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Tuesday,
October
7, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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Time to exercise restraint Chandigarh is 50 Aish in Amritsar |
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Who is to govern India?
The Indian AIDS
Universities as centres of excellence
Delhi Durbar
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Time to exercise restraint Sunday’s Israeli missile attack at Ein Saheb, near the Syrian capital, Damascus, after the Haifa suicide bombing a day earlier shows irresponsibility on the part of the Ariel Sharon government. That the raid was carried out to destroy a “terrorist training camp” run by a Palestinian extremist outfit, Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for the Haifa bomb blast, is not a plausible explanation. Any retaliatory action in violation of the international law is unjustifiable. No legally constituted government should resort to such raids. Otherwise it will be accused of practising state terrorism. In a highly volatile region that West Asia is, all sides should maintain restraint. Mr Sharon should have realised by now that violence only begets violence. He recently violated the ceasefire agreement reached with the Palestinians, including the Islamic Jihad and the Hamas, by continuing targeted killings inside the Palestinian Authority areas and the result was the revival of suicide bombings with increased ferocity. Haifa could not have happened had he allowed former Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Mahmood Abbas, to rein in the extremist outfits. He ignored Mr Abbas’s plea and the result is that the region is back to the circle of violence. The road-map for peace, which promised a sovereign Palestinian homeland by 2005 to deprive the extremists of a cause to run their killing machine, has been reduced to a piece of paper. The Israeli voter never expected this from Mr Sharon. Syria deserves appreciation for showing restraint in the face of extreme provocation, though technically it has been for years at war with Israel. Damascus expressed its anguish through the most appropriate legal course by taking the matter to the UN Security Council. Despite the expected American ambivalence on the development, the Sharon government’s intention has been exposed. The Syrian approach has some glimmer of hope in a region where people and governments prefer to react with rage because of the bitter history of Arab-Israeli relations. But Israel must be stopped by the international community — read the US in this case — from repeated what it has done in Syria. The Sharon government’s reported plan for Syria-type raids in Lebanon and Iran is a recipe for disaster. The US should force the Israelis and the Palestinians to revive the snapped negotiations on the road-map for peace to ensure that the West Asian crisis does not lead to a larger conflagration. |
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Chandigarh is 50 AS
Chandigarh turns 50, the nation can justifiably take pride in the fact that the gamble it took in constructing a brand new Capital city for what was East Punjab has paid off. Few other decisions were mired in controversy as the one it took to acquire 8,500 acres of fertile land, dotted with groves of mango trees and spread over 17 villages, to construct a new Capital following the loss of Lahore. Almost all political leaders of the period opposed the move for one reason or another. The debate would have continued interminably if Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had not personally intervened and settled the issue once and for all. Nehru exulted at the fact that the site chosen was free from “existing encumbrances of old towns and old traditions”. He saw Chandigarh as “the first large expression of our creative genius flowering on our newly earned freedom”. If the American, Albert Mayer, provided the blueprint for the city, the master plan was put in place by the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier, and several others. Critics find in the slightly curved impression of the lateral streets in City Beautiful, Corbusier’s interest in women and curves, particularly his unrequited love for a European journalist working in India at that time. Whether this is true or not, any visitor to Chandigarh would readily agree that his attempt to bring back greenery and nature into urban life has clearly succeeded. He will have little hesitation in conceding that the city is head and shoulders above Bhubaneswar and Gandhinagar, two other post-Independence cities. This itself is a tribute to Corbusier and his team who transformed a dream into a city. There were critics who lambasted Corbusier for his style which, they thought, did not suit the climatic conditions of the region or its future requirements. They still crib about the city lacking a soul and its architecture shutting out people from one another. However, the second generation Chandigarhians find themselves liberated from their pre-Chandigarh ancestry. They are the ones who talk about a distinct Chandigarh culture that has evolved over the last 50 years. One of the few cities with an edict of its own, which is, by and large, followed to this day, Chandigarh can boast of many firsts, whether it is in the quality of air that its citizens breath or the quality of life they lead. Pressures on its infrastructure have been mounting with an exponential growth in population, particularly of vehicles. The coming up of Panchkula and Mohali have certainly prevented the city from bursting at the seams, though the first settlers miss the idyllic environs when fewer people thronged the gardens and fewer slums existed in the periphery. From M.S. Randhawa to P.L. Verma, and from Nek Chand to Kapil Dev, innumerable are those who contributed to the making of Chandigarh. It is they who deserve a toast on this historic day. After all, no city can be better, or worse, than the people who live in it. |
