PARTY OR PERSON? As the BJP Stocks up Its Arsenal for the 2014 General Elections, It Must Take a Firm Stand on Who Will Lead the Party in the Battle

Vol 21 I No 7 July 2013 l Rs 20

www.opinionexpress.in A MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE

UTTRAKHAND

MARAUDING MOUNTAIN

COVER STORY PARTY OR PERSON? As the BJP stocks up its arsenal for the 2014 general elections, it must take a firm stand on who will lead the party in the battle

RNI UP-ENG70032/92, Vol 21, No 7 India is looking for EDITOR PRASHANT TEWARI ASSOSIATE EDITOR better governance Dr RAHUL MISRA POLITICAL EDITOR PRAKHAR MISRA BUREAU CHIEF PA or NDA government headed by Rahul Gandhi or Narender Modi in GOPAL CHOPRA (DELHI), VEELAAS 2014 is a big question for millions of Indians now. UPA II can be KENJALE (MUMBAI), SOUMEN ACHARYA termed as total disaster with an all round failure on economic front, (KOLKATA), SACHIN NAIK ( BANGALORE ) U internal security, international diplomacy, disaster management. The DIVYASH BAJPAI (USA), KAPIL DUDAKIA (U.K.) RAJIV AGNIHOTRI (MAURITIUS), country is completely in confusion, leadership is ROMIL RAJ (DUBAI), HERMAN SILOCHAN clueless and people are suffering. The success of (CANADA), YASHWANT AMIN (AUS/NZ) UPA I with a clean leadership of Dr Manmohan CONTENT PARTNER Singh fuelled huge expectation within country Pratham Pravakta that India will prosper and flourish but the coun- LEGAL ADVISOR try witnessed various scams namely CWG, 2G, ASHOKA KUMAR THAKUR,GAURAV Coal, Railways, food at regular intervals. The BHATIA MARKETING DIRECTOR external boundaries were challenged by neigh- DIWAKAR SHETTY bouring countries specially China intrusion in ADMINITRATION DIRECTOR Indian territory became a regular issue, Naxal BAL MUKUND GAUR activities were taken to next level wherein the entire top leadership CORPORATE COMMUNICATION of Congress from Chattisgarh was wiped out in a single day. On fiscal front, QUEENIE SINGH rupee slide is unabated, manufacturing industry is bleeding, no headway & GRAPHICS DESIGN is made on improvement of infrastructure. GREY CELLS ONLINE PRESENTATION Even the disaster management post Uttrakhand tragedy can be termed AMIT SONI as total gross negligence of government responsibilities. The country is PHOTOGRAPHER seeking answer from the ruling elite for the mess that we are witnessing. K P SINGH Now the bigger question is the solution to the problems that we are facing OVERSEAS MARKETING in India. The personalities are not important but the solution to problems OEMCL(Mauritius), OEHCL (DUBAI) is the key. Surely Narender Modi has shown a better governance model in Gujrat but it is a small sample size to judge his ability to guide the destiny ADVERTISEMENT / PR / CIRCULATION of India. India is a continent, it needs mature leadership with tremendous VINAY GOYAL vision to succeed as a nation. India has been blessed by top visionary DHRUV JANAK & CO. R -51 BASEMENT, leadership in Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narsimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee from RAMESH PARK,LAXMI NAGAR,DELHI-92 TELE: +919871232631FAX: 011-22056817 two decades but the two power centre in UPA II has damaged various institutions in the last decade. The first phase of UPA I was surprisingly successful but the second phase has opened tremendous weakness in gov- VIJAY KALANTRI - ADVISOR ernance. The most honest PM was forced to lead the most corrupt regime NEW EXCELSIOR BUILDING, 6TH FLOOR, making mockery of several institutions including CBI, ED, Income Tax, judi- A.K. NAYAK MARG, ciary in the country. FORT, MUMBAI - 400 001 (INDIA). Now the country is seeking firm answer, the countrymen are angry and PHONE : 91 - 22 - 2201 9265 / 2201 9160 FAX : 91-22- 2201 9764 / 2201 9760 frustrated. On every small issue touching general people, the crowd is visible on roads. The emergence of Naxal in almost one third of India is an The magazine is published and printed by indication that the governance have failed. Rahul Gandhi or Narender Rajiv Agnihotri for Opinion Express Modi must focus on getting respective house in order before reaching out Communications & Entertainments Pvt Ltd, from 2 Ashok Nagar, Lucknow And to over billion people to seek mandate to run the country. printed at Kumpu Graphic Press. Lastly, the disaster in Utttakhand must be taken seriously by policy makers in India. The corruption in urban planning regulatory mechanism EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE has destroyed the land scape of our country. The development authorities OPINION EXPRESS HOUSE across India are destroying urban planning process, threatening life of mil- 24 - A Clyde Road, Lucknow-226001 (India) Ph: 91-522-4045728/4060880 lions of countrymen. Uttrakhand tragedy is just an indicator of highly cor- Fax: 91-522-2208242 rupt system where we are forced to accept. The disaster management pol- 24x7 mobility +91 9984437000 Email: [email protected] icy and its execution post accident remains a laughing stock for us. As a country, we must put better logistical planning in force to run the admin- All content published may be subject to copyright, seek written permission to re-produce. Opinion istration. Every Uttrakhand tragedy or Chattisgarh naxal attack portrays Express is trade mark brand of Opinion extremely poor picture of the country to outside world. Can we stake claim Express Communications & Entertainment Private Limited. to emerging super power tag for India? Prashant Tewari

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 03 JULY 2013 COVER STORY NEW BJP- PERSONALITY VS CADRE Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi will clash in 2014 P 10-21

MAPPING THE BEST BRAIN WHERE'S THE OF MIDDLE EAST P 34 MONEY FOR THIS DR JAMAL SANAD AL-SUWAIDI COLOSSAL WASTE? P 22

INDIA'S SURVEILLANCE PROJECT MAY P 26 BE AS LETHAL AS PRISM

CHINA’S ECONOMIC P 28 EMPIRE WHS- ERADICATING CORRUPTION, CRIME AND SHARP MIND WOMAN OF P 37 BRIBERY WITH DEADLY DECISIVE ACTIONS BRINGS SHARP SUBSTANCE: P 49 LEADERSHIP: SMITHA DEEPAK WHAT DOES FALLING KIRSAN IIYUMZHINOV P 42 RUPEE MEAN? NUMBER-CRUNCHING AFTER P 46 CHAMPIONS’ TRIUMPH

HIMALAYAN TSUNAMI P 5 UNLEASHES DEATH P 39

04 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S HIMALAYAN TSUNAMI UNLEASHES DEATH

t was one of the biggest natural tragedies to have hit the India soil. On IJune 15, 2013, the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, some regions of Western Nepal and their adjoining areas experienced heavy rainfall that triggered devastating floods and landslides. Parts of Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Western Tibet also experienced heavy rainfall. Till the time of going to the press, more than 1000 have per- ished and nearly 10,000 are reported mssing. Damage to bridges and roads left over 1 lakh pilgrims and tourists trapped in various places, many of whom were rescued. The Indian Air Force, the Army and paramilitary troops have evacuated more than 110,000 people from the flood hit area. Although Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker, based on various ground reports said that the death toll could cross 10,000, the official death toll in Uttarakhand (by 29 June 2013) was 842. From June 14 to 17, Uttarakhand and adjoining areas received heavy rainfall, which was about 375 percent more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon. This caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 05 height of 3,800 metres, and eruption of The upper Himalayan territories of Himachal Pradesh and the Mandakini River which led to heavy Uttarakhand are full of forests and snow-covered mountains floods near Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag and thus remain relatively inaccessible. They are home to district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal, and acute several major and historic Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage sites rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, besides several tourist spots and trekking trails. Heavy Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Tibet. rainfall for four consecutive days as well as melting snow The upper Himalayan territories of aggravated the floods. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are full of forests and snow-covered mountains and thus remain relatively inaccessible. They are home to several major and historic Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage sites besides several tourist spots and trekking trails. Heavy rainfall for four consecutive days as well as melting snow aggravated the floods. Warnings by the India Meteorological Department predicting heavy rains were not given wide publicity beforehand, causing thousands of people to be caught unawares, resulting in huge loss of life and property. In the city of Dehra Dun, capital of Uttarakhand, this was the wettest June day for over five decades. Death and damage Landslides, due to the floods, damaged several houses and structures, killing those who were trapped. The heavy rains resulted in large flashfloods and massive landslides. Entire villages

06 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S and settlements such as Gaurikund and the market town of Ram Bada, a transition point to Kedarnath, have been obliterated, while the market town of Sonprayag suffered heavy damage and loss of lives. Pilgrimage centres in the region, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, the hallowed Hindu Chardham (four sites) pilgrimage centers, are visited by thousands of devotees, especially after the month of May onwards. Over 70,000 people were stuck in various regions because of damaged or blocked roads. People in other important locations like the Valley of flowers, Roopkund and the Sikh pilgrimage centre Hemkund were stranded for more than three days. National Highway 58, an important artery connecting the region was also washed away near Jyotirmath and in many other places. Because sum- mers have more number of tourists, the number of people impacted is substantial. For more than three days, stranded

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 07 pilgrims and tourists were without rations or survived on little food. The As of 29 June 2013, the official death toll in Uttarakhand, roads were seriously damaged at more based on the collected bodies of the victims, had crossed than 450 places, resulting in huge traffic jams, and the floods caused many 850. Rescuers at the Hindu pilgrimage town of Haridwar on cars and other vehicles to be washed the river Ganga have been reported to have recovered away.[16] On June 18, more than 12,000 pilgrims were stuck at bodies of 40 victims washed down by the flooded rivers as of Badrinath, the popular pilgrimage cen- June 21 2013. Bodies of people washed away in ter located on the banks of the Uttarakhand were found in distant places like Bijnor, Alaknanda River. As of 29 June 2013, the official Allahabad and Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. death toll in Uttarakhand, based on the collected bodies of the victims, had grimage town of Haridwar on the river recovered bodies of 40 victims washed crossed 850. Rescuers at the Hindu pil- Ganga have been reported to have down by the flooded rivers as of June

08 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S 21 2013. Bodies of people washed flooded the Charbari lake (upstream) ations. Several thousand soldiers were away in Uttarakhand were found in dis- and then Kedarnath. Temple was flood- deployed for the rescue missions. tant places like Bijnor, Allahabad and ed with water resulting in several Activists of political and social organi- Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. deaths due to drowning and panic-driv- zations are also involved in the rescue Damage at Kedarnath town en stampede. The Uttarakhand and management of relief centres. The Government announced that due to the national highway and other important A temple building made in stone and extensive damage to the infrastructure, roads were closed to regular traffic. ice capped mountains seen in back- the temple will be temporarily closed to Helicopters were used to rescue peo- ground.Situated in the Himalayan regular pilgrims and tourists for a year ple, but due to the rough terrain, heavy ranges, the town that grew around the or two, but the temple rituals will still be fog and rainfall, maneuvering them Kedarnath Temple one of the famous maintained by priests. Even after a was a challenge. By 21 June 2013, the temples of Shiva in India and part of the week, dead bodies were not lifted from Army had deployed 10,000 soldiers Char Dham yatra, was damaged by the Kedarnath town, resulting in contami- and 11 helicopters, the Navy had sent floods and landslides caused by heavy nation of water in Kedarnath valley and 45 naval divers, and the Air force had rain. villagers who depend on spring water deployed 43 aircraft including 36 heli- Although the Kedarnath Temple suffered various types of health prob- copters. On June 25, one of 3 IAF Mil itself had not been damaged, its base lems like fever, diarrhoea. When flood Mi-17 rescue helicopters returning was inundated with water, mud and receded, satellite images showed one from Badrinath, carrying 5 Air Force boulders from the landslide, damaging new stream at Kedarnath town. Officers, 9 of the NDRF, and 6 of the its perimeter. Many hotels, rest houses Rescue operations ITBP crashed on a mountainous slope and shops around the temple in near Gauri Kund, killing all on board. Kedarnath township were destroyed, The Army, Air Force, Navy, Indo- The deceased soldiers were given a resulting in several casualties. Most of Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border ceremonial Guard of honour by Home the destruction at Kedarnath was Security Force, National Disaster minister Sushilkumar Shinde at a func- caused by a sudden rapid melting of ice Response Force (NDRF), Public Works tion organised by the Uttarakhand and snow on the Kedarnath Mountain, Department and local administrations State Government. 6 km (3.7 mi) from the temple, which worked together for quick rescue oper- OECEL News Services

