Reservations - The Partition And Division Of India.

A Communal Award was introduced by British Viceroy i9n India, Mr Ramsay Mac Donald on the 16th of August, 1932. Its basic premise was reservations in seats for elections to the Provinces for various groups based upon religion, caste and class. Reserved constituencies were envisaged for the Muslims, Europeans, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Siks, Marathas and the depressed castes. The benefits were also extended to traders, landlords, tea-plantation owners, businessmen and labours. All provisions were for only ten years.                                                                                 This is the genesis of the Reservation malady afflicting India ever since. Mahatma Gandhi opposed the appropriately termed 'Communal Award' as it was an open instigation by the British to divide the Indians and perpetuate their rule. He went on a fast unto death in Yerawada jail at Pune, where he was then incarcerated by the British, to stall this divisive accord. It finally culminated in the Poona Pact on 22nd September, 1932. Mr Madanmohan Malviya and Bhimrao Ambedkar with others, signed a compromise deal. The seeds for partition of India and the division of its society, on the basis of religion and caste were sown.                                               Instead of  the expected ten years' period, reservations for various castes now continue in perpetuation. At the time of framing of the Constitution post independence in 1947, heated discussions ensued in the committee. Dr Ambedkar and others now demanded reservations in professional education and jobs for the depressed castes. These castes were kept at the bottom of the social hierarchy.                A group which languished for ages in poverty as per the doctrine of Hindu sage, Manu, finally found voice in a Democracy. Redemption was sought and got through Government largesse.                                   The smouldering embers of reservations based upon caste have been burning ever since. Just as Mahatma Gandhi had forseen, dividing the Indian society and deepening the chasms between castes.                                       In the 1970s, the professional class, now clubbed as Other Backward Castes, (OBC) found voice through politicians trying to make a capital out of it. Prime Minister Morarji Desai, on the first of January 1979, formed a Commission under Mr B.P.Mandal to study the issue. A report was submitted in 1980 stating that the OBCs formed 52% of the population and suggested a 27% reservations in professional courses like medicine, engineering, higher education and all Government and public sector jobs. Mrs Indira Gandhi had now become the Prime Minister. The report was put under cold storage.                                                        In the winter of 1989, a Machiavellian Mr V.P. Singh, became the Prime Minister of a minority government. Faced with revolt within his fledgling motely coalition, he unleashed the genie of Mandal from the bottle. 27% reservations for the OBCs was declared taking the overall figure to 50%. There was a sudden chaos an anarchy all over the country. Students from the communities which had no reservations found the doors closing on them in higher education and jobs. They took to the streets. Many youths committed self immolation in public. Yet, Mr V.P. Singh did not relent expecting electoral gains from the OBCs. The split caused in the society is only widening with each passing year as the population burgeons and job opportunities shrink.                                                             Those left behind in the preferential reservations now are the Kshatriyas, the marital class with their sub sects and the priestly learned Brahmins. The Kshatriyas and their ilk had acquired substantial portion of the land over the years and had become an agrarian class. As the generations passed, the land was divided and sub-divided into smaller farms, many of which are not cost-effective to cultivate. New generations from this rural class now migrate to towns and cities. Due to the lack of proper education they cannot compete with the upward mobile urban dwellers. So this huge mass, constituting one fifth of the population, are now up in arms. From Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat to Maharashtra. They too want reservations! With the strong numerical presence and relatively well-off conditions, the Jats, Patels and Marathas are on the streets. Huge congregations are repeatedly taking a belligerent stance, stalling traffic on highways, violence and destruction of public properties. Disgruntled politicians are adding fuel to fire and kindling arson, riots and violence. They see an opportunity to unseat the present disepention and slyly get back in the saddle of power and wealth. The Communal Award of Ramsay Mac Donald continues to create divisions and sub-divisions in the Indian society. Even after a hundred years of its inception.  In exactly the same way as Mahatma Gandhi had forseen. 

The Rise And Fall Of America.

