Soldiers: Suicide and fragging

It is important to distinguish 'difficult' from 'un-natural' while characterizing the circumstances in which these so called suicide and fragging incidents occurs. Most of these cases occur in places like permanently frozen Siachen, terrorist infested Kashmir, highly remote north east or in circumstances of gross ignorance towards basic humanitarian issues.  Many times, a combination of above reasons accumulate and result in such events. The armed forces have always said that they are short of over 20,000 officers and 75,000 lower ranking personnel. 

 It now appears that joining the armed forces is the last option to our young people when nothing else is available. Therefore, it is important that we carefully address these aberrations as human issues rather than service conditions and bring about radical improvements in the circumstances that abet such heinous incidents. 

The pent up pressures of work and circumstantial stress of unnatural postings are such that even Alexander the Great in his exalted position of emperor-ship, committed human violence on his own colleagues at times. Fragging  is the natural recourse of every  oppression.

Providing the pleasure of families, even in their remote postings, is easily possible today and we ought to believe that it will only increase the confidence and the sense of purpose in them rather than distracting their focus and attention. There is a need to rationalize the service conditions and humanize the armed forces. 

It is high time that India thought of these things in a purposeful manner by involving civilian wisdom to mitigate the problems that have haunted our Armed forces.  After all, accepting to die in the war field is only a way of expressing that the soldier wants to live, be employed and provide happiness to himself and his family.   He is there in the battle field not for the glory of sacrifice but with the responsibility of taking care of his dearest ones who are left behind.  It is not a personal mission, but a profession that allows him to earn bread for those at home.  Complete segregation, imposition of torturous life and hammering down a philosophy of sacrifice are all the devices adopted by outfits that breed and bring up terrorists.   We should recognize this factor while dealing with the soldiers.

V.K.Saxena
President
National Council For Civil Liberties
Ahmedabad.

RajNITISH Kumar, Chale Sarhad Paar

On the eve of Diwali, we know where the son in laws go.  And Nitish Kumar's hurried heading to Pakistan raises doubts if he is married to the Muslim vote bank!

In the strange political landscape of India and Pakistan, there is a certain reversal of practice.  

Before an election in Pakistan, the politicians go on an India bashing binge.  They demand for Kashmir.  Rip down the India image in half and blow it in the wind to the applause of their audience.  Praise Jinnah and deride Gandhi.  Increase the firing on the borders and if possible, go on a war like they did in Kargil.

Whereas, before an election in India, our politicians go on a Pakistan hugging binge.  They say that Kashmir issue can be discussed.  They praise Pakistan and propose trade and cultural ties.  They say that Babri masjid will be rebuilt.  And promise Indian Muslims of easier passage to Pakistan.

Congress is known to do it, Mulayam singh has openly did this but Nitish Kumar tops them all!

With a gleaming dream in his eyes to occupy the Prime Ministerial seat, he has started his political campaign unofficially from Pakistan.  On the eve of Diwali, he has rushed to Pakistan to visit Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. This is Muslim appeasement policy at its lowest ethical standing.  He has gone to the extent of avoiding Mr. Narendra Modi from visiting Bihar thinking that it might not be conducive with his friendly image with Muslims.  Now, he does this unthinkable act - confirming that in the dynamics of Indian politics, Muslim vote lies in the heart of Pakistan.

V.K.Saxena

NCCL

Ahmedabad.

A monkey in the ruling clan

In the Jungle Book of national capital, there is a certain monkey that can only see mangoes and bananas in the public.   This particular ape climbs the trees that grow money in the real estates that stash money.  It's tail winds long into the corridors of power and if anyone even dares to touch its tail, its matriarch asks the cabinet to defend it from attack.  At airports, it passes without frisking and in the jungle, its worth has grown from lakhs to millions.  It does not care for the struggle of the people to raise the image of the nation to the world stage of recognition and strength.  For this monkey, all it purveys is an orchard of bananas the people are just the hard seeds covered by the yellow pulp.  This arrogance is all just because the monkey wooed and married the daughter of the matriarch of the Jungle.

