IN MY LANE

Earlier I had heard about street dogs, street beggars, street life so on and so forth. But that did not explain the real implications of such expressions till I myself started living in one of them in Delhi. After having lived in the posh localities of Delhi, Jamshedpur, Shimla, Kalimpong, Srinagar, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi etc, suddenly coming to a street of South Delhi was an experience, which I had never imagined. In retrospect, I realize that my life could have been incomplete without sweet and sour experiences of my lovely street which has seen over a decade of my life.

Obviously, the residents are all poorly educated and belonging to labour class. Some 25 years back, they occupied govt land and developed this unauthorized colony. They have experienced the pain of dismantling their shelters by the authorities for illegal occupation of govt land. The vote bank politics has come as a boon for them. They have obliged the ruling party which not only pays for their votes but also gives guaranty of not disturbing their premises. Every election, state assembly or parliamentary, brings added facilities. In the nearby JJ colony, toilets were made. Earlier, one govt had allowed that every residential unit there would have one electric bulb. On the verge of another election, the lanes of their colony were paved. The land owners of my lane have exploited this leniency and constructed their pucca houses of 3-5 storeys. Till recently, they were freely using electricity. The municipality sends fresh water tankers regularly. The residents enjoy life better than in other famous colonies.

Despite a good house, the owner as per the street culture, would sit on chair or ‘khatia’ on road and enjoy sucking’ hukkah’. The small platform, constructed on the road is a permanent olace for the dustbin and shoes. His cow will also be tied on the already congested road. If it is a  Sunday or other holiday, at least half a dozen of his friends will congregate for daylong session of card playing. A lady will comb her hair on the road. Another lady will ask her daughter or daughter-in-law  to catch lices in her unkempt locks on the road. One lady will be gleaning out dirt from rice or processing raw vegetables on road. Of course, it is the birth right of children to shout and play. This scene becomes further interesting when beggars, kabariwallas and ferrywallas join the crowd. You will enjoy a number of musical sounds on the road created by these elements to attract the buyers. The dozens of street dogs and wandering bulls will add another scene to this street drama.

You may not be knowing about somebody’s daughter having eloped with a boy of another street. You also will not be knowing whose son is a pick-pocket or thief. All these information will come to you unwanted if you are lucky to see and listen two women quarrelling. The typical ethnic abuses, hurled on each other may deserve a place in literature.

The entire Dwarka colony, in which our Mahavir Colony falls, has salty water. So they fully depend on municipality water tankers  for potable water.You will get the experience of life if in your presence a water tanker comes. Everybody will have at least two to three canisters. And then he will rush to the tanker in his fastest speed to leave behind other beneficiaries. The noise created by them is unique. The people are rubbing their shoulders against one another. One pot will be hitting another pot. Nobody wants to be  left behind. And then to the surprise of the crowd, the driver would declare that the tank had gone empty.

If there is some marriage ceremony, the road is blocked and you have to come to your own residence by another parallel lane. Dj on the highest possible decibel will make life hell. One feels like moving elsewhere to pass the night with some relative or friend. The climax reaches when the barat party comes. Even the idiots in the party will dance like a Bharat Natyam expert. Crackers will add to the cacophony. The accompanying musical instruments will be producing ear-piercing noise. These people, already drunk, will have further pegs at the cost of the poor father of the bride. The close relatives of both the sides, under intoxication will be throwing currency notes on the band party. This entire scene to a stranger appears as if he has landed in a different world.

Since I am in this street for last ten years, everybody, male or female, young or old knows me personally. While going or coming back, their respectful Namaste elates me to feel something royal. I have a habit of bringing candy pieces, the Prasad of Mahavirji every day which I distribute among the street children. They will wish me Namaste and I would give them a bit of Prasad. I laugh silently that they must not be saying Namaste to their parents, but the lure of sweet is making them highly civilized. Once when I was coming back, I found two children of 5/6 years.  One of them wished me Namaste and I gave him candy. Then the second also gave his hand but did not say anything. I gave him also some candy. The first child charges him, Prasad to le liya, Namaste kaun bolega? So sweet and simple. Will any aristocrat of any posh colony allow his children to approach you with Namaste and feel happy as if there was nothing better than those few candy pieces? Will not my heart be heavy when I shall say goodby to this street?                                                                                                                                 

RIOTS BEHIND THE BAMBOO CURTAIN

Clashes between the followers of two religious communities are known as communal riots. No exact date can be ascertained to establish when such clashes ensued. However, it will be safe to say that these  clashes are as old as the religions themselves. Any country, having population, comprising followers of different religions has been experiencing religion based disturbances. It is between Shia and Sunni in Pakistan, Iraq and some other countries, Muslims and Jews in Israel and Palestine, Hindu and Muslim in India, black and white in USA, Chinese and Buddhists in Tibet so on and so forth. But due to heavily controlled media, never any information about communal riots in China could trickle down to other parts of the world. In this background, when the news about a bloody riot between the Chinese and Muslims of June26,2013 came in the newspapers, the world was stunned.

