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THE TIMES
A T H O U G H T F O R TO DAY
I

OF IDEAS

THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.

KENNETH BLANCHARD, American author

Romancing India On Screen

By cutting red tape, the government can make India a global film destination
Ratnottama Sengupta

Falling In Line
BJPs wannabe prime ministerial candidates jump the gun by endorsing Narendra Modi
he BJPs wannabe prime ministerial candidates have finally read what they believe is the writing on the wall: there is no stopping Narendra Modi from aiming for the top job in New Delhi. The Gujarat chief ministers techno-savvy media campaign, his tight focus on development, the size and enthusiastic reactions of the crowds who attend his public rallies, his disdain for his local rivals, his sharp, often tasteless, attacks on the national leadership of the Congress seem to have convinced them that he is all set to win a third term in office. The bickering in the Congress party ranks over the distribution of tickets stands in contrast to the acquiescence of the BJP state unit in the choice of its candidates for the assembly poll a choice that Modi alone has made. His muscular approach to politics, with its emphasis on a cult of personality , appears to be paying dividends. Under these circumstances, the wannabes doubtless reckoned, they might as well hold their personal ambitions on a tight leash and, as an insurance for the future, fall in line. Sushma Swaraj, who was favoured by the late Bal Thackeray as the BJPs mascot, fired the first shot. Another contender, Arun Jaitley , followed suit. Lesser mortals like Gopinath Munde, and the partys loudest of loud mouths Navjot Singh Sidhu, lost no time to follow in Sushma Swarajs footsteps. Sidhus cheap shot at Keshubhai Patel dubbing him as an anti-national may have embarrassed the party leadership. But this, the wannabes must have surmised, was akin to a roadside accident. The wannabes may well have jumped the gun. A senior BJP leader, Venkaiah Naidu, continues to sit on the fence. There is no word yet from L K Advani who has not formally declared that he is not available for the top job. Most important of all, the RSS leadership in Nagpur is bound to regard the endorsement for Modi as a vote of no-confidence against Nitin Gadkari, anointed by it to head the party . So, no matter how well Modi performs in Gujarat, there is no guarantee that you can take his national role for granted. The NDA partners in particular can be trusted to ask Modi to take a firm stand on the question of minorities. Modi might win the battle in Gujarat, but to win the war at an all-India level will be a different ball game.

The 43rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) that opened with Life of Pi, will close with Mira Nairs The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Both films have an India connection. Theres no better way to showcase Incredible India on screen. That could be the reason why the Iffi consolidates its focus with four international titles that were shot on significant locations here: Save Your Legs that releases in Australia this January; Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, seen in metros this year; Slumdog Millionaire, which made the Oscars say jai ho! India and The Namesake, that was perceived as the countrys greatest tourism commercial. A quick flashback shows Ashton Kutcher shot at Safdarjung Tomb, Hauz Khas and Taj Mahal this August, for Jobs, made on Apple founder Steve Jobs who came to India in 1974, seeking spiritual enlightenment. Before Kutcher, Julia Roberts came for Eat, Pray, Love (2010), a film about a recently divorced womans quest for self-discovery. Earlier, Kate Winslet came for Holy Smoke (1999), taking a satirical look at religious zealots. Spirituality and India might seem coterminous if you follow the titles shot in Delhi, Kolkata, Haridwar, Varanasi, Pondicherry, Mumbai. On the flip side, when makers of Skyfall sought to shoot Bond on the Goa bridge, they were denied permission although Bollywood

showed Kidnap, featuring Sanjay Dutt, on the same location. Notwithstanding talk of a single window for securing permissions from I&B, home and defence ministries, ground reality has remained the same since the proposal was drafted after Deepa Mehtas Water shifted to Sri Lanka. With the result that Ashton Kutcher came, shot for two days and left without taking permission from I&B! On the other hand, Save Your Legs, an Australian comedy on cricket madness that binds the two countries, had a very happy experience, said producer Robyn Kershaw at Iffis Film Bazaar. They used a local contact and that really