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 09 COVER STORY NEW BJP- PERSONALITY VS CADRE person becomes hope for millions, certainly Narender Modi must be complimented for the extraordinary achieve- ment. India is a continent, it is Anot a country. Over billion people are living in India hence to be the hope of India is huge responsibility. The elevation of Narendra Modi through popular demand has democratized the Bharatiya Janata Party. From a patriar- chal system where the elders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and of the party decided things, Modi has forcibly brought in elements of an open system where merit and democratic appeal inside the party will determine its direction. Such a takeover of a major political party by an individual purely on his credentials and popularity has no precedent in India. In the two decades from the forma- tion of the party to the time that it took power in the late 1990s, the BJP was controlled by only two very competent presidents - Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani (with one short term for Murli Manohar Joshi). When the party formed the government in Delhi and both Vajpayee and Advani held ministerial responsibility, the party presidency was finally let go of by them. In this period, to communicate the idea of an open democratic system that was unlike the closed dynastic system of the Congress, BJP presidents continued to be elected. But because the rivalry was strong between Vajpayee and Advani, this president was a safe person, meaning someone neutral, and with no base of his own. And so the BJP had presidents like Kushabhau Thakre, Jana Krishnamurthy, Bangaru Laxman and Venkaiah Naidu. They were picked

10 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S through consensus between the rivals, not through competitive elections, The disappearance from public life of Vajpayee after his meaning the system was actually defeat in 2004 and the eclipse of Advani within the party closed and not open. The cadre did not have a say in the choice of their leader. (about which more later) after his defeat in 2009 exposed These men did not make any this vacuum and opened up the space for someone to take changes or define a new direction for the national leadership. It was assumed that this would be the party, and they were not supposed to. They were placeholders, and held someone from inside the closed system. The BJP had some office till the big boys came back to leaders who were "national", like Sushma Swaraj, Pramod play. The important aspect is that because the system was closed, no new Mahajan and Arun Jaitley, groomed for bigger things, leadership actually emerged in the BJP and some who were "regional" like Modi and other state through the popular route. chief ministers. The disappearance from public life of Vajpayee after his defeat in 2004 and the eclipse of Advani within the first principles, meaning the muscular corporate endorsement of Modi. party (about which more later) after his Hindutva that had propelled it to power. The selection/election of Modi as defeat in 2009 exposed this vacuum This is when Modi emerged as his the head of the party's campaign for and opened up the space for someone own man. A confluence of things - first, 2014 has actually made him more pow- to take the national leadership. It was the killings of 2002 and the proven erful within the party than its president, assumed that this would be someone involvement of his ministers (one of Rajnath Singh, because it reveals him from inside the closed system. The BJP who has been convicted), second, his as the popular choice within the party. had some leaders who were "national", no-nonsense image and refusal to play Modi gives the lower rungs of the BJP like Sushma Swaraj, Pramod Mahajan by the rules of inclusive secularism, and the RSS what they want, a full- and Arun Jaitley, groomed for bigger such as wearing skull-caps and hosting throated and uncompromisingly Hindu things, and some who were "regional" iftaars, and third, his competent man- nationalist leadership which radiates like Modi and other state chief minis- aging of Gujarat's economy and the strength and power. Even if Modi per- ters. praise of corporate leaders - has made forms poorly in the election of 2014, he This division did not indicate true him a national figure. will retain control of the BJP. This is levels of power. Jaitley for instance has He attracted the core BJP worker because his power comes directly from never contested an election and has no and voter because of the first two the cadre of both the BJP and the RSS, popular appeal. Advani's visit to things, and also large parts of the mid- and the groundswell has opened up the Pakistan in 2005 and his concession to dle class. The media, which is usually closed system. or Narendra Modi's sup- Jinnah put off a cadre that craved wary of communal politics, has been porters there is nothing beyond the someone who would take them back to neutralised through the third aspect, 2014 elections. So every alliance bro-

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 11 ken, every leader brushed aside and to be a trailblazer of sorts rarely seen in needs to raise the party's vote share by every political leader who criticises is India before and maybe his supporters 5 to 6 percentage points. What is that meant to be set aside as the Gujarat and BJP are being a bit too hopeful of in numbers assuming an electorate of Chief Minister's campaign machinery an impending victory in 2014. He points 800 million votes in the 2014 polls? 25 rolls on towards the 2014 polls. But are out that the BJP has seen its vote share to 30 million votes. the numbers against him? decline over the last three elections to It isn't impossible to raise one's vote In an excellent analysis of the 'Modi 18.8 percent, and though the party can share by that much, and Varshney phenomenon' in India in the Indian hope for 18 to 20 percent of the vote points to three instances when it hap- Express, Ashutosh Varshney notes that share to get to 180 seats, a more prac- pened: in 1984 for the Congress after the Gujarat Chief Minister would need tical assumption would be that Modi Indira Gandhi's assassination, in 1991

12 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S for the BJP over the Ayodhya temple issue and in 1998 for the BJP, because First, beyond Gujarat, the rural folk, who still determine of allies who delivered the numbers. India's election results, have not heard of the Gujarat There is a strong anti-incumbency wave among the electorate against the model. And it is virtually impossible to turn rural Congress and the UPA but would it be constituencies around in a matter of months. It is a longer one that would result in 25 million votes going in Modi's favour? Varshney, political project. Second, it is also not clear that, beyond maybe rightly, points out that it is Gujarat, the urban poor share the urban middle class unlikely given the Gujarat Chief passion for Modi. And the numbers of the urban poor are Minister's personality cult is one that is still resonates only with urban voters. substantial. Third, in southern and eastern India, even in He says: cities, the BJP's presence is minimal. First, beyond Gujarat, the rural folk, who still determine India's election results, have not heard of the Gujarat poor are substantial. Third, in southern claims the BJP has tried to ride on in model. And it is virtually impossible to and eastern India, even in cities, the the past and failed. Pointing to the sup- turn rural constituencies around in a BJP's presence is minimal. port of the cadre in favour of the matter of months. It is a longer political While Varshney finds fault with the Gujarat Chief Minister, he says: project. Second, it is also not clear that, numbers against Modi, in an editorial in Mr. Modi is equally entitled to his beyond Gujarat, the urban poor share the Hindu, Harish Khare finds more personality cult. But make no mistake. the urban middle class passion for wrong with the personality cult of the Mr. Modi is a different personality, not Modi. And the numbers of the urban Gujarat Chief Minister, something he easily amenable to democratic modera-

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 13 tion. We should get used to "Rambo" type yarns, as the polity seeks to rede- The liberal perception and numbers may be against the fine itself in the next general election. Khare says that the Gujarat Chief Gujarat Chief Minister and it may explain why the BJP 2014 Minister may seek to harness the campaign chief is urging his party members to find allies strong anti-incumbency but warns that quickly to create the numbers the party needs to come to the drowning voices of dissent against anything anti-Modi doesn't augur well power. The Gujarat Chief Minister may also, in some corner, for the democracy that is India. be willing to play along with alliance politics to forgo the The liberal perception and numbers may be against the Gujarat Chief Prime Minister's chair for a later innings in 2019 or after. Minister and it may explain why the BJP The question is, will his supporters be able to wait? 2014 campaign chief is urging his party members to find allies quickly to Recounting a convocation address who were not enrolled in a regular col- create the numbers the party needs to by Mookerjee on February 12, 1936, lege. A focus on youth and grooming of come to power. The Gujarat Chief Madhok cites the following excerpt from the next generation is a recurrent Minister may also, in some corner, be that speech which highlights the Liberal theme in his liberal nationalism. willing to play along with alliance poli- Nationalist that Mookerjee was: "I have abundant faith in the glory of tics to forgo the Prime Minister's chair "Our ideal is to provide extensive youth … they be given a chance to live, for a later innings in 2019 or after. The facilities for education from the lowest an opportunity to enjoy life and the question is, will his supporters be able grade to the highest to mould our edu- amplest facilities for the development to wait? cational purpose and to draw out the of their health and character." Narender Modi is trying to model best qualities that be hidden in our One also sees during his tenure as himself on Syama Prasad Mookerjee, youth and to train them intellectually the Vice Chancellor an ethic of mini- he was both a liberal and a nationalist. physically for service in all spheres of mum government. He did not depend While much of his politics and time in national activitty in towns villages cities. on Government or wait for Government Government reflected deep nationalism Our ideal is to make the widest provi- to create opportunities for youth. He and a realism free of dogma, at his sion for sound liberal education… Our proactively introduced many measures heart were core liberal principles. ideal is to make our universities and like abolishing reserved hostels and Reading through the biography written educational institutions the home of lib- messes and expanding the curriculum by Madhok one can trace the roots of erty, sane progressive thought." to include sciences and engineering. He his liberal nationalism all the way to his One sees the same spirit of Liberal was also opposed to the idea of putting days as the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta Nationalism emerge through his tenure limits on higher education to control the University in the 1930s at a very young as Vice Chancellor as he sought to number of graduates on the lookout for age of 33. expand access to the University even to employment.

14 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Delhi intellectuals fear coming of no-nonsense Modi

Syama Prasad Mookerjee's liberal nationalism is evident through his years with the Hindu Mahasabha during the independence struggle as well. In a speech in December 1943, making the case for the Hindu Mahasabha, Mookerjee explains that he stood for no special favours for Hindus but for welfare and advancement of India as a whole. The cynical politics of wordplay on "secularism/communalism" of the Congress predates India's independence. Even an intellectual of Mookerjee's stature was not spared the game of labeling that we continue to see even today. Many examples of Mookerjee's liberal nationalism can be found through Balraj Madhok's book. In a speech in 1943 in Amritsar to the Hindu Mahasabha, Mookerjee spoke of how an Idea of India that transcended both caste and religion and that called for political citizenship to everyone without discrimination. In the years after Independence when he was invited to join Nehru's Cabinet as the Minister for Industries, one sees his economic liberalism grounded in the realities of India come through very clearly. Madhok writes: "He had very clear ideas on the role of private capital in the industrial development of the country as also on the relationship between capital and labour … He was for giving full scope to private enterprise under suitable Government regulation … He wanted government to concentrate its meagre resources on the defence of the realm … he stood for a rational coordination between private and public capital in light of the actual conditions in the country…" In Balraj Madhok's eyes, Mookerjee a was realist who was not guided by dogma. Citing two examples of how he believed in private enterprise while being pragmatic about economic realities of India, Madhok explains how Mookerjee was opposed to full nation- alisation and that he did not believe India had the skills resources to nation- alise and run all kinds of industries. At the same time, he also believed that given the realities of labour in India, that there had to be some kind of profit sharing between capital and labour. While investing in public sector enter- prises, he also believed that needed professional management independent of Government to make them viable and keep them efficient.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 15 Over the years, after he resigned response to Nehru's repeated labelling from Nehru's Cabinet and quit the While Mookerjee's political of him as 'communal' brings out the Hindu Mahasabha before eventually legacy will be coloured by best in him: founding the Jan Sangh the liberal "If we try to recover our lost position national ethic travelled with him. His the leftist historians with all in a manner 100 per cent consistent inaugural presidential address to the kinds of labels, it would be with the dynamic principles of Hinduism Jan Sangh once again sees the same for which Swami Vivekanand stood, I ethic of economic liberalism: instructive to point out that am proud to be a communalist." "we stand for well planned decen- he commanded even the By marking the soft start to what tralized national economy….. against respect of the Communists will be deemed to be the campaign for concentration of economic power in the next Lok Sabha in Madhopur, cartels ….sanctity of private property through his defence of civil Narendra Modi will be laying claim to will be observed….private enterprise liberties and his opposition that political legacy of liberal national- will be given a fair and adequate to the Preventive ism that Mookerjee stood for many play….state ownership and state con- decades back when he founded the trol only where it is needed in public Detention Act. Jan Sangh to challenge the Nehru-led interest….progressive decontrol…" Congress's political monopoly in India. The issue that saw him most rile up to be, is dismissed as a 'communal' All the contentious issues namely Nehru in Parliament was the Kashmir issue or even worse described as a Ayodhya Ram temple, abolishing article issue. On this too his position was a lib- 'Hindutva' issue. 370, uniform civil code are delibretely eral national position. While Mookerjee's political legacy untouched by team Modi to build up "Kashmir is an integral part of India will be coloured by the leftist historians international acceptance but the pres- and should be treated as any other State" with all kinds of labels, it would be sure from the cadre and right wing It is a reflection of the perversity instructive to point out that he com- forces within core group of the party that has afflicted much of the intellec- manded even the respect of the will be just waiting to pounce on Modi tual discourse in India that an issue Communists through his defence of to express his opinion in public to like the demand for abrogation of civil liberties and his opposition to the polarise votes for BJP. Article 370, far from being labelled as Preventive Detention Act. By Prakhar Prakash Mishra, the liberal national issue that it ought This comment by Mookerjee in Political Editor

