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Terror:
Pak playing a double game
Profile Reflections Diversities — Delhi Letter
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Dr Narendra Nath Wig is a noted psychiatrist. Currently a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, he is a Fellow of India’s National Academy of Medical Science. He is also a member of the WHO Advisory Panel on Mental Health. The Royal College of Psychiatrists bestowed upon him the Honorary Fellowship, the college’s highest award. Dr Nath’s free clinic at Lajpat Bhawan in Chandigarh is doing yeoman service to the cause of mental health. He is the author of the book, Joy of Mental Health. In an interview to The Sunday Tribune, he elucidates his vision of mental health. Excerpts: Q: Is mental health different from physical health? A: The division between mental health and physical health is artificial. In modern medicine, this perhaps started with the writings of Rene Des-Cartes, the great French Philosopher of 17th century, who emphasised the separation between body and mind. Health as an entity is comprehensive and total. Without a healthy body there cannot be a healthy mind. Similarly, a disturbed mind will disturb all functions of body. Nowadays, it is convenient to think of mental health problems separately because all modern medical services and training programmes are organised that way. All medical conditions where either the symptoms are psychological or when the symptoms are physical but the causes are psychological will be regarded as mental health problems. Q: Is the incidence of mental illnesses increasing in recent years? If so, what are the reasons? A: When you say mental illnesses are increasing, it depends on how you define a mental illness. If your definition is wide and includes all symptoms related to psycho-social stress, the number of people suffering from mental disorders will go up. If you consider only illnesses related to biological factors, the number will come down. The incidence of hardcore mental illnesses with biological basis like psychosis (earlier called insanity) has not changed much while stress-related mental disorders like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobia, alcoholism, drug dependence have all increased. The increase has been particularly in urban areas, slums, among migrants, refugees etc. Stress-related disorders are also seen more among youth and women who have to bear more of social stress. As more people are now reaching old age, mental disorders of old age like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and depression are also increasing. Q: How can we cope with the increasing mental health problems with limited resources? A:
It is a difficult task. The load is indeed large. The World Health Organisation has estimated that roughly one in four of us (25 per cent), sometime in life from birth till death will develop mental health problems requiring help. Depressive disorders alone now constitute the second biggest health burden, next only to heart diseases. The solution lies in mobilising and reorganising all our resources. The first step is to encourage awareness among public about the importance of mental health in life. Secondly, stigma and prejudice associated with mental disorders should be reduced. The media can help in this regard. There is no reason why a broken limb or a heart disease should be considered a socially superior illness deserving sympathy while an anxiety disorder or depression is regarded socially inferior in which a sufferer has to be avoided and isolated. In mental health services, one of the biggest breakthroughs during the last 30 years has been the concept of community mental health. Essentially, it implies that treatment of mentally illness should not be confined to large psychiatric institutions away from the public. Mental health treatment should be available in the community where people live and ordinary doctors should treat common mental disorders and health persons who should be given special training for this. Q: Why can’t we have more free mental health clinics like yours? A:
Apart from me, other people are also extending free voluntary mental health service at religious and other places. They need to be recognised. Yes, there is need for more voluntary free services by top specialists. It is unfair to leave the patients at the mercy of overcrowded government hospitals or at the whim of busy private practitioners. Q: How can families help members cope with mental illness? A: Families are important for the care of the mentally ill in India where there are very few mental health specialists, mental health services or hospital beds outside big cities. Families must shed the stigma and prejudice associated with mental disorders. Patients with serious mental illness should be treated at an early stage. Otherwise, the course of the disease becomes prolonged and chronic. Modern medical treatment has more to offer in a serious mental disorder than any other alternative medical system at present. Hence it should not be delayed. In mild cases of day-to-day stress, it is not necessary to rush to mental health specialists unless the symptoms are serious. In such situations, senior family members must provide more emotional support and counselling by spending more time with patients, by listening to and sharing their concerns. The family is to teach the young, the value of a healthy and balanced lifestyle from an early age. Q: What is your vision of the future of mental health in India? A: The benefits of modern scientific psychiatry must reach all sections of society; rich and poor, urban and rural, men and women. At present the availability of services is very limited, uneven and unfair. It must be increased particularly for the benefit of weaker sections in our country. Secondly, modern psychiatry is too heavily based on the European model of thinking and treatment. We in India have perhaps thought about the functions and the working of the human mind more than any other culture. We must evolve systems of psychological treatment more suited to our people. Traditional Indian systems like Yoga or meditation must have a greater role in Indian mental health services.
