India against Bullet Train

I give you the Bullet train

Are you hungry, are you in pain?

Come, I’ll feed you the bullet train.

Have you no roof ov’r  your head?

Are you directly under the rain?

Come, jump into the bullet train.

Are you on foot, pursued apace

By  rapist, moralist, policeman’s cane?

Just one way to cheat them all—

Ride away in the bullet train.

The bullet train is quick and fast,

It leaves behind the ugly things

In such rapid tryst with development,

You’d think they never did exist.

Are you a farmer with noose in hand,

About to end your endless pain,

Consider a patriotic   move—

Go under the bullet train

- BADRI RAINA

#SayNoToBulletTrains

Wheels of Life - Cycling campaign in Bengaluru in 2007

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Alumni Association, Bangalore Chapter

presents

Seminar Talk on

Environment And Economic Development Linkages:
Green is in the Front

By

Chandra Vikash

B.Tech. IIT, PGDM IIM

Founder & CEO – TEN Systems & Services

Venue: NDK Kalyana Mandira Hall, 13^th Main, 100 feet Road, HAL IInd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore- 08.

Date: Sat. 21^st April, 2007 on the eve of Earth Day 2007

Program:

05:30 pm-05:45pm             Introduction

05:45 pm-06:35pm             Talk on Environment-Economic Development Linkages - 30 minutes + 20 min. Q&A

< High Tea >

07:00pm – 07:30pm           Wheels of Life - Talk on Health aspects of cycling 20 min. + 10 min. Q&A

07:30pm – 07:45pm           IIM Cal AA Press Announcement/Teaser on the forthcomingWheels of Life Campaign for Cycling & Walking for Climate Change and Quality of Life.

07:45pm – 08:30pm            Environment Quiz - Open House

(Best participants/ First Right answers will receive T-shirts as prizes)

No Registration Charge

Kindly confirm your participation at the earliest.

Voluntary Contribution: Wheels of Life campaign

Event Co-ordinator:

Shweta Thakker, MBA

Mobile : 9886315735

E-mail : wheelsoflife@gmail.com

Seminar Talk

Introduction:

How do we develop economically without degrading our environment? It is necessary to address this question because a large part of environmental losses is not factored into calculations of the Indian government and opinion-makers. These costs are growing fast, especially in terms of quality of life. Unmitigated air, water and land pollution are already poisoning us. Abuse and overexploitation of environment resources are threatening food security and increasing losses in work time, income and productivity. These constraints are exacerbated by a denial of India's contribution to carbon emissions. The clean development mechanism put in place under the Kyoto Protocol can only have a limited impact and may delay course correction. In the present milieu, the top 2-3 per cent bracket, economically, of the Indian population is amongst the highest polluters in the world. The national average is misleading because a large proportion of people are not in a position to pollute. It also misses out on those who lead environment-friendly lifestyles, influenced by traditional cultural habits. Yet, an apathy to these fuels aspirations for highly polluting and environmentally indefensible lifestyles amongst a class that hides behind misleading averages. But for how long? Will it be too late when we wake up? What are the strategies that India can adopt to deal with these challenges and the exciting prospects of "leapfrogging" to a higher quality of life level by taking on a new trajectory for its development?

About the Speaker:

Chandra Vikash is a thinker and expert on economic development and environment conservation. He has a vision of transform city and rural life with an - exponentially better - faster, safer, cleaner - and cheaper - travel experience than is available today in regions around the world. His design for modification and extension of the London Congestion Charging Scheme to make it fair, equitable and more efficient has been highly commended. He has conceptualized the MobilityXS model. He presented a paper on the model at the 11 ^th World Congress for Intelligent Transport Systems in Nagoya in Japan in 2004. Combined with a zest to do-what-you-believe-in, he has a rich experience of over 11 years in business development, product design and in strategic planning. He has worked with software companies - Tata Consultancy Services and Mastek - leading their consulting practice in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and IndianDynamics.com - a business and economy information-trading portal with a focus on the ITS related eco-system - which he founded. He set up TEN Systems research and consultancy firm that focuses on transportation, land use, energy and environment sectors. Vikash is an MBA in Strategy and Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and a Bachelor in Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). His article on "Action Plan – India must set house in order, combat climate change" was published in the April 15 issue of Down to Earth.

Wheels of Life campaign

The BICYCLE is one of the most powerful tools to fight global warming, sedentary lifestyle epidemics and the oil addiction, some of the most serious challenges before us. Greater use of bicycle and related traffic calming measures in the neighborhoods also help to recover green spaces/urban gardens in city areas. This is also key to mitigate localised urban heating of up to 2-3 degrees celsius. Similarly, according to a recent report, the concrete structures for the proposed Bangalore Metro will raise temperatures further by 1-2 degree celsius.