16 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi will clash in 2014

Sandhya Jain Rahul Gandhi's obvious reluctance Narendra Modi's ultimate projection as (read inability) to take on Narendra the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate in One impact of the Gujarat Chief Modi in the race to Delhi puts Congress 2014, a brief analysis of this spectacu- Minister's elevation as the Bharatiya at a clear disadvantage vis-à-vis the lar development would be in order. Janata Party's election campaign com- BJP. This is why, despite the near cer- Narendra Modi is independent India's mittee chief will be the quiet retreat of tainty that the party is heading for a first Chief Minister to be projected by the Amethi MP as his main challenger; rout in 2014, Sonia Gandhi must des- his own party as a future Prime the Congress president will be forced to perately find a surrogate with whom Minister. While former Uttar Pradesh lead the electoral battle in 2014 and Rahul Gandhi can establish a dyarchy Chief Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh search for a new surrogate-PM should should opportunity invite Congress to did become Prime Minister, he had to the party be in position to head a new lead a third coalition. break away from the Congress and form coalition Government. With the road thus clear for the National Front coalition to do so.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 17 Similarly, former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Deve Gowda was selected Rahul Gandhi's obvious reluctance (read inability) to be Prime Minister in 1996 when to take on Narendra Modi in the race to Delhi some non-Congress non-BJP parties joined hands to form the United Front puts Congress at a clear disadvantage vis-à-vis government after the Congress headed the BJP. This is why, despite the near certainty that the party by PV Narasimha Rao lost the elections. is heading for a rout in 2014, Sonia Gandhi must Modi behind wheel, BJP in battle mode desperately find a surrogate with whom Rahul Gandhi can establish a dyarchy should opportunity invite Congress to Modi's elevation follows grim opposition from stalwart LK Advani who, like lead a third coalition. the blind king Dhritarashtra, refused to give up the throne he regarded as right- executive meeting in September 2005, Modi is fear factor for fully his, even after his beloved son(s) when he repudiated the 'umbilical cord' Congress: BJP had come of age. Ironically the deci- between the two organisations and The pigeons have now come home sion, forced by the chief ministers, spoke of a 'symbiotic relationship'. He to roost. This statement warrants a brief cadres, and vocal public opinion, marks also rebuked the RSS for day to day explanation. It is no secret that the RSS a decline in RSS domination of BJP meddling in the party's affairs, warning set up the Jana Sangh as its political affairs, something Advani forcefully that this would 'do no good either to the arm, a slot later taken by the BJP. advocated at the Chennai national party or to the RSS." Hence its domination of the party,

18 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S which often worked to the detriment of Narendra Modi is the Mohammad Ali Jinnah while in Pakistan ambitious leaders who tried to chal- only choice in June 2005, RSS had a tough time lenge RSS favourites. Deen Dayal getting him to step down as party pres- Upadhyaya famously told one stalwart So well supported was Advani by the ident. He was replaced by Nitin Gadkari, to move out of the BJP if he could not Parivar stalwarts that the then a provincial who failed to make a mark get along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sarsanghachalak KS Sudarshan was in Delhi, but continued to manipulate Advani similarly was deeply entrenched forced to retract his statement that the levers of power, imposing himself as in the Parivar set up, which rendered Vajpayee and Advani should retire from the party's Prime Ministerial hopeful in challengers like Murli Manohar Joshi politics after the 2004 defeat. Even the 2008 election, and refusing to call infructuous. after Advani's startling praise of it a day even after being soundly reject-

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 19 ed by the electorate. What makes Goa 2013 different is Regarding Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh, it the opposition to the sustained mis- needs to be said that like Raman Singh, he is an honest and management of the party by the central leadership in Delhi, and this includes excellent leader with the capacity to win his State again and the RSS. After the Rajasthan election again. It is no slur on their abilities, however, to say that was narrowly lost in 2008, Haryana sur- they lack the cross-State appeal of Modi and both have rendered in 2009, and the recent trash- ing in Karnataka after the humiliation wisely recognised this. and forced exit of BS Yeddyurappa, the State unit leaders (Chief Ministers and write himself into oblivion. honest and excellent leader with the potential Chief Ministers) clearly felt Rajnath Singh had indicated the way capacity to win his State again and that enough was enough and that BJP the wind would blow when he sponta- again. It is no slur on their abilities, could not be left to the whims of non- neously invited Modi back into the par- however, to say that they lack the cross- vote-catchers. liamentary board. Among State leaders, State appeal of Modi and both have These grassroots leaders clearly Vasundhara Raje was first to make her wisely recognised this. decided to call the shots and together preference clear during her recent Advani quits all BJP posts, says with Rajnath Singh - who was never yatras, and Manohar Parrikar was party not same as before allowed to settle down in his first explicit that Modi could attract the float- All these grassroots leaders have tenure, and never made a wrong move ing vote that often decides the fate of risen to the occasion and ensured that in his second innings - called Advani's an election. Delhi is not sacrificed to coterie politics. bluff. When he gracelessly refused to Regarding Madhya Pradesh Chief RSS has wisely allowed the party to read the writing on the wall and bless Minister Shivraj Singh, it needs to be assert this autonomy. It would do well, the rising star in Goa, he was allowed to said that like Raman Singh, he is an however, to rein in the Vishwa Hindu

20 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Parishad which is trying to muddy the It bears recalling that an Advani board, and election committee. Rajnath waters by raising issues that cannot be crony who loves to describe himself as Singh has rejected the resignations, but resolved through elections. Also, since an RSS ideologue wrote a column in a it is fairly certain that the octogenarian the VHP has done precious little to daily newspaper on the tenth anniver- will no longer attend party meetings, so advance its supposed agenda in the sary of the Babri demolition stating that they may well let him go. past two decades, this is not the time to the Ram Mandir movement was only a Advani has not resigned his Lok polarise opinion or people. Some issues stratagem to garner public support and Sabha seat from Gandhinagar, won are best left to time and history. votes for the BJP, and there was never courtesy Narendra Modi in 2008, a It bears recalling that the assertion any intention to build the temple. This mistake for which the Gujarat Chief by some politicians and media persons led Sushma Swaraj to call Rama Minister has paid dearly in subsequent thatthe BJP rose from two seats in Janmabhoomi an 'encashed cheque'. years. 1984 (post Indira Gandhi's assassina- After not protesting all these years, VHP The impact of his tantrums on pub- tion) and captured power at the Centre cannot now make this its priority num- lic opinion will be less than minimal. in less than two decades because of ber one. It reeks of dishonesty and Those who doubt this assessment may the leadership of Vajpayee and Advani must stop. recall that Advani was almost trounced is simply incorrect. Both men were fully Now that Narendra Modi has been by Rajesh Khanna in New Delhi in backed by the RSS and owed their anointed as the BJP's primus inter 1991, and had since relied onNarendra power to that association. The Ram pares, he should not be made to waste Modi to get elected from Gandhinagar. Janmabhoomi movement was an RSS his energies in futile obstacle races. After the souring of relations between movement, and was first mooted at The task ahead is formidable enough. the two, he began searching for a safe Palampur when Murli Manohar Joshi Footnote: Unable to digest the rise seat outside Gujarat for 2014. He was party president. BJP used it to rise and rise of Narendra Modi, Advani has reportedly honed in on Bhopal, and to national eminence, and then arrive in peevishly resigned from all party posts, hence his praise for Shivraj Singh Delhi. viz, national executive, parliamentary Chouhan.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 21 Food Security Bill: Where's the money for this colossal waste?

Venkatesh Ramachandran Discussion Paper on National Food be consumed by farmers and theoreti- Security Bill and prepared by the cally does not enter the national grain Commission for Agricultural Costs and markets. Of the balance 110-130 MT Food Security Bill: Where's Prices, Department of Agriculture and that enters the national grain markets, the money for this colossal Cooperation. Government procures approximately waste? That is not all. The document half of this for public distribution. The laments that "The Bill, in its present balance - a small portion say 60 MT - "This would perhaps be the biggest form, throws up major operational and enters our grain markets. ever experiment in the world to distrib- financial challenges and would have It is in this connection this docu- ute subsidised grain to achieve food enormous ramifications on the cereal ment correctly points out that "The and nutritional security." "This" refers to economy/markets and therefore Indian government already procures one-third the Food Security Bill, [FSB] the brain- agriculture as a whole." of the cereals production (which child of the National Advisory Council To appreciate the "enormous ramifi- amounts to almost half of marketed and widely expected to be the route to cations" mentioned above, its conse- surplus of wheat and rice)." That political nirvana for UPA. quences and implications on national makes the Government a dominant But pray who calls this grand design grain markets a reference to the food player. of distributing food grains to approxi- grains production as well as procure- This has profound implications on mately two-thirds of our population at ment and distribution by the food grains prices. As we have an subsidized prices an "experiment?" The Government through the extant Public open-ended purchase policy, we con- Opposition? No. The Media? Never. The Distribution System [PDS] needs to be tinue to endlessly purchase over and Judiciary? Not at all. appreciated. above our buffer stock requirements. Ordinance on Food Security Government as a hoarder For instance, as against the buffer Bill postponed stock norm of 31.9 million tons of Rice India produces approximately 250 & wheat (as on July 1 of each year), In fact, this is the view of the MT of food grains annually. Of this one- total central stocks were at 80.5 mil- Ministry of Agriculture contained in The half i.e. 120 - 140 MT is estimated to lion tons as at July 1, 2012.

22 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Debate: Does India need the Interestingly, the economic cost of more it procures, stores or distributes, 'Food Security Bill'? FCI for acquiring, storing and distribut- the more it leaks. Obviously the Government, thanks ing food grains is about 40 per cent of In such a scenario, importing wheat, to its inefficiency, is unable to distribute the procurement price. Obviously, Food at times from international markets, what it procures. In the process, little do Corporation of India must be a unique theoretically becomes a wiser proposi- we realise that this is public hoarding by organisation that suffers from disec- tion. But when a country like India the Government. This in turn robs the onomies of scale! But who cares? The enters the international grain markets, common man of grain stocks while arti- ficially inflating its prices. This hoarding by the state is at the root of the extant chronic food inflation and shortage in India. Food Security Bill simply seeks to amplify this. Another dimension of the problem is that only a handful of States have mar- ketable surplus. That implies concen- trated procurement. And this needs to be distributed nationwide. It may be noted that 70 per cent of rice procurement is done from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh while 80 per cent of wheat procurement is done from Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. This is a logistic person's nightmare. For instance, moving wheat from Punjab situated in one corner of the country through an archaic transporta- tion system and storage network mechanism into Kerala virtually doubles its cost as it arrives in the point of consumption in Kerala.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 23 (in view of her volumes) instantly international prices spike, making imports In 2004-05, compared to an off-take of 29 million tonnes of practically a non-option. That makes us extremely dependent on the national rice and wheat by States, only 13 tonnes were actually lifted grain markets to feed our gargantuan by households for consumption - suggesting a massive population. leakage of 54 per cent. In 2009-10, 25 million tonnes was Yet, what is galling is the fact that the National Sample Survey [NSS] stud- received by the people under PDS while the off-take by ies reveals massive leakage of food states was 42 million tonnes - indicating a leakage in grains in the Targeted PDS mechanism that aims to deliver food grains for BPL excess of 40 per cent. families. This is simply because PDS has virtually collapsed in several states ered capacity estimated at around 45 of pulses, 62 grams. Remember, in in India due to weak governance and million tonnes and Covered and Plinth 1965 we had a war with Pakistan on lack of accountability. storage of 17 million tonnes against the top of a deadly drought. In fact, this document by the stocks crossing 80 million tonnes. This Approximately after five decades of Ministry of Agriculture demonstrates once again adds to the wastage of our 'successful' tryst with green revolu- the dismal performance of this scheme grains while storing and handling. tion, the survey shockingly points out for 2004-05 and 2009-10, the two Suicidal mission that the average daily per capita food years for which NSS data on consump- grain consumption of an average Indian tion from PDS are available. There is a yet another piece of data in 2010 was a meagre 407 grams and In 2004-05, compared to an off- that possibly is hidden from most of pulses, a disappointing 32 grams. take of 29 million tonnes of rice and Indians. Most economists within the It is in this connection it has to be wheat by States, only 13 tonnes were establishment have a skewed view of noted the National Institute of Nutrition actually lifted by households for con- the massive levels of malnutrition and is reported to have prescribed a mini- sumption - suggesting a massive leak- food deprivation. Thus they assume we mum of 2,400 calories per day per per- age of 54 per cent. In 2009-10, 25 mil- have a distributional problem. In the son. Significant sections of our popula- lion tonnes was received by the people process most policies laid out by the tion do not have access to this minimal under PDS while the off-take by states Government aim to set right this issue requirement. By the way, the average was 42 million tonnes - indicating a when the challenge lies elsewhere. calorie intake available to an inmate at leakage in excess of 40 per cent. The Economic Survey document for the dreaded Guantanamo Bay daily is Further, the FCI storage facilities are 2011-12 reveals that the average daily well in excess of 4,000 calories. still primitive. For instance, the FCI is per capita food grain consumption of an Obviously, we are not producing facing an acute storage crisis with cov- Indian in 1965 was 418 grams and that enough food grains or pulses now when

