The BMC seems to have discussed asking Rajni Kant to help them in getting the City drains cleaned ( report appeared in Mumbai Mirror, 22nd April).
Well, Rajani could perhaps try his hand at everything, and produce results too. But perhaps to make some miracles, like rescuing the government or the BMC etc, he would need to don the enthiran (Robot) attire. One could imagine how much money was spent in making the movie, and perhaps a good part of the money would have gone to the technology part of it, the machine being able to perform a variety of operations, making it appear so simple, but at the same time successful, including the feelings created for the robot. Hence, the BMC should also think of the money to be spent, if Rajni is to help them out.
The BMC seems to have discussed plans for cleaning the drains in the city well ahead of the monsoon. And, they seem to have lost all ideas. Now that corruption has become the burning topic, their usual practices of awarding of contracts for the cleaning of drains may be riddled with fear of the public eye on their moves. The fact that they have run out of ideas could very well be imagined by the twenty minute joke session they had during the discussion on this topic. Perhaps they were under the impression that it is not money that they were spending, which could be traced to see if there is corruption, but It is only the time that they were spending, and who cares perhaps as to how they spend their time.
With the economy in mind, the joke session may in all reality be a measure of austerity. How the corporators could otherwise enjoy and entertain themselves?
The BMC idea is perhaps good . The people in Tamil Nadu not only see Rajni as a super star but also as a super power, perhaps more so after his exploits in the Robot movie. He also has lots of supporters wanting him to enter politics and clean up the system, since he is also known to be a clean person.
The recent chiding of the Government by the SC: 'what are they doing, are they sleeping? in tracking black money is one more example of Government being inactive, fatigued and run down and run out of ideas as to how to govern. Once the party comes to power, they are not worried about actions and promises to people. They are in a sleep mode, in terms of major actions. But the SC now seems to have administered them a 'wake up' pill, to bring them out of slumber. And suddenly the PM has assured that the LOK PAL bill would be brought before parliament in the coming monsoon session, the UN convention in graft would be ratified, and public governance system will be improved through reforms.
Will all this happen? Would this sudden waking up ( that too through the SC admonition) for action have come about without the fast until death resorted to by Anna Hazare? Does not all this show that we need more activists to join the civil society movement to make the government work and deliver? And, there should be continuous association of civil society when it comes to tackling major issues. Good ideas and action points should always be welcomed by government, irrespective of who provides them and how they get produced. This does not mean that fasts should always be resorted to for anything to be got done by the government.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Anna (Vijay Hazare
This is all about Anna Hazare, who undertook a fast unto death for the noble cause of rooting out corruption in the country. In my opinion, with the kind of support he received from people and the media, it is a win- win situation for the Government and the people.The government won, because several scams had already tarnished its image,which could even have had costly repercussion in terms of victory in future elections and, at the same time, if anything untoward happened to Anna Hazare's life, peoples anger against the Government could only have multiplied manifold. And , for Anna, and the people who followed and supported him, it is indeed a peoples victory. Thus, for the people, he really became Annachi, the elder brother, who is now more respected and loved by all his Thampis, the younger brothers.
Anna, also has another meaning in Tamil (annam, meaning food. And Anna dhata , meaning one who provides food or one who makes Anna dhaan, offering free food ). Here, this Anna had to forego and forget his own food, and provide, in the form of a ray of hope for the people at large, a mechanism or means for cleansing the country of the worst kind of dirt, which could not easily be washed away by any kind of super acting, miracle detergent.
Again, Anna, by his example, proved that he could be an anaconda, the dreaded form of snake, because through his fast, he could pave way for saving this country from the daily- occurring, and recurring, multi-crore scams, which had eaten away peoples money, and made their lives miserable.
Anna Hazare, also proved that he could be the Vijay Hazare, ( who led India to her first-ever Test Win in cricket) who, with single minded devotion and determination, could bowl out the Government and win the game for the people, for he emerged 'Vijay' (victorious) bringing one more Indian Victory, after the World Cup Victory in cricket.
