O P I N I O N S

Perspective

Universities under stress
Of political power and bureaucratic control
by B.N. Goswamy
“To open the mind, to correct it, to refine it, to enable it to know, and to digest, master, rule, and use its knowledge, to give it power over its own faculties, application, flexibility, method, critical exactness, sagacity, resource, address, eloquent expression...”

Profile
A prodigy of dance, art and culture
by Harihar Swarup
The late Prime Minister Morarji Desai might have failed to install Rukmini Arundale, a great exponent of Bharatnatyam, on the exalted seat of President of India.

• Wit of the week

OPED

Saudis rewriting rules for women
by Nilofar Suhrawardy
Though there is no written rule for when women can hit headlines - whether from behind the veil, modestly dressed or scantily clad - the general trend for them to be noticed is when they are viewed as victims of some social abuse, linked with dowry, sexual crime or when they dare raise their voice against prevalent socio-religious rituals.

Demystifying sex education
by Seema Bhatia
After the board exams recently, children rejoiced like every year. There was a sense of relief, like a heavy burden had just been lifted.. The places were buzzing with plans.

On Record
Need to fill gaps in Indian food market: Noon
by Charu Singh
There are many success stories of Non-Resident Indians, but few rival the dynamism of Sir Ghulam Noon’s success. A UK based businessman, he took age-old Indian culinary delights from housewives’ kitchens to the shelves of supermarket stores and the international retail market.

Perspective

Universities under stress
Of political power and bureaucratic control
by B.N. Goswamy

“To open the mind, to correct it, to refine it, to enable it to know, and to digest, master, rule, and use its knowledge, to give it power over its own faculties, application, flexibility, method, critical exactness, sagacity, resource, address, eloquent expression...”

I recall having read, long years ago when I was still a student at college, an essay by Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the towering intellects of 19th century England. It was part of our English language ‘syllabus’, and was excerpted from his seminal, and justly famous work, The Idea of a University. 
At that time, we did not know fully the context in which the Cardinal was writing. He was arguing in fact, with eloquence and logic, the case for a Catholic University that was then being contemplated in Ireland, but there was something riveting about his words. They forced one to pause, and to reflect. That essay left a deep imprint upon my mind, as it obviously has upon that of countless others, for — a century and a half has passed — his name is still invoked in the counsels of the wise, and his ideas still reverted to.

The words that are cited above are Cardinal Newman’s and refer to his belief in what a university is not only meant to do but must be encouraged to accomplish. And the reason they come to my mind at this time is because the elevated thoughts they reflect stand in such contrast to the sorry state to which so many of our institutions of learning are gradually being reduced. Here, close to home, all those noble sentiments, those lofty ideals, seem such a distant and sad cry. Sheer survival seems to be at stake.

Just consider the news that keeps coming in, practically every day, of what is happening to our seats of higher learning. The Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh declines to continue because he is unable to withstand the pressures being brought to bear upon his work by violent student bodies; the Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University puts in his papers because he declines to carry out, as he publicly states, the ‘orders’ he received from the Chief Minister; a college teacher in Madhya Pradesh is first threatened and roughed up in public view, and then murdered by students.

At Chandigarh, groups of armed students keep clashing on the university campus, even if mercifully not that frequently. At Patiala, the working of the university is being disrupted day after day by ‘action committees’ formed with only one aim in mind: the ouster of a thinking Vice-Chancellor; a woman teacher files a report saying that she was manhandled by agitating, slogan-shouting students; accusations of all hue are being made, and fingers pointed. The list of institutions under stress keeps growing: the Punjab Technical University yesterday, one university in Haryana today, another tomorrow. And it is far from over yet. Obviously, something is wrong.

There can be room for improvement. There is also nothing wrong with introspection, nor with debate and discussion. Points of view can differ, and wrongs, if any, need to be righted. But here one cannot escape the feeling that much of what is happening has very little to do with real issues, certainly very little to do with academic issues. It is all about power and control: political power and bureaucratic control, it would seem.

How else does one explain the fact that each time a government changes, and another political party comes to power, clouds start gathering over institutions, and kites begin to circle ominously in the skies above? And how is it that after a limited objective has been achieved — the ouster of a head, the packing of a governing body, vested appointments, and the like —all interest in the institution comes suddenly to an end?

