Is it easier to be the Pope or the Prime Minister of India? To a large extent the answer would depend on one’s understanding of the Papacy. If it is to be the Vicar of Christ, then of course it is the most demanding job on earth. If it is to be the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, it is comparatively easy. From whatever I have read of church history, and the functioning of various popes down the ages, I am constrained to conclude that, with rare exceptions, the role of Pontiff has assumed ascendancy over that of the Vicar.
It is easy to be the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church! Why? Because he is accountable to no one, and nobody can remove him from his “august” office. The Pontiff pontificates – speaks out. He seldom listens. In contrast, the Prime Minister of India is constantly answerable and accountable – to Parliament, to the Press, to civil society, etc. He is responsible for any crisis, be it war or finances. He has a hotline, and can be woken up in the middle of the night. Can you imagine anybody waking up the Pope to tell him about a tsunami, earthquake, or even the collapse of the Vatican Bank? Such mundane things could wait till he has said mass and had his breakfast in gold-rimmed crockery, and ensconced himself in his majestic papal office. If the Prime Minister or his party messes things up he is unceremoniously bundled out of office at the hustings. Such tremors do not affect the Pope. So I daresay that it is much easier to be a Pope than the Prime Minister of India.
I don’t belong to any political party, and I don’t have the money to stand for election to Parliament. So again, just like with the Pope, I will never be the PM. But as a conscientious Indian, who is active in social, civic and political affairs, I do have some concerns that I wish to articulate. They would be my priorities as Prime Minister.
India’s economic progress in recent years has been phenomenal. The NDA Government boasted of it as “India Shining”, but lost the elections. Learning from that experience the Congress led UPA Government talked of the “Aam Admi”, and implemented schemes like rural employment, waiver of loans to farmers, etc. It got the UPA re-elected with an increased majority.
Then the ghost of corruption loomed large, catapulting Anna Hazare to centre stage; brushing aside all our economic and diplomatic achievements. Corruption is the big C, the deadly cancer that is eating into our innards. It is the silent killer. So the eradication of corruption would be my first priority. V.P. Singh, as Prime Minister, sacrificed his coalition government, rather than allow the Babri Masjid to fall. That required moral courage, not seen in any other Prime Minister, barring Lal Bahadur Shastri. Both these Prime Ministers had very short tenures and have, unfortunately, been easily forgotten.
So whether or not I lead a coalition government, I will not compromise on basic principles, with zero tolerance for corruption. When I.K. Gujral (remember him?) was Prime Minister he made a profound statement that a staircase is swept clean from the top. There is also the natural phenomenon that a fish first rots from the head. So the PM would have to set an extraordinarily high standard of honesty and integrity in public life.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has himself often stated that even Caesar’s wife should be beyond suspicion. So the PM would have to handpick honest and competent parliamentarians for his ministerial team, and the same for bureaucrats to man key posts. It is not that we don’t have honest and efficient politicians, bureaucrats and judges. But many of them are not given their due or even side lined and harassed.
My second priority would be basic amenities like potable water and electricity. There can be no excuses for our people not having access to these. Together with that come primary health and primary education. This may sound like stating the obvious. But then, so often, we miss the wood for the trees.
Before Independence, there was a feeling of nationalism, perhaps because we had a perceived “enemy”, the British. Today our nationalistic fervour is limited to shouting “Chak De India” in cricket, especially if the opponent is Pakistan. We think that Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest Indian and want to give him the Bharat Ratna. A pity.
Somehow, and this is the really tough one, we need to re-inculcate in our people a sense of legitimate pride in our nation, and its premier institutions – the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. We need to tell our young people that there is more to life than the “package” they will get after doing their B.Tech or MBA. Young and old must contribute to society and nation building. A boost should be given to the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Service Scheme (NSS). Though I do not advocate violence I would even propose that young people have a two-year conscription in the Defence Services (as in Israel). Those who do their B.Tech or MBBS with Government funding, should in like manner be expected to devote two years to nation building, before being given their degrees. Thos who undertake such exercises should be given incentives in job opportunities or higher education. In fact from the Finance, Commerce or Defence Ministries, focus should shift to the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry. It is a big task, but it must be done. With over a billion people, our biggest resource is our own people. Would that we could make them that more resourceful.
On my part, and in my sphere of influence, I shall do my best for nation building and a corruption free society.
* The writer is the former National President of the All India Catholic Union.
