon Him.” He arthe view that man continually I SPEAKING I gued, “Too much dependence on accepts the challenges faced by supernatural factors may lead, him in achieving the targets and TREE and has often led, to a loss of selfgoals chosen by him. “Life,” acreliance in man.” It would, according to him, cording to him, “is a principle of growth, not ultimately result in “blunting of his (man’s) of standing still, a continuous becoming, capacity and creative ability”. which does not permit static conditions.” For Nehru had a tremendous faith in the man, life is a long adventure and an opportuhuman. In order to show the supremacy of nity to test his will and his worth. He does man over God he argued, “God we may deny , not rest until goals are reached. From every but what hope is there for us if we deny man disappointment and defeat, the spirit of and thus reduce everything to futility .” man ‘emerges with new strength and wider Instead of having faith in God and religion vision’. Nehru expressed this characteristic Nehru advocated humanism – which he termed of the human spirit poetically thus: “I count life just a stuff/ To try the soul’s as ‘scientific humanism’. It represents ‘synthesis between humanism and scientific spirit’. strength on...” www.speakingtree.in Scientific humanism advocated by Nehru “is practical and pragmatic, ethical and social, Join the world’s first spiritual networking altruistic and humanitarian. It is governed by site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Ashok Vohra I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX W Autonomy for IITs, IIMs With reference to the editorial ‘Aim For World Class’ (May 25), it is unfair to target the IITs and IIMs for lack of quality research, as they cannot be separated from the larger Indian education system. It is futile to expect high quality research from a system based on rote learning. Research requires students to do in-depth study in the concerned field, which demands adequate time and resources. In that sense, the argument of the IIT and IIM faculties is justified to some extent. Lack of government funds and freedom to collaborate with industry are other impediments. If these institutions are given autonomy, they will have to discard the present grading system in favour of the one that judges students on the basis of their research work. Besides, any research has to be linked to the needs of the market to generate sufficient funds. Therefore, a complete overhaul of the education system is required to make our institutions truly world-class. Ramesh N Hasgekar, MUMBAI JUGULAR VEIN Even as a mirror stained by dust shines brilliantly when it has been cleansed, So the embodied one, on seeing the nature of the Self, becomes unitary , his end attained, from sorrow freed. Svetasvatara Upanishad 2.14 For everything there is an appropriate way of polishing; the heart’s polishing is the remembrance of God. Hadith of Tirmidhi A pure heart is as a mirror; cleanse it with the burnish of love and severance from all save God that the true sun may shine within it and the eternal morning dawn. Seven Valleys and Four Valleys, 21 Democracy in Pakistan? With reference to the editorial ‘Opportunity Knocks’ (May 20), it remains a mystery why the Pakistani army’s top brass chose to look the other way to facilitate the US’s Operation Geronimo against Osama bin Laden’s wellprotected Abbottabad hideout. But then Pakistan has always attracted the world’s attention for its many inexplicable deeds. A democratic government in Pakistan is certainly preferred by neighbouring countries, particularly India. However, strengthening it is easier said than done with the wellentrenched military calling the shots there. P P Sethumadhavan, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 20 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011 Sonia, Jaya, Maya, Mamata… It looks like boys aren’t having all the fun ou know women are on top when the most awaited event on the calendar is a tea party between two lady party bosses. You know it even more when the date falls through, signalling that those who read the tea leaves to prophesy changing political equations might as well stay home. The last time Sonia Gandhi and Jayalalithaa stirred the brew, it led to the fall of a Union government – led by A B Vajpayee – by one vote. This time, Tamil Nadu’s three-time CM has just denied getting an invite to share a cuppa from the Congress chief. A congratulatory phone call is all that’s passed between them. In short, it’s by Sonia’s karuna that DMK’s patriarch hasn’t been abandoned at the Tea-junction. In Indian politics today, the list of women-on-top impresses. The PM, Pranab and PC are seen as doing Her Majesty Sonia’s not-so-secret service. In UP, the world is Maya. Three-time CM Sheila is Delhi’s daredevil, outbatting male party rivals. Rashtrapati Bhavan has a lady politician-turned-president, who’s a Sukhoi flyer to boot. While Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar speaks softly but carries a big stick, opposition leader Sushma wages a noisy battle for Hindutva Swaraj. If this were not galling enough for male critics of all-girl bands, ladies’ bobcuts and women’s reservations, you now have TN singing Jaya Ho, and Bengal crying Ma, Maati, Mamata. True, feisty ladies – from the right’s Uma Bharti to the left’s Brinda Karat – have always graced legislatures. But if men thought that prison at least was an all-boys club, they were sadly mistaken. Battling heat and mosquitoes like the best of He-men in Tihar jail, DMK’s Kanimozhi has dealt the ultimate blow to male pride. Like any scandal-hit Raja, princesses of political dynasties too can stoically face adversity, even writing poems about their jail stay! Cell inmates aren’t prisoners of gender, suggests Jayalalithaa. She demands that “mercy” not be shown to Kani for being a woman. Is this because AIADMK’s boss has seen the insides of a jail herself in the past, no small thanks to Kani’s papa? Yes, Jaya and Maya once played apprentice to powerful male netas. But they graduated into lone rangers, proving the writers of their political obituaries wrong more than once. And there’s self-made Mamata. This streetfighter pushed her way up to Bengal’s chief ministership, humbling the very Marxists who’d made mockery of her their political staple. Sure, Sonia on her part may be a Nehru-Gandhi. But running Congress’s show for over a decade, she’s no longer just Rajiv’s bride. And courtesy her long innings, who remembers Sheila Dikshit’s dad-in-law was Indira Gandhi’s cabinet minister? Will this political sisterhood keep getting bigger, with or without women’s quotas? Will a larger share of party tickets for women level the field in future? Well, as things are turning out badly for the Lalus, Mulayams, Karunas, Karats and Gadkaris, women in greater numbers should take to power dressing. Leading rather than led, they’ll be the jewel in the crown – read power behind the throne – or wear the pants in the House. Why should boys have all the fun? How Not To Stop The Flow We talk of low-carbon, but need to create a low-water economy as well Rohini Nilekani Y In summer, people’s minds turn to water. Critically dependent on the monsoon, we pray for good rains as we suffer the extreme heat of the subcontinent. Water is no longer just a temporary concern for the summer months. If the last century was dominated by anxiety over oil, this one will be consumed by concerns over the declining quantity and quality of our water resources. In India, we may have to ready ourselves for perennial freshwater shortages. With our population growth and finite water resources of around 4,000 BCM, per capita availability of water has been declining steadily since 1947. We have also been recklessly drawing out water from our rivers and underground aquifers, without enough thought to their recharge and replenishment. It is now predicted we will be an officially water stressed country within this decade, when per capita availability may fall below the accepted 1,700 cubic metres per person per year mark. But that is a human-centred view of the situation. Water is a key element of nature in its own right, second only to wind as a land forming agent, second only to air in supporting all life forms on the planet. Human overextraction and abuse of water have had a devastating impact on its role in the environment. Yet water is a defining factor of the ecological base on which the economy rests. The real cost of water is its ecological cost. To protect both the ecology and the economy we now need a national , strategy to place water at the heart of development planning and implementation in the country. Just as we talk of a low-carbon economy to reduce fossil fuel dependency and reduce the threats of climate change, we need to create a low-water economy to secure our future and fulfil our responsibility to future generations. The principle on which the idea of a low-water economy rests is that water must be left in its natural state in the environment as much as possible. Every single drop extracted must then be justifiable and every drop used must be recycled A child in Bundelkhand: That drinking feeling To protect both the ecology and the economy, we now need a national strategy to place water at the heart of development planning and implementation in the country and reused whenever possible. In agriculture, which currently accounts for more than 80% of water demand, there are several ways to produce more crops per drop. These are not new ideas but bear repetition as they require a deeper commitment through policy financing and knowledge , generation. Keeping farmer interest at the core, we have to sever the link between cheap power and water wastage on farmland, incentivise water-saving techniques like drip irrigation, rationalise production, procurement and export of crops and so on. Consumers too can make intelligent choices to enjoy the vast diversity of healthy millets and other crops that grow with little water, and cut back on white rice and sugar, for example. Agro businesses must intensify efforts to increase water efficiency throughout their supply chain, and government policy must send strong signals for compliance. Industry has a crucial role to play in partnering with the idea of a low-water economy. Any water industry needs will have to come from current agricultural consumption and there are many conflict zones ahead. One of the biggest water guzzlers is the energy sector and it must hold out clear goals for reducing its water footprint. Other industrial players, who have for too long polluted freshwater bodies with impunity, will need to be carried along for this national mission. Incentives will have to be better aligned to make it much more difficult to pollute, or to draw water away from environmental, lifeline and livelihood needs. In the rural domestic sector, we are at a very low base. The government’s own norms suggest about 55 litres per capita per day and there is little scope to lower this number as people need at least 50 litres a day at a bare minimum for drinking, cooking, bathing and other cleaning. In urban areas, however, there is scope for a huge rethink. Cities today are managing water resources in an inequitable and unsustainable manner. In Delhi, per capita availability can vary from 36 to 400 litres per day Notwith. standing the huge cost of production of water sourced from hundreds of kilometres away despite the mighty Yamuna flowing in its backyard, Delhi does precious little to treat its waste water for reuse. Nor does it penalise waterconsuming elites as others struggle for their basic lifeline rights. The national capital leads in irresponsible water management and others follow suit. If 300 million more Indians are to pour into our 5,000-odd cities and towns in the next two decades, we will have to urgently redesign urban water services. It is possible to adopt an integrated approach to urban water from source to sink, using local water before making demands on external water, ensuring a pro-poor policy, minimising use for noncritical purposes, encouraging use of recycled waste water for all nonpotable needs and so on. Unfortunately, the dialogue on urban water has become unnecessarily polarised over the privatisation of water services. We need to reclaim a space for more reasoned discourse. Keeping a low water footprint across society will not be easy in an age of growing self-indulgence – with personal swimming pools personifying ultimate luxury and 12 inch shower heads in desert hotels. Can we develop a unique Indian model to grow economically while containing the growth of the water footprint? We will have to; otherwise water will become the constraining factor in our quest for inclusive and sustainable growth. Luckily, water, though finite, is infinitely renewable. The challenge is to renew our relationship with it and restore its value in our hearts and minds, a value that goes beyond price. The writer is chairperson, Arghyam and Pratham Books. I&B ministry cracks the whip on deodorant advertisements Unnecessary moral policing he information and broadcasting much more. Little humour, little desire, ministry has issued a diktat to the but plenty of ire seems to be the minisAdvertising Standards Council of try’s prescription for society . India (ASCI), asking it to take action The range of what is acceptable televiagainst some deodorant advertisements sion content changes organically from the ministry has found to be obscene. At time to time. What might have been inapthis rate, the ministry may just as well propriate 20 years ago may appoint itself one of the last outposts well be run of the mill today . of Victorian morality Suggestive and Advertising needs to push . playful the ads might be, but they can the boundaries if it is to hardly be categorised as soft porn. A lot of contemporary culture is sexually I T I M E S V I E W I suggestive. Any attempt to ban this is about as futile as King Canute ordering connect with an audience. the waves to turn back. In any case there is a generMost people would laugh if exposed to ally accepted principle to an ad that depicts a gaggle of women chas- shift potentially adult coning a man who sprays on a particular tent to suitable late night deodorant. But it seems such humour is timings. Most of the adverlost on the I&B ministry for whom such tisements in question are , ads become objects of ire. Or take a recent telecast outside family viewing time. In ad on which the ministry cracked its such a scenario, the I&B ministry’s order whip, which showed women gobbling up a can only be described as high-handed and chocolate man. The ministry’s objection out of sync with contemporary television is that such ads portray women as ‘objects viewing preferences. It must step back of desire’, although in many of these and allow self-regulation through the cases it’s the men who fit that description ASCI to take its course. Ads are objectionable n a very timely intervention, the I&B ministry has directed advertisers to either modify obscene deodorant ads within five days or take them off the air. The advertisements in question are overtly sexual and depict women as commodities. Not surprisingly they , have deservedly drawn criticism from various quarters on both legal and moral I T I COUNTERVIE Ajay Vaishnav Time To Take On The Pirates Kanti Bajpai grounds. Legally they have , violated the country’s advertising code, which categorically states that the portrayal of the female form should be tasteful and aesthetic and within the well established norms of decency . More than the legal angle, some of these raunchy commercials using female models in racy storylines have thrown morality out of the window. In their greed to promote and sell their product, an advertiser has gone as far as to suggest relationships within an extended family . Whether or not such ad strategy relying on titillation increases the appeal and thus, sales of the product, it is definitely in bad taste, as well as bad for the moral health of society Moral decay . cannot be allowed to set in at any cost. Further, to depend on cheap sensationalism to sell a product implies a lack of imagination and creativity in presenting the product. W I Another pernicious effect of these ads is the wrong psychological impression they create on minors. To expect the availability of parental guidance on every occasion is impossible. The suggestion to air offensive ads away from a prime-time slot is to deflect attention from the core issue. The advertising industry slavishly follows the West, but our society has different standards. Television has a wide audience and complaints about obscene advertising pour in from many quarters. In setting the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not, the ministry is just doing its job. The death of Osama bin Laden has dominated Indian foreign policy thinking for nearly a month – and understandably so. Yet, there are other things occupying the minds of India’s decision-makers. Right at the moment, it is Africa. The prime minister attended the India-Africa summit hosted by Ethiopia and is on his way to other parts of this fast-growing, democratising continent. Amongst the things he talked about was piracy. India has reason to worry about piracy. Eleven per cent of the sailors on the high seas manning commercial shipping are Indian. One estimate is that there were over 400 attacks on global shipping in 2010, more than one per day. The most dangerous area for piracy is off the coast of Somalia. Over 90% of the attacks are by Somali pirates. A number of Indians, over the past five years, have been taken hostage – last year, the figure was over 50. In addition, much of India’s trade including most of its oil comes from this region. The prime minister has called for the UN to combat piracy but it , is the world powers and their navies that must take the lead. As the biggest regional navy in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy has the capacity to lead the fight against pirates. Over the past 20 years, it has done a lot to build links with other navies, from Japan at one end to the Gulf at the other. It can and should do more to reach out to the Indian Ocean island states, the Gulf, and the East African littoral to collaborate with them against piracy In addition, the . South African navy the continent’s largest, should be a natural ally , . Naval cooperation with the US is deepening across the board, but at this juncture, perhaps, most crucial is tackling piracy together. New Delhi should also consider engaging the European Union (EU) over the issue. If the EU is interested in playing a greater international role, ensuring the safety of the oceans is an issue that fits well with its internationalist and global good citizenship vision. The major European states may have to think once again of sending their navies to faraway places. The Indian Navy and the European navies should begin a process of consultation and military exercising. India-China naval cooperation is an idea whose time has come. It is inevitable that the Chinese navy will enter the Indian Ocean in the coming years. India must consider working with it to control piracy This is in China’s interest too since a large portion of its . international trade plies the Indian Ocean. An incidental benefit of engaging the Chinese navy is to begin the process of confidence building with it. The navies of India and China will expand in strength and reach. They will, therefore, encounter each other on the high seas. Avoiding confrontation will be important, even as they cooperate. The two powers should, therefore, consider signing an ‘Incidents at Sea’ agreement of the kind that the US and Soviet Union signed in May 1972. Is it beyond the realm of possibility to work with Pakistan as well? Enlarging the scope of naval partnership with regional navies to increase ‘inter-operability’, to share intelligence, and to expand coverage of the ocean against piracy are just some of the measures India must take. Improving its own naval capabilities, quantitatively and qualitatively is also a vital necessity The Indian , . Navy has, for far too long, been relatively neglected amongst the three services. As India becomes an Asian power, it can no longer afford to ignore its navy . Diplomatically India should do more to persuade the littoral , states in East Africa to toughen their policies on piracy It should . help build their naval capabilities. India has the shipbuilding technology to build fast, light vessels that can protect coastal waters. New Delhi might also seek naval ports of call, if not more permanent facilities, on a regular basis along the East African littoral. A rising India must begin to take on more responsibility for the global commons. Tackling piracy is a place to begin. This is in India’s interest and a service to others. SNAP JUDGMENT Club Vs Country NY’s Racial Bias? rittika Biswas, an Indian citizen attending a school in New York, was locked up and subjected to strong-arm police tactics because her principal alleged she had been sending offensive emails. Remarkably the real culprit, when found, was simply moved to another school. We may never know what accounted for this gross disparity in treatment. But the very least Krittika deserves is an official apology . I See Before Going T he controversy regarding Gautam Gambhir’s shoulder injury, forcing him out of India’s tour of the Caribbean, is symptomatic of the pressures of modern-day cricket. Innovative formats such as the IPL have taken cricket to new heights. But a packed schedule means the club-versus-country debate will rear its ugly head. A long-term solution demands restructuring the cricket calendar to properly space out tournaments and give our cricketers a breather. K K icking off in Bangalore, Google Street View’s camera-mounted cars will hopefully soon be in other Indian cities as well. Having a real-world view available through Google Maps is more than a gimmick. It can benefit travellers, businesses and urban planners, among others. But given the privacy issues at stake, Google will have to ensure that its technology to blur faces and vehicle numbers is well implemented. I SACRED S PAC E Soft Pillow I The Ways Of Karma E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX There is no religion greater than truth and a truthful person knows no fear. Rig Veda Every noble work is bound to face problems and obstacles. It is important to check your goal and motivation thoroughly . One should be very truthful, honest and reasonable. One’s actions should be good for others and for oneself as well. Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realised, at least there will be no regret. The XIV Dalai Lama The first thing is to be honest with you. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself. Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty and humility. Nelson Mandela There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience. French Proverb E REBOOTING INDIA you sow a mango tree, some thorny bushes may come up because of the seeds present in very object in the universe is endowed the manure brought from somewhere else. It is with four characteristics: dharma, karma, not the mango seed that brings up the thorny prema and gyana. Of these, karma is the bush. Your mango seed will bring mango fruit, most talked about; it is also the most mis- in due course. understood. The Gita says: “Gahna Karmanyo Karma is that which propels reincarnaGathi” – Unfathomable are the ways of karma. tion. The stronger the impression, the greater There are three types of karma: Prarabha, the possibility of the next life being according sanchita and agami. The first is latent karma, to that. So, often you reincarnate like the an impression or seed of action. The second is person you hate or love. The mind which is full karma as action, and the third is karma as re- of different impressions leaves this body but sult. Prarabha means ‘begun’; the action that the impressions await suitable situations to is already manifesting and that is yielding its come back. So the last thought is very imporeffect right now. You cannot avoid it or change tant. Whatever you do throughout your life, it, as it is already happening. Sanchita is in the last moment your mind should be free accumulated karma. It is latent or and happy . Our perception of suffering, of manifested in the form of a tendency good and bad, is always relative. God is or impression in the mind. Sanchita karma can be burned absolute reality; a witness of all. See off by spiritual practices before it God as a movie director, rather than as manifests. Agami karma is the a judge. He has no ill feeling for the future karma of action; that which villain and no special favour for the has not yet come and which will hero. Each one is playing her role. THE take effect in the future. If you An awareness of dharma helps commit a crime, you may not get I SPEAKING I in comprehending the strange ways of karma. Whenever you see caught today but will live with the , TREE possibility that one day you may bad karma or someone suffering, get caught. you need to help. That is your Karma is also always bound by time, dharma. If you do not do your dharma, then because every action has a limited reaction. If you incur bad karma for not having done your you do something good to people they will dharma. Take recourse in your dharma to come to thank you and be grateful to you as transcend the bondage of karma and avoid long as they are experiencing the effect of your getting stuck with events or personalities. action. So, karma has only a limited sphere of Live with karma; don’t be attached to it. its effect, be it good or bad. ‘‘See action in inaction and inaction in It is often asked, “Why are good people action,’’ says the Gita. Awareness, alertness, made to suffer while those who commit injus- knowledge and meditation will help erase past tice go unpunished?” Such questions arise impressions. It has the strength to dissolve when we see an event in its limited framework. and destroy any karma and free you. www.speakingtree.in No good action will yield a bad result and no bad action will bring a good result. This is the Join the world’s first spiritual networking law of karma. As you sow, so shall you reap. If site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Talk: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Research means application With reference to the editorial ‘Aim For World Class’ (May 25), the primary issue is not lack of quality research facilities in the IITs, but lack of opportunities for their application. The stress on R&D without corresponding opportunity for industrial development is like putting the cart before the horse. A typical example is the development of a cost-effective short gestation solution by IIT Delhi to convert standard buses of all types and sizes available in India into hybrid electric buses. However, decision-makers denied the application of this technology and preferred wide body fuel-guzzling buses based upon imports at high cost. From this, one can imagine the general discouragement and fate of indigenous R&D and innovation. As long as policies are based on a licence-raj system, even the best research facilities will not be of any use. Our specialists will have no option but to migrate to greener pastures abroad. H K Agarwal, NEW DELHI It takes more than sermons With reference to the editorial ‘That India Lens’ (May 25), US President Barack Obama has rightly diagnosed the malady Pakistan has been suffering from. However, what is surprising is why the US has been blindly supporting Pakistan’s misplaced “India obsession” all this while. Why did it take so many years for the US to publicly acknowledge this truth? Is it because of the waning utility of Pakistan for US strategy? It would be naive to expect any perceptible change in Pakistan’s attitude towards India. Instead of giving sermons, the US must apply diplomatic pressure and reduce military aid to compel Pakistan to adopt a change in attitude. Bichu Muttathara, PUNE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 20 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 29, 2011 ‘Being a world champ boxer means being less of a mum’ Just weeks ago, MC Mary Kom, 28, won her fifth world boxing champion title in Haikou, China. The fight was rendered enormously difficult for the middleweight boxer because she knew that back in India, her three-year-old son was having heart surgery. The Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee tells Shimona Kanwar about the trials of combining motherly perfection with sporting magnificence. Excerpts: Is your son alright now? My son Khupneivar is doing good. He was operated upon for a hole in the heart and is now recuperating in the hospital ICU. Thanks for all the prayers. How did you manage to concentrate at the Asian Cup when you knew what was happening at home? It was difficult to cope with the pressure of the game as well as with my son’s heart surgery. But somehow, I did. I guess it is because the determination to win for the nation comes from the mind and striving to be a perfect mom comes from within the heart. Have you dedicated the gold medal to your son? Is this medal more special than all the others? Yes, this medal is for my Naidu (the boy’s nickname, which means beloved in Manipuri). In fact, I brought the medal and the cup directly to the PGI where he is admitted. I want his little fingers to touch the medal and make me feel a winner again. This way, the recent accomplishment will become more special than any of my knockout matches. How do you balance your life as a mother and as a sportswoman? Is it a difficult balance? I really do not have to balance in terms of personality as I remain the same when at home or out in the ring. However, as far as maintaining a fine balance between a mother and a sportsperson is concerned, I admit that it is tough. At times, I have missed out on my sons' growing up years, their pranks and innocent questions about discovery of their own world. But with my husband’s support, I have been able to overcome the limitation. Onler, my husband plays both father and a mother in my absence. Have you had to make sacrifices for your sport in your personal life? To get anything in life, sacrifice is a must. And I have learnt it the hard way. Initially, I tried to juggle between home and practice sessions. But it wasn’t possible to give equal time to both. I have come to this level at the cost of my family time. Would you like your sons to follow your example and join this sport? I definitely would want them to follow my hard work and determination. But the final decision must be theirs. What they want to do in life is entirely their domain and I will not insist that they take up boxing. Khupneivar has recently joined our academy to learn boxing. gion, there are no rigid regulations for women. It is an open society and women do not play second fiddle to men. So, I have never faced such a problem. But did you not have to initially hide your interest in boxing from your parents? I come from a farmer’s family. Be it working in the fields, cutting wood, fishing and making charcoal, I used to help my parents earn a livelihood. However, since they were keen on educating me, so I had to face stiff opposition from them when I turned to sports. Yes, initially I had concealed my interest. This could not remain a secret for long, though. How confident are you about winning Olympic gold next year? I am confident that I will give my best for the country. About winning the medal, let us just wait for the moment. I am certain it will be memorable. I have been consistently working hard for this. What happens if you win Olympic gold? What would be the motivation to go on for a champion who seems to have won almost all the awards that matter? Giving my best for the Olympics is my focus at the moment. Of course, if I win the Olympics, for which I have been waiting, it will be a dream come true. I am of the belief that medals are not an index of one’s victory. As long as I love the sport, I will move on till I retire. Besides boxing and your sons, do you have any other interests? What do you do in your spare time? I spend some of my spare time with the students of my academy in Manipur. I love to attend social functions and mingle with people. There are many youngsters who are looking for some source of inspiration and direction in life. I try and encourage these young people to chase their dreams and have faith in God. FOR THE RECORD MC MARY KOM You were an all-round athlete. Why did you choose boxing considering no one would think it a popular women’s sport? Why I took boxing? Well, I guess it was a love at first sight. Moreover, at the time I learnt about it, it was a new idea since women boxers were relatively unknown those days. The rise of Dingko Singh and the demonstration of women boxers at the 5th National Games (Manipur) inspired me a lot. Is it difficult to combine femininity and boxing? Have you ever faced jokes about being a female boxer? Taking the perspective of Indian society at large, it is a difficult combination. But I have been fortunate as I belong to the North-east. In that re- Bharat and India Roadmap for Kashmir: the path not trodden joined at the hip OUT OF THE BOX NAVNITA CHADHA BEHERA SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR After being thrashed in West Bengal and losing in Kerala, CPM policies have come in for much criticism. Yet it is not just the Left Front that lost. It is also the notion that this country suffers from a grave rich-poor divide, often called the India-Bharat divide, and that politicians must favour Bharat over India. The CPM was thrashed because for 34 years it sought to promote Bharat while neglecting (indeed denigrating) India. The CPM focused on land reforms, irrigation and panchayati raj, issues that benefited Bharat. This approach was politically popular for some time, but ultimately proved to be not enough. Poor people do not want to remain in Bharat forever, and want to cross into India as rapidly as possible. The India Shining slogan of the BJP in the 2004 election was an empty one. But Bharat Shining is just as empty a slogan, as West Bengal has just demonstrated. The Left performed the remarkable feat of winning elections in West Bengal for 34 years. Its strategy was to champion Bharat and denigrate/attack India. Its land reforms brought good political dividends. It also adopted the Punjab approach to agriculture, ushering in a green revolution in West Bengal. Young readers will not know that in the 1960s and 1970s, journalists talked of Bihar and Bengal in the same breath, as backward agricultural states saddled with feudalism stemming from the Permanent Settlement of the British Raj. These two states ran huge food deficits, and looked unreformable. But in the 1980s the Left Front produced a big jump in agriculture, leading first to self-sufficiency and now to a food surplus. Today, rice is smuggled from West Bengal to Bangladesh. Buoyant agriculture is the best way to reduce poverty, and so West Bengal became national champion in poverty reduction, something acknowledged by the World Bank. This helped the CPM win several elections in a row. But as situations change, so should policies. An agricultural boom is useful starting point for poor people, but needs to lead somewhere. In most places, rural prosperity translates into industrial growth and urban prosperity. But in West Bengal agricultural prosperity was a bridge to nowhere. The Left Front’s militant trade unions had chased out commerce and industry. There were few jobs and opportunities, so the CPM could not meet rising aspirations, and was vot- ed out. Kolkata used to be India’s business capital at independence—Mumbai was a relative backwater then. Alas, CPM militancy killed Kolkata’s industry and drove investment out of the state. The party was happy to see mills turn sick because they could then be nationalized and run at a loss, with union cadres becoming unpaid storm-troopers of the party, secure in jobs whether they worked or not. Killing companies was seen as a way of shifting the means of production to state ownership, thus winning the class war. Alas, West Bengal’s state enterprises performed very badly, as in almost all states, and could not create enough fresh jobs. When the CPM belatedly tried to attract industry in the last few years, its cavalier attitude to land acquisition led to politically deadly fiascos at Singur and Nandigram. Lesson: the notion of an India opposed to Bharat is an ideological myth. In fact a thousand bridges lead from one to the other, and millions keep crossing. Today we even have Dalit millionaires, who recently started a Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry! Rapid economic growth spearheaded by services and industry has created a shortage of all kinds of labour, helping wages to rise stridently everywhere from Bangalore to rural Bihar. Besides, booming revenues from rapid economic growth have financed a huge increase in social and welfare spending. Thus Bharat and India are not strangers, they are joined at the hip. States that have realized this have fared best. Gujarat has the highest rate of industrial investment in the country, but it also boasts the highest agricultural growth of 9%. Gujarat has never seen Bharat and India as two citadels between whom it has to choose. It has seen that the two are organically linked and should move together. Something similar happened in Andhra Pradesh under the late YSR. He was a welfare populist. Yet he saw the need for a businessfriendly climate to attract industry and accelerate growth and thus provide revenues for populism. The state’s Economic Freedom Index improved fastest among all states in 2005-09. He spent wisely on rural infrastructure, so the state’s agriculture grew at 6.8% per year, double the national rate. He saw no Bharat-India divide. He saw both as parts of an integral whole. So should we all. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms The interlocutors for Kashmir are due to submit an interim report to the central government. It is too early to say if their roadmap will resolve the conflict because what it entails is unclear. If it’s expected to yield a final political settlement, then it may not succeed because that can only result from a multi-layered and inclusive political dialogue wherein J&K’s political class takes the lead in re-working the rules of power sharing. The Delhi-based, eminent albeit ‘apolitical’ interlocutors are not best suited to this monumental task. Even so, they may make a significant contribution to the peace process. This, simply by undertaking the overdue and neglected task of mapping out the broad parameters within which the specificities of a peace proposal may be debated. Even this much calls for a fundamental shift in the basic terms of discourse because it questions the multiple fables that pass for conventional wisdom. The original blunder was made in 1947 when the ideological prism of the two-nation theory was used to characterize Kashmir as a HinduMuslim conflict. This historical narrative suggested that Pakistan — the “homeland” of the subcontinent’s Muslims — was incomplete without Kashmir’s inclusion, or that India’s secular credentials depended on Kashmir’s accession. It also suggest- ed that the dispute arose because a Muslim-majority state had its fate determined by a Hindu Maharaja. Both propositions do not stand up to historical scrutiny In 1947, Kashmir’s fate . was neither preordained nor decided on ideological grounds. The princely Dogra state of Jammu & Kashmir lay outside British India. The battle over it between the leadership of Congress and the Muslim League was fundamentally political and mainly because of the respective Dominions’ defence needs and need for geographical consolidation. Another critical factor was the local dynamics of Kashmiri politics. Though legally the , Maharaja alone could sign the Instrument of Accession, it was the Sheikh Abdullah-led National Conference’s political backing that ultimately swung it. The Muslim League chose to blame the Hindu Maharaja because it would have been far more difficult to explain how a popular Muslim leader like Sheikh had voluntarily opted to join India. The ‘territorilization’ of the Kashmir conflict has also detracted from the question of peoples’ ‘political’ rights and perpetuated the fallacy of viewing two parts of the divided state as homogenous entities. The political construct of a ‘Muslim-majority’ Jammu & Kashmir state pitted against a ‘majoritarian Hindu India’ or its counterpoint that Islam is sufficient to cement the relationship between ‘ zad Kashmir’ and Northern A Areas with Pakistan are, at best, misleading. Jammu & Kashmir with its extraordinary medley of races, tribal TAKING EVERYONE ALONG: A workable solution for Kashmir would be the one which takes care of the interests of all its diverse communities groups, languages and religions is arguably one of the most diverse regions in the subcontinent. Its majority community of ‘Kashmiri Muslims’ is not a unified, homogenous entity in terms of political beliefs, ideological leanings or political goals. Nor is the Kashmiri Muslims’ interpretation of the right to self-determination in terms of demanding a plebiscite mandated by the 1949 UN resolutions shared by other communities such as the Dogras, Kashmiri Pandits, Gujjars, Bakkarwals and Ladakhi Buddhists. The Kashmiri leadership has consistently failed to come to terms with this reality In the 1950s, if Sheikh Ab. dullah argued that self-determination was the inherent right of all peoples and demanded it for Kashmiris, he could not justify denying the same to people of Jammu and Ladakh. However, the latter’s demand for full and unconditional accession to India acted as a countervailing force to the Valley’s demand for independence. Currently too, the separatist leadership faces the same dilemma. It speaks on behalf of the ‘people of Jammu & Kashmir’ but represents the political interests of only a part of the majority community —Kashmiri Muslims in the Valley The minorities . in Jammu and Ladakh, in fact, seek autonomy from the Valley The seces. sionist agenda underlying the demand for right to self-determination has thus failed because it lacks an inclusive character. A just, viable and lasting peace in Kashmir must involve all the communities and nationalities living in the state, not Kashmiri Muslims alone who resorted to the gun and have thus been the worst affected by the politi- cal violence. This is important because if the political demands of the non-violent mobilization in Jammu, Ladakh and elsewhere are not addressed through the peace process, it will send the message that ‘violence pays’. This would defeat the very purpose of a peace process. And yet, J&K’s pluralities are an asset, not a liability when devising a strategy to resolve this conflict if they are viewed as a basis for linkages, not division. Finally it’s important to bring de, velopments in ‘ zad Kashmir’ and A the Northern Areas within the purview of debates on Kashmir’s political future. The people of ‘ zad KashA mir’ and the Northern Areas had to wait until 1970 and 1994 respectively to exercise their basic civil right to vote. Ambiguities about the constitutional and legal status of the latter have fostered typical colonial conditions whereby all civil and legal rights reside in the Pakistani state and none in the people. Nonetheless, Pakistan has always assumed the mantle of championing the Kashmiri cause and dictated the terms of Kashmir’s discourse at home and in the international arena. The basic rules of the game in agenda-setting must change and if the interlocutors could set this ball rolling it may well prove to be a game-changer in Kashmir. The author teaches at the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL1 <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Bhutan: Somewhere over the rainbow… POLITICALLY INCORRECT SHOBHAA DE The Yellow Brick Road leading from the airport at Paro to Thimphu in Bhutan witnessed astrange sight last week. The local wizard (Indian Ambassador Pavan Varma) played host to the Tin Men, Scarecrows and several Dorothys who descended on the comparatively tiny kingdom hoping to pass off as heavy-duty writers, thinkers and intellectuals at the third edition of a Lit Fest, titled ‘Mountain Echoes’. Well, there were fascinating Bhutan-India echoes at the three day jamboree, which was inaugurated by Bhutan’s beauteous Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. At 57, she is astonishingly youthful, energetic and charming, besides being an author of two well-received books that reflect her concerns for a kingdom that is getting seduced by a world that has so far seen Bhutan only as an exotic Shangri La. The gorgeous Queen Mum decided to do something about these misconceptions. The only way to find out for herself how her people really felt… how they lived… was to set off on a padayatra before penning “Treasures of the Thunder Dragon”. She travelled on foot to differ- ent parts of Bhutan, often trekking 17 days at a stretch through thick jungles and crossing mountain passes above 5,000 metres. She said with a disarming smile when I met her: “I wanted to do this while I was physically fit enough. I would have liked to travel incognito, but that wasn’t always possible. I wanted to narrate the story of 21st century Bhutan and tell the world we do not live in a time- warp.” This book comes 10 years after her first and a lot has changed in the kingdom during that decade. The sharp, erudite and articulate prime minister of Bhutan, Lyonchen Jigme Thinkey admit, ted as much, albeit circuitously during a lively interaction with Lit Fest delegates. Never mind that some of our self-styled gyaanwallahs were crass enough to tell the PM how to do his job better. To his credit, he handled most of this unsolicited advice with enormous grace. His concerns reflect those of most Bhutanese, who realize their idyllic, isolated life stands threatened by the advent of so-called modernity . Television was introduced in 1999. Information technology has altered the cloistered lives of over 10,000 monks, who ensure the teachings of the Buddha are preserved. The Queen Mum writes that Bhutanese monks today adeptly use computers to prepare scrolls of 100,000 prayers to place inside prayer wheels. But so sure is she of the deeply spiritual culture of her people, she states confidently that the Bhutanese have an extraordinary capacity to “appreciate, absorb and adapt.” Her optimistic vision is not entirely shared by locals who point out that though foreign-educated students choose to come back home to Bhutan after acquiring fancy international degrees, the rather charming concept of GNH (Gross National Happiness) instead of the predictable and conventional GDP(Gross Domestic Product) followed by the rest of the developed world, doesn’t quite cut it with the youth. The PM shares the Queen Mum’s dream when he says Bhutan is proposing a world debate on the true meaning of wealth. “How does anybody define wealth? Is it only about what you have? Or also about what you are?” he asks. Officially the Bhutanese are meant to take a holistic , approach to measure their own Happiness Quotient. This includes chasing prosperity at their own pace but not at the cost of their customs. On paper it’s a splendid idea. But how practical is it? Bhutan built its first (and only) airport as late as in 1983. Just 14,000 tourists visited Bhutan in 2005. Bhutan is not for backpackers, officials say But . with the recent introduction of charters from India, Bhutan must brace itself for the onslaught of Unruly Indians. The trading of tobacco is banned. But alcoholism and an addiction to paan remain rampant. There are no multiplexes, shopping malls, casinos and coffee shops or bars outside the five-tar hotels. So how do they keep themselves amused? Shrugged a beautiful socialite who had married and divorced four husbands, “What else is there to do? I was so bored!” Quite so. Well, there is the Royal Wedding in October to look forward to. The handsome 31-year-old Oxford-educated King (Jigme Keshar Namgyel Wangchuk) is all set to marry the delicate 20-yearold Jetsun Pema. Is it going to be an extravaganza designed to overshadow the Kate-William nuptials? “Oh, no!” insisted the PM when I asked, adding ,“Our King is keeping it simple. He is not planning to invite international media, nor heads of state. Not even kings and queens from across the world.” In that case, I must have clicked a really rare photograph of the couple on their engagement day when they casually strolled into our Ambassador’s home located on a sylvan 70-acre property King Wangchuk placed a protective . arm around his fiancee’s shoulder and smiled for the camera. Don’t bet on a fairytale wedding not happening. As for me, I got my fairytale moment with the couple, and I’m not complaining! My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSD<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms There’s a good reason why IIT is not MIT IN PRINCIPLE SRIVATSA KRISHNA A journalist once told Bobby Fischer that a female Grandmaster had complimented the American chess player as “a genius”. Fischer wryly replied that’s true, but she has no way of knowing! Perhaps Jairam Ramesh’s comment can be put in the same genre. At the outset, it’s important to recognize that IITs and IIMs can’t be clubbed together. They are very different institutions and need to be analyzed differently Had Ramesh said that IITs are not . MITs or that IIM is not Harvard Business School, no one could quarrel with that. But what he said is not substantiated by hard facts or data. The mandate of the IITs and IIMs for the first 50 years was to provide the sinews and muscles in terms of managers and leaders for developing India’s corporate sector and to help the government programmes. They have done so admirably This is evident from the fact . that today a Tata can go global and acquire a Corus or a Ritz Carlton and a GMR can build airports in Maldives and Istanbul. This would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN JULY 19, 1961 A CLASS OF THEIR OWN: There is significant value-addition inside IITs and IIMs IT ALL ADDS UP: While the communists in Kerala were still contemplating options available to them, Congress formed a coalition government with the Muslim League and Socialist Party The Institute for Lean Construction Excellence, an initiative entirely driven by the Civil Engineering Department of IIT-Madras along with some corporate houses is building information systems into new construction. A leading infotech company’s research centre at IIT-Madras Research Park has managed to cut energy consumption by 22% at various sites run by the firm. Applied research like this has enormous value for a developing country like India. Second, till as recently as 2000, IITMadras had a budget of about Rs 35 crore. Today it has Rs 200 crore. It also , faced significant constraints on hir- ing. For example, Ramanujam could never have been hired even though he was a genius as he had failed his BA exams. Compare this with the endowment of say a Caltech or Harvard or MIT. That runs to millions of dollars and has a 100-year research focus and legacy! It is truly odious, therefore, to compare the IITs with an MIT. Despite this, professors of IIT Madras have published in world-class journals such as the “Journal of American Chemistry Society”, “Journal of Physical Chemistry”, “ Annals of Mathematics” and American civil and mechanical engineering society journals. But there is no gain- saying the fact that IIMs have not produced as much research as they should, given the size of their faculty . Third, as students of multiple leading institutions such as Harvard Business School, IIT and IIM can attest, there are good and bad professors in every institution. While there is no Clayton Christensen yet at IIM-B, one cannot overlook the fact that in the last two years alone, they have hired 26 new faculty members predominantly from Wharton, INSEAD, MIT etc. Why would young PhDs/ brilliant faculty from these schools voluntarily relocate to IIMB unless they saw the possibility of doing world-class research and teaching there? Fourth, why do global companies, banks and consulting firms repeatedly hire from IITs/IIMs? They are under no pressure to do so, but the engineers and managers they produce are world-class, which means there is significant value-addition inside these institutions or else they could hire them straight after the 12th Boards! Jairam Ramesh is not right to say that IIT and IIM students are brilliant, not their institutions. Fifth, autonomy is unarguably a good thing but the other side of the coin is accountability At least a few . good IIMs are pushing for more accountability along with more autonomy Accountability would include . publishing in many more of the world’s top journals, increased hours of teaching and research, and strict curbs on unionism and indiscipline. It is shocking that there is no annual appraisal of IIM professors. From 2007, IIMs can pay faculty whatever they want, charge whatever fees they want, open campuses abroad and buy/sell land using their resources. But still they refuse to increase the total hours of teaching and research from 90 to 160 per year. Jairam Ramesh, a bright, wellmeaning professional IIT alumnus, has made it big in politics. But he may only be able to realize his dream of becoming finance minister if he learns to emulate Bobby Fischer rather than former Indian ministers with foot-in-mouth disease. The author an IAS officer has , , studied at Harvard Business School, IIT Madras and IIM-B. These are his personal views My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMCOL2 <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms 22 LG Optimus 2X TIMES REVIEW | TECHTONIC Ram SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 29, 2011 Tech Specs Size | 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5mm; 116 gms Display | 4.3 inches (480 x 800 pixels); Super AMOLED Plus Hardware | Exynos dual-core CPU running at 1.2Ghz; 1GB RAM Storage | 16GB Connectivity | EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS Operating system | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) customized with TouchWiz 4 pinch-to-zoom is fastest we have ever seen on any phone. The device even works smoothly on Flash videos. When it comes to GPS, the S2 locks onto satellites quickly, and more importantly, maintains that lock without any trouble. Considering its workhorse processor, the gadget boasts a decent battery life, and one can easily manage an entire day on a single charge when using EDGE. Given the patchy 3G service in India, however, it’s difficult to get more than 12 hours of battery life on moderate to heavy use. F our months before the LG Optimus 2X arrived on Indian shores, the device entered the Guinness Book of World Records in January as the world’s first smartphone equipped with a dual-core processor. Besides its famous Tegra2 CPU—with each core running at 1Ghz—the device also packs in 512MB RAM, 8GB inbuilt storage (with support for microSD of up to 32GB) and connectivity options that include support for 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi and DLNA (an industry standard that allows digital devices to communicate with each other over a wired or wireless network) – all of this in its 123.9 x 63.2 x 10.9mm frame. The device is also equipped with a micro HDMI port, using which one can hook the gadget to a flat-panel TV to access hi-definition content that may have been recorded using its camera. Build & screen Optimus One proved that LG is capable of a compact and sturdy phone, and 2X continues that tradition. The front is toughened Gorilla glass with tapered-off edges that meld into a metal strip that, in turn, enjoins its back plate. The device looks good, feels solid and at 139gms, is neither very light nor heavy . Screen size plays an important role in your smartphone experience. And LG is spot-on here. Its 4-inch capacitive display has a standard resolution of 800 x 480. Colours are accurately rendered. Still, the 2X’s screen is not the best we have seen on a phone, but it is above average. WHO’S GOT User interface The Optimus 2X runs a customized version of Froyo or Android 2.2, but LG claims that Gingerbread aka Android 2.3 will be available for the device in July . Speaking of customization, LG hasn’t done much with Android. It has just added a few basic widgets such as AccuWeather, tweaked some display effects and preloaded a few apps like Polaris Office, Facebook and Twitter for LG to make stock Android more useful to end-users. The frugal tinkering with the OS also means the LG’s customization doesn’t hinder performance. MUSCLE? Javed Anwer Camera & multimedia When it come to the camera, the S2 shooter is above average, but nothing spectacular. When compared to the Optimus 2X, the Samsung phone produced pictures that were lacking in detail. In terms of colours, however, its 8MP shooter has a slight edge over the competition. The camera records 1080P videos in MP4 format, and while its quality is decent enough to play back on 22-inch computer monitors or 32-inch TVs, it is definitely not the sort that ramps up well to 50-inch HDTVs. Also, expect slight blurring in videos when panning the camera in video mode. On the video playback front, the S2 delivers on all levels. In our test lab we have a number of clips encoded with various popular codecs. The S2 is the first phone that could play them all including a 1080P clip with a bit-rate of 17Mbps that can choke even netbooks. Performance & battery life Given the dual-core tag attached to 2X, we expected little trouble from the device in terms of performance. For years, Android phones have suffered from some mysterious lags and we hoped that the processor in this device would take care of that. The phone met our expectations. A dual-core chip makes a difference, especially when you are multitasking between four and five apps. Or when you are installing apps – something that takes a few seconds on 2X and not 10 or 20 seconds like it does on lesser devices. Browsing the web is snappy On the . stock browser, you can open up to eight windows and it barely stresses the phone. The pinch-to-zoom is mostly smooth but on web sites full of Flash content, you may feel the browser struggling a little. One jarring note in the 2X’s performance is its GPS. For some reason, it refused to connect with satellites. LG told us that the issue could be specific to our review unit, but a look through forums on the web revealed that several users reported similar glitches with the model. Battery life, however, is decent. The smartphone lasts for around eight to nine hours in moderate to heavy use when paired with a 3G connection. On EDGE, you can expect the phone to last to around one full day . LG Optimus 2X and Samsung Galaxy S2 are the first dual-core smartphones to arrive in India. Armed to the teeth with features and packed with state-of-the-art hardware, these gadgets push boundaries of mobile computing by providing processing speeds that were, till recently, only available on devices such as laptops and desktops. We pit these against each other to see who wins this battle of equals… interface that powers Galaxy SII. There are nagging issues with its GPS and the camera. And we would have liked to see at least 1GB RAM. Yet, the fact remains that in terms of overall performance, 2X is among the snappiest phones in India . It’s fast and has future-proof hardware in a sturdy and pleasant-looking body In overall ratings, it scores . lower than the Galaxy S2, but narrows that gap with its price advantage. With an MRP of Rs 29,000 (street price is around Rs 26,000) Optimus 2X is the cheaper of the two dual-core phones in the market. Final rating: ####1/2 At TOI, we are misers when it comes to ratings. But Galaxy S2, with its killer hardware and fluid performance, turned out to be one smartphone that deserves its stars. Apart from the plasticky build, there is nothing seriously wrong with this gadget. So, in case you decide that you want the best and fastest smartphone available in the market right now, look no further than Galaxy S2, which is set to hit store shelves by June 9. Samsung has fixed its MRP at Rs 32,890, though its street price is estimated to be slightly under Rs 30,000. Pros: Fast and fluid performance, gorgeous display future-proof hardware, , Android and its myriad customization options, superb video playback capabilities Cons: Plasticky build, may prove to be too large for people with small hands, no HDMI port (adapter will be sold as separate accessory) Samsung S2 G’s Optimus 2X might be the record holder in the Guinness Book, but when it come to sheer processing might, Samsung’s Galaxy S2 has a definite edge. Each core of its dualcore processor runs at a zippy 1.2Ghz – and this power is ably assisted by 1GB RAM. The phone comes with 16GB inbuilt storage with support for additional 32GB through SD card. In pure lab benchmarking tests such as Quadrant, which measures the theoretical performance of a gadget’s processor, memory card and gaming capabilities, the S2 scored 3320 points – 900 more than the 2X, thus making it the world’s fastest Android phone. L Super AMOLED Plus display. Indeed, the colours on this screen appear less saturated, and the images are much sharper than they appear on Samsung’s own Galaxy S. Text, however, looks better on the LCD screen of the Optimus 2X. For everything else, the 800 x 480 resolution, S2 screen is gorgeous. There is one glitch, though: The auto brightness dims the screen too much. But you can set it manually – for daily use, a brightness set at 20% works well. Build quality is one area where Samsung takes a beating in this face-off. Notably, the plastic backplate on this device is particularly thin. User interface S2 runs on Gingerbread (Android 2.3) customized with TouchWiz 4.0 user interface (UI). This UI allows users to access messages and even the list of missed calls without unlocking the home screen. Live panels—in other words, bigger widgets—can also be placed on the main display. Also, the ability to organize apps into folders has been added, along with the option to change the apps on the main dock. The S2 boasts of apps such as Social Hub, Gaming Hub and Reader Hub where relevant content can be grouped for easy access. For example, Reader Hub provides access to books, newspapers and magazines—free as well as paid—by bringing together services by PressDisplay Zinio , and Kobo e-book reader. Camera & multimedia Camera performance on 2X is average. Still pictures snapped with the 8-megapixel shooter came out very detailed, but colours seemed somewhat washed out. The 2X camera also captured more light than required in highlighted portions of a scene. This was not an issue in photos where light and shadows were evenly spread, but in scenes with highlights, it led to poor pictures. Optimus 2X records hi-def 1080p videos in 3GP format and not MP4. As a result, the videos are compressed a lot at the cost of quality MP4 is a more widely. supported format and many video players can handle MP4 clips out of the box. The same cannot be said for 3GP . In terms of multimedia features, the 2X is a decent performer. On paper it promises support for full HD videos encoded with popular codecs such as Divx, Xvid, H264. But during testing, it refused to play several 1080P MP4 and AVI files. Though everything that had lesser resolution played fine. Pros: Fast performance, future-proof hardware, HDMI port, decent price Cons: Bland user interface, glitches with GPS, 1080P HD recording in 3GP format (and not in MP4), not the latest version of Android Build & screen When it comes to its touchscreen, Samsung S2—measuring at 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5mm and weighing-in at 116gms— seems to have gone all the way with its 4.3-inch, Gorilla Glass, Capacitive, Do you need a phone with a dual-core processor? fter spending considerable time with India’s two dual-core phones, we think we can answer this question. If you want an Android phone, it makes sense to go for one that packs in a dual-core processor, even if you have to spend Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 extra. The reason is that on Android, a dual-core processor does indeed make a difference. On both Optimus 2X and Galaxy S2, the user interface was snappier, browsing a breeze and apps installed as well as loaded faster when compared to single-core devices. Additionally, the dual-core CPUs handled demanding tasks such as basic videoediting and high-end video games with aplomb. Many single-core Android phones can also do these tasks, but with varying degrees of success. The only argument against a dual-core phone could have been a poor battery life. A Tech Specs Size | 123.9 x 63.2 x 10.9mm; 139 gms Display | 4 inches (480 x 800 pixels), IPS LCD screen Hardware | Tegra 2 dual-core CPU running at 1Ghz; 512MB RAM Storage | 8GB Connectivity | EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS Operating system | Android 2.2 (Froyo) customized by LG Final rating: ###1/2 The Optimus 2X has its flaws. On the software side, it falls short in the face of something like Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 user But after spending time with two such devices, we are happy to say that manufacturers have been able to strike a good balance between power and performance. Of course, powerful hardware now also means that your new phone is likely to be future proof. But what about people who don’t indulge in high-end gaming or don’t care about HD playback/ recording? People who just want a phone that functions well; allows them to make calls, send messages, read emails or use their handsets for casual gaming and social networking? Well, our advice is, don’t spend more than Rs 20,000 on a phone. In the past few months, the competition amongst phone manufacturers has pushed prices down. And there are some good mid-range Android phones available that will more than meet your purpose. Performance & battery life The S2’s processor ensures that there is no hint of a lag – and the performance during multitasking is top notch. Web browsing is a breeze and its Mahafreed Irani t 22, Sahil Khan has been published twice. But unlike aspiring writers of old, he didn’t make rounds of publishing houses, send manuscripts to publishers, nor did he wait patiently by the phone for that call promising a book contract. Khan got his break because of his blog. The Pune-based blogger regularly posts book, movie and restaurant reviews at TheTossedSalad.com. Then, last year— completely out of the blue—he was commissioned by Bangalore-based Grey Oak Publishers to write a short story for an anthology titled Urban Shots. “I never expected to be a published writer, but one day, I got this email request from the publishers asking for a contribution. Apparently, someone had read my blog and liked my writing,” says Khan. His story The Untouched Guitar about a couple dating, breaking up and trying to patch up – all through the eyes of a common friend, was published last year along with 28 other urban tales by 12 young writers. Indeed, book publishers are increasingly prowling Cyberia in search of fresh new writing. “Before the advent of the World Wide Web, looking for new talent was tedious and would involve meeting new people and writers everyday,” says Jaya Bhattacharji Rose, a New Delhi-based publishing consultant and editor. “Now active blogs get noticed and are an effective means of discovering new voices,” she says. Research scientist and assistant professor at the University of Maryland, Arnab Ray is one such voice. The 35-year-old—who writes under the moniker The Great Bong—has maintained his blog The Random Thoughts of A From blogs to book deals Publishers are scouting for new writing talent on the interwebs. And bloggers with the support of a large readership and loyal fanbase are making the transition from blog to book WRITER’S CALLING: Lifestyle reviewer Sahil Khan, Anupam Mukerji of Fake IPL Player fame, Arnab Ray aka Great Bong and Just a Mother of Two, Preeti Shenoy are all active bloggers who won book deals after publishers saw their blogs a Demented Mind since 2004. Over a period of time, he even garnered a fan following of over 6,500 readers who lapped up every irreverent post he made on B-grade Bollywood, cricket and politics. A book deal, it seems, was just waiting to happen. In 2009, it happened. Ray is now a published author with Harper Collins and his 237-page book May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss, which was written in the same style as his blog has sold close to 15,000 copies. “The book was very close, in style and content, to what I write in my blog,” Ray says. “I stuck with what I was comfortable with since I had an idea based on my blog readers’ feedback as to what would work and what wouldn’t.” Ray is now working on his second book, which is set to be published in January 2012 by New Delhi-based Westland Publishers. Lipika Bhushan, marketing head at Harper Collins India, believes that established bloggers provide publishers with a safety net as they already “have a set of audience on the internet that would be looking forward to the book”. “That online audience also works as a focus group and helps in target marketing,” she adds. For the writer, the interactive nature of blogs allows them to understand what works and what doesn’t. Anupam Mukerji used a pseudonym to write a blog because he suffered from perpetual self-doubt about his writing skills. Blogging, he says, helped him discover his natural writing style. “I had tried my hand at writing a book before, but always gave up thinking that I was no good,” says the Bangalore-based computer engineer. The 35-year-old finally found widespread fame in 2009 as the Fake IPL Player (FIP). His blog, purporting to be from an insider within the Kolkata Knight Riders’ camp, provided inside gossip, albeit fabricated, about the team. No wonder then, it created ripples in the cricketing community Fans logged on to read the . writings of the anonymous author who had been labelled the “poison pen” by team managers. With over 1,50,000 visitors, media attention, a steady stream of comments, The Fake IPL Player garnered enough confidence to do something he always dreamt of… write a book. Mukerji contacted publishers with his FIP email and was signed on by Harper Collins to write The Gamechangers. His blog made it easier for him to reach out to publishers, he says. “They probably get approached by hundreds of first-time authors every day If it . wasn’t for my blog, I too would have got lost in the hordes of emails they get.” The book—following the style of the blog—is written anonymously And when . it was released during the third season of the IPL, it was lapped up by cricket fans that were curious to identify the writer. Mukerji has since disclosed his true identity and now also has a column with a popular Mumbai-based tabloid. But blogs are not all. Many wannabe authors are also using networking sites and even participating in online writing races to ensure they fight writer’s block and finish writing their novels without slacking. The Novel Race and NaNoWriMo (National Book Writing Month) are two such events that prod writers to race against time and with each other to complete a book. “Blogging and events like these help to bring in a kind of discipline to writing,” says Pune-based Preeti Shenoy who regularly updates her blog Just a Mother of Two. Her first book, 34 Bubble Gums and Candies, is a collection of 34 real-life incidents, all adapted from her blog posts. “The publishers really liked my style of writing on the blog,” Shenoy says. After her book became a bestseller, she received multiple offers from publishers to write a second. Life Is What You Make It, a full-length novel, was released this year and Shenoy has already started work on the third. And then there are e-book communities such as WattPad, which provide a mobile and web-based reading platform for undiscovered talent to share their works. The web site allows writers to publish their novels, short stories or poems and interact with readers and fans. “We work with publishers every day and many agents have Wattpad accounts to seek out new writing,” says Nina Lassam of Wattpad. The number of blogger-turned-authors is testimony to the trend. “ Aspiring writers should always maintain a blog,” recommends Mukerji. “Not for anything else, but for themselves. It’s their own space. A space where they can experiment and tell a story the way they want without any compulsions from any party he says. .” And The Great Bong concurs: “It is after all an online portfolio of writing samples.” SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 29, 2011 BOOKS 23 OFF THE SHELF PIRATES AHOY! © JP Laffont/Sygma/Corbis Is it time to write off Pakistan? No, not yet Shobhan Saxena | TNN Quick takes on new titles READ R D Burman: The Man, The Music By Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Balaji Vittal HarperCollins India Rs 399, 380 pages Trendsetter. Legend. Genius. There’s no dearth of adjectives for R D Burman, who is still the rage in retro bars and nightclubs. This book puts his music in context and analyzes his life and compositions. For Bollywood music fans, it’s a treasure trove of information about how songs are written and composed and how they turn actors into legends by lip-synching. But perhaps the authors could have tried to see RD through the prism of his times – the late 1960s and 1970s – and given more space to his bond with Rajesh Khanna and Gulzaar, both of whom helped him become one of the most loved music director of all times. — Shobhan Saxena J American actor Walter Matthau on the sets of ‘Pirates’, directed by Roman Polanski O Mines”. But while Rider Haggard’s had been an Africa seen from a very English viewpoint, nce upon a time – as all good tales should Smith’s Africa was that of one who was born begin – there was a marvellous story- and bred to the land. The sights and sounds and teller who wrote about a magnificently smells and tastes Smith described were vivid . wild and beautiful continent called Africa. His and compelling in their reality That’s what gave name was Wilbur Smith, and his first novel, him the compulsive readership he enjoyed. Now, with his 33rd novel, Smith still retains “When the Lion Feeds”, published in 1964, established him internationally as a major force some of the addictive readability that marked in the realm of adventure fiction. Starting with his earlier works. But what was once a reasSean Courtney in the mid-19th century the 13 suring pattern for his readers – detailed de, novels that comprise the Courtney saga, went scription that brought his landscapes to life, back and forth in time, crisscrossing the his- fast and furious action, a satisfactory conclusion in which wild justice is meted out tory of the continent from the early by the good guys to the bad guys – has European mariners and explorers who now become a formula, and a tired forsailed to it to trade and hunt and setmula at that. Smith is now 78, and – tle, through the Boer war and the milsadly – his age is beginning to show itary campaigns against the Zulus, to in his writing. the sweeping winds of change that His latest offering is a stand-alone brought independence from colonial yarn. Cayla, the spoilt teenaged daughrule but also the murderous strife of ter of African oil billionaires Hazel tribalism that remains the deepest Bannock, is captured by Somalian pistigma on the red earth of the land. rates and subjected to sexual torture. Smith wrote to a pattern which Those In Peril To the rescue comes Hector Cross, an his readers quickly grew familiar with: all his heroes were square-jawed By Wilbur Smith ex-SAS major who runs a private sePan Books curity agency. In a daring mission, men of action; all his heroines were leonine in their loveliness and, if any- Rs 325, 386 pages Cayla is rescued. But the long arm of the pirates – led by the risibly named thing, even tougher than their male counterparts. But the real protagonist was Adam Tipoo Tip – reaches out to claim a terriAfrica itself: that vast, brooding land, ancient ble debt of blood. It’s up to Hector and Hazel – yet always new, forever startling in its untamed by now predictably an item – to seek approprisplendour. When you read Smith, you felt the ate vengeance, with the aid of a band of merwait-a-bit thorns tug at your clothing and the cenaries and a state-of-the-art billion-dollar conprickle of dust in your nose as you stalked your tainer ship called the Golden Goose. With its high-octane mix of action, sex and quarry – a man-killing lion, a terrorist guer, rilla lying in ambush – through the tangled the power of mega-money Smith’s formula still thickets of the bush country; the dawn frost works in giving readers a thrilling ride worth of the high veldt numbed your fingers to the the price of the book. And charitably inclined bone, and the noontide sun of the desert beat fans will overlook the unintentional humour of down on you with the hammer blows of a black- phrases like “he felt the worms of suspicion crawl deep in his gut”. smith’s forge. Poor Sean Courtney It’s enough to make a . Smith was hailed as the natural successor to Rider Haggard – the author of African ad- vintage Smith hero turn in his grave in emventures like “She” and “King Solomon’s barrassment. Jug Suraiya ust a few days after Osama bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy Seals in a safe house in Abbotabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani gave a clean chit to the army and ISI and blamed the west for creating al-Qaida. The failure to catch Osama was the world’s failure, not Pakistan’s, Gilani told parliament. While more and more people, particularly observers in South Asia, seem convinced that Pakistan is sinking, its leaders are blaming everyone else for everything that’s gone wrong there. It’s a throwback to the India of the 1960s, when Indira Gandhi was trying to strengthen her grip on power after the vacuum caused by the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri in quick succession. “Will India survive as a nation, as a democracy?” was the question raised by many western scholars, some of whom predicted “Balkanization” or a “military takeover”. At the time, just like Gilani, the Indian government blamed the invisible “foreign hand” for domestic GRIM PORTENT: A plume of smoke rises from Mehran naval aviation base in problems. In those days, with the Karachi after the May 22 attack on it by militants army firmly in control in Pakistan, that country was the darling of the of London in the late 1980s, and sev- there is no chance of a mass upriswest; India, with its floods, droughts eral research trips as a professor of ing and the “patronage to kinship” and rampant poverty, was seen as a War Studies at King’s College, Lon- system, which is central to the nabasket case. don. He knows the ter- ture and working of the Pakistani Now, the roles have rerain. He knows the peo- state, is still functional. “Pakistan versed. India is the subtext ple. And he knows that will not become a failed state in the of Anatol Lieven’s study of Pakistan is on the verge short term, unless the US is proPakistan. The journalistof losing control of its voked into destroying it. The questurned-academic claims narrative. But, Lieven tion is whether it can ever really that fears about Pakistan won’t write Pakistan off. progress as a country – and if it are exaggerated. This is a Not just yet. doesn’t, whether it can survive in book written by a man As he travels across the long term,” writes Lieven. deeply in love with PakPakistan, where his Sometimes, when he writes istan. But to be fair to him, grandfather once served about the army, Lieven sounds like Lieven does not mince as an ICS officer in the an apologist for a dysfunctional words when he lists the Pakistan: A Hard colonial administration, state that has denied democracy and Country problems plaguing PakLieven talks to ordinary freedom to its citizens for nearly istan. “The country is di- By Anatol Lieven people and tries to get a half its existence. But, the book has Allen Lane vided, disorganized, ecosense of how they see a word of caution for Indians as nomically backward, cor- Rs 499, 560 pages their country. Using an- well: don’t gloat over Pakistan’s rupt, violent, unjust, often ecdotes, Lieven tells read- predicament as problems in your savagely oppressive towards the ers that Pakistan is anything but the own backyard are no less serious. poor and women, and home to ex- “most dangerous place in the world” It’s a point worth pondering even tremely dangerous forms of ex- as proclaimed by western experts though the west may have stopped tremism and terrorism,” he writes. who are hell-bent on declaring it a writing India’s obituary and turned And then he reminds readers about “failed state”. its attention to Pakistan. the Maoist insurgency in India. Lieven’s premise is that three Lieven undoubtedly knows Pakistan reasons will ensure that Pakistan Buy any book on this page at 20% off well. He has lived and worked there does not collapse: the religious ex- @www.books.indiatimes.com or sms WHB – as correspondent for The Times tremists do not control territory; to 58888 or call 09910118888 The Kabab Maker And The Consultant By Arun Sikka; Rupa Rs 150, 188 pages The characters in this collection of short stories – a kabab maker, an oily middleman, a hapless widow, a stiff brigadier – will find resonance in almost everyone. Most people can relate to government corruption, boredom in a marriage, happy coincidence or human greed. Written with a wry sense of humour, the language is crisp. In “New Moon”, the “cold air leapt at her like a boisterous canine, tickling her nose, slipping into her ears, and making her shiver.” In “Three Journeys...” the “exhausted mass in the compartment magically unwound itself, pored out of the doors and vanished in the mist.” — Shobha John GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HIGH EXPLOSIVES FACTORY, PUNE-411003 (A Government of India Enterprise) Nalco Bhawan, Nayapalli , Bhubaneswar - 751 061, Odisha , India (Through Gok e-procurement platform www . eproc . karnataka .gov . in) National Aluminium Company Limited 91 I NALCO CORRIGENDUM 1. Tender Reference No.: No. ORDFYS/HEF/DAVP/04/1 0-11/E0/16RR/ 10-11 dt. 24,03,2011, 2. Brief Nomenclature : Design, Supply, Erection , Commissioning of of Work Vertical axis and basket type centrifuge having basket diameter of 1250 mm used for production of tetryl. 3. Quantity : 2 Nos. 4. Advt. Reference AAvt. published on 15.04.2011 in d The Hindustan limes (Delhi), The Times of India (Mumbai), Indian Express une), The h indu (Chennai), Buy & Sell (Kolkata) and The Economic Times (Kolkata). The last date of receipt of applications is extended upto 06.06.2011. All other terms and conditions remain unaltered. Notes:1. Relevant details for pre-qualification of vendors for shortIis ng (Annexure-A) and Brief Specification (Annexure-B) are available on website www.tenders.aov.in 2. Address for Communication: THE GENERAL MANAGER HIGH EXPLOSIVES FACTORY KHADKI, PUNE-411003 MAHARASHTRA (INDIA) Tel: +91 20 25819566/7 Fax: +91 20 25813204 Sd/Add I. General Manager For General Manager davp 10201/11/0270/1112 CORRIGENDUM TO TENDER NOTICE No. - NBCIMMILAN/2011/PT/131CORR - 1 Date : 24.05.2011 Item rate Tenders are invited through Gok e-Procurement Platform www .eproc .karnataka .gov .in from eligible tenderers by the Executive Engineer (Infrastructure Division-IV), BDA , Bangalore - 560 020 on behalf of the Commissioner , BDA , Banga lore , for the following work : Name of the work : Providing barbed wire fencing & tree plantation works around Kannenaha lli/Kannalli Lake in in proposed layout of Nadaprabu Kempegowda Layout , Bangalore. Approx . Value of work : Rs. 43,60,000/-. For further details , please log on to https:// eproc .karnataka .gov .in or call e-procurement Helpdesk on 080-25501216/25501227. Sd/- Executive Engineer , Infrastructure Division -IV The last date of submission of Tender Tender for Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Up-gradation of LAN for National Aluminium Company Ltd., Odisha, India is extended up to 10.06 2011,13:00 Hrs. (IST).ThesaleotTender Papers is extended up to 13:00 Hrs. (1ST) of 09.06.2011. For further details, please log on to www .nalcoindia .com &www.tenders.gov.in. General Manager (Materials ) • (A wholl y owned Government of Gujarat Tender Notice No. / / 1) Est.Cost (a) Corri gendum No. & (R s. in (b) Name of the work lacs) 2) Tender Fee (Rs.) (c) 3) EMD (Rs. in lacs) (d) 4) Cl ass SARDAR SAROVAR NARMADA NIGAM LIMITED Undertaking) Pre -bid conference Last date for online submission of tender documents Last date for physical submission Online verification of d ocuments & openi ng of tender (tech) (e) Online opening of Price bid 3 1 2 Advertisement for Online Tenders for more than Rs. 25 crore and upt o Rs. 100 cr. Works under the Chief Engineer , (SBC), SSNNL , Rajkot Tender Notice No. 1 of 2011-12 Constructing Canal E. W, CC. Lining, Structures & Service Road of the Distributories & Minors of (I) (2) (3) (4) 653 1.62 30000/65.32 ‘AA Class ThIBAL COOPEMI1VE MAPKETINO DEVELONIENT FEDERA1ION OF INDIA LTD. RIFED) ________ (Through G0K e-procurement platform www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in) Item rate Tenders are invited through G0K e-Procurement Platform www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in from eligible tenderers by the Executive Engineer (Infrastructure Division-IV), BDA , Banga lore - 560 020 on behalf of the Commissioner , BDA , Banga lore , for the following work. TRIFED (under Mirlistty of Tribal Affairs , Govt. of India) NCUI Building, lind Floor , 3, Sin Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi -110016 Tel.: 091(11)26569064, 26968247 Fax: 091-11-26866149 E-mail: tr
[email protected] Website: www .tribesindia.com EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR EMPANELMENT OF EXPERTS/AGENCIES TRIFED - a National level Cooperative Body underthe Ministry of Tnbal Affairs, Government of India, is engaged in the marketing development of tribal products and skill development/up-gradation & capacity building trainings of tribal handicraft artisans and tribal people engaged in the collection of Minor Name of the work : Providing barbed wire fencing & tree plantation works around Kenchanapura Lake in proposed layout of Nadaprabu Kempegowda Layout , Banga lore. Approx . Value of work : Rs. 19,71 ,000/-. For further details , please log on to https://eproc.karnataka.gov.in or call e-procurement Helpdesk on 080-25501216/25501227. Distributory D-l to D-19 offtaking from Maliya Branch Canal & their 0 & M for Five Years. Constructing Canal E.W , (1) 3093.93 Forest Produce like Honey, Gum Karayn, Mahuwa Flower, Lac Cultivation and Dona Pattal making etc., with the ultimate objective of increasing their income and , ensuring sustainable economic development. TRIFED plans to expand and extend its training and skill development/up-gradation Sd/- Executive Engineer , Infrastructure Div isi on-IV programs to larger number of tribal people throughout the country, for which Expression of Interest is invited for Empanelment of Experts /Agencies to act as ResourceCentre and/or Implementi ngAgen cy in thesefields , NAGPUR IMPR OVEMENT TR UST Station Road, Sadar, Nagpur - 440001. WA h ‘ wwwnittpnr1pr r’nm . CC. Lining, Structures & (2) 24000/Service Road of the (3) 30.94 Distributories & Minors of (4) ‘AA ” Distributory MD-20 to24, , 26 Class 28 to 33 ,& 351038 offlaking from Maliya Branch Canal Ch.70 tO 137.93 km & their O & M for Five Years. Note : The details regarding contact place for physical submission and opening of tender please visit website www.ssnn l.nprocure.com REFERENCE WEBS I TE - www.sarda r sarova r da ni.or g (a) 04-06-20 11 at 12 .00 hrhrss.. (b) 16-06-20 11 up to 18.00 hrs. (c) 17-06-20 11 From 10.30 hrs. to up to 16.00 hrs. (d) 17-06-20 11 16.00 hrs. onwards (if possible) (e) 24- 06-20 11 at 12.00 hrs. (if possible) I INFI4O6/l 1-1 2 fr1 J1JA IPUR ,DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY L Indira Circle Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Jaipur-320 004 Jaipur Development Authority invites sealed tender on behalf of Authority under three envelop post qualification system (envelope A A contain Bid Security envelope B contain technical bid, envelope C contain financial Bid) from experienced , technically and and financially sound and reputed department/ state govt. Department) local bodies! Railway or from public and private company for the Work of Package-i Construction of Elevated Road from Collectrate Circle to Raj Mahal Crossing on Sardar Patel Patel Marg via Khasa Kothi & Govt. Hostel Crossing consisting single box , with/ without cantilever arm , by segmenta l construction-The details of Elevated Road and other associated structures are given below: A. Approx. 1 .10 km , four lane Elevated Road from Collectrate Circle to Govt. Hostel Crossing with up & down ramp at Collectrate Circle and down ramp at Govt . HosteHoste GPO on M.I.Road,The height of elevated l near road at khasa Kothi crossing is nearly at the level of 21 m from the road level. B.Approx , 1.10km , two lane Elevated Road from Govt, Hostel crossing to Ra) Mahal crossing on Sardar Patel Marg with a down ramp. C. One up ramp at Govt. Hostel Crossing forthe traffic of Sansar Chandra road for connecting the elevated road going to Sardar Patel Marg D. U ramo near Government Hostel for Collectrate Circle bound traffic for Approximate cost of the work 150 crores contractors IJVI consortium who are registered in JDN any of centra l NIT No.-14/2011-12 rio i ir ivi I ur i ,I PiLJ Date : 27.5.2011 k Interested individuals, Organisations/lnstitutions (Govt /Semi GovtfNon Govt /Cooperative Sector/Technical Institutions/Universities etc) having e TENDER NOTICE NO. 10/2011-12 adequate knowledge and experience in the implementation of capacity building,building, skill development/up-gradation trainings & projects in the tribal areas and/or e-TENDER NOTICE INVITING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL functioning as resource centre for at least 3 years with adequate Infrastructure facilities and qualified manpower, may apply for empanelment in the respective Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) proposes to Develop Bus Terminal At Jaganade catego ry (ies ) giving complete details about themselves (in the prescribed Square , Nag Road , Nagpur. The project site , owned by NIT measures 9783.92 format that can be downloaded from the TRIFED website - www.tribesindia.com Square Metres at Jaganade Square, Kit.No. 576, 324/1 (P) Mouza Nagpur on eastern or obtained from TRIFEDs Head Office , New Delhi or concemed Regional side of the City, on Nag Road. The site,trapezium in shape, is about 60 meters broad Office) along with supporting documents to Deputy General Manager (MFP) at Head Office New Delhi or the concemed Regional Manager of TRIFED at the and 160 meters long and reserved for transportation purpose in the development address mentioned abovewithin 30 days of the publication. plan of the city. The proposed project site connects well to the current public Deputy General Manager (MFP) transportation services like railway station, bus station & airport and major TRIFED , Head Office commercial areas in the city. Office of Additional Chief Eng ineer Drilling Region PHED Jalpath , Sector-8 , Arawa li Marg, Mansarovar Jai pur Phone & Fax-91 -141-2785624 P/T-v (3) 39/2010-11/735-785 Date: 24.5.2011 Corri gendum Due date of NIT No. P/T-V (3) 39/2010-11 issued vide this office letter No. P/T-V(3) 39/2010-11/5846-5896 dated 21/01/2011 for supp ly of Rotary Cum DTH Heavy Duty Combination Power Pump Rig capable to drill depth upto 450 Mtr in all type of strata is hereby extended as under. Si’ Events Original Extended Extended Now furthe x dates date issued date issued extended on 1.3.11 on 15.4.11 dates ____________ ________ — — I Availability From Upto Upto Upto of tender 1.2.11 to 15.4.11 24.5.11 28.6.11 [11I[ I T E NII]E R NOTICE II D C.No.06/CCTNS/APeCOPS/SI-RFP/201I Dt. 27-05-2011 The Andhra Pradesh Police Department invites sealed bids from the reputed IT Companies/Firms for selection of System Integrator (SI) for implementing and maintaining Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project in Andhra Pradesh Police Department across the State. RFP document comprising of detailed scope of work , selection process and other terms & conditions can be collected in person on any working day from 01/06/2011 Q GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH POLICE DEPARTMENT Under this project NIT envisages Construction of state of the art Bus Terminal for Ihe private bus operators as per D.C. rules of Nagpur city. The Development of the project is on Design - Build - Finance - Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. The maximum concession period for the proposed project shall be 90 years . The Agreement shall be renewed after every 30 years , as per terms and conditions in the Concession Agreement . To make the project viable and selfsustainable the Concessionaire will be permitted to develop Yatri Niwas , Convenience Offices and Convenience Shopping as a part of of allied services of the the Bus Terminus Project in consonance of D.C . rule of Nagpur City and as stipulated in the concession agreement . Eligibility Criteria: The bidder must have developed, commissioned and Marketed on sale or lease or rent or license or concession basis a single project of industrial or Rs. 21,000/- in from of Bank Draft in favour of Secretary, JDA, Jaipur Bid security 1 % of Project cost in the form of demand draft of Rs. 10.00 laos and balance can be deposited in the form of B.G. issued by Nationalized/Scheduled Bank both in favour of Secretary, JDA payable at Jaipur. Completion period 21 months (Twenty one months) Sale of tenderdocurrents 10.06.2011 to 30.06.2011 Date/Time of tender submission up to 15:00 hrs. On On 07.07.2011 Date/Time of tender opening opening on 07.07.2011 15:30 (Techni cal Bid ) Tender document can be purchased from the office of the Deputy Director (project and Audit), Room no. 225, Jaipur Development Authority, Ram and Kishore Vyas Bhawan, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg , Jaipur. For detailed information log on to www.jai purjda.org. For any other information the contact person shall be RAJKUMAR SHARMA , S.E. (Project-I) email:
[email protected] &tel. 0141-2574317 Director (Project) _______________________ _________________________ Cost of Tender Documents to 04/07/2011 during office hours between 11.00 AM to 04.00 PM from the Office of the Inspector General of Police, Police Computer Services & Standardization , 4th Floor , DGP Office Complex , Lakdi-ka-pul, Hyderabad - 500 004 , on a payment of tender fee of Rs . 25 ,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousands only) through Demand Draft. Interested IT Companies/Firms can also download the REP document from www.appolice.gov.in and remit Tender fee of Rs . 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousands only) at the time of submission of RFP document . The Demand Draft in respect of tender fee of Rs. 25,000/- should be drawn in favour of “IGP , PCS” from any Nationalized Bank payable at Hyderabad . All the prospective Bidders are advised to check for all clarifications , corrigendum and any other important information related to this REP at the website www .appolice.gov.in from time to time. The last date for submission of bids is 05/07/2011 till 03.00 PM. Sd/-, CEO ,APeCOPS (CCTNS) & Inspector Genera l of Police , Police Computer Services & Standardization, A.P., Hyderabad. commercial or retail space of of minimum of 50,000 (Fift Thousand) square feet of a y ______________________________________ five preceding financial years from the Bid Due Date. The Lead Member shall have a minimum Net Worth of Rs. 10 crore (Rupees Ten Crore Only) at the close of the preceding financial year and shall have a minimum average Net Cash Accrual of Rs . 3.5 crore (Rupees Three Crore and Fifty Lakh only) over three preceding Financial years . The RFP is available on-line fro m 11.00 flours on 30.05.2011 to 14.00 fi rs. on 29.07.2011 on www.nittenders.com on payment of RFP document cost of Rs. 10,000/-ate-tender cell , Room No. 41 41 NIT office Sadar, Nagpur on working at days or online purchase by credit card . Pre-bid meeting will be held on 22.06.2011 at 11.00 hrs. at office of Superintending Engineer, NIT. Last Date for submission of RFP online is up till 15.00 hrshrs. .29.07.2011. Opening of the bid will be on on 29.07.2011 at 16.30 firs. or as decided by NIT. Additional information can be sought information built - up area , overthe documents 2 Date & time of submission of tender docu rients , EMD and ther supporting/ qualification d ocuments — — 3 Opening of pre qualification hid — — 4 Opening of Price B id — — 28.2.11 3.3. 11 upto 14 Hrs 4.11 1818.. upto 14 Hrs 25 .5.11 upto 14 Hrs 29.6.11 upto 14 Hrs fro m Superintending Engineer, NIT. Ph. (0712)2547885 , Fax (0712) 2531079. Advt. No. SE .1243 Dated : 27/05/2011 visit website : www.nittenders.com I rv sd/Superintending Engineer PR n,,r A,1,A Nagpur Improvement Trust 3.3.11 at at 18.4.11 at 25 .5.1 1 29.6.11 14.30 14.30 at 14.30 at 14.30 Hrs 1-Irs Hrs I-Irs Will be Will be Will be Will be int imated int ima tt d intimated e intimated Separatel y Separatel y Separatel y Separately o qualified to qualified to qualified to qualified bidders bidders bidders bidders All -.4 . ., . . All other + - .... ,. &. conditions shall remain .... .-.l.... ,-. A A P h -. + -. .-l -.. terms P , . 4 -... .. ,k,.ll unchanged. The tendei documents can be seen/down loaded from our website www.rajwater.gov.in Water is precious ppease save it l Add l. Chief Eng ineer Drilling Region DIPRJC/4646/201 1 PHED Jai pur _____________ SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 29, 2011 BOOKS 23 OFF THE SHELF PIRATES AHOY! © JP Laffont/Sygma/Corbis Is it time to write off Pakistan? No, not yet Shobhan Saxena | TNN Quick takes on new titles READ R D Burman: The Man, The Music By Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Balaji Vittal HarperCollins India Rs 399, 380 pages Trendsetter. Legend. Genius. There’s no dearth of adjectives for R D Burman, who is still the rage in retro bars and nightclubs. This book puts his music in context and analyzes his life and compositions. For Bollywood music fans, it’s a treasure trove of information about how songs are written and composed and how they turn actors into legends by lip-synching. But perhaps the authors could have tried to see RD through the prism of his times – the late 1960s and 1970s – and given more space to his bond with Rajesh Khanna and Gulzaar, both of whom helped him become one of the most loved music director of all times. — Shobhan Saxena J American actor Walter Matthau on the sets of ‘Pirates’, directed by Roman Polanski O Mines”. But while Rider Haggard’s had been an Africa seen from a very English viewpoint, nce upon a time – as all good tales should Smith’s Africa was that of one who was born begin – there was a marvellous story- and bred to the land. The sights and sounds and teller who wrote about a magnificently smells and tastes Smith described were vivid . wild and beautiful continent called Africa. His and compelling in their reality That’s what gave name was Wilbur Smith, and his first novel, him the compulsive readership he enjoyed. Now, with his 33rd novel, Smith still retains “When the Lion Feeds”, published in 1964, established him internationally as a major force some of the addictive readability that marked in the realm of adventure fiction. Starting with his earlier works. But what was once a reasSean Courtney in the mid-19th century the 13 suring pattern for his readers – detailed de, novels that comprise the Courtney saga, went scription that brought his landscapes to life, back and forth in time, crisscrossing the his- fast and furious action, a satisfactory conclusion in which wild justice is meted out tory of the continent from the early by the good guys to the bad guys – has European mariners and explorers who now become a formula, and a tired forsailed to it to trade and hunt and setmula at that. Smith is now 78, and – tle, through the Boer war and the milsadly – his age is beginning to show itary campaigns against the Zulus, to in his writing. the sweeping winds of change that His latest offering is a stand-alone brought independence from colonial yarn. Cayla, the spoilt teenaged daughrule but also the murderous strife of ter of African oil billionaires Hazel tribalism that remains the deepest Bannock, is captured by Somalian pistigma on the red earth of the land. rates and subjected to sexual torture. Smith wrote to a pattern which Those In Peril To the rescue comes Hector Cross, an his readers quickly grew familiar with: all his heroes were square-jawed By Wilbur Smith ex-SAS major who runs a private sePan Books curity agency. In a daring mission, men of action; all his heroines were leonine in their loveliness and, if any- Rs 325, 386 pages Cayla is rescued. But the long arm of the pirates – led by the risibly named thing, even tougher than their male counterparts. But the real protagonist was Adam Tipoo Tip – reaches out to claim a terriAfrica itself: that vast, brooding land, ancient ble debt of blood. It’s up to Hector and Hazel – yet always new, forever startling in its untamed by now predictably an item – to seek approprisplendour. When you read Smith, you felt the ate vengeance, with the aid of a band of merwait-a-bit thorns tug at your clothing and the cenaries and a state-of-the-art billion-dollar conprickle of dust in your nose as you stalked your tainer ship called the Golden Goose. With its high-octane mix of action, sex and quarry – a man-killing lion, a terrorist guer, rilla lying in ambush – through the tangled the power of mega-money Smith’s formula still thickets of the bush country; the dawn frost works in giving readers a thrilling ride worth of the high veldt numbed your fingers to the the price of the book. And charitably inclined bone, and the noontide sun of the desert beat fans will overlook the unintentional humour of down on you with the hammer blows of a black- phrases like “he felt the worms of suspicion crawl deep in his gut”. smith’s forge. Poor Sean Courtney It’s enough to make a . Smith was hailed as the natural successor to Rider Haggard – the author of African ad- vintage Smith hero turn in his grave in emventures like “She” and “King Solomon’s barrassment. Jug Suraiya ust a few days after Osama bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy Seals in a safe house in Abbotabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani gave a clean chit to the army and ISI and blamed the west for creating al-Qaida. The failure to catch Osama was the world’s failure, not Pakistan’s, Gilani told parliament. While more and more people, particularly observers in South Asia, seem convinced that Pakistan is sinking, its leaders are blaming everyone else for everything that’s gone wrong there. It’s a throwback to the India of the 1960s, when Indira Gandhi was trying to strengthen her grip on power after the vacuum caused by the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri in quick succession. “Will India survive as a nation, as a democracy?” was the question raised by many western scholars, some of whom predicted “Balkanization” or a “military takeover”. At the time, just like Gilani, the Indian government blamed the invisible “foreign hand” for domestic GRIM PORTENT: A plume of smoke rises from Mehran naval aviation base in problems. In those days, with the Karachi after the May 22 attack on it by militants army firmly in control in Pakistan, that country was the darling of the of London in the late 1980s, and sev- there is no chance of a mass upriswest; India, with its floods, droughts eral research trips as a professor of ing and the “patronage to kinship” and rampant poverty, was seen as a War Studies at King’s College, Lon- system, which is central to the nabasket case. don. He knows the ter- ture and working of the Pakistani Now, the roles have rerain. He knows the peo- state, is still functional. “Pakistan versed. India is the subtext ple. And he knows that will not become a failed state in the of Anatol Lieven’s study of Pakistan is on the verge short term, unless the US is proPakistan. The journalistof losing control of its voked into destroying it. The questurned-academic claims narrative. But, Lieven tion is whether it can ever really that fears about Pakistan won’t write Pakistan off. progress as a country – and if it are exaggerated. This is a Not just yet. doesn’t, whether it can survive in book written by a man As he travels across the long term,” writes Lieven. deeply in love with PakPakistan, where his Sometimes, when he writes istan. But to be fair to him, grandfather once served about the army, Lieven sounds like Lieven does not mince as an ICS officer in the an apologist for a dysfunctional words when he lists the Pakistan: A Hard colonial administration, state that has denied democracy and Country problems plaguing PakLieven talks to ordinary freedom to its citizens for nearly istan. “The country is di- By Anatol Lieven people and tries to get a half its existence. But, the book has Allen Lane vided, disorganized, ecosense of how they see a word of caution for Indians as nomically backward, cor- Rs 499, 560 pages their country. Using an- well: don’t gloat over Pakistan’s rupt, violent, unjust, often ecdotes, Lieven tells read- predicament as problems in your savagely oppressive towards the ers that Pakistan is anything but the own backyard are no less serious. poor and women, and home to ex- “most dangerous place in the world” It’s a point worth pondering even tremely dangerous forms of ex- as proclaimed by western experts though the west may have stopped tremism and terrorism,” he writes. who are hell-bent on declaring it a writing India’s obituary and turned And then he reminds readers about “failed state”. its attention to Pakistan. the Maoist insurgency in India. Lieven’s premise is that three Lieven undoubtedly knows Pakistan reasons will ensure that Pakistan Buy any book on this page at 20% off well. He has lived and worked there does not collapse: the religious ex- @www.books.indiatimes.com or sms WHB – as correspondent for The Times tremists do not control territory; to 58888 or call 09910118888 The Kabab Maker And The Consultant By Arun Sikka; Rupa Rs 150, 188 pages The characters in this collection of short stories – a kabab maker, an oily middleman, a hapless widow, a stiff brigadier – will find resonance in almost everyone. Most people can relate to government corruption, boredom in a marriage, happy coincidence or human greed. Written with a wry sense of humour, the language is crisp. In “New Moon”, the “cold air leapt at her like a boisterous canine, tickling her nose, slipping into her ears, and making her shiver.” In “Three Journeys...” the “exhausted mass in the compartment magically unwound itself, pored out of the doors and vanished in the mist.” — Shobha John GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HIGH EXPLOSIVES FACTORY, PUNE-411003 (A Government of India Enterprise) Nalco Bhawan, Nayapalli , Bhubaneswar - 751 061, Odisha , India (Through Gok e-procurement platform www . eproc . karnataka .gov . in) National Aluminium Company Limited 91 I NALCO CORRIGENDUM 1. Tender Reference No.: No. ORDFYS/HEF/DAVP/04/1 0-11/E0/16RR/ 10-11 dt. 24,03,2011, 2. Brief Nomenclature : Design, Supply, Erection , Commissioning of of Work Vertical axis and basket type centrifuge having basket diameter of 1250 mm used for production of tetryl. 3. Quantity : 2 Nos. 4. Advt. Reference AAvt. published on 15.04.2011 in d The Hindustan limes (Delhi), The Times of India (Mumbai), Indian Express une), The h indu (Chennai), Buy & Sell (Kolkata) and The Economic Times (Kolkata). The last date of receipt of applications is extended upto 06.06.2011. All other terms and conditions remain unaltered. Notes:1. Relevant details for pre-qualification of vendors for shortIis ng (Annexure-A) and Brief Specification (Annexure-B) are available on website www.tenders.aov.in 2. Address for Communication: THE GENERAL MANAGER HIGH EXPLOSIVES FACTORY KHADKI, PUNE-411003 MAHARASHTRA (INDIA) Tel: +91 20 25819566/7 Fax: +91 20 25813204 Sd/Add I. General Manager For General Manager davp 10201/11/0270/1112 CORRIGENDUM TO TENDER NOTICE No. - NBCIMMILAN/2011/PT/131CORR - 1 Date : 24.05.2011 Item rate Tenders are invited through Gok e-Procurement Platform www .eproc .karnataka .gov .in from eligible tenderers by the Executive Engineer (Infrastructure Division-IV), BDA , Bangalore - 560 020 on behalf of the Commissioner , BDA , Banga lore , for the following work : Name of the work : Providing barbed wire fencing & tree plantation works around Kannenaha lli/Kannalli Lake in in proposed layout of Nadaprabu Kempegowda Layout , Bangalore. Approx . Value of work : Rs. 43,60,000/-. For further details , please log on to https:// eproc .karnataka .gov .in or call e-procurement Helpdesk on 080-25501216/25501227. Sd/- Executive Engineer , Infrastructure Division -IV The last date of submission of Tender Tender for Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Up-gradation of LAN for National Aluminium Company Ltd., Odisha, India is extended up to 10.06 2011,13:00 Hrs. (IST).ThesaleotTender Papers is extended up to 13:00 Hrs. (1ST) of 09.06.2011. For further details, please log on to www .nalcoindia .com &www.tenders.gov.in. General Manager (Materials ) • (A wholl y owned Government of Gujarat Tender Notice No. / / 1) Est.Cost (a) Corri gendum No. & (R s. in (b) Name of the work lacs) 2) Tender Fee (Rs.) (c) 3) EMD (Rs. in lacs) (d) 4) Cl ass SARDAR SAROVAR NARMADA NIGAM LIMITED Undertaking) Pre -bid conference Last date for online submission of tender documents Last date for physical submission Online verification of d ocuments & openi ng of tender (tech) (e) Online opening of Price bid 3 1 2 Advertisement for Online Tenders for more than Rs. 25 crore and upt o Rs. 100 cr. Works under the Chief Engineer , (SBC), SSNNL , Rajkot Tender Notice No. 1 of 2011-12 Constructing Canal E. W, CC. Lining, Structures & Service Road of the Distributories & Minors of (I) (2) (3) (4) 653 1.62 30000/65.32 ‘AA Class ThIBAL COOPEMI1VE MAPKETINO DEVELONIENT FEDERA1ION OF INDIA LTD. RIFED) ________ (Through G0K e-procurement platform www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in) Item rate Tenders are invited through G0K e-Procurement Platform www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in from eligible tenderers by the Executive Engineer (Infrastructure Division-IV), BDA , Banga lore - 560 020 on behalf of the Commissioner , BDA , Banga lore , for the following work. TRIFED (under Mirlistty of Tribal Affairs , Govt. of India) NCUI Building, lind Floor , 3, Sin Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi -110016 Tel.: 091(11)26569064, 26968247 Fax: 091-11-26866149 E-mail: tr
[email protected] Website: www .tribesindia.com EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR EMPANELMENT OF EXPERTS/AGENCIES TRIFED - a National level Cooperative Body underthe Ministry of Tnbal Affairs, Government of India, is engaged in the marketing development of tribal products and skill development/up-gradation & capacity building trainings of tribal handicraft artisans and tribal people engaged in the collection of Minor Name of the work : Providing barbed wire fencing & tree plantation works around Kenchanapura Lake in proposed layout of Nadaprabu Kempegowda Layout , Banga lore. Approx . Value of work : Rs. 19,71 ,000/-. For further details , please log on to https://eproc.karnataka.gov.in or call e-procurement Helpdesk on 080-25501216/25501227. Distributory D-l to D-19 offtaking from Maliya Branch Canal & their 0 & M for Five Years. Constructing Canal E.W , (1) 3093.93 Forest Produce like Honey, Gum Karayn, Mahuwa Flower, Lac Cultivation and Dona Pattal making etc., with the ultimate objective of increasing their income and , ensuring sustainable economic development. TRIFED plans to expand and extend its training and skill development/up-gradation Sd/- Executive Engineer , Infrastructure Div isi on-IV programs to larger number of tribal people throughout the country, for which Expression of Interest is invited for Empanelment of Experts /Agencies to act as ResourceCentre and/or Implementi ngAgen cy in thesefields , NAGPUR IMPR OVEMENT TR UST Station Road, Sadar, Nagpur - 440001. WA h ‘ wwwnittpnr1pr r’nm . CC. Lining, Structures & (2) 24000/Service Road of the (3) 30.94 Distributories & Minors of (4) ‘AA ” Distributory MD-20 to24, , 26 Class 28 to 33 ,& 351038 offlaking from Maliya Branch Canal Ch.70 tO 137.93 km & their O & M for Five Years. Note : The details regarding contact place for physical submission and opening of tender please visit website www.ssnn l.nprocure.com REFERENCE WEBS I TE - www.sarda r sarova r da ni.or g (a) 04-06-20 11 at 12 .00 hrhrss.. (b) 16-06-20 11 up to 18.00 hrs. (c) 17-06-20 11 From 10.30 hrs. to up to 16.00 hrs. (d) 17-06-20 11 16.00 hrs. onwards (if possible) (e) 24- 06-20 11 at 12.00 hrs. (if possible) I INFI4O6/l 1-1 2 fr1 J1JA IPUR ,DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY L Indira Circle Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Jaipur-320 004 Jaipur Development Authority invites sealed tender on behalf of Authority under three envelop post qualification system (envelope A A contain Bid Security envelope B contain technical bid, envelope C contain financial Bid) from experienced , technically and and financially sound and reputed department/ state govt. Department) local bodies! Railway or from public and private company for the Work of Package-i Construction of Elevated Road from Collectrate Circle to Raj Mahal Crossing on Sardar Patel Patel Marg via Khasa Kothi & Govt. Hostel Crossing consisting single box , with/ without cantilever arm , by segmenta l construction-The details of Elevated Road and other associated structures are given below: A. Approx. 1 .10 km , four lane Elevated Road from Collectrate Circle to Govt. Hostel Crossing with up & down ramp at Collectrate Circle and down ramp at Govt . HosteHoste GPO on M.I.Road,The height of elevated l near road at khasa Kothi crossing is nearly at the level of 21 m from the road level. B.Approx , 1.10km , two lane Elevated Road from Govt, Hostel crossing to Ra) Mahal crossing on Sardar Patel Marg with a down ramp. C. One up ramp at Govt. Hostel Crossing forthe traffic of Sansar Chandra road for connecting the elevated road going to Sardar Patel Marg D. U ramo near Government Hostel for Collectrate Circle bound traffic for Approximate cost of the work 150 crores contractors IJVI consortium who are registered in JDN any of centra l NIT No.-14/2011-12 rio i ir ivi I ur i ,I PiLJ Date : 27.5.2011 k Interested individuals, Organisations/lnstitutions (Govt /Semi GovtfNon Govt /Cooperative Sector/Technical Institutions/Universities etc) having e TENDER NOTICE NO. 10/2011-12 adequate knowledge and experience in the implementation of capacity building,building, skill development/up-gradation trainings & projects in the tribal areas and/or e-TENDER NOTICE INVITING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL functioning as resource centre for at least 3 years with adequate Infrastructure facilities and qualified manpower, may apply for empanelment in the respective Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) proposes to Develop Bus Terminal At Jaganade catego ry (ies ) giving complete details about themselves (in the prescribed Square , Nag Road , Nagpur. The project site , owned by NIT measures 9783.92 format that can be downloaded from the TRIFED website - www.tribesindia.com Square Metres at Jaganade Square, Kit.No. 576, 324/1 (P) Mouza Nagpur on eastern or obtained from TRIFEDs Head Office , New Delhi or concemed Regional side of the City, on Nag Road. The site,trapezium in shape, is about 60 meters broad Office) along with supporting documents to Deputy General Manager (MFP) at Head Office New Delhi or the concemed Regional Manager of TRIFED at the and 160 meters long and reserved for transportation purpose in the development address mentioned abovewithin 30 days of the publication. plan of the city. The proposed project site connects well to the current public Deputy General Manager (MFP) transportation services like railway station, bus station & airport and major TRIFED , Head Office commercial areas in the city. Office of Additional Chief Eng ineer Drilling Region PHED Jalpath , Sector-8 , Arawa li Marg, Mansarovar Jai pur Phone & Fax-91 -141-2785624 P/T-v (3) 39/2010-11/735-785 Date: 24.5.2011 Corri gendum Due date of NIT No. P/T-V (3) 39/2010-11 issued vide this office letter No. P/T-V(3) 39/2010-11/5846-5896 dated 21/01/2011 for supp ly of Rotary Cum DTH Heavy Duty Combination Power Pump Rig capable to drill depth upto 450 Mtr in all type of strata is hereby extended as under. Si’ Events Original Extended Extended Now furthe x dates date issued date issued extended on 1.3.11 on 15.4.11 dates ____________ ________ — — I Availability From Upto Upto Upto of tender 1.2.11 to 15.4.11 24.5.11 28.6.11 [11I[ I T E NII]E R NOTICE II D C.No.06/CCTNS/APeCOPS/SI-RFP/201I Dt. 27-05-2011 The Andhra Pradesh Police Department invites sealed bids from the reputed IT Companies/Firms for selection of System Integrator (SI) for implementing and maintaining Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project in Andhra Pradesh Police Department across the State. RFP document comprising of detailed scope of work , selection process and other terms & conditions can be collected in person on any working day from 01/06/2011 Q GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH POLICE DEPARTMENT Under this project NIT envisages Construction of state of the art Bus Terminal for Ihe private bus operators as per D.C. rules of Nagpur city. The Development of the project is on Design - Build - Finance - Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. The maximum concession period for the proposed project shall be 90 years . The Agreement shall be renewed after every 30 years , as per terms and conditions in the Concession Agreement . To make the project viable and selfsustainable the Concessionaire will be permitted to develop Yatri Niwas , Convenience Offices and Convenience Shopping as a part of of allied services of the the Bus Terminus Project in consonance of D.C . rule of Nagpur City and as stipulated in the concession agreement . Eligibility Criteria: The bidder must have developed, commissioned and Marketed on sale or lease or rent or license or concession basis a single project of industrial or Rs. 21,000/- in from of Bank Draft in favour of Secretary, JDA, Jaipur Bid security 1 % of Project cost in the form of demand draft of Rs. 10.00 laos and balance can be deposited in the form of B.G. issued by Nationalized/Scheduled Bank both in favour of Secretary, JDA payable at Jaipur. Completion period 21 months (Twenty one months) Sale of tenderdocurrents 10.06.2011 to 30.06.2011 Date/Time of tender submission up to 15:00 hrs. On On 07.07.2011 Date/Time of tender opening opening on 07.07.2011 15:30 (Techni cal Bid ) Tender document can be purchased from the office of the Deputy Director (project and Audit), Room no. 225, Jaipur Development Authority, Ram and Kishore Vyas Bhawan, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg , Jaipur. For detailed information log on to www.jai purjda.org. For any other information the contact person shall be RAJKUMAR SHARMA , S.E. (Project-I) email:
[email protected] &tel. 0141-2574317 Director (Project) _______________________ _________________________ Cost of Tender Documents to 04/07/2011 during office hours between 11.00 AM to 04.00 PM from the Office of the Inspector General of Police, Police Computer Services & Standardization , 4th Floor , DGP Office Complex , Lakdi-ka-pul, Hyderabad - 500 004 , on a payment of tender fee of Rs . 25 ,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousands only) through Demand Draft. Interested IT Companies/Firms can also download the REP document from www.appolice.gov.in and remit Tender fee of Rs . 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousands only) at the time of submission of RFP document . The Demand Draft in respect of tender fee of Rs. 25,000/- should be drawn in favour of “IGP , PCS” from any Nationalized Bank payable at Hyderabad . All the prospective Bidders are advised to check for all clarifications , corrigendum and any other important information related to this REP at the website www .appolice.gov.in from time to time. The last date for submission of bids is 05/07/2011 till 03.00 PM. Sd/-, CEO ,APeCOPS (CCTNS) & Inspector Genera l of Police , Police Computer Services & Standardization, A.P., Hyderabad. commercial or retail space of of minimum of 50,000 (Fift Thousand) square feet of a y ______________________________________ five preceding financial years from the Bid Due Date. The Lead Member shall have a minimum Net Worth of Rs. 10 crore (Rupees Ten Crore Only) at the close of the preceding financial year and shall have a minimum average Net Cash Accrual of Rs . 3.5 crore (Rupees Three Crore and Fifty Lakh only) over three preceding Financial years . The RFP is available on-line fro m 11.00 flours on 30.05.2011 to 14.00 fi rs. on 29.07.2011 on www.nittenders.com on payment of RFP document cost of Rs. 10,000/-ate-tender cell , Room No. 41 41 NIT office Sadar, Nagpur on working at days or online purchase by credit card . Pre-bid meeting will be held on 22.06.2011 at 11.00 hrs. at office of Superintending Engineer, NIT. Last Date for submission of RFP online is up till 15.00 hrshrs. .29.07.2011. Opening of the bid will be on on 29.07.2011 at 16.30 firs. or as decided by NIT. Additional information can be sought information built - up area , overthe documents 2 Date & time of submission of tender docu rients , EMD and ther supporting/ qualification d ocuments — — 3 Opening of pre qualification hid — — 4 Opening of Price B id — — 28.2.11 3.3. 11 upto 14 Hrs 4.11 1818.. upto 14 Hrs 25 .5.11 upto 14 Hrs 29.6.11 upto 14 Hrs fro m Superintending Engineer, NIT. Ph. (0712)2547885 , Fax (0712) 2531079. Advt. No. SE .1243 Dated : 27/05/2011 visit website : www.nittenders.com I rv sd/Superintending Engineer PR n,,r A,1,A Nagpur Improvement Trust 3.3.11 at at 18.4.11 at 25 .5.1 1 29.6.11 14.30 14.30 at 14.30 at 14.30 Hrs 1-Irs Hrs I-Irs Will be Will be Will be Will be int imated int ima tt d intimated e intimated Separatel y Separatel y Separatel y Separately o qualified to qualified to qualified to qualified bidders bidders bidders bidders All -.4 . ., . . All other + - .... ,. &. conditions shall remain .... .-.l.... ,-. A A P h -. + -. .-l -.. terms P , . 4 -... .. ,k,.ll unchanged. The tendei documents can be seen/down loaded from our website www.rajwater.gov.in Water is precious ppease save it l Add l. Chief Eng ineer Drilling Region DIPRJC/4646/201 1 PHED Jai pur _____________ 24 talk of the times The story of the week as relayed by Gen Now on their cellphones. Lol OPEN SPACE SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MAY 29, 2011 What is a tick tock? OPEN SPACE A tick tock is used with reference to a news event about which events are recounted in chronological order. The term is used as a metaphor, indicating the ticking of a clock towards the unfolding of an event. The events are explained with boldface dates. — Mayank Tewari, Mumbai Why is a zero score by a batsman called a duck? The term is a shortening of “duck’s egg”, which was used long before cricket began. When referring to the Prince of Wales’ (the future Edward VII) score of naught on July 17, 1866, a contemporary newspaper wrote that the Prince “retired to the royal pavilion on a ‘duck’s egg’ ” because the shape of the number “0” is similar to that of a duck’s egg. The Concise Oxford Dictionary still cites “duck’s egg” as an alternative version of the term. — Karan Nigam, Varanasi What is the Domino Effect? The Domino Effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby , which then causes another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time lag between successive events is relatively small. The term can be used literally or for causal linkages within systems such as GANESHA SAYS BEJAN DARUWALLA different forces, in particular centrifugal force and (for short periods) linear acceleration. The creation of artificial gravity is considered desirable for long-term space travel or habitation. It allows for ease of mobility and helps to avoid the adverse , health effects of weightlessness in the absence of gravity . — Deepak Goyal, via email What are ungulates? Ungulates are hoofed mammals that walk on their toes. The word ungulate comes from the Latin word “unguis”, which means nail, claw or hoof. Ungulates are divided into two classes: even-toed ungulates such as deer, giraffe, antelopes, and odd-toed ungulates such as horses, zebras and rhinoceroses. — Satish Mudaliar Bangalore , Aries: You are fascinated by new ideas and spend time with people who espouse new philosophies. You look for wisdom in people and may go seer shopping. Work continues on steady footing, family life is peaceful. So you have the time to get distracted. Taurus: You find yourself in the lap of luxury . Money flows in from unexpected quarters and you revel in the windfall. You make sensible purchases and investments because by now you know the situation can change dramatically overnight. Apleasant time in many ways. Gemini: The good times continue and you make resounding progress in whatever you do. The theme is money and you will busy yourself with every conceivable instrument of finance. You are less cautious now. This is not dangerous because you ride the crest of you good luck: nothing tried , nothing gained. Cancer: Ganesha says you are firing on all cylinders. A lot will be achieved. You are normally careful with money but this week you spend recklessly . There is power and prestige in the offing. You are not terrific with people and so a touching up of skills is necessary . Leo: You risk losing recently-found stability . You have the right attitude but are on fickle ground because you are torn by emotion. You wish to move ahead, make money and all the other usual accoutrements of progress but somehow, you can’t. Your mind is a swamp, you’re on edge and can’t think straight. You are not sure if this is the job you want and may be looking for a change of scenario when it comes to work. Virgo: You find clarity and move ahead with purpose, making up for lost time. There will be joy in relationships. Work too will be on more solid ground. You are now steadfast in your desires and reap the rewards of that. You do well on the markets and find time to have fun with family There will be outings. Chil. dren will be a source of joy . Libra: You are still in limbo. People, work, domestic issues and several other factors make huge demands on you. You try your best to find some direction in your dealings but can’t. You hate instability but nothing seems to be going your way . You’re challenged on all fronts and try to wriggle through it. Scorpio: Expenses skyrocket, you make many purchases for the home and office. There is domestic bliss or, if single, a meaningful new romance in the offing. You refurbish your wardrobe and may take to a fitness activity You also look at . new diets. You realize you have to change your mindset and so look at new forms of thought. Sagittarius: The stable run continues. Work moves smoothly , several profitable dealings. Also collaborations and travel which benefit you. There is precious bonding and, possibly deep love too. You are on , firm ground after a while, you must make the most of it. The right time for long-term plans. Capricorn: New ventures on the horizon and a new zest to take your life and work to the next level. You make profitable deals and might even prospect overseas connections which could prove beneficial. Work has never been better and you love every moment of it. You accomplish whatever you set out to do and meet deadlines. Aquarius: Your profitable run continues unabated. There are some emotional moments with the family and the health of an elder may need attention. There will be soaring expenses but you are also making money , so it won’t be a problem. Pisces: You’re now oozing with confidence and feel you can accomplish the impossible. A new daring takes over and changes your outlook to life. You have been insecure for a while but this newfound success instills tremendous confidence in you and you march forth into the arena of life with aggression. www.bejandaruwalla.com The whirling dervishes of Turkey perform at the Syrian Opera House in Damascus. Question: What is the history of the dervishes and who founded the order? ANY ANSWERS? Who is a Nihilarian? — N N Laha, Gwalior What is the aurora borealis? — S Basu, via email What are Hekatonkheires? — Medhini G N, Bangalore What is a Ponzi scheme? — Kuldeep Kumar Jain, Mumbai You ask. Or you answer. Mark the envelopes ‘Open Space’ and address your answers and questions to: Open Space, Sunday Times of India, II Floor, S&B Towers, 40/1, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560 001 email:
[email protected] Crass class grrrrowl! ??? at deli zoo talking 2 da tigr wat about told him he has got a world class minster in JR wats he saying he sez then how cum i feel safe only in da zoo JR sez IIT students r world class but not da fac but fact is da fac is 25% exIITians only r our netas world class or 3rd class or in a class of der own? mayb sum1 shud ask da profs 2 make it a topic of research da study shud get lots of funding 2 minstrs & profs can den all go on phoren tours 2 find out but ratan tata sez indian managers r world class dats u & me buddy ...cheers (Forwarded to Vandana Agarwal) global finance or politics. — Abdul Basit Ansari, via email What is the origin of the term hat trick? The term comes from cricket and refers to a bowler who takes three wickets with three successive balls. It seems to have been the custom in the nineteenth century for such a bowler to be awarded a new hat by his club as a mark of success. However, it is also said the phrase alludes to a distinctly more plebian reward in which the bowler was permitted to take his hat around the crowd for a collection. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe H H Stephenson’s feat of taking three wickets in three balls. The word was first used in print in 1878. — Medhini G N, Bangalore What is artificial gravity? Artificial gravity is the varying of gravity using artificial means. It is used largely in space, but also on Earth. It can be achieved by the use of SUNDAY MAILBOX with his wake-up call. Prof Gurudas Mandal (retired), IIT Bombay Jairam’s wake-up call A recent comment of Jairam Ramesh on the performance of our premier institutions such as IITs and IIMs has shown how touchy and opposed we are to any genuine criticism of their performance and achievements. It has made every one of us crazy and unnerved. People from all walks of life have lost their cool and civility It . is, however, amusing to note that although by their angry and anguished reactions, all have, by and large, agreed with the minister, none have explicitly stated that the faculties of IITs have not been able to fulfil our high expectations. But why should we not be honest enough to admit that we hardly appear on the global scenario of scientific and technical breakthroughs that are drastically changing our life and making today's knowledge obsolete for tomorrow. So far, our IITs have done wonders in producing world-class engineers. But our own brilliant graduates have been shying away in large num, bers, to do their post-graduate programs in other developed countries. This is a setback for the growth of our own faculty and institutions. The minister has done a great service to the country St Mary’s derecognition is shocking The derecognizing of St Mary’s SSC section is a thunderbolt of shock. The school is one of the most popular in central Mumbai and it is unfair to leave about 1,000 students in the lurch. The reasons dished by the state government are quite flimsy. The government should realize the mental trauma the students are undergoing and further, the government, if concerned, must step in to help the students find admission in nearby schools. In a way parents too are responsible for the derecog, nition. Parents spend thousands on coaching classes for their children but create a hue and cry if the school seeks donations to improve the infrastructure. Parents apparently want the best from the school by paying the least. Also, it has been revealed that the state government has not released any grant to the school since 2004. This being the case, how would the school pay the salaries of teachers? The state government should be pragmatic when it takes such harsh decisions. It cannot jeopardize the careers of little children so nonchalantly . Harischandra Parshuram Firmly deal with obscene ads This is with reference to the Times View/Counter View on ‘I&B ministry cracks the whip on deodorant advertisements’ (May 28). The action taken by information and broadcasting ministry against deodorant advertisement over obscenity is in the right direction and timely It has . been observed that all the deodorant ads are vulgar, which is not only in bad taste but also corrupting the minds of youngsters. I strongly feel that advertisers are taking full advantage of the relaxed laws in our country and selling products with the message of vulgarity and sex. It is high time the I&B ministry handled this situation with an iron hand. Bhagwan B Thadani Bruhat A A of theBangalore Mahanagara Palike Office Executive Engineer, (Road Infrastructure), .3rd Floor , MR Building, NR Square, Banga lore - 560 002 . No. EE (Road Infra) I Tend /01 //2010-11 Date :27.05.2011 - PSPCL Address details of issuing Authority PV JAB STATE POWER CORPORATION LTD. Regd. Office: PSEB Head Office , The Mall , Pafiala- 147001. NOTICE INVITING TENDER INVITATION FORTENDERS (Ifl) (SHORTTERMTENDERNO11FICAT1ON) (Through GOK e-Procurement Portal https://eproc.karnataka.gov.in only) The Executive Engineer (Road Infrastru cture) Division invites Item Rate tenders from eligible tenderers for the works Pertaining to “Construction of Underpass at Kumarswamy Layout and ORRJunction ”. Approx, value EMD SI. Name of the work of work Rs. in Rs. Construction for Covered Box portion 4.71 1 for Underpass at Kurnarswamy Layout 314.00 Lakhs Lakhs &ORRJunction, —— Construction of Retaining walls , Electrical , approach roads and other 277.18 4.16 2 allied works for Underpass at Kumarswamy Layout & ORR Junction . Lakhs Lakhs —— —— Construction of Ramps , Service Roads , Drainage and diversion Roads for Underpass at Kumarswamy Layout and ORRJunction. 250 36 Lakhs 3 .76 Lakhs _____ Chief Engineer/Material Management , Central Purchase Organization , PSPCL , The Mall , Patiala -147001 Tender Enquiry No. Q-3879 Scope/Short 11/0.433 KV 100 KVA (3 Star rated) 3 phase 50 Desc ription cycles out door oil immersed naturally cooled core type Aluminum wound conventional type distribution transformers complete with fittings as per PSPCL specification & conforming to IS 2026 /1977 & 1180/1979 (with latest amendments) inclusive of ISS : 335/1993 (with latest amendments) for Transformer oil. Quantity 10000 Nos Downloading of Specification /render Start Date 26.05.201 1 doc um e nts f r o m PSPCL w ebsite Last Date 22 .06 .201 1 upto 5.00 PM Date & time upto which tenders 24.06.2011 upto 11.00 AM shall be received F.No: 18- 14/2010/TSM/ PF11044 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM PORT BLAIR ________ ( 1)The bid documents can be downloaded from e-Procurement website from 30.05.2011 under login for Contractors (2) Date of Pre-bid meeting on 23.06.2011 at Office of the Chief Engineer (Road Infrastructure), N,R, Square , Bangalore (3) Last Date for uploading the Filled Tender Document is 27.06.2011 upto 4.00 pm (4) Date of Opening of Cover One of Tender Document is 29 06.2011 after 4.30 pm Tender documents may be downloaded from Government of Karnataka e-Procurement website https://eproc. karnataka. gov.in under login for Contractors . Sd!- Executive Engineer (Road Infrastructure) Date & time of opening of tenders 24.06.2011 at 11.30 AM ication Rs . 2500/- in the form of demand draft in favour of AO // PC (M), PSPCL payable at Patiala C Tender specification can only be downloaded from PSPCL’ s website https:I/pspcl.nprocure.com and no hard copy of the same will be Issued by this off ice . Mode of tendering Through e-tendering only Contact Person Chief Purchase Officer , PSPCL , Patiala-147001 Ph. 0175-2215034. Fax :0175-2225024 Email : cpopseb @yahoo .com or po-t pspcl .in I REPLACE BULBS WITH CFLs TO REDUCE YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL FI I 1 I1 Cost ofSpec I tA I!11’. DELHI CORRIGEND UM Port Blair dated 26th May 2011 i i ‘ ia i .L I Reference: Request for Proposals published • • by this Administration in Times of India, Economic Times (All India editions) , The Daily Telegrams (Port Blair) and website www.and.nic.in dated 2 1.04 .20 11 for “Development of M. V. Ramanujam as a V. recreational facility in Andaman and Nicobar Islands ” The last date for submission of proposals which was fixed as 07th June 2011 has been extended upto 07th 0 JuIy,2 I I.The time and venue of submission remains unchanged i.e. 03:30 p.m at Directorate of Tourism, A&N Administration , Port Blair. Clarifications can be seen on the r ’i - . Fier — G V Saikrishna India, 05.2010 Former National U-13 Champion PRAVIN THIPSAY G V Saikrishna of Vijaywada, who had taken a break from chess for almost a year, made a great comeback by winning the prestigious National SubJunior Chess Championship held at Chennai earlier this month. Today we shall look at a nice tactical combination , played by him last year. Position :— White :— Kg1; Qd2; B-b2,d1; P-b4,f2,g4,h4. Black :— Kg8; Qa2; Re8; Nf5; Pa7,b7,d4,g6. Problem :— Black to play and win. Solution:— Instead of moving the attacked knight, Saikrishna destroyed the enemy position with a decisive counterattack with 1...Qe6!! [ But not 1...Nxh4? 2.Qxd4 Re1+ 3.Kh2 Kf7 4.Qf6+ Ke8 5.Qh8+ Kd7 6.Qd4+ with a draw by ‘Perpetual Check’. The Queen move played, however, forces an easy win by fatal penetration along the ‘e’ file. ] 2.Kh2?! [ Grabbing the sacrificed knight was better, though Black would have been able to force a win anyway e.g. 2.gxf5 Qe1+ 3.Qxe1 Rxe1+ , 4.Kg2 Rxd1 5.fxg6 d3 6.Kf3 Rg1 7.Ke3 Rxg6 8.Kxd3 Rh6 etc. ] 2...Qd6+ 3.Kg2 Qd5+ 4.Kh2 Nxh4 5.Kg3 Qg2+! White resigned as he can’t avoid rapid mate. 6.Kxh4 Qh2+ 7.Kg5 Re5+ 8.Kf6 Qh8+! 9.Kxg6 Qg7# 0–1 The diagrammed deal is more or less a textbook variety although it is quite likely the bidding PRAKASH PARANJAPE shown in the diagram will not make it into the textbooks of the next decade. South dealt and opened 2♣ showing a strong hand, a method that is deemed natural as yet. North responded 2♦ and South rebid 3Nt to show 24-26 High Card Points. North next jumped to 6Nt, which can best be described as a traditional (in some circles, it would be dubbed a Bourgeois bid) rather than a scientific bid. If South held four Clubs or four Hearts, for example, NS could easily have missed a Grand Slam. Let us leave the bidding discussion at that point and move on to the play problem. How can South maximize his chances of success? A play that would match the carefree bidding style would go as follows. South would win ♠A, cash ♣KJ, get to Dummy with the S Dealer ♠643 W N E S ♦K, cash ♣AQ Both Vul ♥9754 -- P P 2♣ discarding two ♦K5 P 2♦ P 3Nt IMP Hearts discovLead: ♠J ♣AQ84 P 6Nt/// ering the 5-2 Club division ♠JT982 ♠75 in the process, ♥KJ62 ♥T8 and play a Dia♦74 ♦JT86 mond hoping to ♣63 ♣T9752 pass the trick to ♠AKQ the harmless ♥AQ3 West hand. ♦AQ932 Alas, East holds ♣KJ ♦JT8x, and can happily split honours to ensure he gets in to cash the fifth Club. A more careful South would plan to guard against adverse minor suit breaks. After winning ♠A and cashing ♣KJ, she would simply duck a Diamond conceding an early trick. South would then win any return, get to Dummy with the ♦K to cash remaining Club winners, and get back to the Closed hand to enjoy the rest of the winners. The most careful play , of course, would be to cash the ♠K, too, before conceding a Diamond but we shouldn’t discuss that on the page that shows the bourgeois bidding. CHESS we bsite www.and.n ic.in under • I , !. [ “Announcements ” . BRIDGE Director (Tour ism) ORDNANCE FACTORY. BHUSAWAL OPEN TENDER NOTICE CORRIGENDUM Wi t h UNIVER SITY OF DELHI General Branch — —I, Room I reference to Open Tender Notice published in leading newspapers, following corrigendum may be noted Last date for for receipt of applications at Ordnance Factory, Bhusawa l , for issue of blank tender documents in respect of the following Plant and Machinery is further changed/increased from 25.05.2011 to 25 06.2011: SR. TENDER ENQUIRY NO. NOMENCLATURE FOR READ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ No. 206, New Administrative Block ,University of Delhi, Delhi ——110007, Ph: 27666764 No.: GB ll/Dhaka Hostels /2011-121 Date: 27’ May 2011 NOTICE INVITING TENDER Sealed Tenders are invited for the following items for University Dhaka Hostel Complex. Date & Time of Bid Opening 1. Center Last date for Oty. 05 Nos. receipt of applications at 2. PM/Open/Pinaka/3 112010Industrial X-Ray Ordnance 2011/Engg. dtd. 16.12.2010 Machine,220 ac1ory, N. __________________________ Bhusawal for — — 3. PM/OpenlPinaka/32/201 0Phosphating and issue of blank 201 1/Engg. dtd. 16.12.2010 Painting Plant tender Oty. 01 No. documents 25.05.2011 4. PM/Open/Pinaka/36/201 0Effluent Treatment Plant 2OllIEngg. dtd. 16.12.2010 Oty. 01 No. 5. PM/Open/Pinaka/37/201 0Digital Telephone 2011/Engg. dtd. 16.12.2010 Exchange Qty. O1 No. Rest of the details will remain same as per the advertisement published earlier. __________________________ __________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PM/Open/Pinaka/25/201 0201 lIEngg. dtd. 16.12.2010 & QTY CNC Vertical Machining _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I 1 1 2 3 4 5 S. No. Tender Items hh1 hhh Supply & Installation of Hostel Furniture Items Cost of Tender Document ‘ EMD ( Security Deposit ? 13,00,000/125 ,000/20, 000/ - Submission of Tender Last date for receipt of applications at Ordnance acLory, Bhusawal for issue of blank tender documents 25.06.2011 2000/2000/ - 20/06/11 by 03:00 PM 20/06/11 by 04:00 PM Supply & Installation of Canteen Furniture Items Running of Tuck Shop I General Merchant Providing Mess I Cafetena Services Supply & Installation 500/2000/2000/ - 2,00,000/1,00,000/- —L _r I ! I 22/06/11 by 23/06/11 by 22/06/11 by 21/06/11 by 03:00 PM 22/06/11 by 12:00 Noon 12:00 Noon 12:00 Noon 21/06/11 by 04:00 PM 22/06/11 by 02:30 PM 04:00 PM 23/06/11 by of Electrical Items — —— • 1 ø . The tender document along with the— terms & conditions may be —— —— • . I • 04:00 PM Fax 91 -2582-223309 91 - 2582- 220536 E - Mail of Ordnance Factory, Bhusawa l is othh .oft @nic. in - Phone , — — — . s’ —— • ,. —, obtained from the— Section Officer, • II ,, , I , S IS I UI S• General Branch-Il (Second Floor) Room No. 206, New Administrative Block, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007 - _ . III S . from May 27th, 2011 to June 17th, 2011 upto 3.00 pm on all working Idays from 1000 am to 3.00 pm. The tender • ‘ ; can also be downloaded from the.UniversityWebsiteIwww.du.ac.inIII [ I I I ii II III 1 1 .:I ,. ., ., . ,, : document 5 , —— 5 I 1 . 1. I I I For details regarding terms & conditions of the Tender refer to University website www.du.ac.in Completed tender ‘‘‘ ‘ ‘‘ I . •II— — • • ——• . • — . • — —— . 5 . . — — — — —— — — : , , , I. along with all the documents must reach the— Section Officer, General Branch - II, Room No. 206 , 2nd‘ Floor, New —— — s .,.. Administrative Block, University of Delhi , Delhi - 110007 on or before the above said date :& time. Amendments I ‘ii . I I 5 I II (HARISH KUMAR) Corrigendum if any, in the tender document shall appear only in the Website5of the University, University of Delhi, 1l 5 - . 1 • I5• 5S - S]1 5 I Il5 5 reserves the rightto rejectany orall the Tenderswithout assigning -any reason. JOINT GENERAL MANAGER Sd!FOR GENERAL MANAGER REGISTRAR davp 10201111/0267/1112/0267/1112 .. .. www.demicoma.com
[email protected] 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, MAY 30, 2011 I hope that Pakistan will recognise that this monster of terrorism which they have unleashed...is hurting them as much as it can hurt our country. PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH Cricket At A Crossroads BCCI must decide if nation comes first or IPL’s importance demands flexibility Boria Majumdar Roll The Dice The US must try something different to curb Pakistan’s terror infrastructure T he American strategy in Pakistan has failed. This much has become clear over the past month or so. From Abbottabad to Mehran, the Pakistani military’s backdoor dealings with extremist elements and the resultant dangers have been put on display US secretary for homeland . security Janet Napolitano, on her recent trip to New Delhi, has acknowledged that the Lashkar-e-Taiba has morphed into a terror threat as big as al-Qaida. And with each passing day David Headley’s testimony fleshes out New Delhi’s , suspicions about the involvement of Pakistani state players in 26/11. Yet, American policymakers seem subject to a Pavlovian conditioning that compels them to rush back to their purported allies no matter how flagrant the abuse of their trust and money Thus, the attempt now by US . secretary of state Hillary Clinton to give the Pakistani establishment a clean chit on Abbottabad. Granted, this has been preceded by unusually strong statements by US President Barack Obama stating the US right to protect its interests via unilateral action as in Abbottabad. An optimistic reading is that Washington is trying to bring its wayward ally in line by employing the good cop, bad cop routine. But that is precisely what such an assessment would be – optimistic and, unfortunately , not in keeping with what past experience has shown about US inability to turn the pressure on Pakistan. Nevertheless, there can be no better time to turn up the heat on the Pakistani military. Both Germany and France have asked Pakistan to explain Osama bin Laden’s presence. The latter has also withheld the supply of heavy weapons to Pakistan. In doing so, it has highlighted the best way to reduce the Pakistani military’s power and enable the civilian administration to take control. To change the power dynamics in the country Washington must, among other things, change the way it is pumping in aid. Cutting off that aid entirely would be counterproductive. But sharp cuts in the military component coupled with increases in civilian aid, directed to Islamabad and some going directly to civil society groups, would redefine Pakistan’s internal power dynamics substantially for the better. It may not be a painless path. But for all of Washington’s cavilling about the necessity of keeping Pakistan happy as an ally in the war on terror, what has its money gotten it? Rawalpindi continues to support the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, undercutting US efforts in Afghanistan. And it continues to build its nuclear arsenal at an alarming rate, particularly worrying now when Mehran has cast doubt on the security of those assets. It’s time to roll the dice and try something different. t is cricket’s equivalent of the Icelandic volcano. Spewing ash for a while and waiting to erupt full throttle. The Gautam Gambhir incident has finally forced the club versus country debate to take centrestage, bringing to the fore a problem that will perhaps determine the way world cricket is governed in future. Many have suggested, drawing on the Gambhir controversy, that cricket is going the football way and club versus country will from now on be a key issue in cricket courtesy the IPL. While the latter is true, it is of prime importance to note that there’s a fundamental difference between cricket and football, which will impact the way the issue is dealt with in each of these sports. Unlike in football where a player plays for the club for more than 10 months a year, in cricket he plays for his country for a similar length of time. While Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United man for most of the year and wears England colours only during qualifiers or major tournaments like the European Cup or World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar will always be an Indian player who plays for the Mumbai Indians for six weeks in a year. Again, with the IPL being a BCCI tournament and with all the franchises ultimately governed by the BCCI, country more than club, will , always have primacy in cricket in principle if the BCCI so wants. The key question that crops I up is: What does the BCCI want? Will it, taking a lesson from the Gambhir controversy, instruct contracted Indian players to opt out of the games if they are suffering from injury or will they allow the franchises to take the final call given they have spent huge sums in buying these stars? Will they continue to tell the world that nation comes first and hence KKR was perhaps in the wrong by playing their best player and risking aggravation of the shoulder injury? Or will they, given the huge monetary gain the BCCI makes from the IPL, suggest that the club versus country debate cannot in future be resolved in black and white terms? Gautam Gambhir: It’s a club versus country match One fails to comprehend the pressing need to claim that a bilateral series will always have primacy. Such high moral claims will inevitably land cricketers and BCCI in controversies To elaborate, there might well be a situation where the BCCI suggests that certain tours like England, Australia and South Africa will have primacy but others like a series against the West Indies or Bangladesh will have lower priority compared to the IPL. The IPL, given its commercial significance, is at the root of the BCCI’s dominance of world cricket. It is solely because India is world cricket’s financial nerve centre that the BCCI could coerce the Sri Lankan board into submission and ensure Sri Lankan players continued to play the IPL days before an important bilateral series starts in England. In this scenario, there’s no denying the significance of the IPL from the standpoint of India’s positioning in world cricket. The moot point then is hypocrisy. One fails to comprehend the pressing need to claim that a bilateral series will always have primacy just because it involves India. Such high moral claims will inevitably land cricketers and the BCCI in controversies. Rather, if a priority list is drawn up and fans told that not always will the best players play for India for commercial or other reasons, controversies can be avoided. For example, when Leander Paes opted out of the Asiad and played the world doubles masters in London in November 2010, no one questioned his commitment to the nation. Paes, an ardent nationalist, continued to be so. This is because he had clearly stated his priorities and reasons for choosing the masters competition over the Asian Games. Indian cricketers, on the other hand, continue to emphasise that an India cap is always more important when in reality it is not always so. Just like a tennis player will prefer Wimbledon to the Davis Cup on occasion, in cricket too it is only natural that a player will prefer the IPL over a relatively low TRP West Indies tour. One only needs to stop claiming the contrary. Failure to effectively deal with this issue may compromise BCCI’s position as the arbiter of global cricket. For example, the BCCI, which always claims nation comes first, acted contrary to its claims in forcing Sri Lankan players to stay back or allowing Chris Gayle to play the IPL against the wishes of the West Indies Board. If the league was organised by Cricket Australia and India was due to tour England, would the BCCI ever dream of allowing Tendulkar or Dhoni to play in Australia for their respective franchises days after the Indian team had departed for a high-profile series? Unless the BCCI faces these issues head on and offers clear directives, questions will be raised about its notions of social responsibility more because , it has the financial muscle to influence cricket’s future direction thanks to the IPL. It is a choice the BCCI has to make. Will it allow cricket’s future to be partly franchisedriven given that this is where the money is or will it continue to assert that nation comes first? If it’s the former, the Gambhir issue will be rendered a nonstarter. If it’s the latter, Chris Gayle or Lasith Malinga shouldn’t have played all the IPL matches. Either way the , BCCI is facing its biggest ever challenge, one that will determine its own future and also the course of world cricket. The writer is senior research fellow, University of Central Lancashire. ‘UNIDO helps countries to secure low carbon growth’ Ayumi Fujino took over as the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) representative in India in July last year She began her . career with UNIDO in the 1980s. At UNIDO headquarters she designed and implemented various projects for the development of micro, small- and mediumscale enterprises (MSMEs). She spoke about the challenges of promoting green industries and strengthening MSMEs in India with Surojit Gupta: I How does UNIDO promote the greening of industries? UNIDO coined the concept Green Industry to focus on the critical contributions businesses can make towards meeting global sustainable development challenges. UNIDO, with the support of the Swiss government, is working to apply best practice carbon accounting methods to cement and other sectors in India, through the CII-Godrej Green Business Centre. To this end, UNIDO helps developing countries to secure resource-efficient low carbon growth. It helps countries move to clean technologies as well as implement multilateral environment agreements, and provides services and expertise to promote sustainable patterns of industrial production. I What are the initiatives UNIDO is taking to promote clean technologies in India? UNIDO builds up National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPC), which help enterprises to adopt cleaner production technologies, reducing waste, pollution, energy and water use in a cost-effective way. In India, the NCPC was set up with the United Nations Environment Programme in 1995 within the host institution – the National Productivity Council of India. The Centre has carried out over 350 cleaner production/energy efficiency assessments in diverse sectors such as leather, pulp and through the NCPC in Gujarat and Karnataka where regional initiatives to create cleaner production capacity have been successful. I What is the future of SMEs? SMEs are supported as they make substantial contributions to growth of productivity and, consequently, competitiveness and aggregate economic growth. In addition, SMEs are known to be specially effective job creators and enjoy the reputation of being sources of income, providing training opportunities as well as important basic services for disadvantaged people. Promotion of SMEs can thus be viewed as an important trigger for poverty reduction both indirectly, by adding to productivity and overall economic growth, and directly, through the immediate contribution of SMEs to employment and income generation, skill upgradation and the decentralised provision of goods and services. The issue is of helping them to realise their potential. A major initiative associated with UNIDO relates to I Stop Stalling …and bite the bullet on retail liberalisation enuine champions of farmers and consumers will smile. An interministerial group has formally backed allowing FDI in multiproduct retail as a key “inflation-busting measure”. It’s not hard to see why Too many middlemen and traders in the commodity market are . the bane of India’s farm sector, denting agricultural incomes on one end and inflating aam admi’s food bills at the other. If high transaction costs, structural inefficiencies and predatory pricing mark traditional markets, retail liberalisation will help remove bottlenecks in the farm-to-fork supply chain by giving farmers direct links to big organised retailers. Fair price discovery by growers is non-negotiable if they’re to prosper and have resources to plough back into farms, raising productivity . The consumer-friendly impact of this on retail prices doesn’t need rocket science to figure out. Modern organised retail comprises just 5% of our woefully underdeveloped retail industry Reform will ramp up investor stakes in agriculture and . allied activities, luring funds to help build back-end infrastructure and distribution networks. Lack of cold chain and storage facilities leads to colossal waste of 40% of farm produce yearly – an estimated annual loss of around Rs 50,000 crore. To build capacity deep-pocketed big players must , come in, home-grown and foreign. It’s fearmongering to argue this means nemesis for kirana stores. Small and big retailers coexist everywhere. Indian consumers are diversified enough to allow such cohabitation here as well. Supported by marketing reform linking food producers to endconsumers and relaxed contract-farming rules, retail reform can transform agriculture, adding millions of jobs and giving growth and revenues a boost. The government must stop treating the issue as a hot potato requiring ‘consensus’. That’s either a stalling tactic or a recipe for policy paralysis. Retail liberalisation’s a win-win for farmers as well as consumers. What better reason to bite the bullet? G Q&A paper, dyes and dye intermediates, textile, cement and auto component industries. And assisted small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in implementing viable cleaner production options, resulting in reduction of pollution and improving the bottomline. Regional Cleaner Production Centres are also operating in the states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab and West Bengal. In addition, a project titled Cleaner Technology Promotion in India, funded by the Swiss government, is being implemented SME cluster development. Underlying this is the fact that many of the obstacles faced by SMEs stem not only from their size, but their isolation. Hence, closer cooperation among SMEs as well as between the SMEs and related institutions in their surrounding environment hold the key to their overcoming the challenges. Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, for instance, is a fine example of a cluster that developed into an agglomeration of over 7,000 SMEs, as a major exporter of cotton hosiery to the EU, USA and other countries. UNIDO has been implementing cluster development programmes in India since 1995 with its counterparts. UNIDO interventions have aimed at exposing the productive units to international technology and global markets. The Integrated Cluster Development Programme launched recently and the Consolidated Project for SME Development in India which is nearing completion, are both examples of UNIDO’s cooperation with India. POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Culture of sycophancy Price wars Who says old news can’t be good news? Anubha Sawhney Joshi t was Saturday evening and my husband and i were looking forward to winding up a hectic workweek with a relaxed weekend. Sunday of course, , would mean waking up close to noon, then doing household chores like ordering vegetables for the week, dealing with the presswala and the raddiwala and maybe catching a movie in the evening. After a quick dinner at our favourite seafood joint, we walked into the house on Saturday night. A small white rectangle of paper lay face up in the passage. A visiting card. It had presumably been slipped under the door while we were away I picked it up and dumped it in the drawer where we keep bills . and menus and forgot about it almost immediately On Sunday morning, i saw . the card poking through the bills and grabbed it while ordering my week's stock of sabzi. Welcome Paper Mart, it said. We deal in all papers, magazines, metals, bottles etc. Contact Hemant Bhai. Free Home Service was written above the address. To endorse the 'express' nature of the service, the address had an extra line that said, "Below this building". I was convinced that if i had newspapers to sell, Hemant bhai would be there faster than the Vodafone 3G zoozoo. But i was more than happy with my current raddiwala. Jaswant was a strapping lad with a great smile and a deep voice. We only met once a month but i knew – and i knew he knew – it was special. I was definitely not going to cheat on him with the Hemant bhai. Better still, i would report the society’s guards to the managing committee for allowing this Hemant bhai to come up to all flats and slip his card under our doors. I almost tossed the card away . Until i saw something stapled to the back. It was a handwritten note. Paper Rs 12 a kilo, it said in Hindi. My affection for Jaswant almost instantly evaporated. Rs 12?!! Jaswant had always, in his deep voice, said: 'Ek kilo ka saat rupaiya' (Rs 7 a kilo), his bewitching smile never leaving his face. And i would place my trust – and the whole month's newspapers – in his strong hands. But now, in one clean shot, Hemant bhai had exposed Jaswant's game. I stared at the visiting card, speechless. The vegetable vendor at the other end of the line long forgotten. I went through the four stages of break-up – denial, anger, grief and acceptance – in as many seconds. I decided to just move on to Hemant bhai, no questions asked. But i had to deal with the fifth emotion that was building up inside me: revenge. I couldn’t let Jaswant get away with this. He had to know how i felt. Better still, he had to feel what i felt: a sense of betrayal. I would call them both together, Hemant (it was time to drop the ‘bhai’) and Jaswant. And then i would choose Hemant over Jaswant. I called Hemant first, he said he was in the building and would be at my flat in a jiffy . Then i called Jaswant, who obviously didn’t notice my clipped tone and cheerily told me he’d be there in a jiffy too. Hemant came first. He was tiny and his hair oil made me want to gag but i give him my brightest smile. Jaswant strolled in soon after. My heart ached but i didn’t let it show. Then he saw Hemant and stopped in his tracks. I felt good. “Ek kilo ka rate kya hai,” i asked in my haughtiest memsahib voice. But before Hemant could announce his winning price, Jaswant boldly said, “Rs 13.” My heart soared. Hemant bhai melted into oblivion. Jaswant smiled that magnetic smile. We were back in business. I I SACRED S PAC E I Overcoming The Mind and still it is through the help of someone who has done so already Such enlightened . here was a great rishi, a former king, beings give us a lift to contact the Light and who gave up everything to go to a forest Sound within us; this helps uplift our soul to meditate. There was also a king who beyond the realm of mind. The rishi found that doing spiritual had conquered many territories and peoples. One day the king set his heart on gaining practices alone in the jungle did not help , power over the rishi to make him obey his him overcome the mind. The mind still commands. People thought it was strange tempted him with the countless desires of that the king would focus on conquering a the world. The mind knows that contact rishi who had neither property nor kingdom. with the soul will render it harmless. When the king failed to attract the Thus, the mind will find all kinds of excuses attention of the rishi who was in deep medi- to keep us from meditation. It will make tation, he shouted, “Fight! I have come to us think of the past. It will make us think challenge you.” The rishi surveyed the scene of the future. It will make us wiggle around calmly saw the great army and said, “Fight? instead of sitting still. It will make us feel , sleepy just when we sit to meditate. I ran away from my worldly life It will make us feel hungry It . for fear of fighting my one great will make us feel jealous. It will enemy My soul shudders and heart . make us feel depressed. It will quivers when i hear the sound of my make us feel like doing work instead enemy’s name.” of meditating. It will find a million Finally the king became angry , excuses. and shouted, “Is your enemy Use the tendency of the mind stronger than i am?” The rishi THE to form positive habits. The mind replied, “Yes. Even the thought of this enemy destroys my soul. I left I SPEAKING I likes habits. If we tell our mind that we need to sit for meditation everything to escape from this TREE each day at the same time and enemy The king said, “Tell me .” the name of this enemy of yours.” The rishi place, a habit will form. Soon we will find said, “There is no use in telling you who it is. ourselves compelled to sit for meditation at that time each day If we will miss medita. You will never be able to conquer him.” The king replied, “If i cannot conquer him, tion, we will start to feel like something is , i will consider myself a failure.” The rishi amiss. When we learn to concentrate fully then told him, “This great enemy of whom i wholly and solely into the Light and Sound, we will experience bliss, peace and joy We . am speaking is the mind.” From that day on, the king tried everything will want to repeat meditation again and to overcome the mind. He tried all kinds of again because of the wonderful experience techniques to gain control over his own mind. we receive. Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, +91-11-27223333. Years passed and still he could not conquer skrm.sos.org the mind. Finally the king had to admit that , www.speakingtree.in he had failed and that the mind is truly the strongest enemy . Join the world’s first spiritual networking The only way to overpower the mind site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Talk: Sant Rajinder Singh Get Rid Of Anger Anger deprives a sage of his wisdom, a prophet of his vision. The Talmud Anger dissolves affection... Therefore, we should subvert anger by forgiveness. Samanasuttam 135-36 You can overcome the forces of negative emotions, like anger and hatred, by cultivating their counter-forces, like love and compassion. The XIV Dalai Lama Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world. Swami Sivananda Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy. Aristotle With these entreaties, O Ahura Mazda, may we not anger you, nor Truth or Best Thought, we who are standing at the offering of praises to you. Zarathustra With reference to the editorial ‘Sarkari Scourge’ (May 27), a culture of sycophancy and subservience not only pervades the public sector, it is also widely prevalent among our politicians. If anything, the politician-babu nexus – which perpetuates this mai-baap culture – compromises the dignity of human beings. Obviously, obsequious behaviour on the part of some further inflates the bloated egos of others. It is, therefore, not surprising that the reported incident should be considered acceptable behaviour in the public sector. In such an environment, it is people with honesty and integrity who get affected. If the Civil Services Bill helps provide a remedy, then it makes sense to put it in place as soon as possible. M V Krishna, VIA EMAIL T Ad influence With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 28), advertisements are a powerful medium providing people exposure to product usage. However, due to cut-throat competition, advertisers have turned their focus on glamour rather than the intrinsic merits of products they sell. In doing so, they have crossed all limits. Note that an ad strategy that ignores product usage and instead depends on glamour has greater chances of falling into the trap of obscenity. It is time that companies and ad agencies focus on brand names and the features of their products to avoid running into any kind of controversy. Such a strategy can work wonders for the brand without compromising society’s values. V D Sangeetha, MUMBAI II The I&B ministry’s crackdown on deodorant advertisements is justified, since the ad world plays a vital role in spreading ideas and influences the choices of a large number of people. True, glamour sells in the advertising industry especially when the product category includes deodorants. But in a country like India where the subject of women’s sexuality is not openly discussed, such advertisements are in bad taste. Another objection is that they tend to reduce women to objects of desire. Where will this lead us? Further, these ads are misleading. Rather than highlight the utility of deodorants in a clear and creative manner, they aim to sell products through titillation. Devika Joshi, NEW DELHI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011 Political parties…are the only place left where people don’t talk politics. OSCAR WILDE, Irish playwright Cities Are India’s Future There is enormous potential waiting to be unlocked in the country’s urban areas Axel C Heitmann The Lotus Eaters Disputes and corruption cut the BJP down T A s the mercury rises, the BJP is breaking out in prickly heat. Its Lok Sabha leader, Sushma Swaraj, has accused its Rajya Sabha chief, Arun Jaitley of being responsible for handing the heavily tainted , Reddy brothers their political reign of glory – with two ministerial berths in the B S Yeddyurappa government. While former BJP president Rajnath Singh’s rushed to ‘accept responsibility’ for the Reddys’ induction, thereby attempting to deflect the heat from Jaitley Yeddyurappa himself , supported Swaraj’s statement. And party president Nitin Gadkari has issued a widely-perceived snub to Swaraj, saying such debates were ‘totally unnecessary’. Gadkari has a point. The arguments aren’t remotely about ideology or ethics. In all the blame-shifting over the Reddys, not one leader has called for their removal from government. Instead, the party seems happy to have the brothers comfortably occupy office even as their presence rips the BJP’s credibility to shreds. Fierce squabbles are instead emanating from power struggles, each chieftain trying to assume a dominating role, satraps jostling over who steps into L K Advani’s sandals. The BJP’s situation is tragicomic. For a party that claims to be inspired by ‘history’, it appears blissfully unaware of standing at a historical crossroads. The platter of political opportunities before it today is heaven-sent. With record-breaking scams to answer for, UPA-2 has hit rock-bottom in popular standing. Public anger over skyhigh prices and never-ending inflation is palpable and growing. The middle class is more politically charged than in decades, evident from the groundswell of support Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption has received. These circumstances could be immensely rewarding for a national-level opposition party making the right moves. Hackneyed tactics such as stirring communal riots won’t yield much dividend for the BJP in today’s India, but here’s a great opportunity for the party to reinvent itself. With major elections coming – Uttar Pradesh in 2012, national balloting in 2014 – the BJP should’ve been out there campaigning against corruption, agitating against inflation, strategising and sloganeering across India. Instead, the party’s in a shambles, slugging it out in its own headquarters, rich in accusations, poverty-struck on policy increasingly defunct in , the public’s eyes. The irony’s thick – while the party carps on about the Congress’s dynastic rule, it hasn’t been able to decide a clear leader after Advani, its confusion leading to tense tirades between rivals. By appointing a chief through internal democracy and lending a firm shoulder to major public concerns – corruption and inflation – the BJP could have emerged as a modern, dynamic, fully-engaged party Instead it’s clawing . itself to bits. So much for this Hindu undivided family . he wave of urbanisation that is sweeping across India represents one of the country’s greatest opportunities as well as one of its most serious challenges. According to the report on ‘India’s Urban Awakening’ by McKinsey Global Institute, in the next 20 years, India will have 68 cities with a population over one million – up from 42 today. That is nearly twice as many cities as all of Europe. India’s urban population will increase from 340 million to 590 million. To put it in global terms, about 10% of humanity will reside in Indian cities. There is room for this sort of demographic change. Only 30% of Indians live in cities, in comparison with 74% of Germans and 82% of Americans. And the change holds great promise for India. The McKinsey study predicts that Indian cities could generate 70% of net new employment, produce more than 70% of Indian GDP, and quadruple the national per capita income. Best of all, these new, modern cities could create an enormous increase in the number of middle-class households. It is estimated that 91 million urban households will be middle class by 2030, up from 22 million today. Without question, successful urban development represents India’s best opportunity to maintain its current economic momentum and to achieve a prosperous, dynamic future. But urbanisation in India poses an urgent and difficult challenge, too often characterised by widespread poverty , poor urban infrastructure and environmental degradation. India’s existing megacities are already suffering from a lack of sufficient infrastructure investment. Where China is spending Rs 5,132 per capita on infrastructure annually, India is spending just Rs 752. A developed country like Germany has the capacity to produce roughly 1.7 kilowatts of electricity per person; India’s capacity is about 0.15 kilowatts. India must address the current problems of urban decay , traffic gridlock and a deteriorating quality of life for many of its citizens. It must also address the Time to choose: goldmine or wasted resource? Well-conceived cities will not only improve the quality of life for India’s citizens, they will attract investment, unlock new growth markets and generate a huge increase in average national income enormous capital investment of roughly five trillion (or five lakh crore rupees) required over the next 20 years to meet the projected infrastructure demands of creating the more viable, more livable cities of tomorrow. Those demands include creating billions of square metres of roads, over 7,000 km of subways and metros, endless sewage and water systems and so much residential and commercial space that it is equivalent to building two cities the size of Mumbai every year. It is an enormous challenge – yet it is a challenge that can be met with adequate resolve. Wellconceived cities will not only improve the quality of life for India’s citizens, they will attract investment, grow the tax base, unlock new growth markets, create a much larger, stronger middle class, boost India’s GDP and generate a huge increase in average national income. Recently, chairman of the Association of Municipalities and Development Authorities Noor Mohammed said, “The chances of success in developing efficient and sustainable cities in India are much higher when synergistic partnerships are evolved to deal with these challenges.” This is true. Many industrialised nations have trod this path before and could play an active role in helping to meet India’s urbanisation challenge – through investments, trade, economic partnerships, new industrial development. Germany hopes to be one of those synergistic partner nations. That is because Germany and India are natural partners, with shared interests, strong commercial and strategic ties and a long history of cultural and economic relations. Today that partnership is stronger than ever. Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe and fifth largest customer and exporter to India. Trade volume between the two countries exceeded Rs 1.9 lakh crore in 2010. That number is expected to climb by 70% over the next two decades. And together the counThe writer is the CEO of LANXESS tries are engaged in fruitful AG, a specialty chemicals company partnerships in many areas of headquartered in Germany. research and development in science and technology. The most recent example is the Indo-German Max Planck Centre at IIT Delhi, which was inaugurated last February by former German federal president Kohler. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now in New Delhi to meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in advance of the ‘Year of Germany’ that will begin in India in September, marking 60 years of good relations between the two nations. Next year, a ‘Year of India’ will be held in Germany. Trade will clearly occupy a good deal of the meetings between the two heads of state. That is good news for everyone involved. Only by maintaining high rates of economic growth, trade and technology transfer can India ensure that the urbanisation of its vast population will take place smoothly and successfully And Germany’s more . developed, if somewhat smaller, cities will only maintain their vitality by continuing to participate in the global marketplace for goods, ideas and culture. The strong business relationship and friendship between India and Germany will provide one of the synergistic partnerships that will help India seize the opportunity to create the good, clean, livable cities of tomorrow – cities that will allow its citizens to live happier, more prosperous lives and that will enable India to fully realise its enormous economic potential. Dalits open their own chamber of commerce in Mumbai It’s capitalism with a social face apitalism with a social face took a step forward and in a uniquely Indian way that deserves both recognition and emulation. Dalits have opened the Mumbai chapter of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dicci). While Dicci was formed in 2005, establishing itself in India’s financial capital shows both a welcome self-confidence amongst dalits and a commendable social consciousness expressed in a willingness to help their own. That help is needed in a country I where the dice are loaded against dalits trying to become successful entrepreneurs – through, for example, the difficulty they experience in accessing capital and credit. The main instrument to end caste discrimination now is positive discrimination in government jobs. But there are very few such jobs – relative to population – making this a very limited technique for raising a community. Moreover reserved jobs may carry a stigma, perpetuating instead of abolishing caste. Dicci seeks a very different way of improving the lives of the downtrodden. It focusses on instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship among dalit youth. While the first generation Won’t help community at large n a country where celebration of birth and death anniversaries of dalit icons takes precedence over the real issues affecting the community, it isn’t surprising that the launch of Dicci’s Mumbai chapter is being hailed as another milestone in the community’s rising consciousness. The coming together of a handful of dalit entrepreneurs is being heralded as the arrival I C Cricket Blues Closer look at scheduling needed T he absence of several key cricketers in the Indian squad for the forthcoming bilateral series against West Indies has ratcheted up the club versus country debate. Our cricketers have played a massive amount of cricket over the last three months. After a gruelling and emotionally draining World Cup campaign, they were immediately plunged into the high-octane IPL. It is not uncommon for such intensive scheduling to lead to injuries and fatigue. But to work retrospectively and accuse the players of choosing IPL over national duty is harsh. The IPL has redefined the commercial equations of cricket and greatly boosted interest in the sport. Had star players like Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan and M S Dhoni opted out of the IPL, the marquee tournament would have taken a hit, leading to substantial financial losses. On the other hand, given the current stature of the West Indian team, India’s tour of the Caribbean was always going to be a relatively low-key affair. By resting certain senior players there are opportunities now for fresh talents to gain international experience. In the long run this is bound to hold Indian cricket in good stead and shore up its bench strength. However, with Team India in great demand for future tours, scheduling needs to be looked at closely to allow our cricketers time to recharge their batteries. Prioritising certain tours over others is one way out. Creating a window around IPL is another option. But enticing players to play in a lucrative league and then accusing them of not honouring their national caps is hypocrisy They would like to play for . both club and country – there’s no reason why both can’t go hand in hand. of dalit entrepreneurs is thriving Ashok Khade, managing director of a company with 4,500 employees, still writes ‘K Ashok’ on his card to hide his caste. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Enterprises in unorganised sectors notes that 88% of dalits and adivasis spent less than Rs 20 per day in 2007. It indicates that much more needs to be done. Dicci members, knowing how diffi- I T I M E S V I E WI cult it was for them, are now trying to ease matters for others from their community. One surefire way of fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem is to foster dalit vendors for government and big business contracts. The idea is already in place in the US where ‘supplierdiversity’ means large companies seek out and support – in terms of technology and management – and then eventually buy from underprivileged and minority suppliers. Recreating this in India is undoubtedly a challenge, but the Mumbai chapter’s a start. COUNTERVI Jay Kumar of dalit capitalism. But the launch of a separate castebased chamber of commerce portends no good for the community both as a business strategy as well as in its struggle for socio-economic justice. Rather it will create another power elite cut off from reality, diverting focus from the core issue of dalit empowerment. The strategy of dalit entrepreneurs to form Dicci is short-sightedness. Instead of creating and rallying behind a caste-based entity, they should have joined mainstream chambers of commerce. That would have enlarged the scope of their business opportunities without carrying the appendage of caste. More importantly, it would have allowed them to engage with other players on an equal footing. They should garner business on the basis of the comparative advantage they offer and not on the basis of their caste. This would not only expand their choice but also the spirit of enterprise within the community. EW I Equally serious is the risk that the success of a few individuals will be portrayed as a marker of progress for the entire community, when a majority of dalits still lives in rural areas as landless labourers or at best as small and marginal farmers. Among those who live in urban areas, the majority are slumdwellers. Therefore, it’s too facile to interpret the success of a few rich entrepreneurs as the arrival of dalit capitalism. It’s unclear why they should prove to be different from other elites of their community, who have reaped the benefits of the government’s affirmative action policy without passing them on. SNAP JUDGMENT Barca On Song he 3-1 scoreline in FC Barcelona’s victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final didn’t do justice to the Catalan team’s on-field domination. Deploying their brand of Total Football, first seeded by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in the early 1990s, Barca’s possession game had their English opponents in tangles. With Lionel Messi scoring his 12th goal of the tournament, Barca deserved to be crowned champions of Europe. Congress Revisionism The Pizza Test T E Hello in there Connect within and find limitless talk time Usha Mukunda T o suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous looks and remarks is the fate of a non-cell -user. So why don’t i succumb and get one, you ask. Here is a reply to all those who have borne with or gnashed their teeth at people like me. Some like, nay cherish their solitude. Is that so strange to understand? The fact that anyone can reach me anytime, anywhere is as chilling as putting me in chains. Put the silly thing on silent mode, you say or switch it off. But it still , sits there accusing me of dishonesty Isn’t it far better that you know . and accept that you can’t reach someone rather than try try and try , again, getting more and more frustrated and angry? Look at it this way , certainty of any kind can eliminate stress. You too must have read that somewhere. For all you event organisers, security guards and traffic policemen, here is one less person for you to check, monitor and reprimand. How puzzled you look, and relieved too, when someone says, “No cell phone.” In a movie theatre anyone dreads sitting near a cellphone user, for obvious reasons. And what about the cell user who thinks she is speaking sotto voce in the middle of a concert or a party and the rest of us strain to pick up the stuff of that conversation? I have travelled on trains, planes and buses and thought how nice it would be to feel connected in the here and now, but my companions are lost in endless chat and, even as they stare me in the face, i know they are seeing through me and communicating with someone else. Of course it is good to see smiling, happy faces as you walk on the street but that has nothing to do with your greeting or nodding at them. Oh no, they are in their own blissful cell or even cyber space. What about our own abilities that are slowly being eroded? Time was when you could arrange to meet someone at a place and time and be quite clear about the directions. Now you can hear A telling B that she should turn around and she will see A, but B seems to be walking away and giving her coordinates which A has lost meanwhile, and the chase goes on. Have we lost the art of listening now, because we know that we can clarify things any time, armed with the cell? The magic of SMS also eludes me. While some people do accept that it is blatantly impolite to talk on a cellphone in your presence, they feel it is fine and dandy to be sending SMSes continually while you are with them or during a concert. Try this scenario and see if it fits. Your dinner guests have arrived. You run to the door to welcome them. Hold it! Your smile must wait in cold storage till they are done with checking their SMS message, which of course cannot wait. Recently i had a revelation of sorts. Instead of fuming and feeling jealous, why not look within and try to see why there is this great need in people like me to be sought out, talked with, looked at as a flesh and blood person and listened to with both ears? Why not discover the deepest core of our fears of loneliness and insecurity face them and then…well, start , conducting workshops? Then and only then can we perhaps say to those who come to listen to us, “Throw away your cellphones and connect with your inner longings and fears. Limitless talk time is yours.” Watch out, cell users and SMS addicts, hr i cm! mergency excesses explain the Congress’s precipitous decline in UP. And that means Indira Gandhi must be held responsible for the sorry state of the party in the Hindi heartland today. This may be a well-established view, but what matters is the story’s now being told by a book commissioned by the party itself. Hopefully, Congress is at last turning a searchlight on its own legacy. I A re you a pizza liberal or a pizza conservative? A comprehensive American survey found that while liberals prefer thincrust pizza with a little wine conservatives take to the deep-dish variety, served with coke and French fries. One wonders what a similar Indian study might throw up. Does a penchant for laddoos dipped in asli ghee, for example, send out a signal of alignment with the BJP? I SACRED S PAC E True Friends I Astral And Physical Worlds touched these famous or notorious people physically? Yet we seem to ‘know’ them today stral life begins once physical life through their projected images and sounds ends. There have been many accounts that are readily available to us through technoof the astral plane which describe its logy. Is it not like we know them in an astral or luminous nature. One of the most famous more subtle form? Even if you never met them accounts is in the book, Autobiography of a in the flesh, you would continue to ‘get to know’ Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda. them through their light and sound images. In the astral plane, we inhabit astral bodies The same extends to people who are not that are much like the physical ones we necessarily well known. Today’s social networkcurrently inhabit, but those are much subtler ing sites are a testimony to this. Think of how and radiant. These astral bodies are not con- many Twitter followers and Facebook friends fined within the narrow limits of current you have who you don’t really ‘know’ in the physpace-time continuum that governs the physi- sical sense. We are now growing so accustomed cal cosmos. In the astral plane, inhabitants to electronic lifestyles that we are beginning to communicate through telepathy and experience life and relationships as a since we recognise people who were form of virtual or electronic or energy our family and friends in different life. We are now open to accepting life incarnations; we learn to love them forms interacting with us in their elecall equally There are astral worlds of . tronic forms as long as we know that light, which have colours and music there is some real intelligence and indibeyond our present comprehenviduality being expressed. Your relasion. The astral plane is one of tionship with someone would continTHE great beauty and joy It is the place . ue to grow more intimate through where many souls consider their SPEAKING these electronic platforms even if you “true home”. It is also much larger never interacted in the so-called ‘real’ TREE than the physical universe. world of flesh and blood. So what about our current life on Earth? It This seems to be the first step in the astral is one in which the physical elements of life conditioning process. As we advance technoare manifested. But thanks to technology it logically we create things that make our earth, , seems that our current life on planet Earth is ly experiences a little more like the astral becoming gradually ‘astralised’. How is this? experiences that we have had in the past and Well, let us take a closer look at our lives today will continue to have in the future after our . In today’s technology-dominated society, Earth visa expires. In that non-material we use computers, digital cameras, internet realm, we learn that the reality is not the flesh, and mobile phones, for instance. We watch but the radiant energy that is our true nature. news, TV shows and movies. We listen to music, Our modern-day technology is a reminder of mostly in digital format. We have passionate that and just a precursor to that awesome opinions about people we don’t really know, astral realm that we will all return to some day .
[email protected] whom we’ve never met – be they politicians, www.speakingtree.in media personalities, movie actors, business leaders, even terrorists and criminals. How Join the world’s first spiritual networking site many of us have actually seen and heard or to interact directly with masters and seekers. Prashant Solomon E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX It’s time for Africa With reference to the editorial ‘A Strong Beginning’ (May 26), a mere comparison of the trade figures of India and China with the African nations is indicative of the enormous task that lies before us. Our economic and diplomatic efforts should be directed towards bridging this gap. At home, our prime minister should push corporate houses to increase India’s presence in the African continent, while our short-term aim should be to catch up with China. Moreover, investments made by the private sector companies in fields that are considered to be our forte, like infrastructure, telecommunication and transport, should be amply supported by the government. In addition, we should also try to leverage our gains in the field of watershed development, agriculture, rural development and IT. Liberalisation of the trade policy and incentivising private participation will be steps in the right direction. Ashish Krishna, PATNA A true friend never breaches the trust of his companion or stabs in his back. He is trustworthy and reliable. One should therefore always try to be a true and reliable friend. Sama Veda Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Bible Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace. Gautama Buddha For the friendship of two, the patience of one is required. Indian Proverb True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity , before it is entitled to the appellation. George Washington A Push interfaith dialogue With reference to The Speaking Tree ‘Expanding Circles Of Identity’ (May 26) by Rabbi David Rosen, ideally religion brings us closer to goodness and God. While a wrong and narrow interpretation of the same may have disastrous consequences. Religious fundamentalists preoccupied with saving the identity of their sphere of worship may actually cause immense harm to humanity. However, interreligious channels of communication could play a vital role in reducing hostility and acrimony amongst various communities. A common ground between different sects may surface from such interactions and dialogues. Sushma A Singh, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 24 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY LAW AND ORDER, American drama series OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011 I Just because the power is out doesn’t mean we unplug the Constitution. Feeding On False Fears Criticism that the Lokpal will become a Frankenstein’s monster is overblown Prashant Bhushan Reality Check Both sides to the Lokpal Bill must see reason E T he Lokpal Bill joint committee’s run into summer squalls as June – with its drafting deadline of the 30th – arrives. Disagreements between the panel’s government and civil society representatives are many . The government does not want the prime minister, MPs in Parliament, the judiciary defence personnel, officers below joint secretary rank, the CVC, CBI , and departmental investigative agencies to fall under the Lokpal’s purview. Given this wish-list, civil society representatives are not amused. Anna Hazare’s group described its recent meeting with the government as disastrous. It also indicated it might walk out of the next one on June 6. In expressing its demands, the government has displayed how terribly out of touch it is with the nation. Under its watch, a stream of scandal has flown forth from the unlikeliest – and least desired – of sources. India was shamed by MPs waving wads of cash inside Parliament, the cash-for-votes issue exploding within the august house itself. Even as other scams unfolded, the Isro telecom episode involved no less than the prime minister’s office. And to its horror, the nation learnt its defence forces were no longer inviolable. The building allotted for the widows of Kargil martyrs – named Adarsh or ‘ideal’ – was carved up between army top brass, politicians and rich civilians. In this atmosphere, demanding unquestioning public credence in these institutions is astonishing. The government should actually have insisted these offices come under the Lokpal’s surveillance. That measure would go a considerable way in restoring tattered public confidence precisely where it should fly high. Alongside, the civil society activists must remember it takes two to tango. Having an all-or-nothing approach won’t forward public interest faster. It’s practical to restrict the Lokpal’s operations to officers above a certain cut-off rank in seniority terms, ensuring petty corruption isn’t being constantly investigated with little time to check on the big plays in town. It’s also overzealous to demand the CVC, CBI and departmental investigative agencies come under the Lokpal’s purview. These suffered deeply from being under the government’s thumb. Civil society should insist these operate now as fully independent bodies, assisting the Lokpal, but not becoming an appendage. Finally the judiciary must be kept out of the Lokpal’s purview, another , group monitoring the former’s accountability It’s vital a constitutional body . exists to keep an eye on the Lokpal, checking this powerful office remains thoroughly above board. What’s needed is an elegantly-designed, sensiblyintegrated system of checks and balances, stopping one institution from overriding others. The Lokpal’s office will be a vital one. However, it’ll be one amongst many The June 6 meeting should proceed on this understanding. . ver since the joint drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill was formed, many issues have been raised about the proposed Lokpal by several persons, some of whom are highly respected. The criticism by some people, including some sections of the media, has however been irresponsible. It is said that the Bill makes a mockery of democracy and seeks to create a ‘Supercop’ which could turn into a Frankenstein’s monster. When such criticism is made by respectable people and run as a campaign by sections of the media, it is natural for innocent citizens who are not familiar with the issues to become confused and start wondering if there are indeed serious problems with the Bill. These critics are saying that the Lokpal has been given draconian powers of contempt, search and seizure, laying traps, telephone interceptions, and attaching assets of public servants. But these powers are vested with all investigative agencies and are essential for effective investigation. The difference is that the Lokpal will not need the authorisation of the home secretary for tapping telephones. The Lokpal, being an independent multi-member authority selected by a transparent and broad-based selection process whose functioning will also be transparent, is a much safer body than the home secretary to be entrusted with this power. The power of contempt is required to ensure that the orders of the Lokpal are complied with. The power of freezing assets of public servants and their abettors which have been acquired by corrupt means is essential if those assets are to be recovered. This is a lacuna with the existing law that the Lokpal Bill will seek to plug. It has also been alleged that the Lokpal will be the investigator, prosecutor and judge, all rolled into one. Such criticism arises from a gross misunderstanding of the Bill. The Lokpal will have an investigative wing and a prosecution wing under its administrative and supervisory jurisdiction. If, at the end of the investigation, the investigative wing finds that a corrup- Try telling them that the Lokpal Bill is dangerous Corruption in India robs public resources, distorts and undermines development and threatens democracy itself. It must be tackled urgently by creating a strong, empowered, independent and accountable anticorruption institution tion offence has been committed, it will send the case to the prosecution wing which will prosecute the case before the special courts which will be part of the normal judiciary. The special courts will not be under the Lokpal. The Lokpal will only periodically assess how many such courts are required to complete the trial of corruption cases expeditiously and the government will be required to set up that many special courts. One of the serious problems today in bringing corrupt people to book is that the prosecutors being under the control of the government often compromise the case. And the inadequate number of courts to try such cases allows them to drag on for years during which time witnesses become unavailable or get compromised. Concern has also been raised about what will ensure the integrity of the Lokpal itself. The Bill seeks to address this by providing several layers of checks. In the first place, the Bill requires that the entire functioning of the Lokpal machinery be totally transparent. It will be required to put the entire record of any investigation on its website. Any complaints against the investigation or vigilance officers can be made directly to the Lokpal or to an independent complaints authority to be set up in each state. These authorities would be required to expeditiously decide complaints against the vigilance officers in public hearings to ensure transparency Com. plaints against Lokpal members could be made to the Supreme Court where five senior judges would, if they found a prima facie case of misconduct, constitute a bench to inquire into the complaint. Moreover, the Lokpal’s orders would be subject to judicial review before the high court or the Supreme Court. These measures should make the Lokpal and its officers sufficiently accountable. Some respectable retired officials have raised concerns about the proposal to bring the CBI and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) under the Lokpal, and want them to be left out. But the entire raison d’etre for an independent and empowered Lokpal is because the CBI is controlled by the very government whose senior officials it is required to investigate. That is why it cannot function independently It has also become . corrupt since it is not accountable to any independent body . The CVC enjoys mainly recommendatory powers which are frustrated by the government often not accepting its recommendations. Moreover, CVC members are selected by a committee comprising the prime minister, home minister and leader of the opposition, all of whom have a vested interest in having weak or pliable officers for a body which can investigate them. That is why they need to be brought under an independent, empowered and accountable Lokpal. Corruption in India has assumed such proportions that it robs public resources, distorts and undermines development and threatens democracy itself. It must be tackled urgently by creating a strong, empowered, independent and accountable anti-corruption institution. That is what the Lokpal Bill seeks to do. We must remain firm in our resolve and steadfast in our course. This is one of the decisive battles of our times which, if lost, would consign us to becoming a banana republic and a mafia state. The writer is a senior Supreme Court advocate and a member of the Lokpal Bill joint committee. Pile Pressure New Delhi must join the NYC case ‘I have no regrets at all about what I did’ Iraqi broadcast journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi shot to fame shouting, ‘this is the farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog,’ while throwing a shoe at US President George W Bush in 2008. Al-Zaidi was in Delhi to watch a play, The Last Salute, based on that incident. He spoke to Subhash K Jha: I How did it feel watching a play based on an incident from your life? It gave me great joy to see that people of India are feeling the grief of the people of Iraq under US occupation. I Did the play capture the situation in Iraq realistically? Yes! The play has truthfully captured the important part of US atrocities on Iraqi people. The scene of eight-year-old Zahra who was brutally killed by US forces made me cry. Even the scene of the hospital after bombardment where hundreds were shown screaming for help moved my heart. While watching the play i felt that everything was happening again, all the incidents that led up to my doing what i did. I What did you think of Imran Zahid’s performance playing you? Imran has that kind of feeling, which is very important for this type of play and his per, formance throughout the play was very sincere. I Was this your first visit to India? Yes. It was my first visit to India but i would love to come again and spend some more time with Indian people. It was a very short visit and restricted to Delhi, but i went to Rajghat to see the mausoleum of the great Mahatma Gandhi who inspires us and i liked interacting dissent that your shoe-throwing incident symbolised is important for civilisation to move forward? My means of protesting is not for all times and all peoples. Each protest is shaped by its times. My aim was to try to remind the world, especially the rich and powerful who are equipped with all the latest things be they gadgets or weapons, that oppressed people can stand up, can fight against atrocities. My protest was made because the media, especially the free media of the free world, i mean the western media in particular, reported that the people of Iraq welcomed US forces with flowers. There is no other way of putting this. What they said was a lie. So by throwing this shoe i tried to get a message across, and it was that if the people of Iraq got the chance they would welcome the president of the US not with flowers, but shoes. I What do you make of Osama bin-Laden’s killing and what will the impact be internationally? Killing a person cannot change the world. What will is ending every kind of human rights violations and the whole idea of killing. As for the actual assassination, i don’t trust what US sources say about it. They’ve propagated several lies, starting with the reason for invading Iraq, that we had WMD. It’s on the basis of this lie that they continue to wage war on us. I personally know the West lies. After i hurled the shoe at Bush, the media of the supposedly free world reported that i apologised for the act and considered it was a crime. I never did this. I have no regrets at all about what i did. T wo and a half years on, nothing about the aftermath of 26/11 has been straightforward. But evidence of ISI involvement in the attack has been mounting, from David Headley’s evidence, to former Pakistan foreign secretary Shaharyar Khan’s admission of a possible ISI role, to the sophistication of the operation itself, to Pakistan’s reluctance to take action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Another attack on the lines of 26/11 would result in a warlike situation between India and Pakistan. It’s imperative, therefore, that diplomatic pressure be brought to bear on Islamabad for 26/11, to reduce the incentives for another attack. Since New Delhi has little leverage and few policy options to influence Pakistan directly it must work closely with the US and build its case at the bar , of international opinion. It must validate its claims in a New York court by becoming party to a lawsuit filed by the relatives of the Chabad House victims – Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka – against the Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISI chief Shuja Pasha. The Holtzbergs’ case is, after all, the same as those of the many Indian victims of 26/11. Home secretary G K Pillai has called it a political decision, pointing to the old logic of keeping Pakistan sweet. But this is a false opposition. It is possible to pursue dialogue with Islamabad while building an international consensus against terrorism sponsored by state agencies in Pakistan. The latter can, in fact, reinforce the former. At the same time New Delhi needs to strengthen its internal defences against terror, where it has dropped the ball in recent times. Q&A with the people there, especially children. I Your part of the world remains in political turmoil. Do you see a solution in sight? Yes, people should stand up against dictators and use peaceful protest as people did in Egypt and Tunisia to bring down the tyrants. I Do you think the voice of Midas touch Your MP and MLA are likely to be your best investment opportunities Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT Everyone’s long known that politics in India is a potentially lucrative business. Just how lucrative it is has been revealed by studies conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW). According to these organisations, the assets of recontesting MPs in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections had increased by 289% over the five-year period of their previous tenure. Compared with this, gold registered a rise of 138%, or less than half the increase that accrued to our netas. Other investment options – such as the stock market, mutual funds and bank fixed deposits – saw far more modest gains: 64% for the sensex; 67% for mutual funds on an average; and 46% for bank fixed deposits. While MLAs didn’t fare quite as profitably as their counterparts in Parliament, they didn’t put up a bad showing either. According to an ADR survey based on legislative assemblies from four states and one Union territory – Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry – over a five-year period the MLAs had notched up gains ranging from 71% (for West Bengal) to 195% (for Tamil Nadu). In Tamil Nadu, no fewer than 97 MLAs tripled their asset values. The number of crorepatis in the four states and Puducherry has reportedly risen from 97 in 2006 to 268 in 2011. Such figures corroborate what the recent spate of scams and swindles has brought to the forefront of public attention: that Indian politics is arguably the most remunerative of all career options for the enterprising individual. Our politicians are the best wealth generators in the business, much more so than any professional mercantile banker, portfolio manager, market analyst or hoarder of gold bullion. The only glitch is that the wealth they generate – and have been generating all these years – is only for themselves and not for the rest of their fellow citizens. Which helps to explain the economic paradox that has long puzzled many: why is it that India is a potentially rich country inhabited by an overwhelming majority of extremely poor people? Just how poor the poorest of India’s poor are can be gauged by the fact that the . Planning Commission has proposed an expenditure cap of `20 a day to identify the below the poverty line (BPL) population which is eligible for benefits under the government’s projected social security scheme. How do you get at least a little bit of the wealth-generating capacity so ably demonstrated by our political representatives to trickle down to those whom they supposedly represent? One suggestion has been to confiscate to the public exchequer the assets of any public office holder caught in a scam. But this not only limits the field to proven scamsters and their assets but is also tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Or rather, the geese that lay the golden eggs. The geese are our elected politicians. And instead of metaphorically killing them, we should turn them into negotiable instruments open for investment by the general public, like government bonds or mutual funds or shares floated by individual companies. Investors should be enabled to invest in a particular MP or MLA, or in a diversified portfolio consisting of various MPs and MLAs, much as people do now in mutual funds. The mutual fund so created – call it the Midas Touch Funda, or whatever you will – would invite investments from individuals and from social and economic groups representing all strata of society, from the lowest to the highest. As in the case of other mutual funds, the MPs’/MLAs’ fund would declare regular dividends, based on the performance of the participating politicians, which would be distributed on an equitable basis among all the shareholders. Next time round, don’t just vote for your local MLA and MP. Put your money where your ballot is and buy shares in them. It’s likely to be the best investment you ever made. Sushma Swaraj is the head of our family and like a god to us…If our mother is angry, we are not disturbed, we do not leave her I can say i bled for garbage I think the customs team is doing an excellent job – B SRIRAMULU, Karnataka health minister, on BJP infighting over the Reddy brothers – MIKE TYSON, former boxing champion, on his boxing laurels – BIPASHA BASU, actor, on being detained by customs I SACRED S PAC E What You Think I Mango As Spiritual Guide any case is not a big deal and much insignificant, in comparison to the selection of his is the mango season. That has set people whether it is a matter of a kalayaname thinking…Acharya Nagarjuna is mitra or spiritual friend, or an associate in a great Indian philosopher. Many mundane affairs. These days if we look traditions regard him as a Tantric Acharya, around, there is no dearth of people who are in some other traditions he is regarded as an likened by Nagarjuna to the first category Ayurvedic expert and in yet others, even an of mangoes. They are those who have Alchemist, but i am yet to come across a acquired special tricks to project themstory of his being associated with horticul- selves as friends. They cannot only be risky ture. I will not be surprised if i discover that for spiritual path seekers but also to the some traditions believe him to be a horticul- society as a whole. turist. But as far as his knowledge about Spiritual friends should not only be spirithe mango is concerned it is universally tually ripe but should also appear to be so. accepted that what he says is but natural They must be morally clean, compassionate, and common wisdom. have association with good people. People Nagarjuna in his letter talks to the promoting themselves as spiritual king about different categories of gurus with tricks are particularly mangoes. They are special varieties dangerous. There is great chance whose appearances and degrees of of getting themselves corrupted, if ripening can be categorised as folalready not corrupted, by name, lows: 1) those not ripe but appear fame, wealth and position. In ripe; 2) those ripe but appear not mundane areas also, a friend ripe; 3) those unripe and appear should be an upright person, with THE unripe; and 4) those ripe and clear mind and wisdom. I SPEAKING I appear ripe. He was extrapolating A friend can be depended upon this with reference to people we as your mitra not because of your TREE come across in our daily lives. position or money power. It is not In terms of preference, obviously the necessary that your friend or for that matter kind of mango we must choose is the one a political leader is a rhetoric speaker or belonging to the last category as it is ready writer. It is the inner values of the person , to be served and there is no risk of waste that count. involved. The second preference should be This will remain true as long as the values given to, in my opinion, to the second last. placed on honesty and truthfulness have not Because it does not deceive you, you can just vanished from this earth. And the reason discard it right away or wait for it to ripen. why one should believe that is because all of Then the next in order of selection should be us know the ripe mango which is both ripe the one mentioned in number two. It involves and looks ripe enough for you to select, will some chances of waste but at least you can always be preferred. use it after some testing before cutting to see As told to Sudhamahi Regunathan. if it is really ripe. www.speakingtree.in The one you must avoid is the first cateJoin the world’s first spiritual networking gory of mangoes. Choice of the mangoes in site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Lama Doboom Tulku I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX SECOND A person is said to have achieved yoga, union with the Self, when the perfectly disciplined mind gets free of all desires, and becomes absorbed in the Self alone. Bhagavad Gita 6.18 We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. Gautama Buddha The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself, as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets. Swami Vivekananda The thinker is the thought. We would like it to be different so that the thinker may explain the things to himself by means of the thought. J Krishnamurti T It’s India’s fight With reference to the editorial ‘Roll The Dice’ (May 30), a lot has been said about the US’s stand vis-a-vis Pakistan since the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Does India expect other countries, particularly the US, to fight for it? The US will do what is in its own interest. If it doesn’t support Pakistan, there is a great probability that Islamabad will turn to Beijing, which shows that the US lacks options against them. As for India, it is high time it fought on its own against terrorism. While the government has been asking Pakistan to hand over several terrorists, has it really thought over what it is going to do with them? The tardy trial of Ajmal Kasab points towards the sloppy attitude of our authorities in this regard. Shaguna Sinha, VIA EMAIL OPINION A prudish ban With reference to the Times View/Counterview (May 28), advertisers depend on the glamour factor to catch the attention of consumers in a world characterised by cutthroat competition. Comparing today’s world to the cultural situation two decades ago and setting yardsticks accordingly would be prudish. Unless there is suggestive vulgarity that is totally unseemly, there is no reason for making a big issue of it. On the issue of children going astray, there is no need of any ads for that. In today’s information age, they are exposed to a plethora of avenues for doing so, especially the internet. What they need is parental guidance to tread the right path. Mukund Kumar, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 I We must have the option to make use of nuclear energy. Muzzling The Media A wage board is simply a government tool to control the Press Ravindra Dhariwal Turn It On India needs electricity from every possible source n promoting nuclear safety, India and Germany agree. On nuclear energy use they beg to differ, and understandably. Germany plans to decommission its nuclear power plants by 2022. In the post-Fukushima scenario this isn’t entirely unexpected for a country harbouring strong anti-nuclear power lobbies, including the influential Green Party. But with domestic energy consumption increasing by around 6% annually, India can’t follow suit. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been frank on this score in German chancellor Angela Merkel’s presence. He’s stressed that India must harness power sources like nuclear to meet both emissions targets and developmental goals. A power-hungry nation with burgeoning oil import bills needs a diversified energy basket including nuclear power and renewables. Given our plans to quadruple nuclear power capacity by 2020, an absolute must however is to raise standards of safety whether through upgraded plant and reactor design, , better disaster management strategies or arming a tough, independent overseer for the sector. We must do this, since raising energy output in every way possible is key to sustaining growth. Reform of the power sector is just as imperative, not least because its estimated financial losses amount to over 4% of GDP. Policy making has sought to bring in the private sector over the past decade, as is evident from the Electricity Act. Yet investors avoid the sector, which is in dire need of funds to expand, innovate, attract skills and build infrastructure. Power producers today fear plant shutdowns thanks to nonremunerative tariffs, lack of movement on distribution reforms and poor supply of inputs like fuel. New projects are non-starters thanks to coal scarcity while many installations are working below capacity Conse, . quently people have to sweat it out for another long, hot, powerless summer , even as trade and industry are impeded. The problem is that the state stranglehold on the power sector remains. Be it pricing, issue of licences or building grid capacity, government has a finger in every pie. Coal-based power output, for instance, accounts for 66% of total power generation. But, despite talk of reform, the coal sector is a state monopoly leading to production shortfalls and poor quality that hobble projects. If government must get out of coal mining, states must do more to put distribution and transmission in private players’ hands and facilitate electricity transfer from surplus to deficit areas. As essential to boost power trading, ‘open access’ giving large buyers like industry direct access to producers needs encouraging. Also, if state electricity boards aren’t dismantled themselves, subsidies going their way need to be slashed to remove market distortions at private players’ cost. In 21st century India, the demand-supply mismatch for electricity is growing even as millions still have no access to power at all. Surely a country aspiring to be a global player should fix the situation on a war footing. O hat better way to control the Press than to decide the salary of newspaper employees? How can a journalist write fearlessly against a government when he knows that it is this same government that decides his salary? Successive governments in India have found a simple way to try to control the Press: set up a statutory wage board for newspapers, fix unrealistically high wages enforceable under law. The Indian newspaper industry is the only industry in the country to have a statutory wage board at all! Even other media sectors like TV radio, , internet, etc, do not have this retrograde practice. Why in , this era of liberalisation where licences, quotas, permits etc are being dismantled in all spheres of economic activity would it , be that only the newspaper industry has wages fixed by the government; particularly when they are not based on market demand and supply, and are without consideration for skills and professional qualifications? Singling out the newspaper industry like this is plainly discriminatory It is aimed at fetter. ing the freedoms granted to the media by the Constitution. More so, when it resolutely ignores the recommendations of the National Commission on Labour headed by the former W labour minister, Ravindra Verma, which had, in 2002, stated: “There is no need for any wage board, statutory or otherwise, for fixing wage rates for workers in any industry.” In fact, statutory wage boards have not been constituted in any other industry after 1966 (except in the sugar industry where the last wage board was set up 26 years ago and subsequently abolished). This did not result in any unrest as the personnel were satisfied with the wages, and their unions were able to effectively negotiate wages in a market demandsupply scenario. Hence, the primary motive in wage boards being constitu- Media freedom makes for enlightened readership The primary motive in wage boards being constituted only for newspapers would appear to be to make the Press dependent on government, allowing people in power to utilise this leverage ted, only for newspapers, repeatedly and their recommenda, tions being accepted without regard to reality would only , appear to be to make the Press dependent on the government, thereby allowing people in power to utilise this leverage. Fixing wage boards, and giving them arbitrary powers without adequate guidelines, is not merely undemocratic and unviable, but an outright attempt to influence. It is also against our most basic freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Our fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution not only includes the freedom to write and publish what the author considers proper, but also the freedom to carry on the business of print media so that information may be disseminated and excessive prohibition circumventing such freedoms by state intervention and/or regulations may be avoided. How can newspapers carry on their business when they have no say in the process of salary fixing of their own employees? This is outright manipulation of their business whereby the government holds out a threat to their viability and eventual survival. How can newspapers remain viable if already disproportionately bloated wage bills turn astronomical? For instance, they would, as per the latest recommendations, have to pay peons and drivers up to Rs 45,000 a month – several times what a jawan risking his life on our borders gets! Why doesn’t the government pay its employees the salary it is recommending? Ironically in this entire exer, cise, the government neither The writer is CEO, Bennett, has to pay a penny of the wages Coleman & Co Ltd. it so blithely mandates, nor does it have to bail out the newspapers which sink under the weight of such action. A Hewitt survey indicates that wage board employees before these current recommendations are getting 26-44% more than their counterparts even in highprofile MNCs. That is why the latest Justice Majithia wage board’s recommendation of a huge 80-100% wage hike – coming on top of an unprecedented 30% interim relief with effect from January 2008 – has led to an outcry in the newspaper industry which, thanks to previous mandates, already had very high entry level wages for workmen vis-avis market rates. The print media’s apex Indian Newspaper Society has said that implementing these rates would shut down most newspapers – and not just the small and medium ones. A leading newspaper group, ABP Pvt Ltd, has already gone to the Supreme Court. It is now in the government’s own interest to restore this basic freedom to the Press so that it can carry on its business without state regulation. Because tools like the wage board not only pressurise the Press and control the media in the crudest and most untenable manner possible – but also subvert our very basic freedoms, by making the Press unviable. Lionel Messi’s Champions League performance sparks comparisons to Maradona Not yet in Maradona’s league ver since the great Diego Maradona this without having the luxury of a fabled hung up his boots, it’s been a favourite attack like Messi’s Barcelona. parlour game to look for other footOn the other hand, Messi has been to ballers who allegedly surpass the legend he two World Cups, including last year’s created. Many stars have tried and failed. edition in South Africa which turned out The latest in this league is Lionel Messi who, to be a disappointing campaign for Argensome of his diehard fans feel, has already tina. He failed to elesurpassed Maradona. The basis for this vate his national spurious claim is, for the most part, a team’s performance highly successful season with 53 goals, in- like he does for his cluding his inspirational, matchwinning performance in Barcelo- I T I M E S V I E W I na’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final. club, FC Barcelona. But, as they say, one swallow doesn’t make Also, can we attribute a summer. Barcelona’s success Statistically Messi is nowhere near to Messi alone? FootMaradona’s level, let alone surpassing ball is as much about him. In a 21-year career, Maradona made collective effort as 680 appearances and scored 345 goals at an individual brilliance. average of a goal every other game, or 0.51 And currently Barcelona has assembled , goal per game. Moreover, he featured in many talented players like Xavi, Andres four World Cup teams, including winning Iniesta and David Villa. Let’s not forget the 1986 Cup. Maradona’s performance at that these three were instrumental in the 1986 World Cup is considered the best Spain’s first-ever World Cup glory in South by an individual player in soccer’s history. Africa. Messi might have what it takes to Even at the club level, Maradona won four become one of the greatest players of the domestic titles playing with three differ- sport, but he still has a long way to go ent first division teams. And he achieved before he enters football’s pantheon. The new kid wins out t was supposed to be an epic clash at the English fortress of Wembley – the mighty Red Devils taking on the continental club that had dazzled its way to the Champions League final. What it turned out to be, instead, was an utter hiding as FC Barcelona routed Manchester United 3-1. And their victory revolved, as so many Five La Liga and three Champions League titles have put him clear of anything Maradona was able to achieve by this age. And with his appetite for goals only seeming to increase – 38 in 2008-09, 47 in 2009-10 and a phenomenal 53 in 2010-11 with a career goals-per-game average of 0.61 – there’s no telling what he will go on to achieve. But there is an added dimension to Messi that puts him ahead of Maradona. He has combined brilI COUNTERVIEW I liance with an innate humility on and off the Anil Thakkar this season have done, field, a grace that the other man somearound Lionel Messi. times lacked. Targeted by the opposition He has seemed unable in every game, hacked down by zealous to do any wrong, defenders in tackles both fair and foul, playing the beautiful he has responded to everything with a game in a manner so rueful smile. And then gone on to prosublime that many duce magic yet again. And off the field, have now started to say what would have his is a character unlikely to attract the been considered heresy even a few years kind of controversies Maradona did. As ago. This Argentine is better than Argen- for those who protest that he hasn’t pertina’s favourite son, Diego Maradona. formed for his national team in the way And they are right. Consider the mag- that Maradona did, the argument is a nitude of his achievements so far. All of 23, weak one. Should, say Johan Cruyff or , he has won both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA George Best not be considered legends of World Player of the Year awards as well as the game because they never led their the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or award. countries to World Cup victories? No Arab Spring Shahzad’s murder discredits Pakistani authorities he torture and murder of leading Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad throws into sharp relief an ironic twist in the politics of the Muslim world. As the populations of one Middle Eastern country after the other revolt against authoritarianism in favour of democracy Pakistan is , headed the other way. Shahzad’s death follows two other high-profile murders. Earlier, the minister for minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was apparently slain for supporting Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman jailed for blasphemy Also . killed was the governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, by his own bodyguard. Combined, the murders suggest a trend at the heart of the Pakistani state, whereby dissent from official views is no longer tolerated. Shahzad’s murder also suggests that he was onto something. It’s hard to believe that his disappearance, just after he filed a story about the Pakistani navy being infiltrated by terrorists, is a mere coincidence – particularly since there is a history of Shahzad being threatened by the ISI for previous reports filed by him. Couple that with growing evidence of ISI involvement in 26/11, and Pakistan’s ‘state-within-a-state’ may be as threatening to its own citizens as it is to India and the world. Along with Abbottabad and the Mehran naval base raid, Shahzad’s murder is another blot on the face of Pakistan’s security establishment. Whether authorities have the will to trace Shahzad’s murderers or not will be a test of what sort of country Pakistan is turning out to be. Don’t be too surprised if not much is done to apprehend them. Isn’t the trail also running cold when it comes to investigating the perpetrators of 26/11? E I T Pepper-rona pizza Do the crusty men and women of politics fall in keeping with the old Domino’s theory? Bachi Karkaria SNAP JUDGMENT Safely Mobile he International Agency for Research on Cancer says electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’. A group of 31 experts from 14 countries concluded this on the basis of human evidence coming from epidemiological studies. The news especially concerns Indians: we’re the second highest cellphone users. The government says further research is required. But till then, hands-free devices might be the answer. Test For India Clean-up Act T E What connection could there possibly be between political inclinations and the leaning tower of pizza? Here’s the latest takeaway The US-based hunch.com analysed the responses of . 7,00,000 members, and came to the conclusion that if you prefer thin-crust pizza you are a liberal, and the denser deep-dish variety labels you as a conservative. Inescapably . So where do we stand? India’s most powerful woman may be to the pizza born, but has developed a severe allergic reaction to the very mention of her Italian origins. It’s near-fatal – for the mention-er. This, however, has not deterred her critics from whispering that her favourite midnight snack is Spam Progetti. Her self-anointed inner circle insists that she is long pasta this connection. In fact, it reacts as violently to anyone voicing the link. Even ignorance is hiss, as i discovered during my stint at Delhi’s TOI. Part of a small lunch group at the Italian embassy to advise on the opera it was bringing to India, i suggested what i naively thought was the obvious: Sonia G as Chief G. The blanched silence was so mortifying that even Berlusconi would have blushed. Alas, i exposed myself to another salami slicer not long after. Interviewing Gursharan Kaur when she first became First Lady i asked what she liked to , cook. She mentioned pasta, so i jokingly asked if she had taken any tips from Sonia-ji. “No,” said Mrs Manmohan Singh. In the eggshell world of party politics, umbilically yolked to Delhi gossip, this light-hearted exchange promptly acquired a loaded dimension, or so it was whispered. It was like raw spaghetti spiralling into fusilli. Which brings me back to the US survey and the political dish of the day , also known as the plat du joust. Does Neta Neopolitan reflect the pizza-base theory of political ideology? First, a disclaimer: the liberal-conservative line is as porous as our borders. Our politicians, or even parties, saunter across with the impunity of infiltrators. Or goats. Having said this, yes, it is possible to find a connection between our powerati and pasta, pizza and its local variants. The current BJP imbroglio is a steaming dish of desified risotto. Isn’t it about ‘Rice Plate is Reddy’? The simmering succession battle came to a boil over the tainted mining baron brothers. Sushma Swaraj, accused of having inducted them into the Karnataka cabinet, threw the spatula back into the rival Jaitley pan; chief minister Yeddyurappa is liberally sprinkling his own chilli flakes. In pizza terms, this is making the party tread on very thin crust. But, whatever the US study may have concluded, this definitely does not mean that the BJP is now a liberal parivar. The Reddy red-facer is only the latest sign that the BJP has curdled. We would add, ‘like ineptly made carbonara’, but that would be culturally polluting for the BJP’s reigning powerani. And not only because this sauce is non-Indian, and Italian to boot. This Lazio regional specialty combines cream with egg, an object which the ‘shuddh shakahari’ Smt Swaraj and her family “do not even touch”. Too bad that egg has the nasty habit of touching face without permission. To return to the pizza, it’s the topping which truly connects it with our politicians. Local versions of ‘peeza’ come with stuff that is about as Italian as a ‘Gucci’ bag from Mumbai’s Dabboo Street – paneer tikka, mushroom Manchurian, bhaji sans pav, all slathered with Amul ‘chizz’. Similarly our , politicians dish out whatever the public wants with nary a care for ideological purity Neta Neo-politan will also give you a combo-party pack. Now if only . they would deliver in 30 days, or our money back. * * * Alec Smart said: “Looks like it’s fast becoming the Lockpal bill.” ngland’s spectacular victory over Sri Lanka in the Cardiff Test has highlighted that the team is a serious contender for the number one spot in Test cricket. Its ruthless dismantling of the Sri Lankan batting order was a warning shot across India’s bow. When the Indian team starts its tour of England in July, it will have its job cut out fending off the challenger. I D ominique StraussKahn, ex-IMF chief who hit the headlines for allegedly sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York, has reportedly hired an all-male cleaning staff. This manly crew has been sweeping and swabbing the plush abode where he’s under house arrest. Clearly, for someone awaiting trial on charges of molesting a lady, you can’t play too safe. But you can try, with ‘macho maids’ coming to the rescue. I SACRED S PAC E Benefits Of Yoga I Experience Evergreen Life growing. The same process happens to us. Newness comes from our consciousness. e have the power to think. But, are Everyday wake up with a new conscious, you free to think? We are not free to ness. Everyday wake up with new ideas, , think because we are in a system, new aspirations, and new hopes, with in a frame, in a society in our small hole, and something new. , there we can only think according to the We always say “I can’t do it.” We are living size of our hole. Why? Because according to with such a strong negativity We are not . the present size of our frame, our con- seeing that we are able to do things. We are sciousness is very limited. When we are in a slaves to our habits, natures, likes and disframe, we are limited. We can think when likes; slaves on the mental, emotional, vital we discover our unlimitedness. In truth, in and physical levels. This slavery is not alreality we belong to the unlimited. , lowing us to think and live more. Discover Ignorance always forces you to worry your slavery If you don't want to live like a . and hurry with the question, “How to be slave, then involve yourself with the Divine. secure?” Self-knowledge is differA small secret: Always feel the Dient. It gives you that light to meet vine in you. We feel love, emotions, life which removes your worry desires, tastes, flavours...we feel so about food and security It gives you . many things inside us. When we recourage, confidence and strength. member someone, we feel for that It connects you with your true self, person. Feel the Divine living inside with your soul and you start feelyou. This is your mantra. If one ing protected. As long as we live can practise this for 10 minutes evTHE with ignorance, we are always eryday the divine involvement , lonely and worried, confused SPEAKING will begin. Practise a little bit to and frustrated. listen to your heartbeat. It is the TREE Do you want to live the day Divine who is walking in this intoday with your limitedness or with your ner garden. Just grow your ability to feel unlimitedness? With the use of our con- that, to listen to that. sciousness, we can change, we can choose If you want divine possibilities, then and refuse. But we need to realise it, to you have to cut your present priorities and become aware of that ability Our ability give importance to the Divine. Like the tree . and capability is that we have possibilities is waiting inside the seed to come out, all the to change, but if we are not conscious about possibilities of the world are waiting to our abilities, how can we use them? Become come out, but we are not aware of that. Beaware of them. come aware of your possibilities, then of The idea is that we should live our life your abilities and become capable and with a new nature, attitude, thinking, make your life useful, meaningful, and puremotions and new dreams. Then life will be poseful – in short, a divine life.
