tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367973812024-03-14T12:55:51.591+05:30In knowledge & Experience I exist.This blog is about my love to read, observe, understand and experience; and share what I read, observed, understood and felt.<br>A result of my father's valued words urging me to never stop observing <br>and to maintain a diary of my observations. Thanks for dropping by.Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-80810045120687271592020-12-27T13:53:00.000+05:302020-12-27T13:53:05.526+05:30Why the 'Tour of Duty' Army recruitment model is an illiterate idea?<p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">As per a report on Timesnownews, the Indian Army has announced a new recruitment model on a pilot basis that will allow civilians to serve within its ranks on a three year short service 'Tour of Duty'.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Here is the link to that <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/army-s-proposed-tour-of-duty-recruitment-model-explained/698153" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">A day after the announcement, the Print has published an opinion piece by retired Major General B S Dhanoa where the model was criticized by the Major General as a 'harebrained idea'. It spoke </span><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">about putting young minds in a serious situation of real shells
and bullets without enough training, questioned the peer support of the regular
soldiers that these tourist soldiers would receive, and the possibility of political tourists getting into the ranks of the Armed Forces polluting the apolitical nature of the Armed Forces.</span></span><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><em></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Here is the link to that <a href="https://theprint.in/opinion/armys-tour-of-duty-proposal-is-a-harebrained-idea/573055/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article</a> by B S Dhanoa.<br /></span></p><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_il"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Apart from the points mentioned in the article attached, , I would like to add a serious fallacy guiding this idea.The ‘tour of duty’ assumes a very flawed concept of ‘duty to the nation'. It assumes that army is the only duty worth for a true Indian. It indirectly signifies that farming, orphan care, old age care, teacher, professor, police duty, construction workers etc are not duties to the nation. <span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">It forgets that the pain of a death of a soldier is equal to the pain of a death of a farmer or a police officer. </span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Do forgive me for selecting these duties among many others as examples, for I wanted to create an impact to bring home the point. The idea reeks of an appeal to the jingoistic hot young blood of the youths to fill the forces with low cost human resource.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> <br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The second point that I want to highlight is a bit shameful one, and a more serious one. One of the points put forward in support of the idea is that the army won’t have to pay them much. There will be no liability of pension and other benefits.Currently, the pension bill is almost 30% of the total defense budgets (I doubt it but that is the number the timesnow article quotes) and so this idea will save cost for the nation. This rationale given for the 'tour of duty' idea is a problem.<br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Firstly, a Govt that wins UP elections by taking help of the Army in their political hoardings and regularly invokes the prestige of the army for effect, is now being stingy to increase defense budgets for these young boys who would guard the real borders with real rifles facing real bullets. It only brings out the true 'bania' face of the Govt that it only increases its election budgets. All other budgets can be slashed even at the cost of real lives.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Secondly, if we want the young minds of India to taste the discipline of the forces for a time so that they can become better disciplined citizens then why are we not allocating extra budgets for such a novel idea. If the novel idea is to get cheap untrained army soldiers facing real bullets then it is indeed a very cunning self centered idea. It is against the cost of life of a citizen. It is against the citizens.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I would urge the Govt to consider defense decisions strategically from a long term point of view, with a clear vision to keep it as apolitical as possible. If we need more human resources, we need to either streamline operations and save operations cost, or increase budget to hire and train the additional human resources.<br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">This Govt from 2014 has been very particularly visible in terms of taking thoughtless, knee jerk decisions. The worst was the PM saying ‘no Chinese inside India’, the worse was the ‘lock down in 4 hours’ killings 100s and bad was the sudden demonetization killing the entire economy to get it back to an even bigger cash economy!! Then you have the farm bills, removal of 370, breaking J&K into UTs, make in India ventilators, and the 21 day ultimatum to Covid 19 by the PM; and the list is endless.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I am just aghast at the number of stupidities that India has been so proudly executing in the last 6 years. Oh my India.</div></div></span></span></div></div></div></div>Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-58437902910861945202020-09-05T09:45:00.010+05:302020-09-05T19:58:09.583+05:30Life <p>Life has been such a ride from the start go. Everyday there is so much to understand.</p><p>As a toddler, I am told that I was Utpatia. It means close to a naughty restless kid. Perhaps my first date with life happened then when I flexed my arm to look at a vessel kept above a height to keep me away from the contents. I had to flex the feet, arm and hand to reach the upper rim of the vessel and pull it towards me. </p><p>It had chilly powder. Truth did hurt. I had a swollen bear face and I am told that a litre of milk was poured on my face to ease the hurt.</p><p>From then I think it was this urge of knowing that made me open every toy before I did what the toy was meant for. Play.</p><p>Slowly, I realised that playing the toy won’t have given me the joy that I used to find opening it.</p><p>Some of the most memorable vessels that I have overturned and toys that I have unscrewed and tasted the joy and pain of truth would be woman (and man), poverty, greed, ambition, career, urbanisation, hometown blues and parenthood.</p><p>When I wrote wrong answers deliberately on my compulsory NDA exam, and then refused an engineering degree to study economics in Cotton, it was one of my best search. Quitting my Deutsche Bank career to a life of spiritual growth in Duliajan with my parents was my second best ‘overturning the vessel’ search. </p><p>I am still opening up toys. Only difference is that the toys are adult boring stuff like books, meditation and prayers. You see knowledge gets boring for a lot of people when it gets higher in terms of enlightenment. That is the reason why so few people read books, meditate and pray in the real sense of the word. Among my books, I prefer history, philosophy and spiritual studies. Interestingly, science do not interest me as well. I think the reason may be that I love discovery more than inventions.</p><p>For the thirsty, knowledge however is never boring. Knowledge starts with information and data and slowly converge into truths and then finally into one absolute truth.</p><p>All these years of search have brought me closer to the absolute truth, the one and only beauty. The truth that is nothingness. A happy nothingness. Every philosopher and spiritual guru has spoken of this one-ness in different languages and manner of speaking. I see exactness in the writings of Gurujona Srimanta Sankardeva, the great disciple Shri Shri Madhavdeva, Plato and even Osho... and so many other intellectuals in search of truth and truth only.</p><p>The truth is so blissful that you slowly feel no need for money, material comfort and even moksha.</p>Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-57941628221612884262020-06-07T13:53:00.004+05:302020-06-07T17:25:48.812+05:30::: Board Exams, Success, Happiness and that puff of a Cigarette :::<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The mind is kind of naughty as well as mighty. 10th boards is perhaps the first occasion when it starts acting on you, and then it acts as if it tasted blood.<br />
<br />
It will try to depress you and make you feel you are depressed. It will try to distract you by pumping adrenaline into your body, and will make you do things that would waste your time. A puff of a cigarette in secret is more exciting that arithmetic any day. Going to the market to get a glance of that special girl is more exciting than your essential work of the day. Sleeping late seems like the best time of the day.<br />
<br />
We have to speak back to our minds.<br />
<br />
For many of us, the urge that we had felt to get good marks that made us study for our boards is the key to success. Not the marks that we ended up achieving.<br />
<br />
For Sania or Sonia or Rishi Kapoor, the urge may have been to play badminton, tennis or to act. Even their minds, naughty and mighty, surely tried to distract them. Every morning, even their minds tried to make them feel that they didn’t want to practice today. The thought blurb “Will do tomorrow” must have attacked them too. But they got a control on their minds and kept working as if it is their duties - acquired or inherent.<br />
<br />
In my experience, one of the important factors to excel in life is to control your mind to make it say, ‘keep working’. The outcome of a particular work is not important.<br />
<br />
The outcome is just a goal or an objective. It’s not an END. Missing a goal should make us work harder or do a strategic decision of changing the goal perhaps.<br />
<br />
Missing a goal definitely doesn’t mean we have failed. There is no failure in life. Even death is not a failure. It may just mean a rebirth for some, for another goal.<br />
<br />
The outcome of the ‘Keep working’ philosophy is important. That is the only truth. The outcome is happiness. Happiness is the true goal and an end. But mind you, happiness is not a high. Snorting cocaine gives you a high. Happiness is not even a low.<br />
<br />
Happiness to each one of us is different. I feel happy is an intensely personal feeling. When we KEEP WORKING, defeating the ugly machiavellian plans of the mind, defeating anger, defeating arrogance, defeating lust, defeating even a fighting spirit; we feel happy in our own personal ways.<br />
<br />
Some may say, the backbenchers ultimately do well, some say the toppers do well but I say that one who keeps working does well.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-39429179018198120012020-05-11T07:29:00.001+05:302020-05-11T07:29:27.382+05:30Illiteracy only help us to bark..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
He didn’t speak<br />
when Dadri happened,<br />
when Gauri Lankesh was shot dead...<br />
.. and was dumbfounded when Palghar happened. He didn’t know what to say.<br />
<br />
Now he has nothing to say when Corona is destroying us.<br />
<br />
Then I realised he is illiterate, and is scared to realise that he doesn’t know what to say. Neither he has built a core team of bright minds for the fear of being exposed of his own hollowness.<br />
<br />
Giving election speeches and one way pep talk is one thing; policy making, strategic thinking and crisis management requires serious education and exposure to concepts.<br />
<br />
Illiteracy can only help is to bark.. running a nation is out of the question.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-28134053017093255292020-04-15T07:11:00.003+05:302020-04-15T07:53:16.741+05:305 Urgents Step that India must take to tackle Corona crisis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is scary.<br />
<br />
Either the Government has not learnt any lesson from the experience of the 3weeks’ lockdown, or the PM is unable to express what the Government has learnt and has therefore acted on.<br />
<br />
5 things if Government listens to me:<br />
<br />
1) My guess is that March salary is more or less paid without cuts. A significant number of people won’t get April salary. This, in addition to the daily wage earner crisis will topple the country’s law and order upside down. Help the businesses to pay salaries. It’s difficult to put money into accounts as the Aadhaar project as an identity program got derailed to an authentication program. Pay the businesses to pay salaries as one of the cash programs. Other cash programs need more thinking. Perhaps paying to the merchant may be an idea. Start an outreach program now.<br />
<br />
