Meluhha, The Forgotten Soil

“January 2010 me talibani dahshatgardo ne mere haath se mera kalam chhin liya. Lekin hum log taleem ke liye jeto jehen karte rahenge kyuki taleem hamari basic right hai.”

“I don’t mind if I have to sit on the floor. All I want is education,”

-Gul Makai urf Malala Yousafzai

On the eve of Diwali, I am extremely delighted to see the lightning, the zeal and fervor among my family, my brother and my neighbors. This enthusiasm is present everywhere in air at this time of year in India. The ever growing human curiosity to navigate and settle in diverse spaces has renovated Diwali in to a global festival, celebrated in almost every continent. Thanks to the vast, wide and deep settled Indian foreign population. But let this article be a solemn narrative from your sincere author and allow yourself to be acquainted to another story equally fervent and passionate. A story about a land, not far enough, of similar faces and linguistics, similar flora and fauna, similar houses and equally similar cities, similar governance and similar atmosphere. We drink the same waters of Indus and breathe the same air of Punjab bur still share a relationship of conscious friendship and unreal contentment. By now, I have given enough signs for the theme topic of this article. It is our worthy neighbor “Pakistan”.

Pakistan, a blurred picture I find it. It takes me in a state of confusion. Past experiences, a general perspective, their governmental policies and political approach toward India, flavored with their unaccepted guilt of giving shed to terrorism, induces me to adopt a disliking towards them. However observing Pakistani will (of Pakistani denizen’s) and views, may it be through interviews, Newspapers, TV shows or comments on a YouTube video, witnessing their grievances and living style, I realize that there is something wrong in their societal arrangement, which tempts me to believe that it is not that an erroneous country to be hated. Perhaps Pakistanis, the citizens if I focus on specifically (exempt the radical groups and those in politics), favor Indians more than Americans. Wrong is the very political approach of Pakistan, which is in the clutches of a handful of people in their government. Moreover we must look into this grave situation and try to realize the actual mental and physical state of Pakistanis, who suffer way more than us, from N numerous rather uncountable diseases, pierced brutally and deeply into their society.

The morning of October 13^th of 2012, in Peshawar witnesses yet another bomb attack, this time not in a tiffin box or a school bag, but a car in broad day-light. The target was an anti-insurgent peace committee office, which consumes the lives of 17 innocent people along with it. Bomb attacks have become a regular challenge in every nation, especially in these modern times with ever increasing crime rates and terror risks, however just for a moment contemplate upon the Islamic nations. Pakistan is facing one bomb attack back and again in almost a two months period. We all can imagine the amount of public and private loss, damage to life, property and infrastructure that Pakistan faces. Besides what life am I talking about? Jaipur, a far more organized and safe city in the Indian province of Rajasthan, faced 9 serial bomb attacks on the evening of May the 13^th of 2008, whose losses are still buried deep within and the bad memories continue to haunt the local natives. Renowned local Newspapers, Rajasthan Patrika and Dainik Bhaskar displays images and reportage of those dreadful moments on its infamous annual anniversary May the 13^th. Must Pakistani newspapers also fill each of their monthly editions with fresh blast reports? They may have become excellent blast reporters, with the quickest reporting force as soon as a blast occurs, but is that an achievement? Are they not tired? Do Pakistanis also take pride in their security forces? 

Why would they; their forces aren’t able to protect them from blasts, nor from north-west Talib penetration.

Why wouldn’t they; they still exist within this rough atmosphere of a quasi-war state. But again, IS THIS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT or A GUILT?

Let’s try to find answers to these questions by anticipating in a further more depth. I’ll be moving in a time slide with my diary entries, while you try to transit along with me. With the following entries, I want to acquaint you with the contemporary Pakistani chaos and a perhaps give you a feeling of being in a Pakistani atmosphere.

Dear Diary…

7^th April 2012

It is April and the atmosphere is very hot here. The famous Khewra salt mines are shining like diamonds in the scorching heat and are boasting of its glorious history dating back to Alexander’s raid in 320BC. However equally shining is white glorious snow in the cool valleys of Siachen, which has recently engulfed 140 Pakistani soldiers, from their Gayari base camp in its hitherto biggest avalanche. Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed grief for the life losses, but refuses to retreat their force from Siachen. The Indian government might have called back the soldiers, but their past experiences display a clear Pakistani desire of Siachen (dating back to 1949, Siachen is a strategically important glacier for the forces) and Kashmir. Despite over-courteous and flexible political will from their Prime Minister, he will never take a decision to call back the soldiers especially under a doubtful neighbor. However we all Pakistani citizens wish for peace, and hope the world does not blame us for such political desires of our government.

 June 13^th 2012

Music is an art that links different cultures and nations. One such artist was our very own, the legendary Ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan, who resides no more with us. His Ghazals transited across the Indo-Pakistani boundary. Pakistani singing culture is more inclined towards Classical, which is hugely appreciated and widely accepted in India. His demise is being regretted in both the countries. Surely we share a same taste for music with Indians.

June – August 2012

This period has been a timeline of rough incidents for us. While on one hand, we displayed a mark of sympathy on a global platform by releasing Surjeet Singh, a RAW agent after he spend 30 years in jail, escorting another similar act of mercy shown by India by releasing Dr. Khalil Chishty from Ajmer prison. On other hand, we also faced global dishonor and humiliation when Abu Jundal urf Zabiuddin Ansari named in “50 most wanted criminals sheltered in Pakistan", was caught and deported to Indian security forces. His involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and subsequent events is a mark of international shame for us as he belonged to Pakistan.

