O P I N I O N S

This above all
In idols all put their faith
Buddhists and Hindus make no bones about making idols and then worshipping them. It is the most brazen example of man creating God and worshipping him, her or it as the Creator.
Khushwant Singh
As an agnostic, I regard all religions as idolatrous in as much as they assign divinity to things created by themselves. Buddhists and Hindus make no bones about making idols of metal and stone and then worshipping them. It is the most brazen example of man creating God and worshipping him, her or it as the Creator.

guest column
To get growth going, reforms must not stall
The move to attract FDI in retail, aviation and broadband contributes to better investor sentiment. Over the medium term, this would help restore some balance to the current account.
Adi Godrej
Economic policies announced over the past couple of months have been encouraging for investors and are expected to alleviate some of the investment sluggishness that has arisen in the past year. 

fifty fifty
A festival looks up, now for glory
Kishwar Desai
It’s always enjoyable to see something develop and grow over a period, especially when everyone has predicted it is doomed.

This above all
In idols all put their faith
Buddhists and Hindus make no bones about making idols and then worshipping them. It is the most brazen example of man creating God and worshipping him, her or it as the Creator.
Khushwant Singh

As an agnostic, I regard all religions as idolatrous in as much as they assign divinity to things created by themselves. Buddhists and Hindus make no bones about making idols of metal and stone and then worshipping them. It is the most brazen example of man creating God and worshipping him, her or it as the Creator.

I bring up the subject as I have recently received a letter from Preetam Giani who lives in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His original name was Mehboob Ali. He was expelled from Cambridge University for preaching and practicing homosexuality. Since then he has been doing the same in Pakistan and is often in trouble with the authorities. We have been corresponding for some years. In this letter, he has spelt out his view on idolatry. I would like to share its contents with my readers.

It has been often asserted that conflict between Hinduism and Islam is a conflict between two somewhat different forms of idolatry. Referring to me he writes: “My friend has compared my assertion to a verse from Iqbal’s Javaab-e-Shikwa.” He goes on to say: “In his verse, Iqbal bemoans, as he was so fond of doing, the historical decline of Muslim dominance attributing it to deviation from Islam’s original message and adoption of new, corrupt practices amounting to idolatry. However, the comparison is not a very valid one, for Iqbal and I are saying quite different things. Iqbal is merely putting words, expressing his simplistic notions about Muslim decadence into God’s mouth. (Another of his simplistic ideas, latched on to by MA Jinnah, was the two-nation theory, which formed the rationale for the Partition in 1947).

“On the contrary, my contention is that the original Kuraanic conception of God (as indeed that of Jewish belief, from which it clearly derives) is itself idolatrous in all respects except in that it’s not materially represented. In other words, Muslims worship one mental idol (though many of them also worship the local SHO - station house officer or police station in charge), whereas most Hindus worship several idols with material form (and also, probably, their local SHOs). So, theologically, the difference between the two religions is more apparent than real and should not have formed the basis for a millennium of bitter enmity and copious bloodshed. If only members of both communities could abandon their respective forms of idolatry, incline instead towards all-inclusive pantheism (most simply put: God is everything, everything is God), banish all numerous forms of superstition from their lives, avoid prejudice more than AIDS, uphold secularism and develop the characteristics of honesty, courage, compassion, objectivity and critical thinking in themselves. If only they could!”

Ghalib’s couplets

Preetam has also sent me his rendering of two of Mirza Ghalib’s (1797-1869) couplets. I reproduce them for the enlightenment of my readers:

Transliteration: Ta’at mein ta rahay na mae o ungbeen ki lag,/ dozukh mein daal do koee lay kur bahisht ko

So worship may not be tainted by greed for wine and honey,/ Let someone pick up heaven and throw it into hell!/ Vafadari bashurtay ustavari usl eemaan hai,/ murray but-khanay mein to kaabay mein garho Brahmin ko Fidelity, provided it’s steadfast, constitutes real faith: If a Brahmin dies in his temple, bury him in the Kaaba.

Exploding toilets

The following news item is reported in a recent issue of Private Eye: “Each time I sit on the toilet, it’s a little scary,” 78-year-old Stan Auerbach told reporters in his bathroom in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, “wondering, if it might explode. I have two toilets fitted with the high-pressure Flushmate III system, but now that the government has declared them a laceration risk, I’m worried I may be sitting on a time bomb. These stories about explosions are worrying”.

