 |
|
ON RECORD by Nirbhai Singh PATIALA'S Punjabi University is stationed in the hinterland of the Malwa region of Punjab. The fundamental aim of the university is to promote Punjabi language and culture of the region. It is to create academic atmosphere where search for truth is to be primary. Cultural and human values are to be imparted to the students and researchers. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PROFILE COMMENTS UNKEMPT
|
|||||||||||||
ON RECORD
HE came. He spoke. And he bungled. Much hope and hype was
generated from Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s
visit to India even before he landed here for the recent SAARC
Information Ministers’ conference. After all, he was the first
Pakistani Minister to set foot on the Indian soil after the failed Agra
summit. It started off well as Mr Ahmed flew to Delhi from Dubai by an
Indian Airlines flight. On Day One, he gave yet another positive signal
when he praised Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But soon he spoke
to the Press in a language which was threatening. In an interview to The
Tribune, Sheikh Ahmed made the highly objectionable remark: "I don’t
know if Vajpayee saheb is hard of hearing". Excerpts: Q: How
do you respond to Prime Minister Vajpayee’s invitation to all SAARC
member countries to join the Indian economy and not be apprehensive of
it? A: We will welcome everything that resolves issues. SAARC is
coming back to life and heads of states and governments have to decide
this in January. Here we have decided about the media on visa. When I
return to Pakistan, journalists of major media groups like the Jang and
others will ask: "What crime have we committed? Why were we denied
visa?" Q: My question was on Vajpayee’s speech at the
inaugural function of the SAARC conference on Nov 11 in which he had
asked SAARC members to join the Indian economy and not be apprehensive
of it. He had cited the example of Sri Lanka... A: You want to
bring Sri Lanka in your fold in a lying-down condition. But Pakistan
will come only on the basis of equality. Whatever quantum of business
you give to us, you take that much business from us. Q: Mr Vajpayee
also said that if you miss the bus, "other alignments" will
follow... A: We ourselves say that China and Iran should be roped
in. Q: But do you see a warning in the statement on "other
alignments", particularly when Mr Vajpayee talked about groups such
as ASEAN, BIMSTEC and EU? A: SAARC cannot be on a par with EU. You
have Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in SAARC. I mean... you know better. I
don’t want to say anything. To say that SAARC can become like EU is
wrong. We improved our relations with Bangladesh because a nation should
transform its bitterness with the other nation into love, improve the
image and forge new confidence. See what has happened from 1998
onwards. Q: How do you react to the controversy when you implied a
meeting or a conversation with Mr Vajpayee who, in turn, said there was
only a handshake? A: Achha, mujhe nahi pata agar Vajpayee saheb
ooncha sunte hon. (I see. I don’t know if Vajpayee saheb is hard of
hearing.) I simply delivered to him a short, sweet and smart message and
I did not hold back or add anything. Whatever message I got I delivered.
I told him that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali have
conveyed their warm and honest wishes to you. "Aur woh dil ki
gehrayion se aapke muntazir hain" (and that from the core of their
hearts they look forward to meeting you). I got only this much message
which I delivered in toto to Mr Vajpayee. I have shared only this much
with the Press. Q: Did Mr Vajpayee say anything in response? A:
He said "Bada waqt hai" (A lot of time is there). And when I
was asked whether Mr Vajpayee would visit Pakistan I said off the record
that the chances are fifty-fifty. He may or may not come. Q: What
about the negative fifty? Why do you think that he may not visit
Pakistan? A: Because he was not forthcoming. Q: Were you
surprised when Mr Vajpayee inaugurated the conference? A: No. I was
confident that he would come (for the inauguration). He is a mature and
polished politician. Q: Do you think Indians want improved contacts
with your people? A: I could not talk much with the people here.
But I found the media here very powerful. I went to Jama Masjid and
Nizamuddin Dargah. Yes, the people want better relations with Pakistan.
