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 Ashoka Lives through his Edicts http://drishtikona.com/archives/employmenteducation/003052.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/employmenteducation/003052.php#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:16:38 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/employmenteducation/003052.php A Tribute to Ashoka on Bihar Divas FlipKart has become my favourite e-shop for books. Recently after getting first Chanakya Chant, I got Ashoka, and then Mudrarakhash, a Hindi translation of Bishakhadutt drama on the historical story of Chanakya. I have finished reading Ashoka by Charles Allen today. Allen Turner very rightly propounds, “Ashoka may be said to be India’s founding father, being the first ruler to forge India into a single nation state. Emperor Ashoka espoused non-violence and the utterly novel concept of conquest by moral force alone-and he was very probably the first ruler in history to establish a welfare state.” The main characters of the books, Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka have been my heroes for years. The source materials for Chandragupta Maurya are Puranas, Megasthanes’ Indica, Kautilya’s Arthshastra and ‘Mudraraksha’. Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus I in the court of Chandragupta Maurya authored Indica. Later writers such as Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny refer to Indica in their works. To Greeks, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokyptos, Sandrokottos or Androcottus. Allen’s ‘Ashoka’ is a superbly written story how the hardworking British officers of East India Company dug out the historical personalities of Ashoka, Chandragupta and Chanakya that got lost in Indian history from the debris. The missionary zeal of the British officers along with their official assignments took interest in revealing the puzzles of the Indian history too through excavations. Allen has covered the archeological discoveries of every object related to Ashoka from all over India and even Sri Lanka. The source materials for Ashoka’s story are the early Buddhist scriptures and historical literature from Shri Lanka and Ashoka’s edicts on rocks and pillars that he himself got inscribed during his reign almost all over his empire. A Map of Ashoka Empire Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus I in the court of Chandragupta Maurya authored Indica. Later writers such as Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny refer to Indica in their works. To Greeks, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokyptos, Sandrokottos or Androcottus But Allen has covered the discovery of each of the major pillars and rock edicts-major as well as minor more than thirty or so and how the written content was deciphered and finally they did also come across the name of the person who got them inscribed. “In Pillar Edict 2 Ashoka even asks rhetorically, ‘what constitutes Dharma?’ and sums it up as ‘little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity’=to which he adds from Rock Edict 1,’much self0examination, much respect, much fear (of evil) and much enthusiasm’. Not so much as a word about prayers, offerings, sacrifices, rituals or gods.” And on Ashoka’s secular approach, Allen refers to Pillar Edict 6, ‘I have honoured all religions with various honours’, and Pillar Edict 7, ‘My DharmaMahamatras too are occupied with various good works among the ascetics and householders of all religions’. Ashoka ends Pillar Edict 7 with closing words: “Beloved-of-Gods says: Wherever there are stone pillars or some slabs, there this Dharam edict is to be engraved so that it may long endure. It has been engraved so that it may endure as long as my sons and great grandsons live and as long as the sun and the moon shine, and so that people may practice it as instructed. For by practicing it happiness will be attained in this world and the next.” Allen has also written a chapter on the burning of the Nalanda library. Nalanda had exhaustive repository of Buddhist knowledge in the world, housed in three multi-storied libraries: the Ratnasagara, the Ratnadadhi and the Ratnaranjaka. “Muhammad Bakhtaiyar sent a messenger to enquire if Nalanda’s libraries contained a copy of the Quran. On learning that they did not, he ordered the destruction and put the entire site, extending over many acres, to the torch. The task of burning the library took several months.” Allen’s book in his note provides another story: “The last known eyewitness of the fate of Nalanda was a Tibetan monk named Dharamaswamin. Arriving at Nalanda in the year 1235, he found just one survivor, a ninety-year-old monk named Rahul Sribhadra who was teaching a small class of acolytes from a Sanskrit grammar- the only manuscript to have survived the great fire. Dharamaswamin stayed on to study, only for the class to break up in panic when it was reported that Turk raiders were heading their way. Dharamaswamin carried his elderly teacher into hiding, and when the two returned to Nalanda they found the rest of the class had fled. Having taught Dharamaswamin all he knew, the aged monk handed him his copy of the Sanskrit grammar and told him to return to Tibet.” How can any religion preach heinous task of burning books with various types of knowledge and literature, or sculpture, and architectural wonders that causes irreparable damage? Perhaps Mauryas were the most secular of the kings. Chandragupta Maurya started with Brahmin Chanakya, but later on followed Jain Guru. Ashoka too started with Brahmin, the grandson of Chanakya, Radhagupta but ended with Buddhism. What could have been a better subject to write on Bihar Divas? ]]> A Tribute to Ashoka on Bihar Divas FlipKart has become my favourite e-shop for books. Recently after getting first Chanakya Chant, I got Ashoka, and then Mudrarakhash, a Hindi translation of Bishakhadutt drama on the historical story of Chanakya. I have finished reading Ashoka by Charles Allen today. Allen Turner very rightly propounds, “Ashoka may be said to be India’s founding father, being the first ruler to forge India into a single nation state. Emperor Ashoka espoused non-violence and the utterly novel concept of conquest by moral force alone-and he was very probably the first ruler in history to establish a welfare state.” The main characters of the books, Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka have been my heroes for years. The source materials for Chandragupta Maurya are Puranas, Megasthanes’ Indica, Kautilya’s Arthshastra and ‘Mudraraksha’. Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus I in the court of Chandragupta Maurya authored Indica. Later writers such as Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny refer to Indica in their works. To Greeks, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokyptos, Sandrokottos or Androcottus. Allen’s ‘Ashoka’ is a superbly written story how the hardworking British officers of East India Company dug out the historical personalities of Ashoka, Chandragupta and Chanakya that got lost in Indian history from the debris. The missionary zeal of the British officers along with their official assignments took interest in revealing the puzzles of the Indian history too through excavations. Allen has covered the archeological discoveries of every object related to Ashoka from all over India and even Sri Lanka. The source materials for Ashoka’s story are the early Buddhist scriptures and historical literature from Shri Lanka and Ashoka’s edicts on rocks and pillars that he himself got inscribed during his reign almost all over his empire. A Map of Ashoka Empire Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus I in the court of Chandragupta Maurya authored Indica. Later writers such as Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny refer to Indica in their works. To Greeks, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokyptos, Sandrokottos or Androcottus But Allen has covered the discovery of each of the major pillars and rock edicts-major as well as minor more than thirty or so and how the written content was deciphered and finally they did also come across the name of the person who got them inscribed. “In Pillar Edict 2 Ashoka even asks rhetorically, ‘what constitutes Dharma?’ and sums it up as ‘little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity’=to which he adds from Rock Edict 1,’much self0examination, much respect, much fear (of evil) and much enthusiasm’. Not so much as a word about prayers, offerings, sacrifices, rituals or gods.” And on Ashoka’s secular approach, Allen refers to Pillar Edict 6, ‘I have honoured all religions with various honours’, and Pillar Edict 7, ‘My DharmaMahamatras too are occupied with various good works among the ascetics and householders of all religions’. Ashoka ends Pillar Edict 7 with closing words: “Beloved-of-Gods says: Wherever there are stone pillars or some slabs, there this Dharam edict is to be engraved so that it may long endure. It has been engraved so that it may endure as long as my sons and great grandsons live and as long as the sun and the moon shine, and so that people may practice it as instructed. For by practicing it happiness will be attained in this world and the next.” Allen has also written a chapter on the burning of the Nalanda library. Nalanda had exhaustive repository of Buddhist knowledge in the world, housed in three multi-storied libraries: the Ratnasagara, the Ratnadadhi and the Ratnaranjaka. “Muhammad Bakhtaiyar sent a messenger to enquire if Nalanda’s libraries contained a copy of the Quran. On learning that they did not, he ordered the destruction and put the entire site, extending over many acres, to the torch. The task of burning the library took several months.” Allen’s book in his note provides another story: “The last known eyewitness of the fate of Nalanda was a Tibetan monk named Dharamaswamin. Arriving at Nalanda in the year 1235, he found just one survivor, a ninety-year-old monk named Rahul Sribhadra who was teaching a small class of acolytes from a Sanskrit grammar- the only manuscript to have survived the great fire. Dharamaswamin stayed on to study, only for the class to break up in panic when it was reported that Turk raiders were heading their way. Dharamaswamin carried his elderly teacher into hiding, and when the two returned to Nalanda they found the rest of the class had fled. Having taught Dharamaswamin all he knew, the aged monk handed him his copy of the Sanskrit grammar and told him to return to Tibet.” How can any religion preach heinous task of burning books with various types of knowledge and literature, or sculpture, and architectural wonders that causes irreparable damage? Perhaps Mauryas were the most secular of the kings. Chandragupta Maurya started with Brahmin Chanakya, but later on followed Jain Guru. Ashoka too started with Brahmin, the grandson of Chanakya, Radhagupta but ended with Buddhism. What could have been a better subject to write on Bihar Divas? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/employmenteducation/003052.php/feed/ Kautilya alias Chanakya: Getting Raw Deal http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/003004.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/003004.php#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:40:05 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/003004.php Times of India on November 19. I came across a news report that highlights the pathetic condition of working of the institutes of the country under the present governing system.
“A 450-year-old manuscript, the earliest available copy of Kautilya’s Arthashastra, written in 4th century BC, and preserved at Mysore’s Oriental Research Institute (ORI) is peeling off. According to the institute, “It is in great danger. There is not even a locker to keep it safe,” It is merely wrapped in a cloth and kept in a cabinet. In 1909, Rudrapatnam Shamasastry found the copy in a heap of palm-leaf manuscripts. Historians across the world then recognized that India had an enviable textual history. The Arthashastra and about 60,000 other manuscripts at ORI came close to be reduced to ashes during two fires caused by short circuit at the institute in 1996 and 1998. Yet, the manuscripts have not been secured in fireproof chambers. A fumigation machine, donated by the Ford Foundation to protect manuscripts from insects, fungi and algae, does not work. The Institute lacks fund to protect these national heritages.”
