I have today (15.02.2014) finished reading the book ‘Swaraj’ written by Arvind Kejriwal who resigned from the Chief Ministership of Delhi last evening. He remained the Chief Minster for just only 49 days. This book was given to me by my Advocate friend Shri Radhakrishna Kumar, who is very emotional person. Shri Kumar has been earlier an ardent supporter of Narendra Modi and Baba Ramdev but these days he has become their bitter critic and a passionate supporter of Arvind Kejriwal. The cover price of the Book is although Rs. 150/- but Shri Kumar gave it to me in only Rs. 40/- He has given this book to many other persons at the same price. This thin book of 150 and odd page is in octavo size and printed in easy to read fonts.After reading this book I presented it to the Chief Editor of Chennai Metro , Thiru Vasigaran, who luckily dropped in my office.

Now let me come to the contents of the book. Frankly speaking, except the passion of the writer to eradicate the corruption from the society and the government root and branch, this book has left me completely unimpressed. I find that the ideas of the writer are tangled in confusion.

Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest votary of the Gram Swaraj. He wanted every village to be self-reliant. However, he was also not able to impress upon the people about the economics of the villages. By adopting the cottage industries you will certainly be able to provide employment to every villager, but you cannot make them viable and self reliant in all manners. Here in this book Mr. Kejrival wants to make Assemblies and Parliament redundant by empowering and strengthening the villages and Mohalla Sabhas.

Kejriwal appears to have disillusionment or false notions about the old form of Indian democracy. He says that the modern democracy has not been imported from the West but it existed in ancient India, which possibly a few person would agree. He gives the example of Vaishali Republic of Buddha era but anybody having the rudimentary knowledge of the history of ancient India would vouchsafe that it was absolutely different from the present from of democracy, which is very coherent and representative one rather than that of the chaotic democracy of Buddha era. Kejriwal wants to do away with every symbolism of the State like; the Rashtrapati Bhawan, which is spread over in 340 acre as if the Rashtrapati Bhawan is one of the major causes of the poverty in India.

Mr. Kejriwal has suggested that untied funds should be provided to all Gram Sabhas and Mohalla Sabhas and they must have the full freedom to spend the funds with the approval of 80% people of that particular Sabha. His harebrained idea is that local people are the better judge of the their own interests. They know how the funds could be better utilised like; for making the arrangements of water, schools or houses or hospitals. Nevertheless, he seems to be totally clueless as from where the money would come or who will release the money and how will it be generated by the Central or State governments? He does not have even any hazy idea of the most important aspect of the economics, although he has served as an officer of the Income Tax department.

Mr. Kejriwal's ideas are utopian, completely divoced from the realities. He perhaps does not know that Indian villages are steeped and divided on the lines of castes and creeds. It is only those who belong to the dominant caste or religion have the final say. He advocates that the Gram Sabhas should have the blanket power and freedom to open schools, hospitals and other offices. So much so, the appointments should be made by the Gram Sabhas. Nobody knows, where from these Gram Sabhas will get the deserving candidates for the jobs. He wants that the judicial and police powers to be vested with the Gram Sabhas, which will be a sure recipe for chaos and disaster. But then, you cannot help a person who lives in the make believe world and considers that his ideas are the panacea of for all malaise that are prevailing in the country.

He says that everybody of the village will be told about the bad effects of the liquor ( as if people do not know about it) and thus with the permission of Gram Sabhas the liquor shops will be closed. He wants that equal powers should be given to women and no doubt it is a lofty idea but how will they be empowered, he has no solution to offer.

I have regards for the zeal of Shri Kejriwal to wipe out the corruption but I am sorry to say that his tiny book ‘Swaraj’, which is said to be the manifesto of ‘AAP’ does not provide any solution. His book is silent on issues like; foreign relations, scientific and technological development of the country, expansion of infra structures, industrialization, agricultural production, trade and commerce, military and economics. If he thinks that only by crying hoarse and from house tops the corruption can he eliminated, I can only wish him good luck but I do not agree with him even a whit that such wishful ideas could be of any help.

Vilagers are getting mired into many evils.

          There is definitely the huge craze for English language and in the process students have almost neglected their own language i.e. Hindi. I came across quite a large number young students who cannot take correctly the dictation of even two three lines. This has given mushroom rise to the private tuitions , which has become a flourishing business in the far and remote areas of villages.

             Another depressing  scene which one cannot escape is the flood drinkers and substance users. There is hardly any family left which has not fallen in this trap, so much so, even girls are taking to the bad habits of tobacco chewing. Liquor has become very common  among youngsters cutting across the caste, community or economic strata .