In the midst of all this, one wonders whether the Dand March II organized by Indian NRIs, who undertook a Dandi March for the cause of rooting out corruption by marching 240 kilometers, got enough coverage in the media. Though the people participating in that did not perhaps fast, they undertook an arduous task all the same. In fact, it appeared, that they were perhaps more concerned with corruption than the people within the country, and showed more concern for the people of their native land.
In one way, Anna's victory could give real meaning to the term 'of the people, for the people and by the people'. What is wrong in civil society being involved side by side with the Government (run by politicians) if that could lead to solving peoples problems, the way people want? And is it not because of the Government's failure In tackling this problem that Anna had to take this extreme step?
Karan Bedi, in contrarian view, in the Times of India, objects to this kind of peoples movement,since according to him, it is Governments problem and should have been left to the Government ( which represents people who elect them) He cites PIL as one of the means to have been adopted in such cases, without realizing perhaps that it is the indian Peoples League now which is gaining momentum, be it cricket or public life. And as for his worries that more such situations could arise in future leading to a kind of blackmailing the Government, he doesn't perhaps realize that it is the total failure of the government to act, which led to this. How could, and for how long, the people be blackmailed by the Government by empty promises and tardy implementation, when it comes to actually delivering. Perhaps people would now strongly believe that the best way to solve major problems affecting the country could be through such joint civil society- government committees.
In this context, should not the selection of the CVC also be left to such join-committee
Let alone joint committee, even nomination of non-civil candidates for this post is only left to the babus, now.
Right when I finished this, (1125 a.m.) my iPad flashed the NDTV news about Anna Hazare having ended his fast. The real success of this fast would be when a fast solution and fast action emerge in eradicating corruption. It could then be Anna (VIJAY) Hazare, and may God give him long life to see the result of his actions.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Dhoni - the Maha Indra
DHONI- the MAHA INDRA!
(by C.V. Subramaniam)
People worship every year Lord Indra, since it is believed that He is the one who gives us rains at the proper time to make our lives joyful. For this Indra Yaga used to be performed every year to please Indra. It is a different story that Indra was too proud and arrogant about his capabilities and Lord Krisna wanted to really test his powers. Krishna believed and told his friends and believers that it is not Indra who provides the rains, but we get rains due to our own good deeds that we all engage ourselves in during our life time. For proving this point he also said, 'look at the trees in the forests, they also get rains, but they don't worship Indra'. And Indra, on his part, as if to strongly protest this argument, poured continuous rains on earth with the result everyone assembled with Krishna at that time ran to seek His protection.
Dhomi, donned the Maha Indra Avatar in the World Cup final tournament with Sri Lanka yesterday, and continued, non-stop,pouring runs as though it was raining, perhaps wanting to outdo Indra . Such was his magnificent performance yesterday, that the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders had to run for protection, (though they had to run in the field literally in all directions, after chasing each ball that he hit) though there was no Krishna in front of them to help them out, who could uproot the Govardhan Mountain and provide shelter to them. The many Indians who fasted, and offered prayers at various temples must have heaved a big sigh of relief at the end of the match that their prayers did not go in vain, and that the the Lord Indra appeared before them in his Maha 'avatar' and granted boon to all his worshippers.
For the Lankans, this thought of Indra and Krishna would not perhaps have come to their mind at all, though they had a flute player Murali, in their team, whose magic also did not produce the real winning tune for them. Or, did they only rely on the destructive power of the ten-headed Ravana to mean Sangakkara and his ten team-mates, to destroy the Indian's efforts?
No amount of petals of the 'incense breathing' flowers thrown from above by even Indra,would haven been sufficient enough accolades for Dhoni (and his Devils, of course), since Indra', flying in his own 'flower-craft' if He wanted to come down enough to watch him play from above, would have got frightened by the thought that the helicopter shot by Dhoni (his last winning shot, was indeed such a one) , could perhaps have interrupted his own 'flower- craft. All the same, Indra had indeed granted his boon. Now, it is not Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it is Maha Indra Sing(h) Dhoni!.
