" Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
------------
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity "
Yeats could have had the present day state of affairs within the BJP in his mind when he wrote these lines. Indeed, the locus has become unidentifiable.
Quetelet says, a thousand Stalinist purges and a country full of Gulags will not solve the BJPs problem. For it is not an issue of ideological purity, cadre motivation or alignment. It is more elemental than that...
The BJP is in utter chaos because it does not have a first family. Since there is no family there is no interest in perpetuating the party and keeping it in power. In the absence of this family, there are only individuals power hungry individuals.
Perverse (and sad) though the argument may be, it is entirely true and Quetelet believes that the truth is the only substrate on which politics can lead to power.
The BJP needs to subscribe more affirmatively to the theoretical and practical reality that a political formation in a democracy has to ‘sell’ itself to the voters. Therefore positioning is as important as advertising – i.e.- Who am I (or Who are We) is not more important than Why Buy Me (Or Why vote for us in this case). A party in the electoral fray will have to modify the voter’s current frame of reference by increasing the salience of that benefit which it is best capable of presenting to her/him. Since a family grows, evolves and perpetuates itself, it can control its positioning as a political brand much better than a consortium of individuals.
The persuasiveness of an appeal to the voter finds sharper cut through with a living family. Not for nothing has the family survived as the core unit of society, business even crime !!
To twist up a famous quote from Leo Tolstoy :
Happy (parties) are all alike; every unhappy ( party ) (lacks a family) of its own.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Jinnah Jugular Jaswant
Mr Jaswant Singh was an articulate ‘Vajpayee courtier’ who rose to cabinet positions in his government.
He has written books and continues to write. They are important mostly because of ‘who’ has written them rather than what has been written.
Now , at last, he seems to have qualified on both counts.
Alas, what he wrote is also important because of who he is.
Jinnah – India, Independence, Partition, cost Jaswant Singh his primary membership of the Bhartiya Janata Party.
Quetelet says, it ought to hardly matter to him or to the party , least of all to the country. It is only of interest to illustrate a case of an entire political formation reading the mood of the country so incorrectly and being stubborn in holding on to its erroneous conclusions.
This is, prima facie, a move that reflects the primacy of the most hard-line elements within the party. They are rumored to be on the ascendant since the party’s recent parliamentary election defeat.
It is one more instance of ‘political management by entropy’ so typical of the BJP nowadays. It seems to be in deep disarray, catalysed by the infighting since the May parliamentary elections when it was reduced to 116 seats, its worst performance in years.
Quetelet says that ideological purity and political necessity weigh in the balance . The BJP needs to get itself to the centre but it seems to be drifting to the right.
The BJP top brass is in the Chintan Baithak to ponder on why they have reached where they are and how to become more electable and appealing .
Will book bashing take them there ?
He has written books and continues to write. They are important mostly because of ‘who’ has written them rather than what has been written.
Now , at last, he seems to have qualified on both counts.
Alas, what he wrote is also important because of who he is.
Jinnah – India, Independence, Partition, cost Jaswant Singh his primary membership of the Bhartiya Janata Party.
Quetelet says, it ought to hardly matter to him or to the party , least of all to the country. It is only of interest to illustrate a case of an entire political formation reading the mood of the country so incorrectly and being stubborn in holding on to its erroneous conclusions.
This is, prima facie, a move that reflects the primacy of the most hard-line elements within the party. They are rumored to be on the ascendant since the party’s recent parliamentary election defeat.
It is one more instance of ‘political management by entropy’ so typical of the BJP nowadays. It seems to be in deep disarray, catalysed by the infighting since the May parliamentary elections when it was reduced to 116 seats, its worst performance in years.
Quetelet says that ideological purity and political necessity weigh in the balance . The BJP needs to get itself to the centre but it seems to be drifting to the right.
The BJP top brass is in the Chintan Baithak to ponder on why they have reached where they are and how to become more electable and appealing .
Will book bashing take them there ?
Saturday, August 15, 2009
No need for Raje- sthan
Vasundhara Raje Scindia is a non entity in Indian Politics of the moment.
No matter how things shape out she is likely to be on a backburner for at least half a decade. For someone who was so intoxicated with power, it must hurt . We can see the withdrawl symptoms.
Even within the BJP, Rajasthan as a state is hardly on the top right quadrant of priority and importance. She flourished in part because of her ability to manage New Delhi and her backwater state. But now that the BJP has only the backwaters to paddle, all hell is breaking loose .
The constitution of India recognizes no such thing as a Political party. However, politics in India has crystallised thus. Those who control the party, get to be in Government at the helm of affairs when their political formation gets the mandate.
Vasundhara Raje did more damage to the BJP in Rajasthan than any other person(s).
Arrogant, imperious, megalomaniacal..the synonyms will run out and yet not manage to describe her overbearing style that reduced the party apparatus to naught. She perhaps never had ideological moorings or any idealism, but it was her feudal temperament that did so much more damage to her cadre than to her self.
Why did this degeneration take place? Why did the party make no effort to arrest the decline ?
Consider :
- Terror attacks in Jaipur - Any responsibility in the state administration ?
- Farmers shot dead like dogs in in Ganga nagar and Ghadsana -Any prosecutions ?
- Caste tensions across the state -What was done besides deal making ?
- Alleged land grabbing by private interests. Could we probe the benefactors ?
- Complete abandonment of official authority to extra constitutional authorities who played their innings by their own rules…..all of these things are in the public domain.
She demanded deference, was surrounded by hangers-on, crony business men, glitterati.
Rajasthan was party land , the kind that happens after a fashion show !!.
She thrived / survived because of patronage by Vajpayee and Advani, old time associates of her Mother, the Rajmata. She has now been reduced to petty antics to cling on to whatever little status she has as 'Leader (!) of the Opposition (!!)
It is not worthy of featuring on Indian Political radar but is a fit case to sample from source and analyse the degenration and fractal feudal monopolisation of ' the party with a difference' - Now, 'A party with (obvious) differences' !!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Proactively tackling Swine Flu
With three more swine flu deaths in the space of a day, and many more cases streaming in from across the country, India is suddenly staring at the reality that the world has been preparing for since April 2009
The Centre, as well as the state governments, seem to be pressing the accelerator to tackle a deteriorating situation and contain the growing panic as fresh cases were reported from places like Delhi, Chennai, Goa and even Jaipur, while a few continued to battle for their lives in Mumbai and Pune.
This is a pandemic that WHO has worked with national Governments to tackle. It is unlikely that any Governmental action could have prevented its occurance in India but :
Why does it take a few hundred established cases to launch a website ?
Why does it take fatalities to add screening centers ?
Why , in the case of a pandemic, do we need to classify Government hospitals and private hospitals and the responsibilities attached to the respective status types ?
Why are simple facts not published every single day for public consumption ?
Why can daily briefings not happen in every Primary Health center ?
Why is it seeming like no one has been proactive here ? Why has the ramp up not happened on a war footing ?
Better late than never.
The Centre, as well as the state governments, seem to be pressing the accelerator to tackle a deteriorating situation and contain the growing panic as fresh cases were reported from places like Delhi, Chennai, Goa and even Jaipur, while a few continued to battle for their lives in Mumbai and Pune.
This is a pandemic that WHO has worked with national Governments to tackle. It is unlikely that any Governmental action could have prevented its occurance in India but :
Why does it take a few hundred established cases to launch a website ?
Why does it take fatalities to add screening centers ?
Why , in the case of a pandemic, do we need to classify Government hospitals and private hospitals and the responsibilities attached to the respective status types ?
Why are simple facts not published every single day for public consumption ?
Why can daily briefings not happen in every Primary Health center ?
Why is it seeming like no one has been proactive here ? Why has the ramp up not happened on a war footing ?
Better late than never.
Write to india.political.report@gmail.com
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Drought declared by the Doctor
On Saturday, 8th August,2009, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said there was drought in 141 districts in the country and people must be prepared for a further rise in prices. There is a shortfall of six million hectares under paddy, this kharif season, owing to a deficient southwest monsoon.
So it’s official . The government has admitted to drought, price rise and a specific shortfall in kharif sowing.
Addressing a meeting of the State Chief Secretaries, Dr. Singh assured the states of the Centre’s full support for tackling drought. The States should quickly send detailed memoranda for assistance under the Calamity Relief Fund or the National Calamity Contingency Fund, he declared.
A meeting of all state Chief Secretaries is anyways a wasteful indulgence where also only doubt and lack of clarity has been displayed. What have they been told which could not have been guessed in their respective state capitals or indeed communicated over phone, fax or file ?
The response is neither proactive nor reactive. The PM’s expression of concern over drought conditions on August 8th is a bit too little and way too late.
Asking people to be prepared and alluding to calamity relief is bemusing.
Dr Singh preached to the choir declaring that “in no case should we allow citizens to go hungry,” and if need be, the government would take strong measures and intervene in the market. No news on what those could be. “We are helped by the fact that there were adequate food stocks owing to record production and procurement of foodgrains in 2007-08 and 2008-09.” he stated and that “We expect the State governments to intervene in procurement and act against hoarders.”
