Friday, December 10, 2010

THE AIM OF A MARRIAGE

Perception of a marriage has never been universal. In India for example it was believed to be a bond of seven lives. In the west it has been a contract that could be signed and broken. In either case, the marrying partners surrender some of their individual liberty. Marriage is culmination of evolution of human relations from disorganized society.

How different is ‘live in’ relationship from a marriage? May be there is less degree of social responsibility. But, I am not sure if this kind of relationship will be more stable than a marriage or it will give more liberty than a contracted marriage. It appears a retrogressive step than a progressive one. Nevertheless, some aims of a marriage are protected.

Some individuals do not bother about the fate of ‘Homo sapiens’ (human species) and think that a marriage is simply to fulfill their sexual needs. Consequently the definition of a marriage is different for them. Now there are marriages between men and men and also between women and women.

To me, a marriage is a life journey of two companions towards a goal that may be to raise children, to derive pleasure in doing good things together or fulfilling physical needs with peace, harmony and stability. It is an institution in the interest of human race. All other arrangements are marriages of convenience that can never be a substitute for a marriage.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

RSS IS ON THE DEFENSIVE


Rahul Gandhi equated RSS with the SIMI, a banned Muslim organization. If the remark was serious then why one is banned and the other is not Sonia Gandhi had described Narendra Modi, the CM of Gujrat as ‘Lashon ka vyapari’ (merchant of corpses) then why he is not booked under whatever criminal act applicable to him? Should charges be made off the cuff?

Very early in the independent India, the RSS was banned for alleged involvement in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi. Arrests of thousands of swayamsewaks were made, cases were framed, court proceedings continued and the organization was found not-guilty. The ban was lifted. Should the Congress people continue to rake unsubstantiated charges?.

During Emergency Period, the RSS was banned once again by the Congress Government of the time. Their offices were searched, weapons and restricted maps recovered were published in the News Papers, their Offices and Banks accounts were sealed, and cases were filed. What happened to charges and and the cases. Why the ban was lifted?.

Many are talking of banning RSS for the third time. It may be justified also if the RSS is the Hindu counter part of the Muslim SIMI. But the elderly and experienced people in the Congress are saying a ban will not work. May be they have the experience of the past. Do they know that the RSS is not guilty but accusations are desirable?

And now there is the other side of the coin. The former Sarsanghchalak K. S. Sudarshan, like a defiant boy, made certain asperging remarks against Sonia Gandhi. His accusations are not substantiated. He talks of circumstantial evidences. For example if Sonia Ji’s daughter went to the jail to meet Nalini, responsible for the murder of Rajeev Gandhi and wished her release, it cannot be construed as sympathy for the murderer of our Prime Minister and her father.

It is good that the RSS clarified that the views are not of the organization and the affiliated political wing dissociated itself from them. Some journalists call K.S. Sudarshan, a lunatic, mad, out of his mind and so on. But he made the remarks in full senses and full knowledge. He can be taken to the court of law to substantiate his allegations and present his so called circumstantial evidences..

Instead of doing that, the Youth Congress is destroying the National Property, burning effigies and accusing the RSS for the utterances of an individual. Is there a difference between the Youth Congress and the Bajrang Dal?

It seems the RSS is on the defensive if it is accused of an unlawful act and also if any of its members makes accusation against others.

WHY HAVE TENDERS IN ENGLISH FOR VILLAGE WORK


On Nov. 10, 2010, I came across a small dispute between the contractor and the newly elected village Pradhan. The dispute was if the khadanja-bricks removed by the contractor from a pre-existing panchayat road belong to the contractor or to the Panchayat. The contractor was showing the tender document written in fluent English to the semi-literate village Pradhan to support his contention.

It is a case of construction of a road from Gadela to Lalpur in village panchayat of Kunaura of BKT block in district Lucknow. The work assigned was earth work, laying of soling bricks, spreading of granules and making a pukka road. It is noteworthy that the road from Gadela to Shahpur is already pukka and from near Shahpur to Lalpur the earth work was already done decades ago and soling of bricks completed then. Be as it may.

The Pradhan incidently was sitting with me and passed the tender document on to me for perusal. I read it twice and kept on asking the contractor as to where it was written about the pre-existing earth-work and bricks in the tender. He kept on saying you read the whole document and will see. Apparently he did not know English or may be he did not want to be specific. I told them that there was no mention about the ownership of the existing road material.

I do not insinuate motives but surely such tenders for village work, the quality of which will have to be certified by the village pradhan, should be in a language that he understands. I could understand if the work pertained to some scientific-technological projects and the language being technical could not be translated by the persons of the Rural Engeering Department. But, since the work pertains to villages and is non-technical, there is no justification of issuing the tenders in a foreign language. The rest I leave to investigative journalists to probe.

(Published in the HT on 13 November, 2010)

WHY HAVE TENDERS IN ENGLISH FOR VILLAGE WORK


On Nov. 10, 2010, I came across a small dispute between the contractor and the newly elected village Pradhan. The dispute was if the khadanja-bricks removed by the contractor from a pre-existing panchayat road belong to the contractor or to the Panchayat. The contractor was showing the tender document written in fluent English to the semi-literate village Pradhan to support his contention.

It is a case of construction of a road from Gadela to Lalpur in village panchayat of Kunaura of BKT block in district Lucknow. The work assigned was earth work, laying of soling bricks, spreading of granules and making a pukka road. It is noteworthy that the road from Gadela to Shahpur is already pukka and from near Shahpur to Lalpur the earth work was already done decades ago and soling of bricks completed then. Be as it may.

