Despite someone remarking that only Indira Gandhi wears pants in the cabinet, I rate P.V.Narasimha Rao as the boldest PM that India ever had. Few examples for his boldness.
1. Establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel despite the vote bank politics of India and possible adverse reaction of muslim world.
2. Announcement from the ramparts of the red fort that the only unfinished agenda with Pakistan is wresting back of occupied Kashmir.
3. Ushering in economic reforms which pulled the country from out of the mire of nehruvian socialism and making Man Mohan Singh the FM giving us a future PM.
4. The covert boost he gave to achieve neuclear weapon capability. Pokhran-I and II are nothing compared to his contribution.
5. Making the so-called first family of Indian politics irrelavant for 5 years.
There was something in him for the congress politicians to experiment, emulate and exercise.
...ponder
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Criteria to contest Elections
During the course of reporting the news about PMO writing so many letters seeking favours to one Union Minister, Indian Express made a passing reference that the said Hon'ble Minister has two wives and the would-be beneficieries are sons of different wives. I don't know whether this is true or as usual 'twisting of facts by the media'! If true, hats off to the Hon'ble Minister for his fair and even handed treatment to his offsprings from different sources without playing favouritism.
However, my question is whether a person with more than one spouse can be permitted to contest as per the law of land? The would be contestent is asked to give so much information like assets, convictions, pending criminal cases, etc. For holding certain offices/for contesting elections to bodies like Panchayats, two-child criteria has been enforced.
Does n't the Election Commission ask about number of spouses? Is it not more important to put one spouse criteria in place over and above two-child norm? Will the Election Commission look into this aspect?
If the news is wrong my apologies to the Hon'ble Minister.
...ponder
However, my question is whether a person with more than one spouse can be permitted to contest as per the law of land? The would be contestent is asked to give so much information like assets, convictions, pending criminal cases, etc. For holding certain offices/for contesting elections to bodies like Panchayats, two-child criteria has been enforced.
Does n't the Election Commission ask about number of spouses? Is it not more important to put one spouse criteria in place over and above two-child norm? Will the Election Commission look into this aspect?
If the news is wrong my apologies to the Hon'ble Minister.
...ponder
Friday, April 25, 2008
Some memories of childhood
Though we are Telugu people, I was born and bought up in Madras now Chennai. My links with Andhra was only through annual visits to my maternal village viz. Vangipuram near Guntur. My memories of the days spent are ever green. If we give prior intimation to my uncle he used to come with his bullock cart to Prathipadu which place we used to reach by bus from Guntur. In summer days buses used to ply upto Vangipuram.
My uncle was the village Karanam and a big farmer. His was the only 'pucca; house in that village boasting of mosaic floor in fifties. There were no roads, no water supply, no toilets, no electricity but the place was heavenly fo me a city boy.
My maternal grandfather, a paralytic confined to bed used to teach us telugu poems from various satakams. Amongst the books I read there was a poetic composition speceially brought outto commomorate the accent of Queen Victoria to British Throne as Empress of all colonies.
Since everyone knows everyone else, I as an intruder introduce myself to everyone as the grandson of Sriramulu garu and second son of Seshamma garu. People were not impersonal.
Vangipuram boasted of two Temples - One Sivalayam, whose gopuram used to come into sight as we approached the village and another - Vallabharaya temple, a grand granite vaishnavite temple.
Later I used to visit the place occassionally to meet my uncle who was looking after our lands. The last visit was in 1977 when we sold off the lands.
Eversince, my dream is to visit once that small place which gave me so much happiness.
But i know that I will be in for disappointment. Known people are there no more. The place itself would have changed beyond recognition. There will not be anyone to enquire who I am. So the dilemma is whether to go and see the changes or keep my memories as they are.
ponder...
My uncle was the village Karanam and a big farmer. His was the only 'pucca; house in that village boasting of mosaic floor in fifties. There were no roads, no water supply, no toilets, no electricity but the place was heavenly fo me a city boy.