Why is it that each time the academic head of an institution is removed, a bureaucrat is sent in to occupy the chair that he or she had no interest in or no competence for? One knows that the autonomy of universities is a mere mirage conjured up by political powers whenever they find it convenient, or have to make high profile public statements, but must the truth of that ‘autonomy’ be exposed and thrust home in flagrant haste?

There is need to pause, and to reflect on these matters. And to step back. There can always be a case for discussion, even decision-making, but it must be done with calm detachment, in an atmosphere free of prejudice and shrillness. It needs to be remembered that universities are not built in a day but they can be wounded and damaged in a day. One should keep reminding oneself that the culture of the intellect that they stand for must command respect from all of us.

While saying this, I am tempted to go back to Cardinal Newman again. In one of his passages in The Idea of a University, this is what he said: “It is the place to which a thousand schools make contributions; in which the intellect may safely range and speculate, sure to find its equal in some antagonist activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth. It is a place where inquiry is pushed forward, and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge.”

The collision of mind with mind, he said, not of mind with political power. Or of knowledge with rashness.

The writer is an eminent art historian

Profile
A prodigy of dance, art and culture
by Harihar Swarup

The late Prime Minister Morarji Desai might have failed to install Rukmini Arundale, a great exponent of Bharatnatyam, on the exalted seat of President of India. However, 30 years later, Sonia Gandhi succeeded in bringing another dance prodigy of Indian classical dance and art to the Rajya Sabha.

Exactly a year after her resignation from the House of Elders in the wake of the Office of profit controversy, 79-year-old Kapila Vatsyayan was nominated to the Rajya Sabha last week for a second stint. Her first term was, perhaps, the shortest; she quit within weeks of swearing-in.

Kapila Vatsyayan is a well known name in India, particularly in Delhi’s cultural circuit, but few know about the long years of strife and commitment that chiseled her into a prodigy of classical dance, art and culture. She was barely 10 years old when legendary Acchan Maharaj spotted her talent. He was so impressed by the in-built talent in this young girl that his impromptu comment was: Bahut accha naachi ho, lekin talim ki jaroorat hai (you dance beautifully but you need training).

The occasion was a school performance and among the audience were Acchan Maharaj and Nirmala Joshi, who later became Secretary of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Kapila’s dance on the theme Ardhanarishwara was applauded as great choreography. On his suggestion, Kapila became a disciple of Acchan Maharaj. Those were the times when dance was coming out of royal courts.

Years later, Kapila paid her guru dakshina (debt) to Acchan Maharaj. The great legend had passed away, leaving behind his nephew, Birju Maharaj, who had lived under his tutelage in Lucknow. Kapila brought Birju to Delhi and established him in the dance school she was running along with her friends. Subsequently, Birju Maharaj became a legend in his lifetime.

During summer vacation in her student days, Kapila used to learn Bharatnatyam from Meenakshi Sundaram and Rukmini Arundale’s disciple Lalitha. Then, she invited Gura Ambi Singh to come to Delhi from Manipur and learned Manipuri dance with him. She also brought Lalitha to Delhi.

Unlike many of her contemporary artists, Kapila has been fortunate. Her training began with the practice of dance from Oriental dance to Kathak, to Bharatnatyam and Manipuri. Her concurrent training in English Literature at Delhi University provided critical apparatus. Besides Western Art and whatever she learned in pre-Independent India, she had to pick up Sanskrit and Indian languages because of her family background which was a reformist one, deeply rooted in Indian ethos. In 1930s her family lived in Calcutta and was involved in nationalist movement. After completing her MA from Delhi University, she went to the United States on a Barbour fellowship. It was a distinguished fellowship for Asian women based on the outcome of the written test.

One day after her prerequisites for the Ph.D degree, she decided to return to India and gave up the fellowship. She has been quoted as saying that, “I felt that I was ignorant about the culture to which I belonged. I had to know it. I also felt that if I wanted to go further in English literature and Western art, I would have to go to its language foundations in Greek and Latin. Then there was this dance thing. So one autumn day outside the library in Michigan, I meditated upon and surprised my parents by returning home”.

Kapila returned to motherland with a sense searching for identity and started travelling. She went from Madurai to Kanyakumari, to Palghat practically on foot and in buses and reached Kerala Kalamandalam. During her itinerary, Kapila met scholar Vasudeva Sharan Agarwal who has written about 40 books on the history of Indian art and on India through the eyes of Panini. He strongly recommended that she should preserve these classical works.