How does one protect the nation from the banana loving monkey menace?  It is hard!  This country has often been haunted by monkeys  that clamour of the bananas in the public.  We have known of them snatching bananas from our hands in temples, tourist destinations and even in streets and hotels.  But now from the corridors of power and elite neighbourhoods!  For us, there it is not fun being bananas.  But for the monkey, it is a whole lot of fun to peel the skin live and eat up all the fortune fruit.

Well, I could not be but satirical on this matter.  Those who think of this great nation as banana republic deserve just to be dismissed as monkeys.  They are not even worth fighting in the court of law on charges of diminishing the dignity of our nation

V.K.Saxena

National Council For Civil Liberties

Ahmedabad.

Onam at BSF Camp:

It has been a season of disgust. 

The political scenario has been very messy.  Corruption cases are coming to light every day.  The famine is gripping several parts of the country.  Protests, strikes, accidents and all chaotic things around us that we are used to - are in full swing.

In the middle of this, something refreshing and rejuvenating happened to me.

I was called  in the celebration of Onam by the I G ,Border Security Force (BSF), Gujarat Frontier at Gandhinagar.  I went without much expectations ,but returned with full excitement.

Onam is celebrated in Kerala, just after the rains when the rain flowers spring out of earth and rice stands heady heavy and ready to harvest.  The snake boat races, flower carpets, rice dishes and a whole range of festivities happen in the Malabar coast.  And here, far away from the coast and in the heart of BSF camp, the Jawans and  Officers of all Ranks with their wives and children celebrated Onam with great commitment.  Traditional food, flower arrangements, cultural events and a whole lot of goodwill to each other.

The Border Security Force not only safeguards our lives and national boundaries.  They demonstrated that they safeguard our cultural diversity and national integrity by celebrating Onam, in a distant land from the festival's origin.

For me, it was a realization that at the core of our great institutions like the BSF, India is still alive with its traditional values of national commitment, sincerity and brotherhood.

V.K. Saxena,

President,

National Council for Civil Liberties,

Ahmedabad

Deep drawn water in drought: Victory of Sardar Sarovar

Medha Patkar waged a war in the name of water to deny the benefits of Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) to Gujarat. During her visit to USA in 1989, her headquarter,She testified before a committee and called "SSP a great human tragedy, an economic disaster and a planned environmental degradation." Her crony Arundhati Roy also testified in March 2000, in Geneva and said that" SSP is being constructed by using massive force and violating Human Rights." They lobbied on foreign soil for scrapping the project by giving false testimonies.

By attempting to deny water to the  farmers, farmlands and famine stricken people of the western India  she and her cronies shamelessly built a career as revolutionists. At  the end, they failed. It is no surprise that every evil force has  lost out and vanquished in every page of the social history of the world.

India today is reeling under drought and famine. The rainfall deficit  has been more than 15% on an average but in some states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, the deficit is more than 50%. The Central Government  is contemplating to launch an emergency relief effort in over 320 districts in the country. Over 60% of agriculture being rainfed,  there is clamour and chaos among the 600 million people, whose lives and economy are closedly linked to rains. Some State Governments have  launched official prayers to the rain God in desperation  of the situation.

At a juncture like this, the SSP is full and overflowing  due to the effectiveness with which it can store the collective resource of rain water from the wide catchment area. What would just  waste away as drainage is now impounded and given to people in  places that are historically drought prone in Gujarat and Rajasthan . Although the rains are  more than 50% deficient in Gujarat, thanks to SSP, the State does not have water  scarcity and has not declared itself drought-prone.

The likes of Medha Patkar should realize that there is difference between work and war, plan and plunder and governance and chaos. If  she comes out of her hiding and if she has a parched throat in the  lands she roams to look for opportunities to exploit hapless people,  she should walk into Gujarat. She can be sure to get a glass of water.

VK Saxena
President
National Council for Civil Liberties
Ahmedabad

Milking the mind's mercy

During the holy month of Shravan, people have kept a tradition of worshiping the 'shivling' with milk. With hundreds of thousands of shivlings around the country, the milk flows out of the temples into the gutters and go waste. On these occasions, our national lives balance on the razor edge of reason that separates superstition from reality. On the one hand, millions of children that are drowned in poverty go to bed without milk. On the other hand, thousands of litres of milk roll over the marble smoothness of God's idol and drain away under our feet.