On one hand the country faces a dearth of 5,733MWatts of power out of a total country requirement of 19,000MWatts, torturing the citizens with a common power cut of 20 hours a day. Since the Pakistani water supply depends upon wells and underground tanks fitted with electric motors to fetch water, entire families are troubled to cook and wash. Moreover I and my friends are unable to perform at school because of sleepless nights in blazing rooms. While on other hand there is no shortage of power in the hands of incapables. Convicted by the Supreme Court for not reopening the “graft cases”, against president Zardari, Yousaf Raja Gilani our Prime Minister has been vindicated a symbolic “30 seconds” sentence. He is declared ineligible for the membership of Parliament. However hot the time may fall on us and the politics may ruin the common public peace; we will continue to pay our reverence and admiration to Allah. By fasting as we did in the month of Ramadan, this July because Ramadan itself means scorching heat and fasting in this blistering hotness multiplies our showers of blessing.

August – October2012

Huge losses for Pakistan in this period. Balochistan, the largest Pakistani province, faced yet another outbreak of the deadly torrential rains. Submerged completely, around a million are rendered homeless while around 10,000 animals are reported to have been swept. Around 50,000 wheat sacks have been destroyed. However larger is our agony for not only the physical landscape is facing the odds, but the entire air in Pakistan is diffusing the rumors about the relationship of our smart foreign minister Mrs. Hina Rabbani Khar and nation’s first son Bilawal Bhutto. Such cheap rumors always add to the intricacies of public life however this one rose to such attention because of its global appeal. It also appeared as a full-fledged article in India Today, a leading news magazine of our worthy neighbor.

October-Nvember2012

October 6^th experiences a drone attack in the Mianwali region from US forces against tentative presence of militant sanctuaries in the tribal regions. There is tension in the region. Sometimes such inefficiency from our side is aching. Why cannot we retaliate to a nation who is bombing our land for any security reason under the sun, but without our permission, by using their drones? Such paralyzed approach pains. When India and Pakistan decided to separate out from each other in 1947, they had in mind of a worthy and appreciable future for their upcoming generations. But now If I look towards India, I feel that despite of their governmental inefficiencies they are way ahead of us. Their citizens are satisfied, and are living without the everyday fears of bomb blasts, drone attacks or any Talib infiltration. While here in Pakistan, cricket veteran Imran Khan leads a rally representing the “Tehrik-e-Insaf” party, condemning the drone strike in Mianwali, in his fight for the seat of Prime Minister; Indians are racing China and USA in Space. They have transformed themselves beautifully from a diverse collection of linguistics to a modern and ideal living society, while our politicians boasts of equal military power and nuclear power, by being sycophant to China, grabbing sleeves of America, and sucking precious citizen’s blood.

Goodbye

Faisal

Probably the above Diary entries explain you the local grievances which form a very dangerous recipe, especially in a radical society where each group has its own interpretations of Islamic laws.

However 9^th of October 2012 experienced a gun attack on a young smart Pakistani social activist working for education, Malala Yousafzai. Malala was 11, when in 2009 she started writing a diary for BBC, in which she expressed her days and the local atmosphere in Swat Valley region in western Waziristan region of Pakistan. She wrote under her pen name of “Gul Makai”, to avoid any unforeseen trouble. However soon the Swat Valley was taken over by Talib insurgents who destroyed around 402 schools in the region, to prevent the distribution of education. In her emotional blogs filled with her everlasting spirit to gain education, Malala refused to lay knees before the terror. She raised her voice for education over several forums. Her association with BBC provided her the initial launch. She started getting invitation as speaker on various platforms, TV shows, Reporters from international magazines and news portals, Political meetings. A 14 year old Pakistani girl, with excellent command on her voice, English and Urdu, was appreciated by the entire globe, when she was awarded with the National Youth Peace Prize. However she was shot in head by Talibs on October 9^th, in broad daylight while returning from school. She was operated in Great Britain, and has been declared out of danger. United Nations General Secretory has declared the 10^th of November to be celebrated as the Malala day, for the globe stand on her behalf. This incident has risen the Pakistani youth and general public with a great commotion since this was the first time an air of realization spread dictating the illegitimate presence of terror against education, awareness and freedom. Moreover an uproar for the rights of education that too specifically including “girls”, in a nation where, their potential realization is another massive issue, is a gorgeous development.

Pakistan as a whole has undergone a great deal of changes but in a haphazard manner. Perhaps one strong reason behind is the loose structure of sub-provinces in the west, and subsequent inability of the weak governments to protect it from Afghan infiltrations. Presence of radical groups in North coupled with a dearth of emergence of strong and ideal politicians with time, took the nation in to a ditch of illusion.

If youth such as Malala can fight in Swat Valley against Talibs, and can raise thousand more, who recite their motto “We are Malala”, then perhaps we can get many more Benazirs, Hinas, Nawazs, Imrans, and Iftikars. The glorious, magnificent and bravura civilization of Indus valley, which once boasted of being one of the earliest modern civilizations, today suffers with a failed economy and society. But a societal and Political change can lift the Meluhhan land to extreme heights. And the youth coupled with brave girls like Malala has proved this…

This is an experimental try from your sincere author to present the current story of Pakistan in a different style. The above mentioned diary entry is completely fictional. It is placed above to give the readers a deep insight of the mental state of a Pakistani citizen. It is based on news, TV interviews and common sentiments of Pakistani public gathered from different sources on internet. The Hyperlinks to specific words, names and phrases will direct you to their related articles on internet. They are just meant for brief references and deep study if anyone wishes so.