Dr. Singh wanted the States to operate a contingency plan for crops, drinking water, fodder, human and animal health and keep a close watch on food grain prices.
Qu says that from the earliest origin of government in this country, through successive reigns, occurrence of drought and resulting famine has been proactively monitored and actions taken
All forms of government in this country, even the dictatorial ones, had been receptive to the purpose of mitigating drought & alleviating suffering. Always, attempts were made to put in place a blue print and a well thought out cascading contingency plan.
For a 21st century Prime Minister aided by Super computers , latest Met technologies and global Information access to make pronouncements of this nature seems like a old village Mukhiya advising his community to trek over the hill in an attempt to survive.
Consider :
- Contingency scenarios , famine relief works scope and schedule , community water resources investments - Where is the master plan?
- Along with this prophecy of calamity, was it not incumbent upon the PM to disclose to the nation at least 10 concrete measures which are anyhow fairly ritualistic rather than bemoan lack of budget utilization etc and merely press the panic button?
- That this drought was anticipated is a matter of record. Mr Pawar had , from London, decided that it was enough of a rainy condition to call off the match (pun intended !) and left the prognosis to his lethargic mandarins. When exactly did it dawn upon the rulers that we were dry and desperate?
Finally, Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar blamed hoarding and speculation in the market for the “sudden” spurt in the prices of essential commodities, particularly pulses. He said that unless the States took action, the Centre would not be able to control the prices. We need effective response, not a lesson in Civics !!
Write to india.political.report@gmail.com
So it’s official . The government has admitted to drought, price rise and a specific shortfall in kharif sowing.
Addressing a meeting of the State Chief Secretaries, Dr. Singh assured the states of the Centre’s full support for tackling drought. The States should quickly send detailed memoranda for assistance under the Calamity Relief Fund or the National Calamity Contingency Fund, he declared.
A meeting of all state Chief Secretaries is anyways a wasteful indulgence where also only doubt and lack of clarity has been displayed. What have they been told which could not have been guessed in their respective state capitals or indeed communicated over phone, fax or file ?
The response is neither proactive nor reactive. The PM’s expression of concern over drought conditions on August 8th is a bit too little and way too late.
Asking people to be prepared and alluding to calamity relief is bemusing.
Dr Singh preached to the choir declaring that “in no case should we allow citizens to go hungry,” and if need be, the government would take strong measures and intervene in the market. No news on what those could be. “We are helped by the fact that there were adequate food stocks owing to record production and procurement of foodgrains in 2007-08 and 2008-09.” he stated and that “We expect the State governments to intervene in procurement and act against hoarders.”
Dr. Singh wanted the States to operate a contingency plan for crops, drinking water, fodder, human and animal health and keep a close watch on food grain prices.
Qu says that from the earliest origin of government in this country, through successive reigns, occurrence of drought and resulting famine has been proactively monitored and actions taken
All forms of government in this country, even the dictatorial ones, had been receptive to the purpose of mitigating drought & alleviating suffering. Always, attempts were made to put in place a blue print and a well thought out cascading contingency plan.
For a 21st century Prime Minister aided by Super computers , latest Met technologies and global Information access to make pronouncements of this nature seems like a old village Mukhiya advising his community to trek over the hill in an attempt to survive.
Consider :
- Contingency scenarios , famine relief works scope and schedule , community water resources investments - Where is the master plan?
- Along with this prophecy of calamity, was it not incumbent upon the PM to disclose to the nation at least 10 concrete measures which are anyhow fairly ritualistic rather than bemoan lack of budget utilization etc and merely press the panic button?
- That this drought was anticipated is a matter of record. Mr Pawar had , from London, decided that it was enough of a rainy condition to call off the match (pun intended !) and left the prognosis to his lethargic mandarins. When exactly did it dawn upon the rulers that we were dry and desperate?
Finally, Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar blamed hoarding and speculation in the market for the “sudden” spurt in the prices of essential commodities, particularly pulses. He said that unless the States took action, the Centre would not be able to control the prices. We need effective response, not a lesson in Civics !!
Write to india.political.report@gmail.com
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Indian Anari (The poor Indian Amateur)
Government in India seems to have got off its knees after the departure of Mrs Clinton.
Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance will seem cozy when compared to the status that the Americans now reserve for us.
Some questions to consider .
- Did India agree on a formulation on 'climate change', essentially agreeing to a two-degree rise cap on global temperatures from the pre-industrial era?
- The final preparatory meeting for the Doha Round of trade negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will be held in India, where it is claimed that India will ensure that finally an agreement will be reached ?? why the change ??
- And at Shame Shame…..Sharm el Sheikh our Prime Minister formally delinked terrorism from an all-encompassing bilateral dialogue. Who authorized this ?
It appears that the PM believes he is an ‘American style’ president and his new government /administration has decided to restate policy position on national and international issues, without notice or debate and consensus
Hillary Clinton's clear agenda was to open up the Indian market for US exports, particularly on technology areas; thus the proposal for two nuclear power plants during this visit. What did India get in return ?
As this PMO asserts itself over each facet of governance, in an undemocratic matter, unfettered by political considerations and minding more the American constituency than its (absent) Indian one is forced to think of the Indian common man “Sab kucch seekha hamney Na seekhi hoshiyari; sach hai duniya waalon ki hum hai Anari “
Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance will seem cozy when compared to the status that the Americans now reserve for us.
Some questions to consider .
- Did India agree on a formulation on 'climate change', essentially agreeing to a two-degree rise cap on global temperatures from the pre-industrial era?
- The final preparatory meeting for the Doha Round of trade negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will be held in India, where it is claimed that India will ensure that finally an agreement will be reached ?? why the change ??
- And at Shame Shame…..Sharm el Sheikh our Prime Minister formally delinked terrorism from an all-encompassing bilateral dialogue. Who authorized this ?
It appears that the PM believes he is an ‘American style’ president and his new government /administration has decided to restate policy position on national and international issues, without notice or debate and consensus
Hillary Clinton's clear agenda was to open up the Indian market for US exports, particularly on technology areas; thus the proposal for two nuclear power plants during this visit. What did India get in return ?
As this PMO asserts itself over each facet of governance, in an undemocratic matter, unfettered by political considerations and minding more the American constituency than its (absent) Indian one is forced to think of the Indian common man “Sab kucch seekha hamney Na seekhi hoshiyari; sach hai duniya waalon ki hum hai Anari “
Sunday, July 19, 2009
On the Budget - Urban Orphans
We all know that a section of a bridge under construction for the Delhi Metro collapsed recently.
We know that Mumbai has a huge issue of water logging every time heavy rainfall coincides with the High Tide.
Now :
- Who is the Mayor of Delhi ? Of Mumbai ?
- What is the Delhi /Mumbai /Bangalore /Chennai progress plan vs Budget ? Is there a commonly understood vision that has been articulated in the past ?
Politically, Urban India is orphaned. Economically, it can’t avoid being at the center stage.
Urban Indians do not represent a constituency. Else the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which will spend Rs 39,000 crore in giving every Ruralite a chance to earn would not be specified as ' Rural' .
Traditionally and more so since economic liberalization, Urban India is the only route to future growth. This is where we see economic activity, creation of jobs, greater private investments. Urbanites pay taxes.
- Where is a 360-degree plan for our 6 metros ?
- Why is no one stating plans for power, ports, highways and airports in a city specific manner?
At least 60% of our gross domestic product comes from urban India; it houses 30% of our people.
- Why can we not have a vision to create 6 more metros in the next 30 years ? Why has urbanization been a “Chandigarh in limbo” most of the time
?
Consider :
- Are we thinking and funding affordable housing ?
- Why are we not seeing the potential of bringing in public-private partnership in urban infrastructure development?
The first Budget of the new Union government does not seem to indicate that they see their clear mandate as a clear Urban India mandate too.
Rome was not built in a day, but on a day they may have budgeted for it to start !!
We know that Mumbai has a huge issue of water logging every time heavy rainfall coincides with the High Tide.
Now :
- Who is the Mayor of Delhi ? Of Mumbai ?
- What is the Delhi /Mumbai /Bangalore /Chennai progress plan vs Budget ? Is there a commonly understood vision that has been articulated in the past ?
Politically, Urban India is orphaned. Economically, it can’t avoid being at the center stage.
Urban Indians do not represent a constituency. Else the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which will spend Rs 39,000 crore in giving every Ruralite a chance to earn would not be specified as ' Rural' .
Traditionally and more so since economic liberalization, Urban India is the only route to future growth. This is where we see economic activity, creation of jobs, greater private investments. Urbanites pay taxes.
- Where is a 360-degree plan for our 6 metros ?
- Why is no one stating plans for power, ports, highways and airports in a city specific manner?
At least 60% of our gross domestic product comes from urban India; it houses 30% of our people.
- Why can we not have a vision to create 6 more metros in the next 30 years ? Why has urbanization been a “Chandigarh in limbo” most of the time
?
Consider :
- Are we thinking and funding affordable housing ?
- Why are we not seeing the potential of bringing in public-private partnership in urban infrastructure development?
