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Wednesday,
October
8, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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Assembly polls ahead Roadmap for the mind Making it fast |
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IAF must become a strategic arm
Sore heads
Punjabi-Canadians’ impressive win
Pakistan: a setback to
democratic movement
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Assembly polls ahead THE
political significance of the elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi, to be held on December 1, and Mizoram on November 20 has got magnified by the prevailing situation in the country. These will have a bearing not only on the fortunes of political incumbents in the five states but almost the entire country. The Congress is the ruling party in four of the five and it is imperative for it to try to stick to power somehow. If it is unable to neutralise the anti-incumbency factor and other such influences, the party will have a lot to pay. Particularly important for it is the election in Delhi, which happens to be a mini-India and an exceptionally prestigious citadel. Interestingly, not even one state can be called a safe bet for the Congress. Madhya Pradesh has been considered his pocket borough by Mr Digvijay Singh till recently but he is not quite immune to vagaries of elections. The reverses in the recent byelections in Kerala and Maharashtra too have the Congress worried. For these very reasons, the BJP too has staked its all on the forthcoming elections with electoral uncertainties equally staring it in the face. The contest is crucial for Mrs Sonia Gandhi as well. Her presidentship will get a stamp of authenticity only if she leads her party to victory. It will no longer be possible to explain away any undesirable results by citing local factors as was done during the byelections. But a failure in these elections could cost her a great deal. These elections are a precursor to the Lok Sabha poll scheduled for next year. Which way the wind blows in November and December will give some indication about the political weather next year. Not only will the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections hinge on the state elections to a great extent, even the dates may depend on the Assembly election results. If the BJP gives a good account of itself, there are chances that the elections may be held in March. There has been a lot of debate on this issue for long and it was only the intervention of the Prime Minister which stopped the votaries of the March elections in their tracks. They will be emboldened once again if the states favour the BJP. If that does not happen, the elections may be on time in October. While there is uncertainty regarding the dates, it is more or less certain that the election will not be fought on the issues of “lack of development” and “poor governance” alone. Contentious issues like Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, Ram temple and terror may be brought centre-stage. Here is hoping that all the tension that these are bound to generate will not translate into communal hatred and bloodshed. |
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Roadmap for the mind TWO-thirds of the
brain surface, or cortex, lies buried in a mass of folds and fissures. Neuroscientists had a tough time treating brain disorders or brain-related malfunctioning of body parts without adequate tools for reaching the spot where most of the information processing takes place. However, the introduction of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique has made a substantial contribution in reducing the level of stress among surgeons and making diagnosis and treatment less painful and traumatic for patients. The two scientists who gave to the medical fraternity this amazingly efficient tool have rightly been chosen for this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine. Both Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield deserve a special round of applause for placing in the hands of surgeons and doctors a technique that helps them see the inside of the body through non-invasive methods. MRI scan is a radiology technique that uses a series of powerful magnets, radio waves and computer to map the inside of the human body. To borrow a term from the hugely popular sci-fi television serial "Star Trek" it has taken doctors "where no man has gone before". Of course, neurosurgeons have a special reason to be pleased with the the world's top medicine prize being given to the founders of the MRI technique. It is particularly useful in mapping the extremely delicate areas of the brain and the spinal cord. But the technique has wider applications. It can provide a roadmap not just of the brain but the entire human body. It has been recognised as an extremely accurate method of disease detection throughout the body. However, given the level of medical efficiency in India at least the literate section of the population should know about situations in which the patient should not be made to undergo an MRI scan. The technique uses powerful magnets - so powerful that they can wrench out embedded metallic pieces from inside the body. Patients with artificial heart valves, metallic ear implants, bullet fragments, metal chips for holding broken or dislocated bones and chemotherapy or insulin pumps should not have MRI scanning. However, in overall terms Lauterbur and Mansfield have given to mankind a versatile tool for a thorough body check. The good news is that scientists are now busy developing new range of small and portable scanners. These would be helpful in detecting infections and tumours of the soft tissues of the hand, feet, elbows and knees. In the Indian context, the smaller and compact scanners should make the task of upgrading medical facilities in remote and rural areas easier. |