The following are the references for above…

www.wikipedia.org/

www.ndtv.com/

www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/

http://asiaeurope.com/

www.tribuneindia.com/

http://dawn.com/

images from:: http://images.google.com/

Surrender in lecture

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A New Dimension

Google blogger provides you, very exotic styles and themes to present your matter. Dynamic view is one of them with you see currently on this bog. You can change the viewing style from the top left drop-menu option labeled as “Timeslide”. More Dynamic the view more interesting it becomes. It adds dynamics and forces to your matter. In this fast moving life ‘the more swift you are the more efficient you become’. Perhaps that is why a suggestion from a friend induces me to add a little more Dynamics to this blog, “The Journey”.

Now my blog will contain more than just articles. Viz. My studies, Projects, Presentations, Photos, Music… Check out the new pages on the top header bar, viz. NREGA, Instragram...

Ready to open a new dimension…. “The Journey”

Picture courtesy:: Yognik, Recourse Center DA-IICT

Through the Shades of an Officer

It was 2100hrs and I had decided to retire myself from all sorts of worldly-confusions and contemplate upon the “Method of Images”, used to simplify a given complex looking Electrostatic problem. But a sudden call disturbed my quasi contemplation state and directed me to rush to the CEP. 93 minutes later I was contemplating on the fact that I should rather deliver the college with a study focused on the “Police System” in our country. A few minutes later I revealed my intentions to the Press club of DA-IICT, leaving my shoulders with the burden of entering into the intrinsic web of, what is called the “Khadi”.

The prevalent culture in our nation is such that, there are certain issues which have acquired a very critical approach from the general public. One such domain is the Police machinery and specifically the khadi cladded Officer. ACP Arjun Singh Rathore, Inspector Sadhu Aghase, ACP Yashvardhan, SP Amit Kumar, ACP A.A.Khan, have placed a decent dashing and tough image of Indian Police against crime through cinema. But walking through the labyrinths of real life incidents and experiences of many people whom I surveyed and conversed for this project, I realized that perhaps the story around a Police Officer is way too complex to be depicted by a movie. There is a huge heap of prejudices related with the Police force accumulated within the Indian mindset, which probably works as the veil of illusion, hiding the reality and producing a distorted image of the Police in front of our eyes. Thanks to few Officers, who unknowingly depict an erroneous image of the department.

In this project work on Police forces I am not depicting my views, but I have tried to structuralize the common public sentiments in regard to Police and how it differs with the reality. Working in a force requires a lot of mental temperament stability and ability to handle pressure from all possible sources. “The most indispensable quality which an efficient Police Officer will never lack is a tremendous amount of Patience”, explains a very popular and well known Sub-Inspector from the Allahabad UP cadre. A Police Officer carries the onus of performing a 24 hour duty which does not provide even a single hour to relax and retire, opposite to the large-spread misconception that Police does not do anything. Besides they are supposed to note down their hour to hour movement in a general Police diary. No matter whether the next night has to be passed in a Jeep or on a patrol or spend just observing, they devote nearly 10-15 days without giving a look back to their home. Their Mothers Fathers Wives Children keep longing in remembrance, still the Officer keeps aside all family matters and personal issues, and shifts his focus of attention to his duty. Those who are able to set their mind-frame accordingly, tackle the challenges, while others appear irritated and fret on duty. This accompanied with countless other reasons, might leads them to show their frustration to public, which is labeled as indecency and misbehavior of Police. The common public will always fail to realize these hidden aspects and dynamics of the job of a Police Officer.

The heaviest pressure on an Officer is from ‘The Above’. There is a senior for every Police Officer, to whom he is answerable to, and for a DGP state, it is the ministry of Home affairs, to which he has to answer. But the story changes when the term “Ministry” comes into the act.

The 4 most important subjects that an Officer has to keep in mind while on duty are:

1)      Senior’s command

2)      Rules and Regulations set by the Court

3)      Rules and Regulations set by NHRC(National Human Rights Commission)

4)      Political Intrusion

Being the heaviest, Political Interference has proved to be THE biggest hurdle in the healthy functioning of Police. Politicians interfere according to their will. The right procedure explains that a politician must consult the DGP, who is the final responsible authority, for taking or not taking any further action. Instead Politicians directly call the Station House Officers (Inspectors), and direct them to work according to their will. They sanction transfers for Officers without anybody’s consent, on the sole basis of whether the Officer is useful to THEM. A Politician always looks for the most suitable Officer who suits his interests. In another approach, the Officers of a particular region also reflect the image of the politician or MLA of that region.

35% of the general public believes that there should be a constitutional amendment to relieve the Police from the Home ministry and declare it as an autonomous body, headed by a Central Chief, just like the CoAS(Chief of Army Staff-The General). Rest 65%, were either unable to understand the question and its formulation, or they were unable to imagine if such a thing could ever happen in India. This seems to be a heavy mission, but a few changes in the center and state list, Regional division of command, a Presidential control and redistribution of power can work this out. Will take time, but is justified if it relieves the Officers from unwanted pressures of ministers and bureaucrats.

Rajasthan state DGP H.C.Meena introduced a new format of training for new recruits. A 10km continuous run, which He himself completes in mere 48mins. Another issue is that the fitness condition amongst our Constables is miserable. Almost everyone whom we asked in our survey believed the requirement of a regular health check-up and weekly exercise schedules for Constables in specific. Moreover some even stressed on the fact that the training given to new recruits is not worth anymore in the wake of modern crimes. Claims are that Police uses their old techniques while criminals have sorted out new and much efficient modus operandi.