(by C.V. Subramaniam)
People worship every year Lord Indra, since it is believed that He is the one who gives us rains at the proper time to make our lives joyful. For this Indra Yaga used to be performed every year to please Indra. It is a different story that Indra was too proud and arrogant about his capabilities and Lord Krisna wanted to really test his powers. Krishna believed and told his friends and believers that it is not Indra who provides the rains, but we get rains due to our own good deeds that we all engage ourselves in during our life time. For proving this point he also said, 'look at the trees in the forests, they also get rains, but they don't worship Indra'. And Indra, on his part, as if to strongly protest this argument, poured continuous rains on earth with the result everyone assembled with Krishna at that time ran to seek His protection.
Dhomi, donned the Maha Indra Avatar in the World Cup final tournament with Sri Lanka yesterday, and continued, non-stop,pouring runs as though it was raining, perhaps wanting to outdo Indra . Such was his magnificent performance yesterday, that the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders had to run for protection, (though they had to run in the field literally in all directions, after chasing each ball that he hit) though there was no Krishna in front of them to help them out, who could uproot the Govardhan Mountain and provide shelter to them. The many Indians who fasted, and offered prayers at various temples must have heaved a big sigh of relief at the end of the match that their prayers did not go in vain, and that the the Lord Indra appeared before them in his Maha 'avatar' and granted boon to all his worshippers.
For the Lankans, this thought of Indra and Krishna would not perhaps have come to their mind at all, though they had a flute player Murali, in their team, whose magic also did not produce the real winning tune for them. Or, did they only rely on the destructive power of the ten-headed Ravana to mean Sangakkara and his ten team-mates, to destroy the Indian's efforts?
No amount of petals of the 'incense breathing' flowers thrown from above by even Indra,would haven been sufficient enough accolades for Dhoni (and his Devils, of course), since Indra', flying in his own 'flower-craft' if He wanted to come down enough to watch him play from above, would have got frightened by the thought that the helicopter shot by Dhoni (his last winning shot, was indeed such a one) , could perhaps have interrupted his own 'flower- craft. All the same, Indra had indeed granted his boon. Now, it is not Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it is Maha Indra Sing(h) Dhoni!.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Battling Corruption -Some Thoughts
With increasing cases of corruption and scams that we read in newspapers daily, everyone talks about corruption and the so-called remedies to end corruption. The latest effort is by a group of NRIs in the USA, who propose to undertake a 240 mile dandi march, on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi's famous Dandi March while fighting for freedom for India.This march, named Dandi March II will be held during the same days, viz, March 12 to 26". The first Dandi March was, relating to imposition of tax on salt by the British, and could thus be described 'simply salted', while the present Dandi March II could be called a 'mirch masala' one, What would come out of this will be anybody's guess. Another important point here is that such a march will only spread bad news about our country in terms of exposing weakness in our governance to the outside world, and India's rating in the eyes of the world will further deteriorate.
Ending corruption altogether is perhaps a futile exercise, as can be seen from the new revelations coming up each time. Why I am saying this is because in a mail I received today from Mr. N. Vittal, on the subject of corruption, he says: 'another thought just occurred to me: 'God and corruption are comparable, both are everywhere, but nobody is able to catch either'. How true! To me it could be easier for one to hunt for God and succeed in the effort to 'catch HIM'', perhaps as easy as breaking open a pillar!
In a book entitled 'The Joy of Becoming God', by A, Vishwanath, he narrates a beautiful story in which he tells that in order to see God, it is essential to leave aside insecurity, fear and doubt. The same formula should perhaps apply also to seek the corrupt, for at least in their minds they (the corrupt) might also be thinking themselves as GOD (what with their illegally amassed wealth). Similarly, as in quest of God, Government should also shed their insecurity, fear of losing power and doubt as to whether they would succeed in their mission. Then they could also hear, as if from nowhere, 'though shalt see the corrupt'.
While efforts to end corruption continues, don't expect that the corrupt will be sitting idle. They may be engaged in writing code of conduct for the corrupt, detailing various steps to sidetrack those watching their actions, and giving right tips on each move.
