THE GINGER TRAIL …

Her name is Ginger Einstein Bhatt! Does it raise eyebrows? That is the name of our female dog, or rather, 7 month-old pup. Why such an odd name? Ginger brown is the colour of her four paws. Her middle name is Einstein because, like her namesake, she has bushy eyebrows, again ginger in colour. For the rest, she is black. Her surname is Bhatt, because she is of doubtful paternity, like a famous Bollywood director’s frank admission. The lady who gave Ginger to us 5 months ago told us that she was a mix of a Labrador and a Terrier. She looks like neither. That is why the “if and but” (Bhatt) comes in. Infact she looks like a miniature Doberman, with the ribcage, tightly tucked in torso and long legs of a hound. Boy, can she run fast. Our family has always been fond of dogs. When our two Boxers, Rocky and Pebbles, died in quick succession, we were heartbroken. My wife and son (our daughter was away) were not ready for another pet, only to suddenly lose it. But I insisted that we needed a dog in our house, more as a watchdog and a companion, than a pet. That is how Ginger came into our family, a day after Christmas 2011. She was fragile, frightened and puny. I kept her in a small carton near my bed. But we were in the midst of a severe and extended winter. She would shiver and whimper, so I gave in and allowed her to sleep under my blanket, her tiny head resting in the crook of my arm. When winter receded, despite my wife’s protests, I put her out in the compound for the nights. She initially howled in protest, but ultimately accepted her fate. This was the first time that I had reared a pup with so much tenderness. The grandfatherly instinct perhaps. Ginger was growing into a sweet little doggy (it would be politically incorrect to call her a bitch), clamouring for our attention, and chasing the squirrels and bloodsuckers in the garden. Because she was so timid, my wife did not permit her to be taken for a walk outside the house. The only world Ginger knew was that of the four walls of our compound. Then last Saturday morning, while my wife and I were away at work, Ginger disappeared into thin air. My son phoned me to convey the bad news. He and the watchman scoured the locality for two hours, but there was no sign of Ginger. I steeled myself to accept the inevitable. I also phoned a neighbour, who told me that he had seen Ginger standing outside the gate, that was ajar. So one doubt was cleared, she had not been stolen. When my wife got home in the afternoon she was shocked. A mother’s heart is different from us heartless men. She is the Director of the Spastics Centre, whose theme song is “We Shall Overcome”. She was unwilling to accept the inevitable, and stepped out alone in the scorching summer sun, looking for Ginger. A mother’s love is not easily thwarted. She met some roadside hawkers who told her that they had seen Ginger in the vicinity. She was afraid, gasping for breath, and was being chased by a pack of street dogs. Hope was rekindled, as also the fear that she may have been torn to shreds, or picked up by a passer-by, and we would never see her again. My wife kept saying that we were so anxious about our puppy, what about those parents whose little children are lost or kidnapped by cruel “humans”? For two days we searched high and low; in middle class, lower middle class areas, slums and hutments. Nobody had seen her since Saturday morning. Hopes began to recede; she could not have survived in the big bad world out there. However, my son observed that since she was a fast runner nobody would be able to catch her. One of my employees said that the street dogs would not attack her because she was a female! Wow! Would that we humans learnt some lessons from street dogs. On Monday morning my son and I hit the Ginger Trail again, constantly calling her name. Initially it felt odd walking through strange by lanes calling out “Ginger”. No “self-respecting” person would do that. What is pseudo self-respect before the force of love and separation? To hell with what anybody thought of me, I was searching for a loved one, and that was all that mattered. Finally, the dawn broke. A man and his daughter, sitting on a cot outside their house, said that they had seen Ginger about an hour earlier. Our hearts thumped wildly as we pressed forward with renewed earnestness. I noticed that the poor and lower class people showed greater concern. Some took our phone numbers with the assurance to inform us if they spotted Ginger. . Two hours passed. Only one narrow lane remained. As I kept calling out an old man in a decrepit hut said that he had seen Ginger about an hour ago. We ran in that direction, and suddenly I spotted her in the middle of the road, about a hundred yards ahead. Excitedly, we called out to her, but she was so disoriented that she ran away from us. Then my primordial hunter’s instinct took over. Stalk her, don’t rush her. She came bounding into my son’s outstretched arms. She was haggard but surprisingly unscathed. The street dogs, unlike us “civilised beings”, had respected the law of the urban jungle – not to harm a defenceless female. A lesson for life. After getting back home we returned to those areas with two boxes of pedas, to thank all those who had helped. They accepted the unexpected prasad. As I said to my family, “Gratitude must be expressed, and expediently so”. It would also be an encouragement to such persons to take another step forward to help somebody in distress. While on the Ginger Trail I had been into an area where pigs, buffaloes, goats and humans all co-existed. There was squalor everywhere. I cannot blame the BBC reporter who said that India was dirty. India can never be “shining” as long as there is squalor and abject poverty in our shadow. While on the Ginger Trail many Biblical images flashed through my mind; Jesus the Good Shepherd leaving the ninety nine to look for the one lost sheep (cf Lk 15:4-5), the father anxiously awaiting the return of his Prodigal Son (cf Lk 15:20), and the ingratitude of the nine out of the ten lepers that had been healed by Jesus (cf Lk 17:17). The Prophet Nathan’s rebuke to King David after the latter had killed Uriah and taken his wife Bathsheba, is worth recounting. Nathan tells David about a poor man who had nothing “except one little ewe lamb which he had brought up and nourished; and it grew up together with him and his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him” (2 Sam12:3). But a rich man, who had his own flock, robbed the poor man’s lamb and served it to his guests. David was furious when he heard the story and asked Nathan who that heartless man was. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man … You have killed Uriah … you have taken his wife” (2 Sam 12:7,9)! A warning against covetousness. I sure love my Ginger. But I am deeply touched by the concern of the common man to an absolute stranger. It will help me to be a better human being, or should I say, “A Street Dog”, for I have learnt many lessons on the Ginger Trail.

THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS

The decision of Rev Bismarque Dias to stand for elections from the Cumbharjua constituency of the Goa Assembly, albeit as an Independent candidate, has set the cat among the pigeons, triggering a heated debate. Those against the priest’s decision have based their arguments on Canon Law, and those for him have referred to the rampant political corruption in Goa. Since Dias’ decision has widespread ramifications I have done some research before putting pen to paper. I shall address the issue from various angles: - 1. Contextual 2. Canonical 3. Scriptural 4. Historical 5. Ecclesiological 6. Social 7. Psychological 8. Moral. I have relied on public opinion, contemporary realities, sacred scripture, Church teachings as found in Canon Law and Vatican Council documents, and two respected writers, Rev Josef Neuner SJ, the doyen of Indian theologians, and eminent scripture scholar Rev J.N.M. Wijngaards MHM. Specific reference is to Neuner’s “The Prophetic Role of the Laity” (PRL) and Wijngaards’ “Christ’s Idea of Authority” (CIA). THE CONTEXT: Dias, a social activist in Goa, has apparently leapt into electoral politics because of the rampant corruption prevalent there. Ironically, Goa has the second highest literacy rate in the country, and an influential number of Catholics. Unfortunately, the most corrupt politicians allegedly involved in murder, rape, drugs, smuggling and money laundering are Catholics! They have a 400-year legacy of Christianity. One is constrained to ask if the “illiterate and backward” voters of Bihar, who opted for Nitish Kumar, are more enlightened and morally upright than the sanctimonious (novenas and rosaries) Catholics of Goa? If so, has the Rome of the East failed to be a guiding light and moral force in its own backyard? Who is responsible for this pathetic situation? Sri Alan Nazareth, former Indian ambassador, states that the “foundations of religious and ethical values have been poorly laid”. Rev P.J. Jacob, was an MLA from Kalghatgi in Karnataka from 1983 to 85. Writing in Indian Currents (30th January) he admits that “priesthood is no less corrupt” and “priesthood in every religion is identified with power, pelf and privilege”. That being so, what did he achieve by becoming an MLA, and what does Dias now hope for? Is it not a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Would Jacob and Dias not have achieved more by stemming the rot within the priesthood itself? CANON LAW: Conservatives point to Canon Law that forbids Catholic priests from entering electoral or party politics. Liberals would say that the Sabbath is made for man, and not vice-versa. Rev M.K. George SJ goes so far as to allege that the church made the canonical prohibitions with its own vested interests in mind, and they should be dispensed with! On the other hand Rev Dominic Emmanuel SVD has quoted Canon 285:3 that bars clerics from seeking public office or civil power. Canon Law has infact drawn a Laxman Rekha for clerics in various spheres. It debars clerics from involvement in whatever is “unbecoming or foreign to their state” eventhough they are “not unseemly” (C 285). Among the forbidden fruit are not just civil power and public office (C 285:3), but also the practice of trade and commerce (C286), active role in political parties and in directing trade unions (C 287:2), and volunteering for the Armed Forces (C 289:1). This is not because they are per se “unseemly”, but because they are “unbecoming” for a cleric. Do these provisions sound unreasonable, vested or arbitrary? There are laws for everything, including for married people and the laity. If clerics are going to flout Canon Law then what stops the laity from taking over the common assets of the church? We are opening up a Pandora’s Box. Laws may either curtail or confer a right. Speaking of the laity and lay organisations Canon Law avers that “they have the special obligation to permeate and perfect the temporal order of things” (C 225:2). The church exhorts us to “especially esteem those associations whose aim is to animate the temporal order” (C 327). However, even for the laity it is stated “Those who hold an office of direction in political parties are not to be moderators in public associations of the faithful” (C 317:4). Could this be termed discriminatory, restrictive and unjust, or mere jurisprudence? Nevertheless we cannot treat Canon Law in isolation, without also addressing the scriptural, historical and ecclesiological factors. SACRED SCRIPTURE: The Word of God is a powerful, though not exhaustive, benchmark to test the waters. I believe that Jesus’ categorical statement to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s (cf Mat 23:21) is the foundation of secularism. In erstwhile Christendom this is seen as the separation of Church and State. Writing to the Romans St Paul also categorically states that even temporal authority is from God, and should be respected by the believers (cf Rom 13:1-4). Rev Neuner elucidates that in the Old Testament the roles of Priest (who makes the rules), the King (who actually rules), and the Prophet (who interprets the rules in a given circumstance) are distinctly different. In a modern democratic society these same functions are assumed by the Legislature (law making), the Executive (rule of law), and the Judiciary (interpreting or adjudicating on a specific aspect of law). Separation and balance of powers without encroaching on the other’s domain, is critical for a healthy democracy. What happened during the Emergency (1975-77), when Indira Gandhi assumed absolute power? Sure enough, it corrupted her absolutely. The same danger lurks when a priest (who being part of the hierarchy) actually lays down the rules, governs and adjudicates; and now seeks to add political power to it. It is an explosive mix. Neuner further states that Jesus “persistently refused to identify himself with any institution, be it political (the freedom fighters of Galilee) or religious (the Pharisees or the monks of Qumran)” (PRL Pg 24). In like manner Wjngaards reminds us that Jesus’ authority was not that of the world (cf Mat 20:25-26, Lk 16:18). Jesus infact opposed worldly power (cf Jn 18:36, 6:15), and symbolically rode a lowly donkey (cf Mat 21:5). He states that “The instruments of secular authority are money, weapons and force. Jesus denies this to his disciples (cf Mat 10:9, 26:52). He abjures competition (cf Lk 18:14), party formation (cf Lk 6:32) and the struggle for rank (cf Mk 10:41)” (CIA Pg 4). Yet Rev Jacob would have us believe that “Jesus was a politician”! I would rather believe Jesus than Rev Jacob. LESSONS FROM HISTORY: Church history is replete with how the hierarchical church, and even the papacy, has often forgotten Jesus’ teachings, in their blind pursuit of power. Emperor Constantine, in the 4th Century, dealt the severest blow to Christianity when he made it the state religion of the Roman/ Byzantine Empire. Pristine Christianity did not purge the empire. The reverse happened. The Church absorbed all the trappings of temporal power, extant to this day, in the honorifics like Eminence, Lordship, and symbols like rings and a coat of arms. Wijngaards says that during the Middle Ages, Christianity “flourished as a feudalistic society with three groups – nobility, craftsmen and dependents (slaves) – the clergy was considered part of or parallel to the nobility. Most vocations would come from this group, and becoming a priest was therefore not considered a loss” (CIA Pg 15). I myself have always held that, be it the ancient churches of Kerala or Goa, or the nascent post-colonial churches in the rest of India, the Catholic hierarchy has always been part of the ruling class; be it the Syrian nobility in Kerala, the Brahmins in Goa, or the Gora Sahibs in the colonial era. This mindset has barely diminished. Scratch under the surface and you will find that the clergyman is the Master, not the Servant. Wijngaards says that “Church history confirms the influence of secular kingship ideas on ruling in the church” (CIA Pg 2). Neuner adds that this resulted in a “process of secularisation that could not be stopped” (PRL Pg 12). “This resulted in the growing redundancy of the church as it gradually lost patronage and control over the secular realm” (PRL Pg 131). “This discomfort led to a revolt of the laity and the Reformation” (PRL Pg 11). To the Reformation I would add the French Revolution and the Bastille cry for “liberty, equality and fraternity’. It was as much directed against the corpulent monarchy as against the opulent hierarchy. The French apathy to the Church’s temporal power is even today manifest in its rigorous enforcement of the separation of Church and State. Given India’s own penchant for subservience to the ruling elite or high castes, the Church in India should learn the lessons of European church history, and not repeat the same mistake of adding political power to the considerable economic, spiritual, institutional, pulpit and media clout that it already wields. Pope John XXIII was a simple and humble man. That is why he was open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and convened Vatican II in 1962, to correct the course of history. VATICAN II ECCLESIOLOGY: A deep anguish that I carry in my heart is that, 50 years after Vatican II, its teachings have neither been expounded nor implemented. We have only had some cosmetic changes in the liturgy or the dress of priests and nuns. The deeper attitudinal changes have fallen by the wayside. It is a vast subject, but I will here restrict myself to