Wednesday, February 26, 2014
meeting Lakshadweep Panchayat Representatives
It was a great day. .a great thing to learn about issues of grassroots democracy. .india is a parliamentary democracy. .if Gandhiji's ideals of spiritual democracy has to be materialized..it has to be through Panchayats..
Sunday, August 28, 2011
THE NOT-SO VICTORIOUS ANNA
'A week is a long time in Politics'- Harold Wilson.
If this saying is true, then India witnessed a substantial catastrophic movement in the polity which witnessed a remarkable spectre of ups and downs in the thirteen day long fasting session by Anna Hazare. Every idea has its context. The raging feelings behind the Team Anna moves was the rampant corruption as pointed out by the reports of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) upon 2-G spectrum, Commonwealth Games, juxtaposed with misuse of Central Bureau of Investigation as a tool of political vendetta, falling standards of political executive, inflation, doubts upon credibility of political institutions like legislature, weak moral standards, amongst others.
The Anna crusaders did a Herculean task of giving Indian citizens a platform to raise voice against corruption as a systemic problem. It gave a voice to all people, cutting across caste and creed, north and south divide, to fight for a corruption free India. With people out on streets, tri-color flags all over, people wearing Anna caps; it gave a glimpse of a vibrant nation united for a common cause where the malaise affected all. Further, even on street or at home, the media was at its best to give every minute update.
Imposition of Section 144, arresting Anna before he began fast, releasing him and hoping that the movement shall lose its sheen after some time were the errors of the government. With time, the arrogance of power of Congress stalwarts was tamed. The legislative business was put on fast track and the historic session on 27 August 2011 lead to consideration of two other drafts of Lok Pal, besides the government draft, namely the Jan Lok Pal and Aruna Roy's version of Lokpal.
The day saw some stellar speeches in the house. There were echoes upon supremacy of Parliament as law making institution, the inaction of the government on the rampant corruption, serious critique that mere street power cannot be claim to a sovereign mandate as people power as against the Members of Parliament, issue of disrespect shown by mocking the MPs, uneasiness of the Anna crusaders over the government draft covering all NGOs, and not just the ones with government funding. Further, a sense of the house besides passing the resolution on the three contentious Anna demands was also that a politician is often one of the most vulnerable soft targets. It is easy to sit back and criticise but very tough to deliver. The profession is not permanent, and the yardstick of continuity for veteran honest Parliamentarians like Somnath Chatterjee, P. A. Sangma, and late P. M. Sayeed has been their perception of their 'janta' as 'ann-data' (voters as supreme). Politics demands constant engagement with reality and rising expectations against the backdrop of limited resources. It is an exercise to be dictated by an outside authority, but practised and learned with experience on the ground.
As the announcement of passing the resolution came, the country was up in joy. There was a contested claim that it is Anna's victory over the team Manmohan as an indictment of Parliament, others saw it as a win-win situation, where the Parliament reflected the will of its people. There were also debates that it is a time of end of Anna's mobocracy at the Ram Lila Maidan and victory of Parliamentary democracy by fine tuning its legislative business.
The average Indian who rejoices with half-won Anna victory has nothing to be happy about. The three demands- namely incorporation of lower bureaucracy under Lokpal, Lok-ayuktas in all states and citizens charter leave much to be desired from the perception of a strong Lokpal what Team Anna had projected.
Mere sticking of citizen’s charter in all government offices and incorporation of lower bureaucracy is a way forward yet no guarantee of corruption free nation. The citizens need to have the will inside them to imbibe it in their daily lives. Castigating the political set up for all sins shall do no good. So does the team Anna which is always resounding high on morality take guarantee that the Indian denizens will also give up their nature of getting tasks done by short-cuts e.g.: donations to get children placed in colleges, making relatives as proxy for getting government schemes amongst several others. It is hoped that they do not start another line of protests in this regard as ethics are not forced, but cultivated with generations and time.
Further, the team Anna has always shown a traditional orthodox approach to issues of polity. It is just related to the state and government. There are multiple stake holders that have a decisive say in governance like media, corporate houses, vested interests of certain civil society groups and NGOs, universities, other private players. Delimiting the agenda of corruption to the institution of executive and legislature is a blinkered vision of current global reality.
India is a federal polity with power sharing between the Union-states. The provision of Lok-ayukt with equal powers as Lokpal affects the power sharing interest, which has to be concluded with prompt consultation with stakeholders, and not just forcing upon them. Further, the selection of personnel to handle it and their accountability thereof are other crucial issues.
As against the erstwhile demands of the Anna crusaders, the Lok Pal draft has been now sent to the standing committee. The bill shall see the light of the day as a codified law at no time now and only at the time of Winter Session of Parliament in November. The institution of Prime Minister shall be included in a thin way. Further MPs are not being deliberated to be incorporated in this law. Its claim to deepen democracy is only true to the fact that the political class rose up in unanimous to counter attack its strategy.
As a movement it did galvanise the masses, yet in its pressure tactics it failed to check-mate the political executive in the supreme law making institution.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
THE HAZARDOUS ATTACK ON POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Forty Two Years, Eight Standing Committees and Indian polity has no Lok Pal. This premise was often heard in deliberations in the argument that flowed for Anna Hazare ‘anshan’ or using fasting as a method to protest against the government.
The Jan- Lokpal Bill seeks to create an institution of ombudsmen of citizen as an anti-corruption strategy for India. This institution is unique in other democratic countries as well. IT was in the fourth Lok Sabha that the plea for Lok-Pal was made. The bill lapsed then with the dissolving of Lok Sabha in 1969. Time and again, it was revived yet it did not successfully turn into a law.
The panorama of current times is marred by corruptions; the noble aim behind the intentions of effort to put pressure on the government to match to the version of the coterie of five members of the Team Anna cannot be doubted. However, the par excellence initiatives of surrounding the government with pressure tactics fail short of parliamentary supremacy and representational legitimacy.
The right to protest is a fundamental right of every citizen. However, protest under the shield of blackmailing the government of the day begs the merit of answers to certain questions. All the citizens are entitled to appeal and protest, but not at the expense of threatening to commit suicide. The right to demand from a representative government cannot come at the expense of holding the government to ransom and creating law and order problems.
In India, the Parliament is supreme, not sovereign. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution begins with a ringing declaration of, ‘We, the people of India’. The sovereignty vests with the people of India. However the aspect of a parliamentary democracy provides us with democratically elected representatives. The ground on which the team Anna is claiming that they are better representatives of Indian people seems unclear. It needs to be debated that where is the mandate for them to claim to be better representatives of grievances of citizens than their own elected representatives via periodic elections. India may have been home to colossal problems of poverty, unemployment, violence, hunger, yet the democratic apparatus has been sacrosanct in its working for more than half a century.
There are often remarks of ‘large numbers of Indian citizens want this bill as seen in referendum’. It is high time that the team Anna clarifies that who and what are these large number of people. An instance of the same is a referendum which was claimed to be conducted in favour of the Jan Lok Pal Bill in Chandni Chowk (where I am voter), and several thousand like me were unaware when and its other whereabouts, making us perceive it as a sheer paper-gimmick. Even at the time of fasting campaigns, there less than a ten lakhs people on streets. Seen in an arithmetic perspective, this is less than half of one percent of Indian population of nearly 1.2 billion which elect the Indian Parliament. Further, how many present out there genuinely knew about what are the features and controversies around Lok Pal Bill. The claim to legitimacy of the self-appointed civil society actors is indeed thin.
The idea of giving deadlines of need the get the bill by this date did aptly pointed towards the procedural delays involved in the legislative process. However at the same time, a nation cannot afford a hasty piece of legislation under the pressure gimmicks. Just because the legislation is marred by adjournments and MPs running to the well of the house for the entire noisy panorama does not mean we deny the time to government to decide. Does that also imply that the Anna crusaders shall up in arms, if the Parliament calls their protests a bluff?
Constitution is indeed a living document, which has always been receptive to the changes in the contextual circumstances. The notion of fast track that is being propagated in the Jan Lok Pal approach is regressive which might end up disturbing the contours of basic structure of our Constitutional ethos.
A certain degree of intolerance of the Indian citizenry was seen in attacks and protests upon houses of Members of Parliament. The neck and noose of Jan Lok Pal controversy lies around government mismanagement of the negotiation process with the team Anna. Further, the state has often spoken and bargained with several other non-state actors like militancy in Kashmir, multilateral global governance regimes like WTO, then why it cannot do so with peaceful protests of revulsions by the citizens against corruption. However, one also needs to appreciate the constraints involved in the administration and government apparatus. Today if the state gives in to their demands in this manner, then later other activists might derail the day to day functioning of the state under the shield of moral authority. This does not go down well with a democracy.