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Aish in Amritsar It is a tough life for working cops. In their line of duty laughter is not the best medicine for busting crimes. But they are not humourless either. They know when and how to extract a bit of fun for themselves. Why grudge them the pleasures that they extract when asked to provide security to visiting celebrities? Sachin Tendulkar may not remember the names of all the important people he has had dinner with. The same is true of a date with Aishwarya Rai. For the top cops a dinner date with the star, who is currently in Amritsar for the shooting of "Bride and Prejudice", is going to be an unforgettable experience. The star's Amritsar sojourn should give the producers a potential Bollywood blockbuster. The meal with the police officers would provide the masala to the storyline. Remember how the Indian lawmakers fell over each other while trying to get close to Bill Clinton when he addressed the joint session of Parliament? When cops do the same, with Aish as the centre of social gravity, their wives would have bitter tales to tell after teeth-picking time. The box-office success of "Aish in Amritsar" would depend on the scale of bitterness the dinner generates among possessive spouses and the cops who were not allowed to get past their superiors to give the date that all important personal-touch-smile. For a close-up with Aishwarya a bit of domestic disharmony should count as an acceptable risk. Anything for a "foodful" evening with her. Reporters should investigate heart care clinics in Amritsar for a "boom" after Aish set foot on the soil that has produced many a tale of broken hearts. Once the visit is over the journalists should also investigate the rate of crime in the region during the period when the top cops were having dinner with Aish and the rest of them were grappling with crowds wanting a glimpse of the face that caused a row between Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan. For stretching the story into three hours of entertainment "The Thief Who Came to Dinner", a successful Hollywood movie, should provide the material Bollywood thrives on. Anyone who isn’t confused doesn’t really understand the situation. — Ed Murrow |
Who is to govern India? Mr Mulayam Singh has returned to power after several years and inducted as many as 98 MLAs as Ministers to create a record of sorts. We don't know about Mr Mulayam Singh's capacity to remember faces, but the state's Governor cannot be blamed if he fails to recognise the Ministers he gave oath to only last Friday. The state, which is feeling a lot relieved after the fall of Ms Mayawati's rule, was expecting the new Chief Minister to spell out what he would do with power now when he was at the helm. Mr Mulayam Singh was clear about his priorities. Within a few minutes of his taking oath, he announced his decision to withdraw POTA cases slapped by Ms Mayawati against Raja Bhaiya whose name strikes fear in Uttar Pradesh. Ms Mayawati had sent Raja Bhaiya to jail under POTA not because she was averse to what he was doing in the state, but because the man was not on her side. Mr Mulayam Singh even shared a state secret with the media that Raja Bhaiya had served the nation. He did not say in what way. In effect, Mr Mulayam Singh has ensured Raja Bhaiya's support for governing Uttar Pradesh and fighting the next year's Lok Sabha elections. So much for the system of governance that has evolved in the nation's largest state. The story is no different in Bihar, the second largest state in the country now being ruled by the Laloo-Rabri team. Neither Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, nor Mrs Rabri Devi, has ever thought of reining in the criminal groups that are ruling Bihar's countryside. Not long ago, in Bihar's badlands Pappu Yadav and Surya Deo Singh called the shots. Lately, Shahabuddin has been in and out of prison, yet to be really punished for the murders and other crimes he is alleged to have been involved in. Bihar is full of Pappu Yadavs and Shahabuddins of all kinds and they cut across the barriers of caste, creed and religion. They roam around in Bihar's countryside, guns in hand, extorting money, ordering people around, running parallel revenue outfits, sometimes sorting out local disputes—and in the process, answering the simple question, who actually governs Bihar. The dons and dadas have even floated "Senas" to ensure that their writ prevails in the areas under their operational command. The