KODOKUSHI

                                      

                                                               -Bageshwar  Jha

You will be surprised to see the title as it looks like an alien word. Yes, it is a Japanese language word. Similarly its meaning may also surprise you because it is very close to the Hindustani word ‘khudkushi’. In Japan where the population has been declining appreciably, the population of the senior citizens (above 60) has been going up and there are not adequate number of children and youth to look after and give company to them. As a result several of them are succumbing to their utter loneliness. Such a death is called ‘kodokushi’ in Japanese. This is one of the dangerous side effects of uneven demographic control. It will be interesting to see this new problem from some other angles as well so that India, already breaking under population pressure may take a pragmatic view.

POPULATION  BOMB:

With regard to population growth started getting exercised after 1960s when the food production, except USA, Australia and Canada went down everywhere in the world. The position was highly precarious in Afro-Asian countries. The above food supplying countries were giving edibles to the hungry sections of the world under humiliating conditions. Meanwhile, some doomsday economic forecasters in the world called the population explosion as a bomb which might destroy the world. Some said that the days coming would be harder as the resources grew mathematically while the population increased astronomically.  In 1968 Paul Ehrlich in his famous book wrote, “We will breed ourselves into oblivion”. Some persons had still a darker view when they said that the scarcity of foodgrains would force a man to eat a man.

At present when the world population stands at seven billion, the world has to think over the problem afresh as it may bethe last straw on the camel back. The campaign to control population worldwide like in Japan has started showing results. It is not only Japan, there are as many as 61 countries where fall in population is well perceptible. As a result, they are bound to bear the brunt of declining population. This figure is based on a UN paper. For Japan there is an obvious contradiction as they have the lowest fertility rate as well as the highest longevity record. According to the local govt, while 1.28 million  babies were born in 2010, the number went down to only one million in 2014. Less birth and less death produce a strange scenario as Forbes predicted that after next five years adult diapers will outsell the child diapers in Japan. By far the late marriage or no marriage and one child per family norm are creating multifaceted problems. In view of the dearth of adequate young labour, the national growth is feared to suffer a nosedive. As such, for the present, the govt has decided to encourage the citizens to follow a norm of 1.80- child per family. Similarly, the administration feels that the marriage rate which has plummeted, needs to be accelerated.

More or less other countries determined to downsize their population are also on the doorsteps of similar problems. It is for India to draw a lesson. Out of 1.20 billion people in India, 65% are youth under 35. It is a young country which is proving an asset. Bu unbridled or unbalanced growth may turn the table. It is likely to be like walking on a razor’s edge.

CONGRESS IN SEARCH OF NEW PLANKS

                

The massive loss in the parliamentary election of 2014, followed by severe drubbings at the husting in four states have compelled the leadership of the oldest political party to review its political stand in the fast changing polityical scenario to prove its relevance. Since the repeated electoral defeats have adversely affected the morale of its cadre, such a change appears to be an immediate need.

In some recent meetings of the AICC in its Hqrs. the seniors including Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have realized that the old stress on socialism and branding of the BJP as a communal party was proving outdated. For several years, the Congress has been trumpeting to the minorities that a communal party like BJP would wipe them out. The plank served the purpose for some time but of late looks like being outdated. Though they reiterated their commitment to socialism and secularism, but  the need was felt that aggressive secularism,intended to appease the minorities, was perhaps alienating the majority. It is with a view to expose this Congress stand that the BJP coined a new slogan of “sabka saath aur sabka vikas” which is gaining ground fast.

Since the Congress started going down and depending more and more on the Leftist support, the anti-businessmen and anti-Hindu policies began being more pronounced. The rightist elements, closely watching the developments quickly grabbed the situation to polarize the scattered majority. This situation continues since early 1990s (Advani’s Rathyatra and demolition of the disputerd structure at Ayodhya) with the ding-dong of victory and defeat for both the camps. But now it is very clear that the previous policies of different political parties and regional satraps to exploit casteism, regionalism and such other petty considerations would not hoodwink the electorate any more. Therefore, there is a hectic effort, particularly in the Congress to explore other avenues. This search for points in the manifesto, though feebly, also speaks about the change in the leadership.