Exploring new vistas on the silver screen

Indias long coastlines, lush forests, golden deserts, snowcapped mountains and ancient monuments, its civilisational diversity, in short, could lure many more filmmakers
helped with cultural sensitivity. Consequently, next time she will look for serious collaboration since the crew here is so fantastic and offers such great choice! The gains from an international filmmaker shooting in India are multiple. When Richard Attenborough came to shoot Shatranj Ke Khiladi, he firmed up his decision to make Gandhi with an international cast. The Oscars are just one indication of where it placed India as a filmmaking giant. Decades

before that, Jean Renoir shot The River in Kolkata, and provided lessons for Indian masters like Satyajit Ray and Subrato Mitra. For all the criticism it garnered for gaining from poverty, Slumdog Millionaire did win Indian cinema a new technical recognition through Resul Pookuttys Oscar for best sound mixing. India entered the international screen in 1938, when Zoltan Kordan shot The Drum in Technicolor. It was one of three British films that came to be known as the Empire Trilogy. The Rains Came (1939), with Myrna Loy and Tyrone Power, was about an Indian aristocrat who returns from medical training in the US to give himself to the poor folk of Ranchipore. The theme found an echo in The City of Joy (1992) where Patrick Swayze, a doctor, searches for spiritual enlightenment after the loss of a patient and discovers that poverty

cannot rob people of joie de vivre. For the German adventure The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959) available in three versions beginning from the 1920s Fritz Lang indulged the stereotypes of Indian maharaja, white-skinned Eurasian dancer, and German architect. By then, George Cukor in his Bhowanipore Junction (1954), had already filmed with remarkable sincerity , the Eurasian community, amid the turbulence of the British withdrawing from India. Full three decades passed before A Passage to India (1984), David Leans final film, questioned the clash of civilisations in British India. These titles tell only half the story: India has also been the stage for Octopussy (1983). At a time when James Bond turns 50, its good to know that 30 years ago the cult character came to Udaipurs Lake Palace. He was, how-

ever, preceded by Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven who, in the WW II film Sea Wolves (1980), launched a covert attack on a German merchant ship transmitting information from neutral Portugals territory in Goa. Antonioni and Rossellini have been enticed to shoot the Kumbh Mela. Conrad Rooks Siddhartha (1972) took iconic photographer Sven Nykvist from Rishikesh ashrams to Bharatpur palaces, as the born-rich Shashi Kapoor sought a life in harmony with himself. The Merchant-Ivory library couldnt have been shot anywhere else. Mira Nair, Deepa Mehta, Gurinder Chadha are incessantly probing the cultural conflicts when the East and the West come together. A fresh lot of directors are filming the thugees of The Deceivers (1988); the reformation of The Warrior (2001); a family reuniting in Darjeeling Unlimited (2007); British senior citizens outsourcing their retirement in Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012). And so the list goes on. The picture could only get bigger. And the countrys long coastlines, lush forests, golden deserts, snowcapped mountains, ancient monuments, metropolises, tribal pockets its civilisational diversity, in short, could lure many more filmmakers. Such projects will bring economic gains. So why dont we look inwards and hurry up the process of streamlining the rules? That would, undoubtedly, build on Indias philosophy Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam the whole world is a family. For, as Ang Lee said while filming Life of Pi: You become the movie you are making.

Identity Wars
Instead of probing inter-caste marriages, the PMK needs to turn the searchlight on itself
t a meet organised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), petty politicians have called for a probe into inter-caste marriages in Tamil Nadu. Last heard, inter-caste marriages werent illegal in India. Nevertheless they threaten to blur caste and other identity divides that many politicians like to prey on, hence the absurd demand for a probe. While the mobilisation of Vanniyar caste sentiment against dalits appears to be the motive force behind the PMKs demand, in north Indian states there have been calls to ban marriages within the same gotra (family name) and same village. Moral vigilantism against such weddings, at the instance of caste and khap panchayats, has resulted in honour killings. Similarly , inter-religious weddings have become pretexts for whipping up communal sentiment. A change can happen only if such caste and village panchayats are forced to stop their efforts to intervene in personal choices of youngsters. It also requires that such organisations are deprived of their unhindered authority and also their powers to influence investigators and prosecutors and protect the guilty . Likewise, those who claim to represent a religious community should not be allowed to come in the way of inter-religious marriages. As long as we reinforce the power of community elders over the individual, or in general privilege the views of old people over those of youth, we will be stuck with archaic and fixed identities perpetually at war with each other. The PMKs machinations are only a symptom of this. The contrary proposition also holds: empowering personal choice is the best route to social peace.