April 2011
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011
WHAT’S SO “HAPPY” ABOUT EASTER?
Good Friday is a holiday, and holidays are associated with festivities, so it is not surprising that some of my well-meaning non-Christian friends wish me a “Happy Good Friday”! We Christians are ourselves to blame for a wrong choice of word. It should actually be called “Holy Friday” in English; just as in Hindi it is called Punya Shukravar.
Most people are aware that Good Friday (for want of a better name) is when the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross about 2000 years ago. Christians believe in his redemptive suffering and death, to bring salvation to mankind. Just as sin, suffering and death came through the failing of one man, Adam; so too grace, peace and everlasting life come through the total submission to God’s will of the one man Jesus; referred to as the new Adam.
What really gets my goat though is when fellow Christians wish each other a “Happy Easter”, in the same sugary tone that we wish a child “Happy Birthday”. Easter is the third day after Good Friday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the climax of Christian belief; that death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that death is defeated, and sin has been atoned for.
As with Good Friday, so too with Easter, I am unable to explain where this word originated from, or what is its etymological root. What I do know is that it is used to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. This mystery of death and resurrection, with its implications for life, is so profound and complex that it cannot be expressed in a mundane greeting like “Happy Easter”.
This discomfort with a “Happy Easter” goes back 30 years. I was living in Jyotiniketan Ashram, Bareilly, and was directing a play depicting the death and resurrection of Jesus. I also played the lead role of Jesus. It was not difficult to enact the last supper, the washing of the feet of the disciples, the whipping, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of a heavy wooden cross around the open air ground, and even the crucifixion.
What I couldn’t do was the resurrection scene, though I went through the motions, to the thunderous applause of the thousands gathered there. I was at a loss. There are human emotions to depict pain, sorrow and even death. But there is nothing to express the mystery of the resurrection. So pardon me if I cannot reciprocate a sugary sweet “Happy Easter”. But I do hope and pray that every one of us may discover for ourselves the deeper meaning of life and death.
* The writer is the President of the Kanpur Catholic Association.
Most people are aware that Good Friday (for want of a better name) is when the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross about 2000 years ago. Christians believe in his redemptive suffering and death, to bring salvation to mankind. Just as sin, suffering and death came through the failing of one man, Adam; so too grace, peace and everlasting life come through the total submission to God’s will of the one man Jesus; referred to as the new Adam.
What really gets my goat though is when fellow Christians wish each other a “Happy Easter”, in the same sugary tone that we wish a child “Happy Birthday”. Easter is the third day after Good Friday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the climax of Christian belief; that death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that death is defeated, and sin has been atoned for.
As with Good Friday, so too with Easter, I am unable to explain where this word originated from, or what is its etymological root. What I do know is that it is used to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. This mystery of death and resurrection, with its implications for life, is so profound and complex that it cannot be expressed in a mundane greeting like “Happy Easter”.
This discomfort with a “Happy Easter” goes back 30 years. I was living in Jyotiniketan Ashram, Bareilly, and was directing a play depicting the death and resurrection of Jesus. I also played the lead role of Jesus. It was not difficult to enact the last supper, the washing of the feet of the disciples, the whipping, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of a heavy wooden cross around the open air ground, and even the crucifixion.
What I couldn’t do was the resurrection scene, though I went through the motions, to the thunderous applause of the thousands gathered there. I was at a loss. There are human emotions to depict pain, sorrow and even death. But there is nothing to express the mystery of the resurrection. So pardon me if I cannot reciprocate a sugary sweet “Happy Easter”. But I do hope and pray that every one of us may discover for ourselves the deeper meaning of life and death.
* The writer is the President of the Kanpur Catholic Association.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
THE MUCK STARTS HERE
There is a popular TV programme named after the old adage “The Buck Stops Here”. It literally means, “Who is ultimately responsible?” It is usually asked in a pejorative sense, for somebody shirking responsibility, or for apportioning blame. Now that Anna Hazare has made his Jan Lokpal Bill (JLB) a life and death issue, it would seem that the buck stops at the doorstep of the Central Govt. The Govt has since taken the plunge and accepted Anna’s main demands.
Anna has captured the collective mood of the nation, with people going ballistic in supporting his anti-corruption campaign, which was launched in New Delhi this 5th April. I myself, as convenor of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Andolan in Kanpur, gathered together about 40 diverse social, civic and religious groups for a day long silent fast and a 1000 strong rally in his support on the 5th. It spawned a chain reaction of spontaneous protests, signature campaigns and candle light marches.