24 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S compared to 1965 on a per capita level. our people we need to produce more of Yet, for the past four decades or so we Simply put, the Food food. have been under the mistaken belief Security Act is For decades socialist ideas was all that distribution, not production, to be about distributing poverty, not wealth. the key to the issue on hand. That implementable only when we Food security bill, consequently, is a explains why we created a monstrous produce food grains in repetition of our mistakes of the public distribution system in the first Nehruvian era. Consequently, it is a by- place. excess of 350 MT. And in product of dangerous analysis, bad Simply put, the Food Security Act is such a scenario with diagnosis and awful prognosis. implementable only when we produce massive stocks of food we do The net impact of this silly idea of food grains in excess of 350 MT. And in FSB is that can ruin the farm sector in such a scenario with massive stocks of not require state India, deny food security and dynamite food we do not require state interven- intervention. And should we the food grain economics of the nation. tion. And should we produce less than No wonder, the document concludes 350 MT and seek an intervention of the produce less than 350 MT that the FSB's impact on the economy state, it will be a futile exercise. and seek an intervention of may be adverse. Crucially, the PM and his econo- the state, it will be a futile And is that what the UPA aiming at - mists within the Government assume destroying the farm sector too com- that this outlandish legislation will set- exercise. pletely before demitting office? tle our production, distribution and stor- PS: My aged father tells me that age deficiencies in our farm sector. administer this flight of fancy - the ordinary cloth was rationed in the mid- But assuming that it can be done Finance Minister of India has allotted a forties. But once the production of cloth what is the cost? Crucially where is the paltry sum of Rs 85,000 crore in the increased, rationing stopped. Likewise money? The document prepared by the Budget of 2013-14. And should the FM the solution to food shortage is to Ministry of Agriculture states that the provide money for this food subsidy, his increase food production. Reducing this total financial expenditure entailed will promise to assiduously restructure the to a distributional issue is absolutely be around Rs 682,163 crores over a finance of the country goes for a toss. foolish. three year period. And even if the money is available This works out to in excess of Rs [remember money can be printed, but (The author is a Chennai-bbased 225,000 crore every year. Given this not paddy or wheat] how can it be a Chartered Accountant. He can be con- massive sums of money required to solution? To improve food security to tacted at [email protected])

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 25 India's surveillance project may be as lethal as PRISM

Shalini Singh government's surveillance and inter- receipt of the "authorisation," will no ception capabilities far beyond 'meta- longer be in the picture. With CMS, all Project documents relating to the data,' data mining, and the original authorisations remain secret within new Centralized Monitoring System expectation of "instant" and secure government departments. (CMS) reveal the government's lethal interception of phone conversations. This means that government agen- and all-encompassing surveillance The interception flow diagram, hith- cies can access in real time any mobile capabilities, which, without the assur- erto under wraps, reveals that the CMS and fixed line phone conversation, ance of a matching legal and procedur- being set up by C-DoT - an obscure gov- SMS, fax, web-site visit, social media al framework to protect privacy, threat- ernment enterprise located on the out- usage, Internet search and email, en to be as intrusive as the U.S. govern- skirts of New Delhi - will have the capa- including partially written emails in ment's controversial PRISM project. bility to monitor and deliver Intercept draft folders, of "targeted numbers." These capabilities are being built Relating Information (IRI) across 900 This is because, contrary to the impres- even as a debate rages on the extent to million mobile (GSM and CDMA) and sion that the CMS was replacing the which the privacy of Indian Internet and fixed (PSTN) lines as well as 160 million existing surveillance equipment social media users was compromised Internet users, on a 'real time' basis deployed by mobile operators and ISPs, by the PRISM project. A PIL petition on through secure ethernet leased lines. it would actually combine the strength the subject has already been admitted The CMS will have unfettered of two - expanding the CMS's forensic by the Supreme Court. access to the existing Lawful capabilities multiple times. The documents in the possession of Interception Systems (LIS), currently Even where data mining and 'meta- The Hindu indicate that the CMS project installed in the network of every fixed data' access through call data records now has a budgeted commitment near- and mobile operator, ISP, and (CDRs) and session initiation protocol ly double that of the Rs. 400-crore esti- International Long Distance service data records (SDRs) - used for Internet mate that senior officials mentioned in provider. Mobile and long distance protocol-related communications a recent briefing to the media. Once operators, who were required to ensure including video conferencing, stream- implemented, the CMS will enhance the interception only after they were in ing multi-media, instant messaging,

26 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S On November 26, 2009, the government told Parliament that CMS's implementation would overcome "the existing system's secrecy which can be easily compromised due to manual interventions at many stages." In January 2012, the government had admitted to intercepting over 1 lakh phones and communication devices over a year, at a rate of 7,500-9,000 per month.

presence information, file transfer, the next three destinations for CMS's the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) - video games and voice & fax over IP is implementation. Till 2015, two surveil- plus seven others, including the Central concerned - the CMS will have lance and interception systems will run Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the unmatched capabilities of deep search in parallel - the existing State-wise, 200- Narcotics Control Bureau, DRI, National surveillance and monitoring. The CMS odd Lawful Intercept and Monitoring Intelligence Agency, CBDT (tax authori- is designed to have access to call con- (LIM) Systems, set up by 7 to 8 mobile ty), Military Intelligence of Assam and tent (CC) on multiple E1 leased lines operators in each of the 22 circles, plus JK and Home Ministry - are authorised through operators 'billing/ mediation the multiple ISP and international gate- to intercept and monitor citizens' calls servers'. These servers will reveal user ways - alongside the national rollout of and emails, under the guidelines laid information to the accuracy of millisec- CMS. The aim is to cover approximately down by the Supreme Court, The Indian onds, relating to call duration, identifi- one dozen States by the end of 2013- Telegraph Act 1985, Rule 419(A) and cation and call history of those under 14. other related legislation. surveillance. Additionally, it will disclose On November 26, 2009, the govern- Given the major technological mobile numbers and email IDs, includ- ment told Parliament that CMS's imple- advancements in monitoring and ing pinpointing the target's physical mentation would overcome "the existing enhanced forensic capabilities in sur- location by revealing cellphone tower system's secrecy which can be easily veillance, coupled with the change in information. compromised due to manual interven- procedure which mandates the inter- Nationwide surveillance tions at many stages." In January 2012, ception authorization to be kept secret the government had admitted to inter- between two government departments The Hindu's investigation has also cepting over 1 lakh phones and com- with no scope of a transparent public unveiled the mystery relating to the munication devices over a year, at a disclosure of who is being monitored, CMS's national rollout. Contrary to rate of 7,500-9,000 per month. for what purpose and for how long, pri- reports about it being active nation- Privacy vs. security vacy and free speech activists are wide, only Delhi and Haryana have test- protesting and raising many questions. ed "proof of concept" (POC) successful- Currently two government spy agen- The government, meanwhile, is pro- ly. Kerala, Karnataka and Kolkata are cies - the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and ceeding undeterred.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 27 CHINA’S ECONOMIC EMPIRE HERIBERTO ARAÚJO and JUAN PABLO CARDENALHONG KONG By buying companies, exploiting natural resources, building infrastructure and giving loans all over the world, China is hina and economic stagna- pursuing a soft but unstoppable form of economic tion in Europe and America is making the West increasingly domination. Beijing’s essentially unlimited financial uncomfortable. While China resources allow the country to be a game-changing force in is not taking over the world Cmilitarily, it seems to be steadily taking both the developed and developing world, one that it over commercially. In just the past threatens to obliterate the competitive edge of Western week, Chinese companies and firms, kill jobs in Europe and America and blunt criticism of investors have sought to buy two iconic Western companies, human rights abuses in China. Smithfield Foods, the American pork producer, and Club Med, the French Western firms, but all of this is much ural resources, building infrastructure resort company. less important than a phenomenon that and giving loans all over the world, Europeans and Americans tend to is less visible but more disturbing: the China is pursuing a soft but unstop- fret over Beijing’s assertiveness in the aggressive worldwide push of Chinese pable form of economic domination. South China Sea, its territorial disputes state capitalism. Beijing’s essentially unlimited financial with Japan, and cyberattacks on By buying companies, exploiting nat- resources allow the country to be a

28 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Ultimately, thanks to the deposits of over a billion Chinese savers, China Inc. has been able to acquire strategic assets worldwide. This is possible because those deposits are financially repressed — savers receive negative returns because of interest rates below the inflation rate and strict capital controls that prevent savers from investing their money in more profitable investments abroad. Consequently, the Chinese government now controls oil and gas pipelines from Turkmenistan to China and from South Sudan to the Red Sea.

engines — urbanization and the export sector — are securely supplied with the needed resources. In Europe and North America, China’s arrival on the scene has been more recent but the figures clearly show a growing trend: annual investment from China to the European Union game-changing force in both the devel- already been built. China has also grew from less than $1 billion annually oped and developing world, one that invested heavily in building infrastruc- before 2008 to more than $10 billion in threatens to obliterate the competitive ture, undertaking huge the past two years. And in the United edge of Western firms, kill jobs in hydroelectric projects like the States, investment surged from less Europe and America and blunt criticism Merowe Dam on the Nile in Sudan — the than $1 billion in 2008 to a record high of human rights abuses in China. biggest Chinese engineering project in of $6.7 billion in 2012, according to the Ultimately, thanks to the deposits of Africa — and Ecuador’s $2.3 billion Rhodium Group, an economic research over a billion Chinese savers, China Inc. Coca Codo Sinclair Dam. And China is firm. Last year, Europe was the destina- has been able to acquire strategic currently involved in the building of tion for 33 percent of China’s foreign assets worldwide. This is possible more than 200 other dams across the direct investment. because those deposits are financially planet, according to International Government support, through hid- repressed — savers receive negative Rivers, a nonprofit environmental den subsidies and cheap financing, returns because of interest rates below organization. gives Chinese state-owned firms a the inflation rate and strict capital con- China has become the world’s lead- major advantage over competitors. trols that prevent savers from investing ing exporter; it also surpassed the Since 2008, the West’s economic their money in more profitable invest- United States as the world’s biggest downturn has allowed them to gain ments abroad. Consequently, the trading nation in 2012. In the span of broad access to Western markets to Chinese government now controls oil just a few years, China has become the hunt for technology, know-how and and gas pipelines from Turkmenistan to leading trading partner of countries like deals that weren’t previously available China and from South Sudan to the Red Australia, Brazil and Chile as it seeks to them. Western assets that weren’t on Sea. resources like iron ore, soybeans and sale in the past now are, and Chinese Another pipeline, from the Indian copper. Lower tariffs and China’s boom- investments have provided desperately Ocean to the Chinese city of Kunming, ing economy explain this exponential needed liquidity. running through Myanmar, is scheduled growth. By buying mainly natural This trend will only increase in the to be completed soon, and yet another, resources and food, China is ensuring future, as China’s foreign direct invest- from Siberia to northern China, has that two of the country’s economic ment skyrockets in the coming years. It