Interestingly, the newspaper had at least half a dozen ads from different ministries of the country to commemorate the birthday of Indira Gandhi. Perhaps the cost incurred to one media house for these advertisements would have been stuffiest enough fund that the Mysore’s Oriental Research Institute may be hankering for. In evening I again tried to watch ‘Chandragupta Maurya’ on Imagine Channel to find if the director and producer have come out with some sensible episode. It was just disgusting. How are the Indians tolerating such serials? The historical heroes such as Chanakya and Chandragupta would not have been portrayed as the heroes of Chandrakanta Santati. I was wrong. Indian TV addicts, for whom the serial has been produced, would have hardly gone to school or read about Chanakya. It is pretty clear from some of views expressed and available on Internet. You get what you deserve. . It is interesting to know that Turner Broadcasting System based owns Imagine TV entertainment channel. Unfortunately, I see the channel propagating things such the importance of Sani Dev and making Sudama saying that every good Brahmin must beg. Is it the reason for the poor deal to India’s historical heroes such as Chandragupta and more so of Chanakya. India certainly requires good content producing firms. It requires also some amount of regulation ensuring the quality, particularly for the stories related to historical and mythological characters. The serial producers may be asked to give references. Interestingly, the famous Sagar Arts has produced the serial, Chandragupta Maurya. Should I assume that the younger generation doesn’t have the value and quality bias of the older Sagars? PS: Let me clarify that I am only shore about the imaginary story and script of the serial and not the acting quality of the individual actors playing the role of either Chandragupta or Chanakya. Is it the way to depict the life and time of Chandragupta Maurya, the greatest emperor India has ever known? ]]> Times of India on November 19. I came across a news report that highlights the pathetic condition of working of the institutes of the country under the present governing system.
“A 450-year-old manuscript, the earliest available copy of Kautilya’s Arthashastra, written in 4th century BC, and preserved at Mysore’s Oriental Research Institute (ORI) is peeling off. According to the institute, “It is in great danger. There is not even a locker to keep it safe,” It is merely wrapped in a cloth and kept in a cabinet. In 1909, Rudrapatnam Shamasastry found the copy in a heap of palm-leaf manuscripts. Historians across the world then recognized that India had an enviable textual history. The Arthashastra and about 60,000 other manuscripts at ORI came close to be reduced to ashes during two fires caused by short circuit at the institute in 1996 and 1998. Yet, the manuscripts have not been secured in fireproof chambers. A fumigation machine, donated by the Ford Foundation to protect manuscripts from insects, fungi and algae, does not work. The Institute lacks fund to protect these national heritages.”
Interestingly, the newspaper had at least half a dozen ads from different ministries of the country to commemorate the birthday of Indira Gandhi. Perhaps the cost incurred to one media house for these advertisements would have been stuffiest enough fund that the Mysore’s Oriental Research Institute may be hankering for. In evening I again tried to watch ‘Chandragupta Maurya’ on Imagine Channel to find if the director and producer have come out with some sensible episode. It was just disgusting. How are the Indians tolerating such serials? The historical heroes such as Chanakya and Chandragupta would not have been portrayed as the heroes of Chandrakanta Santati. I was wrong. Indian TV addicts, for whom the serial has been produced, would have hardly gone to school or read about Chanakya. It is pretty clear from some of views expressed and available on Internet. You get what you deserve. . It is interesting to know that Turner Broadcasting System based owns Imagine TV entertainment channel. Unfortunately, I see the channel propagating things such the importance of Sani Dev and making Sudama saying that every good Brahmin must beg. Is it the reason for the poor deal to India’s historical heroes such as Chandragupta and more so of Chanakya. India certainly requires good content producing firms. It requires also some amount of regulation ensuring the quality, particularly for the stories related to historical and mythological characters. The serial producers may be asked to give references. Interestingly, the famous Sagar Arts has produced the serial, Chandragupta Maurya. Should I assume that the younger generation doesn’t have the value and quality bias of the older Sagars? PS: Let me clarify that I am only shore about the imaginary story and script of the serial and not the acting quality of the individual actors playing the role of either Chandragupta or Chanakya. Is it the way to depict the life and time of Chandragupta Maurya, the greatest emperor India has ever known? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/003004.php/feed/ Ramayana: AK Ramanujan, Tulsidas or Camille Bulke http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002996.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002996.php#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:15:51 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002996.php AK Ramanujan, ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation’, that was part of undergraduate course in history of Delhi University. The university authority suddenly decided to drop it. It’s was not clear who behind this immature decision. Was it the rightist student union? Alternately, it might be a proactive decision of the university. I do agree that the teachers would have been consulted. I read the essay on web. It is well written one with research and good intention to tell the readers about the various Ramayanas and some interesting stories therein. The essay is not meant for those who consider it just as a religious book and worship its characters. Some fundamentalists, who can’t appreciate the finesse of the commentary, may raise objections and even protest and even ask for withdrawing it. It is unfortunate that while writing about Ramanujan’s essay, none of columnists be it Dileep Padgaonkar, Swapan Dasgupta, Pratik Kanjilal or Mukul Keswani has mentioned about the work of Father Camille Bulke. Interestingly, Ramanujan has referred to the work of Camille Bulke. Perhaps the first time I read Camille Bulke, it was many years