Indra's Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Indra's Drishtikona (Viewpoint) http://drishtikona.com My online journal with thoughts, opinions, comments and more.. Thu, 17 May 2012 09:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 Indra's Drishtikona (Viewpoint) http://drishtikona.com/images/favicon.gif http://drishtikona.com en Wanted a President for the most populous Nation! http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003067.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003067.php#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 15:39:13 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003067.php Dr. Rajendra Prasad could be a benchmark for political president, Dr. Radhakrishnan would certainly be called the best among the apolitical ones with Dr. Abdul Kalam closely following him. Though the president of the country is just decorative one but in some political situation, he may be required to play a very critical role. With the end of clear majority for one political party in Lok Sabha election, his role becomes very crucial. And that is the reason for getting a person loyal to the party in race becomes necessary. Many past presidents expressed their difference with the then prime minister and caused political concern. In the recent past, Abdul Kalam though a technocrat by training, proved to be a very good president. His name came again this year. However, Sonia still doesn’t back his candidature. She will not leave any stone unturned to bring in a loyal president who can play a favourable role after the crucial general election in 2014. In a shrewd political move, Sonia could push the first woman president, incumbent Pratibah Patil in Rashtrapati Bhawan. She could have certainly selected a better woman candidate. But stranger was the naming of an old hardcore politician by the main opposition party making the win of the incumbent easier. It’s strange that the media or the elite groups of the country hardly debate the issue seriously. The activists and intellectuals could have suggested some names as the best choice for the post. However, in absence of any such move, the election will remain a total political event. BJP does hardly matter with its getting an untouchable tag because of its brand image of a party of the caste Hindus. Every other political party is ready to go to any length to appease the major minority community. Sonia has not zeroed on any single name. Media speculates that it will choose between Pranab and Ansari. Left to Sonia, Ansari will get preference, she does hardly consider Pranab loyalist. The major opposition party could have selected some names that could have divided Sonia and her allies. But I don’t expect that to come. Jaswant Singh is certainly not the right choice. Why can’t the nation select persons such as Girish Karnard, Namwar Singh or RA Mashlekar, or for that matter the first family’s loyalists Sam Pitroda, V.KrishnaMurthy or Prof Yashpal as president? There may be hundreds of distinguished Indians in many fields who will be certainly better as president than the present president. However, none may be as lucky as the incumbent. It is painful to see the whole nation as mute spectator, confused or helpless permitting the so-called representatives of the people taking any quality of decisions in name of democracy, be it on corruption or alleviation of poverty, growth or inflation, PDS or land acquisition. Can the country go on moving ahead in spite of policy paralysis and without efficient governance? ]]> Dr. Rajendra Prasad could be a benchmark for political president, Dr. Radhakrishnan would certainly be called the best among the apolitical ones with Dr. Abdul Kalam closely following him. Though the president of the country is just decorative one but in some political situation, he may be required to play a very critical role. With the end of clear majority for one political party in Lok Sabha election, his role becomes very crucial. And that is the reason for getting a person loyal to the party in race becomes necessary. Many past presidents expressed their difference with the then prime minister and caused political concern. In the recent past, Abdul Kalam though a technocrat by training, proved to be a very good president. His name came again this year. However, Sonia still doesn’t back his candidature. She will not leave any stone unturned to bring in a loyal president who can play a favourable role after the crucial general election in 2014. In a shrewd political move, Sonia could push the first woman president, incumbent Pratibah Patil in Rashtrapati Bhawan. She could have certainly selected a better woman candidate. But stranger was the naming of an old hardcore politician by the main opposition party making the win of the incumbent easier. It’s strange that the media or the elite groups of the country hardly debate the issue seriously. The activists and intellectuals could have suggested some names as the best choice for the post. However, in absence of any such move, the election will remain a total political event. BJP does hardly matter with its getting an untouchable tag because of its brand image of a party of the caste Hindus. Every other political party is ready to go to any length to appease the major minority community. Sonia has not zeroed on any single name. Media speculates that it will choose between Pranab and Ansari. Left to Sonia, Ansari will get preference, she does hardly consider Pranab loyalist. The major opposition party could have selected some names that could have divided Sonia and her allies. But I don’t expect that to come. Jaswant Singh is certainly not the right choice. Why can’t the nation select persons such as Girish Karnard, Namwar Singh or RA Mashlekar, or for that matter the first family’s loyalists Sam Pitroda, V.KrishnaMurthy or Prof Yashpal as president? There may be hundreds of distinguished Indians in many fields who will be certainly better as president than the present president. However, none may be as lucky as the incumbent. It is painful to see the whole nation as mute spectator, confused or helpless permitting the so-called representatives of the people taking any quality of decisions in name of democracy, be it on corruption or alleviation of poverty, growth or inflation, PDS or land acquisition. Can the country go on moving ahead in spite of policy paralysis and without efficient governance? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003067.php/feed/ Next President: Why Kalam Again? http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003064.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003064.php#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:02:42 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003064.php media as the candidates for the most coveted post of the country. The country will soon elect its president. Mulayam and Lalu appear to be still important in the politics of the country. After winning UP assembly election, Mulayam has improved his political weightage. He is playing a double game of siding with Sonia as well as pretending to have independent view. He has tossed the name Kalam. He has kept on claiming that it was he who made Kalam a President last time. Mulayam wishes to find out the acceptance of Kalam and also please the community that has made him the king of UP. Perhaps, Mulayam also expects someone to put forward his own name in the fray. After passing on the chiefministership of UP to his son and little chance of becoming Prime Minister, perhaps the next best option for aging Mulayam will certainly be to get into the president house. Some have already proposed his name. Kalam still appears to be the most popular choice if we go by the media report and polls. However, I don’t think that he would go for the race without a consensus on his name. Moreover, it is shameful that a country of 1.2 billion has only one person good enough to be the president. I still like him, his Gandhian dream of PURA and his inspiring dialogues with the younger generations visiting all over the country. But I will prefer someone else this time. Lalu has put his weight behind Ansari, the present Vice President, perhaps after getting a hint Sonia will also perhaps go for Ansari. The preference for Ansari is again to please the important minority community as additional factor. It is unfortunate that none of the political party consults its legislators. It is the head of the party or the high command who decides. Others just vote based on whip in our democratic system. Unfortunately, none of the two major political parties-Congress and BJP wishes to elect some apolitical person as president. However, many names are floating in the media. I myself and many would have preferred one from the apolitical lot. My own preference will be for one from the three- Gopal Krishan Gandhi, the former governor of West Bengal, NR Narayana Murthy, and Sam Pitroda. All of them can command respect also from the international community. Besides these men, the distinguished former heads from judiciary or academic fields deserve considerations as the next president. I am sure every one of the persons mentioned above will be better than the incumbent. I wish a public debate could come out with a panel of five distinguished persons out of which the legislators could have elected one. However, as it appears, in coming years the president of India will be only from the minority, Dalit or a woman. No one from so called upper caste even with all other qualifications and capability can get into Rastrapati Bhawan. Am I becoming caste-biased? ]]> media as the candidates for the most coveted post of the country. The country will soon elect its president. Mulayam and Lalu appear to be still important in the politics of the country. After winning UP assembly election, Mulayam has improved his political weightage. He is playing a double game of siding with Sonia as well as pretending to have independent view. He has tossed the name Kalam. He has kept on claiming that it was he who made Kalam a President last time. Mulayam wishes to find out the acceptance of Kalam and also please the community that has made him the king of UP. Perhaps, Mulayam also expects someone to put forward his own name in the fray. After passing on the chiefministership of UP to his son and little chance of becoming Prime Minister, perhaps the next best option for aging Mulayam will certainly be to get into the president house. Some have already proposed his name. Kalam still appears to be the most popular choice if we go by the media report and polls. However, I don’t think that he would go for the race without a consensus on his name. Moreover, it is shameful that a country of 1.2 billion has only one person good enough to be the president. I still like him, his Gandhian dream of PURA and his inspiring dialogues with the younger generations visiting all over the country. But I will prefer someone else this time. Lalu has put his weight behind Ansari, the present Vice President, perhaps after getting a hint Sonia will also perhaps go for Ansari. The preference for Ansari is again to please the important minority community as additional factor. It is unfortunate that none of the political party consults its legislators. It is the head of the party or the high command who decides. Others just vote based on whip in our democratic system. Unfortunately, none of the two major political parties-Congress and BJP wishes to elect some apolitical person as president. However, many names are floating in the media. I myself and many would have preferred one from the apolitical lot. My own preference will be for one from the three- Gopal Krishan Gandhi, the former governor of West Bengal, NR Narayana Murthy, and Sam Pitroda. All of them can command respect also from the international community. Besides these men, the distinguished former heads from judiciary or academic fields deserve considerations as the next president. I am sure every one of the persons mentioned above will be better than the incumbent. I wish a public debate could come out with a panel of five distinguished persons out of which the legislators could have elected one. However, as it appears, in coming years the president of India will be only from the minority, Dalit or a woman. No one from so called upper caste even with all other qualifications and capability can get into Rastrapati Bhawan. Am I becoming caste-biased? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003064.php/feed/ Between Efficiency and Honesty http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003057.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003057.php#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:31:39 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003057.php Business Standard by a reputed columnist.

Defence Minister A K Antony was on a visit to the north east in February last year. At the 3 Corps headquarters in Rangapahar in Nagaland, Antony asked jawans if they needed anything. They said hesitantly if they could get a new pair of shoes every year instead of every 26 months that is the current practice...and if the shoes could be better quality.. . . Everyone in headquarters agreed that this was imperative; the Indian jawan deserved better and put up a proposal that canvas shoes be replaced with smart Reebok, Adidas or Fila shoes that were at once smart and light but rugged. In addition, a proposal was made that combat boots be replaced as well, with all-weather durable and lighter boots. The proposal reached Antonys desk. The outgo was an additional Rs 140 crore that the defence minister had the authority to clear without referring it to anyone else. Barely had it landed there that hegot another missive. A member of the BJP who is also an animal rights activist wrote to the minister that she had heard there was a proposal to replace these shoes with leather ones. She claimed to have information that the outer and back flap of the newtype of shoes would be made with cows leather (favoured because it is soft and malleable). She said 4,000 cows would be slaughtered to make these shoes that would require 200,000 meters of leather. This was unacceptable and the proposal must be re-examined. The next day the minister returned the file with the noting that he was not yet ready to take this decision. The army is now looking for a firm that will make the same shoes with buffalo leather, a process that will take at least three years.Defence Minister A K Antony was on a visit to the north east in February last year. At the 3 Corps headquarters in Rangapahar in Nagaland, Antony asked jawans if they needed anything. They said hesitantly if they could get a new pair of shoes every year instead of every 26 months that is the current practice...and if the shoes could be better quality... . Everyone in headquarters agreed that this was imperative; the Indian jawan deserved better and put up a proposal that canvas shoes be replaced with smart Reebok, Adidas or Fila shoes that were at once smart and light but rugged. In addition, a proposal was made that combat boots be replaced as well, with all-weather durable and lighter boots. The proposal reached Antonys desk. The outgo was an additional Rs 140 crore that the defence minister had the authority to clear without referring it to anyone else. Barely had it landed there that hegot another missive. A member of the BJP who is also an animal rights activist wrote to the minister that she had heard there was a proposal to replace these shoes with leather ones. She claimed to have information that the outer and back flap of the newtype of shoes would be made with cows leather (favoured because it is soft and malleable). She said 4,000 cows would be slaughtered to make these shoes that would require 200,000 meters of leather. This was unacceptable and the proposal must be re-examined. The next day the minister returned the file with the noting that he was not yet ready to take this decision. The army is now looking for a firm that will make the same shoes with buffalo leather, a process that will take at least three years.

Can the country’s defence be safe with such person as cabinet minister? The Chief of Army is no different. Can the country’s well being be expected by just allowing a still more honest prime minister? Why could not a prime minister get procured the essential defence equipment and essentials when two of the neighbours are so hostile? Why can’t the defence minister make the babus work giving a time limit for each step in decision making? Why could not the economist prime minister used private sector in the manufacturing of defence items that is around Rs 50,000 crore a year? Why could the country manufacture many of the essential items locally when all other countries have done it? When a country like Brazil can produce indigenous aeroplane, why can’t India do that? Why can’t the domestically India can’t produce even a reliable helicopter? Why HAL with so huge an investment can be even Embraer (the Brazilian aviation giant), of not anything else? Why can’t the government protected PSUs, research institutions, and defence production units be made more efficient and productive? With inefficient leadership the country can’t think of becoming a superpower. Even if it happens it will be in spite of it. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003057.php/feed/ Indian American Scientists: 2012 Sloan Research Fellows http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003050.