There is a tendency often to blame the politician and systems for all the evils that plague our polity. In this notion of ‘soft target’, we never think that today governance exists under multiple layers. We need to expand this notion of accountability, not only from our representatives, but from several others players in the public domain, what about the NGOs and CSOs often which exist in the web domain to siphon off funds, the corporate which have been practising unethical business practices under this run-away model of neo-liberalism, the pseudo glamorous world which are propelling people to adopt destructive changes in their lifestyles following them, the academicians who subtly use ‘left-right-centre’ ideology to dismiss able candidates in university interviews etc.
Just blaming the political process and adding a layer of another institution of Lok Pal shall do no good. India is home to law in every field. Mere existence of laws and institutions is no guarantee of its good operation. The vision of Jan Lok Pal is commendable, yet it is strategically flawed. The bill is with the standing committee and the need of the hour is to deal with it in getting the clauses of dissent towards a workable consensus. It may not have been fruitful in the past, yet that does not merit the case of divulging pessimistic notions about our sacred political institutions.
The Jan- Lokpal Bill seeks to create an institution of ombudsmen of citizen as an anti-corruption strategy for India. This institution is unique in other democratic countries as well. IT was in the fourth Lok Sabha that the plea for Lok-Pal was made. The bill lapsed then with the dissolving of Lok Sabha in 1969. Time and again, it was revived yet it did not successfully turn into a law.
The panorama of current times is marred by corruptions; the noble aim behind the intentions of effort to put pressure on the government to match to the version of the coterie of five members of the Team Anna cannot be doubted. However, the par excellence initiatives of surrounding the government with pressure tactics fail short of parliamentary supremacy and representational legitimacy.
The right to protest is a fundamental right of every citizen. However, protest under the shield of blackmailing the government of the day begs the merit of answers to certain questions. All the citizens are entitled to appeal and protest, but not at the expense of threatening to commit suicide. The right to demand from a representative government cannot come at the expense of holding the government to ransom and creating law and order problems.
In India, the Parliament is supreme, not sovereign. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution begins with a ringing declaration of, ‘We, the people of India’. The sovereignty vests with the people of India. However the aspect of a parliamentary democracy provides us with democratically elected representatives. The ground on which the team Anna is claiming that they are better representatives of Indian people seems unclear. It needs to be debated that where is the mandate for them to claim to be better representatives of grievances of citizens than their own elected representatives via periodic elections. India may have been home to colossal problems of poverty, unemployment, violence, hunger, yet the democratic apparatus has been sacrosanct in its working for more than half a century.
There are often remarks of ‘large numbers of Indian citizens want this bill as seen in referendum’. It is high time that the team Anna clarifies that who and what are these large number of people. An instance of the same is a referendum which was claimed to be conducted in favour of the Jan Lok Pal Bill in Chandni Chowk (where I am voter), and several thousand like me were unaware when and its other whereabouts, making us perceive it as a sheer paper-gimmick. Even at the time of fasting campaigns, there less than a ten lakhs people on streets. Seen in an arithmetic perspective, this is less than half of one percent of Indian population of nearly 1.2 billion which elect the Indian Parliament. Further, how many present out there genuinely knew about what are the features and controversies around Lok Pal Bill. The claim to legitimacy of the self-appointed civil society actors is indeed thin.
The idea of giving deadlines of need the get the bill by this date did aptly pointed towards the procedural delays involved in the legislative process. However at the same time, a nation cannot afford a hasty piece of legislation under the pressure gimmicks. Just because the legislation is marred by adjournments and MPs running to the well of the house for the entire noisy panorama does not mean we deny the time to government to decide. Does that also imply that the Anna crusaders shall up in arms, if the Parliament calls their protests a bluff?
Constitution is indeed a living document, which has always been receptive to the changes in the contextual circumstances. The notion of fast track that is being propagated in the Jan Lok Pal approach is regressive which might end up disturbing the contours of basic structure of our Constitutional ethos.
A certain degree of intolerance of the Indian citizenry was seen in attacks and protests upon houses of Members of Parliament. The neck and noose of Jan Lok Pal controversy lies around government mismanagement of the negotiation process with the team Anna. Further, the state has often spoken and bargained with several other non-state actors like militancy in Kashmir, multilateral global governance regimes like WTO, then why it cannot do so with peaceful protests of revulsions by the citizens against corruption. However, one also needs to appreciate the constraints involved in the administration and government apparatus. Today if the state gives in to their demands in this manner, then later other activists might derail the day to day functioning of the state under the shield of moral authority. This does not go down well with a democracy.
There is a tendency often to blame the politician and systems for all the evils that plague our polity. In this notion of ‘soft target’, we never think that today governance exists under multiple layers. We need to expand this notion of accountability, not only from our representatives, but from several others players in the public domain, what about the NGOs and CSOs often which exist in the web domain to siphon off funds, the corporate which have been practising unethical business practices under this run-away model of neo-liberalism, the pseudo glamorous world which are propelling people to adopt destructive changes in their lifestyles following them, the academicians who subtly use ‘left-right-centre’ ideology to dismiss able candidates in university interviews etc.
Just blaming the political process and adding a layer of another institution of Lok Pal shall do no good. India is home to law in every field. Mere existence of laws and institutions is no guarantee of its good operation. The vision of Jan Lok Pal is commendable, yet it is strategically flawed. The bill is with the standing committee and the need of the hour is to deal with it in getting the clauses of dissent towards a workable consensus. It may not have been fruitful in the past, yet that does not merit the case of divulging pessimistic notions about our sacred political institutions.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Check out Gearing up for campus life?
Check out Gearing up for campus life?
The campus life is a teaching experience in its own. Escaping from the closed protected shell of school life, we find a domain where each moment is a guidepost for future goals. Taking a cue from my experience at the campus of University of Delhi in stints in colleges – St. Stephens’ for Bachelors’ degree and Hindu College for Masters Degree- the nutshell it is a joyride.
This phase of life is buzz full of activities which if genuinely made use of would inculcate ethos of time management, smart work, self-independence, honesty in our life routine. Keeping in pace with up to-date clothing styles, running around libraries & photocopier for notes, relishing not so expensive yet tasty canteen food, discovering the frontiers of wisdom as a philosopher lost in own world, meeting folks across college in festivals, competition with peers in what to do next move, getting acquainted with different cultures, judicious use of limited yet unlimited pocket-money, are few things namely that make campus life as integral for development of our personality for near times. As you start the journey, just a word of caution for ensuring harmonious balance between what you aim & smooth joyous passage of the golden days of youth-
· Strike a right balance between three Cs- Course, College, Campus
Monday, February 8, 2010
regional parties: where do you place them?
Political Parties are link between society and people in democracy. They have been harbingers of national struggle, oxygen for exchange of ideas, platform to put forward issues in democracy. A national party has appeal across the nation whereas as opposed to it a regional party has a limited appeal catering to a particular or narrow issue confined within geographical boundary of nation. Where the problem of regional political party rises is the inherent fear attached with their notion that they promote particular versus the general , thereby breeding Us versus Them unhealthy spirit in the national character. However one cannot let pass the idea that the pecularity of the these scattered units across regions rises when they found the national parties though being all inclusive yet in this broadened agenda , their issues were amalgamated to the point of neglect.
