[Indian Diary]

Presidential election

After UP elections, it is the Presidential Polls which are at the centre stage of National Politics. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the present President and first citizen of the country would be completing his five year term in July.

In India, presidential poll is by a secret ballot by the elected legislatures in the centre and in the States and are not bound by party whip. The new President will be elected by an electoral college comprising 4120 State legislatures and 776 MPs. It is interesting to note that every vote has not a same value.

The formula takes cognizance of the population of the State in relation to the number of legislatures it has. This puts a higher value to the votes of MLA’s from States with higher population.

The combined value of the 4120 MLA’s is 5,49,474 while that of MPs is 5,49,408. The political scene on who could be India’s next President may be still hazy. Election would be held around July 15, political parties are required to chose their nominee before June 26, 2007.

Both ruling UPA and NDA ( opposition coalition) are interested to have their own man in the President House.

Hectic parleys are going on. President’s role assumes much greater importance in the era of coalition governments as he can have his own perception with regard to the largest party in the house, in the event of a hung house. Again with pliable President, the ruling party at the Centre finds it easy to disturb the State Governments and impose President’s rule.

Outgoing President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

If Presidential polls in India were by direct polling and Abdul Kalam opts to contest for the second term, there is not a slightest doubt that he will win hands down and his nearest opponent may not even get 10% of the polled votes.

It is a reflection of the goodwill earned by Dr. Kalam, as a President in the last five years. Various opinion poll surveys suggest that country is rooting for him to stay back. A man of masses, who learnt lesson in honesty in public life from his father, was born on 15th October,1931 in a far flung village near Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

This genius, who distinguished himself as a world renowned rocket scientist and successfully spearheaded India’s indigenously guided missile programme, has received honorary doctorates from 30 Universities and Institutions. A man of literary pursuits, four of Dr. Kalam’s books” Wings of Fire “ India-2020- A vision for new Millennium” “My Journey.”

And Ignited Minds-Unleashing the power within India” have become a household name. Even at this age he betrays, the innocence and simplicity of a child and it is no wonder that he is most comfortable and happy in the company of students and children. A man of ideas, he has new ideas and programmes for the people from all professions and walks of life.

For example, while our run of the mill politicians, as a part of lip service, are generally heard saying that our education system must create employment, this scientist philosopher has a different idea which gets reflected when he said, “Education system must create employment generators and not employment seekers.”

He imbued the Presidency with a rare individuality and endeared himself to the people from all walks of life, religions, faiths and sects. There was a time when rubber stamp was the adjective which was used for the first citizen of the country and Rashtrapati Bhawan (President House) was perceived to be the abode for pliable politicians who would see terminal point to their political careers.

Education and Literacy

Newspapers and NGO’s Reading Corners doing their bit to educate children.

In Chandigarh, a city with one million population, and a capital of two States Panjab and Haryana, English newspapers are doing their bit to improve child’s knowledge of English and general awareness. Four English dailies-The Tribune (oldest in the region), The Hindustan Times, The Times of India and The Indian Express are published from here.

All of them supply Newspapers to the students in schools at half a price, the delivery is given in school itself. Open price is Rs. 2 and it is given to students for R. 1. Students may or may not be scanning, but their parents definitely start reading. It is indeed a good idea to enlighten the masses and also to increase circulation in a highly competitive Indian environment.

Likewise an international NGO, in partnership with State governments, is setting up children’s libraries in government primary schools. This ‘Room to read’ project was started in Delhi in 2003 but now has expanded to four other States. The organization which has now 1000 libraries in various schools and covers 200,000 children is executing their plan through partnership with State Governments.

The school is required to provide space and a room. The organisation provides books and a librarian who in the later stage is replaced by a school teacher. A noble plan to educate underprivileged in the society is fast spreading its wings in other States also. If some body in Sri Lanka is interested in this NGO which gets funds from international bodies, he can contact www.roomtoread.org

NGOs and Corporates contributing their might to improve quality of education

Even Corporates as a part of social responsibility, are lending their helping hand to spruce up education. Sunil Mittal”s Bharti Enterprise is setting up 1000 schools in different parts of the country.