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003050.php#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:53:16 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/employmenteducation/003050.php Indian American scientists. "Today's Sloan Research Fellows are tomorrow's Nobel Prize winners," said Sloan Foundation president Paul L. Joskow. Awarded annually since 1955, the fellowships, which include a $50,000 grant to be used to further a recipient's research, have traditionally recognized those working in chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, evolutionary and computational molecular biology, neuroscience, and physics. The award of 2012 Sloan Research Fellows was one such news with a number of Indian American young scientists.: Tulika Bose, assistant professor at Boston University, received her Ph.D. in experimental high energy physics from Columbia University in 2006. Her post-doctoral research at Brown University focused on direct searches for new phenomena at the DO experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Neal K Dalal, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Illinois, received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of California, San Diego, in 2002. He received a Hubble Fellowship from the Space Telescope Science Institute and was a senior research associate at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics before he joined the faculty at the U of I in 2011. Neil K. Garg, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, received his Ph.D. in 2005 from the California Institute of Technology. He completed his training as an NIH postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Irvine, and later joined UCLA in 2007. His research program at UCLA focuses on the development of synthetic strategies and methods as well as the synthesis of bioactive molecules. Shwetak N Patel, an assistant professor in the department of computer science and engineering and electrical engineering at the University of Washington, received his Ph.D. in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008. His most recent research focuses on building low-cost sensing systems for the home. Parag Pathak, associate professor of economics at MIT and research associate in the NBER’s pro¬grams on Education, Public Economics and Industrial Organization, received his A.B., S.M. and Ph.D. in 2007 from Harvard University. His research focuses on evaluating student assignment systems and has helped with New York City and Boston school assignment mechanisms. Prasad Raghavendra, assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, received his Ph.D. from the computer science and engineering department at University of Washington, Seattle. He received his dual degree in computer science from IIT Madras. His research interests include approximation algorithms, hardness of approximation, complexity, and coding theory. Srinivas Raghu, assistant professor of the department of physics at Stanford University, received his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 2006. His research interests include theoretical condensed matter physics, unconventional superconductivity, correlated electron systems, and topological phases of matter. Sohini Ramachandran, assistant professor of biology, ecology and evolutionary biology at Brown University, received her Ph.D. from Stanford University in biological sciences in 2007. There, she worked on human population genetics. Ramachandran was elected to the Harvard Society of Fellows in 2007 and did postdoctoral work while studying coalescent theory. Sylvia Ratnasamy, assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, received her Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley in 2002. As a second-year Ph.D. student, she was appointed to the ICSI Center for Internet Research, in Berkeley. With a population of Indian Americans constantly increasing, more and more of its next generation will get into the domain of expanding the Human Knowledge for the interest of human race, Let us congratulate the winners of 2012 Sloan Research Fellowship.. ]]> Indian American scientists. "Today's Sloan Research Fellows are tomorrow's Nobel Prize winners," said Sloan Foundation president Paul L. Joskow. Awarded annually since 1955, the fellowships, which include a $50,000 grant to be used to further a recipient's research, have traditionally recognized those working in chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, evolutionary and computational molecular biology, neuroscience, and physics. The award of 2012 Sloan Research Fellows was one such news with a number of Indian American young scientists.: Tulika Bose, assistant professor at Boston University, received her Ph.D. in experimental high energy physics from Columbia University in 2006. Her post-doctoral research at Brown University focused on direct searches for new phenomena at the DO experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Neal K Dalal, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Illinois, received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of California, San Diego, in 2002. He received a Hubble Fellowship from the Space Telescope Science Institute and was a senior research associate at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics before he joined the faculty at the U of I in 2011. Neil K. Garg, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, received his Ph.D. in 2005 from the California Institute of Technology. He completed his training as an NIH postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Irvine, and later joined UCLA in 2007. His research program at UCLA focuses on the development of synthetic strategies and methods as well as the synthesis of bioactive molecules. Shwetak N Patel, an assistant professor in the department of computer science and engineering and electrical engineering at the University of Washington, received his Ph.D. in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008. His most recent research focuses on building low-cost sensing systems for the home. Parag Pathak, associate professor of economics at MIT and research associate in the NBER’s pro¬grams on Education, Public Economics and