ago during my school days. I went through Father Camille Bulke’s on Ram Katha that was actually his PH.D research thesis. It was interesting to learn how the Rama Story, known to us till then as one written by Balmiki and then in Awadhi by Tulsidas, evolved since Vedic era of ancient India. Camille Bulke‘s book, ‘Râmakathâ, Utpatti aur Vikâsa’, got published first time from Allahabad, 1950. Bulke has provided the details of the Ramayana story in Vedic literature as well as in ancient Buddhist and Jain literature. Bulke has also mentioned extensively about the Rama’s story prevalent in the literature of other parts of India and South East Asia. Bulke’s book is even till today might be the best written research work on Rama story. Interestingly Bulke was a Belgian but loved Indian culture, learnt Hindi, got master in Hindi and then PH.D from Prayag University. Till his death he was head of Hindi department of Ranchi University. For lovers of Ramayana, his book is to be a must read one. It is unfortunate that the book has not been translated and published in English. I wish Sahitya Akademi or some other institution does it. Ramayana that most of North Indians read and know are of Valmiki who wrote in the Epic in Sanskrit and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas that over the years the book became the most sacred religious book for every Hindu family, particularly in North India. However, I came across at least two more Ramayanas. With my education in West Bengal, I came to know of Kirtibas’s Ramayana in Bengali. We read and sang another very popular Ramayana in modern Hindi with Urdu words also. It was Radhesyam Ramayana and had many episodes totally different than those in Tulsidas’s Ramayana. Tulsidas created an ideal character of Rama and Gandhiji talked of Ramrajya based on what Tulsidas had written. However, Tulsidas also has clearly mentioned about the numerous stories written about his hero, Ram- ‘Hari Anant harikatha ananta’. I use the existence of this large number of the Ramayanas as the evidence of Rama being a historical figure rather than mythological one. I don’t think there is any other epic in any language that became so widespread. According to Dileep Padgaonkar, many versions of Ramayana enriched the epic. I agree. A rational Indian must read every good literature that enriches our knowledge. I wish DU reintroduce the essay. ]]> AK Ramanujan, ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation’, that was part of undergraduate course in history of Delhi University. The university authority suddenly decided to drop it. It’s was not clear who behind this immature decision. Was it the rightist student union? Alternately, it might be a proactive decision of the university. I do agree that the teachers would have been consulted. I read the essay on web. It is well written one with research and good intention to tell the readers about the various Ramayanas and some interesting stories therein. The essay is not meant for those who consider it just as a religious book and worship its characters. Some fundamentalists, who can’t appreciate the finesse of the commentary, may raise objections and even protest and even ask for withdrawing it. It is unfortunate that while writing about Ramanujan’s essay, none of columnists be it Dileep Padgaonkar, Swapan Dasgupta, Pratik Kanjilal or Mukul Keswani has mentioned about the work of Father Camille Bulke. Interestingly, Ramanujan has referred to the work of Camille Bulke. Perhaps the first time I read Camille Bulke, it was many years ago during my school days. I went through Father Camille Bulke’s on Ram Katha that was actually his PH.D research thesis. It was interesting to learn how the Rama Story, known to us till then as one written by Balmiki and then in Awadhi by Tulsidas, evolved since Vedic era of ancient India. Camille Bulke‘s book, ‘Râmakathâ, Utpatti aur Vikâsa’, got published first time from Allahabad, 1950. Bulke has provided the details of the Ramayana story in Vedic literature as well as in ancient Buddhist and Jain literature. Bulke has also mentioned extensively about the Rama’s story prevalent in the literature of other parts of India and South East Asia. Bulke’s book is even till today might be the best written research work on Rama story. Interestingly Bulke was a Belgian but loved Indian culture, learnt Hindi, got master in Hindi and then PH.D from Prayag University. Till his death he was head of Hindi department of Ranchi University. For lovers of Ramayana, his book is to be a must read one. It is unfortunate that the book has not been translated and published in English. I wish Sahitya Akademi or some other institution does it. Ramayana that most of North Indians read and know are of Valmiki who wrote in the Epic in Sanskrit and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas that over the years the book became the most sacred religious book for every Hindu family, particularly in North India. However, I came across at least two more Ramayanas. With my education in West Bengal, I came to know of Kirtibas’s Ramayana in Bengali. We read and sang another very popular Ramayana in modern Hindi with Urdu words also. It was Radhesyam Ramayana and had many episodes totally different than those in Tulsidas’s Ramayana. Tulsidas created an ideal character of Rama and Gandhiji talked of Ramrajya based on what Tulsidas had written. However, Tulsidas also has clearly mentioned about the numerous stories written about his hero, Ram- ‘Hari Anant harikatha ananta’. I use the existence of this large number of the Ramayanas as the evidence of Rama being a historical figure rather than mythological one. I don’t think there is any other epic in any language that became so widespread. According to Dileep Padgaonkar, many versions of Ramayana enriched the epic. I agree. A rational Indian must read every good literature that enriches our knowledge. I wish DU reintroduce the essay. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002996.php/feed/ Ethical Practices and Corruption http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/002995.