It is also one the most significant and also the most cost-effective project that the government can undertake to improve citizen's quality of life and in particular to improve the quality of transportation system is to promote CYCLING and TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT OF CYCLING.

Greater use of cycling in turn reduces emissions, saves petrol/diesel and creates health benefits by substituting trips which would otherwise be undertaken by polluting vehicles. It also allows greater economic availability locally by enabling new trips by cycling and also promotes localization of daily activities which save time and fuel. They also reduce congestion by limiting use of polluting automobiles for local trips. 

As part of the Wheels of Life - Bicycle Bangalore Campaign, we propose to organise a campaign that begins on June 5th on the occasion of World Environment Day this year .

Campaign goals:

The objective for a proposed campaign is to kickstart a new chapter for a rightful transport system for Bangalore and how cycling is a key component of such a plan - to share information, generate awareness and inspire action to demand for good quality cycling infrastructure and environment. I would also like to set quantifiable targets for greater use of cycling particularly for short trips. The targets in modal share (by distance) of bicycle trips in Greater Bangalore as follows:

•         10% by March 2008

•         17.5% by March 2009

•         25% by March 2010

(According to trade estimates, there are about 2 lakh bicycles running in Bangalore but most people in a sample survey complaint of poor cycling conditions in the city.)  

Clarion Call to Indigenous People worldwide to unite and rise against Neo-Colonialism

Approach Note for Adivasi Adhikar Manch

Solemn Declaration of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples

Copenhagen 1977

We the Indigenous Peoples of the world, united in this corner of our Mother the Earth in a great assembly of men of wisdom, declare to all nations:

We glory in our proud past:

when the earth was our nurturing mother,

when the night sky formed our common roof,

when Sun and Moon were our parents,

when all were brothers and sisters,

when our great civilizations grew under the sun,

when our chiefs and elders were great leaders,

when justice ruled the Law and its execution.

Then other peoples arrived:

thirsting for blood, for gold, for land and all its wealth,
carrying the cross and the sword, one in each hand,
without knowing or waiting to learn the ways of the worlds,
they considered us to be lower than the animals,
they stole our lands from us and took us from our lands,
they made slaves of the Sons of the Sun.

However, they have never been able to eliminate us:

nor to erase our memories of what we were,
because we are the culture of the earth and the sky,
we are of ancient descent and we are millions,
and although our whole universe may be ravaged,
our people will live on
for longer than even the kingdom of death.

        Now , we come from the four corners of the earth,

we protest before the concert of nations
that, "we are the Indigenous Peoples, we who
have a consciousness of culture and peoplehood
on the edge of each country's borders and
marginal to each country's citizenship."

         And rising up after centuries of oppression,

evoking the greatness of our ancestors,

in the memory of our Indigenous martyrs,

and in homage to the counsel of our wise elders.

        We vow to control again our own destiny and 

recover our complete humanity and
pride in being Indigenous People.

How prophetic were these words written 40 years back when the smoke-screens of neo-colonialism - that hid from the public imagination it's decadence and debauchery and its heinous perversions and blatant prejudices - were thick and fast?

Now the challenge for us as we revive the World Council for Indigenous People in 2017 is how we safeguard against the dangerous convulsions of neo-colonialism in it's death throes. How do we catalyse it's decay and decomposition into a fertile ground for indigenous cultures to germinate and flourish once again to their pristine glory.

For Hindus of India, how is this ethos any different from what we identify with as Sanatan/Adivasi sanskriti?

The curious case of Indigenous Hindus in India

What binds India together with all it's diversity? Nature is the foundation of the forest-dwelling and village dwelling societies and they are the stewards of land, water and all natural resources. Their language is a diverse local form of Prakrit. 

Culture holds together at the top of which is the patron city-dwelling society. Their language is Sanskrit. India is known as Sone ki Chidiya or golden bird and Vishva Guru by synergy and symbiosis of Sanskrit and Prakrit. 

Since ancient times, India's forest, village and city society are it's indigenous people or Adivasis. It is absolutely mistaken that the Adivasis of India live in forests only. This myth was spread by the white British first and the same is now being spread by the adherents of the Gujarat Development Model.  The role of the East India Company which earlier colonised India has been taken over by Adani and Ambani though in a highly subversive and surreptitious way. When will India extricate from it's vicious grip and be completely independent again?

What has changed in this 70 years of independence? The way the British used to call the original inhabitants of India as "Bloody Indians", treated them as inferior and suppressed their protests as treason and terrorism, in the same way, today's Brown English and adherents of the Gujarat Development Model, treat the indigenous people as "tribals" or Adivasis as inferior and equally and as brutally suppress their protest by labelling them as Maoism and Naxalism.