The Clinton-Trump 'Debate' during the elections a sad reflection of the degeneration of American polity, society and country. History, at various times, is a mute witness to Golden ages eventually slipping into decadence and decay. When Wealth knocks at a door, will sloth be far behind?                                                            The sparkling prosperity of America has lasted for more than a century. Hubris, in fact has set in late. Although most of the world was mired in poverty, America, to most, was a stinking rich elder brother, of whom, they were both, proud and jealous. Many have savoured and yet envied this richness in various ways. All good stories have to come to an end, so does this.     A few may have looked upon this Frankenstein of Mammon with disdain, others, with contempt, yet, none could ever miss looking at it in forlorn askance, fondly wishing to be a part of its dream journey. Just as this tide in the Atlantic ebbs on its Western front, another Goliath seems to be rising from its long slumber, across in the Eastern part. Perhaps, the story will continue. In another period of time, in another Continent.                                        We, as bystanders in the present age, can only recall the sliding good times, in Yankee lands with some nostalgia. The dreams of many here are linked to this Goddess of Liberty. The time for reality has dawned. Will it have a silver lining?

Upheavals In Indian Economy.

The Indian Economy is going through a tumultuous phase. The new sets of challenges it is encountering today were never factored in its unencumbered journey so far. The GDP growth is down to 5.7% in the first quarter of the current year.  Prominent reasons for the slow down in the economy in India seems to be:                 i) The prying eyes of the State are in action now. Especially on the issue of black money. ii)  Almost total absence of high level corruption. However insidious it is, it provided money, primarily for the real estate sector. Huge inflow of sleaze money had in fact created a bubble. This sector, which employs the maximum after agriculture, has now gone into a virtual limbo. That money also created conspicuous consumption driving the juggernaut along. It has now, suddenly come to a standstill.                                          iii) There is now a  considerable amount of vigil on the Companies. Until now, most adopted dubious means to divert public profits to private personal accounts of the promoters. Many knew business only by deceit. By cutting corners on taxes. They are now finding it hard to play by the rules.      iv) Demonetisation. Unlike many other countries, India is a place where majority of the manufacturing of parts and components is done at small and micro units. Most, run on cash. Salaries, transporters, purchases, all in cash. With the abrupt shortage of currency these were left gasping for breath. Poor workmen, who had just returned from their native places after Diwali, once again proceeded back. Upstream orders too are diminishing and payments delayed. These units, therefore are caught in a vicious cycle. A few downing shutters, while others - just chugging along.                                                 v) Crackdown by the ED, Income Tax on many businesses and traders for evasion.  vi) Until now many businessmen had a slew of bogus front companies registered just to siphon off money through a web of many such entities. The department of Company Affairs and the ROC, after years of conniving silence finally have woken up from their deep, contrived slumber. Three lac such Companies, which did not file returns, balance sheet, p/l accounts have been shut. Inquiries against about ten thousand initiated. Under such circumstances, it is but natural that many cannot now no longer continue to milch the system as before and are busy in cleaning up the mess.                                                     vii) Indian banks, especially those in the public sector, are saddled with a NPA of about a whopping Rs Ten lac crores. The top ten clients amongst themselves are not returning Rs Two lac crores. It had become a practice until recently, that even defaulters kept on getting additional credit and rescheduling of loans. Finally this party with depositors' money is coming to an end. Now with the introduction and enforcement of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, the RBI alongwith the commercial banks can and is compelling them to sell assets for repayment of loans. The Company itself can be taken over by the banks and run by professionals before being auctioned away, if necessary. All such activities are sending shivers down the spine of the top 500 defaulters led by Ruias of Essar at Rs 75,000 crores. Lenders finally forced it to sell Essar Oil alongwith its refinery to Rosneft of Russia for about 13 billion dollars. It is procrastinating  through Courts on the sale of Essar Steel but will have to eventually yield.  Mayawati's favourite, Jaypee group of Taj Expressway, was forced to sell its Cement Plant to Birlas for Rs 16000 crores. Its land bank valued at Rs 13,000 crores too has reportedly been taken over. Other prominent defaulters are Congress favourite, Jindal Steel and Power, besides Videocon of Dhoot, a one time Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP, Bhushan Steel, Kingfisher Airlines etc. The notorious Sahara group too is being made to face the music by SEBI and the Supreme Court. To recover Rs 25,000 crores, its ulta luxurious Amby Valley project spread over 17,500 acres near Lonavala is now under the hammer.       Other Chit funds too are facing similar fate. Government  Financial Institutions and the Judiciary are now taking strong action against cheats & fly by night operators.   viii) Until now many traders managed to avoid the tax net and hence could offer discounted rates benefitting all, except the Government. With the GST in place they too will have to register and pay. This too is slowing the unhindered run at the cost of the State.                                                              It is therefore evident that if more than half of country's businessmen are under the scanner, the decade long free run of growth is bound to be affected in a major way. This stage has come because of total negligence and entrenched corruption of the past few decades. This cancerous bubble would have anyway eventually burst. Some one had to take a call to run the businesses and trade in this huge country in a clean, honest manner so that the country and its people are not cheated of their due returns by a few thousand scoundrels. This house cleaning will finally produce good results in the long term for everyone. For the time being, slowdown is imminent.                        It is hoped that the Government will sieze this opportunity to introduce radical reforms to unleash the immense enterprising spirit of the entrepreneurs. Decadent labour laws need to totally revamped. The multiple obstructions like licences, permission and NOCs must be drastically curtailed. Industries must be freed from the stranglehold of the local mafia. Including political and bureaucratic. Today, sadly, India ranks an abysmal low at 120 out of 170 nations in the rankings for the ease in starting and doing business. If the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi's dream of Make in India is to succeed then this picture needs to change immediately. Otherwise his fond dream will forever remain an elusive chimera.                               He certainly wishes that the future remembers him as a Patriot who changed the course of the nation's history. He therefore will surely wield the stick with an iron hand. His tryst with the country's premier post will be a legacy he will be proud of. 

