Editorial : The Hypocrisy of the RSS and BJP Exposed in Karnataka Mahi Pal Singh With the swearing in ceremony of H.D. coalition, and only two independent members left Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister of unaligned, the only logical and democratic step Karnataka after a high voltage political climax left for the Governor was to invite and anti-climax the matter has reached its logical Kumaraswamy to form the government. and democratic conclusion. When the results of But that was not to be. Kumaraswamy the state legislative assembly declared on 15th declared his intention to meet the Governor at May, 2018 threw a hung house with the 5.30 p.m. in the evening to stake his claim to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting 104, the form the government. The BJP immediately Congress 78 and the Janata Dal (Secular) 38 swung into action and B.S. Yeddyurappa, its CM seats out of the 222 seats out of the 224 for candidate, outsmarted him and went to meet the which the election was held, it became clear Governor at 5 p.m.and staked his claim to form that only a coalition government could be formed the government as the leader of the single largest in the state. For that to happen in a legitimate party in the assembly claiming that in such a way it was clear that two of the three parties situation that is the practice, very conveniently would have to come together. Though the three forgetting that that practice was not followed parties had fought the election against each by the same BJP in Goa, Manipur and other, under the circumstances of a fractured Meghalaya, where the Congress was the single mandate, it was mandatory that they should largest party in the last elections, and it formed forget the election-period rivalry and think of a governments there by luring/bringing along common ideology and programme so that two members from other parties to gain majority after of the three formations could come together. It being sworn in as Chief Ministers. The Governors is obvious that the Congress and the JD (S) have there, who happen to be the (former) leaders of a common ideology of Secularism and they were the BJP and members of the Rashtriya the natural coalition partners to form the next Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), sided with the BJP government. This they did and the Congress on and invited its leaders to form governments there. its own declared that they would align with the They exercised their ‘discretion’ in favour of not JD (S) and accept H.D. Kumaraswamy as the the single largest party but the BJP which was coalition leader and the next Chief Minister. The not the single largest party in any of these three offer was accepted by Kumaraswamy also and states, nor had any other group declared its the matter was sealed as far as they were intention to lend it support in forming the concerned even before the Election Commission government before the BJP candidates were formally declared the election results. Since the sworn in as Chief Ministers. The whole BJP had only 104 seats, seven seats short of manipulation was done thereafter to prove the majority mark of 111 (since the house had majority on the floor of the house. only 221 members as Kumaraswamy had been In the case of Karnataka, the same BJP took declared elected from two seats), as against the a diametrically opposite stand and there also the 116 (+ one of the BSP) of the Congress-JD (S) Governor, Vajubhai Vala, who also happens to

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 3 be a former minister under Narendra Modi’s from 15 days to 4 p.m. on 19th May 2018, a Chief Ministership in Gujarat and also a staunch little less than 3 days. This direction of the RSS member, out-rightly favoured the BJP Supreme Court was an indirect comment on the candidate, B.S. Yeddyurappa inviting him to take partisan behaviour and democratic impropriety oath, which he did on 17 May, as the next CM, committed by the Governor. Diametrically also giving him 15 days’ long time to indulge in opposite ‘discretion’ shown by the Governors horse-trading with a free hand and prove his of Goa, Manipur and Mizoram on the one hand majority on the floor of the house. It is true that and by the Governor of Karnataka on the other under Article 164 (1) the Constitution gives the also highlights the need for codification of this Governor the authority to “appoint the Chief ‘discretion’ so that it is not arbitrary, biased and Minister” and under Article 163 (2) his partisan, and against democratic propriety. After ‘discretion’ ‘shall not be called in question on the all even the Governor is a public servant and ground that he ought or ought not to have acted hast to observe the rules not only of in his discretion’ but the choice of inviting anybody constitutional propriety but is also bound by to take oath as the Chief Minister is based on the democratic norms. He too must not only be fair assumption that he will invite a person who in his and unbiased but also appear to be so. Not only opinion can provide a stable government in the the Governors but also all other people in non- state. Basing their argument on the ‘discretion’ political constitutional posts are supposed to shed of the Governor, the whole battery of the their political associations at the time of assuming spokespersons of the BJP and the RSS who such posts, but some people, including members appeared on various TV channels justified the of the RSS, find it difficult to do so. action of the Governor. All of them conveniently As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the ignored the question of propriety and democratic newly appointed Chief Minister had to face the norms which only exposed their hypocrisy of house for a confidence vote earlier than what saying different things in spite of circumstances his mentors in the BJP and the RSS had planned, being similar. For Vajubhai Vala also the directions which of course he did not seek as he knew of his political bosses were more important than that he did not have the required numbers, and political propriety because of which he had to resigned after 55 hours of becoming the CM. close his eyes to everything which even an The master manipulators of the BJP failed to ordinary citizen could clearly see – about who cobble up the required numbers by hook or crook enjoyed a majority in the assembly. as had been their practice earlier because However, when the Governor formally invited perhaps the time proved too short for them to B.S. Yeddyurappa of the BJP to take oath as show their manipulative abilities. the next CM, the Congress and the JD (S) After the coming together of the Samajwadi leaders approached the Supreme Court the night Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party during the before the swearing in. A bench was immediately two parliamentary bye-polls for Gorakhpur and constituted which heard the case from midnight Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh, the two BJP VVIP till the next morning. Realizing the urgency of constituencies vacated by Yogi Adityanath, the the matter and taking note of the arguments and CM, and the other vacated by Keshav Prasad copies of letters of support presented by the Maurya, the Deputy Chief Minister, and coalition parties to the Governor, in its judgement comprehensively defeating the BJP candidates though the bench did not grant stay on the there, it is a good sign that the Congress and the swearing in, it reduced the deadline of proving JD (S) came together in Karnataka to defeat the majority on the floor of the house drastically the power-grabbing designs of the BJP there.

4 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 The non-BJP, non-communal, secular parties are greatest show of unity after 1996. It must have realizing the importance of coming together to unnerved the BJP leadership come as it did pave the way for a broader non-BJP alliance before the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and for the 2019 general elections. This is manifest Chhattisgarh assembly elections due at the end from the presence of almost all the non-BJP of this year even before the decisive 2019 party leaders at the swearing in ceremony of parliamentary general elections as it certainly H.D. Kumaraswamy. This coming together of has a definite potential to wipe out the BJP from all the secular forces of the country was the the country.

More Tributes to Justice Sachar: Justice Rajindar Sachar – an Unbeaten Fighter of Human Rights Gautam Thaker While Rajindar Sachar was the National and democratic rights of not only the minority President of PUCL before two decades, rare but that of all the backward classes of India. I memories of having worked closely with him have had a rare privilege of working with a noble for the cause of Human Rights and Civil Liberties man, concerned with the issues facing the clearly emerge on the memory line even to-day, people, for over two and a half decades now. after his demise. Perhaps most of to-day’s Having talked once or twice in a month, he citizens tend to recognize him merely as an certainly gave guidance and directions on the authority to draft a report during the tenure of crucial issues. Whenever a conference was the U.P.A. Govt. on the social, economical and organized in Ahmedabad either by the PUCL or educational condition of Muslim community. But by Indian Radical Humanist Association, Sachar before presenting this Report, he was well- Saheb definitely attended and thus enhanced our known as a sincere leader of the Human Rights. morale and enthusiasm. As a National President of PUCL, on this front, Since we were at the opposite sides on he contributed a lot in the interest of the have- Narmada Dam issue, I frequently persuaded to nots, victims and ailing majority which suffered him that our support was confined to the cause at the hands of the ruling regimes. Whenever of Irrigation and Drinking Waters needs and any case of violation of civil liberties and human rehabilitation of oustees only. We had rights was reported from any part of the country, affectionately (!) heated discussions. At times, Sachar Saheb shall immediately rush there. he explained to me, admonishing as to how the Ensuring immediate arrangements for legal main aim could be defeated by the rulers by assistance and providing solace to the victims, misusing waters after allocating it to the bringing to light at the national level, issues of industries. He also suggested holding dialogues human rights violation, was done by Sachar with the senior leaders of “Save Narmada Saheb who was next only to Justice V.M. Movement” (Narmada Bachaavo Andolan). Tarkunde. After all, this year, the ruling regime has made Contribution made by Sachar Saheb on wastage of Narmada Waters, which has proved Human Rights front was remarkable. All that the rulers have made use of Narmada throughout his life, he struggled for constitutional Waters for pocketing “Votes”. In the end,

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 5 foresight of Sachar Saheb has proved to be right long report in which he had suggested that or correct. educational facility to the Muslim community He showed deep concern for the activists should be qualitative and free of cost. He also sincerely working for the poor people, and suggested that colleges like I.T.I. and Polytechnic always remained prepared to offer legal or other should be set up in Muslim areas. He also forms of assistance in the time of difficulties suggested that share of Muslims in employment faced by these activists. His house was a shelter- should be raised and credit facilities including place for the activist leaders injured in the battle- banking should be extended to them. He had field, where all came across for applying asserted that there should be better utilization ointment and bandaging with a commitment for of Wakf properties or resources and basic re-thinking and administering justice. At the time amenities should be made available to all of cases filed against leaders of Narmada including Hindus and Muslims in every city and Bachaavo Andolan also, while talking to me as village. Govt. schools and Health Centres should well as with the renowned environment expert also be set up. After making study of such a engineer Mahesh Pandya, sometime before a situation, he drew a conclusion that by every year, Sachar Saheb had told that “time has come social and economic parameter, Mulsim is trailing when all should work harmoniously and together. behind the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe Support of all of you is essential in the matters and hence for redressal of grievances of of cases and counter-cases filed against one prejudice against Muslims, he had also another”. This kind of concern expressed by him recommended to set up “Equal Opportunity had really touched to us, at that point of time. Commission.” The U.P.A. Govt. had entrusted Chairmanship With fond remembrances and tributes to such of High Power Committee to inquire into social, a stalwart colleague! educational and economic conditions of the Gautam Thaker is General Secretary, PUCL Muslims in the country, to Justice Sachar. With (Gujarat) strenuous efforts, he had prepared a 403 pages Email : [email protected]

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6 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 People’s Union for Democratic Rights : PUDR remembers Justice Rajindar Sachar People’s Union for Democratic Rights ‘Sachar Committee’ Report published in 2006 (PUDR) expresses its condolences on the on the socio-economic and educational situation demise of Justice Rajindar Sachar. A leading civil of Muslims in India. The report highlighted the rights activist, Justice Rajindar Sachar will be backwardness of the Muslim community in India remembered for his democratic commitments on every socio-economic index based on and deep concern for the marginalized and statistical data. The report also made an attempt deprived sections of society. His career as a to break several stereotypes associated with the judge reverberated the same commitment to Muslim community and Islam while also pointing democratic ethos and his defiance of arbitrary out how the visible markers of Muslim identity authority. Justice Sachar was transferred from contributed to a public discourse in which they Sikkim High Court during Emergency for being were looked at with suspicion. The report one of the few judges who would admit writ recommended setting up of an institutional petitions and allow political prisoners to avail bail, structure called an Equal Opportunity infuriating the Emergency regime. In 1984, when Commission for legal redressal of cases of PUDR and People’s Union for Civil Liberties discrimination again Muslims. (PUCL) filed a writ petition in Delhi High Court As a civil libertarian he has made a valuable after the publication of their joint fact-finding contribution to the civil rights movement in India report ‘Who Are The Guilty?’ on the 1984 anti- as the President (1986-1995) and member of Sikh riots, naming the culprits and seeking PUCL after his retirement. As a member of registration of FIRs against them, the case came PUCL, among many concerns of people’s rights, up before Rajindar Sachar. He issued notice to Justice Sachar also opposed draconian anti- the police but before the next hearing, the case terror laws for the gross violation of human rights was removed from his court and brought before they committed. In 2003, representing PUCL two other judges asking petitioners to withdraw he argued in Supreme Court against The their case which the petitioners declined. Post Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and his retirement as Chief Justice Delhi High Court demanded its repeal. in 1985, he also served as the UN Special PUDR fondly remembers the memories of Rapporteur on Housing raising issues of joint work with PUCL in which Justice Sachar adequate right to housing in Kenya, and a was a part and salutes the deep democratic member of the UN Sub-Commission on commitments his life represented. In the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of darkness of today with the fascist onslaught on Minorities. our democracy, Justice Sachar’s is a huge loss. One of his biggest contributions would remain Shashi and Shahana the authorship of what came to be called as the Secretaries, PUDR, 29th April 2018 “The people of this country have a right to know every public act, everything, that is done in a public way, by their public functionaries. They are entitled to know the particulars of every public transaction in all its bearing.” Justice K K Mathew, former Judge, Supreme Court of India, (1975)

