FDI WILL REVITALIZE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Education, a panacea for the ailing living standard, an elixir to the indignant
poverty condition, a question as well as an answer to the economic disparity and
an instrument to measure the prosperity of a nation, is a matter of concern for
India. Population explosion rate has always been way ahead of literacy rate.
Moreover the unfit, obsolete, and rote learning provided by the existing
institutions have aggravated the problem in the form of educated unemployment.
There is a dire need of complete overhaul of education system. overnment has
certainly done its bit by creating schemes and allotting funds, however, the star!
reality is it "government# does not have enough capital to build new universities
but it certainly does have the power to revitali$e the system by implementing
niche policies best one of these would be allowing %&I in education.
'urrently education is a non(profit entity in India which results in formation of
bogus trusts creating a cauldron of blac! money and a safe haven for corrupt
politicians. The learning imparted by these are way below the standards and the
pass out graduates add themselves every year to the pool of educated
unemployed. Estimates say that only )* out of )** graduates are employable.
+ecruiting companies have to invest heavily on the technical adaptability ma!ing
them loss of time and expertise. +ather more convenient and less expensive way
would be to give them the consummate learning at the institution itself. ,mbanis
and tatas are vying for opening industry specific varsities but the redundant
government mandate prevents them from doing so. -ringing foreign universities
too will help ease the burden. 'ambridge, oxford deserves to be in our country
too.
Indians have proved their mettle in academics provided with good education,
however most of these achievements happen to be in foreign. India lac!s basic
infrastructure and expertise for research. .pening %&I will allow varsities to
conduct research intensive learning in addition we will have the world class
infrastructure, global exposure, highly qualified faculties guaranteed /ob and
eventually strengthening of economy. , good image is what we will achieve in the
world which once had global with universities li!e 0alanda. Today, not a single
Indian university is in top )** which in the country with one by sixth of the
world1s population ought to be.
There is another aspect of not providing quality education that results in creating
pool of frustrated, vexed, at times inimical graduated that these may involve in
unlawful activities creating havoc and decadence in the society. 2uite apparent
from the ,rab uprising, 3ondon riots, wall(street protests where unemployed
youths were the protagonist. 4o overnment needs to bring %&I in the near
future and provide Indian youths an opportunity of world class education at
home.
HOW SHOULD WOMEN EMPOWER THEMSELVES:
"When women are the advisor, the Lords o !reation don"t ta#e the advi!e ti$$ the% have &ers'aded
themse$ves that it is ('st what the% intended to do) then the% a!t '&on it and i it s'!!eeds, the% *ive the
wea#er vesse$ ha$ the !redit o it) i ai$s, the% *enero's$% *ive herse$ the who$e"+, Lo'isa Ma% -$!ott
.ndia toda% is at the !'s& o a &aradi*m !han*e in its *rowth and its &osition in the wor$d+ We /0oth
men and women1 m'st a!t de!isive$% to !a&t're this o&&ort'nit%+ We need to thin# 0i* and s!a$e '&
ra&id$% in ea!h and ever% area, 0e it ed'!ation, inrastr'!t're, ind'str%, inan!ia$ servi!es or e2'a$it% o
0oth *enders+ 3or aro'nd two !ent'ries, so!ia$ reormers and missionaries in .ndia have endeavored to
0rin* women o't o !onines in whi!h !ent'ries o traditions had #e&t them+ -!!ordin* to the 4556
7ens's, the &er!enta*e o ema$e $itera!% in the !o'ntr% is 89: '& rom ;: 6;86+
<'t we sho'$d not or*et that histor% in a witness to the women who have in the &ast demonstrated
'ni2'e $eadershi& !a&a0i$ities+ Ra=ia S'$tana, Rani o >hansi, Saro(ini Naid' and .ndira ?andhi are
motivation e@am&$es o women em&owerment+ Ear$ier, most women were a0$e to demonstrate the
$eadershi& 2'a$ities on$% on their home ronts, as in .ndian so!iet% man has a$wa%s a!ted as the master
o the s!ene and the de!ision re*ardin* the iss'e o em&owerin* women has a$wa%s 0een ta#en 0% him+
?od has *ited women with !om&assion, tender,heartedness, !arin* nat're, !on!ern or others+ These
are ver% &ositive si*ns whi!h im&$% that women !an 0e $eaders+ Tho'*h some women have shown their
mett$e %et a $ar*e n'm0er o them have to shar&en their $eadershi& 2'a$ities in vario's wa%s+ .n order to
he$& women to 0e in $ime$i*ht, the% need to 0e em&owered+ Thereore, em&owerment o women is the
&rere2'isite to transorm a deve$o&in* !o'ntr% into a deve$o&ed !o'ntr%+
. wo'$d $i#e to &ee& into the &ast when the stat're o women as destro%ed+ The% were treated as !hatte$
in the ear$% Roman so!iet%+ .n 3ran!e, the% were termed as ha$,so'$ !reat'res res&onsi0$e or the
destr'!tion o so!iet%+ The 7hinese !onsidered them as devi$"s so'$+ >a&anese men &reerred to $ive
'nmarried $ives+ <eore the advent o .s$am, -ra0s 0'ried their da'*hters a$ive !onsiderin* them as a
si*n o dis*ra!e+ .n this wa%, the% de&rived women o their d'e &$a!e+ Most men view themse$ves as
0ein* the s'&erior $ie,orm in so!iet%+ The% ('sti% this 0e$ie 0% sa%in* that the% are stron*er and more
!a&a0$e) th's, ma#in* them more 2'a$iied or the more im&ortant ro$es in so!iet%+ the% &$a!e
themse$ves on &edesta$s and or!e women to 0e$ieve in their own ineriorit% to men and their
in!a&a0i$it% to e@!e$ ed'!ationa$$%, &o$iti!a$$%, e!onomi!a$$% and domesti!a$$%+ <'t the tr'th is that
women have advan!ed in a$$ those areas+
.n Sha#es&eare"s wor#s, man% ema$e !hara!ters are &ortra%ed as 0ein* mani&'$ated, i not !ontro$$ed
o'tri*ht 0% the men in their $ives as athers, 'n!$es, s'itors, h's0ands+ Thereore, Sha#es&eare"s wor#s
a&&ear to send mi@ed sin*$es re*ardin* the notion o ema$e em&owerment+ em&owerment has
m'$ti&$e, interre$ated and interde&endent dimensions e!onomi!, so!ia$, !'$t'ra$ and &o$iti!a$+ .t !an 0e
'nderstood in re$ation to reso'r!es, &er!e&tions+ re$ationshi& and &ower+ <'t what does women
em&owerment meanA Women em&owerment *enera$$% has ive !om&onents : irst$%, women"s sense o
se$ worth) se!ond$%, their ri*ht to have the &ower o !ontro$ their own $ives, 0oth within and o'tside
home) and $ast$%, their a0i$it% to in$'en!e the dire!tion o so!ia$ !han*e to !reate a ('st so!ia$ and
e!onomi! order nationa$$%, internationa$$% and 'niversa$$%+
Ed'!ationa$ attainment and e!onomi! &arti!i&ation are the% #e% !onstit'ents in ens'rin* the
em&owerment o women+ Ed'!ationa$ attainment is essentia$ or em&owerin* women in a$$ s&heres o
so!iet%, or witho't ed'!ation o !om&ara0$e 2'a$it% and !ontent *iven to 0o%s and men, '&dated with
e@istin* #now$ed*e and re$evant to !'rrent needs, women wi$$ 0e a0$e to have a!!ess to we$$,&aid
orma$ se!tor (o0s and advan!e with men+ The e!onomi! em&owerment o women is a vita$ e$ement o
stron* e!onomi! *rowth in an% !o'ntr%+ Em&owerin* women enhan!es their a0i$it% to in$'en!e
!han*es and to !reate a 0etter so!iet%+
Other than ed'!ationa$ and e!onomi! em&owerment, !han*es in women"s mo0i$it% and so!ia$
intera!tion and !han*es in intra,ho'seho$d de!ision,ma#in* are ne!essar%+ S$i*ht im&rovement in
women"s invo$vement in ho'seho$d de!ision,ma#in* in ma$e,headed ho'seho$d, on s'!h iss'es as
!redit, the dis&osa$ o ho'seho$d assets, !hi$dren"s ed'!ation and ami$% hea$th!are !an wor# wonders+
Traditiona$$%, *ender 0ased divisions &ersisted in intra,ho'seho$d de!ision,ma#in*+ Women 0asi!a$$%
de!ide on ood &re&aration and men ma#e the inan!ia$ de!ision+ Women are one o the *reatest assets
in o'r so!iet%+ The% e2'a$ to men in a$$ as&e!ts+ Women are more &ere!tionist in the &ower to !reate,
n'rt're and transorm+" Toda%, women are emer*in* as $eaders in *rowin* ran*e o ie$ds+ 0e it
aerona'ti!s, medi!ine, s&a!e, en*ineerin*, $aw, &o$iti!s, ed'!ation, 0'siness+++%o' ('st name the
&roession and the% are there, a$$ that needed in toda%"s wor$d in their em&owerment+
.n .ndia, the em&owerment &ro!ess has a$read% 0e*'n+ We are now witnessin* a stead% im&rovement in
the enro$$ment o women in s!hoo$s, !o$$e*es and even in &roession instit'tes+ Their hea$th is 0etter as
!om&ared to ear$ier de!ades+ .n this de!ade, women are enterin* into the (o0 mar#et in in!reasin*
n'm0ers+ The% are showin* their s#i$$s even in non,traditiona$ se!tors $i#e &o$i!e, deen!e,
administration, media and resear!h ie$ds+ Twent%,si@ $aws have 0een ena!ted so ar to &rote!t women
rom vario's !rimes+ The re!ent $aw on the "&rote!tion o women a*ainst domesti! vio$en!e" satisies
the $on* &endin* demand o the women a!tivities+ .n the &o$iti!a$ ie$d, the reservation or women is a
si*nii!ant ste& orward towards their &o$iti!a$ em&owerment+ When thirt%,three &er!ent reservation or
women in Par$iament 0e!omes a rea$it%, women"s voi!e wi$$ 0e heard in the hi*hest or'm o
demo!ra!%+ The da%, women o .ndia wi$$ rea!h =enith in their em&owerment+ <'t a $ot o wor# has to
0e done as there is a !ate*or% o women /who !onsider themse$ves hi*h$% ed'!ated1 that &ro'd$%
a!!e&ts that the% don"t have di*ita$ $itera!% even tho'*h the% own a !om&'ter, the% !annot even o&erate
0an# a!!o'nts or ma#e trave$ arran*ements or ami$% or hand$e hos&ita$ admissions even d'rin*
emer*en!ies+ Even or a sim&$e tas# $i#e so!ia$ visits or sho&&in* *enera$$% the% need the !om&an% o
their h's0ands+
Women in .ndia ee$ &ro'd to dis&$a% that the% are we$$ &rote!ted and &am&ered 0% their h's0ands
witho't rea$i=in* that the% are ma#in* themse$ves he$&$ess+ S'!h women"s e!onomi! $itera!% is so $ow
that the% !annot &$a% an% ro$e in ami$%"s de!ision re*ardin* ami$%"s 0'd*et, savin*s and investments+
To s'!h women, the nationa$ 0'd*et dis!'ssion is or men on$% and soa& o&eras are or them+ S'!h
women s'er a $ot i somethin* 'ntoward ha&&ens to their h's0ands+ This t%&e o e@treme de&enden!%
is not *ood or the deve$o&ment o women+ Women sho'$d remem0er that the% are a$so rationa$,
inte$$i*ent and thin#in* h'man 0ein*s+ De&endent women are not em&owered women+ . modern
women thin# that the% are em&owered, it"s a m%th or them+ Em&owerment means to ins&ire women
with he !o'ra*e to 0rea# ree rom the !hains o $imitin* 0e$ies, &atterns and so!ieta$ or re$i*io's
!onditions that have traditiona$$% #e&t women s'&&ressed and 'na0$e to rea$i=e their tr'e 0ea't% and
&ower+
Some 2'a$ities to 0e a!2'ired 0% women to 0e!ome tr'$% em&owered are awareness a0o't ris#
&revai$in* at home, in wor# &$a!e, in trave$in* and sta%in* o'tside home+ The% sho'$d have &o$iti!a$,
$e*a$, e!onomi! and hea$th awareness+ The% sho'$d have #now$ed*e a0o't s'&&ort *ro'&s and &ositive
attit'des towards $ie+ The% sho'$d *et *oa$s or 't're and strive to a!hieve them with !o'ra*e+ The
0est *it &arents toda% !an *ive to their da'*hters is ed'!ation+ . women !hoose to 0e i*norant then a$$
the eorts ta#en 0% the ?overnment and women a!tivists wi$$ *o in vain+ Even in twent%,ith !ent'r%,
the% wi$$ remain 0a!#ward and wi$$ 0e &a%in* a heav% &ri!e or their de&enden!e, So, it is a wa#e,'&
!a$$ or women to awa#e rom their dee& s$'m0er and 'nderstand the tr'e meanin* o their
em&owerment+ .n the end . wo'$d $i#e to !on!$'de with the o$$owin* words, "Women as the
motherhood o the nation sho'$d 0e stron*, aware and a$ert"+
.s <'siness Ethi!s a 7ontradi!tionA
The &'r&ose o a 0'siness is to *enerate the most amo'nt o reven'e with the $east amo'nt o
e@&endit're+ .t m'st ma#e de!isions that are in the 0est interest o the 0'siness, to ma#e it as &roita0$e
as &ossi0$e and sometimes these de!isions are hi*h$% rowned '&on+ Does this mean that the de!isions
that a 0'siness ma#es have to 0e 'nethi!a$A . %o'r '$timate *oa$ is to ma@imi=e %o'r reven'e does that
ma#e %o' 'nethi!a$ to 0e*in withA
. 0e$ieve that in most 0'sinesses %o' m'st a&&$% a stri!t ethi!a$ !ode in order to have $on*evit% in %o'r
ie$d+ .t is tr'e that the main *oa$ o a 0'siness is to ma@imi=e its reven'e, 0't in order to do that and do