2) This is an emergency and food stocks need to be utilised like in an emergency giving it in every tehsil and blocks of the country. More emphasis should be given to the URBAN poor. They should be given assistance that they will be taken care of. There should not be any documentation to be presented for food. Believe me, the people who has food at home won’t come out for free food, for fear of Corona. Wherever possible cooked food should be given, using the machinery of the mid day meal program. Most importantly, covid testing should be focused on these resulting activity areas. All distribution centres should be tracked closely for outbreaks.<br />
<br />
3) Road / Water / Train Transport should be strategically opened with rules of minimum social distancing. Rules are as follows: 1) Make a map of buses and train routes that are a must to operate for migrant workers. 2) Only 36 Tickets to be issued per train bogey 2) One Ticket per seat of 2/3 in a bus 3) All state transports should pick the tab 4) No standing traffic in any of these public transport. 5) Clear announcements for only essential travel 6) Make approach to train and railway stations narrow / zigzag to minimise and regularise the flow of passengers 7) Increased testing /Tracking of Corona cases in these focused points of likely gathering. 8/ Change the ringtone to announce only essential travel<br />
<br />
4) Strategic manufacturing and Goods transport must start with rules of social distancing. With reduced demand, these two sectors will anyway work less than capacity. Daily tracking of these regions for outbreak is a must. We must allow only closed group manufacturing setups and townships. A map has to be drawn.<br />
<br />
5) Since we have limited testing infrastructure, we must focus this infra towards economic and social activity areas only, apart from testing the sick. Test, trace and close the area has to be done with increased focus.<br />
<br />
Covid 19 like any living organism will try to survive all sorts of intervention, just like we are trying to survive. So it is quite likely that we can’t stop it from spreading. Complete lockdown has not flattened the spreading curve. One day the lockdown has to end and the virus will find its survival instincts. The only way is to spend the lockdown or semi lockdown stage to DISCIPLINE our civilisation into a structure where we see more permanent physical distancing at one side, and more testing and tracing technology on the other side. According to me, scientists should spend more time in getting a more conclusive and cheaper testing infrastructure than to find a cure. Finding a cure for a virus is tough and a cure for a 2% fatal virus cannot be primary focus. Testing and tracing will be an easier bet on our limited resources.<br />
<br />
Please don’t let the situation go out of hand. India can not handle a complete lockdown for another 20 days.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-84386097373817469202020-04-13T07:05:00.002+05:302020-04-13T07:10:18.170+05:30We are all different, and we have to co-exist happily.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
TO BE HAPPY WE HAVE TO FIRST ACCEPT THAT EACH ONE OF US IS DIFFERENT.<br />
<br />
In a national context, this becomes even more important.<br />
<br />
Pierre Trudeau, who many consider a Visionary including myself, had said this amazingly frank statement about his Canadian citizens,<br />
<br />
“There is no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian. What could be more absurd than the concept of an "all Canadian" boy or girl? A society which emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate.”<br />
<br />
Now compare this to the writings of MS Gowalkar whose ideas are being made popular in India every passing day.<br />
<br />
He wrote that India’s independence in 1947 didn’t constitute real freedom because the founders accepted ‘the perverted concept of territorial nationalism’, which considers all who lives on India’s territory as equal constituents of the nation. He wrote that territorial nationalism is unnatural, unscientific and lifeless hybrid, as compared to the nationalism that is derived from the national culture - ancient and sublime Hinduism.<br />
<br />
The suggestion that only a Hindu can be an authentic Indian is an attack to the very ethos of humanity that lives in India. It ends the possibility of a JUST society as majoritarian emotions will marginalise the minority rights.<br />
<br />
To this context, Mr Trudeau says,<br />
“The JUST Society will be the one in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities”.<br />
<br />
On a question from a high school student about what happened to his promises of a "Just Society”, he jokingly said, “The next time you see Jesus Christ, ask Him what happened to the just society He promised 2,000 years ago”.<br />
<br />
Mr Trudeau firmly believed that “The attainment of a just society is the cherished hope of civilized men. While perhaps more difficult to formulate for groups than for individuals, even the members of majorities — political, religious, linguistic or economic — must know what it is to suffer injustice. My Government is deeply concerned to provide and to ensure increased justice, dignity and recognition to the individual, particularly in an age which is characterized by large governments, industrial automation, social regimentation and old-fashioned laws”.<br />
<br />
Mr Trudeau is a nationalist and his love for Canada is well known. But it is based on equality and justice. He brought parliamentary sovereignty to Canada out of UK in 1982. He kept Canada together with his inclusive plural policies when separatism was at its peak.<br />
<br />
Even when he had to implement bilingualism (English & French) in Canada he had clarified that<br />
<br />
“Bilingualism is NOT an imposition on the citizens. The citizens can go on speaking one language or six languages, or no languages if they so choose. Bilingualism is an imposition on the state and not the citizens.”<br />
<br />
He once famously said, “There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation”.<br />
<br />
The reason why I thought of Trudeau today is my increasing doubt that India is moving towards majoritarianism, which Trudeau fought till the end, where Muslims and other minorities are not respected. Constant hate has been fed to the innocent minds, even in the times of a world pandemic; and in the absence of a global perspective, sadly, this hatred seems logical and a birth right of the majority.<br />
<br />
The ideas of Gowalkar are stemming root like never before. All the three heads of the the country - The PM, the President and the Vice President have learnt their nationalism from the teachings of Gowalkar and RSS. And Gowalkar believed that democracy is a western concept, alien to Hindu culture.<br />
<br />
One learned friend tells me recently that constitution was written by humans only. It can be changed and a Hindu Rashtra can be declared just like a secular state was declared in 1950. This surprised me immensely because India was never so frank and open about wanting to be a Hindu Rashtra.<br />
<br />
I agree when Gowalkar says ‘territorial nationalism’ is unnatural. Majoritarianism is indeed instinctive and natural in all animal species. That is the reason we needed a constitution to bring in equality, justice and secularism.<br />
<br />
Our founding fathers knew that majoritarianism is a recipe for disaster.<br />
<br />
Every small region has a majority of some kind. In Assam, Assamese is a majority. Within Assam, in Silchar, Bengali is a majority. India is a Hindu majority but Kashmir is a Muslim majority. Certain constituencies are Muslim majority. Then there are caste majority regions. Who can stop the fire when the animal instinct becomes an acceptable norm? Fanning majoritarianism is simply calling for anarchy, riots and disintegration of united India.<br />
<br />
As Mr Shashi Tharoor puts it, “An India that denies itself to some of us could end up being denied to all of us”.<br />
<br />
Trudeau had said, “I believe a constitution can permit the co-existence of several cultures and ethnic groups with a single state”.<br />
<br />
Like in a marriage to be happy, we say that we have to accept that each one of us is different; we have to say the same for a country to be happy.<br />
<br />
Just like territorial nationalism, marriage is also argued by some as ‘unnatural’. But can we even think of killing the institution of marriage? Marriage was the first institution required when humans settled down and stopped being nomads.<br />
<br />
TO BE HAPPY WE HAVE TO FIRST ACCEPT THAT EACH ONE OF US IS DIFFERENT.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-21894077249792001062020-01-20T22:56:00.000+05:302020-01-20T22:56:24.008+05:30Fact Check - Did Parliamentary Standing Committee of 2003 supported CAA 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">What does the Parliamentary Standing Committee really say about giving citizenship to those persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan?</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">BJP has been citing a parliamentary standing committee on Citizenship Amendment Act 2003 to prove that the Congress and the left had concluded that religious minorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan should be given citizenship. And religious minority in these countries cannot be Muslim.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">I would like to clear this narrative by citing statements directly from the report. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<ol class="ol1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
<li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Firstly, this committee although headed by a Congressman Pranab Mukherjee, had members of all parties including the BJP. From Assam, it had the BJP MP, Rajen Gohain. It had the very powerful BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan. So we cannot conclude that the remarks in the report were of Congress and the left. BJP spokespeople like Sambit Patra demeans a parliamentary committee by making it one party voice.</span></li>
<li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Secondly, the very objectives of the report had these two exact statements - 1) making acquisition of Indian citizenship by registration and naturalisation more stringent and 2) preventing illegal migrants from becoming eligible for Indian citizenship. These two points very clearly make the report against giving citizenship frivolously without much thought on rules, processes and overall implementation strategy.</span></li>
<li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">The 107th report of course mentions large number of representations from different organisations expressing concerns that people being persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan and forced to leave their ancestral homes would now be detected & deported under CAA 2003. It was pleaded by the petitioners for grant of citizenship and other facilities to such migrants by the Government of India. To this concern, the report said this exact statement, “While expressing sympathies for such refugees, Members were of the view that instead of granting citizenship to these refugees, it would be better if this problem was tackled as per the international law and convention”. The report suggested a two pronged strategy which is in no way supports CAA 2019. It wrote exactly this. “Adoption of a two-pronged strategy to deal with the problem was favoured. On the one hand, Members were for extending all humanitarian assistance to such ‘REFUGEES’ (emphasis added by author) while on the other, they wanted the Government to put pressure through diplomatic channels on the governments of the countries from where these refugees were coming, either as a result of religious persecution or civil commotion, to create conducive atmosphere in their countries for early return of the refugees. </span></li>
<li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Presently, many BJP members are also citing the commitment made by the national leaders at the time of partition to facilitate the entry of Hindus from Pakistan to India with a view to save them from religious persecution in Pakistan. Even this point was discussed in this parliamentary committee. The report wrote exactly this, “This commitment, they felt depended on circumstances but, was, however, not an unending or open-ended one. They believed that it would be extremely difficult for India to accommodate such refugees, as its own citizens were feeling the pinch of growing population, poverty and unemployment”.</span></li>
<li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">The exact statement that BJP cites is this line, “Citizenship should be granted only to Bangladeshi minority refugees and not to refugees belonging to majority community”. </span>This is quite interesting because this line is from section 3.2 which deals in the major points received via memorandums from various organisations against a press ad asking for representations and memoranda. These are points from other organisations and not of the report!! We must see some of the other points received by the committee: 1) Indian citizenship should be granted to Bangladeshi and Pakistani minority refugees. 2) Refugees, who entered India after 25 March 1971, should be treated as legal migrants. (Author note: This point if agreed would cancel out Assam Accord) 3) Citizenship should not be available to Bangladeshi minorities. </li>