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 7 Articles and Features: Relevance of Jinnah THE Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is not There are elements just a place of learning. It was in the forefront which are bent on of a movement for the demand of Pakistan and negating every effort still leans towards what is considered beneficial towards conciliation to the millat. A photo of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and rebuff steps that on the wall of Kenney Hall, the most prestigious help promote good place in AMU campus, is no surprise. It was relations between the there even before partition and it continues to two countries. Some be there all these years. But what amazes me is years ago, the its disappearance on May 1 and reappearance Pakistanis themselves Kuldip Nayar on May 3! took the initiative to rename the Shadman Chowk True, it was the handiwork of a fanatic BJP in Lahore and the gesture was very much member. But he should retract his steps within appreciated in India. In fact, the renaming of two days and put back the photo where it had the chowk gave birth to the idea of honouring hung since the time before partition looks heroes of the pre-partition days. extraordinary. Perhaps the person concerned I recall that after celebrating Bhagat Singh’s was admonished by the BJP high command birthday in March some years ago, a delegation which is trying its best to woo Muslim voters at of Pakistanis participated in a gathering at the Karnataka state election. Amritsar in April to recall the Jalianwala Bagh Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also kept tragedy which had Hindus and Muslims as the polls in mind when he addresses different martyrs. So much enthusiasm was created that rallies in the country. Once in a while he tends preparations were afoot to hail the sacrifices of to make remarks like there should be electricity those who were part of the Indian National at cremation grounds as is the case at burial Army and the naval uprising in 1946. The two grounds. But this is to assure the Hindu audience challenges to the British, even when the Hindus that the BJP has not strayed from the party’s and Muslims were divided, indicated that when philosophy of Hindu Rashtra. it came to a third party, both sides were willing No doubt, the majority of Hindus—they are to join hands to thwart it. 80 percent in India—tilt towards what is known This is, more or less, what Jinnah, founder of as Hindutva. But I do not think that this is Pakistan, had said when he came to the Law something long lasting. Hindus and Muslims have College at Lahore in 1945 when I was a student. lived together for centuries. They would continue To my question what would be the stand of to do so despite the hot winds of Hindutva Pakistan if a third power attacked India he said blowing at present. By temperament, India is a straightaway that the Pakistani soldiers would pluralistic society. It would stay that way although fight by the side of Indian soldiers to defeat the at times it would look like going the Hindu way. enemy. It is another matter that military dictator However, there is always a spoil-play group General Mohammad Ayub Khan did not send which opposes everything worthwhile for the any help to India when it was attacked by China sake of opposition. in 1962. Take the case of India-Pakistan relations. Bhagat Singh was only 23 when he went to

8 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 the gallows fighting against the British rulers. Jinnah is as much respected in Pakistan as He had no politics other than the politics of Mahatma Gandhi in India is. It’s time for the sacrificing one’s life and freeing India from Hindus to recognise that partition was bondage. I was surprised to know that there deliverance for Muslims. That was in 1947. were as many as 14 applications against Today, the Muslims in India, approximately 17 renaming the Shadman Chowk. This was the crore, do not matter in the affairs of India. True, same roundabout where a scaffold was erected they have the voting rights and the country is to hang Bhagat Singh and his two colleagues, ruled by the constitution which gives one vote Rajguru and Sukhdev. to one person. Jinnah’s name is associated with partition. Was They have lost their say in decision making. he alone to blame? When I talked to Lord What Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had said Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, at his place in before partition has come true. He warmed the London in the early 90s, he said that then Prime Muslims that they may feel insecure in the Minister Clement Richard Atlee was keen that country because their number was small but they India and Pakistan should have something in can proudly say that India belonged as much to common. Mountbatten tried for that but Jinnah them as it did to the Hindus. Once Pakistan was said that he did not trust the Indian leaders. He established, the Hindus would tell the Muslims had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan which that they had their share and should go to envisaged a weak centre. But India’s first Prime Pakistan. Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said that all would Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and depend on the decision of the Constituent Sardar Patel were able to keep India pluralistic Assembly which was already meeting in New after partition. But the line drawn on the basis Delhi. of religion is what haunts everybody today. The Differences between the two sides only growing importance of BJP is because pluralism accentuated with the passage of time. In the has weakened. Secularism needs to be 1940s when the Muslim League had adopted a strengthened so that every community and every resolution for the establishment of Pakistan, part of the country feels that it is equal in the partition looked inevitable. Both sides were not affairs of the country. facing the fact when they rejected the idea of (Kuldip Nayar is a veteran syndicated transfer of population. People themselves did it, columnist catering to around 80 newspapers and Hindus and Sikhs coming to this side and Muslims journals in 14 languages in India & abroad. going to the other side. The rest is history. [email protected]) M.N. Roy in Russia: Crossing Verbal Swords With Lenin Roy so ably argued his theory that Lenin was impressed and decided that both his and Roy’s theses should be placed together before the Second International. Later, both these theses were unanimously adopted. (In this case) Roy showed original mind of high order. This is a landmark in the history of Indian political thought and Roy’s contribution to it is all that India can take pride in. Lenin has a place by the side of Marx and Engels, Roy has a place by their side. B.N. Dasgupta [Prof. B.N. Dasgupta: M.N. Roy: Quest for Freedom (Calcutta: Firma K.L. Mukhopadhya, n.y.) p. 12.]

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 9 Job growth or number jugglery

The problem is under-employment. It won’t be resolved if the residually-employed are notionally shifted from the informal to formal sector. Prof. Arun Kumar In an article in January, Soumya Kanti Ghosh Seven million new jobs on a base of about 50 and Pulak Ghosh (Ghosh and Ghosh) claimed million in the formal sector would represent a that seven million new jobs have been created growth of 14 per cent. Is this likely when the in the formal sector. Their claim is based on the economy’s growth rate plummeted after increase in registration under the Employees demonetisation and implementation of GST? Provident Fund (EPFO), National Pension Why have the EPF registrations shown a sharp Scheme and Employees State Insurance increase? There are two possibilities. One, this Corporation. The government and the ruling is a one off increase due to special reasons. party are now widely quoting this figure. In a Second, it is a trend. But then how come the column in this paper (‘Robust job growth, not total employment in the formal sector is only 50 fake news,’ IE, April 28), Surjit Bhalla has, by million? With a 14 per cent growth rate, and large, endorsed this study. The Niti Aayog employment would double in 5.2 years. vice chairperson has discounted these figures Public sector employment has been stagnant slightly but added that 36 million jobs have at about 20 million. So, the increase of seven perhaps been created by the Mudra Scheme and million would have taken place largely in the via self-employment in enterprises such as those private formal sector. This would give a growth pertaining to taxi aggregation and e-commerce. rate of about 23 per cent with employment This runs counter to the impression that the doubling in 3.5 years, and there would be no shocks of demonetisation and implementation of dearth of decent jobs for the young. GST resulted in the loss of many jobs. There Two factors could explain the rise in EPFO were reports of retrenchment of workers and registration. First, earlier only employers who workers migrating from urban to rural areas to had more than 20 employees on their rolls were seek employment under MGNREGS, and required to register under the EPFO. In 2016, youngsters not getting jobs commensurate to this was changed to employers employing more their skills. than 10 employees. Since in India, most firms With no social security, few in India can afford employ less than 20 employees, the numbers of to remain unemployed. Many who do not get those eligible for enrolment would have shot up. formal employment often have no option but to So, this is just a definitional shift from informal carry headload or push carts. Hence, the issue to formal employment and does not represent at stake is under-employment. This author has an increase in total employment. been arguing for long that the sector in which a The second factor is stated in the Union person is employed, formal or informal, matters Budget 2018-19. The government has been much in reckoning employment figures. If there encouraging enrolment in the Employee is an increase of seven million jobs, has there Provident Find since the last three years. It has been a corresponding decline in informal sector offered concessions like, “Contribution of 8.33 jobs? If taxi aggregators are offering jobs, are per cent of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for these at the expense of traditional taxi drivers new employees by the Government for three and private chauffeurs? years”. It has also promised, “Contribution of

10 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 12 per cent of EPF for new employees for three the relevant age group (18-25) are enrolled in years by the Government in sectors employing higher education. Rest join the workforce, large number of people like textile, leather and starting at the age of 15 — even earlier. Fifteen footwear”. Other concessions include, “additional years back, about 22 million were added to the deduction to the employers of 30 per cent of the population and would now be potential job wages paid for new employees under the Income seekers. But, if those who go for higher education Tax Act”. These concessions have now been and 75 per cent of the women are removed from extended for another three years. Thus, it would this number, the job seekers today would be about be highly profitable to the firms to employ new 12 million unskilled and another three million with employees and register them under EPF. higher degrees. Most of these 15 million are The organised sector is not hiring people employed in the unorganised sector, though some directly. It has, increasingly, preferred to get work indirectly for the organised sector. They labour on contract. It is likely that such contract may now be getting counted under the new labour from the unorganised sector is getting scheme. registered under the EPF due to the concessions The huge expansion of employment under offered by the government. Since the Mudra Scheme claimed by the Niti Aayog vice- concessions are for new employees, it is possible chairperson is unlikely given that the average size that the older employees are being replaced by of the loan under this scheme is Rs 45,000. An newer ones and being enrolled. If the older average micro unit employs 1.7 persons with a employees remain on the EPF rolls, then the capital of less than Rs 25 lakh. The loan may number would just increase without new strengthen the capital base of the unit but would employment. Many analysts point to the lacunae hardly generate any new jobs. in the EPF data. Ghosh and Ghosh do claim to The issue is not whether new employment have adjusted for them. But how successfully is rapidly rising but where the vast majority can this be done? of the residually-employed are being It is claimed that those being counted are under counted — in the formal or the informal 25; they are first timers at work. Most of the sector. That requires a careful study. poor drop out of school before they reach Class Prof. Arun Kumar is a former Professor of 12 and start working. Only about 26 per cent of JNU and a leading economist. Articles/Reports for The Radical Humanist Dear Friends, Please mail your articles/reports for publication in the RH to: [email protected], or [email protected] or post them to: E-21/5-6, Sector- 3, Rohini, Delhi- 110085. Please send your digital passport size photograph and your brief resume if it is being sent for the first time to the RH. A note whether it has also been published elsewhere or is being sent exclusively for the RH should also be attached with it. - Mahi Pal Singh, Editor, The Radical Humanist

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 11 Do Ambedkar’s writings about a Brahmin counter- revolution in 187 BCE hold a glimpse of India today? This is the question that comes to mind as India celebrates his birth anniversary – in the backdrop of rising inequality. Ram Puniyani In his incomplete work Revolution and was Pushyamitra, commander of the Mauryan Counter-Revolution in Ancient India, Dr BR army. He assassinated King Brihadratha, Ambedkar credits Buddha and his teachings for usurped the throne and inaugurated the Shunga laying the foundation of a revolution more than dynasty. Pushyamitra was a Brahmin. His aim two millenniums ago. Buddha (died 486 BCE) was to “destroy Buddhism as a state religion” repudiated the authority of the Vedas, harped and deploy the state power to facilitate on good conduct for salvation, and denounced Brahmanism’s triumph over Buddhism. the caste system as well as the ghastly, expen- Ambedkar provides evidence to bolster his sive ritual of animal sacrifice. theory of counter-revolution. For one, Under the Buddhist revolution, knowledge was Pushyamitra performed the Ashvamedha or not deemed the monopoly of the twice-born. Into horse sacrifice on his accession, as if heralding the sangha, the monastic order Buddha founded, the restoration of Brahmanism’s preeminent sta- the Shudras were admitted – they could become tus. For the other, Ambedkar writes, bhikku, the Buddhist equivalent of Brahmins. “Pushyamitra… launched a violent and virulent Salvation was not ruled out for women, who had campaign of persecution against Buddhists and their own order, the bhikkhuni sangha. Buddhism.” Ambedkar refers to Pushyamitra’s Not only was the hegemony of Brahmins chal- proclamation that set a price of 100 gold pieces lenged, they also experienced a loss of status on the head of every Buddhist monk. under the Mauryan dynasty (321 BCE-187 Pushyamitra is indeed depicted in Buddhist BCE). This was because “Ashoka made it [Bud- texts as the community’s principal tormentor. In dhism] the religion of the state,” Ambedkar Political Violence in Ancient India, Upinder Singh writes in Revolution and Counter-Revolution. writes of a Buddhist legend that says that “on That delivered the “greatest blow to Brahman- the advice of a wicked Brahmana, Pushyamitra ism. The Brahmins lost all state patronage and decided to rival Ashoka’s fame by destroying were neglected to a secondary and subsidiary the 84,000 stupas that the latter had built”. Singh position”. notes that archaeologist John Marshall linked the Ambedkar writes that the withdrawal of state “great damage” that was “wantonly inflicted” patronage affected the earnings of Brahmins, on the famous Sanchi Stupa to Pushyamitra. as Ashoka banned animal sacrifice, over which Ambedkar also mentions two later rulers, only they could preside in return for lavish gifts. Mihirakula (520 CE) and Shashanka (7th cen- “The Brahmins therefore lived as the suppressed tury CE), who killed Buddhists to try to root out and depressed classes for nearly 140 years dur- Buddhism. “The whole history of India is made ing which the Mauryan Empire lasted,” he notes. to appear as though the only important thing in it The Brahmin counter-revolution is a catalogue of Muslim invasion,” he writes. The only escape for the Brahmins from their “If Hindu India was invaded by the Muslim in- ignominy was to usher in a counter-revolution. vaders so was Buddhist India invaded by Brah- The man who led the charge against Buddhism manic India.”