Ahmedabad Mirror raised a campaign to dissuade people from wasting milk but donate the same for an earthly and humane cause. People responded. Both Ahmedabad Mirror and the people of Gujarat deserve appreciation for this imaginative and practical initiative that has given support to the needy people of the land. And as a result, the milk that was destined to drain away - has now quenched the thirst of the needy. At the end, a sigh, a smile of gratitude, a day spent well and a sleep of satisfaction.

There is a similar flux of wasteful practices around the places of worship in the country. For example the lighting of 'diyas' in the temples of south India with oil, which in effect amounts to thousands of liters of oil every day that can otherwise be used for alleviating poverty. Millions of candles that are lit in churches and other places release toxic smoke into the air whose effects are not fully gauged. Thousands of floating diyas left to float in our rivers like in Ganga at Hardwar sink in the waters and not only waste resources but also pollute the waters. I guess we need a detailed study on practices in the places of worship that do more harm than good, except that they give an irrational satisfaction to the superstitious minds. Avoiding them would in no way derogatory to faith.

People working together and raising mutual help and mutual aid is more effective, direct and result oriented than the grandiose programmes of the Government that are brought into force through election manifestos or high powered political campaigns. 'Garibi Hatao' has not removed poverty. 'Awas jojna' has not brought shelter to those whose lives are spent under the sky. 'Subsidized ration' has not filled the stomachs of people. Most of these campaigns have a long chain of people between 'command and compliance' and by the time the benefit trickles down to the needy, it will either be late or too meager or subverted upstream. Therefore, people working at the ground level with simple objectives like the Gujarat Shravan experiment by Ahmedabad Mirror could be far more effective, timely and useful.

Let us worship the virtues of life. Let us milk the nipples of mind that could pour mercy.

V.K.Saxena
President
National Council For Civil Liberties
Ahmedabad.

The Prime Precedence of Presidency

Some call it the political master stroke!

Let me examine.

The Congress, by which I mean its reigning queen, decided to field Pranab da and Ansari for the presidential race.  Pranab da - as a fixed deposit of self interest in Delhi for the Congress since they fear losing the next elections and Ansari  as the good old boring equation of appeasing some section of the electorate.  Then, the M&M kingmakers (Read Mamta and Mulayam not Mahindra and Mahindra) turn around and say that they would not support them, but propose the name of the serving Prime Minister of the nation.

For one, the M&M would not second Pranab da.  He is a master manipulator with die hard loyalty to Congress and may protect the interest of Congress in a subtle manner from the Rashtrapati Bhavan even when Congress is not in power at the centre, a reality that could dawn on us soon.  As such, he is the best bet for Congress but an unseemly horse for the pushers of the chariot of power.  

But why do M&M propose the name of the sitting Prime Minister?  Oops! Did I say 'sitting'?  I guess there is difference between 'serving' and 'sitting'.  In the present case, you don't need to be extra careful in deciphering the meanings.  Congress has followed an ancient tradition of asking an elderly man to sit.  That's fine with them - he is an apolitical person, maintains dignity of elephantine silence, does not have an ambition to promote his kins in politics, could be asked to vacate when the heir apparent of the Party decides to take the position, does not object to his colleagues taking orders from a naturalized alien and neither provokes anyone nor gets provoked by any amount of taunt or pinch.  It is impossible ever to find a person of impeccable academic record and integrity in public life of his standing to sit on the throne and not be anxious about money, power, politics, self respect and governance.  He is the most valuable but unambitious political asset a democratic party could ever get in its process of safeguarding the throne for a king in waiting.  