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Loan waivers when coffers are empty? THE Amarinder Singh government’s proposal to write off bank loans to small farmers in Punjab is being perceived as yet another poll plank of the ruling Congress to woo the farmers’ votes in the forthcoming Assembly elections. In 1987, the then Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal made this issue an important plank of his election campaign in Haryana. Consequently, he badly mauled the ruling Congress at the hustings. Taking a cue from the Haryana experience, other states like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh followed suit. But the Reserve Bank of India scuttled the move. Of course, the cooperatives, being under the control of the state governments, could not escape from the politicians’ designs. Interestingly, the Punjab government has included in its remission agenda even the loans borrowed from agencies like the Punjab Backward Classes Finance Corporation, little bothering that these loans are at concessional rate of interest and payable on easy instalments. Together with the insurance cover against fire and theft, provision of rephasement,
postponement of recovery and even further loans in case of drought are all available to the borrowers. In case of the borrower’s death, the cover up to Rs 10,000 from the Credit Guarantee Corporation of India is provided for which the banks pay premium. Where is thus the case for writing off loans? The decision purely smacks of political opportunism because the government has been maintaining till the other day that its treasury is empty. The then Akali-BJP government appeased the panchayats by throwing lavish grants a few weeks before the 2002 elections. And now the present government is exactly doing the same at the cost of the taxpayer. Is it not like robbing Peter to pay Paul? The state government has demanded Rs 2085 crore from the Centre for writing off the farmers’ loans. The Opposition has sharply reacted to this. According to the Punjab Farmers’ Commission, the total debt against the state’s farmers is Rs 24,000 crore. The loan waiver decision as against this will thus be a drop in the ocean! As regards the settlement of farmers’ loans borrowed from the Arhtiya moneylenders, one has to wait and watch as to how things will take shape because the Arhtiya’s stake is the heaviest compared to Rs 300 crore from cooperative banks and Rs 198 crore from the commercial banks. Instead of loan remission, the best course for the government is to strengthen the economic viability of the farmers, improve infrastructural facilities, provide conducive means for production and ensure marketing at remunerative prices. To promote agriculture and make it a profitable proposition, agriculture should be declared as an industry. This would enable farmers to enjoy all the privileges available to the industry. Punjab should take the lead in this direction.
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Terror: Pak playing
a double game Since
September 2001, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has been playing a double game. He has done it successfully so far. Not only is he being defended by some people who count at the US policymaking level, India is also being faulted for having attempted to blame Pakistan. Where is the proof, it is asked. Over the years, Pakistan has perfected the technique of perpetrating things that happened in Mumbai. The ISI stays in the background and some trained and resourceful people with dubious antecedents and links in Nepal and Bangladesh and some local support are pressed into service. India has to an extent played into the hands of these scheming people. In brief, the policy adopted so far has been far from effective. Why has this attack been mounted now? The obvious answer is General Musharraf’s current uncertain political standing and the impending election in Pakistan. With a lot of opposition to his re-election, it is difficult to predict the outcome. Of course, he is doing his best. The Mumbai incident is inconsistent with the understanding worked out with the Indian Prime Minister in early 2004. But beyond uttering a few sharp words, India has done nothing so far. What it may eventually do remains to be seen. This confirms the Pakistan Army’s perception that India is a soft target. And it is the Army which ‘runs’ Pakistan. India is soft basically because it is indisciplined and not committed to fault-free functioning. Nor is it fired by a burning desire to overtake anyone, not even Pakistan. Whether it is forming a queue or doing a job successfully, India continues to be easy going and unpardonably casual about everything. If India is to forge forward, its casual approach will have to be replaced by a widely shared