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Making it fast UNDUE delays, cost overruns and sloppy implementation have long been the bane of India’s economic programme. In the absence of a professional approach, over 540 projects in 15 sectors including railways, power and urban development are lagging far behind their schedule. Consequently, according to official figures, the original costs of these projects have risen by Rs 41,307 crore. Railways and power account for the bulk of the cost overruns and slippage. Against this background, the achievement of Delhi Metro is noteworthy. The inauguration of the 4.5-km Tis Hazari-Trinagar section by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shows the unique approach of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in executing and completing Phase II of the ambitious project in record time. Of special mention is the least inconvenience caused to the public or the traffic during the Delhi Metro work. Technology has improved and several innovations have of late been introduced in construction activity by private companies. Considering the fact that our public sector enterprises have miserably failed to meet the targets in project implementation, there is a need to emulate the Delhi Metro model in all other sectors. Such is the concern and anxiety of Delhi Metro officials that a “reverse countdown clock” constantly reminds them of the target day and the financial burden it would impose in the event of their failure to meet the deadline. For instance, Mr E. Sreedharan, Managing Director of DMRC and the chief architect of Delhi Metro, has said that if a project got delayed even by a day, the loss would be Rs 2.3 crore! Given the examples set by other public sector units, it is doubtful whether the project execution authorities have ever been so concerned about cost overruns. Not that the Centre (and the states) are unaware of the tardy execution of projects. Several committees have studied the problem. The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has also brought out a report on the pending projects. But most recommendations have remained on paper. The major reason for delays is the lackadaisical attitude on the part of the officials and the staff who lack motivation, commitment or accountability in the system. Most of the delays in civil works are either in land acquisition, receipt of supply equipment, award of contracts or finalisation of design/ technology. As the Delhi Metro has proved, these delays can be cut if the staff are guided by a new work ethic. Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.
— Mao Zedong |
IAF must become a strategic arm THE Indian Air Force, the fourth largest and battle-proven air force of the world, has reached this status despite severe problems in terms of acquisitions and in dealing with bureaucrats and politicians. India is basically a non-aviator country with a character which is by and large clerical. These two facets have singularly contributed dearly to the exchequer. What greater example can there be in this context than the ongoing acquisition of the Advanced Jet Trainer, a deal that could have been cleared at a very meagre sum 18 years ago. This is apart from the irreparable loss of life due to the lack of the desired training facility. The advanced air forces of the world have more than two-thirds of its fleet of high technology aircraft and the balance of medium technology. As against this, the IAF can at best claim to have one-third of its operational fleet of high technology and the remaining two-thirds of low technology and obsolescence with a sprinkling of medium technology. Despite seven decades since its birth, the IAF continues to be tactical in nature with aspirations of becoming a strategic arm. Who is responsible for this malady? Surely not the Air Force. Each successive Chief has tried his utmost to transform our tactical Air Force into a strategic one. Sadly, the powers-that-be have not understood the necessity for the same and consequently the lack of the much-needed operational prowess. India cannot continue to nurture its national security while being purely Pakistan-centric. We have to look far beyond our immediate borders and prepare for all eventualities. Therefore, the need for our Air Force to transform into a strategic force is inescapable if national security is to be our hallmark. The kind of threats that may materialise in the future need no elucidation, as it is common knowledge and frequently written about. This obviously will entail a large financial outlay but it is unavoidable if we are to address ourselves pragmatically. Many more state-of-the-art acquisitions are needed, and it would be a folly if we are day-dreaming on achieving it through indigenisation. Past experience has proved that such propositions result in delays that are totally unacceptable in terms of time and money. The LCA is a case in point. While HAL and other agencies involved in the indigenisation and self-sufficiency programmes need to be encouraged and given a shot in the arm, it cannot be looked at in isolation. Its direct impact on the Air Force in the short-and-long-terms need to be critically analysed before embarking on the same. It must be the cardinal principle of the government never to compromise on the operational potential, no matter what the cost is. The other crucial areas relate to spares for the aircraft and the defence budget. The story in respect of the former is a sad commentary as we still have not achieved self-sufficiency in the much-needed spares for our fleet. Our dependence on foreign countries in respect of spares has a detrimental effect on our operational serviceability and viability. While prioritising our indigenisation programme, far greater emphasis needs to be given to this particular facet. An unbiased study needs to be undertaken by the government to assess the achievements in the self-sufficiency programme in a fair manner, keeping the national interest in mind and without any other consideration. India has no shortage of skilled manpower to take care of its aspirations and, therefore, a critical review should be undertaken by specialists to establish the reason for our not achieving self-sufficiency. Associating generalists in large numbers as against specialists in defence matters that are operationally critical is not prudent and needs to be remedied. As far as the latter is concerned, the Five-Year-Plans have not been even remotely adequate for the requirement of the Services. The inability of the government to indicate to the respective Services the kind of finances they would have during the plan period or for that matter, over the next fifteen years, creates a severe handicap in making a long-term projection