Rahul Writes

(Pseudo Seculars)

Secular Ways of Defeating Hindus

India is a secular state; though its definition of secularism seems to be meaning a systematic negligence and destruction of the religion which majority of Indians officially practice.

It works in favor of politicians if the electorates of our nation remain divided; be it on the basis of religion, caste, region, race, language, or any other invented factor. When divided, the communities are mentally segregated, each looking at others as people different from themselves. Winning elections in such conditions is easy ' all they have to do is to shell out some sops and appease the popular demands of an adequate number of such segregated groups. This leads to the creation of what we call 'vote-banks'. No wonder why each typical political party in India aspires to have some vote-banks.

Congress party (INC) has traditionally tried hard to make vote banks out of almost all non-Hindu communities. Reasons were many, including some historical ones. On the other hand, the main opposition party BJP tried to aim for being representative of the Hindus ' but mostly failed. It failed because Hindus are too diverse in their customs, philosophies and thinking ' and are just too broad minded to vote en masse. On the other hand, religions with smaller bases have fewer difficulties to overcome to come on a single line. During the last general elections, the Catholic Church had asked the Christians to vote for secular parties (read: vote-for-Congress and not-to-vote for BJP), while Muslims have this concept of their mullahs giving them dictates which party to vote for; this time they got a fatwa telling them to vote for the party and leaders which work in favor of Muslims, irrespective of their religion. Some times back there was a Muslim convention where they even awarded and thanked those ministers in the UPA government who have worked to benefit the Muslims. If we talk of Neo-Buddhists, they even exist today because of efforts from some political parties like BSP and RPI.

The non-Hindu religions, particularly the Muslims and so-called Dalit-Christians have been demanding religion-based reservations for them in education and in employment. While various forms of reservations do exist, like there are minority institutions which are funded by tax-payers money, or there are some other ways to include them in the quota system, a plain 'religious quota' is still too far away to be implemented. Therefore, the states governments in India have 'minority' departments which carry out lots of efforts for the welfare of minorities (minorities are defined as non-Hindus).

The advertisement with this post is one of the most naïve ones in this context. Govt. of Maharastra is trying to include more non-Hindus in their Police departments. (They have found a justification for their pseudo secularism in the Affirmative Action of the USA, forgetting that India has never discriminated like the racist Whites groups did in the US, and hence a comparison is misplaced.) Since they can't hire plainly on the basis of religion, they are giving training for non-Hindu candidates so that they can out-compete the Hindu candidates and hence get the jobs. Guess who pays for such trainings? Of course the tax payers ' the 'majority' of it would also come from Hindus. So in a way, Hindus are 'paying' to non-Hindus to out-compete themselves! Is not this a great achievement of our secular politics?

Religion as eligibility criteria for such schemes can't be called secular. Most of us would say that the government should train just the economically poor students for such entrance exams, irrespective of their castes or religions. But our righteous requests would go in vain. Politics in India doesn't work this way. Congress party doesn't work this way. They want us divided and down.

But there is still a hope. The only point where this secular divide would stop is when Hindus would become as minority in numbers, as illiterate, as closed-minded, or in one word as 'vote-bank like', as the other communal vote banks are. Or may be there would be a third world war before that and we won't survive to see a free India anymore. In death and ruins, our nation would become free of secular divides. The only other hope is for these self-defined secular politicians to get defeated.

Equality can't be achieved with pseudo secularism.

(Rahul)

(Smaller Gods)

Even in scarcity

It was yet another rainy evening in Mumbai. As my bus stopped (or may be moved too slow) as the rush hour traffic snarled through a particular locality, I saw some hutments made on one side of the road. They were perhaps nomads who had settled there for some months. I glanced through their men, women and children who were carrying on various activities of their household. Suddenly something caught my attention. Or someone

He was an old man, perhaps in his later 60s but looked like in his 80s; near skeleton, but had long hair with beard flowing over his clothes which were grey ' all proving nothing but an abject poverty. Why did he catch my attention? Oh, there he was He was raising both his hands up to his shoulders and smiling! Not only smiling, but he was like blessing someone! I looked in his line of sight ' and I found two younger strong and obese men walking on the road. They were returning him smiles in a gesture. So the old man, who was a portrait of paucity, still had the heart to bless someone richer than himself raising both his hands like Lord Brahma and with such a broad smile! In second thoughts, I found it must be something with the way India is ' here people are respected just because of their age!

Just ten meters away from him, I caught another breath stopping sight. There was a kid of about five, lying on his aaram kursi. It was an old style chair, with a reclining seat made up of cloth, which were more popular in the past as resting chairs. This chair was a small one, specifically made for children. As the boy rested on it, he was bending towards one side and watching something on the ground, may be some insects or birds. He seemed to be lost in his world, and I imagined him singing a song. Such a desolate condition of his wandering family, and yet they had cared to keep this kid entertained. On his aaram kursi the boy must be feeling like a prince! Or a baby Krishna for sure

I also remember another scene from a traffic signal. Some street-children were playing in between doing their beggars job. At one place I saw three kids of around 5-10 years, perhaps they were siblings. One boy and one girl were decorating another girl. They had made her wear bangles in her arms, had kept a piece of clothes over her head like an anchal, had pleated her hair to look nice and balanced, and then there was something which touched my heart The boy had found a piece of ornament (of course artificial) which is used by Indian women to put over their mang (parting of the hair). It seemed that they were playing dulhan-dulhan and the siblings were trying to decorate their youngest sister as a bride! I wondered if these kids have really dreamt of nice wedding for their sister as it happens in the homes on both sides of the roads! Still, their happiness to see their little sister look like a bride, though in whatever condition clothes and ornaments happened to be, was wonderful beyond comparisons

When I think about it, I smile at myself. For some time I had wondered if the scenes that I witnessed told me how even the poorest of the poor in India carry part of the same culture and share similar values with the rest. I don't think it was only this much. I think the scenes proved in front of my eyes ' that Life can Smile ' even in Scarcity.

(Controversial)

Business of 'Faith-for-Help'

Christian charitable organizations the world over are often accused of converting native people from other religions into their own organized faith. In India, the Church and the missionaries have a long history of converting Hindus into their own faith. A population which is economically poor, and is divided into castes and sub-castes, is a perfect grazing field for them.

But when it comes to Mother Teresa, we all keep her in high reverence her for the work she did to help the poor. Still, there have been some voices; I particularly heard some from my friends in Kolkata that even she indulged in this business of conversion. I didn’t want to believe this accusation - after all, her image in my mind was beyond such selfish motives of ‘faith-for-help’ scams. Incidentally, today I came across an interview of Sister Nirmala, the succeeding head of Mother Teresa’s Missions of Charity. [Complete Text here] Here is a part to refer:

Q: What was Mother’s attitude toward Hindus and Muslims?