Army to acquire dedicated aviation wing

Congruent with strategic needs

he armys decision to press ahead troops as well as with the creation of a permanent capacity for force procadre for the Army Aviation Corps jection. This is also (AAC) represents a significant step for- congruent with the ward in meeting the strategic objectives of recognition that conthe armed forces. A full-fledged aviation ventional division of wing would enable the army to operate its the armed forces own light observation and attack helicop- based on terrain ters in the short term, and medium-lift land, air and sea choppers and fixed-winged aircraft in the is becoming increaslong term. At present, most of the air support provided to the I T I M E S V I E W I army offensive or tactical falls within the domain of the air force. This ingly redundant, borne out by the armies requires considerable efforts to ensure of the US, China and even Pakistan. smooth coordination between the two Critics of the move have cited dupliforces. However, with adequate heft, an cation of efforts in the face of limited expanded AAC can take care of all of the resources as a reason for impeding the armys air support needs below 10,000 ft. army from acquiring its own mini air A dedicated aviation wing for the force. However, this is merely symptomatic army would not only improve the latters of a turf battle between the army and the response capabilities in battlefield scena- air force, with the latter refusing to let go of rios but also provide land forces a platform certain prerogatives. Such petty squabto operate in an extra dimension. An avia- bling must not be allowed to come in the tion brigade would add considerable teeth way of the larger interests of the armed to the armys strike formations and pivot forces. A full-fledged aviation wing for the corps, greatly improving mobility of army is a step in the right direction.

What will IAF do then?

aerospace should make it the default leader in all aerial war-fighting tasks. Note that the IAF has been struggling in the face of shortage of pilots, training facilities and the tendency of its backbone MiGs to come crashing down. Given that the army has its own unique set of upgradation challenges, why would it want to start at Ground Zero where IAF is already at work? The main argument I COUNTERVIEW I goes that the army should not have to wait Rudrani Jalan oddly asking, will the Chinese threat for the IAFs air support in situations of last more than two years? Next, the urgency and surprise. Why not? IAFs defence budget for 2012-13 saw a real attack fleet should provide timely supincrease of just about 8%. The need of port to the army in all tactically approthe hour is clearly to optimise existing priate situations. Shortfalls in delivery resources, but it is precisely this objec- need to be addressed via better coorditive that is being undermined by self- nation, which will be far more costindulgent muscle-flexing between dif- effective and advantageous than the ferent defence divisions. army muscling onto the IAFs turf. WhatWhether pushing for the right to ever international examples the chamoperate its own attack helicopters or a pions of the armys mini air force cite, mini air force, the armys case has been the most significant global trend is the challenged by the Indian Air Forces integration of defence forces into a seamcontention that its core competence in less unit for fighting modern warfare.

ndias slowing economy is taking an inevitable toll on its defence budget. At this years beginning, the finance ministry red-flagged an ambitious military expansion plan by

SNAP JUDGMENT
Bhanot Rehabilitated
fter serving a one-year jail sentence for graft in the Commonwealth Games, Lalit Bhanot is back at the IOA helm. His recent election as IOA secretary general shows the continued stranglehold of power politics over sports bodies. Bhanot partnered Haryana politician Abhay Singh Chautala to wrest control of the organisation. To promote excellence in sport, bodies like the IOA must be de-politicised forthwith.