</ol>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">See the contrasts in the points and it proves the plurality of representations.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">So clearly, the Congress and the Left are not saying anything different today. The parliamentary committee is being cited wrongly by the BJP with malafide intentions of distracting the population.</span></div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-23547396365502986172020-01-15T19:44:00.001+05:302020-01-19T15:16:40.789+05:30Comments on the speech by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Assembly on 13th January 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message">
<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_2">
হিমন্ত
বিশ্ব শৰ্মা ডাঙৰীয়াৰ এই ভাষণভাগ আমি সকলো অসমৰ ৰাইজে শুনিব লাগে৷ যদিওঁ
তথ্যবোৰ আগ বঢ়াঁওতে তেওঁৰ হিন্দু ধৰ্মৰ প্ৰতি থকা দুৰ্বলতা আৰু বিজেপিৰ
প্ৰতি থকা দ্বায়বদ্ধতাৰ কাৰণে যুক্তিবিহীন হোৱা দেখা গৈছে আৰু শব্দৰ
মায়াজাল এখন বৈছে, তথাপিও তথ্য কেইটা আমি সকলোৱে জানিবলগীয়া৷<br />
<br />
মোৰ
কেইতামান যুক্তি আছে ভাৰত আৰু অসমৰ এজন নাগৰিক হিচাবে, আৰু দেশখনৰ শান্তি
আৰু প্ৰগতিৰ প্ৰতি দ্বায়বদ্ধ কাৰণে৷ হিমন্ত ডাঙৰীয়াই বাৰে বাৰে কোৱাৰ দৰে
মইও কৈছো যে ভুল হলে শুধৰাই দিয়েযেন৷<br />
এই যুক্তিখিনি লেখাৰ মূল
উদ্দেশ্য হৈছে যে আমি সকলোৱে আমাৰ দেশখন, আমাৰ সংবিধানখন ভালকৈ বুজি পাব
লাগিব৷ দেশৰ হকে চিন্তা কৰোতে আবেগৰ পৰা অলপ আঁতৰি আহিব আমি পাৰিব লাগিব৷<br />
<br />
১) আমাৰ দেশত এজন সাংসদ, চৰকাৰী আমোলা বা সামৰিক বাহিনীৰ বিষয়ায়ে সকলো
সময়তে ধৰ্ম নিৰপেক্ষ্য হবই লাগিব৷ সাধাৰণ নাগৰিক এজনৰ বেলেগ মত এটা থাকিব
পাৰে৷ এই ভাষণযোগে হিমন্ত ডাঙৰীয়া যে মুছলমান বিৰুধী সেইটো বিধানসভাৰ
মজিয়াত জলজল পতপত কে উলাই পৰিছে৷ CAA অনা কাৰণটো যে ধৰ্মীয়, তাক এই ভাষণে ভাল
দৰে উপস্থাপন কৰিছে। বিজেপি নেতৃত্বই বাৰে বাৰে কব বিচাৰিছে যে CAA খন
secular। সেই ভাষ্যটোক এই ভাষণে উফৰাই দিছে। সেইকাৰণে তেওঁ ভাষণত কোৱাৰ দৰে
ৰাজনীতি এৰাই ভাল৷ এই দেশখনৰ আইনে তেওঁক গ্ৰেপটাৰো কৰিব পাৰে এনেকুৱা
ধৰ্মভিত্তিত এখন ’যুদ্ধৰ’ ঘোষণা কৰা বাবে৷<br />
<br />
২) অসম চুক্তিখন যে
হিমন্ত ডাঙৰীয়াই এতিয়াহে ভালকৈ পঢ়িছে, এই কথাষাৰে মোক বহুত দুখ দিছে৷ আৰু
বা কিমান জন নেতায়ে হৈতো পঢ়িচোৱা নাই, ভাৱিবলৈয়েই ভয় লাগিছে৷ হয়, সচাঁয়ে
অসম চুক্তি ৰুপায়নৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত অসমে বহুতখিনি কৰিবলগীয়া থাকি গ’ল৷ তাৰ কাৰণ
আজি বুজিব পাৰিছো৷ প্ৰথম সত্যটো হৈছে অসম চুক্তিৰ দফাখিনি সংসদৰ
(parliament) মজিয়াত কেতিয়াও উপস্থাপন কৰা হোৱা নাই আৰু সেইবাবে ১৯৮৫ চনৰ
পাছত হোৱা যিকোনো বহিৰাগত বা Foreigner related সংশোধনীবোৰত অসম চুক্তিৰ
কথা সামৰি লোৱা হোৱা নাই৷ <br />
মোৰ ব্যক্তিগত ধাৰনা যে এই সকলোবোৰ
সংশোধনী অসমে অসম চুক্তিৰ দায়ৰাত থাকি অৱলম্বন কৰিব লাগে বা লাগিছিল৷ এই
ভাষণত থিকেই কৈছে এক প্ৰকাৰে যে অসম চুক্তিৰ আগতেও উলঙ্ঘন হৈছে কিন্তু
সেইবুলিয়েই আকৌ হব দিব লাগে বুলি মই নেভাৱো৷ আগতে কৰা ভুলবোৰ যিহেতো
চুক্তিখন পঢ়ি নোছোৱা আৰু অভিজ্ঞতাৰ অভাৱত হল, এইবাৰ যিহেতো পঢ়িচোৱা হ’ল,
ভালদৰে আইনৰ অভিজ্ঞ এজনৰ লগত আলোচনা কৰি অসম চুক্তি ৰুপায়নৰ সকলো চেষ্টা
কৰাটোৱেই ভাল বুলি মই ভাৱিছো৷<br />
<br />
৩) আমাৰ ভাৰতখন ১৯৫০ চনৰ পৰা আৰম্ভ
হৈছে৷ ইয়াত কাৰোবাৰ কিবা সংদেহ আছে যদি আঁতৰাই লোৱাই ভাল৷ আমি সংবিধানখনৰ
মতে চলো বুলি যদি গৰ্ব কৰো তেনেহলে সত্য এয়াই৷ ২৬/০১/১৯৫০ এই তাৰিখৰ পৰা হে
আমি SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, FEDERAL REPUBLIC হৈছো৷ এই তাৰিখৰ আগতে কোন ৰজাই
কেইতা মন্দিৰ ভাঙিছে, কেইটা বনাইছে সেই জ্ঞান আমাৰ আজি তাৰিখত বুৰঞ্জীহে মাথোন৷ আমি ৰাজনিতীৰ দায়ৰাত হিন্দুপ্ৰধান দেশ নহয় বুলি সংবিধান
লিখিলোঁ৷<br />
পিছে Aurangzebএ কেইটা মন্দিৰ বনাইছে (হয় বনাইছে),তাৰো হিচাব
মই দিব পাৰো৷ এই ভাষণত অনা বুৰঞ্জী কিছো সচাঁ আৰু কিছু মিছা৷ হয়, চুকাফা
আক্ৰমণকাৰী আছিল৷ ১২০০ শতিকাৰ পাছতহে আহোমৰ অসম যাত্ৰা৷ আজি তেওঁলোক অসমীয়া৷ হয়টো আহোম অহাৰ
আগতেও মুছলমান সকল এই অঞ্চলত আছিল৷ কিন্তু এই তথ্যৰ আজিৰ ভাৰত বা অসমত ৰাজনিতীৰ কাৰণে কোনো ভিত্তি থাকিব নোৱাৰে৷ আমাৰ চৰকাৰৰ চিন্তা,
পৰিকল্পনা আৰু পলিচিৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত এই বুৰঞ্জীৰ কোনো কাম নাই৷ হিমন্ত ডাঙৰিয়াই
মৰা ৰণহুংকাৰৰ আজিৰ ভাৰতত কোনো দৰকাৰ নাই৷ আমাৰ ৰাইজে বুজক আৰু এনেকুৱা
ৰণহুংকাৰৰ সঠিক প্ৰতিউত্তৰ নিৰ্বাচনত দিয়ক৷<br />
আমাক হিন্দু বা মুছলমান ভাল পোৱা আৰু ধৰ্মৰ নামত আবেগিক হৈ যোৱা নেতা নেলাগে, আমাক অসমীয়া নেতা লাগে৷ এজন মাৰোৱাৰী নেতায়ো ভাল অসমীয়া নেতা হ’ব পাৰে৷ তেওঁ অসমৰ অসম চুক্তিৰ বা আন কোনো
আন্দোলন কৰি পোৱা চুক্তিৰ হকে সফলতাৰে মাত মাতিব পাৰিব পাৰে৷<br />
<br />
৪) অসম
চুক্তিৰ বছৰটো ১৯৬৬ নে ১৯৭১ সেই বিষয়টো অনা কাৰণে ভাল হৈছে৷ এই বিষয়ে জানিব কাৰণে আমি
চুক্তিখন সকলোৱে পঢ়ি চাব লাগে৷ মোৰ অভিমত হৈছে যে উচ্চতম ন্যায়ালয়ে এন আৰ
চি কৰোতে ১৯৭১ চনক ভাৱি লৈছে আৰু অসমৰ সকলোৱে তাৰিখটো মানি লোৱা দেখা গৈছে৷
সেইকাৰণে আমি আকৌ এই তাৰিখটো বিধান সভাৰ মজিয়াত আনি চুক্তিখন যে আগতেও উলঙ্ঘা হৈছে সেইটো স্থাপন কৰা কোনো ইতিবাচক চিন্তা হব নোৱাৰে৷<br />
এইটো
সচাঁ যে সময় প্ৰগতিশীল হব লাগে আৰু সময়ে অসম চুক্তিখনো প্ৰগতিশীল কৰি লৈ যাব
লাগে৷ সংশোধন হোৱা মানেই violation বা উলঙ্ঘা নুবুজায়৷ ভাষণটোত ধৰি ৰখা
উলঙ্ঘনবোৰ violation বুলি কোৱাটো সঠিক বুলি মই নেভাৱো, কাৰণ আমাৰ চুক্তিখন
সংসদত উপস্থাপনেই হোৱা নাই৷ যদিও বহু দেৰিয়েই হৈছে, তথাপিও আমি বিধান সভাত
এই বিষয়ে আলোচনা কৰিব লাগে৷ যিহেতো ৰাইজ চুক্তিখন লৈ আবেগিক, অসমৰ ৰাজ্য
চৰকাৰে জ্ঞানীলোকৰ সহায় লৈ অসম চুক্তিৰ constitutionality বিচাৰি উলিয়াব
লাগিব আৰু ভৱিষ্যতে কি কৰা উচিত, তাৰ সিদ্ধান্ত লোৱাটো অতি দৰকাৰ হৈ পৰিছে বুলি মই
ভাৱো। অসম চুক্তিত থকা অমিমাংখিত বিষয়বোৰ অসমৰ ৰাইজে মিমাংখা কৰিবলৈ সুবিধা
কৰি দিয়াটোয়েই উচিত কথা হব বুলি ভাৱো। কেন্দ্ৰীয় নীতিবোৰে অসম চুক্তিখন
চেদেলি-ফেদেলি কৰা বুলি ৰাইজে বুজ ললে কথা বিষম হোৱাৰ সম্ভাৱনা নথকা নহয়।<br />
<br />
৫) হিমন্ত ডাঙৰীয়াই ৰিফিউজী আৰু নাগৰিকতাৰ মাজৰ প্ৰাথক্য নজনাটো অতি দুখৰ
কথা। ভাৰতৰ Refugee policy নেথাকিলেও শব্দটোৰ অৰ্থজনাত অসুবিধা হব
নেলাগিছিল। এই শব্দটোৰ অৰ্থ নজনা দেখাই তেওঁ ডাঙৰ কথা এটা উপস্থাপন কৰিব
বিচাৰিছে। কংগ্ৰেছ চৰকাৰ আৰু তৰুণ গগৈ ডাঙৰীয়াক তেওঁ নিজৰ লগত সামৰি লব
বিচাৰিছে। পিছে এই যুক্তিয়ে গোটেই ভাষণটোক শেষ কৰি দিছে।<br />
আজিৰ চলি থকা
আন্দোলনখন নাগৰিকতাৰ প্ৰশ্নক লৈ হৈছে। তাক সাম কতাবলৈ দিয়া ভাষণভাগে
refugee শব্দটোৰ অৰ্থ আন্দোলন কৰা সকলে বুজি নেপাই বুলি ভৱাটো ভাল হোৱা নাই
বুলি মই ভাৱো।</div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhimantabiswasarma%2Fvideos%2F1105942576420623%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-91097810122287280142019-12-21T17:48:00.005+05:302019-12-21T17:48:54.928+05:30সৰ্বানন্দ সোণোৱাল ডাঙৰীয়া লৈ কেইতামান প্ৰশ্ন..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="_5pbx userContent _3ds9 _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_4">
১) আপোনি ১৯৯২ৰ পৰা ১৯৯৯ লৈ আছুৰ সভাপতি থাকোতে ’অসম চুক্তি’ খনৰ ওপৰত
বিশ্বাস আছিল নে? যদি বিশ্বাস আৰু সমৰ্থন আছিল, তেনেহলে কি যুক্তি বা কাৰণত
আপোনি মত সলালে? <br />
<br />
যদি আপোনি আছুত থাকোতে অসম চুক্তি সমৰ্থন নকৰিছিল, তেনেহলে আপোনি আছুক প্ৰতাৰনা কৰা নুবুজালে জানো?<br />
<br />
২) আপোনি IMDT 1983 বিপৰিতে উচ্চতম ন্যায়ালয়ত সুফল পাওঁতে ন্যায়ালয়ে
বাংলাদেশৰ পৰা হোৱা ’Infiltration’ ক ‘External Aggression’ বুলি আখ্যা
দিছিল৷ আপোনি সেই ৰায় মানি লৈছিল আৰু সেই ৰায়দানৰ ফলতে আপোনি জাতিয় নায়কৰ
উপাধি পাইছিল৷<br />
<br />
সঁচা অৰ্থত মানি লোৱা নাছিল নেকি বাৰু? মানি লোৱা হলে আপোনি
কেতিয়াও ’External Aggresion’ক ১৯৭১ চনৰ পৰা ২০১৪ চনলৈ আগ বঢ়াই নানিলে
হেতেন? <br />
<br />
৩)লগতে উচ্চতম নিয়ালয়ে কৈছিল যে “Bangladesh nationals who
have illegally crossed the border and have trespassed into Assam or are
living in other parts of the country have no legal right of any kind to
remain in India and they are liable to be deported." ২০১৫ চনত বিজেপি
চৰকাৰে Foreigners Order 1948 বদলালে আৰু সকলো বিদেশীক, মুছলমান বিদেশীৰ
বাহিৰে, ভাৰত আৰু অসমত থাকিবলৈ সন্মতি দিলে৷<br />
<br />
আপোনাৰ কেইবা বছৰৰ কষ্টৰ ফলক
আপোনাৰ দল বিজেপিয়ে ভৰিৰে গচকি দিলে৷ আপোনি কিয় একো মাত নেমাতিলে? আপোনাৰ
দুখ নেলাগিল নে? নে আপোনি আজিৰ দিনত মত সলালে আৰু IMDT ৰায়ক নেমানে?<br />
<br />
৪) আপোনাৰ ৰাজ্য অসমত আজি ১৯ লাখ মানুহ দেশবিহীন৷ আপোনি জানে যে ইয়াৰ
মাজতে বহু নিৰীহ, নিৰ্দোষী খিলঞ্জীয়া মানুহো আছে৷ নেজানে জানো? কা বা কেবৰ
আগতে এই মানুহখিনিৰ কথা ভৱাটো আপোনাৰ দায়িত্ব আছিল বুলি মই ভাৱো৷ আজিৰ
দিন’তো আপোনি তেওঁলোকৰ কথা কিয় নেভাৱিলে? কি হ’ব সেই দু্ৰ্ভগীয়া মানুহ
বিলাকৰ? <br />
<br />
মই ভাৱো আপোনি যদি এই চাৰিটা প্ৰশ্ন সথিকভাৱে দিব পাৰে, আপোনাক অসমৰ ৰাইজে বুজিব আৰু আকৌ হইটো ভোট দিব৷</div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-16150258420157820152019-12-11T10:07:00.003+05:302019-12-11T10:17:51.977+05:30#AssamRejectsCAB - How BJP is being blind in its vote consolidation strategy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_8k">
<br />
In 1984, when BJP was reduced to 4 seats, it was a huge setback and
that gave rise to the strategy of Hindu consolidation by hook or by
crook. By 1985, the plan was finalised.<br />
<br />
Right from the Advani Rath Yatra that killed ordinary citizens in thousands (ably opposed by Lalu Prasad Yadav - <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FW7XRvjYQOaI%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0WETHS8sUG5ETIu9iq5p2rlH_UAABXhM0SAQqoXw7-mBGt-JYxK1FYcQo&h=AT2DRPXZqddBYZSKSlAfiGDOtJI5eX-B7XJXhKTgnG1xScvz3VwRICgYOB1PVgWiMXPeVDAQZ0Z1i8_IE5V3zKAJ7uLj3yefHlwvWYaiFQ8-yfzM-5An8xX_EHLvR56v-shA29XcGWKdq7z7gkARd3MOoBCo" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/W7XRvjYQOaI</a>)
and destroyed a mosque; the same strategy is in the works regarding
citizenship related amendments. All these steps were not to build a
nation. It was to consolidate the majority votes for the BJP at any cost. Assam is a negligible cost for the BJP in its overall scheme of things for power in the centre.<br />
<br />
BJP started meddling in with citizenship in 2015 when they silently
amended the passport act and the foreigners act. Only Tarun Gogoi spoke
against it - <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fm.economictimes.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-and-nation%2Fmha-amended-passport-entry-into-india-rules-1950-in-haste-tarun-gogoi%2Farticleshow%2F49430646.cms%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1DwLOvnuAmWlrDVjSFuEZB7W4YV-Lzr30ZvVWTVtqeojt19EitsS45yw8&h=AT01Gtar67hiIIUeZrgombcA_CM-K17_zZg0GoSmM9y6kSCzQQb5oTDvl5lTdCd6Iki--0Uv9a0P2-8K_pa1y071B2kRGGc_gcKCKmMimPsRylCZRYovc4P6YodORGfqBOTeilU_QCBcRloP5Z7bu3nk3DMU" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://m.economictimes.com/…/mha-…/articleshow/49430646.cms</a>) at that time. The amendments in the passport act of 1950 and Foreigners Order of 1948
said that the same religions that are mentioned in CAB from the same
countries as mentioned in CAB would not be considered illegal migrants
even if they don’t posses valid documents to enter or stay in India.<br />
<br />
Sadly
the public didn’t realise the unconstitutionality of the amendments
then. The point to note is that if NRC didn’t take place in Assam
(thankfully for Assam Accord, AASU and the Congress), which listed the
19 lakhs as alleged foreigners, the real illegal migrants of the six
religions would not be illegal at all. <b><i>Only because of the NRC, the
illegal Hindu migrants in Assam are now deemed illegal once again. </i></b>The 2015 amendments were very powerfully against the constitution, and against Assam and the Northeast.<br />
<br />
CAB was
therefore brought in to give citizenship which the 2015 amendments
couldn’t. We all know that CAB is unconstitutional because it
discriminated against Islam, just like the 2015 amendments. It doesn’t
matter because it is part of the 1985 strategy to consolidate the
Brahmins, upper caste Hindus and Hindus in general primarily in the
Hindu belt and if possible the south. The newer agenda is also to woo
the Hindu Bengali voters in WB and NE.<br />
<br />
Surely, BJP has been successful politically in
their strategy of consolidation along with their development - Vikas agenda. However, I think these amendments are short term bigoted
thinking. Also quite naive and stupid. When you are bigoted, you simply
cannot be rational and long term. For instance, Amit Shah calling for
NRC across India simply makes their 2015 amendments useless. One reason
perhaps is also that BJP forgot about the 2015 passport and foreigner
amendments because they didn’t give the expected political dividend and
news coverage. If the latter is true then it is even more dangerous. CAB
similarly is useless because there is no way anybody can prove
persecution in their application of citizenship.<br />
<br />
The conviction
of putting an useless bill when India is suffering from hundreds of
other serious problems is the most dangerous of all. The agenda of
polarisation is making BJP blind and stupid. In terms of an Intelligence bureau report, only around 11000 people may benefit from CAB. How would anyone prove that he was from Bangladesh and that he was persecuted?<br />
<br />
Coming back to Assam, and NE the current protests are natural and logical. Assam has seen language agitation, foreigner agitation from over a
century. Initially, British imposed Bengali as the official language of
the NE and ASSAM because they had brought Bengali working class to Assam
to work for their administration of the region, and the railways. After
prolonged agitation, we got Assamese back as our language. However the
anger against the Bengalis remained in the insides of our psyche.<br />
<br />
Then
came the foreigner agitation. Cachar district which initially had
indigenous population became a Bengali majority district. Muslim
immigration also have changed demographic identity of a few districts.