determination to choose the right means of achieving the goal. This requires intelligent planning and many other positive qualities. Are things different in Pakistan? To an extent, yes. Pakistan suffers from the same kind of handicaps regarding discipline etc. as India does. But there is one difference. The man in the street in Pakistan does not want to play the second fiddle to India and he is prepared to do anything to ensure this. During the last six decades, Pakistan has been able to secure considerable foreign help and it more or less keeps abreast of India. Its Army may have had some setbacks but it continues to indulge in cross-border aggression. Interestingly, while India is short of 12,000 officers in the Army, Pakistan has an abundance of people who wish to join the armed forces. Ironically, the kind of people who have this perception about Pakistan and her future are known to be what are called fundamentalists. Over the years, they have grown in strength and popularity. What happened in Mumbai was calculated to bring them close to those in power. If the lobby grows stronger, as it can, this will ultimately condemn Pakistan to remain stubbornly underdeveloped. Development is not only economic progress. At least a good part of it is rooted in certain social attitudes and perceptions, gender equality and respect for those values which prize the rule of law and eschew intolerance. The choice for Pakistan is simple. Either she chooses to modernise herself both in terms of her thinking and functioning or it stays dependent on the US. There is a condition precedent for that to happen; Pakistan has to subordinate itself to what the US wants. Pakistan is prepared to do so as long as it enables her to challenge India. Both Pakistan and the US are improvising all the time but clearly, India continues to be unclear about her perspective. Hedged in by all kinds of constraints and a certain amount of political
misjudgment, the US wants to deal with India in a fair way but ends up by being outmanoeuvred. Meanwhile, India is forging ahead economically. This is the positive aspect of India’s performance. Unless there is some kind of serious setback, India will continue to move in that direction. But then, can India neglect her security? In other words, can there be any more Mumbais? The answer should not be in doubt. But India is not yet able to reformulate those priorities which will take care of the present crisis and what may happen tomorrow. One feels sorry for Pakistan because if it continues to function as it is doing now, it may win a couple of battles but will it win the war? In today’s world, wars are won not only by individual heroism. The growth of the jihadi spirit presumes the availability of a certain number of people who are willing to die for a cause. Unfortunately, the champions of that ‘cause’ are various terrorist outfits in Pakistan. This is something that Pakistan has to guard against and India has to worry about. The Musharraf government is not strong enough to deal with the fundamentalists or even neutralise them. The best it can do is to co-exist with them and that is precisely what is happening. What if fundamentalists become stronger than they are today? In the long run, this will destroy Pakistan. Therefore, what India has to do to help democratic forces contain these trends? No doubt, this would be treading on a delicate ground. India has a stake in the future of Pakistan. India cannot build a secular polity unless Pakistan too moves in that direction, even if slowly and feebly. What is happening today is in the opposite direction. While one cannot go into details, a few things have to be understood. First, this is not a military issue. On the contrary, it will have to be fought politically. Secondly, the issue is more political, even diplomatic, than is recognised today. Thirdly, without a more clear-headed and rational policy towards the Muslim minority in India, the situation will not improve. The 11/7 crisis is a signal of what more can happen. In any case, one thing that needs to be understood is that without a shift of power within Pakistan, the situation will continue to be what it is. Evidently, India cannot undertake anything which will be in the nature of political interference. But the diplomatic situation is changing all the time. Without a change in the basic equation as to who ‘runs’ the country, individuals will come and go. But the basic problem will remain what it is. Military control of civilian matters is a sure recipe for one disaster after another. If experience over the last half century has not taught us this lesson, there is something wrong
somewhere. The writer is a former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala
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Profile On November 1, 1956, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states were formed, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. The formation of linguistic states was the single most important event in the history of South Indian languages as it provided an opportunity for these languages to develop independently, each of them having a state to support. Fifty-four years later, yet another Telugu Bidda (son of the soil) has taken up another cause. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, went on an ‘indefinite fast’ to press his party’s demand for separate state of Telangana but gave it up within 24 hours. Having resigned from the Union Cabinet and withdrawn his party’s support to the UPA government, Rao is all set to fan the fire of Telangana agitation. Will he succeed? Two years ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called Chandrasekhar Rao a ‘Yogi’. Indeed, he had behaved sage-like by abdicating the portfolio of the Ministry of Shipping (in favour of the DMK) for the sake of the coalition stability. The TRS leader might have shown a spirit of renunciation but he is committed to another cause — a cause much bigger to him than a Central ministerial post. The sole objective of his life appears to be the creation of a separate Telangana state. He may go to any extent to achieve that objective. It was not for the first time that Rao did not care for the ministerial office, that too, at the Centre. A few years back, he quit the Deputy Speaker’s post in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, threw away membership of the Assembly and snapped ties with Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s ruling Telugu Desam Party. His election four times from his home constituency — Siddipet in Medak district — showed his popularity. The sole mission of 49-year-old Rao appeared to be the revival of the Telangana movement and he did succeed. Rao began his political career with the Congress party as a student leader. However, subsequently, he came under the spell of N.T. Rama Rao and joined the TDP. NTR saw the spark in him, was impressed by dedication and commitment in the young man and pitch-forked him to the post of Minister. Rao also enjoyed the confidence of Chandrababu Naidu, who too inducted him in his ministry. However, nothing deterred him from his mission — creation of separate Telangana state. Rao was very well aware of the factors that prevented carving out of the new state in 1969-71 and determined not to repeat the same mistakes 33 years later. The issue of backwardness of Telangana had been uppermost in his mind since he joined the NTR Government. He had also pleaded time and again with Naidu not to ignore the aspirations of the people of Telangana. Later, he remarked in disgust: “Chandrababu has done more harm to Telangana than any other Chief Minister and he will face the consequences”. Rao’s warning proved to be prophetic. Chandrababu Naidu was routed in the elections. Rao was able to revive the Telangana movement in 2001. His plea that though the region consisting of 30 million people is rich in resources, it yet remains backward and constantly neglected, caught up like wildfire. The fury of the agitation was seen at a meeting organized by the TRS shortly before election. Nicknamed Simha Garjana (Roar of the Lion), the meeting was manifestation of the mass support for a separate state. Doubtless, Rao has built up the TRS from grassroot level and mobilised support of the people throughout the region. Chandrababu realised, though belatedly, the magnitude of the movement revived under the banner of TRS. He sent emissaries to Rao, offered him a Cabinet post and a portfolio of his chose but it was too late by then. The TRS leader told him rather bluntly, “I do not crave for anything except separate Telangana. As Chief Minister, you have done more harm to Telangana than any other Chief Minister”. Rao took his fight to the national level and succeeded in eliciting an assurance by the ruling United Progressive Alliance that the demand for formation of a separate Telangana state would be considered at an appropriate time. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi even asked her political secretary, Ahmed Patel, and AICC Secretary Jairam Ramesh to work out a timetable for the creation of the new state. Two years have elapsed since then, but a consensus on Telangana issue continues to elude the government with the Left parties opposing the creation of smaller states. Also, in the event of the creation of Telangana, a spate of similar demands from other parts of the country would be raised, opening virtually a Pandora’s box. The Government is, therefore, exploring the possibility of setting up the Second States’ Reorganisation Commission.