[email protected] evergreen, flowing and growing with somewww.speakingtree.in thing new. Newness is the secret…the secret of the river is that new water is being added Join the world’s first spiritual networking and that is why it is always flowing and site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Swami Brahmdev E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Rigid stance won’t help With reference to the article ‘Feeding On False Fears’ (June 1) by Prashant Bhushan, civil society activists need to bear in mind that ours is a parliamentary democracy. Under this system, the constitutional power and responsibility of enacting laws lie with the legislators and not with civil society. Therefore, even if the drafting committee agrees upon a draft Bill, it can become actually operational only if it has been passed in Parliament, which is a political process. Moreover, no civil society group can claim to represent the entire spectrum of public opinion in the country. It will, therefore, be futile for any one group to adopt a rigid stand and insist on conditions. It may not be acceptable to a majority of the elected representatives. M M Mathur, NEW DELHI Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind. Patanjali The yoga we practise is not for ourselves alone, but for the Divine; its aim is to work out the will of the Divine in the world, to effect a spiritual transformation and to bring divine nature and divine life into the mental, vital and physical nature and life of humanity. Sri Aurobindo Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one’s being, from bodily health to self-realisation. Yoga means union – the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. B K S Iyengar Yoga leads from ignorance to wisdom, from weakness to strength, from disharmony to harmony , from hatred to love…from diversity to unity and from imperfection to perfection. Swami Sivananda W ERRATICA Spiritual growth missing With reference to The Speaking Tree ‘Astral And Physical Worlds’ (May 31) by Prashant Solomon, the astral world is the world of enlightenment conceived by a higher mind where divine personalities are believed to exist. They are free souls, above the influence of the bondages of their base qualities – gunatita i.e. beyond the snare of qualities. However, the astral environment as conceived by mere technology is simply a projection of the physical, as lifelike characters on a movie screen. They still have whims and desires. As such, they are not free souls and hence the question of spiritual evolution is absent. It serves no significant purpose in our spiritual development. Through application of mere technology one does not transcend the physical. Bimal Mohanty, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY CARLY FIORINA, American businesswoman OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011 I Leadership comes in small acts as well as bold strokes. Fighting A Lonely Battle The entire Indian higher education ecosystem needs revamping, not just the IITs Dipankar Gupta Passion Play Baba Ramdev – and Anna Hazare – must proceed with care ven as the government scrambled to placate him, spiritual guru Baba Ramdev remained adamant on starting his fast-unto-death, protesting black money and corruption. With his massive following and with Anna Hazare, leader of the civil society group contributing to the Lokpal Bill, announcing he’ll join the Baba, the Swami’s movement is expected to be huge. This is an exciting moment in India’s history when the soul of its people, long , suffering from corruption, is finding vibrant utterance. Yet, as the chanting grows impassioned, notes of caution must also be sounded. Baba Ramdev is a spiritual guide to multitudes. Through yoga, he has shown an enlightened path to fitness and poise. A spiritual leader gate-crashing politics, however, traverses a treacherous line. A religious teacher’s primary role should be helping individuals polish their own selves and reach out to others through kindness and truth. This is the major ‘systemic’ change a figure like Baba Ramdev can help bring, rather than pushing massive political changes that may require scrapping the Indian Constitution. The yogi must resist the temptation to become a commissar. The Baba’s campaign might have the unintended effect of muddying the waters around the Lokpal Bill. Already as the Baba initially , opposed one of Hazare’s most important demands – the prime minister being in the Lokpal’s purview – the government crowed over civil society representatives being internally divided and lacking cohesion. Despite the proclamations of unity that followed, confusion persists over what exactly Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare are each fighting for, and how far one will support the other. The clouds of rhetoric around them may be inspiring, but demarcating a clear path ahead is vital. Amongst the Baba’s demands is the death penalty for corruption offenders. Will the Gandhian Hazare support this? The contradictions don’t stop there. Hazare and Baba Ramdev each represent a rich tradition of protest in India, the yogi and the Gandhian using their bodies to challenge the powerful. However, we happen to live in a representative democracy. And there’s a modern constituency that’s growing in public life, which may be sympathetic to these philosophies but is not wholly supportive of demands like demonetising the economy or making it village-based. It’s important these views get counted. The two figures’ agitations may be inspirational. But to make sure that they don’t become a footnote in history, it’s vital Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare present a clear list of demands based on reason, ethics and pragmatism. Only this will save the movement against corruption from becoming a spectacle full of sound and fury, but otherwise fizzling out much faster than did the Jayaprakash Narayan movement of the 1970s. W E hy have the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) performed below potential? Jairam Ramesh may have said it baldly but Kapil Sibal’s comb over is hardly convincing. In 1946, the IITs were just a twinkle in the eye of Ardeshir Dalal, a colonial official. But from then on till they were actually set up post-Independence, the IITs were always meant for training and research. As the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was the obvious and stated model, these twin objectives were bolted into the IIT Act of 1961. Why then did the IITs falter on the research front? The short answer is that too much was expected of them and too little from everybody else. To ask the IITs to excel on their own is unfair. Researchers work best when they hunt like hounds in a pack. If the US is the centre of advanced learning today it is , because research is active in every college and university in that country It is not just a . Harvard or an MIT that is expected to do all the hard work and go catch the fox. If the IITs have failed, it is because they run alone, while in America, universities sprint together. Nobel prize winners in the US do not always come from elite Ivy League universities, nor are they bred there from the start. For example, before Baruj Benacereff became famous as a Nobel laureate in Harvard, he was at a medical college in Virginia where he had done the bulk of his research. Susumu Tonegawa is now at MIT, but it was his work at the University of San Diego that won him the Nobel prize in chemistry. Van Fitch fired his engines at McGill before landing in Columbia University Daniel C Tsui, the . 1998 Nobel winner in physics, was born in China and spent much of his childhood there. He is currently at Princeton, but discovered the award-winning fractional quantum Hall effect while in Bell Laboratories, New Jersey George Shull got the . Nobel prize when in MIT, but he had made his mark earlier in Oakridge National Laboratory, Tennessee. One could add many The next batch of products for the IIT assembly line Researchers work best when they hunt like hounds in a pack. If the IITs have failed, it is because they run alone, while in America, universities sprint together more names to the list of those who did their most applauded work elsewhere, but are now in Ivy League institutions. Even so, there are dozens of Nobel prize winners who continue to teach and research in less-famed places. For example, the University of Pennsylvania boasts of 16 Nobel laureates, Washington State University in St Louis as many as 22, University of Minnesota 12, and so on. University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign scores lower with 11 Nobel winners, but one of them, John Bardeen, twice won the coveted prize for physics – the only person ever to receive such an honour. Even lowly Rockefeller University has one Nobel prize winner in its ranks. As their environment constantly recharges their batteries, American institutions of excellence stay in top research form. They are never short of talent and when they spot it elsewhere, they are quick to bring it in. This is why scientists from Japan, Mexico and Europe have, over the years, moved to America and won Nobel prizes there. If Harvard or MIT or Stanford has Nobel laureates in practically every classroom, it is because of the research ethos within and outside the Ivy League. As India lacks such breeding grounds, it is unfair to pick on the IITs alone. In Indian universities today a professor , is barely rewarded for quality research. Many faculty members from supposedly the best universities in this country often pass off popular pieces as academic articles, a practice that would be unthinkable elsewhere. What matters most in India for a ‘merit’ promotion is actually not merit at all. Research publications in refereed journals are much less important than years of service. This is why on many Indian campuses, there are more professors than lecturers – more chiefs than braves! In the smaller provincial universities, teachers of all ranks are deeply unhappy. They complain bitterly of overloaded lecture schedules and the lack of research and library facilities. Consequently , the IITs get no help from outside and are forced to plod on their own. Is it surprising then that their research output should wilt? It is not just the percentage fall in funds allocated to research and development that is galling, but there have been cutbacks in library services too. Even information technology companies in India hardly invest in knowledge production which is frontier stuff. While elsewhere these enterprises would set aside 14% to 15% of their sales for R&D, in India it is just about 3%. Nationally S P Gupta found , that our R&D expenditure is 1/60th of South Korea, 1/250th of the US and 1/340th of Japan. Little wonder then that our manpower base of scientists and engineers is 1/100th of the US, 1/50th of South Korea and 1/5th of even China. The last one hurts the most: even China is ahead! If the IITs are not up to speed, then our policymakers are to blame. At no time in recent years have they truly emphasised research as an integral part of higher education. Against this backdrop, it is a wonder the IITs have come this far and have stoked so many ambitions. After all, there is a life after IIT in America’s Silicon Valley. The Parliament House out on Raisina Hill is not a bad place either; google Jairam Ramesh for directions. The writer is former professor, JNU. Cleanse The System Telecom portfolio can’t be treated as personal fief ‘We believe firmly in the rule of law’ Purnendu Basu is minister for labour in the new TrinamoolCongress government in West Bengal. He was elected from Rajarhat-Gopalpur constituency on a Trinamool ticket. He spent his early years in the trade union movement, participated in radical politics and eventually joined the Trinamool. He spoke to Deep K Datta-Ray: I Is the apprehension that people like you with a radical political past are now running the state government justified? Not at all, because we want the best for the state. That means wealth creation through encouraging industry My . political past naturally shapes my politics, but it also makes me close to the people. In short, i know what they want because i fought with them and represented them for decades. I Given the importance of your political past, can you please outline it? I’m from a very poor family and grew up with the Left movement. In 1967 Naxalbari happened. We were students and sympathised with the cause. The Left Front government of the time fired on the Naxalites and their supporters. That was shocking. We didn’t think the state would do that and we were further radicalised. By the 1970s, however, the movement had degenerated. Naxalites were resorting to violence. It became a politics of murder, which is reprehensible. The next momentous event for me was the Emergency when i was jailed. It gave me time to read, especially Gandhi, and to reflect on myself critically For instance, . i regret even today my attacking a school library. The Emergency union at the Kanoria Jute Mill. What were we seeking? Not simply rights for the workers but to ensure that the employers followed already existing laws. I How did you become a part of Trinamool? In 1996, during the Singur movement, an independent and popular movement, i met Mamata-di. She didn’t start that movement, but she did become the organic leader of widespread discontent at the unfair acquisition of land, in what amounted to an unlawful manner. You see, it is the rule of law that we have always been interested in. Someone said to me that, despite having Mamata here, you still can’t do anything? And that really got me thinking and i finally landed in her party . I What are your plans as the minister of labour? I foresee a twofold plan. First, workers can’t just make demands. They have to learn responsibilities as well. Meanwhile, the owners don’t keep to established laws. The law of the land, the people’s will has to be maintained and the people for us are not just the labour class but also the industrial class. One of the things that used to happen was the politicisation of workers. Bengal is unfortunately famous for its bandhs. But why were they held? Not to help the workers, but because politicians were using workers for narrow political ends. That will stop now because the production process can’t be hampered for such petty reasons. We will also reform Bengal’s labour laws. There will be some changes but most importantly we will ensure current laws are actually followed. The aim is to start industry, to make contact with the outside world and start thinking about how to improve state welfare programmes like the NREGA. B roadening the scope of investigation into the 2G spectrum scam, the CBI has said it is probing alleged corruption charges against former Union telecom minister – and current Union textiles minister – Dayanidhi Maran. It’s been alleged that as telecom minister, Maran arm-twisted Aircel into selling out to Maxis, a Malaysia-based telecom company in 2006. A , petition in the Supreme Court claims that Maran’s family-run media empire, Sun Network, directly benefited from the deal, receiving Rs 599 crore as investment from the Maxis group. If the allegations are true, yet another DMK leader would be in the dock for telecom-related corruption. And the telecom portfolio would appear to have been handed over to the Dravidian party as its personal fief. There’s a consistent pattern in the charges against A Raja and Maran. Bend rules to hand over scarce spectrum to favoured companies, then plough the kickbacks into media empires that boost the profiles of the leaders in question – so further election victories can keep the money cycle going. As the principal party in the UPA, the Congress too is culpable for using the telecom ministry as a tool to appease coalition partners. Ever since the Sukh Ram case in the 1990s, the telecom sector has been susceptible to charges of corruption. Thanks to the mobile telephony revolution, the profile of the telecom ministry has grown rapidly making it , a sought-after portfolio. Sensing an opportunity patronage-based political , parties such as the DMK hoped to reap dividends from this sunshine sector. Instead, their shenanigans have cast a dark cloud over the telecom sector that’s so vital to building infrastructure, connecting businesses and empowering people. To rectify the situation, the 2G probe must be taken to its logical conclusion – a complete cleansing of the telecom sector. Q&A showed me that people can really change governments. It gave me a new hope in parliamentary democracy. I What do you say about the allegation that Trinamool lacks a political ideology? That’s not correct. We believe firmly in the rule of law. In my own particular case after my conversion to democracy i , organised an independent trade Loo and behold Lack of public toilets has created a biological gender difference in urban India Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT It is a big war. We have to change the system of 64 years. It is not an easy task In the land of Mamata, Jayalalithaa, Sonia, Mayawati and Pratibha, female foetus is still aborted. Strange – SHEKHAR KAPUR, filmmaker, on female foeticide Not everyone gets to be raja, some have to be mantri A survey conducted by an all-male team of Indian scientists has come up with a remarkable finding. The researchers have discovered that women in urban India – all urban women, irrespective of economic status, caste, creed, age – have achieved an evolutionary breakthrough: their anatomical systems have learnt to function without the biological process known as micturation. In other words, Indian women don’t have to do pee-pee. Ever. This amazing fact makes the women of urban India a unique branch of the human species. Women who live in India’s towns and cities are different even from women in the rural areas of the country As shown by the age-old practice . of what is known as ‘fielding’ – doing what you have to do in open fields, there being no other facilities for the purpose – rural Indian women have no choice but to display the same biological functions as their male counterparts. With the notable absence of fields in overcrowded and overbuilt urban India, the recourse to ‘fielding’ is ruled out. Moreover, urban India has an even more notable absence of public toilets, barring a stray Sulabh Sauchalaya here and there, and generally more there than here, where you most desperately need one RIGHT NOW! With there being no convenient fields to use and no public toilets to speak of, urban Indian women were faced with a dilemma. They could either stop going out anywhere – to work, to school, to kitty parties, whatever – lest in the process of going out they suddenly discovered they had to go, in another sense, and found there was nowhere to go to go, so to speak, or they could learn to forego the need to go altogether. Evolution chose the second option, and women in urban India dispensed with the need to make water, as that particular biological function is sometimes referred to. Indian men, on the other hand, if that’s the word one wants, whether urban or rural, have no obligation to loo before they leak and more than make up for any possible deficit in the country’s production of human urea. Indian men – all Indian men, irrespective of economic status, caste, creed or age – have no regard whatsoever for minding their pees and cues and do what they need to do anywhere and everywhere, in full public view, on the walls of buildings, behind bushes in parks, in front of bushes in parks, wherever they can find a convenient place to do so and even wherever they can’t find such a place. Indeed, one of the most representative sights of the urban Indian landscape that visitors from abroad like to photograph, after they’ve photographed the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort and the Char Minar, is an orderly line of Indian men dutifully queuing up to relieve themselves right under a large sign saying COMMIT NO NUISANCE – BY ORDER. Such signs seem to act as a diuretic, an inducement to commit the very act that they supposedly seek to deter. Real diehards – pee-hards? – will go miles out of their way bladders bursting, just to find one of these signs under the , benign presence of which they can finally ease themselves and not a moment too soon. Whew! In urban India nothing is more illustrative of the gender divide between men and women than the letter pee as in ‘public’. With no other option available to them, urban women have trained themselves to do without doing what comes naturally. Urban men, on the contrary, take pride in answering nature’s call wherever and whenever, and never even think of putting the caller on hold. When sought out for comment, the all-male team of scientists researching the issue was lined up against a wall with a large sign on it. No comment? JV asked. The head of the team replied, This is the comment: piss off ! – BABA RAMDEV, yoga guru, on his crusade against black money – HARBHAJAN SINGH, cricketer, on being appointed vice-captain for the Caribbean tour I SACRED S PAC E Respect For Life I Bhakti Is Devotional Love externalised usage and ritual is called vaedhi bhakti. hose who pray to be emancipated If the sattvika sadhaka does not forget from the cycle of karma and those the adored even after realisation of his object, who pursue their practice as their then gradually the Supreme knowledge duty are sattvika sadhakas. They do not shines forth within his mind. This attainseek attainment of the Supreme. Sattvika ment is known by the name of jinanamishra sadhana is not a superior degree of sadhana bhakti. This is also called pradhanibhuta because it does not control the energies of bhakti. Pradhanibhuta is the highest stage of the aspirant and direct them towards the gaoni or inferior bhakti. adored, the Supreme Brahmn. If aspirants from the very outset, instead The aim of the aspirant is channelised in of devoting themselves to saguna bhakti, a different direction and he carries on with realise the permanence of nirguna bhakti, an inferior object. All the three such bhaktas then questions like “What have i attained” – sattvika, rajasika and tamasika – are gaoni and “Why do i wish to attain?” do not arise or of inferior devotion. Where there is no in their mind. This is the highest pitch of object other than the Supreme devotion. If there is undivided Brahmn, it is called mukhya bhakti. knowledge with the object, then The aspirant is free from the three there exists only one entity and , gunas. He is absorbed in spiritual that is why it is called kevala practices to nirguna bhakti. bhakti, that is superior to gaoni Bhakti or devotion can be clasbhakti. That is why it is called sified into many groups according mukhya bhakti. Whatever proto the object in view. In nirguna gress an aspirant may achieve THE bhakti, aspirants have no other in gaoni bhakti, the distinction I SPEAKING I object. They take themselves between the adored and the towards the Supreme Brahmn adorer, or between the infinite TREE only by the urge of their own and the finite, remains with spirit. If questioned as to why they love him till the end. Him and devote themselves to Him they In ragatmika bhakti, the aspirant runs to say: “I do not know. I love Him just because i get close to the adored with utmost zeal. He like to love Him. Should i not love? He is the considers the adored to be the life of his life life of my life, the soul of my soul.” This and the soul of his soul. He has no time to type of devotion is nirguna bhakti. make a distinction between the adored and In vaedhi bhakti, there is no undivided the adorer or the infinite and the finite. The devotion for God and the object is only to aspirant does not consider himself to be the present a show to others. Today there is a adorer of Rama but rather the personification , particular festival, the floor will have to be of Rama. He loves to love, and cannot remain smeared with cow dung, Ganga water will without loving because he entertains only have to be sprinkled, the idols will be decorated this feeling. in royal fashion, mantras will be chanted, www.speakingtree.in flowers and leaves offered and so on. Such Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to interact directly with masters and seekers. devotion practised within the bounds of Shri Shri Anandamurti I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX As a mother with her own life guards the life of her own child, let all-embracing thoughts for all that lives be thine. Khuddaka Patha, Metta Sutta On love, not harming others, and respecting all beings. Even animals have these elements in their behavioural patterns. We should start by observing how animals act. They are honest and appreciate it when we are honest with them. If you present something nice to an animal in one hand while hiding a rope in the other, it knows your intention. Yet animals have no religion, no constitution. Basic nature has endowed them with the faculty of discernment. It is the same for humans. The XIV Dalai Lama By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive. Albert Schweitzer T Advantage BJP The editorial ‘The Lotus Eaters’ (June 1) makes an impartial assessment of the BJP’s inability to tap the political opportunities thrown up by the UPA government’s lapses. But to say that the ‘BJP is poverty-struck on policy’ is wrong. The BJP-led NDA government between 1999 and 2004 initiated many path-breaking projects and reforms. In fact, UPA-I had only carried forward the NDA’s agenda. Likewise, many BJP-ruled states have not only taken the lead in policy formulation, but are ahead of the Congress-ruled states on many indicators. Also, it is wrong to presume that there is no leader in the party. While the Congress leadership comes from only one family, the BJP has a very broadbased first- and second-rung leadership. Above all, it doesn’t believe in the culture of sycophancy. Nitin Gadkari’s elevation as party president is a case in point. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, VIA EMAIL JUGULAR VEIN Road to rural India Axel C Heitmann’s article ‘Cities Are India’s Future’ (May 31) projects swelling urbanisation as an opportunity and suggests that the future of India lies in it. But while urbanisation will create more employment opportunities and may push growth, can we ignore our villages? Also, is it feasible for India to shrink villages without disrupting our agricultural economy, which may ultimately affect our food security? That today a cellphone SIM card costs less than milk does shows the irony of our growth process. We must follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. He insisted on promoting villages to make them self-sufficient. Satish Saley, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 18 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2011 All Work, No Child’s Play? Don’t take modern parenting to be kid’s stuff ome papas – and mamas – do preach. Others don’t want to be papa, let alone preacher. Parental worries aren’t mundane any more, with even US prez Obama fretting about daughters Sasha and Malia growing up, wearing short skirts and dating. On her part, writer-professor Amy Chua ensured her growing girls didn’t watch TV or play computer games. For this self-declared Tiger Mom, the secret of tutoring children into becoming maths geniuses or musical prodigies lies in all work, no play. Then there are those who want nothing to do with parenthood. Take Congressman N D Tiwari, who a young man alleges is his biological father. He’s defied a court order, refusing a DNA test to settle the paternity issue! Such variety doesn’t seem the spice of parental life in urban India, where more and more guardians have similar headaches. Studying modern parenting in six big cities, a new survey’s findings challenge gender stereotypes about absent ‘breadwinner’ dads and available ‘homemaker’ moms. Since both can now be, say, work-stressed corporate honchos, most working parents regret the meagre time spent with their children. For 70%, a skewed work-life balance reduces involvement with offspring. But if just 20% of women surveyed were employed, a reassuring 57% of parents say parenting is a joint responsibility, not just a mother load. Now, little moppets of political families can do with some parental neglect. That way, they won’t automatically acquire dynastic airs or be tutored in opportunism, corruption and nepotism. Elsewhere, with both parents working creche, not cash, becomes worry number one. Leaving offspring to their own devices isn’t an option even for nuclear families. So, will joint families make an urban comeback, with grandma telling the bedtime stories? Well, innovation of services and lifestyles is more likely the answer. Take the piano lessons, karate classes and cricket coaching to be had in neighbourhood backyards to keep the brood occupied. Or the summer camps for kids-onholiday sprouting now in every residential neighbourhood. , Many South Korean couples live apart for children’s sake, with mothers taking youngsters for education to Englishspeaking America or New Zealand. With English skills, Indians don’t need to copy that. Consider, however, the trend of techies quitting plush jobs to turn farmers. It may have as much to do with wresting quality family time as encashing high commodity prices. Others can chart their own ways towards familial reconnect. If Nehru stuck in jail could write long letters to daughter Indira, 21st century guardians can surely increase parent-progeny interaction in this age of instant messaging. Who knows, better parenting may even make a dent when it comes to current Indian preoccupations such as corruption, which can often be attributed to an upbringing as a spoilt kid who’s not taught to have empathy for others! March Of A Billion Aspirations The old style of politics is out; the new politics of good governance and inclusive growth is in Naveen Jindal S In 1990, V S Naipaul wrote, ‘‘Independence had come to India like a kind of revolution.” A year later in 1991, India embarked on a programme of economic liberalisation setting free the creative energy and business enterprise of millions of our people. Twenty years later, the world cannot stop talking about India’s march of a billion aspirations. Our democracy is our greatest strength. At the time of Independence in 1947, a deeply conservative society like India chose democracy and gave a voice and vote to every man and woman. For a multilingual, multicultural and multi-religious society which guaranteed equality to all, it was the right thing to do. In one stroke, we empowered millions of our people, a majority of them poor and illiterate. Development would come later but democracy could not be delayed. Our democracy has been of the people, by the people, for the people but development has not touched every man, woman and child. However, democracy has raised the expectations of our people who have expressed their anger and anguish at the poor pace of progress and the deficient delivery of development. Economically and socially India , is undergoing a transformation, and this is driving political change in our country People . are eager and assertive about wanting a share in the rapid economic growth of our country . They want to be partners in growth and are looking up to the political and business leadership of our country to facilitate the process of inclusion. We have the right ideas but our implementation has not been efficient and effective enough to make a meaningful impact on the scale that is required. Sincerity of purpose is no substitute for success in programme implementation. This message has reached political parties and governments, and good economics is finally being accepted as good politics. This was the message of the 2004 and the 2009 general elections, and every state election in the last They are no longer willing to bear the burden of poverty Economically and socially, India is undergoing a transformation, and this is driving political change. People are assertive about wanting a share in the rapid economic growth of our country decade. More importantly, this message is being heard loud and clear by all political parties. At 9% economic growth, we are ready for what economist Jagdish Bhagwati calls a “revolution of perceived possibilities”, in which reforms can produce high economic returns along with improvements for the poor. Our achievements of the last 20 years in manufacturing and services owe a great deal to the first four decades of nationbuilding in a poor country with limited financial resources. We laid a very strong foundation by building what our first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called the temples of modern India. These were not symbols of religion but structures of development – dams and steel plants, power plants and ports, airlines and IITs, we built them all. Now, we are able and willing to pursue economic growth for all-round development. For democracy to be meaningful, development has to be inclusive, comprehensive and extensive. We have to empower all our people by making them partners in growth and beneficiaries of development. Our strong economic growth has to be reflected in the human development indices. The next decade is an opportunity and a challenge to educate and skill every individual so they can grow up to be productive citizens. The march of a billion aspirations is gathering pace; our education and skill indicators are improving. In the last decade, we have made more people literate (218 million) than the number of people we have added to our population (181 million). The effective literacy rate has improved from 64.83% in 2001 to 74.04% in 2011. What is even more heartening is that literacy has improved more among women – there are 50% more literate women today than in 2001. If i go to the rural areas of my constituency of Kurukshetra, the enthusiasm of young girls to be educated and independent is infectious. One cannot help but be inspired by it. Haryana has a disappointingly poor record in the male-female sex ratio and especially in the 0-6 age group, but given a chance our laadlis will change the perceptions of their families and communities by becoming educated and outstanding citizens of our country. The daughters of our nation have an equal right as our sons to be born and brought up as equals; to be given the same access to education and employment. This freedom which is guaranteed by law must be honoured by families and society. Economic expansion is driving growth but for growth to be sustainable, it has to be inclusive. Without growth, there cannot be adequate resources for spending on the poor or on social sector programmes and income support programmes. Without an educated, skilled and healthy population, there cannot be high economic growth. This recognition of inclusive economic growth has spawned a virtuous cycle of policymaking and programme implementation. We are beginning to see results but greater impact will be visible in the years to come. Development is now driving our democracy The new spirit of . India is visible in the drive of our people. When we talk about our proud past and our promising potential, it rests on our ability to sustain growth, strengthen inclusion and improve governance. We have to deliver development as decisively as we have delivered on democracy to be able to redeem our tryst with destiny . The writer is Congress MP from Kurukshetra. Sania Mirza says seedings have no meaning when it comes to winning or losing Advantage, consistency oth India’s sole female representa- seeded opponents, and thus advance further. tive to have made some sort of an Surely, if a player has proved his quality by impact in international tennis in performing consistently enough to achieve recent years – Sania Mirza – and her oppo- a high seeding, he has won the right to such nents in the French Open women’s doubles an advantage. final defeated a number of higher-seeded The other is simply a matter of practiteams during their advance through the cality. Modern sport tournment. Little wonder that Mirza has is built on a foundasaid that seedings have no meaning. This tion of sponsorships, opens up the whole issue of the need for, television rights and and fairness of, the entire seedings system. But contrary to what I T I M E S V I E W I Mirza might say the existing , system has its merits. the like. The longer For one it is, quite simply a reward for popular, high-ranked , maintaining a consistently high standard players remain in in one’s game. That, after all, is the prime a tournament, the objective of any sportsman. It separates more viewer interest the merely good players from the great. that tournament is Thus, seedings – which take into account likely to generate – the player’s performance on the ATP and therefore, more money. Thus, it makes circuit – ensure that such consistency sense to have a system whereby clashes benefits the player beyond merely the between the top players are delayed until notional value of having a high ATP rank. the latter stages of a tournament. The The higher a player is seeded in a tourna- alternative might make things easier for ment, the more likely that he will have lower-seeded players – but it would harm easy matches first up against lower- the sport as a whole. No level playing field t is not very often that unseeded players make it to the final of high-profile tournaments in professional tennis, as they are artificially structured to favour the higher ranked players. We owe thanks to Sania Mirza’s remark on not underestimating her unseeded opponents, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, in the women’s B I The Depravity Factor David Brooks By now you have probably heard about Hamza Ali al-Khateeb. He was the 13-year-old Syrian boy who tagged along at an anti-government protest in the town of Saida on April 29. He was arrested that day, and the police returned his mutilated body to his family a month later. While in custody, he had apparently been burned, beaten, lacerated and given electroshocks. The family bravely put video evidence of the torture on the internet, and Hamza’s martyrdom has rallied the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad’s Baathist regime. But, of course, his torture didn’t come out of nowhere. The regime’s defining act of brutality was the Hama massacre in 1982 when then-president Hafez al-Assad had more than 10,000 Syrians murdered. The US government has designated Syria a state sponsor of terror for 30 consecutive years. The State Department’s Human Rights Report has described the regime’s habitual torture techniques. Over the past several weeks, alAssad’s regime has killed more than 1,000 protesters and jailed at least 10,000 more, according to Syrian human rights groups. Human Rights Watch has described crimes against humanity in the town of Dara’a. All governments do bad things, and Middle East dictatorships do more than most. But the Syrian government is one of the world’s genuinely depraved regimes. Yet for all these years, Israel has been asked to negotiate with this regime, compromise with this regime and trust that this regime will someday occupy the heights over it in peace. For 30 years, the Middle East peace process has been predicated on moral obtuseness, an unwillingness to face the true nature of certain governments. World leaders have tried sweet-talking Syria, calling al-Assad a friend (Nancy Pelosi) or a reformer (Hillary Clinton). In 2008, Nicolas Sarkozy invited al-Assad to be the guest of honour at France’s Bastille Day ceremonies – a ruthless jailer celebrating the storming of a jail. For 30 years, diplomats and technocrats have flown to Damascus in the hopes of “flipping” Syria – turning it into a pro-western, civilised power. Perhaps some of them were so besotted with their messianic abilities that they thought they had the power to turn a depraved regime into a normal regime. Perhaps some of them were so wedded to the materialistic mindset that they thought a regime’s essential nature could be altered with a magical mix of incentives and disincentives. Perhaps some of them were simply morally blind. They were such pedantic technocrats, so consumed by the legalisms of the peace process, that they no longer possessed the capacity to recognise the moral nature of the regime they were dealing with, or to understand the implications of its nature. In any case, their efforts were doomed. In fact, the current peace process is doomed because of the inability to make a categorical distinction. There are some countries in the region that are not nice, but they are normal – Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. But there are other governments that are fundamentally depraved. Either as a matter of thuggishness (Syria) or ideology (Hamas), they reject the full humanity of other human beings. They believe it is proper and right to kill innocents. They can never be part of a successful negotiation because they undermine the universal principles of morality. It doesn’t matter how great a law professor or diplomat you are. It doesn’t matter how masterly you sequence the negotiations or what magical lines you draw on a map. There won’t be peace so long as depraved regimes are part of the picture. That’s why it’s crazy to get worked into a lather about who said what about the 1967 border. As long as Hamas and the Assad regime are in place, the peace process is going nowhere, just as it’s gone nowhere for these many years. That’s why it’s necessary, especially at this moment in history, to focus on the nature of regimes, not only the boundaries between them. To have a peaceful Middle East, it was necessary to get rid of Saddam’s depraved regime in Iraq. It will be necessary to try to get rid of Gaddafi’s depraved regime in Libya. It’s necessary, as everybody but the Obama administration publicly acknowledges, to see Assad toppled. It will be necessary to marginalise Hamas. It was necessary to abandon the engagement strategy that Barack Obama campaigned on and embrace the cautious regime-change strategy that is his current doctrine. The machinations of the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are immaterial. The Arab reform process is the peace process. – NYTNS ally top-ranked players who make it to the final play-off rounds, as the dice is loaded in their favour. That the top four ranked players have made it to the men’s semifinal play-offs at this year’s Roland Garros is a case in point. In order to impart fairness to the system, the organisers should introduce random draw of players in the preliminary rounds. It will stamp out undue advantage to certain players for whom it becomes an easy ride under the present system. Random draws I COUNTERVIEW I may contribute to a general increase in viewership. With Ajay Vaishnav doubles final at the random draws increasing the possibility of French Open, for hav- casualties for top contenders, the viewers may ing laid bare the issue. actually see an onset of fresh rivalries among The raison d’etre new players rather than watching the same behind seeding is to old faces and the same monotonous rivalries delay confrontation bet- playing out in every tournament. It could ween major players as a also lead to a general improvement in the first round match of the two top contenders quality of tennis. All the more reason to will squash spectator interest and will be move towards a random draw format. At financially ruinous for organisers. However, least some tournaments should experiment such reasoning goes against the spirit of with a new format, which doesn’t make a fetcompetition of the sport and is grossly unfair ish of prior seedings. Who knows, that would to lower-ranked players. Unless a major upset bring in a dash of unpredictability which occurs during preliminary rounds, it is usu- would be a lot more exciting for viewers. SNAP JUDGMENT Refine Communalism Bill Flying Safe t’s heartening to know that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is finally taking steps to plug the loopholes that allow pilots with fake licences to endanger the lives of thousands. But holding pilot exams online is just one part of the solution. There are other issues – such as having more pilots on the DGCA’s rolls – that must be addressed as well. I Naipaul Does It Again S Naipaul may spark a million mutinies by claiming that he considers no woman writer his equal. But then he’s trashed the great male writers too at several points in his career, including but not limited to James Joyce, E M Forster, Ernest Hemingway Henry , James and Charles Dickens. Sure, we agree with him that there’s nobody quite his equal. He must be the greatest grouch and curmudgeon of all time. T he draft Communal Violence Bill is commendable in spirit, but problematic in letter. In its present form it only holds members of the majority community culpable for communal violence. What about violence committed by members of one minority community on another? Strong laws are needed to deter communal violence that’s all too common in India. However, they must be non-sectarian and free from loopholes to prevent misuse. I V I SACRED S PAC E Natural Balance I There’s Heaven On Earth The Color Purple has another startling teaching – startling in the way it is phrased. arth is crammed with heaven. Sadly Shug declares: “I think it pisses God off if you , though, earning a living, raising families walk by the colour purple in a field somewhere and achieving success, most of us hardly and don't notice it.” Later she adds by way of explanation: “People take notice of this. It takes poets, or those with poetic ears, eyes and tongues to reconnect us to think pleasing God is all God cares about. But this state of noticing. any fool living in the world can see it always “Crammed with heaven” is that just-right trying to please us back…always making little phrase from the poet Elizabeth Barrett Brown- surprises and springing them on us when we ing: “Earth's crammed with heaven, And every least expect it.” common bush afire with God; But only he who Viktor Frankl, author of the popular Man’s sees, takes off his shoes…” Search For Meaning – tells of catching a Once we learn to see with the eyes of the glimpse of heaven even at a Nazi death camp, in heart, or what Islamic mystics have called the midst of unimaginable horrors, degradachasm-e-dil, we begin to inhabit a world trans- tion and inhumanity. He writes of how, standing formed by our seeing. The bland or outside late one evening, “…we saw unattractive reveals hidden beauty , sinister clouds glowing in the west the ordinary becomes sacred, everyand the whole sky alive with clouds of day events take on new meaning ever-changing shapes and colours, and depth. from steel blue to blood red. The Alice Walker’s novel, The Color desolate grey mud huts provided a Purple, with its story of suffering sharp contrast, while the puddles graced with love, and earthy wison the muddy ground reflected the THE dom of its poor African American glowing sky Then, after minutes . I SPEAKING I characters, is a powerful if unlikely of moving silence, one prisoner sacred text, to be read and re-read. said to another, “How beautiful the TREE The main character, the simple, world could be!” unlettered Celie, often thought of God and Reminders are found everywhere. scribbled notes to Him, but in the middle of Tracy Chapman sings in her hauntingly a sad and difficult life, she stops writing. beautiful voice: You can look to the stars in Celie meets Shug, an unlikely wise teacher, in search of the answers,/ Look for God and life the form of a sassy sultry singer with unusual on distant planets,/ Have your faith in the ever , ideas, who teaches her that God does not after,/ While each of us holds inside the map to have to be an old white man with a grey beard the labyrinth,/ And heaven’s here on earth. but that He – or ‘It’ as Shug refers to God This living can be heaven or hell, depending saying God is neither man or woman – can be on the perspectives that guide the choices that seen in everyone else without the help of the we make for ourselves and others, every single white man’s religious teaching. Celie’s final day of our lives. Follow Marguerite Theophil on our website. letter, after not writing to God for a very www.speakingtree.in long time, begins, “Dear God, dear stars, dear trees, dear sky dear peoples. Dear everything. , Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Dear God.” Marguerite Theophil E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Don’t discredit democracy With reference to the editorial ‘Passion Play’ (June 3), i fully agree with your stand on spiritual guru Baba Ramdev jumping on to the anti-corruption bandwagon. No one disputes that a sustained and effective movement against the scourge of corruption is the need of the hour and the people must support it. However, when it comes to enacting laws, it is the prerogative of our parliamentarians. Let’s not forget that they are our elected representatives. In that sense, civil society activists’ demands for a share in the process of drafting laws goes against the system. These activists should create public opinion on the issues of corruption and other social evils. They must understand that their disdain and distrust of politics and the political process will be dangerous for parliamentary democracy in the long run. K P Rajan, VIA EMAIL THE RIGHT VIEW Prayer has been made to mother earth that she blesses us with the knowledge required to enjoy the treasures of nature but without disturbing the environmental balance. Atharva Veda Entering the forest, He moves not the grass. Entering the water, He makes not a ripple. Zen Haiku Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers – for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are. Osho A human being is a part of the whole called by us as universe…Let’s free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Albert Einstein Tomorrow is World Environment Day. E No one in Maradona’s league With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 2), comparing Maradona with any player the game of soccer has ever produced is an exercise in futility. He is a player who is unique, and hence beyond comparison. Maradona was an artist, a magician and a virtuoso who could mesmerise the crowd with his vitality. True, his record is not impeccable. There were aberrations in his conduct. The infamous 1986 quarterfinal with England, his drug addiction and the attendant legal wrangles are still talked about. But that is not all, surely. In the history of soccer, is there any match that can be likened to his single-handed essay that led to the World Cup victory of 1986? His negative traits fade away before his brilliance as a footballer. Mukund Kumar, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2011 Civil liberties are far too important to be left to the executive or the home secretary. RAJINDER SACHAR, former chief justice, Delhi high court The Problem Of Plenty Farm output surge will bring with it a unique set of challenges we must address urgently Rohtash Mal No Banana Republic A fundamental right to privacy is a much-needed step towards protecting citizens ne positive outcome of the Niira Radia episode is that the spotlight has been turned on the government’s cavalier attitude towards violating citizens’ rights. From gaping loopholes in the legal process of authorising phone taps to implementation that cuts every corner possible, it’s a sordid mess. That is what makes the law ministry’s notion of making the right to privacy a fundamental right – much like equality, education or freedom of expression – so welcome. In any democracy, the people should not be afraid of the government. It’s the government that should be wary of and accountable to people. That is the balance this proposal can restore if it is drafted and implemented effectively . As things stand now, the executive has carte blanche to carry out surveillance on whom they will. This despite past embarrassments, such as in 1991 when there was an uproar over hundreds of politicians’ and journalists’ phones being tapped. Or the Supreme Court’s condemnation in 1997 of the legislative’s failure to amend the antiquated Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which governs tapping. It’s said that the seven central agencies’ requests for authorising taps are routed to the home secretary; at the state level, they go to the state home secretary. But with over a million cellphones across the country reported to be under surveillance, it would be naive in the extreme to believe that this kind of check is working. Compare this to the US where such requests must be approved by a judge. As of now, the government is trying to further extend its reach by amending the 1885 Act to include internet communication. Given New Delhi’s previous record, this doesn’t much bode particularly well for the future if equally strong checks aren’t imposed. National security is a potent phrase, and an easy one to throw about as justification for government excesses. But there must be a balance between security needs and citizens’ rights. Government overreach is far from the only danger. In an increasingly networked world, essential components of an individual’s identity are to be found online. Protecting that digital identity – and an individual’s finances that are so often at risk in cases of such identity theft –is as essential as safeguarding the individual’s physical well-being. And with the UID scheme, the potential for identity theft could be far greater in years to come. Making the right to privacy as integral to our social and legal consciousness as the other fundamental rights are – or ought to be – is the foundation of safeguards that must be built. O ndian farmers have much to celebrate this year with a bumper wheat harvest. As predicted by the ministry of agriculture, wheat farmers have begun to harvest what is shaping up to be a record crop, projected at 84.27 million tonnes. We are growing more wheat than ever before. The earlier record of 80.8 million tonnes of wheat production was achieved in 2009-10. Estimates show that foodgrain production including wheat, rice, pulses and coarse cereals will also see a surge, and will go up to 235.88 million tonnes this crop year as compared to the earlier record of 234.47 million tonnes achieved way back in 2008-09. The momentum is said to continue with the timely arrival of southwest monsoons, auguring well for the sowing of wheat, coarse cereals and oilseeds. All of this should sound like good news to a country that is one of the world’s largest wheat consumers, but there is an underlying sense of despondency among farmers and economists alike. India today is on the brink of a conundrum brought about by the unusual ‘problem of plenty’. In a country still reeling from the effects of high food inflation, the sudden surge in agricultural output is bringing with it a unique set of challenges. The situation has been significantly aggravated by the state of our struggling storage infrastructure, and the complex nature of our procurement systems. At risk are not only farmers’ I livelihoods but also the overall health of the economy . A key part of the current problem lies with the state procurement system. Despite strengthening of the procurement mechanism of state governments, thousands of farmers have been waiting in line for their produce to be sold. Unable to wait longer, farmers are being forced to sell their precious crop to traders for less than the minimum support price (MSP). According to several reports, wheat’s procurement price in several parts of Gujarat, Bihar and eastern UP has fallen to as low as Rs 1,000-1,050 a quintal, less than the state-set MSP of Rs 1,170. The situation is no Don’t let this be a bitter harvest The situation has been aggravated by the state of our struggling storage infrastructure and complex nature of procurement systems. At risk are farmers’ livelihoods and the economy’s overall health different for other crops like sugarcane, cotton and rice. The low price is already hitting small and marginal farmers as they don’t have holding capacity. Cash crop farmers dependent on normal crop are badly impacted. Compounding this situation is the government’s policy on exports. For example, in the case of cotton, exports have been permitted to the extent of only 55 lakh bales out of a total production of 330 lakh bales (approximately 17%), as against last year when exports were permitted up to about 30% of production. The second problem comes with the government being illequipped to efficiently store and use this bumper crop. To counter the problem of food inflation the government has banned exports of wheat and therefore ends up being the biggest buyer from the farmers. However, pathetic storage infrastructure results in enormous volumes of grains rotting every year. Poor government offtake, low MSP and a harsh interest rate regime are resulting in problems for farmers in loan repayments. A further drop in prices is expected with insufficient storage capacity, ban on exports and a normal monsoon forecast. This may further impact the sowing season with monsoon hitting south India. As a result what we see is a ripple effect – impacting the rural economy in the months to come – driving down rural consumption and further slowing down the overall economy . While we can consider longterm measures to counter this problem by building proper storage facilities and letting private players into the procurement and storage process, it is important to look at short-term measures immediately. A significant step would be to lift or modify restrictions on export of wheat to cash in on good prices and short supply in global markets. With good quality yield and poor storage infrastructure, it would be best to look at relaxing export of wheat and other crops like cotton, with global prices still being favourable. To control the problem of food inflation, the government can look at setting up a quota of how much wheat it would like to buy from farmers, with the rest of the produce being sold by the farmer in the free market. Improving the public distribution system’s efficiency ratio, nalising mandi tax which is as high as 14% in Punjab and using UID effectively to provide food coupons to people below the poverty line are other measures to combat food inflation and balance high farm gate prices. If such short-term measures are not undertaken, this problem of excess will be detrimental for the rural economy and impact India’s overall growth momentum. A large economic price is extracted when the government fails to intervene at these stages, resulting in farmers being driven into debt despite a bumper harvest. The incidence of farm debt invariably results in future pressures for a waiver of loans resulting in further fiscal pressures. While arguably export of wheat might result in price corrections in the mandi, the market is already geared to absorb wheat at the MSP and there would be no additional price pressures arising from normalisation of prices to MSP levels. It is imperative for the government to consider the macro-economic perspective and adopt a dynamic policy system keeping in mind fluctuating farm production. It needs to act fast and take aggressive steps to correct our current problem of plenty before the rot starts to eat away at our stellar economic growth. The writer is executive director and chief executive officer Escorts , Agriculture Machinery Group. Walk The Talk UP’s land acquisition policy shows the way y announcing her new land acquisition policy, UP chief minister Mayawati has stolen a march over the Congress. The latter’s campaign against BSP in UP had been premised on the high-handed methods used by the state government in pushing land acquisition and tackling protests against it, particularly in Bhatta and Parsaul villages of Greater Noida. In retrospect, Rahul Gandhi’s over-the-top claims of mass murder there appear to be an attempt to derive political mileage ahead of the state assembly elections next year, driven by the desire to do to BSP in UP what the Trinamool movement did to the Left Front in West Bengal. Mayawati has, in fact, used the UPA government’s reformed Land Acquisition Bill, still hanging fire in Parliament, as her template. In doing so, she has shown up Congress’s position on land acquisition to be more sound and substance. Thanks to coalition compulsions and a plethora of opinions, the central Bill has been the subject of much procrastination. It is yet unclear whether it will grace Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session. But the speed with which Mayawati pushed a reformed land acquisition Bill through at the state level should build pressure on the Centre to do so as well. The key to Mayawati’s policy is the understanding that farmers are willing to part with their land provided a consensual approach is adopted, and there is fair compensation on equal terms. Land acquisition in Haryana, based on similar presumptions, has been successful as well. Industrial growth is lagging in India. Streamlining land acquisition is critical to sustaining India’s growth story and making it more inclusive. The Centre must now get a move on. ‘I’ve no regrets about any of my roles’ Noted actor, singer director and , film producer Farhan Akhtar spoke to Subhash K Jha: I You wear so many hats. Are you comfortable with all your roles? I’ve no regrets about any of my roles. It’s been more than two years since my debut in Rock On. Its impact lingers. However, i feel my dad, Javed Akhtar, didn’t get enough credit for the lyrics he wrote in Rock On. After such a long time these were songs that were so non-situational. Without any reference point, he wrote lyrics that were so contagious and identifiable. Of course everyone loved the music but my dad’s calibre of writing didn’t get its due. I You seem more charged now than ever before? There’s more emphasis being placed on writing. There’re lots of talented young writers around. We always said we wanted to bring in new writing and directorial talent into our production house. The film market has changed. Now is the right time to make Voice From The Sky If i had made it right . after Dil Chahta Hai it wouldn’t have found the right outlets. There were no multiplexes back then. I Dil Chahta Hai was quite a trendsetter? I don’t know about how far a trend is imbibed consciously. There was a character in Wayne’s World who was totally infatuated by Wayne though he couldn’t bear to be around him. That must have remained in my mind when i did a similar character Deepa in Dil Chahta Hai. But yes when i saw Apoorva Lakhia’s Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost i recognised elements from Lagaan velled a lot. There’s a serious change in topography as you drive through. The important thing was for us to look like we belong to one group. I ZNMD looks like the last part of your trilogy on male bonding after Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On? And why the last? I don’t have any major fascination with cinema on male bonding. Dil Chahta Hai is the only script i wrote on the theme. Abhishek Kapoor wrote Rock On, a fab script about a rock band. Zoya’s script for ZNMD is about three guys on the verge of making commitments in life. I How was it being directing by your sister a second time? In Zoya’s Luck By Chance i was a sneaky social climber. In ZNMD it’s a sea change. I play this guy who for the longest time takes nothing I B Q&A in it. I’m sure films do influence our minds in ways that we do not always understand. I You were directed by your sister Zoya in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD). How was the experience? Yeah, all of us – Zoya, Hrithik, Abhay Katrina, Kalki and me – , became this little commune travelling across Spain. We tra- seriously I’m not rich and i . don’t pretend to be. I’m just happy being the way i am. Many moments in this film gave me a chance to have lots of fun. After playing serious, angst-laden characters in Rock On, Luck By Chance and Karthik Calling Karthik, in ZNMD i play a fun character. I Like Dil Chahta Hai, your Rock On has opened up a new genre in Hindi cinema. Is there a sequel? I’m not for it. Rock On is a sequel to Dil Chahta Hai. Both transported me to the same space. So i’ve had enough of it. I think director Abhishek Kapoor has a lot more to do as a filmmaker than a sequel. Suddenly after Rock On, we have an Indi-Rock revival. Regional bands are playing. We started something we couldn’t control. It’s very encouraging. POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Radio ga ga Those days spent listening to Akashvani were special Skand Shukla Going solar With reference to the editorial ‘Turn It On’ (June 2), it is true India needs to generate electricity from every possible source. Since solar power is the most eco-friendly, our efforts should concentrate on tapping this renewable source. Moreover, increasing our dependence on this form of energy can lessen our need for nuclear power and, hence, prevent any Fukushima-type catastrophe. The government should make it mandatory for all multi-storeyed buildings to have the wherewithal to harness solar power. Also, if additional solar energy has been generated, it should be transferred to a grid with benefits awarded to the producers and authorities concerned. S K Agarwal, NEW DELHI ha! So that's why they are called Radio 'Jockeys' – they race their tongues on the FM turf like actual jockeys do on the race course, as if there is no tomorrow. They seem to be participants in a perpetual 'Just a Minute' (JAM) competition – like the one pioneered by the BBC where competitors must talk for 60 seconds on any topic without repetition or hesitation – interspersed with songs. Only , the participants in JAMs get rapped for being erroneous in their use of language! Some years back, these jockeys were called announcers. Radio in those days was a constant companion in our study It filled the room and . dispelled loneliness but never intruded. The languorous, friendly voices of the anchors not only played songs but also informed about the lyricists, composers and singers. Speaking the names of those requesting for songs was also a part of the ritual. Request for a song could be from places as diverse as Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir. In fact, small and obscure places like Jhumri Talaiya came to be known all over the country through the umpteen requests received from there for playing of the film songs. In the programme devoted to replying to the letters of the listeners, the way the letters were read out, the complainants' displeasures assuaged, the suggestions accepted and, future plans explained, was a treat to the ears. And also to the feelings, as it was impressed upon the listeners that they were active participants in the planning of the programmes. Apart from film songs, which of course formed the staple portion of the programme list, classical non-film music, folk songs, skits etc were the other constants. If Vividh Bharti gave us entertainment, Akashvani provided infotainment. A friend confided that their programmes on light classical music taught him the basics of music. 'Bal Sangh' on Sundays was one programme that the parents agreed happily to let us tune in to. For many this programme not only gave training in and , impetus for public speaking, but also produced the first-ever earnings. One could visualise the 'news' and feel its credibility as it was rendered by the deep-voiced readers with perfect pronunciation. Those 'beeps', on the dot at 9 p.m., exactly at the end of the Hindi news and just before the beginning of the English, made us wonder about their significance. Radio news not only embedded the facts of an issue deep in our mind, they also improved our listening skills. Is this skill redundant in today's world of receding attention spans? These days we only hear, not listen. And, therefore, jabbering can easily masquerade as speaking. I wonder if it is only the audience that is responsible for this state of things. Perhaps Vividh Bharti and Akashvani have also failed to keep apace with the changing times. If Vividh Bharti has stopped being creative in producing new entertainment programmes, AIR has been rendered redundant for new listeners because the bands it is broadcast on – short and medium wave – are not found on new gadgets like cellphones which double up as transistors. But in spite of the swarm of FM radio channels, Vividh Bharti and Akashvani have their admirers still. Even today as i lay down to , sleep after a tired day it is the magic of 'Chhaya Geet' that acts as a , relaxant and, in the morning, 'Vandanvaar', same as ever, a stimulant for the day ahead. A I SACRED S PAC E Power of Words I Live Life With Compassion irrationality of fear, feel empathy for another who is going through a similar emotion. Hence, ompassion is not an attribute of any one compassion begins with attention to one’s own religion. It is a universal principle for life experiences, be it physical or emotional. Empathy and compassion thus born would happiness and peace. In a world torn by conflict and strife, where violence and not love naturally blossom into acts of kindness to dictates people’s actions, what every person, at reach out to others. Well-being of the other is every level, of every age needs to learn is the art the highest priority for a compassionate of nurturing compassion within. Be it a home- person; hence her actions would reflect tremenmaker fulfilling the many needs of her family, dous intelligence, fortitude and discretion. It an entrepreneur meeting people and clinching could be a dynamic plunge into action to change deals for her company, a politician passing Bills the adverse situation of the one who is suffering. in the legislature that can change the destiny of It could also be gentle words of love and strength millions or an autorickshaw driver bargaining or a heartfelt prayer for Divine help. Compassion is not the armour of the weak; for higher rates with his passenger – whoever you may be, you need compassion. Compassion it is the weapon of the strong. It is irresponsible to think, believe and preach that anger should no more lie in the ideologies and violence can solve our problems. of philosophers, or in the lucrative Problems at micro as well as macro rewards of theologians (in the afterlevel arise because of lack of underlife). The voice of compassion needs standing and love between people. to be heard in every household, educaProblems that are situation-based are tional institution, office, business very less compared to those that unit, shop, mall and theatre, besides are emotion-based. Situation-based other places and circumstances. THE problems need better strategy and For centuries now we have reserved compassion to be a prero- I SPEAKING I skill to solve them but emotionbased problems need people who gative of a chosen few, like a Christ TREE are involved in moving out of those or a Buddha. We have also conceptually dismissed the possibility of someone negative emotions that are causing them. That is why any constructive change can living and embodying such a quality in the hurly-burly of everyday life. Is it so difficult to never be effected through anger and violence. live compassionately? Or are we so incapable that Compassion is the answer. Let us nurture the noble virtue of comwe cannot raise ourselves to those standards? Compassion begins with empathy. Empathy passion consciously with dedication. Let us is the ability to feel for another. Those who see the faces of people who walk into our are sensitive to the motions of life, to the world with smiles, tears, affection and experiences of pain and pleasure, are capable wrath. Let us meditate on their feelings to let of empathy. Those who have watched the move- compassion blossom. ments of their thoughts, the burden of unneces- The writer is faculty member, One World Academy. oneworldacademy.com sary thinking, and the pain of conflicting www.speakingtree.in thoughts know it well. Those who have paid attention to their emotional upsurges, the Join the world’s first spiritual networking unintelligent ways of anger, hurt or hate, the site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Purnima On the spoken word, all the gods depend, all beasts and men; In the world live all creatures… The Word is the navel of the divine world. The Vedas One kind word can warm three winter months. Japanese saying I lost a word yesterday ,/ Unguarded, from my tongue;/ It slipped into the atmosphere –/ Then trouble had begun. A dozen others followed it;/ They filled the room with grief,/ No matter then what word was said,/ It could not bring relief. If only i had stopped that word/ Before it crossed my lips,/ My day had been a happy one –/ And sweet with fellowships. I think i wasted yesterday Hurt self as well as ,/ friend,/ Today i want to watch my words,/ And let not one offend. Author Unknown Words should be weighed and not counted. Yiddish saying C Many people are under the wrong impression that renewables alone can help match India’s power needs. The total potential energy available through renewables is far less than our future needs. Solar thermal electric power plants require large arrays of concentrating collectors. Currently, the highest installed capacity in the world is less than 500 MW. In India, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the government is planning to install plants with the capacity to generate 20,000 MW by 2022. Each such plant is estimated to require at least Rs 15 crore per MW and can work for only eight hours a day. Further, these plants will need large tracts of land. Typically, one needs three to four hectares per MW. Given the problems related to land acquisition for any project, one doesn’t know how much of our solar energy targets can be achieved. Suhas P Sukhatme, MUMBAI II Terror on the high seas With reference to the article ‘Time To Take On The Pirates’ (May 28) by Kanti Bajpai, India has every reason to worry about sea piracy. Countless sailors on the high seas manning commercial ships are Indians.The risks faced by merchant navy personnel and cargo losses have now reached proportions that cannot be ignored.India should do more to persuade littoral countries in East Africa to tighten their policy on sea piracy. Besides, we have the capacity to build fast light vessels that can protect coastal waters and also act as deterrents in the battle against the modernday version of the buccaneer.Only those who have had loved ones held hostage can truly understand what the sailors have to undergo. It is time sea terrorism is brought to a halt. Gregory Fernandes, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011 I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. VOLTAIRE, French philosopher A Scam Too Far Indians now believe they have the right to a better India Swapan Dasgupta Carrots And Sticks June 4 raises serious questions about UPA-II he sudden crackdown on Baba Ramdev’s campaign against black money and corruption has been a giant government misstep. If it indeed believed, as senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh stated, that the Baba was an inconsequential ‘thug’, why did the government dispatch four ministers to meet him at Delhi airport? If uneasy about the Baba’s saffron links, why did it entertain him for hours at a Delhi hotel? When Baba Ramdev appeared ambiguous about the prime minister’s inclusion under the proposed Lokpal’s purview, he was a respectable enough force for the administration to report ‘differences’ amongst civil society leaders. Soon however, he and his followers had to be contained using riot-like measures including lathicharging and teargas shells. Things are moving quickly since Anna Hazare’s fast against corruption, calling for a revised Lokpal Bill. Since then Baba Ramdev has jumped on to the bandwagon, conducting an inchoate campaign against black money and initiating an air-conditioned fast to push his demands. In contrast to the anti-politician stance of the Hazare campaign, Ramdev has also shared his platform with hard-right politicians such as Sadhvi Rithambara, acquired the fullthroated backing of the BJP and RSS, and left the Hazare camp uneasy. If the government had let things be, sooner or later the differences within the civil society camp would have come to the fore. Hazare’s left-wing backers would have forced him to mark out separate territory from the right-leaning Baba Ramdev, whose vocation in any case is yoga rather than politics. Instead, through its jumpiness and hamhanded actions, the government has managed to unite the opposition. If extra-parliamentary forces command so much public attention today , that’s because of the ground that has been steadily ceded to them by the political class. The UPA, in particular, has hardly covered itself in glory Its . tolerance for corruption is badly out of sync with the standards of governance that Indians today expect from their government. And even now, it looks as if the message hasn’t really sunk in. Instead, the UPA favours a carrot-and-stick policy managing the uproar around corruption through a mix of placating, , vacillating and punishing, evident from its handling of Baba Ramdev. There’s still, however, a chance for the government to salvage this situation. It could complete negotiations on the Lokpal Bill and present it in Parliament urgently After ratifying the UN convention against corruption . it signed six years ago, it could follow European nations’ lead in adopting mechanisms to check black money Righting the overwhelming impression . of drift won’t be easy But these measures would help. And may even redeem . UPA-II somewhat. F T or many non-Congress politicians, the Emergency has become the default expression of outrage. Throughout last Sunday, as the country digested the drama surrounding Baba Ramdev’s protest in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground, the allusions to the 21-month Emergency competed with references to the massacre in Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh. In this battle over history, Indira Gandhi’s coup clearly prevailed over Lt-General Reginald Dyer’s trigger-happiness. India’s political class is naturally prone to hyperbole. If BJP’s L K Advani detected “naked fascism” in the police action against Baba Ramdev and prophesied that June would be the UPA government’s cruellest month, Congress’s Digvijay Singh dubbed the flamboyant yoga guru a “maha thug” that Delhi was well rid of. Predictably, throughout the crisis, neither the prime minister nor the Congress president were seen or heard. The live weekend drama did resemble a B-grade Bollywood thriller – a helpful BJP even provided the dance numbers during its Rajghat fast. Yet, underneath the apparent farce, there is a grim story that is beginning to unfold, and whose impact may yet be far-reaching. The ever-increasing role of non-political ‘civil society’ players in public protests over corruption isn’t merely the contribution of a new made-in-media culture. The unearthing of one spectacular scam after another and the utter inability of the Manmohan Singh government to overcome a resulting paralysis of decision-making has unsettled the moral foundations on which any political system rests. The cracks have given the opening for a variety of plants – both stinging nettles and aromatic flowers – to sprout. Pressure groups, the archaic term for civil society activism, have always existed in India. In 1966, the Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Puri went on an indefinite fast demanding an immediate end to cow slaughter and sadhus went on the rampage before Parliament. Mahendra Singh Tikait’s fortnight-long occu- The latest in a long line of miscalculations by New Delhi The live weekend drama did resemble a B-grade Bollywood thriller. Yet, underneath the apparent farce, there is a grim story that is beginning to unfold pation of the India Gate lawns in 1988 was a spectacular irritant to both the Congress and the Delhi middle class. And Medha Patkar has long championed every imaginable cause and delayed every conceivable development project. However, none of these civil society movements succeeded in unnerving the political authority in the same way as the fasts by Anna Hazare and Ramdev have. The idea of inviting the four shankaracharyas to sit with ministers to draft anti-cow slaugh- ter legislation would have been anathema in 1966. And while officials did maintain contact with Tikait and other single-issue protest movements, there was no case of the number 2 in the cabinet and the cabinet secretary rushing to the airport to placate an angry “rock star of yoga”. Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has attacked the government for losing sight of the principles of statecraft. He may be right but the headless chicken behaviour is merely the symptom of the disease. The genesis of the problem can be located in two factors: the image of political venality in an age of prosperity and, equally important, the crisis of political institutions. The importance of moral outrage against corruption shouldn’t be underestimated. For long, the political class smugly believed that the exasperation of voters with sarkari venality and ineptitude could be subsumed by the politics of identity (caste or religion) and patronage (keeping local notables happy). This assumption was valid as long as India was information-deficient and economic aspirations were tempered by a socialism built on shoddiness and shortages. The media explosion has produced an information overload and the growth in prosperity (plus the rise in education) has redefined aspirations dramatically. There is a growing sense of right and wrong which manifests itself more virulently – and without the need for sustained mobilisation and public education – than was the case earlier. India has become less inclined to passive fatalism. Indians believe they have the right to a better India. The moral uneasiness has been The writer is a political commentator. coupled with the dysfunctionality of political institutions. The opposition’s mindless disruption of Parliament as a matter of habit has eroded popular faith, not in democracy, but in a non-functioning system. This in turn has fuelled the quest for quick-fix solutions. The impatience for results has also contributed to popular detachment from political parties that spout abstruse ideology but where a culture of cronyism and non-accountability prevail. The DMK personified the rot in Tamil Nadu and arrogance doused any lingering revolutionary fire in the belly of the West Bengal CPM. In both the states, the principal opposition party was the main beneficiary of the public anger against the incumbent. The BJP believes it too will be the principal gainer from the Congress’s inability to respond to the 2009 mandate. That may be. Yet, it should reflect over why civil society movements are acquiring momentum in precisely those regions where BJP is the natural alternative to the Congress. Even if the Facebook crowd is aesthetically inclined towards the ‘nonparty’ activism of the NGOs and the likes of Anna Hazare, why is the non-cosmopolitan middle class acquiescing to the opposition mantle being passed on to a baba rather than to a political party espousing the same values? For India’s politicians, the need to subsume banality and dubious history in reflection was never more pressing. The Ramdev crisis has burnt the Congress but it has also singed the opposition. Team India commences Caribbean campaign without top players Flexibility is key here’s nothing wrong with fielding will also gauge Suresh Raina’s leadership an Indian squad without some top skills as he holds the fort down till M S players for the ongoing bilateral Dhoni returns for the Tests. cricket series against the West Indies, If Team India is to retain its potency in despite what some are saying. The BCCI all formats of the game, there needs to is well within its rights to rest senior be flexibility in team selection. Recentlyplayers for the tour. Given the amount appointed coach Dunof cricket Team India plays – there is a can Fletcher is an beeline of foreign cricket boards wanting advocate of the rotato schedule future tournaments with tion policy This will . India – it is only natural for fatigue to set in. Then there is I T I M E S V I E W I the constant fear of injuries. In such a scenario, resting senior members ensure that no player of the squad – either to recuperate takes his position in from niggles or simply to recharge their the team for granted batteries – is a good strategy . and fresh blood can The volume of cricket in a calendar come through. A relayear demands there must be a strategy tively younger team to prevent player burnout. Prioritising for the West Indies tournaments is inevitable if balance is to tour is part of a healthy process. It’s not a be achieved between quality and revenues. good idea playing the same 11 players on For Team India, a tour of the Caribbean all of India’s engagements. Giving match is the perfect opportunity to test its experience to a larger number of players bench strength. It is a great platform for will prevent stagnation and injuries, youngsters to showcase their talent and while allowing fresh talent to come up gain international experience. The tour from the grassroots. Can’t pick and choose espite the absence of key players, the young Indian team has still managed to beat West Indies by 16 runs in a Twenty20 match in Trinidad. For the time being, the favourable result may also dispel fears that India’s second-string side would be uncompetitive in the Caribbean. But, by not so, when players seem to pick the tours they will go on with the board’s full support. For instance, a below par performance by the West Indies cricket team in recent years means it is a less important tour for our players than a tour to England or Australia. Can such a distinction be allowed to shape team selection? Let’s not forget that a place in Team India is a call for national duty Where is the sense . I COUNTERVIEW I of national duty of our players? Ajay Vaishnav sending a full The BCCI will do well to ensure that strength team un- in future all tours are taken seriously der its inspiring and treated on an equal footing. Not so captain M S Dhoni, very long ago, other powerful boards the BCCI has lost used to send second-string teams to the opportunity to the subcontinent. That led to a lot of silence its critics heartburn here. A ‘payback’ mentality and show that it treats all boards on an will only hinder the growth of cricket equal footing. across the world. Being the most While one can understand that powerful board, the BCCI must not injuries are part and parcel of the game, forget that cricket is also about imagethe decision to rest senior players of the building for a nation. Our players World Cup winning team from the West are not just cricketers; they are our Indies tour is baffling. It becomes more nation’s emissaries. Striking Back Rawalpindi and Ilyas Kashmiri’s death T D T he pace of events in Afghanistan and Pakistan is accelerating. The killing of Ilyas Kashmiri just about a month after Osama bin Laden has deprived al-Qaida of both its talisman and one of its deadliest commanders. It’s the beginning of the degradation of the terror infrastructure based in Pakistan. Kashmiri’s death may well be a result of the Pakistani military’s cleaning house. Although initially an ISI protege, Kashmiri fell foul of it in later years. He attempted to assassinate then president Pervez Musharraf and, more recently, was suspected of being involved in the Mehran attack. Given that his name was on the list of five top terror targets believed to have been handed over by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to Islamabad in previous weeks, his death should ease some of the tensions in the US-Pakistani relationship. However, given the extent to which the Pakistani military has been penetrated by jihadi sympathisers, this isn’t the time for the US to relent. It must press for results on the other terror bosses on the list, as well as a Pakistani assault against the Haqqani network based in north Waziristan. Washington’s eagerness to denude the insurgents of key leaders as swiftly as possible has also to do with the beginning of the reassessment and drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan beginning July In that context, Kashmiri’s death . is a significant step forward. It’s also a major positive for New Delhi. Kashmiri is suspected to have been behind 26/11 and was heavily focussed on Kashmir. New Delhi needs to watch carefully the signals coming out of Pakistan, to see if the latter is willing to move away from decades of India-centricity in order to confront its home-grown terror threat. SNAP JUDGMENT Shoe Byte Yemen’s Spring Rebel To Icon nother Muntadhar moment – almost. Following journalist Muntadhar alZeidi, who said it with shoes to George W Bush at a press conference in Iraq, another foot-fest’s been attempted. In Delhi, Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi faced Sunil Prakash who raised questions. Prakash later pulled off his shoe, brandishing it at Dwivedi. While Prakash was overpowered, Dwivedi looked relieved at the loose fit. Agree in principle Executing bright ideas is easier said than done Rajendra Kumar A A y morning walk partner, Sunil, and i are both retired from the army . As a result our topics of discussion mostly relate to our common friends, old versus new trends in the army and the problems of our society At times, we do venture out to discuss matters of national and inter. national importance. One morning, Sunil came up with a bright idea. He must have mulled it overnight during a power outage when one can’t sleep. Generation of bright ideas could be counted as one indirect benefit of power shortages in this international city . Sunil said, ‘‘I have an idea on how to eliminate black money and corruption altogether. The government has been talking about unique IDs for every citizen. Why not link UID with an individual’s bank account? That way we , can make all transactions cashless. Imagine a situation wherein everyone has a bank account and debit card. All financial transactions are completed just by swiping!’’ Spotting a boy cleaning a car, i expressed my reservations: ‘‘Look at that boy do you think he will have a bank account and debit card to carry out , transactions? Consider the size of the country’s population and the numbers who don’t even have a bank account. If we start opening bank accounts and making debit cards for everyone, the whole government machinery will be busy for a few years just doing that. Besides, there are so many people in this world with better brains and ideas than you and me. I am sure this idea must have been examined and found impossible to implement, otherwise, some advanced country would have done it by now!’’ Sunil seemed undeterred: ‘‘Sir, it may not be easy but see the results! There will be no black money no corruption and the , countries that find it more interesting to print our currency notes than their own won’t be able to! Even a single rupee transaction will be recorded. Besides, providing bank accounts and debit cards to everyone is not such a big deal.’’ By now, i too was getting serious about the idea and tried to refine it further: ‘‘Well, i agree provided it’s only a question of covering the existing population. For yet-to-be-born citizens, we’ll need an automated system at the time of compulsory birth registration. We can have an online system in which a bank account gets opened automatically as soon as the birth certificate is generated. I am sure that can be managed by upgraded e-governance systems. And instead of a debit card, everyone could be given a biometric reader the size of a mobile phone. It could even be a mobile phone-cum-biometric reader. In a financial transaction, both parties just put their fingers on the biometric reader and the job is done.’’ Now both of us spoke simultaneously: ‘‘What an idea! We agree on it in principle. The details can be worked out by the experts.’’ Before parting ways, Sunil asked me to pen down what we’d discussed about ‘‘the bright idea’’. I accepted the assignment and moved on. On my way home, i remembered a story told to us by an instructor during our senior command course. During a war game exercise, a student officer appointed corps commander was giving out his attack plan. On his route of advance there was a huge lake, a major obstacle for his tanks. Various methods of going around the lake weren’t considered feasible by the directing staff given the enemy deployment. Finally the gallant but frustrated corps , commander declared, ‘‘Sir, i will get the lake dried up.’’ ‘‘But how?’’ asked the directing staff. Pat came the reply: ‘‘Sir, as a commander i have taken a decision in principle. Details will be worked out by my technical advisors and the staff officers.’’ ‘‘OK, we agree in principle.’’ Those were the last words of the directing staff. M fter almost 33 years in power, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh may well have just seen the end of his reign. Currently in Saudi Arabia for surgery, it’s doubtful that he will be able to come back. Months of protests as the ‘Arab Spring’ swept through Yemen have left him with few loyalists outside sections of the military . Another authoritarian regime has bitten the dust. I L i Na’s historic French Open victory – making her the first Asian to win a singles Grand Slam event – could well mark a new chapter in Chinese tennis. The outspoken lady from Hubei is only one of five women players allowed to manage their own careers in China. Her success, catapulting her from rebel to icon, is bound to inspire Asian attempts to challenge the Euro-American domination of tennis. I SACRED S PAC E Good Manners I It’s About Lifestyle Change lifestyles so as to restore their health. If that is true of physical well-being, there are changes ften nothing requires more courage required in the lifestyles at the spiritual level than the admission of one’s fault. The to maintain spiritual health. disturbance that repentance evokes in What are some of the lifestyle changes our personal and collective psyches, while advocated for a healthy spiritual life? Not ruminating over a past wrong or misdeed, is so to follow the ‘eye-for-an-eye and tooth-for-aupsetting that we tend to exhaust every other tooth’ policy not to harbour resentments, , available choice before we own up. We dread anger or bitterness, not to be selfish, greedy or the bald admission that we are in the wrong. proud and so on. We have the Golden Rule Not only individuals but also communities which lays down that we should ‘do unto and nations face this dilemma. others’ what we expect others to ‘do unto us’. Human beings have a double nature: capa- And whenever we violate these rules we ble of great sacrifice and charity and at the become liable for strife, tension and ill-health. same time capable of committing heinous Repentance means change, a new beginacts. This is because the instinct to do ning; it means starting all over again. good and the instinct to do bad are Repentance is not behaviour change; intertwined with both positive and it results in behaviour change. Repentnegative qualities. We tend to hurt ance happens in your mind. It brings others by our thoughtless and selfish humility gratitude and a desire to set , inclinations. Others hurt us the same things right. way There are moments in our . Rick Warren, a best-selling author, lives when we regret our actions points out that our actions are THE and wish we had not done what we changed by our hearts, our hearts are had. There would be hardly anyone SPEAKING changed by our minds, and our minds who has not, at some time or other, are changed by the Word of God. TREE grappled with feelings of guilt. Pastor-founder of the Times Hence the need to be on guard, always. Square Church, David Wilkerson (who passed In most scriptures, there is provision for un- away on April 27), would bemoan the lack of doing wrongs. But certain wrongs like murder preaching on repentance in churches these days. cannot be undone. They can only be forgiven. The pastor had preached to street urchins, gangFor many the onset of faith has happened sters of New York and drug peddlers resulting in with a turning away from their old ways to an en- the transformation of hundreds of criminal tirely new pattern: the change may occur in life’s offenders. His success story is the basis of a film goals, relationships, the way we serve, the way we and a book titled: Run Baby Run. “Repentance,” he would say, “isn't a one-time experience. It's not use our money and everything else in our lives. To those who are overburdened with guilt some hurricane that strikes once and then is gone over things that had gone wrong, there is forever. Nor do we experience repentance only in always a way out. God offers a second chance. a moment of crisis, and then merely talk about it Even Nature will. the rest of our lives. It is our constant teacher.” It is constantly dinned into the ears of www.speakingtree.in patients of diabetics and heart ailments that Join the world's first spiritual networking they must make suitable changes in their site to interact directly with masters and seekers. M P K Kutty E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Support press freedom With reference to the article ‘Muzzling The Media’ (June 2) by Ravindra Dhariwal, the government is clearly pressurising the press into ‘behaving’ through strong-arm tactics. This is unacceptable. A free press acts as the fourth pillar of a democracy. It serves as the guardian of public interest. Therefore, any endeavour to influence its operations by impacting the wages and cost-structure, as a means of indirect pressure, is deplorable and counterproductive. The government should also realise that today the electronic media and social network media are vital tools for creating public awareness and action, as evident in the case of popular uprisings in the Middle East. Thus, trying these tactics serves no purpose. Rajendra K Aneja, MUMBAI In these three things the men of noble birth fail not: In virtuous deed and truthful word, and chastened thought. (The high-born will never deviate from these three – good manners, truthfulness and modesty.) The smile, the gift, the pleasant word, unfailing courtesy These are the signs, they say, of true nobility. (A cheerful countenance, liberality, pleasant words, and a pleasing disposition, these four are said to be the proper qualities of the truly high-born.) Thirukkural 952-953 If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if you behave properly with those holding divergent views from you or who criticise you, then you deserve to be credited with having an excellent character. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan The real test of good manners is to be able to put up with bad manners pleasantly. Kahlil Gibran O What about non-IITs? With reference to the article ‘Fighting A Lonely Battle’ (June 3) by Dipankar Gupta, of late there has been a lot of debate about the IITs and IIMs performing below their potential. It seems that these institutions are the only concern of the government when the IITs and IIMs together produce approximately 12,000 professionals each year. What about other smaller institutes that produce lakhs of engineers and management professionals? To strengthen our nation’s human capital, targeting a few thousand people won’t be of much help. Instead the government must take stock of other smaller institutes if the requirements of our knowledge economy are to be met. The level of research at the IITs and IIMs definitely needs attention, but so does research at other institutions. Unless that is done, any hope for real improvement will remain futile. Rupali Kaul, NEW DELHI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011 Wonder what Maran is waiting for to resign… He cannot be defended. Let him resign and face legal proceedings. BADR SAYEED, AIADMK leader To Curb Or Not To Curb Traditional inflation fighting methods may land us in stagflation Sudipto Mundle More Telecom Stink Maran’s quitting cabinet post necessary as probe against him proceeds f reports that Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran has been asked to quit his cabinet post are correct, it’s a step in the right direction. Investigations into the 2G spectrum scam have already landed two DMK leaders – former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi – in jail. And pressure is now being mounted on Maran, who stands accused of armtwisting cellular service company Aircel into selling out to the Malaysiabased Maxis group when he was telecom minister from 2004 to 2007. In return Maran’s family-run media enterprise, Sun Network, is alleged to have received investment worth Rs 700 crore from the latter. The allegations are buttressed by original Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran’s contention that the department of telecom under Maran sat on applications for 14 licences and spectrum. Yet, these were expeditiously cleared once the ownership of the company changed hands. But that’s not all. Preliminary CBI investigations reveal that Maran had also diverted official phone lines to boost his family business. Given the serious charges against Maran of using public office for personal aggrandisement, it’s not enough for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to say that they ought to be investigated without “fear or favour.” To facilitate the work of law enforcement agencies, it’s appropriate that Maran steps down from the Union cabinet as he attempts to clear his name. If there is any truth to the charges against Maran and Raja, it would reinforce claims of crony capitalism’s vice-like grip in the country. Crony capitalism is not so different from the commanding heights principle of the pre-liberalisation era, since in both cases it’s politicians who control the levers of the economy. Such a system profits a few people but is unhealthy for most citizens. It kills competition and hurts the cause of inclusive growth. The issue is linked to the national outrage that exists today on corruption as well as stashing unaccounted money in foreign locales, rightly seen as hurting people’s futures. The Manmohan Singh government can’t afford to distance itself from the Maran case. In the present environment, inaction is likely to be interpreted as apathy and strengthen the anti-government chorus from within and outside the political mainstream. The UPA can ill afford another Ramdev-like fiasco. It must not only work on long-term solutions to institutional corruption – a strong Lokpal Bill could be one step in this regard – in the short term it must also be seen to be acting. For that, it must ask tainted ministers such as Maran to step down even as charges against them are probed. T I he price of crude oil, silver and other commodities dipped sharply the day after the RBI raised policy interest rates by a further fifty basis points last month, and it was accused of being behind the curve, dealing with yesterday’s problem, etc. However, nowhere in the world can the monetary authorities, or anyone else for that matter, predict at the time of announcing a policy what the global markets will throw at them the next day Besides, . the slight moderation in recent weeks notwithstanding, high inflation remains the number one challenge for macro-economic management at present. So the RBI is quite right to focus on this. But the real worry is that it may not have the required tools to contain the kind of inflation we are experiencing. The phenomenon of inflation is more complex than is commonly understood. While inflation manifests itself as a rise in the general level of prices, its sources and causes may vary quite widely In the present . episode, while all prices have been rising, it has been led by different groups of commodities at different times during the past year. A year ago, inflation was being led by food prices. Later in the year, it was primary non-food items fuels and minerals that led the price rise, though vegetable prices also saw a spike in the winter. During the last few months, manufactured products have led the rise in prices. Thus the sources of inflation have varied greatly during the year, and their causes could also be quite different. To understand this, it is useful to think of the economy as consisting of three broad segments. The first is one where supply is relatively inflexible in the short run, and prices adjust to equate demand and supply . In agriculture, for instance, supply is fixed once the crop has been harvested. When that supply is short compared to demand, prices rise. When the supply is in excess of demand, prices fall. The second segment is one where the quantity of supply is flexible and adjusts to the level Hitting people where it hurts, but what’s the answer? The phenomenon of inflation is more complex than is commonly understood. While inflation manifests itself as a rise in the general level of prices, its sources and causes may vary quite widely of demand at given prices. The prices themselves are less flexible, and formed as a mark-up over costs. The size of the markup reflects the pricing power of market leaders, or what economists call the degree of monopoly. In highly competitive markets, or in the downturn of a business cycle, margins are low. Conversely prices tend to rise in the , upturn of a business cycle, or when competition is weak. Prices will also rise when costs rise in this segment of the economy . Cost push inflation, as distinct from demand pull inflation in the first segment. The manufacturing sector is a typical example of such price formation. In India there is a third segment, the administered price segment, where prices are formed by government order. Large swathes of the economy , which are still dominated by public enterprises, are part of this segment, e. g. the oil companies which adjust prices only when permitted to do so by the government. Of course, the adjustment of administered prices is often a delayed reaction to underlying market forces, the price of hydrocarbons again being the obvious example. The formation of some prices is also a hybrid phenomenon, as in the case of food grains like rice and wheat. There is a threshold price, or support price, which is administered by fiat. However, actual prices can rise above this level if there is a sharp shortfall in supply, e. g. because of a drought, and market forces come to dominate as in the first segment. Another complexity is added by international trade, where prices of exports or the costs of imports are determined by global trends. This is again illustrated by the price of oil. But there are many other products where price changes are also driven by global trends. Cotton, rubber, iron ore, gold and silver are all examples of commodities where large increases in domestic prices during the past year have been highly correlated with increases in international commodity prices. The main policy tools that the RBI has at its disposal, such as policy interest rates, cash reserve ratio, open market operations etc are effective in managing the level of demand, or in containing inflation arising out of demand-supply imbalances. They are also effective in dampening the business cycle, and to that extent, pricing power in the cost plus mark-up segment of the economy. Much the same applies to fiscal policy implemented by the finance ministry. But neither of these institutions can do much to control inflation if it is of the cost push variety especially if the costs , are being driven by global price trends. Indeed, if demand containment measures are deployed to control cost push inflation, they could well end up hurting growth without much effect on inflation – stagflation. This is a phenomenon the world first experienced during the 1970s when the oil shocks triggered inflation across the world. The monetary and fiscal authorities adopted traditional measures to control inflation via the containment of demand, but they only ended up hurting employment and growth without controlling inflation. It is important to guard against the risk of attempting to fight inflation, and ending up with stagflation. The writer is emeritus professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi. A Glimmer Of Hope Kathmandu takes a step forward lacial would be an understatement in assessing the attempts to patch together an institutional framework of governance in Kathmandu, following the overthrow of the monarchy. But the dismantling of the dual security system – coming on the heels of the Constituent Assembly (CA) being granted a three-month extension – holds out hope that the process is heading into its home stretch. For the Maoist leaders to agree to police personnel replacing People’s Liberation Army (PLA) men in their security details is of considerable symbolic significance. It strikes at the heart of one of the key issues that has bedevilled negotiations with other parties – the integration of former Maoist combatants into the security forces. With 19,000 PLA men currently languishing in various camps, this is an increasingly urgent need. The abolition of the dual security system has removed one of the roadblocks to fulfilling it. There are others, of course. The CA’s term may have been extended, but it has a daunting list of tasks to achieve in the next three months – from pushing forward the integration process to finishing a first draft of the Constitution and reaching a consensus on the extent and contours of federalism. The first step to tackling these is to find a suitable replacement for current Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal so that the formation of a national unity government can go ahead. A failure to do so may well result in the sort of impasse that required 17 attempts over a seven-month period to vote in a new government. The resolution of a violent struggle is not a linear, logical process. But even so, to return to a pre-February situation when there was no government in place would be a major step back. It is time for the Maoists, the Unified MarxistLeninists and the Nepali Congress to display both flexibility and vision. ‘I am disappointed by the lack of Mandarin teachers in India’ Even in the absence of official diplomatic relations, bilateral ties between India and Taiwan are strengthening. Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Wenchyi Ong, speaks to Rudroneel Ghosh about areas of collaboration: I What is the perception about India in Taiwan? In the past, Taiwanese people’s perception about India was moulded by prominent Indian figures. First among them is Lord Buddha. Almost 85% of Taiwanese belong to various Buddhist sects. Second is the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Many of his works have been translated in Chinese and put in textbooks for 6th graders in Taiwan. All of us have grown up reading Tagore. Third is Mahatma Gandhi. He fought the British colonialists around the time we were fighting the Japanese colonial forces. Chiang Kaishek supported India’s independence during the early 1940s. These three figures are part of our collective memory. But today’s generation in Taiwan knows about India through its impressive economic growth story, which is reported on a daily basis in Taiwanese media. And then there is Bollywood. 3 Idiots was a huge box-office hit in Taiwan. As we speak, My Name Is Khan is showing in theatres. Fundamentally, the two people share common values such as democracy, a plural society and emphasis on family bonds. I Despite the common values, people of the two countries appear unaware of each other. How can we remedy this? The traditional means would be through cultural connections – movies, musical performances and tourism. We have been collaborating with ICCR to teachers from Taiwan can train your teachers in Mandarin that would be the best way to reduce the awareness deficit. I Taiwan is big on educational collaboration. What is the philosophy behind this? Currently foreign students in Taiwanese universities account for 3% of all students. According to policy goals announced by our President, Ma Ying-jeou, this is too little. We would like to upgrade this to 10%. When foreign students come to our campuses they gain an in-depth understanding of our culture. They become life-long friends of Taiwan. We have quality educational resources that we want to share with international students. Also, cost of studying in Taiwan is very economical – one-tenth of that in London or Boston. We have about 500 Indian students in Taiwan, almost all of them in sciencerelated PhD programmes. I want this number to grow to about 5,000 in another 5-6 years. I How can we boost synergy in Indo-Taiwanese trade relations? Two-way trade stood at $6.4 billion in 2010, which is larger than India’s trade with Canada or Israel. I am expecting to see double-digit growth in the foreseeable future with trade volume reaching $10 billion in 3-4 years’ time. But the most important mechanism that can really boost trade is a Free Trade Agreement. Feasibility studies are already being done by ICRIER and Chung-Hua Institution. Also, in our model investment follows trade. Currently Taiwan invests $1 billion in India. There is huge potential for this figure to increase. Taiwan is India’s natural partner if the latter wants to increase its manufacturing output to GDP ratio from 16% to 25% in the next five years. G Q&A organise such events in India. But i feel the best way to reduce the gap would be through Mandarin Chinese teaching. I am disappointed by the lack of competent Mandarin teachers in India. There is a belated realisation on your part that you need to boost the number of people proficient in Mandarin. Taiwan can be a fantastic source of native Mandarin teachers. If Vigilante republic Ramdev and Anna are laws unto themselves, but so’s the state Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT A swami who teaches yoga to the country should not teach us political asanas By its brutal police action against Ramdev’s so-called yoga camp in New Delhi the central government overnight transformed a rabble-rousing maverick – who, among other things, offered to cure the ‘sickness’ of homosexuality through breathing exercises – into a folk hero and martyr. The Centre’s strong-arm tactics against a gathering that had remained peaceful was all the more bizarre in that it came shortly after senior members of the government had openly kow-towed to Ramdev, trying to reach a compromise regarding his main demand of immediately bringing back into the country the huge amounts of black money reportedly stashed abroad by tax evaders and scamsters. The opposition – mainly the sangh parivar which till then had been underplaying its links with the saffron-clad guru – has come out in full-throated support of Ramdev, comparing the police raid on the yoga camp with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a rhetorical allegation that insults the memories of the victims of the Amritsar atrocity The use of brute force to muzzle incon. venient dissent has, more appropriately been likened to the imposition of the , Emergency by Indira Gandhi. Indeed, today’s scenario does have ominous echoes of 1975. At that time, Jayaprakash Narayan’s anti-government movement played a part in provoking the imposition of the Emergency In the very . different political context of today where coalition rule has become the norm, , no government is in a position to suspend fundamental rights as Indira Gandhi could do. However, there are parallels between JP’s movement and the civil society-cum-satyagraha campaign initiated by Anna Hazare and subsequently hijacked by the more flamboyant Ramdev. Like JP, Anna and the yoga guru have set themselves up as extra-constitutional authorities who – without the mandate of ever having been elected to public office – want to change the laws on which the Indian republic is founded. This is tantamount to not only redrafting the Constitution but doing so in a manner that in itself is unconstitutional. The Constitution is the foundation of the Indian republic; if it were subverted the edifice that we call India would collapse. ‘Extra-constitutional authority’ – which, like JP, is what Ramdev and Anna lay claim to – is a fancy term for vigilantism, for taking the law into one’s own hands. Vigilantism gains a dubious legitimacy when legal channels are seen to be incapable, or unwilling, to provide even a semblance of justice. This, increasingly seems to be the case in India. Whether it is bringing killers to , book, as in the Jessica Lall and other cases, or ensuring that farmers do not get dispossessed of their land and livelihood for the benefit of state-sponsored carpetbaggers, or stemming the rampant epidemic of corruption in everyday life, what we call civil society has repeatedly had to step in to rectify the many failures of the law. When the law is seen to fail, vigilantism seems to be the only remedy But it’s a dangerous remedy For today’s acclaimed vigilantes, the . . people’s champions, could prove to be tomorrow’s dictators. The true role of civil society in a democracy – which India supposedly still is – should not be vigilantism, not the substitution of law by the will of the mob. Civil society’s true role is not to confront the government of the day but to engage it in critical dialogue, through all the legitimate means available to it, from demanding electoral reforms to pressing for more effective implementation of the Right to Information Act. The problem today is trying to differentiate between the vigilantism of the individual and that of the state; who is more above the law, a Ramdev or a so-called law enforcement establishment that uses self-sanctioned violence to suppress dissent and so undermines the very laws it is meant to enforce? In what seems to be turning into a vigilante republic, there is no easy answer to a question that hangs over us like a Damocles’ sword. Shoes seem to be the cheapest commodity available in our country these days. Everybody wants to get rid of them – ANUPAM KHER, actor, on the attempted shoe-throwing incident at Congress HQ Satisfaction is like engaging the handbrake and hoping a car moves forward – KAPIL SIBAL, Union HRD minister, on Baba Ramdev’s protest – SACHIN TENDULKAR, cricketer, on his desire to continue playing I SACRED S PAC E I It’s Good To Forget sacrifice to achieve it is certainly worth it. In life your share is only 50%. The rest of veryday people face negative experi- the 50% is supplied by others. Living with ences. Whether of greater or lesser bitter memories means that you are not import, people generally like to dwell ready to accept this law of nature. You cannot on these negative experiences. Once this change the law of nature, so change yourself. becomes a habit, it has a negative effect. This will give you the gift of a comfortable life Then unpleasant experiences become a part in every situation. of their active memory till it becomes a , If you are not ready to forget what is jungle of negativity So it is best to forget forgettable, then after sometime you will . these kinds of sad events. become addicted to this habit. Bitter memory In your case, whatever happened was is fed by bad experiences and so you tend to beyond your control, but it is in your hands to recall them everyday This is a very bad sign. . forget it and prevent it from becoming a part This will create a permanent obstacle to the of your memory. If others are not ready to take development of your personality . your advice on this, you had better become its Of the two kinds of memories, good and first follower. bad, the former gives you energy , What is education? Education is while the latter ruins your life. You not just the means of making you a have to appreciate this difference and degree holder; it is the gateway to try to live with good memories and the art of living. Education enables forget the bad memories. This habit you to think, to discover the will help you achieve a good principles of life, and to correctly human life. evaluate your experiences. EduMemory is an integral part of THE cation gives you the ability to your mind. There is no escape I SPEAKING I know the difference between the from memory The only option is . achievable and unachievable. If to try not to make memory a TREE you are an educated person in part of your conscious mind, but this sense, you will certainly discover the relegate it to the unconscious mind. And the value of the habit of forgetting. forgetting habit serves that very purpose. The choice in this context is not between We cannot delete our memory from our forgetting and not forgetting: the real choice is minds, but we can make it ineffective by between living with all kinds of bitter memo- storing it in the memory archives. ries and totally freeing yourself from them. Memory when good is a positive guide, Try to forget unpleasant memories, for the and when bad, totally negative. You have alternative to this is living in bitterness and to control your memory rather than be that is not a good choice for anyone. controlled by it. Make your memory your The habit – of forgetting – leads you to intellectual storehouse and not the master of many good things. It saves you from distrac- your daily conduct. Follow the Maulana on our website. tion, it economises your energy it prevents , www.speakingtree.in you from wasting your time, and it shields you from negative thoughts. All these things Join the world's first spiritual networking are so important for a better life that any site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Reflections In Time Life should be soft and lovely like flowers – it should be immovable and clear like the peaks, and it should be immeasurable like the sky. All expansion is life, all contraction is death. Life is like a game of cards. You cannot get aces all the time. You have got to play the cards you get and play your hand as best as you can. For when the great scorer comes to write against your name, He will not note whether you won or lost but how you played the game. Lay down your comforts, your pleasures, your name, fame or position, nay, even your lives and make a bridge of human chains over which millions will cross this ocean of life. The movement of life has its own music. Forget the past. Everything in the future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now. Compiled by Stya Paul, founder chairman, Apeejay Stya Group E Engage civil society With reference to the editorial ‘Carrots And Sticks’ (June 7), the real issue is the overwhelming perception that the government’s influence is waning in most matters. Whether it is corruption, black money or the growing Maoist insurgency, a void has been created. Civil society organisations and activists are increasingly filling it. On many issues, they have proved to be more successful than the government. Our political class will have to engage with these new emerging power centres to create solutions to the varied, complex and often intractable problems afflicting the country. Denigrating these groups and adopting a confrontational attitude won’t help. B K Bhatia, GURGAON SECOND OPINION Curb black money With reference to the article ‘Agree in principle’ (June 7) by Rajendra Kumar, it is an impractical idea to make transactions cashless in our country. Therefore, what the government can do is to limit the printing of currency notes of large denominations to avoid bribes and circulation of black money within the country. Nowadays, debit and credit card facilities are available with all banks. Similarly, having a savings bank account is not a big deal. Once the government is able to control unaccounted cash transactions, the scale of corruption will automatically come down. Further, the idea of linking the UID with an individual’s bank account will enhance better monitoring and audit of financial transactions. Aayushi Agrawal, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011 Wonder what Maran is waiting for to resign… He cannot be defended. Let him resign and face legal proceedings. BADR SAYEED, AIADMK leader To Curb Or Not To Curb Traditional inflation fighting methods may land us in stagflation Sudipto Mundle More Telecom Stink Maran’s quitting cabinet post necessary as probe against him proceeds f reports that Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran has been asked to quit his cabinet post are correct, it’s a step in the right direction. Investigations into the 2G spectrum scam have already landed two DMK leaders – former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi – in jail. And pressure is now being mounted on Maran, who stands accused of armtwisting cellular service company Aircel into selling out to the Malaysiabased Maxis group when he was telecom minister from 2004 to 2007. In return Maran’s family-run media enterprise, Sun Network, is alleged to have received investment worth Rs 700 crore from the latter. The allegations are buttressed by original Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran’s contention that the department of telecom under Maran sat on applications for 14 licences and spectrum. Yet, these were expeditiously cleared once the ownership of the company changed hands. But that’s not all. Preliminary CBI investigations reveal that Maran had also diverted official phone lines to boost his family business. Given the serious charges against Maran of using public office for personal aggrandisement, it’s not enough for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to say that they ought to be investigated without “fear or favour.” To facilitate the work of law enforcement agencies, it’s appropriate that Maran steps down from the Union cabinet as he attempts to clear his name. If there is any truth to the charges against Maran and Raja, it would reinforce claims of crony capitalism’s vice-like grip in the country. Crony capitalism is not so different from the commanding heights principle of the pre-liberalisation era, since in both cases it’s politicians who control the levers of the economy. Such a system profits a few people but is unhealthy for most citizens. It kills competition and hurts the cause of inclusive growth. The issue is linked to the national outrage that exists today on corruption as well as stashing unaccounted money in foreign locales, rightly seen as hurting people’s futures. The Manmohan Singh government can’t afford to distance itself from the Maran case. In the present environment, inaction is likely to be interpreted as apathy and strengthen the anti-government chorus from within and outside the political mainstream. The UPA can ill afford another Ramdev-like fiasco. It must not only work on long-term solutions to institutional corruption – a strong Lokpal Bill could be one step in this regard – in the short term it must also be seen to be acting. For that, it must ask tainted ministers such as Maran to step down even as charges against them are probed. T I he price of crude oil, silver and other commodities dipped sharply the day after the RBI raised policy interest rates by a further fifty basis points last month, and it was accused of being behind the curve, dealing with yesterday’s problem, etc. However, nowhere in the world can the monetary authorities, or anyone else for that matter, predict at the time of announcing a policy what the global markets will throw at them the next day Besides, . the slight moderation in recent weeks notwithstanding, high inflation remains the number one challenge for macro-economic management at present. So the RBI is quite right to focus on this. But the real worry is that it may not have the required tools to contain the kind of inflation we are experiencing. The phenomenon of inflation is more complex than is commonly understood. While inflation manifests itself as a rise in the general level of prices, its sources and causes may vary quite widely In the present . episode, while all prices have been rising, it has been led by different groups of commodities at different times during the past year. A year ago, inflation was being led by food prices. Later in the year, it was primary non-food items fuels and minerals that led the price rise, though vegetable prices also saw a spike in the winter. During the last few months, manufactured products have led the rise in prices. Thus the sources of inflation have varied greatly during the year, and their causes could also be quite different. To understand this, it is useful to think of the economy as consisting of three broad segments. The first is one where supply is relatively inflexible in the short run, and prices adjust to equate demand and supply . In agriculture, for instance, supply is fixed once the crop has been harvested. When that supply is short compared to demand, prices rise. When the supply is in excess of demand, prices fall. The second segment is one where the quantity of supply is flexible and adjusts to the level Hitting people where it hurts, but what’s the answer? The phenomenon of inflation is more complex than is commonly understood. While inflation manifests itself as a rise in the general level of prices, its sources and causes may vary quite widely of demand at given prices. The prices themselves are less flexible, and formed as a mark-up over costs. The size of the markup reflects the pricing power of market leaders, or what economists call the degree of monopoly. In highly competitive markets, or in the downturn of a business cycle, margins are low. Conversely prices tend to rise in the , upturn of a business cycle, or when competition is weak. Prices will also rise when costs rise in this segment of the economy . Cost push inflation, as distinct from demand pull inflation in the first segment. The manufacturing sector is a typical example of such price formation. In India there is a third segment, the administered price segment, where prices are formed by government order. Large swathes of the economy , which are still dominated by public enterprises, are part of this segment, e. g. the oil companies which adjust prices only when permitted to do so by the government. Of course, the adjustment of administered prices is often a delayed reaction to underlying market forces, the price of hydrocarbons again being the obvious example. The formation of some prices is also a hybrid phenomenon, as in the case of food grains like rice and wheat. There is a threshold price, or support price, which is administered by fiat. However, actual prices can rise above this level if there is a sharp shortfall in supply, e. g. because of a drought, and market forces come to dominate as in the first segment. Another complexity is added by international trade, where prices of exports or the costs of imports are determined by global trends. This is again illustrated by the price of oil. But there are many other products where price changes are also driven by global trends. Cotton, rubber, iron ore, gold and silver are all examples of commodities where large increases in domestic prices during the past year have been highly correlated with increases in international commodity prices. The main policy tools that the RBI has at its disposal, such as policy interest rates, cash reserve ratio, open market operations etc are effective in managing the level of demand, or in containing inflation arising out of demand-supply imbalances. They are also effective in dampening the business cycle, and to that extent, pricing power in the cost plus mark-up segment of the economy. Much the same applies to fiscal policy implemented by the finance ministry. But neither of these institutions can do much to control inflation if it is of the cost push variety especially if the costs , are being driven by global price trends. Indeed, if demand containment measures are deployed to control cost push inflation, they could well end up hurting growth without much effect on inflation – stagflation. This is a phenomenon the world first experienced during the 1970s when the oil shocks triggered inflation across the world. The monetary and fiscal authorities adopted traditional measures to control inflation via the containment of demand, but they only ended up hurting employment and growth without controlling inflation. It is important to guard against the risk of attempting to fight inflation, and ending up with stagflation. The writer is emeritus professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi. A Glimmer Of Hope Kathmandu takes a step forward lacial would be an understatement in assessing the attempts to patch together an institutional framework of governance in Kathmandu, following the overthrow of the monarchy. But the dismantling of the dual security system – coming on the heels of the Constituent Assembly (CA) being granted a three-month extension – holds out hope that the process is heading into its home stretch. For the Maoist leaders to agree to police personnel replacing People’s Liberation Army (PLA) men in their security details is of considerable symbolic significance. It strikes at the heart of one of the key issues that has bedevilled negotiations with other parties – the integration of former Maoist combatants into the security forces. With 19,000 PLA men currently languishing in various camps, this is an increasingly urgent need. The abolition of the dual security system has removed one of the roadblocks to fulfilling it. There are others, of course. The CA’s term may have been extended, but it has a daunting list of tasks to achieve in the next three months – from pushing forward the integration process to finishing a first draft of the Constitution and reaching a consensus on the extent and contours of federalism. The first step to tackling these is to find a suitable replacement for current Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal so that the formation of a national unity government can go ahead. A failure to do so may well result in the sort of impasse that required 17 attempts over a seven-month period to vote in a new government. The resolution of a violent struggle is not a linear, logical process. But even so, to return to a pre-February situation when there was no government in place would be a major step back. It is time for the Maoists, the Unified MarxistLeninists and the Nepali Congress to display both flexibility and vision. ‘I am disappointed by the lack of Mandarin teachers in India’ Even in the absence of official diplomatic relations, bilateral ties between India and Taiwan are strengthening. Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Wenchyi Ong, speaks to Rudroneel Ghosh about areas of collaboration: I What is the perception about India in Taiwan? In the past, Taiwanese people’s perception about India was moulded by prominent Indian figures. First among them is Lord Buddha. Almost 85% of Taiwanese belong to various Buddhist sects. Second is the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Many of his works have been translated in Chinese and put in textbooks for 6th graders in Taiwan. All of us have grown up reading Tagore. Third is Mahatma Gandhi. He fought the British colonialists around the time we were fighting the Japanese colonial forces. Chiang Kaishek supported India’s independence during the early 1940s. These three figures are part of our collective memory. But today’s generation in Taiwan knows about India through its impressive economic growth story, which is reported on a daily basis in Taiwanese media. And then there is Bollywood. 3 Idiots was a huge box-office hit in Taiwan. As we speak, My Name Is Khan is showing in theatres. Fundamentally, the two people share common values such as democracy, a plural society and emphasis on family bonds. I Despite the common values, people of the two countries appear unaware of each other. How can we remedy this? The traditional means would be through cultural connections – movies, musical performances and tourism. We have been collaborating with ICCR to teachers from Taiwan can train your teachers in Mandarin that would be the best way to reduce the awareness deficit. I Taiwan is big on educational collaboration. What is the philosophy behind this? Currently foreign students in Taiwanese universities account for 3% of all students. According to policy goals announced by our President, Ma Ying-jeou, this is too little. We would like to upgrade this to 10%. When foreign students come to our campuses they gain an in-depth understanding of our culture. They become life-long friends of Taiwan. We have quality educational resources that we want to share with international students. Also, cost of studying in Taiwan is very economical – one-tenth of that in London or Boston. We have about 500 Indian students in Taiwan, almost all of them in sciencerelated PhD programmes. I want this number to grow to about 5,000 in another 5-6 years. I How can we boost synergy in Indo-Taiwanese trade relations? Two-way trade stood at $6.4 billion in 2010, which is larger than India’s trade with Canada or Israel. I am expecting to see double-digit growth in the foreseeable future with trade volume reaching $10 billion in 3-4 years’ time. But the most important mechanism that can really boost trade is a Free Trade Agreement. Feasibility studies are already being done by ICRIER and Chung-Hua Institution. Also, in our model investment follows trade. Currently Taiwan invests $1 billion in India. There is huge potential for this figure to increase. Taiwan is India’s natural partner if the latter wants to increase its manufacturing output to GDP ratio from 16% to 25% in the next five years. G Q&A organise such events in India. But i feel the best way to reduce the gap would be through Mandarin Chinese teaching. I am disappointed by the lack of competent Mandarin teachers in India. There is a belated realisation on your part that you need to boost the number of people proficient in Mandarin. Taiwan can be a fantastic source of native Mandarin teachers. If Vigilante republic Ramdev and Anna are laws unto themselves, but so’s the state Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT A swami who teaches yoga to the country should not teach us political asanas By its brutal police action against Ramdev’s so-called yoga camp in New Delhi the central government overnight transformed a rabble-rousing maverick – who, among other things, offered to cure the ‘sickness’ of homosexuality through breathing exercises – into a folk hero and martyr. The Centre’s strong-arm tactics against a gathering that had remained peaceful was all the more bizarre in that it came shortly after senior members of the government had openly kow-towed to Ramdev, trying to reach a compromise regarding his main demand of immediately bringing back into the country the huge amounts of black money reportedly stashed abroad by tax evaders and scamsters. The opposition – mainly the sangh parivar which till then had been underplaying its links with the saffron-clad guru – has come out in full-throated support of Ramdev, comparing the police raid on the yoga camp with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a rhetorical allegation that insults the memories of the victims of the Amritsar atrocity The use of brute force to muzzle incon. venient dissent has, more appropriately been likened to the imposition of the , Emergency by Indira Gandhi. Indeed, today’s scenario does have ominous echoes of 1975. At that time, Jayaprakash Narayan’s anti-government movement played a part in provoking the imposition of the Emergency In the very . different political context of today where coalition rule has become the norm, , no government is in a position to suspend fundamental rights as Indira Gandhi could do. However, there are parallels between JP’s movement and the civil society-cum-satyagraha campaign initiated by Anna Hazare and subsequently hijacked by the more flamboyant Ramdev. Like JP, Anna and the yoga guru have set themselves up as extra-constitutional authorities who – without the mandate of ever having been elected to public office – want to change the laws on which the Indian republic is founded. This is tantamount to not only redrafting the Constitution but doing so in a manner that in itself is unconstitutional. The Constitution is the foundation of the Indian republic; if it were subverted the edifice that we call India would collapse. ‘Extra-constitutional authority’ – which, like JP, is what Ramdev and Anna lay claim to – is a fancy term for vigilantism, for taking the law into one’s own hands. Vigilantism gains a dubious legitimacy when legal channels are seen to be incapable, or unwilling, to provide even a semblance of justice. This, increasingly seems to be the case in India. Whether it is bringing killers to , book, as in the Jessica Lall and other cases, or ensuring that farmers do not get dispossessed of their land and livelihood for the benefit of state-sponsored carpetbaggers, or stemming the rampant epidemic of corruption in everyday life, what we call civil society has repeatedly had to step in to rectify the many failures of the law. When the law is seen to fail, vigilantism seems to be the only remedy But it’s a dangerous remedy For today’s acclaimed vigilantes, the . . people’s champions, could prove to be tomorrow’s dictators. The true role of civil society in a democracy – which India supposedly still is – should not be vigilantism, not the substitution of law by the will of the mob. Civil society’s true role is not to confront the government of the day but to engage it in critical dialogue, through all the legitimate means available to it, from demanding electoral reforms to pressing for more effective implementation of the Right to Information Act. The problem today is trying to differentiate between the vigilantism of the individual and that of the state; who is more above the law, a Ramdev or a so-called law enforcement establishment that uses self-sanctioned violence to suppress dissent and so undermines the very laws it is meant to enforce? In what seems to be turning into a vigilante republic, there is no easy answer to a question that hangs over us like a Damocles’ sword. Shoes seem to be the cheapest commodity available in our country these days. Everybody wants to get rid of them – ANUPAM KHER, actor, on the attempted shoe-throwing incident at Congress HQ Satisfaction is like engaging the handbrake and hoping a car moves forward – KAPIL SIBAL, Union HRD minister, on Baba Ramdev’s protest – SACHIN TENDULKAR, cricketer, on his desire to continue playing I SACRED S PAC E I It’s Good To Forget sacrifice to achieve it is certainly worth it. In life your share is only 50%. The rest of veryday people face negative experi- the 50% is supplied by others. Living with ences. Whether of greater or lesser bitter memories means that you are not import, people generally like to dwell ready to accept this law of nature. You cannot on these negative experiences. Once this change the law of nature, so change yourself. becomes a habit, it has a negative effect. This will give you the gift of a comfortable life Then unpleasant experiences become a part in every situation. of their active memory till it becomes a , If you are not ready to forget what is jungle of negativity So it is best to forget forgettable, then after sometime you will . these kinds of sad events. become addicted to this habit. Bitter memory In your case, whatever happened was is fed by bad experiences and so you tend to beyond your control, but it is in your hands to recall them everyday This is a very bad sign. . forget it and prevent it from becoming a part This will create a permanent obstacle to the of your memory. If others are not ready to take development of your personality . your advice on this, you had better become its Of the two kinds of memories, good and first follower. bad, the former gives you energy , What is education? Education is while the latter ruins your life. You not just the means of making you a have to appreciate this difference and degree holder; it is the gateway to try to live with good memories and the art of living. Education enables forget the bad memories. This habit you to think, to discover the will help you achieve a good principles of life, and to correctly human life. evaluate your experiences. EduMemory is an integral part of THE cation gives you the ability to your mind. There is no escape I SPEAKING I know the difference between the from memory The only option is . achievable and unachievable. If to try not to make memory a TREE you are an educated person in part of your conscious mind, but this sense, you will certainly discover the relegate it to the unconscious mind. And the value of the habit of forgetting. forgetting habit serves that very purpose. The choice in this context is not between We cannot delete our memory from our forgetting and not forgetting: the real choice is minds, but we can make it ineffective by between living with all kinds of bitter memo- storing it in the memory archives. ries and totally freeing yourself from them. Memory when good is a positive guide, Try to forget unpleasant memories, for the and when bad, totally negative. You have alternative to this is living in bitterness and to control your memory rather than be that is not a good choice for anyone. controlled by it. Make your memory your The habit – of forgetting – leads you to intellectual storehouse and not the master of many good things. It saves you from distrac- your daily conduct. Follow the Maulana on our website. tion, it economises your energy it prevents , www.speakingtree.in you from wasting your time, and it shields you from negative thoughts. All these things Join the world's first spiritual networking are so important for a better life that any site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Reflections In Time Life should be soft and lovely like flowers – it should be immovable and clear like the peaks, and it should be immeasurable like the sky. All expansion is life, all contraction is death. Life is like a game of cards. You cannot get aces all the time. You have got to play the cards you get and play your hand as best as you can. For when the great scorer comes to write against your name, He will not note whether you won or lost but how you played the game. Lay down your comforts, your pleasures, your name, fame or position, nay, even your lives and make a bridge of human chains over which millions will cross this ocean of life. The movement of life has its own music. Forget the past. Everything in the future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now. Compiled by Stya Paul, founder chairman, Apeejay Stya Group E Engage civil society With reference to the editorial ‘Carrots And Sticks’ (June 7), the real issue is the overwhelming perception that the government’s influence is waning in most matters. Whether it is corruption, black money or the growing Maoist insurgency, a void has been created. Civil society organisations and activists are increasingly filling it. On many issues, they have proved to be more successful than the government. Our political class will have to engage with these new emerging power centres to create solutions to the varied, complex and often intractable problems afflicting the country. Denigrating these groups and adopting a confrontational attitude won’t help. B K Bhatia, GURGAON SECOND OPINION Curb black money With reference to the article ‘Agree in principle’ (June 7) by Rajendra Kumar, it is an impractical idea to make transactions cashless in our country. Therefore, what the government can do is to limit the printing of currency notes of large denominations to avoid bribes and circulation of black money within the country. Nowadays, debit and credit card facilities are available with all banks. Similarly, having a savings bank account is not a big deal. Once the government is able to control unaccounted cash transactions, the scale of corruption will automatically come down. Further, the idea of linking the UID with an individual’s bank account will enhance better monitoring and audit of financial transactions. Aayushi Agrawal, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2011 If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. GEORGE ORWELL, English author Future Of Press At Stake? Wage board recommendations create apprehension that a ‘divide and destroy’ policy is at work Kundan R Vyas History Or Headline Big issues shouldn’t be lost in cheap babble f you thought inflation was seriously pinching your pocket there’s another threat on the horizon – verbal inflation. The sinking level of discourse around the corruption agitation is deplorable, if not diversionary. After the recent government assault on protesters at Baba Ramdev’s camp, the BJP compared the crackdown to the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. There was an attack on civilian protest – which ironically attempting feverishly , to mollify the yoga guru, the government facilitated right up to the crackdown. However, comparing it to Jallianwala Bagh, wrought by a colonial government, resulting in over 350 deaths, was remarkable overstatement. The BJP then announced a ‘protest satyagraha’ at Rajghat where cadres sang and danced, joined by Sushma Swaraj. The Congress expressed acidic criticism, including jibes about Swaraj dancing on Mahatma Gandhi’s grave and the BJP becoming a ‘party of dancers’, the Hindi word ‘nachaniya’ used for maximum offence. The lack of reasoned discourse and vacuum of political leadership and governance has opened up the field to populist and charismatic demagogues, who advance unrealistic solutions to genuine problems. Baba Ramdev is keen black money offenders be awarded death. He’s probably unaware that similar panaceas were offered half a century ago, when Jawaharlal Nehru threatened to hang hoarders and blackmarketeers from the nearest lamp post. As experience shows, such threats have hardly solved the problem. Currently instead of radiating calm as a , yoga guru should, the Baba’s stating he’ll raise an ‘army’ of followers to wage a ‘war’ on corruption – presumably involving more than yoga asanas. It’s evident that while he claims to support Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev’s learning little from the Gandhian also fighting corruption. By contrast, the Hazare group’s return to negotiations with government over the Lokpal Bill is positive. It’s vital that instead of petty barbs, focus is maintained on the big issue – corruption. In addition, several concrete measures ought to be on the table to check the generation of black money. These include implementing a uniform goods and services tax across the country – which the BJP has been resisting tooth and nail. Lowering stamp duties to a reasonable rate of 1% or 2% would reduce the incentive for under-the-table transactions in real estate. Interestingly amidst , the melee, the government finally seems to be taking baby steps in the right direction – the prime minister’s called for ministers to declare assets while Kapil Sibal’s reiterated completion of the Lokpal draft by June 30. If the government pushes through a strong Lokpal Bill, it’ll make history for the right reasons. Not just hit headlines for the wrong ones. N I ewspapers usually shy away from writing about themselves or their industry for many reasons, including the fact that they only try to report – and not make – news. So while the Press takes up cudgels on behalf of every freedom trampled upon or an illegal or unconstitutional act across our vast land, it rarely complains about the conditions that it itself faces in the discharge of these duties. It is high time that we share our problems and concerns, if not the burden, with our readers. Media, particularly the newspaper industry, is not like any other industry as it is rightly described as the fourth estate in parliamentary democracy. The credibility of newspapers is most vital and is the essence of democracy. But the very existence of the industry is under threat. We have apprehensions that a ‘divide and destroy’ policy is at work. This apprehension is rooted in the recommendations of the wage board for the industry. Perhaps very few people would know that the salary structure for working journalists as well as non-working journalists is decided by the wage board appointed by the government. It is only the newspaper industry in India – not TV or radio or cement or sugar or any other industry – which is singled out for this discriminatory treatment. This has imposed a heavy financial burden on the industry for years. It may yet force many newspapers to shut down if the latest astronomical wage rates proposed by the board are implemented. The Press is not – and should not be – immune from general laws relating to industrial relations or laws regulating payment of wages. But if it is singled out for imposition of prohibitive burdens, is it not violating the right to no discrimination guaranteed by Article 14 of our Constitution? Most journalists in the country have opted out of the wage boards and hence the vast majority of the employees who remain are non-journalists. They, incidentally, are already in a high wage island, even before the yet to be accepted Justice Majithia recommendations (80-100% hike coming on top of an unprecedented 30% interim hike w.e.f. A mainstay of democracy under attack by the government It is only the newspaper industry in India which is singled out for this discriminatory treatment. This has imposed a heavy financial burden on the industry for years January, 2008) are implemented. Justice Majithia's recommendations have gone beyond jurisdiction into management areas such as compulsory and time-bound promotions, pensions, etc which are, in any case, against accepted market-determined employment conditions. The wage board has also adopted the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations without justifying how this can apply to newspapers which, unlike PSUs, do not get government subsidies/ budgetary support, and whose employees cannot be equated with government servants! The very constitution of the wage board was purposely biased and its recommendations were based on data which was not representative of an industry crosssection. No studies for determining wages in comparable jobs in other industries or the capacity to pay by various newspaper organisations – or even the impact of the recommended additional burden on the industry – were carried out. No draft/tentative report was published/circulated for stakeholders' views, who were also not given any opportunity to calculate the financial burden of the recommendations and suggest corrections. Honestly speaking, nobody would like to slaughter the golden goose. Certainly not the employ- MUZZLING THE MEDIA ers, nor the employees. The wage board should protect/safeguard the interests of both. Till today , most of the responsible newspaper groups have implemented the recommendations of all the five wage boards by mutual agreements and in true letter and spirit. It is only this time that the Justice Majithia recommendations have gone beyond their jurisdiction and also recommended exorbitant pay hikes. This has been done without studying or considering the capacity to pay for an industry where, in any case, the prices of various inputs/raw materials, newsprint, ink, etc have been rising uncontrollably . Moreover, there is stiff competition in the industry. It is The writer is President, The Indian difficult to raise the cover price Newspaper Society, and Managing Editor, – incidentally India has the Janmabhoomi Group of Newspapers. , cheapest newspapers with the largest number of pages – and at the same time, advertisement rates have become more competitive. Even the government agency – DAVP – has a policy which discriminates against small and medium papers. The rates are much lower than the normal commercial card rates and the share in business is also much less. As stated earlier, the majority of the responsible newspaper groups have implemented the wage board recommendations in the past. Even the interim recommendations of 30% hike w.e.f. January, 2008 have been implemented. In any case, there is a provision for a periodic increase in the Variable Dearness Allowance. The VDA has increased by 394 points in the last eight years – which is on average more than Rs 600 per month even in the small category of newspapers. In the final analysis, however, it seems that the entire report of the wage board was prepared by Justice Majithia in his individual capacity as there were no discussions with other members on the proposals which formed the final recommendations. None of the representatives of the employers’ side voted or signed them, nor were they ever asked to do so. When the draft report was finally circulated in December 2010, members were given only a week to respond, which they pointed out would result in a serious miscarriage of justice. Of course, it did. Long live the free Press! ICC proposes to scrap rotation policy for selecting president All In The Cloud Apple raises the stakes with iCloud nother IT revolution is impending, which may make the personal computer go the way of the typewriter or the cassette tape recorder. This week Apple launched iCloud – its cloud-computing service. Transferring all data processing and storage capacity to the cloud – or remote server factories – has radical consequences for the PC market. Desktop computers could soon contract to basic input/output devices. Theoretically, smartphones or tablets would suffice to cater to all our computing needs. And these would be ubiquitous, rendering personal work files, music, pictures and data radically mobile. With Apple throwing down the gauntlet competitors are bound to join the fray, maturing the cloud-computing market. Instead of lugging our laptops around everywhere, we could afford to unchain ourselves from them. Cloud computing has the potential to shrink our computing world, making hardware smaller and cheaper. Digital illiteracy is a serious impediment to empowerment in the 21st century, but allowing many people to share the same digital infrastructure could make the digital divide a thing of the past. Cloudcomputing technology can have knock-on effects on education, as cheap and simple devices could enhance learning in schools and colleges. It will also boost small businesses as they harness the power of the cloud to avail of quality IT services with minimal investment. On the supply side, demand will be driven by the need for customisation. Security is a prime concern with cloud computing, and service providers that tackle this issue effectively will have the edge. The domestic cloud-computing industry is projected to grow into a Rs 2,434-crore market by 2014. Once hooked on, the cloud could redefine our digital lives. Voting system rewards merit ifteen years after it was instituted, the senior administrative functions are filled rotation policy that decides the Inter- on the basis of merit. Instituting a similar national Cricket Council’s president is system could deliver just the kind of jolt set to change. And it’s about time. As things the ICC needs. The competition for election stand now, the policy has been implemented and the possibility of re-election would in two forms. From 1996 until 2007, the provide administrators with incentives for presidency rotated among the Test-playing performing well that nations. Starting 2007, the Test-playing are entirely lacking in nations were divided into five pairs with the current system. each pair – again on a rotation basis – nomiAs for those who nating a candidate for the newly created post of vice-president, who I T I M E S V I E W I would also be president-elect. The problems with both iterations of this system cavil that the Board are obvious. When authority is earned of Control for Cricket without effort, and without merit being in India (BCCI) will a consideration, there is a concurrent de- dominate the electoral crease in responsibility and performance. process, their fears are That is why the shift to a voting system is overblown. For one, the so important for global cricket. For a decade BCCI’s dominance is and more now, players, administrators and perhaps greater now than it would be in a commentators around the cricket-playing system where it would have to contest for world have been bemoaning the ICC’s inef- votes on level playing ground. For another, fectiveness and lethargy – with good cause financial clout is a reality. It cannot be in many instances. Modern sport adminis- wished away, but it can be tempered with tration is no different from running a corpo- merit-based criteria. And that is precisely ration. And in a successful corporation, what the proposed system can do. Will create monopoly of a few tration is anything but. Even with all the member cricket boards ostensibly having an equal say countries like Aus, tralia and England dominate. And the colossus towering over them, of course, is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), using sheer financial clout to bulldoze any opposition. Now imagine the situation if it were unfettered by the need to even pay lip service to the notion of equality. That is what I COUNTERVIEW I switching to a voting system would do. The Jay Kumar babwe, Bangladesh BCCI would simply buy power. and Pakistan is set Far from increasing competition and to be dismantled in thereby improving efficiency such a , favour of one that system would create a monopoly. Global will inevitably rele- cricket administration would no longer be gate them to junior about what is best for the game, but about partner status. what is best for the BCCI. The effort should The basic assumption that switching be to build on the already existing system to a system where member boards vote which at least guarantees that weaker to select a new president will result in boards can’t be ignored entirely. Their say increased efficiency and accountability in matters must be made greater and those is laughable. To achieve such an ideal, of the more powerful boards reduced so the first requisite is a level playing field. that it is truly a body of equals. This proAs matters stand, global cricket adminis- posal is an effort to do exactly the opposite. f International Cricket Council (ICC) board members agree to the proposal to replace the rotation policy it will be , unfortunate in the extreme. What we are seeing is a classic power grab in the guise of administrative reform. A system that guaranteed time at the head of the table even for weaker boards such as Zim- F I A SNAP JUDGMENT Fear of flyovers Against fasts or for faster traffic flow we choose to go over the top Bachi Karkaria Darjeeling Breakthrough amata Banerjee has scored a significant political goal by signing a bilateral pact with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that could pave the way for peace in the Darjeeling hills. By setting up a new autonomous hill council with greater financial and executive powers, Banerjee has worked out an amenable formula to resolve the long-festering Gorkhaland issue. She should now focus on putting West Bengal’s economy back on track. Uma’s Back t’s the return of the prodigal daughter – Uma Bharati’s back in the BJP. But her return is conditional, as she would look after party affairs in UP and not in her home state, MP. With UP assembly elections due next year, her OBC status and mass mobilisation skills could be an asset for the BJP. Provided she does not flaunt hardline Hindutva or rub partymen the wrong way . I Barca In India M I A No one has dared call it the new Lalbaug ka Raja, but in the week of its opening, Mumbai’s latest flyover has been getting almost as much adulation as the area’s legendary Ganapati idol. And almost as long a queue – this one of cars lining up to use it. So much so that, on the morning that it was fully opened to the public, peak hour traffic seemed to move faster below it than on it. Flyovers are literally about one-upmanship, and first-dayfirst-show snobbery applies as much to blocked-traffic busters as to blockbusters. It had happened on June 30, 2009 when the iconic Bandra-Worli sealink opened, but that had the added advantage of sheer novelty and sea-nic splendour too. At 5.6 km it is also more than twice as long, but the Lalbaug’s 2.48 km puts it at the top of the flyover league. It beats the reigning one by a whisker; the JJ viaduct can get as ‘j’ as it likes. Time was when problems were swept under the carpet. Now we sweep them above it. Money-worshipping Mumbai has little use for underground movements of the Naxal or any other kind. Even much of its controversial Metro will zip on or above road level. Flyovers are the unchallenged Brahmins of the commuter caste system. Those who use them are the privileged once-borne. Once you get into your vehicle, you get directly to your destination; you don’t have to mess around with a bus or autorickshaw after emerging from your lowly sweaty local train. , That they are increasingly chosen over more practical mass transit systems proves that elitism rules in a globalised age. Strange, then, that the exalted Pedder road residents should continue to insist that their perennially clogged stretch remain a no-flyover zone. Baba Ramdev types may want us to go into reverse gear, but we are quite content, shukriya, with our new urban snobberies. With so many flyovers up and functioning or still under construction, the gap between the f-o haves and have-nots is being reduced as fast as commuting time. And if you are the great unwashed fated to languish under the over, you must simply accept the fact that such an elevated status is not in your car-ma. Or you can just F O. For our babus, flyovers are also manna from heaven, or at least from contractors. Not only is it easier to build one than to manage traffic better, it is far more lucrative. In fact it’s money for jam, or, actually for no jam. , Still people will keep carping over flyovers. Mr Ratan Tata is unlikely to have to worry about these peeping Toms in addition to eavesdropping agencies, but the privacy of the residents of flanking buildings is undoubtedly and increasingly compromised by these zippers. Cars have been known to actually slow down for a quick dekko at the decor or interesting goings-on inside the eye-level flats. But this surely is no big deal in a nation which sincerely believes in the tolerant mantra of ‘live and let stare’. Indeed, our proprietary rights to the view, and even occupant, of the ‘saamnewalli khidki’ are established in culture and celebrated in song. Like highways, flyovers are also disparaged for being cold, impersonal links between two points rather than a leisurely roll, drinking in the sights and sounds of the landscape. It is argued that they put you out of touch with messy ground reality and create the illusion that life is a smooth passage , unmarred by snarls and unjarred by honking. Look, i don’t have a problem with that serene illusion. You do? *** Alec Smart said: “So what’s the real number? Sushma ki Jawani or Sushy Badnaam Hui?” fter conquering the football world, FC Barcelona is looking to exploit the Indian market’s potential. The most exciting proposal is the one for an Indian version of the famed La Masia academy Spotting and . developing talent, teaching the club’s style of play – it would be of immense benefit to Indian football, perhaps just the catalyst for raising its standard all round. I SACRED S PAC E Full Of Faith I The Thirst For Fame will naturally accrue. That is not entirely untrue. Money does buy many things…but enerally everything in life comes in that which is bought, also sells, is it not? As pairs. Not in terms of opposites but in the market decides the price for such things, terms of ensuring balance in exist- the halo of fame remains, but the substance ence. Like rights come with duty freedom that makes it, in terms of adulation and trust , comes with responsibility and so on. The that the famous inspire, gets whittled down. secret is to identify the pairs. Some of them are On looking a little closer one finds that, visible and taken for granted. For some others, since the power wielded by fame is derived you have to play something like a memory from it, lasting fame will accrue only when game…you have to search out the pair. When you recognise from whom you have derived any concept is understood along with its that power and invest it back in them or that. pair then it becomes firmly rooted and gives Sacred books live eternally because they invest more results than when it is tackled or pursued the reader with the power of divine blessing. in isolation. Leaders derive their power from the people, parents from their children, a cook One such single which is hunting from the people who savour his food, a for its pair is fame. Most people seek designer from his craftsmen and so it fame. Some want international goes, in every field of life. recognition and work towards that, The pair of fame is thus service, some want national acclaim and which is to be useful. When there is yet others are happy being the leader service, fame comes automatically in the family circle or the colony and this fame is rooted in a noble community Again the reason for . THE activity. To remember this is the the fame and the talent being showcased can be as varied as SPEAKING path to the kind of fame that lives after you is what makes you immorflowers in a garden. To celebrate TREE tal. That is why a good teacher is the idea of fame we also have many record books that document the first ever in remembered at all times and is ‘famous’ among different fields. students of the school and their families. Our quest for fame is perhaps only younger The Sanskrit tradition identified long ago than our quest for truth. Psychologists say that the eternal quality of fame and the dignity that every human being seeks immortality it inspires is oft-smudged by the grime of life. and therefore seeks fame…so that they live What remains and dominates all actions is beyond their calendar years, at least in the desire for fame. So it is said humorously name. And that is why there is the obsession in a subhashitani (a couplet which has an to ‘become’. inherent lesson in it) that break a pot, tear Fame brings immediate power. Some- your clothes and ride a donkey, if you may but , times the power of fame may not bring any make sure you become famous – at any cost! wealth. But it brings honour and respect. But surely not at the cost of crossing the thin , What makes the fame lasting? What pairs line that divides fame from notoriety? with fame? Much too often fame is confused www.speakingtree.in with the riches it might bring. It is believed Join the world’s first spiritual networking that if money is made, dignity and respect site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sudhamahi Regunathan E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Public memory is short With reference to the article ‘A Scam Too Far’ (June 7) by Swapan Dasgupta, it exhibits unwarranted optimism about the ability of the Indian public to curb corruption. The fact is that it is still very much possible to get votes through identity and patronage politics. Almost all political parties have refined rigging and booth-capturing to an art form. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee won not only because of the disillusionment of the voters with the Left Front, but also due to the ability of her supporters to match and counter the leftist goons. Public memory about government atrocities like the one in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan is too short. The Ramdev episode has not burned the Congress. It has not even singed it. In just a few months, the incident will fade completely from public memory. Before the general election in 2014, the UPA will act on the Lokpal Bill and black money and hoodwink the voters that they have done much more than what the inconsequential civil society and Ramdev had asked for. Harold Hines, BHUBANESWAR ERRA TICA A man of faith, absorbed in faith, his senses controlled, attains knowledge, and, knowledge attained, quickly finds supreme peace. But the ignorant man, who is without faith, goes doubting to destruction. For the doubting self there is neither this world, nor the next, nor joy . Bhagavad Gita 4.39-40 Faith is composed of the heart’s intention./ Light comes through faith./ Through faith men come to prayer,/ Faith in the morning, faith at noon and at the setting of the sun./ O Faith, give us faith! Rig Veda By faith you shall be free and go beyond the world of death. Sutta Nipata 1146 So long as we believe in our heart of hearts that our capacity is limited and we grow anxious and unhappy we are , lacking in faith. One who truly trusts in God has no right to be anxious about anything. Paramahansa Yogananda G A baffling agenda With reference to the editorial ‘Passion Play’ (June 3), Baba Ramdev’s vociferous claims and agenda smack of personal aggrandisement utilising his yoga followers. Most of the issues he is raising now have no relevance with the issues civil society is seized by. Anna Hazare should not be party to the Baba’s agenda. The people who want a corruption-free government in this country should sift the truth from falsehood. The editorial’s caution is timely as the masses easily fall for the pomp of a spiritual leader. Stephen Bernard, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/erratic 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY THOMAS JEFFERSON, American politician OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2011 I Every generation needs a new revolution. Public Opinion – The Fifth Estate It can force a corrupt government to course correct as well as enable statesmanship Vikram Singh Mehta Transparency Revolution St Antony welcomes the winds of change and a new India in the making eadlines are now blaring about the mudslinging that’s going on between anti-corruption activists and the government. But defence minister A K Antony – in remarks that might cause some discomfort to his colleagues in the Congress – has broached a longer-term outlook that’s more positive. Renowned for his clean image – which stands out so much in today’s atmosphere that some refer to him as St Antony – his current notion that the country is passing through a transparency revolution is significant. Antony believes that the walls of secrecy are crumbling, even though many within the government and outside are not ready for the winds of change. Nonetheless, he concludes that the transparency revolution has reached critical mass and can’t be stopped midway The scenario Antony . projects is optimistic, but plausible. Even if his statements are embarrassing for his colleagues, they may well be prophetic. The main reason why the anti-corruption movement may be more successful this time than on earlier rounds – Jayaprakash Narayan and V P Singh have campaigned before on similar issues – is the rise of the middle class. Since the liberalisation of the economy in the 1990s, economic growth has added to middle class numbers – those who are aspirational in character and well aware of their rights. Experiences worldwide inform us that it is this segment of society that forms the backbone of a modern democracy. This also explains why the old power structures defined by feudal aristocracy and crony capitalism are increasingly under pressure to reform. There is dwindling patience for politicians and babus who use corruption as a tool for personal aggrandisement. Scams such as those involving the sale of 2G spectrum or contracts for the Commonwealth Games are seen as loot of national wealth, rather than just an issue of impropriety. In that sense, the UPA has sadly misjudged the political moment. In continuing with old-style politics focussed on entitlement, identity and patronage it has invited the ire of the people. Civil society is no longer willing to be taken for granted or have the wool pulled over their eyes. Nevertheless, as Antony has pointed out, the political class has also played its role in ushering in greater transparency For example, the UPA, in its first avatar, passed the . Right to Information Act. As the electorate grows more aware and 24x7 media does its bit, politicians will be under greater pressure to perform. In the end, the battle against corruption will be fought and won in Parliament, not outside. But it is only by heeding the demand of civil society for greater probity that the government can redeem itself. H midst the sound and fury of the civic agitation against corruption (which hopefully will signify something), public opinion has emerged as possibly the fifth ‘estate’ of governance. This is an affirmation of both the strength and the weakness of our polity On the one . hand, it reinforces the message that public opinion is the essential domino. When mobilised our elected representatives respond with alacrity – as should be expected in a robust democracy . On the other hand, it suggests that the three estates of the legislature, judiciary and executive that function with an eye cocked on the fourth – the media – do not reflect or respond to public opinion. The public has had to after all come out onto the streets for the leaders to act. It points to the fact that our democracy is more a process than a lightning rod – an electoral process that allows the public to manifest its opinion every five years or so, but in the intervening period gives the elected representatives free rein to interpret public opinion through the prism of their narrow and risk-averse self-interest. It is an open question whether the Anna Hazare/ Ramdev duo will succeed in shifting the needle on corruption. The malaise is deep-rooted and it is not obvious that their demands and methods offer a pragmatic and systemic prescription. That said, it cannot be denied that their leadership A has underlined the potential of the ‘soft power’ of public opinion. It has raised the possibility that the government can constructively engage with public opinion to help resolve the conundrum of democratic politics – the impasse between good economics and good politics. One example of this possibility is the challenge of fuel prices. The government is once again struggling with this challenge. It knows that economic logic and common sense warrant that the price of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene be raised. And that otherwise, public sector oil companies will be driven into a financial abyss and the government will face an Showing the effect the public will can have on governanace Good economics and good politics make for uneasy bedfellows. But the soft power of public opinion transformed intosmart power through information and technology can help find space for both unmanageable subsidy burden. They also know that such a hike, especially at a time of commodity and food inflation, will trigger a political backlash and might threaten their individual political futures. This is not the first time that they have faced this challenge. It has been on their agenda ever since petroleum product prices were deregulated in April 2002 and oil companies were given the de jure freedom to set prices in accordance with market principles. Most times, however, the government has restrained the oil companies from exercising this right. As a result, the companies, and indeed the government (as their principal shareholder), have run up enormous costs. In financial year 2010 -11 for instance, the companies collectively ‘underrecovered’ (a euphemism for ‘lost’) approximately Rs 70,000 crore. In 201112, and assuming the current gap between their domestic selling price and the international cost price will not narrow, the loss could exceed Rs 1,00,000 crore. There are, in addition, the ‘costs’ of reduced investments in exploration and production; distribution and logistics; maintenance; safety; technology and R&D. And the dilution of competitiveness in the international arena. The longer-term impact will be enhanced energy insecurity and environmental degradation – costs and debts that future generations will be asked to redeem. The government is, of course, aware of these costs. Almost every senior minister has stated in public that the current policy should be altered and that its continuation is detrimental to sustainable development. But their party headquarters have not allowed them to bite the bullet of their conviction. The companies’ de jure rights remain superseded by the government’s de facto fiat. This logjam could be broken by the soft power of public opinion. This will not be easy but what the current agitation has brought home is that public preferences are not set in concrete and that in the face of new information and experience, people are prepared to accept some short-term pain for longer term gain. It has shown that the public does respond to logic and matters of broader concern. On the issue of fuel prices, therefore, it is not a given that it will always object to higher prices. With full information about the consequences of a burgeoning subsidy burden on economic development and energy security – and the adverse implications on the environment of product adulteration and resource misallocation (problems that occur because of price distortions) – the public’s position on a price hike might well be different than what the politicians have always assumed. The same could be said about the second generation economic reforms like labour and retail that have been put on the backburner because of expected political backlash. Here too, the effort to inform and educate the public might pay unexpected dividends. It is well known that in a democracy good economics , and good politics make for uneasy bedfellows. And that when push comes to shove, economics is almost always given short shrift. But there is a limit to how far economic logic can be defied. The soft power of public opinion transformed into smart power through information and technology can help find space for both on the same mattress and enable statesmanship. The writer is chairman, Shell Companies in India. Views are personal. Portrait Of An Artist Husain’s life depicts India’s times ‘There is no more fear today in Tunisia’ Ben Mourad Cheikh, Tunisian filmmaker and his friends hit the , streets of Tunis as soon as the protests against the Ben Ali regime began last year Cheikh . made a 72-minute documentary on the Tunisian revolution, in which he was both a participant and a viewer The film, La . Khaoufa Baada al’Yaoum (No More Fear), is part of the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival this year Cheikh spoke . to Faizal Khan: I Tunisia was known to the rest of the world as a peaceful country, not very poor and a tourist destination favoured by rich Europeans. So what happened? The people of Tunisia had been living under pressure for a very long time. A point came when they couldn’t stand it any more and they exploded. It was a question of dignity. The Tunisian people wanted the same rights as everyone else in the world. The government in place had been using the tool of oppression for a long time to block Tunisians from speaking out. In December, Tunisians broke the cycle of fear. The protests started in the south, which is a poorer region, far away from the capital in the richer coastal north. Slowly, the protests spread to the capital. By January 14, everyone was on the streets, the rich and the poor, from all political backgrounds. The protesters were asking for their basic rights – work, dignity and liberty. I What was the role of the youth in the revolution? Pre-revolution, there was a minority who would stand up against the government of Zine with. It was not easy but it , became possible. I What is the future for Tunisia? The future is to be built. It can only be better. I don’t know how it will be built, but i am confident that we will do it by accommodating different political thinking. It is for the first time since independence in 1956 that Tunisians know who they are. On July 24, Tunisians will elect a constitutional assembly , which will rewrite the Constitution. Later, a presidential election will be held under this Constitution. The challenge is to establish a real democracy in Tunisia and to show the world that an Arab country, a Muslim country can be a democracy , . I What is your film about? The film is a kind of participation in the revolution. We began shooting without any intention of making a documentary. It is the first feature length documentary about the Tunisian revolution. There are three main characters in my film. One is a lawyer and human rights activist who suffered under the Ben Ali dictatorship. The second is a blogger, a young girl, who was the first to show to Tunisia and the rest of the world what was happening in the southern town of Sidi Buzid and how the government was putting down protests when none of the newspapers was talking about it. The third is a journalist, who exchanged his pen for a baton to protect his neighbours in a Tunis suburb. These characters do not know each other. The common point in the film is fear, the fear to speak and to criticise. But there is no more fear today in Tunisia. C ontroversial. This, more than any other adjective, came to describe M F Husain’s art. Husain was no stranger to notoriety His depiction of . Indira Gandhi as Durga raised eyebrows across 1970s India. However, in the 1990s, his art raised more than comment. It was struck by violence, ultimately claiming the artist’s freedom to live in India. Husain’s life reflects India’s changing colours. Born in 1915, he became an artist of repute, joining the Progressive Artists Group in 1947. He accepted influences from around the world; Pablo Picasso, Prague’s architecture, African poetry all were , welcome. He reflected the excitement of India itself, open to the world’s art as it evolved its own style. Husain painted freely and frankly – nude goddesses, dark monks, rib-lined horses, elephants playing veenas, nations in distress – in canvases executed with style and showmanship, spreading artistic excitement across society . In the 1990s, this vibrant space was attacked and Husain became a victim. In 1996, the Hindu right questioned Husain’s prerogative as ‘a Muslim painter’ to depict nude Hindu deities. The artist’s house was attacked, works vandalised and multiple legal cases registered against a man aged above 80 over ‘hurting a community’s sentiments’. Ironically he also faced anger from , the Muslim right, outraged over a song in his directorial venture, Meenaxi, allegedly featuring Quranic excerpts. The uproar was powerful enough for Husain to pull the film out of theatres. The cases around him finally made him pull out of India too. In 2010, against a non-bailable warrant and a noncommittal government in India, he accepted Qatari citizenship. And never returned. It’s to India’s shame that one of its greatest contemporary artists had to die in exile. Q&A El Abidine Ben Ali. But they couldn’t reach the rest of Tunisia. The youth use new tools such as the web and were able to reach others. What is important is that it was not done in the name of politics. The youth took simple ideas, like the demand for liberty and dignity for all, which everyone agreed Note worthy Baba Ramdev should be the new face of India’s economy Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT If this is blackmail, we will do this till we die I only know my Baba, Bollywood’s (Sanju) Baba and our own Sai Baba People thought that Rafa and me were done… Now we are back Reader Shireen Bharucha wrote in with a suggestion regarding Indian banknotes which currently bear the image of Mahatma Gandhi. Shireen suggested that as most of our currency seems to end up in the pockets (suitcases?) of swindlers and scamsters, perhaps it was no longer appropriate to feature the Father of the Nation on lucre that was becoming increasingly filthy Instead, she asked, why didn’t the sarkar portray . on our currency notes the mug shots of scamsters? A great idea. In the meantime, Baba Ramdev has his own ideas about currency reform, his recommendation being that we should get rid of all our `500 and `1,000 notes. . . In these inflationary times, Ramdev’s suggestion might sound impractical. Indians shopping at the nearest kirana store for dal and chawal and atta have yet to employ wheelbarrows to cart along the money required to pay for these essentials, as people had to do in the Germany of the late 1920s. But the main reason that we don’t use wheelbarrows to transport cash for our daily hisaab is that the price of dal-bhaat being what it is, who the hell can afford a set of wheels let alone a damn barrow to go with them. This being the case, one would have thought that `500 and `1,000 notes should be treated as labour. . saving devices, ensuring that we don’t all end up with stress-caused hernias through lugging about huge loads of lower-denomination notes which thanks to inflation are barely worth the paper they’re printed on. So what the heck is Ramdev doing, telling us to junk our 500-buck and 1,000buck notes? Has too much yoga affected his mental equilibrium so that he can no longer tell his aasan from his elbow? A moment’s consideration, however, dispels such misplaced scepticism. And what helps to do the dispelling is the balance sheet of the yoga guru’s worldwide organisation. According to reports, the annual turnover of just two of Ramdev’s trusts is some `1,100 crore. The yoga guru’s commercial empire is said to . include some 34 companies in India alone. Besides which, Ramdev’s domain includes a Scottish island worth £2 million, believed to have been gifted to him by a UK-based couple. From all this it would seem that apart from teaching people to stand on their heads and adopt a variety of contorted yogic postures, the saffron-clad super-guru can do much the same thing with numbers, when those numbers pertain to moolah tucked away in global bank accounts. Even as the self-appointed civil society leader exhorts the sarkar to bring back into India the black money stashed abroad by his fellow countrymen, various investigative agencies looking into Ramdev’s own account books might marvel at the uber-yogic’s uncanny ability to make numbers do his acrobatic bidding, turning cartwheels, executing sirshasans, so that sixes become nines, and nines become sixes, and so on, and, in some instances, doing a disappearing act and vanishing out of sight altogether. Never mind breath control. This is pure wealth control. Now you see it, and now you don’t. Chhoo mantar! His obsession with money – particularly other people’s money – shows that the Baba is a financial wiz. As such it would be dumb to dismiss his suggestions regarding financial and economic matters. So when he tells us that we must scrap our `500 and `1,000 notes we should take his advice at face . . value, quite literally . . . Obviously what he means is that we must replace `500 and `1,000 notes with `5,000 and `10,000 notes. So much easier to stack in these itsy-bitsy Swiss bank . . vaults. And whose face should appear on the new notes? That of the guru with the golden touch, of course. And while we’re at it, how about a new name for the rupee as well. The Ram-bo, anyone? – ANNA HAZARE, social activist, on his fasts to push a Lokpal Bill – SALMAN KHAN, actor, on Baba Ramdev – ROGER FEDERER, tennis ace, on his enduring rivalry with Rafael Nadal I SACRED S PAC E Goodbye, MF I Nurture An Innovative Outlook be on a high note so that strength emanates from the team rather than an individual. The o creatively handle innovation is a part health of the organisation should be teamof wise living. To know and not to act based. One should not be focussed on immedion what you know is equal to not know- ate benefits of strength based on an individuing. One has to see this clearly that, ‘if you al but strength based on the team that is benecontinue doing what you have done you will ficial for organisational health. Enthusiasm get what you have got’. Hence, there is a need is the mother of creativity; it should be kept for innovation in all walks of life. alive and not get bogged down by competition. Our weakness can become our strength. Self-innovation includes one’s attitude, This is true innovation. One has to focus on values and beliefs. Attitude is enhanced when innovation in different fields like organisa- the ‘state of being’ is enhanced. To enhance tion, self, creation of wealth and wellness. All your state of being, your body energy and emothis should result in ‘end-user innovation’ of tional energy should be high. Changing these being happy being valued and feeling a sense two states of energy enhances attitude. , of belonging. The quality of one’s life is the The organisational research and quality of one’s consistent emotion. knowledge management wing should Meditation helps one to enhance have methods to arrive at and check right and powerful emotions. Emowhether mission and vision statetion is nothing but energy in motion. ments have just become a jargonYou get what you focus on. Get …that is, remaining as sheer intelinspired by successful role models. lectual concepts. If it is so, then the Keep these winning strategies very purpose would be lost. dear to your heart. THE For example, tooth pain is Innovation of thought is when I SPEAKING I not a concept but an actuality you turn negative thoughts to for a person who is undergoing positive. For example, thought that TREE pain. Similarly jargons like ‘cans , comes from deep hurt creates its create success and can’ts create failure’ own dysfunctional groove. Making thought free should be reduced to actuality and not left to of inner hurt prevents loss of energy. There is be an intellectual concept. It is possible if one no freedom in seeing since the seeing is bound persists in one’s efforts by seeking answers to by the seer. The seer sees and thus pollutes the powerful, related questions. seeing. A thought which is not free loses power Organisational strategy should constantly of innovation. So to see without the pollution of be alive in all and it should be a working model the seer is a great part of spiritual innovation. Innovation in creating wealth and wellrather than a concept model. Constantly polishing one’s strategy to enhance process, ness involves doing the right things without knowledge management and overcome obsta- worrying unduly about the results. www.prasannatrust.org cles in execution should be a dynamic process. Follow Swamiji on our website. The mode is one of alertness, as part of organiwww.speakingtree.in sational innovation. How to keep this alertness alive is an important factor. Join the world’s first spiritual networking Organisational team spirit should always site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Discourse: Swami Sukhabodhananda I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX I never wanted to be clever, esoteric, abstract. I wanted to make simple statements. I wanted my canvases to have a story . I wanted my art to talk to people. M F Husain Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome. Isaac Asimov It is never too late./ Even if you are going to die tomorrow,/ Keep yourself straight and clear and be a happy human being today./ If you keep your situation happy day by day,/ you will eventually reach the greatest happiness of Enlightenment. Lama Yeshe If you can love death you become deathless; if you can understand nonbeing then your being becomes the very ground of being-hood, the very ground of God. If you can love non-being then nothing can destroy you, you have transcended time and space. Osho (Maqbool Fida Husain, September 17, 1915-June 9, 2011.) T Don’t lose focus With reference to the editorial ‘History Or Headline’ (June 9), both the discourse on corruption and the constitutional measure in the form of the Lokpal Bill suggested to address it are getting diluted. The government’s crackdown on unarmed protesters, the drama surrounding Baba Ramdev’s reported detention and subsequent deportation, BJP’s flippant protests etc are taking the focus away from the core issue. Hence, the media and the people need to be more vigilant on matters of corruption. Also, one needs to be smart to tell headline from history in the context of unfolding events, as they will have a bearing on what is in store for us in the near future. Headlines by nature are mostly ephemeral. Only a few of them translate into recorded history. Let’s sift the events of true worth from all the histrionics and attention-seeking. Sanjay Dev, NEW DELHI JUGULAR VEIN II The editorial has rightly deplored Baba Ramdev’s call to arm his followers. Any attempt to instigate his followers to take the law in their own hands must be nipped in the bud even if it comes from a spiritual guru. One expects that other civil society activists will distance themselves from the dangerous stance taken by Ramdev. M G Warrier, MUMBAI A clarification With reference to the article ‘Future Of Press At Stake?’ (June 9) by Kundan R Vyas, the last sentence of the third last para should read as “The VDA has increased by 394 points in the last eight years – which is on average more than Rs 6,000 per month even in the small category of newspapers. We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 20 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2011 A Neta’s Secret Diary What our leaders would like to tell us, in a candid moment haiyon aur behnon. It’s hot. By that, i don’t mean the mercury rising mercilessly around us. I mean the antipolitician venom spreading in society as sour as lassi , gone bad. People are breaking into fasts on every available street corner, or lighting candles at national monuments before making anti-politico statements. Why just grown-ups, even children seem to stare with hatred at my white Ambassador with its lovely red light and posse of personal security. It’s almost like we politicos don’t have feelings! But we do. You may not believe it, but we’re hurting pretty badly right now. Don’t let our blank countenances, our sarcasm-laden comebacks or our topi-topped blitheness fool you. Deep down under we too have hearts which, as the great Diana Ross sang, can be broken. Ok, i grant you, this 1G, 2G, haan ji, na ji business over scams and skims has been rather heavy this time. But don’t blindly believe grossly inflated reports of this scam exceeding the annual health budget, that swindle topping the education budget. Considering these sectors get peanuts anyway, what’s the big deal if a con does exceed them? And hey, with every larceny comes a grand time. Which other kind of political animal gives you all the fun we do, with our crackling nightly TV debates, our escapades on motorcycles through Uttar Pradesh, our line-ups before swami-bearing jets in Delhi? Be fair, not square. You’re blessed with the world’s most colourful entertainers as your politicians. The more vivid among us, like Lalu ji, entertain each time we open our mouths. The subtler of the species, like Sushma ji, say it with a shake of the hips at Rajghat. And the thrilling, like venerable home minister PC ji, simply sign with a stick. How much we toil for our electorate, i.e. you. We stepped in and stopped Anna Hazare from fasting to death, even if it meant listening to all that silly Lokpal blather thereafter. We then wisened up and took the next potential faster-unto-death for a lovely five-star ice-cream. How were we to know he’d turn round faster than you could say ‘pranayam’ and bite the hand that fed him chocolate sauce! And then, for all our efforts, we take your shoes too. At press briefings, so they’re not even remotely designer. Yet do we complain? But we still get animosity It’s not fair. . Imagine, if instead of us, your khadi-buddies, you had a bunch of sour jholawalas or dour generals ruling the roost. What kind of TV would you get? Long lists of statistics with debates over what Tolstoy said to Marx in 1922? Or some deadly army-type whose reply to questions would be, “I could tell you. But then, I’d have to kill you.” Therefore ladies and gentlemen, while cussing also count your blessings. You’ll find we’re part of them. Myth Of Stable Despotism As Mideast events show, faith in enduring stability across the global order may be misplaced Sunil Khilnani B The ‘Arab Spring’, sparked by a fiery self-immolation in a Tunis marketplace last December, and now engulfing North Africa and West Asia, is the most spectacular example since 1989 of professional analysts and politicians being wrong. For long, it was believed the Arab political world was too fragile for anything other than strong leaders. Years of deep US involvement, melded with local skills in the tyrannical arts, sealed a dispensation distinguished by its apparently ageless and variegated range of despotisms and tyrannies (encompassing monarchs, military rulers, tribal sheikhs). Democratic change was not going to be coming in a hurry. Now the perturbed experts and politicians are racing to rewrite their scripts. In the rewrite underway in Washington and western capitals, the haphazard events of the past months – even as they daily escape control by western governments – are being portrayed as a vindication of the West’s policies: indeed, as a realisation of liberty and democracy’s progress. And that story, we are told, is defined by values firmly rooted in the West. As US President Obama reassured the British parliament last month: “There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder, and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom.” In fact, there is no single historical frame into which all the revolts can be fitted – and they certainly don’t share a common future vision. That’s not to say they are unconnected. But what unites the serial uprisings from Tunis to Manama is what they seek to depose – not what they wish to put in its place. It is true that, so far, none of the uprisings has shown anti-American or anti-western inflections; and it is true that many of the activists have made creative use of social media technologies pioneered and operated by the US. But, throughout the Arab world, what is being repudiated are the very policies that the West has pursued towards it over the past seven decades. Hence the deeply ambivalent, even distrustful, stance of the US Protesters in Yemen: Age of ideologies makes way for the age of resentment India will have to make its way in a world that will only in part consist of well-defined states, with tightly controlled armies, and spelt out doctrines and the EU towards these democratic urges. Unlike Eastern Europe’s post-communist societies, where democracy’s coming could be relied upon to align with western interests, it is unclear what democracy will give voice to in the Arab world – still less whether it may align with US and European interests. Those interests are basic enough: the imperative to maintain uninterrupted supplies of oil, and to ensure Israel’s security. And their pursuit has rested on what might be called the Myth of Stable Despotism. Developed during the heyday of European empire, the myth has taken new forms since the 1950s. Its crux is that in the Arab world, particularly those regions that contain rather desirable natural resources, the people are not ready for democracy. Susceptible to the sway of religious sirens and nationalist passions, the populace is better off under firm authoritarian leadership. Of course, there are Good and Bad Despots: Mubarak, Ben Ali, Saleh, until a few months ago all qualified as good (as Musharraf once had too); Gaddafi and Assad (as Saddam before them) as bad. This myth of the ‘good strong leader’, the one who delivers stability and does the bidding of his paymasters (and the US certainly paid handsomely) is itself an emanation of a deeper fantasy – the quest for enduring stability across the international order as a whole. This OVER SIGHT myth has now imploded – leading to systemic instability across a vast, important part of the world. India’s role in all this has been in many ways a supplicant one. We have long provided a flow of cheap, compliant labour that has kept these despotisms functional – and on whose remittances we have come to depend. And, as our economy grows, we are increasingly dependent on the region’s oil to fuel our growth. Yet we have little leverage over what happens in this region – and that little will likely lessen in coming years. Our own approach at present is fixated on not causing offence to anyone. No doubt, we’ll make a virtue of having no strong views, and of not being able to do much anyway. But there is one wider lesson we’ll need to face up to. We’ve come to believe that, along with China, our turn has come. This assumes a lot about the world – that there will be a stable international order of states, in which we will one day take our appointed place. But we may be making a deep mistake by unthinkingly mouthing our professed conviction in the sovereign integrity of nations, in the belief that if only we pursue our interests as a state, things will fall our way. For the foreseeable future, the entire region to our west will be marked by tumult and uncertainty: sundered and agitated by inconclusive wars (Afghanistan), dysfunctional peace (Iraq), corroded states (Pakistan), divided societies (Yemen, Libya). Religious extremism, political instability and growing weaponisation will mark these lands. It is unlikely that any replacement to Nasserism or Ba’athism, any secular nationalism or Pan-Arabism, will emerge – whatever unifying ideology may surface will be at once more volatile and more fragile. India will have to make its way in a world that will only in part consist of well-defined states, with tightly controlled armies, and clearly spelt out doctrines. The unruly politics of the street, of small wars and dispossessed peoples in pursuit of ill-defined goals, of listless young populations fed up with what exists – including their ‘Good Despots’ – but unclear as to any alternative: this world, now on our doorstep, will in part shape our options. We have left behind the age of ideologies, for the age of resentment: all self-satisfied predictions are off. The writer is director, India Institute, King’s College, London, and an author. Its hero dancing to Bollywood songs, Archie Comics to launch in Hindi, Malayalam Way to go, Archie Andrews Archie can’t be Indianised M For the US, game not over in Asia Nayan Chanda As the debt-ridden US struggles to reduce its deficit and a cash-rich China flexes its muscles, most of Asia is worried about a weakened America retreating from the region. Last week, Robert Gates, the departing US defence secretary stepped in to dispel , these fears. He told a gathering of Asia's defence officials in Singapore that America's "robust military engagement and deterrence posture" will not only continue but expand. Given America's deep strategic and economic interests in the Asia-Pacific region, it is not an empty assurance. America's stake in Asia is enormous – nearly a trillion dollars in annual trade, billions of dollars of investment, to say nothing of the security of its allies, its global standing and the importance of the South China Sea that carries a third of the world's trade. Concrete reasons aside, for the US not to counter perceptions of declining commitment to the region would undermine its influence. It is no coincidence that Gates’s reassurance came mere weeks after reports of new tension between China and the South China Sea claimants – Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam has always been more public in its denunciations of Chinese harassment of its fishermen and exploration vessels. But last week, the Philippines too was uncharacteristically blunt in condemning hostile Chinese actions in what it claims as its territorial waters. Gates diplomatically blamed a lack of "rules of the road" for these clashes. But there was no mistaking who he saw as responsible for not respecting agreed codes of conduct. It was against this backdrop of Chinese assertiveness that secretary of state Hillary Clinton launched her "America is back" in Asia slogan. China's spats with Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands and its support for North Korea's aggressive behaviour have prompted its neighbours to ask for a greater American commitment. In July last year, Clinton provoked a sharp Chinese response when she offered the US’s good offices for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute. Encouraged as they were by the new American assertiveness, they have since grown anxious about how impending cuts in the Pentagon's budget will impact the US presence in Asia. Gates was upfront in admitting that drastic cuts in the defence budget (of $400 billion over the next 12 years) are in the works, but assured allies that the focus has been first on cancelling troubled or unnecessary weapons programmes and culling excess overhead. However, "key remaining modernisation programmes – systems that are of particular importance to our military strategy in Asia – will rank at or near the top of our defence budget priorities," he announced. In recent years, China has developed anti-submarine and antiship ballistic and cruise missile capabilities to counter the power projection of the US’s carrier battle groups. But without mentioning China by name, Gates noted US concerns about "anti-access and area denial scenarios" and said that the US was working to develop a new concept of operations – called "Air-Sea Battle" – to ensure that America's military will continue to be able to "deploy move, , and strike over great distances in defence of our allies and vital interests". These programmes, he said, would grow "even in the face of new threats abroad and fiscal challenges at home, ensuring that we will continue to meet our commitments as a 21st century AsiaPacific nation – with appropriate forces, posture, and presence”. As part of an expanded US role in the region, Gates announced the deployment of littoral combat ships to Singapore. These short-range, high-speed warships, optimised for shallow-water operations with anti-submarine and demining capacity would be best suited for , Southeast Asian waters. To underline America's new position in Asia, Gates noted how its former enemy Vietnam now has a "strong and vibrant bilateral relationship" in trade, security and defence. The US and India, he said, were working "more closely together than ever before". Worth noting is that Gates underscored America's deepening commitment to Asia while taking care to avoid antagonising Beijing. Gates pronounced China-US relations as being on "a more positive trajectory", a view with which his Chinese counterpart readily agreed. Notwithstanding their recent provocative behaviour, Chinese leaders are aware of the limits to their power. The plain statements about the US’s determination to stay in the region were thus a sobering message to take back to Beijing. ust much-loved comic book hero Archie insist on die-hard Americanness? Must Riverdale, where he, Veronica and Betty have done a triangular waltz for seven decades, remain an all-American suburban bubble barricaded against outside influences? No, suggest producers of the Archie Comics franchise, and rightly. The comic book is not only launching soon in Hindi and Malayalam, its redheaded hero, his two girlfriends and his pals will ITI also shake a leg Bollywood-style! The clever idea to give the comic “some Indian flavour”, as an Archie Comics co-CEO describes it, must flow from a hardnosed assessment of its commercial potential. Players in the comic book trade can’t ignore India’s sizeable and growing readership. This goes especially for long-running franchises scouting for opportunities of reinvention and expansion – Archie, after all, debuted in 1941. If Archie gone desi wears kurtas and Jughead wolfs down samosas instead of hamburgers, call it the magical logic of the market. And if Archie and company pelt out classic Hindi film songs like “Kankariya maar ke jagaya”, credit it to the reach and strength of the Bollywood brand. Purists say cultural products, be it films or cartoons, need fixed contexts to have aesthetic integrity. They forget that, to stay relevant in changing times, the business of art is to lend itself to renewal and adaptation. That’s why, in a postCold War gender sensitive world, James Bond sheds his signature ma- I t’s one thing to translate Archie comic books into Indian languages and quite another to Indianise the entire concept. Even the former, usually done with the best of intentions, produces dubious results. They are aptly captured by the phrase ‘lost in translation’. And to attempt the latter is not only a travesty, it just won’t work because it M E S V I E WI chismo. Or why, with US preeminence being interrogated, Superman – iconic upholder of “American values” – wants to prioritise global causes over nationality. That’s also why US fast food chains rustle up aloo tikki burgers and America’s sweethearts come here to eat, pray, love and wed Indian-style. By embracing cross-cultural connect, Riverdale’s Romeo too will link the imaginative smalltown he belongs to with the 21st century global village. Way to go, Archie Andrews. over the size of their cars, Veronica’s mansion house, American football and the local ‘soda shop’, Chok’lit Shoppe. Most significantly, the setting for all this is Riverdale. Archetypal of suburban life, all of these activities can only take place there. It all adds up to a bit of Americana neatly packaged in a little book for international enjoyment. All of this will be lost if Archie leaves his environs and ventures to Mumbai. To inflect Archie with things Indian is to I COUNTERVIEW I undermine the series. How will the humour and the storylines Kishore Roy will ruin the series. be translated into an Indian setting? Can we The reasons for this really find plausible the idea of Jughead and happening are multiple. Reggie singing and dancing to “Kankariya People take pleasure in maar ke jagaya” or “Purani Jeans”? Archie because it is Yet it is precisely this that Jon Goldwater, quintessentially Ameri- the co-CEO of Archie Comics, is committed can. That’s manifest in the humour, story- to. If realised, it would be a pity because lines and setting. Combined, they make for a Archie has been going strong for 72 years. bit of harmless escapism, which adds to the Tampering with a tried and tested formula comic book’s appeal. The jokes play on is bound to ruin not only a successful American stereotypes – for example, Betty business model but also the enjoyment of the dumb blonde who actually isn’t. Similar- millions spread around the world. As a ly, the storylines revolve around American character from Archie might put it, ‘if it phenomena: high school kids competing ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ SNAP JUDGMENT Two Strikes For Rana Protect Whistleblowers t’s welcome that a parliamentary panel has recommended widening the ambit of the whistleblowers Bill to include such important arms of government as the council of ministers, the judiciary, security agencies and armed forces. In conjunction with the RTI, a strong whistleblowers Bill should serve as an effective check on corruption. It certainly looks as if the civil society movement against corruption is having a salutary effect on government. I Missing Kill Switch? T hough acquitted of direct involvement in the 26/11 attacks, Tahawwur Rana has been convicted by a Chicago court for providing material support to the Lashkar-e-Taiba and conspiring to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The speed with which Rana’s trial was conducted, as well as the material unearthed by the Rana and Headley trials, should put pressure on Pakistan to speed up its own investigation of 26/11 accused. I S cientists have located the part of the brain responsible for making us quit a fruitless pursuit. Perhaps they ought to put our politicians under the microscope next. Whether it’s in pursuing the next scam, or conducting trivial harangues and slanging matches, our netas don’t know when to say ‘no’. It’s quite possible that the neurons don’t fire as they should, in this part of their brains. I SACRED S PAC E Art and Soul I From Darkness To Light E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX GLOBAL EYE When i begin to paint, i hold the sky in my hands as the stretch of my canvas is unknown to me. M F Husain What is Art? It is the response of man’s creative soul to the call of the Real. Rabindranath Tagore I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say he feels deeply he , feels tenderly . Vincent Van Gogh Art is the window to man’s soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within. Claudia Lady Bird Johnson Art is the stored honey of the human soul. Theodore Dreiser Art is the conversation between lovers. Art offers an opening for the heart. True art makes the divine silence in the soul break into applause. Hafiz W would also bring our own innate goodness and light into our daily life, we would never be e face numerous challenges in life. overcome by the darkness of life again. We may have illnesses and financial We each have within us the light of the or relationship problems. We may soul, which has been described by saints as face dark spells, but we do not have to be being equal to the light of 16 outer suns. But blinded by the darkness. The following story we are not aware of it because we identify has an instructive message to help us through ourselves with the outer world of darkthe dark patches of our life. ness and illusion. If we would invert our There was once a cave that lived under- attention within through meditation, we ground, as most caves do. Since it spent its would discover that we are Light. Then, entire life in darkness, it had never seen any whenever the dark spells of life threaten to light. One day a voice talked to the cave, bring us down, we could invert, find the , and said, “Come up into the light. Come Light within, and bring it forth into the darkand enjoy the sunlight.” The cave replied, ness to dispel it. “I do not know what you mean by When we associate with the light. All i have ever known is darktemporary illusions of this world, we ness.” “Come and see for yourself,” feel pain. But when we realise that said the voice. the outer events are but a dream The cave mustered up enough existence, a passing show that is but courage and climbed slowly up from temporary we can rise above the pain , the depths of the earth. Suddenly , and disappointment. it reached the top of the earth When we find misfortune, let us and was surrounded by magnificount the numerous times we have THE cent light, the likes of which the I good fortune. When SPEAKING I experiencedthat as an opportunity cave had never seen in its life. we fail, take “This is beautiful,” said the cave. to learn from our mistakes and TREE After enjoying the light for a while, try again. When we find ourselves the cave said to the sunlight, “Now it is your in darkness, let us close our eyes and focus turn to come with me and see the darkness.” within until we see the light that brings peace, “What is darkness?” asked the sunlight. joy and love. If we bring that light into our The cave answered, “Come and see for your- lives, then like the cave in the story we will , self.” So the sunlight decided to visit the find that there is no more darkness. cave’s home. As the sunlight entered the cave, If we sit in meditation, we can experience it said, “Now show me your darkness.” But the light waiting for us within. Let us not be with the sunlight, there was no darkness to distracted by the darkness of thought, but be found! instead sit in stillness and wait lovingly for Where there is light, there can be no God to shine light upon us. Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission +91-11-2722 3333. darkness. Whenever we feel we are in a dark phase, we need only tap into the light skrm.sos.org, www.sos.org www.speakingtree.in of our soul. Our true nature is light. If we would only identify with our true nature, Join the world’s first spiritual networking site we would find there is no darkness. If we to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sant Rajinder Singh Husain’s art will endure With reference to the editorial ‘Portrait Of An Artist’ (June 10), M F Husain’s death brings to an end the life of an artist whose fame relied on a prodigious body of work. His monumental oeuvre, consisting of 20,000-odd instantly recognisable paintings, will be treasured for many generations to come. That India’s best-known painter had to spend his last days away from his homeland says a lot about us as an intolerant country. Religious bigots vandalised his exhibitions and art galleries and slapped more than 1,200 cases on him while the government stood by as a passive spectator. Nudity is not alien to Indian art. Husain was just following India’s millennium-old tradition of depicting divinities in a pure and natural state. If that offended anyone’s sensibilities, it is their Victorian morality that’s to be blamed and not Husain’s art. G David Milton, VIA EMAIL Preserving the republic With reference to the Second Opinion ‘Vigilante republic’ (June 8) by Jug Suraiya, the foundation of our republic is the Constitution, which is dynamic and not static. Its basic structure cannot be changed but our elected representatives have been given the authority and mandate to amend it if the situation so warrants. In this context, what can people do if elected representatives do not perform their duties properly? In fact, it is welcome that more and more people are becoming vigilant, with technology aiding their cause. If their representatives fail to act, the people will have to fight for their own rights. But no one should be allowed to bypass established procedures enshrined in the Constitution. Vaishali Jain, NOIDA We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JUNE 12, 2011 SPECIAL REPORT 19 Bengal government and is not expected to bother people in New Delhi. That doesn’t mean there has been a similar dilution of Sharad Pawar’s position. The Maratha strongman continues to juggle between cricket and agriculture. In Cabinet meetings, the Prime Minister becomes attentive whenever Pawar holds forth on a subject. Some in the UPA leadership insist on the growing prominence of the affable Pawan Bansal or the increasing relevance of Salman Khursheed but neither has managed to make it to this list. The list includes the enigmatic Ahmed Patel, the rampaging Digvijay Singh and the soft-spoken close aide of Sonia Gandhi, Janardan Dwivedi. The top bureaucrats headed by the Cabinet Secretary and the others like the Principal Secretary in the PMO or the Home Secretary are considered indispensable in the power set-up. The Director of Intelligence Bureau had to be included not just for the obvious security reasons but also because in politically distressing times, the government needs accurate feedback. The CBI Director and the chief of Enforcement Directorate had to be brought in because their high-profile investigations have a direct bearing on this government’s future. There were suggestions that foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, has overshadowed her minister and ought to in the UPA Team ’s 20 but her name was omitted because others who are shouldering even more important responsibilities had to be included. Diptosh Majumdar W hether fighting the double digit inflation or making a controversial move to throw Baba Ramdev out of Delhi in the middle of the night, it is a small group of people who takes such significant decisions. They may not always show it but they wield enormous clout, set the agenda for the government, implement secretly drawn up plans and take upon themselves the responsibility of accomplishing very unpleasant tasks. They are the government’s doers, its think-tank and, more often than not, its fire-fighters. The United Progressive Alliance is going through a difficult phase in its second term with the Opposition National Democratic Alliance trying to embarrass the government at every step, at different forums — at deliberations of the JPC probing the 2G scam or at the hurriedly organized Rajghat protest against the assault on Ramdev’s supporters. Since October, scandals have engulfed the government, spiraling prices have added fuel to the fire and the administration in Lutyen's Delhi has fumbled quite often. The power structure at the top, however, remains unaffected. It retains the curious arrangement which had been worked out between UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who runs the government but allows the party and its leader a free hand in all What a muddle in the huddle political issues. Occasionally there are instances , of miscommunication as is bound to happen in such a set-up. The party has to decide the agenda and may find it frustrating to deal with a government not really in sync with the party . Rahul Gandhi has been gradually accommodated in this hierarchy as the third power centre. He has not accepted offers to join the government. It may have gone down as an astute political gesture — one that suggests humility and a desire to learn the ropes before accepting a high office. But it is surprising that Rahul does not exert much of an influence on the government’s functioning. There are times when his primary interest in UP can prompt the formulation of a particular Bundelkhand policy but, on the whole, Team Rahul Gandhi is not really calling the shots in the Manmohan Singh administration. So, who really runs the show other than the obvious trio of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and the times when Rahul Gandhi evinces real interest in an issue? These three points in the UPA power triangle have been excluded from the accompanying list of the 20 most powerful people who keep the UPA going, ensuring that the government does not distance itself from the party and that it stays in touch with the genuine grievances of the people. These are the men who also blunder on a few occasions as they did recently in their dealings with Baba Ramdev. This list includes a set of people who have been multi-tasking at many levels. Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, A K Antony and Kapil Sibal are not just ministers whose job profile is delineated Rahul Gandhi has been gradually accommodated in the top hierarchy as the third power centre but Team Rahul Gandhi is not really calling the shots in the Manmohan Singh administration by assigned portfolios. They swing into action whenever there is a crisis. They draw from their vast experience to suggest the possible way out. Some like Antony may not display the apparent brilliance of a few of his colleagues but he brings to the discussion a shadowy presence of Sonia Gandhi. He is the 10 Janpath factor in the gov- ernment’s decision-making process. Sonia participates in person when the elite core group meets and shares her inputs which have to be translated by the ministers into policy Unless a situation . threatens to go out of hand as it did during the Ramdev fiasco, the UPA chairperson seldom interferes with the government’s decisions. Sibal’s stocks have risen because the Prime Minister is convinced of his abilities. Anand Sharma retains his influence because economic diplomacy is now of immense significance to India. Ghulam Nabi Azad is of great use to the party because of his familiarity with southern politics. On the other hand, there are a few who have completely fallen off the map. Law minister Veerappa Moily enjoyed the confidence of the top leadership till last year. Now even his vital portfolio is unable to guarantee him an invitation to crucial meetings. The last Cabinet reshuffle was not really kind to Kamal Nath, and SM Krishna’s has been a downhill journey from the beginning. With DMK cut down to size both by the 2G scandal and the recent electoral debacle, the UPA II doesn’t have any ally trouble at the moment. Even the obstinate Mamata Banerjee has been able to fulfill her ambition of heading the West UPA II’s Team 20 P Chidambaram | Home Minister Manmohan Singh has complete faith in the home minister’s efficiency. That is why the internal security issues are no longer a headache for Manmohan Singh as it used to be when Shivraj Patil was at the helm of affairs in North Block. Without doubt, the toughtalking minister has been able to rein in the homegrown terror outfits. Chidambaram’s flawless record has been sullied by the recent goof-ups in the specially prepared India’s Most Wanted list that was given to Pakisatn. In the second year of its second term, the United Progressive Alliance’s government is looking shaky. Diptosh Majumdar looks at the core team of ministers, Congress leaders and bureaucrats who form the brains of Sonia Gandhi-led alliance and Manmohan Singh administration Kapil Sibal | HRD Minister His rise has been remarkable. Now that he is saddled with key portfolios, including HRD and Telecom, the suave lawyer has been engaged in firefighting for the government. His critics— and there are no shortage of them in the Congress party— complain that he could have done better to carry out his responsibilities a lot more silently. Some of his statements concerning the telecom scam and the Anna agitation have not gone down well. What matters is that he has earned the trust of the Prime Minister. Sharad Pawar | Agriculture Minister With Mamata Banerjee leaving Delhi and the Karunanidhi family in disarray, the balance of power has again tilted towards the Congress’ third most important ally, the NCP. It is said that when Pawar chooses to speak at Cabinet meetings, the Prime Minister listens carefully. The agriculture minister recently gave the government some good advice on involving other parties like the main opposition party BJP and the Left in the Lokpal legislative process. Pranab Mukherjee | Finance Minister One of the Finance Minister’s many sobriquets is the rather flattering Mr Government. As the name suggests, he continues to have a role in almost all government activities. And he has been shouldering this workload since 2004. He heads multiple GoMs though the impressive number has diminished in recent months. He remains an important voice in the Cabinet. Many believe that his few administrative blunders include the recent Ramdev fiasco. A K Antony | Defence Minister The defence minister is widely considered Sonia Gandhi’s most trusted man in the Cabinet. A participant in almost all key government and political discussions, he may not always be contributing substantial inputs but whatever little he says is taken very seriously. He may not have been a dynamic defence minister and not made frequent trips to Siachen a la George Fernandes but he has managed to infuse his trademark cleanliness into operations at South Block. Ahmed Patel | Political Secretary to Sonia There is intrigue and mystery surrounding the duties and responsibilities of this powerful key strategist of the Congress party who, as political secretary to Sonia Gandhi, maintains a low profile. His role makes him occupy that shadowy zone where government activity has a direct bearing on the party’s future. Apart from Sonia, he is another party representative who has a say in the functioning of the government. His role is so imperceptible that he is hardly ever in the news. Digvijay Singh | Congress General Secretary The former Madhya Pradesh CM has gained prominence for his repeated assaults on the Sangh Parivar. Not only has he been championing secularism but he has also been using his rhetoric to position himself as the party’s foremost ideologue. Singh is known to be close to the younger leadership spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi. He represents a departure from the Congress style of functioning as he is seldom silent. He has taken on senior ministers. Anand Sharma | Commerce Minister His rise has been quite impressive in recent years. With the commerce portfolio being redefined and taken to another level in the age of economic diplomacy, Sharma has been discharging his responsibilities with a quiet competence. In a global economy, hit by recession, Indian exports have not suffered dramatic reverses. He remains in the good books of Manmohan Singh, who has backed him from the time he was chosen to be a replacement for an ailing Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi as the I&B Minister in 2008. In the last Congress plenary of 2010, he led the team that drafted the foreign policy resolution. GK Pillai | Home Secretary When the home ministry is headed by a high-profile minister like P Chidambaram, the otherwise high-profile job of the home secretary is an unenviable one because the minister is expected to be the cynosure of all eyes. But the usually frank Pillai has managed to be in the limelight. He has been much more than an efficient cog in the system which Chidambaram has put in place and has occasionally taken the lead in internal security matters. Montek Singh Ahluwalia | Deputy chairman, Planning Commission He continues to share the Prime Minister’s world view and oversee significant government spending on infrastructure and the social sectors. It is said that if one person who can prioritize expenditure without much resistance from any quarter and with the full sanction of the PM, it is Ahluwalia. A technocrat, who adheres strictly to his job description and has adjusted with the appointment of a few civil society activists as members of the Planning Commission, Ahluwalia remains a key player in the government. Janardan Dwivedi | Congress chief spokesperson His rise may have been accelerated by his adeptness at Hindi speech-writing. It gave him the proximity to Sonia Gandhi. But in between tutoring the leader, he has gradually become one of her close confidantes and knows that his words of suggestion will never be ignored. He is a party organization man who has been steadily climbing up the ladder and has emerged as an important figure at 24 Akbar Road. KM Chandrasekhar | Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Secretary since 2007, he has been associated with almost every crucial decision of the UPA government in the past four years. His job, no doubt, allows him the visionary bureaucrat’s role, especially when he handles long-term decisions and the draft legislations which are brought before the Cabinet. In reality though, he is always fire-fighting, meddling in the affairs of ministries where his intervention is necessary. Of course, eyebrows were raised when he recently made a trip to the airport to meet Baba Ramdev. Neelabh C Rangarajan | Economic Advisor This is virtually his second stint as the head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. While Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s role encompasses almost all aspects of the government’s functioning, Rangarajan often addresses specific issues which Manmohan Singh is concerned with. It is not unusual for Rangarajan to get involved in the occasional skirmishes between the PMO and the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council. Shiv Shankar Menon | National Security Advisor Not just analyzing threat perceptions, the National Security Advisor’s role is somewhat bigger at this moment and encompasses much of what constitutes the country’s foreign policy. With Manmohan Singh taking the initiative in projecting India’s image and interests on the world stage, the part played by the external affairs minister, S M Krishna and his ministry has become somewhat muted. Menon has emerged as a key figure. Nehchal Sandhu | Director, IB Jairam Ramesh | Environment Minister He is possibly the first minister who has made environment a genuine concern. Gone are the days of licence raj at Paryavaran Bhavan when environmental clearances were given out only after substantial underhand payments. Ramesh has highlighted his views successfully both at national and international forums. A Cabinet Committee had to be constituted recently to look into his demarcation of “go-no-go” areas for companies in densely forested areas. It is not just considerations of security which prompt the inclusion of the director, Intelligence Bureau, in this list of powerful people. Not that the country has a legendary B N Mullick as the intelligence chief with unrivalled access to a Prime Minister of Jawaharlal Nehru’s stature. But with a purposeful home minister like Chidambaram convening regular meetings, the IB’s role has become extremely important. And faced with political difficulty, every government looks for a close ally in the IB. Ghulam Nabi Azad | Health Minister People from Kashmir complain that he is from Jammu’s Doda region but the Union health minister has for many years been considered acceptable by potential allies in the southern part of the country and is used by his party to commiserate with a distraught Karunanidhi and make him understand that the government cannot really interfere in the 2G spectrum case. Azad retains a party post and is also a reference point for the government whenever the situation gets out of hand in the Valley. AP Singh | Director, CBI TKA Nair | Principal Secretary to PM The principal secretary to the Prime Minister is Manmohan Singh’s foremost bureaucrat and that explains his significance. It is he who keeps the Prime Minister informed and prepares him for the meetings. And that is the only a small part of his job. Behind the scenes, he is always talking to ministers on the Prime Minister’s behalf, conveying his sentiments and opinions. Immensely experienced, having been former PM IK Gujral’s principal secretary in 97-98, Nair is considered indispensable. Rarely has the CBI director’s job been so important. Now that the bureau has been given a degree of free hand and is being allowed to investigate the financial misdeeds of a close ally of the principal ruling party, the investigation agency is being really taken seriously. In fact, the CBI has unearthed a great deal in the past several months in two of the most high profile cases—the CWG scam and the 2G spectrum scandal, both of which hurt the government’s image. Arun Mathur | ED chief Seldom has the Enforcement Directorate worked with a degree of independence without an interfering Finance Ministry keeping a close watch on its activities. It is only recently while attempting to unravel the exchange of big money both in the CWG and the 2G scams and in the Hasan Ali case that the ED has shown what it can achieve if given a free rein. 20 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JUNE 12, 2011 ‘Had he been alone, Osama would have remained hidden longer’ In 1978, Jean Sasson went to Saudi Arabia to work in a hospital. Four years later she quit her job and start, ed travelling across the region. In 1991, she began her writing career with “The Rape of Kuwait”, which became a bestseller Since then, Sasson has written sever. al bestselling non-fiction books on the Middle East. In her latest book, “Growing up bin Laden”, the American write r enters the secret world of Osama bin Laden as told by his first wife and his fourth son. In an interview with Shobhan Saxena, Sasson talks about the life of the bin Ladens in a post-Osama world. Excerpts: So much has been written about Osama, but you chose to write about him as a husband and father. Why? I believe that when any person becomes an international figure, it is important for the world to understand everything about him. There is so much tension between the Islamic world and the west that I would like my readers to understand the whole of a person, even if that person is fighting against the west and others. Osama bin Laden was the face of Islamic resistance to western influence in the Arabic/Islamic world. We learned the good and the bad about him from his first wife, Najwa, and his son, Omar. Najwa knew Osama from his youth, when he was a shy and serious young man. She also knew him, as did Omar, during the days when Osama was a big hero. When he was fighting the Russians in Afghanistan, he was praised in every corner of the world. You call Osama the face of resistance in the Arabic/Islamic world. But if we look at the uprisings in the Middle East, it’s clear he is not a factor in the region… Osama was the face of Islamic resistance until the time the al-Qaida started targeting Muslims as well as non-Muslims. This is not to say that he no longer has followers. The Arab Spring has been led by educated middle class people who are sick and tired of corrupt dictators. Osama's true followers tended to leave their countries and join his organization. How difficult was it for you to get Najwa and Omar to talk about one of the most dreaded men in the world? Well, Omar contacted me because he wanted the truth about his life to be written. Nothing was known about Najwa, the other wives and the children. I agreed to write Omar’s story if his mother would also cooperate as I generally write stories about Muslim women. Najwa agreed, although she said that she would never discuss Osama's militant life because she did not know much about it. I think Najwa enjoyed telling about her childhood. The only difficulties arose from language barriers. Osama got married five or six times, the last time to a 17-year-old girl. Was he a family man? Osama was a family man in many ways. A man who takes the time to make so many rules and to check on his children frequently and to make sure his wives are close by is certainly a family man. However, I don't believe the family was the most important thing in his life. I believe Islam was the most important part of his life so when he had to choose between Islam or family he chose Islam. , According to Omar, Osama was an authoritarian and abusive father, yet he believed that the alQaida chief could give up violence. Was he being naïve? I believe that Omar looked around the world and saw that peace could come even after a lot of bitterness. He often used the example of the IRA and the British government, two bitter war rivals who finally made peace. He had hopes that his father could meet with leaders of other countries and resolve issues and come to a plan of living peaceably Perhaps it . would have been possible had 9/11 not occurred. ality of the situation. But the family is not ashamed to admit that they still love Osama. They love him as a husband and a father, and not as an international figure sought by many governments. When the US Navy Seals stormed Osama’s compound in Abbotabad, he was found living with his wives and children. Was the family just a cover for him? I believe that it was natural for him to live with his family or what remained of his family Also, he al. ways told his wives that they could leave anytime they wished. I don't believe it was a cover for him . In fact, he would have remained hidden much longer had he lived in a less expensive home and without a lot of people with him. One of Osama’s sons, Hamza, probably escaped from the Abbotabad compound. He is being called the “prince of terror”. Do you think one of Osama’s sons will assume the leadership of the al-Qaida? No, I do not believe that any of Osama's sons were groomed for the leadership of al-Qaida or that Khalid and Hamza will ever fight for the organization. I believe that Khalid and Hamza were living there with their parents and siblings and were not there to fight for al-Qaida. None of Osama's sons ever joined the organization. Osama was in hiding in Pakistan since 2005. How did he survive so long despite being tracked by the Americans? It is difficult to believe that no one in Pakistan knew that he was living in Abbotabad. We will probably never know how far up the information went. Pakistan is a state that arrests people who are against the government. Osama sur- vived for a long time for two reasons: One, he probably had protection from some elements in the Pakistani government. Two, he was a very smart and clever man. He stayed in that villa without bringing any attention to himself. He had his couriers to leave the area to even make a phone call. Yet, one cell phone call seems to have doomed him. FOR THE RECORD JEAN SASSON According to your book, Osama would punish his boys for laughing or smiling but the sons still looked saw the father as a hero. Was the family in awe of him? Yes, he was a man who discarded his personal wealth and all the luxuries of life. Omar grew up with ahero father. It was a big shock to him when in Sudan he experienced an attack on his father. Until that time he had no idea that there were people who did not love his father. As Omar grew older, he began to see the re- US needs viable Afghan exit plan IN PRINCIPLE GURMEET KANWAL Probably there are few people in the United States who understand the American foreign policy better than Henry Kissinger. So, when the former secretary of state, who changed the balance of power in Asia with his “shuttle diplomacy” in the early 1970s, says something about a conflict zone in our part of the world, one has to take it seriously. Kissinger wrote an interesting article on Afghanistan in the “Washington Post” recently. In the column, “How to exit Afghanistan", Kissinger argued that four conditions must be met to make the exit strategy viable: “A ceasefire; withdrawal of all or most American and allied forces; creation of a coalition government or division of territories among the contending parties (or both); and an enforcement mechanism.” Though Kissinger has argued his case well, none of the four conditions appears viable at present. Nor do these conditions look achievable in the 2014-15 time-frame in which the exit strategy is planned to be completed. As had been widely anticipated, the Taliban has launched a vigorous spring offensive and the US-led NatoISAF forces have retaliated with equal force. The Pakistan army has apparently learnt nothing from the killing of Osama bin Laden and continues to pretend that his presence at Abbottabad was a mystery. Instead of reinvigorating its efforts to eliminate terrorists who are undermining Pakistan’s security, the army is still holding off from launching the long-delayed offensive against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan. Meanwhile, reports of US drone attacks against terrorists along the AfPak border continue to trickle in virtually on a daily basis despite the Pakistan army’s strident protestations. While it is early days yet in this year’s military confrontation, a continuing stalemate will be the most likely outcome. A US Congressional study report, released on June 8, 2011, has found that nation-building efforts in Afghanistan are floundering as the massive economic aid programme lacks proper oversight and breeds corruption. It says that most local officials are incapable of “spending wisely”. It also says that there is little evidence to support the view that even the “politically pleasing” shortterm results will be sustainable once the drawdown begins. The report notes that the Afghan economy could easily slip into a depression as it is mainly a “war-time” economy that is a “huge distortion”. It is well known, of course, that the US military conducts its own development programme in the ar- Attack on artistic freedom is our shame SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR We Indians have done a thousand lousy things. But near the top of the list is the hounding out of Maqbool Fida Husain, our greatest painter, who died abroad last week, aged 95. This was not an isolated incident: author Taslima Nasreen was also hounded out by communalists. These will remain terrible blots on a country claiming to have secular foundations. Husain had humble origins. In his youth, he scraped together a living by painting film advertisements on hoardings. He and others broke from the traditional Bengal school of painting to form the Progressive Artists’ Group. This aimed at modern art that nevertheless had deep roots in Indian culture and religion. Husain painted hundreds of paintings based on epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He constantly took inspiration from rural India, tribal art and Bollywood films. His muses included Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan and Anushka Sharma. But the very multiculturalism of his paintings was unacceptable to Hindu communalists, especially Shiv Sainiks. They objected to his depiction of goddesses in the nude, claim- eas cleared of the Taliban to win the people’s support, irrespective of the aid programmes approved by the Afghan government. The two-year-old efforts to move towards reconciliation with the so-called “good Taliban” have not made much headway. Secret talks being mediated by Germany between the US government and Tayyab Agha, said to be a close confidante of Mullah Mohammed Omar, are unlikely to achieve a major breakthrough as no one is quite sure whether Agha is actually negotiating on behalf of Mullah Omar or whether the Taliban are simply using the talks as a ploy to buy time. The Haqqani shoora, that enjoys ISI support and patronage, is not part of the reconciliation process as General Kayani’s offer of his good offices to negotiate with the Taliban has not found any takers. While regional efforts to secure peace in Afghanistan remain haphazard, these are likely to slowly gather momentum as the date for the drawdown of forces approaches. During a visit to Kabul in midMay, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh endorsed President Karzai’s “process of national reconciliation” and said, “We hope that Afghanistan will be able to build a framework of regional cooperation that will help its nation-building efforts.” There is increasing realization even in Washington that there cannot be a lasting solution to the intractable Afghan conflict unless Afghanistan’s regional neighbours provide reasonable guarantees of non-interference. Also, in the post-Osama environment, it is being realized that Pakistan is part of the problem and cannot, therefore, be part of the solution. Pakistan’s sensibilities have been given too much weightage in the various conferences that have been held to seek a solution to the conflict. There is so far no sign that the US and its allies are planning to make substantive efforts to put in place a viable international peacekeeping force to help the Afghan government maintain security after their own exit from Afghanistan in 2014. If this is not done, the Taliban will gradually seize one province after another, with covert help from Pakistan, and will eventually force the capitulation of the government – paving the way for their triumphant return to power. Conflict termination on such terms would signify the failure of President Obama’s exit strategy. It would also mean that one more American intervention has gone hopelessly wrong. The writer is the director of Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms ing this was an insult to Hinduism. They threatened to rip his paintings apart, making it difficult to exhibit his paintings without fear of damage. Now anybody visiting ancient Hin, du temples at Khajuraho or Konark can seen dozens of nude sculptures of goddesses and apsaras, which are intrinsic to Indian art. Husain’s style was one of skilful distortion and smudging, so his nudes had no erotic detail or prurience. Why then did his paintings create such an uproar and not Khajuraho? Because he was a Muslim. Had he been a Hindu, there would have been no protest. The anti-Husain campaign was always an anti-Muslim campaign, and not about art or justice. Dozens of criminal cases were launched against Husain for his paintings, making it risky for him to stay in India. Eventually the Supreme Court bundled all the cases together and acquitted him handsomely Yet he feared . physical violence if he returned to India. The government assured him of police protection. But Husain hated the idea of spending the rest of his life surrounded by security guards. So he reluctantly settled abroad and eventually took up Qatari citizenship. India lost one of its greatest sons. There is a silver lining. Art should have no religious barriers, and Indian A TRIBUTE TO M F HUSAIN art has done a great job in this. The list of top painters in independent India is utterly secular It includes a Christian . (FN Souza), four Muslims (MF Husain, Tyeb Mehta, SH Raza, Akbar Padamsee), a Sikh (Manjit Bawa) and a Parsi (Jehangir Sabavala). Hindus in the top list include Ram Kumar, Satish Gujral and Ganesh Pyne. The Sachar Committee some years ago depicted a sad picture of the low status of Indian Muslims in general. But it could not say the same about the world of art. Whether in painting, music or literature, Muslims and other minorities held their own, and India could proudly claim that its living arts were entirely secular . Alas, these arts have now witnessed the hounding out of Husain and Taslima Nasreen. The latter, a Bangladeshi, was first hounded out her country because she graphically depicted the sufferings of Hindus in Bangladesh. But this did not ensure an unambiguous welcome for her in Kolkata. Her writings were critical of Sharia laws and also displayed sexual liberation, making her completely unacceptable to Indian mullahs. Muslim communalists falsely accused her of defaming the Koran. She was assaulted by Muslim communalists (includ- ing legislators) at a literary event in Hyderabad in 2007, but no action was taken against the assaulters (viewed as too politically important to touch). Nor was action taken against mullahs who issued a fatwa offering huge sums for her murder in 2009. She wanted to live in Kolkata, the home of Bengali literature. But Mamata Banerjee, to her eternal disgrace, teamed up with the Jamaat-e-Islami for a joint agitation to simultaneously remove the Tatas from Singur and Taslima from Bengal. The CPM was historically at the very forefront of secularism. It played a heroic role in Punjab against Sikh communalism in the 1980s, at the cost of hundreds of lives of its cadres. But in Taslima’s case, the CPM decided that the Muslim vote bank was more important than artistic freedom or secularism. The Congress was equally cowardly and unprincipled. And this political consensus obliged Taslima to leave India. Our leaders succumbed to Hindu communalism in Husain’s case, and to Muslim communalism in Taslima’s case. A political system claiming to be secular preferred to see communal groups as valuable vote banks rather than odious oppressors. For that, we need to hang our heads in shame. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Judging sex, lies, war and yoga politics MEN & MORALS GURCHARAN DAS Human beings are flawed animals with plenty of good and bad in them. They are also addicted to judging each other. During the past month there has been plenty of high moralizing about the world’s most powerful leaders. But in most cases the judgments have often been flawed, as apparent in the cases of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Osama bin Laden, Rajat Gupta and Baba Ramdev Throughout human history when a ser, vant or someone of low status accused a powerful person of rape, she was ignored. This is why the arrest in New York of Dominique StraussKahn (DSK), the former head of the International Monetary Fund and a contender for the presidency of France, has exhilarated the world. The trial will soon decide if DSK is guilty of sexual assault. In the meantime, there is victory in the fact that the maid was given the respect she deserved when New York’s police took her accusations seriously and arrested a very powerful and wealthy man. The mistake people made in judging DSK was to confuse his womanizing with sexual as- sault. It was as wrong as the idea still prevailing in India that a 'loose' woman can be raped. There is huge difference between consensual and forced sex, and a woman's right to say “no” is not diminished by the number of times she may have said “yes” in the past. In fact, DSK’s ability to find willing partners makes him an unlikely rapist. Only one historical allegation matters — Tristane Banon’s claim that he sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her during an interview in 2002. In the eyes of the law, there is no difference between raping a prostitute or a virgin. A husband who forces his wife to have sex also commits a crime; a married woman who has an affair does not. A second example: Osama bin Laden’s death hopefully has buried the demons of 9/11 in the American mind, bringing to a close what Americans have mistakenly called ‘the bin Laden decade’. A hundred years from now, historians will remember the first decade of the 21st century for the rise of China and India, not bin Laden. Islamic terror is a doomed ideology Hu. man beings prefer peace to war. Parents want children to go to school, get a job, and look after them in their old age. True, there is a desire for recognition— to be somebody not a nobody , . Greeks called this thymos, and this desire was satisfied in the past by becoming a ‘war hero’. But today’s young prefer to become CEOs, cricket heroes or film stars. Islamist warriors, I reckon, will eventually succumb to the consumerist middle class life. Americans can learn something from India which has also suffered from Islamist terror. George W Bush proclaimed he had ‘moral clarity’ after 9/11, and so he invaded Iraq. India’s political leadership, on the other hand, was accused of being cowardly after 26/11. The truth is that India behaved sensibly and maturely It . did not become paranoid over terror like the Americans. After each attack, India shrugged its shoulders, quietly improved its security systems, and remained focused on its economic destiny . My third example: people across India admire Baba Ramdev, who has brought yoga and healthy living to millions. But his solid achievements do not give him permission to blackmail the government via a fast unto death. Everyone sympathizes with his ends but not his means. Peaceful protest is acceptable in a democracy but fasts unto death are dangerous and authoritarian. With his resources and his acumen, Baba Ramdev could achieve tremendous results by working within the rule of law. Afinal example: Rajat Gupta was the toast of the world’s corporate elite. He had been head of McKinsey and was director of American Air, lines, Procter & Gamble, and Goldman Sachs — a rare executive whose integrity was beyond reproach. But a tape of his voice, divulging secret details of a Goldman board meeting to a convicted hedge fund manager brought about his fall. Why does a man, who had everything, do something so dreadful? I can only speculate: he was well-off but not wealthy like his friends. In coveting wealth, he forgot that he was a professional executive (a guardian of wealth, a kshatriya) not an owner of wealth (a vaishya). What these examples illustrate is that the moral life is anything but clear. DSK’s womanizing lifestyle is irrelevant to his crime. George W Bush’s ‘moral clarity’ brought great suffering to the Iraqi people and diminished America’s prestige; India’s ‘cowardly’ response to terrorism turned out to be wiser. Baba Ramdev’s admirers confuse means and ends. Rajat Gupta was confused about his role in life. The Mahabharata had the right idea— “dharma is sukshma, ‘subtle'," says Bhishma. Hence, we ought to be cautious and humble before judging others. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Bhai & the Baba: two poster boys for fitness POLITICALLY INCORRECT SHOBHAA DE TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN JUNE 23, 1961 STANDING FAST: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had a tough time dissuading Akali leader Master Tara Singh from going on a fast unto death over the demand for a Sikh state Absurd as it sounds, Baba Ramdev and Salman Khan share a lot in common — they are mega cultural phenomena. They generate adoration, reverence and something close to worship. Their fans see them as living gods. But beyond that commonality let me put it bluntly -- Sal, man Khan and Baba Ramdev have hot bods. Very hot. They are poster boys for Ultimate Fitness. In fact, it’s all about the bod. Both men know as much. Both have made their reputations flaunting their impressive physical assets. And both go happily shirtless, displaying great panache along with their sculpted silhouettes. Think about it… Baba Ramdev shot to fame much after Salman (‘The Bod’) Khan. The ‘Rockstar of Yoga,’ as Ramdev has been famously called, used the television platform to promote himself and become a household name. As a yoga teacher, he made more Indians aware of physical fitness than any expert has succeeded in doing so far. Salman Khan made it in the movies on a mega scale after he decided to bare his torso and flex his biceps. Salman has been rightfully credited with generating impressive revenues for desi akhadas and gyms, to which countless men rushed wishing to emulate the actor and acquire a drool- worthy physique. For the Khan, his daily workout is non-negotiable. It’s his religion. Ditto for Ramdev . Now that Salman is officially the most successful Khan in Bollywood, producers who want to work with him are expected to provide the star with a full-fledged gym on the sets. Baba Ramdev doesn’t need a gym – he is the gym! Despite their different approaches to acquiring the body beautiful, both these guys know it is their dedication to their respective passions and physiques that has millions of ardent devotees panting. Salman shares his fitness mantras generously with friends, foes and fans. Baba Ramdev shares his with strangers — anybody who cares to switch on his channel or join his classes. Salman gives away his trade secrets for free. Baba Ramdev charges a bomb (Rs.10, 000 per session, insist his detractors). So far, Salman has not starved for a cause. Nor has he joined politics (he’s leaving that option to the other Khans!). Even though Salman is the top earner in his line of business, he doesn’t own a private jet yet (his fans send him theirs!). Nor do Delhi politicos come running to the airport to meet him. But several sheikhs in the Middle East do just that each time he lands up to promote a film. Salman travels with an entourage that includes Shera, his faithful bodyguard. Baba Ramdev’s entourage is much bigger and he has several bodyguards. In fact, he is said to employ a HOT BODS: Salman Khan and Baba Ramdev private army to call his own. Salman has a sense of humour. Baba Ramdev must have his to try and escape from a sticky situation dressed in drag! Salman frequently laughs at himself. Baba Ramdev has critics laughing at him. Significantly both , men are single. But only one of them is ready to mingle (guess who?). In terms of mass hysteria, it’s hard to say which one generates more passion. If Ramdev’s followers conduct mass prayers for their guru, Salman’s besotted fans can effortlessly fill a couple of stadiums — no occasion required. Talking of ‘fan love’ — Salman’s fans happen to be so hardcore; they are ready to slaughter anybody who dares to criticize their beloved Sallu Bhai or Bhai Jaan. Baba Ramdev’s bhakts are equally fanatical. It’s called chela pyaar. Both men are acutely aware of their formidable star power… they have it, flaunt it, and exploit it. Salman peddles his Being Human line of products for charity Ramdev sells as. sorted ‘cures’ for everything from cancer to baldness through his outlets. Charisma is hard — very hard — to deconstruct. In the case of these two men, one can see what turns on movie audiences each time Salman shakes his butt and goes, ‘dhinkachika chik.” Ramdev effortlessly turns into a pretzel when required and breathes heavily as followers gasp and swoon. Devotees find all of this unbeatably addictive. Crowd mentality is hard to predict, but it’s safe to say if anybody can mobilize impressive mobs and throngs without really trying, it’s these two guys. If anybody can get thousands to leave home, forget khana peena temporarily and join a movement – you-know-who can pull it off. So, what is it about such people that drives other people nuts? Nuts enough to abandon good sense, logic, rational behaviour… sanity for god’s , sake? No idea, Sirji! Both are crowd pullers par excellence. They understand the medium and perform effortlessly 24x7 — that’s show business. Both manipulate sentiments. Both make big bucks. The big difference is that one of them wants to lead India out of the dark ages and banish black money The other makes a living in an . industry where the colour of money is unimportant. Both insist there is no political agenda behind their public posturing. Maybe we should give them the benefit of doubt. It would be amusing to see them share the same platform some day… visualize the scene: two shirtless superstars, one breathless, the other breathing through one nostril, both flexing muscles (one, politically the other litera, lly) and the crowds going crazy! Wow! Yeh mera India — are you ‘Ready’ for it? My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSD <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY Bad friendship ends in trouble. M KARUNANIDHI, DMK leader OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2011 I Husain’s Enduring Legacy For India Put an end to the ‘hurt sentiments’ bogey of bigots of every stripe Dileep Padgaonkar Together For Now Congress, DMK to maintain uneasy status quo he DMK’s decision to stick with the UPA coalition – at least for now – is a recognition of political realities. Though last week’s high-level committee meeting of the party came on the heels of the Delhi high court rejecting DMK MP Kanimozhi’s bail plea in the 2G scam case, practical considerations took precedence over emotions. Reportedly party chief , M Karunanidhi was all for taking a hard stand – at least pulling out DMK ministers from the Union cabinet if not withdrawing support. But he was counselled against a situation where the Dravidian party is without power both in Tamil Nadu and at the Centre. Significantly the 10 resolutions passed , at the end of the meeting blamed the CBI for Kanimozhi’s plight and pledged to fight the 2G taint legally . Having been humiliated in the recent assembly polls, the UPA is the only connection to power the DMK is left with. A split in the Congress-DMK alliance is bound to severely hurt the latter. With AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa already looking to dismantle the DMK’s power structures – DMK-affiliated cable television networks have been in her line of fire – the Karunanidhi clan can ill afford to lose its presence at the Centre. Loss of power could also accentuate infighting within the DMK. An open power struggle at this point could devastate the party. For the Congress too, maintaining the status quo is the most desirable option. The DMK has 18 MPs in Parliament. If it were to pull out, making up the numbers would not be easy. Also, with the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections next year, the Congress can’t rely on the SP and the BSP – parties that could have given it the numbers at the Centre. In contrast, a weakened DMK would be much less exacting an ally and far more stable than temperamental independents and smaller parties. However, there is a lesson for the Congress here. There is no denying that the DMK has been a burden for the Manmohan Singh government. The compulsion of coalition politics is the ostensible reason why the DMK could demand its pound of flesh in lieu of its support to the UPA. But as the 2G scam investigations unfold, the DMK has turned out to be a huge liability for the Congress, destabilising the UPA government itself. It’s up to future coalition governments – the most likely outcome with a fractured electorate such as India’s – to form themselves on the basis of durable rather than cynical alignments between political parties. T T o die in exile is to die twice over: the first time in the spirit, the second time in the flesh. The very inevitability of death in the flesh makes its aftermath predictable. Kith and kin and friends will mourn it in the sure knowledge that the pain of loss will subside in due course. Not so the death in the spirit. Exile stokes rage against those who hounded you from your homeland. The thought that you might never return to it, not even as a bird of passage, reduces you to such a state of helplessness that you begin to wallow in self-pity – the surest sign of terminal impotence. It is to M F Husain’s resounding credit that he was able to defy both deaths as long as he did. He lived until the age of 95 with all his faculties intact. Except for a few weeks in hospital before he passed away he conti, nued to crisscross continents, cherish the good life and, above all, draw and paint with unflagging zeal. Artists half his age suffer from a burnout. Not Husain. He sought solace in prayer and the purest joy in his art. To anyone who knew him even in passing, he resembled a lark in full flight: utterly free from the conceits and foibles of the world though, truth to tell, he did exploit his business acumen with a suave insouciance. Barefoot in a Ferrari! Far more impressive, however, was Husain’s refusal to make a to-do about his exile. Of course he missed India as anyone who ran into him in Qatar or Dubai, Paris, London or New York would testify. But he bore no ill will against those who vandalised his works, burnt his effigies, defaced his portraits, hurled the most vicious insults at him and hauled him in courts across the country After all this, . to argue, as many have done, that his exile was self-imposed is to give his tormentors the cachet of wayward ruffians. If he did not utter a word of reproach against them, it was because he never wavered in his abiding faith in the people of India – in their steadfast adherence to a syncretic culture steeped in the most subtle and sophisticated artistic, spiritual and philo- Husain at work: Art for heart’s sake The support bigoted caste and communal outfits receive from established political parties and certain ‘cultural’ outfits emboldens them. So does the lackadaisical attitude of avowedly secular parties sophical traditions. Throughout his life he drew inspiration from every creative endeavour that shed light on the bewildering paradoxes of Indian life: the sublime cheek-by-jowl with the crass and the ludicrous. He looked at the idiosyncrasies with an amused and benevolent twinkle in the eye. But make no mistake about it: his tormentors had hit him where it hurts most. More than any artist of his time, this pious Muslim nursed nothing if not reverence and unbound affection for the divinities of the Hindu pantheon. Few know, or care to know, that among his finest paintings are the ones based on themes and characters of the two great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Nothing would have caused him more anguish than to be told that in some of his drawings he had with malicious and deliberate intent ‘hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus’. He chose to be discreet about it. But India must refuse such discretion. The most enduring tribute that one can pay to Husain’s memory is to put an end once and for all to this bogey of ‘hurt sentiments’. It has allowed goons of every stripe to take the law into their hands to harass and intimidate people, curtail the freedom of writers and artists and impose on the citizenry a shallow and monochromatic view of Indian culture. This is of course easier said than done for even parties who swear by secularism and progressive ideas have failed again and again to bring the goons to book. The regressive phenomenon first reared its head when a secular government at the Centre banned Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses. It has gathered momentum ever since. The goons have routinely vandalised theatre and cinema halls, assaulted writers, sculptors and painters, ransacked media houses and not spared even such venerable centres of learning and research as the Bhandarkar Institute in Pune. Governments of all shades who are supposed to uphold the law have failed to bring the casteist and communal elements to book. Moral and cultural policing by bigoted caste and communal outfits is a grave danger for Indian democracy The overt . or covert support they receive from established political parties and certain ‘cultural’ outfits emboldens them. So does the lackadaisical attitude of avowedly secular parties. All this is done with an eye on vote banks. All parties engage in it despite growing evidence that India wants to put divisive, identitybased politics behind it. Corruption in public life is now on the top of the agenda as it should be. But it tends to detract attention from other dangers: the growing chasm between the rich and the poor and the denial of basic democratic rights to large swathes of the population. Of equal significance is the need to acknowledge the depredations of the casteist and communal forces and the inaction of the secular parties. Don’t expect any positive response from Ramdev or his supporters. His yoga asanas might cure cancer and, God willing, even the ‘disease’ of homosexuality. But he proposes no asanas for the mind and the heart to arrest the growth of a malignant tumour called bigotry. For that you must turn not to Ramdev’s carnival of cant and chicanery but to the uplifting art of M F Husain. Projecting Power A strong economy, not new missiles ‘There’s much for India and Australia to do together’ Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd attended the AsiaEurope foreign ministers meeting at Godollo in Hungary where he spoke exclusively with Deep K Datta-Ray: I Managing climate change clearly requires international diplomacy but do you foresee , cooperation between the developed and developing world? Yes. We’ve done that in the past and will do so in the future. At Copenhagen we worked closely with emerging economies. As prime minister of Australia at the time, i was a negotiator in the Green Room. We agreed on keeping temperature increases within two degrees, on acting to make that happen and on creating a global monitoring, measuring and verification system. The fourth agreement was partly at Australia’s instigation, to set up a finance fund for the most vulnerable developing states. We’ve already contributed our proportion of around $600 million. At Cancun we translated these ideas into a legal agreement of the UNFCCC. Durban is the next challenge, and we seek progress in these areas. Australia’s also mindful about domestic responsibilities to put a price on the cost of carbon and legislation to that effect will be put to parliament soon. I India too is mindful of engendering carbon responsible growth, in part by introducing nuclear energy. Do you support our initiative? We respect national decisions on each country’s energy requirements. Therefore, we’ve made our decision to eschew nuclear energy because we’ve other options. We’ve vast potential in renewables, as well as carbon capture and storage. We recently decided to increase our mandatory renewable energy to NPT signatory states and to those with whom we’ve bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements. This is a long-standing Australian policy and will continue to be our policy into the future. We have that policy while being very mindful of India’s excellent nuclear policy vis-a-vis nonproliferation. We’re very mindful of India’s record, but our policy’s clear and has not changed. I On leadership, does Australia foresee India leading international politics and what would you like us to do? Would you like us to participate more actively militarily , for instance? India is already exercising a global leadership role. We work closely with India in the G20 which is critical for the future of global economic stability We . work closely with India in the WTO on the next round for trade liberalisation, ensuring that it’s beneficial for poor people globally. On the UN, we supported I N otwithstanding all evidence to the contrary air force chief Air Chief , Marshal P V Naik seems to believe that if India is to play with the big kids, it needs new toys. Capping the country’s strategic missile reach at 5,000 km as currently planned covers all the requisite strategic bases; namely providing adequate deterrence with regard to China and Pakistan. , There is a fundamental mismatch between developing ICBM capability to acquire ranges of 10,000 km and more – as Naik is reported to have asked for – and India’s strategic posture which has always centred on defending sovereignty and territorial integrity And the reason that Naik provides – . that India requires military capabilities commensurate with its rising global profile in order to break out of its regional box – is woefully outdated, even dangerous. If there is one thing that the global crisis has shown, it is that international clout is based now, more than ever, on economic strength. India’s stock has risen since 2008 because of the relative ease with which it weathered the crisis. As for military capabilities, certainly, work is needed there to safeguard national interests. Acquiring the equipment and training required in asymmetrical conflict scenarios; modernising the air force; strengthening the navy, so crucial for projecting power in the Indian Ocean and safeguarding vital trade routes; these are all necessities. Allocating 6% of the defence budget – which could be better spent on these – to acquiring a strategic capability with purely notional value would not just be a waste of resources, it would blow back in our faces. Nowadays it’s no longer about military power but smart power – which includes economic and ‘soft’ power aspects. We don’t want to be like the erstwhile USSR, which invested so much in its military machine that it imploded. Q&A target to 20% of total energy generation. India’s circumstances are different. We understand and respect India’s sovereign decisions as we do every country’s, including Germany’s decision, which is of a different nature to India’s. Each country’s circumstances are different. I Does that mean Australia will support India’s decision by including uranium supply in the FTA under negotiation? Australia’s policy is to export the G4 proposal to move forward with expansion of the Security Council. Our government has made it clear that we support India’s membership of the council. There’s also a big role for India and Australia in developing a greater sense of common security and common responsibilities in the Indian Ocean. India is becoming the head of the Indian Ocean Association and will be followed by Australia. This gives us the opportunity to address common strategic, economic and environmental challenges across this vast ocean. We’re also about to embark on a common challenge in building new architecture across the wider region through the East Asian Summit, which India is part of. There’s vast potential for us to together shape the future political, security and environmental architecture of the most dynamic region in the world for the 21st century. So there’s much for India and Australia to do together. Losing to win A third-round loser is the true French Open champion Raghu Krishnan POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Family troubles With reference to the editorial ‘More Telecom Stink’ (June 8), this is not the first time the DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran, former telecom minister now heading the Union textiles ministry, has been accused of arm-twisting a businessman to allegedly promote his family business. In the past, he was similarly accused of trying to pressure Ratan Tata in a business deal. The editorial rightly points out that it is not enough for the prime minister to say “the allegations ought to be investigated without fear or favour”. Maran should be told to resign so that the agencies concerned may do their job. Meanwhile, former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi has of late been shedding copious tears over the plight of his daughter Kanimozhi, who is lodged in Tihar jail. The DMK patriarch should instead ponder whether it’s bad company or greed that’s the cause of the troubles faced by his family members. V Jayaraman, NOIDA he 2011 French Open tennis championship will be remembered for the final between the then-five-time men's singles' title-holder Rafael Nadal and the winner of 16 Grand Slam tournaments, Roger Federer. It will be remembered for the 220-minute semifinal which Nadal in almost journalistic style previewed as "a match between the world's best tennis player (Novak Djokovic) and the greatest player in history (Federer)". However, the real champion of this year's French Open was neither Nadal, nor Federer, nor Djokovic, and not even the other semi-finalist Andy Murray but the virtually , unknown Michael Berrer. It was while playing Berrer in the third round of the French Open that Murray twisted his ankle while rushing to return a drop shot. When the match resumed, Murray, with a heavily-strapped ankle, limped through to a three-set win by going for his shots so that he did not aggravate the injury by staying too long on the court. Until the injury, Berrer had been playing drop shots to exploit Murray's reluctance to leave the baseline. He stopped playing drop shots once the injured Murray returned to the court. Berrer later explained that he was reluctant to play drop shots against an injured opponent who could not move freely. It is only over the last few seasons that the 30-year-old Berrer has graduated from the level of a journeyman, meaning someone not in the top 100 of the fiercely-contested ATP world men's singles rankings. After reaching the third round of the French Open, Berrer is ranked 79. That could have been much higher if he had defeated the injured Murray ranked four. Weeks ago, Murray , had tormented an injured Gilles Simon with drop shots and been booed off the court at Monte Carlo. Which could explain why the Guardian's tennis correspondent Kevin Mitchell described the 24-year-old Murray's French Open triumph as "a distinctly odd win over Berrer who took compassion for his fellow human beings to heights only Mother Teresa would understand." In modern tennis, like in other sports, there is a clash not of civilisations but values, contemporary and classic. Contemporary sport is influenced by the oft-quoted view of American football coaches Red Sanders and Vince Lombardi: "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." The classic value is the one inscribed above the players' entrance to the Centre Court at Wimbledon, quoting Kipling: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/ And treat those two imposters just the same;/ Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,/ And –which is more – you'll be a Man, my son!" It's fashionable to assume today that the classic values belong to a bygone age where people could lose gracefully since there was no pressure on them to win. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Take Germany's Baron Gottfried von Cramm who will always be remembered for his refusal to accept the match-point awarded to him in the 1935 Davis Cup inter-zone final against the USA when he notified the umpire that the ball hit by his doubles partner for an apparent winner had first brushed his racket. The baron had already angered Germany's ruling Nazis by refusing to join their party and by protesting at the exclusion from the German Davis Cup team of the Jewish player Daniel Prenn. The baron was subsequently arrested on charges of homosexuality and imprisoned. If Gottfried von Cramm had been around today he would have been happy , with the sportsmanship displayed by his compatriot Berrer at the Roland Garros stadium where he had twice won the men's singles title, 77 and 75 years ago. Von Cramm belongs to the same era as American sportswriter Grantland Rice whose poem Alumnus Football, penned in 1930, says, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,/ He writes not that you won or lost but how you played the Game." Michael Berrer has just shown us how the game should be played. T I SACRED S PAC E Happy Learning I Seer Of Dravidian Vedas Kavi noticed a glowing light which did not recede – and he saw this night after night. Finally, n a small, quiet village in Tamil Nadu Madhura Kavi followed it and walked for many called Alwaar Thirunagari, close to Tiru- days till it finally vanished in Thirunagari. nelveli, there is a beautiful Vishnu temple. Madhura Kavi knew that he had reached his The temple houses an ancient tamarind tree. destination and hurried towards this motionThough the tree has gnarled branches, the less figure under the tamarind tree. To attract leaves remain fresh and, surprisingly they do Nammazhwar’s attention, Madhura Kavi drop, not close at night. This special tamarind tree is ped a huge stone. Lo and behold! Nammazhwar connected closely with one of the greatest opened his eyes and smiled at Madhura Kavi. To test whether the child could hear and bhakti saints, Nammazhwar. Nammazhwar’s birth was prophesied by speak, Madhura Kavi asked in Tamil, “If in the Veda Vyasa in the Bhagvata Purana. It has womb of what is dead, a subtle thing is born; been mentioned in the Bhavishyath Purana what does it eat and where does it abide?” (Here that a great saint would be born, at the advent the dead body meant the ‘achit’ or insentient of Kali Yuga, in Dravida land by the river matter and the subtle thing is the formless soul.) To this cryptic question Nammazhwar Tamaraparani. As prophesied, when replied in Tamil, “atthai tinru angey the divine baby was born, he neither kidakkum” which means, “It will eat cried, nor moved nor suckled milk, that and lie there”. This profound yet he continued to remain healthy statement philosophically meant that and glowing. When a baby is born, it the soul experiences the pleasures is believed that a ‘vital air’ or shata as well as pain of the body in which engulfs it, which prevents it from it stays. Alternatively, if the soul imbibing true knowledge. However, THE is fixed on serving God, it will the shata did not affect this divine baby and hence Nammazhwar is I SPEAKING I experience divinity. Madhura Kavi prostrated before also known as Shatagopan or the TREE Nammazhwar and requested that one who has conquered the shata. Nammazhwar’s parents were so puzzled and he accept him as his shishya or disciple. worried that on the twelfth day after his birth, Nammazhwar is considered to be the foremost he was kept in a golden cradle and placed before Alwar or seer of Dravidian Vedas and has comthe deity. He was given the name ‘Maaran,’ posed four Prabandhams covering the essence , meaning one who is unique. The baby instanta- of the four Vedas, namely Thiruviruttham on neously crawled out of the cradle and took his the Rig Veda, Thiruvaashiriyam on the Yajur position under the divine tamarind tree and Veda, Peria Thiruvandadhi on the Atharva assumed the Padmasana posture. Indeed, this Veda and the magnum opus, Thiruvoimozi on tamarind tree is believed to be the incarnation the Sama Veda. This rich treasure expounding of Adishesha, the divine serpent, whose role devotion continues to be taught in temples and was to protect Nammazhwar who is believed religious institutions of south India. to be an incarnation of Viswaksena, the com- Today, Vaikashi Vaishaka, is Nammazhwar Jayanti. www.speakingtree.in mander of Vishnu’s army. He remained in this posture and meditated for 16 long years. Join the world’s first spiritual networking site In Ayodhya, another saint called Madhura to interact directly with masters and seekers. Sangeeta Venkatesh To learn and practise what is learned from time to time is pleasure, is it not? To have friends from afar is happiness, is it not? To be unperturbed when not appreciated by others is a gentleman, is it not? Confucius Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22.6 Do not be puffed because of your knowledge nor overconfident because you are a learned person. Take counsel with the ignorant as well as the wise, for the limits of proficiency cannot be reached and no person is ever fully skilled. Ptah-Hotep A man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live. Thomas Merton For each individual soul there is a vocation as real as if that soul were alone upon the planet. Mark Rutherford I Not too welcome With reference to the Snap Judgment (June 9), Uma Bharati’s readmission in the BJP is unlikely to turn around the party’s electoral fortunes in next year’s UP assembly polls. Apart from party president Nitin Gadkari who appears solely responsible for her return, that too at the seeming behest of the RSS, no other major BJP leader has expressed any kind of enthusiasm. Also noteworthy was the absence of top BJP leaders at the function to mark her return. In her home state, Madhya Pradesh, she is considered a destabilising factor. Agreed, Bharati is a gifted public speaker. But her mercurial temperament, coupled with poor administrative skills, doesn’t endear her to others within the party. R J Khurana, BHOPAL No licence to hurt With reference to the editorial ‘Portrait Of An Artist’ (June 10), M F Husain, the now deceased painter, believed he did no wrong by depicting nudity in his paintings of Hindu deities and of India in the form of Bharat Mata. The issue of artistic licence apart, the fact is that he hurt the sentiments of many people. Though one doesn’t condone moral policing of the kind that forced him into self-imposed exile, it must be pointed out that Husain could have met those who were genuinely hurt half way. Artist Sayed Haider Raza, Husain’s contemporary, is right in saying that he should have apologised. Dominic Braganza, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011 Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke. WILL ROGERS, American humorist Is The Honeymoon Over? Bangladesh’s return to the politics of confrontation isn’t good news for Sheikh Hasina Subir Bhaumik Get The Message The government must acknowledge the big picture – corruption ow that the crisis situation over Baba Ramdev’s fast-unto-death has been defused via persuasion and fruit juice, it’s time for the government to stop brandishing minutiae – who’s propped up by which political interest, whose assets need checking, whose voices adorn which CD – and focus instead on the big picture. That is corruption, the melee over the Lokpal Bill just one manifestation of public feeling on this issue. Pranab Mukherjee has stated extra-constitutional voices should not dictate on corruption to Parliament. While the minister’s rightly emphasised Parliament’s supremacy in the Indian polity the fact is , corruption has pushed such deep roots into the country that we’re likely to see more voices from civil society raised against it, not – as the government might wish – less. Growing public discourse over corruption is linked to important changes shaping the Indian people. Two paradoxical developments are taking place. On the one hand, scams are becoming monsters of quantum proportions, eating into the nation’s development. They come coated in political arrogance, apathy and assumed helplessness of the people. On the other, the corpus of educated, aware citizenry is also growing. Importantly this citi, zenry’s access to mass media has never been as expansive as now. Where earlier scams filtered through to the Indian public after considerable time elapsed, names of foreign tax havens, banks and brokers growing from whispers in the wind to in-your-face facts, today it’s possible to track corruption while it happens. The media provides a platform for investigators, whistleblowers and citizenry to challenge corrupt practices together. This isn’t just India-specific. The resonance of WikiLeaks highlights global concerns about abuses of power – with the belief that truth can change things. The same belief ’s showing in the Indian electorate now, media-armed and well-informed. It knows for instance of the Ombudsman’s office in Scandinavian nations, controlling corruption, itself woven skilfully into a system of interlocking checks and balances. It knows it is entitled to the same, an effective Lokpal overseen by a stringent judiciary , for example. It also knows why instead of calling a special parliamentary , session for representatives to clarify positions on corruption, politicians are instead deflecting the topic through allegations and retorts. Yet, the belief in change is strong, energised by developments that range from Barack Obama’s ‘Yes, we can’ slogan to the Jasmine Revolution, Arabs standing up peacefully before dictators and their tanks. This is in fact a time of wonder for politics around the world. With its ‘transparency revolution’, India is joining in. It’s time for its politicians to see that big picture. And drop their small talk. N s Bangladesh prepares to host Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and possibly UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Dhaka this July or August, it is not all good news at home for the country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After decisively addressing India's security and connectivity concerns by cracking down hard on northeast militants and allowing limited trans-shipment of capital goods to India's northeast through her country's territory , Hasina is now seeking major concessions from India on river water sharing, market access for Bangladeshi products, maritime and land boundary delimitation and import of power, besides other lesser issues. The feeling in Dhaka is that it is payback time and the Bangladesh foreign office is hoping for some major agreements during Singh's visit. Bangladesh plans to unveil a statue of Indira Gandhi, widely seen as the “liberator of Bangladesh”, on a major road in Dhaka to be named after her during Singh's visit in a symbolic gesture of gratitude. More important, Hasina's government welcomes huge Indian investments, especially in infrastructure. Foreign minister Dipu Moni has wished that India’s economist prime minister will take captains of Indian industry along with him during the visit. At home, Hasina finds herself caught in a crossfire between friends and foes that could weaken her control. On one hand, her plans to do away with the care- A taker arrangement for holding elections has provoked opposition parties, especially the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to hit the streets. After having called a strike on June 5, the BNP now threatens to follow up with more if the Awami League government does not back off from its plans to switch to the Indian system of holding polls under a ruling dispensation. The BNP and other opposition parties – and even some in the ruling coalition – suspect that the Awami League wants to rig the parliamentary elections in 2013 to stay on in power. This is the first time since its stunning defeat in the December Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi: It’s not smooth sailing This is the first time since its stunning defeat in the December 2008 polls that the BNP is back on the streets with demands for midterm polls to test the government’s popularity 2008 polls that the BNP is back on the streets with demands for midterm polls to test the government’s popularity, insisting that elections be held under a neutral caretaker dispensation under existing laws. The Awami League dismisses its fears as baseless and points to several recent municipal elections and other by-elections in which ruling party candidates lost though the polls were held under the present government. These losses, especially the defeat of sitting Chittagong municipal corporation chairman A K Mohiuddin, do indicate that the Awami League has lost some of the high ground it had gained in December 2008 when its alliance won 235 seats and the BNP ended up with only 30 seats in a 300member House. And that has spurred the BNP's demand for a midterm poll. On the other hand, Hasina's decision not to press ahead with the Supreme Court's verdict to restore Bangladesh’s secular 1972 Constitution has upset her friends and allies who feel she is backing out, despite a huge mandate, to avoid confrontation with Islamic hardliners. The 1972 Constitution guaranteed equality of status to all religions and banned religious parties but subsequent amendments by two military rulers introduced "Bis- millah" in the Preamble and made Islam the state religion besides allowing religious parties like the Jamait-e-Islami – hated for its support to the Pakistani regime – to re-enter the political stage. A huge meeting was organised recently by the Sector Commanders Forum, an organisation of 1971 liberation fighters. Chaired by two former army chiefs and one air chief, currently the government's planning minister, it brought together 28 secular groups. The support of these groups was key to the Awami League's 2008 poll victory because they had passionately evoked the "spirit of 1971" among old and young alike. They have now resolved to pressure the Awami League government to restore the 1972 Constitution and press ahead with war crime trials to bring pro-Pakistani collaborators, responsible for large-scale murder, arson and rape, to justice. There are indications that Hasina faces a serious challenge from her own party and alliance if she does not move to restore the secular Constitution that her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman put in place and try the "war criminals" of 1971. The Bangladesh Left in Hasina’s 14-party alliance has cried foul over the retention of Islam as the state religion, with Communist Party secretary Mujahid-ul-Islam Selim alleging that Bangladesh was fast becoming a "half-Pakistan". Some Awami League leaders like former industry minister Tofail Ahmed and planning minister A K Khandkhar have supported the sector commanders’ decision to launch protest action if the 1972 Constitution was not restored. “If the BNP can hit the streets, so can we and more effectively," said filmmaker Nasiruddin Yusuf. Yusuf suggested a strike to push the agenda and was supported by the likes of leading anti-fundamentalist campaigner Shahriar Kabir, who insists that Hasina has no right to betray the "spirit of 1971" for which three million Bengalis died. He says that, without the 1972 Constitution, Bangladesh will become another ‘failed state’ like Pakistan. Others have even called for a "second liberation war". So, after just over two years of Awami League rule, Bangladesh appears to have returned to the politics of confrontation, which worries business and citizens alike. The writer is a senior journalist. Latest Salman Khan blockbuster scores with filmgoers, not critics Tastes can’t be dictated oming on the back of mega-hits like Wanted and Dabangg, Bollywood star Salman Khan’s latest release Ready has set cash registers ringing. Clearly, Khan starrers work box-office magic. But such formulaic Bollywood fare – involving romance, song-and-dance routines and action scenes with their mandatory baring of brawn – has often been panned by film critics. Expectedly, Ready has faced its share of flak. This once again highlights a seeming disconnect between the expectations of the paying I public and those of film appraisers who apply high aesthetic standards to cinema. Only, is the erecting of a divide between so-called ‘high’ and ‘low’ art at all necessary? Surely popular cinema can coexist with art films without having to apologise for it. The defining marker of market-driven societies is not just what sells; it’s also room to accommodate everybody’s tastes and demands. If Bollywood masala has its takers, artistically made niche films have their enthusiasts. Both audiences are legitimate consumers of diverse cultural products. This holds as true for books and music: there’ll be takers for pulp fiction or pop just It’s curtains for culture nother summer, another spate of lowbrow entertainment at its best – or worst, depending on your perspective. Predictably Salman Khan, , the king of the front-benchers, is leading the charge. But Ready the follow-up to the , insanely successful Dabangg, is just the opening salvo. Over the next few months, there will I C Law And Disorder Probe girl’s death in UP police station T he death of a 14-year-old girl found hanging from a tree within the premises of a police station in Lakhimpur Kheri district of UP is shocking. It exemplifies the poor law and order situation in the state, notwithstanding claims to the contrary The needle of suspicion in . this case points to the local police and prima facie there is evidence to suggest a cover-up. The victim’s family was initially discouraged from pursuing the case. It was only when the media and local politicians took up the issue that the state government was spurred into action. All 11 policemen of the Nighasan police station have been suspended while an FIR has been lodged against three for tampering with the crime scene. However, this is not enough. Though a CB-CID probe has been ordered, there needs to be far greater urgency in bringing the guilty to book. The incident adds to the growing body of evidence that lawlessness continues to be a problem in UP. Women in particular have increasingly been the victims. According to National Crime Records Bureau figures, UP accounts for as much as 10% of all crimes against women throughout the country. Thanks to a nexus between politicians, criminals and the police, a culture of criminality continues to flourish in the state. The rape of a minor in Banda last December, allegedly by a BSP MLA, bears testimony to this unholy link. This and a plethora of other cases prove that the law and order mechanism in UP is all but defunct. For all her tough posturing, chief minister Mayawati is yet to tackle this malaise. With assembly elections due next year, she would do well to lay down the law. as for literary classics or classical music. There can be no uniformity in cultural consumption in democratic systems, simply because tastes can’t be dictated. Telling people what’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art has risks, because it can even justify elitism or authoritarian promotion of ‘official art’. Besides, many commercial films qualify as ‘good’ art: consider the acclaimed A T I M E S V I E WI Sholay or Deewar. More recently, as works like Khakee or Rang De Basanti show, mainstream Bollywood has taken on high production values: its films are slickly made, technically impressive and have offbeat storylines. Meanwhile, art cinema veterans like Shyam Benegal or the younger crop of experimental filmmakers are seeking commercial success – and getting it. Distinctions between low quality ‘entertainers’ and high quality ‘art’ are, therefore, increasingly being called into question. That too is thanks to the consumer. COUNTERV Anil Thakkar be a steady procession of mass-produced mediocrities through theatres around the country. Some will flop, others will recover costs and a few, sadly will , do well enough to keep filmmakers interested in the hunt for the next superhit. And in the process, genuinely good cinema will be pushed further to the margins and discerning movie-goers sidelined. It has been a steady downward trend since the 1980s, perhaps the single worst decade for Indian cinema as far as general quality of movies produced goes. There has been a faint upswing since then, but art cinema as it used to be is all but dead. Critics – the few who dare to go beyond rubber-stamping the next blockbuster – are a spent force. Despite the put upon attitude of the average moviegoer who complains about the critics’ elitism, the reality is quite the opposite. That particular battle is long over, and it is popular taste that won, more’s the pity. IEW I Because the fact is that art cinema served a critical cultural function. It spoke of economic, social and cultural truths that still dominate in the vast majority of the country – truths entirely ignored by popular cinema that sells a glossy version of urban life as an Indian reality. Letting the market decide the kind of movies that will be made is well and good, but when it results in the lowest common denominator coming to dominate an art form, the flaws in that particular logic begin to show. What we are seeing right now is the equivalent of literary fiction being dismantled in favour of graphic novels. SNAP JUDGMENT Gangsters Are Back India On Top Reverse Vending his invention is a nobrainer that should have been conceived much earlier. How to incentivise the dropping of litter in designated places? Answer: the reverse-vending machine, which will pay back people for disposing litter in it. Instead of getting a can of cola out of a machine, one could chuck an empty can inside and get paid for doing so. Best thing that ever happened to recycling? I C Divide and sell Listen to the advertisers; they know what we need Madhumita Gupta f it is Shah Rukh Khan telling you something, you’d better pay attention! If he mocked you for using a women’s fairness cream despite being a man, what would you do? You’d dash straight to the nearest kirana store or department store and grab the ‘For men’ fairness cream. Because SRK says that a man’s skin is different from a woman’s skin and needs a different cream. Not all that long ago, we seemed to do quite well with the same bar of soap for the whole family, the same economy-sized vats of face creams, shampoos, deodorants etc. The only divide that i remember was in shampoos, and that was regarding the hair-types – egg for undernourished, pink for oily and so forth. And maybe the famous brand which produced cosmetics for babies. No longer, though. ‘New research’ tells us through ads that men and women are different and their needs gender-specific. So they need different things for their skin, their hair, their teeth – wait, not teeth. They haven’t researched that far yet, but the day may not be far off when we find that women have far more delicate teeth and should hence be using a special toothpaste! After educating us on gender, the producers of these goods looked around and discovered that families consisted of not just men and women; they had people in different age groups too. Bingo! So, they asked us how we could think of giving our cute toddlers baths with big, bad bars of soap. The injustice of it! And out came their own teddy-shaped, strawberry flavoured soaps. Yes, pink for girls and blue for boys, spilling off shelves in all their vibrant, irresistible colours and fragrances. And they told us that kids needed their special Barbie deodorants, soft, more malleable toothbrushes and, yes, that detergent which takes off all stains like magic. Did they stop there? No, considerate souls that they are, how could they neglect the parents? Their health is paramount, they shook a finger at us. Sharing the kids’ Horlicks or Bournvita is just not good enough for them; hadn’t we heard of the one which is meant for their age group? The magic mix which keeps them young but not so young that they could share their kids’ health drink? Go get it, pronto! Kids, tick. Kids versus parents, tick. Now, how to divide further? Parents means mothers and fathers i.e. once again men versus women. Bingo again! So how could they let men and women have the same cereal? Just like TV serials – as Ekta Kapoor knows so well – have to be made keeping in mind women viewers with the right doses of emotion and intrigue, cereals, apparently also have to be tailor-made. Taking a page out of the lady’s book, , cereal makers have now launched a breakfast serial – oops, cereal – for women. God help the men who take it by mistake; they’d be as unable to digest it. And if they do digest it, they may lose oodles of weight and come out curvy and smiling, fitting into their before-marriage trousers with ease. While a lesser mortal may think that it is not such a bad idea to lose that paunch, our guides up there smile benignly at our naivete and tell us that wanting to lose weight is a woman’s prerogative. Separating men from women, kids from elders, they look for further divisions and find the in-betweeners. How to distinguish men from boys? While you may be thinking of a hundred things, what do our friends, philosophers and guides come up with? A cell phone. And yes, the phonewala beams confidingly sales have shot up as all the little ones are in a hurry to , become dashing men. Mission accomplished! I rime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey’s heinous killing on Saturday indicates that organised crime is rearing its ugly head once again in Mumbai, after peaking in the 1990s. While there’s speculation which of Dey’s investigations into crime and mafias led to his brutal murder, the incident underscores the dangers that journalists face in the course of performing their duty. The government must bring the culprits to justice, speedily. C oach Duncan Fletcher believes that India can dominate world cricket in coming years. That a second-string team secured an unassailable 3-0 lead against West Indies in the ongoing five-match ODI series suggests his optimism may have some basis. Clearly, the IPL has been a game changer. The mega event has enhanced the level of domestic competition, thereby augmenting the talent pool of Indian cricket. T I SACRED S PAC E Donate Now I The Blooming Of A Lotus “a lotus for you” and exhale, smiling, while saying “a Buddha-to-be”, they have the he function of meditation practice is appearance of a blooming flower. to heal and transform. It helps us to It may be possible for you to meditate on be whole, and to look deeply into your own, without a teacher or a Sangha, ourselves and around us in order to realise namely Buddhist community of practice. , what is really there. The energy that is used But it goes without saying that to practise in meditation is mindfulness; to look deeply with a teacher and a Sangha is more advisable into the heart of things in order to see their and much easier. A teacher is someone who true nature. When mindfulness is present, has had the experience of the practice, and meditation is present. Mindfulness helps us has succeeded in it. A Sangha is a meditation to understand the true essence of the object community where everyone follows more of meditation – whether it is a perception, an or less the same kind of practice. Since emotion, an action, a reaction, the presence everyone is doing the same practice, it of a person or object. becomes easier for you to practise too, By looking deeply the medita, because the group energy emitted by tion practitioner gains insight, the Sangha is strong and very supprajna, or wisdom. This insight has portive. You can also learn a great the power to liberate us from our deal from individual members of the own suffering and bondage. In the Sangha, especially those who have meditation process, fetters are realised some degree of peace and undone, internal blocks of suffertransformation. There are many ing such as fear, anger, despair things you may find difficult to do THE and hatred get removed, relationwhen alone, but in the presence of ships with humans and nature SPEAKING the Sangha you can do them easily . become easier, and there is freeAll of us who have practised with a TREE dom and joy We become aware of . Sangha can testify to this fact… what is inside us and around us; we are In the Buddhist tradition, we consider fresher, and we become more alive in our Sangha one of the three gems. The three daily existence. As we become freer and gems are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. As happier, we cease to act in ways that make we see it, the three gems are already in your others suffer, and we are able to bring about heart. The Sangha in yourself may guide change around us and to help others become you to the Sangha that is somewhere near you. Maybe the teacher and the Sangha free. Isn’t that wonderful? The meditation practitioner is like a are right there, very close to you, but you lotus flower in the process of blooming. have not yet noticed. With practice, you Buddhas are fully bloomed human flowers, will generate the energy of mindfulness, beautiful and refreshing. All of us are which may lead you towards a teacher and . buddhas-to-be. That is why in practice a community Follow Thich Nhat Hahn on our website. centres when people meet each other, they form a lotus with their palms and greet each www.speakingtree.in other while bowing, saying, “a lotus for you, Join the world’s first spiritual networking a Buddha-to-be”. As they inhale while saying site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Thich Nhat Hanh E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX A balancing act required With reference to the editorial ‘Projecting Power’ (June 13), there is no denying the fact that a strong economy rather than the possession of ICBMs will ensure a stable and peaceful future for our country. Our primary focus must not deviate from the fight against hunger, disease, poverty, illiteracy and the scourge of corruption – all of which are eating into the vitals of our body politic. Having said that, a strong and modern armed force will continue to remain an essential condition for meeting our immediate strategic concerns in the terror-stricken subcontinent. It is, therefore, imperative that we strike a balance between the two. Govind Singh Khimta, SHIMLA He who gives liberally goes straight to the gods; on the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted. Rig Veda 1.125.5 Every sacrifice is a boat to heaven. Satapatha Brahmana Give and it will be given to you...for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Luke 6.38 The virtues of donations are great because it helps the needy and at the same time it gives an opportunity to the donor to give the surplus to the people in need. It helps the needy to sustain himself. Sama Veda You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Kahlil Gibran In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy . Karl Reiland The measure of life is not its duration, but its donation. Peter Marshall Today is Blood Donation Day. T Retail reform, with conditions With reference to the editorial ‘Stop Stalling’ (May 30), it is only partially true to claim that the opening up of multi-product retail to FDI will rein in inflation. In India, it is inadequate supply that fuels price rise. Therefore, abundant supply will bring down prices. However, instead of spending on infrastructure development in the country, multibrand retailers may rely on the import route to keep prices stable. This is the practice they usually follow internationally. Hence, we will have to create rules to control this propensity of retail giants. Remember, what we need is uninterrupted power supply, improved water management, better seeds, free movement of goods and improved management of local mandis. All these require government intervention. This will also create a level playing field between mega retailers and local kirana shops. Let us welcome big players but with conditions and directions. Surendra B Singh, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011 I There is no instant solution to bring back...black money. The Heart Of Power In a true democracy, the highest office is that of the common citizen Minhaz Merchant Black Blather Shout less, act more to curb unaccounted money lack money has become a national talking point. It isn’t surprising the finance minister used the occasion of a tax conference jointly organised by his ministry and OECD to reiterate the government’s commitment to tackling the menace. None will fault him for highlighting some difficulties in the way of repatriating black money stashed abroad. Some countries won’t end banking secrecy – a G20 demand – with retrospective effect, which stymies exchange of past information. And while all agree banking confidentiality mustn’t shield tax fraud or money laundering and round-tripping, many foreign banks justifiably want demands for transparency to be case-based, with aggrieved parties furnishing details on charges against specific clients. Hurdles however shouldn’t deter us from actively pursuing global cooperation via disclosure treaties to expose tax havens where illicit funds flow. Our tax authorities have done well to think of an information hub to expedite cases and facilitate data exchange. Also, Switzerland is purportedly willing to share with countries concerned part of the tax on interest foreign account holders earn. This needs exploring. It’s however important to distinguish between past capital flight forced by exorbitant tax rates and funds outflow linked to corruption and crime. A one-time amnesty encouraging the former category to pay taxes at prevailing rates on their money is worth considering. However, it’s choking black money generation at home that’s more important. The remedial reforms will have a greater impact on economic health. Here, it’s imperative the UPA not think or act rashly to ward off civil society’s attack. It must reject absurd ideas like making tax evasion a criminal offence. Surely fast-growing India needn’t travel back to times when harsh, business-unfriendly tax laws were political tools of intimidation. The focus should be on incentivising compliance. If UPA and the opposition mean business about controlling tax evasion, they’d speed up on GST and the direct tax code. The more simplified our tax rules, the more streamlined the tax structure and the lower taxes on incomes, the less tax-dodging there’ll be. As essential is cleaning up real estate, a huge black money generator thanks to artificially created land scarcity, mazelike and arcane regulations, heavy taxes on land transactions and messy land records. We need to free up land markets, not least by putting some state-owned land on sale and revamped acquisition rules. Lowering stamp duty will encourage proper disclosure of the value of property deals. If fighting black money requires busting politically coddled land mafias, it also mandates exposing sources of political funding and curbing authorities’ discretionary powers. Equally, watchdogs and justice-dispensers must signal institutional intolerance for wrongdoing. Shouting matches won’t eradicate corruption and crime. Let’s lower the decibel level, and get down to the job at hand. T B hose who question the role of civil society in India’s battle against corruption should recall the words of US Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, one of the great reformers of the Franklin D Roosevelt era, whose judicial tenure extended through the presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman and John F Kennedy “In a democracy . ,” Justice Frankfurter thundered, “the highest office is the office of the citizen.” The government is elected to govern. If it does not, it will be voted out after five years. In the interim, it is the job of citizens, at whose behest the government discharges its constitutional obligations, to protest misgovernance. Civil society globally has catalysed great change. In the United States, Martin Luther King fought for and won civil rights for African-Americans. That was civil society at its best. In Egypt, civil society ended the 32-year, one-party dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Civil society is leading change in Tunisia. Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev would not have drawn nationwide support had the UPA government done the job it was elected to do. Corruption does not only corrode the foundations of our democracy It is . the fount of several other ills. For example, systemic corruption ensures that nearly 75% of taxpayers’ funds meant for anti-poverty programmes like MNREGA do not reach the poor. A government deeply steeped in corrupt practices has little incentive to legislate a strong instutionalised anti-corruption body like the Lokpal. Consider two key questions which have divided politicians, jurists and citizens alike and stalled progress on the Jan Lokpal Bill: first, should the prime minister come within the purview of the Lokpal? Yes: the prime minister as head of the government must welcome institutional scrutiny – as, for instance, US presidents routinely do – not evade it. Secondly should the higher , judiciary (high court and Supreme Court judges) fall within the purview of the Lokpal? No, the Judicial Standards and A kind of authority no politician can wield The government is elected to govern. If it does not, it will be voted out after five years. In the interim, it is the job of citizens to protest misgovernance Accountability Bill, currently under legislative review, should instead be strengthened to include a judicial commission which would hear public complaints against senior judges. The judicial commission could have five members: the chairperson of the Lokpal body the , central vigilance commissioner, the leader of the opposition, a senior government minister and a former chief justice of India. The judicial commission would thus ensure the Lokpal participates collectively – not unilaterally – in determining charges of corruption against senior judges. The Jan Lokpal draft Bill already has a provision for judicial review by the Supreme Court of all decisions by the multi-member Lokpal body This system of counter. checks and balances between the Lokpal and the higher judiciary will best serve the citizen. But will we get a Lokpal Bill at all in the next session of Parliament as promised by the UPA government? The government is likely to present a watered down Bill to Parliament. MPs across party lines will reject such a diluted Bill. Does this signify business (and corruption) as usual for the Congress-led UPA government? Fortunately for citizens, no. A Rubicon has been crossed. There are moments in a govern- ment’s life when the tide turns. That moment has arrived for this government. Rewind to recent history when similar points of inflection were reached: June 26, 1975 when the Emergency was declared and thousands jailed without trial leading, on March 24, 1977, to the end of 30 years of uninterrupted Congress governments; April 16, 1987 when Swedish Radio first unveiled the Bofors scam – within 31 months Rajiv Gandhi’s 404-MP majority in the Lok Sabha had been reduced to less than 200, the steepest decline in Indian electoral history. And, finally December 6, 1992 when , a somnolent Narasimha Rao failed to stop the demolition of the Babri masjid, setting off a chain of events that allowed the BJP-led NDA to form a government at the Centre for the first time just over five years later. The UPA government will retain office for the present because it possesses the instruments of office: control over the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Enforcement Directorate among others – and therefore over the way Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad vote in Parliament. The only outcome the UPA government truly fears is being voted out of office. That would dry up its financial pipeline. Most politicians regard being in government not as an obligation to serve the citizen but to serve themselves. Being in opposition is not a profitable option for those used to being in government for 52 out of the past 64 years. With a mere 28.55% national vote share in the 2009 Lok Sabha election, there are two constituencies the Congress cannot afford to lose: Muslims and the Hindi heartland. Muslims give the Congress around 10% of its 28% vote share, which it protects fiercely through calibrated appeasement. The other 18% falls squarely in Baba Ramdev’s constituency: rural farmers and OBCs, not all of them natural BJP supporters. Baba Ramdev is a Yadav himself. The caste implications of his movement on the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and the next Lok Sabha poll could prove decisive. It could cost the Congress what it most fears losing: the power and protection of office. The writer is an author and chairman of a media group. Summer Of Opportunity J&K must devolve powers to panchayats ith the onset of summer, Jammu & Kashmir has reason to be cautiously optimistic. While a repeat of last year’s turmoil in the Kashmir valley needs to be avoided, the season holds out significant opportunities for change. On the security front, a lighter footprint for the army is advisable. It must deal with civilians with courtesy, and handle militants with the least possible collateral damage. When it comes to law and order issues, the emphasis needs to shift to smart policing with the local police taking the lead. Suitable training and equipment are needed to enable this. Past seasons of discontent have seen poor political communication on the part of the Omar Abdullah administration. This needs to be improved upon. However, key to dealing with public grievances is effective local governance. The 16-phase panchayat elections in the state, taking place after a decade, have seen sizeable and enthusiastic public participation. This needs to be leveraged by pushing development at the grassroots level. In this regard, the Centre has done well to impress upon the J&K government the need to devolve greater powers to the newly-elected panchayats. Under the current system, local MLAs enjoy overweening influence over financial allocations. It is imperative that appropriate amendments are made to the state’s Panchayat Act to transfer these powers to the panchayats. More so because funds allocated by the 13th Finance Commission and those under flagship projects such as NREGS are to be routed through these local bodies. Jammu & Kashmir has long been grappling with the problem of corruption leading to poor grassroots infrastructure. It is only through empowering panchayats and giving them greater say over finances that the trend can be reversed. ‘Most Nagas do not want the Indian state of Nagaland’ One of India’s smallest states is also among its biggest conundrums. With a history as chequered and intriguing as its topography, Nagaland is a bewildering mosaic of social and geopolitical complexities. In his book Nagaland: A Journey to India’s Forgotten Frontier, British journalist Jonathan Glancey tries to take a closer look at Nagaland. He shares his findings with Harsh Kabra: I Why a book on Nagaland? Because Nagaland is such a forgotten corner of the world. It isn’t at all well known even in India, and it is much misunderstood. I had known about the Naga hills from childhood. For me, at that stage of life, and as someone with a great love for India, this was a Secret Garden or Lost Kingdom, a land from a Kipling story. As i grew up, i remained curious. When i finally went to Nagaland in the early 1980s, i had the opportunity – not as a journalist – to tell the story of a people and a place that deserve recognition. I have been astonished by how little people in India know about Nagaland and its extraordinary history. Here, aside from a fascinating people with a rich culture, is a land that has been a junction box for political ambitions that have shaped the world. This is where the Japanese nearly invaded India in 1944. This is where China might have invaded in 1962. For any number of reasons, Nagaland matters. I Didn’t you come across varying, even contradictory, narratives of history? I would say that the vast majority of Naga people want independence from India. Being forced into Indian citizenship when the state of Nagaland was the federal government and in modern business, and these people – a small minority – do have a less intransigent view of where Nagaland stands in relation to India. I What is at the root of the Naga scepticism towards India? Nagas were promised their freedom by Mahatma Gandhi. This offer was revoked, and brutally so as events proved, by Jawaharlal Nehru and his successors. So there is a lack of trust. Nagas come from a very different background and culture. They still want their own country much, perhaps, as the , Irish did when ruled by Britain. I Isn’t Nagaland more at peace now with its current identity? Nagas are very happy with the idea of being Nagas; their attachment to their beautiful hills is profound. India cannot truly understand Nagaland because most Nagas do not want the Indian state of Nagaland. If more Indians were able or willing to travel through Nagaland, i think they would understand. After all, Indians worked hard for their independence. They, of all people, should understand the dream of an independent Nagaland. I Can modern India’s economic might counterpoise the Naga desire for independence? The desire for independence is deep-rooted. The Look East policy, driving economic development into Nagaland and the northeast generally, has helped many people in a matter-of-fact way. Yet, whenever i speak with Naga people, no matter how seemingly integrated into modern Indian life and even the global economy, i hear a longing for an independent Nagalim. And, as Nagas, whether villagers or professors in North America, told me, Nagaland is not for sale. W Q&A created in 1963 only strengthened the resolve of most Nagas. From then on, to fight for Nagalim – the dream of a greater Nagaland embracing all Naga tribes across state and international borders – meant being a subversive or traitor. This has not gone down well with Naga people. Of course, there are those who do well working with India & Bharat One can’t ‘progress’ at the expense of the other because the two are one Jug Suraiya I THEY I SAID IT What would you do if people forced their way into the house you and your family had been living in for generations and evicted you, giving you a token amount of money? What would you do if you were to be put in this life-threatening situation? Would you meekly accept it? Or would you feel that you had no option but to try and fight back by whatever means at your disposal, and no matter what the odds against you? As you sit in your home or office reading this, such a scenario seems absurd. After all, we live in a democracy where the rule of law prevails and the rights of property are respected. Such things could never happen to us. And yet this is exactly what is happening to many hundreds and thousands of our fellow citizens almost every day. They are the farmers of small holdings who are being forced out of their homes and their only means of self-employment when their land is acquired by governmental diktat to build a new township or put up a power plant or construct a highway. ‘Land acquisition’ has become the frontline in the escalating confrontation between rural Bharat and industrialised India. From Nandigram and Singur in West Bengal – where the backlash against a botched land-grab attempt helped oust the ruling Marxists after more than three decades in power – to Greater Noida in UP where farmers agitating against the takeover of their land by property developers made national headlines, the Bharat-India divide is being made starkly and often tragically clear. Can a ‘modern’ India – the India of factories and apartment buildings and commercial complexes and air-conditioned malls – ‘progress’ at the expense of an ageless Bharat, rooted in the soil? It can’t. Quite apart from the economic reality of rural demand being essential to the country’s overall economic growth, the presumed adversarial relationship between India and Bharat raises a number of questions of social and environmental equity. When the government intervenes on behalf of India to acquire land from Bharat for the sake of ‘public benefit’ who is this public that is benefiting, and at what cost and to whom? Such questions are going to acquire increasing urgency as India’s seemingly insatiable hunger for land grows sharper, displacing tribal and farming communities and making environmentally ruinous encroachments into forests and other fragile ecosystems. A national manufacturing policy which has been under discussion by the government and the industrial establishment for the past two years envisages the creation of a slew of integrated industrial townships, each of 12,500 acres, spread over the country The idea is . to raise the contribution made by manufacturing to the national economy from the current 15% of GDP to 25%, and to create an additional 100 million jobs by 2025. Land acquisition for these townships – or national investment and manufacturing zones (NIMZ) as they are officially being labelled – will be undertaken by the states where these industrial hubs are to be set up. Where is all this land to come from? Obviously from farms and villages, what is sometimes collectively referred to as Bharat. Will this become another confrontation between ‘modern’ India and ‘traditional’ Bharat? The land acquisition law proposed by the Mayawati government in UP – and which could well provide an example for the Centre and for other states – could help to avoid such conflicts. The UP law makes it mandatory for buyers to deal directly with the owners of the land. Only after 70% of the local community has agreed to the sale, can the state government step in and help conclude the deal, which not only fixes land prices at market rates but also guarantees jobs and a royalty on the land sold which is payable for a fixed number of years. The most important aspect, however, is not the letter but the spirit of the law: it recognises a reality that is often forgotten, that India and Bharat are not two opposing entities but one. One cannot ‘progress’ at the expense of the other, because there is no ‘other’ to exploit but itself. In Pune’s Yerawada there is a mental hospital, he (Digvijay Singh) should be taken there Good thing Bapu’s glasses were stolen. He doesn’t need to see what we’ve done to our country – GAURAV KAPUR, TV presenter, on the state of the nation I’m going to make the Indian team play like the world’s greatest team, Barcelona – ARMANDO COLACO, new Indian football coach, on his aims for the team – ANNA HAZARE, social activist, on the Congress general secretary accusing him of RSS links I SACRED S PAC E Songs of Kabir I Riding The Storm Of Life spend quiet time in the garden, in silent communication with plants and trees. We endure e do not have to go to the foot of the life’s storms and learn to absorb its shocks Himalayas to attain inner peace. We and we find that we are, in fact, in the midst of also do not need to renounce every- all these circumstances, communing with thing before attaining quietude. Instead, we God, a tangible presence in our lives. can live day to day in inner quietude. If we look Coping is not just reactive, it’s proactive, at all of life’s experiences and their disturbing too. We pick up the mantle thrown to us and content with inner eyes, the disturbances we practise patience, detachment, endurance, undergo will remain at the periphery. Deep serenity and acceptance of all that comes our down there will be an emotional quiet. way To overcome obstacles and difficulties . Inner peace is all about coping. If the we need to develop coping skills that encomunpleasant and painful memories remain pass emotional, mental and spiritual needs. too long with us, we will not make the transiThe only difference between the wise and tion that we are called to make from restless the foolish is that the wise learn to cope with renon-acceptance to quiet acceptance. ality and transform it and the foolish get swept We are in a win-win situation away by the ups and downs of life. when we accept the challenge of Life is uncertain; it is unpredictliving, discriminating how far we able. It is also unfair, it seems. But in should go along a certain track, who learning to cope with all the ups and we should relate to in more intimate down of life, we begin to live a full life. terms and those we need to There is the parable of the distance because their values are wise man in the gospels who built so disparate from our own. his house on rock. It withstood all THE If we are self-sacrificing and the rains and storms. On the other I SPEAKING I wise, we will remain calm and tranhand, the man who built his house quil despite the provocations we on sand watched his house get TREE face. We do not avoid difficult peodestroyed in the rain and storm. ple and circumstances, but learn to deal with Hence, we need to cultivate rock-like resilithem by distancing ourselves from them and ence and welcome attributes that will help us building on relationships that bring happiness. to cope. The reward of inner strength is inner Withdrawal is an option but it would lead peace. Right here, in your living room, your to disengagement and non-involvement and workplace, in your family you will find inner that does not bring required results. The peace. We do not have to look too far. Once we learn to cope, the going will be inner peace we crave comes after traversing a long passage. Learning with experience, we easier and there will be no need for camoubegin to take things in our stride. It’s not all flage. There is no need to hide our real selves. We will be able to stand up and meet life on our that easy, though. There are many ways to cultivate and own terms. And experience the fulfilment of a build on inner peace. We could set some pilgrimage well weathered. time aside daily for prayer and meditation. www.speakingtree.in Disproportionate understanding can blow Join the world’s first spiritual networking up the way we perceive things. We could site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Janina Gomes I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX SECOND The Lord is in me, and the Lord is in you,/ As life is hidden in every seed./ So rubble your pride, my friend,/ And look for Him within you… This is the music/ That transcends all coming and going. Do not go to the garden of flowers!/ O Friend! go not there;/ In your body is the garden of flowers./ Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus, and there gaze on the Infinite Beauty . O servant, where dost thou seek Me?/ Lo! I am beside thee./ I am neither in temple nor in mosque: I am neither in Kaaba nor in Kailash:/ Neither am I in rites and ceremonies, nor in Yoga and renunciation./ If thou art a true seeker, thou shalt at once see Me: thou shalt meet Me in a moment of time. Devotion should be like the river that retains water even in the hottest season. Today is Kabir Jayanti. W Everybody’s debate With reference to the editorial ‘Get The Message’ (June 14), the UPA government’s second term is proving costly to the people who are now eager for a change. The view of some Congress leaders that only elected representatives should debate the Lokpal Bill is appalling. Such a stance won’t go down well with the electorate. Further, with rigging common in our elections and a large section of society, particularly the intelligentsia, not participating in the process, the representative character of our elected leaders is suspect. Hence, a wider debate on the drafting process of the Lokpal Bill will only increase the credibility of the government. Equally pressing is the need to push forward electoral, police and administrative reforms to restore people’s faith. T D Thampi, VIA EMAIL OPINION Question of privacy With reference to the editorial ‘No Banana Republic’ (June 6), tapping of phones by the government is a breach of individual rights. By engaging in the practice, the government has thrown the constitutional principles of liberty and privacy out of the window. Its logic for allowing phone tapping is based on safeguarding national security, which is hardly convincing. National security cannot be strengthened by suppressing citizens’ rights. If anything, recent goof-ups by our security agencies in the most-wanted list given to Pakistan indicate where the problem really lies. The government should first improve the efficiency of these agencies. Ashish Krishna, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY WINSTON CHURCHILL, British statesman OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011 I I never worry about action, but only inaction. What’s In A Name? Everything, to judge by the SlutWalks that are reinforcing rather than changing sexist attitudes Vinita Dawra Nangia Arrest The Drift The OECD echoes spreading concern about India’s growth story f UPA-II needs any further encouragement to end its policy drift, there’s a new OECD report. It argues inclusive growth will continue only if ‘administrative and regulatory barriers facing companies are reduced’. The report’s timing couldn’t be better, coming as it does before Pranab Mukherjee’s Washington trip. Accompanying him will be the country’s economic heavyweights. They’re being deployed to reassure investors that India remains a safe bet in the medium and long term. It will however take more than smooth talking to renew confidence. The gravity of the situation is highlighted by various economic indices. FII flight totalled $1.44 billion last month. Industrial growth declined from 7.3% in March to 4.4% in April. Overall at 7.8%, growth is now at its slowest in five quarters. Despite this slowdown, inflation roars ahead. Headline inflation has reached 9.06% and a major cause is food inflation at 9.01%. The inverted shape of the bond yield curve suggests an impending slowdown, as short-term bonds have higher yield than long-term ones. With elections scheduled for 2014, UPA-II has only a brief window of opportunity to push supply-side reforms and ensure we aren’t trapped by stagflation. Meanwhile, corruption not only sends bad signals about the economy and governance, the continuing political crisis and gridlock over corruption has diverted government attention from urgent economic and foreign policy issues. UPA-I was internationalist, delivered the nuclear deal and helped diversify our energy basket. There has been no comparable foreign policy innovation in UPA-II. What’s more, the Nuclear Liabilities Act is undermining the deal by putting off nuclear suppliers. UPA-II must return to its internationalism and bring India in line with global protocols. That would help cut inflation and renew the economy. Ditching the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act would help, because it’s degenerated into a cartel paying farmers only a fraction of what it charges consumers. Meanwhile, passing the Land Acquisition Bill into law would reassure investors, as it would facilitate the acquisition of land for industry. Devising a system of food coupons or cash transfers, coupled with the institutionalisation of Aaadhar, could tackle fiscal haemorrhages because it would channel aid directly to the poor, rather than through a bureaucracy adept at siphoning money. Much of this is echoed by the OECD report whose overall thrust is to rationalise rules. If UPA-II takes heed, India could make double-digit growth a reality But that’s implausible so long as GST and DTC remain unimple. mented. Similarly reforming the retail and education sectors would help , remedy the dire economic situation. I housands of women across the globe are marching in protest against the idea that what they wear and how they behave makes them a target for sexual assault. Popularly called SlutWalks, these marches have garnered media attention and hype as much for the controversial name as for the provocative dressing – rather, undressing – women have chosen as a form of protest. The global feminist protest was triggered by a Canadian police officer, who, in a talk on public safety delivered at York University in Toronto, suggested women should avoid dressing like ‘sluts’ if they wished to avoid sexual assaults – thus effectively blaming women for rapes and absolving men of responsibility . The officer was made to apologise instantly, but the incident had fired up women’s ire against the centuries-old ‘She asked for it’ excuse men give for rapes. Viral communication effectively did the rest to translate the movement into the biggest global feminist movement the world has seen in decades. The outburst of protest originating in Canada SlutWalked its way to the US, Europe and on to England last weekend. And now, Delhi will soon see its own SlutWalk. Of course it is ludicrous to suggest that a woman invites sexual aggression against herself. T Nothing justifies rape. Moreover, rape is as much part of the world where women traditionally cover themselves from head to toe as it is of the world where they wear barely-there clothes. But equally ludicrous is the manner in which women around the world have reacted – by taking off clothes and adopting the ‘slut’ word as signifying their right to dress as they please without attracting judgment. Donning fishnets, bras, stilettos and even going naked, they have ironically proved the veracity of the Canadian cop’s statement. The one thing SlutWalks across the globe have proved, Fighting for women’s rights or subverting feminism? When women across the globe step out dressed as sex objects in the name of feminism, it is time to sit up and figure out what went wrong unfortunately is that the quick, est and most effective way for women to grab headlines is to shed clothes. By parading around half-naked and proclaiming themselves ‘sluts’, these women have rolled back the work of serious feminists by a good many years. When women across the globe step out dressed as sex objects in the name of feminism – the very movement that fought to divest them of the ‘sex object’ tag – it is time to sit up and figure out what went wrong! Feminist movements have ensured that no woman need be ashamed of her feminity but , never implied that she has the right to strut her wares with an impunity that invites derision and, debatably even aggression. , Micro-minis and plunging necklines designed to show as much of backsides, thighs and cleavage as possible can by no stretch of imagination be construed as empowering for women. These may give young girls the satisfaction of being fashionable, but ask any girl if she would feel safer walking down a dark alley in normal clothes or in a bustier, micromini and fishnet stockings! Participation in defiant marches with provocative slogans across bosoms announcing ‘Proud sluts’ or ‘We are all chambermaids’ or ‘Can’t touch this without consent’ or ‘I’m scantily clad; nobody is raping me!’ draws attention for all the wrong reasons, however worthy the cause. The manner in which we dress or deport ourselves certainly has an impact on the way we get treated. And that holds true for both men and women. A woman who covers herself modestly sends out completely different signals to the world than does another who bares her body A woman who bares more . skin than the norm is definitely using her body to advertise her sexuality and sending out the message that she wishes to attract interest. Unfortunately the ‘slut’ brigade is managing to reinforce that impression. The issue here seems not a protest against rape as much as for the right to be called and act like a ‘slut’, whatever that may mean. True, pejorative words like ‘slut’ and ‘whore’ have been used by men forever to put women down. Also true that historical linguistics shows pejorative terms have sometimes been later adopted as nonpejorative, but is that what all the fight is about? The desire to reclaim the ‘slut’ word is as absurd an idea as fighting for the right to be called ‘evil’, ‘cruel’ or a ‘moron’. ‘Slut’ as a word traditionally has a negative connotation, meaning a dirty slovenly , woman and later referring to women who are free with their sexual favours. No matter how hard women across the world try , they cannot now imbue it with a positive hue and announce all women are ‘sluts’ and should be respected as such. It is not pejorative words as much as pejorative minds that need to undergo a change. Meanwhile, men, obviously mesmerised by the female charms on display globally , haven’t even taken cognisance of the implied insult to them in the beleaguered cop’s statement. The Canadian cop’s statement seems to imply all men, without exception, are likely to jump the next woman they perceive to be dressed like a ‘slut’. To imply that all men are lascivious wolves waiting to pounce on women who dress scantily is more insulting to men than to women. In fact maybe men should soon be taking out ‘wolf marches’ after these SlutWalks! The Right Step Which way will the Left turn? New ministry guidelines to ban single men and live-in couples from adopting Narrow-minded approach he nanny state syndrome strikes Does this mean that anyone should be again. A dilapidated adoption sys- allowed to adopt? Of course not. With human tem, seriously deficient maternal trafficking the risk it is in India – and abuse, and child care, mortality rates for both sexual and otherwise, a terrible possibility – vulnerable groups far beyond acceptable adoption guidelines must adequately safelevels – these are all crucial issues today guard the child’s interests. But this does not . Yet, instead of focussing on these areas, equate to a blanket rule the ministry of women and child develop- arbitrarily disqualifying ment has decided that it needs to dabble a huge potential pool of in social engineering. That seems to be adoptive parents who are the only explanation for its new guidelines – a stern, finger-wagging I T I M E S V I E W I message that giving a child a loving, secure home is the prerogative of tradi- both financially capable tionally married couples. and genuinely desirous of By doing this, a ministry that is sup- giving an adopted child a posed to look after the welfare of women and loving home. Such things children has ensured that their situation are best decided on a casewill worsen. Consider that according to a by-case basis. And for that, 2007 Unicef report, there were 25 million the ministry should be reorphans in India with only 3,332 adoptions vamping creaking adoption infrastructure. taking place the previous year. Consider that It should be boosting its capabilities to those numbers have worsened in the inter- thoroughly vet potential adoptive parents, vening years – and now assess the ministry’s married, live-in or single. It should be putguidelines. It has, in effect, taken a look at a ting in place child protection services to terrible imbalance and put its thumb on the follow up on adopted kids. It should be. But it scales to make the imbalance even worse. seems it has other matters on its mind. Needed to protect children hen it comes to child adoption, there’s a basic question to ask. Whose interest should prevail – that of the child or adopting parents? If it’s the child, then the ministry of women and child development’s bid to introduce stricter adoption rules, particularly for single men and live-in partI T he two factions of the Indian communist movement – the CPI and CPM – might be on the road to reunion. The Communist Party of India split in 1964. Thorny issues included allegiance to Soviet Russia or communist China, participation in India’s multiparty democracy and internal factionalism. Today all of these have fallen by the wayside. While Soviet Russia resides , only in memory, communist China’s embraced market forces, driven by – and driving – the global profit motive. Meanwhile, the CPM’s participation in India’s electoral process vanquished notions of revolution being preferable to representation. And the Left’s recent electoral showing reflects such a shrunken base as to minimise internal power struggles. Instead, the groups would do well to consolidate what they’ve retained, then try expansion. They could find fertile ground. With conflicts over land acquisition, workers’ rights and growing inequities, the Left could provide a political platform to the marginalised. With its record of maintaining communal harmony, avoiding dynastic practice and minimising monetary corruption, it could provide an alternative to the Congress and BJP. However, it’ll have to provide much more, including a radical re-imagining of market forces. Across the world, Left parties have realigned themselves to the word ‘profit’, once perceived as pure poison, now seen as a force for social good. With India undergoing great economic change, the Left would look moribund persisting with opposition to private enterprise. Further, with demands for greater transparency and devolution of political power palpable over India today, the Left, with its heavyfisted, overarching controls, looks out of step. Pondering reunion, this is an interesting juncture for India’s Left, facing mothballs or modernity. T W COUNTERV Jay Kumar ners, is justified. Any child needs a secure place for healthy growth and development. And such security can only be provided in a home with a mother and father, who are loving as well as socially stable. Such a family can best nurture an adopted child and inculcate a strong sense of bonding. Before we plead for relaxing rules for live-in couples, we need to ask whether they can create ideal family conditions for child rearing. Socially these unmarried partners , still carry a stigma. The stigma may be unfair, but it will nevertheless impact adopted children’s psychology . Also, a legally married couple’s level of commitment to each other is likely to be higher than that in live-in relationships, providing for greater family and social stability Their case . is even stronger when it I E W I comes to available resources like the support of extended family and friends as a back-up system. In the case of single parent adoption, the ‘missing’ other half means the child starts with an inherent disadvantage, as against identifying with both the parents. The case of single men is even more dubious. It is difficult to ascertain whether they can strike a balance between the two roles – a sympathetic ‘mother’ and a provider ‘father’. Moreover, the chances of child abuse increase in such cases. It’s best to keep them out of the adoption loop. High rise lows Non-cooperative housing societies and their growing Yahoo tribes Bachi Karkaria SNAP JUDGMENT Healthy Price War Laying New Tracks Terms Of Endearment Jayalalithaa’s JDelhi darshan hasbreezy kept the Congress guessing. While copious amounts of tea would have been needed to swallow Amma’s tirade against P Chidambaram, her hard-to-get attitude has Congress pundits revising their horoscopes. Perhaps she has learnt from her southern rival ruing his bad friendship. In these tumultuous times, successful political matrimony demands hard bargaining on the pre-nup. I I Two years ago i came to live in a new housing development called Dosti Flamingos. When i first invited a friend over, she exclaimed, ‘Is that really its name? Sounds like a Gay nightclub.’ Indeed, life here can be over the top, but not in ways which endorse Art 377. Moving from the lowslung, sylvan idyll of the Dadar Parsi Colony into a high-rise plonked into Mumbai’s crumbling mill heartland was a cultural long jump. A colony cousin recoiled in horror and, with a shudder that ran from the tip of her long Parsi nose to the hem of her short Parsi frock, sniffed, “Kahan apru Five Gardens, ney kahan Sewree!” She pronounced it like ‘sewer’. Despite the multiplying tower blocks, we are light years away from the flashy entertainment planet of Lower Parel on the other side of the bridge. Nevertheless, our joys and ploys reflect the new urban sociology Ours may . not be the megapolis that some housing developments are, but our complex is certainly equal to a Tier II town, with its own nuanced community Yes, we are . an all-dues-paid part of the larger network of silo cities across an India that is on the fast lane out of Bharat. As the ultimate token of Having Arrived, each of our four exotically named blocks has its own Yahoo group mail. This is the post-millennial habitat’s MIS, CCTV ombudsman and punching bag all rolled into one. The , barrage of mails provides not merely the pulse of our tower, but the complete blood count. It indicates exactly what’s wrong with the system, and does so, unasked, unrelentingly and in no uncertain terms. If the complex as a whole can be compared to the municipal corporation, the Yahoo group mails are the sachet version of the national malaise. The ugly schism between elected representatives and ‘civil society’ finds its counterpart in the charges against the Managing Committee (MC) and the defence of its members who have volunteered their time, energies, and PAs for this thankless task. ‘Cooperative housing society’ (CHS) is clearly as much of a misnomer as ‘civil society’. And, terms of endearment are not a notable feature of our Yahoo group’s terms of engagement either. When our groupies aren’t clashing with the MC, they clash among themselves, not unlike the different ‘civil society’ wannabes. Here too, the division is between elitists and the less varnished. Between the PLUs who know all about garbage separation and the mercifully minuscule PLTs who simply chuck stuff out of the window. An anguished volley of e-complaints spewed from the owner of a flat above the porch canopy; it had become a dump of unbelievable unmentionables. However, as in larger society we unite in the face of a common threat. , Initially, Public Enemy No. 1 was The Builder, suspected, as always, of deploying stamp duty, terrace rights, and the corpus fund to subvert the smooth transfer of power to our nascent CHS. Then, confronted by a strike of the complex’s housekeeping staff, public-spirited residents marched down on the clarion call of Yahoo to perform kar seva. An outside enemy also exercises our mail group. New sets of housing developments down the road are now complete, leading to the inevitable mutiny of the ‘Chhutta-kaamwali’ Corps. The maids are already threatening to decamp en masse to our desperate new neighbours and the seductive ‘pagaar’ on offer. Less chronic but acutely traumatising was a feature even more typical of Mumbai than fickle part-time ‘bais’. A squatters’ colony sprang up almost overnight, but ours was of beehives. Till their ruthless demolition, they had unleashed a swarm of group mails. Some were honeyed, some had a sting – much like urban group living itself. *** Alec Smart said, “Father’s day should be the Netas’ National Day.” ndia’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC), IndiGo, is all set to trigger a healthy price war. Starting September, it will begin daily international flights to Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore. Barring Air India Express, no Indian LCC has this kind of reach. Given the need for greater competitive pricing, the government would do well to incentivise Indian LCCs to fly international routes by relaxing the 5-year domestic operations norm. W ith Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan due to retire at the end of the year, the hunt for a suitable replacement must begin forthwith. The Metro has received accolade as a rare example of a world-class public sector project in India, made possible by Sreedharan’s inspirational leadership. It remains to be seen whether the institution can sustain itself, or whether a transition in leadership will affect its operations. I SACRED S PAC E Lunar Eclipse I The Value Of Uncertainty Certainty and comfort are hardly conducive to transformation. ore than ever before, we face a rising A key phase of transformation is the stage tide of uncertainty about the future of confusion, discomfort and uncertainty , – about our personal lives and the when time seems to pass at a different pace and purpose and meaning of our religious, when the space around us seems unfamiliar. political, financial and social institutions. We live for a while in that nowhere land, someSeveral solid and assuring certainties of times where between ‘no longer’ and ‘not yet’. But past seem to be melting, and we live in what without that unsettling period, where most of philosopher Zygmunt Bauman poetically our learning and growth actually happens, we refers to as “liquid times”. do not come through to the other side changed We become strikingly aware that life’s and better equipped for what life has to offer. lessons are to be learnt on a daily basis. And The one certainty is that life is uncertain. one of the greatest teachers is uncertainty . We often live as though nothing will change, “Are you sure?” is something we hear again but it does. The continuous battle between and again as we are growing up, and wanting things to stay the same and so we come to believe we always ought finding that nothing stays the same to be certain. However, there is often creates tension in us. We choose to real value in uncertainty . respond either with fear or helplessLet’s start with when assumpness, or with eager acceptance of what tions masked as certainty block us lies ahead. The fear we have of moving from seeing other perspectives, or forward, trying something new, from learning new things. There THE and changing direction is often are moments when it definitely helps to be certain – or as certain SPEAKING actually an unwillingness to handle as one possibly can be – but let’s uncertainty The danger is in getting . TREE also give uncertainty a chance. stuck in it, wallowing in the ‘confuUncertainty invites us to slow down in sion’ phase too long, by not seeing it for the order to understand, to see better, to live opportunity it offers for spiritual growth. The better. In ‘Letters to a Young Poet’, Rainer gift that uncertainty offers is its ability to Maria Rilke holds up questions as the repre- move us on. sentations of uncertainty and invites us to A helpful practice to develop comfort with be patient towards all that is unsolved in our uncertainty is found in repeating Thich Naht hearts. “Do not now seek the answers, which Hanh’s simple gatha, “Present moment, cannot be given to you because you would wonderful moment.” It encapsulates the not be able to live them. And the point is, to Buddha’s teaching that life is available only live everything. Live the questions now. in the present moment, and helps us underPerhaps you will find them gradually without stand that whatever lies ahead might well be , noticing it, and live along some distant day a series of wonderful moments. Follow Marguerite Theophil on our website. into the answer.” We so badly want things in life to be predictwww.speakingtree.in able; we want all our choices to be good ones. Join the world’s first spiritual networking But we also claim we long for transformation. site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Marguerite Theophil E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Pointing fingers With reference to the article ‘A Scam Too Far’ (June 7) by Swapan Dasgupta, we, the people of India, should start using our brains more than our hearts when talking about democracy. Do we understand what it stands for and what rights we are entitled to as citizens of a democratic nation? Most of us support Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev’s campaigns. But do we pledge not to offer a bribe to a policeman when caught for violating traffic rules? Ordinary people may argue that the level of corruption is vastly different. But if we can’t resist the easy corruption at low levels, would we really be honest when offered positions of power? I am not supporting our corrupt politicians but we need to realise that it is easy to point fingers when the taint is on others. Shachee Swadia, VADODARA ERRA TICA Thy shadow, Earth, from Pole to Central Sea, Now steals along upon the Moon's meek shine In even monochrome and curving line Of imperturbable serenity. How shall i link such sun-cast symmetry With the torn troubled form i know as thine, That profile, placid as a brow divine, With continents of moil and misery? And can immense Mortality but throw So small a shade, and Heaven's high human scheme Be hemmed within the coasts yon arc implies? Is such the stellar gauge of earthly show, Nation at war with nation, brains that teem, Heroes, and women fairer than the skies? Thomas Hardy M Bring back India’s money With reference to the editorial ‘Carrots And Sticks’ (June 7), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has tried to justify his government’s eviction of Baba Ramdev from the capital’s Ramlila Maidan. However, the PM and his government should show the same sense of urgency and purpose in getting back India’s national assets in the form of black money stashed abroad in safe havens. For ordinary people, it hardly matters whether Ramdev was funded or supported by the opposition party, or any other group opposed to the Congress. What matters to them is that Ramdev raised a pertinent issue in relation to our economy. Instead of dithering on the real issue, the government would do well to bring that money back to the country. Divekar M S, BANGALORE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] Guru Hargobind Singh Jayanti God first created light, we are born out of it. The whole world came out of a single spark; Who is good and who is bad? The Creator is in the creation, and the creation in the Creator, He is everywhere. Gurbani
[email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/erratica 18 ■ THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY ■ KAPIL SIBAL, Union HRD minister OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011 I want to reach out to parents and students and tell them don’t worry…we will take care of this irrationality. The Future Is Now The Indian military must move swiftly on defence reforms if it wants to become a 21st century force Anit Mukherjee Learn The Lesson Boost higher education sector by making it more competitive ome of Delhi University’s premier colleges have generated controversy by announcing very steep cut-offs for admission, going as high as 100% for entry into a commerce institution. This indicates a deeper malaise plaguing our higher education system. Over the years, prestigious colleges have used admission cut-offs to advertise brand value. If cut-offs are meant to reflect how sought-after colleges are, they’re also used to counter what some educationists call the “trend of inflating results” at board levels. Either way , students are the victims. If they can’t afford to get anything short of a perfect score to get into their dream colleges, it points to a severe demand-supply imbalance. That one popular DU college received over 21,000 applications for just 420 seats exemplifies the problem. We have a serious dearth of quality institutions, a situation that’ll only worsen without urgent systemic reform. The problem lies in the government’s approach to higher education in general. For far too long the education sector has laboured under the mistaken notion that government alone can facilitate the creation and running of top quality universities. This has led to an administrative regime marked by rigid rules and regulations stifling the growth of colleges. The crunch for seats combined with irrational admission norms has spawned a capitation fee culture, especially in the south. Universities have little room to innovate and, with academic promotions a matter of loyalty rather than merit, there’s little incentive for cutting-edge research. While capacity building has been stymied by official caprice, teaching methodology is largely focussed on churning out degree-holders. No surprises then that Indian universities fare poorly on most international rankings. The government does have a huge role to play in expanding education, especially at the primary and secondary school levels. But it needs to encourage the private sector to build capacity at the university level. This requires creating a level playing field for such investors and giving universities and institutes far greater autonomy Ultimately it is the market that determines the real . , value of a college degree. It’s when universities have the freedom to structure curriculum, hire teaching staff based on merit and seek independent funding for research that competition will raise overall standards. As also increase access to quality education for greater numbers of aspirants. There’s bound to be resistance to change from vested interests within government and the academic community. Both must realise that the education pie needs to be enlarged by bringing in more private players in the field. There’s a case for institutional and private philanthropy in higher education as well. Investments, however, will only be forthcoming if the sector is freed up, giving greater independence to institutions. Policy reform, based on this shift in perspective, is imperative to give higher education the boost it so badly needs. S t a seminar held in New Delhi recently to mark the 10th anniversary of the Arun Singh committee on the management of defence, Chief of Air Staff P V Naik reignited the chief of defence staff (CDS) controversy when he claimed that it was not needed. His claims notwithstanding, there are significant problems in tactical interoperability, defence planning and overall coordination that suggest otherwise. The defence reforms process, initiated over a decade ago, has largely failed to deliver. Significantly, however, the Arun Singh committee itself was flawed in its approach. Hence, instead of contradicting the Kargil review committee, Naik would do better to focus on the need for the next generation of defence reforms. That the services lack the capability to operate seamlessly has been proven time and again in operations. During the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, the army used to embed its radio detachments with naval ships and air force attack helicopters to enable communication links. Among the few instances where the army requested naval gunfire support, the navy engaged targets two kilometres away! More recently, during the Kargil war in 1999, air force jets did not have the capability to communicate with troops operating on the front. In fact, the air force did not have secure, encrypted communication capability (and still does not) in some of its planes, forcing A them to fly in radio silence – a characteristic of the WW II era. Similarly, intelligence gathering and analysis has been one of our weakest links. There are reports that in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, while the air force was prepared to carry out surgical raids, it was hampered by a lack of accurate intelligence on the location of terror facilities in Pakistan. It was to obviate some of these weaknesses, recognised during the Kargil war, that the Arun Singh committee was formed. It comprised 11 people with varying backgrounds and experience. In carrying out its mandate, the committee deliberated over testimonies from dif- Praying for better sense at the top of the military food chain? There are significant problems in tactical interoperability, defence planning and overall coordination. The defence reforms process, initiated over a decade ago, has largely failed to deliver ferent stakeholders. However, it did not examine the files that obviously illuminate the functioning of different organisations. Hence, its analysis was more opinion based than data driven. For instance, when it argued that “the COSC [Chiefs of Staff Committee] has not been effective in fulfilling its mandate”, it did not provide any evidence for this claim. An examination of the files of the COSC would have been more helpful in identifying the structural problem, which probably is the difficulty in making controversial decisions in a consensus-based committee. As a result, the Arun Singh committee’s recommendation was simplistic – appointment of a CDS. For historical and bureaucratic reasons, this measure was not approved. As an illustrative example, the Arun Singh committee can be imagined as a group of car mechanics who attempted to fix the vehicle based on their opinions of what was wrong without once opening the hood. But this in itself should not be surprising, for a similar methodology was adopted by subsequent reform committees like the Kelkar committee, the Defence Expenditure Review committee and so on. The conclusion, though, should be startling – the government of India bases its national security policies on opinions of stakeholders rather than facts. This is not to deride the efforts of the people who manned these committees – it is difficult if not impossible to get bureaucracies to share their files. If, somehow, the government does decide to revisit defence reforms, then it should begin by re-examining the issue of integration of armed forces headquarters with the ministry of defence. While the Kargil review committee recommended such a measure, the Arun Singh committee simply devolved financial powers and recommended a change in the nomenclature of the ministry Many in the armed . forces erroneously believe that this measure is the ‘silver bullet’ that will resolve all problems. In fact, there is a need to have an agency that can deliberate over proposals emanating from service headquarters and examine them purely on its merit. However, the manning of such an agency should be expertise based, which is impossible in the generalist civil service system. It might be instructive, therefore, considering our similarities, to study how the British ministry of defence functions – more so as they are presently engaged in organisational reform. Next, we will have to revisit the conceptual relevance of CDS. Currently there is little , enthusiasm for creating this post. Moreover, it is not even clear if the CDS will automatically enhance jointness. Instead, one of the issues that require deliberation is perhaps the need to have a joint chiefs of staff system with integrated theatre commands. This measure was deliberated upon by the Arun Singh committee but was discarded as too futuristic. That future might be upon us now. Finally the government , must re-examine its entire declassification policy It is . simply untenable to deny scholars access to documents post-1960. This is also a problem of capacity as there is no office or officer designated to declassify and release documents for scholarly study All . of these measures ultimately require deliberations at the highest levels of the cabinet. And that is what the service chiefs should lobby for. The writer is research fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The Next Stage Afghanistan and US troop withdrawal atters are heating up in Afghanistan. The post-Abbottabad situation was always going to be a tricky one, but just how tricky is being revealed now with the July 2011 kick-off date for the drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan fast approaching. Just a few days ago, CIA chief Leon Panetta travelled to Islamabad to confront the generals with evidence of possible cooperation between the Pakistani military and pro-Afghan Taliban militants. And now, Islamabad is sending an equally clear message by targeting informants who helped the US track Osama bin Laden to Abbottabad. In this vitiated atmosphere, it seems clear that despite domestic pressure, US President Barack Obama should not be precipitate in weakening the American presence in Afghanistan – or the Taliban, backed by Rawalpindi, will be in a position to undo all the hard-won gains of the past decade. Plainly, domestic compulsions or no, Washington is aware of this. Hence the reports of secret talks between US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and the Afghan government about an arrangement that would see US military power based in the country indefinitely. While India, Russia and China have all expressed concern, such a move could prove beneficial in the short to medium term. New Delhi must push for more inclusiveness in deciding Afghanistan’s future. The US should stay involved, but a regional approach that pulls in as many of Afghanistan’s neighbours as possible is desirable as well. Pulling out and leaving Afghanistan to the Taliban and ISI, and turning the country into a US outpost are two extremes, both dangerous. Washington must find the middle path, maintaining a military presence but also bringing Afghanistan’s neighbours on board. ‘India’s voice is being heard with considerable attention’ Foreign minister S M Krishna attended the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ meeting at Godollo in Hungary where he spoke with Deep K Datta-Ray: ■ As India’s foreign minister, you are invited to innumerable meetings. Why did you come to this one? This conference is important because it’s a bridge between two extremely important parts of the world – Europe and Asia. A large part of actually devising relations is to get a feeling for the thinking in other capitals and since i can’t visit all of them, this is an excellent forum for all of us to work together and to hold bilateral meetings. That’s why we decided to come. ■ Having engaged your European counterparts, what are the particular commonalities and differences in our relations with the European Union? The commonalities are multiple. They’re political and multisectoral. Broadly speaking, there’s trade and economic growth. The Europeans want to be a part of the Indian growth story. This is encouraging from our point of view because we’re interested in deepening our engagement with the European Union (EU). As for differences, i can’t really think of anything noteworthy at this level. That’s not to say that there’s perfect alignment between us. There are differences but these are relatively technical and minor compared to the overall situation. One has to go very deep into the relations individual European countries have with us to actually find discordant notes in what’s a fine symphony. ■ The EU is our largest trading partner and we’re currently working on an India-EU FTA. will be realised this year. We’re committed to it happening. ■ What were the main issues for India at this conference? Was climate change raised? India has such a broad and deep relationship with the EU. In a meeting like this what we do is to get, and give, exposés without going deep into any particular issue. The general theme has been non-traditional security threats but still, there are multiple issues. They include climate change and how the developed and developing world can ensure growth while not destroying the environment. An issue of great significance to us was nuclear safety We’ve agreed to take a . new look at nuclear safety issues and stressed that the IAEA should take a lead role in maintaining nuclear safety . Ministers are briefed, and we comment on our take at such meetings. In short, it’s stocktaking, a forum to exchange views, requiring much preparation by our foreign ministry working in conjunction with other ministries. The main thing is to understand other people’s point of view and to appreciate them. ■ Do you find the Europeans understand and appreciate our point of view? Yes i think so. India’s voice is being heard with considerable attention. If i may say so somewhat immodestly, with respect too. ■ EU parliamentarians have a focus group for India. Why don’t we have something similar for them? Parliament is the exclusive domain of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the chairman in the Rajya Sabha. The executive has very little elbow room to move in a particular direction. All that can be done is to make the request that it is necessary to reciprocate the EU’s interest in us. M Q&A What chance of it being realised by the end of this year? Indeed, the EU is our largest trading partner and both parties are working to realise an FTA. This will not only make trade easier between us but, we also hope, will facilitate the movement of peoples between India and the EU in certain professions. I’m hopeful that it Generation rap Youngistan and Oldistan can make for a lively jugalbandhi Jug Suraiya ■ THEY ■ SAID IT It is not going to be a Lokpal but a jokepal bill Forget me, even if Shakespeare were to come back and take an English exam today, he will not score 100% – SITARAM YECHURY, CPM politburo member, on cut-offs for college admissions I have a problem calling anything where you have to wear formal pants a sport My 24-year-old niece, Parul, from Baroda recently stayed with us for a bit, while she was doing a stint as a trainee executive in a nearby 5-star hotel. She proved to be a perfect houseguest, unobtrusive, undemanding and considerate. Self-confident and articulate, while being very much her own person, Parul is also representative of what is called Youngistan: the republic of youth which constitutes the major part of India’s overall population and which has given the country the demographic dividend of the 8%-plus growth which comes from having a lot of young people who have ahead of them long careers both as productive workers and as consumers keeping the economy buoyant. Yep, in many ways, India is blessed by its demographics, by its young people. And it’s not just in terms of its economy. For far too long, ours was a society in which being young was a literally minor but nonetheless irritating ailment – like mumps and measles – which had to be got over as quickly as possible so that one could gain the respectable – and respected – status of middle age and beyond. Young people – anyone under the age of 30 and/or unmarried – were deemed not to be sufficiently equipped with the wisdom of experience, which only age could bestow, to be allowed to make decisions for themselves, whether that decision involved matrimony career choice or what salwar or shirt to , wear when paying a family visit to Uncleji’s and Auntieji’s house. Age was an advantage, youthfulness a disadvantage, and between the two yawned the seemingly unbridgeable chasm of the generation gap. Today if anything, those traditional roles have been reversed. Youth is , wooed by potential employers and by producers of goods and services; age is often at a discount. Far from resenting it, i find the role-reversal stimulating. The energy zest and , intensity of the young is highly infectious, a benevolent virus that leaps across the erstwhile generation gap and transforms it into a generation rap: a jugalbandhi in which youth and age play counterpoint to each other and extemporise a new tempo. Talking to young people, listening to what they have to say about big things and small – about career prospects, or the latest app offered by BlackBerry or , the Meaning Of It All, if All indeed does have a Meaning – i get to know better my own opinions on the subject (BlackBerrys excluded, what with me being a totally techno-challenged dummy who can just about tell a Nokia from a Nike). Generation rapping is more than a comparing of ideas from different sides of a dividing fence; it’s an exchange of views using the common telescope of time. Senior cits like me tend to focus the telescope on the past, the future being a horizon far too close to bear magnified scrutiny. (Good god, did that really happen 30 years ago? Seems like only yesterday). With hardly any past to speak of, the young must turn time’s telescope to the distant realm of the future, which seems to grow more distant every day (When will i at last finish college, get a job, find someone i might want to spend the rest of my life with? Will it ever happen?). With the future so far away for the young time seems to pass with , maddening slowness. With the future already becoming the past as we look at it, for us who are no longer young time seems to accelerate with scary speed. Being with young people, full of future, helps slow down time for me. For the young, being with oldsters like me might help speed up time’s frustrating slowness (Don’t be so impatient for the future; it’ll be there all too soon, along with wrinkles and worries about your BP). So i’d like to thank Parul, and all of her generation, for the gift of future they give us. My regret is that the future they’ll inherit from my lot could have been much brighter and better. And maybe they’ll make it just that. I hope they do. – ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Lokpal joint drafting committee member, on the government’s version of the Lokpal Bill – ANDY RODDICK, tennis player, on cricket ■ SACRED S PAC E Selfless Service ■ What Is God’s Work? “My dear king!” said the bishop, “i need not have taken so much time or trouble to give . nce a proud but benevolent king you a reply However, i would request you to sent for his prime minister and said, call for my shepherd boy who will give you a “All of us have some definite work satisfactory answer.” The surprised king immediately sent for or assignment to perform. A king rules, a , soldier fights, a trader trades, a teacher the boy who promptly presented himself teaches and a preacher preaches, though before the king. His appearance was repulas individuals they do other things also. sive to everyone, but the court awaited his Then what is the primary function of the words with interest. “You, shepherd boy said the king, “do ,” Creator? Can you answer my question?” The minister was puzzled. No one knew, you know the answer to my question which and no book ever explained what God’s work even learned scholars are not aware of ?” The boy paused for a while and said, “My was. After some thought, he said, “I, too, have often wondered about this like you. But dear sir, before i answer your query, may i my duty here is to advise and assist you on request that proper protocol is observed. You are a student, as far as this question is worldly affairs. This involves spiriconcerned, since you want to learn. tual matters and the right person to I am a master as i am to give you answer you is our bishop.” the knowledge. Normally the master When the king repeated his quesoccupies a higher seat than the stution to the bishop, the bishop asked for dent.” After some hesitation the king a week’s time to reply. At the end of slowly came down from his throne the week, the bishop was sitting and let the boy sit on it. So eager under a tree on the outskirts of the THE was he to know the answer! town, thinking whether to face the ■ SPEAKING ■ But the boy, after ascending the king’s wrath the next morning, or throne, was calmly enjoying the to run away from the kingdom. TREE new-found dignity and did not A shepherd boy who was passing by enquired about the cause for his worry . speak for a while. Impatient, the king shouted The bishop brushed him aside, saying he was at the boy, “You fellow! Where is my answer? deeply worried about a spiritual matter. The What is God’s work?” The boy calmly replied, boy was quite insistent, and so the bishop “Here’s the answer, to push down the haughty and to push up the humble – that is God’s work!” related his trouble, without any hope of This is one of the 1,50,000 stories found in solution or solace from the boy . “My dear master,” said the boy “is that all the ancient puranas, which have relevance , that worries you so much? Please go in peace even in modern times. Acharya Ratnananda (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s to the king. Tell him that the shepherd boy father) left for his heavenly abode on June 8. Vaikunth knows the answer.” The surprised bishop begged the boy to Aradhana on June 19 at the Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore. Pritibhoj at 10 a.m. All are invited. give him the answer, but the boy preferred to www.speakingtree.in meet the king in person. So the bishop went home, and the next morning he was at the Join the world’s first spiritual networking court when the king eagerly asked for a reply . site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Acharya Ratnananda ■ E D I T PAG E■ MAILBOX JUGULAR VEIN