During the Mao regime, no religious activity was permitted as Marx had called religion as opium to the people. From the Western press we used to get brief information that the mosques in China were used as military camps. We do not remember even Pakistan having ever opposed this outrage on Islam. Since the opening of the economy in post- Mao period, restrictions on religious practices have also been relaxed to a certain extent. This encouraged the Muslims to give vent to their long suppressed feelings which occasionally has been taking the shape of riots. There is yet another important factor for increasing communal flares. Whereas in other countries including India, attempts were made and are continuing to improve the life conditions of the minorities, so that they joined the mainstream, in China there is a crude experiment of making demographic change to the extent that the minoritie are reduced to non-entities and the chances of their raising heads are completely obviated. This has already happened in Tibet and are being applied elsewhere. Being the most dominant section of the Chinese population goes to the Hans. They are shifted to the troubled areas of minorities.

Adjacent to the Baltistan area of the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is Chinese Xinjaing province. There are nine million Uygur Muslims in this province. When they started claiming their share in the national resources, the govt. shifted big numbers of Hans so much so that they are now 40% of the population of the province. On June 26, knife wielding Uygurs came out and started targeting govt agencies and personnel. 27 people were killed, several others injured and properties destroyed. Police opened fire and killed 10 rioters. This riot had taken place in a remote place of the province, known as Lakqun township of Shanshan country.

  

The authorities understand that such divisive activities are being spearheaded by the separatist East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement. So they have deployed a large number of securitymen to curb the uprising. Let us refresh our memory that the Asian countries of the erstwhile USSR and Afghanistan are having a good chunk of Muslim population and they are close to the Chinese province in question. Nobody can deny the possibility of their sympathy for their suffering co-religionicts in China. So long India was suffering from Pak led militancy in Kashmir, the US  turned down our complaints under the plea that there was not sufficient proof. Today, under threat from such militants, they are themselves over eager to wage a joint war against Talibans, Jaish and other Muslim terrorist outfits. Similarly, so far, in pursuit of Sino-Pak friendship to harass India, China was enjoying our predicament from outside. Today herself in the clutches of Islamic extremists, China will think twice to encourage terrorism, growing in the fertile land of Pakistan. No wonder, like the US, they may also offer their hands in the mission to root out terrorism from the world.   

IS VIOLENCE A SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS

An old saying that the time is the best doctor for any ailment, is still being often quoted and truly so. All wounds get healed in due course of time. Similarly, till the 19^th century, it was believed that the war is the only decider of problems between communities and countries. Particularly in ancient India, we find a deviation where a king, who, despite the victory, seeing massive casualties, virtually wept and vowed  not to go for war any more. Did the people after that draw any lesson to eschew violence? Buddha, Mahavira and saints elsewhere preached non-violence. Cults of these great men are still alive, but the culture of crime did not abate. I think that the French Revolution of 1789 was a landmark which introduced democracy and underscored liberty. The comment of a French philosopher of that time that ‘ the man was born free but everywhere he was in chains’, almost moved the society. The American War of Independence further gave impetus to such basic human feelings. Man had the taste of human rights. The world started thinking that the devastating wars would be a thing of past. But this hope also ended like a pipe dream. The days to come brought war mongers like Napoleon and the world had unforgettable bitter taste of two great wars claiming largest number of lives, ever witnessed in the past.

This evening when I was returning to my house after the office- hour ended, the eternal question once again struck me to find out any change in human attitude towards war. When I made the TV on, there were news of violence and death (besides natural calamities) in Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, China, India and Pakistan. The entire Arab world is in doldrums with killings galore. We have seen innumerable deaths in anti-Israeli activities since 1948. Afghanistan had interventions by USA, Russia (USSR then), Tlibans and Pakistan. Upheavals are going on unabated. The Left extremism called Naxalism in India has been going on since 1960s. The Khalistani elements created chaotic situation in Punjab for ten years. Pak supported militancy in J&K is going on since 1980s. The LTTE in Sri Lanka held the govt at ransom for several years and ultimately got decimated without any tangible gain.

