Editor: Rekha Saraswat

Vol. 78 No 5

AUGUST 2014

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THE RADICAL HUMANIST (Since April 1949) Formerly : Independent India (April 1937- March 1949)

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Founder Editor: M.N. Roy

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FOUNDER EDITOR

EDITOR

M. N. ROY

REKHA SARASWAT

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THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS

UDAY DANDAVATE

NIGEL BARBER

KULDIP NAYAR

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RAJINDAR SACHAR

K.S. CHALAM

K. PRATAP REDDY

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BONANI MISRA

AKANKSHA SINGH

NAMITA S. KALLA

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The Radical Humanist Vol. 78 Number 5

www.theradicalhumanist.com Contents

August 2014

1. From the Editor’s Desk:

Monthly journal of the

Indian Renaissance Institute

The Universal Dilemma of Communal Hatred —Rekha Saraswat 2 2. From the Writings of M.N. Roy: Historical Role of Islam: The Mission of Islam 3 3. Guests’ Section: Give Modi a Chance —Uday Dandavate 5 Why Atheism Will Replace Religion: New Evidence —Nigel Barber 7 4. Current Affairs’ Section: Modi’s 50 Days in Office —Kuldip Nayar 9 B.J.P. Delusion:Article 370 of Constitution of India cannot be abrogated —Rajindar Sachar 16 Testing Competencies not imparted is Unethical —K.S. Chalam 20 5. IRI / IRHA Members’ Section: Security Apprehensions in the Minds of our Muslim Brethren in India — K. Pratap Reddy 22 6. Academicians' Section: The theme of Existentialism in Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music —Bonani Misra —Akanksha Singh 30 7. Book Review Section: Afterglow —Namita S. Kalla 33 8. Humanist News Section: 35 a) Prabuddh Nagrik Shakti Manch b) NAPM Response on Union Budget and Rail Budget

Devoted to the development of the Renaissance Movement; and for promotion of human rights, scientific-temper, rational thinking and a humanist view of life.

Founder Editor: M.N. Roy Editor: Dr. Rekha Saraswat Contributory Editors: Prof. A.F. Salahuddin Ahmed, Dr. R.M. Pal, Professor Rama Kundu Publisher and Printer: Mr. N.D. Pancholi Send articles to: Dr. Rekha Saraswat, C-8, Defence Colony, Meerut, 250001, U.P., India, Ph. 91-121-2620690, 09719333011 E-mail articles at: rheditor@gmail.com Send Subscription / Donation Cheques in favour of The Radical Humanist to: Mr. Narottam Vyas (Advocate), Chamber Number 111 (Near Post Office), Supreme Court of India, New Delhi, 110001, India n.vyas@snr.net.in Ph. 91-11-22712434, 91-11-23782836, 09811944600 Please Note: Authors will bear sole accountability for corroborating the facts that they give in their write-ups. Neither IRI / the Publisher nor the Editor of this journal will be responsible for testing the validity and authenticity of statements & information cited by the authors. Also, sometimes some articles published in this journal may carry opinions not similar to the Radical Humanist philosophy; but they would be entertained here if the need is felt to debate and discuss upon them.

—Rekha Saraswat 1

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From the Editor's Desk:

The Universal Dilemma of Communal Hatred —Rekha Saraswat nature is very complicated yet Human very comprehensible. One needs to look within one’s own self to grasp its intricacies. Each individual lives with two parallel identities, personal and social; and continues to bring a balance between the two till he is alive. Which characteristic will over-power the other depends upon the level of personal growth and development in the circumstances available to each person. And this directly becomes the cause of as well as the effect upon human behavior. Each human being has an individual brain which continues to guide his thought process influencing his verbal and motor responses. The mind uses past experiences stored inside it to interpret the existing state of affairs and responds accordingly.

Another important factor that persuades human reaction is the level of cultural maturity the person has achieved which decides his power of independent thinking. The more insecure he is about his ‘being’ the more irrational will be his 'mob-rejoinders'. The less sure he is about his own convictions the more controlled he will be by external pressures. The more confused he is about the value and reason of his own existence the more chances arise of his emotional exploitation.

It becomes difficult for an average being to follow the rational dictates of his mind if the crowd around him wants him to emotionally respond in a particular situation to prove his solidarity with it or face the consequences of isolation later. In his fear of segregation he loses his commonsense and refuses to use his reason and rationale during mob-frenzy. But why does a group behavior lack patience and usually tends to become impulsive? It is because the sum-total of the individual’s narcissism culminates into 'community-self-eulogization'. The psychology of

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‘I am the best’, ‘what I say is the only truth’ and ‘what I believe in is perfect’ is needed for survival against all odds and to save one’s self-esteem from continuous bouts of uncertainty and pressures. But when it evolves into ‘group-insecurities’ its effect, in reverse, begins to jeopardize the survival instincts of other groups. Different assemblages are identified by the similarities in their behavior which they develop after long and continuous mutual-associations; each group developing its own religion, its individual moral codes of social conduct and its personal cultural beliefs. This is a normal process of growth of civilizations.

But the problem arises when each or some of these communities begin to assert their individual superiority over the other. When narcissist tendencies of ‘we are the best’, ‘our moral and social codes of conduct are superior to all others’, ‘our culture is the most civilized’ and ‘our religion is the most humane’ blow beyond proportion for material, political and power gains the individual who has learnt to peacefully exist in group-shelter and has developed his identity in his own community becomes mesmerized and gets caught in the fury of communal hatred. His life’s candle burns from both ends; he is the most harmed in the burning passions. Killings, lootings, burnings, loss of jobs for daily wagers; and then the government’s administrative measures also take their toll upon him only.

All extremist groups of different religions and the terrorist outfits use him. He is their culprit as well as their victim. He is the overt culprit in the mayhem that they master-mind. He is the victim of their latent self-seeking ambitions as well as of the judicial chastising and punishments of the state’s law and order machinery. There is an influx of such tragedies in U.P. but the phenomenon is world-wide. Palestine, Israel, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine are the latest examples. How to help him disentangle from the ever-enlarging sinister cobwebs of the power seekers is a problem we may deal with in the month!!

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decentralized nation had created at Mecca a symbol of precarious spiritual unity. All the tribes from distant parts of the vast desert, while visiting the market of Mecca, worshipped in the temple of Caaba. Each had introduced there its own emblem of devotion. The temple had been adorned with no less than three hundred and sixty idols of men, eagles, lions, etc. But the prosperous tribe of Koreish dominated the trade of Mecca, and the powerful family of Hashim had seized control of the temple. It was natural that the new spirit of a rising Faith, which would further economic interest through national unity, should be first felt consciously at the heart of the nation. So, it happened that a member of the Hashemite family began to preach the new religion.

Once the family of Hashim and the tribe of Koreish were converted to the new faith, the whole nation would follow soon. All the tribes must visit Mecca for the purpose of trade. Those who controlled the trade of Mecca could easily dictate the faith and conscience of the entire nation. But prejudice and habit induced the Koreish to persecute the innovating zeal of the kinsmen. They were afraid that trade would be driven away from Mecca, should the Pantheon of Caaba be disturbed. But there were others ready to assume the leadership of the revolution, when the most eligible candidate failed. Medina espoused the cause of the Prophet, and the call of unity found enthusiastic response in other quarters. The supremacy of Mecca was menaced. One family after another defected from the Koreish conservatism, and joined the revolutionary Hashemites. Before long the Koreish capitulated before their exiled kinsmen, but only to capture the scepter of the “Commander of the Faithful” As soon as the followers of the Prophet captured Mecca, a perpetual law was passed that no unbeliever should be allowed to set foot on the territory of the Holy City. The new religion was imposed upon the entire nation with the potent weapon of economic boycott. Caaba was cleared of its idols and became the shrine of “Mohammad’s

From the Writings of M.N. Roy:

Historical Role of Islam Chapter III Social and Historical Background of Islam freedom of exile brought the Therepresentatives of those diverse faiths into closer contact enabling them to see what was common to them all. In the calm atmosphere of toleration, their heterodoxy disappeared, the fire of proselytism died out, and the common essence of the teachings of the learned guests was imparted to the hospitable Beduin. In short, the Barbarians of the desert inherited the best the religions of antiquity had to offer, namely, the faith in the existence of one supreme God who is exalted above all the powers of heaven and earth, but who had revealed himself to mankind from time to time through his Prophets. Here is the essence of Islam crystallized in the spiritual consciousness of the Arabian people before Mohammad appeared with the mission of building a new religion on its basis.

The spirit of Islam was not invented by the genius of Mohammad; nor was it revealed to him. It was a heritage of history conferred on the Arabian nation.

The greatness of Mohammad was his ability to recognise the value of the heritage and make his countrymen conscious of it.

The Arabs had acquired the notion of one Supreme God; but out of habit and for tribal interests, they still practiced their old polytheistic worship. To be benefited by the positive outcome of earlier religions, delivered to them as a heritage of history, they must change their traditional mode of worship.

A supreme effort must be made with this purpose; and Mecca was the most strategic point to lead the attack from.

The particularist freedom and internecine feuds of the Arabian tribes were mutually compromised and composed at Mecca. All routes of trade led there.

The unity of the economic interest of the 3

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God”. Once the standard of the new religion was raised, the whole nation flocked under it. The ground had been prepared. The faith had unconsciously taken hold of the mind before it was preached. Economic interest demanded its establishment.

Continued..............

[Publisher’s Note: This book, first published in 1939, was written when Roy was in jail in the early thirties under a sentence of twelve years rigorous imprisonment, later reduced to six, for ‘conspiring to deprive’ the king-Emperor of his sovereignty in India. Looking back at events in the intervening period, one might wish that this book had been read more widely in the decade before the Indian

sub-continent became independent and at the same time partitioned into two States. A better knowledge and more objective understanding of the history of Islam on the part of Muslim as well as non-Muslim India might have prevented much of the later tragic developments and human suffering.

But it is never too late for knowledge and understanding to undo the harm that the lack of them has done. Hence, this small book on the historical role of Islam, in East and West, may itself have a historical role to play, apart from its intrinsic value as a scholarly treatise, beautifully written, on a fascinating chapter of human history.]

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—Rekha S.

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idea is being promoted, primarily by parties and leaders who prescribe to authoritarian methods of managing their own parties, that voice of dissent is meant to be muzzled and challenging atrocities committed by the state is akin to treason. I do not subscribe to the idea that Modi will only bring harm to India- I do believe he would want to leave an imprint on the history by translating his beliefs into fundamental shifts in governance. The point is- we don't have to grant him a free reign to impose his beliefs.

A big weakness in authoritarian mode of governance is that it relies on the knowledge, intelligence and authority of a single individual and his/her coterie of advisers. Authoritarian mode of governance promotes sycophants, eliminates dissent, and confines innovation within the ivory towers of a small coterie. Authoritarian model turns government administration at lower level into perpetrator of violence and corruption against the powerless commoners. On the other hand, there is clear evidence in the success of open source models of development that when a leader assumes the role of a catalyst and a cultivator of ideas present in the wisdom of larger population, more robust, relevant, refined and sustainable solutions to pressing problems emerge. A culture of accommodating diverse view points is central to open source development.

Authoritarian leaders tend to pursue their own social affiliates and listen to their biases when building power structures. They tend to consolidate their power by exploiting superstitious, and fueling communal and cultural chauvinism. Every authoritarian leader in a democracy sees himself/herself as a benevolent dictator. That is why popular dole outs are commonplace in authoritarian governance.

Therefore, I say to my friend, who wants to give Mr. Modi some time to prove himself, "Modi has the next five years to prove himself. However, the responsibility of progressive Indians, who are skeptical of his belief system and the intentions of

Guests' Section:

Give Modi a Chance —Uday Dandavate comment did not come from a Modi This supporter nor from a recent convert to his agenda of development. A friend of mine, who shares with me liberal values provoked me with a further nudge, "How long should we just keep judging him only on the basis of his role in Gujrat riots? Maybe he does want to make a difference.

There is no doubt that his personal charisma and his strong leadership earned him a solid mandate and we need to let him govern."

My response to the provocation was balanced- not quite typical of a staunch Modi skeptic that I am.

Well, Modi has a mandate and he is in the government. It would be foolish of me to even think that I could let him govern or not let him govern". The reality is- India's politics is changing.

The congress party has been dismissed with contempt. Political discourse in coming days is more likely to be dominated by sound bytes from the BJP and Mr. Modi. I fear that parliamentary democracy would be compromised without vibrant clash of ideas and a vigilant citizenry eager to present, challenge and build on each others' ideas.

Sitting in the visitors' gallery of Lok Sabha for several years, I have witnessed historical speeches and invaluable ideas being presented by leaders of the opposition. I have also seen Ministers and Prime Ministers taking down copious notes during these speeches. Both Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi have acknowledged publicly that they made it a point to listen to the speeches made by veteran Parliamentarians for refining their own thinking on public policies. In this background, I feel a need for a strong voice of dissent and a strong mobilization of vigilance to keep the ideas of the ruling party challenged every step along the way.

Unfortunately over the past several years a new

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the Sangh Parivar, there is an urgent need to build a strong counter point that can alert the masses to the need for cultivation of discourse and dissent as a foundation of innovative change. Let the Congress party languish in an exposed state. The only way to build a credible alternative to Mr. Modi's style of governance st to help develop participatory tools and methods of governance that can provide evidence of the rich potential of the ideas and dissent emanating from common citizens.