12 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Manu Smriti and revival a counter-revolution of the kind Pushyamitra There are many similarities between the two ushered in so violently in 187 BCE? This ques- invasions, but also one crucial difference – Is- tion needs to be asked not just because of the lam did not supplant Hinduism, but Brahmanism spurt in atrocities committed on Dalits and the drove out Buddhism and occupied its place. denial of their rights. It should be raised because Whatever remained of Buddhism in India dis- the legal basis for establishing equality seems appeared because of the iconoclasm of Muslim threatened. rulers. Ambedkar then delves into the mecha- For instance, the Supreme Court has decreed nism through which Brahmanism struck such that the college, not the department, should be deep roots that Muslim rulers could not uproot taken as a unit for calculating reserved posts, it. the number of which is consequently expected He says it was because of the promulgation to dwindle. Then on March 20, the court infa- of Manu’s code of law or the Manu Smriti. mously diluted the Scheduled Castes and Sched- Unlike many contemporary historians who date uled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Manu Smriti anywhere between 200 BCE by giving the accused a degree of protection and 200 CE, Ambedkar painstakingly cites from arrest, with an aim to curb misuse of the sources to show it was compiled between 170 law. This goaded Dalits to call a Bharat Bandh BC and 150 BCE. That places the Manu Smriti on April 2. It saw the upper castes mobilise and in Pushyamitra’s reign. attack Dalits. In a throwback to the 1990 pro- According to Ambedkar, Manu’s code estab- test against the VP Singh government’s deci- lished the right of Brahmins to rule, turned them sion to provide job quotas for Other Backward into a privileged class by a margin, converted Classes, the upper castes organised a bandh of the Varna into caste, degraded the status of their own against reservations on April 10. Shudras and women, introduced the idea of It is the Sangh Parivar that has sustained up- “graded inequality”, and created “conflict and per caste hopes on rolling back reservation. For anti-social” feelings among castes. Manu be- instance, before the 2015 Bihar elections, stowed on Brahmins monopoly over the teach- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan ing of the Vedas, apart from re-introducing the Bhagwat spoke of reviewing the policy of affir- ritual of sacrifice. mative action. Undoubtedly, Revolution and Counter-Revo- Or take the position the Narendra Modi gov- lution creates a neat binary of Brahmins and ernment took on K Mahajan versus State of Buddhists without the greyness implicit in any Maharashtra, the case that led to the March 20 reading of the past. Perhaps Ambedkar’s own Supreme Court order. Amarendra Sharan, am- experience of the inequality perpetuated by caste icus curiae (adviser to the court) in the case, permeated into his aborted work. His insights accused the government of agreeing that “an- did indeed influence the framing of the Indian ticipatory bail could be given in case there is no Constitution, which signified a revolution of the prima facie case being made out under the democratic kind. It abolished untouchability, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Pre- recognised the equality of all citizens before the vention of Atrocities) Act”. He also said it was law, and provided for positive discrimination or the additional solicitor general who had supplied reservation for depressed groups. data on misuse of the Act. A new counter-revolution? The luminaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party On this day of Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, – Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde, for in- a question therefore: is India in 2018 witnessing stance – have repeatedly spoken of framing a

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 13 new Constitution. To achieve such a goal, the is an instance. It will soon sub-categorise the BJP needs to win majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha Other Backward Classes into three groups and elections. This mission the government’s position slice and distribute the 27% reservation unequally on K Mahajan services – it polarised the upper among them. The government is also keen on castes and sections of Shudras against Dalits. passing the National Commission for Backward Classes Bill, which will vest in Parliament the power to exclude and include a social group from the reservation pool. This may just become the route to squeeze in Jats, Marathas and Kapus into the Other Backward Classes for reservation. The phenomenon of graded inequality will prompt the Shudras to fight among themselves; the beneficiaries will likely swing behind the BJP. Co-option and communal tension Dalit activists and supporters march against The other method of ushering in counter- the Supreme Court order on the Scheduled revolution is through co-option of radical forces. Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of A resurgent Brahmanism co-opted Buddha as Atrocities) Act during the Bharat Bandh on the ninth avatar of Vishnu, blunting whatever April 2. (Credit: PTI) edge Buddhism retained after attacks from Pushyamitra, Mihirakula, and Shashanka. ‘Graded inequality’ Likewise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has It may seem bewildering that the Sangh, concertedly sought to appropriate Ambedkar. undeniably the principal sponsor of 21st-century Another favoured method of counter- Brahmanic thought, should repeatedly win the revolution is to fan communal tension to spawn support of non-upper castes. Ambedkar’s “graded affinity among castes. In his Annihilation of inequality” explains the phenomenon well: Caste, Ambedkar notes, “A caste has no feeling “… Inequality is not half so dangerous as that it is affiliated to other castes, except when graded inequality. Inequality does not last long. there is a Hindu-Moslem riot. On all other Under pure and simple inequality two things occasions each caste endeavours to segregate happen. It creates general discontent which itself and distinguish itself from other castes.” forms the seed of revolution. It makes the It is to forge a bond among castes that Sangh sufferers combine against a common foe on a footsoldiers target Muslims in the hope the BJP common grievance.” will benefit from it electorally. By contrast, graded inequality, of which the Commentators have often spoken of the caste system is an example, prevents the rise of “Muslim question”, the “Dalit question” and such general discontent that can become the “storm like. It is strange that they have never thought centre of revolution”. Ambedkar explains: of discussing the “upper caste question”. It is to “[With] the sufferers… becoming unequal both the reactionary elements among the upper castes in terms of the benefit and the burden there is that commentators should turn to preach, for it no possibility of a general combination of all is their conduct that imperils the ideas of liberty, classes to overthrow the inequity.” equality, and fraternity enshrined in our This possibility is further reduced because the Constitution. The very ideas, however ruler adopts the divide and rule policy, of which rudimentary, that Pushyamitra’s counter- the Modi government’s position on K Mahajan revolution of 187 BCE undermined.

14 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 A Flawed Judgment S.N. Shukla We in Lok Prahari sincerely believe that since cate and former Union Law Minister should also the Executive and the Legislature have been fail- have been clubbed with it. Omission to do so it- ing the country Supreme Court, which is next only self raises questions about the delay in listing his to God being the last court on the earth, is the last petition and further reinforces the gross violation hope for We the People. Barring occasional ab- of the aforesaid principles of natural justice and errations, the shining track record of the top court vitiates the judgment which could be easily avoided has been a matter of pride for us. However, the and the controversy could be finally settled au- developments of the last three months have thoritatively to the satisfaction of all concerned if shown that all is not well in the working of the both the petitions were heard together by the Court. What is worse, and more worrying, is the Constitution Bench. fact that no positive effort seems to have been On merits also the said judgment is flawed. made to defuse the crisis which has shaken pub- Article 124(1) of the Constitution which provides lic confidence in this institution. The recent judg- for establishment and constitution of Supreme ment dated 11.4.2018 passed by the three judges Court says that “There shall be a Supreme Court Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India in of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and, the PIL filed by advocate Asok Pande seeking until Parliament by law prescribes a larger num- guidelines for rational and transparent allocation ber, of not more than 7 other Judges”. Thus, the of cases and constitution of Benches to hear them CJI and other Judges together comprise the Su- does not solve the real problem but has only tried preme Court, and the CJI is only a part of the to sweep the central issue under the carpet. apex institution of judiciary and not the institution The aforesaid judgment is non est for the simple himself as wrongly made out in the said judg- reason that it violates the basic juristic principles ment. Clearly, the observation to this effect in the that nobody can be the judge of his own cause judgment runs not only against the express con- and that justice must not only be done but it should stitutional position, but is also against the admit- also appear to have been done. Since the issue in ted settled legal position that the CJI is only first this case was the power of the CJI in the matter among the equals. of allocation of cases to different benches and Significantly, the Constitution does not provide involved substantial questions of law regarding for any power to the CJI as regards disposal of interpretation of the Constitution and the Rules business of the court. Article 145(1) of the Con- framed under it and goes to the heart of the proper stitution provides that “Subject to the provisions functioning of the Apex Court, impinging directly of any law made by Parliament, the Supreme on its credibility and, consequently, on the public Court may from time to time, with the approval faith in this great institution, as evident from the of the President, make rules for regulating gen- anguish expressed by no less than four senior most erally the practice and procedure of the Court judges of the court, the obvious proper course of including ….”. Evidently, the power of the CJI in action for the Bench was to refer the matter to the matter of Constitution of Benches and allo- the Constitution Bench as required by Article cation of cases to them has to come only from 145(3). the Rules framed under Article 145. Not only this, instead of taking up Mr. Pande’s The Supreme Court Rules 1966 were framed petition first, the other petition on the same sub- in exercise of the power under Article 145 and ject filed by Shri Shanti Bhushan, senior advo- have now been replaced by the Supreme Court

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 15 Rules 2013. Order VI of the said Rules provides of sensitive important matters to senior judges for Constitution of Division Courts and powers and refusal to accept this very innocuous propo- of a single Judge. Significantly, the said order only sition cannot be justified. In no way this can be empowers the CJI to constitute Benches of dif- said to lead to the inference that junior judges are ferent strength for different types of cases. Rule less competent or do less important work as ev- 1 of the said Order VI simply says that “Subject ery case is important for the litigants. No doubt to the other provisions of these rules every cause, all judges, including the CJI, are equal while do- appeal or matter shall be heard by a Bench con- ing judicial work but seniority does, and should, sisting of not less than two Judges nominated by matter in administrative matters like allocation of the Chief Justice”. The said Rule cannot be in- cases to them. Or else, there can be no need to terpreted to mean that the CJI can selectively have the senior most judge as the CJI and the pick and choose and nominate Bench to hear a Collegium could as well comprise of only the particular matter. Such an interpretation would judges of his choice irrespective of their senior- then require CJI to nominate Bench for hearing ity. The unguided blanket unfettered power of each matter individually which is neither practi- allocation of cases is also clearly against the gen- cally feasible nor desirable. The said Order and eral practice in all institutions and organizations the 2013 Rules are also totally silent about the of allocating more important work to seniors rather practice and procedure to be followed in allocat- than juniors. Rationally, the Supreme Court brooks ing the cases to different Benches of the same no exception. strength. In the absence of any provision in the Also, the fact that the existing arrange- Rules in this regard, the practice and procedure ment has been there for the last fifty years or to be adopted in allocation of cases to Benches, so is no consideration to brush aside the need therefore, has to be laid down by the full Court for its re-examination. On the other hand, the and not by the CJI alone as sought to be made way the existing provision in the Rules is being out in the judgment. implemented now only shows that it has given In any case, it is settled law that all discre- rise to the concern expressed by not one but all tionary power is in the nature of trust and as such the four members of the collegium which can- has to be exercised for public good and that even not be left unaddressed. It will not be out of exercise of discretion cannot be arbitrary or irra- place to mention that on the writ petitions filed tional. Both these points have been lost sight of in by Lok Prahari and Ms. Lily Thomas, in that the judgment. It is not clear as to what public order, the Supreme Court was pleased to strike purpose will be served by selectively allocating down sixty two years old provision in Section sensitive cases of great constitutional and public 8(4) of the Representation of the People importance having far reaching consequences for Act,1951, which permitted even murder convicts the Nation and the institution to junior judges leav- to continue as “Hon’ble” MP/MLA/MLC. ing out senior colleagues. The observation that to Therefore, continuance of a wrong provision suggest that certain categories of cases should or practice does not and cannot lend legitimacy be assigned only to the senior most judges “has to it. If the court could take this view in case of no foundation in principle or precedent” is obvi- a substantive provision of law enacted by the ously fallacious and is falsified by the fact that in Parliament one fails to understand as to what the existing allocation of work all important mat- objection could be there to test the validity and ters have been assigned to the Bench headed by propriety of the provision in Rule1 of Order VI the CJI. On the same principle and precedent of the SCR,2013,in the light of the way it is be- there could hardly be any objection to allocation ing implemented now.

16 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 In view of the position stated above, the Court should lay down the much needed guide- judgment dated 11.2.2018 needs reconsideration. lines regarding practice and procedure for con- Ideally, the matter could be, and should be, re- stitution of benches and allocation of different solved amicably by the Collegium itself. When types of cases to them as stipulated in Article the opinion of the senior most four judges can- 145(1).No one who is concerned with the proper not be ignored even in the matter of appoint- working and reputation of this institution can ment of judges of the SC and HCs, there can be have any objection to this very reasonable, prac- no justification to ignore their views in the mat- tical and graceful solution to this vexed prob- ter of disposal of the business of the court and lem. If this does not happen then the Parliament there should be no objection to finalize mutually will be well within its right under Article 145(3) acceptable transparent and fair guidelines for to enact suitable law in this regard. We do hope constitution of Benches and allocation of cases that this situation will not arise and the Court to them. However, if that is not possible due to will take care of itself, because ‘If the salt loses irreconcilable differences and lack of mutual its savour wherewith shall it be salted?’ understanding and accommodation or any other S.N. Shukla is I.A.S. (Retd.), Advocate, Gen- reason, the next best alternative is that the full eral Secretary, Lok Prahari. POOSSIBILITIES GALORE!! WONDER OF PERU & BRAZIL Duration:- 14 Nights / 15 Days (Group Tour) Highlights:- Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Iguazu Falls & Rio The New Journey begins with Excellent Overview of Lima and its most astonishing facets – Ancient, colonial and Contemporary. In Cusco and the sacred valley, all the iconic INCA sites are included with a spectacular rail trip to Machu Picchu followed by a journey across the Puno, Lake Titicaca. Explore the island on the lake with great joi-de-vivre. Next zoom around at Iguaçu Falls -One of the planet’s most awe-inspiring sights, the Iguaçu Falls are simply astounding. A visit is a jaw-dropping, visceral experience, and the power and noise of the cascades – a chain of hundreds of waterfalls– live forever in the memory. Rio- View sprawling Rio from the base of Christ the redeemer statue on Corcovado, Immerse yourself in the art of precinct of Santa Teresa and dance with the beat of samba. Sip Capirinhas and sunbathe like a local Copacabana. Price starting from: 3,95,600 RS Per adult with all inclusive. Inclusions K International and Domestic Airfare, K Brazil and Peru Tourist Visa K Overseas Insurance , K All renowned sightseeing at the respective places K Sumptuous breakfast and Dinner with local touch Ask More, Contact: INDO ASIA HOLIDAYS Indo Asia House, 56 Institutional Area, Sector 44, Gurgaon-122 002 Mbl: +91 9718682901, Tel: +91-124-4534500. E-Mail: [email protected] / Web: www.indoasiaholidays.com An ISO 9001: 2008 Company (A Division of Indo Asia Leisure Services Ltd.)