Now since when I have mentioned the term Modus Operandi, or the “Method of Operation”, we must not forget that whether or not we realize, our Police force uses some of the most sophisticated styles of operating, with a very rich network of informers. Often within such operating styles appears a very sensitive term called “Encounter”. To our surprise, around 90% of the public is captivated by the term and believe it is the right and appropriate way of dealing with serial history-sheeters. “Elimination is better than recursive interrogation”, believes the public. The degree and hideousness of crimes has increased to such a level that a life sentence no more justifies the verdict. But the irony of the matter is that a fake encounter is constitutionally a crime registered with IPC, the social activists will involve the elements of Human Rights, opposition party will propagate the notion of Khadi Raaj and our Police Officers have to face the wrath, regardless of all justifications. Despite the general public being fascinated by the term Encounter Specialists and talking about graces of Daya Nayak or Pradeep Sharma, an official permission to this can be given only if Police works as an autonomous body independent of ministerial control.

When asked about some weaknesses of our Police, almost all agreed that Bribery remains to be THE biggest hurdle. “Concentration of most of the power with upper rank Officers causes lack of decision making in lower grade Officers, a deficiency of latest technology, fitness concerns and political interference” are some other flaws cited by public. Keeping aside the issues which involve governmental will, let’s contemplate for a while on the issue of bribery, for it relates to us directly. Some Constables will annoy you to such an extent that you will deliberately bribe them, while in some cases you will purposely bribe them for making your work done. Such a deep rooted culture in a society cannot be removed through mere laws and policies. Almost everyone agreed to this fact that civilians are equally responsible for spreading bribery, and that there is no specific solution to such a widespread critical issue. Although an ideology that hits everyone’s conscious might help in some manner. This ideology cannot be predicted; it will come spontaneously when it will be most required.

A utopian force is a hypothesis which can never exist in reality; however it can reach near to the level of perfection, with our support, faith and motivation. Sad is the fact that our general public lacks all these three key elements but still wish to get a perfect cop. Besides the biggest misconception is this that if one cop is corrupt, so is the rest of the department. And along with this, stereotypes of ruthless, unfit, inefficient and coward are also tagged to them (Some of their views can be viewed on this video).

Whether the weak and inefficient functioning of Police is due to the critical public opinion and perception OR it is exactly the other way round, does not concern me at all. The more important concern is that since the Police force is a surveillance squad and a law maintaining squadron, it should uplift its moral image. Such apprehension must naturally hit the mindset of our Officers. They should come forward with answers to elevate their presence, take pride in performing their duties and this should occur from grassroots to the highest post in this service. A mental change in the minds of our Officers regardless of the public response can deliver us with the very ideology that I was mentioning above and along with it will the wave of ‘Change’ arrive. Change, in the way the ordinary civilian notices a Police man, Change in the way every Police Officer whether a Constable or an SP thinks about himself.

Hereby I rest my writing, presenting the last statement, made by the former voice, direct from Allahabad on the other side on the phone, in what will always remain as one of my most cherished discussions I ever experienced…

“Facing the Odds, ignoring the charges of the Society and recoiling the aspirations of Sympathy,

The Khadi Cladded Officer is the Zenith of Patience”

       The facts stated in the article are based upon:

1)         A survey done by me and my colleagues at Infocity Gandhinagar(video can be followed here).

2)         A Telephone Discussion with a Sub-Inspector Allahabad, UP cadre.

3)         No references from any websites were taken.

photo courtesy:: S.P. Shivdeep Lande

The Dark NIGHT..Rises…

In the glorious cool and scented atmosphere of the parliament, 31^st of July experienced the inaugural oath taking ceremony of the new home minister of the Republic of India. Expressing his reverence towards the Gandhi Nehru family, and remembering Mr Rajeev Gandhi for giving the nation a dalit Home minister in the form of Bhuta Singh and now his wife to give this opportunity again to a dalit, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde proceeded to declare his acceptance of the new job and promised to serve in all benefits of the home. A close save that was, as while his office was shifted from the Power to the portfolio of Home Affairs, he had left some 650 million surging with unanswered questions and a new successor to be blamed and pointed at. All that Mr Veerappa Moily, the infant in-charge of Power ministry stated was that the events had been an expected result of the non-harmonised system of dealings and unsynced relations between the States and the Centre.

The reason for all the up-surge had been the nationwide power cut causing blackout in almost entire of the Northern half of the nation for two consecutive days. Going with the reports, we come to this conclusion that on the night of 29^th July the Bina-Gwalior 400kV power supply line tripped due to overload. This line, connected into the Agra-Bareilly transmission section, even caused it to collapse. A similar cascaded shutdown followed causing tripping up of power stations for the entire province of Uttar Pradesh, creating a shortfall of around 32GW of power. The ramifications led to a complete blackout state, and this continued to spread in the neighbouring state as well, leaving around 300 million in darkness.

Mr Sushil when questioned retaliated by arguing that there had been a continuous mass drainage of power by states, defeating far behind the bounds and limits set by the centre. The reason he made to support was blaming the lagging monsoon which had caused a delay in rains and motivated the farmers to increase the use of irrigation pumps for their obvious reasons. Previously collapsed in 2001 this fall was considered the worst in our entire nation history. The Confederation of Indian Industries(CII) claimed that the collapse had costed them tens of millions of dollars. While living in a nation considered as one of the most potent upcoming leader in the global world, we already lead in certain numbers such as sheltering some 300-400 million who lie in the “non-grid” zone (zero electricity). And now, to add to the list we lift the record of positioning some 650 million in no light and absolute darkness for two consecutive days. Reports say that this two day performance missed by inches from making a Hat-Trick as on 1^st of August as a similar overload was observed but the power line was cut beforehand. The Agra-Gwalior line running on 800MW was brought down to 600MW and the state of Uttar Pradesh was provided only 7GW of power against its demand of some 9.5GW.