After the candle light vigil at India Gate, New Delhi, demanding justice in the Jessica Lal murder case, and the mammoth gathering at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, post 26/11, candles seem to be the flavour of the season. (Prices of candles may go up)! Before these, candles were usually associated with church services or childrens’ birthdays. How things change! I wonder if some “custodians of Indian culture” think that candles are again some kind of a foreign conspiracy to destabilise our ancient culture? But I am digressing.
Anna has raised two issues – the JLB and corruption. I am not sure how many have studied the JLB. I have. At this stage, when its merits and demerits are being debated and a joint committee has been formed, I would not like to go into its specifics. However, since it has become a national issue, I will make some brief comments.
The impression sought to be created is that by enacting the JLB, corruption will be eradicated! How naïve! We have laws against dowry, untouchability, domestic violence, child labour, child marriage etc. Have these social evils been eradicated by mere legislation? We know the answer. In a democracy like India, we have a system of checks and balances in the three wings of Govt – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. We also have watchdogs like the CEC, CIC, CVC, CAG, CBI, ED etc, which have varying degrees of autonomy. If despite all these provisions, there is still a high level of corruption, is the system to blame, or is it the operators of the system?
Most of the laws of our country, or rules and regulations, are the legacy of the British. Though I was born in independent India, old timers tell me that despite the many failings and excesses of the British, they had a respect for the rule of law, which they had inculcated in their subjects. Once the British left, the fear of the law left with them! We Indians mastered the art of breaking, manipulating or circumventing the law. We are jugarias. I have often said, “Jab niyat saaf nahin hai, tho niyam kya kare?” (If there is no sense of morality, what use is legality?)
I give two instances to buttress my argument. Before T.N. Sheshan became the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the country paid scant regard to that office. Sheshan did not invent any new rules. He just went by the book, and instilled the fear of hell in those seeking election. His example has been followed by every CEC since.
Look at the Supreme Court. When Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975 and curtailed human rights, 4 of the 5 Supreme Court judges hearing the case acquiesced before her. Only Justice H.R. Khanna (who later stood for President and lost) gave a bold and dissenting judgement. We have had illustrious Chief Justices of India (CJI) like P.N. Bhagwati and J.S. Verma, who even entertained a postcard as a writ petition. After a shadowy era under CJI Balakrishnan, we now have another intelligent and upright CJI in S.H. Kapadia. We must credit the Govt for appointing, and subsequently respecting his autonomy.
So what lesson do we learn? The people who operate the system are far more important than the system itself. When conducting leadership training programmes I have always stressed that a good driver in an old car, is better than a bad driver in a fancy new one. It is the driver who is in control, and not the car.
I see three levels of corruption in the system. The fist level is the FORCED one, when one is compelled to pay money for a basic right, like getting a ration card or caste certificate. The second is the NUISANCE level when one is obliged to pay something to a Govt official because, in the still prevalent ‘inspector raj”, the official’s nuisance value is so high, that the cost to benefit ratio dictates that it is better to grease the palm than struggle indefinitely. The third level is the MALICIOUS level, where one bribes officials to get undue favours and advantage; to file false cases and harass one’s opponents; or to cover up criminal, anti-social or anti-national acts. This is the corruption angle of the establishment.
What of “we the people”? Are we also not dishonest in various ways, thereby encouraging corruption? Fudging birth certificates to lower one’s age and gain an unfair advantage in nursery class is a common practice. Are we then not laying the foundation of dishonesty in our childrens’ lives? How many have not cheated in exams? Have we been honest in our private, public and professional lives? Are we also not taxchors, kamchors and bijlichors? It is so easy to point fingers at politicians and bureaucrats. Should we not begin with ourselves? Only then will we have the moral right to point fingers at others, for “the muck starts here”, with ourselves.
Some years ago, Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma, had begun a moral rearmament movement. Parents, educationists, religious and social leaders need to abjure all forms of hypocrisy and double standards, to be paragons of virtue for the next generation. If not, Anna Hazare’s fast, and the proposed JLB, would be an exercise in futility. The writing is on the wall – The buck stops there, but the muck starts here.
* The writer is a Gandhian activist and the Convenor of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Andolan, Kanpur
9th April 2011
Anna has captured the collective mood of the nation, with people going ballistic in supporting his anti-corruption campaign, which was launched in New Delhi this 5th April. I myself, as convenor of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Andolan in Kanpur, gathered together about 40 diverse social, civic and religious groups for a day long silent fast and a 1000 strong rally in his support on the 5th. It spawned a chain reaction of spontaneous protests, signature campaigns and candle light marches.