[email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ Living creatures are nourished by food, and food is nourished by rain; rain itself is the water of life, which comes from selfless worship and service. Bhagavad Gita 3.14 ✥ One who serves and seeks no recompense,/ Finds union with the Lord. Such a servant alone takes the Master's guidance, says Nanak,/ As on him is divine grace… Without selfless service are no objectives fulfilled; In service lies the purest action. Adi Granth ✥ Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. Mohammed Ali ✥ Man can never be a woman's equal in the spirit of selfless service with which nature has endowed her. M K Gandhi ✥ Freely we serve, because freely we love. John Milton O Why blame Congress alone? With reference to the article ‘The Heart Of Power’ (June 15) by Minhaz Merchant, the writer’s criticism of the Congress’s and UPA-II’s handling of the issue of corruption is justified. However, to blame the Congress alone for the problem is rather simplistic. Corruption has become a systemic malaise. It existed during the tenures of the NDA and United Front governments as well. If anything, the Congress-led UPA has its share of achievements like the RTI Act. Moreover, in an era of coalition politics, one cannot discount the compulsions created by smaller parties. The dominant coalition partner may have to look the other way when smaller partners run their ministries. The role of the DMK in the 2G spectrum scam is a case in point. A M Kumar, MUMBAI Dressed to protest With reference to the article ‘What’s In A Name?’ (June 16) by Vinita Dawra Nangia, the writer has entirely missed the point concerning ‘SlutWalks’. The very reason these protests are being held is to show that even if women choose to dress scantily, they should be able to move around in public and still feel safe. The movement has started in defiance of the viewpoint that women who bare more skin than the so-called ‘norm’ are at risk, as suggested by a Canadian police officer. Through SlutWalks, women are saying that they can dress how they want and still have the right to safety and security. Shivranjani Singh, JAIPUR We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2011 Punches From A Superstar The immortal thoughts of a box-office darling, when challenged by critics o there, Mr Clever Critic. I’ve proved you wrong – again. You said my new movie was unadulterated trash. Well, it’s hit unadulterated gold at the box office! Despite your nit-picking and nay-saying, I’ve shown it’s lip-syncing and hip-swinging that rule our audiences’ hearts. With some shirt-stripping. It’s not your fancy Fellini or smarty-pants Scorsese, but me, half-pant hottie, shaking up our box office – the world’s largest, may i add – for the last 20 years. You sneer that my flying-shirt act’s growing a little old while it’s actually getting better! Look at my muscles, my six-to-eight pack, my sturdy legs that both kick and pirouette. Which star in your beloved West has all this – or more? Frankly i didn’t have much either , when i started, but as they say persevere, puttar, and you , shall achieve. And achieve i have. I may not have won those prissy awards you keep raving about – Golden Bear or Diamond Duck – but i’ve broken every commercial record that matters, and some more too. For instance, looking dropdeadpan-handsome over two decades. Big deal if it involved hair transplants and a few other procedures we won’t go into right now. All that naach-gaana in the hot sun or pouring rain, thumka to tango through 20 years – and looking thrilled each time. Romancing heroines as fat as my yummy-mummy, then switching to Size Zero sweeties without missing a beat. It’s hard work. But someone’s got to do it. And that someone’s been me. And guess what? Despite all your moaning about regurgitated formulae and hackneyed plots, viewers adore me because of my record-breaking feats. I may not be able to put it properly in words but boy do my pectorals speak to , them. Why do you think they go mad when i tear off my shirt? It’s not because of chemistry dummy but because , , of history – they see every hour i’ve sweated it out, in gym and jail, my bulging body and heavy wallet speaking. They see their journey too – rayon to Teflon, frontbench ‘cheapsters’ to multiplex-hipsters, grubby popcorn in plastic packs to cheese and caramel feasts. When my shirt comes off, they see all the toil and tears it takes to make that ultimate blockbuster – the India story And . they love it. That’s why i’m still a superstar. Not an armchair intelli-gent complaining about unimaginative characters. Or saying art cinema doesn’t get the money my movies do. Of course it doesn’t! Who needs art when you have life in surround sound? Who needs sagas about struggle when i say it all with a whip of my shirt? When you criticise me, pal, you’re taking on total India. So yaar, quit carping. Or else fight it out, pen to sword (let’s just settle, once and for all, which is mightier!). After 20 years of guts and glory i’m so , Ready for you. The Baba Who Blew It Instead of bringing the government to its knees, he has banished himself to the loony fringe Chetan Bhagat S A few weeks ago, Baba Ramdev (henceforth referred to as Baba, given his dominant position in the Indian Baba industry) was a likeable man. His recent volatile moods apart, Baba is funny, articulate, teaches yoga, is a rooted Indian and immensely entertaining. I love his wonderful Hindi vocabulary. And yet, despite having the chance of a lifetime and coming awfully close, i am sorry to say that Baba blew it. This has life lessons for all of us on how not to blow it when you are almost home. To understand this, let us look at the Baba case study . Baba may have had his heart in the right place when it comes to corruption. His journey is inspiring as well. Coming from nowhere, he became the biggest yoga teacher in the world. Using personal charisma and something taught for free in India’s neighbourhood parks, he created an empire worth thousands of crores and touched millions. Baba’s mixed serving society and personal ambition, which isn’t a bad thing. Once at the zenith of the yoga game, and having the attention of millions, Baba started airing political views. Corruption became his cause but he also had a view on an India he wanted to see. Whether it was the kind of medicines we would have or the MNCs he wanted out, to views on sexuality. Some of Baba’s plans were good. However, many were outlandish. For example, Baba feels homosexuality is a disease curable with yoga asanas. He also wants to ban 1,000 and 500-rupee notes to kill black money. What if people with black money start to hoard dollars or gold? What about the inconvenience it will bring to the people who don’t have black money? Even at a policy level, Baba’s views are not clearly thought through. Baba wants non-tech MNCs out, but what exactly does that mean? Are banks non-tech? Should we kick out all the foreign banks and all the employment generating FDI with it? Baba’s recommendations were silly Still, . none of this mattered when Baba combined his charisma with A fatal fondness for the limelight has cost him his credibility Baba’s missteps have cost the anti-corruption movement. All anti-corruption activists could be clubbed with Baba. Even Anna’s team got dragged down with it saffron robes. Millions still followed him, for Indians rarely look at politics in a rational manner. It is all about the leader’s personal charm. Baba’s rise worried the central government. What the BJP could not do, Baba could do independently – curse the government and gather crowds at the same time. Baba could rise to be the communal-lite, a more palatable saffron dish for the masses. His big move was the June 4 fast. Many felt it wouldn’t work; after all, who wanted an Anna-me-too? But Baba made it work. From the start, he had success. The PM cajoled him not to go on a fast. India’s senior politicians rushed to the airport to greet him. More ministers met him at the Claridges hotel. The RSS (which currently includes any Hindu against corruption as per government definition), the BJP and almost anybody anti-Congress backed Baba. Even Anna and company boosted him, hoping this single yogi would add pressure on the government for the Lokpal Bill. The fast had barely begun. However, Baba had arrived, and how. Soon, the government panicked, fearing Baba’s becoming viral like Anna did. In a huge lapse of judgment, it used force to kick out the protesters. Baba hit the jackpot. He didn’t just have fame, he now had the most invaluable asset in Indian politics – public sympathy. The images of a helpless crowd being attacked by the police became Baba’s money shot. On the night of the police crackdown, Baba had become a legitimate, emerging star of Indian politics. And that is when Baba blew it. Right when the nation was in shock at the attacks and silence would have worked wonders, Baba was back on TV He screamed and . whined on prime time about the wrong done to him. Sympathy in India comes to those who are seen to suffer in silent dignity. But Baba can’t remain silent or resist TV cameras. He could have retreated, laid low for a while, re-strategised and come back with another agitation. But Baba made it worse. The next day, his whining turned to anger. He made proclamations about raising an 11,000 strong personal army. He withdrew the statement later, but the damage was done. From a messiah, he came across as somewhat psycho. It was frustratingly stupid to throw away so much political gain for the sake of false bravado. Baba aspires to be a national leader. However, his team seems to have no proper advisers on policy or politically correct conduct. Given his wealth, it would be easy to surround himself with the best experts in law, economics, policy, media relations and social welfare. Yet, he chooses to spend Rs 18 crore on tents but not a fraction of that on the right advisers. Perhaps sycophancy surrounds him, something i have seen with a lot of successful people, and nobody points out his flaws to him. I am not a particular wellwisher of Baba. However, i am concerned because Baba’s missteps have cost the anti-corruption movement. All anti-corruption activists could be clubbed with Baba. Even Anna’s team got dragged down with it. Above all, Baba’s escapades have learnings for all of us. Being angry isn’t yogi-like at all. Loony solutions do not work, good economic and legal frameworks do. Passion, restraint and the right judgment in choosing between the two are the hallmarks of a leader. Baba may not realise this, but teacher that he is, he has ended up giving all of us an unintentional lesson. The writer is a best-selling novelist. Centre to amend IPC to bring NGOs and private sector under anti-graft scanner It’s a diversionary tactic midst the civil society-led chorus delivery. But this doesn’t require separate against corruption, the govern- legislation as it can easily be incorporated ment’s proposal to amend the Indian into contracts for delivery of such services. Penal Code to bring the private sector and If governance is good but private sector non-government organisations under the delivery is bad, then provision of defianti-graft ambit is a red herring. There cient services can be punished through already exists a plethora of laws to check fines or non-renewal corruption in the private sector. The of contracts or other ministry of corporate affairs is dedicated penalties. to this purpose. Its primary concern is the Sensibly, the aviaadministration of the Companies Act, 1956, which empowers the I T I M E S V I E W I government to regulate the formation, financing and functioning of compa- tion ministry has nies in accordance with ethical business opposed the move to practices. This is not to say there isn’t any bring the private scope for improving on corporate govern- sector under the proance legislation. However, the government posed legislation, as is already armed with considerable powers it raises the spectre of to check private sector or NGO corruption, excessive state interwhich it can exercise if it so chooses. vention in the economy. Surely it would be a The real problem arises when authorities travesty if, in the guise of checking corrupare themselves corrupt, which is what tion, the government were to bring back anti-graft legislation should focus on. A the licence raj. Bureaucratic red tape, after case has been made for putting the private all, has consistently been used as a tool to sector under the graft scanner, because of incentivise bribery and kickbacks. Let the its growing footprint in public service government not run circles around us. Addresses the entire problem what activists are demanding, and in a more complete way than they have suggested so far – by targeting not just government officials but the entire ecosystem of corruption. Plenty has been written about the misdeeds of politicians and bureaucrats, but there have been relatively few acknowledgements of the blame civil society must shoulder. It functions very often as an enabler for corruption, finding ways around rules and regulations – or avoiding punitive action for I COUNTERVIEW I breaking them – by the judicious application of money. Anil Thakkar politicians as frauduThis is what the proposed amendment lent and corrupt is seeks to address – laws to dissuade the corposimply too deep-rooted rate equivalents of paying off a cop at the traffor an administration fic signal to avoid being booked for running a of any stripe to shake. red light. It would do little good to implement Doubtless, the proposal the Lokpal Bill as Hazare wants without adto amend the Indian dressing the other side of the equation. With Penal Code to bring the private sector and the private sector taking over increasingly non-government organisations into the am- vast swathes of the national economy and bit of anti-corruption laws will be dismissed NGOs providing many vital socio-economic as another attempt to distract from the real services, such an amendment is needed more issues at hand. than ever. To suggest otherwise – to say that This would be a mistake. What the govern- only government corruption needs to be tarment is trying to do with this move is precisely geted – would be hypocrisy of the worst kind. t’s the same old tired story playing out again. An implacable Anna Hazare and a volatile Baba Ramdev are hounding the government, backed by a frustrated – justifiably so – public that wants answers and wants them now. But when the government works towards giving those answers, it finds that there are no takers. The perception of all A I Watch The Moves As The Music Plays Gautam Adhikari Washington: If you love jazz, or music of any kind, you have to watch the video. If you don’t care much for beat and harmony, watch it anyway just to marvel at yet another face of our complex neighbour. Go to YouTube and punch in “Lahore Take Five” and you’ll find it. At a bit over five minutes, it’s an amazing rendition of Dave Brubeck’s composition Take Five by a Pakistani ensemble. It starts off with a soft pitter-patter of the tabla, rises to the sound of violins and cellos throbbing with Brubeck’s rhythm. Then a sitar captures the lead yielding way every now and then to a classical guitar. It’s entrancing. The string musicians, they are all men, are dressed elegantly in white. The conductor is a burly man with a beard waving his baton to weave magical music. And as you listen, you can’t help wondering why the world rarely gets to see this face of Pakistan instead of all those pictures of burly men with beards waving carbines. Our neighbour has many faces, perhaps far too many. The world today nervously sees Pakistan as a hydra-headed monster-nation. It seems to lack any overarching identity. All you see is a conspiracydriven terrorist sanctuary managed craftily by generals and colonels who are masters of cunning and little else. In his excellent book, Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, M J Akbar blames not Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, but Maulana Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, and his disciple, the late General Zia-ul Haq, for the nightmare that Jinnah’s dream has turned into. “Pakistan can become a stable, modern nation, but only if the children of the father of Pakistan, Jinnah, can defeat the ideological heirs of the godfather, Maududi,” writes Akbar. Perhaps. For now, the military plays the tune of Islamism to its advantage to make Pakistan the world’s most dangerous nation. After the killing by the Americans of Osama bin Laden almost next door to a military complex in Abbottabad, that alarming image of Pakistan has grown in the eyes of outsiders. Here in the US, voices are rising to ask what to do with that country in the near future. Anxieties, expressed so far in hushed tones, have come out in the open. Some are urging Washington to end its marriage of convenience with Islamabad. Last Saturday the Washington Post had a story on its front page that began: “Twice in recent weeks, the United States provided Pakistan with the specific locations of insurgent bomb-making factories, only to see the militants learn that their cover had been blown and vacate the sites before military action could be taken.” US officials suspect the ISI to have tipped off the militants. A few strategic analysts want the US to recognise the rapidly declining value of its alliance with Pakistan. As it is, Islamabad has begun to flirt openly with Beijing, its “all-weather” friend. It has even advised Afghanistan recently to rely less on the Americans, who will go away in any case, and develop a relationship with China. As for the billions of dollars they get from the Americans, Pakistan’s rulers realise they will have a tough time convincing the US Congress to pass the next instalment, given the anger that has risen here in recent weeks. But they can turn to their other trusted friend, Saudi Arabia, for help if necessary and tell the Americans to buzz off. The analysts who want the US to end its alliance with Pakistan also want to reinvigorate a growing US-India partnership. They feel the shared values of these two democracies can form a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship in a world that will see an inevitable realignment of power among nations. But are India’s policy planners ready to tango in such a partnership? In his new book, Does the Elephant Dance? Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy David Malone, Canada’s former high commissioner , in Delhi, says our foreign policy remains reactive and lacks a grand vision. He believes pragmatism and economic interests will guide India on the world’s dance floor. Well, as the music plays on, we can only hope that our mandarins are studying the moves on the floor carefully . SNAP JUDGMENT RBI’s Bitter Medicine Tickling Taste Buds Those Crazy Gauls T he RBI has made another offering to the inflation beast by hiking key policy rates by 25 basis points. This is the tenth such increase since March 2010, raising the cost of loans. But inflation gallops on while a fuel price increase is impending. It’s a moot point how many more rate hikes are in the offing before inflation is appeased, and whether growth will be sacrificed at its altar. M umbai-born chef Floyd Cardoz’s upma has taken the culinary world by storm. That it was the $1,00,000 winning dish in the recent Top Chef Masters contest in Los Angeles highlights the potential of Indian food as haute cuisine. Despite the mushrooming of Indian restaurants, Indian food abroad has been stereotyped as plebeian fare. But as the humble upma proved, Indian cooking can also be about the subtlety that is the hallmark of gourmet cuisine. I I t seems those lovable Gaulish scamps Asterix and Obelix – and their friends and Roman enemies – behave as outrageously as they do because they’re suffering from traumatic brain injuries. All that biffing and bashing has resulted in 704 such cases according to a study by German researchers. Which begs the question – which brain injury did the researchers suffer to waste funding on a study like this? I SACRED S PAC E Path Of Love I Do You Love Yourself? be able to love – but then you will be certain about your love only But that's enough! . eople feel lonely; they need somebody to Do you love yourself ? You have not even fill their loneliness. They call it love. asked the question. When you are really blissThey show love because that is the only ful on your own, you don't want to use anybody . way to hook the other. The other also calls You simply want to share it. And you will feel it love because that is the only way to hook thankful that somebody was ready to receive. you. But who knows whether there is love That is the full point. or not? Love is just a game. Real love is possiThere is no way to be certain about the ble, but that happens only when you don't other – first be certain about you. And a person need anybody! who is certain about himself is certain about If you go to a bank and you need money the whole world. Settled, centred, grounded in , they will not give you any If you don't yourself, you never worry about such things. . need money you have enough, they will come You accept. , to you and they will always be ready to If somebody loves you, you accept it because give you. you love yourself. You are happy with yourself; When you don't need a person at all, somebody else is happy – good! It when you are totally sufficient unto does not get in your head; it does not yourself, when you can be alone and make you madly egoistic. You simply tremendously happy and ecstatic, enjoy yourself; somebody else also then love is possible. But then too you finds you enjoyable – good! While can be certain about only one it lasts, live the fiction as beautithing: whether your love is real. fully as possible – it will not How can you be certain about the last forever. THE other? But then there is no need. When a love is finished, you I SPEAKING I This continuous anxiety – start thinking it was false – that's whether the other's love is real or why it has come to an end. No, TREE not – simply shows one thing: that not necessarily It may have had . your love is not real. Why be worried about some glimmer of truth in it, but you were both it? Enjoy it while it lasts! Be together while unable to keep and hold that truth… You you can be together! It is a fiction, but you needed love, but you were not capable of it. need fiction. When you are aware, a totally different Behind declarations of love there is nothing kind of love will arise in your heart – which is . but need. You want your lover to be with you to absolutely true, which is part of eternity But . fill your emptiness and so too is the case with that is not a need – it is a luxury And you have her. You are both trying to use each other as so much of it that you hanker for somebody to share it with. a means. Courtesy Osho International Foundation/ That's why lovers, so-called lovers, are always in conflict – because nobody wants to www.osho.com Follow Osho on our website. be used, because when you use a person the www.speakingtree.in person becomes a thing, you have reduced him Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to a commodity . One day when you are really awake you will to interact directly with masters and seekers. Osho E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Relax adoption rules With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 16), the changes reported in the adoption laws are anticipated changes. Even earlier, a single male was not allowed to adopt a girl child; same sex parents were not allowed to adopt at all. The only apparent change is relaxation in the upper age limit. I completely agree with the View that there are more important matters that must engage Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). I would like to question CARA’s follow-up initiatives in ensuring that children adopted by married couples are adequately cared for? How does CARA ensure that adoption agencies adhere to the stipulated three-year post-adoption follow-up? And what happens if a child is in distress? Regulation and more of it, with little focus on the child’s welfare seems to characterise CARA, a sad state, when thousands of orphans languish! Bharati Dasgupta, PUNE JUST GRAFFITI The blossom of love will make the air fragrant; the river of love will murmur along the valleys; and every bird, beast and child will sing the song of love. Atharva Veda Lovers, the followers of the path of love, Bauls, make love their undercurrent. They eat, but they eat with love. They walk, but they walk with love – because the earth is holy ground. They sit under a tree; they sit with love – because the tree is divine. They look at somebody; they look with love – because there also is divinity . Osho My heart has become capable of every form. It is a pasture for gazelles, a convent for Christian monks, and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's K’aaba and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran. I follow the religion of love. Whatever way love’s camels take, that is my religion and my faith. Ibn Arabi P Raise general awareness With reference to the editorial ‘Black Blather’ (June 15), reducing tax incidence in real estate transactions must become a top priority to curb the generation of black money within the country. However, merely enacting laws won’t help. What is needed is people’s cooperation by not giving in to the demand of black money to buy and sell flats. Similarly, people should resist buying electronic items from the grey market where products are sold without excise duty and sales tax. In fact, this should become a norm for all services and products. Besides spearheading anti-corruption campaigns, civil society activists would do well to raise the general awareness in this regard. E Vishwa Nathan, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2011 Punches From A Superstar The immortal thoughts of a box-office darling, when challenged by critics o there, Mr Clever Critic. I’ve proved you wrong – again. You said my new movie was unadulterated trash. Well, it’s hit unadulterated gold at the box office! Despite your nit-picking and nay-saying, I’ve shown it’s lip-syncing and hip-swinging that rule our audiences’ hearts. With some shirt-stripping. It’s not your fancy Fellini or smarty-pants Scorsese, but me, half-pant hottie, shaking up our box office – the world’s largest, may i add – for the last 20 years. You sneer that my flying-shirt act’s growing a little old while it’s actually getting better! Look at my muscles, my six-to-eight pack, my sturdy legs that both kick and pirouette. Which star in your beloved West has all this – or more? Frankly i didn’t have much either , when i started, but as they say persevere, puttar, and you , shall achieve. And achieve i have. I may not have won those prissy awards you keep raving about – Golden Bear or Diamond Duck – but i’ve broken every commercial record that matters, and some more too. For instance, looking dropdeadpan-handsome over two decades. Big deal if it involved hair transplants and a few other procedures we won’t go into right now. All that naach-gaana in the hot sun or pouring rain, thumka to tango through 20 years – and looking thrilled each time. Romancing heroines as fat as my yummy-mummy, then switching to Size Zero sweeties without missing a beat. It’s hard work. But someone’s got to do it. And that someone’s been me. And guess what? Despite all your moaning about regurgitated formulae and hackneyed plots, viewers adore me because of my record-breaking feats. I may not be able to put it properly in words but boy do my pectorals speak to , them. Why do you think they go mad when i tear off my shirt? It’s not because of chemistry dummy but because , , of history – they see every hour i’ve sweated it out, in gym and jail, my bulging body and heavy wallet speaking. They see their journey too – rayon to Teflon, frontbench ‘cheapsters’ to multiplex-hipsters, grubby popcorn in plastic packs to cheese and caramel feasts. When my shirt comes off, they see all the toil and tears it takes to make that ultimate blockbuster – the India story And . they love it. That’s why i’m still a superstar. Not an armchair intelli-gent complaining about unimaginative characters. Or saying art cinema doesn’t get the money my movies do. Of course it doesn’t! Who needs art when you have life in surround sound? Who needs sagas about struggle when i say it all with a whip of my shirt? When you criticise me, pal, you’re taking on total India. So yaar, quit carping. Or else fight it out, pen to sword (let’s just settle, once and for all, which is mightier!). After 20 years of guts and glory i’m so , Ready for you. The Baba Who Blew It Instead of bringing the government to its knees, he has banished himself to the loony fringe Chetan Bhagat S A few weeks ago, Baba Ramdev (henceforth referred to as Baba, given his dominant position in the Indian Baba industry) was a likeable man. His recent volatile moods apart, Baba is funny, articulate, teaches yoga, is a rooted Indian and immensely entertaining. I love his wonderful Hindi vocabulary. And yet, despite having the chance of a lifetime and coming awfully close, i am sorry to say that Baba blew it. This has life lessons for all of us on how not to blow it when you are almost home. To understand this, let us look at the Baba case study . Baba may have had his heart in the right place when it comes to corruption. His journey is inspiring as well. Coming from nowhere, he became the biggest yoga teacher in the world. Using personal charisma and something taught for free in India’s neighbourhood parks, he created an empire worth thousands of crores and touched millions. Baba’s mixed serving society and personal ambition, which isn’t a bad thing. Once at the zenith of the yoga game, and having the attention of millions, Baba started airing political views. Corruption became his cause but he also had a view on an India he wanted to see. Whether it was the kind of medicines we would have or the MNCs he wanted out, to views on sexuality. Some of Baba’s plans were good. However, many were outlandish. For example, Baba feels homosexuality is a disease curable with yoga asanas. He also wants to ban 1,000 and 500-rupee notes to kill black money. What if people with black money start to hoard dollars or gold? What about the inconvenience it will bring to the people who don’t have black money? Even at a policy level, Baba’s views are not clearly thought through. Baba wants non-tech MNCs out, but what exactly does that mean? Are banks non-tech? Should we kick out all the foreign banks and all the employment generating FDI with it? Baba’s recommendations were silly Still, . none of this mattered when Baba combined his charisma with A fatal fondness for the limelight has cost him his credibility Baba’s missteps have cost the anti-corruption movement. All anti-corruption activists could be clubbed with Baba. Even Anna’s team got dragged down with it saffron robes. Millions still followed him, for Indians rarely look at politics in a rational manner. It is all about the leader’s personal charm. Baba’s rise worried the central government. What the BJP could not do, Baba could do independently – curse the government and gather crowds at the same time. Baba could rise to be the communal-lite, a more palatable saffron dish for the masses. His big move was the June 4 fast. Many felt it wouldn’t work; after all, who wanted an Anna-me-too? But Baba made it work. From the start, he had success. The PM cajoled him not to go on a fast. India’s senior politicians rushed to the airport to greet him. More ministers met him at the Claridges hotel. The RSS (which currently includes any Hindu against corruption as per government definition), the BJP and almost anybody anti-Congress backed Baba. Even Anna and company boosted him, hoping this single yogi would add pressure on the government for the Lokpal Bill. The fast had barely begun. However, Baba had arrived, and how. Soon, the government panicked, fearing Baba’s becoming viral like Anna did. In a huge lapse of judgment, it used force to kick out the protesters. Baba hit the jackpot. He didn’t just have fame, he now had the most invaluable asset in Indian politics – public sympathy. The images of a helpless crowd being attacked by the police became Baba’s money shot. On the night of the police crackdown, Baba had become a legitimate, emerging star of Indian politics. And that is when Baba blew it. Right when the nation was in shock at the attacks and silence would have worked wonders, Baba was back on TV He screamed and . whined on prime time about the wrong done to him. Sympathy in India comes to those who are seen to suffer in silent dignity. But Baba can’t remain silent or resist TV cameras. He could have retreated, laid low for a while, re-strategised and come back with another agitation. But Baba made it worse. The next day, his whining turned to anger. He made proclamations about raising an 11,000 strong personal army. He withdrew the statement later, but the damage was done. From a messiah, he came across as somewhat psycho. It was frustratingly stupid to throw away so much political gain for the sake of false bravado. Baba aspires to be a national leader. However, his team seems to have no proper advisers on policy or politically correct conduct. Given his wealth, it would be easy to surround himself with the best experts in law, economics, policy, media relations and social welfare. Yet, he chooses to spend Rs 18 crore on tents but not a fraction of that on the right advisers. Perhaps sycophancy surrounds him, something i have seen with a lot of successful people, and nobody points out his flaws to him. I am not a particular wellwisher of Baba. However, i am concerned because Baba’s missteps have cost the anti-corruption movement. All anti-corruption activists could be clubbed with Baba. Even Anna’s team got dragged down with it. Above all, Baba’s escapades have learnings for all of us. Being angry isn’t yogi-like at all. Loony solutions do not work, good economic and legal frameworks do. Passion, restraint and the right judgment in choosing between the two are the hallmarks of a leader. Baba may not realise this, but teacher that he is, he has ended up giving all of us an unintentional lesson. The writer is a best-selling novelist. Centre to amend IPC to bring NGOs and private sector under anti-graft scanner It’s a diversionary tactic midst the civil society-led chorus delivery. But this doesn’t require separate against corruption, the govern- legislation as it can easily be incorporated ment’s proposal to amend the Indian into contracts for delivery of such services. Penal Code to bring the private sector and If governance is good but private sector non-government organisations under the delivery is bad, then provision of defianti-graft ambit is a red herring. There cient services can be punished through already exists a plethora of laws to check fines or non-renewal corruption in the private sector. The of contracts or other ministry of corporate affairs is dedicated penalties. to this purpose. Its primary concern is the Sensibly, the aviaadministration of the Companies Act, 1956, which empowers the I T I M E S V I E W I government to regulate the formation, financing and functioning of compa- tion ministry has nies in accordance with ethical business opposed the move to practices. This is not to say there isn’t any bring the private scope for improving on corporate govern- sector under the proance legislation. However, the government posed legislation, as is already armed with considerable powers it raises the spectre of to check private sector or NGO corruption, excessive state interwhich it can exercise if it so chooses. vention in the economy. Surely it would be a The real problem arises when authorities travesty if, in the guise of checking corrupare themselves corrupt, which is what tion, the government were to bring back anti-graft legislation should focus on. A the licence raj. Bureaucratic red tape, after case has been made for putting the private all, has consistently been used as a tool to sector under the graft scanner, because of incentivise bribery and kickbacks. Let the its growing footprint in public service government not run circles around us. Addresses the entire problem what activists are demanding, and in a more complete way than they have suggested so far – by targeting not just government officials but the entire ecosystem of corruption. Plenty has been written about the misdeeds of politicians and bureaucrats, but there have been relatively few acknowledgements of the blame civil society must shoulder. It functions very often as an enabler for corruption, finding ways around rules and regulations – or avoiding punitive action for I COUNTERVIEW I breaking them – by the judicious application of money. Anil Thakkar politicians as frauduThis is what the proposed amendment lent and corrupt is seeks to address – laws to dissuade the corposimply too deep-rooted rate equivalents of paying off a cop at the traffor an administration fic signal to avoid being booked for running a of any stripe to shake. red light. It would do little good to implement Doubtless, the proposal the Lokpal Bill as Hazare wants without adto amend the Indian dressing the other side of the equation. With Penal Code to bring the private sector and the private sector taking over increasingly non-government organisations into the am- vast swathes of the national economy and bit of anti-corruption laws will be dismissed NGOs providing many vital socio-economic as another attempt to distract from the real services, such an amendment is needed more issues at hand. than ever. To suggest otherwise – to say that This would be a mistake. What the govern- only government corruption needs to be tarment is trying to do with this move is precisely geted – would be hypocrisy of the worst kind. t’s the same old tired story playing out again. An implacable Anna Hazare and a volatile Baba Ramdev are hounding the government, backed by a frustrated – justifiably so – public that wants answers and wants them now. But when the government works towards giving those answers, it finds that there are no takers. The perception of all A I Watch The Moves As The Music Plays Gautam Adhikari Washington: If you love jazz, or music of any kind, you have to watch the video. If you don’t care much for beat and harmony, watch it anyway just to marvel at yet another face of our complex neighbour. Go to YouTube and punch in “Lahore Take Five” and you’ll find it. At a bit over five minutes, it’s an amazing rendition of Dave Brubeck’s composition Take Five by a Pakistani ensemble. It starts off with a soft pitter-patter of the tabla, rises to the sound of violins and cellos throbbing with Brubeck’s rhythm. Then a sitar captures the lead yielding way every now and then to a classical guitar. It’s entrancing. The string musicians, they are all men, are dressed elegantly in white. The conductor is a burly man with a beard waving his baton to weave magical music. And as you listen, you can’t help wondering why the world rarely gets to see this face of Pakistan instead of all those pictures of burly men with beards waving carbines. Our neighbour has many faces, perhaps far too many. The world today nervously sees Pakistan as a hydra-headed monster-nation. It seems to lack any overarching identity. All you see is a conspiracydriven terrorist sanctuary managed craftily by generals and colonels who are masters of cunning and little else. In his excellent book, Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, M J Akbar blames not Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, but Maulana Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, and his disciple, the late General Zia-ul Haq, for the nightmare that Jinnah’s dream has turned into. “Pakistan can become a stable, modern nation, but only if the children of the father of Pakistan, Jinnah, can defeat the ideological heirs of the godfather, Maududi,” writes Akbar. Perhaps. For now, the military plays the tune of Islamism to its advantage to make Pakistan the world’s most dangerous nation. After the killing by the Americans of Osama bin Laden almost next door to a military complex in Abbottabad, that alarming image of Pakistan has grown in the eyes of outsiders. Here in the US, voices are rising to ask what to do with that country in the near future. Anxieties, expressed so far in hushed tones, have come out in the open. Some are urging Washington to end its marriage of convenience with Islamabad. Last Saturday the Washington Post had a story on its front page that began: “Twice in recent weeks, the United States provided Pakistan with the specific locations of insurgent bomb-making factories, only to see the militants learn that their cover had been blown and vacate the sites before military action could be taken.” US officials suspect the ISI to have tipped off the militants. A few strategic analysts want the US to recognise the rapidly declining value of its alliance with Pakistan. As it is, Islamabad has begun to flirt openly with Beijing, its “all-weather” friend. It has even advised Afghanistan recently to rely less on the Americans, who will go away in any case, and develop a relationship with China. As for the billions of dollars they get from the Americans, Pakistan’s rulers realise they will have a tough time convincing the US Congress to pass the next instalment, given the anger that has risen here in recent weeks. But they can turn to their other trusted friend, Saudi Arabia, for help if necessary and tell the Americans to buzz off. The analysts who want the US to end its alliance with Pakistan also want to reinvigorate a growing US-India partnership. They feel the shared values of these two democracies can form a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship in a world that will see an inevitable realignment of power among nations. But are India’s policy planners ready to tango in such a partnership? In his new book, Does the Elephant Dance? Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy David Malone, Canada’s former high commissioner , in Delhi, says our foreign policy remains reactive and lacks a grand vision. He believes pragmatism and economic interests will guide India on the world’s dance floor. Well, as the music plays on, we can only hope that our mandarins are studying the moves on the floor carefully . SNAP JUDGMENT RBI’s Bitter Medicine Tickling Taste Buds Those Crazy Gauls T he RBI has made another offering to the inflation beast by hiking key policy rates by 25 basis points. This is the tenth such increase since March 2010, raising the cost of loans. But inflation gallops on while a fuel price increase is impending. It’s a moot point how many more rate hikes are in the offing before inflation is appeased, and whether growth will be sacrificed at its altar. M umbai-born chef Floyd Cardoz’s upma has taken the culinary world by storm. That it was the $1,00,000 winning dish in the recent Top Chef Masters contest in Los Angeles highlights the potential of Indian food as haute cuisine. Despite the mushrooming of Indian restaurants, Indian food abroad has been stereotyped as plebeian fare. But as the humble upma proved, Indian cooking can also be about the subtlety that is the hallmark of gourmet cuisine. I I t seems those lovable Gaulish scamps Asterix and Obelix – and their friends and Roman enemies – behave as outrageously as they do because they’re suffering from traumatic brain injuries. All that biffing and bashing has resulted in 704 such cases according to a study by German researchers. Which begs the question – which brain injury did the researchers suffer to waste funding on a study like this? I SACRED S PAC E Path Of Love I Do You Love Yourself? be able to love – but then you will be certain about your love only But that's enough! . eople feel lonely; they need somebody to Do you love yourself ? You have not even fill their loneliness. They call it love. asked the question. When you are really blissThey show love because that is the only ful on your own, you don't want to use anybody . way to hook the other. The other also calls You simply want to share it. And you will feel it love because that is the only way to hook thankful that somebody was ready to receive. you. But who knows whether there is love That is the full point. or not? Love is just a game. Real love is possiThere is no way to be certain about the ble, but that happens only when you don't other – first be certain about you. And a person need anybody! who is certain about himself is certain about If you go to a bank and you need money the whole world. Settled, centred, grounded in , they will not give you any If you don't yourself, you never worry about such things. . need money you have enough, they will come You accept. , to you and they will always be ready to If somebody loves you, you accept it because give you. you love yourself. You are happy with yourself; When you don't need a person at all, somebody else is happy – good! It when you are totally sufficient unto does not get in your head; it does not yourself, when you can be alone and make you madly egoistic. You simply tremendously happy and ecstatic, enjoy yourself; somebody else also then love is possible. But then too you finds you enjoyable – good! While can be certain about only one it lasts, live the fiction as beautithing: whether your love is real. fully as possible – it will not How can you be certain about the last forever. THE other? But then there is no need. When a love is finished, you I SPEAKING I This continuous anxiety – start thinking it was false – that's whether the other's love is real or why it has come to an end. No, TREE not – simply shows one thing: that not necessarily It may have had . your love is not real. Why be worried about some glimmer of truth in it, but you were both it? Enjoy it while it lasts! Be together while unable to keep and hold that truth… You you can be together! It is a fiction, but you needed love, but you were not capable of it. need fiction. When you are aware, a totally different Behind declarations of love there is nothing kind of love will arise in your heart – which is . but need. You want your lover to be with you to absolutely true, which is part of eternity But . fill your emptiness and so too is the case with that is not a need – it is a luxury And you have her. You are both trying to use each other as so much of it that you hanker for somebody to share it with. a means. Courtesy Osho International Foundation/ That's why lovers, so-called lovers, are always in conflict – because nobody wants to www.osho.com Follow Osho on our website. be used, because when you use a person the www.speakingtree.in person becomes a thing, you have reduced him Join the world’s first spiritual networking site to a commodity . One day when you are really awake you will to interact directly with masters and seekers. Osho E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Relax adoption rules With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 16), the changes reported in the adoption laws are anticipated changes. Even earlier, a single male was not allowed to adopt a girl child; same sex parents were not allowed to adopt at all. The only apparent change is relaxation in the upper age limit. I completely agree with the View that there are more important matters that must engage Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). I would like to question CARA’s follow-up initiatives in ensuring that children adopted by married couples are adequately cared for? How does CARA ensure that adoption agencies adhere to the stipulated three-year post-adoption follow-up? And what happens if a child is in distress? Regulation and more of it, with little focus on the child’s welfare seems to characterise CARA, a sad state, when thousands of orphans languish! Bharati Dasgupta, PUNE JUST GRAFFITI The blossom of love will make the air fragrant; the river of love will murmur along the valleys; and every bird, beast and child will sing the song of love. Atharva Veda Lovers, the followers of the path of love, Bauls, make love their undercurrent. They eat, but they eat with love. They walk, but they walk with love – because the earth is holy ground. They sit under a tree; they sit with love – because the tree is divine. They look at somebody; they look with love – because there also is divinity . Osho My heart has become capable of every form. It is a pasture for gazelles, a convent for Christian monks, and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's K’aaba and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran. I follow the religion of love. Whatever way love’s camels take, that is my religion and my faith. Ibn Arabi P Raise general awareness With reference to the editorial ‘Black Blather’ (June 15), reducing tax incidence in real estate transactions must become a top priority to curb the generation of black money within the country. However, merely enacting laws won’t help. What is needed is people’s cooperation by not giving in to the demand of black money to buy and sell flats. Similarly, people should resist buying electronic items from the grey market where products are sold without excise duty and sales tax. In fact, this should become a norm for all services and products. Besides spearheading anti-corruption campaigns, civil society activists would do well to raise the general awareness in this regard. E Vishwa Nathan, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JUNE 19, 2011 ‘I supported Husain but you can’t disown your country’ For nearly two decades, Bangladeshi doctor-turned-writer Taslima Nasrin, 49, has been living in exile, driven out by fundamentalist ire in her country and in Kolkata against her liberal views. Yet, the atheist author tells Rakhi Chakrabarty that she hopes to return to the familiar grounds in Kolkata again, if not Bangladesh. Excerpts: After M F Husain died in exile in London, you tweeted “Cry beloved country cry”. Did you identify with him? , I believe in absolute freedom of expression. Everyone has a right to offend and be offended. So I supported Husain. In India, I see a division: some support Husain, others support Rushdie. Why can’t they support everybody’s freedom of expression? If they can’t support Rushdie, (Danish cartoonist Kurt) Westergaard, M F Husain, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Asiya Bibi and me equally then they don’t , believe in the freedom of expression. But I don’t quite understand why Husain took Qatari citizenship? I wouldn’t have done that. Was it because he was angry with Hindu fundamentalists? But they don’t make the whole of India. When Bangladesh refused to renew my passport, I used UN travel documents. You can’t disown your country . Are you hopeful of returning to Bangladesh? Sheikh Hasina’s government is one of the best Bangladesh has ever had. She is taking action against fundamentalists. But even she refused to let me return. I don’t think I can ever return home. I am immensely grateful to the Indian government for allowing me to stay here (Delhi). Last year, India gave me a residence permit to be renewed every year. People ask why I don’t stay in Europe. In India, I am in a familiar place. (Points to a tree outside the window) I know the trees; I have grown up watching the same trees in Bangladesh. People won’t understand this… For someone who has lost her home, it means a lot. That’s why I feel at home in Kolkata. I have friends there, I can speak Bengali. After the change of government in West Bengal, do you now hope to return to Kolkata? I still hope I can return to Kolkata now. Mamata Banerjee knows I want to return. I will write to her. Certain decisions of the new government have surprised me though. For instance, renaming Aliah University as Aliah Madrasa University I heard they have decided to recognize 10,000 . madrasas. Why? Religious education is flawed, anti-women. In India, civil society movements are gaining in strength. I don’t know if hunger strike is the right way to protest. It’s probably an old method and not too effective. Expertise rather than emotion is required to solve problems like corruption. People know corruption is bad. But how can corruption be stamped out? Ramdev says ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. How will that help? Just whipping up emotion is not enough. The methods may not be right but this tendency to protest is a good sign. I hope this will teach people to protest against female foeticide, dowry deaths, bride burning, rape, domestic violence and slave trade. Why is India silent? After the census showed a skewed sex ratio, I expected a million women would march against women‘s oppression. A survey says India is the fourth most dangerous place for women. Isn’t it time yet for both men and women to fight for gender equality? Do you feel left out when you can’t participate in such movements? I do. But I participate in my own way June 17 was one of the ho. liest days when some women in Saudi Arabia came out to drive cars. I have been supporting the campaign for their right to drive and getting more people to do the same. Manal al-Sharif, who is spearheading the campaign, was arrested for driving a car on May 21. She was forced to sign a form promising not to drive again. But some women did come out and drive. It’s the first step in breaking rules, by women fighting against relinew democracies. We have seen fundamentalists as part of democratic governments. If the Muslim Brotherhood, for instance, comes to power in Egypt, they will establish theocracy . The separation of state and religion is necessary in the Middle East and India, too. Here secularism means equal acceptance of all religions and all religious barbarism too. What keeps you busy these days? It’s an isolated life in Delhi. I don’t attend public meetings in India. But I attend conferences in the west, where I meet people and exchange ideas.Eight cities of Europe, including Paris, Venice and Barcelona, have given me honorary citizenship. At Montreal’s Blue Met Literary Festival in April, I spoke on censorship and what it’s like to be a writer in exile. In May I read , poetry at Centre Pompidou in France’s Metz and participated in a lecture and debate on feminism at Thionville. At Luxembourg University I spoke on feminism and interacted with stu, dents. In August, I am off to Oslo for the World Humanist Congress in Oslo, where atheists, freethinkers, secularists and humanists will meet. Next week, I am going to Paris to attend a board meeting of the PPR Foundation for Women’s Dignity and Rights. I am a board member of the foundation along with Waris Dirie, a Somali supermodel who is campaigning against female genital mutilation of which she is a victim, and Salma Hayek among others. A French publisher has asked me to write a book on feminism in south Asia. I’m also writing a novel, poetry and the seventh volume of my autobiography “Nirbason” simultaneous, ly Besides writing and reading, I play with Minu, my cat. She . lived in various houses in Kolkata for one year after I was thrown out in 2007. Last year, when I was allowed to live in Delhi, I got Minu here. Sometimes I go to C R Park to buy fish. How can a Bengali live without fish? FOR THE RECORD TASLIMA NASRIN gious persecution and gender apartheid. It was supported by many men. The next should be the fight against the burqa which imprisons women. But how many will support that? If I write against rape or foeticide on Twitter, 80% men abuse me. They are obviously educated and well-off since they access Twitter. I have been writing about Slutwalk, a protest against rape and blaming of victims for the rape, since it began in Toronto. Instead of telling women how to dress, ask men to stop raping. Delhi will soon have its first Slutwalk. I want to be a part of it. Women have been participating in the Arab Spring… It’s a healthy sign. But democracy doesn’t mean women’s emancipation if Sharia and Islamic laws are still followed in Four vital steps to fight corruption TOP OF THE MIND SRIVATSA KRISHNA The cynic in me often says that it is as difficult to banish corruption from India, as it is to remove capitalism from America! Consider the following: Case 1: One of India’s premier regulators, in a recent case involving two of the most prominent stock exchanges in the country , extorted money from both sides, before awarding a mutilated decision to one of them. The brokers in the deal were some of the most prominent law firms in India. Case 2: In a large north Indian state, despite bid conditions clearly stipulating that only a power developer with super-critical power capabilities should be allowed to bid, a small power company from the south with zero super-critical capabilities was allowed to contest and win, to the detriment of a national leader like L&T, the only one in the private sector with such capabilities. Case 3: Thanks to the handiwork of a senior IAS officer, who became the willing handmaiden of a rapacious political family Ta, mil Nadu has, over the last four years, witnessed unprecedented power shortages, leading to significant industrial disruption and loss. Sadly the new regime, which , has come back to power on the promise of delivering quality power, has brought back to the power sector the same officer who was in part responsible for the crisis in the first place! Case 4: A chief minister’s sonin-law demonstrated the highest level of transparency when he accepted a kickback by cheque from one of the most prominent real estate developers of India! Case 5: Whispers suggest that a premier national financier of infrastructure projects in India is following the well-established cash-and-carry Walmart model for his loans, a reputation that he had long before he took charge here. This begs the question as to why he was appointed in the first place? Case 6: India’s Commonwealth Games have brought enormous global shame upon the country with its , various agencies competing with each other to establish new global best practices in corruption, including hiring treadmills for thousands of dollars each! Each of these cases is not a figment of my imagination but a real story of mafiosi-like corruption engulfing every arm of India’s democracy -- the political executive, permanent executive, judiciary , and the corporate sector. Today , there’s hardly a square inch of land free of the corruption taint, especially at the intersection of power, money and opportunity . What can we do to combat corruption? First, the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act was passed by Parliament in 1988 but since then, no political party has found the time to initiate the pro- Our black money is here, not in Switzerland SWAMINOMICS SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR Baba Ramdev’s financial naiveté is only to be expected. But i am astonished that the media endlessly repeats the myth that enormous hoards of black money are lying in Swiss banks. Only financial illiterates will leave their money in Swiss banks offering very low interest rates (sometimes under 1%). To maximize their gains and hide their cash trail, savvy crooks route their money through various tax havens, and then seek the assistance of financial managers to maximize gains. Financial managers will suggest a variety of assets from shares and bonds to real estate, aiming for annual returns of 10-20%. When such high returns are available, only novices will leave their money in bank deposits with very low returns. This is obvious from the details disclosed of Indian-owned accounts in the LGT Bank in Liechtenstein. Of the 26 Indian accounts unearthed, some were owned by NRIs, and only 18 looked taxable. These had received inflows of just Rs 39 crore over two years, some of which may have been legitimate earnings cedure to confiscate benami property! Say a 100-acre land , along the border belongs to a minister or a public servant. If he does not come forward to claim it, the government must have the right to confiscate and auction it. If a benami comes forward to claim it, the ownership must be tallied with his tax records of the preceding years to check the source of income, and if proven otherwise, it should be still confiscated. Second, the accounts of political parties and candidates must be audited by CAG or by a neutral UN-affiliated agency The re. ceipts submitted by most political parties and candidates today are often a joke and the 15 days’ time given to file petitions after the elections is simply not enough to do so. So, unless there is some professional audit of the expenditure on elections by both the winning and losing candidates and parties, it would be impossible to wipe out black money for which elections and the real estate are the chosen fountainheads. Third, ‘punish and publicize’, like the International Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Hong Kong, which after extensive consultations, went after some of the biggest offenders first and then publicized the action taken, which became a huge deterrent.. Our forensic practices are woefully inadequate as we end up chasing note sheets and files, whereas the more advanced countries chase the money trail and then decisively confront the launderers and bribe givers. Fourth, the continuous penetration of e-governance would go a long way in separating the point of decision making from the point of delivery of a government service. While the former, being a statutory function, will always remain with the government, the latter can be anywhere, where one can bury a piece of silicon and a piece of fibre, thereby reducing human discretion at the lower levels of bureaucracy , where significant day-to-day corruption occurs. Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka and the ministry of railways have come a long way in this area — no wonder we do not hear of as many complaints of corruption in the payment of electricity bills, procurement of driving licenses or railway tickets as we used to just 15 years ago. At the end of the day it is all , about individual character, which, sadly cannot be acquired , through training or laws. It is the grace of God that we have a few honourable men like Justice Kapadia and Justice Dhingra and a few good IAS officers who are holding the system together in the face of all odds. The writer is an IAS officer The . views expressed are personal My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms abroad. This suggests that even if the Swiss bank secrecy is broken, relatively modest sums may come to light. The government is signing agreements with many countries to access more information on foreign bank accounts. The very signing will warn crooks to transfer their funds to chains of corporations in lightly taxed places ranging from Liechtenstein to Cayman Islands and Mauritius to Bermuda. Once laundered through a dozen corporations in a dozen tax havens, money becomes white. Some businessmen may park large sums temporarily in Swiss banks pending better deployment. Some politicians may not yet be financial savvy and may be content keeping large sums in Swiss banks. These will be exceptional cases. The bulk of black money abroad is in financial assets across the globe. Where exactly? Nobody knows. But one of the best places in which to invest money is India, not Switzerland or the US or any western destination. Housing prices in the US doubled after 2000 and that was called a bubble, but housing prices in India rose almost ten-fold. Declarations by politicians of their assets show a huge preference for real estate over all other assets. The Dow Jones index in New York MISSING MILLIONS: A protest against ‘black money’ stashed away in Swiss banks is barely higher today than in 2000, but the Bombay sensex is up six-fold. Interest rates on Indian government bonds are 8% against 3% in the US and Germany Clearly India is one of the . best investment destinations in the world. Income tax rates today are modest and there is no tax on dividends and capital gains. So, enormous sums of black money that once went abroad have returned in white form over the last two decades. These flows may have helped the Indian economy grow faster. They have certainly helped push up land and stock prices to dizzy heights, and election spending too. India now gets $60 billion annually of remittances from NRIs, and up to $50 billion from portfolio inflows. A significant part of this must be black money returning as white. Some inflows come as NRI bank deposits in India. Lots of money comes through companies set up in low-tax havens like Mauritius with whom India has double taxation avoidance agreements, so the earnings of these companies in India constitute tax-free white money Plugging the Mauritius . loophole will not change matters much: the money will shift to other zero-tax havens, or low-tax havens like Holland. But why focus on inflows from abroad? Income tax is paid in India by only 31 million people or 2.5% of the population. The number liable to pay tax must surely be ten times higher. Within India, money moves seamlessly from black to white and black again. Real estate and stock market transactions include thousands of crores of black money every year, and experts can tell you how to convert white to black and back again. In rural areas, all transactions are in cash, even in multi-crore farm deals, and nobody pays income tax regardless of income. Income tax officers are both corrupt and lacking in investigative skills, so there is little fear of being caught. Companies create hundreds of subsidiaries that create an impenetrable financial labyrinth. Enormous parts of the country are not within 50 km of an income tax office. There is no space in this column to list all possible ways of finding that black money But if Ramdev Anna Ha. , zare and the government are serious about tracing black money looking for , it in Swiss banks cannot be a high priority They need to look first and fore. most within India. Most black money never leaves India, and much of that does come right back. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSA <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Soft power still needs oxygen of hard power IN PRINCIPLE JOSEPH S NYE At the Cold War’s end, some pundits proclaimed that “geo-economics” had replaced geopolitics. Economic power would become the key to success in world politics, a change that many people thought would usher in a world dominated by Japan and Germany . Today some interpret the rise in China’s , share of world output as signifying a fundamental shift in the balance of global power, but without considering military power. They argue that a dominant economic power soon becomes a dominant military power, forgetting that the United States was the world’s largest economy for 70 years before it became a military superpower. Political observers have long debated whether economic or military power is more fundamental. The Marxist tradition casts economics as the underlying structure of power, and political institutions as a mere superstructure, an assumption shared by 19th century liberals who believed that growing interdependence in trade and finance would make war obsolete. But, while Britain and Germany were each other’s most significant trading partners in 1914, that did not prevent a conflagration that set back global economic integration for a half-century . Military power, which some call the ultimate form of power in world politics, requires a thriving economy But whether economic or military . resources produce more power in today’s world depends on the context. A carrot is more effective than a stick if you wish to lead a mule to water, but agun may be more useful if your aim is to deprive an opponent of his mule. Many crucial issues, such as financial stability or climate change, simply are not amenable to military force. Today China and the US are highly interde, pendent economically but many analysts misun, derstand the implications of this for power politics. True, China could bring the US to its knees by threatening to sell its dollar holdings. But doing so would not only reduce the value of its reserves as the dollar weakened; it would also jeopardize US demand for Chinese imports, leading to job losses and instability in China. In other words, bringing the US to it knees might well mean that China would bring itself to its ankles. Judging whether economic interdependence produces power requires looking at the balance of asymmetries. In this case, it resembles a “balance of financial terror,” analogous to the Cold War military interdependence in which the US and the Soviet Union each had the potential to destroy the other in a nuclear exchange. In February 2010, a group of senior Chinese military officers, angered over US arms sales to Taiwan, called for China’s government to sell off US gov- ernment bonds in retaliation. Their suggestion was not heeded. Economic resources can produce soft-power behavior as well as hard military power. A successful economic model not only finances the military resources needed for the exercise of hard power, but it can also attract others to emulate its example. The European Union’s soft power at the end of the Cold War, and that of China today owes much to the success of the EU and , Chinese economic models. Economic resources are increasingly important in this century but it would be a mistake to , write off the role of military power. As US President Barack Obama said when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, “We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth that we will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. There will be times when nations – acting individually or in concert – will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.” Even if the probability of the use of force among states, or of threats of its use, is lower now than in earlier eras, the high impact of war leads rational actors to purchase expensive military insurance. If China’s hard power frightens its neighbours, they are likely to seek such insurance policies, and the US is likely to be the major provider. This leads to a larger point about the role of military force. Some analysts argue that military power is of such restricted utility that it is no longer the ultimate measuring rod. But the fact that military power is not always sufficient to decide particular situations does not mean that it has lost all utility While there are more situa. tions and contexts in which military force is difficult to use, it remains a vital source of power. Markets and economic power rest upon political frameworks, which in turn depend not only upon norms, institutions, and relationships, but also upon the management of coercive power. A well-ordered modern state is one that holds a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, and that allows domestic markets to operate. Internationally where order is more tenuous, residual , concerns about the coercive use of force, even if a low probability can have important effects – in, cluding a stabilizing effect. Indeed, metaphorically military power pro, vides a degree of security that is to order as oxygen is to breathing: little noticed until it becomes scarce, at which point its absence dominates all else. In the 21st century military , power will not have the same utility for states that it had in the 19th and 20th centuries, but it will remain a crucial component of power in world politics. The writer a former US assistant secretary of , defence, is a professor at Harvard University © Project Syndicate My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms New India story is about flight of capital dead silence. Why? The answer lies in the old SWAPAN DASGUPTA Clinton slogan: “It’s the economy stu, Of late, the otherwise pid.” At a time of grave economic diftaciturn Ratan Tata ficulties, Tata companies employ as has acquired a reputa- many as 42,000 people in the UK. Tata tion for bluntness. His is also one of the rare creatures with interview, published faith in British manufacturing. This last month in The month some of that faith was rewardTimes (London) was an ed when the ailing JLR made a draexample of needless candour. He la- matic turnaround, yielding a £1bilmented the lack of a “work ethic” in the lion profit, courtesy better marketing UK and regretted that “nobody is will- and management. ing to go the extra mile…” During the War, American GIs The Tata Group chairman wasn’t were indulged by Brits despite gripes saying anything awfully original. Indi- of being “overpaid, oversexed and ans of a particular class find the British over here.” The alternative was an exobsession with weekends, holidays, pri- hausted Britain left to fight alone. Tovacy (‘no work-related calls on the mo- day the British attitude to capitalism , bile, please’) and health and safety stan- is similarly pragmatic. If Tata has put dards quite exasperating. These make his money into the UK, buying up for amusing anecdotal asides during la- British brands with the enthusiasm zy afternoons of the obligatory sum- of a Dubai socialite, he has earned the mer holiday in London. right to preach without fear of reThe curious thing is that this sharp criminations. indictment of the British work ethic by It is such a contrast from India. Afone of the largest investors in the UK ter a sustained spell of high GDP didn’t elicit a hysterical reaction. There growth, a section of India has turned were no agitated MPs waving copies of bloody-minded. Frustrated by the The Times demanding the revocation growing levels of corruption and the of Tata’s visa; the workers of Tata-own- gleeful encouragement of self-served JLR and Corus didn’t come out on ing venality by the political class, an strike and Joe Bloggs didn’t scream important section of opinion makers ‘bloody foreigner’. In fact, there was have become viscerally anti-corpo- RIGHT & WRONG TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN JANUARY 8, 1973 DRAMATIC TURNAROUND: Tata’s Jaguar assembly line in Birmingham, UK RUN OVER: A steep rise in milk prices blew a hole in family budgets but Maharashtra chief minister V P Naik was indifferent to the people’s suffering rate. In the language of sloganeering that seems to dominate the discourse of civil society the responsibility for , the country’s moral collapse has been laid at the door of the despicable capitalist. From sweetheart deals in telecom and offshore exploration to the ouster of reluctant farmers from their lands, corporate India is being painted the root of all evil. It has become the new juju man—the puppeteer controlling a range of subordinate players ranging from bent bureaucrats to pliant politicians. The result has been an attitudinal change towards business. Politicians, who are naturally inclined to control the “commanding heights” of the economy have seized on this , mood to put all further reforms on hold. Chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu has offered reasoned arguments to tackle the unacceptably high difference between the price received by the farmer for his produce and that paid by the consumer. Among other things he has suggested allowing foreign investment in retail trade as a pragmatic, anti-inflationary step. Yet, the Cabinet is afraid of doing its bit lest it is accused of “selling out” a few for the many Nationalist inefficiency is . clearly preferable to good economics. A fear of decision making has gripped the system. Since no one wants to be dubbed a corporate dalal, have charges pressed against him by ombudsmen who can’t distinguish between plodding and innovation, and be jailed by a judge fearful of public opprobrium, non-decision has become a hallmark of wisdom. The Cairns sale of its equity to Vedanta is hanging fire for nearly a year because no one wants to risk admitting that the government is being cussed and shifting the goal post in mid-play . The Posco project is being derailed by politics. And Lavasa is being harassed because no one wants to earn the ire of ‘green’ activists chasing abstract principles. Between a NAC that wants to outlaw land sales to corporates and a ‘civil society’ that wants business to be regulated by a kangaroo court, India is entering a phase of despondency and decline. The India story is facing a guillotine. Foreign investment is down 25%, interest rates have risen 10 times in 27 months, inflation is 9%, consumer demand is falling, the capital markets are in panic and GDP estimates have been lowered. Meanwhile, Indian business is doing the next best thing: investing overseas. Tata has shown the way: 65% of his group revenues now come from outside India. Some describe the geographical shift as chasing opportunities. The wise may see it as a flight of capital. The 21st century could still be Asia’s. But the resurgence could yet bypass India. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSDG <space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JUNE 19, 2011 BOOKS READ 25 OFF THE SHELF The mystery behind art of the matter ateur painter, Andrew Marlow, is called in to take up the case of a wellhy is it that in the histor- known American artist, Robert Olivical art galleries of paint- er, who has been apprehended in an ing — or of sculpture, for apparent attempt to vandalise an Imthat matter — only a very pressionist painting, Leda and the few women are represented? While Swan, displayed in the city’s Nationwe have only to look at the work of al Gallery. Under psychiatric care, artists like Amrita Sher-Gil and An- Oliver lapses into a brooding silence, jolie Ela Menon, to mention just two, like that of a dormant volcano, his to see that this no longer holds true, suppressed emotions finding expresit is all the more strange that sion in the form of a mystein the western tradition of rious, beautiful woman the plastic arts right up to whose face he paints from and through the 19th centusome secret memory over ry women artists are largeand over again with obsesly noted by their absence. sive repetition. The most obvious social At the heart of the mysreason behind this is that, tery is a small collection of thanks to their associations letters exchanged in 1877 with what used to be called over several months bea ‘bohemian’ lifestyle, painttween elderly French ing and sculpture were con- The Swan Thieves painter, Olivier Vignot, and sidered out of bounds for ‘rehis nephew’s young wife, By Elizabeth spectable’ women. Was this Beatrice de Clerval, herself Kostova, proscription part of a largan aspiring artist. The letSphere er gender chauvinism which Rs 395, 611 pages ters, which were in Oliver’s sought to keep the world of possession when he tried to art — and the inslash the Leda painttensity of experiing, are the only ence and emotion clue that Marlow, that it stood for — who against his will in the safekeeping finds himself beof male hegemony? coming a detective This is the quesin the realm of art tion – unasked in so history, has in unmany words by the ravelling the enigauthor herself, but ma of the unknown implied nonetheless woman who is cen— that hovers like a tral to his patient’s question mark over obsession. this novel which Kostova unfolds might be described her story with skill, as a truly artful with the voices of mystery Elizabeth . different narrators, Kostova’s first novpast and present, el, “The Historian”, carrying the plot which became an ‘Jeanne’ by Edouard Manet forward to its ininternational bestevitable conclusion, seller, was a haunting re-narration of which itself is like a chiascuro paintthe Dracula legend, first recounted by ing, an interwoven pattern of light the Irish writer Bram Stoker who and darkness. On its surface a turned the cult of the vampire into a poignant love story The Swan Thieves , literary classic. at a deeper level raises questions about Kostova’s erudite and extremely the relationship of art to the reality eerie update lived up to Stoker’s mas- of our everyday lives. Which is more terpiece and won both critical acclaim ‘real’, in the ‘real’ sense of the term, and a wide readership. whatever that might be: the customIn her second novel, Kostova has ary world of the commonplace and turned to the world of painting and the conventional, or the image-world painters, with specific focus on the transfixed and transfigured, beyond French Impressionists — Monet, time and place, by the intensity of the Manet, Pissarro, et al — of the 19th artist’s vision? century The story begins in present. That’s the larger mystery that The day Washington DC where a middle- Swan Thieves leaves readers to solve aged psychiatrist, who is also an am- for themselves. Jug Suraiya If he had reached Delhi... Grandnephew Sugata Bose tracks Netaji’s life in a brilliant biography Shobhan Saxena | TNN Quick takes on new titles Priya in Incredible Indyaa By Namita Gokhale Penguin Rs 350, 193 pages The intrigue and shallowness of Delhi’s high society is laid bare here. This sequel to Gokhale’s debut novel, “Paro”, holds a mirror to a society which is ambitious and lacking in morals. Despite being married to high-profile minister Suresh Kaushal and enjoying all the trappings of power, Priya isn’t happy. She lives in a synthetic world, where her husband professes his love for her despite being unfaithful, where socialites stab each other in the back and where kids don’t want interference from parents. It’s a world of chiffon saris, pearl necklaces and Jimmy Choo shoes. Materialistic to the core, even physical assault doesn’t stop some women from latching on to a rich man. — Shobha John W I magine if the troops of Azad Hind Fauj had marched into Delhi after running over the AngloAmerican forces at Imphal and Kohima in 1945. Imagine if Subhas Chandra Bose, dressed in khaki, wearing round-rimmed glasses and a baton in hand, had reached Delhi as the head of the “Provisional Government of India” to unfurl the tricolour at Red Fort. Imagine if Netaji had become the first Prime Minister of India. There were too many “ifs” in Bose’s life. Probably that’s why he still remains an enigma 66 years after his death in a plane crash. Or why India is still craving for a real leader. In the past His Majesty’s six decades, Opponent numerous By Sugata Bose people have Allen Lane Rs 699, 385 pages “ s e e n ” him: as Gumnami Baba on the ghats of Ayodhya; as an “unidentified man” who made a brief appearance at Mahatma Gandhi’s funeral; and as a prisoner of war in a Russian gulag. Historians are yet to give a clear verdict on his politics. For the Indian right, Bose is just a nationalist military hero. The left hasn’t made peace with him yet. And for the liberals, Bose is an untouchable for his dangerous liaisons with the Axis powers. So, what was Bose like actually? In this brilliant biography of Netaji, Sugata Bose, professor of history at Harvard and grandnephew of the INA leader, puts all speculations to rest as he tracks the leader’s life from his birth in Cuttack to death in Taiwan. The COLLISION PATH: Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose at the Congress session in Haripura in 1938 book, packed with interesting anecdotes about his struggles in India, love life in exile, proves beyond doubt that Bose was not an adventurer who jumped from one ideology to another in pursuit of personal glory. And it also dismisses all conspiracy theories about his “mysterious disappearance”. But that’s not the central idea of the book. It’s a remarkable book because it shows Bose as a politician who had a plan — both for India’s freedom as well as for the post-Independence scenario. And that’s what led to his conflict with Gandhi and Congress’ rightwing represented by the likes of Vallabhbhai Patel and also with Nehru, who he considered his “elder brother”. Bose collided with Gandhi because he thought the “premier nationalist party had no definite policy” and it “should depend, for its strength, influence and power on such movements as the labour movement, youth movement, peasant movement, women’s movement, student’s movement.” For people like Patel, this was unacceptable. In the Congress circle, Bose was closest to Nehru but didn’t agree with him on everything as the two had very different world views. “Subhas’s discovery of India, unlike that of his great contemporary Jawaharlal Nehru, occurred very early in his life, while he was still in his teens. It happened before rather than after (as in Nehru’s case) a direct encounter with Europe, and was intimately connected with a spiritual quest,” writes the Harvard professor who went through his grand uncle’s letters and personal diaries to put together this book. Nehru and Bose drifted further away from each other as the INA leader decided to take on the British with help from Hitler and Mussolini. For Nehru there was “no middle road between fascism and communism.” For Bose, with Stalin’s Soviet Union in a peace pact with Nazi Germany, “fascism and communism were entwined in a cynical and awkward embrace.” With the forces of imperialism and nationalism, fascism and communism arrayed against one another in Europe, Bose believed that India’s destiny would unravel in conjunction with global conflict. Bose never reached Delhi and Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister amid the bloodbath of Partition. Bose wanted India to be a “federation of cultures” as he thought a federal state for India was better than a centralized state. Under Nehru, India moved in a different direction. Many passionate admirers of Bose believe that had their leader been on the scene, India would have been a much better place. It is because of this craving that people keep “seeing” him here and there. “It is one those ‘ifs’ of history to which there can be no definitive answer,” writes the historian. A biographer couldn’t have said it in a better way . Danny Boyle: In His Own Words By Amy Raphael Faber & Faber Rs 699, 355 pages Till a few years ago, Bollywood took us to exotic locales and showed the lives of rich and bored people. Then came ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, and Bollywood derided it as “poverty porn”. But, the Oscars – eight of them – changed everything for Danny Boyle and Bollywood was forced to join the party. Now, suddenly, our filmmakers are discovering the invisible India – from Mumbai’s dhobi ghat to the badlands of western UP. This is the importance of being Boyle – a working-class bloke from Lancashire who learnt the nuances of story-telling at the Royal Court theatre. For movie buffs who like edgy yet realistic cinema, this is a captivating story of a man who experimented with genres to give us gems such as “Trainspotting”, “A Life Less Ordinary” and “The Beach”. – Shobhan Saxena Buy any book on this page at 20% off @www.books.indiatimes.com or sms WHB to 58888 or call 09910118888 OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR NOTICE INVITING e-TENDER The Executive Engineer, Bhopal Central Division-I , CPWD , Bhopal invites on behalf of President of India online it e m m rate tenders in two bid system forfollowing work. RAJENDRA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES RANCHI-834009, JHARKHAND Notice No. 4679/RIMS, Ranchi , Dated : 17.06.11 CHANGE IN DATES FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDER VIDE RE-TENDER NOTICE NO. 3303 DATED 23.O5.2O1’ A A New Changed dates for Tenders 1. Last date of submission of On 09.07.2011 till 12:00 PM. INIT NO. 32/EE!BCD-l/2011-12 Name of Work: Campus development of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) Bhopal (MP) SH: C!o P.G. & NRI Hoste l for 350 student each alongwith Kitchen and Dining Halls for 200 students each including water r supply, sanitary installations , drainage , internal electrical installations sealed tender documents (Only (At RIMS , Ranchi) by speed post / / Registered post) (A wholly owned Government of Gujarat Tender Notice No. I 1. Est. Cost Cost (a) Corrigendum No. & (Rs. in lacs) (b) Name of the work 2. Tender Fee Fee (Rs.) 3. EMD (c) (Rs. in lacs) 4. Class (d) 5. Time for Completion of work (e) __________________________ ___________ _ SARDAR SAROVAR NARMADA NIGAM LIMITED Undertaking) Pre-bid conference Last date for online submission of tender documents Last date for rhysical submission Online verification of documents & opening of tender (tech) Online opening of Price bid NOTICE INVITING TENDER NIT No, MD/CO3AIAPWO03/1 1- 12 - DOMESTIC Bid Submission Item Description Air Pre Heater (APH) Tubes 13.07.2011 upto 1500 hrs 2. Opening of technical bid & On 09.07.2011 at 01:00 PM discussion on technical issues, in RIMS. Rest terms and conditions will remain same as per re-tender notice no. 3303 dated 23.05 2011. Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences , Ranchi Sd/ - Director including conduits for low vo ltage systems , Estimated Composite Cost : Rs.27,89 ,94 ,032/- (Civil Rs. 25,06,98,942!- + Electrical Rs. 2,82 , 95,090), Earnest Earnest : Rs. 37,90 ,000!-, & Money Period of completion : 18 (Eighteen) Months. Time and date of 1 2 3 Advertisement Advertisement for Online Tenders above R s. 25 erores & no to 100 crores. Online Tenders above Rs. crores up crores. Bidders are reguested to note that all future Corrigendums, Amendments, Revsians , Extensions of bid submission date, etc with regard to this tender, if any, shall be published Only in CPCL website and not through pressadvertisement. Contact person: Sr. Manager(Purchase), CPCL , Manali,Chennai-6000e8. Ph:04iI-25 44023; Works under the Chief Engineer , Mebsana Tender Notice No. 2 of 2011-12 CONSTR UU TING C EARTHWORK , CC. LINING AND STR UCTURES FOR DISTRIBUTOR IES AND MINORS OF RA J P UR A AND BOLERA BRANCH Fax:044-2504 1247; E-mail: rajancs cpcl.co.in. Refer CPCL Website: w.cpcl.oo.in for furlherdetailsaboutthetender. Deputy General Manager (Materials & Contracts) U NOTICE INVITING TENDER Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) invites tenders from eligible applicants forthe following work: NIT No. DMRC/20-IIl/Q0912011: Contract CC-04: ‘Design and Construction of Tunnel by Shield TBM , Tunnel by Cut & Cover, Under ground Station at Azadpur by Cut & Cover method & Ramps at Mukundpur and Shalimar Bagh for under ground works on Mukund PurYamunaViharCorridorofDelhiMRlS Projectof Phase-Ill.’ • :1 u •: I 1 I {s 1 &‘i I pre-bid conference At 11:00 AM on 26/06/2011, Period of uploading of bids — —From 02/07/2011 Upto 06/07/2011, Period during which EMD , Cost of Tender Document, E-Tender processing fee and other documents shall be submitted :AA last fter date of uploading of bid and upto 3.30 PM on 11/07/2011 , Tim e anddate ofopeningoftender:Aflerl2.3O PM on 14/07/2011. I) 2) 3) 4) 5) CANALS FOR PACKAGES R -4 , BBC-3 , BBC-5 A N D BB C-6 WITH THEIR OPERATION & MAINTENANCE FOR FIVE The tender forms and other details can be seen and downloaded from the website www.tenderwiza rd.com / / CPWD or www cpwd .gov.in Rs. 8926.67 (a) 27-06-20 1! at 12.00 Hrs. Rs. 30000/- (b) 07-07-20 1! up to 18.00 Rs. 89.27 Hrs. Class ”AA” (c) 08 -07 -20 11 , i I . 0 0 to 18 Months 16.00 Hrs. (d) 08-07-20 11 , 16.00 Hrs. onwards if possible (e) 16-07-20 11 at 12.00 Hrs. (if possible) MATERIAL M A N A G E M E N T DEPARTMENT ( e Tender Notice for the supply of Stores , No. EPSI29/2011) advertised tenders through E-procurement System. No manual/postal www.ireps.gov.in -* wcr- cos for Full description/specifications. SN Tender No. Brief Description 1 2 3 4 10.10.3749 10.11.2686 .11.2530 07.25 3 Reclamation of suspension bearing Lub Oil Pump Assembly Equaliser Spring Seat Root Ventilator arrangement Oty. 200 Pairs 36 Nos. 172 Nos. 420 Nos. COS/W C R on behalf of the President of India invites the following offers shall be entertained. Tenders can be accessed under the link YEARS (FOUR PACKAGES) Note : Th e d eta i ls regard i ng contact ppace f or pph si ca l subm i ss i on an d open i ng l hy of tender please visit website www.ssnnLnprocUre.com REFERENCE WEBSITE - www.sardarsarovardans.org i INF 1574/I 1-12 Approximate cost of the work : 550.00 crores Completion period : 36 (Thirty six) months Sale of tenderdocuments : 24.06.2011 to 05.07.2011 Date/Time oftendersubmission 09.08.2011 (up to 1500 hrs) For detailed information log log to www.delhimetrorail.com. Tender on documents can be purchased from office of the Chief General Manager/Tender, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited, 5°’ Floor, A-Wing, Metro Bhawan, Fire Brigade Lane , Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001 (TeL:O11-23415838. Fax: 0011-11-2342341179087908)).. 5 6 7 .09.109 .10.1066 .10.1229 30. 0.3352 . 0.356 . 1.1044 . 1.1249 1.1351 .11.1378 .11.1484 .11.1840 .11.2327 .11.8003 34.10.3071 40.11.5008 e-PROCUREM ENT FOR COS ICLW /CH ITTARANJAN No .COS/CRJJPUB/e -Tender/11 (0162 Date: 14.06.2011 following e-Tenders can be accessed under the link www.ireo s.eov .in. Offers for suc h he -T e n d e r can be s u b m i t t e d onl y e l e c t r o n i c a l l y bb access ing the link y www.ireos.sov.in -‘CLW-> COS/CRJ-> log in. Vendors may also contact the following The Brake head for 13 T & 16 T nl ay for Lavatory Chute Gravity cock 2759 Nos. 1121 Nos. 7703 Nos. Chief Engineer (AF) ,Vayusena Nagar ,Nagpur ,on behalf of the President of India , invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/un-enlisted contra ctors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender of under mentioned work:1 Name of Work SPECIAL REPAIR TO SECURITY WALL AT DEVLAL I. 2 Estimated Cost Rs. 277.82 Lakhs. 3 PerIod of Completion 24 (TWENTYFOUR ) Months. 4 Amount of Earnest Rs. 3,52 820/-in the form of Call Deposit Receipt Money for contractors from any Scheduled Bank in favour of Garrison not enlisted with MES Engineer(l) AF OJHAR. BGB not acceptable. 5 Cost of Tender Re. 2 000/- in the form of DD/Banker ’s Cheque/ Pay Order from any Nationalised Bank in favour of Garrison Engineer (I) AF OJHAR. 6 Lastdateof Receipt O2JULY2O 11. of Applications 7 Eligibility Criteria: (A) ForMES Enlisted Class “B” with Standing Security Deposit Rs. Contractor 4 ,00 ,000/- and category a (I) New, (B) For Other (a) Meeting the following enlistment criteria Contractors of MES. (i) Fixed Assets: Rs. 60.00 Lakhs (Minimum 80% of assets shall be in shape of immovable property). (ii) Working Capital: Not less than 12,00 Lakhs. (iii) (a) Having satisfactorily completed two works costing not less than Rs. 1.50 Crores. _________________ 8 9 Distributor Valve Body flap door assembly 108 Nos. 150 Nos. 4746 Nos. 661 Sets. 2667 Sets. 0 Ii Wearing piece for Side bearer Complete set of Air Brake Rubber buffer spring Center Stiffener for Head Stock Hand brake arrangement Shaft bearing with sign plate Pipe 20mm nb. with socket & flange Distributor Valve Set of system paint Annealed copper stranded jumper wire officials to obtain clarification regarding part icular tender if any, Dy.CMM/HQ/CLW/ Chittaranjan . 0341-2525594 or Dy.CMM/P/CLW/Ch ittaranjan , 0341-2535921 for IREPS re lated information , if any, may p lease eontact : Dy.CMM /SYSTE M/CLW/Chit t ar a nja nB 4 1 - 25i5S6 SI. Tender Brief Description Qty . lender EMU 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2718 Nos. 42 Sets. 2807 Nos. 498 Nos. 100 Nos. 94 Sets. 500 Mtrs . & 2550 Kgs No No. 8112 0 704 83120360 70120045 71120046 43120366 70120055 70121084 70120028 7012006 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ppf ) 2270/- 500000/________ MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 1 RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT VIGYANAKANCHA (PU) HYDERABAD 500 069 (AP) INDIA - 2 —— 3 4 5 —— —— OPEN TENDER NOTICE 040-24306222/24306230 FAX: 040-24306013 TENDER NOTICE NO. RCI/DCMM/LPFOT/69 Date: 1st JUNE 2011 1. The Director, RCI , on behalf of the President of India, desires to procure TELEPHONE: 6 7 following Stores from original manufacturer(s)/accredited suppier(s)/ dealer(s): SI. No. 1. 2. ______ 8 9 —— TENDER NO. RCI/DCMM/LP/OT/LPD-I/ 2011-12/293(R) RCI/DCMM // P/OT//LPD - I/ L 2011-12/294(R) RCI/DCMM/LP/OT/LPD - II/ / 2011-12/295(C) _______________________ DESCRIPTION OF STORES CODE COMPOSER STUDIO PLATINUM IDE PART NO. TMDSCCS-ALLFO1 PULSED FIBER LASER PART 10 91110882 II —— 9112 00 92 12 7012 1085 13 70121094 - NO. MLO5-PL-R-OEM STRESS CHECK ANALYSIS 390 Not . 7915 Nos. Relay for State Converter QSIT DU Type 463 ww 2 NO. Plus 2 NC Contact. ith Not. Resistance for 4 step field weakening ES and 39 RPS. Set. Motor Suspension Unit for 3-Phase Electric 710 Locomotives. Set. Central Electronics Unit I and 2. 140 Set. Ma in Conapressor with Mousting Accessor ies 265 Along with Motor. Set D and M Make E-70 or Similar Brake Control 131 and Pneumat ic Equi pment. Set Main Transformer 5400 KVA. 33 ______________________________________________ Set. End FrameINDE Assl y.(CNC Machined) 293 Not . P I N I O N 23 T E E T H FOR 128 I I Sn 15 2 5 0 T . M . [ I t i t a c h i l 11-70 B R A K E C O N T R O L AND P N E U . 07 EQUIPMENT COMPLETE FOR WAP .5. Set MAIN RESERVOIR 450 LITRES. 283 ____________________________ ______________________________________________ ____________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C ommut ator Ass ly.(Comp let e) for Hitachi Tmetion Motor. Bal anc ing Wei ght. 568/ - 142001______ 1135/- 5380011135/- 87100 12270/- 500000/. _________ ______________________________ 2270/- 1000000/__________ ________________________________________ 2270/- 1000000/________ ________________________________________ 2270/- l000000/2270/- 1000000/__________ 2270/- 182900/______ 1135/- 745001_________ 2270/- 482 100/______ OR 20 . 1.1434 Water Based Non-Flamrneble 21 . 0.3613 Brush holder revolving ring 22 . 0.4015 Capacitor DC-link, Resonant circuit 23 . 0.2227 Main Pull rod 24 30. 1.1021 Rear cover for axle box 25 . 1.1027 Coller for direct mounted roller bearing 26 . 1.1037 Uoper rubber washer 27 . 1.1041 Hanger for bolster spring suspension 28 . 1.1048 Double acting hydrauhc shock absorber 29 . 1.2440 Bracket complete for equalising slay 30 . 0.8054 Diesel generating sets 31 . 1.8028 Diesel Generating set From Sr. No. 1 to 20 Tender Due Date 19-Ju ly-2011 Tender Closing t ime: -1 2.30 hr Fro m Sr. No. 21 to 31 Tender Due Date 20-Ju Iy-2011 Tender Closing tim e:-1 2.30 hr 19489 Ltrs. 24 Nos, 4 Nos. 475 Nos. 6597 3505 6306 8644 Nos. Nos. Nos. Nos. 2935 Nos. 1228 Nos. 1 Set 1 No 568/_ 842001_ _ 3. _______ SOFTWARE (1 NO. OF PERPEI1JAL LICENSE) 4. 4. RCI/DCMM/LP/OT/LPD-II/ 2011-12/296(C) DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMMABLE GIMBAL POSITIONER Cost of Tender Documents : For SI. No. ito 4 is Rs. 100/- each. Availability of Tender Document : From 20th June, 2011 on Website upto 5th July, 2011 . Last Date for Acceptance of : On or before 14th July, 2011 Oiler/Quotat ion upto 17:10 hrs. Validity of Quotation : 120 Days. 2.The details of the tender are given in the website www.drdo.org DCMM For DIRECTOR , RCI davp 10301/11/0i18/iii2 Tender Closing date & Time: 18/07/2011 a l i t :00 his . forSl . No 1 & 2, 20/07/2011 at 11:00 hrs. for SI. No. 3, 05/07/20 11 at 11:00 his, for SI.No. 4, 14/07/2011 at 11:00 hrs. for SI.No, 5, 25/07/2011 at 11:00 hcs. for SI. No.6, 02/08/20 11 at 11:00 hrs. for Sl.No.7 , 10/08/2011 at 11:00 hrs . for SI.No 8, 19/08/20 11 at 11: 00 hrs. for SI.No. 9, 08/07/2011 at 11:00 lam, for SI.No. 10, 22/07/2011 at 11:00 hrs. for SI. No. 11, 27/07)2011 at 11:00 bra, for SI.No.12 , 29/07/2011 at 11:00 lam, for Sl.No. 13. Tender er to submit Tender Documents Cost through D.D in favour of FA&CAO/CLW/ CHITTARANJAN payable at CHI TTARANJAN. Tenderers are also advised to give D.D N umber Date and amount of Tender Cost in the Offer. The Date of De ina rad Draft should be Dale of Tender Opening or any prior date. Any Demand Dtaft prepared after the Date of Tender Opening will not be considered as valid Cost of Tender Documents. The cost of Tender Documents should be received in Purchase Office preferabl y on Ihe Date of Tender Opening but not later than I t t(Ten) days frons Tender Opening (eseluding the day of Openi nag).O ffers Received without cost of Tender Documents wilt be summaril y rejected. No post Tender correspondence will be made with the Firm for obtaining Tender Document Cost. N ote :DRAW IN G AND SPECIFICATION IS AVAILABLE AND THE SAME MAY BE C OLLECTED FROM DY./CMM /HQ OR DY.CMM /F OR SMM/CON /H Q FROM CLW I CH I TTA R ANJAN OFFICE. Controller of Storer _ _ DK/2 15 Visit us a t : w w w . c lw . i n d i a n r a i lw a y s . g o v . i n for other tenders S E N VI NI i U U S I O Mt K S WI III A A M EL t ’ S One work costing not less than Rs. 2.50 Crores. OR (b) Average annual turn-over for two consecutive years shall not be less than Rs. 300.00 Lakhs. (ADVERTISE TENDER NOTICE NO. 12/2011) For details see Tender booklet or visit us at website- www .wcr ind ianrai lways .gov .in For and on behalf of the President of India, Contro ler of Stores , West Central Railway, Jabalpur invites sealed tenders from the reputed and experienced contractors , for the supply of following items: S.N . Tender No . Brief Descri ption Qty. (b) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt. 8 Date of Issue of Tender ON OR AFTER 04 JULY 2011. 9 Date ofRece iptof lende ON OR AFTER 02 AUG 2011. _____________________ NOTES : 1. For full details , refe r Indian Trade Journal dated 22 JUNE 2011 & visit on MESwebsite www.mes.gov.ln. 2. Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary documents to prove their eligibility as given above including affidavit for no recovery outstanding, affidavits of immovable/movable properties , Technical Staff , T&P, no close relative in MOD on Gazetted Post , valuation of immovable properties , solvency valuation of certificate & working capital certificate from bankers , list of works executed during last three years with full details & postal address of executive authority. AAD (Contracts) For Chief Engineer (AF) 65.11.8021 Ammonia Print Machine 1 No. Tender Due on 19-July-2011 Tender Closi ng Time 12.30 hrs Tender Opening Time 12.45 hrs. WCR is com pletely switching to EFT payment mode, details may be seen at www .wcr.indianrai iways .gov .in T T1 ff1I5 1 ftT 5T! !Controller of Stores TT ‘ iI i i !k I?iuul N1 t: 0761-155210 26 talk of the times The story of the week as relayed by Gen Now on their cellphones. Lol OPEN SPACE SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JUNE 19, 2011 Who are 3S women? OPEN SPACE 3S women are China’s cohort of unmarried women. They were born in the 70s, and are single. The “Shengnii”, or leftover ladies, are well-educated, well-paid and independent. While they’re all this, they also realize they are part of a group men don’t want to settle down with. According to experts, the women choose career and single lives over family . — Anupama Jayadev, Pune What is the origin of the phrase “to go Dutch”? The origin of the phrase “to go Dutch” is traced back to the 17th century when England and the Netherlands fought constantly over trade routes and political boundaries. The British use of the term “Dutch” had a negative connotation for the Netherlanders were said to be stingy To “go . Dutch” implies an informal agreement that each person will pay his or her own expenses during a date. — Hadley Shemaiah, via email What is the sandwich theory? The sandwich theory describes the behaviour of a beam, plate, or shell of three layers — two face sheets and a core. The most commonly used sandwich theory is linear and an extension of first order beam theory Line. ar sandwich theory is of importance for the design and analysis of sandwich panels, used in construction and vehicle and airplane building. — Dwija Mahajan, Shimla GANESHA SAYS BEJAN DARUWALLA “cocktail”. A similar theory claims leftover drinks were dumped into a ceramic container shaped like a rooster, and you could get cheap drinks from a tap set in the tail of the rooster; hence “cock’s tail.” — R Kumar New Delhi , Why are some peacocks white? The white feathers on a peacock depend on which genes are dominant and which are recessive. They don’t have any pigmentation. Any animal can be albino, but what separates an albino from a white peacock is the colour of the skin beneath its feathers. A white peacock has coloured skin whereas an albino’s skin will be very pale and without any markings. — Ashwin Hendre, via email Aries: You learn from recent tribulations. You cut down on extravagances and realize that with the right attitude and some fine tuning, you can cope quite well. There are many pinpricks but you have to cope. There is no choice. You can’t sink now. Taurus: The bonding over the past two weeks brings you close to family; it’s an emotional period. Problems are working themselves out. Once all this is on the backburner, you realize the need to have fun. It’s been a rough time, you have to balance that with entertainment. Gemini: You look for beauty now that you , have emerged from the depths. You have battled the odds and are now happy with your achievements. You feel much more confident, and ready to embark on a spree of partying and entertaining. Money matters ease, new deals are on the anvil, and there is respite. Cancer: You move ahead with plans, making the most of the new moon phase. Cash in on it, says Ganesha. You are a leader/entertainer/mediator and your financial skills and spiritual inclination will be greatly enhanced. You will find solutions to mind-boggling problems. Leo: There will be all sorts of obstacles. You have to generate money and you look for new ways to do it. You earn much more than you did in the past, but money is still a great need all the time. You look at other avenues of income generation as many family issues come to the fore. It is getting hotter, in more ways than one. This strenuous period could also be dogged by accidents and ill health. Virgo: Mars propels you strongly ahead, making you work very hard. There is no letup in your busy schedule, but you relish every moment of it. There is progress at all levels, recognition, more money made and gains of all kinds. A very rewarding period. The home front is also happy relaxed an d , as a result, there is joy and bonhomie. Libra: Family re-enters your life. They all need your attention. Your work and leisure hours will be curtailed by numerous domestic demands, but you can’t say no to family This is a frenetic and . hectic week and you will have to make many compromises. But you get through it well and even manage to see the brighter side of things. Scorpio: This is a pleasing week with many triumphs, which you may not notice until later. You’ve been learning life’s crucial lessons and will now find time to party The past few . weeks have been demanding and you need to restore the balance. Let go of all trifles and look at the bigger picture. If you don’t, life has a way of making you do it, on its terms. Sagittarius: Health concerns crop up. Perhaps not your own health but that of someone dear. This will eat into your time, but this is a duty you can’t avoid. Nor do you want to, your caring comes from the heart. There is also some travel and a change of plans. You will be in a positive frame of mind. Capricorn: You have done well and now the good times seek you out. The clouds have passed, the sun is shining brightly on your life. There are several matters to attend to but you will sort them all out. Aquarius: The difficulties of the past have been surmounted. You find time to recharge your batteries and decide on some uplifting human interaction. You are loving, caring, and a big draw. You are relaxed and equally focused on your dreams. You indulge your love of beauty and style. Pisces: Family issues crop up again. If you are single, you may find a partner. If you are married, there could be an addition to the family or closer bonding with your partner. You will maintain your focus on earning and business. Family needs attention. You may become a bit laid-back. www.bejandaruwalla.com ANY ANSWERS? An Andean woman shouts slogans during a protest in Lima, Peru. Question: What is the significance of the rainbow flag in Peru? The final cut heard abt d college in delhi dat’s announced a 100% cut-off ? yup...it seems dey really want students to just *@#^ off ! ha ha..but den can u really blame ‘em? tis da season for cuts & offs here’s a pome on last week’s events.... first dere was ramdev who had his fast cut & was den packed off fast! den dere was anna who was cut up and said dese talks wont last not 2 forget amma who stomped into Delhi to cut a deal but she put off a lot of people with her cutthroat zeal den v had diggy singh wid his cutting views and da TV channels who peddled everything as Breaking News... finally v had da cutoff of da week... wen poor hugh hefners pride was cut & dried by da girlfriend who wudnt be his bride! moral of da story is dat life is gory & dere r enuf uppercuts 2 make a dent so wats da big deal if a college says it wants 100 per cent? (Forwarded to Atul Sethi) Why is the cape of Good Hope in Africa called so? The Cape of Good Hope is a headland on the Atlantic coast side of South Africa. It is known for its spectacular scenery It was originally named the . Cape of Storms by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. It was later renamed, by King John II of Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route to India and the East. — Piyush Mahajan, Bangalore What is the origin of the word cocktail? The first recorded use of the word “cocktail” was in 1806, and it is fairly accepted that it is of American origin. There are many likely etymologies. One is that bartenders used to drain the dregs of different barrels and mix them together, selling the resultant muddle at reduced prices. “Cock” was another name for spigot, and “tailings” is the last bit of alcohol, so the drink was called “cocktailings,” quickly shortened to What is spring cleaning? — N N Lara, Gwalior What is the origin of the Duckworth-Lewis method in cricket? — Karan N, via email What is a Mexican stand-off ? — Ankit Nigam, Varanasi What is an oligarchy? — Ankitesh Ojha, via email You ask. Or you answer. Mark the envelopes ‘Open Space’ and address your answers and questions to: Open Space, Sunday Times of India, II Floor, S&B Towers, 40/1, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560 001 email:
[email protected] SUNDAY MAILBOX MY TIMES, MY VOICE II It tells on our secular and democratic country that we were unable to protect Husain from regressively communal bigotry. It is a pity our government succumbed to Hindu fanatics in Husain’s case and to Muslim fanatics in Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasrin’s case. The people who attacked Husain and Nasrin should reflect upon this — they were attacking the rich soul of India. Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad A harassed Husain With reference to “Attack on artistic freedom is our shame” (All That Matters, June 12), attacks on Indian art have always been politically motivated. No wonder M F Husain had to leave his motherland and seek asylum elsewhere. Foolish neta types, with no understanding of art and culture, turn wonderful paintings into communal flashpoints. All artists find inspiration in the woman — the motherland, the mother, the love of a woman. So how is it wrong if Husain also painted a few? Nudity in art is a way of showing the liberation of the feminine. Our neta types, I am not surprised, would stand against it. Abhishek Saxena, Delhi one who lived a simple life, walked barefoot, and never compromised on his principles. He was honest in his fondness for Bollywood actresses. He was an asset to any country... India, Britain and Qatar. It is unfortunate his final years were lived in self-imposed exile abroad because of certain misguided votaries of religion. He will be remembered as a great, and the most controversial, Indian artist. Mahesh Kumar, via email III The death of “India’s Picasso” outside his home country is a blot on India’s image. India has lost one of its greatest sons. The only way for the nation to redeem itself is to award its greatest painter India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. Faiz Abbas Abidi, Lucknow Osama’s son hoped for peace With reference to “Had he been alone, Osama would have remained hidden longer” (All That Matters, June 12), it is interesting that Osama’s fourth son Omar from his first wife Najwa hoped peace would come to the world after the bitterness. That he often used the example of the IRA and the British government making their peace. That he hoped his father could meet with world leaders and resolve their problems. And that, that wasn’t possible after 9/11. It is however encouraging to note the son of the world’s most dreaded terrorist had a recipe for world peace. Adelmo Fernandes, Goa IV It is unfortunate Husain is no more. He was the perfect example of the artist, above caste and religion. He was above all a thorough gentleman, AA ‘,_ l ‘ I s ’ ‘I l i KAR1NATAKA POWER CORPOKATION LIMITEDI ( Sharavathy Valley Hydro Electric Project) CORRIGENDUM I Date: 10-06-2011 Please refer to our TenderNotification No.KPCL/SVP/CSE(R)/ Power Channelf2Oll-12/01 dated 06-06-2011, issued through eprocurement portal of Govt. of Karnataka vide e-procurement portal wwweprocicaniataka.gov.in for Repairs to Power Channel from Linganatnakki reservoir to Talakalale balancing reservoir from Ch.470’ to Ch.14313’ excluding open channel beyond Malali tunnel exit published in this daily on 10-06-2011. The following modifications are made as: 1) Publishing the names of Pre-qualified agencies on or before 29.06.2011. ii) Publishing of Bid document through e-procurement 29.06.2011. iii) Last date of receipt of queries: 08-07-2011. iv) Pre-Bid meeting: 13-07-2011, v) Replies to queries: 18-07-2011. vi) Submission of Tender Documents containingTechnical & Financial Bids (cover I &Il) along with EMD: 28-07-2011. Opening of Technical Bid (Cover-I): 01-08-2011 at 16.00 Hrs. Opening of Financial Bid (Cover-Il): On or After 05-08-2011. The conditions (vi) is modified as the Bidder shall quote rates inclusive of all applicable taxes and also inclusive of service tax, levies, duties, cesses and Building Workers Welfare cess etc., as per the latest GoK and Gol, prevailing as on the date of NIT All other terms and conditions remaremaiin n unaltered. Further details can be had from: The Executive Engineer(Reservoir) , KPCL KARGAL-57742 1, ShimogaDist. Phone: 08186-240344,Karnataka,India. Government of India Department of Atomic Energy Raja Ramanna Centre For Advanced Technology Construction & Services Division Notice Inviting Tenders. Date :08-06-2011 Director, RRCAT invites on behalf of the President of India sealed item rate tenders on two envelope Chief Englneer(AF), Vayusena Nagar , Nagpur , on behalf of the President of India , invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/un-enlisted contractors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender of under mentioned work:COMPLETION OF BALANCE WORK FOR I Name of Work PROVN OF WORK S E R V I C E S FOR C E R T AI N RE CO N S TRU C TI O N OF system for following work. NIT No. RRCAT/C&S/C/1463/2011-12/AAS-012 Date 08-06-2011 Name of Work : Construction of building for AcceleratorTesting Facility including internal RH. Works at RRCAT, Indore. Estimated cost 86,30,000/- Earnest Money 1, ,6001- & Time of completion -15 Months. 72 The tender forms and other details can be obtained from the O/o Head, C&S Div. RRCAT, on payment of 110WThe sale of tender forms will be started from 20-6-2011 to 05-7-2011. The last date of receipt of application to purchase tender form will be 01-7-201 1 upto 15:00 hrs. For complete detail/information please log on at website www.rrcat.gov.in (Dr. P. D. Gupta) Director ,ARCAT For and On behalf of the President of India ‘ Tender No. IRCON/CC/TN/ROB-Rsj-CONSULT-IL/3015/ll/628 Dt. :16.06.2011 Sealed tender in two packet system are invited from bidders for Carrying out Consultancy work for Road over Bridge/Road under Bridge includin g detail design. estimate, BOQ working drawing, quality control complete as desired in scope of work for 6 ROB of of Rajasthan i.e. ROB near Arts college Aiwar, at LC No 201 Hindaun, at LC No. 108 at at Kota at LC No. 113 atat Aiwar, atLCNo. 51 at at SangariaatRUB atLCNo. 71 at Jodhpur. Amount of Earnest Money Deposit Completion Period Cost of Tender Documents Last Date & Time of Bid Submission Rs. 2, 00, 000.00 27-Months Rs. 10, 000/08.07.2011 up to 15.00 up For further details and updates, please visit tender section on IRCON’s website www.ircon.org, Amendments/Corrigendum, if any, would be hosted on the website only. hosted (GMISR) MILITARY ENGINEER SERVICES Commander Works Engineers (NAVY) VASCO-DA-GAMA, GOA , on behalf of President of India, invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/unenlisted Contractors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender for undermentioned work:Name of Work PROVIDING & LAYING 350 MM DIA MS RISING MAIN FROM GOMMffAKTO NOFRA OHR FOR AUGUMENTATION OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT GNA UNDER GE AT (NW) VASGO. Kryvoruchko - Kovchan 80th Ukrainian Championship Kiev, Ukraine, 06.2011 PRAVIN THIPSAY Today we shall look at a pretty and instructive ending from the 80th Ukrainian Chess Championship being held in Kiev. White is a Pawn up but he has to calculate precisely all the tactical possibilities in the position to win the game by force. Position :— White :— Kf3; Rc6; Pa6,b5,f4,g3,h2. Black :— Kd7; Rd6; Pa7,b6,g7,h6. Problem :— White to play and win. Solution:— The King and Pawn ending is winning for White but he must foresee the variations arising after the Rook exchange as the White Queen side Pawns could fall prey to Black King thereafter. White won with 1.Rxd6+! Kxd6 2.g4! Kc5 3.g5!! Kxb5 [ or if 3...hxg5 then 4.fxg5 Kxb5 5.h4 Kc6 6.h5 Kd7 7.h6 gxh6 8.gxh6 Ke7 9.h7 etc. ] 4.g6!! Black resigned as he can’t stop White from Queening on of his Pawns. For example, 4...Kc6 5.f5 Kd7 6.f6 gxf6 [ 6...Ke8 is refuted by 7.fxg7] 7.g7 etc. 1–0 CHESS Chief E n g l neer (AF), Vayusena Nagar , Nagpur , on behalf of the President 2 Estimated Cost 3 Period of completion 4 Amount of Earnest Money for contractors not enlisted with MES 5 Cost of Tender __________________ 8 Last date of Receipt of Applications 7 Eligibility Criteria: (A) For MES Enlisted Contractor (B) For Other Contractors TECHNICAL SHEDS AT AMLA. Rs. 410.00 Lakhs. is (SIXTEEN) Months. Rs. 4,85 ,000/- in the form of Call Deposit Receipt from any Scheduled Bank in favour of Garrison Engineer (I) AF AMLA. 8GB not acceptable. Rs. 2,000/- In the form of DD/ Bankers Cheque/ Pay Order from any Nationalised Bank in favour of Garrison Engineer (I) AF AMLA. 04 JULY 2011. ________________________________ of India, invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/un-enlisted contractors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender of under mentioned work:I Name of WW k or C O MPLETI O N O F BALANCE WORK FOR ______________ _________________ PROVN OF DEFICIENT MD A C C N FOR OFFICERS & PBORSATAMLA. Rs. 450.00 Lakhs. 12(TWELVE ) Months. Rn. 5,25, 000/- in the form of Cat Deposit Receipt 2 Estimated Cost 3 Period of Completion 4 Amount of Earnest Mo ney for contractors not enlisted with MES 5 Cost of Tender Estimated Cost of Work Completion PerIod Amount of Earnest Money for Contractors not Enlistedwith MES Cost of Tender Last Date for Receipt of Applications EI ibiIity Criteria:- Rs. 90 Lakhs (Rupees Ninety Lakhs only). 06 (Six) Months. Rs. 1,35,000/_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________________________________________ Class ‘ A” with Standing Security Deposit Rs. 7,00 ,000/- and category “a(i)” New. (a) Meeting the following enlistment criteria of MES. (I) Feced Assets: Rs. 75.00 Lakhs (Minimum 80% of assets shall be in shape of immovable property). (ii) Working Capital: Not less than 30.00 Lakhs. (iii) (a) Having satisfactorily completed two works costing not less than Rs. 4.00 Crores. OR 8 Lastdate of Receipt of Applications 7 Eligibility Criteria: (A) Fo r MES Enlisted Contractor (B) For Other Contractors from any Scheduled Bank in favour of Garnson Engineer (I) AF AMLA. BGB not acceptable. Rs. 2 ,000/-in the form of DD/B anke, s Cheque/ Pay Order from any Nationalised Bank in favour of Garrison Engineer (I) AF AML.A. O4JULY 2OII. ________________________________________ _____________________________________ Rs. 500/- in favour of “Ganison Enoineer (MW Vasco” Davable atVasco. 29 Jun 2011. __________________________________ One work costing not less than Rs. 6.00 Crores. AND (b) Aver age annual turn-over for two consecutive years shall not be less than Rs. 6.00 Crores. (b) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt. 8 Date of Issue of Tender ON OR AFTER 08 JULY 2011. 9 Date of Receipt of Tender ON ORAFTER 16 AUG 2011. _____________________ Class “A” with Standing Security Deposit Rs. 7,00 000/- and category a(i)’ New. (a) Meeting the following enlistment criteria of MES. (i) Fixed Assets: Rn. 7500 Lakhs (Minimum 80% of assets shall be in shape of immovable property). (ii) Working Capital: Not less than 30.00 Lakhs. (iii) (a) Having satisfactorily completed two works costing not less than Rn. 4.00 Crores. OR One work costing noflessttian Rs. 6.00 Crores. AND (b) Average annual turn-over for two consecutive years shall not be less than R s. 6.00 Crores. $ Date of Issue of Tender ON OR AFTER 08 JULY 2011. 9 Date of Receiptof Tender ON OR AFTER 16 16 2011. AUG NOTES: _____________________ (b) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt. NOTES: 1. Forfuli details , refer Indian Trade Journal dated 22 JUNE20 11 & visit on MES website www .mes.gov.in. 2. Contractor s not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary documents to prove their eligibilit as given above including affidavit for no y recovery outstanding, affidavits of immovable/movable properties . Technical St aff , T&P. no close relative in MOD on Gazetted Post , valuation of immo v able properties , solvency valuation of certificate & working capital certificate fro m bankers , list of works executed during last three years with full details & postal address of executive authority. AAO (Contracts) For Chief Engineer (AF) 1. For full details , refer Indian Trade Journal dated 22 JUNE 2011 & visit on MES websitewww.mes.gov.in. 2 . Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary documents to prove their eligibility as given above including affidavit for no recovery outstanding, affidavits of immovable/movable properties , Technical St aff , T&P , no close relative in MOD on Gazetted Post , valuation of immovable properties , solvency valuation of certificate & working capital certificate fro m bankers , list of works executed during last three years with full details & postal address of executive authority. AA D (Contracts) For Chief Engineer (AF) (a) For MES Enlisted Class ‘C’ , Category afu)’ Contractors (b) For Other Contractors (I) Meeting enlistment cdte a of MES with regard to having satisfactedly completed requisite Value Works , Annual Turnover, Woricing Capital, Fixed Assets etc. (ii) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt. Date of Issue of Tender On or alter:30 Jun 2011. Date of Receipt of Tender Upto 1500 hrs. 29 Jul 2011, Notes:1. Applications not accompanied by requisite value DD/Banker’s Cheque towards Cost of Tender shall not be considered for issue of tender. 2. Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary documents to prove their eligibility as given above including Affidavit for no recovery outstanding. 3. In case of rejection of application for issue of tender, the applicant shall be refunded the cost of tender. However, contractor may appeal to next higher Engineer Authority i.e. Chief Engineer (Navy) Mumbai for rejection of his application for issue of tender,whose decision shall be final and binding and Contractor shall not be entitled to any compensation whatsoever for non-issue of tender. 4. The above details are also available on MES website: www.mes.pov.in and Indian Trade Journal. Full Notice of Tender IAFW2162 & Enlistment Criteria is available in all offices of MES and also on MES ____________________ website . Last month, India hosted the BFAME championships after a gap of 20 years. Six out of 12 PRAKASH PARANJAPE affiliated nations participated. After 15 rounds triple round robin, Pakistan (285) and India (280) were far ahead of the other four. The two will represent BFAME in the forthcoming Bermuda Bowl 2011 championships in the Netherlands. The diagrammed deal is from the final in which Pakistan beat India 127-105. In the Closed room, West opened 1♦ in the second seat. Without a 5-card suit, North had to pass even though he held 13 HCP. At his second opportunity, North could employ a take-out double of 2♥. South did well to bid 3♠ on his turn and the Indian N-S reached a decent 4♠ contract. West led his stiff Club. With a Heart loser and the ♠KQJ in enemy hands, K u s h a r i quickly figS Dealer ♠A974 W N E S ured out that ♥3 -- -- -- P EW Vul he needed a 3♦AQ87 1♦ P 1♥ P S2 B28 2 trump break 2♥ X 3♥ 3♠ Lead: ♣4 ♣KT98 to make. He BFAME 2011, Chennai, Open Final. 2♥ 4♠/// simply cashed ♠K32 ♠QJ the ♠A at trick ♥AT84 ♥KQJ72 two and played ♦KJT94 ♦653 another Spade. ♣4 ♣J75 If the defend♠T865 ers had played ♥965 another round ♦2 of trumps, ♣ A Q 6 3 2 — Kushari Kushari would have taken the Diamond finesse to make 10 tricks. At the table, West used his third trump to ruff a Club and Kushari made 10 tricks without a Diamond finesse. In the Open Room, the Pakistan South was playing in 3♠. The low aim and perhaps, boredom, proved to be his undoing. He tried to crossruff his way to nine tricks and failed to make his contract. The qualification berths were a foregone conclusion and the final was merely of academic interest. Both India and Pakistan seemed to be using it as an opportunity to practise and test new ideas. BRIDGE davp 10102/11/0683/1112 www.demicoma.com