Diversity is best hallmark adjective to define INdian Union. Regional Parties can be best examples of same . To have plurality in working of polity is good but not to the extent that this plurality tears the inclusive character of society. To talk of one party dominace is a chimera in present colaitional era where no one party can stand upto thedifferent and distinct needs of Indian citizens, juxtaposed with aspect of globalization which has not only lead to shriking of space and time but also made the 'local' as its anti-thesis to the fore. Indian being a federal union, so regional parties does give a certain degree of bargaining spcae to the states when the Balanceof power is heavily skewed towards the Union in the constitution. As we move away from this theoretical reality, we find that in actual practise, we find what the authors lament that the governance takes a back seat. There are too many issues but resources to staisfy the same are meagre. So the challenge for Indian Union lies in how to chug along different lines bearing the hetrogeneous character yet ensuring the sanctity of united fabric. Perhaps where wew are failing is to put forward an agenda as to how to streamline the working of regional parties, how to make governance a phenomena which should illicit support from all sections and what are the areas for reform of political parties
Diversity is best hallmark adjective to define INdian Union. Regional Parties can be best examples of same . To have plurality in working of polity is good but not to the extent that this plurality tears the inclusive character of society. To talk of one party dominace is a chimera in present colaitional era where no one party can stand upto thedifferent and distinct needs of Indian citizens, juxtaposed with aspect of globalization which has not only lead to shriking of space and time but also made the 'local' as its anti-thesis to the fore. Indian being a federal union, so regional parties does give a certain degree of bargaining spcae to the states when the Balanceof power is heavily skewed towards the Union in the constitution. As we move away from this theoretical reality, we find that in actual practise, we find what the authors lament that the governance takes a back seat. There are too many issues but resources to staisfy the same are meagre. So the challenge for Indian Union lies in how to chug along different lines bearing the hetrogeneous character yet ensuring the sanctity of united fabric. Perhaps where wew are failing is to put forward an agenda as to how to streamline the working of regional parties, how to make governance a phenomena which should illicit support from all sections and what are the areas for reform of political parties
Friday, November 28, 2008
26 November 2008: The Sordid Saga of Mumbai..WHAT LIES AHEAD?
It goes without saying that the nation is disgustingly shocked due to miserable state of affairs in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. As we lament, weep, sulk, mourn over this chaos unleashed, let us ponder over what lies further? What are the challenges ahead?
The masterminds behind the attack- meticulous planning to enter hotel, playing upon lacuna in laws of sea, movement of arms and food in store, are few things that gave a jolt to the existing machinery of the State. What is in their minds who have enacted it? Are they human as they profess no respect for sanctity of like? What religion they adhere to when they violate the basic fundamental ethos of religion – love, care, fraternity? How long can we blame the state as being soft on terror when its dirty fangs have not spared a single part of globe? The nation stood politically undivided and the nonsense gimmick of regional chauvinism by Raj Thackrej stood shamefully exposed to the ebb.
There is need to condemn this terrorism in unanimous terms, building consent on fighting back together as the nation that we will not loose on National Integrity at any cost. While we capture these emotional-psychological strands, at the societal-political level we need federal agency to tackle the menace of terrorism between the Union and State Government.
The masterminds behind the attack- meticulous planning to enter hotel, playing upon lacuna in laws of sea, movement of arms and food in store, are few things that gave a jolt to the existing machinery of the State. What is in their minds who have enacted it? Are they human as they profess no respect for sanctity of like? What religion they adhere to when they violate the basic fundamental ethos of religion – love, care, fraternity? How long can we blame the state as being soft on terror when its dirty fangs have not spared a single part of globe? The nation stood politically undivided and the nonsense gimmick of regional chauvinism by Raj Thackrej stood shamefully exposed to the ebb.
There is need to condemn this terrorism in unanimous terms, building consent on fighting back together as the nation that we will not loose on National Integrity at any cost. While we capture these emotional-psychological strands, at the societal-political level we need federal agency to tackle the menace of terrorism between the Union and State Government.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
synchronisation of federal foreign policy aims!
synchronisation of federal foreign policy aims!
Federalism in the contemporary world is a significant means to reconcile unity and diversity within a political system. Democracies like United States of America adopted for federalism to limit governmental powers ,while India and Canada made the choice for federalism because it accommodates diversities.
Diversities within a society enrich politics, culture, legislation and the judicial discourse as it reflects and respects the reality of the diversity of the human nature. Issues of legitimacy, of “we” as opposed to the “other”, autonomy, are important challenging issues to be pondered over.
The forces of integration moved the International Relations away from Realism and more close towards Neo-Liberalism, signified by presence of complex interdependence within the International realm and end of the hegemony of the Statist ideas. The challenge in each federal nation is to ensure that the foreign foray and activities of sub-national/constituent units/ states and the larger aspect of foreign policy as articulated by the federal government do not overlap and clash. The present day global scenario cannot exist in vacuum, bypassing the grassroots, therefore both orders of government need to contribute towards effective external presence of the nation. The constituent units have greater understanding of nuances of ground realities, their needs while the Federal government have greater experience in articulating National Interest in international sphere. Their co-operation needs to be enlisted through effective intergovernmental relations
Federalism in the contemporary world is a significant means to reconcile unity and diversity within a political system. Democracies like United States of America adopted for federalism to limit governmental powers ,while India and Canada made the choice for federalism because it accommodates diversities.
Diversities within a society enrich politics, culture, legislation and the judicial discourse as it reflects and respects the reality of the diversity of the human nature. Issues of legitimacy, of “we” as opposed to the “other”, autonomy, are important challenging issues to be pondered over.
The forces of integration moved the International Relations away from Realism and more close towards Neo-Liberalism, signified by presence of complex interdependence within the International realm and end of the hegemony of the Statist ideas. The challenge in each federal nation is to ensure that the foreign foray and activities of sub-national/constituent units/ states and the larger aspect of foreign policy as articulated by the federal government do not overlap and clash. The present day global scenario cannot exist in vacuum, bypassing the grassroots, therefore both orders of government need to contribute towards effective external presence of the nation. The constituent units have greater understanding of nuances of ground realities, their needs while the Federal government have greater experience in articulating National Interest in international sphere. Their co-operation needs to be enlisted through effective intergovernmental relations
United States of America: Incoherent federal foreign policy agenda
United States of America: Incoherent Federal Foreign Policy Agenda
The United States of America is a federal republic with a bicameral parliament. . The concept of ‘state’ is largely missing from American political discourse being supplicated by the term ‘government’.
The federal approach to interpret this constitutional prism in US clearly speaks that apart from a very limited power to enter into international agreements, with the approval of the Congress, the only involvement of the States in the treaty making process is through State representatives in the Senate.
Better connectivity, communication, have made citizens to put onus on States to ensure their interests. The internationalization of production, distribution, transportation, communications, and investment, have provided incentives to State and local governments to create new jobs, diversify their economic base, and enhance revenues , hitherto not pursued by them.
The issue of state sovereignty arises as the ‘distinction between foreign and domestic policy is increasingly becoming blurred with sub national units entering an arena which was customarily regarded as prerogative of federal government’
There have been debates that rise of States in foreign affairs , on the ethical grounds it represents a highly desirable democratization of the foreign policy process, yet its accompanied facet of localization, leads to a dangerous derogation from national governments' power to conduct a coherent foreign policy.
The United States of America is a federal republic with a bicameral parliament. . The concept of ‘state’ is largely missing from American political discourse being supplicated by the term ‘government’.
The federal approach to interpret this constitutional prism in US clearly speaks that apart from a very limited power to enter into international agreements, with the approval of the Congress, the only involvement of the States in the treaty making process is through State representatives in the Senate.
Better connectivity, communication, have made citizens to put onus on States to ensure their interests. The internationalization of production, distribution, transportation, communications, and investment, have provided incentives to State and local governments to create new jobs, diversify their economic base, and enhance revenues , hitherto not pursued by them.
The issue of state sovereignty arises as the ‘distinction between foreign and domestic policy is increasingly becoming blurred with sub national units entering an arena which was customarily regarded as prerogative of federal government’
There have been debates that rise of States in foreign affairs , on the ethical grounds it represents a highly desirable democratization of the foreign policy process, yet its accompanied facet of localization, leads to a dangerous derogation from national governments' power to conduct a coherent foreign policy.
Friday, October 10, 2008
say 'HELLO!'
Hello, an interesting movie asking us to probe what lies beneath us, a yet another good Friday dose. Based on an International Book selling novel ‘one night at call centre’, by Chetan Bhagat, the story begins with the pomp and splendor of Salman Khan, whose chopper gets delayed post the show. While waiting in the lobby, a sudden visit by Katrina Kaif that she shall recite a story to kill boredom during the wait, only if he makes a movie on it. What makes Khan buy the deal was the idea of God involved within it.
The story revolves around lives of Shyam, Vroom(Sohail Khan), Radhika (Amrita) , Priyanka (Gul Panag), Isha (Isha Kopiakar), Military Uncle, who have been living simple yet unsatisfied lives as calling agents in call centre. Initially when they began working, the work seemed interesting but later monotony strikes which owes largely due to their lot.