Therefore, the foreigner agitation of 1980s were not religious and
bidekhi meant all foreigners. Because of the secular nature of the protest and the rationality therefore, the Congress govt signed the Assam Accord of 1985.<br />
<br />
Assam Accord was a huge success for Indian federalism and Assamese
pride. The NRC process which is done only for Assam is also a huge
matter of pride for the indigenous Assamese.<br />
<br />
CAB by the BJP has
made both the ASSAM Accord and NRC irrelevant. It left Assam no reason
to control their emotions anymore. I will also come out in protest. BJP
has showed complete disregard for Assamese pride. First, it gave land to
Bangladesh when it promised otherwise. Then they took away the 15000
crore NE economic stimulus package. And the carelessness continued. CAB
was the nail in the coffin of promises made by the BJP.<br />
<br />
Street
protests, closure of offices, businesses will now be the norm. Sadly,
lives may be lost, anarchy will prevail and the unscrupulous will try to
make hey. The poor economy will become poorer. Poverty will increase.<br />
<br />
BJP is squarely to be blamed for this chaos. Their strategy of harmless
consolidation in 1985 (even Advani didn’t think there will be so many
deaths) has become very dangerously bigoted consolidation, and the end
is not near. BJP has crossed the fine line of decency and will stoop to
any level to keep their political calculations in their favour, and so
the end is not near.<br />
<br />
I appeal to everyone to protest peacefully
and let the Govt understand the power of nonviolent protest taught to us
by the Mahatma.<br />
<br />
Here is a beautiful protest song that has from the anger and frustrations of the Assamese.<br />
<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F8kpU3HrBuTg%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1d9i5SRIBRxNE22JUJQFlrZQQIPfxW8U5gI14OK7IH8cH4tIG6KIACmco&h=AT2_MlymnPKt-oo1jgROTkGg8JRbxmy5aQopMfiFwxLiCfVc7yRx4SMJ9Lv4YOudzgL_7ms8XA40c37HeFHcHTJ2qE5A_zX86GGzZ1CVF0G4VsIG_E4uLWJxobIkAnSnOMk9e__BNeqOK1jJWrB5FNr5APzr" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8kpU3HrBuTg</a><br />
<br />
Kindly share if you liked the blog. </div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-32443938136797084572019-04-25T08:03:00.000+05:302019-04-25T08:03:18.066+05:30#Alberuni - Trying to understand people we don't like instinctively, for peace. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
#History #HoliThought<br />
<br />
Mahmud of Ghazni was good to India!<br />
<br />
I am sorry. That was meant to attract your attention. How can I? I mean, he did a Balakot onto India in the 11th century AD.<br />
<br />
Jokes apart, I would like to talk about a great Iranian born Arabic scholar #Alberuni, who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni. Hope you will enjoy knowing him as significant credit goes to him for the foreign perception about India based on his 11th century book - Ta'rikh al-hind (The History of India).<br />
<br />
Alberuni mastered Sanskrit and studied Indian texts on mathematics, natural sciences, literature, philosophy and religion. He spoke to as many Indian experts as he could find. It was this compilation of knowledge in the form of his book that stood the test of time as a proof to many Indian intellectual traditions, social customs and more importantly Indian achievements.<br />
<br />
Alberuni wrote about Aryabhatta (476 AD) about his explanation of solar and lunar eclipses with methods of measuring shadows. He wrote about #Aryabhatta's courage to oppose religious orthodoxy to reject their views that sun revolves around the earth, in favour of earth's rotation.<br />
<br />
Alberuni judged Brahmagupta (7th Century) as the best mathematician and wrote about his theories about the force of gravity to explain why objects are not thrown out as the earth rotates. He translated Brahmagupta's Sanskrit book, Brahmasiddhanta into Arabic. It was through Arab scholars that the decimal system & Indian numerals reached Europe.<br />
<br />
Alberuni concludes the book with a profound statement about cultures and civilizations in general. It holds immense importance today when we are fighting widespread hatred. He writes,<br />
<br />
'In all manners and usages, the Indians differ from us to such a degree as to frighten their children with us, with our dress, and our ways and customs, and as to declare us to be devil's breed, and our doings as the very opposite of all that is good and proper. BY THE BYE, WE MUST CONFESS, IN ORDER TO BE JUST, THAT A SIMILAR DEPRECIATION OF FOREIGNERS NOT ONLY PREVAIL AMONG US AND THE INDIANS, BUT IS COMMON TO ALL NATIONS TOWARDS EACH OTHER. '<br />
<br />
It was in this context, Alberuni wrote about the nastiness & atrocities of the Mahmud in Mathura, Kanauj, and Somnath Temple. He wrote in disgust that 'Mahmud utterly ruined the prosperity of the country, by which Hindus became like atoms of dust scattered in all directions. As a result, he wrote, a section of Hindus cherish the most inveterate aversion towards all Muslims.<br />
<br />
Alberuni argued that evil behavior like that of the Mahmud, can arise from a lack of understanding of, and familiarity with other people. He thought it very important for people in one country to know how others elsewhere live, and how progressive or backward they are and what they think. That was the basis of his book and his staying back with the Indians to learn Sanskrit.<br />
<br />
From him, I have learnt a very profound wisdom that if we try to know about people who we don't like, we may end up not disliking them. One Muslim plundered. The other gave us an invaluable gift.<br />
<br />
We can build an united India that understands each other to not hate each other. Only an atmosphere of peace can usher in progress.<br />
<br />
Happy Holi.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-74736980882364623552019-04-25T07:58:00.002+05:302019-04-25T07:58:24.417+05:30#NYAY - Why it is good Keynesian Economics. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Keynesian Economics - Basic Income Guarantee. #AbHogaNyay<br />
<br />
If 100 families in a town who were used to having one meal a day, gets to eat three meals a day because of minimum income guarantee; the town will get additional white money, and the local economic income will increase multiple times.<br />
<br />
It will stimulate the grocery shop, and all the primary businesses in the town; thereby having a direct impact on the GDP positively.<br />
<br />
Secondly, India ranks very low in terms of social security Govt spending. India primarily spends for the rich. We have very poor primary education infra, when our higher education is quite capable. The reason is simply the target segment for higher education - the rich. It was high time for India to have a policy level shift towards spending for the poor. To my mind, basic income guarantee like MGNREGA will be revolutionary for the bottom 20%.<br />
<br />
The arguments against it will primarily be the same points that were there for MGNREGA in 2005. 1) Free money will make people lazy. 2) Where will the money come from? These questions are as old as arguments made against making our country a socialist democracy. Today, we are a socialist democracy as per our preamble.<br />
<br />
Lastly, nobody wants to be poor. If given an opportunity, every human being will try to become rich. Basic minimum income is the least level of opportunity that any socialist Govt must provide to its poorest of the poor. It will ensure food, clothing and shelter.<br />
<br />
Implementation will be tough. Rahul and the Congress must get the best minds across party, and domains to think through its stepwise implementation.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-9507645305073792762019-04-25T07:55:00.000+05:302019-04-25T07:55:43.737+05:30In response to a mob violence in Assam.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
বিশ্বনাথ চাৰিআলি,<br />
তই দুখ দিলি।<br />
কিয় নিৰৱে চাই থাকিলি ৰই।<br />
<br />
দুজনক নিদিলি কিয় সাহস,<br />
মানৱতাক খঙৰ পৰা কৰিবলৈ উদ্ধাৰ।<br />
<br />
অসমীয়া মই, লাজত হলো সেউজীয়া।<br />
মানুহো মই, সাহেৰে খঙৰ ভিৰক বিৰোধ কৰি যাম।<br />
<br />
আলি ককাই, মাফ কৰি দিয়া ডেকা তেজক,<br />
সময়ে বুজাব, ডেকা তেজ বুঢ়া হ'ব।<br />
আল্লা খোদা ভগৱানে তোমাক শান্তি দিব।<br />
<br />
হে অসমীয়া, বুজিবা আন্তৰিকতাৰে,<br />
আবেগেৰে নলবা হেংদাং,<br />
অসম গৌৰৱ গদাধৰসিংহৰো আছিল প্ৰিয় খাদ্য<br />
এটি দমৰা।</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-9103873796884477322019-04-25T07:52:00.002+05:302019-04-25T07:52:37.134+05:30Jet Airways is a strategic failure of Indian Governance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jet Airways is a victim of poor policy and an insensitive governance.<br />
<br />
Last week 22000 educated citizens have lost their jobs. They are pleading with the Government for support and I hope they get it.<br />
<br />
Why is the pioneer airline brand of India with years of experience facing BANKRUPTCY? Jet had over 15% market share and still it failed.<br />
<br />
Indigo, the largest airline brand had posted a 97% fall in profits in the 1st quarter of FY18-19. In the 2nd quarter, it made a loss of Rs. 652 crores for the first time after it became a listed company in 2015.<br />
<br />
Even Spicejet made a loss of Rs. 389.40 crores in the same quarter when it had made a profit of Rs 105.30 crores in the same quarter, previous year.<br />
<br />
Go Air is on sale after 13 years of operations! Vistara is also losing money every quarter to the tune of over 400 crores.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, top line revenues are growing for all these airlines. Total income is increasing but expenses are increasing without control.<br />
<br />
Aviation Turbine Fuel costs comprise 35-40% of the operating costs and fuel prices are increasing uncontrollably. The Govt has reduced excise duty by 300 basis points which is grossly inadequate.<br />
<br />
The engine rentals and maintenance costs are paid in dollars and they comprise 30-35% of the expense. Dollar had touched all time high of over 73 plus - a rise of 13%. This affects profitability very critically. Also, airport charges for airline is very high.<br />
<br />
Sadly, both these costs are beyond the control of the airline brands. When a brand can't control 2/3rd of its expenses in any meaning way, the risk of business is just too high.<br />
<br />
Lastly, with the Indian economy in doldrums, the competition for excess supply, lower personal income, need to maintain the passenger load factor, and aggregators selling tickets bring down the ticket prices. When the strategic need is to increase ticket prices, the prices actually fall. There is limited ability to pass on costs increase by increasing ticket prices.<br />
<br />
This typical scenario makes the airline industry in India dependent on the present day Government, its policies, its subsidies and its macro economic policies.<br />
<br />
Airlines like public Railways provide critical stimulus to the economy and its growth prospects. It makes the movement of costly intellectual labour faster. Movement of Labour, like Capital directly affects the economy. It makes skills accessible across the country in great speed. It has the potential to remove poverty, cause development, improve implementation in a big country like India.<br />
<br />
However, the Government shows a tendency to portray airline as a luxury travel mode. The aviation policy, tax rules, charge slabs therefore are not the talk of the town for policy makers and Government.<br />
<br />
How can we make airlines less dependent on foreign exchange fluctuations? Can the Government subsidize economy travel for overall progress? Can the Government create infrastructure to maintain aircraft engines and other such services to the airline industry? How do we tackle the ATF price issue strategically? Can the Government regulate the price for the sake of faster movement of Labour?<br />
<br />
It is no joke that all the airlines are making losses, and we hardly know who is the aviation minister. The current minister is Mr. Suresh Prabhu, who is actually the industry minister with additional charges in the aviation ministry. He took charge when TDP had quit NDA. One Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju was the minister from 2014 to 2018. Did anyone know?<br />
<br />
I firmly believe that aviation needs Government focus as a key strategic objective. We need to wake up to that fact and stop considering flying to be an activity of the rich.. It's not.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-70628291157806056702018-07-15T09:19:00.000+05:302018-07-15T19:02:01.104+05:30In Diversity Flourish Unity. In Unity Flourish War. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ঐক্যতা ভিন্নতাৰ প্ৰতিক। Only in diversity, there is unity.<br />
<br />
কথাষাৰ কিবা অকৰা টাইপ। Strange to read and accept the obvious meaning. ঐক্যতা আৰু ভিন্নতা বিপৰীত শব্দ হৈ কেনেকে ইটো সিটোৰ প্ৰতিক হ'ব পাৰে। Unity is supposed to reduce diversity, and how does it flourish in diversity.<br />
<br />
How could anyone say, unity survives in diversity? ভিন্নতাই ঐক্যতা আনিছে নেকি? আমি কি ইচ্ছা কৰি ভিন্নতাক আৱিষ্কাৰ কৰিছো নেকি?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5Q_mc97rQ0/W0tGbsfb_JI/AAAAAAAAJfY/BKuFD225cc87OJx7u70LnkiDzreXzj98QCLcBGAs/s1600/myth-of-race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="800" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5Q_mc97rQ0/W0tGbsfb_JI/AAAAAAAAJfY/BKuFD225cc87OJx7u70LnkiDzreXzj98QCLcBGAs/s400/myth-of-race.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could we have unity if there was no diversity?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ধৰ্ম নথকা হেতেঁন আমি একত্ৰিত নহ'লো হেতেঁন নেকি? Couldn't we have agricultural societies without religion and class systems in ancient Mesopotamia? Could we have them today? সম্প্ৰদায় বা সামূহিকতা ধৰ্মৰ অবিহনে সম্ভৱ নহ'ল হেতেঁন নেকি? খেতি-বাতি সামূহিকতাৰ অবিহনে সম্ভৱ আছিল নে? Could we have communities without imposing diversity, which would engage in a mass labour intensive activity like agriculture? Was nation building possible without religion? গাওঁ, ৰাজ্য আৰু দেশৰ সৃষ্টি হ'ল হেতেঁন নে?<br />
<br />
বান্দৰৰ দলএটা বোলে ২০-২৫টা বান্দৰতকে বেছি হ'লে তুমূল কাজিয়া হয় আৰু ভাগ ভাগ হৈ যায়। Monkeys fight and find a different leader if the group becomes larger than 20-25 monkeys. If chimpanzees had religion, they would have perhaps moved around in much larger groups. Probably, even had territories and fought with homo sapiens. বান্দৰ জাতিৰ ধৰ্ম বা ভিন্নতা অনা নিয়ম থকা হেতেঁন, মানৱ জাতিৰ লগত সিহঁতে ঐক্য হৈ যুদ্ধ কৰিল হেতেঁন।<br />
<br />
মানৱ জাতিয়েও হেনো ২০-২৫ জনৰ ওপৰত হ'লে একেলগে থাকিব নোৱাৰে। সেইকাৰনে, একত্ৰিত কৰিবলৈ কল্পনাৰ সহায় ল'ব লগা হ'ল। বিভিন্ন ভগৱানৰ আৱিষ্কাৰ কৰিব লগা হ'ল। Humans also couldn't live peacefully beyond a group size of 20-25 people. So, even though all spiritual studies say there is just one Supreme power, but we had to divide that power into many Gods to bring in an imagined order of diversity to unite large sections of the population. ভগৱানক ভিন্ন কৰি বিভিন্ন নিয়মক ভগৱানৰ আদেশ বুলি নিয়মবোৰেৰে সম্প্ৰদায় গঠন কৰা হ'ল। প্ৰত্যেক সম্প্ৰদায়ে নিজৰ মাজত একতা আনিবলে বিভিন্ন বেলেগ সম্প্ৰদায়তকে ভিন্ন নিয়ম বনাবলৈ ললে।<br />
<br />
This unity helped in the ruling of a large population by a few monarch/leaders, and also to create a huge homogeneous work force. একতা থাকিলে এটা বিৰাত জনগনক নিয়ন্ত্ৰণ বা শোষন কৰিবলৈ সহজ, আৰু সামূহিক কৰ্ম দ্বাৰা যঠেষ্ট উৎপাদন কৰিব পৰা যায়। জনসংখ্যা বৃদ্ধিৰ লগতে উৎপাদনৰ বৃদ্ধি অতি দৰকাৰ হৈ পৰিছিল। A coordinated work force was essential for a rapidly growing population since agricultural subsistence living started in place of a life of hunting and gathering.<br />