the case in point – priests entering into electoral politics. I will therefore dwell on relevant extracts from “The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church” (LG), “The Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World” (GS) and “The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests” (PO). The relevant ecclesiology of Vatican II is based on the following premises: - 1. The secular world is good, not profane as contrasted with the sacred 2. The Church respects the authority and autonomy of secular affairs, including politics 3. Temporal affairs, and more specifically politics, is the legitimate domain of the laity and lay organisations, which the Church respects and promotes 4. Clerics are different, the difference is of divine origin, and serves a unifying purpose 5. The specific role of clerics is clearly spelt out. This is what Vatican II says. To begin with, it recognises the autonomy of earthly affairs (cf GS 36). It also acknowledges its submission to civil Govt. “She has no fiercer desire than that … she may be able to develop herself freely under any kind of Government which grants recognition to the demands of the common good” (GS 42). It does not even seek the undue privileges of the past when it says, “ The Church does not lodge her hope in privileges conferred by civil authority. Indeed she stands ready to renounce the exercise of certain legitimately acquired rights” (GS 76). The Church exhorts the faithful to be involved in temporal affairs. It asserts that “The Christian who neglects his temporal duties neglects his duty towards his neighbour and even God and jeopardises his eternal salvation” (GS 43). ”The Church regards as worthy of praise and consideration the work of those who, as a service to others, dedicate themselves to the welfare of the state” (GS 75). Nevertheless the Church also cautions that “It is highly important … that a proper view exist of the relation between the political community and the Church” (GS76). Besides, “The Church must in no way be confused with the political community nor bound to any political system” (GS 76). While on the one hand recognising the importance of political affairs, the Church simultaneously states that this is the specific role of the laity, as already referred to in Canon Law herein above. It says “The laity, by their very vocation seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs” (LG 31). “The layman is closely involved in temporal affairs. It is therefore his special task to illumine and organise these affairs” (LG 31). “The laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can she become the salt of the earth” (LG 33). In contrast the Council advocates a different role for the clergy. It states that “Their ministry itself, by a special title, forbids them to be conformed to the world” (PO 3). It identifies three special functions for the priest – Proclamation of God’s Word (PO 4), Ministering of the Sacraments (PO 5) and Community Building (PO 6). Had the clergy of Goa fulfilled this three-fold task, I daresay that we would not have seen today’s pathetic scenario, where Catholic politicians are criminals and corrupt. The Church has spoken through scripture, history, Canon Law and Vatican II. Neuner sums it up in these words, that the Council “in an irrevocable and universal decision opened the church to the modern world … This reality of our world is the realm of the laity” (PRL Pg 27). Is Dias listening? THE SOCIAL ASPECT: No doctrine can exist in a void. It must be rooted in society. Hence, from the objective I now move to some subjective experiences. I have been actively involved in lay ministry and leadership roles for the last 43 years. As National President of the All India Catholic Union I have travelled all over India, and interacted with the President, Prime minister, CBCI, Papal Nuncio etc at one end, and dalits and tribals at the other end of the spectrum. I now state in unequivocal terms that the hierarchical church in India has not implemented the teachings of Vatican II vis-à-vis the laity, and its role in the modern world. It is loathe to appoint a layperson as a school principal, let alone assigning leadership roles in a parish or elsewhere. Most of our Catholic politicians are there not because of the support of the church. Ironically, the three highest profile ones – Sonia Gandhi, George Fernandes and A.K. Antony, are not known to be churchgoers! We have had an array of distinguished Catholics as Governors, Chiefs of the Armed Forces, Ambassadors, Supreme Court Judges etc. They were there because of their individual brilliance or competence. Have any of them been proffered a leadership role in the hierarchical church? The answer is an emphatic “No”. It is this fear of an enlightened and empowered laity that has robbed the church of its prophetic role, to be a game changer. Unfortunately, exceptions notwithstanding, the Catholic Church in India is status-quoist and pro-establishment. It seems happy teaching arithmetic, and geography, and dispensing medicines. Why does it suffer from a serious case of “layophobia”? THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSION: It is all in the mind. A phobia is more often imaginary, not real, playing on individual or collective insecurities. The hierarchical church is so well entrenched, cocooned, secure, that any exposure to lay influence will cause clerical influenza, with a severe bout of sneezing insecurity and coughing uncertainty. It suffers from shuttered doors and cluttered minds. It lacks the humility and simplicity of Pope John XXIII, who dared to open the doors to the world, science, other religions, and the laity. An insecure and uncertain hierarchical church has quickly reverted to clamming up and slamming the door shut on Vatican II ecclesiology. After clamming, up another psychological factor is the “growing up” syndrome. Having taught the infant laity how to talk and walk, the “Father” now wants the “child” to shut up and sit down! In Transactional Analysis we call this the paradigm shift from the Parent-Child relationship to the Adult-Adult one. Being inured to being “Fathered” by everybody, a priest is unable to adapt from a paternalistic to a fraternal relationship. Here is what Wijngaards says. “By habit we are accustomed to think of a priest as a father. The idea is so familiar to us that we stop to question its validity. Scripture gives very slender support” (CIA Pg 29). “No where did Christ claim to be the father, nor did he ever describe himself as father” (CIA Pg 30). Infact he expressly forbade anybody being called father (cf Mat 23:9), for he “was like his brothers in every way” (Heb 2:17). Vatican II echoes a similar fraternal approach. “By divine condescension the laity have Christ for their brother … They also have for their brothers those in the sacred ministry” (LG 32). “They deal with other men as with brothers. This was the way that the Lord Jesus … willed to become like his brothers” ((PO 3). Powerful parish priests are used to dealing with dumb and subservient laity. Omniscient Principals interact with fawning teachers or frightened students. This has further entrenched the father image. But as the child grows up the parent must step down. I don’t see this happening in the church. Hence I strongly oppose any further attempt to foster the paternal role by adding political power to the priest’s existing armoury. THE MORAL FORCE: All other considerations apart, is electoral politics the only way to combat corruption? We have a glittering array of influential and effective leaders who were not politicians, yet irrevocably altered the course of history. Pride of place goes to Mahatma Gandhi, followed by Martin Luther King, Abp Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Jayprakash Narayan, Baba Amte, Vinobha Bhave, Sunderlal Bahuguna, Medha Patkar, and the more recent Anna Hazare. Ironically, the last, lost his credibility and high moral ground the moment his movement became politicised. We have had effective CECs like T.N. Sheshan, James Lyngdoh and the incumbent soft-spoken Dr S.Y. Quraishi. We have had exemplary Chief Justices like P.N. Bhagwati, J.S. Verma and the incumbent H.S. Kapadia. We have had crusading journalists like N. Ram, Arun Shourie, Ramnath Goenka and Tarun Tejpal. There are courageous RTI activists who have exposed corruption, and have often laid down their lives for the cause. They were all catalysts and animators of change. CONCLUSION: The conclusion that one arrives at is that electoral politics is certainly not the only option available to Rev (not Father) Bismarque Dias, if indeed he wants to fight corruption and cleanse Goan society. If he still feels so strongly about it, then he should have the courage and humility to renounce the priesthood, and join the ranks of the laity. We will welcome him with open arms. But he would be in for a rude shock outside the security and sanctity of the Catholic ministerial priesthood. If Dias insists on setting the cat among the pigeons, nobody, other than the electorate, can stop him. I for one don’t like treacherously purring cats. I prefer barking watchdogs that are also faithful to their masters. I also don’t fancy pigeons that keep “dropping” things. I would rather be a dove, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Sacred Scripture, the Church’s official teachings and the lessons of history. I would prefer to learn from Pope John XXIII, and keep it simple. * The writer is a former National President of the All India Catholic Union and Director of the International Council of Catholic Men.

