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Power sector woes
Learning for future |
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Food for ‘fatwa’
Pakistan faces many crises
Made in China
Looking beyond caste for modernity
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Learning for future
Access
to knowledge is fundamental in the country’s bid to empower its people, the President has said. He was speaking in the context of higher education while addressing vice-chancellors of Central universities. The significance of this becomes plain when we look at the figures — enrolment in higher education in India is 15-20 per cent, while in the US it is 60 per cent. India’s greatest strength and offering to the world over the next decade is going to be its human resource, with a surplus of 47 million working-age people expected by 2020, while the US will have a shortage of an estimated 17 million. This can work in two ways: India supplies manpower to the world or the work comes to India. The key, either way, would be our skill level. Education, therefore, is obviously the most important investment the country can make today. The kind of work we attract will depend on the skills we have, which means higher the education, greater the value addition. The lead in higher education in the country has thus far been with the government, the IITs and the IIMs being the flag bearers. But the expansion required to provide wide access to higher education — nearer home, as the President says — can come only from massive private investment. There has been plenty of it thus far, but the quality of what is offered often remains suspect. Certain issues, like lack of quality faculty, will be overcome only with time, but greater monitoring is required today to ensure students are not taken for a ride. Public universities can contribute by promoting traditional courses as well as academic research, which may not have immediate market value but will produce a higher skill set, which is ignored by private institutes focused on employability of their graduates. Even as we plan getting on a growth trajectory for higher education, we will have to focus equally on the system that will feed the universities — our schools. As of today, the country is grossly inadequate in school education, gains from the RTE Act notwithstanding.
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Food for ‘fatwa’
The
all-girl music band of Kashmir, “Pragaash”, seems to have become a collateral victim of the ongoing war between social evolution and regression. This incident has given an opportunity to many silent spectators sitting on the fence so far to raise their voice against the season of ‘fatwas’. These voices were presumed to be non-existent by the few who feel “pleased” and “satisfied” by acting against the love for music of three 16-year-old girls. Shakespeare had talked of music as “food for love,” and its degeneration into food for hatred and oppression is not going to be a cake-walk anymore, with more and more voices joining the chorus of concern for the future of girls in the Kashmir Valley. To begin with, a lot of boys’ bands have expressed solidarity with the girls and have pleaded with them not to bow down under pressure. Chief Minister of the state Omar Abdullah has acted tough on what he called a “handful of morons” who abused and harassed the girls online. A criminal case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and six of the suspects have been identified. His assurance to the girls and their families that he will create an atmosphere where they can have more than one options is reassuring to all who are in favour of an evolutionary society. Politicians like Naeem Akhtar, spokesperson of the opposition People’s Democratic Party in J&K, expressed concern that such “unnecessary controversies” are “defaming religion.” BJP MP Balbir Punj praised the stand taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in the matter, and another MP, Jay Panda, came out in support of the rock band. Important voices like Mamata Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, and Najma Heptullah, senior MP, also supported the all-girls band, she said, “Saying anything in the name of religion does not do any favour to the religion.” In the tug of war going on between the religious fundamentalists and democratic practices, democratic voices are regaining a strong footing in the Valley, which is good news.