The above brief account is enough to prove that basically being an animal, despite the 5,000 years of civilized existence, man has not eschewed bestiality. It is a fact that love and fight are born traits of all living beings. While in forest, both go on unabated, in human society they are not as rampant. We wish violence to be minimized to the lowest possible extent to prove that unlike other animals, we love peace and tranquility because we are civilized/cultured.      

THIRTYEIGHT YEARS AGO

How many Indians  remember what happened in this country on June 25, 1975. It was a black day in the history of Indian democracy as Mrs. Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency to save the country from alleged unprecedented internal security threats. Constitution was suspended,  leaders of the opposition political parties were incaecerated and the individual freedom was snatched away by the administration in a single stroke.

So that the nation may not forget this shame on our democratic system, I would like to remind a few shocking  events. A state governor declared that Indira was India and India was Indira. Another Congressman called her ‘Chandi’. The party claimed that trains were running in time because of the Emergency. A fisherman of Kerala said that since Emergency was imposed, he was catching big fishes. It was being trumpeted that the Emergency was a festival of discipline (anushasan parva). Leaders like JP, Morarji Desai, Rajnarain, Jagjivan Ram, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lal krishn Advani, Devi Lal, Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur and thousands of others were  declared as anti-national elements. They should all therefore remain behind the bar. The songs of late Kishore Kumar were banned on radio. The press was under strict censorship. Unpliable journalists were treated bluntly. In an over-enthusiasm in family planning, the teachers and other such workers got vasectomised even old and minors to complete their target, a precondition to stay in job.

At that time, where were R.V. Paswan, Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav and Mayavati? Most of them were Govt guests in jails. I had heard the fiery anti-Congress lectures of Paswan. In the post-Emergency parliamentary election, he had romped home with the record majority from Hajipur constituency. What has happened with him that he himself lost and his party had no representation in the last general election. He had to manage a Rajya Sabha seat from UP. Lalu ws decimated after his 15-yr misrule. Mayavati and Lalu are afraid of annoying the Congress as they are under CBI scan. Nitish has suddenly turned closer to Congress after the PM gave him certificate of secularism. After tasting power in Vajpayee Govt and flourishing with BJP support in Bihar for last seven years, he is crying wolf and sees nothing but communalism in the BJP. Modi is a red rag to this secular bull.

Has anyone of them decried the Emergency from any forum on its 38^th anniversary? When NaMo is there, who will like to touch upon any other topic?   

CALAMITY STRUCK THE LORD

Since the earth came into existence and the first man was born, he has been seeing and experiencing the natural calamities in the forms of storm, heavy downpours, floods, tsunamis, fire etal. Unfortunately, this time was the turn of Lord Himself Who is described as the ultimate cause of the universe itself. On June16-17, 2013 there was an unprecedented cloudburst in the kedarnath valley which desolated the small township and partly damaged the historical Kedarnath temple.

The Kedarnath is rated as the main deity among the Dwadash-Jyotirlingas (12 Jyotirlingas). It is located at Kedar valley near the Mandakini river, Uttarakhand, India. In the mythological field, this sacred area is known as Kedar-khand. This holy place is not connected with any pucca road. A pilgrim has to trek about 14 km on foot from Gaurikund. For old, children and physically challenged pilgrims there are arrangements of hired coolies and ponies. There are  four mini pilgrimages in the Garhwal Himalayas (char dham), namely, Kedarnath, Badarinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri). Due to cold climate, the Kedarnath shrine is open only for about six months from April (Akshaya Tritiya) to November (Kartik Poornima). In the winter the Lord is brought to Ukhimath where the regular worship is conducted by the tradition Rawal Priest. As a result, immediately after its opening, which is announced in the media, there is a huge rush of the faithfuls. Most of them come to Kedarnath in course of their Char-Dham pilgrimage, which is ranked as a life-time achievement in the Hindu society.

If one peeps into history, there is nothing specific about the exact date of this one of the holiest Hindu shrines. The oldest mythological story about this pilgrimage is related to the Pandavas which puts it almost at the end of the Dwapar Yuga. It is said that in the Mahabharata war, when the Pandavas were losing their important generals at the hands of their counterpart Kauravas, they decided to appease Lord Siva. They went to Kashi, but to their misfortune, the Lord had gone to the Himalayas. They followed Him to the Kedar-Khand where the Pandavas saw the Lord who immediately hid Himself. Dhamaraj repeatedly prayed but Shankar did not reappear. Since Shankar had disappeared there, the Pandavas named the place as Guptkashi. Another name, Rudraprayag also denotes almost the same.