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Reflections THE right to information is the best news for the citizens of this country. Each of us has a duty to read the law, understand it, share the information with friends, speak about it in organised forums, educational institutions, associations or groups and the offices we work in. This is a must. All training hereafter ought to include knowledge about the Right to Information Act or else it will result in ignorant employees committing mistakes which could have been prevented. This would also be a poor reflection on supervision and leadership capabilities. The vital clauses which persons in position of responsibility must know that the citizens under this law (a) have the power to inspect works, documents, and records, (b) take notes, extracts, or certified copies of documents and records, (c) take certified samples of material, (d) obtain information in form of print outs, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or though printouts. Hence, information means any material in any form. Namely, records, memos, emails, opinions, advice, press releases, circulars, orders, log books, contracts, reports, samples, models, data material, held in any form etc… Any information which does not compromise security and integrity of the country or information which would not impede the process of investigation, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, has to be provided for or refused within 30 days…And if it is concerning life and liberty then information has to be given within 48 hours. Every day of delay within the Act is punishable incrementally. Let me frame just a few questions as an illustration for the citizens regarding policing: How many policemen are sanctioned for their area? What is the security plan for their neighborhood? Do they have any specific plan for the senior citizens of the area? If so, what are the details? By when will a particular nuisance, may be it is a case of noise pollution (if reported) be removed? Why did it take so long? (If it did) etc. People may have similar questions concerning civic authorities or other essential services or government agencies, which they may be unhappy with and want to see remedied. The RTI Act has empowered ordinary citizens to ask for even basic information which they could never get before. Therefore, how will they seek information if they do not know their rights? Hence, creating awareness is very important. The more aware and informed the citizen, the more responsive or careful the official will be. This new development is a culmination of very painstaking, thoughtful, dogged and relentless effort spread over last 16 years by concerned citizens of this country. Initial efforts to formulate legal right to information began in 1989. The first draft of the ‘right to information’ was attempted in 1995. Since then, the process gathered all round momentum. It co-opted all sections of society, rich, poor, rural, urban, men, women, educated or not, to stand up and be counted. The print and visual media played the catalyst role of transmitters and campaign managers with amazing persistence and space. In the process, the movement for right to information brought to the country many more Magsaysay Awards — Arvind Kejriwal being the latest, while having already amidst themselves, Magsaysay Awardees, Sandeep Pandey, Aruna Roy and Anna Hazare, who spearheaded a fast unto death if the ‘notings on file’ were not considered integral to the Right to Information Act. Notings on file reflect all considerations and decisions recorded on the file concerning a particular issue. It clearly reveals who wrote what. On which date? And in what context? The persons may go or retire but the reasoned file notings speak for themselves, years on. These sheets of paper have a very long span of life. Smart office hands play smart games with not so smart seniors. They may put up part files; not quote the rules correctly; not make the notes properly as proper reference; not enclose the annexures; including the original rule or an earlier decision or the prevailing policy or duly flag them for quick reference; or omit a reference to an earlier decision; suppress information to get a contrived decision based on inadequate information before the senior. Any of such ways are possible and happen all the time. Seniors who are hard pressed for time tend to rely on notes and propositions as they are proposed at that time. It calls for very alert ‘reading’ to ‘read between the lines…’ Alongside the development process what is most evident from reading file notings is the speed at which the case is disposed of. How long each person takes to initiate the file? Who sits on it and for how long? All these notings are valuable information for vigilant citizens as well as good supervisors and effective managers. If these are in the realm of public domain or information, it will naturally pose a great challenge for any office hand. He will not be able to get away with merely pushing files anymore. This is because notings will clearly reveal who merely pushed and who did not? Who procrastinated and who was decisive? Who went by the rules and who did not? Who was being dynamic and who a mere pen pusher? Who was applying his mind and who merely endorsing? Who was doing justice and who was not? The days of fault finding and helplessness should be left behind. Responsible and accountable rule-based governance can be here. It depends on the maturity of both sides. Both will need to exercise this new-found responsibility fairly and intensively as partners and not adversaries. It’s time for both to take
charge.
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Diversities — Delhi Letter Vikram Chandra’s latest novel, Sacred Games (Penguin) has hit the stands in a big way within a span of a couple of weeks of its launch in five cities. The latest launch was in New Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel on August 21. By now, with all the launches and the series of reviews splashed, we are all well familiar with the story line and the very setting of this novel. What, however, attracted me for this launch was the footnote in the invite that Chandra would be reading out passages from his book. Not having met Chandra before, though around 1995 I had spoken to him twice over the telephone when his Red Earth and Pouring Rain was launched. He was then in Mumbai and I in New Delhi.