[Uday Dandavate studies people, cultures and trends worldwide and inspires people centered innovation strategies. He heads a design research consulting firm, SonicRim in U.S.A. He writes and speaks on topics related to people centered design and innovation in international journals and conferences. uday@sonicrim.com]

An Appeal to the Readers Indian Renaissance Institute has been receiving regular requests from readers, research scholars, Rationalists and Radical Humanists for complete sets of books written by M.N. Roy. It was not possible to fulfil their demands as most of Roy's writings are out of print. IRI has now decided to publish them but will need financial assistance from friends and well-wishers as the expenses will be enormous running into lakhs. IRI being a non-profit organization will not be able to meet the entire expenses on its own. Initially, following 15 books have been ordered for print: New Humanism; Beyond Communism; Politics, Power and Parties; Historical Role of Islam; India’s Message; Men I Met; New Orientation; Materialism; Science & Philosophy; Revolution and Counter-revolution in China; India in Transition; Reason, Romanticism and Revolution; Russian Revolution; Selected Works-Four Volumes; Memoirs (Covers period1915-1923).

Cheques /bank drafts may be sent in the name of ‘Indian Renaissance Institute’ at (address): Shri B.D. Sharma, Advocate, Chamber No.111 (Old), Supreme Court, New Delhi-110001 Online donations may be sent to: ‘Indian Renaissance Institute’ Account No: 02070100005296; FISC Code: UCBA0000207 UCO Bank, Supreme Court Branch, New Delhi (India) We make an earnest appeal to you to please donate liberally for the cause of the spirit of renaissance and scientific thinking being promoted in the writings of M.N. Roy. Thanking you.

B.D. Sharma

N.D. Pancholi,

Narottam Vyas

President (IRI)

Secretary (IRI)

Treasurer (IRI)

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uncertainty about the future because social welfare programs provide a safety net and better health care means that fewer people can expect to die young.

People who are less vulnerable to the hostile forces of nature feel more in control of their lives and less in need of religion. Hence my finding of belief in God being higher in countries with a heavy load of infectious diseases.

In my new study of 137 countries1, I also found that atheism increases for countries with a well-developed welfare state (as indexed by high taxation rates). Moreover, countries with a more equal distribution of income had more atheists. My study improved on earlier research by taking account of whether a country is mostly Moslem (where atheism is criminalized) or formerly Communist (where religion was suppressed) and accounted for three-quarters of country differences in atheism.

In addition to being the opium of the people (as Karl Marx contemptuously phrased it), religion may also promote fertility, particularly by promoting marriage3. Large families are preferred in agricultural countries as a source of free labor. In developed countries, by contrast, women have exceptionally small families. I found that atheism was lower in countries where a lot of people worked on the land.

Even the psychological functions of religion face stiff competition today. In modern societies, when people experience psychological difficulties they turn to their doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

They want a scientific fix and prefer the real psychotropic medicines dished out by physicians to the metaphorical opiates offered by religion. No wonder that atheism increases along with third-level educational enrollment.

The reasons that churches lose ground in developed countries can be summarized in market terms. First, with better science, and with government safety nets, and smaller families, there is less fear and uncertainty in people's daily lives and hence less of a market for religion. At the same time many

Why Atheism Will Replace Religion: New Evidence 窶年igel Barber of religion helps people feel Thegood,illusion despite miserable experiences.

Atheists are heavily concentrated in economically developed countries, particularly the social democracies of Europe. In underdeveloped countries, there are virtually no atheists. Atheism is a peculiarly modern phenomenon. Why do modern conditions produce atheism? In a new study to be published in August, I provided compelling evidence that atheism increases along with the quality of life 1.

First, as to the distribution of atheism in the world, a clear pattern can be discerned. In sub-Saharan Africa there is almost no atheism2. Belief in God declines in more developed countries and atheism is concentrated in Europe in countries such as Sweden (64% nonbelievers), Denmark (48%), France (44%) and Germany (42%). In contrast, the incidence of atheism in most sub-Saharan countries is below 1%.

The question of why economically developed countries turn to atheism has been batted around by anthropologists for about eighty years.

Anthropologist James Fraser proposed that scientific prediction and control of nature supplants religion as a means of controlling uncertainty in our lives. This hunch is supported by data showing that the more educated countries have higher levels of non belief and there are strong correlations between atheism and intelligence.

Atheists are more likely to be college-educated people who live in cities and they are highly concentrated in the social democracies of Europe.

Atheism thus blossoms amid affluence where most people feel economically secure. But why?

It seems that people turn to religion as a salve for the difficulties and uncertainties of their lives. In social democracies, there is less fear and 7

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alternative products are being offered, such as psychotropic medicines and electronic entertainment that have fewer strings attached and that do not require slavish conformity to unscientific beliefs.

References: 1. Barber, N. (in press). A cross-national test of the uncertainty hypothesis of religious belief.

Cross-Cultural Research.

Barber, N. (2012). Why atheism will replace religion: The triumph of earthly pleasures over pie in the sky.

E-book, available at:http://www.amazon.com/Atheism-Will-Replace -Religion-ebook/dp/B00886ZSJ6/ 2. Zuckerman, P. (2007). Atheism: Contemporary numbers and patterns. In M. Martin (ed.), The

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Cambridge companion to atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. This book is not held by any U.S. Library.

3. Sanderson, S. K. (2008). Adaptation, evolution, and religion. Religion, 38, 141-156.

[This article was published on July 14, 2011 by Nigel Barber, in The Human Beast Nigel Barber, Ph.D., is an evolutionary psychologist as well as the author of Why Parents Matter and The Science of Romance, among other books.]

Article Source URL:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-hu man-beast/201107/why-atheism-will-replace-re ligion-new-evidence —Article received courtsey Mahipal Singh

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Current Affairs:

Modi’s 50 Days in Office —Kuldip Nayar the first 50-odd day of rule by Prime IfMinister Narendra Modi is any guide, it is the rightist government which has taken over India.

The Nehruvian ideology which tilts towards left has been jettisoned. Once again, free enterprise and unencumbered trade will motivate people.

This is a turnaround from the policies that has guided the nation so far. The public sector will shrink and the rich will expand their area of influence and operation. This is a logical consequence of a free economy. How far Modi will go to remove limitations on unplanned enterprise is difficult to say, but there is no doubting of governance by the rich and powerful. It is bound to drive the weak to the wall because the capitalist system knows no other way to grow. Yet Modi should be prepared to face stiff opposition from the beneficiaries of the system which is leftist in content.

However, there is nothing dynamic about the programmes and policies which Modi has unfolded. His election campaign promised so much and aroused the aspirations of people to such a length that his budget is considered inadequate to bring about the changes which are necessary to go forward.

Modi’s rule so far has been tepid and devoid of any spectacular step to pull India out from the mire of non-development in which it is stuck. The absence of push becomes all the more glaring when there is no lessening of poverty. Former RBI governor Rangarajan’s report released a few days ago finds three out of 10 Indians below the poverty line. This is more than what we inherited when the British left in August 1947.

It is disappointing to see Modi government not taking concrete and immediate steps towards

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bringing down inflation. After having experienced a long spell of non-governance under the Congress rule, I thought that the BJP government would spell out legal and other measures to set the strangled economy free to grow. The budget has not told us how and when.

Instead, the government looks too timid to take steps which would be considered risky. When the BJP on its own has a majority in the Lok Sabha, it is difficult to make out the reason for its halting approach. During the election campaign Modi had promised to cut red tape to ensure a rapid growth.

When it comes to action there is hesitation, if not lethargy, on the part of the government.

The BJP should understand that the development can mitigate the party’s parochial image. In an atmosphere where the growth is slow people miss the pluralistic society all the more. The only redeeming factor is that the BJP government has not underlined its communal agenda. Yet who knows whether the Modi government will go back to the policy of dividing people after making them complacent.

In fact, it looks as if Modi is going out of the way to give the impression that after becoming Prime Minister he has changed his stance of promoting Hindu nationalism. His party, the BJP, talks about secularism all the time as if there is no contradiction between a Hindu state and a pluralistic society.

True, this is the line of the RSS which believes that all those born in India are Hindus irrespective of whatever faith they may be pursuing. Yet the BJP has kept a distance from the RSS because it is seen as an advocate of hard line. In fact, the RSS men are joining the BJP to get advantage of comparatively better image it has.

Modi remained within limits when he went to Srinagar a few days ago. He did not say that the state was an integral part of India as he did earlier.

He merely remarked that he would pursue former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s line of humanism. Even the hartal in Srinagar on the day of his visit did not provoke him to react differently.

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Perhaps, he thought that he had already sent a message across by visiting the state of Jammu and Kashmir within days of his taking over.

The problem with Modi is his image. He is considered anti-Muslim in a country which has roughly 18 million Muslims. They, indeed, feel insecure. They still recall his complicity in anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002. Although a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of state high court has given him a clean chit, the tag of partisanship still pursues him.

As Prime Minister, he should go out of the way to win the confidence of the minorities. His accommodative approach towards the SAARC countries—three of them are Muslim—is a step in the right direction. Yet he has to do more to win their trust as Vajpayee did.

I do not see yet any glaring false step in the governance. Elections are such a torrid experience that even the largest political party or a popular leader takes time to get adjusted to the cold reality of failure. This is what has happened to the Congress and its leader, Sonia Gandhi. Both have not yet recovered from the loss on the parliamentary election after ruling the country for a decade. The Congress has been reduced to a rump of 44 in a 543-member Lok Sabha. It is time for the party to analyse what went wrong. But the statements by the Congress leaders reflect complacency.

The insistence by the Congress leaders to be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) makes little sense. When the party does not have the mandatory one-tenth of members, that is 55, in the Lok Sabha it should have accepted the defeat and faced the facts. There have been occasions when the Telugu Desam Party, despite being the single largest outfit, did not get the LoP status some years ago. I can understand the Congress’s predicament. But the party should not make it a big issue and instead leave it at that.

The voters who have returned the BJP want to see the implementation of promises made by Modi. But

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then these are early days in his governance. We should wait for another 50-odd days to see before assessing his performance since that is the target he has set for himself and his ministers.

Defeat Talibanisation find it strange that New Delhi is not Iseriously considering the pros and cons of what happens once the American and NATO forces reduce their presence in Afghanistan only in the shape of a few thousand troops. US Secretary of State Kerry has visited Kabul to devise the policy after the withdrawal. But New Delhi is not in the picture.

No doubt, the Afghans have the best goodwill towards India because it has helped them to set up hospitals, schools and build roads. Yet Islamabad, which considers Afghanistan its “strategic depth,” wants the country to be its satellite. New Delhi has tried to persuade Islamabad to let Kabul be independent and sovereign, but Pakistan has not bitten the bullet.

It all started when the Soviet Union sent its forces to Afghanistan to impose their ideology on a state which was saturated with Islamic ideas. America used the opportunity to bleed the Soviet Union by training the fundamentalists in Pakistan to make inroads into Afghanistan without considering the long-term repercussions. And once the Soviet Union started retreating from Afghanistan, Washington lost all interests in the territory leaving behind arms and other equipment in the field itself.

The fundamentalists used those weapons to propagate their strict and disciplinarian interpretation of Islam.

Islamabad had in its mind the armed and trained Taliban against India and there are numerous examples to testify that insurgency in Kashmir were nothing but a byproduct of a bigoted stance to shut out the participation of non-Muslims in governance, however unwittingly demanded. I recall when I met in Kabul a leader from the Masud group, anti-Taliban in ideology and pro-India in its

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approach, he told me that the road to Kabul goes through Islamabad and if New Delhi was really interested in stopping the tide of fundamentalists, it should have a serious dialogue with Pakistan.

It is a pity that India refused to have any truck with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who was Pakistan’s confidante. No doubt, he is a nasty person to deal with, but if we had fixed our eyes on the situation a decade later, we should have swallowed some of his anti-India rhetoric. But all this is now history.

The two countries, particularly India, should formulate some strategy to thwart the Taliban onslaught, which is bound to take place once they are sure that the Western forces are not in a position to match their weapons.

The most disconcerting aspect is the birth of Tehrik-e-Pakistan Taliban (TTP), an indigenous growth which is in a position to strike wherever it wants and whenever it wants. It has proved it again and again. The recent attack on Karachi airport is an example. However, the Karachi happening is only the symptom, not the disease. The disease is fundamentalism which, to the horror of even middle-of-the-road Pakistanis, is spreading rapidly.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has opted for an easy path. He has been negotiating with the Taliban to accommodate their aspirations. The reason why the talks have not gone very far is that the Taliban’s insistence on Pakistan giving proof of their sincerity of taking measures like closing institutions for female literacy and making hijab (veil) as a compulsory outfit for women in Pakistan. No doubt the next step they will demand is a ban on women car drivers, just like in Saudi Arabia. Music has already been sacrificed on the altar of extremism. The old time singers or instrument players have no market in Pakistan.

How ironic that they come to India to earn a livelihood.

Otherwise liberal but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the person who began placating the fanatics. He is the one who started a government stipend for the head

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maulvis in mosques and declared Ahmediyas as non-Muslims. Today the graves of Ahmediyas are being dug and the remains of whatever is left is thrown out. The Pakistan establishment did not think even for a minute in humiliating Sir Zafrullah Khan, a prominent Ahmediya who turned the tables against India at the UN on Kashmir. In fact, the complaint which Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made at the UN about “Pakistan’s aggression” in Kashmir went against New Delhi largely because of his efforts, blessed by Britain.

The past, however bitter, should not now be recalled at a time when both India and Pakistan have few options except to organize a joint front to defeat the Taliban. New Delhi should not forget that the Taliban would be at the Attari (Amritsar) border if they are not defeated in Afghanistan itself.

If it is embarrassing for the two countries to talk about their strategy in the open, they can establish a back channel as they have done in the case of Kashmir.