The Pradhan incidently was sitting with me and passed the tender document on to me for perusal. I read it twice and kept on asking the contractor as to where it was written about the pre-existing earth-work and bricks in the tender. He kept on saying you read the whole document and will see. Apparently he did not know English or may be he did not want to be specific. I told them that there was no mention about the ownership of the existing road material.

I do not insinuate motives but surely such tenders for village work, the quality of which will have to be certified by the village pradhan, should be in a language that he understands. I could understand if the work pertained to some scientific-technological projects and the language being technical could not be translated by the persons of the Rural Engeering Department. But, since the work pertains to villages and is non-technical, there is no justification of issuing the tenders in a foreign language. The rest I leave to investigative journalists to probe.

(Published in the HT on 13 November, 2010)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

FALING HINDU MARRIAGES IN ADVANCING INDIA


There is no denying that India is advancing fast materially and Indian couples have all the essentials needed for a comfortable living. Yet, Hindu marriages in particular are breaking down more frequently than ever before. It shows a marriage needs something more that material comforts to make it stable.

Earlier, a Hindu marriage was thought to be a bond for seven lives when science was a little less advanced. But now there are no seven lives, your life is here and now. Hindus are adopting an attitude similar to other religions that a marriage is a contract not an institution any more. And a contract can be signed and broken with the convenience of one or both the parties. Here it is broken even if not signed !!

The contract of a Hindu marriage is broken not because of breach of agreement as there were no conditions laid down like in several other religions. We enter into an institution and think it is a contract. The Hindu Marriage Act has given the women their rightful due but did not redefine a Hindu marriage as a contractual agreement. It is still based on the assumption of pious relationship, eternal bond and social sanction.

I know several marriages that broke down simply because of clash of ego of one or the other partner. The only difference that Hindu Marriage Act has brought about is that men cannot utter Talaq Talaq Talaq and get rid of their spouses. But once they know that the bond is actually an unwritten agreement that can be broken, they break it at the drop of a stone.

It is time we should either redefine a Hindu Marriage as a contractual agreement based on a written and signed document or else continue with the marriage of faith of eternal emotional bond. We cannot have benefits of both. Indeed, we are landing into evils of both models.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

NEHRU PROMISED PLEBISITE IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR


We cannot run away from the fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India had promised plebiscite in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. However the promise was made after the papers of accession of the princely state in India had been already signed. Any attempt to question the legal document signed between Raja Hari Singh, the father of Dr. Karan Singh, the ruler of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the Government of India, might open the Pandora’s Box because the 500 odd states had signed almost in the same manner. What does that mean?

The rights of land were vested in the king and once those rights were transferred to the sovereign state of India, the land belongs to the people of India. Its status could not be altered by the promise of any individual or functionary without the explicit approval of the Parliament of India. Therefore, the promise of plebiscite did not have the sanction of the Parliament and could not be implemented. All the arguments that situation has changed after so many elections and all the rest are facade.

Even if the promise of plebiscite was fulfilled, the people of Jammu and Kashmir would have had a choice of remaining in India or going to Pakistan. They could not carry the land with them because it belongs to the people of India. I do not know what the so called interlocutors aim to achieve that has not been tried in the last Sixty years. What they are doing is an exercise in futility or at the most a wonderful time pass with humiliation to the Constitution of India and India herself.

Can you retain a hostile population on the strength of your gun to demonstrate the credentials of your secularism? I am afraid not for long. There are only two logical options. One is if you really believe that the state (now province) is an integral part of India, give Indians their right to settle wherever they like within the country. However, if you cannot do that, allow those who want to go to the land of their cherished dream, like so called Mohajirs (they were not mohajirs while in India) did during and after 1947. At any rate, they will not be able to carry the land with them.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

EQUATING RSS WITH SIMI

I hope Rahul Gandhi does not actually consider the two outfits to have equal degree of fanaticism. May be the media reported in a spicy manner. After all he is more knowledgeable than that and he was not talking about ABVP or Bajrang Dal. Be as it may, in case he does consider RSS as fanatic as the SIMI then it will have far reaching message. When he becomes the Prime Minister of India he will either ban RSS or lfit the ban from SIMI.
It is true that the RSS faced bans during the Prime Ministership of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Smt. Indira Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi may follow the precedent. But it is equally true that Vallabh Bhai Patel and Lal Bahadur Shastri and Jaiprakash narain thought otherwise. It will be in the fitness of things that Rahul Gandhi, being so meticulour, may like to gain some first hand information about the organisations before making comments and comparisons.
I am no body to defend RSS but objectivity in the assessment of the organisations by the leader of youth is questionable.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

THEY ARE INDIAN NUMERALS NOT ARABIC

The other day I was reading 'INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS' in an Indian science journal and it says "all the photographs should be numbered using Arabic numerals. I was surprised and disappointed that our people are not aware that the nine digits were invented in India not in the Middle East. It is true that the travelers from Arab to India had taken the knowledge of numerals with them and spread it in the West. If the Western world had not got the knowledge from India through the travelers, they would still be writing in Roman numerals that would have made the advent of science and technology rather impossible.
In this age of Patents and 'Intellectual Property Rights', we must at least acknowledge and appreciate the wisdom of ancient Indians that they had invented not only Zero but also the nine numerals. We can read the book 'Wonder that was India' by A. L. Basham where more details are available. I would not blame Westerners for their ignorance because they had got the knowledge from the Arabs and thought the numbers to be Arabic. However, our Indian scientists should know better. To be extra courteous we may call them Indo-Arabic numerals.

