Education in India

Education is supposed to be one of the most important aspect for progress of a nation and economic development. If that is indeed so, one has to wonder if these 'rulers' of our country are simply ignorant of this statement or purposefully keep us ignorant with the sub-standard education.
Though the theory of this being a purposeful act does have its merit.

Today the students are not supposed to question their teachers.They are to do as told.Today the education system encourages students to not use their brains.Understanding is no more important. What is important is to remember the answers fed to the students.This makes sure that students get used to being spoon fed and not to think for themselves, leading to complacency amongst students. Students are not supposed to understand.They are not supposed to question if what hey are taught is right or wrong. They are not to correct the teacher. Debate or discussion has become taboo. Teacher is always right and do as they say. Reminds me of the clone army of the Republic in the Star Wars movies. Some may argue that teachers are supposed to be respected. So how can one question a teacher.Teacher is teaching therefore is a knowledgeable being and therefore cannot be wrong. To answer them, there is a difference between difference respect and blind loyalty.Respect does not mean not questioning their act. To the contrary question those acts. To find out why they are doing something.Respect someone for what they do and the motive. That is what respect is. Yet we are encouraged this blind loyalty. Now where would this be useful? Let us see. The teachers benefit as they first and foremost they do not have to put in much effort. Here no one questions this lack of effort. Teachers are always right. Secondly they can afford this lack of effort since they know that their jobs are secure. After all if the new generation of teachers are as bad as them, obviously the experienced ones will get the preference.They have no competition. Today most of the times teachers are those people who cannot succeed in life with their career.No one is genuinely interested in teaching. Its just a source of money since they have no other choice. Funny that one of the most unsuccessful bunch are the ones who teach students to succeed. That does not mean that there are not those who are successful. Just that such people are very few. Also lack questions from students means that they can rush through the syllabus and speak out any nonsense without a worry. Finally during the exams all the students have to write is the answers given by them. Deviate a word and there goes your marks.Stick to those answers and you get full marks. Ya right. Ask those toppers what they have understood and they will repeat word to word answer. That is all hey will give since that is all they know, and that is all they know because that is all they are taught, and one of the most preliminary things we are taught is do not go deeper or beyond what you are taught.That is the only thing that we learn from experience in the schools since any action beyond this rule is immediately and severely punish, since teachers are always right.
Now the other party that benefits from this is of course the party that can change this but allows this to continue. That the great parties that run this country or rather pretend to do so. How?
These parties have various campaigns for election on false promises and assurances. Furthermore they use lies to make people believe that they are doing progressive activities. What would the people who are taught not to question authority, do in such situations? Of course believe these lies. That is what they want us do. That is why they encourage us to not think for our self. As if we do think, we can trap them in their lies. Not something these lazy, money sucking thieves would like.
Last ones are the bureaucrats or the so called public servants. They like saying that 'that is not my job', but to make sure that this works they need to make sure that we believe whatever nonsense they speak. Again they need to be sure we do not think for our self. They make us their slaves all the time telling us they are the servants.Even then we never stop to think that the phrase 'Public Servant' is just a antithesis and euphemism.
These people have conspired to make sure that they have no work yet reap maximum benefits.
Now it is up to us to think, it may be difficult for us but nevertheless necessary for us. Let us think if that is what we want.Let us think and decide what we want.
For this all to change we need to start thinking, and then make that thought a reality. Let us think of changing this education system and make these teachers answerable. Only then can we truly progress. Star Wars shows how one bad person at the helm of those clones caused disaster. Do we want to become those clones? Or do we wish to be free humans. Let us have teachers who are worthy to teach and not those who are unworthy for everything else.

Chinese Diplomacy

The Dragon seems to be rearing its head and roaring towards the tiger. The tiger as usual is closing its eyes to the reality thinking that if it believes nothing seems to be happening then it would turn out to be the truth.
Whether we want to believe it or not there is a reality out there which does not change with our belief.The reality is that China is out to hunt India down. China's rise as global power has fueled its expansionist policies.That combined with the fact that China perceives India as a threat to its global position and dictatorial governance. Also the Sino-Indian border dispute seems to be another cause for China. Last but not the least is Indian rivalry with Pakistan, an ally of China. Considering the all these point we need not look any further for motives.
The recent military and diplomatic games by China gives a clear picture that China is acting on such motives to destroy India. Do we need to look any further than the recent article of a semi-official site of China concerning breaking up of India in 30 small states to weaken India?
There is rise in cross border incursions. While China states there has not been any Indian sources say it is due to difference in the border perceived by India and China.The recent policy of issuing paper visa to Kashmiri people.Opposition to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh during elections.Similar opposition to visit of Dalai Lama to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.These point to hostile attitude. Such hostile cannot be let go unpunished.Therefore India need to stop giving such hostile nations a walkover and show similar aggresive attitude. It is rightly said, 'If you cannot respect yourself, Who will?'If India cannot respect itself and stand up for itself, no one will.History is proof enough. It was when the people of India started respecting Indian economy the world did as well. So let us start respecting might and territorial integrity of India.Let us start respecting the economic and political might of this ancient Nation. Let us take the lead in respecting India and thee world will follow. To this end the politicians need to stop petty games for power.Let them show their ability to play political games of power on the international stage not as people of a party but as people of a nation.The government servants need to stop their 'fill my pocket campaign'. Let us show the world that no country has any business telling India what it should or should not do.That right lies with the people of India and no one else. Let us show the world that working against the interests of India is out of question.It is time to show China that any sort of slight to India or its territorial integrity will have a response.Such incidents will not be let to pass casually.Its time to put China in its place.China is not a part of South Asia ans should stop interfering in matters of the sub-continent.We need to give China implicit warnings that the audacity of China to state that it shall participate in Indo-Pak territorial dispute is not appreciated and any such bold moves will not be tolerated.The very country that provided Pakistan with 50Kg Uranium as well as complete know-how on how build nuclear weapons and its various components, as well as the missile systems cannot be the mediator of peace between us, since the mediator has to be unbiased and China is biased against India.Secondly India is fully capable of of solving its disputes without needing the help of an enemy as well as an ally of other enemy to help India.