The first Budget of the new Union government does not seem to indicate that they see their clear mandate as a clear Urban India mandate too.
Rome was not built in a day, but on a day they may have budgeted for it to start !!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
On the Budget - Aam Aadmi Khas masley (Common Man, Uncommon Issues)
Quetelet stands for the ‘average’ person. In India, politically this is referred to as the agenda for the ‘Aam Aadmi” . What we see, budget come and gone, is that today the ‘aam admi’ is confronting rising food prices, high rents, lack of adequate water and power and declining incomes.
Inflation as measured by the WPI has turned negative but inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index is still high and its emphasis is on food, a large part of the ‘aam aadmi’s’ expenditure.
There are fears of job losses and if a person is in business, there is a fear of slack business and slow turnover. The pace of manufacturing growth has been alarmingly slow.
What about the private investment so critical for industrial growth ?
If private investment is clogged, how can industrial production be competitive?
How can private investment rush in the current, interest rates scenario ?
If the government is going to go in for heavy borrowings as outlined in the Budget (fiscal deficit at 6.8 per cent), what is to allay the fear is that interest rates would rise by 1 percentage point ?
There is a serious threat of rainfall deficit this year in many wheat growing areas that could lead to high prices. The government has already banned wheat exports. What will the macro economy look like if there is a drought ?
Almost all G8 countries are resorting to protectionism and are imposing higher taxes on imports. The Obama Administration is discriminating against US companies that are outsourcing their business processes to countries like India. What is our position on this ?
In the case of Indian industry, many cheap imports, especially from China, are hurting our own manufactures but duties have not been raised. For example raising the duty on edible oil imports would have brought in a lot of revenue and would have protected oil seed farmers also. Who will satisfy the stake holders in this regard ?
The government is fond of putting more money on schemes which have fancy names but no one knows whether they are wholly successful .Even in the case of NREGA there is a fear that we are creating a dole dependent constituency. Why not create and enable them to have real income generating assets ?
Most small enterprises have to pay high interest rates on borrowings to run their businesses and the conditions of work are often quite appalling and the workers are routinely paid below minimum wages.
On health, most people do not need to crowd city hospitals if primary health care was available in the villages or small towns. What is the confidence in making a difference there in a hurry ?
Which school does the aam aadmi’s kids go to ? What are the assets those institutions have ?
The power situation is always a critical element in India’s growth. There has been a huge gap between the power requirement and its generation and supply — the government fell short by 70 per cent of the target to set up new power plants in 2008-09 and there are frequent voltage fluctuations and power cuts. Delhi and Bombay are no exceptions .Who will correct and by when ?
Unfortunately, while issues seem clear the policies are skewed by politics.
India is fortunately not in a deep crisis situation like the western nations — widely acknowledged now by the World Bank and the IMF, and even if there are no foreign investment inflows, our own high savings rate at 38 per cent (of the GDP) can sustain growth of about 7 to 8 per cent.
What remains important is to encourage private initiative and investment and the proper implementation of projects funded by public spending.
Inflation as measured by the WPI has turned negative but inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index is still high and its emphasis is on food, a large part of the ‘aam aadmi’s’ expenditure.
There are fears of job losses and if a person is in business, there is a fear of slack business and slow turnover. The pace of manufacturing growth has been alarmingly slow.
What about the private investment so critical for industrial growth ?
If private investment is clogged, how can industrial production be competitive?
How can private investment rush in the current, interest rates scenario ?
If the government is going to go in for heavy borrowings as outlined in the Budget (fiscal deficit at 6.8 per cent), what is to allay the fear is that interest rates would rise by 1 percentage point ?
There is a serious threat of rainfall deficit this year in many wheat growing areas that could lead to high prices. The government has already banned wheat exports. What will the macro economy look like if there is a drought ?
Almost all G8 countries are resorting to protectionism and are imposing higher taxes on imports. The Obama Administration is discriminating against US companies that are outsourcing their business processes to countries like India. What is our position on this ?
In the case of Indian industry, many cheap imports, especially from China, are hurting our own manufactures but duties have not been raised. For example raising the duty on edible oil imports would have brought in a lot of revenue and would have protected oil seed farmers also. Who will satisfy the stake holders in this regard ?
The government is fond of putting more money on schemes which have fancy names but no one knows whether they are wholly successful .Even in the case of NREGA there is a fear that we are creating a dole dependent constituency. Why not create and enable them to have real income generating assets ?
Most small enterprises have to pay high interest rates on borrowings to run their businesses and the conditions of work are often quite appalling and the workers are routinely paid below minimum wages.
On health, most people do not need to crowd city hospitals if primary health care was available in the villages or small towns. What is the confidence in making a difference there in a hurry ?
Which school does the aam aadmi’s kids go to ? What are the assets those institutions have ?
The power situation is always a critical element in India’s growth. There has been a huge gap between the power requirement and its generation and supply — the government fell short by 70 per cent of the target to set up new power plants in 2008-09 and there are frequent voltage fluctuations and power cuts. Delhi and Bombay are no exceptions .Who will correct and by when ?
Unfortunately, while issues seem clear the policies are skewed by politics.
India is fortunately not in a deep crisis situation like the western nations — widely acknowledged now by the World Bank and the IMF, and even if there are no foreign investment inflows, our own high savings rate at 38 per cent (of the GDP) can sustain growth of about 7 to 8 per cent.
What remains important is to encourage private initiative and investment and the proper implementation of projects funded by public spending.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Karat & Stick Policy
" Once upon a time, there was a party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist)..."
Very soon that is how we will read the articles on the CPM
Almost there!
Today its parliamentary strength is at the lowest since the party's formation in 1964. It has, in a very Stalinist posture, decided NOT to reveal any conclusions on the reasons why they had such a pathetic showing despite being the powers behind the scene in the previous Government for almost 4 out of its 5 years in power.
Instead, they seem even more confused on sorting out the internecine warfare in its Kerala unit. That, the birthplace of threw communist movement in India.
The fight between two groups, one headed by the state party secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the other by the chief minister, V S Achuthanandan, has paralysed administration in the state and contributed to the Left Front's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
To seem effective Mr Prakash Karat, this week, after an unusual two-day session to discuss this factionalism in Kerala, chose to expel the Chief Minsiter, a founding leader of the organisation, from the party's highest decision-making body, the politburo.
However, Vijayan has been allowed to continue as state chief even though he faces a CBI case over his alleged role in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin corruption case.
Truly Karat and Stick.
A few answers needed :
Is it acute schizophrenia ?
Why has a leader been expelled from the Apex party forum yet heads the state Government ?
Why is this party of the masses (?) that apparently swears by probity in public office defending a leader facing corruption charges ??
If at all, how will they account for the consequences and who will be accountable?
Very soon that is how we will read the articles on the CPM
Almost there!
Today its parliamentary strength is at the lowest since the party's formation in 1964. It has, in a very Stalinist posture, decided NOT to reveal any conclusions on the reasons why they had such a pathetic showing despite being the powers behind the scene in the previous Government for almost 4 out of its 5 years in power.
Instead, they seem even more confused on sorting out the internecine warfare in its Kerala unit. That, the birthplace of threw communist movement in India.
The fight between two groups, one headed by the state party secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the other by the chief minister, V S Achuthanandan, has paralysed administration in the state and contributed to the Left Front's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
To seem effective Mr Prakash Karat, this week, after an unusual two-day session to discuss this factionalism in Kerala, chose to expel the Chief Minsiter, a founding leader of the organisation, from the party's highest decision-making body, the politburo.
However, Vijayan has been allowed to continue as state chief even though he faces a CBI case over his alleged role in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin corruption case.
Truly Karat and Stick.
A few answers needed :
Is it acute schizophrenia ?
Why has a leader been expelled from the Apex party forum yet heads the state Government ?
Why is this party of the masses (?) that apparently swears by probity in public office defending a leader facing corruption charges ??
If at all, how will they account for the consequences and who will be accountable?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
On the Budget - Budge It !!
The more things change, the more they remain the same...
India watchers could well make this conclusion going by the budget that Mr. Pranab Mukerjee presented.
Going by the finance ministry’s own Economic Survey, published a few days prior by its economic advisers there is a lot that has been left ‘not done’. The survey had presented a bold wish-list of reforms, including divestment of minority stakes in PSUs, easing restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI); and even rethinking of labour laws.
What was seen was good old ‘tinkering’. No FDI caps were lifted, not in retail, not in civil aviation, not in Insurance.
What was of universal concern was the outcome that the central government’s deficit would widen to 6.8% of GDP in the year to March 2010. Add to it the state Government indebtedness and we will see the deficit in low double digits.
With the communists gone, the situation is similar to that of a recovering patient who has been in a cast for a long time. When the cast is cut off, lo and behold, it discovers it has forgotten to walk. It then needs to relearn walking. When it looks around, it discovers that many of the celebrated sprinters are suffering from multiple fractures. By all accounts India has weathered the global recession better than most. Our GDP grew by 5.8% in the last quarter of 2008, and in MQ of 2009. Much of it spurred by Government directed spending. It won rich dividends in terms of a electoral victory. The government wants to dole out more.
