India empire march 2016

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latest issues

march 2016

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aGriculture is KeY interview with union minister for agriculture mr radha mohan singh

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cricKet FOr GOOD indian stars mix cricket with clean india campaign

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DiPlOmatic sessiON a comprehensive section on Netherlands, tunisia, afghanistan and mongolia

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DiasPOra NeWs top stories from around the world

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43 BusiNess aND GOVerNaNce Key policies, new announcements

Cover: PolitiCal interview

Mr Radha Mohan Singh Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

“Our PM will leave no stone unturned for farmers’ welfare” Agriculture has traditionally been a heavyweight portfolio in the Government of India. Given that about half of India’s work force of 500 million is engaged in agriculture, and that 58 per cent of rural households depend on it for principal means of sustenance, the direct connect of this sector to India’s growth and prosperity cannot be overemphasized. The NDA Government has, in fact, renamed the Ministry, now calling it the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Heading it presently is Mr Radha Mohan Singh, 65, a fifth-term Member of Lok Sabha from what is now the East Champaran constituency. He spoke with India Empire’s Editor and Publisher Sayantan Chakravarty at his office in Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi While industrial development of India is important, agricultural growth is vital for food security. What is your vision for making India’s farmers prosperous?

The Government of India is keen on development of rain-fed agriculture and promotion of integrated farming.

We now have the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in place, following approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by our Hon’ble Prime Minister in July 2015. The objective of this important irrigation project is that every farm should have water—Har Khet Ko Pani. We also are geared towards improving efficiency in usage of water, and want “More Crop Per Drop”.

This is not mere rhetoric. Our focused approach led by the vision of our tirelessly striving PM means that we are finding end-to-end solution for the farmer. This involves source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities.

The big challenge before us is to ensure that the production costs of farmers are reduced, and he gets proper marketing opportunity for his produce. Leaving aside 3-4 states in India, we find that in the rest of the states In India about 80 per cent fields do not get water. We have immediate plans to bring in 28,00,000 hectares under irrigation.

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india empire | march 2016

This involves a coordinated and concerted effort among three major stakeholders, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Water Resources. We plan to cover 150 districts in the country by end of March 2016, and the rest by September end. Overall, we’d like to bring in 80,00,000 hectares under irrigation at a cost of Rs 66,000 crore. In this budget, through NABARD, a corpus fund of Rs 20,000 crore has been created for irrigation. We also have plans to hand out Soil Health Cards to 140 million farmers by March 2017, and keep updating it every two years. These cards will help the farmer identify the diseases that can affect his soil and crops, what kind of treatment they require, what kind of fertilizers must be used.

Another area where we are making a huge difference is in the disposal of money for disaster relief. Between 2010 and 2014, states in India had asked for Rs 1,00,000 crore but had received only Rs 12,000 crore. In 2014-15, states asked for Rs 40,000 crore, and received Rs 9,000 crore. This year Rs 12,781 crore is being disbursed. We want the farmer not to suffer at any cost. Earlier, the premium of insurance varied between 3 to 14 per cent, now for Rabi it is down to 1.5 per cent, for Kharif 2 per cent. The method of receiv-

PhotograPhS Š SiPra daS

FLOWERING MINISTRY: Under Mr Radha Mohan Singh, the thought process of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has become geared to deliver maximum results for India’s huge agricultural community that has suffered decades of corruption, abysmal irrigation, poor marketing of produce, and debt burdens

march 2016 | india empire

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Cover: PolitiCal interview

ing the money was complicated, we have simplified it.

Our staffers at field level are being equipped with smart phones so that they can quickly reach the money to the insured, that is the farmer. If required, drones will be used to assess damage speedily. This time our budget has been lauded as one for the village, poor and farmer. The change of name of our Ministry is in sync with our goals.

Small farmers have higher productivities compared to large-sized holdings, but they have low marketable surplus and profit. What kind of action place is in place to increase profitability for small farmers?

In India, small and medium farmers hold approximately 85 per cent of total holdings. They have marketable surplus, but are not able to reach the market due to high costs of marketing. We want to connect 585 agricultural markets— mandis. This involves some amount of cooperation from states. As of now, I am happy to state, that 11 states have cooperated and we have proposals from 214 mandis to be a part of the e-trading platform which will be launched by our Prime Minister in April. By March 2017, another 200 mandis will be linked, and we plan to complete the entire linkage of 585 mandis by March 2018. This will enable and empower farmers across the country to get a good price for their produce. Another issue that has been dealt with innovatively by our Prime Minister is that of ensuring proper distribution of urea. Earlier, about 30 per cent of urea from factories would reach chemical companies instead of farmers through the black market and back doors. Shortages have led to firing and lathi charge in the past. We now have increased supply of Neem-coated urea which has completely put an end to this pilferage and black-marketeering.

Earlier state Governments would constantly ask us to make up for shortfall in urea, now not a single state has written to us. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has come up with 154 new variety of high-yielding variety of seeds at low costs. All this, in totality, will help the profitability of small farmers. Money has been allocated so that there are separate power feeders for states such that electricity is available to fields across the country. Our aim is to increase productivity, and decrease production costs.