it or an e@tended &eriod o time &eo&$e m'st have tr'st in the 0'siness+ - 0'siness, in order to *ain
tr'st in its em&$o%ees, m'st o$$ow some sort o ethi!a$ standard in their dai$% o&erations+ . a 0'siness
has em&$o%ees that ta#e advanta*e o their !'stomers the 0'siness wi$$ $ose the tr'st o its !ons'mer
and 0e seen as 'nethi!a$+
- 0'siness m'st !onstant$% ma#e !han*es in order to s'rvive and sometimes these !han*es are seen as
'nethi!a$ and have a ne*ative &'0$i! o&inion+ .t is a ver% hard e!onom% ri*ht now and shrewd de!isions
sometimes m'st 0e made+ . someone sees a home$ess man stea$ an a&&$e o a *ro!er% dis&$a% do the%
immediate$% thin# o that &erson as 'nethi!a$ or do the% ind his thiever% to 0e ('stiied do to his
!ir!'mstan!es+ . ee$ a 0'siness sometimes m'st ma#e these hard !hoi!es in order to s'rvive, ho&in*
that i the% ho$d o't ma%0e the% !an ma#e a &roit on!e a*ain+
U$timate$%, . 0e$ieve a 0'siness m'st have an ethi!a$ !ode in order to s'rvive in toda%Bs wor$d+ . 0e$ieve
ethi!s is an im&ortant &art o the $on*evit% o a 0'siness and witho't some sort o ethi!a$ !ode the
0'siness is doomed to ai$+ So ethi!s is not a !ontradi!tion 0't a ne!essit%+
Recession: The Mother of Inno!tion"
<% Reena >ana >'$% 44, 455;
O'r s&e!ia$ re&ort $oo#s at innovative wa%s 0'sinesses !an t'rn the tro'0$ed e!onom% to their
advanta*e
Ne!essit% ma% 0e the mother o invention+ <'t !o'$d a re!ession 0e the mother o innovationA -ter a$$,
man% o the wor$d"s end'rin*, m'$ti0i$$ion,do$$ar !or&orations, rom Disne% /D.S1 to Mi!rosot
/MS3T1, were o'nded d'rin* e!onomi! downt'rns+ ?enera$$% s&ea#in*, o&eratin* !osts tend to 0e
!hea&er in a re!ession+ Ta$ent is easier to ind 0e!a'se o wides&read $a%os+ -nd !om&etition is
's'a$$% $ess ier!e 0e!a'se, ran#$%, man% &$a%ers are ta#en o't o the *ame+
Re!essions !an a$so he$& e@e!'tives i*'re o't how to im&rove &rod'!ts, servi!es, and &ro!esses
interna$$% and or !'stomers+ .dea$$%, the !reative thin#in* that"s needed to weather the storm o an
e!onomi! downt'rn !an $ead to new mar#ets and reven'e streams+ ".nnovation ori*inates rom
!ha$$en*es," sa%s Vineet Na%ar, 7EO o H7L Te!hno$o*ies, a Noida /.ndia1,0ased *$o0a$ .T servi!es
!om&an%+
H7L re!ent$% &artnered with Cero@ /CRC1 to &rovide te!h s'&&ort or !or&orate !'stomers 'sin*
Cero@ s%stems meant to red'!e the amo'nt o wasted &a&er+ The s%stems themse$ves were ins&ired 0%
the d'a$ !ha$$en*es o he$&in* to save the environment and the need to s$ash oi!e e@&enses d'rin* the
downt'rn+
.nventin* !ost,ee!tive and time,savin* &ro!esses 0e!omes a &riorit% in a downt'rn, and it"s an area o
interest or !om&anies and or*ani=ations in a variet% o ie$ds, rom hi*h te!h to hea$th !are+ ".n a
re!ession, %o' !an innovate to 0e more ei!ient," sa%s >ohn Dao, a'thor o the 0oo# .nnovation Nation
and the head o De$oitte"s .nstit'te or Lar*e S!a$e .nnovation+
Lessons to <e Learned
S're, there have 0een some si*ns $ate$% that the e!onom% mi*ht 0e &i!#in* '&E-&&$e"s /--PL1
2'arter$% &roits ('m&ed 68:, or instan!e+ <'t a re!ent s'rve% 0% !ons'$tin* irm <ain F 7o+ o'nd
that G5: o 6,9H5 *$o0a$ e@e!'tives &o$$ed e@&e!t the !'rrent re!ession to $ast thro'*h 4565+
-nd smart !om&anies wi$$ !ontin'e to a&&$% the innovation $essons $earned d'rin* toda%"s to'*h times
even when thin*s &i!# '&+ The innovative &ro!esses, &rod'!ts, and servi!es that hat!h now !an he$&
e@e!'tives 'nderstand how to !'r0 !osts or ta#e ris#s on resh ideas when the e!onom% re0o'nds+
.n this s&e!ia$ re&ort, we $oo# at the !'rrent re!ession thro'*h a variet% o $enses to he$& %o' rethin#
how to a&&roa!h innovation ta!ti!s even as RFD 0'd*ets have 0een s$ashed+ We ta$#ed to e@e!'tives
who are indin* inventive wa%s o #ee&in* em&$o%ees motivated and !reative even when mora$e is $ow+
We $oo# into the 0eneits o o'tso'r!in* innovation in areas ran*in* rom ind'stria$ desi*n to !or&orate
strate*%+ -nd, to &rove there"s $i*ht at the end o the t'nne$, we oer a histori!a$ s$ide show o inventive
!or&orations that were ormed d'rin* &revio's re!essions+
Ess!#:Chi$% Artists !re !n e&'$oite% $ot(
.n the so!iet%, we $ive in toda% is 0o'nded 0% stress F tension o he!ti! !om&etition+ The !om&etition
in the entertainment se!tor is so ier!e that even the #inder*arten !hi$dren are not s&ared rom the
r'th$ess hands o the *$amoro's mone% ma#in* entertainment irms+
The !ases o !hi$d artists e@&$oitation are main$% seen in entertainment se!tors !om&risin* o ami$%
soa&s F rea$it% shows+ The a'dien!e $oves these t%&es o &ro*rams F that"s the reason wh% the
!hanne$s are $ooded 0% these &ro*rams+
.n *enera$ s!enario, it has 0een o'nd that minors are dra**ed into these wor#s d'e to their &arents
se$ish motives, tho'*h &'0$i!it% F !ra=e to 0e!ome a &art o entertainment ind'str% a$so &$a%s a
&ivota$ &s%!ho$o*i!a$ ro$e+ <'t there is a a$so harsh rea$it%, ver% ew &eo&$e rom the rea$it% shows
ma#e it '& to the entertainment se!tor, rest o them are doomed in the dar#ness or the% have to !han*e
their !areer+
The !hi$dren has the ri*ht to en(o% their $i*htest moment o $ie with 'tmost &assion+ These ri*hts are
divor!ed rom them F the% are e@&osed to !om&etitive &ress're at s'!h a %o'n* a*e F or!ed to see#
someone e$se dreams+
The *overnment sho'$d im&$ement some stri!t $aws to o'st this #ind o inh'man a!ts on the !hi$dren,
so that the% !an !herish their own dreams F o$$ow their own heart with sense o reedom+
Temples of learning: Quality is the casualty
By P Venugopal
Indias frst Prime Minister Jawaharlal ehru considered institutions of scientifc
!nowledge as temples of learning and places of pilgrimage" If he were ali#e
today$ ehru would ha#e felt proud of our IITs and IIMs that ha#e %uilt up an
en#ia%le %rand reputation for nurturing the worlds %est %rains"
But ehrus present&day successors lac! his #ision and foresight" They ha#e no
'ualms in destroying centres of e(cellence for the sa!e of political e(pediency)
The haste with which the *nion +,- minist
ry acted on the .upreme /ourt #erdict to implement the 0B/ 'uota in /entral
institutions from this year is all set to %oomerang" The *P1 go#ernment didnt
ha#e a contingency plan to meet the additional re'uirements of the institutions
when it decided to increase the inta!e of students" +eads of #arious /entral
institutions including IITs and IIMs e(pressed their gra#e concern on this score
to
the +,- Minister 1r2un .ingh$ %ut the Minister remained adamant" 3#en new
institutions were granted not on merit %ut on political considerations" The result
is there for all to see" Three new IITs are opening at Patna$ Meda! and ,a2asthan
ne(t month" But they dont ha#e e#en the %areminimum facilities interms of
%uildings$ infrastructure or faculty %eftting the stature of an IIT" 1 shot&term
solution found %y the 4o#ernment was to ma!e three e(isting IITs&&4uwahati$
Madras and -elhi&&5nodal institutions for the new IITs" 6hich means faculties
from the e(isting campuses will %e
deployed to teach at the ma!eshift campuses of the new IITs" IIT ,a2asthan
doesnt e#en ha#e a 7ma!eshift campus and will de%ut from its mentors campus
at IIT -elhi" This arrangement is %ound to impinge on the 'uality of instruction"
The new 0B/ 'uota will raise the teacher&student ratio to 8:89 from the e(isting
8:8:$ which itself is higher than the ideal ratio of 8:;"
6hile this is the deplora%le state of the upcoming IITs$ the 4o#ernment has
decided to set up eight new IITs$ se#en IIMs and <= /entral *ni#ersities during
the 88th >i#e ?ear Plan period" The political grip o#er /entral institutions is such
that their heads dont stand up to the powers&that&%e when ill&ad#ised decisions
are ta!en %y the +,- ministry" It is sad to see outstanding academicians
ac'uiescing themsel#es completely to the +,- minister e#en though they
pri#ately resent his actions" Those who dont get along with him are made to pay
a hea#y price" 6e ha#e seen how the recent spat %etween *nion +ealth Minister
and the director of 1IIM.$ -elhi$ impaired the image of a world class medical
institution" In recent years$ top foreign companies ha#e %een ma!ing a %eeline to
select the %est and
%rightest students from IITs and IIMs at campus placements$ o@ering fancy
salaries" If the reputation of such institutions gets sullied %y mur!y politics$ it
would destroy Indias glo%al competiti#eness"
Aeading educationalists ha#e %een demanding greater functional autonomy for
such /entral institutions to insulate them from political interference in their day&
to&day a@airs" Many IIT&ians are of the #iew that autonomy in %oth academics and
go#ernance is a must to promote e(cellence" ational Bnowledge
/ommission CB/D headed %y .am Pitroda too has endorsed this #iew and
warned that any direct in#ol#ement of the ministry in the functioning of IITsEIIMs
could lead to Funfortunate situationsF"
6hy not the 4o#ernment get out of the high education sector altogether and act
only as a facilitator and regulator) This is the concept %ehind self&fnancing
institutions which are growing in num%ers" There are a few pri#ate institutions
and deemed uni#ersities in the country whose infrastructural facilities and
educational standards match or e#en surpass IITs" The 4o#ernment could ensure
a 'uota for educationally and socially %ac!ward students in these institutions
and pro#ide scholarships to them" The go#ernment needs to concentrate on
primary education which is in a mess and cant %e left
to pri#ate players alone" 1s ehru en#isioned$ temples of learning are a national
asset" -estroying them through the 4o#ernments short&sighted policies and
political machinations would %e a crime on
posterity"
THE )LO*AL WARMIN) DECE+TION
For,-$!te% in the .o!r%roo, of the C$-. of Ro,e
The theor% o 7o4 emissions !a'sin* ?$o0a$ warmin* was orm'$ated in the 0oardroom o the 7$'0 o
Rome+ The 7$'0 o Rome is a *ro'& o ?$o0a$ e$ite wea$th% inan!iers, 0an#ers and 0'siness &eo&$e
aimin* or !om&$ete e!onomi!, &o$iti!a$ and *eo*ra&hi!a$ domination o o'r &$anet+ The 7$'0 o Rome
was o'nded in 6;GI at David Ro!#ee$$er estate in <e$$a*io, .ta$%+ The !$'0 o Rome is $in#ed to the
.$$'minati
The 7$'0 o Rome was or*ani=ed in 6;GI 0% the Mor*entha' ?ro'& or the &'r&ose o a!!e$eratin* the
&$ans to have the New Wor$d Order in &$a!e 0% the %ear 4555+ The 7$'0 o Rome deve$o&ed a &$an to
divide the wor$d into ten re*ions or #in*doms+
-n ear$% tas# o the 7$'0 o Rome was to !reate a i!titio's !ommon enem% or the wor$dBs &o&'$ation
to 'nite a*ainst+ .n 6;;H the dire!tive 0e!ame o&en$% &'0$i!ised in a 7$'0 o Rome &'0$ished
hand0oo#+
The Fictitio-s Co,,on Ene,#
The i!titio's !ommon enem% de!ided '&on de!ades ear$ier was man#ind itse$+ The idea was to 0$ame
man#ind or !a'sin* *$o0a$ warmin*, e@treme weather &atterns, amine and water shorta*es+ Whi$st
this in &rin!i&$e is &artia$$% !orre!t, the intentions o the mem0ers o the 7$'0 o Rome were never
no0$e+
The initia$ theor% mar#eted o't to the wor$d, was that a s'dden '&s'r*e o wor$d tem&erat'res in the
&ast ew de!ades was *oin* to me$t the Po$ar !a&s, $ood the !oast$ines and send m'!h o the r'ra$
$ands into either desert or tro&i!a$ rain =ones+ -nd somehow other areas were *oin* to *et more rain+
-nd the !'$&rit was man,made 7O4 emissions+
Whi$st the *reed and e@!esses o the wor$d !omm'nit% has &$a%ed a &art in dama*in* o'r environment,
the *reater &$a%ers or 0$ame are the ?$o0a$ e$ite themse$ves+
CO/ is the ,ost co,,on 0reenho-se 0!s(
THE TRUTH: ?reenho'se *ases orm a0o't H : o the atmos&here 0% vo$'me+ The% !onsist o
var%in* amo'nts: a&&ro@imate$% ;J: are water va&o'r and !$o'ds, with the remainder 0ein* *ases $i#e
7O4, 7H9, O=one and N4O, o whi!h !ar0on dio@ide is the $ar*est amo'nt+
So in a!t 7O4 on$% !onstit'tes a0o't 5+5HJ: o the atmos&here+ Whi$e the minor *ases are more
ee!tive as K*reenho'se a*entsL than water va&o'r and !$o'ds, the $atter are overwhe$min* the ee!t
0% their sheer vo$'me and are tho'*ht to 0e res&onsi0$e or G5: o the K?reenho'se ee!tL+
-nd another rare$% mentioned a!t is that 5: is man made+ The !ar0on has 0een on this &$anet sin!e it