So, did M&M send a 'not so subtle' message that a sitting Prime Minister should be placated of his position when they proposed his name for the Presidency?  This leads to many interpretations:

1. The proposal recognizes that the sitting Prime Minister is ineffective and incapable as the executive head of the Government.  And as allies to the Government, M&M are not confident that they will gain value in electoral politics with such a man as the current Prime Minister in the high office.  
2. He can be taken for granted.  He need not be consulted nor taken into confidence before a proposal on his political fate and personal status is decided by his political colleagues.  The point that he has not reacted till now and that it is the Party which has rejected the proposal clearly shows that he neither has an opinion nor need to be consulted on matters concerning the highest offices of the land.  
3. For sure, the proposal will stir up the hornet's nest within the Congress Party and a struggle for power would ensue.  Now that it is acknowledge that the Prime Minister is ineffective, the internal debate in Congress will begin precipitating on his replacement.  Instability within the Party is the last thing that the reigning queen of the Party wants at the moment. And for sure, Congress will never be able to get someone who could sit so pretty in the Prime seat of South Block. 
4. Believe it or not, this move clearly means that the position of the Indian Presidency is that of a lame duck and only people on retirement are sent to occupy the Presidential seat.  If you want to placate a lame duck Prime Minister and crown him as the President, it is a loud acknowledgement that nothing is expected from the  Presidency of India.  

Well, M&M have shown their political mastery.  But at the same time, they have denigrated, dishonoured and deprived dignity of the offices of the Prime Minister and the President of India.  It is downright irresponsible.  But perhaps it is an irresistible mischief in the present scenario where both Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav may have an eye on the seat of Prime Ministership of India.

V.K.Saxena

President 

National Council For Civil Liberties

Ahmedabad.

www.ncclindia.org

Sukma Collector Alex released-Facades and hidden faces in modern India

Everyone who argued that the naxal movement in India is an agrarian movement, born out of the rural disparities
and denied development have to get his head flushed with fresh blood.  There have been many agrarian movements in India that have achieved and led to rural development.  Vinoba Bhave and Jayprakash Narain  raised the issue of rural disparity and even politicians like Charan Singh and Babu Jagjivan Ram brought to fore the issue of rural development.  They all had their contributions - big and small to the development of rural India and to the status of down-trodden.  They did not pull the trigger of a gun nor kidnap a Government official responsible in a line department for development, to demonstrate their ideology or achieve their goals.

But the naxal movement has had strange attributes.  It made us all believe that the movement is a reflection of rural and agrarian frustration about lack of development.  If it was so, shouldn't they be receptive to the past 20 years of programmes and progress in their heartland by the moderate rulers of elected Governments?  Why would they kidnap a collector of 'dalit' background who was known for his orientation to development and good deeds?  Why would they kidnap an MLA who himself was a tribal and won the election with a thumping margin of 92000 votes from the tribal heartland? Why would they ambush police parties and the officials entering remote areas on duty to implement developmental schemes? Why would they stop people from reaching electoral booths and vote for a change?  Why would they destroy schools and occupy school buildings and terrorize those who want a decent and modest education?  Why would they kidnap tour operators and businessmen whose activities could lead to the development of the region?  Why would they kill, plant bombs, rampage and destroy lives, infrastructure and property and spread fear and chaos? In a recent television debate on NDTV Mr. Jay Panda, Rajya Sabha member from Orrisa informed that government has constructed roads,school buildings,primary health centers and the electric connections in the remote areas of naxal heartland, as a part of development in those areas, which were earlier cut off from the main heartland.  A naxal sympathiser/ideolog also participating in the debate,  admitted these fact but could not answer why naxals were destroying these infrastructure, which the government has created for their own benefit.

What do naxals/maoists really want?  Is their agrarian and development ideologies are just facades behind which the ugly and violent face of terrorism exists?  Are they just another type of underworld terrorists?

There is yet another social brigade which some 8-10 years back operated in a similar fashion in Narmada Vally.  Spearheaded by popular personalities like Medha Patkar, ..... etc., this brigad  did not lie covered and underground.  It operated right royally in the middle of our society and lived in the glory of media and visibility.  It propagated a myth that the dalits and Project affected people (PAP) were to be emancipated with development.  But when the development came to their door-steps, this brigade of overworld terrorists took to the streets, scuttled the projects, lobbied on international platforms against the country, painted a wrong picture of suffering and stood its ground to oppose everything that could be related to progress.They too had in a similar fashion, like naxals, destroyed schools,seed godowns,health center buildings etc constructed by the government for PAPs and even indulged in larege scale voilence to prevent the government officials from doing necessary surveys in the affected villages for their proper rehabitilation.  When rural people affected by developmental programmes were given compensation, this brigade stood in between and terrorized the beneficiaries from accepting any relief.  It separated rural masses from the progress and existed  gloriously in the world press.