As Head, Department of Archaeology in Banaras Hindu University, Agarwal accepted Kapila as a special Ph. D student. She says: “Here neither my degrees in English nor my American education were considered adequate preparation. I had to take a Sanskrit philological examination. I did that and then got grounding in Indology and archaeology.”

Kapila’s favourite authors, however, have been Coomaraswamy and Heinrich Zimmer, an indologist and historian of South Asia, who first identified the radical difference between western classic and Indian art. Without them, she says, “I do not think, I would be the person I am today”.

Kapila also reads parts of Upanishads that her parents gave her. Kapila has herself written many books including, The Square and the Circle of Indian Arts, Bharata; The Natya Sastra and Matralaksanam. The Rajya Sabha will be culturally rich with her induction in the House of Elders.

Wit of the week

If big parties like the BJP and the Congress want to reach out to the people, the Web has to be part of the strategy. The younger politicians are realising this more and more. My gut-feel is that 2007 will be a watershed for the Indian online political system. e-democracy is a reality.

— Ravi Singh, America’s campaign guru and CEO of electionmall.com

Music is a habit. There is no other way to master it but through riyaaz. You also have to be stubborn enough to carry on…I eat, drink and sleep music. If children played with toys, as a kid I played with the tanpura and the tabla.

— Meeta Pandit, the sixth generation musician from the Gwalior gharana

As human beings, it is important for us to recognise our potential. The Sundara Kanda tells that even the mighty Hanuman did not recognise his own potential until Jambavan told him of it…We need faith in the Almighty to conquer the insurmountable.

— Dr Pratap C. Reddy

Welcome a guest to your hotel as you would welcome a friend to your home. People can sense a fake smile or a fake greeting.

— Industrialist Raj Rao

The secret of my success at losing weight was due to rigorous diet, exercise and will power. I am on the treadmill and I stuff myself with salads now. I feel resurrected and am much more in control.

— Singer Adnan Sami

Given the vast population of youngsters in our country, I am sure a number of girls nurse the ambition of becoming Miss India, like I did since I was five years old. I am happy if our success motivates them to try for it.

— Sarah Jane Dias, Femina Miss India World 2007

I always treat Nature as an absorber in my films. The yellow flowers, red blooms and greens and marigold flowing with ashes in the Ganga in The Namesake are my way of expressing the aesthetics of Nature.

— Noted filmmaker Mira Nair

Tailpiece: I’m a sit-at-home or out-of-job actor. In the last six months, I’ve said no to some 25-odd films. I just don’t have any work. And that’s because I refuse to play a run-of-the-mill father in films. n

— Actor Rishi Kapoor

OPED

Saudis rewriting rules for women
by Nilofar Suhrawardy

Though there is no written rule for when women can hit headlines - whether from behind the veil, modestly dressed or scantily clad - the general trend for them to be noticed is when they are viewed as victims of some social abuse, linked with dowry, sexual crime or when they dare raise their voice against prevalent socio-religious rituals. There is also the class of women, who may deliberately resort to any move only for the sake of being noticed.

Against this backdrop, it seems but natural for the media across the world to have ignored the Saudi women whose attire — covering them from head to toe — makes outsiders draw a blank. Of late, Saudis have begun to give new importance to rewriting these conditions. The manner in which it is being done also suggests that they would rather not join the rest of the world in primarily viewing women only as cosmetic dolls, attracting attention for their physical appearance. Instead, they seem keen on being noticed in the male-dominated world on the basis of their accomplishments.

Recent developments demand attention to this fact. Heading the list is inking of a contract between a leading Saudi daily Arab News and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for bringing an annual supplement focusing exclusively on Saudi businesswomen’s top 20 companies. The message is simple and noteworthy demanding that the world opens its eyes to what the Saudis are saying.

Saudis do not view their women as insignificant entities or as only cosmetic dolls. It is time the world also accepted this reality. Their having selected the top 20 businesswomen also suggests that the ladies there have been in commercial field for long. A single or just a few women have not suddenly jumped into this terrain. Also, the decision being taken by the Arab News to bring out the supplement clearly signals that the Saudis are probably taking this step to be noticed by the world at large.

The Saudi government pays attention to the new importance having been gradually but definitely assumed by the world media as well as in the Arab world. So far the developments suggest that though labeled as King-run rule, the Saudi government is not against this trend. Thus, there is little doubt that the Saudi government is in favour of their women being gradually but definitely making a stronger mark on their own terrain and in the world.