local collector and police officials just watch, helplessly accepting the ground realities. They are perhaps coming to believe in the name of pragmatism that they cannot change the situation. The mafia leaders in Bihar are simply not afraid of the administration. Officials, whose job is to protect the citizen, maintain law and order and peace, are actually afraid of the mafia groups disturbing their sleep. Often they buy peace with the mafia groups and conveniently look the other way lest the local MLA or the MP, who are obliged to the local toughs for one reason or another, may get the covenanted rulers transferred. Often they allow themselves the luxury of doing things at the dons' bidding, feeling pleased about how their district is being governed. A nexus has come into existence in Bihar and UP and in varying degrees in many other states between politicians, criminal groups, local businessmen and in many districts the bureaucrats. No one is prepared to break this nexus. It is in effect becoming a part of the system. The rulers in Delhi and in the states know about it, but are not inclined to raise a little finger to ensure that crooks and criminals do not get away. The leaders of most political parties at the Centre, even if concerned, don't want to do anything to check the menace because they don't like to lose the support of the party's state leaders. The state leaders on their part like to remain on the right side of the mafia chiefs because they lend them money and muscle to win elections. The political parties' tendency to depend on support from mafia groups has over the last few years become more acute. Earlier, the dons were lending money and muscle to help the politicians of their choice win elections; now, they themselves become claimants to party tickets, fight elections and later on expect berths in the Cabinets. A few weeks ago The Asian Age reported that 205 out of 403 MLAs in the UP Assembly had criminal cases pending against them. The political affiliation of such Honourable Members is spread across all parties — Samajwadi 81, BSP 49, BJP 39, Congress 9, Lok Dal 8 and Independents 16. No one has thought of contradicting this news report. The government of Ms Mayawati who, given chance, might have sold the Taj — also had Ministers in her Cabinet who had criminal cases against them. Amarmani Tripathi, who was very reluctantly dropped by Ms Mayawati, is now facing serious charges of involvement in the murder of his lover, poet Madhumita. Even in the Mulayam Singh's 98-Member Council of Ministers, according to reports, some berths have gone to those who have historysheets to back their curriculum vitae. Who governs? The answer to this question is becoming difficult not only in UP and Bihar, but also in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and many other states. Perhaps, in all states there are people with unsavoury reputations fixing decisions, postings and transfers and much else. If some of the crooks displaying their political clout in different parts of the country can get elected to State Assemblies, they can as well get elected to Parliament. The impunity they seem to be enjoying for the state elections is equally available to them for contesting Parliamentary elections. Not long ago, the Election Commission said that in the previous Lok Sabha there were as many as 40 MPs who had criminal cases pending against them. Nobody could do anything against them. Many lawbreakers have become law-makers and the governments, political parties and the people in the constituencies know about their antecedents The Election Commission has cried hoarse against criminals getting elected to state legislatures and Parliament. The Supreme Court, somewhat worried about the problem, has also been giving a nudge now and then to both Parliament and the Executive to ensure that criminals do not enter their portals and vitiate the democratic system. But in vain! The steps that have been suggested by the Election Commission as well as the Supreme Court have been cleverly defeated either by not doing anything, or by an executive ordinance, or by a consensus all parties easily achieve when it comes to their collective interests. No one is really prepared to take on the musclemen of Indian politics. In several parts of the country, politicians and political parties in effect have become prisoners of criminal groups. They know the dangers ahead but they cannot do anything against those who help them win elections — politicians' primary concern. The remedy for the problem — which indeed is acquiring phenomenal proportions — is elsewhere: The people. They have a chance coming in the next elections to ensure that no criminal gets elected to Parliament or State Assemblies. Every voter in a constituency knows the local dada who wants to get elected as their representative. Just don't cast your vote in the ballot box for him. Shutting the door on him is also possible. The candidate, even if he is a local tough and a bully, cannot afford to do harm to the honest voter who dares to say "No". Even if the criminal uses fear and force to extract the vote, the price for saying "No" is worth paying for the nation's sake. Freedom and democracy cannot be saved without
courage. |