There is no doubt that China is becoming confident and increasingly aggressive against India. It is beginning to interfere in internal matters of India.This hostile diplomacy needs to be tackled with equally aggressive diplomacy by India.The Chinese attempts in India needs to be stopped before they destroy India.

Terror State

The recent rise of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Amidst these violations by the Pakistan Rangers and Pakistan Army there is he rise in attempted infiltrations from across the border. There is a definite connection between these two incidences. This connection leaves no doubt about the parties involved in these infiltration attempts. There has been ample evidence collected over the years to link Pakistan with Terrorism.Therefore there is no denial that Pakistan is a terror state. Pakistan is trying to destabilize India and none of it is a secret to the Government of Pakistan.In fact these operations have cooperation of the Pakistan government.

India has over the years ignored terrorism from Pakistan, but there comes a time when we need to step out of old into the new.This is the time when we can no longer ignore such transgressions by our terrorist neighbors.Pakistan is a failed state and is trying to ensure India becomes one too.

It is now time that we start dishing out to Pakistan what we have been getting from them. I am not saying that we should get involved in terrorism and start attacking Pakistani civilians.What I am saying is that India is well aware of Pakistani terrorist training camps. We should use this information to selectively target these terror camps in Pakistan to destroy these terror camps and the terrorists in making inside these camps. Leniency with these terrorists is something India can no longer afford if it wishes to maintain its safety, economy, honor, and territorial integrity. Pakistan will just talk about war against terror to get aid from USA which will further be directed against India and not the terrorists. Pakistan has vested interests in maintaining the terror infrastructure on its land so as to use it as proxy war against India. The nuclear weapons of Pakistan prevent India from attacking Pakistan or the terror camps in Pakistan.Therefore they will never dismantle the terror infrastructure, in fact it will protect these terrorists from any overt Indian action by using the threat of its nuclear arsenal. Pakistan is not at all interested in combating terror. So its time we launch proxy war of our own against the terrorists in Pakistan as well as Pakistani armed forces which are helping the terrorists. India should use the guise of terrorists to destroy terror institutions in Pakistan. Pakistan has learned well that when one cannot fight a overt war they should use covert methods like terrorism.Its time we use their tactics on them.

Some people may disagree with me that we should not get down to their level or we should take the moral high ground or we should not get violent or such things. These things may look good in books but in real life it is survival of the fittest, smartest, most intelligent and cunning beings.Remember that to cut a diamond or to polish it we require a diamond tipped knife, or to use a Hindi saying,' Lohe ko Loha katta hai'(Metal cuts Metal). Use terror to fight terror.If there is no India to than what shall be the use such moral high grounds. We have tried the friendly approach with Pakistan but it seems Pakistanis not interested in peace. While I am against fighting there are sometimes where it becomes necessary. Looking at Hindu mythology neither Ram nor the Pandavas could avoid it. Sometimes it becomes necessary for future peace. India has reached appoint where even India could no longer avoid a fight. It is high time India stops going around begging nations to help and starts getting aggressive, starts showing Pakistan that messing with India is no longer an option. No amount of diplomacy will help.Only covert operations will. Tackle this terror state that just happens to be our neighbor.

Tiger Or A Meek Cat

In the recent times, meaning the past few months India has seen heavy activity on its border with China and Pakistan. The Pakistan and China (pakina) axis has been geting bolder concerning there activities against India. The rise in infiltaration of terrorists attempted by Pakistan with help of Pakistani army providing covering fire. The recent border violations by China. Heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan. China harrasing the those Indians living near the border. It all seems to be pointing towards one thing. Pakina are preparing for a war. These activites can be called foreplay to the actual war. Reading of the current activities remind me of 2 events.The wars of 1962 and 1965. The 1962 Indo-China war began with such border violations by China.That was the time when India and US were warming up to each other. That was a time when Indian Armed forces were severly under prepared under equiped.That was a time which saw increasing focus on border dispute between India and China.That was a time of Slogan Hindi-Chini bhai bhai.That was a time India grew complacent concerning China thinking that China would never atack another country.

