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

Anti- Kudankulam agitation -The lynch mob democracy‏

After committing over Rs 14,000 crores in investment to contribute over 9 Gigawatts of power to the national grid, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is in the limbo because a small minority of people perceive it to be unsafe against immense arrangements made for its safety.  Science, technology, polity, social justice and distribution of resources to rightful populace is all a package that does not now weigh up to even half of the weight of an odd number of people's perception.   The media, NGOs and social activists have directly or implicitly supported the 'perception' lobby through their activities or expressed views.  Reason has been slaughtered by surmises.  National plans are being massacred by irrational conspiracies.  It is an understatement to say that our future is at stake.

Let us widen this debate a little farther.

If we are to build a dam to distribute water to arid lands, irrigate drought-prone regions, provide drinking water to parched throats - the 'perception' lobby springs up a line of impediments.  Sardar Sarovar Project is a glaring example where thousands of crores of rupees of project escalation was one impact while the fear psychosis created by the anti-development mafia was a higher impact.  If we are to build some excellent road infrastructure, the 'perception' lobby raises the bogey of land acquisition and diverts national attention.  We can find examples for this in every state in the country.  If we are to put up nuclear power station, thermal power station, an assembly line to produce cars or any large project that could take forward the nation, it is certain that some lobby raises its cobra head and lunges forward to sting.  Media picks up the thread as negativism is always sensational.  The NGOs pick up the matter as most of them have assumed the position of 'principal opposition' to governance.  Both the proposition of law and opposition to policies have now become street activities and the Parliament or mechanisms of governance have become redundant, toothless and irrelevant.  Added to this is the senility of Government - both in age, actions and inactions.

It is a paradox that India has begun to use democracy to destroy itself.  Right to Information is misused, right to protest is misused, right to report is misused, right to govern is misused and the power invested in different institutions of democratic governance, whether they are governmental or non-governmental - are all misused, subverted and ridiculously applied.  As a result, the country has come to standstill.  Progress has been pared.  Future has been compromised.

We cannot continue like this forever.  It is a paradox that we are the third largest economy in the world but our infrastructure quality has been rated to be lower to that of Ivory Coast.  We need some sense of purpose in national life to build a common future.  And the lynching mob needs to be rightly guided and governed.  Otherwise, the status of 'most favoured nation' bestowed on us by Pakistan will come to mean that they like us because we are on the same slope of collapse like them and holding hands with them makes sense.  

V K Saxena 

President

 National Council for Civil Liberties 

Earthquake in Sikkim :The PHOENIX opportunities of life

 The Phoenix. What a spectacular life-form this bird example is!.  It lives for a thousand years and then the cruel act of fate burns it, its nest and every trace that it ever lived.  And then from those ashes of depredation - a new life form is born to flourish for another thousand years.

Although it is a paradox that re-creation has to stand on the rubble of devastation, it is a true fact of life.  Every natural calamity - be it a tsunami, volcanic eruption, cyclone or earth-quake, brings in a similar destruction around us.  And upon that tragic circumstance stands a social responsibility and an opportunity of resurgence.

Linking this thought to Bhuj in Gujarat is something I often do.  Ten years ago when Bhuj was razed to the ground by an abominable earth quake, we saw that thousands of people lost their life and hundreds of thousands lost livelihoods.  The city crumbled under the mud and pyres  burned for days.  The sights were so ghastly that no one ever thought that Bhuj will ever stand up again under the sun and its people would breathe a life of reconstructed hope.  But just  three years of hard-work, hope, support and good governance by Gujarat Govt, Bhuj is now a modern city of convenience and comfort to its people.  It is a lesson to all of us that any destruction, however tragic it may be, is a phoenix opportunity of rebirth, re-establishment and resilience.

Sikkim is now our unfortunate fate but is nothing short of a phoenix opportunity.  The beauty of life in this picturesque State has been delivered an unfair fate by the beast of nature.  The recent earth quake in Sikkim has reminded us of what Bhuj was a decade ago.  The mounds of mud and the burning pyres of Sikkim are still telling us of the tragedy of the recent earth quake and reminding us of the unforgotten sights of Bhuj.  While our hearts are yearning for resurgence of Sikkim, it is heartening to see that the Prime Minister has offered a thousand crore rupees for the purpose of reconstruction.  But, in the existing state of political confusion in the country,it is quite possible that this largesse is diverted and misused.  What we need now is a strong commitment, good governance, transparency of expenditure and a genuine effort like the Govt of Gujarat to rebuild the Sikkim  from its phoenix fate.

Since it has been shown to be possible once, it should be possible now to turn the phoenix fate of Sikkim to phoenix opportunity of rebirth and flourish.  

V K Saxena 

President

 National Council for Civil Liberties 

Twinkle of the twilight years of service --An advise to ANNA.

 

 When the bell of time rings anywhere between 55 and 60, the senior bureaucrats, judges and officers of any prominence in public service, rise to the call and fall in line.  It is the time of retirement blues.  Soon in a couple of years, they will be out of job.  Those cars with the privileged roof lights would soon stop ferrying them.  The minions and chaperones would turn away their face and begin to serve their new masters. . The free flights, phones, cars and the whole heaven of fully paid-up life would soon grind to halt.  So will the grand opportunity of wielding power, influencing files, collecting graft and living a life of unlimited luxury at the cost the poor countrymen.

With such an abominable prospect of retirement, the sword of Damocles, hanging over the head of those in high office, they soften.  They will work to please the political masters, so that a Governorship, ambassadorial assignment, Chairmanship of some Commission, deputation to UN/World Bank/IMF or some such plum posting is bestowed to them on retirement.  They will do everything possible to please their political bosses, be it fixing a judgement, allotting a contract or taking a favourable decision, so that the post-retirement plum does not evade them.

This possibility of acquiring favour in the post-retirement phase is the twinkle of the twilight years of service.  This is  one of the root causes of corruption in public life.  This possibility of reward for being the 'old faithful' - not only corrupts the senior public servants  and judges but also burdens us with senile Governors, Ambassadors and other high functionaries, not to speak of even the Presidents of the country. Hence there must be an age limit of 70 years for one and all  i.e  for bureaucrats and judges  after retirement and even  the for polititians to hold public office.  After the age of 70 years, no one should be allowed to hold any public office. There is already a provision that no government servant  can join private company for 2 years after retirement, but it lacks appropriate implementation.  It is now pertinent that the 2 year bench-sitting is strictly implemented to weed out corruption.

Anna's advisors and the Civil Society should include the provision of age limit avoiding this deep rooted evil  , when they finalize the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Parliament.  This can be avoided by placing a total moratorium  of atleast 2 years on post retirement re-employment to high positions .  Another way is to place a time-bar on re-employment, so that those over 70  years of age are given an honourable retirement exit from public life

  A revolution normally breaks the knees of establishment and brings it down to the ground.  But it is only the just legislation and a fair opportunity of wise advise that makes the vehicle of Governance move again on its wheels.  Therefore, it is important that the best alternatives and just provisions are incorporated into the legislation in the making.

V K Saxena

President

 National Council for Civil Liberties  

Ahmedabad - 380 009 

web: www.ncclindia.org

e-mail: nccl27@hotmail.com