For the last 52 years, we have been duping each other. For how long we
will do this? We say something from the heart and something else from
the mind. This has been going on for decades. We should adopt a
realistic approach. Q: Isn’t the Government of India’s approach
realistic? A: Your Prime Minister wants to talk about pan-supari,
about lal mirch but not about Kashmir. That is the main problem. Q:
Then how do you keep talking about this faith in Vajpayeeji? A: We
think that Vajpayee saheb is one who can work for the benefit of both
the nations. After him there is total darkness. Q: Why do you say
this? A: Because Vajpayee is the only man who is a realist. Because
he admits that Kashmir is an issue of dispute between India and
Pakistan. Your government should say that Kashmir is an issue and talks
would begin on it 15 days later or three months later. But you should
not say that this is no issue. Q: During your stay in Delhi, you
have not raised the Kashmir issue. You have talked about it only when
asked. What is the political symbolism in it? A: In India if
someone gets to hear about Kashmir, he gets alert and asks what did you
say? When we talk of the "core issue" everyone in India knows
like the table of six what is the core issue. Q: Do you think India
is afraid to discuss Kashmir with you? A: I don’t think so. But
we have wasted time in past 50 years. Ultimately we have to cross this
bridge called Kashmir together. Let us do it. Q: The second round
of technical-level talks for resumption of air links are due to be held
in Islamabad from December 2. Both sides appear to be sticking to their
respective rigid stands. Are you hopeful? A: Hum to adiyal nahin
hain, meri jaan, aur ummeed karte hain aap bhi adiyal nahi hogein. (We
are not rigid, darling, and hope that you too would not be rigid). |
|
VC-PVC controversy affects the working PATIALA'S
Punjabi University is stationed in the hinterland of the Malwa region of Punjab. The fundamental aim of the university is to promote Punjabi language and culture of the region. It is to create academic atmosphere where search for truth is to be primary. Cultural and human values are to be imparted to the students and researchers. Unfortunately, however, these aspects are missing here. The teaching faculty is split into political groups. The Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) controversy is the natural outcome of it. It has become the talk among the academic circles. The Press and the media have not projected it in the right perspective. In fact, it is a fight between a bureaucratic system and academic freedom. Bureaucrats, military personnel, officials and other administrators claim that they can run the university without any experience of the educational institutions. So far, they had made abortive attempts in cleansing the Augean stables but had to eat humble pie at every step. Experience justifies the post of PVC. To ensure the smooth functioning of the university, the government rightly appointed PVC. The post is also aimed at checkmating the irrational and autocratic decisions of the VC. The PVC is required to make the VC conscious about the legal lacunae in the decisions taken by the university authorities. It is both decentralisation and proper use of the university calendar. If the VC turns a deaf ear to the sane advice of the PVC, then the present scene on the campus of the Punjabi University is the logical outcome. Because of this unsavoury controversy, litigation is getting multiplied against the university. The Chancellor, on the advice of the Punjab government, appointed the PVC. If the VC/Syndicate appoints the PVC, then the post shall be redundant because he will have to obey the VC’s dictates. The purpose of the post itself shall be defeated. The PVC’s post has been created to put a check on the autocratic functioning of the VC. To run the university, which is a statutory body for day-to-day functioning, both the offices of the VC and the PVC are vital. Both are required to act independently as per the rules and regulations of the university calendar to implement decisions taken by the Syndicate from time to time. However, for the smooth running of the university, both should act as independent functionaries and in close cooperation with each other for the betterment of the university. The system of checks and balances has been adopted for appointing the PVCs in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The Haryana government is also thinking seriously to revive the post of PVC. Recently, the Himachal Pradesh government has appointed Mr L.R. Verma as PVC of HP University, Shimla, to checkmate Mr S.D. Sharma, VC. Both the posts of VC and PVC are complementary. There have been disturbing news regarding the working of Punjabi University. Vice-Chancellor S.S. Boparai, since his assumption of office in August 2002, has created more problems in the university. Irregularities have been reported in the recruitment of Professors on the posts belonging to non-teaching cadres/ departments. Teaching and research have been shelved, creating a rift amongst the teachers and the non-teaching staff. The VC has kicked off controversy on the language issue and created a scene between himself and the teachers of the university departments. He peremptorily removed Dr K.S. Sidhu, Registrar, who was appointed by the Syndicate for one year and appointed his relative in his place. He sidelined the PVC by divesting him of his statutory