On the other hand the 1965 was preceded by Operation Gibraltar.Operation Gibraltar was an attampt by Pakistan to infiltrate into Kashmir some Mujaheedins and Pakistan Army regulars to create an anti-India uprising. The number of infilrators had gone up at that time.Pakistan was very much focused on Kashmir issue at the time.The time when Pakistan had moved closer tto China and growth of Sino-Pak strateegic relations. Lastly 1965 saw rise in across the border skirmishes between the two nations.

Looking at the scenario currently on Indian border with these two hostile neigbours of India and the strategic partnership between those two neigbours of India, one cannot help but draw the parallel between the two sittuations with current scenario. One cannot help but draw the conclusion that the two neigbours of India are preparing to go to war with India. The strategic encircling of India by China gives much firm foundation to such situations. Also the current turmoil within China and Pakistan these two nations would be looking for something else to focus the attention of its people. What could be more useful than War against India.This diverts the focus from internal turmoil.The people would put aside their internal differences for the nation.Also these nations may be able to show its people how authoratarian regime is better than democracy.This shows a motive for a War not to mention that a war with China and Pakistan together will be rather bad for India.

Under such conditions it would not do for India to seem weak. India should be able to deter any one from waging a war against India. A major way to deter such adventurism would be use of proportional response.

Recent incident with Pakistan was firing of rockets by Pakistan in Indian territory.We responded to such an incident by firings machine guns.On previous occasions we have let such firings slide of. All we do is launch protests with Pakistan embassy which are ignored.We go to US with complains.What we must understand is eevery country has vested instrest. No one is going to side with a looser with a country that they know will lose. 'God helps those who help themselves'

Similarly other countries will help us only if we are willing to help ourselves. So instead of crying to US we need to respond.They fire 2 rockets we should fire 20. I know it may seem a bit hostile, uninformed or immature attittude, but there is only so much which one can take laying down. Therecomes a time when a nation has to take aggreissive attitude against hostile nations. Why should India ask other nations for help, or for permission to do anything. India is a sovereign statewith independent constitution. Did US ask any countries permission before attacking Taliban after 9/11?

Unless pakina sees that India is not a country to be trifled with they will continue with such advebturism against India. If Pakistan can create Jehadi groups to destabilise India why cant we do something similar. I am not saying to have terror attacks on Pakistan civilian areas, but to attack such terror camps within Pakistan.If Pakistan canuse terrorists for proxy war against India we should use such militants for proxy war against the terrorists protected by Pakistan.We cant send in army to destroy the camps but we can send in our own miliant outfits to destroy terror groups in Pakistan.Similarly while China is continuing with border violations to harras Indian civillians in Ladakh we can harras the Chinese army located on the border.

This all is easier said than done.While actually doing the act is easy its the consequences that are difficult. We need to show level of preparedness andarmed deployment on the border to show that we can back the talk. We need to show that we can not only give proportional response to such adventurism but can also repel an full scaled attack. We should show preparedness for a war at all times.We need to deter them from full scale war while having showing that India will give proporional response on any military adventurism. A strong military presence is deterent for any enemy to engage in miltary adventurism.That is military paradox.Having a strong armed force and batle readiness of the armed force eliminates the use of this force most of the times. US has one of the largest miltary spending in the world. They maintain the most advnaced and sophisticated armed force second largest in world spending more than 100 billion dollars per year.That in itself deter most nations messing with US. Same is with China. If India needs to ensure its safety we need to imporove our forceprojecction ability. In international politics might is always right.Whether it is military or economic. Unless India starts flexing its muscles for the world to see, shows assertion to the extent of even being seen as agression, starts using its military and intelligence resources effectively against its enemies and most of all respeccting itself, the worldis not going to respect it. India should not hesitate to use any means straightforward or underhanded, to protectits intrest and sovereignity it will lose toits enemies, and make no mistake that Pakistan and China are our enemies whaever may be said or done at political level in the open. Niether Pakistani nor Chinese leader are intrested in friendship. They have expansionist policy and plan to start with India. Unless we are careful we will be going back to either serving new Islamic masters for Pakistan or China or else end up dead.

Yet it seems like our leaders are only intrested in filling their pockets and gaining power. Even in military contracts they try to get as as much money as they can. No politician is intrested in action. Its the talk that intrests them as it doesnt take much effort. What these people forget is that if they keep India militarily weak it will affect them as well because if India loses to any agressor it will be their power that will be lost. It will be their families too who will suffer. Then again its the vision that India has lacked. We have become to short-sighted, too narrow in our outlook.All we can think in is now and present and about me,myself and my family. We cannot think of anything bigger and of more than one year in future. Sometimes I wonder why the education in India is as it is. Where we are dicouraged to think for ourself. We are taught belive what we are told, to not question anything. Perhaps it is so that people will not question these politicians activities in swindling away taxpayers money. That seems to be changing now with entry of private schools and students educated in foriegn institutes have taught people to think.The trend of thinking is on the rise but yet I fear that by the time it has grown enough to force these politicians to change it may be too late. It is time for a change. As the time passes by it seems more and more likely that there will be a war, the outcome of which will depend on how well we are prepared to fight such a war.If there is a war it would most probably be in 2012. So we still have time of 2-3 years to prepare.