The Indian AIDS It was surely a “rich” (read big) gathering of all Indians suffering from AIDS. Contrary to the official figures of AIDS sufferers in the country, this gathering revealed that the actual patients of the “Indian AIDS” were over a thousand times more. Yes, they were suffering from Acquired Income from Dubious Sources (AIDS). The issue at hand was how to make best use of the 100 million dollars given by Bill Gates for the benefit of these AIDS patients. Bill had never been in the dock like this before. No amount of latest Windows or P-4s could help him make anyone understand the difference between his aid and AIDS. He tried his best to explain that his millions were never meant for the deadly AIDS. It was, for sure, for the teeming sufferers of the Indian AIDS. “His figures are not wrong,” his PR head claimed. The Indian AIDS is actually the most widespread and he wants his millions to help their cause. Bill had done his homework. The criticism against him that he was trying to deliberately blow the AIDS figures in India out of proportion to give a bad impression about the country, vanished in seconds. Everyone in the room went out of the way to acknowledge that they were really suffering from this Indian variety of AIDS and that they needed Bill’s millions to mitigate their own “suffering”. As the word spread, many more flocked to the Maurya Sheraton Convention hall venue to be part of the proceedings and get some aid sanctioned. Soon the list of uninvited aspirants outside the hotel read like the who’s who of India. The Jaya-lolitas, Dukh Rams, Ravi Chiddus, Aaloo Prasads and several other leading scamsters, including the Tehelka beneficiaries, made a beeline for the aid as they knew that this money will be different from all their previous earnings. After all, this aid (s) was going to be in US dollars. Even the best-known socialites of all the metros, especially Delhi and Mumbai, flocked to get their share. Lost in the din of all this were the cries of the lakhs of actual sufferers of the real AIDS. Truck drivers from all over the country, sex workers from various cities and other fly-by-one-night operators stood no chance of getting any help as it became apparent that the VIPs will take away all the $ 100 million. It was decided by the powers that be at the hotel itself that the entire list of those suffering from the real AIDS be destroyed immediately and a fresh one suffering from the Indian AIDS be made to help them. The big-shots, without any shame, even went to the extent of asking Bill to contribute more funds as the AIDS situation in India was really “alarming”. A sheepish Bill could not help but to nod. His phenomenal business-sense made him realise that to survive in the Indian market, he will have to deal with the Indian AIDS by pumping more millions. Only that could ensure returns in billions. He immediately despatched his associates to the Silicon Valley in his private jetliner to get more funds, asking them to even hire the US Air Force’s bulky cargo planes to get more
booty. |
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Universities as centres of excellence Should there be a separate “'affiliating university”' for 240-odd colleges, thus enabling the three universities in Punjab to focus on post-graduate teaching, research, both basic and applied, and futuristic development? Should these universities located at Amritsar, Patiala and Chandigarh be then assigned specific targets to become “centres of excellence”, thereby enhancing their social relevance, once these are unsaddled of the responsibility of admissions, conducting entrance and annual examinations and awarding degrees at the undergraduate level? Should the government and the universities play a more proactive role in the decision-making and policy planning, thus making better use of the services of teachers, who could be taken on deputation to the government? These and other related questions are exercising the minds of the academicians, who are debating on these due to the financial crunch and the existing politico-bureaucratic administrative system which is stifling the functioning of the universities. The Tribune has just completed a 12-part series on the state of the universities in the region and has also published the readers’ response in these columns. It transpired that 95 per cent of the grants available to the universities went into payment of salaries and other expenses and only 5 per cent was left for teaching, research and development. Also, the politicisation of the universities was rampant. At present, more meritorious students were opting for management and job-oriented courses, severely affecting admissions to basic and bio-sciences. It is widely believed that since only mediocre students with low percentage of marks joined such courses, one way to attract brilliant students towards basic and bio-sciences, the core area of higher education and socio-economic development, is to make both the government and the corporate sector to finance futuristic research and development in the universities with assured placement later. So acute is the financial crisis that despite emotional attachment to Panjab University, a section of its syndicate and senate feels that it is better to seek “Central University” status than