You have recently said that the major emphasis should be on development of rain-fed agriculture, and promotion of integrated farming. Kindly elaborate…

Of the total cultivable area, rain-fed cultivation takes 8

india empire | march 2016

INSPIRED BY PM: The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister lauded the Prime Minister’s vision and strategy for Indian farmers at every possible juncture during the interview

place in about 53 per cent of the land. This cultivation is both complex, and fraught with risks. Productivity is heavily dependent on monsoons, and harvests are affected by the vagaries of the weather. This results in instability. In our overall plan, we want to focus on these areas as they can play a vital role in food production, and benefit the farming community at large through proper planning and methodical approach. We have accorded top most priority to these areas. The National Mission for Sustainable Development, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, focus on proper cultivation in rain-fed areas and dry land.

The Rainfed Area Development project is part of our plans for ensuring food security and sustainable development.

The RAD looks at opportunities for increasing means of livelihood, minimizing risks of crop loss, ensuring food security. In 2014-15, an amount of Rs 304 crore was released to states for RAD activities. Of this, Rs 239 crore worth of utility certificates have been received from states. In the current fiscal, Rs 198 crore has been provided for RAD. Water, climate change, soil degradation, energy management, market access are some of the major challenges before Indian agriculture. What are your views on these issues?

Let’s start with climate change which is an ongoing process. Studies show that about 81.3 million hectares in India comprising arid, semi-arid and semi-humid areas can be affected by adverse weather. In the past few years, various kinds of unnatural phenomena like ultra low rainfall, extreme rainfall, or untimely rains have increased. Climate change has a direct impact on productivity and quality of output and indirectly affects soil fertility, livestock and fisheries, soil and water resources. On a 2 degree Celsius in-

Cover: PolitiCal interview

“

I reiterate that our Government’s top priority is to strive for the betterment of the farmer, and bringing in significant changes to their income, productivity, and sustainability

crease in temperature, wheat and rice yields could drop by as much as 15 to 17 per cent. We are being challenged to adopt better agricultural management practices, and ensure that in the event of a disaster, farmers are able to earn sustainable incomes from other sources as well. The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change has drawn up several schemes and plans including those on Soil Health Card, Prime Agricultural Irrigation, Conventional Agricultural Development, National Agro-Forestry Mission, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, National Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology, National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Rational Balancing Programme, National Gokul Mission. Besides policies on National AgroForestry, and Crop Management are in place.

The National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) has a vast network of agriculture research institutions. What has been your message to these research institutions for research on genomics, quality seeds, health foods, fodder, farm mechanization?

Yes. I reiterate that our Government’s top priority is to strive for the betterment of the farmer, and bringing in significant changes to their income, productivity, and sustainability. Under the aegis of the ICAR, about 100 research institutes, 643 agricultural science centres, and 75 agriculture universities are in place. In order to increase their scope of work, we have established IARI in Jharkhand on the lines of IARI in Delhi. The process for establishing IARI, Assam is on. This will help research and scientific development in agriculture in the country’s eastern parts, and will bring about the nation’s second green revolution in this region.

Apart from this a pomiculture and horticulture institute in Punjab, agricultural universities in Telangana and Rajasthan, 10 india empire | march 2016

pomiculture universities in Haryana and A.P., and a central agriculture university in Bundelkhand region have been planned, and work is on to establish them. In the area of genomics, genome sequencing is on for wheat, rice and tomatoes. It is for the first time in the world that the wheat genome has been decoded. Research work on higher grade mustard varieties, seeds that yield in less time and are able to adapt to changes in weather conditions, resist diseases, is going on. We have a Krishi Dak service whereby quality seeds are mailed directly to farmers’ doorsteps.

Another of our goals is that for the huge population human and animal population, we not only produce enough food, but also ensure its nutrition value and health quotient for long term benefits. For protein enrichment focus is on pulses, fruit and vegetable produce, fish culture. We have the largest cattle population in the country, and our consumption of milk is comparable to international standards.

By cloning superior breeds we can increase milk production. Special attention is being given for developing farm implements and machinery that would empower small and marginal farmers.

You have introduced programmes such as Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav, Farmers First, ARYA. Please talk us through these…

This is part of Honourable PM’s Lab to Land call. This aims to speed up the engagement process between agricultural and rural scientists with the farming community across the country. In Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav, a group of 3-4 scientists will team up to pay focused and detailed attention to each village and educate farmers on technology, farming techniques, battling crop disease, and every other area that is relevant for boosting productivity. We also have ARYA— Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture. This aims to attract youth below the age-group of 35 with rural employment opportunities, and by enhancing their technical skills.

One of the fallouts of this which you will see is that it will put the brakes on rampant migration to cities. Under ARYA, 400 rural youths will be covered in selected districts across the country for a period of 5 years. ICAR will be the nodal agency, and Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for this futuristic project. In FARMERS FIRST, farming families are trained in horticulture, pomiculture, animal husbandry, cropping, efficient use of water, combating climate changes.

Rs 300 crore has been allocated for this.