powers. He mishanded the peaceful students’ strike against the fee hike. With the help of politicians and his coterie, he is playing the game of divide and rule to run the university with an iron hand. The university has been converted into a centre of politics and terror. In 1989, the Panthic Committee headed by Dr Sohan Singh, created similar situation on the campus by issuing an edict that was implemented by the then VC. Dr Ravinder Singh Ravi, a senior teacher leader, was killed and some other professors also got threatening letters. The university became a hotbed of terrorism. The Beant Singh government appointed Dr J.S. Paur as PVC to root out terrorism from the campus. Dr Paur’s appointment was a blessing in disguise for the university. Terrorism was banished from the campus. When Dr Puar was promoted as VC, he maintained cordial relations with Dr Rammurti Goel, PVC. The present PVC of Punjabi University, had good rapport with two previous VCs. The problem arises when the VC twists rules and regulations to oblige politicians and his sycophants. If the politicians and the government prevail upon the VC to get backdoor entries in the university, the situation gets worsened. In Punjabi University, ad hoc appointments are made through political pressure. With a bureaucratic temperament, the VC wants to get rid of the academic PVC to have a free hand. The VC of Rohtak’s Maharshi Dayanand University, who is an ex-Army officer, has recently removed a teacher, Dr Himat Singh Ratnoo, from the membership of the Academic Council for pointing out irregularities committed by him (VC). He was also suspended on flimsy grounds. The basic issue is to democratise and redefine the functions of the university bodies and their
functionaries. The writer is Senior Fellow, Indian Council for Social Science Research, New Delhi |
PROFILE
A bachelor, Hazare has two missions in life; fighting corrupt politicians and officials and ensuring socio-economic transformation of villages. His native village — Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmed Nagar — epitomises Gandhian vision of a self-sufficient unit. He is prepared to go to any length — he would not mind staking his life — in his crusade against corruption. He had taken up cudgels against the high and the mighty and in the ensuing struggle, he was slapped with false cases. He went to jail but in the end, he had his way. Observing fast unto death is another weapon used by Hazare to exercise his moral pressure on the establishment to act against corrupt elements. He believes the corridors of power breed corruption and says “Delhi, India's capital, comes high on the list”. Hazare espouses changes in the education system to enable the child grow in a healthy atmosphere. With schools and colleges accepting bribes in the form of donations, what do you expect of a child?, he asks. Also, he feels that that the Official Secrets Act is a weapon overused and enables the government to push under the carpet any misdeed. This Act has to be scrapped. Anna also feels that the right to information should be made a fundamental right of every citizen. “We need a certain time-frame for access to information”, he says. He also calls for devolution of more power at the village level. Now 65, Hazare has come up in life the hard way. He had to leave school after Standard VII even though he wanted to study further as the family plunged into huge debt. He had to leave his native village — Ralegan Siddhi — to join his uncle in Mumbai. There was a time when staying with his uncle he set up a flower stall and did reasonable well. Come 1962 war with China, the patriotism in him sparkled and he joined the army. A short course of rigorous training and he was detailed with the Supply Corps as a truck driver. He saw yet another war — the clash with Pakistan in 1965 — and had a close brush with death. While driving his truck in a convoy, carrying supplies in the Khemkaran Sector, Anna and his colleges were attacked by Sabre jets of Pakistani Air Force, leaving most of them dead or grievously injured. Anna’s vehicle too was badly hit and the Jawan sitting next to him had his leg blown off. Anna miraculously escaped; only a
shrapnel grazed his head. Hazare considered this incident as a second birth for him but yet another event changed the course of his life. During his stint in the Army, as he himself admits, he was overcome by the urge to seek meaning in life and not finding an answer, he was driven to despondency and, at one stage, even thought of committing suicide. He went to Delhi Railway Station and planned to be overrun by a speeding train but providence had will otherwise. As he was desperately loitering on the platform, his attention was drawn to a book on the life of Swami Vivekananda. He read the book without break and the message contained therein had gone home: “A man’s life cannot be called a life if it is totally bereft of service to the humanity”. He opted for voluntary retirement and with a modest pension returned to his native village with the avowed objective of serving the community. His tryst with destiny began at Relegan Siddhi in 1975. What he saw appalled him — a drought prone area having only 80 of its 2,200 arable acres under cultivation. The 2000-strong population sat and stared at a hopeless future. Children died early, men beat their wives, disease ran rampant and the only business that yielded some income were the liquor vends. It took 20 years of hard and dedicated work for Anna to entirely change the face of his native village. No one starves now and look well nourished. There is no disease, the environment is clean with plenty of forests around, children go to school, the farm economy is blooming and there are no social divisions. Women are empowered and no longer beaten by their drunken husbands. Anna Hazare wishes all villages in India to become like his native place. Will his dream come true in his life time? |