What do these pseudo-socialists really want?  Is their ideology of social justice just a facade behind which their wily intentions and acts of sedition hide?  Are they just over-world terrorists?

One group operates from the jungles in the cover of nights and destroys development in the name of naxalism.  The other group operates from villages, towns and cities in the light of the day and decimates development.  One lies underground while the other exists over-ground.

Similarity of approach and actions between these two groups in opposing much desired development  requires a thorough investigation to find out their inter-linkages, if any.

  

It is time that the society recognized these evil faces for their true worth.

V.K.Saxena
President
National Council For Civil Liberties.
Ahmedabad.

                                 Old NBA warning to Govt officials at village Tehar,MP.

           

    Old NBA Diktat to Govt officials at village Kikarva, MP. 

Response to "Capitalism:A Ghost Story by Arundati Roy."Outlook 26th March 2012.

A run dat i(s) Roy

Sigh! 

What a run!  

From where to where does this woman run!  And why?  And why does she make us read her marathon passage?  Outlook needs to look inwards before they splat her running footprints all over their magazine.

First question to you Ms. Roy.  What did you do with your millions that you got from your Booker Prize and the royalty of your book sales apart from building and hiding from public eye your own illegal villa in the notified forest land in MP. Roy pretends to be a campaigner for tribal rights but she is accused of grabbing tribal land in Pachmarhi.  And what will you do with the fat cheque you get from writing such long passages in print?  Do you disbelieve in capitalism and distribute cash or kind to at least a fraction of the number of poor who pass by your own illegal forest Antilla in torn slippers?

Why do you pretend loving this country? You have breathed sedition in Kashmir, spoken for the naxals, opposed industrial growth, bashed every business house (except the Birlas for some strange reason), established links with ISI agents like Gulab Nabi Fai, who was recently sentenced for two years jail by a U.S court, deposed against national development in UN and international fora with utterly wrong statistics (you are a fiction writer with an award) and criticized everything national.  You have even been punished by the Supreme Court for contempt of court.

How credible is your voice?  Why don't you suggest any solution to what you perceive as problems?  You run criticism and run away from solutions.  Do something to prove you are right. Please try and undo what you don't like.  At least, bring down the Antilla, break down the dams, tear up the Lokpal bill, stone to death every business leader (except Birlas for reasons only known to you) and take us all to the stone age. 

Also build some villas in the notified forest lands for the naxals, if that is your vision and wisdom for the proletariat cause.

V.K.Saxena

President

National Council for Civil Liberties 

Ahmedabad - 380 009 

web: www.ncclindia.org

e-mail: nccl27@hotmail.com

BLOG: vksaxena-nationfirst.blogspot.com

Road to Faith and Faith on Roads- Temples Demolition Drive in Ahmedabad)

Gujarat has long had a fundamental policy of strong resource base for overall growth.The infrastructure development has been consistent and the roads,ports,rail network and airports are well established in view of future loads that may have to address.Bad social activism has been curtailed and a positive participatory approach of  people in the process of growth has been promoted.Political leadership has been stable and transparent.

None ever has disputed the sanctity of faith. 

It is necessary that we safeguard the diversity of faiths, seek to build places of worship and protect the those symbols of faith that have great historic and mythological legacies.  There are hundreds of such locations and destinations in our country and we build roads to them, so that people can reach them and quench the thirst of their faiths.

On the other hand, it is also true that in our nation, the symbols of faith are often built on the roads instead of roads being laid to reach them.  This serves specific vested interests and once built, the aura of faith can be made to surround them, making it difficult to distinguish between places of real value and the ones of intended value.  There are instances where small places of worship come into existence overnight in order to secure private control over public property.

This poses two level difficulty.  One - the irregular network of these structures over a time will undermine the urban planning principles and will dislodge the integrity of master plans of development that are prepared for our collective well-being. Two - it breeds groups of vested interests who turn these little places into dens of commercial activities in the name of faith and disturb the public order.  Both of these are not in the best interests of civilization, civil liberty and public safety.