<br />
ঐক্যতা ৰক্ষা কৰিবলৈ সৃষ্টি কৰা ভিন্নতাই বহুতো বিয়াগোম যুদ্ধৰ বাট মুকলি কৰি দিলে। Huge groups of people however posed a dangerous threat to world peace. If a group of 20 people fought with another 20 people earlier, now each fighting group had thousands of soldiers. দ্বিতীয় মহাযুদ্ধৰ কাৰক এই ঐক্যতা আৰু তাৰ কাৰক, এই ভিন্নতা। আমাৰ হিন্দু বা অসমীয়া জাতীয়তাবাদী (মোৰও) সত্তাৰ কাৰকো এই কাল্পনিক ভিন্নতা বোৰ। World wars, the strife in Syria, our nationalism, love for a particular football playing nation, or even our Hindu / Muslim consciousness is based on this unity brought in by these imagined diversities.<br />
<br />
লৰা ছোৱালীয়ে জন্মৰ আধাৰত এটা কাল্পনিক চিনাকি পায়। জন্মৰ প্ৰাক-মুহৰ্তত যদি দেউতাকে ধৰ্ম সলায় তেনেহ'লে কেচুৱাটোৰ ধৰ্মও বদলি হৈ যায়। If an Indian couple gives birth to a kid in Nz, he gets an automatic nationalism certificate - the passport. Similarly, if a kid is adapted by Brahmin parents, he gets the lagoon. তুলি লোৱা লৰা এটাকো বামুন পিতৃ-মাতৃয়ে লগূন পিন্ধায় এটা ভিন্ন চিনাকি দিয়ে।<br />
<br />
আমি বুজা উচিত যে বৈষম্যতা বা ভিন্নতা মানৱ জাতিয়ে সৃষ্টি কৰা বিধ বিধ ঐক্য চিনাকী। It was essential to create diverse identities. এই চিনাকীক লৈ আমি গৰ্ব কৰিব পাৰো, কিন্তু বেলেগ এটা চিনাকীক বেয়া পাব নোৱাৰো। However, we need to realize that the concept of love cannot be restricted to one identity, or within one identity.<br />
<br />
ভিন্নতা, ঐক্যতাৰ কাৰনে সৃষ্টি কৰা হৈছিল। Diversity was not created to increase hatred. Hatred became a collateral damage. কিন্তু, ঘৃণা কৰা হ'লো বেলেগ এবিধ ঐক্যতাক, নিজৰ ঐক্যতা ৰক্ষা কৰিবলৈ। এই ঘৃণায়ে আজি সমাজ খনত শান্তি আৰু প্ৰেমভাৱ নাইকীয়া কৰিছে।<br />
<br />
For a created / imagined identity, we spread venom on social media, as if it is a real practical identity, giving rise to enhanced hatred. জাতি বা ধৰ্মক লৈ ফেচবুক - টুইটাৰ আদিত ঘৃণা বিলায় ফুৰাটো মূৰ্খামী নহয় নে?<br />
<br />
It's biological for two people to fight. দুজনৰ মাজৰ কাজিয়া স্বাভাৱিক। দুটা জাতি বা দুখন দেশৰ মাজৰ কাজিয়া অস্বাভাৱিক আৰু সাংঘাতিক ক্ষতিকাৰক। It is ignorance that makes two nations fight. Probably it is a fight between two leaders where millions may die in ignorant nationalism.<br />
<br />
Let's all respect diversity for it has made us the most powerful living being in this earth. ভিন্নতাই আমাক ঐক্য কৰি পৃথিৱীৰ শ্ৰেষ্ঠ জীৱৰ ঠাই দিলে। এই ভিন্নতাক সন্মান জনায় আমি পণ কৰা উচিত যে আমি আন এজন মানুহক বেয়া পাব পাৰো, কিন্তু আন এটা জাতি, ধৰ্ম বা দেশক বেয়া পাব নোৱাৰো। I may hate one particular individual but I must never hate an identity like a religion, caste or a country.<br />
<br />
কৃষ্ণ। Amen.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-34594053970058987322018-03-20T19:59:00.002+05:302018-03-20T20:10:42.625+05:30Is Shekhar Gupta above personal animosity and biases? Is ThePrint credible?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got a serious bad taste when I read "<i><a href="https://theprint.in/national-interest/an-apology-of-a-party-aap-struggling-save-itself/" target="_blank">An Apology of a Party: AAP, which set out to save India, is struggling to save itself now</a></i>" and it is not because I sympathise with AAP, but because it is a write up with a sense of vendetta without real analysis by the editor, who is none other than the omni present old wisdom, Mr. Shekhar Gupta.<br />
<br />
This is what I wrote in the comments section. I am not sure if they will publish the same. So I am sharing it on my platform.<br />
<br />
<i>This article disappointed me. Coming from the editor and he
being Shekhar Gupta disappointed me further. First is the use of the feature
image. It is typical to the core of shamelessness to bask in the fame of
sensationalism. Why should an upright journalist use an abused photographic identity to uphold a manufactured perception of a Chief Minister? A positive or a neutral feature image was expected out of
Shekhar Gupta.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2hFKLBZP7Y/WrEacZ9qy4I/AAAAAAAAJGM/veBJvHEs9lAXfCMDisrA1rIkdhIxnqdXwCLcBGAs/s1600/arvind-kejriwal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="759" height="221" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2hFKLBZP7Y/WrEacZ9qy4I/AAAAAAAAJGM/veBJvHEs9lAXfCMDisrA1rIkdhIxnqdXwCLcBGAs/s400/arvind-kejriwal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good wise Shekhar Gupta would have used this kind of imagery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i><br />
<i>Secondly, the editor knows, and the sentiment is echoed by
the Wire team as well, that Indian judicial system is a big deterrent for
honest men willing to target big powers. The big powers use the judiciary to
scare the activists and the supposed trouble makers. So he could have, in his
analysis, mentioned about that aspect. That this could probably free Arvind Kejriwal to
concentrate on AAP.
</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>Thirdly, the editor has dismissed all the positive
achievements of AAP in Delhi specially its focus on education and health. In
his dismissal of the party, he could have spared a line about their
achievements. It seemed to me that the editor is on his ego trip over some
squabbles he may have had with Arvind Kejriwal and now he is taking a personal
revenge for a good night sleep.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Fourthly, Shekhar Gupta with his experiences in the
corridors of power and politics would know that India has dynastic politics and
Godman politics. He knew Jayalalitha, MGR, Mamta Banerjee etc to name a few,
and it is mostly about one leader or one family that carries any party. It was
Prafulla Mahanta for AGP in 1985, and he too had a fair share of allegation of
autocratic behaviour. So pinpointing Arvind Kejriwal and comparing him to Modi
is an injustice to both Kejriwal and Modi. An autocrat in a party is not
necessarily bad for the nation or the state.
</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>Also, the current politics in India is between BJP and the
Others. The Others as we speak is getting formed. Parties like AAP or AGP will
lose significance temporarily in that power tussle. Today, India is practically
bipolar and even a diehard AGP or an AAPtard will vote for Congress or the
ante-BJP party in his or her constituency.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Fifthly, any political party with whatever ideology is
formed by the society. If the society has 50% dishonest citizens, then any
party formed in that society will have a percentage of dishonest citizens. For
an anti-corruption party like AAP, the percentage will be lesser, say, 30%
dishonest citizens. That is reality and it somehow misses the intellectual
faculty of Mr. Shekhar Gupta when he blames a whole anti corruption movement by
the youth of the country of utter failure.
</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>Like a clever politician himself (read editor), he writes in
his penultimate line, "You can never say never in politics. We may still
see the return of AAP.." That is so childish after crafting a sub headline that goes "The foundation on which AAP was built has all but crumbled. And its
promise of changing the system and saving India is now a fading memory"</i><br />
<i>
</i><br />
<i>Sad.</i></div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-18048145148600182332016-12-17T22:35:00.002+05:302016-12-19T17:29:07.019+05:30Demonetisation - Thought Myopia, Pompous Ignorance and Scary Governance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0zOjwXP8mV4/WFVwR0OL45I/AAAAAAAAH4w/MQu7yWEhGgIMlrAOVRW7iqIljkRnp6JYgCLcB/s1600/demonetisation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0zOjwXP8mV4/WFVwR0OL45I/AAAAAAAAH4w/MQu7yWEhGgIMlrAOVRW7iqIljkRnp6JYgCLcB/s400/demonetisation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who Would Disagree</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Demonetisation was indeed a bold move. It definitely shocked the corrupt. Hoarded money became useless in a day for the bureaucrats, Govt. servants, businessmen and the terrorists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am not sure about the constitutional validity of the secrecy and the sudden-ness of the decision, however, I don't think anybody would disagree with the fact that it was required to be a surprise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yet, I would stick out my neck and say that #Demonetisation is an example of thought myopia, pompous ignorance and a gigantic failure of the Govt. machinery. Such inefficiencies in the Govt machinery of 70 years is scary and unpardonable.</span></span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are the problems with Demonetisation?</span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cash Economy</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">India is primarily a cash economy where black money is not perceived to be a moral issue.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Giving a bribe is considered as an essential expense for personal and business favours. The marriage potential of a boy increases when he gets a Govt job with an opportunity to make 'outside money'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trading business thrives on black money because of inefficient / corrupt indirect tax departments and complex rules leading to ignorance and procrastination. It is impossible to purchase 100% of the products with gate permits and tax invoices for trading business. This creates hard-earned unaccounted cash with businessmen for future business and purchase. This un-accounted cash is very different from the black money generated from bribery and political corruption.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The unaccounted money in the businesses stays in the growth of the businesses and therefore powers the GDP of the economy, whereas the black money generated from bribery is hoarded in the shape of properties, gold, offshore deposits etc., and some part of it powers the consumption in the economy. Consumption is important but not as important as the building of the GDP of the nation.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Demonetisation has simply ignored the overwhelming cash economy and the various kinds of black money available in the country that is serving different purposes in the running of the economy of the country. It didn't understand the social and psychological meaning of corruption that has evolved in the Indian societies since Independence, before deciding on demonetisation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">
Lack of Research</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wonder if the Government tried to understand the meaning of demonetising 85% of the currency in circulation.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we understand the reality of the existence of the cash economy, it becomes clear that documented data with RBI and other Govt. departments would be insufficient for any conclusive understanding about the negative effect of demonetisation. So, it was absolutely necessary for the Government to have undertaken primary research at the 'mandis' and other business centres to assess the importance of cash, perhaps black transactions in the life of an ordinary citizen, and the quantum of societal impact of a sudden disappearance of cash. If that reality was taken into account, the Govt agencies would have found better ways to do demonetisation and remonetisation.</span></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lack of a Roadmap</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BJP and its supporters are saying that demonetisation is part of a bigger roadmap and in the long run when everything else falls in place, the country will benefit. That may be true, but clearly demonetisation exercise per se didn't have a roadmap for itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Any project, however small requires a roadmap to successfully implement itself. It has a starting point and an end point. Demonetisation didn't have a starting point. It was announced without any preparation in the name of maintaining secrecy. For instance, the Govt could have printed new notes for Rs. 50, Rs. 100 and Rs. 500 from the start of the year citing any nationalistic reason without revealing the secrecy behind demonetisation. The Govt could have waived off the installation charges for POS machines, reduced the inter-change income for VISA / MasterCard, installed payment gateways and POS machines for all Government departments. All these steps could have never revealed the actual intention of demonetisation by the end of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The way it was implemented reeks of a knee jerk decision following an emotional high of discovering a great strategy, thereby forgetting all restraints that a Govt process should have followed. It is clear that it was not decision by a regulatory system, but a decision from a group of people who are neither part of the bureaucracy, nor have the experience of the processes it follows.</span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No Consumer Understanding</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every society evolves in a certain way. India has evolved in a particular way too. Demonetisation simply ignored consumer behaviour and the need to understand the citizens of India. It didn't expect the creativity that can stem out of immoral minds of the corrupt value-less society of India. The power of money and the large population of Indians that had the weakness for it have wrecked havoc against the intentions of demonetisation to make black money invalid in one stroke.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Large sums of black money were shown as working capital, large sums of black money were deposited using idle accounts of dead citizens, Jan Dhan accounts etc, large sums of black money were paid for services in advance and large sums of money were shown as income of the current financial year paying the normal tax slabs. Some have used Demand Drafts to exchange old currencies. There would be thousand other ways utilised to convert black money into white money. It is no surprise that over 13 lakhs of 15.4 lakhs have already come into the banking fold as I write this on 17th December 2016.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the logic of introducing Rs. 2000 to quickly fill in the currency vacuum backfired, when immoral Indians found ways to siphon out new notes from the very banking system. </span> </span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lack of technical knowledge</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The fact that the size and design of the new currency note didn't consider the capabilities of the largest dispenser of cash - the omnipresent ATMs, is unpardonable. The blunder that lead to wide scale public inconveniences and to unnecessary costs to the banks' P&L in recalibrating the ATMs could have been easily avoided.