go with a begging bowl to the political executive and bureaucrats for release of the committed 40 per cent share of grants. Against Rs 28 crore, the state gives a mere Rs 14 crore to Panjab University! The other 60 per cent is contributed by the Chandigarh Administration. If Panjab University gets the status of a Central University, its grant would double. However, a section of the syndicate and senate fear that if the university were to change its status to a Central University, it may have to axe its over 100-odd affiliated colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh. But there is no such bar on the Central Universities retaining affiliated colleges in their respective states. The question is, why should the universities continue to be burdened with affiliated colleges? Why not have a separate “affiliating” university, centrally located in Punjab, to which all existing colleges, affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University and Panjab University be transferred and given the charge of admissions, entrance and annual examinations and awarding degrees at the undergraduate level? Even the surplus teaching and non-teaching staff in the three universities can be transferred to the proposed affiliating university without any infringement of the existing separate calendars, statutes or additional expenditure. The state government has recently held a census of its employees and prepared a master manpower register. It has identified surplus staff, prepared a surplus pool and is now framing service rules to either re-deploy the surplus employees after training or offer them voluntary retirement as recruitment of new staff is banned because of the financial crunch. A similar exercise can be done in the universities to staff the affilitaing university. Already, the Centre has banned filling up non-teaching posts on retirement of employees in the universities. While the three universities and their affiliated colleges have about 20,000 teaching and non-teaching staff, 50 per cent of them would retire by 2006. The concept of corporate funding for R&D is yet to grow roots here. Fund crunch has forced the universities and colleges to jack up fee and funds. But if they raise their own resources, the government squeezes their grants further. If they do not generate own money, the government still holds back grants. Academicians suggest that the universities would breathe easy if the undergraduate colleges and courses were de-linked and also the honours schools and courses, department of correspondence studies and evening colleges shifted to the affiliating university. But in return, the government and the corporate sector must flush the “residential” universities with money, assign specific R&D targets to be achieved within a time-frame as also ensure accountability. For instance, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, could focus both on bio-sciences and social sciences. Punjabi University, Patiala, could take up research in regional languages. And Panjab University, Chandigarh, can focus on research in social and basic and bio-sciences. The “residential” universities must get adequate funding, have inter-connectivity and foster networking for co-ordinated research and avoid duplication. The costly equipment and gadgets in the three universities should have a common utility pool. These universities should also draw maximum benefits from the faculty of the Chandigarh-based central institutions as well like the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, the Institute of Microbial Technology, Punjab Engineering College etc. Recently, Indira Gandhi National Open University Vice-Chancellor H.P. Diskshit had informally suggested to Prof. K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, why not to split Panjab University into an “open” and “residential” university? Prof Dikshit, probably, had in mind two things: one, that Panjab University develop into a “Centre of excellence” and two, that the Department of Correspondence Courses could serve as a core point for the “open” university, as it had a faculty of about 70 and 150-odd non-teaching employees, who catered to nearly 15,000 students. To enable the universities re-invent themselves, it is equally imperative that these should be given a greater role in government decision-making and policy-planning. This can be made possible by taking on professors on deputation. That will bring the universities closer to the social and economic matrix and make research and development more people-oriented and relevant, be it in the field of basic and bio-science and technology, social science, professional or management-oriented courses. After all, the universities are not mere degree-awarding factories. Education and employment are certainly not synonyms. But the very presence of the universities should be made more meaningful. It is a different matter that Punjab spends just 2.2 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product on education against the Centre’s recommendation of 6 per cent. Not that the Centre spares that much percentage for education. The need is as much of radical reforms in higher education as change of mindset of the academicians, administrators, the political executive and the