Sister Nirmala: She respected everybody’s religion; she helped them to live whatever they have received in their faith, as best as they could. Her whole idea was: “This is what they should do, and if some day God gives them the grace of faith, they may be able to respond generously to that call.” But she wanted everybody to be wholehearted in whatever they believed.

Q: Did she try to convert them?

Sister Nirmala: No, but she would have been happy if people received the grace of faith. She prayed for the grace of faith. Some of them converted: a few.

I wonder what she respected everybody’s religion for! If she really thought their religions were 'true', she would never have prayed for they getting 'grace of faith', which Sister Nirmala uses as a synonym for 'Christianity', or better, 'Catholicism'. Isn’t it? It is like I telling you: "I think the sweater you are wearing is really nice one and is adequate for the occasion, but I wish some day you get a high-neck one with vertical stripes instead of horizontal." There is an internal conflict here.

Even Sister Nirmala’s reply when asked if Mother Teresa converted people into her own faith, gives away more. She says like, “No, she didn’t convert people, but would have been happy if people converted.” I pity those poor 'few' people who gave her 'happiness' by converting to Christianity. Just imagine their condition. They have been very poor with no regular sources of income. Some of them had bore the brunt of ugly caste based discrimination. Here comes a lady who was awarded Nobel Prize way back in 1979 (and Bharat Ratna came chasing a year after in 1980), with so much hype around her name and a hallo around her self, to help this person. Now let us say he is helped with free food and a job in a cottage industry. He is indeed in debt of these missionaries. Now one day he comes to know that Mother would be 'happy' to see him praying in front of Christ’s idol, with a cross around his neck. Won’t this poor fellow feel humble enough to oblige her by going through the rituals? (It is another matter that when faced with crisis, he will still pray Hanuman Ji) This is the way the mission works ' most of the times! And when a generation will pass, his children will lose their 'convert' tag and would start to 'praise the Lord' or the 'only true and living God' and the spiraling business of conversion would continue.

So now I am thankful to the 'grace of God' that he answered the doubt in my mind. Now I am sure that she too converted people into her own religion of birth - (Is not it hypocritical that nuns like her hold fast to their own birth-religions but pray for others to leave their own?) - if not directly, then indirectly for sure.

(Rahul)

P.S.: The only argument many of us have supporting these religious missionary organizations doing charity is that they are helping the poor and needy. My reply to them is: Is not this the job of our government to provide all poor and needy with food, support, and education? Then why to get such religious and communal organizations fulfill their agendas in the name of social work? Why should the native religion of India ' Hinduism ' suffer just because our government is inadequate in resources? No wonder, these missionaries collect thousands of Crores of donations abroad and come to India to do the business of 'Faith-for-Help'.

(Pseudo Seculars)

And the Cult of 'Gandhis'

One day I was reading on the topics of 'cult of personality' and 'hero worship'. The phenomenon can be explained in the following paragraph:

A cult of personality arises when a country’s leader uses mass media to create a heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships and Stalinist governments. A cult of personality is similar to general hero worship, except that it is created specifically for political leaders.

Throughout history, monarchs were almost always held in enormous reverence. The spread of democratic ideas made it increasingly difficult for monarchs to preserve this aura. However, the subsequent development of photography, sound recording, film and mass production, as well as public education and techniques used in commercial advertising, enabled political leaders to project a positive image like never before. It was from these circumstances in the 20th century that the best-known personality cults arose.

Generally, personality cults are most common in regimes with totalitarian systems of government. During the peak of their regimes, these leaders were presented as god-like and infallible. Their portraits were hung in homes and public buildings, with artists and poets legally required to produce only works that glorified the leader.

In a moment, I got reminded of such phenomenon happening in our India. It is cult of ‘Gandhis’. (The Nehru family in India had acquired this caste surname for political reasons.)

Jawahar Lal Nehru was always shown in public images while either laughing aloud or playing with children or in a white sherwani with a red rose fixed on his chest ' all portraying a very positive image of his. The other popular pictures of his showed him flying pigeons in the sky - symbolic of him granting India its freedom ' a feeling among masses still prevalent that this family gave us our freedom. His role in partition of India, getting an eternal conflict in J&K by referring to UNO, disastrously treacherous war with China due to his fantasies, are some gray events which were never let to get reflected in the minds of fellow citizens. Indira Gandhi no doubt was a strong leader, but she gained much because of the dictator-like impression she created in the minds of her opponents. Though a much less stern personality like Lal Bahadur Sastri had given India its one of the greatest war victories without much hype around himself. Rajiv Gandhi was projected as Mr. Clean, and a Gentleman. Though of course his integrity was blemished for ever after Bofors scam in which he and his Italian wife were direct stake holders. But still a fraction of us look at him in the same manner in which his PR agents wanted us to see - Mr. Clean. After Rajiv, Sonia Gandhi came on to claim her stake on the Dynasty. Her public portraits and cut-outs prominently showed her multi-colored sarees. Widows in India don’t become too colorful in their attire, but colorfulness (though with decency) in her sarees were a marketing necessity to ‘prominently’ highlight in the minds of the junta that she was wearing one of their own clothes, and hence was one of them. She keeps her gray hair visible, so as to generate the 'sacrificing image' and 'respectable' feelings in others. Even her broken Hindi speeches were part of the PR exercise - every time she misspelt a Hindi word - people were impressed at how hard the videshi bahu was trying to learn Indian things! By effective PR efforts, they were made to forget that even though Sonia Maino married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968, she retained her Italian citizenship till April 29, 1983 - clearly indicating her true loyalty to the nation. And now is the time for Rahul Gandhi. His PR effort makes him wear white kurta-pajama most often, and at times he also dons the local attires like pagdi, tilak, etc. All these are efforts to hide his half-European looks. While he may be a Roman Catholic Christian, he keeps his image clean out of such religious affiliations. Even media keeps itself away from highlighting anything from his personal life; e.g. after studies in the US, he worked in England for five years; he has had a Spanish girlfriend, and he is in politics all because of the fact that his dynasty needs him here.

I can go on and on. The PR guys who work for the 'Cult of Gandhis' have done a wonderful job! So now we know that Rahul G has spent one night in the house of a 'dalit', but we don't care if he spent his five years working for a foreign company while living in England ' a fact which clearly shows how serious he always was to serve our nation. Similarly we now know how Sonia has been serving our nation in memory of her husband, but we don't question her intentions to retain Italian citizenship for 15 years after her marriage. Such is the power of an effective PR.

So far I have only commented on how the personalities from this cult of Gandhis were glorified. A lot other things also play their part. Just like Saddam Hussein put his busts at public places to remind his junta of his presence, this dynasty too has used similar stunts to keep Indians reminded of their presence and their contributions for the national cause. So countless institutes, buildings, localities, departments, schemes and projects funded by tax-payer's money have been branded as a "Jawahar Lal Nehru Yojna", or "Indira Gandhi Scheme", or a "Rajiv Gandhi Project".