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought Myopia, Pompous Ignorance</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The execution of demonetisation was even more myopic that its announcement. It gave out the pompous ignorance of the Government and its agencies. It has made it clear that this Government has made the governance system of over 70 years weaker and useless. The manner in which rules were being changed that were at best reactionary, reduced the credibility of even the autonomous RBI and its Governor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The honest and the poor Indians have now lost faith in the RBI, in the banking system and in the very currency. Still the pompous ignorants is living in a dream of hope that Mr. Modi can do no wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scary Governance</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Indian Governance, its bureaucracy has evolved, and is evolving from 1947 when we became Independent. It was structured around rules and protocols so that democracy is preserved, equality, secularism and justice is preserved. The processes of parliament and many other committees of checks and balances were thought to ensure that correct decisions are taken by the Government and the bureaucracy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Demonetisation has brought to light a very scary scenario. A scenario where a single man, or at best, a group of men can overthrow the bureaucratic checks and balances to introduce to the public what they think is right for the public.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A scenario where sycophancy and fear of political power has reached dizzying proportion to make the whole bureaucracy look like fools. It was never so even in the heights of corruption during the Congress regime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There would be a few good outcomes of demonetisation. Bank deposits would increase, and RBI may get at least a lakh crore of additional tender for the Government to spend on welfare schemes (hopefully). However, it is clear that not a single rich guy with the probability of having black money died of heartache. It is clear that counterfeits machines have started in double the speed. It is clear that the source of black money is not impacted, or perhaps not as impacted as it was intended.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is clear that the poor had to ultimately bear the brunt of the ego of the powerful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The scariest discovery of demonetisation is this new possibility of working around the established systems to introduce schemes that have such wide scale impact on public good and welfare. </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hope our intellectuals and our seniors would understand this dangerous phenomena and take appropriate steps to invalidate such drastic sudden steps powered by whims and fancies.</span></span>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-71662660243761536862016-07-12T07:07:00.002+05:302016-10-31T13:08:51.236+05:30Burhan Wani<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Isn't it amazing that a mere 22 year old boy, Burhan Muzaffar Wani is touted by the media, as the most dreaded terrorist for the large Indian state..<br />
<br />
Isn't it alarming how his killing has affected the masses to come out onto the streets of Kashmir to throw stones at the Indian State? 30 innocent Indian citizens are dead. Over 150 have suffered bullet injuries. Over 50 will lose their eye sight forever. 7/8 police personnel too have lost their lives.<br />
<br />
I have read in the media that he was the poster boy of new-age militancy, that he was intelligent and belonged to a well-off family of teachers, that he was proficient in using social media and managed to attract local youth into the separatist program in Kashmir. http://a.msn.com/01/en-in/BBu6YmO?ocid=st<br />
<br />
What is responsible for making this young guy a terrorist? The story goes like this: One evening, Burhan had gone for a motorcycle ride with his brother Khalid and a friend when they were beaten up by personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police. That was supposedly the tipping point. Burhan was 15 and a student of class X, when he left home to become a militant (in the eyes of the state), a separatist (in the eyes of a common Kashmiri).<br />
<br />
In April 2015, his brother Khalid who was doing his PG in Economics was killed by the Army in an alleged fake encounter that left no bullet marks on his body, but smashed teeth and a broken skull. His only crime was that of being born as the brother of a Separatist militant.<br />
<br />
Would these killings stop the separatist tendencies in Kashmir, in Assam, in Nagaland, in Manipur? Can we please sit and understand why do we have such separatist tendencies?<br />
<br />
Most importantly, can we not consider him a Muslim Jehadi? Is it not that, his being a Muslim is just incidental. Before him, many educated Hindu separatists and innocents have died in Assam, many educated Christian Separatists and innocents have died in Nagaland, many Buddhist and tribal Separatists and innocents have died in Manipur.<br />
<br />
One police officer in South Kashmir said, "What Burhan started won’t end with his death, it may get a fresh life with his death’’.<br />
<br />
The Indian State will have a tough time if we don't understand the basic spirit of liberty and identity that guides humanity.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-66656808499258518332016-07-12T07:07:00.001+05:302016-07-12T07:08:33.718+05:30AUCTION OF OIL FIELDS - CORRUPTION, ILLEGALITY AND ASSAM <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Assam is witnessing mass protests and effigy burning of the month old Chief Minister Mr. Sonowal over his toothless stand on the privatisation of the 12 oil fields in Assam. Ironically, he once fought with the people of Assam for 'Tez Dim Tel Nidiu' (will give blood, not oil).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntNukvnKL1I/V4RG7r125bI/AAAAAAAAHy4/mo6EATj1r6sRmTnzbeKZhFFY7xiwZM7OgCLcB/s1600/effigy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="oil fields auction assam sarbananda sonowal bjp" border="0" height="171" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntNukvnKL1I/V4RG7r125bI/AAAAAAAAHy4/mo6EATj1r6sRmTnzbeKZhFFY7xiwZM7OgCLcB/s320/effigy.jpg" title="oil fields auction assam sarbananda sonowal bjp" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The supporters of Privatisation say that the protestors are ignorant and have no concrete reasons to protest. They are just wasting time and hampering development and creation of jobs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am however grateful that Assam has taken a stand on behalf of the whole country and has stood strong as an example to protect the country and its natural wealth from corruption and selfish capitalism.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Right from Govt. forcing ONGC to take the 450 billion dollar loan from World Bank in 1991 with the condition that oil fields have to be opened up to global private capital (when they could have easily raised capital instead); the controversial Panna-Mukta oilfields in Bombay High given to the Reliance-Enron consortium for a paltry 12 crores; false declaration of its actual potential, after ONGC had spent 7000 crores in getting that geological data etc (even Petroleum Minister Satish Sharma allegedly took 4 crores, ONGC top boss was involved); ONGC CMD S L Khosla joining Reliance after allegedly disclosing all 'work programme' through the then Director Mr. Ravi Bastia (who too joined Reliance) about ONGC's data about Krishna-Godavari basin. (Read the book - Gas Wars); allegations that one OIL CMD was directly involved in the giving out of Kharshang oil field to private ENI Group / Jubilant Group; to the disqualification of the auctioning of 214 coal blocks from 1993 to 2009 by the top judiciary in 2014 saying that "the entire exercise of allocation through screening committee route thus appears to suffer from the vice of arbitrariness and not following any objective criteria in determining as to who is to be selected or who is not to be selected.";
it makes it evidently clear that the natural resources of India is in DANGER from selfish capitalist and corrupt officials/public servants/politicians (perhaps to fund elections). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The supposedly learned are saying that OIL and ONGC have said that they can't operate these oil fields because of lack of technical expertise and that the fields are too small for big players. The Petroleum Minister said, “Many of the big oil sector companies do not have the technology or managerial skills to exploit small oilfields and so we are allowing firms that have the technology and skill to bid for them”. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is no truth in such statements. Can he produce the document certifying the first right of refusal by OIL and ONGC? One must read the editorial by an OIL employee today in Pratidin dated 11th July 2016. He says, 'there is an attempt to belittle the navratna OIL and maharatna ONGC with these false allegations'. He says, 'there is not a single instance that he knows when work has stopped due to lack of funds or technical expertise or infrastructure'. He further adds, 'when OIL has invested in exploration, excavation and even transportation of OIL/Gas from Sorojoni, baruahnagar, Dipling, Merem, Duwarmora and Jeraipathar, there is no question that OIL will now not be willing to do the only remaining work of taking out OIL/Gas' (and leave that to the private companies).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Guwahati-based political commentator and economic analyst Adip Kumar Phukan says, “That argument is wrong. OIL couldn’t work in the Jeraipathar field because of local resistance. The government failed to assure people about the safety of the Rohmoria embankment near the field. However, OIL is still extracting oil from Sorojoni”. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, who says that companies eager to bid are small companies? The second biggest group of Korea, ENI Group etc are not small companies in any parameter. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
IS IT EVEN LEGAL?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the various acts like the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act of 1973, Oil Field (Regulation and Development) Act of 1948, Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules of 1959, Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline Act of 1962, the citizens of India had given the authority to the central Government to become 'trustee' of the resources so that the resources are not used for commercial purposes, so that the resources are only used for the common welfare of the society without commercial baggages. The Govt. cannot become the AUCTIONEER of the property. They do not have the right to sell or lease the property of the people to a private entity. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In his petition to the Court regarding the Coal allocation, advocate Sanjay Parikh had referred to the 39th article of the constitution which says the Govt of the people is only responsible for the natural resources and therefore cannot be the auctioneer of the same.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Supreme Court in its judgement relating to Coal Allocation has pointed out that 'The Coal Mine Nationalisation Act and further amendments in 1976 do not allow PSUs to mine coal for commercial use. The auctioning processes has therefore blatantly defeated the legislative policy in the Act'., and hence giving it to private companies may be termed as illegal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This worry and the other concerns are evident in the emotions of the wide scale protests in the streets of Assam. Unless there is transparency, white papers being circulated in the public, we the citizens have to protest against such Govt. actions that may be detrimental to the welfare of the common people at large.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Protests are specially required when our minister Mr. Pradhan blatantly brags about Rs. 4000 crores coming to Assam's economy and not explaining how. It is specially required when there is public knowledge of corruption getting into the system of privatisation. It is specially required when there is no concrete reason the state cannot do the same work that a private company can.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we have made acts that natural resources should not exploited for commercial reasons, the State can therefore exploit the natural resources by undertaking losses if needed be, for the common good of the people in providing electricity and employment. The funny question is why would there be losses, when private companies are so eager about these fields.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lastly, Assam wont be left behind if these Oil fields are not privatized and in fact India will learn a lesson or two from Assam being a forefront leader in terms of opposing corruption and anti-national exploitation of natural resources.
There are hundred other industries where private capital can bring in a change in Assam, namely Food Processing, Fisheries and Muga/Edi Silk.. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why are Governments so anti-national? </div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-66716022172213847572016-05-15T17:59:00.001+05:302016-05-15T18:04:44.181+05:30Muslims Marry Multiple Times. Bullshit.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I get baffled when some of my friends tell me very emotionally that Muslims marry multiple times and have 3-4 children from each of his wives, for I have only seen and heard Hindu men marrying multiple times and having children from them. Although it does not mean that my friends are wrong, yet it means that they are not entirely right. It is a loaded biased statement to attribute multiple marriages and many kids to a religious community. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am a Hindu and I have 12 maternal and paternal uncles / aunties. My wife has 23 uncles and aunties from her Grand Father and his two brothers.
Let me tell you that I am not alone in this number game, and neither were our grand parents belonged to the Muslim community. I have also known Hindu men who had two wives. In the generation and times of our Grandfathers, polygamy was more commonly seen and accepted in the Hindu society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Yes, there may be cases of polygamy in Muslim families as well. But is it fair that we target a religion for polygamy and therefore higher birth rates?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Constitutionally, polygamy was made illegal only around 1956 by Pt. Nehru and Mr. Ambedkar. So social changes take time. Statistically, the birth rate of a Bangladesh Muslim woman is lower than a Hindu woman in India. The difference is starker when that Hindu woman is from Bihar.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
So, this population theory accusing the religion of Islam is bullshit. It is seen that societies belonging to the lower socio-economic classification in terms of education and income have higher incidences of polygamy and higher birth rates. Religion has no long term relation to birth rates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
It is a appeal to the general society that lets not get xenophobic and spread untruth about certain communities, and instead spread peace between religions and class, by reading history, social sciences and worldly current affairs.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Humanity is above all. Love is supreme. Peace is paramount.