Industrial Organization, received his A.B., S.M. and Ph.D. in 2007 from Harvard University. His research focuses on evaluating student assignment systems and has helped with New York City and Boston school assignment mechanisms. Prasad Raghavendra, assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, received his Ph.D. from the computer science and engineering department at University of Washington, Seattle. He received his dual degree in computer science from IIT Madras. His research interests include approximation algorithms, hardness of approximation, complexity, and coding theory. Srinivas Raghu, assistant professor of the department of physics at Stanford University, received his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 2006. His research interests include theoretical condensed matter physics, unconventional superconductivity, correlated electron systems, and topological phases of matter. Sohini Ramachandran, assistant professor of biology, ecology and evolutionary biology at Brown University, received her Ph.D. from Stanford University in biological sciences in 2007. There, she worked on human population genetics. Ramachandran was elected to the Harvard Society of Fellows in 2007 and did postdoctoral work while studying coalescent theory. Sylvia Ratnasamy, assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, received her Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley in 2002. As a second-year Ph.D. student, she was appointed to the ICSI Center for Internet Research, in Berkeley. With a population of Indian Americans constantly increasing, more and more of its next generation will get into the domain of expanding the Human Knowledge for the interest of human race, Let us congratulate the winners of 2012 Sloan Research Fellowship.. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003050.php/feed/ Indian Culture: Strength and Weakness http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003045.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003045.php#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:53:29 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003045.php 'India: The Next Superpower?' by the London School of Economics (LSE) lists several challenges that are likely to prevent India from realizing the ambitions of becoming the superpower. Ramachandra Guha, currently the Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs at the LSE, is the foremost among the LSE group. He argues and gives seven reasons why India will not become a superpower: "The challenge of the Naxalites; the insidious presence of the Hindutvawadis; the degradation of the once liberal and upright Centre; the increasing gap between the rich and the poor; the trivialisation of the media; the unsustainability, in an environmental sense, of present patterns of resource consumption; the instability and policy incoherence caused by multi-party coalition governments" I don’t know why Ramachandra can’t realize that the people of India do realize the dangerous consequences of the present situation on all his listed factors and are evolving ways and means to overcome the drawbacks en route its growth. I shall like to give just one example of this evolution. If we remember, the election just few years ago used to be a dreadful exercise many considering that as fares with obstructing voting, looting of booths, managing counting and violence. Indian electorate today is exercising its right without any fear and trouble at polling stations and election has become perhaps fairer than that in many developed countries too. Let Ramachandra not be pessimistic rather let him suggest the ways and means to overcome the challenges. However, it is not necessary to believe in the logic of LSE intellectuals and some differs. Second derogatory remarks came from the former captain of Australian Cricket team who also was India coach, Greg Chappell in a report: Taking at dig at overall Indian culture Chappell said: "The culture is very different, it`s not a team culture." "They lack leaders in the team because they are not trained to be leaders. From an early age, their parents make all the decisions, their schoolteachers make their decisions, their cricket coaches make the decisions.” "The culture of India is such that, if you put your head above the parapet someone will shoot it. Knock your head off. So they learn to keep their head down and not take responsibility. The Poms taught them really well to keep their head down. For if someone was deemed to be responsible, they`d get punished. So the Indians have learned to avoid responsibility. So before taking responsibility for any decisions, they prefer not to." I wish the former captain would not have made such remarks, and Indian cricketers must reply that in words as well as from their deeds. Let the celebrities maintain certain amount of positivity and constraint in their inferences about India and its people. ]]> 'India: The Next Superpower?' by the London School of Economics (LSE) lists several challenges that are likely to prevent India from realizing the ambitions of becoming the superpower. Ramachandra Guha, currently the Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs at the LSE, is the foremost among the LSE group. He argues and gives seven reasons why India will not become a superpower: "The challenge of the Naxalites; the insidious presence of the Hindutvawadis; the degradation of the once liberal and upright Centre; the increasing gap between the rich and the poor; the trivialisation of the media; the unsustainability, in an environmental sense, of present patterns of resource consumption; the instability and policy incoherence caused by multi-party coalition governments" I don’t know why Ramachandra can’t realize that the people of India do realize the dangerous consequences of the present situation on all his listed factors and are evolving ways and means to overcome the drawbacks en route its