was !reated+ .t was on!e in the air and was !a&t'red 0% &$ants that $ater t'rned into !oa$ and oi$+ Man is
('st re$easin* 0a!# into the air what was on!e there in the irst &$a!e+ Ri*ht now there is a0o't HI5&&m
o 7O4 in the air+ .n the &ast it was over 8555&&m and the earth did ('st ine+ No ti&&in* &oint+ The
0'rnin* o ossi$ 'e$s 0% man in &ast ew !ent'ries is ('st a minor read('stment
Those 0$amin* 7O4 !$imate !han*e rare$% mention 0oth o these im&ortant a!ts+
CO/ is ! 'o$$-t!nt(
THE TRUTH: This is im&$i!it$% a$se+ Nitro*en orms I5: o o'r atmos&here+ We !o'$d not $ive in
655: nitro*en either+ 7ar0on dio@ide is no more a &o$$'tant than nitro*en is+7O4 is essentia$ to $ie on
earth+ .t is essentia$ or &$ant *rowth, sin!e in!reased 7O4 inta#e as a res'$t o in!reased !on!entrations
!a'ses trees and other &$ants to *row more vi*oro's$%+ -nd trees o !o'rse &rod'!e o@%*en+
Tho'*h &eo&$e that s&ea# a*ainst the ?$o0a$ Warmin* a*enda are $a0e$$ed as s'&&orters o the ma(or
&o$$'ters, s'!h as the Petro!hemi!a$ .nd'str%+
Ch!n%r!#!!n1I: Mone# Do2n the Dr!in or Ti,e to Ce$e.r!te"
A fe2 ho-rs !0o3 ISRO '-t 4Ch!n%r!#!!n1I5 into tr!nsfer or.it !ro-n% the e!rth3 her!$%in0 its
4Mission to Moon5(
This is ! 'ro-% ,o,ent or the team at .SRO wor#in* tire$ess$% or the $ast severa$ months,
sometimes ri*ht thro'*h the ni*ht+
.t is a$so a &ro'd moment or .ndiaBs indi*eno's s&a!e resear!h &ro*ramme and more 0road$%, .ndiaBs
indi*eno's RFD eorts , the seeds o whi!h were &$anted 0are$% a ew de!ades a*o+
*-t 6-estions !re .ein0 !s7e%8!n% %o-.ts !re .ein0 r!ise%(
KWas this the 0est 'se o the !o'ntr%Bs $imited reso'r!esAL, KWhat wi$$ this mission rea$$% a!hieveAL,
KWi$$ it have an% im&a!t on the &ro0$ems that we are a!in* toda% e+*+ &overt%, h'n*er, ma$n'tritionAL
-t a 'ndamenta$ $eve$, s'!h 2'estions ass'me that this is a =ero,s'm *ame and there is a !onstraint on
'nds or deve$o&menta$ &ro(e!ts+ . do not a*ree with thatM.ndiaBs main deve$o&menta$ !ha$$en*e is
inei!ient /. wo'$d even *o to the e@treme o sa%in* e@treme$% inei!ient1 'ti$isation o reso'r!es
rather than $a!# o 'nds+
Havin* said that, the answer to these 2'estions is neither sim&$e nor strai*htorwardM
Whi$e the $a'n!h wi$$ !ost mone% /a$tho'*h re$ative$% s&ea#in* it wi$$ 0e a sma$$ amo'nt: Rs HIG
!r+NOPI5m1, the 0eneits are more dii!'$t to !om&'teMHow do %o' &'t a va$'e on .ndiaBs !redi0i$it%
and &rowess in RFD resear!hA How do %o' &'t a va$'e on the indire!t *ains that wi$$ a!!r'e /in terms
o *eo,&o$iti!s1A
How !an %o' 2'anti% the 0eneits and the advanta*es o 0ein* at the van*'ard o s&a!e resear!h and
e@&$orationA and how !an %o' over,em&hasi=e the im&ortan!e o RFD and a!tivities tar*eted at the
ne@t de!adeA
Man% wo'$d remem0er that the same Q and simi$ar Q 2'estions were as#ed o .SROBs o!'s on remote
sensin* sate$$ites in the &ast two de!adesM The 2'estion Q and the KanswerL Q was e$o2'ent$%
arti!'$ated in this arti!$e in the New S!ientist:
<'t wh% is .ndia, a !o'ntr% that sti$$ has so man% deve$o&ment &ro0$ems on the *ro'nd,
aimin* or the heavensA To .ndian s!ientists, the 2'estion is not on$% &atroni=in* o their
s!ientii! as&irations, it 0etra%s an i*noran!e o the .ndian s&a!e &ro*ramBs *reater &'r&ose
and s'!!esses a*ainst the oddsM+
Ta#e, or e@am&$e, .ndiaBs si@ remote,sensin* sate$$ites E the $ar*est s'!h !onste$$ation in
the wor$d+ These monitor the !o'ntr%Bs $and and !oasta$ waters so that s!ientists !an advise
r'ra$ !omm'nities on the $o!ation o a2'iers and where to ind water!o'rses, s'**est to
ishermen when to set sai$ or the 0est !at!h, and warn !oasta$ !omm'nities o imminent
storms+ .ndiaBs seven !omm'ni!ation sate$$ites, the 0i**est !ivi$ian s%stem in the -sia,
Pa!ii! re*ion, now rea!h some o the remotest !orners o the !o'ntr%, &rovidin* te$evision
!overa*e to ;5: o the &o&'$ation+ The s%stem is a$so 0ein* 'sed to e@tend remote hea$th,
!are servi!es and ed'!ation to the r'ra$ &oor+
Ho2 %o #o- h!n%$e criticis, fro, ! section of the 'eo'$e th!t ! 'oor n!tion $i7e In%i!
sho-$%n9t .e 2!stin0 ,one# on 'ro:ects $i7e Ch!n%r!#!!n"
We have a!ed this 2'estion in the ear$% &hase o the &ro*ramme+ We are !onvin!ed that we
are doin* more servi!e to the so!iet% than the mone% s&ent on the &ro*ramme+ <'t to
do'0$% ass're o'rse$ves, we as#ed a s!hoo$ o e!onomi!s in 7hennai a !o'&$e o %ears 0a!#
to ma#e an assessment+ The re&ort the% s'0mitted was rea$$% mind,0o**$in*+ The% o'nd
that what we have *iven 0a!# to the so!iet% in terms o &rod'!ts and servi!es is somethin*
$i#e one and ha$ times more than the !'m'$ative investment made on the entire s&a!e
&ro*ramme+ Leave a$one the inrastr'!t're, the te!hno$o*%, the h'man reso'r!es and the
vario's $a0oratories we have deve$o&ed, i we add a$$ that it is !ertain$% more than ive
times s&ent on the &ro*ramme+
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
+resere !n% 'rotect Herit!0e Mon-,ents in
In%i!
C!,'!i0n to +rotect Herit!0e Mon-,ents in In%i!
.ndia has a ri!h herita*e whi!h in!$'des a re&ositor% o ar!haeo$o*i!a$ treas'res and in!redi0$e
mon'ments+ This !'$t'ra$ histor% e&itomised in herita*e mon'ments stems rom a histori! &ast o
an!ient !ivi$isation+ The Ta( Maha$, -*ra 3ort and 3ateh&'r Si#ri in -*ra, the Donar# S'n Tem&$e,
Dha('raho Tem&$es, Maha0a$i&'ram Mon'ments, Than(av'r, Ham&i Mon'ments as we$$ as the -(anta,
E$$ora and E$e&hanta 7aves are some o the mon'ments
de!$ared as Wor$d Herita*e Mon'ments+
Ever% !omm'nit% and so!iet% has a ver% &re!io's herita*e whi!h has to 0e and !an 0e transerred to the
ne@t *eneration and it is the res&onsi0i$it% o the !ivi$ so!iet% to transer that herita*e to the ne@t
*eneration+
-!!ordin* to the -n!ient Mon'ments and -r!haeo$o*i!a$ Sites and Remains -!t, 6;8I / No+ 49 o
6;8I1, i someone destro%s, removes, in('res, a$ters, dea!es, im&eri$s or mis'ses a &rote!ted
mon'ment sNhe sha$$ 0e &'nisha0$e with im&risonment whi!h ma% e@tend to three months, or with a
ine whi!h ma% e@tend to ive tho'sand r'&ees, or with 0oth+
.t is disheartenin* to note that some &eo&$e, or*ettin* that the% are doin* an irre&ara0$e dama*e to
inva$'a0$e ar!haeo$o*i!a$ master&ie!es, ins!ri0e their initia$s, names, &$a!es, addresses or messa*es on
these nationa$ treas'res+ The !onservation and &rote!tion o these mon'ments !annot 0e ne*$e!ted an%
'rther+
.ndian Ro'th !om&risin* o !hi$dren in s!hoo$s have a s&e!ia$ d't% towards raisin* awareness and
&rote!tin* the ri!h !'$t'ra$ herita*e whi!h is a &art o the *$orio's histor% o o'r !o'ntr%+ With a view
to sensiti=e the %o'th who are the 't're *eneration and in!'$!ate in them a hea$th% va$'e s%stem
towards their own herita*e, it has 0een de!ided to o0serve the 64th >an'ar% 4565 as Herita*e Da% and
to administer a herita*e oath to entire s!hoo$ !omm'nit% in the 7<SE ai$iated s!hoo$s a!ross .ndia
and a0road+
.n order to 'rther stren*then the !ommitment or &rote!tion o mon'ments, the oath ta#in* wi$$ 0e
re&eated on the Nationa$ Ed'!ation Da% /Nov 66th1 ever% %ear to !ommemorate the 0irth anniversar%
o Ma'$ana -0'$ Da$am -=ad, the irst Union Ed'!ation Minister o .ndia+
The 7<SE oi!e is a$so writin* se&arate$% to the heads o these or*ani=ations so that these mon'ments
are o&ened or visit 0% the s!hoo$ st'dents on these da%s, and *'idan!e is made avai$a0$e to the st'dents
to !arr% o't these a!tivities+
.ND.- .S L-??.N? <EH.ND .N SPORTS
Si& *i$$ion !n% One *ron;e<
The topic very well portrays the scenario of sports in India. Except for cricket,
sports is not encouraged enough as a career in India. This is mainly due to the
lack of support.
-!!ordin* to m% o&inion+
3irst$%, d'e to $a!# o ro$e mode$s in o'r !o'ntr% to en!o'ra*e dierent s&orts is the 0i**est reason o
$a**in* 0ehind in s&orts+ U& to !ertain ee!t media is a$so res&onsi0$e or this 0e!a'se the% *ive hi#e
on$% to the !ri!#eters and have made !ri!#et re$i*ion o this 0i$$ion nation+
Se!ond$%, no en!o'ra*ement in the orm o mone%, award, inrastr'!t're et!+ 3rom the *overnment+
Third$%, $essons &raisin* a!ademi!s and a*ainst s&orts are a$so one o the reasons+


My point of view on this topic is due to lack of encouragement from the
government India is not performing well in world stage. Government don't
encourage sports in our country. ue to corruption and corrupted people in
government sports is taking a !ack seat in India. "nd one more important thing in
our country is that parents don't encourage sports in our country. They think
academics is more important than sports. #arents think that sports don't fetch
children luxurious life so they don't encourage their children to indulge in sports.
"nd more important thing is that there is nepotism in government sports !odies
so their favor their relatives than deserved people.
I think if Indian government a!et sports people with enough e$uipment and
encourage them with good environment then only India will !e performing !etter
in world stage.


%ne of the reason for this that administration which handles all the activities for
the players is itself corrupt. Many players didn't get the proper sports e$uipment
for their training which a&ects their performance. #roper arrangements are also
not made for them. %ther pro!lems are that many players start using drugs for
their !etter performance which adversely a&ect their health.


'ix (illion and %ne (ron)e* This condition of India can !e solved !y Giving
importance to 'ports e$ual to "cademics. Importance for 'tudies in India is so
(adly rooted that 'ports are considered as waste of Time !y #arents. This attitude
of parents is again !ecause of lesser %pportunities for 'ports and dilemma that
their +hildren may not !e a!le to procure 'uccess and ,uxury which they think
can !e easily o!tained !eing Engineer or an M(" graduate.
'uch posts really addresses the pro!lems of Middle class #eople of Indians which
is a Ma-or class.
'o if Education system is reviewed with compulsory '#%.T' /ust like "cademics,
Eligi!ility should !e assigned for sports to enter the next level of egree0'tandard
from the '+1%%, ,E2E,, with standardi)ed "menities #rovided in Educational
Institutions 3only then they should !e licensed4.
Then E5cient and talented '#%.T'M"6 shall !e produced under the .ight
guidance from +hildhood. 7hen such a '#%.T'ME6 addresses the 6ation
apparently 1e will gain G%, not -ust (.%68E. "nd the %pportunities increases
as a result.
This impacts the future generation to get motivated and hence the #E.+E#TI%6
T%7".' IM#%.T"6+E %9 '#%.T' changes radically.
*!nnin0 +o$itici!ns 2ith Cri,in!$ Recor%s fro,
Contestin0 E$ections Is A0!inst Their Ri0ht
-nother assem0$% e$e!tion is ro'nd the !orner and &o$iti!s in .ndia 0e$ieve it or not is a *ame
where a$$ that matter is vi!tor% and the n'm0er o seats that %o' win+ 7ontestants are !hosen 0%
the &arties not on$% on the 0asis o merit 0't iss'es $i#e !aste, re$i*ion, monetar% 0a!#in* and
sometimes even !rimina$ 0a!#in*+ Ram&ant distri0'tion o mone%, $i2'or and other 0eneits are
!ommon d'rin* e$e!tion time+ Some 0eneits are termed as $e*a$ and some as i$$e*a$ or instan!e
i %o' have in %o'r maniesto a &romise $i#e ree distri0'tion o tv sets to 0e$ow &overt% $ine
&eo&$e it is not treated as i$$e*a$ 0't i %o' distri0'te mone% or votes it is i$$e*a$+ .t ha&&ens a$$
over .ndia, rom the $owest $eve$ &an!ha%at e$e!tions to the &ar$iamentar% e$e!tions+ .n!idents o
0ooth !a&t'rin* and m'rders d'rin* e$e!tions are a$wa%s heard o+ Then there are a$so in!idents
where &eo&$e !ast votes in the name o someone e$se+ 7rimina$i=ation o &o$iti!s is a a!t that
ever%one who has 0een a &art o the &ro!ess #nows+ We have either read a0o't it or seen it or
heard a0o't it Q in a!t an%one who ho$ds a $itt$e interest in the demo!rati! &ro!ess o the !o'ntr%
is aware o it+
- rea$it% !he!# was done in <ihar in 4565 where it was o'nd that a tota$ o 696 o't o 496 or
8;: o the e$e!ted ML-s had !rimina$ re!ords+ The data was rom Nationa$ E$e!tion Wat!h
/NEW1 and the -sso!iation o Demo!rati! Reorms/-DR1+ O't o these 696 I8 had serio's
!rimina$ !har*es &endin* a*ainst them Q these !har*es in!$'ded m'rder, #idna&&in*, a0d'!tion
and i$$e*a$ &a%ments+ -$$ &o$iti!a$ &arties i$ed !andidates with !rimina$ re!ords+ ?V?