So it now is upto us to decide whether will roar and swipe like a tiger or mew and scratch like a meek cat when our enemies strike at us.

A Letter

This is a letter written by Mr. A P J Abdul Kalam when he was the President of India addressed to the people of India.This has been circulated many timesamongst the people through mails but still we razrely see people affected by it.Therefore I am posting this over here as a permenant reminder.

So here it goes.
'YOU say that our government is inefficient.YOU say that our laws are too old.YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits..YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New ZealandWhy don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground .
If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay , Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels?In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan .Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians...'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'Lets do what India needs from us.Forward this to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or junk mails.
Thank you,
Dr. Abdul KalaM '

Politics of a bus seat

I had left early for home. It was a tiring day and so I was exhausted. I travel by Bus. It was around two which is the peak hour. I was praying that I get a less crowded bus or a one in which men are sitting on reserved seats! The first bus was heavily crowded..women were all standing. So I decided to wait for the next one. My wish had been granted. The next one had men sitting on reserved seats. I asked a person to get up but he said he was unwell. I asked the other person and he got up. Then another woman came up and asked the ‘unwell’ person to get up. He kept insisting that he is not well. But everyone called him a liar. He had to give in.
That was I think the first time when I experienced how a bus seat can make one immoral. Ofcourse I do not rule out the possibility that he might be faking it. A lot of men do but the chances are also there that he was really unwell. I felt really sorry for this person. This made me think as to what extent women are this deserving for a seat reservation.
I have always tried to evade this issue. The reason is that I myself enjoyed this privilege. But now I think its time to really apply my ideology of equality. I have tried to come up with arguments for and against this issue.
Biologically, Women are less strong than men. No one ever denies this fact. So a healthy woman is always more deserving for a seat than a healthy man. But a sick man is not as capable as a healthy woman. So I think the seat should go the person who is deserving. If there is a senior citizen(male/female) and a young lady, then the seat should ideally go to the elderly. There is only one seat reserved for the elderly. Same rule applies for the differently-abled. I think even within a reserved seat there should be an internal criteria. Young fit ladies should not sit if an elderly is present.
Another point supporting the reservation is the problem of eve-teasing. Men are taught to be opportunity-seekers. A woman standing amidst a pack of men becomes an easy prey. It will take some more years to teach men that women are not made physically weak so that men can take their advantage. So in the meantime, reservation is a very minuscule way to restrict eve-teasing.
The immorality aspect is my point against this issue.* Though I am yet to experience such shamefulness but since this issue has been reported, I assume that this happens. Women often become age-blind and demand a seat for a male elder. Women have also asked a differently-abled for a seat. I find this unbelievable but then I agree that there is no limit to peoples’ shamefulness. Just for a seat, how can one become so immoral. Another practice is that Women sit on the general seat even when a reserved seat is available. These practices have an individual element so one is obviously not blaming the entire womankind so no offence! But reservation is encouraging such immorality.
Seat reservation for women is a measure taken by the Government to ensure a cheaper and smoother way of travel for women. They consider this as a measure in the process of women emancipation. I am glad that the Government took this pain but short-sightedness is not the key to success. Giving them seats will not liberate them. It is not like either u subjugate women or u worship her. I think seat reservation is the only time when a non-feminist woman celebrates her woman-ness! Seat reservation should be for the deserving. Equality is among equals...inequality is for special cases. Here, the special cases are the elderly, the differently-abled and the sick. Only after this one should see the woman element. Infact I think the woman element can also be ignored. This reform should come if one really understands the concept of equality. If the Government really wants to improve the condition of women, it should train the conductors to be a bit more polite and helpful. The conductors have to be responsible. They can even put a stop to the eve-teasing. But ofcourse for that, they themselves should be moral. For the Government to act, People have to provide the base. I think this concept of ‘seat for the deserving’ should be practised on an individual note. It is only then that the Government will be able to note this and do the necessary. This is a democracy. We the people will make and dismiss laws. Hail Democracy.