Friday, September 17, 2010

STOP PROMOTING BUFFALO CULTURE


In the recent past the spread of TV and cinema has been phenomenal and so is the steepness of the crime graph in India. Can any one explain why there has been explosion in the criminal cases of eve molestation, loot, abduction, ransom, murder, rape, burglary, cheating, synchronizing with the spread of TV and cinema. They were rare in the Indian society just a few decades ago. Film makers might claim they portray what is happening in the society but the fact is that the society tries to imitate what is happening on the screen. The promoters of crime are as guilty as the criminals themselves.

Indeed, many culprits admit that they got the idea and learnt the techniques from TV and cinema. T V channels have started special programmes on crime with full details of the heinous acts. These visuals make powerful impact on young viewers.

If children watch the throat of a goat or sheep being slit to allow the entire blood of her body ooze out, they become insensitive to oozing blood, their tender feelings are hardened. This is not to plead vegetarianism but to object to public display of cutting throat. Likewise when children watch sex crime, violence and antisocial activities, their animal instinct is awakened. Reel life is translating itself into real life.

Cinema and TV in their subtle ways are promoting a new type of culture –the buffaloes culture. The cattle roam around naked in public view and bulls chasing them with or without mutual consent. The Homo sapiens (humans) must have been like that during palaeolithic and Neolithic times but evolved to a civilized society of restraint thereafter. Film makers want to take us to the days of free for all through arousal of sensuality and sexuality on the pretext of public demand.

The excuse of public demand is obnoxious because the public might demand hashish, marijuana, opium and host of other things but we cannot and perhaps should not supply the same to the people. The argument is nothing but refuge for earning quick money by exploiting animal instincts of human beings.

Agreed, all living beings from bacteria to humans have their own ways and rules of love and love making. Human evolution was accompanied with social experience leading to civilized manners that prohibit public display of intimate personal life a la buffaloes. The programmes on TV and cinema are doing precisely the same.

After the so called arousal of sensuality and sexuality, the young ones try to satisfy their urge. Since they cannot go on a date with a friend to calm down they adopt other means that are most unpleasant.

I heard one of the leading film makers saying India is a country where 'Shiva Linga' is worshipped and Khajuraho, Konark and Ajanta were created. This is silly argument. Shiva literally means auspiciousness and welfare and Shiva Linga shaped as Cosmos is the symbol of Cosmic Energy of auspiciousness.

Regarding Khajuraho and Konark , the sex postures are depicted on the outer side of walls of temples but once you enter the temple, the walls and ceilings are blank and plain. The message is loud and clear. You need to overcome the sexual urge to tread the path of spiritual concentration, the sublimation of energy. Be as it may, taking shelter under mythological context may be dangerous. For example, Virgin Mary gave birth to Lord Jesus Christ, should the film makers portray virgins to be child bearing? This will be absolute misuse of the freedom of expression granted by our constitution.

It is for the film makers to use their discretion and decide if on the pretext of public demand they should exhibit the bedroom scenes on screen for arousal of sensuality and sexuality at the expense of discipline and sensitivity of Indian mind? Should the film makers go on pouring petrol and expect the fire not to ignite?

Friday, September 3, 2010

THE KASHMIR TANGLE

Every Indian loves Kashmir a little more than he or she loves any other state of the country. Does that mean the people of India be taxed for ever to keep the problem alive. Should our soldiers be asked to defend Kashmir with folded hands . Some researchers estimate that 40000 people have been killed since 1989 alone and Thousands of soldiers have died. Can any one estimate the number of soldiers died in Kashmir since 1947 and money spent to contain insurgency. Can any one count the money spent by way of subsidy that failed to please the Kashmiri populace . If this is the way our governments wish to solve the problem, God forbid the cost that will be paid in decades nay Centuries to come.
Kashmir is an integral part of India, they say but an Indian cannot roam around freely there what to talk of purchasing a piece of land. Indian soldiers are sent there to contain insurgency with instructions not to use weapons lest it will be construed violation of human right !!

It is a miracle that many of the soldiers return home alive and safe, though mentally disturbed at times.
It is said that Nehru had promised plebicite in Kashmir and did not try the exercise. Did Nehru have sanction of the Parliament to promise the plebicite or did he take the Kashmir dispute to U.N.O. with the approval of the Parliament? Be as it may, the problem has gone from bad to worse over the years.
Even after the last 61 years' of fighting the hostile people, it did not occur to our governments that the problem can never ever be solved unless the demographic complexion of Kashmir is altered to all India figures. Hope our governments will understand.



Wednesday, August 25, 2010

अनजाने मुसाफिर को समर्पित

यादों की गठरी समेटे हुए और अपनी ही धुन में
सड़क के किनारे
अकेला मुसाफ़िर चला जा रहा था
गठरी थी उसकी खुली जा रही ,
यादें संभाले संभलती नहीं थीं
कभी ग़म निकल कर चुभन दे रहे थे,
खुशियाँ कभी थीं उसको
खिझातीं
तभी एक साथी पुराना मिला
बोला कब तक ये गठरी सँवारे रहोगे
इसे फ़ेंक दो, आग इसमें लगा दो
रफ़्तार तुम ज़िन्दगी की बढ़ा दो
नई ज़िन्दगी के सफ़र पर निकल लो
फिर नयी एक गठरी सजा लो
वह रुका, थोडा सोचा और
रफ़्तार अपनी बढा ली.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

DREAMS CAN BE TRUE ALSO




Born in a poor family in a remote rural area I do not know how and wherefrom I got big dreams and lofty ideals. Such dreams are easy to fulfill for a resourceful, wealthy person but the god of dreams does not realize that the dreams of a person of meager resources, can be ‘Mungeri Lal ke sapne’. They were about to be so in my case also but the god of resources smiled at me on occasions.