Drishnam'rth%, the E$e!tion 7ommissioner in 6;;J dis!$osed that in 6;;G *enera$ e$e!tions the
!ommission had sei=ed i$$e*a$ arms whi!h in!$'ded tho'sands o *'ns, !artrid*es, e@&$osives and
0om0s+ S'**estions have man% a times 0een made 0% !onstit'tiona$ 0odies $i#e the e$e!tion
!ommission, to restrain those &eo&$e rom !ontestin* e$e!tions
Wo,en9s Reser!tion *i$$ =In%i!>
Women"s Reservation <i$$ or The 7onstit'tion /65Ith -mendment1 <i$$, is a &endin* 0i$$ in .ndia
whi!h &ro&oses to reserve thirt% three &er !ent o a$$ seats in the Lo# Sa0ha, the Lower Ho'se o
Par$iament o .ndia, and state $e*is$ative assem0$ies+ The <i$$ sa%s the seats to 0e reserved in
rotation wi$$ 0e determined 0% draw o $ots in s'!h a wa% that a seat sha$$ 0e reserved on$% on!e
in three !onse!'tive *enera$ e$e!tions+
This <i$$ has 0een &assed 0% the Ra(%a Sa0ha, the U&&er Ho'se o the Par$iament in Mar!h 4565+ .t
needs to 0e &assed 0% the Lo# Sa0ha and at $east it% &er !ent o a$$ state $e*is$ative assem0$ies, 0eore
it is &'t 0eore the President o .ndia or her a&&rova$+
Women a$read% en(o% HH &er !ent reservation in *ram &an!ha%ats and m'ni!i&a$ e$e!tions+ .n addition,
women in .ndia *et reservation or &reerentia$ treatments in ed'!ation and (o0s+ 3or instan!e, severa$
$aw s!hoo$s in .ndia have a H5 &er !ent reservation or ema$es+ The &o$iti!a$ o&inion 0ehind &rovidin*
s'!h reservations to women is to !reate a $eve$ &$a%in* ie$d or a$$ o its !iti=ens+ The ar*'ment is that
so!ia$ norms stron*$% avor men and thereore, reservation or women wo'$d !reate e2'a$ o&&ort'nit%
or men and women+
-mon* the other 0eneits that the <i$$ is e@&e!ted to &rovide is an in!reased &arti!i&ation o women in
&o$iti!s and so!iet%+ D'e to ema$e oeti!ide and iss'es re$ated to women"s hea$th, se@ ratio in .ndia is
a$armin* at 6+5G ma$es &er ema$e+ .t is e@&e!ted the <i$$ wi$$ !han*e the so!iet% to *ive e2'a$ stat's to
women+ Women are s'&&osed$% more resistant to !orr'&tion, so this 0i$$ mi*ht &rove to 0e a a!tor
restrainin* the *rowth o !orr'&tion+
On the other hand, the &assin* o the Women" Reservation <i$$ ma% !a'se 0ias in the demo!rati!
&ro!ess+ .t ma% h'rt the se$,res&e!t o women who have !ome '& on their own a0i$it%, and ma% res'$t
in $esser res&e!t or women in the so!iet%+ .t ma% a$so 0rin* down the 2'a$it% o $eaders+ .t ma% !reate a
new #ind o hatred 0etween *enders as ma$es ma% ee$ de&rived o !ertain &rivi$e*es, whi!h in t'rn
ma% !reate more so!ia$ iss'es+
-nother iss'e wi$$ 0e or the &o$iti!a$ &arties, whi!h wi$$ 0e or!ed to ind women whether or not the
women identi% with the overa$$ &art% a*enda and the rest o the iss'es !on!ernin* a$$ !iti=ens, as
o&&osed to ('st women"s iss'es+ There are no &rovisions to &revent dis!rimination a*ainst men 0e!a'se
o indin* women who are in!$ined towards women"s iss'es a$one, or, in other words, 0iased a*ainst
men+ 3'rther, &ower'$ ma$e mem0ers o &arties wi$$ 0e tem&ted to ind ema$e re$atives to "reserve" the
seat or themse$ves+ So, it is eared that reservation wo'$d on$% he$& women o the e$itist *ro'&s to *ain
seats, thereore !a'sin* 'rther dis!rimination and 'nder,re&resentation to the &oor and 0a!#ward
!$asses+
Some $eaders $i#e M'$a%am Sin*h Radav, La$' Prasad Radav and Sharad Radav have vehement$%
o&&osed the <i$$ in its !'rrent orm+ The% are demandin* a reservation or 0a!#ward !$assBs women
with the HH &er !ent, i+e+ the% are as#in* or a reservation within a reservation+
.rres&e!tive o whether the <i$$ !omes into ee!t or not, the a!t is that women are as ever
'nderre&resented in the e$e!tion ra% and in &art% str'!t'res+ Ver% $itt$e has !han*ed at one $eve$ sin!e
.nde&enden!e+ The !andidates ie$ded 0% the vario's &o$iti!a$ &arties are sti$$ dominant$% ma$e: women
a!!o'nt or on$% ive to ten &er !ent o a$$ !andidates a!ross &arties and re*ions+ This is the same 0road
&attern that has 0een o0served in virt'a$$% a$$ the *enera$ e$e!tions in the !o'ntr%+
This is the !ase des&ite the h'$$a0a$oo made over the 7onstit'tion /I9th -mendment1 <i$$ re$atin* to
women"s reservation even $ast %ear+ The ver% &arties that are most e@&$i!it$% in avor o &'shin* or
women"s reservation &'t '& the same &ro&ortion o women as a$wa%s in e$e!tions, and !ertain$% not
more than other &arties that o&&ose the <i$$+
What ma% 0e more si*nii!ant in terms o &o$iti!a$ &ower than the &ro&ortion o women i*htin* the
Lo# Sa0ha &o$$s is the im&ortan!e o women in inner &art% str'!t'res+ Here women are 0% and $ar*e
even $ess re&resented, in a$$ &arties+ On$% in the -$$ .ndia -nna Dravida M'nnetra Da=ha*am
/-.-DMD1 there has 0een a !ons!io's move to 0rin* man% more women into de!ision,ma#in* $eve$s
and &osts within the &art%+
.n most &arties, the women mem0ers are 0% and $ar*e thin on the *ro'nd i not invisi0$e in the a!t'a$
de!ision,ma#in* 0odies and rare$% in$'en!e the more si*nii!ant &art% &o$i!ies+ Most oten, indeed,
the% are re$e*ated to the "women"s win*" o the &art%, and made to !on!entrate on what are seen as
s&e!ii!a$$% "women"s iss'es" s'!h as dowr% and ra&e !ases, and o!!asiona$$% on more *enera$ !on!erns
$i#e &ri!e rise whi!h are seen to ae!t ho'sewives+
Des&ite a$$ this, women are &$a%in* an im&ortant &art in .ndian &o$iti!s toda%+ This is most evident in
the &ro$ieration o women $eaders and in the a!t that, even tho'*h some o them ma% head &arties that
are re$ative$% sma$$ in the nationa$ !onte@t, the% sim&$% !annot 0e i*nored+ What is even more
si*nii!ant is that in man% !ases these women $eaders have not emer*ed thro'*h the ami$iar So'th
-sian &aradi*m o d%nasti! advanta*e+ Sonia ?andhi, o0vio's$%, is a !$ear e@am&$e o a d%nasti!
$eader, with an a$most i!oni! re$evan!e+
>a%a$a$itha and Ma%awati ma% have ori*ina$$% 0ased their rise in &o$iti!s on their &ro@imit% to
&arti!'$ar ma$e $eaders, 0't the% are now si*nii!ant $eaders in their own ri*ht, who !an in$'en!e not
on$% the de!isions o their own &arties 0't even the !o'rse o nationa$ &o$iti!s+ Mamata <aner(ee,
des&ite or indeed 0e!a'se o her !ontroversia$ nat're, is the $eader o a &art% who !an !$aim to have *ot
where she is on her own, witho't ma$e assistan!e in an% o the more o0vio's wa%s+
O !o'rse, one m%th that is easi$% e@&$oded 0% the ro$e &$a%ed 0% s'!h women $eaders is that &o$iti!a$
$eadershi& 0% women is dramati!a$$% dierent rom that 0% men+ .ndeed, the tr'th is that most o o'r
women &o$iti!a$ $eaders are no 0etter or worse than men+ What a$$ this s'**ests, thereore, is that the
&o$iti!a$ em&owerment o women not on$% sti$$ has a $on* wa% to *o, 0't it a$so ma% not have a$$ that
m'!h to do with the &eriodi! !arniva$s o .ndian e$e!tora$ demo!ra!%+
This is not to sa% that the e$e!tora$ re&resentation o women is 'nim&ortant, 0't rather that it needs to
0e 0oth dee&er and wider than its !'rrent maniestation in the orm o the &rominen!e o a ew
!ons&i!'o's women $eaders+ .t is too ear$% to sa% whether the Women"s Reservation <i$$ wi$$ serve the
&'r&ose+
The recent fin!nci!$ crisis hi0h$i0hts the 'eri$s of C!'it!$is,
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of riches;
the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
This $uote !y 7inston +hurchill, prime minister of the :nited ;ingdom during the
'econd
7orld 7ar, encapsulates the idea of distri!ution of wealth !etween developed and
developing nations. 7hile developed nations work on the social theory of
capitalism,
developing nations follow socialism. +apitalist economies like :'", +anada, /apan,
and
Germany are run !y private enterprise. 9rom transport to communication to
industries, all
sectors are in the hands of the private players who ruthlessly exploit resources.
(ut capitalism seems to have worked for these economies with most of them
!ecoming
superpowers. %n the other hand, in countries like India, +u!a, and 'weden which
!egan
with socialism, most of the sectors are run !y the central government. #rogress is
relatively slow< even after => years of independence, India is still considered a
developing nation.
Though capitalism o&ers the greatest potential for misuse of power, it still
!ene?ts the
economy. The standard of living among the poorest in developed nations is
comparatively
!etter than that of the middle class of developed nations. If we compare these
nations on
parameters like food 3malnutrition !eing the !iggest pro!lem in India and other
"frican
countries4, or infrastructure, we lag many years !ehind these countries. It took us
@> years
to construct a sea link, a pro-ect which routinely takes a few months in the :'. In
terms of
inventions and !reakthroughs or for that matter even !asic necessity, capitalism
has
provided !etter opportunities than has socialism.
1owever the 'u! #rime crisis in the :' led to a glo!al recession. This,followed !y
the European ?nancial crisis which has left most of the European economies
!ankrupt ,has
made us look into the possi!le perils of capitalism. %n the other hand India
adopted the Mahano!olis model in an attempt to !oost the manufacturing sector.
1owever, thanks to government interference, this sector never took o&, leaving
the pro!lem as it was. In
fact, the pro!lem of unemployment has escalated to such high levels that even
+hina scores over India in this respect. To !oost the sagging economy, the
government has opened to private investment areas once considered a
government domain Qtelecommunication, oil and natural gas, aviation, etc thus
taking a step towards capitalism. This could very well !e the !eginning of
capitalism in India.
'o, is socialism !etter than capitalismA
"re economic ideologies the only reason why economies failA
%r what matters is the way these economies are run !y the people responsi!le for
it. It would !e incorrect to !lame any of the economic ideologies without analysing
the root cause of the pro!lem.
Union budget is a useless exercise and activities like recession
puts it of
B
track
The term C(udgetD refers to the ?nancial statement placed !y the government
!efore the legislature every year on a speci?c date. It sets forth the anticipated
expenditure of the government during the ?nancial year and the receipts for the
same period. I ts primary o!-ective is to reveal comprehensive information in
order to present a complete picture of the ?nancial position of the government
and there!y ena!le the legislature to measure ade$uately the impact of such
?nancial programmes on the countryDs economy.
The !udget tries to estimate, as accurately as possi!le, its revenues and
expenditure. The actual,however, may not conform to the original estimates. The
discrepancy may occur due to domestic factors, such as erratic climate or due to
manBmade factors such as political upheavals. (ut nowadays, a lot of the
uncertainty is due to glo!al ?nancial crises caused !y political developments in
various countries. In a glo!ali)ed world, no country can remain immune to
happenings in other countries.
9or example, during the past three years, the Indian economy has !een severely
!u&eted !y three shocks in rapid succession<B
E." collapse in world growth, ?nances and trade with the onset of a glo!al
crisis3 European crisis
and the 'u!Bprime crisis4.
@.Movement in prices of commodities like crude oil exacer!ated !y political
turmoil in the Middle East.
F.omestically, a negative growth in agriculture and allied sectors due to drought
in @>>GBE> followed !y unseasonal late rains a&ecting the winter crops in @>E>B
EE.In such a scenario, one is tempted to $uestion the relevance of a :nion
!udget. It seems futile to make a plan that, increasingly, has every likelihood to
fail. 'hould we, then, continue with this useless exerciseA
The answer is, yes. " !udget gives direction to a countryDs progress. It marshals
the countryDs resources and deploys it in a way as to ensure the greatest good to
the greatest num!er of sectors and the least su&ering to the least num!er of
them. 7ithout direction, our economic progress would not !e !alanced.
(ut, considering how often our economic plans are rocked !y various crises, how
do we ensure that we achieve accuracy in our !udget so as to maintain the
e$uili!rium esta!lished in our estimatesA The solution is to com!ine the !udget
with macroBeconomic policies, structural measures to promote growth and a
strong foundation to protect the poor. This will ensure our countryDs prosperity
under all conditions.
Essay topic : Giving Barack Obama the Nobel peace prize
has reduced its value
To !egin with let me take you to the genesis of the 6o!el #ri)e which was
institutionalised !y 'ir "lfred 6o!el in EG>E.