Adivasi simply means those who are native inhabitants of India or who believe and follow the eternal tradition of the land. They share the saga of Rama and Krishna as their cultural heritage. Adivasis of Bharat are those who consider this country's diverse language, dialect and local culture and tradition as their shared heritage. 

Ironically, while most people deny that they are not immigrants but are the natives of this place and debunk the Aryan Invasion Theory, they shy away from being called Adivasis. Because in their perception, Adivasi way of life is a sign of backwardness. There is a large number of such misguided people in the country today. Deceived by their strength in numbers​, they mistake this anomaly to be true. I address this issue in this earlier essay here.

Indigenous or Adivasi society around the world has been struggling with similar problems of colonial terror, infiltration and subversion of their  way of life over last several centuries. Taking cognizance of the significant contribution of the indigenous society and to redeem the historical injustice done to them, the United Nations General Assembly made a declaration for the protection and promotion of indigenous peoples' rights in 2007. Some of the key points are as follows: 

Article 3 

Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue 

of that right they freely determine their political status and freely 

pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Article 4 

Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions.

Article 11 

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their 

cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, 

protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.

2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.

Article 13 

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and 

transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral tradi-

tions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate 

and retain their own names for communities, places and persons.

2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that this right is 

protected and also to ensure that indigenous peoples can understand 

and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, 

where necessary through the provision of interpretation or by other 

appropriate means.

Article 14 

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their 

educational systems and institutions providing education in their 

own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of 

teaching and learning.   

Source: www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf 

4. Adivasi Adhikar Manch will, according to this declaration of the United Nations, prepare an action plan for the collective efforts to protect the rights of the indigenous people around the world. 

5. Keeping the priority of indigenous people in India as defined above, we call upon for a review of the existing constitution and to prepare the draft of a new constitution for wider consultation. 

6. Adivasi Adhikar Manch will be an umbrella organization that will bring together diverse organizations working to protect, preserve and strengthen indigenous people's rights including Swadeshi Jagran Manch and Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan and to amalgamate wherever appropriate.

Chandra Vikash is a Swadeshi/Adivasi activist. He studied for engineering at IIT Kharagpur MBA and MBA at IIM Calcutta. He is President of Samuchit evam Santulit Vikas Sansthan

उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री के लिए मोदी ही भाजपा के सबसे खरे उम्मीदवार क्यों हैं?

उत्तर प्रदेश के आगामी विधानसभा चुनाव में भाजपा के मुख्यमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार कौन हो सकता है - इस बारे में कई अटकलें लगायी जा रही हैं। उधर इलाहाबाद में 13 जून को संपन्न राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी की बैठक में भी उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार के मुद्दा शामिल नहीं हुआ।

कुछ राजनीतिक विशेषकों का तर्क है कि क्या पार्टी का चुनावों से पहले मुख्यमंत्री पद का उम्मीदवार घोषित करना  आवश्यक है। दूसरे विश्लेषकों के अनुसार मुख्यमंत्री पर निर्णय नहीं लेने से इस महत्वपूर्ण चुनाव में भाजपा की जीत की थोड़ी बहुत संभावना भी ख़त्म हो जाती है।

रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर ने 11 जून को गाजियाबाद में एक संवाददाता सम्मेलन में दावा किया कि भाजपा जल्द ही उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए अपने मुख्यमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार की घोषणा करेगी।

राजनीतिक पंडितों और जमीनी चर्चा से स्पष्ट है कि मौजूदा स्थिति  में, 2017 के आरम्भ में होने वाले इस चुनाव में,  बहुजन समाज पार्टी  और समाजवादी पार्टी के बाद, भाजपा के तीसरे नंबर पर आने की ही सम्भावना है।

सोशल मीडिया पर हुयी चर्चा में मैंने यह सुझाव रख की सच्चाई से सांझा करते हुए, राष्ट्र के व्यापक हित में भाजपा नरेंद्र मोदी को मुख्य मंत्री उम्मीदवार की घोषणा करे तो कई लोगों ने इस पर आश्चर्य जताया।

राजनीतिक रूढ़िवादी एक निवर्तमान प्रधानमंत्री को एक राज्य चुनाव में मुख्यमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार के रूप में "डिमोशन" के विचार पर ठिठक सकते हैं।

गौर से देखें, तो उत्तर प्रदेश (पूर्व में ब्रिटिश राज के तहत संयुक्त प्रांत कहा जाता है) अपने आप में विश्व के बड़े स्वायत्त राज्यों में आता है. इसकी आबादी संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका की आबादी का लगभग दो-तिहाई है, जबकि  केवल 1 / भूभाग की 40 वीं है। संयोगवश, इस साल के अंत में अमेरिका में भी राष्ट्रपति चुनाव होने हैं.