In the 1970s and 1980s we used to have “Krishi Darshan” on Doordarshan. Now the NDA Government has gone one step further and come up with the Kisan TV Channel. What is the thought process behind this channel?

You are right. The previous Government never ever thought of having a dedicated TV channel for this vast population. This channel is an important source of information for farmers, and will help improve the quality of their cropping, their produce, their marketing, and eventually the qual❐ ity of their life.

national ConferenCe on women legislators PictureS by SiPra daS

WOMEN LEAD THE WAY

The inauguration of the first conference of its kind titled “The Role of Women Legislators in National Building” in early March 2016. The theme was “Building Resurgent India.” Seen in the picture (left to right) are Mrs Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Vice President Mr Hamid Ansari, President Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and Dr Shirin Chaudhary, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament

Minister for Minority Affairs, Mrs Nejma Heptulla, greets Mrs Sheila Dikshit, former Delhi Chief Minister as Foreign Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj looks on

Foreign Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj greets Ms Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, while former Delhi Chief Minister Mrs Sheila Dikshit looks on

Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs Sumitra Mahajan and Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi at the inaugural

march 2016 | india empire

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Budget session PictureS by SiPra daS

PArLIAMENT AND BusINEss

President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs Sumita Mahajan, Vice President of India Mr Hamid Ansari and Union Minister for Urban Development Mr Venkaiah Naidu enter Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session

LEFT: Union Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitley with a brown brief case carrying budget papers leaves North Block for Parliament along with Union Minister of State for Finance Mr Jayant Sinha. RIGHT: Chief Economic Adviser to the Government, Mr Arvind Subramanian briefs the media

Union Railway Minister Mr Suresh Prabhu along with Union Minister of State for Railways Mr Manoj Sinha with the Rail Budget are thronged by camera personnel from print and TV media

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eXHiBition BY montreal Painter

ART OF PEACE

High Commissioner Patel with winners of painting contest organized by Mr Suraj Sadan, painter and founder, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Montreal

Deeply honoured to host this topical exhibition.

These leaders—Gandhi, King and Mandela—can be named ‘The Trinity’ and continue to be inspiring and relevant. Thank you for bringing this to ICCR. —Ambassador C. Rajasekhar, Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations Great exhibition. Impressive work of art. Congratulations to the winners and all participants.

—H.E. Mr. Nadir Patel, High Commissioner of Canada to India Really impressed by both works of Mr Sadan and children inspired by him, both in India and Canada.

—Ms Namrata Kumar, Deputy DG, ICCR

Ambassador C. Rajasekhar, Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, with the veteran artist

Congratulations Suraj Sahib. Like MK Gandhi you cannot sit and relax. Your art crowns with success wherever you go.

—Mr Stephen Gill, Canadian poet Dear Suraj Sahib. I'm indeed very happy to note progress you are making and interest you're generating in the artistic arena over the world.

—Mr Jayant Gala, Journalist in Montreal 14 india empire | march 2016

The paintings on display in New Delhi’s Azad Bhavan

diasPora issues in u.k.

“HELP

DEVELOP INDIA” India's new envoy Navtej Sarna told leading members of the Indian community in the UK that India House is an "institution open to all Indians" and the community could play a "huge role" in helping to channelise foreign investment and in the development of its key infrastructure. At a well attended Indian community function in February, Sarna, who took over from Ranjan Mathai last month, said Indians in the UK had flourished extensively in every field of human endeavour, economics and business, politics, culture, medicine and finance, and had acquired a political weight and strong voice. "Even while they flourish in the UK they have not forgotten their cultural roots. On the contrary, their culture has become part of British life—tandoori is more popular than fish and chips, Bhangra is a byword in London," the high commissioner said.

Sarna said UK's Indian community has a huge role to play in helping India attract foreign investment and expertise that would help develop its infrastructure, its ports, airports and smart cities and the cleaning of the Ganga river. "The intention of the High Commission is to initiate a two-way conversation with members of the community wherein all problems could be freely shared and discussed," he said. “The High Commission would make every effort to resolve "all concerns", said Sarna.

"This is actually the first of such conversations," he told about 100 representatives of social and cultural associations of the Indian diaspora and Indian origin members of the British Parliament who attended the function. Welcoming the community to India House, the historic building housing the Indian High Commission, Sarna said all community members must feel that "this is their home" and they would always be welcome here.

Each community member’s life journey could be described as A Tale of Two Countries—that of India and the UK, that of the "matrabhumi" and the "karmabhumi," said Sarna, an acclaimed author and short story writer in his personal life.

The high commissioner also noted that the UK had the highest share of electronic visas that had been issued—24 percent, adding that 300,000 OCI cards (multiple entry lifelong visa for Overseas Citizens of India) had been issued and 300 Mr Navtej Sarna ❐ applications were being received every day.

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Column: amB. malaY misHra

Like pebbLes in the pond

I

by Malay Mishra

f Rohit Vemula saw the forebodings of a gathering storm over India’s young horizon in his untimely death , he could have well foreseen his alter ego in Kanhaiya Kumar. And now in his death Rohit has awakened the country like nobody else could. When in a packed press conference Kanhaiya pronounced the magic words, Rohit is my icon, not Afzal, it was as if Vemula’s soul was redeemed.