The repercussions of Taliban gaining an upper hand, first in Afghanistan and then in Pakistan, are so inimical to the defence and development of India that it should go out of the way to befriend Pakistan on a joint approach towards Afghanistan. Since no serious talk takes place between the two because of Kashmir, they should keep this problem aside and allow the two army chiefs to sit across the table and devise a long-term strategy which would enable Afghanistan to stay independent.

Of course, this means that Islamabad would have to change its policy and not consider Afghanistan their “strategic depth.” This is in Pakistan’s own interest. The manner in which the Taliban have begun to count in the affairs of Pakistan should be a warning that the Taliban would not allow Pakistan to be a liberal Islamic state.

New Delhi should take the initiative to get America on board regarding anti-Taliban policy. If and when they are defeated in their designs both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they would cease to be a force which is beginning to loom large in other

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Islamic countries where the Taliban-like thoughts have begun to assert themselves.

It is a pity that India is not seeing the writing on the wall. At least Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said to be a strong ruler, should pick up the threads with Nawaz Sharif on this matter. Both hit it off well when they met in Delhi. Nawaz Sharif has even said so in a letter to Modi. Can things in the same vein go ahead in the interest of policy to contain the Talibanisation, already quite assertive in Pakistan?

Relics of the Past magine renowned poet Rabindra Nath

ITagore seeking admission to the Culcutta

Club, a preserve of the British, and getting rejected.

Faiz Ahmad Faiz, the legendary Urdu poet, receiving a similar treatment at Lahore’s Punjab Club in Pakistan and Nazar-ul Islam at the Dhaka Club. In all these cases, the public outrage would have been difficult to assuage.

The white rulers saw to it that the leading clubs in a country where they had ruled remained an exclusive place for them and their elitist friends.

Refusal to the non-whites’ clubs was part of apartheid. Posh clubs would have a billboard at the entrance saying: Dogs and Indians are not allowed.

Shocking it may sound, but the white rulers enjoyed humiliating dark Indians, apart from heaping on them other indignities.

The upper stratum of society which rubbed shoulders with the white and lived more or less in the western style was given entry straightway.

Therefore, it was not surprising to find the same members of the society replacing the white and making clubs exclusively for their use. The club management prescribed dress code, the western style, essential and banned local dress within the premises.

A club in Chennai went to extent of banning dhoti consequently. A Madras High Court judge wearing dhoti was refused entry. There was an outcry when this happened. Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha called the act an “insult” to Tamil 12

culture. The AIDMK chief promised a quick law is passed to put an end to such a practice. The CM has also promised prompt action against the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) in Chepauk, which had denied admission to Justice D. Hariparanthaman and two other guests, ostensibly for violating the dress code of the club.

Members and their guests are expected to be well-dressed, which for men is usually interpreted as Western attire. “The way of tying the dhoti in Tamil Nadu style may leave it to a number of aspects of exposure. Many clubs cite this as a reason for not allowing guests in dhotis,” a member of the Madras Club said. However, in a state where most politicians prefer a dhoti and a white shirt over the Western attire, charges of indecent exposure have backfired. R. Gandhi, 77, a senior advocate who was turned away along with Justice Hariparanthaman, said it was an “arbitrary reaction” by the club’s staff against respectable men “in their natural dress”.

People in South East Asia, however democratic in their temperament, are enamoured of authority.

Clubs may be the relics of the British rule but they represent power. That is the reason why clubs of the past are kept as they were, although they do not fit into India’s reality of austere living.

Authoritarian police is another relic which has been retained, with more powers to silence the opponents. It was an investiture ceremony where top police officials were being honoured for the outstanding service they had rendered to trace and punish those who had committed excesses during the emergency. In the midst of the ceremony, then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi got up and ended the ceremony.

Another example is the disdain with which the Police Reforms Commission report was treated by here. It confirms fears that the Shah Commission proceedings may have been destroyed. In fact, even a copy of the report is not available either in market or in government offices. Does the Congress believe that the emergency would disappear from

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the history itself? At least, the Police Reforms Commission report exists, although its recommendations have not been implemented because most state chief ministers are not less authoritative than Mrs. Gandhi was.

The BJP feels that it can afford to give the impression of being liberal at a time when soft Hindutva has engripped even the leftist parties. The Congress is seen steadily losing its secular credentials in the past few years despite the fact that Muslims, by and large, voted in favour of Congress. But the biggest dilemma facing the Muslim community today is who among all parties is liberal. The radicalization of the community is not the answer, as it is happening. This would be used as an evidence to stigmatize the community.

Muslim terrorism has no chance against Hindu terrorism simply because of the numbers.

I realize that some Muslims out of desperation have taken to violence. But this is the path Hindu militant organizations like the Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad want the community to take. The guilt of these organizations has been proved from the bomb blasts at Malegaon, Ajmer and Hyderabad. Initially, the suspicion was on Muslims—as is the police practice—and the Muslim youth was picked up.

At Hyderabad, they were beaten by the police. But a detailed investigation revealed a Hindu hand. Had there been accountability, such chauvinist deeds by the police would not have taken place. Young men have been arrested when law courts have found that there is no evidence against them. Who made the mistake? Who is responsible for illegal arrests? He should be punished if the impression that the Muslim youth was picked up without any rhyme or reason is to be removed.

A commission has also been appointed under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India J.C. Varma to suggest changes in rape laws and the quantum of punishment. The students have asked for death penalty or chemical castration. Yet it is strange that the government acted only under

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pressure. The authorities pressed the panic button because for many days all roads leading to India Gate were closed and even water cannons were used to push back the agitating students behind the barricades the police had erected. The lathi-charge was uncalled for and widely condemned.

The biggest support to the politicians is the police which are supposed to maintain law and order. The force has to be purged of sycophants and sluggish elements. But for that to happen, the police have to be made independent so that they are free of pressure from politicians. The worst example is in Punjab and Haryana where the police force has become a private army of chief ministers.

Importance Of Being An Extremist Shah is a new word in the Sangh Amit parivar jargon. It means loyalty. Shah is, without any doubt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Man Friday. But what differentiates him from others is the blind faith he has in his master, Modi. Amit Shah was given the task to polarize the biggest state of Uttar Pradesh. He won the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) 71 seats out of 80 in the Lok Sabha in the recent elections.

Modi has now put Shah at the head of the BJP to spread the same divisive ideas, the Hindutava, all over the country. One thing is clear from his appointment: Resistance to extremists has worn out so much that even a fanatic Hindu like Shah can occupy the highest position in the Sangh parivar.

He is openly trying to put RSS and Modi’s government on the same page. For example, Kaptan Singh Solanki, appointed as governor of Haryana, is a hardcore RSS member. What it conveys is that the BJP is willing to be used as an instrument of RSS. By stating that the Sangh would take part in politics Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, has only confirmed the perception that the parivar is dictated by RSS. This may be against the undertaking that RSS had

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given to Home Minister Sardar Patel that it would not participate in political activities. Then the Jan Sangh had to amend its constitution to re-enunciate that the organization would remain “devoted purely to cultural work.” The appointment of Solanki also sends out the message that there is no difference between BJP and RSS, the liberals and the extremists. Both are two sides of the same coin.

Modi may not have taken any step to accelerate the pace of Hindutava. Yet his prime ministership has emboldened the RSS elements. So much as that one BJP member called Sonia Mirza, India’s pride in tennis, a Pakistani. It must be tough for the Muslims who have to prove their loyalty to India all the time. Her husband is no doubt a Pakistani. She was naturally hurt for being questioned on her nationality.

The Hindutava of sorts was seen in Haryana where a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) the Haryana will control by all the Gurudawara in the state and their offerings. It is a serious matter which should have been ponder over seriously to find a formula to allay the fears of Sikhs in Punjab and Haryana. RSS considers the Sikh part of Hindu community. The Sikhs, on the other hand, are against the assumption. The violent reaction of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal showed that the Punjab Sikhs, a majority in the community, will not tolerate any division in what he describes as panth, the Sikh order.

Another unfortunate deduction is that the liberal elements in the BJP have dwindled in numbers.

They find no option to the RSS leadership. Maybe, the distance between the BJP and RSS was never a reality. It was part of the RSS tactics to make a dent in the general perception that the Indian society prefers the liberal BJP to the obdurate RSS. The perception about tolerance in the Hindu religion is largely true. Had this not been the case, the constitution would not have said in the preamble that India would be a secular republic.

The proof is provided by elections where 80 percent of Hindus, who constitute an

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overwhelming majority, vote for a liberal India.

Another indication is that even the liberal Muslim leaders don’t get elected even when their community constitutes 15 to 16 percent of population in the country.

The ominous side is that the bigoted are adopting a still harder line and getting acceptance. Otherwise, Shah’s elevation makes little sense. After the BJP victory at the Centre, he has been polarizing the society and ensuring that the party does not snap its ties with RSS or the extremist Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

The recent episode of forcible-feeding a fasting Muslim by a Sena MP is in a bad taste. What is more surprising is the explanation offered by the MP concerned and others. Several Sena members failed to condemn the MP and instead said it was done only to let the authorities know that the food supplied at the Maharastra Sadan was awfully bad.

Though the Sena MP had subsequently apologised, the party had no business to equate it with some Muslim men raping women during Ramzan. The Modi government has at last reacted with Home Minister Rajnath Singh regretting the incident and reiterating that the government was committed to safeguarding the religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution.

Despite this, Modi’s overall say in favour of Hindutva cannot be denied. He is associated with the anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002. He is also known for his strong anti-Pakistan and anti-Bangladesh, the two Muslims republics in India’s neighbourhood. Amit Shah was part of Modi’s ministry at Ahmedabad at that time.

Fortunately, Modi also realizes that he should have good relations with both the nations. His invitation to the Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, to his oath-taking ceremony says so.

For Modi to have good relations with India’s neighbours would strengthen the idea of pluralism, something that has helped the country to sustain a liberal atmosphere in the subcontinent.

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Both New Delhi and Dhaka are fighting against fundamentalism, represented by the Taliban.

Islamabad is used to do so because it uses them for fighting ‘a battle of independence’ in Kashmir.

There is also a strong influential lobby within Pakistan to support fundamentalism which is spreading in the entire Muslim world.

I wish New Delhi could act against the Hindu Taliban which is emerging as a serious force. The liberal Muslims, whether living in Pakistan or Bangladesh, cannot afford to be complacent in their resolve to eliminate the Taliban, the fundamentalists. They want the Islam to abandon the efforts at reformation and go back to the type of

Islam was at the time of inception 1400 years ago.

They too realize that it is not possible to do that. But then their approach is based on the strategy in elections which seem to return a candidate who supports pluralism. Rulers of Pakistan and Bangladesh seem to be realistic enough not to do anything which would scare away the non-Muslim electorate.

[Kuldip Nayar is a veteran syndicated columnist catering to around 80 newspapers and journals in fourteen languages in India and abroad. He may be contacted at:kuldipnayar09@gmail.com]

Important Announcement The next meeting of the Citizens for Democracy will be held on Saturday & Sunday, the 20th and 21st September, 2014 , 10 am to 5 pm both days, at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi.

Main focus would be on electoral reforms, besides other programmes of action as well as building and strengthening of the organization.

The complete agenda follows shortly.

This advance notice is being given to enable the delegates/invitees to have travel reservations in advance.

Those who wish to have accommodation should inform in advance at least by 20 th August, 2014.

N.D.Pancholi, General Secretary (CFD) Mob.: 91-9811099532

Dear Friends, Your article for the RH should be emailed to me at: rheditor@gmail.com.

Or posted at: C-8, Defence Colony, Meerut, 250001, U.P. Please send a passport size photograph and your brief resume if it is being sent for the first time to the RH. A note whether it has also been published elsewhere or is being sent exclusively for the RH should also be attached with it.

— Rekha Saraswat Mob. : 91-9719333011 15

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B.J.P. Delusion: Article 370 of Constitution of India cannot be abrogated —Rajindar Sachar of B.J.P. Rajnath has called for a President debate on why Article 370 of the Constitution should not be abrogated. One wishes he had sought this enlightenment before including the provocative item of abrogation of Article 370 in B.J.P. Election Manifesto.

Apart from legal angle, Togadia’s hate Speech against Muslims and politically dishonest attempt

by B.J.P. and R.S.S. leaders to paper it over, would by itself alone be a justification enough for retention of Article 370 in Muslim Majority State of J & K. On August 15th 1947, when India became independent, J&K was not a part of its territory. It was only by the Instrument of Accession, dated 27.10.47, signed by the Maharaja of J&K that the state acceded to the Dominion of India. By clause 3 the Maharaja accepted that the matters specified in the schedule are the matters with respect to which the dominion legislature may make laws for the State of J & K. The instrument further provided that the terms of instrument shall not be varied by amendment of the Act or of the Indian Independence Act unless such amendment is accepted by the Maharaja. The instrument also clearly laid down that nothing in the instrument shall be deemed to commit the State in any way to the acceptance of any future Constitution of India.

This Instrument accepted only a limited number of matters, Defence, External Affairs, Communications, as those with respect to which the Indian legislature could make laws for J&K. This special relationship of J&K found its reflection in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which laid down that notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, the powers of the parliament to make laws for the State shall be limited to those 16

matters in the Union List and the concurrent list, which, in consultation with the Government of the state, are declared by the president to correspond to matters specified in the Instrument of Accession, and such other matters in the said lists with the concurrence of the State, the president may by order specify.

Thus by virtue of Article 370 parliament can legislate for J&K on matters other than those mentioned in the instrument but only after obtaining the concurrence of the State of J&K. (emphasis supplied) Thus J&K has a special status, unlike the other States in India where Parliament can legislate on its own on subjects mentioned in the Union and concurrent lists.