They would also be believing that if at all finally they are caught, they would still be in
lime light, since newspapers and media channels will flash their photos and stories.
When the ruling party rules, it is the opposition's chance to point fingers at them and accuse: Govt. has failed in tackling corruption. When the opposition comes to power, the present ruling party will put on their garb and indulge in the same acrimony. Supposing the ruling party is ready to hand over the reins to the opposition and dare them to end corruption, would they be in a better position to achieve something?
Taking note of these factors, perhaps in future elections all have to identify minimum three main issues including corruption, and each party has to spell out in their manifestos specific action points aimed at positive results within a year. It should be for the public to then elect the one party whose action points appear workable and select that party to rule for just one year; why one year because, they have to show results within that period. If they fail they should immediately quit the government and hand over the reins to the next best. This approach could be a real test for the party's claims.
Next, how to punish the guilty, if finally caught. Each one of such corrupt person should be made to walk the same 240 miles ( within the country itself) , with a placard hanging on him which should read: I have brought shame to my country and it's people. I am ashamed of my act. I would correct myself and be a good citizen. During the march, perhaps no food should be served to them, except some drinking water, if necessary.
One another point: corruption, sexual abuse, inflation control etc. should be seen as national agenda, and talent groups of eminent people, forgetting party affiliations should be constituted to took into such problems and bring out remedies. And more important, act with speed on the workable solutions.
Ending corruption altogether is perhaps a futile exercise, as can be seen from the new revelations coming up each time. Why I am saying this is because in a mail I received today from Mr. N. Vittal, on the subject of corruption, he says: 'another thought just occurred to me: 'God and corruption are comparable, both are everywhere, but nobody is able to catch either'. How true! To me it could be easier for one to hunt for God and succeed in the effort to 'catch HIM'', perhaps as easy as breaking open a pillar!
In a book entitled 'The Joy of Becoming God', by A, Vishwanath, he narrates a beautiful story in which he tells that in order to see God, it is essential to leave aside insecurity, fear and doubt. The same formula should perhaps apply also to seek the corrupt, for at least in their minds they (the corrupt) might also be thinking themselves as GOD (what with their illegally amassed wealth). Similarly, as in quest of God, Government should also shed their insecurity, fear of losing power and doubt as to whether they would succeed in their mission. Then they could also hear, as if from nowhere, 'though shalt see the corrupt'.
While efforts to end corruption continues, don't expect that the corrupt will be sitting idle. They may be engaged in writing code of conduct for the corrupt, detailing various steps to sidetrack those watching their actions, and giving right tips on each move.
They would also be believing that if at all finally they are caught, they would still be in
lime light, since newspapers and media channels will flash their photos and stories.
When the ruling party rules, it is the opposition's chance to point fingers at them and accuse: Govt. has failed in tackling corruption. When the opposition comes to power, the present ruling party will put on their garb and indulge in the same acrimony. Supposing the ruling party is ready to hand over the reins to the opposition and dare them to end corruption, would they be in a better position to achieve something?
Taking note of these factors, perhaps in future elections all have to identify minimum three main issues including corruption, and each party has to spell out in their manifestos specific action points aimed at positive results within a year. It should be for the public to then elect the one party whose action points appear workable and select that party to rule for just one year; why one year because, they have to show results within that period. If they fail they should immediately quit the government and hand over the reins to the next best. This approach could be a real test for the party's claims.
Next, how to punish the guilty, if finally caught. Each one of such corrupt person should be made to walk the same 240 miles ( within the country itself) , with a placard hanging on him which should read: I have brought shame to my country and it's people. I am ashamed of my act. I would correct myself and be a good citizen. During the march, perhaps no food should be served to them, except some drinking water, if necessary.
One another point: corruption, sexual abuse, inflation control etc. should be seen as national agenda, and talent groups of eminent people, forgetting party affiliations should be constituted to took into such problems and bring out remedies. And more important, act with speed on the workable solutions.
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