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 17 Remembering Lohia: A Legacy for the Left C.N. Chitta Ranjan Dr Rammanohar Lohia’s 108th birth positive as well as negative aspects. The latter anniversary falls on March 23 this year. were hardly of any long-term significance, Since his birthday coincided with the day of although they did affect to some extent the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and development of the socialist movement in the Rajguru, Lohiaji never wanted his followers country. to observe or celebrate his birthday. Negative Phase However, we remember him and offer tributes For instance, for a long time he could not to the abiding memory of that stormy petrel countenance cooperation with the Communists of the Indian socialist movement on this because he felt that their approach to national occasion by reproducing the following and international issues did not spring from the article. Written by a veteram journalist (the needs and aspirations of the people of India but first editor of Mainstream who later became were related to the ideological or other the editor of National Herald and is no more formulations hammered out elsewhere. Nor was with us), the article appeared in Mainstream he alone in coming to this conclusion. The (October 21, 1967) after Dr Lohia’s untimely number of Leftists in the country who grew death on October 12, 1967. hostile to the Communists because of the latter’s There is a great deal of evidence that in the inability to fit the Marxist-Leninist ideology to last few months of his life, especially after the national context and make such changes as watching the performance of the non-Congress were necessary was quite large. The governments in several States and the antagonism which developed was not always functioning of the Opposition parties in Congress unjustified, for the consequences of the States as well as at the Centre, Rammanohar limitations which the Communists imposed on Lohia was engaged in a serious reassessment themselves became strikingly evident in their of the role and mutual relationship of the parties wrong assessment of Gandhiji’s role, in their of the Left in this country. unjustified opposition to the ‘Quit India’ In interviews as well as in discussions with movement and finally in their perverse reading party colleagues and other friends, he had been of the totally new situation immediately after increasingly talking in terms of new efforts to the achievement of national independence. forge unity among the progressive parties, and The growth of an anti-communist angle in a the SSP leadership has after his death vital section of the socialist movement was thus appropriately decided that it will now pursue this in a sense inevitable. It would not have been objective more purposefully in the coming disastrous but for the advantage vested interests period. Simultaneously, awareness of the need were able to take of it for two purposes: one, to to shed sectarian attitudes in dealing with parties fight the Communists who were strong in the and groups whose socio-economic aims are working class movement, and two, to prevent broadly the same is also becoming increasingly the consolidation of the Left by utilising their evident in the case of the other Leftist parties, newspapers and influencing certain figures in notably the CPI, CPM, PSP and Forward Bloc. the socialist movement itself to accentuate and While he lived Lohia had the reputation of sharpen the differences. Unfortunately for the being “colourful” and unpredictable. His life had common people, neither the Socialists nor the

18 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Communists showed awareness of the harm obsession with Hindi arose precisely out of the they were doing to the common cause by not feeling that national life, including education and attemping to find common ground. But then this administration, should be based on the language was a tragedy of historical circumstances for of the people. He was dealing mainly with the which no individual can be blamed, however Hindi region, and therefore Hindi found frequent important he might have been in either section mention in his utterances. As clarified by him of the progressive movement. subsequently, his anxiety was that the people Another of the negative aspects was that must deal with their own affairs in their own Lohia, gifted with a brilliant mind which had few languages and not in a foreign language which parallels, was developing his own theory of helped only to perpetuate a parasitic elite to the socialism in the context of Gandhian India and detriment of the people’s progress: this was true would not concede that the situation admitted for all the regions in India, whatever the local of other possibilities. It is this attitude of his which language. explains in part not only the sharp personal Indifference conflicts that developed in the Congress Socialist For many years Lohia’s basic cause—namely, Party but also the many difficulties that arose the creation of a genuine socialist party which after the Socialists went out of the Congress would struggle constantly and unremittingly and began organising themselves for the role of against the existing order without seeking Opposition. But there was another, and more temporary gains either in terms of office or in important, aspect to it. He believed in organising terms of half-hearted economic measures— the people for militant struggle for the suffered because of his and his colleagues’ achievement of socialism, and for this reason obsession with anti-Congressism on the one side had to part company with close associates like and anti-communism on the other. While Sri Jaya Prakash Narayan. He was earnestly conceding that this was natural in the against pro-Establishment thinking, and this led circumstances as they developed, it has to be to his anger over the police firing in Kerala admitted that the attitude made the socialist during PSP rule and to his separation from Sri movement infinitely less effective than it could Asoka Mehta and others of that type. have been for on the one hand it hurt the Running Thread susceptibilities of sections which had a Lohia would surely have been a much bigger sentimental attachment to the Congress and force in national life than he was if he had from were hopeful that under Nehru’s guidance early on devoted himself single-mindedly to advance could be made towards the goal of building up a nationwide Left Front at least on socialism, and on the other made the the basis of internal national issues on which Communists feel that there was llittle in common differences were not substnatial. Many admirers between them and the Socialists led by Lohia of Lohia have in the past regretted that so and others. dynamic a leader should so often have got lost While saying this, it must also be pointed out in trivialities, resulting in his inability to that till after the open cleavage in the concentrate all the time on the basic problem of international communist movement the unity in socialist ranks. Communists in India tended to treat the Socialists Nevertheless, the thread running through all largely with indifference, not realising that these phases of development of Lohia’s personality represented an honest force for progress which and political life was indeed his insistence on could not be brushed aside without serious harm the people being their own masters. His seeming to the movement as a whole. It is true that for a

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 19 brief period during the freedom movement the who took extreme positions in terms of ideology, Congress Socialists and Communists found it favoured such all-inclusive Opposition alliances. possible to work together, but it is doubtful if This approach has proved at least one point, both sides conducted themselves with a which Lohia no doubt wanted firmly established: complete under-standing of the potentialities of that the Congress was not irreplaceable, that such identification for the future of the country. an alternative could be provided if only the The rift that developed subsequently was Opposition parties desired it. To the extent that undoubtedly due both to contradictions in the the myth of the Congress alone being capable comprehension of the national situation and to of providing stable government has been personal incompatibilities of the leaders involved. exploded, this line has paid dividends. Perhaps because of unthinking acceptance of Close Watch international formulations, Communists in India But Lohia demonstrated by his public tended to ignore vital aspects of the national utterances in the last six months that he did not genius; similarly, obsession with ill-digested overestimate the possibilities of “non-Congress” Gandhism led most Socialist leaders to think it coalitions. He was closely watchful of the necessary to demarcate themselves from the functioning of these governments and did not Communists at every conceivable opportunity. hesitate to castigate them for not implementing Unity Efforts the accepted minimum programmes. He did not It is against this background that Lohia’s spare even the Leftist coalitions in this respect. intermittent efforts towards Leftist unity have The SSP’s decistion to quit the UP Ministry if to be judged. Earlier these efforts were largely the State Government did not carry out the confined to attempts to work out an promise on land revenue remission in the case understanding between the SSP and PSP which of small holdings was the last of Lohia’s political after all consisted of men who had stood decisions. In the circumstances leading to this together in the Congress Socialist Partly and decision lies the key to an understanding of the had much in common. Even so the relationship positive aspects of Lohia’s life and work, which between these two parties continued to be a will be of considerable significance in the coming love-hate affair mainly because of Lohia’s months and years. dominating personality and his insistence on his Lohia had all his life been concerned deeply own terms for merger or cooperation. over the poverty and suffering of the masses of But it is hardly fair to lay undue emphasis at people in India: with him it was not an arm- this stage on aspects of his political life which chair attitude born merely of humanitarian were not of permanent value but arose out of a instincts. It was not for nothing that he had context which has since undergone drastic always rejected those parts of the Gandhian change. Once he realised that the Congress approach which did not approve of powerful influence on the masses was on the wane, he militant agitations to force economic changes did not hesitate to recognise the new possibilities or which did not want to create radical and call for Opposition unity to throw the disturbance in the concept of property. While Congress out of office. He took the position that he did not believe in violent revolution, he did not the first need was to end the monopoly of power equally believe in supine acceptance of the theory enjoyed by the Congress for two decades and of gradual change. He was convinced that power that any alliance for this purpose was justified. should be secured and used to bring about speedy He was not by any means alone in coming to and drastic economic changes. It was in this light this conclusion. Even the Marxist Communists, that he critically observed the working of the non-

20 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Congress Ministries and made his views known the minimum programme, how long can the Left to the public from time to time. acquiesce merely for the sake of keeping the It is therefore proper to conclude that, Congress out of office? It may be that all the disappointed with the performance of non- Leftist parties may have to withdraw support Congress Ministries in which the Left did not from such coalitions and demand a fresh verdict have a decisive voice, he began thinking towards from the people. the end more and more in terms of broadbased Whatever the course of developments in each Left unity including the whole range of parties State, it is clear that the parties of the Left have from the PSP to Marxist Communists. He found the task of taking forward the moves for Left the atmosphere in the country changing in favour consolidation initiated in recent times. We can of Leftist consolidation and if he had been spared afford to forget the passing aspects of Lohia’s would undoubtedly have bent his energies to this life, but we cannot do without his discontent with task. the inadequacies of the Left, his anger at the The circumstances have indeed been growing continuing poverty and suffering of the millions increasingly propitious for such a development, twenty years after the attainment of for Lohia’s anxiety for Left consolidation has been independence, his uncompromising struggle shared by the other progressive parties. He must against the Establishment which symbolises the be taken to have come to the conclusion that a pernicious philosophy of status quo. mere anti-Congress platform would no longer do To carry out this legacy is not easy: it calls to meet the present needs and that the tenuous for a great mass movement led collectively by alliances with all kinds of parties should gradually all the parties of the Left. And in this yield place to a united Left Front on the national movement, let it not be forgotten, there is a plane as well as in each State. role for Congressmen who are disillusioned Hopeful Signs with their leadership and who ardently disire The decision of the SSP, CPI and PSP to act that radical socio-economic changes must be in concert on the question of land revenue brought about. The future battle is not between remission in UP would appear to be a heartening the Congress and the non-Congress forces; it indication of the shape of things to come. In is one between the entrenched and affluent view of the continuing attempts by discredited minority and the common people. The people Congressmen in States like UP to come back must win, and it is to this end that all to power, the Left parties may for the present progressive forces must seek to unite at all refrain from adopting attitudes which may levels, forgetting the petty differences of the topple the concerned governments, but it is not past and casting aside personal equations difficult to see that in States where vested which have greatly harmed the people’s cause interests dominate the governments the which is supreme. progressive parties will have to get ready for a Courtesy Mainstream, VOL LVI No 14 confrontation sooner or later. In UP, for instance, New Delhi March 24, 2018 (Originally if the Charan Singh Ministry continues to flout Mainstream, October 21, 1967) Swami Vivekananda on sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism “Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beau- tiful Earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair.” Swami Vivekananda, Chicago, Sept 11, 1893.

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 21 Challenges before the Banking Industry due to sick economy! Pitiable condition of Bank employees due to indifferent attitude of the Govt.! Gautam Thaker It is important to understand increasing attacks For last many years, pending demands of Bank and challenges faced by the banking industry Employees are not acceded to. While the time- and especially the Public Sector Banks. Due to limit for pay revision has come to an end on tendency on the part of the Govt. to push up 31-10-2017 an average 15 % rise in the pay scale reforms agenda, still more stress and pressure has been agreed to in the year 2015. This rise in are likely to be felt. Not only that reforms agenda the salary was effected for the period from 2012 has been continued but it is vigorously followed until 2017. When the time had come to put up up by the Govt. High priority is accorded to issue demand in conformity with settlement and when new banking licenses to the corporate sector, to the bank employees unions had put up their lawful throw open banking sector to all individuals and demand then at the beginning of the meeting private entities in the name of Small Banks, and the I.B.A. had offered 2 % rise and had added to allot to private persons, shares of public sector that since there is very high rise in the level of banks, go ahead with mergers, acquisition and N.P.A. during last four years, no more than 2 % consolidation of banks. Trend of bad loans is rise can be offered. There are 21 Nos. of banks increasing but no effective and stringent steps under the P.S.U. category with employees’ are tangible for its recovery. strength of over 8 lakhs. This Govt. has adopted a rather more As regards, increase in the “Non-Performing aggressive, anti-people economic policies. At the Assets” of the Banks, the employees are not at same time, ugly face of communalism and all responsible or accountable for that. Powers religious fundamentalism has come to the fore. have been vested in the senior officers to Government’s much publicized slogan that sanction loans to the tune of Rs. 50 crores right “Better Days Will Come” has turned out to be up to rupees thousand crores and to carry out ridiculous because people ironically feel that the that task in a positive way, senior officers such “better days” have indeed dawned in favour of as General Manager (Credit), Bank’s Chairman handful of industrialists only and certainly not to and Managing Director as well as the Executive the benefit of common man or the masses. The Directors are all associated. In short, for such Govt. is keen on bringing about labour-reforms decisions, senior and stalwart officers are which are in the interests of the industrialists responsible and not the small employees. Hence, and capitalists but detrimental to workers’ one cannot accept the argument that pay rise interests. Rights and privileges of the working cannot be acceded to in view of the increasing community are sought to be trampled under. N.P.A. When the United Forum of Bank Unions Presently condition of the employees is pitiable approach to the Govt. with their demands of and deplorable. Permanent and regular banking lawful, reasonable and time-bound pay rise then jobs are outsourced to the external agencies, they are offered mere 2 % rise over a five working hours of the officers are not fixed, and year span. there is no regulation as regards their extended