           Pomp and show on the occasions of marriage, birth day celebrations  is being shamelessly imitated by the people of rural areas. Villagers do not hesitate in  taking loans or from mortgaging their lands etc; for the sake of organising  the pompous marriage ceremonies of their sons and daughters. I saw that many families are groaning with burden of loans. Firstly they try to get loans from the banks but when the bank limits cross and further loans are denied they turn towards private parties, who charge exorbitant rates of interests. I found that many families are sinking in the mire of debts with every passing years. The only glimmer of hope is the higher education. It is only they who can stem this downslide because the curse of dowry and show off in the marriages and other functions can be restricted if the women take the lead in this direction.. I have been told that some young and educated have certainly made the courageous initiative. They all deserve the praise and encouragement from the society and the administration.

    The  lumpenisation and the tendency to make money through easy means have also increased by leaps and bounds in the last two decades. While the introduction of  Panchayati Raj system  has done some good thing ,it has also brought new evils in its bandwagon. Cheating and thuggery which used to be minimal some twenty years ago have now grown in staggering proportions. However, there is immense hope that new generation if given proper education and moral moorings will cleanse the society from the cobwebs of corruption and  dishonesty. Scientific developments and their appropriate application wil go a long way in improving the fate of the people. Let us keep our fingers crossed.

Visible Changes in Villages

Visible Changes in Villages.

My recent visit to my native village, which is nearly 35 kms in the west of Azamgarh district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, has brought mixed feelings of sadness and satisfaction both. Sadness in the sense; that the greed for money has surpassed every other thing. There are hardly any qualms or compunctions for dishonesty or unscrupulousness. The element of immorality has gained sanction and legitimacy in the society. A person who is earning money by any means has obtained all respectability in the society. Thus the ill-gotten money has become the sure cleaner of all sins and crimes.

There was, however, some satisfaction as well, which I derived during my short trip. It was with regard to spread of education across all sections, be it caste Hindus, or Scheduled Castes. Girls-education has picked up very fast. All parents take special care to educate their children and they never hesitate in extending all possible facilities to their wards for good education.

This satisfaction, nevertheless, came with the tinge of remorse because the level of education has gone down abysmally low. Most of students of High School standard cannot write even one simple sentence correctly in their mother tongue-Hindi. Many of them, studying in 9^th or 10^thstandard, cannot solve even the simplest problems of arithmetic.

Another change that I noticed was that there is a craze for English medium schools; nobody wants to send his/her child in a government school, where all facilities like uniform, mid-day meal, books and stationery, are being provided to all children by the Government. This was unheard of in these days when we were school- going children nearly five decades ago. The fact is that neither there were any schools apart from the government schools nor anybody in the locality was in position to afford such costly education. The number of the government schools was few and far between.it was difficult to locate any school within the radius of many kilometers. It appears that the gravy train of economic growth has also brought the mushroom growth of English medium schools. But the level of education in such schools is so depressing that it would be foolhardy to make any comment on it. (Continued....)

BANE OF CASTEISM (2)

 By Parmanand

Mahatma Gandhi's signal contribution to annihilation of untouchability is unprecedented. Frankly speaking, no serious attempt was ever made to root out the inhuman and senseless practice of untouchability before Mahatma Gandhi. It is beyond our comprehension as from when the practice of untouchability started in the Hindu society. It is also a matter of great surprise that how the Hindu society which considers itself to be so tolerant and magnanimous think of perpetuating this sinful, outrageous and atrocious practice of untouchability?

The present generation may not even be able to imagine that how horrendous it was in nature and practice only a few decades ago. If we go by the historical books written by reformers, we find the hair-raising and heart-rending saga of the nefarious practice. It is said that untouchables were not allowed to tread or traverse on the paths that was being used by caste Hindus. If at all any untouchable thought of going on that path, he or she had to tie a broom in his or her waist from behind so that once he or she had moved on the path, it had to be swept by the broom. So much so, an untouchable was not allowed to use footwear even at the time of festivals or marriages. Untouchables were not allowed to cross the path of any caste Hindus.

If one goes by the Vedic scriptures, one finds that the classification of Hindu society was existent but there is no trace of untouchability in any scriptures at least in theory. Let it be hastened to be added that this does not mean that society as found during Vedic period was in any way the ideal one. It was vicious and rotten to say the least. It is, therefore, difficult to exculpate the Vedic literature or society for perpetrating atrocities on untouchables. In one of the texts has been ordained that if a Shudra was found to be reading Vedas or Vedic literature his tongue should be cut and if he hears it then molten glass should be poured into his ears and there was no harm if he was blinded for witnessing the Vedic rituals. The authenticity of these terrible injunctions is not very confirmed. But if one goes by other sources, one finds its authenticity is dubious. However, this does not in any way exonerates the Vedic society for its rigours against Shudras. Infact, it conducted itself in most intolerable and condemnable manner.