The script by Chetan Bhagat deserves kudos for brilliantly capturing the scenario of our common lives and the ‘other-side’ accompanied with the BPO effect. The late night shifts, the spat of words at being late in cab pick up, the parties associated along with work, the change in our daily routine to sustain American economy, the anger gulped down on hearing unwanted words at the foreign call, the greed for NRI match for daughter, the unfriendly attitude of in-laws for the working women deserve to be mentioned for capturing the paraphernalia surrounding our common lives.
An escapist move comes when the five decide to go out to forget the unpleasant night and the larger uneasy lives they are experiencing. A sheer glimpse of absurdity that surrounds our lives pointing to meaninglessness within this life. A call from GOD during their accident guides them to listen to their inner conscience, have confidence, believe in themselves and learn to loose so as to taste success.
A revolutionary mood a la Che Guevera, comes forth with the six folks planning to tame the miseries of life with their wits and conviction. The power of media and civil society come forth to challenge the crude edges of neo liberal market forces calling for downsizing jobs. A tinge of revolution, using the power of technology to serve the use of indigenous employment, is seen when the calling agents create the fear about virus and need for constant calling. Determinism to do rise above the failures faced in life, which ended in happy end for all, with each carving a niche for itself with its efforts and faith.
A telling account, close to reality. Alvira Agnihotri deserves credit for designing clothes that make the character look real rather than ‘reel’ types. The dialogues by Bhagat capture the imagination, the feeling of each and everyone who have been effected by realities of globalization.
The story revolves around lives of Shyam, Vroom(Sohail Khan), Radhika (Amrita) , Priyanka (Gul Panag), Isha (Isha Kopiakar), Military Uncle, who have been living simple yet unsatisfied lives as calling agents in call centre. Initially when they began working, the work seemed interesting but later monotony strikes which owes largely due to their lot.
The script by Chetan Bhagat deserves kudos for brilliantly capturing the scenario of our common lives and the ‘other-side’ accompanied with the BPO effect. The late night shifts, the spat of words at being late in cab pick up, the parties associated along with work, the change in our daily routine to sustain American economy, the anger gulped down on hearing unwanted words at the foreign call, the greed for NRI match for daughter, the unfriendly attitude of in-laws for the working women deserve to be mentioned for capturing the paraphernalia surrounding our common lives.
An escapist move comes when the five decide to go out to forget the unpleasant night and the larger uneasy lives they are experiencing. A sheer glimpse of absurdity that surrounds our lives pointing to meaninglessness within this life. A call from GOD during their accident guides them to listen to their inner conscience, have confidence, believe in themselves and learn to loose so as to taste success.
A revolutionary mood a la Che Guevera, comes forth with the six folks planning to tame the miseries of life with their wits and conviction. The power of media and civil society come forth to challenge the crude edges of neo liberal market forces calling for downsizing jobs. A tinge of revolution, using the power of technology to serve the use of indigenous employment, is seen when the calling agents create the fear about virus and need for constant calling. Determinism to do rise above the failures faced in life, which ended in happy end for all, with each carving a niche for itself with its efforts and faith.
A telling account, close to reality. Alvira Agnihotri deserves credit for designing clothes that make the character look real rather than ‘reel’ types. The dialogues by Bhagat capture the imagination, the feeling of each and everyone who have been effected by realities of globalization.
Friday, October 3, 2008
DILUTING REALIST FOREIGN POLICY?
The discourse on foreign policy which was hitherto seen in crude realist discourse where only the federal government was representative of foreign afairs is being changed. Today neo-liberal post modern paradigm in the realm of International relations refuses to adhere to crude Domestic-international distinction, and concedes to the existence of multiple realities. This has put onus on the policies of the nation to respond to the demands of changed times.
State sovereignty is becoming porous or perforated as the local has connection with the global. It is not a one way process but constant process of interaction, where federalism can be analysed under the paradigm of pluralistic democracy as the two sets of governments are independent yet jointly linked.
Sub national units have expanded their continental and international involvement over the past two decades. This is particularly significant in the United States, where individual states such as California, New York and Texas have GDPs which rival industrialized nation-states. In case of India, the treaty making power is an executive prerogative under Article 253. and recently, the Parliament was able to assert its power in case of Indo-U.S nuclear deal, the former left ally of United Progressive Alliance Government forced the executive (government) to share every information with the Parliament.
Monday, September 1, 2008
LAWS, BARGAINING, AND PEOPLE
LAWS, BARGAINING, AND PEOPLE
Federalism signifies a continuous process of tough bargaining and negotiation between the federal and state government. This has great significance in context of a parliamentary federal set up like India. In present time, where non traditional security dimensions like terrorism loom large with its threats cutting across borders. The organized nature of this crime with systematic clandestine nature of its operation adds to the gravity of the situation.
The federal apparatus is disturbed when certain states vulnerable due to the changing context of security raise their voice to the need for special laws to tackle the problem. To address the problem at hand, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was promulgated in 1999, reportedly to combat organized crime and terrorism. The Gujarat Control of Organized Crime Bill (GUJCOC), which is similar to MCOCA, in response to bomb blasts on 26 July in Ahmedabad and similar attempts at Surat is being pushed upon.
MCOCA is pending for Presidential assent since four years. Similarly when there is call for GUJCOC, the need to address the security scenario in the nation in a holistic manner needs to be addressed. If each state calls for special laws to deal with rising threats each time, then the issue of co-ordination and its imbalance arises. It is not only one state that in under, the security situation has to be dealt from the vantage point of national integrity where such laws seem to be at odds.
It is commendable how Gujarat has achieved a commendable level of development under Chief Minister Narendre Modi and the recent terror strikes are condemnable in severe terms. However, these premises alone do not merit the case for special laws as it does not solve the problem at hand. Mere laws will be insufficient to tackle the problem, unless we pay attention to its implementation. How laws like Prevention of Terrorism Act- POTA have been misused under the pretext of national security which led to a communal divide is an acclaimed fact. This statement has special bearing in case of present demand for GUJCOC.
The organized nature of crime calls for strengthening federal apparatus by doing away with political vendetta, party politics , and working of the two levels of government involving the third tier of Grassroots democracy to unearth the problem. The spirit of federalism dies down when the bargaining between the two levels settles down to aspect of political scores. With United Progressive Alliance at Centre and Bhartiya Janata Party in Gujrat, the sheer reduction of security threat to the level of special laws is unhealthy .in federal and polity terms.
It needs to be emphasized that to deal with anarchists like the terrorists who believe in phantom like destruction, the administration and police at the Centre and State level needs to work in tandem to attack the problem at hand. There needs to be constant dialogue between them and search for consensus. The cry for MCOCA and GUJCOC no has to be dealt very carefully by the Union government, taking into the special need of each state. It has to also keep in mind that if these laws come into force, will it allow other states for such laws as when terror strikes. This might lead to balkanization of federal polity in lieu of each state calling for its special interest and laws.
Thus there is need to first tackle the security challenges by mobilizing the grassroots. There has be systematic efforts at Union and State level to tackle terror to avoid duplication and overburdening the State apparatus with more laws. It is the people residing in various states that should be seen as Citizens of one unified nation, this should be the guiding spirit of dealing with phangs of terrorism as it this common lot that is at the bearing end of ultimate causality.
Federalism signifies a continuous process of tough bargaining and negotiation between the federal and state government. This has great significance in context of a parliamentary federal set up like India. In present time, where non traditional security dimensions like terrorism loom large with its threats cutting across borders. The organized nature of this crime with systematic clandestine nature of its operation adds to the gravity of the situation.
The federal apparatus is disturbed when certain states vulnerable due to the changing context of security raise their voice to the need for special laws to tackle the problem. To address the problem at hand, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was promulgated in 1999, reportedly to combat organized crime and terrorism. The Gujarat Control of Organized Crime Bill (GUJCOC), which is similar to MCOCA, in response to bomb blasts on 26 July in Ahmedabad and similar attempts at Surat is being pushed upon.
MCOCA is pending for Presidential assent since four years. Similarly when there is call for GUJCOC, the need to address the security scenario in the nation in a holistic manner needs to be addressed. If each state calls for special laws to deal with rising threats each time, then the issue of co-ordination and its imbalance arises. It is not only one state that in under, the security situation has to be dealt from the vantage point of national integrity where such laws seem to be at odds.
It is commendable how Gujarat has achieved a commendable level of development under Chief Minister Narendre Modi and the recent terror strikes are condemnable in severe terms. However, these premises alone do not merit the case for special laws as it does not solve the problem at hand. Mere laws will be insufficient to tackle the problem, unless we pay attention to its implementation. How laws like Prevention of Terrorism Act- POTA have been misused under the pretext of national security which led to a communal divide is an acclaimed fact. This statement has special bearing in case of present demand for GUJCOC.
