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Delhi needs more powers
Unwarranted extension |
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Arrival of an Internet currency
Learning the dignity of labour
Dynamics of engagement
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Delhi needs more powers THE root cause of the latest controversy over whether the Centre's prior clearance is required for passing the Lokpal Bill is the absence of sufficient powers and denial of full statehood to Delhi. When Delhi became a state in 1992 after Article 239AA was introduced in the Constitution through an amendment, it was granted status more than that of a Union Territory and less than a state. The Delhi units of the Congress and the BJP as well as the Aam Aadmi Party are unanimous in demanding complete statehood for Delhi. As Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit raised this demand when she faced protests over crimes against women. She did not press the issue since her party led the coalition at the Centre. Arvind Kejriwal has no such limitations. Since AAP was voted to power for its anti-corruption stance and demand for a strong Lokpal, Kejriwal is aggressively pursuing the issue. The controversy arose after Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran's legal advice to the Lieutenant-Governor was leaked in bits and pieces to the media. Parasaran did not comment on the constitutionality of the Lokpal Bill since he had not seen it nor did he say the government could not introduce or discuss the Bill. Kejriwal’s angry letter to the L-G added fuel to the fire. It seems Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung jumped the gun in seeking legal advice, which found its way to the media without the context in which it was given. The real issue is: Can a Home Ministry order limit a state government's powers? AAP should challenge that in court. Secondly, since the Centre has already passed a law on Lokpal and Lokayuktas, its legislation would prevail, in case of a conflict, which is likely, over the one to be passed by the government in Delhi. If a law contravenes a constitutional provision, it is set aside by courts. In the light of this, the Delhi Assembly should seriously consider the Bill from all angles before passing it. What one witnesses now is the play of politics by all parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
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Unwarranted extension THE executive can favour a few by extending the term of a person who holds a particular charge. It has the power to do so, but it is often restrained from using it not only because of an aversion to creating precedents, but also because of the fear of public censure. As a result, historically, only a few exceptions have been made for incumbents, who were in the middle of crucial negotiations or some other pressing matter. Now, the rules and terms of appointment for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited have been amended by the Punjab government. The government has raised the retirement age for the post from 62 to 65 years just a day before the incumbent was to retire. This will allow K.D
Chaudhri, the incumbent CMD, an extension of one year. It will also pave the way for other retiring bureaucrats to take over as heads of the two power companies. The post of CMD of the two power bodies is a critical one and has traditionally been held by technocrats. Without going into the technocrat vs bureaucrat issue, it still stands to reason that a position such as this requires someone who understands the intricacies of power utilities. The amendment of rules, especially when they benefit an incumbent, naturally raises concerns about extraneous considerations coming into play. The second extension of service to the CMD under whom PSPCL has been charged by the regulatory authority with fudging the figures to obtain a higher power subsidy from the government does not send out a positive signal. It raises questions about all the tall claims made about the improvement in the functioning of the power utility. Moreover, there is no dearth of talented people within the organisation to fill such posts. The practice of re-employing those on the right side of the political leadership has a demoralising effect on the rest of the staff.
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The secret of getting ahead is getting started. — Mark Twain
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The future of banking in the Punjab
MR. James Currie is hopeful of the future and thinks that the Swadeshi banks will come again to play an important part in financing trade. But first of all the public should be satisfied that the security offered is good. We entirely agree with this view, and the improvement in the situation we have now been witnessing shows how uncharitable were a certain class of people in blaming the public for their distrust. Those classes who have money to invest will no longer hoard, for they have learnt how unprofitable hoarding is. Hoarding was the product of distrust. If distrust continues the money that is available seeks investment in forms that afford security. But it will not return to the pit to the extent it used to do at a time when people were ignorant of the safety and profitableness of banking. If Indian managed joint stock banks do not afford sufficient security there are other banks which do; and the man who has money is not going to tie it up in a napkin. The study of Indian history
AN esteemed English lady writes to us: “I have read with much interest the account of Professor Ramsay Muir's lecture on historical research and your remarks on the subject which are most pertinent. The education now given is altogether too mechanical a means to an end, for passing examinations and securing good Government appointments. Individuality or research does not find encouragement. Neither does there seem to be any opportunity or time for it. Students year after year are turned out like so many blocks, all of the same pattern, and such of them as possess keen intellect and more than ordinary ability are discouraged from pressing forward for want of a little encouragement and the means of exercising their talents…. Minds must be trained to ask the why and wherefore of things, and to form a right and truthful conception of conclusions. Professor Ramsay Muir has given voice to what has been in the minds of many thinking people for a very long time.”