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/002995.php#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:01:26 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/002995.php Will the reporter of Indian Express look into these practices in its own group, find out and report if its senior executives don’t follow these means to save? How much that the reporter himself charges from the media that is not genuine? Kiran Bedi, under attack over charging her hosts business class for economy class travel offered to return the excess money collected. She would not have done that. The subject requires debate. It also requires that every organization puts in place a clear design of system where if these practices are considered wrong, one just can’t do it. And now something on Kejriwal’s issue. I myself signed an agreement for serving 7 years in my first company. I was to undergo training for two years. It just ensured me a fixed increment for those years. It was a totally one sided agreement to create a fear in the employee to remain in the company. Many had signed the agreement. Later on many left. The company couldn’t win a single case. I am sure Kejriwal’s bond must be a similar one. If he served for the stipulated period after the training, none can hold him back under any law and perhaps the human right. And why didn’t the government or the reporter in question came out with these revelations for so many years? ]]> Will the reporter of Indian Express look into these practices in its own group, find out and report if its senior executives don’t follow these means to save? How much that the reporter himself charges from the media that is not genuine? Kiran Bedi, under attack over charging her hosts business class for economy class travel offered to return the excess money collected. She would not have done that. The subject requires debate. It also requires that every organization puts in place a clear design of system where if these practices are considered wrong, one just can’t do it. And now something on Kejriwal’s issue. I myself signed an agreement for serving 7 years in my first company. I was to undergo training for two years. It just ensured me a fixed increment for those years. It was a totally one sided agreement to create a fear in the employee to remain in the company. Many had signed the agreement. Later on many left. The company couldn’t win a single case. I am sure Kejriwal’s bond must be a similar one. If he served for the stipulated period after the training, none can hold him back under any law and perhaps the human right. And why didn’t the government or the reporter in question came out with these revelations for so many years? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/indian_politics/002995.php/feed/ Labour or Mob Law: Scaring Situations http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002989.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002989.php#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:23:01 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002989.php generating electricity because of shortage of coal. The plant of Maruti Suzuki at Manesar in Haryana is under cease. The workers have occupied the factory premises and are resorting to violence and causing the damage of assets. The workmen are defying the High Court order that directed the striking workers to vacate factory premises and asked the police to provide the agitating workers with a place to lodge their protests and ensure that workers who wanted to work in the Manesar unit was not attacked by those on strike. The rising labour trouble in automobile industry of MNCs is emanating very poor signals to the foreign investors. I am sure the Japanese now holding the major stake must be cursing their decision on to set up the plant in Manesar. Haryana chief minister is busy in campaign of a bye-election. Surprisingly the Prime Minister declares that he is working on streamlining the labour laws. The prominent citizens have joined the activists of the country to close the commissioned Nuclear plant in Koodankulam,Tamil Nadu till all an independent body investigates and reports positively about the safety all nuclear plants in India. How can the job of technical experts be taken over by the activists and so-called prominent citizens and court? Surprisingly, China is marching ahead with its nuclear energy projects with fiercest speed. Are they fools? However, the prime minister wishes to solve the problems by writing letters to the equally arrogant chief minister and the religious heads. Sometimes I feel like doubting if the country was ready for democracy and freedom of expression at the time of independence and even after 63 years thereafter. It is shocking that the government and administration goes in action only after some serious situation arises. Its machinery fails to be proactive. Is it only a labour law that requires reform or the country needs a code of conduct for the citizens at large particularly for those who matter such as the new growing clan of activists and vocal intellectuals with vested interests? As I fail to understand the law of the country. The whole country saw two days ago how a rogue young man kept on hitting and kicking brutally a frail senior advocate in or near the Supreme Court premises in present of a crew of news channel. The advocate would have been killed. But the very next day, the gang including the main culprit was granted bail. I am sure the clear possibility of death of a person is more serious than losing few crores of rupees. Where is the hope for this great nation when every day something or the other creates shock wave in the mind of common citizens? ]]> generating electricity because of shortage of coal. The plant of Maruti Suzuki at Manesar in Haryana is under cease. The workers have occupied the factory premises and are resorting to violence and causing the damage of assets. The workmen are defying the High Court order that directed the striking workers to vacate factory premises and asked the police to provide the agitating workers with a place to lodge their protests and ensure that workers who wanted to work in the Manesar unit was not attacked by those on strike. The rising labour trouble in automobile industry of MNCs is emanating very poor signals to the foreign investors. I am sure the Japanese now holding the major stake must be cursing their decision on to set up the plant in Manesar. Haryana chief minister is busy in campaign of a bye-election. Surprisingly the Prime Minister declares that he is working on streamlining the labour laws. The prominent citizens have joined the activists of the country to close the commissioned Nuclear plant in Koodankulam,Tamil Nadu till all an independent body investigates and reports positively about the safety all nuclear plants in India. How can the job of technical experts be taken over by the activists and so-called prominent citizens and court? Surprisingly, China is marching ahead with its nuclear energy projects with fiercest speed. Are they fools? However, the prime minister wishes to solve the problems by writing letters to the