“Since June, when the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 2.3 million Flushmate III pressure-assisted flushing systems, descriptions of exploding toilets have been widely reported. I required dozens of stitches for an extremely deep wound caused by exploding porcelain,” an anonymous 26-year-old reported on the CPSC website. “Because I am a bigger person, I was able to absorb the brunt of the force. Had this happened to someone elderly, or a child, the outcome could have been catastrophic”.

David Birks-White, a San Francisco lawyer, has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the manufacturers. “Fundamentally, you can’t have toilets that blow up,” he stated. “How much more do we need to say about that?” The CPSC has so far received 304 reports of Flushmate-related toilet explosions, with 14 “impact or laceration injuries”.

Silence is golden

“Learn to keep quiet”. Someday that might make you the Prime Minister of India. (Vipin Buckshey, New Delhi)

guest column
To get growth going, reforms must not stall
The move to attract FDI in retail, aviation and broadband contributes to better investor sentiment. Over the medium term, this would help restore some balance to the current account.
Adi Godrej

Economic policies announced over the past couple of months have been encouraging for investors and are expected to alleviate some of the investment sluggishness that has arisen in the past year. However, data on the Indian economy in recent weeks has presented a sobering picture and we can by no means assume that growth has bottomed out. As Parliament convenes for the winter session, industry looks forward to a continuing agenda of reforms that would reinvigorate investments and economic growth.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the media outside Parliament.

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded negative growth in September and belied hopes that a growth uptick was forthcoming. Similarly, exports have been falling, and the current account deficit for the month was the highest ever recorded. The inflation rate also displayed continued intransigency. These indicators further accentuate the deepening of the slump that the Indian economy is experiencing. Although the global economy too is in trouble, there is much that the government can do to boost growth at home.

The move to attract more FDI in key sectors, including retail, aviation, and broadband, contributes to better investor sentiments. It may take some time for investments to come into these sectors from overseas, but over the medium term, this would help restore some balance to the current account. Opening up multi-brand retail has the potential to shore up the value chain connecting farm to fork by streamlining logistics in cold chains, warehousing, transport, etc. FDI also comes with embedded technological and managerial expertise, which in turn incentivises domestic companies to strengthen competitiveness.

The increase in diesel prices and the cap on subsidised LPG were absolutely essential in view of the fiscal position. Lower fuel subsidy outgo needs to be accompanied by measures to deregulate fuel prices along with a clear policy for delivery of subsidy to targeted populations. Governments must not be tempted to spend more funds than they can access without disturbing the macroeconomic balance, as this has significant implications for fund availability for the private sector.

The government has signalled a revamped Companies Bill to be presented in Parliament. This would address outdated compliance procedures and promote accountability with responsible self-regulation, creating a more facilitative atmosphere for business. However, we are concerned about the provision for mandating 2 per cent of profits of past three years to be spent on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR is a very wide area, and expenditures on this would be difficult to determine, given that companies are already engaging strongly in community and social activities. The National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities of Business brought out by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs should be propagated.

Other legislations that should make progress during the Parliament session include amendments to pension and insurance Bills, mining Bills, Competition Act, etc. The financial sector Bills, opening up pension and insurance sectors, are critical to enlarging long-term fund availability for infrastructure. They would also help households to access better financial instruments to meet their savings needs.

The Land Acquisition Bill is also likely to be introduced. It has gone through several iterations to balance the needs of development with the interests of stakeholders. As the private sector is involved in building infrastructure both under the public-private partnership route and standalone route, the government should enjoy the ability to acquire land for all public purpose, including private projects. Consent of two-thirds majority of landowners should the target in case the government needs to acquire land. Compensation packages should address both project costs as well as landowners’ prospects.

The government also appears to have taken some decision regarding the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) and retrospective amendments to the income tax law, which were creating doubts among investors. Deferment of GAAR by three years, clearly defining ‘commercial substance’, grandfathering of tax incentives, distinguishing tax mitigation from tax avoidance, treaty override, etc, are positive recommendations from the Shome Committee examining the issues.

The agenda for reforms has been aggressively addressed in the past months, with an attempt to make them politically palatable so that key legislations can pass through Parliament. Industry welcomes these steps, and looks forward to continuing action on policy reforms, accompanied by lowering of interest rates by the RBI. That would help the economy reprise the growth trajectory of 8-10 per cent, which it so desperately needs.