*Views by Rutwij Kokje

A Capitalist India

Economies are classified into three approaches- Socialist, Capitalist and a Mixed approach. Socialist approach is pro-poor. It aims an equitable distribution of wealth. Government owns all economic institutions. Capitalist approach creates wealth for a ‘class’ of people. The economic institutions are owned by individuals or a group of individuals. A mixed approach however is a blending of both. Both Individuals and Government owns institutions. Government intervenes for social welfare.
India is a Third-World Country. It is a developing economy. It started out as a mixed economy. However, Post 1991, India has been moving towards capitalism with gushing force. Liberalization and Globalisation opened Indian Economy. Opening up sectors for foreign direct investment (FDI) has attracted great investment and employment opportunities. Liberalizing FII (Foreign Institutional Investor) norms has helped in easy availability of capital. There has been an easy availability of loans. Our GDP growth reached 9 per cent. The real estate market is blooming. Our industrialists bag awards for the wealthiest persons in Asia and world. We are growing into the fastest economies of the world. But does this achievement take into account Gandhi’s Talisman?
Even after 60 years of independence we are unable to address the problems of poverty, education, housing, food, sanitation, etc. According to reliable economic sources, over 250 million people in India lives below the poverty line, over 300 million people are illiterate, there is a demand of millions of houses but most of it is not satisfied, almost 80 per cent of population in Mumbai lives in one bedroom-cum-drawing room house, over 25 per cent of our country’s population does not get clean water and proper sanitation. Most of the rural areas, which comprise almost 70 per cent population of India and include over 6.5 Lac villages, are under developed. The growth that we observe around us is a lopsided growth helping rich getting richer and making poor poorer. All these are the result of excessive capitalism and reliance on industrialization and urbanization. The trickle-down effect did not work. Social welfare schemes like NREGA, Sarva Shiksha, Abhiyaan, etc. implemented by government are not serving the desired purpose. In an interview, Congress member Rahul Gandhi also admitted that out of every hundred rupee disbursed for the rehabilitation of poor only fifteen percent reaches the actual intended person while the rest of it is gobbled up by corrupt bureaucrats.
By capitalizing the economy, we are promoting industrialization. The ‘growth’ is at the cost of agriculture. Indian economy is an agrarian economy. India is a home to millions of villages. Villages provide an economic base to our prosperity as Food production happens there. But our economy is opening at a dangerous speed. The Government is losing control. It is the duty of the Government to distribute wealth evenly. But if liberalization and Government’s neglect continues at this speed, we will soon be importing food grains. Development does not mean transformation of rural areas into urban areas. It means developing the rural areas. Technology should reach Rural India to increase self-sufficiency. Medical and Educational facilities should be provided. Basic amenities should be provided. There should be creation of facilities so that Villagers feel no need to migrate to urban areas.
Capitalism states: ‘Those who survive, Let them survive. Those who can’t, let the Perish’. This is what is happening in our Country. The Poor are seen as hurdles in the development path. In Nandigram and Singur, the Government forcefully acquired lands. There was widespread violence. But the most interesting part was that the Government in power was a leftist party. Left parties are socialist parties which believe in development for all. The Poor are displaced because Rehabilitation is an unknown concept in this country. The Poor are also losing their employment as Companies like Reliance and Tata now compete with them in selling grocery.
Our economy should be a mixed economy with an inclusive growth model wherein the benefits of the governmental steps are reaped by all and everyone gets an equal chance to progress and prosper.

source:
http://theviewspaper.net/a-capitalist-india/

From the Slums to the Red Carpet

I am very sure that everyone knows what country I am talking about. The "slums" part of the title, I am sure, gives it away. As most of you may know, I work as a waiter at my father's restaurant during the weekend. Every now and then there is a guest who feels that it is their job, or in some cases talent, to bring me to shame due to my nationality. Please do not get me wrong, Flesherton is a beautiful town with beautiful people and beautiful tourists. I am talking here of that one odd person. Anyways, coming to the point, the reason I felt compelled to write this note was a simple one, one of our ex-employee's ignorance about my nation. It all started at 2:00 pm today (Sunday August 9, 2009). She started with a simple question, "So Aakash, how bad was your English when you first came to Canada?" The problem was not her question. It was the fact that she asked it in a very insulting manner in front of company dining with her. It induced a giggle from all the other three of her companions. I gave her a wide smile and replied, "When I was offered the job, Ma'am, it was under the condition that I be polite to all the guests under all circumstances. I do not see any possible way to answer your question without violating that condition. So do wait back until 3:00 pm and I will answer it once I am off-duty." All this was said with a sense of humour, a feeling of hurt and a wide smile that let her know that it would take a lot more on her part to break me and get an insult out of me. She did, to my great pleasure, wait back for my reply. I assure you my friends, I said to her with all politeness I had in me, "When I first came here my English was better than yours will ever be. I had, and still do have, a better vocabulary. Just because I am from India is no reason for my English to be of a poor quality." The reason I was compelled to write this note is not the fact that I need to vent my anger, but rather the fact that I want to clear any illusions that people have about India.