After the candle light vigil at India Gate, New Delhi, demanding justice in the Jessica Lal murder case, and the mammoth gathering at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, post 26/11, candles seem to be the flavour of the season. (Prices of candles may go up)! Before these, candles were usually associated with church services or childrens’ birthdays. How things change! I wonder if some “custodians of Indian culture” think that candles are again some kind of a foreign conspiracy to destabilise our ancient culture? But I am digressing.
Anna has raised two issues – the JLB and corruption. I am not sure how many have studied the JLB. I have. At this stage, when its merits and demerits are being debated and a joint committee has been formed, I would not like to go into its specifics. However, since it has become a national issue, I will make some brief comments.
The impression sought to be created is that by enacting the JLB, corruption will be eradicated! How naïve! We have laws against dowry, untouchability, domestic violence, child labour, child marriage etc. Have these social evils been eradicated by mere legislation? We know the answer. In a democracy like India, we have a system of checks and balances in the three wings of Govt – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. We also have watchdogs like the CEC, CIC, CVC, CAG, CBI, ED etc, which have varying degrees of autonomy. If despite all these provisions, there is still a high level of corruption, is the system to blame, or is it the operators of the system?
Most of the laws of our country, or rules and regulations, are the legacy of the British. Though I was born in independent India, old timers tell me that despite the many failings and excesses of the British, they had a respect for the rule of law, which they had inculcated in their subjects. Once the British left, the fear of the law left with them! We Indians mastered the art of breaking, manipulating or circumventing the law. We are jugarias. I have often said, “Jab niyat saaf nahin hai, tho niyam kya kare?” (If there is no sense of morality, what use is legality?)
I give two instances to buttress my argument. Before T.N. Sheshan became the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the country paid scant regard to that office. Sheshan did not invent any new rules. He just went by the book, and instilled the fear of hell in those seeking election. His example has been followed by every CEC since.
Look at the Supreme Court. When Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975 and curtailed human rights, 4 of the 5 Supreme Court judges hearing the case acquiesced before her. Only Justice H.R. Khanna (who later stood for President and lost) gave a bold and dissenting judgement. We have had illustrious Chief Justices of India (CJI) like P.N. Bhagwati and J.S. Verma, who even entertained a postcard as a writ petition. After a shadowy era under CJI Balakrishnan, we now have another intelligent and upright CJI in S.H. Kapadia. We must credit the Govt for appointing, and subsequently respecting his autonomy.
So what lesson do we learn? The people who operate the system are far more important than the system itself. When conducting leadership training programmes I have always stressed that a good driver in an old car, is better than a bad driver in a fancy new one. It is the driver who is in control, and not the car.
I see three levels of corruption in the system. The fist level is the FORCED one, when one is compelled to pay money for a basic right, like getting a ration card or caste certificate. The second is the NUISANCE level when one is obliged to pay something to a Govt official because, in the still prevalent ‘inspector raj”, the official’s nuisance value is so high, that the cost to benefit ratio dictates that it is better to grease the palm than struggle indefinitely. The third level is the MALICIOUS level, where one bribes officials to get undue favours and advantage; to file false cases and harass one’s opponents; or to cover up criminal, anti-social or anti-national acts. This is the corruption angle of the establishment.
What of “we the people”? Are we also not dishonest in various ways, thereby encouraging corruption? Fudging birth certificates to lower one’s age and gain an unfair advantage in nursery class is a common practice. Are we then not laying the foundation of dishonesty in our childrens’ lives? How many have not cheated in exams? Have we been honest in our private, public and professional lives? Are we also not taxchors, kamchors and bijlichors? It is so easy to point fingers at politicians and bureaucrats. Should we not begin with ourselves? Only then will we have the moral right to point fingers at others, for “the muck starts here”, with ourselves.
Some years ago, Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma, had begun a moral rearmament movement. Parents, educationists, religious and social leaders need to abjure all forms of hypocrisy and double standards, to be paragons of virtue for the next generation. If not, Anna Hazare’s fast, and the proposed JLB, would be an exercise in futility. The writing is on the wall – The buck stops there, but the muck starts here.