The same is suggested by the inclusion of a Saudi woman, Captain Hanadi Zakariya Hindi as a pilot in the royal team. She is expected to start flying a jet belonging to a Saudi prince from mid-year. Till date, there have not any been reports of any negative reaction from the Arab society to this development. The importance given to her piloting and her background by the media in the Arab world and outside is only suggestive of their being a positive reaction to the same.

This also suggests that Saudi people and the government have begun taking steps towards giving more space to their own women in professional life and in the media. Saudi women are also working on the inclusion of a female minister, in charge of women’s affairs, in their Kingdom’s Cabinet. Till date, the Cabinet has had only male ministers.

Undeniably, over the past year, a new importance has been given to women by Saudi government at two levels. When the Saudi King was in New Delhi last year as the chief guest of India’s Republic Day Parade, his visit was also marked by the arrival here of a Saudi civil delegation, which included a significant number of women. Significantly, each Saudi lady was included in this delegation not as somebody’s relative (wife or sister) but on the strength of her own identity — be it a journalist, academician, businessperson, poetess and so on.

In recent weeks, continuation of this trend has been marked by Saudi Arabia extending Haj diplomacy to India by inviting around 30 Indian Muslims, including six women for Haj. Though a delegation selected by Indian government heads for Haj every year, it was for the first time that one was invited by the Saudi King, a move welcomed by India. This also signals that positive aftermath of people-to-people interaction at the Indo-Pak level has led to it being given a new importance by other countries too.

Given the conservative image held across the world about Saudi Arabia’s society, eyebrows would not have been raised had an exclusively male-delegation been invited by the king. Howsoever, inclusion of women also suggests that the move was probably taken to signal a message at two levels. One was diplomatic and the other to open others’ eyes to the gradually new approach being adopted by Saudi Arabia towards the fairer section.

Though this development would take some time to be recognised and accepted by the people, the Saudi women are becoming increasingly more conscious about it. This is supported by Saudi women across the country having decided to present a petition before the King signalling their opposition to prospects of their being subjected to “forced divorces.”

These refer to forced divorces not from the husband but agreed to by the Saudi courts on basis of cases filed by women’s parental relatives, even though the woman and husband may be against it. This move by women is not being restricted by any prospect of being either criticised or even punished by the Saudi authorities, including the King. Apparently, they are guided by an understanding that with greater liberalism being displayed towards them in the recent past, the latter are not going to ignore their stand.

In all probability, had they not been encouraged from behind the scenes to take this move by certain authorities there, they may not have even considered the same. The message is simple: gradually but definitely, Saudis have begun rewriting rules and role for their women. It is time the world started reading the same. n 

Demystifying sex education
by Seema Bhatia

After the board exams recently, children rejoiced like every year. There was a sense of relief, like a heavy burden had just been lifted.. The places were buzzing with plans.

A group of 12th graders in South Delhi decided to spend a night out at a friend’s house. While parents had no reason to suspect any mischief, their children didn’t expect them to watch their movements. Yet one of the fathers decided to meet and congratulate the entire group. On reaching, he found Pooja, his daughter, was missing. She used the cover to spend the night with her boyfriend. Pooja has many friends who are sexually active.

Studies among college boys have shown that one out of every three boys have had sex before marriage. The school children have been found to be sexually active as early as 11 years old. Shockingly, 35 per cent AIDS cases in India occur in the 15-24 age group.

Radhika, a 10th grade student of a prestigious school in Delhi, is quite candid about her drinking and smoking. She tasted her first wine with her parents who are regular drinkers. They have always wanted her to decide for herself what is right and what is wrong.

Radhika is not an addict. Nor are her friends. Her group has toppers, sports achievers, singers and artists. There are those who haven’t ever touched liquor or indulged in sex, but there are also those who have had multiple sexual relationships. Vibhuti in Radhika’s group has had sexual escapades with casual acquaintances, schoolmates and even her horse riding coach. “It was all for fun and just for experimentation”, says Vibhuti without apprehensions.

There is very little data on drinking, smoking and sexual behaviour among our teens, to make any sweeping statements. True, not all teens are immersed in substance abuse or pre-marital sex. But the increasing trends and attitudes are alarming, more so when fears of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV are spreading fast. The issue demands attention when a minute figure of one per cent runs into a few millions in India.