We do have many slums. According to a 2007 estimate, about 25% of our population still does live under the poverty line (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/in.html). On the other hand, we are a rapidly developing nation. If you can name me one rapidly developing nation (non-communist) that does not have social stigmas to fight, I shall accept defeat. According to 2008 estimates, 12% and 11% of the population in the US and Canada, respectively, lives under the poverty line (http://www.indexmundi.com/). Coming back to the point of India being a rapidly developing economy, the evidence lies in the fact that 8 years ago, in 2000, 35% of the population lived below the poverty line. Yes we are still a nation that believes in superstitions. Allegedly, it is still a nation that believes in the repression of women. Yet, India recently elected Pratibha Patil (currently serving) to become the first woman to hold the office. India elected Indira Gandhi to two terms as the Prime Minister of the nation. The US has yet to have a woman elected to the presidential office or even the vice-presidential office. The president of the current ruling party (Indian National Congress) is Sonia Gandhi, a woman. In fact, she is the Italian widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (assassinated May 21, 1991). How does this in anyway indicate that India is a nation that still believes in repressing its women? I agree that there are many families that believe in the orthodox methodologies, yet there are cities sprouting up all over India that are becoming important centres for World Trade. Every time I here someone say they want to go to India, I ask a simple question, "Why?" Surprisingly, 7 out of 10 times the answer is, "To see India as it is. To see the plight of the poor people and to see the copious amounts of corruption that goes on over there." Why not go there to see the Taj Mahal? Why not go there to see the beautiful temples? Why not the forts which carry a unique story? Why the poor? Why the corruption? Why has that become the stereotypical view of India? It really warms my heart when someone says to me, "We were in India and oh what a wonderful place it is. History and modern development walking side by side." That is not at all wrong; the Gateway of India still stands proud amongst the development of Mumbai. The Lal Quilla (Red Fort) still casts its wondrous presence over the development of Delhi. It is like this, Indians when visiting the US or Canada, say that they will see the big cities, the tall buildings, and the lifestyle of the people in developed nations. They do not say that they are visiting to see the homeless, the poor, the racists or the hypocrites.

People say that India is not a nation, but hundreds of nations put together by the British. Why do I feel that historical evidence proves this to be wrong? Asoka Maurya (born 304 BC) ruled almost all of the Indian sub-continent from 273 BC to 232 BC. H.G. Wells said of Asoka, "In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Asoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day" (Wells, The Outline of History, 1920). After the Persian invasion the Mughals ruled over most parts of northern India until Akbar annexed most of the sub-continent to the Mughal Empire. The British succeeded due to their use of proper governing methods. Their ways of dividing the nation into states, states into districts and so on. The English, though, did teach us the meaning of "United we Stand, Divided we Fall". Which is why today when I walk out to play cricket in India, I do not care whether my captain's name is Ali or Shyam or Chris.

People in developed nations always think that India is still a land of snake-charmers, a land where the kings still rule. I really do not see the point in that. India has been to the moon and back, it has been to the Oscars (won 4 times and received an honorary award once and nominated once). I am not claiming Slumdog Millionaire to be an Indian film. It is not. It is a British film based on an Indian novel (Q & A, Vikas Swarup). The awards and nominations I speak of are Rahman for Best Music and Best Original Score, Gulzar for Best Lyrics, Bhanu Atthaiya for Best Costume Design, Russell Pookutty for Best Sound Mixing, Satyajit Ray received the honorary award in 1991 and Lagaan was nominated for Best Foreign Film. India has made huge leaps in the fields of medicine, science and technology, and yet we have to struggle to prove to the developed nations that we are worth an investment. What I find disturbing is how SOME Canadians blame Indians for the loss of jobs in Canada claiming that "we stole their call-centre jobs". No, we stole many other jobs as well due to the simple reason that we are willing to work without any "oohs" and "aahs" and without creating a fuss with the unions. I mean if I have to live in what is practically a garbage dump just because the union is on strike, how can I claim to be living in a developed nation (referring to the recent fiasco in Toronto)? If I fear that my sister will be insulted due to her race and colour of her skin at the bus stop, how can I claim that I live in a developed nation? If I fear that I will be stereotyped as a "slumdog" due to my skin colour how can I be living in a developed nation? If all this is common in developed nations, then I am regret I left India to come to such a nation. Well, I am obliged to say that I mean no offence, and I really don't, but I can not be expected to sit quiet while someone insults my pride, my love and my dignity.

Threatened by Dragon,What will the Tiger do?