22 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 working hours, licenses are issued to corporate ruined the banking industry of the nation. In the sector for opening up new banks, classification midst of all these, where is the fault or an offense of public sector banks on the basis of their group of an ordinary bank-man that his demand for performance and resultant mergers, entirely anti- salary increase is rejected? During the year labour approach of the Govt., amendments and 2016-17 Gross Operating Profit earned by the reforms in the labour laws etc. are all such banks was to the tune of Rs.1,58,982 crores as matters which are initiated by the present against which due to negligence of senior N.D.A. Govt. officers on the bad loans score, the N.P.A. had While country’s economy has gone down to increased. It is not understandable as to how drains, owing to demonetization and G.S.T., it the bank employees could be deprived of their can be clearly stated that it has been derailed or legitimate and justified salary rise under the dislocated. Looking at all the bank scandals, pretext of N.P.A. Let us hope that the N.D.A. which have recently come to the fore, it appears Govt. shall take a positive decision in the right that administration of the Reserve Bank has perspective, by taking into account well-justified completely and callously failed. It calls for and settlement-based demands of the bank intense inquiry as to why no bank is following or employees. abiding by the rules and regulations framed by (The author is Chairman of Indian the R.B.I. What happened to the vigilant audit National Bank Employees Federation – INBEF, system of the banking system? Trinity under the Gujarat) collusion of Govt.’s corrupt officers, delinquent M – 09825382556; bank officers and the politicians, has completely E-mail : [email protected]

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June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 23 Man Must Look Ahead

The present social, political and economic Radical Humanists scenario of contemporary India presents a have defined freedom dismal picture with particular reference to as the progressive common man and woman who form the elimination of social, substantial majority of our population. Their physical and even inherent creative faculty may not be totally dead psychological barriers but has become inhibited that has killed their that are obstructing creative rational faculty. the growth of All existing political parties are in practice human freedom. This found to be inadequate to emancipate common freedom helps man to Ramesh Korde man who suffers the most and live in drudgery. unfold his innate creative potentialities. Small minority individuals having humanist However most painful and pathetic inclination desire to emancipate common man. experience is except few insignificant rational They found and experienced the gloom and enlightened minorities, the urge for freedom prospective that has engulfed the contemporary is buried deep, has become totally dormant social and cultural life where reasoning and among large section of people. In view of this rational faculties have received a death blow. Radical Humanists must make all efforts to Need of the day is, voice of reason which is stimulate the urge for freedom that will inspire dormant and buried deep at present among man and woman to become master of their common man who forms the majority of destiny. This will result into energizing their love population needs to be awakened, energies and for freedom and man and woman would cease enlivened to free man from orthodoxy, blind to become slave of external authority. passion, irrational life style that has engulfed their Political objectives of Radical humanism are mentality that has created atmosphere of starch to promote democratic freedom where people madness. will have effective political power that can help The most painful experience is, so called to improve social and economic life of common progressive Indians still claim to perceive the man and woman. ideal of freedom and economic equality and also Main objective of Radical Humanism is to claim to cherish human heritage of cultural spread enlightenment that can dispel values are in fact torn between outdated religious obscurantism, blind faith and hero worshipping orthodoxy and antiquated, outdated nationalism. in the political and religious life of people. This This has killed man’s creative rational faculty. philosophy of Radical Humanism is antagonist What is desired is that all inhabitants must be to outdated revivalist, outdated, antiquated ideas provided the facility of economic sufficiency and that has enslaved most of Indian people. security. This is absolutely necessary but not Indian people needs to be convinced that they enough. Man cannot live by bread alone. He are and nobody else is the maker of their own needs social and cultural atmosphere free from destiny and have the capacity to make and regimentation that could be helpful to growth of remake the social, cultural, political and man’s intellectual and unfoldment of his innate economic world to enhance freedom and potentialities. This can be the criterion that can happiness of all human beings. judge the merits of social organization. To attain this humanist will have to make

24 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 efforts to make large members of society outdated political and economic ideas and conscious of their innate creative instinct to leadership capable of giving a conscious motivate the indomitable will to make world to expression to urge for encompassing all social embrace freedom and happiness of all progress. inhabitants of India. Science and scientific outlook have induced According to Late Paul Krutze humanism has and energies rational and reasoning factor. a special significance for the world order However large majority sections Indians are civilization that is emerging. For the first time in stone-blind and stone-deaf. Even today where human history all human beings have become science has made tremendous progress one integral part of a planetary community. challenging all dogmas, blind beliefs, most of the Indeed, no part of humanity can any longer live Indians are groping in ignorance, prejudices and in isolation or ignorance, indifferent to the needs superstitions beliefs. Our train of 21th century and interests, sufferings and achievements of is moving in reverse to 9th century where people other human beings. The human environment were living in mud of slavery. is now truly global. To achieve brighter human oriented progress, In India there is tremendous progress in the substantial majority of Indians must free respect of industrialization but there is no themselves from ignorance, prejudices and substantial progress in respect of common man superstitions beliefs and incite, energies their who forms the majority of population. As innate reasoning faculty which is at present lying reported even in 21st century 26% of Indians dormant. This can help people to enjoy freedom live below poverty line. Life of lower middle and happiness during their life time. class who forms the substantial part of To realize above it is the bounding duty of population live in most precarious and pathetic Radical Humanist to help common people to social and economic condition. energies reasoning rational faculty of man so Indians have to outgrow from past irrational that man could enjoy freedom and happiness beliefs, traditions, antiquated ideals and religious on this earth and not in non-existing heaven. dogmas to realize freedom and happiness. It can be tentatively said that the ideology of However most obnoxious irritating experience Radical Humanism has inbuilt capacity to is, except small minority individuals, most of achieve this goal. This will also help man to Indians are totally ignorant and have no develop, unfold their innate rational and critical inclination to acquire knowledge about the attitude that will not take anything for granted. treasure that is lying buried deep in past history Progress of humanity from savagery to of India. It appears that they have lost their present civilization establishes that social, inquisitive desire to get themselves emancipated economic and political ideas and beliefs are not to march ahead. eternal but they are subject to change and The obstacle to go forward is outdated, improvement in the light of new human antiquated, myopic and anti-individual freedom experience and new discoveries of science. nationalism that has lost its progressive contents. To fructify the above, need of the day is, large By and large major sections of Indians live in majority section of people must be emancipated past that resurrect old outdated, antiquated ideas from outdated dogmas that can free society and ideals that thwarts all round growth of from present stagnation that is living death, and Indians. In fact nationalism is a powerful motor the Indians are suffering from. Therefore need car running on the reverse gear. Most intensive arises is to rouse people’s innate reasoning need of India is of a rational, intelligent free from faculty which is at present obsessed with old

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 25 dead, outdated myopic ideas and ideals. This is that nationalism in which Indians at present how common man’s mind can be freed from engrossed has miserably failed to satisfy basic anti-reason and also from authoritarian mentality needs of common man who forms large majority to establish free democratic institutions and of people. On the contrary this nationalism human oriented free economic institutions. ideology has helped capitalist to satisfy their Man is not a believing animal. If it were so he design that gave them freedom to exploit people would not have progressed from savagery to of lower middle class and such others who present civilization. Fact is, man by innate nature forms majority and to uphold exploitative status is curious and inquiring animal about his quo that is not conducive to emancipation of surroundings and make efforts to make it free common man who forms the majority. from inimical influence. The most painful excruciating experience is, Man is a living being and never be docile one. political practice is almost completely divorced He is inherently creative creature born with from morality which is the need of the day. In immense potentialities. Of course, one would absence of moral values in politics, political not know what is stored in genes unless they aspects cannot lead to democratic way of life are unfolded. Therefore humanists assert that and opens the gate to authoritarianism. human freedom that helps the genetic What India needs is a democratic culture to unfoldment must never be suppressed. This spread among large section of the people to freedom helps man to acquire knowledge about establish true effective democracy. For this, his surroundings and in turn this knowledge what is required is to enunciate human freedom extends the man’s creativity. Growth from cultural movement to popularize and to imbibe savagery to present civilization establishes the human democratic values of liberty, equality and above facts. fraternity and spread of human democratic It is a universal truth that man is the creator virtues, decentralization of state political power of all that exists and grows on our planet. Man that can lead to a genuine democratic state to is endowed with rational capacity to help him to be established. remove all obstacles that retard his productive To achieve this, large section of people have and creative potentialities. to become self-reliance, freedom loving, Late Fromm wrote that human beings had the mutually cooperative and morally enlightened wisdom to create science and art, why should and recognition of the dignity of individual and not be he capable to create a world of justice, never to practice discrimination on the basis of peace and brotherhood-ness that create religion, caste, sex. These will pave the road to harmony among all the inhabitants of the true effective democracy. universe. Late Tarkunde had given the correct definition It is man alone has to experience his own of Radical Humanism. According to him Radical existence from which he cannot escape. This Humanism is an attitude of mind giving primary forces him to solve all problems confronted by to man and woman as individuals and recognizes him during his live existence. their right to live in freedom with human dignity. Man is born with certain basic needs that When Homo Sapean first appeared on earth required being satisfied for his very existence. he was forced to struggle for his very existence. He needs not only food for his physical Hostile natural environment and carnivorous existence; he also craves for happiness, love, animals could have wiped out human beings. harmony and freedom to grow. Homo Sapean had to free from these Our experience has now been well established antagonistic surroundings. Therefore he was

26 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 forced to acquire knowledge about the To evade concentration of power in few hands, circumstances and surroundings in order to free political and economic power must never be from them. This is how freedom becomes the divorced from human moral values. To achieve basic urge that leads to acquire knowledge about this participating political and economic his surroundings. This can be called freedom democracy could be achieved by the Humanist from surroundings and this is how urged for renaissance movement from below grassroot freedom developed in human beings. This is how level. Political parties are invariably, without acquired knowledge of surroundings leads to exception are involved in power politics, do not freedom. This knowledge is acquired by reasoning have even scent regard for morality, can never faculty of man and helps man to understand be the right mean to achieve this true effective experience of life. human oriented democracy. Political parties have Most tragic experience is, science has inbuilt tendency to centralization of all powers. exploded all religious dogmas and beliefs, large History of political parties, without exception, substantial majority of Indian are still occupied all political parties are engaged in scramble to with non-existing world call heaven and neglect capture state power including political and human life on earth that has resulted into social economic power, thus resulting into morality in and cultural stagnation. public life is totally diverted from political practice. When Homo Sapien first appeared on earth This leads to states political power concentrated he must have realized, he alone was physically in few hungry individuals and at times in single weak to face natural inimical surroundings and man that we are experiencing today. This is more also carnivorous animals. This weakness of pronounced where large sections of people are individual Homo Sapien must have forced him to relatively illiterate; believe in superstitions and seek cooperation of other Homo-Sapien who was religious obscurantism. experiencing the same calamities. This must have Need of the day is religion should not interfere led and resulted into development of gregarious in states political affairs and state shall not feeling and emotion to form a society to help to interfere in religious matters. This is the need of combat inimical atmosphere for his own survival. the day in India and elsewhere. There is also biological evidence that Homo To realize this objective what we need is to Sapien was required to live in community to initiate cultural movement based upon human effectively face anti-life forces that could have freedom, rationalism and self-reliance, must wiped out the very existence of Homo Sapiens. never submit to spiritual or temporal authority. This is how cooperation altruistic feelings must This could inspire to struggle against any form have developed to protect human society. In view of authoritarianism and help to percolate values of this cooperative altruistic social living was of liberty, equality and fraternity in all spheres necessary for very survival of human beings. of life. These cooperative and altruistic feelings To emancipate people from irrational, blind faith might have resulted to energies moral sense in and beliefs, what is required is to popularization human beings. of basic tenets of European Renaissance In view of above, one can safely say that Humanist movement. This movement did incite humanist values of liberty, equality and fraternity urge for individual freedom, the spirit of and even decentralization of political and rationalism and also self-reliance that helped economic power that is at present concentrated Europeans to achieve all round human progress. in few hands, at times in one man must be rooted It is very high time Indians to inherent and in every existence of human life. embraces the spirit and ideology of European

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 27 Renaissance Humanist movement that can free economic, social and cultural to make and liberate Indian people from religious democracy effective. orthodoxy, blind faith and obscurantism to induce Main objects of Radical Humanism are to individual freedom, rational outlook and self- emancipate people who are at present engulfed reliance that can lead to effective democracy. in superstitions and anti-freedom traditions by To accomplice above ideal what Indian needs scientific knowledge and liberation ideology. is to be freed from complacency that could lead Human history has now proved that man is the to progress, desire to march forward to improve architect of his own destiny and therefore he has its conditions to create a world where there will to work out his own freedom. be progress towards prosperity and higher Late M.N. Roy had said a brotherhood of man freedom. attracted by the adventure of ideas, keenly To achieve all this, India needs Renaissance conscious of the urge for freedom, fired with the Humanist movement where human values like vision of free man and motivated by the will to individual freedom, self-reliance and confidence, remake the world so as to restore the individual mutual cooperation, sincere upholding of moral in his position of primacy and dignity will show values rooted in very existence of man. the way out of the contemporary crisis of modern Radical Humanist affirms that open and civilization. This is called New Humanism. pluralistic society can lead to freedom and This idea must be rooted in the need of the opportunity to the greatest number of people and people. only effective participative democracy can Mr. Ramesh Korde is a Radical Humanist provide to achieve aspirations of human beings. of 89 years of age, associated with the Freedom can be defined as the progressive Radical Humanist movement since 1948. He elimination of all factors that obstructs the has used the terms Radical Humanism, New unfoldment of man’s innate creative Humanism, Scientific Humanism and New potentialities. Renaissance interchangeably. Democracy must not be circumscribed by Contact: Mobile No. 09879545389 political affairs alone. It must cover all aspects Email: [email protected] and that affect man’s live existence including [email protected] Gandhiji’s statement at the time of the martyrdom of Shri Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. On this occasion, Gandhiji wrote: “I do not know if the sacrifice of Shri Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi has gone in vain. His spirit always inspired me. I envy his sacrifice. Is it not shocking that this country has not produced another Ganesh Shankar? None after him came to fill up the gap. Ganesh Shankar’s Ahimsa was perfect Ahimsa. My Ahimsa will also be perfect if I could die similarly peacefully with one blow on my head. I have always been dreaming of such a death and I wish to treasure this dream. How noble that death will be, a dagger attack on me from one side, an axe blow from another, a lathi blow yet from another direction and kicks and abuses from all sides and if in the midst of these I could rise to the occasion and remain non-violent and peaceful and could ask others to act and behave likewise, and finally I would die with cheer on my face and smile on my lips. I am hankering after such an opportunity and also wish Congressmen to remain in search of such an opportunity.”