" paci?st at heart and an inventor !y nature, 'wedish chemist "lfred 6o!el
invented dynamite. 1owever, the invention that he thought would end all wars
was seen !y many others as an extremely deadly product. In EHHH, when "lfred's
!rother
,udvig died, a 9rench newspaper mistakenly ran an o!ituary for "lfred which
called him the
Imerchant of death.I
6ot wanting to go down in history with such a horri!le epitaph, 6o!el created a
will that soon shocked his relatives and esta!lished the now famous 6o!el #ri)es.
9or the same reason the 6o!el #eace #ri)e is most coveted among the other
6o!el #ri)es.
1ence when the 6o!el #ri)e for peace was awarded to (arack %!ama in @>>G it
received a lot of Jak from people all over the
world. To understand the purport !ehind this event we need to pro!a!ly look at
the genesis of the 6##.
"s per "lfred 6o!el a recipient of the 6o!le peace pri)e shall have done the most
or the !est work for fraternity !etween nations, for the a!olition or reduction of
standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
'o the o!vious $uestion !eing asked is whether %!ama has actually !een a!le to
deliver on that front. If we look at the chronology of the events in @>>G it would
surely make us think a!out the decision of awarding him a 6##. %!ama took
charge as the president in /an @>>G while closing day for nominations was 9e!. E,
when Mr. %!ama had !een in o5ce for less
than two weeks.
'o o!viously this pri)e unlike his predecessors like Gar!ochev,who won for his role
in ending the cold war or 1enry ;issinger and ,e uc Tho for their role in the
2ietnam conJict ,is not a reJection of the kind of work %!ama has done.
'o what could !e the reason for awarding %!ama the 6##A Is it an incentive for
him to !ring a!out peaceful ties in the Middle East or improve the ties !etween :'
and Europe which had !een in turmoil during George (ushDs eraA
%r it could !e that the 6orwegian committee wants to promote international
peace and feels that %!ama could possi!ly do so and also that his receiving a
peace pri)e would aid in international peace. This was also pro!a!ly the reason
why ;im aeB/ung was awarded a 6## in @>>> for his sunshine policies.
'o has awarding the 6## to Mr. %!ama reduced its value ,may !e not if it was
done with the intention of ushering in international peace and give him more
credi!ility in dealing with the "ra! world and other countries. This award is for his
aspirations rather than his concrete achievements.
The 6orwegian 6o!el +ommittee never claimed they were giving #resident
%!ama the award for his nineBmonth old presidency.
1e deserved the 6o!el for his audacious a!ility to navigate the curse of racism
with unparalleled integrity and highBmindedness.
here are several things !rong and ugly about "ndia#s greatest sho!$
including the unintended conse%uences o& the government getting
embroiled in private economic activity' But let#s not &orget that the
"ndian (remier )eague can become a giant plat&orm &or energising
the masses &or the greater good'*"()+
On!e a*ain a &romisin* initiative is em0roi$ed in !ontrovers%, mone% $a'nderin*, ne&otism, !orr'&tion,
and s'0sid% or the ri!h and amo's+ This time it is the .ndian Premier Lea*'e /.PL1+ Histor% re&eats
itse$ where &'0$i! tr'st is mis'sed and a *reat o&&ort'nit% to ma#e a &ositive im&a!t on so!iet% is $ost+
.rres&e!tive o how one ee$s a0o't the .PL, the a!t is that it &rovides three ho'rs o e@!itement and
entertainment to mi$$ions o !ri!#et enth'siast wor$dwide+ There is a demand or s'!h a orm o !ri!#et
and the .PL !a&ita$ised on this &assion+ 3or a !han*e, divisive iss'es $i#e $an*'a*e, re$i*ion, or
nationa$it% have $itt$e in$'en!e on how !ri!#et ans en(o% the *ame+
Rather than viewin* the .PL &'re$% as a v'$*ar dis&$a% o wea$th and ashion, $et"s $oo# 0rie$% at the
*ood side o it that was in dis&$a% in So'th -ri!a $ast %ear+ D'rin* the to'*h e!onomi! !onditions,
So'th -ri!a 0eneitted remar#a0$% rom the .PL as an e!onomi! stim'$'s event+ There was si*nii!ant
e!onomi! a!tivit% rom tho'sands o to'rists !onver*in* in that !o'ntr%+ Hote$s, resta'rants, *it stores,
and other sma$$ 0'sinesses 0eneitted rom in!reased s&endin* rom visitors and the .PL+ .t sotened the
e!onomi! '&heava$ in So'th -ri!a that &$a*'ed the wor$d+
The 0est o the .PL in So'th -ri!a was not the wins, the s&e!ta!'$ar si@ers or the <o$$%wood stars, 0't
the re2'ent re!o*nition o h'ndreds o !hi$dren, tea!hers, and s!hoo$s in ever% *ame+ M'!h,needed
s!ho$arshi&s and *its were *iven o't in ea!h *ame to !hi$dren and s!hoo$s+ Ei*ht,%ear o$d S"0onda
S'ma, who $ost his mother and had h'*e !on!erns over whether he !o'$d !om&$ete his s!hoo$in*, was
he$&ed 0% the .PL+ 3o'r s!hoo$s rom ea!h host !it% were se$e!ted or a s!ho$arshi& 'nd to im&rove
ed'!ationa$ o&&ort'nities+ Man% $o!a$ &a&ers in So'th -ri!a !ited the 0eneits o the .PL to n'mero's
!omm'nities 0% raisin* awareness and !omm'nit% intera!tions+
. the .PL !an 0e 'sed to 0eneit $o!a$ !omm'nities and ed'!ationa$ o&&ort'nities, wh% not en!o'ra*e
itA Whi$e . !o'$d not ind a orma$ st'd% o the e!onomi! im&a!t o the .PL on vario's !ities in .ndia, it
is &ossi0$e there are si*nii!ant im&a!ts on (o0 !reation in host !ities+ . am s're $o!a$ 0'sinesses,
in!$'din* or e@am&$e the *arment ind'str% /whi!h s'&&$ies the a&&are$ re$ated to ea!h ran!hise1, are
thri$$ed at the e!onomi! a!tivit%+ .t is the *reatest show on .ndian soi$ with mi$$ions o ed'!ated, we$$,
o &eo&$e wat!hin* who ma% 0e motivated and enti!ed &ositive$% to ta#e ownershi& o im&rovin* their
!omm'nities and s!hoo$s+ <o$$%wood stars and !ri!#eters !o'$d 0e &art o this movement to ena0$e
!han*e+ .s there a 0etter &$atorm to en!o'ra*e !iti=en &arti!i&ation on $o!a$ iss'esA
Sad$%, what the .PL did in So'th -ri!a vanished on re,a&&earin* on .ndian soi$+ There were ew
instan!es o s'&&ortin* ed'!ation and !hi$dren+ What the TV !ameras have 0een 0's% showin* are
!heer$eaders, <o$$%wood stars, and hi*h$% s'0sidised ri!h individ'a$s+ . wonder what ha&&ened to a$$
the *ood !a'ses the .PL s'&&orted whi$e in So'th -ri!a+
.t is interestin* to !ontrast .ndia"s *reatest s&ortin* event with -meri!an s&ortin* events Q !o$$e*e or
&roessiona$+ There is no ma(or s&ortin* event in the U+S+ witho't the nationa$ anthem and the &resen!e
o the armed or!es+ On the o!!asion o Veteran"s Da% Q a nationa$ ho$ida% in the U+S+ to !e$e0rate and
than# those who o'*ht &ast wars Q a Nationa$ 3oot0a$$ Lea*'e /N3L is the &roessiona$ oot0a$$ $ea*'e
that !an 0e !om&ared with the .PL1, &$a%er ater &$a%er than#ed his riends, re$atives, and ami$%
mem0ers who are servin* or have served in the mi$itar%+ Mi$itar% &ersonne$, &o$i!e oi!ers, ire
i*hters, and war heroes are a!#now$ed*ed and !e$e0rated &ra!ti!a$$% ever% ma(or *ame+
-t m% 'niversit%, ever% /-meri!an1 oot0a$$ *ame has invitees rom the mi$itar% and the I5,555,&$'s
s&e!tators !heer war heroes and mi$itar% &ersonne$+ .t is !ommon to re!o*nise e@!e$$ent resear!hers and
tea!hers d'rin* the *ame and to 0eam their names on *iant s!reens+ Man% s!ho$arshi&s are *iven to
&romisin* and deservin* st'dents+ N'mero's 0'sinesses are re!o*nised or their !ontri0'tions to
im&rovin* $o!a$ !omm'nities+ Peo&$e who have made si*nii!ant !ontri0'tions to the !omm'nit% are
re!o*nised+ The *ames are 'sed to inorm worth% !a'ses and !ontri0'tions that en!o'ra*e others to
&arti!i&ate in the 0roader so!ieta$ *oa$s+
How wonder'$ i the .PL !o'$d 0rin* attention to the h'ndreds o tho'sands o mi$itar% and &o$i!e
&ersonne$ who toi$ in the harshest !onditions and &rote!t the reedom o othersA Wh% sho'$d the .PL
not &artner with $eadin* N?Os who have made s'stained !ontri0'tions to im&rove !omm'nitiesA Let
an inde&endent 0od% o thin#ers se$e!t those N?Os or the .PL to show!ase+
The '*$% &art o the .PL is $on* and has 0een dis!'ssed e@tensive$%+ .t is *ettin* nastier ea!h da%+ What
e$se one !an one e@&e!t i the *overnment is a &artner and s'0sidises the !ost o the showA Whi$e some
e!onomi! in!entives !an 0e ('stiied to *et the 0a$$ ro$$in*, there is eno'*h eviden!e that the .PL is
enormo's$% &roita0$e and there is no need to &rovide it ta@ s'0sidies or or the *overnment to 0ear a$$
the se!'rit% !osts+
.t is not worthwhi$e 0$astin* the .PL or havin* ri!h owners and <o$$%wood stars+ The a!t is the% have
the reso'r!es to ta#e ris#s and ma#e !ertain thin*s ha&&en+ The o0(e!tions that the ri!h are 0e!omin*
ri!her are shortsi*hted+ <'t what we need is to sto& s'0sidisin* these ri!h owners in the name o
e!onomi! deve$o&ment that $owers the s'&&osed ris#, 0't ma#es the rewards dis&ro&ortionate$% hi*her+
.n a!t, the o&a2'eness o the 0iddin* &ro!ess in the .PL *ives rise to s'!h dis&ro&ortionate ris#,reward
tradeos+ We need a '$$ investi*ation o a$$e*ed mone% $a'nderin*, ta@ evasion, *am0$in*, and other
i$$e*a$ a!tivities+ Sad$%, there are h'ndreds o investi*ations in .ndia that have not %ie$ded an%
meanin*'$ res'$ts+ These investi*ations are themse$ves mani&'$ated or de$a%ed as the ne@'s r'ns dee&
and wide+ One sho'$d not 0e s'r&rised i there are one or two sa!rii!ia$ $am0s to maintain the stat's
2'o+ The tr'st in the s%stem"s wi$$in*ness to 'nearth the tr'th is ver% $ow+
There is an*er over the e@or0itant !om&ensation &aid to the &$a%ers+ On!e a*ain, it is 'ti$e to *r'd*e
this !om&ensation+ The owners wi$$ &a%, 0ased on the va$'e &$a%ers 0rin* to the ran!hise+ <'t this
va$'e is 'nne!essari$% e@a**erated 0% *overnment s'0sidies+ . the ran!hise had to &a% ta@es and
mar#et,0ased a!i$it% renta$ !osts and in!'r se!'rit% !osts, then there wo'$d 0e *reater sense in how
&$a%ers are !om&ensated+ .t is on!e a*ain a $esson on how the *overnment ena0$es these &rivate
initiatives to 0e irrationa$+
The rea$ '*$% &art o the .PL is the disr'&tion o the ed'!ation o the most im&ortant nationa$ reso'r!e Q
the !hi$dren, who are a$so the most &assionate a0o't !ri!#et+ Wh% in the wor$d wo'$d the .PL host its
*ames d'rin* the e@am &eriod o the entire nationA O !o'rse, it is eas% to sa% to the &arents: sh't o
TV and the radio+ <'t in this da% and a*e o the .nternet and wire$ess !onne!tivit%, the distra!tion
remains+
Whi$e the media thrash the .PL mana*ement and &o$iti!ians !a$$ or 0annin* the .PL, $et"s not throw the
0a0% o't with the 0athwater+ Let"s &romote the *ood and minimise the '*$% side+ .t is a *iant &$atorm
that attra!ts the reso'r!e'$ and ed'!ated and the ener*% !an 0e trans$ated or the *ood o so!iet%+ Let
the .PL ado&t *overnment s!hoo$s, &romote ed'!ation, re!o*nise !omm'nit% $eaders, tea!hers, and the
mi$itar%, and 0rin* attention to the iss'es that matter to the nation+ We saw that in So'th -ri!a+ . am
s're &eo&$e are or*ivin* o some o the sins and the s'0sidies+ Let some o the &roits *o to a *reater
!a'se+
Ho&e'$$%, the &$a%ers wi$$ invo$ve themse$ves more with im&rovin* ed'!ationa$ o&&ort'nities or the
need%+ Their va$'e !an on$% *o '& as more &eo&$e wi$$ s'&&ort the &rod'!ts the% endorse+ The ormer
-'stra$ian !a&tain, Steve Wa'*h, e&itomises the *ood and what one !an a!!om&$ish with ame and
reso'r!es+ His ed'!ationa$ tr'st and we$are &ro(e!ts in .ndia s'&&ortin* !hi$dren o $e&ros% &atients at
Uda%an, and his initiatives to &romote $itera!% and vo!ationa$ s#i$$s in 'nderdeve$o&ed areas, m'st
0e!ome a ro$e mode$ or the .PL and or !ri!#eters+ .t is not 'n's'a$ or -meri!an s&ort stars to have
h'*e tr'sts to &romote ed'!ationa$ o&&ort'nities and 0e!ome s&o#es&ersons to en*a*e !omm'nities
with meanin*'$ &ro(e!ts+ One !an on$% ho&e the .PL and its &$a%ers !an en*a*e on a *reater s!a$e to
0rin* attention to rea$ iss'es that &$a*'e the nation+
-n im&ortant $esson on!e a*ain: i the *overnment 0e!omes em0roi$ed in &rivate e!onomi! a!tivit%,
there are n'mero's 'nintended !onse2'en!es+ Let the &rivate ta#e the ris#, &a% the mar#et &ri!e or
a!i$ities and se!'rit%, and rea& the rewards+ -nd $et"s not or*et that the *reatest !ri!#etin* event in
.ndia !an 0e a *iant &$atorm to ener*ise the masses or the *reater *ood+
Mis,!n!0e,ent of foo% s#ste, c!-sin0
inf$!tion: A.hi:it Sen
-ttri0'tin* hi*h in$ation to mismana*ement o ood s%stem, P$annin* 7ommission Mem0er -0hi(it
Sen toda% 'nder$ined the need or *reater !oordination 0etween trade and other &o$i!ies to dea$ with the
sit'ation+
"- ma(or so'r!e o in$ation has 0een in the !ase o !erea$s and this is where we have a !$ear !ase o
mismana*ement o ood s%stem+ .t is not &rod'!tion shorta$$," he to$d PT. in an interview+
There has 0een 6; &er !ent rise in who$esa$e &ri!e inde@, /WP.1 0ased in$ation !om&ared with $ast
%ear, whi$e the !o'ntr% is sittin* on a h'*e sto!#+
The *overnment does not have a $on* r'n &ri!e &o$i!% whi!h !an *'arantee armers the &ri!e or their
&rod'!e, he said+ "Mismana*ement o ood s%stem means the ina0i$it% to have a $on* r'n &ri!e &o$i!%
whi!h sa%s that this is what we are *oin* to *'arantee the armers+++," he said+
Sen said .ndia has h'*e sto!#s o wheat, 0't *overnment is 'nwi$$in* to re$ease it at a rate whi!h
sho'$d 0rin* down &ri!es 0e!a'se the s'&&ort &ri!e was too hi*h and it doesn"t want to se$$ it at a rate to
ma#e a $oss+ The *overnment in De!em0er anno'n!ed Rs+ G8 &er 2'inta$ hi#e in the minim'm s'&&ort
&ri!e /MSP1 o wheat to Rs+ 6,H85 &er 2'inta$+
Sen a$so made a !ase or m'!h *reater !oordination 0etween the trade &o$i!% and other &o$i!ies+
"There sho'$d 0e m'!h *reater !oordination 0etween the trade &o$i!% and the domesti! &o$i!%+++ The
wor$d &ri!es are ver% vo$ati$e, we thereore need m'!h *reater $e@i0i$it% in o'r taris+ Taris sho'$d
var% as wor$d &ri!es var%+ .n a!t what we end '& doin* is not tari variation 0't 0ans on e@&ort and
0ans on im&ort," he said+
However, variation in taris re2'ire a !ontin'o's assessment and .ndia does not have that !ontin'o's
assessment, he added+
". thin# the 7-7P /7ommission or -*ri!'$t're 7osts and Pri!es1 sho'$d 0e &$a%in* m'!h $ar*er ro$e
in tr%in* to *ive dire!tion to tari settin* &o$i!%+ Unort'nate$%, 7-7P"s &ro0$em wi$$ 0e that the
3inan!e Ministr% and the 7ommer!e Ministr% ++++do not o&t to $isten to it /7-7P1+"
7-7P s'**ests arm &ri!in* &o$i!%+
The WP.,0ased in$ation eased to J+49 &er !ent in Novem0er rom ;+9G &er !ent over the same &eriod a
%ear a*o+ However, retai$ in$ation in the month moved '& to ;+;5 &er !ent, main$% on a!!o'nt o hi*her
&ri!es o s'*ar, ve*eta0$es, edi0$e oi$ and !$othin*+
Sho-$% there .e ,ini,-, e%-c!tion!$ 6-!$ific!tion to contest e$ections ?*e !n M+=+!0!$)-#>
Most of the fie$%s re6-ire !''$ic!nts to h!e ,ini,-, 6-!$ific!tion to .e e$i0i.$e for ! 0ien
:o.(*-t 'o$itics is one s-ch fie$% 2hich neer h!% !n# 'rere6-isite e$i0i.i$it# criteri!( There h!e
.een ,!n# 'o$itici!ns in the '!st !n% c-rrent$# in 'o2er 2ho !re not een 0r!%-!tes3 #et the#
h!e .een ! ,e,.er of +!r$i!,ent or of St!te !sse,.$#
Sho'$d there 0e a minim'm ed'!ationa$ 2'a$ii!ation to !ontest e$e!tions is a moot &oint+
3o'r &oints in avor o the to&i!