|
COMMENTS UNKEMPT BELONGING, as I do, to the largest constituency in India, that of the common man, I have a vested interest in what’s being done to help them meet their problems. Within that vast constituency is another, of senior citizens. Their membership, too, I have achieved effortlessly. Recently I’ve had hands-on experience of the working of two vital arms of public service — a High Court and a large private hospital. In both the citizen often remains bewildered, knowing little of where to go and what to do. A few years ago a person with a case could walk into a High Court, check the courtroom where the case was to be heard and go in. Today ‘security’ ordains there must be a pass whose form must be obtained from a lawyer and then there’s the reception office with long jostling queues. Next there’s the snaking queue before the entrance where the litigant is nodded in through a metal detector, is frisked and things like handbags are disallowed. Mobiles are taken away which is a thoroughly good rule. Many people are not aware of what’s allowed and what isn’t and there’s confusion. Once in there’s no solemnity, with hundreds of lawyers and litigants keeping the hall alive with conversation and greetings. Inside a courtroom time is no longer one’s own. The list number of the case is only a vague indication of when it might come up. It may be three or four hours later or not at all that day. So there’s nothing but to wait as matters surface. Most of them are not settled, there’s usually some flaw in the papers and a next date is set, sometimes for three or four months ahead. The litigant is often aghast but the lawyers are unfazed by the dismay of their clients. The court’s bulldozer grinds on. Large slabs of files are shouldered in and out by attendants. How they turn up again at the right time and place is a mystery. In fact they often don’t, whereupon the case is stalled and a search ordered. In modern buildings the courtroom doors should be double ones where the first could shut off the noise of the lobby and the second give entry to the courtroom. In reality there’s only one and soon as the door opens, which is innumerable times, hum and buzz rush in and it’s difficult to follow the proceedings. Lawyers and their assistants are anxious to know when their case will come up and their movement is continuous. Again there is no solemnity and close attention is impossible. For the uninitiated, however, the process is full of education. He sees how halting and inept advocates can often be, except when the judge turns firm; how easily and carelessly adjournments are handed out. ‘Unwell’ seems a perfect pass on word. If the judge hectors the lawyers move otherwise the proceedings slide. The black-robed lawyers look like hawks, crows or beetles depending on the mood of the client. Hospitals are sadder places because they are wrapped in pain and suffering. Government hospitals are impossible except for those desperate. The sick are often brought from miles away. Private hospitals are expensive and there seems no middle ground except for institutions like the Rural Medical Centre run by a friend at Saidulajaib village in Mehrauli. If there is a list of similar people-oriented hospitals I don’t know and I’ve not seen one with the facilities available and approximate cost. Some MNCs which run hospitals, on the other hand, like Dr Max, have beautifully turned out brochures with explanations. Barring in expensive private hospitals one is overwhelmed by the crush of people, many of them anxious and lost. One information counter with, at the most, two attendants, is completely inadequate and so whoever wears a uniform is collared with question. The signposting is poor and ambiguous so that even the well-educated can’t easily find their way. Why is it that private hospitals which charge so much and government hospitals with grants cannot have more staff to help people reach the right destination? Are there hospital committees with members from the public? Do such members ever walk in unannounced? Are there professional bodies to regulate fees and charges and see there is no fleecing? Senior citizens now have some advantages but they are few. Governments and PSUs give rebates in fares but often that is hemmed in with conditions. Private organisations are usually less considerate. Sometimes, however, bodies set up by citizens do something to fill the vacuum. Resident associations or some shops look after the payment of electricity, telephone and water bills for a small fee. The famous ‘para’ (Mohalla) clubs in Kolkata step in to help the aged. Camps are held for removing cataracts or for heart check-ups. Where this happens it is a blessing and high praise for the young leaders who organise such help. But will we ever reach the level that a cousin of mine has just described? Married to a Swiss she has lived almost 50 years in Switzerland. Her children have all grown up and live apart though ties are still close. She and her husband have just bought a small flat in a complex where there was clinics, nursing stations, hospitals, restaurants, recreation rooms and gyms. Help in emergencies is at the end of the telephone. When my cousin and her husband grow older there are old people’s homes in the complex to which they can be moved. If they feel restless there are, for them, annual tickets which are valid in trains, buses, underground trains and steamers with seats guaranteed. So much less to worry about, so much more confidence about the future. |