Babasaheb, the common thread running between the two youths, could have sharply polarized the society into the haves and the havenots, the so-called nationalists and and the anti-nationals. Of course Kanhaiya was categorical in saying that JNU has never been an abode for anti-nationals, he was speaking the truth as events played out over the last few days have dramatically revealed.

Watching the twenty nine year old JNUSU President, hailing from one of the most poverty stricken corners of Bharat, deliver his speech with his innuendos, barbs, wits, and periodic brilliance, I was struck by his awesome oratory, and behind that the power of his words. Surely his speech has gone down to the wire, to every nook and corner of the world, let alone India. Indeed a masterpiece in communication skills by someone who until yesterday was a vitual nobody but today has his name all over.

How did all that happen?

Kanhaiya had been released on interim bail from the close confines of Tihar jail after nearly three weeks of incarceration on grounds of ‘sedition’ and was coming home to the portals of JNU, which has housed many a rebellious spirit, past and present. It was a day of celebration for JNUites who rallied around their hero in thousands, defying all odds placed by the establishment in a convoluted manner, that went awfully out of hand and unleashed a furor in the country and abroad. A new discourse on nationalism was being forcibly injected into the liberal atmosphere of one of the top ranking universities of India and, in the process, clashing against the so-called anti-national thinking, with doctored tapes, false statements, jingoistic noises and senseless assaults and above all, rendering the organs of a functioning Parliamentary democracy, the executive, legislature and judiciary to near peril.

I have sensed the makings of a social revolution emanating from the bowels of the earth, penetrating to all crevices of a decaying society under a leadership who had only exposed its moorings and zeal to uphold a ‘manufactured’ truth. Truth be told, Kanhaiya has turned into the most exciting find in the political arena mainly because of the faultlines of the system which have been exposed so very effectively. For anybody who would have watched his performance that fateful night in JNU couldn’t have been left unaffected if he was reflecting seriously about what ails the system today.

In the game of power, which has played its virulent course in the portals of Universities, and I can name scores here, the 30 india empire | march 2016

sacred spaces of liberal thinking and expression seem to have been broken down into hollow cells, conditioned to support or perish. Is this now going to be a no holds barred clash of ideas and ideologies? Is it what the country was waiting for?

When India was beginning to develop its muscle in the global arena and coming to be respected as a unique civilization and culture having housed so many diversities on its soil, here comes the most disconcerting episode in recent times.

Kanhaiya, in his eloquent message to the nation from the steps of the open air auditorium, invoked Babasaheb several times and made it emphatically clear that real change will come, ‘azadi’ will see the light of the new day, but within the boundaries of India’s Constitution, its Parliament and Judiciary. Indeed a powerful statement to make, and if I may add, prophetic too. Change within the system to throw out a putrid corps and have a taste of freedom is what the country needs. And the citizenry too. Kanhaiya, in that sense, could well be an agent of change. The forces which he unleashed in the nether of the dark will form a million concentric circles reaching out to the farthest shores of a hitherto moribund pond. And therein lies the magic of the moment.

The intelligentsia, academia, media and even a reformed governance system will take the message forward, if something meaningful has to emerge from this clarion call for change. Rohit Vemula will have to live in a million hearts and minds, to perceive the pain of his suffering and fulfill the beatitude of his mission. To me, the struggle may have just begun, which will play out on the broad canvas of the country as the demand for justice, equality and liberty will transcend all other needs, so heartfelt are they.

The foremost leaders of India’s political struggle, Gandhi, Ambedkar, Tilak, Aurobindo down to the next generation of Nehru, Patel, Bose, Azad and Naidu have to all come alive in their vision and legacy. The new India is waiting to happen. Let a million mutinies spawn in the entrails of India’s youth, raring to go in an ossified society. Let the country see hundreds of Rohit Vemulas and Kanhaiya Kumars take shape amidst the debris and chaos of a disturbed world, waiting to come out of a decimated cocoon, like a resplendent butterfly, of peace, love, unity, strength and above all a true national spirit.

Watching the entire proceedings of that night play out live on a prime television channel, I had just one thought in mind. Could I go back to JNU again as a student, compressing 40 years of times gone by, in serving a decadent system which had threatened to engulf, nay, destroy me to the core?

Look at the future. It beckons you ❐ to a brave, new world.

—The author is a retired Ambassador

swaCHH CliniCs

crickEt for Good

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket for Good, and UNICEF, in partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the Team Swachh clinics during the ICC WT20 Host City Tour in February. Among celebs present were cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Pawan Negi

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B

uilding up to the ICC World T20 in India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket for Good and UNICEF in partnership with BCCI launched the Team Swachh clinics during the ICC WT20 Host City Tour in February. This was to promote a nationwide initiative that aims to build a social movement for sanitation and toilet use there by leading to an open-defecation-free India.

The ICC WT20 Men’s and Women’s trophies travelled on the Nissan Trophy Tour float through the streets of national capital New Delhi. Exhilarated fans got the opportunity to photograph themselves with the ICC WT20 Trophies.