Our finances are precarious; debt approaches 80-85% of GDP. Are we recognizing that?
Handing out generous terms to Govt employees and enhancing the ear marked funds for disbursal under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will exacerbate the situation. Why are we convinced this is so required ?
Only the promise to introduce a nationwide goods and services tax (GST) by April 2010 is the bright spot. Unfortunately, the GST requires the all states to be on-board, and they guard their revenue-raising powers jealously. India’s tax regime on spirits is one case in point. Currently center-state powers are thus allocated that it bars states from taxing services, and prevents the central government taxing goods beyond the point of manufacture.
We need 'artha' to be the 'mool' of 'rajasya' not the other way around !!
India watchers could well make this conclusion going by the budget that Mr. Pranab Mukerjee presented.
Going by the finance ministry’s own Economic Survey, published a few days prior by its economic advisers there is a lot that has been left ‘not done’. The survey had presented a bold wish-list of reforms, including divestment of minority stakes in PSUs, easing restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI); and even rethinking of labour laws.
What was seen was good old ‘tinkering’. No FDI caps were lifted, not in retail, not in civil aviation, not in Insurance.
What was of universal concern was the outcome that the central government’s deficit would widen to 6.8% of GDP in the year to March 2010. Add to it the state Government indebtedness and we will see the deficit in low double digits.
With the communists gone, the situation is similar to that of a recovering patient who has been in a cast for a long time. When the cast is cut off, lo and behold, it discovers it has forgotten to walk. It then needs to relearn walking. When it looks around, it discovers that many of the celebrated sprinters are suffering from multiple fractures. By all accounts India has weathered the global recession better than most. Our GDP grew by 5.8% in the last quarter of 2008, and in MQ of 2009. Much of it spurred by Government directed spending. It won rich dividends in terms of a electoral victory. The government wants to dole out more.
Our finances are precarious; debt approaches 80-85% of GDP. Are we recognizing that?
Handing out generous terms to Govt employees and enhancing the ear marked funds for disbursal under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will exacerbate the situation. Why are we convinced this is so required ?
Only the promise to introduce a nationwide goods and services tax (GST) by April 2010 is the bright spot. Unfortunately, the GST requires the all states to be on-board, and they guard their revenue-raising powers jealously. India’s tax regime on spirits is one case in point. Currently center-state powers are thus allocated that it bars states from taxing services, and prevents the central government taxing goods beyond the point of manufacture.
We need 'artha' to be the 'mool' of 'rajasya' not the other way around !!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Talent -Privately in Public domain
In the last few days Mr. Nandan Nilekeni, one of the founders of Infosys and hitherto an Officer of that Corporation joined the UID mission as Chief with the status of a Cabinet Minister while Mr. E Sreedharan, CEO of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation resigned after owning moral responsibility for a tragedy where five people lost their lives when a bridge under construction in South Delhi collapsed.
It is appropriate to look at the admission and retention of talent in this context.
Talent has to operate within the system. Government is ultimately only an operationalising arm of the will of the republic. It is a system. E Sreedharan has proved one can deliver the goods; all it calls for is commitment, caliber, conviction and courage.
What we refer to as The Government in India stands for a massive but slow and effete permanent executive and an aggressive, temporary and increasingly dominant political executive, i.e. those who carry out and implement policy and those who make it.
It has been repeated ad-nauseam that pliant babus have become willing accomplices at the hands of self-seeking netas thus corrupting the administration, killing bureaucratic initiative and jeopardizing the healthy and progressive growth of the larger India changing /India strengthening agenda.
In a country where cadre sensitivity of the bureaucracy is legendary it is of educational value to see how far the government can tap the talent available in the private sector to promote good governance.
In India, a government job is a slow train. The brute majority of Government personnel are the legendary ICS – No , not the Indian Civil Service, but the more ubiquitous and ultimately more powerful Indian Corridor Service i.e. the peons, the Lower and Upper divisional clerks and the section staff. Like the many coupes of a long train, they are classified as Class I, II, III or IV
In the past fifteen years or so, as the economy opened up, there was a flow of talent from the public to the private sector. It was easy picking for the private sector; they homed in on the experienced but poorly paid talent in the public sector. We saw this as the monopolies dissolved in commercial banking, insurance, power, steel, Oil, media, telecom etc
But not so much in the higher reaches of the civil service. Indeed, from time to time, senior civil servants have left government service to join the private sector and MNCs but by and large the 400 odd civil servants who run the show have been immune to cross-sector movements. Attrition would not rate a percentage point, one can guesstimate.
Admission of talent is not about a single person, it is not about admitting individuals. In essence, the culture of administration has to change. It is ultimately about the system. Consider :
Will we admit talent to only where those in power feel urgent and specific attention is required? On Missionary terms ?
How are the credentials vetted?
How are terms of reference decided for infusion of private individuals?
Private Interests in public domain who certifies caliber ?
What about infusion of external talent in the ‘commanding heights’ of the economy?
Why not a revolving door for the executive cadre at the Navratnas?
Can we consider the same in Policy Advisory Services, Governmental programs--Why not in the social sector? Customs, Taxation, Economic Diplomacy?
Why not every where and any where?
Unless we want to make this a case of voluntary sanyas on part of those who get admitted won’t we need to fix remuneration that is competitive enough to attract and more importantly retain talent?
Till the system is adaptive, such talent ingress and egress will continue to be just that : A "Private' decision in public domain.
It is appropriate to look at the admission and retention of talent in this context.
Talent has to operate within the system. Government is ultimately only an operationalising arm of the will of the republic. It is a system. E Sreedharan has proved one can deliver the goods; all it calls for is commitment, caliber, conviction and courage.
What we refer to as The Government in India stands for a massive but slow and effete permanent executive and an aggressive, temporary and increasingly dominant political executive, i.e. those who carry out and implement policy and those who make it.
It has been repeated ad-nauseam that pliant babus have become willing accomplices at the hands of self-seeking netas thus corrupting the administration, killing bureaucratic initiative and jeopardizing the healthy and progressive growth of the larger India changing /India strengthening agenda.
In a country where cadre sensitivity of the bureaucracy is legendary it is of educational value to see how far the government can tap the talent available in the private sector to promote good governance.
In India, a government job is a slow train. The brute majority of Government personnel are the legendary ICS – No , not the Indian Civil Service, but the more ubiquitous and ultimately more powerful Indian Corridor Service i.e. the peons, the Lower and Upper divisional clerks and the section staff. Like the many coupes of a long train, they are classified as Class I, II, III or IV
In the past fifteen years or so, as the economy opened up, there was a flow of talent from the public to the private sector. It was easy picking for the private sector; they homed in on the experienced but poorly paid talent in the public sector. We saw this as the monopolies dissolved in commercial banking, insurance, power, steel, Oil, media, telecom etc
But not so much in the higher reaches of the civil service. Indeed, from time to time, senior civil servants have left government service to join the private sector and MNCs but by and large the 400 odd civil servants who run the show have been immune to cross-sector movements. Attrition would not rate a percentage point, one can guesstimate.
Admission of talent is not about a single person, it is not about admitting individuals. In essence, the culture of administration has to change. It is ultimately about the system. Consider :
Will we admit talent to only where those in power feel urgent and specific attention is required? On Missionary terms ?
How are the credentials vetted?
How are terms of reference decided for infusion of private individuals?
Private Interests in public domain who certifies caliber ?
What about infusion of external talent in the ‘commanding heights’ of the economy?
Why not a revolving door for the executive cadre at the Navratnas?
Can we consider the same in Policy Advisory Services, Governmental programs--Why not in the social sector? Customs, Taxation, Economic Diplomacy?
Why not every where and any where?
Unless we want to make this a case of voluntary sanyas on part of those who get admitted won’t we need to fix remuneration that is competitive enough to attract and more importantly retain talent?
Till the system is adaptive, such talent ingress and egress will continue to be just that : A "Private' decision in public domain.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Distinction, Debut, Discourse, Disaster, Discpline
In our democracy, some unique Distinctions:
1. Unlike the western democracies, the less privileged sections of Indian society are enamoured with the electoral process and their voting percentages are substantially higher.
2. The smaller parties have more political and ideological maneuverability when compared to the larger national parties
3. The population of the voting constituents tends to increase when we go from national to state to municipal /panchayat elections. Exactly the opposite happens in the western democracies where local governance suffers from apathy.
-- The post liberalization generation comes of age -- Debut
This is the first election where those who were born in the year 1991 will have the vote. They have lived their entire life in a ‘liberalised’ economy. They have grown up believing that in India all is well and everything is possible to achieve. So they will vote and we shall see what that throws up.
-- Hardly can you call this an election for the parliament -- Discourse
This election aims to elect a parliament but the role of parliament itself has never been more diminished than in the recent past. Abysmal number of days in session, virtual absence of debate and passage of almost all major bills after noisy and chaotic scenes instead of any discussion , Sting /Scam money being shown on live TV inside the Lok Sabha and parliamentarians being accused of and implicated in taking money for raising questions as well as for body trafficking . Phew.