Now the issue that concerns me is that why is there so much of power requirement? There can be two explanations to this. Either we remain to be unaware denizens and fail to realize that we are wasting too much of power that causes the shortage, which seems a more unlikely explanation. Or perhaps we are really short of power and we need to generate more for everyone. Besides, both might also be partially correct that is to say, while we need to generate more, we also have to realize its importance and conserve more. As far the “conserve” factor is considered, a significant change is easily visible in form of a new perspective towards electricity amongst us. We’ve started to be more courteous towards using fans lights ACs, and even water, for the very reasons that we are facing shortages, may that be in form of electricity or water supply. But as far the generative aspect is considered a lot seems yet has to be achieved.

We already have an installed capacity of 205,000 MW of power generation that is more than 35% of what it used to be some 5 years from now. However that still remains to be around a fifth of the total power generation of China as it were. Moreover around a third of our population is still not connected to the main power grid. There have been efforts made to install and elaborate the current capacity, but they have been regularly thwarted by issues such as power project clearances, Land acquisitions, and the most efficient- Environment concerns.

One such latest issue which came to a lot of limelight was the uproar at the Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant. The dream for this Atomic Power Plant Project was seen by our former Prime Minister Mr Rajeev Gandhi barely an year before his demise in 1988. The project was signed between the two partners’ viz. the Republic of India and the USSR. But after the disintegration of USSR, the project fell into a limbo. Now abstaining myself from entering into the labyrinths of history, let me jump straight to the point when this project, which finally got its inception and was about to complete, was received with a lot of criticism by the local denizens. The developments had been based on the latest Fukushima nuclear disaster, caused by an earthquake, and the indigenous people feared that a similar catastrophe could claim lives of some 10 million who lived within the 30 km vicinity of the reactor.

Despite repeated efforts of the Jayalalitha AIADMK Government and their appeals to the centre to step in and resolve the issue, people refused to negotiate. This soon became a political scenario where people claimed that government at centre does not care local sentiments, while government claimed that the people and the protesting NGOs are getting foreign fund and support. What does this signify? We are so very deeply dug into our own immaturities of pointing and questioning each other that we fail regularly to contemplate enough on a problem.

These indigenous people will continue to ask their government for their own power plant and look at the recently build 600MW Moserbear’s Solar Power Plant in Narendra Modi’s Gujarati Patan as a competitor, at the same time refuse to get a historical deal flagging up in front of their eyes. A clear expression of our mismanagement, and unwillingness to be the first for accepting a change. Why is the government not capable of settling down the people’s protest with a proper explanation and start off the 1000MW plant? Or why are the people so worried and irritated when this would work in their own benefit?

If a mere visit by a former President fail to resolve the issue, then find another way, make your policies, your laws, re-establish locals, do whatever is best for everyone. But certainly calming the issue by mere displays of inspections and the logos of “work in progress” will never deliver us with a solution. These power cuts will remain dominant, repeat and continue to haunt the image of INDIA as it were in the Global Scenario when it fights hard against its economic slowdown.

References:

Wikipedia: Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant

Times of India, The Hindu, NDTV: General figures

Yognik Baghel

Bharat Mata Ki Jai (II): The intricate economic web

Finally back into my writing boots, holding the pen once again, yes I did write this on paper first, I am back after a void of some fifteen days. A lot has happened in these fifteen or so days. Time has taken its toll upon me and my ideologies. Parting myself from some ideas that were no more than a fad, I have moved on in life….Ah! Abstaining myself from indulging into serious philosophies of life let me put forth the second part, or call it the sequel, the sociological approach to Indian economic condition, Bharat Mata Ki Jai(II): The intricate economic web.

I concluded my last article BMKJ(I), with a promise to include the heavy weighted terms of Sociological perspective and approach, Inflation, Deficit, Subbarao etc. But merely placing them in a fancy statement would never fulfil their actual job. To understand the Indian policy paralysis, or call it the economic slowdown of the nation, we need to realize that this country as a whole is a system which is interdependent and thus is very fragile. The first very obvious question that may come to your mind is that why a drop as low as ₹56 a $? The most potent cause to this is the Eurozone debt crisis which has caused the tremendous weakening of Euro and hence in other perspective a comparative strengthening of dollar against other currencies, which includes Indian rupee. But nowhere does this dropping of Indian rupee states that we are in a crisis. This is a global situation wherein such effects are faced by every other nation.  The platform might be dropped but why do we fail to realize that we all are standing on the same platform even now? The previous IMF chief the waitress-assaulter Strauss Kahn said in an exclusive interview that India is one of the strongest and dynamically growing economies at present. Because of the ferocious potential that we Indians possess, all we have in hand right now is a little concern but NOT at all a CRISIS. Anyways, as a matter of fact, Indian Rupee is stronger that Japanese Yen (Any comments??).