</span></div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-52948144340745868842016-04-14T23:51:00.001+05:302016-04-16T19:25:03.832+05:30Rongali Bihu: A very Happy New Year for me. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I started the first day of this Assamese Year 1424 by touching the feet of my parents, asking for their blessings; and giving them small gifts of love. I am blessed to have got this opportunity for the second time in my aware adult life. But when I look around, there are not many old parents and not many children who are as fortunate. They live far away from each other.<br />
<br />
Families in Assam are separated today, separated for economic reasons looking for a better life, for a better livelihood. We separate for a better education, and then for the lack of an employment opportunity in our home towns. I separated from my parents at the small age of 11 years when I got admissions to study in the prestigious Sainik School Goalpara in 1987. From then, till January 2014, I stayed away from my parents and my close family in almost all the festivals. The separation was became starker after I had started working in a full time job from 2001. The separation is temporary when you are away from your family for higher studies. It becomes semi-complete when you start working separately from your family, and then becomes complete when you marry and raise your own family away from your parents.<br />
<br />
It is only when I had quit my job in Mumbai, shifted to a small town called Duliajan in Assam, and started staying with my parents, in the house built by my parents, that I started understanding and appreciating the significance of a simple family life with your parents and neighbors. It is surprising that the idea of progress has somehow become an anti-thesis to a happy joint family life.<br />
<br />
FAMILY LIFE<br />
<br />
Everyone needs a house to live in, but a family of elders and children inside makes it a home. A home is where one learns the softer aspects of life. A school gives us technical education in various subjects. It makes us eligible for a career. A job gives us experience in doing a particular commercial activity, and gives us money in return. A home and a family gives us love, gives us unconditional support and teaches us the values and frailties of human life.<br />
<br />
Our home and our family teaches us the values of tradition, of relationships, of money, of happiness and sadness. It lets us experience old age through the eyes of our grand parents and then our own parents. It makes us modest about the inevitability of the disabilities that comes with age. Most importantly, our family helps in binding us to the values. We may dislike the binding that a family builds around you when we are young and rebellious, but my impression is that we will cherish those bindings and strict rules, as we grow older and wiser.<br />
<br />
Surely, our families cause a bit of heart-ache as well. For instance, I have come to realise that in every dispute between parent and child, both cannot be right, but they may be, and usually are both wrong. Interestingly, it is this situation that gives family life its peculiar charm.<br />
<br />
ECONOMIC LIFE<br />
<br />
There is no denying the fact that it is difficult to earn a good living in a society which is not doing well in terms of a healthy business environment. Assam and its economy could not flourish to give its citizens enough jobs and business opportunities. Secondly, our education made us 'un-suitable' for agricultural handwork and income. Agriculture being our primary occupation traditionally lost its charm as a career avenue and that caused a lot of strain on our societies and families. It became one of the major reason for the separation in our family systems. It led to 'un-naturally rapid' work-led migration from villages to urban areas in the state and outside the state.<br />
<br />
Economic life in a village, staying with your family, was centred around cooperation and coordination. It was based on sweet (sometime sour) relationships. The whole village was a well-oiled support system for an individual in his economic, social and spiritual journey of life. In contrast, life in an urban area is isolated, individualistic and materialistic. Materialism after a certain threshold becomes competitive and leads an individual away from the cosy comforts of a family.<br />
<br />
Also, the economic life of a village could not connect to the markets of the urban economy and the produce of a rural economy couldn't demand its rightful value in the globalised economy of today. As a result, the rural economy didn't get efficient. Adding to that was the land availability for a growing family. This was a concern in the smaller towns and villages closer to towns where land ownership was not enough for a growing family. Children had to move out in search of a career to other regions of the state, and mostly outside the state. <br />
<br />
Lastly the manufacturing and the service sector didn't mushroom in our state due to various reasons which could have created many jobs for the youth of our families.<br />
<br />
MY STORY<br />
<br />
I want to tell my story in a small town with no family land, after living the life of a highly paid MNC employee in the most urban of urban cities, Mumbai; with a hope that perhaps it can be a thinking point to leave the logically obvious lucrative urban individual life.<br />
<br />
It is quite obvious that I feel quite strongly that it is more fulfilling to be with your parents and your children growing up with your grand parents, grand uncles and aunties. I would never go back to Mumbai. I have been refusing lucrative job offers that have come my way to take me back to Mumbai.<br />
<br />
I am happy. It is surprising even for my wife and so it may surprise you as well. I need to tell you that that simple reason why I am happy is because I have made my life simpler, easy. My easy life like everybody else's, revolves around a few beliefs. My beliefs are just simpler and basic.<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Knowing to keep yourself busy is the first step to happiness.</li>
<li>Although it is better if you get to do what you love, to earn a living, yet there is nothing worse than not doing anything for the want of doing something you love.</li>
<li>Handwork and focus guarantees your objectives in life within a justifiable time frame. No point in getting impatient. </li>
<li>Your life is as good as the good that you do. Being good is about trying to be truthful, not thinking ill about anybody and not doing anything that may harm any third party emotionally or physically.</li>
<li>Believe in the dignity of labour irrespective of the kind of labour that you put in. The society loves or hates you because of your character or nature; definitely not because of the kind of labour that you do.</li>
<li>You become a better person if you can sacrifice your immediate happiness to take care of your parents and elders.</li>
</ol>
<br />
These are easy beliefs that everyone is aware of and the good news is that they work.<br />
<br />
I had my plans when I left Mumbai. They didn't materialise, given that the complicated planning was done in Mumbai without studying ground realities of a small town, and my own abilities to organise a business. When you work for someone, you only acquire skills. You do not become enterprising. I didn't learn to become a businessman.<br />
<br />
To keep myself busy, I had my fallback options ready. We had a small shop with a tailor and a few embroidery machine. My parents had established that shop to retail school uniforms and to take orders for embroidery. Since my parents had practically retired from the business, the shop was making losses. I was never involved in the business, but without a second thought, I started attending the shop. With time, the shop had its own ways to keep me busy. It gave me ideas that can be tried. I didn't care about the tag of being a shopkeeper and started investing time and money into the shop. I had the advantage of knowing computers that helped us plan better. I had the advantage of language and experience of living in Mumbai to get supplies directly from manufacturing hubs, in order to offer a competitive price for school uniforms. I could understand the intricacies of the business within no time and the business peaked up after the first 6 months.<br />
<br />
It was easy and I was less stressed. More than that I was having breakfast, lunch and dinner at my home with my family: my parents, my wife and my two dogs.<br />
<br />
I am happy with my easy life. I even take a nap in the afternoon once in a while. Even when I am busy, I am busy with my own work that matters to me directly. I get time to clip the nails of my parents, shave my dad's beard, visit my relative's place and get to know about my family history. These are small pleasures of life that completes your life.<br />
<br />
Embedded below is a video of Jon Jandai who had given me inspiration about leading a simpler life and a happier life.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/21j_OCNLuYg" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-36272148203685016902016-04-11T09:39:00.001+05:302016-04-11T09:53:14.178+05:30Bangladeshi Immigration is a non-issue for Assam.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ5zmAjrsLM/VwsjbGwFSLI/AAAAAAAAHxI/dO5AXpVM0C8kwj86_-fkhNP-X8ZC8mG6A/s1600/1384496002-bangladesh-garment-workers-at-a-dhaka-factory_3233397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ5zmAjrsLM/VwsjbGwFSLI/AAAAAAAAHxI/dO5AXpVM0C8kwj86_-fkhNP-X8ZC8mG6A/s320/1384496002-bangladesh-garment-workers-at-a-dhaka-factory_3233397.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A garment factory in Bangladesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This Assam Elections will perhaps be the last election that will be fought on the issue of Bangladeshi immigration to Assam. In fact, I would stick my neck out and opine that we should not vote for people whose only agenda is against Bangladeshi immigration.<br />
<br />
The reasons why poorest of the poor Bdeshi(s) had been coming to Assam, have ceased to exist. Why do I think so?
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Assam was a top 5 economic power when India got independence. Partition, high population <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-254PD7r_Rho/Vwsl2PK4p1I/AAAAAAAAHxQ/L_OiiGsoiFsn34OjfmdeYFbzSmDM2EixA/s1600/564439_10156844585075294_3062399754510602962_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-254PD7r_Rho/Vwsl2PK4p1I/AAAAAAAAHxQ/L_OiiGsoiFsn34OjfmdeYFbzSmDM2EixA/s320/564439_10156844585075294_3062399754510602962_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
density, cyclones, poverty had therefore pushed people to a more prosperous and proximate region, Assam. Today, Assam is in the bottom in terms of economic development.</li>
<li>Earlier, land was easily available in Assam. Social resistance to accept them were lesser. Not anymore. Also, micro-agriculture is no longer as profitable. Perception wise, Assam does not offer opportunities anymore. It is not attractive.</li>
<li>Other Indian regions like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad offers better opportunities for Bangladeshi immigrants than Assam in terms of jobs.</li>
<li>Bangladesh is now the garment manufacturing hub globally. It is the 5th largest exporters of bicycles to Europe. BRAC has done wonders for employment. Enormous job creation and its percolating benefits have started working in Bangladesh. Assam (and India) is practically nowhere in comparison.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdjfQeBsTgE/VwsmC92vz1I/AAAAAAAAHxY/_bV64FB7VxIMzVpsa9UUCunHYeZuGAbVw/s1600/12440250_10156844550255294_8890744083546743824_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdjfQeBsTgE/VwsmC92vz1I/AAAAAAAAHxY/_bV64FB7VxIMzVpsa9UUCunHYeZuGAbVw/s320/12440250_10156844550255294_8890744083546743824_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy woman worker in Bangladesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Women employment (36%), women literacy (86% of males) is better than India's; fertility rate, most interestingly is lower than Hindu women in India. All social indicators of B'desh is better than India's which will have long term positive effects. (Interesting because lot of us think Muslims have higher fertility rates..haha!) </li>
</ol>
Hence I think it will be foolish to vote for any party which is claiming to stop B'deshi infiltration. It has stopped already.. To add, if VISA restrictions are lifted, Assamese will go to B'desh to work in those manufacturing factories as labourers.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXeYxZrG2WQ/VwsmFGlS8QI/AAAAAAAAHxc/2_hYJmKCxCspjx4YeSX1eVKQPenaYLytQ/s1600/12417563_10156844547255294_7033025423655904189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXeYxZrG2WQ/VwsmFGlS8QI/AAAAAAAAHxc/2_hYJmKCxCspjx4YeSX1eVKQPenaYLytQ/s400/12417563_10156844547255294_7033025423655904189_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So Vote Wisely.<span style="font-size: 17px;">
</span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">PS: I am not an anti-national singing paeans for a different country. I love Assam and India. I am just giving out information to prove that Assam needs development and jobs, million times more than a rhetoric of stopping Muslim B’deshi immigration, and accepting Hindu B’Deshi.</span></i></div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-12091054687329188672016-04-11T09:30:00.001+05:302016-04-11T09:53:58.145+05:30Bhagat Singh's 'Long Live the Revolution' and its relevance today.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bYek9ClRrs/Vwsgjt2RqnI/AAAAAAAAHw0/CFXMJmkCIAci761IGzCXWstlkNVdB-7cg/s1600/PicsArt_03-03-08.58.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bYek9ClRrs/Vwsgjt2RqnI/AAAAAAAAHw0/CFXMJmkCIAci761IGzCXWstlkNVdB-7cg/s400/PicsArt_03-03-08.58.09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhagat Singh - Long Live the Revolution</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shaheed Bhagat Singh always argued for the phrase 'Long Live the Revolution' (Inquilab Zindabad).<br />
<br />
Once, a distinguished editor, Ramanand Chatterji ridiculed the slogan asking Bhagat Singh its exact meaning. He wrote, "when a desire is expressed for revolutions to live long, is it desired that the revolutionary process should be at work every hour, day, week, month and year of our lives? In other words, are we to have a revolution as often as possible?"<br />
<br />
Bhagat Singh gave a brilliant response to this article which one must read, for it is relevant even today.