भारत के राष्ट्रीय दृष्टिकोण से, इन दोनों चुनावों का दिल्ली में केंद्र सरकार की नीति दिशा पर जबरदस्त असर पड़ेगा।

पिछले चौदह वर्षों में बसपा और सपा की सरकारों द्वारा कुव्यवस्था और कुशासन से  राज्य गहरे संकट में है । मथुरा के हाल की विचित्र घटना, जहां 24 अन्य लोगों के साथ पुलिस अधीक्षक मारे गए थे, इस बात का सूचक है कि राज्य उबाल पर है। भूमि हथियाने और छिटपुट हिंसा में लगे हुए, जिस पंथ ने इस  दिया ,उसे सत्तारूढ़ पार्टी के राजनीतिक आकाओं का शह हासिल है।

मान्य है कि मोदी के इस नए भूमिका से  राजनीतिक उथल-पुथल और यहां तक ​​कि संवैधानिक विषमता का सवाल उठ सकता है। यह विदित है कि नरेंद्र मोदी प्रधानमंत्री के उच्च्तम पद पर आसीन हैं।

कई सवाल उठते हैं जिनमें से दो मुख्य सवाल हैं - पहला कि भाजपा एक आसीन प्रधानमंत्री को अनेक अनिश्चितताओं से भरे एक राज्य के चुनाव के लिए त्याग क्यों करे? और उतना ही महत्वपूर्ण दूसरा सवाल: आखिर मोदी स्वयं ऐसा क्यों करें?

भाजपा के लिए एक मास्टरस्ट्रोक

जमीनी हालात पर एक करीबी, गहरी और निष्पक्ष नजरिये से और एक व्यापक राष्ट्रीय और वैश्विक परिप्रेक्ष्य में देखें तो "पहले राष्ट्र, फिर पार्टी और आखिरी स्व' के विचार को समर्पित भारतीय जनता पार्टी लिए यह एक मास्टरस्ट्रोक हो सकता है। यह भाजपा के वंशवादी राजनीति और व्यक्तिगत महिमामंडन से ऊपर पार्टी-विथ-अ-डिफरेंस की छवि को भी पुष्ट करता है।

पार्टी के लिए, उत्तर प्रदेश के चुनावी समीकरण  में मोदी एक ऐसे व्यक्तित्व हैं जो सभी संभावित उम्मीदवारों और उनके मुखर समर्थकों को जोड़ सके और जो पार्टी के कार्यकर्ताओं का मनोबल मजबूत करने और उन्हें इस कठिन चुनौती का सामना करने का जोश भर सके। ऐसी स्थिति में ही भाजपा इस महत्वपूर्ण चुनाव में अपने ताकतवर प्रतिद्वंद्वियों को पछाड़ने की सोच सकती है. 

इसके साथ साथ, मोदी वाराणसी से सांसद हैं और उन्होंने अपनी दूसरी सीट वड़ोदरा जो उनके घरेलु राज्य गुजरात में है, उसकी अपेक्षा उत्तर प्रदेश को चुना। लोकसभा चुनाव में उनकी अद्भुत जीत के बाद, उसके बाद में स्थानीय चुनावों में भाजपा काफी जमीन खो चुकी है।

जनता को उम्मीद है कि लोक सभा चुनाव में किये गए बड़े वादों पर मोदी खरे उतरें. गंगा की सफाई और इस ऐतिहासिक शहर को गन्दगी से मुक्त कर इसका गौरव पुनः स्थापित करने के वादों पर भी टकटकी लगी है। 2017 के शुरुआत में होने वाला यह चुनाव, केंद्र सरकार की मध्यावधि होगी जब मोदी के "अच्छे दिन " वादों की अधिक बारीकी से छानबीन और कडा आकलन जोर पकड़ने लगेगा। ऐसे में यदि मोदी का अधिकतर समय और ध्यान उत्तर प्रदेश चुनावों पर लगने वाला है, दूरगामी दृष्टि से पार्टी के लिए अच्छा है कि मोदी पूरी तरह, बतौर मुख्यमंत्री उम्मीदवार, प्रदेश का कमान सम्हाले और पार्टी केंद्र सरकार के नेतृत्व पर गम्भीरता से विचार करे.