28 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Book Review Section : Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls Dipavali Sen Dialysis 2121, Sujata Kohli, Invincible G.A. Matthew, and Prof. B.M. Hegde. Publishers, Haryana, 2018, paperback pp130, Morgan Scott Peck, American psychiatrist Rs 160 and best-selling author, had written that This book can be read at two levels. It is the healthcare, as it is called and advertised, is really poignant outpouring of a daughter who has lost an industry based on human misery and her mother. At the same time, it is an informed sickness, perpetuated for business reasons. It criticism of the medical world of today. At both flourishes by creating fear in the minds of levels, the book leaves its mark on the reader. people. He had belonged to The World Academy Many of us have had personal experience of of Authentic Healing Sciences, a group of the author’s anguish as well as her indignation. international scientists authenticating healing She has articulated it for us, effectively so. methods in alternate systems of medicine. He Sujata Kohli is a member of the Indian had emphasized the potential of ancient Indian judiciary, reputed for her fair and intrepid methods of healing the sick rather than only judgments. She is also a devoted daughter. She curing his/her pathology (pp 55-57). GA. brings both these aspects of her personality to Matthew, writing a book on natural remedies bear on this book. for cardiac, cancerous and other diseases, has Arranged in a number of short chapters (some pointed out that ‘pharma-dominated doctors’ of them really short, as on p 30), the slim volume refuse to recognize anything outside their realm begins with a ‘recall’ of the shared journeys the of medical and surgical interventions (pp70-83). mother and daughter duo used to take to the Belle Monappa Hegde is a cardiologist, Himalayan foothills. It continues with childhood medical scientist, educationist, the former Vice memories through which the reader gets to build Chancellor of Manipal University, Co-Chairman up an image of the mother whom the daughter, of the TAG-VHS Diabetes Research Centre, even at a mature stage, fondly calls ‘Billy’. Chennai and the Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya ‘A Brush With The Medicines’ (pp 44-45) Bhavan, Mangalore. He is the author of several takes us to the heart of the matter – the books on medical practice and ethics and editor motivated use of modern medicine as business of the Journal of the Science of Healing rather than healthcare. Then on, ’The Rose – Outcomes. Recipient of the Dr. B. C. Roy Withers’. Subjected to a relentless process of Award , 1999, and the Padma Bhushan, 2010, haemo-dialysis, Vimla Kohli, the aged patient, Hegde has pointed out how the ‘big Pharma’ passes away (p 122). puts profits before patients (pp 65-69, 84- Haemo-dialysis is a process of purifying the 112).The West is coming to recognize that the blood of one whose kidneys are not working therapeutic use of chemical drugs has “ resulted normally. It performs the extracorporeal in more sorrow and death than cure or healing” removal of waste products such (p 106).But there is urgent need of further as creatinine, urea and free water from “campaign to educate the public about the drug the blood when the kidneys are failing. menace brought on by the greedy drug industry Interspersed are articles by M. Scott Peck, aided and abetted by the vested interests that

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 29 stand to benefit from this human misery” (p 107). gadgets and paraphernalia removed, her speech Perhaps the patient Vimla Kohli was not really gone…her voice lost..” (pp127-8). that ill? Perhaps she did not need “increase of Haven’t we all felt the same emotions, some medicine, reduction of water intake and then time or the other? Sujata Kohli has boldly these medicines” (p 118). Perhaps it was this brought them forward for us. very treatment that expedited her death? The book is a human document, with literary Her daughter writes how she ran from pillar touches, for example, in the descriptions of the to post but no one would believe in alternative journeys to the hills. But it is also a rebellious cry. therapy and cure. She continued with As I write this review, the Finance Minister homeopathic treatment but it was futile “in the of the country lies at AIIMS, undergoing dialysis face of 17 tablets and capsules and the and awaiting kidney replacement surgery. While machines” (p 119). There were unforgettable one wishes him full and speedy recovery, one moments. The patient would want water, `only wonders why the present government with its water’ but would be allowed only a wetting dedication to Hindu traditions and thoughts, has nodded Yes when iced tea was mentioned, and not been working towards their further drunk it up all by herself, later settling down to development and application in such cases. a comfortable snooze on her side. Instead of that, what has been happening is Still the end had come, inevitably. commercialization of medical services to a Nine years later, a daughter of the patient and degree that inequality is accentuated. As Rama sister of the author had again to undergo the Baru has pointed out in her data-based articles, same heartrending treatment in the false hope the Economic Reforms have increased the hold of recovery. of the corporate sector on the economy of India “Once again our so-called medical science even in respect of healthcare, primary as well had no answer. No cures, no treatment…only as advanced. This book by Sujata Kohli increase in medicines, increase in problems, reinforces the statement with poignancy and decrease in chances of survival…experiments power. Read it, in spite of its typing and editing conducted upon her, one or another. errors. Worse was to come…the machine called Its concerns deserve attention and action. For, ‘ventilator’ the beginning of darkness,,,her man is mortal, and human beings need humane helpless eyes …beseeching upon us to get treatment, at least in their last moments. Before everything removed…we laymen in the dark you know, the bell may be tolling for you, or at confused, in a dilemma.. I still see her reaching least the ambulance wailing its way to the out to me…almost begging, to get all these dialysis machine and the ventilator. Lala Lajpat Rai on M.N. Roy My experience of the Indian revolutionaries in the United States has been very sad and disappointing..... Their patriotism was often tainted by consideration of gain and profit.... the only one of the Bengali revolutionaries for whom I have had genuine respect is M.N. Roy. Lala Lajpat Rai [Extrat from his Diary cited in Samaren Roy’s The Restless Brahmin: Early Life of M.N. Roy (Calcutta, Allied Publication, 1970), p. ix.]

30 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Cellars of the Inferno: Confessions of an RSS Pracharak Publisher: Chintha Publications manipulated stories with ideological color, wars Author: Sudheesh Minni were never depicted as rivalries between kings Pages: 122 for power and territorial expansion but as a war RSS has been critiqued for long for its divisive taking place between two different religions. The and fascist ideology. Its role in spreading hatred, happenings of those times such as Mumbai bomb communal violence, killings – arson and loot, blasts blasts were discussed in Balagokulams and were has been pointed out by critics. However, the pointed as activities carried out by Muslims against attempt of RSS to project itself as a cultural and Hindus. nationalist organization working for the welfare The evening shakhas used to take place for an of majority community, nation and practicing non- hour. Apart from yoga, nigooda (traditional war violent methods is still believed by many to be the education), marching–what also used to take place truth. This is despite all the violence that is being was sports activities like kabaddi and khokho. In instigated in the recent times. Kabaddi, children were instructed that on the other The book by Sudheesh Minni titled ‘Cellars of side of the line were enemies of the nation–who the Inferno: Confessions of an RSS Pracharak’ were Muslims, Christians and Communists. The breaks any doubts on RSS. Sudheesh was an children were instructed to touch as many enemies RSS pracharak, who was inducted to its divisive as possible during the game. This was followed ideology at a very early age of 5. He participated by songs where they were made to feel proud of at different levels – both as a participant in their Hindu identity. Inculcating superstitious shakhas as well as organizer of shakhas, both at thinking was common where in one instance it the state level and the national level. He travelled was pointed that a ‘political enemy would die out across the country and spent about 25 years of of snake bite, through god who would come in his life with RSS. The initial conviction with RSS the form of a snake’. ideology later gave way to repentance for the The prathamik varg shikhak varg course used activities carried. The book is a product of his to be organized for a week during Christmas repentance for his role as an RSS pracharak. The vacation. It used to be residential and go on for a book provides an insider view of RSS, its activities, week. It starts with morning prayers, followed functioning’s, role in divisive activities. by stick movement, discussions, speeches and Sudheesh was born in a small village in Kannur evening sports. Each event has a strong district of Kerala. His association with RSS started anti-Muslim, anti Christian and anti Communist while he was 5 year old. He used to attend component. The content was primarily from Balagokulam, which used to be organized on Golwalkar’s ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ and ‘We and weekends. This was targeted at children. The our Nationhood defined’. The last day was natural curiosity of children to listen to stories of followed by lighting of lamp and a talk calling out child Krishna was used as a means to instill the trainees to shoulder the responsibility of hatred. Stories around Shivaji and Rana Pratap ‘protecting hindus’ who are in danger. With this were also recited to children. Shivaji was depicted they were prepared as primary instructors. as a protector of Hindus from Muslim invasion. RSS has an organized structure. Based on The facts of many Muslims being part of military duties, RSS has Khat Pramukh, Mukya machinery of Shivaji were never depicted. In the Shikhshak, Shikshak, Shaka Karyavaha and Seva

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 31 Pramukh. At the Mandal level are Mandal behavior of Gandhi, critics of hindutva ideology, karyavaha, Saha karyavaha, Mandal sharirik pilgrimages, old temples, the need to protect hindu pramuch, Mandal Boumik pramukh, Mandal Seva temples etc. pramukh and Mandal sampark pramukh. Apart The author points that events, which otherwise from this it has Taluk sangh chalak, Zilla are not religious have a hidden agenda when pracharak and Zilla vyavastha pramukh. These undertaken by Pracharaks. He cites his example were based on geography and functions such as whereby he tried to reach out to minority sports, social activities and public relations. RSS institutions to impart vedic maths to Hindu had no economic agenda. It had its connection students. Once the students enrolled to the course with more powerful sections such as large beyond the school, they were slowly inducted with landholders. The concept of land belonging to the ideas of a Hindu nation. This happens even in tiller was not a principle believed by them. These Yoga classes run by pracharaks. Other activities were seen in incidents where they stood by large include spiritual activities, yoga, social activities, landholders and against cultivating landless. This tuitions, job trainings, coaching institutions for was seen as an arrangement through which they services by Pracharaks. During these events there can get some land, monetary and political support was subtle introduction to aspects of RSS ideology. for RSS activities. He feels that aspects such as vedic maths and The creation of rumours was a regular process. yoga can be taught by completely eliminating it Rumours were manufactured to create the image of its religious colour. The pracharaks operated of existence of threat to Hindu religious based clandestinely. activities and the community. An instance of The author points to the huge network of Sangh Theyyam festival is pointed out where a rumor parivar. This includes Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi was spread of the festival going to be disturbed Parishad (ABVP) targeting students, Bala by the other party. Any suspicion of activities Gokulam targeting small children, Yuva Morcha targeted against RSS was acted upon. Sathyan a targeting youth, Mahila Morcha targeting youth, famous athlete became a victim of such suspicion. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh targeting workers etc. Sudheesh attended his first Sangh shiksha varg Other wings included Vignana Bharati (Swadeshi in Madurai for 25 days. Daily physical training, science), Vidya Bharati (Education), Vishwa stick movement, speeches, discussions and exams Hindu Parishad, Hindu Aikya Vedika, Bharatiya were integral. The shibhir stressed that adoption Vichaar Kendra, Kshetra Sanrakshan Samithi, of Christianity, Islam and Communist ideology had Seva Bharati (Social activities), Bhaskar Jyoti, caused the destruction of Indian culture. It was Vanavasi Kalyana Ashram, Ekalavya Institutions emphasized that to protect Bharat Matha from and Vivekananda Kendra. It also includes Ayyapa becoming pieces and protecting its culture, they seva samithi, Kannaki, Janmabhoomi, Kesari, need to fight. The participants are made to draw Vrattantham, Kurukshetra prakasamm. It also map of Akhand Bharat which includes China, started associations with fisher community. Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Besides large number of NGOs sponsored by Bangladesh and Srilanka. It is emphasized that RSS. Each of these works as part of the larger as sevaks, they should rest in peace only after ‘Sangh Parivar’ to carry their agenda of Hindutva. getting back Akhand Bharat. Elimination of three The author talks of his experience in organizing enemies is projected as a way and means to attain the shibirs with children in tribal areas. Ideas of Akhand Bharat. In the second Sangh shiksha varg Hindutva were introduced in a primitive attended by author, the points discussed also community ignoring their identity. An anti-muslim included strategies for Hindu revivalism, anti-hindu and anti-chrisitan feelings was also propagated