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Arrival of an Internet currency Bitcoin was created in 2009 and is a digital coinage introduced as an open source software by an MIT student named Satoshi Nakamoto. There is considerable speculation as to whether Satoshi is an actual person, or an assemblage of individuals using a pseudonym. Bitcoins are minted by a process designated as mining, in which specialised computer hardware complete complex mathematic equations and are rewarded with a block of bitcoins. This process takes around 10 minutes and the current block rewards 25 bitcoins. The block reward will be halved to 12.5 bitcoins in 2017 and again roughly every four years thereafter. By 2140 there will be roughly 21 million bitcoins in existence. For those interested in using bitcoin as a vehicle for foreign exchange, a variety of platforms currently exist which allow for intra-currency trading. Some of the larger platforms are Kraken, Mt.Gox, VirWox and Intersango. Each of these exchange vehicles features a unique set of services and stipulations. Security plays an incredibly important role in bitcoin trading due to both the intangible nature of the currency and the lack of a comprehensive regulatory infrastructure for the exchanges. That being said, these currency exchange software platforms attract countless visitors, the vast majority of whom are able to engage in transactions without trouble. A whirlwind of activity has been noticed in the recent past with business owners of all stripes getting on track with bitcoin. From small businesses in New Orleans to the Sacramento Kings of the NBA accepting bitcoin for ticket sales, to casinos in Las Vegas, bitcoin is popping up ubiquitously. Venture capitalist Chris Dixon believes bitcoin may touch $100,000 if it develops as the prime means of e-commerce. At present the bitcoin market is growing by 30 per cent per month. Zynga Games, one of the largest online gaming companies, responsible for Farmville, Castleville, and a host of others also began accepting bitcoin for in game financial transactions. The IRS has also launched a campaign that allows taxes to be paid with bitcoin. There has been bitcoin ATMs popping up in cities such as Vancouver, Ottawa and a Bratislava Slovakia shopping mall. Recently, the New York City bitcoin ATM was put on hold until a public hearing under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Financial Services can be held. The value of bitcoin is typically very volatile due in large part to the fact that the currency is a popular tool for individuals exchanging illegal services who wish to remain anonymous. Recent government-backed seizures of bitcoin have caused the value of the currency to fluctuate greatly. That being said, the per-unit value of bitcoin has risen astronomically over the past two years. After flirting with the $1,000 value just after the New Year, bitcoin has been steadily trading at around $950 on the Mt. Gox exchange over the last fortnight and is being nicely supported by the 50-day moving average, indicating bitcoin is still decidedly bullish. This was surprising to most analysts who believed the regulatory news coming out of China, India and Russia would burst the bitcoin bubble. However, keeping in view that bitcoin is beating the 50-day moving average, it may be generalised that Bitcoin is an extremely healthy market, and should only continue to increase in value. A few of the benefits brought by bitcoin are seen in effective markets. A bitcoin can be divided into millions of parts (every part is called satoshi); the fiat currency is normally broken down in hundreds). The transactions in this network are free, or in some cases include a tiny transaction fee in order to induce the miners. But we are speaking of approximately a tenth of one per cent. If you are to compare this with a 2 or 4 per cent fee that is generally charged by the credit card companies, you will understand why this concept is so attractive. Bitcoin has the power to become a great force in the financial industry. The scenarios are numerous, and they all seem to support the idea that bitcoin will retain its value, even if the fiat currency of a weak central government is consumed by hyperinflation. And we shouldn't fall into a pessimistic mood, even if there are some recorded cases of people selling valuable items in order to buy bitcoins. All things considered, the bitcoin monetary system can easily coexist with the traditional currencies existent in the world. Bitcoins are fungible assets with durability, portability, divisibility and scarcity, i.e., they have all the characteristics of conventional money (euros, dollars, pounds etc). They have value so they can be exchanged for other currencies at exchanges. Therein lies the danger. There are times when the value of bitcoin can fluctuate widely, by 50 per cent in one day. So, as a store of value, they are not for the faint-hearted. In other words, you should not have more money than you can afford to lose in the form of bitcoins. However, a wallet with small amounts of bitcoin in it can be used for minor day-to-day transactions which would help familiarise you with Internet currencies. As the amount of bitcoins in circulation increases, their value vis-a-vis other currencies should stabilise and you can start using them for larger
transactions. The writer is a Professor, Department of
Economics, Kurukshetra University