It is no doubt true that Article 370(3) provides that the President may by notification declare that this article shall cease to be operative, but the proviso clearly lays down a limitation that the recommendation of Constituent Assembly of the State shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification. It is not disputed that the Constituent Assembly of J&K has never given any such recommendation. In that view, Article 370 cannot be withdrawn by Parliament purporting to exercise the power of amendment given by Article 368. That the power to amend the Constitution is not totally unfettered admits of no disputes vide the famous case of Keshvanand Bharthi, (1973) where Supreme Court held that a “Constitution like ours contains certain features which are so essential that they cannot be changed or destroyed”.

There is also nothing very special in laying this limitation in Article 370. Even Article 368 limits the Parliament to make any amendment of the Constitution which would result in a change in any of the lists in the Seventh Schedule; such amendment shall also require to be ratified by the legislatures of not less than half of the States.

Under our Constitution Governors are only formal heads of state and have no powers at all in the administration of the state which is vested in the Cabinet. But yet by Constitutional Amendment Act

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1956, Article 371 provides for special responsibility of the Governor for establishment of a separate development for Saurashtra and Kutch (in Gujarat) and Vidharbha in Maharashtra for equitable allocation of funds for development of the area. No objection by BJP has been raised which curtails the power of Gujarat Chief Minister Modi while there is not such limitation on the Chief Ministers in other States.

Article 371G introduced by Constitution (55th Amendment Act 1986) provides that no Act of parliament in respect of ownership and transfer of land shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the legislative Assembly of State of Mizoram by a resolution so decides. This provision is identical to Article 370 of the constitution regarding J & K. B.J.P. was a party to above amendment. Why does BJP apply double Standard in the case of Muslim majority State of J & K.?

Even in U.S.A. such is the width of State autonomy that an Advocate getting his law degree from Washington University can not as a matter of right practice in State of New York. No one has suggested that this is endangering the unity of U.S.A. Recently in the Election fever even Congress seems to have been entrapped when it also gave an Election promise to separate Laddakh from the territory of J&K and even give it a separate Legislative Assembly. This is the most provocative suggestion, which can only inflame the sentiments of people of J&K against India, apart from the fact that it is not legally possible because J&K legislature will never give its consent, as provided

by Article 370.

It needs to be appreciated that retention of Article 370 is a matter of self respect and honour and assertion of its distinct identity for people of J&K. Can not BJP, even when most of Parties in J&K are desirous of finding a lasting solution, be statesmen enough to give up its opposition to Article 370 which no Kashmiri can possibly agree to abrogate because it is a matter of preserving his special

identity.

Faced with this reality, any politician must realize that all talk of abrogation of Article 370 is moonshine and a non-issue. It is also a very sensitive matter touching the credibility of our secular professions and the justifiable fears of the minorities. With all this, when it is also patent that abrogation of Article 370 is not legally and constitutionally competent, is there any moral, political or logical justification to keep up this empty noise? I submit there is none.

Dominance of Private Corporate Sector: Unacceptable Under the Constitution that the high sounding praise by Now Corporate Sector of Modi Governments maiden budget is less noisy, it is time to look at it impartially. The insidious pro rich Bullet Train, Project is an open declaration of anti labour, anti rural bias in the context of about 60% of rural areas being only able to use bullock cart type of transport. As it is, 14% hike in railways fare has already demoralized the poor. The bullet train thinking is similar to Queen Marie Antoinette of France cynical remark who asked “why should poor protest if they can’t buy bread – let them instead buy cake.”

The budget has out done UPA in its approach to Foreign Direct Investment which has been raised in one sweep from 26% to 49%, which UPA even though it wanted to, could not do ironically because of the protest from amongst others BJP itself. Does it not show double faced-ness in politics which Dr. Lohia used to lament by emphasizing the morality angle, namely the absence of approximation between words and deeds.

The policy on Public Sector Banks has been left dubious. The market is interpreting it as a gradual device to privatize banks and even reducing public

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Banks equity to less than 51%. This thinking in BJP Government is bound to lead to massive protest amongst public which still remember the vast damage done by private banks to serve the need of their private owners in 1969 and were saved since then only by nationalization of banks and prohibiting private banks which were mainly owned by owners of Industry. Such a ban is on sound principle of avoiding conflict of private business interests from those of public interest in sound banking.

More surprisingly government is planning to go ahead to off load 5% in ONGC shares for Rs. 17,000 crore notwithstanding the protest by ONGC that the government will suffer loss and will not be able to realize its potential value. That Modi Government considers a policy of disinvestment of public sector almost as a religious compulsion is quite evident when almost within weeks of taking over, the finance Ministry has started exercise to selling residual government stake of 49% in HZL and Balco just as earlier UPA Government had decided to sell the two PSA to the common election fund donor of both the parties but because of certain circumstances could not finalize it. There is a real danger of Modi Government going all out to dismantle public sector and hand it over to private oligarchy, even when this action is violative of Article 39 C of our constitution which mandates “that the operation of economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth.........” I feel strongly that unless a determined combined effort by all leftist parties and Trade Unions as urged by Socialist Party (India) is taken throughout the country, public assets are in danger of being given almost gratis to the big business lobby which has so liberally contributed to Modi Campaign.

But a more serious attack on the poor farmers has been announced by Modi Government to amend New Land Acquisition Act 2013, which was passed

by UPA Government but with full support of BJP. This bill was the result of culminating struggle by scores of trade union and farmer’s organization of Narmada Bachao Andolan led by Medha Patkar 18

and legally assisted by Sanjay Parikh. This New Act was a radical change from old Act which permitted land to be acquired for Private Corporations (a provision not to be found either in USA or UK legislations). Modi government wants to delete the consent clause which requires 70% affected parties consent if land is required for Private Public protect and 80% in case of private persons and also the compensation package, which is in accord with international covenants; such a dilution will be illegal and would be massively resisted.

One would have expected that the misstatement by Minister for Minority affairs that Muslims are not a minority would have been sought to be assuaged in Modi first Budget by making adequate provision for the development of Minorities i.e. Muslims, Christians. But one is disappointed. One would also have expected some special provision for recruitment for Minority especially the Muslims in the police. No doubt it is a hangover from the UPA government, but must the minorities continue to suffer intentional neglect both under UPA and now under BJP government. I should have thought that Modi would clutch at this opportunity if he wanted to show his impartiality. I am referring to the Report “Strategy for making police force more sensitive towards minority sections prepared by three Director Generals, of Maharashtra; of U.P.; of Tamil Nadu along with Intelligence Bureau, which has concluded that there is a trust deficit amongst Muslims, who see the Police as Communal biased and insensitive….” The report emphasized that the “poor representation of the Minorities in the police forces has contributed to this distrust and suspicion”. That the worrisome gap of Muslims in the police force is no conjecture was clear when U.P. Government during Muzaffar Nagar killings was asked by PUCL in 2013 (which had sent an enquiry team to enquire into killing therein) to post Muslim inspectors in dominant Muslims area as a reassurance as had been recommended years back by a High Powered Committee set up by Central Government in 2005. Information was however

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given that it was not possible because Muslims were only 4% in the police and only 1% as inspectors ( as against a population of 18% in U.P. a state-which has been ruled by apparently secular parties - can hypocrisy in politics go any further).

The above report had called for urgent action at Director General’s conference held in 2013 (during UPA) but no action was taken – sad that the Minorities find themselves orphaned both under supposedly secular UPA or Modi government which is openly backed by RSS Communalism.

FDI in retail is being brought back and such is the unabashed contempt for public opinion that even the mild provision that 30% sourcing should be from within India which is compulsory at present may be dispensed with – a total surrender to foreign capital by BJP contrary to its earlier position. If Modi had enquired from President of Brazil, she would have enlightened him about the role played by her predecessor President Lula who boldly fought against “foreign capital” domination and

also that one of the fundamental principles of Brazil’s constitution is the “Social value of Labour.” Will Modi rethink and revise the development model being contemplated for India which can only damage the country.

[Justice, Rajindar Sachar, Chief Justice (Retd.)

High Court of Delhi, New Delhi; Chairperson Prime Minister’s High Level Committee On Status of Muslims (Ex.) UN Special Rappoetuer on Housing; Member, U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (Ex.); President, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) India (Ex.) may be contacted at:A-19, New Friends Colony, New Delhi, 110065(India) Tel: 091-11-26847786, 2683019; 9810009644; rsachar1@vsnl.net rsachar23@bol.net.in]

Humanist News:

Prof. D. Prempati Is No More One of the most active members of social justice movement who stood with secular values all his life, Prof D Prempati passed away in the early hours today morning in Bangalore. He was not keeping well for past few months and was staying with his son in Bangalore.

Prempatiji taught in Delhi University but frankly speaking his public life was vast and open to all. He travelled far and wide, Northern India, in particular, UP and Bihar and tried to unite the Mandal forces, the OBCs and Dalits. His oratory was made for common man and despite Hindi not being his first language he focused on writing in it. Young people like me had a lot to learn from him. He did not suffer from ‘academic arrogance’ which is the order of the day and worked like a commoner. Many times, people could not know that he was a professor of English and a very senior person, such was his simplicity. His death is a loss to the secular movement for social justice. He worked to unite the non Brahmanical progressive forces all over the country. He was uncompromising in his fight against Brahmanical Hindutva and wrote extensively upon it after the demolition of Babari Masjid. His book Hindutva Hai Kya became very popular with grassroots activists.

—News sent by V.B. Rawat (vbraawat@gmail.com)

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Testing Competencies not imparted is Unethical —K.S. Chalam storm over the UPSC screening test Theknown as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) in the country seems to have not attracted as much attention of the academics as that of a common man in the street. Civil Service recruitment tests are increasingly considered by many as public examinations that reflect very little about the academic components of a discipline rather theyrely more on the rote memory. That is why it is said that an engineer trained by an IIT becomes an IAS officer with History or Anthropology as subject ofpublic examination.

These tests are not directed to examine the achievement (learning measure) of a candidate, but evaluate scholastic capability of the incumbent.

Civil services became popular and reached the imagination of ordinary people when D.S. Kothari Committee recommended subtle changes in the method of examination to accommodate all categories of aspirants from 1978. It was also the period that had seen the impact of democratisation of education after independence in the form of excluded social groups entering mainstream public service.

Economic reforms in the year 1991 created many opportunities and shattered existing structures and values. This has also influenced the mode of functioning of civil service system and the civil servants. Bureaucrats or the paid policy makers are seen as facilitators to ease conditions for market players to enter sectors that were once restricted. A new philosophy of NPM was introduced imitating our former colonial masters who since then discontinued after a dissolute experience. Yet, the boost given to those elite who never had an experience with the rural life and depraved conditions of people considered it as a boon for the development of an emerging new nation. Some of them even got their grounding prepared elsewhere to implement some of the dictates of funding 20

agencies and started evangelizing it in our system of administration. They did not realise that governance is different from management of economic sectors and we have in India sectors that need empathy, intellectual calibre, social traits and moral integrity to deal with such issues in the day to day functioning. Otherwise, the whole exercise of processing candidates for civil service would be futile and the government can directly recruit MBAs from our IIMs and outsource the process to some HR companies like that of MNCs. While the discerning exercise over the relevance of the existing system of governance was continuing, the government has appointed the Y.K Alagh committee to review the scheme of civil services examination in 2001. The committee felt that majority of candidates are opting subjects based on “scorability” and not on the basis of their specialisation. It has recommended replacing the optional subjects with three sets of compulsory papers grouped in to different areas of knowledge.

It was the Alagh committee for the first time mooted the idea of ‘Civil Services Aptitude Test”.

But, the government did not accept the recommendations of the committee and in the meanwhile the Second Administrative Reforms Commission under its tenth Report in 2008 commented on the civil service recruitment. SARC has categorically said that” the Commission feels that it cannot be gainsaid that the Combined Admission Test(CAT) which selects entrants to the IIMs fails to provide candidates having a propensity and aptitude for acquiring new knowledge and skills”. SARC therefore, recommended that “the Preliminary Examination should consist of an objective type test having one or two papers on general studies including the Constitution of India, the Indian Legal system, Indian economy, Polity, history and culture. There should be no optional subjects”. Confused with too many committees and divergent recommendations, the UPSC seems to have appointed S.K. Khanna, Ex-chairman AICTE as chairman with Engineering and Management professors along with Vineeta

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Rai and bureaucrats as members. The committee has recommended the CSAT outline that was internally discussed by the UPSC and a draft was sent to the government for its approval. The present CSAT was notified in 2012 and the test was conducted to screen candidates for the mains in 2013. The Nigvekar committee was appointed to recommend the method of examination for the mains. The plan consisted of General Studies 4 papers, an optional paper and PT with an overall total of 2075 marks. We may recall that the recommendations of the committee have also provoked resentment on allegation of denial of due weightage to regional languages. However the results of 2013 are declared and the 2014 CSAT is due in the month of August 2014.

The efficiency of our administrative mechanism and the interest groups involved in the process of decision making and the impromptu nature of our policy makers on issues of grave concern can be seen in the present CSAT uproar. It is unfair to blame UPSC singularly for this mess. It is always the government, may be the bureaucrats in the PMO, DOP&T and others who take the final decisions on issues of policy, though UPSC is an autonomous constitutional body like the Supreme Court. However, the committee appointed to examine the issues of CSAT was initiated by UPSC and therefore the blame implied. It seems the government is looking in to the matter and some reasonable order is expected soon. The candidates who are from regional languages and are from Hindi are alleging that their prospects to become civil servants are weakened. The data from the annual reports of UPSC show that there is some reason behind the grumbles of aspirants from Telugu, Hindi and other languages as the number of candidates appearing for the examination with Telugu, Hindi etc as optional has come down and the number of engineering graduates who qualify for the services has increased during 2o1o-2012.