equally arrogant chief minister and the religious heads. Sometimes I feel like doubting if the country was ready for democracy and freedom of expression at the time of independence and even after 63 years thereafter. It is shocking that the government and administration goes in action only after some serious situation arises. Its machinery fails to be proactive. Is it only a labour law that requires reform or the country needs a code of conduct for the citizens at large particularly for those who matter such as the new growing clan of activists and vocal intellectuals with vested interests? As I fail to understand the law of the country. The whole country saw two days ago how a rogue young man kept on hitting and kicking brutally a frail senior advocate in or near the Supreme Court premises in present of a crew of news channel. The advocate would have been killed. But the very next day, the gang including the main culprit was granted bail. I am sure the clear possibility of death of a person is more serious than losing few crores of rupees. Where is the hope for this great nation when every day something or the other creates shock wave in the mind of common citizens? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002989.php/feed/ Heroes Fighting on Poverty Line http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002988.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002988.php#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:11:53 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002988.php the persons under BPL categories from different urban regions and are forcing them to answer questions about the family size, monthly earning, and government assistance to prove the mistakes of planning commission. The answers are almost same from all. The number of family member is five. Monthly earning is around Rs 5000. The PDS is non-existent. The reporters hardly go any further about the accommodation, sanitation facilities or schooling and healthcare. They invariably live in shanties or jhuggis with none of the facilities. In Noida, the households in the villages integrated in the township have built filthy barracks for this working population and are making money. The Planning Commission and the Jairam Ramesh are trying to resolve the issues of defining those under BPL I narrate here the actual story of some who are in BPL. These young Indians, from the same deprived class and with not much of formal education and assistance from anyone, are trying to improve their quality of living by working hard. Hari got known to us when we came to our own house in sector 41 in Noida in 1997. He was the washer man. He washed our clothes and ironed them. He charged Rs 50 person per month for washing. It has gone up to Rs 200. For ironing the charge is now Rs 2 against Re 1 at that time. For the curtains, bedcovers, saris, etc, the unit charges are more. He used to start the day with washing and collecting the clothes for ironing washed on the previous day. He was not married. Over the years he got married and has now three children. He expanded his work. Today he does also clean the cars early in the morning for Rs 200 a month. The rate for the bigger cars is more. As estimated, Hari may be earning Rs 8,000-10,000 a month. He has a room in a nearby village, Morna on rent, where he lives with his family. His son goes to school. His wife is sick and frail. She hardly shares Hari’s work. Namdev comes from another village where he has a small plot of land on lease for growing flowers. Earlier he used his cycle to distribute the flower in the morning. Now he has bought a motor cycle. We pay Rs 100 now every month. He supplies flower to 100 families. He earns about Rs 6.000-7,000 per month. But he remains sick and absents. Sam is our newspaper vendor presently and works for main distributor Siyaram. He is from Jharkhand. He lives with his wife in someone’s kothi in Noida as caretaker. For distribution of newspapers, Sam gets Rs 1500 and from the owner of the house Rs 3000. His wife also works with two households and earns around Rs 1500. They don’t have any child As Sam is not to pay rental, he is satisfied with what he earns. There are hundreds of Haris, Namdevs, Sams and other service providers, be it milkmen and vegetable sellers besides those working for organized ones such as Mother Dairy and Safal in each sector of Noida. Ongoing construction works in Noida keep the demand high. Evening Bazaars almost once in every sector and permanent vendors for many items around the established markets of Noida keep many self employed engaged and employed. With thriving economy, they all make good money and try to live in better ways. This is how expanding urbanization can help any region of the country. But I get morose when I see again some lazy young men from the nearby villages coming on every Saturday to beg in name of God Saturn. A number of times, I caught hold of some and appealed to work. With many patrons, how can they shun easy earning? Many residents keep on distributing some food items or few coins to the beggars including small kids in hope of getting the blessings of the Gods and goddesses for success in whatever they do. Many a time I appealed to the kids for going to the schools in the temple. Some have started going. I wish the rich residents of Noida do something to empower these destitute for a better life through RWAs having good cash reserves. Sai temple is doing a wonderful job for educating the children of underprivileged in Noida. It also provides medical treatment through its dispensary. I wish the affluent residents participate in this task to improve the quality of facilities. The doctors with huge practice and the headmasters of the public schools can contribute a lot with very little change in mindset. Shouldn’t the Noidites take pride in contributing to making Noida a benchmark for other satellite towns? Can’t the government think of empowering instead of doling through various schemes that leak mostly for enriching middlemen? I believe Jairam Ramesh’ ministry spends Rs 1 lakh crore on welfare and pro-poor programmes annually. Should not 2 lakh poor families be given Rs 50 lakhs each in cash and brought over BPL instead of losing the amount in the hands of persons with vested interest? ]]> the persons under BPL categories from different urban regions and are forcing them to answer questions about the family size, monthly earning, and government assistance to prove the mistakes of planning commission. The answers are almost same from all. The number of family member is five. Monthly earning is around Rs 5000. The