These are some pages which list the various government schemes and institutes glorifying Nehru/Gandhi dynasty members with taking up their names. [Link1] [Link2] [Link3] [Link4]. The list runs over 450 examples! Rajiv Gandhi Setu for Bandra Worli Sea Link is only the latest addition.

The question is: why should public money be used to glorify cult of Gandhis (acquired surname) who belong to a particular political party? I think the best argument that a dynasty-believer will present to protect these would be ' if a scheme is good, why we should care for its name? For such an argument, I don't have a reply if we Indians have decided to remain as a third-world under-developed nation and if we have taken a vow not to become an informed and awaken citizenry any day. But if we haven't, then we should care.

So what is the way out ' can we still get rid of burden of the cult of Gandhis? I think yes. As soon as a non-Congress government comes in center, it should remove the names of all dynasty-members from government sponsored schemes or facilities. For example, IIM Shillong which is presently named 'Rajiv Gandhi IIM Shilong', should be named only 'IIM' Shillong (Btw, the dynasty has not even let the IIM Brand remain sacrosanct). For some other names which are too dependent on a person's identity, e.g. Indira Awas, the first names should be dropped and only 'Gandhi' should be left out. This would be done in remembrance of the real and genuine 'Gandhi', or Mahatma Gandhi, who is officially father of our nation. Words Jawahar and Nehru should also be done away with and in his place names of our freedom fighters can be kept. As a rule, no government sponsored scheme or facility should be named after any politician or his/her family member who held a public office after August 15^th 1947. The responsibility of maintaining the thousands of statures and busts of members of the cult of Gandhis should be transferred to a trust which should be run out of personal funds from Sonia Gandhi; failing which she as head of the trust should be allowed to take away the busts and keep it at an appropriate place for preservation. I am sure she has enough funds in her accounts to do this; otherwise she can take help of her loyal family friends like Ottavio Quattrocchi. Removing all signs of the dynasty from public funded projects would also give breathing space for the real and genuine Gandhi that our nation is indebted to.

I hope to live up to the day when our nation would be free from the clutches of the cult of ‘Gandhis’.

(Rahul)

(Mumbai) (India)

Lessons from handling of Mumbai Terror Attacks - Nov 2008

The Mumbai Terror attacks in November 2008 are a classic case of how inefficient governments are our main problem, and not over-reactive media.

When Pakistan sponsored terrorists were striking at the Taj and other five star hotels in Mumbai, the national media kept covering the news as a live telecast. The terrorists followed up the security arrangements while watching them live on TV, and hence could plan their acts well. This, among other factors, helped the terrorists to sustain longer than expected. (10 terrorists kept Mumbai shut down for 60 hours). When the crisis was over, the government blamed the media for all these lapses and for indirectly helping the terrorists.

The fact was that our government had never formed any code or strategy for media regulation at the times of emergencies like these. In absence of any code, media acted on its own. Also, the security agencies didn't cordon-off the affected area to stop media from reaching there. They lacked this intelligence and imagination that terrorists could watch the live news! (Though exactly the same thing ' terrorist watching live TV news for updates - was enacted in the movie ' 'A Wednesday', which was made on the same theme some months ago) To make the mess deeper, agencies like NSG and MarCos gave separate press-briefings, of course due to absence of any real policy.

Government's anger on media

The real anger of government on media (both Maharastra and Center had Congress led governments) can be understood because the media reports simply showed the 'naked truths'. Media reports showed to us that our government had no clear plans to handle such hostage-like threats despite India being at the receiving end of terrorism since long. Also, in an eye-opening report, we got to know that our government was sleeping over the security warnings and intelligence briefs which had clearly mentioned well in advance that an attack through sea-route would be happening in Mumbai hotels.

We didn't have any competent mechanism to prevent or even counter such attacks where only 10 militants killed 164 persons and injured another 308.

The news reports resulted in 'public outcry against politicians' and this is what the inefficient government didn't want to happen. It seems their political designs worked, because even after one of the worst-ever man-made disasters, the Congress party came back to power in Maharastra (Lok Sabha Elections) just by making Union Minister out of the state Chief Minister.

Not releasing terror probe report

As if the attacks were not enough, our government of Maharastra decided not to disclose the RD Pradhan Committee report on the 26/11 terror attacks, saying its contents were sensitive for national security. This decision, as it clearly shows, was basically taken to hide government's own failures in the event of the attack, and has shown once again that Congress way of peace starts from manipulated public and media to generate a comfortable silence.

History of hiding and showing-down for media

Congress has a long history of hiding and manipulating Inquiry reports. I came to know that it hid the Henderson-Brooks report on the 1962 war failure. If the report was released, we would have seen Pt. Nehru in a completely different light. Then we all know the way the autocratic Indira G treated the media during Emergency, and suppressed many facts from coming out in the public. Even today, can we dream of a fair inquiry into the Bofors scandal when our politicians like Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhis have publicly expressed their 'happiness' to see Italian businessman Quattrochi free from accusations?

RTI Act

All this sounds curious when we are reminded of the fact that it was the Congress which made Right to Information bill passed in the parliament. But knowing the party's history of hiding inquiry reports and suppression of information from reaching the public domain, its design becomes clear. It seems that RTI Act was one mean to control and bring transparency among the public servants - the Executive. Even if we ignore the loop-holes in the act from getting really effective, the Politicians can still do all that they want.

Whereas the Constitution of India has established democratic Republic; And whereas democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed;

The Right to Information Act, 2005 starts with these lines.

Doesn't this act become ineffective in cases like these when the government legitimately hides some probe reports from coming out in the public? It's like allowing the small fishes to get caught, while the big fishes remain safe.

Conclusions

There are three arms of a government ' Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. The conflict between the three arms is some times visible and some times not. We already know the power-struggle among the three. After seeing the case of Mumbai terror attacks it becomes clear that the legislative which is dominated by corrupt politicians and parties like the Congress, has tried to keep itself safe. By laws and acts like RTI Act, they have made the Executive to remain on the toes and answerable.

Media is called the fourth pillar of democracy. Time and again, the politicians and the legislative have tried to manipulate this fourth pillar to get its selfish interests remain secure. Mumbai terror attack is just the most recent example.

Post Script

I am quoting a recent news report. I wonder how much truth is kept hidden below the carpet just because our grand old secular Congress party wishes so.

Ten days after home minister P Chidambaram said that there was no local help guiding the terrorists during the November 26 attacks, the log of phone calls made by the handlers of the attackers to numerous phones in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik before, during and after the attacks suggests that there were local contacts. None of the people who took those calls have been identified, let alone investigated. [Link]

(Rahul)

Just read this article which reminds us of what we were in the past:

Total Solar Eclipse - All roads lead to Bihar

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Patna, July 15, 2009

Taregana is buzzing with activity.