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Learning the dignity of labour On such postings, most officers leave behind their families as it is dreadfully expensive to go abroad on a course on the miniscule pay that the government/MoD doles out. My Dad, on the other hand, said that it was a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience and that the whole family must go even if it meant digging deep into his savings. I was in my final year of college and the Principal, Sister Rose, very generously allowed me to miss attending classes on the promise that I would return in time to give my final exams, which I did. My notes were posted to me monthly by my dear college friends through the diplomatic bag. Of course, I only studied them right before the exams but that is not important! Dad told us that since all his savings would be going into our air travel to the US, we would have to earn our pocket money for shopping etc and learn to stand on our own two feet. My sister and I nodded in agreement of course, but all the time wondering how it would happen, considering the fact that we were soon going to land into a shopper's paradise and our extensive lists were already in progress. Once there, my sister joined a high school and I attended the local college undertaking short courses. I obviously had more time on my hand compared to my sister and so I worked on a stringent plan to make as much money as I possibly could. And this is where I learnt what the dignity of labour was in the US and which unfortunately still lacks in India. Most evenings, I baby-sat for friends after attending a course in first aid and becoming a certified baby-sitter. I raked leaves, mowed lawns and shovelled snow. Weekends, my sister and I worked at the Commissary and Supermarket on the Army base. There used to be a draw-of-lot system since there were quite a few of us for the limited vacancies but often I was lucky to get the work for the whole day. The job involved bagging groceries of the shopper in the correct order and then transporting the bag to the car safely and eventually getting tipped for the chore. Menial work, some may say, but I loved it and learnt even more. It was fun working alongside friends and even getting handsomely tipped by known shoppers. In the late 1980s having $40 a day was a huge earning and was promptly spent on jeans, perfumes, shoes -- well everything that a teenager could possibly dream of and own. Thank you Dad for your foresight! This experience has always kept me grounded and I believe no matter what work we are meant to do, there is no one occupation that is superior to the other. I sincerely hope mindsets change here too.
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Dynamics of engagement
FOR all four days at the recently concluded India Art Fair the queue outside Narendra Yadav's work That Original Might Be A Reflection remained terminally long. Close to it another young artist Princess Pea's work, a huge post office, had viewers patiently filling cards, peeping into her performance through a peephole. Why the visitors even got to exchange gifts and shake hands with the artist. At regular intervals acclaimed artist Dayanita Singh sat behind her art work File Room, a mini museum of sorts and individualised each book for the collector. While at the Speakers Forum experts deliberated on Public and its Art and how to address the public, art space it seems has already become more egalitarian and reaching out to people in ways not known before. All art is an interaction, a dialogue with the viewer. Today the emphasis on communication is gaining a fresh impetus and artists are busy enthusing new dimensions to their art works. For too long we have nurtured the notion of visual art in very literal terms. So those who believe 'art is only meant to be seen', need to soak in this new lexicon. Art can be tuned into, make you as much of a participant and simply viewed as a performance. If Anindita Datta's performance act around a spiral clay sculpture caught the viewers' imagination, the blindfolded walk of Joes Garcia Miguel from Portugal evoked as much curiosity. The moment he sat down to unpeel the shards of glass and shells covering his face, laymen not only empathized with the pain he might have been enduring but even bombarded him with queries. No wonder he quipped, "It's thanks to such performances that one has an intense debate." Indeed, no longer are artists content with a cursory glance that lasts no more than three seconds. They want to engage viewers in what some might dismiss as a spectacle. But the new face of art is not simplistic or an attention seeking gimmick. Actually Princess Pea not only hides her identity all through her performance and otherwise, but even her real name is unknown. Indeed, whatever might be the expression chosen by the artist in question the genesis of it lies in profound issues. Take renowned artist LN Tallur's live art Path Finder. The sculpture of a man sitting in front of a moving wheel throwing mud on him is actually probing into existential dilemmas of mid-life crisis. Princess Pea's search for answers to societal obsession with bodily perfection is what has taken her enroute this journey in which she acquires a cultivated image of a ballooned face with thin legs. She is not only allowing viewers a peep into her alter ego but even gets glimpses of theirs. Amazed by the quirkiness of what people have scribbled on the note pads provided by her, she smiles, "These well might be works of art in itself." Art has been changing colours and contours since ages. From simple realistic to abstract to bizarre and not so beautiful each time, it has found a new avatar. Just when viewers get ready and used to its latest manifestation, artists usher in a new vocabulary. And now artful has become earful too. To those of us who believe sound belongs to performing art well now, it's extensively used as part of video works an inextricable aspect of visual art practice. But the idea is not to confound the viewer only to make him more participative. Aditi Das, who works with plastic, has used error sounds for her latest untitled video project. She reasons, "Sound helps the viewer to focus better." In fact, she has been incorporating sounds in her works ever since she made her first video way back in 2008. The work included her breathing sound of suffocation. In Sheba Chhachhi's riveting installation, The Mermaid's Mirror, comprising fluid images of tragedy queen Meena Kumari music is perhaps a given and only accentuates how she collates memory, femininity and cinema. Same goes for Chittrovanu Majumdar's video work Nights of Matryoshka Dreaming. Installed in metal boxes like the good old bioscope of yore