The organized nature of crime calls for strengthening federal apparatus by doing away with political vendetta, party politics , and working of the two levels of government involving the third tier of Grassroots democracy to unearth the problem. The spirit of federalism dies down when the bargaining between the two levels settles down to aspect of political scores. With United Progressive Alliance at Centre and Bhartiya Janata Party in Gujrat, the sheer reduction of security threat to the level of special laws is unhealthy .in federal and polity terms.
It needs to be emphasized that to deal with anarchists like the terrorists who believe in phantom like destruction, the administration and police at the Centre and State level needs to work in tandem to attack the problem at hand. There needs to be constant dialogue between them and search for consensus. The cry for MCOCA and GUJCOC no has to be dealt very carefully by the Union government, taking into the special need of each state. It has to also keep in mind that if these laws come into force, will it allow other states for such laws as when terror strikes. This might lead to balkanization of federal polity in lieu of each state calling for its special interest and laws.
Thus there is need to first tackle the security challenges by mobilizing the grassroots. There has be systematic efforts at Union and State level to tackle terror to avoid duplication and overburdening the State apparatus with more laws. It is the people residing in various states that should be seen as Citizens of one unified nation, this should be the guiding spirit of dealing with phangs of terrorism as it this common lot that is at the bearing end of ultimate causality.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
FEDERAL AGENCY FOR METRO TERRORISM
FEDERAL AGENCY FOR METRO TERRORISM
As the dastardly fangs of terrorism, rock the by lanes of yet another Metro city Ahmedabad, it is high that we sit and ponder over the dangerous fault line.
It needs no iteration that those who believe in killing the innocent lot to prove their prowess so as to terrorize the state apparatus have a very shaky level of conviction in humanity. The threat of terrorism cuts across all borders and the enemy is faceless. The issue of compensation and rehabilitation of affected victims need attention but the larger issue is how long can we let ourselves at the receiving end?
To suggest to implement draconian laws like Prevention of Terrorism Act would be insane looking at the delicate nature of the problem at hand. Further laws remain passive unless implemented with a genuine thought to improve the society.
India is a federal parliamentary democracy, with a bicameral Parliament, which bears striking resemblance to Canadian Constitution, which can be attributed to the presence of British Rule in both countries. The unfortunate terror strikes are limited to realm of metro cities so as to create maximum damage to the ‘Aristotelian mean’- the metros where Middle class are prominent, which are integral to sustenance of Democracy. Earlier it was Mumbai, now Ahmedabad, so as terror strikes at a stroke, what can be done from this federal paradigm.
It was during the National Democratic Alliance the idea of federal agency was mooted, which would cater to looking after the onslaught of non-traditional security dimensions, of which this metro terrorism is namely one. This aspect has been recently endorsed by the present Congress regime. It is high time that we ponder over the modalities of operation of federal agency to deal with terror situation
It needs to be emphasized that to deal with anarchists like the terrorists who believe in phantom like destruction, on what levels of efficiency will this federal agency work? The administration and police at the Centre and State level needs to work in tandem to attack the problem at hand. There needs to be constant dialogue between them and search for consensus. Undoubtedly there will be synchronization of aims as both the levels of government would consent to regime of law and order, avoiding the blasts.
The issue of funding comes to fore as to which level of government will bear the cost to exchequer. It is not everyday that blasts are happening and then in wake of sudden blast, to get into fast action, would be an unwise proposition for the federal agency. We need to define the ambit of patrolling terror in wider regular terms without involving any cumbersome hindrance for the common lot.
The issue of systematization level of terrorism comes up, as not all States face the same vengeance, like West Bengal, Kerala are less prone to attack unlike Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat. So how to deal with terrorism at Pan India level. The Naxal violence is another of its kinds where Salwa Judum has faced backlash with the people not ready to give up arms. So how to juxtapose the various forms of violence being inflicted in the nation needs to be clearly defined for the agaency to work well.
The issue of special task forces like Para military forces have been resented by the States in the past as it makes their subject in the State list – Law and Order vulnerable to mercy of the centre. Thus the new agency needs to carefully gauge the sensitivities of each state before any action.
The issue of monitoring of terror is mandatory. Thus the agency should involve experts from strategic field, who would work in tandem with the administration to eliminate terror. We need to broad base the efforts by raising the awareness amongst the common man about the need to maintain unity in diversity amidst the chaos unleashed by such attacks. The idea of National Interest needs to perceived in true Secular, plural ethos of the country.
Email: amnamirza2002@gmail.com
As the dastardly fangs of terrorism, rock the by lanes of yet another Metro city Ahmedabad, it is high that we sit and ponder over the dangerous fault line.
It needs no iteration that those who believe in killing the innocent lot to prove their prowess so as to terrorize the state apparatus have a very shaky level of conviction in humanity. The threat of terrorism cuts across all borders and the enemy is faceless. The issue of compensation and rehabilitation of affected victims need attention but the larger issue is how long can we let ourselves at the receiving end?
To suggest to implement draconian laws like Prevention of Terrorism Act would be insane looking at the delicate nature of the problem at hand. Further laws remain passive unless implemented with a genuine thought to improve the society.
India is a federal parliamentary democracy, with a bicameral Parliament, which bears striking resemblance to Canadian Constitution, which can be attributed to the presence of British Rule in both countries. The unfortunate terror strikes are limited to realm of metro cities so as to create maximum damage to the ‘Aristotelian mean’- the metros where Middle class are prominent, which are integral to sustenance of Democracy. Earlier it was Mumbai, now Ahmedabad, so as terror strikes at a stroke, what can be done from this federal paradigm.
It was during the National Democratic Alliance the idea of federal agency was mooted, which would cater to looking after the onslaught of non-traditional security dimensions, of which this metro terrorism is namely one. This aspect has been recently endorsed by the present Congress regime. It is high time that we ponder over the modalities of operation of federal agency to deal with terror situation
It needs to be emphasized that to deal with anarchists like the terrorists who believe in phantom like destruction, on what levels of efficiency will this federal agency work? The administration and police at the Centre and State level needs to work in tandem to attack the problem at hand. There needs to be constant dialogue between them and search for consensus. Undoubtedly there will be synchronization of aims as both the levels of government would consent to regime of law and order, avoiding the blasts.
The issue of funding comes to fore as to which level of government will bear the cost to exchequer. It is not everyday that blasts are happening and then in wake of sudden blast, to get into fast action, would be an unwise proposition for the federal agency. We need to define the ambit of patrolling terror in wider regular terms without involving any cumbersome hindrance for the common lot.
The issue of systematization level of terrorism comes up, as not all States face the same vengeance, like West Bengal, Kerala are less prone to attack unlike Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat. So how to deal with terrorism at Pan India level. The Naxal violence is another of its kinds where Salwa Judum has faced backlash with the people not ready to give up arms. So how to juxtapose the various forms of violence being inflicted in the nation needs to be clearly defined for the agaency to work well.
The issue of special task forces like Para military forces have been resented by the States in the past as it makes their subject in the State list – Law and Order vulnerable to mercy of the centre. Thus the new agency needs to carefully gauge the sensitivities of each state before any action.
The issue of monitoring of terror is mandatory. Thus the agency should involve experts from strategic field, who would work in tandem with the administration to eliminate terror. We need to broad base the efforts by raising the awareness amongst the common man about the need to maintain unity in diversity amidst the chaos unleashed by such attacks. The idea of National Interest needs to perceived in true Secular, plural ethos of the country.
Email: amnamirza2002@gmail.com
Friday, July 18, 2008
NOSTALGIA
NOSTALGIA
A powerful storm goes in her mind. Happy, calm, content with a sense of satisfaction as she looks back. A pleasant chill in the spine during the journey to the bylanes of past.
Archaic, insane, unworthy , below average were synonymns for the labor she put it. By sheer stoke of good fortune, the seeds sowed reaped good dividends. The taunts from peers& friends for which she used to look down upon herself, are a joke now. She remembers with profound admiration for all the petty things she did, which helped her materialize her instincts.
A powerful storm goes in her mind. Happy, calm, content with a sense of satisfaction as she looks back. A pleasant chill in the spine during the journey to the bylanes of past.