The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), the US space research and exploration agency, has declared after 20 years of research that this nondescript town, 25 km south of Patna, is the best location on earth from which to watch the largest solar eclipse of the century on July 22.

NASA has also listed it among the best places from which to observe the stars.

Aryabhatta (476-550 AD) had figured this out a long time ago.

The famous 6th century astronomer-mathematician from India’s Golden Age - who first proposed that the earth rotates on its axis and developed the concept of zero - had located his observatory at the Sun Temple that existed in Tarengana (literally, song of the stars) then.

Following unknowingly in his footsteps, scientists, tourists and eclipse chasers from across the world suddenly want to visit Taregana.

Read More: [Link]

(India)

During last general election campaigns, BJP's LK Advani had made a huge issue out of Indian money locked up in Swiss Banks. He claimed that in 2007, the money held by Indians in Swiss banks stood at USD 5.7 Billion, up from USD 2.6 Billion in 2001 (Both the amount and >100% increase are alarming). Initially, the response of Congress leadership was in ignoring.

Later on when Advani looked like having caught the nation's attention on the issue, Manmohan Singh and Sonia G came up with some weird logic ' blaming Advani for actually helping the guilty black-money wallas by making a 'noise' about it. Congress feared that those guys will take their money out of the Swiss Banks because Advani was promising to find out the account details! (They didn't see that even this take-back would help India) Anyways, the Congress govt promised that it would do something about it. The BJP termed all the Congress' promises as lip-service, and the BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad wondered: “The UPA government’s indifference to the matter gives rise to very serious suspicions. Does the Congress fear that the skeletons from its own cupboard would tumble out?”

The BJP fought the elections promising to bring back the Indian black-money from the Swiss Banks. The Congress fought the elections saying it will also do something, and accused the BJP for making drama out of the issue.

The electorates of India, which are largely uninterested and unaware of political complications on international issues, were pessimistic. They had their sense of disbelieve in what Mr. Advani said and promised. And they thought that a gentleman that Manmohan Singh was, he would certainly do something about it.

So we got over an election by reelecting the same faces (and surnames). (And our economist Prime Minister got his chance to shrug-off the label of "Weakest Ever PM" without even fighting an election.)

Now, what's the Indian government doing about the issue?

I read this news which I have attached here with the blog. The US government is doing the same thing what Mr. Advani promised. And they have reached this stage within a few weeks! Our government can remain sleeping over it. It helps them anyway. Where do you think the money needed to bribe MPs to save last UPA government (over nuclear deal) came from? And don't we all know that Sonia G's family friend Quattrocchi had his money parked in the same Swiss Banks?

It seems Mr. Advani was right. There is something fishy about our government's laxity to deal with this money.

Btw, how far is Switzerland from Italy? :)

(Rahul)

(India) (Politics) (Journalism)

I read a news item just now which made me search for similar reports from different newspapers. It's about our Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addressing the World Population Day function in New Delhi. As part of his speech, he provided two solutions for population control in India. First one was in a lighter vein, "If there is electricity in every village, people will watch TV till late night and then fall asleep. They won't get a chance to produce children. When there is no electricity, there is nothing else to do but produce babies." And secondly he also seriously suggested that we should promote late-marriage where boys and girls marry over the age of 30. Then he commented that Naxal problem in India was because of over-population. I wonder what would happen if we pass some of his unlearned personal opinion as government’s official stand.

The Indian Express has come up with an article which is mind-blowing [Link]. It is not only brutal yet constructive in its criticism, but also is highly learned and informative. If they write newspaper articles like these, bloggers will become unemployed :)

Here it goes:

Azad's 'TV pill' gives city health experts heartburn

Express News Service; First Published: 13 Jul 2009 10:45:38 AM

HYDERABAD: Even as Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad explained that his 'family planning' comments were in lighter vein, his Population Day speech is being seen as insensitive by many. The Minister's remarks were the talk of the day with several regional channels dissecting his speech in discussion programmes.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, while addressing a gathering on World Population Day, advocated TV as a 'birth control pill'. Azad said that if every village had electricity, people would watch TV till late in the night and fall asleep. "They wouldn't get a chance to produce babies," he said.

His statement that the Naxal problem was also due to population explosion has been criticised by many. "The fight in the future and at present is between the haves and have-nots. The Naxalite movement is a result of this," Azad said on Saturday.

As part of his speech, the Union Health Minister also advised that couples in the country should delay their marriage till the age of 30-31 so that population growth is curbed. Health experts beg to differ.

"At a time when rural India is suffering due to lack of power and basic infrastructure, it is gross insensitivity and lack of awareness on the part of the Minister to advise them to watch television in order to check population growth. This one statement mirrors the elitist attitude of the Minister," said G Ramakrishna, who works in a Legal Process Outsourcing firm.

Azad's dismissal of the Naxal movement as the product of an overpopulated nation has foxed many. "The Naxal movement in some States is a burning issue, which sprang out of social and economic inequities.

Azad did not make any sense when he referred to the population issue as the root cause for the differences between sections of the society," said a Knowledge Manager in the Centre for Good Governance.

He also opined that it is politically incorrect to promise electrification to villages for the sake of watching TV, as a population control measure.

"Instead of disseminating population control awareness messages to rural areas of the country, it is unfortunate that Minister advises rural people to watch TV.

Statements like these reveal the lack of commitment of the Health Ministry to implement family planning and population control programmes in the country," said Sarath Kumar Baral, who has worked on family welfare awareness programmes in a UNDP-funded programme.

Azad's statement advocating late marriages for population control were not spared either.

Health experts felt that delay in marriages was bad for women. Child-bearing after the age 30 would prove to be dangerous during the gestation period. "We need to strive against child marriages, there are no second thoughts about that. But delay in marriages is not advisable as stated by the Health Minister. Late marriages would result in lot of complications during pregnancy, which could sometimes be fatal," informed Dr C V Ravi Kumar. He felt said that statements of this sort would send wrong signals to the younger generation and result in serious consequences.

It is clear that the standard of our Union Ministers has come down drastically, while our journos are getting better. Or may be the population of unlearned politicians is increasing. I think we need some 'selective population control' now :) It should work in democracy.

Picture: On the flip side: This quarter-page advertisement appeared in today's Hindustan Times (Mumbai edition, page 5). It has long been known and said how 'related' Congress and HT are, because of historical/family issues. Accepting this ad from Congress party congratulating HT, the HT editors have proven that not all sections of media have become prudent :)

(Songs) (Music)

Normally I don’t read the fine lines of lyrics; I just enjoy the music and move on. But at some point I had wondered how much they write ’stories’ in the form of lyrics! I am not much into English songs anyway, but just happened to see the lyrics of this song.