My maternal grandfather, a paralytic confined to bed used to teach us telugu poems from various satakams. Amongst the books I read there was a poetic composition speceially brought outto commomorate the accent of Queen Victoria to British Throne as Empress of all colonies.
Since everyone knows everyone else, I as an intruder introduce myself to everyone as the grandson of Sriramulu garu and second son of Seshamma garu. People were not impersonal.
Vangipuram boasted of two Temples - One Sivalayam, whose gopuram used to come into sight as we approached the village and another - Vallabharaya temple, a grand granite vaishnavite temple.
Later I used to visit the place occassionally to meet my uncle who was looking after our lands. The last visit was in 1977 when we sold off the lands.
Eversince, my dream is to visit once that small place which gave me so much happiness.
But i know that I will be in for disappointment. Known people are there no more. The place itself would have changed beyond recognition. There will not be anyone to enquire who I am. So the dilemma is whether to go and see the changes or keep my memories as they are.
ponder...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Kakinada Pithapuram rail connectivity
Kakinada is just about 15 km from Howrah-Chennai Main line and is connected by a branch line - Samalkot-Kakinada. Kakinada is the administrative headquarters of East Godavari District. It is traditionally known for the well laid out town planning and educational institutions. There has been a demand from local population fore bringing it on the mainline so that important trains like Coromandal Express and Howrah Mail can stop there. This aspiration is nearly 40-50 years old. A few years back, I think when Mamta Banerjee was the Railway Minister, after due approval of survey, technical feasibility, viability, etc. the project has finally been sanctioned by the Railway Ministry. However, in successive Railway budgets, only token allocations of a few lakh rupees are being made. Cost is escalating. All that is required is to connect Pithapuram with Kakinada barely 20 kms I think. With a surplus of about 20000 crores, what problems Railways are facing in taking up the actual construction is not known. People of East Godavari are generally polite and docile. We have a wonderful technocrat politician Sri Pallam Raju as Kakinada MP and a union Minister. His family has served Kakinada with distinction. I hope he will do his bit in getting this project executed.
Kakinada is emerging as a major industrial/knowledge hub. A SEZ is on the anvil. A shipyard, two refineries are supposed to come up. Gas has been discovered at massive levels. A STPI has started functioning. It will be a favoured destination for IT/ITeS companies. There are about 9 engineering colleges, a medical college and a host of other educational institutions in Kakinada itself.
I would request the leading citizens of East Godavari like Sri Pallam Raju, Sri Jakkampudi Ram Mohan Rao, Sri Undavilli Arun Kumar, Sri Harsha Kumar, Sri Yanamala Ramakrushnudu, Sri Mudragada Padmanabham, Sri Pantham, Sri Jyotula, Sri Pendem Dora Babu etc to lend their influence and prevail upon the Railways to commence and complete this small project early fulfilling the legitimate needs of the travelling public and the long pending aspirations of the people of this region.
Kakinada is emerging as a major industrial/knowledge hub. A SEZ is on the anvil. A shipyard, two refineries are supposed to come up. Gas has been discovered at massive levels. A STPI has started functioning. It will be a favoured destination for IT/ITeS companies. There are about 9 engineering colleges, a medical college and a host of other educational institutions in Kakinada itself.
I would request the leading citizens of East Godavari like Sri Pallam Raju, Sri Jakkampudi Ram Mohan Rao, Sri Undavilli Arun Kumar, Sri Harsha Kumar, Sri Yanamala Ramakrushnudu, Sri Mudragada Padmanabham, Sri Pantham, Sri Jyotula, Sri Pendem Dora Babu etc to lend their influence and prevail upon the Railways to commence and complete this small project early fulfilling the legitimate needs of the travelling public and the long pending aspirations of the people of this region.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Insult due to Ignorance
The passing comments of our Hon'bleMP Sri Undavilli Arun Kumar during the course of a discussion have not been understood in thier right and only perspective. This is due lack of knowledge about nuances of any language (in telugu this is called 'nudikaaram'). There was nothing derogaratory when he reportedly said "unfortunately Ambedkar wrote a constitution....". It is only a figure of speech (speech not to be confused with a politician's verbose)and such usage is very common being of positive connatation and not negative.