After struggling hard for my education in childhood, I dreamt of a decent school in my village. Strangely the comfortable life in the Oil and Natural Gas Commission or the position of the Head of Department in the Kanya Kubja Degree College in Lucknow or riches of Canada could not deter me from the dream. Even the fame received from the discovery of 565 million years old fossils of animals on earth could not stop me from working on the dream. This was nothing short of a miracle, may be God’s will.

I started the school with mud walls and thatch roofing in a village 12 km from railway station and bus stand, 15 km from the post office and 50 km from the nearest bank. Even for a second I did not miss the luxury of my four years’ stay in Canada or comfortable life in Lucknow, Sibsagar and Baroda where I had lived. My wife Nirmala and I came in contact with a saint Swami Pathik Ji who had a trust to encourage the efforts on rural education. A few rooms and those we thought was a leap forward. Indeed it was.

We undertook many socio-economic-educational programmes. My wife encouraged the village youth to work hard in the fields and in homes, of course in a symbolic manner. Our aim was to make good foundation of education in children, particularly female children.

Then came an organization by name C.T.D. Foundation through the contacts of Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Rishikesh to our help and we could have a decent building.


Things are looking up with great efforts of Karan Dalal from Mumbai and my son Neelesh, the journalist in his own right. How true it is that God helps those who help themselves !!

We are trying to give quality education to the rural poor, imparting computer education to them, giving them exposure to scientists and educationalists. Poor man’s dream is fulfilled to an extent and I should have been contented. But I feel there still are miles to go and I am racing against time.

In the end, I can sense that my dream will come true in totality through the friends and colleagues of Karan and Neelesh who are consistent and thorough. Ham rahen na rahen kaam chalata rahe.

Friday, August 13, 2010

ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR COULD PURCHASE A LOT

I was watching well argued debate on Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the Honourable Home Minister of the govt. of India was replying the questions raised by the opposition. What baffled me the most was the reply to the pointed question who allowed safe passage to Anderson?
It is surprising that the government of the largest democracy of the world has no record of the safe passage to the CEO of a company charged with killing of thousands of people. If the question was asked in 2001 it was possible to reply, the Home Minister says. It means there was some record until 2001 and Anderson was not allowed to go on some body's verbal orders or was he?
Every body's memory has faded in 26 years the Home Minister says. Does the Govt of India base its functioning on memory that naturally goes to heaven along with the people concerned.
One more pointed question could be who had granted licence to the Carbide Company to start poisonous operations in a crowded city like Bhopal? Such a permission is impossible even to a U.S company in the U.S.A.
Is it the way our government preserves vital records? Or is it that any currency weak or strong can purchase anything and everything from our government in our country.
Debate on the Common Wealth Games and associated corruption had similar response. I am shocked to think if evidences against criminals in general are maintained in the same manner, no wonder they have safe passage from the legal punishment.
I am tempted to say,
Corruption Thy Name is Government !!

Friday, August 6, 2010

यह कैसी सर्व शिक्षा

भारत एक ऐसा देश है जहाँ केवल हिन्दुओं से सेकुलर बनने क़ी अपेक्षा क़ी जाती है, बाक़ी लोगों पर सेकुलरवाद लागू नहीं हैं. जब १९५६ में हिन्दू कोड बिल बनाया गया तब भारतीय कोड बिल बनाने की आवश्यकता नहीं समझी गयी. हिन्दू मैरेज एक्ट बनाते समय भी भारतीय मैरेज एक्ट पर ध्यान नहीं गया. शाह बानो प्रकरण में भी तमाम हो हल्ला करने के बाद सेकुलरवाद हार गया . सेकुलर फंड से धार्मिक यात्रायें करना भी एक सीमा तक लंभव कहा जा सकता है. परन्तु अब तो इन्तहा गो गयी जब 'सर्व शिक्षा' के नाम पर सरकारी खर्चे से एक अलग शिक्षा बोर्ड बनाया जा रहा है. यह कैसी सर्व शिक्षा जहाँ सर्वमान्य शिक्षा स्वीकार नहीं. मजहबी संख्या के आधार पर नौकरियां मांगी जा रही हैं और सरकार देने को तैयार भी है. आखिर यही सब तो कायदे आज़म मोहम्मद अली जिन्ना ने १९३७ के लखनऊ अधिवेशन में माँगा था. तब क्या तकलीफ थी. यही न कि तब वल्लभ भाई पटेल जीवित थे. उन्होंने बटवारा तो मजबूरी में माना लेकिन अपने जीवन में बटवारे की मानसिकता के आगे झुके नहीं. यदि यह सब उस समय मान लिया गया होता तो शायद देश नहीं बँटता परन्तु देश में दूसरे प्रकार का शासन होता. आखिर हमारे राजनेता चाहते क्या हैं ?

Friday, July 16, 2010

STUNT JOURNALISM IS AVOIDABLE


It was 1984 when our Prime Minister Indira Ji was assassinated; thousands of people were coming to pay their respect to the departed leader. They were obviously angry and were shouting ‘khoon ka badla khoon se lenge’. This slogan was shown to viewers all over India over and over for almost three days and riots started. The scenes were true and factual but their display caused irreparable damage to the social fabric of our country. Should journalists not observe a little discretion?

When the country was stunned and shocked by the terrorist attack in Mumbai, one TV channel was broadcasting live the conversation with the terrorists challenging the might of India from the Taj Hotel. It appeared the channel was flashing the conversation with Neil Armstrong from the surface of Moon. Have the government of India or journalist community or public at large done anything against the channel? Did the media condemn unequivocally the act of the channel? How could it because all the rest were competing with each other to show a glimpse of one or the other terrorist.