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Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. — Lord Chesterfield
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Pakistan faces many crises
Pakistan
is engulfed in a series of crises both on the external and internal fronts. Taking up the external crisis to begin with, Pakistan's jawans carried out a series of attacks in the Mendhar region of Poonch across the LoC which led to a serious situation across the border. In particular, the beheading of Indian Lance Naik Hemraj and mutilation of his body were serious violations of human rights and rules of war. This led to an uproar in India, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to warn Pakistan that it should not treat the matter lightly and there could not be business as usual. Though initially Pakistan treated the cross border incidents casually, the Pakistani authorities soon realised that the situation was serious and that they should carry out an investigation into the incidents, including the beheading of Lance Naik Hemraj. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan was prepared to look into all the allegations and she called for a meeting with her Indian counterpart to discuss all the issues involved. The Indian Foreign Minister, Mr Salman Khurshid, however, ruled out a meeting with the Pakistani counterpart until Pakistan restored normalcy and peace across the LoC and the situation returned to normal. Inhuman acts like beheading of soldiers seem to have found acceptance by the Pakistani Army, after it allied with fanatical jihadi groups to avenge a proxy war in Kashmir and the rest of India. Meanwhile, Pakistan is rocked internally by various problems. A Canadian born Barelvi cleric named Tahir-ul-Qadri suddenly appeared in Pakistan's capital Islamabad in the third week of January, gathering large crowds and leading big processions and all the times thundering that the Pakistan Government should resign immediately. Tahir-ul-Qadri has an interesting background. He is said to be a Sufi scholar and had lived in Saudi Arabia for many years. He is also said to have visited the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer Sherif quite a few times. In his various speeches, Tahir-ul-Qadri had threatened to unleash a mass movement to overthrow President Asif Ali Zardari and clean up national politics. Qadri demanded electoral reforms, a bar on corrupt politicians from holding office and ushering in of a caretaker government headed by an honest person ahead of the elections scheduled to take place later this year. The Government of Pakistan got alarmed and sent a 10- member delegation consisting of federal ministers and leaders of Pakistan's political parties which held discussions with Qadri and signed an agreement. It is believed that Pakistan Army Chief Pervez Kayani is in sympathy with the Barelvi's movement and that he is quietly backing him in his activities. As if these problems were not enough to rock the boat of Pakistan, the Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court suddenly came out with an order for the arrest of Pakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on allegations of corruption while he was working as Power Minister earlier. The judicial order of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was described by observers as a judicial coup and deliberately timed to coincide with the mass movement of Tahir-ul-Qadri. President Asif Ali Zardari meanwhile called a meeting of his Cabinet to discuss the developments. Imran Khan, leader of Tehrik-e-Insaf, added to the confusion of the internal situation by calling for the immediate resignation of President Zardari and dissolution of the government, followed by the appointment of a caretaker government until the elections are held later this year. Yet another problem of law and order was reported from Karachi in the third week of January. A Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader and three others, including two policemen, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi which led to a series of protests by the party's workers. Manzar Imam, a member of the Sindh Assembly, and a bodyguard were also killed in a shootout in Karachi. The attack on the Imam was considered serious, since he had been assigned security men for his protection. The attackers, who were riding motorcycles, escaped after the shooting incident. A well-known expert of Pakistan affairs, Bruce Riedel, has stated that Pakistan's time bomb is ticking away. The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2014 will unsettle the border situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, thereby creating a fluid situation in that country and the border region in Afghanistan. According to Riedel, the US intelligence community rates Pakistan among the most likely states in the world to fail by 2030. He goes on to state that Pakistan remains a patron and state sponsor of terror. Three of the five most wanted on America's counterterrorism list - LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, the Taliban's Mullah Omar and Al Qaeda head Ayman al Zawahiri — live in Pakistan. It is well known that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is large, larger than Great Britain's. The nukes are in the hands of the generals since the civilian government has only nominal control. President Asif Ali Zardari is due to complete his term in office after the elections later this year. The role of General Kayani, the Army Chief who is due to complete his extended term this year, remains to be seen. The ISI is under the control of the Pakistan Army, and its role and activities during the election period would also be of great interest. America's relationship with Pakistan deteriorated dramatically during the first term of President Barack Obama. His second term has just begun. According to observers, the situation remains to be carefully watched. They believe that Washington and New Delhi need to be vigilant, but they should also be supportive of Pakistan's efforts to become a normal state after decades of coups and assassinations. The people of Pakistan have been the victims. Now more than ever, 2013 could be a transformative year for Pakistan and indeed it would be a battle for the soul of that
country.
The writer is a former Governor of UP and West Bengal.
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Made in China The
‘Made in China’ label, in the minds of most Indians, stands for something shoddy and cheap, something that will not last beyond the end of the month. I too shared this opinion for many years. We bought an attractive toy train from Rama Stores in Chandigarh. It broke down the day after it was bought. When we took it back, they said there was nothing they could do — it was made in China. A few weeks later I bought a very attractive shirt at a sale. Unfortunately, the very first time I wore it the colour ran all over my body – I ended the day with blue arms and a blue neck! Again I was told, with a shrug of the shoulders: it was made in China, nothing could be done. Then in a few weeks two things happened in quick succession which left me wondering about my prejudice. A friend bought me a woollen scarf. It was soft and warm like my father’s shahtoosh scarf. I looked at the label and was amazed to find that it was made in China. Another friend brought me a blue and white porcelain night light. The porcelain was exquisite and the workmanship was impeccable. I turned it over and found that it had been made in China for Spode. I was left confused over the two extremes. My confusion was put to rest soon enough. I needed to buy a new set of light fittings. I went to the one shop that I have always gone to in Bhagirath Palace in Delhi. Ganesh was happy to see me and once we had caught up with each other’s news, I picked out the lights that I liked. As the bill was being made, I asked: “I hope they are not made in China?” “Yes they are,” he said with a smile. “I am sorry I don’t want them.”