Ambedkar, being the erudite scholar that he was, must be squirming uncomfortably wherever he is, at the ignorance and childishness of his so called fans. I will not call them followers because they hardly know about his ideals.
Here I would draw Mr.Undavilli Arun Kumar's attention to one fact i.e Dr.Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee and there were several sub-committees for different subjects. It was the marathon and stupendous efforts put in by these sub-committees that gave shape to our constitution. If one goes through the record of deliberations of these sub-committees and of the Constitudnt Assembly there are innumerble occassions where Dr.Ambedkar's proposals were voted out or Dr.Ambedkar's opposition overruled. The magnanimity of Dr.Ambedkar was that, as the Law Minister he piloted the final dreaft as a whole though it hardly reflected his personal views on many many counts. That is a lesson to learn to respect majority in democracy.
We should also not forget the contribution of Sir B.N.Rao who was the Member-Secretary of all these committees and who guided the memebers. WE should also not forgete that our constitution is 80% Government of India Act promulgated by the British.
...ponder
Ambedkar, being the erudite scholar that he was, must be squirming uncomfortably wherever he is, at the ignorance and childishness of his so called fans. I will not call them followers because they hardly know about his ideals.
Here I would draw Mr.Undavilli Arun Kumar's attention to one fact i.e Dr.Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee and there were several sub-committees for different subjects. It was the marathon and stupendous efforts put in by these sub-committees that gave shape to our constitution. If one goes through the record of deliberations of these sub-committees and of the Constitudnt Assembly there are innumerble occassions where Dr.Ambedkar's proposals were voted out or Dr.Ambedkar's opposition overruled. The magnanimity of Dr.Ambedkar was that, as the Law Minister he piloted the final dreaft as a whole though it hardly reflected his personal views on many many counts. That is a lesson to learn to respect majority in democracy.
We should also not forget the contribution of Sir B.N.Rao who was the Member-Secretary of all these committees and who guided the memebers. WE should also not forgete that our constitution is 80% Government of India Act promulgated by the British.
...ponder
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Defining Moment
In the history of any nation there are certain defining moments. Invasion of Mughals, advent of Western Traders, Sepoy Mutiny, are some such. In the context of the present turmoil in our country, I feel that one more defining moment was Nehru living and Patel dying. Setting aside dogmas, with hind sight let us imagine;
what would have happened in Kashmir? Patel, the decisive realist, would not have allowed it to fester. Most likely, the invaders would have been driven out and the accession taken to its full and logical conclusion like any other native state e.g. Junagadh, Hyderabad. The times were conducive then for a strong action.
what would have happened in foreign affairs especially, Tibet? No hankering for external approval or Nobel Peace prize. Pragmatic national consideration would have prevailed. No Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai which only lost us a huge chunk of our mother land (where no grass grows!) and further loss of territory a possible reality. India would have commanded respect (respect stemming from steel strength and not pathetic posturing).
What would have happened to dynastic politics? Nehru, who was groomed and promoted by his father Motilal, was himself grooming Indira. He was steeped in dynastic politics whereas Patel was the total antithesis. Patel willingly obliged Gandhi, as a true nationalist. in the leadership issue though he was a towering senior to Nehru and could have even bested Gandhi as Bose did while contesting against Pattabhi. Whereas Nehru though inffectual after a stroke and the chinese debacle, did not retire in favour of fresh blood, instead he got potential challenger 'Kamarajed'.
What would have happened to the 'Communal question'? He would not have allowed large scale inundation of North East by the East Pakistanis. Today we see almost no Hindus in Pakistan. This would not have happened under his dispensation. At worst there would have been a neat and peaceful exchange of population as per the aspirations of people of India and Pakistan then. No communal riots nor pseudo-secularism.