-- It has been sanctified as a Presidential contest by parties which have virtually no internal democracy --Disaster
As if to drive the last nail, instead of alleviating the pain, this election has become LK Advani vs. Manmohan Singh (proxy Rahul Gandhi). Who has time for party in parliament reviews in the era of multi party kaleidoscopic coalitions? When there is virtually no internal democracy in the political party structure, how do you expect a higher calling for democratic values into the houses of parliament?
--When the code is bigger than the conduct –- Discipline
Article 324 of the constitution vests many powers with the Election Commission and makes it the responsibility of the Election Commission to be pro-active in superintending, directing & controlling the elections with the powers vested in it. But the implementation and enforcement of the code and the spirit of it are slightly different matters!!
Hate speeches, communalization of rhetoric, personal attacks, calls for violent action etc are great for churning news but the spirit of the elections are not impacted by a few instances. The bigger challenges, unaddressed as they are, include election finance, role of state sponsorship in the political process etc. Meanwhile, a film star turned parvenu politician has said things about a state CM and the show goes on…….
Write in to me at india.political.report@gmail.com
1. Unlike the western democracies, the less privileged sections of Indian society are enamoured with the electoral process and their voting percentages are substantially higher.
2. The smaller parties have more political and ideological maneuverability when compared to the larger national parties
3. The population of the voting constituents tends to increase when we go from national to state to municipal /panchayat elections. Exactly the opposite happens in the western democracies where local governance suffers from apathy.
-- The post liberalization generation comes of age -- Debut
This is the first election where those who were born in the year 1991 will have the vote. They have lived their entire life in a ‘liberalised’ economy. They have grown up believing that in India all is well and everything is possible to achieve. So they will vote and we shall see what that throws up.
-- Hardly can you call this an election for the parliament -- Discourse
This election aims to elect a parliament but the role of parliament itself has never been more diminished than in the recent past. Abysmal number of days in session, virtual absence of debate and passage of almost all major bills after noisy and chaotic scenes instead of any discussion , Sting /Scam money being shown on live TV inside the Lok Sabha and parliamentarians being accused of and implicated in taking money for raising questions as well as for body trafficking . Phew.
-- It has been sanctified as a Presidential contest by parties which have virtually no internal democracy --Disaster
As if to drive the last nail, instead of alleviating the pain, this election has become LK Advani vs. Manmohan Singh (proxy Rahul Gandhi). Who has time for party in parliament reviews in the era of multi party kaleidoscopic coalitions? When there is virtually no internal democracy in the political party structure, how do you expect a higher calling for democratic values into the houses of parliament?
--When the code is bigger than the conduct –- Discipline
Article 324 of the constitution vests many powers with the Election Commission and makes it the responsibility of the Election Commission to be pro-active in superintending, directing & controlling the elections with the powers vested in it. But the implementation and enforcement of the code and the spirit of it are slightly different matters!!
Hate speeches, communalization of rhetoric, personal attacks, calls for violent action etc are great for churning news but the spirit of the elections are not impacted by a few instances. The bigger challenges, unaddressed as they are, include election finance, role of state sponsorship in the political process etc. Meanwhile, a film star turned parvenu politician has said things about a state CM and the show goes on…….
Write in to me at india.political.report@gmail.com
Friday, April 17, 2009
Gates Gets it
The American Defense Secretary has shown the way with his 2010 budget.
If the Americans are saying Aye to managing the short term and investing behind equipping themselves to fight pirates, militias and fanatics in localized skirmishes while balancing their allocations to the conventional Big War with Big enemy, we say the rest of the world ought to follow.
Especially, India. We can ill afford to ignore it and persist with delusional tendencies.
Some parts of the Gates plan ought to be blindly copied e.g.
- Special forces to combat the terrorist threat,
- Strengthening paramilitary forces,
- Revisiting specific equipment needs for the changed nature of combat,
- Prioritizing cyber defense,
- Localized logistics infrastructure instead of megalithic apparatus
In other words, unconventional investments for unconventional warfare.
We need a panchayat plan for grass roots preparedness not a parliamentary plan for pretentious super power day dreaming. Naxalites don’t have tank squadrons and suicidal terrorists cannot be detected on sophisticated radar. We need first aid before we get the MRI machines.
If the Americans are saying Aye to managing the short term and investing behind equipping themselves to fight pirates, militias and fanatics in localized skirmishes while balancing their allocations to the conventional Big War with Big enemy, we say the rest of the world ought to follow.
Especially, India. We can ill afford to ignore it and persist with delusional tendencies.
Some parts of the Gates plan ought to be blindly copied e.g.
- Special forces to combat the terrorist threat,
- Strengthening paramilitary forces,
- Revisiting specific equipment needs for the changed nature of combat,
- Prioritizing cyber defense,
- Localized logistics infrastructure instead of megalithic apparatus
In other words, unconventional investments for unconventional warfare.
We need a panchayat plan for grass roots preparedness not a parliamentary plan for pretentious super power day dreaming. Naxalites don’t have tank squadrons and suicidal terrorists cannot be detected on sophisticated radar. We need first aid before we get the MRI machines.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Naxalites indoors, Taliban at the door
A few questions -
- If 150 out of 600 districts in India are Naxalite ridden, what has participative democracy done for those who are violently wrecking the status quo? Who is answerable?
- If we see Naxalite insurgency as one of the main concerns to India's peace and progress why is there such asymmetrical response even in contiguous states e.g. Orissa and Chhattisgarh?
- If a handful of violent criminals can strike at will, why is an aircraft carrier a priority over police modernisation ?
- Is Law and order as a state subject a holy cow?
- Is there any national policy on disaffection and disruptive extremism within India? how many more examples of utter chaos will we need for our mass media to focus on heartland India rather than Lahore and Swat ?
- If 150 out of 600 districts in India are Naxalite ridden, what has participative democracy done for those who are violently wrecking the status quo? Who is answerable?
- If we see Naxalite insurgency as one of the main concerns to India's peace and progress why is there such asymmetrical response even in contiguous states e.g. Orissa and Chhattisgarh?
- If a handful of violent criminals can strike at will, why is an aircraft carrier a priority over police modernisation ?
- Is Law and order as a state subject a holy cow?
- Is there any national policy on disaffection and disruptive extremism within India? how many more examples of utter chaos will we need for our mass media to focus on heartland India rather than Lahore and Swat ?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Pawar Permutations
The original (3×3×3) Rubik's Cube has eight corners and twelve edges. There are 8! (40,320) ways to arrange the corner cubes. Seven can be oriented independently, and the orientation of the eighth depends on the preceding seven, giving 37 (2,187) possibilities. There are 12! /2 (239,500,800) ways to arrange the edges, since an odd permutation of the corners implies an odd permutation of the edges as well. Eleven edges can be flipped independently, with the flip of the twelfth depending on the preceding ones, giving 211 (2,048) possibilities
There are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations, which is approximately forty-three quintillion. So, if every permutation of a 57-millimeter Rubik's Cube were lined up end to end, it would stretch out approximately 261 light years. Alternatively, if laid out on the ground, this is enough to cover the earth with 273 layers of cubes, recognizing the fact that the radius of the earth sphere increases by 57 mm with each layer of cubes.
The preceding figure is limited to permutations that can be reached solely by turning the sides of the cube. If one considers permutations reached through disassembly of the cube, the number becomes twelve times as large.
If you grasped the above, you may be eligible to try to understand the possibilities in the politics of Mr Sharad Pawar. Consider what his astute political mind is capable of. He (and therefore the NCP) has made pivoting arrangements on each constituent cube . He is on record to say that he does not believe in political untouchability. Thus, he is open to doing business, on his terms, with any and every political formation and politician. Layer this with an unrivalled depth of experience and an ability to deliver the political goods and you may begin to fathom the limitless possibilities.
In the eventuality that there is “ come one come all “ flavour post election, this is one man who has probably worked out the 6 solid facings that are eventually possible.
In case there are a couple that don’t turn, colour blindness may legitimately become a qualification in Indian Politics
There are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations, which is approximately forty-three quintillion. So, if every permutation of a 57-millimeter Rubik's Cube were lined up end to end, it would stretch out approximately 261 light years. Alternatively, if laid out on the ground, this is enough to cover the earth with 273 layers of cubes, recognizing the fact that the radius of the earth sphere increases by 57 mm with each layer of cubes.
The preceding figure is limited to permutations that can be reached solely by turning the sides of the cube. If one considers permutations reached through disassembly of the cube, the number becomes twelve times as large.
If you grasped the above, you may be eligible to try to understand the possibilities in the politics of Mr Sharad Pawar. Consider what his astute political mind is capable of. He (and therefore the NCP) has made pivoting arrangements on each constituent cube . He is on record to say that he does not believe in political untouchability. Thus, he is open to doing business, on his terms, with any and every political formation and politician. Layer this with an unrivalled depth of experience and an ability to deliver the political goods and you may begin to fathom the limitless possibilities.
In the eventuality that there is “ come one come all “ flavour post election, this is one man who has probably worked out the 6 solid facings that are eventually possible.
