Los Angeles
Dec, 2008
With the Election results in 5 states out, Raj Thackeray is my hero of the moment. And not only Raj Thackeray, the whole Maharashtrian politicians are my heroes. What they are saying from last couple of months is different then what we have listened in this country in last 60 years. Maharashtrian lobby and Maharastrian brand of politics is some thing a great lesson for whole of the country. Raj Thackeray has full support from Shiv senas, Maharashtra BJPs, NCPs and Maharashtra Congress. The people who have closely watched the politics in Mumbai know that by core Deshmukh and Thackeray are comrades in arms more then Vajpayee and Advani.
The key issue, which Raj Thackeray bringing in, is migration of North Indian laborers to Mumbai. For that matter, North Indian laborers are moving everywhere not only to Mumbai, you will find them in every big city, nook and corner of the country. And in Mumbai specially, as Sharad Yadv wrote in his one of article, "Labor will follow the capital" So wherever we have more capital investment, laborers will travel. There is nothing wrong in migration, and people must be free from migrating or choosing a place to live in our country. But the key question arises, is it a force migration or by choice?
The kind of influx of people, we have seen in Mumbai and Delhi really gives nightmare to any administrator. For example, Mumbai witnesses more then 300 to 500 migrants families (people who wish to settle in Mumbai) on a daily basis and it is the similar situation in Delhi too. So when last time Sheela Dixit brought this issue, that migrants are creating problems in Delhi. She was forced to take her statement back by central leadership of Congress. The problems of Mumbai are more then problems of entire North India, which still lives in third world. Collapsing infrastructure, increasing slums, reducing forest cover (exceptions few last years), increasing traffic, pollution and reduction in per capita resources are enough to describe the pain of Mumbai. On a recent statistics, 17% of Mumbai live in upscale flats and houses, 28% of Mumbai live in Chawls and low middle class houses and 55% live in Slums. With this statistics, Raj Thackeray has all valid reasons to raise this issue, I may not agree with his actions and the way he is terrorizing whole north Indian community. But this issue needs to be addressed in a different manner.
Yes Mumbai belongs to India not only Maharashtra, but also all Indians cannot live in Mumbai. No administrator can plan the resources and facilities with these many people wish to settle in Mumbai that too with limited resources. Lets accept the fact that, we have our own limitation in planning and executions. Can we plan and execute Mumbai like Shanghai or Singapore; I can say we need to wait for time for that. Mumbai gave almost one third of revenue to the Government of India to its exchequer. And how much we give it back to Mumbai for its planning and development, I guess less than 5%.
This problem is not only with Mumbai and Delhi but almost all cosmopolitan cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and metropolitan cities like Jaipur, Indore, Nagpur and Chandigarh are facing. Manmohan Singh and all the people who are in favor of development must be thankful to Raj Thackeray, because none in this country has created so much uproar in regional development as Raj Thackeray's recent actions/comments. West Bengal’s Jyoti Babu’s government was only government in the country, which has really dealt this effectively by reducing the migration rate with significant percentages in Kolkata, in 90’. However they failed to stop the Bangladeshi infiltrators, which I bring in, in some of my other blogs.
Education, health, roads, power and water in villages are major challenges. Why are we failing in providing the developments and basic infrastructure in villages? Who is responsible for year on year basis, people deserted their own states and moving to big cities. Why we are not holding responsible to North Indian States governments, Central governments and people of these states for not creating enough opportunity, or employment in their own states. Big cities have just become big, because of uncontrolled migrations. Most of the migrants live in pathetic conditions. Mumbai has more then half of its population living slums. And the kind of development we are witnessing at this moment, and the feeling of regionalism or for that matter, feeling of ‘my city only” will continue to grow. The growing aspiration and frustration, region wise is the one and only one reason why regional parties are getting so much support in the Indian Politics.
We have seen governments after government, performing badly in our country. I still remember, when Vajpayee governments score card for ministers published in 2002 by India today, less than 10 ministers were in good performance status. And it is the similar case of Manmohan Singh's government also; you will find hardly few ministers who really understand ministry and its scope of work. Rest all are 'headless chicken" rolling between Ministry to Parliament without much of the purpose. Unfortunately, the most important job, to run the country lies in the hand of unprofessional “Jan sevak” in our country.
Remember, whenever any government loses the election, it is not that chief minister loses the power or party loses the base. Yes those are truths, but more importantly the people of the state cheated for five years, revolted for that particular government. Do we accountability of those lost five years? At the end, it is the people who voted for that government loses the most. But are we rewarding to the governments, which are doing good? Vajpayee (2004), Naidu (2004 AP), Gehlot (2003 Rajasthan) and Jaylalithaa (2005 TN) lost the elections, despite showing positive development cards.