The current economic situation is an assembled model of many centrally important issues. To present an inception lets pounder on Subsidies. These are the financial support that the government, both centre as well as state provides, on agricultural production activities, petroleum and oil etc… If we look into the total cost of subsidies provided by government in the year 2011-12, it sums up to a mammoth ₹1.8 lakh crore. Almost efficiently comparable to the defence budget of our country (₹1.9 lakh crore). As per my personal views I believe this is too much of money to be given cheeringly to the corrupt, as that is where most of it goes. The government has a poor PDS system, unable to counter even a fake ration card problem. Talk about Rajasthan where the net productivity of wheat is around 69.5 metric tonnes per season but available quantity in sacks, to store them is merely 25 metric tonnes. Can you believe the rest of the wheat either deteriorates on railway stations or in overflowing granaries? Why so much of subsidies for higher yield, when you can’t even store it. This is simply a waste of money. Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh recently said in an interview that the government should remove the petroleum subsidy. But soon this was covered under the veil of political agendas and propagandas.

Now let’s take a toll on the auspicious sentiments of our fellow respected Indian citizens, privileging themselves in prestigious offices of Finance ministry and Central Bank. There had always been a discontent and a clash of ideas between the present RBI Governor Subbaro and our past Finance minister Parnabda. The latter requested him many times to reduce the interest rates(Repo rates- at which banks lend from RBI), to curb the investment sentiment prevailing among the public, but the former never gave him a look more than that of ignorance. Subbaro comments, that the rates were higher in 2008-09 but the GDP growth rate was higher than. What needs to be checked are the government policies. While as for now Pranaba orates his first Presidential speech and relaxes in the presidential office, we can hope Shinde to infuse the negative miasma that prevails in the street joining Finance ministry and RBI.

Another potent reason that I feel is the government’s decision to prevent the entry of foreign Investment of higher celling’s in multi retail sector. This is again the display of another infant industry approach adopted by the government like the one adopted in late 1980’s. You will keep arguing that we need time to grow while other infants will face the competitions and grow in the rat-race environment. But all this doesn’t stop here, the government is not only allowing foreign investment but is also planning to tax the somewhat present investors to settle its CAD(Current account deficit). In the Vodafone case, for a transfer of rights, Vodafone is charged of rupee 11,000 crore tax. Moreover they are providing to IMF, a relief package of ₹55,000 for Eurozone crisis, but kicking Mrs. Banerjee's proposal of a state relief fund. Then the horrific appearance of GAAR in the dreams of enthusiastic foreign investors is driving the optimism out of their nose. In such a scenario the government should allow FDI in multi brand retail, banking, aviation and keep cases like Vodafone out of their box, otherwise we will even loose out current investors.

To compile everything into a machine code,what I wrote plus what I cannot, considering your temperament to engulf this boring stuff, now let’s try to take the help of our special characters…

CUT RATES TO CURB INFLATION>>DEISEL DEREGULATION AND CONTROL>>PREVENT FINANCIAL PACKAGES>>PREVENT HIGH FLOATING SUBSIDIES>>ALLOW FDI>>CONROLL CAD>>REVIVE TELECOM AND MINIG SECOTR>>CURB NEGATIVE SENTIMENTS ABOUT ECONOMY SPREAD IN SOCEITY.

That’s how I perceive this…

Bharat maata ki Bharat maata ki bolo jai bolo jai bharat maata ki jai….

Thanks for Reading..

Have a nice day…

Bharat Mata Ki Jai (I): The cladded dreamer.

The general-elections of 1957 accepted Nehru yet again, to lead the nation. It was a crucial time in India’s history, which had recently bailed out from the clutches of a 200 year rule. This was high time when it had to steer its entire federal structure in right direction and with proper pace. It was extremely crucial at that time for the legislators and the policy makers to act with at most care and intellect as they were provided with the task of putting the new-born INDIA into the already aged long-run race of economies. Although it is not possible for me to wrap the profound insights of our thinkers within the boundaries of this article, but I definitely want to focus on one man. The man who was a lover of caps, safari suits, roses and ladies; and who was leading these master-thinkers.

When I wrote my previous article(THE IMP€RIAL COLLAPSE), a friend asked me to relate the European Debt Crisis with Indian economic slowdown. I had but a very fade idea about this in my mind as I don't blame European debt crisis to be the sole culprit. However we can declare it guilty for depreciating ₹(INR), which I mentioned in my previous article itself. This leveraged me to take a dig in the Indian Economic condition as an altogether new topic. So here I present it from its very infant instances of appearance.

Nehru, an intellect, a master in his understanding, had continuously hovered around the specificity of India, Indian people, Indian diversity and most importantly Indian MENTALITY. He had once tried to solve the theory of, why India lags behind Nations such as United States, Japan, Australia, France, Germany etc. Before revealing his explanations, let’s ask ourselves, the probable reason? The diverse culture? I doubt it because, perhaps in our culture we take deep pride. I mean, what do you feel foreigners think about India? Rich Heritage, Deep Traditions, Gods for any imaginable occasion, Yogi babas, Taj Mahal, Spicy food, camels, dogs etc. etc…and above all a strong adhesive of understanding that keep all linguistics bound together in this grand federal of India. And this makes it Atulya, the Incredible. So Culture the diverse must be the innocent guy, then why do we blame him for titanic problems like a Lagging Nation? But Nehru came out with a theory that performs two very important functions. One: It justifies the verdict on culture the culprit up to some extent… Second: It motivates me to formulate my own explanation which I will reveal later.