It's “I’m still the same” from Morgan Heritage. Here are the lyrics; some portions are trimmed for better presentation.

The guy had fallen in love with a girl, who rejected him. But when the same guy made name and fame, she said she loved him! He sings, and sings :) Here:

I’m still the same

Yo, if it wasn’t for my name,

Wasnt for the fame,

Would you wanna be my main, baby?

If it wasn’t for the hype,

Would you have the time

To have an interest in my life?

I don’t think so baby

If it wasn’t for the diamonds and the pearls

Would you wanna share my world?

You need not say a word

Here’s some questions for your mind (for your mind)

Do you love Rastafari?

Or even Rasta for your life?

‘Cos if its all about the hype, girl

I can’t have you in my life

‘Cos I’m that same roots Rastaman yaw,

You did’nt want in your world (ain’t a thing changed)

Remember you told me before,

I’d never come to nothing else (never)

I never change my lifestyle at all,

Still yet i’ve seen the world (my eyes have seen)

So tell me why should i give u all,

And have you as my one and only girl? yeah

I never changed (i never changed)

I’m still the same (i’m still the same)

Oh baby, baby, baby, yeah yeah

There was a time my heart was yearning for you to be in my life,

Baby your the only girl i tried to be with more than twice,

Now tell me why all of a sudden,

That i’m the only man you wantin’?

Even now because there’s fame to my name,

Doesn’t mean i’ve changed

Do you love Rastafari?

Or even Rasta for your life?

‘Cos if its all about the hype,

I can’t have you in my life!

Girl you never wanted me!

You never rated me!

So how could you ever love me?

I could you let this be!

External links: [About Morgan Heritage], [I'm still the same on YTube], [I'm still the same - Audio] [Pictures taken from net and made into a collage]

(Rahul)

(Indian Companies) (Business)

The 100 CC Strategy ' flip-flop or tactical?

Many a time I have wondered why business leaders say any particular thing in the interviews. Why do they reveal much of their business strategies? Haven't we read the MNCs talking about their 'India plans' in the newsprint, or Mahindras announcing their strategy for commercial vehicles? Is it that they really think revealing their strategies would help them in some ways?

After a while I put on a little skepticism ' may be they want to fool their competitors by misguiding them about their strategies; may be they just want to give a push to the falling share-prices; may be they want moral boost up for their partners or see it as an advertising strategy; or may be simply the Big Boss needs a little ego-high some times. A lot can happen ' business is a bad world after all.

In 2007, Bajaj had decided to exit 100 cc segment of motorbikes. [Link]. At that time their CT-100 had done well and then Bajaj Platina was not doing bad either. But they had reasons for taking this decision. The profit margin in 100 cc segment is very low and their main competitor Hero Honda takes almost the whole cake (55% of segment in 2006). So Bajaj decided to remain only in the higher capacity segments ' 125 cc and above - where their margins were higher and they had good brands like Discover and Pulsar.

But now, Bajaj has done a flip-flop and has announced to reenter the 100 cc segment [Link]. The company is launching 100 cc Discover (with DTS-Si engine) by the end of this month and it will counter 100 cc Splendor and Passion from Hero Honda.

So what happened to much hyped Bajaj strategy to focus on premium and higher end bikes only and exit the entry level 100 cc segment? Is it because the recession has eaten into the buying powers of customers who now prefer lower cost bikes? Or was the company really not able to read the markets and went on a wrong strategy which it has corrected now?

The reason why this can be a strategic flip-flop is that may be the young MD of Bajaj who took over from legendry Rahul Bajaj started his career with aggression and decided to be only in premium segment where the money lied, but then in the light of recession, he understood the importance of de-risking his business by keeping presence in all segments and hence this decision! But there is a point in what Rajiv Bajaj says in the interview that Bajaj indeed was developing this bike from quite some time and it can't just come up with the product as a contingency measure just-in-time.

I agree with Rajiv Bajaj that the company has not 'changed' its strategy really. May be it really kept the 'original' strategy hidden and sent a wrong note of comfort to Hero Honda by telling that it would exist the 100 cc segment and hence Hero Honda should take it ease and become complacent. In the meanwhile they kept working on the higher-end Discover platform to come up with its variant of a 100 cc bike! Seems like a really good strategy!

I think it is also about brands. Bajaj's Discover and Pulsar have been fairly successful bikes and have good brand names. A CT-100 from Bajaj had become to be seen as a bike for rural areas, while customers in even the semi-urban areas preferred the Hero Honda bikes for their trusted brand names and reliability. When Discover established and became to be seen as a reliable brand, it was in the interest of and convenient for Bajaj to extend the Discover brand even in 100 cc segment. I don't think this move will erode the Discover brand.

This 100 cc Discover with DTS-Si engine will have a mileage of 80 lph and is being promoted as 'long distance bike'. This bike will be in the 'premium entry-level' segment and would fill the gap between entry-level 100 cc Platina and 135 cc Discover. The positioning and targeting of the bike seems to be alright.

Overall, I congratulate Bajaj for this tactical move. I don't see this case of prior decision of exit and then the reentry as a strategic flip-flop. But some challenges would remain to see through that the strategy delivers results. Let us see how customers respond.

(Rahul)

(History) (Hinduism)

'See to believe' or 'Know and preserve'?

Sometimes history is read in books. Sometimes history is seen in forts and tombs. No doubt, the visual aspect would make the later more attractive to believe in.

Many of my friends thank the British rule for giving us some of our good buildings and infrastructure; e.g. our Parliament House was designed and built by the British as home of the Council of State and the Chamber of Prince while our Rastrapati Bhavan was built by the British as Viceroy's House. And then we have tombs and architecture from Mughal era ' be it Lal Quila or Taj Mahal, all stand tall because they are from recent past. In the name of purely native Hindu architecture, I don't know which building to mention here. Hindus were first invaded and looted by barbaric Islamic rulers from the Western front, and then the remaining loot was finished by the industrialized Great Britain, converting world's richest region into one of the poorest. What happens when our Somnath Temples are razed for centuries ' by those who want to see our cultural pride down to dust? Do we rebuild them, or forget them and conveniently come in terms with the 'most recent past'? There is a serious need to restore the ancient glory of our land called India or Bharat. Someone has to do it for the sake of our future generations.

Will our 'self-righteously secular' government do it? So far whatever good work is done has happened not for 'restoration' but to 'maintain'. State governments in India have departments which maintain most of large Hindu temples. Still, the facilities, infrastructures are almost all in a sad state. They have allowed commercialization of Hindu temples, because they get revenues out of it. And how many Hindus know that our secular governments actually earn revenues out of the donations we make in the premises? On the other hand, governments grant thousands of Crores of rupee every year to Muslims and Christians in the name of Waqf or minority welfare (Haj subsidies alone cost our government rupees 900 crores plus every year). Coming back to the topic, there is a huge requirement to restore the glory of ancient Hindu temples and our holy cities.