What as “the people”, important for us? Are we really caring about the development of our own. Are Education, road, power, agriculture, infrastructure, water and sewerage management more important then cast, creed, religion or personalities to us. Narendra Modi has showed in 2007 Gujarat election, Sheela Dixit, Shivaraj singh Chauhan and Raman Singh have proved in 2008. There is no other priority at this moment then development. I hope, North Indian states chief ministers listening, the vibes of nation.
“Has Developmental politics arrived to India?”
Epilogue:
If we can’t create a single Shanghai or Singapore in our country, can we create 10 Mumbais in different part of India? After all 55% slum is what, we are habitual of.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Corruption is in our blood
Los Angeles
Last week, was condolence week. People were out in streets, and in numbers to light candles and pay their homage to martyrs and victims of 11/26. It was a perfect week in terms of catharsis, the process to clean your mind and body, Since Mumbai 11/26 shook the nation, it filled every one to heighten emotions, anger and frustration. Catharsis was necessary. I must thank all my media friends to give us a platform to cry and shout loud enough to deaf the ears of neighbors. Media in general all print and visuals scored a lot, no one talks about the money they made at this time. We needed a platform, no matter how costly it was, we would not ask how much media houses made by reaping the emotions against Political class of the nation. In the time of economic recession, they are the only one, who show the accession in their Profit and margin numbers.
One of my close friend Vasudha, kept a message on her messenger to shoot the politicians. People in Mumbai kept the slogans, “ We have killed all the terrorists, but we still have some left in our political system”. One of the country’s best communication guru, Suhail Seth appeared on Times now channel and gave an scarily impressive account of what he went through during 11/26 wee hours and he told, I quote, “Wimps are running this Country”. It seems to me that people are shouting from rooftop that, political class is the reason for the failure of our country, security, economy, poverty, education and all lapses. Media challenged the so called ‘Common men” and they were out in response of the challenge and in this rhetoric every one cursed the Godsons (Politicians) of our country. Since catharsis was necessary and it was successfully organized and articulated so that people go back to their respective comfort zones and sleep well.
Politicians are corrupt, useless and not fit for their jobs. Yes that’s true, but lets look at the system. Lets talk about common man. First and foremost, common men in this country are the most selfish and selfish then politicians. Lets accept this fact. We pay to schools for admission of our kids, we pay to teachers to pass the kids, we pay the police, not to do their duty, we pay beurocrats to move our files, we pay doctors to change reports, we pay lawyers and judges for favored decisions, we pay law makers for favored laws, we pay Parliamentarians for raising questions in parliament, filmmaker pays for U certificates and we pay to get awards, we pay to TC for berth in trains. We pay to every one who requires money legally or illegally to get our work done. Look at the way we cross the street, if you observe the pattern of people walking on the street, you can make simplest analogy with that, we know how to get our work done. In this way of paying, we get our work done, but forget the most important thing, that we are corrupting our own system.
If these common men know how to work in the system and businesses are flourishing, believe me they are paying at all levels from fourth class to elite class of this society. Selfish common man is doing all corruption and paying to politicians also and making them corrupt. If politicians are corrupt, who is paying them; it is “WE’ the common men of this country. Now if you and me can pay to our Godsons, why not Pakistanis and Bangladeshis can pay. I can say at least that, politicians are not corrupt in doing their business, and they don’t believe in untouchability. They treat equally to every one when it comes to do real business, of taking money. Have you ever heard any corrupt politician (after charged and confessed, though this class hardly exists), who said, I have taken money from Indians only and not from Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. Corruption is in our blood and we corrupted every one from Saddam Hussein (Natwar singh’s oil scam) to Quotrachi (Italian Broker) and we are continuously doing this. On Corruption index we are lying so low, that even foreign investor fear to invest in our country.
The late Prime Minister, then Mr. clean Rajiv Gandhi said, we send RS. 1 from Delhi, and at lowest level only 15 paisa reaches. And after 5 years of service of prime minister office, he became the synonym of corruption in the country. Seems like corruption took its biggest revenge, talking against it. After that almost all politicians decided not to speak about this.