Socrates said: “It is better to change your opinion than to persist in a wrong one”. It is supposed to be a befitting lesson for the upcoming Congress leadership. One defeat does not cause any permanent damage. In history really resurgent political outfits have been seen reforming themselves and returning to power.

TRIPLE MODI MANTRA

It was not for the first time when PM Narendra Modi referred to his three-point development programme in the just concluded Vibrant Gujarat global meet at Ahmedabad.  Earlier he was airing it from different public platforms for the consumption of his domestic constituency. On last Sunday, he was emphatically repeating his formula as his intentions were clear to inform the captains of major industries of the world that for the present there was no other place better than India for investment.

Modi as a true visionary ‘vikas purush’ understands that the huge promises made to the electorate on the eve of the last parliamentary election would prove empty if some drastic measures, including the massive foreign investments were not taken. Like any CEO, he is fully aware of the fact that no businessman would ever venture to invest in an area, bereft of peace and prospects of earning. We in India have seen how the businessmen turned their back to West Bengal as during the previous CPM regime, the business atmosphere was not at all conducive and even the present incumbent does not leave any such optimsim. So Modi’s charter is having on top a calculated campaign to persuade the investers over the world that India is an ideal area.

In the whole of Afro-Asian regions, despite its gigantic size, democracy has strongly stayed here. Frequently changing governments and polity give clear indication of social insecurity which does not suit the mental frame of business community. Moreover, for production they also need skilled hands and uninterrupted flow of raw materials. Above all, a producer operates anywhere only when he sees the scope for the consumption of his products. The Indian population at 120 crore, has at least 25 crore people in upper and higher middle class who can easily spend for any latest household gadgets. This figure is more than the population of any European country. It is a huge market on which any businessman can bet.  Besides that it is a young country because 65% of its population is under the age of 35. The new trend of these youth to embrace technology is converting it into a technology hub and has made it an added attraction for the investers. To cap these all, the sectors in which India is inviting investment is having adequate indigenous availability of raw materials.

In this backdrop, one can easily interpret the Triple Modi Mantra which hints at India’s encouraging ingredients like democracy, demography and demand. The way in which in detail Modi explained his above 3-point mantra, appears to have swayed the august gathering of top businessmen of the world. The people will eagerly await the factual outcome of this policy thrust of the present NDA Govt.

GO NGO GO

                                                

Sometimes back, the policy makers had decided that the govt alone could not carry out all social and other developmental work.  So to give impetus to the causes of progress of the country, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the public at large had to be involved. This is the basic idea behind the formation of NGOs. However, the speed at which these bodies sprang up, has surprised the policy makers themselves. They have grown like mushroom and their uncontrolled system of working, instead of benefits, has started corroding the root of our polity.

Only a couple of days back, the Asstt. Solicitor General informed the Supreme  court that at present there are over 22 lakh NGOs in the country and out of them slightly more than 2% file  annual returns of their income and expenditure. What a horrible situation! Majority of them are subsisting on govt money. Many of them get foreign money for missionary works. Though they are shown to be engaged in public service, but virtually there is no supervision/monitoring. As a result, they are often found indulging in objectionable activities. The previous regimes soft-pedalled the issue and so religious conversions under duress or allurements went unabated particularly in Northeast and Chotanagpur plateau states. In order to get the foreign money, the beneficiary NGO has to get FRCA permission which is an easy job. The application for such a permission is submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and after some surfacial enquiry, it is granted. After that in absence of any effective monitoring, it becomes an open field for any activity.

It has been found that several senior govt executives, just before their retirement, launch a NGO in the name of their close relations and pave the way for easy flow of govt fund thereafter. You name any important activist in delhi, he must be having a pocket NGO. Some times it is more dangerous when they work as a conduit for illegal funding of militants. Often at the hands of inimical elements, they offer themselves as a platform for ant-national activities.

The ASG has rightly expressed his view to advise the govt to immediately stop funding of faltering NGOs. Some more such stringent deterrences can pull its chestnuts out of the fire.

ARE WE INVENTIVE

                            

In the just continuing Science Congress in Mumbai, some interesting disclosures from our past were made, which obviously propel us to revisit our centuries old rich history. By doing so we will be not only be aware of the breathtaking achievements of our predecessors but will draw inspirations as well to probe where we lost that inventive thread and how to revive that scientific temperament.