Stand by your man

Not just political tensions, the Bhatt vs Modi saga is also a mirror of gender relations
Monobina Gupta

Corporal Punishment
n a brazen act Nitin Nikam, a MNS corporator, repeatedly slapped an elderly private contractor, D G Patil, for delay in repairing a damaged water pipeline near Mumbai. Caught on camera, the incident happened in full public glare. Politicians seem to think nothing of taking the law into their own hands. To reverse this unhealthy trend, the guilty must be punished.
I

Follow your Nose

ver tried to find perfect love through scent? According to a study in the Biological Psychology journal, checking out someones smell is an important way of finding Mr or Ms Perfect. Men and women, whore unable to smell, were found to be more insecure as against those with a strong sense of smell. So next time, remember to use your nose before taking those love vows.

ou may expect Shweta Bhatt, the valiant wife of the police officer Sanjiv Bhatt, to break into Stand by your man, a popular 60s country song. The homemaker wife has rushed in where political stalwarts fear to tread. Resonating with the spirit of those cloyingly sweet and jarring lyrics, Shwetas act of bravery is meant to aid her husband Sanjiv and his fight against Narendra Modi. The verdict of the forthcoming uneven electoral face-off is virtually a foregone conclusion. But hold that thought. You could instead choose a different strain of music, for instance, Harry Belafontes Man smart/women are smarter and ask: Who is the smarter one in this case? Shweta Bhatt or the Indian National Congress? A political greenhorn, leveraged by a dispirited Congress, Shweta is about to take on the roaring Gujarati lion in his seemingly impregnable den. If that doesnt qualify as reckless political bravery , nothing does. But reckless valiance is not always a bad thing to experiment with. Especially in dire situations like this one when you simply have nothing to lose. What you need perhaps is to make a symbol out of your defeat, to send out a hollow message of courage or honour in the face of yet another imminent calamity . That could be the Congresss desperate game plan. But in this bizarre Modi vs Bhatt episode, thats not the only idea at play . A devoted wife suddenly taking the political center stage, with husband by her side, who ends up speaking much too often on her behalf, also reinforces the traditional idea of Indian womanhood. As Shweta herself has said, victory is not the essence of her contest. In other words, the politics of this high-pitched election has already been pushed aside. At the centre of all the buzz is the unexpectedness of a housewife, deciding to brave the dirty political world, if only for the sake of her embattled husband. Remember Lalu Prasad, who at the height of the fodder scam found succour from his politically novice wife Rabri Devi? Forced to give up his chief ministership, Lalu anointed Rabri as his successor, sidelining party heavyweights. Till then confined to the house and the kitchen, Rabri was pushed to the nerve centre of politics, not just of Bihar, her state, but also the Delhi darbar. In this case, much is to be said of the conduct, or the lack of it, of the ruling Congress, Gujarats main opposition party . Languishing on the sidelines of Gujarats stormy political theatre, the Congress has systematically allowed its adversary to walk all over it. The partys continued listlessness is inexplicable, to put it mildly . One would have expected the Congress to work itself into shape, especially in the aftermath of the 2002 riots and build for itself an identity that Modi would find tough to reckon with. Not just that, even on the chief ministers much publicised development model, much was to be said as well as exposed. But the Congress played truant. Most of the stark revelations pointing to the gaping holes in Modis development project came from academics and stray journalists. Not the opposition party . The Congress continued to hibernate till it chanced upon a face-saver in Shweta Bhatt. Interestingly , the Modi vs Bhatt case raises questions about not just party politics, but also gender politics. The BJP has grabbed this opportunity to point fingers at Sanjiv Bhatt and decry his charges against Modi. But just for a moment put politics aside, and Shweta could easily become the BJPs brand ambassador promoting the image of the ideal Indian woman. As a party , which hardly ever misses an occasion to celebrate the sati-savitri cult, the BJP should be proud of Shwetas contribution to fortifying this patriarchal idealism. But thats not the only contradiction. Shwetas unexpected electoral foray must surely be a dampener for Modi and his professed masculine politics, his macho aggression, his inability to apologise. Imagine all that being wasted on a political neophyte like Shweta Bhatt.