Archaic, insane, unworthy , below average were synonymns for the labor she put it. By sheer stoke of good fortune, the seeds sowed reaped good dividends. The taunts from peers& friends for which she used to look down upon herself, are a joke now. She remembers with profound admiration for all the petty things she did, which helped her materialize her instincts.
Monday, July 7, 2008
18 JULY: THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF INDO- US NUCLEAR DEAL
18 JULY: THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF INDO- US NUCLEAR DEAL
As the third anniversary of the Indo United States (US) Nuclear Deal approaches near on 18 July, and the determined leaders – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush , want it in ‘haste’ to prove their legacy before they depart from the throne, a larger issue of feasibility of nuclear deal and the National Interest comes up.
The issue of transparency, accountability, rises up in our democratic polity as information for common people is grossly lacking pointing to uniformed debate prevailing via media management.
Firstly the political-strategic aspect of this deal needs to be seen to be understood in terms of its embedded context. It is part of a strategic framework which would be used to bring ‘Pax Americana’. This goes back to the readings of National Security Document 2002 which spells out Russia and China as enemies but mentions India as possible ally.
In terms of technology and energy, it is not that ‘big deal’ too. If the Prime Minister laments that the nation has inadequate uranium funding, then the blame for this morass goes to him, when he as the finance minister slashed the expenditure on uranium in prodigal terms. Both thermal and hydro electricity are much cheaper and safe alternative sources have been hitherto left unexplored. Further, the question of Nuclear Weapons free South Asia, which India enshrines, by its foreign policy ethos, cannot be dictated by United States.
In terms what the deal has to offer, the picture is not rosy. The reprocessing and enrichment technology is not being given. The nation’s stands that the deal would make India as a responsible nuclear power displays political irresponsibility as the very nuclear proliferation would have knock-on effects with neighbors and other nations.
The other issue of strengthening Indo-US ties via the deal seems superficial. With the rise of multilateralism as a force in World Politics, Indo-US ties have been marked by ‘closer engagement’. This growing warmth will not be reversed even if the deal is not enforced. Thus to base the entire paraphernalia of relations with United States seems to put bilateral ties on hollow terms.
The very process involved in executing the deal is complex. It seems irksome to comprehend that then why the government is ready to put government future at stake just for the deal. What the leaders in both nations fail to perceive that they cannot fashion legacy by such symbolism.
The very issue of National Interest is grossly misunderstood and understated. To dub it in sole military or nuclear arsenal terms is flawed. National Security has a much wider dimension with rise of terrorism, narcotics, natural disasters where the threats are cutting across borders. Then there are issues which seek the merit of government like Women Reservation, plight of unorganized sector in globalization, foreign investment in retail. It is high time that the present gives up its blinkered vision with sole attention on the Nuclear Deal for the integrity and sustainability of the nation.
As the third anniversary of the Indo United States (US) Nuclear Deal approaches near on 18 July, and the determined leaders – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush , want it in ‘haste’ to prove their legacy before they depart from the throne, a larger issue of feasibility of nuclear deal and the National Interest comes up.
The issue of transparency, accountability, rises up in our democratic polity as information for common people is grossly lacking pointing to uniformed debate prevailing via media management.
Firstly the political-strategic aspect of this deal needs to be seen to be understood in terms of its embedded context. It is part of a strategic framework which would be used to bring ‘Pax Americana’. This goes back to the readings of National Security Document 2002 which spells out Russia and China as enemies but mentions India as possible ally.
In terms of technology and energy, it is not that ‘big deal’ too. If the Prime Minister laments that the nation has inadequate uranium funding, then the blame for this morass goes to him, when he as the finance minister slashed the expenditure on uranium in prodigal terms. Both thermal and hydro electricity are much cheaper and safe alternative sources have been hitherto left unexplored. Further, the question of Nuclear Weapons free South Asia, which India enshrines, by its foreign policy ethos, cannot be dictated by United States.
In terms what the deal has to offer, the picture is not rosy. The reprocessing and enrichment technology is not being given. The nation’s stands that the deal would make India as a responsible nuclear power displays political irresponsibility as the very nuclear proliferation would have knock-on effects with neighbors and other nations.
The other issue of strengthening Indo-US ties via the deal seems superficial. With the rise of multilateralism as a force in World Politics, Indo-US ties have been marked by ‘closer engagement’. This growing warmth will not be reversed even if the deal is not enforced. Thus to base the entire paraphernalia of relations with United States seems to put bilateral ties on hollow terms.
The very process involved in executing the deal is complex. It seems irksome to comprehend that then why the government is ready to put government future at stake just for the deal. What the leaders in both nations fail to perceive that they cannot fashion legacy by such symbolism.
The very issue of National Interest is grossly misunderstood and understated. To dub it in sole military or nuclear arsenal terms is flawed. National Security has a much wider dimension with rise of terrorism, narcotics, natural disasters where the threats are cutting across borders. Then there are issues which seek the merit of government like Women Reservation, plight of unorganized sector in globalization, foreign investment in retail. It is high time that the present gives up its blinkered vision with sole attention on the Nuclear Deal for the integrity and sustainability of the nation.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
fever CSE
Having being nurtured by the schools and colleges in Delhi, the place which is the hub for all aspirants attempting to make it to Civil Services Examination (CSE) of Union Public Services Commission (UPSC), forces me to pen down my thoughts about the paraphernalia of IAS syndrome going in the city.
There are plethora of coaching institutes buzzing in the town, which claim to train you in a manner to secure you seat in this prestigious “mantle of Indian administration.” There are big claims made by publishing pictures of those who succeed to be portrayed as their future icons. It has larger goal of fetching new students each year to let their ‘shops’ continue to operate in business.
No doubt CSE has been coveted as the best future option since several generations. Yet we fail to understand that this is not the end of road. What about those suicides cases where the trauma of not making even in the last attempt, forces you to quit on your life? What about those who fail to qualify from mains to interview, from interview to final ranking? What about those who were erstwhile present in Civil Services like Aruna Roy, Harsh Mander, yet call it quit, at peak of their careers? To err is to be human. Yet in this arduously competitive marketized realm, there are no takers for it.
There needs to be mention about the prodigal fees charged by these coaching institutes, which adds to the financial burden of the aspirants, who in already under subtle psychological burden of “what if not” making it situation. Further do these coaching institutes even think of imparting values on integrity, morality, honesty, which are essential to the continuity of credibility of Civil Services as larger framework of our polity. The emphasis on sheer cramming of facts, reams being photocopied and passed on to aspirants puts question marks on ‘originality and innovation’, which is very much needed in job of Administration.
Every year as June commences, there are introductory seminars organized, where undue thought are paid as to how merely preparing for CSE, ignoring the significant aspect of ‘continuity and survivability’, the kind of challenges involved within the tenure of service. This could provide aspirants with a clear picture of whether to opt or not and the issue of ‘informed choice’ takes a backseat. This has ramifications for the service of nation.
Further if you carefully scan through the advertisements in the newspaper, you can read through the sheer image personification as CSE leading to ‘Mai-baap’ status in society points to the kind of vulnerable value system attached herewith. There is no remark as to how all subjects are theoretical, opinion-oriented and that claims of letting you score in your optional are farce, the fact being, it is a matter of your own aptitude.
. The gigantic corruption, maladministration, neglect of rule of law has done colossal damage to faith of an average Indian citizen. So here’s ending with good luck to all aspirants and asking them to re-think their parameters beyond those set by these coaching shops.
There are plethora of coaching institutes buzzing in the town, which claim to train you in a manner to secure you seat in this prestigious “mantle of Indian administration.” There are big claims made by publishing pictures of those who succeed to be portrayed as their future icons. It has larger goal of fetching new students each year to let their ‘shops’ continue to operate in business.
No doubt CSE has been coveted as the best future option since several generations. Yet we fail to understand that this is not the end of road. What about those suicides cases where the trauma of not making even in the last attempt, forces you to quit on your life? What about those who fail to qualify from mains to interview, from interview to final ranking? What about those who were erstwhile present in Civil Services like Aruna Roy, Harsh Mander, yet call it quit, at peak of their careers? To err is to be human. Yet in this arduously competitive marketized realm, there are no takers for it.
There needs to be mention about the prodigal fees charged by these coaching institutes, which adds to the financial burden of the aspirants, who in already under subtle psychological burden of “what if not” making it situation. Further do these coaching institutes even think of imparting values on integrity, morality, honesty, which are essential to the continuity of credibility of Civil Services as larger framework of our polity. The emphasis on sheer cramming of facts, reams being photocopied and passed on to aspirants puts question marks on ‘originality and innovation’, which is very much needed in job of Administration.