Another story says that when the Pandavas started from Gaurikund in search of Shiva, they saw a buffalo. Bheem chased that running buffalo and ultimately hit him with his mace. The head of the buffalo flew off and fell at Sipatol, Bhaktapur, Nepal and became famous as Doleshwar Mahadev. On the hind portion of the animal, a triangular Jyotirlinga (the only triangular phallus) appeared from which a lot of light was emanating. The Pandavas made a temple there. The Lord was appeased and gave them the boon of victory in the war. It is this temple which later, say in around 8^th century, Adi Shankaracharya made the present temple.

The cloudburst has almost devastated the human habitation there. All the hotels, darmshalas and private residences were swept away. The temple, as one might have seen, had two parts- outer and inner. The courtyard was having a big Nandi, seeing at the Lord and then there was a hall. Both of them have been erased. However, the sanctum sanctorum stands and the Siva-linga is intact.Thousands of pilgrims were stranded and over a thousand have perished. The number may further rise. The property worth  Rs 1,000 crore was swept away. The state Chief Minister has indicated that the administration would take at least one year to repair and reopen the shrine. It would be a great challenge for the entire country to revive this world famous pilgrimage and tourist destination.

When Adi Shankar constructed this temple, there were all sorts of limitations. Today not only connectivity and technology have improved but the faithfuls are capable of donating huge funds. In this background, we wish that the new temple should be a real symbol of our faith and advanced technology. That will be not only our devotion to the presiding deity, but also a real respect to Adi Shankar.       

BIRTH OF THE EARTH

For last over 50 years, I have been hearing and reading about some strange flying saucers, supposedly coming from unknown planets in the cosmos. Several people of different countries at different points of time claimed to have seen such alien objects. Some would add that there are some more developed people on other planets who keep on wandering in the sky to trace the existence of life elsewhere. Such people also forecast dangers from these unknown sources on the earth. We further know that at few places in the world, such saucers are kept as exhibits in museums. Nothing new was added to this sketchy information.

In this connection, a news from England, appearing in the newspapers of June 21, 2013 has surprised the world. A local parliamentarian came on record that his marriage was on the rock. This 56 –yr. Old MP, who is married with children, gave a strange reason for this marital problem. He disclosed that he was in extra-marital relationship with an alien lady for last one year. He added to have moved with her, seen her residence and also shared bed with her. According to him, if his wife saw that beautiful alien lady, she would immediately walk out of the wedlock. It does not appear to be a cock and bull story narrated to impress the kids. When a responsible and matured person like a parliamentarian has disclosed this mystery, it cannot be just laughed off. Already, the men on the earth are quite inquisitive to know if life is existing on other planets so that man could have his new colonies there. In this backdrop, if there is information about man-like people existing on other planets, it will definitely revolutionise the human society on the earth. We cannot afford to ignore it and the disclosure requires to be scientifically tested.

Similarly, there is another information that the earth came into existence some 13 hundred crore years ago. At that time there was no life. It says that life came on the earth from other stars/planets in forms of virus/bacteria brought by raining steroids, which in course of time developed into animals. Much later when the earth was occupied by huge dinosaurs, the devastating steroid rains decimated that population. Further on, other animals including men were born. This argument does not appear to be convincing. If life was possible from steroids rained from other planets, why did it not lead to life elsewhere like the mars, moon etc. Once again, the wisdom tells that such possibilities should be tested reasonably which sometimes may unravel the mystery about the birth of the earth and life on it.     

SOME INDIAN MYTHOLOGICAL DOUBTS

I have been reading these days  major Indian mythological classics including the Bhagvata Puran. Earlier my knowledge about these great books and stories therein was based on the discourses of the  Baba Log. Now I have developed my own perception and no such element can lead me to the garden path though I cannot claim to have attained scholarship on those highly spiritual subjects. Since I have been a history student, I see the incidents from that angle as well. A few discrepancies are discussed below.

Take the names of major Sanskrit scriptures including the Ramayana (Valmiki), Mahabharata, Durga Shaptshati, Geeta, Bhagvata etc, you will find that they are all written in a similar style. If I say something, nobody will listen. If I say that it is something told by the Prime Minister to the President of India, everybody will be inquisitive to listen. Similarly, the authors of our criptures have cleverly given the stories a shape of  narratives of the saints and gods given out to the people for their spiritual betterment so that after death they could go to heaven. No logic can accept that both the armies, ready to fight in the Kurukshetra, waited for hours together so that Krishna could finish the knowlwdge, enshrined in the Geeta to Arjuna. Besides this, one can also see the similarity in the language of these great books which follows the Panini grammar, meaning thereby that they were written in post 6^th century BC. Some scholars argue that they all were written during Gupta period.