There are experts who argue that it is not possible to test non-cognitive competencies and therefore

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analytical and problem solving skills need to be tried for the entrants in to civil services. But the fact of the matter is that civil services are wide opened now unlike the pre-Kothari era. It is really an All-India and all pervasive service being the dream career of millions of educated youth cutting across socio-economic and even educational backgrounds. It is really a formidable task for UPSC to satisfy every group and at the same time meet the high standards of selection. At the same time test scores are always considered as subjective judgments particularly in a pluralistic society. Even the test scores of SAT in the USA for graduate admissions are indicted by the African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities as biased in favour of whites. It represents an iniquitous society. CSAT comes under this category as of now due to the biases of our education system that is vertically and horizontally divided with several inconsistencies.

CAT and CSAT as alleged by the aspirants seem to be elitist and do not provide the level playing field to majority of the aspirants, around 70 percent ,who come from rural backgrounds, regional language medium and depraved socio-educational backgrounds. Thus, 70 per cent of the aspirants are eliminated from reckoning at the entry level itself.

Further, our education system today is totally paralysed and the urban middle classes and those who could afford to send their children to elite schools are taught the prerequisites of reasoning, analytical skills, interpersonal skills, mental ability and all that is required for management and engineering education. The rural schools and the regional medium instruction do not have academic and financial resources to cater to the needs of things like CSAT. Is it moral and honest to test in a subject that was not taught to qualify candidates not for a degree but for a lifelong service?

[K.S. Chalam former Vice- Chancellor, Dravidian University, Kuppam (AP) and Ex-Member, UPSC is the author of ‘Governance in South Asia: State of the Civil Services’, Sage 2014, He may be contacted at: chalamks@hotmail.com]

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IRI / IRHA Members' Section:

Security Apprehensions in the Minds of our Muslim Brethren in India —K. Pratap Reddy and again we have been hearing Time some apprehensions of insecurity from our Muslim brethren in India. To my mind such apprehensions of insecurity are based upon or are arising out of a misreading of the history of India.

While such misapprehensions in the minds of uneducated Muslims could be understood, we are surprised to hear such things, even from some persons who are also educated and supposed to be well informed about historical background of the growth of Indian Nation before independence and are continuing even thereafter, out of ignorance of the constitutional guarantees as are now existing in our Constitution.

Recently, Editor, Mr. Zahid Ali Khan wrote in his Urdu daily, Siyasat that “in spite of 800 years of Muslim Rule in India there is a feeling of insecurity among Muslims of India and that they are compelled to live under the mercy of one or the other Ruling Party”. It is interesting to note that he had himself in his own editorial of the same daily, some weeks earlier, exhorted the Muslims of India to come into the main stream and participate more and more in the socio, economic and political polity of India under the Constitution and try to guide the whole country as one nation and not to segregate themselves as a different class and not to depend upon the mercy or charity of any political party. I wonder why he diverted himself into a historically wrong conceptualization of the growth of modern Indian Nation.

I had decided to write the following article immediately thereafter with a view to remove the misapprehensions in the minds of our Muslim brethren but refrained to do so with a hope that such 22

misapprehensions would automatically vanish away by mutual exchanges of view and understanding in course of time. But again on 28.04.2012, I saw another article in the Siyasat under the pen-name of Abu Email purporting to highlight the condition of poor Muslim women forced to do odd jobs of collecting Kachra for livelihood in Hyderabad city describing it Khush-Hal Musalmanon Ka Shahar (happy city of Muslims) forgetting or ignoring the historical fact that this city of Hyderabad was and has always also been the Khush-Hal Shahar (happy city of) of Hindus and all others as well who constituted in the past and constitute even today 75 per cent of the population and among them also there are poor and old women forced to do the jobs of collecting Kachra for livelihood in the same proportion of population.

While starting to write this article, I read another article in The Hindu daily of Monday, 7th May, 2012 written by Sri. Hilal Ahmed, an Associate Fellow, Centre For the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, under the Heading Do India’s Muslims Need to be represented by Muslims? After a historical, data based analysis, the learned author of the Article summed up the predicament of the problems faced by the Muslim brethren in three questions which I cite here: one, what are the Muslim issues? Two, who are responsible for the present crisis of Muslims? And three, what could be the way out?

The learned author had, no doubt, tried his best to address those questions and while not contradicting and not even disputing the findings given by him, I have strong conviction that these oft repeated questions must be addressed on a comprehensive, but brief historical study of the growth of the Indian Nation as it exists today.

No historical synopsis of the growth of our Nation, right from the Aryan invasion of our country up to the establishment of British Empire, can be better described than quoting the great poet Iqbal which I

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am quoting hereunder in Roman Script: Quafiley Chalte Rahe - Aur Hindustan Banta Gaya I would like to emphasize the fact that there has been no single Muslim Rule much less had there been any single Hindu Rule, Christian Rule, Buddhist Rule or any other Religious Rule in the History of India. As everywhere else in the world, every Rule in India was wielded by force of sword and sometimes by barbaric force; under the pretext of and even at the cost of denigrating that very religion, they, the Rulers (or wielders of sword) were proclaiming, with very few exceptions like Ashoka and Akbar, who were, therefore, called by the historians as Ashoka the Great and Akbar the Great.

On account of wonderful natural resources like water and other means of better livelihood, which were either rarely existing or not existing in some other parts of the world, the hitherto semi-barbaric-hunting and nomadic tribes, moving from place to place in search of food and good habitation, came into this country and settled here and later civilized themselves. One will not find any other country in the world, which has given shelter to almost all the races in the world. Name any race of the world and they are all found in India in some measure or the other. Leaving apart the earlier un-recorded history, the Aryans (who were also hunting tribes before coming into India) found immense natural resources of water and fertility of land, helping them to grow food. Thus the hitherto nomadic Aryans settled as a civilized human race in this land of India and very soon also divided themselves into different religions as Hindus (Brahmanical), Buddhists, Jains, Charvakas etc.

After the Aryans came the Kushans led by Kanishka; thereafter, came Huns in the 4th century.

Then came the Zoarashtrians (Parsees), Chinese, Greeks, Jews, Christians etc., all of whom got shelter here on adopting this land as their nation.

Arabs came as traders and were given shelter by the Hindu King Zamorin in Calicut – (Now named as Kozhikode), and thus the Arabs settled in Kerala at

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first and became part of Indian Nation.

Before we go into the advent or rule by kings purporting to abide by Islamic faith, it is necessary to note the historical fact that there have been several conflicts among various Kingdoms in India, the greatest being the Kalinga War forcing Ashoka to adopt Buddhism, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and again revival of Hinduism or Hindu Kingdom in the 4th Century A.D to 7th Century A.D. Even these kingdoms purporting to be Hindus of Brahmanical faiths were indulging in constant warfare only for power and wealth; religion and faith were used only as excuses to raise wars. The earlier invasions under the names of Aryans, Kushans, and Huns were not belonging to any particular religion or faith. It was only after these nomadic tribes came to India, that they adopted one or the other faiths i.e., Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism etc., depending upon the strength the religions gave them to establish their authorities.

The greed for power and wealth among these chiefs, Kings or Raja’s was so much that every time a new adventurist came to India, one or the other local Chiefs took the support of the invader to take revenge on their victors or stronger enemies.

It was only at the end of 6th century (i.e., 592 A.D), that the Islamic faith was introduced by Prophet Mohammed in Arabia and adventurists that came into India, thereafter, were described as Muslims i.e., Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Iranians etc.

Jawaharlal Nehru in his celebrated Book The Discovery of India in chapter VI Page 244 referring to the growth of Hindu-Muslim culture and Indo-Arab relationship wrote as follows, I quote, “There were no invasions, contacts between India and Arab world grew, by travel to and fro, embassies were exchanged, Indian Books, especially on Mathematics and Astrology were taken to Baghdad and were translated into Arabic.

Many Indian physicians went to Baghdad. These trade and cultural relations were not confined to North India. The southern states of India also participated in them, especially the Rashtrakutas, on the west coast of India, for purpose of trade….”

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This frequent intercourse inevitably led to Indians getting to know the new religion, Islam.

Missionaries also came to spread this new faith and they were welcomed, mosques were built. There was no objection raised either by the State or by the people, nor were there any religions conflicts. It was the old tradition of India to be tolerant to all faiths and forms of worship. Thus Islam came as a religion to India several centuries before it came as a political force” (emphasis is mine).

It was about 711-712 A.D. one young Arab adventurist Mohd Bin Quasim, with the help of the Buddhist monks, (who were driven away by Hindu Brahmanical elements) crossed the River Indus and defeated the Hindu King, Raja Dahir. After a lapse of about two more centuries i.e., towards the end of the 10th century A.D., two Afghan nomadic tribal Chiefs, Alaftagin and Subktagin attempted several unsuccessful raids into India. About their successor, Mahmood of Ghazni it is mentioned in a modern authoritative History book under the title of An Advanced History Of India, (Mc. Millan publication), in Part II, Chapter I ‘Medieval India’, that “in addition to his victorious expeditions in India, he (Mohammad Gazani) had to his credit two memorable campaigns against Turks in the course of which he routed the latter”. So I wish to draw the attention of the readers that these expeditions were also against Muslim Rule, only to loot and plunder by use of sword and, therefore, not for spread of any civilization much less Islam. The same book at page number 268, further describes Mohammad Gazhni as ‘an insatiable invader’ and that he was neither a missionary for the propagation of religion in this country nor an architect of empire. His eastern expeditions seem to have been for the ‘acquisition of wealth’. Nobody can deny that the great Prophet Mohammad who is the first revolutionary in the history of the world spread only three things: Firstly, that there is only one God for the whole humanity and for the whole of the universe, and secondly Justice (Insaf) and finally Mercy (Raham) are the only guiding factors of humanity.

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For almost another 200 years, thereafter, the same anarchy of invasions into India continued for power and wealth but the local Hindu Kingdoms and other Kingdoms in Western Asia prevented such destructive expeditions. Only in the year 1192 A.D., after several defeats, one Mohammad Ghori defeated the powerful Rajput King, in conspiracy with and with the help of the other Rajputs led by Raja Jayachand. He too could not establish any Kingdom and left it to his slave Qutubuddin Ibak which gave rise to the historical period of ‘Dynasty of Slaves’. Every person acquainted with the message of Prophet Mohammad would admit the fact that Islam does not acknowledge the concept of slave much less a slave dynasty.

Then begen the period of Khiljees beginning with Jelaluddin Khilji and ends with another slave of Allauddin Khilji known as Malik Kafur. The entire period of Khilji is full of hunger for wealth, coupled with treachery and deceit, both of which are undoubtedly un-Islamic. While Jalaluddin Khilji, the founder of the Khilji dynasty brought up his minor orphan nephew (elder brother’s son) Allauddin Khilji and made him his own son-in-law and gave him almost all powers except his throne, Allauddin Khilji the son-in-law and nephew killed his own father-in-law in a most barbaric and un-Islamic way and also blinded the minor sons of his father-in-law. No true Muslim can claim that these actions would conform to Islamic Tenets and the message of the great Prophet Mohammad. For his ungrateful conduct towards his uncle, Allauddin Khilji met the same destiny in the hands his own favorable slave Malik Kafur.

Then came the period of the Tughlaks! This dynasty was established during 1320-1412 A.D. The text book of history referred to above narrates the whole period (quoting Iban Batutha) as a period of Anarchy. Thereafter another invader by name of Taimur, came into India and plundered the land ruthlessly killing countless number of people, which can never be claimed by any Muslim as an Islamic act, much less, brining any pride to the

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Islamic faith or to the message of the great Prophet Mohammad.

This was followed by the period of Sayyad dynasty. This was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451. This family made a questionable claim to be the descendants of Prophet Mohammad. Their claims of being the descendants of Prophet Mohammad were not only rejected by the Islamic ulemas, but even their actions and conduct were found to be anarchic, unjust and un-Islamic (see Chapter V of Part I of the History Book referred to above).

This brings us to the end of the so-called Turko-Afghan Sultanates of Delhi. This period is described by the Text Book of History quoted above in Chapter VI, Part II, at page 384 as follows, “The Muslim State in India was in theory supposed to be a theocratic one, but in practice, the Muslim Sultan of India was a perfect autocrat, unchecked by any restrictions; and his word was law”. The State being essentially military in character, the Sultan was the chief commander of forces; he was also the chief law-giver and the final court of appeal. All these things were undoubtedly unIslamic and against the message of Great Prophet Mohammad, who spread the religion only on the basis of Justice, Equality and Compassion. As would be explained in more detail hereinafter, the spread of Islam in the world culminating it into the second largest religion in the world is only on account of the above referred to three tenets of Prophet Mohammad and not on account of the marauders trading in the name of Islam.

The best example in this context would be the case of Indonesia which is by far the largest Muslim populated country in the world. History does not record any Mohd Bin Quasim, Mahmood Ghazani nor Mohd Ghori, nor Babur, nor Chengez Khan, nor Taimur Lung, having either occupied Indonesia and much less any Muslim or Islamic kingdom was established in Indonesia. The message or Paigham of Islam given by the Prophet Mohammad was carried by the Arab Traders and other Islamic

philosophers, Sufis, Fakirs etc. The result is that while the background and underlying civilization is of Hindu or of Indian origin the faith is Islam.

Coming back to Indian history, after the Sayyad dynasty came the period of Lodhis and Afghans and the last one of the latter namely Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated by Babar in the year 1526 at Panipat thus ushering in the Mogul period. Babar could not live for a longer period, and died on 26.12.1530.