In case there are a couple that don’t turn, colour blindness may legitimately become a qualification in Indian Politics
Independents Zindabad
The Hon'ble PM, said voting for independents is a waste of a vote. They never win and only spoil it for the others, is what he is reported to have said. Well, that is news ......
The constitution of the republic does not recognise anything called a political 'party' .
Independents are important, they show us that the acid rain of vested interest has not wiped out life. Democracy lives .
The PM may also note , it was previously commonly believed that the Prime Minister was to be the leader of the Lok Sabha ...........
The constitution of the republic does not recognise anything called a political 'party' .
Independents are important, they show us that the acid rain of vested interest has not wiped out life. Democracy lives .
The PM may also note , it was previously commonly believed that the Prime Minister was to be the leader of the Lok Sabha ...........
What's the Question ?
Can the political history of India serve as a context for probability mapping of the likely post poll arrangements and alliances?
Can there be a definitive list of sources to refer to in the effort to articulate plausible and viable scenarios?
Alexis Carrel said “A few observations and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning to truth”
Analysis of a likely outcome must anchor its hypothesis in some ‘greater likelihood’. That seems remote and yet blindingly obvious at the same time. Our political captains equivocate, obfuscate and dissimulate with near perfection “QUI NESCIT DISSIMULAR, NESCIT REGNARE’
So what does on go by? For one, asking questions may help.
- Why is Mr LK Advani concerned about ‘Overconfidence’ ?
How many are the swing states?
Who as individual satraps are likely to inspire confidence?
Where from this surge of confidence?
Who has committed?
- Can one conclude that the 3rd and 4th front are compartments in the same train headed to no destination or is it that the LJP+RJD+SP combine is just as much about pragmatic politics as it is about posturing ?
- Are all parties, bar none, essentially viewing post poll alliances as maneuvers to be able to regroup when required simply in order to exclude Mayawati & the BSP from any ruling coalition? Is she the common threat ?
- What is the closest equivalent to the Samyukt Vidhayak Dal experiment of the 1960’s ? Can the old Saffronites come back to a larger Janata coalition ? why ? why not ?
Can there be a definitive list of sources to refer to in the effort to articulate plausible and viable scenarios?
Alexis Carrel said “A few observations and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning to truth”
Analysis of a likely outcome must anchor its hypothesis in some ‘greater likelihood’. That seems remote and yet blindingly obvious at the same time. Our political captains equivocate, obfuscate and dissimulate with near perfection “QUI NESCIT DISSIMULAR, NESCIT REGNARE’
So what does on go by? For one, asking questions may help.
- Why is Mr LK Advani concerned about ‘Overconfidence’ ?
How many are the swing states?
Who as individual satraps are likely to inspire confidence?
Where from this surge of confidence?
Who has committed?
- Can one conclude that the 3rd and 4th front are compartments in the same train headed to no destination or is it that the LJP+RJD+SP combine is just as much about pragmatic politics as it is about posturing ?
- Are all parties, bar none, essentially viewing post poll alliances as maneuvers to be able to regroup when required simply in order to exclude Mayawati & the BSP from any ruling coalition? Is she the common threat ?
- What is the closest equivalent to the Samyukt Vidhayak Dal experiment of the 1960’s ? Can the old Saffronites come back to a larger Janata coalition ? why ? why not ?
Middle Class, Public Opinion & Democracy
One would generally want to believe that the history of independent India is the history of the growth, fulfillment and advancement of its middle classes. They set the moral benchmarks, the socio-civic agenda, they provide the entrepreneurial incentive, and they lead the creation and propagation of knowledge. The middle class gave birth to and led our freedom struggle and took forward its momentum into building free India……..
Pause.
Where are they ?
They got left behind, elbowed out.
They exited, melted away.
They gave up.
Today, India’s political leadership is not middle class. It may never again be. Resolutely anti –middle class is how the political mood seems to be.
The rural poor, residual feudal elites, industrial magnates, trade unionists, co-operative bosses –They are many birds of varying plumage on the banyan tree but the middle class mynah is not to be seen
Therefore, it is amusing to see that almost a 100% of the erudite commentators, analysts and pollsters are from this absentee class. Their attitudes colour their comments. Their prejudices are as sharp as their accents. They all chirp away on Prime time cuckoo land.
Closer scrutiny will show you that the Hindi (as all vernacular) speaking middle and elite classes in the smaller towns in India are more accommodating of the pulls and pressures shaping their environment. They see along more dimensions and feel the texture better. It is evident if you pick up the Hindi dailies and read the comments on SP-BSP rivalry in UP for example. They are real in their assessment and not high brow at all.
This is unlike the ‘Gin Drinkers’ who talk to each other. Only to each other…….
Pause.
Where are they ?
They got left behind, elbowed out.
They exited, melted away.
They gave up.
Today, India’s political leadership is not middle class. It may never again be. Resolutely anti –middle class is how the political mood seems to be.
The rural poor, residual feudal elites, industrial magnates, trade unionists, co-operative bosses –They are many birds of varying plumage on the banyan tree but the middle class mynah is not to be seen
Therefore, it is amusing to see that almost a 100% of the erudite commentators, analysts and pollsters are from this absentee class. Their attitudes colour their comments. Their prejudices are as sharp as their accents. They all chirp away on Prime time cuckoo land.
Closer scrutiny will show you that the Hindi (as all vernacular) speaking middle and elite classes in the smaller towns in India are more accommodating of the pulls and pressures shaping their environment. They see along more dimensions and feel the texture better. It is evident if you pick up the Hindi dailies and read the comments on SP-BSP rivalry in UP for example. They are real in their assessment and not high brow at all.
This is unlike the ‘Gin Drinkers’ who talk to each other. Only to each other…….
Friday, April 10, 2009
Views on News
For those of you who have not yet heard of or read much concerning the huge debate over aggregation of news content on the Internet versus the good old ink and paper dailies, I say you haven’t missed much. For those of you who want it straight and simple, read Arianna Huffington’s post “The debate over online news : It’s the consumer stupid at www.huffingtonpost.com
Well done Arianna !
On the subject I have this to say to paper media barons –We are a thinking species and should not attempt to be Ostrich like. If over the last decade they would have done the right things in embracing technology and leading the change they would have not only survived but flourished
Now, deep breathing may help…
Nessun maggior dolore che ricordarsi del tempo felice ne la miseria"--"There is no greater pain than to recall a happy time in misery",The text is from Dante's Inferno, V.121-123 and to my mind aptly represents the mental state of those who represent the old world papers
Homo Sapien Newspaperman is undoubtedly the most aggressively verbose representative of the family hominidae and genus Homo. That generic verbosity, aggression and the attitude of dictating terms to the rest gains huge momentum when commercial urgency or rather impending disaster propels it.
The time it would have taken to create, through conventional media, the inventory and availability of content that the internet allows us today would be enough to dig the surface of the earth with a pen knife to make space for the Pacific Ocean.
They honk neigh bellow bleat or grunt and scamper away to their scrub,stable,byre,pen and sty.
How does it impact our politics ? Unable to canalize opinon through cozy conduits, the political operators will now see a mushrooming of many – to – many engagements rather than one - to -many diktats . The fun is only starting and India Political Report intends to ride the roller coaster !!
Well done Arianna !
On the subject I have this to say to paper media barons –We are a thinking species and should not attempt to be Ostrich like. If over the last decade they would have done the right things in embracing technology and leading the change they would have not only survived but flourished
Now, deep breathing may help…
Nessun maggior dolore che ricordarsi del tempo felice ne la miseria"--"There is no greater pain than to recall a happy time in misery",The text is from Dante's Inferno, V.121-123 and to my mind aptly represents the mental state of those who represent the old world papers
Homo Sapien Newspaperman is undoubtedly the most aggressively verbose representative of the family hominidae and genus Homo. That generic verbosity, aggression and the attitude of dictating terms to the rest gains huge momentum when commercial urgency or rather impending disaster propels it.
The time it would have taken to create, through conventional media, the inventory and availability of content that the internet allows us today would be enough to dig the surface of the earth with a pen knife to make space for the Pacific Ocean.
They honk neigh bellow bleat or grunt and scamper away to their scrub,stable,byre,pen and sty.
How does it impact our politics ? Unable to canalize opinon through cozy conduits, the political operators will now see a mushrooming of many – to – many engagements rather than one - to -many diktats . The fun is only starting and India Political Report intends to ride the roller coaster !!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Manifest Oh , a grain of rice
Rice is by far the most important crop in human history and has been so ever since Homo Sapiens first began cultivation Today, nearly 120,000 varieties of rice sustain two-thirds of the world's population, provides one-sixth of the per capita protein and nearly a fifth of the energy humans expend per capita.