bureaucracy. Ironically, most of the appointments in educational institutions now are on ad hoc or contract or there is guest faculty. This absolves such faculty of all responsibilities toward students as well as academics and administrative, thereby creating a crisis, involving the question of morality and ethics. One hopes these universities, having reinvented themselves, would strive to attain international standards and recognition, which they have not, so far. This is imperative because there is no international recognition of degrees awarded by Punjab’s universities, except the one at Chandigarh, which is the oldest, established in 1882. Even the degree-holders of Indira Gandhi National Open University find it difficult to get admission in known educational institutions and in placement as well. |
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Delhi Durbar With assembly elections round the corner in Delhi, there has been intense rivalry between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP as to who really got the metro rail system going. The Prime Minister has endeavoured to end the political oneupmanship between Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and BJP’s chief ministerial aspirant Madan Lal Khurana at least on the metro mass transit rail system. Vajpayee emphasised that a metro rail system for the national system was long overdue and now that the work was apace, it should be speeded up to facilitate the people. He went on to suggest that towns and cities with a population of more than 25 lakh should have the facility of a metro system. PM in step with
hoi polloi It is rare that the country’s Prime Minister is nattily attired in designer wear. That is what Atal Bihari Vajpayee did during his recent visit to New York. For a change he got out of the formal bandgala at a function and wore a Dunhill blazer, a grey pant and a buttoned collar light grey silk shirt. It caught the fancy of those around him as well as the assemblage compelling a wag to remark that the Prime Minister is in step with the hoi polloi. Party with a
difference The party cried hoarse about its “difference” once. It was indeed different particularly in terms of discipline, but only as long as it did not taste the loaves and fishes of office. The moment the party came to power, the scramble began for the plum positions and its USP, “discipline” went for a six. The party cadre and brass, in a celebratory mood, forgot their “shram culture”. Now the party’s difference lay in its yatra in the First City. Delhi BJP president Madan Lal Khurana embarked on his 35-day yatra with a lot of fanfare and difference. The Parivartan Yatra got a good response even in the Congress stronghold — Ballimaran. And as it moved on and concluded last Tuesday, it got a different response in many Assembly segments like Shalimar Bagh and Nangloi. Obviously, the party activists believed in doing things differently. Vive la difference! Fire-eating
politician Fire-eating politician and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy believes there is a quid pro quo between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He insists that the BJP has a dosier on the numero uno of the Congress party. Similarly, the Congress is also holding on to some unsavoury information about Mr Vajpayee. Dr Swamy is of the opinion that Sonia Gandhi should not be in the electoral fray if the BJP is to be sent packing. On his part, he is pursuing the setting up of a secular, democratic Front with the Congress minus Sonia Gandhi. Dr Swamy does not think this is impractical as he is a free bird in national politics. Col Shruti Kant
bids adieu There is a famous line in T.S. Eliot’s celebrated poem “Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” which scholars find imbued with subtle meanings: “In the room women come and go/Talking of Michael Angelo”. The room we are talking about in this column is located in South Block on the Raisina Hill in Delhi from where Brigadier Shruti Kant operated for six years as head of Public Relations set up of the Indian Army. Brig Kant hung up his boots on September 30 after serving the Army for 32 long years. From his room, he managed the media publicity during the Kargil war and numerous high-profile terrorist attacks as well as anti-terrorist operations across the country. The highly decorated Brig Kant has managed Army publicity in the Gujarat and Rajasthan sectors (for four years), Jammu and Kashmir (eight years) and Delhi (six years). Before Kant joined the army in 1971, he was teaching at Hodal (Haryana) after doing his masters in Economics from Kurukshetra. Contributed by T.R. Rama- chandran, Satish Misra and Pramod Chaudhari |
You are a part of the Infinite. This is your nature. Hence you are your brother’s keeper. — Swami Vivekananda O God, there’s nothing that’s mine in me: all that’s mine belongs to Thee. When I surrender to Thee what’s Thine, what is it, that belongs to me? — Guru Gobind Singh O Son of Man! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee. — Baha’u’llah God himself is the Doer and the Deed. — Guru Nanak O Nanak, forever sing praise of the Lord It cleanses the heart and illumines the face. — Guru Arjan Dev |
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