32 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 among them. This was in a community who asked to send his wife and daughters to the never believed in Hindu identity and that by itself landlord. Another instance was seen where was alien. demands of a tribal leader to install Ganesh in a Referring to his participation in Naipunya varg temple in a tribal dominant locality was (secret summit) of RSS at Nagpur, it also had requested from Sangh leaders. This was rejected famous industrialists including Adani attending on the premise that this is reserved only for upper during inaugural session. To inculcate the idea of castes. When finally this was installed, the temple Hindutva among sections, separate cells were was put on fire. proposed for Industrialists, Government The author points that while sangh mobilizes officials, Hindu priests, Teachers, Doctors, Dalits for events such as Babri Masjid demolition, Media and Cultural cell. Each cell was to identify the ones who instigated from upper caste continue loopholes in identified areas, review once in three to be safe. The Dalits who were made to months and attack the government in power. participate became victims. This was equally true Internet was to be used as a means to propagate. of Gujarat. The Sangh mobilizes about crores of The closing ceremony was ended with a speech rupees in the name of Guru Dakshina. From within of retired judge who called for accepting Hindutva Kerala, about Rs. 250 crores is mobilized. Big as a way of life. It points at the level of penetration industrialists, business persons, contractors, of RSS ideology among the elite. government officials also donate the RSS. A huge The author observes that RSS owned amount is mobilized from across the country. This infrastructure have been reduced to places for is used for creation of communal incidents, corruption, sexual activities and preserving planning terror activities, ending peace and weapons. The need to prepare and buy arms for harmony among communities. eliminating enemies is emphasized in Sangh. In The author parts away from RSS to join an the name of fighting back the enemies in Kannur, alternative. He points that corporatization and Karyavahak suggested the usage of Rifles instead communalization have come together and posing of Bombs and swords. The author quotes an threats to the security and democratic values and instance where he expressed his frustration to secular fabric of the nation. Hence he emphasizes another sevak stating that Swayamsevaks are on the need for alternative. groups which indulge in women harassment, The book by Sudheesh Minni is a necessary lootings and drinking. All this happens in the name reading for those who still have an illusion about of protecting religion. the RSS and Sangh Parivar. It also provides an Sharing about his visits on RSS mission to anatomy and the way the parivar functions. Most Northern parts of the country, he points that importantly it helps in breaking the myth of RSS Swayamsevaks here also consisted of being a mere cultural and social organization professionals such as Doctors, Engineers, working for protection of Hindus. It convinces Scientists, Police officials. Each had a sacred you that more than protecting one, its activities thread. Rich landlords with large landholdings are centered on propagating the idea of eliminating were also part of them. The responsibility for the other. In the idea of building Hindu identity, its running panchayati or block level shibirs was attempt in maintaining caste and class based largely in their hands. Dalits who were landless dominance becomes clear. It is a welcome were exploited. An instance is quoted where a reading for those working to expose the activities rich landlord (a swayam sevak) was approached of RSS. by lease farmer requesting for delay in paying Author: T Navin works with an NGO as a due to crop failure. Instead the lease farmer was Researcher

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 33 Reader’s Comments: The Crime of Marital Rape Jawaharlal Jasthi The crime of marital rape arose along with not only for individual fulfilment and also for the very concept of marriage itself. It is already perpetuation of the mankind. By nature it incorporated in the legislations regarding requires two persons of the two sexes. The two marriage. It still remains a problem as it was are expected to cooperate with each other and never dealt with pragmatically and honestly. It keep the partner fully satisfied at all times. It is also indicates that human relations are not so on that concept that the institution of family, the simple that can be solved so easily. basic unit of society, is built. To start with: What is rape? It is defined as We being human, a situation may arise when sexual intercourse without consent of the other it would not be possible for either of the partners party. Obviously, it requires two partners. Then, to fulfill that obligation – may be due to ill health, what is marriage? Those who want to pregnancy, delivery, travel or grieving on some criminalise marital rape show high regard for loss. But they are ephemeral situations that pass marriage as a relationship ‘to stay together and on over time and the person will resume normal to share all joys and sorrows of life together for conditions. During that time the other partner the next seven life terms.(RH April, 2018) It is will bear with separation and also helps in not clear why it is limited to only seven life terms. bringing the partner out of that miserable Under both the Hindu Marriage Act and Special condition. The relationship will develop a kind Marriage Act, rape is recognized as a basis for of friendship and mutual respect and makes the divorce. But they did not call it a crime. life happy and meaningful. During that period it Feminists now demand that it shall be defined is not refusal of the spouse to meet with the as a crime so that the culprit could be punished requirements of the partner, it is rather an like any rapist under criminal law. They demand inability. The trouble comes only when the that the crime shall not be hidden the curtains spouse refuses to meet with the obligations of the sacred institution of marriage and the without any obvious reason. The reason may culprit left free. It is necessary to consider why be anything. The love that was prevailing all the rape of wife was considered different from the days might have dried up, the passion cooled other rapes under the law. That must be due to down or any personal conflict. The problem is the special relationship between the husband and how the other spouse is expected to behave in wife. But why is the marriage performed at all? such a situation. It is to share the joys and sorrows of life, they First of all, it has to be realized that the refusal say. Don’t you share the same with any other might come from any of the spouses – wife or relative or person – brothers, sisters, parents, husband. But the present arguments are based other relatives and close friends? What is the on the concept that it is only the wife that specialty in marital relationship? It sanctifies the withholds the pleasures and it is the husband sexual relationship between them. It is forbidden that resorts to violence against the unwilling wife in any other relationship. That special which meets with the definition of rape. That is consideration is given in view of the fact that why the decisions become lopsided. It is not sex is a natural instinct that has to be satisfied beyond comprehension that the husband will

34 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 withdraw from conjugal relationship. That was of many experiences. Once the love is gone, what our Mahatma is reported to have done. there is no possibility of intimacy without which One fine day he declared that he would remain no conjugal relations could sustain. The question celibate from that time onwards. He explained of rape could arise only in such situations. But that he felt in unjust to lead a life of pleasures fortunately it does not necessarily happen in all while so many poor people are suffering without cases. People react differently to the same even proper food. He decided to identify himself situation, depending more on the culture of the with them by renouncing family life. In what individual. When it is the husband that refuses way it helps the poor is a different matter. His cooperation, nobody expects the wife to prevail consciousness demanded it and he did on him – not that it is not justified, but it is accordingly. It was a unilateral decision. One considered unfeminine and immodest. So even might say it is mutual as she too concurred with the feminists do not contemplate a situation it. What else could she do? It was considered a where the wife tries to prevail on (rape) the sin for a woman to seek pleasures even from husband. They confine their demand to punish the husband unless he himself offers the same. the husband for raping the wife, his own wife, We are told that some of the renowned you mind. As a wife she is his own as it is an followers of the Mahatma also followed his exclusive relationship between the two only. But example. Naturally their wives might have felt she is her own as an individual, not a chattel. it like a bolt from the blue. Being Indian modest She is a human being with her own individuality, wives they could not even argue about it and her own self-respect and dignity. She refuses complied coolly. Why did not they demand that to give conjugal bliss to or accept the same from, pleasure from their husbands? No doubt, the the man whom she ceased to love. It is her right. Mahatma and his followers resorted to celibacy If she wants she can get divorce from the man in pursuance of a laudable ideal. But in our who raped her as it is directly provided for in society we come across many instances where the Act. But she won’t go to that extent. Why? the husband neglects or deserts wife due to bad Even the advocates of criminalization of marital habits. What is the wife expected to do then? rape do not suggest it. Perhaps they expect it to The point is how the spouse is required to react happen unsaid as a matter of course. That is when the legitimate natural needs are not met the consequence of marriage. It brings in many with by the partner who is the only legitimate other bondages and relationships that are person prescribed to do that to them. Whether difficult to discard. That is why divorce is painful it is the wife or the husband, they have the same even when it is justified under law. She suffers needs and equal rights against the other and but sustains the relationship. It is not different responsibilities to the other. There are cases for the husband. wherein the courts have ordered restoration of That is the problem for the partner. He cannot conjugal rights. But it is an extremely personal go out of the bondage and gratify himself. If matter. You can take the horse to the lake but the situation is justified he would be willing to you cannot compel it to drink. sacrifice his pleasure. There are innumerable The days of marriages being fixed by parents cases where the husband served the bedridden have gone. It is now the personal choice of the wife for years and decades even. But when partners. They are deemed to have taken there is no justification he naturally feels deprived responsibility for their own lives. There is no of his life. He tries to sustain the family life by occasion to blame each other. It is quite possible trying to apply some force to continue the that the affection gets eroded over time because relationship. But if it is now made a crime it

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 35 ruins his life. What shall he do? There may be renders himself incompetent by becoming a different extramarital avenues open for him. Do drunkard or womaniser. Which of the you allow him to make a choice by himself and alternatives do you suggest? We cannot have continue his life? But remember, that the same the cake and eat it too. We should not make privileges and choices must be made available halfhearted arguments and demand half-baked to the wife when the husband discards her or solutions. The show goes on. Praising Maqlala But Ignoring Ahed ….. Shenila Khoja-Moolji missed the point. While comparing the treatment meted out to violence as legitimate.” If so, how should we them, we must be careful not to undermine understand the situation in Syria? All the western Malala unwittingly. She deserves what she got. powers are against the head of state – Assad. The question is why Ahed also did not get similar The point is that they are opportunists and have appreciation and support in spite of her valiant no principle. Their humanitarianism is selective. stand against aggressor soldiers. Shenila regrets They shout loud about Rohingyans ofMyanmar the lack of support to Ahed from “Western but do not care about the Palestinians suffering feminist groups, human rights advocates and for over a half century under illegal military state officials who otherwise present themselves occupation. They exonerate and openly support as the purveyors of human rights and champions the violence of Israeli Defense Forces, not of girls’ empowerment.” (RH April, 2018) The because it is sponsored by a state but because point to be noted is that all the above groups are the state happens to be Israel. None of the so- qualified by the prefix “western”. Unfortunately called western democracies, or their media we are conditioned to believe that West is the claiming as champions of human rights, dare to world; it is the repository of the freedom of question what Israel does. expression and free press. Pity is that any In fact Malala stands for one main goal– recognition in the other parts of the world is of education of girls. But Ahed Tamimi stands for a no significance. It is practically true. We are in wider cause–resisting organized inhuman violence a lopsided world. on helpless people. But none of the champions Shenila appears to be under the impression of human rights raise a little finger for Ahed. that inactivity on the part of the west is because In the eyes of the West Israel can do no wrong of the origin of the violence. She states that there and Palestinians can do no right. Can we do is “widespread acceptance of state-sanctioned anything for Ahed ignoring the West? Religion and Society To tell the people “your religion and your neighbour’s religion are fundamentally the same. Live and let live,” etc., etc., is to perpetrate a fraud. If religion were really a private matter between a man and his god, or whatever he believes in, it would be a very good thing. But all religions penetrate social and public life, and as long as people take them seriously as do the vast majorities in most parts of the world, strife and disunity will continue. What we have to work for is the abolition of all religions. D.D. Karve in Opinion

36 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 Sharm Inko Magar Nahin Aati! (Yet They Do Not Feel Ashamed!): Yogi Adityanath Government Moves to Drop Hate Speech Cases Against Sadhvi Prachi, Sangeet Som, Sanjeev Balyan, Other BJP Leaders Yogi Adityanath Govt Initiates Process to Withdraw Hate Speech Cases Against Sadhvi Prachi, BJP Leaders April 26, 2018 murders of Sachin and Gaurav. The two youth Edited by Aadil Ikram Zaki Iqbal were allegedly lynched after the murder of Lucknow, Apr 26: The Uttar Pradesh Shahnawaz in Kawaal village on August 27. government, led by Chief Minister Yogi The murders had triggered a chain of violence Adityanath, has pushed for withdrawal of two in Muzaffarnagar district starting September 7, hate speech cases involving firebrand preacher 2013. Sadhvi Prachi, MP Sanjeev Balyan, MLA Sadhvi Prachi, BJP MPs Kunwar Bhartendra Sangeet Som and three other Bharatiya Janata Singh and Sanjeev Balyan and BJP MLAs Party (BJP) lawmakers. The state’s law Umesh Malik, Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana department on January 17 sent a letter to the allegedly were present at Muzaffarnagar district magistrate seeking details the mahapanchayats and incited violence of the cases filed against them and sought his through their speeches. Sadhvi Prachi, response to the withdrawal. Singh, Balyan, Malik and Rana are among the “In connection with the withdrawal of cases, 14 accused named in the first case, related to your clear opinion in public interest with reason,” the mahapanchayat on August 31, 2013. Prachi, one of the points in the letter states. The Singh, Rana and Som are charged in the second magistrate is yet to respond as the case related to mahapanchayat held on Muzaffarnagar police have not given an opinion September 7, 2013. on this. ”It is a long process and needs time to In the first case, the Uttar Pradesh police filed complete,” Muzaffarnagar district magistrate a charge-sheet under IPC sections of unlawful Rajeev Sharma told a newspaper. The two cases assembly armed with deadly weapon, assault were registered at the Sikhera police station or criminal force to deter a public servant, and after two mahapanchayats were held before wrongful restraint, while the accused were violence gripped the region in 2013. booked under IPC sections of assault or criminal Two mahapanchayats were held at an inter force to deter a public servant, wrongful restraint college in the Mandor area on August 31, 2013 including and under Section 153-A in the second and September 7, 2013 in connection with the case. 58 MPs, MLAs accused in hate speech-related cases The Association for Democratic Reforms sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) on The analysis reveals that many of the MPs Wednesday revealed that a total of 58 MPs and and MLAs, who are designated lawmakers have MLAs have declared cases related to hate actually declared cases related to 'hate speech' speech. against themselves. The ADR and NEW have analysed the self- This analysis is based on the affidavits sub-

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 37 mitted by the candidates and MPs and MLAs clared cases related to the same case are from prior to the last election they contested. Telangana, four MLAs are from Bihar, nine As per the ADR reports, 15 sitting Lok Sabha MLAs are from Uttar Pradesh, four from MPs have declared cases related to hate speech Maharashtra, three each from Andhra Pradesh against themselves. While none of the Rajya and Karnataka, while two each from Sabha MPs has declared cases related to hate Uttarakhand and West Bengal and one MLA speech. each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Among various recognised parties, 10 sitting Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have declared Lok Sabha MPs with declared cases related to cases related to hate speech against themselves. hate speech are from the Bharatiya Janata Party The party leaders with declared cases con- (BJP) and others are from the All India United necting to the same are Asaduddin Owaisi Democratic Front (AIUDF), Telangana Rashtra (AIMIM) and Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) and Samithi (TRS), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Union Minister Uma Bharti. There are eight All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). state ministers who have also declared cases Party-wise distribution of MLAs, the Bharatiya related to hate speech. Janata Party (BJP) has the highest number of In the last 5 years, 198 candidates with de- MPs, MLAs (17), five each are from the TRS clared cases have contested elections for State and AIMIM, three are from Telugu Desam Party Assemblies, Lok and Rajya Sabha. Also, 141 (TDP), two each from Indian National Congress candidates from recognized political parties and (INC), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), 29 candidates from unrecognized political par- Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) and SHS, one each ties have given ticked to such type of candi- from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), dates and 28 independent candidates with de- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party clared cases related to Hate Speech have con- (SP) and two are independent MLAs. tested the elections for State Assemblies, Lok Among the states, 11 sitting MLAs with de- and Rajya Sabha.