But it is in Peninsular India, where Rice as a political trump card was par boiled along with the Dravidian movement and when the Sun of the DMK rose in 1967, it was three scoops of rice for 1 rupee that made it happen
Four decades later, promises are still being made on almost identical lines. All that is important in tangible terms for a manifesto, it would seem, can be written on that grain of rice
But it is in Peninsular India, where Rice as a political trump card was par boiled along with the Dravidian movement and when the Sun of the DMK rose in 1967, it was three scoops of rice for 1 rupee that made it happen
Four decades later, promises are still being made on almost identical lines. All that is important in tangible terms for a manifesto, it would seem, can be written on that grain of rice
India Shining ...thanks to studio lighting
The election fever has once again brought into sharp focus the mushrooming of studio politicians in India. TV channel studios are the temples of modern Indian politics. Here Opinion is canalised /channel-ised for the good of society. It expands the political debate. Right !
Frankly, undergraduates in a group discussion to land themselves a job do better.
TV debate in India is a vile concoction of Propaganda, Persuasion, Pedantic and Pettiness in equal measure.
But even Marshall McLuhan would concede that there is no escaping TV going forward. That, only in terms of reach and saliency. Else, India retains its unique Rally culture Public involvement is high, although as spectators, for them it is a road show with song and dance as well.
One wonders if there is a bus that hops from studio to studio because you see the same politicians on different channels repeating the same half truths in the space of a half hour. It is virtual reality…virtually !!
Frankly, undergraduates in a group discussion to land themselves a job do better.
TV debate in India is a vile concoction of Propaganda, Persuasion, Pedantic and Pettiness in equal measure.
But even Marshall McLuhan would concede that there is no escaping TV going forward. That, only in terms of reach and saliency. Else, India retains its unique Rally culture Public involvement is high, although as spectators, for them it is a road show with song and dance as well.
One wonders if there is a bus that hops from studio to studio because you see the same politicians on different channels repeating the same half truths in the space of a half hour. It is virtual reality…virtually !!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Indian conventional media :Pray do tell us...
Breaking News has trumped Breaking news …down
Headline News has triumphed over news that is read between the lines
We are seeing a climate of resonant echoes. We are seeing inanities being camouflaged as issues of national import. The Idiot box is aptly so because of what’s on it. Conventional print has been press-ed into an advertorial !
To our friends in conventional media :
- We say “No repetition without value addition”
- We say “ No answers without asking the right questions first”
- We say “ Report on Indian politics with a global perspective”
- We say “Opine but don’t inhale”
- We say “ Be independent, inclusive, informative, intense”
I say “Amen”
India Political Report will give this to you and I promise more….it has just begun
Headline News has triumphed over news that is read between the lines
We are seeing a climate of resonant echoes. We are seeing inanities being camouflaged as issues of national import. The Idiot box is aptly so because of what’s on it. Conventional print has been press-ed into an advertorial !
To our friends in conventional media :
- We say “No repetition without value addition”
- We say “ No answers without asking the right questions first”
- We say “ Report on Indian politics with a global perspective”
- We say “Opine but don’t inhale”
- We say “ Be independent, inclusive, informative, intense”
I say “Amen”
India Political Report will give this to you and I promise more….it has just begun
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Assets ?
Assets
As candidates for political parties are named and file their nomination, we hear about their declaration of assets to the concerned magistrate while filing their nominations. Details of vehicles owned, agricultural and urban land, residential & commercial properties, weight of precious metals in their possession, all this and more is shared by the media.
So What?
Presumably this is not a precursor to scrutiny. It is merely an affidavit of sorts. Has the ill gotten wealth of a political aspirant ever been a disqualifier?
So what next ? Nothing.
This is because the Indian people recognize the tip of an iceberg without visualizing its entire proportions. They can smell the stench and imagine the load that has been tapped. They can laugh, smirk and shrug. They can look forward to a free meal too.
What about water, sanitation, electricity, roads, public transport, municipal waste, crime, corruption, environment, foreign affairs, education, science & technology, national security, justice ? What does that have to do with the declared assets of the candidate ?
More than 700 million people on India’s electoral rolls, a significant percentage first time voters. 7 national parties, 40 state level political parties ,980 registered unrecognised parties. This is the caravan marching to the gates of the 15th Lok Sabha with more than 6000 candidates expected to be in the fray. Assets …. who has the time ?
As candidates for political parties are named and file their nomination, we hear about their declaration of assets to the concerned magistrate while filing their nominations. Details of vehicles owned, agricultural and urban land, residential & commercial properties, weight of precious metals in their possession, all this and more is shared by the media.
So What?
Presumably this is not a precursor to scrutiny. It is merely an affidavit of sorts. Has the ill gotten wealth of a political aspirant ever been a disqualifier?
So what next ? Nothing.
This is because the Indian people recognize the tip of an iceberg without visualizing its entire proportions. They can smell the stench and imagine the load that has been tapped. They can laugh, smirk and shrug. They can look forward to a free meal too.
What about water, sanitation, electricity, roads, public transport, municipal waste, crime, corruption, environment, foreign affairs, education, science & technology, national security, justice ? What does that have to do with the declared assets of the candidate ?
More than 700 million people on India’s electoral rolls, a significant percentage first time voters. 7 national parties, 40 state level political parties ,980 registered unrecognised parties. This is the caravan marching to the gates of the 15th Lok Sabha with more than 6000 candidates expected to be in the fray. Assets …. who has the time ?
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Son, Grandson and Great Grandson votes for Hindi
“We have not eternal allies and we have not perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual and those interests it is our duty to follow “ Lord Palmerstone, British Prime Minister
Internalising this very logic, albeit not in the original context of diplomacy, our political class makes pre and post - poll alliances that perpetuate political interests – mostly personal, sometimes organisational but seldom ideological.
Rahul Gandhi - the son, grandson and great grandson of India’s past prime ministers is showing signs of making this logic stand on its head. Rightly so. It is in his long term interest. The UPA was a post poll alliance; it marked the Congress’s reluctant debut in presiding over a coalition. It did well. Well enough for it to be conceivable that it would legitimately seek to convert itself into a pre poll alliance and get votes on the basis of its performance? Commonly also referred to as ‘Congress +’ the allies were mostly representative of impositions, boundary conditions and ideological dyslexia that the Congress –India’s natural party of Governance – found irksome. It managed to minimise attrition, till it was avoidable. The Congress in 2009 is going it alone in the key Hindi heartland. That is a clear siren from the fog horn. Perhaps this young man , Congresses’ supreme leader in waiting (shy of 40 years, he is young by every definition) , is rolling the dice for a national revival. The questions are obviously about the timing and not the intent
If the Hindi heartland gamble does not pay off for Congress then in the couple of years that will follow with a very challenging economy, it may find itself saddled with the blame /incumbency .
Better to assess now and assert later!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Gandhi 1.2.3 -Champaran, Belchi, Pilibhit
---“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." William Butler Yeats
---"It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can." Jean- Jacque Rousseau
Varun Gandhi’s debut into the ‘Great Indian General Election’ must draw inspiration from the above quoted thoughts in equal measure.
Even the shrewdest political observers can mistake petty demagoguery for strategy. Alas, here it is not the case. What was said is of much lesser consequence. Who said it, is the nub of the issue.
- Who is the agent provocateur?
- Who has grabbed this as a possible election tool?
- Who is going to benefit the most?
- Are those political executives who prosecute him actually in cohorts with those who support him?
- Is he being built up, demolished or actually (and simply) being punished for a wrong?
- We have no answers but believe that by asking the right questions truth shall be delineated…..
In Indian politics, there is a hoary tradition of seizing the moment and riding the wave. Gandhi in Chamaparan, Sardar Patel in Bardoli, Shyama Prasad Mukerjee in J&K , Indira Gandhi in Belchi ......what changed was that rhetoric was declutched from ideology, vulgarism got welded to gross opportunism and the drum beaters are also now the directors. As if at some point, quantity converted to quality and the mob becomes the political agenda setters.
Watch this unfolding of events and its seemingly tangential trajectory. It has the potential to ricochet into the sanctum sanctorum of Indian polity……
---"It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can." Jean- Jacque Rousseau
Varun Gandhi’s debut into the ‘Great Indian General Election’ must draw inspiration from the above quoted thoughts in equal measure.
Even the shrewdest political observers can mistake petty demagoguery for strategy. Alas, here it is not the case. What was said is of much lesser consequence. Who said it, is the nub of the issue.
- Who is the agent provocateur?
- Who has grabbed this as a possible election tool?
- Who is going to benefit the most?
- Are those political executives who prosecute him actually in cohorts with those who support him?
- Is he being built up, demolished or actually (and simply) being punished for a wrong?
- We have no answers but believe that by asking the right questions truth shall be delineated…..
In Indian politics, there is a hoary tradition of seizing the moment and riding the wave. Gandhi in Chamaparan, Sardar Patel in Bardoli, Shyama Prasad Mukerjee in J&K , Indira Gandhi in Belchi ......what changed was that rhetoric was declutched from ideology, vulgarism got welded to gross opportunism and the drum beaters are also now the directors. As if at some point, quantity converted to quality and the mob becomes the political agenda setters.
Watch this unfolding of events and its seemingly tangential trajectory. It has the potential to ricochet into the sanctum sanctorum of Indian polity……
On Government sponsored Advertising pre-elections
Add warts
In all the national dailies that I read every morning as I sip my first cup of tea, I see many poorly laid out full page advertisements in plainly incompatible colours that tell me about the inauguration of rail lines, telephone exchanges, food processing parks and a dozen other things that are of no consequence to my daily life.