It is yet another enigma how four Varnas got split into thousands of castes, layer after layer, each caste and sub-case considering it superior or inferior in relation to other ones. Over the years it became so fossilized that it was an easy task for any fissiparous force to take advantage of the divisions and sub-divisions among Hindus.

This type of crime can be committed only by a race which is destined to self-destruction. It hardly needs to be said that this weakness of Hindus was the reason for their downfall. Hindus, who have been geographically associated with vast expanse of South East Asia, were defeated and humiliated number of times by the foreign aggressors. The assailants although were never very strong, intelligent or superior in arms as compared to Hindus but they were certainly more cohesive and united vis-à-vis Hindu adversaries. What is even more shocking is that even after repeated aggressions by the external forces, Hindus never realized and analyzed their weaknesses.

This actually requires dispassionate research in most objective manner as to how casteism grew and became monstrously strong. The tragedy is that it is very difficult to find objective researchers. Most of the persons who claim, rather deceptively pose themselves, to be researchers suffer from the disease of heavy jaundice and order to obtain the certificate of secularism they find the easy way of blaming one or the other caste of Hindus particularly caste Hindus.

Their (Researchers) aim is not to root-out the evils but to further perpetuate it by arraigning one section against other and in the process further weaken or divide the Hindus. The need is to annihilate caste with roots and branches. But how to achieve the goal is most pertinent question and is to be seriously pondered over.

Bane of Hindu Society (1)

By: Parmanand Pandey

Division of Hindu society on the lines of Varnas and castes has made it completely hollow. This division, practiced and perpetuated for centuries, has made it so weak that it is unable to withstand any onslaught from outside and that is why myriad of evils and vices have set in this religion.

It is highly disturbing and makes one sick as to why all all great thinkers of Hinduism kept aloof from this cancer which has been eating its elan vital for the last many millenniums.

In this backdrop the advent of Gautam Buddha came as a whiff of fresh air. He could have expurgated the Hindu society by removing the division along the Varna and caste lines. The only drawback which one could find in teachings of Buddha was that laid excessive emphasis on the non-violence, which proved to be disastrous for the safety, security, unity and integrity of the country.

It is all the more perplexing that why even a person of dazzling intelligence like Swami Dayanand Saraswati could not think of breaking the shackles of castes. On the contrary, he advocated for retaining the system of four Varna. However, it must be stated in all fairness that Dayanand Saraswati, who was born nearly four and half decades before Mahatma Gandhi had made blistering attacks on the evils of the Hindu society.

He was very clear, confident and convincing in his thinking and logic that he dared all religions and tore into pieces the bookish religions like Christianity and Islam. Sikhism had not gained the status of separate religion independent of Hinduism till then. However, in his book Satyarth Prakash and Samskarvidhi he appeared to be in no doubt about the efficacy of four Varnas.

It hardly needs to be said that any amount of logic supporting the four Varnas cannot appeal to the reason of any conscientious person. It stands on very weak, fallible and extremely feeble legs. This obnoxious system has completely stopped the growth of society. There is no flow because all the avenues of mobility are stopped. Although it is said that there is no prohibition on the mobility from one Varna to the other but that is only for the namesake. The stark fact is that it is the birth which decides the Varna and caste of a person. Moreover, the trait and quality of a person is completely a subjective matter. We have not seen any person who could have moved from one Varna or caste to other. If anyone wants to leave or renounce his/her caste or Varna to adopt the other caste or Varna, he/she can never be adopted or accepted by the other case/Varna.  We do not find any such example of mobility, at least in the known history. This stagnancy has done the incalculable damage to a society which was so advanced in learning, industry and intelligence.

It is again baffling that why the successive thinkers after Buddha did not think beyond. They concentrated more on rooting out the Buddhism from the land of its birth than in reforming the Hindism by making it casteless society. It is also equally true that the way Buddha wanted to cast away the treasure of knowledge and wisdom in Hindu religion was shocking to say the least. It is quite possible that Gautam Buddha might have considered over the rigidity of Varna and caste system and might have found himself incapable of removing the despicable evil and hence thought to completely severe the link from Sanatana dharma, which is how the Hindu religion is known today rather than making any effort to reform it. Hence he thought it fit to found a new religion instead of breaking the head against the hard stones of Hinduism.