Unfortunately, Sanskrit authors have, by tradition avoided to write their names as well as period which does not help the historians to fix historycity of events. Often they are contradictory as well. Manu was the mental son(manas putra) of Brahma. Manu’s son was Uttanpad and his son was Dhruva. Thus the story appears to have belonged to Satyauga. We believe that with the end of the Bharat War and demise of Krishna, Dwapar ended and Kaliyuga started. However, if you refer to the Shloka No. 38 of chapter twelve, Skand iv of the Bhagvata, you will see that Dhruva was totally devoted to Krishna. Additionally, there are innumerable references to a king ruling for several thousand years and sages penancing for yet longer periods. 

If all the creatures are created by God, how He will be happy to see animals being sacrificed in yajnas. Gods become satisfied with offerings in those yajnas. Once again it is beyond comprehension that we shall love to kill our own children. Could Shiva put on tiger or deer hides without killing these animals? If the supreme Lord could create the universe, why could not He manage some other innocent material for covering the body? Under the Cruelty to Animal Act, today He could have been charged.

 In the modern world of women empowerment, another godly practice appears quite objectionable. If you  see a photograph of Lord Vishnu, resting on the Sheshnag in the Milky Ocean, you will not miss the scene that His consort, Lakshmi is very loyally massaging His feet. Such photographs also indicate that this practice was common with other gods as well. Even in the scriptures, referred to above we get such descriptions. Perhaps it is this practice which has given the licence to the modern males also to compel their betterhalves to massage them. Even the mothers-in-law take it as their born right to get their body regularly massaged by their daughters-in-law. If the young ladies object, they are asked to copy Lakshmi, Parvati etc.

According to me, eventhough nobody should raise any finger against other’s faith, but there is no harm in testing the practicality of some age-old practices. A bit of doubt, a bit of logic and a bit of reasonable discussion may help us to accept the cream of our faith which is in consonance with the changing time. By mustering courage to do so, we shall save them from remaining a laughing stock for the new generations.

        

BIHAR COALITION EXPERIMENT FLOPS

After 17 years of coalition partnership of two NDA parties – BJP and JDU finally parted company today in Bihar. Indications for this end were in the air since the 2010 Assembly election in the state when Nitish Kumar broke  Lalu’s MY (Muslim and Yadav) formula by attracting a good response from the Muslim voters. His JDU, accordingly was marginally short of majority (118 out of 243). Since then he started toying with the strategy of shaking off the BJP and managing a single party rule. He left no opportunity to malign and ignore the BJP. Out of ego, he started having the idea that even the votes to this alliance partner came through his popularity. This false notion made him bolder to further humiliate the BJP.

He compelled BJP to not bring Narendra Modi to Bihar for any election campaign. Nitish further cancelled a dinner in which the BJP leaders were also invited. His strategy was by and by to defame Narendra Modi as a communalist to appease the Muslim voters. Simultaneously, Nitish was probing to sidetrack Lalu and befriend the ruling Congress at the Centre. He thought that the centre would concede his demand of special status to Bihar and extend a huge package for development in Bihar which will strengthen his position so much that in future no opponent could challenge his position in Bihar. In his national rally in the Ram Lila ground in Delhi in April 2013, he was sarcastically worst at modi, whom he rated as an unacceptable leader.

The NDA was formed in 1996 and Nitish took 17 years to realize that Narendra Modi was a communal leader. If Modi is communal for the Gujarat riots of 2002, what about the Congress leaders under whose rule thousands of Sikhs were butchered in 1984. Modi was never taken to custody whereas several Congress leaders including Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler were in jail and are still not free from murder charges. Tomorrow Prakash Singh Badal may enquire from Nitish, why Sikh killers are not communalists. What will be his reply.

When there was riot in Gujarat, Ram vilas Paswan resigned from the Vajpayee Govt. Nitish was the Railway Minister. At that time Modi was secular. When the BJP won in the last Gujarat election, Nitish had congratulated him. When Modi was given an important party position in Goa on June 9, Nitish and Sharad Yadav called it BJP’s internal matter. Both of them will have to explain as to why they suddenly parted company on June 16. 

RAT RACE FOR VOTE BANK POLITICS

The Vote bank politics is not a new thing for any democracy. It is one of the tried methods of contesting political parties to attract  voters on religion, caste, ideology, regionalism and other such considerations. In the first quarter of electoral history of India, this trend was not more pronounced though the ruling Congress silently played the Brahmin, Muslim and Dalit cards.  Particularly in post-Emergency elections, the Congress game was exposed and new permutations started surfacing. The people with more exposure and education, started making their own pressure groups, which is a common phenomenon in democratic countries to get their demands fulfilled. It will be quite interesting to see the changing colours of vote bank politics over the years in India.