Here is a wonderful piece of research article describing the history of Mathura ' the birth place of Lord Krishna. Note how the city has seen ups and downs ' destroyed and humiliated under Mahmud of Ghazni, and then more recently under Aurangzeb. Even today, Lord Krishna Temple at Krishnajanmbhoomi is partly occupied by a mosque build by Aurangzeb. (I don't know if it stands as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, or Muslim invasion of Hindustan ' there are positive way of looking at things, but facts tell different stories.) One Akbar was not enough in front of many Aurangzebs and Mahmuds ' very much like the fact that it takes centuries to build but moments to destroy.

A part of history we inherited:

*!*

History of Mathura (मथुरा) - Krishna's Birthplace

*!*

A hundred years after Krishna left this world, Arjuna, the Pandava ruler of Indraprastha (present day Delhi), brought Vajranabh, Krishna's great- grandson, from Dwarka to Braj and appointed him king of the land of Krishna's childhood and youth. Braj at the time, after the Great War depicted in the epic Mahabharata, had been abandoned and the legendary places of Krishna had become untraceable.

The head priest of the cowherds, Sandilya, was sought and the sacred domains of Krishna lila were once again mapped. Vajranabh facilitated the establishment of village settlements around the sacred spaces so that they could be preserved. He also memorialized Krishna's presence in the four quarters of Braj by establishing the temples of Govindev in Vrindavan, Keshavdev in Mathura, Haridev in Govardhan and Baladev in Dauji. He consecrated the presence of Shiva in his linga form at four sites: Gopeshwar in Vrindavan, Bhuteshwar in Mathura, Chakreshwar in Govardhan and Kameshwar in Kamban. All these sites were within the twelve main forests of Vrindavan .

Mathura, the centre of Braj, during the rule of Ashoka and the Mauryas, was dominated by Buddhist influence and the sites of Krishna lila were once again neglected. The Muslim invasions and the fervour of the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, further destroyed whatever vestiges time had left of the Braj tradition. Between the 11th and 15th century images and deities were hidden in the sacred kunds (water tanks);once again the forests of Braj grew thick and covered these sites. Some deities were taken to various places in Rajasthan, where they still remain' Radha Givindadevji in Jaipur and Srinathji at Nathdwara.

The very first historical record we find, in writing, about Mathura, dates back to the year 1017. This is the year that Mahmud of Gazni ransacked Mathura in his ninth invasion of India. The ruler of Mahaban, Kulchand, stood up to Gazni's invading armies by drawing them deep into a great forest (Mahaban). In the battle that ensued 50,000 of Kulchand's men perished. Realising he had lost, the king first slew his wife and then himself, with a dagger. When Gazni entered the nearby holy city of Mathura "he saw a building of exquisite structure, which the inhabitants described to be the handiwork not of men but of Genii ". Ghazni saw that "the town wall was constructed of solid stone and had opening onto the river, two gates, raised on high and massive basements to protect them from the floods. On the two sides of the city were thousands of houses with idol temples attached, all of masonry and strengthened by bars of iron; and opposite them were other buildings supported on stout wooden pillars. In the middle of the city was a temple larger and finer than the rest, to which neither painting nor description would do justice." (F.S. Growse)

The Sultan, in awe of what he was seeing, wrote: "If any one wished to construct a building equal to it, he would not be able to do so without expending a hundred million dinars, and the work would occupy two hundred years, even though the most able and experienced workmen were employed."

Growse relates: "Orders were given at the time that the temples should be burnt with naphtha and fire and leveled to the ground."

"The city was plundered for twenty days by the marauding army. Five great images of pure gold with eyes of rubies and adornments of precious stones and numerous silver images were melted down." A hundred camels were required to carry the loot out of Mathura.

The temple of Keshavdev was rebuilt in grand style by the Maharaja of Orcha, but Sikhandar Lodi's (1488-1516) attack, again destroyed the shrines of Mathura. Further, stone images were given to butchers to serve as meat weights and Hindus in Mathura were forbidden from shaving their heads and beards and performing ablutions.

During the Moghul rule of Akbar, Braj culture and tradition prospered and continued unhindered by subsequent Moghul rulers, until the reign of Aurangzeb. Many of Mathura's shrines, sculptures and pieces of architecture were defaced by Aurangzeb (1618-1707) and in addition to the destruction of temples such as Keshavdev, "the ancient name of the city was substituted for Islampur or Islamambad." (Growse)

Repeated raids and attacks compelled the temple builders to be moderate in the use of materials and in the size and scale of monuments. Perhaps, this is the reason for the lack of any especially ornate architecture in Braj. Then again, the idea could have been that lavish structures were never really the criterion for the worship of Krishna in the first place.

Please note: F.S. Growse, District administrator at Mathura from 1871 -1877, recorded during his tenure, in substantial detail, the history and culture of Braj. Though 'Mathura A District Memoir' is a gazette, his extensive and mostly sympathetic study of Braj tradition is remarkably comprehensive.

Also, the red sandstone that was used to build many of the temples in Brindaban was provided by Akbar who had also visited Brindaban and been influenced by the bhakti tradition.

*!*

It is said that even God can't change the past. What had to happen has happened. But we still have our future generations to come. What the invaders wished to destroy is not all lost. We cal still preserve what is leftovers from our glorious past.

For how long should symbols of Hindu glory remain either neglected in ruins or milked for revenues by government?

We should all read and reflect upon what Annie Besant said a long time back:

“After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will love it; the more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it. Make no mistake; without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into which India’s roots are struck, and torn of that she will inevitably wither, as a tree torn out from its place. Many are the religions and many are the races flourishing in India, but none of them stretches back into the far dawn of her past, nor are they necessary for her endurance as a nation. Everyone might pass away as they came and India would still remain. But let Hinduism vanish and what is she? A geographical ex-pression of the past, a dim memory of a perished glory, her literature, her art, her monuments, all have Hindudom written across them. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s own children do not cling to her faith, who shall guard it? India alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.” - Annie Besant

(Rahul)

It is said history some times gets repeated. The mystery is: which part of history will get repeated and when.

Railway Budget 2009-2010

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presented Railway Budget 2009-10 for India on 3^rd of July. While the budget has many good schemes which can be termed pro-people and non-profiteering, it also made a specific pointer in being pro-Bengal and anti-Bihar.

Extraordinary Gifts to West Bengal

Nineteen (19) new Express Trains are started in West Bengal, while some new railway tracks, a new railway Coach Factory, a Mega Power Plant, extension of Kolkata Metro, these are all provisions made particularly for West Bengal. It doesn't end here ' several of the state's railway stations are to be improved, a special super fast Parcel Express train will run from Howrah to Delhi, a Railway run sports complex is to come up, and Railway will revive one sick-for-decades railway factory. This much has never been done for any single state of India. Earlier, the minister had shifted the ministry of Indian Railways from New Delhi to Kolkata, so that she could manage the upcoming state assembly elections well.