According to Nehru, US, Australia, France, Germany and Japan were actually the new-born nations and India was an old lady who was preserving her command from time unmemorable. The new-born infants were energetic, full of desires, and most essentially free from any past bondages, while the old lady had lived a long life, and was full of traumas, ordeals, and shocks of pasts. Mortal babies were young infants, unaware of time before them, while our immortal Grandma was carrying with her old memories, from time when, first the handsome Aryans came and attacked, then dashing Mauryans came and conquered, then Wise guptas came and ruled, followed by Rowdy south Cholas and Pandyas who again killed. Prithiviraj tried to insert a romantic twist, but it got twisted by Ghori. Then ruled the royal, most attractive, most magnificent, from the background of Tamerlane, the Chagatai blooded Mongols, the Mughals. Then came Marathas, and finally the bleached Englishmen. The old lady was reluctant to leave behind these memories of conquest over her by men of unknown lands, even when her sons had finally removed every single foreign presence.

In this legacy of our Grandma she was not alone. Take for consideration some other nation like the Kung fuish China, Cheeky Malaysia, Indonesia the Langoor and Orangutan Bali, Afghanistan the Mamahluk, Kazakhstan, Israel, Mecidonean Egypt, other African countries, where a strong historically significant past is proved. You will realize many similarities in the mentality of their citizens and us. Malaysia, Indonesia, Bali, exude Indian culture. A prominent Indian Writer Late Acharya Chatursen had even mentioned Bali Sumatra, and other south Asian Nations as being integral of the Indian sub-continent about 3000 years back, in his epic award winning Non-Fiction work "Vayama Rakshamaha". If we keep aside their capitalist approaches and excessive liberal policies, the conditions of these South Asian  nations is exactly the same as ours today. Afghanistan, Kazakhstan displayed Mongolian and Turkish presence who kept a much radical approach towards sensitive issues like women, education, and religion and that reflects its implications in the form of continuous terror acts and slumber sluggish governance present there. China expresses a great deal of cultural hierarchy. Their tales of Ninjas, Samurais, Yin-Yang theories, I-ching, a grand presence of diversified linguists all resembles with India; and today even they posses the same situation as India, may it be population, corruption, governance or crime with the only difference being in their policies and governmental structure. 

With this explanation, Nehru was focusing on the heavy cultural background that India was dragging on her shoulders. US, France, Germany did not have such an old continuous linkage. They were new-comers and were free to act in any manner, making colonies, oppressing people, fighting wars, but we were dragging so much of our diversified-history with ourselves that acting like them was not possible, and this was causing the lag in India’s growth.

This was how Nehru interpreted the reason of lagging growth of India, declaring our ‘past and its continuous association with every passing day’ and in a manner the diverse culture that was always present and abstained any breakage in this continuous linkage of time belonging to India.

Nehru had finished his first task of justifying his verdict over the guilty culture for a dragging growth, back in 1957, and now it is time to reveal his second task. His supposedly deliberate deed of motivating me to part myself from this Historiographical approach and present a sociological perspective to this interrogation on India’s lagging growth. So while I bring a sociological and completely economical insight into this comprehension of India’s Lagging growth and the Policy Paralysis, spend some good time. And perhaps it will be of great aid if you could provide me with a descent name for our supposedly upcoming new music-band. 

Till then…Thnx for reading!!

THE IMP€RIAL COLLAPSE

It is 6 pm 6 minutes 6 seconds. Melancholy dull grey clouds have already acquired the night sky stage. Streets and Motorways although appear customary under the dishonest veil of darkness, but what lies behind this unreal reality is a state of mind skilled to snatch slumber out of eyes, bliss out of lives, and skull hairs out of ever-complaining wives. Proceeding further with anxiety and distress under the draconian figure of triple 6 I allow myself to reveal this devilish state which has clutched Athens underneath it’s lengthier than law hands. I present to you the fresh yet timeworn, the formulated yet prophesised state, the state crushing every other under its gigantuous foot baptized “Speculation the uncertain”, raise your hands for,

Our Majesty-  “Di-prrrrrre-son”(pronounced as Di-pre-shun, and spelled as Depression).

However do not trouble yourself with the wrong notion of making Athens or Greece(for that matter) the prey of our Majesty, for they are under assault of Jove, but our Majesty has attacked more brutally, upon the core of Athens, upon the conscious of Greeks(mind the ‘r’). But given the present state of ‘r’ bothering Greeks, had our Majesty hit their Nation, then their next stop would definitely had been the house of Hades. However deterring myself to involve in solving complex theories of Greek Gods, let me explain the cause of agitation of our Majesty, which induced him to erupt his wrath over Greeks. The ‘r’ minding Greek government had decided to adopt the demon slayer (to slay the Trojan- The Debt Crisis), the equally satanic AM (“Austerity measures”), and by the wish of heavens our Majesty and the demon slayer march together. Austerity means strict severity and harsh rules. A condition when public servant salaries are negotiated to all time low, interest rates are sky rocketed. A condition when young underemployed demonstrating youth coupled with rotten irritated over grown adults demanding bonuses and pension hikes respectively are humiliated and kicked, leaving wet eyes and pants.

Gentle Ladies as well as men, I bring to you the epic insight into the European crisis.

The European Union accepted Croatia as its newest and 27^th member, in the starting of 2012(the devilish year). Granting a six month period to Croatia, it asks them to adopt Euro as their national currency. Noticing the optimistic European Unionists with deep comprehension I find in them a rotting pride, pride blameable to kick Drachma from Greece, and Franc from France, pride which they took over their currency “Euro”. The world all-around, now look at this pride as their foolishness while they perceive it as a shame, for what had troubled them as a budget concern some few years back had ended up in a serious world-wide crisis.