A specially designed double-decker bus carried the children from a local NGOs and Indian cricket team players.

Yuvraj Singh and Pawan Negi, the Indian cricket players interacted with fans as the cavalcade made its way to photograph themselves with the ICC Trophies. Playing cricket-based games with the children along with advocating the use of toilets, Yuvraj Singh and Pawan Negi engaged with the children when sharing cricketing tips and discussing the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the specially designed Team Swachh WASH clinic set up inside the Feroze Shah Kotla Cricket stadium.

Calling the initiative a ‘social movement for sanitation’, Ms. Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India said, “The idea of team and team play is at the core of the Team Swachh initiative and it leverages the vast passion of the sport in the country to advocate toilet use and save lives of children.”

Earlier in October 2015, the ICC Cricket For Good and UNICEF launched a five-year global partnership in New York. They decided to engage the broader cricketing community to empower children and adolescents. In particular, during the many ICC events over the next five years, they will develop and implement various community outreach programmes and initiatives in collaboration with coaches, cricketers and cricketing personalities.

Kolkata Once again in February, a specially designed doubledecker bus carried the children from local NGOs and Indian cricket team players Manoj Tiwary and Shubhlakshmi Sharma. The Indian cricket players interacted with fans as the cavalcade made its way to photograph themselves with the ICC Trophies. Playing cricket-based games with the children along with advocating the use of toilets, Manoj Tiwary and Shubhlakshmi Sharma engaged with the children when sharing cricketing tips and discussing the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the specially designed Team Swachh WASH clinic set up inside the Eden Garden cricket stadium.

Overview Team Swachh is an integrated nationwide initiative that aims to build a social movement for sanitation and toilet use thereby leading to an open-defecation-free India. This visionary collaboration between ICC and UNICEF aims to raise awareness about challenges faced by the most disad-

vantaged children and focuses on improving sanitation. The ICC WT20 is the launch platform to advocate for children, leveraging the reach and popularity of cricket in India.

WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is a group of interrelated public health issues that are of particular interest to international development programmes. ❐ march 2016 | india empire 35

Column: Yogi asHwini

mind and BodY

PrACTICE DETACHMENT

by Yogi Ashwini

yogi aShwini

T

he mother is able to sense the pain of a child even if he lives in the opposite end of the world because the child was once connected to her with the umbilical cord. Even though the cord is cut, the connection still exists and this is a basic physical connection. Just like the child and the mother, every particle that was inside you and changed form and separated from you has the ability to communicate with other particles. The strength of this connection depends on the purity levels of your body. It is like a transmitter and receiver, the transmitter sends the signal but if there is a lot of dirt on the receiver then it will be unable to receive it. The dirt in case of your body is your thoughts— positive and negative. The thoughts form a cover over the body and do not allow it to communicate with that, of which it is a part. In order to communicate, purity is essential.

At many occasions I have seen people consuming bhang and getting intoxicated in the name of Shiva saying it is a prasad of the Lord. This is a very wrong notion. Madh (intoxicants) is the ahar of nisachar, and it literally translates as dulling of the senses. Alcohol is like dust, intake of which dulls the senses and makes communication ineffective. Similarly happiness or sadness are like dirt which block the communication channel. You must have heard of cases where people get a heart attack owing to extreme joy or grief. Joy and grief need to be kept in balance. You are not experiencing any happiness, but others think you are or if you have to get angry, you display controlled anger where you are not angry but the other person thinks you are angry. If today you are very happy with getting something or are sad about losing something then start getting detached from it right now because both happiness and grief will give you a lot of pain as they are contaminations within you. Any kind of impurity hampers the communication between two particles and so balance is a must.

Mantras are effective tools for communication.

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When you chant a mantra to invoke a particular dev, the mantra establishes a connection between you and the dev. But to be able to communicate with the dev, purity is required. If the child starts doing wrong things and gets corrupt by the day, gradually the connection between mother and child starts weakening until one day the mother can no longer sense the child. Your connection with Shiv is no different. You have all come from there. Shiv is nirgun and from nirgun you have become sagun and taken your present form. Since you have come from Shiv, you have the ability to communicate with him. But you can do so only after establishing a certain level of purity within you. Till you purify yourself, nothing will happen, you can do as many pujas…like on Diwali, where people hurry up their pujas because they are running late for a gambling or drinking session or in a marriage ceremony, where the pandit is offered a thousand rupee note to rush the proceedings. All this indicates that there is no connection, the mantras that are being chanted are of no value. If the pandit’s thoughts are on how much money he can earn, the mantras will not have any effect.

Every element, each body has a different frequency and that is what a mantra is. The frequency of Shri Mahamrityunjay mantra, for example, is for cleansing and strengthening the body. Similarly there are different mantras for different things. Purification is the first step. Initially the body is cleansed with certain mantras and then the ways for communication can be taught.

When the cleanliness inside you increases, the energy of the cells becomes subtler and the power of communication gets enhanced. The first sign of communication is intuition…

If your intuition is increasing, that means you are on the right path but if you are doing the kriya and chants and your intuition is not increasing that means you are ❐ walking on the wrong path.