We are so corrupt, that we corrupted our Gods also. Look at the way we go in Temples, Mosques and Churches. We bribe god also, please do this for me; I will do that for you. We offer fast rituals, sacrifices, money and what not. Businessmen go with their ledgers to Tirupati balaji and offer percentage to god. For just successful marriages only, even eminent people, who lost their sleeps during 11/26 offer diamond necklace, bracelets and cash offers. So when God can be pleased with these offerings why cant Godsons also. The basic philosophy of our country is based upon offering and makes one happy (God and Godsons). Corruption starts from here, and it goes at highest level, and one form of corruption is favoring our own community and religion. So-called common people vote for the name of cast and religion, and expect politician to save the nation. Dynastic ruled prevailed till this date in country. Nehru favored Indira, Indira favored Sanjay and later Rajiv, Soniya favored Rahul, and other political patrons favored their own sons, daughters and wife. People like Shahabuddin and Phoolan Devi got elected as Member of Parliament in this country. Have we ever understood the meaning of Representative? Representative is one amongst us and who represent us, if we are choosing corrupts, criminals and useless politicians, what are we? People claim that we don’t have choices, if we don’t have choices why not we become a choice and voice by ourselves. And politicians are happy to reap the votes of common men, because it is vicious circle. Selfish common man has no choice, because they don’t want and ineffective politicians will continue to be in power, because we don’t give them alternatives.
System requires a ‘Samudra manthan” to treat thoroughly. As one of my teachers, CP Jhawar Sir (Principal, Vaishnav School, Indore), told me recently, “Can you believe, a country like us who is teaching and preaching Geeta since last 5000 years remain so corrupt till this date.” And mind it, this corruption is not 60 year old, this corruptions is with us since centuries, Let me take you to the history, Prathviraj Chauhan lost to Gauri because of corrupt Jaichand. In year 1757 during Palashi war, Sirajuddaula lost to East Indian army because of corrupt Generals. Do you want to know, why we were slave for thousand years, it is because of corruption from highest to lowest level. Corruption is in our blood, when we teach to our kids, that to win over enemy use all weapons (Sam, Dam, Dand and Bhed, meaning Friendship, Buying (Bribes/offerings), Force and Division respectively (this is coming from Panchatantra). Most of the common people do not deal with enemy outside country. They apply these teachings within, so what best we can expect from our society.
Fight with the corruption and not with the politicians. Basic rule of thumb is, attack the root cause not to the flowerings(thorns). Politicians are our own people, pity on them; to get a ticket of any legislative assembly they themselves pay the money. Why to blame them only. Security lapses and other problems, which require ‘people interface’ for corrections, will continue to survive in our country, until and unless we change “the People”.
Epilogue
JP* once told, I guarantee that I wont take money but I cant guarantee that I will not give money. If I have to come Delhi to attend a session, and I don’t have berth in train, I will prefer to pay money to Ticket conductor to get a berth.
And when I was studying bachelor of civil engineering, most of my classmates wanted to join government jobs, and many commented, to survive in the system one has to accept bribe. I said immediately, I prefer to give money rather then taking. My logic was simple, the one, who gives, obviously has more money. I don’t think that day I knew how system or for that matter big corporate houses and power corridors work in this country so tightly knitted.
* Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan
Last week, was condolence week. People were out in streets, and in numbers to light candles and pay their homage to martyrs and victims of 11/26. It was a perfect week in terms of catharsis, the process to clean your mind and body, Since Mumbai 11/26 shook the nation, it filled every one to heighten emotions, anger and frustration. Catharsis was necessary. I must thank all my media friends to give us a platform to cry and shout loud enough to deaf the ears of neighbors. Media in general all print and visuals scored a lot, no one talks about the money they made at this time. We needed a platform, no matter how costly it was, we would not ask how much media houses made by reaping the emotions against Political class of the nation. In the time of economic recession, they are the only one, who show the accession in their Profit and margin numbers.
One of my close friend Vasudha, kept a message on her messenger to shoot the politicians. People in Mumbai kept the slogans, “ We have killed all the terrorists, but we still have some left in our political system”. One of the country’s best communication guru, Suhail Seth appeared on Times now channel and gave an scarily impressive account of what he went through during 11/26 wee hours and he told, I quote, “Wimps are running this Country”. It seems to me that people are shouting from rooftop that, political class is the reason for the failure of our country, security, economy, poverty, education and all lapses. Media challenged the so called ‘Common men” and they were out in response of the challenge and in this rhetoric every one cursed the Godsons (Politicians) of our country. Since catharsis was necessary and it was successfully organized and articulated so that people go back to their respective comfort zones and sleep well.
Politicians are corrupt, useless and not fit for their jobs. Yes that’s true, but lets look at the system. Lets talk about common man. First and foremost, common men in this country are the most selfish and selfish then politicians. Lets accept this fact. We pay to schools for admission of our kids, we pay to teachers to pass the kids, we pay the police, not to do their duty, we pay beurocrats to move our files, we pay doctors to change reports, we pay lawyers and judges for favored decisions, we pay law makers for favored laws, we pay Parliamentarians for raising questions in parliament, filmmaker pays for U certificates and we pay to get awards, we pay to TC for berth in trains. We pay to every one who requires money legally or illegally to get our work done. Look at the way we cross the street, if you observe the pattern of people walking on the street, you can make simplest analogy with that, we know how to get our work done. In this way of paying, we get our work done, but forget the most important thing, that we are corrupting our own system.