Punishing Bihar for Lalu

Our railway minister has also specifically made sure that Bihar loses out because it was the state from which previous Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav hailed from. So Patna has been 'dropped' from the list of 50 railway stations which are to be converted into world-class stations. One Diesel locomotive plant at Marhaura and one electric locomotive factory at Madhepura which were to come up as planned by the previous minister have been put on hold. If we find out what all are for Bihar in this union budget, we would get only 4 new trains to the state, an increase in frequency of three existing trains, and gauge conversions of two rail sections. To make her intentions clear, the minister announced a fact-finding analysis of last 5 year's of performance of Indian Railways, casting doubts if Railway's turnaround from a vehicle of loss to the most profit making ministry was really so.

UPA needs Mamata and hence her fancies are policies now

Reading the lists of new projects announced for the state of West Bengal makes us wonder if this was the railway budget of India or the state of West Bengal! 19 new express trains, one mega power plant, one new coach factory, revival of one sick factory, and the list goes on. The sole purpose behind all these 'gifts' to Bengal were appeasing state-based voters for the upcoming assembly elections where her party TMC will fight elections against the Left parties. The central government led by Congress gave her free hand because the party depends on her for the assembly elections. Also, Congress and Nehru dynasty would get a kind of sadistic pleasure out of punishing Lalu and people from his states, because he had accused Congress of being responsible for communal riots during last general elections.

Railway ministry has always been used for building vote banks

As such, Bengal was never starved for Railways. Abdul Gani Khan Chaudhary (from Congress) was another railway minister from WB in 80s who played the same regional card, and he brought so many project to the state and to his constituency Malda that he should be called a benchmark and a trend setter in 'using' Railways for creating vote-banks and making regional vote-heavens.

Afterwards, almost all railway ministers used the department to make them popular. When Madhav Rao Scindia became the railway minister, he announced two new trains connecting his own election constituency of Gwalior to Bombay and Calcutta. CK Jaffer Sharief brought a large wheel-and-axle factory to his Bangalore. When Suresh Kalmadi became railway minister, he started four new trains two/from Pune. Then Ramvilas Paswan set up a air-brake wagon workshop in Barauni. Nitish Kumar as Rail minister got three bridges made over Ganga in Bihar. And when Lalu Yadav was railway minister for 5 years, 52 new trains were started in Bihar.

Even then, all these largesse look small in comparison to what Mamata Banerjee has done in one year for her home-state this time. We could even then forgive her for all this, but can she be pardoned for what she has undone for Bihar?

Bihar after bifurcation

In independent India, Bihar was one of the states which had abundant natural resources and minerals, but had one of the poorest people. North of Bihar, which was the same one which supported Ganga civilisation, had one of the most fertile lands in India, while South of Bihar had plethora of mines and minerals under its surface. There were lots of industries particularly concentrated in the Southern part, like Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Sindri, Dhanbad, and Ranchi. But when Jharkhand was created, Bihar lost all its mineral deposits and almost all of its manufacturing industries. All that remained was agriculture.

While agriculture could still support the uneducated and unskilled workforces for the bare minimum living standards, there were hardly any opportunities left for the well and highly educated. Also, there were no opportunities in the state for the skilled workforces which could work in factories.

Bihar needs manufacturing jobs

It is said that one job created in manufacturing sector produces many others in the services sector. The job creation potential of manufacturing sector is what has given China this much progress. Could Bihar still do something? There was a silver lining. While it was very difficult to persuade private companies to set up shops in the state because when it came to financial profitability, there were many more attractive options for them, the public sector companies and government controlled enterprises could still do something. This is what the previous railway ministers were trying to do. And this is what still needs to be done.

When government comes to decide where to invest money, political clout works more than anything else. Are not almost all politicians from Maharastra big industrialists? Maharastra, the most successful states of India, along with Gujarat, is not only rich, but there are reasons for its richness, starting for the political clout its regional leaders enjoy in centre. Bihar, on the other hand was always neglected in post-independence period too. (Symbolically it produced first President of India who had no real political powers, while the state of UP which produced the first PM remained on the centre stage for beyond its fate and still gets Sonia/Rahul Gandhis' special attention.

In Bihar, post-independence period of neglect resulted in coming up of some of the worst criminal and corrupt politicians we had ever seen in India. But after a period, people gave power in the hands of an honest government under the leadership of engineer Nitish Kumar.

Why railway is more than railway in Bihar

Each new manufacturing project coming up in the state of Bihar would be like God's gift to the state. It is the only way to prevent heavy outward movement of Biharites from the state to industrial cities all across India. It will not only provide jobs to the poor who will now have option to become skilled and earn more, but also to the thousands of engineers and technicians from the state who pass out every year from universities all across India. Since private companies won't be interested in investing in the state, the only way left is for the government to do so.

Since Biharites are settled in large numbers in all parts of India for livelihood, they some times face ire of regional-chauvinist violence. Every time there is such regional violence, like that happened in Maharastra or which keeps happening in Assam, our intellectuals and media ask why not Biharites be provided jobs in their own state? Even though their arguments can be seen as one with regional-lobbyist intentions, there is no doubt that we have to stop talking and start working. It is in the interest of our nation that we spread the India growth story to Bihar also, which remains one among the poorest. Still, when one ministry like railways start one project like locomotive plant, there are other regional leaders who oppose it.

History of Decline of Bihar and Rise of Bengal

Bihar has an unmatched rich historical and cultural standing. Remember Magadh empire, birth of Buddhism and Jainism, the Gupta dynasty, the Mauryan empire, the Patliputra, the world famous Nalanda and Vikramshila universities, or the Great Ashoka from Bihar who has been the greatest ruler in the history of India.

The decline of Bihar started when Muslim invasion under Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Magadh kingdom, burnt down Nalanda and Vikramshila universities, and massacred thousands of Buddhist monks in 12^th century. Again Bihar rose under the rule of Sher Shah Suri ' one of the brilliant Muslim rulers, and maintained under Mughal emperor Akbar. And then, Bengal's rise was Bihar's loss

With the decline of Mughal rulers, Bihar passed under the rule of Nawabs of Bengal. This medieval period under Nawabs of Bengal brought anonymity for Bihar. Though this was the period when Bihar produced the last Sikh Guru ' Guru Gobind Singh ' one of the greatest sons of India.

After the battle of Buxar in 1764, British East India Company obtained diwani rights over Bihar along with Bengal and Orissa. From here after, Bihar remained a part of the Bengal Presidency of the British Raj. This period of anonymity remained till 1912 when Bihar was made a separate province by the British. Bengal on the other hand gained because Calcutta was the Capital of British Raj (until 1911).