or perspective plan. Most of the Five-Year-Plans have really resulted in only an annual allocation of money, creating severe impediments in the Plans to be made by Service Headquarters, resulting occasionally in the surrender of unutilised funds. The government needs to realise that Service Headquarters cannot be expected to formulate a pragmatic long-term perspective plan unless it is given the wherewithal in terms of a financial commitment over the desired period. Like the model being followed in advanced countries, the bureaucrats and politicians, whose services are being utilised in the Ministry of Defence, must be given repeated orientation capsules with the armed forces so that they are able to comprehend the requirements, the prerequisites for fighting potential, its aspirations and motivations, etc. These need to be clearly understood by the people who wield the power and sit in judgement. In the absence of such a culture, it is only the armed forces and the nation that suffer and eventually pay a heavy price. In all fairness, it cannot be denied that the present government has tried to meet the requirements of the Air Force. I sincerely hope that the motivation in this regard will not slow down as time passes. It does not take a genius to know that “might is right” and that India has been a victim of a lack of military prowess in many ways since Independence. The low-cost war and terrorism at the behest of Pakistan against India more than proves our need to be militarily stronger so that it acts as a detriment to such rogue states from resorting to inhuman methods against us. Time and experience have shown that in order to attain economic stability and the desired levels of growth, deterrence becomes a necessity. The Air Force comprises the highest technology and consequently its requirements are not purely the state-of-the-art equipment that it imports but also the educational level and quality of the inductees to be able to cope with the same. In most developed countries, the top level of the student population opts for the Air Force, whereas in India we would be fortunate even if the lower-middle level opted for the IAF. Studies carried out by the Air Force have repeatedly indicated that the armed forces, the Air Force in particular, are not the forte of the upper strata of the student community. The private sector, the Indian Foreign Service, the Indian Administrative Service, etc, are far more attractive for them. The Indian armed forces are remembered during the time of war and forgotten immediately thereafter. Not all projects are plagued with unacceptable delays. During the time when I was the Chief, my proposal for the induction of women in all branches starting with the administrative branch was cleared in a record time of less than three months. This was possible because of the active support of the then Defence Minister and the Defence Secretary, Mr Sharad Pawar and Mr N.N. Vohra, respectively. This decision has paid rich dividends to us as the performance of our women has been creditable in their respective fields of
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Sore heads THE next time you suffer from a splitting headache you may comfort yourself with the thought that you are probably a highly intelligent person. So thinks a professor of medicine, who should know what he is talking about. I was reading an article by him appearing in a foreign magazine the other day. He was analysing “the problems of the headache” his theory being that the perfectionist, the ambitious and the intelligent are more prone to headaches than are people of average intelligence. Severe frustration, he said, was the commonest cause of the complaint. As examples of famous migraine sufferers he mentioned Napoleon and Hitler. He did not say, however, if the actions of these two highly ambitious men gave rise to corresponding pains in the heads of their highly intelligent adversaries, the Duke of Wellington and Winston Churchill. But he made some other interesting observations that provide one with food for thought. Women, in his opinion, tend to suffer from headaches more than men. Does this mean, I wonder, that women, on the whole, are more intelligent, more ambitious and more perfection-seeking than men? As to intelligence, I have not the slightest doubt that women are superior to men. The first woman in the world, when she was asked by her Creator, why she had tasted the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden promptly blamed the serpent for tempting her instead of confessing to a weakness for nibbling in between meals. And who but a woman Prime Minister (Indira Gandhi) could deal so adroitly with her political opponents both inside and outside her own party? In regard to ambition I have my doubts. Despite their superior intelligence, women are apt to lose their heads, literally and metaphorically, in the pursuit of power. Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn, Mary Queen of Scots, Madame Du Barry and, in our own land, Raziya Sultana are examples of women who brought disaster upon themselves and others because they were unable to resist mixing favouritism with politics. There are exceptions, of course. Elizabeth I of England had her favourites but she also had the good sense to have their heads chopped off before she became too involved with them, an accomplishment which enabled her to fool posterity into believing that she was England’s one and only Virgin Queen. When it comes to perfectionism the honours seem to be equally divided if you accept the maxim that no one can be perfect in an imperfect world, I will say, though, that in aiming at this women evince far more practical wisdom than men. When a man gets married, for example, he expects his wife to be a cheerful companion, an excellent cook, an expert laundress, an intellectual equal, a good mother and a tireless and ageless nymph who begins to fall from grace the moment she puts on a bit of weight or shows a strand or two of grey hair. He then develops a roving eye, forgetting that his wife’s growing shapelessness may be due to the large number of children she has borne him. In contrast to this somewhat unreasonable attitude, it is pleasing to find that as a man becomes older, balder and bulkier his wife’s regard for him increases rather than
diminishes.