इतिहास की पैनी निगाह से देखें तो मोदी की स्थिति कई मायनों में विंस्टन चर्चिल की तरह है. चुनावी जंग में अपना पूरा दमखम लगाने और हर दांव-पेंच से भारी जीत हासिल करने के बाद, चर्चिल की तरह, मोदी दिशाहीन और उद्देश्यहीन हो चुके हैं. ऐसे में चुनावी सेनापति की भूमिका में उनके ऊर्जा और कौशल का उपयोग करना राष्ट्र और पार्टी के व्यापक हिट में है. 

मोदी आखिर ऐसा क्यों करें?

पार्टी के एक अनुशासित सिपाही के रूप में, मोदी इस बात से वाकिफ है कि उनकी कार्यशैली से पहले ही पार्टी के कई वरिष्ठ और प्रभावशाली नेता नाखुश है। मोदी राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के प्रचारक रह चुके हैं, जो दूसरों की तुलना में, राष्ट्रीय हित के लिए व्यक्तिगत बलिदान को अधिक महत्व देता आया है।

उत्तर प्रदेश भारत का सबसे बड़ा राज्य है और राष्ट्रीय राजनीति का एक महत्वपूर्ण पैमाना है। देश के अधिकांश प्रधानमंत्री इस राज्य से रहे हैं और यही कारण है कि मोदी ने यहां से चुनाव लड़ने का निर्णय किया।

उत्तर प्रदेश में मुस्लिम समुदाय की एक बड़ी आबादी है और इस तक पहुँचने के मोदी के लगातार प्रयास के लिए और 2002 के गुजरात दंगों में हुई भूल-चूक अथवा जान-बूझ कर किये गए अपने पापों का अग्नि  परीक्षण साबित होगा।

इस तरह, पवित्र लेकिन मैली गंगा में डुबकी के साथ, उत्तर प्रदेश की धूमिल और मैली राजनीतिक सरोवर में डुबकी लगाना मोदी के लिए विरेचक साबित होगा।

मोदी को जिन बातों की सबसे अधिक परवाह है , उस को ध्यान में रखते हुए,  उत्तर प्रदेश में भाजपा का एक शांतिपूर्ण और सामंजस्यपूर्ण चुनाव अभियान का नेतृत्व, सहायक होगा - चाहे वहफिर से प्रधानमंत्री बनना चाहें या विश्व नेता का सम्मान पाना चाहें। 

मोदी ने बड़े सलीके और कड़ी मेहनत से विजयशील चुनाव प्रचारक के रूप में खुद को तैनात किया है। उत्तर प्रदेश में जनसैलाब उन्हें देखने और सुनने का इंतजार कर रही है। इलाहाबाद में हाल की राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी की बैठक में भी मोदी, मोदी, मोदी की गूँज सुनाई दी.

बड़ी तस्वीर   

राजनीतिक अवसरवाद और "हर कीमत पर जीत" के मूलमंत्र के इस दौर में सत्य हताहत है। हमें इस बात का अहसास है कि हमें इसकी भारी कीमत चुकानी पद रही है. समाज में असमानता बढ़ी है और आने वाली पीढ़ियों के हिस्से के संसाधनों को हड़पने की होड़ बढ़ी है. विचारशील और प्रबुद्ध वयस्क, युवा और बच्चे भी इस बात से सतर्क हैं कि लालच और त्वरित संतुष्टि की संस्कृति से उनके भविष्य को खतरे में डाला जा रहा है।

भाजपा और मोदी, दोनों को पता है कि जिस प्रोपेगंडा मशीन की सहायता से उन्हें चुनावी जीत हासिल हुयी. उसके आकाओं और विपक्ष के द्वारा  उसका इस्तेमाल उनके खिलाफ भी किया जा सकता है।

प्रवासी भारतीय समुदाय में जिन्हें सही मायने में अपने मूल देश से प्रेम है, उन्हें यह प्रतीत हो चुका है कि दुनिया में वाहवाही लूटने के अपनी चाह में, अनेक द्विपक्षीय और बहुपक्षीय मुद्दों पर मोदी बहुत दूर अधिक झुके हैं और शायद अनजाने में वे मूर्ख बनकर देश का नुकसान कर रहे हैं. 

उन्हें "संदेह का लाभ" देते हुए यह माना जा सकता है कि अपने इको चैम्बर्स के भीतर से बहुत सारी बातें उनके पल्ले नहीं पड़ रही है. उदाहरण के लिए, "मेक इन इंडिया" से भारत के लोगों को कोई फ़ायदा है भी या नहीं, इसकी मोदी को गहराई में कोई जानकारी नहीं है। अभी हाल में ही संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका से उच्च लागत पर खरीदे गए ३५ साल पुराने जंक ग्रेड परमाणु प्रौद्योगिकी का सौदा, वैश्विक स्तर पर उनकी राजनैतिक नासमझी को उजागर करता है।