as Majumdar tells intimate tales and fantasies of ordinary people, music becomes one with the image. Adept at media and technology he has been integrating video and music seamlessly. Indeed, none of this is a cut and paste job as Das reminds, "Sound is a deep practice." No wonder this year sound became an independent art project. An innovative project Listen Up curated by Diana Campbell and Tim Goossens had 30 artists corroborating to create what the gallerists call sound art, perhaps the first of its kind. To demystify it or put it simply it is a mobile phone application which can be downloaded for a nominal price changing perceptions not only about art but usage of mobile phones too. At the fair of course, one could simply pick up a headphone and listen to Sumakshi Singh's soundscape or Bangladeshi artist Shumon Ahmed's sound piece. Raskia Kajaria, the director of Exhibit 320, the gallery behind the unique work, agrees that not many gallerists would back such projects. But she can fathom the immense possibilities in this realm and the desire of the art lover to engage at more than a superficial level. While the layman still might be wondering how can sound be part of visual art, the project had men like Chris Decron, director, Tate Modern, London, gushing, calling it pure art which defies ownership. Of course, Abhay Maskara, director of Maskara Gallery, disagrees and feels that while one hopes and believes that art is not created with a buyer in mind all kind of art can be sold. He says, "For instance by its very nature performance act can't be sold. But the fact is that the same is documented by way of photographs and videos. Then all of it, including works of Marina Abramovic, who calls herself 'grandmother of performance act', are sold." Indeed, what makes art distinctive is not its saleability or lack of it. Nor the medium for that matter. For no one medium is less exciting or dynamic than others. As Maskara puts it, "Even listening can be passive and a performance can be boring. One can zone in and out of anything. But yes the chances of viewers being lazy in this kind of work are less for it compels the viewer to be more attentive." Jiten Thukral of the artist duo Thukral and Tagra agrees. Since an average viewer walks out of the gallery in three minute flat, the challenge of engaging him for longer duration is a catalyst for creating narratives that are unconventional. But the bottom-line always is whether the concept demands an interactive mode. In an installation they created many years ago they made viewers taste vodka and even smell and touch their art. Today their art is known for bearing a flavour and fragrance. In fact, more and more artists today are offering a tactile experience the viewer won't forget in a hurry. Yadav states that as a communicator he is constantly devising strategies to bridge the gap. So in a fair buzzing with activity he created a work that would put viewer in a silent zone shutting off everything else. By placing him or her in a dark room of sorts grappling with eight reflections of the self, the endeavour was to eliminate the art and the artist and make the self of the viewer an art object. Clearly art is no longer just about a simple gaze but offering an experience for today's viewer is hungering for more. And in order to satiate this appetite, artists are invoking several senses of the viewer not just visual but aural too. Of course, a canvas and a sculpture too can achieve the same and sing a song to you without sounds. Amidst the overload of art works even a young girl can spot Andy Warhol's canvas of Princess of Monaco. Indeed, conventional mediums can be suffused with energy, rhythm and resonance. Not that these artists are challenging conventional mediums. Often they are using interactive works merely as entry points through which they hope even the layman would gain access into the many layers of their art which also comprises paintings. Finally what matters is not the material which can be an artist's body too but whether the artist has succeeded in transforming the medium. In fact, today art isn't about this or that. Constantly fusing and blurring boundaries, it could be multimedia or even use motor mechanics and engineering skills. As Anindita Dutta's work says Everything Ends and Everything Matters…. art is always all encompassing as well as marking new beginnings.
Creative buzz
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ONE of the most disruptive, exciting and contentious new developments in global economics is the onset of bitcoin as a legitimate, prevalent currency. It has instigated an intense debate about the future of the world economy. Bitcoin is erected on the concept that money is any object, or any kind of record, acknowledged as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given nation or socio-economic grouping. Bitcoin uses cryptography, or mathematical equations, to regulate the creation and transfer of money, rather than relying on governments and central banking authorities. Transfers for mortgages, sales, purchases or any other ways of payment can be processed by anybody, using a desktop, smart phone, tablet, or laptop. This is all conceivable without the prerequisite for a financial institution to act as an intermediary. Hence, bitcoin is a virtual commodity that has many properties similar to traditional cash. Utilising strong cryptography and a peer-to-peer network, it serves as the first currency without a central issuing authority. Bitcoins are not physical entities, but work in virtually the same way.
WHEN Dad was selected to attend the prestigious US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, there was much excitement all around. I was torn between enthusiasm and disappointment. The move meant leaving behind our Cocker Spaniel, Chérie, who was a very important member of the family. I cried buckets and finally my fabulous godparents, the Kuttayas, were given the task to calm me down and the beneficent Yashpals volunteered to take care of Cherie till our return. Peace reigned and we started to plan.