While the capital of Bihar is the same Patna which was earlier the Pataliputra ' the capital of the great Magadha Empire, and has unmatched bright past, the capital of Bengal Calcutta or Kolkata, rose mainly because the British Raj made it its capital! In the past, all lands that are named as Bengal were part of the Magadh empire. A very bright part in the history of Bengal was during the Pal Empire, the capital of which was again Pataliputra.

While Kalidasa the greatest poet ever, lived during the Gupta Empire (Kalidasa meaning servant of Goddess Kali, which the Bengalis worship like no other in this world), the Gupta empire had its capital in Pataliputra or Patna. On the other hand, Bengal produced, of course in much recent past, Rabindra Nath Tagore whose English-inspired surname tells all the success that he achieved, though we know he was a great poet. I can go on. The history of decline of Bihar and rise of Bengal also tells us what all that is wrong in India. We lost our soul to make muscles. Centres of pride of our heritage are in humiliating conditions while those created by the British are being appeased.

This history makes us wonder how Bengal has been eclipsing Bihar in the recent past. The need of this chapter from history was needed because if politicians like Mamata Banerjee have slightest chauvinist feelings, they need to be shown how hollow is their pride.

Bengal's problems are indigenous ' politics and work culture

To think that all problems of West Bengal will be solved if two manufacturing projects can be shifted from Bihar to Bengal is naïve. West Bengal sits over plethora of defunct industries which became sick due to the communist sponsored trade union politics and red tapism. The state has championed in inculcating a work culture in factories which itself is a sure shot to disaster. And to top it, the entire state comes to halt every time a bandh is organised to protest something and everything. The problems of Bengal are unique. And solutions have to come indigenously.

West Bengal has many options for taking its poor out of poverty-line. From petrochemical industries to mines to sea ports ' the advantages towards creation of a developed Industrial state are many. It is not heavily dependent on government's support to promote industries; in fact govt interventions are what have harmed the industry. Bihar, on the other hand has very limited options for creating a manufacturing base ' and railway is one among the few.

Politics should be kept out of Union Budget and Prime Minster is responsible

The decision of our Railway Minister to put the two railway projects in Bihar on hold is not only partial and political in nature, but also is plain regionalism. It is sad to see that each union ministry works in isolation and according to the fancies of the individual minister, while our super-economist Prime Minister sits in comfort. There already have been demands by state of Bihar for the status of a special state, so that development works can be done with priority. A healthy and developed Bihar is very much needed for a prosperous India ' but neither our PM nor our central government is looking any serious about creating a way towards a brighter Bihar.

Can we expect the central government not to do any more harm to the state if it can't do something positive?

One India ' One Nation ' Say no to Regionalism

Cicero said this in ancient Rome, 42 BC:

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not traitor, he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their garments, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.”

(Rahul)

(Politics II) (Mumbai) (India V2) (Setu Samudram)

Politics deeper than Sea and Samudram

Hard News

Sonia inaugurates Mumbai sea bridge, now named 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu'

Yesterday on June 30^th, Congress (INC) president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This is a unique bridge built over part of sea. It will decongest an existing road and make commuters cover a journey of 40 minutes in 15 minutes. State government decided to name the bridge as 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu' in memory of late Prime Minister who was born in the city of Mumbai. Union minister Sharad Pawar suggested this name and termed Rajiv G as 'the only bhoomiputra' (son of the soil) from Mumbai. State govt brought out full page ads in the newspapers and this bridge project was termed as a “pride of Mumbai”.

Soft Analysis

Calling Sonia G for inauguration

Without doubt, it was done keeping the upcoming Maharastra assembly elections in mind. To use her time efficiently, Sonia G also met and chatted with ailing actor Dilip Kumar in a hospital. If she didn’t come to city, we would have saved some public expenses in security, administration and advertisements. Calling a politician like her for inauguration of a project constructed using public funds, was objectionable, but only for the awakened Indians.

Setu project being claimed as achievement of Congress govt

It is a fact that the project was a brain-child of Shiv Sena - BJP government when they were in power in Maharastra. They came up with plans to construct some 55 flyovers in the city of Mumbai (and they did build all these). But by the time planning for this particular sea bridge was done, Congress came into power and it 'announced' this project. But, this remains a baby of SS-BJP government. Not surprising to see Congress seeking its own glory in this; after all, is not 'taking credits for good times and passing the buck for bad times' the USP of Congress governments?

Sea Bridge as a matter of pride for Mumbai and India

The project was to get completed in 3 years; we did it in 8. In the same time, China made five such bridges (source: HT). The cost was planned to be Rs 400 Crores; we spent Rs 1600 Crores. And the project was not at all totally indigenous like the Tata Indica or Tata Nano projects had been. But I fear if I still don't feel 'proud' of this project, I will be branded 'communal' by Sonia G :)

Bridge named as 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu'

Just two days before, our Home Minister P Chidambaram had condemned UP Chief Minister Mayawati for installing her own statues using public funds. I see the same craving for name-and-fame clearly visible in this case too, when the Congress names each such project after some or the other family member of Nehru dynasty. But after all, it is the way dynasties are run ' otherwise people may forget them!

Rajiv G was a 'son of the soil' from Mumbai

This was the best part. Sharad Pawar made this statement when he suggested Rajiv's name for the bridge; while Sonia G thanked him for his gesture. It is amusing to find out which of these two were foolish :) It was Sharad Pawar who had revolted against Sonia in 1999 pointing at her Italian-born status and demanded an India-born person to be projected as PM candidate - and 'India-born' meant the same ' 'son of the soil'! And still, Sonia accepted this 'logic' for the bridge to be named in this manner :)

Curious Connection

Ram Setu and Rajiv Setu

It is interesting to see this so called 'first sea bridge' in India being named 'Rajiv Setu' on the lines of 'Ram Setu' which remains in ruins connecting India and Sri Lanka. While Ram led his army to destroy the evil-doer demon-king Ravana, centuries later Rajiv also marched Indian paramilitary forces into the same Sri Lanka, but got more than 1200 Indian personnel (officially) killed, and a huge amount of humanitarian violations done on the Tamils. While Ram didn’t even flinch to send off demoness Shurpnakha who came to harm him from the Lankan Island, Rajiv paid the price by his life when again a lady (suicide bomber called Dhanu) came from the same Lanka he invaded, looking for him. While King Ram played a brilliant strategist by installing a friendly-government (headed by Vibhishana) in the Lanka he won, the wrong decisions and misadventures of Rajiv G in Lanka resulted in India acting lame duck recently when ethnic Tamils were violated by Srilankan Army. And now, in the reverse turn of fates, a sea bridge we call ‘Ram Setu’ is being destroyed by the same 'hands' who are naming a Bandra-Worli sea bridge as ‘Rajiv Setu’.

Not surprisingly, politics has gone deeper than Sea (or Samudram).

(Rahul)