घरेलू स्तर पर, "अच्छे दिन" का वादा अब ढीला पड़ रहा है और कई राज्य में हुए चुनावों में भाजपा की हार से यह संकेत मिलता है कि सही समय में सचेत न होने से अगले लोकसभा चुनाव तक यह पार्टी पर उलटवार साबित हो सकता है।

राजनीतिक विचारक सहमत होंगे कि जैसे गतिशील राजनीतिक परिवेश की परतें खुलती जाती हैं,  २०१७ के उत्तर प्रदेश चुनाव में जीत या हार, अगले लोक सभा चुनाव में भाजपा के परिणाम को डिब्बाबंद कर सकती है, और विशेषकर मोदी के।

मोदी के लिए उद्धार का रास्ता "गिर कर जीतने" के उनके कौशल पर निर्भर करता है, पर "अबकी बार, सबका हित हो साकार"। जिन मोदी पर देश को इतना भरोसा है, उनकी भी ऐसी ही मनोकामना होगी, आप भी सहमत होंगे. 

लेखक के विषय में : चन्द्र विकास (४४) राजनैतिक और सामाजिक समीक्षक हैं और समुचित एवं संतुलित संस्थान के अध्यक्ष हैं.  ईमेल : cvikash@yahoo.com fb: Chandra Vikash t: @cvikash

The most winnable CM candidate for BJP in Uttar Pradesh No One is talking about!

Speculation is rife over who could be the CM candidate for BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Media reports on the National Executive meet of the Party in Allahabad that concluded on Monday 13th June suggest that the UP chief ministerial candidate issue is not likely to figure in the 2-day meet. Sources further confirm that the party will not have any discussion regarding projection of Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate in this high-level meet. 

Some political commentators have argued whether the party should project a CM candidate before elections. Others have questioned the lingering confusion in deciding on the CM could cost the Party whatever chance it has of winning this crucial election. Manohar Parrikar, the defence minister, at a press conference in Ghaziabad on Saturday 11th June asserted that BJP will soon project its chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Overwhelming political opinion and empirical evidence suggests that this is perhaps the only way the BJP has even a reasonable chance of winning this crucial election. Political pundits and the buzz from the grassroots suggests that as of now, the party is likely to be routed into a distant third after Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati and incumbent Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

A number of people were amused when I suggested that in the larger interest of the truth, for the nation and for the party he represents, BJP should project Narendra Modi to be the CM candidate for Uttar Pradesh. The political orthodoxy might simply baulk at the very notion of "demoting" an incumbent Prime Minister to be pitted as the CM candidate in a state election.

To put this in perspective, the state of Uttar Pradesh (formerly called United Provinces under British Raj) has about 2/3rd of the population of United States of America but only 1/40th of the landmass. From a national viewpoint, both these elections will have tremendous impact on the policy direction for the Central Government in Delhi.

The state is in deep turmoil and has been grossly mismanaged by successive governments of BSP and SP. The bizarre incident in Mathura, where the Superintendent of Police along with 24 other people were killed, is just a pointer to how the state is on the boil. The cult which engaged in land grabbing and sporadic violence had the blessings of the political shenanigans of the ruling party.

Agreed that the re-positioning of Modi may lead to some kind of political upheaval and even constitutional incongruity. After all, Narendra Modi sits on the Prime Minister's chair. It does raise a number of questions. - Why should the Party sacrifice a sitting Prime Minister for the glorious uncertainties of a state election? and equally important - What is in it for Modi personally?

A Master Stroke for BJP

A close, deep and dispassionate look at the ground situation as well as the larger national and global perspective reveals that this could perhaps be a master stroke for a party that puts "Nation First, Party Second and Self Last". It also fits the bill of BJP as a Party-with-a- difference that is above dynastic politics and personal glorification. 

For the Party, Modi is perhaps the only one who would be acceptable to all prospective candidates and their vocal supporters and who can at the same time invigorate the rank and file of the BJP to surge past its mighty rivals. He towers over the otherwise long list of aspirants to this post in this large and politically charged state.

On top of it, Modi is also a member of parliament from Varanasi, where after his astounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has lost considerable ground in local elections. People look up to him to live up to the tall promises he made of cleaning up the Ganga and to get rid the historical city of its filth and squalor and regain its pride of place. The elections at the beginning of 2017 will be midway for the Centre when Modi's promises of "achhe din" will begin to be even more closely scrutinised.

What is in it for Modi?

As a disciplined soldier of the Party, Modi perhaps realises that he has already ruffled too many feathers and upset many respected and powerful leaders in the Party. He emerges from the RSS cadre, which more than others, has sought to emphasize personal sacrifices for the larger national interest.