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Punjabi-Canadians’ impressive win
PUNJABI-Canadians owing allegiance to Ontario Liberals could not have asked for more. All three of them — Dr Kuldip Kular, Mr Vic Dhillon and Mr Harinder Takhar — have found their way into the Ontario Provincial Assembly by recording impressive wins in the just concluded elections. The results have reaffirmed Liberals’ dominance among immigrants in general and ethnic minorities in particular. In all, 11 Punjabi-Canadians were in the fray and fortunately all three who contested on the Liberal ticket were successful while the rest, including Parliamentary Secretary in the outgoing Tories (Progressive Conservative) Government, Mr Raminder Gill, were defeated. All the three winners are prominent professionals, a trend which was witnessed in the last assembly elections of British Columbia where all six successful Punjabi-Canadians are also established professionals. Liberals have won 72 seats in the House of 103. It remains to be seen whether any of the three is taken in the Council of Ministers or appointed parliamentary secretary in the new government. In all, eight candidates from ethnic minorities, including two of Pakistani origin, have been elected to the Ontario Assembly against three last time. Ethnic minorities comprise 19 per cent population of Ontario. Mr Raminder Gill was the firt Sikh to sit in Ontario Assembly in 1999. This time all the three elected members are Sikhs. In British Columbia, where Punjabi-Canadians are among a dominant ethnic minority, Liberals are on the top as they had thrown out the New Democratic Party government headed by an immigrant, Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, in the provincial elections in 2001. At present, British Columbia has six Punjabi-Canadians representing the ruling Liberals. Even in the House of Commons, two Punjabi-Canadians are in the ruling federal Liberals. One of them — Mr Herb Dhaliwal — is a Minister while the other, Mr Gurbax Singh Malhi, is a Parliamentary Secretary. It is after continuous triumph of Punjabi immigrants in mainstream politics that the Canadian government has agreed to establish a Consulate in Chandigarh which will be formally inaugurated by the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jeane Chretien, on October 24. During his three-day visit to India, he will spend two days in Punjab and Chandigarh as he intends to visit the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on the Diwali day. Mr Chretien is expected to retire in February next year as Liberal delegates have chosen his former Finance Minister, Mr Paul Martin, as the new leader of Liberals Parliamentary Party. In the previous Ontario Assembly, there was only one Punjabi-Canadian, Mr Raminder Gill, who lost this time to Dr Kuldip Kular, a practicing physician, in the Punjabi-dominated Bramalea-Malton-Gore-Springdale riding (constituency). Dr Kular and his wife Jessie have been living in Brampton for the last 17 years. They have raised their four children in the community while operating a successful family and sports medicine clinic. Dr Kular immigrated to Canada from Punjab in 1974. He obtained his medical degree from Guru Nanak Dev University and did two years of residency training in paediatrics at the IWK Hospital for Sick Children (Dalhousie University) in Halifax. Dr Kular worked in the Canadian Armed Forces Hospital in Halifax before moving to Campbellton, New Brunswick, where he spent eight years in family practice until his final move to Brampton in 1986. Dr Kular has been a long-standing member of the Canadian Medical Association and the Ontario Medical Association, as well as being one of the founding and life members of the Northern Indian Medical and Dental Association of Canada. He has ben active in Can-Sikh Association also. Another Punjabi-Canadian to make it to Ontario Assembly is Mr Vic Dhillon, also from Brampton. After graduating from high school, he earned a degree in Business Administration and was instrumental in establishing a family-owned business in Mississauga. Mr Dhillon has been in active politics as he remained employed as an executive assistant to Ms Colleen Beaumier, a federal Liberal MP from Brampton West-Mississauga, for over nine years. Mr Dhillon and his wife Shaminder are popular in the Punjabi community of Brampton for their community service. The third Punjabi-Canadian to get into Ontario Assembly this time is a business executive, Mr Harinder Takhar. He is the owner and CEO of the Chalmers Group of Companies. In 1995, the Financial Post recognised him among Canada’s top 100 best-managed private companies. In 1999, Chalmers received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as well as the “Award of Excellence” from the