PDS is non-existent. The reporters hardly go any further about the accommodation, sanitation facilities or schooling and healthcare. They invariably live in shanties or jhuggis with none of the facilities. In Noida, the households in the villages integrated in the township have built filthy barracks for this working population and are making money. The Planning Commission and the Jairam Ramesh are trying to resolve the issues of defining those under BPL I narrate here the actual story of some who are in BPL. These young Indians, from the same deprived class and with not much of formal education and assistance from anyone, are trying to improve their quality of living by working hard. Hari got known to us when we came to our own house in sector 41 in Noida in 1997. He was the washer man. He washed our clothes and ironed them. He charged Rs 50 person per month for washing. It has gone up to Rs 200. For ironing the charge is now Rs 2 against Re 1 at that time. For the curtains, bedcovers, saris, etc, the unit charges are more. He used to start the day with washing and collecting the clothes for ironing washed on the previous day. He was not married. Over the years he got married and has now three children. He expanded his work. Today he does also clean the cars early in the morning for Rs 200 a month. The rate for the bigger cars is more. As estimated, Hari may be earning Rs 8,000-10,000 a month. He has a room in a nearby village, Morna on rent, where he lives with his family. His son goes to school. His wife is sick and frail. She hardly shares Hari’s work. Namdev comes from another village where he has a small plot of land on lease for growing flowers. Earlier he used his cycle to distribute the flower in the morning. Now he has bought a motor cycle. We pay Rs 100 now every month. He supplies flower to 100 families. He earns about Rs 6.000-7,000 per month. But he remains sick and absents. Sam is our newspaper vendor presently and works for main distributor Siyaram. He is from Jharkhand. He lives with his wife in someone’s kothi in Noida as caretaker. For distribution of newspapers, Sam gets Rs 1500 and from the owner of the house Rs 3000. His wife also works with two households and earns around Rs 1500. They don’t have any child As Sam is not to pay rental, he is satisfied with what he earns. There are hundreds of Haris, Namdevs, Sams and other service providers, be it milkmen and vegetable sellers besides those working for organized ones such as Mother Dairy and Safal in each sector of Noida. Ongoing construction works in Noida keep the demand high. Evening Bazaars almost once in every sector and permanent vendors for many items around the established markets of Noida keep many self employed engaged and employed. With thriving economy, they all make good money and try to live in better ways. This is how expanding urbanization can help any region of the country. But I get morose when I see again some lazy young men from the nearby villages coming on every Saturday to beg in name of God Saturn. A number of times, I caught hold of some and appealed to work. With many patrons, how can they shun easy earning? Many residents keep on distributing some food items or few coins to the beggars including small kids in hope of getting the blessings of the Gods and goddesses for success in whatever they do. Many a time I appealed to the kids for going to the schools in the temple. Some have started going. I wish the rich residents of Noida do something to empower these destitute for a better life through RWAs having good cash reserves. Sai temple is doing a wonderful job for educating the children of underprivileged in Noida. It also provides medical treatment through its dispensary. I wish the affluent residents participate in this task to improve the quality of facilities. The doctors with huge practice and the headmasters of the public schools can contribute a lot with very little change in mindset. Shouldn’t the Noidites take pride in contributing to making Noida a benchmark for other satellite towns? Can’t the government think of empowering instead of doling through various schemes that leak mostly for enriching middlemen? I believe Jairam Ramesh’ ministry spends Rs 1 lakh crore on welfare and pro-poor programmes annually. Should not 2 lakh poor families be given Rs 50 lakhs each in cash and brought over BPL instead of losing the amount in the hands of persons with vested interest? ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/government_policyadministration/002988.php/feed/ For Moksha of the Departed http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002974.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002974.php#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:17:24 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002974.php Chhotaki Chachi has gone into frame. It was little sudden, though we knew it’s coming. After many years, I had to participate in the functions normally organized for the moksha of a departed soul who had been the loved one. I had my hairs shaved in Noida itself on the tenth day, as I was arriving on the eleventh day in Pipra to participate in the family functions on the occasion. After four and a half hours on road from Varanasi to Pipra I was tired but then rushed to the place where the function of the eleventh day was ending with final discussion on the amount to be paid to Maha Bhavans. Rural India is keeping all the ancient somewhat Vedic rituals intact till date. The place with a large number of small and big mud square platforms (bedis) constructed by the knowledgeable elders nearest in the blood relations, appeared impressive. Final negotiations got settled with few thousands rupees and few quintals of grains. For the twelfth and final day, almost all relatives from far and near were present. Ritual started in the cowshed and went to the courtyard of the house with lot of ladies collected to watch what are being given to the departed soul. Uncle had performed the last rites so he had to carry on what the family priest asked. I couldn’t know how knowledgeable the priest. It was something to do with faith. The priest was getting all done for his extra earning from such occasion. He was expert marketer in getting the most for himself and his assistants from the performer of the rituals, who keep on agreeing for all his demand thinking that it would satisfy the departed soul and upgrade his prestige in the society in which he lives. Everything required for a good quality of living of the departed soul in her next life is given by the performer as well as all his relatives- men and women.