* The writer is a Gandhian activist and the Convenor of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Andolan, Kanpur
9th April 2011
Thursday, 7 April 2011
OF ANNAS AND PAISA
When I was born 60 years ago, 6 paisa made an anna and 16 annas a rupaiya. Today we have one Anna Hazare, and hazaron log who have milked our country of trillions of rupaiya. Speculating on the amount received in bribes, siphoned off in commission, or stacked away in Swiss Banks is mind boggling.
My son Avinash, an M.A. (Economics), has an amazing insight into macro-economics that his college dropout father lacks. He observed that one of the reasons why India came out unscathed from the recent world economic recession was because of its widespread black economy, which acted as a buffer against the jhatkas in the white economy! I am inclined to believe my son. (Sometimes good comes from evil)!
India is going ballistic about Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption. I myself was convenor of 40 organisations in Kanpur which rallied over a thousand people together for the campaign on 5th April. As a victim of corruption myself, and a concerned Indian, I fully endorse Anna’s campaign. However, I am not sure if his singular demand for the Jan Lokpal Bill will be the panacea for all that afflicts the country. We have laws against dowry, untouchability, domestic violence etc. How effective have they been? We have several institutions and watchdogs like Parliament, the Supreme Court, the press, the CVC, CBI, ED, etc. How will one more “institution” help? Besides, can one Lokpal (Ombudsman) be presumed to be so fair and impartial as to have unlimited powers over the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary? Are we perhaps barking up the wrong tree?
Some zealous facebookers and tweeters are making comparisons with Egypt and Libya. How foolish. Egypt is now asking the Election Commission of India to help it conduct its elections. We have done so for other countries in the past. A pity that we don’t value our own democracy. How many of these couch potatweeters, who criticise politicians, actually stand in line, in sun or rain, to vote on polling day?
Yes, many politicians, bureaucrats and judicial persons are corrupt. So are we the people. How many of us have had our ages reduced when getting admitted in nursery school? How many of us have cheated in exams? How many of us are honest in both our personal and public lives? Are we also not taxchors, kamchors and bijlichors? Without dishonesty there can be no corruption. They are chor-chor musaira bhai - two sides of the same coin.
So while on the one hand we support Mahatma Anna Hazare in his battle against corruption, let us on the other hand also lead exemplary lives. If not, the cancer of corruption will reduce our rupaiyas into annas and paisa, Anna notwithstanding.
*The writer is the Convenor of the Bharstachar Virodhi Andolan, Kanpur
My son Avinash, an M.A. (Economics), has an amazing insight into macro-economics that his college dropout father lacks. He observed that one of the reasons why India came out unscathed from the recent world economic recession was because of its widespread black economy, which acted as a buffer against the jhatkas in the white economy! I am inclined to believe my son. (Sometimes good comes from evil)!
India is going ballistic about Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption. I myself was convenor of 40 organisations in Kanpur which rallied over a thousand people together for the campaign on 5th April. As a victim of corruption myself, and a concerned Indian, I fully endorse Anna’s campaign. However, I am not sure if his singular demand for the Jan Lokpal Bill will be the panacea for all that afflicts the country. We have laws against dowry, untouchability, domestic violence etc. How effective have they been? We have several institutions and watchdogs like Parliament, the Supreme Court, the press, the CVC, CBI, ED, etc. How will one more “institution” help? Besides, can one Lokpal (Ombudsman) be presumed to be so fair and impartial as to have unlimited powers over the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary? Are we perhaps barking up the wrong tree?
Some zealous facebookers and tweeters are making comparisons with Egypt and Libya. How foolish. Egypt is now asking the Election Commission of India to help it conduct its elections. We have done so for other countries in the past. A pity that we don’t value our own democracy. How many of these couch potatweeters, who criticise politicians, actually stand in line, in sun or rain, to vote on polling day?
Yes, many politicians, bureaucrats and judicial persons are corrupt. So are we the people. How many of us have had our ages reduced when getting admitted in nursery school? How many of us have cheated in exams? How many of us are honest in both our personal and public lives? Are we also not taxchors, kamchors and bijlichors? Without dishonesty there can be no corruption. They are chor-chor musaira bhai - two sides of the same coin.
So while on the one hand we support Mahatma Anna Hazare in his battle against corruption, let us on the other hand also lead exemplary lives. If not, the cancer of corruption will reduce our rupaiyas into annas and paisa, Anna notwithstanding.
*The writer is the Convenor of the Bharstachar Virodhi Andolan, Kanpur
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