Mississauga Board of Trade. In 2001, Takhar received the Community Service Award from the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario “for demonstrating selflessness and kindness for the benefit of the community.” He has become a vocal advocate of wiser healthcare spending. He supports an increase in the number of doctors for a more dependable healthcare system. Recently, he was appointed chairman of the Credit Valley Hospital. Takhar and his wife Balwinder have lived in Mississauga for 27 years where they have raised two daughters. Those who lost this time are Mr Raminder Gill, Ms Neena Tangri, Mr Baljit Gosal, Mr Kuldip Singh Sodhi, Mr Sanjeev Goel, Mr Robert Sabharwal, Mr Karnail Singh and Ms Saroj Bains. Mr Karnail Singh and Ms Saroj Bains, who contested as Independents, polled a few hundred votes each. |
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Pakistan: a setback to
democratic movement
THE movement for democracy in Pakistan suffered a major setback in the last week of September. It lost one of its leading lights, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, known as the Jayaprakash Narayan of Pakistan. His demise has put a question mark over the future of the non-religious opposition front, the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), comprising Ms Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party and Mr Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League. At 85, he was a human dynamo. There is no one in the Opposition ranks who can easily be a replacement for the Nawabzada. Though his parent organisation has been a one-man show, it did not affect his enviable stature. He played a central role in keeping alive the 15-party ARD. He was the most experienced politician in Pakistan, who had taken part in the struggle for Independence. He had to undergo jail terms because of his crusade against the Army’s role in politics, but this could not deter him from the path he had chosen. Despite his advanced age, he remained an effective negotiator till his end. Recently he had met Mr Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah and Ms Benazir Bhutto in London — the two former prime ministers living in exile — to extract an undertaking from them that in future they would never indulge in vendetta politics. This had further strengthened the ARD. It was mainly this kind of politics which paved the way for the return of Army rule under Gen Pervez Musharraf. The Nawabzada, however, never spared the two former prime ministers when they were in power. He criticised them for their dictatorial style of functioning. He was the moving spirit behind the Grand National Alliance (GNA), formed during Mr Nawaz Sharif’s rule to expose the then Prime Minister’s dirty designs. He loved playing his role as an opposition leader, considering it as his democratic duty. If he worked tirelessly to prevent Mr Sharif from functioning in a dictatorial manner, he refused to compromise with the ruling General on two basic issues: the Legal Framework Order (LFO) and the Pakistan President continuing to don the cap of the Chief of Army Staff. He argued that the LFO had no constitutional sanctity unless ratified by the National Assembly (Pakistan’s parliament) and the General had no right to wear the Army uniform after he had secured the referendum as President. Some time ago he had brought all the major opposition groups together when he successfully organised an all-party conference with the support of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). This is unlikely to happen again now that he is not on the scene. In fact, the future of the ARD itself is in jeopardy. The MMA may, therefore, remain the only effective opposition front. The growing popularity of the religious parties — running the state governments in the NWFP and Baluchistan — is a serious threat to the General’s survival in power. Yet the anti-Musharraf drive cannot remain as strong as it was when the Nawabzada was alive.
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O Nanak, forever sing praise of the Lord It cleanses the heart and illumines the face. — Guru Arjan Dev God Himself is the Creator and the Cause. — Guru Nanak As an eagle, weary after soaring in the sky, folds its wings and flies down to rest in its nest, so does the shining Self enter the state of dreamless sleep, where one is freed from all desires. — Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad God is not external to anyone, but is present with all things, though they are ignorant that He is so. — Plotinus O Son of Spirit! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me; for it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved alone and above all that is. — Baha’u’llah |
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