Investigative journalism is a crucial aspect of media. Most of us know how President Nixon of the USA had to resign as a consequence of master piece investigative journalism on phone taping. But in India it has put the other aspects of journalism in background. Every other TV journalist is roaming around with a hidden camera and the moment you utter a word in the unguarded moment, they flash it as News.

Days were spent on the coverage of the so called crimes by Shankaracharya, Pragya Thakur and many others. What if they are proved innocent in the court of law? Will the same amount of time be devoted on the issue? The reporters are turning to be accusers and pretend to be running a parallel intelligence agency. Media trials cannot be a substitute for judicial trials.

TV sets and News papers are common in the country side in India. It is up to the journalists to decide if they want to give some time to 72% population of India living in villages. Is there no News other than rape, murder, molestation, nudity, loot and gamble? There must be something creative and constructive happening in the country but that would not be a ‘Breaking News’. Instances like a snake chasing a man, a boy with a tail, a fake Sain Baba, gimmicks like magic cure of diseases and so on do not deserve hours and hours on TV.

In spite of the fact that Indian media has lost its way in the woods, I strongly condemn the acts of hooliganism, on the pretext of protest against incorrect reporting. The aggrieved can go to the court and file a defamation suit against the channels and journalists but the decision might take a few decades. Media itself should decide and educate the people how to deal with the errant News in a speedy manner.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

COMMUNAL RESERVATION CAN BE DISASTROUS FOR INDIA


The Communal Award of 1935 was the basis of religion based reservation in undivided India. Patel was opposed to it and Nehru was emphatic and said “This way lies not only folly but disaster”. Patel as Chairman of the advisory committee saw to it that communal reservation was abolished unanimously. Are the present day politicians wiser than the stalwarts of yesterdays? Muslims ruled India for over a Thousand years and held high positions during the British rule. Late Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, the father of Benazir Bhutto, had thundered in the United Nations a few decades ago “we have ruled India for a Thousand years, will rule again for a Thousand years”. Ancestors of Hindus had no occasion to do injustice against the ancestors of Muslims. Even in free India, Muslims have not been discriminated against by Nehru Ji, Indira Ji or Rajiv Gandhi at any point of time. No one ever stopped Muslims from going to schools. They are not Dalits by any definition. They have the legacy of Nawabs. It is intriguing why, how and when did Muslims become backward. There is no basis for compensating the injustice.

Muslims never faced Manuvaadi System of Society and have never been trampled like Schedule Castes. Today, they have preferential treatment in jobs in all the countries of Middle East by virtue of their religion. The neo-rich Muslims transferring money from the Middle East are visible in Kerala, in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, in parts of uttarakhand and elsewhere. Their rate of financial growth is much faster than the rest of India. For the sake of argument if reservation is granted to Muslims, it is the English knowing affluent Muslims who will get advantage, not the poor ones. Muslims need modern education not communal reservation. Dr. Kalbe Sadiq, the senior Vice-Chairman of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, while speaking on ‘Islam versus Muslims’ on November, 4, 2006 in Lucknow, said the only solution to Islam is modern education. His words that Muslims cannot progress without rational approach and use of intellect are prophetic.

Muslim community gave three presidents to the country, a Chief Justice to the Supreme Court and a Chief of the Armed Forces. Then what is the reason of their low representation in services? Apparently, they seek employment in science, technology and computers based on their knowledge of Arabic, Persian and Urdu. Educated Muslims are not available even in the exclusive areas like Urdu teachers and translators. Hindus take over a large chunk of these jobs.

Muslims, for whatever reason, opt out of higher education. Muslim graduates are only 1.3 % and 6.1% in rural and urban areas respectively compared to 5.3 % and 25.3 % Hindus. School drop out in Muslims after primary school is up to 90 %. The cause of their lagging behind is their preference to madarsa education over common school system. Hindus will become like that only if all of them give preference to Sanskrit Pathshalas over the common school system of India. It is the change of attitude not reservation that will solve the problem of imbalance if any.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

We were destined to serve and be happy

Forty years back after returning from Canada, when I started a school up to class VIII in remote rural area inhabited by the weaker section of society, I had a dream to produce a 1000 people like me through the school. I frankly admit that I could not fulfill even one percent of the dream. But, the Almighty has been kind to us and did not let us disappoint or break. For one thing, the people in the government administration and also in the government then understood the meaning of social work. I got full cooperation from them whenever I needed. I cannot say so about the present scenario.

The type of work my wife and I had undertaken is the job of kings (governments) or Fakirs. Born in a poor family myself, I was neither. Nevertheless, my wife and I have a success story to tell because we have been privileged to receive blessings and assistance from saints like Swami Pathik Ji and Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Rishikesh. Why they came forward and helped us is anybody’s guess. We had nothing except sincere efforts and desire to help my fellow villagers. People kept coming and helping in our efforts every now and then.

In the meantime my sons Neelesh and Shailesh became capable of extending a helping hand to us. We are getting the pleasure of completing the task assigned to us by the Almighty. Efforts of my son Neelesh and his friend Sharat Pradhan helped our school gain Grants-in-aid, but only up to Class VIII. Neelesh funded the electricity connection bill and internal wiring in the school. Karan Dalal from Mumbai, a noble soul and IT professional, came from nowhere and with his friends arranged for large sums of money for completing construction work. His father Mr. Shishir Dalal arranged for solar lights in the school with which the campus is well lit in the night and six computers are running uninterrupted. Other computers run with normal electricity and back-up.

When Adam Gilmore a friend of Neelesh and a senior scientist in NASA came to our school and delivered a lecture, using projector, on how space crafts are launched and stationed in space, the entire community of teachers and students including ourselves were thrilled. In spite of our unfinished dream, we are contented in life that God has chosen us to deliver something for the needy.