SHUFFLING FORWARD

The Congress fared badly in the elections to various State Assemblies, particularly U.P. The emergence of Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party as a powerful force in U.P. has put paid to the Congress’ hopes of taking him on board and dumping Maverick Mamata’s TMC. With Karunanidhi’s DMK and Pawar’s NCP also playing truant, the Congress’ options are severely restricted. How then will it get consensus candidates for the President and Vice President of the country? It is often said that the President of India is just a titular head, with no real powers. However, when a Government is weakened, and there are umpteen pulls and pressures, the office of the President assumes importance. There is near unanimity that the present incumbent is probably on par with Giani Zail Singh, for being grossly inept and unsuited. Surely we need a President, if only a titular one, to whom not just the country, but also the community of nations can look up to. I would like to make some proposals for the august offices of the President and Vice President of India. My choices are determined by the harsh reality that the Congress is heavily dependent on its unpredictable allies, and also the co-operation of the principal Opposition Party – the BJP. Since my choice affects the present Union Cabinet, I am simultaneously proposing a major cabinet reshuffle. This may sound like wishful thinking, but former President APJ Abdul Kalam has in fact asked us to dream of the future. So here goes. PRESIDENT: I propose the name of Dr. Manmohan Singh! Basically he is a brilliant mind, not a political animal. Politics has been thrust upon him. However, as the “Peter Principle” states, we attain our own level of incompetence. In the present circumstance it means that Manmohan, as PM of UPA I, was a brilliant idea, and a successful one. However, UPA II has been battered by scams, the anti-corruption movement, unpredictable allies and now a bellicose Army Chief. This required deft political handling and powerful articulation. Unfortunately, this was not Manmohan’s forte, and the onus for trouble shooting has invariably fallen on the reliable shoulders of Pranab Mukherjee. If Manmohan continues as PM the Congress is sure to lose the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It will pave the way for a motley Third Front; as the BJP today is even worse off than the Congress. So in the interests of the nation I see the need for drastic steps to be taken consequent to the Presidential elections. On the positive side, Manmohan’s image in the commity of nations is much higher than it is within the body politic. Leaders that matter in the USA, Pakistan, China, Russia, etc hold him in high esteem. He will also be acceptable to the BJP. Hence I see Dr Manmohan Singh as an automatic choice for President. It will also be a just reward for a man of vision and integrity who has served the country well. VICE PRESIDENT: The name of Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, diplomat, and grandson of the Mahatma, has been mooted by Mamata Banerjee. For once I agree with her. Gopalkrishna is seen as an erudite, humane and just person. I read his column in the Hindustan Times. His command of the English language, play on words and idiomatic usage, is rarely found amidst the Bollywood Hinglish that is passed off as English today. He has the moral uprightness of his respected grandfather. He also has the requisite skills of administration, learning and diplomacy. Making him Vice President would also be seen as a victory for the perpetually ebullient Mamata. As VP he will be an excellent Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. So I can think of no better person than Gopalkrishna Gandhi. MINISTERS: Presently the Union Cabinet has 34 Union Ministers, 8 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 37 Ministers of State. I do not pretend to know all of them. So I will restrict my “reshuffle” to the high profile or sensitive portfolios. This reshuffle will obviously affect some of the allies, but that will be a small price to pay as compared to losing the 2014 elections. The sequence should be read as Ministry/ Incumbent/ Proposed Name/ Reasoning. 1. Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh – Pranab Mukherjee – Whether dealing with Anna, or the Opposition, Pranabda has been in the forefront. Till recently he was living in a rented accommodation, and has just begun to build his own house. This is also indicative of his personal integrity. He could give a fresh political impetus to the Congress. Mamatadi would dare not oppose this choice for fear of alienating Paschim Banga. So Pranab it will be. 2. Finance: Pranab Mukherjee – P. Chidambaram – With Finance being vacated we need another seasoned person. Chidambaram has held this post before, and he should get back there. Besides, it will take some of the heat off him from his Tamilian colleagues caught in the 2G scam. 3. Home – P. Chidamabram – A.K. Antony – Antony had acquitted himself well as Defence Minister, until he ran into Gen V.K. Singh. I shall discuss that separately under my choice of Defence Minister. For now let it suffice that Antony is known for his personal integrity. When Sonia Gandhi was undergoing treatment abroad he was one of those entrusted with party affairs in her absence. Obviously he enjoys her confidence, essential in a sensitive ministry like Home. Having already handled Defence, he would know how to handle external terrorists and internal Naxalites. So Antony should go Home! 4. Defence – A.K. Antony – Kapil Sibal - I have cogent reasons for this move. The defence forces are the last vestige of the British Empire in India. The traditions of the Officers’ Mess hold more sway than the mess that the defence services find themselves in. A short, lungi-wearing southie does not appeal to a north dominated army. Hence a suave Punjabi like Kapil Sibal fits the bill. He also has the gift of the gab, to counter the Army’s current penchant for giving interviews at the drop of a regimental hat! 5. External Affairs: S.M. Krishna – Shashi Tharoor – Krishna has been rather insipid in a role that demands image and flair, just as mush as other attributes. Pakistan must have been aware of this when it appointed a young and inexperienced Hina Khar as its Foreign Minister. Tharoor was in contention for becoming the Secretary General of the United Nations. His international standing and diplomatic acumen should be put to maximum use; cricket teams and multiple marriages notwithstanding! 6. Agriculture & Food Processing: Sharad Pawar – Ajit Singh - Pawar has made a mess of food prices and procurement. He has also been opposing the Food Security Bill. He is suspected of being supportive of strong cartels/ lobbies of sugar and onion producers. He must be moved out of Agriculture. My natural choice for this post would have been Mulayam Singh Yadav. But he is now too powerful to think of joining a weak UPA. Hence my next choice is Ajit Singh, whose Lokdal is actually a farmer based party. Being an engineer by profession, food processing should also not be a problem, though it could also be given to another person. 7. Human Resource Development: Kapil Sibal – Rahul Gandhi - This proposal may come as a surprise. But it is backed by sound reasoning. Rahul has the naiveté of this father Rajive. He made all the right moves during the recent U.P. Elections and yet failed miserably. He has the good intentions but not the administrative experience. If indeed he seeks to play a bigger role in national politics, he has to emerge from the sycophantic comfort of the Congress Party office, and immerse himself in actual governance. In the HRD ministry he will involve himself directly with youth aspirations, education and employment. It will be a perfect foil to the young and dynamic Akhilesh Yadav, whose promise of laptops, tablets and unemployment allowance swayed the youth of U.P. Rahul has to grow beyond the Dimpled Darling of 2009 and the Angry Young Man of 2012. He must take the plunge and prove his mettle. 8. Communications & Information Technology: Kapil Sibal – S. M. Krishna - After the 2G scam, Sibal had additional charge. Krishna is an efficient and technically proficient person. He can increase the stature of Bangalore, our own Silicon Valley. 9. Railways: Mukul Roy – Sharad Pawar: Railway wagons cannot be loose shunted, nor can it afford loose canons. Here again efficiency must rule over expediency. Railways would be a promotion for Pawar, so he should not sulk. And if Mamata loves Mukul Roy so much let her make him Deputy CM of Paschim Banga! 10. Petroleum & Natural Gas: S. Jaipal Reddy - Kamal Nath - Consumers are highly sensitive about the prices of petroleum products. We need a stronger personality here. 11. Law, Justice, Minority Affairs: Salman Khurshid – Abhishekh Manu Singhvi – Khurshid made a hash of the U.P. elections, with even his wife coming fifth on his home turf. Singhvi has done a commendable job as Congress spokesperson and the parliamentary committee on the Lokpal Bill. He deserves this. 12. Parliamentary Affairs & Water Resources: Pawan Bansal – Salman Khurshid - He found favour even with Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev. He seems more amiable. The government needs such a person to handle this sensitive portfolio. Minority Affairs may be added back to Khurshid, instead of Water Resources. 13. Rural Development: Jairam Ramesh - He just moved here. He is a very sincere person. Water Resources could be added to his portfolio. 14. Chemicals & Fertilizers: M. Alagiri – Sriprakash Jaiswal - He has brought several crore rupees to the exchequer through Coal India Ltd. He should now move to fertilizers, which again is a sensitive issue with farmers – both for price and availability. 15. Coal: Sriprakash Jaiswal – S. Jaipal Reddy - Having dealt with petroleum and natural gas, he can now handle another natural resource. 16. Steel: Beni Prasad Verma – Dinesh Trivedi – Verma, a recent crossover from the Samajwadi Party, was meant to be the Backward face of the Congress in UP. He had a major say in ticket distribution. It backfired. He is now dispensable. Trivedi showed nerves of steel in handling the Railway Budget. He should be rewarded for his talent and devotion to duty. 17. Urban Development: Kamal Nath – Pawan Bansal - He should be able to handle this. 18. Civil Aviation: Ajit Singh – Any of the Youth Brigade – Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad. We need fresh young blood. 19. Science & Technology: Vilasrao Deshmukh – Any one of the Youth Brigade – Deshmukh has been embroiled in too many scams. He must go to whistling in the woods or wherever; but leave Science & Technology in more youthful hands. 20. Tourism: Subodh Kant Sahay – Selja – We need a fresh face to market India as a tourist destination. Add Culture here, from Selja’s previous ministry. 21. Urban Poverty Alleviation & Culture: Selja - Youth Brigade - Having taken Culture with her to Tourism, let one of the Youth Brigade try their hand in this challenging ministry. Having shuffled the ministerial pack of cards, we now need to remove the two jokers. Joker 1: Montek Singh Ahluwalia. He has made a farce of the poverty line. Harsh Mander, former bureaucrat with a humane face, should take over as the Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission. Joker 2: Gen V.K. Singh (since retired) – He’s a “spooky” guy, very conscious of his “honour”, fond of media bytes instead of biting the bullet. He should be sent as Special Envoy to Cuba, where age is irrelevant for evergreen Field Marshal Fidel Castro in olive green fatigues. Together they could organize a coup against the Government of the USA, which is the greatest threat to world peace. I have dared to dream of the cream of India’s leadership. We the people should decide who should preside over us. Will this reshuffle change the rules of the game? Will India come out trumps? * The writer is a Kanpur based social, civic and political activist.