—The writer Yogi Ashwini Ji is the head of Dhyan Foundation, Delhi. For details contact: ashwiniyogi@yahoo.co.in

DIASPORA NEWS

romas

“

CHILDrEN

OF INDIA

”

F

ollowing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj terming people of the Roma community spread across the world as “Children of India”, an international conference concluded in New Delhi in February with a call to recognise them as India's diaspora. "Roma people are an Indian nation, the autochthonous territory of southeastern and western Europe, but also in other parts of the world, with all attributes that make them a special national entity," Jovan Damjanovic, president of World Roma Organisation, said at the three-day International Roma Conference and Cultural Festival 2016. "We would like to be treated as the Indian di-

38 india empire | march 2016

aspora and can make a contribution to our country of origin's growth," he said at the conference organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP)-Bharat.

Inaugurating the conference, Ms Sushma Swaraj said: "You are the children of India who migrated and lived in challenging circumstances in foreign lands for centuries. Yet you maintained your Indian identity. A strong 20 million population of your community spread over 30 countries encompassing West Asia, Europe, America and Australia speaks of your unique ability of adapting to foreign cultures. We in India are proud of you... welcome you with an open heart."

Said to be descendants of nomadic groups in northwest India like Dom, Banjara, Gujjar, Sansi, Sikligar, Dhangar and others, Romas are known as "Zigeuner" in Germany,"Tsyiganes/Manus" in France, "Tatara" in Sweden, "Gitano" in Spain, "Tshingan" in Turkey and Greece, "Tsigan" in Russia, Bulgaria and Romania and "Gypsies" in Britain.

A resolution adopted at the conclusion of the conference called for people-topeople contacts between Indians and Romani people to be encouraged. "The cultural recognition of Romani people is of utmost importance for strengthening bonds with Roma," it stated.

It also said that there was a need to set up a cell in the External Affairs Ministry to study and research the origin of Roma people and examine what status India can accord them.

It said their language to be researched to find its roots and heritage in India and Indian students be taught the history of the Roma people and their migration. The 11-point resolution also called for the Romani language to be taught in Indian schools and universities as a recognised foreign language and the preparation of a Romani-Hindi dictionary.

"An international cultural festival of Roma should be held in India every two years on the pattern of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas," it said, and also sought a Roma research centre be set up in India.

For economic uplift of the Roma people, it also called for provision of micro finance facility to young Roma entrepreneurs. "Economic relations between India and Romani people should be encouraged. Romani people should be invited to contribute and be a part of India's development process in a mutually beneficial manner," it said. The resolution also called on Indian human rights organisations to take up the issues of violation of human

rights of Romani people with all national and international agencies. Gina Rubik, niece of Enro Rubik, inventor of the Rubik's Cube, said: "We the Roma are of Hindustani origin."

Gina speaks fluent Hindi and sang two of the Hindi songs she has written. "Yadoon ki kahani" (Story of Memories) is written in memory of the bomb blast victims in India, and the second, "Dehshatgardi ka khaatma" (The end of terror), offers a solution against hate and anger which has hindered the peace process in the subcontinent. â?? march 2016 | india empire 39

movies

B

D

OLLYWOO CEMENTS TIES

By Vishal Gulati

A

Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, Myanmar is home to bustling precious stone markets and one of the most impressive Buddhist sites. But as you move around the country bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand, you don't feel out of place as Bollywood is extremely popular here. For, right from the maitre d'hotel and chefs to top corporate honchos, Hindi films appear to be a mania in this country dominated by Buddhists.

"My parents migrated to Myanmar from India after Independence and so I learnt Hindi from them," local precious stone seller Ma Khin Kyi said. The mother of two, who never visited India, said Hindi soaps and films, which are quite popular among many Burmese, helped her master Hindi. Indian cable and satellite television channels Zee TV and Sony Max are popular Hindi channels in Myanmar, she added.

Bollywood stars of yesteryears like Shashi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty and heartthrob of youngsters—Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan—rule their hearts too.

Thirty nine-year-old taxi driver Mohammad Shafiq, accompanying the visiting Indian journalists, started humming lyrics "Hum tere bin ab reh nahi sakte" of "Aashiqui 2".

He said Hindi films and TV soaps were quite popular in the country. "Most of the Hindi films with Burmese dubbing are released here simultaneously," Shafiq, who speaks

40 india empire | march 2016

Hindi with proficiency, said.

Many youngsters, though not literate in Hindi, are so crazy about Hindi film love songs that they keep on humming the popular ones. "India and Myanmar have common heritage and long economic and political relations," said entrepreneur Mak Patel, who was born and brought up in Yangon. Octogenarian Patel, who is an Indian citizen and settled in New Delhi, said the craze for the Hindi flicks dates back to the popular song "Mere piya gaye Rangoon" from 1949 movie "Patanga".

"Even popular satellite channels like Sky Net and MRTV-4 have devoted bigger slots for Hindi movies and serials," Patel, a former consultant with ONGC Videsh Ltd, said.