He said, "Revolution is the spirit, the longing for a change for the better. People generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of a change. It is this lethargic spirit that needs to be replaced by the revolutionary spirit. Otherwise degeneration gains the upper hand and the whole humanity is led astray by the reactionary forces. Such a state of affairs leads to stagnation and paralysis in human progress. The spirit of revolution should always permeate the soul of humanity.. old order should change, always and ever, yielding place to new, so that one good order may not corrupt the world. It is in this sense that we raise the shout: Long Live the Revolution. By long usage this cry achieves a significance which may not be quite justifiable from the grammatical or etymological point of view, but nevertheless we cannot abstract from that the association of idea connected with that."<br />
<br />
In the age of the Internet, I see that we are moving away from revolutionary ideas to binary ideas: one or zero. Even though we know life is a shade of grey, we assume our beliefs in either black of white. Anti-capitalism is pro-communism. Pro-state enterprises is anti-capitalism. Anti-BJP is Pro-Congress. Pro-bangladeshi stand is pro-Muslim / a religious stand. Pro-kashmir plebiscite is anti-India. Not liking 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai" is Pro-Muslim or Pro Pakistan. Similarly, a short skirt means 'being available', and anti-short skirt means conservative. Having a boyfriend is not having a good ‘character’. Pro-housewife is against women independence. Pro-customs is against modernisation... and so on and so forth. These are kinds of binary justifications, Bhagat Singh believed, that make the society reactionary.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1npwHPY4whE/VwshU51gzGI/AAAAAAAAHw8/J4_z44cgo0AP09ewffIy0J1_f4bc29_EA/s1600/bhagat-singh-long-live-the-revolution-bhagats1-small-400x400-imadmfyaaehvaszp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1npwHPY4whE/VwshU51gzGI/AAAAAAAAHw8/J4_z44cgo0AP09ewffIy0J1_f4bc29_EA/s320/bhagat-singh-long-live-the-revolution-bhagats1-small-400x400-imadmfyaaehvaszp.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Bhagat Singh believed that Revolution can only survive in the shades of grey. Revolution survives in constant questioning of status quo. Revolution survives in finding those answers by reading books, debates and discussions. If we won't ask the questions then we won't find the answers.<br />
<br />
<i>Why a section of the students of one of the top universities find nothing wrong in the Azaadi of Kashmir?</i><br />
<br />
<i>What has led to the birth of ULFA, and why is it still alive after the Army (and political leaders) have used all its might, causing thousands of deaths, to annihilate its very existence?</i><br />
<br />
<i> Why is a private refinery, the biggest refinery in the Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic (Preamble) - India, when the top 5 profitable companies of the world are state run companies?</i><br />
<br />
<i> Why Muslims are considered a minority in the Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic, when religion should not have been a factor and when there are thousands of tribes and clans which are not only ‘minorities’ but also getting extinct by poverty?</i><br />
<br />
<i> What has made a nationalist Ahom (a royal tribe in Assam) not bothered about his long lost religious practices, but concerned about being a Hindu, which is not his original religion?</i><br />
<br />
<i> Why a general Digbol youth have not heard of ‘Raw Petroleum Coke’ when Digbol was the first plant in Asia to produce PetCoke?</i><br />
<br />
<i> Why is the Sericulture department of Lakhimpur College shut down, when Lakhimpur district used to produce the maximum silk (Muga) yarns for centuries?</i><br />
<br />
<i> Why is the FCI not buying a single kg of rice produced in Assam, citing higher moisture content, when distribution advantage within Assam of Assam produce far outweighs the storage disadvantage of high moisture rice?</i><br />
<br />
<i> What has made Bangladesh a garments powerhouse when its next door neighbour, (and a much less populated) Assam is languishing in its tears of poverty and unemployment?</i><br />
<br />
With a broad objective held as sacrosanct, we have to keep questioning the status quo to arrive at revolutionary ideas to change the society for better. Bhagat Singh had equality of rights, opportunities, gender as his broad sacrosanct objective and dedicated his life to reading, questioning and sacrifice. A 23 year old Bhagat Singh once said, “Ma, I have no doubt that my country will be one day free. But I am afraid that the brown sahibs are going to sit in the chairs the white sahibs will vacate”. This I believe is the best example of an outcome that a 23 year old can achieve through ‘constant questioning’, ‘constant reading’ and with a ‘revolutionary spirit’.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cH_lyIjaiTg/Vwsg2iFpQSI/AAAAAAAAHw4/JN-edE5qDww5uPeBYLuTTCRrJgsWDGIyQ/s1600/61ePuy-Rc7L._SY550_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cH_lyIjaiTg/Vwsg2iFpQSI/AAAAAAAAHw4/JN-edE5qDww5uPeBYLuTTCRrJgsWDGIyQ/s200/61ePuy-Rc7L._SY550_.jpg" width="134" /></a>Change is the only constant. Bhagat Singh said, “No change is possible without the destruction of the antiquated system. That was what stood like a wall in the way of progress. Philosophers had interpreted the world in different ways. But the real point was to change it. Revolution alone could do so”.<br />
<br />
Long Live the Revolution.</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-57762567853859338272016-03-20T23:55:00.000+05:302016-03-21T09:52:56.284+05:30Travelogue: Ride to the Mayudia Pass.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mayudia Pass, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the snow-covered passes in India that connects India and China. It is a treat for the adventure lover, with roads passing through highways, riverbeds, pebbled roads and small idyllic villages. Mayudia / Mayodia got its name from a Nepali girl, Maya, who vanished in the snow and could not be traced.<br />
<br />
Mayudia Pass is accessible via Assam. If you are travelling by train, the end train station is Tinsukia. If you are flying, then book your tickets till Dibrugarh. You can come to Tinsukia, stay the night and then rent a car for the journey ahead. I won't elaborate on travel agents and such facilities, as this blog is primarily for riders (motorbikes and cars) who are looking for directions, lodging and other such travel information for their trip to Mayudia.<br />
<br />
The last major town before Mayudia (Mayodia) is Roing. There are two routes to reach Roing in Arunachal Pradesh from Tinsukia which bifurcates at Rupai Siding which is around 35 kms of straight highway via Doomdooma. Rupai Siding is around 2 kms before the Rupai town.<br />
<br />
Sadiya Route (NH-37):<br />
Rupai Siding -- Sadiya -- Dholla Ghat -- Sadiya -- Shantipur -- Roing -- Mayudia<br />
<br />
Tengapani Route (NH-52):<br />
Rupai Siding -- Kakopothar -- Dirak Gate -- Mahadevpur -- Tengapani (Golden Pagoda) -- Alubari Ghat -- 27th Mile (NH-52) -- Straight 4 lane road through river beds up to a T-junction where you have to turn right to Roing -- Mayudia.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I would recommend the Tengapani route because of the river beds and the Golden Pagoda in Tengapani. The route is more scenic as well. One can stay for a night or two at the Golden Pagoda Resort which surely would be a beautiful experience. There are ample number of rooms and one can get accommodation quite easily.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhIZtsfepwk/Vu7YgONO_HI/AAAAAAAAHu8/rKYjxypB7XIkkKes1YnH56NIvpfzKz0_A/s1600/Golden%2BPagoda%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhIZtsfepwk/Vu7YgONO_HI/AAAAAAAAHu8/rKYjxypB7XIkkKes1YnH56NIvpfzKz0_A/s320/Golden%2BPagoda%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Address:<br />
Golden Pagoda Eco-Resort<br />
Noi-Chenam, Tengapani, PO: Namsai, Dist: Namsai AP<br />
9863399623, 9863316708<br />
<br />
It is around 75 kilometres to Roing from the Golden Pagoda at Tengapani. The ride to Roing is fun and adventurous with a ferry ride at Alubari Ghat, multiple river beds with bridges being built on the highway and a sleek wide empty highway to speed up a little.<br />
<br />
Mayudia is 50 kilometres from Roing and it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes for a first time driver. The common practice is to book a hotel room in Roing and leave for Mayudia in the early morning to be back by the same day. Most tourist guides would advise a one night stay in Roing. There are three hotels in Roing and the one that offers the cleanest stay is D.S. Hotel and Resort. You may call 08416088898 (M) or 03803-222678 (L) and book your room well in advance. It is a wit bit difficult to get rooms during the winters.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Mayudia is located in the Dibang Valley and is quite interior. The closest village is Tewari Gaon. It doesn't have any shops to buy any items of convenience. Fortunately, it has two lodging facilities without much amenities. One is the Mayudia Guest cum Coffee House, which was originally a restaurant but has been converted to have seven small rooms. Above the coffee house, there is a IB of the Forest Department.<br />
<br />
We had met a young guy named Pasong (08670843198) who manages the coffee house and can help you find accommodation. The IB is haunted according to folklore, but we stayed in that IB without any issue. Yes it was a bit scary. It is managed by a Nepali old man by the name, Daju. He didn't carry a phone.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5lQaMstJZY/Vu7kPJmueKI/AAAAAAAAHv4/Q5A_L4HiFucrUAdf-BfNwkqWpNCb8rktA/s1600/IMG_5267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5lQaMstJZY/Vu7kPJmueKI/AAAAAAAAHv4/Q5A_L4HiFucrUAdf-BfNwkqWpNCb8rktA/s320/IMG_5267.JPG" title="Shela Pass, Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Mayudia Pass, Arunachal Pradesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You find snow in the Pass, which is 3 kms from the Mayudia Coffee House. The road to Mayudia is less traveled, narrow and dangerous with twists and turns. There is a village by the name of Tewari Gaon which is 22 kms ahead of Mayudia. One has to be quite careful crossing the snow laden highway. The road is covered with ice sheets and it is very slippery. There is no way brakes would work. Cars have to maintain a momentum at first gear to cross the ice laden roads. Bikers must be prepared to fall a few times crossing the pass. That is inevitable.<br />
<br />
When you are travelling on your own, it may so happen that you have to stay the night in Mayudia because of bad roads or any other bad luck. So it is advisable that you carry enough food for a night or two. The coffee house and the IB offers basic food like Maggi. You may carry fresh chicken or meat. You can request for firewoods to cook your own meal.<br />
<br />
The last fuel station is in Roing, but it is better to tank up in Namsai which is a few kilometres behind Tengapani Golden Pagoda. While going to Tengapani from Mahadevpur, there is a T junction which, on its left takes you to the Namsai Village. In the entrance of that road, there is this fuel station where there is a guarantee of getting fuel. Fuel is cheaper in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Assam.<br />
<br />
The last ATM is in Roing, but it is likely that they will be out of cash. So it is advisable to carry enough cash before entering Arunachal Pradesh. I travelled in December 2015 and surely things will improve with time.<br />
<br />
The best time to come to Mayudia is from latter part of December to the end of March. It witnesses heavy snowfall in January and February, and it sometimes continues till April.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AP_II_3-1" style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"></sup><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
Happy Journey!<br />
<br />
Few clicks to complete the t-blog.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lfvi56zS8_U/Vu7YiTzbcDI/AAAAAAAAHvA/6tDtp7cjBjEJDpx93vjx9cwU4q6lesg3g/s1600/GoldenPagoda1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Golden Pagoda, Tengapani, Arunachal Pradesh, India" border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lfvi56zS8_U/Vu7YiTzbcDI/AAAAAAAAHvA/6tDtp7cjBjEJDpx93vjx9cwU4q6lesg3g/s320/GoldenPagoda1.JPG" title="Golden Pagoda, Arunachal Pradesh, India" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Pagoda Resort at night.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YR0cfPhc24/Vu7iKp17OuI/AAAAAAAAHvg/4DZMpSSIG4wcImga6ERRdw-yDwWepBtyQ/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh" border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YR0cfPhc24/Vu7iKp17OuI/AAAAAAAAHvg/4DZMpSSIG4wcImga6ERRdw-yDwWepBtyQ/s320/IMG_5172.JPG" title="Golden Pagoda, Arunachal Pradesh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Pagoda at Tengapani, Arunachal Pradesh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ttT31gSlCTk/Vu7lIA__n_I/AAAAAAAAHwI/iLKOodaG8uYNc-XgiVK2MkDUaskvjL76g/s1600/IMG_5311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ttT31gSlCTk/Vu7lIA__n_I/AAAAAAAAHwI/iLKOodaG8uYNc-XgiVK2MkDUaskvjL76g/s320/IMG_5311.JPG" title="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Mayudia after Tewari Goan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tui07TieFTs/Vu7lzQhw4XI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/lnrrGfCKJichDyPld7cbhoAGovhZt2HbQ/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tui07TieFTs/Vu7lzQhw4XI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/lnrrGfCKJichDyPld7cbhoAGovhZt2HbQ/s320/IMG_5319.JPG" title="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding along the river beds of Luit..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Go6EHQPa5lQ/Vu7lF7E77XI/AAAAAAAAHwE/xBJPZbDkyLo5SjWgAV7U2hkc12vQmwCtQ/s1600/IMG_5289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Go6EHQPa5lQ/Vu7lF7E77XI/AAAAAAAAHwE/xBJPZbDkyLo5SjWgAV7U2hkc12vQmwCtQ/s320/IMG_5289.JPG" title="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The icy road at Mayudia Pass, Dibang Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKE-a4BohK4/Vu7e5BwULHI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/bZE1UaUdNZ4IzXdY6wq7tVLP_vVe4w23g/s1600/Shela%2BPass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Shela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh" border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKE-a4BohK4/Vu7e5BwULHI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/bZE1UaUdNZ4IzXdY6wq7tVLP_vVe4w23g/s320/Shela%2BPass.jpg" title="Mayudia, Shela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The icy road at Mayudia Pass, Roing, Arunachal Pradesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSQbjEhwix8/Vu7kqYELngI/AAAAAAAAHv8/4DrU8UMTJgUlVk7Hr0f1pSTwjMg1LgHzg/s1600/IMG_5231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayudia, Arunachal Pradesh, India" border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSQbjEhwix8/Vu7kqYELngI/AAAAAAAAHv8/4DrU8UMTJgUlVk7Hr0f1pSTwjMg1LgHzg/s320/IMG_5231.JPG" title="Mayudia, Lodging, Arunachal Pradesh, India" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayodia Guest cum Coffee House and the IB above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdC7yZvV6K4/Vu7iMXOxDlI/AAAAAAAAHvk/p3lIDGGM5ioyGte1ys1ATZzkENX6_ELsg/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdC7yZvV6K4/Vu7iMXOxDlI/AAAAAAAAHvk/p3lIDGGM5ioyGte1ys1ATZzkENX6_ELsg/s320/IMG_5193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alubari Ghat, Arunachal Pradesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZcvk6Vgs-w/Vu7iJAH7a1I/AAAAAAAAHvc/KXS-VVO4UL4ky8-AFqDrpzItbKmCmceBA/s1600/IMG_5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Arunachal Pradesh, India" border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZcvk6Vgs-w/Vu7iJAH7a1I/AAAAAAAAHvc/KXS-VVO4UL4ky8-AFqDrpzItbKmCmceBA/s320/IMG_5186.JPG" title="Arunachal Pradesh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Alubari Ghat, Arunachal Pradesh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36797381.post-35168887009533352922015-11-18T14:18:00.000+05:302016-03-20T13:51:04.591+05:30Northeast - the epicentre of the second Green Revolution !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is another interesting article on Agriculture. </span><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/india-must-work-with-us-to-fuel-its-second-green-revolution/story-jzP7Hsb9n5Swhzdb6jvt9O.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: '"helvetica neue"', '"arial"', '"helvetica"', sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.hindustantimes.com/…/story-jzP7Hsb9n5Swhzdb6jvt9…</a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Mukesh Aghi, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC) will host a meeting with US Department of Agriculture under-secretary for farm and foreign agricultural service Michael Scuse, to discuss about ushering the sequel of the GREEN REVOLUTION to ensure long term food security for India.</span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly the article has no mention of the Northeast. Northeast, despite its enormous potential for agricultural growth, has sadly remained absen</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t from the green revolution of the sixties as well — largely due to sustained apathy from the Centre and lack of enterprise on the part of its state governments. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This mindset has to change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Northeast is liberally endowed with deep fertile topsoil, copious water and plentiful sunlight. The eastern zone of the country for instance, possesses nearly 46% of the country’s entire water resources but uses only 3% of that for crop irrigation. We have seen positive changes in recent years. As per some news reports, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh seem to have turned to food surplus regions. </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can the Centre make Northeast the epic-centre of the second Green Revolution especially for high-volume low-value commodities such as rice, and high value citrus commodities. The north-western zone (Punjab, Haryana etc) and parts of the South are facing dwindling water reserves and are not ideal for high-volume low-value commodities like rice and wheat. They can instead focus on low-volume high-value crops. The sooner this policy shift takes place, the better it will be for balanced agricultural growth in India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We, in Assam, should therefore raise our voices, write articles and form lobbies to bring in the second Green Revolution to Assam and the Northeast.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</div>
Lifeisbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01643427008073987964noreply@blogger.com0