RE-TELLING RETAIL

There is a sharp polarisation of views on the Govt’s recent proposal to allow 51% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail; depending on one’s political inclination, customer profile or business interests. Truth seems to be the casualty. To arrive at a balanced assessment some basic questions need to be asked. Why is the Govt promoting this? Who wants it? Who stands to gain? Do we really need this? One is unable to pinpoint the Govt’s compulsions. The idea that has gained currency (pun intended) is that it will attract vast amounts of foreign investment, which is good for the Indian economy. The Big Retailers (BRs) claim that this will benefit the farmers, increase employment, reduce prices and wastage of highly perishable farm produce, and offer better variety and services to the consumer. The urban middle class, “anti-corruption and pro-consumption” buyer, would be happy at this promised turn of events. The Govt, aware of the criticism it faces, has laid down some pre-conditions like 30% outsourcing from small and medium enterprises, 50% of the FDI to be back end infrastructure (a rather nebulous term), and 30% sales to small retailers. Sounds sensible. But Sitaram Yechuri of the CPM has said that his acceptance of the FDI proposal is dependent on whether it will generate jobs, enhance capacity (of what?) and bring in new technology. We also need to understand some of the basics of the retail sector, the Indian economy and social praxis. Both the UPA Govt, and the NDA before it, boasted of economic growth, which cannot be denied. But we are also told that 58% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is from the Services Sector (the Tertiary Sector that includes retail). What of the Primary Sector (agriculture in this case) and the Secondary Sector (manufacturing, including food processing)? Will this FDI boost agricultural growth or food processing? The answer would depend on whether or not there is a commonality of interest between the Govt’s socio-economic goals and those of the BRs. Lets face it; business is concerned with profits, not ethics or a lofty social agenda. Will they therefore help farmers, small manufacturers and retailers? Doubtful, as not every corporate is a Tata or a Premji. The BRs believe in economies of scale, so they will always prefer big manufacturers. They will in all probability squeeze the farmers; and why would small retailers go to them for supplies? It does not seem plausible. What of the profits generated? Will they not be repatriated? So how does this FDI help the Indian economy, other than being a quid pro quo for Indian business in a globalised world? The present supply chain is that raw materials (specific to food) are purchased from the small and unorganised grower by agents (mandis). If it has to be processed it goes to a manufacturer. Its finished product goes to a Carrying & Forwarding Agent (CFA), then to a super stockist, distributor, retailer and finally to the consumer. So there are several stages in the chain. Obviously each player benefits through a value add on. How will the BRs operate? Will their procurement be directly from small producers? Will they do their own manufacturing/ processing? What of their own supply chain of central warehousing, local warehousing, transportation, overhead costs and retailing? Are they not just replacing one system with another? So what real benefit to the economy or to the consumer? What if one of these BRs picks up the entire wheat, sugar, potato or onion stock, and hoards it in its huge warehouse for future trading and profiteering, thereby creating artificial shortages of essential commodities? Would this not be an infringement of the Essential Commodities Act? Besides, if Kishore Biyani’s Future Group has been a success (from the consumer’s point of view) why can’t other Indian players follow suit? If we have space and missile technology, and are world leaders in IT services, do we really need Walmart to teach us how to buy and sell; or how to make jam and ketchup? Ironically, Biyani, and Goenka of Spencers, are already planning to sell off their stakes to the firangs, post FDI! What of employment? If one supply chain system is replaced by another, how much more employment will it generate? As Yechuri asks, what new technology will they bring in, or what capacities will they increase? Perhaps the only increase will be in consumer spending, using all kinds of marketing tricks. BRs know, better than anybody else, the psychology of marketing, and how to fine-tune it to maximise sales. Let’s be frank. How many times have you been to a BR and not come back home saying that you had spent more than you had intended? If you think that BRs will respect Indian laws and sentiments, forget it. Just pick up a cola bottle. It does not specify the ingredients, which every type of processed food is supposed to stipulate. This shows the muscle power of the BRs. What of Indian thriftiness, the urge to save, which has been the strength of the non-resident Indians (NRIs), and even saved us from the last global economic recession? Will the BRs temptation to spend, dent the Indian’s tendency to save? Complex questions that don’t have simple answers. Lest I sound one-sided, we should also look at the positive side of organised retail. For one, all transactions are accounted for and tax paid, thereby generating revenue. In contrast, how many provision (kirana) stores ever give a cash memo? Products will be of a good quality, with correct weight and date. When we buy from a kirana store do we ever weigh our loose purchases when we get home, or even tally the amount charged? There will also be a greater variety, thereby giving the consumer a better choice, as also time saving. Will foreign BRs succeed in India? Will they destroy the small kirana, stand alone and mid-level departmental stores? Will they increase agricultural production, and reduce wastage through better storage and processing facilities? Only time will tell. By a strange co-incidence this issue has erupted when Padmavibhushan Dr Verghese Kurien is celebrating his 90th birthday on 26th November. He is the father of the White Revolution that has transformed India into the world’s largest milk producer. More importantly, this was achieved through the co-operative system, where the villagers themselves were the stakeholders and the beneficiaries. If the Govt was genuinely concerned about the social security of farmers, it should have pursued the farm produce co-operative system with full vigour, supported by the Central Warehousing Corporation and the Food Corporation of India. What is the role of Govt? Sure it should exit from non-priority sectors like hotels, airlines and condom manufacturing. But it cannot abdicate its social responsibility, be it in health, education or agricultural support. It cannot feign helplessness, like the recently slapped Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, declaring that he cannot control rising food prices. The Govt must take the development bull by the horns, instead of catching the bull by the tail, through FDI in retail. What a tale to tell the next generation! * The writer’s family has been established in business for 153 years, including 19 in organised retailing.

PEDESTAL FANS

A pedestal fan, in the heat of summer, is a cooling experience, not just for the body, but also for frayed tempers! There is another type of “pedestal fan” that actually raises temperatures and tempers to fever pitch. This other “pedestal fan” is actually a fan of an icon; so we have sports fans, movie fans and even fans for iconic figures like Gandhiji. A pedestal is usually a base on which a statue or icon is placed, from where it towers over the “fan”. We have many such “pedestal fans” in both religion and society; those who place iconic figures “up there”, while they themselves are happy “down here”. They believe in adulation, not emulation, of the pedestalised icon. In spirituality this is called pedestalisation. As a Christian leader I have often observed that those who become most agitated or incenced at a perceived desecration of a church or a sacred object, are those who normally wouldn’t care two hoots for Christian values. They are the dangerous “pedestal fans”, that seem to wait for an opportune moment to express their sense of outrage or sacrilege. I see such a drama unfolding in the case of the auction of Gandhiji’s memorabilia. There is national outrage, with fasts, protests and sanctimonious TV debates. One Gandhian panellist had the courage to say that the protestors should first follow the path of satya and ahimsa that Gandhiji trod. I endorse that view. A “pedestal fan” is an iconolater, who looks up at the pedestalised one. I would rather be an iconoclast, who challenges such convenient and escapist beliefs. To the case at hand, Gandhiji must have used many pairs of slippers, specs and bowls. If during his lifetime he gifted such items to others, then they are the property of the recipient, and nobody else has a claim over them. Gandhiji is today a world icon, possibly respected more outside his own country. So if somebody has sold or acquired some of his erstwhile material possessions what is the big hullabaloo about? As for the sod with his blood, it should first be subjected to a DNA test. If indeed it is his blood a different scenario emerges. According to Hindu custom a dead body is impure, placed on the ground, usually outside the house, and quickly consigned to flames. In contrast, in the Christian tradition, the blood of martyrs is considered a sacred relic, and venerated. The most famous Christian relic is the burial shroud of the Lord Jesus, preserved and venerated in Turin, Italy. What shall we now do with Gandhiji’s blood, if indeed it is his? Before writing this piece I phoned Wg Cdr Cecil Baretto VSM, now 89 years old and retired in Goa. His father Dr Christopher Baretto of Nagpur was Gandhiji’s personal dentist. As a young boy Cecil often accompanied his father to Gandhiji’s Sewagram Ashram at Wardha. Cecil himself later became a dentist in the Airforce, while three of his brothers had illustrious careers in the Army. Cecil told me that his father had extracted Gandhiji’s teeth and made his dentures. Two teeth remained in Dr Baretto’s family for several years. About 30 years ago the family donated them to the Gandhi Museum in New Delhi, where they are now preserved. So here is a family that both adulated and emulated Gandhiji, and did not exploit their unique heritage for commercial gain. I am now reminded of another world icon from India – Mother Teresa. It was through my mother’s efforts that she came to establish her houses in my hometown, Kanpur. After my mother’s death I followed up one case with Mother Teresa. I have carefully preserved her reply to me. Similarly, after my father died in 1970, Sri V.V. Giri, the President of India, former President Dr S. Radhakrishnan and several other dignitaries wrote letters of condolence to my mother. These valuable letters are preserved in a file. If for some reason, pecuniary or otherwise, I choose to sell these valuable letters, who is there to stop me? Reverting to Mother Teresa, after she had an operation some years ago, some devout nurses in the operation theatre picked up the cotton swabs dabbed with her blood. One of these swabs reached the then bishop of Meerut, Patrick Nair. He was sightless in one eye, and was now losing his vision in the good eye. He applied Mother Teresa’s “bloody relic” to his eye, and his eyesight was miraculously restored! If the good bishop now decides to auction off that “bloody relic” to raise money for an orphanage or whatever, who is there to stop him? Incidentally, my family has been in the auction business from 1858 to 1988 (a span of 130 years). An auctioneer is guided by two basic principles. The first is to ascertain the ownership of the article for sale, and the second is to ensure that his client gets the best price for his goods. An auction is invariably held on an “as is where is” basis. It is for the buyer to check out the claims of the seller. In the light of the above I would not like to further raise the temperature regarding the auction of Gandhiji’s memorabilia. With passions already running high we could do with the original pedestal fans that cool the body and calm the mind. Let us emulate Gandhiji, not just adulate him, as his pseudo “pedestal fans” do. * The writer is a Kanpur based Gandhian social activist.