The first such campaign with a boom was launched by Mrs Indira Gandhi after the split in the Congress. She nationalized major banks, directed them to extend loans to the poor, stopped the privy purses of the erstwhile princes, and gave a catchy slogan of ‘garibi hatao’ to raise new optimism in the lower strata of the society. Accordingly, the then Cong(i) swept the polls. But when the high sounding slogan of ‘garibi hatao’ proved hollow, this vote bank politics petered out so much that ultimately she, under compulsion had to impose Emergency.

It was later observed that in several states as well caste combinations started being tried to grab power. Dr Jagannath Mishra thought that being the unopposed Brahmin leader, no opposition party would be able to weaken him if he befriended Muslims and win over the teaching community. He made Urdu second official language and recognized minority teaching institutions. Then despite Bihar’s poor coffer position, Dr Mishra gave UGC scale to the college teachers. In spite of these alluring offers, he went on losing support so much so that today he cannot win himself from any constituency. So he went on joining other political parties. Then came the Lalu regime, totally formed on caste lines. He gave a call for MY(Muslim-Yadav). The theory utterly failed and Lalu who ruled with his wife for 15 years, was thrown to third position in Bihar. Similarly, in UP, Ms Mayawati evolved a vote bank theory of bringing Brahmins and Dalits together. It brought him majority but could not fetch her srcond term.

In the meantime, on a large scale, a well calculated vote bank formula was evolved by B.P. Singh. He foresaw that if  he could unite the OBCs, he could not be defeated in any condition. It created such an uproar all over the country that the chances of the Congress return to power became easier. Here we cannot forget the Rath Yatra of L.K. Advani on Ram Mandir issue which gave victory to the BJP in UP and later on national level as well. However, like other vote bank formulae, this also failed to ensure the return of the party to power for the second time.

Today we see some new turns in this regard. The BJP has decided to project Narendra Modi to encash his image of ‘vikas purus’. However, the other political parties, referring to the Gujarat riots of 2002 are charging him as a communalist. These parties realize that criticizing Modi was the safest method of appeasing the minorities. This idea has created problems for the NDA Govt in Bihar. The JDU’s vote bank line is to attract Muslims to regain power. Nitish Kumar does not realize that on way to win Muslim votes, he may lose huge upper castes votes. Probably, in a couple of days, JDU may desert the coalition which will be a misfortune for the state which suffered a lot under long years of misgovernance of the previous dispensation.                                  

                                                                                     

GOA GOES IN BJP HISTORY

The National Executive Committee meeting of the BJP, held at Panaji, Goa on June 7-9, 2013 proved to be historical. While the political and economic resolutions adopted there were, by and large on expected lines, the decision on the election of the  chairman of the Election Campaign Comittee, made it extraordinarily important. The name of Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat and Member of BJP Parliamentary Board was making rounds for the last couple of months for this important slot. However, due to opposition from inside as well as some NDA partners had confused the situation.

Let us try to identify these anti-Modi elements and the reasons for their opposition. After his victory hat-trick in Gujarat, Modi’s stature grew to new heights, and he started being seen in the party circle as a prospective leader, cut out for higher responsibilities. The developmental graph of Gujarat under his leadership had already catapulted him to international reputation. He started being rated as a top performer. The day, Rajnath Singh managed to include him in the party Parliamentary Board, internal bickering against Modi became more pronounced. Advani, accepted as the top politician of the party, is known for nourishing the ambition of becoming the prime minister. After he came out of the humiliation caused by pro-Jinnah statement in Pakistan, he started marking time. In his scheme of things, others in the party were not his competitors and so if BJP came out successful in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he would be served premiership on the platter. So he was very much opposed to Modi’s candidature for this top post, because Modi, with a breathtaking track record as an achiever, could sidetrack any other aspirant. Besides Advani, Modi factor caused concern in other BJP seniors like M.M. Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, V. Naidu, Anant Kumar, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Jaitely.

Out of the party fold, other political parties like Congress, Communists, JDU and some others, afraid of Modi’s growing height, started tainting him as a communalist to appease the Muslim voters. He was also abused as the ‘maut ka saudagar’ by none else but Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. As earlier explained in this column, this negative propaganda, popularized Modi. Today no political leader gets more coverage in the media than Narendra Modi. However, the real problem came from yet another prime ministerial prospect, Nitish Kumar whose JDU is an important alliance partner of the NDA. He demanded that the BJP should project an acceptable face otherwise his party will desert the alliance. Earlier he had returned the money, Modi had given to the flood victims of Bihar and refused to share dias with  him.