In this great annual meet, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science and Technology had lamented that some of  the achievements of our forefathers were stealthily  grabbed by  foreign countries, mainly European ones and as a result, India was debarred of the credit. He said that the Arabian algebra is basically derived from the historical Indian Beejganit. Similarly Pythagora’s theorem originated in India, he added.

The galaxy of professional scientists were surprised when Capt. Anand Bodas, while presenting his paper on Ancient Aviation Technology claimed that the science of building and flying technology was recorded by Maharshi Bharadwaj in his Vrihad Viman Shastra, written between 6,000 and 7,000 BC. Thus, he preceded Wright Brothers by several millennia. Bharadwaj mentioned that such aeroplanes were used in going to places as well as for transportation purposes. Giving further details, he said that centuries ago a plane so made was nearly 60’X60’ and used 11 alloys,407 melting pots and 532 furnaces. Giving further details from the above book, Bodas said that the technology can be used to turn out indigenous aeroplanes. In this light, nobody should have courage to call the Pushpak Viman of Kuber as a myth only. Obviously Ram had come to Ayodhya by this aeroplane from Lanka.

We are making aeroplanes, tanks, missiles, sattelites and what not, but they are only in performance category. We have succeeded to send our mission to Mars in first attempt,but basically this saga of success is based on technology of others. The question arises, are we inventive or only good imitators. Let us revive our gory scientific glory to carve out a niche in this field.

                               

ACHCHHE DIN ROUND THE CORNER

                                  

The oft- repeated Modi’s assurance  of electioneering campaigns of 2014 about 'achchhe din’ is in currency even today as the strongest cliché. It had such a catchy appeal that the competing other political parties felt badly disturbed and rightly so as the subsequent results vindicated. Since Modi formed a new government, the opposition lacked issues and hence they started crying ‘where were the ‘achchhe din’. Even for a moment they did not wait to consider that Rome was not built in one day. They should have realized that for any delivery, minimum gestation period is a pre-condition. Even when the incumbent regime  just 100 days, the main clamour from the opposition was this.  However, if we a bird’s eyeview is taken after seven months of its performances, some of the good omens are definitely perceptible which by far augur well.

Strangely enough, the so far agonising inflation rate has plummeted to Zero. The price rise continues to be on a declining track and the availability of items including onion has improved beyond normal expectations. The economic growth went up to 5.4% which optimistically is expected to gain another one point more next fiscal. According to leading newspapers, in 2015 nearly ten lakh jobs will be available in private sector. Similarly, the wages which were at 10 to 15%, may go up to 20 to 25% . The internationally declining crude oil prices have helped us to set right our trade imbalances. While there is a boom in Sunsex and Nifty, the rupee is also gaining weight in comparison with dollar.

Most of the held up legislative works since the days of the previous regime, started being pushed up, indicating the determination of the Modi govt. Insurance Bill is one of them. Some of the urgent nature of bills, which could not get through due to the vociferous opposition in the Upper House, have been effected through ordinances. The coal block issue, hanging fire since the defamed scams, have started being cleared so that the coal based industries were not adversely affected. The Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojna, under which Modi assured to get at least one bank account for every family, has shown tremendous progress. The time-bound programme was to include seven crore out of 24 crore families by Jan. 30, 2015. The achievement was over ten crore till Dec. 31, 2014. This fast progress is almost unprecedented. The supply of cheap foodgrains to the needy section is effectively going on in the entire country. The price of petrol and diesel was reduced at least five times in last seven months.

Some other indications are breath-taking as well. The return of work culture in govt offices is soothing and surprising. Every official is in on time. The bureaucrats have been told by the PM to perform fearlessly in public interest and directly rush to him in cases of undue hindrances. Above all, Modi strictly follows his principle of ‘not earning hush money  nor  allowing others as well to do so’. Under this idea, corruption cases including those in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu etc are being dispassionately examined for appropriate legal actions.

The above brief account of some good work done on surface is enumerated so that the readers could judge if the lofty ‘achchhe din’ is elusive or possible.