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 29 is projected to reach as much as $1 trillion to $2 trillion by 2020, according to In the Greek port the Chinese have been able to triple the Rhodium Group. This means that capacity, amid local unions’ criticism of worsening labor Chinese state-owned companies that enjoy a monopolistic position at home conditions. It’s too early to measure China’s impact in the can now pursue ambitious international other investments, but the fact that Chinese companies are expansions and compete with global corporate giants. The unfairness of this able to invest in sectors that are closed or restricted for situation is clearest in the steel and European firms in China says a lot about how minimal solar- panel industries, where China Europe’s leverage with China is. has gone from a net importer to the world’s largest producer and exporter in only a few years. It has been able to sovereign wealth fund, C.I.C., took a Take Germany, which accounts for flood the market with products well 10 percent stake in London’s Heathrow nearly half of the European Union’s below market price — and consequently Airport in 2012, as well as a nearly 9 exports to China. It’s highly unlikely that destroy industries and employment in percent stake in the British utility com- Berlin would make unfair competition the West and elsewhere. pany Thames Water. The state-owned the cornerstone of its China policy. THIS is the real threat to the United firms Three Gorges Corporation and Moreover, the lack of leverage and lead- States and other countries. However, State Grid are the main foreign ership in Brussels means that the union most Western governments don’t seem investors in Portugal’s power-genera- is unable to take firm action to force to be addressing China’s state-driven tion sector, and C.I.C. also bought a 7 China into adopting measures that expansionism as an immediate priority. percent stake in France’s Eutelsat would level the playing field or guaran- On the contrary, European govern- Communications. tee reciprocity in its domestic market. ments dealing with their own economic In the Greek port the Chinese have The only exception is the United crises see China as a country that can been able to triple capacity, amid local States, which seems to be addressing help, either by buying sovereign debt or unions’ criticism of worsening labor the issue by pushing forward the Trans- going ahead with investments in their conditions. It’s too early to measure Pacific Partnership, a regional trade countries that will create jobs. China’s impact in the other invest- association that is seen by critics in The Chinese state-owned company ments, but the fact that Chinese com- Beijing and elsewhere as an American- Cosco currently manages the main panies are able to invest in sectors that led policy to contain China. The club is cargo terminal in the biggest Greek are closed or restricted for European thought to be restricted to countries port, Piraeus, near Athens — a 35-year firms in China says a lot about how min- that meet high American standards on concession deal. And China’s imal Europe’s leverage with China is. issues like free competition, labor and

30 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S environmental standards and intellectual property rights. As China doesn’t Greenland, a massive resource-rich territory largely meet those standards, it will have to controlled by Denmark, is a case in point. Last year, it reform or risk regional isolation. passed legislation to allow foreign workers into the country Moreover, the United States has made life difficult for the Chinese telecom who earned salaries below the local legal minimum wage giant Huawei by refusing to grant it con- (the minimum wage there is one of the highest in the world). tracts from leading American telecom companies. This is not just about Chinese representatives had made it clear that Chinese national security concerns but also state-owned banks and companies would invest in the high- about sending Beijing a clear message risk, costly exploitation of Greenland’s vast mining that the United States government is willing to block one of China’s most vis- resources only if the modification of local regulations would ible and successful companies. allow the arrival of thousands of low-wage Chinese workers. While Western companies complain about barriers to public procurement only option is to be accommodating — legislation to allow foreign workers into and bidding and struggles to compete offering everything from a generous the country who earned salaries below in restricted sectors in China, Chinese investment environment to essentially the local legal minimum wage (the min- companies enjoy red carpet treatment dropping human rights from the agen- imum wage there is one of the highest in Europe, buying up strategic assets da. “We don’t have any stick. We can in the world). Chinese representatives and major companies like Volvo and the just offer carrots and hope for the had made it clear that Chinese state- German equipment manufacturer best,” a senior European official told us. owned banks and companies would Putzmeister. Greenland, a massive resource-rich invest in the high-risk, costly exploita- The perception is that China is now territory largely controlled by Denmark, tion of Greenland’s vast mining unavoidable and, consequently, the is a case in point. Last year, it passed resources only if the modification of

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 31 local regulations would allow the arrival extensive labor force and unlimited of thousands of low-wage Chinese China’s deep pockets, as demand for natural resources, made all workers. the difference, and accordingly The Arctic territory didn’t have too well as its extensive labor Greenland was prepared to pass tailor- many alternatives. No other country is force and unlimited demand made legislation to meet Chinese in a position to become Greenland’s for natural resources, made needs. Even Denmark, which holds strategic partner for its future develop- authority in Greenland in areas like ment, given the business risks involved all the difference, and migration and foreign policy, decided in the Arctic region and the scale of the accordingly Greenland was not to interfere. investment needed in a territory bigger IT is even happening in progressive than Mexico but without a single high- prepared to pass tailor-made bastions like Canada. President way. An American oil company couldn’t legislation to meet Chinese Obama’s refusal thus far to approve the have handled the task alone. The needs. Even Denmark, which Keystone pipeline project has made Chinese state capitalist system, by con- Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s con- trast, allows multiple state-owned com- holds authority in Greenland servative government turn to China to panies to work together, making it pos- in areas like migration and secure an export market for Canadian sible for the China National Petroleum foreign policy, decided not to crude oil reserves. The Calgary-based Corporation, for instance, to extract oil oil industry has lobbied Mr. Harper to while China Railway builds basic infra- interfere. adopt a new diversification strategy structure. that includes the construction of a con- Greenland’s leaders accepted Greenland for such projects, so the troversial pipeline to western British China’s terms because they likely Greenlandic government made an Columbia, despite strong opposition believed these costly projects might exception to the law, allowing Chinese from environmental groups, the First never go ahead if the Chinese didn’t get laborers to earn less than minimum Nations aboriginal communities and involved; only China has the money, the wage figuring that local residents would the public. In the meantime, Canada demand, the experience and the politi- benefit from new infrastructure and roy- also signed a Foreign Investment cal will to proceed. Moreover, there are alties. Promotion and Protection Agreement not enough skilled workers in China’s deep pockets, as well as its with China, which gives remarkably gen-

32 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S erous investment protection to the looking for companies that, like ficulties, and China has stepped in with- Chinese. Putzmeister, have a technological edge out political or ethical strings attached. With China in the center of debates and have become world leaders in Chinese statistics reveal little about over FIPA and the west coast pipeline, niche markets. Those takeovers also these loans, but Canada’s government then approved allow them to absorb Western know- a study by The Financial Times the takeover of the Canadian energy how on branding, marketing, distribu- showed that, between 2009 and 2010, giant Nexen by the Chinese state- tion and customer relations. Others are China was the world’s largest lender, owned oil firm Cnooc. The $15.1 billion more opportunistic. Faced with reces- doling out $110 billion, more than the transaction was China’s largest foreign sion, struggling European firms like World Bank. takeover. Volvo quickly welcomed Chinese part- It is important to remember what is Closer economic ties have had polit- ners who were ready to inject capital really behind China’s global economic ical side effects; the Harper administra- and take full control. expansion: the state. China may be tion now seems much more cautious in The loans that Beijing is giving moving in the right direction on a num- criticizing China’s human rights record. worldwide are even more significant, in ber of issues, but when Chinese state- Given that Canada was until very dollar terms, than direct foreign invest- owned companies go abroad and seek recently one of the fiercest voices on ment. These loans include $40 billion to play by rules that emanate from an China’s handling of dissidents, this is to Venezuela and more than $8 billion authoritarian regime, there is grave not only a remarkable 180-degree turn, to Turkmenistan in recent years. danger that Western countries will, out but also a clear indication of how China’s policy banks (China of economic need, end up playing by China’s economic influence can push Development Bank and Export-Import Beijing’s rules. the political agenda to the sidelines, Bank of China) are the key institutions As China becomes a global player even in the West. supporting China’s “Go global” strategy, and a fierce competitor in American In Australia, Chinese accumulated as they provide billions of dollars in and European markets, its political sys- investment inflows at the end of 2012 loans to foreign countries to acquire tem and state capitalist ideology pose a surpassed $50 billion. The trend is Chinese goods; finance Chinese-built threat. It is therefore essential that striking: Chinese direct investment in infrastructure; and start projects in the Western governments stick to what has Australia in 2012 increased 21 percent extractive and other industries. been the core of Western prosperity: from 2011 levels to reach $11.4 billion, This is clearest in countries where the rule of law, political freedom and making it an important player in the West claims to link its aid to human fair competition. Australia’s mining industry. Australia’s rights and good business practices. They must not think shortsightedly. trade portfolio remains highly diversi- Chinese loans have been crucial in Giving up on our commitment to human fied, but the Chinese share is growing countries like Angola that have faced rights, or being compliant in the face of rapidly. threats of a cutoff in financing from rapacious state capitalism, will hurt China has also become the biggest Western creditors, the World Bank and Western countries in the long term. It is investor in Germany (in terms of the the International Monetary Fund. China that needs to adapt to the world, number of deals), surpassing the Ecuador, Venezuela, Turkmenistan, not the other way United States. Chinese companies are Sudan and Iran have all faced such dif- Courtesy New York Times

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 33 Mapping the best brain of Middle East Dr Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi

r. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi Affairs.He became a member of the Georgetown University. He has also received his Ph.D. from the Administrative Board of the Emirates been appointed as a member of the University of Wisconsin, USA. Diplomatic Institute in 2001. Dr. Al- Program Advisory Committee for the He is the Director General of Suwaidi was the Chairman of the Board Department of Translation Studies at the Emirates Center for for the Emirates National School and the United Arab Emirates University. In DStrategic Studies and Research in Abu member of Zayed University Council for September 2009, Dr. Jamal Al-Suwaidi Dhabi and a Professor of Political several years. In July in 2006, Dr. Al- was appointed Chairman of the Higher Science at the United Arab Emirates Suwaidi became member of the Committee for the Preparation of University in Al-Ain. He has taught National Media Council of the UAE, National Strategy for Childhood and courses in Political Science which is presided over by UAE Foreign Motherhood in the UAE by a decree Methodology, Political Culture, Affairs Minister His Highness Sheikh issued by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Comparative Governments, and Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Dr. Al- bint Mubarak, Supreme President of International Relations at the UAE Suwaidi is also a member of the Board the Family Development Foundation, University and the University of of Advisors at the School of Policy and and Chairperson of the General Wisconsin, USA. International Affairs, University of Women's Union. Dr. Al-Suwaidi is the Chairman of the Maine, USA and in the Board of In 2002, the French government Board of Directors for the Scholarships Advisors at the Center for bestowed the French Order of Merit- Office of the Ministry of Presidential Contemporary Arab Studies, First Class on Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-