Every year as June commences, there are introductory seminars organized, where undue thought are paid as to how merely preparing for CSE, ignoring the significant aspect of ‘continuity and survivability’, the kind of challenges involved within the tenure of service. This could provide aspirants with a clear picture of whether to opt or not and the issue of ‘informed choice’ takes a backseat. This has ramifications for the service of nation.
Further if you carefully scan through the advertisements in the newspaper, you can read through the sheer image personification as CSE leading to ‘Mai-baap’ status in society points to the kind of vulnerable value system attached herewith. There is no remark as to how all subjects are theoretical, opinion-oriented and that claims of letting you score in your optional are farce, the fact being, it is a matter of your own aptitude.
. The gigantic corruption, maladministration, neglect of rule of law has done colossal damage to faith of an average Indian citizen. So here’s ending with good luck to all aspirants and asking them to re-think their parameters beyond those set by these coaching shops.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Being single: Empowered? ;)
The chic let writer for Harper Collins Advaita Kala, author of ‘Almost Single’ (need to mention about mutual admiration via our messages never cease!) makes a pertinent point that how being single is sense of empowerment. we have good education, we do justice to it but focusing on our carriers, how we beset the traditional ideas that ‘B.A ke baaad Biyahh!” (getting married after graduation). This single woman is ready to take on challenges, overcome all tides and devote herself to professional lives. It is a guide as to how our societal values are changing and those conservatives in society need not use their interfering yardstick to judge a single woman as mark of taboo.
On a similar note, let us add that how being single can be empowering. Nobody disputes the need to have strong professional caliber, but what about the immense choices & space & latitude you get by being single. Go discover world, experience with new men/women, each new relation has something new to teach without any bondage. Your life comes in full circle as you care for yourself and let yourself be cared by others. It is not infidelity but that you love yourself & want to spread this love. You deserve every bit of pampering. Perhaps, these bondages of being single will be much more cherished. We live in new times where you are not an out-cast if you are single. Let us amend Advaita here, as it applies equally to men & women.
The chic let writer for Harper Collins Advaita Kala, author of ‘Almost Single’ (need to mention about mutual admiration via our messages never cease!) makes a pertinent point that how being single is sense of empowerment. we have good education, we do justice to it but focusing on our carriers, how we beset the traditional ideas that ‘B.A ke baaad Biyahh!” (getting married after graduation). This single woman is ready to take on challenges, overcome all tides and devote herself to professional lives. It is a guide as to how our societal values are changing and those conservatives in society need not use their interfering yardstick to judge a single woman as mark of taboo.
On a similar note, let us add that how being single can be empowering. Nobody disputes the need to have strong professional caliber, but what about the immense choices & space & latitude you get by being single. Go discover world, experience with new men/women, each new relation has something new to teach without any bondage. Your life comes in full circle as you care for yourself and let yourself be cared by others. It is not infidelity but that you love yourself & want to spread this love. You deserve every bit of pampering. Perhaps, these bondages of being single will be much more cherished. We live in new times where you are not an out-cast if you are single. Let us amend Advaita here, as it applies equally to men & women.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
what is 26 january
What is 26 January?
Being nurtured in top institutions like DPS, St.Stephen’s, Hindu College, University of Delhi which have strong nationalist tendencies to celebrate the idea of ‘My nation being a great republic!”, I have been asked to inscribe in mind that 26january is a day when India became republic, our constitution came into being this day in 1950, and that We are a Republic because the head of State in the country is an elected one. Every year the pomp and show that accompanies this day in the parade and celebration is unsurpassed. There is colossal budget and elaborate arrangements and practices, hard work involved since 59 years of the establishment.
However, there are certain issues that beg the merit of answers. The election to the highest office is a game-play of Political realities of the day. The Presidential office is high on ceremony and symbolism.
The constitution has been often thwarted by its very safe-guarders, misuse of Article 356, controversial role of Governor, to name a few. The very nature of constitution has been debated as asymmetrical, that the States have been over-ridden by the Centre power, so it is dubbed as ‘Quasi-federal’ by K.C.Wheare. The political realities of multi-party coalition era, globalization, coalition politics, and rise of regional players, vigilant media and civil society have put onus on the need to rework the different dimensions of our constitution.
The rise of judicial activism have raised alarm over the balance of separation of power between different organs of Government, indifference to rule of law, maladministration, gigantic corruption plagues the system. Thus in this context, for the common Indian Citizen, 26 January turns out to be mere ‘holiday’. The ethos behind the celebration are given back seat. The very guardians of Indian state, as the preamble asserts in ringing declaration’ We the people’, ironically do not cherish its virtues.
There is elaborate coverage of the parade in the news, yet we fail to ask ourselves: celebration of the republic for whom? What cannot be neglected that these concerns are raised every year, yet we turn blind eye to it. We need to be proud of mighty Indian state that varies from display of Brahmaos, Sukhoi, MiGs, tableaux of different states, diplomatic establishments as depicted in the parade. Yet this feeling should not be restricted to this splendorous exhibition. The state needs to account for the trust imposed on it. Perhaps that is why despite naxalism, communalism, regionalism, linguistic politics, the state is standing tall as Hobbesian leviathan.
It is time now for this state to revert this respect and integrity of its citizens by adequate supply of public services, containing inflation, checking corruption, ensuring transparency, accountability.
I hope it is not much to ask for democratic state like ours to set as resolution for this New Year to celebrate the 60th republic day with much fervor than ever before.
Being nurtured in top institutions like DPS, St.Stephen’s, Hindu College, University of Delhi which have strong nationalist tendencies to celebrate the idea of ‘My nation being a great republic!”, I have been asked to inscribe in mind that 26january is a day when India became republic, our constitution came into being this day in 1950, and that We are a Republic because the head of State in the country is an elected one. Every year the pomp and show that accompanies this day in the parade and celebration is unsurpassed. There is colossal budget and elaborate arrangements and practices, hard work involved since 59 years of the establishment.
However, there are certain issues that beg the merit of answers. The election to the highest office is a game-play of Political realities of the day. The Presidential office is high on ceremony and symbolism.
The constitution has been often thwarted by its very safe-guarders, misuse of Article 356, controversial role of Governor, to name a few. The very nature of constitution has been debated as asymmetrical, that the States have been over-ridden by the Centre power, so it is dubbed as ‘Quasi-federal’ by K.C.Wheare. The political realities of multi-party coalition era, globalization, coalition politics, and rise of regional players, vigilant media and civil society have put onus on the need to rework the different dimensions of our constitution.
The rise of judicial activism have raised alarm over the balance of separation of power between different organs of Government, indifference to rule of law, maladministration, gigantic corruption plagues the system. Thus in this context, for the common Indian Citizen, 26 January turns out to be mere ‘holiday’. The ethos behind the celebration are given back seat. The very guardians of Indian state, as the preamble asserts in ringing declaration’ We the people’, ironically do not cherish its virtues.
There is elaborate coverage of the parade in the news, yet we fail to ask ourselves: celebration of the republic for whom? What cannot be neglected that these concerns are raised every year, yet we turn blind eye to it. We need to be proud of mighty Indian state that varies from display of Brahmaos, Sukhoi, MiGs, tableaux of different states, diplomatic establishments as depicted in the parade. Yet this feeling should not be restricted to this splendorous exhibition. The state needs to account for the trust imposed on it. Perhaps that is why despite naxalism, communalism, regionalism, linguistic politics, the state is standing tall as Hobbesian leviathan.
It is time now for this state to revert this respect and integrity of its citizens by adequate supply of public services, containing inflation, checking corruption, ensuring transparency, accountability.
I hope it is not much to ask for democratic state like ours to set as resolution for this New Year to celebrate the 60th republic day with much fervor than ever before.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
is she at fault?
A monster that she got to know accidentally. Respect, Honesty, integrity, love, decency were virtues told to be cherished by him to her. Befriending her was a means to him, to break boredom in his monotonous shady life. And the story begins henceforth.
Under the façadicious duties & obligations to honor, he took her in that “make believe”, but the reality had different in store. Chasing other women at back, lying, mild insults, and tinch of rude attitude in the dose of love all followed. Ironically, she was well educated, bold, and mature yet flowed along with the tide of stupid emotions. She was warned by near ones yet she blindly followed her faith.