Therefore, it is important to make a distinction whether 'worship is work', while we all accept that 'work is worship'.  It is important that the principles of prosperous public life are not ridiculed by an assumption that every place of worship, regardless of its antecedent, should be protected.

Demolition of structures that are deterrent to development is not to be politicised or given a colour of religious controversy.  We all know of the famous reply Mirza Ghalib gave when a Mulla objected to his drinking in a mosque " Ghalib sharab peene de, Masjid mein baith kar Ya aisi jagah bata, jahaan khudaa na ho…"  

Faith is not something which is disregarded or dishonoured if a public structure is removed. Faith in its real splendour is deep seated and mature enough that it makes way for community safety and public prosperity.  The ongoing demolition drive of places of worship in Ahmedabad  must be viewed in this spirit.

VK Saxena
President
National Council for Civil Liberties

Jarwas Controversy: AND-AM-AN admirer

My heart bleeds: AND AM AN admirer

Scene 1: I went to Andaman Islands with my wife and under the clearest of skies ever known to me and the before the prettiest of beaches ever known to my eyes, I forgot the hustle bustle of mainland India and transported myself to a state of bliss.  I drove through forests that wriggle down strands of light through the thick canopy and felt blessed.  While travelling to Barataang Island from Port Blair in a convoy on 6th January 2012 to see unique limestone caves, I saw the Jarawa families cross the road that wind through thickets.  That was a glimpse of life lived in harmony with nature - pristine, unspoilt, innocent and true to their traditions that are centuries old. Before start of convoy we were strictly told on loudspeakers by the police not to feed Jarwas or even stop or slow down the vehicles if they come on road.  

Scene 2: I sat cozily before the Television yesterday and watched Times Now.  Jarawas were made to dance to the dictats of a policeman/forester to entertain tourists who apparently bribed him.  The same shocking video appeared on the website of the British Newspaper Guardian.  It was portrayed in vulgarity.  A panelist spoke about voyeurism that propels Andaman tourism.  It brought Jarawas close to the half clad dancers of a B grade movie shot in the red light districts of our slums. 

Now,

What a shame to the abysmal levels of journalism that knowingly or unknowingly has destroyed the fiber of innocence that binds this legendary tribe!  The Andaman administration, anthropologists, social workers and local communities have been working for years to gradually bring this aboriginal society to the main stream of national life.  They have been collectively trying to educate, uplift, emancipate and rehabilitate this small group of natives who have unfortunately been left behind by the train of civilization.  It has been a challenge to bring them into mainstream life while restoring and respecting their deep traditional values, cultural traits and customs. The Andaman administration deserves wholehearted appreciation

I am pained that a few unscrupulous elements of society like  some individuals of public, some tourists and some tourist operators have been hand in glove on this mindless messacre of cultural identity by portraying the natives in a bad spirit that satisfies voyeurs.  And repeatedly showing it on national television, putting on websites and holding insensitive discussions are no contribution to the society.

This is a crime against humanity.  Those responsible for this utter impropriety should be identified, brought to books and punished.   How could a journalist record a video with such impunity and unprofessional intention by paying 200 pounds? It is definitely an immoral act on the part of this foreign journalist and deserves exemplary punishment.   And each one of those should be identified and punished in order to send signals to the society that the civilization intends to provide equal opportunities to all those who are part of its heritage.

Jarawas are not articulate about their rights and traits in a modern society.  They are silent in the cacophony portrayed by the assassins of ancient cultures.  They are unaware of the deviant thoughts and actions that crowd the margins of a civilized society. They need our voice, our protection and our love, if justice that they don't demand but deserve - is to be bestowed on them. 

After visiting Andaman Islands, I feel that in few years this place can give a  tough competition to the neighboring Island countries and  it was a calculated attempt by a  foreign journalist to paint Andaman in bad taste so that neighboring Island countries are benefited.

V K Saxena 

President

 National Council for Civil Liberties 

Ahmedabad - 380 009 

web: www.ncclindia.org

e-mail: nccl27@hotmail.com

BLOG: vksaxena-nationfirst.blogspot.com