[email protected] 18 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011 India requires all the energy and all the cohesiveness of our polity to swim against...tides and come out victorious. MANMOHAN SINGH, prime minister Law Before Magnanimity Instead of letting blacklisted Sikhs go, the government should punish the guilty of 1984 Dipankar Gupta All In It Together PM rightly suggests reform needs all hands on deck W I f things don’t work as they should, responsibility is not the prime minister’s alone. Institutions function suboptimally while opposition politicians – , sometimes even coalition allies – revel in opposition for opposition’s sake. That is a strand that came through during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s interaction with the media on Wednesday and it deserves to be considered , sympathetically Populist and intransigent postures struck by parties stymie . action time and again, whether it be on India’s modernisation agenda or the anti-graft fight mandating systemic changes such as freeing up the land market or expanding the UID scheme. Consider some reforms the PM marked out as key: land acquisition revamp, liberalising retail and insurance, the much-awaited goods and services tax (GST). We know that forward movement here has been blocked either by UPA allies or opposition parties. Overhaul of the land acquisition framework is urgent, given that land is proving the rock on which industrial and infrastructure projects are floundering with alarming regularity A pending Bill vastly improves on . the existing archaic law, making land deals more of a direct transaction between buyer and seller. Yet parties like the Trinamool have posted roadblocks, holding up the passage of this crucial Bill. On its part, GST has been a non-starter thanks to BJP-ruled states, as Singh justifiably points out. While the anti-reforms Left is at least ideologically consistent, the BJP often seems to adopt opposition for opposition’s sake. The party was itself pro-reforms when in power at the Centre and says it believes in responsible opposition. Neither trait is on display in its newfound stand on GST. Surely GST’s rationale is to uproot an inefficient, non-transparent and labyrinthine tax regime that imposes multiple levies at the central and state levels. Moreover GST would check the generation of black money, which the BJP professes to be against. If GST looks set to miss its April 1, 2012 deadline, similar delay seems the fate of retail reform. BJP-ruled Gujarat and Akali-BJP-ruled Punjab aren’t averse to FDI in multibrand retail. But the BJP at the national level opposes it, just like it opposes the government on the corruption issue without proposing too many concrete solutions. As Singh says, more private investment can transform the farm sector by helping build infrastructure. The PM has set out a good reforms blueprint calling for structural change, whether related to education to help skills development or modernisation of infrastructure. And he rightly suggests that implementing this nation-building roadmap requires all hands on deck – government, opposition and civil society at large. It certainly is the PM’s responsibility to lead. But it’s also up to other politicians not simply to dig their heels in. hat was the home minister thinking of when he pressed the delete button and removed the names of 142 Sikhs from the “blacklist”? If these terrorists were killers once, they are killers now. None of them have shown contrition, and some even live in Pakistan. Why then, all this magnanimity? Or, did the home ministry make a mistake in entering their names in the blacklist? In which case, the government should apologise instead of seeking credit. There is enough evidence of administrative gaffes already. Jagjit Singh Chauhan appears among those removed from the blacklist, but he has been dead for years. As for Jafarwal and Barapind, they have been in India for all this time without a cloud over their heads. Or, does P Chidambaram think that the terrorists represent the ordinary Sikhs? Wrong again! Minorities are not hurt because the state is prosecuting a few monsters who happen to be from their community. What upsets Sikhs and Muslims the most is that those who led attacks against them are walking about freely, even holding positions of office. As long as they are roaming in the wild, minorities will find it hard to forget the past and get on with their lives. Sikhs do not really care if Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Ganga Singh Dhillon and 140 others are blacklisted in stone. Nor would the entry of the likes of Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel or David Headley to India warm the hearts of Muslims. Terrorists have never represented minorities, either Muslim or Sikh. Why then should they rejoice because the state is looking the other way and opening up the cage? If anything, minorities are more conscious of the law than perhaps the majority community is. They too want to forget, but amnesia is not on their side. The only way they can release their pain is if those who brutalised them are punished by the courts. That is the peacemaking gesture they are looking for and not the release of alleged terrorists. Time and time again, often against tremendous odds, minorities in this country have Golden Temple, Amritsar: A time to heal Minorities are not hurt because the state is prosecuting a few monsters who happen to be from their community. What upsets them the most is that those who led attacks against them walk about freely given evidence of their democratic intentions. Not only was the Muslim turnout in Gujarat’s recent panchayat elections impressive, it was also difficult to figure out whether they voted for, or against, Narendra Modi. On several occasions in Punjab, Sikhs defied the terrorists and came out in large numbers to cast their ballots. The Muslims too disregarded the Shahi Imam’s appeal to abstain from Republic Day celebrations after the Babri masjid episode. Even in normal times, neither Muslims nor Sikhs have succumbed to admonitions from religious heads, granthis or mullahs, and elected whoever they wished. After the 2002 carnage, many felt that the situation in Gujarat was just what the terrorists would have ordered. Notwithstanding the hardships Muslims faced, subsequent years have shown that there has been no fundamentalist surge in that state. If anything, madrassa education has few takers there. This has encouraged Anjumanrun establishments in Ahmedabad, and elsewhere, to teach a secular curriculum in Gujarati medium. Their Republic Day celebrations are often the most elaborate among all the schools in the neighbourhood. At times, even clerics of different Islamic organisations faced the displeasure of Muslims in Ahmedabad. One can hear loud complaints against them in refugee colonies like Ramola and Citizen Nagar, set up by the Jamiat-i-Ulema or the Jamaat-iIslami. Angry though they may be, yet these Muslims are afraid to return to their earlier homes. Such is the magnitude of their fear, and this is what should be addressed. If Chidambaram were now to pardon a few Muslim terrorists, it would hardly help the situation. Whether Mangolpuri in Delhi or Naroda Patiya in Ahmedabad, the survivors of 1984 and 2002 respectively continue to weep with their eyes dry and wide open. Why should they rejoice in the return of Bhindranwale’s nephew Lakhbir Singh Rode or Wadhwa Singh Chachi of the Babbar Khalsa? As long as the guilty of 1984 and 2002 are still at large, the past will haunt their future. Looking behind your shoulder is not the recommended way to lead a normal life, but that is the best minorities can do. When the next political turmoil happens, will there be a target on their backs again? History, after all, has a way of repeating itself. No wonder, fear is a constant fixture at their door. Democracy functions on the principles of law, not on charity or noblesse oblige. It would have made Sikhs and Muslims happier if the home minister had worked a little harder and sentenced those guilty of minority bashing. This is the healing balm that the affected communities are looking for. It makes no difference to them if the blacklisted lot is kept in a safari park or a zoo. When Sonia Gandhi visited the Golden Temple in 1999, the Jathedars were courteous, but withheld gifting her the saropa. She apologised for 1984, but did nothing to bring in the killers. Later, Manmohan Singh’s apology in Parliament in 2005 struck a hopeful note, but that soon faded away. The Sikhs that had tuned in then, slowly began to tune out. Chidamabaram’s grand gesture in pruning the Sikh blacklist was like singing to the choir. It was an impressive show orchestrated by Tarvinder Singh Marwah, a Congress legislator. But as it played to an in-house audience, it left the ordinary Sikh out and as tone deaf as before. The writer is former professor, JNU. ‘India gave us our lives and the US our livelihood’ Swadesh Chatterjee lobbied the US Congress for the IndiaUS civilian nuclear deal and to lift US sanctions against India imposed in 1998. He’s a member of the prime minister’s Global Advisory Council and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2001 in recognition of his contributions to India. He recently spoke to Aditi Bhaduri: I You were present at the swearing-in of Mamata Banerjee as the new chief minister of West Bengal. Will you promote American investment in the state? I have spent much time in Delhi while building US-India relations. Now Mamata Banerjee has taken over and she has proved what a difference just one person can make. This is a new dawn in West Bengal and i am glad that she is the new chief minister. I will definitely promote more investment in West Bengal. I What was your role in the India-US civil nuclear deal? Well, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George Bush announced the nuclear deal, there was almost no chance of its passage as the Bill necessitated a change in an important law, the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. Only congressional action could enable this change. A major obstacle to making this change was that Bush was quite weak at the time this Bill was presented to the Congress. We formed a virtual organisation, the US-India Friendship Council, made up of community leaders from various states, for the sole purpose of lobbying for this deal. I was chairman of the council and we visited senators and congressmen, held India-US relations should be steered? The council is geared towards how India can take advantage of the Indian diaspora. My generation is the first generation of Indians in the US. We grew up in India with Indian values. India gave us our lives and the US our livelihood. While you can take a person out of India, you cannot take India out of him. So we want to give back to India. For example, my mission is to engage second-generation Indians in the US who do not have that emotive bonding with India as my generation does. I What is the future of American investments in India? It was a defining moment in India-US bilateral relations when President Obama came to India in November 2010 and addressed Parliament. Till then we were not quite sure what his opinion on bilateral issues was. But his visit to India was a major event and he even got Indian deals. However, after his visit, India has been hit by scandals. But the equation between Obama and Singh is excellent. I am sure US FDI will come to India but India must demonstrate its ability to be transparent so as to not scare away foreign investors weary of corruption. Regarding outsourcing, it’s made out to be a bigger issue than it is. I would like to echo Jeffrey Emmelt, the CEO of GE, who said outsourcing is the US’s problem and it will look into that, let India take care of infrastructure and other issues which are needed for attracting FDI. We will, of course, continue to lobby for American investments in India, but it’s important that the Indian government resolve the corruption issue, otherwise India’s great potential may be lost. Systems Go Squaring the circle with BlackBerrys hat looked like an intractable quandary might soon be resolved thanks to an American precedent. The predicament, brewing since 2008, involves BlackBerrys and the Indian government. The latter has been pressing Research In Motion (RIM), the company that makes the device, to decode encrypted communications over its devices for security agencies. RIM refuses because secure communications are its biggest selling point. That’s why everyone from CEOs to President Barack Obama uses BlackBerrys. The government however wants to scale RIM’s security perimeter for an equally convincing reason: terror. Pakistani handlers used mobile and satellite phones to manoeuvre their foot soldiers around Mumbai, an operation in which 166 people died. Naturally if eavesdropping on suspected , terrorist conversations is what it takes to thwart such attacks, the government must listen in. Hence the deadlock between the two. A national agreement between India and Canada – which is where RIM comes from – could resolve the issue. Such an agreement would make it mandatory for RIM to disclose communications that interest our security agencies. Talks along these lines were held during the Canadian national security adviser’s visit sometime ago. That a precedent – a ‘government to government’ agreement between Canada and the US – already exists should only help terminate the dispute quickly So too should the fact that RIM . already permits some countries to monitor some types of BlackBerry communications. It is now imperative that the department of telecommunications expedites matters by quickly processing the proposals RIM has submitted. Obviously they should meet the home ministry’s concerns. That , looks increasingly possible. The alternative is to shut down BlackBerry in India. Although the government has threatened to do so, that would be bad for business and tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. W Q&A rallies and events in the capital, engaged the media, reached out to other Indians and so on. It was the first time the Indian-American community demonstrated that it now not only had economic power but was also able to influence policy in the US. I As a member of the prime minister's Global Advisory Council how do you think I THEY I SAID IT Ode to a pigeon Never complain when feathery guests turn party-poopers Aneesh A We have some points of tension, but nobody wants an election I’m not a social activist. I’m an entertainer I would also like to suggest that there should be no water for bowlers at the boundary end his is a confession, an apology and a eulogy. About two weeks ago, i moved into my new apartment on the third floor and spent the afternoon doing one of my favourite things – watching Hollywood movies dubbed in Hindi. It’s an experience as bizarre as watching Alfred Hitchcock in a dress. It’s amazing how a bad Hindi dub can completely change the genre of the movie. Titanic becomes a comedy; Transformers becomes a tear-jerker; and Godzilla becomes semi-porn. As i was enjoying this mind-molesting cinematic experience, i noticed that there were a couple of uninvited guests looking on from their balcony seats. We all know this inappropriate habit of uninvited guests where they make themselves a little too comfortable. Well, these two guests took inappropriateness to a whole new level. They sat in my balcony and engaged in what can only be called an extremely extravagant excretory endeavour. Before you concoct some grotesque imagery let me clarify that i’m talking about the , envy of every crow – pigeons. Instead of welcoming me to the neighbourhood with cheerful chirps and convivial coos, these pigeons decided to beautify my balcony with such an enormous quantity of faeces that i was fully convinced they had had some Mughlai food for lunch. Enraged by this exhibition of impropriety, i headed towards them like a PMS-ing Chulbul Pandey and shooed them away By then the pigeons had left their mark. I went back to watch. ing the romantic comedy Schindler’s List. Hardly five minutes had passed when one member of the disgusting duo reappeared. I kept my temper in check believing that he couldn’t do further damage since he and his buddy had just taken the dump of the decade. But i learned you should never pigeonhole a pigeon. He started his second innings. I ran towards him armed with a shoo so terrifying a normal bird would’ve required a trauma counsellor after that. I headed back inside with the same thought i had during the recent fastingagainst-corruption competition: when is this going to end? I took a few deep breaths and tried calming myself down. I had barely touched my chair when the pigeon returned a third time and began round three. If i had a pair of wings and that pigeon’s nest address i would have personally gone there and returned the favour. I flailed my limbs at him while summoning all the invectives i knew, prefixing and suffixing them with the word ‘pigeon’. But this time i decided i would send the pigeon a message. I left the balcony fan on. Twenty minutes passed and not a single chirp or flutter. I was in the middle of flashing my victory smile when suddenly a feathery explosion jolted me out of my seat. I raced towards the balcony and what i saw made me feel like the basest human being on this planet. Sprawled on the floor motionless, with an eye open, was the intruder. Some of his feathers were still flying about in the air as i knelt down hoping he was the Irrfan Khan of pigeons. But it was no act, he was gone. With a broken heart, a broom and a bucket, i removed him and gave him a solemn burial. I would like to apologise for my unintentional act of cruelty to three individuals. The pigeon i accidentally delivered from earth, his toilet buddy and Prasoon Joshi (for only a true pigeon-lover can write a song like Masakali). As penance, i vow to never switch on my balcony fan ever again and to create tiny toilets on the ledge of my balcony for the pigeon community From this . day onwards, i declare my balcony a paradise for pigeons. T – MANMOHAN SINGH, prime minister, on the UPA coalition – AAMIR KHAN, actor, on his new expletives-laden production Delhi Belly – SUNIL GAVASKAR, former cricketer, on the ICC’s decision to do away with runners I SACRED S PAC E I Should I Change My Faith? either of the second or the third, then there is a need for careful consideration. Social and he Sanskrit term for conversion of reli- economic considerations could be reasons for gion is dharma parivartana. There is change. One religious system may give a person no established term for this subject in better status in society than the other. It may ofclassical Tibetan texts. I do not know if there fer better chances of livelihood and education. is a term for it in Chinese.However, the concept In such cases, individuals should be given the of changing one’s religion voluntarily does freedom to change or not change their religion. figure in the Buddhist context. This means In this case, there should be a proper procethat when an adherent of a particular religion dure and mechanism acceptable to the consees specific beneficial features in a religion cerned parties and the community. Forcing other than the one he was brought up in, change of religion and luring people into one's he may choose another religion out of his own religion by applying different methods conscious will. A Tibetan word coined for this and using means that do not conform to any means to switch from one religion to another. accepted norms, is not acceptable. Dharma The word is chos-lugs sgyur-ba. preaching should not only be done with honesty, The main purpose of religion is to but it should seem to be so.It is often reach salvation, not material gain. said that to follow the religious culture Hence, with the pure thought of in which one is brought up, is the safest benefiting to reach salvation or to and best way of religious practice. help others find the path, if the need My understanding of that stateto change one’s religion is strongment is that embracing a new relily felt, switching over is totally in gion with consideration of tempoconformity with recognised prinrary gain may seem to be fine in THE ciples. In causing others to normal situations in life, but in cruI SPEAKING I change the religion, it may be a cial moments such as death, there situation of somebody doing so could be a possibility of immense TREE as a result of any act of another confusion. Of course, it is a totally person. In this case, there is need for careful different situation in the case of having a strong scrutiny Find out: . foundation established in the new religion. 1) Is the change of religion a result of With the exception of ascetic persons, religious discourse or preaching? normally the inspiration for religious people 2) Is it a case of enticement to cause other should be threefold: one, to be happy in life, people to change their religion? two, to be comfortable at the time of death, 3) Or is the change the result of the push and three, to have a feeling of safeguarding and pull influence exerted? beyond life. These three, therefore, are the The first situation prevails throughout the touchstones which can help one decide history of religion, and is an accepted practice which religion to follow and whether to today. Many religious traditions have sent change one’s religion or not. As told to Sudhamahi Regunathan. dharmadoots (faith messengers) to other lands to preach their dharma or religion, and in a www.speakingtree.in way it is considered to be a pious act or their Join the world’s first spiritual networking dharma (religious duty). If, however, the case is site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Lama Doboom Tulku I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Search for Knowledge This is true knowledge: to seek the Self as the true end of wisdom always. To seek anything else is ignorance. Bhagavad Gita 13.11 A good, all-round education, appreciation of the arts, a highly trained discipline and pleasant speech; this is the highest blessing. Sutta Nipata 261 A disciple in training will comprehend this earth, the realm of death and the realm of the gods. A disciple in training will investigate the well-taught Path of Virtue, even as an expert garland-maker picks flowers. Dhammapada 45 Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment. Lao Tzu If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him. James 1.5 T Help fight gender bias With reference to the editorial ‘No More Desi Girls?’ (June 29), we all acknowledge that there is a societal bias against the girl child. But mere legislation is not enough. One reason for this bias is the economic burden a girl’s marriage traditionally denotes. If rich, influential members of society start opting for weddings that are not ostentatious, we can make a definite beginning towards changing perceptions. The trend could have a wider impact as the less well-off tend to emulate the rich. The media should take the lead in mobilising support for this change in social practice. It should highlight austere weddings among the rich and criticise ostentatious displays of wealth. Arun Sinha, GURGAON Development is the key With reference to the article ‘A Need To Be Fighting Fit’ (June 30) by Prakash Singh, despite earnest government efforts, the Maoist problem has so far remained intractable. The deployment of additional police and security forces in Maoist-affected areas, as a display of strong-arm tactics, has yielded little. On the contrary, it has strengthened the Maoists’ resolve to fight harder. Many underdeveloped areas remain out of the reach of the government’s programmes for inclusive growth. They lend further credence to Maoist propaganda. To counter this, the government needs to aggressively push its development schemes. More important, it must ensure that funds for tribal development are not siphoned off by a corrupt and inept administration. It must adopt a zerotolerance policy towards graft in these areas. Sanjay Dev, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011 Those Angry Old Men Amitabh Bachchan – and some others – make seniority sizzle e’s back. He’s old. And he’s angry Madder, in fact, than . a hen left out in the monsoon rain. Hail the new ‘kid’ on the block – the oldie in a fury Make no mistake, . people – this is no achy-breaky elder sitting you down over chai and telling you how his hair didn’t whiten in the sun. This is a lean, mean senior machine, fed-up and fully ready to match wits, kicks and bytes against yours. Anytime, baby . Leading this mature brigade is Bollywood superstar Amit-ji himself, all neon-clad thunder and hip-swinging cool in his latest release sweetly titled Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap. The Biggest ‘B’ of them all has a blast mouthing lines from antique hits, delivering blows that put our jawaan stars to shame and scorching up reels doing the shimmy with pretty little things in feathers and furs. And you thought age was a Deewar to that sort of thing! Following down the epochal Agneepath is our venerable prime minister, Manmohan Singh, who proved this week maun vrats are for kiddies. Throwing his customary silence to the winds, the prime minister let rip, commenting caustically he’d be happy to step down whenever certain ‘younger people’ wish to take over. But while he’s inhabiting the PMO he has a job to do and would like to get on with it, thank you very much. The PM making his stand apparent – Kabhi Kabhi but crystalclearly – isn’t the only annoyed elder tramping across the political jungle. At the opposite end of the ideological spectrum is Anna Hazare, who may look like a cuddly clan head about to produce laddus, legends and a hundred rupees. But he in fact produces hunger strikes – with acidic sound bytes – quicker than you can say ‘Anna-Nana, maan jao.’ Another elder , having trouble swallowing his annoyance is finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, stuck with 16 pieces of ‘chewing gum’ pasted across his office. A third senior’s found a really magical way to express his angst – by vanishing. After Mamata’s Duronto Express derailed the Left in Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s saying it with sullen silence. Someone who can’t hush things up though is veteran parliamentarian P C Chacko, just announcing his house had been burgled when he was informed he’d been robbed – again. This time, the intruder made off with even the bathroom taps! No wonder our venerable look a bit edgy these days. But check out the bright side; we never let our senior citizens know a dull moment. And to their credit, huffing, puffing and blowing the House down, they make sure we understand clearly – retiring quietly is for fuddy-duddies. Politely put – Buddhe honge pehle aap. Move over angry young man – you’re passe and went out with the 1970s. Make way for the angry old man. Globalisation’s Discontents Will the liberal ideal of a borderless, interconnected world come to be increasingly resisted? Sunil Khilnani H On a warm night last summer, strolling through Stockholm’s central square, i stumbled upon a frightening sight. Ranks of black-dressed youths, some carrying flare torches, all with their right hands angled in the fascist salute, were massed in front of a statue of Charles XII, Sweden’s 18th-century warrior king and a hero to Swedish far-right nationalists. Uniformed police formed an orderly barricade around them, keeping back a small group of protesting anti-fascists, and allowing the black shirts to celebrate their hero. I had heard about the rise of the extreme Right in Europe, now i seemed to have stumbled upon its ugly manifestation. Almost as troubling were the unperturbed local townspeople. I asked an elderly Swedish gentleman what on earth was going on: “Oh, they are just filming a scene for a TV show.” I felt an idiot – here was i, imagining the downfall of European civilisation, when nothing more than a historical series for television was being made. And yet. A few months later, the ultra-nationalist Sweden Democrats party was voted into parliament for the first time. In April this year, the right-wing True Finns party won almost one-fifth of Finland’s popular vote. In Denmark, the xenophobic Danish People’s Party has for over a decade been a significant force in politics. In each of these nations, known for their liberal political culture, the farright now shapes the agenda and decisions of coalition governments. So what? Why do these goings-on in small countries far away matter? Because they presage the growing centrality of a ubiquitous problem: in an era when capital, goods and services circulate globally with unprecedented intensity, what criteria should determine the movement and location of people? What unites Europe’s extremeright parties is antipathy to immigrants (many received as workers or refugees) and a rejection of Europe and the EU, as embodied in such commitments as free movement of people across Europe. Why, they object, should these rich, settled societies have to pay for the train wrecks and basket cases of elsewhere? Taking it to the streets in Europe Even as globalisation changes the life conditions of many millions, it raises a basic philosophical question: where in the world do people rightly belong? The Great Pacification that the European Union was designed to effect is today in some crisis. Two of its cornerstones, a common currency, and unrestricted movement of people across the 27-country Schengen zone, are the object of populist anger from both extreme right and left. In poorer or austerity-hit parts of Europe, protesters in Athens’s Syntagma Square, in Spain, and in London and Paris are also anti-EU. But their gripe is that it favours the bankers and financiers in the rich states of the Union. It’s the unevenness of European social and economic development that flares this street anger. Eurozone and Schengen were creations of an era when the ideology of globalisation dominated, which believed in convergence, in a flattening effect produced by economic markets and technological interconnection. This is the most delusive of recent globalisation myths: that it can bring rich and poor, developed and developing regions, onto an equal footing. Globalisation’s exigencies are quite the opposite: it is a perpetually destabilising process that keeps the world atilt, and requires continual competitive adjustment. Globalisation, it seems, is intrinsically bound up with effects like structural imbalances – which feed volatility, and in turn can foster extremist political upsurges. Far from creating universal bonds or homogeneous identities, it spreads a OVER SIGHT sense of self-pride and victimhood – and incites local resentments. Globalisation changes economic geography not only between countries, but also within nation-states and large unions. So, some parts of a country rise, others fall behind, giving incentives to people to move. Yet, while international movement is controlled at borders, within them – at least in liberal democracies – citizenship has also meant the right to free movement. And that is the case in the great market democracies: the US, India (despite the best efforts of our own Shiv Sena), and now the EU. (In authoritarian China, things are quite different, with citizen movement controlled by government licence, but even that provides no solution.) Even as globalisation changes the life conditions of many millions, it raises a basic philosophical question: where in the world do people rightly belong? There are three types of answer. The first, oldest, and in some ways most powerful, is the conservative belief that people should remain essentially where they were born: that culture, language and tradition describe the natural boundaries of their rightful domain. The second is the liberal conviction in markets – people should be at liberty to move to wherever the market decides it needs them, wherever capital is willing to employ them. The third, radical view, is set in the language of justice and ethics: people should be entitled to choose to be where they believe they can lead the best lives – and be free to escape conditions which (whether due to war, oppression, poverty or social calamities) hinder that possibility. In the years ahead, clashes between such arguments will intensify: as the requirements of capital, the claims of belonging, and the demands of justice all collide. Intellectual arguments will not themselves determine such a vexed, emotive issue. But in the absence of intellectual efforts to grapple with the question, we will be left to the ministrations of bureaucratic regulations and visa regimes (the arbitrary mysteries of H1-Bs and Tier 2 permits), and to the instinctual anger of populist right-wing and nativist movements – everywhere, an effort to control borders more tightly, even as the rhetoric is of interconnectedness and global flows. The historical dramas on Swedish TV may be telling us more than we’d like to know about the future. The writer is director of the India Institute, King’s College, London. ICC decides to do away with substitute runners in cricket In tune with the times Warps cricket out of shape t appears that the ICC’s express intent is to mangle cricket. They may have succeeded in their unrelenting search for ratings, but the cost is that the ‘gentleman’s game’ is being transformed into a gladiatorial contest. It would be much less painful if they left cricket alone and simply invented a new sport. trenchant criticism hits the nail on its head: Why do away with runners when bowlers get nice little refreshing drinks on the hour? Nor is the decision logical. Since the aim is to turn cricket into a crude Roman era contest, then the entire team should bear the brunt of the ICC’s efforts. As the emphasis is now on brutality rather than skill, the players who get injured the most – fielders – should be made to persist. Why not I COUNTERVIEW I carry the reform through to its logical limit and get rid of Deep K Datta-Ray The most odious substitute fielders as well? change is to do away The ICC will appeal, no doubt, to with runners for in- honourable sentiments. For instance, that jured batsmen. Run- tired batsmen may occasionally make up ners have been a part excuses to get a runner. The ICC will also of cricket for at least a claim that the changes reduce the scope century They epito- for controversy like the one that scarred . mise the game’s emphasis on skill and not the 2009 Champions Trophy Then Andrew . brute force. Not anymore, though. Now a Strauss declined to believe that Graeme skilled batsman – but unable to run – won’t Smith genuinely needed a runner. But be able to either demonstrate his craft or such issues could well be managed by entertain the fans. Furthermore, the ICC giving greater powers to the umpire to decision complicates a delicately bal- decide. After all, the umpire isn’t just the anced playing field. Sunil Gavaskar’s judge, but also the arbitrator. T A Resistance Hero Casts A Spell Dileep Padgaonkar The only way to avoid a violent revolution is to stage a peaceful one. That, in substance, is the message that Stephane Hessel, a grand old man of 94, issued in a slim pamphlet published in October last year. Entitled ‘Indignez vous!’ (‘Time for outrage’), its first edition of 8,000 copies sold out within days. By Christmas the number rose to close to a million. Translated in more than a dozen languages, it has almost tripled today The phenomenal success – achieved . without any advertising – has changed the fortunes of the two-member publishing firm – which operates from the attic of their home – overnight. Hessel asked them to donate his royalty earnings to causes dear to him: an end to the dictatorship of the financial markets, the ransacking of the earth’s resources, mercantilism that has gripped politics and culture, cuts in social welfare, degeneration of education and public health, human rights abuses by authoritarian and democratic governments alike and so forth. His audiences latch on to every word he utters. I witnessed one such event in Dijon, the city famed for its assortment of mustards, two weeks ago. It is hard to think of another individual in France who commands such instant awe and respect. One reason for the adulation surely relates to the fact that the sort of things Hessel says sounds like music to French ears exasperated as they are by the self-serving rhetoric of politicians. But what gives his clarion call to youth to express their indignation against injustices and engage in activism a ring of authenticity is the extraordinary life he has led. He was born in Berlin in October 1917 to a Jewish father and a Protestant mother. Both the parents were well-known in Germany’s cultural milieu – the father as a writer and translator, and the mother as a journalist. When young Stephane was seven, they moved to Paris where they quickly befriended the cream of its intellectual and artistic community: the poet Apollinaire, the American sculptor Alexander Calder, the painters Picasso, Matisse and Marcel Duchamp. This is how Hessel developed a passion for the arts, and especially for poetry He . needs a mere hint to recite poems in French, German and English and has in fact published a book of his favourite ones. A precocious child, he completed his high school studies at 15 and went on to gain admission to the prestigious Ecole Normale Superieure where he struck a life-long friendship with Jean-Paul Sartre. After the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he was mobilised by the French army A year later he was captured . by the German army but managed to escape. He headed for London to join the Free French Forces led by General de Gaulle who recruited him in the intelligence services and dispatched him to France. His struggle against the occupation forces is a saga of repeated captures and evasions, internment in concentration camps, where he was tortured, experiences that turned him into a life-long foe of all forms of oppression. But he was no armchair or flag-waving activist. Associated for decades with the United Nations ever since he joined the French foreign service, he worked on the draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, and went on to serve in several national and international commissions set up to redress social and economic inequities. He has however not been immune to criticism. For his denunciation of Israeli oppression of Palestinians, French Jews accused him of anti-semitism in the most insulting terms. The charge was later dropped. One nugget in his autobiography published in 1997, has also , endeared him to the French. When his parents moved to France, his mother, who disdained bourgeois morality left her husband, , with his consent, to live with his best friend, Henri-Pierre Roche, a French writer. Roche published a thinly disguised fictional account of the triangular affair which was later turned into a film that is hailed as a masterpiece of the French New Wave cinema: Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim. Stephane Hessel holds no grudges against his parents or against Roche. On the contrary he , takes pride in their defiance of the social mores of the day a , defiance that has added, much like a Dijon mustard, a zing to his own eventful life. he International Cricket Council’s Graeme Smith a runner on the ground that decision to do away with runners for the latter was only cramping up and not seribatsmen in all cricket formats is a step ously injured, also highlights the difficulty in the right direction. Despite the objection of in implementing the rule in a fair manner. a few former players like Sunil Gavaskar, the It is far better to do away with such commove reflects the realities of the modern plications and abolish runners altogether. game. Cricket rules have evolved with time. Most batsmen themSuch flexibility is to the credit of the game. selves don’t want to reThis allows for innovation such as T20, which ly on runners. There’s is vital if cricket is to chart new territories a problem of coordiand reach out to younger audiences. Rule 2.1 of the cricketing laws I T I M E S V I E W I stated that if a player was injured or fell ill at any time after the nomination of nation, as batsman players, he would be eligible for a runner and runner may not be while batting. However, the rule has been in accord about when frequently misused. In a match against to take runs. Such Australia, former English captain David throwbacks to earlier Gower asked for a runner, but on the very times – when bluenext ball inadvertently took off for a run bloods would do the and sprinted faster than his running substi- hitting and command plebeians to do the tute. A similar comical incident involved running – are too clumsy for an era when former Australian cricketers Ian Healy and sport has become a high-stakes television Dean Jones at Trent Bridge. The 2009 Cham- spectacle. Fitness must be emphasised over pions Trophy match between England and an archaic tradition. Like in other sport, a South Africa, where English captain An- player who is injured should simply withdrew Strauss denied South African skipper draw from the game. I SNAP JUDGMENT Cavalier Act ujarat authorities say destruction of certain intelligence files on the 2002 riots was “standard procedure”. This cuts little ice. Riots-related court cases are pending. A judicial enquiry commission is still probing the Godhra and post-Godhra incidents. Who’s to say these documents couldn’t have helped expose the truth? Since the Narendra Modi regime is itself under a cloud, such actions only strengthen suspicion that it has skeletons in its cupboard. Air Pocket Move Over, Mao G A ir India’s nose-diving again. It might soon crash-land if it defaults on interest payments on mammoth loans. Banks could start asking to attach AI’s assets. Most likely, government will trust its worst instincts and rush in to play saviour. But just how long must taxpayers, reeling from inflation, fund bailouts to keep this white elephant afloat? Isn’t it about time that the national carrier stopped being a national shame and got privatised? I I t’s a happy 90th anniversary for China’s Communist Party But, amidst . nationwide celebrations, are party members feting Chairman Mao, who made it all possible? Well, even as the official cult of Mao remains, many think he messed up the economy Revolu. tion? Nah, they say it only , led to “chaos in the entire society”! And so revolutionary Mao stands upstaged by reformer Deng. Are India’s communists listening? I SACRED S PAC E Real Love I What You See Or Don’t See E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX TALKING Love is God. Live in Love. Then all is right; all can be well. Atharva Veda Real love is not based on attachment, but on altruism. In this case, your compassion will remain as a humane response to suffering as long as beings continue to suffer. The XIV Dalai Lama Real love means service devoted to the welfare of another person, even if the person is inimical towards you. That is the test of love. Radhanath Swami This is love: to fly towards a secret sky to , cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First, let go of life and finally , take a step without feet. Jalaluddin Rumi Though i am never loath to grant salvation,/i hesitate indeed to grant pure love./ Whosoever wins pure love surpasses all;/ He is adored by men;/ He triumphs over the three worlds. Sri Ramakrishna W TERMS internal. Extro-internal – created outside but going within. hat is this? “It is a flower.” How could There may also be intro-external moveyou say that it is a flower? Because ment, created in the mind and sent outside. particular light waves come and Suppose you have created an elephant in touch your eyes, and the flower is created in your mind, and you have got a strong ectoplasyour mind. You are not seeing the flower; you mic structure. You create sympathetic vibraare seeing the mental image of the flower. You tions outside. That external projection can be don’t see or hear anything, you don’t even seen by you and by others. In your mind, you touch anything. When you see or touch some- are creating an ectoplasmic elephant, and thing, corresponding sympathetic vibration is that elephant is projected outside. Others created in your mind. At that time, you feel may see it. In psychology it is called a , that you are seeing the flower, or you feel that “positive hallucination”. you are hearing a song, or touching something Similarly suppose there is an external , hot or cold. elephant, and with the help of your ectoplasYou never come in physical contact mic power, you withdraw the light with anything. Your contact with waves emanating from the external everything is through your mind, elephant. Everyone will see there is no through your nerve fibres, nerve cells, elephant, although actually there is an and your entire objective mind. When elephant. This is called a “negative you feel you see, it is an internal prohallucination”. Positive hallucinajection with the help of your tion means that what appears to nerves. It is a mystery that whatexist does not exist, and negative ever you perceive or whatever you hallucination means that what THE conceive – everything is within you, actually exists appears not to exist. I SPEAKING I nothing is outside of you. Hence it Now, for you there are two is said that the entire universe worlds, the external and the interTREE is within you in miniature form. nal. Waves from the outside enter You are seeing the psychic projection of the the internal world, and ectoplasmic waves material world, which is why i say that the with a strong pressure may create strong extrohuman entity is more psychic than physical. versial waves. In order to create positive or Your existence is more important in the negative hallucinations, there is always extropsychic world than in the physical world. versial projection of your thought-waves. Human approaches are of two kinds – extroParama Purusha means He who, with His internal and intro-external. Here is a flower. ectoplasmic force, is creating everything. The waves move from the external world When a man has got devotion, he may or to the eye, then through the optic nerve to may not be a scientist, but he may unify his the nerve cells and finally to the brain. existence with Parama Purusha because of his There, a similar flower is created according extreme love for the Divine. Then he has no to the light waves that are outside your separate identity . body This movement is from external to . www.speakingtree.in internal. It is something external, and its Join the world’s first spiritual networking site creation is in your mind, that is external to to interact directly with masters and seekers. Shri Shri Anandamurti Show some respect With reference to the Snap Judgment (Mortal Shame, June 30), the nation is outraged over the reported ferrying of the bodies of three policement in a garbage truck from Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. More appalling is that neither the chief minister nor senior officials of the state administration have tendered an apology for the serious lapse. The incident is also a grave insult to the families of the policemen who laid down their lives fighting the Maoists. Rather than owning responsibility for the slip-up, the authorities are busy providing flimsy excuses: some point to the unavailability of ambulances; others claim the garbage truck was properly cleaned, covered and decorated with flowers. Is this the way we treat martyred soldiers? The erring officials should be punished so that such lapses do not recur. K R Srinivasan, SECUNDERABAD Bat for cricket With reference to the editorial ‘That’s A Sport’ (June 30), the BCCI’s decision to agree to the Umpire Decision Review System, even if with conditions, is a step in the right direction. While the Indian cricket board’s stand that the method is not flawless is correct, the use of technology will certainly help in overcoming human errors in the game. With the restriction on the number of reviews, the umpire still remains important. Another aspect that the BCCI should keep in mind is that there ought to be a limit to its using its financial clout to take on the ICC and other boards. Today, this country is cricket’s powerhouse thanks to inspiring performances by Team India. But the situation could change in future. Also, cricket’s future lies in expanding to new nations, which requires a more inclusive approach. The BCCI should take the lead here. A M Limaye, PUNE We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 ALL THAT MATTERS SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JULY 3, 2011 ‘FDI in retail will lower inflation, help small producers to export’ Kaushik Basu, chief economic advisor to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, has just returned from the US where he was part of the FM’s high-level delegation to thrash out future India-US financial and economic partnerships. He says it is important for India to build up the reforms momentum, but admits that inter-governmental politics have been impacting government policy. The 59-year-old former Cornell University professor talks inflation, FDI and the North Block to Pradeep Thakur. Excerpts: There’s rising inflation, fuel prices are on an upward swing, and the RBI is tightening the monetary policy. Do you think there is any hope for a respite for the common man? Inflation is high, unacceptably so; but, at the same time, let us be clear about the basic facts. Inflation is tapering off. Food inflation was above 20% in February 2010 and is now below 10%. The various consumer price indices were all around 15% a year ago and they are now down to single digits. This is not to deny that more needs to be done. Our aim should be to bring down inflation to below 4% and I believe that is doable. Will we see more unemployment due to moderating growth and slowing down of industrial production? I don’t think so. Overall unemployment has been falling over the last five years. While it is true that the credit tightening will cause some slowdown in industrial production, fortunately, employment in India is less volatile than output. And my expectation is that after a brief slowdown of a few months, industrial and overall production in India will bounce back. Is the 8.5%+ GDP growth projected for this fiscal difficult to achieve? We will soon—within the next week or two—come out with our forecast for this year’s GDP growth. So I have to keep you in suspense on this for a little while more. In the Economic Survey published in February 2010, we had forecast the GDP growth in 2010-11 to be 8.5%. Most other forecasters were predicting a higher growth. As we learnt last month, the actual growth was 8.5%. So you have reason to look out for our forecast for this year. Will the food prices ever come down from the current level? How effective is the mechanism to secure the poor from the abnormal rise? I have to warn you that the overall food price index will not come down. In addition, food article inflation will face severe head winds in the last months of this year because of adverse base effect from last year. But the overall inflation will come down—even if more slowly than I would like. What do you say about inter-governmental relations/communication, compulsions of coalition politics and their impact on growth? Inter-governmental politics do slow down policy, as do the compulsions of coalitional politics. But to lament about these is like complaining that we cannot move faster because gravity pulls us down. As a policy maker, I take these as given and try to do my best. oil duties rejig? We are very determined to meet our fiscal and revenue deficit targets. If the need arises, we can think of innovative ways of cutting some expenditures. And there are enough leakages in our subsidies that can be plugged to save money. The tight fiscal targets can yet become a blessing in disguise. The US and many of the European countries have asked India to push for the second round of reforms. Many of your bills such as the insurance and banking bills and the goods and service tax (GST) bill are facing stiff opposition in Parliament. Will this impede investments and the targeted 9%-9.5% growth in the 12th Plan? Whether or not the US and Europe ask us to undertake such reforms is not important. We have to use our judgment about our own welfare and take a decision. I do believe that it is important for India to build up the reforms momentum. If we can do so, our growth can exceed 9.5%. My calculations suggest that each additional percentage of growth can lead to one million new jobs. So we should also be able to make the growth more inclusive. Is it important for India to be so focused on growth? Growth is important as an instrument. However, we must not forget that a developed country has many important traits. For me a truly developed nation is one in which an ordinary policeman can stop and fine a minister’s car for violating traffic rules, without fear of reprisal. That is the kind of India we should aspire to. It’s 20 years since reforms began in 1991— isn't it time to recognize Narasimha Rao's contribution to the India growth story? I don’t think anyone doubts his legacy. How you do find a bureaucratic job in the North Block vis-à-vis teaching at Cornell? Which is better? I am enjoying my policymaking job. At times I worry that I am enjoying it a bit too much! FOR THE RECORD KAUSHIK BASU Despite your strong recommendation, why is India not opening up FDI in multibrand retail? In a dictatorship that may have been a valid question. In India’s democratic polity, public opinion has to be built up before such an important change is possible. Our research shows that the benefit from FDI in multi-product retail will be enormous, in terms of lowering inflation and enabling small Indian producers to export their products to retail outlets in industrialized nations. I hope newspapers like yours will help build up consensus on this so that we can move faster on this important policy matter. How can the fiscal deficit target be achieved in the changed scenario after the Where are all the Insular Bharat fails to see writing on the wall women workers? RIGHT & WRONG been there for decades, yet rural female participation reSWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR mained around 33% from 1983 The latest emtill 2004-05, and has only now ployment data crashed to 26.1%. Rising higher show that work- education is more marked for er participation males, yet their work participa(the ratio of tion has not fallen. So, this facworkers to poptor cannot fully explain the ulation) fell to withdrawal of 35 million fejust 39.2% in 2009-10 from 42% in males from the workforce. 2004-05. This implies that only The social status argument is two million new jobs were creatmore compelling. It operates at ed in five years. Leftists are both the income and educationscreaming, “Jobless growth.” al level. Poor illiterates have However, officials say proudly the work highest work particithat unemployment on all three pation since they can’t afford to standard measures--annual, be out of work, and both males weekly and daily-- has fallen in and females work. But as inthis five-year period. Long-term comes increase, work particiunemployment is down from pation drops, especially for fe2.3% to 2%. males. Economists Tendulkar Readers will be puzzled by and Mukhopadhyay have these contradictory data. If so shown that female participafew jobs are being created, how tion drops 10 % or more as womcan unemployment fall? en move from the bottom oneAnswer: there is a huge, unantenth of incomes to the second ticipated decline in people willand third one-tenth. ing to work. The decline is marThis may puzzle readers: ginal for men (from 55.9% to surely two good incomes are 55%) but huge for women (29.4% better than one. But social moto just 23.3%, or around 35 milres, especially in the lower midlion). So, the big problem is not dle class, give superior social lack of jobs but lack of workers, status to households where especially females. women don’t work. When a In response, farmers are family with rising income demechanizing (more harvester cides to keep females at home, it combines and tractors) and so literally buys social status with are construction contractors. the income foregone. Some builders are doubling the Illiterate women will do any size of bricks to overcome the job. But as education improves, bricklayer shortage. Fast females demand better jobs for growth has created big job postatus reasons, and these are tential, but the labour shortage not so widely available. So fehas prevented that from becommale participation drops with ing a job boom. rising education till women beJobless growth, implying excome college graduates, at cess labour, should depress wagwhich point participation ines. But “workerless growth” creases again. should send wages booming. Surveys show that when inThe latter is the case. comes rise, poor and underBetween January 2008 and Denourished people do not incember 2010, agricultural wages crease calorie consumption skyrocketed 106.3% in AP 84.1% , much, but shift to superior in Punjab, 73.6% in Tamil Nadu foods with higher social status. and 62.9% in Maharashtra. In A study of dalits in UP by Depoor states, wages rose 62.8% in vesh Kapur and others illusOrissa, 62.3% in UP 58.5% in Bi, trates the importance dalits athar, and 56.3% in MP Even allow. tach to adopting life-styles ing for 30% inflation over three once reserved for upper castes. years, poor workers gained This includes using toothhugely . paste, cosmetics, shampoo, suThe wage differential between perior foods, and cars in wedmale and female labour fell 4% in ding baraats. Even rural areas and 7% in urban arundernourished households, eas, says academic Sonalde Debuying higher status can be far sai. Declining fertility and NREmore important than buying a GA (which specifically targets few more calories. women) increased new job poResearch may throw up other tential for females. In such good reasons for female withdrawal. conditions, why did 35 million feBut the recent wage boom is males withdraw from work? clearly important. It is a big More research is needed, but success, yet has created a probtwo explanations are plausible. lem of female withdrawal beOne, young females are shifting cause it bestows higher social from employment to higher edustatus. This, alas, suppresses cation. Two, as incomes and fethe demographic dividend and male education improve, famliving standards, and creates ilies pull females out of the “workerless growth.” workforce for status reasons. We need changed social attiThe working age is defined as tudes to promote female work15-60 years, but as demand for ers. More female college graduhigher education rises, the proates will also help. Finally we , portion of students aged 15-25 need less gender discriminarises. This aids skill creation, tion and improved work condibut reduces worker participations for women. tion, and so offsets the demographic dividend created by fallMy Times, My Voice: Like this ing fertility . article? SMS MTMVSA <space> However, rising higher educaYes or No to 58888. Charges tion is not a new trend. It has applicable. Rs 3 per sms SWAMINOMICS SWAPAN DASGUPTA Living in a society it is a brave , individual who can wilfully disregard the question: “What will the neighbours say?” Nations have a greater measure of self-confidence. The drive to be defined by ‘exceptionalism’ has marked the history of countries that believe in their ‘manifest destiny’ and, by implication, their innate superiority The self-con. scious belief in what is pompously called ‘Indian genius’ has often been the justification for purposeless plodding, but there’s no doubting its enduring appeal. The commitment to “truth, freedom and the American way” wasn’t something the creator of Superman invented: it was real and deeply felt by those who set out to create a ‘New World’. And China’s recent history is replete with improvisations packaged as uniquely Chinese. For the larger collective, what the world thinks of ‘us’ is often of less consequence than what we think of ‘them’. Britain was an island nation that made its mark through an Empire that rivalled that of ancient Rome. A significant part of its intellectual energies were also expended in documenting the cultures of foreign lands. Yet, till the early 1980s, as many Agatha Christie novels quaintly emphasized, ‘foreign’ and ‘foreign looking’ were euphemisms for the sinister. The bloody campaigns against ‘foreign devils’ were part of China’s recent history And despite being a nation of im. migrants, the US, until the advent of fetishized multiculturalism in the 1960s, maintained a quirky distinction between ‘ merican’ and ‘forA eign’. India, not least because of its vulnerability to foreign invasions, always had a schizoid approach to the unfamiliar. At a social level, Hindu societies built an invisible wall around communities that facilitated the preservation of the sanatan dharma—the eternal way At the same . time, public life allowed a remarkable flexibility . The absorptive capacity of Indian civilization broke down barriers that would otherwise have delineated the indigenous from the alien. The Mughuls, for example, arrived as foreigners but over the centuries became a part of the local landscape—although the process was not without hiccups. Had the revolt of 1857 not forced a British ghettoization, it is entirely possible that the Raj would have been seen as just one more chapter in a long history of a foreign rule that lost its foreignness over time. The nationalist movement with its stress on swadeshi did certainly nurture a feeling of Indian exceptionalism. However, this was partially offset by a desire to be universalist and receptive to outside influences. This dichotomy is a feature of the Hindu way of thinking. In hindsight, India’s rediscovery of itself after Independence was expediently xenophobic. Its middle classes have been the most receptive to international— particularly western—influences. The Hindu ability to separate community from citizenship has seen Indians become model citizens of other nations. Within India, however, public life has been shaped by the belief that India, and India alone, knows best. Self- ARE WE LIKE THIS ONLY? doubt isn’t a part of the contemporary discourse. Maybe it was the seamless shift from Gandhian swadeshi to Nehruvian self-sufficiency that prompted the downing of shutters—not flamboyantly as in Maoist China but in a more understated way Whatever the reasons, a fierce . sense of beleaguered national pride turned Indians from being self-confidently laid-back to nervously prickly Two landmark events of recent . times—the Bangladesh war of 1971 and the nuclear tests of 1998—triggered spectacular levels of national solidarity But they were also marked . by international scepticism. The lesson that political India drew from these events is worth remembering: the future of India is shaped by India’s feelings alone. In this respect India is not very different from a China that turns bellicose at the slightest hint of national affront. But there is a significant difference. Since socialism was, in effect, jettisoned by its Communist rulers, China has maintained a single-minded focus on the long term. India, however, is not accustomed to thinking strategically In the evocative phrase, “we’re like this on. ly” is a celebration of the immediate and the short-term. In the past year, international capitalism has tempered its initial enthusiasm for India. There are concerns over India’s ability to never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity Yet, the con. cern of those who have invested in India’s future and thus deserve to be regarded as stakeholders, hasn’t been reciprocated in India. Pranab Mukherjee may travel to Washington to allay fears and Manmohan Singh may continue making the right noises. But underneath these pious assurances of doing the right thing, political India has deemed that the country will set its own economic norms that punish fiscal prudence and reward profligacy Like the protesters in Greece who . want others to foot the bill for their profligate ways, the emerging Indian consensus deems that the world owes it a living. It’s the mentality to nourish if we are content to be another Pakistan. My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVSDG<space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Both US and China need a friendly India IN PRINCIPLE MINHAZ MERCHANT Battered by domestic crises, the UPA government has taken its eye off the foreign policy ball. India continues to punch well below its geopolitical weight. Last fortnight’s summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan, could change that. The SCO, a regional grouping of six Eurasian and Central Asian countries led by China and Russia, is now the most powerful emerging geopolitical bloc after Nato. India currently has observer status in the organization and was represented at Astana by external affairs minister S M Krishna. Full membership of the SCO is likely to be granted to India shortly . In an increasingly complex world, India has remained on the sidelines, immersed in firefighting scandals at home. In the Middle East tinderbox, India is a mute spectator despite the strategic importance of the region and the several million Indians who work there. China’s gradual encroachment policy in the arc between Vietnam and Myanmar, curving from the South China Sea to the Bay of Bengal, has gone largely unchallenged by India. Notwithstanding the second annual India-US Economic and Financial Partnership meeting in Washington earlier this week led by finance minister Pra- nab Mukherjee and US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, the strategic partnership with the United States has floundered over implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and the proposed new rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). At the United Nations, India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat has run into a logjam of conflicting interests, plunging the process into a bureaucratic labyrinth. Full membership for India of the SCO can serve three objectives: one, it will enable India, as an integral part of an Eurasian-Central Asian security grouping, to neutralize the malign impact of a Talibanized Afghanistan after the US withdraws from its combat role in December 2014. Two, the SCO platform can project India’s security interests in a turbulent regional swathe cutting through the Middle East. And three, the SCO provides India an instrument to engage constructively with a truculent China in amultilateral forum. The US may be a declining world power but it still has over-arching maritime capabilities in the Pacific and Indian Oceans with 11 aircraft carriers. China is still struggling to commission its first aircraft carrier, with sea trials expected in July India has one carrier (INS Viraat) which . will be replaced by INS Vikramaditya in 2013. In the delicate emerging balance of economic and military power between the US, China and India, New Delhi must prioritize its national interests. Both Washington and Beijing plan decades ahead but act swiftly to protect their immediate interests. Indian foreign policy in contrast moves glacially But India has assets it can lever. age: a fast-growing economy a large market, , powerful demographics and rapidly expanding military capability . Both China and the US need a friendly India to achieve their own strategic objectives. China, for all its border bluster in Arunachal Pradesh, cannot afford a strong Indo-US axis to develop against it. By 2030, Indian and US GDP (by purchasing power parity) will be an estimated $24 trillion and $26 trillion respectively At collec. tively $50 trillion, they will dwarf China’s estimated GDP of $32 trillion. A powerful confluence of two democracies with large markets and militaries is a prospect even an assertive China cannot discount. Beijing’s recent advice to Pakistan to “mend its fences” with all its neighbours, including India, is an indication of the pragmatism and farsighted approach of Chinese foreign policy The growing investment ties . between Chinese companies like Huawei and Indian telecom majors in a common hunting ground —Africa — points to increasing collaboration rather than confrontation between the two Asian giants. The US similarly needs to nuance its relationship with New Delhi and Beijing keeping in mind that the two Asian countries will have a combined estimated GDP in 2030 of $56 trillion (compared to US GDP of $24 trillion) and a com- bined population of three billion —nine times America’s. If India plays its cards astutely it can , be the pivot in the evolving triangular balance of power with the US and China. But for that Indian foreign policy needs robust stewardship and long-term strategic planning. Nowhere is this robustness and strategy needed more than at the UN. By September, when the General Assembly meets on UNSC reform, India will have barely 15 months left of its two-year rotating membership of the Security Council to press its bid for permanent membership. To gain credibility as a global power, India must start taking a leadership position on world affairs at the UNSC and abandon its fence-sitting mindset. Unless the quality of our strategic policymaking improves, India will continue to play a role in world affairs far below its potential. It is significant that the foreign minister in every major world power — for example, Hillary Clinton in the US and William Hague in Britain — is the effective no. 2 in the cabinet after the prime minister or (in America’s case) the president. In India, tellingly external affairs minister , Krishna is not even in the top five in the Union Cabinet’s pecking order. That must change if India is to play a global role in keeping with its geography civilization and economy , . This writer is the chairman of a media group My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCOL<space>Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable. Rs 3 per sms Love and mistrust in the time of Lokpal THE UNDERAGE OPTIMIST ment is far more powerful than civil society . In such a situation, the civil society cannot neCHETAN BHAGAT gotiate on the basis of fairness, or bulldoze its way . The collapse of the discussions in in. It cannot appeal to morality It also cannot keep the Lokpal drafting committee has telling the media how unjust the government is. disturbed me. We have some of our No, none of this will work. The civil society members are asking politicmost eminent, brightest and accomplished people on the panel. ians to give up their unchecked powers. It is like Yet, they can’t seem to get along. asking someone to hand over a loaded gun. Of Worse, each side comes on TV to course they are going to fight it. The civil society’s ‘hard bill’ is the more effecportray the other as unreasonable. I have personally met people from both sides, and individually every- tive one, but unlikely to get passed, as the governone seems sensible. Given the disagreements, there ment doesn’t like it. The government’s ‘soft bill’ is are now two versions of the bill floating around. less potent, but has a good chance of being passed Plenty has been written about the differences in the in Parliament. This is the quagmire. What would you do if civil society’s ‘hard’ bill, versus the government’s ‘soft’ bill. The bigger issue is, we have a logjam. Why? you were in civil society’s place? The government attitude switched from cooperative, when they More important, how do we break it? One of the reasons for the impasse is the missing wanted the protests to end, to the current denon-traditional approach to negotiations. Negotia- fiance. The first instinct to rebuff the two-faced tions are different where both sides aren’t as equita- nature of this government is to go on a fast again, ble. During my banking days, i worked in a depart- as announced by Anna. However, another fast may not be the solution. ment that dealt with bankrupt companies. We often had to work with the promoter of a company who For one, it won’t work as well as the one in April. , had lied to us, willingly defaulted and not repaid the People have moved on, don’t get as passionate bank. We could take legal action against him, attach about specific legal clauses and Baba Ramdev has . his assets and possibly put him in jail. However, we blown it for all future fasters anyway Also, the also needed him to revive the company as he knew government is far better prepared to handle the , his business better than any of us bankers. Thus, de- next fast. If the fast fails, the civil society reps risk , spite him being our adversary we would be nice to losing credibility and the whole Lokpal move, him and work with him on a plan that worked for ev- ment being deemed a failure. This is not a time to be emotional. Civil society eryone and increased overall value. Such negotiations are tough but not impossible. To negotiate a so- reps must realize they are dealing with an exlution to a conflict with a more powerful tremely powerful government. This is for two counterpart, you have one guiding principle – incen- main reasons. One, there is no clear, credible alter. tives. What does one get, and what does one give up native to the Congress right now The BJP is partin return. The Lokpal panel is similar The govern- ly to blame for this. They haven’t capitalized on . consider: one, retrospective immunity — this is controversial, hasn’t been discussed, but frankly needs to be. The current leaders are more likely to sign-off on the bill, if they are protected. For instance, the MPs should be included, but maybe from a later date. Two, revise provisions —no side can claim to draft the perfect law the first time. A bill that alters our fundamental governance structure needs to be relooked at over time. The bill can ask the same panel to reconvene after three years, and improve it based on lessons learnt in its execution. This flexibility will make both sides more amenable to arrive at a common first draft. Official whistleblower provisions — the Lokpal is an investigative authority However, it can. not investigate every corrupt practice in this vast country In fact, the best investigators of corrup. tion are the junior workers where corruption is taking place. The Lokpal must make a mechanism for whistleblowers to reveal information (some sort of an official, credible, WikiLeaks) as well as protect them from seniors who could hurt them. These suggestions aren’t meant to be partial to any one side. These are meant to eliminate the sides. If everyone works to suit each other’s incentives, we can have a reasonable Lokpal bill that can be amended in future. This will still be a victory for civil society and the government will look good and be credible. So meet again, panel members, have a meal together, understand each other, show some love, and work something out. Good luck! My Times, My Voice: Like this article? SMS MTMVCB<space> Yes or No to 58888. Charges applicable.s 3 per sms TIMES OF YESTERDAY / LAXMAN DECEMBER 12, 1970 A BILL ON POLULAR DEMAND BALLOONING PRICES: Finance minister Y B Chavan praised the economy but inflation was troubling the common man the corruption opportunity and have limited , themselves to endless, clichéd Congress bashing rather than present their own, better leader and a vision for India. The second reason for the government’s power is simple. You need their cooperation at every step of the Lokpal, even after the bill is passed. The Lokpal can protect against corruption, but what will they do if a civil servant never approves a file? He won’t be corrupt, but isn’t he damaging the country anyway? Without the cooperation of the government, the Lokpal can be scuttled and made counterproductive. Before the entire Lokpal becomes a casualty , i’d urge civil society members to get a grip on reality This doesn’t mean they accept defeat. This . simply means rather than attack the government, they work out a set of incentives that work for all. Ihave three specific suggestions the panel may SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JULY 3, 2011 INTERSECTIONS 23 It’s cussing season in Bollywood as every other release is peppered with four letter words. What is behind Hindi filmdom’s new-found obsession with gaalis? Avijit Ghosh | TNN WHAT THE *&@!! F**k Ch***m S***te B**** C**** Mouthing four-letter words alone, though, cannot make a film work. They can be a movie’s USP, not its spine. It is important how intelligently and inventively they are used. They are meant to lighten a movie's mood, not burden it. “They can be used in a light-headed yarn and uttered with light-heartedness. It must never be irky says Visvanathan. That’s ,” exactly how it works in “Tanu Weds Manu” and “Delhi Belly”, which judging from its response is firmly headed for big box-office rewards. “Delhi Belly” has an A rating and was passed without a single cut. The film’s writer Akshat Verma defends its frequent usage of swear words. “The language that the characters speak reflects their state of mind in the particular situation they are lodged. The film’s language helps capture a slice of their life. There’s a rhythm to what they say and mean,” says the 40-year-old former copywriter. I n just-released “Delhi Belly”, the word that rhymes with muck isn’t just an expletive. It’s more like a hyphen that fills in for every emotion that the protagonists wish to articulate. It's personifies a friend (you f*****g c***t), expresses rage (no more f*****g rent to pay) and, oh! yes, even communicate itself (when a naked woman is lying on top of a naked man, it's called f*****g). By the time, the rambunctious crime comic caper hurtles towards end, the word has been used so many times and in so many ways that it ceases to feel like a fourletter word and one almost forgets its original meaning. But f**k isn’t the only angrezi gaali in producer Aamir Khan's flick as the shrewdly manipulative beeped-out promo warns you. The film offers a mini glossary of words newspapers can print only with * in between. And one isn’t even mentioning how the innocent Bose D K sounds in loop. In Bollywood, it’s cussing season as swear words rain like confetti. From the pickpockets in “Bhindi Bazaar Inc”, the homophobic cop of “I Am”, the impulsive young bride in “Tanu Weds Manu”, the edgy youngsters on the loose in “Shaitan”, the gangsters of “Yeh Saali Zindagi” — everyone seems addicted to extreme expletives. Social commentator Santosh Desai explains why “It is Bollywood reach. ing puberty of a kind. There is an adolescent glee with which cuss words are being used. And that includes scatology,” he says. In times of 200-plus TV channels, grabbing movie eyeballs is tough task. From all ac- TWISTED REALITY But Desai disagrees that cuss words, as used in many Bollywood movies today, are projections of reality He rather sees them as a form . of cinematic affectation. “It only pretends to be real. Actually it just selects a certain slice of reality and twists it to suits it own aesthetics and the needs of the market,” he says. Visvanathan has no issues with cusswords except that the ones used in English are arriviste with no imaginative, inventive celebration of the language. “The coarse rustic Punjabi abuse has a wider thesaurus than what the English language offers today,” he says. Cusswords are a passing phase. That’s the general view. Visvanathan likens them to a whistle being blown. “After it has been blown DELHI BELLY counts, if intelligently used, cuss words seem to sell well at least to the multiplexed class. Be it “Tanu Weds Manu” or “Delhi Belly” — the audience guffaws every time a dirty word is hurled. The reaction is part release, part rebellion — like the feeling that comes on sharing a joke that shouldn’t be told. As Desai says, “laughing to an expletive is a form of safe, feelgood rebellion without consequences.” Which is why abuses are being marketed aggressively. The “Delhi Belly” promo slyly suggests that the film is riddled with abuses. Its main track, Bose DK, is like those liquor ads on tv — nothing is specified but everybody knows what it means. The trailer of Ajay Devgn’s forthcoming, “Singham”, concludes with, To f***k Bajirao Singham. Dialogue writers too have got inventive about them. In “Bbudha Hoga Tera Baap”, Big B talks about expletives without using them, “Aeh bahut bada ‘beep’ hai yaar tu.” As Sanjay Chhel, writer of “Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji” points out, “For some films, expletives are like an item number, it’s attention-grabbing highlight. They are short cuts used to impress and designed to show-off.” Distributor Sanjay Mehta says that the acceptance of such language is more in city multiplexes than single-screen interi- ISHQIYA ors. “Those who seem to enjoy most belong to the 18-30 age group. College students throng in groups. Small-towns with private engineering colleges or other educational institutions also attract crowds,” he says. OMKARA la Tagore Tagore playing a prostitute uttered, bharwa (pimp), in Gulzar’s award-winning “Mausam” (1975), it created a controversy With . every passing decade, though, there’s a gradual shift towards viler words. Shekhar Kapur’s “Bandit Queen” (1994) benchmarked it to the next level. In recent years, expletives are being used to convey emotions other than anger. That’s the new angle to its evolution in Bollywood. The aggrieved hero doesn’t scream kutte or kamine in the climax anymore. Cuss words now semaphore anything. In “Gulal”, chu**ye is the most-used word during a ragging scene. In “Omkara”, b***c***d is almost a term of endearment. In “Ishqiya”, the heroine shoots both from the gun and her mouth. Ch****a RELAXED CENSOR The gaali’s growing prolificity is primarily linked to the Censor Board’s newfound relaxed attitude to abuse in movies. It is said that with easy access to internet and satellite television, young India today is far more aware of birds and bees than any generation before. That makes them more capable of handling mature content. Actor Anupam Kher, also former Censor chief, is partly in agreement with the above view. He says that cinema changes with the times and so must the use of language. “The certification process indicates we are moving with the times,” he says. But he also adds, “We must not forget that the real problem in India is not certification but its implementation.” Chhel, who wrote “Rangeela” and “Yes Boss”, complains that the Censor Board is selective. He says, “If the movie is say, “Shaitani Chudail”, then they have a different benchmark.” Back in the 1950s, even using milder profanities like saala was a big deal. When Sharmi- In times of 200-plus TV channels, grabbing movie eyeballs is tough task. From all accounts, if intelligently used, cuss words seem to sell well at least to the multiplexed class. The reaction is part release, part rebellion — like the feeling that comes on sharing a joke that shouldn’t be told WHAT CUSS WORDS CODIFY But what do cuss words really codify in Bollywood today? Primarily, they embody and epitomize cool. They represent a form of new freedom rather than a major signpost of sexuality says social scientist Shiv Viswanathan. , “They are the index of a new era, a form of coded salute. To utter f***k is to gain membership of a club. Expletives are like a (Free) Masonic sign of inclusiveness to a certain kind of peer group membership.” 100 times, nobody notices,” he says. Desai feels that the emergence of cusswords is part of Bollywood’s inevitable evolution. In a nation where audience tastes are vastly segmented depending on a particular social group’s tastes and values, four-letter words in movies will always be a matter of debate. It’s undeniable, though, that in a society that’s partly repressed sexually even as it strives to break free, cuss words act as a form of release, a social enema of sorts. It’s also indisputable that the genie is out of the bottle. And it will infuriate and enthrall different sets of people in different ways in the coming months. In Bollywood, shit is finally happening.
[email protected] Market forces eventually subvert and change all art form. The cinema admired by the establishment usually is the cinema whose best days lie in the past. In "Murder 2", my forthcoming film, the hero uses abusive TANU WEDS MANU language both in Hindi and in English and the censors have cleared it. Pessimists call it the death of good taste. But I vehemently disagree with their views. I see this as the maturing of our society. Mahesh Bhatt | FILMMAKER It's time we grow up about it. The language they are objecting to being used in a film is actually the language that's spoken in real life. The era of dialogues is over. I just used the language I heard people talk in. I do not make films about the elite, so my language will always be the language of the people. Anurag Kashyap | FILMMAKER —Bharati Dubey STILL A COOL BREAK? SHIMLA THEN LOVE IN THE HILLS Bollywood discovered the hill station in the 1950s and 1960s, starting with “Junglee” in 1961, starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Banu in her first role. Suddenly Kashmir’s beauty had reached the people — and in colour. “Love in Shimla”, with Joy Mukherjee and Sadhana, was shot in Shimla in 1960; “Kati Patang” (1970) with Asha Parekh and Rajesh Khanna was shot in Nainital; and then there was “Aradhana” (1969), which KATI PATANG had Khanna asking Sharmila Tagore Mere sapno ki rani kab aayegi tu? as she rode the toy train up to Darjeeling. The good times, for the hill stations, carried on into the 1970s and the 1980s. “Betaab”, starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh in their debut roles, was shot near Pahalgam (Kashmir) in 1983. It is still a tourist attraction. preserve the beauty and heritage of their towns which must be protected at any cost.” More tangibly towns like Shimla and , Mussoorie are using funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to upgrade their water distribution and sewerage systems — although experts warn that our hill stations just do not have the contractors with the expertise to pull off jobs of this size. But the Indian hill station’s best hope are the people who still think fondly of it. Kolkata-based Bunny Gupta has been going to Kalimpong for the last 70 years. She remembers the annual summer migration her family used to make earlier. Now they go whenever they can — “a day here, a day there.” What about the youngsters? Do they also think of Kalimpong as a nice place to go to? She looks surprised at the question. “Of course. It’s home.”
[email protected] Once the haunt of the elite, hill stations have changed considerably and so has the profile of the tourists who swamp them Parakram Rautela | TNN O nce upon a time, the great Indian family — including servant and pet dog — would drop everything it was doing and transport itself to cooler climes every summer. The men would go yachting, golfing or shooting for pheasant and mountain goat. The women would take long walks in the pine forests or picnic with the children. In the evening, cards would be played and gin and bitters nursed at the club. Those were the days when India’s rich set didn’t go to Europe or the US in summer. They chose haunts closer home — Shimla, Nainital, Mussoorie, Ooty, Kalimpong and other hill stations. Chandramani Kant Singh, the raja of Bhinga (in UP) remembers all of it from his summers in Nainital. The house and five acres of compound he would rent every year for Rs 2,400, the “sailing on the lake in the forenoon”, followed by lunch at the Boat House Club. Then return home and change for the evening at the club again. “You were expected to wear a tie and jacket but a suit was preferable.” Nimmi Singh, who used to study in the town in the 1960s, remembers Col Ram Singh’s band which would play every evening at the Band Stand by the edge of the lake. “They played lovely old tunes,” she says. “Sometimes, my sister and I would start dancing right there. Movie programmes would be printed a month in advance. So many important people used to come. Former rajas, UP government servants whose offices moved to Nainital for the summer, industrialists. In the evenings they would all sit in their different corners at the Boat House Club.” The good times are over. That’s not to say people don’t go to hill stations any longer; hordes of them do. Ranjit Sawhney, general secretary of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), has the numbers: “Two lakh tourists are expected to go to Srinagar this year. There aren’t enough hotel rooms in Pahalgam and Gulmarg for them. And Shimla, Nainital and Mus- SHIMLA NOW soorie are still just as popular as they used to be.” He’s right, but there has been a distinct change in tourist profile. Chandramani Kant Singh says he hasn’t been back to Nainital since the early 1980s. He couldn’t take the traffic jams on the Mall. “Nobody used their cars in the old days. We all walked,” he says. Arup Sen, director of special projects at the travel company Cox and Kings, says the hills now attract a different kind of tourist. “Back in the 70s and 80s, holidaying at a hill station was a status symbol. That isn’t the case today The people . who used to go to Shimla, Darjeeling and Mahabaleshwar now go abroad, to Europe maybe or southeast Asia. This sort of change happens every decade.” Navin Berry, chief editor of the travel magazine Destination India, says rising incomes will ensure the hill stations continue to get more and more visitors Back in the 70s and 80s, holidaying at a hill station was a status symbol. That isn’t the case today. The people who used to go there now go abroad, to Europe or southeast Asia. This sort of change happens every decade Arup Sen | COX AND KINGS even as little is done to improve infrastructure. “The Mall Road in Mussoorie is exactly the same as it was 30 years ago. The hill stations just haven’t moved on.” And because they now run 365 days a year — unlike the old days when the hotels would shut down for winter — prob- lems of clean drinking water (always scarce in the hills) and sewerage are getting worse. Not surprisingly, Sunny Narang, who’s holidaying in Nainital this summer, says “the town has begun to look positively slummy”. Can this painful decline be arrested? Some of it is already happening, says Raaja Bhasin, author of “Simla: The Summer Capital of British India”. “The sort of accommodation the discerning tourist wants is now being offered. More importantly, families are beginning to plant roots here again.” This, he says, had gone missing when old family homes were sold to make way for apartment blocks whose new residents had little “sense of ownership” for their town. “Now, second and thirdgeneration sons and daughters are beginning to call the hill stations home once again. They will hopefully want to 24 TIMES REVIEW | TECHTONIC in the Word web app, or add animations and transitions in the web avatar of PowerPoint. However, Microsoft has more bells and whistles – you get better templates for each of the applications on Microsoft's versions. You can also move smoothly from the document on Office 365 to MS Office on your computer for more intense editing, but honestly that , kind of defeats the purpose of the cloud. Here, both services even out. The same can be done in Office 365 too, but you would need to create a Team Site, which is accessible to people you choose. Yes, it is more powerful and looks more corporate than Google’s relatively plain affair, but if you are a small group that wants nothing more than simple collaboration, Google Docs is so much better. SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JULY 3, 2011 Google Docs or Office 365? Nimish Dubey supporters will argue (with good reason) that their offering be compared with that of Google’s commercial one, for us, there is no getting around the fact that Google Docs can be used for free. Office 365 comes with a price tag starting from $6 per month, per user (although it also has a free 30-day trial period). Performance That ribbon interface and those lovely icons come at the price of bandwidth. We consistently found Google Docs loading and saving files much faster than the web versions of MS Office. And this was over a 2Mbps connection. Those with a slower connection or using data cards are going to struggle with Office 365’s web apps. We also encountered a few problems while logging into the Office 365 service — something that almost never happens with Google Docs — and there was more than the odd “encoun- Our verdict It might look very impressive but as of now, we do not think that Office 365’s office web suite posts too much of a challenge to Google Docs. It might make sense to the suits in corporate circles, but for the solo professional or smallish group of people on the move, Google Docs remains the app to go to. That said, Office 365 can only get better and we are wagering the gap between the two online office suites is only going to narrow in the coming days. But as of today Office , Compatibility with MS Office formats In spite of the efforts of all other office productivity suites, the fact is that almost everyone uses MS Office formats when it comes to saving documents, spreadsheets and files. Indeed, Google Docs does tend to miss out some of the formatting in MS Office documents uploaded to it, especially with .docx format files. In our case, we found the colours missing from some of our columns and With the release of Office 365, you now have a version of Microsoft Office that runs on the browser. But is it good enough to take on the free Google Docs? We take a closer look is have a Google account, signing up for which is easy With Office 365—being a . more professional affair—the whole process takes a bit longer. So, if you are the type who gets intimidated by being referred to as The Admin, well, just keep that upper lip stiff. You will be able to get to your online MS office suite after a few clicks and drawn-out registration process (nope, your Windows Live sign-in will not work). Once that is done, things are a lot simpler, but we really wish there was a way by which one could simply sign up for the office suite part of Office 365. Indeed, Google Docs takes this one by a mile. M To start using… icrosoft’s decision to launch Office 365* a few days ago represented the company’s effort to get a slice of the enterprise cloudcomputing pie. But for executives and travelling business folk, it meant something simpler – the option to use the popular MS Office suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint) from any computer, using what the software giant calls its Office Web Apps. Here, however, it faces some very stiff competition from Google Docs, which has pretty much been the go-to application for anybody wanting to work on a productivity suite online. We took both Google Docs and the office suite portion of Office 365 for a short swing online and here is what we found out… V/S Cloudy: While Office 365—with its famous ribbon interface and colourful icons—makes Google Docs look rather plain in comparison, the latter scores by letting you do much more on the web than the Microsoft suite does. And while Google Docs is free, Office 365 promises seamless integration with your installed MS Office software Looks and ease of use We have been huge fans of Google Docs ever since it was launched, but we must confess that Office 365 makes it look plain mousy in comparison. The famous ribbon interface is there, the icons are more colourful and sharp. Yes, this is as close as it gets to the real McCoy on the desktop. Perhaps it is the familiarity with Microsoft’s icons, toolbars and menus, but the very stark fact is that we were able to get up, up and away with Office 365’s suite in far lesser time than we ever did with Google Docs. Microsoft scores. our more colourful bullets replaced by dull, vanilla ones. Needless to say the Office 365 web apps , reproduced all MS Office files very faithfully down to the last shaded font. , Features Scratch the boring surface and you will see that Google Docs lets you do a lot more on the web than Office 365 does. Yes, you cannot do stuff like tracking edit changes Collaboration Google Docs comes into its own in the field of collaboration. Sharing documents and working on the same document in real time is so much easier in this suite. tered an unexpected error” messages on Microsoft’s cloud office suite, which tended to crash the app. As of now, Google Docs is the boss here. And incidentally , yes, Google Docs tends to work best in Chrome, while Office 365 ticks over smoothest in IE. Surprised? 365 has the looks, but Google Docs just does a bit more online. Price This is where Google Docs really delivers a blow to Office 365. While Microsoft All you need to do to get into Google Docs * Unlike the ‘free’ Google Docs that can be accessed by anyone with a Google account, Office365 is targeted at enterprise customers. The Microsoft package—besides the Office Web Apps that we have mentioned here—includes other products such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Lync Online. Got time for a Qwiki? Blue hyperlinks are out. New search engine spews out results in the form of a complete multimedia presentation comprising audio, video, text and photos Kavita Kukday-Deb PAY BY PHONE Which is the one item without which you never leave home? Your wallet, right? But is it the only such thing? Most likely not. A mobile phone also accompanies you whenever you step outside. And now, technology is in the works and plans are afoot to replace the former with the latter Javed Anwer nternet search has changed the way we consume information. Tap in a query and you get thousands of pages of data at your fingertips. But ask Doug Imbruce and Louis Monier, and they will tell you that present-day search engines are rather inefficient in the way they display results. “Why should the discovery of information be confined to blue hyperlinks?” asks Imbruce. “The information experience is lacking when you need to hunt and peck for it,” he says. So, instead of merely complaining of the shortcomings of web search, the duo decided to create an engine of their own, which they called Qwiki. “A Qwiki experience will make search talk to you,” Imbruce boasts. I such as Glogster (edu.glogster.com), Voice Thread (voicethread.com) and GoogleApps (docs.google.com) as teaching aids. But all these tools create a distributed experience, argues Imbruce. “Qwikis integrates it all into a single multimedia experience”. And Daniel Rezac, who is constantly looking for newer technologies that can be integrated into teaching, agrees. “With Qwiki, it’s like you’re sitting through a lecture that is visual,” he says. “And the best part is that you can also read the text while you listen to it,” the Illinois, US-based, educationtech specialist adds. Already, Qwiki has more than 3 million topics in its database, ranging from geographic locations like Mumbai, to authors like Shakespeare, and even historical topics like The Moghul Empire. I Dubbed by the co-founders as a quintessential human search tool, www.qwiki.com was launched at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in September 2010. Given its multimedia content, the site requires Adobe Flash version 10.x in a Javascript-enabled browser to run. Rather than delivering simple links and snippets of information, this engine takes raw results — comprising text, photos and videos — and weaves it together into a short, dynamic presentation that tells you “the whole story”. Qwiki about you The site also plans to please the narcissist in you by eventually letting you create documentaries about yourself. Imbruce has a game plan for how Qwikis can make inroads into personal lives. “Initially we will let people choose which , Facebook data—basic information, photos, relationship info and location—that they’d like to include in their personal Qwikis.” “The next step would be to write short biographies, which could eventually turn into a digital business card,” he adds. There can also be different Qwikis for different groups of people, Monier says. “Users could create a separate Qwiki for prospective employers, which can replace a resume, while another one can be created just for friends or love interests.” There are also plans to turn the social networking experience into a Qwiki where the tool will sit on your browser and transform your Facebook, Twitter feeds into an audiovisual experience. On mobile phones the experience will be slightly different, claims Imbruce. “One of the personalized features is an alarm clock that will collate and audibly deliver bits of information, including time, date, and local weather, and even calendar such as scheduled appointments,” he says. The ability to create your own Qwiki isn’t live on the site yet, but it’s relatively easy to do using Facebook connect, the company says. How is Qwiki different from regular search? “People no longer want information in plain text,” says Monier. And this is exactly why Qwiki’s first product is a reference tool where the technology digs up data from sites such as Wikipedia, YouTube and PhotoPedia to create an interactive multimedia experience on the fly . Type in ‘Mumbai’ and you get images and text culled from the internet, plus an algorithmic voice narrating a complete history of the city Qwiki will also run any Mumbai-related . videos it finds on the web thus creating a short, snappy documentary within minutes. “The whole idea is about not having to go to ten different sites to find the same information,” Imbruce says. “The Web should allow you to sit back, relax and it should give you all the information you need at one go.” And this is not just for encyclopaedia-like information, say the developers. The team wants to provide this experience for everything – whether you are planning a vacation on the web, evaluating restaurants on your phone, or helping your kids with homework. “And the best part about the technology is that these Qwikis are automatically generated by computers,” Imbruce informs. Currently, Qwikis have been divided into three different sub groups – for kids, for companies and personalized Qwikis. magine this: It’s 2015. You walk into a store, buy your groceries and go to the cash counter. The store’s barcode reader scans the pricing information on your purchases and flashes the total amount on a tiny device placed on the counter. You take out your mobile, punch in the amount and click ‘pay’. But then, your smartphone reminds you that you are eligible for some discount at that store because of some earlier transaction. It calculates the discount and automatically deducts the payable amount from your account. The whole process is complete in a few minutes, depending on how much time the barcode scanner took to read the price information. If you think this is too futuristic, think again. Google, in May announced , that it will soon roll out its Wallet service on a test basis in select US cities. The service will allow owners of Nexus S, an Android phone that has the Near Field Communication feature (NFC) to make payments using their cellphone at stores and shops that will participate in the service. For now, it has to be seen how well the concept works. Theoretically how, ever, Wallet has huge potential. The reason for this is the NFC microchip, which will allow devices to communicate with each other with just one touch. “ first, Google Wallet will support At both Citi MasterCard and a Google prepaid card. From the outset, you’ll be able to tap your phone to pay wherever MasterCard PayPass is accepted,” Rob von Behren and Jonathan Wall, the brains behind Wallet, wrote in their blog. “Because Google Wallet is a mobile app, it will do more than a regular wallet ever could. You’ll be able to store your credit cards, offers, loyalty cards and gift cards. When you tap to pay your , phone will also automatically redeem offers and earn loyalty points for you.” NFC: Communicate with a touch At first glance, Near Field Communication (NFC) looks like yet another wireless standard in the face of similar technologies — including Wi-Fi to Bluetooth — that are vying for user attention. However, probe a little deeper and you realize how NFC is different and why it is expected to be at the heart of any future payment system using mobile phones. In many ways, including theoretical data transfer speed, it is similar to Bluetooth. But one area where it differs — and which makes all the difference — is that, unlike Bluetooth where permissions have to be given before two devices can snuggle up together and communicate, NFC works automatically. This means that devices, in most cases cellphones, share information by physically coming in contact with each other. NFC chips can securely store information and that makes them ideal for use in mobile payment services. But it’s not the only use of NFC. The technology can also allow for a seamless integration with various devices. As Nokia demoed recently using N9, NFC can allow cell phones to pair with peripherals like speakers or Bluetooth headsets just by coming in contact with them. The technology can also, in the future, replace RFID chips, which are used in a number of items, including attendance swipe cards. Currently, NFC is supported only in handful of phones. However, there are reports that Apple will add the feature in its upcoming iPhone. RIM has also promised to add NFC capabilities to some of its BlackBerry handsets by the end of this year and there is a possibility that the next Xperia range of smartphones from Sony Ericsson will have NFC chip in them. Nokia too expected to ship a hadful of devices with NFC chip in them by the end of this year. 1 To use your phone to make payments, you will have to link your credit or debit card to Google Wallet through a gateway provided by First Data. Linking Credit Card 2 Once the cards are cleared by First Data, you will be able to pay using a Nexus S phone at stores that offer PayPass checkout. the NFC chip and hence stores all the sensitive information outside the mobile operating software and phone hardware. It says that even if a phone is compromised, Wallet information will be safe. The company also says that users will be able to set their own PIN as well as credit limit in a bid to safeguard themselves in the case of mobile phone theft or loss. Simpler alternatives While Google has taken the hi-tech road, there are other players that are trying to cash in on the ubiquity of mobile phones in a much simpler way . For example, US outlets of Starbucks—internationally known for its coffee—has come out with apps for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry that allow users to pay using their mobile phones at its outlets. The app basically links to a customer’s existing Starbucks account through data connection and deducts the amount from it once he has decided to pay using the mobile phone. In India, mCheck and Airtel trying to popularize p ay m e n t A question of security In spite of its seemingly complex nature, Wallet, in reality is quite basic. , For example, once the trial starts in two cities in the US, people wishing to use Wallet will have to link their credit card or debit card to this payment system through a gateway provided by a firm called First Data. Once their cards are cleared by First Data, they will be able to pay using a Nexus S phone at stores that offer PayPass checkout. To make a payment they will just have to tap the phone on an NFC data reader, punch in the amount and a PIN number, if they have set one. Of course, these are still early days. As it is with all wireless communications, security is one issue. Google claims that the NFC communication between devices will be encrypted and hence completely secure. While details are sketchy Jagannath Patnaik, direc, tor at Kaspersky Labs India, says that data encryption will have to be the stronger 256-bit as the prevalent 128-bit encryption may not be enough. “When it comes to mobile payments, users will have to pay attention to two important points. One, how strong is the encryption applied on communication between devices. And second, the phone itself has to be secure device. It is important that there are no malware or rogue apps on it,” he says. Google says that its system relies on ED AR ow CLE an n g c in You op us t sh alle W 3 To make a payment, you simply have to tap the phone on a NFC data reader; punch in the amount and a PIN number. Is it too quick for Qwiki? Imbruce and Monier might be pumped up about their invention. But experts are already pointing out flaws with the concept. Many techenthusiasts are already complaining about the length of the presentations. “It’s not just quick search, you have to sit through this presentation which is very involving and takes a lot of patience,” writes Daniel Sieberg a technology expert and author of the book ‘Digital diet concept’. And for countries like India where internet speeds are a challenge, just loading a Qwiki can be quite a task. So while the jury is still out on the effectiveness of Qwikis, you — in the meanwhile — can sit back and enjoy the experience of a search engine that talks to you. Qwiki for kids One of the main demographic that Qwiki targets is students, says Imbruce. “The richer the learning experience, the better the recall rates for a child,” he adds. This, of course, isn’t the first internet company wanting to jazz up the education experience. Teachers all over are already using sites through mobile phones. Airtel has launched Money in several Indian cities, allowing people to pay through their phone at the stores and shops that have entered into agreement with Airtel. But unlike Wallet, Money doesn’t have access to your credit card or any bank account. Instead, it requires users to top-up their account through a recharge from Airtel stores and then use that money to do shopping. Airtel claims it already has more than 2,200 merchants, including franchises such as Costa Coffee and Yo China as well as local chemists and grocery stores, who will accept payments via Money. “First credit cards replaced cash and now mobile phones are going to replace credit cards. We had earlier rolled out Money in Gurgaon and Chennai and the response has been promising,” said Sriram Jagannathan, who heads the Airtel initiative. On the other hand, mChek is slightly more exhaustive in its approach. It requires customers to link their credit or debit card information with an mChek account. Once the process is complete, the company claims that users can “securely pay phone and utility bills, insurance premiums, buy flight tickets, movie tickets, and transact on e-commerce web sites”. And yes, if you still think the technology is rather futuristic, it would help to know that Japanese mobile service provider NTT Docomo has been running their own version of a cellphone payment system in Japan—with varying degree of success— for the last six years. Called Osaifu-Keitai, the service allows people to not only make payments through their mobile phones at participating stores, but also lets them use the phone as ticket at train and bus stations. Illustration: Shailesh Warang SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JULY 3, 2011 BOOKS 25 OFF THE SHELF Tudor queen who was a kingmaker Asha Bunny Suraiya Opium of the Empire Amitav Ghosh digs out a hidden part of the Raj history in a compelling story The Chinese fought and lost two wars, against the opium trade, near Canton port Quick takes on new titles READ Tracing Marco Polo’s Journey By Major H P S Ahluwalia Niyogi Books Rs 1995, 236pages Everyone dreams of embarking on the voyage of a lifetime. But few get around to doing it. This book may appeal to those who have dreamt of undertaking an epic adventure to exotic cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, Yarkand, Kashgar and Lhasa. It’s an interesting account of a trip undertaken by Major H P S Ahluwalia, who pursued his desire of visiting these places — a dream that he says he had, ever since he had reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1965. Considering that the Major has been on a wheelchair since he got injured in the 1965 IndoPak war, the book is not just an account of an exotic journey but also an ode to what human will can achieve. — Atul Sethi The Happiness Quotient By Dr Rekha Shetty Westland Rs 150, 166 pages As the name suggests, the book comes up with mathematical formulas for a happy life. It outlines a stepby-step programme on how to up your HQ (happiness quotient). The first step towards a high HQ, the book says, is to create a positive mind space by nurturing emotions that make you happy. It also tells you how not to fall into anti-happiness traps. It says that at any given time, the past should not occupy more than 5% of our mind space and the future not more than 10%. In short, one should primarily live in the present. It also recommends that there is always a clear choice between taking failure as a ‘burden’ or as a ‘lesson’ up your HQ by opting for the latter. – Divya A O on the throne of England just so that vershadowing a large chunk she can be elevated to the status of of the 15th century The War the King’s mother, finally a queen, , of the Roses raged in England with the right to sign her name ‘Marfor a shade over 30 years as the de- garet Regina, Margaret R’. scendants of Edward III divided The absorbing story of this themselves into Yorkists (white rose) hideously fascinating woman is rivwho traced their line back to Ed- etingly told, the battle scenes are ward’s youngest son, Edmund Duke brilliantly recreated, and the poliof York, and Lancastrians (red rose) tics and intrigues that are played who traced their line back to Ed- out as the top names in the land ward’s second son, John of jockey for position Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. and privilege are Cousins all, Plantagenets all, the disconcertingly simbitterly feuding adversaries ilar to the sordid played a deadly game of chess tales of our own over the chequerboard of Engpower-hungry politiland’s fields which were churned cians that we read to bloody mud as kings and about in the newsprinces from the Houses of York papers every day . and Lancaster rose and fell and What is particurose again, with four coronalarly gratifying is tions during the 30 years of batGregory’s take on The Red Queen tle. The end of this war resulted the most enduring By Philippa also in the end of the Plantamystery of those Gregory genets and gave rise to a new dy- Simon & Schuster times: who killed nasty — that of the Tudors. Rs 399, 405 pages the Princes in the The eponymous Red Queen Tower? Earlier his© CORBIS of Philippa Gregory’s riveting new bestseller is Margaret Beaufort, descended from John of Gaunt’s liaison with his mistress Katherine Swynford whom he married after the death of his Duchess, thus conferring legitimacy upon his Beaufort offspring. An interesting sidelight on Katherine Swynford that Gregory doesn’t mention is that she was the sister-in-law of Chaucer who disapproved of her shenanigans with the husband of his adored patroness, Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster, to whom he dedicated his great poem, The Boke of the Duchess. This story starts when Margaret is 12 years old and much WAR OF THE ROSES: Battle for England influenced by tales of Joan of Arc whom the English have recent- torians, taking their cue from ly burned at the stake in France. She Shakespeare, accused Richard III sees herself as an English Joan and of the heinous murder of his young spends hours on her knees, con- nephews, sons of his dead brother vinced that she is destined to be the Edward IV. Gregory vindicates mother of the rightful king of Eng- Richard III, and although the mysland. As a study of monumental ego- tery of the murder is not solved, mania and self-delusion, Margaret she introduces several likely susBeaufort as portrayed by Gregory pects who had means and opporhas few equals in literature. A cold- tunity exceeding those of Richard. blooded, mean-minded, grasping and With The Red Queen Gregory vicious woman, she is able to ra- has come up with a corker. A fasttionalize ingratitude, hypocrisy, paced political thriller driven by treachery betrayal and even murder human motivations and ambition , as ‘the will of God’ as she plots and which are as relevant today as they schemes to put her son Henry Tudor were six centuries ago. W that was dulling their senses and playing havoc with their social fabric, even as it riting history is one thing but added enormous amount of gold and silto recreate the past with all its ver to the Company treasury. smells, sights, sounds and The British rule in India, says Ghosh, chaos is a different ballgame was basically financed and sustained by altogether. Amitav Ghosh can do both with their opium trade to China. “The situation equal ease. He can also draw a parallel be- was similar to today There was a huge bal. tween two different phases of history ance of payments problem in relation to which may look completely deChina. China was exporting enortached from each other. He can mous amounts, but wasn’t interalso create the bigger picture even ested in importing any European as he goes into details of life durgoods. That was when the British ing a period buried in sands of came up with idea that the only time — how people lived; what way of balancing trade was to exthey ate, drank and smoked; how port opium to China,” says Ghosh, they travelled; how they made who divides his time between love; and how they made enemies Kolkata, Goa and Brooklyn. and killed each other. In “River of But, call it shame or lack of Smoke”, Ghosh’s second book in awareness about the past, a mathe Ibis trilogy, the writer takes jority of Indians are still ignorant River of Smoke the reader on a stormy ride By Amitav Ghosh about this phase of Indian histothrough the haze of opium smoke Hamish Hamilton ry, despite the fact that barely 100 that was spread across countries Rs 699, 533 pages years ago there was not a section and continents in the 19th and of Indian society — from poor early 20th centuries. This smoke, fuelled peasants in the Gangetic belt to landlords by the British East India Company’s greed, to mercantile communities in the north, engulfed entire communities in India and which was not affected by the Company’s destroyed a nation — China. policy of growing opium in India and In the bestselling “Sea of Poppies”, the selling it in China. “Opium accounted first book in the series which was nomi- for at least one-fifth of the Company’ nated for the Booker Prize in 2008, Ghosh revenues in India. If you add ancillary took us along the Ganges and to Calcutta, industries like ship-building and the where the poppies were grown and the opi- armed forces to it, then it accounted for um processed. In the second book, the sto- almost 50% of the Company’s revenue in ry moves to Canton in China, where the India. It was an enormous amount of monopium was sold to the Chinese or rather ey “The fact that one single commodity ac. forced down their gullets in the name of counted for such a huge part of the colo“free trade”. It was in and around this port nial economy is extraordinary,” says the town that the Chinese fought and lost two professor of comparative literature who wars against the illegal import of the drug has produced some of the finest historiShobhan Saxena | TNN cal fiction in recent times. At the heart of this story is the opium trade which was the fundamental undergirding of Indian economy for centuries. But, for some strange reason, this part of the Indian past is still missing from history books. And because of this lack of knowledge, says Ghosh, we have not completely understood the full impact of British rule in India – how it devastated local industry and agriculture pattern. “Before the British came, India was one of the world’s biggest economies. All the empirical facts show you that British rule was a disaster for India. Before the British came, 25% of the world trade originated in India. By the time they left, it was less than 1%,” says Ghosh. It’s the historian and anthropologist in him that makes him dig out the hidden past and decipher its meaning. Then the writer in him gives shape to characters and situations which create a compelling story. All this while, he doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Does he like retelling the history in his own way? “As far as the opium trade is concerned, there is no question of retelling as this story hasn’t been told yet. We have yet to discover and document this phase of our history,” says the author. “River of Smoke”, a fine and deeply entertaining work of fiction, records this history as accurately as possible. ttt tt V l L ..t IVIILI l kT CbletEngineer(AF),Vayus.na Nagar ,Nagpur,on behalf of the President of India. invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/un-enlisted contractors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender of under mentioned work:I Name of Work 2 3 4 5 B 7 PROVISION OF FALSE CEILING TO BLDG NP.P120, P1216& PI2I7AT DEOLALI. 42.00 Lakhs. EstImated Cost Period of Completion 5 (Five) Months. Amount of Earnest 84 000/-in the form of C l Deposit Receipt Money for contractors from any Scheduled Bank In favour of Garrison not enlIsted with MES Englneer(l) AF OJHAR. 8GB not acceptable. 500/- in the form of DD/Bankers Cheque/Pay Cost of Tender Order from any Nationalised Bank in favour of Garrison Engineer (l)AF OJHAR. Last date of Receipt 18 JULY2011. of Applications EligibilIty Cr iter ia: (A) For MES Enlisted Class D with Standing Security Deposit 1,00,000/- and category ‘ a(i)”. Contractor (8) For Other (a) Meeting the following enlistment criteria Contractors of MES. (i) Fixed Assets: 12.50 Lakhs (Minimum 80% of assets shall be in shape of immovable property). (ii) Working Capital: Not less than 7.50 Lakhs. (iii) (a) Having satisfactorily completed two works costing not less than 25.00 Lakhs. OR One work costing not less than f 40.00 L hs. _________________ ___________________ t i’i ir MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DIRECTOR GENERAL NAVAL PROJECTS MUMBAI-23 SUPPLY OF HULL QUALITY CONTROL EQUIPMENT AT NSRY (KARWAR) TENDER NOTICE O Buy any book on this page at 20% off @www.books.indiatimes.com or sms WHB to 58888 or call 09910118888 State Bank of India Local Head Office ,Guwahati UNIT AT LCPG , GUWAHATI Nort h Eastern Circle OUTSOURCING SERVICE FOR COMMISSIONING OF PRIN11NG State Bank of India , Local Head Office , Guwahati, invites sealed tenders in 2 cover system (lechnical & Price bid) within 15 days from the date of 1. Sealed Two bid (Technical and Commercial) Tenders valid for 120 days are invited from Original Equipment Manufacturers or authorized Dealers with proven product support base for the following: unit and scanning jobs at their proposed Liability Central Processing Centre (LCPC) , Guwahati. Interested vendors may download the details from Bank’s website (www.sbi.co.in) under Procurement News. publication of this notice for outsourcing service for commissioning printing S No. Item Description (a) (b) (c) Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Paint Inspectors Kit Q1y 04 02 01 Place : Ouwahati Date : 02.07.2011 Assistant General Manager (BPR-IT) GUJARAT INDUSTRI L DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION A (A Govt. Of Oularat Undertaklnfl) Block no.4.Udyog Bhavan,Sector - ti, Gandhinagar - 382 011 Phone: +91 -79- 23250632,34 to 37; Fax: +91 -79-23250587 Website: www.gide.gov.in GIDC is going to operationalise “Online Applicabon System’ in all 184 estates across Gujarat for industrial Plots/Shed and Housing Plots from 02/07/2011 at 11:00 a.m onwards. Interested parties who intend to set up industrial unit in any of these estates are required to file their “Online Application through Corperation’ s website. www.gidc.gov in After applying online, applicant needs to send physical documents along with copy of applicatk n through RPAD only to the office of concerned Regional Manager of tile estate. For more det ails GIDC’s website may be accessed Sd!Executive Director GFDC,Gandhinagar _____________________________________ _______________________________________ Compact DC Porosity/ Holi day Detector with Associated Jeep Meter (MAHARASHTRA) PIN 442 501 - ORDNANCE FACTORY CHANDA TENDER NOTICE (d) (e) (l Portable Skid Resistance Tester Pull Off Adhesion Tester Portable Wire Rope Tester 02 02 01 (b) Average annual turn-over for two cons ecutive years shall not be less th an 50.00 Lakhs. (b) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt. B Date of issue of Tender ON ORAFTER 20 JULY 2011. 9 Dat. of Recelptof Tend. ON OR AFTER 22 AUG 2011. NOTES: 1. For full details, refer Indian Trade Journal dated 8 JULY 2011 & visit on MES website www.mes gov.In. 2. Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary __________________ OR documents to prove their eligibility as given above including affidavit for no recovery outstanding, affidavits of immovable/movable properties, Technica’ Staff, T&P. no close relative In MOD on Gazetted Post . valuation of immovable properties, solvency valuation of certificate & working capital certificate from bankers , list of works executed during last three years with full details & postal address of executive authority. Dy. Director (Contracts) For Chief Engineer (AF) (g) De-Mineralized Water Test Kit 02 2. The tenderers are to include details of similar supplies ma de d uring last 02 years , Bank Solvency Certificate , Clientele List Including Govt. Organizations and any other relevant information alongwith the T-bid in support of their Credentials. 3. The detailed Tender Enquiries alongwith ‘Terms and Condftions ’ can be perused/downloaded for submission of your bids from the website htto://tenders.gov.in and www.irfc- nausena.nicin Firms may seek clarifications pertaining to the tender document from Projector Director (E) office of Director General Naval Projects (MB) Accommodation Complex Naval Dockyard SBS Road Mumbai-23. Telephone No. 022-22751884, FAX No. 02222661142. 4. The last date of receipt of Sealed tenders alongwith Earnest Money Deposit is 1400 hrs. on 21 Jul 11. davp 10702/11/0158/1112 (071 PHONE NO: 75 254804/254275/254952 FAX NO.:(07175) 254043! 254276 The Sr. General Manager, Ordnance Factory, Chanda, Pin - 442 501 ,for and on behalf of the President of India, invites sealed Tenders (In Two Bid System & Single Bid) for supply of undermenUoned item(s):ITEM NOMENCLATURE NO. Q’fl ADV E NO. ORDFYS/OFCHIDAVP!03/11-12/PV/06 DL 09/0612011 DPRI105056 INTEGRATED HEADQUARTERS OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (NAVY) DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT TENDER NOTICE NO. DPRJ1 05056 Date: 28 Jun 2011 01. ADHESIVE 55-89 02. 03. 04 1,477 I<Gs TENDER REF.NO. & DATE TENDER WILL BE OPENED 01 DFCWDAVP/PV/06/ 201100131/A DI 26/05/11 . 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. MEFRO ARK SILICON 91 481 GRAMs OFCWDAVP/PWO6I 17 COMPOUND 201100132/A (SILICON GREASE) DI.26/05/11 APC NO. 102 545 KGs. OFCWDAVP/PV/05/ (SEAIJNG COMPOSI201100133/A lION RD 1O64MIMN.) DT.26/O5/11 DB TROUSER WHITE 2 ,250 PAIRs OFCH DAVP/06/ DRILL FOR WORKERS , 201100134/B SIZE-2 DT. 26/05/11 DB TROUSER WHITE 1,650 PAIRS OFCWDAVP/PV/06/ DRILL FOR WORKERS , 201100135/B SIZE-3 DT. 26/05/11 DB TROUSER WHITE 1,400 PAIRs OFCWDAVP/PV/06/ DRILL FOR WORKERS , 201100136/B SIZE-4 DT. 26/05/11 DB COAT COTION 2 250 NOs. OFCWDAVP/PV/061 WHITE DRILL FOR 08 201 100137/B WORKERS , SIZE-4 DT. 26/05/11 DB COAT COTEON 2,250 NOs. OFCH/DAVP/PV/06/ WHITE DRILL FOR 201100138/B DT. 26/05/11 DB WORKERS , SIZE-6 SEMI-AUTOMATED 1 No. OFCWDAVP/PV/06/ CHEMILUMINESCENCE 201100139/B SYSTEM WITH DT. 26/05/11 __________ ________ AT 2.30 P.M. Place:- OF. Chanda 11/08/2011 ELECTRONIC DISPENSING UNIT EOI No. :- BUIDCo/Consu!tant/PRJ/1 1-09 Date - 27.06.11 10. Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (BUIDC0). Invites Expression of Interest (EOls) to hire services of Consultants for Project Preparation, Management & Supervision for the following work Sl.No. Brief Description of Work Estimated Budgetary Provision 1 Construction/Refurbishment/Renovation of ULBs offices with development of 16 Cr. related services in 28 ULB5 The EOl and accompanying documents must be delivered not later than 1500 Hrs. on 10.07.2011. The sealed envelope GPS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SERVER WILL ALL ACCESSORIES — GPS DEVISE TRACKER WHOLE JOB IECHILE TRACKING SYSTEM -10 NOS., OFCWDAVP/PV/06/ 201100140/B DT. 30/05/11 (01’S SERVER STATION 1 NO.) - clearly labeled “Expression of Interest for Project Management & Supervision for Preparation Refurbishment/Construction! Renovation of offices of 28 ULB’s to the address given above. requested information will be considered non responsive. The pre Bid meeting for all groups shall be held at 03.00 PM. Dated 05.07.2011 The EOl does not entail any commitment on the part of BUIDC0 either financial or otherwise. BUIDC0 reserves all the right to accept or reject any or all EOl without incurring any obligation to inform the effected applicants of the grounds. For fu rther clarification may kindly contact on BUIDC0 office Telephone - 061 2-221 0101/02 and for details visit our website : www .buidco.bih.nic.in Sd!- Manag ing Director CLOTH COVER FOR BOMB 120 MM HE 9,843 __________ NOS. OFCWDAVP/PV/O6/ 201100147/A _____________ The EOl proposal shall be opened on the same day at 1600 Hrs. EOl from consultant failing to provide Demand Draft and DI.30/05/11 Note: TENDER WILL BE ACCEPTED 11LL : 11-O8- )11 unto 2.00 P.M. All relevant details, Specificalion of Stores,Terms&CondiUons, Pre-Qualificalion, PR 3358(Ni.Ni.)1 1-12 Tender Fee required, EMD to be paid, Documents required, Cost of Drawing & Specification etc. are available on Govt. website www.tenders. ov.in Please forward your sealed Tendera (Complete Bid containing Technical Bid and Pnce Bid in separate envelope) after opening and reading Advertisement Text uploaded at Technical document& Bid document menu on webs te. davp 10201/11/0405/1112 1. Sealed quotations in Two Bid System (Technical and Commercial) are invited from reputed suppliers for procurement of 08 Nos. 9.2m SMBs with OBS and One Set of B&D Spares as per the Technical Specifications NCD/SMB 9200 , Issue - 4,2011. 2. The Terms and Conditions and Tender Documents can be obtained from Directorate of Procurement, Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence avy), Room No. 417, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhawan,New Delhi-i 10011,Telephone No. +91-11-23010419 on submission of following documents:(a) Product range/specialization of the firm. (b) Proof of successful execution of atleast 01 similar nature order. (C) Demand Draft of Rs. 1000/- (Non-refundable) in favour of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy), Munibai, towards the cost of Tender Documents. The cost of tender forms is exempted for foreign vendors. 3 . All completed tender documents (Technical as well as Commercial Bids) should be submitted alongwith an Earnest Money Deposit of Rs. 17 ,00 ,000/- (Rupees Seventeen Lakhs only) by way of Demand Draft in favour of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy), Mumbai. No EMD to be submitted by vendors those who are registered with National Small Industries Corporation (NSICI or with the Deoartment of Defence (Veflicle/FFE). Production/ Director General of Cuality Assurance (Vehicle/FFE). The tienerai Uualitv Earnest money will be returned to all the bidders except Technically cleared firms on completion of Technical Evaluation . EMD of unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them at the earliest after expiry of fi nal bid validity and latest on or before the 30th day after the award of the contract. The bid security of the successful bidder would be returned without any interest whatsoever after the receipt of performance security from them as called for in the contract. EMD would be forfeited if successful tenderers withdraws, amends , impairs and derogates from tender within validity. If EMD is not found enclosed with the tender document , except for exempted vendors , such offers would not be considered and would be treated as technically rejected. 4. Pre-Bid Conference: To bring all vendors at par, a pre-bid meeting will be held at 1100 hrs. IHQ MOD (Navy), Sena Bhawan, New Delhi -i10011 on 27 Jul 2011. LtV Swaminathan, DDNA at Tel. No. 011-23011162 at IHQ MoD( /DNA Room No. 413, D-Il Wing, Sena Bhawa n, New Delhi-i iOOl i is to be contacted for details. A maximum of two representatives of vendor would be permitted to attend the conference. Vendor willing to parlicipate in the conference may confirm their nomination by 21 Jul 2011 to DNA on telephone 011-23010047,23011162,Tele Fax No.: 23010126. 5. Tender can be obtained upto 1200 hi’s. On 24 Aug 2011. 6. Tender will not be accepted after 1100 hi’s. on 25 Aug 2011. 7. The tenders can be obtained by post on request on submission of documents as mentioned in Para-2 above. However, the responsibility of receiving / submission of tender enquiry would be of the bidder. 8. The Technical Bid will be opened on 25 Aug 2011 at 1500 Hrs. 9. Date of opening of Commercial Bids will be intimated to technically qualified Firms only after evaluation of technical quotes. 10. Bidders are requested to offer their best discounted price. 11. Purchaser reserves the right to reject any tender document without assigning any reason. 12 . Conditional Tenders will not be accepted . 13. For further information please visit Naval Website www.irfc-nausena.nic.in PROCUREMENT OF 08 NOS 9.2M SMBs WITH OBS AND ONE SET OF B&D SPARES Sd!- (Sanjay Aggarwal) NSO Joint Director Procurement (AOD) davp lOlOi/l i/00i7/1112 26 talk of the times The story of the week as relayed by Gen Now on their cellphones. Lol OPEN SPACE SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI JULY 3, 2011 What is wikiality? OPEN SPACE Wikiality is reality as defined by a consensus, particularly in a collaborative endeavour such as Wikipedia. It was defined on a satirical US TV show The Colbert Report as the concept that “together we can create a reality that we all agree on,” referring to Wikipedia, on which any user can add or alter information, and if enough users agree with them, that becomes ‘true’. — Sandya D, Mumbai What is the Ratchet Effect? The Ratchet Effect suggests that when incomes of individuals fall, their consumption expenditure does not fall as much. This is partly because of the fact that people are conscious of the society they live in and do not want to show their neighbours that they can no longer afford to maintain their earlier standard of living and because they are accustomed to that level of consumption. — Seema Sharma, Bangalore What is a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) we emit individually in any one-year period. CO2 is produced from many sources and is the primary gas responsible for global warming. The carbon footprint is made up of two parts, the primary and the secondary The pri. mary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including doKupala was really a pagan fertility rite which met with resistance with the coming of Christianity Accord. ing to the orthodox Christian calender, the word Ivan is the Slavic name of John the Baptist and Kupala is derived from the Slavic word for bathing — for that was the first day of the year when the Church sanctioned swimming in rivers and ponds. The Christians combined the festival of the pagan god Kupalo with the feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist and called it Ivana Kupala. On that evening, they gather together outside their villages, build bonfires and dance around them. The festival falls on the day of the summer solstice, on July 7. — Divya Agrawal, Amritsar GANESHA SAYS BEJAN DARUWALLA Aries: All activities are re-energized, work being the first. Family life will be peaceful but not dull. You are stricken by pangs of conscience that you have not paid enough attention to family so , you go out of your way to do so. Taurus: Tremendous gains and excitement. There will be harmony at home, work will be energized, and friends will be a source of satisfaction. Ganesha sums it up — play and work are united, love excites you. There will be expenses and you have to find funds for necessaries, and extras. Gemini: Your upward mobility continues. Your career graph, market worth and personal popularity peak. It’s up to you where they go next — up, down, or plateau out. You do some serious thinking. The way you want to be some years from now will be reviewed. Cancer: The great phase is a trend. Good things come to you now. A certain easing of tensions will be experienced. Delays will ease at work, but where this easing will really be witnessed will be on the personal level. A rare combination of confidence, courage and caring add to your focus. Leo: The moon ushers in a phase in which you’re flush with funds. Some exciting ideas could click. Luxury indul, gence in the arts, entertainments. You will shine at public functions and in the public eye. You’re good to know, great to be with. The good times are here. Love seems to surround you. A marvellous sense of fulfilment comes from contacts, conversations and finances. Virgo: New faces can prove to be stimulating and also profitable. You learn how to organize your work and personal life to your satisfaction. Family is given more than its due in terms of time and affection. You are in an exalted frame of mind. You still concern yourself intensely with deeper questions, and gain much in terms of ultimate wisdom and maturity . Libra: Ganesha says you will feel strong and focused, almost as if you are marching to a different drum. Underlying conflicts at work may (not will) come out into the open. Your mindset however has changed to calm tranquillity There is no taking . away that you’ll be going great guns this week. Strength and confidence surge within you. Scorpio: You’ve been making fundamental changes at work, and at home someone you love or are closely involved with helps you make adjustments. Home surroundings get an aura of glamour. There is a beauty even in the most humdrum activities, which you perform with grace. You find a great fulfilment in just being, a seeking for inner contentment verging on spiritual bliss. Sagittarius: A week of action. A far more satisfying phase sets in. You not only see where you are headed, but also how to go about it. The two Fs — fame and fun — are charged with highvoltage energy and work, , where you’re going places. Capricorn: A phase rife with worries or at least conflict situations to deal with. You will need all your strength to tackle this phase. What you will need, says Ganesha, are patience, tact, a conscious striving to stay calm and above all, a rational approach to finances. Resist the temptation to make fast money . Aquarius: Work and home will demand time and effort. There will be rapid changes on the work scene but patience will pay off, for they will be resolved to your benefit. Love too, can be tempestuous, all of which may well stimulate some inspired thinking. Pisces: You’ve finally been able to work out how to reconcile home and work demands, and professional plus personal concerns and gains are yours this week in almost equal measure, but the net result on the balance sheet is very good indeed. www.bejandaruwalla.com ANY ANSWERS? The Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot water spring in the US, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Question: What is a hot water spring? Euroka moment 1 of da PIGS is cuming home 2 roost ??? PIGS aka portugal ireland greece & spain…da inevitable big fat greek default was putoff 4 another day wid da greeks voting 4 austerity but is dere a lesson in it 4 posterity? sure…rein in netas & corruption NOW or go da greek way but how did da nation dat gave us plato & archimedes end up with dere economy in da toilet? mayb bcos dey do all dere thinking in da bathtub no its bcos da gr8 euro experiment has floppd..if da greeks had dere drachma dey cud hav devalud it & savd demselvs why dont dey go bak 2 it? dat wud be like trying 2 put toothpaste bak in da tube soon deyll b teaching a new rhyme 2 kids… euro euro sat on da wall euro euro had a big fall & all da gud germans & all da fine frenchmen cudnt put poor euro 2gethr again! (Forwarded to Vandana Agarwal) mestic energy consumption and transportation. The secondary footprint is a measure of indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use. — Sarmistha Das, via email Why is the cloud “cumulonimbus” called so? The word cumulonimbus comes from the Latin — cumulus means “accumulated” and nimbus means “rain”. The clouds are accompanied by thunder and lightning and produce heavy rain, which is why they’re called “cumulonimbus” clouds. — Srijata Bhattacharya,Kolkata What is Cyber Monday? In the US, the Monday after Black Friday is called Cyber Monday It is a bu. sy day for online retailers for that is when people return to work and buy online what they missed out on the preceding Friday . — Sudhir Singh, Jhansi What is the significance of Ivan Kupala night? In pre-Christian Ukraine, Kupalo was the god of love and harvests. Ivan What is the history of Sudoku? —Karan N, via email What is the agricultural shot in cricket? —Vineeth Rathi, via email What is the origin of the phrase “Catch 22”? —Kritika Malhotra, Delhi What is a Taser gun? —Sneha Menon, Goa You ask. Or you answer. Mark the envelopes ‘Open Space’ and address your answers and questions to: Open Space, Sunday Times of India, II Floor, S&B Towers, 40/1, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560 001 email:
[email protected] SUNDAY MAILBOX MY TIMES, MY VOICE If not now, never With reference to “Is Rahul ready?” (Special Report, June 26), Rahul Gandhi was inducted into the party as a general secretary. First among all general secretaries, he held “enviable power” in his hands but failed to make any impact either in the party or in the government. His waiting for the appropriate time to ascend the PM’s chair is best described by the famous Tamil proverb “waiting for the tides to subside to take a holy dip in the sea”. The tides will never subside and the devotee will wait indefinitely. N Ramamurthy, Chennai han Singh continues to do a good job. Moreover, why the hurry to elevate Rahul to the top post? He is on the right path, learning at the grassroots and increasing his support base. Let him earn his spurs. In the meantime, let’s allow the humble and honest PM to do his job without embarrassing him. Madhu R D Singh, Ambala woman in a busy marketplace. So, the amount of skin that is covered (or not) has nothing to do with rape. Adelmo Fernandes, Goa Use new evidence, old rules With reference to “Time to put children first on growth agenda” (All That Matters, June 26), it is only fair to ask if the writer’s appeal to India’s decision-makers to embrace the use of rigorous evidence in redressing service-delivery problems afflicting our major social welfare programs, is reposing too much faith in their good intentions or ability? In a culture that privileges patriarchy, prejudice and patronage above all else and condemns members of the so-called lower castes to a life of perpetual servitude, that would be folly indeed. Until members of our social, business and political elite genuinely cultivate long-forgotten Gandhian precepts of abnegation of class privilege, calls for use of rigorous evidence in eradicating extreme poverty will ring hollow, destined only to accompany the images of India’s poor gracing the glossy publications peddled by our thriving, unregulated and unaccountable poverty industry. Ron Bose, via email III The Congress party might be overestimating Rahul’s abilities. Hearing him up close is a middling experience at best — his oratorical skills are negligible, he speaks from prepared notes and does not answer questions about politics and foreign policy. How can we think of him becoming prime minister without looking deep into his personality? Pathikrit Chakraborty, Varanasi What’s skin got to do with it? With reference to “Slut Walk: look at the intent , not the dress” (All That Matters, June 26), a man could very well be “turned on” by a woman who is modestly dressed. Rape takes place when there is opportunity; a man will not rape a scantily-clad II It is heartless of Congress leaders to talk about Rahul becoming Prime Minister even as Dr Manmo- CENTRA L RAILWAY Replacement of Overaged Old lifts 8 Modification of Existing Lifts The Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (General Services) Central Railway, Annex Building, FirstFloo r, Mumbai CST-400001 for and on behalf of President of India invites sealed open tenders from the reputed contractors. The time , date and submission is 15.00 Hrs. on 08.08.2011 and will be opened at 15.15 Hrs. on same day. Sr.No. 1. Name of Work Replacement of overaged old lifts and mod ification of existing lift of obsolete technology in mumbai Division. Tender Notice No.10/2011 (BB.LG.W.CSTM.201 1/1). Approximate Cost of the Work: 1,40,15,883/-. EMO : 2,20 ,080/- . Cost of tender form : 5 000/-. Date of Opening : 08.06.2011. Vaiidlty:120 Days. Completion/Maintenance Period : 06 Months (C), 12 Months (M). The tenderform can be purchased from above Office . Complete details of tenders are available on our website htt p://www .tenders .govi n and the complete documents can be downloaded from the website. Complete details of tender are iso available in the ‘Noti ce 8oard of the Sr. Divis ionai Electrical Engineer (G)’s Office, Mumbai CST. I I’] 1 l I Avoid Queues. Use Coupon Validating Machines E-mail : cewor ldbank eroj ects gniaiI.com 2 Corrigendum to Bid Identification No. CE W.BP. (0) 25/ 2010 11 For both works the date and time of availability of bid document in the portal and the last date I time for receipt o f I JD i rr . -’4VML IrI’..MI IJn Application for Pre-qualification are hereby invited from reputed Indian Architects/Consultants having extensive and current expeilence in construction of Corporate Office for ArchitecturalIConsuItancy Services for proposed Raipur Regional Office building atRaipur, Chhatisgarti. Due Date and Timeof submission ofApplica on :26/07/2011 at 16:00 Hrs. ‘Jr l’,lW f l I I I 0II.,Vr IoULI,iI 10 bids is extended upto 5 00PM of 08.08.2011 for online bidding. Further details can can seen in the e-procurement portal be ‘ https: ll tendersorissa.gov.in Chief Engineer 34003/11/0046/1112 (World Bank Project), Orissa Opening of Pra-qualification Applications :26/07/2011 at 16:30 Hrs. For further details including Pre-qualification c teria, information documents , reqired to be submitted along with the application. Please visit our webstie: “www .hindustanoetroleum .com and click the link tenders. Th isonlya pre-qualification notice and not tender notice. Date : 03.07.2011 Place : Kolkata MANAGER PURCHASE Ifidis noll IOd flOfl NOTICE INVITING TENDER NIT No.! Name of work Sale Period ! Contact person SO UTHERN RAILWAY CHENNAI-600 023 —— 1. JC1IES1250 : Construction of B umen TruckParking FacilitynearCalico Land. 2. JCIIMLT28O : Condifon Monitoring of Rotary Equipments 3. CORRIGENDUM-I to JCIIELTI94 Tender submission extended upto 3.00 pm on 15.07.2011 and opening at 03.30 pm on 15.07.2011. For details , please referwebsite. GLOBAL TENDER Sale oeriod :for Sr. No. 1 & 2 04.07.11 to 25.07.11 Due Date : T ’1 i ii ’i 1 11 4i 4Ig 9. Q1 I Qt 1 T f — 15) : Sf j 31/2011/182 f 91 : 01/07/2011 l’ .i 1I ii MATERIALS MANAGEMENT•DEPARTMENT ! ! ! ! 1 ‘ii ‘11 ; li IR I 1) E-TENDER NOTICE FOR THE SUPPLY OF STORES NO. E-2612011 i The following e-tenders are published in IREPS website, Firms are requested to I ILJ 1 1 c i 9’T 31 T$ 3:00 —04/2011—2012 5T i if rr ?t i 9 login to www.ireps. gov.in--- >SR >COS and quote against these tenders, Manual quotations will not be entertained for these tenders. Closing time for all tenders P1’T (1999) f ‘* PP’ii i rr RT 14:30 hours. S.No Tender.No 1 2 3 Description i i 71 4l e1 1 Pi l 5 PP-1i1 c1 l 9T 3ti i T R 3 t f 9 i i4:00 t TT ii f if t 3 R1U 3:00 W Ti c’ II I rr n 0.5 STRI T t 1T 2 T if r V i 1 1 i ici i ff i 1 a ri l N* y q Ti ii I If I T IT T I5T I i 31if 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16105220 Oil Skimmer (Tube Type) 1’r T Crank tt I rnrn ii i Engine- L. 7 1 Case 10100004 Internal Combustion 1 44100516 Non-Asbestos “ L” Type Composite Brake Block For Freight Stock 14105078 IS Equal Leg Angle 65x65x 6mm 28115015 Micro Controller Based ElectronIc Governor 11110578 25 KW Brush Less Alternator 43110752 H-Class Solvent less Single Impregnating Resin 44110545 Flap Door Arrangement Due on 2717/11 27/7/11 . ’w/,/II• 27/7/ 11 4. JRMMI III25: Supply of Purrip with Motoretc.(qty.-3 Set) 5. JRMM114O32 Supply & Installation of Double Magnetic Resonator (qty- 172 Nos.) and Memory Magnetic Resonator (qty.—156 Nos.) 6. JRMMII4O38 Supply & Installation of Stepless Capacity Control System for Makeup Gas Compressor (QIy.—1 Set) for Sr.No.1 & 2: 26.07.11 Chief Manager (Contracts). Email:
[email protected] Ph: (0265) 2237181, Fax : (0265) 2233380 Sale period : 06.07.11 to 21.07.11 forSr,No.4 19.07.11 for Sr.No.5 26.07.11 for Sr.No.6 Pre Bid Meeting :21.07.11 for Sr.No.5 28.07.11 for Sr.No.6 Due Date:0 1.08.11 for Sr.No.4&5 08.08.11 forSr.No.6 Chief Materials Manager Email makwanaac iocI.co.in; auotaalokt iocl.co.in: Ph : (0265) 2237251/52/54 Fax : (0265) 2233350 2917/11 01/8/1 1 01/3/11 WASH Jayawardhana — Bhakti Kulkarni Asian Junior Girls’ ChampiPRAVIN THIPSAY onship. Colombo, 06.2011 Thiru JCD Prabhakaran, Former MLA from Chennai, joined the elite group of N Srinivasan of India Cements, Dhruv Sawhney of Triveni group and a handful of other eminent personalities in the country when he was unanimously elected the new President of the All India Chess Federation in June 2011. Bharat Singh Chauhan of Delhi was unanimously elected to the coveted post of Honourary Secretary. Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua from Kolkata and MS Gururaj from Mangalore were among the 15 other office bearers. Earlier in the month of June, Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa did India proud by winning the Asian Junior Girls’ Chess Championship held at Colombo. Today we shall look at a position from one of her games. The game has just begun and it is difficult to believe that White could be in a losing position so early but Bhakti (Black) alertly spotted the winning continuation. Position :— White :— Ke1, Qd1; R-a1,h1; B-e2,f4; N-b1,f3; Pa2,b2,c2,d4,f2,g2,h2. Black :— Ke8; Qd8; R-a8,h8; B-f8,g4; N-c6,g8; Pa7,b7,d5,e6,f7,g7,h7. Problem :— Black to play and win. Solution:— Bhakti won a Pawn and the game with 1...Bxf3! 2.Bxf3 Qb6 (attacking the ‘b’ and ‘d’ Pawns simultaneously) 3.Bc1 [ worse is 3.Be3? Qxb2 4.Nd2 Nxd4 etc. ] 3...Qxd4 4.0–0 Qxd1 Black soon won. 0–1 The diagrammed deal was reported by the editor Dr Subir Roy as ‘the best-played hand’ of PRAKASH PARANJAPE BFAME 2011 by the time the bulletin was published on May 29. Rita Choksi, one of the veterans of Indian Bridge, was South. We do not have the auction from her table so the one given below is from a table in the Jordan-Sri Lanka match. Essentially East opened 1♦ and , NS settled in 4♠. West led a Diamond. Rita was staring at four losers, one each in the minor suits, and two in Hearts as the ♥K was likely to be with East for her opening N Dealer ♠J83 W N ES bid. The Heart ♥Q42 -- P 1♦ 1♠ EW Vul spots in the NS ♦A972 P 2♦ P 4♥ IMP hands weren’t Lead: ♦3 ♣A54 P P P good enough to BFAME 2011, Chennai allow any real♠97 ♠52 istic possibility ♥J863 ♥KT5 of using them ♦T53 ♦KQ72 to develop a ♣9876 ♣KQT2 trick but Rita ♠AKQT64 summoned the ♥A97 Diamond suit ♦64 to engineer an ♣J3 endplay forcing East to play Hearts. Rita ducked the opening lead to East, won the ♦ continuation, cashed just one trump, and ran the ♣J to East. East returned a Diamond. Rita ruffed high, cashed the ♣A, ruffed a Club, entered the Dummy with the ♠J removing all outstanding trumps in the process and played the fourth Diamond. Instead of ruffing it, Rita simply allowed East to win the trick discarding a Heart from the Close hand — a Loser on Loser play East was end-played! If she played a Club, Rita . would get a ruff and discard, and if not, she would have to play away from the ♥K awarding a trick to North’s ♥Q! CHESS 9 * ; : Th1 T 91 f rf U tT 3 N 9TUT tr _ T T9 l5 IT T 1 04110835 Draft Yoke 12110339 Carbon Brush for R.C.Fan 04115011 04110065 14110192 04110456 203MM Air Brake Cylinder Collar for Direct Mounted Roller Bearing Pig Iron Two Piece Glass Shutter 02/8/11 02/8/11 0 3 11 3/ 1 BRIDGE (AGovernment of Karnataka Enterprise) Office of the Executive Engineer , KNNL SLI, Divn. No. 1, — — KNNL, Mundargi.582118, Gadag Dist. ‘ 08371-262174 5 304 f PT5 i nn i. 1 ai Tt r wi 6.82 200 03/8/11 03/8/11 f ii i f 13640 i o3/a/ii 04/8/11 04/3/11 i 4 18.072011 19.07.2011 i 4 04110817 Foot Plate Arrangement for Vestibule i Ii.t 13110779iEe1 i i II , Gasket kit for Cylinder Liner 04/9/11 05/8/11 _________ 17 18 19 20 21 2 6.49 200 12980 18.07.2011 19.07.2011 44110195 Grease Seal forCTRB 13110406 Valve SeataInsert (WelItite) 45 degree : ’rUTI i 28110158 Miniature Circuit Breaker, 30 Amps 04110103 Hanger Block for Bolster Suspension 1610s306 Fork Lift Truck Capacity 2 Ton 05/3/11 05/8/1 1 05/B/i l 05/3/1 1 3 15.34 200 30680 1 18.07.2011 19.07.2011 2) 1 Manual Tender. TENDERI L• iL 1 ThL ’Ii NOTICE No.16/2011 !flh tt i4 I ‘] Sealed Tenders are invited for the following to reach the Controller of Stores, Southern Railway, Ayanavaram, Chennai — — 023 by the dates shown against 600 each. Completed Tender documents will be received upto 14.00 hrs of the due date and will be opened at 14.30 hrs on the same day. For full description and specification please refer to the tender document available in the website under the link http:I/www.sr.indianrailway. ov.in :r Description . r rt : Briefi Due Date SL.No. Tender No. 1 04080266 Brake Beam Without Bush 4 72.44 200 144880 1 18.07.2011 19.07.2011 08/8/11 5 T9 f i 9 — i i i) 11.09 200 22180 1 18.07.2011 19.07.2011 This site permits downloading of tender documents. The indenting tenderers may visit this site and down load the tender document. While submitting the completed tender documents, they should attach a Demand Draft drawn in favour of ‘ . ., i.’’ .: . ’ : Y the : “Chief Cashier , Southern Railway ” payable at Chennai, towards L . cost of tender document. 6 7 I 16.64 1.20 200 100 33280 1 1 18.07.2011 19.07.2011 18.07.2011 19.07. 2011 3) Corrigendum to Dy.CMM/CN/MS Tender Notice No-E-28/201 1 I _1 Existing S.No. Tender No. Duei-: on Read as 1 I 82118539 I F .)iA I 11/07/11 2400 1 11 Duc on -11107/11 Oty :- 22,000 kms Due on - 01/0Wl 1 Oty : 40,000 kms No.EE/KNNLJSLIS/Dn-1/TS-1/Tender/LBMC/ 2011-12/246 Date:28/O6/201 SHORT -TERM T E N D E R NOTIFICATION (ONLY T H R O U G H “e-Procurement” SYSTEM) Tenders in Electronic mode on “ PERCENTAGE BASIS” are invited on behalf of the Managing Director, K N N L , Bangalore , by the Executive Engineer, K N N L , SLIS Division No.1 , Mundaragi , Gadag District in Iwe cover systom(cover land cover lfl. from the Category-I & II contractors/ firm/company enrolled under KNNL of Karnataka State who fulfill the qualifying conditions , for the works mentioned below. The blank tender documents for the following works can be downloaded from the website www.eproc.karnataka.ciov.in and can be submitted through electronic tender only. 1) Package 1: Earthwork Excavation , CC lining (using mechanical paver), including CD works for construction of LBMC FIRST REACH FROM Km 0.00 to 7.00 Km under singatalur LIS.Amount put to tender: 2136.47 lakhs, EMD: 21.37 Lakhs , Stipulated penod of completion including monsoon.: 09 months Category- I contractors enrolled under KNNL 2) Package 2: Earthwork Excavation , CC l i n i n g ( u s i n g m e c h a n i c a l paver), i n c l u d i n g CD works for construction of LBMC F I R S T R E A C H FROM Km 9.00 to 14.50 Km under singatalur LIS Amount put to tender: 1395.05 Lakhs , EMD: 13.95 Lakhs , Stipulated period of completion including monsoon.: 09 months Category- II and above contractors enrolled under KNNL Calendar of Events (a) The Contractor can have access to the e-tender document, i.e. the Tender schedules , bid documents and other documents in the web site www.eproc.karnataka.gov ,in on payment of transaction fee (non- refundable) from : 08/0712011 (b) The Last date of Submission of completed tender documents (cover- I and cover- II) : 16107/2011 Up to 17-00 hrs (C) Date of Opening of Technical Bid (Cover—I) : 19/07/2011 At 11-00 AM (d) The Financial bid of pre-qualified Contractors will be opened on i.e., Cover II. 21/07/2011 At 11-00 AM (e) The last date of submission of originals for verification at Executive Engineer, Singatalur Lift Irrigation Division No.1, Mundaragi , only, failing which tenders of such tender will be rejected. : 18/07/2011 Between 11-OOAM to 4-OOPM Executive Engineer , Singata lur Lift Irrigation Division No.1 , Mundaragi , Gadag District during office hours. Sd!- Executive Engineer , K N N L , SLIS Division No. 1, Mundaragi , Gadag Dist, Further information can be h a d f r o m t h e O f f i c e of t h e Controller of Stores i11T fp T 13I : ett e1I l , 2743190 SERVING CUSTOMERS WITH A ASMILE www.demicoma.com
[email protected] 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY Food is our common ground. JAMES BEARD, American chef OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI MONDAY, JULY 4, 2011 I The Emperor’s New Clothes The BCCI is undisputed ruler of the cricket world, but is it doing enough to justify its power? Ayaz Memon The Right Menu Private investment can help us beat food crises f we needed further proof of the pernicious social consequences of persisting inflation, a recent study by Crisil provides it. It says soaring inflation cost Indian households an added burden of Rs 5.8 lakh crore over the last three fiscal years. And it’s primarily owing to food inflation that annual private consumption spending grew to almost 17% during this time from 14% earlier. Spending mainly on eatables, low-income groups – with little or no disposable income – have been hardest hit by scorching food prices. Yet, there’s marked official apathy vis-a-vis the broader structural problems food inflation highlights. Take the fact that a bumper wheat harvest should normally bring cheer. But courtesy official unpreparedness compounded by export bans, illequipped granaries are stretched beyond capacity Foodgrain stocks exceed . the manageable amount for warehouses countrywide. In some FCI godowns, wheat is being kept out in the open because covered facilities have been full up thanks to non-clearance of grain. And due to faulty business-unfriendly , policies, not enough private capital has flowed towards building modern silos and storage. We’re in an anomalous situation: a ‘problem of plenty’ now coexists with a psychology of want linked to high food costs. The case with fruits and vegetables is similar. Courtesy inadequate cold chains, nearly 40% goes waste annually even as shop prices of onions or apples soar. Given food prices are a major inflationary trigger, supply side issues must be tackled urgently That means embracing agricultural . reform in all its aspects: productivity marketing , and distribution. Only then can we access the multifarious benefits of creating infrastructure, raising output and introducing effective delivery systems that’ll supplement – or even replace – the PDS from where subsidised foodgrain routinely rots or gets siphoned off. In this context, there’s been a reassuring signal recently that the government plans to liberalise multibrand retail. Greater private investment will help build capacity Plus it’ll . strike a blow against predatory middlemen in the supply chain who eat into farmers’ incomes while inflating retail prices. Private funds are critical to farming’s overall modernisation, whether for innovating with water-efficient irrigation, promoting research in agricultural inputs and transgenic crops or boosting agri-processing. In view of unviable farm sizes across India, we must incentivise cooperatives and contract farming. Where supply is concerned, let’s lift barriers on transport and marketing of commodities. Our antediluvian mandi system enriches commission agents, not growers who need direct, competitive access to processors and sellers. Finally let’s move away from corrupt, unwieldy , bureaucracies handing distribution towards well-targeted, personalised instruments like food coupons or cash transfers. That’ll better ensure food gets to the needy even while giving them a sense of agency and greater choice. I n 1975, when the first cricket World Cup was played, winners West Indies got £4,000. In 2011, 36 years later, the winning team India earned $3 million. Even taking inflation into account, that is a staggering increase. Embedded in this is the fascinating story of how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s influence over cricket has substantially changed the game. India’s victory in the 1983 World Cup was a watershed moment in cricket history In. terest in the game surged, the arrival of colour television gave it further boost, and from 1991 when the country opened up to economic liberalisation, India went on to become an indomitable force in world cricket. The ‘India Factor’ is crucial in understanding cricket’s present and where and how it is headed in the future. With a billionstrong fanatical following spread across all continents, India provides almost 70% of the eyeballs for television viewership and 75% of the game’s finances. That is not something to be pooh-poohed. Telecast rights for Indian cricket (including tournaments like the Indian Premier League) run into a couple of billion dollars. A vibrant economy coupled with shrewd (some argue Shylockian) sense of business by the BCCI means that Indian cricket is expected to grow bigger and richer. This pronounced skew holds both threat and salvation for the game. Other cricket establishments – even the International I Cricket Council (ICC) – are often at odds with the BCCI on issues major and minor. Yet, there is no gainsaying the fact that without the financial wherewithal provided by Indian cricket, it would be a struggle for the sport to survive. But is this current dispensation being openly challenged today? Is the simmering discontent over India’s money power and clout threatening to reach boiling point? At the recently concluded ICC meeting in Hong Kong, even traditional allies like Pakistan took issue with India over the extended term for the ICC chief which BCCI had proposed. The other major ally Sri Lanka, is palpably upset , The three wise men they are not Allegations that India is failing to take a leadership role are partially true. In some cases, pique and ego have taken precedence over professional and dispassionate thought over the BCCI’s decision not to allow Indian players to take part in the proposed Sri Lanka Premier League. Stories of bullying by India are getting louder and they are no longer confined to the usual suspects of England and Australia. The BCCI has long been accused of arrogance, but there cannot be any doubt that the Indian cricket board has given cricket a tremendous boost which has benefited everyone. It is all too easily inferred that the BCCI is content to make money and play spoiler, but history shows otherwise too. Indeed, had India not challenged the status quo in the wake of the 1983 victory, the World Cups may still have been the preserve of England. The BCCI – along with ally Pakistan – had to fight tooth and nail to get the tournament to the subcontinent first, and by rotation, everywhere in the cricket world. But with power also comes responsibility and here it is , possible to raise serious questions about the BCCI’s investment in the future of the game. The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), which has been cleared in the recent ICC meeting albeit in a watered-down version, affords a test case of the BCCI’s stubbornness and pettiness. The steadfast refusal to agree to using technology to augment umpiring decisions in spite of all other countries, 90% of all players and 90% of Indian players being in favour it appears to have been sheer ego, bolstered perhaps by the views of a few top Indian cricketers. Since the BCCI and its players simultaneously complained about umpiring decisions and some particular umpires, the resistance to technology was contradictory My . contention is that the issue is not so much technology as conformity and consistency . Imagine a school classroom in which every other student adheres to the norms laid down about uniforms, but one student won’t comply because her parents are major donors for the school! To insist on foolproof technology is specious logic, for technology is always in a state of imperfection. It is also true that it gets refined and become cheaper with time. Indeed, accepting the UDRS should have been a no-brainer while perhaps more discussion was needed on subjects like no runners for batsmen or more than two new balls per innings, which are fundamental to the structure of the game. These were accepted without ado by the BCCI. To say that the BCCI has provided no virtue to cricket is not only hackneyed but untrue. However, allegations that India is failing to take a leadership role in the future of the game are partially true. At least in some cases, pique and ego have taken precedence over professional and dispassionate thought. The relationship between politics and sport is hardly new or unusual and the journey of the Olympic Games since their revival from ancient Greek times is testament to that. Otherwise friendly governments have confronted each other for the right to hold the world’s biggest tournament. Football and the shenanigans of its governing body provide enough fodder for everyone from the press rooms to Parliament. But it is also true that trends and influences are cyclical and there is little to suggest that today’s emperor may not be tomorrow’s flunky . Where cricket is concerned, England and Australia will testify to this. In which case, it is even more imperative that the BCCI take its nose out of its money bags and pay greater attention to the legacy it will leave behind. The writer is a sports columnist and commentator. ‘Biofuels can be used on all aircraft and engines don’t need to be modified’ The aviation industry is increasingly turning to biofuels. With airlines facing the looming deadline of 2020 for carbon neutral growth, time is at a premium. Paul Nash, the head of New Energies at the Toulousebased Airbus Industrie, spoke to Shobha John about how all stakeholders should join hands in the race to find new raw materials to combat the negative effects of expensive fossil fuels: I Why should airlines go in for biofuels? They should because targets have been set and these have to be met within the next nine years. Though aviation is responsible for just 2% of the world’s carbon emissions, the market is growing annually at 4%. So it’s important to curb these emissions. As part of new innovations, we also need to look into product improvement of aircraft, air traffic management and economic measures to bring in new fuels. I Which is better – biofuels or fossil fuels like petrol – in terms of price and performance? It all depends on where the biofuel is being made and its availability. Presently, biofuels cost four times that of fossil fuels, but if production is speeded up, within 5-6 years, both will cost the same. Its advantages are huge. If the whole of Belgium is covered with algae, the biofuel from it can feed the whole world, whereas if all of France is covered with sunflowers, you will get just enough oil to fly French commercial planes. Different solutions work for different countries. For example, in the US, biofuels such as algae and camelina are plentiful, whereas in Brazil, jatropha works better. I What is India’s potential? fuel (ATF) in India makes it imperative to have alternate fuels. I How is Airbus helping in the promotion of alternate fuels? We are acting as catalysts and communicators to bring together all stakeholders – airports, airlines, refineries and the farming community – to increase the potential of this value chain. We have six chains presently In Brazil, we are . working with TAM Airlines and a refinery set up there is expected to produce 80,000 tonnes of biofuel by 2013. In Mexico, 20% of ATF should be biofuel by 2015, while in the Middle East, we are in collaboration with Qatar Airways where a plant is being built to feed algae with CO2 from petroleum products. Plus, there are value chains in Germany Iberia , and Romania. We hope to have one in every continent, and in India too. I am in India to study I Tarnished Gold Doping problem comes home to roost A midst the debris of a Commonwealth Games plagued by one scandal after another, the Indian athletes’ performances were exhilaratingly redemptive. That is what makes the ongoing doping scandal even more infuriating, with the web of excuses and accusations growing more convoluted by the day Mandeep Kaur, one of the golden quartet that won the 4x400 relay . , and Juana Murmu blame the Athletics Federation of India for not providing personal doctors. The head of the Indian Olympic Association has slammed the Sports Authority of India and questioned the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)’s tardiness. NADA has done plenty of chest-thumping about getting more proactive. But this is not an issue any panel set up to probe this particular instance of six athletes caught using banned substances can resolve. The rot runs too deep for that. The refrain from former athletes over the past few days has been that this is nothing new as doping has been rampant at every level since the 1980s. The difference now is merely that with the establishment of NADA two years ago, such cases are being exposed more often rather than being brushed under the carpet as they were earlier. And so we have 122 positive cases reported in the previous 11-month period, particularly in weightlifting where it is endemic. Coaches and officials must shoulder a large part of the blame; they often act as enablers. The athletes are not blameless either. Ignorance is not an excuse that will wash at this level of competition. The question now is where to from here? Perhaps a probe committee that investigates not just this incident but the entire decayed edifice of sports governance in India can deliver some results. Q&A Oil refineries in India have biotechnology and can produce biofuels. Already the US depart, ment of defence is using biofuels. India is in an advantageous position – it has large wastelands where jatropha, algae, pongamia and neem can be planted for biofuels, good refinery capabilities and research institutes and one of the fastest growing aviation markets. Besides, the high cost of aviation turbine the feasibility of this idea. I How soon can we have flights on biofuels? We are working with Lufthansa in this regard and if we get approvals, we hope to have the first commercial flight with biofuel by September. It will be on an Airbus 321 plane with passengers flying between Hamburg and Frankfurt with one engine on fossil fuel and the other on biofuel. The aromatic property in the former prevents fuel leaks. These flights will take place for six months. Incidentally biofuels can be , used on all aircraft and engines don’t need to be modified. I In the race for alternate fuels, who is ahead – Airbus or Boeing? We are not competitors here. Different airlines have different planes of both companies. Instead, we’re working together to support and supply this value chain. POWER POINT S WA G AT O & N I N A N E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Call waiting When phones were out of order or out of reach Jagmohan Chopra Force multipliers With reference to the article ‘A Need To Be Fighting Fit’ (June 30) by Prakash Singh, the Central Police Organisation (CPO) finds it difficult to meet the Maoist challenge courtesy lack of training and motivation. The forces need a coordinated strategy but morale is wanting because their leaders do not completely identify with their men. CPO units are mostly deployed in companies, with little focus on section-level tactics. So they lack cohesion while standards of weapons training and camouflage need improvement. Why blame politicians for this? CPO director generals must train their men well, so they don’t walk into ambushes. Casualties could have been reduced had operations followed adequate operational planning. While state police must provide actionable intelligence, calculated risks have to be taken by commanders at all levels. State administrations may provide support but the battle has to be won by units on ground. Lt Gen Dr Mohan Bhandari, RANIKHET elephone FREE for customers”. Getting my car refuelled at a petrol pump in Delhi, i was pleasantly surprised to see this notice dangling over a solitary telephone. What a change from the times we had to beg people to let us use their telephone! Thanks to the initiative taken by the powers-that-be, we can now talk to who we want, from where we want. In the 1960s, getting a telephone was like winning a lottery – like getting an LPG connection or a Fiat car. If you happened to own all three, it was time to announce your ‘arrival’ on the urban scene. While getting a telephone was easy for those in the government and professionals like doctors and lawyers, those in the ‘general’ category had to wait years before they could lay their hands on this wonderful communications aid. Getting a telephone those days was not easy. It involved standing in a queue to submit your application, keeping the receipt in safe custody, waiting for the telephone department’s letter saying your turn had come, a visit by the linesman to assess the ‘technical feasibility’ of installing the phone, the instrument’s arrival and, finally that all-important call from the telephone , department telling you that your phone had been ‘charged’. If getting a telephone those days was difficult, managing it was more so, with most homes, shops and offices preferring to keep it under lock and key Some even went to the extent of inscribing the words “Rs 3 per call” or . “Telephone ki izazat maang kar sharminda na karen” (Don’t embarrass us by asking for permission to use the telephone!) on the box the phone was kept in. This was also the period when the telephone operator’s importance in offices was at its peak. Everyone sought to keep her in a good mood, for only she could ‘connect’ you. Being in insurance, my father was responsible for managing a sales force spread across many cities. He would get up early and book a number of ‘ordinary’, ‘urgent’ and ‘lightning calls’, depending on how important the matter was. Those days, calls booked early were cheap and the chances of getting them through were better. But, on a good day only one-third of the calls would materialise, , one-third would be interrupted or cut short, while the rest had to be cancelled because the lines were ‘down’. What’s more, international calls could take as many as three days to come through! No sooner did we get a telephone, our neighbours made a beeline for our house to congratulate my father and ask him if he’d be kind enough to give them the number. “No, no, we don’t intend to make calls. We need it only for emergencies,” said one neighbour. Two days later, i received a call from a boy not more than six years of age. “Bunty hai?” “Bunty kaun Bunty?” said , i. “Bunty”, he explained in Hindi, “Bunty” who lived opposite our house and was “Billu’s younger brother and Mr Mehra’s son”. “Is it urgent?” i asked. “Ji, i need to ask him about my homework!” It didn’t take much time for the telephone to become a bone of contention not only between our neighbours and us, but also between my brother and i. He didn’t mind and, in fact, encouraged use of the phone by our neighbour’s daughter for obvious reasons. I didn’t like it: it prevented me from chit-chatting with my friends. This cold war went on for some time till i noticed that the phone’s junction box lay in another room. So, whenever i saw the damsel walk towards our house, i pulled the wire out of the box, and announced: “Phone out of order.” It took my brother 15 years to discover what had stopped our pretty neighbour from coming over. “T I SACRED S PAC E I A World Of Second Bests that, the realisation would have given her contentment and a tension-free life. This princcording to religious tradition, God ciple applies not only to individuals but also created the human being and settled to nations. The best formula of life is: Try try by all , him in paradise. But after some time, man committed a grave error and was sent means to achieve the very best, but when you feel that you can only get the second down to earth. . In the beginning, God wanted to settle the best then accept it gracefully Because if you whole of the human race in paradise, but after remain in denial, and try to achieve the acme we sinned, God changed His plan. Thereafter, of perfection, that will only land you in a only selected individuals would be allowed worse predicament. The same applies to nations. This is a to enter paradise. According to this story of creation, we lost our initial advantage and competitive world and this could be a formidsince then only the second best has been able obstacle to everyone getting the very available to us. This story shows us the right best in life. In such a situation, the only safe option is to accept the second best. When you direction for our lives. try to have the very best, then you are The human being is an idealistic compelled to engage in continuous creature by birth. Everyone tries to confrontation. The only risk-free find his ideal goal, one that is the very option is to accept the second best. best for him. But it is a fact that no one So be a realist. If you try to get the succeeds in doing so. If this is the very best, it means your approach case, what should we do? The only is unrealistic, but if you accept the course open for all men and women second best, it means that you have is to accept the second best as the THE opted for a realistic approach. And only available choice. This is the only way to have a tension-free life I SPEAKING I in this world of competition only a realistic approach can save you in this world. TREE from disaster. If you are not ready to accept In short, the very best might be unachievathe second best and you would prefer to keep straining for the ideal, the result could well turn ble, while the second best is always within out to be disastrous. For example, a certain lady your reach. It is a fact that everyone is an , who was working in a multinational company idealist by birth, but you have to rein in your , failed to get promoted for some reason. She fell idealism and be content with the second best. , into a state of deep frustration and ultimately As a matter of practicality there is no other committed suicide. There are many such cases option for you in this world. This is the story of our lives: We tend to of people failing to find what they think is optimal, and then they become deeply depressed. lose whatever is second best on account of just This kind of depression is due perhaps to one reason, and that is, our futile pursuit of a lack of awareness of the law of nature. If the the very best. Follow the Maulana on our website. lady in question, for instance, had been aware www.speakingtree.in that according to the law of nature, only the second best was attainable for her and that Join the world’s first spiritual networking site she (or others like her) had already achieved to interact directly with masters and seekers. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Passion: Good Servant, Bad Master Irrigators lead the waters. Fletchers bend the shafts. Carpenters bend wood. The virtuous control themselves. Dhammapada With the conquest of my mind, I have conquered the whole world. Adi Granth, Japuji Fight with yourself; why fight with external foes? He who overcomes himself through himself will obtain happiness... Difficult to overcome is oneself; but when that is overcome, everything is conquered. Uttaradhyayana Sutra If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. Benjamin Franklin Love is often gentle, desire always a rage. Mignon McLaughlin It is with our passions as it is with fire and water; they are good servants, but bad masters. Roger L’Estrange, Aesop’s Fables A Lead from the front With reference to the editorial ‘All In It Together’ (July 1), given Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s personal image, his assertions while interacting with the media should indeed be considered sympathetically. Nor can we deny his take on the opposition’s dilatory stand on many national issues, which deserves censure. But while it is true that issues such as the Lokpal, inflation, land acquisition and broader economic reforms need to be focussed on urgently, it’s the PM’s responsibility to lead from the front. In that sense, the onus to break gridlocks lies more on him than the opposition. The nation looks towards him for such leadership. Ved Guliani, HISAR Injurious to batsmen With reference to the Times View/Counterview (July 2), ICC’s decision to do away with substitute runners for batsmen is baffling. Citing improved fitness levels as a parameter to disallow runners altogether robs batsmen of assistance in genuine cases of injury while batting. Also, with greater use of technology, it is difficult nowadays to fake an injury. Unless a batsman is seriously handicapped, he will not request a runner since that is bound to affect his footwork, so vital for long duration batting. With ICC’s new rule, batsmen will suffer. Sunil Gavaskar is right in pointing out that fielders and bowlers will get an unfair advantage. M V Krishna, VIA EMAIL We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 14 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2011 Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist. EDMUND BURKE, British political writer An Arab Summer The struggle against old structures of power in the Middle East is far from over Rudroneel Ghosh New Meeting Ground The Lokpal summit reflects civil society’s power – and a political vacuum T he recent all-party meeting discussing the upcoming Lokpal Bill ended on agreement – and argument. The assembled groups agreed in principle on the institution of a strong anti-corruption Lokpal, the Bill towards this to be introduced in Parliament’s monsoon session. The abiding irony is that while most political parties took swipes at civil society for agitating on the issue, had it not been for civil society agitation it would have remained on the back burner, as it was for the last 42 years when left to the political class. The very fact that political parties are meeting now to address an urgent issue is a tribute to civil society activism. In that sense, what an out-of-touch political class has failed to grasp so far is that public opinion has been increasingly disturbed over corruption, the current season of scams – Commonwealth Games to 2G to Adarsh – being the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The rise of civil society activism reflects the depths of public feeling – and the political vacuum around the issue. Gurudas Dasgupta of the CPI is an honourable exception to this blind spot among politicians. He stated that civil society and media should both be commended for challenging corruption. By contrast the RJD and SP – parties that have been associated with headline-hitting corruption – were also the most vituperative in condemning civil society activism. It certainly looks as if they have something to hide. Overall, it’s welcome that corruption is much higher on the political agenda than before. While the prime minister provided some direction regarding the Lokpal fitting into the matrix of constitutional checks and balances, the BJP refused to specify its exact stand on issues like MPs in Parliament and the PM being under the Lokpal’s purview, reserving insights for the House. The sleight of hand was heavy enough to escape none. The BJP should note it’s not gathering fans as it tries capitalising on the Congress’s discomfort without clarifying its own position – or cleaning up its act in Karnataka. Now that a debate has been started it’s important that considerable attention be devoted to the systemic causes of corruption and generation of unaccounted incomes. This is an element that has been missing from past debates on corruption. Unless we talk about how high stamp duties and a distorted land market incentivise sleaze in real estate – to take just one example – even a duly empowered Lokpal will not be a panacea. It’s going to be a long battle. Civil society must also display the patience to stay engaged. Corruption, after all, is too important an issue to be left to the politicians alone. he Arab world finds itself at a significant crossroads. While the wave of pro-democracy protests witnessed over the last six months has shaken up regimes from Bahrain to Syria, the Arab Spring has slowly turned into a sapping Arab Summer. With the initial momentum ebbing, confusion and uncertainty are setting in. Libya continues to be in the clutches of civil war. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to fight till “death and beyond” and even threatened attacks on Europe. Nato air raids might have weakened Gaddafi’s forces, but he still holds a significant military advantage over the rebels in the country’s east. Gaddafi always predicted that it would be the east, the bastion of the rival Senussi movement, which would rise up first in case of a revolt. Despite rich deposits of oil, the region was deliberately denied the fruits of development. Given Nato and US reluctance to put troops on the ground, a stalemate has set in. The rebels have offered Gaddafi sanctuary within Libya if he chooses to relinquish all powers. However, it is difficult to see Gaddafi retire to a quiet life and not exert any political influence. In Syria, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is unwilling to give any quarter. Around 1,400 people have been killed by government security forces since the protests began more than three months ago. While the pro-democracy demonstrations have been largely secular, the undercurrent of sectarian strife is T strong. The ruling Assad family and the military leadership are Alawites, who make up roughly 11% of the Syrian population but control the lion’s share of the country’s resources. The rest of the country is predominantly Sunni Muslim. The possibility of Syria descending into open sectarian conflict in the days ahead cannot be ruled out. In Yemen, an attack on the presidential palace last month forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh to retreat to Saudi Arabia to seek medical recuperation. This followed Saleh’s reluctance to sign on to a transition deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council. His regime is even being A rally in Casablanca, Morocco: Saying yes to constitutional reform Transition to genuine democracy was never going to be easy. For years the West preferred to deal with autocratic strongmen instead of coming to terms with the region’s sociopolitical complexities blamed for using the bogey of alQaida to hold on to power. The recent takeover of at least two southern Yemeni towns by alQaida-affiliated militants is said to have been facilitated by the Saleh administration to raise concerns of terrorism in the West. At the other end of the scale are Tunisia and Egypt: countries that did manage to overthrow authoritarian regimes. Yet, genuine democracy remains a shimmering mirage in the distance. In Tunisia Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the largest political party al-Nahda, has already warned that the gains of the revolution risk being frittered away . As the country that gave birth to the Jasmine Revolution that set off the Arab Spring, it is disappointing that elections to the constituent assembly – which will be tasked with drafting a new Constitution – have been postponed from July to October. If the Commission for the Achievement of the Objectives of the Revolution and Democratic Transition isn’t careful, the political vacuum could provide breathing space to the vestiges of the Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali regime to regroup and attempt a comeback. In Egypt, the historic March 19 referendum that provided a framework for parliamentary elections in September followed by presidential polls in November has been lost in the debate over Constitution writing versus elections. The aftermath of the revolution has seen a mushrooming of political parties. Yet the most organised political formation remains that of the Muslim Brotherhood. Many of the new secular parties argue they need time to organise themselves. They insist on a new Constitution first to safeguard against a scenario where Islamists come to dominate the new parliament. On the other hand, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces overseeing the process of transition has itself been accused of high-handedness, illegal detentions and curbing press freedoms since the exit of Hosni Mubarak as president. It is telling that the Egyptian youth, the backbone of the pro-democracy protests in February, are calling for a return to Tahrir Square to save the revolution. But there is some positive news. Despite the chaos in its neighbourhood, Morocco and its monarch, King Mohammed VI, have pushed ahead with constitutional reforms that seek to enhance democratic institutions. On June 17, the king proclaimed a new draft Constitution, which envisaged a modern constitutional monarchy based on the principles of pluralism, equality and commitment to international conventions. The draft charter was put to a nationwide referendum on July 1. Around 98% of the vote endorsed the reforms, paving the way for separation of powers, an independent judiciary, greater prerogatives to parliament and devolution of powers to regional councils and local governance bodies. In seeking to guarantee rights such as that of freedom of the press, assembly, access to information and human rights, Morocco has stolen a march over other Arab nations in the throes of transition. Though the king still retains significant influence and a lot will depend on the implementation of the new Constitution, developments in Morocco are encouraging. At the very least, the process of democratic engagement and discourse there can be a model for the rest of the Arab nations. Transition to genuine democracy was never going to be easy. For years the West preferred to deal with autocratic strongmen instead of coming to terms with the region’s socio-political complexities. Democracy was an inconvenience and, hence, subverted. But faced with pressure from the grassroots, the old structures of power are no longer tenable. They must reform or perish. Bullet trains to link Delhi and satellite towns proposed Boost for urban development t would be unfair and pessimistic to scoff at the proposed bullet train project linking Delhi to towns around the National Capital Region. While the project is an ambitious one, there is no reason to doubt its fruition. The Delhi Metro bears testimony to the success of rapid mass transportation projects if they are implemented in the right manner. It is welcome that the proposed high-speed rail corridors – Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Alwar – will be implemented along the lines I T I of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. This should free the project from bureaucratic red tape and reduce delays. Once operational, the project would yield massive economic benefits for the entire region. Given the demographic pressures on Delhi, it is impossible for the city’s current infrastructure to sustain such a large resident population – estimated at around 1.5 crore. Urban planning demands a hub and spoke model of transporting goods and people quickly between Delhi and surrounding areas. Just as in China and Japan, fast bullet trains can reduce the travelling time by half. This way Delhi could continue to be Unrealistic, expensive solution transportation systems, particularly Indian Railways. It hardly makes sense to pump Rs 17,63,545 million for creating dedicated bullet train corridors when most of our existing rail networks lack automatic signalling systems. These could enhance rail safety and save many precious lives lost in fatal accidents. In that sense, building high-speed bullet trains in India is not only expensive but disruptive for other I COUNTERVIEW I transport modes. It will divert national resources Jay Kumar ing the country’s trans- and focus. Besides, the project will portation system. invariably require acquisition of land, These bullet trains as separate tracks will have to be built. speeding at 300kph and Again, to draw lessons from Chinese running between major cities may appear experience, the platforms for these trains great for business executives. But can they are built outside the city which has created solve the problems and challenges faced by its own set of accessibility problems for an ordinary commuter in a realistic and passengers. If the idea is to cut travel time, affordable manner? Worse, they smack of surely passengers will have to spend extra an urban bias against rural India. time getting into a city from its suburbs – Rather than high-speed bullet trains, making it all rather pointless. Rather than the answer to the travelling woes of mil- blindly aping foreign travel modes, our lions of Indians lies in improving the effi- authorities would do well to come up with ciency and management of the existing realistic and affordable solutions. Time To Heal Thai elections can help reconciliation ive years after Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted, his sister’s victory at the hustings presents the best opportunity yet to bridge Thailand’s political and socio-economic fissures that were highlighted when savage fighting broke out between opposing political factions on Bangkok’s streets last year. The margin by which Yingluck Shinawatra has swept the polls should go some way towards bridging the distance between the yellow shirts and Thaksin’s supporters – the red shirts. It will impart legitimacy to the government that comes to power now, one that would be difficult to counter through military or constitutional coups and therefore reduce the temptation to do so. Hopefully Thailand’s , soon-to-be first woman prime minister will find the political space to bring about a democratic stability that had been severely eroded in the last five years. She will have to move carefully however. Hasty attempts to sweep the , corruption charges against her brother under the carpet and rehabilitate him politically could revitalise the yellow shirts. For the moment, her focus must be on the reconciliation she promised on the campaign trail. The bitter enmity between the urban elite – represented by the yellow shirts – and the less privileged, mainly rural supporters of the red shirts has created divisions that will take an extended period of stable, effective governance and sound economic policies to bridge. The strength of her mandate and the fact that she is a fresh face with no involvement in the troubles of the past few years as baggage have given her a solid base. Now, she must build upon it. I F the regional economic hub with the satellite towns easing pressure on the city. Also, such a virtuous link would distribute the fruits of development to the outlying region. Just as the construction of an expressway stimulates economic activities along the route, the bullet train links could spawn prosperous industrial corridors. Another area where T he urban development ministry’s bid to introduce high-speed bullet trains is a vision that the government does not have the capability of realising. Under the pretext of providing a 21st-century travel mode to a growing and resurgent India, the ministry has skilfully evaded some of the fundamental issues plagu- M E S V I E WI bullet trains score is environment. Research has shown that highspeed rail travel emits a fraction of the greenhouse gases emitted per capita in other modes of travel over the same distance. The number is as low as one-tenth when compared to air travel. For Delhi itself, the construction of state-ofthe-art bullet train stations would help integrate the other modes of travel, moving towards a quality multi-modal public transportation network. Taken together, the bullet trains would be a massive boon. SNAP JUDGMENT A New Trinity God’s Own Plenty reasure hunts just acquired divine meaning. Immense riches have been found at Thiruvananthapuram’s Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, their reported worth so far at Rs 1 lakh crore bigger than the size of Kerala’s public debt! Some antiques and 18th century coins have great historical value. Clearly, our places of worship are worth their weight in gold. Now the authorities must ensure the gold – and more – is properly safeguarded. I Go Fida Occupational hazards Pensioners can always count on one job Raghu Krishnan N G uess what’s the most common pastime for senior citizens in the pensioner’s paradise of Bangalore or elsewhere? After hanging up their organisational boots and ties, senior citizens usually end up as members of the managing committee of the apartment owners’ association where they stay Demand is always more than supply since not too many . people are willing to take on a responsibility where there are no real perks barring the smart salute which the security guards throw at managing committee members at the drop of a hat. However, even that might not compensate for the irritation of being treated like a 24X7 Wailing Wall where all the neighbourhood grievances can be dumped. More often than not, pensioners end up on these committees since they can no longer offer the excuse of working all hours of the day and night to meet organisational deadlines. There is no shortage of grievances, real or imaginary in the world we , live in. For instance, the apartment signboards may say ‘Pets not allowed’, but there is always someone who thinks she is the exception to the rule. Even well-behaved dogs who do their small and big jobs on the public highway outside the apartment complex’s gates, tend to assume territorial rights on the way back home and growl at all those they think are intruding on their living space. Fortunately pet in the Indian context usually means dog. , Apartment owners in the world’s most populous democracy have yet to acquire the attitude of their American counterparts, some of whom have been known to rear lion and tiger cubs, and sometimes even the more alliterative alligator. At least with dogs and pups, there is scope for specific complaints since it does not take a Sherlock Holmes to deduce that they belong to the twofooted person at the other end of the chain. Whereas kittens tend to relieve themselves in the wee hours of the morning on the doormats outside all apartments except those where they are fed, and their guardians promptly disclaim all responsibility for wards who do not seem to know the difference between a newspaper and toilet paper. At one annual general body meeting of a Bangalore apartment block, a covert kitten-carer maintained that he was as much a victim as anyone else and even went to the extent of stating that the cat was once again pregnant and that he had nothing to do with it. The security guards of this apartment block have now been asked to shoo away not just stray dogs but cats as well, and the committee members have been asked to ensure that this diktat is followed. With cats surreptitiously entering the apartment premises not by the front gate but by the garden walls, even Spiderman would find it difficult to pre-empt their entry despite his conscientious credo of ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. And even those who are willing to do their bit for the immediate world they live in soon realise that not all managing committee members of apartment owners’ associations are equal. Some are more equal than others, especially if they are men. In the male-dominated associations of even 21st-century India, the key posts of president, secretary and treasurer are invariably held by men. The female committee members end up looking after the common garden or organising activities for the residents’ children. India may have had a woman PM but the apartment block i live in is yet to get its first female president. Of course, the other way of looking at it is that some kind of occupational therapy is more necessary for male senior citizens than for their female counterparts. ‘‘When men reach their sixties and retire, they go to pieces. Women go right on cooking,’’ says Gail Sheehy in her 1974 best-seller Passages which has been called a roadmap to adult life. ovak Djokovic did more than win the most coveted Grand Slam title of them all when he brushed aside Rafael Nadal in four sets. He took the final step needed to deliver what he has promised through his performance this past year – an end to half-a-decade of men’s tennis being completely dominated by the Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry. It’s a trinity at the top now. T H ollywood’s gone fida over India. A Sanskrit scholar’s daughter, Uma Thurman is eyeing Bollywood. And practising Hindu Julia Roberts says her children adore India. In 2009, she came here to shoot for the film, Eat, Pray, Love. Today, Roberts and her family visit temples to “chant, pray and celebrate”! Why doesn’t a desi filmmaker make a movie called India, Meri Jaan? Imagine the star cast he can line up. I SACRED S PAC E I Surrendering To Puri Jagannath E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Journalist’s Dharma Newspapers are meant for dharma. And for the purpose of protecting dharma we have to live our dharma. Mata Amritanandamayi Media plays a very important role in upholding human rights. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar If you are a Buddhist journalist, you would ask: Does my story help overcome individual and social suffering? …Can a new global journalism of healing be practised that embraces timely truthful and help, ful speech, and avoids the five destructive modes? The McGill Report The press and politicians. A delicate relationship. Too close, and danger ensues. Too far apart and democracy itself cannot function without the essential exchange of information. Creative leaks, a discreet lunch, interchange in the Lobby , the art of the unattributable telephone call, late at night. Howard Brenton L from an uncontaminated tree with distinctive marks. What is less known is that ord Jagannath resides in Puri on the periodically the idol ‘dies’, like any human. shores of the turbulent Bay of Bengal. But what prompted the craftsman to create Once a year he comes out of the temple an ‘imperfect’ God? A damaged idol is norand devotees vie with one another, trying to mally immersed in water. The Puri idols have pull the cord of his commanding chariot. The very large, round eyes without eyelashes, rest of the year, a restricted crowd gets a and stubs for hands without fingers. glimpse of him inside the distinctive temple, One story says that an Orissa king asked the only one in the world devoted to siblings: an artisan to make an idol of Krishna that no the reigning deity at all other places of one in the universe had ever seen. He agreed, worship are consorts or mother and child. on one condition: he would not be disturbed Many moons ago, a senior journalist from by anyone as long as he worked on the image. Hyderabad was in Bhubaneswar. When she “Granted,” said the king. But when days expressed a desire to visit the Lord in Puri, lapsed into weeks and months, the queen she was informed that she could not could not contain her curiosity One . gain entry for only Hindus were day she forced open the door and allowed. “Let me see the outside entered the room. Immediately the then,” she said, and made her way to craftsman left, leaving the icons the temple. Walking around, admirincomplete, never to return. ing the architecture, her eyes fell on “Think,” said my guide. “Who are a man beckoning her. “Want to go the people who have no eyelashes, in?” She nodded and followed him or have mere stubs for fingers?” THE silently as he led her through a In a flash i was reminded of maze of doors and courtyards. Not SPEAKING Shamba, Krishna’s son who had a word was exchanged, not even travelled to Konark because he TREE when the lights went out without had contracted leprosy “Those . warning. When the bulbs came alive just as days, there was no cure for leprosy Only . suddenly she found herself in the garbha- those who could take a dip in the holy waters , griha, face-to-face with the main idol whose of the Chandrabhaga during a solar eclipse magnificence overwhelmed her. “Ya Allah!” benefited from certain properties in the she exclaimed in sheer admiration as the refracted rays of the sun at that position. experience could not be described in words. That is why leprosy patients travelled here What is so special about this image of from far and wide.” Krishna at Puri? Why was Sri Chaitanya of It became clear to me that the enlightened Nadia – considered an avatar of Vishnu, no artisan had given form to the saying: “Bhakless – willing to give up everything for a ter bojha bhagawan dhoye” – “The Lord darshan of Jagannath? Why do crowds takes upon himself the suffering of his throng the temple despite the heat and dust, devotees and absolves them when they the confined space, and the exploits of surrender to him.” pandas? Doubtless, it is the allure of the www.speakingtree.in icons of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balaram. Join the world’s first spiritual networking The figures are crafted in wood that comes site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Ratnottama Sengupta Not in the spirit of the game With reference to the article ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ (July 4) by Ayaz Memon, while the BCCI is responsible for revitalising the game’s fortunes, it has been guilty of playing big brother to the ICC a bit too often. Cases like the monkeygate episode involving Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh, refusal to accept the UDRS, and objecting to Indian players’ participation in the Sri Lankan Premier League point to the BCCI’s attitude. Worse, it appears that members of Team India have also started acting arrogantly. Undoubtedly, umpiring standards in the ongoing Test series against West Indies have been average, but does that mean Indian players will pick and choose umpires? Such an attitude doesn’t augur well for the game’s future. The BCCI must take the lead in arresting this slide. Bal Govind, NOIDA Bet on ideas, not stars With reference to the Times View/Counterview (June 28), even though there is nothing wrong in actors endorsing products for money, they must choose brands which go well with their personality. More important, they must enhance their own brand value rather than send negative messages to society. However, i agree that actors endorsing products generally amounts to lame advertising. Despite a plethora of ads featuring actors, the ones that leave a lasting impression are those that come up with unique ideas. Such ads create a different brand value for their products. Therefore, it makes eminent sense for companies to base ads on distinctive ideas rather than star power. That will help them create a niche segment in the market. Animesh Raj, HYDERABAD We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 22 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011 This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. One should have understanding and patience. P CHIDAMBARAM, Union home minister For The People, By The People When representatives of civil society demand a role in governance, who makes the decisions? Ashok Malik Telangana Tangle Devolving powers to the region could be the answer he Telangana issue is on the boil again. The resignations of several prostatehood MPs and MLAs across parties don’t just highlight the longstanding but highly contentious demand for a separate state of Telangana. They also point to the Congress’s need to deploy deft firefighters to stop the crisis from escalating in the politically key state of Andhra Pradesh, where rival forces like the YSR Congress and TDP won’t hesitate to fish in troubled waters. In many ways, the Congress has been hoist by its own petard. In the 2004 assembly and parliamentary elections, it promised a separate Telangana state without thinking through the implications, and went into alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi on this plank. That’s why it’s caught between a rock and a hard place now. The pro-Telangana agitation is likely to snowball if it doesn’t follow through on its promises. On the other hand if it accedes to the bifurcation demand there’ll be a high price to pay in the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, which are likely to erupt as Telangana is erupting now. In retrospect the Srikrishna committee’s preferred approach, of keeping Andhra united while creating a Telangana Regional Council with statutory powers, is a measured one that has something for all stakeholders. Despite Telangana’s resentment at perceived discrimination by coastal Andhraites seen as monopolising administration, this isn’t a straightforward case where criteria like economic viability and administrative efficiency are applied to grant statehood. Talk of relative backwardness, for example, and Rayalaseema beats Telangana. With many Telangana groups claiming cultural distinctiveness, identity politics is mainly at play So, bifurcation . here would spawn copycat demands elsewhere based on similar divisive grounds. Bengal’s Gorkhaland imbroglio, or the Kashmir valley in Jammu & Kashmir, are just some cases in point. Besides, Telangana’s 10 districts include Hyderabad, a vibrant IT hub and investment magnet. While bifurcating Andhra, the state capital’s status would be another bone of contention. Pro-statehood groups have indicated they’re going for broke. But they may do better by understanding that genuine effort can be made to address Telangana’s grievances in less fractious ways. Federalism needn’t be considered through a Centre-state prism alone. Establishing a Telangana council could successfully facilitate devolution of political and financial powers to the region. Greater degrees of autonomy must necessarily be a function of governance at the grassroots rather than by remote control, with participation in decision-making and access to funds flowing to local entities. Uneven development, lack of schools and jobs, the unfulfilled promise of inclusive growth – these problems afflict the country as a whole. Creating new states – and new power elites – isn’t always the remedy The answer, rather, is improved . and decentralised governance. T overnance in a democracy is propelled by two factors: delegation and accountability Citizens choose . their representatives (MPs or MLAs), delegate constituency responsibilities to them, and hold them accountable in the next election. In turn, legislators delegate authority to ministers, who are accountable to Parliament (or the state assembly). In practice, the system does not work perfectly The process . of accountability is not always adequate. Public impatience with the quality of governance is often high, as with the UPA administration in the past year. Nevertheless, this template of delegation and accountability is non-negotiable. The alternative would be for every policy action to be referred to the people. This is not practicable. How does this ‘delegation and accountability’ equation play out in the context of recent civil society activism? There are those, such as the lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who have suggested that technology now allows us to access public opinion in real time. It is appropriate, therefore, to use this feedback while framing laws and policies. What does this mean? Does it suggest opinion polls and use of text-message or internet-based surveys? Does it involve referendums? As a device, the referendum is much used in Switzerland. Even laws passed by Parliament can be challenged and nullified. In the Swiss system, an individual citizen can G force a plebiscite if he collects 50,000 signatures. Switzerland has a population of eight million. If its standards are applied to India, one is looking at collecting signatures of 7.5 million people. Clearly the ‘go to the people’ method is not feasible. How then can policy making and legislation be made more consultative? Civil society groups claim one route is to involve them in the process. They argue that they work among grassroots communities and represent popular opinion. As such, they bring to policy shaping a humane heart, while civil servants and political administrators only contribute a clinical mind. Broadly, this has been the contention of both the Anna Hazare camp as A leader, but whose, and accountable to whom? Are civil society groups, with the same set of lawyers jumping from the Lokpal Bill to vaccine delivery, perennial and all-purpose arbiters of the public good? well as members of the National Advisory Council (NAC). It is apparent a certain populism and emotiveness is built into this civil society argument. Whichever way one considers it, it ends up undermining technocratic specialisation, not to speak of elected government. To be fair, the Congress-led UPA administration has been guilty of encouraging this. If the UPA wanted civil society activists to be part of its regime, why did it take recourse to an unaccountable body such as the NAC? Why couldn’t it, for instance, nominate Aruna Roy and Harsh Mander to the Rajya Sabha – using the 12 seats set aside for eminent persons perhaps – make them ministers and have them defend or answer questions on, say the Commu, nal Violence Bill or the Food Security Bill in Parliament? There are other examples. A little over a year ago, the environment minister reduced the debate on Bt (transgenic) brinjal to ‘public hearings’ in select cities. These meetings were dominated by anti-GM activists. The verdict was a foregone conclusion. Scientific counsel, including from state-appointed bodies, was ignored. It is possible the minister believed the scientists were wrong and that Bt brinjal was dangerous. Fair enough. If so, doesn’t this merit reviewing the mechanism by which governments in India receive science and technology advice? Has that mechanism been altered? No. So were the scientists right or wrong? Were they honest or compromised? You cannot have it both ways. Another case is of civil society litigants, supported by members of the Planning Commission, challenging the national vaccination programme. They say recommendations of the Indian Council of Medical Research and of the government’s technical advisory group on immunisation are incorrect. This may or may not be true – but are civil society groups, with the same set of lawyers jumping from the Lokpal Bill to vaccine delivery, perennial and all-purpose arbiters of the public good? There is one other point to consider. What happens when civil society groups have opposite views? Are they both right? It is sobering to consider that at the end of the day such groups , are accountable not to an undifferentiated society but to specific stakeholders and – dare one say it – ideologies. After the Japan earthquake, some civil society groups demanded India scrap nuclear power plants and focus instead on hydroelectricity Yet, many . projects have been stymied by other civil society groups that have made hydropower – rather than nuclear power – their object of hate. So if every thread of civil society is handed a competing veto, how is India expected to give its people electricity? An analogy would help here. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) has over 500 NGOs accredited to it. There are so many of them that they are now classified as BINGOs (business and industry NGOs), ENGOs (environmental), RINGOs (research and independent), TUNGOs (trade union), YENGOs (youth) and IPOs (indigenous people). Is a climate change treaty that satisfies all such categories and all these NGOs ever possible? Is it easier for 500 civil society groups to agree or for 200 nation states or, better still, for the 25-odd countries critical to the carbon emissions issue? The answer goes beyond accountability and delegation. It is about governance, whether global or domestic, and who can deliver it and who cannot. The writer is a political commentator. ‘It would be a mistake to abandon nuclear power’ The Fukushima disaster has cast a cloud on the future of nuclear power Japan, Germany, . Switzerland and China have already decided to curb – or phase out – their reliance on nuclear energy. Public opinion in nuclear-dependent France too is swaying away from it. In Jaitapur there is opposition to a proposed nuclear power plant. However Anil Markandya, an , economist at the University of Bath in England and co-author of a widely talked-about study on human health impacts of nuclear power maintains that , making electricity from nuclear fuels is far less damaging to human health than making it from coal, oil or natural gas. He spoke with Harsh Kabra: I How is nuclear power safer for human health? Over a range of studies conducted in Europe and the US, the health costs of nuclear power have come out lower than those from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels generate emissions of various pollutants that result in significant health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, days when you cannot work because of these problems, premature mortality, hospital admissions, chronic bronchitis, loss of life in mining accidents and waste disposal, and so on. Premature deaths from exposure to particulate matter, which is a key pollutant from coal combustion, are estimated to be in the range of 1,50,000 in India. With nuclear power we have none of these issues. The impacts of routine radiation are estimated to be much smaller than those of fossil fuels – by more than an order of magnitude. Of course, we do have the are not that large compared to the amount of power generated. I What is a fairer basis of assessing the true worth of power sources – hard economics or long-term safety? In our assessment, we try to include both. The hard economics is modified to include the so-called “external” costs of power generation, so that a fair comparison can be made based on the social costs of each type of power. It is this comparison that changes the rankings of power sources away from coal and, to some extent, in favour of renewable and nuclear power. One problem, however, is that the agencies that make decisions about the sources of power face only the direct costs and not the social costs. So we have to find ways of making them responsive to the true social costs of power. I Given the very few instances of mishaps involving nuclear power plants, isn’t there too little data for us to infer on health and social costs, but a great deal of uncertainty over the full impact of such mishaps? We have to learn from every accident to make sure that the errors that led to it are not repeated. This certainly applies to the cases of Chernobyl and Fukushima. In India, it is imperative that such plants be located, designed and operated according to the highest possible safety standards. But that is possible and the use of nuclear power would serve India well in terms of the three goals of increasing the access of its people to power, reducing their exposure to harmful particles, and reducing the country’s contribution to greenhouse gases. It would be a mistake to abandon nuclear power because of Fukushima. Dangerous Words The health minister stigmatises gays U nion health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, addressing heads of local bodies on HIV/AIDS, described homosexuality as “unnatural” and a “disease”. If expressed by the ordinary man on the street, such views could have been passed off as expressions of unfortunate – if widespread – ignorance and prejudice. But coming from the man to whom the National AIDS Control Organisation reports, it is potentially dangerous. Health ministers of nations should be the last persons in the business of spreading irrational prejudices; if Azad does so he’s not up to his job. As he himself says, identifying the at-risk gay community for AIDS prevention and intervention outreach is a problem. But then he compounds the problem with remarks that stigmatise the gay community making it difficult for , them to come forward and access AIDS services. At a time when India is achieving a measure of success in tackling the AIDS scourge, such retrograde steps are hardly what a health minister should be advocating. Equally important is the broader issue of every individual’s fundamental rights. By decriminalising homosexuality the judiciary has , underscored the importance of inclusiveness as a social value. That is what makes it so important for political figures to send the right message. Instead, we have xenophobic allusions to corrupt foreign influences – a farcical echo of Indira Gandhi’s stock-in-trade ‘foreign hand’ rhetoric – going along with the absurd classification of homosexuality as a disease. Health is an important portfolio, and Azad has displayed no great competence at his job. Given that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, there is a strong case for handing over his portfolio to somebody else. Q&A possibility of health costs of nuclear accidents. Nuclear fuels increase the risk of cancer from exposure to radiation, and in special cases, hereditary effects passed on through people exposed to high levels of radiation. But while these are spectacular, accidents such as those at Fukushima and Chernobyl are rare and the resulting losses Tears and tantrums Trust tennis stars to know how to make a racket Subhash Kaura We may be at their receiving end now, but THEY they (civil society SAID IT activists) can very well turn against you (non-UPA parties) in future I I No sane person would say homosexuality is a ‘disease’. But anything can happen in ‘Incredible India’ – TASLIMA NASREEN, writer, on the Union health minister’s take on homosexuality If marriage age is 18 and drinking age is 25, can the government tell us how to survive the first seven years of marriage? – RAM GOPAL VARMA, filmmaker, on drinking age or the world's top tennis players Wimbledon, the Mecca of tennis, is also the most coveted Grand Slam to win. The lure of wresting the championship, the accompanying fame and glory and the prize money of £1.1 million for the singles winner, must be irresistible. All these factors combined make it a fortnight of intensely competitive high-class tennis for players and spectators alike. But, while in a majority of players the event brings out the best, in some it can strangely bring out the worst. The intense pressure of winning sometimes takes its toll, resulting in rather unexpectedly odd behaviour and situations which are not easily forgotten. "Grass is for cows," said Ivan Lendl, deciding to give Wimbledon a miss in 1982 and going holidaying instead, having never managed to win the title in his otherwise illustrious career. Others just can’t handle it and break down. One of the top tennis crybabies has to be Jana Novotna. She is considered to be a bigger choker than the Boston Strangler. She threw away a 4-1 lead in the final set of the 1993 Wimbledon final against Steffi Graf. As Novotna waited for the presentation ceremony she collapsed in a , sobbing heap on the shoulders of the Duchess of Kent. Now, crying is one thing – crying in front of royals is another entirely . Then there are the perennial grunters. Their high decibel grunts could cause a serious inferiority complex even in the king of the jungle. Why some players grunt so heavily while hitting the ball back to the opponent remains a mystery and a question of debate and research. Whether they do it just to cover up their own nervousness is difficult to say One . thing is for sure; with high-decibel grunts, they do manage to distract and upset their opponents to some extent. Monica Seles was a champion grunter during her time and has now been replaced by Maria Sharapova. The latter’s grunts have been measured at 101 decibels, almost as loud as a lion's roar (110)! It was Seles though who inspired the "gruntometer", which measures grunt noise on the court. Wimbledon has also had its own crop of super brats and street fighters. Topping the list is Nasty Ilie Nastase closely followed by John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. Nastase permanently etched the template for tennis bad boys, setting the standard against which all are measured today He is . remembered most of all for his frequently bizarre and objectionable behaviour on court. He is reported to have said, “As long as i can get angry , then i play well. If i play well, i can beat anybody I am happy because i am . getting angry .” Jimmy Connors is considered one of the most foul-mouthed players in the history of professional tennis. His favourite pastime was swearing at umpires when things went against him, but the tennis legend was also not above scuffling with the crowd. Besides his linguistic achievements which centred on introducing the F-word to juvenile tennis audiences around the world, Connors also managed to alienate other players on tour, building a reputation as the least popular player of his era. John McEnroe set the bar for bad behaviour in tennis matches during the 1970s. He boasted a complete repertoire, ranging from racquet throwing, swearing and fighting with umpires to some of the most ungracious defeats ever witnessed by tennis fans. When he was just 20, he was nicknamed "Super Brat" by the British tabloids in 1979. It is estimated that McEnroe paid back a significant portion of the $12 million he earned out of tennis in fines for bad behaviour, swearing and misconduct. He also struggled to find endorsement deals – few companies wished to have their products associated with the super brat. F – FAROOQ ABDULLAH, Union minister for new and renewable energy, on civil society activism I SACRED S PAC E Treasure Trove I Reaching For The Stars manner, we form an opinion and later start seeing others from that opinion. Hence, the ave you seen some people look at perceiver limits the perception. Relationothers from the perspective of their ships will be liberating if we can practise this opinions, likes and dislikes? Learn to quality of seeing. Or else a father still sees his free yourself from this trap and just look grown up son as a child. purely from innocence. There is a ‘law of gravitation’ and a ‘law of If you accept limitation, then the limita- grace’. In occultism, the law of gravitation is tion is yours, but if you accept limitlessness, that which pulls us to the earth, our attachthen limitlessness is yours. Why does a per- ments, likes and dislikes… When one is pure, son want more and more of everything? The one experiences a sense of lightness and also ‘more’ is ultimately seeking limitlessness. experiences the law of grace – a movement Limitation is like dust in your eyes. As long as towards heaven. Heaven is not a place; it is a it exists, your effort is to eliminate it, because state of being where one experiences a sense it is a foreign particle. of relaxation and lightness. Infinite is not other than finite. If it To rise to the level of the stars is the law of were so, then infinite becomes grace. This is opposed to the law of finite, for it is other than finite. Infigravitation that drags us down to the nite is in spite of finite. It includes earth. Why do you want to be limited finite and is not limited by finite. to the earth, when you can fly up to In the same way limitlessness , the sky? Why be a dwarf when you includes limitation and is not can be a giant? other than limitation. Why do you cling to your ignoVery often a father gets stuck rance, your impurity that keeps THE in his opinion of his son. Even if you low? This makes you ugly You . I SPEAKING I his son is changing, he cannot see can grow to the heights of purity , it. His identity of himself and his kindness, forgiveness and bliss. TREE son limits the quality of his Allow that to happen by dropping perception. So also, the son is stuck in his your likes, dislikes, anger, jealousy… opinion of his father and sees the sky through What constitutes the soul of the law his own window…thereby assuming, that the of grace is inner freedom. Free yourself sky is limited to the shape of his window. from all limitations of the mind, its likes I was travelling to the airport with a and dislikes. student of mine in Milan, Italy He had seen . Have you observed that whenever you the ticket several times and felt that the flight are angry or sad, you feel very heavy and was scheduled at 4.45 pm. The flight was to burdened? This is the law of gravitation. actually take off at 6.45 am. As a result, i Have you also observed that whenever you are missed the flight. While we were in San Fran- loving, kind, inwardly free, you feel you are cisco we were told that we had to reach Milan floating and flying? This is the law of grace. For details visit www.prasannatrust.org airport at 4.45 am. He mistook ‘am’ as ‘pm.’ www.speakingtree.in The thought got stuck in his mind and despite seeing the particulars on the ticket several Join the world’s first spiritual networking times, he read it as 4.45 pm. In the same site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Discourse: Swami Sukhabodhananda I E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX The huge treasures being valued at more than Rs 1 lakh crore found in Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram were the “exclusive property” of the Travancore royal family that dedicated their kingdom to the presiding deity of the temple. Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati said, “The treasures were offerings made by erstwhile rulers to the temple, hence the recoveries belonged to the royal family .” PTI news report The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The Bible The love, kindnesses and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life. Steve Brunkhorst H Games politicians play With reference to the editorial ‘New Meeting Ground’ (July 5), it is clear that our political parties are more interested in targeting one another on the issue of corruption than working together to create an institution to fight corruption. This has created a deplorable situation: the government is not coming out with its draft on the Lokpal Bill even as the opposition is not keen on stating its positions in the absence of a draft. Given our political class’s attitude, it isn’t surprising that the Lokpal Bill has been hanging fire for over four decades. Let’s face it. Our politicians are the main sponsors of corruption in the country. It is in their own interest to delay the legislation or dilute its objectives with weak versions. Clearly, civil society activists must carry on with their struggle against vested interests trying to derail the Bill. V Nagarajan, CHENNAI Between the lines The editorial ‘Break The Silence’ (June 30) drives home the point that this is the age of instantly accessed information. That is particularly relevant to the prime minister who is answerable to the people. One appreciates the fact that he has woken to the need for exchange of information, if belatedly. However, how long will he continue to give evasive answers to pointed questions? Often enough, the government has had to take recourse to passing the buck to ‘coalition dharma’ or saying that the ‘law will take its course’. People have learned to read between the lines. Sumitabho Deb Roy, KOLKATA We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] 16 I THE TIMES A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY I OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011 This desire for equity must not lead to an excess of welfare, where nobody is responsible for anything. JACQUES DELORS, French economist And Justice For All Much remains to be done to bring about a world where gender equality is a reality Michelle Bachelet Worth The Money Cash transfers can help transform our subsidy regime t’s an ambitious project, but doable given political will. With a governmentappointed task force submitting a template for phased introduction of direct cash transfers initially for LPG, kerosene and fertilisers, there’s hope for a radical revamp of our subsidy edifice. Envisaging pilot projects in seven states to provide inputs for a final blueprint later this year, the plan makes good sense. Subsidies for the three items combined constituted over half the yearly subsidy expenditure in 2010-11. This indicates the magnitude of their share in subsidy outgo. And, as the task force report says, a subsidy denotes dual pricing for the same item. It can therefore encourage theft and diversion. On both counts, it’s time we ensured subsidies are better targeted. How will this be done? For starters, goods accessed at market rates by beneficiaries will reduce incentive for pilferage. Consider how subsidised kerosene gets waylaid en route to consumers, benefiting adulterators and smugglers more than the poor. Also, when fertiliser subsidy is routed via firms rather than given directly to needy farmers, the former gains more than the latter. Second, IT will help plug the holes in the supply chain. An automated core subsidy management system will store data on project execution and facilitate cash transfer. Creditably, oversight and auditing are hardwired into the scheme to check fraud and leakage. A transparency portal will meantime help track stocks, even while reducing scope for wrongful access to subsidy for, say, multiple LPG connections. Third, transparency will be further promoted by linking subsidy delivery to the UID project, used to authenticate subsidy claimants. It’s equally welcome that financial inclusion will eventually become the project’s lynchpin. Obviously cash transfers can’t go along with manual handouts and record keeping, which would aid corruption as we’ve seen with NREG wages. Banks, ATMs, business correspondents and mobile banking must necessarily be the routes. Besides gaining better guarantee of accessing subsidy, greater numbers of people will therefore get banking and other forms of financially inclusive cover. However, food subsidy should be included in any roadmap for subsidy revamp, not least because a mammoth food security plan is in the pipeline. The waste, inefficiency and criminal leakage we want to curb also mar food distribution. The objections of some National Advisory Council members notwithstanding, cash transfers or mobile-linked smart cards can deter identity theft, eliminate use of ghost cards and help beat corruption. If anything, we must move boldly towards subsidy reform. It will help save enormous resources better used to build roads, schools and hospitals. And it will empower the needy They’ll see themselves as customers with the power of choice in a . market system rather than supplicants before the dole-givers of a nanny state. I omen across the world enjoy greater opportunities and freedoms than ever before. It is a peaceful revolution underpinned by an extraordinary transformation of legal rights. Almost every country has signed international conventions signalling their commitment to outlawing discrimination against women. Nearly 140 national constitutions specifically guarantee gender equality . But promising equality , of course, is not the same as delivering it on the ground. Despite real advances, there sadly remains an immense gap between these welcome legal guarantees and everyday life for women. It is a justice deficit which can be found in rich and poor countries alike and in every aspect of our societies. It is not, however, only women who suffer from this failure of justice. We all do, whatever our gender. Without a doubt, women’s strength, industry and wisdom are humanity’s greatest untapped resource. It is potential we simply can’t afford to continue to waste. It was this recognition that led to the formation of UN Women, which brings together all the UN gender equality agencies under my leadership. It was our recognition that addressing the justice gap was crucial to removing the W barriers to equality which made it the subject of our first report – Progress of the World’s Women: In Pursuit of Justice. It is comprehensive and sobering, cataloguing both the lack of legal protection women receive and the reasons behind this failure. In some cases, it can be the laws themselves which are unjust. Early pregnancy and childbirth remain the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19 in the developing world. Yet, in no less than 50 countries, the age of marriage for girls still remains lower than for boys. In over 40 economies, too, women remain barred from certain jobs and industries. Despite everything, still an upside-down world for women Without a doubt, women’s strength, industry and wisdom are humanity’s greatest untapped resource. It is potential we simply can’t afford to continue to waste But in many cases, women are denied a fair deal because of a failure, whether through lack of resources, will or cultural obstacles, to uphold the legal rights they have been granted. We discovered that women are three times less likely to report a sexual attack than a robbery It is all too easy . to understand why A European . study found on average only 14% of reported rapes ended in conviction. In other countries, the figure is even lower. We found a similar failure, too, in the economic sphere. Despite 117 countries having equal pay laws, women in every sector and region continue to be paid between 10% and 30% less than men. It is, however, not all bad news. For, as well as identifying where justice is failing women, the report also identifies where and how progress is being made. It shows, for example, how the law itself, through landmark cases, has helped drive change and alter attitudes. We see as well how vital an increase in women’s representation in Parliament, the judiciary and enforcement agencies is in advancing women’s rights. It is heartening that the number of countries where women make up over 30% of parliamentarians is now 28 and that they can be found from Tanzania to Costa Rica, Rwanda to Spain. It is still far too few, of course, but it is a sevenfold increase on the position in 1997. We are moving slowly in the right direction. We found how practical and The writer, former president of achievable measures can make Chile, is now executive director and a big difference. An increase in under-secretary-general of UN Women. the number of women police officers helps overcome a reluctance to report sexual assaults. Convictions increase when the police are joined up with forensic, health and legal services in one-stop shops. In Sweden, improved paternity leave has reduced the gender pay gap. In Nepal, tax exemptions have incentivised families to transfer land to daughters, sisters and wives. But there is a great deal more to do. It is clear, for example, that we need determined action to protect and promote women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict societies. The targeting of women for sexual violence has become an unacceptable fact of modern war. It is women, too, who have proved themselves vital in healing the wounds of societies and ensuring a lasting and just peace. So our report is a call for action – setting challenges for national governments, civil societies and the international community It outlines an agen. da which, by ensuring laws and the legal system tackle bias against women, will accelerate the fulfilment of our ambitions for a better world. UN Women will work to support this agenda, with the benefits to be felt by everyone. We all win – men and women, girls and boys – if we win this battle for justice. Recent Bollywood movies attract notice for use of vulgar language Crudity can lend realism he story goes that after watching its criminal subjects was Satya. A spate The Producers, an irate lady told of movies about the Mumbai underworld director Mel Brooks, “Sir, i have followed in the same vein. Now we have seen your film and it is vulgar!” To which two distinct strands of filmmaking that the comedic filmmaker extraordinaire don’t pull their punches. One is the crime replied, “Madame, my film rises below movie migrated from Mumbai to the vulgarity It’s a high standard to aspire badlands of north .” to – or perhaps so low that it requires the India – think Omkara dexterity of a limbo-dancer – but or Ishqiya – and the Bollywood filmmakers might finally be other is the urban getting there. To judge by the acclaim Delhi Belly has been I T I M E S V I E W I getting from both critics and audiences, they are supplying some- movie looking at the thing that people have long wanted. And realities of a modern why not? We have rarely had the twisted, Indian city warts , relatable humour that arises from very and all. real situations gone horribly askew. And Take away the because life is messy and absurd and, earthiness of these yes, scatological, so too is the humour movies – whether that is true to it. home-grown or anglicised – and you’ll As to the much-ballyhooed question turn them into anodyne mockeries of about whether such fare is family- their directors’ intentions. Crudity need friendly or not, that’s an issue for the not be lowbrow; it can spice a plot with censors and is easily answered by the realism and make it hit home that much ‘adults only’ rating that films like Delhi harder. If it was good enough for the Belly routinely receive. Perhaps the first Bard with ribald humour scattered mainstream movie to be unashamedly throughout his plays, it’s good enough realistic in its portrayal of the crudity of for Bollywood. Race to the bottom s viewers get drenched in a shower of swearwords, Bollywood’s clearly doing what it so often does – losing its sense of proportion. After double-meaning dialogues, ‘item’ numbers and mindless violence, profanity appears the new big thing filmmakers peddle. However, peppering a movie with you don’t see too many movies exploring other themes from reality, like female infanticide. The only ‘reality’ appealing to Bollywood involves poor clothing or poor language. And both are becoming gratuitous, present in such abundance that we no longer notice. Or care. While being bad aesthetics, this isn’t smart business either. The Hindi movie’s traditionally an all-inclusive experience, families I COUNTERVIEW I enjoying films together in theatres, children Srijana Mitra Das explicit swearwords running in aisles, grannies passing isn’t just harming snacks, domestic helpers enjoying the audiences, watching rest. With a barrage of cusswords ununcouth behaviour leashed on-screen, it’s hard for the same made to look ‘cool’. to watch films together. Movies starring With creativity limit- profanity segregate their audience to a ed to cussing, it’s also narrow, niche clutch, not a wide and colhurting the film industry. ourful expanse. And those not hugely Stars being foul-mouthed in portray- turned-on by coarseness ponder paying ing ‘edgy’ characters aren’t producing steep prices towards what’s available free path-breaking cinema. In earlier films, outside. Finally, Bollywood remains a only villains – smugglers, gangsters and loved art form. Its songs and dialogues their molls – mouthed expletives. Today stay fresh in public memory for decades, , screen students to their grandfathers use generations able to recite lines from Showords that could make a sailor blush. “It lay or Mughal-e-Azam. What will we rehappens in reality filmmakers say Yet, peat from today’s movies? One long bleep? ,” . Candour At Last US blames ISI for death of Pakistani journalist T A U S officials are to be commended for not pulling their punches this time. They have disclosed an intelligence finding that the ISI ordered the murder of Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad, following Shahzad’s writings on the nexus between jihadis and the Pakistani military. It’s common knowledge that Shahzad had been threatened by the ISI before. Yet Shahzad persisted and wrote a story detailing how terrorists had infiltrated the Pakistani navy. He was silenced, say US officials, because the ISI was afraid of what else he might uncover. His murder was also a message designed to cow civil society. Yet, the ISI cannot be permitted to succeed in its attempts to undermine civil society. Making it strong and vibrant is the only defence against the radicalisation and endemic violence plaguing Pakistan. Bolstering civil society in Pakistan, however, requires US support. The US’s plain-speaking on Shahzad’s murder must become a precedent. In other words, the US’s newfound realism in assessing and responding to Pakistan has to become the norm to have any effect. Adopting a more balanced posture towards Pakistan will be helped by its declining importance to the US in its war in Afghanistan. As recently as 2009, 90% of US surface cargo to Afghanistan was routed through Karachi. Today almost 40% of surface cargo arrives via a patchwork of roads and railways in Central Asia and plans are afoot to increase this to 75% by year-end. It is to be hoped that the plurality of supply routes to Afghanistan will permit the Obama administration to focus on the long-term future of Pakistan. Its safeguarding requires reeling in extremists within the Pakistani state. One way to do so is to make military aid contingent on ensuring that civil society is not threatened. SNAP JUDGMENT The sensation trap Media is a blatant exploiter whether it glams up the culprit or weeps for the victim Bachi Karkaria No To Salwa Judum he SC order instructing the Union government to cease funding for special police officers (SPOs) in Maoist-affected states is welcome. Recruiting SPOs and arming tribals under Chhattisgarh’s Salwa Judum is an endorsement of vigilantism and abdication of the state’s responsibility to maintain law and order. If the SPOs have indeed been effective in fighting Maoists, they should be incorporated into the state police force. Thus Spake Sanga Rise Of The Machines T K All this week, television has been judge, jury, prosecutor, defendant, pop psychologist, upholder of the law, denouncer of its mockery, self-appointed custodian of the nation’s conscience and its self-anointed spokesperson. Above all, it has unabashedly chased police vans and TRPs alike ever since the court allowed Maria Susairaj to walk out of jail with her plastic bags, her tacky dress and her feigned look of injured innocence. We have witnessed the utter ‘Foxification’ of our own news channels. Television has been guilty of a multitude of crimes in its response to the sensational Neeraj Grover murder case – from seriously undermining the court’s verdict to overkill. Anchors have excelled themselves as circus ringmaster and Grand Inquisitor. Hyperventilation has seldom been higher or emotional manipulation more sinister. This is hardly the first time that TV has been in the dock for targeting TRPs rather than injustice, corruption, criminal negligence or whatever they brandish as their current crusade. Some channels are openly ghoulish. My point is that even those whose hearts have so ostensibly bled for the bereft Neelam and Amarnath Grover have been no less guilty of exploiting their tragedy for prime-time power and glory . The Baddies of TV are the soft target. They are the programmes which ‘celebritised’ Maria Susairaj. They endlessly replayed her passage from court to police van to prison to the SUV on which she sallied forth to freedom. They showed over and over again every smug expression, every tear wiped camera-consciously away as she knelt in the Mahim church. They breathlessly covered her barefaced press conference, and were accessory to her lawyer’s callous display of the photograph of Neeraj’s desecrated body to prove a disgustingly irrelevant point. Yes, the Bad Guys are an open and shut case. But the jury is still out on the Good Guys, the anchors who showed a socially responsible sense of outrage, and even misty-eyed empathy. It’s difficult not to name names, but i’ll have to try because, one, they’re my friends, and, two, it’s an (admittedly) overstretched requirement of media etiquette. Our topmost, serious English prime-time news shows went for the surefire cocktail: six-parts emotion and four-parts rage. They were riveting and goose bump-raising. On one of them, the verdict-shattered Grovers were visibly lifted on a wave of support, encouraging them to resume their fight. But it still filled me with a deep sense of disquiet; i found myself asking, ‘Hey, aren’t these very correct programmes also exploiting this tragedy of horrors to the hilt? They’re doing so more subtly more acceptably but they are still cashing , , in on it, right? So, where does the media buck really stop?’ For the record, i greatly admire, even envy all these anchors. Not for a moment do i suggest that the lump in their throat, the quiver in their voice were as fake as Maria’s demure act for the ravenous cameras. But even the most empathetic show is still a show; unfortunately bodies can become just one more rung on the ladder, just another prop on the cynical battlefield of TRPs. It is, alas, the nature of the media beast. This is the story of the day and we , cannot say ‘We will not add to the blood lust by covering it, and instead fill , prime time with a lyrical feature on the monsoon landscape.’ There’s only one thing that can be said in extenuation. The media may be a ruthless, unrepentant ambulance (or police van) chaser, but, more than any other forum, it has the power to fling open the doors to reveal the mangled injustice inside. On occasion, it has even brought justice back to life. For this alone, forgive us our trespasses. * ** Alec Smart said: “A homophobic health minister? How queer is that!” umar Sangakkara’s extraordinary speech at the MCC may have perturbed Sri Lanka’s sports administrators, but it deserves credit for highlighting the plight of Sri Lankan cricket. Rather than harnessing cricket’s unifying potential in the aftermath of the bloody civil war, cricket administrators have engaged in endless power struggles and involved players in them. His speech should serve as a wakeup call. I T hose in the habit of raging against machines, beware. Scientists are working on a £6.2 million mega project to develop artificial intelligence that will help machines understand, speak and behave like humans, even to the point of telling us where to get off. How long before PCs start nagging us about cleaning our rooms or eating junk food? I SACRED S PAC E Love Me Do I A Triumph Of Spirit the same spirit that even bad times cannot touch. This is the spirit that rose and soared, eciding to skip a dinner invitation last revealing itself in its full glory that day Guruji . Saturday night i settled down to watch (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) said in Berlin: “When the 30th year celebrations of the Art of we started planning this event, we decided Living that were being telecast live from that the theme song would be ‘rainbow Berlin. As the programme began i stared at the colours’ – and the rains have come! We seem to TV screen, thinking: Are those water droplets have invited the rain gods.” on the camera? “Please God, let it not be rain,” I went back to three years ago in New York i pleaded in prayer. “We have been waiting City where i was to style a special fashion for this wonderful event for months; how shoot, all the way from Central Park to Times can it rain!’’ Square down to Soho. Every location was careThe evening had begun with a beautiful fully examined and planned. Except for the Sanskrit rendition by Grammy award winner weather, of course that was not in our control. Chandrika Tandon and her team. I watched, The warm, bright summer day turned into a spellbound, as they continued to perrainy stormy day with heavy down, form smilingly completely oblivious , pours and claps of thunder – just to the rain that was gaining momenwhen i was to commence the shoot, as tum. And it looked so windy too. The , luck would have it. “Let’s do the ensemble included Swiss Alpine entire shoot at the place called Dumbo horns with 2,000 Bulgarian dancers under the Brooklyn Bridge!” The in flower-petal formation, looking photographer was trying to salvage beautiful from an aerial view. An the situation. THE aboriginal dance for mother earth, What, is this why i put in all this 2,000 guitarists making music, and SPEAKING effort and came this long way? “Let’s 300 pianists under transparent shoot in the rain,” i said, holding an TREE canopies – all seemed to not mind umbrella over him and his expenthe rain in the least. sive camera. “You shoot at a slow shutter speed An international community of hundreds and let’s see what happens.” The result was of yogis demonstrated Suryanamaskars and spectacular; the result was models sashaying yogasanas to the chant of Sanskrit shlokas. against the rain-textured New York City Here i was, on a muggy day in Mumbai, glued to skyline – it was almost like a soft painting. the TV while some 50,000 seekers and masters Needless to say it was much talked about for , were enjoying themselves thoroughly despite months to come. the cold, wet weather in Berlin that day. “I wish I read this in the Yoga Vasistha: “Adversity you could take a flight and come here right can be prosperity and prosperity can truly be now,” SMS-ed my friend Mala who was in the adversity depending on how you look at it.” In midst of it all. “I have no words to describe what death you have no choice, but if you consciously it’s like to be here,” she added. “Aren’t you freez- allow the spirit to triumph in every phase of ing,” i asked. “Who cares,” she said, as she wait- your life, then that is called the Art of Living! ed patiently for peace meditation to commence. www.speakingtree.in This is a triumph of spirit, a spirit that rain Join the world’s first spiritual networking cannot dampen, that the cold cannot freeze – site to interact directly with masters and seekers. Ami Patel E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX On the wrong track With reference to the Times View/ Counterview (July 5), it is true that bullet trains would be an asset for Indian transport and in tune with the country’s economic growth story. However, the massive investment required for the project is needed elsewhere at the moment. There are many backward areas in the country which lack even the most basic transport facilities. In such areas, people still dream of boarding a train rather than depending on dilapidated bus facilities. Bullet trains are more suited to countries where daily passengers have a good range of transport options. The project’s feasibility is debatable in a country like ours where a train seat meant for three is crammed with five. Sahil Jain, GURGAON The health minister, Mr Azad, insisted he used the controversial word “unnatural” with reference to homosexuality to draw notice to the wider debate in society about the legal status of homosexuality. A news report The diagnosis of homosexuality as a "disorder" impacts the pathology of those who do become mentally ill... Nothing is more likely to make you sick than being constantly told that you are sick. Ronald Gold No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don’t love anybody . Rita Mae Brown, 1982 Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy, AD 524 Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? Ernest Gaines D ERRA TICA Bias on display With reference to the editorial ‘Dangerous Words’ (July 6), Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statement linking homosexuality with disease would have been accepted as normal a few years ago when ignorance and social bias were prevalent. But in today’s scientifically advanced age, we are much more aware of the genetic and sociological factors that govern sexual orientation. So, the kind of attitude he displays is dangerously prejudiced. Rather than confront the spectre of HIV in a mature manner, his remarks can deepen biases and suspicion towards those with same-sex orientation. They may also confound the efforts of so many individuals and NGOs working towards social acceptance of people, whatever their sexual orientation, as deserving of equal respect and opportunities. Suren Abreu, MUMBAI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
[email protected] [email protected] http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/erratica 18 THE TIMES OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2011 One For The Road In the best political yatra, you walk the talk he Mahatma isn’t just in fashion when netas visit Rajghat. Rather, the Father of the Nation is father of present-day fashion, sartorial, cinematic and political. Check out the khadi and topi politicos wear, come election time. Consider the reel-life Gandhigiri of Lage Raho Munna Bhai. And don’t forget anti-corruption crusaders’ resort to the fast, long associated with Gandhian protest. Bapu had raised hazaaron khwaishein – a thousand hopes – winning the freedom struggle. Civil society now raises Hazare khwaishein. Aren’t we still to gain Independence from graft? Long live satyagraha. Then there’s kurta-clad Rahul baba, Gandhi-style marcher on foot in a land under Mayaraj, if not British Raj. You needn’t look through the Mahatma’s iconic spectacles – gone missing anyway from Wardha’s Sewagram Ashram – to see that a surname’s not all Rahul shares with him. From the Mahatma’s preference for rural rather than urban arcadia to Rahul’s kisan championship, it’s a path already well laid out. And it’s leading right to poll-bound UP. Now, if CM Mayawati once raised hackles calling the older Gandhi a “natakbaaz”, Rahul’s detractors dubbed his padyatra a “nautanki”. Trust jittery politicians to have a heightened sense of drama. So what if a political yatra is what Bengalis call jatra, or street theatre? Great treks do have uses as deft footwork in political faceoffs. Recall Mao’s rise after an epic Long March (1934-35), when Chinese communists traversed war-torn China. Nearer home in 1930, Gandhi’s Dandi March raised a rallying cry: free India was worth its non-taxed salt. Why, from socialist Chandra Shekhar to Congress’s Sunil Dutt or YSR, many trudged to woo the masses or spread “mahashanti”. So what’s new about Rahul trying to walk his pro-farmer talk, save that Maya might view it as uncivil disobedience? Now, the Congress may have miles to go before UP voters indulge it as they did before Mandal-mandir became the blockbuster road show of the 1990s. Which brings us to that yatra-onwheels which, for BJPwallahs, was a triumphal march till it encountered a speed bump named Lalu at Samastipur. Toyotaturned-rath, Advani’s odyssey would transform saffron fortunes, besides leading to a pretty un-Gandhian aftermath. Not that a repeat journey will impress Indians today. They’d rather chase after college seats and jobs than chariots of ire. Netas, trust us. The best political voyage is across divides: a unifying discovery of India. This journey has little to do with socially divisive road rage. Or with electoral mileage, sought to be gained by pitting village huts against city highrises. Rather, it’s about trying to deliver on the thousand hopes of all: bijli-sadak-paani, fair price for land, business-friendly skies or India on the moon. So, respected padyatris, stop foot-dragging on removing the potholes you risk falling into. In the 21st century yatra, we don’t march in reverse. Window To The World India needs to expose its policymakers to the best minds at home and abroad Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda T How important are laws and reservations for gender equality? Are “green buildings” a way forward to help reduce global warming? How inclusive are India and Pakistan for their respective citizens, and why? What can we do to reduce the Rs 3.65 that the nation spends to deliver a rupee’s worth of foodgrains to the poor? Continually caught up in urgent distractions, Indian politicians don’t spend nearly as much time as they should contemplating important policy issues. A good way to stimulate it, and greater appreciation of current international policy debates, is to encourage participation in serious academic forums. One such is the annual India Parliamentary Leadership Programme at Yale University, co-developed with Ficci. Involving days of gruelling research-backed presentations by some of the best academics in the world, and the kind of candid discussions that can only happen away from the spotlight, it is about as far from the typical junket abroad as possible. India is still a minnow at getting its legislators to participate in such events. Consider that the Yale programme – after nearly five years and 60 members of parliament – remains a relative rarity. Compare that with China, a nondemocratic country that unapologetically stifles debate among its masses, yet has put 25,000 of its decision-makers through such pro- grammes in the past quarter century. From members of its cabinet and politburo, to regional leaders and mayors of cities, China has a big head-start over India in getting its policymakers to engage with paradigm-shifting policy options. So what about mandating gender equity by legislation? India has long made heavy weather of legislating quotas for women. Despite much energetic campaigning for it – and i say this as a supporter of the idea – the proposed legislation has always got stalled in acrimonious disputes. What may come as a revelation to some is that while affirmative action for women in politics does help gender equity, there is something that helps far more. It Contemplating ways to put her in the driver’s seat From members of its cabinet and politburo, to regional leaders and mayors of cities, China has a big head-start over India in getting its policymakers to engage with paradigmshifting policy options turns out that the maximum positive impact on a nation’s level of gender equity is linked to the percentage of women in the workforce. The corollary is obvious: far more gains could be achieved by shifting tactical focus to less controversial legislative proposals that counter bias in the workplace. What about climate change, and does it help to promote “green buildings”? A surprising analysis shows most such constructions are larger than their conventional counterparts and, while consuming less energy per square foot, actually consume more energy per capita. Another emerging trend, that of decentralising energy generation with “energy selfsufficient” buildings, may also be counterproductive. Reprocessing of biomass for on-site generation, supplementing localised solar and wind generation, ends up multiplying “urban heat islands”. One reason for these contradictions, at least in developed countries, could be industry-driven standards that boost energy consumption. On the subject of inclusivity, the discourse in India has focussed on economic equity. Political inclusion is taken for granted in the world’s largest democracy. But it is important to remember what works, in order not to trip up on future challenges. For instance, India and Pakistan have certain obvious similarities and differences, but some less obvious aspects can be illuminating. It is commonly known that unlike in India, the percentage of minorities in Pakistan has sharply declined after partition; what is less well known is that a clear majority of India’s minorities, 55%, believes the system is fair. One of the reasons for India’s greater success in nation-building – apart from obvious secular, democratic principles – is the much greater tolerance of regional diversity. Two examples highlight this. First, the ethnic composition of the two countries’ armies is telling. While both countries started out in 1947 with three-fourths of their armies being from the Punjab, India has consciously and gradually brought it down to a third; Pakistan’s army continues to be less representative, with an estimated 55-65% from Punjab, which has had repercussions for both its internal harmony and foreign policy. Second, despite initial reservations, India under Nehru accepted the demand for multiple official languages, and indeed linguistic basis for statehood. By contrast, Pakistan under Jinnah and his successors treated the more populous east’s demand for Bengali to be an additional national language (besides Urdu, which was the mother tongue of only 5% of the population) as treasonable. On the subject of economic inclusivity: despite decades of hand-wringing on how to optimise poverty alleviation efforts, many Indians are still shocked to hear that the country spends Rs 3.65 for every rupee of foodgrains it delivers to the poor. Surely there must be better ways to do this? Many economists have been advocating at least one radical alternative: direct cash transfers to the poor. Yet, despite successful implementation in other countries, for years this idea did not get the attention it deserved in India. Fortunately, at long last it seems to be getting political traction. The government is now on the verge of launching much-delayed pilot projects. India continues to grapple with the problems of a developing country, while being thrust into new roles commensurate with its growing economy and global stature. On both fronts it would be well served by a conscious effort to expose its policymakers to the best minds at home and abroad. The writer is a Lok Sabha MP . Science may deliver the elixir of life within 25 years It’s the realisation of a dream dvances in medical technology their lengthened lives. Such medical mean doctors may dramatically advances would revolutionise what it increase our lifespans. Indeed the means to be alive because we’d have so person who’ll live to a 150 years has proba- much more time to realise our dreams. A bly already been born and the person to lifetime, after all, is rarely enough to live to a thousand years will, in a couple of realise a lifetime’s ambitions. decades. So argues Aubrey de Grey, an But what of the enEnglish bioscientist who studies ageing. vironmental impact? Mankind is unified by the desire to live Longer lives will acforever. Ancient man sought to grasp tually help protect the immortality by performing great feats which would be remem- I T I M E S V I E W I bered forever. Soon medicine may deliver the real thing, or at least environment. That’s something close enough to it in today’s because living for a terms. De Grey believes doctors will be long time will inculable to control ageing just as they control cate a long-term permost infectious diseases. The future may spective on planet see people having periodic repairs at the Earth. Thousand-year molecular level to remove contagions lifespans make it before they cause damage. Such therapies essential to think of the future. Furtherwould make the issue of ageing popula- more, a new culture of care is bound to take tions and the question of who pays to hold since longevity is predicated on caring maintain them irrelevant. That’s because for oneself. In short, people will be encourperiodic check-ups would ensure people aged by their long lives to preserve the are healthy and active for not just far planet, just as they work to preserve themlonger, but for a far greater fraction of selves by undergoing ‘maintenance’ therapy. What about the boredom? marish vision of a vulnerable society composed of generations of sick and weak old people. Far more important than the quantity of life is quality. Otherwise there wouldn’t have been a worldwide movement in favour of euthanasia, to deal with predicaments when life continues but is not worth living. But let’s stretch a point and assume that people remain fit and active even as they age. How does one deal with the crashing boredom of living to a thousand years when even I COUNTERVIEW I 20-year-olds today are subject to bouts of ennui and despair? Ajay Vaishnav prospect of living for Besides, there is the environmental hundreds of years is impact that needs to be factored in. As things really attractive. Even stand, the earth’s population is slated to more importantly, are reach nine billion by 2050. This figure will we prepared to cope go up even further if the death rate dramatiwith the economic and cally slows. An earth teeming with tens of social ramifications of billions of people would be a grim place an ageing society, with lifespans stretching indeed. The balance of life on earth would be endlessly into the future? damaged beyond repair, wars would break Science is not omnipotent. Even if it man- out over limited resources, other species ages to stretch lifespans, it doesn’t follow that would be wiped out, perhaps mankind itself older people tomorrow will enjoy the same would come close to being rendered extinct. vitality and fitness as young people do today. That’s a high price to pay for pursuing An extended lifespan conjures up a night- infantile dreams of immortality. hy this addiction to living long, when it’s the quality of life that really matters? There’s something unhealthy about lusting after thousandyear-long lifespans beyond the natural cycle of childhood followed by youth and old age – it seeks to make vampires out of us. What we ought to ask ourselves is whether the A W Henry Kissinger’s Ode To China Nayan Chanda Ever since his secret trip to Beijing 40 years ago opened the way to US-China normalisation, Henry Kissinger has emerged as one of the world’s most prominent diplomatic commentators on the inscrutable Middle Kingdom. His much-anticipated book, On China, has thus occasioned quite a bit of media flurry. His admiring account of a sophisticated foreign policy rooted in China’s ancient culture and tradition, however, delivers less than the weighty 586-page tome promises. In retrospect, the great diplomatic strokes that Kissinger applauds produced only short-term gains for Beijing; many of these have since been reversed. One of China’s undeniable successes in his account, though, is how Beijing played unwitting Washington like a fiddle. Kissinger sees Maoist China’s diplomacy as being guided by an enduring game of wei qi – called ‘go’ in Japanese – in which a vast board is composed of competing black and white pieces pursuing a strategy of eventual encirclement. “At the end of a well-played game, the board is filled by partially interlocking areas of strength,” Kissinger says. Chinese action in the Taiwan Strait crisis in 1954-58, its border incursion against India in 1962 and its invasion of Vietnam in 1979 are offered as examples of China’s brilliant policy. Kissinger says that Mao decided to attack India in order to deter New Delhi’s forward policy. China’s strategic plan was for “a massive assault to produce a shock that would impel a negotiation or at least an end to the Indian military probing for the foreseeable future.” Before launching the attack, Mao managed to secure an assurance of support from Moscow, which was preparing for the Cuban crisis – this support vanished as the crisis abated. The invasion certainly jolted India but created a bitterness that lingers to this day, not helping in negotiation but pushing India closer to the US. Kissinger reveals how, just before the India attack, China manoeuvred to secure US assurances that it would not support a diversionary Nationalist Chinese offensive. Kissinger offers an adoring account of the shrewd Chinese plan to “teach Vietnam a lesson” for invading its ally in Cambodia. By making a high-profile visit to the US prior to attacking Vietnam, Deng Xiaoping created the impression that its action against Vietnam enjoyed Washington’s tacit blessing. Kissinger praises China’s “meticulous analysis of their strategic choices, daring execution and skilful diplomacy” in carrying out the invasion and discounts the heavy losses China suffered at the hand of the Vietnamese. In the end, though, Vietnam continued to occupy Cambodia for a decade. Kissinger seems to believe Chinese claims that Hanoi was part of Moscow’s expansion plans and needed to be stopped. The charge is in fact a mirror image of an earlier American justification of its intervention in Vietnam to halt Chinese expansion. “The rulers in Hanoi are urged on by Peking,” as Kissinger, without irony, quotes Lyndon Johnson in 1965. Yet, Vietnam’s millennial history of resistance against Chinese domination has proven its fierce independence. Nothing perhaps proves the fallacy of the reasoning for America’s disastrous intervention and that of China’s in 1979 than the fact that Vietnam’s continuing tension with China has since turned it into an eager friend of Washington. Kissinger shows Chinese success in winning over President Jimmy Carter and his national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski. He quotes the latter – “We could not collude formally with the Chinese in sponsoring what was tantamount to overt military aggression” – and then chuckles, “Informal collusion was another matter.” He seems to take pleasure in pointing to Carter’s championing of human rights and his unwitting alignment with China to support the murderous Khmer Rouge. While American officials publicly claimed they “cannot support Pol Pot”, Kissinger notes: “This sop to conscience did not change the reality that Washington provided material and diplomatic support to the ‘Cambodian resistance’ in a manner that the administration must have known would benefit the Khmer Rouge.” In trying to “explain the conceptual way the Chinese think about problems of peace and war”, Kissinger has left out instances which may not have shown Beijing in as flattering a light as he would like to present. Beijing’s entanglement with tar babies like Pol Pot and Kim Jong-il has gone unremarked. Kissinger believes China, with all its ancient wisdom and daring execution, should merge its efforts with the US “not to shake the world, but to build it”. SNAP JUDGMENT Lifting The Gloom ust when Indian athletics is facing its biggest crisis of credibility in the wake of the doping scandal, long jumper Mayookha Johny’s gold at Kobe’s Asian Athletics Championship has restored some pride to the country’s sports lovers. Club it with cricketer Harbhajan Singh’s feat in crossing the 400 Test wicket mark, and there is still a lot to celebrate on the sports front. Just Bengal amata Banerjee has proposed changing the name of West Bengal. The ‘West’ in the name is irrelevant today – since East Bengal is history. The new name ought to simply be ‘Bengal’ rather than Banga Desh, which sounds too much like a neighbouring country And the latter half . of another proposal, ‘Banga Pradesh’, is superfluous. Bengal on the other hand would be both precise and in continuity with the past. I Spells That Bind J M M any readers grew with Harry Potter, J K Rowling’s magical characters – and their fans – together savouring student life’s thrills, first love’s pangs, hurtful losses and joyous victories. There was shock then as Rowling announced the Potter series’ end, Harry vanquishing his demons in The Deathly Hallows, but settling into a routine life. Does growing up mean the spells must fade? Wait; Rowling might just write a new series soon. The magic need never stop. I SACRED S PAC E I About Your Relationships E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX Thus Spake The Bab True death is realised when a person dies to himself at the time of His Revelation when he seeks nothing but Him. Paradise is attainment of His good-pleasure and everlasting hell-fire His judgment through justice. True resurrection from the sepulchers means to be quickened in conformity with His Will, through the power of His utterance. God testifies that there is none other God but Him. None shall be able to fathom the oneness of His Being or to unravel the nature of His Existence. No peer or likeness, no similitude or equal can ever be joined with Him. Yield ye praise then unto Him and glorify Him… This will enable you to gain admittance into the allhighest Paradise. Would that ye had firm faith in the revelation of the signs of God! Today is the martyrdom day of the Bab, forerunner of Baha’u’llah. GLOBAL A EYE well as the bad. Understand that people behave according to their nature. Do you hate a lion for re you in conflict with the people you love its ferocity or a deer for its timidity? You love most? Do you experience incredible both creatures equally because you underhighs followed by invariable lows in your stand their nature and accept them for what relationships? Have the days of wine and roses they are. What prevents you from accepting become days of whine and neuroses? people as they are? Why do you complain when Love tainted with selfishness is ‘attach- a partner gets angry or a child is timid? ment’; it is only about you. You expect a return Look at others as part of yourself and you for your affection, tangible or intangible. You will focus on their best qualities. You will make demands on people and bind them. You see opponents as partners, competitors as feel insecure, vulnerable and threatened. Your comrades. You will celebrate others’ victory as expectations never seem to be met with. The if it were your own. more people do for you, the more you want. The Vedanta says there is only One. relationship thus becomes conflict-ridden. In If you see separateness, it is your the end, it breaks down and you lose delusion. Just as one ray of light refracts into seven different colours, the person. The age-old philosophy of Vedanta you see distinctions and demarcations steps in with new ways of defining because you view the world through the ourselves, others and the world prism of your body mind and intellect. , You see maximum separateness around us – ways that will appeal when you identify with your body . to the younger generation. It See the world through your mind and takes dedication, a leap of faith THE your circle of love expands to include and practice. I SPEAKING I Expand your mind. Get attached your family Rise to the intellect and . to a wider circle of people – commuyou see oneness among your TREE nity nation, humanity Work for , . compatriots. Merge with Atman, the loka sangraha, for the welfare of the world. Spirit within, and all differences vanish. As you get attached to the higher you get You exult in the experience of the One in detached from the lower. True love is born and the many You see yourself in all beings and all . your relationships become free from the end- beings in the Self, just as you admire your less strife that prevails now. images in different mirrors. Only then will you In order to fill the haunting sense of empti- be free from sorrow and delusion. And you will ness in your life you depend on people for your attain the exalted state of enlightenment. Follow Jaya Row on our website. happiness. Thus the starting point is faulty . Only when you are happy within can you estabwww.speakingtree.in lish meaningful relationships with others. It is absurd to depend on others to fill the void. Join the world’s first spiritual networking site Vedanta says you are paripurna – totally to interact directly with masters and seekers. fulfilled. You do not need anyone to make you Jaya Row will speak on relationships today, at BVB , happy Gain knowledge of your fulfilled state. . Love others for what they are, the good as Girgaum Chowpatty, 6.15 to 8pm. All are invited Jaya Row Build a world-class museum With reference to the editorial ‘God’s Own Museum’ (July 8), the treasure unearthed at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala is invaluable and of immense historical significance. Not surprisingly, many have expressed their opinion about how the treasure should be accounted for and utilised. But so far none of them has made a pragmatic suggestion like your editorial does: the treasure should be displayed in a grand museum in Thiruvananthapuram like the Louvre in Paris or the British Museum in London. However, such a museum would require high-level security without compromising the shrine’s holy atmosphere. Therefore, a scientifically designed museum equipped with modern security arrangements should be created. This would make Thiruvananthapuram the most sought-after place for domestic and foreign tourists, historians and archaeologists. Let’s hope the authorities use this opportunity to exhibit the treasure to the world with the pride it deserves. Ravindranthan P V, BANGALORE II The idea of creating a museum to exhibit the treasure unearthed at the temple in Kerala is welcome. Having said that, in a country like India where a substantial number of people lives below the poverty line, doesn’t it make sense to spare some part of the riches for social uplift? We should take a cue from European countries where works of art and archaeological artefacts and antiques are allowed for public auction. The funds so generated are used for charitable purposes. Keep in mind that these countries are ahead of us on many development parameters. People should realise that excess wealth should be used to serve the needy. J Jamin James, KANYAKUMARI We want your views and comments. Please write to us at
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