His son Humayun was not in a position to establish any Kingdom, on account of incessant assaults by Lodhis and Afghans. Humayun was forced to wander from place to place for shelter.

After Humayun, Akbar under the tutelage of his guardian and protector Bairam Khan, ruled for a period of 49 years which can be described as the most glorious period of Mogul Empire. After getting rid of domestic feuds, Akbar began his independent rule from May, 1552, which continued up to the year 1605. Leaving all the details of history, what is important for our purpose is that Akbar successfully brought together all the different cultures and civilizations and in fact invented a new faith naming it as Din-E-Elahi, based upon the message of Prophet Mohammad and some chosen values of Hindu civilization. I quote hear a passage from the same book which gave the brief description of the Rule of Akbar, which has united the people of all different faiths and also helped in establishing the glorious period of history for about five decades.

I quote, “Gifted with the true insight of a statesman and liberal in outlook, Akbar realized the value of Rajput alliance in his task of building up an Empire in India. By his wise and liberal polity, he won the hearts of most of them to such an extent that they rendered valuable services to his empire and even shed their blood for it. The Empire of Akbar was, in fact, the outcome of the co-ordination of Mogul prowess and diplomacy and Rajput valour and service. In 1562, Raja Bihari Mal, of Amber (Jaipur), tendered his submission to Akbar and cemented his friendship with him by a marriage

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alliance. Bihari Mal, with his son, Bhagwan Das, and grandson, Man Sigh, proceeded to Agra, who was given a command of 5,000 and his son and grandson were also admitted to high rank in the army. Thus was opened the way through which the Mogul Emperors were able to secure their rule for four generations “the services of some of the greatest captains and diplomats that medieval India produced”.

In the midst of his enormous efforts of building a great empire, Akbar did not leave any stone unturned to bring all the different faiths under one roof. The same book writes about his efforts to ecumenism of all the faiths in the country in the following terms: I quote “The conflicts of the different religious sects shocked his soul, and he devoted himself “to the evolution of a new religion, which would, he hoped, prove to be a synthesis of all the warring creeds and capable of uniting the discordant elements of his vast empire in one harmonious whole”. “He therefore called to the Ibadat-Khana (place of worship) the wise men of different religions and sects, notably Hindu philosophers like Purushottama, Devi, and some others; some Jaina teachers, the most prominent of them being Hari Vijaya Suri, Vijaya Sen Suri and Bhanuchandra Upadhayya; and Parsi priests and Christian missionaries from Goa. He patiently attended to the arguments of the exponents of each faith, and went so far in relation to each religion that different people had reasonable grounds for affirming him to be a Zoroastrian, a Hindu, a Jaina, Or a Christian”. But he was not converted to any of these faiths”, “Akbar’s conception of universal toleration was indeed a noble one, and is a brilliant testimony to his national idealism”, “His (Akbar’s) ideal was a grand synthesis of all that he considered to be best in different religions – an ideal essentially national, for which he is justly entitled to the gratitude of posterity”.

This sagacious rule of Akbar a symbol of ecumenism of all faiths with a comprehensive co-operation of all the powers and forces, more particularly the Rajput Kings, laid a foundation for the Mogul Empire to continue at least for four

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generations after him. In this background, Jahangir and after him Shahjahan ruled five more decades after Akbar.

It is only after the emergence of Aurangzeb on Indian political horizon that the downfall of the Mogul Empire started. This statement of mine may not get the approval of some sections of society who believe Aurangzeb to have extended the Mogul Empire throughout India and assumed the title of Alamgir that is ‘Conqueror of the Universe’.

But neither the message of Prophet Mohammed nor the concept of Islam of winning of hearts of men to attract them automatically towards conversion into Islamic faith were followed. I emphasize, the meaning of the word ‘Muslim’, as one who accepts (Taslims) the message of Prophet Mohammed that is, there is only one God and he (Allah) governs all people with Equality, Justice and compassion (Insaf, Masaviyath and Raham).

I would like to draw the attention of the readers that majority of conquests made by Aurangzeb were against Muslim Kings, Golconda, Beejapur, Ahmed Nagar, Bengal, Khandesh (Gujarat), Punjab and Afghanistan etc. The treachery adopted in conquering Golconda Fort can never be claimed to be an Islamic pride by any person who knows the message of its Prophet. Referring to the actions of Aurangzeb, the reputed authors of the above said book wrote as follows, at Page No. 500 “All seemed to have been gained by Aurangzeb now; but in reality all was lost. It was the beginning of his end. The saddest and most hopeless chapter of his life now opened. “Not a single edifice, finely written manuscript, or exquisite picture commemorates Aurangzeb’s reign”.

Even during his life time Aurangzeb’s six sons fought against each other with the encouragement of Aurangzeb himself. After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 A.D., the Mogul Empire fell asunder from his decadent descendants, the Governors or persons in charge of different regions began declaring independence. Taking advantage of that situation the East India Company, which had already been

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established in India began grabbing different parts of India culminating in the occupation of Delhi and the imprisonment of the Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar himself i.e., leading to the first war of Independence and after its failure, the establishment of British Rule directly by the Crown. Thus India became part of the British Empire and all Indians its subjects! Can a true Indian claim any pride for this phenomenon of Indian history.

But at the same time these very tragic historical events leading India into subjugation of British Imperialism, had brought an awakening in the minds of some reformists as well as revolutionaries lead by Bankimchandra chatterjee, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Surendra Nath Banarjee, Sir Syeed Ahmed Khan, Dadabai Naoroji, etc., guided and assisted by a benign Irish Civil servant, Allan Octavian Hume, the theosophist Mrs. Annie Besant etc. The efforts of these reformists gave birth to a renaissance and growth of national consciousness among Indians. Meanwhile, the American and French Revolutions gave a great impetus to development of the national awakening which was based up on two fundamental principles viz., the unity of India as a whole and the right of her people to vote and form democratic governments.

The advent of British Rule had brought about two directly heterogeneous historical changes in the making of modern India. The overzealous and over ambitious Britishers, firstly through their trading company (East India Company) and thereafter through direct Rule after 1858 annexed all the territories of India (including the territories now in Pakistan and Bangladesh) from Arunachal Pradesh in the far East and borders of Afghanistan in the west and from Kashmir in the North to Kanya Kumari in South which were under the occupation of different local chieftains, who were engaging almost always in internal warfare and skirmishes neglecting the welfare of the people and forgetting the glorious past of India. It is, no doubt, true that the method or means adopted by the Britishers in the process of such annexation was never worthy of 27

any praise, much less based on any morals or ethics or politically accepted civilized norms. It was always by treachery and deceit. But nonetheless, the process howsoever debased morally and ethically, resulted in the unification of the country as one political unit which never existed in any period of Indian History earlier hitherto. It may not be correct to accuse the Britishers alone of their treachery and unethical political conduct in conquering the sub-continent of India; we must also admit and acknowledge the degrading and degenerated submissive collusions of Indian princess, or military chieftains, both Hindus and Muslims, which contributed to the conquest of this sub-continent by the Britishers. But, however pathetic the story may be, the fact remains that this vast sub-continent of India, comprising of various races, cultures and religions became one political unit, which did not exist at any period in earlier Indian History.

It was perhaps this pathetic story which stirred the hitherto slumbering conscience of Indians – Hindus, Muslims, Parsees, Sikhs and even Indian Christians and brought them together to fight for freedom of this sub-continent from the humiliating subjugation under a foreign country.

The result, as stated above, was the birth of a renaissance but it was only after the advent of the most charismatic revolutionary the world had ever known, i.e., Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi that the freedom movement which was confined to some intellectual leaders, became a massive mass movement involving every individual,- Hindu,Muslim, Parsee, – men and women of all ages, which forced the British to leave India; and India became an independent country.

India’s becoming a sovereign, democratic, secular, socialist republic ruled by a single Constitution is a development about which every Indian, be a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Parsee, Jain, Sikh, speaking any language, bearing any faith and belonging to any part in India must feel proud of forgetting the past feuds, and mutual bickering. In

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fact, the whole struggle for freedom, including ‘The First War Of Independence’ of 1857, the period of renaissance and the popular, massive and non-violent moment for Purna-Swaraj all were with the participation of all sections of the Indian population, including all prominent Muslims like Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Mohd Ali Jinnah, Ali Brothers, Choudhury Khaliquzzamma etc. But the very prospect of the end of their ill-gotten and treacherously acquired empire made the British to invent some method of conspiracy to prevent the advent of such a big sub-continent blossoming into a powerful country competing; nay, posing a threat to their very existence. Very soon they started inventing various theories and devises to divide the people on the basis of religion, race and culture- the very factors which had united the people into one nation over the period of more than thousand years.

They invented for the first time the theory that India was not one nation but consisted of two nations i.e., Hindu Nation and Muslim Nation. They also announced that the five hundred and odd princely states in India would be free to declare their independence once their subjugation under British suzerainty was removed by the British Empire. The British people and the British imperial forces could never reconcile to the fact of loosing such a big empire and also to the much bewildering fact of such a vast country with such enormous resources becoming a competitor to their hitherto domination of the world. The imperialists, therefore, sowed the seeds of distrust and hatred among the two communities Hindus and Muslims leading to the partition of the country on the basis of religion which resulted in the largest massacre and exodus of population, the world had never witnessed, the memories of which are still existing in the minds of people of both the communities in India.

Although Mahatma Gandhi tried his best to pacify and unite the people and bring together the victims of the massacre and exodus, he could not succeed and was ultimately assassinated bringing shame to the whole nation, to the whole Humanity.

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Nonetheless, the brave people of India led by the legendary leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Rajagopalacharya, Dr. B.R. Ambedhkar strove for a period of 2 years, 3 months, 11 days and ultimately gave a Constitution to our country India i.e., Bharat declaring it as sovereign, secular, democratic, republic resolving to secure all to its citizens Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jain, Sikh, etc.

Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and promote among them all, Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the (unity and integrity of the Nation).

Apart from the eloquent declaration in the Preamble of the Constitution, the Guarantees in Part III and Directives in Part IV of the Constitution inspire and build confidence of safety and security to every citizen with a further guarantee of implementing them by Mandates issued from the Highest Judiciary. While it cannot be gainsaid that some selfish and short sighted groups of people have been responsible for promoting feuds and disturbances among our people, it must be admitted that the State and all its organs in India, legislative, executive and judicial have done their best to maintain the integrity and unity of the nation.

By using the parliamentary system of Government that is adopted by our Constitution, political parties have been trying to make an exclusive claim of being secular and protecting the minority community. I earnestly request readers to recognize that the claims are only odious, artificial and fake. In the course of last six decades of independence, the people of India have become very much conscious and aware of these political exploitations of the minority community.

I earnestly appeal to my brethren of this community not to be led by the empty proclaims of such political parties. This is not to deny the shameful events of demolishing of Babri Masjid and Godhra

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incident etc, but at the same time I wish to emphasize the fact that such actions were condemned and protested against by a vast majority of the majority community which gave and brought about great confidence and restored a sense of security in a large number of the minority community.

In this context I wish to refer to the historical events in the earlier part of this paper the fights between different groups of Hindu communities and also the attacks on the Banaras and Mathura Temples. But none of them divided the people on the basis of religion. When occasions demanded both Hindus and Muslims were bought together against the mightiest imperial British force to redeem India of its slavery.

What is more important to notice that things not only united socially and culturally but also brought them together at many common altars of worship and faith? A visit to Ajmer and Saleem Chishty Dargah shrines in Rajasthan and a visit to Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi would make one forget whether he is a Muslim or Hindu. Coming to our own city, a visit to Pahadi Shariff or Jahangir

Peerain puts oneself at a loss to find out whether he is visiting a Hindu Shrine or a Muslim Dargha. I happened to visit a place known as Budan Shahab Dargah at Chikmaglore in Karnataka, where I saw a greater number of Hindus than Muslims visiting the Dargah of Shaik Budan Shahab. Even in Karimnagar district in the well known Shiva Temple at Vemulavada there is a small dargah right at the entrance where each and every Hindu devotee who visits that temple takes the blessing of a Muslim Sufi. At the end I wish to emphasize upon the fact India is one unique nation of the world where religions are culturally and socially respected but politically exploited. So, as aware and careful citizens of both minority and majority communities we should stop playing in the hands of power seekers.

[K. Prathap Reddy is senior advocate at High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He is the Chairman of A.V. Education Society, Andhra Mahila Abyudaya Samiti and the President of Vigil India Movement.

91-9848055502; reddyk_pratap@yahoo.co.in]

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Academicians' & Research Scholars' Section:

The theme of Existentialism in Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music —Bonani Misra —Akanksha Singh in 1999, An Equal Music Published belongs characteristically to Vikram Seth’s repertoire by virtue of it being stunningly different from all his previous works. All of Seth’s novels are one-offs and this one too is no exception.

The backdrop of the novel is the enchanted, romantic world of Vienna and Venice, and the subject is Western Europe’s supreme cultural achievement: classical music. This novel examines the impact of western classical music on the lives and hopes and fears and final desperate choices of its European protagonist. “Seth’s novel was stunning by many accounts, not the least of which was its grafting of the twin bulwark of the European tradition-its verbal and aural inscriptions onto the life of its thirty something protagonists,” suggests Anjana Sharma, a critic. She continues, “Seth tells the story of a young man’s growth and maturation-the loss and partial recovery of his lost love, and the loss, and the more certain recovery of his artistic self.”1 The present paper deals with the theme of existentialism in this novel. The term ‘existentialism’ emphasizes the idea that an individual is in control of his own actions.