Confronted with these odds, Modi’s candidature appeared difficult. However, some timely changes at different levels proved very helpful to him. Rajnath Singh, a Modi supporter became the BJP President. Modi scoerd continuous third victory in Gujarat as a result of which, he was  included in the party PB. Different surveys proved that his popularity graph was going up. Modi further made dent in the party leadership. Then came some significant bielections. The JDU, which had alone held a national rally in Delhi, set up its candidate in the Maharajganj parliamentary constituency. Nitish, for being harsh to Modi, the upper castes,  a deciding factor there, finding no BJP candidate, rallied behind the RJD candidate who shocked Nitish’s candidate with a huge margin. On the other hand there were six bielections in Gujarat – two of Lok Sabha and four of assembly. All these six seats were earlier held by the Congress which lost all of them with humiliating margins.

In the backdrop of these feel-good factors, the BJP/NE met in Goa. Reading the writing on the wall, Advani feigned illness to avoid Goa visit. Out of 12 PB members present, only three opposed Modi and others supported him. The RSS, which  was already convinced about Modi’s popularity, sent hints about its choice to BJP leaders including Advani. Thus the dice was already cast and only a formal decision was to be made by Rajnath Singh. While making this announcement, he called it as the happiest moment of his life because for the first time he made a decision not only for the BJP but for the nation. Narendra Modi, in his thanks giving 45-minute speech castigated the UPA Govt for different failures including policy paralysis and assured the party president and workers that he will try to capably stand to their expectation. Thunderous applauses, whenever there was any reference to Modi’s name showed the optimism and enthusiasm instilled in the rank and file over his election for this covetous post. In face of this huge pro-Modi storm, his opponents, at least in the BJP will be compelled to lie low. Success in his present assignment will automatically bring him closer to be announced as the NDA prime ministerial candidate.

Note: It was drafted on June 9 evening. This morning(June10), Advani has further confused the situation by resigning from the BJP National Executive, Parliamentary Board and Election Campaign Committee.           

HOTTING UP INDO-CHINESE DIPLOMACY

Despite all the calculated sweet words, China has been following a policy of encircling India, because it sees that in this part of the world only India can match its land, population, market. trade , army and atomic potentials. So for at least last two years, it has been spreading its tentacles in the countries, surrounding India.

First of all it exploited the trick that your enemy’s enemy is your friend. Under this stategy, China had no problem in winning over Pakistan who is ever ready to go to any extent to malign India. Very largeheartedly, Pakistan handed over Gilgit, Baltistan, Skardu and other mountainous regions in the heights of POK to China, who started constructing Karakorum Highway, so that she could have a dependable alternative route at its command to come directly to Pakistan and from there exploit the markets of the Gulf countries with huge potentials. To further facilitate this project, China made heavy  investments to develop Gwadar Port. Its role in Nepal is well known. China also created problems for India by securing a place for itself in Maldive. She is enjoying better bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. With all these arrangements she has been going on in its objective of encircling India.

Of late India realized the Chinese game and put its best foot forward to pay China in its own coin. India accepted Vietnamese offer to exploit petrol and natural gas in the littoral limits of that country in South China Sea. Despite Chinese objections, India is moving ahead strongly. Only a week ago, the Indian Prime Minister visited Japan and had intimate interactions to further strengthen bilateral relations. Both countries have decided to conduct joint naval exercises in Nov.2013. Japan has offered to supply amphibian aeroplanes to India which has badly disturbed China. She commented that Japan was provoking India. To match the Gwadar Port in Pakistan, India helped Iran to construct the Chabahar Port. Maldive appears to have realized the pitfalls involved on the road to hold Chinese apron. Meanwhile, the USA has offered to supply 16 C-17 cargo planes to India. They are the latest and can take thousands of armymen immediately to the small aerodromes near borders in Ladakh and North-East. Australia has agreed to supply uranium despite the ban to India. America has permitted India to continue purchasing petrol from Iran though it is economically pressurizing Iran to revise its policies on nuclear arms.

Thus India has started matching every step of China in international politics. Analysts know it better that China is also reluctant to precipitate any war. It will continue to chide the neighbours through limited  border skirmishes. India should also grasp this truth and remain determined to reply China both in diplomacy and pin-pricks on bordres.      