ONLY DINESH – THE COMPLETE MAN

Readers will pardon me for mixing up the punch lines of three different suiting ads – Dinesh, Only Vimal and Raymond’s The Complete Man. Unfortunately I haven’t seen the Dinesh Suiting ad for sometime, hence must be forgiven for forgetting the punch line. But I do remember two Dinesh Suiting ads, both featuring Sunil Gavaskar. In one, he whacks a ball that whips the icecream off a cone that a young boy is eating. The boy’s angry mother is pacified when Gavaskar autographs the ball. In the other ad the Egyptian mummies come to life when Gavaskar is suitably suited in Dinesh. The recent Rail Budget, and the recently removed Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi, reminded me about the suiting ads. The Prime Minister thought that Dinesh had done a good job with the budget, and was indeed a “suitable boy”. But Mamta, like the angry mother, was not amused, when she saw the icecream whipped off her cone, with the increase in railway fares. Unlike the mummies, she was not impressed or inspired to come out of her closet. She preferred to remain mummified in time. The other two suiting ads have the punch lines – ONLY, and THE COMPLETE MAN. Today I daresay that Dinesh Trivedi is the ONLY COMPLETE MAN, who could stand up for his country and his beliefs; not afraid of losing his ministerial job, nor of ruffling the feathers of mother hen Mamata. I saw two interviews of Dinesh Trivedi on TV, one just after he had presented his bold and pragmatic budget, and the other after he had been unceremoniously sacked. I salute the man for his courage and humility. He was neither bitter, angry nor accusatory. He simply reiterated that he had done what he felt was for the good of the nation, and according to his conscience. He reiterated his belief in God. He also said that he was not going to lose any sleep over losing his ministerial berth. Such persons of integrity and humility are hard to come by in the body politic. Earlier, in the UPA I, Manmohan Singh staked his government on the nuclear deal, because he firmly believed that it was in the country’s larger interest. But in UPA II, the same person has repeatedly succumbed to the perils and pitfalls of coalition politics; coalition dharma as he calls it; though the less charitable would call it coalition compulsions and constraints. Pressure tactics from coalition partners, for petty gain or populism, should more appropriately be called adharma (the lack of righteousness). I do not know if the Congress has a Plan B, for splitting the TMC, with Dinesh as the engine driver. That would be revealed in time. As of now, sacrificing a good man and a good budget at the altar of coalition dharma shows the Congress in poor light. It furthers the impression that it is a lame duck government that suffers from policy paralysis. Was not this the time for Manmohan to have behaved like a complete man and only say, “Enough is enough. I won’t take any more bullying or blackmailing”. Wouldn’t it have been better for the Congress to have taken the high moral ground, and gone down fighting, instead of limping along from one coalition crisis to the next? We are yet to see the end of this anyway. As for Dinesh Trivedi, I believe that he is indeed a “suitable boy”. If he is sidelined or removed from the TMC, the Congress should not hesitate in accommodating him, and using his talent and moral uprightness for good governance. In this entire sordid episode, Dinesh Trivedi has come off best, as the only and most suitable – complete man. May his tribe increase. * The writer is a Kanpur based social activist.

LEND ME AN (Y)EAR!

At the death of the great Roman Emperor, Mark Anthony, famously said, “Friends, Romans and countrymen, lend me an ear”. Now we have our Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.K. Singh, proclaiming in similar vein, “Judges, Indians and Media, lend me an year”; that is to say, extend my tenure by one year, by changing my date of birth (D.O.B.) from 1950 to 1951. It seems an innocuous and “honourable” request, from a brave soldier. But the impression gaining ground is that the Govt has been insensitive and unfair, by not granting such a request to a man in uniform. The Govt’s silence is also being interpreted as a sign of weakness or wrongdoing. On the othe hand several articles have appeared showing how the issue has been minutely examined at various levels and different fora, resulting in the Ministry of Defence upholding 1950 as the D.O.B. Nevertheless Singh has defiantly sought redress from the Supreme Court, just one day after Army Day on the 15th January. The timing is ominous. Prior to this Singh has let it be known that he was being eased out of office because of his strong stand against corrupt army officers, like in the Sukna land scam. (Is he then insinuating that those who will step into his shoes are not as honest as he is?) Thereafter he said that he was being treated like a Pakistani. Was it wishful thinking? Would he like to be treated like a Pakistani general, who is not answerable to democratic institutions, and engineer a coup? Singh also vehemently opposed the partial lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some parts of Kashmir, defying a duly elected State Govt. Then again, he said that he had no dispute with the Govt. He now claims that he is fighting for his honour, and that of the army. Singh’s shifting stance is now looking shifty. His well-calculated manoeuvres indicate that he is a shrewd strategist and knows how to play war games. Against an enemy, it’s fine. But when it has serious ramifications for the country, it is like Russian Roulette, where somebody is bound to get hurt. During Indira Gandhi’s time Lt Gen S.C. Sinha was superseded for the post of Chief. He put in his papers, but he was feted by the opposition parties, and later made a Governor. Years later Admiral Vishnu Bhagat, Chief of Naval Staff, who hails from my hometown, Kanpur, came into conflict with the then NDA Govt and Defence Minister George Fernandes. He had to quit. At that time Bhagat’s younger brother had approached me to put in a word with Fernandes, with whom I had a good rapport. I declined, not least because I felt that it was not my business! The opposition Congress did try to make political capital of the situation. I fear that Singh’s case will also have political overtones, and possible overtures; coming as it does, just before the Assembly elections. Is it a mere coincidence that two of the States going to the polls are Punjab and Uttarakhand, that have a sizeable population of army veterans, serving officers and soldiers? There the BJP and its ally, the Akali Dal are in power. It would be naïve to believe that they will not extract political mileage to embarrass the Congress. It has already begun. Let me now get personal. I was born in February 1951, and studied in St Joseph’s College, Nainital, from where I did my Senior Cambridge in December 1965, at the tender age of 14. I was therefore underage for entrance tests to the NDA or IIT. Six of my classmates became defence officers, and five went to the IITs. One of my classmates was a course mate of Singh, when he enrolled in the 36th Course of the NDA in 1966. That classmate was born in 1949. In 1966 one had to be 16 years of age to enter the NDA, hence had to be born in 1950 or earlier. This holds true for Singh as well. If he now (or subsequently) claims that he was born in May 1951 (3 months younger than me), then he could not have entered the NDA in 1966. In India, fudging or changing one’s D.O.B. is child’s play. It is highly plausible that Singh’s school certificates show 1951 as his D.O.B. But the moot question is, “What was Singh’s legally maintainable age when he entered the army through the NDA?” If he entered, and got all his promotions, with his D.O.B. as 1950, then it is legally maintainable and logical that he exits the army on the same basis of 1950. One cannot have different yardsticks for entry and exit. It is worth recalling that the controversy was in the army records itself, and Singh had on past occasions, notably when promotions were due, given his written assurance that he accepted 1950 as his D.O.B. Thereafter the Defence Ministry, having examined all records, has taken a decision, which Singh should graciously have accepted. The present confrontation is one of Singh’s own making, for which he must pay the price. If he doesn’t go gracefully, then the Govt or the Supreme Court must show him the door, lest he set a bad precedent. Singh’s obduracy has also resulted in a succession crisis in the army hierarchy. This can seriously affect the morale of the army, whose cause Singh claims to espouse. There is another personal twist to this tail (pun intended) that dates back to 1966. It has been reported that incase Singh is shown the door, or quits prior to 31st May, then the Western Army Commander, Lt Gen S.R. Ghosh, will be the next Chief of Army Staff. He belongs to my aforementioned alma mater, where he was one year our junior, passing out in1966. This does not mean that I am rooting for my schoolmate. The judiciary and the defence forces have often been considered the most honourable pillars of the body politic. Let us keep it that way, Gen Singh. The country would have to pay too dear a price to lend you an ear or extend your tenure by a year. Ave Caesar! Sorry, Bharat Mata ki Jai! * The author, and his family’s association with the army, goes back over 150 years.

HOW SAFE ARE CELIBATES?