Myanmar's capital, Yangon, has six cinema halls that regularly screen popular Hindi movies. Strict censorship doesn't allow

Burmese filmmakers to show social and politically driven stories forcing movie buffs to watch Bollywood and Hollywood films through pirated copies. State-run Central Hotel executive Cheery Tun said she liked Aamir Khan-starrer "3 Idiots" and "PK" so much that she saw them several times.

Energy-rich and resource-rich Myanmar, which got its independence in 1947, is home to a 2.5 million-strong Indian diaspora settled mostly in Yangon and Mandalay. —Vishal Gulati was in Myanmar at the invitation of Indian Buddhist spiritual leader Gyalwang Drukpa's global charity 'Live To Love'. march 2016 | india empire 41

diasPora

GOOGLE BACKs APPLE

By Arun Kumar

Google's Indian-American chief executive Sundar Pichai sided with rival Apple in its battle over a court order to help the FBI access information on the encrypted iPhone used by a Pakistani-American shooter in San Bernardino.

Pichai in February directed followers to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook's open letter arguing that helping the FBI try to get into the phone used by Syed Rizwan Farook would sabotage the security of "tens of millions of American citizens." Farook and his Pakistani origin wife, Tashfeen Malik, gunned down 14 people at a social services agency Dec 2 in San Bernardino, California, before being killed in a shootout with police. FBI Director James Comey said that investigators still haven't been able to get at the information on Farook's iPhone 5c.

A Riverside, California court directed Apple in February to help FBI crack the phone by developing software to hack into one of its own devices.

In a series of tweets Pichai argued that even that would essentially put tech companies in the position of hacking their own customers. This is what he tweeted: Important post by @tim_cook. Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users' privacy.

2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant challenges in protecting the pub-

42 india empire | march 2016

lic against crime and terrorism We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders But that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices & data. Could be a troubling precedent Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue The Government, Cook contends, is asking Apple to create a "backdoor" to its own security systems. "Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them," Cook wrote in a letter published on the company's website. "But now the US government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create."

Reacting to Cook's stand, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said he was flummoxed that Apple had not volunteered to aid the FBI. "Who do they think they are?" he asked on Fox News.

Speaking to reporters in South Carolina, Senator Marco Rubio said he hoped the tech giant would voluntarily comply with the government's request, but acknowledged the court order is far from a simple issue. â??

BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE

Business and governanCe

RAILWAYS BOOST The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi has approved construction of six railway lines and a railway bridge to cater to both increased passenger and freight needs in various areas of the country. The proposals will cost over Rs.10,700 crore and most part of the expenditure will be met through extra budgetary resources (institutional financing). Details of the six approved projects are as follows: ❖ Doubling of 190 km long Hubli-Chickajur broad gauge single railway line has been approved. The total estimated expenditure will be Rs.1294.13 crore. The project will cover the areas of Chitradurga, Davangere, Haveri andDharwad. ❖ Construction of Wardha (Sewagram) – Ballarshah 3rd railway line of 132 km will be taken up at an estimated completion cost of Rs.1443.32 crore.

The project will be located in Wardha and Chandrapur districts. ❖ Doubling of 160 km long Ramna – Singarauli railway line has been approved at a cost Rs.2675.64 crore and is likely to be completed by 2019-20.

The project will cover the districts of Garhwa in Jharkhand, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh. ❖ Construction of 165 km long 3rd railway line between Anuppur-Katni in Madhya Pradesh has also been apporved at a cost of Rs.1595.76 crore. The project would cover the districts of Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria and Katni districts of Madhya Pradesh.

❖

❖

Construction of doubling of 261 km long Katni – Singarauli railway at a cost of Rs.2084.90crore has been approved. The project would cover the districts of Katni, Shahdol, Sidhi and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh.

Construction of additional Bridge and doubling project of Rampur Dumra-Tal-Rajendrapulsector in Bihar at a cost of Rs.1700.24 crore has been approved. The project is located in Begusarai and Patna districts of Bihar.

BCPL BOOST TO NE The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizer Mr Ananth Kumar has said that the Brahamputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BPCL) at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh, Assam will give a huge boost to the Plastics Industry and generation of massive employment to the tune of one lakh in North-East Region. He was speaking at the ceremony in Dibrugarh where the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi dedicated the BCPL plant to the nation. He said that the plant which has a capacity of producing 3 lakh tons of polymers per annum, will attract huge investments in setting up of downstream industries. Mr Kumar said the BVFCL plant will be revived in the next 3 years and it will produce 8 lakh metric tons of urea, fulfilling the requirements of the North-East Region. He expressed the hope that the initiative of the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Mr Modi will

44 india empire | march 2016

Mr Ananth Kumar

provide an enabling Eco-System for setting up new plastics industry in Assam.

Business and governanCe

PRAGATI

PM Modi during the 10th interaction through PRAGATI

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, chaired his 10th interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multimodal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation in February. He reviewed the complaints and grievances from people relating to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and directed all concerned officials to expedite their redressal.

Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway, coal, power and

renewable energy sectors, spread over several states, including Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Delhi. Reviewing the Char-Dham road connectivity improvement project in Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister called for expediting the work at the earliest.