61 Po$iti!ians with 0asi! 2'a$ii!ation wo'$d 0e 0etter !andidates sin!e the% wi$$ 0e a0$e to 'nderstand
the re2'irements o the masses 0etter and rame &o$i!ies a!!ordin*$%+
41 Re$evant 2'a$ii!ation wi$$ not on$% he$& them in ramin* 0etter &o$i!ies or the e$e!torate 0't a$so
he$& &o$iti!ians em&athi=e with the masses+
H1 Re$evant and 0asi! 2'a$ii!ation wi$$ he$& a &o$iti!ian in de!ision ma#in* and &ro0$em so$vin*+
91 Re$evant 2'a$ii!ation wi$$ a$so he$& a &o$iti!ian to 0e a *ood team mem0er or an ee!tive $eader
with his !a0inet+
3o'r Points a*ainst the to&i!
61 Re$evant 2'a$ii!ation is not a &ere!t re!i&e to 0e a 0etter &o$iti!ian+ There are n'mero's e@am&$e o
&o$iti!ians who have not !om&$eted their s!hoo$in* %et have ramed &o$i!ies or the 0etterment o the
e$e!torate+
41 <asi! 2'a$ii!ation is more in!$ined towards ed'!atin* the &o$iti!ian with theories than &ra!ti!a$
a&&roa!h to a &ro0$em+ Po$iti!s re2'ire a &ra!ti!a$ &ro0$em so$vin* a&&roa!h than a theoreti!a$ one+
H1 T'a$ities s'!h as 0ein* an ee!tive $eader and or a team &$a%er is *ained 0% e@&erien!e and not 0%
ed'!ation+
91 . an e$i*i0i$it% !riteria is #e&t to !ontest an e$e!tion man% deservin* &o$iti!ians who !o'$dn"t
!om&$ete their ed'!ation d'e to ami$% or inan!ia$ &ro0$ems wi$$ 0e $et o't th's doin* the nation more
harm than *ood+
IIMs SHOULD MAKE ONE YEAR COMPULSORY OF SOCIAL SERVICE COMPULSORY
In%i! is ! co-ntr# f-$$ of %is'!rit#( It is ! ho,e to 2or$%9s $e!%in0 ,i$$ion!ire !n% !$so ! ho,e to
2or$%9s $!r0est s$-,s !n% 'oor( Fe2 e$ites en:o#s the $-&-ries !t '!r 2ith the ,ost %ee$o'e%
co-ntries 2hi$e h!$f of the 'o'-$!tion $!c7s .!sic !,enities of foo%3 she$ter3 e%-c!tion3 'ort!.$e
2!ter !n% s!nit!tion( In%i! nee%s to .ri%0e this 0!' .et2een the 'oor !n% rich3 .enefite% !n%
,!r0in!$i;e% !s soon !s 'ossi.$e( For this3 co-ntr#9s f-t-re ,!n!0ers !n% $e!%ers c!n '$!# ! it!$
ro$e in 'roi%in0 soci!$ serice to these 'eo'$e(
IIMs3 co-ntr#9s one the ,ost 'resti0io-s instit-tion3 c!n ,!7e ! co,'-$sor# soci!$ serice for !$$
for the 2e$f!re of the 2e!7er section of the societ#( A co,'-$sor# co-rse of soci!$ serice !n%
cor'or!te soci!$ res'onsi.i$it# =CSR> sho-$% .e %esi0ne% in '!r!$$e$ 2ith the e&istin0 re0-$!r
co-rse( St-%ents sho-$% .e ,!%e sensitie to2!r%s 'ro.$e,s of the 'oor !n% i,'!rt the, 2ith
the sense of res'onsi.i$it# the# h!e to2!r%s the 2e!7er sections( St-%ents c!n .e 0ien re!$1$ife
'ro:ects -n%er this co-rse !n% 2i$$ $e!rn ho2 to %e!$ 2ith the 'eo'$e3 inte$$ect-!$$# $o2er th!n
the,( IIM R!i'-r h!s t!7en 'ro,'t ste's in this %irection !n% h!s ,!%e ! co,'-$sor# co-rse on
.-siness ethics !n% cor'or!te soci!$ res'onsi.i$it#(
For .ein0 ! 0oo% !n% s-ccessf-$ $e!%er or ,!n!0er3 one of the ,ost i,'ort!nt 6-!$it# th!t he or
she sho-$% 'ossess is -n%erst!n%in0 the nee%s !n% 'ro.$e,s of the ,!sses( Listenin0 to their
'ro.$e,s 2i$$ .rin0 ! $e!%er c$oser to the,3 e%-c!tin0 the, 2ith the conte,'or!r# 'rocess
fo$$o2e% in !rio-s fie$%s $i7e 'roc-rin0 s-.si%i;e% foo%3 o'enin0 of ! .!n7 !cco-nt3 0ettin0
$o2er interest $o!n !n% other .enefits(
Fe2 of the i,'e%i,ents th!t IIMs sho-$% t!7e c!re of is the inc$-sion of !n e&tr! co-rse of
cor'or!te soci!$ res'onsi.i$it# i,'e%e the $e!rnin0 of core s-.:ects(
In%i! !n% Chin! 'o'-$!tion @ A .$essin0 in
%is0-ise "
.ndiaU and 7hina are &ro0a0$% the most ta$#ed a0o't !o'ntries o'tside o US !'rrent$%+ The reason Q
their 'heno,en!$ 0ro2th+
Some %ears 0a!# the reason was dierent, it was their &o&'$ation, and %o' !o'$dnBt 0't sto& &eo&$e
ta$#in* a0o't the e!onomi! &ro0$ems that these two !o'ntries were a!in* d'e to it+ ?'ess what, it was
a 0$essin* in dis*'ise V
The *rowth that these two !o'ntries are seein* now is on the 0a!# o their $ar*e %o'n* wor#in*
&o&'$ation+ The a*in* ?erman% or US #now ver% we$$ the im&ortan!e o havin* a %o'n* and wor#in*
&o&'$ation and its ee!t on e!onom%+ - *ood we$$ ed'!ated %o'n* wor#in* !$ass !an $it a nation
a*ainst a$$ odds and vi!e a versa+
This &ost wi$$ most$% &resents the a!ts and co,'!rison of 'o'-$!tion .et2een In%i! !n% Chin! !n%
their effects(
.ndia !'rrent$% stands at a ver% advanta*eo's &osition as %o' wi$$ $earn short$% rom these
a!ts:
.ndia is now ore!ast to s'r&ass 7hina in tota$ &o&'$ation 0% 45H5, ive %ears ear$ier
than &revio's$% tho'*ht+
.ndiaBs &o&'$ation is s$ated to rise 0% a$most H85 mi$$ion over the ne@t 2'arter
!ent'r%, twi!e as ast as the United States, Western E'ro&e and 7hina !om0ined+
Whi$e 7hinaBs &o&'$ation is !'rrent$% /45581 $ar*er than .ndiaBs 0% over 455
mi$$ion, 0% 4585 .ndiaBs &o&'$ation is e@&e!ted to e@!eed 7hinaBs 0% 455 mi$$ion+
.ndiaBs 'r0an &o&'$ation is &ro(e!ted to rise rom 4; &er!ent o tota$ &o&'$ation in
4558 to 96 &er!ent 0% 45H5+
More !riti!a$ or e!onomi! *rowth, however, is the rate o *rowth in the $a0or or!e+ This is 0est
estimated 0% &ro(e!tin* *rowth in the Kwor#in*,a*eL &o&'$ation /a*e 68,G51+ Here, .ndiaBs advanta*es
are am&$iied+ The *rowth in .ndiaBs wor#in* a*e &o&'$ation is e@&e!ted to e@!eed its a$read% ra&id
&o&'$ation *rowth 'nti$ 4568+ Whi$e 7hinaBs wor#in* a*e &o&'$ation de!$ines rom 4545 to 4585,
.ndiaBs in!reases 'nti$ at $east 4598+ Reversa$s o ort'ne+ 7hinaBs !'rrent wor#in* a*e &o&'$ation
dwars .ndiaBs 0% 4H5 mi$$ion, however, 0% 4585 .ndiaBs wor#in* a*e &o&'$ation wi$$ e@!eed 7hinaBs
0% the same amo'nt+
.ndiaBs %o'th'$ &o&'$ation &roi$e, !o'&$ed with a shar&$% de!$inin* erti$it% rate s'**ests a re$ative
s$owdown in the n'm0er o !hi$dren e@&e!ted to 0e added in the !omin* de!ades+ The e@&erien!e o
-sia shows that the e!onomi! mira!$es in >a&an and in the KTi*er E!onomiesL o So'theast -sia and
re!ent$% in 7hina o!!'rred at a simi$ar sta*e o demo*ra&hi! transition where the share o wor#in*
&o&'$ation *rew shar&$%+ 7hina, !onverse$%, is a*in* aster than an% other !o'ntr% in histor%+ .t is
'ni2'e in that it is *rowin* o$d 0eore it has *rown ri!h+ .ts one,!hi$d &o$i!% is $ar*e$% res&onsi0$e or
this ee!t+ 7hinese oi!ia$s state that H55 mi$$ion 0irths over the &ast H5 %ears were KavertedL as a
res'$t o this &o$i!%+ 7hinaBs transition to an a*in* &o&'$ation is &arti!'$ar$% a0r'&t, and a serio's
*ender im0a$an!e wi$$ on$% e@a!er0ate the &o&'$ation de!$ine startin* in 45H5+
-n% entit% &$annin* to start 0'siness in .ndia, is *oin* to have distin!t advanta*es over other !o'ntries
when it !omes to 0'i$din* a *ood wor#or!e over !omin* %ears+
The Me%i!1A Too$ of +ro'!0!n%!"