Pranav and Akshay are two boys who have been recently rusticated from school for circulating porn pictures and site addresses. They do not have a computer at home and had gone to a cyber café to download these. If the boys were given the right education about the changes in the hormones, etc. we would have helped them lead a happy and successful life with the right morals. Proper education and guidance at the right time could also have saved two five-year-old girls from being raped by a 24-year-old man.

Yet, ‘high burden’ HIV/AIDS states like Karnataka and Maharashtra go full force against sex education in schools. It then becomes imperative not just for children but for teachers, parents, public servants and our politicians too to be a part of at least one adolescent health and life skills workshop. It would not only help demystify the sex element in the state and Centre-run sex education programmes but also become knowledgeable, aware and empowered to live and lead by example children like Radhika, Vibhuti, Pranav, Akshay and millions others.

*****

The writer is an educator and clinical psychologist in New Delhi

On Record
Need to fill gaps in Indian food market: Noon
by Charu Singh

There are many success stories of Non-Resident Indians, but few rival the dynamism of Sir Ghulam Noon’s success. A UK based businessman, he took age-old Indian culinary delights from housewives’ kitchens to the shelves of supermarket stores and the international retail market.

Noon’s story is amazing as he literally moved from a humble confectionary outlet in Mumbai to become one of the biggest suppliers of Indian packaged food internationally. Recently in New Delhi, Noon shared a few moments of his incredible journey with The Sunday Tribune.

Excerpts:

Q: What impelled you to achieve success?

A: I was born in Bombay. My mother was from Iran and my father from Rajasthan. We were three brothers and sisters. I was the middle one and went to school in Bombay. My parents were from a very humble background and my mother had become a widow twice. When I was seven years old, my father died. This tragic event influenced my life very much.

Q: Your childhood seems to have been traumatic?

A: Yes, I saw a lot of turmoil during my formative years and it was a very difficult childhood. While I was in High School our accountant found a teacher to teach me basic accountancy and I jumped into the family business. Immediately after finishing high school (when I was 17), I had to handle the family business. I managed to make a dent and brought in better packaging, marketing and advertising systems.

In 1962, I renovated our main shop and the business became very viable and profitable. Our first step was to get out of the hole in which we were living. It took five years to put the family business into proper shape and then we shifted apartments.

Q: So another phase began in your life?

A: Yes. I bought an apartment for the family after five years. The business continued to flourish and I began exporting to the UK and the Middle East. I also started a canning plant and the sale increased in volume. In the next 2-3 years, I opened more shops. At this time, I also started a small construction company and bought my own apartment. I also made my first trip to the UK in 1966 as a tourist and stayed there for a month.

I returned with some fresh ideas. In 1968, I opened another company, Paper Print and Products and in 1969 I travelled to the UK again. I started thinking of an eventual shift to the UK and I mentioned this to my mother. She was initially heartbroken but later she consented.

Q: What followed in the UK?

A: Around 1969 I shifted to the UK and in 1972 after getting a work permit, I started a shop and a small factory in London. This was a success. Then I went to the US for four years. I tried to run a business in partnership with the Tatas but it did not work out. I returned to the UK. In 1984, I went into aviation catering and my first contract was with the British Airways. Currently, I have contracts with 11airlines.

Q: Was this your break into the big league?

A: My big break came in 1988 when I organised a company called Noon products. I put up very sound techniques and started manufacturing Indian food - frozen, chilled and packaged. This was a novel concept and it took off. The idea behind this venture was that Indian restaurants were mushrooming in the UK and Indian food that was normally available on supermarket shelves was insipid and poor quality.

As an entrepreneur, I felt that this was the gap in the market and I visualised that Indian food would land in supermarkets with a vengeance sooner or later and with this idea I broke through the British market. In November, 1994, my plant in London was burnt down and re-built. Now I have built three plants.

In 2000, I sold my company for 400 crore pounds. I needed another 15 million pounds to put up another factory. So, I bought back all the shares with the help of a venture capital company, built up the turnover and sold it again. Today, I am still the Chairman of the original company.

Q: Has your business spread in other directions now?

A: I have gone into commercial properties and built a hotel in Bahrain, but my passion is with food. I am also engaged in charitable work at Bhawani Mandi near Kota in Rajasthan. I am building a hospital there and have finished a water harvesting project that re-charges seven villages. India is booming. The pinnacle of contentment for me would be to replicate my London company here in India. In two years, we will implement this.