I hope most of you have come across an article in newspapers of 12th August 2009 which stated that Chinese strategist have stated on its semi official website that China should work towards breakin India into smaller 20-30 nations.This being semi official site with there being a lot of censure about what is posted publicly by the Chinese people it is hard to accept that this article written for the people of China since it was in Chinese language,did not have approval of Chinese authority.In addition to it the person writting such aricles has lot intricate knowledge about the Chinese strategy and authority suggesting that he himself is some high ranking official of Chinese government.He also has a detailed knowledge about India suggesting the deep penetration of Chinese intelligence within India.Considering these factors together does add some crediblity to the theory that China may indeed be planning such an acitvity. The statement giving initally by the external affairs minstry of India was that they have made their dissent about this article known to authorites in Beijing and are awaiting the official word of Chinese government regarding this article.They later declared that China has infromed the Indian MEA that they were planning no such thing and the article was opinion of an induvidual.They also stated that the said article has been removed from the website. This all is well and good, but what remains to be asked to the Indian MEA is, are we going to take the word of Chinese authorities on this issue?Does a government wishing to conduct such acitvity openly declare that they are planning such activity?These actions are part of clandestine operations.They are never declared but conducted in secrecy,through covert and underhanded methods.Besides Chinese have a bad record of keeping their word,and we have a bad record for falling for their word.Should we not learn from history? Our governments may proclaim that Indiaand China are not rivals, but yet it does not change the fact that we are indeed rivals.During cold war era US and USSR never fought an open war.Thier leaders too were always involved in talks ranging on various issues,including trade.Yet it never changed the fact that USSR and US were rivals.Similarly whatever talks India may involve itself with Pakistan and China,it is a fact that they will be rivals.China has already demonstrated how serious they are about this rivalry when they exported substandard pharmacueticals branded as made in India.They do not care about the collateral damage as long as they bring India down.Therefore we need to be prepared for China conducting operations to break apart India. Offense is said to be best defense.The only way to offset this plan of China would be for us to pre-empt it with strikes of our own.I am not talking about conventional warfare strikes. China is a communist state with a dictatorial rule.There is dissatisfaction amongst the Chinese simmilar to that within the USSR. When it comes to freedom of the people China has bad record.So is its record concerning human rights.China too has many rivals arond the region,mainly Japan and Republic of China(Taiwan). There are regions that are forcefully dominated by the PRC, like the Tibetean Autonomus Region.There also the Chinese colonies of Macau and Hong Kong. The division within China is not so obvious as it is with Indiadue to dictatorial rule which suppress any reactionary forces within the nation.There are also the suprresion of minority. There are tensions between the Uyghur people of Xinjiang province.Same is the case with Tibet. Inner Mongolia also largely ignores the needs of the locals in its development projects. These examples show that China itself is not without internal troubles and a bit of slip over the controls by the Communist Party of China could very well lead to destrcution of CPC and liberation of various forcibly controlled regions in China.Eepecially the Xinjiang province within which lies the Aksai Chin and Tibet within China claimms Arunachal Pradesh to belong.India houses the leader of Tibet , the Dalai Lama.That has promoted friendly connections with Tibetean government in exile.Breaking China up is all about causing a economic breakdown within China which is possible if Indian industries stop outsourcing to China and stop the import of Chinese goods.It is time to think about something more important than personal satisfaction,because if China suceeds in its plans India will be too vulnerable to foriegn rule and annexation.That would be more lethal for people of India. Also if India can use the traditional rivals of China and a bit of direct interfernce,China will collapse upon itself.Right now we have a pro-India government in Nepal which had been moving towards China for sometime now.We must do our best in securing their alliance to India by providing them aid in development activity.Also we should venture forth in the South-East Asia securing the alliance with Myanmar and Malaysia by investing in devloment activities there.We should disable the base of Chinese alliance around India breaking ourselves from the ring of fire we are in..It is time India gave up is infighting and stood upto to China and not only secure the territory of Arunachal Pradesh which China is trying to take from India but take back the territory of Aksai Chin which we lost to China in 1962.It is time we stop waiting for China to stab us in our backs like they did in 1962 and prevent them from implementing their plans of breaking India. Its time for Our Nation to unite against a common external enemy and a threat to soverignity of Our Country that the Chinese pose.

Politicians are selfish?