He went back into the store and brought out a bracket which looked exactly like the ones I had chosen. With one quick movement of his hand he snapped it into two. Then he took one of my brackets and invited me to try and break it. I couldn’t. “Your brackets cost Rs 800 each. The one I broke costs Rs 50. Chinese goods come in every price range. Other countries look only for the top of the mark goods while Indian traders look for the cheapest because they can make the maximum profit on them .They also absolve themselves of all responsibility for selling defective goods by saying they are made in China. You will be surprised to know that there is an entire segment in the Chinese manufacturing process catering exclusively to the Indian traders’ greed.” The Consumers’ Forum must include Chinese goods in its jurisdiction and hold the traders responsible for any defects. If this were to happen I am sure that, in a very short time, we would be buying only the scarves and the nightlights and not the toy trains and the
shirts.
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Looking beyond caste for modernity A caste-based social order is bound to accentuate caste consciousness and caste solidarity at the expense of modern values of liberty, equality and fraternity. But a young urbanised population challenges its power base
It is necessary to state that the caste order which is solemnized by the Mandal Commission is not necessarily in the interest of the nation. Notable studies have shown that caste conservatism was in the process of ‘dying’ especially during the Nehru years and after. Nicholas Dirks in his classic study, “Castes of Mind Colonialism and the Making of Modern India” (Princeton University Press 2001) laments that the process has now been reversed and in contemporary political scenario, it has become fashionable to claim backwardness. It is a kind of ‘vested interest’ which seeks ‘to redeem the tragic past of India’ (p. 279). It is argued here that the tyranny of the caste-based social order is bound to accentuate caste consciousness and caste solidarity at the expense of notions of common citizenship, nationhood and modern values of liberty, equality and fraternity which form the basis of fundamental rights of our constitution. Besides, there are inherent perils in the mechanism of dominance of a caste based social order which may threaten a plural, secular and liberal democratic polity. Decoding sagotra marriage The recent diktats of the Maha Khap panchayat so eloquently pronounced after their recent meetings have demanded that the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 be amended to include in its provisions banning ‘Sagotra’ (same gotra) marriages. Some time back a Khap panchayat banished ‘Sagotra’ married young couples from the village, ordered confiscation of their property (asking the parents of the couple to obey) and when those unfortunate young couples returned to the villages they were actually murdered. Some of the elders of the panchayats, as reported in the media, declared their support for these ghastly crimes. The Encyclopaedia Indica (Hindi Vishwa Kosh) edited by Nagendra Nath Basu, considered to be an authoritative work (Vol.III pp 569-70 Vol.VI p.542) defines gotra as belonging to the same Vansha, Kul, or blood relation, family name etc. and that same gotra marriage is prohibited among many caste groups. The Hindu marriage Act, 1955 does not use the word gotra but defines ‘full blood’, half-blood’, ‘uterine blood’ relationships, (Section 3, c & d) and accepts that marriage is prohibited among those falling in the above categories. Also Section 3, Clause f, sub-clause (i) defines sapinda relationship which applies to ‘any person extending as far as the third generation (inclusive) in the line of ascent through the mother, and the fifth (inclusive) in the line of ascent through the father, the line being traced upwards in each case from the person concerned who is to be counted as the first generation’. Section 5, Clause (ii) says that ‘marriage can only be legal and solemnized if the parties are not sapindas of each other unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits marriage between the two’. Section 3 Clause (a) defines ‘custom’ and ‘usage’ as ‘any rule which having been continuously and uniformly observed for a long time has obtained the force of law among Hindus in any local area, tribe, community, group or family’ ‘Provided that the rule is certain and not unreasonable or opposed to public policy, and provided further that in the case of a rule applicable only to a family it has not been discontinued by the family.’ The above provisions are simple, self-explanatory, easy to understand and seem consistent with Hindu Law and usages. Seven generations and gotra ‘Gotra’ is a much broader term, which is based on the founder of the family, families in distant past. Generally it is believed that the family name, nomenclature is inherited from the ancient Rishi or Sage. More commonly the gotra signifies the same blood relationship. According to “History of Dharmasastras” by Bharat Ratna Professor P.V.Kane, Vol.IV, Ch.IV p.75 f.n.5; ‘In the case of brahmans, intermarriage between family descended from the same Rishi, and in the case of other Aryans between families bearing the same name or known to be connected are forbidden.’ “The Laws of Manu” does discuss sapinda marriage in CH.III pp.75-76, Manu says ‘A (damsel) who is neither sapinda on the mother’s side, nor belongs to the family on the father’s side is recommended for wedlock and conjugal union. “The Sacred Book of the East,” edited by .Max Muller Vol.XXV Ch.III pp 75-76 points out: ‘But sapinda relationship ceases with the seventh person (in the ascending and descending lines)’ says Manu further (Ibid Ch V, 60, p 178) According to religious rites, especially in respect of offer of arghya (water) to the ancestors as performed during shraddha or tarpan etc. only names of ancestors of seven generations are cited both on father’s and mother’s side. ‘Sapinda relationship, based on those who could offer pinda to the common ancestors, is confined to three generations. Marriage is null and void between the two under sapinda relationship.’ The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 thus offers ample scope for use of local customs and usage provided these do not impinge on the fundamental rights of life and property of individuals. The Khap panchayat’s demands and practices are, to say the least, most unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious and are offensive to the basic principles of liberty, human freedom and human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India. The demands display arrogance of power acquired for political purposes and need to be curbed firmly in accordance with law enforcing constitutional obligations from the citizens, whether rural or urban. The mainspring of democracy should not be diluted under any cost, not certainly at the altar of electoral politics. It must be pointed out that “Manusmriti” prescribed stringent punishments of death only for offences like murder, or treason against the state etc. However, Prof. Kane says that ‘most of the punishments became antiquated and were given up. Other punishments were accepted ‘in the form of gifts of cows or money to brahmans, pilgrimages and recitation of vedic mantras or japa in the name of some favourite deity such as Visnu or Siva.’ Also death punishments and other cruel punishments ‘were converted to fines, pilgrimages, dinner for the fellow castemen etc.’ (P.V.Kane, Vol.IV Ch.IV p.87). Redundant castes and khaps The Khap panchayats offensive against the young in fact is recognition of the fact that their citadel of traditional caste based virtues has been shaken to its very foundations. It is their last ditch fight against the upcoming middle class, educated classes followed by the younger generation. The caste system which has persisted for centuries is not likely to be eradicated in the near future. However, most observers assert with a degree of optimism that a lot of attenuating circumstances exist which would eventually weaken the caste system. It may remain as a private affaire of the families in the long run. I believe the caste system has no political future ultimately despite the fact that the political class is determined to preserve it forever for its own benefit i.e. to capture power. Youth- pillars of hope The reasons for such optimism are as follows: The younger generation, in the age group of 18-40, comprising about 50% of the total population of India does not subscribe to the rigours of the caste-based social order or the concept of caste itself. Also more than 35% of Indian population now live in metropolitan cities, towns and urban centre. Studies have shown that their life style changes in the urban areas and the hold of caste in the conduct of their lives is minimum. This debilitating process in the caste order is likely to continue at a faster rate. In the wake of increasing urbanization and industrialized development of society, it is generally believed that the social transformation as a consequence would go beyond the pale of caste. In the new world of hope and opportunities unleashed by economic reforms globalization and multi-national ventures, the younger generation, most of whom are educated, are not going to be satisfied with home-made, caste-based occupations. The energetic and entrepreneurial middle classes are bound to grasp the new vistas of knowledge and opportunities to grow and flourish. They have already taken the lead in ushering in economic growth and have contributed to transforming the political economy of the land. The caste system is bound to be weakened in the process. The growth of liberal, scientific and technological education would eventually transform the collective consciousness of the modern, educated younger generation. We should not underestimate the power of knowledge and the efficacy of liberal values which such education imparts. Indians are great travellers both inside and outside India. Travels are a great educative experience. Caste hardly matters when they travel in trains, surface transport or by air. The entire universe is shrinking as a result of unprecedented scientific and technological innovations. It is pointed out: The material or physical world we inhabit is a modern one, which means it is a world of scientific technological and engineering achievements, which will ultimately ‘penetrate the veil of appearances’, as it is called. India as a nation, has no choice, it is bound to look beyond caste.
An eminent historian and former Professor of history, DU, Dr Panigrahi has authored several books on different facets of Indian history.
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