Uncle was almost on fast with one time simple food prepared with all care for the last 12 days. He appeared to be emotionally strong and stable. It was Alok the youngest and his wife Sulekha who had to shoulder all the tensions, to see that all the arrangements were up to the expectations of all the relatives and according to the image of the family. They worked really hard. But there was hardly any alternative as my uncle was busy in rituals. Ashok and his wife were not fully aware with the needs of the occasion and place.
Next item of the programme is the grand final feast starting with Brahmins, relatives and neighbours, and village folks of all community that went on in our case up to evening. But the last one was more interesting. It was meant for all the destitute. I could realize that the country may take 100 years or more to go out of poverty. May be, it will never happen. Alok distributed food items, utensils, clothes, and Rs 20 to each person. He did all that and spent huge amount. As he himself told me, my aunt had expressed her wish to have it organized that way. Perhaps it was also to keep my uncle happy and satisfied too. I wish my aunt gets the desired happiness and peace wherever she is. In rural India these functions are the best way to share one’s wealth and prosperity among all the sections of the society. ]]> Chhotaki Chachi has gone into frame. It was little sudden, though we knew it’s coming. After many years, I had to participate in the functions normally organized for the moksha of a departed soul who had been the loved one. I had my hairs shaved in Noida itself on the tenth day, as I was arriving on the eleventh day in Pipra to participate in the family functions on the occasion. After four and a half hours on road from Varanasi to Pipra I was tired but then rushed to the place where the function of the eleventh day was ending with final discussion on the amount to be paid to Maha Bhavans. Rural India is keeping all the ancient somewhat Vedic rituals intact till date. The place with a large number of small and big mud square platforms (bedis) constructed by the knowledgeable elders nearest in the blood relations, appeared impressive. Final negotiations got settled with few thousands rupees and few quintals of grains. For the twelfth and final day, almost all relatives from far and near were present. Ritual started in the cowshed and went to the courtyard of the house with lot of ladies collected to watch what are being given to the departed soul. Uncle had performed the last rites so he had to carry on what the family priest asked. I couldn’t know how knowledgeable the priest. It was something to do with faith. The priest was getting all done for his extra earning from such occasion. He was expert marketer in getting the most for himself and his assistants from the performer of the rituals, who keep on agreeing for all his demand thinking that it would satisfy the departed soul and upgrade his prestige in the society in which he lives. Everything required for a good quality of living of the departed soul in her next life is given by the performer as well as all his relatives- men and women.
Uncle was almost on fast with one time simple food prepared with all care for the last 12 days. He appeared to be emotionally strong and stable. It was Alok the youngest and his wife Sulekha who had to shoulder all the tensions, to see that all the arrangements were up to the expectations of all the relatives and according to the image of the family. They worked really hard. But there was hardly any alternative as my uncle was busy in rituals. Ashok and his wife were not fully aware with the needs of the occasion and place.
Next item of the programme is the grand final feast starting with Brahmins, relatives and neighbours, and village folks of all community that went on in our case up to evening. But the last one was more interesting. It was meant for all the destitute. I could realize that the country may take 100 years or more to go out of poverty. May be, it will never happen. Alok distributed food items, utensils, clothes, and Rs 20 to each person. He did all that and spent huge amount. As he himself told me, my aunt had expressed her wish to have it organized that way. Perhaps it was also to keep my uncle happy and satisfied too. I wish my aunt gets the desired happiness and peace wherever she is. In rural India these functions are the best way to share one’s wealth and prosperity among all the sections of the society. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/religioussocial_issues/002974.php/feed/