If these common men know how to work in the system and businesses are flourishing, believe me they are paying at all levels from fourth class to elite class of this society. Selfish common man is doing all corruption and paying to politicians also and making them corrupt. If politicians are corrupt, who is paying them; it is “WE’ the common men of this country. Now if you and me can pay to our Godsons, why not Pakistanis and Bangladeshis can pay. I can say at least that, politicians are not corrupt in doing their business, and they don’t believe in untouchability. They treat equally to every one when it comes to do real business, of taking money. Have you ever heard any corrupt politician (after charged and confessed, though this class hardly exists), who said, I have taken money from Indians only and not from Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. Corruption is in our blood and we corrupted every one from Saddam Hussein (Natwar singh’s oil scam) to Quotrachi (Italian Broker) and we are continuously doing this. On Corruption index we are lying so low, that even foreign investor fear to invest in our country.
The late Prime Minister, then Mr. clean Rajiv Gandhi said, we send RS. 1 from Delhi, and at lowest level only 15 paisa reaches. And after 5 years of service of prime minister office, he became the synonym of corruption in the country. Seems like corruption took its biggest revenge, talking against it. After that almost all politicians decided not to speak about this.
We are so corrupt, that we corrupted our Gods also. Look at the way we go in Temples, Mosques and Churches. We bribe god also, please do this for me; I will do that for you. We offer fast rituals, sacrifices, money and what not. Businessmen go with their ledgers to Tirupati balaji and offer percentage to god. For just successful marriages only, even eminent people, who lost their sleeps during 11/26 offer diamond necklace, bracelets and cash offers. So when God can be pleased with these offerings why cant Godsons also. The basic philosophy of our country is based upon offering and makes one happy (God and Godsons). Corruption starts from here, and it goes at highest level, and one form of corruption is favoring our own community and religion. So-called common people vote for the name of cast and religion, and expect politician to save the nation. Dynastic ruled prevailed till this date in country. Nehru favored Indira, Indira favored Sanjay and later Rajiv, Soniya favored Rahul, and other political patrons favored their own sons, daughters and wife. People like Shahabuddin and Phoolan Devi got elected as Member of Parliament in this country. Have we ever understood the meaning of Representative? Representative is one amongst us and who represent us, if we are choosing corrupts, criminals and useless politicians, what are we? People claim that we don’t have choices, if we don’t have choices why not we become a choice and voice by ourselves. And politicians are happy to reap the votes of common men, because it is vicious circle. Selfish common man has no choice, because they don’t want and ineffective politicians will continue to be in power, because we don’t give them alternatives.
System requires a ‘Samudra manthan” to treat thoroughly. As one of my teachers, CP Jhawar Sir (Principal, Vaishnav School, Indore), told me recently, “Can you believe, a country like us who is teaching and preaching Geeta since last 5000 years remain so corrupt till this date.” And mind it, this corruption is not 60 year old, this corruptions is with us since centuries, Let me take you to the history, Prathviraj Chauhan lost to Gauri because of corrupt Jaichand. In year 1757 during Palashi war, Sirajuddaula lost to East Indian army because of corrupt Generals. Do you want to know, why we were slave for thousand years, it is because of corruption from highest to lowest level. Corruption is in our blood, when we teach to our kids, that to win over enemy use all weapons (Sam, Dam, Dand and Bhed, meaning Friendship, Buying (Bribes/offerings), Force and Division respectively (this is coming from Panchatantra). Most of the common people do not deal with enemy outside country. They apply these teachings within, so what best we can expect from our society.
Fight with the corruption and not with the politicians. Basic rule of thumb is, attack the root cause not to the flowerings(thorns). Politicians are our own people, pity on them; to get a ticket of any legislative assembly they themselves pay the money. Why to blame them only. Security lapses and other problems, which require ‘people interface’ for corrections, will continue to survive in our country, until and unless we change “the People”.
Epilogue
JP* once told, I guarantee that I wont take money but I cant guarantee that I will not give money. If I have to come Delhi to attend a session, and I don’t have berth in train, I will prefer to pay money to Ticket conductor to get a berth.
And when I was studying bachelor of civil engineering, most of my classmates wanted to join government jobs, and many commented, to survive in the system one has to accept bribe. I said immediately, I prefer to give money rather then taking. My logic was simple, the one, who gives, obviously has more money. I don’t think that day I knew how system or for that matter big corporate houses and power corridors work in this country so tightly knitted.
* Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan
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