The Journey Of Religion And Politics.

Mythology is based upon ignorace and fear. Religion on faith. Religion and Politics have always complimented each other throughout the ages. Both draw mutual support, sustenance and legitimacy. This confers sanctity to their endeavour and elicits mass support.                                                        
During the ealier part of the first three centuries After Christ, Romans favoured the Pagans, however, with the growing number of Christians, Emperor Constantine, in the year 320, declared it as a Religion of the State after the Pontiffs blessed the monarchy. The Church was, in return, suitably rewarded. Since then, Religion and Power have never parted ways.                   Those at the helm in Islamic countries, whether monarchs, autocrat, partially democrat or a military dictator, always seek religious benediction and protection. The top Maulvis and Mullahs will be seen with the rulers on various occasions. Their bonhomie, palpable. They sustain each other very well in a symbiotic relationship.                                                 Similarly, in the developed democratic countries in Europe and America, solemn State oaths are taken in the name of God with the Bible in the hand, held closey to the heart. The Presidents of the USA take pledge in the same manner sanctified by clergy. Political paties go by the name, Christian Democratic etc. Pope is the most revered guest of the State in all these places. During elections sublime religious support is sought with well orchestrated visits to Churches and the Papal cathedrals.               Buddhist nations like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Myanmar and others seek invocation from Monks and Lamas openly. In the World's only Jewish nation, Israel, Rabbis are all over the State.                                             In India, there is a plethora of Power centres, fortunately, there is no dearth of Gods either. We have one for each occasion. Really blessed country.                                                 Communists abhor religion. Call it as the Opium of the masses. Yet, worship its dogmatic leftist ideology like God.                                         Politics and ecclesiastic, both seek control over people's minds and enlist a mass of followers to perpetuate their hold. Active supporters are rewarded as ordained by the Pontiffs.                   Through out the ages, Religion and Power, have always been the two sides of the same coin. Both, equally intoxicating.

Religion and Politics. Comrades in Arms.