Do celibate Catholic priests need a safety net? How different is safe sex from unsafe celibacy? A recent meeting of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India, held in Bhopal, MP, occasioned these thoughts. The priests “pledged to safeguard their celibacy vow in the face of modern day challenges, and treat it as a gift from God”. At the conference Rev Francis Scaria said that priests in the West and in Africa were facing serious issues related to celibacy. What about India? If there was no problem, then why the concern? Responding to Bhopal, Rev William Grimm, a Maryknoll priest in Tokyo, questions the obsession with celibacy, which he avers is a consequence of the Hellenistic aversion to women. He does not consider celibacy intrinsic to the priesthood and says that given the option, he would opt out of it. Exactly a year ago, in response to the clerical sex abuse of minors, a group of 144 theologians in Germany wrote to their bishop’s conference that they would no longer remain silent on the issue of priestly celibacy. They also referred to the shortage of priestly vocations that had dropped to one fifth of what it earlier was. What about India? Is it different from the USA and Ireland where dioceses have gone bankrupt paying compensation to clerical abuse victims? Are we different from Europe and Africa where sex, not celibacy, seems to be the obsession? Are we also facing a shortage of vocations, necessitating the bishops of Kerala to ask for higher production of children, ostensibly to fill the seminaries? India is different, but not untouched by the sex virus in the priesthood. Unlike Judaism and Islam, the Indian ethos, be it Hindu, Buddhist or Jain, has valued ascetism and brahmacharya (celibacy). Despite the drop, the priest to people ratio in India is five times the world average. So why the sudden urgency to safeguard celibacy? Before Vatican II reforms, priests wore distinct clerical dress, many had beards or tonsured hair, and lived simple lives. The pre-Vatican mindset of external imposition was replaced by the post-Vatican approach of internal disposition. Unfortunately, several clergymen were just not strong enough to stand without external crutches, and “fell by the wayside”. In my home parish atleast 6 priests quit to get married, and one, who fathered a child, still continues in the priesthood. Obviously something has gone terribly wrong. Several years ago a seminary professor said to me that most priests were celibate, not out of conviction, but for lack of circumstances or fear of consequences. Today, with safe sex and safe havens, circumstances and consequences are no longer a deterrent to those who lack conviction. We should not hastily condemn our priests, but need to understand what is happening. I make a comparison with another bond – marriage. The twin goals of marriage are procreation and companionship. When the world was sparsely populated, and personalities were not so keenly developed, the emphasis was on procreation. Today the order is reversed. With the growing population on the one hand, and complexities of life on the other, the new emphasis is on companionship and compatibility. The same holds true for the priesthood. Unfortunately, the Facebook revolution has also made us faceless and anonymous. TV has encroached on both family and community life. There are more and more lonely hearts in the crowd. They crave companionship. Ironically, both sacred scripture and Vatican II ecclesiology emphasise this. After speaking about the hardships of discipleship, Jesus “appointed seventy two others, and sent them out ahead of him in pairs” (Lk 10:1). The Vatican II “Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests” (PO) has this to say. “No priest can in isolation or single-handedly accomplish his mission” (PO 7). To be “saved from the dangers which may arise from loneliness, let there be fostered among them some kind or other of community life” (PO 8). “Priests should not be sent singly … they should be sent in at least twos or threes, so that they may be mutually helpful to one another” (PO 10). Unfortunately, this lack of community gets accentuated among the diocesan clergy, who have neither community life, nor community prayer, and are often posted to remote mission stations where they are the little maharajas! Rev Grimm paints a grim picture of the presbyterium (the gathering of priests). He admits that when they get together they talk about “sports, entertainment, politics and food”. As a marriage counsellor I can tell you that this is mere conversation, not communication! While admitting the need for companionship one must also see the other side of the coin. Mahatma Gandhi opted for married brahmacharya, as part of his spiritual discipline. We have several other high profile politicians and activists, who have opted to remain unmarried (not quite the same as celibacy). We can count among them former Prime Minister Atal Behari Bajpayee, five sitting Chief Ministers – Mayawati, Mamata, Jayalalithaa, Patnaik and Modi, and social activist Medha Patkar. Should we say that they are unmarried by conviction/ commitment rather than circumstances or consequences? Ultimately the individual has to take the call to be convinced of celibacy. Being human, our noblest internal aspirations still need external assistance. We should encourage more religious priests, instead of diocesan, as the former have more scope for community life. Priests should not be commissioned singly. It is better to have two priests in one place than one priest each in two places. About celibacy the Church itself admits that “It is not indeed demanded by the very nature of the priesthood, as is evident from the practice of the primitive Church, and from the tradition of the Eastern Churches … there also exist married priests of outstanding merit” (PO16). Jesus himself had already warned that celibacy was only “for those to whom it is granted … Let anyone accept this who can” (Mat 19:10-12). Let us then accept the wisdom of the Lord, and his Church, and make celibacy optional, not intrinsic, to the priesthood. The contingencies of the time also demand it. It would be the safer and saner way. • The writer has been involved in both priestly formation and marriage counselling.

EMPOWERING INDIA’S LAITY

1. INTRODUCTION: One needs a detailed analysis of the Catholic Church in India, to understand the status of its laity. It is only then that one can understand the driving force behind the proposed Synod of Indian Lay Catholics, sponsored by the All India Catholic Union (AICU), scheduled for early 2012. 2. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: Christianity came to India centuries before it entered Europe, from where missionaries later came to convert us. This history is divided into five distinct eras: Apostolic, Early Colonial, British, Post-Independence, and Post-Vatican II. a. Apostolic: St Thomas the Apostle came to India circa 62 AD. He was well received by the people of the Malabar Coast in the southwest, which is the modern State of Kerala. There was large-scale conversion, particularly from the privileged classes. Perhaps for this reason Christianity did not spread out from there for 19 centuries. This ancient church had its leadership from Syria, not Rome, and the majority of Catholics in Kerala today belong to the ancient Syro-Malabar or Syro-Malankara Rites. b. Early Colonial: This was mainly Portuguese influence, from the 15th Century, because of St Francis Xavier. This too was on the southwest coast at Goa. Unfortunately the Portuguese missionaries came into conflict with the Syrian Christians in Kerala, whom they accused of being Nestorian heretics. The Portuguese converted the poor coastal Keralites, who now belong to the Latin Rite. c. British Era: Missionaries from European countries came in the wake of the British Colonialists (17th century). Despite their great fervour and sacrifices, they were identified with the white man, the ruling class. The Salesians in the northeast and the Jesuits in the central plains, through education and emancipation, converted large numbers of Tribals. In some pockets of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab a number of Dalits (untouchables) were also converted. However, Christianity failed to make any major inroads into India. d. Post-Independence: After India gained independence from the British in 1947, the church continued with its old colonial mindset of handing out education, employment and social benefits. Obviously these services did attract some to Christianity. e. Post-Vatican II: Post-Independence the church was already facing an identity crisis. With the changed ecclesiology of Vatican II, the church floundered. Initially it embraced de-structuring, inculturation, liturgical reforms and a preferential option for the poor. It did not have the spiritual stamina or the visionary leadership required for such drastic changes. It therefore fell back on its “tried and tested” style of functioning – pious devotions and powerful institutions, to keep it going. 3. THE CHURCH TODAY: Before Vatican II, evangelisation or conversions were a driving force for the missionaries. We had to save souls! Post Vatican II, what do we do, if all can be saved? Some cold statistics will help a true analysis. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) published its last statistical yearbook, “The Catholic Directory of India” in 1998; hence we will have to rely on some rather old data. POPULATION WORLD INDIA All Catholics 989,366,000 14,908,000 Bishops, Priests & Religious (Personnel) -1,360,112 - 101,096 Lay Catholics 988,065,888 14,806,904 Personnel to Laity Ratio 1:726 1:146 This table shows that India’s Church Personnel to Laity Ratio is five times higher than the world’s. Let us now examine some other statistics from the directory, which unfortunately has not updated these parameters after 1990. CATEGORY 1969 1990 Growth % age Parishes 3,513 6,277 79 Catholic Population 7,607,286 13,424,000 76 Institutions 8,877 22,865 158 This again shows that even in the post-Vatican II era, institutions have grown at double the rate of the parishes and the population! One must conclude that the church is heavily institutionalised and clericalised. In such a lopsided growth where does the laity find a place? 4. THE INDIAN ETHOS: India, though a distinct geographical region, became a modern nation state about 200 years ago, largely due to British rule. However, this nation has an ancient ethos. It is a country with 35 States and Union Territories. It has 1652 mother tongues, of which 22 are recognised by its Constitution. Other than territorial and linguistic divisions, it also has social, religious and ethnic divides, making it a disparate but heterogeneous country. According to the Census of India 2001 80.44 % of the population is Hindu, 13.42 % is Muslim and 2.33 % is Christian. India has been the cradle of ancient religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, besides having a strong Islamic presence. We also have a large tribal population, who are animists. In Hinduism we also have the caste system, which is a social hierarchy by birthright. Those outside the caste structure are referred to as outcastes, earlier untouchables, and today referred to as dalits (oppressed classes). 5. INDIA TODAY: India is no longer the land of snake charmers, elephants and maharajas. It has kept abreast with the times, to be termed an emergent nation with a robust economy that withstood the economic depression in the West. Its economic gains have resulted in a reverse brain drain, back to India. There has also been a spiritual train – people from the west seeking spiritual solace. Individual laypersons have benefited from economic gains and intellectual prowess. However, the role of the church in this change is debatable. Today the state and private players (even industrialists) have assumed a major role in education and social services, that at one time were the near exclusive domain of the church. Many would argue that the church’s contribution in the educational, health and welfare sectors is unparalleled. Agreed. But that is passé in a modern welfare state. This gradual redundancy is also reflected in its dwindling resource mobilisation. 6. THE STATUS OF THE LAITY: In the light of the above we need to assess the status of the laity as a collective unit, as against individual success stories or brilliance. I will divide the status of the laity under 9 heads: a. Financial: Most of the laity is financially worse off than the clergy who have purportedly renounced the world! They are heavily dependent on the institutionalised church for jobs, education, welfare schemes etc. However, financial control of community assets vests almost entirely in the hands of the hierarchy. All projects are controlled by the hierarchy, which is not competent or equipped to handle finance. Finance Committees, as provided for in Canon Law, are non-existent. There is little or no accountability or transparency. b. Institutions: The same goes for institutions, which are in the total control of the clergy and religious. Laypersons cannot even aspire to be Principals or heads of church run institutions. In Kerala, lay aspirants have to pay a large donation to the church for an ordinary teacher’s job. c. Sociological: Since a vast majority of the laity is from tribal, dalit or economically disadvantaged sections of society, the social divide adds to the financial one. d. Psychological: Add to this the former image of missionaries being white skins/ ruling class/ high caste, and the chasm deepens. The paternalistic attitude of the clergy (contrary to the fraternalism of the Gospels and Vatican II) has driven a psychological wedge between the hierarchy and the laity, with the latter becoming totally subservient. e. Spiritual: There is hardly any faith formation after Confirmation classes. Adult catechesis is non-existent. Hence the laity continues to fall back on popular pious devotions to fulfil its spiritual aspirations. f. Intellectual: There have been individual giants in the fields of politics, bureaucracy, judiciary, diplomacy, armed forces etc. This vast pool of talent is kept out of the purview of the institutional church. On the other hand the number of laypersons with knowledge of Canon Law, Vatican II ecclesiology etc is abysmally low. g. Ritual: For historical reasons the church in Kerala was divided into the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin Rites. Since the vast majority of bishops, priests and religious are from Kerala, this ritual divide has spilled over from Kerala. Even the CBCI, the national episcopal body, has been divided on the lines of Rite. Hence the laity stands further divided, further weakening it. h. Participation: Vatican II and Canon Law provided for participatory structures like Pastoral and Parish Councils, and decision-making powers for the laity. Such bodies, where they do exist, are usually filled with sycophants, thereby defeating their very purpose. i. Organisational: The AICU and its affiliated Catholic Associations are probably the only autonomous lay organisations in the country. But even they are under constant pressure from the hierarchy. Even in secular affairs like politics, the hierarchy does not respect the legitimate role and space of lay organisations and leadership. 7. LAY SYNOD: One may conclude that the laity is powerless and directionless. It is in this context that a handful of laypersons felt the need of a Lay Synod, which would not be dominated by the clergy/ hierarchy; to freely express their hopes and aspirations. The Synod does not seek to chart an agenda for the future. It is primarily a sounding board, seeking to know God’s will and how to fulfil it. Hence it does not have a pre-determined goal. If there is a consensus on major issues, then the AICU may spearhead the implementation of the same. However, at this stage it would be improper to pre-empt the working of the Holy Spirit, who should be our guide in empowering the Indian Catholic laity. * The writer is a former National President of the AICU, and presently its Spokesperson. However, the views expressed herein are personal.