  

Attacks on Mamta Banerjee in Delhi had streaks of Fascism

 By: Parmanand Pandey

Attacks on West Bengal Chief Minister Kumari Mamta Banerjee and State's Finance Minister Amit Mitra on 8^th April before the gate of the Planning Commission in the high safety zone of New Delhi is not only sad and reprehensible but it also raises some disturbing questions. Firstly; why the goons of the CPI(M) were, at all, allowed to assemble in large number, around 300, outside the gate when prohibitory order under section 144 of the Cr. P.C. always remain in force in the area. Secondly; it happened within the range of 100 metres of the Parliament Street Police Station, which remains fortified round the clock. Thirdly; why did the Delhi police remain so callous as not to foresee the threat to Ms Mamta Banerjee who is an eye sore to the CPM ruffians, who have mastered the art of goondaism and killing their foes and then paint it with some ideological colour.

However, the colour they provide to their organised anarchy is well known to the people and anybody can see-through their nefarious and sinister designs. This is not in the hindsight the people say that the police should have been more alert on such occasions but everybody invariably believes that this is the sheer incompetence of the police and this is how it normally behaves in India.

The CPI (M) cadre is postmaster in telling lies. They try to beguile and befool the credulous people. The Party has earned expertise in blackmailing and bamboozlement. The CPI (M) leaders have said in their explanation that they were demonstrating outside the Planning Commission as they knew beforehand that Mamta Banerjee was coming to attend a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, to protest against the death of a 23 year old Sudipta Gupta, an activist of the Student Federation of India, allegedly under the custody of Kolkata police. The police, on the other, say that he died in an accident while being taken to lock up but the CPM's student wing SFI is not ready to believe and buy the police theory. Both the police and the SFI may be right or both may be wrong. This can be conclusively established after a fair enquiry.

The death of any body, much less of a young boy is being exploited by the CPM. It must be said here that the death of the promising boy is sad but the way the CPI (M) is trying to capitalise it for the Party's revival is deplorable. The fact is that they got very sound drubbing twice in quick succession in the hustings after a long period of 34 years of its reign has still not been reconciled by them.

The CPI (M) strategists think that if could rule West Bengal for 34 long years by the cult of violence; they can again come to power through violence.

But they are sadly mistaken much water has flown through Hoogly in the last three and half decades and new generation has become wiser, more by experience than by analysis. Youngsters can no longer be misguided by polemics and romanticism of phony revolution of the CPI (M). During the unconscionably long rule of 34 years the CPM has virtually destroyed all the fabrics of social values, industry and agriculture. It has thrown the vast populace into drain of abject poverty, backwardness and indolence. Thus, the need is to expose the CPI (M) misdeeds with all the vigour and strength that one possesses to save the country. The attacks on Mamta and Mitra are the matters of concern for the entire country because they tantamount to the naked display of fascism that we often witness in West Bengal by the hoodlums of the CPI(M) and also in Maharashtra by the lumpens of Raj Thakre's MNS party.

The time has come when this fascism should be crushed, pulverised and buried to fathomless depth.

Supreme Court Judgment on Cancer Drugs is Laudable

The Supreme Court of India has delivered a historic judgment which will provide a huge relief to thousands of cancer patients in India. Through this verdict the Court has allowed the suppliers to continue making generic copies of a cancer fighting drug Novartis Glivec. At present it costs more than Rs. one lakh per month but thanks to this judgment is will henceforth cost less than nine thousand rupees.

It is a humane and every inch judicious judgment. The Pharmacentical companies, no doubt, do a commendable job of research and development of medicines for life threatening diseases like cancer and HIV. But once they have invented the medicines and recovered the cost of research they forget their benign duties of serving the mankind and continue to indulge into inexorable exploitation by keeping the cost exorbitantly high. In this the companies, which were claiming the patent rights were not credited with any invention but they have doing certain combinations and permutations in the medicines being traded.

Studies that have been presented before the court clearly suggest that the manufacturing companies have already earned the entire cost of Research and Development within one year of its production. Glivecis is the brand name of Inatinib Novartis which had applied for a patent of a modified drug 'beta crystalline'. The Supreme Court has given a very well- reasoned judgment that the patent for 'beta crystalline' could not be granted because it was not any invention but an imitation with minor changes. In fact, it has been the case of downright cheating by companies which have been charging the unreasonable prices for cancer drugs. This cruelty is condemnable. One of my friends the late Alok Tomar who died two years ago of deadly disease of cancer had written somewhere about the pathetic story of the cancer patients whose disease was aggravated and  advanced due to prohibitive cost of medicines. He had in his imitable style narrated that a great deal of racket was involved in the dealings of cancer medicines.

The judges-Aftab Alam and Ranjana K. Desai— must be complimented and applauded for this landmark judgment and hopefully, the pharmaceutical companies would understand their primary duty of relieving the pains and sufferings of the people instead of raking into the stinking profit by selling of the medicines to helpless and poor patients.