34 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Suwaidi, in recognition of his distin- Indian Journal of Politics, 2000. guished efforts in strengthening bilater- In 2002, the French Dr. Al-Suwaidi is a contributing al relations between the UAE and author to Democracy, War, and Peace in France. In 2006, Dr. Al-Suwaidi was government bestowed the the Middle East (1995) and toOil and awarded the Young CEO Award by the French Order of Merit-First Water: Cooperative Security in the Middle East Excellence Awards Class on Dr. Jamal Sanad Al- Persian Gulf, (2001). He is also a con- Institute; and the title of Honorable tributing author and editor to ECSSR Professor from the International Suwaidi, in recognition of his publications, The Yemeni War of 1994: University, Vienna, in 2008. The distinguished efforts in Causes and Consequences (1995), The President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Gulf Co-Operation Council: Prospects bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the strengthening bilateral for the Twenty-First Century, (1999), Emirates Appreciation Award for relations between the UAE The Future of the GCC, Science, Arts and Literature in its Third and France. (1999),Air/Missile Defense, Round for 2008 to Dr. Al-Suwaidi. In Counterproliferation, and Security January 2012, His Highness General Policy Planning, (1999), The United Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al of Bahrain to the ECSSR. Dr. Al-Suwaidi Arab Emirates Society: A Future Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has recently been named a trustee of Perspective, (2003). He also made ster- Deputy Supreme Commander of the the Emiratee-Swiss Friendship Platform ling contribution to the book titled Iran UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the and a member of the Advisory Board of and the Gulf: A Search for Stability Abu Dhabi Executive Council, honored Casa Arabe in Spain. (1997), which won prizes for Best Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi on his win- Dr. Al-Suwaidi is the author of Publisher, Best Arabic Book in ning the Abu Dhabi 2011 Award. numerous articles on a variety of topics Humanities and Social Sciences, and Through the Abu Dhabi Award, the UAE including: Gulf Security, Perceptions of Best Writing at the Sixteenth Annual leadership recognizes the achieve- Democracy in Arab and Western Sharjah World Book Fair, held on ments and contributions of imminent Societies, Women and Development, November 4, 1997. personalities to the UAE society. In and UAE Public Opinion on the Second In 2013, Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi January 2010, Dr. Jamal Al-Suwaidi was Gulf Crisis. His articles have appeared authored a book - From Tribe to conferred the Membership of the in several international journals such Facebook: The Transformational Role of Advisory Board of Bahrain Electronic as:The Journal of South Asian and Social Networks - which charted the City. He was accorded this honor during Middle Eastern Studies, 1994; Security impact of this phenomenon and ana- the visit of a high-ranking delegation Dialogue, 1996; Whitehall Series by lyzed the potential outcomes of the from Electronic City Project of His Royal United Services Institute for accelerated development of social net- Majesty King Hamad bin Eisa Al-Khalifa Defence Studies (RUSI), 2000; and works.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 35 Our Editor -in - Chief Mr Prashant Tewari recently visited Abu Dhabi to meet Dr Jamal to interact with legend of Gulf block. Q. Sir, how ECSSR is cooperating with governments in UAE to frame policies for the nation? A.The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research is an independent research organization that provides research and analysis to United Arab Emirates decision-makers on contemporary and pressing issues on the local, Arab, regional, and international levels. ECSSR has been at the forefront of scholarly service to the UAE and has provided timely and necessary advice on political, economic, social, and security matters. While we maintain a research agenda and pursue specif- ic goals that both enhance and pre- serve UAE interests, we also serve different government departments by doing in-depth studies and analyt- ical papers on matters of their con- cern. We also conduct opinion sur- veys on different issues important to UAE decision-makers and statistical studies about aspects that impact both the quality of life in the UAE and how government departments deal with them. We also have a public annual conference, annual energy conference, and annual education conference; and Q. How ECSSR has impacted the government delivery to people at occasionally hold symposia and forums on relevant issues. large? The center also provides a series of public lectures on A. As the premier institution in the United Arab Emirates providing different topics every year. All of these activities are geared analysis to decision-makers, ECSSR toward the widest possible public service. Importantly, we is also an organization that is dedi- have a very active public website, providing the latest cated to community service, both the scholarly community and the popula- analysis and coverage of pressing issues in the UAE, the tion at large in the UAE. We have the Arabian Gulf, the Arab world, and the world at large. largest public library in the country, providing the latest Arabic and English books and publications, as lectures on different topics every and between them and the world. well as archival material on different year. All of these activities are We produce studies on political, eco- aspects of UAE life. We have so far geared toward the widest possible nomic, social, and military and secu- produced close to 1,000authored public service. Importantly, we have rity issues that are of common con- and translated books and have wide- a very active public website, provid- cern in the GCC. We monitor condi- ly-read publications such as the ref- ing the latest analysis and coverage tions, report them, and provide time- ereed quarterly periodical Strategic of pressing issues in the UAE, the ly advice to UAE decision-makers on Visions, the bi-monthly Future Arabian Gulf, the Arab world, and the how to deal with their impact on the Horizons, and the scholarly publica- world at large wellbeing of the country and other tions International Studies, Strategic . countries of the GCC. Studies, and The Emirates Q. How ECSSR is helping UAE gov- But what we adhere to is the Occasional Papers. ernment to collaborate with GCC concept of non-interference in the We also have a public annual con- members to effective coordina- domestic affairs of these countries. ference, annual energy conference, tion? Our studies emphasize common and annual education conference; A. ECSSR provides in-depth analysis GCC goals and cooperation and and occasionally hold symposia and of domestic and regional issues that provide timely advice on how to forums on relevant issues. The cen- impact relations between the coun- secure the overall interests of the ter also provides a series of public tries of the Gulf Cooperation Council council.

36 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S WHS- ERADICATING CORRUPTION, CRIME AND BRIBERY WITH DEADLY DECISIVE ACTIONS

r. Joginder (Jo) S Birring is a NRI the finalizing stages of launching the (Non Resident Indian) Group Academy with Indian State/Regional MChairman WHS (World Homeland Government officials via the WHS Security) who has over 19 years of meta- Group's India Educational teaching team tactics legal Knowledge and Global inves- and The WHS Securities Canada Inc tigations experience in locating, retrieving Senior Vice President, David Ma and The and protecting Assets and Individuals Canada Development Director Todd throughout the world with his trusted Mooney. Mr. Jo S Birring the Group loyal specialist teams to achieve results Chairman and President of WHS Group cost effectively, peacefully and precisely. has strategized solutions successfully on Thousands of cases successfully com- Thousands of complexed Global cases in pleted in regards to Financial Fraud regards to Financial Fraud Identification, Identification, Risk monitoring, Offshore Anti-corruption/Bribery cases, Risk moni- Asset/bank account location and recov- toring, Offshore Asset/bank account ery, profiling of groups/individuals con- location, Security meta tactics and recov- ducting business transactions via the ery, profiling of groups/individuals con- West into the East and East/West so that ducting business transactions via the activities can be monitored so that fraud West into the East - East/West so that can be prevented especially in regards to activities can be monitored so that fraud trust funds/hedge funds and ponzi can be prevented especially in regards to schemes identified before investors lose trust funds/hedge funds and ponzi money. schemes identified before investors lose The WHS Academy For Counter Terror money. Mr. Jo.S.Birring has built and and Economic Crime is the first of its kind The WHS Academy For maintained close trusted working links in that blends knowledge/cutting edge Counter Terror and Economic the Global law enforcement and legal pro- technology into positive actions for each fessionals who have entrusted Mr. Jo.S and every student as the best of the WHS Crime is the first of its kind Birring to deliver results with his precision Group specialists train, mentor and mon- that blends knowledge/ planning strategies coupled with action itor the progress of each student/adult solutions on their timeframe sensitive while giving them overseas training and cutting edge technology into projects fully aware that everything would business/social tactics . India 21st positive actions for each and be conducted safely in the strictest of Century is increasing its knowledge base every student as the best of confidence as he leads his Global teams thus garnering more peaceful solu- into focused actions. tions/outcomes for Indians in India as the WHS Group specialists The Great combination Of Indian/Mid well as the NRIs without any caste/reli- train, mentor and monitor East Educational institutes can certainly gious discriminations. The WHS Academy benefit more in the coming year/years as for Counter Terror and Economic Crime is the progress of each The WHS Counter Terror and Economic a concept that was crystallised by Mr. Jo student/adult while giving Crime Academy/Academies will bridge S Birring as he discussed the long term them overseas training and the gaps as well as increase business impact that corruption and bribery has in trade and student exchanges. It will also societies throughout the world as it is business/social tactics . help the Indian/Mid East Governments inter-related to terrorism and in many India 21st Century is understand and learn more about the dif- ways increases the politicians/business ferent types of financial crimes in South people's pockets while the innocent citi- increasing its knowledge Asia as well as learn more about the zens are fooled time and time again at base thus garnering more Terrorist mindsets/structures thus mak- election time. The circle has to be broken peaceful solutions/ ing Indian/Mid East a safer region in the and "Prime Time Precise" Education is coming years. It will also help the the key. outcomes for Indians in India Governments/Politicians understand and We truly feel that further education of as well as the NRIs without learn more about investment potentials peaceful solutions will garner more any caste/religious especially in these recessive times where peaceful conduct in societies throughout alot of the money invested in the world as well as create good business discriminations. Europe/Canada/USA by Indian/Mid East trade without any fears of loss or fraud in companies is being divested so why these recessive times. WHS (World Homeland Security) Group is presently in should they invest in the west. The WHS

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 37 Group will be providing monitoring and tors will showcase and highlight the best company certifications/seals of approval from their countries as knowledge in regards to which Western/Eastern increases for all so that western coun- companies are solid and tries/companies/politicians realise that corruption/bribery free without any legal there is more ways to achieve peaceful cases registered against them so that outcomes instead of bombing, maiming, Indian/Mid East companies/individuals land grabbing from innocent people, feel safely assured. The WHS Counter manipulating politicians, overthrowing Terror and Economic Crime Academy will governments and supporting/arming also highlight/educate the best of the unstable regimes as these ways only fan west to Indian/Mid East students/Indian the flames of terrorism, extremism and corporations so that more inflows/out- The WHS Counter Terror and invites more "Lone wolf" attackers to your flows of western investment can rise front doors in the west as you wail cry India/Mid East more safely and success- Economic Crime Academy in wolf to the world and also increases the fully. India will also be providing frustrations of the ethnic people living in The WHS Counter Terror and your countries as was the case of the Economic Crime Academy in India will online educational courses Boston Bombers and the London also be providing online educational with highly experienced WHS Woolwich Wolves on a mindless ram- courses with highly experienced WHS Group and its subsidiary page. The people who suffer are the inno- Group and its subsidiary Group The WOW cent and the blame rests for this suffer- (Woman Of the World) Group Senior spe- Group The WOW (Woman Of ing/ pain on the politicians/terrorists who cialists who combined have over 50 years the World) Group Senior brainwash and send good honest men to of Global experience in their respective fight dirty greedy wars so that most fields of Criminal/Corporate Law, specialists who combined bankers/unstable regimes benefit. When Investigations, Security, Anti-Terrorism have over 50 years of Global the brave soldiers return back (some and Forensic solutions throughout the experience in their unfortunately missing arms, legs and World. The educational courses for parts of their skulls with most of their Women will give Women in all parts of the respective fields of minds shot away) they get rewarded with world much more hope with increased Criminal/Corporate Law, a simple gold medal or two/pat on the knowledge as they can than educate back/a promise of a hot seat in heaven their children thus as they grow they can Investigations, Security, and no other benefit as they are left to rot contribute more positively to society with- away. We at the WHS Group are there to out being manipulated or tempted into Group and the WHS Securities Canada help these former soldiers who have crimes or terrorism. Indian women/Girls Inc Senior Vice President David Ma and been disabled in action with peaceful will be given training in regards to self Todd Mooney in Canada. This is going to educational solutions so that they and protection so that NO twisted two-legged help the innocent people in India/Mid their families get more peace of mind for rapist animal walks like a man again and East Europe and Canada claim the right the horrors they faced as well as what The WOW Group will make sure of that no welfare that the states/governments owe they were brainwashed to commit for matter what the "slow" law serves or fails its citizens so that the greedy politicians their countries who now simply do not to deliver as justice will be justice in the and bankers do not pocket or steal the care so much. We at The WHS Group care confines of international law. The Online money. It will also be assisting the gov- and that is why some of you are now Educational Courses in India/Mid East ernment departments so that NO false preaching peace with us and being will be highly secured and professionally claims are made thus allowing the allowed a platform to dissuade others serviced 24hrs 365 days. The Students Government departments to save the from picking up arms against the inno- will be given travel visas for student money and contribute back into the infra- cent people irrespective of the country, exchange and employment opportunities structure and creating more schools, hos- culture or religious beliefs of one. in India/Mid East and Overseas as the pitals/new jobs without the We at The WHS (World Homeland WHS Group Intel units guide, protect the Government/Governments raising any- Security) For Counter Terror and students from any discrimination/hate more taxes. The 2nd WHS Group sub- Economic Crime Academy believe that crimes against them in the west. sidiary company is the "Innovations Education is "THE KEY to a safer more Our WHS Group travel, legal and med- Pakistan, India, China and Middle East" civil and peaceful world and that a mind ical Insurance policies will be provided (The IPIC ME Group) which will be led by once stretched by a new idea never with a 24 hr 365 hotline so that the stu- Jo S Birring the Group Founder/Global regains its original dimensions and the dents and their parents have extra peace Chairman of The WHS Group with David main part of intellectual education is not of mind. Ma/Todd Mooney and the consortium of the acquisition of facts but learning how The WHS Group has also launched already selected esteemed to make facts live. My roots of culture are two subsidiaries that will be pivotal in the companies/individuals in these coun- Indian, I am a Global Soul and my religion coming months/years as the world tries. is humanity as peaceful education changes at a faster pace creating more The IPIC ME Group will be uniting the thrives as the young blossom into greater pressures on the general public and the best of these countries peacefully with law abiding, peaceful loving, caring and political/legal systems in place. The 1st new products innovations that make the wiser adults. Knowledge is knowing...wis- subsidiary company is the "Uniting world a greener and more eco friendly dom is doing peacefully" - Jo S Birring. Nations Of Welfare" (UNOW) Group which planet. The best of the best engineers, will be led by Jo S Birring the Group teachers, religious studies, horticultur- Jo Birring can be contacted at email: Founder/Global Chairman of The WHS ists, writers and movie producers/direc- [email protected]