Mythology is based upon ignorace and fear. Religion on faith. Religion and Politics have always complimented each other throughout the ages. Both draw mutual support, sustenance and legitimacy. This confers sanctity to their endeavour and elicits mass support.                                        In the ealier part of the first three centuries After Christ, Romans favoured the Pagans, however, with the growing number of Christians, Emperor Constantine, in the year 320, declared it as a Religion of the State after the Pontiffs blessed the monarchy. The Church was, in return, suitably rewarded. Since then, Religion and Power have never parted ways.                   Rulers in Islamic countries, whether monarchs, autocratic, partially democratic or a military dictator, always seek religious benediction and protection. The top Maulvis and Mullahs will be seen with the rulers on various occasions. Their bonhomie, palpable. Both, comically bowing to each other. Perhaps, each thinking, that the other is more powerful and wields wider control. Yet, they sustain each other very well in a symbiotic relationship.                                         Similarly, in most developed democratic countries in Europe and America, solemn State oaths are  taken in the name of God with the Bible in the hand, held closed to the heart. Even the Presidents of the USA takes pledge similarly, sanctified by clergy. Pope is the most revered guest of the State in all these places. During elections sublime religious support is sought with well orchestrated visits to Churches and the Papal cathedrals.                                                Buddhist nations like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Myanmar and others seek invocation from Monks and Lamas openly. In the World's only Jewish nation, Israel, Rabbis are all over the State In India, there is a plethora of Power centres, fortunately, there is no dearth of Gods either. We have one for each occasion. Really blessed country.                  Communists abhor religion. Call it as the Opium of the masses. Yet, worship its dogmatic leftist ideology like God.        Ecclesiastics and Politics, seek control over people's minds and enlist a mass of followers to perpetuate their hold. Active supporters are rewarded as ordained in their scheme of hierarchy.                     Hence, Religion and Power, have always been the two sides of the same coin. Both, equally intoxicating.

Religion Kills

Mythology precedes religion. It is based on ignorance and fear.  Religion relies on faith. Early settlers had no knowledge about the reasons for the fury of nature, sicknesses and diseases and death. They attributed it to the spell of evil spirits and started worshipping their icons in temples. Offerings of sweets and animal sacrifice to please these imaginary ghosts were also the norm. A collection of such communes all over Europe was referred to as Pagans. Their temples were approved by the rulers. Sanctified by State.                                 Judaism is the earliest of all religions and is still practised by the Jews. It has its origins in Jerusalem from where it spread to Europe and America.                                About two thousand years ago, another religion, Christianity, took birth in middle-east Asia; again around Jerusalem. In the beginning of the first century, the followers of Jesus of Nazreth, reached the then flourishing region of Rome. Around the years 39 to 60 AD, fabled Nero was the Emperor. The preachers of this new religion, Christianity, faced not only stiff resistance but also the wrath of the well entrenched Pagans abetted by the State. At times there were fierce fights and merciless killings. Pagans, who worshipped multiple icons in huge temples were appalled at the Catholics who worshipped only a dead man on the cross. A messiah, who unbelievingly resurrected after being killed on the cross. The clashes between the two continued for three centuries with the flow of blood never abating. The flow of hoards of followers of Jesus continued with unrelenting pace. The number of faithfuls slowly increased in the Roman capital. Emperor Constantine, in the early fourth century, finally relented and accorded the patronage of the State after meetings with the Bishops. The upswing in Europe never subsided ever since. Through out all ages ecclesiastic and politics always complement each other. Both draw mutual support, sustenance and legitimacy.            In the year 380, Emperor Theodisius granted State patronage to Christianity undermining Pagan authority. Emboldened by the comradiere, the Catholic pontiffs alongwith their supporters, went on a rampage. Thousands of Pagans were killed and maimed. Their temples desecrated and the idols violated. Until this period the world had never witnessed such organised carnage in the name of religion and God. It never ceased thereafter. Internecine clashes with Jews meanwhile were underway everywhere.                                The seventh century saw the dawn of another monotheistic religion, Islam. Once again in the middle-east. Mohammad from Mecca, now Saudi Arabia, later revered as a Prophet, claimed divine invocation from Allah in his dreams. Sermons from Allah were supposedly revealed to him in a cave where he routinely reclused himself. He shared these revelations with his cousin, Ali, who later married his only surviving daughter, Fatima.                           Muhammad was a very able leader. The locals who followed the existing faiths and sects started hounding him. In 622 he fled to Medina. With the support of Ali, Islam started spreading rapidly, both, by sword and preachings. Within a decade he became very powerful and returned to Mecca which surrendered without a whimper. After the death of Muhammad in 632, Ali, his first disciple, became the Imam. Within an year he compiled the revelations into their sacred epic, Koran.                              Koran later became the rigid, immutable, dogmatic guideline for all followers until eternity.  Besides directives for a strict puritanical way of living it also decreed how the non-believers and practictoners of other faith, Kafirs, were to be dealt with. It even sanctioned death by beheading.                       Even as the body of the messiah was being readied for burial by Ali and Fatima, Abu Bakr, Muhammad's trusted lieutenant, called a meeting of the top commanders and declared himself as his heir.                 To establish his legitimacy and control he went on a furious converion spree which was mired in brutal killing of those who resisted. His followers, Sunnis, unleashed a wave of terror all across Arabia, Gulf, Egypt, Turkey.                                                Abu Bakr, after merciless killings and conquests, declared himself as the first Khalif. His writ run large from Turkey to Iraq with the capital at Istanbul.             Islam is a political religion. It also encompasses social and judicial control through the Haidith and Sharia.                          Ali, meanwhile focused around Yemen and later Levant. Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. It was only after the death of the fourth Khalif, that he donned that title. His son Hasan was poisoned and the younger, Hussain, killed in the inter-sect battle at Karbala. Violence and killing, in this supposed religion of peace, continues unabated to this day.                                  Another esoteric religion, Zoarastrism, was practised in Persia from 500 BC. After the conquest by Islam around 640 AD and subsequent persecution its followers sought refuge in India. Other fledgling faiths, sects like the Kurds in Iraq, Ahmedias too were killed in huge numbers.                                   Islam sought to proliferate into Europe, notably Spain and later attempts at Italy in the medieval period. A bloody feud with Christians followed. These were termed as crusades and continued for decades. It left about a million killed or injured.               The history of religion in the present millennium is littered with bloodshed and killing. All in the name of God. 