Uttar Pradesh is the largest state of India and a barometer of national politics. Most Prime Ministers' of the country have hailed from this state and the reason why Modi chose to contest elections from the state and to retain the seat giving up the other seat he won in Vadodara in his home state of Gujarat. It has a significant Muslim population and will prove to be a litmus test for Modi's repeated attempts to reach out to the community and to wash away his sins of omissions and commissions in the 2002 Gujarat riots. In this way, as much as dip in the holy but turbid Ganga, taking the plunge into the murky and turbid political waters of Uttar Pradesh, will prove to be cathartic for Modi. Of all things that he cares, leading a peaceful and harmonious election campaign for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh will uplift Modi's stature globally for a later attempt to regain his seat as the Prime Minister and as a truly respectable global leader.

Modi has craftily positioned himself as the winning election campaigner. The crowds in Uttar Pradesh are waiting to see and hear him. Chants of Modi, Modi, Modi rented the air as usual in the National Executive meeting in Allahabad. He should find himself on a comfortable wicket and with the right kind of issues and promises, and riding the anti-incumbency, Modi should cruise safely to the victory podium.

The Bigger Picture - For the sake of Truth

Truth has been the biggest casualty of political opportunism and the credo of "winning at all costs". We realise that the cost has been too heavy and vastly disproportionate to the rewards with rising inequality and the danger of "eating into the future", as thoughtful elders, youth and even children are increasingly wary and restless about their future being put to danger by the culture of greed and instant gratification.

Both BJP and Modi know that the propaganda machine that brought them to power can be used against them to ooze out more bleeding pounds of flesh by global masters as well as by their opponents. The NRI community, the truly patriotic amongst them has already got a whiff that Modi may be bending too far and has been fooled into inadvertently selling out the country on several bilateral and multilateral issues. To give him the "benefit of doubt" he may not even understand from within his echo chambers, the deeper import of how for instance "Make in India" truly benefits the people of India. The buy in for high cost of junk-grade nuclear technology from the United States exposes similar political naivete at the global stage.

Domestically, the promise of "achhe din" is wearing thin and successive state elections point out that it will boomerang on the party's fortunes in the next Lok Sabha elections. Many savvy political thinkers might concur that in the unfolding political dynamics, winning or losing the Uttar Pradesh may seal the fate for BJP for the next Lok Sabha elections and most certainly for Modi himself.

Modi’s only chance of redemption may rest on his ability to “stoop and conquer", this time for the larger good.

Social Media as Theatre: A Case Study in Bigotry and Why RSS must go for the larger gud of the Hindus

Social Media as Theater:

A Case Study in Bigotry and Why it is far more difficult to disrobe than colonial-era Khaki shorts and why RSS should dissolve itself in the best interest of the Eternal and Indigenous Hindus it proclaims to protect and serve

(Based on social media theatre of real characters in March, 2016)

Opening Scene

Rajiv Verma: Thanks to the campaign launched by my good friend Sai Arjun, the RSS has finally relented and changed its colonial era uniform (read khaki shorts) with a post-colonial one. Kudos to Sai !!!

Sahana Singh:  Wish it had not taken this long!

Stephanie Celeste Chateau: Arjun is a true hero

Shonan Talpade: Campaign by whom ? ...this proposal was in the offing since at least 2 years now by Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi -the RSS general secretary.

Scene I

Aparna Krishnan:  Why not indian dress ? pyjamas ? dhoti ? Sad to see one more group succumb to western codes.

Shonan Talpade:  pyjamas and dhoti are not practical.

Aparna Krishnan:  well, sarees are ! so these too are !

Chandra Vikash:  I decided to wear dhoti but my practical wife and right in her way, felt it would look odd when every Tom, Dick and Harry is wearing pants these days.

If RSS wasn't intellectually bankrupt and suffered from the deep-seated inferiority complex bordering on paranoia and truly cared about Hindu, we would all be wearing dhoti and learn to carry it with aplomb.

Rajiv Varma: Dhoti actually looks better than pants or half-pants anyday.  And of course the saree is the most attractive outfit designed by the human mind.

Chandra Vikash: Rajiv ji, every attire is embedded in its context. Modern frenzied city is so antagonistic to graceful dhoti and saree. Due credit to womenfolk like Sahana Singh ji who still do.

Dhoti looks so graceful on elderly people who carry the context. I realised it wasn't worth displeasing your wife? Wonder what is धर्म on this, that which upholds?

Shonan Talpade: Chandra vikash ji ...Dhoti was not used for national attire of RSS because , in the south , Dhoti is not so prevalent --not at all, in fact its the lungi..and since RSS is a national organisation, they couldnt impose the north Indian dhoti on our south indian brothers.

also, the dhoti would be impractical for relief work or wading through floods etc.