May 11, 2018 BJP leaders- Licence to rape? Many prominent BJP leaders, including legislators, have cases of sexual assault against them, particularly in States ruled by the party. By PURNIMA S. TRIPATHI Even as the country watched with shock the two are reported to be close. The Shahjehanpur grisly details of the Unnao and Kathua gang district administration moved an application to rape cases unfold, yet another major event, no withdraw the case on March 9, 2018. The less grim by any account, and also involving a government has given no explanation. prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader The victim has written letters to the President, in a rape case, almost went unnoticed. The the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India Uttar Pradesh government quietly issued orders and the district judge demanding that an arrest to withdraw a seven-year-old rape case against warrant be issued against the Swami Swami Chinmayananda, a former BJP Member immediately. A first information report (FIR) of Parliament and Union Minister. The order was registered in November 2011 when the girl came on March 6 after Chief Minister Yogi alleged that she had been raped repeatedly by Adityanath visited Chinmayananda at his house the Swami at his ashram in Haridwar. She said in Shahjehanpur and had lunch with him. The she had gone to the ashram on her own to take

38 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 sanyas. But the Swami allegedly kept her in the past. A case was registered against him confined and raped her. She was not allowed to in August 2000 after a college principal from meet her parents during that time and was Etah filed a complaint accusing him and two of threatened that her family would be killed if she his nephews, Padam Singh and Shivram Ram, disclosed anything. The FIR was lodged by her of gang-raping her. The woman and her male father after she managed to escape. colleague were allegedly assaulted while they Chinmayananda immediately approached the were driving in a jeep to Agra from Etah. The High Court, which stayed his arrest. The case accused also allegedly took away the woman’s had been pending since then. Chinmayanada has licensed firearm and the jeep. The police said been a prominent member of the BJP. He won that the woman had been living in Sakshi in three Lok Sabha elections and was the Maharaj’s ashram for four years. The rape Minister of State for Home in the Atal Bihari happened when she expressed a desire to marry Vajpayee government. a colleague, to which Sakshi Maharaj objected. Yet another BJP leader, Sakshi Maharaj, who Sakshi Maharaj spent about a month in Tihar is now the Lok Sabha Member from Unnao and jail awaiting trial. He was released in 2001 owing has a penchant for being in the news for all the to lack of evidence. wrong reasons, had also been accused of rape Courtesy Frontline Democracy – RSS Style: Karnataka Elections: ‘Those Not Voting, Tie Their Hands & Legs, Bring Them to Vote’, Yeddyurappa Tells BJP Workers May 05, 2018 Mohammed Uzair Shaikh Belagavi, May 5: As the poll pitch escalates Kittur),” the former CM was quoted as saying with less than a week remaining for Karnataka by news agency ANI. to go to elections, BJP’s prospective chief The remarks of Yeddyurappa drew flak minister BS Yeddyurappa ended up stoking a from the Congress, which said the “anti- controversy. While addressing party workers in democratic mindset of BJP” has been Belagavi’s Kittur, he said those who will not be exposed. The party has appealed the Election voting on the polling day should be tied up and Commission to take cognizance of his dragged out of their houses to the election statements at the Kittur rally. booths. “This shows not only his and BJP’s frustration “Don’t rest now. If you think that somebody but also their disrespect towards democracy,” isn’t voting, go to their homes, tie up their hands said pro-Congress commentator Gaurav Pandhi, and legs, and bring them to vote in favour of while sharing the footage of Yeddyurappa Mahantesh Doddagoudar (BJP candidate from making the controversial remarks. The Radical Humanist on Website ‘The Radical Humanist’ is now available at http://www.lohiatoday.com/ on Periodicals page, thanks to Manohar Ravela who administers the site on Ram Manohar Lohia, the great socialist leader of India. Some of Roy’s important books are also available at that site. - Mahi Pal Singh

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 39 Human Rights Section: National Alliance of People’s Movements: Enmasse killing & violence on Anti-Sterilite Protestors Outrageous & Barbaric: Blot on Democracy: Exposes Cruel Face of Corporate State NAPM demands Court-monitored Judicial Inquiry by Retired Apex Court Judge & action against senior political leaders, officials responsible for the massacre GoTN must ensure permanent shut down of Old and Proposed Units of Sterilite 23rd May, 2018: National Alliance of are videos of police personal shooting from a People’s Movements (NAPM) strongly safe distance atop vehicles and armed with lathi condemns the brutal gunning down of over 11 entering hospital and beating up the injured!!! citizens including a 17 year old girl and violence This is nothing but a barbaric assault on the on more than 60 persons by the Tamil Nadu democratic rights of the people. Police, during the mass and largely peaceful Protests against Sterlite have been going on protests against the Sterilite Copper Plant of for over two decades. On March 24th 2018 a Vedanta Pvt. Ltd. in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. similar protest was called, participated by tens It is know that the people of Thoothukudi have of thousands of people with no untoward been protesting against the pollution of ground incident. This forced the Tamil Nadu Pollution water and air by the copper smelter for years. Control Board (TNPCB) and the Rural This current phase of protest started in early Development Officer (RDO), to take march when the expansion of Sterlite plant to groundwater samples from 7 locations within double capacity was announced. On the 100th Sterlite factory premises and 8 from villages day of protest i.e. 22nd May, against the Sterlite around the factory. The results revealed copper unit Ltd, thousands of people of widespread and high levels of contamination in Thoothukudi took out a pre-announced march all 15 groundwater sources. Levels of the towards the Collectorate. The march was to neurotoxin heavy metal lead, which is reiterate their demand to shut down the existing particularly toxic to children, were found to be copper smelter, causing severe pollution and between 4 and 55 times higher than levels health hazards. Over 10,000 people – men, considered safe for drinking water. The women and children marched to meet the company has been shut down many a times collector. through court orders for violation of The Tamil Nadu police lathi charged, shot with environmental safeguards, since 1998. At least tear gas and smoke bombs at the protesters 15 workers have died and many have been without provocation. When the people ran injured due to hazardous working conditions. towards the collectorate, during which time The responsibility of yesterday’s shooting certain government vehicles were reportedly lies with not just the police and the district torched, the police opened fire killing over 10 administration, but the Government of people and injuring several others. Over 3,000 Tamil Nadu, Union Ministry of police personal including commandos with self- Environment, Forests and Climate Change loaded rifles were deployed to bring ‘situation and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control under control’. Reports from the ground account Board. For, yesterday was a bloody for police chasing and unprovoked shooting at culmination of over two decades of blatant men and women and into fishing hamlets. There disregard for the lives and well-being of the

40 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018 people and protecting corporate interest. conduct a public hearing. The authorities One needs to remember that in 1992, Sterlite must ensure no further intimidation, was allotted land in Maharashtra, but was harassment and arrests of the already shifted to Tamil Nadu due to massive protest battered people. GoTN must ensure by the people of Ratnagiri. The Genesis and immediate disbursement of at least Rs. 1 crore the growth of Strelite in Tamil Nadu is an compensation to the families of each of the example of how the deep crony capitalism is deceased persons, Rs. 50 lakhs to each of entrenched in our system. The project received the severely injured persons and a environmental clearance in January 1995, even permanent government job to at least one before the Environment Impact Assessment member in the family of each of the deceased. (EIA). There have been periodical complains Given the scale and seriousness of the made to TNPCB of health issues caused gas crime involved, a time bound, Court- leak, draining toxic waste along with rainwater, monitored Judicial Inquiry by a Retired polluting the groundwater, but each time Sterlite Supreme Court Judge to investigate the got a clean chit. In 2013, the Supreme Court on entire incident and fix liability must be hearing the people of Thoothukudi, gave a initiated at the earliest. FIR under Section severe indictment to the company, but refused 302 IPC must be registered against the to shut it down. senior officials as well as political leaders, We have seen such tactics before and will without whose facilitation and orders, the not be fooled. We saw similar brute force and planning and executed these shootings and false charges used to curb the Koodankulam killings would not have happened. anti-nuclear protests. Similarly the same The Government of Tamil Nadu has lost brutality was shown in curbing the Jallikattu its ethical right to govern the state and at movement. It is the sad state of affairs that the the bare minimum must ensure the entire state machinery is deployed to defend the stepping down of senior ministers who profit of a private corporate that has a chequered could have acted prudently and thwarted history in the country, be in Orissa, Chhattisgarh this tragedy, but did not. or elsewhere. But just like many other states of the country, Tamil Nadu too has been simmering Endorsed By: with protests against corporate loot and state terror, in order to protect corporate interests. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan NAPM stands in full solidarity with the fighting (NBA) and National Alliance of People’s Move- masses of Thoothukudi and extends our deepest ments (NAPM) condolences to the families who have lost their Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar dear ones, all activists and leaders of the Singh, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan movement, in their own right. We demand the (MKSS), National Campaign for People’s Right immediate shutting of the Sterilite copper to Information, NAPM smelter and its expansion. Development that Prafulla Samantara, Lok Shakti Abhiyan; does not account for the wellbeing of the people Lingraj Azad, Samajwadi Jan Parishad & is nothing but destruction and has to be fought Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM Odisha tooth and nail. Dr.Sunilam, Adv. Aradhna Bhargava, We call upon the Govt. of TN to honour the KisanSangharshSamiti, Rajkumar Sinha, Bargi interim order of the Madres High Court issued Baandh Visthapit evam Prabhavit Sangh, today to stall all works of the Plant and NAPM, Madhya Pradesh

June 2018 THE RADICAL HUMANIST 41 P. Chennaiah, Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya NAPM Gujarat Vruthidarula Union-APVVU, Ramakrishnam VimalBhai, Matu Jan sangathan; Jabar Raju, United Forum for RTI and NAPM, Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand Meera Sanghamitra, Rajesh Serupally, Dayamani Barla, Aadivasi-Moolnivasi NAPM Telangana - Andhra Pradesh Astivtva Raksha Samiti; Basant Kumar Dr Binayak Sen, Peoples’ Union for Civil Hetamsaria and Ashok Verma, NAPM Liberties (PUCL); GautamBandopadhyay, Jharkhand Nadi Ghati Morcha; Kaladas Dahariya, Samar Bagchi, AmitavaMitra, NAPM RELAA, NAPM Chhattisgarh West Bengal Kavita Srivastava, People’s Union for Civil Suniti SR, SuhasKolhekar, Prasad Bagwe, Liberties (PUCL); Kailash Meena, NAPM &Bilal Khan, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Rajasthan Andolan, Mumbai NAPM Maharashtra Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party; Richa Anjali Bharadwaj, National Campaign for Singh, Sangatin; ArundhatiDhuru, Manesh People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), NAPM Gupta, NAPM, Uttar Pradesh Faisal Khan, KhudaiKhidmatgar; Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam, J. S. Walia, NAPM Haryana Madurai; Geetha Ramakrishnan, Unorganised Guruwant Singh, NAPM Punjab Sector Workers Federation; Arul Doss, NAPM Kamayani Swami, AshishRanjan, Jan Tamilnadu Jagran Shakti Sangathan; Mahendra Yadav, Sister Celia, Domestic Workers Union; Maj KosiNavnirmanManch; Sister Dorothy, Gen (Retd) S.G.Vombatkere, NAPM, Ujjawal Chaubey, NAPM Bihar Karnataka Bhupender Singh Rawat, Jan Sangharsh Vilayodi Venugopal, CR Neelakandan, Vahini; Sunita Rani, Domestic Workers Union; Prof. Kusumam Joseph, NAPM, Kerala Rajendra Ravi, Nanhu Prasad, Madhuresh AnandMazgaonkar, Swati Desai, Kumar, Amit Kumar, Himshi Singh, Uma, rishnakant, ParyavaranSurakshaSamiti, NAPM, Delhi.

42 THE RADICAL HUMANIST June 2018