Do Good Boys Shy Away From Conflicts?

After the militant attack on the Indian Army"s Uri post near its LOC, a lot of questions are being asked. Do Indians shy away from Conflicts? Do they want to remain as "Good Boys"? 

Shy away.... True. It is in our culture, tradition and religion. More than Hindu Religion, Jainism and Buddhism perpetuated the concept of 'Peace.' India therefore, was perpetually invaded from 300 BC onward. This exacerbated with Mohammed Ghaznavi from 1000 AD. In 1016 he attacked Kashmir. In 2016 it is Jaish - e - Mohammed. The Strategy of not retaliating or revolting resulted in the country being taken over by aggressors. It started with Qutub-bin-Aibak of slave dynasty, installed by Mohammed Ghori around 1200 AD. This was followed by Tughluks, Khiljis, Sayyids, Lodhis and then the Mughals, from 1526 to 1707. A brief intervening period saw Peshwas in control over the entire country. Soon, the British were all over. The twentieth century saw the 'apostle of peace,' Mohandas Gandhi taking over from militant Tilak. Our experiment with peace was complete! An era of turning the other cheek dawned. The carnage of partition, one of history's largest massacre, was brought upon, ironically, by this Messiah of Peace. The partition of the country saw forced migration of Hindus and Sikhs on a scale never seen before. Yet, the incarnation of Peace remained unfazed. Counter exchange of Muslims with Hindus was stalled. The one way traffic of exodus continued under his doctrine. Inevitably, he paid the price, yet achieved immortal martyrdom. Then dawned the Era of the ' Good Boy.' Nehru. Result? Two thirds of Kashmir taken over by a small newborn sibling. The cauldron for the remaining one third simmers to this day. In between, this continued "Good Boy" behaviour oversaw the mass exodus of over Three lac Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. The original inhabitants were rendered homeless in their own country. Yet, we continued our journey of Peace. Yet, Peace, will eternally remain a chimera, because, we shun conflict. The costs inevitably has to be paid. From 1948 to '65 to Kargil, Pathankot and now Uri. A two thousand year old practise cannot be forsaken in a few decades. It will be a long haul.