Rajiv Varma: Chandra Vikash ji: >>> "... Dhoti looks so graceful on elderly people who carry the context. Wonder what is धर्म on this, that which upholds? ..." <<<

Attire is not a Dharmic issue. A woman in Bikini is fully capable of upholding Dharma, as well as one in Saree or Ghaghra. Ditto with a man in shorts or pants or dhoti. This is a matter of personal taste and convenience. Also, men should not comment on women's choice of dresses. Whatever they wear always looks good.

Aparna Krishnan: The culture of a country in anchored in details of clothing, language etc. To respect one's culture is to respect and own up these.

Chandra Vikash: I find the bikini as graceful as the saree for those who can carry it with grace and aplomb. Both have common feature of sunlight to be absorbed in mid-rib and not suffocating the highly energised lower chakra and thus enabling the energy to flow upwards unlike the burqah or tight jeans. The big drawback with bikini is having to wax frequently to cater to modern taste and sensibilities. All 3 over time impact on the nature of the offspring.

To each, their own. :)

Ravindra Singh Basera Dev:  Dhoti weared in d style of hardy soldiers of native armies is practical for all d tasks that RSS does....it is about colonial modernity and ingrained inferiority complex.

Chandra Vikash: Everything under the sun and above is धार्मिक issue, that which upholds. 

Shonan Talpade: Ravindra Singh Basera Dev But south Indian men never had the tradition of wearing dhoti.

Rajiv Varma Ravindra ji: >>> "... Dhoti weared in d style of hardy soldiers of native armies is practical for all d tasks that RSS does....it is about colonial modernity and ingrained inferiority complex ..." <<<

Very true!. Dhoti will never come in the way of doing any task. It is nothing but inferiority complex that somehow assumes dhoti as hindrance to do any task.

Aparna Krishnan: Shonan Talpade Tamil men wear dhoti even today. Tamil politicians wear only white dhoti. We call it veshti.

Shonan Talpade: Aparna Krishnan also there is a sikh body of the RSS called the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. ,Sikhs don't wear dhoti traditionally, so that's also the point to consider .

Aparna Krishnan: i dont care. these are waste of time discussions. if you want you change. thats all.

Shonan Talpade: That's fine if you do not care, but you should know the facts about this topic.

Scene II

Chandra Vikash:  Shonan Talpade When people are saying inferiority complex and bordering on paranoia, we mean someone close to you. Could you be that tone-deaf? wink emoticon

Shonan Talpade: Yea Chandra Vikash.... ..since I've been in the RSS since 30 years --from the age of 7..I guess singing Namaste sada vatsale would have made me rather tone deaf. grin emoticon

anymore of your ad-hominems ? grin emoticon grin emoticon grin emoticon

Chandra Vikash: Precisely, loyalty steeped in bigotry is best suited for street dogs. Humans are designed to do better. wink emoticon

Shonan Talpade:  Ooh what percipient counselling !!!! ..I'm really moved...

Do let me sit at your feet ,O divine Guru ..and tell me more about loyalty,Bigotry and street dogs. grin emoticon

Chandra Vikash:  Bigotry is tough nuts and clings. Much more difficult to crack the code or than changing khaki shorts. Be sure what you ask for. smile emoticon

Shonan Talpade:  Just a moment.....(I'm getting the popcorn out of the microwave) .....Don't stop ,Please continue.

Chandra Vikash:  Microwave? Even the Russians stopped using them You seem to be inspired by the American Imperialists now. smile emoticonWould you like your Pepsi with 2% fresh from the farm juice as well? Will go well with your popcorn.

Shonan Talpade:  You suffer from great insights .It's positively fascinating.

P.S--are you a fruit orchard farmer ?

Chandra Vikash:  I'm a meditative observer of human and animal psychology. Is this what you would like to know?

Shonan Talpade:  Oh I see In other words, You want to say that you are a condescending nut-job who tries to pontificate on something outside his knowledge or field of expertise…when he most obviously shouldn’t ?

Moral: The bigot must have the last word. Else the debate never ends. Post-trauma care and rehabilitation is for later.

Epilogue

Ravi Om:  it is obvious that Shonan Talpade hates sai arjun, but as far as i know he was the one who started posting it about 2-3 years back.

anyway, its a welcome change but rss is still boring. they could have choosen a more indian outside, like a white kurta with saffron strips on shoulder. any still better than boy scouts attire.

Shonan Talpade:  ROFL Yes sure ,I hate your cousin brother Sai Arjun and maybe It was also your cousin brother who started a petition to make Narendra Modi the PM candidate and due to his petition on facebook, PM Modi got elected in 2014

***