In an area of about 400 sq. km., there still is no Inter College or a High School. Our only desire remains to see that students of my village and surrounding do not have to walk or peddle a cycle for 12 km each day for secondary education. But, officers of education department insist that infrastructure must be at par with the affluent areas. They are not able to appreciate that challenges before social workers in rural areas are different from those of the urban counterparts.

We have adequate building for secondary school in a remote village Kunaura in Lucknow, district, thanks to contribution of our well wishers and friends. Incidentally, the mason included the thickness of walls in the room lengths therefore some rooms are 4 inches short of 25 feet. The education administrators say the class rooms must be 25 feet long nothing short of it. They demand the building must measure inch by inch, fees should not be charged, teachers be paid salary as per the government scales, library and furniture be at par with the urban counterparts and the government would not help financially. The government in the rural areas could at least relax conditions of recognition, if they are themselves unable to open secondary schools in villages. In a situation like this, I have limited options. Compromise with my inner self and bribe the babus or leave the dream project and spend energy on the other modes of social work.

There is no dearth of areas of social work to serve the rural areas. We have made our contribution in the past in the fields of adult education, training in tailoring, food processing, dairy farming, agricultural extension and child nutrition. We can devote our remaining part of life to any of these areas but these are no alternative to quality education to rural poor.

Should the rural youth be deprived of good secondary education because they are unable to construct huge buildings? Should the rural poor be provided only spade work under NREGA for ages? Should there be no distinction between the rural and urban norms for school recognition? I hope the Education Policy makers would address to the needs of the rural youth.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Reservation Rejuvenates Manuvad

Manu, the first socialogist of the World and creator of caste system must be smiling in the heavens that his social divisions have become an effective tool for social, political and economic management of Indian society for all time to come. From the four castes that he had created, we now have about 6000 in modern India. And the people say Islam has castes, not realizing that the Prophet did not believe in dividing the society, or did he?

There are exclusive organizations not only for Brahmins, Kshattriyas and Vaishyas but also for sub-castes like Nishads, Kurmis, Tailik Samaj (oil men), Jats, Gujars, Yadvas, Pasis and you name it. Our politicians are trying to free us from caste-prejudices using the basics of Manuvad.

In the ancient India one’s caste was license to certain privileges, in modern times the governments talk of ‘positive discrimination’ to give caste-based advantages aimed at removing caste hierarchy and establishing social equality. The so called positive discrimination is no different form the concept of caste as a parameter of entitlement of privileges like priesthood, teaching profession, right to rule, or to do business.

Dr. Ambedkar had given a time limit of 10 years for reservation to correct the social anomaly that ended in 1960. However, the greedy politicians in free India thought that people can be herded on the basis of caste. They decided that the caste be the parameter of selection on a post, of election to Parliament and legislative assemblies even village panchayat, representation in the ministry, allocations in the Central and State budgets, admission in schools and colleges, permit, quota and license. They wishfully thought and still think that the castes would vanish and a secular, democratic, secular caste-less society would emerge in this process.

More than 50% government employees owe their positions to caste. Many members of parliament and assemblies even ministers and Chief Ministers are there by virtue of their caste. The goal of caste-less society, if at all it was there, has become no more than a pipe-dream.

In spite of the above, the governments of the day avoid caste based census. They might be thinking we would have to utter, read and write the ‘jaati suchak shabd’ (caste indicator words) but they fail to make distinction between the caste indicator word and the stigma attached to it? It is naïve to think that replacing the caste indicator words would bring respect to Dalits. It is often forgotten that the words mean what we make them to mean. The word scheduled caste over the years has come to carry the same meaning as the ‘Harijan’ of Mahatma Gandhi. Has exchange of words brought about any change in the mental attitude of people.

If you do not believe, go to a village and tell a Brahmin or Thakur and reveal your identity as scheduled caste and ask for a glass of water f. Watch the glass he brings water in. Should we look for a substitute of the phrase scheduled caste? Social equality and respect are linked to social contribution you make. Legendary personalities like Valmiki, Kabir, Ravidas, Tukaram, Ambedkar, Karpuri Thakur, Jagjeevan Ram, Vallabh Bhai Patel and thousands like them did not beg for respect.

Political leaders are heroes either of their caste or caste combinations. They feel ONLY THEY can be the saviors of their caste. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh did not take kindly of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to scheduled caste families. Yadavas have been made to believe that only Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh yadava can save them. Other caste groups are also herding behing their caste leaders. With this scenario, the caste barriers are sharpening, the social harmony is disturbed and chasing the dream of caste-less society would be endless. I hope our leaders know what they are doing.

(originally published in H.T.)

Friday, June 18, 2010

It is pleasure to feed the needy


My young friend Karan Dalal from Mumbai has sponsored mid-day meal to pre-primary kids in our school. You can see the feeling of satisfaction on his face in serving the kids.

I spoke against Cooperative Farming

I was in Lucknow University in B.Sc. in the year 1958 when some department in the university had organized a debate competition on cooperative farming. I had been a popular speaker in Government Jubilee Inter College of Lucknow where my debating companion used to be Ravi Shanker who recently retired as the Director General of the Geological Survey of India. Two of us used to win shields but this was a new platform for me. Just a week before I had undergone an operation for a boil in my chin that was in the process of healing. My face with bandage was looking funny but I had decided to speak, and speak against the topic. When my turn came and my name was announced, I stood up to move to the podium; the student gathering in the A.P.Sen Hall had a big laugh, apparently due to bandage. Without looking left or right I went straight to the podium and glimpsed at the crowd. Then without going into formality of addressing the chairman or the judges, I thundered a village saying “Sajhe ki kheti gadahau na khain, khati khati khain to koi hanke na jai’ (shared crop will not be eaten even by donkeys and in case they do eat, no one will go to chase them away). My voice was so loud and clear, the same crowd applauded instantly. I continued and got applause several times during the speech.