MAHARAJGANJ SIZES UP NITISH

Since the last Assembly election in Bihar, Nitish Kumar started nourishing a false ambition that he had become the unassailable leader of the state. He had done a number of developmental works, considering which, the electorate will not commit the mistake of supporting any other political party, including his coalition partner. In this extreme  feeling of self-righteousness, he also forgot the coalition ‘dharma’. Nitish also forgot  to understand that he was the Chief Minister of an alliance, whose withdrawal of support will bring his Govt to collapse like a house of cards.

Particularly after Narendra Modi occupied central stage in the BJP, he made it his one-point programme to pull Modi’s legs to appease the minority voters. In his last Ramlila Ground JDU rally, he spoke for quite some time to disparage the Gujarat Chief Minister without taking his name. Despite modi’s  any court strictures, related to the post-Godhra riots of 2002, Nitish had guts to call Modi a communalist. He declared that even though the biggest alliance partner, BJP had the privilege of projecting its prime ministerial candidate, he would not shirk disowning the alliance, if the selected individual was not acceptable to all communities. Obviously, this open challenge was highly demoralizing to the BJP and they left indications that if the JDU stuck to this objectionable stand, the BJP was also reluctant to continue in the alliance. In this highly sentiment charged situation, there were speculations that they might part company any moment.

In this backdrop, the Maharajganj Lok Sabha byelection was announced to be held. With his anti-Modi and anti-BJP utterances, Nitish had already annoyed the upper castes and pro-Hindu voters. The constituency is known for the dominance of the Rajputs and Bhumihars. While  Lalu’s candidate, Prabhunath Singh is a Rajput, Nitish gave ticket to a a Bhumihar cabinet colleague. The Congress candidate was almost a non-entity and accordingly lost his security deposits. The seat was vacant because the sitting RJD/MP had died. Moreover, Prabhunath Singh was earlier in the Parliament for 2/4 terms and is a famous leader of the constituency. Both Lalu and Nitish made it a prestige point. They camped in the area for days together to campaign for their candidates. As indicated above, despite the alliance, no BJP voter, particularly belonging to the upper castes, voted for Nitish and to his utter surprise, his candidate lost by a huge margin of over 1,37,000 votes.

Nitish should forget his vainity and understand that even today he was not alone capable of managing majority in the state. His tactics of befriending the Congress to demoralize the BJP may boomerang on him. The people of the state desire the coalition Govt to continue so that Nitish could take Bihar to new heights of development and prosperity.      

NOW IT IS KUWAIT'S TURN

Hardly a couple of months back, India felt disturbed when Saudi Arabia decided to implement a new labour law named Nitaqat, which enjoined upon the entrepreneurs to appoint at least one worker after every ten. It made a number of Indian labourers surplus and life suddenly became difficult for the illegal depatriates. Saudis, however were considerate as they gave them time for return to their native countries and get legalized  their travel documents. Unlike that, a similar and harsher decision of Kuwait came as a bolt from the blue for the foreign workers.

The one-point programme of the local govt is to Kuwaitise the employment sector and mercilessly chase away outsiders. They have also not given them some reasonable time to arrange their return journey. The local govt understands that in absence of foreign labourers, many sectors including service, hospital and family aides, if did not come to a standstill, will definitely cripple the day-today life in the country. Still they have decided to take the risk and completely capture the employment opportunities for the indigenous hands. These foreigners came to Kuwait at a time when the country needed their services in every field and the country could come to the present breathtaking status. Despite feeling obliged for this contribution, they are being pushed to the exit door. It is learnt that these workers are targeted for even minor mistakes and arrested from where they are straightway dropped at the airport. The workers are not allowed to visit their residences to collect their personal belongings. The first lot of 260 such hapless Indians, who reached Delhi on May 31, narrated their trials and tribulations.

There are about 24 lakh foreign workers in Kuwait. The local govt has a plan of throwing out ten lakhs of them in next ten years at the rate of one lakh per year. Out of them there are 6,50,000 from India. Among them 1,50,000 are from Kerala alone. At least 4,000 Indians are bound to be affected. Already, Indians are returning from Saudi Arbia. The influx from Kuwait is bound to further worsen the situation. Out of the affected states, Kerala will be hit hardest. This Gulf money had brought happiness in that state which is visible when one sees beautiful buildings in all nook and corner of the state. They will not find alternate jobs in India and even the available ones may not be that lucrative. The jobless hands will take to the criminal routes, which will disturb the social peace.

It may be taken as a waking up call as in the wake of new awakening for indigenous causes, more and more countries in the Gulf will follow suit. The area will not remain an attractive hunting ground for the job seekers. The Govt will have to create more job opportunites internally so that the attraction for foreign countries diminishes.