Inevitably, there is also a stamp album like line up of the passport size photographs of the movers and shakers of that ministry, state or Public Sector Enterprise. The rogue’s gallery actually indicates that power is multi tiered and often the placement level and size of the image clearly indicates the pecking order, no pun intended. "The art of government is the organization of idolatry." said George Bernard Shaw and, In fact, I wonder if it could give us guidance on how the 33 crore divinities in the Hindu Godly world could possibly be arranged.
Without an exception, these are all Hon’ble people. They are performing a public duty in informing me of a successful hundred days for a government in a state that I have never visited nor probably ever will.
Ask the question Why ? All sensible politicians ought to stay firmly in the midway zone between being hopelessly local and mindlessly global. In any case, there are probably less than two dozen political leaders in the entire country who have a claim to being leaders of even the state that they come from. Yet, it cannot be that this shrewd class of power players/seekers are poorly advised, misguided, or simply megalomaniacal in their drive for national advertorial led publicity . It is not an obscure obsession. They are hugely manipulative, thoroughly worldly and sharply focused on enlarging the perimeters of their personal power when they do this. Which is why, they hesitate not for a second in using state funds for targeted program publicity as an instrument of individual, family and party propaganda. They are operating strictly within the bounds of rationality. They probably have an eye on posterity .Surely, they are acutely aware that Indian voters accept their superego in proportion to the image carried in the advertisement. Indeed, they can justly make the implicit claim that their single-handed rule delivers effectively. They might even be able to point to improving standards of living, higher employment, reduced rates of crime, and an absence of civil discord. Not that these are criteria for winning again or even for being judged prior to a vote. May one entertain the sacrilegious thought that advertising budgets are not being spent but invested?
I am sure our bi-partisan journalistic fraternity is completely objective and no editorial warmth is ever generated by these insipid advertorials. It would be silly to think that media vehicles are to blame for a rather skewed share of spend. Isn’t Prime Time on English News channels exactly the right place for advertisements on Rural employment, pulse polio, pre requisite paper work for semi skilled labourers going to the Gulf .
Like al else, blame this on the politician. I suppose their advertised personas are not mere affectations. Probably it is their psychological compulsion in tricking themselves and others into believing that as merely themselves, they have a viable social role. That they are full of humility and infused with the spirit of team work in pursuing social good is manifest in the ubiquitous photo gallery. It is full of identity-diffusing properties. Believe it and watch on as this phenomenon reaches new highs with the approaching General Elections.
There are some things which are recession proof. Thank God.
In all the national dailies that I read every morning as I sip my first cup of tea, I see many poorly laid out full page advertisements in plainly incompatible colours that tell me about the inauguration of rail lines, telephone exchanges, food processing parks and a dozen other things that are of no consequence to my daily life.
Inevitably, there is also a stamp album like line up of the passport size photographs of the movers and shakers of that ministry, state or Public Sector Enterprise. The rogue’s gallery actually indicates that power is multi tiered and often the placement level and size of the image clearly indicates the pecking order, no pun intended. "The art of government is the organization of idolatry." said George Bernard Shaw and, In fact, I wonder if it could give us guidance on how the 33 crore divinities in the Hindu Godly world could possibly be arranged.
Without an exception, these are all Hon’ble people. They are performing a public duty in informing me of a successful hundred days for a government in a state that I have never visited nor probably ever will.
Ask the question Why ? All sensible politicians ought to stay firmly in the midway zone between being hopelessly local and mindlessly global. In any case, there are probably less than two dozen political leaders in the entire country who have a claim to being leaders of even the state that they come from. Yet, it cannot be that this shrewd class of power players/seekers are poorly advised, misguided, or simply megalomaniacal in their drive for national advertorial led publicity . It is not an obscure obsession. They are hugely manipulative, thoroughly worldly and sharply focused on enlarging the perimeters of their personal power when they do this. Which is why, they hesitate not for a second in using state funds for targeted program publicity as an instrument of individual, family and party propaganda. They are operating strictly within the bounds of rationality. They probably have an eye on posterity .Surely, they are acutely aware that Indian voters accept their superego in proportion to the image carried in the advertisement. Indeed, they can justly make the implicit claim that their single-handed rule delivers effectively. They might even be able to point to improving standards of living, higher employment, reduced rates of crime, and an absence of civil discord. Not that these are criteria for winning again or even for being judged prior to a vote. May one entertain the sacrilegious thought that advertising budgets are not being spent but invested?
I am sure our bi-partisan journalistic fraternity is completely objective and no editorial warmth is ever generated by these insipid advertorials. It would be silly to think that media vehicles are to blame for a rather skewed share of spend. Isn’t Prime Time on English News channels exactly the right place for advertisements on Rural employment, pulse polio, pre requisite paper work for semi skilled labourers going to the Gulf .
Like al else, blame this on the politician. I suppose their advertised personas are not mere affectations. Probably it is their psychological compulsion in tricking themselves and others into believing that as merely themselves, they have a viable social role. That they are full of humility and infused with the spirit of team work in pursuing social good is manifest in the ubiquitous photo gallery. It is full of identity-diffusing properties. Believe it and watch on as this phenomenon reaches new highs with the approaching General Elections.
There are some things which are recession proof. Thank God.
America -Our Agony Aunt
According to the Artha Shastra, our best regarded treatise on statecraft, relations with other kings/states are to be established and carried out through ambassadors. It prescribes three types of ambassadors: the plenipotentiary, envoy with limited negotiating powers, and one who is merely a messenger. One sees that the distinctions are now blurred. There are at least half a dozen mission specific envoys and an equal number of statesmen sans portfolio crisscrossing the globe for the Western powers.
On perusing the media coverage post 26/11 in its entirety, if one was to plot a graph with media weight on the Y axis and duration of associated hype on the X axis, you would immediately recognize a pattern. Every time there was significant media coverage and all hopefuls were frothing with excitement, it was the red and blue of the star and stripes in the background. No one disputes the polar position of the United States and the pragmatism of convincing them of our case. Indeed it furthers a very relevant partnership made out of choice.
However, while a seemingly interminable procession of spent cartridges from the Bush administration made India their destination our government seems to have seen them as weapons of mass illusion. Somehow, we were rest assured that an impassioned plea to big brother would help our case against the neighbouring rogue state whose protégés were giving us a bloody nose. To what effect ? And why the need ? To whom did we submit ? For what leverage was the show and tell orchestrated ? Our leaders tell us all options are open, yet the menu of options seems to be like that of an American Diner – Keep it the Sunny side up.
Kautilya, our sage advisor, distinguished between six major approaches to foreign policy. The first a policy of maintaining peace with another state. The second , the policy of hostility which be followed if one is stronger than the enemy. The third, one of inaction most suitable when states are of equal strength. The fourth an outright invasion , a policy recommended for the very strong, The fifth recommended policy is of duality ,i.e. peace with one king/state while maintaining hostility towards another Only for the very weak and impotent was prescribed the sixth and last approach, i.e., seeking shelter with another king and waiting for better days . It is in the exclusive mandate of the sixth approach that we as a nation state seem to have put all our hopes.
The FBI may serve us nothing. In despair , we rely on externally owned instruments to deliver the coup de grace to an enemy that has previously been made so vulnerable with its crumbling reality. Are we so weak ? Think and keep watching as the Americans inspect the case.
On perusing the media coverage post 26/11 in its entirety, if one was to plot a graph with media weight on the Y axis and duration of associated hype on the X axis, you would immediately recognize a pattern. Every time there was significant media coverage and all hopefuls were frothing with excitement, it was the red and blue of the star and stripes in the background. No one disputes the polar position of the United States and the pragmatism of convincing them of our case. Indeed it furthers a very relevant partnership made out of choice.
However, while a seemingly interminable procession of spent cartridges from the Bush administration made India their destination our government seems to have seen them as weapons of mass illusion. Somehow, we were rest assured that an impassioned plea to big brother would help our case against the neighbouring rogue state whose protégés were giving us a bloody nose. To what effect ? And why the need ? To whom did we submit ? For what leverage was the show and tell orchestrated ? Our leaders tell us all options are open, yet the menu of options seems to be like that of an American Diner – Keep it the Sunny side up.
Kautilya, our sage advisor, distinguished between six major approaches to foreign policy. The first a policy of maintaining peace with another state. The second , the policy of hostility which be followed if one is stronger than the enemy. The third, one of inaction most suitable when states are of equal strength. The fourth an outright invasion , a policy recommended for the very strong, The fifth recommended policy is of duality ,i.e. peace with one king/state while maintaining hostility towards another Only for the very weak and impotent was prescribed the sixth and last approach, i.e., seeking shelter with another king and waiting for better days . It is in the exclusive mandate of the sixth approach that we as a nation state seem to have put all our hopes.
The FBI may serve us nothing. In despair , we rely on externally owned instruments to deliver the coup de grace to an enemy that has previously been made so vulnerable with its crumbling reality. Are we so weak ? Think and keep watching as the Americans inspect the case.
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