There are many corporates who are funding mid day meal. I have seen Chinmaya mission providing mid day meal to the deprived children in Banglore city. In Karnatka, the Azim Premji Foundation provides work book for every subject to enable better understanding of curricula. It has prepared a software to make teaching more interactive which will benefit 14000 schools across 14 States.

In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also, an NGO has offered support in setting right a government education apparatus that has gone awry. It has been a tradition with old Business Houses like Tatas, Birlas, Shrirams and many others to have their own schools and colleges for the children of the employees, at the place of their manufacturing plants.

DAV organisation set up by Mahatma Hans Raj in 1883 and Gurukulas set up by Swami Shardha Nand in 1905 to commemorate the ideals of a reformer sage Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, have more than 2000 DAV and Arya Schools and colleges including those imparting education in medicine and engineering in different parts of the country. Mid day meal scheme launched in almost all States has helped to bring down the drop out rate.

An alternative to expensive private tutors

Think of a situation when your child is to appear for a competitive exam and he is clueless about the problems. The private tutor is either not available or he is asking for a fee which is beyond your reach.

What to do? Problem has been very well tackled in India. Private tutors are available for all levels of examinations on the internet-24 hours a day. With solutions to problems just a click away, students in the metros are opting out of expensive coaching centres.

Something about Chandigarh

Chandigarh, a brain child of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and designed by the French Architect Le Corbusier, is a very well planned modern city, known for its exotic lovely gardens. According to one survey, it is the cleanest city in India and far ahead of Chennai which comes at second place.

To save the city from congestion two more satellite cities, Mohali and Panchkula, have been developed in its close vicinity. The population of these three cities is about two million. Chandigarh, which is the capital of two States Panjab and Haryana, has number of places of tourist interest but the one which is unique and attracts people from all corners is a Rock garden developed by Nek Chand ( a product of a unique theme of using waste and thrown away items, for useful purposes).

Himalayan range starts at about 30 Kms from here. A city with most modern amenities is the first choice with North Indians. It has a University, three medical colleges including Post Graduate Medical Centre and about a dozen engineering colleges besides colleges in all disciplines right from fashion designing to modelling.

Now city justifiably boasts of night life also with busy night market, number of pubs, clubs and discotheques which attract thousands of party hoppers, who wine dine and dance.

No doubt, people are spendthrift but are particular of hygiene and ambience. People are health freaks and devote lot of time on fitness schedule and Yoga. Thanks to the emergence of Yoga Guru Ram Dev on the scene, in the last three years, more and more people in India, especially of upper class are taking to Yoga.

To say that Yoga buzz is sweeping the entire nation, as never before, will be the right assessment. Chandigarh has highest per capita income in the country with 90% population from middle and upper class only. A city with 97% literacy has about 7,26.000. Vehicles registered with local administration and traffic is highly regulated and disciplined by Indian standards.

Killings in fake encounters

Killings in fake encounters was one such issue which time and again disrupted the proceedings of the recently concluded session of Indian parliament. It was not the rarest of the rare cases but it became an issue because the extrajudicial killing of one time terrorist Sohrabuddin and his wife took place in BJP ruled Gujarat. Protest is not against the system and evil, aim is only to target the party.

Killings by men in uniform (Police and army) in fake encounters, better called as extrajudicial killings, have become a norm in India. Elimination of dreaded terrorists is generally done in fake encounters only. One in fifty cases comes to light that also when a victim has somebody who can approach various forums like Human Rights Organisations.

Remaining never get exposed and give a reason to Indian Police to feel triumphant in the jungle raj in which the State rules as the supreme predator. The alleged Villainous killings of Police officer Sohrabuddin who is alleged to have had links with Pak based terrorist group and his wife Kauser Bi by three Police officers of the IPS cadre are in news not because it is the rarest of the rare cases but because it happened in BJP ruled State Gujarat.