I had to write about him and about his book. So I had got in touch with him. What actually left an impact was the manner in which he had spoken to me. He came across as a very fine person without the typical writer’s arrogance. Though almost 10 years have passed by, that impression still holds sway. And with that I was rather determined to meet him. The hall was packed to capacity as Chandra read out two passages — heavy with words and details which focused on what takes place between the cops and those jailed or chased. Lethal combinations along the way, with sordid happenings springing up. Though the tale is set in Mumbai, it could have been set in any other city or sector of the country — the decay, corruption and degeneration is so widespread that the setting doesn’t really matter. Chandra’s obsession with words and details takes you deep into the world of the underworld and around it. So heady is the tale that it seems that those seven long years — those years that took him to write this novel — he did nothing but web and inter-web this tale. Just about taking a short break last December to get married!
Lectures on Delhi’s planning Whilst the general living conditions and infrastructure are steadily declining in the national Capital, it’s the series of 12 ongoing lectures at the IIC that might make you view this city from a different perspective altogether. Come September, the two lectures that await are by T.K. Ravindran’s on “Nehru’s Delhi — Post-Independence architecture in Delhi”. Ravindran, a professor of urban design, planning and architecture, would focus on “the changes that came about when Delhi suffered an influx of refugees from West Pakistan that almost tripled its
population within 10 years — as an emergency measure some settlements came up at the site of refugee camps — in the Fifties and the Sixties, an entirely new Nehruvian Delhi was added to the pre-Independence Delhi…” And then, there is academic Sunil Kumar’s talk on the sufi shrines to be found in Delhi — Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya and those of Bakhtiyar Kaki, Nasiruddin Chirag and other sufis. Delhi-ites can also visit Veer Munshi’s major exhibition, ‘Encounter’. It opened on August 25 at the India Habitat Centre and thereafter at Art Alive. It is centred on today’s turbulent situation. “Through paintings and installations, I have focused on essential images of division, partition and migration. There has been a division of ideologies, partitioning along geo-politics and then, there is an ongoing migration the world over. Twentieth century has witnessed more human upheavals and migrations the world over than ever before”, says Veer Mumshi. Himself a displaced Kashmiri Pandit whose family got uprooted from Srinagar in 1990, he now lives here. But then, as he so very honestly puts across, he has not been able to forget his place of roots. “I am still connected to the Valley, it’s part of me… visit Srinagar, I am, in touch with my friends there. And as to why I haven’t turned bitter, it’s because once you see things happening on a broader platform, you become more sensitive. Initially, you could become reactionary. But then, as you view those problems from a larger perspective, you begin to react differently. If this upheaval hadn’t hit me, I wouldn’t have been sensitive to minority problems happening the world over. I can relate to any minority group, because of the upheavals I have been through.” Yes, Veer Munshi is one of those sensitive artists who unleashes his pent-up feelings in a different way. A few years back at yet another exhibition, I saw with his offbeat works together with his rather off-beat reactionary words to go along. “The horrendous events have reduced the status of a common Kashmiri to a label: secessionist, extremist, fundamentalist, militant, terrorist, migrant,
refugee.”
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Look upon hardships with eagerness. They should not bring tears to the eye. Look upon them as ordained to serve you, to chesten you through trials and tribulations and finally leave you stronger, healthier, wiser than before. —The Mahabharata When you feel lonely, when you feel unwanted, when you feel sick and forgotten, remember you are precious to God. He loves you. Show that love for one another. —Mother Teresa At least once a day, allow yourself the freedom to think and dream for yourself. —Albert Einstein
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of the present generation will remember the name of Sri Potti Sriramulu who became Amarajeevi (immortal) for Telugus. He began his last fast on October 19, 1952 at Chennai for a separate Andhra state and continued his fast until he died on the night of December 15, 1952. This resulted in wide spread disturbances and opened the eyes of the Jawaharlal Nehru government. This led to the birth of Andhra Pradesh in October 1953.