Time had its own script, he called off the terms, and like a coward used insults, ignore, to quit instead of direct negotiations. Nonetheless, she never believed in wasting time and spoiling terms because things soured up in the past. Yet made efforts to stay in talking terms. Though there was no expectation of any gain (‘materialistic”, as he accused her once) in this by her, but the crude male nature never changes. He never bothered to keep her posted about his whereabouts, unless she bothered him for so. Horrendously after coming back from a vacation, he had the audacity to speak out the venom he always had in mind. Nasty, Brute, shallow nature was revealed when he replied as to how he was doing, by saying that he has been warming up his bed by paid avenues via females.
There is no scope for blame game. Splits do not define negativity. But am glad to share with you all that she has learnt lessons of life the harsh way. What others used to say about him to her, was so true. Yet this tragedy does not desist her from being good or look towards future with optimism. It will be futile to raise hue and cry for somebody who never valued her. Yet a deep seated desire persists in her. He should go through the same trauma of insults, rudeness, for-granted ness, lies, infidelity by near ones. Is she at fault in wishing so?
Under the façadicious duties & obligations to honor, he took her in that “make believe”, but the reality had different in store. Chasing other women at back, lying, mild insults, and tinch of rude attitude in the dose of love all followed. Ironically, she was well educated, bold, and mature yet flowed along with the tide of stupid emotions. She was warned by near ones yet she blindly followed her faith.
Time had its own script, he called off the terms, and like a coward used insults, ignore, to quit instead of direct negotiations. Nonetheless, she never believed in wasting time and spoiling terms because things soured up in the past. Yet made efforts to stay in talking terms. Though there was no expectation of any gain (‘materialistic”, as he accused her once) in this by her, but the crude male nature never changes. He never bothered to keep her posted about his whereabouts, unless she bothered him for so. Horrendously after coming back from a vacation, he had the audacity to speak out the venom he always had in mind. Nasty, Brute, shallow nature was revealed when he replied as to how he was doing, by saying that he has been warming up his bed by paid avenues via females.
There is no scope for blame game. Splits do not define negativity. But am glad to share with you all that she has learnt lessons of life the harsh way. What others used to say about him to her, was so true. Yet this tragedy does not desist her from being good or look towards future with optimism. It will be futile to raise hue and cry for somebody who never valued her. Yet a deep seated desire persists in her. He should go through the same trauma of insults, rudeness, for-granted ness, lies, infidelity by near ones. Is she at fault in wishing so?
Monday, November 12, 2007
do we need to tag relations?
Tepidness on face, warmth in eyes, amicable attitude, courteous gestures, soft touch. There are no barriers of caste, creed, race, religion, class. Those attempts to freak out for dinners and prolong it hop, jig, and spin, swings, whirls at dancing session. Those mornings when you wake up by calls to wish you good fortune to dare not to throw down the gauntlet in battle of life. That remembrance during noon time to show the special place you occupy. The sudden gifts outpoured on you to mark preference for you. Those hugs eschewed, kisses abstained, and few words fought shy of, promises forsweared. Attempts to understand. And enjoy life as moments flow.
It is bothersome when others come up and ask you ‘who is he/she to you?”. The amusement, delight, gratification from unsaid emotion, untold love all spills up. I beg to ask them, “Who the hell are you to poke your nose and ask us to tag our terms? We do not want to have exemplary people around us, just to earmark them to avoid taboos. It is not an anathema to move ahead with life. There is no deception as change is the law of life and time.
It is bothersome when others come up and ask you ‘who is he/she to you?”. The amusement, delight, gratification from unsaid emotion, untold love all spills up. I beg to ask them, “Who the hell are you to poke your nose and ask us to tag our terms? We do not want to have exemplary people around us, just to earmark them to avoid taboos. It is not an anathema to move ahead with life. There is no deception as change is the law of life and time.
Friday, October 19, 2007
it is costly to be a woman
IT IS COSTLY TO BE A WOMAN : A THOUGHT
It is not a new thing to hear loud cries of gender inequality, female discrimination. I would not like to dwelve on any particular case or quote glaring worrisome numbers here as I am in no didactic mood.
Myriad ideas strike my mind as I pen down this note. While conversation during a panel discussion on female foeticide, an innovative idea comes across ‘It is costly to be a woman!”
This statement is affirmed with huge reverence as its strikes the root of all women issues around. A woman has to perform different roles at different stages. The expectations are colossal. Right from the shoes of timid daughter, to obedient adolescent girl, to faithful wife, to meticulous professional, to caring grand mother, a woman has to strive it all.
She is dubbed as wicked, base, immoral, sinful, vile (add many more, if you wish, as atrocities against her does not cease) once she tries to do away with the status- quo which breeds an inferior place for her.
While glancing at frightening facts, across reams in the media, which volumes about gender inequality like female foeticide, persistence of dowry, inadequate representation to women in jobs and government, violence in multifarious form ranging from domestic to psychological. There is no scope for blame game here. The constructivist turn, that the ‘world is a creation of our ideas’, thus we have been perceiving the world the way dominant idea portrays it : women as feeble, weak, incapable, thus marks inequality. Aristotle held inequality would lead to a revolution, so let us begin. The society treated us unequally, we will ask for a change, not in a destitute manner of letting society convey equal status on us, but in a new thought ‘it is costly to be a woman!’
Our tender needs cannot be looked after by men folk. Holism strikes here, our world as entity has priority over its elements. It is a deontological ethic which asks us to be good, do duty to what is right, irrespective of end. What we need to do away is what Sartre held, ‘Mauvaise Foi’, a self deception in which one attempt to evade one’s freedom by denying one’s being-for-itself in favor of the being-in-itself of an object. It can be simply put as ‘sui generis’, literally of its own kind , unique.
We need to get out of solipsism, ironically whose most glaring example is, not speaking out the atrocities committed on you because you are woman. Let us begin by highlighting the way society has ill-treated us, in spite of our great contributions in sustaining the society. We have made way for stability in society, polity, economy by being good daughter mother, wife, sister, professional. This altruism will continue, just because the cost of woman cannot be borne does not mean nihilism form our side. The inherent values of care, regard, warmth, tenderness, affection are too exorbitant to ask from a gendered society.
Amna Mirza
It is not a new thing to hear loud cries of gender inequality, female discrimination. I would not like to dwelve on any particular case or quote glaring worrisome numbers here as I am in no didactic mood.
Myriad ideas strike my mind as I pen down this note. While conversation during a panel discussion on female foeticide, an innovative idea comes across ‘It is costly to be a woman!”
This statement is affirmed with huge reverence as its strikes the root of all women issues around. A woman has to perform different roles at different stages. The expectations are colossal. Right from the shoes of timid daughter, to obedient adolescent girl, to faithful wife, to meticulous professional, to caring grand mother, a woman has to strive it all.
She is dubbed as wicked, base, immoral, sinful, vile (add many more, if you wish, as atrocities against her does not cease) once she tries to do away with the status- quo which breeds an inferior place for her.
While glancing at frightening facts, across reams in the media, which volumes about gender inequality like female foeticide, persistence of dowry, inadequate representation to women in jobs and government, violence in multifarious form ranging from domestic to psychological. There is no scope for blame game here. The constructivist turn, that the ‘world is a creation of our ideas’, thus we have been perceiving the world the way dominant idea portrays it : women as feeble, weak, incapable, thus marks inequality. Aristotle held inequality would lead to a revolution, so let us begin. The society treated us unequally, we will ask for a change, not in a destitute manner of letting society convey equal status on us, but in a new thought ‘it is costly to be a woman!’
Our tender needs cannot be looked after by men folk. Holism strikes here, our world as entity has priority over its elements. It is a deontological ethic which asks us to be good, do duty to what is right, irrespective of end. What we need to do away is what Sartre held, ‘Mauvaise Foi’, a self deception in which one attempt to evade one’s freedom by denying one’s being-for-itself in favor of the being-in-itself of an object. It can be simply put as ‘sui generis’, literally of its own kind , unique.
We need to get out of solipsism, ironically whose most glaring example is, not speaking out the atrocities committed on you because you are woman. Let us begin by highlighting the way society has ill-treated us, in spite of our great contributions in sustaining the society. We have made way for stability in society, polity, economy by being good daughter mother, wife, sister, professional. This altruism will continue, just because the cost of woman cannot be borne does not mean nihilism form our side. The inherent values of care, regard, warmth, tenderness, affection are too exorbitant to ask from a gendered society.
Amna Mirza
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