Generally such killings have the veiled sanction of top cops and in a few cases there exists a political patronage.

No doubt there are a few such instances also when Police men do it to get out of turn promotions and perks, and to acquire some special status like ‘Encounter Specialist’ for themselves.

It is not a small thing to be known as an ‘Encounter specialist’, he enjoys iconic stature and though he rolls in crores, his means of amassing wealth are rarely investigated.

They enjoy tremendous public goodwill for having eliminating the feared criminals and are poured with rewards which contribute significantly to fake encounters. There is another angle to such fake encounters, the Police and Army feel that by observing outdated laws of the land whose wheels move at an excruciatingly slow pace, it is not possible to get hold and punish the dreaded terrorists.

Quite often politicians also use such encounters to get their rivals eliminated through their hand-picked police officials. In most of the big States like Bihar, Jharkhand and UP where infrastructure is still very poor, Head of the Police Station is like a feudal lord and for him Political leader who puts him in that position is the only boss and he can go to any length to please him and such murders are a part of this culture.

Such is the terror of these politician and police duo that nobody can even think of lodging a complaint or of becoming a witness to such grisly and gruesome crimes. Growing naxal problem is the gift of this law of jungle.

Three years of UPA in power

With UPA Govt. planning celebrations after its completion of three years in office in the centre, its own cabinet Minister Mani Shankar Iyer, played a spoilt sport by stating that the UPA could lose the support of aam admi (common man) if it persists with current economic policies.

He was hinting to the disproportionate benefit of 10% growth reaching the masses. In layman’s language growth is creating more inequality. Congress leaders were quick to distance themselves from the views expressed by their own leader.

But, then the results of the elections held in last two years support what Mani Shanker said. Congress party has the old culture of ignoring the advice of the party men working at the grass roots level.

Now lip implants

There is a paradigm shift. The looks crazy modern generation in India is prepared to go to any length to look sexy and good. It is not only confined to Malinga . But, looking good, now a day comes with a price and a bit of pain. There are many girls who are undergoing silicone implant surgery to get the most kissable lips.

The full pout of the lips is in demand like never before. Silicon implant takes just thirty minutes and provides natural look and starts from anywhere Rs. 25,000 on wards.

India’s item girl Rakhi Sawant who remains in news for all wrong reasons, recently had the implant. She says “The surgery has changed the appeal of my face. I always dreamt of sexy, luscious and voluptuous lips. Now after implant these have become so sexy that every one wants to smooch them. It gives me a lot of confidence.”

Sacred Space

It was the level of Political Morality in India

Chanakya is still honoured as one of the greatest thinkers, born on Indian soil. As a kingmaker he brought Chandragupta Mauraya to power in Gangetic plane in place of despotic Mahapadma Nanda. As a Prime Minister of Chandragupta Mauraya, there was little that escaped his shrewd brain. His arthashastra (treatise on Economics & statecraft) is known to be a lesson in diplomacy and worldly wisdom.

But even after becoming the Prime Minister, Chankya lived a very austere life because he believed that with power came responsibility and accountability.

One cold winter night, a thief barged into Chanakya’s house. Even after hunting about for ages the thief could not find any valuables.

All he could see was Chanakya sleeping on a cot in one corner, covered with an old worn blanket. He wanted to beat a hasty retreat but was suddenly struck by the sight of a large number of new blankets stacked in the adjoining room.

As he tried to make off with some, he was caught and hauled before Chanakya. “ Your Excellency, I admit my offence.

But one question haunts my mind. If you permit, may I ask?” pleaded the thief. Chanakya gave the nod and the thief said, “Your Excellency, I saw a big heap of new blankets in your house, but despite that, in the bone chilling cold, you had covered your body with one very old blanket which even had holes in it. Why?”

Chanakya who believed that those in power owed an explanation for their conduct to the people said, “The heap of new blankets was purchased yesterday for giving to destitute. They await speedy distribution.