In India it has become a fasion to title politicians as corrupt and immoral.Politicians are blamed for every failing of this country.It is a common perception that Politicians and Government Servants are now synonymous with corruption.Yet we as a common man,as citizens of this nation fail to,rather conviniently, look at our activities which contribute to the failings of our nation despite its potential. We say politicians are corrupt.Are we not? These corrupt politicians and 'public servants' care about nothing but power and filling thier private coffers.What about us?We ignore anything that does not affect us,because we are too busy earning money.Are we doin thesame thing.Are we not busy filling our own private coffers, to even care about wat is happening arond us.It is only when we are affected by the gross misconduct of the politicians that we speak about corruption. The question remains how to they get away with it? The law has given us Right to Information Act(RTI) and our right to vote which is as much a duty. How many of us use these right of ours to keep a check on the government?Do we even bother with voting?Are we not to busy earning money at such times? We blame the politicians of indulging in votebank politics.Again let me ask,how is it that they suceed?If they suceed in such ploys isn't it because we fall prey to such games?Their acts of appeasement to a particular group gets the group supporting them.So is it not selfishness on our part if we allow such small acts of appeasement to suceed in their tasks?Do we think about the bigger picture at such times?Do we think of future effects of such act?No.all we want is benefits.Are we ready for sacrifices for the collective welfare?Are we ready to force these politicians to work on proper devlopment,instead of votebank appeasement?Are we ready to sacrifice the benefits which we would otherwise get from an act of apeasement by some politicians?The answer is a resounding no. We blame the governmet for lack of security but yet again we forget our duties to enure public security.Are we vigilant enough to spot and report any suspicious acitvity?Even if a someone does spot such a thing, but if he is geting out of that place(say alighting from a bus,or train),would he bother with reporting or alerting anyone else? We complain about lack of infrastructure and yet how well and efficiently do we use the existing one?I do not about other metros,but in Mumbai a person obeying traffic rules without a policeman around is thought to be a fool.You stop at a traffic signal without any police around and you will be honked and shouted at by those behind you.Obeying traffic rules and lane discpline can reduce the traffic woes of the city.Mumbai gets flooded by the rains every year and yes the cause is lack of proper drainage system, yet wecould avaoid a lot of floodings if we stop throwing litter around which in turn cuases blockages in the drain slowing down the drainage process.We claim that surroung is unclean.Public places are reduced to dustbins.Are we not the ones one litter these places.Many people shamelessly spit around in public.Sometimes its tobacco.Do we bother correcting them.Or to they fell ashamed to do so?Or perhaps bother correcting their own habits?If someone tries correcting he is made to shut up with a simple insult,'Abey tere baap jagah hai kya?Jaa na apna kaam kar.'How many bother siding with a person who is correcting someone? How many of us bother correcting someone who jumps a queue?Or rather how many of us bother with queues themselves?Why do these people jumping queue not hesitate when doing so? How many of us go around asking for favours from these very politicians whom we call evil? As long I am benefiting its alright.but as soon as someone else benefits over me its corrutption. Our society has become too self indulgent.Our constitution has awarded us with certain rights as a citizen of this country.At the same time our constitution expects some duties from us in return for us enjoying these rights. While we remember our rights very well, we conviniently forget those duties because it entails giving of something. It is said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.We have forgotten that the reason a handful of British soldiers were able to gain control over much larger forces?The selfishness was the reason.We were never united against them and the British took advantage of this using thee divide and rule policy.Was that not appeasement policy?How well did that go for he Indians,even those who were initially appeased were later on forced to serve the British oce they served their purpose.They were used by the British to gain power in India.Unless we learn a lesson from this and unite against the power seeking politicians for betterment of the nation,unless we stop falling prey to Politicians appeasement policy, history is bound to repeat itself. The effect will not be immidiate.Most probably it will not be our generation that suffers the consequences of our selfisheness,but it will be the later generations,probably our children or their children.It is shameful that someone like Mayawati is able to get the post of Chief Minister of Uttar Praedesh just by playing her caste card.Someone whose only intrest is self-promotion.It is sad that politicians are able to divide us along religious lines,caste lines,or regional lines to win election by creeating votebanks.Chinese strategists have clamied that India is internally unstable.The urge the Chinese government to interfere in our nations internal matters,to widen this divide and break India.They claim that with a bit of interference they would be able to break India into 20-30 small nations and to gain 90,000 sq.km of Indian territory which is under dispute between India and China.We would be facing the same humiliation of dismemeberment that we handed to Pakistan in 1971 Indo-Pak War,also known as Bangladesh Liberation War.These claims of the Chinese are not too far fetched.Unless we pull our act together and mend these divisions, our nation will be following on the path of USSR.This time it would be a free economy non dictatorial state broken down by the dictatorial communist state.Completely opposite of what happened to USSR.China has the audacity to mmake such claims becuase they can see how we have divided ourself on the basis of every possible line we can divide by.The government claims that this is not the official line of Chinses governmentbut induvidual opinions of the people of China.Now we cannot be naive enough to believe that any government would take such sort of official stance.These things are done underhandedly.The bottomline is are we ready to make ourselves vulnerable by breaking this federation of states that forms the nation of India into its smaller components,so that the foriegn powers may find it easier to dominate us again?To rule on us?To take us back to pre-independence era?The might of India which is a deterent to the world from trying to enslave India will be divided.Let us remember our pledge. (India is my country.) Is it really?Is this how we treat our houses? (All Indians are my brothers and sisters.) Is that so?Is that how we treat our siblings? (I love my country) Today we only love ourself and after that our families. (and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage) Yes we are proud that the heritage is varied.It gives us some reason to fight amongst ourselves. (I shall always strive to be worthy of it.) I shall only strive to loot as much as I can from my this country (I shall give my parents teachers and all elders respect) I shall give myself everything I can take from this country (and treat everyone with courtsey) and treat anyone who does not matter with utmost disdain. (To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion.) To myself and my family only I pledge my devotion. (In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness) In my welll being and properity alone lies my happiness. (Jai Hind) Jai To Myself. JFK had once said,'ask not what your country can do for you, instead ask what you can do for you country.' All we ask today is wahat our country can do for us. Are not our actions today mocking our own pledge.Instead of just mugging up this pledge and saying it when we are asked to, we should try to understand its meaning and try to live those lines.All we do is take,take and take whatever we can take from this nation untill there is nothing left to take,and even than we keep on taking leaving our nation barren.We should learn to give back.We did the same with nature and environment, and now we see where it has left us.Let us not forget the speech of Mr. Nehru,'A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.' Let us step out into new world again 60 years after we did it once.Let us take a new pledge. We need to change before we demand the politicians to change, before we get the thi snation to change,we must change ourselves.Letus walk this path of change.Let us step into a new era of change. Mr.M.K.Gandhi has said,'You be the change You want to see in others.' Yet I fear we will not change. We will let arrogance and ignorance to ruin us. We will stay selfish as ever. And yet we say that 'Only .......................................................................................................