Toda% . wat!hed a ver% tho'*ht,&rovo#in* do!'mentar% !a$$ed Manufacturing Consent: Noam
Chomsky and the Media, whi!h is 0ased on 7homs#%"s 0oo# + .n the do!'mentar% the ar*'ment is &'t
orth that the media serve and 'rther the *oa$s o the dominant *ro'&s in so!iet%, name$% the wea$th%
and &ower'$+ <'t this is not &resented as some *iant, se!ret !ons&ira!%, 0't as nat'ra$$% o$$owin* d'e
to the a!t that the media is a 0'siness whose *oa$ is to ma#e a &roit+ This &roit,in!entive, as we$$ as
other a!tors, drive the media to orm &'0$i! ideas and &resent iss'es in s'!h a manner as to serve the
interests o the &ower'$+ These 0iases are e@&$ained 0% what 7homs#% and Edward Herman !a$$ the
Pro&a*anda Mode$+ The theor% e@&$ains that there are ive "i$ters" whi!h the news m'st &ass thro'*h
in order to "0e!ome news", and these i$ters se$e!t on$% inormation that is not at odds with the we$$,
0ein* o those in &ower+
These ive i$ters are, !o'rtes% o wi#i&edia,
Ownership,Herman and 7homs#% ar*'e that sin!e a$$ mainstream media o't$ets are $ar*e
!or&orations whi!h are themse$ves &art o 0i**er !on*$omerates, e+*+ Westin*ho'se or ?enera$
E$e!tri!, whi!h e@tend 0e%ond traditiona$ media ie$ds, these !om&anies have &ower'$ interests
that ma% 0e ae!ted when !ertain inormation is &'0$i!i=ed+ -!!ordin* to this reasonin*, 0ias
a*ainst that news whi!h !on$i!ts with the interests o those who own the media is to 0e
e@&e!ted+
The a'thors !$aim that the im&ortan!e o ownershi& i$ter is the a!t that !or&orations are s'0(e!t
to shareho$der !ontro$ in the !onte@t o a &roit,oriented mar#et e!onom%+ The theor% then
ar*'es that ma@imi=in* &roit means sa!rii!in* news o0(e!tivit%, and news so'r!es that
'$timate$% s'rvive m'st 0e 'ndamenta$$% 0iased, with re*ard to news in whi!h the% have a
!on$i!t o interest+
Funding,The a'thors a$so ar*'e that the mainstream media de&ends heavi$% on advertisin*
reven'es to s'rvive+ - news&a&er $i#e the New Ror# Times, or e@am&$e, derives J8: o its
reven'es rom advertisements+
The a'thors s'**est that this i$ter is 0est seen 0% ado&tin* a traditiona$ 0'siness ramewor#+
The% ar*'e that a news&a&er, $i#e an% other !om&an%, has a &rod'!t whi!h it oers to its
a'dien!e /or !'stomer 0ase1+ .n this !ase, however, the &rod'!t is !om&osed o the a$'ent
readers who 0'% the news&a&er E who a$so !om&rise the ed'!ated de!ision,ma#in* se!tor o
the &o&'$ation E whi$e the a'dien!e in!$'des the 0'sinesses that &a% to advertise their *oods+
-!!ordin* to this "i$ter", the news itse$ is nothin* more than "i$$er" to *et &rivi$e*ed readers
to see the advertisements whi!h ma#es '& the rea$ !ontent, and wi$$ th's ta#e whatever orm is
most !ond'!ive to attra!tin* ed'!ated de!ision,ma#ers+ Stories that !on$i!t with their "0'%in*
mood", it is ar*'ed, wi$$ tend to 0e mar*ina$i=ed or e@!$'ded, as wi$$ inormation that &resents a
&i!t're o the wor$d that !o$$ides with advertisers" interests+
The theor% ar*'es that the &eo&$e 0'%in* the news&a&er are themse$ves the &rod'!t whi!h is
so$d to the 0'sinesses that 0'% advertisin* s&a!e) the news&a&er itse$ has on$% a mar*ina$ ro$e
as the &rod'!t+
Souring,The third i$ter ar*'es that the mass media need a !onstant $ow o inormation to
s'&&$% their dai$% news demands+ .n an ind'stria$i=ed e!onom% where !ons'mers demand
inormation a0o't m'$ti&$e *$o0a$ events, the% ar*'e that this tas# !an on$% 0e i$$ed 0% the
0'siness and *overnment se!tors whi!h have the ne!essar% materia$ reso'r!es+ This in!$'des
main$% The Penta*on and other *overnmenta$ 0odies+ 7homs#% and Herman then ar*'e that a
"s%m0ioti! re$ationshi&" arises 0etween the media and &arts o *overnment whi!h is s'stained
0% e!onomi! ne!essit% and re!i&ro!it% o interest+ On the one hand, *overnment and news,
&romoters strive to ma#e it easier or news or*ani=ations to 0'% their servi!es) a!!ordin* to the
a'thors, the%
W &rovide them with a!i$ities in whi!h to *ather
W *ive (o'rna$ists advan!e !o&ies o s&ee!hes and orth!omin* re&orts
W s!hed'$e &ress !oneren!es at ho'rs we$$,*eared to news dead$ines
W write &ress re$eases in 'sa0$e $an*'a*e
W !are'$$% or*ani=e their &ress !oneren!es and "&hoto o&&ort'nit%" sessions
On the other hand, the media 0e!omes re$'!tant to r'n arti!$es that wi$$ harm the !or&orate
interests that &rovide them with the reso'r!es that the media de&ends '&on+
!hese "#s$ $wo %i"$ers #re $hose whih #re presu&ed $o 'e o% "esser i&por$#ne
F"#(,The term "$a#" has 0een 'sed to des!ri0e what the a'thors see as tar*eted eorts to
dis!redit or*ani=ations or individ'a$s who disa*ree with or !ast do'0t on the &revai$in*
ass'm&tions whi!h 7homs#% and Herman view as avora0$e to esta0$ished &ower+ Un$i#e the
irst three "i$terin*" a!tors, whi!h are derived rom ana$%sis o mar#et me!hanisms, $a# is
!hara!teri=ed 0% !on!erted and intentiona$ eorts to mana*e &'0$i! inormation+ 3$a# rom the
&ower'$ !an 0e either dire!t or indire!t+ The dire!t wo'$d in!$'de $etters or &hone !a$$s rom
the White Ho'se to Dan Rather or Wi$$iam Pa$e%, or rom the 377 to the te$evision networ#s
as#in* or do!'ments 'sed in &'ttin* to*ether a &ro*ram, or rom irate oi!ia$s o ad a*en!ies
or !or&orate s&onsors to media oi!ia$s as#in* or re&$% time or threatenin* reta$iation+ The
&ower'$ !an a$so wor# on the media indire!t$% 0% !om&$ainin* to their own !onstit'en!ies
/sto!#ho$ders, em&$o%ees1 a0o't the media, 0% *eneratin* instit'tiona$ advertisin* that does the
same, and 0% 'ndin* monitorin* or thin#,tan# o&erations desi*ned to atta!# the media+ The%
ma% a$so 'nd &o$iti!a$ !am&ai*ns and he$& &'t into &ower &o$iti!ians who wi$$ more dire!t$%
serve the interests o &rivate &ower in !'r0in* an% deviationism in the media+
An$i)ideo"ogies,- ina$ i$ter is anti,ideo$o*%+ -nti,ideo$o*ies e@&$oit &'0$i! ear and hatred o
*ro'&s that &ose a &otentia$ threat, either rea$ or ima*ined+ 7omm'nism on!e &osed the &rimar%
threat a!!ordin* to the mode$+ 7omm'nism was seen 0% its detra!tors as threatenin* reedom o
s&ee!h, movement, &ress et!+ and that this was oten 'sed as an e@!'se to si$en!e voi!es !riti!a$
o &ower+ With the destr'!tion o the Soviet Union, &ro&onents o the &ro&a*anda mode$ have
ar*'ed that the main em&hasis o anti,!omm'nism, has 0een $ost+ New anathemas soon
a&&eared+ 7homs#% and Herman ar*'e that a &ossi0$e re&$a!ement or anti,!omm'nism seems
to have emer*ed in the orm o "anti,terrorism"+
So that"s essentia$$% the theor% 0ehind it, and in m% o&inion it is &rett% strai*ht,orward+ 7homs#%
&oints to some e@am&$es in this do!'mentar% and there are a$so some *reat e@am&$es on another
do!'mentar% !a$$ed The 7or&oration + . thin# %o'"d 0e s'r&rised as to what e@tent the media
!o$$a0orates with its advertisers when their advertisers have somethin* the% don"t want &'0$ished+ -n
e@am&$e rom The Corporation is rather &oor$% des!ri0ed here+
-n%how, . hi*h$% re!ommend 0oth o the do!'mentaries+ Ro' mi*ht 0e a0$e to rent them at %o'r
$o!a$ video store /as . did with The 7or&oration1 or view them at a 'niversit% $i0rar% /Man'a!t'rin*
7onsent1+ . thin# too oten we, as atheists, thin# that we"ve seen thro'*h a$$ the 0'$$shit and aren"t 0ein*
mis$ed an%more+ ."m startin* to thin# that &erha&s that view is in!orre!t+
7ill India !ecome a superpower !y @>K>A
India's growth has slowed, foreign direct investment has plummeted, and its currency is sinking. After two
decades of impressive growth, optimism appears to have ebbed. In the minds of many, India's shine has
dimmed.
But today's woes are a mere bump. Consider the long-term potential. India can become economically
developed by !"! if it maintains a #$% growth of "." to &'. India has lot more positives going forward,
even more than China. India's sustained economic growth, entrepreneurial society and young population
have it poised to become an economic superpower. (ith its vibrant democracy and free press, the country
provides an alternative to China, if it can overcome daunting challenges.
)here are several impediments which India faces in its *uest to become economic superpower. )he first
will be educating the country's masses of young people. Although India has some of good engineering and
business schools, the overall level of adult literacy is pitifully low at about &+'. )he bulk of the work here
will need to be done by the private sector. As +# and ,# wireless technologies get rolled out nationwide
and as low-cost tablet computers become commonplace, there will be unparalleled opportunities for the
private sector to bring outstanding self-learning material to even the remotest villages.
)he second ma-or challenge is the scourge of corruption. (hile corruption always leads to misallocation of
resources, in a country such as India its effect can be particularly nasty as it leads to massive e.ploitation
of the very poor who have almost no power to pass on the costs of corruption to third parties.
)he third ma-or challenge is the imperative for much greater efficiency in using resources, especially in
energy. India relies on imports for a very huge proportion of its oil and gas needs than any other large
emerging economy, including China. As India's economy continues its rapid growth, the energy situation is
likely to get even more challenging.
In conclusion, India indeed has all the human and material resources that are re*uired to become a
superpower. )here are challenges and roadblocks, no doubt. But better governance and meaningful
reforms can help us get over them.
Is hosting Commonwealth Games waste of money?
)he #ames are putting the world's largest democracy to test. $elhi's
government is definitely trying to make it successful by all possible
means.
/erely 0 days to go for Commonwealth #ames !1! and the 2ueen3s baton is receiving a
warm welcome everywhere. But some set of Indian politicians are issuing one untimely
*uestion about whether hosting Commonwealth #ames is wastage of money. Is it4 (here
were these politicians during the biding process for the games which was held almost five
years ago4 In India, our politicians always change their colours like chameleon for their
vested interests and to for remaining in the limelight. (hy do they always wake up late4
"& !e see our country,s poor standards o& living$ the games budget
may raise the eyebro!s o& a good set o& population' But it does not
mean !e should not host any sports events' Nobody raised any
issues !hen "ndia hosts numerous series o& cricket through the year'
On that$ the same politicians have no ob-ection and they openly
support cricket' " believe i& .ommon!ealth Games is !astage o&
money than a lot o& other things are !aste o& money as !ell' /oes
not the .ommon!ealth Games give a chance to our sports men and
!omen to per&orm at an international level in our country itsel& 0"s it
not that hosting such events are bound to have positive
conse%uences &or "ndian tourism and local employment prospects0
The 7ommonwea$th *ames are se!ond on$% to the O$%m&i! in im&ortan!e in Wor$d s&orts+ .t is a ver%
im&ortant move or a $ar*e and dense$% &o&'$ated !o'ntr% $i#e .ndia to host the 7ommonwea$th ?ames
and $oo#in* at the 0eneits o Wor$d 7$ass S&orts events+ Not on$% e!onomi! *ains, a$so this event wi$$
enhan!e orei*n !'rren!% *ains and !onsidera0$e vo$'me o trade a!tivities wi$$ ta#e &$a!e+ .t wi$$
show!ase .ndia to the rest o the Wor$d and New De$hi has a *ood !han!e to &rove *$o0a$ !it% to the
e@&e!ted655, 555 visitors+
Res, . a*ree that the estimated 0'd*et whi!h was ori*ina$$% &assed has *one '& 0% o'r times+ <'t i
%o' see the *ood &art is that De$hi has im&roved its inrastr'!t're $i#e the De$hi metro, new stadi'ms,
hi*hwa%s, $%overs, hote$s, resta'rants, trans&ort s%stems, oot,over 0rid*es, s'0wa%s, wa$#wa%s and
man% more+ .ndiaBs !a&ita$Bs $ands!a&e is !han*in*+ Most o the new street 'rnit're is aestheti!a$$%
desi*ned and !onorms to internationa$ standards+ -$$ ma#eover is not a0o't 'r0an &$annin*, it is a$$
'r0an desi*n+ Most$% &ro(e!ts are re$ated to environment and herita*e !onservations+
On one side i the a!e o the .ndian !a&ita$ is !han*in*, on other side it is sti$$ a 2'estion mar# on
s&orts&ersonsB trainin* and a!i$ities+ Wh% is the *overnment !on!entratin* more on inrastr'!t'reA The
?ames is &'ttin* the wor$dBs $ar*est demo!ra!% to test+ De$hiBs *overnment is deinite$% tr%in* to ma#e
it s'!!ess'$ 0% a$ &ossi0$e means+
. the *ames are e@e!'ted $aw$ess$%, it !o'$d deine .ndiaBs am0ition o 0ein* an emer*in* s'&er
e!onom%+ .t wo'$d test .ndiaBs so$idarit%, !a&a0i$it% o e@hi0itin* s'&erior hos&ita$it% s#i$$s, ei!ien!%
and a$$ the a!tors ne!essar% to 0ein* an ee!tive host+ This event ma% 0e the t'rnin* &oint to
transormin* the emer*in* e!onom% into a &reerred destination or orei*n investment, o0vio's$% 0%
0eatin* 7hina+ O'r !o'ntr% *ets wor$d e@&os're+
*re!7in0 %o2n $!r0er st!tes for .etter 0oern!nce:1
TELAN)ANA is ! territor# of AB, 'eo'$e 2ho ,!7e -' !.o-t t2o1fifths of the so-th In%i!n
st!te of An%hr! +r!%esh( M!n# of the, ho'e one %!# to h!e ! st!te of their o2n( The# c$!i, !