Existentialism is a philosophical theory that stresses the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of will. In the novel, Michael, the protagonist is a professional musician who leads an obsessive and neurotic life and describes himself as “irreparably imprinted with the die of someone else’s being.”2 This someone is Julia and the one true love of his life. Michael is an existential hero whose present condition is the 30

outcome of his deeds. Back then in Vienna, both Michael and Julia were passionately devoted to each other and to their music. They found that their music complemented each other very well and found a trio with another musician. But owing to an irreconcilable war of wills with their stern teacher, Karl Call, Michael who was nervy and strong headed left Vienna and unintentionally, Julia. By the time he recovered from his distress two months had elapsed, and Julia, hurt beyond redemption, was lost to him forever.

The character of Michael is a dominant portrayal of Vikram Seth’s central concern with existentialism, a philosophy that views each person as an isolated being who is cast into an alien universe and conceives the world as possessing no inherent human truth, value or no meaning. As an existential hero, Michael is in control of his actions or deeds and his identity is measured by the outcome of his deeds in which only work is given priority to the exclusion of family and friends. Michael is separated from his family and his beloved Julia because of his neurotic behavior as well as preference to his career but his segregation from Julia makes Michael more isolated than before. An existential critic states in this reference –“Each individual assumes responsibility for his life through the act of choosing between two alternatives.”3 Michael too makes a choice out of two sets of alternatives that stand before him-career over family and love, artificiality over nature. It is this very choice that becomes the predicament of his life. As a result, he becomes alienated from everything that surrounded him. Alienation is crucial to existentialism because an alienated individual is much more able to see his surroundings.

Ten years later, where the novel begins, Michael is earning his living in a string quartet, the Maggiore.

Michael spends his days listlessly in memory of his beloved Julia, with only music providing an emotional anchor and in effect, any meaning to his life. The opening of the book sets the tone of the novel, bringing home to the reader a loneliness that

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is only briefly assuaged by long walks and ruminations, a loneliness that clearly attracts Michael to the dark water the wind is blowing at him: “The branches are bare, the sky tonight a milky violet. It is not quiet here, but it is peaceful.

The wind ruffles the black water towards me…”4 Michael’s loneliness is emphasized in pathos-inducing descriptions in several parts of the book. For instance, when a Sales-girl tells Michael that he is a happy man, Michael tells the reader, “I stared at her with such incredulity that she looked down.” 5 This isolation is punctuated by accounts of his tormented past, a past which constantly haunts him, making him yearn for answers, for absolution. His dark brooding consciousness is reflected in his thoughts when he murmurs at pains to unburden his travails and disillusionment with the city of London, “London unsettles me-even from such a height. There is no clear countryside to view. But it is not Vienna. It is not Venice. It is not for that matter, hometown in the north in clear reach of moors.”6 Michael goes to London to rise in profession.

London, the essential urban cosmopolitan evinces the existential issue of desperate unhappy people struggling for existence. He is alone and it has been ten years since Julia and he parted.

Through his resistance and disinclination of an urban cosmopolitan society, London, the problem of existentialism is reiterated and it irrevocably brings to mind the decadent western civilization that T.S. Eliot, in his great masterpiece, The Waste Land had sketched. Some very unforgettable images come alive. There is the description where“A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many I had not thought death had undone so many Sighs, short and infrequent, were exhaled And each man fixed his eyes before his feet.”7 The protagonist in the poem surveys London as an unreal city and the crowd moving over London Bridge appear as spiritually dead people of the Waste Land going for their daily round of routine life. Indeed everything is mechanical in the present

cosmopolitan life. There is hardly any alternative left than to let things happen as they come. Michael too is part of such a crowd whose dreary life appears to move on, devoid of zest and focus. He undoubtedly, tries to assuage his loneliness through sexual gratification with someone he does not love since sex appears a viable commodity in the absence of love in modern times. Michael is also a part of the modern society who is gripped by feeling of loneliness and ennui on account of which his way of thought appears erratic and meandering.

Michael is solely responsible for his present condition. In this context, Sartre, An existential critic comments – “Man makes himself.”8 His melancholic consciousness is the consequence of his deeds which is reflected in his dejected personality. He himself realizes the dark side of his own personality with surprising clarity. “A volatility, a sense of resistance, of skepticism, roughness, impulsiveness, even at times, of dark panic, almost brainsickness.” 8 In a nut shell, it is observed that through the theory of existentialism, Michael’s character is analyzed truly. It is existentialism that makes Michael realized his milieu and gradually, Michael finds solace from his isolation in playing the music which transforms his thoughts. Consequently, Michael as an existential hero is alone like he was in the beginning, but there is one important difference - his thoughts have reached a resolution and he is no longer troubled. He has learned acceptance and it has brought him serenity. This change in perspective has enabled him to come to terms with the past, make the present bearable and the future promising. And most essential of all, he has realized that to be complete is an advantage, not a necessity.

References1. Mohanty,Seemita-An Equal Music(a criticism).

New Delhi: Atlantic publishers,2007.print-226. A Critical Analysis of Vikram Seth’s Art and fiction.

2. Seth,Vikram-An Equal Music. Viking Penguin India,1999:print.166

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3. Ibid-3 4. Ibid-4

7. www.d.umu.edu.

8. www.123.helpme.com

5. Ibid-81 6. Sinha, Prerna- ‘The Enigma of The Modern Man’. New Delhi: Creative Books, 2007. print-127.Vikram Seth-A Suitable Writer (A critical response)

[Bonani Misra is Associate Professor & Head, Dept. of English, R.G. (P.G.) College, Meerut (bonani.misra@gmail.com).

Akanksha Singh is her Ph.D. Research Scholar. (akankshasingh1712@gmail.com)]

Books By M.N. ROY Published By Renaissance Publishers, Indian Renaissance Institute, Oxford University Press And Others 1. POLITICS POWER AND PARTIES

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Book Review:

Afterglow —Nandita S. Kalla [E-BOOK: Afterglow, Dr Brahm Dev, ISBN No:

9781477461457, Amazon-Kindle version, File Size: 344 KB, Print Length: 178 pages, Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc., Language: English, ASIN: B0082LI72W, Text-to-Speech: Enabled]

(Cover jacket is by Dr Ankur Dev, the author’s only son who passed away in 2013) had first read Afterglow in the IAmazon-Kindle version and did find it captivating although the typos were quite unsettling, coming from the house of Amazon.

The New Thomson Press release is thankfully free of blemish and is also easy on the eyes. Luckily I got to know the author at Delhi through one of my family friend and was struck with his zest for life coupled with an enviable literary taste in his formidable medical arena of surgery. As a surgeon

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in army he seems to have tasted life the way not many of us can afford to; serving humanity, surrounded by bloodshed yet full of life. Inevitably the debut novella is a vast panoramic biopic stretching over a full half century and more of a green soldier and a surgeon.

The 1962 Chinese onslaught gets a first had war theatre rendition and the dismal failure of the military intelligence and army preparedness combined with lopsided government level fiasco is brought out candidly, vindicating Gen Henderson Brooks report.

The 1965 Indo-Pak war is chronicled from the surgeon’s tent in a forward most hospital based in Sialkot. The VIP visit of then Information and Broadcasting Minister Indira Gandhi accompanied by the redoubtable yoga guru Dhirendra Brahmachari takes one down memory lane.

“And then without a preamble we had visitors. This time the army jonga driven by a godly man in loincloth brought us our VIP visitor, I&B minister Indira Gandhi. Ms Gandhi was demure and oozed youthful charm while her secretary Mr. Fernandes was suave and civil… Brahmchari had an air about him and even in the wintry cold had draped himself in the flimsiest of a dhoti…

I asked Ms Gandhi if she would care for tea. She looked directly into my eyes and said with a smile, “Being a good Kashmiri, I shan’t say no to tea.” Mr Fernandes and Brahmchari joined us then, the latter declining tea. “Only saffron and honey for me,” he quipped. Ms Gandhi suppressed a knowing smile.

The author would live to seem to live the adage – all if fair in love and war –and his passionate love affair in Mount Abu with an Anglo Indian woman brings more agony than ecstasy. Later he finds himself posted at Chandigarh as the sole surgeon and falls inexorably for a Sikh medico even while being wedded to a gentle soul.

The lovely escapades of the love birds to Simla, Srinagar and Kathmandu make for riveting reading.

Lastly with the Saudis as their neuro-surgeon at the

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King’s hospital, he paints the times and customs of the natives vividly. He then lives through the entire Gulf war (based close to the Iraq border) that was to eclipse Saddam Hussein from power in an

incredible novel maneuver to bring in the US military might in the Holy Land for good.

[Namita S. Kalla is a freelance journalist based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, 09413341616 namitaskalla@yahoo.co.in]

"Michelet did not live long enough to write his Universal History to show how history and philosophy had been intertwined through the ages. But he had the occasion to proclaim that “all science is one: language, literature, history, physics, mathematics and philosophy; subjects which seem to be the most remote from one another are in reality connected, or rather they all form a single system”. So, the organic view of history is not the result of Marx putting his master on his feet. As a matter of fact, Marx and Engels had read Michelet, and Vico’s ideas were also not unknown to them. On the other hand, the “new science” born at Naples had reached the German seats of learning through Leibniz, Wolff, Herder, Lessing, Goethe and other scholars and philosophers. Not only did Herder know of Vico’s work before he wrote his Ideas Towards the Philosophy of the History of Mankind; Vico’s influence can be detected also in Hegel’s philosophy of history. Vico, in his turn, had read Francis Bacon’s work.

Unkind critics of the time though that the Scienza Nuova was a plagiarism Novum Organum. That was of course, malicious; but it is a fact that Vico’s work was cast on the pattern of Bacon’s researches. It was from the latter that Vico admittedly got the idea of applying to the study of human history the inductive method which Bacon had recommended for the study of natural history. Grotius had made a philological study of history, of theology and philosophy, in order to discover the universal laws of nations. Having studied his works, Vico conceived of the possibility of applying similar methods for discovering the general laws of history. The dynamics of ideas can be traced all the way back to the great thinkers of the remotest antiquity. Tracing the chain of thought in modern times, one finds Savigny recognizing a similarity between Vico’s doctrine of historical jurisprudence and his own. The preface to Hegel’s lectures on the philosophy of history published in 1837 mentions Vico as one of the three, the other two being Herder and Schlegel, who had treated the subject previously. The first German translation of Vico’s Universal Law, published in 1884, carried an introduction which pointed out the similarity of Hegel’s ideas with the doctrines of the Italian historian expounded more than a hundred years before.”

—M.N. Roy (Reason Romanticism & Revolution, Volume 1, page 3.)

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Humanist News: I

Prabuddh Nagrik Shakti Manch Notes of the Meeting of the NGOs Dt. 23-6-2014 Recently, attempt has been made for inquiry through I. B. on the functioning of NGOs and by this, undue pressure has been exerted on the rights of activists and on the NGOs. To deliberate on the positive strategy and plan of action in this matter, a meeting was convened on Thursday the 19th June 2014 at Ahmadabad. In this meeting, Suresh Mehta (Prabuddh Nagrik Shakti Manch), Indukumar Jani (Editor – Nayamarg), Gautam Thaker, (PUCL – Gujarat), Balendra Vaghela (PUCL-Gujarat), Prof. Hemantkumar Shah, Mahesh Pandya (Gujarat Social Watch), Parsis Jinwala (JAG), Sagar Rabari (Gujarat Khedut Samaj), Rajani Dave (Editor – Bhoomiputra) and representatives from Congress Party – Ex.M.P. Shri Jagdish Thakor, and Dr. Manish Doshi had remained present.

Govt. of India has presented a report of the I.B. before the Home Ministry to the effect that the NGOs are engaged in anti-progress activities.

Representatives present in the meeting informed that PUCL, Gujarat Sarvoday Mandal or the Movement for Secular Democracy are not taking any foreign fund or assistance. These institutes are ready to face inquiry against any misuse of the fund and are not at all engaged in any anti-progress activity.

NGOs are functioning as per their ‘Objects’ to voice people’s problems and to resolve them. This stand of the Government was strongly opposed and resented and it was deliberated that the NGOs shall continue doing the tasks of mass education and people’s awareness.

During the 2014 elections, an issue was raised about the credibility of the EVMs. Detailed discussions took place on the complaints received about the defective EVMs and on the course of

actions to be taken there against. Since there was a consensus on the susceptibility that these machines can be tampered with, it was decided to make a reference to the Election Commission after detailed discussions to be made separately.

In this meeting a thought was also expressed to reach out to the youths by making use of social media and to collect together necessary documents.

During the discussions it has been revealed and realized that to guard against attempts aimed at extinction of democratic values, there is no other remedy except to raise people’s awareness.

In the situation emerging out of changed political scenario consequent upon 2014 elections, there is a need of concerted and coordinated efforts by all of us. There is no way out other than to make our fight for human rights and well being of the deprived in the new political dispensation or formation, more effective.

Suresh Mehta, Prabuddh Nagrik Shakti Manch,91-9824022677 Gautam Thaker, PUCL – Gujarat, 91-9825382556 News sent by - Gautam Thaker

II

NAPM Response on Union Budget and Rail Budget a) NDA’s National Budget Pushes for Foreign Investment, Privatisation and Offers Nothing for Aam Aadmi-Aurat: New Delhi, July 10: The very first budget of the NDA Govt. is certainly brought nothing very special to the voters. As against promise of strong government and good governance Narendra Modi and his colleagues are just continuing economic reforms agenda of UPA government. No doubt budget is an exercise of allocating financial resources not just for one year, but with both short and long term, but certainly speaks out the direction and new govt. It is clearly pushing the agenda of PPP and privatization, including the dangerous provisions of FDI in

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Defence and Insurance sectors. There is neither concern of the natural resources of the country – land, water, forests nor any mention about the impacts of huge projects; nor is there any consideration for needs of aam aadmi and aurat.