Recently when Lucknow University felicitated me for my contribution to science and society, the function presided by Prof. R. P. Singh, the Vice Chancellor was held in the lawn facing A.P.Sen hall. Seated with the distinguished alumni of the university on the dais, I remembered the incident and smiled.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Origin of Earth: The Indian view

Most religions believe that the earth was created by a Creator. However, the philosophers and peers of Indian subcontinent, who wrote Vedas and Upanishads, pose a searching question that who created the Creator? Does the Creator know what existed before him? What material he used to create the earth and universe and so on. These queries were made not by atheists or agnostics but by the devout Hindus of the subcontinent. They were allowed and encouraged to raise such questions because as Romaine Rolland in his book “Life of Ramakrishna” states:

“Religious faith in the case of Hindus has never been allowed to run counter to scientific laws”

Indeed, the origin of earth and life occupied a great deal of time of inquisitive minds. Ancient civilizations without any sophisticated equipment came out with results at times very close to scientific reality. In Hindu tradition, universe is supposed to precede humanity, other life forms and even gods. The people of ancient India suggested that this ‘being’ perceived as ‘Brahma’ gradually unfolded its inherent creative power and gave birth to the planet earth. Creation of universe in Vedic literature of Hindus is described from a ‘Cosmic Egg’ of Brahma and hence the term ‘Brahmand’ to define the universe. Ancient Indian religions were all about search for truth and there was no restriction either social or religious on innovative ideas.

Hindu thinks that this world and the present universe are not the ultimate reality. They are Maya (illusion) because they are constantly changing. Hindu philosophy insists on cyclisity and concludes that everything that happens today happened many times before. This is similar to the modern concept of Uniformitarianism in earth science. There is concept of utpatti (creation), sanraksha (preservation) and Pralaya (destruction). The concept of ‘Trinity’ in Hindu philosophy implies Creator (Brmha), Preserver (Vishnu) and Destroyer (Shiva). They are one and the same and either of them is not possible without the other.

Creation in Hindu scriptures is termed as ‘Srishti’ which means manifestation of energy as matter, the gross form from the subtle. We can see the gross, which is termed as ‘Maya’ and are not able to see ‘Brahma’ the cosmic force or primal energy which is at the root of existence. Srishti does not mean creation out of nothing, proclaim Upanishads, the holy books of wisdom. Hindu seers believe that creation is impossible from non-existence and universe in their view is projection of Supreme Being. The conclusion of these discussions is that in the beginning there was neither being nor non-being. The sanka prasna (doubt question) in Vrihdaranya Upanishad about 5000 years ago discussed origin of earth and the nature of substance used in creating the planet.

Hindu seers described the sky as ‘Shunya’ (nothing or zero). It is this shunya in which everything including the stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies are arranged in an ordered and related fashion. There is mention of twelve Zodiacal signs in ‘Rigveda’ that predates their mention in Greek literature at least by a thousand years. Rigveda can be said to be the oldest book of astronomy. Thus, the debate about the shape, size, interior and origin of the planet earth together with the life forms (Srishti) present on it have a long and continued history of speculation and hypotheses in India.

Friday, May 28, 2010

COMMUNISTS AND NATIONAL INTEREST


Communists of India oppose the Nuclear Deal between India and America, in the National interest they think, but they also opposed McMahon line that separates India from China. They opposed Quit India Movement and Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose in their perception of National interest.

The line drawn by Henry McMahon in 1914 in Simla between Tibet and British India is popularly known as the McMahon line. It is regarded by India as international border while china does not recognize it. China invaded India in 1962 and still has 38000 sq. km of Indian Territory in its possession. Communists are more in tune with the Chinese opinion.

Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose - the embodiment of Nationalism and secularism was a great son of India. Yet, the communists did not hesitate to describe him as ‘traitor’ or ‘quisling’ or even ‘Tozo’s dog.’ Tozo was the monarch of Japan. Subhash Bose was awakened to National interest more than any communist in the world. In whose interest did communists abused Neta Ji?

Communists opposed Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 when he wanted the British to Quit India. Recollecting the role of communists in ‘Quit India Movement’ one of the presidents of the district Congress Committee in Kerala, Mr. Chennithala said that communists continue with their ‘history of betrayals’ (The Hindu, On Line Edition, Aug. 10, 2007).

In 1947-48, the newly independent communally surcharged India needed help and support of all sections of society. The communist Party with B.T.Randive as its General Secretary called mass struggle and wanted the government to be thrown out by armed struggle. Vallabh Bhai Patel saw to it that the violent struggle was defeated. The communists of India then accepted the option of electoral politics.

The first elected Government of the communist party of India under Namboodripad was formed in Kerala in 1957. The communist Government taught Engel, Marx and Lenin in Kerala schools disregarding Indian culture, heritage and values. The people of Kerala including Muslim League revolted under the leadership of Pattam Thanu Pillai. The communist attitude pained all democratic socialists including Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru.

The peasant uprising in May 1967 at Naxalbari in Darjeeling in Wes Bengal was led by armed communists based on the thesis of agrarian revolution by eliminating landlords. It has produced Naxalites under different names. Communism and Naxalism have only a thin line of demarcation.