The writer is president of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

fifty fifty
A festival looks up, now for glory
Kishwar Desai

It’s always enjoyable to see something develop and grow over a period, especially when everyone has predicted it is doomed. And for those who maintain that babus don’t work, let me tell you I have just seen quite the opposite. I have also seen a Chief Minister on his feet, actually supervising everything in the middle of the night. The much-hyped policy paralysis was not in evidence, and very occasionally, perhaps, one should write about the good news as well!

Having just attended the start of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, and (as part of the jury for the special centenary award this year) having watched a few really good films, including the visually stunning and deeply philosophical opening film “The Life of Pi”, I am happy to report the festival is actually moving along the path on which it has been pushed for the past eight years — ever since it shifted to Goa. But the pace is still slow and must be hastened.

I know there was (and still is) a lot of grumbling among film aficionados when the IFFI landed on the sunny beaches of Goa, simply because there was no dearth of facilities at the previous venue, the country’s Capital. The same could not be said about Goa. Yet someone took that brave decision, and over the years the decentralisation that was begun, albeit accidentally, is slowly taking root as the festival gains an identity and some independence. I have no doubt in the next five to six years it will shed all reticence and emerge as a major festival of the world. The scope and scale, thanks to the government support, makes it one of the largest in the country, and there is no danger of the sponsor (i.e., the government!) pulling out as yet. And when one adds to it Goa’s beauty, there has to be creative magic. Of course, critics are right, and by now the festival should have been at the top of its game. But the lessons of previous years seem to have been taken seriously, and it is important the sense of urgency we noticed this year is not frittered away.

The decision to shift to Goa was bold not just because it loosened the Centre’s hold, but also because there are very few good cinema halls in the state. Perhaps the reasoning was that once the festival shifts, halls would spring up automatically. Possibly the long Portuguese rule restricted a passion for Indian cinema. Besides, the average Goan in that pre-independence period probably had more access to international cinema (thanks to the European connection) and led a more cosmopolitan life. Given the fact that infrastructure for the festival should have been the priority at least now, for some odd reason, apart from the basic few theatres not much has been added. However, just for IFFI purposes too, a host of facilities are now being planned under the new dispensation in the state.

A former Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the very astute Ambika Soni, had always made a strong pitch for the festival. She handed the baton to the erudite Manish Tiwari on the eve of the festival this year — and one hopes he too would force the momentum. This can become a world-class festival quickly, and it is a tragedy we do not use the soft power of it internationally as well! I have always rued the fact that even in the UK few people in the industry know about it. Unless the festival has either a strong identity for ‘great cinema’ or as ‘a wonderful business hub’, it might never realise its potential.

Normally, because of the Centre-state divide over the festival, there are areas of dysfunction — this was probably an issue this year as well — but there seemed to be improved coordination, visible in the fact that at least the opening ceremony went off smoothly! Even though it was still stuck in the song-and-dance routine, at least we were not subjected to the usual interminable gaffes and delays. We were also thankful for short speeches and a chief guest, Akshay Kumar, who more or less arrived on time!

Much of the credit must go to the efforts of two very dedicated bureaucrats, the Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Uday Kumar Varma, and the Joint Secretary, Raghvendra Singh. Right since taking charge last year, Mr Varma has tried to understand the problems of a government festival that is supposed to compete with those run privately. Endless red tape can subvert the best laid plans.

Some of the red tape is also being slashed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Many of us remember how eight years ago Mr Parrikar — Chief Minister then too — had put up the facilities that we now see in Panjim. This year too we saw some strengthening of the facilities with the imaginative setting up of an outdoor tent, in which the opening ceremony was held. The temporary structure was spacious and air-conditioned, and while not too ostentatious it was a relief from the dark closeted experience of other venues.

The opening film was, of course, the spectacular “The Life of Pi”, and as a jury member I also managed to see a few other good films. While we still need to improve the overall quality of films, the infrastructure, the number of international curators, festival visibility and attendance, one had a strong feeling this year could herald a turning point for the festival.

Let’s also hope that the energetic new minister, Manish Tiwari, will continue to force the festival momentum. One crucial point is that planning for the next festival will begin straightaway so that we do not lose valuable time, as in previous years. Yes, there have been improvements, but we must create an atmosphere where this festival is indispensable for cinema viewers.