38 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S SHARP MIND BRINGS SHARP LEADERSHIP: KIRSAN IIYUMZHINOV

irsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov is a Kalmyk multi-millionaire businessman and politician. KHe was the President of the Republic of Kalmykia in the Russian Federation from 1993 to 2010, and he has been the President of FIDE (or the "World Chess Federation"), the world's pre-eminent international chess organization, since 1995. He has also been in the forefront of promoting chess in schools in Russia and overseas.He is the founder of Novy Vzglyad Publishing House. In addition to his native Kalmyk and Russian, he can speak English, Japanese, and a bit Korean, Mongolian and Chinese languages. Ilyumzhinov was born in Elista, Kalmykia. He studied at the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations from 1983 to 1989. Between 1989 and 1990 he was a sales manager for the Soviet-Japanese automobile company "Liko-Raduga" in Moscow, and from 1990 until 1993 he was President of SAN Corporation in Moscow. On April 12, 1993, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov acquired his wealth with Ilyumzhinov was elected as the first 1st President of the emergence of the private sector president of the Republic of Kalmykia, Kalmykia which followed the collapse of the and remained president until 2010. USSR. Kirsan is married to Danara Soon after his election, Ilyumzhinov Ilyumzhinova (née Davashkina) and introduced presidential rule, concen- IN OFFICE they have one son, David. Ilyumzhinov trating power in his own hands. He 23 April 1993 - 24 Oct 2010 also has two brothers, Sanal and called early elections on October 15, Vyacheslav. 1995 and was re-elected unopposed- Preceded by : Post Established Ilyumzhinov has drawn world-wide this time for a 7-year term. He won re- Succeeded by : Aleksey Orlov attention for claiming personal contact election in 2002. Ilyumzhinov's elec- with aliens, alleging that they took him tion platform for the presidency of on a mystical tour of the galaxy in their Kalmykia included promising voters PERSONAL DETAILS spaceship in 1997. $100 each and a mobile phone for Born : April 5, 1962 (age 51) Political career every shepherd-much of the population Elista, Kalmyk ASSR, USSR Ilyumzhinov acquired his wealth with the emergence of the Nationality : Kalmyk private sector which followed the collapse of the USSR. Political party : United Russia Kirsan is married to Danara Ilyumzhinova (née Davashkina) Spouse(s) : Danar Davashkina and they have one son, David. Ilyumzhinov also has two Profession : Businessman brothers, Sanal and Vyacheslav. Religion : Buddhism

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 39 H.E. Kirsan IIyumzhinov with Mr Prashant Tewari & Hon'ble Kapil Sibal Min of Telecommunications in a function recently organised in New Delhi by Pantel technologies to show case tablet PC of Kalmykia living from agriculture. He has been President of the World Chess once campaigned under the slogan "a Ilyumzhinov has striven to Federation, investing a large amount of wealthy president is a safeguard against his private fortune into the game. He corruption." He also pledged to intro- become an "Asian values" has been enthusiastic about attracting duce what he called an "economic dic- authoritarian like his international tournaments to Kalmykia, tatorship" in the republic, as well as to Singaporean, Korean, and and many grandmasters have done so. continue to promote chess in Kalmykia, His flamboyant plans to build an in Russia and to the wider world. After Chinese role models (even extravagant Chess City in the republic his re-election in 1995, Ilyumzhinov though his republic is in the led to protests by some people, but reportedly told a journalist from the southern European portion have been praised by others for gener- Russian daily Izvestia, "Irrespective of ating good publicity. The 1996 bout what I tell people, I give them instruc- of Russia). between Gata Kamsky and Anatoly tions on a sub-conscious level, a code. I Karpov was originally scheduled to be do the same thing when I communicate temples. Chess was made a compulso- played in Baghdad. However the inter- with Russian citizens from other ry subject in the first three years of ele- national response was so harsh that regions. I am creating around the repub- mentary school-the only place in the FIDE moved the match to Elista where lic a kind of extra-sensory field and it world where this is the case. The region it received more positive international helps us a lot in our projects." now has numerous champions. The attention. Ilyumzhinov has striven to become 14th Dalai Lama has visited Kirsan In the summer of 1998, Kirsan an "Asian values" authoritarian like his Ilyumzhinov on many occasions and Ilyumzhinov announced his possible Singaporean, Korean, and Chinese role has blessed a number of the temples candidacy for the Russian presidency. models (even though his republic is in in Elista, as well as Kalmyk Buddhist This coincided with Anatoly Karpov the southern European portion of temples overseas.. Recently, Kirsan being critical of the annual knockout Russia). He has spent millions of dol- Iiyumzhinov visited India to seek bless- FIDE world title system. Karpov lars on chess and supporting religion, ings from HH Chandraswamiji in New argued that his contract with FIDE building a Catholic church at the insti- Delhi with his wife. stipulated that the winner of the 1998 gation of the Pope John Paul II. He has FIDE career Karpov-Anand match would hold the also built a mosque, a synagogue, 22 title for two years. Karpov's successful Orthodox churches, and 30 Buddhist Since November 1995, Ilyumzhinov advocacy of his rights led to the can-

40 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S cellation of a planned world title knockout series in Las Vegas, Nevada, later in that Why Sectors That Use year. Since Karpov had an unsuccessful year, apart from his match against Anand, and he was unable to resist the Tablets for Governance plan that he would have to enter this knockout, whenever it came to be organized, at a Is Expanding far earlier stage. Ilyumzhinov managed to heir no sector in the world is relieve students from the heavy burden of persuade the 140 member untouched from technology. Tablets lots of book. Tablets serves the purpose of countries of FIDE to take part Tare now the most influencing tech- taking notes, reading books creating and in the main team event of the nology invention that is positively affect- submitting schoolwork for students, where year, the Chess Olympiad, ing several working sectors, all thanks to teachers can use it to maintain atten- scheduled to start in late the IT innovators. Tablets have become dance, syllabus distribution, progress September 1998, in Elista. common like notebooks these days in report and even for interacting with parents However the event started late most of the workplace, whereas some of students. Tablet is bridging the digital due to the failure to complete workplaces are still in evolving stage. gap in the society with its affordable com- the new venue in time. In the Penta T-Pad is a lightweight mobile com- puting, durability and portability. In near end, it attracted 110 teams to puting device which is affordable, future Tablet PC will become integral part the main event, a Swiss system durable, supports internet and voice con- of education. contest shortened to 13 nectivity along with thousands of useful Healthcare rounds to allow for the delay. application. Due to above features and On June 2, 2006, its high portability nature, Areas that For many advanced healthcare units Ilyumzhinov was re-elected as depend a lot on tablets presently are: tablets are not new to them. For decade’s FIDE President by a margin of E-Governance touchscreen have been used in hospitals 96-54 against his opponent it may or may not be surprising but Bessel Kok. In an October Pantel Technologies aims to be part of this healthcare is the one of the prominent 2006 Wall Street Journal arti- governance revolution, to redefine governance areas concerning to the fact of deploy- cle Garry Kasparov, who to provide SMART Governance. This approach ments of tablets at large scale in recent backed a rival to Ilyumzhinov, has the potential of enabling huge savings in time due to advancement, affordability criticized Ilyumzhinov FIDE's costs through sharing of core and support infra- and portability in the Tablet PC . Likewise leadership stating: structure, enabling interoperability through stan- is the pharmaceutical company. Tablets "(Ilyumzhinov) has created a dards, and of presenting a seamless view of are used to maintain treatment records vertical column of power that Government to citizens. of all the patients separately in a well- would be familiar to any The effective use of Penta T-Pads in organized manner. Doctors can liaise observer of Russia today."Nigel government administration can greatly with other doctors on check-up and drug Short, the British grandmaster enhance existing efficiencies, drive down related issues of a patients. who also supported Kirsan's communication costs, and increase Retails and sales rival for the leadership of FIDE, transparency in the functioning of various joined Kasparov's misgivings at departments. It can also aid in easy Be it in store or field, both sales mem- Ilyumzhinov's victory. access to tangible benefits for citizens, bers are benefiting from tablets. Tablets On September 29, 2010, be it through simple applications such as being mobile device help them to com- Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was online form filling, bill sourcing and pay- plete transaction and check inventory reelected as President of FIDE ments, or complex applications like dis- right before the customer in any part of defeating his rival, Anatoly tance education and tele-medicine. the store. Now, sales executives do not Karpov decisively - winning this Pantel Technologies with its range of need to go to the cash counters to check election by 95 votes to 55. Penta T-Pads plans to gradually extend inventory or to find discount details, this During his recent visit to eGovernance to all departments eventu- saves time for both customer and store India, Kirsan met India's ally, leveraging the power of IT to stream- employees. For retailers with extra Telecom Minister Mr Kapil line administrative functions and screen, tablets fit the bill perfectly for pro- Sibal to discuss enhancement increase transparency. motion of their products. of bilateral ties between India Education Legal & Russia. H.E. Kirsan Iiyumzhinov was presented Education sector is adopting new Huge numbers of book on laws make with the world's cheapest technologies very fast, as it is the matter is it almost impossible for lawyers to tablet PC by Hon'ble Kapil of children’s future and no one wants to access them anytime anywhere but not Sibal. The visiting dignitary dis- take any risk. Government and vendors with tablets in hand, they are capable to cussed incorporation of chess are taking initiative to develop education access library containing books on law. in schools as subject to pro- eco system on Tablets PC. Penta T Pad Now days, in courtroom lawyers use mote the game with millions of have launched with sufficient features for tablets to refer laws, to look for at the Indians. educational use for both teacher and stu- case details and even to shoe evidence to Inputs from Bhuwan Fulara dent at competitive price. Tablets will the court.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 41 WHAT DOES FALLING RUPEE MEAN? 1. When the rupee moves from 50 per US dollar to 60 per US dollar, why do we call it ‘depreciation’ and not ‘appreciation’ given that the rupee has risen against the dollar? Let’s replace rupee with potatoes. Today, US$ 1 can buy 50 pieces of potatoes. Tomorrow, 1 US$ can buy 60 potatoes. This means that potatoes have gotten cheaper since you can buy more pieces for the same US$ 1 Alternatively, it means that potatoes have depreciated or declined in value. The same is true for the rupee. When US$ 1 can buy 50 rupees today, and 60 rupees tomorrow, it means that the value of the rupee has depreciated or declined. On the other hand, if the Rs per US$ rate moves from 45 today to 40 tomorrow, it means that the value of the rupee has appreciated or risen against the US dollar.

2. Everyone is saying that the depreciating rupee will make things expensive. How? The rupee depreciation will not make just about everything expensive. It will only make those things expensive that we import from outside India. Crude oil (that is used to make petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG) is one such commodity that we import in huge quantities. Let’s assume you can buy 1 barrel of crude oil for US$ 100 today. The same is true for the rupee. When US$ 1 can buy 50 rupees today, and 60 rupees tomorrow, it means that the value of the rupee has depreciated or declined. On the other hand, if the Rs per US$ rate moves from 45 today to 40 tomorrow, it means that the value of the rupee has appreciated or risen against the US dollar.