During the days of socialist economy, the Communists had meticulously carved out a decisive role for themselves in educational, economic and cultural policies of the Government of India. Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister in the Narsimha Rao government adopted free economy and made the communist philosophy irrelevant to modern India. Manmohan Singh in the Communist perception is not working in the National interest.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

They should be in school


EDUCATION: THE RURAL- URBAN DIVIDE

Rural students for education depend mostly on government schools where teachers are asked by the government to perform duties other than teaching, during most of the year. Primary school teachers in Uttar Pradesh had hardly finished conducting a statewide scrutiny of ration cards of B.P.L. (below poverty line) families during the last session when they were asked to prepare voters-lists in which they are busy in the current session. They are expected to help in polio vaccination, statistical surveys for the government, supervise the construction of school buildings under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and even help do the cattle census in a few states. There is very little time left for teaching.

Shortage of teachers in rural schools is alarming in government schools. Fresh appointments are seldom made after retirement of large number of them and after expansion of schools. The number of pupils increased many fold due to population explosion and concerted efforts of enrolment by teachers under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. But many of the schools have only one teacher at times with a ‘Shiksha Mitra’. The rural students are expected to learn without a teacher like Eklavya of Mahabharat to compete against the Arjuna of city schools. Some of them do succeed. But for each successful Eklavya there are numerous who, sadly, fail.

Contrary to the villages, the urban areas have a large number of convent schools that enhance their standards in a highly competitive atmosphere. Right to education of equitable quality seems like a fancy dream for India’s 72 % rural population, living in its 600,000 villages. Backwardness in India is thought to be linked to caste and religion and rural-urban divide is not accepted.

The problem of shortage of staff at least can be resolved if teachers and other staff are hired from the educated unemployed village youths using National Rural Employment Guarantee funds at least with the minimum daily wages of Rs. 100. The NREGA could also have provision of employing educated men and women for engaging them in the odd jobs being carried out by teachers. They could be trained for odd jobs in the manner the teachers are trained. It could stop the entry of ‘Shiksha Mitaras’ through back door to the teaching profession, using leverage of village Pradhans.

Sadly, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 aims at realization of right to unskilled manual work in rural areas. This act could gainfully supplement the Right to Education Act of 2005 that guarantees primary education of ‘equitable quality’. It is unfortunate that the act is creating millions of jobs meant generally for rural illiterate, the educated unemployed rural youth are either uncovered under the scheme or they are expected to do the spade work even after holding a university degree.

Vocational institutions opened for village youths offer vocational training to train them to become masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, shoe makers and tailors. It appears to have an inherent class bias. Should they not be groomed to become engineers, doctors, management trainees and computer scientists? Some rural students will certainly have aptitude to succeed in advanced skills.

Decades ago the Mandal report told us that 27 % of OBCs are educationally backward. Now, the Sacchar report tells us that Muslims are more backward than even Dalits. It does not apply uniformly to rural and urban areas. Rural literacy is 58.7% against urban literacy of 79.9%. Only 46.1 % Women are literate in villages compared to 72.9 % in cities. It is not without reason. Educational facilities are concentrated in the cities and are dismal in the rural areas. Can we think of vision 2020 without taking three fourths of the country along?

The Navodaya Vidyalaya movement started in 1986 was a noble concept to bridge the rural-urban gap in quality education. It is a sad commentary that children from villages around the vidyalayas hardly get admission there. On top of that, they are residential schools – a complete mismatch with the realities of rural India. Why should they be boarding schools if they are supposed to benefit the local talent? The rural poor cannot expect much from the Sainik schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Railway schools either because of tough competition for admissions.

Sometimes NGOs and individual social workers try to open schools in rural areas to give education better than Government schools. They cannot possibly run schools only on good intentions. They get trapped in a vicious circle. If they charge fees students drop out and if they make education free they may not have money to hire good teachers. Discrimination by governments against the rural private schools is hurting the rural poor much more than it hurts the NGOs.

The NGOs and social workers face the biggest hurdle when they apply for recognition of their village schools to the government. The requirements for recognition for village schools are currently the same as for city schools. This is impractical because the construction of prescribed building for a Junior High School alone would cost about 6 Lakh rupees. The NGOs and individual social workers can have fewer hurdles in providing quality education to the rural poor if the emphasis was on academic standards not the material demands.

Source of some hope for quality education in rural areas could be wealthy educationists owning chain of schools in cities. They may not help rural areas for free but the incentives like cheap loans and parallel tax breaks in cities to open schools in rural areas may possibly motivate them. Such benefits are available if they open industries in backward areas, not for schools.

There are many senior citizens and pensioners who may like to devote their energy for a noble cause of rural education. This can bring their life time experience to raw brains of rural poor. Japan it is said was the first country to achieve 100% literacy in spite of poverty caused by the Second World War. The initiative to involve senior citizens has to come from the governments of respective States.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Life has a Mission

My friend Karan Dalal inspired me to have a blog and here I am. In the age of 70 on the 22nd of May, I may not add much to whatever little I could do in life, but there will be enough to talk about. Karan had met me about a year ago and he already shares my view that life has a mission. We take up a job, have family and make associations to fulfill that mission. For some the mission is search for truth, for others it is service to mankind and yet others believe in the philosophy of eat drink and be merry. There is no limit to dreams of life.
Dreams are not decided in heavens, though it appears we are here to play a role of some kind. Dreams come from within. My small dream to have a school for the rural poor had come to me when I was about 10 years of age.My wife Nirmala made my dream her own and we made sincere effort to fulfill the dream. This effort is the story of our life.More about it later.
Like Karan, my son Neelesh has heart for the poor and he shares my dream. But, Neelesh thinks we need not be wedded to hardships while serving the mankind; Karan says he eats to live. We are pround of Karan and Neelesh. We feel very happy that the young men are trying to carry forward the dream and to better on it Long live the dreams!.