A DECENT DOZEN

“A Dirty Dozen” was a Hollywood blockbuster of yesteryears. “A Dirty Picture” is Bollywood’s latest rage. But I have selected “A Decent Dozen”. Let me tell you why. The recent nomination of Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha (RS) has raised many questions in both sports and political circles. The Congress thought that it was a strategic masterstroke; while its political opponents cried “foul”. The nomination of film star Rekha did not attract the same attention, eventhough she is as attractive as ever. I have been incensed by these nominations to the RS. In the past, sportspersons like Navjyot Singh Siddhu, Mohd Azaruddin and Aslam Sher Khan have won elections to the Lok Sabha. That was the choice of the electorate, with which I have no quarrel. Film stars like Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Govinda and Jayapradha have also won elections to the Lok Sabha. In Tamilnadu, Andhra and Karnataka, film stars have wielded immense clout in the State Assembly elections. That again was the voters’ choice. But nominating film stars and sportspersons to the RS makes no sense to me; be it Dara Singh, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan; or now Sachin and Rekha. The track record of such celebrities is dubious, so why have them at all? Article 80 (1a) of the Constitution says that the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) shall have “twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3”. That Clause states that such nominees “shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: - literature, science, art and social service”. Article 84b stipulates a minimum age of 30 years. Why such a proviso? Nominations augment elections, to accommodate such worthies who, for whatever reason, were not elected. The implication is that such “experienced” persons would contribute to the legislative process and enlighten debates. Most film stars, sportspersons and celebrities just don’t fit the bill, but the nation is expected to foot their bills! I am obviously not the President of India, and therefore do not have the authority to nominate anybody to the RS. However, as a citizen of India I have a right to express my views. Hence I have chosen “A Decent Dozen” to be nominated to the RS. Here they are. 1. ANNA HAZARE: Anna has been in the forefront of the anti-corruption crusade, or more correctly in pushing for what his team calls the Jan Lokpal Bill. It is a proposal that cuts into all the wings of Govt – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. A bill with such far-reaching consequences and ramifications cannot be rushed; nor can it be brushed aside. Anna would therefore do well to be in the RS where he would have first-hand exposure to the nuances of legislation and governance. He has in any case admitted that he may not be able to win an election, so he is my first nominee to the RS. 2. BABA RAMDEV: From his hirsute pursuit of yoga postures he has now become a swadeshi industrialist, with 34 companies under his belt. He is now in hot pursuit of black money stashed abroad. He could begin his treasure hunt from the RS itself. 3. JAMES LYNGDOH: This former Chief Election Commissioner has gone on record that his greatest achievement was to conduct free and fair elections in Kashmir (perhaps for the first time ever). He has not retired. It is his organisation that filed a case in the Supreme Court objecting to the appointment of an allegedly tainted Thomas as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Lyngdoh’s continued vigilance would be an asset to the RS. 4. N. RAM: He is the editor of The Hindu that originally broke the Bofors story. He is known for his leftist and secular views. 5. VINOD MEHTA: The editor of Outlook magazine is another erudite thinker, speaker and a familiar face in TV debates. 6. PROF YASHPAL: Former Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, and eminent scientist, who was able to connect with youth through his TV programmes, he would add a scientific temper (not ill-temper) to RS debates. 7. RAHUL BAJAJ: An industrialist from a family of nationalists that supported Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle, Bajaj has his head on his shoulders in any TV debate; be it political, social or industrial. 8. AZIM PREMJI: Though one of the richest Indians, the head of Wipro does not believe in paying bribes, he walks up the stairs to his office, and flies economy class. He would add class to the RS. 9. MEDHA PATKAR: A sincere activist who advocates jal, jangal aur jamin for the rural and tribal people. When Naxalism and Maoism are spreading their tentacles we need another approach in the development versus displacement debate, and the rights of the tribals over natural resources like water, land, forests and mineral deposits. 10. ARUNA ROY: She is one of those who pushed for the Right to Information Act, and whose version of the Lokpal Bill is considered by many as better than both Anna’s and the Govt’s. 11. SHABNAM HASHMI: The widow of slain activist and dramatist Safdar Hashmi, she has continued undeterred with her late husband’s crusade for justice and communal harmony. 12. SOLI SORABJI: Before the Parsis in India become extinct let us have one in the RS. He is probably the most erudite and sane person among contemporary legal luminaries. He would illuminate any legislative act. I have no doubt that there are more than a dozen decent and deserving Indians to be nominated to the RS. The above are some of those who came to my mind. I wonder if any of my nominees will enter the hallowed portals of the RS, as its esteemed members? That does not deter me from exercising my choice. They are certainly better than Sachin and Rekha. Jesus spent all night in prayer before making his choice of A Decent Dozen, the twelve Apostles. None of them were perfect, and one even betrayed him. Despite that, can we fault his choice? I hope readers won’t fault mine! * The writer is a social, civic and political activist.