SACRED S PAC E

When Theres A Storm In Your Brain

one has a shocking experience and takes it seriously, that will automatically open those closed ome years ago i spent a few days in Kigali, doors. This process can sometimes bring about the capital city of Rwanda in central miracles: a person can then play a role that was Africa. During this visit, i happened to unimaginable prior to that experience. This principle can be applied to almost meet a Gujarati Indian, who was living in Kigali as an immigrant. He was running a every situation, big or small. Anyone can perform a miracle, the only condition being cloth shop in the city . One day i visited his shop and found that he that he should have the capacity to turn the was able to deal with his customers in fluent shocking moment to good account. and understandable English. He seemed to In psychology the brainstorm theory have a good working knowledge of the lan- explains such abnormal events. When there is guage. One of his friends told me that there was a shocking experience, there is a storm in the an interesting story behind his English. When human brain. This brainstorm activates dorthis Gujarati Indian first came to Kigali, and mant cells of the mind, and one becomes capaopened his shop, he knew no English. ble of doing what one could not have But a large number of his customers accomplished in a normal situation. were English-speaking, so he felt comThere are numerous examples like pelled to try to speak in English. that of say , Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. During the early days, his English He was born into a poor, untouchable was far from good. One day someone family . As a boy , he found himself said to him, If you are not in a posirejected in his own society. This sad tion to speak correct English, why experience was overwhelming, but THE are you trying to speak it? The he decided to overcome this situashopkeeper simply replied, I speak SPEAKING tion. After much hard work, he sucincorrect English so that i may be cessfully completed his education, TREE able to speak correct English. and finally emerged as a great mind And so it came about. In two years time in the drawing up of the Indian Constitution. he was able to deal with his customers in the After Independence he was appointed as the English language. When i met him, he was chairman of the drafting committee of the fluent in English as a means of communication, Indian Constitution. What is imperative in such a situation is and for a shopkeeper that was good enough. Therefore, Where theres a will theres that one who faces such adversity should not a way . If you have a strong enough will to become demoralised, but should learn from achieve something, you will do so, sooner other peoples behaviour towards him, so that than later. Strong will itself is like successful he may unfold his own potential. A strong will can help reveal ones hidden schooling as you learn from experience, and for a sincere person, experience is a success- potential. But there is a difference between willing and wishing. Do not follow any unreful teacher. Studies of the human brain tell us that it alistic wish: follow your true will and you will contains numerous windows. Some are open be able to follow your dream. and others are closed. It requires a compelling Follow the Maulana on our website, www.speasituation to open the closed windows of mind. If kingtree.in
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

E D I T PAG EI MAILBOX

Conscious Eating

Check on molestation
This is with reference to the editorial Crucial Pest Control (December 3) lauding the wellconceived measures propounded by the Supreme Court to check molestation. The rampant incidence of lewd remarks, groping, insulting, stalking and molesting women are an everyday reminder that the executive has failed in its duty of protecting women and that eve-teasing remains a blot on public behaviour. Now that the SC has stepped in, it is hoped that the police and other administrative bodies will not dither from executing these measures. Suggestions such as requiring the drivers of public transport to take the vehicle to the police station or holding mute witnesses to molestation accountable should be acted upon with alacrity. Prosecuting those accused of this offence quickly through a summary trial and prescribing an imprisonment of at least a fortnight if proved guilty would be the next logical step.
Y G Chouksey, PUNE

When ones food is pure, ones being becomes pure. Chandogya Upanishad 7.26.2 Appreciate fully what you are eating, enjoy it fully, breathing and smelling the aroma to add to the taste, chewing slowly and well, to taste more and to digest better. Discover the subtleties of taste. Gently keep bringing the wandering mind back to tasting fully what youre eating. Feel the difference! Give thanks for the chance to be able to enjoy what you eat. Kalari Kovilakom, Kerala If you eat with love that is good; what you just gulp down like anything, that will kill you. Sant Kirpal Singh Food to a large extent is what holds a society together and eating is closely linked to deep spiritual experiences. Peter Farb & George Armelagos

Need for public transport

This is with reference to the editorial Learn From Europe (November 29). It is pertinent to note that the rush for cars is also an indicator of inadequate public transport system in most of our cities. Local transport in cities is served by autorickshaw and taxi services, which operate under severe financial constraints and are generally not in a position to provide the best services. The bus services are too meagre and few and far between which makes them overcrowded. If personal transport is deliberately kept out of reach before satisfactory public transport is made available, then travel will become all the more difficult.
R N Misra, AHMEDABAD
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