42 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S But you don’t have US$ 100 with you. So you go to a bank, pay it Rs 5,000 Now assume, the rupee depreciates to Rs 60 per US$ (as it and get US$ 100 in return (assuming has), and you again need to buy 1 barrel of crude oil. Now US$ 1 = Rs 50 currently). Now assume, the rupee depreciates you need to give the bank Rs 6,000 to get US$ 100 in return to Rs 60 per US$ (as it has), and you to pay for oil.While the international oil price has remained again need to buy 1 barrel of crude oil. at US$ 100 per barrel, it has still gotten expensive for you to Now you need to give the bank Rs 6,000 to get US$ 100 in return to pay buy it because the rupee has depreciated to Rs 60 per US$, for oil. from Rs 50 earlier. While the international oil price has remained at US$ 100 per barrel, it has still gotten expensive for you to buy it Alternatively, when the rupee appre- (like it was earning earlier), its income because the rupee has depreciated to ciates against the US dollar, our imports will increase in Indian rupee terms. Rs 60 per US$, from Rs 50 earlier. (like crude oil) become cheaper. All in all, depreciating rupee is bad Now convert 1 barrel of oil with for companies that import things and everything we import in India. Rupee’s 3. What about things that India good for companies that export. deprecation would mean that these exports? Alternatively, appreciating rupee is imported things will become expensive With depreciating rupee, exports will good for companies that import things for us. become lucrative for Indian companies. and bad for companies that export. As for oil, since we consume it in so This is simply because every US$ 1 of By the way, one negative impact that many places – for cooking, transporta- export income can now be converted companies feel when rupee depreci- tion, and power generation – these will into Rs 60, as against Rs 50 earlier. ates is on their foreign borrowings. also become expensive due to rupee’s So even when a company earns US$ Suppose a company borrowed US$ 100 depreciation against the US dollar. 1 from exporting one unit of its product in 2010 and then converted it into Rs

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 43 4,500 (at Rs 45 per US$) to spend on its expansion. Now, when it has to repay It’s simply demand and supply. If people demand more of a that loan of US$ 100, it needs to pay thing while its supply is low, the price of the thing will rise, the bank Rs 6,000 because the rupee has depreciated to Rs 60 per US$. right? On the other hand, if something is in excess supply in So, in an environment of depreciat- the market as compared to demand, the price of that thing ing rupee, companies with US$ borrowings face a negative impact on their will fall. This also holds true for currencies. When supply of balance sheets. rupee rises while demand falls, the value of the rupee depreciates (like it is depreciating now). As far as the 4. But what determines whether the rupee depreciates or appreciates current rupee depreciation is concerned, it is large a result against the US dollar or any other cur- of appreciation of US dollar than any inherent weakness in rency? It’s simply demand and supply. If the rupee. people demand more of a thing while its supply is low, the price of the thing the dollar is still the safest paper cur- rupee down. And before the rupee gets will rise, right? rency in the world!). pulled down even further, the foreigners On the other hand, if something is in What this means is that the demand would like to sell even more, which excess supply in the market as com- for the US dollar is rising. Thus the dol- would add to the pressure on the rupee. pared to demand, the price of that thing lar is rising in value, and subsequently will fall. the rupee is facing a downward pres- 5. Does the rupee depreciation This also holds true for currencies. sure. impact stock market investors? When supply of rupee rises while Another reason for the pressure on Yes. As we discussed above, rupee’s demand falls, the value of the rupee rupee is massive selling by foreign insti- depreciation negatively impacts depreciates (like it is depreciating now). tutional investors. Foreigners, who had imports. Thus, Indian companies that As far as the current rupee depreci- invested in Indian stocks, are pulling import a lot of raw materials will face ation is concerned, it is large a result of out money and thus demanding dollars pressure on their profits if the rupee appreciation of US dollar than any that they can take back home. This is continues to weaken against the US inherent weakness in the rupee. adding to the rupee’s fall. dollar, or even if it remains at the cur- A lot of money is finding its way The circle of vicious. When foreign- rent weak levels. through to the safety of the US dollar ers sell in Indian rupee and demand US The companies that import oil deriv- (yes, despite all the problems in the US, dollars to take back home, it pulls the atives (crude or palm oil) as raw materi-

44 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S als – like those from the paint, plastics ents in India. and easy money) flowing around the and FMCG industries – will be especial- world, which is not a sustainable situa- ly hurt on their margins in the short to Can things get dangerous? tion in the long run. medium term. I hate predicting, especially the So, a sharp mood swing of the for- Also, companies that have foreign future! eign punter, coupled with low levels of borrowings on their books will see a But if I were to venture a guess, I confidence of Indian investors, and we negative impact on their profits. remember reading about the impact of may find ourselves in a crisis of sorts. On the other hand, Indian compa- currency volatility on South Asia in Remember, we side-stepped the nies (like those from the IT and phar- 1997. India was spared then, given our Asian financial crisis in 1997, and maceutical sectors) that are major dealings in foreign exchange were not were not majorly impacted even in exporters, will benefit from the falling big enough. 2008. rupee. As things stand now, the rupee is This makes us as vulnerable as the So, overall, while rupee’s current more closely related to the US dollar drunkard who has no experience of depreciation is bad for you as a con- than ever. falling in the manhole, and thus has a sumer or an investor in companies This is especially true of the Indian weak defense mechanism to avoid that import a lot, it is good if you own a stock market, which largely depends falling into one. software company or are an investor in on the mood of foreign investors, espe- Sadistically, as an investor, I hope one of them. cially in the short term. we fall…so that assets I am eyeing are Also, if you are an Indian working Much of the growth we have seen available at prices I want to buy them. abroad and earning US dollars, you over the past few years has been can remit more rupees to your depend- caused by artificial liquidity (cheap (Coutesy: safalniveshak.com )

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 45 NUMBER-CRUNCHING AFTER CHAMPIONS’ TRIUMPH

India, under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy, have won the ICC World Cup, ICC World Twenty20 and the ICC Champions Trophy - the first captain to have won all three ICC trophies. India beat England by 5 runs in a rain-curtailed final of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

46 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Here are some other statistical highlights:

India have won both the Grand Finals against England in ODIs - by two wickets in the NatWest series at Lord's on July 13, 2002 and by five runs at Edgbaston in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston on June 23, 2013. India have defeated England in all three games in the ICC Champions Trophy, enjoying 100% success rate - their previous two wins being by eight wickets at Colombo (RPS) on September 22, 2002 and by four wickets at Jaipur on October 15, 2006. For the first time, a team batting first, has won the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. Also for the first time, India have won six games in succession in the ICC Champions Trophy - between September 30, 2009 and June 23, 2013. Shikhar Dhawan has established an Indian record for the highest run-aggregate in an ICC Champions Trophy competition - 363 runs (ave.90.75) in five matches, including two hundreds and a fifty. Only Chris Gayle has amassed more runs than Dhawan - 474 (ave.79.00) in eight matches in 2006- 07. Dhawan has received his first Player of the series award in ODIs. Sourav Ganguly had managed 348 (ave.116.00) in four matches in 2000- 01. Dhawan is the only batsman to aggregate 300 runs apart from recording strike rate of 100-plus (101.39) in an ICC Champions Trophy competition Rohit Sharma, with 177 runs at an average of 35.40 in five matches, is the second highest run-getter for India in the just concluded competition. Ravi Bopara (3/20) has produced his best bowling performance in the ICC Champions Trophy. The said performance is also his best vs India in ODIs. Bopara's excellent figures are the best by an England bowler vs India in the ICC Champions Trophy. Bopara's figures of 3 for 20 are his second best in ODIs, next only to the four for 38 vs Bangladesh at Birmingham on July 12, 2010. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's first duck vs England is his seventh in ODIs. As captain, Dhoni has posted his second duck in 140 matches - his first being vs Australia at Visakhapatnam on October 20, 2010. Virat Kohli (43 off 34 balls) has posted his highest score in six ODI finals,

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 47 outstripping the 37 off 57 balls vs Sri Lanka at Dambulla on August 28, 2010. Kohli has averaged 58.66 in the ICC CT 2013 - his tally being 176 in five matches, including a fifty. Ravindra Jadeja is averaging 52.16 vs England in ODIs - his aggregate being 313 in eleven innings (five times not out), including two fifties. Rohit Sharma's wicket today is the first in the mandatory Powerplay for India in the just concluded competition. Alastair Cook has averaged 32.20 in five matches in the just concluded ICC Champions Trophy - his aggregate being 161, including two fifties. James Anderson, with eleven wickets at 13.72 runs apiece in five matches, has set an England record for the highest wicket-aggregate in the ICC CT 2013, obliterating Stuart Broad's tally of ten at 15.50 runs apiece in three matches in 2009-10. Eoin Morgan (33 off 30 balls) has posted his highest score in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan have shared a stand of 64 - England's highest fifth-wicket partnership vs India in leading wicket-taker in the just conclud- England is his seventh in ODIs. the ICC Champions Trophy. ed competition. His tally is an Indian Ravichandran Ashwin has taken Ravindra Jadeja, with 12 wickets at record in the ICC Champions Trophy. three catches in an ODI for the first 12.83 runs apiece, has finished as the Jadeja's fourth MOM award vs time.

48 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE: SMITHA DEEPAK

mitha Deepak is an Indian- born model, TV anchor and a "Sserial entrepreneur, currently the founder and CEO of The Green Creation, Inc. a designer organic cloth- ing company. A sports enthusiast, she's a swimmer and has been an athlete throughout her life. After completing her MBA from India, she moved to the United States in 2002 and since made Bay Area, California her home." Opinion Express team interacted with her online to present a case study of a successful woman.

Q. Smitha Deepak is a performer, what motivates you to excel in life? I'm actually an entrepreneur (founder CEO of The Green Creation), I'm a TV anchor with WomenNow TV, an event Host and also a model (brand ambassador for several brands) First and foremost, I never think of my work as a "job", instead, I work with passion. You need to love our work to get and stay motivated. We all have one life to live, so we might as well make it flavorful. I love variety and I feel that there's no limit on how much one can achieve in life, and age is never a bar; you're never too young or old to do something. I'm a people person, so it makes it very easy for me to connect with the community. Being in the profession that I am in (retail and media); you need to be able to develop that connection and network with the people easily. I'm also very focused and organized. I wake up at 3am every morning (including weekends) and know exactly what I need to accomplish during that day. I have short term and long term goals and I'm much focused. Lastly, I believe in taking care of myself; when we take care of ourselves, we can very easily take care of everything around you. All of the above helps me, motivates me and keeps me smiling, and everything falls in the right place!

Q. What is the most innovative thing you have done during your professional journey so far? My philosophy about life is: normal is boring. If you want to excel, you have

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S July 2013 49 or loser and everyone is the best in their own way. For that reason, watching an audition is harder than actually audi- tioning for something. At the same time, because you watch so much varied talent, you get to learn from them too. I've seen people who grew out of nothing but their talent and determination that they showcase is very inspiring.

Q. Your message to young women of India? Women are very strong, stronger than they think they really are, and sometimes the only limitations that they have are the ones they place on themselves. It's important to get out of your comfort zone and explore the infinite opportunities. We're fighters; we are daughters, sisters, and moth- ers and have this magical power of balancing life extremely well. So get out there and show the world you've to be different and do more than just tioning)? What did you learn from come to live, not just to survive. Get normal. I've done everything from tap- that? your inner mojo out and showcase ing while skydiving and shooting with Yes! and I hate it because now, I your talent, be confident and never large reptiles, and keeping my horizon need to judge people. There's no winner give up! large enough to be a brand ambassador for fashion lines to sports. I've always stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new, and it's always been a pleasant experience.

Q. Besides being an stage artist, what other training have you had (voice, dance, stage combat, etc.)? I'm not professionally trained in anything I do, but have succeeded tremen- dously in everything I touched. I'm a great example to everyone who wants to do something, but always feared that they might not have the experience or professional training. All you need is the willingness to learn and succeed. I'm an actor today, a model tomorrow, a speaker the next day, a host, or maybe a sky- diver another day; you give me a role and I'll execute it with poise. You need to wear your confidence all the time, and sometimes that is all you need.

Q. If you could choose, what three actors would you really want to work with? 1.FarhanAkhtar: because he's someone who can pull of anything and is multi-talented. 2.ShabanaAzmi: because she exem- plifies strength. 3.Rahul Bose: because that's my style of acting, natural and effortless.

Q. Have you ever gotten a chance to be on the other side of the table at an audition (watching, instead of audi-

50 July 2013 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S