%istinct histor#3 !n% co,'$!in th!t the# ,iss o-t on reso-rces3 s-ch !s s-''$ies of 2!ter3 th!t 0o
to the rest of the st!te(
- s&$it sho'$d have ha&&ened $on* a*o+ 3or ive de!ades &rotesters have so'*ht one, with H%dera0ad,
one o so'thern .ndiaBs $ar*est !ities, as their !a&ita$+ -!tivists sa% that in the &ast three %ears over H55
%o'n* &eo&$e have #i$$ed themse$ves over Te$an*ana, demandin* &o$iti!a$ !ontro$ that wo'$d 0eneit
$o!a$s+ Man% set themse$ves on ire in &'0$i!+
Po$iti!ians &romise s'&&ort or a new state, 0't then, with !%ni!a$ re*'$arit%, t'rn awa%+ .ndiaBs r'$in*
7on*ress &art% ta$#s '& Te$an*ana, at times even oerin* a !ommission on reor*anisin* state 0orders+
.n De!em0er the home minister, S'shi$ D'mar Shinde, said the *overnment wo'$d anno'n!e its
&osition on statehood or Te$an*ana /&res'ma0$% s'&&ortin* it1 within a month+ Nothin* ha&&ened+
E&'ect ,ore s-ch -nf-$fi$$e% '$e%0es .efore 0ener!$ e$ections %-e ne&t #e!r( *!c7in0 Te$!n0!n!
,!7es $oc!$ sense: Con0ress 2on ! !$-!.$e C/ of the CD '!r$i!,ent!r# se!ts there in the $!st
0ener!$ e$ection3 in /EEF( Yet the '!rt# !$so 0ot /C M+s in the rest of An%hr! +r!%esh3 2here
o''osition to Te$!n0!n! is fir,( Th-s Con0ress tries the i,'ossi.$e3 .oth .!c7in0 the ne2 st!te
!n% 'reentin0 its .irth( Te$!n0!n! 4h!s .een che!te%( No 'ro,ises h!e .een 7e't53 s!#s S!tish
Misr! of the O.serer Rese!rch Fo-n%!tion3 ! De$hi thin71t!n7( He sti$$ e&'ects st!tehoo%
eent-!$$#(
Simi$ar &ress'res *row e$sewhere+ Vast Uttar Pradesh /UP1 sho'$d de!ades a*o have 0een di!ed into
more mana*ea0$e &arts+ On the eve o $ast %earBs e$e!tion or the state assem0$%, the then !hie minister,
Ma%awati, &'t orward a reso$'tion to divide the 455m,&$'s &o&'$ation into o'r new states+ Man%
$o!a$s $i#e the idea+ <'t Ms Ma%awatiBs $ast,min'te &$an was o&&ort'nisti!+ She $ost the e$e!tion+
Others &ro&ose new states+ The <odo tri0a$ *ro'& wants a !h'n# o -ssam, in the north,east, to #ee&
o't M's$im sett$ers+ - &art o in$and West <en*a$ is dis&'ted+ ?ro'&s in the wea$th% western state o
Maharashtra want to orm Vidar0ha+ Previo's ro'nds o 'nrave$$in* en!o'ra*e them+ Modern .ndia was
made rom !o$onia$ territor% and 855,odd &rin!e$% rea$ms+ Ever% de!ade or two, nota0$% in 6;8G, state
0orders are re&at!hed, 's'a$$% a!!ordin* to $an*'a*e or demands or !'$t'ra$ 'nit%+ Re!ent ar*'ments
are made or e!onomi! deve$o&ment and 0etter *overnan!e+
The <harati%a >anata Part%, then in &ower, oversaw the $ast ro'nd, in 4555, when three states in its
northern Hindi,s&ea#in* heart$and were ea!h !'t in two+ That &roved s'!!ess'$, on the who$e+
Uttara#hand, a hi$$% !orner !ho&&ed rom UP, re!orded ra&id e!onomi! *rowth and so!ia$ *ains, easi$%
o't&erormin* UP+ New ta@ 0rea#s and a s'r*e in to'rism he$&ed+
7hhattis*arh, 0a!#ward 0't reso'r!e,ri!h and on!e a &art o Madh%a Pradesh, is doin* m'!h 0etter
e!onomi!a$$% than 0eore+ .ts !hie minister, Raman Sin*h, 0oasts o !onsistent$% hi*h *rowth+ He
e@&e!ts to win re,e$e!tion this %ear than#s to 0etter de$iver% o &'0$i! ood rations+
>har#hand in eastern .ndia has a$tered ater se&aratin* rom <ihar+ <'t the r'm& o <ihar itse$ has
thrived, with do'0$e,di*it e!onomi! *rowth and stri#in* so!ia$ &ro*ress sin!e the divor!e+ On!e a
0%word or 0a!#wardness, the state is doin* we$$ 'nder a $o!a$ $eader+
The new states were $'!#% in &art, 0e!a'se .ndia *rew ast overa$$+ <'t im&roved administration a$so
he$&ed: the *overnments o sma$$er states have a sta#e in $o!a$ s'!!ess+ E$sewhere, too, man% o .ndiaBs
H8 states and 'nion territories are at demo*ra&hi! e@tremes+ The% are either monsters $i#e UP and
Maharashtra /their !om0ined &o&'$ation o H45m is *reater than that o the United States1, or minnows
with 0are$% 6m &eo&$e+
.dea$$%, .ndia needs a new !ommission to de!ide how to reor*anise states, or it wo'$d 0e a mista#e to
$eave it to &o$iti!ians a$wa%s thin#in* a0o't the ne@t e$e!tion+ -$read% the states, with an avera*e o
H8m &eo&$e ea!h, $oo# 'nmana*ea0$% $ar*e, on the who$e+ <% mid,!ent'r% .ndiaBs overa$$ &o&'$ation is
e@&e!ted to 0e 6+G 0i$$ion+ . the% are to it into 0etter,r'n sma$$er states, then someone has to *et
aro'nd to ormin* another 45 or H5 o them+
Mo.i$e +hones3 Men!ce"
Mo0i$e Phones are a Mena!e not a <$essin*+
Some &eo&$e thin# that mo0i$e &hones are a !om&$ete mena!e and some thin# the% are a 0$essin*+ .n
this statement . wi$$ dis!'ss 0oth sides o this ar*'ment+ 3irst$% . wi$$ dis!'ss how mo0i$e &hones are
0ad or so!iet% and how the% are a mena!e+ -ter this . wi$$ dis!'ss how the% are a 0$essin* and the
*ood thin*s that the% ho$d+ This is a !onstant iss'e o de0ate &arti!'$ar$% 0etween this *eneration and
o$der *enerations+
Peo&$e 0e$ieve mo0i$e &hones are a mena!e as the% thin# the% have destro%ed Xrea$B /a!e to a!e1
so!ia$isin*+ The% 0e$ieve that 0e!a'se &eo&$e are !onstant$% in !onta!t with their riends this means that
when &eo&$e meet '& in rea$ $ie the% have no so!ia$isin* s#i$$s or !annot ho$d a !onversation the wa%
&eo&$e 'sed to+ - mo0i$e &hone !an distra!t %o' rom thin*s that %o' sho'$d 0e !on!entratin* on+ S'!h
as !rossin* the road, i %o' mo0i$e *oes o in %o'r &o!#et then %o' wi$$ a'tomati!a$$% want to !he!# it,
this then ta#es %o'r attention o !rossin* a road and !o'$d !a'se %o' to wa$# o't in ront o a !ar+ This
!an !a'se a ma(or a!!ident and &ossi0$% death+ Phones a$so &romote the idea o X!%0er,0'$$%in*B as
&eo&$e ma% 0e a0$e to sa% thin*s in te@t orm that the% !o'$dnBt sa% a!e to a!e+ This !o'$d a$so !a'se
i*hts 0etween riends as one &erson ma% ta#e somethin* in a dierent wa% than it was meant, sar!asm
is somethin* m% *eneration 'se a $ot and it doesnBt trave$ we$$ via te@t+ Sometimes &eo&$e *et into the
wa% o te@tin* 'sin* a te@t $an*'a*e, where words are shortened to save time+ This !o'$d then ae!t
%o'r norma$ s&e$$in* or da% to da% wor#+ Some re!ent investi*ations have en!o'ra*ed the idea that the
radio waves *iven o mo0i$e te$e&hones !an &rod'!e t'mo'rs whi!h thereore !a'se !an!er+
W!ter conf$ict
W!ter conf$ict is ! ter, %escri.in0 ! conf$ict .et2een co-ntries3 st!tes3 or 0ro-'s oer !n !ccess
to 2!ter reso-rces(GCH G/H GAH The Unite% N!tions reco0ni;es th!t 2!ter %is'-tes res-$t fro,
o''osin0 interests of 2!ter -sers3 '-.$ic or 'ri!te(GIH
- wide ran*e o water !on$i!ts a&&ear thro'*ho't histor%, tho'*h rare$% are traditiona$ wars wa*ed
over water a$one+Y8Z .nstead, water has histori!a$$% 0een a so'r!e o tension and a a!tor in !on$i!ts
that start or other reasons+ However, water !on$i!ts arise or severa$ reasons, in!$'din* territoria$
dis&'tes, a i*ht or reso'r!es, and strate*i! advanta*e+YGZ
These !on$i!ts o!!'r over 0oth reshwater and sa$twater, and 0etween internationa$ 0o'ndaries+
However, !on$i!ts o!!'r most$% over reshwater) 0e!a'se reshwater reso'r!es are ne!essar%, %et
$imited, the% are the !enter o water dis&'tes arisin* o't o need or &ota0$e water+YJZ -s reshwater is a
vita$, %et 'neven$% distri0'ted nat'ra$ reso'r!e, its avai$a0i$it% oten im&a!ts the $ivin* and e!onomi!
!onditions o a !o'ntr% or re*ion+ The $a!# o !ost,ee!tive water desa$ination te!hni2'es in areas $i#e
the Midd$e East,YIZ amon* other e$ements o water !rises !an &'t severe &ress'res on a$$ water 'sers,
whether !or&orate, *overnment, or individ'a$, $eadin* to tension, and &ossi0$% a**ression+Y;Z Re!ent
h'manitarian !atastro&hes, s'!h as the Rwandan ?eno!ide or the war in S'danese Dar'r, have 0een
$in#ed 0a!# to water !on$i!ts+Y6Z
Accor%in0 to the CFF/ Intern!tion!$ Conference on W!ter !n% the Eniron,ent3GCCH W!ter is !
it!$ e$e,ent for h-,!n $ife3 !n% !n# h-,!n !ctiit# re$!tes so,eho2 to 2!ter( Unfort-n!te$#3 it
is not ! rene2!.$e reso-rce !n% in the f-t-re it J,i0ht 0et 2orse 2ith c$i,!te ch!n0e3 !$tho-0h
scientistsK 'ro:ections of f-t-re r!inf!$$ !re notorio-s$# c$o-%#J 2rites Ro0er H!rr!.in(GC/H
Moreoer3 Jit is no2 co,,on$# s!i% th!t f-t-re 2!rs in the Mi%%$e E!st !re ,ore $i7e$# to .e
fo-0ht oer 2!ter th!n oer oi$3J s!i% Lester R( *ro2n !t ! 'reio-s Stoc7ho$, W!ter
Conference GCAH
Water !on$i!ts o!!'r 0e!a'se the demand or water reso'r!es and &ota0$e water e@tend ar 0e%ond the
amo'nt o water a!t'a$$% avai$a0$e+ E$ements o a water !risis ma% &'t &ress'res on ae!ted &arties to
o0tain more o a shared water reso'r!e, !a'sin* di&$omati! tension or o'tri*ht !on$i!t+
66: o the *$o0a$ &o&'$ation, or JIH mi$$ion &eo&$e, are sti$$ witho't a!!ess to im&roved so'r!es o
drin#in* water Y69Z whi!h &rovides the !ata$%st or &otentia$ or water dis&'tes+ <esides $ie, water is
ne!essar% or &ro&er sanitation, !ommer!ia$ servi!es, and the &rod'!tion o !ommer!ia$ *oods+ Th's
n'mero's t%&es o &arties !an 0e!ome im&$i!ated in a water dis&'te+ 3or e@am&$e, !or&orate entities
ma% &o$$'te water reso'r!es shared 0% a !omm'nit%, or *overnments ma% ar*'e over who *ets a!!ess
to a river 'sed as an internationa$ or inter,state 0o'ndar%+
The 0road s&e!tr'm o water dis&'tes ma#es them dii!'$t to address+ Lo!a$e, $o!a$ and internationa$
$aw, !ommer!ia$ interests, environmenta$ !on!erns, and h'man ri*hts 2'estions ma#e water dis&'tes
!om&$i!ated to so$ve Q !om0ined with the sheer n'm0er o &otentia$ &arties, a sin*$e dis&'te !an $eave a
$ar*e $ist o demands to 0e met 0% !o'rts and $awma#ers+
Econo,ic !n% tr!%e iss-es
W!ter9s i!.i$it# !s ! co,,erci!$ reso-rce3 2hich inc$-%es fishin03 !0ric-$t-re3 ,!n-f!ct-rin03 recre!tion !n%
to-ris,3 !,on0 other 'ossi.i$ities3 c!n cre!te %is'-te een 2hen !ccess to 'ot!.$e 2!ter is not necess!ri$# !n
iss-e( As ! reso-rce3 so,e consi%er 2!ter to .e !s !$-!.$e !s oi$3 nee%e% .# ne!r$# eer# in%-str#3 !n% nee%e%
ne!r$# eer# %!#(GCBH W!ter short!0es c!n co,'$ete$# cri''$e !n in%-str# :-st !s it c!n cri''$e ! 'o'-$!tion3
!n% !ffect %ee$o'e% co-ntries :-st !s the# !ffect co-ntries 2ith $ess1%ee$o'e% 2!ter infr!str-ct-re( W!ter1
.!se% in%-stries !re ,ore isi.$e in 2!ter %is'-tes3 .-t co,,erce !t !$$ $ee$s c!n .e %!,!0e% .# ! $!c7 of
2!ter(
.nternationa$ !ommer!ia$ dis&'tes 0etween nations !an 0e addressed thro'*h the Wor$d Trade
Or*ani=ation, whi!h has water,s&e!ii! *ro'&s $i#e a 3isheries 7enter that &rovide a 'niied ('di!ia$
&roto!o$ or !ommer!ia$ !on$i!t reso$'tion+ Sti$$, water !on$i!t o!!'rrin* domesti!a$$%, as we$$ as
!on$i!t that ma% not 0e entire$% !ommer!ia$ in nat're ma% not 0e s'ita0$e or ar0itration 0% the WTO+