What would have happened to the administration. The Iron Man would not have brooked inefficient Ministers like Krishna Menon who were a lot of gas with no substance. The Civil Services would not have degnerated like now. No propping up of people like Gen Kaul.
What would have happened to the political set up of the country? No linguistic states which was the creation of Nehru on his succumbing to minor riots. Langauge has proved to be no glue with the creation of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chattisgargh and the demand for Telangana. Administratively conveient divisions only would have been allowed leading to less chauvanism, no river disputes or border disputes.
What could have been!
...ponder
what would have happened in Kashmir? Patel, the decisive realist, would not have allowed it to fester. Most likely, the invaders would have been driven out and the accession taken to its full and logical conclusion like any other native state e.g. Junagadh, Hyderabad. The times were conducive then for a strong action.
what would have happened in foreign affairs especially, Tibet? No hankering for external approval or Nobel Peace prize. Pragmatic national consideration would have prevailed. No Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai which only lost us a huge chunk of our mother land (where no grass grows!) and further loss of territory a possible reality. India would have commanded respect (respect stemming from steel strength and not pathetic posturing).
What would have happened to dynastic politics? Nehru, who was groomed and promoted by his father Motilal, was himself grooming Indira. He was steeped in dynastic politics whereas Patel was the total antithesis. Patel willingly obliged Gandhi, as a true nationalist. in the leadership issue though he was a towering senior to Nehru and could have even bested Gandhi as Bose did while contesting against Pattabhi. Whereas Nehru though inffectual after a stroke and the chinese debacle, did not retire in favour of fresh blood, instead he got potential challenger 'Kamarajed'.
What would have happened to the 'Communal question'? He would not have allowed large scale inundation of North East by the East Pakistanis. Today we see almost no Hindus in Pakistan. This would not have happened under his dispensation. At worst there would have been a neat and peaceful exchange of population as per the aspirations of people of India and Pakistan then. No communal riots nor pseudo-secularism.
What would have happened to the administration. The Iron Man would not have brooked inefficient Ministers like Krishna Menon who were a lot of gas with no substance. The Civil Services would not have degnerated like now. No propping up of people like Gen Kaul.
What would have happened to the political set up of the country? No linguistic states which was the creation of Nehru on his succumbing to minor riots. Langauge has proved to be no glue with the creation of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chattisgargh and the demand for Telangana. Administratively conveient divisions only would have been allowed leading to less chauvanism, no river disputes or border disputes.
What could have been!
...ponder
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Modi vs Sonia
The results are out. The knives are not.
Sonia has bitten the dust but the scapegoats are loyally proclaiming their guilt.
So called rebels have also bitten dust.
Anti-incumbency bogey has bitten dust.
Candidly communal Modi has scored over pseudo secular Sonia.
Open Hindutva has scored over soft Hindutva.
Modi's victory is not withstanding Raj Nath Singh.
When Jyoti Babu speaks about Modi and communalism, I am reminded about his own role as Home Minister during the early seventies in anihilating Naxalites by facilitating joint action by his cadres and the police. His own Chief Minister went on hunger strike against him. Does he remember?
Balraj Madhok and M.L.Sondhi may be rejoicing wherever they are.
This may be the beginning of the end of BJP and revival of BJS.
...ponder
Sonia has bitten the dust but the scapegoats are loyally proclaiming their guilt.
So called rebels have also bitten dust.
Anti-incumbency bogey has bitten dust.
Candidly communal Modi has scored over pseudo secular Sonia.
Open Hindutva has scored over soft Hindutva.
Modi's victory is not withstanding Raj Nath Singh.
When Jyoti Babu speaks about Modi and communalism, I am reminded about his own role as Home Minister during the early seventies in anihilating Naxalites by facilitating joint action by his cadres and the police. His own Chief Minister went on hunger strike against him. Does he remember?
Balraj Madhok and M.L.Sondhi may be rejoicing wherever they are.
This may be the beginning of the end of BJP and revival of BJS.
...ponder
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