The Eurozone System was framed with 17 partner European nations, who had joined hands for a better financial future. But what had been their most glorious step towards this dream came out to be the cause of its demise. What came out of the magic box was to have a common Currency, and henceforth a common Monetary Policy. They believed that a common currency would ensure stabilisation of economies of member nations, since they would export and import at same rates. There would be no strain of exchange rates and they could proceed to formulate a world Currency, The “Euro” (soon to be called khud-ro). To achieve this they appointed the best Aryan raced, Alexander sired economists who articulated the best of the policies. Lime lights of these policies: no member nation could set its own interest rates nor could anyone print money (as it would devaluate Euro). But the System missed out to set a common fiscal policy(There biggest mistake). There came no barricade and restrictions on, how much was to be expended, taxed, and most important “borrowed”, by member nations.

Just as we have Ashok Gehlot’s Rajasthan and Arjun Munda’s Jharkhand in India the Incredible, even Europe the terrible claims its own jewels. They have Ireland the hairy red dwarf, Portugal the baker, Spain the bull-fighter, Cyprus the peaceful, Italy the Marrrrgarrrreto d pizzah d paaasthah d Rrrroman Empirrruh, and not to pardon the gang boss, land of Gods, Gladiators and ‘r’ bothering Greeks, the Hellenic Republic of Greece. And with cent per cent accuracy the gang boss feasted the draconian limbo dance upon the entire of Europe. The Greek government failed to realize their nonstop wrong decisions, expended more than their capacity to regenerate, and exhausted uncontrollably on wages and pensions. Later did they comprehend, that their fiscal deficit (explained ahead) and debt was increasing further and further, and soon the issue became a serious concern with increasing debts and decreasing Euro’s exchange rate value. Red hairy dwarfs, bakers, peaceful bull-fighters, and paasthah eating Rrrroman Empirrruh, all contributed their tiny kilo-byte equally indispensable efforts(like racing each other in the fiscal deficit figure leaving the 3% of GDP mark set by European Union’s Aryan race economists way behind ), to multiply this debt concern into an all-time currency crisis. (Allow me to spread my knowledge and digest the principles that Fiscal Deficit is the amount of Government expenditures that are left after deducing the total government revenue from it; and debt is the Reshami Karzz engaged from other nations.)

This collaborated generosity of the ever ready courteous member nations finally bore the juicy cauliflower. The glorious, dazzling light, father of many sons, husband of many wives, monarch of the world… the European Debt Crisis(EDC)!

The debt crisis is a tensed condition (prophesised by officially appointed soothsayers around 2009 circa, due to increasing debts across Europe), wherein many European Nations have been unable to repay their debts without a third-party assistance (which is, either the satanic demon-slayer AM who showered his wet blessing over Greece or it is the fresh new upcoming western flick!).

The Eurozone system of 17(recapped of my limitless, 17 runs wicket on roof cricket due to the silly nervous feeling by the slang- satra pe khatra!!) members, had to unanimously conclude on a joint decision for all nations (which isn’t easy), which in critical times becomes a cumbersome and dragged procedure making it an ineffective mechanism to deal with sweet-smelling cauliflowers like EDC. Furthermore the poor banking system of Union (uncertain rates, blurred policies), could not protect the falling banks of ailing European nations. Bankers play the game on reality, not on morality. Realising the weakening of Euro, they stepped back from the land of Conquerors (sell the damnation currency and run, they yelled). As a result the value and respect of Euro fell from a height with such haste that Bankers, and finance ministers started to speculate the very existence of Euro as a World currency. News channels stopped the undesired unwanted tales of “Aaj suniye suraj ki awaaz!”, “Kesse aayega Maha-Vinaash!!!” and “Mil gaye Raam!!!!!”, applying breaks, to telecast the latest, fresh new breaking news with heavy ad-breaks and the by-far The most deadly headline “Euro khattam!!...Ab HEXA hogi duniya ki nayi Mudra!!!! ” ****** Chaurasiya with camera man *****.

Under such heavy bulky grey draconian clouds of finance ministers and nerd cameramen, our Majesty set out to unleash his fury over the Greeks, for they had requested aid from the demon slayer(The rage of our Majesty rationalizes the satanic nature of AM). Greeks had been rejected by the second “third-party assistance”, the fresh new face from west (Brussels, the capital of European Union), titled Bailout, the instant spray (mind the product just provides instant relief, it does not heals), for he was tired of spraying and further spraying would not help at all. European Nations were rocketing in their figures, with budget deficits as follow:

Greek nerds: 13% of GDP;

Bull-Fighters: 11.4% of GDP;

Bakers: 9.4% of GDP.

Such is the unreal reality that persists beyond the trickery mask of customary darkness. These poor fellows are under the combined ire of, our Majesty, demons and the pure Aryan race Alexander sired economists, for their policies prevent these damn-nations to neither lower interest rates! Nor they are allowed to devalue the currency by printing it! This has left Euro as a much weakened currency, which is affecting the entire world. It is damaged and is sinking, strengthening other currencies like US dollar which then toughens against minorities and backwards classes such as INR and YEN, and their effects are felt everywhere, on earth, heavens and in washrooms(early morning).

Now allow me to veil up the curtains and conclude this epic insight of  Aryans, Gehlots, rrrrrs, chaurasiyas with cameramen, and our Majesty, the “Di-prrrrrre-son”,  drafting it finally with three supporting pillars:

Wrong financial policy>>>>Erroneous decisions makers>>>>Band Baaja Baarat

Thank you.

Have a good day!