Govt. and Modi seem to be in an unprecedented haste to transfer resources from common people to the investors to bring in money capital but take away sources of livelihood. Who will be the real beneficiaries and to what magnitude is not disclosed as yet, although the signs of the same have been revealed. This is certainly not what was promised.

Provision of money without any realistic assessments or mandatory clearances for the river linking and Sardar Sarovar statue doesn’t show either prudence or seriousness to development planning. Unless the projects are allowed to go through a scanner the test would be as to whether these projects would lead to income generation opportunity and how much?

The skewed priorities of the government are visible from the fact that they allot 200 Cr for Sardar Sarovar statue and 100 Crore for girl child education and 50 Crore for women safety in public transport. It is political gimmick and nothing much.

The budget clearly indicates that those who would invest money will benefit and that extent the government is surely to take forward Manmohan Singh’s agenda, but with much more of political and economic expediency. They have continued the practice of revenue forgone and in this Budget total revenue(direct and indirect taxes) foregone from central taxes is Rs. 5,72,923.3 Crore for 2013-14, which is whopping 36% of total expenditure of Government and can actually fund 20 NREGA programmes.

The emphasis on industrial corridors, SEZs, hig hways, waterways, high speed trains will all need large scale land acquisitions, which will severely impact the food security. On the other hand, Budget is short on addressing the agrarian crisis and

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livelihood insecurity for the farmers, its pro agri-business and will offer no respite.

We can’t expect anything better from this government but continuation of the same old neo-liberal economic policies, price rise and high inflation. b) Response On Rail Budget: Will the Bullet Budget hit the common commuters?

FDI with Disinvestment in the name of Development cannot be Beneficial, Hence Unacceptable. Commerce is the priority, not Commuters! NDA Government’s ‘Bullet Budget’ will not only avoid stoppages en route but it also indicates no halts to take in the common people Aam Aadmi & Aurat- across the country. Not just the language but priorities to privatization as a goal clearly suggests that the Modi model is going to knock off the social, environmental as well as antyodya criteria with courage, confidence but also callousness towards the large majority of people, not only the downtrodden but even middle class…

Not inclusive but exclusive approach towards the toiling masses of this country will be furthered by shocking inclusiveness towards the private investors, not just Indian but also foreign.

Both opening up of Railways - the profit making public sector through disinvestment on one hand, and warning us about the need to raise fares, if not today, (though they did raise the fares a few days before budget, with contempt for the people and parliament) but tomorrow, when the organized strength in the Railways will not be there to question these decisions. What would this mean, no one knows but can be imagined. Disinvestment from the sector and investment from the private corporates in a big way is in the offing. It won’t be limited to infrastructure alone then, although it’s reported that Home Ministry has warned the government against going beyond!

When Sadanand Gowda to Narendra Modi has already set priorities by ‘bullet targets’ for bullet train, to be met with foreign (in this, Japanese) investment, the real cost is going to be paid by the

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people of this country. The elitist priority may shine today but it can be furthered only with a compromise against employment generation, other common facilities, more trains, more space for lower classes, cheaper transport to the needy & disadvantaged etc. Railway being one of the public sector corporations which we are proud of, Gowda has to take in consideration landmarks of social justice in dealing with this. A mere promise of social viability to be ensured along with commercial viability without any signs of the real balance can’t suffice nor can it satisfy those who can read between lines.

What will happen to land oustees, when “foreign investors can acquire land themselves & government will only fix the rates” as declared by the Chairman, Railway Board, one has to ask?

Mamata Banerjee’s budget was so much categorical on such issues, promising job to the oustees & no forcible acquisition. Gowda is quiet on this, as also on environmental aspects. One, however, knows that bullet train, dedicated freight corridors have to go with large scale Industrial corridors such as DMIC targeting as large channels of agricultural land as 3,40,000 hectares in the first go! The budget presentation will not bring this out but we can’t wait till the bullet hits us all!

Cleanliness on the stations, good food through branded companies, high tech services etc are no doubt attractions for varied sections, especially the aspirants of American Western paradigm in every sector of Indian economy and governance. How will this be achieved has to be our concern; here and now. We, the people have to keep an eye on every action and decision that would tell us very soon whether there is heavy retrenchment of present workers to bring in huge inflow of contractors and contract laborers, beyond what is at present. We have to wait to see whether the decade old caterers who have served commuters without a ‘brand’ get a blow due to railways favoring brand and grand corporate, more than McDonalds, Comesum & Food Plazas.

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Appointment of 4000 women in Railway Police Force, cleanliness as focus and no new large projects announcement can be welcomed provided all this also do not prove to be moves towards disinvestment by the state and entry of the private players. No doubt there is a need to curtail bad politics in Railway, as for that matter, every public sector yet this very first budget brings out reactions from labor unions to commuter organizations, and points to a danger that democratic rights of workers will be trampled in name of governance and efficiency.

Medha Patkar - Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Prafulla Samantara - Lok Shakti Abhiyan, NAPM, Odisha; Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, MP; Gautam Bandopadhyay – Nadi Ghati Morcha, NAPM, Chhattisgarh; Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe - NAPM, Maharashtra; Gabriel Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; C R Neelakandan – NAPM Kerala;Saraswati Kavula, P Chennaiah – NAPM Andhra Pradesh, B S Rawat – Jan Sangharsh Vahini, Rajendra Ravi, Sunita Rani – NAPM, Delhi; Arundhati Dhuru, Richa Singh - NAPM, UP; Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Sumit Wanjale – Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan, NAPM, Mumbai; Manish Gupta - Jan Kalyan Upbhokta Samiti, NAPM, UP; Vimal Bhai - Matu Jan sangathan, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Vilas Bhongade - Gosikhurd Prakalpgrast Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, Maharashtra; Ramashray Singh Ghatwar Adivasi Mahasabha, Jharkhand; Anand Mazhgaonkar, Krishnakant - Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan – Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, NAPM Bihar; Mahendra Yadav – Kosi Navnirman Manch, NAPM Bihar.

—Madhuresh Kumar 9818905316 napmindia@gmail.com

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III

World Bank Turns Its Back on Rights Protections for the Poor Global civil society response gathers momentum New Delhi, July 29, 2014 – Civil society organisations around the world are decrying a leaked draft of the World Bank’s proposed new policies to avoid harmful impacts from the development projects that it finances. Despite earlier commitments by Bank President Jim Yong Kim that the policies would not be diluted and that safeguards on land rights would be strengthened, the proposed changes have gutted essential requirements that are necessary to prevent displacement, impoverishment, and environmental damage. The draft policies are up for discussion by the Bank’s board on July 30 ahead of public consultations.

“This draft effectively winds back the clock to the 1970s, before the Bank had binding policies in place to protect the poor and the environment. We see nothing more than a naked attempt by the Bank to shield itself from accountability for the destructive impacts of the mega-projects it is planning.” said Madhuresh Kumar, National Organizer of the National Alliance of People’s Movements in India.

Most shockingly, the draft policies provide an opt-out option for governments that do not wish to provide essential land and natural resource rights protections to Indigenous Peoples.

Joji Carino, Director of the Forest Peoples Programme, said “we have engaged with social and environmental safeguard development with the World Bank for over twenty years and have never seen a proposal with potential for such widespread negative impacts for indigenous peoples around the world. The proposed ‘opt-out’ for protections for

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indigenous peoples, in particular, would undermine existing international human rights law and the significant advances seen in respect for indigenous peoples rights in national laws.”

The draft also weakens protections for people who will be evicted from their homes, land and livelihoods, increasing the risk that Bank-financed projects will impoverish people, exacerbate inequality and cause human rights violations. The proposal scraps critical rules that have been in place for thirty years requiring the Bank to take concerted measures to avoid and minimize displacement and for resettlement action plans capable of restoring the livelihoods of the displaced to be in place before committing funds to projects.

It provides multiple opportunities for borrower governments, or even private “intermediary” banks, to use their own standards for impact assessment, compensation and resettlement, without clear criteria on when and how this would be acceptable.

Theodore Downing, President of the International Network on Displacement and Resettlement, a 14-year old network of involuntary resettlement professionals, said “the proposed changes eviscerate existing international standards – knowingly placing millions of people at risks of impoverishment.”

“The Bank is trying to exonerate itself from all responsibility for the devastating effects of the displacement it finances, while giving private equity funds to some of the world’s most abusive governments unfettered discretion to uproot the poor as they fit,” said David Pred, Managing Director of Inclusive Development International.

Land titling projects are exempted from the coverage of the draft resettlement policy. This will leave affected communities completely unprotected from forced eviction by their government, as happened in the case of Cambodia’s Boeung Kak Lake community whose homes were demolished after they were deemed

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not to have ownership rights under a Bank-titling project.

“If this policy is adopted, many communities around the world will be forcibly evicted like mine was, and they will not be able to seek any recourse from the Bank,” said Tep Vanny, a community leader from Boeung Kak Lake. After filing a complaint with the World Bank’s Inspection Panel about the controversial project, Tep Vanny and local organisations finally secured title for hundreds of families that were previously threatened with eviction. With the proposed changes to the Bank’s policy, that would not have been possible.

Despite the growing land-grabbing crisis displacing countless indigenous communities, small farmers, fisher-folk and pastoralists throughout the global south, the draft policy fails to incorporate any serious protections to prevent Bank funds from supporting land-grabs.

“In Ethiopia, World Bank funds have been used to facilitate one the world’s biggest land grabs, with the indigenous populations of entire regions being uprooted to make way for agro-industrial investments. We had hoped that the new safeguards would include strong requirements to prevent governments like Ethiopia from abusing its people with Bank funds, but we are shocked to see the

Bank instead opening the flood-gates for more abuses,” said Obang Metho, Executive Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia.

Not only is the current draft an unconscionable weakening, it is a complete misrepresentation of two years of consultations with civil society. The Bank’s Board must not endorse this draft, and at a minimum must insist that these fundamental loopholes be addressed before the next round of consultations,” said Sasanka Thilakasiri, Policy Advisor for Oxfam International.

97non-governmental organizations and civil society networks and 17 distinguished individuals from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe sent a statement to the World Bank’s Board yesterday, demanding that the draft be sent back to the drawing board and re-written with serious safeguards to respect and protect the land, housing and livelihood rights of the poor.

News Source URL: http://www.hastakshep.com/english/news-1/wo rld-news-1/2014/07/29/world-bank-turns-its-ba ck-on-rights-protections-for-the-poor-global-ci vil-society-response-gathers-momentum?utm_s ource=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_c ampaign=Feed%3A+Hastakshepcom+%28Has takshep.com%29#.U9n7y0BvlUk

"The crisis of our time is a moral crisis. To understand the problems of that crisis, let us take the pragmatic approach. Indeed, we need not start with the assumption that there is a crisis. Our point of departure should be a critical review of the contemporary world situation. It is that situation which has compelled many thinking people to re-examine the philosophical moorings and theoretical premises guiding their views on social and political problems, and led to the conclusion that there is indeed a crisis. These are problems which until now were left to the tender mercies of academicians, but they confront us today not as problems of pure thought, not merely as academic problems to be treated with pure logic in abstraction, but as realities of actual life."

—M.N. Roy (Politics, Power & Parties, p.15)

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M.V. Haridasan has translated M.N. Roy’s book Fascism-It’s Philosophy, Profession and Practice into Malayalam.

The title of the Malayalam version is Fasisathinte Thathvasaasthram.

The publisher of the book is Insight Publica, Kozhikkode, Kerala. They had earlier published M.N. Roy’s Psychology of the Seer in 2012.

M.V. Haridasan may be contacted at: Sivarama Nilayam, C.T. Palayam, Kollengode-678506, Kerala

Post Office Regd. No. Meerut-146-2012-2014 RNI No. 43049/85 To be posted on 10th of every month At H.P.O. Meerut Cantt.

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By SIBNARAYAN RAY Between Renaissance and Revolution-Selected Essays: Vol. I- H.C.350.00 In Freedom’s Quest: A Study of the Life and Works of M.N. Roy: Vol.Ill H.C.250.00 Against the Current - H.C.350.00

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By RABINDRANATH TAGORE & M.N. ROY Nationalism - H.C.150.00

By M.N. ROY The Intellectual Roots of Modern Civilization - H.C.150.00 The Russian Revolution - P.B.140.00 The Tragedy of Communism - H.C.180.00 From the Communist Manifesto - P.B.100.00 To Radical Humanism - H.C.140.00 Humanism, Revivalism and the Indian Heritage - P.B. 140.00

By SIVANATH SASTRI A History of The Renaissance in Bengal —Ramtanu Lahiri: Brahman & Reformer H.C.180.00

By SIBNARAYAN RAY Gandhi, Gandhism and Our Times (Edited) - H.C.200.00 The Mask and The Face (Jointly Edited with Marian Maddern) - H.C.200.00 Sane Voices for a Disoriented Generation (Edited) - P.B. 140.00 From the Broken Nest to Visvabharati - P.B.120.00 The Spirit of the Renaissance - P.B.150.00 Ripeness is All - P.B. 125.00

By ELLEN ROY From the Absurdity to Creative Rationalism - P.B. 90.00

By V. M. TARKUNDE Voice of A Great Sentinel - H.C.175.00

By SWARAJ SENGUPTA Reflections - H.C 150.00 Science, Society and Secular Humanism - H.C. 125.00

By DEBALINA BANDOPADHYAY The Woman-Question and Victorian Novel - H.C. 150.00

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