|
DIVERSITIES —
DELHI LETTER PRESIDENT A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has decided not to host Iftar party this Ramzan. Like the previous year, he has decided to use the money which he would have spent on hosting that evening get-together on disadvantaged children. The money would be spent on these children's clothing “sweaters from Ludhiana”, food and books. Programmes alone not enough November 14 was absolutely tight. The much-hyped Trade Fair opened. There were too many functions lined up for the children and for the diabetic of the city as the day was also officially marked for those in the two categories. But holding a series of awareness-related programmes is not enough. Where is the back-up bandobast? Where is social security? Where is the medical infrastructure? Let me not forget to mention the traffic snarls which can even trigger an heart attack if nothing else. For this year's Trade Fair, care is being taken to decongest traffic from the very gates and roads leading to the venue of this fair — Pragati Maidan. Another reason for these de-congestion efforts is that Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit’s official residence lies opposite the Pragati Maidan and that heavy traffic could cause security problems. UN Day of Tolerance I often wonder why is there just one single day allocated for such intensely ongoing sentiments like “tolerance”. Anyway, the ways and patterns of the United Nations seem so very helpless and routine. And for this day of “tolerance” (November 16), the United Nations Information Centre, in collaboration with UNESCO and Poetry Society of India, has invited some of our best known writers to speak out and read poetic verse or prose. As a curtain-raiser to the Day of Tolerance, writers like H.K. Kaul, Kunwar Narain, K. Satchidanandan, Ajeet Cour, Urvashi Butalia, Sujatha Mathai, Geetanjali Shree, K. Jayakumar and Bulbul Sharma would be reading on tolerance on November 14. Harassment of Mallika At a citizens’ meet in support of the noted artist Mallika Sarabhai, who is said to be hounded by the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat for the secular stand she has taken on the communal riots in Ahmedabad, bureaucrat-turned social activist Harsh Mander said, “during the Emergency saner voices were being threatened, but the situation continues even today when officially there is no Emergency, yet people are being harassed and threatened...” Needless for me to mention the latest case of how the leading journalists of The Hindu have been made victims of the government’s ire. At another discussion on whether to introduce the Uniform Civil Code at the India International Centre, the well-known sociologist Professor Imtiaz Ahmad commented to the audience on the lack or absence of uniformity in other spheres. He said “Where is uniformity in other spheres? Even in a place like the IIC, there is an obvious lack of uniformity. Why I say this? For, at the IIC,
Divali is celebrated in full form, for Christmas there are some little decorations but there are no celebrations for Eid! So where’s the uniformity?...” Brazil President Liuz Inacio Lula Da Silva will be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations in January next. He will also hold talks with the top brass here. Till date there hasn’t been much focus on Brazil which is primarily known for its soccer players. Now other aspects loom large. When I commented on the rather too long a name of the Brazilian President, an embassy official said “You can call him Lula for he is known as President Lula”. Some way of getting close, thawing if you please!” |
The learned be friendly and the holy words and thought be the source of universal peace and happiness. — Rigveda The devotees of God are ever in bliss. —
Guru Nanak We are the light that illumines all the Bibles and Christs that ever were. Without that, these would be dead to us, not living. — Swami Vivekananda We directly perceive the truth, we do not reason it out; for the truth of the reason itself is ultimately directly perceived and not by another reason. — Shri Shankaracharya |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
WHEN anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare filed a public interest litigation in Bombay High Court two months back, he never thought that it would prove a major turning point in the Rs.3,000-crore stamp paper scam. He suspected the stamp racket to be a big one but never thought that so many officials would be involved in it. His in-built instinct as a fighter against graft motivated him to file the PIL as, he thought the trend was extremely dangerous from social and national perspective. Hazare’s instinctive feeling has come literally true as Mumbai’s Police Commissioner R.S. Sharma has proceeded on leave. The roots of the racket appear to have gone much deeper; beyond the boundaries of Maharashtra. He says, “My legal team is keeping a close watch on further developments”.