growth. I shall like to give just one example of this evolution. If we remember, the election just few years ago used to be a dreadful exercise many considering that as fares with obstructing voting, looting of booths, managing counting and violence. Indian electorate today is exercising its right without any fear and trouble at polling stations and election has become perhaps fairer than that in many developed countries too. Let Ramachandra not be pessimistic rather let him suggest the ways and means to overcome the challenges. However, it is not necessary to believe in the logic of LSE intellectuals and some differs. Second derogatory remarks came from the former captain of Australian Cricket team who also was India coach, Greg Chappell in a report: Taking at dig at overall Indian culture Chappell said: "The culture is very different, it`s not a team culture." "They lack leaders in the team because they are not trained to be leaders. From an early age, their parents make all the decisions, their schoolteachers make their decisions, their cricket coaches make the decisions.” "The culture of India is such that, if you put your head above the parapet someone will shoot it. Knock your head off. So they learn to keep their head down and not take responsibility. The Poms taught them really well to keep their head down. For if someone was deemed to be responsible, they`d get punished. So the Indians have learned to avoid responsibility. So before taking responsibility for any decisions, they prefer not to." I wish the former captain would not have made such remarks, and Indian cricketers must reply that in words as well as from their deeds. Let the celebrities maintain certain amount of positivity and constraint in their inferences about India and its people. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003045.php/feed/ Assembly Elections: Some Lessons http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003044.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003044.php#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:13:32 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003044.php 140 constituencies with more than 30% Muslim voters, BJP with its present image can’t expect to win a significant number of seats.BJP or its parent body RSS will have to find a way out through its action such as perhaps social work for the community. If BJP can’t overcome this handicap, it will be difficult to reach New Delhi even in 2014. Mulayam won because of Muslims going for him this time along with 100% Yadavs, besides many from OBCs. As it appears, people at large love to know clearly the prospective king who will run the show after they throw out the incumbent king who had been no good. Both Congress and BJP had not developed a clear leader for UP. Look at Uttarakhand in BC Khanduri and Goa in Manohar Prabhu Parrikar where BJP had the right leaders. In Indian democracy, the dynastic rule is not a taboo, but the people want something more than just the name. They want them to be accessible as and when they want. It’s unfortunate that the leadership in BJP as well as RSS and its other organizations are not ready to capture the voices of the Indians for change. Many wish it to win as the national party more so as a replacement of dynastic Congress For national parties to become a real winner in UP, few national leaders from the state must station themselves in the state capital instead of shifting to the national capital New Delhi and keep in constant touch with the people at grassroots levels through various social development projects all the time. The finals can’t be won by borrowed players or outsiders. UP needs to be divided in smaller states for effective political as well as developmental management. Will it happen? However, many in Noida are praying that a better sense would prevail on Mulayam and he would not do what he did in his last regime. Noida has already grown as jewel in the crown of UP, polish it further and don’t damage it. ]]> 140 constituencies with more than 30% Muslim voters, BJP with its present image can’t expect to win a significant number of seats.BJP or its parent body RSS will have to find a way out through its action such as perhaps social work for the community. If BJP can’t overcome this handicap, it will be difficult to reach New Delhi even in 2014. Mulayam won because of Muslims going for him this time along with 100% Yadavs, besides many from OBCs. As it appears, people at large love to know clearly the prospective king who will run the show after they throw out the incumbent king who had been no good. Both Congress and BJP had not developed a clear leader for UP. Look at Uttarakhand in BC Khanduri and Goa in Manohar Prabhu Parrikar where BJP had the right leaders. In Indian democracy, the dynastic rule is not a taboo, but the people want something more than just the name. They want them to be accessible as and when they want. It’s unfortunate that the leadership in BJP as well as RSS and its other organizations are not ready to capture the voices of the Indians for change. Many wish it to win as the national party more so as a replacement of dynastic Congress For national parties to become a real winner in UP, few national leaders from the state must station themselves in the state capital instead of shifting to the national capital New Delhi and keep in constant touch with the people at grassroots levels through various social development projects all the time. The finals can’t be won by borrowed players or outsiders. UP needs to be divided in smaller states for effective political as well as developmental management. Will it happen? However, many in Noida are praying that a better sense would prevail on Mulayam and he would not do what he did in his last regime. Noida has already grown as jewel in the crown of UP, polish it further and don’t damage it. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003044.php/feed/ TV News Channels and Election Tamasha http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003043.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003043.php#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:28:27 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003043.php Times Now is having a 100 hours programme covering the developments based on exit polls for last two days that will continue till the final position will be known by March6, 2012. It has collected a huge panel of politicians, columnists and journalists and created an impressive set. It’s almost like gala evening affairs of entertainment. However, the content hardly keeps one listening for long time. Arnab Goswami wants to take a lead over other competing channels, particularly Pranay Ray’s NDTV and Rajdeep Sardesai’s CNN-IBN. I wish Arnab would have been a little more innovative. To me, the ‘Time Now’ show appeared to be adda-bazi for something that is hardly useful for the people at large. I don’t know if all the celebrities participating are paid for providing the show. Media through various exit polls have already established the winners before the counting with SP winning followed by BSP with a huge gap and Rahul’s party almost rejected by the people. It is unfortunate if it is correct. UP electorate would have left these regional parties that are corrupt and with extreme family bias. I don’t know if any one tells correctly the name of the party for which one voted. As such also, it is a security hazard. According to CNN-IBN, Mayawati’s staunch followers of Jatav and SC clans, particular from the women and urban dalits, have deserted her. Sometimes, it appears unbelievable. However, if Mulayam is winning, it can be only because of Muslims and Yadavs supporting him blindly. How can Yadavs follow party line and not Jatav? I still opine that the exit poll would be disastrously off the mark. Both Mayawati and Rahul will do better nearing 100 and 80 respectively. I could see a great change in this election that indicates the maturing democracy with no physical violence at polling booth level. There is shaking off of caste bias too, though it is happening slowly. Every India must be proud of that. However, the political ethics have touched the lowest. All parties inducted candidates from different parties with very poor credentials. Rahul appeared childlike, when he changed his facial appearance with small beard and tore a piece of papers while campaigning. Look at Jayant Chaudhry with perhaps an American degree, son of Ajit Chaudhry himself an IITian of Kharagpur. Jayant an MP is fighting for an assembly seat. What could have been the motivation for him for this unusual change? I would have preferred the news channels to take up the various social and development issues such as land acquisition, food security and project implementation. But unfortunately, the channels are choosing the subjects that are sexy such as the gay discrimination or Gujarat. And it will be only tomorrow that we would know who was correct and if the statistical surveys were rational. ]]> Times Now is having a 100 hours programme covering the developments based on exit polls for last two days that will continue till the final position will be known by March6, 2012. It has collected a huge panel of politicians, columnists and journalists and created an impressive set. It’s almost like gala evening affairs of entertainment. However, the content hardly keeps one listening for long time. Arnab Goswami wants to take a lead over other competing channels, particularly Pranay Ray’s NDTV and Rajdeep Sardesai’s CNN-IBN. I wish Arnab would have been a little more innovative. To me, the ‘Time Now’ show appeared to be adda-bazi for something that is hardly useful for the people at large. I don’t know if all the celebrities participating are paid for providing the show. Media through various exit polls have already established the winners before the counting with SP winning followed by BSP with a huge gap and Rahul’s party almost rejected by the people. It is unfortunate if it is correct. UP electorate would have left these regional parties that are corrupt and with extreme family bias. I don’t know if any one tells correctly the name of the party for which one voted. As such also, it is a security hazard. According to CNN-IBN, Mayawati’s staunch followers of Jatav and SC clans, particular from the women and urban dalits, have deserted her. Sometimes, it appears unbelievable. However, if Mulayam is winning, it can be only because of Muslims and Yadavs supporting him blindly. How can Yadavs follow party line and not Jatav? I still opine that the exit poll would be disastrously off the mark. Both Mayawati and Rahul will do better nearing 100 and 80 respectively. I could see a great change in this election that indicates the maturing democracy with no physical violence at polling booth level. There is shaking off of caste bias too, though it is happening slowly. Every India must be proud of that. However, the political ethics have touched the lowest. All parties inducted candidates from different parties with very poor credentials. Rahul appeared childlike, when he changed his facial appearance with small beard and tore a piece of papers while campaigning. Look at Jayant Chaudhry with perhaps an American degree, son of Ajit Chaudhry himself an IITian of Kharagpur. Jayant an MP is fighting for an assembly seat. What could have been the motivation for him for this unusual change? I would have preferred the news channels to take up the various social and development issues such as land acquisition, food security and project implementation. But unfortunately, the channels are choosing the subjects that are sexy such as the gay discrimination or Gujarat. And it will be only tomorrow that we would know who was correct and if the statistical surveys were rational. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/003043.php/feed/