Shri Narendra Modi took stock of the comprehensive redevelopment projects of Railway Stations. He suggested to all Chief Secretaries to work towards at least one such redevelopment project in each State. He said such redeveloped railway stations would become iconic structures and centres of economic activity.

The Prime Minister reviewed the scheme for upgradation of campuses of National Institutes of Fashion Technology (NIFTs), and for setting up of grid connected solar power projects in Government organizations, CPSUs and Ordinance Factories. He asked all Chief Secretaries to work towards speedy implementation of solar power projects in their respective States.

The Prime Minister reviewed the programme for elimination of Kala Azar, and called for all efforts to eradicate this disease at the earliest. He also reviewed “Mission Indradhanush,” and emphasized the need for an organized and aggressive action plan to cover all children for immunization in a specific time-frame.

DESTINATION NORTH EAST The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr. Jitendra Singh and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, inaugurated the festival ‘Destination North-East-2016’ in February. The festival has been organised by the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) and Ministry of Culture. The festival will showcase the inherent economic, social and cultural strength of the North East Region (NER) at the national level.

While inaugurating the festival, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the North-East will be developed into a key destination for young entrepreneurs and Startups. He also said that North East festivals will be organised in Mumbai and Bangalore in the coming months. He said that direct flight from Delhi to Dimapur is a major step in making North East more accessible. The rest of India needs to be connected with North East in a meaningful way, he added. He said that Prime Minis-

Dr Jitendra Singh lighting the lamp to inaugurate the ‘Destination North East 2016’ with Mr Kiren Rijiju (left)

ter is taking keen interest in the development of North East. He also emphasised upon the need to upgrade academic institutions in the North East to provide quality education and develop human resources.

march 2016 | india empire 45

Column—mind and BodY

Just Imagine: Why are some people more equal than others?

J

ProfeSSor dineSh bhugra, cbe

ust imagine that you or one of your loved ones develops a psychiatric illness. There is a one in four chance that any of us in our adulthood will develop a psychiatric disorder. Now imagine that you do not have access to simple cheap medication or treatment. Even if you do, there is a strong likelihood that people will avoid you and your family. Now imagine that you are on medication and treatment, and you get better. You apply for a job and the application for the job asks you about your medical history. You fill the form in truthfully, and are not shortlisted. You manage to find a job well below your achievements; you perform successfully but your colleagues still avoid you and your family. Imagine that you continue to improve and get better, and are well settled – yet you are likely to die 15-20 years younger than your peers who do not have a mental illness. With your mental illness, if you go to a hospital for treatment of a physical illness, chances are very high that you will not be investigated thoroughly. Now imagine – is this fair?

In many countries around the world, patients with mental illness are likely to be shackled, end up in prison or wander the streets in a state of homelessness. In many parts of the world, an individual with mental illness cannot vote, inherit property or adopt children.

Why is this seen as fair?

Individuals with mental illness have the same rights as individuals without mental illness. These rights exist in theory, but not in practice.

Stigma against people with mental illness is linked to lack of knowledge, which affects attitudes and behaviour. The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) – a global body with 137 member societies from 119 countries, representing 200,000 psychiatrists world-wide – has been working towards reducing stigma against individuals with mental illness. However, as the French philosopher Roland Barthes highlighted, stigma is related to the creation of ‘the other’, which validates our own identity. The provision of education about mental illness can only go so far in changing attitudes and behaviour, even when the levels of education change.

This is where the provision of dealing with discrimina-

46 india empire | march 2016

tion comes in. Discrimination against individuals can be eliminated using legal structures. Gender rights, children’s rights and LGBT rights have often been won by legal changes and using legal provision. It is thus critical that we work towards understanding and eliminating discrimination through legal means.

The equity of resources, be they financial or personal, is the first step. There is no reason why individuals with mental illness should be ignored, abused and devalued. When the global burden of disease attributed to neuropsychiatric disorders is higher when compared with cardiovascular disease or cancer, why should mental health services lag behind in funding? When one in four individuals is likely to develop a psychiatric disorder in their adulthood – meaning that every family in the land will be affected directly or indirectly – why is that due attention is not paid to the welfare of individuals with mental illness? Social justice demands that adequate and equitable resources be made available for mental health services, as well as research into psychiatric disorders.

The stereotype that all individuals with mental illness are violent needs to be challenged. The range of psychiatric disorders varies from problems in childhood, common mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, phobias; substance abuse and addiction disorders; psychoses; psychosexual disorders; dementia etc. It is imperative that all nations of the world look at the legal provisions and amend laws accordingly.

WPA has embarked on such a project, ascertaining types and varieties of discrimination across member nations, and we expect to launch a full report on the 2nd World Mind Matters Day (4th September 2016).

Fast forward 20 years and now imagine a world where, if you develop a mental illness, you will be looked after in a non-discriminatory way with well-resourced services, well-trained personnel and evidence based interventions. We all must aspire to such a ❐ scenario.

—Professor Dinesh Bhugra, CBE, President of the World Psychiatric Association